USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 7
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The recommendation being in accordance with the will of the people, the various districts responded, and a convention was held on the day appointed, with twenty-six delegates pres- ent. As a result of the deliberations of said convention, a memorial to Congress on the- subject of division was adopted. The Oregon clelegate to the United States Congress was in- structed to act in accordance with memorial. and Congress was petitioned to construct cer- tain roads necessary for the public good, also to extend to the new Territory the benefits of the Oregon land law. For some reason Con- gress took no action on the memorials, conse- quently the enthusiasm for territorial division lost its ardor for a season. But the agitation did not cease. for a paper was established at Olympia which had that for its primary object.
Under the lead of this paper, called The Columbian, another convention was planned and held October 25. 1852, at Monticello. There were present forty-four representative- citizens, and the action was in harmony with the previous convention. Cogent reasons were prepared and submitted to General Lane, the delegate to Congress, for the organization of a. new territory. The Oregon Legislature, meeting
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
a few days afterward, exhibited an unusually magnanimous spirit by acting in harmony with the desires of the convention. General Lane acted without delay in introducing the measure to Congress, and it passed by a vote of one hun- dred and twenty-eight to twenty-nine, Febru- "ary 10, 1853, but substituting the name Wash- ington for Columbia. It passed the Senate on the second day of March. At that time the population was somewhat less than four thou- .and. The southern boundary of the new ter- ritory was the Columbia river to where the fourth parallel crossed it, then along said par- . allel to the Rocky mountains. President Pierce appointed Isaac Ingall Stevens, of Massachu- „setts, as governor. He was a man eminently fitted for the position. C. H. Mason, Rhode Island, secretary; Edward Lander, Indiana, chief justice ; John R. Miller, Ohio, and Victor Monroe, Kentucky, associate justices, and J. S.
Clendenin, Louisiana, U. S. district attorney. About the last of November Governor Stevens arrived and issued a proclamation organizing the government of the Territory, and designat- ing the 30th of January for election of delegate to Congress and members of the Territorial Legislature, and February for the convening of the same. Good material for the offices was not wanting, nor a sufficient number ambitious to fill them. Columbia Lancaster, of Clarke coun- ty, was elected delegate to Congress. Although a worthy man in many respects, he did not prove to be qualified for the position at such a critical time. Men of fair abilities were elected as leg- islators and accomplished their mission credit- ably. The material progress of the Territory was slow for several years. The Cascade mountains were a great barrier to the extension of settlements.eastward.
CHAPTER IX.
SETTLEMENT OF EASTERN WASHINGTON.
As already implied, the country east of the «Cascade mountains, in area the larger portion « of the territory of Washington, had been with- · out any white settlers, excepting a few here and there, since the Whitman masacre. There- fore it had no part in the initiatory steps to- ward territorial organization. Up to the 'six- ties it had hardly any history except that con- nected with early explorations, the labors of early missionaries, the Indians and Indian wars. The first settler in eastern Washington after the missionaries was H. M. Chase. He · entered Walla Walla valley in 1851. He was soon followed by Lloyd Brooke, and two men named Bamford and Noble. the latter for a
time occupying the Whitman mission. Some of them had to leave between 1855 and 1858. After the Indians had been thoroughly sub- jugated through the vigorous campaign of Col. George Wright, the interdict of Major-General Wool against the occupancy of eastern Wash- ington by white people. was rescinded by his successor in command. Gen. N. S. Clarke. Ac- cordingly, the whole country was thrown open to settlement. Soon we find a considerable number of families, farmers and stockmen in the Walla Walla valley, and also along and adjacent to the streams flowing from the Blue mountains, and the development of the Inland Empire became assured. January, 1859. the
