History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889, Part 21

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: San Francisco : History Co.
Number of Pages: 880

USA > Idaho > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 21
USA > Montana > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 21
USA > Washington > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 21

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the same day Polatkin, a noted Spokane chief, presented himself with nine warriors at the camp of Colonel Wright, having left their arms on the oppo- site side of the river, to avoid surrendering them. Wright sent two of the warriors over after the guns, when one of them mounted his horse and rode away. The other returned, bringing the guns. To Polatkin Wright repeated what had been said to Garry; and as this chief was known to have been in the attack on Steptoe, as well as a leader in the recent battles, he was detained, with another Indian, while he sent

191

SURRENDER OF BIG STAR.

the remaining warriors to bring in all the people, with whatever belonged to them. The Indian with Polat- kin being recognized as one who had been at Fort Walla Walla in the spring, and who was suspected of being concerned in the murder of the two miners in the Palouse country about that time, he was put under close scrutiny, with the intention of trying him for the crime.

Resuming his march on the 8th of September, after travelling nine miles, a great dust where the road entered the mountains betrayed the vicinity of the Indians, and the train was closed up, under guard, while Major Grier was ordered to push forward with three companies of dragoons, followed by the foot- troops. After a brisk trot of a couple of miles, the dragoons overtook the Indians in the mountains with all their stock, which they were driving to a place of safety, instead of surrendering, as required. A skir- mish ensued, ending in the capture of 800 horses. With this booty the dragoons were returning, when they were met by the foot-troops, who assisted in driving the animals to camp sixteen miles above Spokane Falls. The Indian suspected of murder was tried at this encampment, and being found guilty, was hanged the same day about sunset.

After a consultation on the morning of the 9th, Wright determined to have the captured horses killed, only reserving a few of the best for immediate use, it being impracticable to take them on the long march yet before them, and they being too wild for the ser- vice of white riders. Accordingly two or three hun- dred were shot that day, and the remainder on the 10th.34 The effect of dismounting the Indians was quickly apparent, in the offer of a Spokane chief, Big Star, to surrender. Being without horses, he was permitted to come with his village as the army passed, and make his surrender to Wright in due form.

14 Brown's Autobiography, MS., 40; Clarke and Wright's Campaign, 393-4; Kip's Army Life, 78.

192

INDIAN WARS.

On the 10th the Cœur d'Alênes made proposals of submission, and as the troops were now within a few days' march of the mission, Wright directed them to meet him at that place, and again took up his march. Crossing the Spokane, each dragoon with a foot-soldier behind hin, the road lay over the Spokane plains, along the river, and for fifteen miles through a pine forest, to the Cœur d'Alene Lake, where camp was made on the 11th. All the provisions found cached were destroyed, in order that the Indians should not be able, if they were willing, to carry on hostilities again during the year. Beyond Cœur d'Alêne Lake the road ran through a forest so dense that the troops were compelled to march in single file, and the single wagon, belonging to Lieutenant Mullan, that had been permitted to accompany the expedition, had to be abandoned, as well as the lim- ber belonging to the howitzers, which were thereafter packed upon mules. The rough nature of the country from the Cœur d'Alene Lake to the mission made the march exceedingly fatiguing to the foot-soldiers, who, after the first day, began to show the effects of so much toil, together with hot and sultry weather, by occasionally falling out of ranks, often compelling officers to dismount and give them their horses.

On the 13th the army encamped within a quarter of a mile of the mission.35 The following day Vincent, who had not been in the recent battles, returned from a circuit he had been making among his people to induce them to surrender themselves to Wright; but the Indians, terrified by what they had heard of the severity of that officer, declined to see him. However, on the next day a few came in, bringing some articles taken in the battle of the 17th of May. Observing that no harm befell these few,

35 The Cœur d'Alene mission was situated in a pretty valley in the moun- tains, with a branch of the Cœur d'Alene River watering it, the mission church standing in the centre of a group of houses, a mill, the residences of the priests, barns for storing the produce of the Indian farms, and a few dwell- ings of the most civilized of the Indian converts. Mullan's Top. Mem., 37.

193

END OF THE CAMPAIGN.

others followed their example. They were still more encouraged by the release of Polatkin, who was sent to bring in his people to a council. By the 17th a con- siderable number of Cœur d'Alênes and Spokanes were collected at the camp, and a council was opened.

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WRIGHT'S CAMPAIGN.

