W JSZ m j . ^ V ' \ tl University of California Berkeley THE PETER AND ROSELL HARVEY MEMORIAL FUND Pr/- MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR F WASHINGTON TERRITORY. ALSO; THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE -SECRETARY OF WAR, MAJOR GEN, WOOL, THE OFFICERS OF THE REGULAR ARMY, AND oV THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. ' I 4 OLYMPIA; i EDWARD FURSTE, PUBLIC PRINTER 1857. f f f CONTENTS. I. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. PAGE. : rotn Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of the Interior m reference to the order of , Lieut. Col. Steptce, published in pursuance of instructions from Gen. Wool, forbidding American citizens to settle in the Walla Walla country, October 22d, 1856. II. SECRETARY OP WAR. From Governor Stevens to the Secretary of War, making requisition for arms id ammunition, Aug. 15, 1854. 60 Answer of the Secretary of War, declining to comply with requisition, August 18, 1S54. 61 Extracts of letter from Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, setting forth the im portance of a military pest at the Waila Walla, Dec. 21, 1854. 61 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, giving a detailed account of the re- tarn of Gov. Stevens and party from the Blackfoot council ; the course par- sued by Gen. Wool ; the state of the Indian war, and condition of the country, Feb. 19, 1856. 62 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, in reference to the present condition of the volunteer service of Washington Territory, March 9, 1856. 68 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, giving an account of the military ope rations ia the Territory and his views as to the measures necessary to conquer a pennanent peace, March 21, 185G. 70 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, developing the probable character of the Indian difficulty, and the measures of precaution to meet it, May 23d, 1856. 77 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War; transmitting estimates of the proba ble cost of the war, May 23d, 1856. 81 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, in reference to the proposed expedi tion to the interior, and referring to the delays of CoL Wright in the Yakiina, June S 1856. 82 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, announces the movement of the two columns from the Sound and from the Dalles, as also the movements of the hostile Indians, July 7, 1856, From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War; announces the dLsbandment of the volunteers on the Sound, July 24, 1856. w * II CONTENTS. PAGE. From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, refers to the indecisive and procras tinating course of Col. Wright, in connection with ths previous report of June 8tli, and announces the success of the Walla Walla expedition, Aug. 14, 1856. 85 From Governor Stevens to the Secretary of war, reviews the operations of the troops both regular and volunteer, east of the Cascades, and announces the failure of the Walla Walla Council, Oct. 22d, 1850. 87 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, protesting against the talk of Col. Wright in the Walla Walla, " that the treaty ought not to be insisted upon," | Nov. 21, 1S58. 94 From Gov. Stevens to the Secretary of War, announces that the public property brought at public auction more than the original cost, Nov, 21, 1856. 5 To the Secretnry of War from Gov. Stevens, transmitting his letter to Gen. Wool, of the 22d of May, 1855, urging the establishment of a military post at the Walla Walla, Nov. 21, 1856. 96 III. GOVERNOR OF OREGON. From Gov. Stevens to Geo. L. Curry ' r proposed movement of troops, 97 From Gen.McCarver to Gov. Stevens, offering to co-operate with officers of W. T. volunteers. 97 Frcm Gov. Curry to Gov. Stevens supplies at San Francisco. 98 From Gov. Curry to Governor Stevens ; attack on the Cascades. 98 From Gov. Stevens to Governor Curry ; good relations between Oregon and Wash- fl| ton Territory. 5)D IV. GOVERNOR OF VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. From Gen. Tilton to Gov. Douglas ; requisition for arms and a steamer, Nov. 1st, 1655. 100 Gov. Douglass to Gen. Tiiton ; sends arms, &c., Nov. 6, 1855. 101 Gov. Douglass to Gen. Tilton ; sends steamer, Nov. 19, 1855. 102 Gov. Mason to Governor Douglass ; acknowledgments and state of the war, Nov. 2ad, 1855. 1C3 V. OFFICERS OF THE NAVY AND REVENUE SERVICE. Gov. Mason to Capt. I. S. Sterret ; requisition for arms, ammunition, &c., October 14th, 1855. 103 Gov. Mason to Capt. Pease ; requisition for arms, ammunition, &c., October 14th, 1855. 104 Capt. Slerret to Gov. Mason; sends invoice of arms, &c., Oct. 15th, 1855. 104 Capt. Pease to Gov. Mason ; sends invoice of arms, &c., Oct. 15th, 1855. 104 Capt. Pease to Gov. Mason ; can land tv/enty men whenever required, October 17, 1855 . 105 Gov. Mason to Capt. Stcrrett stating that Major Haller had been defeated ; sug gesting that " Decatur ' remain at Seattle until further information, October 18th, 1855. 105 Gov. Mason to Capt. Pease, stating defeat of Major Haller, suggesting that the " Jeff. Davis" cruise from Port Townsend to Bellingham Bay, Oct. 18, 1855. 106 CONTENTS. Ill PAGE. Gov. Mason to Capt. Sterrett, reqncsting that marines may be stationed at Fort Steilacoom, Oct. 10th, 1>55. 107 Capt. Pease to Adj't Gen. Tilton, sends two 121b guns ; suggests calling out volun teers ; offers provisions ; Nesqually Indians joining the hostilea, October 31st, IcGo. 103 Gov. Mason to Commanding officer, Pacific squadron ; asl:s that another ship of war be stationed on tlie Sound, Nov. 3d, 1855. 108 Capt. Sterrett to Governor Mason ; has received petition from Port Tcwnsend; will cruise there and other ports ; people want arms, Nov. 14.th, 1855. 109 Capt. Sterrett to Gov. Ma>on 12 Ib. gun piirc; ase.l and monnted at Seattle : will cruise at ports on the Sound ; wants authority to take Territorial arms, Nov. lith, 1855. 110 Gov. Mason to Capt. Gansevoort ; requests co-operation in removing Indians from est side of Sonnd ; Indian agents directed to a&k for assistance ; list I of t.geiUd, Dec. 28th, 1855. 110 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Gansevoort, requests him to send the Active to Pert Town- send to take Capt.Ebey's company to the mouth of the Snohomish, Feb. 16th, Ill G.;\. Stevens to Capt. Gansevoort, apprehends a descent of Northern Indians ; re- (i\ ;.ra that the Active be kept cruising in lower part of Sound, February 17, 1850. 112 Acfjt. General Tilton to Captain Alden, asks for spare percussion caps and powder, also, to take Territorial arms to Columbia river, March 2d, 1856. 113 Captain Alden to General Tilton ; sends 15 Ibs, powder, all that is onboard ; has been supplying Captain Howe's company ; will take Territorial arms to San Francisco, and re-ship them to the Columbia river, March 3d, 1856. 113 Governor Stevens to Captain Swartwout, sends Col. Crosbie to confer relative to combined naval and military movement from Seattle, March 15th, 1856. 114 Captain Swartwout to Governor Stevens ; is directed to act in concert with forces under General Wool ; declines acceding to proposed plan, March 16th, 1856. 115 Captain Pease to General Tilton ; asks for return of guns, March 22d, 1856. 116 Genera! Tilton to Captain Pease ; asks that the guns may be retained, .as they give a feeling o? security to the inhabitants, March 31st, 1856. 116 Captain Pase to General Tilton ; consents to let the guns remain ; asks that they be returned when danger is over, April 2d, 1856. 11T Captain Pease to Governor Stevens ; enclosing copy of letter from Secretary of Treasury, March 30th, 1856. 118 Governor Stevens to Captain S^artwont ; infonns him that the Cascades have been taken ; that Col. Simmons, Indian agent, is about to make a tour of inspec tion on reservations ; asks him to cruise about the Sound, and to send a vessel to carry Col. S. to reservations, March 30th, 1856. 118 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Swarfcwout ; notifies him of appointment of H. Haley as In dian agent at Seattle. 11* Capt. Swartwout to Gov. Stevens ; will cruise actively to prevent hostilities, and defend Seattle; has ordered the "John Hancock" to Olympia, April 1st, .1856. 120 Captain Swartwout to Governor Stevens ; in complyance with letter from Mr. Ha- !Y CONTENTS. PAGE. ley, had sent " John Hancock " to reservation, and taken two Indian prisoners; eends them to Olympia, April 20th. 1856. Gov. Stevens to Capt. Swartwout; thanks for prompt action in case of Indians, April 26, 1856. Governor Stevens to Captain Swartwout ; thanks for promptitude in despatching Hancock to Holme's Harbor, and for information of murders committed on White River, June 2d, 1856. m Governor Stevens to Captain Swartwout, regarding Walla Walla Council ; thanks for active co-operation of navul forces, -August 31st, 1856. 122 Captain Swartwout to Governor Stevens ; reply to above ; has recommended to Secretary of War to keep one vessel on this station, September 17th, 1856." 123 Captain Swartwout to Gov. S ; report of battle with the Northern Indians at Port Gamble, November 23d, 1856. 124 VI. GEN. WOOL, COMMANDING DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC. v ,te' general Wool to Governor of Washington Territory ; will establish a post at Bel- lingham Bay as soon as practicable, Sept. 18th, 1855. 130 Governor Mason to General Wool ; asking for ammunition, and that more troops be sent to the Sound, October 20th, 1855. 130 Governor Stevens to General Wool, urging him to establish a military post at the * Walla Walla, May 22d, 1855. 131 Governor Stevens to General Wool, giving a memoir of proposed military opera tions in the interior, setting forth the condition of the Territory, and announc ing his determination to submit to the Department of war the facts connected with the disbandment by Gen. Wool of the troops raised for -his relief, Decem ber 23d, 1855, and January 23th, 1856. 133 General Wool to Governor Stevens ; reply to above, Feb. 12th, 1866. 139 Governor Stevens to General Wool ; has just heard of his arrival in Washington Territory ; Sends General Tilton, Adjutant General volunteers, to confer with him at Steilacoom, March 15th, 1856. 143 Governor Stevens to General Wool; rejoinder to Better of February 12th, 1856, March 20th, 1856. 143 Governor Stevens to Gen. Wool ; noticing that the above letter had been returned ; ^^flB remarks thereupon, May 12th, I8s^^^ 150 VII. ORDNANCE OFFICERS AT BENICIA. ' Governor Mason to Ordnance officer, or Quartermaster, San Francisco, California; learns from C;ipt. Keyes that Territorial arms were all left at Vancouver; asks that the government steamer be ordered to stop there', and bring a por tion to Olympia or Pteilacoom, November 26th, 1855. 151 Governor Mac on to Col. J. W. Riplcy, U. S. A.; states that Captain Eckerson, mil itary storekeeper, had issued arms on his requisition; that it was disapproved.; requests that the Territorial arms be sent as soon as possible, so as to replace the above arms; also, that Mr. B. be permitted to issue 800 nwkets, to be re placed by Territorial arms when they arrive, December 12th, 1855. 152 Col. Eipley to Gov. Mason : receipts to be given to Lieutenant Stone and Mr. Eck- CONTENTS. T PAGE. erson, to be deducted out of Territorial quota; further issue of arms deemed unnecessary, in view of the arrival of the 9th Infantry, Feb. 2d, 1856. 153 Governor Stevens to Col. Ripley, U. S. A.; requests that 2,000 Ibs of rifle powder be furnished for the volunteers, May 4th, 1856. 154 Col. Ripley to Governor Stevens ; not authorized to comply with above requisition, May 29th, 1856. 155 Col. T. Morris to Governor Stevens ; requisition received ; impossible to comply, in consequence of orders issued by General Wool, May 19th, 185G. 155 VIII. OFFICERS OF THE ARMY OX THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND THE WALLA WALLA. Gov. Mason to Maj. Rains, giving notice of murders having been committed by the Indians on miners going to Colville, Sept. 22d, 1855. 156 Gov. Mason to Maj. Kains ; additional information relative to murders ; Lieut. Slaughter with forty men has gone across the mountains, Sept. 2tfth, 1855, 157 Maj. Rains to Gov. Mason ; has ordered Lieut. Day to enquire into the above sub ject, Sept. 26th, 1855, 158 Maj. Rains to Gov. Mason ; has ordered 84 men into the field. Sept. 29th, 1855, 159 Maj. Rains to Gov. Mason ; Maj. Haller surrounded ; calls for tjvo companies of vol unteers, Oct. 9th, 1S55, 1GO Gov. Mason to Maj. Rains; has complied with requisition, Oct. 14th, 1855, 160 Gov. Mason to Maj. Rains; Sends Mr. Walker to know what arms and ammunition can be furnished volunteers, Oct. 14th, 1855, 161 Lieut. Withers to Gov. Mason; volunteers will receive arms, &c., Oct. 17th, 1855, 162 Gov. Mason to Lieut. Withers; has ordered Col. Shaw to raise a company for relief of Gov. Stevens, Nov. 3d, 1855, 162 Maj. Rains to Gov. Mason; account of battle of the "Two Buttes," Nov. 12th, 1855, 163 Gov. Stevens to Col. Wright ; is raising volunteers ; proposes joint operations be tween regulars and volunteers, April 2d, 1856, 164 Col. Wright to Gov. Stevens; is taking measures to protect the country; Cascades retaken, April 10th, 1856, . 165 Gov. Stevens to Col. Wright ; asks whether he intends to occupy the Walla Walla, April 24th, 1856, 166 Col. Wright to Gov. Stevens ; not part of his plan to occupy the Walla Walla at present, April 27th, 1856, 167 Gov. Stevens to Col. Wright ; informs him that the Indians are determined to pros ecute the war ; information received from Mr. McDonald, May 8th, 1856. 167 Gov. Ste-vens to Col. Wright ; informs him of Col. Shaw's march across the moun tains; his plans; is ready, as Superintendent of Indians, to take charge of any Indians; terms to be offered, June ISth, 1856, 168 Gov. Stevens to Col Wright ; informs him of the battle of Grand Ronde; will go to Walla Walla in person, August 3d, 1856, 169 Col. Wright to Gov. Stevens ; has received requisition for Leschi, Nelson, Kitsap, &c. ; suggests that their seizure be suspended at present, Oct. 4th, 1856, 170 Gov. Stevens to Col. Wright ; reiterates requisition for the Sound murderers, Oct. 4th, 1856, 171 VI CONTENTS. PAGE. Gov. Stevens to Lieut. Col. Steptoe ; advises him of council to be held at Walla Waila; a-ks him to place his troops in the vicinity during the council, August 25th, 1856, 172 Col. Steptoe to Gov. Stevens; will comply with request, August 28th, 1856, 173 Gov. Stevens to Col. Bteptoe; announcing loss of pack train; has sent a wagon boat to Capt. R-^scl to cross the Columbia, August 31st, 1856, 173 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Russell; will send boat wagon; Nea Perces coming in; asks him to camp near the council ground, August 31st, 1856, 174 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Russell* ha? sent boat wagon with escort, Sept. 4tb, 1856, 175 Col. Steptoe to Cuvernor Stevens ; will reach Walla Walla in one day more ; ob ject to establish permanent post, September 4th, 1856. 176 Governor Stevens to Col. Steptoe ; asks for two companies and howitzer on the Council ground, as the volunteers are about to leave, September 10, 1856. 176 Col. Steptoe to Gov. Stevens ; cannot accede to request, Sept. 10th, 1856. 177 Governor Stevens to Col. Steptoe: requests his presence at the Council, and to bring a company, Sept. 13th, 1856. 178 Col. Steptoe to Gov. Stevens ; advises him to move the Council up to his camp, September 13th, 1856. 178 Col. Steptoe to Governor Stevens; has receiver] note, asking for aid; better to come back, and then all together can move to the Umatilla, Sept. 19th, 1856. 179 IX. OFFICERS OF THE ARMY ON THE SOUND. Acting-Governor Mason to Captain Malony, relative to murders of citizens by tho Yakimas, and requesting that a detachment of troops be sent into the Yakiina valley, September 24th, 1855. 180 Same to same, informing Capt. M. that he has called out two companies of volun teers in complyance with Major Rain's requisition, October, 15, 1855. 181 Captain Malony to Major Rains: camp onNachess river , giving reasons for falling back to Steilacoom, Oct. 29, 1855. 181 Lieut. Nugen to Acting-Governor Mason, stating that Indians on White river had broken out and murdered settlers, &c., Oct. 30th, 1855. 183 Lieutenant Xugen to Adjutant General Tilton, stating that he has called upon the citizens of Pierce county for one company of volunteers, Oct. 31, 1855. 1S3 Same to same; rumor of Klirkatats in this vicinity; opinion that there is to be a general Indian war, Nov. 1, 1855. 184 Same to ?ame; attack by the Indians upon express, and death of Col. A. B. Moses and others, Nov. 2d, 1855. 185 Same to same ; reporting battle on White river, Nov. 4, 1855. 185 Captain Malony to Acting-Governor Mason; camp Coimell ; reporting battle of White river, and pursuit of enemy to Green river, &c., Nov. 6th, 1855. 186 Lieutenant Nugen to Adjutant General Tilton, reporting battle on Green river, November 4th ; list of killed and wounded, N.ov. 9th, 1855. 188 Acting-Governor Mason to Capt. Keys, relative to furnishing the volunteers with arms and supplies. 188 apt. E. D. Keys to Captain G. Hays, orders to .examine country on Upper Nes- CONTENTS. VII PAGE, qnally and south in direction of Skooknm Chuck for hostile Indians, Nov. 2G, 1855. 189 Captain E. D. Keys to Acting-Governor Mason, requesting a list of sub-Indian agents west of the Cascades, and their stations; guard at Fort Nesqiuilly, Dec. 4th, 1855. 190 Same to same ; reports the death of Lieutenant Slaughter and impossibility of fight ing the Indians on their own ground, Dec. 7, 1855. 191 Capt. E. D . Keys to Acting-Governor Mason, relative to furnishing supplies to W. T. volunteers, January 4, 185;!. 192 Acting-Governor Mason to E. D. Keys, TJ. S. A., in reference to supplies for the volunteers, and the probable discharge of certain companies, January 5th, 1856. 193 Same to same ; relative to Leschi and other Indians, January 6, 1856. 194 Captain E. D. Keys to Acting-Governor Mason, relative to Leschi being on the reserve opposite Steildcoom, January 6, 1856. 194 Same to same, relative to supplies for volunteers, declining to give them orders, deprecating a more into the enemy's country, January 10, 1S56. 196- Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey, advising him of the movements of the volunteers from the Yelm and Montgcmerys ; that the report as to contempla ted attack of the Northern Indians woulii make no cbumge in the Snohomish expedition, and in case that Lieutenant Col. Casey was of opinion that the Active should be kept cruising, requesting him to write a letter to Captain Gansevoort to that effect, Feb. 17. Ifc56. 196- Lieut. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens, endorsing Governor Steven's views in re gard to tne Active, &c., Feb. 17th, 1856. 198 Governor Stevens to Lieutenant Col. Casey, advising him of the establishment of a post at Lone Tree Point, and that all the volunteers raised for local defence had been disbanded, Feb. 18, 1856. 198 Adjutant General Tilton to commanding officer at Fort Steilacoom ; information received that hostile Indians are in vicinity of Xathan Eaton's; White mur dered, and Northcraft missing; Governor deshes you to send '30 men to Yelm, &c., March 2d, 1856. 199 Lieutenant J. Nngento Adjutant General Tilton; cannot comply with your request to send 30 men to Yelm, March 3d, 1856. 200 Lieut. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens; requisition for two companies of volunteers, March 15, 1856. 200 Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey; refuses to comply with the requisition, March 16, 1856. 201 Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey ; proposes to turn over to him the posts on Council's prairie and on White river, April 15, 1856. 204 Lieut. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens, in substance accepting the posts, April 15, 1856. 204 Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey; reply to the foregoing, April 21, 1856. 205 Governor Stevens to Lt. Col. Casey, proposing a joint movement over the Cascades into the Yakima country, May 28, 1?66. 206 Lt. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens; giving reasons why he sends his troops by way of the Columbia river, May 28, lR5fi. 206 Till CONTENTS. PAGE. Governor Stevens to Lt. Col. Casey, proposing to tarn over certain of the volunteer posts, and expresses the opinion that no portion of the line should be disgarn- ished at present, June 2d, 1856. 207 Lt. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens ; in regard to practicability of wagon road over the Snoqualmie pass, May 28, 1856. Lt. J. Nugen to Lt. Col. Shaw ; Lt. Col. Casey willing to occupy certain block houses wifh his troops, June 1, 1456. Governor Stevens to Lt. Col. Casey, communicating the arrangements made to turn over the volunteer posts, June 3d, 1856. 209 Lt. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens; -wishes to be relieved from the charge of the Indians recently came in from the Yakirna, Oct. 20. 1856. 210 Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey, declines to receive the Indians until the murderers are apprehended. 211 Lieut. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens, declines to comply with the requisition of Gov. S. for murderers, October 21, 1856. 213 Governor Stevens to Lt. Col. Casey; renews his requisition upon Lieut. C. for the murderers, Oct. 27, 1856. 214 Lt. Col. Casey to Gov. Stevens; again declines to comply with Governor S.'s requi sition; will forward communication to General Wool, Oct. 29, 1856. 216 Governor Stevens to Lt. Col. Casey; encloses Col. Wright's instructions to Major Garnett, and 3d requisition for murderers, Oct. 31, 1856. 216 Lieut. Col. Casey to Governor Stevens; will comply with requisition from civil an thori ties, Nov. 2, 1856. 217 Lieut. Casey to Governor Stevens; in relation to Lieut. McKibben's interference with friendly Indians; Indian officers should have an eye single to their duties; a spirit of justice should be exercised. 218 Governor Stevens to Lieut. Col. Casey; replies to the foregoing, and still refuses to receive the Indians until the murderers are apprehended; Col. Simmons gave you such notice; your observations about Indian officers, &c., offensive, November 8, 1856. 219 Lieut. Col. Casey to Gov. Stevens; answer, Nov. 12, 1856. 220 X. QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY GENERAL. From Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller, directing him to issue certificates for purchases made by him, February 2d, 1856, 221 From Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller, directing him to move with all his wagons, qnar- master's men and supplies to Montgomery's, preparatory to moving on the Puyallup, February 18, 1856, 222 From Gen. Miller to Gov. Stevens, stating his compliance with orders of 18th, and the arrngements he has made for additional supplies and transportation, Yelm. February 18th, 1856, 222 From Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller ; has ordered the formation of a company from teamsters and quartermasters' men ; the Major elected ordered to push forward into the enemy's country and establish certain block-houses and ferries, Febru ary 20, 1856, 223 r rom Gen. Miller to Gov. Stevens, reporting his success in procuring supplies and CONTENTS. IX PAGE. transportation, &c. ; the train will be ready to move at the time appointed, &c., February 20, 1856, 224 Gen. Miller to Gov. Stevens, reporting his train in readiness to move, with rations for 150 men, 100 days, &c., February 22, 1856, 225 Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller, directing him to accompany the expedition into the Indian country, and instructions as to supplies, forage, transportation, &c., Montgomery's, February 23, 1656, 22G Gen. Milier to Gov. Stevens, reporting his arrival at Lemon's prairie and readiness of train to move on nest day, February 28, 1856, 227 Gen. Miller to Gov. Stevens, reporting his arrival at ConuelFs prairie ; the good or der of the train and entire harmony among employees, and will be able to fully carry out his instructions, March 2, 185C, 228 From Governor Stevens to Gen. Miller; relative to supplies; the selection of site for main depot; quartermaster's men being raised as guard for train; compa nies ordered from the Columbia, May 1st, 1856. 229 From Governor Stevens to Gen. Miller; relative to the appointment of an assist ant quartermaster general; the district to which he wiir be assigned, and the instructions to be given him May 1, 1856. 230 From Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller; relative to the appointment of Col. Hurd assist ant quartermaster, general, and instructions to be given him. May 1, '56. 231 From Governor Stevens to General Miller; orders to build a block house at Ten- alquct, and open certain wagon roads, May 5th, '56. 231 From Gov. Stevens to Gen. Miller; relative to Wagon train to go by Snoqualrnie pass, and form a supply depot on the Yakima, also pack train, c. May 28, 1856. 232 From Governor Stevens to Gen. Miller; Fort Hicks will be turned over to Lt. Col. Casey; supplies there &c.; reduce expen.-es in quartermaster's department; muster out guard at Nesqually ferry, July 17, 1856. 233 Adjutant General Tilton to Gen. Miller; orders to enlist 206 volunteers to strength en Right wing, 2d regiment, August 2d, 1856. 233 Governor Stevens to Gen. Miller; directing him to dispense with quartermaster's and commissary's agents, &c., who are not required, Aug. 8, 1856. 234 XI. EXPEDITION TO WALLA WALLA RAISING OF SOUTHERN BATTALION MOVEMENT TO THE SOUND JOINT OPERATIONS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL BATTALION, s From Governor Stevenslo Col. B. F. Shaw; movement of Southern battalion to East of Cascades, Feb. 18, 1856. 234 From Gov. Stevens to Assistant Adjutant General Shaw; boats for transportation; pack train besides boats; posts in the interior, Feb. 20, 1856. 235 From Assistant Adjutant General Shaw to Gov. Stevens; has received his com mission and letter of instructions. Vancouver, Feb. 21, 1856. 23C From Col. Shaw to Adjutant General Tilton; progress in raising Southern battal ion, Salem, Feb. 29, 1856. 237 From Governor Stevens to Col. Shaw: ordering Maxon's company to the Sound, March 2d, 185C. 238 0, X CONTENTS. PAGE. From Adj. Gen. Tilton to Lt. Col. Crosbie; orders to proceed to the Columbia riv er, March 2d, 1856. 2S8 From Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; movement of Southern battalion to the interior, Vancouver, March 9, 1856. From Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; ordering the Southern battalion to the Sound, March 12, 1856. 240 From Governor Stevens to Col. Shaw; instructions in reference to operations at the head of the Sound, April 16, 1856. From Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; transmitting additional instructions, April, 1856. 242 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Goff ; giving information and orders for his movement to the Walla Walla, May 11, 1856. 243 From Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; suggestions for a movement across the Cascades, May 16, 1856. 244 From Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; have your train ready to cross the mo.untains. 244 Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; opinion of council of officers as to crossing Cascades, May 21, 1856. 245 Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; referring to opinions of the Council of officers, May 21, 1856. 246 Extract Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; send an express over Nachess pass to Col. Wright, May 20th, 1856. 246 Extract Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; get an express over the mountains if possi ble, May 21, 1856. 247 Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; the express is sent, May 22d, 1856. 247 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Goff; is authorised to increase his force, but must not wait to do so, June 1, 1856. 247 Capt. W. W. DeLacy to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; report upon wagon route by the Snoqnalmie pass, June 5th, 1856. 248 Gov. Stevens to CoL Shaw; adopting his views of moving over Nachess pass, June 5, 1868. 249 . Col. Shaw to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; movement across the mountains, June 5, 1856. 250 Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; turn over certain posts to Lt. Col. Casey, June 5, 1S56. 251 Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; instructions as to operations in the interior, Dalles, June 18, 1856. 252 Gov. Stevens to* Capt. Goff; instructions for his march to the Walla Walla, &c., Olympia, June 3d, 1856. 252 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Goff; additional instructions, Dalles, June 24, 1856. 254 Gov. Stevens to Lt. Craig, sub-agent ; Goff s and Shaw's movements; Indian sup plies for interior, Dalles, June 24, 1856. 254 Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; instructions, Dalles, June 30, 1856. 255 Lieut. Col. Shaw to Adjutant General Tilton; march of the battalion from Camp Montgomery, Camp on Wenass, June 22d, 1856. 257 Col. Shaw to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; march from camp on Wenass to the Columbia, Camp opposite Fort Walla Walla, July 1, 1858. 258 Gov. Stevens to Col. Shaw; the movements made, and those proposed, are appro ved, July 21, 1856. 260 Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; reports his arrival in the Walla Walla; disposition of Nez Perces, July 26, 1856. 261 CONTENTS. XI PAGE. Captain Goff to Col. Shaw; report of the battle of Burnt river, Camp Mill Creek, July 26, 1856. 263 Governor Stevens to Col. Shaw; 200 volunteers to re-inforce him; council at Walla Walla, August 2, 1856. 265 Col. Shaw to Col. Craig ; battle of Grand Konde; statement of facts; council with the hostiles; sends express, Head Quarters, Mill Creek, Aug. 1, 1856. 266 Col. Shaw to Lawyer, or head chief of the Nez Perce nation, Head Quarters, Mill Creek, Aug. 1, 1856. 268 Col. Shaw to Gov. Stevens; the Walla Walla Council; arrangements will be made for it, Fort Mason, Aug. 14, 1856. 268 Col. Shaw to Col. Craig; the Governor has fixed the 25th August, for opening the Council at Walla Walla; sends runners to the several tribes, Fort Mason Aug. 14, 1856. 269 Col. Shaw to the chiefs and head men of the Nez Perces, Spokanes and other friendly tribes; by direction of the Governor they are inviied to the council, &c., Fort Mason, Aug. 1-1, 1856. 270 Gov. Stevens to Cel. Craig, Indian agent; the Walla Walla council; terms with the hostiles, &c., Ed. Qrs., W. T. V., Fort Mason, Walla Walla, August 23d, 1856. 271 Col. Shaw to Col. Craig; the Council; division among the hostiles on that subject, Fort Mason, Aug. 23d, 1856. 272 XII. OPERATIONS AT THE HEAD OF THE SOUND THREE MONTHS' OR GANIZATION CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN BATTALIONS. Governor Mason to Captain Eaton; authorized to raise a company, and instruc tions, Olympia, October 19, 1855. 273 Gov. Mason to Capt. G. Hays ; ordered to report to the commanding officer at Fort Steilacoom, Olympia, Oct. 20, 1855. 274 Gov. Mason to Capt. Eaton; instructions as to scouts, Olympia, Oct. 23, 1855. 274 Captain Wallace to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; reports his company fpr service, Steila coom, Oct. 30, 1855. 276 Captain Hays to Gov. Mason; report of the battle of White river, ConnelFs Prairie, Nov, 3d, 1855. '276 Gov. Mason to Captain Hays; acknowledgment of services, Olympia, November 9, 1855. J77 Adjt. Gen. Tilton to Capt. Eaton; ordered to report to Captain Malony, Olympia, Nov. 9, 1855. 277 Adjutant General Tilton to Captain Wallace; ordered to report to Capt. Maloney, Olympia, Nov. 9, 1855. 278 Capt. Hays to Gov. Mason; skirmish on Green river, Camp Montgomery, Nov. 11, 1855. 278 Lieut. Moore to Adjt. Gen. Tilton; not heard from Lieut. Slaughter, Camp Morri son, Dec. 10, 1855. 279 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Swindal; Skookum Bay company accepted, Olympia, Feb. 2d, 1856. 280 Governor Stevens to Capt. Henness; instructions as to scouts, Olympia, Feb. 2d, 1856. 280 XII CONTENTS. PAGE. Adjt. General Tilton to Captain G. Hays; block house on Yelm Prairie, Olympia, Feb. 11, 185G. 281 Captain Swindal to Governor Stevens; block house at Skookum Bay, Fort Skoo- kum, Feb. U. 1856. 281 Captain Swindal to Governor Stevens; hae joined Major Hay's command, Maj. Camp, Feb. 24th, 1356. 282 Governor Stevens to Captain Riley; fort at Lone Tree Point, Olympia, Feb. 18, 1856. 282 Governor Stevens to Captain J. White; block houses, Olyrnpia, Feb. 18, 1856. - u 283 Captain Riley to Governor Stevens; post at Lone Tree Point, Steilacoom, Feb. 19, 185G. 283 Governor Stevens to Major Hays; movement on the Puyallup, Olympia, Feb. 20, 1856. 284 Governor Steven 10 Major Hays; general instructions, Camp Montgomery, Feb. 27, 1856. 285 Major Hays to Governor Stevens; recommends Conneli's Prairie for main depot, Camp Connell, March 2, 1856. 287 Adjutant Gen, Tilton to Major Hays; recommendation approved, Olympia, March 3, 1856. 288 Major Hays to Adj. General Tilton; block house on Conneli's prairie, Camp Con nell March 0, 185G. 289 Major Hays to Governor Stevens; battle of Conneli's prairie, Camp Connell, March 10, 1856. 290 Adj. General Tilton to Captain Maxon; scouts, Olympia, March 12, 1856. 292 Adjutant General Tilton to Major Hays; thanks for battle of Conaeli's prairie, Olympia, March 13, 1856. 294 Major Hays to Governor Stevens; scouts of the Central battalion, Fort Hays, Con neli's prairie, March 15, 1856. 295 Governor Stevens to Major Hays; Nachess pass, Olympia, March 17, 1856. 297 Governor Stevens to Captain Maxnn; scout in the Nesqually bottom, Olympia, March 18, 1856. 297 Maj. Hays to Gov. Stevens; Scouts, Fort Hays, March 24, 1856. 298 Captain Maxon to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; his scout in the Nesqually bottom, Tenal- quot prairie, March 24, 1856. 299 Adjt. General Tilton to Capotin Maxon; scouts up the Nesqually, Olympia, March 26, 18CG. 300 Captain Maxon to Adjutant General Tilton; sends in five of the suspected persons, Camp McLeod, March 30, 1856. 301 Adjutant General to Major Hays; road from Fort Hays to South prairie, Olympia, April 4, 1856. 302 Adjutant General Tilton to Major Hays; occupation of South prairie, Olympia, April 6, 1856. .302 Captain Miller to Governor Stevens; scout up the Nesqually, Fort Stevens, Yelm Prairie, April G, 1856. 303 Gov. Stevens to Major Hays; resignation accepted, Olympia, April 10, 1856. 304 Vdj. General Tilton to Captain Swindal? occupation of South Prairie, Olympia, April 12, 185G. 305 CONTENTS. XIII PAGE. Gov. Stevens to Capt. Swindal; connection with the line of the Nesqaally, Olym- pia, April 15, 1856, 305 Captain Swindal to Governor Stevens; block house bnilt on Sonth Prairie, Camp Montgomery, April 20, 1856. 306 Captain Maxon to Adjutant General Tilton; scouts to Michell prairie and lake Ow- hap, Camp Wren, April 23,1856. 306 Captain Eabbeson to Gov. Stevens; Indian encampment, Fort McAlister, South Prairie, April 29, 1856. 308 Captai Swindal to Adjutant General Tilton; report of scout, Fort McAlister, May 2d,1856. 309 Adj. General Tilton to Captain DeLacy; examination of route to the Snoqualmie Pass, Olympia, May 27, 1856. 309 Governor Stevens to Captain Swindal; posts to be turned over to Lieut. Col. Casey, Olympia, July 17, 1856. 310 , XIII. NORTHERN BATTALION AND DOWN THE SOUND. * Captain 1. N. Ebey to Adjutant General Tilton; report of operations, November 5. 1855. 311 do do do do do do Nov. 9, 1855. 312 Adjutant General Tilton to Capt. I. N. Ebey; instructions, Nov. 10, 1855. 314 Captain I. N. Ebey to Adj. Gen. Tilton; condition of affairs, Nov. 12, 1855. 315 do do do Nov. 28, 1855. 315 Adj. Gen. Tilton to Capt. I. N. Ebey; instructions, Dec. 4, 1855. 317 do do Occupation of Crescent Harbor, Dec. 5, 1855. 317 Adjutant General Tilton to Captain A. A. Plummer; instructions, Dec. 11, 1855. 318 Gov. Stevens to Capt. I. N. Ebey; relative to volunteers for six months and gen eral defence, Feb. 1, 1856. 319 do do do raising volunteers, Feb. 2, 1856. 319 Gov. Stevens to Major commanding Northern battalion; general instructions, Feb. 2. 1856. 320 Plan of defence of the lower part of the Sound. 320 Defence of Bellingham Bay. 321 Gov. Stevens to Captain I. N. Ebey; establishment of posts above the falls of the Snoqnalmie, Feb. 14, 1856. 322 Major Van Bokkelen to Adjutant General Tilton; movements of Northern battal ion and Indian auxiliaries, Fort Tilton, March 10, 1856. 322 Captain S. D. Howe to Adjutant General Tilton; movements of his company, Fort Ebey, March 10, 1S56. 324 Major Van Bokkelin to Gov. Stevens; future movements of northern battalion, Fort Hays, April 2, 1856. 326 Description of route taken by the Northern battalion from Fort Tilton to Fort Hays. 327 Gov. Stevens to Major Van Bokkelin; reply to the Majors letter announcing his ar rival at Fort Hays, Olympia March 26, 1856, 328 Maj. Van Bokkelin to Gov. Stevens; scout by the northern and central battalions, Fort Hays, April 1 , 1856 , 329 CONTENTS. PAGE. Ca.pt. Peabody to Adjutant General Tilton; report of scout up the the Snoqualmie into the lakes, Fort Tilton, April 27, 1856, Capt. Howe to Adjutant General Tilton ; return from a scout ; resignation, Fort Tilton, April 27, 1856, Adjutant General Tilton to Major Van Bokkelin ; return of northern battalion to Fort Tilton, Olynipia, April 27, 1856, Major Yan Bokkelin to Adjutant Tilton; return route to the Snoqualmie; practica bility of the pass, Rangers' Prairie, May 23, 1856. 335 Maj. Van Bokkelin to Adjutant General Tilton, Fort Tilton May 24, 1856, 336 Maj. Van Bokkelin to Gov. Stevens ; crossing the Snoqualmie, Bangers' Prairie, May 23, 1856, 336 Gov. Stevens to Lieut. Col. E. C. Fitzhugh ; messengers to Ouhi and Te-i-ass, Olym- pia, June 4, 1856, Lieut. Col. E. C. Fitzhugh to Gov. Stevens ; failure to bring in Ouhi, Te-i-ass and their people, Holmes' Harbor, June 20, 1856, 339 Gov. Stevens to Major Van Bokkelin ; train across the Snoqualmie, Olympia, May 28, 1856, 340 Maj. Van Bokkelin to Adjutant General Tilton; occupation of the Snoqualmie, Sno qualmie Pass, June 24, 1856, 341 Maj. Van Bokkelin to Adjutant General Tilton ; scout in the Yakima valley, Fort Alder, June 28, 1856, 343 XIV. DEFENCES OF, AND OPERATIONS IN THE VICIN ITY OF SEATTLE. Adjutant General Tilton to Capt. Hewitt ; instructions, Olympia, Nov. 9, 1855, 344 Capt. Hewitt to Gov. Mason; condition of his company, &c., Seattle, Nov. 12, 1855, 345 Adjutant General Tilton to Capt. Hewitt ; assist the Indian agent, Olympia, Nov. 24, 1855, 346 Gov. Stevens to Lieut. Col. Lander ; Enlistments for six months ; general defence, Olympia , Feb. 1 , 1856 , 346 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Lander ; employment of Indian auxiliaries on the line of the Duwamish, Olympia, April 13, 1856, 347 Gov. Stevens to Lieut. Col. Lander ; instructions, Olympia, Feb. 17, 1856, 348 Lieut. Col. Lander to Adjutant General Tilton; report of operations, Seattle, March 3d, 1856, 348 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Crosbie, and notes by Gov. Stevens ; Com bined naval and military movement from Seattle to Lake Duwamish, Olympia, March 14, 1856, 350 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Lander ; getting in of Indians back of Seat tle, Olympia, April 13, 1856, 351 Lieut. Col. Lander to Adjutant General Tilton ; operations on the line of the Du wamish ; hostile Indians brought in, Fort on Duwamisb, April 24, 1856. 352 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Lander ; co-operation with Capt. Dent, Olym pia, April 15, 1856. 356 CONTENTS. XV PAGE. Lieut. Col. Lander to Adjutant General Tilton ; scouts of Lieut. Denny, and. Ser jeant Henning, Fort on Duwamish, April 28, 1856, 356 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Lander ; acknowledgment of services, Olym- pia, May 4, 1856, 359 Adj. Gen. Tilton to Lieut. Denny; cutting road from Fort Hays to the Falls of the Snoqualmie, Olympia, June 9, 1856. 359 Lieut. Penny to Adjutant General Tilton; difficulties in the way of executing the above instructions, Fort Lander, June 13, 1856. 360 Adj. General Tilton to Lieut. Denny; instructions modffied, Olympia, June 15, 1856. 361 Lieut. Denny to Adj. General Tilton; objects to the instructions, Fort Lander, June 19, 1856. 362 Adj. General Tilton to Lieut. Denny; relieved from duty, and ordered to turn the company over to Lieut. Neely, Olympia, June 24, 1856. 364 Adj. General Tilton to Lieut. Neely; ordered to relieve Lieutenant Denny from the command of Company A, and to cut the trail, Olympia, June 24, 1856. 364 Letter and resolutions of Company A, disapproving of the course of the Corn- man der-in-Chief, Fort Lander, June 28, 1856. 365 Adj. General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Fitzhngh; instructions in regard to mustering out Company A, Olympia, July 27, 1856. 367 Lt. Col. Fitzhugh to Governor Stevens; Company A has not agreed to the condi tions necessary to its being mustered out, Seattle, June 29, 1856. 368 do do do endorsement by Lieutenant Neely of letter of June 28, signed Company A, Bellingham Bay, Oct. 8, 1856. 370 Lieut, Col. Fitzhugh to Lieut. Neely; hopes the resolutions will be modified, and the company mustered out, Bellingham Bay, Sept. 22d, 1856. 370 Lieut. Neely to Col. Fitzhugh; endorsement of letter signed Company A, Fort Lander, Oct. 1, 1856. 371 XV. DEFENCES AND OPERATIONS IN LEWIS COUNTY. Capt. John R. Jackson to Acting-Governor Mason; have scouting parties out con- constantly. &c., send you muster roll of my company, Lewis county Rangers, Nov. 13, 1S55. 372 Adjutant General Tilton to Lieut. Col. Crosbie; orders to proceed to Lewis county to organize volunteers; prevent friendly Indians from obtaining liquor, April 3d, 1856. 373 Lieut. Col. Crosbie to Adjutant Gen. Tilton; stating that a company has been or ganized, April 5, 1856. 373 Gov. Stevens to Lieut. Col. Crosbie; supplies for Lewis county company will be furnished by Capt. Kurd, quartermaster and commissary, April 5, 1856. 375 Lieut. Col. Crosbie to Adjutant General Tilton; block house at the Landing; forces on the Cowlitz; Cowlitz Indians; Indians not permitted to go to Kanier by the Citizens, April 8, 1856. 376 XVI CONTENTS. PAGE. Capt. E. D. Warbass to Governor Stevens; scouting party to Klickatat prairie, and road from Pain Court; June 2, 1856. 376 Governor Stevens to Lieutenant S. S. Ford, Sr.; orders to divide Captain Warbass' company into active and reserved list; start Pierre Charles on a scout; return guns to Plomondeau; defences at Jacksous, May 21, 1856. 377 Lieut. Col. S. S. Ford, sr.,to Gov. Stevens; executed orders of May 21, 1850, May 26, 1856. 378 Capt. E. D. Warbass to Adj. Gen. Tilton; block house on Klickatat prairie; ready for any emergency, June 30, 1856. 379 Pierchal to Gov. Stevens; report of scout up the Cowlitz with friendly Indians, July 11, 1856. 38 XVI. OPERATIONS ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, AND DEFENCES IN CLARKE COUNTY. Acting-Governor Mason to commanding officer Clarke county volunteers; you will report to the commanding officer at Fort Vancouver, Oct. 14, 1855. 380 Capt. Win. Kelly to Acting-Governor Mason; company organized for home protec tion; armed and equipped from Military store, &c., Oct. 15, 1855. Acting-Governor Mason to Capt, Wm. Kelly; accept your company, to be called out in case of emergency, &c., Oct. 20, 1856. Adj. Gen. Tilton to Capt. McCorkle, Co. G; send commissions, instructions, &c., Nov. 10, 185. 382 Capt. McCorkle to Acting-Governor Mason; report of Scouts, Nov. 19, 1856. 383 Adj. Tilton to Captain McCorkle; must obtain arms of Gen. Gibbs. and provisions where you can obtain credit on gov't, &c., Nov. 26, 1855. 384 Adj. Gen. Tilton to Capt. William Bratton: send your commission; relative to duties of company, &c., Dec. 1, 1855. 385 Captain Strong to Major Rains; object to my company being mustered out before expiration of three months, Nov. 10, 1855. 385 Major Bains to Capt. Strong; directed to muster your company out of service with out any qualification, Dec. 12, 1856. 386 Captain Strong to Acting-Governor Mason; my company to be mustered out of U. S. service, probably; await yoar orders, Dec. 14, 1855. 387 Capt, Strong to Acting Gov. Mason ; orders to muster my company out of service of the United States countermanded, Dec. 16, 1855, 387 Adjutant General Tilton to Capt. Strong ; retain your organization until 27th ; grant furloughs to men, &c., Jan. 4, 1856, 388 Gov. Stevens to Lt. Huger ; citizens of Clarke county should adopt building block houses, March 30, 1856, 389 Lt. Col. Crosbie to Capt. M. R. Hathaway, in regard o mustering Clarke county company into service, April 2, 1856, 389 Lieut. Huger to Gov. Stevens; recommends that Capt. Kelly's company should not be mustered into service for home protection, April 3, 1856, 390 Lieut. Huger to Adjutant General Tilton ; same tenor as letter to Gov. Stevens, April 3, 1856. 391 f CONTENTS. XVII PAGE. Adjutant General Tiltcm to Lieut. Huger ; Capt. Kelly's company will be accepted on certain conditions, &c.. April 5, 1 391 Gov. Stevens to Capt. M. R. Hathaway ; Capt. Kelly's company to be subject to the orders of the Executive. &c., April G, 1 'Ml Lieut. Huger to Capt. William Kelly; accept your company, &c., April 6th. 1856, 3yu Lieut Huger to Adjutant General Tilton ; block-houses on Washoogal and Lewis rivers; proffered to co-operate with regulars, &c., April 14, 1856, 394 Gov. Stevens Lieut. Huger, (duplicate of letter No. 323,) 394 Lieut. Huger to Adjutant General Tilton, (duplicate of letter No. 235,) :'.94 Lieut. J. D. Biles to Capt. Kelly, in relation to Fort Biggs, April 10, 1850, 39G Capt. Wm. Kelly to Sergeant Richard Covington ; orders No. 5; erection of block house; scouts, &c., April 10, 1856, 397 Capt. Wm. Kelly to Lieut. J. D. Biles, in regard to building block-house on Lewis river, April 14, 1856, 398 ('apt. Kelly to Lieut. Huger ; report of condition of company ; operations, c., April 14, 1856, 39fi Lieut. J. D. Biles to Capt. Kelly ; Lewis river ; have selected spot for block-house , April, 1856, 399 Orders No. 6 ; Capt. Kelly, Clarke county rangers, 400 Capt. Kelly to Adjutant General Tilton : report of operations, April 30, 1856, 400 Adjutant General Tilton to Capt. Kelly ; a requisition has been made for Howitz ers, guns, &c., for your forts, &c. ; raise your command to 80 men : confer with Col. Hurd relative to supplies, &c.. May 17, 1856, 402 Lieut, J. D. Biles to Adjutant General Tilton ; Capt. Kelly on a scout ; unable to increase company to 80 men, but three or four willing to march out of Clarke county, May 19, 185C, 402 i Gov. Stevens to Capt. Kelly ; keep record of men on duty and those not on duty. &c., May 22, 1856, 403 Gov. Stevens to Capt. Kelly, in relation to the vi nrd of men on duty and those not on duty, &c., May 29, 1856, 40:; Gov. Stevens to Capt. Wm. Kelly, in regard to twenty men for duty, &c., July 7th. 1856, 404 Capt. Wm. Kelly to Gov. Stevens : recommend company be disbanded, and that myself and a non-commissioned officer be retained to collect property, &<\, Ju ly 9, 18.56, 405 -'evens to Capt. Kelly ; your recommendations approved, July 14, 1856. 405 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Fellow citizens of the Legislative Assembly, of the Territory of Washington : I congratulate you ou the comparatively happy auspices under which we now meet. The last Legislative Assembly had its session in a period of gloom and despondency, when our people had been compelled to con gregate in block-houses for protection when both east and west of the Cascade mountains a wily and treacherous foe were dealing fire and death upon our homes and people when the fealty of a large number of the so- called friendly tribes was uncertain. A vigorous and united effort was made ; more than one-half of the able bodied men took up arms ; the citizens with unexampled patriotism turned out their animals, their provisions and their shipping. A vigorous campaign was waged in the enemy's country ; decisive blows were struck, the allegiance of the friendly Indians not only strengthened, but their ef fective aid secured us auxiliaries, and in a few mouths the hostiles on the Sound were reduced to unconditional submission, or driven across the Cas cades. We meet to-day under comparatively the auspices of peace and re turning prosperity. The Sound is whitening with the sails of commerce, the fields are preparing to make returns to the labor of the husbandman, and through most portions of the settlements our citizens can travel with safety. Not that now there is no danger not that now a lasting peace has been secured with the Indian tribes of the Territory not that now all our citizens can return to homes which have been made to smile through hon est years of labor not that now our people can seek new homes under the solemn safe-guards of the government and the plighted faith of the Indians not that now there is not vigorous action and an intelligent forecast re quired to put our Territory on the vantage ground due to its geographical position, and individually, to its people for their generous sacrifices in the cause of humanity and their country not that now a want of appreciation does not exist, both of the rights of our citizens under existing laws, and of the true policy which should characterize the military operations of those sent here for our protection. Our people have not had the sympathy and the protection to which they were entitled, and the facts will be briefly set forth in this address. Let us have confidence in the justice and discrimination of the Gov ernment, which will, I firmly believe, correct all these evils. Let us see to it, that we use every exertion to ameliorate them. The message of acting Gov. Mason to the last Legislative Assembly, set forth the causes of the war, and the operations in prosecution of it which had been undertaken previous to its assembling, and the address which 1 delivered on my arrival from the Indian country, announced the policy which ought, in my judgment, to characterize all the operations of the Government with the hostile Indians, and the necessity which the Territory was under of permitting its volunteers no longer to be mustered into the regular service in consequence of a breach of faith. The war had its origin in the Indians treacherously killing some of our best citizens, both east and west of the Cascade mountains, not sparing women and children, in the teeth of the faith of solemn treaties. It was not caused as has been falsely asserted by bad conduct on the part of the citizens, who have been habitually kind to the Indians. The troops were at first mustered into the regular service, but when they were mustered out in utter disregard of an agreement to muster them in and send them on a specific service, the time had come for the territory to muster them into the service on its own responsibility. The Indians to be conquered and peace to be permanently established, the one should feel the power of the Government, and the other should be on the basis of absolute submission to its justice and mercy. These views met with the approbation of your predecessors, and I am indebted to them for their confidence in leaving to my discretion the or ganizing of the territorial forces, and applying them to reducing the enemy to submission. I have endeavored to do my duty in a way that should be creditable to the territory, should sustain the prestige of American valor, and keep in the ascendant the American flag. It was during the session of the last Legislative Assembly that I issued my proclamation calling out volunteers for six months. This force was organized into three battallious, which were designated AS the Northern, Central, and Southern battalions, each of which elected its Major, and the two latter were organized into a single command by the election of a Lieutenant Colonel. The Northern battalliou under the command of Major Van Bokelen consisted of Co's G-, Capt. Smalley ; H, Capt. Peabody ; I, Capt. Howe. The Central battallion under Major Gilmore Hays of Go's B, Capt. Rab- beson ; C, Capt. Henness ; E, Capt. Riley ; F, Capt. Swindal the Pio neer company, Capt. "White, and the train guard Capt. Shead. Southern battallion, Major Maxon of the Washington Mounted Rifles, Major Max- on, Captain ; D, Capt. Achilles ; E, Capt. Miller, and K, Capt. Goff. A Quartermaster and Commissary's department was organized throughout the territory, by the appointment of a Quartermaster and Com missary General, an Assistant Quartermaster and Commissary General, and seven Quartermasters and Commissaries, besides one Regimental Quarter master and Commissary on duty with the troops in the field. Care was taken to supply the troops with the proper force of medical officers, expresses were organized throughout the territory, and every ex ertion made to collect supplies and transportation. The plan was to guard the line of the Snohomish by the whole avail able force of the Northern battallion, to move with the Central battallion at once into the heart of the enemy's country with one hundred day's sup plies, to operate with the Southern battallion east of the Cascades, and to combine all the operations by a movement from the Sound to the interior, or from the interior to the Sound, according to circumstances. It was also determined in all the military operations to occupy the country permanently by roads and block-houses, and one of the companies was enlisted expressly for such service, and was named the Pioneer com pany. The citizens moreover were urged not to leave the borders of the set tlements, but wherever there were three or more families, to build a block house and hold a firm front to the enemy. My proclamation was dated the 22nd day of January. On the 19th February the Central battalion moved from the Yelm prairie, the 20th, 21st 22d and 23d, it established the post at Camp Montgomery, the 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th, the post and ferry at the emigrant crossing of the Puyallup, and on the 10th of March fought the decisive battle of Con- neFs prairie, where previously a post had been established, the only general engagement with the Indians of the Sound since November, 1855, which resulted in a loss of thirty killed and mortally wounded to the enemy. The Indians then scattered into small parties, with the evident design of burning and laying waste the settlements. The report of Major Hays which will be found in the accompanying papers will best show how well 4 each company of his command did its part. It will be invidious to partic ularize, except that it will be proper to state that the alacrity with which Capt. Henness' company, ordered for ranging duty, left behind their horses and went forward on foot, is deserving of special mention. They took an active part with company B, Capt. Rabbeson, the Pioneers under Capt. White, the scouts under Capt. Swindal, in this decisive engagement. In the meantime, the northern battalion was being organized and sent up the line of the Sno-ho-mish ; Port Townsend was the general depot of supplies, and the friendly Indians of the Holmes' Harbor reservations performed the canoe transportation for the rivers. Fort Tilton, near the falls of the Sno-qual-mie, was occupied the latter days of February and early in March. The route thence to Banger's Prairie, above the falls of the Sno-qual-mie examined, and, on the 13th March, Major Van Boke- lin, with company G., Capt. Smalley, consisting of 46 rank and file, and 76 friendly Indians, marched through the forests to the camp of the cen tral battalion on Council's Prairie. Soon after returning to Olympia from the Blackfoot country, I went down the Sound to take the necessary measures for its defense, and inspect the Indian reservations. The result was the organization of a volunteer company at Seattle, by the election of the Chief Justice of the Territory as its commander, and the sending a force of Indian auxiliaries under Pat Kanim against the hostiles known to be on Green River under Leschi. The Indian Agent of the Sound district accompanied the force up the Sno-ho-mish river, and the result was one skirmish, resulting in the seizing and hanging two of the hostiles, and a severe battle, inflicting a loss of five killed and six wounded, upon the enemy. The same force of Indian auxiliaries accompanied Major Yan Bokelin on his inarch from the Sno-qual-mie to Connell's Prairie. Previous to the battle of Connell's Prairie, White and Northcraft, two of the most respectable citizens of the territory, were killed within 12 miles of the capital, and there was grave cause of apprehension that, as the central battalion moved into the enemy's country the hostiles would turn its flank, and fall upon the settlements now disgarnished of troops. Being unwilling to make any retrogade movements, the effect being mischievous in depressing the morale of our troops and raising that of the enemy, I determined to move the southern battalion, already en route for the interior, to the Sound, unite it with the central battalion to operate vigorously on the Sound till the war was closed, and then carry out the original plan of operating in the interior, by sending over the Cascades all the available strength of the territorial forces. The order was obeyed with an alacrity and promptitude which calls at my hands for the warmest 5 commendation. The express carrying the order left Olympia at midnight, on the 2d and 3d March, and on the eleventh, Capt. (afterwards Major) Maxon reported his company at the Falls, two miles from this place, for orders. The distance traveled both ways by the express and by the troops being nearly three hundred miles. It must be borne in mind that the roads were in the worst possible condition, and the weather rainy. The other companies of the southern battalion soon followed. Those of Capts. Miller and Achilles were advanced to the border settlements of Pierce and Thurston counties, and that of Capt. Goff was held in reserve on the Skookum Chuck. At this juncture, additional bands of Indian auxiliaries were employed from the Chehalis and Squaxon tribes for the purpose of scouting the country in the vicinity of the Nesqually, and offers of assistance were freely tendered by nearly every tribe on the Sound. The Northern In dians had also previously tendered their services, which were declined, ex cepting some eight men who acted as scouts in connection with the north ern battalion. These arrangements enabled the country to be held firmly, aud gave the force to send parties in the various directions to hunt up and reduce the enemy. The orders were accordingly given, and all the arrangements made to penetrate the fastnesses whence the- Indians sallied forth to spread devastation and death, when a difficulty, which had been felt acknowl edged, and made great cause of complaint from the commencement of the war, assumed an aspect which called for the promptest action. I refer to the so-called neutrals in the war, who remained on their claims unmolested, when our patriotic citizens were compelled to live in block houses. There is no such thing in my humble judgment as neu trality in an Indian war, and whoever can remain on his claim unmolested, is an ally of the enemy, and must be dealt with as such. These men, I ordered in to the towns, giving them the choice of residence at Olympia, Nisqually, or Steilacoom, and on their returning to their claims in viola tion of orders, 1 caused them to be put in close confinement at Steila coom. Thereupon, exertions were made to procure their release, which I met by my proclamation placing Pierce county under martial law. The testimony of the military officers in the field that their exer tions were fruitless to find the enemy till the decisive step had been taken of ordering and keeping in the suspected persons, and that afterwards they repeatedly struck them, and effectually prevented their rallying again, is the best evidence of the necessity of the course taken by the executive, I took the responsibility as an incident of the war, and as necessary to its successful prosecution and termination. The whole territory was in a state of siege ; more than one half of the able bodied men were in tlit field ; the sole business almost of the territory was the war. It was no time for half measures, or for running the risk of the slaughtering of our families and the destruction of our property. Not only was the executive frequently besought, previous to his proclamation of martial law, to enforce it all over the territory, but a military officer in command of regular troops was urgently advised to do so over a portion of the territory by persons who felt aggrieved by the action of the executive. When the time has come for all members of the community to resort to arms when the officers of justice are in the field in command of troops, it would seem to be the dictate of patriotism, and to be an obliga tion of duty to avoid a collision with the authority entrusted with the general defense . Least of all, would it be expected that the field should be abandoned not only without orders, but without notice, to enter upon a course, the inevitable result of which was to bring about a collision, and engender strife and ill feeling amidst a population already too small when united, to defend itself from the common enemy, and leave hands enough at home to procure food for the coming year. I impute no want of patriotism, no inconsiderateness of action to those who have differed from me ; I concede to all the highest motives of action which may be claimed. I speak of stubborn facts, and of the in ferences to be drawn therefrom, and of the practical tendency and effect of the action of those who sought to strike down the executive, when la boriously and honestly exerting his whole force to bring back peace and prosperity to a suffering people. I now leave this matter of martial law in your hands, fellow citizens, of the legislative assembly, and I invite your most rigid scrutiny into the necessity of proclaiming it, and the measures taken to enforce it. The massacre of the Cascades rendered it necessary to call more vol unteers into the service, and one company under the command of Capt. Wm. Kelly was raised in Clarke county, and another under the command of Capt. E. D. Warbass, in Lewis county. Both counties were block- housed, and in Lewis county the roads were improved to facilitate commu nication, and two ferries established on the Cowlitz to make the trail to Monticello practicable to troops at all seasons of the year. Small parties of Indian auxiliaries were also employed in Lewis county to watch the trails and procure information. In the meantime sight was never lost of the fact that a contingency might arise making it necessary to operate east of the Cascade mountains, and whilst the Southern battallion was operating with the Central and ^Northern battalions in bringing the war to a close upon the Sound, sup- plies and transportation were pushed to the Dalles, and accumulated at the- Yelm prairie, and at Camp Montgomery to move over the Cascades. Till the war was brought to a close east of the mountains, the Sound was not free from danger. The Sound hostiles were acting in concert with those of the Yakima and other tribes, and had been actually assisted by a force of sixty Yakimas under the son of Owhi. To secure the per manent peace of the Sound, it was essential to carry its arms east of the- mountains, and to teach the Indians, that not only was the Sound adequate for its own defence, but that it had the force to "carry the war into Africa." Had the operations of the regular troops been energetic and decisive, had the true policy of the war been inflexibly carried out, I should have hesitated long before I sent troops east of the Cascades, except in obedi ence to a requisition of the principal officer in command. But when I re ceived official information from Col. Wright, in command of the Northern District, that he did not intend to operate in the Walla Walla, that his advices were that the Indians in that quarter and on the Snake were friendly, and when furthermore, it being necessary to send an Indian train with supplies to the Nez Perce country, my requisition for an escort was 'practically refused by being referred to Gen. Wool, the time had come for a prompt and vigorous movement. When I met the Nez Perces in their own country last December, they were staunch in their determination to abide by their treaty, and to keep hostiles out of their country. They offered their warriors to see me safe through the hostile country. They organized a company of fifty volunteers to maintain the integrity of the nation, to defend the agent and keep all hostiles out. When the regular troops commenced their feeble and procrastinating course in the Yakima country, disaffection which had already commenced in consequence of a tampering with them by persons having no authority, rapidly spread among the Nez Perces, and the Agent and the reliable chiefs advised me that unless troops were rapidly sent there, the majority of the nation would be plunged into the war. I accordingly determined to push forward all the available troops with the least possible delay. Lt. Col. B. F. Shaw was intrusted with the command, with Majors Maxou and Blankeuship as the battalion com manders. At this junction, I proposed to Lieut. Col. Casey a joint operation over the Cascades into the Yakima, he moving over the Nachess with three companies, one to be retained near the pass, and the volunteers to move over the Suo-qual-mie with a wagon train, that pass being much lower and more open than the Nachess, and there being much less snow upon it, for Major Van Bokclin had examined the pass and reported th 8 quantity of snow, and his expresses had reported that a wagon road could easily be made on that line. The engineer officer, Capt. De Lacy, was sent over the route to verify the fact by actual observation, and transpor tation was collected in readiness to move with the wagon train, should the route be found one that the available working parties could make practi cable in season. Col. Casey declined the combined operation and sent his force to the assistance of Col. Wright by way of the Columbia, and Capt. De Lacy having reported the route impracticable for the time allowed to build it, I determined to move over the Nachess with pack animals. It will be recollected that when Col. Wright first moved into the Yakima, he met a large force of hostiles near the Nachess, marched to and encamped on its banks, and sent back for reinforcements. Lt. Col. Shaw by my orders sent an express over the Nachess, consisting of Messrs. Coffee and Sharp, to get information and to inform Col . Wright that the volunteers were about moving to his assistance. The successful accomplishment of this very arduous and perilous ser vice, furnished the information that the route was entirely practicable, and Lt. Col. Shaw started from Camp Montgomery on the 12th of June. His force consisted of the following companies of the Central and Southern battallions under the respective Majors Blankenship and Maxon, viz : Co. C, Capt. Henness ; Washington Mounted Rifles, Major Maxon ; Co. D, Lt. Powell, and Co. J, Capt. Miller ; numbering in all, 175 officers and men. The pack train consisted of 27 packers and 107 pack animals, un der Capt. Armstrong, the regimental Quartermaster and Commissary. He determined after crossing White river at Porter's to keep on the north bank of the river, though by a veteran and energetic officer it was pro nounced impracticable, and he successfully accomplished the undertaking and brought his force to the Wenass without the loss of a day, and with but that of a single animal. Whilst Shaw was marching over the Cascades, new troops raised on the Columbia, rendezvoused at the Dalles, and on the 22d of June, a force of two companies of 175 men under Capts. Goff and Williams, with a train of forty-five wagons and 35 pack animals in charge of Quartermaster and Commissary Robie, commenced its march from the Dalles to join Shaw at Walla Walla. On the 9th of July the whole force came together on Mill Creek in the Walla Walla, including the Nez Perce auxiliaries, who inarched from the Nez Perce country under Lt. Col. Craig, except a force of about sev enty-five men, which, under Goff, separated from the train on the Umatilla to march to the assistance of Major Layton of the Oregon volunteers, in presence of a large number of the enemy, in the Blue mountains. At a conference held with the Nez Perce chiefs, the strongest assu- 9 ranees were given of the friendship of the whole nation, and Capt. Robie proceeded without an escort other than that furnished by the Nez Perces, with an Indian train to the Nez Perce country. Lt. Col. Shaw learning that the hostiles were in the Grand Ronde, determined to march against them, and moving in the night by an unused trail, he fell upon the main body the third day, and struck the hardest and most brilliant blow of the war. The enemy were pursued some fifteen miles, nearly all their provisions and ammunition were captured, over two hundred horses fell into his hands, and the loss of the enemy could not have been less than from forty to sixty killed and mortally wounded. Two days before the battle of the Grand Ronde, the Washington volunteers, in concert with the Oregon troops, fought the battle of Burnt river, having pursued the enemy from the head waters of the Umatilla. Whilst these decisive operations were going on, for the full account of which I will refer you to the reports of Col. Shaw and his officers, the disaffected portion of the Nez Perce nation began to use threatening lan guage again and ordered Capt. Robie, who had just arrived with his train, out of their country. Capt. Robie returned by forced marches, found Col. Shaw at the Walla Walla, just returned from the Grand Ronde. The Nez Perces, however, again professed friendship on hearing of the success of our military operations, and in answer to Col. Shaw's message, stating he was their friend, but if they beat their drums for war, he would parade his men for battle, made again the most earnest protestations of friendship. This seemed to be a favorable moment for doing away with disaffec tion, and I immediately had word sent to all the Indians, both friendly and hostile, to meet me at Walla Walla. It was made an express condition that the only basis on which a conference would be held with the hostiles was that of absolute submission to the justice and mercy of the govern ment. Col. Shaw, who in obedience to his original orders had already communicated with the Indians to the same end, now sent my message to all the tribes. The hostiles were directed to come without their arms. They were guaranteed safe conduct coming to, at, and returning from the Council ground. The day my express started for the Walla Walla, calling into council the Indians, my proclamation was issued calling out two hundred volun teers to strengthen Shaw's command nearly every man going out of ser vice from the expiration of his term of enlistment ; at the same time I ad dressed Col. Wright, in command of the Northern district, a letter urging him to occupy the Walla Walla with regular troops, and to accompany me to the Walla Walla to be present at the council. On my way to the council, I met Col. Wright on the Columbia river, and having ascertained from him that he was despatching a force of 10 regulars to the valley, and that they would probably reach that point in season for the council, I revoked my proclamation calling out two hundred volunteers, and the result of many conferences which I had with him before leaving the Dalles, was, though he was unable to accompany me from the press of other duties, that I was led to expect the co-operation and assist ance of the regular troops about to occupy the Walla Walla valley. The regular troops, consisting of four companies, reached the valley early in September, and the volunteers, except a single company, that of Goff, was sent down to be mustered out of service. The council was now opened. A large assemblage of Indians were on the ground. The head chief, chiefs, principal men, and nearly one-half of the bulk of the Nez Perce nation, the Cayuses, the Walla Wallas, the Umatillas, the chiefs of the Des Chutes and Tye Indians, the Palouses, the Yakimas, and individual members of the other tribes. So hostile were nearly all the Indians but a portion of the Nez Perces, that I made a re quisition upon Lt. Col. Steptoe to protect my camp, about to be left with out troops by sending down Goff's company, whose terms of service were also expiring, and on his refusal to comply with my requisition, that com pany was retained to guard my camp. The council continued six days, with an interval of two days occupied in transferring the council ground to the vicinity of Lt. Col. Steptoe's camp, some seven miles from the point where the council opened, a step absolutely necessary to guard my party from an attack during the holding the council, Steptoe refusing to send any troops to strengthen my escort. The result can easily be predicted. The Indians felt there was a dif ference of judgment and action between the Superintendent of Indian Af fairs and the military officer in command. The one inflexibly insisted upon absolute submission, as the condition of a suspension of hostilities, utterly refused to grant other terms, demanded the giving up of murderers to pun ishment. The military officer did not recognize a state of war, and pro posed to treat them as though they had been good Indians from the beginning. All this occurred when their deportment was insulting, when in their camps they threatened nothing but war, and when in council they were as persistant in demanding an abrogation of all the treaties and the withdraw al of the whites from the country, as I was in demanding obedience to the law in all its various obligations, whether cessions of land, surrender of murderers, or respecting the lives and property of the whites. The honor of myself and my party, the Indians having come to the council on a pledge of safe conduct, was concerned in no act being done, ever under provocation, which would taint the good name of our people, 11 already for a long time the theme of slaiider and vituperation at the hands of malicious and designing men. The council adjourned without effecting its object. Nothing was ac complished in healing the difficulties of the Nez Perces. I started on my way home and was attacked before I had gone three miles by a vastly su perior force of the enemy. No impression was made upon the party, not an animal was captured, and but one man killed. A considerable loss was inflicted upon the Indians. I indulged the hope that this act of the Indians would awake the of ficers in command of the regular troops to the actual condition of affairs, and that, as the Indians had not only attacked the authorities of the terri tory, but the regular camp itself, had burnt out all its grass, and had compelled it to move to another place, that the attempt would be made to chastise the Indians and make them feel the power of the government the more so, as the regular service were witnesses of the propriety and modera tion which characterized the proceedings of the council, of the extraordi nary forbearance and good conduct of the volunteers and Indian employees, and that there was not the slightest provocation for the attack made by the Indians near the council ground. Unhappily other councils have prevailed, and I have recently received intelligence that the quasi peace policy of the Yaktma had been adopted in the Walla Walla, and that a temporary quiet had been established by surrendering to the demands of the Indians. Col. Wright met in October, the prominent hostile Nez Perce chiefs, and there took the ground that the treaty ought not to be insisted upon. This ground taken in connection with the order which Lieut. Col. Steptoe has recently published by order of Gen. Wool; prohibiting in fact the settlers returning to their claims in the Walla Walla valley, presents the most extraordinary and unprecedented abandonment of the great duty of protecting our citizens and maintaining the honor and dignity of the government in the whole annals of our Indian relations. It calls for the most earnest remonstrance at your hands, and for the prompt interposition of the home authorities. I will again inquire, even at the risk of some repetition, under what circumstances did the war commence on our part, east of the Cascades ? Treaties had been made with the most powerful tribes in that quarter, the Yakimas, the Walla Wallas, the Cayuses, the Nez Perces and other tribes, in which it was guarantied that whites should pass unmolested through their country, and that the whole country should at once be open to settle ment, except the tracts set apart for reservations and those actually enclosed and under cultivation by the Indians. Our citizens in good faith started, some with their flocks and herds, to locate on the fine grazing lands of the 12 interior, and others to explore and work the gold mines further north. They were orderly citizens, who had established characters for sobriety and integrity at home, and who would have kept, and did keep untarnished, the good name of the territory in the progress eastward of its settlements. Many of these citizens entirely unsuspicious of danger were ruthlessly and treacherously killed in the Yakima, and when the Agent of the Yakimas, Bolon, went to their country they killed him also, and danced his scalp in their camps. Thereupon it was determined to demand the murderers, and in the event of resistance, to punish the tribe ; two expeditions marched into the Yakima with this avowed object. The first was driven out by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and the second drove the Yakimas out of their country to east of the Columbia, and then abandonded the country itself. The third expedition, under Col. Wright, seems to have lost sight entirely of the imperative duty which devolved upon it of seizing these murderers and of not relaxing in a single jot or tottle the original purpose of the war. Its long delays, its refusal to fight when opportunities offered, its great desire to talk, its persisting in talking even though the Indians did not make their appearance in the council house prepared for their re ception, its long marching and countermarching, its proclaiming a peace in the Yakima, not a murderer seized and held in custody, its affectation to treat as refugees and men of no influence the great chiefs as Kamiakin and the flower of the nation, who were at this time at work stirring up the tribes of the interior, leaves on the mind the impression that it was not the object of the expedition to bring to an honorable and just close an unhap py state of things, to enforce the honor of our arms and the power and justice of our government, but simply by quasi peaces and pretended con ciliations to cast the whole censure of the war upon our people, and to .bolster up the reputation of a veteran commander, who having grossly mistaken the character of the contest, having slandered most cruelly and falsely the people of the territory, was endeavoring to sustain himself at any and all sacrifices of honor, truth, and the public welware. A temporary quiet undoubtedly now exists in consequence of the regular service having surrendered to the demands of the Indians. That quiet may continue so long as the regular service continues to be the ally of the Indians. But call upon the Indians to surrender the murderers call upon them to give free passages to all whites passing through their country call upon them to molest no white settling any where in the country except on the lands set apart as reservations, and the quasi peace will be broken and the tribes will again appear in arms. These facts have all been presented by me to the authorities at home. I have earnestly called for some action of the government. I have re commended that all the hostile tribes be planted by the strong arm of the 13 military power on reservations to be established by act of Congress, Under the donation law, the whole country is now unquestionably open to settlement, and there is no authority short of a law of Congress, or of the sanction of the Senate to a treaty with the Indians, which can say to the settler, thus far shall you go and no further. But in the case of claims actually taken, where the provisions of the donation law have been complied with, not even Congress can take away the right therein vested in the citizen without compensation ; much less can a military officer in the plentitude of his power, issue his edicts, wiping out the entire country of Walla Walla. I congratulate you, fellow citizens of the Legislative Assembly, that on this your assembling, you will find nothing to reproach the people of our beloved territory with, for their conduct either at home or in the field. During the first six months of this war, not an Indian was killed ex cept in battle. Throughout the war, not an Indian has been killed in a volunteer camp. Captured animals have been accounted for as public property. The animals and property of friendly Indians has been cared for and returned to them. Since last April some murders have occurred, one recently, under circumstances of great aggravation ; but the wonder is that these murders were not much more numerous, for it must be borne in mind that for a long time the fealty of all the tribes was uncertain, our citizens were in constant apprehension, and a spirit of exasperation grad ually rose and gained strenth in consequence of the positive suffering of the entire community. Our troops have been subsisted as well, and as systematically as those of the regular service. Our Quartermaster department has at least been as efficient. The troops have never been delayed for want of transportar tion. They have never starved and been tempted to plunder for want of subsistence. But above all, we have waged the war with humanity, with modera tion, with honor to our country and honor to ourselves. The dignity, the justice, the mercy of the government, has been vindicated at our hands. On the Sound, where our force exceeded that of the regular service, where we occupied the circumference, and the regular service the centre, we point to our block-houses, to our roads, to our scouts, to our expresses, to the battles fought, to the camps struck, the Indian auxiliaries brought into the field, to the hostile Indians reduced to unconditional submission, to the general quiet and contentment of the Indian tribes, as evidence of the vigor, the judgment, and the success of our operations. The march over the Nachess with ample supplies, the troops cutting the road as they marched, snow still on the mountains, each animal taking its sack of oats for three nights without grass, and the horseman going on 14 foot, the simultaneous movement of our troops on the Columbia with the trains and supplies from the Dalles, the vigorous scouts made on the route, and the movement of our Indian auxiliaries from the Nez Perce country, and all meeting in the Walla Walla on a single day, show that our troops had discipline, had constancy, had patriotism, had the public service alone at heart. It shows too that military skill was applied, and that we had good leaders as well as good men. The movement of the Northern battalion to Seattle and the head of the Sound amid drenching rains, having to cross swollen streams, and the march back again, its trails cut on this line, on the line over the Sno-qual- mie into the main Yakima and down the Sno-qual-mie river, show that it could work as well as fight, and that it appreciated the old Roman princi pal of conquering a country by the roads it built. One thing yet remains to establish the permanent peace of the Sound, so far as it is disconnected with its relations with the tribes east of the mountains. I refer to apprehending and seizing the Sound murderers. I made requisition upon Col. Wright for their delivery to the civil authority when they were in the Yakima, which he agreed to comply with. Since their return to the Sound, I have made a similar requisition upon Lieut. Col. Casey, and he has finally returned an equivocal answer referring the matter to Gen. Wool. It is manifest that a peace cannot be considered as achieved, or the functions of the military exhausted, so long as the great leaders and insti gators of the war are at large, especially if such men are arraigned before the tribunals of the territory on charges affecting their lives. It is un derstood that the military have proclaimed a peace, and holding them to the logical consequences of such proclamation, we have the right to hold them responsible for the delivery of these men as in their actual custody. I regret to inform you, gentlemen, that there is no disposition on the part of the service here to do what I conceive to be its duty in the appre hension of these men. There is a strong disposition to ascribe all the ef forts made to secure them, to a spirit of vindictiveness and vengeance. I have refused to receive the last instalment of Indian refugees from the Yakima, till the murderers of their number had been apprehended and turned over to the civil authorities. I shall then receive the remain der and provide for them. I have to speak in terms of the warmest commendation of the con duct of the officers and men of the volunteer forces, and of the efficiency of the several branches of the staff. That most difficult of all the de partments the Quartermasters and Commissary department which, generally kept distinct, was a single department in our service, has had extraordinary efficiency imparted to it, reflecting the highest capacity and devotion to the public service, upon its chief and subordinate officers. In this connection I will call your special attention to the able report of Gen. Miller, and I will state that all the commendation which in it he bestows upon the officers and employees of his department, is simply their honest dues. The special acknowledgments of the people of our territory are due to Oregon for the aid which it freely tendered to us in the prosecution of the war. The companies of Miller, Goff, and Richards (afterwards Williams) were almost exclusively raised in our sister Territory. In the management of the volunteer service, it has been found that the dishonorably discharging of men for disobedience of orders, or for bad conduct, was in most cases sufficient to prevent a laxity of discipline. Every persistent disobedience of orders has been followed by a dishon orable discharge ; the effect of which will be to forfeit the pay and allow ance of the offending party. Military courts have rarely been assembled. A court martial for the