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Territorial Legislature organized the county of Walla Walla. A small village began to grow around Mill Creek about five miles from the Whitman mission. Its first name was Step- toeville, then Wai-il-at-pu. It was selected as the county seat. and when the commissioners came together, they gave it the name of Walla Walla. In 1860 the Salmon river gold discov- ery gave a wonderful impetus to immigration and settlement north of the Snake river. By the opening of 1861 the Salmon river mining excitement was at its height. Adventurous mining prospectors flowed in from all direc- tions. It was a veritable rush after gold, but the misfortunes were more numerous than the fortunes. The winter of 1861-62 was a very severe one, and the gold-seekers on their way to the Salmon river and the settlers of eastern Washington suffered great hardships. But the influx of population was stopped but for a short time. In the spring of 1862 the people rushed in like a mighty tide of ocean, twenty thousand strong. With all the misfortunes
connected with this almost unparalleled gold excitement it was used of God in ushering a new civilization for it initiated the marvellous development which has taken place in the upper Columbia country. Lewiston. on the conflu- ence of the Snake river and the Clearwater, was laid out early in 1862. The Territorial Legislature of 1859 created Spokane county, lying north of Snake river to the British line. Its first county seat was Pinkney city, but the name was soon changed to Colville. March 3. 1863. Congress passed an act organizing the territory of Idaho out of the eastern part of Washington, including nearly all the mining region. There were at that time in eastern Washington the counties of Walla Walla, Spo- kane and Klickitat. The increase of population north of the Snake river during the next decade wasslow. Thisregion had but few scattered set- tlers, not counting the U. S. soldiers. The real history of Spokane county does not be- gin until the early seventies.
CHAPTER X.
INDIAN WARS.
The original Territory of Washington was the home, or camping and hunting ground of the most powerful and warlike Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The Black- foot, Nez Perce, Palouse, Pend d' Oreille, Yakima and Spokane tribes were the most numerous, supposed to be able to bring to the field of battle ten thousand warriors. The tribes mentioned were all east of the Cascades, and when Washington was constituted a Ter- ritory they were foes to be dreaded.
We make no attempt at a detailed account
of the wars in which these tribes were en- gaged only such as is necessary to show that incident to the settlement and development of the country have been desperate struggles. The Nez Perce war and the pursuits of Chief Joseph are imatters of history. Nearly every part of the country, including the plains of Spokane and western portion of this county, were scenes of battles. The ingathering of the white people to this region, as elsewhere, excited the apprehension of the Indians. They instinctively prophesied the ultimate re-
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sult. They knew that the white man came never to leave.
Before his ax the forest disappeared, the hunting ground was turned to grain fields and fenced, his rifle annihilated the game and his superiority humiliated the proud native. It is only natural that such anticipations should arouse the Indians to do their utmost to avert such a disaster by keeping out of their coun- try the dangerous invader. Accordingly wars were inevitable. The Cayuse war- which we cannot describe-followed imme- diately the Whitman massacre. On the 29th day of November, 1847. Dr. Marcus Whitman and his noble wife, and twelve others connected with the mission were bru- tally murdered by the savage Cayuse Indians at Wai-il-at-pu. Soon a regiment of Oregon Volunteers came to eastern Washington, and after some fighting the Cayuses abandoned their country, which practically ended the war.
