Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/21



INDIAN WAR IN WASHINGTON 13

Governor Stevens organized, equipped and sent out a strong force under Lieutenant Colonel B. F. Shaw in June, 1856. The men were mounted, and they crossed the Cascade Moun- tains by the Nachess Pass. They went on to Walla Walla without event of especial character. There they met a con- siderable number of Nez Perces, who had taken no part in the war. July llth the Indians had a talk with Col. Shaw, and three days later he had another with Indians of the same tribe at Lapwai. These talks by nearly a score of different Indians head-men or chiefs were generally of friendly and pacific character, and gave assurance that as far as they were con- cerned there would be no war. Some Indians had been troublesome in eastern Oregon. Learning that they were at Grand Ronde, Col. Shaw with one hundred and ninety men went there, and had a fight with them on the 17th of July. Five of his men were killed and five wounded. He reported forty Indians killed ; also, as captured two hundred horses and a large quantity of provisions, most of which were destroyed. This expedition concluded the military operations of Wash- ington Territory. The inhabited portions of the Territory were then free from war dangers, and the uninhabited part the eastern portion was left to the regular army to care for. Ordinarily the military operations of a State or Territory are confined to the limits of the State, but during this war such lines and courses of proceeding were disregarded. Enlist- ments and purchases were made in one for the other, and the enemy were struck by Washingtonians and Oregonians wher- ever found without regard to boundaries. The only objection to this came from the U. S. General commanding the depart- ment, and his objections were disregarded by all.

The regulars, or U. S. soldiers, made their chief effort in 1856 in the Columbia River District, including Yakima and to the north. Beginning in April, and extending over a period of four months, Col. Wright marched hundreds of miles there, having under him eleven companies of regulars, or about seven hundred men. Those next in rank were Lieut. Col. E. J. Steptoe and Major R. S. Garnett, to whom were entrusted on