The Early Indian Wars of Oregon/Cayuse/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI.
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1847-8 RECKIPT OF THE NEWS OF THE MASSACRE AT WAIILATPU
LETTER OF MCBEAN LETTER OF JAMES DOUGLAS MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR ABERNETHY CONDITION OF THE TREASURY OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
EFFORTS TO PROCURP: THE MEANS TO PUT TROOPS IN THE FIELD THE HUD SON S BAY COMPANY DECLINE TO FURNISH MONEY COMMISSIONERS BORROW A SMALL AMOUNT ON THE FAITH OF THE OREGON GOVERNMENT THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZES THE RAISING AND EQUIPPING OF A REGIMENT OF RIFLEMEN Or- FICERS APPOINTED A MESSENGER DISPATCHED TO WASHINGTON, AND ANOTHER TO CALIFORNIA FAILURE OF THE LATTER.
LEAVING aside the causes which led up to the Waii- latpu tragedy, it is time now to consider its consequences to the Oregon colony.
On the seventh day of December, 1847, the provisional legislature met at Oregon City. It consisted of the fol lowing members:
From Clackamas county Medorum Crawford, J. M. Wair, and S. S. White.
From Champoeg county W. H. Rector, W. H. Rees, A. Chamberlain, A. Cox, and Robert Newell.
From Polk county J. W. Nesmith, and M. A. Ford.
From Yamhill county A. J. Hembree, and L. Rogers.
From Tuality county R. Wilcox, D. Hill, and J. L. Meek.
From Clatsop county J. Robinson.
From Lewis county S. Plomondeau.
No representative of Vancouver county was present.
Robert Newell was speaker of the house.
On the eighth, Governor Abernethy sent in his message, which contained the refrain already quoted in a previous chapter saying " our relations with the Indians become every year more embarassing," and that the robberies committed by them should not be allowed to pass.
On the afternoon of the same day another communica tion was received from the governor, accompani ed by a
number of letters from Vancouver, sent by Mr: Douglas,
announcing the news which he had just received of the
murder of Dr. Whitman and family. The information
Mr. Douglas imparted was that contained in a letter
written by Mr. McBean, of Fort Walla Walla, a few hours
after the arrival at the fort of Mr. Hall, the first refugee
who reached there.
The following is a transcript of the copy of McBean s letter furnished to the governor, preserved in the archives of the state :
FOKT NEZ PercéS, 30th November, 1847. To the Board of Management :
GENTLEMEN : It is my painful task to make you acquainted with a horrid massacre which took place yesterday at Waiilatpu, about which I was first apprised early this morning by an Amer ican who had escaped, of the name of Hall, and who reached this, half naked and covered with blood. As he started at the outset the information I obtained was not satisfactory. He, however, assured me that the doctor and another man were killed, but could not tell me the persons who did it, and how it originated.
I immediately determined on sending my interpreter and one man to Dr. Whitman s to find out the truth, and if possible, to rescue Mr. Hanson s two sons and any of the survivors. It so hap pened, that before the interpreter had proceeded half way the two boys were met on their way hither, escorted by Nicholas Finlay, it having been previously settled among the Indians that these boys should not be killed, as also the American women and children. Teloquait is the chief who recommended this measure.
I presume you are well acquainted that fever and dysentery has been raging here, and in this vicinity, in consequence of which a great number of Indians have been swept away, but more especially at the doctor s place, where he attended upon the Indians. About thirty souls of the Cayuse tribe died, one after another, who eventu ally believed the doctor poisoned them, and in \vhich opinion they were unfortunately confirmed by one of the doctor s party. As far as I have been able to learn, this has been the sole cause of the dreadful butchery.
In order to satisfy any doubt on that point, it is reported that they requested the doctor to administer medicine to three of their friends, two of whom were really sick, but the third only feigning illness, and that the three were corpses the next morning. After they were buried, and while the doctor s men \vere employed slaughtering an ox, the Indians came one by one to his house, with
their arms concealed under their blankets, and being all assembled,
commenced firing on those slaughtering the animal, and in a mo
ment the doctor s house was surrounded.
The doctor and a young lad, brought up by himself, were shot in the house. His lady, Mr. Rogers, and the children had taken refuge in the garret, but were dragged down and dispatched (ex cepting the children ) outside, where their bodies were left exposed. It is reported that it was not their intention to kill Mr. Rogers, in consequence of an avowal to the following effect, which he is said to have made, and which nothing but a desire to save his life could have prompted him to do. He said: "I was one evening lying down, and I overheard the doctor telling Rev. Mr. Spalding that it was best you should be all poisoned at once ; but that the latter told him it was best to continue slowly and cautiously, and that between this and spring, not a soul would remain, when they would take possession of your lands, cattle, and horses."
These are only Indian reports, and no person can believe the doctor capable of such an action without being as ignorant and brutal as the Indians themselves. One of the murderers, not being made acquainted with the above understanding, shot Mr. Rogers.
It is well ascertained that eleven lives were lost, and three wounded. It is also rumored they are to make an attack upon the fort. Let them come ! if they will not listen to reason. Though I have only five men at the establishment, I am prepared to give them a warm reception. The gates are closed day and night, and the bastions in readiness.
In company with Mr. Manson s two sons, was sent a young half- breed lad, brought up by Dr. Whitman; they are all here, and have got over their fright. The ringleaders in this horrible butchery are Teloquait, his son, Big Belly, Tamsucky, Esticus, Taumaulish, etc. I understand from the interpreter that they were making one common grave for the deceased.
The houses \vere stripped of everything in the shape of property, but when they came to divide the spoil they fell out among them selves, and all agreed to put back the property. I am happy to state the Walla Wallas had no hand in the whole business; they were all the doctor s own people (the Cayuses). One American shot another, and took the Indians part to save his own life. 1
Allow me to draw a veil over this dreadful affair, which is too painful to dwell upon, and which I have explained conformably to information received, and with sympathizing feelings.
