USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. I, 1834-1848 > Part 73
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47 'I also showed them the bill of articles taken at this place, and those taken from immigrants along the road, as also at Barlow's Gate, and told them we would forget nothing.' Letter of Supt. Lee, in Or. Spectator, June 1, 1848.
48 Or. Spectator, June 1, 1848.
733
WATERS IN COMMAND.
In order to facilitate these operations, some Palouse chiefs, from mercenary motives now willing to lend their aid to the Americans, agreed to have canoes in readiness to ferry over the men and baggage. But on coming to the place determined upon, no canoes or Indians were visible, and Major Magone with four inen was detailed to cross the Snake River on a raft to search the banks of the Palouse for the promised ferry-man. This was effected with difficulty, the river being high and rapid; the Indians returning with the major, but too late to prevent any further move- ment that day. A day and a half having been spent in crossing the army and baggage, the horses swin- ming, at noon of the 21st the march was resumed toward Lapwai under the guidance of an Indian pilot, who promised to direct the colonel directly to the camp of Tiloukaikt.
On the 22d Waters was surprised by an express from the Chemakane mission, bearing a letter from Eells in reply to one from himself inquiring concern- ing the temper of the Spokanes. Eells reported that they were not entirely harmonious, but that he knew of none who excused the murderers. As if to an- swer for themselves, a party of forty-three of this tribe accompanied the courier, and offered their ser- vices, informing the commander where a part of Tiloukaikt's cattle could be found, and offering to bring them to camp. They were sent upon this ser- vice, and brought in, besides the cattle, two Indians claiming to be Nez Percés, who were thought to be spies. On being questioned, they declared that Tilou- kaikt had fled to the mountains, but that most of his stock was being herded by a few Indians near Snake River, and could be captured. Major Magone was at once ordered to take one hundred men and bring in Tiloukaikt's property; and to capture any Indians suspected with being in league with the guilty Cay- uses.
The order to capture suspected Indians being lib-
734
THE CAYUSE WAR.
erally construed by the volunteers, the first one showing symptoms of flight was pursued by a squad of nine men, who followed and shot him while attempting to escape across Snake River in a canoe.49 Near the spot where this unjustifiable killing occurred, Magone found a small camp of Indians under an old chief called Beardy, who assured him that Tiloukaikt was nowhere in that country, but had gone far away. He directed the major to the camp of Richard, the lately appointed high chief, who confirmed this statement. The Indians also informed him that an express of two white men had that morning gone to Colonel Waters from Lee in the Lapwai country,50 upon which he collected the stock belonging to Tiloukaikt in that vicinity, and returned to the Palouse to learn the news direct.
Lee had been met at Red Wolf crossing by the statement that Tiloukaikt's people had fled the coun- try two days before, leaving all their worldly posses- sions, some of which were in the vicinity of Lapwai. To this place he had marched, arriving on the morning of the 21st, and remaining several days to collect the cattle belong to the Cayuses. To the Nez Percés who visited the volunteer camp, Lee said that his business in their country was to punish the Cayuses, and that since they had fled beyond reach, he claimed all their property, and that if they were true friends
49 Major Magone in his report says that on nearing the river Baptiste Dorion discovered an Indian and at once set off at full speed, followed by those who were in front-not that he ordered the charge; and that having a poorer horse he did not come up with them until the river was reached, when he found the men shooting at a canoe in which no person was visible; but the men said there were Indians in it who had fled from the troops, and who were no doubt guilty. W. P. Breeding, who now resides in the Palouse country, says that 2 Indians pushed off from shore in a rawhide boat just as the volunteers gained the shore, and that Ramsey and Brown hastily made a raft of logs on which they crossed Snake River, being carried 2 miles down by the cur- rent before they effected a landing, after which they ran back to a point opposite the place from which they started, and discovering the canoe under the bank, watched until an Indian raised his head to reconnoitre, when Brown shot him. Nichols' Ind. Aff., MS., 1, 2.
50 C. W. Cooke and David M. Guthrie carried this express, riding at night through the long stretch of Indian country. They were assisted in crossing the Snake River by Beardy's people.