The submission of these Indians was complete and pitiful. They had fought for home and country, as barbarians fight, and lost all. The strong hand of a conquering power, the more civilized the more ter- rible, lay heavily upon them, and they yielded.

An arbor of green branches of trees had been con- structed in front of the commander's tent, and here in state sat Colonel Wright, surrounded by his officers, to pass judgment upon the conquered chiefs. Father HIST. WASH,-13

Snoke

194

INDIAN WARS.

Joset and the interpreters were also present. Vincent opened the council by rising and saying briefly to Colonel Wright that he had committed a great crime, and was deeply sorry for it, and was glad that he and his people were promised forgiveness. To this hum- ble acknowledgment Wright replied that what the chief had said was true-a great crime had been com- mitted; but since he had asked for peace, peace should be granted on certain conditions: the delivery to him of the men who struck the first blow in the affair with Colonel Steptoe, to be sent to General Clarke; the delivery of one chief and four warriors with their families, to be taken to Walla Walla; the return of all the property taken from Steptoe's command; consent that troops and other white men should pass through their country; the exclusion of the turbulent hostile Indians from their midst; and a promise not to commit any acts of hostility against white men. Should they agree to and keep such an engagement as this, they should have peace forever, and he would leave their country with his troops. An additional stipulation was then offered-that there should be peace between the Cœur d'Alenes and Nez Percés. Vincent then desired to hear from the Nez Percés themselves, their minds in the matter, when one of the volunteers, a chief, arose and declared that if the Cœur d'Alênes were friends of the white men, they were also his friends, and past differences were buried. To this Vincent answered that he was glad and satisfied; and henceforth there should be no more war between the Cœur d'Alênes and Nez Percés, or their allies, the white men, for the past was forgotten. A written agreement containing ali these articles was then for- mally signed. Polatkin, for the Spokanes, expressed himself satisfied, and the council ended by smoking the usual peace-pipe.

A council with the Spokanes had been appointed for the 23d of September, to which Kamiakin was invited, with assurances that if he would come he should not

195

PEACE AND HANGINGS.

be harmed; but he refused, lest he should be taken to Walla Walla. The council with the Spokanes was a repetition of that with the Cœur d'Alenes, and the treaty the same. After it was over, Owhi presented himself at camp, when Wright had him placed in irons for having broken his agreement made with him in 1856, and ordered him to send for his son Qualchin, sometimes called the younger Owhi, telling him that he would be hanged unless Qualchin obeyed the sum- mons. Very unexpectedly Qualchin came in the fol- lowing day, not knowing that he was ordered to ap- pear, and was seized and hanged without the formality of a trial. A few days later, when Wright was at Snake River, Owhi, in attempting to escape, was shot by Lieutenant Morgan, and died two hours afterward. Kamiakin and Skloom were now the only chiefs of any note left in the Yakima nation, and their influence was much impaired by the results of their turbulent behavior. Kamiakin went to British Columbia after- ward, and never again ventured to return to his own land.

On the 25th, while still at the council-camp, a num- ber of Palouses came in, part of whom Wright hanged, refusing to treat with the tribe. Wright reached Snake River on the 1st of October, having performed a campaign of five weeks, as effective as it was in some respects remarkable. On the Ist of October Fort Taylor was abandoned, there being no further need of troops at that point, and the whole army marched to Walla Walla, where it arrived on the 5th, and was inspected by Colonel Mansfield, who arrived a few days previous.

On the 9th of October, Wright called together the Walla Wallas, and told them he knew that some of them had been in the recent battles, and ordered all those that had been so engaged to stand up. Thirty- five stood up at once. From these were selected four, who were handed over to the guard and hanged. Thus sixteen savages were offered up as examples.

196

INDIAN WARS.

While Wright was thus sweeping from the earth these ill-fated aboriginals east of the Columbia, Gar- nett was doing no less in the Yakima country. On the 15th of August Lieutenant Jesse K. Allen cap- tured seventy Indians, men, women, and children, with their property, and three of them were shot. Proceeding north to the Wenatchee River, ten Ya- kimas were captured by lieutenants Crook, McCall, and Turner, and five of them shot, making twenty-four thus killed for alleged attacks on white men, on this campaign. Garnett continued his march to the Oka- nagan River to inquire into the disposition of the Indians in that quarter, and as they were found friendly, he returned to Fort Simcoe.

