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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:51 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:51 -0700 |
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diff --git a/39465-h/39465-h.htm b/39465-h/39465-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ca7e81 --- /dev/null +++ b/39465-h/39465-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,22569 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Eleven Years in the Rocky Mountains and Life on the Frontier, by Frances Fuller Victor</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 { + font-size: 140%; + font-weight: normal; +} + +h2 { + font-size: 120%; + font-weight: normal; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + + +.pchap { + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .25em; +} + + +.prm { + margin-right: 15%; + font-size: 90%; +} + +.right { + text-align: right; +} + + +.hang2 { + text-indent: -2em; + margin-left: 2em; +} + +.ind { + margin-left: 4em; +} + +.deepind { + margin-left: 60%; +} + +.midind { + text-indent: 50%; +} + +.smallind { + text-indent: 40%; +} + + + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.other td { + border:none; + + padding-left:1.6em; + text-indent:-1.3em; + } + +.tdcurly { + text-align: right; + width: 5%; +} + + +.tdl { + text-align: left; +} + +.tdr { + text-align: right; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 75%; text-indent: 0em; + background-color: inherit; font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; + text-decoration: none; +} /* page numbers */ + +.smpagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 83.5%; text-indent: 0em; + background-color: inherit; font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; + text-decoration: none; +} /* page numbers in small text */ + +.pgnum { + text-align: right; + float: right; + margin-right: -18%; + margin-left: 2em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.notes { + background-color: #eeeeee; + color: #000; + padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 2em; + padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 1em; + margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + + +.smallest { + font-size: 60%; +} + +.smaller { + font-size: 75%; +} + +.small { + font-size: 90%; +} + +.big { + font-size: 120%; +} + +.bigger { + font-size: 140%; +} + +.biggest { + font-size: 160%; +} + + +.caption { + text-align: center; + font-size: 80%; +} + + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin-top: 2em; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {vertical-align: baseline; + position: relative; bottom: 0.4em; + font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + h1.pg { font-size: 190%; + font-weight: bold; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Eleven Years in the Rocky Mountains and Life +on the Frontier, by Frances Fuller Victor</h1> +<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org</p> +<p>Title: Eleven Years in the Rocky Mountains and Life on the Frontier</p> +<p> Also a History of the Sioux War, and a Life of Gen. George A. Custer with Full Account of His Last Battle</p> +<p>Author: Frances Fuller Victor</p> +<p>Release Date: April 17, 2012 [eBook #39465]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELEVEN YEARS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND LIFE ON THE FRONTIER***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Cathy Maxam,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="icover" name="icover"></a> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" alt="cover" /> + +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i004" name="i004"></a> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" alt="frontispiece" /> +<p class="caption">ENGLISH TOURISTS' CAMP—DOUBTFUL FRIENDS.</p> + +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<h1>ELEVEN YEARS</h1> + +<p class="center smallest">IN THE</p> + +<p class="center bigger">ROCKY MOUNTAINS</p> + +<p class="center smallest">AND</p> + +<p class="center biggest">LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.</p> + +<p class="center small"><span class="smcap">By</span> FRANCES F. VICTOR.</p> + +<p class="center smaller"><i>ALSO</i></p> + +<p class="center bigger"><span class="smcap">A History of the Sioux War</span>,</p> + +<p class="center">AND A LIFE OF</p> + +<p class="center biggest">GEN. GEORGE A. CUSTER</p> + +<p class="center small">WITH FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS LAST BATTLE.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center small"><i>ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS AND MAPS.</i></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center smaller">PUBLISHED BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center">COLUMBIAN BOOK COMPANY,<br /> +<span class="small">HARTFORD, CONN.</span><br /> +<span class="small">1877.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p class="center smaller">COPYRIGHT BY</p> + +<p class="center smaller"><span class="smcap">Columbian Book Company</span>.</p> + +<p class="center smaller">1877.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center bigger">PART I.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ishortline.jpg" alt="shortline" /> +</div> + +<p class="center bigger">MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES</p> +<p class="center small">AND</p> +<p class="center big">FRONTIER LIFE.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p>When the author of this book has been absorbed in the +elegant narratives of Washington Irving, reading and +musing over <i>Astoria</i> and <i>Bonneville</i>, in the cozy quiet of +a New York study, no prescient motion of the mind ever +gave prophetic indication of that personal acquaintance +which has since been formed with the scenes, and even +with some of the characters which figure in the works just +referred to. Yet so have events shaped themselves that +to me Astoria is familiar ground; Forts Vancouver and +Walla-Walla pictured forever in my memory; while such +journeys as I have been enabled to make into the country +east of the last named fort, have given me a fair insight +into the characteristic features of its mountains and its +plains.</p> + +<p>To-day, a railroad traverses the level stretch between +the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains, along which, +thirty years ago, the fur-traders had worn a trail by their +annual excursions with men, pack-horses, and sometimes +wagons, destined to the Rocky Mountains. Then, they +had to guard against the attacks of the Savages; and in +this respect civilization is behind the railroad, for now, as +then, it is not safe to travel without a sufficient escort. +To-day, also, we have new Territories called by several +names cut out of the identical hunting-grounds of the fur-traders +of thirty years ago; and steamboats plying the +rivers where the mountain-men came to set their traps for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span>beaver; or cities growing up like mushrooms from a soil +made quick by gold, where the hardy mountain-hunter +pursued the buffalo herds in search of his winter's supply +of food.</p> + +<p>The wonderful romance which once gave enchantment +to stories of hardship and of daring deeds, suffered and +done in these then distant wilds, is fast being dissipated +by the rapid settlement of the new Territories, and by the +familiarity of the public mind with tales of stirring adventure +encountered in the search for glittering ores. It was, +then, not without an emotion of pleased surprise that I +first encountered in the fertile plains of Western Oregon +the subject of this biography, a man fifty-eight years of +age, of fine appearance and buoyant temper, full of anecdote, +and with a memory well stored with personal recollections +of all the men of note who have formerly visited +the old Oregon Territory, when it comprised the whole +country west of the Rocky Mountains lying north of California +and south of the forty-ninth parallel. This man is +<i>Joseph L. Meek</i>, to whose stories of mountain-life I have +listened for days together; and who, after having figured +conspicuously, and not without considerable fame, in the +early history of Oregon, still prides himself most of all on +having been a "mountain-man."</p> + +<p>It has frequently been suggested to Mr. Meek, who has +now come to be known by the familiar title of "Uncle +Joe" to all Oregon, that a history of his varied adventures +would make a readable book, and some of his neighbors +have even undertaken to become his historian, yet with so +little well-directed efforts that the task after all has fallen +to a comparative stranger. I confess to having taken hold +of it with some doubts as to my claims to the office; and +the best recommendation I can give my work is the interest +I myself felt in the subject of it; and the only apology +I can offer for anything incredible in the narrative which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> +it may contain, is that I "tell the tale as 'twas told to me," +and that I have no occasion to doubt the truth of it.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the incidents I had to record embraced a +period of a score and a half of years, and that they extended +over those years most interesting in Oregon history, +as well as of the history of the Fur Trade in the +West, I have concluded to preface Mr. Meek's adventures +with a sketch of the latter, believing that the information +thus conveyed to the reader will give an additional degree +of interest to their narration. The impression made upon +my own mind as I gained a knowledge of the facts which +I shall record in this book relating to the early occupation +of Oregon, was that they were not only profoundly romantic, +but decidedly unique.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meek was born in Washington Co., Virginia, in +1810, one year before the settlement of <i>Astoria</i>, and at a +period when Congress was much interested in the question +of our Western possessions and their boundary. "Manifest +destiny" seemed to have raised him up, together with +many others, bold, hardy, and fearless men, to become +sentinels on the outposts of civilization, securing to the +United States with comparative ease a vast extent of territory, +for which, without them, a long struggle with England +would have taken place, delaying the settlement of +the Pacific Coast for many years, if not losing it to us altogether. +It is not without a feeling of genuine self-congratulation, +that I am able to bear testimony to the services, +hitherto hardly recognized, of the "mountain-men" who +have settled in Oregon. Whenever there shall arise a +studious and faithful historian, their names shall not be +excluded from honorable mention, nor least illustrious will +appear that of Joseph L. Meek, the Rocky Mountain Hunter +and Trapper.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#PREFATORY_CHAPTER">P R E F A T O R Y + C H A P T E R.</a></p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Page.</span></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Astoria—Fort Vancouver—Its isolated Position—Precautions against Indians—The +Hudson's Bay Company—Its Policy and Intercourse with +the Indians—The Arrival of the "Brigade"—Other Yearly Arrivals—Punishment +of Indian Offenders—Indian Strategy—A Hero—The +American Fur Companies—Their Dealings with the Indians—Ashley's +Expeditions to Green River—Attack on Smith's Party—Wyeth's Expeditions—Fort +Hall—Decline of the Fur Trade—Causes of the Indians' +Hostility—Dangers attending the Trapper's Life, <span class="pgnum">23</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"> +C H A P T E R I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Early Life of Meek—He leaves Home—Enlists in a Fur Company—On +the March—A Warning Voice—Frontier Sports—Last Vestige of Civilization—On +the Plains—A first Adventure—A firm Front—A Parley—The +Summer Rendezvous—An enchanting Picture—The Free Trapper's +Indian Wife—Wild Carousals—Routine of Camp Life—Smoked +Moccasins versus Green Ones—A "Trifling Fellow," <span class="pgnum">41</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">C H A P T E R I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Camp in Motion—A Trapping Expedition—Opposition to the Hudson's +Bay Company—Beautiful Scenery—The Lost Leader Found—Rejoicings +in Camp—The "Luck" of the Trappers—Conference of +Leaders—The "Devil's Own"—Blackfoot Character—Account of the +Tribes, <span class="pgnum">57</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">C H A P T E R I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">How Beaver are Taken—Beaver Dams—Formation of Meadows—Beaver +Lodges—"Bachelors"—Trapping in Winter—"Up to Trap"—Blackfeet +on the Trail—On Guard—The Trapper's Ruse—A disappointed +Bear—A Fight with Blackfeet—"Out of Luck"—Alone in the Mountains—Splendid +Views—A Miserable Night—The last Luxury of Life—The +Awfulness of Solitude—A Singular Discovery—A Hell on Earth—A +Joyful Recognition—Hard Times in Camp—The Negro's Porcupine—Craig's +Rabbit—Deep Snows—What the Scout saw—Bighorn River—"Colter's +Hell"—An Alarm—Arrival at Wind River—Christmas, <span class="pgnum">64</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">C H A P T E R I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Removal to Powder River—A Trapper's Paradise—The Transformation +in the Wilderness—The Encampment by Night—Meek takes to Study<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span>—On +the Move—Loss of Horses and Traps—Robbed and Insulted by a +Bear—Crossing the Yellowstone—A Novel Ferriage—Annoyance from +Blackfeet—A Cache Opened—A Comrade Killed—Rude Burial Service—Return +to Rendezvous—Gay Times—The old Partners take Leave, <span class="pgnum">82</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">C H A P T E R V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Grizzly Bears—An Adventure with a Grizzly—The Three "Bares"—The +Mountain-Man's Manners—Joking the Leaders—The Irishman +and the Booshway—How Sublette climbed a Tree and escaped a Bear—Rival +Trappers—Whisky as a Strong Card—Ogden's Indian Wife—Her +Courage and Escape—Winter Quarters—Crow Horse-Thieves—An +Expedition on Foot—Night Attack on the Indian Fort—Fitzpatrick +Missing—Destitution in Camp—A "Medicine-Man" consulted—"Making +Medicine"—A Vision Obtained—Fitzpatrick Found—Death of +Smith—An Expedition on Snow-Shoes, <span class="pgnum">90</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">C H A P T E R V I</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Annoying Competition—The Chief's Daughter—Sublette Wounded—Forty +Days of Isolation—Sublette and Meek captured by Snake Indians—A +Solemn Council—Sentence of Death—Hope Deferred—A Rescue—The +"Mountain Lamb"—An Obstinate Rival—Blackfeet Marauders—Fitzpatrick's +Adventures in the Mountains—"When the Pie +was opened the Birds began to Sing"—Rough Sports—A Man on Fire—Brigades +ready for the Start—Blackfeet Caravan—Peaceful Overtures—The +Half-Breed's Revenge—A Battle—Reinforcements—Death of Sinclair—Sublette +Wounded—Greenhorns—A false Alarm—Indian Adroitness—A +Deserted Fort—Incident of the Blackfoot Woman—Murder of +a Party by Blackfeet, <span class="pgnum">103</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">C H A P T E R V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The March to the Humboldt—Scarcity of Game—Terrible Sufferings—The +Horrors of Thirst and Famine—Eating Ants, Crickets and Mules—Return +to Snake River—A lucky Discovery—A Trout Supper—The +Country of the Diggers—Some Account of Them—Anecdote of Wyeth +and Meek—Comparison of Indian Tribes—The Blackfeet—The Crows—The +Coast Tribes and the Mountain Tribes—The Columbia River +Indians—Their Habits, Customs, and Dress—Indian Commerce—The +Indians of the Plains—Their Dress, Manners, and Wealth—The Horses +of the Plains—Language—The Indian's Moral Nature—Hungry and +Hospitable Savages—A Trap set for a Rival—An Ambush—Death of +Vanderburg—Skirmish with Blackfeet—The Woman Interpreter taken +Prisoner—Bravery of her Husband—Happy Finale—Meek Rescues the +"Mountain Lamb"—Intense Cold—Threatened by Famine—The Den +of Grizzlys—Second Daniels, <span class="pgnum">119</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">C H A P T E R V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">A Visit from Blackfeet—The Green River Rendezvous—A "Powerful +Drunk"—Mad Wolf—A Friendly Warning—A Trip to the Salt Lake +Country—Meek Joins Jo. Walker's California Expedition—Instinct of +the Mule—On the Humboldt River—Massacre of Diggers at Mary's +River—Vain Explorations—Crossing the Sierra Nevadas—Hardships +and Sufferings—The Sacramento Valley—Delight of the Trappers—Meeting +with Spanish Soldiers—A Parley—Escorted to Monterey—A +Hospitable Reception—The Native Californians—Visit to the Mohave +Village—Meeting with Trapp and Jervais—Infamous Conduct at the +Moquis Village—The Return March, <span class="pgnum">141</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">C H A P T E R I X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">In the Camanche Country—A Surprise and a Rapid Movement—The +Mule Fort—A Camanche Charge—Sure Aim—Another Charge—More +Dead Indians—Woman's Weapon, the Tongue—Fearful Heat and Sufferings +from Thirst—The Escape by Night—The South Park—Death +of Guthrie—Meeting with Bonneville—Indignant Reproaches, <span class="pgnum">154</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">C H A P T E R X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Gossip at Rendezvous—Adventures in the Crow Country—Fitzpatrick +Picked by the Crows and Flies from Them—Honor among Thieves—Unfair +Treatment of Wyeth—Bonneville Snubbed at Walla-Walla—He +Rejects good Counsel—Wyeth's Threat, and its Fulfillment—Division +of Territory, <span class="pgnum">160</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">C H A P T E R X I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">In the Blackfoot Country—A Visit to Wyeth's Trappers—Sorry Experiences—Condolence +and its Effect—The Visitors become Defenders—A +Battle with Fire and Sword—Fighting for Life—The Trappers' Victory—A +Trapping Excursion—Meek Plays a Trick and has one Played +on Him—A Run to Camp—Taking up Traps—A Blackfoot Ambush—A +Running Fire—A lucky Escape—Winter Camp on the Yellowstone—Interpretation +of a Dream—A Buffalo Hunt and a Blackfoot Surprise—Meek's +Mule Story, <span class="pgnum">166</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">C H A P T E R X I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Setting up as a Family Man—First Love—Cut out by the Booshway—Reward +of Constancy—Beauty of Umentucken—Her Dress, Her Horse +and Equipments—Anecdotes of the Mountain Lamb—Her Quarrel with +The Trapper—Capture by Crows—Her Rescue—Meek Avenges an Insult—A +Row in Camp—The Female Element—Death of Umentucken, <span class="pgnum">175</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">C H A P T E R X I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Visitors at Rendezvous—Advent of Missionaries—What Brought Them—Bonneville's +account of the Nez Perces and Flatheads—An Enthusiastic +View of Their Characters—Origin of some of Their Religious Observances—An +Indian's Idea of a God—Material Good Desired—Mistake +of the Missionaries—First Sermon in the Rocky Mountains—Interrupted +by Buffaloes—Precept and Example—Dr. Whitman's Character—The +Missionaries Separate—Dr. Whitman Returns to the States, <span class="pgnum">181</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">C H A P T E R X I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Meek Falls into the Hands of Crows—The Story as He tells It—He Packs +Moccasins, and Bears the Jeers of the Fair Sex—Bridger's Camp Discovered +and the Lie Found out—A Desperate Situation—Signaling the +Horse-Guard—A Parley with Bridger—Successful Strategy—Capture +of Little-Gun—Meek Set at Liberty with a New Name—A Fort Besieged +by Bears—A Lazy Trapper—The Decoy of the Delawares—Winter +Amusements—The Ishmaelite of the Wilderness—March +through the Crow Country—Return to Green River—Punishment of the +Bannacks—Consolidation—An Excursion—Intercepted by Crows—A +Scattered Camp—The Escape, <span class="pgnum">189</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">C H A P T E R X V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">An Express from Fitzpatrick—The Approach of Missionaries Announced—The +Caravan Welcomed by a Party of Trappers—Noisy Demonstrations—Curiosity +of the Indians—The Missionary Ladies—Preparations +in the Indian Villages—Reception of the Missionaries by the Nez Perces +and Flatheads—Kind Treatment from the Hudson's Bay Company—The +Missionaries' Land of Promise—Visit to Fort Vancouver—Selection +of Missionary Stations, <span class="pgnum">201</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">C H A P T E R X V I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Den of Rattlesnakes—The Old Frenchman—How to Keep Snakes +out of Bed—The Prairie Dog's Tenants at Will—Fight with Blackfeet—Policy +of War—A Duel Averted—A Run-away Bear—Meek's Best Bear +Fight—Winter Quarters on Powder River—Robbing Bonneville's Men, <span class="pgnum">214</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">C H A P T E R X V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">A Dissipated Camp—A Crow Carousal—Picked Crows—A Fight with +Blackfeet—Manhead Killed—Night Visit to the Blackfoot Village—"Cooning +a River"—Stanley the Indian Painter—Desperate Fight +with Blackfeet—"The Trapper's Last Shot"—War and Peace—In the +Wrong Camp—To Rendezvous on Wind River—Mr. Gray, and His +Adventures—Massacre of Indian Allies—Capt. Stuart Robbed by +Crows—Newell's Address to the Chiefs, <span class="pgnum">225</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">C H A P T E R X V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Decline of the Fur Trade—Wild Scenes at Rendezvous—A Missionary +Party—Entertained by a War Dance—Meek in Armor—Deserted by +his Indian Spouse—The Pursuit—Meek abuses a Missionary and Kidnaps +his Wife—Meek's Black Eyed Daughter—Singing for a Biscuit—Trapping +Again—A hot March, and Fearful Suffering from Thirst—The +Old Flathead Woman—Water at Last, <span class="pgnum">237</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">C H A P T E R X I X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">A Chat about Buffalo Hunting—Buffalo Horses—The Start—The Pursuit—The +Charge—Tumbles—Horsemanship—The Glory of Mountain +Life—How a Nez Perce Village Hunts Buffalo—Kit Carson and the +Frenchman on a Run—Mountain Manners, <span class="pgnum">246</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">C H A P T E R X X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Solitary Trapper—A Jest—Among the Nez Perces—Their Eagerness +to be Taught—Meek is Called upon to Preach—He modestly Complies—Asks +for a Wife—Polygamy Defended—Meek Gets a Wife—The +Preacher's Salary—Surprised by Blackfeet—Death of Allen—The Last +Rendezvous—Anecdote of Shawnee Jim—The new Wife Missing—Meeting +with Farnham—Cold and Famine—Succor and Food—Parties +at Fort Crockett—Setting up in Trade—How Al. Saved His Bacon—Bad +Times—War upon Horse Thieves—In Search of Adventures—Green +River Canyon—Running Antelope—Gambling—Vain Hunt for +Rendezvous—Reflections and Half-Resolves—The last Trapping Expedition, <span class="pgnum">251</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">C H A P T E R X X I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">A new Start in Life—Mountain-Men for Pioneers—Discovery of the Columbia +River—What Capt. Gray Did—What Vancouver Did—The +United States' Claim to Oregon—First Missionaries to the Wallamet—John +McLaughlin—Hospitalities of Fort Vancouver—The Mission Reinforced—Other +Settlers in the Wallamet Valley—How they Regarded +the Mission—The California Cattle Company—Distribution of Settlers, <span class="pgnum">264</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">C H A P T E R X X I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Westward Ho!