THE OREGON AMDS,
rjlUJUIID IHir MTVID4T MOININO,
BY WILLIAM L. ADAMS.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Between Maj..Qc.n, John L Wool, com
" manding tht Pacific Military Depart
yment, and 1. I. Stevens. Governor of the
Territory of Washington, connected with
the present Indian war in Washington
ana Vregon J erri tones, oc, etc.
Head Qitartkhs, Dept. or tub Pacific, )
Drnicia, Califurnia, Vcb. 12, 1650. )
To llis Excellency, Isaac I. Stevrns,
Governor of Waahington Territory :
Sir : I received your communication of
the 23d ol December and 20th January,
195f), on the Old instant, but too late to r
ply to it by the return steamer. For the
information which it imparts, you have my
thanks- When you know my instruction
to Col. Wright, of the Oth Infantry at Van
couver, you will discover that many of your
suggestions have been anticipated. In
pregontmL', however, your plan of cam
pHign, which is a very extended one, you
anotiiii nave recollected that I have net h
j I. n .
me resourcrs oi a l erriiory nor the reiift'iry
ofltiu United Siatcsatmy coiiiiiimid. Still
you may bu a.nurcd that the wif azaititit
the Indian will be prosecuted ilh all the
viL'or, promptuecs and efRciency I am
master of, at the name time without wasting
unneeeisarily the. means ami resources at
viy disposal, by untimely and unproductive
tipeauions.
With the additional. force which recently
arrived at Vancouver and at tho Dalles. I
think I shall be ahlo to bring Ihe war to a
losein a Tew months, provided the exter
tiiination of the Indians, which I do no: up
trove of, is not determined on, and private
war prevented, and the volunteers with
drawn from Ihe Walla-walla country.
WhiUt I waslu Oregon, it was reported
to me that many citizens, with a due pro
portion of volunteers and two newspaper,
Advocated tho cxtoimiimiion of the Indians.
This principle has been aoled on in several
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 Maj. L'ipton, and his party, (vol
unteers) who killed 25 Indians, eighteen wl'
whom were women and children. These
were friendly Indians on their way to their
reservation, where thoy expected pioiec
tion from the whites. This barbarous act
ix the causoof tho present wnr in the Rogue
(liver country, and as Capi. Judali, U. S.
A., rejiorts, is retaliatory of the conduct of
Maj. Lupton.
ISy tho saino mad winch brought me
vour communication, I received one, now
T...r. e..n. ., ... ..i,m T ii,:..k .
uuiuio me, iiuiii u pcmuii "iiwiii jp Liiiun iu-
capable of misrepresentation, which informs
me that the friendly Cnyusus are every day
menaced with tleath by Ciov. Curry's volun
' teors. The writer says they have despoil
ed these Indians who have so nobly fol
lowed the advioe of Mr. Palmer to remain
faii&fnl friends to the Americans of their
provisions. .Today, he says, these same
volunteers, without discipline and without
orders, are nol satisfied with rapine and in
justice, and with to take awny the small rem
nant of animals and provisions left. Every
day they run off the horses and caule of
the friendly Indians. They have become
'indignant, and will not bo much longer re
strained from resisting conduct unworthy
of the whites, who have made them ro many
i promises to respect and protect them if
'they remained failbful Mends. The writer
(further says, if the volunteers are not ar
trested in their brigand actions the Indians
vill save themselves by flying to ihe homes
vf their rolatives, i!je Nez Perces, who have
promised them help, nd then all the In-
dians oi uregon ami mouiujinu
join in the common defence. This inforinn
lion is, in a great measure, confirmed by a
person whom, I am assured enjoys your
urspeci and confidence.
ll need not say, a;;hj"l' I had previously
instructed Col.'W right to take tlie vaU-
Walla country at the earliest moment praf-
H.j'ca1le, thai 1 directed him to give protec
tion to the Cayns"S from the depredmiousof
The volunteers. It is such conduct as here
t6mplained of, that irritate and greatly
ihtreaseilhernnksof the hostile trib"s, and
if the. Net -Perces join in the war ni'aint
Us, which 1 nope to prevent, we snan re
quire a mUcTl larger force 'ban we now have
... i- ...j. .-j.i ... o :....:...
in Wa.hinoLon and Oregon Teeri'tiries to
resist savage eartarities and lo protect the '
whites.