In a few months the Indians returned, and five of them were executed at Oregon City for the murder of Dr. Whitman and others. For a few years after this there were no hos- tilities or general outbreak but it was a time of disquiet and apprehension. No treaty existed between the Indians east of the Cas- cades and the United States. Governor Stevens made repeated efforts to have a treaty concluded, but to no avail. The In- dians proved vacillating if not treacherous, often violating their promises. The discover- ies of gold in the Upper Columbia country re- sulted in the usual rush of miners. Some of the chiefs declared that no American could pass through their country. consequently we soon find the whole country permeated with the spirit of war which continued for some years. We shall confine ourselves to those wherewith the Spokanes were either directly or indirectly connected. Governor Stevens came in contact with the Spokanes in his ef- fort to pacify and make a treaty with the
tribes of eastern Washington. He held a council, when the Pen d'Oreilles. Colville and Spokane Indians came together. The council was held somewhere about the southeast cor- ner of this county at the place of a half-breed called Anonite Plante. It lasted for three days, and as reported by Governor Stevens, and Father Joset, who was present, was a very stormy one. War broke out soon after this which spread all over Washington, and continued for nearly two years, costing nearly six million dollars and many lives. The cam- paigns of Colonels Steptoe and Wright will cover the part taken by the Spokanes. there- fore we shall confine ourselves to them. In 1857 Colonel Steptoe was in command at Fort Walla Walla, which had been recently estab- lished, near the present city of that name. The hostility of the Colville Indians and some depredations of the Palouses led Colonel Step- toe to plan an expedition north of the Snake river with the intention of going as far as Colville. Failing to rightly estimate the power and disposition of the Indians through whose country he intended to travel. he did not deem a strong force necessary. On May 6th he left Walla Walla with one hundred and thirty dragoons. The march toward the Snake river, across it, and for some distance north of it. was made without any interrup- tion. On the 16th they were approaching the Spokane country, when to their surprise and consternation they found themselves con- fronted by hundreds of Indian warriors, esti- mated from six hundred to one thousand. Palouses, Coeur d' Alenes, Yakimas and Spokanes. Steptoe soon apprehended his per- ilous situation and acted both cautiously and prudently. He found reasoning of no avail. for the Indians seemed elated over their op- portunity and determined that the soldiers should not make any further progress through their country. There was nothing for the soldiers to do but to retreat. This was done. but they were followed closely by the Indians.
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
and insulted as far as abusive language could do it. Colonel Steptoe was determined that the Indians should make the attack. The Palouses were the first to fire. On the 18th a desperate battle took place, with the Indians at least five times as numerous as the United States soldiers. During the first attack, which was a savage one, Captain Oliver H. P. Taylor and Lieutenant William Gaston were killed. Colonel Steptoe exercised extraor- dinary military skill to save his men. The soldiers assembled on an elevation from which they could see the surrounding hills swarming with savages thirsting for blood. The horses, saddled and bridled, were pick- eted, while the men laid flat on the ground. which was the most advantageous way to pre- vent charges. The consciousness of danger and apparent helplessness made it difficult to imbue courage into the soldiers. The dark- ness of the night proved a bessing in the emergency. When the shadows had covered the hills and ravines, after burying as many of their fallen comrades as they could find. when silent midnight was drawing night, and most of the Indians had fallen asleep. the sol- diers found a way of escape and hurriedly moved along, crossing the Snake river and reaching Walla Walla in safety. But they left six dead on the battlefield, among them two gallant officers, and eleven had been wounded. This memorable battle took place at what is known to-day as Steptoe Butte, about fourteen miles north of Colfax. An observatory with a strong telescope was placed on the highest elevation a few years ago, through which the whole country for scores of miles can be seen on a clear day. It is in the very heart of the richest portion of the Palouse country. The effect of this victory on the Indians was to make them bold and defiant and eager for a conflict with the whites. The principal tribes leagued together, and de- termined to prevent the Americans from com- ing into their country. Realizing the serious- 3
ness of the situation, General Clarke soon had a consultation of officers at Vancouver. Col- onels Steptoe and Wright were present. An expedition to the Spokane country was planned with care and wisdom. Colonel Wright was put in command, who in daring and determination, as well as military genius, was well fitted. . Three companies of artillery were called from San Francisco. The troops concentrated at Walla Walla and preparation and drills were thorough. Before leaving Walla Walla. Colonel Wright had a council with the Nez Perces and secured their friend- ship and assistance. On the 7th of August Captain Keyes started and reached the Snake river in a few days. Here a temporary fort was built called Fort Taylor in honor of Cap- tain Taylor. On the 18th Colonel Wright arrived. There were altogether six hundred and eighty soldiers: dragoon-one hundred and ninety; artillery-four hundred; infan- try-ninety. They moved along leisurely day by day with no special happenings to break the monotony until the end of the month. About this time the Nez Perce scouts, who had been uniformed, brought the news that the Spokanes were near. After they had marched about seventy miles north of the: Snake river, and within twenty miles of the- Spokane river, they found themselves on the. first of September in the midst of the Spokane warriors, and on that date the battle of the Four Lakes took pace. The Indians had been waiting and were prepared, but had no idea what was awaiting them. They were de- feated, routed and many killed. The battle took place near the beautiful and far-famed town of Medical Lake.