—Opening Wagon Roads—Republicanism—Fat Pork for +Preachers—Mission Work at Waiilatpu—Helen Mar—Off for the Wallamet—Wagons +Left at Walla-Walla—The Dalles Mission—Indian +Prayers—The Missionaries and the Mountain-Men—The Impious Canadian—Doing +Penance—Down the Columbia—Trouble with Indians—Arrival +at the Wallamet—Hunger, and Dependence on Fort Vancouver—Meeting +Old Comrades—Settling on the Tualatin Plains—A disagreeable +Winter—Taking Claims—Who furnished the Seed Wheat, <span class="pgnum">271</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">C H A P T E R X X I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Scarcity of Employment—Wilkes' Exploring Expedition—Meek Employed +as Pilot—Interchange of Courtesies at Vancouver—"The Peacock"—Unpleasant +Reminder—Exploring the Cowelitz—Wilkes' Chronometer—Land +Expedition to California—Meek Discharged—Gleaning Wheat—Fifty +Miles for an Axe—Visit to the New Mission—Praying for a Cow—Marriage +Ceremony, <span class="pgnum">280</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">C H A P T E R X X I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Brooding of Events—Arrival of the Chenamus—Meek Celebrates the +Fourth of July—Dr. Whitman Goes to Washington—An Alarming +Feature—Mission Stations of the Upper Country—Discontent of the +Indians—The Missionaries Insulted and Threatened—Mrs. Whitman +Frightened Away from Waiilatpu, <span class="pgnum">285</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">C H A P T E R X X V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Plot Thickens—The Wolf Association—Suspicions of the Canadians—"Who's +for a Divide?"—The Die Cast—A Shout for Freedom—Meek +Appointed Sheriff—The Provisional Government, <span class="pgnum">291</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">C H A P T E R X X V I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Arrival of the Immigration at the Dalles—Wagons Abandoned—Pitiable +Condition of the Women and Children—Aid from the Hudson's Bay +Company—Perils of the Columbia—Wreck of the Boat—Wonderful +Escape—Trials of the New Colonists—The Generous Savage—The Barefoot +Lawyer—Meek's Pumpkin—Privation of the Settlers—Shopping +under Difficulties—Attempt to Manufacture Ardent Spirits—Dilemma +of the People—An Appeal—The Sheriff Destroys the Distillery—Anecdote +of Dr. White and Madam Cooper—Meek Levies on Her Whisky—First +Official Act of the Sheriff, <span class="pgnum">294</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">C H A P T E R X X V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Excitement about Indians—Dr. White's Flogging Law—Indian Revenge—Raid +of the Klamaths—Massacre of Indians—Affray at the Falls—Death +of Cockstock—Death of LeBreton and Rogers—"You'd Better +Run"—Meek's Policy with the Indians—Meek and the Agent—The +Borrowed Horse—Solemn Audacity—Wonderful Transformation—Temperance—Courts—Anecdote +of Judge Nesmith—Early Days of Portland—An +Indian Carousal—Meek "Settles the Indians"—The Immigration +of 1845—The Cascade Mountain Road-Hunters—Hunger and +Peril—A Last Request—Succor at the Last Moment—A Reason for +Patriotism, <span class="pgnum">306</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">C H A P T E R X X V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Difficulty of Collecting Taxes—A Ponderous Currency—Dr. McLaughlin's +Ox—An Exciting Year—The Boundary Question—"Fifty-four-forty or +Fight"—War Vessels in the Columbia—Loss of the Shark—Meek Receives +a Salute—Schenck Arrested—The Color-Stand of the Shark—"Sunset +at the Mouth of the Columbia," <span class="pgnum">320</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">C H A P T E R X X I X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">"The Adventures of a Columbia River Salmon"—History of the Immigration +of 1846—Opening of Southern Route to the Wallamet—Tragic +Fate of the California Immigrants—Sufferings of the Oregon Immigrants—Tardy +Relief—Celebrating the Fourth of July—Visit to the +Ship Brutus—An Insult to the Mountain-Men—The Indignity Resented +with a Twelve-Pounder—Dr. McLaughlin Interferes—Re-election of +Meek—Large Immigration—Failure of the Territorial Bill—Affray +between Immigrants and Indians at the Dalles—Meeting of the Legislature—Falling +of the Thunderbolt, <span class="pgnum">325</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">C H A P T E R X X X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Trouble with the Up-Country Indians—Causes of their Disquiet—Their +Opinion of the Americans—"Humbugged and Cheated"—Fear of +Greater Frauds in the Future—Resolve not to Submit—Their Feelings +Toward Dr. Whitman—Acts of Violence—Influence of the Catholic +Missionaries—A Season of Severe Sickness—What Provoked the Massacre—Joe +Lewis the Half-Breed—The Fatal Test—Sickness Among the +Immigrants—Dr. Whitman's Family—Persons at the Mission and Mill—Helen +Mar—Arrival of Mr. Whitman and his Daughter—A Night Visit +to the Umatilla—In the Lodge of Stickas, the Walla-Walla Chief—The +Warning of Stickas and His Family—The Death Song—"Beware +of the Cayuses at the Mission!"—Mr. Spaulding meets Brouillet, the +Catholic Bishop—News of the Massacre—Escape to the Woods—Night +Journeys to Lapwai, <span class="pgnum">334</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">C H A P T E R X X X I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Tragedy at Waiilatpu—Dr. Whitman's Arrival at Home—Monday +Morning at the Mission—Commencement of the Massacre—The First +Victim—"Oh, the Indians!"—Horrors of the Attack—Shooting of Mrs. +Whitman—Treachery of Jo Lewis—Sufferings of the Children—Indian +Orgies—The Victims Tortured—The Two Compassionate Indians—A +Night of Horror—Remarkable Escape of Mr. Osborne and Family—Escape +and Fate of Mr. Hall—Cruel Treatment of Fugitives—Kindness +of Mr. Stanley—Inhospitable Reception at Fort Walla-Walla—Touching +Kindness of Stickas, <span class="pgnum">344</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">C H A P T E R X X X I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Horrors of the Waiilatpu Massacre—Exemption of the Catholics—Charges +of the Protestants—Natural Suspicions—Further Particulars of the Massacre—Cruelty +to the Children—Fate of the Young Women—Miss +Bulee and the Priests—Lapwai Mission—Arrival of Mr. Camfield—An +Indian Trait—Heroism of Mrs. Spalding—Appeal to the Chiefs—Arrival +of the News—Lapwai Plundered—Treachery of Joseph—Arrival of Mr. +Spalding—Detained as Hostages—Ransomed by the H.B. Company—The +"Blood of the Martyrs"—Country Abandoned to the Indians—Subsequent +Return of Mr. Spalding to the Nez Perces, <span class="pgnum">353</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">C H A P T E R X X X I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Call to Arms—Meetings and Speeches—Ways and Means of Defence—The +first Regiment of Oregon Riflemen—Messenger to the Governor +of California—Meek Chosen Messenger to the President of the +United States—He Proceeds to the Dalles—The Army Marches to +Waiilatpu—A Skirmish with the Des Chutes—Burial of the Victims—Meek +Escorted to the Blue Mountains, <span class="pgnum">362</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">C H A P T E R X X X I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Meek's Party—Precautions against Indians—Meeting with Bannacks—White +Lies—Fort Hall—Deep Snows—Horses Abandoned—The Mountain +Spirit Returning—Meeting with Peg-Leg Smith—A Mountain +Revel—Meeting with An Old Leader—Reception at Fort Laramie—Passing +the Sioux Village—Courtesy of a French Trader—Reflections +on Nearing the Settlements—Resolve to Remain Joe Meek—Reception +at St. Joseph—"The Quickest Trip Yet"—Arrival at St. Louis—Meek +as Steamboat Runner—Interview with the Stage Agent at Wheeling—Astonishing +the Natives—The Puzzled Conductor—Arrival at Washington, <span class="pgnum">368</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">C H A P T E R X X X V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Meek Dines at Coleman's—A Sensation—An Amusing Scene—Recognized +by Senator Underwood—Visit to the President—Cordial Reception +by the Family of Polk—Some Doubts of Himself—Rapid Recovery +of Self-Possession—Action of the Friends of Oregon—The Two Oregon +Representatives—The Oregon Bill in the Senate—Mr. Thornton—Meek's +Successful Debut in Society—Curiosity of Ladies—Kit Carson +and the "Contingent Fund"—Meek's Remarkable Popularity—Invited +to Baltimore by the City Council—Escorts the President—Visit to +Lowell—The Factory Girls—Some Natural Regrets—Kindness of Mrs. +Polk and Mrs. Walker—Commodore Wilkes—Oregon Lies—Getting +Franked—Champagne Suppers, <span class="pgnum">381</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">C H A P T E R X X X V I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Meek Appointed U.S. Marshal for Oregon—"Home Sweet Home"—Pay +of the Delegates—The Lion's Share—Meek's Interview with Gov. +Lane—Buying out a Peddler—The Escort of Riflemen—The Start from +St. Louis, and the Route—Meeting Price's Army—An Adventure and +a Pleasant Surprise—Leaving the Wagons—Desertion of Soldiers—Drought—The +Trick of the Yumas—Demoralization of the Train—Rumors +of Gold—Gen. Lane's Coffee—The Writer's Reflection—The +Party on Foot—Extreme Sufferings—Arrival at William's Ranch—Speculation +in Silks and Jack-Knives—Miners at Los Angelos—Oregonians +at San Francisco—Nat Lane and Meek Take the Gold Fever—Meek's +Investment—The Governor and Marshal Quarrel—Pranks +with a Jew—A Salute—Arrival in Oregon City, <span class="pgnum">394</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">C H A P T E R X X X V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Lane's Course with the Cayuse Indians—Magnanimity of the Savages—Rebuke +to Their Captors—Their Statements to Meek—The Puzzle of +Indian Ethics—Incidents of the Trial and Execution—State of the +Upper Country for A Term of Years—How Meek Was Received in Oregon—His +Incurable Waggishness—Scene in a Court-Room—Contempt +of Court—Judge Nelson and the Carpenters—Two Hundred Lies—An +Excursion by the Oregon Court—Indians Tried for Murder—Proceedings +of a Jury—Sentence and Execution of the Indians—The Chief's +Wife—Cost of Proceedings—Lane's Career in Oregon—Gov. Davis, <span class="pgnum">408</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">C H A P T E R X X X V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Meek as U.S. Marshal—The Captain of the Melvin—The British Smuggler—Returning +a Compliment—"Barly Enough for the Officers of the +Court"—Misused Confidence—Indian Disturbances—The Indian War +of 1855-6—Gen. Wool and Gov. Curry—Officers of the War—How the +Volunteers Fared—Meek as a Volunteer—Feasting and Fun—"Marking +Time"—End of Meek's Public Career, <span class="pgnum">417</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<table summary="illustrations"> + + +<tr> +<td></td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Page.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i004">English Tourists' Camp—Doubtful Friends.</a></span>—<i>Frontispiece.</i> +</td> +<td></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i022">Winter Couriers of the North-West Fur Company</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">23</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i031">A Station of the Hudson's Bay Company</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i042">Watching for Indian Horse-Thieves</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">38</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i044">Map of the Fur Country</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">40</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i046">The Enlistment</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">42</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i053">The Summer Rendezvous</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">48</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i074">Beavers at Work</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">66</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i091">Hunters' Winter Camp</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">81</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i101">The Three "Bares,"</a></span></td> +<td class="tdr">92</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i106">The Wrong End of the Tree</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">94</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i145">Scouts in the Blackfoot Country—"Elk or Indians?"</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">132</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i166">Branding Cattle in Southern California</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">150</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i171">A Fight with Camanches—The Mule Fort</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">155</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i183">View on the Columbia</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">165</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i194">The Free Trapper's Indian Wife</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">177</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">"<span class="smcap"><a href="#i222">Indians, by Jove!</a></span>"</td> +<td class="tdr">200</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i233">Descending the Blue Mountains</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">211</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i237">The Bear in Camp</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">219</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i245">Satisfied with Bear Fighting</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">221</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i251">Cache</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">227</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i257">The Trapper's Last Shot</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">230</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i259">The Squaw's Escape</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">231</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i273">Horse-Tail Falls</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">245</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i275">A Buffalo Hunt</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">246</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i293">Castle Rock, Columbia River</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">263</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i325">Wrecked in the Rapids</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">294</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i339">A Wild Indian in Town</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">307</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i351">The Cascade Mountain Road-Hunters</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">317</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i377">Mount Hood from the Dalles</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">343</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i379">Massacre of the Whitman Family</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">344</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i411">Meek as a Steamboat Runner</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">375</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl">"<span class="smcap"><a href="#i421">Take Care Knox</a></span>," </td> +<td class="tdr">385</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i427">A Mountain-man in Clover</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tdr">392</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i440">Gov. Lane and Meek on the Colorado Desert</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">401</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#i453">Meek as U.S. Marshal—Scene in a Court-room</a></span>, </td> +<td class="tdr">413</td> +</tr> + +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i022" name="i022"></a> +<img src="images/i022.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">WINTER COURIERS OF THE NORTH-WEST FUR COMPANY.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFATORY_CHAPTER" id="PREFATORY_CHAPTER"></a>PREFATORY CHAPTER.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<blockquote class="hang2"><p><span class="smcap">An Account of the Hudson's Bay Company's Intercourse with the +Indians of the North-West Coast; with a Sketch of the Different +American Fur Companies, and their Dealings with the +Tribes of the Rocky Mountains.</span></p></blockquote> + + +<p>In the year 1818, Mr. Prevost, acting for the United States, received Astoria +back from the British, who had taken possession, as narrated by Mr. Irving, +four years previous. The restoration took place in conformity with the treaty +of Ghent, by which those places captured during the war were restored to their +original possessors. Mr. Astor stood ready at that time to renew his enterprise +on the Columbia River, had Congress been disposed to grant him the necessary +protection which the undertaking required. Failing to secure this, when the +United States sloop of war Ontario sailed away from Astoria, after having +taken formal possession of that place for our Government, the country was left to +the occupancy, (scarcely a joint-occupancy, since there were then no Americans +here,) of the British traders. After the war, and while negotiations were +going on between Great Britain and the United States, the fort at Astoria had +remained in possession of the North-West Company, as their principal establishment +west of the mountains. It had been considerably enlarged since it had +come into their possession, and was furnished with artillery enough to have +frightened into friendship a much more warlike people than the subjects of old +king Comcomly; who, it will be remembered, was not at first very well disposed +towards the "King George men," having learned to look upon the "Boston +men" as his friends in his earliest intercourse with the whites. At this time +Astoria, or <i>Fort George</i>, as the British traders called it, contained sixty-five +inmates, twenty-three of whom were whites, and the remainder Canadian half-breeds +and Sandwich Islanders. Besides this number of men, there were a few +women, the native wives of the men, and their half-breed offspring. The situation +of Astoria, however, was not favorable, being near the sea coast, and not +surrounded with good farming lands such as were required for the furnishing +of provisions to the fort. Therefore, when in 1821 it was destroyed by fire, it +was only in part rebuilt, but a better and more convenient location for the headquarters +of the North-West Company was sought for in the interior.</p> + +<p>About this time a quarrel of long standing between the Hudson's Bay and +North-West Companies culminated in a battle between their men in the Red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +River country, resulting in a considerable loss of life and property. This affair +drew the attention of the Government at home; the rights of the rival companies +were examined into, the mediation of the Ministry secured, and a compromise +effected, by which the North-West Company, which had succeeded in +dispossessing the Pacific Fur Company under Mr. Astor, was merged into the +Hudson's Bay Company, whose name and fame are so familiar to all the early +settlers of Oregon.