I have recently sent to Puget Sound two
companies of the Dth Infantry. These
with three companies there, will eive a
force of nearly four hundred regulars, com
manded by Lieut.-Col. Casey. This force,
with several ships of war in tne Soand, to
WHICH Will UD uur i,, m -'V - -
ted States steamer Matsachurtf!, it seems
which will be added in a few days the Lni
mm
X, I. UMH,
Bailor Proprietor. '
,VOL.l.
lo me, if rightly directed, ought to be suf-
ficciit to bring lo tttrma iw0 liutulr. J n.
..mn nmunt. v.iip'. n.ey. in nm lust re.
.on r.-ceivcu, says there are nol quit tw0
hundred in arms in tlmt region
Lieut. Col. CWy Iih been directed o
prosecute the war wiib die groulost vigi-
lana. and activity.
Jim gallant Capi.Swnrtwoul, who goe
in the Massachusetts, Gmmunder-in chi f
of ilie naval forces in ihe Sound, will I am
awur.'il,t.alouly,'llicifnily, and. I trust,
succeiMouy, co operate with Col. Casey lo
bring the war to a close.
In regard to the operations east of (he
Cascade mountains if Governor Currv's
volunteers hnvo not driven the friendlv
Cayudcsand the Nix Perces into the rank
of the hostile tribes, and they should be i of the Oregon volunteers and the eye wit
withdrawn from the Walla-walla country. 1 1 nrraea of hid denth, but tho testimony of
have ureal hopes l!;nt I shall b" able to bring
the Indians in that region lo terms, nol
withstanding the volunteers killed the chief,
1'eu-peu-mox-mox, scalped him, cut ouhts
ears and hands, ns reported by volunteers,
and sent them to their friend in Oregon.
All Ibis, loo, after be had iiipI them under
a flag of truce, declaring Im "was for peace,
that be did not wish to fifht," and ifany
of his rounu men had done wroni;, he
would make restitution ; while ho at the
same lime offi-red the volunteers cattle for
food. Such conduct may have caused feel
ings difficult to ovoreome- I trust, how
ever, ilia' will be able lo du it.
A ooii as the wa' is terminated eat of
the Cascade mountain I will be able to
seiin all mv (l:xiioal)le to'ce neamst the
Indians on Ro-.iie river mid Png-t Sound
It is however dm to the truth to any, lhnt
at HO t'llle were volunteers rc ii ' (i . or in
any seite of Ihe term u e- nr lor b-
fentieof th" ililibilauts nf ( h ei.Mii f-nm i', p.
redations oi lia hin ili of Indian. h.tu'i ,
ing the cnnliy i ast of lie- ( Vcade lllotlll
tains. Nor there any ci umstainvs
m justify (i-iveruO' Curry in sendino his
troops from lliegon lo Wa-hiugtoii Terri
tory to make war mi tho Walla-wallas
from whom ihe Oregniiimis had no danger
whatever to apprehend- On this siibjeui I
would refer you lo the report nf the Secre
tary of War, dated tho 3d of Decemb- r,
relating to the affairsof the Armv, in which
he nays, "the d-partment at this distance,
and in the alsenc of more definite inl'or
ma'lon, especially in regard to ihe exlent
of the combination among the hostile tribes,
cannot judge what volunteer re iuforci ni, nt
to the regular troops may be necessary.
This is a matter w hich must Iip neciesarily
'elt to 'he military commander in the de
partment of 'he Pacific."
At the conclusion of your eommnnicn
tionyoti say. 'V is due to frankness that I
should stale, that I have determined to wnb-
mil to the department the eonr.e taken bv
Ihe military liutl'oniiett in illbati'llog th'
tr.oops raised in Wa-hitig'on Te'r'ilorv fo
my r lief. N. cirort was made altbo'ioh
l he facts were presented both lo Major J n
era! Wool and Maj. Uains, to vend me as
sistance. 1 he regular iroops wer all
withdrawn into garrison, and I was left, to
make my way the be.t I could through
Irihes kunwn to be hostile. It remains yet
to be seen whether the commissioner se
lected by the Preside!.! to make treaties
with Indians in the interior of the continent
is to le lgnoreij, and ins gaiety icit to
chance."