Up to this time the army had loudly denounced the treaties made by Stevens; but in October Gen- eral Clarke, addressing the adjutant-general of the United States army upon his views of the Indian re- lations in Oregon and Washington, remarked upon the long-vexed subject of the treaties of Walla Walla, that his opinion on that subject had undergone a change, and recommended that they should be con- firmed, giving as his reasons that the Indians had forfeited some of their claims to consideration; that the gold discoveries would carry immigration along the foothills of the eastern slope of the Cascades; that the valleys must be occupied for grazing and cultivation; and that in order to make complete the pacification which his arms had effected, the limits must be drawn between the Indians and the white race.36 It was to be regretted that this change of opinion was not made known while General Clarke was in command of the department embracing Oregon and Washing- ton, as it would greatly have softened the asperity of feeling which the opposition of the military to the treaties had engendered. As it was, another general received the plaudits which were justly due to Gen- cral Clarke.

86 Clarke and Wright's Campaign, 85.

197

A NEW DEPARTURE.

By an order of the war department of the 13th of September, the department of the Pacific was divided, the southern portion to be called the depart- ment of California, though it embraced the Umpqua district of Oregon. The northern division was called the department of Oregon, and embraced Oregon and Washington, with headquarters at Vancouver.37

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WALLA WALLA VALLEY.

General Clarke was assigned to California, while Gen- eral W. S. Harney, fresh from a campaign in Utah, was placed in command of the department of Oregon. General Harney arrived in Oregon on the 29th of October, and assumed command. Two days later he issued an order reopening the Walla Walla country

87 Puget Sound Herald, Nov. 5, 1858; Or. Statesman, Nov. 2, 1858.

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198

INDIAN WARS.

to settlement. A resolution was adopted by the legislative assemblies of both Oregon and Washing- ton congratulating the people on the creation of the department of Oregon, and on having General Harney, a noted Indian-fighter, for a commander, as also upon the order reopening the country east of the moun- tains to settlement, harmonizing with the recent act of congress extending the land laws of the United States over that portion of the territories. Harney was entreated by the legislature to extend his protec- tion to immigrants, and to establish a garrison at Fort Boisé. In this matter, also, he received the ap- plause due as much to General Clarke as himself, Clarke having already made the recommendation for a large post between Fort Laramie and Fort Walla Walla, for the better protection of immigrants.38

The stern measures of the army, followed by pacifi- catory ones of the Indian department, were preparing the Indians for the ratification of the treaties of 1855. Some expeditions were sent out during the winter to chastise a few hostile Yakimas, but no general or con- siderable uprising occurred. Fortunately for all con- cerned, at this juncture of affairs congress confirmed the Walla Walla treaties in March 1859, the Indians no longer refusing to recognize their obligations.59 At a council held by Agent A. J. Cain with the Ncz Percés, even Looking Glass and Joseph declared they were glad the treaties had been ratified; but Joseph, who wished a certain portion of the country set off to him and his children, mentioned this matter to the agent, out of which nearly twenty years later grew another war, through an error of Joseph's son in supposing that the treaty gave him this land.40 The other tribes also signified their satisfaction. Fort Simcoe being evacuated, the buildings, which had cost $60,000, were taken for an Indian agency. A

88 Rept of the Secretary of War, 1858, 413; S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 30, 1858; Or. Laws, 1858-9, iii .; Cong. Globe, 1857-8, app. 560.

39 Puget Sound llerald, April 29, 1839; Or. Argus, April 30, 1859. " See Ind. Aff. Rept, 1859, 420.

199

HARNEY IN COMMAND.

portion of the garrison was sent to escort the boun- dary commission, and another portion to establish Harney depot, fourteen miles north-east of Fort Col- ville,41 under Major P. Lugenbeel, to remain a stand- ing threat to restless and predatory savages, Lugen- beel having accepted an appointment as special Indian agent, uniting the Indian and military departments in one at this post.

General Harney had nearly 2,000 troops in his de- partment in 1859. Most of them, for obvious reasons, were stationed in Washington, but many of them were employed in surveying and constructing roads both in Oregon and Washington, the most important of which in the latter territory was that known as the Mullan wagon-road upon the route of the northern Pacific railroad survey, in which Mullan had taken part. Stevens, in 1853, already perceived that a good wagon-road line must precede the railroad, as a means of transportation of supplies and material along the route, and gave instructions to Lieutenant Mullan to make surveys with this object in view, as well as with the project of establishing a connection between the navigable waters of the Missouri and Columbia rivers. The result of the winter explorations of Mul- lan was such that in the spring of 1854 he returned to Fort Benton, and on the 17th of March started with a train of wagons that had been left at that post, and with them crossed the range lying between the Missouri and Bitter Root rivers, arriving at canton- ment Stevens on the 31st of the same month. Upon the representation of the practicability of a wagon- road in this region, connecting the navigable waters of the Missouri with the Columbia, congress made an appropriation of $30,000 to open one from Fort Ben- ton to Fort Walla Walla. The troubles of the gov- ernment with Utah, and the Indian wars of 1855-6