735
AFFAIRS AT FORT WATERS.
of the Americans, they would assist, without attempt- ing to hide anything from him. To this they agreed, and allowed the volunteers to drive back to Colonel Waters' camp one hundred and eighteen horses and a number of colts, besides about forty head of cattle.51
It was with regard to rejoining the main command that Lee had sent an express; this he was ordered to do without delay. His detachment crossed back to the south side of Snake River in boats made of the skin lodges left behind by the fleeing Cayuses, and returned to camp, where he arrived about the 26th.
It was evident from the results of the spring cam- paign thus far that there was nothing to be gained by having a regiment in the Indian country. So long as they remained, the guilty Cayuses would keep con- cealed. There was the trifling satisfaction of confis- cating their property ; but it sometimes happened that a doubt was raised concerning the real ownership, and incidents occurred of a nature to embroil them with the peaceable Indians. Such an incident was men- tioned in one of the official reports, where a company was driving to camp a herd which it was supposed belonged to the Cayuses, when an unknown Indian of dignified bearing forbade them, declaring the prop- erty to be his, upon which, without inquiry, he was shot down. Colonel Waters wished to punish the man for firing without orders; but his captain interfered, saying the man had done his duty.52 Such acts could only lead to a general war.
Satisfied that it was hopeless to expect any real cooperation, even from the Nez Percés, in capturing the fugitives, whom they were known to have enter- tained up to the time the volunteers were within
51 Report of Capt. Thompson, in Or. Spectator, July 27, 1848.
52 Nichols' Ind. Aff., MS., 2. Major Magone, in closing his report of the expedition to Snake River, before mentioned, said: 'I ordered the detach- ment to return to the regiment, thoroughly convinced that I would have given more general satisfaction by ordering them to wipe from the face of existence these (professedly) friendly Indians.' Or. Spectator, July 27, 1848.
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THE CAYUSE WAR.
two days of Lapwai, and being aware that now that the snow was off the mountains the Cayuses could find sustenance without their herds, Colonel Waters determined upon closing the campaign, should it meet the approval of the governor. Feeling, also, that it was better that all the white inhabitants should remove out of the Indian country, he despatched captains Thompson and Nesmith to Craig's place on the Clear- water to escort him and his family and goods to the fort; and ordered Major Magone with fifty-five men to the Chemakane mission to give Walker and Eells an opportunity to leave the country, advising them by letter that in his judgment they would do well to accept it.
These measures were adopted without waiting for the sanction of Governor Abernethy, as shown by the dates of the correspondence and reports.53 Colonel Waters left Waiilatpu June 8th to proceed to the Dalles, the letter of the governor directing him to do so being dated June 15th, which could not have been received before he reached the Dalles. That the orders of the governor agreed so well with the pre- vious acts of the field-officer is evidence that the latter suggested to the former his course.54
At Fort Waters, which was placed under the com- mand of Captain William Martin, Colonel Waters left fifty-five men, which number he expected to be
53 Magone left camp for the Chemakane May 26th, and Thompson must have started for Lapwai a day or two later. He returned to Fort Waters the day that Magone left Chemakaue with the mission families, and the colonel, without waiting for the major's detachment, left at once for the Dalles.
54 "Oregon City, June 15, 1848. Sir: On receipt of this you will hold a council with the superintendent of Indian affairs and come to a decision in regard to remaining in the upper country. In order that the remainder may return without delay, I would recommend that one company of 85 men, rank and file, be formed out of the volunteers that may offer their services to remain until the U. S. troops arrive. Of this company, 15 could be stationed at Fort Lee and 70 at Fort Waters. Of the latter, 40 or 50 could proceed at the proper time to meet the emigrants. A company under Capt. Scott wi'l leave the head of this valley in time to escort the emigrants on the southern route. I think treaties can be made holding the chiefs responsible and pro- tecting the emigration from molestation. 'Col. Waters.'
(Signed) GEO. ABERNETHY.' Or. Archives, MS., 144.
737
END OF THE SPRING CAMPAIGN.
augmented by a portion of Magone's command, only five of whom, however, remained. These were men who had enlisted to serve until the 15th of September ; and the object in leaving the garrison was to afford protection to the immigrants who might pass by the Columbia route,55 and also hold the enemy's country until they should be compelled to give up the mur- derers.
