Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/477

Rh Walla valley; and another at the fishery on the Yakima river near the crossing of the road from Walla Walla to Fort Steilacoom, which was via the Nachess pass; besides which an immediate post was to be erected between The Dalles and the post on the Yakima; these two being intended to prevent the Indians taking fish. So complete an occupation of the country, it was expected, would soon bring the Indians into subjection. Meanwhile, Colonel Wright remained at Vancouver long after the five companies of recruits to the first regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers had found means to reach the upper country.

A point of great importance on the Columbia river was the cascades, and one easily defended had the military authorities apprehended its significance. Indeed, after the Yakima outbreak in October, Captain Wallen of the regular army had erected midway between the upper and lower cascade settlements a blockhouse, which was occupied during the winter by a company under Lieutenant Bissell, with the purpose of protecting government stores in transit from Vancouver to the upper country. The transportation of these stores depended upon a few small steamers on the Columbia below the cascades, and two similar boats between the upper settlement and The Dalles. The portage of five miles was partly overcome by means of a wooden tramway, whose motive power was a stout mule.

Early in March, Colonel Wright commenced moving his command to The Dalles, and a large amount of army stores and baggage was temporarily detained at the cascades, offering a great temptation to the Yakimas and Klickitats, whose country lay just above. When General Wool returned to Oregon about the middle of March, only three companies of infantry remained at Vancouver, two of which he ordered to Steilacoom; and on the twenty-fourth of the month the company at the cascades was ordered away, only a detachment of eight men under Sergeant Matthew Kelly of the fourth infantry being left to