The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02

Il.
from Fort wana wslia. supported ny one
company Of washington Territory in
fsnrrv for can,p duty. from Fort Bosse
They approached Harvey basin from oppc-
site directions. each command haNs -
Indian scouts. Capt. Drake having warm
Spring Indians under their war cniei
stock Whitley. and Capt currey. having
Umatillas under Chief Umafowiisn- Wheh
Cant brakes command had advanced into
the Indian country nearly 80 miles shiei
Sscck-Whitley reported camp ci ABOUT
10 hostiles hid away in the foothias o. aiae
Blue mountains and Capt Drake sent OUT
Lieut.. J. NJ. Mccall with Lieut. SIEVE
Watson and 50 men and Stock-Wnis
with his scouts 10 engage and destroy tiS
party. They approached the hostile camp
By night and attacked an daylight from
three sides The party Of 20 cavalry under
Watson. charging the camp nrst, ran into
and was surprised by an ambush party
who delivered volley from the rocks al
short range. killing Lieut. Watson ana
five of his men. besides wounding severai
others At this moment Stock-Whifiey.
with his party advancing to the attJek
fron, ancener direction. was killed hfms III
with three Of his braves and capt. Nc
Call. who had been delayed in his move
ments by attempting 10 secure large
band of Indian horses which he had cap
tured. seeing both the other parties IN
confusion gave up the attack. sounded the
recall and. withdrawing little way. sent
TO Cant Drake. 20 miles off. for reinforce
nents During the night the hoStiies made
their escape. Reveille roll call next morn
ing showed 10 dead. who were buried IN
common grave and the spot was marked
by a mound of rocks. where the giant
tread of the earthquake even snail not
disturb their slumbers.
few months later a military post was
established near the scene ana named IN
honor of the gallant Lieut. Watson. Al
the main entrance to the garrison was set
I'D beautiful cenotaph. on when was m
scribed the enduring record o. his Vaior.
While this was going on near Pauiina vail
ley on Crooked river. Capt Curfey. -w
miles away. surprised smaE party ~
hostiles in Jordan valley near Sheep ROCK
and killed four of them. from wnom MS
Umatilla scouts took the scalps. WINCH
were used by them in fantastic seaip
dances during a few nights following
When the two commands met IN Harhey
valley they followed up Chief Pauiina anu
attacked him on Murderer's creek where
Ii enters the North Fork OF John lay
While the Indians were routed and rev
of them killed, il was a bloodless battle on
our part, except the woundng OF a FEW OF
our cavalry horses. Our long range sharp
carbines kept the Indians too TAR on ior
their guns to have. effect upon our lines,
1t had been talked around our camp hres
in summer and our barracks In winter now
for three years and We were all agreed
that In no other way could the nostiies DC
subdued finally and forever. except us oc-
cupying their country at Whatever cos.
and staying there until they were subduec
by contact with our scouts and the. CIVIL
cation which would follow our troop>i. or
be exterminated by the ravaSes OF war al
close range No settlement In their couil-
try could become permanent so long as the
settlers were forced TO remove every WIZ
ter TO some distant place of safety. BY
#
summer of 1865 on the Brother Jonathan
when on his way to take command OF the
Department of the Columbia, the COM
mand fell temporarily upon the senior OH
Ger, Capt. (then colonel q. Is turIeS'
First oregon Infantry. He promptly ae-
cided to test our volunteer theory CT gong
into the heart of the Indian country ana
conquering ii by possession. During ms
brief command he sent all the arailaDie
troops OF his department TO the extreme
frontier, where they established caraLS
and rude posts. each of which soon be-
came the nucleus and base OF supply Tor
a new settlement that in little while be-
came strong enough to protect itself. For
the advance guard of settlers who pushed
out boldly and followed up our military
posts were fearless a horde OF Name
lukes Their endurance and courage mace
them reliable and valuable au1iliaries TO
the weak garrisons into which our widely
dispersed volunteer army was DIVIDED
These border men. armine and supporting
themselves at their own cost, TOOK the
place of troops, they were as useful TO
government and as thoroughly dreaded ny
the Indians a so many disciplined soldiers
and they carried with them the seeds OF
our Liberty tree. Wherever they oo-
tanned a foothold self-reiant. hardy, en-
terprising settlements sprang up at once
While as rule they were poor men. ex-
cepticns were found in the class calisd
cattle kings" who readily saw the profit
able field OF adventure opened for their
herds as the Indians gave way before
these outposts of civilization Some or
these were men who would scarcely be ex-
pected 10 brave the perils or endure hard
ships OF the pitiiess frontier. men OF am
pIe wealth and culture were sometimes
found taking their lives In their hands and
roughing it with the cowboys I'M
til they became so enamored OF
their wild, free life that they
would not give IT up. OF these hardy
pioneers a partial history is still 10 be
found in the geography of the country
they helped TO reclaim. which contains the
names of many of them who have passed
10 their reward and few who still niger
amid the scenes that witnessed their early
struggles and triumphs.
This bold move of Col. Currey. for which
he was severely censured by the war de-
partment at Washington and resigned
from the service In consequence. was IN
tact the 'OfElnnfnR OF Inc tnu OF our III
dian troubles. His camps We're eSta blished
so late in autumn that they could not then
be broken up. for the snow on the Cascade
and Blue mountains had already cut off
all communication with the settlements
before the movement was fully reported
and understood at Washington. Camps
Alvord Wright Colfax. Currey. Watson.
Bruneau, Harvey. g. r. Smith. Warner
and Three Forks of Owyhee-ten in ALI
dotted the territory usually occupied by
the Indians as their winter quarters. and
scarcely one of these camps that did net
have TO report some hostiles killed during
the ensuing winter. The success attend
ing the efforts of these small garrison
which had been so unexpectedly thrust
right into the midst of their winter homes
at once demoralized the Indians and COM
manded tho favorable notice Of Gen. Geo
Crook who following us. was charged
! with the task Of surjuing those Snakes
and piutes: and. taking up the work where
we had left off. in a short time he closed
out the whole difficult problem leaving
strong settlements clustered a bout each OF
those small military camps: and there is
today In all that region no spot known as
Indian country.
n is not death we fear but It's awful
shadow projected by ages of superstition
Death itself may be our universal friend.