At Fort Lee seventeen men only were left, under command of Lieutenant A. L. Rodgers; the remainder of the regiment, which was joined at the Dalles by Magone's detachment, proceeding to Oregon City by the Barlow road over the Cascade Mountains, com- manded by Captain Hall, while Colonel Waters with the missionary party took a boat from the Dalles to that place, expecting to arrive in advance and meet the companies at McSwain's, on the Clackamas. Not being able to do so on account of adverse winds, the regiment arrived at Oregon City before Waters, and was disbanded by Captain Hall, on furlough, subject to the order of the governor,56 by whom they were subsequently mustered out.
The foregoing history of the winter and spring campaign has been written from the official documents, as far as they can be found, which, although somewhat meagre, afford a sufficiently clear account of the Cayuse war to show the spirit in which it was conducted, and the hardihood of the volunteers in marching back and
55 I find a copy of a circular in Lee's handwriting evidently intended to be forwarded to meet the immigration at Laramie or Fort Hall, it being accord- ing to the act of the legislature creating the office of superintendent of Indian affairs, that he should give instructions to persons emigrating how to main- tain peace with the Indians. In this circular they are warned of the existing hostilities with the Cayuses and Columbia River Indians, and informed of the establishment of military posts in their country. They were advised, unless they were protected by United States troops, to form themselves into military companies, and consider themselves as soldiers, and their families and property as their ordnance and baggage train; to give no unnecessary offence, and show no fear. 'Experience has taught us that the best way to keep the Indians really friendly is to keep them afraid of us.' Or. Archives, MS., 161-3.
56 Rept. of Col. Waters, in Or. Spectator, July 27, 1848; Polynesian, v. 2; S. F. Californian, Aug. 14, 1848.
HIST. OR., VOL. I. 47
738
THE CAYUSE WAR.
forth hundreds of miles through a hostile country at at a time of year when, if the Columbia River had frozen over, as it sometimes did, they would have been en- tirely cut off from supplies or reinforcements. Poorly furnished with clothing and ammunition, without any of the comforts of home or society, with little to gain should congress recognize their services, and every- thing to lose should fortune be against them, the men of Oregon evinced a courage and intrepidity honorable to individuals and their country ; as also, in general, a self-restraint, doing little injury to the natives in per- son or property, though often exasperated 'by the recollection of past barbarities, and the evidence of present hostility.
There is, however, an inside history which should be given of the closing acts in the military adminis- tration, since it relates to the attempted settlement of the Walla Walla Valley by the volunteers, and illustrates what Roberts calls the 'earth-hunger' of these people. Lee says that when the regiment re- turned to Fort Waters a council of the officers, except- ing those with Magone's detachment, was held to decide the question whether a command should be left to occupy the post, and that on being put to vote there was a majority of one against it, and prepara- tions were begun for evacuating the fort. Colonel Waters then made a call for volunteers to remain, being unwilling to abandon the country and the advan- tage gained; but owing to opposition the order was countermanded. But Lee, in order to induce the men to volunteer to remain, pledged himself, by virtue of his office as superintendent of Indian affairs, to give authority to some prominent and responsible men to colonize the country immediately, and in the articles to secure them, as far as it was in his power, against future treaty stipulations prejudicial to their interests. The men to whom he pledged himself were Captain P. F. Thompson of Yamhill and James Taylor of Clatsop, and their associates. A call for fifty vol-
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739
THE INNER HISTORY,
unteers was again made, to remain at Fort Waters until the middle of September, and upon the promise of Thompson and others that they would return with their families by that time to settle in the Walla Walla Valley, it was successful. Lee after returning to Oregon City wrote to Governor Abernethy for an expression of his opinion as to the legality and pro- priety of his action. " If the course to which I am pledged," said he, " be not a violation of any law or any principle of our organic compact, will you sanc- tion the proceedings, and give to the promised instrument the benefit of authority and of your ap- probation ?" 57
This proceeding of Lee's which had an air of com- bining the military with the Indian department to a degree not compatible with his constant assurances to the Cayuses that the murderers were to be punished as individuals, and not as a nation,58 and to the Nez Percés that no white people would be permitted to settle in their country without their consent, found a ready coadjutor in the governor. To the inquiries of Lee, he replied that the organic law did not limit set- tlers to any part of Oregon, and although it might be impolitic to occupy the lands of friendly Indians east of the mountains, at that time, there could be no impropriety in occupying the country of the mur- derers, provided the party taking possession were strong enough to hold it and maintain peace. The only reservation he asked them to make was of the lands and improvements of the Presbyterian board, to which the missionaries might wish to return and lay claim, together with their other property,59 before
57 Or. Archives, MS., 145 -..
58 See Palmer's speech to the Nez Percés elsewhere in this chapter. This sentiment was corroborated by the speeches of Lee, Gilliam, and Mckay.