In vour "frankness" and determination
to represent me to the department, I trusi
vou will be governed by truth and truth
only. Perhaps it is equally due to frank-
ne.son my pan to say Hint 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
refu -ed.
I have only to add that I disbanded no
troops raided lor your relief ; and your
communication gave me the first intelli
gence that any were raised for such a pur
se. I am, very respectlully,
Your obedient servants
Signed: JOHN E. WOOL,
Major General.
Executive Officb, Tkr. WASHiNBToif, )
Olympia, March 20, 18-i0. J
Major General Joh.m E. Wool,
Commanding Pacific Division :
Sir : I have the honor lo aekn w-dge
the receipt i f your communication of the
12b February, and to state, generally, in
answer theieto, that th event of the pal
four wet k-t in eoimc i 'n with yourown
official i-ou
affords satisfjclorv et i b-nce
that ihe mo-t olijectionaljle posi ion t.i
your letter have beeii abandoned and that
you bate finally becorn- awakened lo -Ii-true
condition of th -Indian '. an I
seeking s me amends f'o the imf.it tuna'e
,u(J..r f the past
V.. ii huv i,r..l,.ttlv Lamed now much
vou haveb'-en misled in vour viwsof the!
n,,rHtions l,v iheOreirmi volun-i-Ts, and
jloW much unm-evssary sympathy you have
wasted on the infamous Peu-peu-moX-mox
For your own reputation hat e flt pain
at the statement made in your letter to me,
for I am the authoritative wituesa in the cae,
and in the letter which submitted your own
action in refusing to send me sneer, I have
presented briefly the facts, showing the un
mitigated hostility of that chief. I assert
r . ...
that I can prove, by incontrovertible
cvi-
AMKllU'..V ..ttanws nui of (oldra roMlsreaf tolas,
know sought of Coroarl. sat HUrm t4 Hlrlag.'!
oaaoow oit oaaoow TaaaiToatir, saturpay, avkxl
deiieo, that Peii-peil-wox-mox IihH been
hostile fur n,ontli tliui lie exerted his in
i flucnce lo effect a L-enoral combination of
llio iribt-a tlmt be plundered Wulla-wnlla
and the scttl.rs of the valley, dimribulinff
the spoils lo his own nnd the neighboring
tribee an war trophies that Im rejected
n,e jntctc.-ssioii of the friendly Nez Perces
; to continue peaceful dial Im bail sworn
: to take my life, and cut off my piny that
! hp and the adjoining tribes of Or'nn and
i Waoliinirton had taken their military
ioition hu warri.iri at the proper point of
the Walla-wullaviillry and all this before
lht volunteer of Oregon moved upon him.
Pen pen niox-iriux was wlniu fairly. I
!iareinvi-ti;iitcri that mutter on the p run nil
1 bavini? not onlvihn lentimonv of the officers
tne irieiiilly Indians, both Uayu.es and Iez
1'ercen. He was not cmraiipi-d by a flaif
ff truce
I, of course, reprobate the indig
nities subsequently committed upon bis
person.
Are you aware, sir, that ihe groat vic
tory achieved by the gallant volunteers of
Oregon in the Wallu-wallu valley was
fought near the line separating th two
Territories, and that more of the Indians of
Oregon were eneaged in it, than the In
dians of Washington I Ynir letter would
se. m loshow that you were ignorant of this
fact. Where, sir, did you derive your in
fin million?
Half ih Walla-wallas live permanently
in O rir(,n. all the Umatillas, oV'-r one-half
i lie Cayuses. all f 'be John Day's Deshutes,
j and Tyh Indians. These Were the Indians
, that diet the volunteers t-f Oregon ; and all
tl'.s-. Indians were, bv an arrangement
nihile between n Palmi" and iny.-lf,
mitlei Ihe chorife of tin OiV"tni iiit iits.