Lieutenant Kip gives a graphic descrip- tion of the scene: "On the plain below us we saw the enemy. Every spot seemed alive with the wild wariors we had come so far to meet. They were in the pines at the edge of the lakes, in the ravines and gullies, on the oppposite hillsides and swarming over the
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
plain. They seemed to cover the country for two miles. Mounted on their fleet, hardy horses, the crowd swayed back and forth, brandishing their weapons, shouting their war-cries, and keeping up a song of defiance. Most of them were armed with Hudson's Bay muskets, while others had bows and arrows and long lances. They were in all the bravery of their war array, gaudily painted and dec- orated with their wild trappings. Their plumes fluttered above them, while beneath, skins and trinkets and all kinds of fantastic embelishments flaunted in the sunshine. 'Their horses, too, were arrayed in the most gorgeous finery. Some of them were even painted with colors to form the greatest con- trast, the white being smeared with crimson in fantastic figures, and the dark-colored streaked with white clay. Beads and fringes of gaudy colors were hanging from their bridles, while the plumes of eagle's feathers, interwoven with the mane and tail, fluttered as the breeze floated over them and completed their wild and fantastic appearance.
' By Heavens! it was a glorious sight to see The gay array of their wild chivalry.'
"As ordered, the troops moved down the hill toward the plain. As the line of advance came within range of the minie rifles, now for the first time used in Indian warfare, the firing began. The firing grew heavier as the line advanced, and astonished at the range and effectiveness of the fire, the entire array of dusky warriors broke and fled toward the plain. The dragoons were now ordered to charge and rode through the company in- tervals to the front, and then dashed down upon the foe with headlong speed. Taylor's and Gaston's companies were there, and soon they reaped a red revenge for their slain he- roes. The flying warriors streamed out of the glens and ravines and over the open plains until they could find a refuge from the flash- ing sabres of the dragoons. When they had found the refuge of the wooded hills, the line
of foot once more passed the dragoons and renewed the fire. driving the Indians over the hills for about two miles, where a halt was called as the troops were nearly exhausted. The Indians had almost all disappeared, only a small group remaining. apparently to watch the whites. A shell sent from a howitzer, bursting over their heads. sent them also to the shelter of the ravines. Thus the battle ended." The Indian loss was considerable. probably not less than fifty or sixty killed and wounded, while, strange to say, not a soldier was injured. This was owing to the use, now for the first time, of the long-range rifle by the soldiers. The Indians were panic- stricken at the effect of their fire at such great (listances. Among the Indians killed was a brother and brother-in-law of Gearry, head chief of the Spokanes. After a three days' rest, Colonel Wright and his troops resumed their march toward the Spokanes coming upon them in about five miles. As the column advanced, the Indians set fire to the grass and under cover of the smoke spread themselves out in front and on both sides of the troops. The men charged through the flames. driv- ing the enemy before them and following them for many miles until they reached Spokane river where the troops encamped. This is known in history as the Battle of the Spokane Plains, and five hundred Indians were en- gaged. a number of which were killed, and Kamiakin, the war-chief of the Yakimas, was wounded. It took place September 5. 1857. After resting a day the forces moved up the river and encamped above the falls. Chief Gearry crossed the river and had a talk with Colonel Wright, professing to be against the war. Gearry was in many respects a bright Indian. He had received some education while young in the Episcopal school at the Red River settlement. . After making some efforts to have the Indians adopt civilized methods he retrograded back to the ways of the natives. There are those who came
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35
in close contact with him who do not believe that he possessed the nobility and integrity that characterized some of the leading Spokane Indians. And there is good reason to doubt the sincerity of his representations to Colonel Wright. The Colonel talked plainly to him, saying that if he and other Indians wanted peace. they could have it by complete surrender, which was promised. The march was resumed on the 8th, and about ten miles east of the city the Indians were seen driving their horses to the mountains. But the horses were captured and shot, except one hundred and thirty picked ones that were kept for the use of the troops. The defeat in battles, the destruction of their horses. and the hanging of several that had participated in the murder of the whites, com- pletely humiliated the Indians.
