The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

letter, and considered his command in
peril. But Colonel Casey, not knowing
what instructions Captain Pickett alluded
to, and the specific instructions OF the gen.
eral for the officer in charge OF the Massa-
chusetts to be instructed Ito furnish the
force and cooperate" but not the garrison
at Fort Sseilacoom confounded nlm. he,
therefore. referred to General Harvey for
orders, and in his letter, dated July 81,
writes: Not having been informed OF the
tenor of Captain PiIkett's instructions,
could not. of course, advise him with re-
gard to them"
Captain Casey then directed Major Hal
Ter to embark his company at daylight on
board the Massachusetts and not delay for
the monthly inspection. At Mr.. Camp
bells request for a personal guard, he
caused Lieutenant Arthur Schaaf, Fourth
infantry, and twenty men OF his garrison
TO be detailed and directed to proceed with
Major Haller's .company on the Massachu-
sets for Semiahmoo. At the last moment
1t was found the machinery was in want
OF repairs. and the Massachusetts did not
get away until later, August l.
Colonel Casey instructed Major Halter
orally to obey literally the Instructions
from general headquarters in regard to
the Massachusetts, ana wished him to
hasten to San Juan harbor and commune
cate with Captain Pickett, and should the
captain need reinforcements to land all
the soldiers and, being senior officer, as
sumo command and order the Massachu-
sets to return to Steilacoom with a full
report of the situation and prospects. If
ali was serene at San Juan to proceed to
Semiahmoo quietly, without abiding to
the scare at Fort Steilacoom.
He authorized Major Halter to say to
Captain Pickett that he had not been fur
n " nf Qu, "a
special instructions to the captains nor
seen them. He was therefore at loss
how to act; but, if the captain would, in
confidence, inform Major Halter of the
contents of those instructions, he Colonel
Casey would be responsible to the captain
and to General Harvey for any conse-
quences that might ensue from such dis
closure.
Colonel Casey had seen an editorial
notice in the New Orleans Picayune of a
decisive victory gained by the French over
the Austrian army at Solferino, but did
not see any detailed account of the action.
He requested Major Halter to procure
copy OF any newspaper describing the bat
tie, If to be found in Port Townsend or
among the British officers and forward to
him. The Massachusetts, slow coach"
at her best, did not reach San Juan until
the afternoon of August 2. The Tribune
held the harbor, her drums beat to arms as
the Massachusetts, approached, and ran
out her iarge-bore cannon ready for action.
The Quaker-looking man-of-war Massa-
chusetts bespoke her peaceful disposition.
and the Tribune soon after ''smoothed her
ruffied 'front.'"
Toward day dawn her majesty's steamer
Plumper arrived in the harDor and dropped
anchor very near shore. She then lowered
her boats and armed men were filing into
them when Major Halter was reused from
he hon
that these men would be landed on shore
and war begun. The boats, however,
rowed to the Tribune, which next morn
ing was literally alive with sappers, miners
and marines beside the crew of sailors.
Captain Pickett's adjutant, Lieutenant
Forsyth (now colonel of Seventh United
States cavalry, brevet brigadier general
and hero of the gallant struggle with the
despairing Indians at Wounded Knee
Creek. South Dakota) called to say Cap
tain Pickett was not well enough to call in
person, but wished to see Major Halter
before being interviewed by the British
naval officers. The major fastened to
shore to pay his respects to the command
ing officer and gather the particulars since
his landing.
The captain admitted that his occupa-
ton of the island might lead to serious
consequences, but without manifesting
any regret. He mentioned that at 2
O'Clock p. m. Captains Horribly, Provost
and Richards, of her maiesty's navy,
would meet him on shore to confer, and,
If possible, agree upon some satisfactory
course; that they wished to place on the
island an equal number to his of English
soldiers until the boundary line would be
determined by the commissioners; that
he would not consent to such an arrange
ment, and if they attempted to land he
would fire on them, ETC. Major Halter in
uh af hpr ms rpti
tify his firing upon a force with whom the
United States government was at peace,
and especially since the government had
recognized the island to be within the
fairly disputed limits" and had recon-
mended "a conciliatory and moderate
course on both Sides" Haller assured
Pickett that he would be justified in con-
ceding to the English such moderate re-
quest. And, further, Pickett was re-
minded that officers were personally re-
sponslble for any illegal acts committed
by them. The United States laws
and army regulations everywhere en-
Joined obedience of officers and soldiers to
lawful orders only. The captain appre-
ciated the grave responsibility, but de-
cided to obey his orders.
In reply to Colonel Casey's request,
through Major Halter. to be Informed of
the tenor of his department instructions,
he presented copy of his "Orders No. l."
OF July q. remarking that this embraced
the substance of it. At the close of this
interview Pickett expressed the wish tn at
Halter should not let the English officers
know his (Haller's) views, or that they
differed from his own.
Captain Pickett was informed that Major
Haller's instructions were, in case he re-
CURED reinforcements, to land ell his force
from the Massachusetts,. He replied that
his very small force was his greatest Sc
curity-the disparity IN his number COM
pared with theirs, more than the principle
involved, caused the English officers to
hesitate. All the troops at General
Harney's disposal, he knew, would be in
adequate to prevent them from landing on
San Juan. His company was too small
for the duty demanded of the men, who
were taxed to the utmost of endurance;
and 1t would relieve them somewhat if
Lieutenant Schaai's party would join: but
II the whole or none must land, he would
not make the request. Major Halter an
nounced that he would sail at o'clock p.
m. for Semiahmoo.
This morning Captain Richards, her ma
visited Major Halter at Fort Towns
end, called on board the Massa-
ehusetts to renew old acquaint-
anee. After pleasant chat, he expressed
the wish to call on Captain Pickett. and
asked Halter to accompany and introduce
hAiu Ills WISHES were SThIlIeu, ana, on
leaving Captain Pickett, Captain Richards
expressed sincere admiration for Pickett.
He then proposed that Major Halter
should walk with him to Mr.. Griffin's
quarters, where Lieutenant-ColonelM Moody,
royal engineers, the lieutenant governor of
British Columbia, was then on shore, and
he would present Halter to him. On the
way up Major Halter, presuming that the
English officers possessed full account of
the battle of Solferino. asked Cantain