These Indians r.iiiforcei'. nf er ihe' I enclose a t-opv of mv letter to Lt. Col.
first three day's figi-i, by 100 I.. nn.es de. C'us.y.in which my vie in regard to this
tsti-hi tl f om ihe f.ive under Kain ai-aldiu. scln me of voms is givi n in full.
Tha' sotue turbulent ni.-n of I'm- Oregon ' Vou hate referred to the at nx-i'ies com-voluntei-rs
hate done injury to the frii ndly milt'd iipim the friendly Indians bv the
rayiises i uiiquestin. a'd", and il is reproha-- w'lii.s. I know ti -tl in-. of what has no
ted by the nmhoiilies and 'he citizens of curred in s.-inlieui Ongon, but I have 10
both IVrrilories Ii has, however, been - slate that no man, to my l iiowlt dge, in the
gros.ly exaggerated, j t rriiory of Wn.h'ie.'toii. ud-ocaies Ihe t-x
Had, sir, the regulars moved up to lh I termmaiioi ofthe In !;ans. Th" auiboniie.
Wnlla walla va'li-v, as I most .-aniestly here hate nol nnl) iimI i rn . x rii..n lo
urged both Maj Rains nud Col. Wrilu, ' prop e' tin m, bu' t r x-n'oiis t U n
both by lelterand in person, these Indians compleii ly Mice ssflll. I.'i ! toll I -. u. . r,
would have been protected. They Could , in your bii' f'vi.ii lo th nn d, b . u ,n
not act, bieansethey had no authority ' ftiur ibniwiitd Indiiins lii.-in It !n tin k, had
from you. The presence of n single com- Is in united f'om he war irnund on the
pimv would hate heen snllici.-iil. u'er iftore vf Sound und i.t vicinity lo
I lie re.ponsthilitv, if evil follows, will a'. Hie a"jac.-ni. tslmiils, and liute lor nearly
larh. sir. "t von, as well asto the Volunteers. fi ninnlhs ln-en litinj; in charge of local
The Ni z Pere.-s. t'longli a portion live srehtsf Thai not an Indian in llm whole
in Orr-fon n'-e. by 'he arrangement before I course of this war has been kill. d by I he
referred to between (!-n. Palmer a"d my- j whites exeef I in battlel That uhrrca
self, all under my administruiive charge, ' miliiary comniissioti, compose d of u major
and if let alone will continue friendly. I i it)' of lolutiteer oflict-rs, tried some months
have heard from them long since ihe friend
to whom you allude. I have a staff officer
in their country. They are organized for
self protection, and if your operations are
conducted with ordinary luiljrment, not a
man of them will join in the war.
I have to refer yon, sir, tmny memoir nrmy
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 ns regards the opinions of men who,
with perhaps not very inferior abilities to
your own. bavin'.' greater special experi.
ence, and a knowledge of the country and
the Indians lo which you cannot pretend,
it will be prudent no) to despise them.
In yourleMer of the I2lh January, you
state, "I have recently sent to Pugel Sound
two companies of thcO'li Infantry. Those,
with the three companies there, will give
a force of nearly or quite four hundred reg
ulars, commanded by Lieut. Col. Casey.
This force w ith several .hips of war in tho
Sound to tvhieh will he added in a f.-w days
the United Sta'es steamer Massachusetts,
it seems lo me if righlly directed ought to
be sufficient to brimr to terms two hundred
an warriors. Capi. Keyed iu his lat
report received, says there are not quite
two hundred in arms in th' region."
Here you have exposed a very confident
opinion- You thought proper to quote
Capi. Keyr as to the number of Indians,
but you f 'und it did not suit your purpose
to refer to the requisitions he had made
upon Vou for six additional companies, two
of w hich only had been sent forward j nor
could you find time to refer to the fact that
Col. Casey had recommended, after the
war was over, that eight companies should
bep rmaii'-nlly stationed for the protection
ofthe Sound.
Vou 'hink volunteers entirely unneces
sary, allium -h af'er bating received fiom
th -executive of the territory, information
as ' lie condition nf the Country.
