An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 15

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172

USA > Washington > Skagit County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 15
USA > Washington > Snohomish County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 15

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).

A base of supplies was established during the last days of December at the Upper Cascades of the Columbia. A few rude structures were erected and denominated Fort Gilliam, though they were more frequently referred to as "The Cabins."

"The history of this little post in the heart of the great Oregon Sierras became a most interest- ing one," says Mrs. Victor. "It was here that the hardest struggle of the war was carried on-not

THE CAYUSE WAR

in fighting Indians, but in keeping the men in the field that had undertaken to do the fighting. In point of fact, the commissary department was charged with the principal burden of the war, and the title of "General" which Palmer acquired through being at the head of this department, might well have been bestowed upon him for his services in sustaining the organization of the army under conditions such as existed in Oregon in 1842-8. Without arms, without roads, without transpor- tation, other than small boats and pack horses, without comfortable winter clothing and with scanty food, the war was to be carried on at a distance of nearly three hundred miles from the settlements. And if the volunteer soldiers were called upon to endure these hardships, which Gen- eral Palmer was doing his best to overcome, the commissioned officers were no less embarrassed by the want of the most ordinary appliances of their rank or position-even to the want of a proper field-glass.'

Early in January, 1848, Colonel Gilliam started up the river from the rendezvous at Portland, arriving at Vancouver the first day. He did not do as he was said to have threatened, attempt to levy on the Hudson's Bay Company's goods to supply his troops. On the contrary, he purchased such supplies as he stood in urgent necessity of. pledging his own credit and that of Commissary- General Palmer, who accompanied him, for the payment. Having reached the Cascades, he left there one company to construct a road from the lower to the upper portage, himself and the balance of his command proceeding to Fort Gilliam, where he received a despatch from Major Lee, at The Dalles. By this he was informed that the major had had a fight with Indians, January 8th, brought on by an attempt of the latter to round up and drive away stock left at the mission by immigrants. The skirmish lasted two hours and resulted in a loss to the enemy of three killed and one injured, while the white loss was one man wounded. The Indians, however, secured three hundred head of beef cattle. The next day sixty horses belonging to the hostiles were captured.

The receipt of this information determined Gilliam to push on with all speed to The Dalles. As soon as the governor heard of the fight he directed the colonel to select some of his best men and scour the Des Chutes river country, being careful to distinguish between friendly and hostile Indians, but vigorous in his treatment of the latter.

About the last of January, Colonel Gilliam set out with one hundred and thirty men for the Des Chutes river. Arrived there, he sent Major Lee to the supposed position of the hostiles on the east side of the river. He struck the Indians in full retreat towards the mountains and killed one of their number, but while returning to camp was attacked in a ravine by a considerable force. His

command was compelled to dismount and seek the shelter of rocks and bushes, where they remained. annoyed but uninjured by the enemy, until night. Next day the Indians were attacked with vigor and driven to their village, then out of it again, leaving it at the mercy of the whites. It was destroyed. as well as much cached property which could not be carried away.

Returning to Fort Lee at The Dalles, the officers held there a council, on the 11th of February, with the peace commissioners, who had arrived in the meantime, to formulate a plan of action. It was agreed that the commissioners should precede the army, and the date fixed for them to start was the 14th, but word having been received on the 13th that a combination of hostile tribes had been ef- fected. Gilliam decided to march at once with three hundred men. The commissioners were displeased but had to acquiesce, so the minions of war and the bearers of the olive branch journeyed together toward the scene of the massacre.

On the 23d an understanding was effected with the Des Chutes Indians and the next day two mes- sengers arrived from the Yakima country stating that the Yakimas had taken the advice of the peace commissioners and decided not to join the Cayuses in a war against the Americans. A letter brought by one of them read as follows :

CAMP OF CIAIES, February 16, 1848.

