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 21

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 21
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 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).

The defeat on White river of the hostile chief, Leschi, by a force of friendly Indians under Pat- kanim on February 15th, brought the war practically to a close in the vicinity of Seattle and the White, Green and Snoqualmie rivers. Thereafter the scene of hostilities shifted to the Nisqually country, where Quiemuth and Stehi were in command of the Indian enemy. Colonel Casey, of the regulars, was opposed to them and Major G. Hays, with a battalion of volunteers, was ordered to the scene to co-operate with them. March 10th the volunteers had a battle

INTRODUCTORY

with the red men on Connell's prairie, the details of which were reported by Hlays as follows :

At about eight o'clock this morning, Captain White with his company was ordered to the White river to build a blockhouse and ferry, supported by Captain Swindal and ten privates. He had not proceeded more than half a mile from the camp when he was attacked by a large Indian force. supposed to be at least one hundred and fifty warriors and a large number of squaws. I immediately ordered Captain Henness to his support with twenty men. Captain Henness moved with great rapidity, a tremendous volley of guns announcing his arrival. I became satisfied that an additional force was necessary, and despatched Lieutenant Martin, of Company B, with fifteen additional men. The Indians by this time were seen extending their flank to the left with great rapidity. I then ordered Lien- tenant Van Ogle, Company B, with fifteen men to check their flank movement, but before he could gain a position they had so extended their line as to make it necessary to send another party of twelve men under command of Captain Rabbeson, who succeeded in checking them. The fight by this time extended the whole length of our line, and one continuous volley could be heard from the Indian guns on the hill and those of our men in the bottom. This firing continued some two hours. I saw the advantage which the Indians had in position, and determined to charge them. 1 ordered Captain Swindal to charge them from his position, which was central, and Captain Rabbe- son to make a simultaneous move against their extreme left, while Captain Henness and Captain White were ordered to hold the position which they occupied.

This order was promptly obeyed and the charge made in the most gallant style by Captain Swindal against their center, and Captain Rabbeson against their left, through a deep slough, driving the enemy from their position and pursuing them some distance in their flight. Captain Rabbeson returned to camp, while Captain Swindal occupied a high ridge in the rear of the main body of the Indians. I ordered Captain Rabbeson to join Captains Henness and White, and directed Captain Henness to charge the Indians if he deemed it advisable. The Indians in front of Captains White and Henness were in strong position behind logs and trees and upon an elevation. It was deemed too dangerous to charge them in front. Captain Rabbeson was ordered 'to join Captain Swindal, make a flank movement to the right, and charge the enemy in their rear. This order was gallantly obeyed. Simul- taneously with this movement, Captains Henness and White charged them in front. The Indians were routed and were pursued for a mile or more along a trail covered with blood. It is believed that not less than twenty-five or thirty were killed and as many wounded. They had been seen carrying off their wounded and dead from the time the fight commenced until it terminated. Withes and ropes were found on the ground they occupied, which had been used in dragging off their dead into the brush. Hats. blankets and shirts were picked up with bullet holes in them stained with blood. They were forced to give up their drum, which they abandoned in their retreat. But two Indians were found dead on the field, one of whom was recognized as Chehalis John. The other was placed under a log, and has not yet been examined. The Indians had together their whole force. They picked their own ground. They brought on the attack without being seen by our troops. I regard the victory of this day as com- plete-a grand triumph. They exceeded us in numbers nearly if not quite two to one. and we whipped and drove them before us. We had four men wounded, all of whom will soon get well.

After this battle the Indians on the sound were never again brought to a general engagement, though there was some destiltory fighting. On the

22d of May, Lientenant-Colonel B. F. Shaw, who was then in command of the volunteers, called a council of his officers to consider the advisability of withdrawing from the sound, leaving the regu- lars to maintain peace, and making an expedition into the Inland Empire. The council unanimously decided in favor of the expedition, giving the fol- lowing reasons for such decision :