I' is now March, n month lat.-r, and you
send 'wo additional eomptnies of iegular,
an I d-'ect Col. Cms -y to call upon m.i for
Iwo companies of toluot.-e a. .
Thus bat e you pri-iical!y Hi:kno-l"dged
lint you were wroil '. an I that I ri-hl,
an I th'H have I given vour t-t:m.inv. a !
la 'iinsl vnuref. in tin hcat'oii f 'he ne
ee.ii of inv cat hug out olont.-er-
As regnnls ihisctll f f voloiiu-. rs. k i
presumed that Col- C-ts-y mrortned you.
that the whole svail-tbl" force of the So md
territory was D"snng; arms, airi mai uih
great proportion of hem were actively -n
gaging the enemy.
Tha' organized in two battalions, ih
northern battalion oc'-upied the line of ihe
Snohomish, where they were establihiu
block bousi s, and closing the passes of the
Snoqualmie.
That the contra! bst'.alion was oecupy-
. I .L . .1
0 HI
mg the military road over the Nachesg. in
relation te whit-broad audits military
bearing, your aid detsnip. I.ietii. Arnold,
will he able to give you full information
and that on both lim a, decisive blows had
been struck, and also thai it was beyond
'ne sunny oi our citizens to raise nn ml
ditional company of even fifty men to lion
or your requ-itioii.
I haven right to hold you to a full know !
eoge oi our ronmnvn Here. II you say
you were misinformed, then vou aro not
fit for your position, and should give place
lor a Detter man. II you were informed,
then your measure, as a miliary man,
mamievt an incapacity beyond example.
Therefore. I ho call on me for two com
panics of volunteers, is a call upon me to
withdraw the troops now in the field, with
sixty to eighty days provi.ions, afit-r deci
sive blow have been ruck. and when
vervlhiinf is ready to strike a. and tier-
haps the decisive bfnw to end the war.
I am, sir, too oh I a soldier evt r to aban
don a well considered plan of canipuigu.or
to do otherwise than In press forward with
all my energies in the path maiked out,
promising, as ii does, the speedy termina
tion of the war : and, sir. I am too " un
man not to detect the snare which h
been laid for me. Vou never expected,
sir, thai the requisition would be complied
with. Yon knew it was a practical impos
sibility ; but not bating thecouriioe to ac
knowledge your err'S, it was rewried to
in the hope that my refusing your requisi
tion might enable you to occupy my van
Inge ground, and I brow me on the defen
sive. I hold you sir. to the facts and ne-
cessi'y ol l lie case. el. arlv d- monstrating
bv vour own c-onf s-ion the piopriity of
mv course, and 'he n.-ct ssity
of"n steady nihe.ioii to It.
on my part
since, i ight li. dians, only on was convict
ed, and that thn si-n'euce of death, passed
upon him, has not yet been executed ! It
is the good -conduct ol our people, sir, that
has so strengthened the hands of the au
thorities as to enable them lo control these
friendly Iudiutis, and prevent any consider
able accession to the ranks of the liostiles.
And yet we have daily rumors, acid have
had for the Inst five months, that this tribe
and that tribe would break out fir, at
times, great uneasiness here prevailed
amongst ihem, and they aro Indians, and as
such, ilicy sympathise with their brethren,
lint the course ofthe authorities has been
firm and d.-cisive, commanding the confi
dence ofthe community, and the nuYctiotis
of the Indians.
neidei)cse four thousand on reserva
tions in charge of local agents, we have
three 'hniisand mere en the wesiein shore
of the Sound and on the Strait of de Fuca.
- 1 have recently heaid fiom the Nez
Perces, the Couer tie Al.-nes and the Spo-kanes-
The former are firhi iu theii al
legiance. Hut the Spkaueg urge me to
huve a military force on the great prairie,
between them and the hostile Ind ans, or
these taller may not be drivi n lo lie ir
country and thus incite their young men 'o
wnr. I he letter of uarry. chief of ihe
Spoknnes, is a most plaintive and earnest
Call for help, so bis hands may bes'reugih
ened in keeping hit people to lln-ir plighted
faith; and the Coincidence is remarkable,
that this Indian e'def, a white man in edu
cation and views of life, should ask me to
do the very thing I have urged upon you,
for you will ri-memb'-r in mv memoir. J
urged that the troops, in op- rating ngn list
the Indians, sl'OU'd be interposed Isoweeti
tlie friendly and hotile tribes to prevent'
th we now friendly fiom joiirngin the war.