M. COMMANDER :

The Yakima chiefs, Ciaies and Skloom, have just pre- sented me a letter signed by Messrs. Joel Palmer, Robert Newell and H. A. G. Lee, which I have read, and a young Indian, son of one of the chiefs, translated it to them in Yakima language. The chiefs above mentioned charged me to say to you in their name. in those of Carnaiareum and of Chananaje, that they accept, with acknowledgments, the tobacco and the banner which you sent them. They have resolved to follow your counsel, and not unite them- selves with the Cayuses, but to remain at rest upon their lands. On my arrival at the camp of Ciaies, that chief assured me that he would not join the Cayuses. I could but see, with the greatest of pleasure, dispositions which will prevent the spilling of blood and which will facilitate the means of instructing those Indians.

Your humble servant, G. BLANCHET.

During the forenoon of the 24th the march was resumed, the peace commissioners in front with a white flag. Their friendly advances to the Indians were repelled and at noon a large number of hostiles were seen on the hill signaling for a fight. They collected quickly in the path of the advancing army and soon their desire for battle was gratified. The battle of Sand Hollows, as it is called, began on a plain where depressions in the sand formed natural rifle pits. The baggage train, protected by the company of Captain Laurence Hall, formed the center of the white forces. The left flank, consist- ing of the companies of Captain Philip F. Thompson and Captain H. J. G. Maxon, were on the north side of the road, and the companies of Levi N. English

INTRODUCTORY

and Thomas Mckay constituted the right of the command.

The principal leaders of the Indians were Five Crows and War Eagle, both Cayuses. They had assured their followers that they were both "big medicine" men, invulnerable to bullets. Indeed. War Eagle went so far as to claim that he could swallow all the bullets the whites could shoot at him. They attempted to prove their prowess by riding up close to the white lines and acting in an insolent manner. The whites had been ordered to hold fire in order to give the peace commissioners a fair chance, but Captain Mckay, angered by their insults, shot War Eagle, killing him instantly. Five Crows was seriously wounded by a shot from another soldier, so seriously that he had to resign his command of the Indian forces. Several severe attacks were made on the soldiers during the day. but the Indians were everywhere beaten and event- ually fled, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. It is stated that the Indian loss was thirteen killed and wounded, and the American five men wounded.

The volunteers passed the ensuing night at a ) place where neither wood nor water could be ob- tained. Next day they were asked to meet some of the Cayuses in council, but refused to halt until they reached a place where their thirst could be slaked. The night of the 25th was passed on the banks of the Umatilla, which was crossed next day. After the army had encamped, Sticcas and other Cayuses made overtures for peace and were told to meet the commissioners at Waiilatpu. The reltic- tance of the whites to treat arose out of the fact that they had not heard from William McBean at Fort Walla Walla, as they expected. The truth was that their communications to him had been intercepted by Tanitowe, who, however, delivered the letters, but destroyed McBean's reply. Were it not for this an arrangement might have been effected on the Umatilla by which the murderers would be delivered up and the war terminated, but the delay proved fatal to such a consummation.

February 28th, the troops reached Walla Walla, where the foregoing facts were ascertained by them in personal conference with MeBean. Moving to the site of the Whitman mission, the troops busied themselves on the 3d of March in reinterring the bodies of the dead, which had been exhumed and partly devoured by coyotes. The sight of the numer- ous evidences of savage malevolence aroused the military spirit of commander and men, and the com- missioners saw that the ardor of both for fight might embarrass them in their efforts to conclude a peace. A fortification was commenced at once and its construction continued on the 4th and 5th, though the latter date fell on Sunday. On the 6th. two hundred and fifty friendly Nez Perces and Cayuses came into camp and held a council with the volunteers, expressing themselves as disposed

to maintain peaceful relations with their white brethren.

In this council "Gilliam could not avoid acting his part ; but as commander of the army he was ill at ease. He saw the Cayuses passing by unharmed. going to the Nez Perce country in the hope of inducing their relatives and former allies to join them against the Americans, while just enough of them lingered behind to pick up the news about camp, and act as go-betweens. Still the influence of the superintendent ( Palmer) was such that on the 8th the Nez Perce chiefs were encouraged to go to the Cayuse camp, then twenty-five miles (listant, to endeavor to persuade the nation to give up the murderers, the army to follow on the next day, two of the commissioners accompanying it."