Colonel Wright held a council at the Cœur d' Alene mission on the 17th and with the Spokanes on the 23d, when it was found that the Indians were prepared to enter into a treaty of entire submission to the whites. This ended the era of Indian wars in eastern Washington.
In the "History of Walla Walla County," by Frank T. Gilbert, published in the year 1882, we have probably as trustworthy an account of Colonel Steptoe's campaign as can be found anywhere. He had an opportunity to hear the story of Steptoe's defeat from those who had been in the conflict, especially Sergeant Michael Kenny, who had charge of six men in the extreme rear and the last to leave camp during the retreat. He states that after one hundred mules had been loaded with the camping outfit "there was no room remained for the ammunition."
With only such ammunition as each soldier chanced to have with him, they entered the country of unfriendly Indians. The proba- bility is that the officer in command was not aware of the lack of ammunition when he started. But he has not been wholly exon-
erated for not knowing whether his forces were in condition to fight.
After describing the hand to hand struggle in the rear and left where gallant Lieutenant Gaston. and Captain Taylor, "The bravest of the brave." fell, when to continue the retreat would probably have resulted so disastrous as to leave few. if any. to tell the tale of the expedition, he says: "Steptoe went into camp at this place. as he could do nothing else. threw out a picket line and buried such dead as had not been left on the way. At a council of war it was decided to bury their howitzer. and leave the balance of their stores and pack train for the Indians. It was hoped that the abandoned property would cause the savages to spend time in examining and dividing it among them, which might give the soldiers an opportunity to get beyond pursuit, could they steal through their lines. The Indians. camped in plain sight in the bottom, left the soldiers comparatively unmolested, supposing that with the morrow they had but to make an onslaught and end the matter with a general massacre. The white camp was surrounded by Indian sentinels who were guarding every avenue of escape save one. This was a diffi- cult pass and it was not supposed that the soldiers knew about it, or could traverse the route if they did. This was the only hope left the command, and here is where the Nez Perce chief, Timothy, and his two living as- sociates became the salvation of the whole party. But for him probably not one of the party would have escaped. The night was cheerless and dark, and when all had become comparatively still, the entire force mounted and followed this chief in single file as silently as possible out through the unguarded pass. Lieutenant Gregg was in command of the rear guard. Sergeant Michael Kenny, now a policeman in Walla Walla city, had charge of six men in the extreme rear and was the last to leave camp. From him and from Thomas Beall. of Idaho, who was also there.
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
we learned the sad detail of what fol- lowed.
"The wounded of each company were taken care of by some of their comrades de- tailed for that purpose, and several were so badly hurt as to be helpless, who were tied upon pack animals to be carried along with the retreating force. Among the latter was a soldier named McCrossen, whose back was · broken, and Sergeant Williams, who was shot through the hip. The latter begged for poison of the doctor and to be left behind, preferring death to the terrible ride before him. He tried to borrow a pistol with which to shoot himself, from Lieutenant Gregg, and failed. He was then placed upon and lashed to a horse, with his broken hip, when a com- rade led the animal away on the trail. The torture of this rough motion driving him to a frenzy, he soon threw himself from this liv- ing rack and slipped down the animal's side. His comrades then loosened the thongs bind- ing him to the horse's side, and riding away into the darkness, left him there, calling upon them in the name of God to give him some- thing with which to take his life. Poor Mc- Crossen, with his broken spine, was tied upon a pack-saddle that turned on the animal's back and he was precipitated between the ani- mal's legs, when a soldier named Frank Poisle cut the lashing, and he was left, too, by the trail calling to his comrades, 'Give me some- thing for God's sake to kill myself with.'
"Through that long dark night they fol- lowed at a trot, or gallop march, the faithful chief upon whose judgment and fidelity their lives all depended. The wounded, except those who could take care of themselves, were soon left for the scalping knife of the savage, and with seemingly but one impulse, the long shadowy line of fugitives passed over the plains and hills towards the Snake river and safety. Twenty-four hours later they had ridden seventy miles and had reached that stream about four miles down it from where
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