</p> + +<p>At the same time, Parliament passed an act by which the hands of the consolidated +company were much strengthened, and the peace and security of all +persons greatly insured; but which became subsequently, in the joint occupancy +of the country, a cause of offence to the American citizens, as we shall see +hereafter. This act allowed the commissioning of Justices of the Peace in all +the territories not belonging to the United States, nor already subject to grants. +These justices were to execute and enforce the laws and decisions of the courts +of Upper Canada; to take evidence, and commit and send to Canada for trial +the guilty; and even in some cases, to hold courts themselves for the trial of +criminal offences and misdemeanors not punishable with death, or of civil causes +in which the amount at issue should not exceed two hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>Thus in 1824, the North-West Company, whose perfidy had occasioned such +loss and mortification to the enterprising New York merchant, became itself a +thing of the past, and a new rule began in the region west of the Rocky Mountains. +The old fort at Astoria having been only so far rebuilt as to answer the +needs of the hour, after due consideration, a site for head-quarters was selected +about one hundred miles from the sea, near the mouth of the Wallamet River, +though opposite to it. Three considerations went to make up the eligibility of +the point selected. First, it was desirable, even necessary, to settle upon good +agricultural lands, where the Company's provisions could be raised by the Company's +servants. Second, it was important that the spot chosen should be upon +waters navigable for the Company's vessels, or upon tide-water. Lastly, and +not leastly, the Company had an eye to the boundary question between Great +Britain and the United States; and believing that the end of the controversy +would probably be to make the Columbia River the northern limit of the United +States territory, a spot on the northern bank of that river was considered a +good point for their fort, and possible future city.</p> + +<p>The site chosen by the North-West Company in 1821, for their new fort, +combined all these advantages, and the further one of having been already +commenced and named. Fort Vancouver became at once on the accession of +the Hudson's Bay Company, the metropolis of the northwest coast, the center +of the fur trade, and the seat of government for that immense territory, over +which roamed the hunters and trappers in the employ of that powerful corporation. +This post was situated on the edge of a beautiful sloping plain on the +northern bank of the Columbia, about six miles above the upper mouth of the +Wallamet. At this point the Columbia spreads to a great width, and is divided +on the south side into bayous by long sandy islands, covered with oak, ash, and +cotton-wood trees, making the noble river more attractive still by adding the +charm of curiosity concerning its actual breadth to its natural and ordinary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +magnificence. Back of the fort the land rose gently, covered with forests of fir; +and away to the east swelled the foot-hills of the Cascade range, then the mountains +themselves, draped in filmy azure, and over-topped five thousand feet by +the snowy cone of Mt. Hood.</p> + +<p>In this lonely situation grew up, with the dispatch which characterized the +acts of the Company, a fort in most respects similar to the original one at +Astoria. It was not, however, thought necessary to make so great a display of +artillery as had served to keep in order the subjects of Comcomly. A stockade +enclosed a space about eight hundred feet long by five hundred broad, having +a bastion at one corner, where were mounted three guns, while two eighteen +pounders and two swivels were planted in front of the residence of the Governor +and chief factors. These commanded the main entrance to the fort, +besides which there were two other gates in front, and another in the rear. +Military precision was observed in the precautions taken against surprises, as +well as in all the rules of the place. The gates were opened and closed at +certain hours, and were always guarded. No large number of Indians were +permitted within the enclosure at the same time, and every employee at the fort +knew and performed his duty with punctuality.</p> + +<p>The buildings within the stockade were the Governor's and chief factors' +residences, stores, offices, work-shops, magazines, warehouses, &c.</p> + +<p>Year by year, up to 1835 or '40, improvements continued to go on in and +about the fort, the chief of which was the cultivation of the large farm and +garden outside the enclosure, and the erection of a hospital building, large barns, +servants' houses, and a boat-house, all outside of the fort; so that at the period +when the Columbia River was a romance and a mystery to the people of the +United States, quite a flourishing and beautiful village adorned its northern +shore, and that too erected and sustained by the enemies of American enterprise +on soil commonly believed to belong to the United States: fair foes the +author firmly believes them to have been in those days, yet foes nevertheless.</p> + +<p>The system on which the Hudson's Bay Company conducted its business was +the result of long experience, and was admirable for its method and its justice also. +When a young man entered its service as a clerk, his wages were small for several +years, increasing only as his ability and good conduct entitled him to advancement. +When his salary had reached one hundred pounds sterling he became +eligible to a chief-tradership as a partner in the concern, from which position +he was promoted to the rank of a chief factor. No important business was +ever intrusted to an inexperienced person, a policy which almost certainly prevented +any serious errors. A regular tariff was established on the Company's +goods, comprising all the articles used in their trade with the Indians; nor was +the quality of their goods ever allowed to deteriorate. A price was also fixed +upon furs according to their market value, and an Indian knowing this, knew +exactly what he could purchase. No bartering was allowed. When skins +were offered for sale at the fort they were handed to the clerk through a window +like a post-office delivery-window, and their value in the article desired, +returned through the same aperture. All these regulations were of the highest +importance to the good order, safety, and profit of the Company. The con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>fidence +of the Indians was sure to be gained by the constancy and good faith +always observed toward them, and the Company obtained thereby numerous +and powerful allies in nearly all the tribes.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was possible to make the change, the Indians were denied the +use of intoxicating drinks, the appetite for which had early been introduced +among them by coasting vessels, and even continued by the Pacific Fur Company +at Astoria. It would have been dangerous to have suddenly deprived +them of the coveted stimulus; therefore the practice must be discontinued by +many wise arts and devices. A public notice was given that the sale of it +would be stopped, and the reasons for this prohibition explained to the Indians. +Still, not to come into direct conflict with their appetites, a little was sold to +the chiefs, now and then, by the clerks, who affected to be running the greatest +risks in violating the order of the company. The strictest secrecy was enjoined +on the lucky chief who, by the friendship of some under-clerk, was enabled to +smuggle off a bottle under his blanket. But the cunning clerk had generally +managed to get his "good friend" into a state so cleverly between drunk and +sober, before he entrusted him with the precious bottle, that he was sure to +betray himself. Leaving the shop with a mien even more erect than usual, +with a gait affected in its majesty, and his blanket tightened around him to +conceal his secret treasure, the chuckling chief would start to cross the grounds +within the fort. If he was a new customer, he was once or twice permitted to +play his little game with the obliging clerk whose particular friend he was, and +to escape detection.</p> + +<p>But by-and-by, when the officers had seen the offence repeated more than +once from their purposely contrived posts of observation, one of them would +skillfully chance to intercept the guilty chief at whose comical endeavors to +appear sober he was inwardly laughing, and charge him with being intoxicated. +Wresting away the tightened blanket, the bottle appeared as evidence that +could not be controverted, of the duplicity of the Indian and the unfaithfulness +of the clerk, whose name was instantly demanded, that he might be properly +punished. When the chief again visited the fort, his particular friend met him +with a sorrowful countenance, reproaching him for having been the cause of +his disgrace and loss. This reproach was the surest means of preventing another +demand for rum, the Indian being too magnanimous, probably, to wish to +get his friend into trouble; while the clerk affected to fear the consequences +too much to be induced to take the risk another time. Thus by kind and careful +means the traffic in liquors was at length broken up, which otherwise would +have ruined both Indian and trader.</p> + +<p>To the company's servants liquor was sold or allowed at certain times: to +those on the sea-board, one half-pint two or three times a year, to be used as +medicine,—not that it was always needed or used for this purpose, but too strict +inquiry into its use was wisely avoided,—and for this the company demanded +pay. To their servants in the interior no liquor was sold, but they were furnished +as a gratuity with one pint on leaving rendezvous, and another on arriving +at winter quarters. By this management, it became impossible for them to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +dispose of drink to the Indians; their small allowance being always immediately +consumed in a meeting or parting carouse.</p> + +<p>The arrival of men from the interior at Fort Vancouver usually took place +in the month of June, when the Columbia was high, and a stirring scene it +was. The chief traders generally contrived their march through the upper +country, their camps, and their rendezvous, so as to meet the Express which +annually came to Vancouver from Canada and the Red River settlements. +They then descended the Columbia together, and arrived in force at the Fort. +This annual fleet went by the name of Brigade—a name which suggested a +military spirit in the crews that their appearance failed to vindicate. Yet, +though there was nothing warlike in the scene, there was much that was exciting, +picturesque, and even brilliant; for these <i>couriers de bois</i>, or wood-rangers, +and the <i>voyageurs</i>, or boatmen, were the most foppish of mortals when they +came to rendezvous. Then, too, there was an exaltation of spirits on their safe +arrival at head-quarters, after their year's toil and danger in wildernesses, +among Indians and wild beasts, exposed to famine and accident, that almost +deprived them of what is called "common sense," and compelled them to the +most fantastic excesses.</p> + +<p>Their well-understood peculiarities did not make them the less welcome at +Vancouver. When the cry was given—"the Brigade! the Brigade!"—there +was a general rush to the river's bank to witness the spectacle. In advance +came the chief-trader's barge, with the company's flag at the bow, and the +cross of St. George at the stern: the fleet as many abreast as the turnings of +the river allowed. With strong and skillful strokes the boatmen governed their +richly laden boats, keeping them in line, and at the same time singing in chorus +a loud and not unmusical hunting or boating song. The gay ribbons and feathers +with which the singers were bedecked took nothing from the picturesqueness +of their appearance. The broad, full river, sparkling in the sunlight, +gemmed with emerald islands, and bordered with a rich growth of flowering +shrubbery; the smiling plain surrounding the Fort; the distant mountains, +where glittered the sentinel Mt. Hood, all came gracefully into the picture, and +seemed to furnish a fitting back-ground and middle distance for the bright bit +of coloring given by the moving life in the scene. As with a skillful sweep the +brigade touched the bank, and the traders and men sprang on shore, the first +cheer which had welcomed their appearance was heartily repeated, while a gay +clamor of questions and answers followed.</p> + +<p>After the business immediately incident to their arrival had been dispatched, +then took place the regale of pork, flour, and spirits, which was sure to end in +a carouse, during which blackened eyes and broken noses were not at all uncommon; +but though blood was made to flow, life was never put seriously in +peril, and the belligerent parties were the best of friends when the fracas was +ended.</p> + +<p>The business of exchange being completed in three or four weeks—the rich +stores of peltries consigned to their places in the warehouse, and the boats reladen +with goods for the next year's trade with the Indians in the upper country, +a parting carouse took place, and with another parade of feathers, ribbons, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +other finery, the brigade departed with songs and cheers as it had come, but +with probably heavier hearts.</p> + +<p>It would be a stern morality indeed which could look upon the excesses of +this peculiar class as it would upon the same excesses committed by men in the +enjoyment of all the comforts and pleasures of civilized life. For them, during +most of the year, was only an out-door life of toil, watchfulness, peril, and +isolation. When they arrived at the rendezvous, for the brief period of their +stay they were allowed perfect license because nothing else would content +them. Although at head-quarters they were still in the wilderness, thousands +of miles from civilization, with no chance of such recreations as men in the +continual enjoyment of life's sweetest pleasures would naturally seek. For +them there was only one method of seeking and finding temporary oblivion of +the accustomed hardship; and whatever may be the strict rendering of man's +duty as an immortal being, we cannot help being somewhat lenient at times to +his errors as a mortal.</p> + +<p>After the departure of the boats, there was another arrival at the Fort, of +trappers from the Snake River country. Previous to 1832, such were the dangers +of the fur trade in this region, that only the most experienced traders +were suffered to conduct a party through it; and even they were frequently +attacked, and sometimes sustained serious losses of men and animals. Subsequently, +however, the Hudson's Bay Company obtained such an influence over +even these hostile tribes as to make it safe for a party of no more than two of +their men to travel through this much dreaded region.</p> + +<p>There was another important arrival at Fort Vancouver, usually in midsummer. +This was the Company's supply ship from London. In the possible +event of a vessel being lost, one cargo was always kept on store at Vancouver; +but for which wise regulation much trouble and disaster might have resulted, +especially in the early days of the establishment. Occasionally a vessel foundered +at sea or was lost on the bar of the Columbia; but these losses did not +interrupt the regular transaction of business. The arrival of a ship from London +was the occasion of great bustle and excitement also. She brought not +only goods for the posts throughout the district of the Columbia, but letters, +papers, private parcels, and all that seemed of so much value to the little +isolated world at the Fort.</p> + +<p>A company conducting its business with such method and regularity as has +been described, was certain of success. Yet some credit also must attach to +certain individuals in its service, whose faithfulness, zeal, and ability in carrying +out its designs, contributed largely to its welfare. Such a man was at the +head of the Hudson's Bay Company's affairs in the large and important district +west of the Rocky Mountains. The Company never had in its service a +more efficient man than Gov. John McLaughlin, more commonly called Dr. +McLaughlin.</p> + +<p>To the discipline, at once severe and just, which Dr. McLaughlin maintained +in his district, was due the safety and prosperity of the company he served, +and the servants of that company generally; as well as, at a later period, of +the emigration which followed the hunter and trapper into the wilds of Oregon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +Careful as were all the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, they could not +always avoid conflicts with the Indians; nor was their kindness and justice +always sufficiently appreciated to prevent the outbreak of savage instincts. +Fort Vancouver had been threatened in an early day; a vessel or two had +been lost in which the Indians were suspected to have been implicated; at +long intervals a trader was murdered in the interior; or more frequently, +Indian insolence put to the test both the wisdom and courage of the officers to +prevent an outbreak.</p> + +<p>When murders and robberies were committed, it was the custom at Fort +Vancouver to send a strong party to demand the offenders from their tribe; +Such was the well known power and influence of the Company, and such the +wholesome fear of the "King George men," that this demand was never resisted, +and if the murderer could be found he was given up to be hung according +to "King George" laws. They were almost equally impelled to good conduct +by the state of dependence on the company into which they had been +brought. Once they had subsisted and clothed themselves from the spoils of +the rivers and forest; since they had tasted of the tree of knowledge of good +and evil, they could no more return to skins for raiment, nor to game alone for +food. Blankets and flour, beads, guns, and ammunition had become dear to +their hearts: for all these things they must love and obey the Hudson's Bay +Company. Another fine stroke of policy in the Company was to destroy the +chieftain-ships in the various tribes; thus weakening them by dividing them +and preventing dangerous coalitions of the leading spirits: for in savage as +well as civilized life, the many are governed by the few.</p> + +<p>It may not be uninteresting in this place to give a few anecdotes of the manner +in which conflicts with the Indians were prevented, or offences punished +by the Hudson's Bay Company. In the year 1828 the ship <i>William and Ann</i> +was cast away just inside the bar of the Columbia, under circumstances which +seemed to direct suspicion to the Indians in that vicinity. Whether or not +they had attacked the ship, not a soul was saved from the wreck to tell how +she was lost. On hearing that the ship had gone to pieces, and that the Indians +had appropriated a portion of her cargo, Dr. McLaughlin sent a message +to the chiefs, demanding restitution of the stolen goods. Nothing was returned +by the messenger except one or two worthless articles. Immediately an armed +force was sent to the scene of the robbery with a fresh demand for the goods, +which the chiefs, in view of their spoils, thought proper to resist by firing upon +the reclaiming party. But they were not unprepared; and a swivel was discharged +to let the savages know what they might expect in the way of firearms. +The argument was conclusive, the Indians fleeing into the woods. +While making search for the goods, a portion of which were found, a chief +was observed skulking near, and cocking his gun; on which motion one of the +men fired, and he fell. This prompt action, the justice of which the Indians +well understood, and the intimidating power of the swivel, put an end to the incipient +war. Care was then taken to impress upon their minds that they must +not expect to profit by the disasters of vessels, nor be tempted to murder white +men for the sake of plunder. The <i>William and Ann</i> was supposed to have got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +aground, when the savages seeing her situation, boarded her and murdered the +crew for the cargo which they knew her to contain. Yet as there were no positive +proofs, only such measures were taken as would deter them from a similar +attempt in future. That the lesson was not lost, was proven two years later, +when the <i>Isabella</i>, from London, struck on the bar, her crew deserting her. In +this instance no attempt was made to meddle with the vessel's cargo; and as +the crew made their way to Vancouver, the goods were nearly all saved.</p> + +<p>In a former voyage of the <i>William and Ann</i> to the Columbia River, she had +been sent on an exploring expedition to the Gulf of Georgia to discover the +mouth of Frazier's River, having on board a crew of forty men. Whenever +the ship came to anchor, two sentries were kept constantly on deck to guard +against any surprise or misconduct on the part of the Indians; so adroit, however, +were they in the light-fingered art, that every one of the eight cannon +with which the ship was armed was robbed of its ammunition, as was discovered +on leaving the river! Such incidents as these served to impress the minds of +the Company's officers and servants with the necessity of vigilance in their dealings +with the savages.</p> + +<p>Not all their vigilance could at all times avail to prevent mischief. When +Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, was on a visit +to Vancouver in 1829, he was made aware of this truism. The Governor was +on his return to Canada by way of the Red River Settlement, and had reached +the Dalles of the Columbia with his party. In making the portage at this +place, all the party except Dr. Tod gave their guns into the charge of two men +to prevent their being stolen by the Indians, who crowded about, and whose +well-known bad character made great care needful. All went well, no attempt +to seize either guns or other property being made until at the end of the portage +the boats had been reloaded. As the party were about to re-embark, a +simultaneous rush was made by the Indians who had dogged their steps, to get +possession of the boats. Dr. Tod raised his gun immediately, aiming at the +head chief, who, not liking the prospect of so speedy dissolution, ordered his +followers to desist, and the party were suffered to escape. It was soon after +discovered that every gun belonging to the party in the boat had been wet, +excepting the one carried by Dr. Tod; and to the fact that the Doctor did carry +his gun, all the others owed their lives.</p> + +<p>The great desire of the Indians for guns and ammunition led to many stratagems +which were dangerous to the possessors of the coveted articles. Much +more dangerous would it have been to have allowed them a free supply of these +things; nor could an Indian purchase from the Company more than a stated +supply, which was to be used, not for the purposes of war, but to keep himself +in game.