"The mounted volunteers having crossed the mountains, the necessity of protecting the settle- ments west of the mountains devolved upon the United States infantry commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Casey. Should the volunteers remain west of the mountains, they assumed that Lieutenant- Colonel Casey would be obliged to go east of the mountains and to join Colonel Wright, and that, while infantry were best adapted to the service west of the Cascades, the mounted volunteers could operate in the regions east. The Yakimas were the leading element of the hostile party. Their main strength must be broken before pursuing individuals or small parties. They asserted that if Colonel Wright did whip the hostiles with infantry, he could not follow them after a fight. If the volunteers remained west of the mountains, they were power- less to check an enemy over one hundred and fifty miles off. The volunteers must make a fight before going out of service. Sufficient troops would still remain west of the mountains to protect the settle- ments. It was necessary that depots of provisions should be established in the Yakima country before the winter. The Indians west of the mountains had been repeatedly defeated ; whilst those east of the mountains had never been checked."

In conformity with this decision, Lieutenant- Colonel Shaw set out over the Cascades, via the Naches pass. But before tracing his operations on the east side it will be necessary to return to the Oregon volunteers whom we left in the Walla Walla country and review their further fortunes and move- ments, as also those of Colonel Wright and the reg- ulars under his command. Details of the winter campaign of the Oregon volunteer regiment need not be given. Much effort was expended in dis- covering caches of provisions and otherwise forag- ing for supplies. The Indians in December with- drew across Snake river, whither the volunteers could not follow them for want of boats. But in February six were constructed of whip-sawed lumber and calked with pine pitch, and in these, transported in wagons to the place where needed, the regiment crossed the Snake twenty-five miles below the mouth of the Palouse, dispersing a small band of hostiles that opposed their crossing, and capturing their horses. An extensive survey of the country between the Palouse and Columbia rivers was made, then a part of the command returned to Walla Walla. but the main body under Colonel Thomas R. Cornelius, who in December had suc- ceeded Colonel Nesmith, resigned, moved to a point

THE YAKIMA WAR

on the Columbia opposite the mouth of the Yakima river. Cornelius was delayed somewhat in his con- templated march into the Yakima country by lack of supplies, but on April 5th, with two hundred and forty-one efficient men, he started. Next day on Canyon creek the hostiles were met. No engage- ment took place that night. The following morning, however, Captain Hembree with a small detachment was attacked while reconnoitering, and Hembree was killed, after having despatched two Indians, the rest of the squad escaping back to camp and giving the alarm. Major Cornoyer pursued the enemy, came upon them toward evening in a fortified position, charged them and killed six of their num- ber. Thus by a loss of eight did the red men atone for the killing and subsequent mutilation of Hem- bree.

On the Sth the command set out towards The Dalles. While encamped in the Klickitat valley they lost a number of their horses, but further than that experienced no reverses en route and inflicted no damage upon the Indians except the killing of two. In May the regiment was disbanded, but from it was formed companies, which, however, were also mustered out in August.

We turn now to the operations of the regular troops east of the mountains, during the year 1856. In instructions to Colonel George Wright, issued in January, General Wool directed that two move- ments should be inaugurated as soon as climatic conditions should permit. "Expeditions should be prepared," said he, "at the earliest possible moment ; that is, as soon as grass can be obtained, for Walla Walla and the Selah fisheries. As the snow will not allow the expedition to the latter so early by three or four weeks, the one to the former will be taken as soon as the season will permit, with four or five companies and three howitzers. It is desir- able that the expedition should be conducted with reference to selecting a proper position for a post, and to ascertain the feelings and dispositions of the several tribes in that section of the country. I do not believe they will continue the war a great while. The occupation of the country between the Walla Walla, Touchet and Snake rivers, and the opposite side of the Columbia, will very soon bring those tribes to terms. The occupation at the proper time of the Yakima country from the Ahtanum mission, and that on the river above and below the Selah fishery, will compel the Yakimas, I think, to sue for peace or abandon their country."

It was such instructions as these that occasioned the unfriendly criticism of the people of the North- west. "Not a word," observed Evans, "as to chas- tising the perfidious murderers of our citizens. nor the enforcement of the treaties, nor for the punish- ment of hostile acts which had destroyed the busi- ness of the country and retarded its settlement-not a word as to checking raids and depredations on isolated settlers." It was such insulting instruc-

tions as that sent to Colonel Wright at a later date-"Should you find, on the arrival of the troops in the Cayuse country, that a company is neces- sary to give protection to the Cayuse Indians from the volunteers, you will leave a company there with a howitzer"-that incited the positive hostility of feeling of the people toward Wool.