trial of some minor offenses, was called in the Walla Walla by Lieut. Col. Shaw : a military commission at Seattle for the trial of Indians, and one at camp Montgomery for the trial of certain persons accused of cor responding with, furnishing food and ammunition to the enemy, and, of volunteers charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. Resorts to military courts have been discouraged, and the slight necessity for them is cause of congratulation. One of the most significant facts in proof of the serious character of our Indian troubles, is that it drove all but one of our surveying parties from the field, and for a considerable period suspended the operations of that branch of the public service. The territory, however, has the benefit of the military experience of the Surveyor General, as Adjutant General of the Volunteers ; and I take this occasion to make my special acknowl edgments for his services. In his report to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Gen. Tilton says : In October, 1853, this office had in the field 8 surveying parties in full and active employment. A simultaneous outbreak of the Indian tribes inhabiting the greater portion of the territory, and numerous mur ders committed by the savages upon our people, rendered it impossible for but one party to remain in the field. As there were but about 1,700 white male inhabitants in the terri- tory, and 2,000 Indians were absolutely in arms, it became a matter of vital necessity for all able-bodied men to bear arms in assisting the feeble garrisons of regular troops who were stationed at their widely separated posts. " I entered the service myself, and, as adjutant general to the vol unteer forces raised by Acting Governor Mason, did dnty for several months in that capacity. " Three of the young gentlemen of my office, Messrs. George Bright, Edward Gibson, and J. J. Lodge enlisted and made a campaign with credit. Almost all the deputy surveyors and the most of the surveying parties enlisted, " As there were 2,000 Indians known to be hostile, and some 8,000 others wavering, active and decided measures were necessary to subdue them, and overawe those who were apparently only awaiting the chance to join which ever party proved the stronger. One thousand men were raised and subsisted for nine months by the patriotism and devotion of the scanty population. " The families occupied the five villages and block houses of the territory, and almost every farm was abandoned. " Such was tbe state of affairs at the opening of spring. By June last, the enemy occupying the region east of Puget Sound, and west of the Cascade range, were effectually subdued, and the usual employments of life resumed." The whole expense of our service will be a matter of record in the course of this and next month, and every thing will be ready for the ac tion of the commissioners appointed by the Secretary of War, to audit and allow the war claims of Oregon and Washington. All the transactions of the volunteer service, in enlistments, dis charges, purchases, issues and sales have been brought before the review of the executive. In regard to the service of troops, the papers have been consolidated in the office of the Adjutaut General. Those relating to the purchases, issues and sales, in the office of the Quartermaster and Commissary General. All scrip has been issued by the Quarter Master and Commissary General, and approved by the commander-in-chief. It has been registered in both offices. Sales have been made at public auction for scrip, and at prices exceeding in the aggregate the original cost, and the scrip cancelled appears on the books of the proper office. The merit of our system is, that it has prevented 'the issuing of un authorized scrip. It has enforced system and economy, and a strict ac countability in purchases. The books show the service rendered or the articles purchased for any given price of scrip. It will make compara tively easy the labors of the commissioners in auditing our accounts. There has been issued the sum of $1,019,090 20 in scrip, of which the sum of $132,721 09 has been cancelled by sales. About $40,500 17 remain to be Issued, which will leave the amount of scrip to be redeemed $926,869 15. In the three months organization, the force consisted of 16 compa nies, 17 captains, 28 1st lieutenants, 18 2d lieutenants, 813 non-commis sioned officers and privates, giving in the aggregate 65,794 days service of a single man. In the six months organization, the force consisted of 18 companies, 20 captains, 20 1st lieutenants, 18 2d lieutenants, 1002 non-commissioned officers and privates, giving a force of 1,060 men, and an aggregate of 133,259 days' service of a single man. I subjoin herewith reports from the Adjutant and Quarter Master and Commissary Generals, setting forth the above statistics in detail. I also subjoin reports from the ordnance officer, R. M. Walker, in regard to the public arms, and from the engineer officer, Capt. DeLacy, showing the posts and block houses established by our citizens and volun teers throughout the territory, the wagon and pack trails cut out. This report is accompanied by two maps, showing in detail the operations of our troops and people. Accompanying this message will be found selections from the corres pondence so arranged in appropriate divisions, as to give a connected and full view of all the operations of the war. The correspondence with the departments and with the officers of the military and naval service, will but illustrate the desire which has animated me to co-operate with them, and to insure our joint efforts being directed against a common enemy. I deemed it my duty to refuse the requisition made at the instance of Gen. Wool, of Lieut Col. Casey, of the 15th March, for two companies of volunteers, to be mustered into the regular service, for the reasons stated in my letters to him of the 15th March, and to Gen. Wool of the 20th March. Our troops were in the field prosecuting a vigorous campaign. Supplies and transportation had already been col lected for it, and it seemed to me not only unwise, but tending to mis chievous results to change the plan of campaign, which promised a term ination of the war. The requisition was obviously but a formal one, it being well known that it could not and would not be complied with . I have been careful to communicate frequently with the military and naval officers, to the end that there might be no want of co-operation from lack of information, and the examination of the correspondence with Lieut. Col. Casey, will show that in the operations of the campaign we acted together. He was cognizant of and appreciated the importance of occupying the line of the Snohomish, and of sending into the field Indian auxiliaries. I will especially refer to his occupying our posts when it be came desirable to have the services of our men over the Cascades, or to 3 18 provide for the disbandment of those whose terms of service were about expiring, as evidence of the merits of our operations. The people of the territory are under obligations to the navy for their many and valuable services. The timely arrival of the quota of territorial arms for the river counties is due to Capt. Aldeu, taking them in his steamer, the Active, to San Francisco, and thence shipping them by the mail steamer to Tanconver. The navy has cruised much on the Sound has rendered great aid to the Indian service, and has always shown a spirit of sympathy for our situation, and a desire to relieve it is most emphatically exemplified in its services at Seattle, where, for many weeks, the place was garrisoned in part by men from the ships. Its recent brilliant engagement with the Northern Indians at Port Gamble, where, after exhausting all proper ef forts to effect their peaceable removal from the territory, it resorted to arms killing 2T, and wounding 25 Indians, destroying their canoes and property, and reducing them to submission, will, it is hoped, stop fur ther marauding expeditions. The blow was struck at a seasonable mo ment, for there is reason to believe the Northern Indians had an under standing with the hostile leaders on the Sound, and that they had agreed upon a junction with the hostiles from all quarters to attack the settle ments at the head of the Sound. The apprehension of the two hostile leaders, Leschi and Quiemuth, probably prevented the combination, and the blow struck by the navy, it is hoped, will keep the Northern Indians out of the Sound. The correspondence itself will best show the spirit which has actuated the navy. It is cause of congratulation that every case of a loan of arms or ammunition made by public officers, whether of the army, navy or revenue service, notwithstanding the censure it provoked at the time from imme diate superiors on this coast, in one case to the extent of threatening a removal from office, was not only approved, but highly commended and endorsed by the authorities at home. In view of the war-like, hardy and revengeful character of the North ern Indians, of their means of transportation, canoes carrying seventy- five men, which can be moved with rapidity against wind and tide, their visits to our settlements ought to be discountenanced, and a steam vessel of war of large size and speed, with two efficient steam barges, should be furnished for our protection. I will again recommend that congress be again memorialized to grant this protection, and that the employment of Northern Indians be made penal by act of the legislature. I will earnestly call your attention to the subject of a revision of the militia lawg. I will recommend that not exceeding three regiments be organized : that provision be made by law for the organizing of the staff, and for its appointment. No provision is made in the existing law for aids to the Commander-in-chief and the Brigadier General of the militia, nor for an officer of engineers, which, in some of the state organizations, has become a branch of the service. All the able-bodied men of the territory should be enrolled as pro vided for under existing laws,but some encouragement should be given to volunteer organizations. I will recommend that some provision be made whereby four companies of rangers shall be raised as a part of the militia organization, and shall meet some two or three times a year, in camps of one week's continuance, for purposes of drill and instruction. I would also recommend the organization of a small corps of artille rists and engineers, organized, say into four or six sections ; each number ing from 15 to 20 men, with one lieutenant, one sergeant, and one corpo ral to each section, and the whole under command of a first and second captain. It should be the duty of the senior captain of engineers to keep constantly advised of the topography of the country, and its facilities of communication. A medical department should also be organized. From information derived from the Surveyor General, I present the following statistics in reference to the surveys ot the public lands: Statement, showing the amount of surveys executed in Washington Territory. Amount surveyed under contracts with the Surveyor General of Oregon territory, 1,816 miles. Amount surveyed since organization of Surveyor General's office in Washington territory, , 2,969 " Total, 4,845 " Of which there has been surveyed since date of last message, 966 " Amount now under contract, 225 " Estimated amount of surveys for 1857, 4,500 " Provision has been made for running our northern boundary line, but nothing has yet been effected in the way of relieving the territory from the foreign corporations in our midst. This want of action is retarding the settlement of the country, and has specially of late, been the cause of mischievous results. Colville is at this moment practically a British dependency, the road thither is closed to American citizens. Forts have been established north of the 49uh parallel, a road has been opened to Frazer's river. I rejoice at the prosperity of our neighbors, but I mourn at its being built up at our expense, through the supineness of our troops, who have not opened the road to our citizens through our own territory, and through the failure of congress to act. 20 Let this be the subject of an earnest and vigorous memorial. A steam mail service for the territory, which can be economically done, it being an established and conceded fact that the Sound can furnish the coal ; works of defence for the Sound and the Columbia river ; in creased appropriations for military roads ; appropriations for public build ings, will not, of course, fail to receive your attention. Our remoteness from the seat of the general government has opera ted prejudicially to our interests. Our territory seems almost a terra in cognita at home, yet it is situated on the great highway of the road of nations, and has the most magnificent and capacious harbors and road steads either on the Atlantic or Pacific shore. Its coal, its fisheries, its lumber, its gold, its extensive and rich grazing lands, its genial climate, its manufacturing advantages, and its soil, which yields the most generous returns to labor, present a combination of advantages second to no state or territory of our common country. West of the Cascade mountains, we have nearly as large an amount of rich arable land -as in the state of New York land which requires labor, it is true, to yield returns from its bosom, for our magnificent forests, a great source of our wealth, have first to be cleared away. The Walla-Walle valley, situated mostly in the ter ritory of Washington, surpasses in extent, advantages, climate and soil, that of the great Salt Lake, and can subsist a much larger population. West of the Bitter Root mountains, for a hundred miles in breadth, the soil is not only good, but equal to that of the western prairies. The land scape in June a carpet of flowers, the streams lined with pine, and the country well watered. The remainder of the interior is not only all of it a good grazing country, well adapted to the growing of wool, as well as the raising of stock, but large tracts included in the Yakima pur chase, are unsurpassed for roots and cereals. It is ignorance and pre sumption which pronounces this country fit only for Indians. Our citizens who have the experience of having successfully established new homes, have pronounced judgment by their acts in seeking again new homes in the interior. They deem the Yakima, the Walla-Walla, the Nez Perce purchase good for the settler. They have tried to go there for years be fore the purchase was made, and when the pur chase was made, they at once started with their flocks and herds. Surveyor General Tilton, in his last annual report to the Commis sioner of the General Land Office, writes as follows : " Fine bodies of rich land have been explored in the vallies of the Chehalis river, which falls into the Pacific at Gray's Harbor. " The bottom lands of the Xesqually, the Puyallup, the Snohomish, White and Green rivers, the waters of all which disembogue in Puget 21 Sound, are broad, rich, and of the most fertile quality, but densely tin> bered. " East of the Cascades, and upon the Columbia river, and its north* ern tributaries, are also large bodies of excellent lands. " The Cowlitz river, running southwardly and falling into the Co lumbia, also drains fertile lands, and has many of the oldest settlers in the territory among its prosperous farmers. "All cereal grains, except Indian corn, flourish admirably here, the wheat being of excellent quality and abundant in quantity. " If a permanent peace should be made with them (several powerful tribes of Indians east of the Cascade mountains) it will throw open a large extent of excellent country." That there are valuable gold mines in the interior, requiring only protection to our people to the growing up of a hardy, mining community, is no longer a matter of doubt. The efforts making by the Hudson Bay Company, to control and monopolize this business by its forts and roads in British Territory near our line, honorable as it is to its enterprise and forecaste, should be met simply by protection on the part of our govern ment, so that our citizens, through their individual enterprise, may enter into the competition. On one of the tributaries of the Wenatchepan, in-' eluded in the Yakhna purchase, and the next stream north of the main Yakima, a rich deposit of dust was found the present year, yielding twelve cents to the pan. It is said we have land enough west of the Cascades for our present purposes. Why then do our people want to go eastward are the people made for the government, or the government for the people ? The gov ernment has decided the matter by directing treaties to Jbe made, by estab lishing surveys, by its donation laws. The treaties with the Indians of the territory, except those at the head of the Sound, have not yet been confirmed. I will urge your memo rializing the President and the Senate in favor of the confirmation of the treaties with the Indians who have remained firm in their allegiance, as essential to the peace of the country, and that you also memorialize for an authoritative act of congress, to place the hostile tribes and bands on res ervations, on the basis of absolute submission to the mercy and justice of the government. The want of proper communications with the states, has long been a serious evil, and has assumed a darker magnitude since the commencement of our Indian troubles. Congress has made an appropriation for a mil itary road from Fort Benton to Fort Walla-Walla, and under its appro priation, the portage at the Cascades has been made a good wagon road, and a trail has been opened over the Cascades from Fort Steilacoom. 22 Post routes have also been established from the head of navigation of the Mississippi to Puget Sound, and the Columbia valley. Nearly the whole intervening country is adapted to settlement, either on the part of farmers or stock raisers. There is no serious scarcity of water or fuel. Timber and building stone is either to be found almost the entire distance, or can be brought to a practicable vicinity by navigable waters. Nature has pointed out the route as one over which commerce must pass along which settlements must spring up. In my recent trip to the Blackfoot country, I examined with great care the Cosur d' Alene trail over the Bitter Root Mountains, and found it to be entirely practicable for a rail road, with grades not exceeding 60 feet to the mile that it abridges the distance over the route by Clark's Fork 75 miles, and lessened the cost six millions of dollars. The distance from Saint Paul to Puget Sound by the Coeur d' Alene trail, and over the Snoqualmie Pass, will be 1,800 miles. The distance to Vancouver, 1,789 miles. The shortest practicable rail road route from the Mississippi to ship navigation on the Pacific, is through our territory, and the equated dis tance, whether the port of Vancouver or the Sound, will, in round num bers, be two hundred miles shorter than on the route of the 32d parallel, nine hundred miles shorter than on that of the 35th parallel, and seven hundred miles than that by the South Pass. When, in addition to the greater shortness of the route, it be con sidered that it has the nearest connections with Asia and Europe, and that the latter connection can be made almost exclusively by water on the line of the great Lakes, a point of great importance, in view of the greater cheapness of freight on water than on rail road lines, the claims of the northern route to consideration from the government cannot be over looked. The question of a Pacific Railroad is not simply one of domestic inter communication and of strengthening the fraternal bonds which unite us as a people, it is the question of a struggle for the commerce of the world. Over the rail must not only pass from Asia to Europe and back again, costly and perishable articles, but on this route the great bulk of Asiatic supplies for the teeming region of the north-west, where the territory of to-day is the populous state to-morrow, where the wave of population has nearly reached the Red River of the north, and is moving rapidly west ward. The Indian war over in this territory, the reflex tide of emigration setting eastward from the Pacific, will in a single year pass over our inte rior plains, from the Walla Walla to the Spokane, occupying the Yakima, and our miners will be found thence to the 49th parallel. I have always been and am still of opinion that several routes should 23 go on simultaneously to the Pacific, and that equivalent aid should be gir- en to all through roads. But in view of the whole force applied to explo ration having of late been thrown upon the southern route, and of iti special endorsement by the department having charge of the rail road ex plorations, it seems to me the time has come for you to memorialize Con gress to make grants of land to the northern route, and to provide for the completion of the explorations connected with it. In this, my last annual message to the Legislative Assembly, I am especially reminded of the duty which devolves upon me of acknowledging the courtesy and kindness which has ever been extended to me by the sev eral Legislative Assemblies of the territory, and by the constituency which elected them. I have endeavored faithfully to do my whole duty, and have nothing to reproach myself with as regards intention. I could have wished some things had been done more wisely, and that my whole course had been guided by my present experience. I claim at your hands simply the merit of patient and long labor, and of having been animated with the fixed determination cf suffering and enduring all things in your behalf. Whether in the wilderness contending with the hostile elements, managing and con trolling the more hostile aborigines, or exploring the country, or at the Capitol struggling with disaffection, the subject of obloquy and abuse, I have had no end but my duty, no reward in view but my country's good. It is for you to judge how I have done my part, and for the Almighty Ruler to allot to each man his desert. I close this address with the expression of the confident hope that your session will be harmonious, and will result in the advancement of the begt interests of our territory and common country. ISAAC I. STEYENS. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S REPORT. OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. YOL'S, ) OLYMPIA, W. T., December 1st, 1856. ) SIR : Herewith I have the honor to submit papers marked A B and C, exhibiting the strength and duration of the volunteer service of the 1st Regiment of three month's men called out by proclamation of acting Gov ernor Mason, dated 14th October, 1855 ; and also the 2nd Regiment of six month's men called out by your proclamation of January 23d, 1856. The "remarks," in the tables, will show in what manner the horses were furnished for the mounted men. General Orders No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and t, issued from this office during the late service of the volunteers of Washington Territory, are also submitted. Yery Respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y. forces. His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief W. T. Y. forces, 26 Estimate of the number of day 's service of the mounted men of the 1st Regiment of W. T. Volunteers. Commissioned Officers. Days service Non-com officers. Days ser vice. Privates. 9 a . 09 , Companies. Captains g c '5 a +S a 3 C d ta a O *> fn OJ ^ commanding. # e eS GQ o O o O *" Company *A, Capt. Strong,. . . 61 93 93 9? 37? 37? 50 4650 5673 " fB, Capt. G. Hays, 91 93 93 93 372 37? 79 7121 8144 ." 4E, Capt. I. Hays 40 92 92 9? 27 2245 3257 " F, Capt. Henness, fi3 93 93 9? 372 37? 52 4755 5778 " |K, Capt. Jackson, 93 93 93 186 1400 1865 ITCowlitz Rangers, Capt. Peers 39 81 81 81 3?4 28 2268 3159 **Lewis River Raagers, Capt. JBratton, 44 118 110 103 425 39? 31 2149 3297 tf Stevens Guards, Capt. Biggins 26 50 50 79 171 13 650 1200 ^Spokane Invincible^, Capt. Yantis, 23 SO r>0 lOf 200 ?00 11 550 1150 Puget Sound Rangers, Capt. Eaton 3t; 90 10 180 240 189 24 860 1475 ||||Nez Perce Volunteers, Chief Spotted Eagle 70 31 69 2139 2170 518i. 884 7651007 3036 2789 405 28787 37168 REMAKES: *Mustered into the regular service and furnished their own horses. fMustered into the regular service and furnished their own horses. ^Furnished their own horses. Furnished " " " HFurnished " " " ITFurnished " " " **Furnished " " " tfHorses furnished by Government. itHorses partly furnished by Government and partly by volnnteew, Farnished their own horses. IJliFurnished their own horseg and equipment*, 27 A Continued. Estimate of the number of days service of the Infantry force of the 1st Regiment W. T. Volunteers. Commissioned officers. Days service. Non-com'd officers. Days Ser vice. Privates. Companies. Captains commanding. o 1 W nc ja '3 1 O 1 od I 1 ^DQ +3 3 3 t3 00 -(J i o bC C o cc .22 "3 c o O d 6 o d 55 i 3 o 6 -(.} JK 2* O Company C, C *D, C G,C M, C I, C J, C Nis^ually Ferry Guards, S /apt. Goudy 70 55 22 75 84 29 10 94 94 92 93 101 86 94 94 92 93 101 86 94 94 92 93 101 86 305 362 341 465 404 258 75 376 376 184 360 401 172 59 44 13 63 73 21 10 4627 3633 920 4867 6909 1236 675 5590 4653 1721 5971 8017 1924 750 )apt. Wallace apt. McCorkW! . . 'apt. Hewitt .... apt. Ebey apt. Plummer.. . erg't Packwood,. 34511560 560 560[ 2210 1869 283 22867 28626 NOTE. Owing to several of the officers of the 1st Eegiment continuing in service in the 2nd, some of the Muster rolls have not yet been fully perfected. The present estimate will vary but little from the final rolls of the Regiment. A portion of company D did duty as mounted men and furnished their own horses. Yery Respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Adft Gen'l W. T. Volunteer forcet. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, ) , OLTMPIA, Dec. 1, 1858. 28 B Estimate of the number of days service of the mounted men of the 2d Regiment of W. T. Volunteers. Non-Com'd Commissioned officers. Privates. officers. Days service. Days Ser vice. ,2 02 CO . _ r-r "S q ft OT o *p o3 c3 Companies. Captains 48 tn .s ^ ^ * Q a commanding. 1 o3 "5 9 C3 O d A o IM O 6 QQ rl ^ O bo K *3 1-3 CO O ^5 ft Company C, Capt. Henness, 67 202 202 202 808 734 54 8,325 10,473 *D, Capt. Achilles, 44 84 204 61 569 590 32 4,100 5,608 " J, Capt. Miller... 40 207 207 207 828 828 26 4,145 6,422 " K, Capt. Goff. . . . 101 217 217 217 888 868 90 10,372 12,759 fM, Capt. Chase,.. 53 143 143 143 344 . 48 45 6,160 6,981 " i'N, Capt. Richards 74 93 93 93 372 372 63 5,859 6,882 Wash. Mount'd Rifles, Capt. Maxon. 95 63 214 214 806 856 6? 13,258 15,406 Clarke Co. Rangers, Capt. Kelley. . 81 122 104 122 443 220 70 6,542 6,553 Pioneer Company, Capt. Hicks,. . . 52 31 31 64 103 14 404 685 Walla Walla Company, Capt. Ford. 29 111 86 62 25 775 1,034 584 1,294 1,501 1,352 5,102 4,619 487 58,935 72,803 REMARKS: *Company D was first commanded by Capt. Achilles, and second by 1st Lieutenant PoTvell. The horses used for the mounted force were partly furnished by the Government and partly by the volunteers. tCompany M was composed of 10 white men and 43 Nez Perce Indians, famishing their own hordes. ^Company N was first commanded by Capt. Richards, and second by Capt. Williams. A portion of the Pioneer company after the march of Lieut. Col. Shaw's command into the Walla Walla country, did duty as mounted men west of the Cascades. 29 B Continued. Estimate of the number of days service of the Infantry force of 2nd Regiment W. T. Volunteers. Commissioned officers. Days service. Non-Com'd officers. Days Ser vice. Privates. Companies. Captains .2 tn d 00 "B -^ a "a 3 s 9 fl 00 d i 1 (^ a O 1 s S c +3 1 B & V | T3 t-c 6 smmissary. ays service. eutenant Co lys service. irgeons. 8 1 Ui o O No of. Companies No. of t Lieutenan No. of id Lieutenan No. of Sergeants. No. of Corporals. No. of Musicianfi. "5 ta q h3 P 03 fc i-H O* 1 112 1 79 4 322 4 327 17 18 18 62 56 T 801AJ8S pug jo X.raraoo PUB aa^s-ew -.th T<^ 9 H ! ""* ' _- ^^Sj'VXXN.^V^-'^'^^^'OO-N^-X/-' '801A.I8S S^Bp JO ' *^**~*^S-*^*S~^-^^S**S**S^r*S-*+S**^~^r^S*^-^r*^S^S^^ puB pja^sBj^; M? 80IAJ8S SA*Bp JO puopo ^nat^ jo 5[UB?j BIO'") PUB ' ^- - -s.^^-C^-*-^-^-^^-. -- '80TAJ8S B^B O 'OJJJ ary the agg ffi Comp No. of Musician , No. Corpo of nts S fcfl t- N nd Lie N ieutenan Yery Respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Ad ft Gen. W. T. Vol. forces. GENERAL ORDERS. ADGT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Olympia, W. T., Nov. 2, 1855. GENERAL ORDERS No. 1. 1st. The Company D, Capt. Wallace, raised and organized in Steil- acoom, is accepted and mustered into service, and will co-operate with the garrison at Fort Steilacoom when an expedition against the enemy is made. 2d. The company of mounted rangers of Mound Prairie, Capt. Henness, is accepted, and will be mustered in upon rendition of their mus ter and descriptive rolls. 3d. Capt. Hewitt's company of volunteers from Seattle, being now upon an expedition against the enemy, will be placed upon the rolls of this office, as in service, upon rendition of their muster and descriptive rolls. 4th. Captains or other officers commanding companies, will keep this office informed of their movements, and report as often as possible all information they may obtain relative to the movements of the enemy, ~&c. Commanding officers of companies will report to this office the names of any officer, non-commissioned officer or private who may distinguish himself by any remarkable gallantry, or extraordinary good service. 5th. Should any officer, non-commissioned officer or private, refuse a detail for an expedition, or misbehave in action with the enemy, such per son will be reported to this office by the commanding officer of the com pany, or detachment, and receive a dishonorable discharge from the ser vice. 6th. Any habitual neglect of guard or fatigue duty, or general ab sence from roll call inattention upon post, and general disobedience of lawful orders from superior officers, will be also reported at the option of officers commanding companies or detachments. 5 34 tth. An intelligent and gallant citizen soldiery must see the abso lute necessity of discipline, to make courage efficient to insure success against the enemy, and make the duty equal upon all. (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adj't General, W. T. Volunteer*. By order of the Acting Governor. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, } Olympia, W. T., Nov. 13, 1855. f GENERAL ORDERS, No. 2. 1st. Edward Lander, of Olympia, W. T., is appointed Aid to the Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief, with the rank of Lieut. Col. of the volunteer forces of Washington Territory, now in the field. Lieut. Col. Lander will make a tour of inspection, visiting the vari ous companies of volunteers and rangers now in the field, or in the garri son, and report to this office upon their condition, efficiency, and require ments. 2d. Dr. Mathew P. Burns is commissioned as surgeon of company B, from date of company organization. 3d. Dr. R. M. Bigelow is commissioned as surgeon to company D, and will report for duty to Capt. Wallace, Company D. 4th. Dr. Gallio K. Willard is commissioned as surgeon of the first regiment of Washington Territory Volunteers, and will attend profession ally to such of the volunteers and rangers now in service as may apply to him. 5th. A. B. Stuart is commissioned as commissary of subsistence for the post of Olympia, and will furnish rations for all volunteers and rang ers at the post of Olympia, or those temporarily there on duty. 6th. Company A, Capt. Wm. Strong, having been mustered into service at Fort Vancouver, has marched to join Brig Gen. Rains in the Yakima country, and will receive orders from Brig. Gen. Rains or the offi cer commanding the expedition from Fort Vancouver. 7th. Company E., Capt. Isaac Hays, has been organized and ac cepted into service, and will, for the present, occupy the country adjacent to Chamber's Prairies and remain in readiness for marching orders, should the exigencies of the war require a forward movement. 8th. Company G, Capt. McCorkle of Cowlitz county, is mustered into service, and will guard the passes of Lewis river, and intercept all 36 communication between the hostile tribes east of the Cascades, and th Indians inhabiting the country west of the mountains. 9th. Company H, Capt. Hewett, having transmitted his muster and descriptive rolls to this office, will establish a post at the forks of White and Green rivers, and place himself in communication with Capt. M. Maloney, TJ. S. A., commanding combined regular and volunteer forces at camp Montgomery. 10th. Company I, Capt. Ebey, is accepted into service, and will maintain its position at Port Townsend furnish a guard at the mouth of the Snohomish river, to prevent any of the enemy from descending the river, or having any communication with the friendly Indians inhabiting the shores of the Sound. llth. The success achieved at the engagement of White river by the gallantry and constancy of the troops under the command of Capt. Gilmore Hays, company B, Puget Sound mounted volunteers, 1st. regi ment W. T. volunteers, and the Regulars of the 4th U. S. infantry, com manded by Lieut. Slaughter, being detachments from the command of Capt. M. Maloney, 4th infantry, U. S. A., has inspired a hope that any further accession of tribes to the enemy is checked, and the war on the western side of the Cascades is rapidly approaching the defensive on the part of the savages. 12th. The forces now in the field are deemed sufficient to pursue the enemy and follow up the success already obtained. It is, therefore, expressly enjoined upon all officers commanding companies or detachments, to prevent all private warfare upon Indians, as unauthorized persons may drive into hostility tribes now friendly or wavering. Officers and soldiers will also bear in mind that Indians now friendly or indifferent may be rendered hostile by careless conduct, and while the gallantry of the volunteers will lead them to look with contempt upon the number of their foes, they will consider that isolated familes may. suf fer from any recklessness on the part of those who are so courageously defending them. (Signed,) JAMES TILTOK, Adg't Gen. W. T. Y. By order of the Acting Governor, ) and Commander-in- Chief. ) HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP W. T. VOLUNTEERS, ) Walla-Walla Valley, W. T., Dec. 31, 1855. j GENERAL ORDERS, A. The inhabitants of Walla Walla county are called upon to enroll themselves for the protection of themselves and families, and for such aid as they may be able to render in prosecuting the existing war against the Indians. Col. B. F. Shaw, of the militia of Washington Territory, is assigned to the command of the military district embraced in Walla Walia county, and will see that the inhabitants are duly organized. When the settlers and friendly Indians are moved to the place al ready designated for their winter camp, he will have such defensive works thrown up as may be necessary. Col. Shaw will give to the same end, the necessary directions to the settlers on the Spokane, and at Colville, and at Colville valley. It is believed that this call will be responded to by every inhabitant in the county. The inhabitants will thus render aid in prosecuting the war, whilst protecting themselves. The settlers in this valley will be called upon to act as their own guards. It is believed that, with the force which will remain in the valley till offensive operations are resumed, they are entirely competent to per form this service. Col. Shaw will co-operate with the force from Oregon in the defense of the Walla Walla valley, or in the offensive operations against the In dians. The importance of the entire harmony and unity of action be tween the two territories in the prosecution of the existing war cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of all. Sidney S. Ford, jr., is commissioned as captain, and Green McCafferty as first Lieutenant of the volunteers from Washington, in the existing war against the Indians, and will report to Col. Shaw for duty. (Signed,) JAMES DOTY, Lt. Col. Adj't. By order of the Commander-in-Chief. 37 HEAD QUARTERS, W. T. VOLUNTEERS, ) Walla Walla Valley, Dec. 31, 1855. ) GENERAL ORDERS, B. 1st. Wm. Craig is appointed Aid to the Commander-in-Chief, during the existing Indian war, to rank as Lieut. Col. 2d. The Nez Perces volunteers, who have formed a portion of the force from Washington, operating against the hostile Indians, will return to the Nez Perce country, and there be mustered out of the service, by Lieut. Col. Craig, who will send a copy of his muster rolls and descriptive lists to the office of the Adg't. General at Olympia. 3d. Especial thanks are due the Nez Perce volunteers for their cheerful obedience to orders, and exemplary deportment, whilst in the service of the territory. 4th. Lt. Col. Craig will take the necessary measures for the protec tion of the Nez Perce tribes of Indians against any hostile efforts from the tribes in arms, and will call upon Col. B. P. Shaw in command of the military district of Walla Walla for aid and supplies. 5th. It being necessary for the Commander-in-Chief to go to the settlements without delay, Lt. Col. Doty will assume the command of the Walla Walla battalion, consisting of the Steven's Guards, and Spokane Invincibles. They will be moved to the Dalles, as soon as the weather moderates, and there be mustered out of the service. 6th. The Commander-in-Chief returns his thanks to the battalion for the alacrity with which they have obeyed his orders and discharged their duty, for their constancy and manliness in the rapid movement which they made from the Spokane to this valley, in bad weather and in an in clement season a movement began and nearly half accomplished with the certain knowledge that a large force of hostile Indians was to be met in this valley, and no expectation that aid was at hand, and would be ex tended in season. 7th. But aid was at hand, and the Commander-in-Chief would do injustice to his own feelings and those of the men of his immediate com mand, if, in this General Order, he did not acknowledge the services of the gallant volunteers of Oregon, who successfully met in arms in this val ley, the combined forces of the hostile Indians at the time he was moving from the Spokane to the Nez Perce country. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Com.-in-Chief. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) February 1st, 1856. ) GENERAL ORDERS No. 3. 1st. The existing organization of volunteers is disbanded, and Cap tains of companies will make the necessary reports to the Adjutant Gen eral's office at Olympia, as early as practicable. 2d. No troops will be accepted for service except such as are raised for six months and subject to the orders of the Executive for the general defense of the territory. The orders recently issued for the raising of troops for the defense of particular localities are hereby revoked. 3d. The citizens of the territory are urged to enroll themselves as rapidly as possible. Supplies and transportation will be in readiness. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. W. T., and Com -in-Chief. HEAD QUARTERS, OLYMPIA, W. T. ) February 25, 1856. J GENERAL ORDERS No. 4. 1st. The 2d regiment Washington Territory Volunteers, called into the service of the United States, against the Yakima and other hostile Indian tribes, will be organized into three battalions, to be designated res pectively the Northern, the Central and Southern battalions. 2d. The Northern battalion includes company G, commanded by Capt. Van Bokelin, company I, Capt. Howe, a detachment of company H, Captain Peabody, and will be commanded by a Major, to be elected by the command upon its concentration. 3d. It will receive supplies and transportation from quartermaster and commissary Robinson, and move immediately up the river to the Sno- qualmie Falls. 4th. The Central battalion, commanded by Major Gilmore Hays, will comprise company B, Captain Rabbison, company C, Captain Hen- ness (Mounted Rangers;) the train guard, Captain Shead, and the Pio neer company, commanded by Captain White, with detachment of Scouts, commanded by Capt. Swindal of company F, and be supplied by quar termaster and commissary Weed, at the post of Oljmpia. 5th. This battalion will march to the Muckleshoot Prairie estab lishing block-houses at the Yelm Prairie, at Montgomery's Station, and the crossing of the Puyallup river; and forming a junction with the Reg ulars, erect a depot, hospital and block-house at or near the forks of White and Green rivers. 6th. The Southern battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Col. Shaw, will organize from the companies now forming by Captains Maxon, Achil les, Higgins and Pearson, upon the Columbia river, and will march to the Walla- Walla Valley as soon as possible. 7th. The Southern battalion will be supplied by quartermaster and commissary Hathaway, at Fort Vancouver. 8th. Officers, commanding battalions, will appoint adjutants for their commands. 9th. The battalion adjutant will conduct the military correspond ence, make the necessary reports to this office, and keep the papers of the battalion. 10th. Quartermasters and commissaries will make their reports to quartermaster and commissary general Miller, at Olympia. llth. Lieutenant Colonel Lander, commanding post at Seattle, will organize company A, of the 2d regiment of Washington Territory Vol unteers, with as many friendly Indians as may report to him, and make war upon the hostile savages infesting the forests between Elliott's Bay, and the country lying adjacent to Seattle; and co-operate with the naval forces now in the bay of Seattle, and will be supplied by Quartermaster and Commissary F. Matthias. 12th. Jared S. Hurdand H. R. Crosbie, Esq., are appointed Aids to the Commander-in-Chief, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 13th. Eustis Huger is appointed Acting Adjutant to the 2d regi ment W. T. Volunteers, with the rank of 1st lieutenant. 14th. Sidney S. Ford, jr., is appointed a Captain, and attached for the special service of organizing a force of friendly Indians of the Cheha- lis and Cowlitz tribes for operation upon the Puyallup. 15th. Captain C. W. Riley, with the force raised in Steilacoom, will build a fort at "Lone Tree Point/ 7 north of the mouth of the Puyallup, and occupy that post until further orders, ' 16th. Warren Gove is appointed Quartermaster and Commissary at the post of Steilacoom. l?th. A. H. Robie is appointed Quartermaster and Commissary of subsistence at the Dalles. 18th. G. K. Willard to be surgeon and purveyor of medicine and medical stores at head quarters. 40 19th. M. P. Burns is appointed a surgeon in the 3d regiment, and ordered for duty with the Central Battalion. 20th. Dr. R. M. Bigelow, surgeon for the Northern Battalion. 21st. The officer commanding the Southern Battalion will appoint a surgeon for his command, and report his name to this office, that a com mission may issue. 22d. Edward Furste is appointed Chief Clerk to the Quartermaster and Commissary General. 23d. James Roberts is appointed Military Clerk to the Commander- in-Chief. 24th. In all service of combined volunteer and Indian military forces, the military officer will take command of the whole. 25th. All officers commanding are requested to make reports to this office as frequently as practicable. (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adg't. Gen. W. T. Y. forces. By order of the Governor and ) Commander-in-Chief. j HEAD QUARTERS, OLYMPIA, W. T. ) April 20, 1856. ) SUPPLEMENT TO GENERAL ORDERS, No. 4. 1st. B. F. Shaw is elected Lieutenant Col. of 2d regt. W. T. Vol unteers, and will assume command of the Central and Southern battal ions. 2d. Edward Gibson is appointed extra aid to the Commander-in- Chief. 4th. First Lt. W. W. DeLacy is appointed Adjutant to the South ern battalion. 5th. Humphrey Hill is appointed Adjutant to the Northern bat talion. 6th. B. F. Ruth is appointed Adjutant to the Central battalion. 7th. Justin Millard, appointed a Surgeon in the 2d regiment W. T. Y. 8th. Christopher C. Pagett is appointed Ass't. Qr. M. and Com missary, and is assigned to duty with Capt. Warbass' company. 9th. Albert Eggers is appointed Ass't. Surgeon. 10th. U. G. Warbass is appointed Ass't. Surgeon. 11 th. Officers elected by co. L, 2d regiment (Walla Walla county) Henri M. Chase, Captain; Y. L. LaFontaiiie, 1st Lt. ; Louis Rabion, 2d Lieutenant. 12th. Company K, (Mounted Rifles) Francis M. P. Golf, Captain; Israel Hedges, 1st. Lieut.; Thomas Waite, 2d Lieut. 13th. Co. J, (Mounted Rifles) Bluford Miller, Capt.; Anthony W. Pressly, 1st. Lieut.; Andrew Sheppard, 2d Lieut. 14th. Co. M, (Lewis county) Edward Warbass, Capt.; John W. Anderson, 1st. Lieut.; John B. Bouchard, 2d. Lieut. loth. Clark Co. Rangers, Win. Kelly, Captain; John D. Biles, 1st. Lieutenant; Patrick Ahem, 2d. Lieut. 16th. Daniel Smalley is elected Captain of co. G, vice J. J. H. Tan Bokelin, elected Major Northern Battalion, 2d regiment. 17th. Arthur A. Denny is elected 1st. Lieut, of co. A, 2d regiment, vice H. H. Peixotto, resigned. 18th. J. Q Cole elected 1st Lieut, co. F. 19th. John Brady 1st. Lt. co. B, vice Tan Ogle, resigned. 20th. Wm. Temple, 2d Lieut, co. B, vice Win. Marth, resigned, 21st. Geo, W. Ebey 2d Lt. co. G, vice Daniel Smalley, elected Cap tain. (Signed) JAMES TILTOX. Adg't Gen. W. T. V. forces. By order of the Governor and ) Cominauder-m-Chief. HEAD QUARTERS, OLYMPIA, W. T. ) August , 1956. ) GENERAL ORDERS, No. 5. The Corarnan r ler-in-Chief, for himself and the inhabitants of Wash ington Territory, desires me to express to Lieut. Col. Shaw, the gallant officers and men of the right wing of the 2d regiment, and the officers and men of the commrmds of Major Lay ton, of Oregon Territory, and Capt. Goff, of Washington Territory, his high appreciation of their late brill iant and successful achievements at the battles of Grand Roude and Burnt River. The intelligence of these successes has given the highest gratification 6 42 to those of their fellow-citizens of the territory, who are well aware the blessings of a permanent peace with the savages can be obtained only through such vigorous and decisive blows as those inflicted at the Grand Roude and Burnt River. Orders are issued to raise 200 men to strengthen the command of Lieut. Col. Shaw. Ample supplies are being collected, and nothing will be left undone to furnish every support to the brave and gallant territorial forces, whose energetic, active, and intelligent officers are so ably secon ded by gallant and willing men. With the assurance to the right wing of the 2d regiment, that its patriotic and vigorous services are fully understood at head quarters, and that the present and future citizens of Washington territory will fully ap preciate them, and perpetuate their memory in history. (Signed) JAMES TILTON, W. T. Volunteers. By order of the Governor, ) and Commander-in-Chief. j REPORT OF LT. COL. SHAW. HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP ON MILL CREEK, ) July 24th, 1856. ) JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adj't Gen. W. T. V., Olympia, SIR: In my letter of 12th inst., I announced my intention of making a scout towards the Grand Ronde as soon as I could make the necessary arrangements for placing this post in security during my absence. The trails toward it were reconnoitered, and an excellent guide se cured "Captin John," a Nez Perce chief. I started at dark on the evening of the 14th inst., with the majority of the command, consisting of six companies, viz: Lt. Williams, Lieut. Wait, Capt. Miller, Capt. Henness and Major Maxon, in all 160 men and officers, besides the pack train with ten days' rations. We marched all night, so as to get into the mountains before daylight, so that the dust could not be discovered. We took a trail only travelled by Indians, and but little frequented by them lately. We arrived in the Grand Ronde Valley on the evening of the 16th, and camped on a branch of the Grand 43 Ronde river in the timber, sending spies in advance, who returned and T&- ported no fresh sign. On the morning of the 17th, leaving Major Blankenship of the cen tral, and Capt. Miller of the southern battalions, assisted by Capt. De Lacy to take up the line of march for the main valley, I proceeded ahead to reconnoitre, accompanied by Major Maxon, Michael Marchraean, Capt. John, and Dr. Burns. After proceeding about five miles, we ascended a knoll in the valley, from which we discovered dust arising along the timber of the river. I immediately sent Major Maxon and Captain John for ward to reconnoitre, and returned to hurry up the command which was not far distant. The command was instantly formed in order. Captain Miller's company in advance, supported by Maxon's, Henness' and Pow ell's companies, leaving the pack train in charge of the guard under Lieut. Goodwin, with a detachment of Golfs company under Lt. Wait, and Lt. Williams' company in reserve, with orders to follow on after the command. The whole command moved on quietly in this order, until within half a mile of the Indian's village, where we discovered that the pack train had moved to the left, down the Grand Ronde river. At this moment, a large body of warriors came forward, singing and whooping, and one of them waving a white man's scalp on a pole. One of them signified a de sire to speak. Whereupon, I sent Captain John to meet him, and formed the command in line of battle. When Captain John came up to the In dians, they cried out to one another to shoot him, whereupon he retreated to the command, and I ordered the four companies to charge. The design of the enemy evidently was to draw us into the brush along the river, where, from our exposed position, they would have the ad vantage they no doubt having placed an ambush there. To avoid this, I charged down the river towards the pack train. The warriors then split part going across the river, and part down towards the pack train. These we soon overtook, and engaged. The charge was vigorous and so well sustained that they were broken, dispersed and slain before us. After a short time, I sent Capt. Miller to the left, and Major Maxon to the right the latter to cross the stream and cut them off from a point near which a large body of warriors had collected, apparently to fight, while I moved forward with the commands of Captain Henness and Lt. Powell to attack them in front. The Major could not cross the river, and, on our moving forward, the enemy fled, after firing a few guns, part taking to the left, and part con tinuing forward. Those who took to the left fell in with Capt. Miller's company, who killed five on the spot, and the rest were not less successful in the pursuit which was continued to the crossing of the river, where the enemy had 44 taken a stand to defend the ford. Being here rejoined by Capt. Miller and by Lieut. Curtis with part of Maxon's company, wo fired a volley, and I ordered a charge across the river, which was gallantly executed. In doing this, private Shirly Ensign, of Hemiess' company, who was in the front, was wounded in the face. Several of the enemy were killed at this point. We continued the pursuit until the enemy had reached the rocky canyons leading towards Powder river, and commenced scattering in every direction, when, finding' that I had but five men with me, and the rest of the command scattered in the rear most of the horses being completely exhausted I called a halt, and fell back, calculating to re-mount the men on the captured horses, and continue the pursuit after night. I found the pack train, guard and reserve, encamped on a small creek not far from the crossing, as I had previously ordered them to do, and learned that a body of the enemy had followed them up all day, and an noyed them, but had inflicted no damage beyond capturing many of the animals which we had taken in the charge, and left behind. I learned, also, that Major Maxon had crossed the river with a small party, and was engaged with the enemy, and wanted assistance, I imme diately despatched a detachment under Lieuts. Williams and Wait, send ing the man who brought the information back with them as a guide. They returned after dark, without finding the Major, but brought in one of his men, whom they found in the brush, and who stated that one of the Major's men was killed, and that the last he saw of them they were fight ing with the Indians. At day-light, I sent out Capt. Miller with 70 men, who scouted around the whole valley without finding him, but who, unfor tunately had one man killed, and another wounded whilst pursuing some Indians. I resolved to move camp the next day to the head of the valley, where the emigrant trail crosses it, and continue the search until we be came certain of their fate. The same evening, I took 60 men under Cap tain Henness, and struck upon the mountain and crossed the heads of the canyons to see if I could not strike his trail. Finding no sign, I returned to the place where the Major had last been seen, and there made search in different directions, and finally found the body of one of his men (Tooley,) and where the Major had encamped in the brush. From other signs, it became evident to me that -the Major had returned to this post by the same trail by which we first entered the valley. ' Being nearly out of provisions, and unable to follow the Indians from this delay, I concluded to return to camp, recruit for another expedition in conjunction with Capt. Goff, who had, I presumed, returned from his expedition to John Day's river. I should have mentioned previously, that in the charge the command captured and afterwards destroyed about 150 horse loads lacamas, dried 45 beef, tents, some flour, coffee, sugar, and about 100 pounds of ammunition and a great quantity of tools arid kitchen furniture. We took also about 200 horses, most of which were shot, there being but about 100 service able animals. There were present on the ground from what I saw, and from infor mation received from two squaws taken prisoners, about 300 warriors of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Tyh, John Day, and DesChutes tribes, commanded by the following chiefs: Stock Whitley and Sim-mis- tas-tas, DesChutes and Tyh; Chick-iah, Plyou, Wic-e-cai, Wat-ah-stuar- tih, Win-imi-swoot, Cayuses; Tah-kin, Cayuse, the son of Peu-peu-mox- mox, Walla Walla, and other chiefs of less note. The whole command, officers and men, behaved well. The enemy was run on the gallop for 15 miles, and most of those who fell were sfoot with the revolver. It is impossible to state how many of the enemy were killed. Twenty-seven bodies were counted by one individual, and many others we know to have fallen and been left, but were so scattered about that it was impossible to get count of them. When to these we add those killed by Major Maxon's command on the other side of the river, we may safely conclude that at least forty of the enemy were slain, and many went off wounded. When we left the valley there was not an In dian in it, and all the sign went to show that they had gone a great dis tance from it. On the 21st inst., we left the valley by the emigrant road, and com menced our return to camp. During th e night Lieut. Hunter, of the W. T. Volunteers, came into camp with an express from Capt. Goff. I learned, to my surprise, that 'the Captain and Major Laytou had seen In dians on John Day's river had followed them over to the head of Burnt river, and had had a fight with them, in which Lieut. Eustus and one private were killed, and some seven Indians. They were shaping their course for the Grand Ronde Valley, and had sent for provisions and fresh horses. I immediately sent Lieut. Williams back with all my spare pro visions and horses, and continued my march. On Wild Horse creek, I came across Mr. Files, a pack master, who had been left in ccirp, who in formed me, to my extreme satisfaction, that Major Maxon and his com mand had arrived safe in camp, and were then near us with provisions and ammunition. These I sent on immediately to Capt. Goff. I learned that Major Maxon had been attacked in the valley by a large force of Indians, on the day of the fight had gained the brush and killed many of them that at night he tried to find our camp, and hearing a noise like a child crying, probably one of the captured squaws, had con cluded that my command had gone on to Powder river, and that the Indi ans had returned to the valley by another canyon. He moved his position 46 that night, and the next day saw the scout looking for him, bnt in the distance thought that it was a band of Indians hunting his trail. Con ceiving himself cut off from the command, he thought it best to return to this camp, thinking that we would be on our way back to Grand Ronde with provisions and ammunition. Enclosed you will find the Surgeon's report of the killed and wounded. Respectfully, &c., (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lieut. Col. commanding expedition to Yakima. DR, BURNS' REPORT. HEAD QUARTERS, RIGHT WING, 2o REGIMENT, W. T. Y. ) Camp Mill Creek, Walla Walla Valley, July 24, 1856. f JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adjutant Gen. W. T. Volunteers, SIR : I send you my report of the killed and wounded in the engagement on the Burnt River and Grand Ronde on the 15th and 16th July, 1856. Lieut. Eustus, co. N, killed residence Luckiamute, 0. T. Daniel Smith, co. K, killed residence French Prairie, Oregon. James Cheney, co. K, wounded in the thigh slightly residence Or egon. Wm. F. Tooley, co. A, killed residence Cape Horn Mountain. Win. Irven, co. A, killed residence Vancouver, W. T. Wm. Holmes, co. K, killed residence Thurston co., W. T. Thomas Como, co. A, dangerously wounded residence Vancouver, W. T. Shirley Ensign, co. C, wounded in the nose and cheek. Wm. Downy, co. D, wounded in the knee with an arrow, slightly. T. N. Lilley, co. J, forearm fractured and head cut by an Indian with an empty gun. I remain respectfully yours, &c., (Signed) MATTHEW P. BURNS, M. D. Surgeon 2d Reg't W. T. V.. 47 HEAD QUARTERS, W. T. V., FORT MASON, WALLA WALLA ) VALLEY, W. T., September 4th, 1856. ) GENERAL ORDERS No. 6. The Commander-in-Chief feels called upon to express his regrets that the pack train was captured on the evening of the 28th inst, and that Capts. Goff and Williams did not take the position assigned them by Lt. Col. Shaw, which would probably have resulted in the defeat of the enemy and in saving the train. The packers were not provided with rifles or guns, and the escort left without a proper supply of ammunition, both contrary to orders here tofore given, and contrary to the usage of the service. On a calm review of the whole matter, the Commander-in-Chief must express the opinion that, under the circumstances, the pack train should not have been abandoned. He desires to impress upon the troops the fact established by expe rience, especially in the present Indian war, that bold and repeated charges upon the enemy, even when the disparity of numbers is great, will alone lead to results. In this way only can the superiority of our race be established. In all mere defensive contests with Indians, whether behind breastworks, or in the brush, an Indian is as good as a white man ; few laurels can thus be won, and the result may be discreditable. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. HEAD QUARTERS W. T. V., ) Olympia, W. T., October 30, 1856. J GENERAL ORDERS No. 7. / 1st. The volunteers of Washington Territory, of both staff and line, are hereby disbanded. 2nd. The Adjutant General, Quartermaster and Commissary Gen eral, with such officers and employees as they may require to perfect and finish the muster rolls and accounts, are retained in service till further or ders. 3d. All officers commanding companies will be discharged upon ren dition of their muster rolls at the office of the Adjutant General, and th 48 settlement of their accounts for public property with Quartermaster and Commissary" General. 4th. The senior officers of the late 2d regiment "VY. T. Volunteers, and the Military Clerk to the Commander-in-chief, will be retained in service till further orders. 5th. No purchases of property or supplies after this date will be made by any officer or employee, without special orders from the Quarter master General. 6th. The Commander-in-Chief desires me to express to the officers and men of the Right Wing of the 2d regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Shaw, the Northern Battalion, commanded by Major Van Bokelin ; the Southern by Major Maxon, and the Central by Major Blankenship, his most cordial thanks, for the signal gallantry, resolute endurance, and ex cellent discipline they have displayed and maintained during their six months' arduous, faithful and efficient service. The nature of the vast region of country traversed, the wily and resolute character of the savages overawed or subdued, and the privations endured by the citizen soldiery of the 2d regiment, are well known and appreciated by the inhabitants of Washington Territory, who will know how to Jioaor for all future time, the devoted and fearless men who have maintained the foothold of civilization upon the remote frontier. History will present the fact with credit and honor to the volunteer force, that during the six months of active service of one thousand of the citizens of Washington Territory, not a single friendly Indian has been harmed in a volunteer camp or scout no Indian has been plundered or molested, and the captured property of defeated savages has been in every case turned over to the proper officers, and faithfully accounted for by them. To the efficient staff, commissioned and non-commissioned, both per sonal, and of transportation and supply, the Commander-in-Chief begs to make his hearty acknowledgments. Devotion to the service, aided by the patriotism and generosity of the citizens, has enabled a widely scattered community of seventeen hun dred American citizens to keep on foot, feed, clothe, arm, and partly mount, one thousand most efficient and serviceable troops. With these facts for the future historian, the year 1856, although disastrous in material prosperity, is rich in honorable achievements, and will be dwelt upon by the descendants of the troops, now returning to their avocations of peace, with pride and exultation. (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. By order of the Governor, and ) Commander-in-Chief. WAR NOTICE. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, I hereby call upon the citizens of the counties of Lewis, Chehalis, Thurston, Pierce and Pacific, for reinforcements to support the gallant volunteer soldiery now in the enemy's country north of the Puyallup. To insure success, it is deemed essential to strengthen the central battalion. By a vigorours effort now, there is a reasonable hope of annihilating the savages occupying the region west of the Cascades. For this pur pose, an earnest appeal is made for a reinforcement of one hundred men, who will rendezvous at Olympia, for service under Major G. Hays, to strengthen the companies of Captains Henness, Rabbeson, White and Swiudall. All detachments, upon arrival at Olympia, will be supplied with pro visions, clothes, arms, transportation and escorts to the field. Ample supplies for the forces are now approaching the central posi tion upon the Muckelshoot prairie. An intelligent and patriotic population will see the urgency, of the case, and by bestowing their services for a short time, share in the achieve ments of their friends now in the field, and materially aid in the speedy termination of the war. The following named gentlemen are requested to act as enrolling offi cers : Capt. John R. Jackson, Highland, Lewis county; J. S. M. Van Cleave, Pacific county, Chenook Postoffice; Private Guest, Capt. Henness' company, at camp Montgomery; Dr. J. R. Johnson, Chehalis, at Bruce- port; Henry Cock, Thurston, at Olympia. Enrolling officers will make requisition upon the Qr. Mr. and Com missary at Olympia and Steilacoom for supplies and quarters, for recruits daring concentration previous to marching. Enrolling officers will report at this office for marching orders. (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adjutant Gen. W. T. Volunteers, Head Quarters, Olympia W. T. ) March 1st., 1856. f QUARTERMASTER'S REPORT. OFFICE Q. M. AND COM. GENERAL, ) November 29th, 1856. Gov. I. I. STEVENS, SIP. : In answer to your note of the 26th inst., I beg leave to sub- mit the following report of the operations of the Quartermaster and Com missary Department, W. T. V. As several of the Assistant Q. Masters and Commissaries have not yet had time to send in their accounts, I will not be able to give in a full and complete report until almost two months. Since the organization of the Q. Master and Commissary department on the 21st January of the current year, there has been issued $960,268,- 32 worth of scrip to carry on its operations. Of this amount $122,712,- 09 has been redeemed by sales of public property leaving $827,547 32 outstanding. I estimate that it will require at least $35,500 in addition, to pay unadjusted accounts against this department. In accordance with your order, the accounts of the 1st regiment, W. T. V., called out by proclamation of Acting Gov. Mason,piave been ex amined, and scrip issued for the amount of indebtedness. This regiment was without Q. Masters or Commissaries. Each officer in command was empowered to procure whatever his men might need, and give receipts for the same, and it affords me pleasure to testify that this authority was never abused. The amount of debt thus created, as per receipts and other vouchers, is $58,821 92, for which scrip, approved by the Commander-in-Chief, has been issued, and I estimate that $5000 more of the scrip will be required to cover the total indebtedness ($62,821 92) of 1st. reg't W. T. Y. under Acting Governor Mason. RECAPITULATION. Scrip issued on account of expenses 1st reg't W. T. V, under proclamation of Act. Gov. Mason, $58,821 92 Scrip to be issued for outstanding accounts against said regiment, $5,060 00 $63,821 M 51 Scrip issued on account of expenses of volunteer organization since 21st Jan. 1856, $960,268 22 Scrip to be issued for outstanding acc'ts against said organization, 35,500 00 995,768 32 $1,059,590 25 Amount of Scrip cancelled by sales of public property, 132,121 09 Total amount of indebtedness, $926,869 16 The operations of the department under my charge have been carried on under very discouraging circumstances. There was no ready money with which to meet daily expenses. There were no large cities or wealthy communities where supplies could be purchased for the immediate need of the troops. Every thing had to be obtained if possible, for scrip, from either this or Oregon Territory, both sparsely populated, already impov erished by Indian hostilities, and of which a large number of the inhabit ants were in arms against the common enemy. In this Territory, espe cially, many of the farmers had been driven from their claims others, with every disposition to help the common cause, could not do so without depriving their families of bread. Notwithstanding this, the conduct of the citizens has been worthy of all praise. Without their zealous co-ope ration, the volunteers would have starved. The officers of this department consisted of 1 Ass't Q. Master and Commissary General, and 8 Ass't Q. M's and Commissaries stationed, as follows: Lieut. Col. Jas. K. Hurd, Ass't Q. M. and Commissary General, su perintendent of all business on the Columbia river. R. S. Robinson, Ass't Q. M. and Commissary, Port Townsend, and to supply the northern battalion. F. Mathias, do at Seattle. Warren Gove, do at Steilacoom. Chas. E. Weed, do at Olympia. C. C. Pagett, do at Lewis county. M. B. Millard, do at Vancouver. A. H. Robie, do at the Dalles, and field operations of south ern battalion. C. H. Armstrong, Regt'l Q. M. and Commissary in the field, with the right wing of the 2d regt. W. T. Y. These gentlemen were mostly unacquainted with the duties of the stations on first appointment, but their zeal and activity soon made amends for deficiencies, and I am under the highest obligations to them all for 52 their most active and efficient co-operation, and the admirable manner in which the accounts have been presented. About Feb. 10th, a wagon train was organized, consisting of thirty wagons, and forty-five teamsters and guards, commanded by Copt. Oliver Shead, and Lieuts. O'Brian and Remley. The danger and difficulty of the duties performed by this train, can only be appreciated by one ac. quainted with the state of the country 'and of the roads at the time. As soon as organized, the train was despatched from Fort Stevens (Yelm prairie) to Fort Hays (Connell's prairie) via. Camp Montgomery, with supplies for the troops then in the field: remaining until a block house was built on Puyallup river, it moved again to Connell's Prairie, and thence re turned to Olympia, about March 10th. From this time until June it was busily engaged in transporting stores to the different posts scattered over the country. Again assembled at Camp Montgomery, it transported the stores intended for Col. Shaw's command to Fort Hays, and thence part of the wagons returned, bringing the stores not turned over to the regular troops with the post. The remainder (five or six wagons) were sent to South Prairie, whence they returned with the public property when that post was abandoned. A portion of this train was retained until the latter part of September. It is necessary to remark here, that the men of the train were its only escort, and that during several months' service, not an animal was lost or captured. A pack train, consisting of 109 animals, laden with provisions and ammunition, and 21 men, under charge of Capt. Armstrong, accompanied the right wing of the 2d regiment in its march from Puget Sound to the Walla Walla, under command of Col. Shaw. With almost unprece dented good fortune it reached the latter place with the loss of only one horse and pack, caused by the animal stepping from the trail, at a danger ous pass, into the Nachess river beneath. Without other accident, on July 9th, the command was joined by Capt. Robie's Ass't Q. Master's train, from whom a fresh supply of provisions was drawn, those brought over the mountains being nearly exhausted. The good fortune of the train did not continue throughout the cam paign. Having been dispatched, July 26th, from the camp on Mill Creek to the Dalles, . T. for supplies, the train, with a small escort of twenty- five men, was attacked on its return by a body of Indians near the Wal la Walla river. After fighting from 10 A. M., until about IIP. M., their ammunition being exhausted, the escort and packers were compelled to leave the packs, and happily made good their retreat to Fort Mason, distant about 10 miles. The duties at Port Townsend were peculiar, and were ably performed fry Capt. R. S. Robinson, Q. Master at that post. Fort Ebey, ontht 55 Snohomish, and Forts Tilton aud Alden, on the Snoqualmie, were garri soned by the northern battalion. Vessels were chartered to ply between Victoria, (Vancouver's Island) where most of the supplies were purchased, and posts on the upper part of the Sound. From Port Townsend the provisions were sent to the different posts, by way of the rivers, in canoes manned by friendly Indians, but under charge of white men, a distance of twenty-five miles. The manner in which this duty was performed is most creditable to Capt. Robinson. Capt. Robie, Q. Master at the Dalles, started in June from that place with a train of 45 wagons and thirty-five pack animals, escorted by the command of Capt. Goff. Depositing its load at Walla Walla, the train returned to the Dales for a fresh supply, and by the 24th August, was again on the road to Walla Walla valley. In consequence of such promptness and activity, Col. Shaw's command was never in want of sup plies. The success of the operations in the Q. Master and Commissary de partment on the Columbia, is mainly due, however, to the energy and ability with which Col. Hurd and Capt. Millard effected purchases, and pushed forward supplies to the Dalles. In addition to the above, this department has furnished supplies to detachments and companies in almost every part of the territory, and block houses, roads and ferries, have been constructed under its direction. In obedience to orders, the public property has been disposed of as soon as possible, and all haste is being made to bring the affairs of the department to a close. I am gratified to be able to state that much of it sold at a high advance on the original prices, which were regarded as ex travagant at the commencement of the war. Yet horses, which cost from $250 to $400 brought from $200 to $600; wagons, costing $200, were rea dily sold for $300, and oxen were disposed of at $30 per cent, above cost. This, too, after the property had been of course deteriorated by 6 month's active service. As an evidence of the fidelity with which the public interest has been protected, it is sufficient to state that, whilst 5tl horses were purchased for the service, 600 have been turned in and sold. When it is remembered that many of the animals have died in service, and that many have been captured by the enemy, it will be seen how faithfully the animals pur chased and those captured at Grand Ronde have been accounted for. I am much indebted to all, both officers and employees, for their zeal' ous and intelligent co-operation. My thanks are especially due to the gen* 54 tlemen in this office for their constant and untiring devotion to their duties. The accounts are being rapidly brought to a close, and I hope soon to be able to present them for final adjustment. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, (Signed,) WILLIAM W. MILLER, Q. M, & Com. Gen., W. T. V. REPORT OF CAPTAIN OF ENGINEERS. HEAD QRARTERS, OLYMPIA, W. T. Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief, W. T. Y. SIR : In obedience to orders, I beg leave to transmit the follow ing list of Block Houses and Stockades erected during the late Indian war, and whether built at the public or private expense. The following were erected either at the expense of the Quartermas ter department, or by the volunteer troops in the field: Blockhouse (stockaded) at the Cowlitz Landing. do at French settlement, near Cowlitz Farms. do at Skookum Chuck. do on Chehalis river, below mouth of Skookum Chuck. do on Tenalquot Plains (Fort Miller.) do on Yelm Prairie, (Fort Stevens.) do at Lowe's, on Chambers Prairie. Two do at Olympia. do (Stockaded) at Packwood's ferry, (Fort Raglan.) Two do (Fort HicksJ at Montgomery's, built by Pioneer Co. do (Fort White) crossing of the Puyallup. Two do (Fort Hays) ConnePs Prairie. Two do (Forts Pike and Posey) crossing of White river. do (Fort McAlister) on South Prairie. do (Fort Lander) on Dewamish, built by volunteers, do at Seattle. One do on Lone Tree Point. do (Fort Ebey) on Snohomish. 55 Blockhouses, (Fort Tilton) at head of canoe navigation, 1 J miles below Snoqualmie Falls, built by northern battalion. do (Fort Alden) 2 J miles above Snoqualmie Falls, on Ranger's Prairie, built by northern battalion. do at Port Townsend. do at Wilson's Point. do at Bellingham Bay. do at Skookum Chuck. do at Yancouver, built by Capt. Kelly's company, do at Fourth Prairie. do at Washougle river. do on Lewis river, do (Fort Mason) in Walla Walla Yalley, built by order of Col. Shaw. do (Fort Preston) Michel's Fork of JSTesqually, built by Capt. Miller's company. do on Klicatat Prairie, near Cowlitz. The following were built in different neighborhoods, by the settlers themselves, for mutual protection: Blockhouse, at Davis'. Stockade at Cochrans', on Skookum Chuck. do (Fort Henness) near Mound Prairie. Blockhouse on Tenalquet prairie. do at Nathan Batons. Two blockhouses on Chamber's Prairie. Stockade at Bush's. do at Goodell's, Blockhouse at Ruddell's. do at Rutledge's. Two do at Falls, near Olympia. do at Dofflemyer's. do on Whidby's Island, do at Port Gamble, built by Capt. Keller, do (Fort Arkansas^ on Cowlitz. do on Mime Prairie, do at Port Ludlow, do at Meigs' Mill. Two do at Cascades, do at Boisefort. Built by the regular troops : Fort Slaughter, on Muckelshoot Prairi*. 56 Fort Malony, on the Puyallup rirw. Fort Thomas, on Green River. Blockhouse on Black River. In addition to the erection of these defences, portions of the troops and quartermaster's men were employed in opening new roads, and repair, ing old ones, for the transportation of stores &c., from one defensive point to another. Amongst these may be mentioned as the most important, a trail cut from Porter's Prairie to Ranger's Prairie wagon road fromC on* nell's to South Prairie wagon road from Montgomerys and Council's Prairie to White River ferry established on the Puyallnp, at Fort White &c., performed by the Pioneer company, equally as distinguished for gal lantry as for industry in the field, and a trail cut from Fort Tilton to Ran ger's Prairie, and thence to Cedar Rj^ trail from Rattlesnake Prairie to Snoqualmie Pass, &c., by the noflBn battalion, which deserves the highest commendation for its soldieiJJRe endurance of fatigue and hard ships. I beg leave, herewith, to transmit two maps, one exhibiting the line of march of the right wing of the 2d regiment, W. T. Y. from Puget Sound, to the Grand Ronde, as well as Capt. Goff's (W. T. Y.) march from the Dalles to Burnt River, and the other showing the situation of the various blockhouses above mentioned. Respectfully, W. W. BE LACY, Capt. Engineers, W, T. Y. REPORT OF ORDNANCE OFFICER, ORDNANCE DEFT, W. V. SERVICE, 1 Olympia, Dec. 1st., 1856, f V In obedience to orders, I nqB the honor to submit the following brief report relative to the public arms of the territory. Received from the United States Ordnance Department, as donated by act of congress to the territory, In percussion muskets, 1,980 do rifles, 100 Cavalry sabres, 30 Received by Acting Gov. Mason, on his requisition upon the military storekeeper at Columbia barracks (Fort Yancouver) and which are to be replaced out of the future quota of arms due the territory, 150 There has been turned in by the volunteer officers since the disbandment of the forces up to Dec. 1st., 1^4 -2,434 ISSUED. To counties, on receipt of county commissioners, 1,046 To counties for which commissioners have not yet for warded receipts, 228 To volunteer and naval officers, as per receipt, 224 To citizens of the several counties on their individual receipts, 35 The number retained and lost by citizens in the volun teer service, as shown by muster rolls, and also, those not yet accounted for, amount to lit On hand, 784 58 RECAPITULATION. Received From Ordnance .Department, TJ. S., 2,110 Columbia Barracks, 150 " Volunteers, 174 2,434 Issued To counties, 1,284 to volunteer and naval officers, 224 to citizens, 35 volunteer service, lit Arms on hand, 784 2,434 Respectfully sumbitted, R. M. WALKER, Ordnance officer, W. T. Y. Service. His Excellency, ISAAC L STEVENS, Grov. and Commander-in- Chief W. T. V. Forces. CORRESPONDENCE. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T., ) OLYMPIA, Oct. 22d, 1856.) Hon. ROBERT B. MCCLELLAND, Secretary of the Interior, Washington City, D. C. : SIR : Herewith I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of an order issued by Lieut. Col. Steptoe, commanding in the Walla Walla valley. (COPY OF ORDER.) FORT DALLES, 0. T., ) Aug. 20th, 1856. ) " The undersigned, having been designated to establish a military post in the Walla Walla country, and with a view to prevent all misunder standing on the subject, believes it proper to make known the following instructions he has recently received from the Pacific Military Department. " No emigrant or other white person, except the Hudson's Bay Co., or persons having ceded rights from the Indians, will be permitted to settle or- to remain in the Indian country, or on land not settled or not confirmed by the Senate and approved by the President of the United States. 11 These orders are not, however, to apply to the miners engaged in collecting gold at Colville mines." (Signed,) E. J. STEPTOE, Brev't Col. U. S. A. By reference to the act of Congress approved Sept. 27th, 1850, en titled "An act creating the office of Surveyor General of the public lands in Oregon, &c.," and the acts pf Feb. 14th, 1853, and July 17th, 1854, amendatory thereto, applicable alike to Washington territory, all the pub lic domain in this territory was thrown open to settlers, they being required, in order to perfect the donation thus offered to them, to perform certain 60 tcts of "residence and cultivation." . By reference to the 4th and 5th sec tions of the act first above mentioned, it will be found that the words of doaatioii are "that there ehall be and hereby is granted, fyc. f words which at once vest a right in the occupant of the soil dependant simply upon the performance of a condition subsequent, a mere act of volition on his part. By the language of the statute referred to, it would seem that all title had passed from the general government, and it simply remained for the settler to fulfil the conditions. Under the provisions of this act some fifty to seventy-five citizens had taken claims in the territory lying east of the Cascade mountains, and af fected by the above order, and resided upon them until driven off by tho Indians. By an order of a military officer of the United States they are now forbidden to return to their homes, and impliedly threatened wi;h expulsion should they do so. Your early attention is called to this matter, for it certainly must be doubted whether the commanding officer of a department or district can legally exercise an authority which abrogates a statute of the United States, and deprives citizens of vested rights, acquired not only by boldly pushing forward on the frontier and seeking new homes in the wilderness, but also by the plighted faith of the government. Very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Territory Washington. WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 1854. Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secret? ry of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : Arms and ammunition are much needed on Puget Sound, in order that the settlers may protect themselves from Indian depredations. The militia of the Territory has not yet been organized, though effi cient steps to this end will be taken the coming winter. If under these circumstances arms and ammunition can be issued, I will request that it may be done without delay. I will suggest that one thousand stand of arms and one hundred thousand cartridges, with a few revolvers, be placed in depot at FortSteilacoom, in the charge of the com mandant, subject to the requisition of the government of the Territory. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory. 61 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, ) August 18th, 1854. J SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, asking that arnas and ammunition may be placed ia de pot at Fort Steilacoom in charge of the Governor of Washington territory. In reply, I have to inform you that under the law for arming the militia, the territory is not entitled to and cannot be supplied with arms until the return of the~effective militia therein is received. Yery respectfully, your ob't serv't, (Signed,) JEFFERSON DAYIS, Sec'y of War. His Excellency I. I. STEVENS, Gov. of Washington Territory, (EXTRACTS.) OLYMPIA, W. T., Dec. 21, 1854. Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : g m . ****** i As regards the Columbia river and the two great routes to the States by the South Pass and the northern passes, it has seemed to me that the Walla Walla valley was the great point for a post, the Dalles and Van couver being mainly depots held by a single company each. A military road is much needed from Vancouver to the Dalles, giving easy communi cations at all seasons of the year. For greater economy, and till the ad vance of settlements shall afford plentiful supplies, a portion of the garrison in the Walla Walla valley might be withdrawn to Vancouver. I make these suggestions as the result of my observations and experience in this country. ******** I have the honor to~remain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Snp't Indian Affairs. 62 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T. u February 19th, 1856. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War : % SIR : Having been constantly and closely occupied since my return from the Blackfeet council, I avail myself of this the first opportunity, to inform the Department fully of the condition of this territory in the exci ting Indian war. And in order to arrive at a full understanding of the state of affairs, it is deemed necessary to state the facts connected with my return from the Missouri, where a treaty of peace and friendship had been concluded with the Blackfeet and other tribes of Indians. On the 29th day of October, when two days march from Fort Ben- ton, on my return to this place, W. H. Pearson reached my camp with an express from acting Governor Mason, bringing the startling intelligence that the Yakima Indians, with whom I had concluded a treaty in June last, had murdered a number of whites in their country, their agent, A. J. Bo- Ion, and had finally broken out into open war ; had defeated a detachment of U. S. troops under Major Haller, and had declared their determination to exterminate all the whites in the country. It was supposed that the Cayuses, Walla Wallas and Umatillas would join, and that the Spokanes and Cour d' Alenes were disposed to hostilities. At this time my party of 25 men were in this condition our animals were poor and jaded from the express service in which they had been em ployed in the operations preliminary to the Blackfoot council, for our express had ranged from the Saskatchawau on the north to the Yellow Stone on the south. They possessed but few arms and but little ammunition, as we had, in coming up, found no use for them, passing through the territory of friendly Indians. Under these circumstances I halted the train ; despatched my secreta ry, Mr. Doty, to Forts Benton and Campbell to procure arms, ammunition, and fresh animals. Oct. 31st, I pushed forward to the Bitter Hoot valley to make arrangements for fresh animals and supplies, instructing Mr. Doty to come on as rapidly as the condition of the train would permit. I reached the valley Nov. 4th, making the distance of 230 miles in 4J days. The train left the Missouri Nov. 4th, and reached Hell Gate in Bitter Root valley, where I had established my camp, in 8 days, a distance of 200 miles. I had overtaken, before reaching the valley, delegations of Nez Perce chiefs, who had attended the Blackfoot council . A conference was held with them at Hell Gate. They had already heard, through Indian ru- mors, of the wi3r below. I stated to them fully, the state of affairs, and requested that certain of their number would accompany me, it being my determination to push forward by way of the Cour d'Alene pass, although it was declared to be impracticable on account of snow. The result of our conference was most satisfactory. The whole party, numbering 14 men, among whom were Spotted Eagle, Looking Glass, and Three Feathers, principal chiefs among the Nez Perces, expressed their determination to accompany me, and share any danger to be encountered. They expressed a desire that, after crossing the mountains, I should go to their country, where a large force of their young men would ac company me to the Dalles, and protect us with .their lives against any enemy. Having replenished my train with all the animals to be had, on Nov. i4th we pushed forward, crossed the Bitter Root mountains the 20th, in snow 2 1 to three feet deep, and reached the Cceur d'Alene Mission the 25th taking the Coeur d'Alenes entirely by surprise. They had not thought it possible we would cross the mountains so late in the season. With the Cceur d'Alenes I held a council, and found them much ex cited, on a balance for peace or for war, and a chance word might turn them either way. Rumors of all kinds met us here : that the troops had fought a bat tle with the Yakimas, and drove them across the Columbia towards the Spokane, and that the Walla Wallas, Cayuses and Umatillas, were in arms, and that they had been joined by a party of the Nez Perces. The accounts were of so contradictory a nature that nothing certain could be ascertained from them, excepting that the several tribes below were in arms, blocking up our road, and had threatened to cut off my party in any event. However, I determined to push to the Spokane. The Spokanes were even more surprised than the Cceur d'Alenes at seeing us. Three hours before my arrival they heard I was going to the settlements by way of New York. I immediately called a council, sent to Fort Colville for Mr. McDonald, hi charge of that post of the Hud son's Bay Company, sent also for the Jesuit Fathers at that point. They arrived. A council was held, at which the whole Spokane nation was represented. The Cceur d'Alenes and Colville Indians also were present. The Spokanes and Colville Indians evinced extreme hostility of feel ing spoke of the war below wanted it stopped said the whites were wrong. The belief was current that Peu-pee-mox-moz would cut off my party, as he had repeatedly threatened. They had not joined in the war, but yet would make no promises to remain neutral. If the Indians now at war were driven into their country they would not answer for the con- equences ; probably many of the Spokanes would join them. 64 After a stormy council of several days, the Spokanes, Cceur d'Alenes, and Colvilles were entirely conciliated, and promised that they would re ject all the overtures of the hostile Indians, and continue the firm friends of the whites. Having added to my party, and organized, &c., we thence made a forced march to the Nez Perce country, striking the Clear Water at Lap- wai. Here we found assembled the whole Nez Perce nation, excepting those in the buffalo country. Mr. Craig had received letters which informed me that the whole Walla Walla valley was blocked up with hostile Indians, and the Xez Perces said it was impossible to go through. I called a council, and proposed to them that 150 of their young men should accompany me to the Dalles. Without hesitation they agreed to go. Whilst in the council, ma king arrangements for our movements, news came that a force of gallant Oregon volunteers, four hundred strong, had met the Indians in the Wal la Walla valley, and, after four days' hard fighting, having a number of officers and men killed and wounded, had completely routed the enemy- driving them across the Snake river, and towards the Nez Perce country. The next day I pushed forward, accompanied by 69 Nez Perces, well armed, and reached Walla Walla without encountering any hostile Indians. They had all been driven across Snake river below us by the Oregon troops. It is now proper to inquire, what would have been the condition of my party, had not the Oregon troops vigorously pushed into the field and galjantly defeated the enemy? The country between the Blue Mountains and the Columbia was overrun with Indians, numbering 1,000 to 1,200 warriors, including the force at Priest Rapids, under Kamiaken, who had sworn to cut me off ; it was completely blocked up. One effect of the campaign of the regulars and volunteers in the Yakima country under Brig. Gen. Raines, was to drive Kamiaken and his people on our side of the Columbia river, and thus endanger our movement from the Spokane to the Nez Perce country. Thus we had been hemmed in by a body of hostile Indians through whom we could have only forced our way with extreme difficulty, and at great loss of life. We might all have been sacrificed in the attempt. To the opening the way to my party, I am solely indebted to the Oregon volunteers. Peu-pee-mox-mox, the celebrated chief of the Walla Wallas, enter tained an extreme hostility towards myself and party, owing to imaginary wrongs he supposed had been inflicted upon him in the treaty concluded 65 with the Cayuses and Walla Wallas last June, and had been known re peatedly to threaten that I should never reach the Dalles. He was the first to commence hostilities by plundering Fort Walla Walla, and des troying a large amount of property belonging to the U. S. Indian De partment. This chief was taken prisoner by the Oregon volunteers, while en deavoring to lead them into an ambush. During the heat of the first day's battle, he and four other prisoners attempted to escape by forcibly attacking the guard, and were at once shot down. At Walla Walla I found some 25 settlers the remainder having fled to the Dalles for protection. With these were 100 friendly Indians. Special Indian agent B. F. Shaw, Col. in the W. T. militia, was on the ground, and I at once organized the district, placed him in command, and directed him, if necessary, to fortify, but at all events, to maintain his ground, should the Oregon troops be disbanded before another force could take the field. The Nez Perces auxiliaries were disbanded, and returned home. Thus we had reached a place of safety unaided/.excepting by the fortunate movements of the Oregon troops. Not a single man had been pushed forward to meet us. Although it was well known we should cross the mountains about a certain time, and arrive at Walla Walla about the time we did. Why was this ? Arrangements had been made with Maj. Raines by Acting Governor Mason, to push forward a force under Col. Shaw to meet me at Spokane about the time of my arrival there. A company had been enlisted, organized, and marched to Fort Vancouver to obtain equipments, rations and transportation, which Major Rains had promised both Gov. Mason and Col. Shaw should be promptly furnished them. Some little delay ensued, and in the meantime, Major Gen. Wool arrived, who immediately -declined equipping the company, as promised by Major Raines, and stated that he could not, in any manner, recognize volunteers, or furnish them equipments or transportation, and declining to supply their place with regular troops, of whom, at Vancouver alone, were some 350 men. When remonstrated with by Capt. Wm. McKay, in command of the company to push forward to my assistance, when informed of the object for which the company was enlisted, and that, if it was not pushed for ward at once, or if some other force was not sent, Gov. Stevens and his party would be in the most imminent danger, the General replied that, in his opinion, the danger was greatly exaggerated : that probably Governor Stevens would be able to protect himself, but if he could not, then Gov. Stevens could obtain an escort from Gen. Harney. What a reply was that? A moiety of the Indians now in arms had 9 66 defeated a detachment of 100 U. S. regulars. Major Raines had placed on record his opinion that an insufficient force would be defeated by these Indians, and my party was supposed to number no more than 25 men. Yet Major General Wool very coolly says "Gov. Stevens can take care of himself." So, too, in the remark that I could obtain aid from General Harney. Did Gen. Wool know that the distance from Fort Benton to the supposed position of Gen. Harney, was greater than the distance from Fort Benton to the Dalles, and that, to obtain aid from him, would re quire not less than six months? And that an express, to reach him, must pass through the entire breadth of the Sioux country? Such ignorance shows great incapacity, and is inexcusable. Mr. Secretary: Major General Wool, commanding the Pacific Di vision, neglected and refused to send a force to the relief of myself and party, when known to be in imminent danger, and believed by those who were best capable of judging, to be coming on to certain death, and this when he had at his command an efficient force of regular troops. He refused to sanction the agreement made between Gov. Mason and Major Ilaines for troops to be sent to my assistance, and ordered them to be disbanded. It was reserved for the Oregon troops to rescue us. The only demonstration made by Major Ilaines, resulted in showing his utter incapacity to command in the field. As has heretofore been said, his expedition against the Yakimas effected nothing but driving the Indians into the very country through which I must pass to reach the settlements. I therefore prefer charges against Gen. Wool. I accuse him of utter and signal incapacity, of criminal neglect of my safety. I ask for an in vestigation into the matter, and for his removal from command. After making my arrangements in the Walla Walla valley, I pushed to Vancouver, coming down the trail, the river being still closed, con ferred with Major Ilaines, and then hastened to Olympia as rapidly as possible, reaching my home on the 19th January. The Legislature were still in session, the greatest alarm prevailed throughout the Sound. The people were living in block houses. The enemy had gained the ad vantage, and the regulars and volunteers had retired before them. Keiii- forcements were coming from the other side of the mountains to the hos tile Indians. In obedience to my own convictions of duty, and in res ponse to the sentiments of this entire community, I issued my proclama tion, calling for six companies of volunteers for the defense of the Sound appointed enrolling officers for the raising of three companies on the Columbia river, to operate east of the Cascades, and, after remaining in my office but ten days, went down the Sound to visit the friendly Indians, 67 confer with the inhabitants, and make the necessary arrangements for the troops to take the field. Since my arrival on the Sound, Seattle has been attacked, and every thing ontside of its line of defences burned, except a small place named Alki, on the same bay with Seattle. The whole county of King has been devastated. Rumors of all the places being attacked, have reached us daily. The Northern Indians have commenced making depredations. They are meditating to send 16 war canoes against us. These canoes carry 75 men each, and can be urged with great velocity through stormy seas. To meet which dangef , I have requested Capt. Gansevoort, now com manding the naval forces of the Sound, to keep the steamer " Active " cruising between Port Townsend, Bellingham Bay and Seattle, and I have advised Gov. Douglass, of Vancouver's Island, of the fact, and requested him to keep one of the Hudson's Bay Steamers cruising in the waters of his jurisdiction, and to keep me advised of the movements of the Indians alleged to be hostile. I have also raised a force of friendly Indians to operate against the hostiles. They are already in the field : are supported by the available strength of the Northern battalion of the Washington territory volun teers, and have struck two decisive blows. The Central battalion have moved from this quarter, and are now establishing a depot at Montgom ery's : will on Friday or Saturday move on the Puyallup, and will be re inforced by friendly Indians. The most cordial relations exist between myself' and Lt. Col. Casey, commanding the Puget Sound district, who appreciates fully the immin ence of our danger, and who urges me to push into the field all the vol unteers in my power. We shall act in concert throughout. Since my arrival at the Sound, I have re-visited the Columbia river, and conferred with Col. Wright, 9th Infantry, in command of the Co lumbia river district. By letter, I have urged both Col. Wright and Ma jor Raines, previously in command of the district, to dispatch troops to the interior. They are not permitted to do so by the stringent orders of Gen. Wool, and knowing the necessity of prompt action, I have had no alternative but to call out volunteers. In Col. Wright I have entire confidence, and if he were allowed to act according to his own judgment, there would be nothing to apprehend. But it seems to be the determination of Gen. Wool to play the part of the dog in the manger neither to act himself, nor to let others act. As coinmander-in-chief of the militia of Washington, and in view of my oath of office, I have taken the responsibility to act ; every energy will be devoted to the work. The Indians now hostile on this side of the 68 mountains will soon, I trust, be struck, and peace restored to our dis tracted land. For my full views in reference to operations east of the Cascades, I enclose a copy of a memoir which I have addressed to Gen. Wool, with extracts of a letter to Col. Wright, modifying my views in certain par ticulars, in consequence of the lateness of the season, and the condition of affairs on the Sound. I also send a copy of my message to the legislature, and of the mes sage of Gov. Mason, when that legislature first assembled. Gov. Mason will soon be in Washington, froin. whom you will be able to gain every information which this office could furnish. I have the honor to remain, Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Ind. Affairs. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, ) Olympia, March 9, 1856. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : - Referring to my previous communication, setting forth the ne cessity of calling out volunteers to protect our settlements, and co-ope rate with the regular troops in waging war upon the hostile Indians, I have the honor to submit for the information of the department, the pres ent condition of the volunteer service. The general plan of operation and the staff arrangements made to give efficiency to the service, will be shown in General Orders No. 4, here with enclosed. It will thus appear that three battalions are to operate against the enemy. The Northern battalion is now rendezvousing at the falls of the Snoqualmie, will number about ninety men, will be supported by Pat Ka- nim and" his band of nearly one hundred friendly Indians. This battalion is ordered to establish block houses on the prairie above the falls of the Snoqualmie, and on Cedar creek ; will be supplied with sixty days' provis- 69 ions, and will prevent the Indians either crossing the mountains by the two passes of the Snoqualmie, or going down the Snohomish to tamper with the friendly Indians on the reservations. The Central battalion, under Major Gilmore Hays, is now estab lished at Council's prairie, on the south side of White river. A block house and a corral have been built, and the communication with the same is secured by a ferry and block house on the Puyallup, and by block houses at Montgomery's and on the Yelm prairie. They have one hun dred days' supplies of provisions, taken in by ox teams, which have since been withdrawn, and will immediately establish block houses at the cross ing of White river, to communicate with the regular forces under the command of Lt. Col. Casey, on the Muckleshoot prairie, and at Porter's, higher up on White river. The cordial relations between the regulars and volunteers referred to in my last communication, still continue. I have every assurance that the volunteers will do their duty. The department will observe that one of the companies is a company of Pioneers. They are experienced axemen, and have rendered the most efficient service in opening roads and building blockhouses. The war will be emphatically a war of block houses. In the movement of the regular troops upon the Muckleshoot, a de cisive battle was fought with the Indians, in which the latter were sig nally defeated. Their establishment at Porter's has since been broken up, and they have been driven towards Green river. If they continue their retreat further, they will be met by the volunteers and friendly Indians of the Northern battalion. The Southern battalion is still organizing, but their movement to the ulterior will be delayed for a short tune, in consequence of my finding myself obliged to order over one company to the defence of the Sound. A band of hostiles, under the notorious Quiemuth, had, unknown to us 2 established themselves in the Nisqually bottom, within twelve miles of this place, and the garrison at Steilacoom. We became aware of their presence one week since, they having on that day killed one of our citizens. One of the teamsters had been for some days missing, and that he also had been killed, was ascertained the same day. The whole force of the Central battalion except 15, was then in the Indian country on White river. Im mediately an express was dispatched to the Columbia river, ordering Capt. Maxon's mounted company to the Sound, and to-night his company will be at Jackson's, ninety miles on the road. The rapidity of the move ment is the best evidence of the necessity of action, and the disposition .of the troops to obey orders. In the meantime, I have raised the force of 15 men to sixty, and in addition, have sent twenty-nine friendly Indi ans into the field. These Indians are led by experienced white men. 70 The hostiles have, within ten days, driven off much stock, and have alarmed our entire settlement. We hope soon to route them. It is nec essary to have considerable guard to all our teams. The mail from the Columbia came in on Friday with an escort of 4 men. The danger is not so much from the harm which this band may, of its own strength do, as it numbers not over 40 warriors, but from the fa cility with which they may communicate with the friendly Indians on the reservations, and stir them up to hostility. Seattle is held by a company of volunteers, consisting of 40 odd men, commanded by the Chief Justice of the territory, Lieut. Col. Lan der. Lone Tree Point, which commands a trail from the camp of the hos tiles to the Sound, whence they may communicate with the reservations, is also held by a volunteer force of ten men. They have built a suitable block house. Our people are not dismayed. Wherever 4 families are, they will build a block house, hold it against the Indians, and endeavor to get in their crops. Over one-half of the able bodied men on the Sound are bearing arms. Our people have patriotically placed at the disposal of the authorities all their available means. We need aid from general go vernment ample appropriations to defray the expenses of the war. I have refused to receive into service a single man for local defence. All are enlisted for six months, subject to the orders of the Executive. In this way, an effectual stop has been put to any attempt to enroll troops for nominal service, with a view of extorting pay and rations from the government. I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, (SignedJ ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter. [No. 1.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, \ Olympia, March 21st., 1856. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City : SIR : In my two reports of February 19th, and March 9th, I laid before the department the circumstances of my return from the Blackfoot 71 country : the condition of the territory, and the measures taken by me to call out volunteers, and to apply them to the prosecution of the war. I now propose to lay before the department a full view of the whole mat ter, and to indicate the measures which, in my judgment, are still neces sary to protect these distant settlements, and to inflict that summary chastisement upon the Indians, demanded both by their unprovoked atro cities, and the permanent peace of the country. I have caused two maps to be prepared one of the country west of the Cascades, showing the points now occupied by that portion of the friendly Indians who, for five months, have been under the charge of local agents the lines occupied by the regular troops now in the field, under the command of Lt. Col. Casey ; the point occupied by the naval forces; the lines occupied by the volunteer forces now in the field ; the block houses occupied by our citizens ; the lines of supplies ; the depots for their protection ; the country occupied by the hostiles ; the lines over which reinforcements can come to them from east of the Cascades, and one of the country east of the Cascades, showing the tribes, the lines of communication, and the points at the latest advices occupied by the hostiles. The number of souls and warriors will be shown on this map. The settlements are now so secured by blockhouses, that the citizens will hold them even should every Indian on the Sound become hostile, and be reinforced by large bands from the north. The whole country on the eastern shore of the Sound, from the Skoo- kum Chuck to the Snohomish, is a war ground. No friendly Indian is allowed there unless he has a pass from an authorized agent, stating his special business, or he be connected with the military or naval service. Two parties of Indian auxiliaries are now in the field, besides which, quite a number of Indians are employed as guides, and in canoe service. I will give a condensed view of the present condition of the military operations on the Sound. 1. The regular troops now occupy the Muckleshoot prairie as their central position. The line of communication to Steilacoom is secured by a block house and ferry at the crossing of the Puyallup. A company has been sent to Seattle to move up the Dawamish and open a communication with the central position. A blockhouse will be established at the mouth of Cedar creek, and probably at John Thomas'. The force under Lt. Col. Casey has been very active, and this gallant officer has made the most favorable impression upon our people. 2. The naval forces occupy Seattle. This place is also held by a company of volunteers, who, for some days, have been under orders to occupy the line of the Dewamish, and who, in that duty, will co-operate with the company sent there by Lt. Col. Casey. 72 3. The Northern battalion have their head quarters at Fort Tiltoii, near the falls of the Snoquahnie. They number about 90 white men, and about the same number of friendly Indians under Pat Kanim. They will establish block houses at the prairie above the falls, and on Cedar creek, and will extend their scouts to the Muckleshoot and Dewamish. 4. To circumscribe the field occupied by the enemy, I have sugges ted to Capt. Swartwout, in command of the naval forces, a joint opera tion upon the lake back of Seattle. A block house to be built on the lake at the nearest point to Seattle, a good road opened with Seattle, and boats from the navy with one hundred men to be placed on the lakes. Capt. Swartwout, does not, however, by his instructions, feel authorized either to co-operate with the military authorities of the territory, or to take part in any operation carrying his force away from the immediate shores of the Sound. I enclose a copy of my letter to Capt. Swartwout, and his reply thereto. 5. The Central battalion have their head quarters at Connell's prairie, and at Porter's. Their communication with the rear is secured by a block house and ferry at the crossing of the Puyallup, and block houses at Montgomery's, at the Yelrn prairie, at Nathan Eaton's, and at Lowe's. The battalion numbers in the field, including the garrison of Yelrn and Montgomery, and the crossing of the Puyallup, about 150 men. 6. Our supplies are drawn mainly from the country between this point and the Cowlitz Landing. The route is well secured by block houses. 7. Lone Tree Point is also held by a volunteer force of ten men. It guards several important trails. 8. Bellingharn Bay has its block house, defended by 15 men of Capt. Peabody's company. 9. The Southern battalion, on its arrival on the Sound, will be for the most part dismounted, and sent to re-inforce the Central battalion. The two battalions will then operate up White river towards the Nachess pass, co-operating with Lt. Col. Casey. The map of the country east of the Cascades will show the large number of Indians already hostile, or who may be incited to hostility the ease with which they may communicate with each other the great number of excellent trails the large extent of country embraced in the theatre of operations, and the facility with which reinforcements can be sent over the Cascades. Hence the importance of the most vigorous and decisive blows, to get possession of the whole country east of the Sound, now infested with the savages, and to hold in our hands the routes over the Cascades, be- 73 fore they become practicable in May, and hence the necessity of the most vigorous measures east of the Cascades, in order that the Indians may be simultaneously struck in the Yakiina country. It is probable that the hostile Indians rather exceed the minimum estimate of two hundred men, as stated hi my letter to Gen. Wool, a copy of which has been sent to the department, but I do not think they will be found to exceed three hundred men. Their head quarters have been on the Muckleshoot prairie, now oc cupied by Lt. Col. Casey, and now they have moved up either White or Green river. But there are bands also on the lake back of Seattle, and probably up Cedar creek. The map will show that even the hostiles are only within a four hour's distance of every reservation. There are many trails known only tp the Indians, and it will not be possible in any contingency, entirely to prevent communication. From the hostile camps, marauding parties can steal out, and turn ing the heads of the Puyallup and Nesqually, they can, in from 6 to 12 hours, strike any settlement from Steilacoom to the Cowlitz Landing. More than this, there are places where they can, on this line of settle ments, establish themselves, and for many days defy our efforts to drive them out. Consider the face of the country, prairies and heavy timber, and many streams, almost impenetrable brushwood on the banks, and heavy drift along the shore. There is not a road or trail of twenty miles in the whole Sound country which does not afford one or more excellent am buscades, Between this place and Cowlitz Landing are two Indian reservations, the Chehalis and Cowlitz. The former can easily be incited to hostility, and number a little more than 100 warriors : we know some three or four men who are endeavoring to stir up the tribe to war. My plan has been to get up a small auxiliary force of some 15 of the best of the tribe, who make scouts every few days to the head of the Skookurn Chuck. It has been found to work well. The difficulty is, that if the men of the tribe, believed to be in alliance with Leschi, were summarily disposed of, the tribe would break out. We have no positive evidence, except the impression of their commander, Capt. Ford, who is of opinion that in his late trip, two of the men tried to kill him. He has great dar ing and presence of mind, and he believes that he can prevent an out break. So of the reservation opposite Olympia. Lieut. Gosnell has made one scout in the Nesqually bottom of ten days, with 14 Indians. Yes terday morning he started out on a scout of three days with thirty Indi- 10 74 ans. The effect of the first scout was salutary. Such I doubt not will be the effect of the second, yet in the first scout Lieut. Gosnell went with his life in his hands. Some of his Indians were more than suspected, and he went with them alone. The most melancholy feature of the war is, that the Indians who have taken the lead in murdering our men, our women and our children, were those who had received the most favors from the whites, and were held by them in the most consideration. Many cases have occurred of Indians killing their friends and benefactors. Are you surprised that a general distrust of all Indians pervades the public mind? Therefore, con sider the task which has been imposed upon the territorial authorities to see to it that the Indians not taking part with the hostiles are treated as friends. In short, this whole country is a frontier, within a few hours of the camp of the hostile Indians, and with four thousand friendly Indians in our midst of whose faith we cannot be certain. Our safety lies in two things. 1st. To carry the war against the hostiles with the whole force of the territory, and to bring them to un conditional submission. And, 2nd. To give no cause of offense to the friendly Indians, even in the case of persons more than suspected. You have served in an Indian country, and know something of Ii> dian modes of thinking, and can appreciate that when, in a contest like this, troops have once entered the field, they must not be withdrawn till they have accomplished the object for which they were sent into the field. There must be no change of plans. We must push forward and do the work we have undertaken, else the Indian will say he, has driven us from the field, and thereby get large accessions from the tribes who would oth erwise continue friendly. Gen. Wool has recently visited the Sound, and, with a full knowl edge of the course taken by me in calling out the volunteers of the ter ritory, of the cordial spirit of co-operation between Lt. Col. Casey and myself, and of the fact that the volunteers were actually in the field en gaging the enemy, has ignored, officially, the necessity of this ; but has practically admitted it in directing Col. Casey to make a requisition upon me for two companies of volunteers. This requisition I have refused for reasons which will be found in my letter to Col. Casey and Major Gen. Wool herewith enclosed. Those reasons, it seems to me, are conclusive, and they show the ne cessity of removing from the command of the Department of the Pacific, a man who has, by his acts, so far as this territory is concerned, shown an utter incapacity. I will most respectfully call your attention to my letter to General 75 Wool, and to his letter, to which mine was an answer, and I simply ask that justice may be done us. So long as I am the Governor of Washington, and till I receive in structions from my superior, I shall press on in the path indicated in that letter to Gen. Wool. I beg leave respectfully to re-capitulate briefly the points of differ ence : 1. Gen. Wool states that the movement of the Oregon volunteers was entirely unnecessary, and precipitated the Walla Walla and other tribes into hostility. I assert that this movement probably saved my party from destruc tion, and that the Indians then hostile had been so even before the Oregon volunteers moved against them. V 2. Gen. Wool states that Gov. Curry had no right to move his troops into the territory of Washington. I assert and have shown that the Oregon volunteers fought the In dians mainly of Oregon, and that near the confines of the two territories. 3. Gen. Wool states if the Oregon volunteers are withdrawn, he will have no trouble in managing affairs, and keeping the Nez Perces friendly. I state officially to Gen, Wool, and to the Department, that the Nez Perces are in my hands, and that, without an armed man, I will undertake to keep the Nez Perces friendly, if Gen. Wool does not interfere with me in the management of those Indians. But I also state that Gen. Wool, hi addition to his regular force, will require the best efforts of the Oregon volunteers to strike stuck blows this spring and summer, els will protect the settlements. He can do nothing more. He must wait till next whiter i to strike blows to end the war east of the Cascades. I refer to my me moir. The department will thus see that I consider the war east of the Cascades of great magnitude, and that it would have been vastly greater were it not for the concurrence of two things. 1st. The movement of the Oregon volunteers to the Walla Walla valley, and, 2d. My return by the direct route, and not by way of New York. It is simply an exigency to be met, and met by all the authorities, in the spirit of cordial co-operation, looking to the public good alone, with out any reference to personal considerations. I have, therefore, suggested to Gen. Wool the necessity of recogni zing the services of the Oregon volunteers. But I expect nothing from him, and I shall, therefore, take my own course, with the determination that, if disasters occur, not a tittle of the responsibility shall be attached to me. 76 The war here must be ended as rapidly as possible, and all the dis posable force kept in the field till the enemy's country is occupied, and his force scattered. All our horsemen must then be ready to cross the Cascades, to move against the hostiles, who may then, with greatly superior numbers, be en countering the troops. I have, therefore, ordered all the troops from the Columbia valley to the Sound, and have directed a train of 100 pack animals and 40 wagons to be ready to cross the Kachess the last of May. I have ordered that supplies and transportation be engaged to place in depot at Walla Walla 75 days' provision for 250 men. The Oregon volunteers have crossed Snake river, and have already probably struck the enemy. Should they succeed in striking, on their return, the enemy in the Yakinia country, and should the movement be followed up by the regular troops, I trust that my operations will be con fined to the country on the Sound. Should, however, nothing decisive be done in the Yakima country till the passes are open, our situation here will be critical, and the defense of the Sound, as regards the Indians east of the Cascades, may be best ao- complished by waging war against them in their own country. I have looked to this exigency from the beginning. Hence volunteers were raised for six mouths. Hence supplies and transportation for the same period. But we will be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. The following papers accompany this report : 1. Copy of Gen. Wool's reply of Feb. 12, 1856, to my memoir to him of the 23d Dec., and 29th January. This memoir has already been transmitted to the War Department. 2. Copy of my answer to this reply, dated March. 3. Copy of my letter to Gen. Wool on his arrival at Steilacoon, intro ducing Adg't Gen. Tilton, and expressing my desire to co-operate with the regular service. 4. Copy of Lt. Col. Casey's letter, calling on me for two companies of volunteers. 5. Copy of my answer to the same, declining to call out the compa nies. 6. Copy of rny letter to Capt. Swartwout, commanding naval forces of the Sound, proposing a combined movement of the military and naval forces. 7. Copy of Capt. Swartwout's letter declining to co-operate. I have thus endeavored to lay before the department the condition 77 of affairs, and the measures of preparation and precaution taken by me to protect our suffering people, and I have the honor, sir, to be, Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ' ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter. [No. 8.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) OLYMPIA, May 23d, 1856. [ HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City, D. C. SIR : Although the exact phase "which the Indian war will assume the present summer is not yet fully developed, enough is known to point out clearly the preparations which should be made to meet probable con tingencies. I propose, therefore, in this communication to set forth the present condition of the war, and the measures of preparation and precaution ta ken by me as the Executive of the territory, and the commander-in-chief of the volunteer force. 1 . The war in the. Territory of Washington, west of fhe Cascades. The war has been prosecuted with exceeding vigor, energy and suc cess. The Indians have been defeated in two battles, one by the regulars at the crossing of White river, the other by the volunteers in ConnelFs Prairie. The Indians have been repeatedly struck since by the regulars, by the volunteers, and by the Indian auxiliaries. The country has been thoroughly and repeatedly scouted in every direction, and is now firmly held by block houses and roads. Two hundred Indians have been got in back of Seattle by the volunteers, and those believed to have been en gaged in the war, are now being tried by a military commission ordered by me at Seattle. On the Puyallup and Nesqually, the Indians have been got in to the number of nearly three hundred. Some have been tried by a commission ordered by Lt. Col. Casey, others by a commission held under my orders. The principle adopted in all these commissions is to try and punish summarily those accused and proved to be instigators of the war, and 78 parties to murders. The remainder are sent to the reservations in charge of local agents. The main body of the hostiles have been driven across the mountains, and under the lead of Leschi, are in the camp of the confederated hostile force on the Nachess Pass. Their spies are on this side are constantly communicating informa tion to them, and the plan of the hostiles is to send parties through differ ent passes to lay waste and burn the settlements. This suggests the plan to be pursued to meet the emergency 1. To move over the Nachess with two hundred horsemen, to strike the enemy in conjunction with the regular troops, to closely pursue and drive him across the Columbia. Thus the war will be transferred from the settlements to the interior. 2. But as small parties may defy the utmost exertions and vigilance f of a -vastly superior force, and cross the mountains to the settlements, troops should be in position to watch the passes, and at suitable points in reserve to protect a point unexpectedly attacked. A volunteer force of one hundred strong is in the neighborhood of the falls of the Snoqualmie, at the depot of Fort Tilton, below the falls, at a post on a large prairie above the falls, and at an advance post on Cedar Creek. Their orders are to watch the passes, to send scouts over across the mountains, to maintain their position in case of attack by a superior force, and send back for reinforcements. This flank is a very important one, and must be maintained at all hazards, because it gives direct access to the great body of friendly Indi ans on the reservation, and if broken, considerable accessions might ac crue to the hostiles. The regular force, in conjunction with a small volunteer company raised at Seattle, is now occupying the country on White and Green riv ers, the lower portion of Cedar creek, and the country about Black river and the Dewamish Lake. They also occupy the lower crossing of the Puyallup, and the country about Steilacoom. The volunteer force occupies the country with posts thence to Van couver. The report and map already forwarded will explain where posts have been established. Since the report has been transmitted, a post has been established on South Prairie, a large block house built on the Tenalquot Plains, a short line of communication opened from the Yelm to Grand Mound, and a wagon road nearly pushed through from the Cowlitz Landing to Monti- cello. Two ferries have been established on the Cowlitz. A company of nearly ninety men has been raised on the Cowlitz. It is Divided into an active and reserved list. The former, consisting of about forty men, is constantly engaged on scouting duty up the Cowlitz river y and towards Lewis river pass. A small company of Indian auxiliaries will be employed with them. The reserved list meet once a week for in spection. But except for the day of inspection, they are not provided with rations, nor will payment for services be recommended by me. It is here proper to state the utmost cordiality pervades between the regular and volunteer forces. They have scouted together, and have practically held the whole field in co-operation, and brought about the present condition of things. All this has been essentially done in the rainy season. The toils, hardships, and marches, and the blows struck by all the troops in heavy rains and inclement weather, is worthy of spe cial commendation. But the passes are now open, leaves are on the trees, food is abundant 4"or the Indians. I consider this the critical period of the war west of the Cascades. Let us look, therefore, to 2^. The war east of the Cascades. It is not to be disguised that the tribes east of the mountains thus far consider themselves the victors. When Col. Wright commenced his march into the Yakima country early this month, they practically held the whole country for which they had been fighting. Not a white man now is to be found from the Dalles to the Walla- Walla; not a house stands, and Col. Wright, at the last advices, was in the Nachess in pres ence of twelve to fifteen hundred warriors, determined to fight. All the confederated bands are there. Col. Wright met the hostiles on the 8th May made an ineffectual attempt to treat with them till the 14th. On the evening of the eleventh, he despatched an express to the Dalles for re-inforcements, and on the 13th or 14th, three companies went to his assistance, and probably reached him on the 16th or 17th inst. His force then would number some 250 effectual men. If the Indians are so emboldened by their success as to believe they can overcome Col. Wright in a hard fight, it will be fortunate, as the reg ular force will strike a severe blow, and may drive them across the Co lumbia. It seems to me probable that they will simply attempt to harrass and annoy him, will steal his animals, will draw him further north into their country, will send parties to the rear to compel him to make detachments, will gain time, so that his provisions may be consumed) and reduce his operations mainly to occupying a post or two and supplying them. Two hundred horsemen on the Nachess, well supplied and mounted, under a vigorous officer, at this juncture, will, with the operation of the 80 regular troops, drive him across the Columbia. This force I am now or ganizing at camp Montgomery. It will be ready in ten days. In this view, the Walla Walla country must be held ; communication be established with the Nez Perce auxiliaries, and the enemy restricted to the country north of the Snake, and on the immediate banks of the Co lumbia, north of the Snake. I am organizing a force of two hundred men to occupy the Walla Walla, One hundred men are already at the Dalles. They will move with one hundred days' provisions, and some to spare for the Nez Perces auxiliaries, and the troops which may be concentrated there from the Ya- kima country. The Yakima and Walla Walla country firmly held, the passes well watched over the Cascades the main force of the enemy on the Snake and Upper Columbia we may then be able to disband the bulk of the remaining volunteers on the Sound. This most favorable view of the progress of the war, which cannot be developed in a shorter period than four to six weeks, will practically keep in service all the volunteers for their six months' term of service, and may render it necessary to extend the term on the part of those occupy ing the Walla Walla. I cannot too strongly urge the policy of accumulating supplies in the Yakima country and in the Walla Walla, in readiness to Wage a winter campaign. On the first of November, there should be six months' supplies for all the troops in both the Yakima and Walla Walla country. There should be ample supplies of forage. There should be a post and ferry at or near the sight of old Fort Walla Walla, and at or near the month of the Palouse. With proper preparations, a winter campaign can be waged, and the war ended. I have personal knowledge of the winter features of the country. To diminish transportation, make use of ox teams : send forward salt : return the wagons with two yokes instead of three : use fresh and dried beef as much as possible, and reduce the rations of flour to one-half pound a day. Troops would be perfectly healthy with one-third 'of a pound of flour per man each day, rising fresh or dried beef. Thus, to transfer the war from the settlements on the Sound and the Columbia river to the interior, to strike such blows as opportunities may offer, and to be in readiness to prepare for a vigorous winter campaign, I shall, in ten days be ready to move over the Nachess with two hundred 81 horsemen and 150 pack animals, and to the Walla Walla with two hand- red horsemen and 100 days' provisions. For the lower Columbia, a company has been organized in Clarke county. Several block houses have been built. A portion are constantly kept scouting. The remainder will form a reserved list without pay or rations. I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Wash. [No. 9.] EXEC Olympia, May 23, 1856 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) 56. [ HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City. SIR : Referring to my communication of this date, setting forth the present condition of the Indian war, and the measures of precaution taken by me to meet probable contingencies, I propose in this letter to submit an estimate of the probable expenses of the volunteer service of the territory of Washington to the first day of September next. There have been Jwo distinct organizations, one of three months at the commencement of the war, the second of six months at the expiration of the former. The six months terms commenced late in January, and the organiza tion was not complete till early in April. Latterly, to recruit certain companies, three months men have been raised. It is hoped there will be no necessity of raising additional troops, ex cept to supply the ptaces vacated by expiration of terms of service. Pro vision in the estimate is therefore made only for keeping up the present organization to the 3-Oth September. A fortunate turn in the war may make it safe to very much diminish the force at an early period. But it will not, in my judgment, be safe to estimate tipon any such contingency. The estimated list of the volunteer service will be as follows : 1st Organization, 2d Organization. Staff, non-commissioned staff, expressmen, guides, &c. I am, sir, very respectfully, yours most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter, 11 [No. 10.] EXECI Olympia, June 8, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City. SIR : In my last communication, I gave, at length, my views and suggestions in regard to the Indian war in this territory, and presented the measures of precaution which the present condition of affairs demanded. The two expeditions referred to, one over the Cascades into the Yak- ima country, the other from the Dalles to the Walla Walla, are nearly ready for the movements. Both expeditions I deem of vital consequence, in view of the present condition of things in the interior. All the information which I have received, goes to satisfy me that unless the most vigorous action is at once taken, all the tribes from the Cascades to the Bitter Root will be in the war, a portion of the Nez Per" ces alone excepted. The long delay of Col. Wright on the Nachess, and his entertaining propositions of peace before striking the enemy, in connection with the withdrawal of the Oregon Volunteers, has emboldened the Indians, and has probably enabled them to effect a general combination of the tribes. But no overt act has yet been committed. The enclosed copy of a letter from Lieut. Col. Wm. Craig, special agent of the Nez Perces, discloses the condition of things in the interior- It was written on the 27th May, and reached me on the evening of the 5th of June, a distance by land, of about 400, and by water, of 150 miles, or 550 miles in all. I shall to-morrow push to the Dalles, and urge the Walla Walla expe dition forward with all possible dispatch. I trust it will be in season. The troops all reached the Dalles on yesterday, but it was supposed that a por tion of the animals which were taken on the emigrant trail from the Wil lamette to the Dalles, will be a day or two behind. If the troops reach the Walla Walla before an overt act has been committed, I am certain that the combination can be broken up, and that the Nez Perces and the Indians on and in the neighborhood of the Spo- kanes will remain friendly. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I, STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter. 85 [No. 11.] IVE OFFICE, TER. WAS Olympia, July 1, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH.j.to'l J. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : The two columns moving from the Sound over the Nachess Pass, and from the Dalles up the Columbia, are probably now assembled in the Walla Walla valley. They are well mounted, are in a good condi tion of discipline, and have one hundred days' supplies. The force from the Sound, under the immediate command of Lieut. Col. B. F. Shaw, moved from Camp Montgomery, on Wednesday and Thursday, June llth and 12th, and crossing the mountains with the loss of only one animal, camped on the Wenass on the 20th. At that point Lieut. Col. Shaw received orders from me to push to the Walla Wdla, unite his force with that moving from the Dalles, and take command of the whole. The force from the Dalles moved from the camp five miles beyond the Des Chutes river, on Wednesday, June 25th, and was expected to reach the Walla Walla on the 4th July. Each column numbers nearly two hundred men. The whole force consists of 350 enlisted* men, and about one hundred quartermaster and Indian employees. From the Walla Walla, Indian supplies will be pushed to the Nez Perces and Spokanes, and an escort will accompany them, should the simple presence of a force in the Walla Walla valley be not sufficient to insure the safety of the train, protected, as it is expected, it will be, by Indian auxiliaries. Letters have been received from Lieut. Col. Wm. Craig, agent of the Nez Perces, of the 29th May, and 8th June, speaking more favorably of the condition of things in the interior. Karniaken, at a council held with the Spokanes on the 25th May, wherein he urged that tribe to join the war, received a negative to his proposition. The Spokanes, however, harbor the hostile Cayuses, which has caused me to.be somewhat apprehensive of the sincerity of their professions. I was at the Dalles from Saturday, June 14th, to Monday, June 30th, getting the expedition off and collecting information in relation to the Indians. At that time the hostile bands were much scattered. Some three hundred hostiles were at the head of John Day's river ; a large camp of hostiles, supposed to be the Walla Wallas under the son of Peu-pee- mox-mox, were at Fort Walla Walla. The Cayuses were on the Spo kane. The Clickatats aad Yakimas were on the Pischouse river, and 84 probably small parties at Priest's Rapids. The large camp reported by Lt. Col. Craig, in his letter of May 27th, and composed of individuals of several tribes including the Snakes, I have no information that they have moved from the place wh'ere they were when Col. Craig wrote. There were Snakes with the party at the head of John Day's river, and the force was increasing. It is proposed to strike the party at the head of John Day's river, by a force of about ]75 men, consisting of 100 volunteers of Oregon, un der Major Layton, and 75 volunteers of Washington, under Gapt. Goff. The plan was to move from Well Springs on the 30th of June, which point is on the emigrant road, some 85 miles from the Dalles. Lieut. Col, Shaw, in moving to Walla Walla, will strike the hostiles wherever he finds them. On occupying the Walla Walla valley, he is also directed to spare no exertions to reduce to unconditional submission any hostiles within reach. This decisive policy is believed by me indispensable to secure the permanent peace of the Indian .country. Very truly and respectfully, your most obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Wash. [No. 12.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) Olympia, July 24, 1856. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : I have the honor to report that the volunteer troops that have been called into service on the Sound are now being disbanded. I propose simply for a limited period to keep on the line of Snoqual- mie a small company of about 50 or 60 men, and at the head of the Sound at the Yelm and Tenalquot Plains, some forty men. It is possible that a small force, say some twenty men, may be re quired at Bellingham Bay. In consequence of the killing of a Northern Indian at Steilacoom, some two weeks since, by some soldiers from the garrison in a drunken m frolic, the tribe are greatly exasperated, and have threatened to make re prisals. In consequence, a small force of 15 men has been sent to Whid- by's Island from the line of the Snoqualmie. The naval forces, however, are attending vigilantly to the matter, and the two steamers, the Massa chusetts and John Hancock, are cruising diligently. The trouble, it is hoped, will be soon allayed. Lieut. Col. Casey is using every exertion to bring to justice the soldiers who committed the offense. The volunteer forces east of the mountains met on Mill creek, in the Walla Walla valley, on the 8th inst. The Nez Perces are entirely friendly, and it is believed the Spokanes will also continue friendly. Truly and respectfully, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Wash. [STo. 13.] VANCOUVER, W. T., Aug. 14, 1856. Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City, D. C.: SIR : In my last communication relating to the Indian war in this territory, I dwelt upon the proposed Walla Walla expedition as abso lutely indispensable to preserve the peace of the Indian .tribes of the in terior, and I expressed the opinion that the indecision and procrastinating course pursuing and pursued in the Yakima country, had brought, or nearly brought about a general combination of the tribes eastward. That combination I hoped to break up. The Walla Walla expedition has been completely successful. Col. Shaw was on Mill creek, Walla Walla, on the 8th of July, with all his command, except a force of 75 men under Capt. Goff, who, in conjunc tion with Maj. Layton, of the Oregon volunteers, had ascended John Day's river, and were then actively in pursuit of the enemy. On Mill creek were assembled on that day 190 men, who crossed the Cascades over the Nachess under the immediate orders of Lt. Col. Shaw ; 100 men from the command of Goff, who escorted the wagon and pack train from the Dalles, and the Nez Perces auxiliaries, 60 strong, under the com mand. of .the chief, the Spotted Eagle, and accompanied by the agent, Lt. Col. Wm. Craig. 86 Supplies were immediately sent forward to the Nez Perces country, special agent Robie taking there 100 pack animals without an escort. Col. Shaw learning there was a large force of hostiles in the Grand Ronde, determined to attack them. Moving in the night of the 14th, he struck them on the 17th, and after a running fight of some 15 miles, he entirely defeated them, capturing a large number of their animals, des troyed nearly all their provisions, and also got possession of about one hundred pounds of ammunition. This gallant fight of Shaw has broken up the combination, for, on his return to Mill creek, he found there special agent Robie, who had almost been driven out of the Nez Perces country. He brought back the words of the chiefs ordering white men out of the country, &c. Ro bie, on his return from the Nez Perces, marched one hundred miles with out halting. Lieut. Col. Shaw immediately sent the Nez Perce Chief, "Capt. John," to the Nez Perces with this message : " I am your friend. I have not come to fight you, but the hostiles. But if you beat your drums for war, I will parade my men for battle. " On the arrival of Capt. "John," the Nez Perces had heard of Col. Shaw's defeat of the Indians in the Grand Ronde, and they immediately sent back the most friendly messages. Thus has the vigorous movements of the volunteers of Washington, under Lieut. Col. Shaw, secured the fealty of the Nez Perces, and pre vented a general combination of the interior tribes. I enclose Lt. Col. Shaw's report of his engagement with the Indians at the Grand Ronde, and also a copy of his letter stating the message he sent to the Nez Perces by " Capt. John." Also the records of three councils held with the Nez Perces, one by Lt. CoL Shaw on his arrival at Mill creek ; one in the Nez Perce country by Capt. Robie ; and one by Lt. Col. Craig when they received Shaw's message through ' Capt. John/ On an interview held yesterday with Col. Wright, I learn that he designs sending forward a force of four companies to occupy the Walla Walla under the command of Lt. Col. Steptoe. I shall accordingly raise no more troops. The terms of service of those under CoJ. Shaw will ex pire on the 8th of September. On being relieved by the command under Col. Steptoe, they will be withdrawn and mustered out of service. All the troops on the Sound have been mustered out of service. I push forward in person to Walla Walla to-morrow to meet the In dians, and establish relations of friendship with the tribes generally, and especially those struck by Lieut. Col. Shaw. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most ob't servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Waih. {No. 14.] EXECUTIVE < October 22d, 1856 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMFIA, W. T., ) % Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington D. C.: SIR : In my report of the 14th August, informing you of the suc cessful operations of the volunteers under Lt. Col. Shaw, and my having determined to raise no more troops, in consequence of four companies of" regulars under Lt. Col. Steptoe being about to be sent to the Walla Walla, I expressed the opinion that the Nez Perces would probably con tinue friendly, and advised you that I should push forward to the Walla Walla to meet the tribes in council. In this connection, I will refer you to Shaw's report of the victory of the Grand Ronde his message to the Nez Perces on learning they had given evidence of hostility, and the records of three several councils held with the Nez Perces by Lt. Col. Shaw, Capt. Robie, and Lieut. Col Craig, respectively, all going to establish the fact that the Nez Perces, much disaffected previously, preferred friendship on meeting the volun teers on Mill creek exhibited hostility when Capt. Robie was in their country, and again sent friendly messages on learning the decisive blow struck at the Grand Ronde. It was in view of the proceedings at the first council held with the Nez Perces by Shaw on Mill creek, that I expressed the opinion in my letter of the 24th July, that they were friendly, and of the effect of a decisive victory, in connection with their expressions at the third council in reply to Shaw's message, that I believed that friendship had been con firmed, and the general combination broken up, as reported in my commu nication of Aug. 14th. I appointed the council when I had just learned of the battle of the Grand Ronde, and of Capt. Robie having been almost driven out of the Nez Perces country. On reaching the Walla Walla valley, to which point trains, with In dian and army supplies were on their way under Capt. Robie, I made the necessary arrangements for sending home the volunteers to be mustered out of service on the arrival in the valley of the regular troops under Lieut. Col. Steptoe. On the 29th July, one of my pack trains, mostly laden with Indian supplies, waa captured by the Indians, a most unfortunate occurrence, as thereby much of the prestige of the Grand Ronde was lost. Lieut. Col. Steptoe's force was encamped in the valley on the 5th September, some five miles below the council ground. 88 > Capt. Robie, with the remaining pack train and a large wagon train of Indian supplies, reached the valley on the 7th September, and on the three following days, the Nez Perces and all the hostile bands, except the Yakima, reached the valley and encamped near me. On the evening of the 10th, the .Indians being all in except the.Ya- kimas, and none friendly except a portion of the Nez Perces, and orders having been given to all the volunteers to go home the next day, I made a requisition upon Lieut. Col. Steptoe for two companies of his troops and his mountain howitzers, and to my surprise, learned from his answer, that he had moved his camp to a point on Mill creek, some seven or eight miles above my camp, and that his orders from Gen. Wool did not allow him to comply with my requisition. I say to my surprise, for in my interview with Col. Wright at Van couver, referred to in my report of the 14th August, I understood, as I went to the interior in my capacity simply of superintendent of Indian affairs, that in effecting the objects of the council, I was to have the co operation of the military force he was about to send there a co-operation which the good of the service most urgently demanded. I had already raised nearly two hundred six months' man to strengthen the command of Lieut. Col. Shaw, under a proclamation issued immediately after the re ceipt of the battle of the Grand Ronde, and I had four months' supplies to subsist them. This proclamation was revoked on my arrival at Van couver, and the troops raised under it disbanded. In interviews held af terwards with Col. Wright at the Dalles, I dwelt upon the objects to be gained by the council referred to the effect of the presence of his troops there, and left with the belief that it was an arranged and agreed on thing between the Colonel and myself, that I was to have the countenance and support of the regular force in the Walla Walla to carry into effect the beneficent designs of the council. Col. Wright stated that other du ties would prevent his accompanying me that he had entire confidence in Lieut. Col. Steptoe, the officer in command, and his presence would be unnecessary. Accordingly, previous to Lt. Col. Steptoe reaching the valley, I sent him two letters, each urging him to camp near me, my object being to show the Indians the strength of our people, and the unity of our councils ; and I also wrote Capt. D. Russell, on his way from the Ya kima with three companies, to the same effect. On the arrival of Lieut. Col. Steptoe in the valley, I urged him personally to camp near me. The requisition was refused, and I was therefore obliged to counter mand the order sending home the volunteers whose terms of enlistment had all expired, and of which only Golfs company, 69 rank and file, re mained, a portion of whom, too, were on their way down, and had to be called back, This force only remained to guard my camp. 89 The council opened on the llth, and continued on the 12th and 13th, when so alarming was the condition of affairs, that I deemed it my duty, on the morning of the 13th, to address a confidential note to Steptoe, advising him that one half of the Nez Perces were unquestionably hos tile that all the- other tribes were hostile, with a very few exceptions, and that a company of his troops was essential to the 1 security of my camp, and at his suggestion, I moved my party, train and supplies, with Golfs company of volunteers, to the vicinity of his camp. I met Kamiakan and his followers on my way there, and it is prob ably owing to no one being advised of my intention to move till the order was given an hour before I started that I was not attacked on the road. Kamiakan had unquestionably an understanding, as subsequent events showed, with all the Indians except the friendly Nez Perces, (aboat one half the nation ) and a small number of friendly Indians of the other tribes, to make an attack that day or evening upon my camp. He found me on the road to his groat surprise, and had no time to perfect his ar rangements. I had learned in the night that Kamiak-an had encamped on the Touchet the night before, and that he would be in this day. The council r3-opened oa the 16th: all the Indians were camped near. Kamiakan and his band being only separated from the council ground by the narrow skirt of woods in the bottom, of mill creek, and was closed the next day, all my efforts, both to make an arrangement with the hostiles, and to do away With the disaffection of the Nez Perces hav ing proved abortive. On the 18th, at a separate council with the Ncz Perces, all, both hostile and friendly Nez Peroes, advised the sub-agent,. Wm. Craig, not to return to the Nez Perce country, as his life would be in danger, and they were afraid he would be killed. At the conclusion of this council, in a brief address to the Indians, I expressed my regrets that I had failed in my mission that no one said "yes," to my propositions, and I now had onjy to say, "follow your own hearts : those who wish to go into war, go." My propositions were unconditional submission to the justice and mercy of the government, and the rendition for trial of murderers. In the afternoon Lieut. Col. Steptoe informed these Indians that he came there to establish a post, not to fight them, and trusted they should get along as friends, and appointed the next day a little after noon, for a special conference. The Indians did not, however, come to see Steptoe at the time ap pointed. They previously set fire to his grass, and following me as I set oat about eleven o'clock, on my way to the Dalles, they attacked me 12 90 within three miles of Steptoe's camp at about one o'clock in the after noon. So satisfied was I that the Indians would carry into effect their avowed determination in the councils in their own camps for several nights previously to attack me, that, in starting, I formed my whole party, and moved in order of battle. I moved on under fire one mile to water, when, forming a corral of the wagons, and holding the adjacent hills and the brush on the stream by pickets, I made my arrangements to Defend my position and fight the Indians. Our position in a low, open basin, some 500 or 600 yards across, was good, and with the aid of our corral, we could defend our selves against a vastly superior force of the enemy. The fight continued till late in the night. Two charges were made to disperse the Indians, the last led by Lieut. Col. Shaw in person, with twenty-four men, but, whilst driving before him some one hundred and fifty Indians, an equal number pushed into his rear, and he was compelled to cut his way through them towards camp, when, drawing up his men, and, aided by the teamsters and pickets, who gallantly sprang forward, he drove the Indians back in full charge upon the corral. Just before the charge, the friendly Nez Perces, fifty in number, who had been assigned to holding the ridge on the south side of the corral, were told by the enemy "they came not to fight the Nez Perces, but the whites, go to your camp, or we wipe it out." Their camp with the wo men and children, was on a stream about a mile distant upon which I directed the Nez Perces to retire, as I did not require their assistance, and I was fearful that my men might not be able to distinguish them from the hostiles, and thus friendly Indians might be killed. Towards night I notified Lt. Col. Steptoe that I was fighting the Indians: that I should move the next morning, and expressed the opinion, that a company of his troops would be of service. In his reply he stated that the Indians had burnt up his grass, 'and suggested that I should re turn to his camp, and place at his disposal my wagons, in order that he might move his whole command and his supplies to the Umatilla, or some other point, where sustenance could be found for his animals. To this arrangement I assented, and Lt. Col. Steptoe sent to my camp Lt. Da vidson, with detachments from the companies of dragoons and artillery with a mountain howitzer. They readied my camp about two o'clock in the morning, -every thing in good order,- and most of the men at the rorral asleep. A picket had been driven in an hour and a half before ike enemy : that on the hill south of the corral, but the enemy was immediately dislodged, and all the points were held, and ground pits be ing dug. 91 The howitzer having been fired on the way out, it was believed noth ing would be gained by waiting till morning, and the whole force imme diately returned 'to Lt. Col. Steptoe's camp. Soon after sunrise, the enemy attacked the camp, but were soon dis lodged by the howitzer and a charge by a detachment from Steptoe's command. On my arrival at the camp, I urged Lt. Col. Steptoe to build a blockhouse immediately to leave one company to defend it with all his supplies, then to march below, and return with an additional force and additional supplies, and by a vigorous winter campaign, to whip the Indi ans into submission. I placed at his disposal for the building, my teams and Indian employees. The blockhouse and stockade were built in a little more than ten 4ays. My Indian store room was re-built at one corner of the stockade. On the 23d Sept., we started for the Dalles, which we reached on the 2d October. Nothing of interest occurred on the road. In the action of . the 19th, my whole force consisted of GofFs com pany of sixty-nine rank and file, and the teamsters, herders and Indian employees, numbering about fifty men. Our train consisted of about five hundred animals, not one of which was captured by the enemy. We fought four hundred and fifty Indians, and had one man mortally, one dangerously, and two slightly wounded. We killed and wounded thir teen Indians. One half the Nez Perces, one hundred and twenty warriors, all of the Yakirnas and Palouses, two hundred warriors ; the great bulk of the Cayuses and Umatillas, warriors ; of the Walla Wallas and Indians from other bands were in the fight. The principal war chiefs were the son of Ouhi, and Isle de Pere chief, Quiltomee ; the latter of whom had two horses shot under him, and who showed me a letter from Col. Wright, acknowledging his valuable services hi bringing about the peace of the Yakimas. I have failed, therefore, in making the desired arrangements with the Indians in the Walla Walla, and the failure, to be attributed in part to the want of co-operation with me as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on the part of the regular troops, has its causes also in the whole plan of operations of the troops since Col. Wright assumed command. The Nez Perces, entirely friendly last December and January, be came first disaffected in consequence of the then chief of the Cayuses, Ume-howlish, and the friendly Cayuses going into the Nez Perce country, contrary to my positive orders. I refused to allow them to go there in December last, saying to them : " I have ordered the Nez Perces to keep hostiles out of their country. If you go there, your friends in the war 92 party will eome, they cannot be kept out. Through them disaffection will spread among a portion of the Nez Perires." Ume-howlish, my prisoner, was sent into the Nez Perce country by Col. Wright, and from the time of his arrival there, all the efforts made by the agent, Craig, to prevent the spread of disaffection, were abortive. What I apprehended and predicted already came to pass. The Looking Glass, the prominent man of the lower Nez Perces, endeavored to betray me on the Spokane- as I was coming in from the Blackfoot council, and I was satisfied from that time that he was only awaiting a favorable moment to join bauds with Kamiakan in a war upon the whites. Col. Wright's management of affairs in the Yakima furnished the opportunity. The war commenced in the Yakima on our part hi conse quence: of the attempt first to- seize the murderers of the agent, Bolon, and the miners who had passed through their country ; and, second, to punish the tribe for making common cause with them and driving Major IIaller out of the country. It is greatly to be deplored that Col. W right had not first severely chastised the Indians, and insisted upon not only the rendition of the murderers, but upon the absolute and unconditional submission of the whole tribe to the justice and mercy of the govern ment. The long delays which occurred in the Yakima, the talking and not fighting, this attempt to pacify Indians and not reducing them to submis sion, thus giving safe conduct to murderers and assassins, and not seizing them for summary and exemplary punishment, gave to Kamiakan the whole field of the interior, and by threats, lies and promises, he has brought into the combination one half of the Nez P.erccs nation, and the least thing may cause the Spokanes, Cceur d'Alenes, Colvilles and Okinikanes to join them. I state boldly, that the cause of the Nez Perces becoming disaffected and finally going into the war, is the operations of Col. Wright east of the Cascades operations so feeble, so procrastinating, so entirely unequal to the emergency, that not only has a most severe blow been struck at the credit of the government and the prosperity and character of this remotb section of country, but the impression has been made upon the Indians that the people and the soldiers were a different people. I repeat to you officially, that when the Indians attacked me, they expected Col. Steptoe would not assist me, snd when they awoke from their delusion, Kamiakan said, "I will now let tliese people know who Kamiakan is." One of the good effects of the fight is, that the Indians have learned that we are one people^ a fact which had not previously been made apparent to them by the operations of the' regular troops. 93 Is, sir, the army sent here to protect our people, and to punish In dian tribes who, without cause, and in cold blood, and in spite of solemn treaties, murder our people, burn our houses and wipe out entire settle ments? Is it the duty of Gen. Wool and his officers to refuse to co-operate with me in my appropriate duties as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and thus practically to assume these duties to themselves? Is it the duty of Geu. Wool, in h'is schemes of pacifying the Indians, to trample down the laws of congress to issue edicts prohibiting settlers returning to their claims, and thus for at least one county, the Walla Walla, make himself dictator of the country? Or, is it simply in consequence of his ignorance of the laws of con gress, and the peculiar circumstances under which these territories Lave grown up, that he has undertaken to say to a people of a whole county, the Walla Walla having its representative in the legislature, "the Indians drove you away, you shall not go baek?" I beg leave, herewith to en close a copy of a communication orchis subject, which I havj this day addressed to the department of the Interior. I will respectfully call your attention to my report of this date to the commissioner of Indian Affairs giving an elaborate account of Indian operations east of the Cascade mountains, including the proceedings at the Walla Walla council, and I will conclude this communication by the following extracts from it: " In this connection it is my duty to report to the Department the admirable conduct of the volunteers and the Indian employees, hot only during the council, but in all the operations east of the Cascade mount ains. There was not a single instance of injury either to t the person or property of a friendly Indian, or of injury to the property or person of the hostiles during the council. "The kindness and forbearance of officers and men, agents and em ployees, even when treated with rudeness by the hostiles, was extraor dinary. The strayed cattle and horses of the Indians were herded and returned to them. The volunteers- were well supplied, and were not tempted to * plunder for assistance. I have the permission of Lt. Col. Steptoe to refer to him and his officers as witnesses of what I have stated, and have the assurance from Lt. Col Steptoe that he had so reported it " Whilst it is my duty to acknowledge in the warmest terms the assistance rendered me by Lt. Col. Steptos, when I was actually attacked, to Col. Wright, and of Col. Wright that he had forwarded the report to Geu. Wool." 1 am, sir, very respectfully your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC L STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory, 94 -';:? - " . ".-.-; . >& ; -MV. **.;>*>.-* : .*& ;A [No. 15.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, ) Olympia, Nov. 21st., 1856. j Hon, JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretory of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : Referring to my communication of tlie 22d October, giving the particulars of the council held by me at the Walla Walla, the previ ous month, and my views in reference to the operations of the regular troops under Col. Wright, I have now to report that I learn from reliable authority, though not from Col. Wright himself, that, in his recent trip to Walla ^ Walla, he met the Nez Perces chief who attacked my party, and effected another quasi peace by surrendering to their demands. My informant states that "some chiefs, Eagle from the Light, Red Wolf, &c., met Col. Wright in a "talk" the other day. The Colonel took the ground which I urged you to take, that tfce treaty of Walla Walla ought not to be insisted upon." Now the Red Wolf and Eagle from the Light belonged to the hos tile party. Red Wolfs people were in the attack upon me after the ad journment of the council. The Eagle from the Light, though hostile, brought none of his people to the council ground. It would seem that, to get the consent of Col. Wright to take the ground that a treaty should not be insisted upon, it was simply necessary for the malcontents to attack the Superintendent of Indian Affairs and his party. Now one half of the Nez Perces nation, including the head chief, Lawyer, wish the treaty to be carried out. They have suffered much from their steadfast adherence to it. Are their wishes to be disre garded? It seems to me that we have, in this territory, fallen upon evil times. I hope and trust some energetic action may be taken to stop this trifling with great public interests, and to make our flag respected by the Indians of the Interior. They scorn our people and our flag. They feel they can kill and plunder with impunity. They denominate us a nation of old women. They did not do this when the volunteers were in the field. I now make the direct issue with Col. Wright, that he has made a concession to the Indians which he had no authority to make that, by so doing, he has done nothing but to get the semblance of a peace, and that by his acts he has, in a measure, weakened the influence of the ser vice having the authority to make treaties, and having charge of the friendly Indians. He has, in my judgment, abandoned his own duty, which was to reduce the Indians to submission, and has trenched upon and usurped a portion of mine. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Territory Washington. [No. 16.] < * * EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T., OLYMPIA, Nov. 21, 1856. ) Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : SIR : I have the honor to report for the information of the depart ment that the sales of property remaining on hand at the disbandment of the volunteer forces of this territory have been made, and have resulted m the cancelling of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of scrip. The sales in the aggregate exceeded the original cost, particularly as re gards animals, which it has been alleged have been purchased at extrava gant rates. I trust that hereafter, in view of the fact that our transpor tation has cost us nothing that our people have let their animals go into the service from three to nine months and have taken them back- at a premium, the enemies of the territory will be more guarded in their speech. All the papers have been kept with regularity, both as regards the service of, and issued to volunteers, and purchases and sales by the quar termaster's department. Our whole scrip will not exceed nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which, deducting the cancelled scrip, will leave not exceeding eight hundred thousand dollars to be redeemed. But some seventy or eighty thousand of this will be charged upon the muster rolls, reducing the scrip that amount, and the estimates for the pay of the volunteers. I indulge the hope congress will, at this session, authorize the pay ment of the war debt of both territories. The people deserve well of the nation. They have protected their families and vindicated the honor of the American flag. 96 The war has been especially disastrous to this territory, and the peo ple need prompt payment of their claims. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ' ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter. [No. 17.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., OLYMPIA, Nov. 21, 1856. Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington City : SIR : As a part of the history of Indian relations in this territory the past two years, I enclose a copy of a letter which, learning that Gen, Wool had just arrived at Vancouver, I addressed him on the ^2d day of May, 1855, the second day after my arrival at Walla Walla last year, and some six days before going into the council which resulted in treaties of cession from the Nez Pcrces, Yakimas, Cayuses, Walla Wal las and UmatillaSi Gen. Wool, however, returned to San Francisco, where my letter reached him, and I passed to the sources of the Missouri. I have never received any answer to my letter. I had previously in a letter to you, dwelt upon the importance of the occupation of the Walla Walla. I have the honor to remain, Very respectfully, your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Ind. Affairs. 97 ,- " [No. 18.] * ...-. EXECUTIVE OFFI Olympia, Feb. 17, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, His Excellency, G. L. CURRY, Governor and Commander-in-Chief : SIR: I have appointed Col. B. F. Shaw, with whom you are ac quainted, assistant adjutant general for this territory. He has been instructed to organize at Vancouver a force of two hundred mounted volunteers, who will be pushed' into the Walla Walla with all possible dispatch, there to establish a depot, leaving a small force to guard it, and then push forward to the Yakima Mission, taking with them a large supply of provisions and ammunition. At that point they can establish a post of considerable strength, and be in position to act efficiently against any Indians in that valley. Our captains who are recruiting in the vicinity of Vancouver will no doubt wish to pass into Oregon, and I trust that the hearty co-operation and friendly feeling which has existed between the citizens of the two ter ritories will continue, and that they may receive any required aid. I feel sure that there will be cordial co-operation. With sentiments of the highest respect, Very truly yours, (SignedJ ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-iii-Chief. NOTE. Letters of similar import to the foregoing letter to Governor Curry, were at the same time addressed to the staff officers of Oregon the adjutant, quartermaster and commissary generals, which were res ponded to, as in the following letter from the commissary general. [No. 19.] . COMMISSARY GENERAL'S OFFICE, COMMISSARY'S DEP'T, ) Portland, Feb. 20th, 1856. ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Washington Territory: DEAR SIR : I received yours of the 17th February, '56, informing me of the appointment of Col. B. F. Shaw, as assistant adjutant general 13 98 of Washington Territory, and your desire to have me co-operate with your efforts to procure supplies, transportation, &c., &c., in Oregon ; and also your wish to push your forces as speedily as possible to the Walla Walla and the Yakima vallies. It will give me great pleasure to render what assistance is in my power, to you or any officer under your directions, to further your very laudable object, and I will confer with Gen. Shaw upon the subject, without delay. I am, &c., ( Signed,) M. M. McCARVER, Com. Gen'l 0. M. T. [No. 20.] TERRITORY Salem, March 27th, 1856. TERRITORY OF OREGON, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, I His Excellency, I. I, STEVENS, Governor W. T., Olympia : DEAR GOVERNOR : I have authorized Mr. Bradbury, who starts 5 to day from this place for San Francisco, to call upon your Quartermaster's Department at Portland, and in connection with such supplies as he pur chased for us at that place, to do likewise for Washington Territory, as might be more fully indicated and specified by the officer upon whom I desired him to call at Portland. * * * * * # # * Yours always sincerely, (Signed,) GEO. L. GURRY, Gov. &c., &c. [No. 21.] TERRITORY OP Salem, March 29th, 1856. TERRITORY OP OREGON, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, I His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory, Olympia : DEAR GOVERNOR : I arrived here this morning, prepared to act as intelligence from the Cascades would appear to demand. I found that 99 my aids, Col. Dennison and Stark, had taken very prompt and judicious action in the premises. Col. Dennison, with the volunteers who went up for the purpose of relieving the blockhouse, and re-establishing the com munication, which, through some great military mistake, the officer in command of the regulars had made no provision to maintain, at a point so important as the Cascades, too, having rendered important assistance in achieving the object of the expedition, returned this afternoon. I enclose you a list of the killed and wounded and missing. Col. Dennison's force was augmented to double its members, by citizens of your territory, making the force some forty-five men. JfC 3f 3fC 3fC 3| *(C *fC 5fC Yours always sincerely, (Signed,) GEO. L. CURRY, *i ' Governor, &c., &c. [No. 22.] EXEC Olympia, April 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) His EXCELLENCY, GEO. L. CUERY, Governor of Oregon : MY DEAR SIR : I am much obliged for the information contained in your two letters of the 27th and 29th of March, and especially for your active exertions in helping the cause of the suffering inhabitants of Washington. I hope Oregon will never require, by the breaking out of war among her Indians hereafter, a requital of those services. But Washington will never forget the aid she has received from Oregon, nor will she fail to A'emember, and if unhappily necessary, requite them hereafter. Your thoughtfulness in thinking of us when you sent to San Fran cisco, deserves my especial thanks. * * I shall use every exertion to raise more troops for the defense of our people from the Cowlitz to the Cascades, and with the view of being prepared at all quarters for any attack by the Indians upon the settlements. Very truely, your friend, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Waih. 100 [No. 23.