The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-29


after two months, the hanging Of two men, one OF
whom committed the act he died for twelve hours be-
fore the organization OF the committee. and the
Punishment Of about dozen wretches, INDECENT and
without friends that demonstration of moral force,
at any mo nent, would have blosted out all thei>
power OF doing HARM II the work OF purh cation is
TO proceed at this rate it will take years to have 1t
concluded. Other causes, political and selfish, lie
behind which are no se:rets here, and are known
far and near by all possessed of the siightesr
gsmmering OF sagacity.
Our Washington Territory Correspondence.
STEILAcooh, W. T., June Is, 1855.
Sketch If the Indian Wars OF Oregon and Wdsh-
imgton Territories The Charge Of Matured
Indian Organisation Retuted- Distinct Causes
srhich Led to the Indian Outbreaks an both Terri
tories The Campaign by the Regular Troops
The War on the So4nd-7Ye Difficulties on
Rogue Riru-Ntwspaper EraggerGtons-Gene-
raj Wool and General Stere.s's Proceedings,
&c &c.
A shor, accoun; Of the origin and progress Of the
Indian wars Of Washington and Oregon Territories
may be of interest to your readers, particularly a.
they are likely to make heavy draw upon the sub
treasury, and the people should undoubtedly know
why and to what purpose their money is expended
AZ much feeling and dissenton has existed through
out the country since the commencement Of the L.
dian difficulties, the lost perverted and exaggerated
views have found their way 70 your side Of the con
tinent through The newspaper organs OF the different
parties and through letters from interested indivi
duals. disnterested participation in the difficu-'
ties, whose duty il has been TO obey and fight.
without caring who was right and who was
wrong, and whether the cause was Just I'M.
just, / am perhaps able 20 give as dsinter-
es.ed view of the difficulties you viii be able to
get from any source, regretting that am nor fami
liar with all the details, though my judgment in
the main feel assured is correct.
From the fact that difficulties commenced simul
taneouslv in Southern Oregon and Northern Wash
ingtsn il has been N aintained that they were con
sequences Of matured organization of all the In
dian tribes throughout the two Territories. and thi
has even been asserted in Congress From the
knowledge OF the Indian character that possess, J
know such a combination 10 be as impossible IL il
absurd and the most that he said is that Of sin
gular coincidence. The coincidence ceases TO BE-
remarkable, however, when al the facts are known.
There are in reality two wars existing, that in
southern Oregon having its immediate origin in
rect aggressions OF the whites Of the most forbie.
ding character. and that in Washington having it,
immediate origin in direct aggressons of the
Yokamah Indians consisted on miners travelling
through their country 10 Fort Colvlle. The war on
Puget Sound mas its origin in the Yokamah country
and is an offspring Of that difficulty But other in
fuences operated 10 bring these calamities on the
people The expenses Of the Rogue River wa in
1853 we're paid in the early part Of last year. the
depressing effect Of The war had passed away, and
the influx Of this money into the country prepared
the public mind TO consider another war rather az
blessing than a calamity. Hence no difficulties
could be settled With Indians without a war. This
was particularly the case in Southern Oregon, where
most of the money was discussed. Possessing Q
mining population and comparatively free settl"-s,
a large proportion renegades who hover on the line
# California and Oregon, fleeing from justice alter
nately from 81 Ie TO the other, personal difficulty
was frequent between individuals, in by far the gsea
est number OF cases having their origin in the NAL
treatment OF the Indian wife or daughter which has
ever been the case in this country where white
females are rare. These difficulties frequently
brought on the death Of party or the other. II
the red man fell Justice overlook the offender
WHO was perhaps, the original aggressor, unless
the red mans friends took the case into their own
hands. But, unfortunately, the Indian is satisfied
with blood, whether innocent or guilty, and some
inn,.ent and unofendng person frequently paid The
penalty. Whenever white man fell, whether righ'
or wrong, there was always great hue and cry for
vengeance, and deemed Just cause Of war. The
Oregon papers Of the spring and summer Of 1856
teemed with infammatory letters and communica.
TONS and even editorials, urging the people TO rise
and exteminate the Indians. Many OF these com
munications were written by individuals who are
known TO have reaped largely from the war OF
so. These occurrences were 20 numerous and
repeated during the summer Of 1866, that Major
Iupton had sufficient confidence TO suppose that his
acts would he received with favor, and organized
party secretly TO attack a body OF Indians
belonging 10 old Jake's band, who had
gone up TO Butte creek, on Rogue river, for provi.
sions A. II happened, the men Of the party had re
turned 10 the reservation near Fort Lane, in obed
ence to orders, and Lupton found only the old men,
women and children in the camp on the morning OF
the 9Th Of October. Twenty seven were killed.
among all of Which there were but three young men
the remainder were old men, women and children.
In this AFFAIR not a gun was fired by the Indians;
Lupton, however, was MORALLY wounded as he ran
up TO despatch wounded Indian, who received him
with an arrow. On the morning Of the 9TH folloE
ing, few Indians left the reservation at Fort Lane
and commenced those acts Of barbarty that are 20
prominently set forth in justification of the war.
One half Of the Indians the reservation remained
there, and claimed the protection Of the whites.
About sixty left and joined by about Is more from
Lower Rogue river, arrayed themselves against the
whites The willingness Of the whites 10 90 to war
il proof positive that they cared more for the pay
they expected from the public Golfers for their ser
vices and the manner In which they fought confirms
that they cared more to proong the war than 20 end
n: for on the 3lst Of November four hundred
wbitpa including volunteers and regular troopa At
tackled about sevsnty Indians, and after two DAYS
fighting hauled OF with ten killed and twenty
wounded, without any positive evidence that sin.
the troops would haze ensured the complete over
throw Of the Indians I was present in this affair
and know these facts 70 be When left tina, re-
zion there were near thousand men in the field
against this handful of Indians.
Simultaneous with this outbreak, the head chief
Of the Yskamahs, Ksmiakin, had matured his
plaps and the war cemneuced In the north. Ks-