, 1857-02-27

, about the whites, and in whom the white
4 most trusted There were but two skele
ton companies of regular troops for its de
fence, not exceeding eighty men. Nearly
all the able-boded men of this small force
had marched toward the Yakima, undcl
Capt. Maloncy. 1t was time for the citi
zens TO shonlcr their guns and prevent the
repetition Of such horrible atrocities -
Companies were raised and were mustered
into the service Of the United States by the
military officer in command on the Sound
SO threatening and imminent was dan
ger that Lieut.. Nugcnt, upon whom the
command had dcyo!vcd in consequence o
the absence Of Capt. Maloney, called ou
on the spur of the moment company o
5 volunteers, and mustered them into The
service of the United States, and subse
quently reported the fact to Gov. Masor
in these words: ..t
" / have the honor to state that | have
called upon the citizens Of Pierce county
for one company Of volunteers to act againt
the indians on White river and vicinity
who have been numbering our citizens aud
attacked the company of Rangers under
Capt Eaton in the service of the United
States.
"This call has bcen promptly responded
to, and company of forty are now ready
to take the field under the command OF
Capt. Wallace, who reports to you for
orders"
Capt. Keyes, who assumed command of
the district on the Goth of November, in
letters to Gov. Mason, acknowledged the
necessity of calling out volunteers, and
their efficient services, in these words
Their services referring to the volnn-
teers, " being absolutely required, as
sumed the responsibility of giving them Or
dcrs and furnishing them with supplies nm
til definite Instructions could be sent me
from my superior officers No sdch instruc-
tioH have been received, and l am there
fore obliged TO inform you that as matters
now stand | cannot continue my connec-
ton with the volunteers after the expira-
ticn of the first three months of their Ser
vice. The w. Il. Volunteers have Grst.
rate capacity for service, and if they should
be retained on duty, it will afford me great
pleasure to act in concert with them"
= = "In case of necessity
| wish you 10 understand that will share
the last thing | have with the Volunteers"
At the breaking out of the war all the
regular officers on duty on the Sound and
Columbia river, without, am well assured,
a single exception, agreed in Judgment with
the authorities and the citizens Of the two
Territories, as to the emergency and the
measures required to meet it. 1t was not
till new men, totally unacquainted with the
country and the Indians, came upon the
stage, that the discovery was made that
there was nO-war, and the war had been
J got up for the purposes of speculation.
! In regard to my being in favor Of eXter-
minatng the Indians, my acts will speak
for me, 1t is well known throughout both
territories, and is conceded believe by ev-
cry officer of hcregulhr service on duty
in the two territories, that as Superinten-
dent of Indian Affairs, i have exerted ev-
cry energy of my being to protect the In
dians, and have succeeded 10 accomplishing
the duty. 40 81 ri--' --s'
When the murders and massacres oc-
Cured in the Sonnd country, there was of
course universal alarm Yet for six months
not an Indian was killed or moested except
in battle--this too in community living
in the midst Of treble the number of In
dians, the fealty of half of whom was for
months doubtful The exertonsrof acting
Governor, Mason and the Indian officers
were untiripg to quiet the Indians and pre-
/ vent the spread Of disaiiection. On my
return at the end of three months, was
amazed at the forbearance of the people and
at the pFOmptitude which they had shown
both in taking arms to fight the hostiles,
and in aiding the Indian authorities TO pro-
tect and quiet the Indians. The whole
people of the Sound were then living in
lblock-houscs, except those in some three of
the principal towns on the shores of the
Sound. II was question with many as to
whether, If they remained in the Territory,
they would not'starve Thank God Sir,
4 they oil determined to stay and fight it
out, The whole Territory was block kAoused.
Il Wherever there were three or four families,
they built aud occupied a block-louse, and
4 with arms in their hands they cultivated
their farms. One halfaof'i the able-bodied
men took the field, and for six months
1 the terms of the three-montbs men having
i expired-a vigorous campaign, in conjune-
tion with the regular troops, was made in
the rainy season into the enemy's country ;
the Indians were beaten in two battles and
many skirmishes, and finally two-thirds ol
, the Indians in arms unconditonally surren
dereI. aud the rest were driven over the
: mountaiGs, Through the deep snow.
Daring this whole war, not an Indian
has been killed or maltreaied in any Vol
nnteer camp consisting of troops belonging
to the Territory of Washington. or many
hundred Indians who have unconditionally
) surrendered to the volunteers, two Indian.
have been only executed, and these only il
consequence OF the. sentence of military
court, composed in one case of a mixeC
commission Of regular and volunteer off