USA > Idaho > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 17
USA > Montana > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 17
USA > Washington > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 17
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145
TROUBLE AT THE CASCADES.
it is recollected that there was a portage of several miles at The Cascades over which all the government stores, ammunition, and other property were compelled to pass, and where, owing to lack of transportation above, it was compelled to remain for some length of time, this circumstance offering a strong motive for the hostile Klikitats and Yakimas, whose territory adjoined, to make a descent upon it. So little atten- tion was given to this evident fact that the company stationed at The Cascades was ordered away on the 24th of March, and the only force left was a detach- ment of eight men, under Sergeant Matthew Kelly, of the 4th infantry, which occupied the block-house erected about midway between the upper and lower settlements, by Captain Wallen, after the outbreak in October.41 A wagon-road connected the upper and lower ends of the portage, and a wooden railway was partly constructed over the same ground, an im- provement which the Indian war had rendered neces- sary and possible. On Rock Creek, at the upper end of the portage, was a saw-mill, and a little below, a village of several families, with the store, or trading- house, of Bradford & Co. fronting on the river, near which a bridge was being built connecting an island with the mainland, and also another bridge on the railroad. At the landing near the mouth of Rock Creek lay the little steamer Mary, the consort of the Wasco, and the first steamboat that ran on the Co- lumbia between The Cascades and The Dalles. At the lower end of the portage lived the family of W. K. Kilborn, and near the block-house the family of George Griswold.
All that section of country known in popular phraseology as The Cascades, and extending for five miles along the north bank of the Columbia at the rapids, is a shelf of uneven ground of no great width between the river and the overhanging cliffs of the mountains, split in twain for the passage of the
" Portland West Shore, January 1878, 72. HIST. WASH .- 10
146
INDIAN WARS.
mighty River of the West. Huge masses of rock lie scattered over it, interspersed with clumps of luxu- riant vegetation and small sandy prairies. For the greater part of the year it is a stormy place, subject to wind, mist, snow, and rain, but sunny and delight- ful in the summer months, and always impressively grand and wild.
At half-past eight o'clock on the morning of the 26th of March, General Wool having returned to California and Colonel Wright having marched his whole force out from The Dalles, leaving his rear un- guarded, the Yakimas and Klikitats, having waited for this opportunity to sweep down upon this lonely spot, suddenly appeared at the upper settlement in force. The hour was early and the Mary had not yet left her landing, her crew being on their way to the boat. At the mill and the bridges men were at work, and a teamster was hauling timber from the mill.
Upon this scene of peaceful industry, in a moment of apparent security, burst the crack of many rifles, a puff of blue smoke from every clump of bushes alone revealing the hiding-places of the enemy, who had stationed themselves before daylight in a line from Rock Creek to the head of the rapids, where the workmen were engaged on the bridges. At the first fire several were wounded, one mortally. Then began the demoniacal scene of an Indian massacre, the whoops and yells of the attacking party, the shrieks of their victims as their hurried flight was inter- rupted by the rifle-ball, or their agonies were cut short by the tomahawk. At the mill, B. W. Brown, his wife, a girl of eighteen years, and her young brother were slain, scalped, and their bodies thrown into the stream. So well concerted and rapid was the work of destruction that it was never known in what order the victims fell. Most of the men at work on the bridges, and several families in the vicin- ity, escaped to Bradford's store, which being con-
147
SIEGE OF THE CASCADES.
structed of logs afforded greater security than board houses.
It chanced that only an hour before the attack nine government rifles and a quantity of ammunition had been left at Bradford's to be sent back to Van- couver. With these arms so opportunely furnished, the garrison, about forty in number, eighteen of whom were capable of defence, made preparations for a siege. The Indians, having taken possession of a bluff, or bench of land, back of and higher than the railroad and buildings, had greatly the advantage, be- ing themselves concealed, but able to watch every movement below.
In order to counteract this disadvantage, the stairs being on the outside of the building, an aperture was cut in the ceiling, through which men were passed up to the chamber above, where by careful watching they were able to pick off an Indian now and then. A few stationed themselves on the roof, which was reached in the same way, and by keeping on the river side were able to shelter themselves, and get an occasional shot.42 Embrasures were cut in the walls, which were manned by watchful marksmen, and the doors strongly barricaded.
