USA > Oregon > Pioneer days of Oregon history, Vol. II > Part 14
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The first effort was to establish a supply depot at the Cas- cades and another at The Dalles, where a portage of many more miles was necessary, but horses could be used, for it was in open country. There was a mission of the Methodists at The Dalles. The Indians there were a mixture of various tribes ; the Cayuses were in the habit of visiting river points, and even made journeys to Western Oregon. The immi- grants of 1847 had left hundreds of head of cattle to range there under the care of friendly Indians. The first struggle of the campaign was when the earliest volunteers saw, on January 8th, a party of twenty-three of the natives, all well mounted, gathering up this immigrant stock. Seven-
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teen men went after them, some of them on foot, none well mounted. A running fight ensued, in which three of the In- dians were killed and one wounded, while Sergeant William Berry was wounded. The Indians got off with the cattle, shouting that they were all good Cayuses ; one-third of them were of that tribe, the rest were men of other tribes, who were willing to take a hand in anything that promised spoil. Among all the tribes were renegades, usually young men, who obeyed no chiefs and minded no treaties ; such often made trouble when their people wished for peace.
The Deschutes chief, Siletza, who had refused to take part in this raid, after being robbed and threatened on that account, was brought into camp to receive protection of the troops. The Cayuses claimed that they surrendered the captives to Mr. Ogden on condition that no war should follow and that the sending of troops east of the Cascades was an infringement of the agreement. Of course, Mr. Ogden made no such pledge; he merely promised the in- fluence of the Hudson's Bay Company to make the best terms for them in their power.
The troops in the field were commanded by Colonel Cornelius Gilliam, Lieutenant-Colonel James Waters, and Major H. A. G. Lee. It was a work of difficulty to raise and equip these companies, and of toil and expense to transport them and their supplies past the Cascades and The Dalles, so they could mount their steeds to take the open field. This, remember, was done in mid-winter, entailed great hardships, and even more danger from the elements than from the enemy. A winter campaign was sure to be more serious to the Indians, because they were then in their winter camps, shut in by mountain snows, while summer opened all routes
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to them, as they could go to the mountains to live on game and the products of nature to be found there, so a winter campaign was attempted, with all its dangers and difficul- ties.
Colonel Gilliam was impulsive, even headstrong, but brave and desirous of doing right. On the way up the river he heard of this first skirmish, near The Dalles, and hastened to the front. Governor Abernethy hoped that a display of force would incline the hostiles to make terms of peace and surrender the murderers, so avoid a prolonged war. Colonel Gilliam seems to have favored fighting it out to a finish and wait for no negotiations. Either course may have been preferable to the uncertain policy pursued, for the peace commission achieved few results and the army lost by waiting for them to negotiate.
This commission was composed of Joel Palmer, Robert Newell and Major H. A. G. Lee. The two former the writer knew well and respected highly ; General Palmer was commissary of the volunteer force, a man of cool courage and well-balanced mind. Robert Newell was a mountain man of experience, used to Indian life and with considerable reading to educate his mind. Major Lee was probably the most forceful man engaged in prosecution of the war, as well as the most unpretending of its officers, for when later offered the command in chief, on the death of Colonel Gilliam, he declined to outrank Colonel Waters and served under him as a volunteer lieutenant-colonel to the end.
The peace commission had not sufficient opportunity to secure success, for while several of the Cayuse chiefs pro- fessed peaceful intentions and other tribes showed the same desire, affairs miscarried ; their correspondence fell into the
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hands of the hostiles and matters became uncertain, or com- plicated, as a result. It simply became impossible to carry out the intention of the commission. Colonel Gilliam was rather a "fire eater," and his voice was all the time for war. He was even supposed to favor levying contribution on the Hudson's Bay Company's base of supply at Vancouver to properly equip the troops ; which led to correspondence be- tween Governor Abernethy and Chief Factor Douglas that resulted in a good understanding.