1 The person here referred to was Joe Lewis, a half-caste American. It is just possible that the Indians compelled him, as it was said they did Mr. Rogers, to make a false statement, or to side with them; but the testimony of the captives made him responsible for the massacre. Mr. McBean was reporting to his superiors what he had learned from the only authority at hand.
I remain, with much respect, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
N. B. I have just heard that the Cayuses are to be here tomorrow to kill Serpent Jaime, the Walla Walla chief.
Names of those who were killed: Dr. Whitman, Mrs. Whitman, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Sanders (schoolmaster), Mr. Osborne (carpenter), Mr. Marsh, Mr. John Sager, Mr. Francis Sager (brothers, youths), Mr. Canfield (blacksmith), Mr. (a tailor); besides three that were wounded, more or less, Messrs. Hall, Kimball, and another man whose name I cannot learn.
This information, only slightly inaccurate, was that which was obtained the day after the massacre, first from Mr. Hall, then from Finlay and the Manson boys, and lastly from McBean's interpreter:[2] As soon as practicable after the return of his interpreter, Mr. McBean dispatched an express to Vancouver, with instructions to lose no time, and to spread no alarm, his object being to get the news, not only of the massacre, but of his own exposed situation should the Cayuses carry out their rumored threat against his post, to the board of managers before the tribes along the river should learn what had taken place, or form any combination with the Cayuses.[3]
A letter from Mr. Douglas to Governor Abernethy ran as follows:—
George Abernethy, Esq.:
SIR : Having received intelligence last night by special express from Walla Walla of the destruction of the missionary settlement at Waiilatpu by the Cay use Indians of that place, we hasten to communicate the particulars of that dreadful event, one of the most atrocious which darkens the annals of Indian crime.
Our lamented friend, Dr. Whitman, his amiable and accomplished lady, with nine other persons, have fallen victims to the fury of these remorseless savages, who appear to have been instigated to this appalling crime by a horrible suspicion which had taken possession of their superstitious minds, in consequence of the num ber of deaths from dysentry and measles, that Dr. Whitman was silently working the destruction of their tribe by administering poisonous drugs, under the semblance of salutary medicines.
With a goodness of heart and benevolence truly his own, Dr. Whitman has been laboring incessantly since the appearance of the measles and dysentry among his Indian converts to relieve their sufferings ; and such has been the reward of his generous labors.
A copy of McBean s letter, herewith transmitted, will give you all the particulars known to us of this indescribably painful event. Mr. Ogden, with a strong party, will leave this place as soon as possible for Walla Walla, to endeavor to prevent further evil ; and we beg to suggest to you the propriety of taking instant measures for the protection of Rev. Mr. Spalding, who, for the sake of his family, ought to abandon the Clearwater mission without delay, and retire to a place of safety, as he cannot remain at that isolated station without imminent risk in the present excited and irritable state of the Indian population.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
JAMES DOUGLAS.
Frenchmen had died recently, and he wished to get others to occupy their places." Mr. Hinman, needing medicines for the sick Indians in his vicinity, offered to accompany him, leaving his wife and child, Mr. McKiuney and wife, Dr. Saffaraus, and Perrin Whitman at The Dalles. It was not until the messenger was below the cascades that he revealed to Hinman his errand, and the particulars of the tragedy at Waiilatpu. Mr. Hinman, naturally, was filled with anxiety for his family and friends, and very indignant because the Frenchman had not disobeyed orders or that he had received such orders. Yet, as it proved, this wasjthe very wisest course to have pursued ; for had the Columbia river Indians gotten hold of the matter at that time, before Mr. Ogden had time to see the Cayuses, he might not so easily have prevailed on them to release the captives. Hinman s letter, written at Vancouver, urges the governor to send a military company to The Dalles for his protection ; and also men to rescue the women and children. Knowing this, and not knowing what course the governor would take, compelled Mr. Ogden to say to the Indians that he could not promise what the Americans would do.
The governor sent into the legislative assembly the above letters, with the following message:
To the Honorable Legislative Assembly, Oregon :
GENTLEMEN : It is my painful duty to lay the inclosed communications before your honorable body. They will give you the particulars of the horrible massacre committed by the Cayuse Indians on the residents at Waiilatpu. This is one of the most distressing circumstances that has occurred in our territory, and one that calls for immediate and prompt action. I am aware that to meet this case funds will be required, and suggest the propriety of applying to the Hudson's Bay Company, and the merchants of this place, for a loan to carry out whatever plan you may fix upon. I have no doubt but the expense attending this affair will be promptly met by the United States government.
The wives and children of the murdered persons, the Rev. Mr. Spalding and family, and all others who may be in the upper country, should at once be proffered assistance, and an escort to convey them to places of safety.
I have the honor to remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
GEORGE ABERNETHY.
While the hearts of the legislators were bursting with pain and indignation for the crime they were called upon to mourn, and perhaps to avenge, there was something almost farcical in the situation. Funds! Funds to prose cute a possible war! There was in the treasury of Oregon the sum of forty-three dollars and seventy-two cents, with an outstanding indebtedness of four thousand and seventy-nine dollars and seventy-four cents. Money! Money in deed! Where was money to come from in Oregon? The governor s first thought had been the Hudson's Bay Company. It was always the company the colonists thought of first when they were in trouble. But there might be some difficulty about a loan from that source. Had not the board of London managers warned the Oregon officers to avoid American securities, and "stick to their beaver skins?" And had not Dr. McLoughlin resigned from his position as head of the company in Oregon because the London board reproved him for assisting immigrants, and thereby encouraging the American occupation of the country? And now there was an Indian war impending, with onty these gentlemen who had been ordered to "stick to their beaver skins" to turn to. There were the merchants of Oregon City, to be sure—a few hundred might be raised among them. And there was the Methodist mission—the governor had not mentioned that—but; well, they could try it!