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i031" name="i031"></a> +<img src="images/i031.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">A STATION OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>Dr. McLaughlin was himself once quite near falling into a trap of the Indians, +so cunningly laid as to puzzle even him. This was a report brought to him +by a deputation of Columbia River Indians, stating the startling fact that the +fort at Nesqually had been attacked, and every inmate slaughtered. To this +horrible story, told with every appearance of truth, the Doctor listened with +incredulity mingled with apprehension. The Indians were closely questioned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +and cross-questioned, but did not conflict in their testimony. The matter assumed +a very painful aspect. Not to be deceived, the Doctor had the unwelcome +messengers committed to custody while he could bring other witnesses +from their tribe. But they were prepared for this, and the whole tribe were as +positive as those who brought the tale. Confounded by this cloud of witnesses, +Dr. McLaughlin had almost determined upon sending an armed force to Nesqually +to inquire into the matter, and if necessary, punish the Indians, when a +detachment of men arrived from that post, and the plot was exposed! The +design of the Indians had been simply to cause a division of the force at Vancouver, +after which they believed they might succeed in capturing and plundering +the fort. Had they truly been successful in this undertaking, every other +trading-post in the country would have been destroyed. But so long as the +head-quarters of the Company remained secure and powerful, the other stations +were comparatively safe.</p> + +<p>An incident which has been several times related, occurred at fort Walla-Walla, +and shows how narrow escapes the interior traders sometimes made. +The hero of this anecdote was Mr. McKinlay, one of the most estimable of the +Hudson's Bay Company's officers, in charge of the fort just named. An Indian +was one day lounging about the fort, and seeing some timbers lying in a heap +that had been squared for pack saddles, helped himself to one and commenced +cutting it down into a whip handle for his own use. To this procedure Mr. +McKinlay's clerk demurred, first telling the Indian its use, and then ordering +him to resign the piece of timber. The Indian insolently replied that the timber +was his, and he should take it. At this the clerk, with more temper than +prudence, struck the offender, knocking him over, soon after which the savage +left the fort with sullen looks boding vengeance. The next day Mr. McKinlay, +not being informed of what had taken place, was in a room of the fort with his +clerk when a considerable party of Indians began dropping quietly in until +there were fifteen or twenty of them inside the building. The first intimation +of anything wrong McKinlay received was when he observed the clerk pointed +out in a particular manner by one of the party. He instantly comprehended +the purpose of his visitors, and with that quickness of thought which is habitual +to the student of savage nature, he rushed into the store room and returned +with a powder keg, flint and steel. By this time the unlucky clerk was struggling +for his life with his vindictive foes. Putting down the powder in their +midst and knocking out the head of the keg with a blow, McKinlay stood over +it ready to strike fire with his flint and steel. The savages paused aghast. +They knew the nature of the "perilous stuff," and also understood the trader's +purpose. "Come," said he with a clear, determined voice, "you are twenty +braves against us two: now touch him if you dare, and see who dies first." In +a moment the fort was cleared, and McKinlay was left to inquire the cause of +what had so nearly been a tragedy. It is hardly a subject of doubt whether or +not his clerk got a scolding. Soon after, such was the powerful influence +exerted by these gentlemen, the chief of the tribe flogged the pilfering Indian +for the offence, and McKinlay became a great brave, a "big heart" for his +courage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was indeed necessary to have courage, patience, and prudence in dealing +with the Indians. These the Hudson's Bay officers generally possessed. Perhaps +the most irascible of them all in the Columbia District, was their chief, +Dr. McLaughlin; but such was his goodness and justice that even the savages +recognized it, and he was <i>hyas tyee</i>, or great chief, in all respects to them. +Being on one occasion very much annoyed by the pertinacity of an Indian who +was continually demanding pay for some stones with which the Doctor was +having a vessel ballasted, he seized one of some size, and thrusting it in the +Indian's mouth, cried out in a furious manner, "pay, pay! if the stones are +yours, take them and eat them, you rascal! Pay, pay! the devil! the devil!" +upon which explosion of wrath, the native owner of the soil thought it prudent +to withdraw his immediate claims.</p> + +<p>There was more, however, in the Doctor's action than mere indulgence of +wrath. He understood perfectly that the savage values only what he can eat +and wear, and that as he could not put the stones to either of these uses, his +demand for pay was an impudent one.</p> + +<p>Enough has been said to give the reader an insight into Indian character, to +prepare his mind for events which are to follow, to convey an idea of the influence +of the Hudson's Bay Company, and to show on what it was founded. +The American Fur Companies will now be sketched, and their mode of dealing +with the Indians contrasted with that of the British Company. The comparison +will not be favorable; but should any unfairness be suspected, a reference +to Mr. Irving's <i>Bonneville</i>, will show that the worthy Captain was forced to +witness against his own countrymen in his narrative of his hunting and trading +adventures in the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The dissolution of the Pacific Fur Company, the refusal of the United States +Government to protect Mr. Astor in a second attempt to carry on a commerce +with the Indians west of the Rocky Mountains, and the occupation of that +country by British traders, had the effect to deter individual enterprise from +again attempting to establish commerce on the Pacific coast. The people +waited for the Government to take some steps toward the encouragement of a +trans-continental trade; the Government beholding the lion (British) in the +way, waited for the expiration of the convention of 1818, in the Micawber-like +hope that something would "turn up" to settle the question of territorial sovereignty. +The war of 1812 had been begun on the part of Great Britain, to +secure the great western territories to herself for the profits of the fur trade, +almost solely. Failing in this, she had been compelled, by the treaty of Ghent, +to restore to the United States all the places and forts captured during that +war. Yet the forts and trading posts in the west remained practically in the +possession of Great Britain; for her traders and fur companies still roamed the +country, excluding American trade, and inciting (so the frontiers-men believed), +the Indians to acts of blood and horror.</p> + +<p>Congress being importuned by the people of the West, finally, in 1815, passed +an act expelling British traders from American territory east of the Rocky +Mountains. Following the passage of this act the hunters and trappers of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +old North American Company, at the head of which Mr. Astor still remained, +began to range the country about the head waters of the Mississippi and the +upper Missouri. Also a few American traders had ventured into the northern +provinces of Mexico, previous to the overthrow of the Spanish Government; +and after that event, a thriving trade grew up between St. Louis and Santa Fé.</p> + +<p>At length, in 1823, Mr. W.H. Ashley, of St. Louis, a merchant for a long +time engaged in the fur trade on the Missouri and its tributaries, determined to +push a trading party up to or beyond the Rocky Mountains. Following up +the Platte River, Mr. Ashley proceeded at the head of a large party with horses +and merchandise, as far as the northern branch of the Platte, called the Sweetwater. +This he explored to its source, situated in that remarkable depression +in the Rocky Mountains, known as the South Pass—the same which Fremont +<i>discovered</i> twenty years later, during which twenty years it was annually traveled +by trading parties, and just prior to Fremont's discovery, by missionaries +and emigrants destined to Oregon. To Mr. Ashley also belongs the credit of +having first explored the head-waters of the Colorado, called the Green River, +afterwards a favorite rendezvous of the American Fur Companies. The country +about the South Pass proved to be an entirely new hunting ground, and +very rich in furs, as here many rivers take their rise, whose head-waters furnished +abundant beaver. Here Mr. Ashley spent the summer, returning to St. +Louis in the fall with a valuable collection of skins.</p> + +<p>In 1824, Mr. Ashley repeated the expedition, extending it this time beyond +Green River as far as Great Salt Lake, near which to the south he discovered +another smaller lake, which he named Lake Ashley, after himself. On the +shores of this lake he built a fort for trading with the Indians, and leaving in it +about one hundred men, returned to St. Louis the second time with a large +amount of furs. During the time the fort was occupied by Mr. Ashley's men, a +period of three years, more than one hundred and eighty thousand dollars worth +of furs were collected and sent to St. Louis. In 1827, the fort, and all Mr. +Ashley's interest in the business, was sold to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, +at the head of which were Jedediah Smith, William Sublette, and David +Jackson, Sublette being the leading spirit in the Company.</p> + +<p>The custom of these enterprising traders, who had been in the mountains +since 1824, was to divide their force, each taking his command to a good hunting +ground, and returning at stated times to rendezvous, generally appointed +on the head-waters of Green River. Frequently the other fur companies, (for +there were other companies formed on the heels of Ashley's enterprise,) learning +of the place appointed for the yearly rendezvous, brought their goods to +the same resort, when an intense rivalry was exhibited by the several traders +as to which company should soonest dispose of its goods, getting, of course, the +largest amount of furs from the trappers and Indians. So great was the competition +in the years between 1826 and 1829, when there were about six hundred +American trappers in and about the Rocky Mountains, besides those of +the Hudson's Bay Company, that it was death for a man of one company to +dispose of his furs to a rival association. Even a "free trapper"—that is, one +not indentured, but hunting upon certain terms of agreement concerning the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +price of his furs and the cost of his outfit, only, dared not sell to any other +company than the one he had agreed with.</p> + +<p>Jedediah Smith, of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, during their first +year in the mountains, took a party of five trappers into Oregon, being the +first American, trader or other, to cross into that country since the breaking +up of Mr. Astor's establishment. He trapped on the head-waters of the Snake +River until autumn, when he fell in with a party of Hudson's Bay trappers, +and going with them to their post in the Flathead country, wintered there.</p> + +<p>Again, in 1826, Smith, Sublette, and Jackson, brought out a large number of +men to trap in the Snake River country, and entered into direct competition +with the Hudson's Bay Company, whom they opposed with hardly a degree +more of zeal than they competed with rival American traders: this one extra +degree being inspired by a "spirit of '76" toward anything British.</p> + +<p>After the Rocky Mountain Fur Company had extended its business by the +purchase of Mr. Ashley's interest, the partners determined to push their enterprise +to the Pacific coast, regardless of the opposition they were likely to encounter +from the Hudson's Bay traders. Accordingly, in the spring of 1827, +the Company was divided up into three parts, to be led separately, by different +routes, into the Indian Territory, nearer the ocean.</p> + +<p>Smith's route was from the Platte River, southwards to Santa Fé, thence to +the bay of San Francisco, and thence along the coast to the Columbia River. +His party were successful, and had arrived in the autumn of the following year +at the Umpqua River, about two hundred miles south of the Columbia, in +safety. Here one of those sudden reverses to which the "mountain-man" is +liable at any moment, overtook him. His party at this time consisted of thirteen +men, with their horses, and a collection of furs valued at twenty thousand +dollars. Arrived at the Umpqua, they encamped for the night on its southern +bank, unaware that the natives in this vicinity (the Shastas) were more fierce +and treacherous than the indolent tribes of California, for whom, probably, +they had a great contempt. All went well until the following morning, the +Indians hanging about the camp, but apparently friendly. Smith had just +breakfasted, and was occupied in looking for a fording-place for the animals, +being on a raft, and having with him a little Englishman and one Indian. +When they were in the middle of the river the Indian snatched Smith's gun +and jumped into the water. At the same instant a yell from the camp, which +was in sight, proclaimed that it was attacked. Quick as thought Smith +snatched the Englishman's gun, and shot dead the Indian in the river.</p> + +<p>To return to the camp was certain death. Already several of his men had +fallen; overpowered by numbers he could not hope that any would escape, and +nothing was left him but flight. He succeeded in getting to the opposite shore +with his raft before he could be intercepted, and fled with his companion, on +foot and with only one gun, and no provisions, to the mountains that border +the river. With great good fortune they were enabled to pass through the remaining +two hundred miles of their journey without accident, though not without +suffering, and reach Fort Vancouver in a destitute condition, where they +were kindly cared for.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of the men left in camp, only two escaped. One man named Black defended +himself until he saw an opportunity for flight, when he escaped to the +cover of the woods, and finally to a friendly tribe farther north, near the coast, +who piloted him to Vancouver. The remaining man was one Turner, of a very +powerful frame, who was doing camp duty as cook on this eventful morning. +When the Indians rushed upon him he defended himself with a huge firebrand, +or half-burnt poplar stick, with which he laid about him like Sampson, killing +four red-skins before he saw a chance of escape. Singularly, for one in his extremity, +he did escape, and also arrived at Vancouver that winter.</p> + +<p>Dr. McLaughlin received the unlucky trader and his three surviving men +with every mark and expression of kindness, and entertained them through the +winter. Not only this, but he dispatched a strong, armed party to the scene +of the disaster to punish the Indians and recover the stolen goods; all of which +was done at his own expense, both as an act of friendship toward his American +rivals, and as necessary to the discipline which they everywhere maintained +among the Indians. Should this offence go unpunished, the next attack might +be upon one of his own parties going annually down into California. Sir +George Simpson, the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, chanced to be +spending the winter at Vancouver. He offered to send Smith to London the +following summer, in the Company's vessel, where he might dispose of his furs +to advantage; but Smith declined this offer, and finally sold his furs to Dr. +McLaughlin, and returned in the spring to the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>On Sublette's return from St. Louis, in the summer of 1829, with men and +merchandise for the year's trade, he became uneasy on account of Smith's protracted +absence. According to a previous plan, he took a large party into the +Snake River country to hunt. Among the recruits from St. Louis was Joseph +L. Meek, the subject of the narrative following this chapter. Sublette not +meeting with Smith's party on its way from the Columbia, as he still hoped, at +length detailed a party to look for him on the head-waters of the Snake. Meek +was one of the men sent to look for the missing partner, whom he discovered +at length in Pierre's Hole, a deep valley in the mountains, from which issues +the Snake River in many living streams. Smith returned with the men to +camp, where the tale of his disasters was received after the manner of mountain-men, +simply declaring with a momentarily sobered countenance, that their +comrade has not been "in luck;" with which brief and equivocal expression +of sympathy the subject is dismissed. To dwell on the dangers incident to +their calling would be to half disarm themselves of their necessary courage; +and it is only when they are gathered about the fire in their winter camp, that +they indulge in tales of wild adventure and "hair-breadth 'scapes," or make +sorrowful reference to a comrade lost.</p> + +<p>Influenced by the hospitable treatment which Smith had received at the +hands of the Hudson's Bay Company, the partners now determined to withdraw +from competition with them in the Snake country, and to trap upon the +waters of the Colorado, in the neighborhood of their fort. But "luck," the +mountain-man's Providence, seemed to have deserted Smith. In crossing the +Colorado River with a considerable collection of skins, he was again attacked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +by Indians, and only escaped by losing all his property. He then went to St. +Louis for a supply of merchandise, and fitted out a trading party for Santa Fé; +but on his way to that place was killed in an encounter with the savages.</p> + +<p>Turner, the man who so valiantly wielded the firebrand on the Umpqua +River, several years later met with a similar adventure on the Rogue River, in +Southern Oregon, and was the means of saving the lives of his party by his +courage, strength, and alertness. He finally, when trapping had become unprofitable, +retired upon a farm in the Wallamet Valley, as did many other +mountain-men who survived the dangers of their perilous trade.</p> + +<p>After the death of Smith, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company continued its +operations under the command of Bridger, Fitzpatrick, and Milton Sublette, +brother of William. In the spring of 1830 they received about two hundred +recruits, and with little variation kept up their number of three or four hundred +men for a period of eight or ten years longer, or until the beaver were hunted +out of every nook and corner of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>Previous to 1835, there were in and about the Rocky Mountains, beside the +"American" and "Rocky Mountain" companies, the St. Louis Company, and +eight or ten "lone traders." Among these latter were William Sublette, +Robert Campbell, J.O. Pattie, Mr. Pilcher, Col. Charles Bent, St. Vrain, +William Bent, Mr. Gant, and Mr. Blackwell. All these companies and +traders more or less frequently penetrated into the countries of New Mexico, +Old Mexico, Sonora, and California; returning sometimes through the mountain +regions of the latter State, by the Humboldt River to the head-waters of +the Colorado. Seldom, in all their journeys, did they intrude on that portion +of the Indian Territory lying within three hundred miles of Fort Vancouver, +or which forms the area of the present State of Oregon.</p> + +<p>Up to 1832, the fur trade in the West had been chiefly conducted by merchants +from the frontier cities, especially by those of St. Louis. The old +"North American" was the only exception. But in the spring of this year, +Captain Bonneville, an United States officer on furlough, led a company of a +hundred men, with a train of wagons, horses and mules, with merchandise, into +the trapping grounds of the Rocky Mountains. His wagons were the first that +had ever crossed the summit of these mountains, though William Sublette had, +two or three years previous, brought wagons as far as the valley of the Wind +River, on the east side of the range. Captain Bonneville remained nearly +three years in the hunting and trapping grounds, taking parties of men into +the Colorado, Humboldt, and Sacramento valleys; but he realized no profits +from his expedition, being opposed and competed with by both British and +American traders of larger experience.</p> + +<p>But Captain Bonneville's venture was a fortunate one compared with that +of Mr. Nathaniel Wyeth of Massachusetts, who also crossed the continent in +1832, with the view of establishing a trade on the Columbia River. Mr. Wyeth +brought with him a small party of men, all inexperienced in frontier or mountain +life, and destined for a salmon fishery on the Columbia. He had reached +Independence, Missouri, the last station before plunging into the wilderness, and +found himself somewhat at a loss how to proceed, until, at this juncture, he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +overtaken by the party of William Sublette, from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains, +with whom he travelled in company to the rendezvous at Pierre's Hole.