I have, sir, studied ihe character of these
Indians, and my views as to 'he ihllu.-nc"
ui on the friendly Indians, ol I lie mode of
carry ing Ibn war e-. athsl the boat les Is
oh ip im d b t. oidt b'ghl v educated Io
lian of either t tregon or v ushiegt-n, and
Ii -head chief of the ti ihe, in reference to
wfi uh I m d ih - r - Coiihh n.U ion and felt
th.- ioo.i .-ol cii'iil-- N d a word has ever
pa..i tl u-'tweeii us in r ten iii-ii to '. ;u-uo-
jet;t.
Y.Hl are doiibibas i(,fonned that the Indian-
h ue co il i. need otF n.it e operations
ea-t of ill- Ct-cides. an I hate ettacked the
stea-vrs plying h-twe. n ihe Cascades and
the DaU.-s. and the trains m -tmg inward 1
Walla Walla. This bold C -nrs wi'f . ne
b!-lh in to opera.' npnn the Ppi
the Coltilb-s, ih.- iHfiiekmi.-s, t .
P n d Orrilles. lie- Con r d' b n
have five bun-bed w ir rs an I t1
north of the Im- who have thr.e
k in"-,
I -r
v
i 'b s'
In lite
hundred more. Unless struck ul of the
Ml lls,.UIrl lV
"five Itnller ti Yrr.
ia, is.
HO. 82.
i Ca-cades before tht close of Mav, too will
i have lo meet a combination of from 1800
1 lo 2000 warriors. Their families and
stock will be in secure retreats in ihe moun
taias, and unless before that lime the Indi
a us here are completely itibdtted, the pass
eg over the mountains Secured by block
houses, it will be within the runge of prob
abilities that a large portion of thn friendly
Indians on the sound can be incited l lies
tility. Tho ClickiitAl and Yakimus know
all the passes of the Cascades and can read.
m. .a . aw
uy croaa niter tne niontn or May. Jl.-nce
the necesnity nf ihe most vigorous blows
now, of no chnnges of plan, of having
troops in tho settlements to guard against
any gulden outbreak of the friendly Indi
ans. Two men have recently been killed
within fourteen miles of the capital of the
lerntory by band of marnudurs, who
have only been driven out within the last
few days.
It eecm to me that the present condi
tion of things impogeg ution you thn neces
sity of recognizing the service of the Vol
unteers ol the two territories now in the
field; and of your doing every tiling lo fa
cilitate their operations. Hul if vou
waste your exertions in tho fruitless t-fl irt
to induce either the authorities to withdraw
their troops, to abandon their plan of cam
paign in order lo comply wiih your requi
sitinn, or to Ineel your peculiar notions, I
warn you now, sir, that I, as tho Governor
of Wa-hinglon, will cast upon you the
wimie responsibility of any difficulties
which may arise inconsequence, and that
by my firm, steady, and energetic course.
and by determination to co-operate with
the regular service, wliRiever may bo the
provocation to the contrary, I will vindicate
tin justice of my course and maintain my
reputation as a faithful publip servant. I
warn you, sir, ihat unless your course is
changed vou will have difficulties, iu rela.
ion to which your only salvation will be
ihe firm and decided policy of tho two
I miotics, whose services you have ig
nored, wbo.e people you have calumniated,
and whose respect you have long sinco
c ased lo possess.
ion have erred in your judgment ns to
oluiiii t-rs Is ing iieed.-d al all here j and
as I hate before observed, in calling for
oi'inti-crs nt.er increasing a force deemed
by 'ii -uflici. ni. two companies, vou have
iielic I,, d tlie jus ice nud necessity of my
act- in " rgunizing the people of the Tern
lory as its t'Xi'cuiite.