While these defences were being planned and exe- cuted, James Sinclair of the Hudson's Bay Company, who happened to be at The Cascades, the door being opened for an instant, was shot and instantly killed by the lurking enemy.43 A welcome sound was the 'Toot, toot!' of the Mary's whistle, now heard above the din of war, showing that the steamer had not been captured, as it was feared-for upon this de- pended their only chance of obtaining succor from The Dalles.
42 The first Indian killed was by Bush, who shot just as the savage was about to fire on Mrs Watkins, who was running to Bradford's. Letter of L. W. Coe, in Historical Correspondence.
43 Sinclair became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1849. Congress in 1875, at the prayer of his widow, granted her a land claim of 640 acres in the Walla Walla Valley. U. S. Statutes, 1875-6, Priv. Acts, 3-4.
148
INDIAN WARS.
The escape of the Mary was indeed a remarkable episode in that morning's transactions. Her fires were out, only a part of her crew on board, and the remain- der on their way to the landing, when the Indians fired the first volley. Those on shore were James Thompson, John Woodard, and James Herman. Holding a hurried consultation, Thompson and Woodard determined on an effort to save the boat, while Herman ran to the shelter of the woods and up the bank of the river. While hauling on the lines to get the boat out into the stream, the Indians pressed the two gallant men so closely that they were forced to quit their hold and seek the concealment of the neighboring thickets. The steamer was then attacked, the fireman, James Linsay, being shot through the shoulder; and the cook, a negro, being wounded, in his fright jumped overboard and was drowned. The engineer, Buckminster, having a revolver, shot an Indian, and the steward's boy, John Chance, finding an old dragoon pistol on board, also despatched an Indian, firing from the hurricane-deck.
In the midst of these stirring scenes the steamer's fires were started, and Hardin Chenoweth, going up into the pilot-house and lying flat upon the floor, backed the boat out into the river, though the wind was blowing hard down stream. It was at this moment of success that the Mary's whistles, sharp and defiant, notified the people in the store that she was off to The Dalles for help, and which sustained their spirits through the many trying hours which followed. The boat picked up the families of Vander- pool and Sheppard, who came out to her in skiffs, and also Herman of their own crew, after which she steamed rapidly up the river.
When the men on the bridges rushed into Brad- ford's store three men were left upon the island, who afterward attempted to reach that refuge without being discovered by the Indians. Those on the look- out in the store could see that it was impossible, and
149
A DAY OF TERROR.
shouted to them to lie down behind the rocks. Find- lay, the first man admonished, obeyed. The Indians had now reached the island; and as Bailey, another workman who had not heard or not obeyed the caution, came running, he was mistaken for one of the enemy pursuing Findlay, and fired on, receiving a wound in the leg and arm. Both, however, sprang into the water; and although Bailey came near being carried over the falls, they reached the landing in front of the store and were hastily admitted. The third man, James Watkins, in attempting to follow, was discovered and shot through the arm. He dropped behind a rock, his friends shouting to him to lie still and they would rescue him; but they were not able to do so, and his wounds being too long neglected, he died.
In the mean time the mill, lumber-yard, and several houses had been burned, and the assailants endeavored to fire the store by projecting upon it brands of pitch- wood and hot irons. They also threw stones and mis- siles of various kinds to dislodge the men on the roof, but the distance from which these missiles were sent rendered them comparatively harmless, the occasional fire which took in the shingles being promptly ex- tinguished by brine from a pork-barrel carefully poured on with a tin cup, no water being obtainable.
In a few hours the want of water became a fresh source of torment. Of the forty persons shut up in the small compass of the lower story of the building, four were wounded, one dead, and the majority of the whole were women and children. The only liquids in the place were two dozen bottles of ale and a few bottles of whiskey, which were exhausted in the course of the day, and all were waiting impatiently for the cover of darkness to bring some water from the river. But the Indians had reserved a new ware- house and some government property to be burned during the night to furnish light for their operations, and to prevent the escape of the besieged. In this extremity a Spokane, brought up by Mr Sinelair,
150
INDIAN WARS.
volunteered to procure the needed water. Strip- ping himself naked, he threw himself on the slide used for loading boats, and slipping down to the river, re- turned with a bucketful for the wounded. The second day and night were passed like the first, no more water being procured until the morning of the 28th, when, the fires of the enemy having died out, the Spokane again ventured to the river, and this time filled two barrels, going and coming with incredible swiftness. The steamer not yet having returned, and fears being entertained of her capture, the body of Sinclair was shoved down the slide into the river by the same faithful servant.
