, 1856-06-20
HEAD Quarters,
Camp Montgomery, June 10, 1856.

HEAD QUARTERS,
Camp Montgomery, June 10, 1856. J
GENTLEMEN The undersigned citizens
and volunteers in the service Of the United
States, operating in the territory Of Wash
lington for the safety of the heretofore un
protected inhabitants from the merciles'
. outrnges of a savage foe, would beg YOU
attention to few facts connected with the
manner of our commander-in-chief in con
Quoting the present movements of the
troops at his disposal, riz:
LIST. We deem it our positive duty, tC
obey all orders given us by our command
er-n-chief, not inconsistent with common
sense, and which may have as an object
the vigorous prosecution of the present
Indian war-thereby causing speedy cloSC
to hostilites, and restoration Of peace tc
j our homes and 6resides.
2nd We are confident that we have
obeyed no orders, other than those calcua
ted to produce the desired object, notwith
standing we have been advised to the con
trary by the supposed legal authority o.
the territory.
3rd We know that there was necessity
for the summary steps taken by the exec
utiye, in ordering in from che outskirts o.
the settlements, certain evil disposed per
sons" living in Pierce county, and knowing
this necessity, we have recommended thai
such course be pursued before the execu
tivedid So The following are some Of the
reasons why we recommended such Q
course
\ LIST We believe that they we're the origi
nal cause Of the war on this side Of the
mountains, as they we're opposed to any
treaty being made, and after made, they
willfully misinierpreted the stipUlations.
End 1t looks suspicious for them to re
main at their homes OIL the outskirts oI
the settlements, in perfect safety, while the
American born citizens were driven TO forts
and blcck-houses, or inhumanly massacred
3rd 1t was our opinion, that they acted
as spies for the Indians, and were furnish
ing them with supplies, from the fact that
several Of the principal Indian chiefs had
been seen TO visit their houses, and fresh
Indian tracks leading to and from taeiI
houses have beer seen at various times.
4th That previous to the arrest Of thest
persons, it rarely happened that the volnn
teers could find an encampment Of the enc
my without the enemy having previous
notice of their coming, but since, they haC
been successful on various occasions, find
ing also in their encumpment subsistence
raised on the farms Of these persons.
The ordering OF these persous into thu
settlements, had good effect on both hos
tile and friendly Indians, as by it q con
siderable source Of intercourse between
each was cut of, and an example show
them that we regard all as enemies wh'
did not aid our movements, no matte
whether they were white or red.
These facts were well known to the civi
authorities Of Pierce county, for more thai
six months previous, but they took no step
to prevent the continuance, while thos
who sympathlscd with the enemy, wer
!, loud aud clamorous in their denunciation
Of the course pursued by the ex cItive.
Wttnessthe editorials Of the Laie Puge
: Sound Courier" published in Steilacoonl
: and the circulation Of set Of resolution
: purporting to emanate from the citizeus .
: Pierce county.
After the arrest of these persons by th
!. executive, efforts were made by their syn
|, pathisers to wrest them from the power G
! the military, and claim their trial btfor
: Jury of their own selection the result G
I which would have been to turn them loos
!. again on the community, and reopen intel
! course with the hostile Indians.
|. To meet this evil, the executive detel
!. mined 10 declare and enforce martial IaV
!, over the county Of Pierce, and afterward
: for the same reason over the county {
I Thurstou.
e Notwithstanding these facts, chief justC
d Lander resolved to hold term Of the di
d trict court in Pierce county, ( judge Chez
oweth's district, in defiance Of the procli
NATION Of martial law. He gives as rel
son fof his determination, that his oath {
IS Office compelled him to hold court in sal
l. district, at all hazards We differ wit
}, him on this point, and the more so, whe
! we take into consideration that a larg
4, portion of the citizens Of said county WEI
!. at the time actively engaged in the felc
r, against the Indians, and it would has
i been very difficult to collect proper gran
! jury, or satisfactory petit juries, beside
}. many Of the volunteers had 'hnportant cast
t at issue, and probdbly would have snstai
}. ed severe losses by having their cau'
q, called and they not being able to answe
III as they could not leave the field withoI
:, violating the orders Of their officers, all
t causing detriment to the service.
:. And further, most Of the principal wi
!, nesses against these persons that the go
J. eruor had arrested, were among the volu