I have thus, practically, vour own en
dorsement that I have judged rightly when
you were in error, and my judgment hav
ing thus been sanctioned in culling out
Volunteers, I prefer to rely upon It in the
matter, both of the numbers required and
the organization which will give them the
most efficiency.
Can you presume, sir, to be able to cor
rect your opinions by n hnsly visit to ihe
Sound of a few days I and Ho voU exttcct.
after having taken my deliberate course.
that I shall change my plans on a simple
intimation from you, without even a con
ference between us Were you desirous,
sir, to hurmomze tha elements of strengtl
on ihe Sound, you would havo seen that it
was your duty, at least, to have informed
me of your presence, and to have invited
me fo a conference. There was ample timo
for it, for it was less difficult for me to
reach yon, on receiving riot ice, than Col
oiiel Casey, and I havo shown throughout
the most noxious desiro to co-operate with
ihe regular service.
Whilst in tho country in the lull and
winter vou complained that the authorities
of the two Territories did not communicate
with you. Why did you not inform me of
vnnr presence in the sound on your arrival
at Sieilacoom f I learned of your proba
ble arrival by simply learning, on Satur
day morning, by my express, of your linv.
ing left Vancouver t nud 1 immediately
dispatched the chief of my stuff to wait up
on you with a letter But you were gone;
and whether yoll did not know the courte
sy due to tho civil authorities of tho Terri
tory, who had taken tlie proper course lo
place themselves in relations with you, or
w liether you were unwilling to meet n man
whose safe y you had criminally neglected,
and whose general views you had peen
compelled to adopt, is a mutter entirely
immaterial to me. 1 enclose a copy of the
hater trnnsmit'ed by the bauds of Adjt.
('en Tilton, the Surveyor-General of the
Territory of Washington.
After tlied-f at of the Indians in tho
Wnlla-Walla Valley, they wore complete.
Iv cowed, and for weeks spies only crossed
the Siiuko river to examine thn country ;
gradually bi coming emboldened, they 'nave
since come over in small parties and got
some unull successes in runmng off horses,
and now they huve more than recovered
from the prestige ot tlmt defeat. Thov
are making aUucks on the whole lino of
comtminickiion, and are more firm and urn
led, i-.iore hopeful and have more strength
'.'nan when tho war commenced.
What, sir, would have been the effect if
(jov. Curry had not made the movement
which you condemn, and my party, with
the friendly Nez Perces, bad been cut off?
Sir, there would have been a hurricsne of
,r between ihe IWudc and Hitter Root,
three thousand warriors would now
in arms. Kverv tribe would have joined.
tielliditig ihe Snakes, and the spirit of
cistilitv would have spread east of the
l.itl. i Knot lo the Upper Ten d Oreilles.
h !i,.vi-, pir, 1 would have forced my
Ha. 1 1, mil I'll ,f five or til hnndred hostile
Indians in the Walla-Willa Valley with
fifty odd whito men nnd one hundred nn f
fifiy Nei Perces. Would you huve in.
peeled it f Could tho country e.rei It I
And whnl was the duty of ill-wo hating
fore- at their command? (Jov. Curry
sent his Volunteers and deputed the en
emy. You dii-bimd d llm company ef
Washington Territory Volunteers ruined
expressly to be sent to my relief.
I have reiioried your refusal to send ni
succor lollie Department nf War, and have
git en some of ihe circumstances attending
that ,efii il. The cmpsey was under the
command of Capi. Wni. McKay, lit fore
your arrival, I here was a )dctige that it
should bo mustered into I ho r.gular ser.
vice and sent to my a-s;tance. M.ij. li.iini a
informs mo that he did everything iu h'
power lo induce yon lo send it on. Wm.
McKay informs me that he called on you
personally, and il.ut you would do nothing.
nm informed thai your own Aidc-ib.
camp, l.leui. Arnold, endeavored to gi t
you to change yiur determination. What
was your reply f (.ov. rvevrns can lake
enre of himself." (Jov. Stevens will go
town I lies Missouri." ( lor. Stevens will
get aid from (Jen, ll.irney." If (!ov. Sie.
vein wants aid lie will send Tor it. ihcs
were your answers, according to the chang
ing humor of thn moment.