While these scenes were being performed at the upper Cascades, the people below were also experi- encing a share in the misfortunes of their neighbors. The first intimation of an attack at the block-house was hearing a few shots, and the shouts of men run- ning from above warning others. Five of the little garrison of nine were in the fort at that moment. Hastening down-stairs they found one of their com- rades at the door, shot through the hip. The em- brasures were opened, and the cannon run out and fired at the Indians, who could be seen on a hill in front. Immediately afterward the citizens came fleeing to the fort for protection, drawing the fire of the Indians, which was returned by the soldiers until all left alive were sheltered. Firing from both sides continued for four hours, when, seeing that the Indians were about to burn a large building, Sergeant Kelly again dispersed them with the cannon. Toward night a soldier who had been wounded near the block-house in the morn- ing made his way in and was rescued. During the night the Indians attempted to fire the block-house, without success, prowling about all night without do- ing much damage. During the forenoon of the 27th three soldiers made a sortie to a neighboring house, and returned safely with some provisions. In the
151
AT THE LOWER CASCADES.
afternoon the cannon was again fired at a large party of Indians who appeared on the Oregon side of the river, which served the purpose of scattering them, when four of the soldiers and some of the citizens sallied out to bring in the dead and wounded, and to search the deserted houses for arms and ammunition. 44
At the lower Cascades no lives were lost in the attack. On the morning of the 26th W. K. Kilborn, who owned and ran an open freight-boat on the Co- lumbia, walked up to the lower end of the portage railroad to look for a crew of the Cascade Indians to take his boat up the rapids to that point, but was met by a half-Spanish Indian boy whom he had known on French Prairie in the Willamette Valley, and who endeavored to show him that it was unsafe for him to be in the neighborhood, because the Yakimas and Klikitats had been about the lodges of the local Indians the night before. Kilborn took the lad with him to the office of Agent G. B. Simpson, close by, where he still persisted in imploring them to fly, telling them they were surrounded by hostile Indians on every side. At that instant came the boom of the cannon at the block-house above, and the half-breed darted down the road to give the alarm to the families below, followed by Kilborn, who was soon overtaken by a mounted man crying, "Run for your lives, they are fighting at the block-house !"45 On reaching his boat he found his family and that of Hamilton already on board, and instantly put off, a few men who had guns remaining to protect their property. As he was about to land for some purpose a short distance below, these men shouted to him, "Do not land; here they
" The names of the garrison at the block-house were M. Kelly, Frederick Beman, Owen McManus, Lawrence Rooney (killed in the first attack), Smiley, Houser, Williams, Roach, and Sheridan; the latter four being those who went out to bring in the dead and wounded on the second day. Indian Hos- tilities in Oregon and Washington Territories, 11-12, being a compilation of correspondence on the subject transmitted to congress by the president of the U. S. in July 1856.
45 This was one of 3 carpenters at work who ran for the block-house, overtook the cars on the way, cut the mules loose, and mounting them, spread the alarm. Letter of L. W. Coe, in Historical Correspondence.
152
INDIAN WARS.
come!" and hearing the report of small arms, he kept on down the river, arriving at Vancouver before dark with the news of the outbreak.
In the mean time the men who had remained to protect their property were in a perilous situation. They at first entertained the idea of barricading the government wharf-boat, but having no ammunition, were obliged to abandon it. They remained on guard, however, until the Indians, having marauded their way down, began firing on them from the roof of a zinc house, which afforded a good position, when, find- ing it useless to remain longer, they pushed out into the river with a schooner and some bateaux lying at
River
Rock Cr.
Wind
WIND RIVER MT.
Little White Salmon R.
