, 1857-02-27
From the New York Tribune, Jan. 5.
Letter from GOV. Stevens Of Washington
Territory.

to be written by an old Rcsilcntcr" 0
Oregon, anf signed law and Order,
which, as It's views and statements are in
dorsed by you editorially, feel it my duty
to notice.
e This letter must have been the produc
ton Of q mad nGuGr fool because it,
statements generally are not only notori
ously false, but many of them absurd.
That the assertion that the war was gol
up for speculation is false, these plain fact,
will show. Facts which have not only
been reported on officially by the Terrific
rial officers, but by the officers Of The rcgu
lar troops. ,f... ..e..
The war both east and west of the Gas
cade mountains in the Territory of Wash.
ington was commenced by the Indians, in
violation Of the faith of treaties Just entered
into, killing men, most of them unarmed,
passing through their country. Thus, east
Of the Cascades the YakimaS Killed some
mine persons, all substantial and quiet citi-
zens, or tlIr way from the Sonud TO the
gold mi.es near Colyiie, and when their
friend and agent, Bolon, WHO was devoted
to the good Of the Yakinas, went among
them to inquire into the matter, they
treacherouSly killed and scalped him, and
his scalp was danced in the camp of the
Walla-walla chief Pec-pcu.moxmox.
7 Thercupon a requiSi,on was made upon
the military by the Governor of Washing
ton (Acting-Goy Masou--I was then at
the sources of the Missouri, making, in
connection with Superintendent Cumming,
treaty of peace and friendship between
tie Blackfeet and the Western tribcs), to
send force into the Yakima country to
demand the murderers, and in the event of
their not being given up, to punish the
tribe. But Major Haller, in command at
the Dalles, near to the scene Of murder,
aud thoroughly alive to the emergency Of
the case, taking tine by the forelock, had
already assumed the responsibility to act,
and both the requisit:on Of the Governor
aid The orders Of his superior officer com
plying herewith found him on his mar,h
to the Yakima. The tribe met him in
arms, fought him two days, and compelled
him by an overpowering force to leave the
country Maj Rains, in command of the
district, Immediately made rcquisition
uDon the Executives Of both OREGON and
Washington for troops, the regulars being
insufficient. The troons we're raised. The
regulars and volunteers, acting in concert,
moved into the Yakima, nearly one thou
sand strong. ana drove the Indians across
the Columbia. Thus the war commenced
The territorial troops were raised in conse-
quencc Of the military olicera in charge Of
the district, and though the OREGON yolun-
tecrs were not mustered into the regular
service, they acted entirely in concert with
| it throughout the Yakima expedition.
/ And here, as your correspondent has re-
| ferred to the late Superintendent of Indian
Affairs of Oregon, Gen. Palmer whom
knew well. and believe to be faithful and
devoted officer, | will state that no man
urged more streniousIy than he upon the
Governor of Oregon the sending out Il
large number Of Territorial troops, much
exceeding the requisition Of Major Rains,
as absolutely necessary TO prevent disaster
to our arms, and to check the spread Of
dsafIeetion among the tribes which had
not yet broken out into hostility.
SO much for the Yakima. Now for the
Sound Puget Sound. A-".i.ors
There was much excitement among the
citizens on the Sound for two or three
months before the troubles occurred. The
excitement was allayed bv the cxertions Of
the Indian authorities. aided by the great
body of the citizens Recollect, sir / am
also the Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
aud sneak of what the official records OF
nv Office show. we did not think it pos.
sijle that the Indians of the Sound would
rise They wo,e cpnerslly well treated
and in every conference bad,wtho then, by
Acting Governor Mason for tho puypose
of ascertainins whether there was any real
cause Of alarm, they profesSed great friend.
ship for the whites, and pronounced all
rhmors to the contrary lies. People who
had left their claims returned to them,
when suddenly news came of the murder, oil