59 With regard to the Waiilatpu claim, the board sold it to Rev. Cushing Eells for $1,000. At the time of the massacre there were about 100 horses, 200 cattle, and the same number of sheep belonging to Whitman. The savages had taken most of the stock before the army came, and the volun- teers consumed a part of what was left, for which no return was ever made to the board. Original letter of Perrin B. Whitman. Ind. Aff., Rept. 1862, 426.
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THE CAYUSE WAR.
which time he had no doubt the United States gov- ernment would be extended over it.
By the same reasoning which permitted settlers to occupy and claim the Cayuse country, because the people had not given up certain individuals whom the law regarded as criminals, the lands of the Nez Percés, Walla Wallas, and Palouses could have been seized, for they too had sheltered the criminals; and settlement being once begun in the Indian territory east of the mountains, it would not stop at imaginary lines, as Abernethy must have known. It was no secret that the real origin of the disorders in the upper country was the fear of the Indians that the white people who were every year coming from the east meant to take away their country by settlement, or that Whitman had latterly wished to prevent col- onization until the United States should make treaties
for that reason.60 In killing Whitman the savages had ignorantly broken down the wall between them- selves and the Americans, bringing upon themselves the very thing they dreaded; the governor and the superintendent of Indian affairs, under the pretence of a military necessity, lending themselves to the con- fiscation of the Walla Walla Valley.
No sooner was the governor's sanction obtained than the project was advertised by proclamation in the Spectator under the name "Forfeiture of the Cayuse Lands," with every eulogistic notice of the country calculated to promote immigration.61
When it is remembered that a colonization scheme was on foot, the purpose of the volunteer officers in
60 Or. Spectator, July 13, 1848; American Unionist, Aug. 16, 1848.
61 Lee appended to the proclamation, for the information of any who might wish to join the colonizing company, that there were already in the country grist and saw mills, a blacksmith's anvil and bellows, some tools, ploughs, harrows, hoes, a quantity of iron, a crop of wheat, pease, potatoes, and corn, with almost every convenience for forming a settlement. Or. Spectator, July 13, 1848. From this it would appear that the forfeiture was to extend to the mission property. Parrish says that the Methodists were driven away from the Dalles by the provisional government-a singular statement in the face of the fact that they had sold the station several months before the war broke out. See Or. Anecdotes, MS., 30.
741
DOWNFALL OF THE PRESBYTERIANS.
urging the missionaries at Chemakane to leave the country becomes questionable. They may have thought it for the best. And in order to be perfectly logical, Superintendent Lee, when he arrived at the Dalles, notified the Catholics, who were beginning a station at that place, that it was desirable that no more missions should be established until the presence of United States troops in the country should render such efforts safe and judicious. 62 The bishop of Walla Walla had previously asked permission of the governor to return to his charge, but Abernethy had taken no notice of. the application. Was the removal of the Protestant mission a measure to prepare the way for the suppres- sion of the Catholic missions ? If so it effected nothing, for Rosseau stayed at the Dalles as a settler, cultivating a land claim, but refraining from teaching the Indians, as ordered by the superintendent; and the Oblate fathers who had abandoned the Yakima country on the breaking-out of the war soon returned thither, while Bishop Blanchet, being prevented from going to the Umatilla, attended the Cayuses en route as they wandered about the country.63 When called upon by the Indian agent, Henry Saffarans, to answer the charge of violating orders, he appears to have replied in a manner satisfactory to the agent, who apologized for troubling him, acknowledging that it was not to be understood that a house or a farm meant a missionary establishment, or that it was a violation of orders for a man to attend to his religious duties in his own domicile.64 And in this manner they prevailed and held their ground. Blanchet does not conceal his satisfaction that the war resulted in the total over- throw of the Presbyterian missions, " and had the effect
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62 This letter was addressed on the outside to 'Rev. Mr Rosseau,' and on the inside to ' Messrs Blanchet, etc.' Or. Spectator, July 13, 1848.