Steamer
Cel
Upper Cascades
Saw MillQ
Collins Landing =1,44
Bradford's 6
Block House
Lower Cascades:
UPPER AND LOWER CASCADES.
the landing, Thomas Pierce being wounded before attaining a safe distance, and proceeded down the river. Two men who at the first alarm fled to the mountains stole down at night and escaped in an old boat which they found at the landing to the south side of the river, where they lay hidden in the rocks until relief came.
When the news of the attack on The Cascades was received at Vancouver great consternation prevailed, it being reported that Vancouver was the objective
153
ALARM AT VANCOUVER.
point of the Yakimas, and there were not men enough at that post to make a good defence after sending the succor demanded at The Cascades. As there had been no communication between the upper and lower towns, the extent of the injury done at the former place could only be conjectured. The commanding officer, Colonel Morris, removed the women and chil- dren of the garrison, the greater part of the ammu- nition, and some other property to the Hudson's Bay Company's fort for greater safety, while he refused arms to the captain of the volunteer home-guard,46 in obedience to the orders of General Wool.
At an early hour of the 27th the steamboat Belle was despatched to The Cascades, conveying Lieuten- ant Philip Sheridan with a detachment of the single company left by Wool at Vancouver. Meeting on the way the fugitives in the schooner and bateaux, they volunteered to return and assist in the defence of the place, and were taken on board the steamer. At ten o'clock the Belle had reached the landing at the lower end of the portage, stopping first on the Oregon side, where Sheridan and a part of his com- mand proceeded up the river on foot to a point opposite the upper town to reconnoitre, where he learned from the Cascade Indians the state of affairs at that place, and also that the block-house had been attacked. Sheridan returned and landed his men on the Washington side, despatching a canoe to Vancouver for more ammunition.
The Indians did not wait to be attacked. While the troops and howitzer were disembarking on a large sand island, Sheridan had two men shot down, and was compelled to retreat some distance from the cover of the Indians, the steamer dropping down in
46 I take this statement from a correspondent of the Olympia Pioneer and Democrat of April 23, 1856, who says that Kelly of the volunteers went to the officer in command at that post, and requested to be furnished with arms, as all the arms in the county had gone to furnish a company in the field- Captain Maxon's. 'He was insulted-told to mind his own business.' A few . days later a consignment of arms from the east arrived, for the use of the territory, and the settlers were furnished from that supply.
154
INDIAN WARS.
company. A council of war was then held, and it was decided to maintain their ground, which was done with much difficulty, through the remainder of the day, the troops not being able to advance to the relief of the block-house, although the diversion created by the arrival of troops caused a lull in the operations of the Indians against that post.
A company of thirty men was raised in Portland on the evening of the 26th, by A. P. Dennison and Benjamin Stark, aids to Governor Curry, which was augmented at Vancouver by an equal number of volunteers, and proceeded to the lower Cascades in the steamer Fashion, arriving somewhat later than the Belle, and being unable to render any assistance, for the same reason which prevented the regular troops from advancing-too numerous an enemy in front. They landed, however, and sent the steamer back, which returned next day with forty more volun- teers, and a recruit of regulars, all eager for a fight.
The boat also brought a supply of ammunition from Vancouver, which being placed upon a bateau was taken up opposite the block-house where Sheri- dan intended to cover his men while they landed, with the howitzer. But just at this moment a new factor entered into the arrangement of the drama, which gave to all a surprise.
When the Mary arrived at The Dalles on the 26th, Colonel Wright had already moved from the post, and was encamped at Five-Mile Creek, so that informa- tion of the attack on the Cascades did not reach him before midnight. At daylight he began his march back to The Dalles, with 250 men, rank and file, and by night they were on board the steamers Mary and Wasco, but did not reach the Cascades before daylight of the 28th, on account of an injury to the steamer's flues, through having a new fireman since the wound- ing of Lindsay on the 26th.