</p> + +<p>When Wyeth arrived at the Columbia River, after tarrying until he had +acquired some mountain experiences, he found that his vessel, which was loaded +with merchandise for the Columbia River trade, had not arrived. He remained +at Vancouver through the winter, the guest of the Hudson's Bay Company, +and either having learned or surmised that his vessel was wrecked, returned to +the United States in the following year. Not discouraged, however, he made +another venture in 1834, despatching the ship <i>May Dacre</i>, Captain Lambert, +for the Columbia River, with another cargo of Indian goods, traveling himself +overland with a party of two hundred men, and a considerable quantity of merchandise +which he expected to sell to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In +this expectation he was defeated by William Sublette, who had also brought out +a large assortment of goods for the Indian trade, and had sold out, supplying +the market, before Mr. Wyeth arrived.</p> + +<p>Wyeth then built a post, named Fort Hall, on Snake River, at the junction +of the Portneuf, where he stored his goods, and having detached most of his +men in trapping parties, proceeded to the Columbia River to meet the <i>May +Dacre</i>. He reached the Columbia about the same time with his vessel, and +proceeded at once to erect a salmon fishery. To forward this purpose he built +a post, called Fort William, on the lower end of Wappatoo (now known as +Sauvie's) Island, near where the Lower Wallamet falls into the Columbia. But +for various reasons he found the business on which he had entered unprofitable. +He had much trouble with the Indians, his men were killed or drowned, so that +by the time he had half a cargo of fish, he was ready to abandon the effort to +establish a commerce with the Oregon Indians, and was satisfied that no enterprise +less stupendous and powerful than that of the Hudson's Bay Company +could be long sustained in that country.</p> + +<p>Much complaint was subsequently made by Americans, chiefly Missionaries, +of the conduct of that company in not allowing Mr. Wyeth to purchase beaver +skins of the Indians, but Mr. Wyeth himself made no such complaint. Personally, +he was treated with unvarying kindness, courtesy, and hospitality. As a +trader, they would not permit him to undersell them. In truth, they no doubt +wished him away; because competition would soon ruin the business of either, +and they liked not to have the Indians taught to expect more than their furs +were worth, nor to have the Indians' confidence in themselves destroyed or +tampered with.</p> + +<p>The Hudson's Bay Company were hardly so unfriendly to him as the American +companies; since to the former he was enabled to sell his goods and fort on +the Snake River, before he returned to the United States, which he did in 1835.</p> + +<p>The sale of Fort Hall to the Hudson's Bay Company was a finishing blow at +the American fur trade in the Rocky Mountains, which after two or three years +of constantly declining profits, was entirely abandoned.</p> + +<p>Something of the dangers incident to the life of the hunter and trapper may +be gathered from the following statements, made by various parties who have +been engaged in it. In 1808, a Missouri Company engaged in fur hunting on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +the three forks of the river Missouri, were attacked by Blackfeet, losing twenty-seven +men, and being compelled to abandon the country. In 1823, Mr. Ashley +was attacked on the same river by the Arickaras, and had twenty-six men +killed. About the same time the Missouri company lost seven men, and fifteen +thousand dollars' worth of merchandise on the Yellowstone River. A few years +previous, Major Henry lost, on the Missouri River, six men and fifty horses. +In the sketch given of Smith's trading adventures is shown how uncertain were +life and property at a later period. Of the two hundred men whom Wyeth +led into the Indian country, only about forty were alive at the end of three +years. There was, indeed, a constant state of warfare between the Indians +and the whites, wherever the American Companies hunted, in which great +numbers of both lost their lives. Add to this cause of decimation the perils +from wild beasts, famine, cold, and all manner of accidents, and the trapper's +chance of life was about one in three.</p> + +<p>Of the causes which have produced the enmity of the Indians, there are +about as many. It was found to be the case almost universally, that on the +first visit of the whites the natives were friendly, after their natural fears had +been allayed. But by degrees their cupidity was excited to possess themselves +of the much coveted dress, arms, and goods of their visitors. As they had +little or nothing to offer in exchange, which the white man considered an equivalent, +they took the only method remaining of gratifying their desire of possession, +and <i>stole</i> the coveted articles which they could not purchase. When they +learned that the white men punished theft, they murdered to prevent the punishment. +Often, also, they had wrongs of their own to avenge. White men +did not always regard their property-rights. They were guilty of infamous +conduct toward Indian women. What one party of whites told them was true, +another plainly contradicted, leaving the lie between them. They were overbearing +toward the Indians on their own soil, exciting to irrepressible hostility +the natural jealousy of the inferior toward the superior race, where both are +free, which characterizes all people. In short, the Indians were not without +their grievances; and from barbarous ignorance and wrong on one side, and +intelligent wrong-doing on the other, together with the misunderstandings likely +to arise between two entirely distinct races, grew constantly a thousand abuses, +which resulted in a deadly enmity between the two.</p> + +<p>For several reasons this evil existed to a greater degree among the American +traders and trappers than among the British. The American trapper was not, +like the Hudson's Bay employees, bred to the business. Oftener than any +other way he was some wild youth who, after an <i>escapade</i> in the society of his +native place, sought safety from reproach or punishment in the wilderness. Or +he was some disappointed man who, with feelings embittered towards his fellows, +preferred the seclusion of the forest and mountain. Many were of a class disreputable +everywhere, who gladly embraced a life not subject to social laws. +A few were brave, independent, and hardy spirits, who delighted in the hardships +and wild adventures their calling made necessary. All these men, the +best with the worst, were subject to no will but their own; and all experience +goes to prove that a life of perfect liberty is apt to degenerate into a life of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +license. Even their own lives, and those of their companions, when it depended +upon their own prudence, were but lightly considered. The constant presence +of danger made them reckless. It is easy to conceive how, under these circumstances, +the natives and the foreigners grew to hate each other, in the +Indian country; especially after the Americans came to the determination to +"shoot an Indian at sight," unless he belonged to some tribe with whom they +had intermarried, after the manner of the trappers.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i042" name="i042"></a> +<img src="images/i042.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">WATCHING FOR INDIAN HORSE-THIEVES.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>On the other hand, the employees of the Hudson's Bay Company were many +of them half-breeds or full-blooded Indians of the Iroquois nation, towards +whom nearly all the tribes were kindly disposed. Even the Frenchmen who +trapped for this company were well liked by the Indians on account of their +suavity of manner, and the ease with which they adapted themselves to savage +life. Besides most of them had native wives and half-breed children, and were +regarded as relatives. They were trained to the life of a trapper, were subject +to the will of the Company, and were generally just and equitable in their dealings +with the Indians, according to that company's will, and the dictates of +prudence. Here was a wide difference.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this, there were many dangers to be encountered. The +hostility of some of the tribes could never be overcome; nor has it ever abated. +Such were the Crows, the Blackfeet, the Cheyennes, the Apaches, the Camanches. +Only a superior force could compel the friendly offices of these tribes +for any white man, and then their treachery was as dangerous as their open +hostility.</p> + +<p>It happened, therefore, that although the Hudson's Bay Company lost comparatively +few men by the hands of the Indians, they sometimes found them +implacable foes in common with the American trappers; and frequently one +party was very glad of the others' assistance. Altogether, as has before been +stated, the loss of life was immense in proportion to the number employed.</p> + +<p>Very few of those who had spent years in the Rocky Mountains ever returned +to the United States. With their Indian wives and half-breed children, they +scattered themselves throughout Oregon, until when, a number of years after +the abandonment of the fur trade, Congress donated large tracts of land to +actual settlers, they laid claim, each to his selected portion, and became active +citizens of their adopted state.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i044" name="i044"></a> +<img src="images/i044.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MAP OF THE FUR COUNTRY.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A TRAPPER AND PIONEER'S LIFE.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>As has been stated in the Introduction, Joseph L. Meek +was a native of Washington Co., Va. Born in the early +part of the present century, and brought up on a plantation +where the utmost liberty was accorded to the "young +massa;" preferring out-door sports with the youthful +bondsmen of his father, to study with the bald-headed +schoolmaster who furnished him the alphabet on a paddle; +possessing an exhaustless fund of waggish humor, united +to a spirit of adventure and remarkable personal strength, +he unwittingly furnished in himself the very material of +which the heroes of the wilderness were made. Virginia, +"the mother of Presidents," has furnished many such men, +who, in the early days of the now populous Western States, +became the hardy frontiers-men, or the fearless Indian +fighters who were the bone and sinew of the land.</p> + +<p>When young Joe was about eighteen years of age, he +wearied of the monotony of plantation life, and jumping +into the wagon of a neighbor who was going to Louisville, +Ky., started out in life for himself. He "reckoned +they did not grieve for him at home;" at which conclusion +others besides Joe naturally arrive on hearing of his +heedless disposition, and utter contempt for the ordinary +and useful employments to which other men apply themselves.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>Joe probably believed that should his father grieve for +him, his step-mother would be able to console him; this +step-mother, though a pious and good woman, not being +one of the lad's favorites, as might easily be conjectured. +It was such thoughts as these that kept up his resolution +to seek the far west. In the autumn of 1828 he arrived +in St. Louis, and the following spring he fell in with Mr. +Wm. Sublette, of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, who +was making his annual visit to that frontier town to purchase +merchandise for the Indian country, and pick up recruits +for the fur-hunting service. To this experienced +leader he offered himself.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i046" name="i046"></a> +<img src="images/i046.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">THE ENLISTMENT.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>"How old are you?" asked Sublette.</p> + +<p>"A little past eighteen."</p> + +<p>"And you want to go to the Rocky Mountains?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You don't know what you are talking about, boy. +You'll be killed before you get half way there."</p> + +<p>"If I do, I reckon I can die!" said Joe, with a flash of +his fall dark eyes, and throwing back his shoulders to show +their breadth.</p> + +<p>"Come," exclaimed the trader, eyeing the youthful candidate +with admiration, and perhaps a touch of pity also; +"that is the game spirit. I think you'll do, after all. +Only be prudent, and keep your wits about you."</p> + +<p>"Where else should they be?" laughed Joe, as he +marched off, feeling an inch or two taller than before.</p> + +<p>Then commenced the business of preparing for the journey—making +acquaintance with the other recruits—enjoying +the novelty of owning an outfit, being initiated into +the mysteries of camp duty by the few old hunters who +were to accompany the expedition, and learning something +of their swagger and disregard of civilized observances.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of March, 1829, the company, numbering +about sixty men, left St. Louis, and proceeded on horses +and mules, with pack-horses for the goods, up through the +state of Missouri. Camp-life commenced at the start; and +this being the season of the year when the weather is +most disagreeable, its romance rapidly melted away with +the snow and sleet which varied the sharp spring wind +and the frequent cold rains. The recruits went through +all the little mishaps incident to the business and to their +inexperience, such as involuntary somersaults over the +heads of their mules, bloody noses, bruises, dusty faces, +bad colds, accidents in fording streams,—yet withal no +very serious hurts or hindrances. Rough weather and severe +exercise gave them wolfish appetites, which sweetened +the coarse camp-fare and amateur cooking.</p> + +<p>Getting up at four o'clock of a March morning to kindle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +fires and attend to the animals was not the most delectable +duty that our labor-despising young recruit could +have chosen; but if he repented of the venture he had +made nobody was the wiser. Sleeping of stormy nights +in corn-cribs or under sheds, could not be by any stretch +of imagination converted into a highly romantic or heroic +mode of lodging one's self. The squalid manner of living +of the few inhabitants of Missouri at this period, gave a +forlorn aspect to the country which is lacking in the wilderness +itself;—a thought which sometimes occurred to +Joe like a hope for the future. Mountain-fare he began +to think must be better than the boiled corn and pork of +the Missourians. Antelope and buffalo meat were more +suitable viands for a hunter than coon and opossum. +Thus those very duties which seemed undignified, and +those hardships without danger or glory, which marked +the beginning of his career made him ambitious of a more +free and hazardous life on the plains and in the mountains.</p> + +<p>Among the recruits was a young man not far from Joe's +own age, named Robert Newell, from Ohio. One morning, +when the company was encamped near Boonville, the +two young men were out looking for their mules, when +they encountered an elderly woman returning from the +milking yard with a gourd of milk. Newell made some +remark on the style of vessel she carried, when she broke +out in a sharp voice,—</p> + +<p>"Young chap, I'll bet you run off from your mother! +Who'll mend them holes in the elbow of your coat? +You're a purty looking chap to go to the mountains, +among them Injuns! They'll <i>kill</i> you. You'd better go +back home!"</p> + +<p>Considering that these frontier people knew what Indian +fighting was, this was no doubt sound and disinter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>ested +advice, notwithstanding it was given somewhat +sharply. And so the young men felt it to be; but it was +not in the nature of either of them to turn back from a +course because there was danger in it. The thought of +home, and somebody to mend their coats, was, however, +for the time strongly presented. But the company moved +on, with undiminished numbers, stared at by the few inhabitants, +and having their own little adventures, until +they came to Independence, the last station before committing +themselves to the wilderness.</p> + +<p>At this place, which contained a dwelling-house, cotton-gin, +and grocery, the camp tarried for a few days to adjust +the packs, and prepare for a final start across the plains. +On Sunday the settlers got together for a shooting-match, +in which some of the travelers joined, without winning +many laurels. Coon-skins, deer-skins, and bees-wax +changed hands freely among the settlers, whose skill with +the rifle was greater than their hoard of silver dollars. +This was the last vestige of civilization which the company +could hope to behold for years; and rude as it was, +yet won from them many a parting look as they finally +took their way across the plains toward the Arkansas +River.</p> + +<p>Often on this part of the march a dead silence fell upon +the party, which remained unbroken for miles of the way. +Many no doubt were regretting homes by them abandoned, +or wondering dreamily how many and whom of that company +would ever see the Missouri country again. Many +indeed went the way the woman of the gourd had prophesied; +but not the hero of this story, nor his comrade +Newell.</p> + +<p>The route of Captain Sublette led across the country +from near the mouth of the Kansas River to the River Arkansas; +thence to the South Fork of the Platte; thence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +on to the North Fork of that River, to where Ft. Laramie +now stands; thence up the North Fork to the Sweetwater, +and thence across in a still northwesterly direction to the +head of Wind River.</p> + +<p>The manner of camp-travel is now so well known +through the writings of Irving, and still more from the +great numbers which have crossed the plains since <i>Astoria</i> +and <i>Bonneville</i> were written, that it would be superfluous +here to enter upon a particular description of a train on +that journey. A strict half-military discipline had to be +maintained, regular duties assigned to each person, precautions +taken against the loss of animals either by straying +or Indian stampeding, etc. Some of the men were +appointed as camp-keepers, who had all these things to +look after, besides standing guard. A few were selected +as hunters, and these were free to come and go, as +their calling required. None but the most experienced +were chosen for hunters, on a march; therefore our recruit +could not aspire to that dignity yet.</p> + +<p>The first adventure the company met with worthy of +mention after leaving Independence, was in crossing the +country between the Arkansas and the Platte. Here the +camp was surprised one morning by a band of Indians a +thousand strong, that came sweeping down upon them in +such warlike style that even Captain Sublette was fain to +believe it his last battle. Upon the open prairie there is +no such thing as flight, nor any cover under which to conceal +a party even for a few moments. It is always fight +or die, if the assailants are in the humor for war.</p> + +<p>Happily on this occasion the band proved to be more +peaceably disposed than their appearance indicated, being +the warriors of several tribes—the Sioux, Arapahoes, Kiowas, +and Cheyennes, who had been holding a council to +consider probably what mischief they could do to some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +other tribes. The spectacle they presented as they came +at full speed on horseback, armed, painted, brandishing +their weapons, and yelling in first-rate Indian style, was +one which might well strike with a palsy the stoutest +heart and arm. What were a band of sixty men against +a thousand armed warriors in full fighting trim, with +spears, shields, bows, battle-axes, and not a few guns?</p> + +<p>But it is the rule of the mountain-men to <i>fight</i>—and +that there is a chance for life until the breath is out of the +body; therefore Captain Sublette had his little force +drawn up in line of battle. On came the savages, whooping +and swinging their weapons above their heads. Sublette +turned to his men. "When you hear my shot, then +fire." Still they came on, until within about fifty paces +of the line of waiting men. Sublette turned his head, and +saw his command with their guns all up to their faces +ready to fire, then raised his own gun. Just at this moment +the principal chief sprang off his horse and laid his +weapon on the ground, making signs of peace. Then followed +a talk, and after the giving of a considerable present, +Sublette was allowed to depart. This he did with all +dispatch, the company putting as much distance as possible +between themselves and their visitors before making +their next camp. Considering the warlike character of +these tribes and their superior numbers, it was as narrow +an escape on the part of the company as it was an exceptional +freak of generosity on the part of the savages to +allow it. But Indians have all a great respect for a man +who shows no fear; and it was most probably the warlike +movement of Captain Sublette and his party which inspired +a willingness on the part of the chief to accept a +present, when he had the power to have taken the whole +train. Besides, according to Indian logic, the present +cost him nothing, and it might cost him many warriors to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +capture the train. Had there been the least wavering on +Sublette's part, or fear in the countenances of his men, the +end of the affair would have been different. This adventure +was a grand initiation of the raw recruits, giving +them both an insight into savage modes of attack, and an +opportunity to test their own nerve.</p> + +<p>The company proceeded without accident, and arrived, +about the first of July, at the rendezvous, which was appointed +for this year on the Popo Agie, one of the streams +which form the head-waters of Bighorn River.</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, young Joe had an opportunity of seeing +something of the life upon which he had entered. As +customary, when the traveling partner arrived at rendezvous +with the year's merchandise, there was a meeting of +all the partners, if they were within reach of the appointed +place. On this occasion Smith was absent on his tour +through California and Western Oregon, as has been +related in the prefatory chapter. Jackson, the resident +partner, and commander for the previous year, was not +yet in; and Sublette had just arrived with the goods +from St. Louis.