63 Blanchet's Cath. Church in Or., 173.
64 Brouillet's Authentic Account, 83-4. An anecdote is told by P. W. Craw- ford, illustrative of the suspicious temper of the people. The blacksmith at Vancouver and an American named Buell were employed all winter making axes for the use of the hunters and trappers, but which 'the settlers would have it were battle-axes!' Narrative, MS., 149.
742
THE CAYUSE WAR.
of increasing those of the Catholics, by the establish- ment of St Peters at the Dalles." 65
In the month of August another difficulty occurred with the priests of the Jesuit missions in the north- east. The natives were busy, as usual, carrying rumors from post to post. It was said that Peupeu- moxmox had hanged one of the murderers, whom he found a day's march from Fort Walla Walla on the Yakima,66 a story which was not credited, although the regiment before leaving Fort Waters had sub- scribed to pay a reward of fifty blankets for the delivery to them of one of the guilty chiefs, and half that amount for a common murderer. That the Walla Walla chief should hang a murderer without knowing of the inducement, or, knowing it, should forfeit the reward, Captain Martin refused to believe. The same gossip said that Peupeumoxmox was pursuing another of the guilty Cayuses, and McBean thought there should be a party sent to assist him; but Martin saw treachery in the movements of the chief, and kept his men at the fort.
Again it was said, this time by the Nez Percés, that a war had broken out between their nation and the Snake Indians, and also that two of the Cay- uses who accompanied Joe Lewis had been killed on the Boisé River; and again that many Americans were coming by the Snake River route, and had threatened to kill all savages they should meet by the way, which had occasioned the erection of for- tifications by the Cayuses on Burnt River, with a view to cutting off the immigrants at that pass. And still another rumor declared Tiloukaikt and seven of his people killed by Shoshones led by a Frenchman. These tales were the subject of conversation at Fort Waters, where almost any piece of news was received
65 Cath. Church in Or., 172, 180.
66 McBean believed the story, which was brought by Patatis, an Indian whose word he said was more to be depended on than the word of Peupeu- moxmox. Or. Spectator, July 13, 1848.
743
ATTITUDE OF THE CATHOLICS.
with avidity,67 and were reported to the Oregon au- thorities as all there was to report.
At Fort Lee there was similar gossip, and Welap- tulekt, who had lately come to profess much friendship for the Americans, and was endeavoring to promote peace by urging the Waiams of Warm Springs and the Wascos of the Columbia River to return horses and other property, brought the story to Lieutenant Rodgers that the Catholic priests had promised to supply the Cayuses with ammunition with which to ex- terminate the Americans, and that unless the Waiams and Wascos assisted them, they should also be killed. So much impressed were the Indians by the threats of the Cayuses that they retired from the river and hid themselves among the mountains, from which cir- cumstance Rodgers became cautious, and when soon afterward a large amount of ammunition and arms arrived at the Dalles, on its way to the Jesuit missions, he intercepted and held it,68 at the same time giving information to Governor Abernethy. The governor instructed Lee to write to M. Accolti, a Jesuit, then at the Cowlitz, in explanation, telling him that the most effective measures had been taken by order of the governor to prevent the powder and ball from falling into the hands of the Indians. Accolti replied that he did not object to the seizure, since the gover- nor thought it prudent; unless it was intended to con- fiscate the property, it might be brought to Vancouver and left there until the restoration of peace; but he took occasion to remind Lee that the law did not prohibit the transportation of arms or ammunition through the Indian country, but only the distribution
67 To amuse themselves, Martin's company celebrated the Fourth of July by a banquet held in a shady arbor on the green lawn, the table being spread with roast-beef and mutton, coffee, milk, sugar, bread, and pies. The toasts were drank in water. C. W. Cooke gave: 'The words of young Miss Wick- liffe, "The American flag, the only thing American that will bear stripes !"' Or. Spectator, Aug. 24, 1848.
68 There were 1,080 pounds of powder, 1,500 pounds of balls, 300 pounds of buckshot, and 36 guns. The Oregon army had not been able to procure more than 500 pounds of powder. Oregon American, Aug. 16, 1848.
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