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., ) Olympia, Nov. 1st., 1856. ) Hon. JAMES DOUGLASS, H. B. M. Governor: 1 1 Ar" 5 ' "' ' '.-*' -,-'%. Sm : It having been made apparent to us that the Indians inhab iting both sides of the Cascades have a determined combination among their various tribes to make war upon us, and as they have been suffi ciently bold to attack us within a short distance of our settlements, I deem it proper as we are in great need of arms and ammunition, to re quest from you, sir, what assistance is in your power to afford. Your known courtesy to Americans generally, and the feeling our people know you entertain towards us, leads me to make this request with the less hesitation. I do it also that it may be made apparent to the sav ages upon the Sound that the affinities of blood and interest existing be tween our nations, are always sufficiently strong to bring forth from the one to the other, support when threatened with danger. , If it could be done without serious injury to the affairs of your Hon. H. B. Co., I would deem it an additional service that the arms should be sent here by one of your steamers, as you are aware our settlements are so isolated, the presence of steamers such as yours, may deter attacks which I have reason to think may be made upon one or more of them in a few days. The presence of a steamer in this part of the Sound will be of great advantage. The Active and Massachusetts are expected in the Sound in a few days, and the arrival of ,one of these vessels will relieve us from trespass ing farther upon your kindness. Such services as you may render, sir, will, I beg to assure you, be most warmly appreciated by the government of the United States, as well as the inhabitants of this territory. With assurances of my highest respect, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't servant, fSignedJ JAMES T1LTQN, Adj't Gen. W, T. ffHw // ." , 101 [No. 24.] VICTORIA, VANCOUVER'S ISLAND, ) November 6th, 1855. } Hon. JAMES TILTON, Adj't Gen. W. T. V., Washington Territory : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you, dated, "Olympia, November 1st," representing the danger to which the settlements on Puget Sound were exposed from the inroads of sav ages, and soliciting aid in arms and munitions for the purpose of defend ing the country, and repelling the threatened invasion of the Indian tribes. I most cordially acknowledge the moral obligation which binds Christian and civilized nations to exert their utmost power and influence m checking the inroads of the merciless savage, and it is a cause of sin cere regret on my part that our means of rendering you assistance comes infinitely short of our wishes. We are, I confess with sorrow, badly prepared for the exigencies of a state of warfare there being, at this moment, only one hundred stand of arms in this colony, and those are in the stores of the Hudson's Bay Company. I have made a purchase of fifty of those (all that can be spared) for your service, and now forward them by Captain Hunt, under consignment to Dr. Tolmie, who will arrange with you about their delivery. I have also secured ten barrels of gun powder and a supply of ball, a part of which will also be now forwarded by the steamer, "Traveller." Her Majesty's ship, " President," sailed about a week ago, from this colony, for the port of San Francisco, or I might have procured efficient aid from her commander. The Hudson's Bay Company's steam vessels are also both absent at this time, or I would instantly have despatched one of them to Nisqually, not of course in the character of a belligerent, but with orders to aid and assist in protecting your settlements against the attacks of savages. We are hourly expecting the arrival of the steam vessel Beaver, and it is my intention to send her on to Nisqually with as little delay as pos sible at this place, and by that conveyance, I will cause the remainder of the ammunition, which the steamer Traveller cannot take, to be forwarded. The moral effect of the steamer " Beaver's" visit to the Sound, will be powerfully felt by the native Indian tribes, and may contribute in some measure, to confirm their wavering loyalty, and to detach them from the general Indian confederacy. I trust in God, that such may be the event, and have again to ex- 102 press my deep regret, that we have not a more efficient force to send to jour relief. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAMES DOUGLASS, Governor Y. Islands. [No. 25.] GOVERNMENT 19th November, 1855. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, YICTORIA, Y. I., ) ) Major JAMES TILTON, Or officer administering the government of Washington Territory: SIR : The Honorable Hudson's Bay Company's steamer, " Otter, n having arrived at this fort, and discharged part of her cargo, I have de cided on despatching her for the sake of greater expedition, with the remnant of her cargo on board, to Msqually, and to proceed, should it be of advantage to your cause, as far as Olympia, with the supply of am munition promised in my letter to you of the 6th inst. Her presence in the Sound will, I trust, convince the native tribes that our warmest sym pathies are enlisted in your favor, and that they have to expect neither countenance nor support from Her Majesty's authorities in this quarter. I much regret that it is not in my power to afford you more efficient assistance, and that the unprotected state of our own settlements, renders it peculiarly unadvisable to dispense with the services of the " Otter" for more than a few days. The natives in this quarter continue quiet and friendly, though evidently powerfully moved in favor of their race, a feel ing which may exercise a mischievous influence on their excitable minds, while it constrains us to maintain a vigilant control over their movements. I have no fears as to the result of the struggle at Nisqually. If the Indians leave their fastnesses, and venture to meet your forces in the open country, they will soon be made to yield the palm of victory, and in any case, destitute as they are of resources, they cannot protract the war be yond a very few months. Begging to refer you for further information to Captain Hunt, to whom I have fully explained my views, I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient humble servant, (Signed,) JAMES DOUGLASS, Governor Vancouver's Island. [No. 26.] EXECUTIVE Oi Olympia, Nov. 23, 1855, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, | His Excellency, JAMES DOUGLASS, Governor Vancouver's Island : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 19th inst., with the additional supply of ammunition. The steamer " Otter" arrived here on the evening of the 21st inst, I fully concur with you as to the influence her presence here will have upon the tribes within our waters, who may be considered as wavering,, The results, however, which have been accomplished by our troops since 1 application was first made to you, have, I think, been sufficient to prevent a| least for the present, any hostile movement on their part. The present emergency is not such as to render the presence of the "Otter" here indispensable, otherwise I should avail myself of any as sistance she might be able to render. I am daily expecting the arrival of a steamer at Steilacoom, with additional forces and munitions of war, which must of themselves have an intimidating effect upon the Indians on the Sound. Permit me again to tender to you my acknowledgments of your cor dial co-operation in the present excited state of affairs. I have the honor to be, sir, Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, (Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Washington Territory.. [No. 2?.] EXECUTr Olympia, October 14th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, > r*$l ,::.' Capt. I. S. STERETT, Commanding IT. S. Ship, Decatur : SIR : The recent difficulties with the Yakima Indians have taken so serious a turn, that it has become necessary for the executive of the territory to call forth two companies of volunteers to co-operate with the regular troops, already in, and about to be sent into the field. In this emergency, owing to the scarcity of ammunition, arms, and 104 accoutrements in the territory, I have to request that you will forward to me at Olympia, such an amount of the above named munitions of war, suitable for light Infantry or mounted men, as you can spare without det riment to the safety or discipline of your ship. Surveyor General Tilton, who takes this to you, will confer with you relative to what has been done, and what is proposed in view of the present Indian difficulties ; and 1 hereby authorize him to receipt any pa pers in my name relative to arms, ammunition, supplies, &c, I am sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Washington Territory. [No. 28.] October 14th. Letter of same import seat to Capt. W. C. Pease, Commanding Revenue Cutter "Jeff. Davis." [No. 29.] U. S. SLOOP OF WAR, DECATUR, ) Seattle, W. T., Oct. 15th, 1855. Acting Governor, C. H. MASON : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., delivered by Surveyor General Tilton. Agreeably to your request, I forward to you all the arms, ammuni tion, &c,, which I can possibly spare lists of which are enclosed. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, ISAAC S. STERRETT, Commander. (No. 300 U. S. REV] Seattle, October 15th, 1856. U. S. REVENUE CUTTER, JEFFERSON DAVIS, ) C. H. MASON, Esq., Acting Governor, Washington Territory : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., relative to furnishing arms, &c., for the use of volunteers recently called out by your Excellency. 105 Unfortunately, this vessel was but partially provided with arms on sailing from New York. I send you, however, as many as I can possibly spare, with 350 rounds of musket cartridges, and regret that I cannot more fully comply with your request. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, WILLIAM C. PEASE, Captain. ' [No. 31.] U. S. REVENUE CUTTER, "JEFFERSON DAVIS," ) Steilacoom, October 17th, 1855. j C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Washington Territory : SIR : I have the honor to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this place, and to state that I can land twenty men, well armed with rifles, at a moment's notice, and will be happy to do so, whenever occasion may require it, provided the safety of the vessel is not endangered thereby. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, WILLIAM C. PEASE, Captain. [No. 32.] EXECUTIVE October 18th EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) , 1855. f Capt. 1. S. STERRETT, Commanding U. S. Ship Decatur : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 15th inst., with the enclosed invoice, which I herewith return receipted, all the articles therein mentioned having been received by me. At my request Lieut. Drake has remained here, in order to trans- 14 106 port pack saddles, &c., from this place to the Quartermaster at Fort Steilacoom. I have also further requested him to render, through his boat and crew, such farther assistance in transporting articles to the gar rison as may be needed in the present exigency. This evening an express reached me from Fort Vancouver, bringing the information that Major Haller had met with a serious check from the Indians before re-inforcements readied him, and that he had been com pelled to return to the Dalles. The above information was at once trans mitted to Capt. Maloriy at Fort Steilacoom, with the request that every man that could possibly be spared be at once sent into the field. I also suggested to him that in case of necessity, doubtless some fifteen or twenty men could be spared from the " Decatur," to take the place of the addi tional troops taken from the garrison. If deemed necessary by him, this request will be made by me upon you. I vrould suggest that Seattle continue to be the station of the " De- catur " until further information be received from the scene of action. I return to you my sincere thanks for the prompt, energetic and effi cient action you have taken in co-operating with the civil authorities of the territory. lam, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Wash. Ter. [No. 33.] EXECI October 18th, 1855. Capt. WM. C. PEASE, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) Comd'g Rev. Cutter, "Jefferson Davis." SIR: I nave the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of October 15th, together with the accompanying invoice which I return receipted, the articles mentioned therein haying been received by me. Information has this evening been received by me, that Maj. Haller, who left the Dalles with about one hundred men, had been attacked by a body of Indians estimated from twelve to fifteen hundred strong, and been compelled to return with a loss of five killed and seventeen wounded. 107 All the disposable force of the IT. S. troops have been ordered into the field, and volunteers have been called for, both from Oregon and this territory. In this emergency, for the protection of the settlers on the more northern portions of the Sound, J beg leave to suggest that you make your cruising ground from Port Townsend, around Whidby's Island to Bellingham Bay. I have suggested to Capt. Sterrett, Commanding U. S: Ship "Deca tur," that he remain for the present at Seattle, until further information from the scene of action. This evening I received your favor of Oct. 17th, dated from Steila- coom. Permit me to tender to you my thanks for the promptness with which yqu have co-operated with tlie civil authorities of the territory. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant^ C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, Wash. Ter. [No. 34.] EXEC October 19th, 12 P. M'.', 1855 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) Capt. I. S. STERHETT, Commanding U. S. Ship Decatur : SIR Since my note of this evening, I have received a message from Fort Steilacoom. I -will now request that as many of the marines as you can spare may le transferred to Fort Steilaccom, for the general protection of the post and the" community. I havo requested Lieut. Drake, to remain there until your action in this matter is known. Very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Wash. Ter, 108 [No. 35.] U. S. REVEN Steilacoom, October 31st, 1855. U. S. REVENUE CUTTER, "JEFF. DAVIS," } JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adjutant General Wash. Ter.: DEAR GENERAL : Yours of this morning is just received. I send you with pleasure two twelve pounder guns and fixtures complete. The guns are loaded with grape shot. You know the necessity of having them secured as well as I do. * * * * Will you allow me to suggest to you the propriety of calling for vol unteers from the lower part of the Sound, to rendezvous here immedi ately. I am certain they will be wanted sooner or later. I have pork, beef and bread enough at Port Townsend for them if necessary. I doubt the propriety of defending the post at great hazard, against a large body of Indians, because there is no retreat. This would not happen, of course, unless Malony was cut off, and it is doubtful if it would happen even then. The Nisqually Indians are joining the disaf fected, and Dr. Tolmie is somewhat alarmed. I shall remain here until matters get quiet ready to take only women and children on board. I think thirty good men can be got from Whidby's Island and vi cinity. ******* In great haste, yours very truly, WM. C. PEASE. [No. 36.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T., OLYMPIA, Nov. 3d, 1855. To THE OFFICER COMMANDING U. S. Squadron on the Pacific Station : SIR : I have the honor to inform you that a war has broken out in this territory with the Yakirna and several confederated tribes of Indians on the eastern side of the Cascade range of mountains, and that from the very uncertain hold which we have upon the tribes inhabiting the shores of Puget Sound, serious difficulties are to be apprehended there also. In 109 fact, a collision has already taken place with one band, in which citizens have been killed, and the extent of the combination is not yet ascertained. Under these circumstances, our population being very sparse and ill armed, the gravest consequences are to be apprehended in case the war extends. The troops posted at Fort Steilacoom have all been sent across the mountains, and reinforcements are yet needed for the force employed there. The sloop-of-war Decatur, and Revenue Cutter Jefferson t)avis, are both stationed at exposed points, but it is deemed very essential that an additional vessel of war, if possible, a steamer, should be sent to cruise at other points, and co-operate with the land forces in boat attacks. As the danger is imminent, I most earnestly request that this may be done without delay. Yery respectfully, your most obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Ter. Wash. [No. 37.] U. S Off Seattle, W. T., Nov. 14th, 1855. U. S. SLOOP-OF^WAR, DECATUR, Hon. CHAS. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T., Olymjna : SIR : In consequence of the receipt of the enclosed letter from the people at Port Townsend, I shall leave for that place in the morning, and upon the arrival of the Cutter, Jefferson Davis there, shall get under way for a cruise up the Sound, touching at the various ports. They can muster here about seventy-five (75) men. In addition to this force, I shall leave Lieut. Drake with eight marines and the boat's howitzer, which, in my opinion, is sufficient to defend the place until my return. The inhabitants are deficient in arms, mustering, I believe, only about thirty-five (35) or forty good muskets and rifles. They have others which are very indifferent, and should be replaced by effective weapons as soon as possible. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, ISAAC S. STERRETT, Commander. 110 [No. 38.] U. S. SLOOP-OF-WAR, DECATUR, ) Off Seattle, Nov. 18th, 1855. j Hon. CHAS. H. MASON T , Acting Governor W. T., Olympia : SIR: * * * * Since the 14th inst., I have procured a good twelve pound g;un from Dr. Maynard, and as soon as it is mounted and every thing ready for a siege, I shall leave on a cruise to touch at the various ports on the Sound, where protection may be required, feeling satisfied that the people here are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, at least for the present. I mast again request you to furnish me, with all convenient dispatch, authority to take from any vessel with arms on board for this territory, the numbers of guns, pistols, &c., required for a vigorous prosecution of the war in the lower part of the Sound. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ISAAC S. STERRETT, Commander. [No. 39.] EXECU' Olyjipia, Dec. 28th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, \ 1 1 i * ' * ' / ^* i ' i Capt. G. GANSEVOORT, Commanding U. S. Ship, Decatur : SIR : Under the present relations existing in this territory between the citizens of the United States and the Indians residing within our limits, I have to request your co operation with the officers of the Indian Department in such measures as have been adopted for our self-preserva tion, and for the protection of such Indians as may at present be deemed friendly. In order to remove the Indians residing on the eastern side of Puget Sound, as far as possible from the influence of the hostile bands, all from all communication with them, and at the same time to protect them from any careless or untoward conduct on the part of the troops now in the Ill field, they have been ordered to certain localities, designated by the In dian agents, on the northern part of the Sound. This order has been very generally and cheerfully complied with at all points, with the exception of a small band at the town of Seattle. This point, from its proximity to the present hostile ground, must necessarily, for the protection of all concerned, be subjected to the same policy that has been carried out through other parts of the territory. Orders have been given to the Indian agent for the Puget Sound District to this effect, and in case of difficulty, he has been directed to apply to you for assistance. This request is not confined to this particular place, or the circum stances connected with it, but to any or all occasions, in which it may be necessary to strengthen the influence of the officers of the In dian Department of this territory. The Indians that have thus far been collected, have been placed in charge of special agents, who have been directed not to allow them to leave their present locality without a pass from the agent in charge. That you may be aware of the persons at present holding this authority, I herewith furnish their names: M. T. Simmons, J. B. Webber, D. L. Maynard, H. H. Tobin, N. D. Hill, Robt. C. Fay, and E. C. Fitzhugh. Should any more special agents be appointed, you will be informed of the same. In conclusion, I will say that the Indians residing on Puget Sound, as far as at present is ascertained, are friendly, and it requires but a ju dicious and friendly, but firm course, to maintain the present amicable relations. I am, sir, with much respect, , Your obedient servant, CHAS. H. MASON, Acting Gov. W. T. .' ' ,'-- i.i .jo...'-.* ^~:' . . , ' v' .j : ;'>. .'JOTS rx- A m [ISo. 40.] FORT STEILACOOM,- Feb. 16th, 1.856. Capt. GAXSEVOORT, Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound : SIR : Col. M. T. Simmons is operating on the rear of the hostile Indians from the falls of the Snoqualmie. He has with him Pat Canim and sixty friendly Indians. 112 They need support. I have ordered Oapt. Isaac N. Ebey, the en rolling officer of the lower battalion, at once to dispatch all his disposable force in that quarter ; he is at Port Townsend, and one company is there ready to take the field. I will, therefore, ask you to dispatch the Active immediately to Port Townsend, take on board Capt. Ebey's forces and supplies, and transport them to the mouth of the Snohomish. It is a most vital operation, and I trust you will see your way clear to immediately dispatch the Active, a; I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Wash. [No. 41.] EXECUTIVE OLYMPIA, Feb. 17, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., Capt. G. GANSEVOORT, Commanding Naval Forces, Seattle : SIR : From information I have received, I am apprehensive of a descent on the settlements on the lower part of the Sound, of fourteen" war canoes of northern Indians, and I have most respectfully but strongly to urge that the Active, after having furnished troops and supplies at the mouth of the Snohomish, be kept cruising the whole time between Port Townsend, Bellingham Bay and Seattle. These northern Indians, in daring, force and - intelligence, greatly surpass the Indians of the Sound. Their war canoes, carrying seventy- five men, can be moved through stormy seas, and with great rapidity. I deem it essential to the protection of the lower portion of the Sound, that a steamer should be constantly in motion there. I trust, therefore, you will be able to comply with my request, and I remain, very respectfully, your most obedient, (Signed,) ' ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Wash. Ter. 113 [No. 42.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., Olympia, March 2d, 1856. CAPT. ALDEN, Commanding U. S. Steamer Active : SIR: By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, I write to request you to furnish us with all the spare percussion caps and priming or rifle powder you can. I take it for granted you will soon depart for San Francisco, and as we are very scarce of ammunition, it will greatly relieve us if you can furnish it. Also, it would greatly facilitate our operation if you could take a supply of arms hence to the Columbia River. The roads across are so execrable at this season of the year, and also the transportation of the country so absorbed by the requirements of the troops moving into the White river country, that we are at a loss to devise means for forwarding arms to the Southern Battalion, now organizing upon the Columbia river, and to furnish the inhabitants of that region with their quota of arms. If it is possible for you to afford us this assistance, in addition to the most essential and arduous service you have rendered this territory during the past winter, it will be highly appreciated by the government and in habitants of Washington territory, and constitute an appropriate close to the efficient and invaluable services of the Active, during the present .Indian war in Washington territory. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't servant, (Signed,; JAMES T1LTON, Adj't Gen. W. T. [No. 43.] U^. S. COAST SURVEY STEAMER ACTIVE, ) Seattle, March 3d, 1856. f JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Volunteers : , SIR : Your letter, dated yesterday, is received, and for the informa tion .of tne Governor, I have the honor to state that I have been supply- 15 , 114 ing the volunteers with ammunition to the extent of my means, and re" cently at Port Townsend, we turned over to Captain Howe, Company I, all that we could possibly spare in the way of cartridges and caps. The fifteen pounds of rifle powder herewith sent, is all of that article, except a pound or two, that we now have on board. I should be exceedingly glad to be of service hi transporting the arms you mention to the Columbia river, and if you will forward them to this place by the Massachusetts (which vessel visits Olympia in a few days) I will receive them on board, and if possible, deliver them at the point named. The difficulty, however, of crossing the bar of the Colum bia river is frequently so great at this season of the year, that I propose in view of too great a detention there, to carry the arms to San Fran cisco, and ship them at once on board the Mail Steamer for the point named, which arrangement, I am sure, will place them there within a rea sonable time, and which I trust will meet your views. With a grateful sense of the flattering notice which your letter con tains, of our humble efforts to be of service to the people of this territory, I am, very truly, Your obedient servant r (Signed,) JAMES ALDEN, Commander XJ. S. Navy, commanding Steamer Active. [No. 44.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Olympia, March 15, 1856 Capt. SAilUEL SWARTWOUT, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound, Seattle : SIR : I have despatched my aid-de-camp, Lt. Col. Crosbie, to con fer with you in relation to a combined movement of the naval and mili tary forces from Seattle. I have selected Col. Crosbie for this duty in consequence of his great familiarity with all portions of the country, its geography, its In dian tribes, and its people. If an operation could go on from Seattle say a war expedition to the lake, the establishment of a block house on that lake, and a good MfetJba 115 wagon road opened therefrom with Seattle, it would combine admirably with the operations now going on from this quarter and from the Snoho- mish would much circumscribe the country now occupied by the hostiles would furnish opportunities of striking immediate blows, and would probably pave the way for the final blow to end the war. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Territory Washington. [No. 45.] Harbor of Seattle, W. T., March 16, 1856. U. S. STEAMER MASSACHUSETTS, To His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief W. T. V. Forces : SIR Your letter of the 15th instant, was handed to me to-day by Lieut. Col. Crosbie. In reply, I would state that my instructions upon assuming the com mand of the U. S. naval forces in Puget Sound, direct me to act in con cert with the military forces under Major General Wool, when the same can be done within the immediate vicinity of the Sound ; but not to per mit any portion of my command to go into the interior. If, however, I were at liberty to co-operate with your volunteers in prosecuting the ex pedition you have projected, it would be impracticable, as I understand that the river from here to the lakes is not navigable for our boats, and besides, when the volunteers leave this place, the inhabitants will be en tirely dependent upon the naval forces here in the event of an attack by the hostile Indians. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) S. SWARTWOUT, Commanding U. S. Naval Forces, Puget Sound. 116 [No. 46.] U. S. Port Townsend, March 22d, 1856. U. S. REVENUE CUTTER JEFFERSON DAVIS, ) JAMES TILTON, Esq., Adjutant General W. T. V, Forces : SIR : Having received instructions to replace the battery belonging to this vessel as soon as possible, you will please send me the guns and accompaniments by your first opportunity to Seattle, either by the steamer "Traveller," or the schooner "R. B. Potter." I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) W. C. PEASE, Captain. [No. 47.] OFFICE Ai Olympia, March 31st, 1856. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. VOL., ) Capt. W. C. PEASE, Commanding U. S. Revenue Cutter "Jefferson Davis:" SIR: Your letter, dated March 22d, Port Townsend, requesting a return of the two cannon so promptly furnished the inhabitants of Olym pia from your vessel last winter, is received. In reply I am instructed by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief to state In view of the condition of Indian affairs in the vicinity, the uncer tain tenure by which the Chehalis, our near neighbors, are held to their allegiance, and the fact of roving bands of the White river Indians hav ing turned the flank of the forces about Fort Slaughter on the Muckle- shoot, and being now lurking in the forest skirting the prairies lying be tween the Nesqually and Skookum Chuck the confidence inspired in our citizens with families residing here, and the dread the presence of the cannon inspires the enemy with, all these facts, sir, constitute sufficient reason for retaining the cannon just now, and urging you to endeavor to continue your active and useful cruisings without them, or procure others from the men-of-^vwr now lying in the harbor of Seattle. In the hope you will concur with us in the Opinion that the public service will be best served by having these cannon here, and you will add to your former valuable and efficient service to the people of the territory 117 by acceding to the urgent desire of the inhabitants here to have.them, these formidable means of defence. I am your obedient servant, ( Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General. [No. 48,] U. S. R. CUTTER "JEFFERSON DAVIS," ) Seattle, W. T., April 3d, 1856. j JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y. Forces : SIR : Your letter of the 31st ultimo was duly received, and in re ply I have respectfully to state that I transferred a portion of my battery to the Revenue Cutter " Joseph Lane," bound to Oregon, when I was in San Francisco, which now leaves me with only two guns. There are no guns on board any of the men-of-war now in port, that will suit this vessel, except howitzers used for land and boat service, and in cruising about the lower portion of the Sound, and in the vicinity of ' Bellingham Bay. It is necessary, as you are aware, for this vessel to be well armed, and the two guns you now have, are almost indispensable, but, under the circumstances set forth in your letter, f course, I can not ask that you return them to me at present. The request, independent of that of the Governor, is a sufficient jus- . tification for me to let them remain where they are. I have only to ask that you will return them to me as soon as you can do so with safety to the inhabitants of Olympic I had much to contend against at San Francisco, in consequence of my having assisted in the present Indian war, notwithstanding my mind was not changed, and I am now ready to do the same for the citizens of this territory as I ever had, and if granting a little, aid to the inhabitants in protecting them from the ruthless hand of the savage, with a govern ment vessel, has become a crime, then let me .go "whistling down the wind." So long as I command this vessel, and (as I have asked to be recalled, the probability is that it will not be much longer) I am at the service of the Governor of Washington territory, let what will come. Allow me, sir, to express my admiration of his letter to General 118 Wool ! He shows himself to be the man for the occasion, and his letter seems to me to be equalled only by that of W. L. Marcy to Gen. Scott. I have the honor to be, sir, Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, (Signed,) W. C. PEASE, Captain TJ. S. Revenue Service. [No. 49.] TJ. S. Seattle, W. T., March 30th, 1856 U. S. REVENUE CUTTER JEFFERSON DAVIS, ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Washington Territory: SIR : I have the pleasure to enclose to your Excellency a copy of a letter addressed to me by the Secretary of the Treasury. With sentiments of the highest respect, Your obedient humble servant, (Signed,) W. C. PEASE, Captain. [No. 50.] EXECUTIVE ( Olympia, March 30, 1856. Capt. SAMUEL SWARTWOUT, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Commanding Naval Forces in Puget Sound : SIR : I received information last evening that the Indians on the 26th instant, attacked the Cascades, killed several persons, drove all the inhabitants either into the block house, or on ship-Jboard, and that great excitement prevails throughout the Columbia valley. The Cascades is midway between Yancouver and the Dalles, and was held by a garrison of ten men of the regular troops. I am apprehensive that this informa tion may have an unfavorable effect upon the Indians of the Sound who have, throughout the war, remained unfriendly, and I have directed the Indian Agent, Col. Simmons, to make a tour of inspection at the earliest 119 practicable period. At this time your steamers, moving from point to point on the Sound, will, in my judgment, have most influence to main tain the existing friendly attitude of the Indians on the reservations at Bellingham Bay, on the western shore of the Sound, and on the straits of De Fuca, and it may be indispensable to prevent their breaking out. I will ask you to send one of your steamers to Olympia, to take Col. Simmons on board, and convey him to the several reservations, to Belling ham Bay, and down the straits De Fuca, as far as New Dunginess. I will state that I consider the visiting of the tribes by their agent on a na tional vessel, to be important at this juncture. Were not my whole ener gies required here, I should visit the tribes myself. If you can comply with my request, I will thank you to send the steamer to Olympia immediately. We are apprehensive that the hostile Indians are trying to turn our flank at the head of the Sound, and that they may attack our settlements from the Nisqually to the Cowlitz. Every neighborhood is, however, se cured by block-houses, and I have a volunteer mounted force, including mounted quartermaster's employees, of 180 men, ranging from the settled portion of Pierce county to the Cowlitz. This force will be increased some fifty men. Besides which, the volunteer force in the enemy's country is, including Capt. Lander's company, about three hundred men. Very truly, yours, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Washington Territory. [No. 51.} EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, Olympia, March 31st, 1856. Capt. SAMUEL SWARTWOUT, Commanding Naval Forces Puget Sound : SIR : I have appointed H. Haley, Esq., local agent of the Indians of Seattle's tribe, in place of Dr. Maynard, resigned. He is instructed, in the event that these Indians show a hostile dis position, to call upon you for aid. They seem well disposed at the pres ent time. I trust, however, in our present exigency, you will assist him. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent, W. T. 120 [No. 52.] Harbor of Seattle, W. T., April 1st, 1856. U. S. STEAMER "MASSACHUSETTS," ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Washington Territory, Olympia : SIR : Your letters of the 30th and 31st ultimo, were handed to me last evening by Mr. Haley. Before the receipt of these letters, I had determined to despatch one of the vessels under my command upon a cruise in " Fuca Straits " and its vicinity, in order to suppress any hostile movements that might be exhibited by the northern Indians. It is my intention to keep the naval forces stationed here actively cruising in Pu- get Sound and Fuca Straits, as I am fully aware it will have the effect to intimidate the hostile tribes, and prevent those Indians, who profess to be friendly, from committing depredations upon the white inhabitants. The volunteers having gone into the field, I shall be compelled to keep one vessel here, in order to garrison and defend the town in the event of an attack by the hostile Indians. The revenue cutter Jefferson Davis will sail very shortly for Port Townsend, to cruise in Fuca Straits. I will most cheerfully comply with your request, by aiding Mr. Haley as far as I can compatibly with my instructions, should the exigency occur to which you allude hi your letter of the 31st ultimo. Agreeably to your request, I have directed Lieut. Com'dg D. Mc- Dougal to proceed to Olympia with the U. S. Steamer "John Hancock," under his command, and take on board Col. Simmons, and carry him to the several reservations, Bellingham Bay, and New Dunginess. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) S. SWARTWOUT, Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound. [No. 53.} Harbor of Seattle, W. T., April 20th, 1856. U. S. STEAMER " MASSACHUSETTS," His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent Indian Affairs, Olympia : SIR : The enclosed letter from Mr. Haley was received by me yes terday afternoon. Upon the receipt of it, I despatched the steamer 11 John Hancock, " over to the Reservation. Two of the Indians com plained of were taken, the other escaped before the " Hancock" arrived. I have sent the two Indians brought by the " Hancock, " on board of the " II. B. Potter," to be delivered into your custody. Very respectfully r your obedient servant, (Signed,) S. SWAKTWOUT, Commanding U. S. Naval Forces, Puget Sound. [No. 54.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) April 26th, 1856. ) Capt. SAMUEL SwARTwony Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound : SIR : I have to return my acknowledgments for your promptly acce ding to the request of Mr. Haley, to take from his reservation some bad Indians, and for sending them to me at Olympia. They arrived last eve ning in the " Potter," Mr. Haley reports there are two other Indians who ought to be re moved. If your assistance is again asked for by him, I will rely upon your furnishing it. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Ter. Wash. [No. 55,] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, June 2d, 1856. ) Capt. SAMUEL SWARTWOUT, Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound : SIR : I have to return my heartfelt acknowledgments for your promptitude In despatching the " Hancock " to Holmes Harbor, and for 16 122 advising me, through Captain Hewett, of the recent act of atrocity on White river. I am determined to apply the whole force at my disposal to bring to punishment the infamous perpetrators of such crimes. Orders go to Lieut. Denny to place his whole force at the disposal of the civil authorities, to arrest the individuals suspected of the murders. The " Hancock" probably did not leave Holme's Harbor till after the arrival of Col. Simmons, and I have no question that the Colonel is now at Seattle, endeavoring to bring the murderers to justice. I am, sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, GOT. Wash. Ter. [No. 56.] Walla Walla Valley, W. T., August 31, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, W. T. V., ) Capt. SAMUEL SWARTWOUT, Commanding Naval Forces, Puget Sound : SIR : On my departure from Olyrnpia for the upper country, I neg lected to write to you. The fact was, I was obliged to work hard to | leave my business in proper shape, as I expected to be absent from four to six weeks. Previous to my leaving, I had a very satisfactory confer ence with the Indians at the reservation near Steilacoom, where some three hundred persons, just in from the war ground, were present. Gen. Tilton will be able to give you the particulars. I find things in the upper country in as good a condition as I ex pected. The Nez Perces are very friendly. The advance of them reached my camp yesterday, and the whole nation will be here on Wednesday. My expresses have been among the tribes on and in the neighborhood of the Spokane the last five days, and Father Ravalli, the superior of the Coeur d'Lene Mission, and a gentleman of great worth and intelligence, is of the opinion that they and the hostiles in that quarter, will come to the council. In about four days, I shall have definite information in re- iation to the parties who will be present at the council. The object of the council is primarily to strengthen the friendship of 123 the tribes who have not joined the hostiles, and secondly, to give an op portunity to come in to such hostiles as are willing to submit to the jus tice and mercy of the government. It is not to be diguised, however, that there is much uneasiness in the interior, and that, excepting the Nez Perces, a little thing may precipi tate all the remaining tribes into war. I have letters written within the last twenty-three days, from every chief of the friendly tribes to the northward, and between the main Columbia and the Bitter Root mount ains, which show this to be the case. I have letters from Owhi am^iis sou, the terms of which are utterly inadmissable. These letters are un questionably the true dictations of the Indians, as they are written by Father Ravalli, in whose word I can place implicit confidence. For these reasons for. the reason that some little time must elapse before the people of the Sound, and especially the discharged volunteers, become satisfied of the friendly disposition of the Indians, and also, for the reason that more time is yet required to thoroughly test the fealty of the Indians themselves, I trust that no part of the naval forces in the Sound will be withdrawn for the present. Your force here had the most happy effect in maintaining the friendly disposition of the Indians on the Sound. It has been actively employed, and the Indians have learned that either for their protection, or the pro tection of the people of the Sound, it would be directed with energy and skill. I have again to return my thanks to you, to Capt. McDougall, in command of the "John Hancock, " your officers and men, for the services which they have rendered in maintaining the peace of the Sound. Yery truly and respectfully, Your friend and obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEYENS, Governor "Washington Territory, [No. St.] U. S. STEAMER "MASSACHUSETTS," ) Harbor of Seattle, W. T., Sept. ltth, 1856. j To His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent Indian Affairs, W. T.: SIR : Your communication from Walla Walla valley dated August 31st, reached me yesterday. Please accept my thanks for the valuable 124 information it contains in relation to the present state of Indian affairs in this territory, and permit me to tender to you the sincere acknowledg ments of all on board, for the complimentary manner with which you have adverted to our services on this station, in the suppression .of Indian hos tilities and protection of the white inhabitants. I have forwarded a copy of your letter to the Navy Department believing that the Hon. Secretary of the Navy will be not only gratified, but edified with the perusal of its interesting contents. I had ordered the " Hancock " to San Francisco before the receipt of your letter, as her services were required there, and her furnaces and flues needed extensive repairs, and besides I did not feel myself justified, neither would I have been sustained by the Navy Department, in detain ing her here, subject to heavy expenses, after ihe war had terminated, and with it the exigency under which she had been fitted out. la a letter to the Navy Department, dated August JOth, sent by the "Hancock," I submitted to the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, the propriety of keeping a vessel of war on this station, for at least several months after the war had terminated, or until affairs should become per fectly tranquil, and confidence restored ; and in my letter to the Depart ment, of yesterday's date, enclosing a copy of yours, I reiterated this sug gestion as a judicious and precautionary measure. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, (Signed,) SAMUEL SWARTWOUT, Commander. [No. 58.] TT. S. STEAMER "MASSACHUSETTS, ) Port Gamble, W. T., Nov. 23d, 1856. ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Sup't Indian Affairs, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : Having received information from Lieut Col. Casey on the evening of the 18th inst., that a large party of northern Indians were committing depredations up the Sound, in the vicinity of Steilacoom, I got under way on the morning of the 19th inst., and proceeded to Steila coom Reservation and Swan's Logging Camp, in Henderson's Bay, where I found that the Indians alluded to had been recently committing depre dations at both of these places, and at the reservations they had a fight 125 with the Sound Indians, in which two of the northern Indians were killed, and one of their canoes captured. Ascertaining that the northern Indi ans had left Henderson's Bay the day before we arrived, on their way down the Sound, I proceeded with all despatch in pursuit of them, and was informed the same evening that they had been committing depreda tions at Port Madison, but had left there, going down the Sound. I therefore passed Port Madison and proceeded to Port Gamble, where I arrived on the afternoon of the 20th iust, and fpuiid the northern Indians encamped in large force. Soon after anchoring, I despatched two boats containining eighteen 18) armed men, including .an interpreter, under the command of Lieut. 5Toung, with orders to have a friendly talk with them, and endeavor to pre- srail upon them to leave the Sound peaceably, in tow of this vessel for Victoria, Vancouver's Island. I also directed him to say to them that I vished two or three of their chiefs to come on board and have a friendly ,alk with me, promising to forgive them for all the dc-predations they had committed, provided they would comply with niy demands, and not return to the Sound any more. The Indians came down to the beach close to the boats in large force, armed, and in a menacing manner, threatened to shoot any one who landed, treating my propositions with contempt and ridicule, shaking their fists at the officers^ and men in the boats, and daring them to come on shore and fight them. As Lieut. Young had positive orders from me not to land, or come in collision with the Indians, but to endeavor to prevail upon them to leave the Sound by observing forbearance and conciliation, finding this course unavailing, he returned on board. I immediately fitted out a larger expedition, consisting of the launch with a howitzer, and two cut ters, the whole force being composed of about forty-five (45) men, armed, with an interpreter from Port Gamble, under the command of Lieutenent Young, with orders to communicate with these Indians again, by sending the interpreter in advance with a flag of truce, and to make the same de mands, observing a conciliatory course towards them, and to return to the ship without landing or molesting them, in case they should still refuse to comply with the demands. I also directed the interpreter to say to them that I had a large force under my command which it would be impossible for them to resist, and to prevail upon them by every persuasion in his power, to yield to my demands, and not compel me to resort to compul sory measures in order to remove them from the Sound, promising again to forgive them for all the depredations they had committed, provided they would leave the Sound peaceably.. They refused most positively to accede to my propositions, saying 126 they would go as soon as they got ready, but not with me, and if possible, treated Lieutenant Young in a more insulting and threatening manner than when he first landed there. He therefore returned on board, again failing to accomplish any thing. Finding a temporizing coarse no longer available, and it being now dark, I determined in the morning to make preparations for an attack, for which purpose I removed the ship as close as possible to their encampment, about six hundred yards distant, and abreast of it keeping her broadside to bear upon it by springs upon the cable, and at seven o'clock the next morning, I despatched Lieutenant Semmes, in the first cutter, to the steamer "Traveller," (which vessel, with the launch under the command of Lieut. Forrest, both having field pieces on board, had been anchored the night before above the Indians' encampment, so that their guns had a raking fire upon it) with orders to communicate with the Indians again, through a flag of truce, and reiter ate the demands which had been twice made upon them, and to point out to them our preparations, and the folly on their part to make any further resistance, but, if they still persisted in refusing to comply with my propo sitions, I would be compelled, very reluctantly, to resort to force. After the interpreter had been communicating with them some twenty minutes, Lieutenant Semmes landed with a force of twenty-nine sailors and ma rines, accompanied by Lieutenant Forrest and Mr. Fendall, commander's clerk, in order to charge them should it become necessary. The disem barkation was successfully effected, although it was blowing very fresh at the time from the northward and westward,, with a heavy swell on, they were obliged to wade up to their waists in the water, and carry the boat howitzer in their arms. After forming the party on the beach, Lieut. Semmes advanced alone to where the interpreter was having a talk with several of the chiefs, and delivered my message to them through the interpreter. They made some trivial objections about acceding to it, showing a great deal of defiance in their manner, and those who were unarmed, armed themselves imme diately commenced carrying their goods to the woods, dancing a war dance, and making every preparation for fight. I had directed Lieutenant Semmes to endeavor if possible to bring them to terms without having a rencounter, and it was the impression of every body here that they would hold out no longer when they saw the formidable .preparations we had made. It was not until after every argument had failed to convince them of the folly of any further resistance, and they had taken positions behind Jogs and trees with their guns pointed towards our party on the beach in ,a hostile manner, that the order was given to fire the field pieces from the f - 1 Traveller, " and it appears that this fire and that from the Indians were 127 . simultaneous many of our party thinking the Indians fired first. As soon as the firing commenced I gave orders to direct the battery of this ship towards the encampment of the Indians, and that part of the woods where they appeared to be concealed, and to fire upon them with round shot and grape, which appeared to do great execution. Under the cover of our guns, the field piece on board of the "Traveller," in command of acting master's mate Cummings, and the boat howitzer on the beach, in charge of Mr. Fendall, Lieutenant Simmes, and Forest, with a party of twenty-nine sailors and marines, made a very gallant charge upon the In dians, driving them from their encampment into the woods, and were ably supported by the howitzers. All who were engaged in this charge behaved with the coolness of veterans. The encampment was situated at the base of a high, and very steep hill, upon which the trees and underbrush were so very thick, and there was so much fallen timber upon the ground as to render it almost impassable except for savages. After setting fire to their huts, destroying their property, amounting to several thousands of dollars, and disabling all but one of their canoes, ( which were hauled near to their encampment,) Lieutenant Semmes, agreeably to my orders, returned with all his party in the "Traveller" and boats alongside this ship, having held possession of the encampment from about twenty minutes past seven until ten A. M. The Indians fought with desperate courage and determination, and worthy of a better cause. During the whole day a fire was kept up from this vessel upon the Indians whenever they were seen in the woods, and with great execution. I regret to state that early in the engagement one of my best men was killed, and another wounded in the left hand. These were the only casualties on our side, although several of the officers and men attached to the shore party were struck by slugs, which glanced off from their pis tols and bowie knives with little or no injury to their persons. Lieutenant Young, I am sorry to say, was disabled the night previ ous to the fight from a fall in the launch. Lieutenant Fairfax, although on the sick list, being aware of the small number of officers on duty, very promptly offered his services, which I found invaluable from the able man ner in which he conducted operations on board this ship, especially as I was absent part of the time in a boat supervising the detachments ashore, and on board the "Traveller. " The weather having moderated, and the sea becoming smoother io the afternoon, I despatched Lieut, Semmes, third assistant engineer Rind, Mr. Fendall, and acting master's mate Moore, with a party of thirty- seven sailors and marines on shore to destroy the good canoe which they 128 ' left in the morning, and see that the others were rendered unseaworthy, in order to prevent the Indians from leaving here during the night. This duty was performed in a gallant manner, and I am happy to say, without the loss of a single man, although during the whole time they were sub jected to a heavy fire from the enemy. During both of these shore attacks a constant and very effective fire was kept up from the battery of this ship and the field pieces on board of the " Traveller. " On the afternoon of the fight, I sent a squaw who had been taken prisoner to the Indians, offering to forgive them if they would surrender, go with me to Victoria, and from thence proceed to their homes and never return again to the Sound. In reply, they sent me a message of defiance, saying they would fight as long as there was a man of them alive. On the morning of the 2 3d inst., I received a message from the In dians sueing for peace, and shortly afterwards I was visited by two of their principal chiefs, who surrendered unconditionally, and begged for mercy in a most humble and suppliant manner. They informed me when the fight commenced they had one hundred and seventeen (117} men, exclusive of the squaws and boys: that there had been twenty-seven killed, one chief wounded in the thigh, and a num ber missing, whom they presumed were wounded in the woods. They said they were in a deplorable condition, having lost all their property, and that they had little or nothing to eat for the last forty-eight hours. I furnished them with provisions, and promised to let them off with out further chastisement provided they would go in this ship to Yictoria and never return again to the Sound. This they promised most faithfully to do. I shall receive them all on board to-day, and proceed with them im mediately to Victoria. Our whole available force, including officers, during this engagement, amounted to ninety-six, forty-one of which we detailed for the shore party and steamer " Traveller. " The remaining fifty-five were left on board this ship for the purpose of working her battery. The majority were composed of officers, officer's attendants and boys. The following officers, Lieut. Fairfax, first assistant engineer Patter son, civil engineer Sutton, acting gunner McAlpine, acting boatswain Ty ler, acting carpenter Berry, acting master's mate Howard, Mr. Slater, pilot, and part of the time third assistant engineer Rind, and acting master's mate Moore, were on board of this ship, who, together with the crew, performed the duties devolving upon them in a most praiseworthy manner. 129 As so much gallantry and zeal was displayed by the officers and crew engaged in this fight, it would be invidious for me to particularize any further. The above statement is in substance my report to the. Navy Depart- ment, which I have concluded to forward to you, presuming it would be interesting. I am satisfied the northern Indians after this severe chastisement, will not visit the Sound again, especially if the inhabitants hold out no inducements by offering tlieni employment, and it would doubtless be ad visable to prevail upon the legislature to enact a lav/ making it a penal offence for any white inhabitant of the Sound to harbor or employ any of the northern Indians. Ujr . ' ii ' t A ' vir , '/[';' ' f ,.,* ,.,"' f^. f^* I am, sir, very respectfully, >,.! Your obedient servant, (Signed,) S. SWAKTWOUT, Commander. P. S. November 24th. The total loss of killed and wounded on the part of the Indians is now ascertained to be twenty-seven killed and twenty-one wounded, among the latter one of their chiefs. This great mortality is doubtless owing to the coolness of the officers, sailors and marines, their deliberate aim and accuracy of fire in discharging the great guns, howitzers and- small arms, which ha* been attained from frequent drilling and target practice. The sailors and marines who composed the shore party fired their pieces with deliberate aim and great coolness, and loaded them whilst charging, without stopping. Great credit is due to Lieutenant Young and Sergeant Quinlaw, under whose instructions these sailors and marines have been drilled. Our loss would have been more had not the charging party been so ably protected by the battery from this ship and the howitzers. The shot and shell were thrown from these guns with surprising accuracy. I have now eighty-seven of these Indians on board. As soon as the remainder of them come on board I will proceed to Victoria, land them there, and see that they are sent to their own country. The above statement is in substance my report to the Navy Depart ment, which I have concluded to forward to you, presuming it would be interesting. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) S. SWARTWQUT, Commanding U. S. Nayal Forces, Puget Sound. 17 130 [No. 59.] HEAD QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT or THE PACIFIC, ) Benicia, September 18, 1855. ) His EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY, Olympia : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of August 24th, and 30th, enclosing petitions from citizens of Washington Territory, for the establishment of a military post on or near Bellingham Bay. The recommendation contained in your letters has been anticipated, in so far that it is the intention to establish a military post on Bellingham Bay as soon as practicable, and for that purpose a reconnoissance has been made under my orders by Capt. Stoneman and Lieut. Whiting. The troops expected to reinforce the companies in this department not arriving in season, the building of the post is necessarily postponed until next spring or summer. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) JOHN E. WOOL, Major General. [No. 60.] EXECUTIVE OF Olympia, Oct. 20, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Pacific Division U. S. A., Benicia, Cal.: SIR : Owing to the pressing necessity for ammunition to supply the force, regular and volunteer, in this territory during the present Indian war, I have the honor to request that powder and ball be sent to the va rious military posts here to furnish cartridges for the quota of arms due Washington territory, and which I am advised by the chief of the Ord nance Department at Washington City, have been ordered from the arse nal at Benicia, California, to Olympia, W. T. The officers commanding Forts Yancouver and Steilacoom have ta ken the field with all the disposable regular force, strengthened by all the volunteers which safety to the settlements upon the Columbia river and Paget Sound, will warrant. 131 As the enemy number about two thousand fighting men now in arms, and success may cause the tribes west of the Cascade mountains to join the Yakima and other tribes now at war, I respectfully suggest that as many troops as can be spared from California be sent to Fort Vancover, the Dalles and Fort Steilacoom. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't. servant, (Signed,; C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. [No. 61.] COUNCIL GROUND, CAMP STEVENS, 7 Walla Walla Valley, W, T-, May 22d, 1855. j Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Pacific Division, Vancouver, W. T.: SIR : I feel it my duty to call your attention to the urgent necessity of establishing the greater portion of the troops now stationed on the Columbia river, at or near this place, and to express the opinion that as regards the Indian service, depots only are required at Vancouver and the Dalles. Its position to overcome hostile Indians, and to protect the several immigrant routes is remarkably central. It is in direct connection with the great South Pass immigrant trail, and with all the northern routes ex plored by me from the sources of the Missouri. Roads run to the Nez Perces country, to the Yakima country, and via the Cascades to the Sound and to Colville. It is the central point of Indians within two to three hundred miles the Yakimas, the Clickatats, the Pischous, the Okinakanes, the Walla Wallas, the Indians of the Walla Walla to the Dalles, the Cayuses, the Palouses, the Spokanes, the Colviile Indians, the Cceur d'Alenes, the Nez Perces, and the Snakes, numbering some nine thousand. No force is required at the Dalles for protection against the Indians in that neighborhood. A guard here would have the effect of a garrison at the Dalles for the Indians in that quarter. The Indians, how ever, are generally friendly, except the Cayuses and the Snakes. The Cayuses have been so disorderly since measures have been taken to call the neighboring tribes into Council to purchase their lands and place them 132 on reservations, that the settlers have been put in jeopardy, and sub- agent Palmer, of Oregon, and myself have made a requisition on Major Raines to send a military force to tliis place to be present at the council, a requisition with which he has promptly complied. Our camp is in the heart of the country claimed by the Cayuses. The Snakes have been unusually insolent of late, having seized cattle within the past few weeks at the very gates of Fort Boise, and their insolence has incited the Cay- uses to assume a tone of defiance towards the settlers and the authorities. The Snakes ought to be summarily punished for tho outrages of the past year. A post at this place to be effective, should consist mainly of cavalry, and should be garrisoned by a force large enough to furnish moveable columns for the protection of the immigrant trails during the season of immigration. A wagon road is to be built by authority of congress from Fort Benton near the great Falls of the Missouri, to this valley, which will open an immigrant route from the states bordering the great lakes. The movea'blc columns, besides protecting the trails, might be called on to furnish one or two sraall detachments, to occupy under canvass, tempo rary stations at the Grand Round and Fort Boise, where Indians at cer tain seasons resort in great numbers for the purpose of trade. I am aware that the force at your disposal is inadequate to accom plish all that is desired. But I will respectfully urge that such force as you have at your disposal will be most effectual at this point. This valley affords great facilities for the maintainance of a military post. Inexhaustible grass, summer and winter, abundance of timber and fuel, beef for a large force through the year ; . already settlers enough in the vicinity to furnish vegetables ; lands adapted to the cereals and to grass, to furnish bread and forage after the first ^ear. There is an admi rable site for a post near the saw mill of Whitman's Mission. I am seven miles above the site now occupied by Stanford, Brooks, Noble. As you are now in the country, I will urge that you visit this valley, and judge from your own observation and investigation of its character as a military centre of operations. It can be supplied by wagon trains through nearly the entire year from the Dalles. The experience of the Cayuse war; in connection with the outrages of the Snakes of the past year, and the present insolent deportment of both has impressed me with the conviction that unless sonic step of the kind I have indicated is taken, a contingency may arise which will involve the country in even greater expenditures than that for which congress has recently made appropriations, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent, W, T, 133 [No. 62.] HEAI Walla Walla Valley, W. T., Dec. 28, 1855 HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP W. T. JTOLUNTEERS, ) Major General JOHN E, WOOL, Commanding Pacific Division, Vancouver, W. T.: SIR : I reached this point some thirty miles to the eastward of Fort Walla Walla, on the Columbia, on the 20th instant. We have had ex traordinary success in our long march from the waters of the Missouri, and I trust that the conferences with the Indian tribes on my way will have some effect in preventing tribes now peaceable from becoming hos tile. A very important result has been gained by the operations of the volunteer forces in this valley. The Cay uses, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, the Tye, Deschutes and a portion of the Palouse Indians, numbering from five to six hundred warriors, have been defeated and driven across the Snake river. They are now scattered along the north bank of the Snake, from its mouth to the Kez Perces country, and the bulk of them are believed to be in camp in the first wood on the Palouse river. From the best information I can gain, I am of opinion that not more than five to six hundred Indians participated in the fight. These Indians are in con stant communication with the Yakimas under Kam-y-a-kin, and I have reports that he is meditating an attack with these combined forces upon the troops in the valley. These reports I do not credit. I am of opin ion that the Indians desire the war to be put off till spring, in the hopes that their numbers may be augmented by the Spokanes, Okinakanes, Col- villes, Caeur d'Allaines, and the tribes north of the line, and in case of de feat, of having the means of retreat to the north, and across the mount ains eastward to the buffalo country. The Coeur d'Allaines, Spokanes, Colvilles, and Okinakanes, number about twenty-one hundred souls, and some four to five hundred warriors, only a portion armed with guns. The three former tribes, numbering about seventeen hundred, I called into council on the Spokane early this month, and have received from them the most unqualified, assurances that they would reject all the overtures of the hostile tribes, and maintain re lations of friendship with the government, but they have been very much shaken by the efforts made to involve them in the war, and if operations are suspended till spring, there would be great danger that they would then be met in arms. g The Kez Perces are staunch arid entirely reliable. Some seventy of their warriors well armed, accompanied me from their own country all the way to my camp. I crossed the mountains with twenty-five men, and 134 by accessions from the miners and citizens who had fled for protection to the Nez Perces country, and from other sources, we had a force of volun teers organized in two companies, and numbering in all fifty-two men. The volunteers of Oregon in this valley number about four hundred men. I am of opinion that all the tribes from the Dalles to the Nez Per ces country, and from the Blue Mountains to the Spokanes, were in arms against the government have not over twelve hundred males, and that they cannot bring into the field more than one thousand effective men. My sources of information are good, and I write with confidence. The hostile tribes, throwing out bands known to be friendly and in charge of local agents, do not number quite five thousand souls. On reaching this point I exceedingly regretted to learn that the Ya- kima country had been abandoned. In my opinion it could have been held by two hundred men, and have been supplied by Walla Walla. There is a good road from Walla Walla to the Yakima mission. The distance is about ninety miles ; little or no snow lays on the ground for more than two-thirds the distance, and at the imssion snow is seldom more than. six inches deep. The whole valley is remarkably favorable for winter operations ; grass and wood abundant, and there are various streams of excellent wa ter. The snow lays on the ground but a short time, and then but a few- inches deep, and scarcely interfering with the grazing of animals. On the Snake, the Palouse and its tributaries, the grass is also good, and there is a large quantity of pine. The pine on the Palouse is found eighteen miles from its mouth. From the Palouse to the Columbia, north of the Snake, the country is not so favorable. There is not much wood, nor much running water, and the grass is of an inferior quality. There is nothing but drift wood on the Columbia till you reach the mouth of the Wenatchepan, where the pine commences. From the mouth of the Palouse, and from the several crossings above, there is no difficulty in moving to the Spokane country all through the winter. The grass is uniformly good. There is abundant pine on the Spokane, and there will be wood for fires at all the intermediate camps on the route. The information here given of the country, is mainly the result of personal examinations. I can vouch for the accuracy of it all. I send you a map of the country from the Cascades to the Bitter Root mountains, showing the Indian tribes, their numbers, their warriors, the points these hostiles are now believed to occupy ; the several routes for the movement of troops from each ; the several crossings of the Snake river, and the winter snow line, over which the Indians cannot cross when 135 pursued by troops, and the line within which troops can operate all through the winter. I will respectfully recommend that you will urge forward your prep arations with all possible despatch. Get all your disposable force in this valley in all of January : establish a large depot camp here : occupy Fort Walla Walla and the Yakima country, and be ready early in February to take the field. February is generally a mild and open month. February and March are the favorable months for operations : all the mountain passes are stopped : the Indians are destitute of food : the rivers are easy to cross. In April the Indians can retreat hi the Pend d'Oreille route to the east ward of the mountains. In May the Coeur d'Alleines route is also open. The streams are swollen and the salmon begins to run. In June routes are abundant, and the streams most difficult to cross. If operations be vigorously prosecuted in February and March there is little probability of any of the tribes now peaceable taking part in the war. This is the conclusion to which I am brought by the recent council held by me with Indian tribes on the Spokane. I do not entertain the idea that all operations can be brought to a close in these two months. The strength of the combination can, how ever, be broken, but the country should be held all through the ensuing year. As to transportation, I would urge that a line of barges be estab lished on the Columbia. That supplies be hauled in wagons from the Dalles to the mouth of the Deschutes, and thence by water to Fort Walla Walla : thence to the Yakima country, (the mission J to the crossing at the mouth of the Palouse, and to any point which may be selected in this valley as a depot camp, supplies can be hauled in wagons. The roads are all good. When operations are extended to the north of the Snake, and the north bank is held, a new depot camp can be established, and the water line extended. The Hudson's Bay barge should fee adopted, only be increased in size. The barge most commonly in use carries six thousand pounds, and requires seven men. But the great difficulty in the river is at the falls at the mouth of the Deschutes river, which is avoided by hauling in wagons to above that point. A barge could be constructed which would carry twelve thousand pounds, require eight men, and make two round trips a month from the Deschutes to Fort Walla Walla. Supplies for five hundred men, say four pounds per day, including clothing, ammunition, &c., and for age for five hundred animals, say twelve pouads to each animal per day, would require ten of these barges, eighty men, and about oae hundred three 136 yoke ox teams, running from the Dalles to the Deschutes. An ox team could not make more than three round trips from the Dalles to Fort Wal la Walla in two months, and this would be more than ought reasonably to be expected. To, transport the above amount of supplies and forage in wagons would require one hundred ox teams and one hundred men. Unless foraged on the road, oxen, after making one round trip, must have rest, and a large number of spare oxen must be at hand at both ends of the line to keep the teams constantly in motion. It will probably be very difficult to get early into the field so large a train. A pack train will be still more expensive ; it will be wanted in advance. Supplies, in my judg ment, will mostly have to be transported from the depot in this valley by pack trains. The Hudson's Bay people at Fort Vancouver can put their hands on the men who understand making these barges. I estimate that five barges could be built at Portland, and be in readiness for the loads at the mouth of the Deschutes in twenty days, and five more in thirty days. It is a small matter to make them. I derive my information in regard to the barges from Mr. Sinclair, of the Hudson's Bay Company, a gentleman of sound judgment and large experience, and most familiarly known to all the citizens of the Columbia valley. I believe it is practicable to run stern wheel steamers from the mouth of the Deschutes to- above Walla Walla, and as far as the Priest's rap ids. But time will be required to get a suitable one on the route, and to establish wood yards. There is nothing but drift wood in the immediate banks of the Columbia below the mouth of the Wenatchepan. I would respectfully urge, however, that - your early attention be given to this matter. The plan of campaign which occurs to me as possible, is as follows : occupy the Walla Walla valley in January : establish a large depot camp on the Touchet : hold Fort Walla. Walla : get up supplies by a line of barges oil the Columbia : have ah advance post on the Tucauan, and pickets at the crossings of the Palouse, and opposite the bend of the Tucanan. This disposition of the troops will make you master of the Walla Walla valley, give you control of the crossings of the Snake, and enable you to get information of the enemy. In February, cross the Snake : attack the enemy on the Palouse : establish a depot camp at the first wood; occupy the forks of the Snake : astablish the line of barges up the Snake to the mouth, of the Palouse, and push forward a column to .the Okinakin; These operations will probably drive all the hostile Indians into the Yakima country, west of the Columbia river, when, move over the Co- vtt"** '~f>* ' ' .: r :-'~' J 137 iumbia: cross into the Yakiina country -and put the enemy to his last battle. He cannot cross the mountains till May, and all the troops left behind at Fort Walla Walla, and atdepot camps, except indispensable guards, marching up seasonably from Fort Walla Walla by the line of the Yakima river, would, with the movements of the column from north of the Snake, drive him into a canyon, from whence he could not easily escape. There will be no difficulty whatever, in making the, crossing of the Snake. To the upper crossings canoes could be brought from the Nez Perces country. For the Palouse country, with a few tools, boats could be made in a few days on the Touchet, and be transported thither on wheels. My India rubber boats for the Indian service were unfortunately cut to pieces by the Indians at Fort Walla Walla. During the whiter months the streams are low. The question occurs Is this plan compatible with the force at your command ? In my judgment three to four hundred effective troops will signally defeat any force which the enemy could .bring together from the tribes now hostile. In my plan of operations, at Fort Walla Walla, at the de pot camp of the valley, and to hold the river crossings, two hundred men would be required. If a smaller force were left it migtyt tempt the Ya- kimas under Kamiakin to move rapidly into his own country, .if not al ready there, cross the Columbia, below the mouth of the Touchet, steal all the animals, and break up the communication. If very much reduced, he might successfully attempt an attack upon the troops. With two hun dred men, I do not think he would attempt any thing on this side of the Columbia. The barges, in brigades of five each, manned tyy forty men, I do not think, with a small force on the Umatilla, would be in danger of attack. They could destroy all the canoes, and take from the enemy the means of crossing the river below Walla Walla. In the advance movement on the Palouse, there should be five hun dred men. This whole force will be disposable for the first blow on the Palouse. Two hundred men will hold the line of the Snake, and three hundred will be left for the advance movement on the Columbia below Okinakin. When the enemy is driven into the Yakima country, from the depot camps north and south of the Snake, a strong column can be thrown across the Columbia at the mouth of the Snake, say two hundred men, which, with one hundred and fifty from the column moving Cowards -Okin akin, will give five hundred and fifty men. ... I would advise that one hun dred and fifty men of that column be left to cut oft" retreat in any attempt to cross the river. 18 138 /- In the plan of the campaign, the troops are interspersed between the hostile tribes and the friendly ones, and they are brought to a firm stand, where there is scarcely a probability of escape. If the Yakima country were held simultaneously with this valley and with operations upon the Palouse, it might drive the enemy upon the Spokane, and thus cause them to embark On the river. The holding of the Yakima country would, however, effectually protect the line of the Columbia, and render it unnecessary to leave so large a force in this valley. But this plan would require more troops than the other. By the Walla Walla valley, in these papers, I mean the whole coun try in the re-entering of the Snake. With a small post on the Umatilla, and the troops required at the Dalles, eight hundred effective men will be required. Making allow ances for the sick list and for casualties, one thousand men should be in the field. There are here, or are on their way, five hundred volunteers from Oregon. I hear that you have, or will soon have, five to six hun dred regulars. The volunteers with me have been mustered into the serv ice of the territory for a specific duty, and will be discharged when I go down to the Dalles. On the Spokane I was able to learn nothing of the plans of the campaign, and only knew that Kamiakin, with all his forces, was believed to be on the Spokane side of the Columbia river, and that the Cayuses and Walla Wallas were assembled, some six hundred warriors, in the Walla Walla valley. I expected at that time to be obliged to force my way through this body with my small force of less, at that time, than eighty men, aided by the Nez Perces, to the Dalles. The Nez Perces chiefs who accompanied me from the Blackfoot council, tendered to me the services of one hundred and fifty flighting men of the nation, and it was not till I had been some time with them in Council in their own country making the necessary arrangements, that I learned of the defeat of these tribes, and that the road was opened. I took with me, however, seventy Nez Perces well armed, besides young men to herd and guard our animals. Olympia, W. T., Jan. 29, 1856. The above was written to be despatched by an express to you at Vancouver. I concluded, however, to come in person, and reached Vancouver the day you departed from Portland to San Francisco. I have, since my return, carefully examined the Condition of affairs on the Sound have visited nearly every point, and informed myself thor oughly of our necessities. We are now feeding four thousand Indians on the Sound alone. A band of hostiles numbering from two to four hundred, are in the field 139 The whole country is exposed to attacks from them and the northern In dians. All our people are living in block-houses. The town of Seattle was ' attacked on the 26th instant, and the families compelled to go on ship board. The whole of King county has been deserted, and the inhabit ants driven within the line of defenses of the town of Seattle. We need at least six hundred troops to cope with the. enemy, and the war will, I fear, from the nature of the country, be a; protracted one. In conclusion, it is due to frankness, that I should state that I have determined to submit to the department the course taken by the military authorities in disbanding the troops raised in the territory of Washington for my relief. No effort was made, although the facts were presented both to Major General Wool and Major Raines-, to send me assistance. The regular troops were all withdrawn into garrison, and I was left to make my way, the best I could, through tribes , known to be hostile. It remains to be seen whether the commissioner, selected by the President to make treaties with Indians in the interior of the continent, is to be ig nored, and his safety left to chance. I had no fear of my own safety, but the facts in the settlements did not warrant such belief. I simply, with fifty odd men, and one hundred and fifty Nez Perces, would have been compelled to fight six hundred In dians in the Walla Walla valley, had it not been for the operations of the Oregon volunteers. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent Indian Affairs, W. T. i N. B. The map is not quite ready. I will send it to the post at Vancouver. [No. 63.] HEAD QUARTERS, DEPM'T. OF THE PACIFIC, 1 i. f Benicia, California, 12th February, 1856. To His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor of Washington Territory : SIR : I received your communication of the 23d of December, and 29th January, 1856, on the 6th instant, but too late to reply to it by the 140 return < steamer. For tjie information which it imparts you have my thanks. When you , know my instructions to Colonel Wright of the 9th infantry at Vancouver, you will discover that many of your suggestions have been anticipated. In presenting, however, your plan of campaign, which is a very extended one, you should have recollected that I have neither the resources of a territory, nor the treasury of the United States, at my command. Still you may be assured that the war against the In dians will be prosecuted with all the vigor, promptness and efficiency I am master of, at the same time without wasting unnecessarily, the means and resources at my disposal, by untimely an^ unproductive expeditions. With the additional force which recently arrived at Vancouver and at the Dalles, I think I shall be able to bring the war to a close in a few months, provided the extermination of the Indians, which I do not approve of, is not determined on, and private war prevented, and the volunteers with drawn from the Walla Walla country. Whilst I was in Oregon, it was reported to me that many citizens, with a due proportion of volunteers, and two newspapers, advocated the extermination of the Indians. This principle has been acted on in sev eral instances without discriminating between enemies and friends, which has been the cause in southern Oregon, of sacrificing many innocent and worthy citizens. As in the case of Major Lupton and his party (volun teers) who killed twenty-five Indians, eighteen of whom were women and children. These were friendly Indians on their way to the 'Indian reser vation, where they expected protection from the whites. This barbarous act is the cause of the present contest in the Rogue river country, and, as Capt. Judah, IT. S. A., reports, is retaliatory of the conduct of Major Lupton. By the same mail which brought me your communication, I received one, now before me, from a person, who I think incapable of misrepresenta tion, whichinforms me that the friendly Cayuses are every day menaced with death by Governor Curry's volunteers. The writer says : " They have despoiled these Indians, who have so nobly followed the advice of Mr. Pal mer to remain faithful friends to the Americans, of their provisions." ; ' To-day," he says, "these same volunteers, without discipline and without orders, are not yet satisfied with rapine and injustice, and wish to take away the small remnant of animals and provisions left. Every day they run off the horses and cattle of the friendly Indians. These have been indignant, and will not be much longer restrained from resisting conduct so unworthy of the whites, who have made them so many promises to respect and protect them, if they remained faithful friends." The writer further says< " if the volunteers are not arrested in their brigand actions, the Indians will save themselves by flying to the homes of their relations, 141 the Nez Perces, who have promised them help, and then all the Indians of Oregon and Washington would join in the common defence. This in formation is in a great measure confirmed by persons who, I am assured, enjoy your respect and confidence." I need not say, although I had previously instructed Col. Wright to take possession of the Walla Walla country at the earliest moment prac ticable, that I directed him to give protection as soon as he could to the friendly Cayuses, from the depredations of the volunteers. It is such conduct as here complained of, that irritates and greatly increases the ranks of the hostile tribes, and if ^ie Nez Perces join in the war against us, which I hope to prevent, we shall require a much larger force than we now have in Oregon and Washington territories to resist savage barbari ties and to protect the whites. , I have recently sent to Puget Sound two companies of the ninth in fantry. These, with the three companies there, will give a force of nearly or quite four hundred regulars, commanded by Lieut. Col. Casey. This force, with several ships of war in the Sound, to which will be added in a few days, the United States steamer Massachusetts, it seems to me, if rightly directed, ought to be sufficient to bring to terms two hundred In dian warriors. Capt. Keys, in his last report received, says there are not quite two hundred in arms in that region. Lieut. Col. Casey has been di rected to prosecute the war with the greatest vigilance and activity. The gallant Captain Swartwout, who goes in the Massachusetts, commander- in-chief of the naval forces in the Sound, will, I am assured, zealously, efficiently, and I trust successfully, co-operate with Col. Casey to bring the war to a close. In regard to the operations east of the Cascade mountains, if Gov. Curry's volunteers have not driven the friendly Cayuses and the Nez Per ces into the ranks of the hostile tribes, and they should be withdrawn from the Walla Walla country, I have great hopes that I shall be able to bring the Indians in that region to terms, notwithstanding the volun teers killed the chief Peu-peu-mox-mox, scalped him, cut off his ears and hands, as reported by volunteers, and sent them to their friends in Oregon. All this too, after he met them with a flag of trqce, declaring he "was for peace that he did not wish to fight that his people did not wish to fight," and that if any of his young men had done wrong, he would make restitution, while he at the same tune offered the volunteers cattle for food. Such conduct may have caused feelings difficult to overcome. I trust, however, I will be able to do it. As soon as the war is terminated east of the Cascade mountains, I will be able to send all my disposable forces against the Indians on Rogue river and Puget Sound. It is, however, due to truth to say, that at no 142 time were volunteers required, or in any sense of the term necessary, fo the defense; of the inhabitants of Oregon from the depredations or bar barities of Indians occupying the country east of the Cascade mountains Nor was there any circumstance to justify Governor Curry in sending hit troops from Oregon to Washington territory to make war on the Wall; Wallas, from whom the Oregonians had no danger whatever to appre hend. On this subject I would refer you to the report of the Secretar} of War, dated the third of December, relating to the affairs of the army, in which he says " the department, at this distance, and in the absence oi more definite information, especially 19 regard to the extent of the com foination among the hostile tribes, cannot judge what volunteer reinforce ments to the regular troops may be necessary. This is a matter which must be necessarily left to the military commander of the department of the Pacific." At the conclusion of your communication, you say, " it is due to " frankness that I should state that I have determined to submit to the " departmant the course taken by the military authorities in disbanding " the troops raised in the territory of Washington for my relief. No ef- 4t fort was made, although the facts were presented both to Major Gen. " Wool, and Major Raines to send me assistance. The regular troops " were all withdrawn into garrison, and I was left to make my way, the " best I could, through tribes known to be hostile. It remains to be seen " whether the commissioner, selected by the President to make treaties " with Indians in the interior of the continent, is to be ignored and his " safety left to chance. n In your "frankness" and determination to represent me to the de partment, I trust you will be governed by truth and truth only. Per haps it is equally due to frankness on my part to say, that your commu nication is the first that I have received in relation to yourself, or on any subject whatever, touching the Indian war, from any civil functionary, either in Washington or Oregon territories ; and I have received but one from the military, and that was from Col. Nesmith, who requested me to furnish him with two howitzers, which I refused. I have only to add that I disbanded no troops raised for your relief ; and your communication gave me the first intelligence that any were raised for such a purpose. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) JOHN E. WOOL, Major General 143 [No. 64.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, > ':M:M Olympia, March 15, 1856. f Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Pacific Division : SIR : I hear this morning of your arrival in the territory of Wash ington of your having left Vancouver in a steamer for the Sound, and that you are now probably at Steilacoom. In the discharge of my responsibilities as the highest federal officer of the territory of Washington, and hi view of my oath of office, I have called out a large force of volunteers, and a band of Indian auxiliaries, who are now actively engaging the enemy in the field. , Actuated by no motive than the pubh'c good, I have endeavored to co-operate with the military and naval forces in the Sound, with the ob ject that all and every available means of carrying on the war should be applied as a unit to its prosecution. I therefore send the Adjutant General of the volunteer forces, James Tilton, Esq., to confer with you. He is instructed to advise you of the plan of operations which I have adopted, the force in the field, and the condition of the country. I have to acquaint you of my desire to co-ope rate with you in any plans you may think proper to adopt, and I shall be pleased to hear from you in reference to the prosecution of the cam paign. I am, sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Sup't. Indian Affairs, W. T. [No. 65, j EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Olympia, March 20th, 1856. } Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commaning Pacific Division : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your commu nication of the 12th February, and to state generally, in answer thereto, 144 that the events of the past four weeks, in connection with your own official course, affords satisfactory evidence that the most objectionable positions of your letter have been abandoned, and that you have finally become awakened to the true condition of the Indian war, and are seek ing to make some amends for the unfortunate blunders of the past. You have probably learned how much you have been misled in your views of the operations by the Oregon volunteers, and how much unnecessary sympathy you have wasted on the infamous Peu-peu-mox-mox. For your own reputation I have felt pain at the statement made in your letter to me, for I am an authoritative witness in the case, and in the letter which submitted your own action in refusing to send *me succor. I have pre sented briefly the facts, showing the unmitigated hostility of that chief. I assert that I can prove, by incontrovertible evidence, that Peu-peu-mox- mox had been hostile for months that he exerted his influence to effect a general combination of the tribes that he plundered Walla- Walla and the settlers of the valley, distributing the spoils to his own and the neigh boring tribes as war trophies that he rejected the intercession of the friendly ISTez Perces to continue peaceful that he had sworn to take my life, and cut off my party that he and the adjoining tribes of Oregon and Washington had taken up their military position as warriors at the proper points of the Walla- Walla valley and all this before the volun teers of Oregon moved upon him. Peu-peu-mox-mox was slain fairly. I have investigated that matter on the ground having not only the testimony of the officers of the Ore gon volunteers and the eye-witnesses of his death, but the testimony of the friendly Indians, both Cayuses and Nez Perces. He was not en trapped by a flag of truce. I, of course, reprobate the indignities subsequently committed upon his person. Are you aware, sir, that the great victory achieved by the gallant volunteers of Oregon in the Walla-Walla valley was fought near the line separating the two territories, and that more of the Indians of Oregon were engaged in it than the Indians of Washington? Your letter would seem to show that you were ignorant of that fact. Where, sir, did you derive your information ? Half the Walla Wallas live permanently in Oregon : all the Urna- tillas, over one-half the Cayuses, all of the John Day's, Deschutes and Tyh Indians. These were the Indians that met the volunteers of Oregon ; and all these Indians were, by an arrangement made between General Palmer and myself, under the charge of the Oregon agents. These In dians were reinforced, after the first three days' fight, by one hundred Pelouses, detached from the force under Kam-a-aikin. That some turbulent men of the Oregon volunteers have done injury to the friendly Cayuses, is unquestionable, and it is reprobated by the au thorities and citizens of both territories, it has, however, been grossly exaggerated. Had, sir, the regulars moved up to the Walla Walla valley, as I most earnestly urged both Major Raines and Col. Wright, both by letter and in person, these Indians would have been protected. They could not act, because they had no authority from you. The presence of a single company would have been sufficient. The responsibility, if evil follows, will attach sir, to you, as well aa to the volunteers. The Nez Perces, though a portion live in Oregon, are, by the arrangement before referred to, between General Palmer and myself, all under my administrative charge, and, if left alone will con tinue friendly. I have heard from them long since the friend to whom y6u allude. I have a staff officer in their country. They are organized for self-protection, and if your operations are conducted with ordinary judgment, not a man of them will join in the war. I have to refer you, sir, to my memoir for my views, which will be found to bear the test of experience, and I would advise you, sir, in considering that memoir, to bear in mind that, as regards the opinions of men who, with perhaps not very inferior abilities to your own, having greater special experience, and a knowledge of the country and the Indians, to which you cannot pre tend, it will be prudent not to despise them. In your letter of the 12th January, you state " I have recently sent to Puget Sound two companies of the ninth infantry. These, with the three companies there, will give a force of nearly or quite four hun dred regulars, commanded by Lieut. Col. Casey. This force, with several ships of war in the Sound, to which will be added in a few days, the United States steamer Massachusetts, it seems to me, if rightly directed, ought to be sufficient to bring to terms two hundred Indian warriors. Capt. Keys, in his last report received, says there are not quite two hun dred in aims in that region." Here you have . exposed a very confident opinion. You thought proper to quote Capt. Keys as to the number of Indians, but you found it did not suit your purpose to refer to the requisitions he had made upon you for six additional companies, two of which only, had been sent for ward ; nor could you find time to refer to the fact that Col. Casey had recommended, after the war was over, that eight companies should be permanently stationed for the protection of the Sound. You think volunteers entirely unnecessary, although, after having re ceived from the executive information as to the condition of the country. It is now March, a month later, and you send two companies 19 146 of regulars and direct Col. Casey to call upon me for two additional companies of volunteers. Thus have you practically acknowledged that you were wrong and that I was right, and thus have I given your testimony, as against your self, in vindication of the necessity of my calling out volunteers. As re gards this call for volunteers, it is presumed that Col. Casey informed you that the whole available force of the Sound territory was bearing arms, and that the great proportion of them were actively engaging the enemy. That, organized in two battalions, the northern battalion occu pied the line of the Snohomish, where they were establishing blockhouses, and closing the passes of the Snoqualmie. That the central battalion was occupying the military road over the Nachess, hi relation to which road and its military bearing, your aid-de camp, Lieut. Arnold,, will be able to give you full information, and that on both lines, decisive blows had been struck, and also that it was beyond the ability of our citizens to raise an additional company of even fifty men, to honor your requisition. I have a right to hold you to a full knowledge of our condition here. If you say you were misinformed, then you are not fit for your position, and should give place for a better man. If you were informed, then your measures as a military man, manifest an incapacity beyond example. Therefore, the call on me for two companies of volunteers, is a call upon me to withdraw the troops now in the field, with sixty to eighty days' provisions, after decisive blows have been struck, and when every thing is ready to strike a, and perhaps the decisive blow to end the war. I am, sir, too old a soldier ever to abandon a well considered plan of campaign, or to do otherwise than to press forward with all my energies in the path marked out, promising:, as it does, the speedy termination of the war ; and sir, I am too wary a man not to detect the snare that has been laid for me. You never expected, sir, that the requisition would be complied with. You knew that it was a practical impossibility ; but not having the courage to acknowledge your errors, it was resorted to in the hope that my refusing your requisition might enable you to occupy my vantage ground, and throw me on the defensive. I hold you, sir, to the facts and necessity of the case, clearly demonstrating, by your own con fession, the propriety of my course, and the necessity, on my part, of a steady adherence to it. I enclose a copy of my letter to Lt. Col. Casey, in which my views in regard to this scheme of yours are given in full. You have referred to the atrocities committed upon the friendly In dians by the whites. I know nothing of what has occurred in southern Oregon, but I have to state that no man, to my knowledge, in the terri 147 tory of Washington, advocates the extermination of the Indians. The authorities here have not only used every exertion to protect them, but their exertions have been completely successful. Did you learn, sir, in your brief visit to the Sound, that nearly four thousand Indians, friendly Indians, had been moved from the war ground on the eastern shore of the, Sound and its vicinity, to the adjacent islands, and have for nearly five months been living in charge of local agents? That not an Indian in the whole course of this war has been killed by the whites, except in battle? That where a military commission, composed of a majority of volunteer officers, tried some months since, eight Indians, only one was convicted, that the sentence of death, passed upon him, has not yet been executed? It is the good conduct of our people, sir, that has so strength ened the hands of the authorities as to enable them to control these friendly Indians, and to prevent any considerable accessions to the ranks of the hostiles. And yet we have daily rumors, and have had for the last five months, that this tribe and that would break out. For, at times, great uneasiness here prevailed amongst them, and they are Indians, and as such, they sym pathise with their brethren. But the course of the authoritirs here has been firm and decisive, commanding the confidence of the community, and the affections of the Indians. Besides these four thousand on reserva tions in charge of local agents, we have three thousand more on the wes tern shore of the Sound, and on the Straits of De Fuca. I have recently heard from the Ne& Perces, the Cceur d'Aleines and the Spokanes. The former are firm in their allegiance, but the Spokanes urge me to have a military force on the great prairie between them and the hostile Indians, so these latter may not be driven to their country, and thus incite their young men to war. The letter of Garry, chief of the Spokanes, is a most plaintive and earnest call for help, so his hands may be strengthened in keeping his people to their plighted faith ; and the coincidence is remarkable, that this Indian chief, a white man in edu cation and views in life, should ask me to do the very thing I have urged upon you, for you will remember in my memoir, I urge that the troops, in operating against the Indians, should be interposed between the friendly and hostile tribes to prevent those now friendly from joining in the war. I have, sir, studied the character of these Indians, and my views as to the influence upon the friendly Indians of the mode of carrying on the war against the hostiles, are confirmed by the only highly educated Indian of either Oregon or Washington, and the head chief of the tribe in refer ence to which I made the recommendation and felt the most solicitude. Not a word has ever passed between us in reference to the subject. You are doubtless informed that the Indians have commenced offen- 148 sive operations east of the Cascades, and have attacked the steamer ply ing between the Cascades and Dalles, and the trains moving towards Walla Walla, This bold course will enable them to operate upon the Spokanes, the Colvilles, the Okinekanes, the lower Pen d'Oreilles, the Co3ur d'Aleines, who have five hundred warriors, and the tribes north of the line who have three to five hundred more. Unless struck east of the Cascades before the close of May, you will have to meet a combination of from eighteen hundred to two thousand warriors. Their families and stock will be in secure retreats in the mountains, and unless before that time, the Indians here are completely subdued, the passes over the mount ains secured by blockhouses, it will be within the range of probabilities that a large portion of the friendly Indians on the Sound can be incited to hostility. The Clickatats and Yakimas know all the passes of the Cascades, and can readily cross after the month of May. Hence the ne cessity of the most vigorous blows now, of no change of plan, of having troops in the settlements to guard against any sudden outbreak of the friendly Indians. Two men have recently been killed within fourteen miles of the capital of the territory, by a band of marauders, who have only been driven out within the last few days. It seems to me that the present condition of things imposes upon you the necessity of recognizing the services of the volunteers of the two territories now in the field, and of your doing every thing to facilitate their operations. But if you waste your exertions in the fruitless effort to induce either the authorities to* withdraw their troops to abandon their plan of campaign in order to comply with your requisition or to meet your peculiar notions, I warn you, now, sir, that I, as the Governor of Washington, will cast upon you the whole responsibility of any difficul ties which may arise in consequence, and that by my firm, steady and en ergetic course, and by my determination to co-operate with the regular service, whatever may be the provocation to the contrary, I will vindi cate the justice of my course and maintain my reputation as a faithful public servant. I warn you, sir, that unless your course is changed, you will have difficulties in relation to which your only salvation will be the firm and decided policy of the two territories, whose services you have ignored, whose people you have calumniated, and whose respect you have long since ceased to possess. You have erred in your judgment as to volunteers being needed at all here ; and, as I' have before observed, in calling for volunteers after increasing a force deemed by you sufficient, two companies, you have in dicated the justice and necessity of my acts in organizing the people of the territory as its executive. I haye thus, practically, your own endorsement that I have judgecf 149 rightly when you were in error, and my judgment having thus been sanc tioned in calling out volunteers, I prefer to rely upon it in the matter, both of the numbers required and of the organization which will give them the most efficiency. Can you presume, sir, to be able to correct your opinions by a hasty visit to the Sound of a few days ? and do you expect, after having taken my deliberate course, that I shall change my plans on a simple intimation from you, without even a conference between us ? Were you desirous, sir, to harmonize the elements of strength on the Sound, you would have seen that it was your duty, at least to have informed me of your presence, and to have invited me to a conference. There was ample time for it ; for it was less difficult for me to reach you, on receiving notice, than Col. Casey, and I have shown throughout the most anxious desire to co-operate with the regular service. Whilst in the country in the fall and winter, you complained that the authorities of the two territories did not communicate with you. Why did you not inform me of your presence in the Sound on your arri val at Steilacoom ? I learned of your probable arrival, by simply learn ing on Saturday morning by mj express, of your having left Vancouver, and I immediately dispatched the chief of my staff to wait upon you with a letter. But you were gone ; and whether you did not know the courtesy due to the civil authorities of the territory, who had taken the proper course to place themselves in relations with you, or whether you were unwilling to meet a man, whose safety you had criminally neglected, and whose general views you have been compelled to adopt, is a matter entirely immaterial to me. I enclose a copy of the letter transmitted by the hands of Adj't. Gen. Tilton, the Surveyor General of Washington territory. After the defeat of the Indians in the Walla Walla valley, they were completely cowed, and for weeks, spies only crossed the Snake river to examine the country ; gradually becoming emboldened, they have since come over in small parties, and got some small successes in running off horses, and now they have more than recovered from the prestige of that defeat. They are making attacks on the whole line of communication, and are more firm and united, more hopeful, and have more strength than when the war commenced. What, sir, would have been the effect if Gov. Curry had not made the movement which you condemn, and my party, with the friendly Nez Perces, had been cut off ? Sir, there would have been a hurricane of war between the Cascades and Bitter Root, and three thousand warriors would now be in arms. Every tribe would have joined, including tb 150 Snakes, and the spirit of hostility would have spread east of the Bitter Root to the Upper Pend d'Oreilles. I believe, sir, I would have forced my way through the five or six hundred hostiles in the Walla Walla valley, with fifty odd white men and one hundred and fifty Nez Perces. Would you have expected it ? Could the country expect it ? And what was the duty of those having forces at their command ? Gov. Curry sent his volunteers and defeated the enemy. You disbanded the company of Washington territory volun teers raised expressly to be sent to my relief. >i> , J have reported your refusal to send me succor to the department of War, and have given some of the circumstances attending that refusal. The company was under the command of Capt. Wm. McKay. Before your arrival, there was a pledge that it should be mustered into the reg ular service and sent to my assistance. Major Raines informs me that he did every thing in his power to induce yt)u to send it on. Wm. McKay informs me that he called on you personally, and that you would do noth ing. I am informed that your aid-de-camp, Lieut. Arnold, endeavored to get you to change your determination. What was your reply ? " Gov. Stevens can take care of himself. Gov. Stevens will go down the Mis souri. Gov. Stevens will get aid from Gen. Harney. If Gov. Stevens wants aid he will send for it." These were your answers according to the changing humor of the moment. And now, sir, in view of your assertion that you disbanded no troops raised for my relief, and that my communication gave you the first intelli gence that any were raised for that purpose, I would commend the chalice to your own lips, "That I trust you will be governed" hereafter "by the truth and the truth only." I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Territory Washington. [No. 66.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, May 12th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Pacific Division U. S. A., Benicia, Cal. : SIR : I have received a letter from your aid-de-camp, Lieut. Rich ard Arnold, of the 4th April, returning to me with its enclosures, my 151 letter to you of the 20th March, and stating that it was done by your direction. It can only be construed as evincing a determination on your part to have no further official communication with the Executive of the territory of Washington, at the very time when, from the circumstances of the country, and the nature of their respective duties, there should and must often be such communications. It is a matter which is not to be decided by personal feeling, but of consideration of public duty, which alone should govern public acts.' I shall, therefore, continue in my official capacity to communicate with the Major General commanding the department of the Pacific, whenever, in my judgment, duty and the paramount interests of the territory shall de mand such communication to be made, casting upon that officer whatever responsibility before the country and his superiors, may attach to his refu sal to receive said communications. My duty shall be done. Let oth ers do their duty. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor of Washington Territory. [No. 67.] EXEC OLYMPIA, Nov. 26, 1855 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T,, ) .) To the ORDNANCE OFFICER OR QUARTERMASTER, San Francisco, Cal. : SIR : I have received advices from the Col. of the Ordnance at Washington City, that the quota of arms belonging to this territory had been ordered to be shipped to Olympia to the care of the Governor of the territory of Washington. The steamer " California " arrived at Steilacoom yesterday, and I learned from Capt. Keyes, U. S. A., that these arms were brought up by the steamer, but for some unaccountable reason or mistake were all left at Fort Vancouver. The difficulties of transportation from that place by land are almost insuperable and very expensive. Capt. Keyes having informed me that some steamer in the employ of 152 the U. S. would immediately return from San Francisco direct to Puget Sound, under the circumstances, I have to request that she be directed to stop at Vancouver on her way up, and transport either to Steilacoom or Olympia, such an amount of these arms as may he delivered to her there by the proper authorized officer. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, {Signed,} C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. [No. 68.] EXECU' Olympia, Dec. 12th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, ) Col. J. W. RlPLEY, Chief of Ordnance, Benicia Arsenal, Cal. : SIR ; On the evening of the third of November on my return from the Dalles, information was received by me of a most serious Indian out break on the White river prairies, in the Puget Sound district of this ter ritory, which has assumed a very alarming aspect. Knowing well the defenceless state of the settlements and the absolute destitution of arms and ammunition, I at once made a requisition upon Theodore J. Eckerson, military storekeeper at Columbia barracks, for one hundred rifles and ac coutrements, fifty muskets, and a supply of ammunition, which were promptly furnished. On my arrival at Olympia I learned that the exi gency had been so great that the Adjutant General of the territory had dispatched a steamer to Yictoria, on Vancouver's Island, to procure arms and ammunition from Gov. Douglass. By the last mail from Columbia barracks, I received a letter from Mr. Eckerson, informing me that his action in this matter had been dis approved by you, and that I must immediately replace those arms out of the territorial quota, in order to save his personal responsibility. This last I shall be enabled to do as soon as the arms arrive, by turning over the requisite amount to the commanding officer at Fort Steilacoom, the impassability of the roads between here and Columbia barracks rendering it impossible for me to send them to the latter place. I cannot but look upon the action of Mr. Eckerson as not only jus tifiable, but worthy of the highest approval, issuing, as he did, arms upon 153 the representations and requisition of the Executive, whose office, of itself, would seem to indicate acquaintance with the state of affairs, especially at a time when assistance had to be called for from a foreign power. When the territorial arms were requested to be shipped to Olympia, peace and quiet reigned about us, and the capital of the territory was as sumed to be the proper place from whence they should be distributed. Since then a disastrous change has taken place, and the distribution of them amongst the citizens is immediately called for. As I have above stated, it is impossible to transport freight from this place at the present season of the year to the Columbia river. I have, therefore, most earnestly to request that I may be allowed to turn over to the commanding officer at Fort Steilacoom an amount sufficient to cover those furnished me by Mr. Eckerson, and, in addition to fnis, that Mr. Eckersou be allowed to issue, say eight hundred muskets, (of those sent by mistake to Columbia barracks) to George Gibbs, Brig adier General of the Washington territory militia, now at Columbia bar racks, for distribution on the Columbia river, and I will replace them in the same manner at Fort Steilacoom. I cannot too strongly assure you that the exigencies of the case not only require this, but that the danger is daily increasing. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. [No. 69.] SAN FRANCISCO, February 2, 1856. His Excellency, GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY, Olympia, W. T.: SIR: I have your favor of 12th December, 1855, concerning the issue of arms, &c., to Washington territory, by military storekeeper T. J. Eckerson, and requesting that a further issue may be ordered from him for the territorial troops on the Columbia river. With reference to the .transfer of arms from the territory to Mr. Eckerson, it appears to me best, under all the circumstances, that you should retain all the arms which have been issued to the territory, rend ering receipts to Capt. Stone for those issued by him, and to Mr. Ecker- 20 154 son for those issued by him. The excess over the present quota can pro bably be charged to the territory, to be deducted from future assignments, and I will recommend that this be approved by the chief of ordnance. With reference to your request that a further supply be ordered at Fort Steilacooni, I would state that the arrival of the 9th regiment, U. S. infantry on the Columbia river would seem to render unnecessary any further arming of the militia of that section ; and the emergency does not seem to me sufficient to justify my departing from law and regulations in the matter. Should emergencies arise, the commanding officers in the field have full authority to order the issue of arms to militia. Very respectfully, I am Your Excellency's obedient servant, (Signed,) JAS. W. RIPLEY, Lieut. Col. Ord. [No. 70.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) May 4th, 1856. ) COL. RIPLEY, U. S. A., Chief of Ordnaifce Department, Pacific Coast : SIR I have the honor to hereby request that two thousand pounds of rifle powder be furnished from the government stores of ammunition for the use of the inhabitants of Washington territory, to be distributed to such citizens as are now bearing arms against the hostile tribes inhab iting the territory, and with whom the United States is at war. The reasons which are proper to state in support of this requisition are : 1st. The two thousand muskets and rifles already provided by the TJ. S. Government, and now in the hands of the militia of W. T., were not accompanied with any ammunition except percussion caps. 2d. The fact is clear to all men here that the two thousand hostile Indians now in arms are unsubdued, and are capable of maintaining a war for many months more. 3d. The six thousand Indians now upon reservations, or not openly at war, can only be kept from joining by fear, or a full knowledge of ample preparations on the part of the white settlers. 155 4th. The impoverished state of the inhabitants of Washington territory, now nearly exhausted by keeping on foot, and supplying with every thing needed in a campaign, one thousand men in the field, or occu pying block houses for six months past, renders it almost impossible to procure ammunition from any sources of private credit. This requisition will be handed you by Lt. Col. Crosbie, aid, who is authorized to receive and receipt for such ordnance stores as you may furnish. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor W. T. [No. 71.] BENICIA, CAL., May 29, 1855. His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Washington Territory, Olympia : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, requesting " that two thousand pounds of rifle powder be furnished from the government stores of ammunition for the use of the inhabitants of Washington territory," and in reply have to say that I am not authorized to make the issue without authority from the com manding General of the Pacific department. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAS. W. KIPLEY, Lieut. Col. Ord. [No. 72.] HEAD QUARTERS, FORT May 19, 1856 HEAD QUARTERS, FORT VANCOUVER, W. T. ) 5. | To His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor of Washington : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your commu- 156 nication of the 18th instant, requesting me to approve your requisitions on the military storekeeper at this post for howitzers, rifles, ammunition, &c. In reply, I have -to say that it will be impossible for me to grant the authority desired. My instructions from the Major General commanding the department on the subject of issuing arms, &c., to troops not in the service of the United States, are positive, and I cannot depart from them. * * * * * * . In case of any descent upon this portion of the territory, my com mand will do all in its power for the safety and protection of the citizens and property, and will co-operate with the troops of the territory as far as practicable. My command consists of one company, and a few recruits. A com pany of the 9th infantry left here on Thursday last to join.the command of Colonel Wright. I am, sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) T. MORRIS, Lt. Col. 4th Infantry, Com. Post. P. S. It may be proper to state that there are no mountain how itzers here for the use of the post, all having been forwarded some time since, to Fort Dalles, and I am informed by the ordnance officer that there are but rifles enough for the troops in the district. [No. 73.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Olympia, Sept. 22, 1855. j * MAJOR Gr. J. RAINES, -Columbia Barracks, W. T: SIR : I am informed by Col. J. P. Anderson, who has just returned from the Colville mines, that some outrages have been committed by the Yakima Indians upon the miners passing through their country. One man named Mattice, a resident of this place, is known by positive Indian testimony to have been murdered by four Indians of the band called " Isle de Pierrie. " Seven other individuals, who crossed the Nachess Pass, are reported by the Indians also to have been killed. These mur- 157 ders have taken place upon straggling parties of one, two, or three, and by the Yakima tribe and its branches. A son of Owhi, one of the prin cipal chiefs of that tribe, is implicated in them. In addition to this, some twenty or thirty persons are known to have left this vicinity, in parties of from two to three, by the same route, and who are in danger of sharing the same fate. Under these circumstances I would suggest that a detachment of soldiers, sufficiently strong, should be despatched at once through the Yakima country as far as where the trail across the Nachess leaves for Colville, the object of which would be to discover the perpetrators of the murder of Mattice, to ascertain if the other murders had been committed, and to punish the guilty parties, and lastly, to furnish protection to the remaining portion of our citizens who are returning home. These reports may turn out to be without founda tion. You, however, being on the more travelled route, will have earlier information than we can have here. Gov. Stevens is expected to be in the Spokane country during the present month, and a detachment of soldiers may be of assistance to him in furthering the public service he is at present engaged in. I deem it my duty to call your attention to the facts as reported by me. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't. servant, (SignedJ C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. [No. 74.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Olympia, Sept. 26th, 1855. ) Major G. J. RAINES, U. S. A., Fort Vancouver, W. T. : SIR -.Since my communication of 22d inst., I have received addi tional information of outrages committed by the Yakima Indians. On the 14th September, two men, named Walker and Jameson, from Seattle, were shot dead from an ambush near the point where the Nachess trail crosses the Yakima, some thirty miles above the Altanam Mission. In addition to this, from all previous circumstances, there is strong probability of nine others having met a similar fate by the same hands. 158 This tribe and its kindred branches having entered into treaty stipu lations with the United States to preserve amity with all American citi zens, and in defiance of such obligations, having taken the first opportu nity to cut off straggling parties, I immediately, upon the receipt of the last information, made a requisition upon Capt. M. Maloney, commanding Fort Steilacoom, for a detachment of the troops under his command, to proceed as soon as possible to the point in question, both to punish the Yakima tribe, and to furnish protection to such persons as may be travel ling through that country. This requisition has been complied with, and on Thursday, (Sept. 27,) a detachment of forty men, with forty days' provisions, will start, under command of Lieut. W. A. Slaughter. In order more fully to carry out the objects intended, and to effect perma nent results, I have to request that the suggestion in my letter of Sep tember 22d be carried out, and that a detachment of troops be sent either from Yancouver or the Dalles, as soon as possible, to co-operate with those sent from Steilacoom. I am, very truly, Your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. LNo. 75.] HEAD QUARTERS, COLUMBIA RIVER AND PUGET SOUND DP'T., ) Fort Vancouver, Sept. 26th, 1855. C. H. MASON, ESQ., Acting Governor Washington Territory : ' SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 22d inst., and in reply, beg leave to state that, antecedently, I had obtained Col. J. P. Anderson's information from another source, and forthwith for warded an order to Lieut. Day, of the artillery, (supposed to be at Mc Kay's, on the Umatilla river, with forty-four mounted men) to enquire into the facts, with remarks " It is thought that at Walla Walla, or Brooks & Bumford's place, there will be more facilities for information; if so, proceed there, and further if necessary, as the move in that direction for this purpose will have a good effect." The only real chiefs among the Indians whose influence is to be 159 dreaded, in that region, are Peu-peu-mox-mox of the Walla Wallas, and Kam-i-akin of the Yakimas, who can be communicated with at the first named place. This order was sent to the commanding officer at Fort Dalles to forward as soon as practicable, and we look for further information from Mr. Borland, understood to be en route among the Indians for this place. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. J. RAINES, Major 4th Infantry, Commanding. [No. 76.] HEAD QUARTERS, COLUMBIA RIVER AND PUGET SOUND Fort Vancouver, W. T., Sept. 29th, 1855. J His Excellency, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. : GOVERNOR : Your letter by Mr. Pearson I have the honor to ac knowledge, and have ordered into the field a company of eighty-four men from Fort Dalles, 0. T., all mounted, and with provisions on pack mules for one month, to proceed without delay and sweep through the Yakima country to the points you indicated, co-operating with the force from Steilacoom ; also, to inquire into the safety of Agent Bolon, who has now been absent an unusual length of time ; a respectful attention to whose views is enjoined if alive for there are grounds to fear other wise. I shall approve of the action of the commanding officer at Fort Steilacoom in the premises, and only regret that the forty men under Lt. Slaughter, were not a full company. I have also located an officer and twenty men at the Cascades. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. J. RAINES, Major 4th Infantry commanding. 160 HEAD QUARTERS COLUMBIA RIVER AND PUGET SOUND DIST., ) Fort Vancouver, October 9th', 1855. ) / Hon. CHAS. H. MASON, Acting Governor of W. T. : SIR: Information has been received this day. from Major G. 0. Haller, who was ordered out into the Yakiina country. He states that he met the enemy about 3 P. M., on the 6th inst, and fought them at skirmishing for some time. Finally charging them, he drove them out of the brush. From the nature of the country he was obliged to take pos session of the heights surrounding the Pisco river for the night. He was surrounded, and in that position, has called for a re-inforcement. All the disposable force in the district will at once take the field, and I have the honor to make a requisition upon you for two companies of volun teers, to take the field at the earliest poss ible moment. The composition of these companies to be as follows : One captain, one first lieutenant, and one second lieutenant, two musicians, four ser geants, four corporals, and seventy-four privates. The greatest exertions should be made to raise and equip these com panies at once. Orders have been sent to Capt. Maloney to take the field with all his disposable force, and it is expected that the regulars and volunteers will act in concert. As soon as the first company is raised the command of regulars and volunteers should take the field with out waiting for the other company. This latter company can start out as soon as raised and equipped. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. J. RAINES, Major 4th Infantry commanding. [No. 78.] EXECU'] Olympia, Oct. 14th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, ) Maj. G. J. RAINES, Fort Vancouver : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of Oct. 9th, and to state in reply, that agreeably to the request therein con tained, I have called upon the people of the territory for two companies '' 161 of volunteers, one to report to the commanding officer at Vancouver and the other to the executive at this place. This last will, as soon as organ ized, be ordered to report to Capt. Maloney, at Fort Steilacooni, and proceed into the field as soon as possible. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting: Governor, W. T. [No. 19.] EXECUTIVE October 14th, 1855 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) 5. J Major G. J. RAINES, Fort Vancouver, W. T.: SIR : I have sent the bearer of this letter, R. M. Walker, Esq., executive clerk, to learn from you how far the volunteer company ordered to organize at Fort Vancouver can depend upon the post under your com mand for arms, ammunition, &c. The scarcity of these munitions of war upon the S,ound rendered it necessary for me to make a requisition both upon the U. S. Revenue Cutter "Jefferson Davis, " the result of which I have not as yet ascer tained. I sincerely trust that it will be in your power to furnish the necessary arms and accoutrements for the company directed to organize at Van couver. Transportation and subsistence will, I suppose as a matter of course, be furnished them by the TJ. S. Quartermaster and Commissary. Any papers necessary to be receipted by me will be acted upon immedi ately upon presentation. I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. 21 162 [No. 80.] HEAD QUARTEI October nth, 1855. HEAD QUARTERS, FORT VANCOUVER, W. T., ) Acting Governor C. H. MASON, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two* communications of the 14th inst. So soon as the company of volunteers from this county is organized and mustered into the service, it will be armed and equipped and furnished with subsistence and transportation. If I am correctly informed, a company will soon be organized, the members of which will be mostly men who are residing on claims within twenty miles of this post, and who, from their knowledge of the country, will be of very great assistance in thoroughly chastising the hostile Click- atats and Yakimas. I am, Governor, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JNO. WITHERS, First Lieut. 4th Infantry, commanding post. [No. 81.] FORT VANCOUVER, W. T. Nov. 3d, 1855. Lieut. JOHN WITHERS, U. S. A., Commanding Fort Vancouver : SIR : I have instructed B. F. Shaw, Esq., to raise a company of rangers to proceed on the trail towards the Rocky mountains, and if possible, to bring in Governor Stevens in safety. Mr. Shaw has depu ted Mr. Wm. McKay for the purpose. In case the company should be organized, and mustered into the ser vice of the United States, I have to request that you will furnish them with all the necessary arms, ammunition, subsistence, transportation, &c., and despatch them as soon as possible on the route above indicated. Mr. Shaw is expected to have the direction of the company, either as a captain, or as special Indian agent. Very respectfully, yours, CHAS. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. 163 [No. 82.] Camp No. 11, Monday, Nov. 12, 1855. ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION, YAKIMA, ) Acting Governor C. H. MASON, Olympia, W. T. : GOVERNOR : Here we are without a battle, except a skirmish four days since, with some forty Indians, who defied us as we approached the Yakima river. We thought at first it was the prelude to the big battle with the whole of their force, and forded the stream to an island with our mounted troops, eighteen dragoons and eight pioneers. Here we commenced the action, firing on the enemy, and ordered up our artillery and infantry to ford the stream. Our troops made a rush into the water, biit being on foot, tried again and again to cross the river but failed, the rapid current sweeping away two of our best men, who were thus drowned ; whereupon, I sent back to Col. Nesmith for two companies of volunteers, which, with our dragoons, drove headlong into the foaming torrent, and reaching the opposite shore, charged the enemy, who fled away over the hills, one of their balls striking, but fortunately not wound ing, Col. Nesmith's horse. Late in the afternoon, after recalling all our force to the south bank of the Yakirna river, we heard, some distance on the plain, the reports of small arms, (indication of a fight,) and taking two companies, we pro ceeded in that direction until some tune after night, when the firmg ceas ing, we returned back to the edge of the timber, and bivouacked for the night. Next day we found a number of Indians around us on swift hor ses, which were driven off by our mounted volunteer companies, and as we approached the mountain gorge, found the Indians about three hun dred in number on the hill tops beating their drums and shouting defi ance. These were soon driven from their position and scattered by dis charges from our howitzers. We cut off some of them by a proper dis position of our troops, and two or more were killed. We continued our march to this place, sweeping the plains with our cavalry, dispersing, killing and wounding all the enemy we saw, and found the mission abandoned, apparently precipitately. Capt. Maloney not having arrived in conjunction with Col. Nesmith (who went himseif in command) we despatched one hundred and sixty- eight volunteers aad regulars, on our best horses, to proceed in the direc tion of the Nachess pass, and ascertain his whereabouts. We are await ing their report, for we cannot tell where the large body of- the enemy is, nnless gone that way to attack Capt. Maloney ? s command. 164 Our force has alarmed the enemy so much that they may be scat tered. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. J. RAINES, Major U. S. Army, and Brig. Gen. W. T. Y. [No. 83.] EXECUTIVE C Olympia, April 2d, 1856. Col. GEO. WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Commanding 9th Infantry : SIR : I have respectfully to suggest the propriety of a thorough understanding between the regular and volunteer service, so their joint efforts may be applied to the protection of the settlements and the prose cution of the war. The recent attack on the Cascades must convince all persons that this is 119 time for forms, but for vigorous, energetic and united action. We have the worst country in the world for summer operations. The Indians, basing their operations on the mountain region about Reg- nier, St. Helens and Adams, a region affording inexhaustible quantities of food, numerous and inaccessible retreats, can defy the utmost energies of a vastly superior force to do ought else than protect the settlements. We are now rapidly approaching that condition of things, and it becomes a paramount duty to prepare for it. Not only in my judgment is the present force in the field, both reg ulars and volunteers, inadequate, but it should be strengthened, and that rapidly, or the force of Oregon Volunteers will be left to contend single handed against a vastly superior force. I am now raising an additional company in Lewis county for the protection of the people, and to watch the passes in that quarter. A company has already been raised in Clarke county which will, if practic able, be mounted. The effect, in that settled portion of the territory ought to be to keep the farmers on their claims. In Clarke county, I learn the inhabit ants have gone to Vancouver and St. Helens. 165 There should be blockhouses on the Washoogle settlement and on Lewis river. I therefore propose to apply the company raised in Clarke county in ranging duty, and every effort will be made to induce the settlers to re turn to their farms and secure themselves by blockhouses. I am most anxious so to arrange my operations that no force need be thrown away, and I will ask you to communicate with me and make such suggestions as may seem to you appropriate. I am sir, very respectfully, Yout most obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor W. T. [No. 84.] HEAD QUARTERS, NORTHERN DIST., DEP. OF THE PACIFIC, ) Fort Vancouver, W. T., April 10th, 1856. ) GOVERNOR I, I. STEVENS, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : I have this moment received your communication of the 2d inst., and in reply, have to say, that I am now using all the force at my disposal for the protection of the settlements, and hi restoring con fidence to the farmers east, west, and north of us. In the first place, I am erecting block houses at either extremity of the Cascades portage ; they will be completed in a few days. I have also organized a detach ment of mounted infantry under an enterprising officer, to range over the whole country and afford protection to the farmers. The panic is subsi ding : the people are now beginning to return to their vocations, all they require is union among themselves, and the knowledge of the fact that scouting parties are constantly moving over the country. The temporary success the enemy met with at the Cascades, has not given him confidence ; my sudden return and total dispersion of all the Indians at that point, with the loss of twelve or fifteen of their warriors, with all of their baggage and animals, will have convinced them that they are safe only in their mountain retreats. The unfortunate affair at the Cascades, it is hoped, may rouse our people to the necessity of having their arms always with them ; had such been the case, many valuable lives might have been spared. 166 We must keep an eye on the friendly Indians. I am well satisfied that they knew full well at the Cascades that an attack was to be made, and that many of them joined the hostile party. However, I have given them a lesson which they will long remember. Ten of those Indians, including their chief, have been hung by sentence of a military commis sion. The residue, some forty men, and seventy or eighty women and children have been placed on an island without any means of leaving it, and under the observation of troops. As soon as our lines of communi cation are well secured, and quiet and confidence established in the set tlements, I shall be prepared to advance into the country of the Yakimas. A strong post must be established in the heart of that country. It will not do to march through an Indian country simply ; we should make them understand that we are going to make a permanent settlement with them. Break up their fisheries, and harrass them constantly, in order that they shall have no time for laying in a supply of food. By this course, I think they may be brought to terms, perhaps not until next winter ; it is only a question of time, it must be accomplished in the end. I return immediately to the Cascades. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Col. 9th Infantry, commanding. [ EXTRACT. ] [No. 85.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T., | OLYMPIA, April 24th, 1856. J Col. GEO. WRIGHT, Commanding Columbia River District : SIR : * * * * * * * My object in addressing you is to ascertain whether it is a point of your plan of campaign soon to occupy the Walla Walla country. Should the Oregon volunteers be disbanded, and the Walla Walla not be occu pied, my train will require a considerable escort. In this event, will you furnish me with an escort of one jcompany on my requisition ? Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEYENS, Governor Territory Washington. 167 [No. 86.] [EAI Camp at Ft. Dalles, 0. T., April 27, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, NORTHERN DIST. DEP^T. OF THE PACIFIC, ) Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : Your communication of the 24th instant has this mo ment reached me ; and in reply, I have to say, that it forms no part of my present plan of campaign to occupy the Walla Walla country. I cross the Columbia river to-morrow morning with five companies, and march into the heart of the Yakima country, with the hope of termina ting the war in that quarter at an early date. The expedition to the Walla Walla has been deferred for the pres ent, as we are assured that the Indians in that district, and on the Snake river are peaceably inclined. It has been deemed advisabled to operate with a strong force in the Yakima country. Your communication has been forwarded to the Major General com manding the department, for his action in the matter. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Col. 9th Infantry commanding. [No. 87.] EXECUTIVE May 8th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, COL. G. WRIGHT, Commanding Northern District : SIR : Your favor of the 27th instant reached me last evening. My object in writing is to state, that my information in regard to the In dians in the Walla Walla and on the Snake river is that they are deter mined to prosecute the war. This was the declaration made by the prominent chiefs of the Cay- uses to the express of Mr. McDonald some weeks since. This is the opinion of my agent in the Nez Perces country, and of the Nez Perces chiefs, and it would seem to be indicated by the recent attack by the ID. dians on the volunteers at the Umatilla. 168 I have therefore thought it my duty to communicate these views, and I will suggest that you receive with great caution any information of their peaceable intentions, to the end that you may not be thrown off your guard. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, the Yakimas ; and I again express the hope that you will go to Walla Walla. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC L STEVENS, Governor and Sup. Indian Affairs, W. T. [No. 90J HEAD Fort Dalles, O. T., October 4th, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, COLOMBIA RIVER DISTRICT, Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Indian Affairs, W. T. : GOVERNOR : I had the honor to receive sometime since, your com- inunication of the 19th August, making a requisition on me for the de livery of Leschi, Nelson, Qui-e-muth, Kitsap and Stehi, with the view of their being sent to the Sound, to be tried by the civil authority. I delayed action on the subject, expecting your speedy return from Walla Walla, when I was anxious to have a personal interview with you. You know the circumstances under which the Indians referred to- were permitted to come in and remain with the friendly Yakimas. Al though I have made no promises that they should not be held to account for their former acts, yet, in the present unsettled state of our Indian rela tions, I think it would be unwise to seize them, and transport them for trial. I would, therefore, respectfully suggest that the delivery of the Indians be suspended for the present. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Col. 9th Infantry commanding. 171 (No. 91.] DALLES, O. T., October 4th, 1856. Col. Gr. WRIGHT, Col. Commanding River district : SIR I have received your letter of this date, in answer to my re quisition for the delivery of Leschi, Nelson, Qui-e-muth, Kitsap and Stehi, to be sent to the Sound to be tried by the civil authority. These men are notorious murderers, and committed their acts of atro city under circumstances of treachery and blood-thirstiness almost beyond example. All belong to bands with whom treaties have been made, and in the case of all, except Nelson, the treaty has been sanctioned by the Senate, and the execution of the treaty has been placed in my hand. Whether a treaty has been made or not, I am of opinion that men guilty of such acts should be at least tried, and if convicted, punished, more especially should this be done in cases where, by treaty stipulations, provision is made for the punishment of such offences. If the condition of things is so unsettled in the Yakima that the seizing of these men, after such arrangements as to time, &c., as necessa rily comes within the discretion of the force making the seizure, will lead to war, the sooner the war commences the better. Nothing, in my judg ment, will be gamed by a temporising policy. The war commenced on our part in consequence of the attempt to arrest the murderers of Bolon, Mattice, and others, on the requisition of the Acting Governor of Washington territory. If this demand is not inflexibly insisted upon, and peace is made on milder terms, it will be, it seems to me, a criminal abandonment of the great duty of protecting our citizens, will depreciate our standing with the Indians, and pave the way for wars hereafter. I must, therefore, again respectfully make requisition for the delivery . of the Indians mentioned, in order that they may be sent to the Sound to be tried by the civil court. The particular mode and the special time of making the seizure rests with your discretion. I shall send special agent Shaw to the Yakima to take charge of the Indians you have officially reported to me to be friendly, and of Indians that I propose to incorporate with them. He will have instructions not under any circumstances to receive these Indians on the reservation. I am, very truly, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent Indian Affairs. 172 [No. 92.] HEAD QUARTERS W. T. VOLUNTEERS, ) Fort Mason, Walla Walla, Aug. 25th, 1856. ) LIEUT. COL. STEPTOE, 9th Inf. Com. Expedition to Walla Walla : . "/>' ''>, V * * i -S" MY DEAR SIR : On my arrival at this place on the 23d, I found a messenger from the Nez Perce country who brought letters from Indian agent William Craig to Lieut. Col. Shaw, stating that the Nez Perces would all attend the council. In the evening another messenger came with information that the Cayuse and Umatilla chiefs all desired to come in, if advised to do so by Looking Glass. My reply was that I should be glad to see Kam-i-akin, provided he would come in and submit himself unconditionally to the justice and mercy of the government. I must wait a few days before I can judge as to what will be the result of the council in reference to the hostiles. The main object of the council, which was to strengthen and con firm the Nez Perces and Spokanes in their friendship, will unquestionably be accomplished. The terms of service of the volunteers will all expire on the 8th September, and that of one company on the 30th of this month. They number one hundred and fifty-six, officers and men. I have asked them to remain till the council was concluded and the valley was occupied by the regular troops, to which they have very willingly assented. From present appearances, I do not think the council can be opened till next week and perhaps not till the middle of the week. I particu larly desire your presence, and that of at least a portion of your com mand during the council. The trains can move easily from the Dalles to this point in eleven days, but as you will move, I suppose, by Fort Walla Walla, and be detained there perhaps two days in crossing over the troops from the Yakima, I presume you will be fourteen days on the march. ... Mv I will ask, however, that you place your troops somewhere in the general vicinity of the council ground, till the council is through. My object is to show the Indians the strength of our people and the unity of our councils. We are twenty-five miles from Fort Walla Walla, five miles from the Whitman valley, and about seven miles from the saw mill claim of Whitman on Mill creek. We are on a little tributary of Mill creek, and about one mile from it. 173 Drop me a line by the return express, and let me know how you are getting on. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor, W. T. [No. 93.] WILLOW CREEK, Aug. 28, 1856. MY DEAR SIR : I received your letter by the courier, and was gratified to perceive that matters were likely to be so satisfactory to you. You will notice where I am with my train, and can better judge than I can, what time must elapse before I will reach the Walla Walla. If it shall appear that Capt. Russell cannot cross the Columbia without the boat waggons with me, I may be obliged to diverge and meet him at the crossing ; it is probable, however, that he will find canoes and get across without any aid from me, in which event, I will be happy to attend the council. Very truely yours, (Signed,) E. J. STEPTOE. [No. 94.] COUNCIL GROUND, WALLA WALLA VALLEY, W. T;, ) Sunday, August 31, 1856. ] Lieut. E. J. STEPTOE, 9th Inf. Com. expedition to Walla Walla: MY DEAR SIR : Your letter of the 28th by John Dunn has been received. The Nez Perces are coming in. The advance, about thirty men, reached this place with Craig. The whole nation has crossed Snake river, and will be here Wednesday, Sept. 3d. An express reached me last eve- uiug from the Spokane. Father Ravalli of the Cceur d'Alene mission, has gone in person through the tribes in this quarter, inviting them in my name, to the council. But I do not expect a single Indian of the hostiles, belonging to the tribes struck by Shaw in the Grande Ronde at the council. The Cayuses, excepting those who separated last fall, are completely under the control of the young men. Certain chiefs desire to come in, but dare not leave, and the hostiles have recently received a great encouragement. On Thursday, Scott's pack train, consisting of fourteen men, with the necessary animals, having thirty-three pack loads of supplies for the troops and Indians, and escorted by a force of twenty-five volunteers, un der Lieut. Grates, was attacked within fifteen miles and almost in sight of this camp, about 9 o'clock, Thursday morning, and, after a contest, which lasted the whole day, the whole train was captured the party es caping in the night with simply their riding horses. The affair will be bad in its effects upon the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and tribes thence in the direction of the Dalles. " And I will ask you to use every exertion to get here as soon as possible, for I want the benefit of the occupation of the valley, by your troops at the opening of the council. I have just sent an express to the Columbia, with a letter to Russell offering to send him a wagon boat if he should not find canoes, and I have asked him in the event of his orders authorising him so to do, to come at once to the general vicinity of the council ground." I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent. {No. 95.] Walla Walla Valley, W. T., Aug. 31st, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS W. T. V. ) AFT. RUSSELL, En route from the Yakima : SIR : I send to-day an express to Lieut. Col. Steptoe, who, it is supposed, will camp on the Umatilla at Fort Henrietta to-night. He was ,on Willow creek Thursday night, three marches from the Umatilla, 175 The Col. wrote ine, stating that you would probably be able to effect a crossing with canoes. I have one boat waggon here which I will send down to you if you need it. The Nez Perces are on their way to the council, the whole tribe, men, women and children. Their advance got here last evening. The remainder will be here on Wednesday. I expect a representation of the friendly tribes in, and in the neighborhood of, the Spokane. The Nez Perces Indian who carries this is to be relied on, and send back word by him, whether it will be consistent with your ord ers to move immediately with the troops under your command to the vi cinity of the council. We are about twenty-five miles from Fort Walla Walla, and about five miles above the Whitman valley. '* i~- f ' I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor W. T. N. B. An express is just in from Steptoe. He camped last night on Butter creek (ten miles from Umatilla) and will probably camp on the Umatilla to-night. It is probable he may, however, remain in camp to-day, though I think not. [No. 96.] Walla Walla Valley, W. T., Sept. 4th, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, W. T. V., ) Captain D. A. RUSSELL, 4th Infantry, U. S. A., on the Columbia : SIR : Your letter of the 2d reached me in the night, and I send down my waggon boat with an escort of twenty men, and with orders to reach you in the night. Your letter to Col. Steptoe I forwarded to him by express this morning. An Indian express just in brings me information that Col - 176 Steptoe will camp to-night at Wild Horse creek, and will descend into the valley on Friday. We expect the Nez Perces at our camp to-morrow. I am, sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent. [No. 911 CAMP ON WILD HORSE CREEK, } September 4th, 1856. } Gov. STEVENS, &c. : MY DEAR SIR : I received your note of yesterday by the two Nez Perces Indians a few moments since. Accept my thanks for the kind offer of the boat waggon. The heavy rain of yesterday detained me on the Umatilla. I marched despite of it but had to go into camp after an hour or so. But to-morrow afternoon no doubt will find me in your neighborhood. My purpose is to select a suitable spot for a camp where my whole command will be left till I can determine where to establish the perma nent post, or at all events, where we can best winter. I shall, therefore, take the road to Whitman's in the morning. Yery truely yours, (Signed,) E. J. STEPTOE. [No. 98.] COUNCIL GROUND, WALLA WALLA YALLEY, W. T., ) September 10th, 1856. J Col. E. J. STEPTOE, SIR : I have the honor to make requisition for the presence on the council ground of two companies, and including your mountain howitzers. I have especially to request that this force shall be on the ground to-night. The Cay uses have all come in, and it is important in my opinion, as 177 all the volunteers leave tomorrow morning to be discharged, there should be a force on the ground to control them. Respectfully yours, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent. T^T iA-V'''*''' *"" "' "V ' [No. 99.] L J .j<5 7fl P?7 -.VJ-JT li ,-rr CAMP ON MILL CREEK, \ Sept. 10, 1856. ) GOVERNOR STEVENS, &c.: SIR : Your communication of this day has just been received. ''1 regret that it did not reach me earlier in the day, or rather night, (for it is now nearly 9 o'clock at night J in which event, I might have made some such arrangement as you suggest. I do not think it advisable to move down my command, or the part of it you request, at this hour. The effect of it upon the Indians could not fail to be startling, I am induced to believe. More than that, I have not the shadow of a doubt that the Cayuses are decided to conduct themselves properly at the council. If you had informed me this morning that you desired the presence of my command I would have encamped near you to-night ; as it is, I am now some seven or eight miles beyond you. It is necessary for my train to start back to the Dalles in the morn ing, and I have occupation very constantly for the dragoons in one way or another all which leaves me but a small force to prepare and guard my winter camp. My advice (if you will permit the liberty) is that the council busi ness be adjourned, so far as possible, to some more convenient time. It is plain that I shall not have the force you desire to despatch to the council ground, nor any force to remain there long. And permit me to say that my instructions from Gen. Wool do not authorize me to make any arrange ment, whatever, of the kind you wish. Pardon me for writing so much, but the fact is, my position is one which seems to compel a lengthy ex planation. In short, if I thought you were in the least danger, I would not hesitate to move down at once the whole of my force ; as it is, I can not accede to your request. In haste, very truely and respectfully, B. J. STEPTOE, Brevet CoL U. S. A. 23 178 f No. 100. ] (CONFIDENTIAL.) COUNCIL GROUND, WALLA WALLA YALEY, W. T., i Sept. 13th, 1856. J LIEUT. COL. E. J. STEPTOE: MY DEAR SIR : The council did not adjourn yesterday till near sundown, too late for me to visit your camp. I understand the feelings of the Indians from what was developed yesterday. The want of a military force on the council ground seriously embar rassed me, (I have retained for a day some fifty of GofPs company,) but having called the council in good faith as the Indian superintendent and also, as the commissioner to treat with the Indian tribes by the appoint ment of the President, I shall go through with the duty I have under taken. One half of the Nez Perces and all the other tribes, except a very few persons, are unmistakeably hostile in feeling. The Cayuses, the Walla Wallas and the other hostiles were so when they came in. Hence the requisition I made upon you for troops. I particularly desire you to be present to-day, if your duties will permit, and I will also state that I think a company of your troops is essential to the security of my camp. I shall, as I said, go through with this business whatever be the con sequences as regards my own personal safety, but I regard it to be my duty to the public, to the Indians, and to my own character. This communication is marked " confidential, " but is intended as an official communication, and will go on my files as such, only I do not think it prudent, that my judgment as to the aspect of affairs, should at this time be disclosed to any other person than yourself. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't. servant, ( Signed,) ISAAC I. STEYENS, Governor and Superintendent. [No. 101. J- CAMP ON Sept. 13th, 1856. CAMP ON MILL CREEK,. W. T., ) GOVERNOR : I have received your communication of to-day, and regret extremely that you think a company of my troops to be " essential to the safety" of your camp. 179 In a previous communication I suggested that if you distrusted the safety of your position, the council might be adjourned to a more conve nient time and place. As you know, my camp for the winter is in preparation ; the train has been unloaded and sent back to the Dalles, and much valuable prop erty, which cannot be now removed, lies on my camp ground. If the In dians are, therefore, really meditating an outbreak, it will be difficult for me to provide for the defence of my own camp impossible to defend loth camps. Under these circumstances, if you are resolved to go on with your council, does it not seem more reasonable that you shall move your camp to the vicinity of mine ? I send down the company of dragoons to bring you up to this place if you desire to come. Allow me to say that your request for troops embarrasses me fully as much as you can be by their absence from your council ground. My force is so small, that, to be efficient against the large number of savages in the neighborhood, it must be concentrated, nor can I detach any portion of it, in execution of certain instructions received from Gen. Wool, while the Indian host remain so near to me. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) E. J. STEPTOE, Brevet Lieut. Col. TJ. S. A. _yj 4 A ' |No. 102.] CAMP, Sept. 19, 1856. Gov. STEVENS, &c., Council Ground : GOVERNOR : I have just received your note asking that the dra goons be sent to your aid. Now, the Cayuses have burned all the grass near me, I shall have to send my animals quite a distance for grass, and if I send the dragoons to you I shall be unable to herd them. Besides that, the company could not return to me for some time, and the Indians would probably turn all their attention to the few men left with me. I have no block nouses, and shall expect to be annoyed much. 180 Under these circumstances, do you not think I had better use your train and move with you to the Umatilla, or some point beyond, where you would be safe from molestation, and / could find grass abundant? If I had my train I would not hesitate a moment, but would join you in the morning with my whole command rather than part with the only mounted men I have. What do you think of returning to this camp to night or in the morning, taking my baggage up in your waggons, and our moving off together ? Let me hear from you by Richard. I cannot help thinking that if you abandon (burn up) your old waggons, you can easily get through with your pack animals ; but what think you of my plan of going together ? Yours, in haste, (Signed,) B. J. STEPTOE, ?iil 3M1 tttrftfelttrfii?') -V"-- '*- -" ; '-Ji li^'i itf$ C- tf * VfOliA I could probably send you Fletcher's company, with most ease, but I think it is best for both of us that you loose a day and take up our baggage. LT. COL. E. J. STEPTOE. [No. 103.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, Sept. 24th, 1855. Capt. M. MALONEY, Commanding Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : Positive information has been received by me that three American citizens have been murdered by the Yakirna Indians on the eastern side of the Cascade mountains, whilst travelling towards the Fort Colville mines. There is also strong probability that nine others have perished in a similar manner and by the same hands. In addition to this, there are at present in and about that vicinity, some thirty other persons, either going to, or returning from the mines, who are in danger of sharing the same fate. This tribe, on the ninth day of June last, entered into treaty stipula tions with the United States, ceding their lands, and binding themselves to amity with all citizens of the United States. In defiance, however, of 181 these obligations, they have taken the first opportunity to murder strag gling parties that have travelled through their country. Under these circumstances, 1 have to request that a detachment of the troops under your command may be despatched at the earliest mo ment to the Yakima country to administer punishment to that tribe, and to furnish protection to such citizens as may be remaining there. I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. i'; -A to So^toiq fvi$ m?>iiJ' lM;g <:! har I 1i ,$boo*w ; too [No. 104.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, -ftl' Olympia, Oct. 15th, 1855. ) >->7b)?. :<"::/>;;, <3/; ni .{iiftUtt ; phuBOO. Capt. M. MALONEY, Commanding Fort Steilacoom : SIR : In compliance with the request of Major G. J. Raines, I have called upon the people of this territory for two companies of volunteers to co-operate with the regular troops already in, and about to be sent into the field. Owing to the scarcity of arms in the territory, I have to request that you will forward to me as soon as possible at Olympia, all the mus kets and accoutrements that can be spared from Fort Steilacoom. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ( Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. ' _ __ [No. CAMP Oct. 29th, 1855. CAMP ON NACHESS RIVER, ) J Major G. J, RAINES, Fort Vancouver, W. T.: MAJOR : In accordance with orders which I received from you, I joined, with the available troops at Steilacoom, amounting to seventy-five 182 men, at the earliest possible moment, the 21st of this month, Lieutenant Slaughter's command, which had fallen back to the White river prairies. I remained there two days, until I was joined by a company of volun teers under command of Capt. Hays, on the 24th. I commenced my march for the Yakima country, expecting to find you in the field. Yes terday I arrived at this camp, when I laid over to-day to recruit my ani mals. I received an express to-day from Steilacoom from which I get in formation that you will not be on your march for from one to two weeks. I have also got information that there are from two to three thousand Indians well armed and determined to fight, in my front, and, after consid ering the matter over, have concluded that it is my duty to return to Steilacoom. My reasons are as follows, viz : my force is not sufficiently strong to fight them and protect the animals and provisions which I have along with me ; secondly, if I advance I must meet them, as there is no point before me before I get into the plains, where I can camp and defend myself and animals, where I will not be cut off from communication, both in front and rear by high water, before you can get into the enemy's country ; thirdly, in accordance with your orders I started with thirty days' provisions ; I have been out twelve days, and therefore have only eighteen days' provisions, which would be out before my command could join yours. There is already snow upon the mountains, and there is every reason to believe that in three or four days it will close the road from here to Steilacoom, and also raise the Nachess river, so that it will prevent communication between this place and the Yakima plains. I am of opinion that the best way to get the troops from Steilacoom into the enemy's country will be by way of the Dalles. I also learn from the same express that the northern Indians are showing themselves in considerable numbers at Steilacoom and other points on the Sound, intending, with other Indians, to strike a blow in case I should be defeated here. I am, Major, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ( Signed,) M. M ALONE Y, Capt. 4th Inf. Com. Detachment. 183 [No. 106.] FORT STEILACOOM, W. T. ) Oct. 30th, 8 o'clock, A. M., 1855. j ;,. ' V; Hon. C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T.: SIR : I have just received an express from Capt. Sterrett, com manding " Decatur, " informing me that the Indians on White river have broken out, and that seven whites and two Indians have been murdered. Amongst the whites were one or two women. On Sunday, the 28th, fifty-five men under the command of Captain C. C. Hewitt, went up the Dewamish en route for the White river coun try. " A rumor came in here last evening, (brought by one of the rangers and friendly Indians) to the effect that McAllister and nine others of the rangers were killed last night on the Puyallup, and that the Indians are advancing towards this post 250 strong. I am unable to say how true this is, bnt fear it is but too true. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, ( Signed,) JOHN NUGEN, 2d Lieut. 4tk Infantry. i : [No. 10t.] FORT STEILACOOM, W. T. r } Oct. 31st, 1855. > JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers : J SIR : I have the honor to state that I have called upon the citizens of Pierce county for one company of volunteers to act against the Indi ans on White river and vicinity, who have been murdering our citizens, and attacked the company of rangers under Captain Eaton, mustered into the service of the United States. This call has been promptly responded to, and a company of forty are now ready to take the field, under the command of Capt. Wallace r who will report to you for orders. 184 I wish you would come down to our post, as I think your presence would expedite matters. I trust you will succeed in getting another com pany in your place, as I am of the opinion that no less than one hundred men should think of taking the field, they to act together, and the work will speedily be finished. I trust the acting Governor will approve of my action, as I could see no other way to maintain the peace of our country* I am sir, very respectfully, Yout most obedient servant, (Signed,) JOHN NUGEN, 2d Lieut. 4th Inf. Com. Post; 'J/fi K) 3O 1'f H: ili-iy.-) 1^$I -j'i ;K- Fit [No. 108.] HEAD QUARTERS, FORT STEILACOOM, | November 1st, 1855. ) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers, Olympia : Sm : ^1 have detained Capt. Wallace's company of volunteers to assist hi protecting this post in case an attack should be made. Dr. Tol- mie, just in from Nisqually, informs me that one of his shepherds saw a band of some twenty Klickatats just in rear of Nisqually last night. I have nearly all the women and children in the county at the post, and will of course protect them. I would respectfully request that all the men in this section of the country be called out, as I am firmly of the belief that we are to have a general Indian war in this vicinity. Send me down cartridges at the earliest moment, as it is reported the Indians are to make an attempt at taking our fort to-night. This is only a report, but I wish to have plenty of ammunition, and I am rather short just at this time. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant^ JOHN NUflEN, 2d Lieut. 4th Inf. Com. Post. A 185 [No. 109.] FORT Nov. 12, 1855. FORT STEILACOOM, W. T,, ) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers : SIR : I have just received an express from Capt. Maloney. I send you a copy of his letter to Major Raines. The following men composed the express : Mr. Bright, Jos. Miles, A. B. Moses, Tidd, Bradley, Dr. Burns, and Kabbeson, your sheriff. The express was ambuscaded near White river, and Miles killed and Moses mortally wounded and left in the woods. I sent Capt. Wallace with his company to open communications with Capt. Maloney, who will reach White river to-night, and I fear small parties will be coming in from his camp to-morrow. Capt. Wallace will mako a forced march, and reach Capt. Maloney before day light, if he has good luck. Hurry up the rangers, so that there may be short work of this mat ter. You had better let Mrs. Moses know this sad news yonrself. If he is still alive Capt. Wallace will rescue him. Yery respectfully, yours, (Signed,) JOHN NUGEN, Lt. 4th Inf. Coin. Post. [No. 110.] FORT STEILACOOM, W. T., ) Nov. 4th, 6 P. M., 1855. J JAMES TILXON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : I have just received an express from Capt. Maloney, inform ing me that Lieut. Slaughter, with fifty regulars, and Capt. Hays, with fifty volunteers, had met the Indians yesterday about 8 A. M.. They had taken a position on the right bank of the river, and opposed the troops crossing. The river was too high to ford, and the Indians, behind logs 24 186 firing, so the fight became general, and lasted until about 4 p. M., thirty Indians killed, and no telling how many wounded, as they were carried to the rear. Slaughter had some men posted on a hill in rear of his posi tion, where they could see and count every Indian who fell. Slaughter killed one, and Lieut. Harrison killed two. Our loss, one soldier killed, who was falling a tree in order to cross the stream ; one soldier wounded severely, and one volunteer wounded. To-day they had one hundred and fifty men to hunt them up. They will have hard work to keep out of the way of the troops. * * * * * * * Col. Moses' body was found, and Capt. Maloney says he will bring it in when he returns. Miles' body was found to-day. ******* Mr. Tidd carries an express to the Columbia river. If you can ex pedite his movements please do so. Capt. Wallace joined Capt. Maloney yesterday, and the rangers left here to-day, and will join him probably to-morrow. Yours truely, JOHN NUG-EN, Lt. 4th Inf. Com. Post. [No. 111.] CAMP CONN November 6, 1855. Hon. CHAS. H. MASON, CAMP CONNELLS, ON WHITE RIVER, | Acting Governor of W. T. : SIR: -I have the honor to inform you of my whereabouts. I ar rived here on the 2d, found Connell's place burned down, searched all around, and found Lieut. McAllister's body about one mile from this farm. I knew that the Indians must have been close at hand, and next morning, having got on their trail, Capt. Hays and Lieut. Slaughter started after them to a crossing of White river, where the Indians were found on the. opposite side of the river. They opened fire on us. One of my company fell dead. The fire was returned by the command, both regulars and volunteers, from nine o'clock till three o'clock P. M. They had the advantage of the ground, but still there were over thirty killed, 187 / and I don't know how many wounded. We conld not cross the river on that day. Next day I started a command after them, and found them on the opposite side of Green river ; they showed but little fight. We had two wounded ; I can't say how many Indians were wounded. The rivers are so high the Indians have the advantage of us, but still I think we can clean a good many of them out yet before we close the winter's campaign. Capt. Hay's company, J consider, deserves my warmest praise. A better company could not be brought into the field to act against Indians. I have always found them ready and active at any moment, and they have my most hearty thanks, both officers and men, and hereafter you will be informed of those most gallant, but at present I can say nothing, for they are all gallant. I am sorry Mr. Bright had to run such risks, but at the same time I am glad he escaped. I hope he has not suffered much. Poor Moses and Miles ! I sent their bodies to the Fort with directions to have cof fins made. I suppose you will have them taken to their friends. What do you think of my falling back ? I had orders from Major Raines to proceed to the Yakima country to unite with the troops at the Catholic mission. If I had not fallen back, what would have become of the Sound country ? If I had fallen back two days sooner, the murders would not have taken place. I have informed Major Raines that I can not spare one man from this section of country. Capt. Wallace reported yesterday, and Captain Eaton to-day. Capt. Eaton will, I believe, be of good service. Slaughter and Hays have just returned. Slaughter, in crossing the Puyallup, was fired on, and three men mortally wounded the guide, Ed gar, a man by the name of Parsons, and one Soldier, also one soldier slightly wounded. The Indians lay in ambush, and always have the first fire. Very truely yours, M. MALONEY. 