Just as the garrison in the store were brought to
155
RELIEF FROM THE DALLES.
the verge of despair, believing the Mary had been captured, not knowing of Sheridan's arrival at the lower Caseades, having but four rounds of ammunition left, and having agreed among themselves, should the Indians succeed in firing the house, to get on board a government flat-boat lying in front of Bradford's and go over the falls rather than stay to be butchered- at this eritical moment their eyes were gladdened by the welcome sight of the Mary and Wasco, steaming into the semicireular bay at the mouth of Rock Creek, loaded with troops. A shout went up from forty persons, half dead with fatigue and anxiety, as the door of their prison was thrown open to the fresh air and light of day.
No sooner had the boats touched the shore than the soldiers sprang up the bank and began beating the bushes for Indians, the howitzer belching forth shot over their heads. But although the Indians had fired a volley at the Mary as she stranded for a few moments on a rock at the mouth of the ereek, they could not be found when hunted, and now not a Ya- kima or Klikitat was to be seen.
Colonel Wright then organized a foree, consisting of the companies of captains Winder and Archer, 9th infantry, and a detachment of dragoons under Lieu- tenant Tear, 3d artillery, with a howitzer under Lieu- tenant Piper, the whole under Colonel Steptoe, which was ordered to advance to the block-house and thence to the lower landing. Just at the moment when Sheridan was approaching the shore lined with hos- tile Indians, with the suspected Cascade Indians on an island on the other side of his bateau, and when the attention of the savages was divided between their morning ineal and the approach of the soldiers, a bugle was heard in the direction of the upper Cas- eades, and Sheridan beheld deseending a hill Steptoe's column. The Indians being thus particularly notified of the army's advance, the opportunity for a surprise was destroyed, and in another instant the enemy had
156
INDIAN WARS.
vanished out of sight like ants in a sand mound. One Indian only was killed by Steptoe's command, and a soldier's life paid for that. This tragedy ended with the execution of nine Indians concerned in the massacre.
After a few brushes with the enemy, Cornelius, leaving his command in the Klikitat Valley, went to Portland to confer with Governor Curry, when the northern regiment was disbanded, two companies be- ing organized out of it, one to serve in the Walla Walla country, and one in the Tyghe Valley, which latter force was increased to two companies in May. About the same time Colonel Wright marched through the Klikitat and Yakima country, but without effect- ing anything decisive.47
47 Major, now Colonel, Granville Owen Haller has been too intimately connected with the history of Washington for many years to be here dis- missed without further notice. He was born in York, Penn., Jan. 31, 1819, and educated in the private schools of the town. Iu 1839 he was an appli- cant for a scholarship at West Point, but on examination before a board of military officers at Washington, received a commission as 2dl lieutenant, 4th U. S. infantry, to date from Nov. 17, 1839. He served in the Indian terri- tory and Florida in 1840-41, and in the Mexican war in 1846. He was or- dered to the Pacific coast in 1852, arriving by sea in 1853, and being stationed at The Dalles until 1856. When the southern states seceded he was ordered cast and placed in active service with the army of the Potomac. Upon Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, he was placed on the staff of Gen. Couch, and assigned to York and Adams counties to keep the general informed of the movements of the enemy. Soon after Lee's defeat at Gettysburg, and while making ont reports of the services performed by volunteers, and the expenses incurred, an order was sent Gen. Couch to relieve Major Haller, who on re- porting for orders found himself dismissed. This wrong, which was the work of an unknown enemy, was a painful blow to Haller. After many efforts to obtain a hearing he returned to Washington, settling at Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Here, after sixteen years of waiting for justice, he received tidings of a joint resolution by congress ordering a court of inquiry in his case. The court found that the dismissal was based on charges of disloyalty by a single officer, and not made by the president, but by the secretary of war. The testimony in the case, both of military and civil witnesses, completely refuted the charges, and the dismissal was pronounced wrongful, Major Haller being restored to the service with the rank of colonel, but the restoration of rank carried with it no back pay. Gen. Couch's testimony was, "I do not think there were any fighting generals of the army of the Potomac, if they had been in York in the position of Major Haller, that could have done any better than he did. I thought so at the time, and I think so now." Col Haller is low a resident of Seattle, and having passed his 63d year, is retired.
Col Haller is the author of a valuable MS. entitled Kamiakin in History, also of The San Juan Imbroglio, of which he knew more than any one. His wife was Miss Henrietta M. Cox of Baltimore, by whom he has five children, two daughters, and three sons.
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