The first resolution offered after the reading of the documents submitted by the governor, was the following, by J. W. Nesmith: "That the governor is hereby required to raise arms and equip a company of riflemen, not to exceed fifty men, with their captain and subaltern officers, and dispatch them forthwith to occupy the mission station at The Dalles on the Columbia river, and hold possession of the same until reinforcements can arrive at that point, or other means be taken as the government may think advisable," which resolution was adopted. A committee consisting of Nesmith, Rees, and Crawford was appointed to wait upon the governor, which reported the executive s answer, that he would "use his utmost endeavors;" and the house immediately adjourned to attend a public meeting.
It was a day of wrath as well as of sorrow and apprehension. It hardly needed the stirring appeals of J. W. Nesmith, II. A. G. Lee, and Samuel K. Barlow, to encourage volunteering. A company of riflemen was enlisted at once, which was sworn in, and officered the following day.[4]
By noon of the ninth the company was equipped as well as, with the means at hand, it could be. Meanwhile, the ladies of Oregon City had not been idle, but, assembling at the "City hotel," presented the company with a flag, which was delivered into their hands by Mr. Nesmith, with words of eloquent meaning. The same afternoon the company departed for Vancouver, in boats, amid great excitement.
The legislature also passed a bill on the ninth, author izing the governor to raise * a regiment of volunteers;" which on the tenth was returned with objections by the governor, amended and finally passed the same morning, in these words:—
Section 1. That the governor of Oregon territory be and is hereby authorized and required forthwith to issue his proclamation to the people of said territory to raise a regiment of riflemen by volunteer enlistment, not to exceed five hundred men, to be subject to the rules and articles of war of the United States army, and whose term of service shall expire at the end of ten months, unless sooner discharged by the proclamation of the governor.
Section 2. That said regiment of volunteers shall rendezvous at Oregon City on the twenty-fifth day of December, A. D. 1847, and proceed thence with all possible dispatch to the Walla Walla valley for the purpose of punishing the Indians, to what tribe or tribes soever they may belong, who may have aided or abetted in the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife, and others at Waiilatpu, or to be otherwise employed as the governor may direct.
Section 3. That the legislature of Oregon shall appoint one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, and one major to officer said regiment of volunteers when raised by the governor as provided for in the first section of this bill; and, further, that the legislature also appoint a commissary-general, whose duty it shall be to keep a regular account of the disbursements of all the fund placed at his disposal, and faithfully perform all other duties pertaining to his office, and who shall perform the duties of quartermaster-general for the army.
Section 4. Said regiment shall be organized into companies, to consist each of not more than one hundred or less than fifty men ; and each company shall elect their own officers, to wit: One captain, one first and one second lieutenant, one orderly sergeant, and four duty sergeants.
Section 5. That Jesse Applegate, A. L. Lovejoy, and George L. Curry be and are hereby authorized and empowered to negotiate a loan not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act ; and that said commissioners be and are authorized to pledge the faith of the territory for the payment of such sum as may be negotiated for by said commissioners, on the most practicable terms, payable within three years from date of said loan, unless sooner discharged by the government of the United States.
Section 6. Said loan may be negotiated for gold and silver, or such goods as may be necessary for the use of the army ; provided, however, that the holder of such goods be required to deduct from the loan the value of the goods negotiated for, but remaining in his hands at the cessation of hostilities.
No sooner was this bill passed than the loan commissioners set out for Vancouver, accompanied by the govern
or. The gentlemen at that place no doubt anticipated the
visit, and had a knotty question to settle. To do, or not
to do, what was required of them? To do it, might involve
them with the company might indeed ruin the Oregon
trade with the Indians, who could only hunt and trap
when they were at peace. Should they furnish the means
of destroying their own business, and take the risk of
being cashiered? Not to do it, was to bring upon them
selves the suspicion and hatred of the Americans then in
the country, and to tempt them to make war upon the
company, in which case the opinion of the world would
be against them, for weighing beaver skins in the balance
with the safety of a colony of their own race. But was the
safety of the colony really involved? Might not Mr.
Ogden in some way so adjust matters that war could be
avoided, at least until the long expected troops of the
United States should be in the field? An informal con
versation was held on this subject immediately after the
arrival of the commissioners at Vancouver, and on the
next day they addressed the following letter to Mr.
Douglas :
FORT VANCOUVER, O. Ty., December 11, 1847. To James Douglas, Esq., Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Co.:
SIR: By the enclosed documents you will Percéive that the undersigned have been charged by the legislature of ional government with the difficult duty of obtaining the means necessary to arm, equip, and support in the field a force sufficient to obtain full satisfaction of the Cay use Indians for the late massacre at Waiilatpu, and protect the white population of our common country from further aggression.
In furtherance of this object, they have deemed it their duty to make immediate application to the honorable Hudson's Bay Company for the requisite assistance.
Tho clothed with power to pledge to the fullest extent the faith and means of the present government of Oregon, they do not consider this pledge the only security to those who, in this distressing emergency, may extend to the people of this country the means of protection and redress. Without claiming any special authority from the government of the United States to contract a debt to be liquidated by that power, yet from all precedents of like character in the history our country, the undersigned feel confident that the United States government will regard the murder of the late Dr. Whitman and his lady as a national wrong, and will fully justify the people of Oregon in taking active measures to obtain redress for that outrage, and for their protection from further aggression.
The right of self-defense is tacitly accorded to every body politic in the confederacy to which we claim to belong, and in every case similar to our own, within our knowledge, the general government has promptly assumed the payment of all liabilities growing out of the measures, taken by the constitutional authorities, to protect the lives and property of those residing within the limits of their districts.
If the citizens of the states and territories east of the Rocky mountains are justified in promptly acting in such emergencies, who are under the immediate protection of the general government, there appears no room to doubt that the lawful acts of the Oregon government will receive like approval.