188 [No. 112.] FORT Nov. 9, 1855. FORT STEILACOOM, W. T., ) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : I send you a letter received from Gapt. Maloney's camp last evening. The troops had another running fight with the Indians on the 4th inst. This brush took place on Green river. The Indians took ad vantage of the thick brush to fire on the advance guard, after which they would run. In the affair Edgar was mortally wounded, also, a soldier named Kellet, and a packer named Perham. Andrew Birge and two soldiers severely wounded. The Indians on the lower Puyallup have broken out, so there is more work. Capt. Maloney's pack train is coming in, and will reach this post to-day. The train brings the remains of Moses, Miles, and McAllister. I wish to know whether the bodies are to be sent to Olympia or to be intered here. Let me know by return of express. Capt. Wallace's company comes in with the pack train. A company of seventeen men, under Capt. Carson, raised here, started yesterday for the ower Puyallup. Yery truely yours, (Signed,) JOHN NUGEN. [No. 113.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Olympia, Nov. 24th, 1855. j CAPT. E. D. KEYES, Commanding Fort Steilacoom : SIR : Owing to the great scarcity of arms, ammunition, accoutre ments, and ordnance stores in general, as well as the lack of subsistence, 189 in this territory, I have to request that, as far as you can possibly do so, you will furnish the volunteer force now in the field west of the Cascade mountains. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, CHAS. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. [No. 114.] HEJ Fort Steilacoom, Nov. 26, 1855. HEAD QUARTERS PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Capt. GILMORE HAYS, Com. Co. " B," W. T. Volunteers : SIR : You are hereby directed to proceed with your company, and examine the country on the upper Nesqually, with a view to ascertain whether any hostile Indians have taken refuge in that section of the ter ritory. Having completed that duty, you will proceed to the south, in the direction of the Skookum Chuck, examining the country along the base of the mountains, and particularly any trail that may be found leading to the eastward in the direction of the mountains, or to the southward in the direcfion of the Cowlitz river. If, after exhausting the rations which will be furnised your command, you deem it necessary to remain any longer in that section, you will send your train to this post for more provisions. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) E. D. KEYES, Captain 3d Artillery, Commanding Post. 190 [Xo. 115.] HEAD Qi Fort Steilacoom, Dec. 4th, 1855. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Acting Governor C. H. MASON, Olympia, W. T. : SIR : In order that I may be able to acquaint myself more inti mately with Indian affairs in this part of the territory, I take the liberty to request that you will forward to me a list of the sub-Indian agents on this side the mountains, their several stations, and the number of Indians they each have in charge. It will also 'be of service to me if those agents could be instructed to report to me all changes that may occur at their several posts. Dr. Tolmie, of the Hudson's Bay company, has applied to me for a guard of soldiers to protect his stores at Fort Nesqually. As our pack animals are small in number, and nearly broken down, and as the rivers are getting high that we cannot ford them with supplies, it may be nec essary to withdraw the troops from the field in a short time, and to dis tribute them at such points as may most need, and such as have the best claims to protection. In view of such a state of things, and of the case in all its relations, do you think it advisable for me to send a guard to Fort Nisqually. I am, sir, very respectfully, * ^' **/ * -j i ' t H *1 i "*y i K '" i * $ ' *li if /f t ^i ' i i ' ' ^At< " t i . r .' Your obedient servant, (Signed,) E! D. KEYES, Capt. 3d Artillery, Commanding. NOTE. The information asked for in the foregoing letter of Capt. E. D. Keyes was furnished him by acting Governor C. H. Mason, in his Better, dated Dec. 6, 1855. 191 [No. 116.] HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Fort Steilacoom, W. T., Dec. 7, 1855, (6 p. M.) ) Acting Governor C. H. MASON, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : I have just received information that on Tuesday night last while Lieut. Slaughter was sitting in a small house at his camp, about two and a half miles above the forks of White and Green rivers, conversing with Capt. Hewett, Lieut. Harrison, and Dr. Taylor, the Indians fired on them and killed Lt. Slaughter at the first discharge. Two soldiers were also killed on the spot, and five others wounded, of whom one is since djead. Lieut. Slaughter's body has arrived here. It is reported on all hands that it is impossible to operate against the Indians with any effect in the country on the White, Green, and Pu- yallup rivers, at this season of the year, and I know it to-be so from per sonal observation. To continue such a course will break down all our men and effect no harm to the Indians. Our pack animals are broken down, and we must establish our forces on our own ground in places where they will not suffer at night, and where they can best protect the settlers. As you must be far better acquainted with such points, I would request that, if convenient, you will come and see me to-morrow. I send by the bearer a letter to Capt. Hays, with directions for him to concentrate his company at Bradley's, to go to the relief of forty men now encamped on the other side of the Puyallup, about three miles from the ford. I do not know where Capt. Hays is at this mpment. If you know please direct the bearer. Mrs. Slaughter is at Olympia. Please keep the dreadful news of her husband's death a secret, until Lieut. Nugen can break it to her cau tiously. I am sir, very respectfully, Yout most obedient servant, (Signed,) E. D. KEYES, Captain 3d Artillery, Commanding, 192 [No. 117.] Fort Steilacoom, W. t. ; Jan. 4, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS^ PUGET SOUND DISTICT, ) Hon. C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T.: SIR : =- In answer to your letter of the 3d inst., I have the honor to reply that I have no authority to direct Capt. Henness in regard to the enlistment of men in his company. When I assumed command of this department, the 24th of Novem ber, I found that four companies had been mustered into the service of the United States by you and Capt. Maloney, 4th infantry, and, owing to the apparent necessity for their services, I concluded to issue to them such supplies as could be spared from the public stores. The ammunition and clothing at this post is now so much reduced that I cannot possibly spare any more to the volunteers, and the amount of provisions on hand is not more than enough for six weeks issue to the regular troops. Under such circumstances, therefore, I feel myself called on to notify your Excellency that, at the expiration of the first three months' service of the volunteers, I shall not be able to make further issues to them. There is no law, nor have I any instructions to authorize me to assume command of, or to fur nish supplies to the volunteers in this territory. Their service being abso lutely requisite, I assumed the responsibility of giving them orders and furnishing them with supplies until definite instructions could be sent me from my superior officers. No such instructions have been received, and I am, therefore, obliged to inform you that, as matters stand, I cannot continue my connection with the volunteers after the expiration of the first three months of their service. The W. T. volunteers have first rate capacity for service, and if they should be retained on duty, it will afford me great pleasure to act in concert with them. Will you please to send me by the return of the express the date of the commencement of the service of the several companies. The follow ing is the regulation on that point : " The date of the enrollment in the caption and one of the columns, " will be that of the day of arrival of the company with organization " complete or full at the place of general rendezvous, in compliance with " orders from the proper authority, but not prior to the day specified in " the order, which date of enrollment will be the commencement of the term " of service and of publie supplies, unless otherwise specially ordered, " without regard to the date of muster, or that of previous company or- 11 ganization." 193 In case of necessity, I wish you to understand that I will share the last thing I have with the volunteers. I am, sir, with much respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) E. D. KEYES, Capt. 3d Artillery,, Commanding. [No. 118.] EXECI OLYMPIA, Jan. 5th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, W. T., Capt. E. D. KEYES, Com. Puget Sound Dist, Fort Steilacoom : SIR : Your letter of the 4th Distant, has been received. I am somewhat doubtful as to our being able to furnish supplies to the volun teer forces that have mustered into the service, without your assistance. They will, therefore, be discharged at the termination of their three months. The commencement of the service of the various companies is as follows : Co. B, Capt. Gilmore Hays, Oct. 14, 1855. " H, " C. C. Hewitt, " 25, " " F, " B. L. Henness, Nov. 1, " " D, " W.H.Wallace, " 3, " These companies were not organized, as you are aware, under any particular law or regulation, but from the necessity of the case. The above are, therefore, the dates of their reporting to me for duty. I highly appreciate the compliment you pay to our citizen soldiery, and your willingness to co-operate with such volunteer forces as may be called into the field. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T. 25 194 [No. 119.] Exi OLYMPIA, Jan. 6th, (11 A. M.,) 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Capt. E. D. KEYES, Fort Steilacoom : SIR : A small band of Indians have just arrived from the reserve in charge of A, J. Simmons, Esq. They bring the intelligence that last night Leschi and thirty-eight of his Indians were at the reserve in charge of Dr. Webber, and have Mr. Swan tied that to-night they will come to Mr. Simmon's reserve for a similar purpose that the balance of the hostile Indians, one hundred in number, are on the watch on the Nisqually plains. This information is brought by Indian " John," who was out with Lieut. Slaughter. He urther states that the Puyallup Indians, in charge of Dr. Webber, are going to leave the reservation to-night and go up the river. A force of thirty men will leave here to-day for Mr. Simmon's res ervation to endeavor to catch the hostile Indians if they come. You, of course, will take such steps as you deem necessary in your direction, and if possible, endeavor to cut off the retreat up the Puy allup. The reservation of A. J. Simmons is on an island eleven miles north of west of Olympia. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, f Signed,) C. H. MASON, Acting Governor, W. T. [No. 120.] FORT STEILACOOM, Jan. 6th, (3 P. M.J 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Hon. C. H. MASON, Acting Governor W. T.: g m : Your note of 11, A. M., to-day, is this moment received. I received the same information it conveys, concerning Dr. Webber's re- 195 serve, last night at 6J o'clock, p. M. I immediately sent a dispatch to Capt. Gansevoort of the " Decatur, " to request him to send up as many boats as he could spare. Afterwards I' sent an express to Dr. Tolmie, requesting him to send the steamer " Beaver " to Steilacoom, which he kindly complied with. Capt. Maloney with thirty men, left in the " Bea ver " at daylight this morning for the reserve, and possibly they may cap ture Leschi's canoes and prevent the departure of the Puyallups. I am waiting for news with the utmost anxiety. At nine o'clock this morning, a canoe full of Indians left the reserve, saying Leschi and his band were still there, and that Mr. Swan was not tied, but that Leschi was going to carry him off for his secretary. The " Active n is reported this moment to be in sight, and. I am go ing over in her myself. Leschi, will probably take to the woods, and if he looses his canoes you know what chances there may be for his escape by land. If you can set a trap for him in your quarter I trust you will do so. There ought to be guards at all the reserves. In reference to one hundred hostiles in Nesqually plains, I give less credit to that report than to any other. I was myself yesterday at Bradley's, McLeod's, Murray's, and Sandy Smith's, and saw no signs of Indians. I must have gone over the ground where they are reported to be. Considering the importance of this centre of operations and the town of Steilacoom, I cannot prudently reduce my force here much lower than it is. Taking out the sick and wounded (of which we have a con siderable number) I have only 160 regulars all told, under my command in all this part of the territory. As you know the situations of the reserves better than I do, may it not be well for you to send guards at once from Capt. Hay's and Hen- ness' companies. If you think best will you do so ? I do not know how long I shall be absent in the " Active." I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your most ob't. servant, (Signed,) E. D. KEYES, Captain 3d Artillery, Commanding Post. 196 [No; 121.] Fort Steilacoom, W. T., Jan. 10th, 1856. Hon. C. H. MASON, HEAD QUARTERS PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, | Acting Governor W. T. i SIR : On the 4th instant, I had the honor to inform you that I had neither law nor instructions to warrant me in giving orders to the volun teers. I have none yet, but I will furnish provisions till the end of three months. I cannot give them further orders with propriety. I have heard directly and indirectly from Leschi, and the tempori zing course I am pursuing, I feel certain, is the reason why he and the hos tiles have ceased their depredations. I have repeatedly stated in my letters that this war cannot be effectually prosecuted without first estab lishing posts in the enemy's country, so that the men may go out without pack trains, and may generally sleep dry. My men who were out with Lieut. Slaughter have many of them, since been disabled with rheuma tisms. I deem it necessary to record my opinion that a forward move ment at this time would not hasten the termination of the war, but might and probably would, induce the hostiles to recommence their depredations. I hope soon to get re-inforcernents, and then operations will commence at once. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) E. D. KEYES, Capt. 3d Artillery, Commanding. [No. 122.] EXECUTIVE C OLYMPIA, Feb. 11, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASH., Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District : SIR : I shall move a force of one hundred and twenty volunteers to Montgomerys day after to-morrow, and there establish a block-house. The block-house on the Yelm Prairie was completed last evening. Our volunteer force, exclusive of teamsters and quartermaster's men, now 197 amounts to one hundred and sixty men, all rendezvoused at, and in the vicinity of the Yelm prairie. I am well off for supplies generally, but I would be glad to get from you cartridges and some forage. Will not the condemned forage answer for our oxen ? On arriving at Montgomery's the whole force will be applied to es tablishing the post, and some thirty three-yoke ox teams be despatched t6 Steilacoom to carry the supplies and forage now at Steilacoom. My weekly expresses from the Indian reservations reached here Thursday eve ning. There is great danger of a large force of northern Indians making an attack on the settlements down the Sound, and I have urged Captain Gansevoort, after the Active has landed the troops and supplies at the month. of the Snohomish river, to keep her cruising all the time between Port Townsend, Bcllingham. Bay, and Seattle. The information comes from a pretty reliable source that the north ern Indians intend coining upon the settlements of the Sound with a force of sixteen war cauoes. My express leaves to-day for all the posts on the Sound, and I have directed them to stand firm and keep a sharp lookout. I make no change in the Siiohomish expedition, it will go on. A rein forcement of twenty-five men, (Indians) have gone to Pat Kanim. This letter will be taken to you by Goudy. If you agree with me that the Active should cruise down the Sound write a letter to Ganse- voort to that effect. Goudy will take it to Steilacoom and hand it to my express man. I am, very truly, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Superintendent Indian Affairs. P. S. I have also written Governor Douglass at Vancouver's Isl and, advising him of the contemplated expedition of the northern Indi ans, (mostly within his jurisdiction) and have requested him to keep one of the Hudson Bay steamers cruising in the vicinity, and to advise me promptly of their movements. (Signed,) J. I. S, * 198 [No. 123.] Fort Steilacoom, Feb. 17, 1855. QUARTERS PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) To His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor of Washington : SIR : Yours of to-day's date is just at hand. I am pleased that you are to make so speedy a movement, and trust you may succeed in your operations. I have directed that a note be addressed to Capt. Gansevoort, en dorsing your views. I am glad that you have not suspended your move ments on the Snohomish. On Thursday I shall move another company into the field in advance of the Puyallup, and, on the 25th inst., shall take the field myself. I have not a large supply of ammunition, but will try to let you have one box of musket cartridges, (1000.) I have directed the Quartermaster to dispose of the damaged for age by sale. You may procure more of it from second hands. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, SILAS CASEY, Lt. Col. Com. Puget Sound District. [No. 124.] EXECUT Olympia, Feb. 18th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, | Lieut. COL. CASEY, Com. Puget Sound Dist., Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: DEAR SIR : I have this day issued instructions to Capt. Riley to occupy Lone Tree Point, and to maintain it at all hazards. I trust he will be there on Thursday. My quartermaster, Captain Gove, will furnish him with the necessary supplies. Capt. Biley's force is subject to my orders to march to any point, or to Kb sent on any duty I may deem necessary to the general defence o 1 199 the territory. I have disbanded all companies for local defence, and have accepted, and shall accept the services of none, except for the gen eral defence of the territory. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, f Signed,) ISAAC I. STEYENS, Governor and Superintendent. [No. 125.] OFFICE Olympia, March 2d, 1856. COMMANDING OFFICER, CFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. Y., ) Fort Steilacoom ; SIR : Information has just been received that the enemy are infest ing the country near Nathan Eaton's. Mr. William White was shot from his waggon as he returned from church this afternoon, at 5 P. M. There were two women in the waggon, who escaped by the horses running away. These women report several Indians as having fired. Also, a waggoner named Northcraft, has been missing for eight days. His waggon was found to-day. The oats which he was taking from Mound prairie to the Yelm, were found in the waggon, or on the ground, and the bags and oxen, with the man gone ; he was doubtless killed. The Governor desires me to request you to send thirty men to the Yelm to assist in scouring the country hi the vicinity. All the men left here fit for duty will march towards the Yelm to morrow, relying upon your co-operation. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Y. By order of the GOVERNOR, and Commander-in-Chief W. T. Y. 200 [No. 126.] FORT STEILACOOM, W. T., ) March 3d, 1856. j JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers, Olympia : SIR : Your letter of the 2d inst., is at hand. I regret very much that I am unable to accede to your request, for men to be sent from this post to the vicinity of the Yelm. The force at this post just now, is thirty-one men for duty, out of which I have to send a party of ten to escort a tram of provisions to the Puyallup, to-day. I am sir, very respectfully, Yout most obedient servant, JOHN NUGEN, Lt. 4th Inf. Com. Post. [No. 121] Fort Steilacoom, W. T., March 15, 1856. GOVERNOR I. I. STEVENS, HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Olympia, W. T.: SIR I respectfully request that you will at once issue your procla mation calling into the service of the United States two companies of volunteers to serve on foot, for the period of four months, unless sooner discharged. Each company to consist of one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, four Serjeants, four corporals, and seventy privates. I wish both companies to be mustered into service at Fort Steila coom. The authority for calling for the above named troops, bas been given by the General commanding the department of the Pacific.- I received yesterday an accession of two companies of the 9th in fantry. With this accession of force, and the two companies of volun- 201 teers called for, I am of the opinion that I shall have a sufficient number of troops to protect this frontier without the aid of those now in the service of the territory. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lieut. Col. 9th Inf., Com. Puget Sound District. [No. 128.] EXECUTTV: OLYMPIA, March 16th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) LIEUT. COL. CASEY, 9th In. Com. Puget Sound Dist., Ft. Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : I have received your letter of the 15th instant, advising me of accession to your command of two companies of regulars, and request ing me to issue my proclamation calling into the service of the United States two companies of volunteers to serve on foot, for the period of four months, unless sooner discharged. These companies you wish to be mustered into the service at Fort Steilacoom. You also express the opinion that if this requisition be complied with, that you will have a sufficient number of troops to protect this frontier without the aid of those now in the service of the territory. I am also advised that you have been authorised to make this requi sition for troops by the general commanding the department of the Pa- chic. You have been informed by me not only of the volunteer force which had been called out to protect the settlements, and to wage war upon the Indians, but of the plan of campaign which I have adopted, of the positions which these troops occupy, and of the blows alre^ly struck by them against the enemy. I take it for granted that this information has been communicated to Gen. Wool, and has been considered by him in his official action. In the two visits which I have made to Steilacoom to confer with you, one of them made at great personal inconvenience, I have waived 26 202 etiquette iri my anxious desire to co-operate with the regular service. I have communicated unreservedly my plans and views and have endeav ored, so far as my operations were concerned, to conduct affairs in a way to insure the whole force operating as a unit in the prosecution of the war. I am happy to say, that in our several interviews and communications, you have met me in the same spirit of co-operation to the extent that the impression has been made upon my mind, that such disposition had been made of the volunteers in your opinion, as to. make them an efficient ele ment in the general combination. JSTow your requisition on me to issue my proclamation to call into the service of the United States two companies of volunteeers, in con nection with the expression of your opinion, that if the call were com plied with, the services of the troops now in the service of the territory may be dispensed with, is, in fact, a call upon me to withdraw all the troops now in the field, with their sixty to eighty days' provisions, to aban don the block houses, to leave the settlements both north and south open to attacks of the marauding Indians, and, at the very moment when our troops are prepared to strike a, and perhaps the, decisive blow, to aban don the campaign, and reorganize anew. Are you aware that in the patriotic response of. the citizens of this territory to the call of the executive, over one half of our able-bodied men are bearing arms, that the people are almost entirely living in block houses, and that it is entirely beyond the ability of our citizens to organ ize an additional company of even fifty men ? The two companies you call for can, therefore, not be raised except by the withdrawal of the troops, and abandoning the campaign at the very moment when the prospects are flattering to end the war. For the reasons above it will be impossible to comply with your re quisition. Nor can I suppose that in making the requisition, either Maj. Gen. Wool or yourself, believed for a moment that the requisition would be seriously entertained by me. But I am of opinion that even were the requisition complied with, your force would not be adequate to the protection of the frontier and the settlements. Having the highest respect for your opinion, knowing how cautiously and carefully you approach any field of labor, and how thorough^ you investigate it, and reach your conclusions, I am con strained to express my judgment that you would soon be obliged to call for an additional force fully equal in all, to the force which has been called out by my previous proclamations. In such a case, I have no other alternative than to act according to my deliberate judgment. For, if waiving my own judgment to yours, in- jury should result, the responsibility would attach to me no less than to yourself. Otherwise, why is the militia organized, and the executive made its Commander-in-chief ? It is to meet emergencies like the present ? But were it practicable to comply with your requisition, and were these requisitions in my judgment competent, I should not deem it expe dient to place the force thus raised, under the command of the officers of the regular service. The war has now gone five months. It is a war emphatically for the defence of the settlements. So much so, that I have ordered to the Sound four companies from the Columbia river, and at this critical period it is important that there should be no changes in the command, or in plan. In view of this, and also, in view of the changes of opinion and of plan, on the part of the officer in chief command on this coast, grow ing out of a want of proper understanding of the difficulties to be en countered, I am of opinion that the whole force will be more efficient, and that there will be a better spirit of co-operation, if the regular and volunteer services are kept distinct. Be this as it may, the campaign is, I trust, approaching its consummation, and changes of plan can only be fraught with mischief. The citizens of this territory have very great confidence in the officers of the regular service, and especially is this the case with the people of the Sound. These relations have been more than cordial ; these are the witnesses of the efficiency of the troops stationed here, and their grati tude has been announced on several occasions since the organization of the territory. The force now in the field has not been mustered into the service of the territory, but into the service of the United States. My authority, as the highest federal officer of the territory, is derived from the same source as that of the Major General commanding the Pacific division. I am commissioned by the President, and I act under authority of the laws of congress, and the responsibilities of my oath of office. For these reasons, your requisitions cannot be complied with, at the same time, you may rest assured of my doing every thing in my power to co-operate with you, and I hope that, through the action of us all, the war may soon be closed, and the suffering inhabitants of the territory may be rescued from their present unhappy condition. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Cominander-in-Chief W. T. V. 204 [No. 129.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, April 15, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) I Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, 9th Inf. Com. P. S. District, Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : Orders have been sent to Major Yan Bocklin, commanding the northern battalion, 2d regiment W. T. volunteers, to evacuate the post at Porter's prairie upon its occupation by Major Garnett. Also, Major Yan Bocklin has been instructed to offer the forts "Pike and Posey" to your officers, that he may make a scout with his whole forco towards the Nachess pass, to search for the enemy in that di rection, and verify the depth of snow in the Nachess pass. After his return he is ordered to march to the Snoqualmie pass, and concentrate his battalion at that point. I propose, sL', to confine the op erations of the Washington Territory forces to the lines of the Snoho- mish and Nesqually, and consider the force under my command as amply adequate for the Nachess or White river line. If you concur in these views do me the favor to issue orders to that effect, to your officers to take possession of the posts at Porters and also "Pike and Posey." I would be very glad to hear from you. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEYENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief W. T. Y. [ No. 130. ] Fort Steilacoom, April 15th, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : Yours of to-day's date is just received, and in reply, I would say that Major Garnet has orders to occupy Porter's prairie, and if he has not already done so, he will, as soon as his troops return from 205 * a combined scout which I have ordered in the direction of the Meridian prairie, the Dewamsh lake, and the prairies beyond the Cedar river. It is wy intention to watch the Nachess pass pretty closely, and I think your plan of occupying the Snoqualmie pass a very good one. Would it not be well to watch the Cowlitz pass also ? With regard to forts " Pike and Posey," not knowing their locality, I cannot answer your enquiries with regard to them. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lieut. Col. 9th In., Com. P. S. District. [No. 131.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, April 21st, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District : i SIR : Your letter of the 15th has been received. The Lewis county company are watching the Cowlitz river pass, and I am intending to asso ciate with them Indian auxiliaries from the Cowlitz and Chehalis tribes. I learned last evening that your troops found an Indian hospital on the Puyallup, in which were twenty-five Indians too badly wounded to be moved, and who must die. Were they the wounded of the recent opera tions, or the wounded from the beginning of the war ? I have supposed they were the wounded of the last operations, and perhaps not all the wounded at that. I hope your troops will have a good scout in the neigh borhood of the lakes. Lt. Col. Lander will co-operate with your forces, and with good fortune, I trust the country in that direction will be swept. I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief W. T. V. 206 [No. 132.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) May 28th, 1856. j Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District : SIR : Lieut. Col. Shaw will deliver this letter, and explain more fully my views in regard to a proposed operation of the regular and volun teer troops. Instead of your sending two companies to the reinforcement of Col. Wright by way of the Cascades and Columbia, I would suggest your sending three companies to the Nachess, retaining one at or near the pass, and advancing the others into the Yakima country. At the same time, I will put my whole mounted force through the Snoqualmie pass, and down the main Yakima. The Northern battalion shall occupy posts on the line of the Sno qualmie, from the falls to the eastern slope. A depot shall be established on the eastern slope ; all the horsemen will then be available to strike and pursue the enemy. The remaining force at the head of the Sound will be about one hundred strong. I would be glad to make an arrangement in the event that the movement over the mountains go on, to transfer to you the posts on the Puyallup, on ConnelFs and South prairies. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) > I [No. 133.] HEAD Q Fort Steilacoom, May 28th, 1855. Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : Your communication of to-day's date has been recei ved. I feel much obliged to you for forwarding my communication from 207 Vancouver. I have not seen Col. Shaw as yet. Major Garnet, with two companies, left here this morning for the purpose of joining Col. Wright via the Cowlitz Landing. I did not send him across the Nachess pass, for the reason : First, I consider there would be much delay in getting across. In the next place, I had not sufficient transportation to spare for that purpose. I have one company watching the road which leads across the Na chess pass. My accounts from the other side are that Col. Wright was conferring with the Indians. Owhi, Teias and Stock Whitley had been to his camp. Lieut. Van Voast, disguised as a packer, had been to the Indian camp. Should the Indians agree to terms, peace will probably be made ; if not, when Col. Steptoe joins ne will attack them. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lieut. Col. 9th In. Com. P. S. District. [No. 134.] EXECI OLYMPIA, W. T., June 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Com. P. S. District, Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : I propose to turn over to you the posts at the wagon road crossing of the Puyallup, on ConnelPs and South Prairies. The post on ConnelPs prairie, in view of the relations to it of the posts on the Muck- leshoot, Porter's and South prairies, is probably unsurpassed. The expedition I am about moving across the Cascades by the Sno- qualmie pass will leave only about one hundred men, not all effectives, for the defence of the line from Montgomerie's to the Skookum Chuck. I am of opinion that it will not do to disgarnish any portion of the line till the Indians have been struck east of the Cascades, and been driven to wards the interior. The company of volunteers at the Cowlitz are establishing a post OP the Clickatat Prairie, some distance above the Landing, and ar.e opening a trail thereto. Captain Pierre Charles, with ten Indians, is now scouting still higher up the Cowlitz ; he has brought to the reservation at Plomondeau's one party of seven Indians. I am daily expecting to hear that he has brought in a second party of four Indians. Will you send me word as to the posts by return of the express. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief W. T, [No. 135.] EXECUTI May 28th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District : SIR : I send you some letters brought by my express yesterday. Will you send me word by the express your views as to the suggestions made in my letter of the date sent by the hands of Col. Shaw. I have little or no doubt that it will be practicable to push wagons from camp Montgomery to Rattle Snake prairie, (Cedar creek) and thence over the Snoqualmie pass to a prairie on the Yakima, suitable for a depot post. I shall send a statf officer immediately over the route to verify the information I have received, and in case of its practicability to give the necessary directions for putting parties at wojk to open the road. Six days since there was snow on the Snoqualmie pass for only three miles, and the greatest depth was four feet. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. 209 No. 136. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) FORT STEILACOOM, June 1, 1856. j SIR : Tour communication of yesterday has been received. In re ply, I am directed by Lieut. Col. Casey to say, that as matters now stand, he is of the opinion that he has regular troops enough to give pro tection to the inhabitants of this portion of the Territory, and he is ready to occupy with the United States troops the following positions now occu pied by the volunteers, viz : " Council's prairie," the block-house at the point the military road crosses the Puyallup river, "Montgomery's," and the block-house on the Yelm, as soon as you may see fit to vacate said positions. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, JOHN NUGEN, 2d Lieut. 4th Infantry, A. A. A. Lieut. Col. B. F. SHAW, Commanding Right Wing, W. T. V. * No. 137, EXECUTIVE Olympia, June 3d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ] Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, . Commanding Puget Sound District, Fort Steilacoom, W. T. : SIR : I have read your letter of yesterday acceding to my proposi tion in regard to turning over to you the posts on the Puyallup and Con- nell's prairie, and also proposing to relieve me of the post at Montgomery's and the Yelm. Orders have been given to Lieut. Col. Shaw to make the necessary arrangements to turn over the first named posts, as also the post on South prairie. In reference to Montgomery's and the Yelm, I hope soon to be able to make the arrangements to turn them over to you. I am still of the opinion that the next four weeks will be a very critical period on the 81 210 , and that it will not be safe to disband any of the troops in the field till the operations in the Yakinia country shall have resulted in heading the enemy and driving him into the interior. The recent wanton murders at Steilacoom and on White river, have excited the friendly In dians, and if repeated, may urge them to hostility. Every exertion shall be used by me to prevent their recurrence, and at all events to bring of fenders to justice. I am anxious for the time to arrive when the safety to the settlements, I shall feel authorized to disband a part or the whole of the volunteers, and I will make arrangments to turn over to you both the posts, at Montgomery's and the Yelm, as soon as it is ascertained that no large party of the enemy will cross the mountains to commence the war anew. It is probable that at all events, Montgomery's may be turned over and the stores moved to the Yelrn in a short time. Truly your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. Ho. 138. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Fort Steilacoom, Oct. 20th, 1856. ) GOVERNOR : For several weeks, past there has been more than one hundred Indians, including women and children, encamped near this post. Your agents have taken no charge of them, and I understand, decline so' doing. I sent them to the reservation soon after they came in, and was informed by Mr. Ford, your agent, several days after, that he had taken; no charge of them, and did not intend doing so. I received them again in order to prevent any disturbance that might ensue from the strange conduct of your agents. In consequence of this, I have considered that the public tranquility required that I should ration them, and I have- since then, done accor dingly. Inasmuch as hostilities have ceased in this district, I do not con sider that it is my provence to take care of these Indians, and I respect fully request that you will relieve me from the responsibility. Permit me to say, that I am fully of the opinion that if the Indians 211 of the Sound are treated with kindness and justice, and lawless men res trained from violence towards them, there will be no danger of any out break on their part. In conclusion, I would remark, that I sincerely desire the prosperity and happiness of the people on the Sound, and I am confident that they will be the recipients of these blessings only so far as they shall prove themselves a law abiding, just, and forbearing people. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, * SILAS CASEY, Lieut. Col. 9th In., Com. P. S. District. His Excellency I. I. STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory and Sup. Ind. Affairs. [ No. 139. ] EXECUTIVE Olympia, Oct. 20th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District, Fort Steilacooni : SIR : I have received your letter of this date requesting me to take charge of the Indians, more than one hundred in number, Encamped near your post, and stating that you had received them when sent back from the reservation, in order to prevent any disturbance that might ensue from the strange conduct of my agent. Capt. Ford has in this matter acted under the instructions of the general agent, Col. Simmons, who, I am in formed notified you that the Indians would not be received, previous to your sending them to the reservation. Although hostilities have for the present ceased on the Sound, yet in my judgment, "the Indians at your post, most of whom have come from the east side of the mountains, are not in that condition of submission, which makes it safe to incorporate them with the friendly Indians ; nor will they be in that condition till the known murderers of that band are arrested for trial. If these murderers of that band are not apprehended and tried and punished if convicted, we shall be at all times exposed to a renewal of the war, and its scenes of death and devastations. These Indians at your post during the short time that they were at the reservation endeav- 212 ored to create disaffection among the friendly Indians, which is not to be wondered at, as Stahi and other known murderers were sent to that res ervation. I have therefore to request your aid to assist me in apprehend ing Leschi, Quiemuth, Kitsap, Stahi, Nelson, and other murderers, and to keep them in custody, awaiting a warrant from the nearest magistrate, which being accomplished, I will receive the remainder, presuming, how ever, that I will provide for them in the neighborhood of your post till the return of Col. Simmons. In regard to Leschi, I will state that from recent information in my possession, I am almost certain that he is endea voring to raise a force to prosecute the war anew. The Indians under Kitsap and Nelson, have a camp, it is said, on Green river, where, not only have they arms and ammunition, but the arms and ammunition of those who are at your post. Leschi is here for no other purpose, in my judgment, than to renew the war, and what has recently occurred in the Walla Walla valley, should admonish men upon whose shoulders rests the responsibility of the management of affairs, not to feel too secure. Yet I have learned since my return, that Leschi, within a few days, has been at Nesqually, and that Dr. Tolmie 'had communicated the fact to you, yet no efforts were made to arrest him, not even to the extent of sending me the information. In conclusion, I have to state that I do not believe any country or any age has afforded an example of the kindness and justice which has been shown towards the Indians by the suffering inhabitants of the Sound during the recent troubles. They have, in spite of the few cases of murder which have occurred, showed themselves eminently a law abi ding, a just and a forbearing people. They desire the murderers of In dians to be punished, but they complain, and they have a right to com plain, if Indians, whose hands are steeped in the blood of the innocent, should go un whipped of justice. J am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Cornmande-in-Cljief. 213 {No. 140.] HE FORT STEILACOOM, Oct. 21, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) His Excellency, I. I. STEVENS, Governor and Sup. Ind. Affairs, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : Yours of the 20th inst., has just been received. I de sire in the first place, to correct one piece of information which you have received. You state that you have been informed that Col. Simmons, your agent, had notified me previously that the Indians would not be re ceived on the reservation. I received no such notification from Col. Sim mons, and the first information that I had of any unwillingness to take them was from Mr. Ford, several days after they had been sent out. I can see no reason for changing the opinion with regard to Indian matters which I had the honor to communicate to you hi my letter of yesterday. The Indians on the Sound, there is no doubt, can, by neglect and ill usage, be driven to desperation. Those whom you wish my assistance to take, are some of those who were driven from this district across the Cascade mountains. They deliv ered themselves up to Col. Wright, when in the Yakima country made their peace with him, and were promised protection. Col. Wright in formed me of these facts, and although it might be said that command ing an independent district, I was not bound by his acts, still it would be bad policy, if not bad faith, to pursue a different course towards these In dians, not being able to understand the difference would look upon it as a breach of faith. Now, with due deference to you, sir, I would suggest that the bet ter way would be to consider that we have been at war with these Indi ans, and now we are at peace. To be sure, they have killed some of the people, but that is incident to war. Most of those who have committed murder have been killed, and the Indians have suffered much. You say that some of the Indians who killed whites are still at large. It may be so, but are there not whites at large who have wantonly mur dered innocent Indians in this district? For the reasons above mentioned, I cannot assist in arresting the men who you have named, but will submit the matter to the General com manding the department of the Pacific, and be governed by his orders in the premises. Although I do not consider that I can assist in taking the Indians you named, unless they re-commence the war, still, from my regard for the civil authority, I will, as I informed Judge Chambers and others, re- ceive for safe keeping any Indians whom, by due process of law, they may commit. I presume you were not informed that Leschi had seen Dr. Tolmie, from the fact that you were on the Columbia river. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, SILAS CASEY, Lt. Col. 9th In. Com. Puget Sound District. [No. 141] EXECUTIVE OLYMPIA, Oct. 27th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITOKY, ) Lieut. Col. S. CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District: SIR : Your letter of the 21st, came to my hands this evening. In regard to the protection promised the Indians, in arresting whom I have asked your assistance, I have the statement to me by Col. Wright, that he had made no terms with them, and had guaranteed to them no immunity from trial and punishment. This statement was made to me repeatedly by Col. Wright, and in the presence of witnesses, one of whom is Mr. Secretary, and late acting Governor Mason. On the contrary, I have twice, in writing, made requisition on Col. Wright for the delivery to me, in order that they might be brought within reach of the civil au thorities, of Leschi, Quiemuth, Kitsap, Stahi, and Nelson, a requisition which he has not pretended to disregard, but which he simply asked my consent to have suspended for the present, in view of the circumstances under which they come in. I renew my requisition upon you, as I did upon Col. Wright, and I enclose for your information, the correspondence had with Col. Wright, in relation to the same subject'. The operations on the Sound have been from the beginning, on the part of the Indians, those of murderers and outlaws no tribe as such, having broken into hostility and they are, therefore, entitled to none of the rights of war. Yet, that great lenity has been shown them by the Territorial authorities, I presume that I could have no better witness than yourself. 215 Granted that it was a case of legitimate warfare, the mea for whom I make requisition committed the murders in a time of profound peace, under circumstances of unsurpassed treachery and barbarity, when their victims were entirely unsuspicious of danger, and this, too, in violation of the faith of treaties, which expressly stipulated for the giving up of men guilty of such offences. Nor is there any analogy between the cases of known Indians, who have murdered white men, and certain unknown white men who have mur dered Indians. Your soldiers killed an Indian. Where are they? The citizens have killed Indians. Where are they? Two are in your own garrison in confinement, awaiting trial ; and the others, proof has not yet bfien found, after every exertion has been made to insure a bill from a grand jury in regard to the persons suspected. How can the civil arms reach the murderers, except by the assist ance of the military? Shall a posse be summoned to assist the sheriff, and shall he penetrate the wilderness of the upper Puyallup, where now it is reported Leschi is? Or shall I give official information to the mili tary that they are demanded, and ask its assistance to seize them wher ever they can be found? Any citizen can give information before a magistrate, and have a warrant issued for their arrest. It is, in my humble judgment, in view of my requisition, the duty of the military to make use of every means to> bring these Indians within reach of the civil authority. I do not understand, in view of the known humanity and energy of the Indian service on the Sound, aided, as it has been, by the body of the citizens, the necessity, in communications to me, of this constant reference to the ill treatment of the Indians, for it must be borne in mind, that we have inanaged some four thousand five hundred Indians on temporary res ervations on the Sound during the war. Indians taken from, or near the vicinity of the war ground, and by unwearied vigilance and care, have seen them pass from a state of uncer tainty as to whether they would join the war party, to one of content ment and satisfaction, with no assistance from the military whatever. I have not seen Col. Simmons since my return, and I will simply state that my information in reference to his having notified you previous to the Indians being sent to the reservation, that they would not be re ceived there, was derived from persons in constant communication with him, both previous and subsequent to his conference with you. There has been some misapprehension in the matter, either on his part or yours. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Indian Affairs, W. T, 216 [No. 142.] Fort Steilacoom, W. T., Oct. 29, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) His Excellency, I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Ind. Affairs, Olympia, W. T. : GOVERNOR: Your communication of the 27th inst, is just received. In reply, I would say that I see no reason to alter my opinion with regard to Indian matters on the Sound, which I have already made known to you, A copy of your communication will be forwarded to the General com manding the Department of the Pacific, and his order in the premises will be promptly obeyed. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, SILAS CASEY, 9th Inf. Com. P. S. District, Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: 143.} OFFICE SUP. INDIAN AFFAIRS, ) Olympia, W. T., Oct. 31, 1856. ) Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Com. Puget Sound Dist., Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : I have the honor herewith to enclose a copy of a letter of instructions from Col. Wright to Major Garnett, directing the latter to turn over to me for trial before the courts, Leschi, Nelson, Kitsap, Stahi and Quiemuth. These instructions show conclusively, that Col. Wright had made no terms with these men, guaranteeing to them immunity from punishment for their misdeeds. I trust that you will feel authorized by your views of duty, to com ply with the requisition which I have twice made upon you, and which I take again this occasion to renew. I will observe that the instructions to Maj. Garnett were enclosed 217 to me for the use of Col. Shaw, who goes to the Yakima as soon as his business on the Sound is settled, which will be in a very few days. ******** Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,; ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Ind. Affairs, W. T. [No. 144.] HEJ Fort Steilacoom, Nov. 2d, 1855. QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) His Excellency, I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Indian Affairs, W. T.: GOVERNOR : Yours of the 31st ult. is received. As with your prior communication, a copy will be transmitted to the General commanding the Department of the Pacific. I shall, in the meantime, comply with the requisition of the civil au thority, so far as it can be done without a re-commencement of hostilities on my part. In all ordinary cases, I should have no hesitation hi complying with the requisition of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, but this is a case in which, in my opinion, the rights and usages of war are somewhat in volved, and in consequence, I consider myself and military superiors the proper persons to judge in the matter. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lt. Col. 9th Inf. Com. P. S. District. 28 218 [No. 145.] HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Fort Steilacoom, W. T., Nov. 6, 1856. ) His Excellency, I. I. STEVENS, 6rov. and Sup. Indian Affairs, Olympia, W. T. : SIR: Yours of the 4th inst., is just received. Neither Lieut. Mc- Kibbin or any other officer, has been authorised by me to permit Indians to leave the reservation without authority from their agent; and if Lieut. McKibbin has so far exceeded his authority, such orders will be given to him as will prevent its recurrence. The Indians near the outlet of the Dewamish lake, are those who were permitted by the Indian agent, by my request, to go to that point, for the purpose of constructing a fish weir. I understand they are catching a large number of fish, and I trust, will be permitted to stop until the run of fish has passed. As I remarked to you, in a communication a few days since, I will again repeat, that as hostilities had ceased in this district, I wished to be released from the responsibility of the charge of any of these Indians, when it has been refused by your agents, and I considered it my bounden duty so to do, in order that the peace and tranquillity of the community may be preserved. With regard to the reports which your agents and others carry to you about hostile Indians, &c., I would merely say that I find it necessary to receive all such reports with great caution. The one which I had the honor to receive from you, a few clays since, stating that more than one hundred Indians had left the reservation for the purpose of joining Leschi, proves to have been what I believed at the time, a baseless fabrication. With a sincere desire to do justice to all, I will say that it is my firm belief, after weighed, I trust, with due consideration, all the circum stances connected with the matter, that if, in dealing with the Indians on this Sound, a spirit of justice is exercised, and those who have charge of them are actuated by an eye single to their duties, and the peace of the country, there need be no further difficulty. If, on the contrary, undue credence is given to the many reports which are constantly being circula ted in this community, (most of them false,) made either from mere wan tonness, the spirit of revenge, or from interested motives, the acts of out- rage on tlie Indians, which their belief, by unreflecting persons will inves tigate, may lead to retaliation and the peace of the country endangered. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lt. Col. 9th Inf., Com. Puget Sound District. [No. 146.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) OLYMPIA, Nov. 8th, 1856. ) Lieut. Col. SILAS CASEY, Commanding Puget Sound District, Fort Steilacoom, W. T.: SIR : I have received your letters of the 2d and 6th November, by the hands of Lt. Nugen. My reasons for declining to receive the Indians at your post have been already stated and remain in full force. When the murderers and those accused of murder, are, in compliance with my requisition, placed by you in the hands of the civil authority, the Indians will be received. The agents have positive orders to receive none of these Indians except by my written instructions. These Indians have been, or will be indicted by the grand jury of the several counties. As you have proclaimed that hostilities have ceased, they are in your military possession. I enclose the report to me of my local agent, Page, in regard to the alleged interference of Lieut. McKibbin with his Indians. I am glad to be informed of the steps you have taken in the matter. In regard to your observations about the reports which my "agents and others carry to me, " as well as the re-iterations of former observa tions in reference to the exercise of a spirit of justice, and the efforts of persons in charge of Indians being "actuated by an eye single to those duties and the peace of the country," I have simply to state that the tone of them is offensive, and comes with an ill grace from the authority that has done little, to that which has done much. It is not my disposition to retaliate, but the occasion makes it proper for me to state that the great- 220 est difficulty I have had to encounter in stopping the whisky traffick .with the Indians at Steilacoom and Bellingham Bay, has been the conduct of your own command. It would seem to be more appropriate that you should first control and reform the conduct of your own people, before going out of your way to instruct and rebuke another branch of the pub lic service a service, too, which, both from its experience and the success which has attended its labors, is entitled to the presumption that it is as much interested and as much devoted to the peace of the country as your self, and as well qualified, to say the least, to consider dispassionately and judge wisely of affairs at the present juncture. I have also been informed of your thanking God, in the presence of Mr. Wells, who informed you how the Muckelshoot reservation was laid off, that the iniquity of it was not upon your hands a remark highly presumptuous and insulting, as well from the fact the business did not concern you, as from the fact that the reservation was laid off both in the way I arranged with the Indians at the council on Fox Island, and to their satisfaction on the ground. I am also informed by Col. Simmons personally, that he did give you notice that he would not receive the Indians. I presume you did not lis ten to him, being altogether too much pre-occupied with your own views, to listen to a gentleman in regard to a business of which he and his supe riors "are the proper persons to judge." Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Sup. Indian Affairs, W. T. N. B. I will respectfully ask you to send me a copy of my letter notifying you that one hundred Indians had left to join Leschi. [No. 147.] HEAD QUARTERS, PUGET SOUND DISTRICT, ) Fort Steilacoom, W. T. ; Nov. 12, 1856. ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Sup. Indian Affairs, Olympia, W. T.: GOVERNOR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 8th inst 221 By reference to your communication of the 25th ult., I find the fol lowing : "In regard to Leschi I will state that, from recent information in my possession, I am almost certain that he is now endeavoriug to raise a force to prosecute the war anew." The expressman, who brought your letter informed me, that informa tion had been received in Olympia that one hundred and fifty Indians had left the reservation and joined Leschi. I was informed by Mr. Ford, the next day, that he himself had conveyed to you that or similar infor mation, and that he had since ascertained that it was not so. When I addressed you my communication I had not yours before me, and inadvertently confounded my information. It was an error on my part, and I cheerfully correct it. I have enclosed a copy of a communication received by me from Lt. McKibbin with regard the charge of your agent. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) SILAS CASEY, Lt. Col. 9th Inf. Com. P. S. District. [No. 148.] EXECUTIVE Oi Olympia, Feb. 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) W. W. MILLER, ESQ., Quartermaster and Commissary General, Olympia: SIR : You will issue certificates for purchases made by you, which, on presentation at this office, will be endorsed by me. Very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS. Gov. Washington Territory. [No. 149.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, Feb. 18th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) W. W. MILIER, Esq., Qr. Master and Commissary General : SIR : Move to-morrow to Montgomery's, with all your waggons, teamsters, employees and supplies, leaving on the Yelm prairie simply supplies for 20 men for ten days. Give directions to the available teams at Steilacoom to move to-mor row morning to Montgomery's, with forage for the advance of Henness' company. All the foot troops will move with you to Montgomery's. Henness will occupy the Yelm with fifteen men, and push forward in person with the bulk of his company to cover the movement on Montgomery's. On reaching Montgomery's on Tuesday, (to-morrow) you will push all your teams to Steilacoom on Wednesday, with orders to deliver every thing there next day. On Friday morning, I shall move on the Puyallup. On Thursday, an election for Major will be ordered. All the foot troops will be ordered to be actively employed on the buildings. My aid-de-camp, Lieut. Col. Hurd, will go to Steilacoom to-day, and will see to the getting to Montgomery's of forage, lumber for block-hou ses, lumber, blocks, tackles, &c., for the ferry on the Puyallup. He will meet the command at Montgomery's, and has directions from me as to the buildings. You will press into the service all the able-bodied men in the vicinity. Respectfully, &c., ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory. [No. 150.] YELM PRAIRIE, Feb. 18th, 1856, Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Olympia : SIR : In accordance with your orders, a train of twenty-seven wag gons will leave here for Montgomery's to-morrow morning. 223 It will take with it about seventeen thousand (1,700) pounds of flour, together with many other articles, an invoice of which accompanies this. To-morrow morning I shall proceed to Nesqually, and hope to either here or there, press teams enough into the service to take Tolmie's pork, sugar and clothing to Montgomery's forthwith. I shall then go to Steilacoom, and assist Gove in hiring all the teams in that vicinity, and shall push them forward to the depot. In the meantime, I shall send O'Bryant to Muck, with orders to hire or press into service all the wagons in that neighborhood, which are to be laden with whatever kind of forage that can be obtained and sent for ward immediately to the depot at Montgomery's. I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, W. W. MILLER, Quartermaster, &c. -V-aVMT .1 OA.A8! O T o. 151.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, OLYMPIA, Feb. 20th, 1856. Gen. MILLER, Quartermaster and Com. General, W. T. V.: SIR : Your letter is received, and I am well pleased with the en ergy you have manifested in getting the provisions and forage into the field. I have ordered the formation of a company, and the election of oftV cers for the teamsters and quartermaster's men in your employ. My staff officer, Lt. Col. Hurd, is ordered to issue the certificate to the Major who is elected. The Major elected, is ordered to push forward to the Puyallup on Friday morning, and there to establish a ferry and block-house. Thence to push forward to Porter's prairie r and there establish a ferry and block house, and then push on to Muckleshoot prairie. Get every thing in rea diness OH Friday morning. Push forward with the train yourself. I will join the command on Sunday. It is important that the utmost energy characterizes all our movements. Pat Kanim and all the available forces of the Northern battalion are actively engaged against the enemy from the line of the Snohomish, and it is necessary to push forward on the Puyallup, and in advance thereof immediately. The friendly Indians will all be here to-morrow, and will go to the Puyallup on Friday, to move up between the Puyallup and White river on Saturday, to cover our advance, and will be under the command of Captain Ford. Go with the troops and train to the Puyallup on Friday, and return here on Saturday, that I may confer with you in reference to supplies, &c. Everything is going on well here. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS. Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 152.] MONTGOMERY'S, Feb. 20th, 1856. Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Olympia : SIR : Our train arrived here last night, ^and [we have taken Mont gomery's barn for a store house. Yesterday I sent some waggons to Nesqually for pork, sugar,'cloth- ing, &c., &c., and to-day have sent twenty men to Steilacoom tojbring up the supplies from that place. From Mr. Montgomery I have purchased] a thousand pounds of most excellent pork, which I am having salted^down, and will have it ready to go with the train on Friday. From Mr. Wren, I can get as much fresh beef as we will want. I can get forage enough in this vicinity to last the command for a month. To sum up the whole, by to-morrow night, I will have at this post 225 sufficient provisions to last two hundred men three or four months, and ample forage in the vicinity for a month. In conclusion, I have the honor to report that the train and em ployees of the Quartermaster department, will be in readiness to move to the Puyallup on Friday next. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., W. W. MILLER, Quartermaster, &c. |No. 153.] MONTGOMERY'S, Feb. 22d, 1856. Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Olyrnpia : SIR : Our train is now ready to move, and could have done so this morning. Col. Hnrd, I learn, is sick at Steilacoom, and Major Hays, who is now at Steilacoom, has given me no order to move. Our train will move with rations for 150 men for 100 days. I send this in order to have 5,000 government percussion caps for warded here to-morrow. I sent an express to Steilacoom for them to-day, but Hurd writes me that none can be had there. Let an express start from Olympia to-inorrow at day-light, icith the caps, and it will overtake us before we get to tlie Puyallup. Let this matter be attended to immedi ately. At the same time, forward four tents for Henness' company. Hays, I think, will move on the Puyallup to-morrow morning. I will try and be at Olympia on Sunday morning. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., W. W. MILLER, Quartermaster, &c. 29 226 [No. 154.] CAMP MONTGOMERY, Feb. 28th, 1856. Q. M. AND COM. GEN. MILLER, Camp Montgomery: SIR : You will, in your official capacity, accompany the expedition moving from this point into the Indian country. When it reaches the Muckleshoot prairie, and the necessary establishments are there made, you will return with the train. You will see that suitable supplies are left at the block-house on the Puyallup; say fifty days, and that nothing required at the Muckleshoot r or on the march is left behind, as salt barrels and forage. The forage will have to be economized, but with the precaution of camping in prai ries, where, unquestionably, will be some grass, and if not moving till the- way is cleared to the next camping place, it is hoped that it will be suffi cient. Note carefully all deficiencies in supplies, so that they may be for warded on your return. Ascertain whether there is any forage at Headley's, at the forks of the Puyallup, two miles above our crossing place. Headley, as you know, is one of our teamsters; and generally find out all about the forage and grass between the Puyallup and White rivers. This will have influence in the matter of re-mounting the rangers, and in determining their field of operations. See that the wagons are carefully repaired, and strength ened each night after reaching camp. On reaching the Muckleshoot, make the best arrangements for secu ring temporarily the stores, and have killed and salted twenty-five of the fattest oxen. Additional beeves may remain for fresh beef. A small number of teams will be required for service whilst the post is occupied say six to eight. The remainder of the train should be brought back as soon as practicable. The train wifl probably have to return by the way it goes out, I do not think Lieut. Col. Casey will get wagons through to the Muckle shoot unless he adopts our route. Whilst I have given direction to Major Hays to take his own route to the Muckleshoot, I have strongly advised his going by Porters. We know we can reach the Muctdeshoot by Porters, and that if the weather con tinues, we can ford White river at Porters. It will probably require very great labor to reach the Muckleshoot by any other route. Moreover,, by Porters, I think there is more grass, and Porters is a very important point to occupy. Sergeant Phillips and private Mize, of the detachment at this place,. 227 have each a good two horse team. I have this moruing detailed them for service with the train. You will engage their teams, and apply them to supplying this post from Steilacoom and the Yelm. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 155.] CAMP Feb. 28th, 1856. CAMP AT LEMON'S PRAIRIE, ) Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : I arrived here about two hours since, and it is now 4 o'clock, p. M. The train which left Montgomery's this morning is just getting in in good order. I am hurrying up my men in order to have the train in perfect read iness to move to-morrow morning, should Major Hays so order. It will be ready at that time. ^ , After supplying this post with fifty days' rations, the train will take with it about 1350 pounds of flour, 36 barrels of pork, 1400 pounds su gar, 200 pounds coffee and 150 pounds te&, besides beans, rice, hard bread, &c., &c. It will be seen that there is a deficiency in the amount of pork, but I hope to supply its place by putting up some seventy-five barrels of beef, as soon as we get to Muckleshoot. Granting that there will be one hundred men stationed at Muckleshoot, after deducting ten men for this post and Henness' company, and the teamsters shall have re- returned, I am inclined to think that they will have ample provision for ninety or a hundred days at that post. Boots and shoes are more needed than anything else just now. If, when any are obtained, they be sent immediately to Montgornerys, I will try and have them forwarded to the outposts as I come in. It is now nearly dark, and no order has come from Major Hays to move to-morrow .morning. I learn that the ferry boat is not finished, 228 and presume that it is not the Major's intention to take up the line of march to-morrow. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., W. W. MILLER, Quartermaster, &c. [No. 156.] CAMP March 3d, 1856. CAMP CONNEU/S PRAIRIE, ) Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Olympia : Sm : Our train arrived here early to-day in good order, without meeting with any serious accident since leaving Montgomery's.. The ut most harmony seems to exist among all the employees of the Quartermas ter's Department. Major Hays informs me that he is uncertain whether he will move to-morrow or not, of which he has doubtless informed you by the express. Our cattle find excellent feed on the prairies, in addition to which we have four or five days' supply of chopped feed on hand. In conclusion, I have only to add, that I feel confident that I shall be fully able to carry out your instructions, dated at Montgomery's, touch?- ing the Quartermaster's Department of the expedition. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., W. W. MILLER, Quartermaster, &c. 229 [No. 151] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, OLYMPIA, March 3d, 1856. QUARTERMASTER AND COM. GEN. MILLER, Camp Connell : SIR : Your letters reached me early this morning, and I am much gratified at the favorable condition of things with the train and supplies. There are in town seven dozen prs. boots, and ten prs. of shoes, at the stores of Lightner^ Bettman, and Barnes. I will send out at least one half of them to Montgomery's within the next three days. Also, a supply of stationery. The question of the selection of the main depot, has been confided W the discretion of . Major Hays, who has strongly recommended Con- nell's, and will commence, as he writes me, building a store house to-day, and he has been referred to the original instructions in reference to the return of the wagon train, &c. Tii ere will be some delay in pushing supplies to Montgomery's, in consequence of small parties of hostile Indians infesting the road. Two men have been killed. Your teamster, Northcraft, a week ago Saturday, within three miles of the block-house, on the Yelm, and Mr. William White, killed yesterday. To meet this exigency, I am raising twenty-five mounted Quartermas ter's men to serve for one month, as a guard to the train, and strengthen ing Montgomery's by a detachment of eight men drawn from Lone Tree Point. Strengthening post at Yelm Prairie by hired Quartermaster's men: directing all the French and half breeds connected with the Indians, to go to Fort Nesqually, to remain there under guard, and have ordered one company over from the Columbia river. Capt. Henness need have no fear of his horses. Col. Crosbie in spected the post Saturday, and returned from there yesterday. The men are on their guard, and the animals are doing remarkably well. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Oov. and Commander-in-Chief. 230 [No. 158.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) May 1st, 1856. ) *QR. M. AND COM. GEN, MILLER, Olympia : -SiR : By the enclosed copy and special orders of this date, you are advised of the appointment of James K. Hurd as assistant Quartermas ter and Commissary General, with the rank of Lieut. Col., and that he has been directed to report to you for orders. You will assign him to the charge of the Columbia river district, with orders to proceed thither at the earliest practicable moment, and under your direction, to take Charge of the affairs of the department in that quarter. His district will include Lewis county, and the supply of the com pany under Capt. Warbass, and his duties will embrace not simply the su pervision of the Quartermasters and Commissaries in that region, but will include the whole business of supplies to be drawn from that quarter. You will instruct A. Q. M. & Corn. Gen. Hurd, to make the depart- .ment in the highest degree efficient, by suspending and reporting for re- .nioval, all Quartermasters who are incompetent to do their duty, by promptly removing all unnecessary employees, and by substituting in place .-of incompetent men, those who can efficiently discharge their duty. You will issue orders to the several quartermasters and agents, ad vising them of the appointment of Lieut. Col. Hurd informing them of the duty which has been assigned to him and, directing them strictly to comply with his instructions. Lt. Col. Hurd will give his special attention to the forwarding of the accounts of the several quartermasters, and will report 'to you in relation to any cases which may have occurred, of exorbitant prices being paid, to the end that extravagance may not be sustained in procuring supplies for the war. An efficient Quartermaster and Commissary organization is needed on the river one which, without pretention, will meet the public wants, at the least possible expenditure, and with the least possible patronage. It is expected from CoL Hurd's known vigor and judgment, that the remedy will be promptly applied by him to the inefficient condition of things on the river. Furthermore, you will give stringent orders to Lt. Col. Hurd, to : carry out your orders, holding him responsible for allowing any person to 231 come between him and the Quartermaster General, unless by the written* orders of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. Truly, your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commandeivm-Chief. [No. 159.J EXECUTIVE Olympia,- May 1st, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, 1 QR. and COM. GEN. MILLER, Olympia : SIR : The special order of this date appointing James K. Hurd Ass't. Quartermaster and Commissary General, with the rank of Lieut. Colonel, in connection with my instructions to you of this date, to assign him to the Columbia and Cowlitz rived district, will insure the supervis ion intended to be secured by the recent instructions, directing Captain Pagett to get his supplies by requisition on Quartermasters Hathaway and Hurd. Capt. Pagett will now get his supplies by requisition on Ass't. Quartermaster and Commissary General Hurd. You are authorized, however, to give Lt. Col. Hurd the necessary discretion as to the extent he may deem it necessary that Capt. Pagett should make purchases. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. Washington Territory. LNo. 160] EXECUTIVE C OLYMPIA, May 5th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) QR. M. and COM. GEN. MILLER, Olympia : SIR : You will build a block-house and corral on the Tenalquot, for 232 a Quartermaster's depot, and open a wagon road from the Yelm to the Grand Mound, through the Tenalquot, on the shortest practicable trail ; also, repair the road leading from Chamber's prairie to the Tenalquot. In the execution of this duty, you are authorized to engage the ne cessary employees. Select an efficient man to take charge. In the herding of public animals on the Tenalquot, it is suggested that you employ one or more citizens of the neighborhood, as from their knowledge of the trails they will be best able to recover estrays. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Ter. Wash. J [No. 161.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, May 28th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) QR. M. and COM. GEN. MILLER, Olympia : SIR : You will use every exertion to have in readiness at Mont gomery's, in five days, twenty ox teams, three yoke of oxen to each team. This train is to transport supplies to a depot to be established at the first good prairie on the main Yakima. It will cross the Cascades at the Snoqualmie pass. On the establishment of the depot, the train will immediately re turn. Some of the fattest oxen could be retained for fresh beef, and two or three of the teams turned over to Major Yan Bx)kelin. If the pack train can be got up to one hundred animals, it will be safe to make the movement. Truly and respectfully yours, ISAAC I. STEVENS,. Governor and Commander-in-Chief. 233 [No. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) July nth, 1856. ) QB. and COJT. GEN. MILLER, Olympia, W. T.: SIK : Capt. Swindal has been directed to turn over Fort Hicks to Lt. Col. Casey. You will take the necessary steps to move the stores there in depot to Steilacoom. Reduce the expenses as much as possible, by discharging all persons in your department whose services are no longer required. You will muster out of service the guard at the Nesqually Ferry blpck-house. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 163.] OFFICE . OLYMPIA, Aug. 2d, 1856. OFFIQE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., } [ QR. MASTER and COM, GEN. MILLER, Olympia: SIR : You are appointed inspecting and enrolling officer for the levy of 200 men called for to strengthen the right wing of the 2d regiment, W. T. V., under Col. Shaw. You will, in pursuance of those orders, appoint recruiting agents at such points as you may designate. Concentrate the recruits at Fort Ste vens, and equip them for the march at that point. Appoint a medical officer to inspect the mental and physical condi tion of each man offering for service. Reject all men who are not of good health, and able to bear fatigue. Hasten the raising of these men with all possible dispatch, and re- 30 234 port progress to this office, and marching orders will issue hence, when the organization of the companies is complete. You will designate the company raised by yourself as Co. " A," &d regiment, W. T. mounted volunteers. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y. By order of the Governor and Coimnander-in-Chief. [No. 164. J' EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, Olympia, Aug. 8th, 1856. QR. and COM. GEN. MILLER, Olympia : SIR : You will dispense with the services of all Quartermasters, Commissaries, and agents, whose services are no longer required report ing their names and the dates of the expiration of service to the Adjutant General, that the necessary discharges may issue. Yery respectfully, &c., ISAAC L STEYENS, Gov. and Com. in-Chief^ [No. 165,-] EXECUTIVE O: Olympia, Feb. 18th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, 7 Col. B. P. SHAW, SIR : I. put in your charge the preparation of the expedition against the Indians etfst of the Cascade mountains. 235 You will see that the several Captains who propose to raise compa nies are amply supplied in every respect, and are filled with energy for the purpose they are to accomplish. You will understand the country east of the Cascades, and that it is important to keep the Spokanes and Nez Perces friendly. * * * A pots must be established at Walla Wal la the Columbia river must be crossed, and the Yakima country occu pied. The Yakimas must be stricken in their own country with a firm and a strong hand. ******** Recollect that we are hard pushed on .the Sound. We have a determined enemy on White river. We know not when the friendly In dians may become hostile when the northern Indians may join them. We are pushing on with all our forces. The regular army, the volun teers, the navy and the friendly Indians, are all in the field. We trust we will have the contest closed on this side the mountains in one month, and then we will have one hundred men on good horses to cross the mountains to your assistance, but instead of our going to your assistance, we may have need of your coming to us; therefore the neces sity of Indian spies between the two forces. Immediately on your occu pying the Yakima mission, you will send spies over the Cascade passes to the troops operating on this side from the Snohomish to Steilacoom. ***** *** You will report to head quarters the day you take up your line of march. I am, very respectfully, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Com.-in-Chief, W. T. V. [No. 166.] EXECUTIVE Olympia, Feb. 20tb, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY^ ) Ass't Adj't Gen. B. F. SHAW, W. T. Volunteers : SIR : In my letter to you of the 18th inst., I suggested to you the use of boats in transporting your supplies to Walla Walla. 236 Even should boats be used, you will require^for a force of 200 men, not less than 100 pack animals, and 20 packers. * * * * * * If you use wagons, buy or hire forty Take with you means to cross the Columbia river. No. 1 duck will answer to put around the wagon beds. % * * * :': * You will occupy the Yakima station in a manner similar to that at Walla Walla. A block-house and twenty-five men, and a store house for provisions. If you start with 200 men, this will leave you 150 for ope rations in the field. I am convinced that with this number you can strike a blow in the Yakirna country. But should you meet with serious difficulties, I am equally well con vinced that you 0,111 hold your position at the Yakima mission until we shall come to your assistance. ****** Better have one year's supply on hard at the close' of the war to be sold at a discount, than allow our people to want food for one day. We hope to close this war in a few weeks, but we must not be behind Karni- a-kin, who swears he will fight for five years. > * ;.* * * * * * I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 167.] VANCOUVER, W. T,, Feb. 21st, 1856. r f ' His Excellency I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief : SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of my commit- 287 sion as assistant adjutant general, also a letter of instructions as assistant quartermaster general, and letters and instructions for the field. ****** I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,^ B. F. SHAW, Ass't Adj't Gen. W. T. V. [No. 168.] SALEM, O. T., Feb. 29th, 1856. JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V.: SIR : I have this moment received your letter of instructions, and have accordingly sent orders to the companies at Vancouver to move up the river to the Dalles, where I propose to join them and move into the Indian country. We have been unavoidably delayed here in raising men and horses. Some eighty men have been raised at Vancouver, and the supplies had to be purchased and animals purchased for transportation. The whole thing cannot be accomplished in a moment. I have been laboring hard to raise men to join iu the next fight, but I think it will be impossible for us to move in line to engage in the first fight, on account of the great distance to travel, and the time being so limited. The force will, however, move ,as soon as possible. I have been here several days, trying to raise two companies to go out. I have a fair prospect of obtaining recruits, and will know in a few days how many. I will then proceed to the Dalles and join the compa nies that go first, leaving the last companies in charge of their respective captains, to bring up the rear. I cannot complete my arrangements here so as to leave before the first of March, and will reach the Dalles about the 7th. The whole force cannot reach the Dalles before the tenth of March. * * ,* # # * * * 238 1 will send you word the day that I take up my line of march from the Dalles. We have now nearly the entire supplies procured, and I have ordered them shipped immediately to the Dalles, to prevent delay in that respect. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Ass't Adjt. Gen. W. T. [No. 169.] EXECUTIVE < Olympia, March 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Lieut. Col. B. F. SHAW, Assistant Adj. General ; SIR : You will order Capt. Maxon's company of volunteers to pro ceed to this point without delay. The Multnomah will go up on Tuesday. Charter her on Wednesday to bring the troops to Monticello. The troops will then take the trail and push on to Olympia as rapidly as possible. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS. Governor and Commander-in-Chief. i ', /.-: . -i [NO. no.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. Y. ; ) OLYMPIA, March 2d, 1856. ) . CROSBIE, Aid to Commander-in-Chief : SIR : You will proceed immediately to the Columbia river, arid con- 239 vey orders to Col. B. F. Shaw, or in his absence, to Capt. Maxon, to march as soon as possible to this place, with sixty men of the Southern battalion. You are authorized to give the details of orders for the purpose, un der the -authority of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, to all quar termaster and commissary officers, and contract for supplies and transpor tation yourself when such officers are not present. Celerity of movement is expressly enjoined, as there is reason to be lieve the enemy are endeavoring to get in the rear of the forces now ad vanced to White river country, and as the settlemnts upon the Sound are weak, and it is important to the service to maintain the Central battalion in its present strength and position. We can look for reinforcements to the Columbia alone. Respectfully, &c. ; (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adft Gen'l W. T. V. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-chief, W. T. Y. (No. 17L] FORT VANCOUVER, March 9th, 1856. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Esq., Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : I have just arrived at this place, on my return from Salem and Oregon City, where I have been . recruiting for the Southern battal ion. I have succeeded in raising probably fifty, who will be here on Wed nesday next, which, with Achilles' company, (supposed about thirty men) will equal eighty strong. The withdrawal of Maxon's company, has much embarrassed me, as it leaves me without a sufficient force to carry out your orders. I have provisions and transportation now for 200 men for four months, all com plete. We only wait your orders to ship to the Dalles arms and revolv- vers. Sufficient have been purchased to arm those who may be unable to do so for themselves. Most of the men from Oregon will come fully equipped with horses, 240 arms, ; /or*! V> **i*r>fj ',,-;: i Jf May 20th, 1856. *,*** #*** Y*f> '*.. ." All the tribes at war east of the Cascades are collected on the Nachess to fight Col. Wright. Reinforcements will probably reach him to-morrow. If possible get an express over the Nahchess pass to communicate with Col. Wright. * * * 247 [ No. 181. ] May 21st, 1856. * * ****** * * Get an express over the mountains if possible, but k it a secret in camp. * * * * * [ No. 182. ] HEAD QUARTER May 22d, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP MONTGOMERY, ) Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief : SIR : I send the express to Col. Wright by Messrs. Coffee and Sharp. They will return if possible. Yours respectfully, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lieut. Col, Com'g. Right Wing 2d Reg't. W. T. Y. ta** ..if ii-V. -,-,'" -jrj ' '* ^ [ No. 183, ] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W, T., ) June 1st, 1856. ) Capt. F. M. P. GOFF, Com'g. Co. K., W. T. Mounted Volunteers : SIR : Your communication of the 26th ultimo has been received. In compliance with your request you are authorized to increase your force to 112 men in each company, and to elect an additional 2d Lieut. Although it is desirable to obtain the force you think you can raise, 248 there should be no delay on account of it. It is of the utmost importance to push forward as soon as possible, and you should by no means wait to increase your force to the number you have asked authority to raise, but on the contrary, march as soon as the number it was originally proposed to raise are ready to move. Very respectfully, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [ No. 184. j HEAD ^ June 5th, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, FORT HICKS, ) Adj't General JAMES TILTON, Washington Territory Volunteers, Olympia : SIR : I returned late last night from the Snoqualmie prairie, and beg leave to make the following report of the country between that country and Council's prairie. A wagon road is utterly impracticable in the time mentioned in your instructions to Lieut. Huger. At Porter's prairie, there is at least three miles of mud to go through, where the wagons would sink up to the hubs, and probably have to double teams. At Green river, on both sides, on Green river again, after leaving Frog Pond, at Sallal prairie, on both sides, and at Cedar creek, there will be required very heavy grading to render the road at all available. The timber on the greater part of the road has been burnt, and has fallen, and will require a great deal of cut ting, as well as the small growing firs, of which there is a great deal. I would, therefore, recommend that a pack trail be cut out instead of a wagon road, which will be comparatively easy. A fatigue party of about thirty men could soon clear a trail, which would enable the animals to go on without fatigue. The stores could be transported up the Snoqualmie river at much less expense than by ox teams. Canoes can be procured, which would be able to carry from one to three thousand pounds. The pack animals and the men could march by the trail. There is grass at Noscope prairie, sufficient for the animals for one night. This is four miles from Green river. At Frog Pond, there is not grass enough. At Sallal prairie, no 249 grass, and thence no grass until we reach Rattlesnake prairie, which con tains about enough for two days 7 consumption of the number of animals which we will have. Snoqualmie prairie r is eight miles from Rattlesnake prairie, and is a magnificent one. It is directly on the banks of the river is four miles long, by about one broad, and is covered with splendid grass, intermixed with pea vine, of which the animals are extremely fond. " The gentlemen of the ^Northern battalion informed me that there were at least ten thou sand acres of prairie about the forks of the river, and not far from their camp. The soil is remarkably rich no gravel, The stores could be transported to Fort Tilton, below the falls in three days. This is the fort four miles from the prairie, on the opposite side of the river. There is a pack trail between the two, and a ford at the prairie. The summit of the pass is thirty-five miles from Rattlesnake prairie, by a good trail and very little snow, not more than two miles altogether. I could not go to examine it for want of time. I wish to be understood, that in reporting a wagon road as imprac ticable, it is merely for the want of time, as with time and men a very fine road could be made. Respectfully, (Signed,) W. W. DeLACY, Captain T. B. W. T. V. [No. 185.1 EXECUTIVE ( Olympia, June 5th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Lieut. Col. B. F. SHAW, Com. Right Wing W. T. V., Fort Hicks, W. T.: SIR : The information received from Capt. DeLacy has determined me to abandon the movement by the Snoqualmie. Your views as to mo ving over the Xachess are adopted. It is important that every thing 250 should be pushed with all possible vigor. The orders for the movement will go from the office of the Adjutant General to-day. It is doubtful whether all the powder you ask for can possibly be procured from Olyrnpia. I enclose a requisition on Col. Casey for an amount not exceeding two hundred pounds. I trust, if he has that amount to spare for a brief period, that he will see his way clear to fur nish it. I will purchase every pound that can be got in the town of Steila- coom. The ammunition, powder, balls, caps, &c. r shah 1 be sent out row. I am.,, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gw. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 186.] HEAD QUARTERS, FORT HICKS, > June 5th, 1856. > Adjutant General JAMES TILTOK, W. T. Volunteers, Olympia : SIR : Capt. DeLacy has now returned, and as you will perceive by the enclosed report, states that a wagon road is impracticable to the Sno- qualmie, in time to be of service. Now, as everything is ready, and the wagon train on hand, I pro*- pose to abandon the Snoqualmie route,, push the wagon train on to the foot of the Nachess pass with the provisions, load the pack animals with forage, and cross at that point without further delay. The difficulties in the way appear to me to be exaggerated. White river is now low, and easily passed, and a little energy and determination will carry us through. From the report concerning the amount of snow on the Snoqualmie, I am convinced that we will find no great obstacle in that on the Nachess pass. The term of enlistment is getting short, and what we have to do must be done shortly or not at all. 251 I shall, therefore, move on to the Nachess pass immediately, with the wagons, unless I receive orders to the contrary, and direct my march to that point. Time will be saved by it. The pack train will be ready to move in two or three days, and all the packs will have to be taken tyick to Steilacoom if we were to move by the Snoqualmie. If you can get me one of the two Klikatat spies now ifi Olympia, I think I can use him to advantage. Please send me definitive information on these points. I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, (SignedJ B. F. SHAW, Lieut. Col. Com. Right Wing W. T. V. [No. 187.] EXECUTIVE ( OLYMPIA, June 5th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Lieut. Col. B. R SHAW, Fort Hicks, W. T.: SIR : You will turn over to Col. Casey, the posts on the Puyallup, on Connell's, and South prairies. Col. Casey has agreed to receive them, as soon as his wagons return from the Cowlitz. They will probably be back day after to-morrow. Col. Casey will also receive Fort Hicks, and the post at the Yelni. I have advised him, that as we have large quantities of stores at both places, we should need them for the present, but that I hoped to be able to make arrangements to turn over Fort Hicks at an early period, and the Yelu as soon as the safety of the settlements would permit the dis banding of the volunteers. I am quite confident I wrote to you to this effect some two or three days since, but the letter has probably been misplaced. Yery respectfully, &c., ISAAC I. STEYENS, Gov. and Com. in-Chief. 252 [No. 188.] DALLES, O. T., June 18th, 1856. Lieut. Col. B. P. SHAW, Com. Right Wing W. T. Volunteers, Yakima country: SIR : When you have, in conjunction with Col. Wright of the reg ular troops, transferred the seat of war from the Yakima country proper to the interior, you will push to the Walla Walla and cross the Columbia at Fort Walla Walla. The troops and train will move from this point on the 20th, and two boats will be at Fort Walla Walla on the 30th instant, for ferrying over your command. Arrived at the Walla Walla, you will use every exertion to strengthen the Nez Perces and the Spokanes, who are friendly, and to bring to un conditional submission the Cayuses and Palouses. If these latter will deliver up the principal instigators of the war, it being understood that they are to be executed by hanging, the rest may be admitted to mercy. The young chief, (head chief of the Cayuses,) Five Crows, Til-co- wy-icks, Stoonch, Ume-howlish, Wild Cat, and some fourteen others, will have to be summarily dealt with. You will use every exertion to bring the war to a close by the giving over of these men for punishment. The Indians will be placed on a reservation near your post, in the Walla Walla valley. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 189.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) June 3d, 1856. f Capt. J 1 . M. P. GOFF, Com. Co. K, W. T. V.: SIB : You will move forward to the Walla Walla valley, and estab- 253 lisb a block-house in good grazing, say at Whitman's old mission, or on Mill creek. Build two strong corrals, one for horses, one for oxen. The animals must be carefully guarded, as there is great danger of the Indi ans stealing them, and great pains must be taken to keep the horses in good condition. Capt. W. H. Pearsons, as soon as he can get through in safety, will go forward to the Nez Perces country, and you will furnish him a small escort. Lieut. Col. Craig, my aid- de-camp, will, on receipt of my orders, des patched by Capt. Pearson, with his volunteer company, (mostly In dian auxiliaries) march to the Walla Walla to meet and confer with you as to the military operations, and to secure that flank from the hostiles. I will bring to your notice the following suggestions as to the ope rations necessary to hold possession of the valley, and get early informa tion of the enemy. A picket should be established at Fort Walla Walla. One near the mouth of the Palouse: say at moutb of the Tucannon, and one at the point where the Tucannon approaches very closely to Snake river. The post should be on the Snake. Col. Craig is furnished with the location. The distance between Fort Walla Walla and the Tucannon is over fifty miles, therefore scouts from these posts should watch this part of the line closely. Col. Craig will bring with him pack animals to carry up supplies for the interior. At least 5,000 pounds flour, 500 pounds coffee, and 100 pounds sugar, with small stores; also, bacon, salt, soap, and clothing. He may bring transportation for double that amount. Measures should be taken to keep open the communication between the Nez Perce country and the post at Walla Walla and your command. Lieut. Col. B. F. Shaw moves forward in a few days with three - companies of the 2d regiment to push across the Cascades by the Sno- qualmie pass, and thence down the Yakima. A post will be established on the summit of the Snoqualmie Pass. There will be two posts high up on the western slope to be held by Major Yan Bokkelin, and one post high up the Yakima, on the eastern slope. Lieut. Col. Shaw will take general command of operations east of the- Cascades. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS. Governor and Commander-in-Cluef. 254 [No. 190.] DALLES, O. T., June 24th, 1866. Capt. P. M. P. GOFP, Camp on jthe Columbia : SIR : Capt. A. H. Robie is the" 'quartermaster and commissary~of the expedition about rendezvouiug in the Walla Walla valley, and mov ing thither in two columns, one from this point undertyonr command, and the other under the immediate orders^of Lieut. Col. B. F. Shaw, and in command of the expedition. Capt. A.. H. Robie has also, as special agent of the Indian depart ment, the charge of a large pack train of Indian supplies for the service of the interior, the men also being \inder his control as employees of the Indian service. You have the^military^conHnand of the,j column moving from this point, and in your absence on detached service, the command will devolve upon Capt. Robie. The main object had in view .by your command is to eseort'the In dian supplies to the interior, and to establish'a depot and! post of opera tions for the whole command In the Walla Walla valley. You will, however, strike'the enemy^ wherever you^may find him, it being borne in mind that it is important to reach the Walla Walla in ten days, and have in readiness at Fort Walla Walla, the > boats now going up to ferry across the Columbia the column [under the immediate con> mand of Lieut. Col. Shaw. I am, very respectfully, (Signed,) I ISAAC I. STEVENS,: Gov. and Com.-in-Chief, W. T. V. [No. 191.] DALLES O. T., June 24th, 1856. Jjieut. COL. WM. CRAIG, Sub. Indian Ageat, Lapwai, Nez Per ce country : SIR : The train starts Ao-morrow morning 40 wagons 80, r pack 265 animals with an escort of It5 men. The whole force, volunteers, quar termaster's employees and Indian employees will be 250 men. They take boats to establish a ferry at Fort Walla Walla, where Col. Shaw will cross with 200 men. It is expected thtft tfre whole force will concentrate hi the Walla- Walla valley, say on Mill creek, about the 2d f 3d of July. I huve a large amount of Indian supplies for you, and can push up a train to the Nez Perce country of ninety odd pack animals. The sup plies will mostly consist of provisions, flour, sugar, coffee, &c. There will be a large amounV of ammunition, and a considerable quantity of Indian goods. For the permanent service of your agency, there is a special train in charge of Hans. Tilton, Esq., and for the main bulk of the supplies, a train in charge of Capt. Robie. Should It be safe to come to Wafla Walla, you will move down with the Volunteer company and with all the pack animals you can raise. There will be ten thousand rations of flour, sugar and coffee, and small stores for the Indian service, and you can have two thousand pounds of bacon. Should it not be safe, the train will be pushed up to you with a suit able escort On the arrival of H Capt. John," you will make your arrangements and send an express to the valley, indicating the proper mode of bringing up supplies, ****** ****** Very respectfully, YOUP obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS. Gov.andSup. Indian Affaire, W. T! [No. 198.] DALLES-, 0. T., June 30th, 185,6. Lieut. Col. JB. F. SHAW, Coni. R. Wing f W. T. V., and in charge of operations east of the Cascade Mountains : SIR : The column moving from this point iradr Capt. Goff, camped 256 last night "atJWell Spriugs, and is expected to reach the Walla Walla valley on Friday evening, July 4th. The force consists of 170 men. The train is 42 wagons, 91 pack animals, and about 75 employees ; all the packers are employees in the Indian service, and the pack train will be used to carry supplies from the Walla Walla to the JS T ez Perce country. An express reached Craig at Lapwai on Saturday, June 28th, ad vising him of the probable arrival of the train at Walla Walla, and di recting him in case he deemed it safe, to come to the Walla Walla, with his company of Nez Perce auxiliaries, and all the pack animals he could muster, to take back supplies for the Nez Perces and Spokanes. He was informed that 10,000 pounds of flour, 1,600 pounds coffee, 3,000 pounds sugar, &c., &c., could be spared. If it were not safe for Craig to leave the Nez Perce country, he was ordered to send word to that effect to the Walla Walla, and was informed that the supplies would be pushed up by you with our Indian pack train, escorted by a suitable force. Capt. A. H. Robie has full instructions from me as to the supplies required for the Nez Perces. Craig writes me in rather a discouraging tone as to affairs in the upper country. The surrounding tribes have threatened to rub out the Nez Perces in case they would not join in the war, and at one time last month, the Lawyer said he could rely only upon his own band and the people on Salmon river. Since word has reached them of the Walla Walla expedition, they have gathered heart, and the war party has lost its strength. Garry and the Spokanes on the 23d May, gave a decided negative to Kam-i-akin's overture to join him to drive Col. Wright out of the country. The hostile Cayuses are with the Spokanes, and the latter have inter ceded with me in behalf of the former. If the Cayuses will unconditionally submit to the justice of the gov ernment and give up the instigators of the war to punishment, there will be no difficulty in the matter. It is useless and trifling to exact less. Craig has orders as Indian agent, to visit the Spokanes, to explain the reason why I cannot go among them this season, and to do every thing in his power to conciliate them and prevent their joining the war party. He will visit Colville and the Cceur d'Alene mission. If it should be necessary in your judgment, you will furnish him with an escort. The trip I deem of very great consequence. Should the surrounding tribes have combined on your reaching Wal la Walla, and have taken a hostile attitude towards the Nez Perces, you will take the most decisive measures to nip the combination in the bud. Capt. G-off, on his way up to the Walla W T alla, is expected, in con junction with Major Layton, to strike a band of some three hundred hos- 257 tiles at the head of John Day's river. A band of Snakes is in the party, and the Snakes generally are hostile. I hope Layton and Groff will give a- good account of themselves. - You will do all you can to keep up your strength in the Walla Wal la valley. But the troops whose terms of service will expire the last of this month, will be returned home by the Columbia valley, and will escort to the Dalles the wagon train, except such few wagons as will be required in the valley and on the return of the troops. They should pass to the Willamette valley by the emigrant road. You should send a staff officer ahead, in order that arrangements for suppMes at this point may be made. Be sure to express often to this point. I have secured the services of Mclntosh as expressman. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, ; . (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEYENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 193] CAMP ON WEN>ASS, June 22d, 1856. JAMES TILTON, Esq., Adj. General W..T. , Y., Olympia : SIR : I arrived here on 20th inst., without loosing more than one animal, the road being good for a mountain road. Immediately on my arrival, I sent out scouting parties in all directions so as to gain all the information that could be obtained. The men all re turned last evening without seeing any Indians, but found Col. Wright encamped on the upper Yakima, with eight companies of regulars. I re ceived no information through that officer, but learned through the camp that Col. Wright had held a council at which tlie following chiefs were present : Owhi, Te-i-as, Tqualston, alias Owhi-'s son, Sha-wy-wy, Yak- irnas. Leschi, Kitsap, and Xelson, and some other Sound Indians that are of less importance among the Indians. 33 The Col. failed to make a treaty with them, and on receiving his pro posals the Indians left for parts unknown. It is, however, rumored that Leschi and some others have crossed over to the west side of the mount ains again. This is uncertain, but may be true. It would be well to keep a good lookout for them, and also to offer a good reward for the heads of all these chiefs. Blankets will turn any Indians on the side of the whites. Give this information to all the troops so that they may all be ready in case the information proves true. I shall remain here a few days, and send out scouts on the different trails, and learn if possible where the Indians have gone. If I find they have gone east, I will move to Walla Walla. I will remain here five or six days, and if, in that time, I find the Indians, will attack them. The men are in good health, and the animals look as well as can be expected on such a trip. Respectfully, &c., (Signed,) B. P. SHAW, Lieut. Col. Com'dg, Right Wing, W. T. Y. [No. 194'.] CAMP OPPOSITE Fotfr WALLA WALLA, ) July 1st, 1856. ) JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adj't Gen. W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : Since I addressed you on the 22d ult., the command has con tinued marching until its arrival yesterday at this place. We continued down the Wenass river until near its mouth, meeting with very little sign of Indians, and that old, and then turned into the valley of the Yakima, crossed over the Attanam and Nachess until near the big bend of the Yakima, when we struck directly across the country in a N. 50 E. direction, and struck the Columbia about the mouth of the Umatilla, 25 miles below this place. We saw no Indians until yesterday, and the cattle trails- encountered on the route went in all directions, so that it was impossible to tell' which way the Indians had gone, and were also of old date. 259 Yesterday, as the command was descending a hill towards the river, two canoes were seen in the water manned by four Indians, and heavily loaded. At this point there is a long Island, and the canoes were on the side nearest to us. I tried to induce them to come to us, but finding that they would not, ordered the men to fire on them in hopes of driving them from their canoes. The distance was great, upwards of 500 yards, but the firing was so well directed that they were forced to abandon one ca noe, and the other received several bullet holes. None of them were hurt, and they all succeeded in escaping. Private Walker, of Miller's command, then swam across, and brought the canoe over, in which we found their provisions, bows and arrows and various, small articles. I think that they were Chimpnapams, a branch of the Walla Walla tribe, and that they came down that river. Capt. Goff has not yet arrived, nor are the boats here, but I think he must be on the road, as one of our scouts sent from the camp on the river preceding this, from the top of a high hill, saw far on the opposite side of the river, a great dust, which, from the direction, I think must have been the Captain's train advancing along the emigrant road. As soon as Capt Goff arrives, I intend to send for the chiefs of the Nez Perces and some other Indians, probably Spokanes, and also send scouts out, and by them I shall undoubtedly find out in what direction the hostile Indians have really gone. My own opinion is that they have scattered all over the valleys of the upper Columbia near Okinagan, Priest's Rapids, Palouse country, &c., and probably some of them may go to the buffalo country. I should have mentioned above that my reason for coming across the country direct, was that I was informed by Cols, Casey and Wright that the regular troops were amply sufficient for the Yakima and west side of the mountains, so that this is the only ground open to me. The express man can give the various details which it is impossible to put in here. Should anything important occur I will write you fully upon it. , J *T* ** ^ *t* *f" ^ ** *T* #*## *### Respectfully, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lieut. Col. ComMg. Right Wing, 2d Reg. W. T. V. 260 [No. 195.] EXEC Olympia, July 21st, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TER. WASHINGTON, ) Lieut, Col. B. F. SHAW, .. i - , Comd'g forces W. T. V. east of the Cascades : SIR : -Your communication of the 12th inst., is received. I am much gratified with your success in reaching the Walla Walla valley. Y.our council with the Nez Perces was the proper steps to take, and cannot but produce good results. The Nez Perces have always been firm friends of the whites, and I am sure they will ever remain so. I shall regard the Spotted Eagle as a great chief. His people recognized him as such, and he does not lose his rank by aiding the Americans in this war. The great chiefs of the Nez Perces have long since fought side by side with the American trappers and hunters against the Blackfeet and other tribes, and furthermore, >it was necessary that the Nez Perces should organize as volunteers in order to protect themselves and their friends, the Americans, in their own country. You can say this to the Spotted Eagle, and the ISTez Perces that we shall always be friends, and that I justly appreciate their services. I shall send to you for the army 20,000 pounds flour, 5,000 pounds bacon, 2,000 pounds coffee, 4,000 pounds sugar, and small stores to cor respond, if they can possibly be procured. v r ' The same amount, excepting the bacon, will be sent up for the Indi an service. But little bacon can be sent you. You must depend mainly on beef. Beef should be killed and dried immediately for the use of scouting parties. As you have fresh and dried beef, rations of flour for the army must be reduced to two-thirds or one-half pound per day. There is great diffi culty in purchasing supplies for scrip. The Indian provisions are consigned to special agent A. H. Robie. The object of these provisions is two-fold. Frst, in order to supply the Nez Perce Agency. Second, to supply the Indians who may surrender and be collected in the Walla Walla valley. It is of the utmost importance that Col. Craig should visit the Spo- k'anes, and other tribes in that region, in accordance with the instructions I have given him. I have directed him to call upon you for such escort he may require, and you will furnish it on his requisition. I have written Col. Craig about the Indian goods and supplies sent to him. Your proposed movements are approved, and I trust you will be able 261 to strike the enemy severely, and afterwards get them in on terms of un conditional surrender. From unofficial information I learn that a large number of Yakima Indians have surrendered to Col. Wright, including several of their chiefs. Kam-i-akin still holds out, I hope that Col. Wright will occupy the Walla Walla valley in the course of six or eight weeks, and thus relieve the volunteers from further continuance there. Everything is quiet on the Sound, and the volunteer forces, except ing those on the line of the Snohomish, are being disbanded. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, \&- Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, 4 *-. ', ,. i ^Tri ni--il.tr -tl.i-,<- .' % 4 ,fr >,4 [No. 196,] HEAD QUARTERS, MILL CREEK, } July 26, 1856. } Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Com.-in-Chief W. T. Volunteers, Olympia: g IB . * * * * f/'^liV * * * ****** On the 24th I arrived here in the evening, and found that Mr. Robie had just preceded me from the Nez Perces country by about two- hours. He brought me the disagreeable intelligence that the Nez Perces had shown a hostile disposition : said that they wished no white man in their country, and moreover, that the treaty was broken. Pearson told him that they were painting, beating their drums and dancing war dances all night, Pierre Mortia, Howlish, Wampoo and several Nez Perces accom panied Mr. Robie. I had a talk with these men, and then sent Capt. John with a sage to the Nez Perce chiefs. 262 I told them that I did not come to fight the Nez Perces, but the hos tile Indians. That I was tired of persuading people to be peaceable, and that if their drums beat for war we would parade for battle. That we would be friendly if they were friendly, and if hostile, we could be hostile too. That they had said that they were willing for Gov. Stevens to send men through their country, and that if he thought proper he would do so, I am expecting his return every day. Yesterday I sent the wagon train and pack animals to the Dalles, under command of Capt. Robie, accompanied by Capt. Hennes's company, whose term is just out, and Major Maxon's, who have still about 18 days to serve, but as they were very anxious to go, I thought it best to let them depart. I sent no escort with them to protect them on their return, for I had not the men to spare. I am now left here with four companies, viz : Goff's, William's, Miller's, and Powel's, in all about 150 men and offi cers. The 8th September will see the last man of this force disbanded, and there is no probability of a single man re-enlisting, at least for the present. There are now, even, some forty men in GofPs company, who claim to receive their discharges at the end of three months, and should this be the case, their time will be out in a very few days. If, therefore, you would wish to keep up this force, it would be well to set to work recruiting at once. It would be advisable to raise new companies at once for six months, to have them well armed and equipped with revolvers, and forward to the scene of operations at once. I am now about to construct block-houses here for the storing and protection of the quartermaster's and commissarie's stores here, and ex pected by the train. I shall do every thing in my power to gather such Indians as are not hostile into a reservation. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lt. Col. Com'dg. Expedition to Walla Walla. 263 [No. 197.] CAMP MILL CREEK, July 26th, T856. Lieut, Col. SHAW, Commanding Southern Battalion W. T, V. : DEAR SIR : On the 22d June I took up the line of march for Walla Walla valley, with my own and Company K, numbering ninety-six men, and accompanied by Capt. Richard's company, (N,) of sixty men, in all 156 men, under my command. Leaving Fifteen Mile Creek, we. crossed the Deschutes river and encamped on the Columbia where the road leaves it. ****** V * * Pursuing the usual route to the Walla Walla, on the 30th reached Butter creek, and struck camp with the wagons, ordering them to remain there until I returned from a march which I expected to make against a band of Indians which I understood was encamped some thirty miles from Well springs Started at dark with sixty men, and two days' rations, and travelled all night, reaching Willow creek at sunrise. After taking some refreshment, we moved to the South Fork of the same creek, thence up it about fifteen miles, and stopped to rest ourselves and animals. At sundown we took up our line of march for the Camas Prai rie, where our Indian guide thought we would find the Indians. On the 2d July, moved on util 10 o'clock, P. M., when we struck Camas prairie, but found no Indians, although we saw immense trails traversing the country in all directions. Here we ate our entire stock of provisions, and then started for the wagon train, which we reached on the 4th, having travelled some 130 miles in 112 hours. ***** * On the 5th, an express arrived from Major Layton, (O. T. volun teers,) stating that he had overtaken a large band of Indians on the head of John Day's river, which he did not think it prudent to attack, as they so much outnumbered his command, and soliciting aid from me. I accor dingly moved the train to the springs on the Umatilla five miles above, and spent the evening in making arrangements to start to his relief the following day. On the 6th, left with 54 of my men, and 14 of Company N, under Lieut. Estes, leaving the train in charge of Lieut. Williams, of Co. N. Reached Layton's encampment on the 9th, about noon, but the Indians had taken the hint and left two or three hours previous. Remained there until the morning of the llth, when the two com- mands moved on in pursuit of the Indians, travelled up John Day's river some fifteen miles to Red Bluffs and camped, sending a scout ahead at night to a camp where our guides thought there might be some Indians. The 12th, the scout having returned, stating there were no Indians encamped there, we took up the line of march on the left hand trail the trails dividing here and traveled about ten. miles, when Lieut. Hunter, who had had charge of the advance guard, came in sight of several Indi ans on horseback, whom he pursued at full speed, causing them to aban don one horse, which he captured. We then struck camp on a small creek, in what is probably Eureka valley. 13th I was compelled to remain in camp on account of having been taken violently ill on the day before, but being unwilling for the Indians to escape, I sent Lieut. Hunter with twenty-eight men, accompanied by Major Layton and forty-five men, to pursue and stop them if possible, keeping the residue of my command with myself. On the 14th, I remained in camp, quite sick. On the 15th, started on the trail, following Lieut. Hunter. The 16th Continued up John Day's river on the trail traveled till midnight, and camped on the sum mit of the Blue Mountains. ltth Started early, and on descending the mountain, struck the head of Burnt river, where we found Lieut. Hunter, and Layton's com mand, from the first of whom I gathered the following particulars of a battle which they had had with the Indians at that place : Major Layton and Lieut. Hunter had arrived there on the 15th, and had struck camp, when three men proposed going on to an adjacent bluff, and taking a view of the surrounding country. The Lieutenant told them they had better not go, as there was danger of Indians ; they however started, but had not reached the top of the bluff, when they were fired upon by some Indians, who were in ambush near the summit, and two of them killed Mr. Daniel Smith, private of Co. K, and John Estes, 2d Lieut, of Co. N, the third, Mr. Richards, of Co. K, made his almost mi raculous escape through their fire, having his gun set off by a bullet, from an Indian's gun. The firing being heard from camp, some eight or ten men started to their relief, meeting Richards a short distance from camp. The Indians immediately made their appearance all over the hill, where upon Lt. Hunter took ten men and charged them off the hill, recovering the bodies of the murdered men. Night now came on, and the Indians kept the camp surrounded, to prevent an express from being sent out. Next morning the Indians were still on three sides of the camp, and orders were given for opportunities to shoot from camp. Major Layton placed some nwn at the mouth of a canyon to prevent the Indians from 265 corning oat and firing into camp. Lieut.- Hunter placed some men at a point near the mouth of a canyon to prevent the Indians from coming out, when, by some means, some Indians came .by or through the canyon, and creeping up within a short distance of the above-mentioned point, shot one of my men (James Cherry) in the leg; after which, Lieut: Hunter charged the Indians, which resulted in pouting them from their positions, killing three Indians, and wounding one, and also, killing one horse. The firing continued until 3 o'clock, when the balance of Major Layton's com mand came up and were surrounded by the Indians, when Lt. Hunter, with seven men, charged through and. met them, when they all came into camp. After the arrival of reinforcements, a brisk fire was kept up until about 6 o'clock, which resulted in the killing of four more Indians. , The next morning there were ajew Indians to be seen on. the bluff, but no shots fired. About 8 otelock, the hill was triumphantly ascended, and our flag planted on the highest pinnacle, while the last Indian was seen making good his retreat -to the mountains. On the 18th, the whole command left the battle ground, and march ing down the valley of Burnt river, on the. 19th, struck the emigrant road at the river crossing, forty miles below the battle ground. From this point we marched by the usual trail to the Umatilla, and thence to head quarters, which we reached on the 25th. (Signed,) F. M. P. GOFF, Capt. Com'g. Column en route for Head Quarters, W. T. V. ,[No. 198.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Olympia, Aug. 2d, 1856. } Lieut. Col. B. F. SHAW, Commanding Expedition to Walla Walla : SIR : In general orders of this date, thanks are returned to yourself, the officers and men of your command for their intrepid conduct at the battle of Grande Ronde and Burnt rivers. 34 266 I shall issue my proclamation calling out two companies, consisting each of one Captain, three Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals and one hundred privates ; one to be raised on the Sound and the other on the Columbia river. But* it is possible that all difficulties may be brought to a close by prompt and decisive measures of pacification. It is well to attempt it, seeing that by the vigorous blows of our troops, the Indians must know that the whites will prevail in the contest. I have therefore determined to go in person to the Walla Walla, to meet in a general council all the tribes still peaceful, the N ez Perces and Spokanes, and all other tribes who are disposed to change their condition from hostility to friendship. As regards the hostiles, the only terms are unconditional submission, and the rendition to punishment of instigators to war, and of murderers. On the receipt of this communication you will immediately send ex presses to all the tribes, calling upon them to meet at a general council to be held at your camp in Walla Walla on the 25th of the present month. Send expresses to the hostiles, but stating if they come in, it will be the terms of absolute submission. It will be easy, if we succeed in this general pacification, to disband the troops which may be raised under my proclamation. If we do not succeed, the troops will be in the field to occupy the Walla Walla and maintain American ascendency in the interior. I shall be at the Dalles Thursday, August 14th. I have asked Col. Wright to accompany me to Walla Walla, and have urged him to send forward to that point three companies of regulars including all his mounted men. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEYENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, [No. 199.} HEAD QUARTERS, MILL CREEK, ) August 1st, 1856. ) Lieut. Col. WM. CRAIG,. Lapwai, Nez Perce Country : SIR : Your letter of 28th and 29th July was received as well as 267 translations of the speeches made by the Nez Perce chiefs in council. These I have sent to the Governor, tho' I would not be surprised if he would come up here on receiving the news of the hostile attitude taken by the Nez Perces before. We killed about forty of the enemy at the Grande Ronde, and among them four or five squaws, who were mistaken by the boys for bucks, in the dust and smoke. Whenever they were recognised as squaws they were suffered to escape. I understand that the enemy report that we killed more squaws and children than men. This was not so, to my own knowledge. I sent by Co.pt. John, "a talk" for Lawyer and the head chiefs of the Nez Perces, and also a message for the hostile tribes, the ayuses, Walla Wallas and Utillas. This message I wish translated to them. Now with regard to the hostiles, I distinctly say this From two squaws captured in the battle, I understood that there were many in the battle who did not wish to fight, but were overruled by the hostile portion. Now let all these people come in if they do not wish to fight and they will be kindly treated. Those who have been hostile will receive a fair trial if found innocent they will be discharged and treated as friends; if found guilty they will be disposed of as the Governor shall direct. Let some chief, or two chiefs, come to me with some of the Nez. Per ces, and whether hostile or not they shall be safe, and if we are unable to agree on terms they shall return safe as they came. The two best men to send to the hostile camp would be Stickas and Les-hall, alias Tow-watty's son, as these stand well with both parties. Let Stickas and Tow-watty's son say to those who may \vish to come in, that inasmuch as they may be threatened by the hostiles that I will have a force here to protect them against the hostiles, and will do it. Stickas can say to Wi-nan-pish-noot that he had better be one of those who come in, as I think he is disposed to peace. If they come, let them come quickly. If I have to hunt them up, I will know that they are bad people and will wipe them out. If they propose peace, we will have a cessation of arms have a council, and .will send for the Governor to be present. If anything important should happen, send me word by Capt. John, immediately. You had better send me an express in a few days anwhow. I shall always be glad to hear from you. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lieut. Col. Com'g. Expedition to Walla Walla. 268 [ No. 200. ] HEAD QUARTERS, MILL CREEK, ) * August 1st, 1856. j Letter, addressed to Lawyer, or the Head Chiefs of the Ncz Perce Nation : MY FRIENDS : I received your letters by the hand of Capt. John and two other head-men. The letters, I have forwarded to Governor Ste vens according to your wish. You send me your hearts and they are right. You speak like men, not like boys. I now know your hearts are right. I now send you my heart. I did not come here to take my gun to fight our friends, the Nez Perce people. I will take my gun to fight any other people that are mad with .the Nez Perces for what they have done for the Americans. You may rest assured that our hearts are all right, as yours are right. I will not be the first to do wrong. I was sent here by Gov. Stevens to speak good to the good people and to fight the bad. I did not come to speak to men. whose hands are bloody with our friends' blood. I wish you to deliver the following message to the Cayuse and Wal la Wallas, and Utillas : All the good people can now come in to this post and they will have protection. Those that wish to continue in war can do so. If,, however, they are all tired of war and wish to come in, they can do so. All those who have been engaged in battle with the Americans will receive a fair trial, and if found innocent, they will be treated as friends ; if guilty, the Governor will say what the punishment will be. If they should want to come in, they can send in one chief first, along with some of the Nez Perce people. They will be permitted to come and go whether hostile or not, so that they wish to speak with me. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lt. Col, Com'g/Expedition to Walla Walla, [No. 201.] HEAD (j August 14th, 1856 HEAD QUARTERS, FORT MASON, ) 'Gov. I. I. STEVENS, SIR : The expressman A. Mclntosh has just arrived with your con> 269 rnuuication. Your instructions relative to sending expresses to the dif ferent Indian tribes shall be attended to immediately. I shall make all the necessary preparations for a council. I suppose that this will meet you at the Dalles, and therefore I shall soon see you and be able to confer more fully. I am in possession of a note from a Mr. Ruble, which informs me that there is a body of immigrants coming to the Territory, and I am about making up a party to go and meet them. I must wait till I can get provisions here, and have sent to Mr. Robie to send them immediate ly. Push them forward as soon as possible. Everything is quiet here. , No Indians to be seen. I think that your place of a grand council is a splendid one, and it will no doubt be well attended. Very respectfully, &c., (Signed,) , , B. F. SHAW, Lt. Col., Com'g. Expedition to Walla Walla. [No. 202.] HEAD (J August 14th, 1856 HEAD QUARTERS, FORT MASON, ) Lieut. Col. WM. CRAIG, Lapwai, Nez Perce Nation : SIR : I received your express by Joe and Richard, and as I was daily in expectation of receiving an express from the Governor, have de tained them up to the present time. The express was delayed by an accident and only arrived this morn ing. I received a letter from the Governor announcing that he was on his way to the Dalles, where he expected to be to-day, and would come up to this place in order to hold a council with the friendly Indians. He directs me to send expresses to all the friendly tribes, including the Spokanes, Nez Perces, Palouses, friendly Cayuses and Walla Wallas, to meet him in council on the 25th of this month, in order to have a grand talk with them. He also sends messages to those who have been hereto fore hostile, which is, that they too, can come to the council. If a treaty 270 is made with them, it must be on terms of unconditional surrender to the mercy of the government. The Governor has invited Col. Wright to accompany him to the council, and it may be possible that he will come with a body of regular troops. You will therefore send runners to the different tribes, informing them of the appointment of the council and inviting them to attend at the time appointed. The Governor says nothing to me about your coming, but I should think it necessary for you to do so, as your services would be indispensa ble as interpreter. The Governor has called by proclamation for 200 more volunteers, to fill the place of those whose term is expiring, and he is determined to keep a force in the valley sufficient to control the interior in case peace is not made. We have information here by private letters that there is a body of emigrants on the road to Oregon, and I am requested by some persons who have relations among them, to do everything in my power to see them through safe. Now, if possible, I would be glad if you could send some Nez Perces to meet them and return, so that I could meet them in time to protect them through the hostile country. It would be well for you to write to them and advise them to stop at the Salmon river settlement until I can receive an express through. Respectfully, B. F. SHAW, Lt. Col, Com'g. Expedition to Walla Walla. [No. 203.] HEAD QUARTERS, MILL CREEK, ) > I" To the Chiefs and Head Men. of the Nez Perce, Spokane, and other friendly Tribes : The Governor directs me to say to you, that he will be here, .at my , on the 25th of this mouth, and invites you to meet him in council 271 on that day. He is very anxious to see his old friends and talk to them about their future welfare. He wants to see all the chiefs of all the tribes. He has invited Col. Wright, a soldier chief, to come with him. The message which I have already sent to the hostiles by Stickas, is the same as the Governor sends. The Governor wishes to renew his friendship witfr the Nez Perces and Spokanes and other friends, and says that he will continue to war with those who are at war, until they surrender unconditionally to the Government. If any of the hostiles come, let them come without guns. The best thing therefore they can do is to send some chiefs into the council to see the Governor and talk with him. They shall not be hurt while in my camp, or in coming to it or going from it, as this is a council called to talk in friendship ; therefore, it shall be peace while that eouncil exists. I do not know what the Governor will say, and therefore I say,, come and hear for yourselves. (Signed,) B. F. SHAW. / [No. 204.] HEAD < Walla Walla Valley, August 23d, 1856. HEAD QUARTERS, W. T. VOLUNTEERS, FORT MASOX, ) Lieut. Col. WM. CRAIG, Sub. Indian Agent, Lapwai, Nez Perce Country : SIR : I reached Col. Shaw's camp about 3 p. M. to-day and found letters from you to Col. Shaw, and your messenger, Joe. Joe returns to-night and will reach you to-morrow. I do not anticipate that it will be practicable to get the Indians here, even as early as the 27th, the day you mention. It is desirable to get a good representation here of the friendly tribes, and all the hostiles, provided the latter will come in on the terms of unconditional submission to the justice and mercy of the Government. If the Palouses, Yakimas and Cayuses, with their chiefs, shall present themselves at the council ground, they will be treated well, and the course which the Government 272 will pursue on their delivering themselves up, will then be made known to them, You may find it necessary to express again to the several tribes, and I will advise it. Let us do the whole business thoroughly and see if an arrangement cannot be made which will end the war.' I shall expect to see Dr. Lansdale here with you, for I cannot doubt that he will come through safe. At this very moment I hear the word "here is 'Capt. John/'' and I will wait till I learn what news he brings. Capt. John brings a letter from you to Col. Shaw, referring the latter to Capt. John for news as to the hostiles. Capt. John states, the Spokanes will not probably come, that most of the Nez Perces will be here, but without their women. That the prom inent chiefs of the Cayuses desire to come in, but Wild-Cat and several other young fellows are for war. That Kamiakin will come in if desired to do so by Looking Glass. K this be correct, it will be necessary for you to express to the Spo kanes again and to send my word to them, asking them to come to the council. The presence of Kamiakin, his chiefs and people is desired, provided they will attend the council on terms of unconditional submission to the justice and mercy of the Government. Send also to the Cceur d' Alenes, asking the attendance of their chiefs, and inviting Father Raville' to come with them. You are expected as a matter of course to attend the council with the Nez Perces, and it is suggested, that if practicable, you make your arrangements on the conclusion of the council, to go below execute your official bond, and get funds and supplies for your agency during the fall. Truly yours, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Snp't. [No. 205.] HEAD QT August 23d, 1856 HEAD QUARTERS, FORT MASON, ) Lieut. Col. WM. CRAIG, Special Indian Agent, Lapwai, Nez Perce Nation : SIR : The Governor arrived here this evening with a small pack train of Indian goods. The main pack train is en route to this place. 273 Your messenger, Capt. John, arrived here this evening also, and we gathered the following information from him : that the Cayuses are divi ded, eight chiefs for peace and five for war ; that the peace party had started to come in, but that the hostiles had cut the packs from their hor ses, but that they were going to start again, and that if the hostiles inter rupted them, intended to fight among themselves. He also informs me that Kamiakin had sent word to Looking Glass that he would do what ever Looking Glass advised him to do. We have invited none of the hostiles to come in, but if they do come, they shall be well treated and suffered to come and go -with impunity. As Kamiakin has made Looking Glass his counsel he can advise him accordingly. It is unnecessary to add more, as the Governor has written you in full on this subject. \ Respectfully, (Signed,) B. F. SHAW, Lt. Col., Com'g. Expedition to Walla Walla. [No. 206.] EXECUTIVE ( Olympia, Oct. 19th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) CHARLES EATOX, ESQ., SIR : You are hereby authorized and requested, as soon as possible, to form a company of rangers, to eonsist of one Captain, one 1st and two 2d Lieutenants, four Sergeants, four Corporals, and thirty privates. In case you deem it necessary, you are authorized to increase your command io forty privates. It will be the duty of such company to range along the base of the Cascade mountains on the western side, to keep a sharp look out upon the various trails, and intercept any communication that my be carried on be tween the Indians on the east and those on the west side of the mountains. Should you assent to the above, as soon as your company is organ ized you will report for duty, when further instructions will be given. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Washington Territory. 35 274 [No. 207.] EXECUTIVE Of Olympia, Oct. 20th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Capt. GILMORE HAYS, Commanding Puget Sound Mounted Volunteers : SIR Your company having been organized, you will proceed at the earliest moment to Fort Steilacoom and report to the commanding officer your readiness to unite with the regular troops from that post, and to co operate with them hi the operations against the Yakima tribe of Indians. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Washington Territory. [No. 208,] EXECUTIVE OLYMPIA, Oct. 23d, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, > Capt. C. EATON, Commanding Mounted Rangers : SIR : In my letter of appointment to you of the 19th of October, I stated that further instructions would be given when you reported your organization complete and your company ready for duty. In the fulfilment of the duty assigned you, I rely upon your discre tion, and will only give general instructions, looking to the details to be suggested by yourself. . 1st. Yon will divide your command into< three or more parties or squads, placing a judicious officer in charge of each, and having a clear understanding as to your rendezvous and movements ; or, should you think it better for the public service, you will scour the country with your whole command. These parties will scout the whole country between the Snoqualmie pass and the southern pass of the Cascades south of Mt. Rainier or Lewis river pass, looking into each of these passes and intercepting any Indians 275 that may be found traveling the mountains from the seat of war, and also all who may be found communicating from the tribes inhabiting the coun try west of the mountains. You will endeavor to preserve quiet amongst the tribes living to the west of the mountains, and do not permit your command to commit any act which will have a tendency to cause tribes who may now be friendly, to become hostile. You will despatch expresses to this office as frequently as possible, informing me of everything you may deem of importance and communicate the orders you have given to your squads, and in a word, keep this office fully informed of your movements and of what disposition you find the In dians, &c. You will keep an account of all supplies of forage and provisions you may take or receive from any source. Should you meet any unusual or suspicious assemblage of Indians, you will disarm them, and should they resist, disperse them, and put any who resist or use violence to death, or send them to Fort Steilacoom in irons, or bound as you may deem best. Any Yakima Indians or other savage of the tribes now at war whom you may discover west of the Cascades, acting as an emissary to incite the tribes now at peace to join the war party, you will hang. You will endeavor to persuade all the Indians you find near the western base of the Cascades to remove west toward the Sound, that they may be farther removed from the dangerous neighborhood of the hostile tribes. You will thus be enabled to discriminate between those who are friendly and those who are not. Those who remove will thereby show that they have no communication with the Yakimas, and those who do not are to be watched and punished if detected in any understanding with the enemy, informing them of the choice they have and the danger they are in of being treated as enemies should they remain so near the seat of war. All arms and ammunition you may take from the savages you will send to Olympia, to this office. You will furnish each of the officers commanding detached squads with instructions based upon these orders and upon your reports to this of fice, or in my absence, to the Adjutant General at Olympia. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Washington Territory. 276 [No. 209.] S^RILACOOM, Oct. 30th, 1855. JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adjutant General Washington Territory : SIR : I have the honor to report for service against the Indians, one company of volunteers, raised in this county, numbering 40 all told. Notwithstanding this company has been raised according to the proclama tion, still we hope that our services may be accepted, and that we may be placed on the same footing with the rest of the volunteers. I herewith transmit a list of the officers elected. W. H. WALLACE, Captain. [No. 210.] PRAIRIE, Nov. 3d, 1855. Hon. C. II. MASON, Acting Gov. Washington Territory : SIR : At about 9 o'clock this morning, one hundred men, fifty regu lars under Lieut. Slaughter, and fifty of the Puget Sound volunteers, en gaged from one hundred to two hundred Indians on the White river. The Indians fought rather bravely in the early part of the engagement, but were deterred after an hour's fight, by the deadly fire poured into their ranks by rifle and musketry. We estimate their loss at thirty men. Our loss was one man killed and one wounded slightly. Lieut. Slaughter de serves credit for his deliberation and his remarkable efficiency during the fight, as also my 1st and 2d Lieutenants, Hurd and Martin. The volun teers under my command acted nobly. There was not one who did not perform his whole duty. GILMORE HAYS, Capt. Puget Sound Volunteers. 277 [Xt>. 211.] EXE< November 9th, 1855. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) Capt. G. HAYS, Com'g. Company B, W. T. Volunteers : SIR : Your report of the very creditable affair of White river, gave profound satisfaction to myself and all the relations, friends and acquain tances of your company, in Olympia and its vicinity. It only fulfilled my expectations of the efficiency of your command, based upon what I observe, in their prompt response to the call for volun teers, and the known character of many of them. Their gallant conduct in action, and patient endurance of all the pri vations of a campaign, it will be my agreeable duty to make known to the inhabitants of a Territory of which they are the flower. I shall take especial pleasure in giving publicity to the names of any of your command, ; -who may have been so fortunate as to distinguish them selves in a conflict, where according to Capt. Maloney's report it is impos sible to say "who were gallant where all were gallant." Yours, respectfully, C. H. MASON, Acting Gov. Washington Territory. [No. 212.] OFFICE OLYMPIA, Nov. 9th, 1855. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Capt. EATON, Com'g. Company Mounted Rangers : SIR : You are hereby instructed to report to Capt. M. Maloney for orders. You will co-operate with the command of Capt. Maloney with your whole force, until further orders from either Capt. Maloney or this office. Respectfully, J. TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. By order of the Acting Governor. 2*78 i ' _ [No. 213.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) OLYMPIA, Nov. 9th, 1855. j Capt. W. H. WALLACE, Com'g. Company D, W. T. Volunteers : SIR : You will report for orders to Capt. M. Malonej and co-ope rate with him in the campaign. Capt. Maloney has been informed of the intention of this office to strengthen his command to the utmost that it is possible. Please report your movements before reporting to Capt. Maloney, and also the effective force of your command, the number of horses, char acter of arms, &c. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. By order of the Acting Governor. [No. 214.] CAMP MONTGOMERY, Nov. llth, 1855. Hon. C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Washington Territory : SIR : On the 4th inst., one hundred and twenty-five men fifty reg ulars, fifty Puget Sound Mounted volunteers, and twenty-five Wallace's company, marched against the Indians on Green river. In descending the Green river hill, one of their seniinels shot one of the guides, Mr. Burge, wounding him slightly. We could see them in the river bottom. We pursued and coming up with their rear, they fired into our ranks and we into theirs. We continued our pursuit on the run, charging them wherever found in the bush until dark. We then laid down on our arms in mud and rain until morning. In the after part of the night our senti nels could see them moving. When day-light came, we found a part of their force ambuscaded in the drift wood and brush, prepared to fire and run. I ordered Lieut. Hurd to charge them on the left over a deep 279 slough, the river on the right being too deep, but afterwards countermand ed the order, knowing full well that in the charge we would loose more men than the enemy. They were prepared to fire and run. We returned to camp. On the next day we routed a party on the Upper Puyallup. We approached them by two routes. The volunteers under my command by one, and Lieut. Slaughter, U. S. A., with fifty regulars and 10 of Wallace's company by the other. The enemy were gone however except some few of their number who ambushed Lieut. Slaughter's party, killing one and wounding four others, all of whom I think will recover. No blame can attach to Lieut. Slaughter. Yesy respectfully, G. HAYS, Capt. P. S. M. Volunteers, W. T. [ No. 215. J CAMP MORRISON, Dec. 10th, 1855, Adj't General JAMES Washington. Territory Yolunteers, OJympia : SIR : In compliance with orders of Nov. 2d, 1855,1 have the hon or to report the arrival of Lieut. Slaughter's command and tram on the 1st Dec. at my camp. Lieut, Slaughter, after resting his men for two days, started with 60 of his men and 5 of my men, with two day's provisions, for White river, to communicate with Capt. Hewitt's command, telling me at the same time that he would be back in four days. It is now 8 days since he left this camp, and as I have not heard from him to this date, I consider it my duty to inform you of this, so in case that the Lieutenant should have met with difficulties, Government should be prepared for it. I have the honor to be, Yery respectfully, &c., R. S. MORE, 1st Lt., Coin'g. Company D, 1st Reg't. W. T. Y. 280 [No. 21 Qf] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Olympia, Feb. 2d, 1856. ) Capt. C. W. SWINDALL, SIR : The services of the company recently organized at Skookum Bay are accepted, on the condition that their term of service is for six months, and that they are subject to the disposal of the Executive as to their field of duty. * * ****** * * * * You will, in case of an attack, maintain your position and defend it to the last extremity. Truly and respectfully yours, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 217.] EXECUTIVE Oi Olympia, Feb. 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) To the Captain of the Ranger Company : SIR : Your duty will be to scout the country from the Skookum Chuck to the Nisqually, and view the prairies on the other side of the Nisqually from Yelm prairie. For this purpose you will post 20 of your men at the Yelm prairie block-house and 20 at the Grand Mound. I K/I There must be daily communications between those posts, and also between each post and Olympia. Thus this office will have daily information of the state of the country. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-m-Chiel NOTE. Capt. Henness was elected Captain of this company, and his orders were modified ; fifteen of his company having been left behind to garrison Montgomery's and the Yelm, and the rest of his command having gone forward on foot with the battalion. 281 [ No. 218. ] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. "V., ) OLYMPIA, Feb. llth, 1856. J Capt. GILMORE HAYS, SIR : You wfll march with your company to Yelm prairie at as ear ly an hour on to-morrow, the 12th February, as possible. The wagon train in charge of Quartermaster General Miller having started for that point, you will endeavor to arrive at the site of the pro posed block-house, on Yelm prairie, as soon as possible. You will employ your command in guarding the public property and wagon train, and assisting in the erection of the proposed defences. . (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [ No. 219. ] FORT SKOOKUM, Feb. Uth, 1856. Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, * Commander-iu-Chief Volunteer Forces : SIR : I am at the post where you ordered me, and have built a rude fort on a point of land where I first built the block-house. The bay forms two lines, and we have thrown up a stockade of timber about ten feet high, having two block-houses so as to rake the sides of the stockade each way. We have also put up five dwelling houses, which the families occupy. There have been some rumors about the Claims, but the facts I do not know. We have been very busily at work here, and consequently I have had no time to go any place to see what was going on. The mes senger that brought the news here I conveyed to Adjutant Gen. Tilton. I await further orders. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) CALVIN W. SWINDAL, Captain W. T. Volunteers. 36 282 [No. 220. ] MAJOR HAYS' CAMP, W. T., ) February 24th, 1856. f Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief : SIR : I joined the forces at Montgomery's according to order, and have marched on here by order of Major Hays, and I am ready to obey orders at any and all times. Respectfully, (Signed,) C. W. SWINDAL, Capt. Company P, W. T. Volunteers, [ No. 221. ] EXECUTP February 18th, 1856 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., | :56. } i .U>>1 .V!4'; biO'V" Major GILMORE HAYS, Com'g. Central Battalion, W. T. Volunteers : SIR : In moving on Friday morning ,on the Puyallup, Montgomery's and Yelm prairie will be occupied by a portion of Capt. Henness' com mand. Fifteen men is deemed by me sufficient for the occupation of each point. For the completion of the buildings at Montgomery's, Quartermaster Miller is ordered by me to keep all the settlers of the neighborhood at work. The remainder of Capt. Henness' company will move forward on foot, and the horses sent back to Yelm prairie and Montgomery's for safe keep ing and general service. Give the necessary orders and see that the largest possible force moves forward on Friday morning from Montgomery's. We need a very small force in our rear. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. 48*3 {j o) 285 [No. 225.] CAMP 3 February 27th, 1856 CAMP MONTGOMERY, ) ) Major GILMOBE HAYS, Com'g. Central Battalion : SIR : On jour arrival at the Muckleshoot prairie, it is expected a junction will be made with the regular troops under the command of Lt. Col. Casey, and you are directed to co-operate with him in the occupation of that point and in the prosecution of the campaign. This is not intend ed either directly or indirectly to place you under the orders of Col. Casey, or to make your operation subordinate to his. You will exercise your own judgment, apply your force in the way which will effect the greatest result, bearing in mind that the part assigned to you enters into a general plan, which it is hoped will ensure a blow being struck, and the enemy not escaping out of your hands. Lieut. Col. Casey is an officer of energy and experience, and from my frequent conferences with him as well as from my knowledge of his previous character, I am assured of his disposition to co-operate with the volunteer forces. The prairie above the falls of the Snoqualmie, and an advance point on Cedar creek on the trail, will shortly be occupied by the available troops of the Northern Battalion ; and in their operations, they will be assisted by Pat Kanim and his band of friendly Indians, who has again returned to the field. Lone Tree Point is also occupied by a force of 15 n^n; and a band of friendly Indians, principally of the Cowlitz and Chehalis tribes, under the command of Capt. Sydney S. Ford, will be pushed on to you at the Muckleshoot, as soon as practicable. They will be informed and due notice will be given you. In the occupation of Muckleshoot prairie, a defensive building, in re lation to which I have already written you, and a corral, will be imme diately required. On your arrival at Muckleshoot, provision must at once be made for killing some twenty-five beaves and salting them. Salt is sent out and as many empty barrels as can be hauled. A limited number of oxen should be retained for labor around the depot, finishing the building and corral and for establishing auxiliary de fences, and for the return of the expedition when its object is attained, and ,a small number might be kept for fresh beef. The remainder of the train should be sent back to this point with a 286 suitable guard. With block-houses on the route, the guard need be but small. From the Muckleshoot the operations must be made without train or baggage animals ; the men carrying, each one, his blanket and havresack with four days provisions on his back. It may be that the train can be returned through the route to be opened by Col. Casey. This you will be able to decide on conference with that officer. My impression is that if Col. Casey gets wagons through to the Muckleshoot, it will be on our route, and that the wagons will have to return by the route they go out. I hope to send additional force to your aid, and shall at once take measures to increase the numbers of the existing companies. To take charge of all the operations in his department, Quartermas ter and Commissary General Miller will accompany your command and bring back the train. From his familiarity with the details of transporta tion and subsistence, and his known energy of character, I am sure his services will do much to facilitate your operations. Before deciding to take a different route to the Muckleshoot than by Porters, have the ground carefully examined to the banks of White river the crossing itself examined, and the route thence to Muckleshoot praire. It is known, we can push the. train to Muckleshoot ly Porter's, and that if this good weather continues, we can ford White river at Porter's. In mov ing by Porter's, I consider a block-house there indispensable as you go out. My own impression is that the surest and probably the only practi cable plan without extreme labor to reach the Muckleshoot, will be by Porter's. It is an important point to occupy and should be occupied, and a block-house built after the occupation of Muckleshoot, if not before. Is not the grass better by Porter's ? But you have been over the ground, and I leave the matter to your own judgment. The block-houses at the Puyallup and at Porter's, can, in my judg ment, be held by ten men each. This, however, I leave to your discretion. I send you a brief memorandum in regard to the march and the es tablishment at the Muckleshoot, which you will consider as a part of .these instructions. Report as frequently as possible, and I will advise you of operations at other points. It is hoped that a line will be opened up the Duwamish from Seattle at an early day. Trusting that the most complete success will crown your exertions, I remain, very respectfully, &c., ISAAC I. STEYENS, Grov. and Com. in-Chief. NOTES IN REGARD TO THE MARCH, C. 1. Before moving the train from point to point, see that the road is opened and the way clear to a camping place at night, which, whenever practicable, should be in a prairie, and gun shot from the wood. 2. The wagons should be examined on reaching camp and be re paired and strengthed, and broken down wagons with their loads brought up. 3. The consumption of forage and provisions will, it is hoped, so lighten the train as to equalize the breaking down of wagons and any in creased difficulty of the road. 4. On moving from the Puyallup, disabled oxen and their wagons should be sent back. It is not supposed that an escort will be required. 5. The defensive building and corral at the Muckleshoot should be gun-shot from timber, or the wood cut down within gun-shot. 6. A good block-house should be built at the crossing of White river, and a ferry established. This can be done after the establishment at the Muckleshoot if deemed expedient. If the route be by Porter's, a block-house should be built there as the expedition moves out. 7. A block-house on Green river on the route towards Cedar creek and the prairie above the falls of the Snoqualmie, will, with a block-house at Porter's, protect the rear of the establishment at the Muckleshoot. A block-house is therefore recommended on Green river. [No. 226.] .-; CAMP CONN ELL, March 2d, 1856. EwWMpA O.J ' -V : I tx-fo yd iXKbflV i ^ March 24th, 1856. > His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, Olympia, W. T.: SIR: On the 19th inst., I crossed the White river with 65 men, and constructed a block house first story 26 x 22, second 28 x 24. On the 21st inst., I sent a party of 35 men to Boise river, four miles east of Porter's, to look after Indians they returned after examining the prai ries north of that stream in the direction of Green river, but discovered no Indians. They report that all the trails seen go up White river. They believe that all the Indians from the Green river country have fallen into the White river trail and are trying either to cross over to this side of White river, and pass near the mountains on to the head waters of the Puyallup, or the Nesqually. I have determined to ascertain whether they have re-crossed to this side, and will to-day send a party of twenty men to find out. The Indians are evidently much alarmed, and are flying 299 before us rapidly as possible leaving behind their poor horses five of which we have taken. I should judge them to be in a starving condition, from the fact that we have found a number of their horses killed for food. I think they have but little stock left. If they have passed up White river with a view to go over the mountains, I am afraid they will succeed in escaping, as it will be impos sible to follow them, owing to the swollen condition of the streams, which are now impassable. I think they started from their encampment the day after the fight, and if they continued to travel they passed the White river before its waters were up. I am able to see the Cascade range, and there is but little snow on its highest peaks. I hope they may not have purposed crossing the mountains. If they have not, we shall soon be able to catch them. The regulars, with 350 men, passed Porter's on the 22d, with the hope of surprising a camp on Green river. I hope they may not be disappointed, but fear they will They took the camp of Indians on the Puyallup prisoners, from whom I suppose they have gained information of importance. The river was im passable, or I suppose they would have communicated the news. I am, very respectfully, GILMORE HAYS, Com'g Central Battalion, W. T. Y. [No. 236.] TENALQUOT PRAIRIE, March 24th, 1856. JAMES TILTON, Esq., Adj. General W. T. Y., Olympia : SIR : On the 17th inst., we discovered Indian spies lurking about our camp. We trailed them towards Yelm prairie ; learned there that they had been chased from a barn about two miles to the westward of Fort Stevens. We went same day to Gravelle's. He stated that he went when and where he pleased without arms, same as he always had BOO done that the Indians said that they would not hurt the French or En glish. 18th. I ordered in all the provisions which the Indians might easily get, and told Mr. Kirtley to report the amount and kind of provisions to the quartermaster at Olympia. 19th. Remained at Yelrn. 20th. Went to head of South Bay. 21st. Went to Johnson's Point. Sent part of my command to the left Lieut. Grosnell going to the right. 22d. Divided my command in small parties and searched the woods from head of South Bay to Nesqually Bay and McAllister's creek. 23d. Searched Nesqually bottom to near the Yelin ford ; on west side found signs of Indians. I am going up the Deschutes to-day; shall be ready for further or ders to-morrow. Respectfully, H. J. G. MAXON, Captain Washington Mounted Rifles, [No. 237-] Olympia, March -2,6th, 1856. ADJUTANT GENEJRAL, W. T. Y., ) Capt. H. J. Gr. MAXON, Commanding Mounted Rifles : Sm : You will proceed by the way of Fort Stevens with your com pany, and make a scout up the Nesqually river as far as you can carry supplies. From the Nesqually you will proceed to Connell's prairie, and form a junction with the Central battalion; your route being by the high est practicable trail at the head waters of the Nesqually and Puyallup rivers, Capt. Achilles will co-operate with you on this duty, and will report to you for orders. It is supposed you can take your horses some distance up the Nes- .qually, and perhaps to the prairies, or until you ascertain whether you can march from the Nesqually prairies to those of the Puyallup. Should 301 you, however, find the grass insufficient, you will leave your horses at Fort Stevens, or some other suitable place. Of this you will be the judge. Of course you cannot subsist your animals after joining the Central bat talion, and it will be better perhaps, to take them but one day's march from Fort Stevens, as it would weaken your force to give them a sufficient escort back thence from, say two or three day's march from that post, or use your discretion to leave your horses and move with the entire strength of the two companies. Very respectfully, &c., JAMES TILTON, Adj't Gen. W. T. V. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-chief. [No. 238.] CAMP McCLouD, March 30th, 1856. Adj't Gen. JAMES TILTON, W. T. T., Olympia : -\ / / 4. g m . On my way to this place I found the prisoners I send to you, at their homes. They all acknowledged that they were violating the or ders of the Governor. I considered it my duty to send them to the Gov ernor, and state that I consider them guilty of treason, and can prove Wren guilty of giving aid and comfort, by Orterland, who belongs to my company. McLoud alleges that he has been robbed, but has evidently 'cached" his property, as my men have found the very things that he says he has lost. I think it useless to try to get the Indians while these men are allowed to remain here. The Indians have been and are near here. Not more than three have been seen at once. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, > H. J. G. MAXON, Captain Mounted Rifles, 302 [No. 239.] OFFICE ADJ'T GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Olympia, 4th April, 1856. rMit '-'/ f - / v ^ ;' :' ' ' '" .- Major. HAYS, Commanding Central Battalion; Sm : After Capt. White reports the ferry at the Puyallup re-es tablished, you will order him to make a road from Fort Hays to a conve nient point on South prairie, where you will cause a block house to be erected. Respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Adj't Gen. W. T. Y. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 240.] OFFICE ADJ'T GENERAL, W. T. Y., ) Olympia, W. T., April 6, 1856. } ' ' (>< - Jjjl([ ii.'Lj Oi ~sy,"<-' 7ui nU - : rr.l^5 Maj. GILMORE HAYS, Commanding Central Battalion : SIR : From information received at this office from various sources, and considered reliable, the enemy may be expected by a pass through the Cascades south of Ranier. Capt. Maxon has just returned from a scout of forty miles from Fort Stevens towards the Pass. He brought in fourteen prisoners, and killed eight men of the enemy, of whom but 3 escaped from the rapid and effective fire of his party. He was obliged to return for provisions, and lived on Indian food for a day or two. He states that if he had had horses he could have kept on by eating the animals. He is going out again to-morrow, and will scout in the same direc tion. You will leave Major Yan Bokkelen in command of the post you have established on the White river, and after the Pioneers have re-estab- 303 lished the ferry over the Puyallup, proceed with your battalion to South prairie, erect a block house at some convenient point as possible, and; keep in readiness to move towards the Nesqually pass of the Cascades, It is proposed for your command to proceed from the South prairie to the south east, to Michael's fork of the Nesqually, and erect there another block house. You will employ upon the work of opening roads and building block houses all the force at your command, not employed in making scouts, or on guard, arrange your guards so that a man may be twenty-four hours on and twenty-four hours off, strengthen the Pioneer company during its employment in cleaning out the roads and building defences by as large a working party from the other companies of the command as possible, as celerity of movement is absolutely demanded by the exigency of the case. Report to this office the state of affairs in your command, and the progress of the work ordered, as frequently as possible. Leave an officer and fifteen or twenty men at Fort White. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 241.} FORT STE April 6th, 1856. FORT STEVENS, YELM PRAIRIE, > His Excellency, I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief : SIR : In pursuance of orders received on 30th ult., I marched that night with twenty men, under the guidance of Mr. Shelton and Lieut. DeLacy, the Adjutant Southern battalion, and arrived at this place same night. On 31st, I proceeded to examine the country around, so as to find the direction the Indians had taken, but found no sign. April 1st. Marched for Lakamas prairie, under the guidance of 304 Mr. Brail, who had lost some horses by the Indians recently, but could find no sign. Returned to this place by way of the Nesqually river. On the third, the rest of my company having joined me, started with twenty- seven men, intending to go as far as possible towards the mountains. Took four days' rations. 4th. Marched all day without seeing any In dians. Sent horses back to Lackamas prairie, and proceeded forward with part of command. Returned in the evening without making any discovery. 5th. Detached Lt. Pressley with fifteen men towards the head of the Nesqually river, with orders to examine the river minutely on his way down to this place, whilst I returned with the rest of the company to this place. 6th. Scouts having returned, moved camp to Tamarie's prairie, where I can get good feed for the animals. No fresh Indian sign has been found. It is supposed that there were only four Indians in the party that stole the horses. ******** I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., BLUFORtX MILLER, Capt. Co. I, W. T. Y. [No. 242.] EXECUTI April 10th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, ) Major G. HAYS, Com'g. Central Battalion : SIR : I have received your letter of this date, resigning your posi tion as Major of the Central battalion. Your resignation is accepted, to take effect from this date. In accepting your resignation, I desire to express my appreciation of your services in the Indian war. Communications from the office of the Adjutant General have shown you that the authorities have not been un mindful of the time you have devoted to the public service, nor the hard ships you have encountered. S05 Trusting that in the bosom of your family you will find a solace from the cares of public employment. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 243.] April 12th. Communication from Adjutant General to Captain Swindal, on whom command of Central battalion had devolved, of same import as that of the 6th inst., to Major Hays. [No. 244.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, Olympia, April, 15, 1856. Capt. C. W. SWINDAL, Commanding Central Battalion : SIR : Lieut. Col. Shaw has been elected Lieut. Col. of the Central' and Southern battalion. You will push forward, establish a block house at South prairie, and open a communication with the force now pushing up the Nesqually. On communicating with Col. Shaw, you will receive from him orders as to the future movements of the battalion. It is to be remarked here, that the line of the Nesqually is regarded as an important one to be occupied that it is to be established by block houses, and that the available force of your battalion is to be applied to that purpose. Truly yours, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. 