41 Companies A and K, 9th inf., ordered to establish a wintering place and depot for the escort of the N. W. boundary com., reached this place June 20, 1859. A pleasant spot, one mile square, reserved. Sen. Ex. Doc., 52, 36th cong. Ist sess., 271.

200

INDIAN WARS.

and 1858, more than had beeu expected, developed the necessity of a route to the east, more northern than the route by the South Pass, and procured for it that favorable action by congress which resulted in a series of appropriations for the purpose.42 The re- moval of the military interdict to settlement, followed by the survey of the public lands, opened the way for a waiting population, which flowed into the Walla Walla Valley to the number of 2,000 as early as April 1859,43 and spread itself out over the whole of eastern Washington with surprising rapidity for several years thereafter, attracted by mining discoveries even more than by fruitful soils."

42 Mullan's Military Road Rept, 2-12.

43 Letter of Gen. Harney, in U. S. Mess, and Docs, 1859-60. 96.

4 1 introduce here a notice of a pioneer and soldier in the Ind. war, whose biography escaped my attention where it should have appeared, in chapter III.

David Shelton, son of Lewis Shelton and Nancy Gladdin, his wife, and grandson of Roderick Shelton and Usley Willard, his wife, of Va, was born in Buncombe co., Va, Sept. 15, 1812, migrating with his parents to Mo. ter- ritory in 1819. He married Frances Willson, born in Ky, May 30, 1837, and removed in 1838 to the Platte Purchase, settling near St Joseph, where he lived until 1847, when he emigrated to Oregon, taking up a claim on Sanvé Island, which he sold in 1848, and went to the California gold mines, returning to Portland in 1849, where he remained until 1832, when he re- moved to W. T. in company with L. B. Hastings, F. W. Pettigrove, Thomas Tallentine, and B. Ross on a small schooner, named the Mary Taylor. Shelton and Ross remained in Olympia until 1853, in which year he settled on Skookum hay, and was appointed one of the three judges of Thurston co., which at that time comprised the whole Puget Sound coun- try. He was elected to first territorial legislature, and introduced the bill organizing Sawamish co. (the name being subsequently changed to Masou), of which he was the first settler. He served in the Indian war of 1855-6, as a lieutenant in Co. F., W. T. vols. Mrs Shelton died April 15, 1887, at the age of 70 years. Shelton was a man of strong convictions, and a power in the community where he lived. His children were Lewis D. W., born in Andrew co., Mo., in 1841; John S. W., born in Gentry co., Mo., in 1844; Levi T., born in Clackamas co., Or., in 1848; Mary E., born in Portland, Or., in 1850; Franklin P., born in Olympia, Or., in 1852; James B., born in Mason co., W. T., in 1855; Joicie A., born in Mason co., W. T., in 1837. Franklin P. died in 1875.

Another pioneer of 1853, Henry Adams, was born in Greenville, Conn., in 1825, came to Cal. in 1849, to Or. in 1850, and to W. T. in 1853, settling at Seattle, where he worked at carpentry. He took a donation claim in 1855 on White river, his present home. He was the first auditor elected in King co., and served as county commissioner.

I. J. Sackman, born near Mansfield, Ohio, in 1830, came to Cal. in 1850, returning home in 1851, but only to emigrate to Seattle, W. T. He engaged in lumbering at Port Orchard, remaining there until 1877, when he removed to Port Blakely and opened a hotel, which he owns. He married Mrs Phillips, a step-daughter of Capt. Win Reuton, of Port Blakely mills.

CHAPTER VI.

THROUGH FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS.

1855-1867.

PARTY POLITICS-ELECTION OF DELEGATE-MARTIAL LAW-STEVENS CHOSEN DELEGATE-DEATH OF STEVENS-HIS CHARACTER-GOVERNOR McMUL- LIN-FRASER RIVER MINING EXCITEMENT-ITS EFFECT ON WASHINGTON -SERVICES OF SECRETARY MASON-GOVERNOR GHOLSON-HENRY M. MCGILL-THE CAPITAL QUESTION-THE UNIVERSITY-GOVERNOR WAL- LACE-GOVERNOR PICKERINO-THE CUSTOM-HOUSE CONTROVERSY-IN- UNDATION OF PORT ANGELES.