March 11th Colonel Wright arrived at Fort Dalles. By the 26th, he was ready to, and on that date he did, start for the Walla Walla country. The folly of General Wool's orders became at once apparent. Had Wright made a vigorous movement against the ablest Icader of the hostiles, Kamiakin, as he doubtless would have done if he had been instructed to reduce the belligerent Indians to sub- mission, the Cascades tragedy would not have occurred. But the forces on the Columbia had been diminished by Wool's directions, two of the three companies at Fort Vancouver having been sent to Steilacoom about the middle of March, and on the 24th the company at the Cascades having been sent away. The movement of Wright up the Columbia to The Dalles had brought it about that a large amount of stores and supplies were temporarily at the Cascades, and for them there was no other protection than a detachment of eight men under Sergeant Matthew Kelly. The watchful Kamiakin was fully aware of the conditions, and had made preparations accordingly.

The settlements were on a narrow strip of bot- tom land on the north bank of the river. The south bank was precipitous, affording no opportunity for settlement. A saw-mill stood near the upper end of the portage; a little below were a number of houses and shops, among which was the store of Bradford & Company. Directly in front of this building's site is an island, and a bridge to connect it with the mainland was then in process of con- struction. The Bradford Brothers had been for some time building a tramway or species of wooden railroad between the upper and lower cascades. Upon this workmen were engaged building another bridge. There was considerable activity in the little village, whose importance the Indian war opera- tions had greatly increased. Two steamers, thic Mary and the Wasco, lay at anchor in the river on that eventful March morning, the quiet industry of which was to be so rudely disturbed.

The usual activities had just begun when the blood-curdling savage war whoop awoke the cchoes. Then came the sharp reports of many rifles all along the line of the settlements. Fortunately an ex- tended account of the attack on and defense of the Bradford store by one who was present and saw what he narrated has been preserved for later generations. It was embodied in a letter by Law- rence W. Coe, a partner of the Bradford Brothers in their store, to Putnam T. Bradford, who was cast at the time :

INTRODUCTORY

On Wednesday, March 26th, at about 8:30 A. M., after the men had gone to their work on the two bridges of the new railway, most of them on the bridge near Bush's house, the Yakimas came down on tis. There was a line about us from Mill creek to the big point at the head of the falls, firing simultaneously at the men; and the first notice we had of them was the firing and crack of their guns. At the first fire, one of our men was killed and several were wounded. Our men, on seeing the Indians, all ran to our store through a shower of bullets, except three, who started down the stream for the middle blockhouse, distant one and a half miles. Bush and his family ran to our store. leaving his own house vacant. The Watkins family came into our store, after a Dutch boy ( brother of Mrs. Watkins) had been shot in the house. Watkins. Finlay and Bailey were at work on the new warehouse on the island, around which the water was now high enough to run about three feet deep under the bridges. There was grand confusion in the store at first : and Sinclair, of Walla Walla, going to the door to look out, was shot in the head and instantly killed. Some of us commenced getting guns and rifles, which were ready loaded, from behind the counter. For- tunately, about an hour before, there had been left with us for shipment below nine government muskets, with car- tridge boxes and ammunition. These saved us. As the upper story of the house was abandoned, Smith, the cook, having come below, and as the stairway was outside, where we dare not go, the stovepipe was hauled down, the hole enlarged with axes, and a party of men crawled up; and the upper part of the house was secured.

Our men soon got shots at the Indians on the bank above us. I saw Bush shoot an Indian, the first one killed, who was drawing a bead on Mrs. Watkins, as she was run- ning for our store. Hle dropped instantly. Alexander and others mounted into the gable under our roof; and from there was done the most of our firing, as it was the best place for observation. In the meantime, we were barri- cading the store, making loopholes and firing when oppor- tunity presented itself. I took charge of the store, Dan Bradford of the second floor, and Alexander of the garret and roof.