</p> + +<p>All the different hunting and trapping parties and Indian +allies were gathered together, so that the camp contained +several hundred men, with their riding and pack-horses. +Nor were Indian women and children wanting to +give variety and an appearance of domesticity to the +scene.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i053" name="i053"></a> +<img src="images/i053.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE SUMMER RENDEZVOUS.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>The Summer rendezvous was always chosen in some +valley where there was grass for the animals, and game +for the camp. The plains along the Popo Agie, besides +furnishing these necessary bounties, were bordered by picturesque +mountain ranges, whose naked bluffs of red sandstone +glowed in the morning and evening sun with a mellowness +of coloring charming to the eye of the Virginia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +recruit. The waving grass of the plain, variegated with +wild flowers; the clear summer heavens flecked with +white clouds that threw soft shadows in passing; the grazing +animals scattered about the meadows; the lodges of +the <i>Booshways</i>,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> around which clustered the camp in +motley garb and brilliant coloring; gay laughter, and the +murmur of soft Indian voices, all made up a most spirited +and enchanting picture, in which the eye of an artist +could not fail to delight.</p> + +<p>But as the goods were opened the scene grew livelier. +All were eager to purchase, most of the trappers to the +full amount of their year's wages; and some of them, +generally free trappers, went in debt to the company to a +very considerable amount, after spending the value of a +year's labor, privation, and danger, at the rate of several +hundred dollars in a single day.</p> + +<p>The difference between a hired and a free trapper was +greatly in favor of the latter. The hired trapper was +regularly indentured, and bound not only to hunt and +trap for his employers, but also to perform any duty required +of him in camp. The Booshway, or the trader, or +the partisan, (leader of the detachment,) had him under +his command, to make him take charge of, load and unload +the horses, stand guard, cook, hunt fuel, or, in short, +do any and every duty. In return for this toilsome service +he received an outfit of traps, arms and ammunition, +horses, and whatever his service required. Besides his +outfit, he received no more than three or four hundred +dollars a year as wages.</p> + +<p>There was also a class of free trappers, who were furnished +with their outfit by the company they trapped for, +and who were obliged to agree to a certain stipulated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +price for their furs before the hunt commenced. But the +genuine free trapper regarded himself as greatly the superior +of either of the foregoing classes. He had his own +horses and accoutrements, arms and ammunition. He +took what route he thought fit, hunted and trapped when +and where he chose; traded with the Indians; sold his +furs to whoever offered highest for them; dressed flauntingly, +and generally had an Indian wife and half-breed +children. They prided themselves on their hardihood +and courage; even on their recklessness and profligacy. +Each claimed to own the best horse; to have had the +wildest adventures; to have made the most narrow escapes; +to have killed the greatest number of bears and Indians; +to be the greatest favorite with the Indian belles, +the greatest consumer of alcohol, and to have the most +money to spend, <i>i. e.</i> the largest credit on the books of +the company. If his hearers did not believe him, he was +ready to run a race with him, to beat him at "old sledge," +or to fight, if fighting was preferred,—ready to prove +what he affirmed in any manner the company pleased.</p> + +<p>If the free trapper had a wife, she moved with the +camp to which he attached himself, being furnished with +a fine horse, caparisoned in the gayest and costliest manner. +Her dress was of the finest goods the market afforded, +and was suitably ornamented with beads, ribbons, +fringes, and feathers. Her rank, too, as a free trapper's +wife, gave her consequence not only in her own eyes, but +in those of her tribe, and protected her from that slavish +drudgery to which as the wife of an Indian hunter or warrior +she would have been subject. The only authority +which the free trapper acknowledged was that of his Indian +spouse, who generally ruled in the lodge, however +her lord blustered outside.</p> + +<p>One of the free trapper's special delights was to take in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +hand the raw recruits, to gorge their wonder with his +boastful tales, and to amuse himself with shocking his pupil's +civilized notions of propriety. Joe Meek did not +escape this sort of "breaking in;" and if it should appear +in the course of this narrative that he proved an apt +scholar, it will but illustrate a truth—that high spirits and +fine talents tempt the tempter to win them over to his +ranks. But Joe was not won over all at once. He beheld +the beautiful spectacle of the encampment as it has +been described, giving life and enchantment to the summer +landscape, changed into a scene of the wildest carousal, +going from bad to worse, until from harmless +noise and bluster it came to fighting and loss of life. At +this first rendezvous he was shocked to behold the revolting +exhibition of four trappers playing at a game of cards +with the dead body of a comrade for a card-table! Such +was the indifference to all the natural and ordinary emotions +which these veterans of the wilderness cultivated in +themselves, and inculcated in those who came under their +influence. Scenes like this at first had the effect to bring +feelings of home-sickness, while it inspired by contrast a +sort of penitential and religious feeling also. According +to Meek's account of those early days in the mountains, +he said some secret prayers, and shed some secret tears. +But this did not last long. The force of example, and especially +the force of ridicule, is very potent with the +young; nor are we quite free from their influence later in +life.</p> + +<p>If the gambling, swearing, drinking, and fighting at +first astonished and alarmed the unsophisticated Joe, he +found at the same time something to admire, and that he +felt to be congenial with his own disposition, in the fearlessness, +the contempt of sordid gain, the hearty merriment +and frolicsome abandon of the better portion of the men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +about him. A spirit of emulation arose in him to become +as brave as the bravest, as hardy as the hardiest, and as +gay as the gayest, even while his feelings still revolted at +many things which his heroic models were openly guilty of. +If at any time in the future course of this narrative, Joe is +discovered to have taken leave of his early scruples, the +reader will considerately remember the associations by +which he was surrounded for years, until the memory of +the pious teachings of his childhood was nearly, if not +quite, obliterated. To "nothing extenuate, nor set down +aught in malice," should be the frame of mind in which +both the writer and reader of Joe's adventures should +strive to maintain himself.</p> + +<p>Before our hero is ushered upon the active scenes of a +trapper's life, it may be well to present to the reader a +sort of <i>guide to camp life</i>, in order that he may be able +to understand some of its technicalities, as they may be +casually mentioned hereafter.</p> + +<p>When the large camp is on the march, it has a leader, +generally one of the Booshways, who rides in advance, or +at the head of the column. Near him is a led mule, chosen +for its qualities of speed and trustworthiness, on which +are packed two small trunks that balance each other like +panniers, and which contain the company's books, papers, +and articles of agreement with the men. Then follow +the pack animals, each one bearing three packs—one on +each side, and one on top—so nicely adjusted as not to slip +in traveling. These are in charge of certain men called +camp-keepers, who have each three of these to look after. +The trappers and hunters have two horses, or mules, one +to ride, and one to pack their traps. If there are women +and children in the train, all are mounted. Where the +country is safe, the caravan moves in single file, often +stretching out for half or three-quarters of a mile. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +the end of the column rides the second man, or "little +Booshway," as the men call him; usually a hired officer, +whose business it is to look after the order and condition +of the whole camp.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i059" name="i059"></a> +<img src="images/i059.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MULE PACKING.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>On arriving at a suitable spot to make the night camp, +the leader stops, dismounts in the particular space which +is to be devoted to himself in its midst. The others, as +they come up, form a circle; the "second man" bringing +up the rear, to be sure all are there. He then proceeds +to appoint every man a place in the circle, and to examine +the horses' backs to see if any are sore. The horses +are then turned out, under a guard, to graze; but before +darkness comes on are placed inside the ring, and picketed +by a stake driven in the earth, or with two feet +so tied together as to prevent easy or free locomotion. +The men are divided into messes: so many trappers and +so many camp-keepers to a mess. The business of eating +is not a very elaborate one, where the sole article of diet +is meat, either dried or roasted. By a certain hour all is +quiet in camp, and only the guard is awake. At times +during the night, the leader, or the officer of the guard, +gives the guard a challenge—"all's well!" which is answered +by "all's well!"</p> + +<p>In the morning at daylight, or sometimes not till sunrise, +according to the safe or dangerous locality, the second +man comes forth from his lodge and cries in French, +"<i>leve, leve, leve, leve, leve!</i>" fifteen or twenty times, which +is the command to rise. In about five minutes more he +cries out again, in French, "<i>leche lego, leche lego!</i>" or +turn out, turn out; at which command all come out from +the lodges, and the horses are turned loose to feed; but +not before a horseman has galloped all round the camp at +some distance, and discovered every thing to be safe in +the neighborhood. Again, when the horses have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +sufficiently fed, under the eye of a guard, they are driven +up, the packs replaced, the train mounted, and once more +it moves off, in the order before mentioned.</p> + +<p>In a settled camp, as in winter, there are other regulations. +The leader and the second man occupy the same +relative positions; but other minor regulations are observed. +The duty of a trapper, for instance, in the trapping +season, is only to trap, and take care of his own +horses. When he comes in at night, he takes his beaver +to the clerk, and the number is counted off, and placed to +his credit. Not he, but the camp-keepers, take off the +skins and dry them. In the winter camp there are six +persons to a lodge: four trappers and two camp-keepers; +therefore the trappers are well waited upon, their only +duty being to hunt, in turns, for the camp. When a piece +of game is brought in,—a deer, an antelope, or buffalo +meat,—it is thrown down on the heap which accumulates +in front of the Booshway's lodge; and the second man +stands by and cuts it up, or has it cut up for him. The +first man who chances to come along, is ordered to stand +still and turn his back to the pile of game, while the +"little Booshway" lays hold of a piece that has been cut +off, and asks in a loud voice—"who will have this?"—and +the man answering for him, says, "the Booshway," +or perhaps "number six," or "number twenty"—meaning +certain messes; and the number is called to come and +take their meat. In this blind way the meat is portioned +off; strongly reminding one of the game of "button, +button, who has the button?" In this chance game of +the meat, the Booshway fares no better than his men; +unless, in rare instances, the little Booshway should indicate +to the man who calls off, that a certain choice piece +is designed for the mess of the leader or the second man.</p> + +<p>A gun is never allowed to be fired in camp under any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +provocation, short of an Indian raid; but the guns are +frequently inspected, to see if they are in order; and +woe to the careless camp-keeper who neglects this or any +other duty. When the second man comes around, and +finds a piece of work imperfectly done, whether it be +cleaning the firearms, making a hair rope, or a skin lodge, +or washing a horse's back, he does not threaten the +offender with personal chastisement, but calls up another +man and asks him, "Can <i>you</i> do this properly?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"I will give you ten dollars to do it;" and the ten +dollars is set down to the account of the inefficient camp-keeper. +But he does not risk forfeiting another ten dollars +in the same manner.</p> + +<p>In the spring, when the camp breaks up, the skins +which have been used all winter for lodges are cut up to +make moccasins: because from their having been thoroughly +smoked by the lodge fires they do not shrink in +wetting, like raw skins. This is an important quality in a +moccasin, as a trapper is almost constantly in the water, +and should not his moccasins be smoked they will close +upon his feet, in drying, like a vice. Sometimes after +trapping all day, the tired and soaked trapper lies down +in his blankets at night, still wet. But by-and-by he is +wakened by the pinching of his moccasins, and is obliged +to rise and seek the water again to relieve himself of the +pain. For the same reason, when spring comes, the trapper +is forced to cut off the lower half of his buckskin +breeches, and piece them down with blanket leggins, +which he wears all through the trapping season.</p> + +<p>Such were a few of the peculiarities, and the hardships +also, of a life in the Rocky Mountains. If the camp discipline, +and the dangers and hardships to which a raw recruit +was exposed, failed to harden him to the service in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +one year, he was rejected as a "trifling fellow," and sent +back to the settlement the next year. It was not probable, +therefore, that the mountain-man often was detected +in complaining at his lot. If he was miserable, he was +laughed at; and he soon learned to laugh at his own miseries, +as well as to laugh back at his comrades.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>The business of the rendezvous occupied about a +month. In this period the men, Indian allies, and other +Indian parties who usually visited the camp at this time, +were all supplied with goods. The remaining merchandise +was adjusted for the convenience of the different traders +who should be sent out through all the country traversed +by the company. Sublette then decided upon their routes, +dividing up his forces into camps, which took each its appointed +course, detaching as it proceeded small parties of +trappers to all the hunting grounds in the neighborhood. +These smaller camps were ordered to meet at certain times +and places, to report progress, collect and cache their furs, +and "count noses." If certain parties failed to arrive, +others were sent out in search for them.</p> + +<p>This year, in the absence of Smith and Jackson, a considerable +party was dispatched, under Milton Sublette, +brother of the Captain, and two other free trappers and +traders, Frapp and Jervais, to traverse the country down +along the Bighorn River. Captain Sublette took a large +party, among whom was Joe Meek, across the mountains +to trap on the Snake River, in opposition to the Hudson's +Bay Company. The Rocky Mountain Fur Company had +hitherto avoided this country, except when Smith had +once crossed to the head-waters of the Snake with a small +party of five trappers. But Smith and Sublette had +determined to oppose themselves to the British traders<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +who occupied so large an extent of territory presumed to +be American; and it had been agreed between them to +meet this year on Snake River on Sublette's return from +St. Louis, and Smith's from his California tour. What +befel Smith's party before reaching the Columbia, has +already been related; also his reception by the Hudson's +Bay Company, and his departure from Vancouver.</p> + +<p>Sublette led his company up the valley of the Wind +River, across the mountains, and on to the very head-waters +of the Lewis or Snake River. Here he fell in with Jackson, +in the valley of Lewis Lake, called Jackson's Hole, +and remained on the borders of this lake for some time, +waiting for Smith, whose non-appearance began to create +a good deal of uneasiness. At length runners were dispatched +in all directions looking for the lost Booshway.</p> + +<p>The detachment to which Meek was assigned had the +pleasure and honor of discovering the hiding place of the +missing partner, which was in Pierre's Hole, a mountain +valley about thirty miles long and of half that width, +which subsequently was much frequented by the camps of +the various fur companies. He was found trapping and +exploring, in company with four men only, one of whom +was Black, who with him escaped from the Umpqua Indians, +as before related.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the excitement and elation attendant +upon the success of his party, Meek found time to admire +the magnificent scenery of the valley, which is bounded +on two sides by broken and picturesque ranges, and overlooked +by that magnificent group of mountains, called +the Three Tetons, towering to a height of fourteen thousand +feet. This emerald cup set in its rim of amethystine +mountains, was so pleasant a sight to the mountain-men +that camp was moved to it without delay, where it remained +until some time in September, recruiting its animals +and preparing for the fall hunt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here again the trappers indulged in their noisy sports +and rejoicing, ostensibly on account of the return of the +long-absent Booshway. There was little said of the men +who had perished in that unfortunate expedition. "Poor +fellow! out of luck;" was the usual burial rite which +the memory of a dead comrade received. So much and +no more. They could indulge in noisy rejoicings over a +lost comrade restored; but the dead one was not mentioned. +Nor was this apparently heartless and heedless +manner so irrational or unfeeling as it seemed. Everybody +understood one thing in the mountains—that he must +keep his life by his own courage and valor, or at the least +by his own prudence. Unseen dangers always lay in +wait for him. The arrow or tomahawk of the Indian, the +blow of the grizzly bear, the mis-step on the dizzy or slippery +height, the rush of boiling and foaming floods, freezing +cold, famine—these were the most common forms of +peril, yet did not embrace even then all the forms in which +Death sought his victims in the wilderness. The avoidance +of painful reminders, such as the loss of a party of +men, was a natural instinct, involving also a principle of +self defence—since to have weak hearts would be the +surest road to defeat in the next dangerous encounter. +To keep their hearts "big," they must be gay, they must +not remember the miserable fate of many of their one-time +comrades. Think of that, stern moralist and martinet in +propriety! Your fur collar hangs in the gas-lighted hall. +In your luxurious dressing gown and slippers, by the +warmth of a glowing grate, you muse upon the depravity +of your fellow men. But imagine yourself, if you can, in +the heart of an interminable wilderness. Let the snow +be three or four feet deep, game scarce, Indians on your +track: escaped from these dangers, once more beside a +camp fire, with a roast of buffalo meat on a stick before it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and several of your companions similarly escaped, and +destined for the same chances to-morrow, around you. Do +you fancy you should give much time to lamenting the less +lucky fellows who were left behind frozen, starved, or +scalped? Not you. You would be fortifying yourself +against to-morrow, when the same terrors might lay in +wait for you. Jedediah Smith was a pious man; one of +the few that ever resided in the Rocky Mountains, and led +a band of reckless trappers; but he did not turn back +to his camp when he saw it attacked on the Umpqua, +nor stop to lament his murdered men. The law of self-preservation +is strong in the wilderness. "Keep up your +heart to-day, for to-morrow you may die," is the motto +of the trapper.</p> + +<p>In the conference which took place between Smith and +Sublette, the former insisted that on account of the kind +services of the Hudson's Bay Company toward himself +and the three other survivors of his party, they should +withdraw their trappers and traders from the western side +of the mountains for the present, so as not to have them +come in conflict with those of that company. To this +proposition Sublette reluctantly consented, and orders +were issued for moving once more to the east, before going +into winter camp, which was appointed for the Wind +River Valley.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Joe Meek was sent out with a party to +take his first hunt for beaver as a hired trapper. The +detachment to which he belonged traveled down Pierre's +fork, the stream which watered the valley of Pierre's Hole, +to its junction with Lewis' and Henry's forks where they +unite to form the great Snake River. While trapping in +this locality the party became aware of the vicinity of a +roving band of Blackfeet, and in consequence, redoubled +their usual precautions while on the march.