Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-08-11
last KNOWN SURVIVOR
Of INDIAN WAR DEAD
". Martin, Uncle of Il. @. Martin
MED Here Observation-Disclosures of
Oregon Volunteers and Par
ticipated in Famous Battle
of the Walla Walla

The last survivor of the Indian
var of the fifties, so far as can be
ascertained, passed away in Pullman
,est Tuesday when T. w. Martin,
uncle of T. G. Martin, the Implement
man. died at the home of his nephew
from old age, after having lived a
useful and patriotic life of 83 years,
two months and 10 days. The body
vac taken overland to Washtucna,
The former home of Mr.. Martin,
Wednesday, and buried there after
funeral service in which old friends
for miles about participated. Mr..
Martin had resided in Pullman for
the past six years, but had become
80 enfeebled by his heavy burden of
Years that he remained constantly at
home, the big majority of Pullm an
people thus being denied the privi-
lege of cultivating the acquaintance
and friendship of man who en-
dured untold hardships and faced the
deadly fire of the Indians that his
fellow countrymen might make use
Of the hundreds of thousands of acres
Of rich farming land which the red
skins defended with their lives.
At the age of 10 years Mr. Martin
left Illinois and came west, engaging
in mining in California and later go
ing to Oregon. Three years later Mr..
Martin answered the call of Governor
Curry of Oregon for volunteers to as
sist in quieting the Indians in var
iOus parts of Washington and was a
member of command of 500 men
under Lieutenant Colonel j. K.
Kelly, known as the Oregon Volun-
teers. Forces of regular soldiers had
been in the field for some time, but
their operations were at best half
hearted and the task assigned to the
4 Oregon patriots was a hard one in
deed The command left The Dalles,
Oregon, late in November, 1855,
reaching Wallula on December 2,
where they found the fort destroyed
4 and the Indians scattered
Fl The command proceeded up the
L Walla Walla river to the Touchet,
and on december was met by Peu-
peumoxmox, the traitorous Walla
s. Walla chieftain himself. The Indian
chief carried flag of truce and
Il claimed that his followers desired
Il peace, stating that he would return
70 the white soldiers the following
Il uay with proposal for treaty.
Il questioning the sincerity of the ia
nous chief, who was known as the
yellow Serpent" he was required to
remain with the white conn and.
Under pretext that he desired to COM
municate with his command to pre-
Il pare Tor peace, the Indian chieftain
really sent word to clear the camp,
"nich was located in a deep revine,
VI women and children, and prepare
" 90 battle with the white soldiers.
AFTER parley which lasted two days,
'ne oregon Volunteers moved toward
"nltman mission, where they expect
Il GU 10 make winter camp.
soon after crossing the Touchet
rVer' however, the battle of the
"aiia Walla, which has gone down
~ history as one of the fiercest of
'ue indian encounters, commenced,
aging all the way up the Walla
"@ha valley until Decem Der 10,
"nen the Indians were dispersed.
During the four days battle Chief
1eupeumoxmox, who had been kept a
prisoner under guard, was massacred
" the volunteers, removing one of
Ie most traitorous and cunning
.uiettalns of that day. The volun-
gers had secured an old howitzer
0n the abandoned and wrecked
.V'' at Wallula, and the fourth time
.' piece was discharged it explod-
Aiiing Mr.. Martins captain, A.
= wilson, and several others. The
0eon Volunteers were greatly out
oered in the long running fight,
4u their bravery is still made the
'Olect of commendation.
Inc winter of 1856 was a hard
S4e and Mr.. Martin told tales al
os' unbelievable of hardship and
'ering while the volunteers were
uped on Snake river, with scant
sS,er'ng to protect them from the
ing SHOWS and 20-below-zero
,a'ner' and nothing but wild on
tines.