WITH the organization of the territory, the demo- cratic party north of the Columbia had prepared to marshal its ranks and act with the democrats of Oregon wherever they could be mutually helpful in resisting what they denominated the "tyranny of the federal party." It had not succeeded in effecting its object, when it suffered to be elected to congress Columbia Lancaster, whose politics were as nonde- script as his abilities were inferior. In 1855 a more thorough party organization was perfected1 for the election of a delegate to succeed Lancaster.2 The choice of the convention fell upon J. Patton Ander- son, the first United States marshal of the terri- tory, who resigned his office in March with the design of running for delegate, his place being subse-

1 Ebey's Journal, MS., iii. 8.

2 In the democratic convention on the first ballot Lancaster received 18 votes, but never exceeded that number. Stevens received 13, I. N. Ebey 7, J. P. Anderson 7. Stevens withdrew his name on the 6th ballot, and on the 29th ballot Anderson received 38 votes. Judges Lander and McFadden and H. C. Moseley were balloted for, receiving from 15 to 20 votes each. Olympia Pioneer and Dem., May 12, 1855.

( 201 )

202

THROUGH FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS.

quently filled by the appointment of George W. Corliss.3

The opposing candidate of the whig party was Judge Strong,4 Anderson's majority being 176 out of 1,582 votes, 41 of which were cast for a free-soil can- didate, Joseph Cushman.

Stevens, while having with him the ultra anti- Indian element, had become unpopular in other quar- ters. His martial-law measure, among others, was severely criticised. Stevens' excuse for it was that only in that way certain white residents of Pierce county having Indian wives could be effectually secured from intercourse with the enemy. In March 1856 the governor caused them to be arrested upon a charge of treason, without the formality of a civil process, and sent to Fort Steilacoom with a request to Colonel Casey to keep them in close confinement.5 Two law practitioners, W. H. Wallace and Frank Clark of Pierce county, early in April, determining to vindicate the majesty of law, set out for Whidbey Island, where resided Judge Chenoweth, to procure a writ of habeas corpus, when Stevens, equally deter- mined, thereupon proclaimed martial law in Pierce county.

Then followed a performance which for stubborn persistency on both sides was not unlike the Leschi affair. Casey notified the governor that in the case of a writ of habeas corpus being served upon him, he should feel compelled to obey its mandates, where- upon Stevens removed the prisoners to Olympia, out of

3 Corliss came to Salem, Or., about 1852, and thence to Puget Sound. He removed to Las Cruces, Cal., where, on the 16th of Jan. 1864, he was murdered, with his wife, née Lucretia R. Judson, daughter of Peter Judson, and a Mr Shepherd, in his own house, which was burned over their bodies. The murderers were never discovered. Ebry's Journal, MS., vii. 121. It will be remembered that Mr and Mrs Corliss were at the house of I. N. Ebey on the night when he was murdered, but escaped. A strange fate pursued them to the same end. Salem Statesman, Feb. 29, 1964.

4Gilmore Hays, W. H. Wallace, George Gibbs. A. A. Denny, and C. C. Hewitt were the other whig candidates. Olympia Pioneer and Democrat, May 12, 1855.

" The persons arrested were Lyon A. Smith, Charles Wren, Henry Smith, John McLeod, John McPeel, Henry Murray, and Peter Wilson. Evans' Mar. tial Law, i.

203

POLITICAL CONTROVERSIES.

Chenoweth's district. Chenoweth, being ill, requested Chief Justice Lander to hold court for him at Steila- coom, which Lander proceeded to do, but was arrested, and with his clerk, John M. Chapman, taken to Olym- pia and detained in custody three or four days. Indig- nation meetings were held, and congress appealed to, public opinion being divided. Lander opened the dis- trict court the 12th of May at Olympia, and next day the governor placed Thurston county under martial law. Thereupon the governor was cited to appear before the chief justice at chambers, and refused, while the governor caused the arrest of the chief justice for ignoring martial law. Lander, declining parole, was sent to Camp Montgomery.

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History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889, Part 21

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: San Francisco : History Co. Number of Pages: 880

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: San Francisco : History Co.
Number of Pages: 880