Should the temporary character of our government be considered by you sufficient ground to doubt its ability to redeem its pledge, and reasons growing out of its peculiar organization be deemed sufficient to prevent the recognition of its acts by the government of the United States, we feel it our duty, as private individuals, to inquire to what extent, and on what terms, advances may be had of the honorable Hudson's Bay Company to meet the wants of the force the authorities of Oregon deem it their duty to send into the field.
With sentiments of the highest respect, allow us to subscribe ourselves, your most obedient servants,
( Signed ). JESSE APPLEGATE,
A. L. LOVEJOY, GEO. L. Curry.
The tone of this communication, which argued in its own defense, before it was questioned, clearly shows that a negative answer was apprehended. Applegate, who had been made chairman of the commission on account, as much of his friendship for and high standing with the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company as his acknowl edged abilities and patriotism, was sufficiently well ac quainted with the internal conditions of the company not to be greatly disappointed at receiving the reply of the chief factor.
To Jesse Applegate, A. L. Lovejoy, and George L. Curry, Esquires:
GENTLEMEN : I have the honor of your communication of this date, and have given an attentive perusal to the documents accompanying it. With a deep feeling of the importance of the object which has procured me the honor of your present visit, and the necessity of the measures contemplated for the punishment of the Cay use Indians, and for the future protection of the country, I can on the present occasion only repeat the assurance verbally given in our conversation of yesterday, that I have no authority to grant loans or make any advances whatsoever on account of the Hudson's Bay Company, my orders on that point being so positive that I can not deviate from them without assuming a degree of responsibility which no circumstances could justify to my own mind. It is, how ever, within the spirit and letter of my instructions from the Hudson's Bay Company, to exert their whole power and influence in maintaining the peace of the country, and in protecting the white population from Indian outrage. The force equipped and dispatched at their sole expense, to Walla Walla, under the command of Mr. Ogden, immediately on receiving the intelligence of the disastrous event at Waiilatpu, is an earnest of our attention to the calls of humanity. The object of that expedition is, with the blessing of God, to prevent further aggression, to rescue the women and children who survived the massacre from the hands of the Indians, and to restore them to their afflicted friends.
Trusting that these objects may be successfully accomplished, I have the honor, etc.,
JAMES DOUGLAS, Chief Factor Hudson's Bay Company.
For this attitude of the Hudson's Bay Company the commissioners were not unprepared, and had already resolved upon their course of action. Governor Abernethy,
Jesse Applegate, and A. L. Lovejoy became personally
responsible for such supplies as were necessary to furnish
and forward to The Dalles, the company of Oregon rifle
men already on the way. The amount of credit thus
obtained was within a few cents of one thousand dollars.
Thus the commissioners set the example of self-sacrifice
and devotion to country.
Before leaving Vancouver, Governor Abernethy issued his first general -order to Captain Lee, of the volunteer company on its way to The Dalles, in language as fol lows :
FORT VANCOUVER, llth December, 1847.
SIR : On receipt of this you will with all dispatch proceed with the company under your command to The Dalles, on the Columbia river, and occupy the mission station there until otherwise ordered.
As the Indians in that neighborhood are friendly to the whites, you will see that their property and persons are not molested, at the same time keeping them at a distance, not permitting them to crowd into the camp. If they have any business in the camp, as soon as this business is disposed of, see that they are gently con ducted outside. If you hear of any property in the neighborhood that has been stolen from the immigration, endeavor to get it into your charge, keeping an exact account of all property thus obtained. I remain, sir, yours truly,
GEO. ABERNETHY, Governor of Oregon Territo^.
To Capt. H. A. G. Lee,
First Company, Oregon Riflemen.
Returning immediately to Oregon City, the commission ers called a meeting, and addressed a circular to the "merchants and citizens" of Oregon, which differed from the letter to Mr. Douglas only in the concluding para graphs, which were couched in these words:
Though the Indians of the Columbia have committed a great outrage upon our fellow-citizens passing through their country, and residing among them, and their punishment for these murders may, and ought to be, a prime object with every citizen of Oregon, yet, as that duty more particularly devolves upon tjie government of the United States, and admits of delay, we do not make this the strongest ground upon which to found our earnest appeal to you for
pecuniary assistance. It is a fact well known to every person acquainted with Indian character, that, by passing silently over their repeated thefts, robberies, and murders of our fellow-citizens, they have been emboldened to the commission of the appalling massacre at Waiilatpu. They call us "women," destitute of the hearts and courage of men, and if we allow this wholesale murder to pass by, as former aggressions, who can tell how long either life or property will be secure in any part of this country, or at what? moment the Willamette will be the scene of blood and carnage ?
The officers of our provisional government have nobly performed their duty. None can doubt the readiness of the patriotic sons of the wesi to offer their personal services in defense of a cause so righteous. So it rests with you, gentlemen, to say whether our rights and our firesides shall be defended or not. Hoping that none will be found to falter in so high and so sacred a duty, we beg leave, gentlemen, to subscribe ourselves your servants and fellow-citizens.
Then follow the names.
A letter similar to the foregoing appeals was addressed to Rev. William Roberts, superintendent of the Oregon mission (Methodist). On the fourteenth of December tin* commissioners reported as follows to the legislature:
To the Honorable Legislative Assembly of Oregon Territory :
The undersigned commissioners appointed by your honorable body for the purpose of negotiating a loan to carry into effect the provisions of an act to authorize the governor to raise a regiment of volunteers, etc., have the honor to inform you that, fully realizing the heavy responsibilities attached to this situation, and the pecu liarly difficult nature of their duties, they at once determined to act with promptness and energy, and to leave no honorable effort untried that might have a tendency to a successful termination of this undertaking. They accordingly proceeded to Fort Vancouver on the tenth instant, and there addressed a communication to James Douglas, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, a copy of which (marked A) will be found among the accompanying docu ments. The commissioners had anticipated the unfavorable reply of Mr. Douglas, as agent of the Hudson's Bay Company, and its only effect was to heighten their zeal and to occasion them stronger hopes of a more satisfactory reliance upon the citizens generally of our common country. However, two of the commissioners, with the governor, became responsible for the amount of the outfit for the first regiment of Oregon riflemen, being nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars. Not at all disheartened by the unsuccessful
issue of their mission, the commissioners returned to this city on
the thirteenth instant, and at once entered into negotiations, the
revelation of which herewith follows.