Meantime, the people of Oregon discussed, very indig- nantly, the course of the Catholics and of the Hudson's Bay Company. While the appearance of the Catholic priests near Whitman's mission no doubt caused trouble and complicated matters, there is no proof that they did any- thing to cause the Cayuses to commit the massacre. It is a sad commentary on the religion of peace, on those who claim to be the disciples of Christ, the Prince of Peace, that dif- ferent sects of Christians send missions to the heathen, each claiming to be true representatives of His teachings, yet fighting each other in some instances more bitterly than they fight the Evil One-for the Catholics usually arrogate to themselves the claim to be the only teachers of true re- ligion, and of old found no excuse for the existence of other Christian creeds. Had any one of these missions been left to prosecute their work in peace and unchallenged, they could have done much good, but where this unholy rivalry occurred, the result was ever disastrous to the natives, who did not see how true religion could have such various and inharmonious interpreters.
The jealousy, in the popular mind of the Hudson's Bay Company was due in part that most of its employés were
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Catholics, and that its established policy and interests were to have the trade of the natives and preserve peace on every hand. The student of Oregon history must confess that this great company pursued a course that was generous in the extreme, both to the early missions and the pioneers; for the presence of the one encouraged the other, while the in- terest of the Hudson's Bay Company was to preserve the immense western territory in a state of nature in the posses- sion of the native tribes.
About the last of January, 1848, Colonel Gilliam had one hundred and thirty of his men mounted and equipped at The Dalles, and with these marched east twenty miles to the Deschutes River, to punish the Indians who had driven off immigrant stock. Major Lee was sent forward to discover their village, but was seen by them, and they were moving their families and goods to the mountains when overtaken. Lee attacked; one Indian was killed and two women and some horses captured. On his return he was ambushed in a deep ravine, by a force well armed and mounted, that drove him to seek shelter among rocks and river growths, where his men remained until night, the enemy rolling stones on their hiding places, but they suffered no loss.
The next day the whole force pursued and attacked, the enemy losing several killed, many horses and some cattle ; they also captured $1,400 worth of stolen property, found cached in the hills. The village was destroyed, but the old people in it were spared. The volunteers had one man wounded. Skirmishing continued several days, the troops losing four men. The hostiles were of two local tribes, with some Cayuses. The Indians were dismayed to find that
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the volunteers could yell much louder than they, so they be- came demoralized and fled.
Returning to The Dalles (Fort Lee) on the 12th of Feb- ruary, it was determined to send forward one hundred men, under Major Lee, with two peace commissioners. The army now consisted of seven companies, aggregating five hundred and thirty-seven men. Orders were issued to march on the 14th, to the disgust of the commission, who feared such haste would drive neutral tribes to become hostile. The army was not under good discipline in some respects ; many who had suffered from Indian encounters on the road across the plains felt willing to punish all of the race, and would, and did, occasionally pursue and kill those they met by the way. There are always such men to complicate matters with In- dians, who refuse to pardon in them acts they are guilty of themselves. It is a question if these reckless men did not give the Indians along the river cause to assume hostility.
Meantime, the furnishing and transport of supplies was the great question. The troops could fight their way to victory, but to secure clothing, food and ammunition was hardly possible. Mr. Spaulding sent by a friendly In- dian a letter to the Nez Percés, that reached them-after falling into the hands of the enemy, and insured their neu- trality, a result that was very important.
The troops proceeded to Willow Creek, half way to the Walla Walla, and were so demoralized as the result of hun- ger, thirst and hard marching, that Colonel Gilliam haranged them from a wagon bed, urging them to be true and loyal, and endure what was before them manfully.
Here a deputation of Dalles Indians overtook them and promised peace as result of their late experience. A little
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such experience had wonderful effect on them, and they seem to have made no more trouble. A delegation from the Yakima Indians came, with letters from the Catholic priests in charge of that mission, to say that the Yakimas had taken their advice and would not go to war. Their country was north of The Dalles one hundred miles or so, and the Cayuses had sent to invite their alliance.