The army did move in that direction on the 9th, but had scarcely started when Sticcas came. bringing in some property stolen from the mission and asking for a talk. Gilliam reluctantly called a halt. Sticcas announced the refusal of the Cayuses to surrender Tauitowe or Tamsucky, and Gilliam made a most remarkable proposal to withdraw demands for five of the murderers if Joe Lewis should be surrendered, a proposition to which the other commissioners would not agree.

After this council, Palmer, Lee and Newell, with Captain McKay, who was in bad health, left for the Willamette, and Gilliam, with a hundred and fifty-eight men, proceeded toward Snake river. The first day out he was met by three Indians who reported that Sticcas had captured Joe Lewis, but that the prisoner had been rescued.

On the 13th he received a message from Taui- towe asserting the friendship of that chief and stating that Tamsucky had gone to the camp of Red Wolf on Snake river, while Tiloukaikt was proceeding down the Tucanon, bound for the Palouse country. Gilliam made a night march to the camp of Tiloukaikt and surprised it, but suffered himself to be outwitted by this wily Cayuse. The latter sent out an aged Indian, who assured the colonel that he was mistaken, that this was not Tiloukaikt's but Peo-peo-mox-mox's camp, and that Tiloukaikt had gone, leaving his cattle on the hills beyond. Completely deluded. Gilliam refrained from attacking the camp, but crossed the river and climbed up the precipitous farther bank, arriving in time to see the last of the cattle swimming the Snake. The volunteers, who might have won a decisive victory, collected a large band of Indian horses and set out on the return to the Touchet. They were attacked in the rear by the Palouses, who annoyed them exceedingly that day and the next night, compelling them to turn loose the captured animals. The following morning. after two sleepless nights, they started on again and were again attacked. In the battle which followed, a sort of a running fight, the volunteers gained the victory, inflicting a loss on the Indians of four

TIIE CAYUSE WAR

killed and fourteen wounded. "Their yells and battle cries were changed to wailing ; the sharp war rattle, and crack and ping of musketry were fol- lowed by the nerve-thrilling death song."

Arriving at Fort Waters ( Waiilatpu) on the 16th, a council of officers was held there two days later, at which it was decided that half the force should proceed to The Dalles to escort a supply train, Gilliam himself accompanying. They started on this mission the 20th. That night, while in camp beyond the Umatilla, a melancholy accident occurred. While Colonel Gilliam was drawing a rope from the wagon with which to tether his horse, a gun in the vehicle was discharged, causing his immediate death. "Thus," says Evans, "by an ignoble accident, was sacrificed the life of the idol of the Oregon troops, a zealous, impetuous soldier, a natural-born leader, a brave and thorough patriot, a generous friend, a good citizen." There was, how- ever, evidence that the volunteers were divided in their allegiance to the colonel.

Captain Maxon took command and proceeded to The Dalles, where he found a reinforcement of one company under Joseph M. Garrison awaiting him. His report to the adjutant-general gave a melancholy picture of conditions at Waiilatpu, stat- ing that Fort Waters was nothing but an adobe enclosure, that it was defended by only one hundred and fifty men and that these were almost destitute of clothing and ammunition and, wholly without bread. Fortunately, the men discovered caches of wheat and peas a little later, but their good fortune was not then known to Maxon.

The publication of these accounts of destitution and of stirring appeals for help did not go unheeded. A "Christian commission" on a small scale was organized at Oregon City to provide clothing and comforts for the soldiers. An address accompany- ing one of the shipments of goods is here repro- duced as vividly reflecting the temper of the pioneer women of the Northwest :

OREGON CITY, April 12, 1848.

The volunteers of the first regiment of Oregon rifle- men will please accept from the ladies of Oregon City and vicinity the articles herewith forwarded to them. The intelligence which convinces us of your many hardships, excessive fatigues and your chivalrous bearing also satis- fies ns of your urgent wants.

These articles are not tendered for acceptance as a compensation for your services rendered; we know that a soldier's heart would spurn with contempt any boon ten- dered by us with such an object ; accept them as a brother does, and may, accept a sister's tribute of remembrance- as a token, an evidence, that our best wishes have gone to and will remain with you in your privations, your marches, your battles and your victories.