It will be seen, by document marked C, the commissioners, through a public meeting held at Oregon City on the night of the thirteenth instant, addressed the merchants and citizens of Oregon, at which meeting, from citizens general^, a loan of about one thousand dollars was effected.
Document marked D will show the correspondence on the part of the commissioners with Rev. Mr. Roberts, superintendent of the Oregon mission. The negotiations are not yet concluded entirely, yet the commissioners feel safe in reporting a loan from this source of one thousand dollars.
The commissioners are happy to state that they have succeeded in negotiating a loan of one thousand six hundred dollars from the merchants of Oregon City, with, perhaps, a likelihood of further advance. The commissioners feel well assured, from the interest manifested by our fellow-citizens in the matter, and prompt action they have proposed to take in several counties in the territory to assist the commissioners in the successful discharge of their duties, that the government will ultimately succeed in negotiating an amount adequate to the present emergency of affairs. The commis sioners would beg your honorable body, with as little delay as possible, to appoint appraisers, whose duty it shall be to set a cash value upon produce and other property, which may be converted into means to assist the government in its present operations. Therefore, gentlemen, as we believe we can no longer be useful to our fellow-citizens as a board, we hope to be permitted to resign our trust into the hands of the proper accounting officers of this govern ment. JESSE APPLEGATE.
A. Li. LOVEJOY. GEO. L. CURRY.
The resignation of the first board of loan commissioners was accepted, and a resolution of thanks adopted by the leg islature. A second board was appointed on the twentieth, consisting of A. L. Lovejoy, Hugh Burns, and W. H. Will- son, who remained in office until the close of the war.
Equipping a regiment for ten months in the field, with a credit of less than five thousand dollars, but a small part of which was in cash, was what the Oregon colonists were now committed to. The loans, excepting the minimum of money, were drawn on wheat ( the currency of the country ), provisions of all kinds, arms, ammunition, leather, cloth
ing, and whatever thing could be converted to use in the
commissary and quartermaster s department. A system
of small loans, obtained by solicitors who gave government
bonds for what they received at prices fixed by govern
ment appraisers, was the means next resorted to by the
legislature for providing the sinews of war. It was an ex
pensive method, but unavoidable, nor did the people
shrink from contributing in this manner of their substance
to support the army of defense which was to save the re.
mainder of their property and their lives from destruction.
Appraisers were appointed in every county and settlement
who valued every article obtained, from a horse to a pound
of lead, a bridle or a trail-rope, of which some examples
will be given hereafter.
On the tenth of December, before visiting Vancouver, Mr. Applegate addressed a communication to the legisla ture, urging the necessity of immediately dispatching a messenger to Washington to acquaint the government of the United States with the condition of the Oregon colony, and to ask assistance. His argument was that such a measure would inspire the capitalists of Oregon to make advances, and encourage enlistment.
This letter of Mr. Applegate s has reference to the dis turbed political condition of the colony, owing to a strife between the missionary element, which had hitherto con trolled affairs, and the then more numerous settler popu lation, each being desirious of securing certain objects, and certain offices, whenever the federal government should see fit to establish a territory on the Pacific coast. Governor Abernethy, the head of the mission party, had in October, privately dispatched J. Quinn Thornton to Washington to look after the interests of his party, which action, when it became known, had inspired the mass of the people, not adherents of the missionary faction with a rancor not before felt, and which influenced the tone of the legislature. Aware of all this, Mr. Applegate, in rec
oramending the sending of a messenger to congress, ad
monished the legislature to restrict the bearer of dispatches
to the federal government from carrying any communica
tion whatever other than those intrusted to his charge by
that body, or official documents from the executive.
"That such restriction is necessary," he wrote, "must be evident to your honors, when you take into consideration that in order to unite the whole population of Oregon with you in the vigorous prosecution of this just war, and to encourage capitalists to advance means to meet its immediate expenses, the measures furthering this object should be kept entirely separate and distinct from all civil measures and partisan feelings."
The same day Mr. Nesmith offered, and the legislature adopted, the following resolution : " Resolved, That in view of our critical situation with the powerful tribes of In dians inhabiting the banks of the Columbia, and with whom we are actually in a state of hostilities, it is the duty of this legislature to dispatch a special messenger, as soon as practicable, to Washington City, for the purpose of securing the immediate influence and protection of the United States government in our internal affairs," a copy of which was furnished to the loan commissioners, with what effect we have seen.
A day or two later, Mr. Nesmith introduced a bill pro viding for sending a special messenger to the United States, which the legislature passed on the fifteenth, and one of their own number Joseph L. Meek, a fearless and talented, if illiterate, mountain man, w r as selected to be the bearer of dispatches to the president of the United States and a memorial to congress.
The memorial, prepared by a committee appointed by the legislature, contained these pathetic passages: "Hav ing called upon the government of the United States so often in vain, we have almost despaired of receiving its protection. * * We have the right to expect your aid and you are in duty bound to extend it. For though we
are separated from our native land by a range of moun
tains whose lofty altitudes are mantled in eternal snows;
although three thousand miles, nearly two-thirds of which
is a howling wild, lie between us and the federal capital,
yet our hearts are unalienated from the land of our birth.
Our love for the free and noble institutions under which
it was our fortune to be born and nurtured, remains un
abated. In short, we are Americans still, residing in a
country over which the government of the United States
has the sole and acknowledged right of sovereignty; and
under such circumstances we have the right to claim the
benefit of its laws and protection."