The steamer Mary was lying in Mill creek; the wind was blowing hard down stream. Then we saw Indians running towards her and heard shots. Iwill give you an account of the attack on her hereafter. The Indians now returned in force to us; and we gave everyone a shot who showed himself. They were nearly naked, painted red and had guns and bows and arrows. After a while, Finlay came creeping around the lower point of the island towards our house. We halloed to him to lie down behind a rock : and he did so. He called that he could not get to the store, as the bank above us was covered with Indians. He saw Watkins' house burn while there. The Indians first took out everything they wanted,-blankets, clothes, guns, etc. By this time the Indians had crossed in canoes to the island; and we saw them coming, as we supposed, after Finlay. We then saw Watkins and Bailey running around the river side towards the place where Finlay was, and the Indians in full chase after them. As our men came around the point in full view, Bailey was shot through the arm and leg. He continued on and plunging into the river swam to the front of our store and came in safely, except for his wounds. Finlay also swam across and got in unharmed, which was wonderful, as there was a shower of bullets around him.

Watkins came next, running around the point ; and we called to him to lie down behind the rocks; but before he could do so he was shot through the wrist, the ball going up the arm and out above the elbow. He dropped behind a rock just as the pursuing Indians came around the point ; but we gave them so hot a reception from our house that they backed out and left poor Watkins where he lay. We called to him to lie still, and we would get him off ; but we were not able to do so until the arrival of the troops-two days and nights afterwards. During this time he fainted

several times from cold and exposure, the weather being very cold; and he was stripped down to the underclothes for swimming. When he fainted he would roll down the steep bank into the river; and, the ice-cold water reviving him, he would crawl back under fire to his retreat behind the rock. Meantime his wife and children were in the store in full view, and moaning piteously at his situation. He died from exhaustion two days after he was rescued.

The Indians were now pitching into us "right smart." They tried to burn us out-threw rocks and fire brands, hot irons, pitch wood-everything onto the roof that would burn. But as the bank for a short distance back of the store inclined towards us, we could see and shoot the Indians who appeared there, So they had to throw for such a distance that the largest rocks and bundles of fire did not quite reach us; and what did generally rolled off the roof. Sometimes the roof caught on fire; and we cut it out, or with cups of brine drawn from pork barrels put it out, or with long sticks shoved off the fire-ball. The kitchen roof troubled us the most. How they did pepper us with rocks! Some of the biggest ones would shake the house all over.

There were now forty men, women and children in the house-four women and eighteen men who could fight, and eighteen children and wounded men. The steamer Wasco was on the Oregon side of the river. We saw her steam up and leave for The Dalles. Shortly after the steamer Mary also left. She had to take Atwell's fence rails for wood. So passed the day, during which the Indians had burned Inman's two houses, Bradford's saw- mill and houses, and the lumber yards at the mouth of Mill creek. At daylight they set fire to Bradford's new warehouse on the island, making it as light as day around us. They did not attack us at night, but on the second morning commeneed again lively as ever. We had no water, but did have about two dozen of ale and a few bot- tles of whiskey. These gave out during the day. During the night, a Spokane Indian, who was traveling with Sin- clair and was in the store with us, volunteered to get a pail of water from the river. I consented, and he stripped himself naked, jumped out and down the bank, and was back in no time. We weathered it out during the day, every man keeping his post, and never relaxing his vigi- lance. Every moving object, bush, shadow or suspicious thing on the hillside received a shot. Night came again ; we saw Sheppard's house burn. Bush's house was also fired, and kept us in light until four A. M., when, darkness returning, I sent the Spokane Indian for water from the river ; he filled four barrels. He went to and fro like light- ning. He also slipped poor James Sinclair's body down the slide outside, as the corpse was quite offensive.

The two steamers having exceeded the length of time which we gave them to return from The Dalles, we made up our minds for a long siege, until relief came from below. The third morning dawned; and lo! the Mary and the Wasco, blue with soldiers, and towing a flatboat loaded with dragoon horses, hove in sight. Such a halloa as we gave! As the steamers landed, the Indians fired twenty or thirty shots into them; but we could not ascer- tain with what effect. The soldiers as they got ashore could not be restrained, and plunged into the woods in every direction ; while the howitzers sent grape after the retreating redskins. The soldiers were soon at our doors ; and we experienced quite a feeling of relief in opening then:

Now as to the attack on the steamer Mary on the first day of the fight. She lay in Mill creek, and no fires, and wind blowing hard ashore. Jim Thompson. John Woodard and Jim Herman were just going up to her from our store when they were fired upon. Herman asked if they had any guns. No. He went on up to Inman's house : the rest stayed to help get the steamer ont. Captain Dan Baugh- man and Thompson were on shore, hauling on lines in the upper side of the creek, when the firing of the Indians became so hot that they ran for the woods past Inman's

THE YAKIMA WAR

house. The fireman, James Lindsay, was shot through the shoulder. Engineer Buckminster shot an Indian with his revolver on the gang plank, and little Johnny Chance went climbing up on the hurricane deck, and killed his Indian with an old dragoon pistol ; but he was shot through the leg in doing so. Diek Turpin, half crazy, probably, taking the only gun on the steamer, jumped into a flatboat alongside, was shot, and jumped overboard and was drowned. Fires were soon started under the boiler and steam was rising. About this time, Jesse Kempton, shot while driving an ox team from the mill, got on board; also a halfbreed named Bourbon, who was shot through the body. After sufficient steam to move was raised, Hardin Chenoweth ran up into the pilot house, and, lying on the floor, turned the wheel as he was directed from the lower deck. It is almost needless to say that the pilot house was a target for the Indians. The steamer picked up Herman on the bank above. Inman's family, Sheppard and Van- derpool all got across the river in skiffs, and boarding the Mary were taken to The Dalles.

In the same letter Mr. Coe thus narrates the incidents of the attack which was made on the Lower Cascades simultaneously with that on the store :

George Johnson was about to get a boat's crew of Indians, when Indian Jack came running to him, saying that the Yakimas had attacked the blockhouse. He did not believe it, although he heard the cannon. He went up to the Indian village on the sandbar to get his crew, and saw some of the Cascade Indians, who said they thought the Yakimas had come; and George, now hearing the muskets, ran for home. E. W. Baughman was with him. Bill Murphy had left the blockhouse early for the Indian camp, and had nearly returned before he saw the Indians or was shot at. He returned, two others with him, and ran for George Johnson's, with about thirty Indians in chase. After reaching Johnson's, Murphy continued on and gave Hamilton and all below warning; and the fami- lies embarked in small boats for Vancouver. The men would have barricaded in the warehouse, but for want of ammunition. There was considerable government freight in the wharf boat. They stayed about the wharf boat and schooner nearly all day, and until the Indians commenced firing upon them from the zine-house on the bank. They then shoved ont. Tommy Pierce was shot through the leg in getting the boats into the stream. Floating down, they met the steamer Belle with Sheridan and forty men, sent up on report of an express carried down by Indian Simpson in the morning. George and those with him went on board the steamer and volunteered to serve under Sheridan, who landed at George's place and found everything burned.

The timely warning by Indian Jack enabled all the people to escape with their lives, though the houses were burned and much government property destroyed.

But how fared the middle blockhouse, com- monly known as Fort Rains? As heretofore stated there were at this place eight soldiers under Sergeant Kelly. The commander of this squad had been warned the day previous that Indians in the vicinity were acting suspiciously but gave the matter no serious attention. When the attack came, the members of the detachment were quite widely scattered and one of the number, Frederick Ber- naur, had gone to the Upper Cascades for a can- teen of whiskey. This man, on attempting to re- turn, was shot through both legs, but managed to

keep himself concealed, supporting his failing strength with the whiskey until night, when he stole into the blockhouse. The others, as soon as the truth became known, rushed for the protection of the fortification, and all reached it except Lawrence Rooney, who was captured by the Indians. The few families in the vicinity of the blockhouse also sought its protection, but were not so fortunate, several of their number being severely wounded in crossing the line of Indian fire. "We had," said Sergeant Robert Williams in his narrative of the attack, "seven wounded and three killed. Among the latter was Mr. Griswold, who might have es- caped his death but for his overconfidence in the friendliness of the Indians toward him. The Ger- man boy. Kyle, mentioned in Mr. Coe's narrative. was killed while riding on horseback down the road on the hill in front of us. The Indian that shot him stood by the side of a tree close to the road, his gun almost reaching to the poor boy, who fell instantly upon being shot.

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 21

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