Your fathers and ours, as soldiers, have endured privations and sufferings and poured out their blood as water, to establish undisturbed freedom east of the Rocky mountains ; your and our mothers evinced the purity of their love of country, upon those occasions, by efforts to mitigate the horrors of war, in making and providing clothing for the soldiers. Accept this trifling present as an indorsement of and approval of the justice of the cause in which you have volunteered, and of your bearing

in the service of our common country as manly, brave and patriotic.

The war which you have generously volunteered to wage was challenged by acts the most ungrateful, bloody, barbarous and brutal. Perhaps the kindness which the natives have received at the hands of American citizens on their way hither, has, to some extent, induced a belief on the part of the natives that all the Americans are "women" and dare not resent an outrage, however shame- ful, bloody or wicked. Your unflinching bravery has struck this foolish error from the minds of your enemies and impressed them with terror, and it is for you and a brotherhood who will join you, to follow up the victories so gloriously commenced, until a succession of victories shall compel an honorable peace, and insure respect for the American arms and name.

We have not forgotten that the soul-sickening massa- cres and the enormities at Waiilatpu were committed in part upon our sex. We know that your hardships and privations are great ; but may we not hope that through you these wrongs shall not only be amply avenged. but also that you inscribe upon the hearts of our savage enemies a conviction never to be erased that the virtue and lives of American women will be protected, defended and avenged by American men.

The cause which you have espoused is a holy cause. We believe that the God of battles will so direct the des- tinies of this infant settlement, that she will come out of this contest clothed in honor, and her brave volunteers covered with glory.

The younger ladies of Oregon also showed their sympathy with the war and its objects by preparing the following :

"Response by young ladies to the call of Captain Maxon for young men in the army.

"We have read with much interest the late report from the army, and feel ourselves under obligations to reply to the appeal made to us in that report. We are asked to evince our influence for our country's good, by withholding our hand from any young man who refuses to turn out in defense of our honor and our country's right.

"In reply, we hereby, one and all, of our own free good-will, solemnly pledge ourselves to comply with that request, and to evince on all suitable occa- sions our detestation and contempt for any and all young men who can, but will not, take up arms and march at once to the seat of war. to punish the Indians who have not only murdered our friends, but have grossly insulted our sex. We never can, and never will, bestow our confidence upon a man who has neither patriotism nor courage enough to defend his country and the girls ; such a one would never have sufficient sense of obligations to defend and protect a wife.

"Do not be uneasy about your claims and your rights in the valley; while you are defending the rights of your country, she is watching yours. You must not be discouraged. Fight on, be brave, obey your officers, and never quit your posts till the enemy is conquered; and when you return in triumph to the valley, you shall find us as ready to rejoice with you as we now are to sympathize with you in your sufferings and dangers."

[Signed by fifteen young ladies.]

INTRODUCTORY

The same report impelled the government to issue the following proclamation :

Recent accounts from the seat of war show that the Indians are in pretty strong force, and determined to fight. Many of the tribes have expressed a desire to remain peaceful, but there can be no question that the slightest defeat on our part will encourage portions of them to unite against us, and if they should unfortunately succeed in cutting off or crippling our army, it would be a signal for a general union among them ; fear is the only thing that will restrain them. It is necessary at the present moment to keep a strong force in the field to keep those friendly that have manifested a desire for peace, and to keep the hostile Indians busy in their own country, for the war must now either be carried on there. or in our valley. The question is not now a matter of dollars and cents only ; but whether exertions will be made on the part of citizens of the territory to reinforce and sustain the army in the upper country, and keep down the Indians ( which our men are able and willing to do if supported), or disband the army and fight them in the valley. One of the two must be done. If the army is disbanded. before two months roll around we will hear of depredations on our frontiers, families will be cut off, and the murderers on their fleet horses out of our reach in some mountain pass before we hear of the massacre.