The bill providing for a messenger authorized him to proceed with all dispatch, by way of California, to Wash ington City, and lay before the executive of the United States such official communications as he should be charged with. It required him to take an oath faithfully to perform his duties to the best of his ability, but left him to be compensated by the government of the United States; authorizing him to borrow, if he could, on the faith of the Oregon government, five hundred dollars for his expenses, and requiring him to give bonds in a thousand dollars for the faithful execution of his trust.
The borrowing of five hundred dollars for this purpose, in addition to the amounts secured by the loan commis sioners, was a task nearly as great as that of conveying the official documents to their destination, as may be learned from references to Meek s efforts in letters found in the Oregon archives. It was a task requiring time and industry, and often failed to bear the hoped-for fruit.
Meek s credentials from the governor were contained in this brief letter of introduction:
OREGON CITY, December 28, 1847. To His Excellency, James 1C. Polk, President of the United States:
SIR: The bearer, Joseph L. Meek, Esq., has been appointed by the legislature of Oregon territory, special messenger to carry dis
patches to Washington City. This journey will be an arduous one,
and I would recommend him to the favorable notice of your excel
lency.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
GEORGE ABERNETHY, Governor of Oregon.
Meek, like most of the men at this time in Oregon, was in the prime of life, and had a young family to provide for. He could not start at once on a journey of several thousand miles, leaving nothing for them arid taking nothing himself. Neither did he agree with the governor as to the route best to be pursued, Abernethy wishing him to go to California, with dispatches for Governor Mason, and thence east; but the experienced mountain man was a better judge of the business before him than the executive, and chose to accompany the volunteers to the seat of war, and to take the immigrant route, which he had been one of the first to travel, as an immigrant, and which led through a country with which he was familiar. This decision, owing to various impediments in the way of the army, retarded his movements, until the patience of the executive was exhausted, as we shall see hereafter.
On the twenty-fifth of December, after a secret session of the legislature to confer with the governor, there was issued the following proclamation :
In consequence of the low state of the finances of this country, and the general impression being that the Indians of the upper country were not united, a small force was thought sufficient to proceed to Walla Walla to punish the Cayuse Indians, and a proc lamation was issued by me asking for one hundred men, since which information has been received here which leads to the belief that the Indians have united, and the force ordered out in that case being insufficient, I therefore call on the citizens of the territory to furnish five hundred men, and appoint the following persons brevet captains to enroll such citizens as may wish to enlist, viz., Wesley Shannon, John Ford, and Thomas McKay, Champoeg county; John Owens, Wm. Williams, and John Stewart, Polk county; Philip Thompson, George Nelson, and Felix Scott, Yamhill county; Isaac W. Smith, and Benjamin Q,. Tucker, Tualatin county; James Officer , Clack-
amas county. The enlistments to.be for six months, unless sooner discharged by proclamation.
Each man will furnish his own horse, arms, clothing, and blankets. The companies will bring all the ammunition, percussion caps, and camp equipage they can, for which they will receive a receipt from the commissary -general. Colonel Cornelius Gilliam will remain at Oregon City until the first companies arrive at Port land, when he will take command, and proceed forthwith to Walla Walla. Lieutenant-Colonel James Waters will remain until the rear companies arrive at or near Portland, when he will take com mand and proceed to Walla Walla.
Companies will rendezvous at Portland, or opposite Portland on or before the eighth day of January, 1848. Whenever a sufficient number of volunteers arrive on the ground at Portland they will organize and proceed to elect their officers, viz., one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one orderly sergeant, and four duty sergeants.
Companies will consist of eighty-five men, rank and file. If any company should be formed in the counties smaller or larger, they will be regulated after they arrive on the ground.
As the commissary-general will not be able to furnish a sufficient quantity of provisions for the army, the citizens of the territory are called on to deliver to his agents all the provisions they can, that the operations of the troops may not be impeded for want of pro visions. Agents will be appointed by him at Salem, Yamhill Ferry, Champoeg, Butte, and Portland.
Tn witness whereof, I have signed my name and affixed the seal of the territory at Oregon City, this twenty-fifth day of December, 1847.
GEORGE ABERNETHY.
Two days later A. L. Lovejoy was elected by the legis lature to the office of adjutant-general, and Commissary- General Palmer was made also superintendent of Indian affairs.
While Meek was making haste slowly, in the matter of carrying dispatches to Washington, Governor Abernethy prepared .to execute, or cause to be executed, his purpose of sending an express to California.
The legislature had passed resolutions requiring first,
the drafting of a letter to the American consul at the
Sandwich Islands, "representing our affairs, and imploring
any assistance which he may be able to render " the com-
mittee consisting of Nesmith, Rice, and Rector; second, the commander-in-chief of the naval and land forces in California was " requested to furnish us all the assistance in his power, not inconsistent with his instructions, or his duty to his country;" and, third, that a copy of the pre ceding resolution should be sent to the commander-in- chief in California.
On the twenty-seventh of January, the governor for warded to Jesse Applegate these documents, with a letter instructing him if he could not go on this mission, to em ploy some other person. The following is the governor s letter:
OREGON CITY, January 25, 1848.
DEAR SIR : As Mr. J. L. Meek is still at The Dalles, and does not intend going to California, Rev. H. H. Spalding proposed ad vancing a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be paid at Vancouver any time after March twentieth next, for the purpose of sending a messenger with dispatches to California. I immediately proposed you as the man, and as the Vancouver funds will just answer your purpose, and can at the same time render essential ser vice to this country by informing the proper authorities of California of our situation, I see nothing in the way to prevent your immediate departure. If you conclude to go, let me know how much you will require to fit out the mission. If a government vessel comes up soon you can return on her.
I received a letter from Major Lee last Sunday, in which he in forms me briefly, he has had a skirmish with the Indians who were running off the cattle. Some of our men went to bring them back, not seeing but two or three Indians ; but twenty-five of them were hidden among the hills and rocks. Fortunately, more men were sent out, when a fire was opened upon them, and a running fight took place. One of our party was wounded in the leg. It was thought some of the Indians were killed, as two horses saddled were left on the field. Soon after this, our own men being out on an ex pedition, brought in about sixty horses, so this puts the party on horseback.