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Blackfeet were the tribe most dreaded in the Rocky +Mountains, and went by the name of "Bugs Boys," which +rendered into good English, meant "the devil's own." +They are now so well known that to mention their characteristics +seems like repeating a "twice-told tale;" but as +they will appear so often in this narrative, Irving's account +of them as he had it from Bonneville when he was fresh +from the mountains, will, after all, not be out of place. +"These savages," he says, "are the most dangerous banditti +of the mountains, and the inveterate foe of the trapper. +They are Ishmaelites of the first order, always with +weapon in hand, ready for action. The young braves of +the tribe, who are destitute of property, go to war for +booty; to gain horses, and acquire the means of setting +up a lodge, supporting a family, and entitling themselves +to a seat in the public councils. The veteran warriors +fight merely for the love of the thing, and the consequence +which success gives them among their people. +They are capital horsemen, and are generally well mounted +on short, stout horses, similar to the prairie ponies, to be +met with in St. Louis. When on a war party, however, +they go on foot, to enable them to skulk through the +country with greater secrecy; to keep in thickets and ravines, +and use more adroit subterfuges and stratagems. +Their mode of warfare is entirely by ambush, surprise, +and sudden assaults in the night time. If they succeed +in causing a panic, they dash forward with headlong fury; +if the enemy is on the alert, and shows no signs of fear, +they become wary and deliberate in their movements.</p> + +<p>"Some of them are armed in the primitive style, with +bows and arrows; the greater part have American fusees, +made after the fashion of those of the Hudson's Bay Company. +These they procure at the trading post of the +American Fur Company, on Maria's River, where they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +traffic their peltries for arms, ammunition, clothing, and +trinkets. They are extremely fond of spirituous liquors +and tobacco, for which nuisances they are ready to exchange, +not merely their guns and horses, but even their wives +and daughters. As they are a treacherous race, and have +cherished a lurking hostility to the whites, ever since one +of their tribe was killed by Mr. Lewis, the associate of +General Clarke, in his exploring expedition across the +Rocky Mountains, the American Fur Company is obliged +constantly to keep at their post a garrison of sixty or seventy +men."</p> + +<p>"Under the general name of Blackfeet are comprehended +several tribes, such as the Surcies, the Peagans, +the Blood Indians, and the Gros Ventres of the Prairies, +who roam about the Southern branches of the Yellowstone +and Missouri Rivers, together with some other tribes +further north. The bands infesting the Wind River +Mountains, and the country adjacent, at the time of which +we are treating, were Gros Ventres <i>of the Prairies</i>, which +are not to be confounded with the Gros Ventres <i>of the +Missouri</i>, who keep about the <i>lower</i> part of that river, and +are friendly to the white men."</p> + +<p>"This hostile band keeps about the head-waters of the +Missouri, and numbers about nine hundred fighting men. +Once in the course of two or three years they abandon +their usual abodes and make a visit to the Arapahoes of +the Arkansas. Their route lies either through the Crow +country, and the Black Hills, or through the lands of the +Nez Perces, Flatheads, Bannacks, and Shoshonies. As +they enjoy their favorite state of hostility with all these +tribes, their expeditions are prone to be conducted in the +most lawless and predatory style; nor do they hesitate to +extend their maraudings to any party of white men they +meet with, following their trail, hovering about their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +camps, waylaying and dogging the caravans of the free +traders, and murdering the solitary trapper. The consequences +are frequent and desperate fights between them +and the mountaineers, in the wild defiles and fastnesses of +the Rocky Mountains." Such were the Blackfeet at the +period of which we are writing; nor has their character +changed at this day, as many of the Montana miners know +to their cost.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>1830. Sublette's camp commenced moving back to the +east side of the Rocky Mountains in October. Its course +was up Henry's fork of the Snake River, through the North +Pass to Missouri Lake, in which rises the Madison fork of +the Missouri River. The beaver were very plenty on +Henry's fork, and our young trapper had great success in +making up his packs; having learned the art of setting +his traps very readily. The manner in which the trapper +takes his game is as follows:—</p> + +<p>He has an ordinary steel trap weighing five pounds, attached +to a chain five feet long, with a swivel and ring at +the end, which plays round what is called the <i>float</i>, a dry +stick of wood, about six feet long. The trapper wades +out into the stream, which is shallow, and cuts with his +knife a bed for the trap, five or six inches under water. +He then takes the float out the whole length of the chain +in the direction of the centre of the stream, and drives it +into the mud, so fast that the beaver cannot draw it out; +at the same time tying the other end by a thong to the +bank. A small stick or twig, dipped in musk or castor, +serves for bait, and is placed so as to hang directly above +the trap, which is now set. The trapper then throws water +plentifully over the adjacent bank to conceal any foot +prints or scent by which the beaver would be alarmed, +and going to some distance wades out of the stream.</p> + +<p>In setting a trap, several things are to be observed with +care:—first, that the trap is firmly fixed, and the proper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +distance from the bank—for if the beaver can get on +shore with the trap, he will cut off his foot to escape: secondly, +that the float is of dry wood, for should it not be, +the little animal will cut it off at a stroke, and swimming +with the trap to the middle of the dam, be drowned by +its weight. In the latter case, when the hunter visits his +traps in the morning, he is under the necessity of plunging +into the water and swimming out to dive for the missing +trap, and his game. Should the morning be frosty +and chill, as it very frequently is in the mountains, diving +for traps is not the pleasantest exercise. In placing the +bait, care must be taken to fix it just where the beaver in +reaching it will spring the trap. If the bait-stick be +placed high, the hind foot of the beaver will be caught: +if low, his fore foot.</p> + +<p>The manner in which the beavers make their dam, +and construct their lodge, has long been reckoned among +the wonders of the animal creation; and while some +observers have claimed for the little creature more sagacity +than it really possesses, its instinct is still sufficiently +wonderful. It is certainly true that it knows how +to keep the water of a stream to a certain level, by means +of an obstruction; and that it cuts down trees for the purpose +of backing up the water by a dam. It is not true, +however, that it can always fell a tree in the direction required +for this purpose. The timber about a beaver dam +is felled in all directions; but as trees that grow near the +water, generally lean towards it, the tree, when cut, takes +the proper direction by gravitation alone. The beaver +then proceeds to cut up the fallen timber into lengths of +about three feet, and to convey them to the spot where +the dam is to be situated, securing them in their places +by means of mud and stones. The work is commenced +when the water is low, and carried on as it rises, until it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +has attained the desired height. And not only is it made +of the requisite height and strength, but its shape is suited +exactly to the nature of the stream in which it is built. +If the water is sluggish the dam is straight; if rapid and +turbulent, the barrier is constructed of a convex form, the +better to resist the action of the water.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i074" name="i074"></a> +<img src="images/i074.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">BEAVER-DAM.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>When the beavers have once commenced a dam, its extent +and thickness are continually augmented, not only by +their labors, but by accidental accumulations; thus accommodating +itself to the size of the growing community. +At length, after a lapse of many years, the water being +spread over a considerable tract, and filled up by yearly +accumulations of drift-wood and earth, seeds take root +in the new made ground, and the old beaver-dams become +green meadows, or thickets of cotton-wood and +willow.</p> + +<p>The food on which the beaver subsists, is the bark of +the young trees in its neighborhood; and when laying up +a winter store, the whole community join in the labor of +selecting, cutting up, and carrying the strips to their store-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>houses +under water. They do not, as some writers have +affirmed, when cutting wood for a dam strip off the bark +and store it in their lodges for winter consumption; but +only carry under water the stick with the bark on.</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The beaver has two incisors and eight molars in each jaw; and empty hollows +where the canine teeth might be. The upper pair of cutting teeth extend +far into the jaw, with a curve of rather more than a semicircle; and the lower +pair of incisors form rather less than a semicircle. Sometimes, one of these +teeth gets broken and then the opposite tooth continues growing until it forms a +nearly complete circle. The chewing muscle of the beaver is strengthened by +tendons in such a way as to give it great power. But more is needed to enable +the beaver to eat wood. The insalivation of the dry food is provided for by the +extraordinary size of the salivary glands.</p> + +<p>"Now, every part of these instruments is of vital importance to the beavers. +The loss of an incisor involves the formation of an obstructive circular tooth; +deficiency of saliva renders the food indigestible; and when old age comes and +the enamel is worn down faster than it is renewed, the beaver is not longer able +to cut branches for its support. Old, feeble and poor, unable to borrow, and +ashamed to beg, he steals cuttings, and subjects himself to the penalty assigned +to theft. Aged beavers are often found dead with gashes in their bodies, showing +that they have been killed by their mates. In the fall of 1864, a very aged +beaver was caught in one of the dams of the Esconawba River, and this was the +reflection of a great authority on the occasion, one Ah-she-goes, an Ojibwa trapper: +'Had he escaped the trap he would have been killed before the winter was +over, by other beavers, for stealing cuttings.'</p> + +<p>"When the beavers are about two or three years old, their teeth are in their +best condition for cutting. On the Upper Missouri, they cut the cotton tree and +the willow bush; around Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior, in addition to the +willow they cut the poplar and maple, hemlock, spruce and pine. The cutting +is round and round, and deepest upon the side on which they wish the tree to +fall. Indians and trappers have seen beavers cutting trees. The felling of a +tree is a family affair. No more than a single pair with two or three young +ones are engaged at a time. The adults take the cutting in turns, one gnawing +and the other watching; and occasionally a youngster trying his incisors. +The beaver whilst gnawing sits on his plantigrade hind legs, which keep him +conveniently upright. When the tree begins to crackle the beavers work cautiously, +and when it crashes down they plunge into the pond, fearful lest the +noise should attract an enemy to the spot. After the tree-fall, comes the lopping +of the branches. A single tree may be winter provision for a family. Branches +five or six inches thick have to be cut into proper lengths for transport, and are +then taken home."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The lodge of a beaver is generally about six feet in di<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>ameter, +on the inside, and about half as high. They are +rounded or dome-shaped on the outside, with very thick +walls, and communicate with the land by subterranean +passages, below the depth at which the water freezes in +winter. Each lodge is made to accommodate several inmates, +who have their beds ranged round the walls, much +as the Indian does in his tent. They are very cleanly, +too, and after eating, carry out the sticks that have been +stripped, and either use them in repairing their dam, or +throw them into the stream below.</p> + +<p>During the summer months the beavers abandon their +lodges, and disport themselves about the streams, sometimes +going on long journeys; or if any remain at home, +they are the mothers of young families. About the last +of August the community returns to its home, and begins +preparations for the domestic cares of the long winter +months.</p> + +<p>An exception to this rule is that of certain individuals, +who have no families, make no dam, and never live in +lodges, but burrow in subterranean tunnels. They are always +found to be males, whom the French trappers call +"les parasseux," or idlers; and the American trappers, +"bachelors." Several of them are sometimes found in +one abode, which the trappers facetiously denominate +"bachelor's hall." Being taken with less difficulty than +the more domestic beaver, the trapper is always glad to +come upon their habitations.</p> + +<p>The trapping season is usually in the spring and autumn. +But should the hunters find it necessary to continue +their work in winter, they capture the beaver by +sounding on the ice until an aperture is discovered, when +the ice is cut away and the opening closed up. Returning +to the bank, they search for the subterranean passage, tracing +its connection with the lodge; and by patient watching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +succeed in catching the beaver on some of its journeys +between the water and the land. This, however, is not +often resorted to when the hunt in the fall has been successful; +or when not urged by famine to take the beaver +for food.</p> + +<p>"Occasionally it happens," says Captain Bonneville, +"that several members of a beaver family are trapped in +succession. The survivors then become extremely shy, +and can scarcely be "brought to medicine," to use the +trappers' phrase for "taking the bait." In such case, the +trapper gives up the use of the bait, and conceals his traps +in the usual paths and crossing places of the household. +The beaver being now completely "up to trap," approaches +them cautiously, and springs them, ingeniously, +with a stick. At other times, he turns the traps bottom +upwards, by the same means, and occasionally even drags +them to the barrier, and conceals them in the mud. The +trapper now gives up the contest of ingenuity, and shouldering +his traps, marches off, admitting that he is not yet +"up to beaver."</p> + +<p>Before the camp moved from the forks of the Snake +River, the haunting Blackfeet made their appearance +openly. It was here that Meek had his first battle with +that nation, with whom he subsequently had many a savage +contest. They attacked the camp early in the morning, +just as the call to turn out had sounded. But they +had miscalculated their opportunity: the design having evidently +been to stampede the horses and mules, at the hour +and moment of their being turned loose to graze. They +had been too hasty by a few minutes, so that when they +charged on the camp pell-mell, firing a hundred guns at +once, to frighten both horses and men, it happened that +only a few of the animals had been turned out, and they +had not yet got far off. The noise of the charge only +turned them back to camp.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>In an instant's time, Fitzpatrick was mounted, and commanding +the men to follow, he galloped at headlong +speed round and round the camp, to drive back such of the +horses as were straying, or had been frightened from their +pickets. In this race, two horses were shot under him; +but he escaped, and the camp-horses were saved. The +battle now was to punish the thieves. They took their +position, as usual with Indian fighters, in a narrow ravine; +from whence the camp was forced to dislodge them, at a +great disadvantage. This they did do, at last, after six +hours of hard fighting, in which a few men were wounded, +but none killed. The thieves skulked off, through the +canyon, when they found themselves defeated, and were +seen no more until the camp came to the woods which +cover the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>But as the camp moved eastward, or rather in a northeasterly +direction, through the pine forests between Pierre's +Hole and the head-waters of the Missouri, it was continually +harrassed by Blackfeet, and required a strong +guard at night, when these marauders delighted to make +an attack. The weather by this time was very cold in +the mountains, and chilled the marrow of our young Virginian. +The travel was hard, too, and the recruits pretty +well worn out.</p> + +<p>One cold night, Meek was put on guard on the further +side of the camp, with a veteran named Reese. But +neither the veteran nor the youngster could resist the approaches +of "tired Nature's sweet restorer," and went to +sleep at their post of duty. When, during the night, +Sublette came out of his tent and gave the challenge—"All's +well!" there was no reply. To quote Meek's own +language, "Sublette came round the horse-pen swearing +and snorting. He was powerful mad. Before he got to +where Reese was, he made so much noise that he waked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +him; and Reese, in a loud whisper, called to him, 'Down, +Billy! Indians!' Sublette got down on his belly mighty +quick. 'Whar? whar?' he asked.</p> + +<p>"'They were right there when you hollered so,' said +Reese.</p> + +<p>"'Where is Meek?' whispered Sublette.</p> + +<p>"'He is trying to shoot one,' answered Reese, still in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Reese then crawled over to whar I war, and told me +what had been said, and informed me what to do. In a +few minutes I crept cautiously over to Reese's post, when +Sublette asked me how many Indians had been thar, and +I told him I couldn't make out their number. In the +morning a pair of Indian moccasins war found whar Reese +<i>saw the Indians</i>, which I had <i>taken care to leave there</i>; +and thus confirmed, our story got us the credit of vigilance, +instead of our receiving our just dues for neglect +of duty."</p> + +<p>It was sometime during the fall hunt in the Pine Woods, +on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, that Meek had +one of his earliest adventures with a bear. Two comrades, +Craig and Nelson, and himself, while out trapping, +left their horses, and traveled up a creek on foot, in search +of beaver. They had not proceeded any great distance, +before they came suddenly face to face with a red bear; +so suddenly, indeed, that the men made a spring for the +nearest trees. Craig and Meek ascended a large pine, +which chanced to be nearest, and having many limbs, was +easy to climb. Nelson happened to take to one of two +small trees that grew close together; and the bear, fixing +upon him for a victim, undertook to climb after him. +With his back against one of these small trees, and his +feet against the other, his bearship succeeded in reaching +a point not far below Nelson's perch, when the trees<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +opened with his weight, and down he went, with a shock +that fairly shook the ground. But this bad luck only +seemed to infuriate the beast, and up he went again, with +the same result, each time almost reaching his enemy. +With the second tumble he was not the least discouraged; +but started up the third time, only to be dashed once +more to the ground when he had attained a certain height. +At the third fall, however, he became thoroughly disgusted +with his want of success, and turned and ran at +full speed into the woods.</p> + +<p>"Then," says Meek, "Craig began to sing, and I began +to laugh; but Nelson took to swearing. 'O yes, you can +laugh and sing now,' says Nelson; 'but you war quiet +enough when the bear was around.' 'Why, Nelson,' I +answered, 'you wouldn't have us noisy before that distinguished +guest of yours?' But Nelson damned the +wild beast; and Craig and I laughed, and said he didn't +seem wild a bit. That's the way we hector each other in +the mountains. If a man gets into trouble he is only +laughed at: 'let him keep out; let him have better luck,' +is what we say."</p> + +<p>The country traversed by Sublette in the fall of 1829, +was unknown at that period, even to the fur companies, +they having kept either farther to the south or to the +north. Few, if any, white men had passed through it +since Lewis and Clarke discovered the head-waters of the +Missouri and the Snake Rivers, which flow from the opposite +sides of the same mountain peaks. Even the toils +and hardships of passing over mountains at this season of +the year, did not deprive the trapper of the enjoyment +of the magnificent scenery the region afforded. Splendid +views, however, could not long beguile men who had +little to eat, and who had yet a long journey to accom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>plish +in cold, and surrounded by dangers, before reaching +the wintering ground.