39 306 S [No. 245.] CAMP MONTGOMERY, April 20th, 1856, Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief : SIR : I moved forward on the 15th inst., for South prairie, by way of FinnelPs prairie, cutting a wagon road some six miles through the woods, and making a good road. On 2d, encamped on South prairie, and two days after, completed block house r which I named Fort McAllister, and on the following moming, moved towards Camp Montgomery. The Pi oneers deserve much credit for their perseverance. On lTth int., I sent out a scouting party up the north branch of the North fork of the Puyallup, commanded by Adjutant Puith. Some four or five miles up the river, they discovered a camp, winch the Indians no doubt had intended for their place of retreat, but no fresh sign was seen, except one track which passed through South prairie towards White river. Yery respectfully, C. W. SWINDAL, Capt. Com'dg. Central Battalion, [No. 246.] CAMP WREN, April 23d, 1856, Adjutant General JAMES TILTON, W. T. Volunteers, Olympia : SIR : I beg leave to report, that in obedience to- orders received from Lieut, Col. Shaw, I broke up my camp at MeLoud's and marched on the llth inst. to Tenook creek, and on next day arrived at MicheFs- prairie at noon. I left my horses here under a guard, and immediately proceeded up the Michel's creek, a branch of the NisqualJy river. I was accompanied by Col. Shaw and Adjutant De Lacy, We proceeded up the river for about eight miles and camped. Con- tinning our course next day, we came across fresb Indian sign and divided the party, Col. Shaw going up one side of the river and I continuing up the other. Col. Shaw found an Indian, who, however, escaped in the 307 drift- wood, and soon came to a fishery. Above this, a short distance, we surprised an old Indian making fish weirs, and shortly after captured an other spearing salmon. We induced these to lead us to their ranch, where they represented that there were several men and women, but on our arrival we found that the one who had escaped had given them warn ing, and that they were gone. They had not had time however to take anything, as we found all their clothing, two guns, a cache containing blankents, clothing, &c., some ammunition and other articles. I sent out scouts in every direction but were unable to catch any more except an old squaw, who came up not knowing that we were there. We destroyed ev erything. Next morning Col. Shaw returned with a party under com mand of Lieut. Bennington, taking one of the captured Indians as a guide, and got six Indian horses south of Lake Owhap, too poor to be of any use. Thinking that the Indians had escaped over to the Nisqually, I re turned down the Michel a short distrance, crossed it and proceeded about three miles over to the river, which I ascended seven or eight miles until stopped by the tremendous precipices. I found no signs of Indians and no place for them to stay. Same day returned to Michel's prairie by the mouth of Michel's creek, passing by the place where we had killed the Indians on the previous scout. The bodies were still there and had not been disturbed. On my arrival at camp, I found that Capt. Achillis' company had arrived under command of Lieut. Powell. I started again on the 11th iiist., on another scout, taking the other company also with me. My men had on the previous expedition seen a large lake to the north-east, and I thought that we would find Indians there. We proceeded on our former trail until within a short distance of the fishery, when I sent Lieut. Powell with his company to the ranch which we had found on the previous expe dition, and struck a northern course myself for the unknown lake. On our route we came across an old Indian camp, where we found a cache of sad dles, ropes and axes, which we destroyed. We crossed three small but rapid streams which I named successively the South, Middle, and North Forks of the Owhap. On the last we camped, having made 25 miles that day. We were now on a distinct well marked trail leaking to the lake, and arrived at this latter about noon. We coasted along it for about 5 miles, finding no Indians, headed it and came on the opposite side. Here we found several small streams flowing from the lake into the Puyallup of which this is probably the head. We struck a trail going to this river and our captives told us that it was not very far distant. We camped here. We continued our returning course next on the trail, being generally 308 in a south and east direction. * * * * Again arrived at Michel's prairie. * * * * Haying no provisions, I have eome to this place where I .will await orders. Very respectfully, &c., H. J. G. MAXON, Capt. Com'g. Washington Mounted Refles, [No. 247.] JPORT McALI April 29th, 1856. MCA.LISTER, SOUTH PRAIRIE, ) Cfov. I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Cominander-in-Chief : SIR : Capt. Swindal left here this evening en route for the Nisqually river with forty-eight men. I accompanied him as far as the main North Pork of the Puyallup with seven of my men, as I felt certain that he would have a fight with Leschi on his first day's march, but we passed around his camp. * * We went to an old encampment, where we found a trail which we thought was the one that the Indians had taken when they left it, but proved to bo a false trail made for the purpose of misleading any body of men that might discover the camp. After running out the trail, we dis covered an opening which we supposed to be prairie, but which proved to be the North Fork of the Puyallop. Capt. Swindal resolved to proceed forward -and ^returned to the old Indian camp. In about an hour I found out the course the Indians had taken. The encampment is situated upon the edge of a swamp. There were four houses capable of holding about thirty. In the swamp was an Island with five large houses which could hold fifty or sixty men. We likewise found old beds in hollow logs, and there were probably one hundred men encamped here, and I think that they were in a wretched condition as they had been obliged to kill their horses for food. We followed the trail of the Indians as far as was prudent considering our small number and then returned to camp. >#*? .* *' * * . * Yours respectfully, A. B. RABBESON, Com'g. Company B, W. T. V. 309 [Ke. 248..] FORT McALisTER, May 2d, 1856. JAMES TjLTON, Adjutant General W. T. V.: g IR : With four day's provisions, I started with part of my com mand, consisting of Capt. White of the Pioneer company with 20 men ; Lieut. Temple of company B, with 14 men ; Lieut. Cole with 7 men, and 4 men of the company scouts, upon the march you ordered towards the Nisqually. During this march, haying discovered a fresh trail of Indians, I went before the command and upon raising a ridge discovered an Indian house within thirty yards. I signalled to the command to surround it, but before it could be done, an Indian ran to the door. I levelled my rifle to shoot him but he dodged back, and all of the Indians ran out of the back door. I caught sight of a young Indian whom I shot. The command then charged and killed four Indians ; one of the killed we recognized as ''Sam," of White river. We searched the camp and burnt everything. A small quantity of provisions were found some potatoes, &c. The papers of the Duwamish Mill Co. were found here and I forward them to you. This camp contained about : 25 or 30 Indians. We reached Fort. McAllister yesterday after a fatiguing march of 35 miles through the moutains. Lieut. McKibbon of Company H, 9th Infantry, has just arrived here. He is going with us to-morrow with 22 men of his company. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, C. W. SWINDALL, Coin's. Central Battalion W. T. Y. [NO. FFICE OLYMPIA, May 27th, 1856. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. Y., } ) Lieut. E. HUGER, Adft. 2d Reg't. W. T. Volunteers : SIR : You are hereby detailed to inspect the route lately traversed by Major Yan Bokkelin from Council's prairie to the pass of the Snoqual- 310 inie and report upon its practicability for ox teams and the time requisite to cut a road through by a party of pioneers, of say 30 men. Upon arrival at Major Yan Bokkelin's camp, confer with him upon the subject and inform him that the Commander-in-Chief is very desirous that the Northern Battalion should actively employ itself in cutting out as much of the northern portion of the proposed road as possible, to facil itate the movement and enable the post at Rangers' prairie to be supplied with provisions, &c., from the train of Col. Shaw. The details, you will give the necessary orders about, and inform Major Van Bokkelin of the plan at this office relative to the movement. Bear in mind that the arrangements for the march via the Snoqual- mie depend upon the possibility of the road being made practicable to ox teams, in say twelve days. Return to this place within six days to report. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES TILTON, Adjvant General W. T. V. By order of the Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. NOTE. Lieut. Huger being taken sick, the above orders were execu ted by ,Capt. De Lacy. [No. 250.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, 1 L, July 17th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Capt. SWINDAL, Commanding Central Battalion : SIR : You are directed to confer with Lieut. Col. Casey, and turn .over Fort Hicks to him as soon as he will receive it. On his taking possession, the Steilacoom company under Lieut. Cole will be immediately marched to Steilacoom and be mustered out of service ,by you. The Quartermaster and Commissary General will make the necessary ; arrangements for the removal and safe keeping of the public property at Fort Hicks. You will immediately send orders to the detachment of the Seattle 311 * company under Lieut. Neely to move immediately to Seattle,, there to be- mustered out of service next week by Lieut. Col. Fitzhugh. The detachments of your cnmpany at Skookum Bay you will also- cause to be mustered out of service. The detachment of men at the Nisqually Ferry block-house will be mustered out of service by Quartermaster and Commissary General Miller, The companies at the Cowlite and in Clarke county will be mustered out this week. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-ChieL [ No. 251. J PORT TOWNSEND, W. T., Nov., 5th, 1855. Adj't General JAMES TILTON, Washington Territory Volunteers, Olympia : SIR I take this opportunity of informing you that on last Satur day, a company of volunteers was organized at my place of about fifty men, which is increasing daily,, and in a few days the compan'ys comple ment will be full. Imiaediately on the orgaaization of the company, I despatched 1st Lieutenant S. D. Howe with a detachment f men to visit the camps of the Scadget Indians now situatad on the rivers immedi ately north of the Snohornisk river, and invite them all ia to the settle ments to separate them as far as possible from the influence of the tribes of Indians of known hostilities. I am now fitting out an expedi tion of thirty men to go on the American schooner A. Y. Trask, and blockade the Snohomish river. This expedition goes under command of 2d Lieut. James Kames. I have sent the schooner R. B. Pother to San Juan Island, for two pieces of ordnance. She is expected now hourly, As soon as she returns the expedition will sail for the river. I have i&- structed Lt. Kames to proceed up the river to above all the sloughs, and select a position where the stream is narrow and the banks clear of tim- 312 ber, and then proceed to throw a boom of logs across the river, anchor his schooner below the same, and place a guard on each bank of the river to prevent any canoe from passing; if the blockade is attempted to be forced he is instructed to resist the same. I think, with this river blockaded, it adds greatly to the security of all the settlement on the lower part of the Sound. In fact, with the river open, with a large trail from the Clickatat country to the river that can be traversed at all seasons of the year, the whole lower portion of the Sound is at the mercy of the enemy. A party of Indians can reach all the settlements below, with that river open, in 48 hours from the Ya- kima river, with it closed, they cannot be reached at all. I think the course I have pursued will meet with your approbation ; the exigency of the case seemed to me to demand it. The people of this place are very much alarmed. All the families are moving in, and building a block house. The people on Whidby's Is land do not appear so much alarmed the blockade of the Snohomish river, has added greatly to the feeling of security. I hope and trust to be up to Olympia before this reaches you. ****** The expedition I think will have the river blockaded by to-morrow night. ***** * ,,. I 4 \Hfifc , W F ^ * * * * * * Very respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC N. EBEY. *t'h't -JcoJu 1o ?mk 7m Ii8 boxiu/c-vv ROW s-noJmifo 7 lo '/:?ri _ _ [No. 252.] OLYMPIA, Nov. 9th, 1855. JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adjutant General Washington Territory : SIR : -I have the honor to report to you the organization of a com- pany of volunteers at Whidby's Island, on the third inst., called the Nor thern Hangers. Immediately upon the organization of the company, I dispatched Lt. Howe, with a portion of the command, to the rivers on the east side of Whidby's Island, to meet the main encampment of the Scadget Indians, to have a talk with them, and request the tribe en masse to move into the settlements. This course oppeared to me highly necessary, as they have at times past, been very considerably under the influence f Te-i-as, a chief of the Yakima tribe of Indians, and who has visited them in the character of a priest, and at this time, a Spoqualmie chief is visiting them, and it is well known that different members of this tribe are dissatisfied with the whites, and but little persuasion would be needed to induce them to disregard their solemn treaty obligations, and join in alliance with the fiostile bands of Indians within reach of them. These fears are greatly enhanced, when the Indians know thus far that the whites who have gone out to chastise the hostile Indians have been compelled to retreat, and that numerous murders have been committed within short distances of points that are the best prepared for defence. I think it a matter of the first importance to separate those Indians who show no disposition for warfare from those of known hostilities. *T* *f^ . . " . ^P *JC 5jC 5fi I have now despatched Lieut. James Keymes with thirty men on board of the schooner A. Y. Trask to blockade the Snohomish river. ****** * It is believed that there is no road or pass in the Cascade mountains north of the Snoqualmie until you get to Frazier's 1*1 VPT* With this river (the Snohomish) open, it brings the main band of Yakima Indians within 48 hours of Port Ludlow, Port Gamble, Port Townsend, Discovery and Whidby's Islands, where an immense amount of capital could be destroyed, and many lives lost, before the enemy could be repulsed. * * * * * Bn I am, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC N. EBEY, 40 [No. 253.] OFFIC: OLYMPIA, Nov. 10th, 1855. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Oapt. I. N. EBEY, Comd'g Co. I, IstRegt. W. T. V.: SIR : Your company, I, being accepted into the service of the Uni ted States, you will return to your command and cause the military oath r a copy of which is herewith transmitted, to be administered to your offi cers, non-commissioned officers and privates. Any one declining to sa swear will not be accepted into service. ****** You will maintain a guard at the boom on the Snohomish river, in structing your guard to avoid all collision with the tribes, or any members of the tribes, who may not exhibit unmistakeable evidence of hostility, or be found in, or strongly suspected of communication with the hostile Indians. Your command will earnestly endeavor to maintain the friendly relations hitherto existing between the Snoqualmies and other tribes on the Sound, and our people. If this is done, your services will be most valuable, and more highly appreciated than any victory over those tribes, should they unhappily join the hostile Indians. ****** * * It is made your especial duty to guard against and prevent all persons not on military duty, or agents of the Indian depart ment, from undertaking any expeditions against the Indians. Private war must not be tolerated. The general arrangements in regard to the collection of friendly In dians and restricting them to particular points, will be strictly confined to the Indian department, whose agents this is the special duty of, and who will be instructed, in case of necessity, to make requisition upon yourself for any military force they may require in your vicinity. ****** Yours, respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. 315 [N. 254.] SNOHOMISH RIVER, Nov. 12, 1855. JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y.: SIR : The steamer made Point Elliot this day about 5 P. M v where I found the schooner A. Y. Trask, with forty-five of my eomuiand on board. * * Pat Kaniin is still with us, and designs ascending the river by him self to-morrow, and seeing his people, returning by the time Dr. Hill ar rives here, so as to accompany him up as the special agent of the Indi- r\ a *fc I will send a dispatch to-morrow for Dr. Hill. When Pat Kanim saw the number of men on board the schooner, he was much alarmed, and endeavored to dissuade me from going up the river. ******** I have this evening had a long talk with Pat Kanim, in which I have allayed his -fears. I am also indebted for the same to Capt. Fay's influence. I shall be at my position early in the morning. * Every effort on my part, shall be directed towards maintaining friendly relations with the Indians on the river. Yery respectfully, >? no Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC K EBEY, Capt. Co. I, W. T. Y. [No. 255.] FORT EBE Nov. 28, 1855. FORT EBEY, SNOHOMISH RIVER, ) JAUES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y.: SIR : I send this dispatch by Lieut. Howe, who takes with him 316 Pat Kanim and Quesam, the two head chiefs of the Snoqualniie aiid Shawamish tribes. Until to-day the chances were about even whether Quesarn and most of the young men of the tribes were disposed for peace or war. Yesterday, Pat's brother, John, went up the river. I told him to tell Quesam and his people if they were not down the river in three days, I should go up the river and see him. To-day a party of about 275 came down the river, including Quesam, and all the others that were re ported as being disaffected. They report to me that all are now down the river, except three men and their families. One of the great objects of our station here is accomplished, without which, I fear that one-half of the Snoqualmie tribe would have joined the war party. My company is now over seventy strong. Thirty men are sufficient to guard this river. I think that it would be advisable to leave that number at the fort, and with the remainder, ascend the Snoqualmie in boats to a point some miles below the falls, taking Pat Kanim and a few other Indians as guides. At that point, the Snoqualmies have fourteen head of horses, which I will procure to transport my baggage, and then take up the line of march for Seattle or Steilacooin. I will thus pene trate the heart of the Indian country. I have no fears but we shall get through. ;t I understand the Indians at New Dunginess were manifesting a slight disposition to hostility, and that the houses of my boys from Port Discovery had been broken into and plundered since they left, and I im mediately despatched Lieut. Newton with 16 men, believing that their presence would be sufficient to change their disposition for the better. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC N. EBEY, Capt. Northern Rangers, 317 [No. 256.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) OLYMPIA, Dec. 4th, 1855. j CAPT. EBEY, Com'g Co. I. 1st. Reg't W. T. V.: SIR : Your letter of Nov. 28th, is received. In reply, I am in structed by the Acting-Governor to state: The condition of affairs as shown by late developements in the Green river country, and the uncertain tenure by which the savages of the Sound are held, renders it uuadvisable to authorize the proposed expedi tion up the Snoqualmie river, and thence to Seattle or Steilacoom. You will, therefore, continue to act under your former orders, main taining your head quarters at Port Townsend, and keeping up a guard of say 25 or 30 men, at Fort Ebey. The difficulties with the Indians re ported by yourself at Port Discovery and New Dunginess, indicate the necessity for your keeping your company at Port Townsend or in that vicinity, exercising a surveillance upon the northern Indians, and prevent ing them from coming up the Sound. * * * * * * C v r i'* ' "V/ Yours, most respectfully, (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adjt. Gen. W. T. Y, il [No. 257.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. Y., ) Olympia, Dec. 5th, 1855. ) CAPT. EBEY, Com'g Co. I, W. T. Y.: SIR: * * * * * * * * You are hereby directed to detail an officer and 20 men of those of your command, who reside nearest Crescent harbor, to duty at the block house at that point. 318 Endeavor to prevent all collisions between the detachments of your company stationed at the block houses, and the friendly Indians upon the reservations or elsewhere. * * * * * * Very respectfully, (.;" Your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAMES TILTOJST, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Volunteers. By order of the Governor and Commauder-in-Chief [No. 258.] On ^Olympia, Dec. llth, 1855. OFFICE ADJ'T GENERAL, W. T. "V., ) Capt. A. A. PLUMMEB, Commanding Port Townsend Guards : SIR : Your company is accepted into service, and herewith you will receive commissions for youraelf and officers. * Supply your command with provisions when an expe dition is made, and only such men as are absolutely on duty will be sup plied with rations. * ***/ * * i * ^K 'K J ,. / .1 .ft , ,. T /'.:. il '(''* rj ''/:. * ***** The delicate duty of observing vigilantly all causes which may lead to collision between our people and the friendly Indians, is entrusted to you, and you are especially enjoined to require of your command great prudence and circumspection in this matter. Respectfully, JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V. By order of the Acting-Governor and Commander-m-Chief. ' ' : 319 [No. 259.] EXECUTIVE O OLYMPIA, Feb. 1st, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFIJCE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, I Capt. I. N. EBEY, Wash. Ter. Volunteers, Port Townsend : SIR : I am determined to receive in service no volunteers, except such as enlist for six months, and for the general defence of the Terri tory. t Accordingly, your company will be disbanded, and you are urged to raise a company to be enrolled at Port Townsend, subject to the orders of the Executive. The necessary orders for their disposition will be given in season. J>ut in the present emergency, it is indispensable that as large a force as possible should be thrown into the country now occupied by the hostiles. Truly and respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Comrnander-in-Chie [No. 260.] EXECUTIVE O OLYMPIA, Feb. 2d, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, > j Capt.. ISAAC N. EBEY,. W. T. Volunteers: SIR : You are requested to take in hand the raising of volunteers- from the counties of Whatcom, Island, Jefferson and Clallam, to urge it forward with all possible dispatch, and to consolidate the whole force, if in two or more companies, by calling an election of Major, and issuing the necessary certificates. The Major thus elected will at once enter upon? Ms duties, awaiting his commission from the Executive. The instructions to the Major are herewith enclosed. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commauder-in-Chief, 320 [No/ 261.1 ,,> V Y/ EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) February 2d, 1856. j To the MAJOR, Commanding Lower Sound Battalion : gi R You will make the following disposition of the force under your command: 1. Establish small posts at Bellingham Bay, Port Townsend and on Whidby's Island, not exceeding 15 men each. 2. You will keep the same number afloat in case no steamer of war is on the Sound. 3. Your remaining force you will push up the Snohomish, occupy Fort Ebey with 15 men, and station the rest at the Falls. Here a block house should be built. 4. If a body of 100 men can be collected at the Falls under your command, you will receive orders to move towards Green and White riv ers, to meet columns moving towards the same point from Steilacoorn and Seattle. 5. Report from time to time to the Adjutant General's office at Olympia, and especially report immediately the number of troops you will be able to concentrate at the Falls of the Snoqualmie. 6. Robinson has been appointed quartermaster and commissary of your command, and of the post of Port Townsend, and has been instruc ted promptly to comply with your requisitions. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 262.] DEFENCE OF THE LOWER PART OF THE SOUND. 1. Till the hostiles are met and defeated in their own country, a steamer should be on move continually, and posts of 15 men each be es- 321 tablished at Bellingham Bay, Port Townsend and Whidby's Island, and a post of thirty men at the Snohomish. 2. The want of a steam vessel to be supplied by a sailing vessel, to cruise between Port Townsend and Bellingham Bay, occasionally run ning down the Straits, and by a supply vessel from Port Townsend to the Snohomish. 3. In case of attack, the settlers enrolled as militia should be called together for the emergency. 4. If two companies are formed in the lower part of the Sound, they will mostly have to act in concert, and should be under the command of a Major, to be elected by the companies. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 263.] DEFENCE OF BELLINGHAM BAY. 1. If the force stationed there should not be competent, the en rolled militia, or a portion thereof, should be called out. 2. With a suitable block house, one quarter of the citizens as a daily guard, would probably, during the existing Indian difficulties, be suf ficient to maintain it, and get information of the approach of hostile In dians, and in case of an attack being threatened, give notice to the set tlers. 3. In case of attack, all the citizens should assemble to repel it. 4. Every exertion will be made to keep a steamer on the waters of the Sound, to establish a weekly mail between Bellingham Bay, and oth er points on the Sound, and Olympia. 5. If the citizens of Bellingham Bay come forward in the defence of the Territory, they will, in connection with the company to be enrolled at Port Townsend, be organized mainly for the defence of the lower part of the Sound. But it is possible their services may be required else where, and they should enlist unconditionally. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. 41 322 [No. 264.J FORT STEILACOOM, Feb. 14th, 1856. . ISAAC N. EBEY, Enrolling Officer, Lower Sound Battalion : SIR : The importance of immediately establishing the posts above the falls of the Snoqualmie, is so vital that I have requested Captain Gansevoort to despatch the Active to Port Townsend to transport all your available forces with the necessary supplies to the mouth of the Snohomish. The posts indicated in the general instructions will intercept the re treat of the enemy, and close the passes over the Cascades. They are needed to aid the operations of Pat Kanini. Then, sir, push ahead with your characteristic energy; we shall soon move from this quarter. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 265.] FORT TILTON, March llth, 1856, JAMES TILTON, ESQ., Adj't Gen. W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : Your despatch, bearing date Feb. 21st., was received through the hands of Lt. Huger, on the 22d, on receipt of which, I immediately with the assistance of Messrs. Collins and Money, engaged fifteen canoes ta transport my command up the Snoqualmie river. I was somewhat bothered in the operations, as Capt. Pat Kanim threw himself back on his dignity, and insisted upon my waiting upon his pleasure, but he at last consented to proceed with part of my command up the Snoqualmie river to Pat's house, where we had to remain, as Pat had ordered them to take us no further. After two days, by using threats, I succeded in making seven of 223 them take me up to the Falls, to look for a location to establish a fort ac cording to instructions, when I selected the present site which I have ta ken the liberty to name "Fort Tilton." It is situated at the head of ca noe navigation, and three miles below the Falls, with a large tract of bot tom land around it which is never overflowed. After arriving here, I was again delayed in consequence of my being ahead of my supplies, and not having the tools to work with. In the mean time, with the assist ance of Messrs. Collins & Money, I layed out a road from this place to the prairie above the Falls the said road being six or seven miles in length. Two days since, on receipt of axes, &c., I immediately put my com mand to work, cutting the road for pack animals to travel, which will be finished in a couple of days. I have delayed doing any thing on the block house at this place, as I was so far behind in my movements in the expectation of the Commander-in- Chief, that I thought it advisable to push matters through, leaving the block house to be erected by the de tachment to remain at this place. Yesterday, by the hands Serg't Ebey, of my command, I received all the back instructions from Capt. I. N. Ebey, together with map of this country, with my line of march laid out. I also received by the express running to this station, ammunition and other articles forwarded from quartermaster's department, as per your fa vor bearing date February 26th, 1856, which is acceptable. By the ex press I learn that Kanim's company is at Fort Ebey, and will be at this station to-morrow to report for duty. A portion of Capt. Howe's company is also at Fort Ebey say 18, and talk of remaining there for some fifteen days: for what purpose I cannot tell. I have sent an exprees to them, ordering them to this station to re port themselves (I acting as inspecting officer) without delay. So I am in hopes that all of this division will be at this place in four or five days from date, when a Major will be elected, and the line of march taken up. I have so far labored under great difficulties in the other companies of this battalion not using proper exertions in pushing business, and in get ting animals to pack our provisions. I am in hopes of obtaining some from Pat Kanini, and I have also sent this day a detachment of twenty men, under Lieut. Mounts with five Indians, to secure five horses that are roving above the Falls, and the Indians tell me they belong to the enemy. My Indian auxiliaries are hard to get along with. In my opin ion all are rather inclined to show the white feather. As yet, the quar termaster has been nnable to furnish me with tents, but I shall start without them if I can only raise pack animals enough to pack ten day's provisions for the detachment. The balance of the time I remain at thi* 324 place, awaiting the arrival of the other companies, I shall employ in erec ting the block-house at which I shall commence to-morrow. So far the movements of this division have been very expensive, as we had to deal with a hard crowd, and slow in their movements. But I as sure you in all my operations thus far, I have exerted myself to push mat ters, and at the same time, to avoid any unnecessary outlay in the way of expenses. This evening Lieut. Mounts and party returned, bringing in four horses. Report no Indians on the upper prairie. Expecting to date my next letter on the line of march, I remain, very respectfully, &c., (Signed,) J. J. H. YAN BOKKELEN, Capt. Co. G, 2d Regt. W. T. V. I have to report Dr. Bigelow for neglect of duty; he will not come to this place, but is constantly visiting Penn's Cove and other places, (instead of attending to bis business) for no earthly purpose. (Signed,) J. J. H. YAN BOKKELEN, Capt. Co. G, 2d Reg't. W. T. V. [No. 266.] FORT EBEY, March 10th, 1856. JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y.: SIR : In obedience to your order 21st February, directing me to proceed up the Snoqualmie river and form a junction with Captain Yan Bokkelen, &c., I have endeavored to carry out with the utmost despatch. By the steamer " Traveller," I was enabled to send up that portion of my command which were stationed at Port Townsend, on the first inst., under command of orderly sergeant, J. T. Turner. Immediately on landing said detachment at Fort Ebey she returned to Penn's Cove. On her arrival at that place I got on board my supplies and started up to Fort Ebey, where I arrived on the 8th inst., with the balance of my 325 company of 24 men present, as shown on my muster and descriptive roll, which you will please find enclosed. My company are in high spirits, and anxious to enter the field. I have made the necessary requisitions upon Quartermaster Robinson for supplies, but I am sorry to say that he is unable to meet them as prompt ly as might be desirable. I have thought that matters might be expedi ted by remaining at this place until my supplies might reach here, which I have been assured by the Commissary wouid not exceed eight days, by which time, I shall be enabled to procure a sufficient number of canoes to transport my men and supplies to the Falls without delay. I am aware that a more prompt movement was expected in this quarter, and I assure you that nothing would have been more gratifying to myself and men, could I have accelerated my movements in the premises. But considering the force already at the Falls, and my scant sup plies, I have thought that the movement of the troops from the Falls might be expedited by remaining at Fort Ebey until my supplies arrive. You will perceive by my muster roll that seven of my company are absent without leave. Permit me to state in relation thereto that many members of my company volunteered their services expecting that the orders issued to the Major, bearing date February 2d, would be adhered to. Those seven are among the number who persist in not joining the company after having been duly notified so to do. I have used no com pulsory means as yet, all of them have families, some have drawn cloth ing, and some have not. I wish to be advised in regard to the matter. I regret exceedingly that I could not be furnished with rifles, for a majority of my company are unaccustomed to muskets.. I have been kindly furnished with 500 ball cartridges (musket) by Capt. Alden, be sides those I have not a single ball, buckshot or cartridge box, nor have I any moulds to make balls with. I hope to get an addition of arms, accoutrements and ammunition before I leave this place. When my company was organized, there was a promise made to the members that, when the company became concentrated, and upon service together, there would be another election of officers, in order that all might have a voice in the election, that there might be no complaint here after. I have to report no changes, except that of 2d Lieut. Sewell, who tendered his resignation to me. Thereupon, I ordered an election, which resulted in the election of Benj. Welcher, 2d Lieutenant, whom you will commission. Sewell's resignation accompanies this for your acceptance. I have no news of importance from Capt. Van Bokkelen, more than he has moved up to the Falls. There has no election for Major taken place as yet, but there will be 326 General Orders No. 4, upon the concentration of the two companies. I am somewhat at a loss to know the position of Col. Ebey if he is a commissioned officer belonging to the Governor's staff. I should like to be informed, for I have been unable to find out from him his position, and how far his authority extended. I shall be ever ready to respect it when I comprehend what it is. He claims to be a private in my company, and to say the least of it, he cannot consistently be a private and an officer at the same time. Col. M. T. Simmons left here this morning for the Falls, to see Pat Kanim. Dr. McCurdy is here with me awaiting instructions. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) S. D. HOWE, Captain Co. I, Northern Battalion. [No. 267.] FORT HAYS April 2d, 1856. FORT HAYS, CONNELL'S PRAIRIE, ) J r/,r,j -.jjii'-jrci . oj , vouu'f 'J"ii5 vn/i'jmfto vm lo ^Ji^>^| His Excellency I. I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-chief W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : In conversation with Col. Shaw, he has expressed himself to me that he thought you might think it advisable to order my commaud back to the Snoqualmie country. If such should be your decision, here after I would beg leave to make the following suggestions in relation to the course best to take in returning : I do not think it advisable, without it is intended to carry out your regular plans in the present campaign, to return by way of Steilacoom, and from that post, by water to the Falls, as there will be a great delay, and we will be placed at the mercy of the Indians for means of transpor tation ; and again, I will not be able to take my pack animals with me, (of which I have nine) or to take cattle, of which I will require at least two yoke, in case you shall see fit to order a block house erected on Ran ger prairie, to haul the timber for the same. 327 Again, if we return by the route we came, we have 62 miles to trav el to the prairie, and 68 to Fort Tilton the greatest part of the road is to be cut so pack animals can pass. We can go through in 14 days, ma king a good trail, which I am of opinion will be of service hereafter for communicating with the different posts. There will be no difficulty in having the road cut by Company G, if they are supplied with saws and axes, and are allowed extra, the same as the Pioneer company, which company I understand, is all owed extra for such work. If Col. Shaw should be mistaken as to the future movements of my command, they are ready to move in any direction they are ordered. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. J. H. VAN BOKKELEN, Com'g Co. B, W. T. Volunteers. [No. 268.] DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE TAKEN BY THE NORTHERN BATTALION, IN COMING FROM FORT TILTON TO FORT HAYS. t Monday, March 16 Left Fort Tilton at 12 o'clock, camped that night on Ranger's prairie, three miles above Snoqualmie Falls; travelling in all six miles. Tuesday, 17th Crossed spur of mountains between Snoqualmie and Cedar creek ; came into a small prairie on Cedar creek, and camped. Wednesday, 18th Traveled dawn Cedar creek six miles, crossed, had to raise a steep hill, traveled down the creek three miles and camped in a bottom of burnt timber, (near by a prairie.) Thursday, 19th Raining hard; remained in camp all day. Friday, 20th Left camp for Green river; struck Green river after traveling ten miles; left the river and struck around the side of a bald mountain; (Green river making a great bend at this place,) traveled 8 miles and camped on a small lake. Saturday, 21st -After traveling three miles, struck a branch of Green river too deep to cross; turned down the river, and traveled three 328 miles; came upon Indian camp where Pat Kauim first commenced his fight; traveled one mile down river, and came to Leschi's winter quar ters; camped. Sunday, 22d After burning the Indian houses, crossed the river and followed the river bottom down till we struck the Muckleshoot trail; traveled to Muckleshoot, distance five miles; from there traveled to Por ter's prairie, seven miles; camped, (could have made a shorter march, but was informed that river was too high to cross at lower ford.) Monday, 23d Came to block house lower end of prairie; crossed White river, and arrived at Connell's prairie, traveling four miles. I am under the impression that the march could be made in forty miles, as we were compelled to take a very circuitous route to avoid high water, as it rained during the entire march. Truly, your obedient servant, ( Signed,} J. J. H. YAN BOKKELEN, Com'g N. B. W. T. Yol. [No. 269.] EXECUTIV Olympia, March 26th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Major J. J. H. YAN BOKKELEN, Com'g Northern Battalion, Fort Hays: SIR : Your dispatch of the 24th inst., announcing your arrival at Fort Hays, eight days from the Snoqualmie, was received early yesterday morning. You and your command are entitled to my special thanks for the successful accomplishment of the expedition, for though you were not fortunate in meeting any Indians, the moral effect upon the ememy must be great. I regret to be informed that Pat Kanim has not come up to the mark. Your course in retaining John Taylor and his men is approved. You will be supplied with provisions from the depot at Fort Hays. Gen. Miller will write you by this express. 329 Other matters will be referred to in a communication which you will receive by this express from the Adjutant General's office. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Com. -in-Chief, W. T. V. [ No. 270. ] FORT HA April 1st, 1856. FORT HAYS, CONNELL'S PRAIRIE, ) His Excellency, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, Olyinpia, W. T. : SIR : Since my last communication, my command, in conjunction with Major Hay's command, took a tramp through the surrounding coun try laying at the head waters of the Puyallup river. We went through a large section of country of but little value to either the whites or Indi ans. In our march we found some Indian signs, say of about eight or ten, with their horses, but we did not succeed in finding a camp. It is my opinion that they have all fell back to the base of the mountains, to cross over at the first sign of our approach, as they are disheartened from the reception given to them by the Central Battalion on the eleventh ' of last month. It may be their intention only to remove their families out of the reach of danger, and again visit us ; if so, we will be ready for them. I believe it is the intention of Major Hays to make another scout to the head waters of White river, to thoroughly examine that country for them, and I am in hopes we will meet with better success. By the ex press of yesterday, I received my commission as Major of Northern bat talion. I have appointed Mr. Humphrey Hill adjutant to the Northern battalion, for whom you will please issue commission. I have appointed Mr. Robert C. Hill, of Co. I, clerk of the battal ion. I have this day despatched (after consulting with Col. Shaw; Lieut. 42 330 Ebey and private Lawrey to Port Tovvnsend for the purpose of recruiting, to strengthen my battalion, and hope it will meet your sanction. I am, very respectfully, Your most obedient, J. j; H. VAN BOKKELEN, Com'g. N. B. W. T. V. [No. 271.1 FORT TILTON, April 2fth, 1856. Hon. JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General, Olympia, W. T.: SIR : Since my last of the 30th of March, I have kept things in motion to the utmost of my abilities. I had a hard time in getting up the river to this place. The river was very high, and it rained inces santly the entire passage, and for ten days after my arrival here. I set at work and put up a log house to quarter my men some of whom were sick in faet, I have a very few able for duty ; but by care and attention I got them, or some of them, on to their feet again, and with a part of my command, and a small detachment of Ca.pt. Howe's, I started on a scout towards the Snoqualinie pass, but found no signs of any of the hos tile tribes, and returned. Having received no orders, andbeing anxious to be stirring, I advised Capt. Howe to prepare to accompany me with 18 men from his command (leaving this place in command of 1st Lieutenant Beam, of Co. I, and 10 men) en route for the Muckleshoot, to join Major Van Bokkelen. When on the eve of departure, and every thing packed for a start, Lieut. Fitzhugh and Col. Simmons arrived, and ad vised us of the whereabouts of a portion of the enemy, who were by the last accounts, secreted in the swamp back of the lake of which Black river is the outlet. We had the worst kind -of weather raining all the way over. We camped the third day right within half a mile of where they were encamped three days before; but Mr. Yessler had been up there several times, and every time they moved further up the lake, but notwithstanding all our inconveniences, if we had a guide, or even a good chart of the country, I think we could have captured and killed the most 331 of them before they knew who were after them. But our provisions being totally exhausted, we had to take up our line of march for Seattle, it raining incessantly, and we having to wade for half the way, and for up wards of three miles, waist deep in water, and through almost impenetra ble thickets. Arrived at Capt. Lander's fort, situated four miles above Seattle, on the Dewamish river, we got a day's rations, and moved to a Mr. Maple's barn a mile .below, and camped for the night. We there learned that Mr. Yessler had been commissioned to get these Indians in, and conclu ded to wait until he returned, and if they come in to fit out for the Muck- leshoot prairie. Before he returned, I saw Mr. Hanna, of Port Town- send, and he informed me that the whole battalion were ordered to this place. We immediately got in readiness and returned, arriving here last night, making the march from the mouth of Cedar river to this place in two days, being a forced march of one day on account of the scarcity of rations. I learn from Mr. Charles Thompson, who arrived here just before us, that there had been orders sent to me, but that Lieut. Col. Fitzhugh had taken them to Seattle, expecting to meet us there, but was delayed on account of the rainy weather. I shall remain here in readiness for any orders until the arrival of Major Yan Bokkelen. I propose to send a scout also to-morrow or next day, (as soon as the men recruit a little) out on the Snoqualmie trail to meet him and ascertain if there are any fresh signs, &c. If it is possible to procure a few TJ. S. rifles for my command, I feel confident that we eould turn them to good account, for these county arms are much inferior to a common shot gun. Three or four rifles would strengthen us very much. The other company have some. I close, hoping that what I have done will meet your approbation. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) R. Y. PEABODY, Capt. Co. H, N. B. W. T. Y. 322 [No. 212.] FORT TILTON, April 27th, 1856. Adj't General JAMES TILTON, Washington Territory Volunteers, Olympia : SIR : I have some time since completed a very substantial block house at this point, and upon the arrival of Capt. Peabody and his com mand of twenty-four men at this place, we immediately made arrange ments for a march in the direction of the lakes in the vicinity of Seattle. After making the necessary arrangements preparatory to marching, we accordingly set out on the morning of the 14th inst., with my command of twenty men, and Capt Peabody, twenty-four men rank and file, for the above named place, having left a detachment of ten men at Fort Tilton under the command of my first Lieut. Beam. After a three days' march through an incessant rain, (my men drenched to the skin) we arrived at the mouth of Cedar river, and there discovered some Indian signs, such as foot prints fresh upon the sand. We scoured the country thoroughly in this direction and found but one Indian, or saw but one, and he was far in the distance, and consequently escaped; after which, we resumed onr march into Seattle. On the way down, I fell in with Capt. Yessler, from whom I learned that he was then en route for the lakes (having previously made arrange ments with the Indians there to come down) he accordingly had set out to bring them in. After remaining at Seattle a few days to recruit my men and supplies, I returned again by the same route that we came, and arrived at Fort Tilton on the 26th inst.^ meeting with no accident on the route, except one of my Indians wounded through the fleshy part of the arm by .the accidental discharge of a musket. I have taken the liberty to have in my company six northern Indians, whom I have found to be very serviceable soldiers, and anxious to fight if a chance is given them. Had we been favored with a guide, and a chart of the country, something doubtless might have been effected in that vi cinity. It is no very pleasant reflection to tramp through this country, knowing not where you are, nor where you may find supplies; half the time not knowing whether to turn to the right or left. I have not had the pleasure of receiving any -cartridge boxes for my command, something that I have so often requested: of which I have stood so much in need, until I arrived at Seattle, and there made arrange ments with the quartermaster to have them made and furnished me at his earliest opportunity. Linen or canvass bags, I assure you, don't prove water proof in these parts in rainy weather. J understand that Major Tan Bokkelen is moving in this direction. 333 I shall remain here until his arrival. I have not had the pleasure of re ceiving any official documents from any one since I arrived at this place. I shall have to request of you to accept of my resignation, as I have pri vate business to attend to which requires my presence. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, &c., (Signed,) S. D. HOWE, Captain Co. I, Northern Battalion. [ No. 273. ] OFFICF Olympia, April 27th, 1856 OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Major YAN BOKKELEN, Com'g. Northern Battalion, 2d Reg. W. T. V.: SIR : As soon as practicable, after the receipt of these orders, you will turn over the charge of the post now occupied by your command to Lieut. Col. Shaw, and start for Fort Tilton to concentrate your battalion by junction with the companies commanded by Captains Howe and Pea- body. You will proceed towards the Nachess pass, by the military road, to some point on the road from which you came, off towards the Snoqualmie falls, and thus traverse a region of country which no party has yet passed. It is left to your discretion, upon consultation with Col. Shaw, to determ ine the route, so as not to interfere with his proposed movements. Bear in mind that the object is to explore country not yet occupied or passed over by troops, and if possible, strike the enemy in any fastnesses they may have upon the western bone of the mountains, or upon the heads of the rivers emptying into the Sound. After arriving at Fort Tilton, you will leave a sufficient garrison there, and proceed with your battalion to the prairies above the Falls erect there a block house, with pickets and a corral, for horses which may hereafter be required there, and employ your command in scouting the adjacent country, and particularly in watching the Snoqualmie pass. 334 . The duty of guarding the settlements upon the Sound from attacks of the hostiles by the way of the Snoqualmie pass is entrusted to you. Send scouting parties as far into the pass as possible, and make reports to head quarters relative to the depth and distance occupied by the snows upon it. Also, your opinion as to the probable time at which any considerable body of the enemy could cross into the Sound region by way of the pass. Upon your march from the point at which you leave the military road to proceed to the Snoqualmie falls, make topographical notes of the country, showing the distances, (estimated) between cross ings of streams, descriptions of prairies traversed, or which you may dis cover near your route the distances to the mountains, character of the ground passed over whether level, rolling or mountainous, and all other matters which will assist in the delineation of the country upon a military map, which is being made at the office of the Command er-in-Chief. Cause a sketch of the country to be prepared and send it here. With full confidence in your energy, intelligence and zeal in the per formance of the arduous duty before you. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. P. S. Col. Fitzhugh, lately from Fort Tilton, reports four months' provisions there for sixty men. First Lieut. Edward Gibson, aid, has been despatched to Port Town- send to take supplies of all kinds to meet you at Fort Tilton. Report before marching, to this office, and inform the quartermaster of any articles wanted at the Fails, which you may think could not be supplied by the quartermaster at Port Townsend. Capts. Howe and Peabody have made an expedition through the country from Fort Tilton to Seattle, and when last heard from, were re turning to the Falls. 335 [No. RANGER'S PRAIRIE, May 23d, 1856. 0; -vi'-^T.r.j;!* ... '.-- "j6l f IsfafrtoT' JAMES TILTON, ESQ., '* Adjutant General Washington Territory : SIR : I arrived on this prairie (called by some Snoqualmie prairie) yesterday at 3 o'clock P. M., being the 8th day from Fort Hays. Du ring the march I have thoroughly examined the country at the base of the mountains, and my route the greatest part of the way was over a country that has never been traveled by white man. I found on Green river, under the mountains, various camps of the enemy that had been abandoned not over a month since. These trails all Jed down to the settlements except that of two or three Indians and one horse, that I followed to the edge of the snow in the Snoqualmie pass, but think they did not cross, as we could see no signs in the snow, (they may have crossed before the last fall of snow) we found their camp fires all along their route. I am under the impression it was an express going across the mount ains. Since my arrival here I have had too much business on hand to get things under way to make a full report as to my march, but will do it as soon as I have leisure. I sent Capt. Smalley over the summit with a de tachment, and he reports to me that there is but two and a half to three miles of snow the greatest depth four feet. In case of necessity, Captain Smalley and myself are satisfied that a train could pass over at this time with the labor of twenty men with shovels for six hours (we have been both snowed in in the California mountains, and have used the same means of working a train through.) Nothing is impossible, where there is a will, and a movement can be made through the Snoqualmie pass with no difficulty as soon as it can be got ready, and a long ways ahead of the regulars through the Nachess pass. I have applied to the Commander-in-Chief to send sixty-five men of this battalion over the mountains with the main body, and am desirous of having them mounted. I shall commence to-morrow to erect a com missary building and hospital on Ranger's prairie, and shall send an ad vance guard on the Snoqualmie trail, to erect a breast work at the pres ent snow line, keeping a scout on the summit. As soon as the snow will admit, I shall advance the guard to the summit prairie, (if not otherwise ordered,) which is the only station that the pass can be protected with a small party. I send this with an express across land by the route I traveled, con- 336 sisting of three men, to test the time taken to travel thejoute,} and in case the Commander-in-Chief should see fit to order the movement of the volunteer forces across this pass, they would act as guides to the party. If the movement should be made, it will be necessary to start some twelve men with axes ahead, to improve the trail so that party could pass through with despatch. The express is not of the best informed men, but they can give you a correct account of this route. Your communications bearing date of the 17th and 18th inst., was received to-day, and I shall act in accordance. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, YAN BOKKELEN, Maj. N. B. W. T. Y. [No. 275.] FORT TILTON, May 24th, 1856. JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y.: SIR : In my despatch by land, I forgot to mention that it will be necessary to have oxen on Ranger's prairie to haul rails for a corral, as the timber is a long way from the place where I will put up the buildings, and the lumber I am using I have to raft down stream. Truly and respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) J. J. H. YAN BOKKELEN, Maj. Com'g N. B. W. T. Y. [No. 276.] HANGER'S PRAIRIE, 1 > } Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief, W. T. Y., Olympia : SIR : I arrived at this place after scouting between Fort Hays and 337 here. I visited the summit on the Snoqualmie pass, and found but four feet of snow, which does not extend mere than two and a half or three miles, and is fast sinking. Capt. Smalley and myself are under the impres sion that a party can cross with the assistance of the labor of twelve men for six hours at this time, and by the time the expedition can be go ready, it can cross without any labor. I would like, if in accordance with your arrangements for the future, to take sixty or sixty-five men of this battalion over the mountains to b< mounted, if the animals and fixtures can be procured. Since my arrival here, I have received two communications from your office, and shall proceed immediately to carry out the instructions. You may rest assured that I will leave nothing undone that will tend to make the movements of the volunteer forces successful, and to carry out any orders I may receive from your office. At an election held in Company I, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Captain Howe, on the 21st. inst., George W. Beam was elected Captain, and Thomas Sinnot was elected 1st Lieutenant. You will please forward commissions to the above officers. Through some oversight, Benjamin Welcher, who was elected 2d Lieutenant of Company I, on the 10th of March last, has never received his commission. You will please forward it with the others. Truly, your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. J H. TAN BOKKELEN, Com'g N. B. W. T. Yol. [No. 217.] EXECUTIVE OFF June 4th, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, W. T., ) Lieut. Col. E. C. FITZHUGH, ....,, Aid-de-Camp, Holmes Harbor : Sm : I have conversed with the messengers of Te-i-as, and Owhi, and have directed them to return to Te-i-as and Owhi, and invite them and all friendly Indians to come, with their women and children, to the 43 338 -prairie above the falls of the Snoqualmie, arid submit unconditionally to the justice and mercy of the government. Absolute and unconditional submission is required. Those guilty of murders, or who have urged on the war, will be punished. The remain der will be treated with mercy, as in the case of the Indians on the Sound. On the arrival of these Indians at the prairie, you will, in connec tion with Col Simmons, examine fully into their connection with the war, and in case of then* deserving punishment, organize a military commission, have them tried, and carry into effect the decision of the court. I invest you with my whole authority in ordering and approving the proceedings of the commission. You are authorized, however, either to suspend the execution of the sentence, or defer the trial of the criminals for the period which reason and policy may require. If thus deferring the trial or execution of the sentence would favor more criminals being got in, or would tend to bring over all the Indians who have opposed the war, and are sincerely desirous of peace, or would enable Col. Shaw to strike a blow at the hostiles by falling on them una wares, or if any other advantage could result, then let the matter be de ferred. Should it be deemed advisable by yourself and Col. Simmons for me to visit the Indians on the Snoqualmie, send for me and I will go. And you will exercise your own judgment as to sending any of the chiefs or people to Olympia to see me. I shall immediately push up the Snoqualmie a supply of provisions for the Indians. When Lieut. Col. Shaw starts for the Snoqualmie I will advise you by special express. Having had a full personal conference with Col. Simmons, I write necessarily briefly. I say to both of you, use your own judgment in effecting the end desired, and you will be right. You will make known to Major Yan Bokkelen the duties with which you are charged, and you will make with him the necessary arrangements to insure the safety of the Indians on their way to the place of rendez vous. Yours, most respectfully, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Qov. and Comnaander-in-ChieL 339 [No. 278.] HOLME'S HARBOR, W. T., June 20th, 1856. Gov. I. I. STEVENS, Commander-in-Chief, Port Townsend : SIR : I regret to inform you that the mission you were pleased to entrust to Col. Simmons and myself has turned out a perfect failure. The causes of the failure I cannot give you in full, but will tell you why we think we were not partially successful. Col. Wright of the " regulars, " has for the last month been enter taining the Indians over the other side of the mountains, besides feeding the tyees, making them presents, &c., &c., after having sent for reinforce ments to different points, and tickling the community with the belief that he intended Speedily to demolish all the Indians on the east side. He is still holding a talk with them, with what expectation I cannot tell. The Indians would not come over to us, as they hoped to get better terms from him. Our Indians informed us that Col. Wright told all of them that he was the " Big Dog " in this part of the world, and had come a long dis tance to treat with them, and if they would only stop fighting, that all would be right. The Indians of course, are willing to play quits, save all their people and stop the war. If they succeed in doing that, as soon as they are well prepared to carry on the war with any prospects of success, the gov ernment will have the same expenses and trouble over again. They noti fied us that as soon as they made friends of the soldiers, they would come over and treat, but as there was no time specified, we thought there, was no use of our remaining. We accordingly left. This is the end of your attempt to treat after nearly two months' time being consumed, to say nothing of some five or six hundred dollars it has cost the government. I believe that you are entirely correct in your impression, that they only wished to gain time and information. I believe that Owhi and Te- i-as, and some of the sub-chiefs of their band would have surrendered unconditionally to government, but for the inducements held out to them by Col. Wright, that they could treat with him on better terms, and save all their people. As things now are, they will have to be well thrashed before they will treat. From the beginning of the difficulty to the present time, the regu lars, from their Commander-in-Chief down, have stultified themselves. They have done no fighting, and now they wish to patch up a treaty, so as to get the credit for putting an end to the war. 340 I must refer you to Col. Simmons for all particulars, as he goes di rect to Olympia. I am,- very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) E. C. FITZHUGH, Aid-de-Camp. [No. 279.] EXECUTIVE < OLYMPIA, May 28, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, } Major J. J. VAN BOKKELIN, Commanding Northern Battalion : SIR : Your express reached Olympia yesterday with information of your arrival at the Falls of the Snoqualmie, of the quantity of snow in the pass, and the practicability of the route. From the information given by Mr. Yincent, there would seem to be little doubt of the practicability of pushing a wagon train from Montgomery's to the Rattlesnake prairie, and thence over the pass to the main Yakima. It will require some five or six days to get the wagon and pack trains in readiness. Every exertion will be made to have every thing in readi ness to move in six days. To verify the information given as to the practicability of getting through a wagon train, I send with your express, Lieut. Huger, the acting Adjutant of the regiment. If on an inspection of the route, and after conference with you, he shall be of opinion that a wagon train can be pushed from Montgomery's to the Rattlesnake prairie say in six or seven days, and thence to the main Yakima over the pass in three or four days more, he will arrange with you the putting of a strong working party to open the road simulta neously from Rattlesnake prairie to Frog Pond, and from Rattlesnake prairie to the pass. On the return of Lieut. Huger with information of the practicability of the route, a strong working party will be moved immediately from this quarter to meet your working party at Frog Pond. 341 My information derived from Mr. Vincent is that Frog Pond is some four miles beyond Green river, and twenty-five miles this side of Rattle snake prairie. In the event that the wagon train can be pushed over the Snoqual- mie pass to the main Yakima, it is intended to establish a post and depot at the first named prairie, and to garrison it with a detachment from your command. This will leave available to strike and pursue the enemy the whole mounted force, and they will have a depot where to draw supplies. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor "Washington Territory. [No. 280.] SNOQUALMIE PASS, June 24th, 1856. Adj't Gen. JAMES TILTON, W. T. V., Olympia : SIR : In accordance with my last communication, the parties started for this place by the different trails. I went with Capt. Beam and his company by the foot trail from Rangers' prairie, sending the pack train with Company I and H by the horse trail on Cedar creek. After trav eling a mile through the bottom I came into a prairie of fine grass, about two and one-half miles long and three-fourths wide. After leaving the prairie I went through the timber for a mile and struck a burnt prairie with rock soil about three miles long, after leaving which I commenced a gradual rise to the summit of the pass, which thirty-five miles from Rang ers' prairie the whole trail is a gradual rise, but greatly obstructed with timber and would require considerable labor to open. After raising the summit we lost the old Indian trail, and I took a road with a gradual slope to the south, with the intention of striking Cichelass Lake, which I struck after traveling fourteen miles. About four miles before I struck the lake I found an Indian trail which I followed to within one hundred yards of the lake, where I found blazes on the trees to the lake which ap- .,,342 peared to have been made by white men ; commencing from the lake they must have gone that far and returned, giving it up as a bad job. I should like to know if a white man has ever been through before we went through this time, for we could find no signs of white men on the road. The trail at this place run into the lake, and the Indians in using this trail must either cross the lake in canoes or travel around the shores of the lake in the dry season. From this place we took the western side of the lake and forced our way along over rocks and timber, up hill and down, for eight miles, till we got to the lower end of the lake, when we struck the pack trail where we camped. Towards evening Capt. Smalley came down from the summit with a detachment for the purpose of meeting my party. He reports that the party with the train is on the summit hill, and had thought it advisable to stop them at this place till he saw me, for if the animals were brought down to the river they would not be enabled to return to Rangers' prairie to pack out again before we would consume what provisions we had on hand. This was the fifth day from camp. The next morning, with a small party, I started down the river which forms the Yakima, to examine the country. I went some five miles and found the country to continue too open to guard with my small party, so I returned, sending two men ahead to examine the trail and to look for signs, as I was desirous to return to camp to see what could be done towards getting the party ahead. After arriving in camp I found there was but six days provisions on hand and not over eight horses that was fit to pack, as the others had tender feet ; so I ordered them to fall back to the foot of the summit hill as it would not do for them to remain at this place as it has been storming for the last week, and there await till I could learn whether the Quartermaster Department would answer my requisition for horses or not, for if the horses are not sent me, I will be compelled to fall back to Rangers' prairie, where I will be within reach of provisions. In relation to this pass, I have been totally deceived in representations of it made to me ; as far as I have been I have found no place that a party can effectually guard it. At times I am of the opinion that by holding Fort Tilton, Fort Alder and Rattlesnake prairie, we can effect ually guard this section of the country as at any other -point. I shall re main at this place until I hear from your office. I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. J. H. YAN BOKKELIN, Maj. Corn'g. Northern Battalion, W. T. Y. [No. 281.] FORT ALDER, June 28th, JAMES TILTON, Esq., Adj. General W. T. V. r Olympia : SIR : I arrived at this place on the evening of the 26th, after trav eling through rain for forty-five miles with my pack on my back, which business of making pack animals of ourselves for the want of proper ani mals, (which I understand the other battalions have been supplied with, both to ride as well as to pack, whilst this battalion cannot obtain enough to pack twenty days rations to make a move that may be of some credit to themselves and those that command them, ) both the battalion and my self are sick of. \ I found the various -communications from your office which the ex press had brought through, but no horses from the Quartermaster's De partment, which was a great disappointment, as for the want of them, I have been compelled to order the command to fall back from Summit to Rattlesnake prairie, where I shall station them to the best advantage so that I can supply them with provisions. The men that I sent down towards the Yakima valley returned the morning I left camp and report having gone down the river twenty miles, after crossing the river where they left me. After traveling three-fourths of a mile they found the trail that I should have followed, coming into the pack trail. After travelling sixteen miles, they came to a narrow place about three-fourths of a mile wide, with the mountains coming together on both sides ; after which, the country opened into the valley. This place they report to me as a good location for a fort, to defend the pass. They went four miles further into the valley when they came upon an Indian encampment, which had not been adandoned over 24 hours. From the corral they must have had considerable stock. They had their fish traps in the river. I forgot to state hat the first morning after the train camped on the Summit prairie the guard at three o'clock, A. M., discovered three Indians on the edge of the timber watching camp. The alarm was given and pursuit given without success. They must have belonged to the camp spoken of, and was on the look-out for us. After finding a location to guard the pass it is mortifying and discouraging to have to fall back for the want of animals. As soon as the party returns from the Summit, I shall erect a block-house on Rattlesnake and another on the foot trail on the prairie, cutting a pack trail to the same. I have been compelled to detail a portion of this battalion for pioneer duty, promising them that they shall be paid at the same rate that other 344 pioneers are paid. You will please inform me if I am right? in promising them the same. It is nothing more than just, as in all our movements we have gone through an entirely wild country, and have been compelled to open our own roads and build roads, and not have it done for us as other battalions have ; but things may all turn out for the best yet. The Quartermaster informs me that he has oxen for me at Port Townsend, and if I will detail a party to bring them through, he will de liver them at Seattle, which I cannot do, as I cannot spare the men ; and again, by the time the cattle gets through the mens' time will have ex pired. Those at Fort Hays I shall endeavor to get through, as they are necessary in this section for work. I have already pretty well opened the trail to the Summit, and have ordered the party on their return to put some more work upon it. Your request in yours of 11th, and relative to the report of the amount of articles drawn by each individual cannot be complied with, as a portion of the articles furnished by Quartermaster has no prices at tached. It will be attended to as soon as the prices can be obtained. In accordance with your iustructions I shall make requisition on the Quartermaster at Port Townsend for supplies for Col. Shaw, and have the same in readiness at Fort Tilton. Respectfully yours, (Signed,) J. J. H. VAN BOKKELIN, Com'g. Northern Battalion, W. T. Volunteers. [No. 282.] OFFICE A Olympia, Nov. 9th, 1855. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Capt. C. C. HEWITT, Commanding Company H, 1st Regiment W. T. V. : SIR : Herewith you will receive your commission as Captain of Company H, of 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteers. You will take the enclosed military oath before any magistrate, and cause the officers, non-commissioned, privates, to take the same. Any who refuse will not be received into the service. 345 Your duty will be to proceed to the Forks of the White river, estab lish a communication with Capt. Maloney, report for orders from him to act in concert with the forces under his command. Very respectfully, &c., JAMES TILTON, Adj ? t Gen. W. T. Y. [No. 283.] SEATTLE, November 12th, 1855. Hon. C. H. MASON, Acting Governor Washington Territory, Olympia : SIR : On my way to this place I called at Fort Steilacoom. An express had just arrived bringing intelligence that Capt, Malony had fal len back to within ten miles of the Fort. It will therefore be impossible for me to form a junction with him at present on account of high water in the White and Puyallup rivers, as well as the stream running across from the former to the latter. I have therefore concluded to send out a party to blockade the trail leading from Green river to the Sound, and await until I can get arms for all my company. At present we have but thirty- five effective guns, and my company now numbers 62, and I think by to morrow will be increased to 70. I have learned by Indians that all the stock on White river has been either killed or driven off. I shall, therefore, have to call for more provi sions, as I was in hopes to find plenty, of beef. * * * * # # # * :Je * * We are getting our block-house along as fast as possible. We have the cannon mounted and ready for use. Respectfully yours, &c., C. C. HEWITT, Capt. Company H, W. T. Volunteers. 44 [No. 284.] OFFICE ADJ'T GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Olympia, Nov. 24th, 1855. j Capt. C. C. HEWITT, Commanding Company H, W. T. Volunteers : SIR : The steamer "Traveler" is despatched to carry your company to your post at junction of White and Green rivers. Should you be called upon before leaving Seattle, you will aid the Indian agent or sub-agent to remove the Indians from Seattle, and if necessary employ force in co ercing obedience from the Indians or preventing any interference from the white men who may attempt to prevent their intention to remove the In dians from the eastern to the western side of the Sound. Report to this office as frequently as possible. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y. By order of the Acting Governor. [No. 285.] EXECUTIVE 0] OLYMPIA, Feb. 1st, 1856. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY WASHINGTON, ) Lieut. Col. E. LANDER, Commanding Post at Seattle : DEAR SIR :---I have determined to disband the existing organization entirely, and to accept the services of no volunteers, except for six months, and subject to the order of the Executive. Accordingly, the company recently raised at Seattle will be disband ed, and you are instructed to enlist as large a force as possible, in con formity with the requirements of the proclamation. Every man who enlists must do so with the understanding that he 347 enlists for the general defence of the Territory, and that he must move to any point, where his services, in the opinion of his commanding officer, are most needed. Yery respectfully, Your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Governor Territory Washington. [No. 286.] OFFICE j OLYMPIA, April 13th, 1856. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) Capt. E. LANDER, Com'g. Company A, 1st Reg't. W. T. Volunteers : SIR : You are hereby ordered to employ as many more of the In dians now upon Dr. Maynard's reservation, together with such as you may choose to employ of those now at Seattle organize the whole into a war party, and either command them yourself, or detail a commander. Push the party in canoes up the Duwamish river, and give them or ders to act against the enemy as they best can, by engaging the parties now infesting the country to the eastward of Seattle, and endeavoring to drive the hostile savages towards the Muckleshoot prairie, or falling upon any parties who may be endeavoring to make their way from the Duwam ish river towards the Snoqualmie pass. Very respectfully, Your most obedient, JAMES TILTON, Adft Gen'l W. T. V. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-chief, W. T. V. 348 [No. 287.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, ) Olympia, Feb. lTth, 1856. ) Lieut. Col. E. LANDER, Commanding Seattle : DEAR SIR : I have written Capt. Gansevoort, urging him, after the Active has landecl troops and supplies at the north of the Sno-ho-mish, to keep her cruising the whole time between Port Townsend, Bellingham Bay, and Seattle. You are instructed to see Capt. Gansevoort and enforce this request with any argument in your power. I deem it essential to the security of the lower settlements from the incursions of the Northern Indians. My information is that 16 northern war canoes will, as soon as the winter breaks, make a dash upon the Sound. The Active will keep them back. This information comes from Fitzhugh ; but it will cause no change in my plans from the line of the Sno-ho-mish. Pat Kanim has been rein forced by 25 friendly Indians, and the operations there must be supported, and my instructions to Capt. Ebey vigorously carried out. One hundred and sixty volunteers are now at Yelm prairie. The works are completed there, and day after to-morrow we move to Mont gomery's. In ten days we hope to be in the heart of the Indian country. I shall cover an advance by 80 friendly Indians. The weekly express will touch at Seattle both ways. Report fully as to operations there, and make your requisitions for supplies early. Truly and respectfully, Your most obedient, (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No.- 288.] POST AT SEATTLE, March 3d, 1856. Major JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. V.: SIR: By special instructions of February 12th, I am instructed to employ Indians on Dr. Maynard's reservation in offensive operations. 349 * I am informed by the Ageiit, Dr. Maynard, that they are no longer in clined to operate with the whites, and therefore I have not organized those Indians. In pursuance of special orders of February 1st, I have discharged all soldiers refusing to be sworn for the service during six months, and for ward original muster roll and muster of March 1st. In pursuance of special order from the Commander-in-chief and Sup erintendent of Indian Affairs, the Indians at Seattle and on the shore of Elliott's Bay, have been moved to the western shore of Admiraly Inlet. Their removal is due to the exertions of H. L. Yesler, assisted by H. H. Tobin, special Indian agent. If consistent with the views of the Com mander-in-chief, Indian agents bringing Indians to that point might be re quired to report their arrival and also the number of Indians that may be .in the company. Commander Swartwout has retained for his special service eight In dians, with their families. Their names are as follows : " Old Curly, Curley's Charley, Jim, Lochey, Bob (old man at Conley's,) Cowlitz and Jim's John." The number of squaws and children with these Indians has not been stated to me. There is employed in service of the Territory one Indian called George, and there are two in private families not yet removed. There are grounds for believing that Indians are camped on the lakes in this vicinity, and on the streams running into them. In my opinion no attack can be made upon them without means of conveyance upon the water. Indians employed for this purpose can only be obtained by prompt payment. Could means of payment be devised for them this difficulty would be in some measure overcome. Reports by persons deemed trustworthy are made of intended attacks upon this post by Indians in force. A scout was made by my command in direction of the lake and river but no signs of Indians were discovered, and it is thought no immediate attack is to be feared. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) EDWARD LANDER, Capt. (Co. A,) Com'g. Post at Seattle. 350 [No. 289.] OFFICE ADJUTANT GENERAL, W. T. V., ) OLYMPIA, Jan. 14th, 1856. ) Col. CROSBIE, Aid to Coinmander-in-Chief : SIR : You will proceed to Seattle. Your mission there is to endea vor to impress upon the naval officer in command in the harbor, the utility and practicability of a combined naval and military movement from Seat tle to the Lake Duwamish. The plan which seems best is for the shipping to furnish boats and men to man them ; take on board the company " A," of Capt. Lander, and examine the shores of the Lake, making such expeditions therefrom as may seem advisable. Or, for the boat expedition to be manned exclusively from the ves sels, and the town of Seattle being left garrisoned by detachments from the ship, the company of Capt. Lander to cut a road from the town to the Lake, join there the naval forces, and erect a block-house or block houses at such points as will be easily supplied and communicated with upon both the east and the west shores of the Lake. The details will of course be governed by circumstances, but the chief object of your mission will be accomplished if you can induce the for ces now occupying the town and harbor of Seattle to demonstrate their ability to advance, occupy and maintain a footing in the country lying eastward of Seattle. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adj't. Gen. W. T. Yolunteers. By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. NOTES FOR LIEUT. COL. CROSBIE. The Massachusetts, in moving on the Sound, will require but very few men in addition to those required to work the steamer. The Decatur lying at Seattle is invulnerable to attack, with 40 men on board. 351 Thus to garrison Seattle aiid fit out a boat expedition to the Lakes r 150 men at least would be available. Let 50 occupy Seattle. Let 100 men go with the boats. Let Col. Lander build his block-house on the shores of the Lake and open the road to Seattle. If there be two companies of regulars at Seattle, the whole of them, except some thirty occupying two block-houses on the Duwamish one at the Forks of Black and White rivers, and one immediate between these Forks and the Forks of Green and White rivers, would be available for blows upon the enemy in conjunction with the forces operating from the Muckleshoot. The boats of the navy could transport their force to any part of the Lake, where they might push forward into the country. Col. Lander's force would hold the block-house on the Lake and keep open- the communication- with Seattle. (Signed,) ISAAC I. STEVENS, Gov. and Commander-in-Chief, [No. 290.] OFFK Olympia, April 13th, 1856. OFFICE ADJUTANT GENEBAL; W. T. V., 7 Lieut. Col. LANDER, Commanding Post on Duwamish River : SIR : Mr. Yesler, of Seattle, reports a possibility of inducing the savages now occupying the shores of Lake Washington, Squaw Lake, and the country adjacent, to come in to the reservation. He also gives it as his opinion that Nelson and others implicated in the murders of families upon the Duwamish river, can be taken. You are hereby instructed to concert measures for the attainment of these objects with Mr. Yesler, and to employ the force under your com mand in such a manner as in your opinion will be most conducive to so desirable a result. Also, you are instructed to make discrimination between such as are pro per to send to the reservation, and such as may be tried for the murders 352 committed. Collect proof, and bearing in mind that a marked difference exists between the persons who have committed murders and incited war, and their comparatively innocent followers. Those who you may have reason to suppose to be murderers, or to have incited the war, you will send here with the witnesses or such other proof as you may deem essential, to be tried by a military commission. Yery respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) JAMES TILTON, Adjt. Gen. W. T. Y. By order of the Gov. and Commander-in-Chief. [No. 291.] FORT April 24th, 1856. FORT ox DUWAMISH RIVER, ) JAMES TILTON, Adjutant General W. T. Y.: SIR : I have to report that in pursuance of orders, Mr. Yesler visi ted the Indians residing on the Duwamish Lake, and on his return, reported to me that nearly forty of them had already started for the Duwamish reservation, and that he thought the remainder would consent to go there also, when he saw them again. He returned to the Lake at once, and on Tuesday the 21st, at noon, he reported to me that all the Indians except those in one camp, who refused to come in, had started for the reservation by Union Lake portage. I immediately detailed Lieut. Neely with a Sergeant and twelve men in two canoes to proceed at once to the Lake by the way of Black river, with a view of surprising their camp, and striking any Indians who might be found on the Lake shore. It was expected that the canoes would be able to get to the Lake by dark and strike the Indians at early dawn the next morning. Black river however, was found to be much higher and more rapid than usual, and closed to some extent by fallen trees ; and af ter working all night in the rain, the command was six miles from the camp at day-light the enext morning. Mr. Neely remained concealed on shore all that day and a portion of the night, and at twelve o'clock started for the camp landed on tho shore, and leaving four men in charge of the canoes, marched through the woods for half an hour. At the first light he found himself within four hundred yards of two large houses, not dismantled, and with every sign of occupancy the day before. Following down the trail another house was found and a canoe partially finished. The camp was on the edge of a large willow swamp, and could not be reached from the Lake through the swamp. No Indians were found at either camp ; they had evidently left the first camp a very short time be fore. At the first place of landing were the remains of a large encamp ment of at least four hundred Indians, judging by the fires and other signs. Here were found wheat, peas and ox-bones, showing clearly that to this place, the Indians who attacked Seattle and plundered and burned the houses on the river retreated, to enjoy, their plunder. Mr. Neeley made a