Thus you see the war is opening, and the Indians are uniting against the Americans. You cannot set forth in too strong a light the absolute necessity of a man-of-war being sent forthwith. We see that the Indians look on the Hudson's Bay Company as friends ; on the Americans as enemies; Catholics remain unharmed among them; Protestants are murdered. Why that is so I cannot say; but that it is so, we all know. Mr. Spalding says that the Indi ans say that
no American or Protestant shall live among them. They know they murdered both Americans and Protestants. I should like to see you before you start, but this would be wasting time. This package contains letters and papers for Commodore Shubrick and Governor Mason. I have not time to write any more, but hope to learn in a few days that you have left, and I hope you will succeed in inducing a man-of-war to visit us. Should you need a small sum in advance, you can draw on me, and 1 will draw on Mr. Spalding for the amount. Remember you will be going south and getting into a warmer climate.
I remain yours truly, GEO. ABEBNETHY,
Governor of Oregon. To Jesse Applegate.
No man in the colony was more capable in every way of undertaking such a mission than Mr. Applegate. United to physical strength were the scientific attainments of a practical surveyor, the culture of a man of letters, and the bearing to make him respected by men of affairs. Although belonging to the settlers party in politics, his patriotism overtopped all partisan feeling, and he bent every energy to accomplish the common good. Abernethy could not have selected more wisely a bearer of dispatches of such importance. Having accepted the trust, he set about his preparations 6 without loss of time. We find him writing to General Palmer, February second, " The party from the institute (Salem) with our blankets have not arrived, but we start in the morning, blankets or not." How much he had the country s interest at heart is revealed in the clos ing paragraph of the same letter: "I intended before my departure to have written at length to you on the subject of the treaty with the Indians, but time presses, and the hurry of departure, and the anxiety I feel in regard of my private business and the safety of my wife and family, unfits my mind for calm investigation. Of one thing rest assured, that I have the strongest faith in your devotion to the cause of our country, your sound sense, and cool judg ment; and whether you are successful or not, I, for one at
6 James M. Fulkerson was the assistant commissary in Polk county, who made the purchases for the California expedition. He received his appointment through Ap plegate.
least, will consider you deserving of success." Also, "I have written to Newell on the subject of the Indian war. Perhaps you will see the letter."
The expedition consisted of sixteen men, namely, Levi Scott, captain of the escort, Jesse Applegate, bearer of dis patches, James M. Fields, John Minto, Walter Monteith, Thomas Monteith, James Lemon, William Gilliam, George F. Kibbler, A. E. Robinson, J. M. Scott, William J. J. Scott, Solomon Tetherow, Joseph Waldo, James Campbell, and E. C. Dice. 7
The attempt to carry an express to California in mid winter, was a hazardous one even for a party composed of mountain men, trained to overcome the vicissitudes of travel at all seasons. Scott and Tetherow were men of a large experience, but the others were chiefly young men, new to the frontier, and although brave to meet dangers to which they were accustomed, unfit to encounter the terrors of the wilderness in its most repellant mood.
There were at this date no settlements south of Lane county. The whole country was soaked with rains, except at an elevation great enough to turn the rain to snow. The route to California lay through that region roamed over by the Molallas, Klamaths, Rogue River, and Shasta Indians, making it necessary to stand guard at night to prevent their horses being stolen. But the party refused to regard themselves as "martyrs to their country s cause," and took enjoyment from spying out the land which was to flow with milk and honey for their descendants if not for themselves.
"Around the evening camp-fire," says John Minto, "we listened to the sage utterances of our chief, whose dis courses on political and natural science were a valued en tertainment, varying this with the songs of Tom Moore, sung by Fields and myself, and echoed in the hearts of
"Applegate and Minto give only sixteen names, while the muster roll gives eighteen. Minto says that he went as a substitute for Evans ; and others may have failed after enlisting. John W. Owens, mentioned by Applegate, went with the army to Waiilatpu, and there joined Meek s expedition.
all for who has written songs like the Irish bard?"
Two weeks were spent in reaching the foot of the Siski-
you range of mountains; and here defeat if not worse was
presented to them. It was evident that the horses could
not be taken over the extraordinary depth of snow between
Rogue river valley and Klamath lake. The situation now
became one of extreme gravitv. From a letter addressed
by Mr. Applegate to the writer of these pages, the follow
ing extracts are made, as an interesting contribution to
the history of this period:
To give up the expedition and return without further effort was not to be thought of. Abandon the horses and outfit, and continue the journey on foot we could not, for many of the party were un equal to so laborious an undertaking ; arid to attempt to take them with us would so delay the party as to cause us all to starve together, thereby defeating the purpose of the expedition. It was
urged that half our number, or even ten would be too small a party to stand guard on the march, unless Scott and his son John were with them. I believe it possible, with Tetherow, the two Scotts, and the two Mouteiths, to run the gauntlet of the Indians, over come the natural obstacles, and some one of the six reach Sutter s Fort ; and if thereby we saved Oregon from the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage, the survivors, if any, would deserve well of their country, and those who fell would die in the perform ance of a high, holy, and patriotic duty. But I could not have these chosen companions. When a division of the company
was effected, the two Scotts, Waldo, Campbell, Dice, Kibbler, and ( I think ) Owens, were to return with the horses. Tetherow, .the two Monteiths, Lemon, Minto, Robinson, Fields, and myself were to continue on foot. The only thing known by any of the
party about snowshoes was that I had once seen a pair used by the northern Indians for going on loose snow. We aimed to imitate these shoes, but could get nothing in the vicinity of our camp better than willow for the bows; nor for weaving the meshes than strings cut from old rawhide, which on trial were found altogether too weak to sustain our weight upon the snow. Each man had a pack of ten days provisions of flour and bacon, some salt, ammunition, a blanket, a pair of extra socks, a heavy rifle and a pistol, all of the weight of fifty pounds the packs being carried on our backs. * * * At length all were ready, and I led the way as guide. Our route lay up Jennie creek, about a mile north of the present road to the lake country. Through all that long day, as often as I looked behind me to see what progress my companions were making, I never once
saw them all at the same time ; some were slowly aud painfully
making their way, others with only a head or leg above the snow,
and others entirely hidden under it. Ludicrous as the accidents
sometimes were, the situation was far too serious for laughter or
even conversation; it was a funeral procession where each mourner
expected himself to be a corpse.