Many young men are willing to enlist and proceed to the seat of war, but are unable to furnish an outfit; let their neighbors assist them, fit them out well and send them on. As a people we must assist and carry on the war. 1 hope sincerely that the government of the United States will speedily extend its protecting care over us, but in the meantime we must protect ourselves, and now is the time. I therefore call on all citizens of this territory to furnish three hundred men in addition to the number now in the field. Three new companies will be organized and attached to the regiment commanded by Colonel H. A. G. Lee; each company to consist of eighty-five men, rank and file; the remainder will be distributed among the com- panies already organized; the enlistments to be for six months, unless sooner discharged hy proclamation or re- lieved by the troops of the United States. Each man will furnish his own horse, arms, clothing and blankets. The companies will bring all the ammunition, percussion caps and camp equipments they can, for which they will receive a receipt from the commissary-general.

All citizens willing to enlist will form themselves into detachments in their several counties and be ready to march to Portland, so as to arrive there on the 18th day of April, on which day Colonel Lee will be there to organ- ize the new companies; after which the line of march will be taken up for Waiilatpu. If a sufficient number of men to form a foot company appear on the ground, they will be received as one of the above companies.

In witness whereof I have signed my name and affixed the seal of the territory.

Done at Oregon City this first day of April, 1848.

An appeal was also made in vigorous language by one of the officers, supposed to be Lee, designed to stimulate enlistment. The heart of old Oregon was not steeled against such appeals, and though she had drawn heavily upon her resources in rais- ing, arming and equipping without help from any power outside herself, the men already in the field. she now made still greater exertions that the cam- paign might be prosecuted with even greater vigor. Polk and Clackamas counties came forward with one company, Linn with one, Yamhill and Tualatin with one and Clatsop with a few volunteers, num- bering in all about two hundred and fifty men.

The amount of exertion this required can hardly be realized at this date. "Popular as was the war," writes Mrs. Victor, "it was a difficult matter putting another battalion in the field. The commissariat had at no time been maintained without great exertion on the part of its officers, and often great sacrifice on the part of the people. The commissary- general's sworn and bonded agents in every county had from the beginning strained every nerve to collect arms, ammunition and clothing, for which they paid in government bonds or loan commis- sioner's script. As there was very little cash in circulation, and as the common currency of Oregon had been wheat, it had come to pass that 'wheat notes' had been received in place of cash as con- tributions to the war fund. The wheat thus col- lected could be sold for cash or its equivalent at Vancouver, and thus, after passing through the circumlocutionary office, this awkward currency, which had to be gathered up, stored in warehouses, hauled to boat landings, set adrift upon the Wil- lamette, hauled around the falls at Oregon City, and there reloaded for Vancouver, was there at length exchanged for real money or goods. The collection of provisions for the consumption of the army was another matter, and not less burdensome. The agents could refuse no lot of provisions because it was small or miscellaneous, nor reject any articles of use to soldiers because they were not of the best. Lead was purchased in any quantities from one to several pounds, and was hard to find, all that was in the country being that which was brought across the plains by the immigrants for use upon the road. Powder and percussion caps were ob- tained in the same way, or purchased with wheat notes at Vancouver.'

H. A. G. Lee was appointed colonel, vice Corne- lius Gilliam, deceased. His appointment was un- satisfactory to some, as Captain Waters was the man to whom, in the natural order of promotion, the honor belonged. Accordingly there were some resignations of inferior officers, causing annoyance and delay to the new commander, who had also been entrusted with the duties of Indian superin- tendent, Joel Palmer having resigned. But these difficulties were in due time overcome, and on May 3d Lee set out for Fort Waters. He had learned from Maxon at The Dalles that the Yakimas were friendly. Some of the chiefs had visited the major and expressed themselves in this language:

"We do not want to fight the Americans nor the French; neither do the Spokanes, a neighboring tribe to us. Last fall the Cayuses told us they were about to kill the whites at Dr. Whitman's. We told them that was wrong, which made them mad at us, and when they killed them they came to us and wished us to fight the whites, which we refused. We love the whites ; but they say, 'If you do not help us to fight the whites, when we have killed them we will come and kill you.' This made

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 15

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1906 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1172

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172