On the 24th of February the army started for the Uma- tilla. About noon Indians were seen on the hills, making war signals, then they gathered from all directions in the path of the army and battle proceeded in the usual manner. The warriors and their horsemen also avoided open war- fare, and seeking cover stood their ground as they had chosen it. The volunteers marched steadily on, throwing out lines to protect the stock and wagon train. A double- quick charge where they were the strongest surprised the Cayuses and the yells of the soldiers terrified them. Pouring in one ineffectual volley, they withdrew in haste to a distant higher ground. This was several times repeated, and each time they left their dead and wounded. A remarkable duel is recorded, where Tom McKay, captain of the French company, killed Gray Eagle, and Lieutenant Charles Mckay shattered the arm of Five Crows. These chiefs rode out to boast of their prowess and infallibility and to challenge the Mckays, and while the words were in their mouths they were shot down.
Tom McKay was a wonderful shot. Gray Eagle seems to have had actual confidence in the infallibility of his per- son and immunity from danger, probably taking the asser- tion of his medicine man for his belief. The two chiefs rode out to the front and dared the Mckays to shoot at them.
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Tom McKay fired at Gray Eagle offhand, without seeming to take aim, and the chief fell dead. His people said the trouble was that Mckay's medicine was too strong for Gray Eagle, but the death of their supposed immaculate cham- pion was very discouraging to them.
The Cayuses had an idea they could defeat the Americans and had talked of making a raid into Western Oregon, but the result of the battle left them defeated and inglorious. The next day the troops, who had camped without water, started early and were all day surrounded by hostiles. Some who were lookers on merely sent messengers to sue for peace, but the troops refused to have any talk until they should find water and a good camping place.
They reached the Umatilla River at sunset, suffering in- tolerably from hunger and thirst. The Indians were four miles away on the east side. Crossing the river on the 26th, camp was made a mile nearer the hostiles. Indians were numerous who made signs of hostility, while others did not. When camp was made, Chief Stickas and others made over- tures of peace. Stickas was really a good character-con- sidered the most reliable of all the Cayuse converts. While he seemed not to approve the massacre, he was a man of character and much respected the remainder of his life. No proposition was entertained there, however, and the army proceeded on its way to Walla Walla.
February 28th, they encamped on the Walla Walla River, where the commissioners had an interview with Mr. McBean, of the Hudson's Bay Company's station at Fort Walla Walla, learning the position of the various Indian tribes. The next day they were at the camp of Peu Peu Mox Mox, the chief of the Walla Wallas, who was friendly. The
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next camp was near the former Whitman mission. They found the bodies of the dead unearthed by wolves, and they were reinterred. The scene of this massacre, the bleaching bones of the martyrs, the ruined homes and blighted hopes that all these represented, had the effect to exasperate good men and true, so they could hardly restrain themselves from wreaking vengeance on whoever was a Cayuse Indian.
The ruins that lay prone sufficed as material for a forti- fication ; Colonel Gilliam was willing to make war on whoever willed it, many of the troops were on the point of insubordi- nation ; Newell was peace commissioner, because of his char- acter as a lifelong friend of Indians, and knowing how to manage them, which Gilliam and the majority could not do, of course the two men could not agree.
About noon of the 6th, Craig and Gervais, two old moun- taineers, came to say that two hundred and fifty friendly Nez Percés and Cayuses were near at hand. When they came to camp the troops gave them cheers, treated them hospitably, and on the seventh a council was held. Joseph, a Nez Percé chief, opened with a peace address for the Cayuses present, as well as his own people. It was pathetic in its appeal; he had taken his Nez Percé testament in his hand and came thus to meet the Americans, who, he had heard, came to kill him. Although his brother (Five Crows had a Nez Percé mother who was also his mother) was wounded, he did not wish his children to engage in this war. Different ones spoke for peace and for surrendering the murderers. Then General Palmer praised the Nez Percés ; said the Cayuses had forfeited their lands, but the Ameri- cans only wanted a road through at that time. The Nez Percés were advised to return to their homes and their farms.
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Others made friendly addresses ; the Nez Percés became friendly neutrals and the Cayuses were a divided people.