The February sun shone bright through the day and softened the snow on top ; but as night approached it became intensely cold. A clump of dead aspens furnished us firewood, and a huge Lambert pine broke away a little of the keenness of the wind from our camp ; but it was too cold to sleep in our single blankets ; and around that stick fire were discussed subjects the gravest that it ever falls to the lot of man to consider.
The last to arrive in camp was James Fields. He w r as a large, rather fleshy man, weighing over two hundred pounds. He carried an extra heavy pack and rifle, so that his snowshoes had to sustain a weight of about three hundred pounds. As soon as the duties of the camp were completed, Mr. Fields addressed the expedition to the following effect: "It is my painful duty, gentlemen, to an nounce that I can accompany you no further on this expedition. It has been only by the assistance I have received from others, and the fortunate crusting of the trail this evening that I am able to camp with you tonight, not two miles from the place of starting. It is impossible for me to accomplish the remaining twenty miles of snow that we know lies before us on this mountain. I regret that I volunteered upon this walking expedition, not so much because of the loss of my own life, as that by overrating my ability to perform it I occupy the place of some better man, where men are already too few. Before I joined this expedition in the Walla- met valley I fully understood the gravity of the undertaking. Against the performance of so great an object I weighed my own life as nothing ; in fact, if one only of the party should reach the end of the journey, and the rest fell by the way, the object of the expedition would be cheaply obtained. My loss will, I know, in crease your dangers and hardships ; but I yield to inexorable cir cumstances. I will get off the snow in the morning while the trail is hard, and take my chances alone with famine and the savages. I am not so pusillanimous as to die in this camp, or throw my life away without an effort."
This speech was received in profound silence. No man ventured to express what was in his heart, lest he should be alone. When the silence was broken, Tetherow alone remained firm to the expe dition. With him alone, brave, strong, and powerful as I knew him to be, I felt success was impossible. We should be not only throwing away our lives uselessly in the attempt, but the lives of the young men with us, who were as helpless to go back without us as we to go forward without them. A vote was then taken on two
propositions first, to leave Mr. Fields to his fate and proceed,
Fields voting "aye" and the others "no;" second, to divide the
party equally and go on, Fields voting " no " with the rest, because
he believed a division of the party would cause the destruction of
both parts. * I shall always honor Fields as the most de
voted and illustrious patriot I have ever met.
The party turned back the following morning, and by forced marches overtook the mounted division in a couple of days, returning with them to their homes, and all hope of land communication with California was abandoned. The only vessel leaving the Columbia river during the winter was the English bark Janet, bound to the Sand wich Islands, nor was there any American vessel in the river before March. The colonists were left, really as rhe torically, to fight their own battles. How they performed this duty will be seen in the following chapters.
- ↑ This letter of McBean's, as here given, is faithfully copied from a copy made at Fort Vancouver, appearing to be in the hand of C. B. Roberts. It differs only slightly from several printed copies. It is preserved in the Oregon Archives MS., and numbered 1032.
- ↑ In a communication to the Walla Walla Statesman of March 16, 1866, Mr. McBean says: "When my messenger arrived, Indian women, armed with knives and other implements of war, were already assembled near the house where the captives were, awaiting the order of the chief Tiloukaikt, who was present. On being informed of my request ( not to commit any more murders, and on being told they had already gone too far ), he hung down his head, and paused, then with a wave of his hand peremptorily ordered the women away, who abusing him, called him a coward." This, if true, would appear to be the second time Tiloukaikt s hand had been stayed.
- ↑ This caution, necessary a& it evidently was considered by the prudent officers of a company having a long acquaintance with Indians, was the subject of bitter animadversion by those who saw in it grounds of suspicion. The circumstances appear from the evidence to have been these: Mr. McBean s messenger, on arriving at The Dalles, desired Mr. Alanson Hinman, residing there, to assist him in procuring a canoe to proceed to Vancouver. "I was very inquisitive," says Hinman, in a letter to Governor Abernethy, "to know if there was any difficulty above. He said four
- ↑ "The names of this first company raised for the defense of Oregon from Indian warfare were : Samuel K. Barlow, Daniel P. Barnes, William Beekmaii, G. W. Bosworth, William Berry, Benjamin Bratton, John Bolton, William M. Carpenter, Henry W. Coe, Stephen dimming, John C. Danford, C. H. Deifeudorf, Davia Everest, John Fleming, John Finner, John G. Gibson, Jacob Johnson, Samuel A. Jackson, James Kester, John Lassater, H. A. G. Lee, John Lyttle, Henry Levalley, Joel McKee, J. H. McMillan, George Moore, Joseph Magone. Edward Marsh, J. W. Morgan, Nathan Olney, Joseph B. Procter, Thomas Purvis, Edward Robinson, John E. Ross, J. S. Rinearson, John Richardson, B. B. Rogers, C. W. Savage, S. W. Shannon, A. J. Thomas, O. F. Tapper, R. S. Tupper, Isaac Walgamoutts, Joel Witchey, George Wesley, George W. Weston. The officers elected by the company were: H. A. G. Lee, captain ; Joseph Magone, first lieutenant : John E. Ross, second lieutenant ; J. S. Rinearson, orderly sergeant; J. H. McMillan, first duty sergeant; C. W. Savage, second duty sergeant ; Stephen Gumming, third duty sergeant ; William Berry, fourth duty sergeant.