The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-24

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THE CAUSES AND PROGRESS OF THE INDIAN
WAR NOW RAGING In THE TERRITORIES OF
OREGON AND WASHINGTON.
WAsHnsroS CnY, May H. 1856.
DEAR SIR Learning that you have just arrived from
Oregon where you have been engaged several years as
surveyor of government lands will be much obliged
you for any information you may have communicate
to the numbers of the hostile Indians now operating
against the settlements in that Territory their efficiency
and capacity for carrying the war also their
in horses and cattle.
shall also be thankful you to give me your opinion
a. to the causes Of the and whether the settlers
voked by any act of theirs Please add any other in
formation you may think interesting
Respectfully, yours very truly,
E. YULEE
Msjor A. A. ARMSTRONG; now at Washington City.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1856
e. PHLes Esq, Washington, ID. O.:
SIN As you have been pleased to inquire of me for
and impartial statement of the and progress Of
the Indian being carried in the Territories of
Oregon and Washington, will sndeavor TO do in a.
faithful and impartial my impressions from
personal observation and active participation up
very recent date in the stirring events of that war will
permit
am not as you are aware citizen of Oregon and this
fact presume will deeply impress you with the i'm
partialiy of my statements
You ask the causes of the They to be
traced think, to the bloodthrsty disposition of the
savage. The Indians Of Oregon and Washington Terri
have entertained hostile feelings since the
der of Whitman in ls47. There at that time
paratvely few settlers in Oregon consequently, the
thors of this foul murder went unpunishsd The Wala
Wala and Cayuse Indians have always looked upon the
whites inferior of people, calling them squdWs
towards. The treaty made with them terms die
tated by themselves and hence they have regarded the
annaities paid them by government rather acknow
edgment of their superior bravery and prowess than the
fulflment Of treaty stpulaons part Emigrants
passing through the Walla- Walla valley have generally
been annoyed and frequently deprecated upon In 1854
company Of them including the Ward family, (twenty
six in NUMBER all, with the exception of two
by the Snakes Shoshone renegades of the
Wala- Wala and Cayuse tribes William, aged It, the
elder of the who escaped pierced with
rows and left upon the field by the Indians supposed to
be dead He crawled into Fort Boise his hands and
knees still sticking in his side after expo-
of Eve days and nights. His brother Newton aged
IA shot through side he also supposed be
dead but having secreed himself in the brush four
days after found by party of emigrants The
and children of this party tortured, and finally
butehered in a barbarous and cruel When the
news this outrage reached the Daes there but
small force of regulars there and late in the
attempt the punishment of the murderers Major Haler
however, early in the spring, proceeded to the Snake
country aud arrested few of them he hung four and
shot three 1.-THE only punishment inflicted for the horrible
massacre Of twentyour Of emigrants) and, after a
long and tedious march, returned the Daes about the
lst Of October, 1856
About the Of June 1856 Governor Stevens of Wash
ngton Territory Joel Palmer superintendent Nathan Oh
ney and Mr. Bolen the two latter Indian agents being
appointed make treaty with the various tribes of In
dams on the Upper Columbia viz: Yakimas Cayuses
Wala- alias Pelouses Deshutes and Columbus also
Nez Percs and Blacklist the Ghe Kamiakin of the
Yakimas tribe, Pee-Pee Mox-mox Of the WaIlas and
Stock Whty Of the Deshutes principal chiefs of all the
various tribes the Columbia river with other
chiefs Of less note-attended the great council held
Whitmans old mission. By this treaty, with which the
Indians seemed to be perfectly satisfied, they ren-
pushed q Large portion of their territory evincing,
nevertheless insulting and treacherous disposition
refusing to be fed government provisions, saying,
| !" we rich, feed ourselves, will have
Of the Bosoas muc-ca-muck meaning white mems
provisions but feed the Bostons aI Americans
are called Bosons BY the Indans) They accordingly
prepared bountu dinner and invited Gov Stevens the
three agents and all their guard to dine with them the
time offering many presents expressing great friend
ship and very lavish Of their praises Of the
Bostons"-or, in their Language, white mans
t Bot the treacherous scoundrelsi they indeed pre-
pared their great dinner but had IL poisoned friendly
French hafbreed squaw cognzant Of the dabolical fact
informed Gov Stevens and party Of il They consequently
without assigning any for doing, declined the
honor Of dining with them They had not then implicit
fth in the squaws statement but Indian chief after
wards corroborated IL and accused Chief Kamakin the
author Of the deed Shortly after this the gold mines Of
Bend D0rieller river Fort ColviIe discovered
and although Ave hundred miles from the settlements
Oregon Washington the inhabitants commenced going
i in large numbers in search Of gold
Kamakin, chief Of the Yakimas Ia powerful tribe
the north side Of the Columbia forbade any white
travelling through although the trail that portion
he had sold By treaty in the June previous Information
Of this being received At Fort Daes (aso that
4 whites had been murdered through the Indian agent
Belen left the settlements about the 18th September 1855
On visit Chief Kamakin, distance Of seyenty-fv,
miles learn the truth and Of these outrages
Having great confidence in the friendship Of the Indians h
refused escort and alone with the intention Of
turning in FIVE days but not appearing at the apponed
time Agent oiney despatched faithful Indian with in
suctons proceed secretly and without creating susp
ciou Chief Kamiakns house and ascertain the fate
Agent BoIen He returned in few days with the nforms
ton that Boen head had been severed from his body
was sticking upon pole
Major Haer, To his duty, with his faithful lit
band Of regulars had but Just returned from his expe
dition among the Snake Indiana He Immediately started
with hundred and two men, for the Indian country
the head Of the Yaama river where Boen bad been slain
IL lad had