On the 11th the army left the peace commission behind, and with only the two hundred and sixty-eight men and officers remaining made a new march in search of the hos- tiles. When they left The Dalles, the Indians along the Columbia were more or less allied with the Cayuses and took up arms with them. These had enough of fighting and made no further trouble of consequence. The Cayuses were many of them satisfied with their experience to date. The Walla Walla chief, Peu Peu Mox Mox, and his people were for peace and had never taken part in the contest or in the Whitman massacre. South of the Columbia there were left only the part of the Cayuses who were hostile, and some of their chiefs were now for peace. It remained to be seen what this little band were to encounter next.
March 11th, Colonel Gilliam took up the line of march for the Cayuse camp, and they met three Indians bearing a flag of peace, who brought with them horses stolen from the troops since leaving The Dalles. They said Stickas had taken Jo Lewis-the infamous half-breed who betrayed Whitman by his lies-intending to deliver him to Colonel Gilliam, but the hostiles had rescued him and seized much property which the faithful Stickas intended to surrender to the original owners. Colonel Gilliam disbelieved this story, so pushed forward, to be betrayed by the professed friendship of Tauitowe, a chief who had pretended peace all the time. He asserted that Tamsucky and Tiloukaikt were gone, dividing the Cayuse force. Gilliam marched to attack the remaining Cayuse camp and found only an old Indian, who assured him this was a friendly Walla
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Walla chief's camp, but that Tiloukaikt's stock were scattered over the hills for the Americans to take. There was a deep cañon intervening, and when they had toiled up the farther hill side, at great fatigue to men and horses, to reach the high plain, they saw their cattle swim- ming Snake River and escaping to the north, to the Palouse country. Gilliam had been outwitted. Collecting a few cattle and some hundreds of horses, they returned toward their camp. After going a mile they were attacked by four hundred Cayuse and Palouse warriors, for the Cayuses now had these others for allies, and the Palouses were numerous and warlike. It was a day spent in weary marching and fighting. They were obliged to camp on the upland, where there was neither wood nor water. There was no rest possible, for the Indians kept up a constant fire. The captured stock was again turned loose without any advantage. As soon as they were on the road the attack recommenced ; summoning all their courage, they assumed the offensive and challenged the allies to assault.
A small detachment headed off the Indians from the Touchet, on which the camp was located, and saved the day. Elsewhere the savages had built a fort the men had to pass, where several were wounded. The Indians had four killed and fourteen wounded. The women cried to them to cease the fight, and they did not attempt to cross the Touchet. The whites were victorious, and their foes changed their war cry to the death wail; that is the saddest sound in all their vocal expression.
Thirty hours of constant strife left the volunteers willing to quit, so their victory was very welcome. Of all the tribes, there were now only the Cayuses on the south of Snake
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River, and the Palouses on the north, who were on the war- path, but these were sure to be recruited by renegades from other tribes, who took part in whatever warfare promised spoil or could insure scalps. The Spokanes to the north were not known to be hostile; there Messrs. Walker and Eells, colleagues of Whitman and Spaulding, were located, and apprehension was felt concerning the fate of their families and others.
The question now was as to the future of military opera- tions, and what course to pursue to end the war satisfac- torily. A sad event at this time was the death of Colonel Gilliam, who was drawing a gun from a wagon when it was discharged, causing his instant death. This left Lieuten- ant-Colonel Waters in command. Major H. A. G. Lee was later commissioned as colonel, but served through as second to Colonel Waters, as we have said.
So far the volunteers were victorious, yet their victory was not so assured that they could afford to quit the field. They had done heroically, and not only those in the field, but the entire population had done well and sacrificed much to have the war go on and the peace of their homes assured. All had not been quiet at home, for there were some dissat- isfied and unquiet members of the various Western tribes, who gave occasion for fears, so that apprehension was at times acute ; but these episodes passed by and were not dan- gerous, though at times fearsome. During the few weeks of the campaign numbers had decreased from various causes, and it became necessary to recruit the force, also to find means to meet current expenses. The troops in the field needed clothes, provisions, ammunition-needed every- thing.