And now, sir, in new of vour assertion
that you disbanded no troops rui.rd fr my
relief, and that my commutiii aiion gave
you tlie first intelligence that any were
raised for tlmt purpose, I would commend
the chalice to your own lips, "that I trust
you will be governed" heieufter "by the
tru ll and tho truth only. ' ,
I am, sir, very respictlully,
Your obedient servant,
ISU0 I. STEVKXS.
Governor Territory of Washington.
LETTER MOM 00 V. STEVENS TO COL. CASEY.
l.'ficutive Office, 7Vr. llWi.,
Olympia, March 10, 1850
s
-1EUT. l Ol. SILAS LA SET,
Oth Iufl y, Com'g Puget Sound Dist.,
Fort Steilscoom, W.T.r
Sir I Lava received your b iter of the
l."th inst., advising me of the accession to
your command of two companies of regu
lars, and requesting me to issue my procla
mation calling into the service of the Uni
ted States two companies of Volunteers, to
serve on fool for the period of four months,
unless sooner discharged. These compa.
nies you wish to bo mustered into the aer.
vice at Fort Stcitacootn.
You also express the opinion tha' if this
requisition bo complied with, that you will
hnvo a sufficient number of Ironpa to pro.
led this frontier without tho niu of those
now in the service of ihe Territory.
I am also advised that you hnve been an
thorized to mnko this requisition for troops
by the General commanding tho Depart
ment of tho Pacific.
You havo been informed ly me, not sly
of tho Volunteer force which has been
called out to protect the settlement oud to
wage wnr upon the Indians, hut of Ihe
plan nf campaign which I have adopted, of
the potilion which ihcso troops occupy, and
of the blows already struck by them against
the enemy.
1 take it lor granted that fins informa
tion husb -en communicated to Gen. Wool,
nnd has been considered by him iu his offl
cial action.
In the two visits which t have mnde lo
Steihicoom to confer with vou, one of them
made at great personal inconvenience, I
have waived ouipietto in my anxious do.
sire to co operate with the regular service.
I have communicated unreservedly my
plans and views, and have endeavored, so
far ns my spere was concerned, to conduct
affairs in a wsy to insure the whole force
operating as a unit, in the prosecution of
tha War.
I am happy lo say, that in our several
interviews and communications, you have
met mo in the samo spirit of co-operation
10 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 moke thctn an efficient ea'
ment in the general combination.
Now your requisition on mo to iesue my
proclamation to call into the United States'
servico two companies of Volunteers, in
connection with tho expression of your
opinion, that if the call bo complied with,
the service of the troop now in die Terri
tory may be dispensed with, Is in fact a call
upon me to withdraw all thn troops now iu
the field with their sixty to eighly days
provisions, to abandon the block houses, to
leave the settlements both North nnd South
open to tho attacks of tho marauding Indi
ans, nnd nt Ihe very moment whin our
troops were prepared lo strike a, nnd per
haps the, decisive blow, lo abandon tho,
campaign nnd re-organize anew.
Are you uwnre that in the patriotic re.
sponso of tho citizens of the Territory to
the call ot ihe executive, over one-half of
our alile-boditd men aro bearing arms J
I hat tho people nre almost entirely 1 v isitif-
in block-houses I And llist it is entirely
beyond thn ability of our citizens to organ
ize an additional company of even fifty
men I
The two companies you call for can there
fore not be ruised, except by ilia withdrawal
6f the troop and abandoning Ihe campaign
at the very momont the prospects are flat
tering to end the war.
rorihcse reasons alone it will be intjs.
sible to comply with your requisition. Nor
can I suppose that, in making the requisi
tion, eithrr Major General ool or your.
self believed for a moment that the requi
sition would bo seriously entertained by m.
But I nm of opinion, that were the requi
sition complied with, your force would not
be adequate to the protection of the fron
tier and tlie settlement. Having the high
est respect for your rpiuion, knowing bow
conscientiously and carefully Vou approach
any field of labor, and how thoroughly
you investigate it and reach your conclu
sions, I am constrained lo express my judg
ment l hat you would soon be obliged to call
(Conclude'? On Furb I'apr.)