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Appeals were made for men and means. The true women of the settlements organized societies to provide clothing, and the young women insisted that stalwart young men should go to the front and enlist, and those who would not fight in their defence should have no part in their good graces. Wheat was subscribed, to be delivered below the falls of the Willamette, that had to be hauled to the river and boated down it, then make the portage at the falls and reach Vancouver to be marketable. Every possible means and source of credit was exhausted to insure the progress of the war. Those who do not comprehend the isolation of a new wilderness and the difficulties of transportation at The Dalles and the Cascades can have no idea of the situ- ation.
The work of raising more troops went steadily on, and as fast as forwarded to The Dalles they were there organ- ized under Colonel Lee. It was May, 1848, before another movement was made; then the new companies took up the line of march for the seat of war. Reaching Waiilatpu May 9th, Lee found that his claim to the colonelcy would cause trouble, so returned his commission and expressed his confidence in Lieutenant-Colonel Waters. The men, with al- most unanimity, asked him to serve as lieutenant-colonel, which he cheerfully did. The fact that more troops came from the Willamette, and further news that the mounted rifle regiment was to cross the plains, had wonderful effect toward peace with the Indians.
Lee made them understand that the country would be held until the murderers were given up and all the damage done and property stolen from emigrants paid for. On May 17th four hundred men set out for the Clearwater, in
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the Nez Perce country, in search of the murderers, but found none of them. They succeeded in capturing a lot of stock belonging to Tiloukaikt, a hostile chief, in which the Nez Percés assisted. Summer was now at hand, when every man was needed in the Willamette to harvest the ripening crops. The campaign had cowed the murderous Cayuses, and the appearance of the last four hundred showed that they had no security from the vengeance of the Americans.
This expedition soon returned to the Walla Walla River, for in summer the Cayuses could not possibly be followed. All the tribes saw that the Americans were not cowards and could take care of themselves, so the lesson taught was salu- tary. The Palouses made overtures for peace and Peu Peu Mox Mox had hung a Cayuse Indian to the first tree who boasted in his presence that he was one of the murderers. It was decided that a garrison of fifty men should remain at Waiilatpu until September 15th under Captain James Mar- tin ; and fifteen men were stationed at The Dalles, a promise being made that the country should be open for settlement and settlers in possession by the time stated, for the value of the rich Walla Walla region was apparent.
Returning to The Dalles, the volunteers crossed the Cas- cade range by the Mount Hood route, and after five months of toil and danger, often with actual suffering, found them- selves again at home. Never men better deserved the honors their countrymen bestowed on them and posterity yet ac- cords them. The history of our country has no parallel to this campaign in winter against such obstacles, and the self-sacrifice of a people who had so little to give and gave so much to insure the peace and safety of their homes and their loved ones !
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About this time excitement arose when it became known that against the law of the provisional legislature Jesuit missionaries were sending more munitions of war into the In- dian country than the volunteers had been able to acquire during the whole campaign. This consisted of thirty-six guns, 1,500 pounds of balls, and 1,080 pounds of powder, while the volunteers had only obtained 500 pounds of pow- der. This material was seized and sent from The Dalles to the governor at Oregon City, and Rev. Acolti was written to for an explanation; which was that this constituted the annual supply of the four Jesuit missions to the Flatheads -Pend d'Oreilles, Cœur d'Alenes and Okanogans, who all lived by the chase. A certain amount, he said, was also needed by the whites who were connected with those mis- sions. In course of the next season this material was re- turned to Vancouver to their credit.
The laws of Oregon forbade sale of ammunition to In- dians and the result was great hardship to them. As time passed the United States Government sent General Joseph Lane as governor, also the rifle regiment came, and the Cayuses saw that they could not trifle with the rights of Americans. General Lane, as well as the military, took steps to arrest the Whitman murderers, and at last five of them were surrendered, virtually pleading guilty. After trial they were executed-hung at Oregon City, June 3, 1850. These were Tiloukaikt, Tamahas, Klokamas, Isaiach- alakis and Kiamasumpkin. Bishop Blanchet, in his history of Catholic missions, says they only came down to have a talk, but that does not accord with the fact that some actu- ally confessed, and all practically plead guilty to their crime and accepted their fate. They all died in the odor of
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