</p> + +<p>In November the camp left Missouri Lake on the east +side of the mountains, and crossed over, still northeasterly, +on to the Gallatin fork of the Missouri River, passing over +a very rough and broken country. They were, in fact, +still in the midst of mountains, being spurs of the great +Rocky range, and equally high and rugged. A particularly +high mountain lay between them and the main +Yellowstone River. This they had just crossed, with +great fatigue and difficulty, and were resting the camp +and horses for a few days on the river's bank, when the +Blackfeet once more attacked them in considerable numbers. +Two men were killed in this fight, and the camp +thrown into confusion by the suddenness of the alarm. +Capt. Sublette, however, got off, with most of his men, +still pursued by the Indians.</p> + +<p>Not so our Joe, who this time was not in luck, but was +cut off from camp, alone, and had to flee to the high +mountains overlooking the Yellowstone. Here was a situation +for a nineteen-year-old raw recruit! Knowing that +the Blackfeet were on the trail of the camp, it was death +to proceed in that direction. Some other route must be +taken to come up with them; the country was entirely +unknown to him; the cold severe; his mule, blanket, and +gun, his only earthly possessions. On the latter he depended +for food, but game was scarce; and besides, he +thought the sound of his gun would frighten himself, so +alone in the wilderness, swarming with stealthy foes.</p> + +<p>Hiding his mule in a thicket, he ascended to the mountain +top to take a view of the country, and decide upon +his course. And what a scene was that for the miserable +boy, whose chance of meeting with his comrades +again was small indeed! At his feet rolled the Yellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>stone +River, coursing away through the great plain to the +eastward. To the north his eye follows the windings of +the Missouri, as upon a map, but playing at hide-and-seek +in amongst the mountains. Looking back, he saw the +River Snake stretching its serpentine length through lava +plains, far away, to its junction with the Columbia. To +the north, and to the south, one white mountain rose +above another as far as the eye could reach. What a +mighty and magnificent world it seemed, to be alone in! +Poor Joe succumbed to the influence of the thought, and +wept.</p> + +<p>Having indulged in this sole remaining luxury of life, +Joe picked up his resolution, and decided upon his course. +To the southeast lay the Crow country, a land of plenty,—as +the mountain-man regards plenty,—and there he +could at least live; provided the Crows permitted him to +do so. Besides, he had some hopes of falling in with one +of the camps, by taking that course.</p> + +<p>Descending the mountain to the hiding-place of his +mule, by which time it was dark night, hungry and freezing, +Joe still could not light a fire, for fear of revealing his +whereabouts to the Indians; nor could he remain to perish +with cold. Travel he must, and travel he did, going +he scarcely knew whither. Looking back upon the terrors +and discomforts of that night, the veteran mountaineer +yet regards it as about the most miserable one of his +life. When day at length broke, he had made, as well as +he could estimate the distance, about thirty miles. Traveling +on toward the southeast, he had crossed the Yellowstone +River, and still among the mountains, was obliged +to abandon his mule and accoutrements, retaining only +one blanket and his gun. Neither the mule nor himself +had broken fast in the last two days. Keeping a southerly +course for twenty miles more, over a rough and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +elevated country, he came, on the evening of the third +day, upon a band of mountain sheep. With what eagerness +did he hasten to kill, cook, and eat! Three days of +fasting was, for a novice, quite sufficient to provide him +with an appetite.</p> + +<p>Having eaten voraciously, and being quite overcome +with fatigue, Joe fell asleep in his blanket, and slumbered +quite deeply until morning. With the morning came +biting blasts from the north, that made motion necessary +if not pleasant. Refreshed by sleep and food, our traveler +hastened on upon his solitary way, taking with him +what sheep-meat he could carry, traversing the same +rough and mountainous country as before. No incidents +nor alarms varied the horrible and monotonous solitude +of the wilderness. The very absence of anything to +alarm was awful; for the bravest man is wretchedly nervous +in the solitary presence of sublime Nature. Even +the veteran hunter of the mountains can never entirely +divest himself of this feeling of awe, when his single soul +comes face to face with God's wonderful and beautiful +handiwork.</p> + +<p>At the close of the fourth day, Joe made his lonely +camp in a deep defile of the mountains, where a little fire +and some roasted mutton again comforted his inner and +outer man, and another night's sleep still farther refreshed +his wearied frame. On the following morning, a very +bleak and windy one, having breakfasted on his remaining +piece of mutton, being desirous to learn something of +the progress he had made, he ascended a low mountain in +the neighborhood of his camp—and behold! the whole +country beyond was smoking with the vapor from boiling +springs, and burning with gasses, issuing from small craters, +each of which was emitting a sharp whistling sound.</p> + +<p>When the first surprise of this astonishing scene had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +passed, Joe began to admire its effect in an artistic point +of view. The morning being clear, with a sharp frost, he +thought himself reminded of the city of Pittsburg, as he +had beheld it on a winter morning, a couple of years before. +This, however, related only to the rising smoke and +vapor; for the extent of the volcanic region was immense, +reaching far out of sight. The general face of the country +was smooth and rolling, being a level plain, dotted +with cone-shaped mounds. On the summits of these +mounds were small craters from four to eight feet in diameter. +Interspersed among these, on the level plain, +were larger craters, some of them from four to six miles +across. Out of these craters issued blue flames and molten +brimstone.</p> + +<p>For some minutes Joe gazed and wondered. Curious +thoughts came into his head, about hell and the day of +doom. With that natural tendency to reckless gayety +and humorous absurdities which some temperaments are +sensible of in times of great excitement, he began to soliloquize. +Said he, to himself, "I have been told the sun +would be blown out, and the earth burnt up. If this infernal +wind keeps up, I shouldn't be surprised if the sun +war blown out. If the earth is <i>not</i> burning up over thar, +then it is that place the old Methodist preacher used to +threaten me with. Any way it suits me to go and see +what it's like."</p> + +<p>On descending to the plain described, the earth was +found to have a hollow sound, and seemed threatening to +break through. But Joe found the warmth of the place +most delightful, after the freezing cold of the mountains, +and remarked to himself again, that "if it war hell, it war +a more agreeable climate than he had been in for some +time."</p> + +<p>He had thought the country entirely desolate, as not a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +living creature had been seen in the vicinity; but while +he stood gazing about him in curious amazement, he was +startled by the report of two guns, followed by the Indian +yell. While making rapid preparations for defence and +flight, if either or both should be necessary, a familiar +voice greeted him with the exclamation, "It <i>is</i> old Joe!" +When the adjective "old" is applied to one of Meek's +age at that time, it is generally understood to be a term +of endearment. "My feelings you may imagine," says the +"old Uncle Joe" of the present time, in recalling the +adventure.</p> + +<p>Being joined by these two associates, who had been looking +for him, our traveler, no longer simply a raw recruit, +but a hero of wonderful adventures, as well as the rest of +the men, proceeded with them to camp, which they overtook +the third day, attempting to cross the high mountains +between the Yellowstone and the Bighorn Rivers. +If Meek had seen hard times in the mountains alone, he +did not find them much improved in camp. The snow +was so deep that the men had to keep in advance, and +break the road for the animals; and to make their condition +still more trying, there were no provisions in camp, +nor any prospect of plenty, for men or animals, until they +should reach the buffalo country beyond the mountains.</p> + +<p>During this scarcity of provisions, some of those amusing +incidents took place with which the mountaineer will +contrive to lighten his own and his comrades' spirits, even +in periods of the greatest suffering. One which we have +permission to relate, has reference to what Joe Meek calls +the "meanest act of his life."</p> + +<p>While the men were starving, a negro boy, belonging to +Jedediah Smith, by some means was so fortunate as to +have caught a porcupine, which he was roasting before the +fire. Happening to turn his back for a moment, to observe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +something in camp, Meek and Reese snatched the tempting +viand and made off with it, before the darkey discovered +his loss. But when it was discovered, what a wail +went up for the embezzled porcupine! Suspicion fixed +upon the guilty parties, but as no one would 'peach on +white men to save a "nigger's" rights, the poor, disappointed +boy could do nothing but lament in vain, to the +great amusement of the men, who upon the principle that +"misery loves company," rather chuckled over than condemned +Meek's "mean act."</p> + +<p>There was a sequel, however, to this little story. So +much did the negro dwell upon the event, and the heartlessness +of the men towards him, that in the following +summer, when Smith was in St. Louis, he gave the boy his +freedom and two hundred dollars, and left him in that city; +so that it became a saying in the mountains, that "the nigger +got his freedom for a porcupine."</p> + +<p>During this same march, a similar joke was played upon +one of the men named Craig. He had caught a rabbit +and put it up to roast before the fire—a tempting looking +morsel to starving mountaineers. Some of his associates +determined to see how it tasted, and Craig was told that +the Booshways wished to speak with him at their lodge. +While he obeyed this supposed command, the rabbit was +spirited away, never more to be seen by mortal man. +When Craig returned to the camp-fire, and beheld the +place vacant where a rabbit so late was nicely roasting, his +passion knew no bounds, and he declared his intention of +cutting it out of the stomach that contained it. But as +finding the identical stomach which contained it involved +the cutting open of many that probably did not, in the +search, he was fain to relinquish that mode of vengeance, +together with his hopes of a supper. As Craig is still living, +and is tormented by the belief that he knows the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +who stole his rabbit, Mr. Meek takes this opportunity of +assuring him, upon the word of a gentleman, that <i>he</i> is +not the man.</p> + +<p>While on the march over these mountains, owing to the +depth of the snow, the company lost a hundred head of +horses and mules, which sank in the yet unfrozen drifts, +and could not be extricated. In despair at their situation, +Jedediah Smith one day sent a man named Harris to the +top of a high peak to take a view of the country, and ascertain +their position. After a toilsome scramble the scout +returned.</p> + +<p>"Well, what did you see, Harris?" asked Smith anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I saw the city of St. Louis, and one fellow taking a +drink!" replied Harris; prefacing the assertion with a +shocking oath.</p> + +<p>Smith asked no more questions. He understood by the +man's answer that he had made no pleasing discoveries; +and knew that they had still a weary way before them to +reach the plains below. Besides, Smith was a religious +man, and the coarse profanity of the mountaineers was +very distasteful to him. "A very mild man, and a christian; +and there were very few of them in the mountains," +is the account given of him by the mountaineers themselves.</p> + +<p>The camp finally arrived without loss of life, except to +the animals, on the plains of the Bighorn River, and came +upon the waters of the Stinking Fork, a branch of this +river, which derives its unfortunate appellation from the +fact that it flows through a volcanic tract similar to the +one discovered by Meek on the Yellowstone plains. This +place afforded as much food for wonder to the whole camp, +as the former one had to Joe; and the men unanimously +pronounced it the "back door to that country which divines<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +preach about." As this volcanic district had previously +been seen by one of Lewis and Clarke's men, named Colter, +while on a solitary hunt, and by him also denominated +"hell," there must certainly have been something very +suggestive in its appearance.</p> + +<p>If the mountains had proven barren, and inhospitably +cold, this hot and sulphurous country offered no greater +hospitality. In fact, the fumes which pervaded the air +rendered it exceedingly noxious to every living thing, +and the camp was fain to push on to the main stream of +the Bighorn River. Here signs of trappers became apparent, +and spies having been sent out discovered a camp of +about forty men, under Milton Sublette, brother of Captain +William Sublette, the same that had been detached the +previous summer to hunt in that country. Smith and Sublette +then cached their furs, and moving up the river joined +the camp of M. Sublette.</p> + +<p>The manner of caching furs is this: A pit is dug to a +depth of five or six feet in which to stand. The men then +drift from this under a bank of solid earth, and excavate a +room of considerable dimensions, in which the furs are +deposited, and the apartment closed up. The pit is then +filled up with earth, and the traces of digging obliterated +or concealed. These caches are the only storehouses of +the wilderness.</p> + +<p>While the men were recruiting themselves in the joint +camp, the alarm of "Indians!" was given, and hurried +cries of "shoot! shoot!" were uttered on the instant. +Captain Sublette, however, checked this precipitation, and +ordering the men to hold, allowed the Indians to approach, +making signs of peace. They proved to be a war party +of Crows, who after smoking the pipe of peace with the +Captain, received from him a present of some tobacco, and +departed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>As soon as the camp was sufficiently recruited for traveling, +the united companies set out again toward the south, +and crossed the Horn mountains once more into Wind River +Valley; having had altogether, a successful fall hunt, and +made some important explorations, notwithstanding the +severity of the weather and the difficulty of mountain traveling. +It was about Christmas when the camp arrived on +Wind River, and the cold intense. While the men celebrated +Christmas, as best they might under the circumstances, +Capt. Sublette started to St. Louis with one man, +Harris, called among mountain-men Black Harris, on snowshoes, +with a train of pack-dogs. Such was the indomitable +energy and courage of this famous leader!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>1830. The furs collected by Jackson's company were +cached on the Wind River; and the cold still being very +severe, and game scarce, the two remaining leaders, Smith +and Jackson, set out on the first of January with the +whole camp, for the buffalo country, on the Powder +River, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles. +"Times were hard in camp," when mountains had to be +crossed in the depth of winter.</p> + +<p>The animals had to be subsisted on the bark of the +sweet cotton-wood, which grows along the streams and in +the valleys on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, but +is nowhere to be found west of that range. This way of +providing for his horses and mules involved no trifling +amount of labor, when each man had to furnish food for +several of them. To collect this bark, the men carried +the smooth limbs of the cotton-wood to camp, where, beside +the camp-fire, they shaved off the sweet, green bark +with a hunting-knife transformed into a drawing-knife by +fastening a piece of wood to its point; or, in case the +cotton-wood was not convenient, the bark was peeled off, +and carried to camp in a blanket. So nutritious is it, +that animals fatten upon it quite as well as upon oats.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i091" name="i091"></a> +<img src="images/i091.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">HUNTER'S WINTER CAMP.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>In the large cotton-wood bottoms on the Yellowstone +River, it sometimes became necessary to station a double +guard to keep the buffalo out of camp, so numerous were +they, when the severity of the cold drove them from the +prairies to these cotton-wood thickets for subsistence. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +was, therefore, of double importance to make the winter +camp where the cotton-wood was plenty; since not only +did it furnish the animals of the camp with food, but by +attracting buffalo, made game plenty for the men. To +such a hunter's paradise on Powder River, the camp was +now traveling, and arrived, after a hard, cold march, +about the middle of January, when the whole encampment +went into winter quarters, to remain until the opening +of spring.</p> + +<p>This was the occasion when the mountain-man "lived +fat" and enjoyed life: a season of plenty, of relaxation, +of amusement, of acquaintanceship with all the company, +of gayety, and of "busy idleness." Through the day, +hunting parties were coming and going, men were cooking, +drying meat, making moccasins, cleaning their arms, +wrestling, playing games, and, in short, everything that +an isolated community of hardy men could resort to for +occupation, was resorted to by these mountaineers. Nor +was there wanting, in the appearance of the camp, the +variety, and that picturesque air imparted by a mingling +of the native element; for what with their Indian allies, +their native wives, and numerous children, the mountaineers' +camp was a motley assemblage; and the trappers +themselves, with their affectation of Indian coxcombry, +not the least picturesque individuals.</p> + +<p>The change wrought in a wilderness landscape by the +arrival of the grand camp was wonderful indeed. Instead +of Nature's superb silence and majestic loneliness, there +was the sound of men's voices in boisterous laughter, or +the busy hum of conversation; the loud-resounding stroke +of the axe; the sharp report of the rifle; the neighing +of horses, and braying of mules; the Indian whoop and +yell; and all that not unpleasing confusion of sound which +accompanies the movements of the creature man. Over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +the plain, only dotted until now with shadows of clouds, +or the transitory passage of the deer, the antelope, or the +bear, were scattered hundreds of lodges and immense +herds of grazing animals. Even the atmosphere itself +seemed changed from its original purity, and became +clouded with the smoke from many camp-fires. And all +this change might go as quickly as it came. The tent +struck and the march resumed, solitude reigned once +more, and only the cloud dotted the silent landscape.</p> + +<p>If the day was busy and gleesome, the night had its +charms as well. Gathered about the shining fires, groups +of men in fantastic costumes told tales of marvelous adventures, +or sung some old-remembered song, or were +absorbed in games of chance. Some of the better educated +men, who had once known and loved books, but +whom some mishap in life had banished to the wilderness, +recalled their favorite authors, and recited passages once +treasured, now growing unfamiliar; or whispered to some +chosen confrere the saddened history of his earlier years, +and charged him thus and thus, should ever-ready death +surprise himself in the next spring's hunt.</p> + +<p>It will not be thought discreditable to our young trapper, +Joe, that he learned to read by the light of the camp-fire. +Becoming sensible, even in the wilderness, of the +deficiencies of his early education, he found a teacher in +a comrade, named Green, and soon acquired sufficient +knowledge to enjoy an old copy of Shakspeare; which, +with a Bible, was carried about with the property of the +camp.</p> + +<p>In this life of careless gayety and plenty, the whole +company was allowed to remain without interruption, +until the first of April, when it was divided, and once +more started on the march. Jackson, or "Davey," as he +was called by the men, with about half the company, left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +for the Snake country. The remainder, among whom +was Meek, started north, with Smith for commander, and +James Bridger as pilot.</p> + +<p>Crossing the mountains, ranges of which divide the +tributary streams of the Yellowstone from each other, the +first halt was made on Tongue River. From thence the +camp proceeded to the Bighorn River. Through all this +country game was in abundance,—buffalo, elk, and bear, +and beaver also plenty. In mountain phrase, "times +were good on this hunt:" beaver packs increased in number, +and both men and animals were in excellent condition.</p> + +<p>A large party usually hunted out the beaver and frightened +away the game in a few weeks, or days, from any +one locality. When this happened the camp moved on; +or, should not game be plenty, it kept constantly on the +move, the hunters and trappers seldom remaining out +more than a day or two. Should the country be considered +dangerous on account of Indians, it was the habit of +the men to return every night to the encampment.</p> + +<p>It was the design of Smith to take his command into +the Blackfoot country, a region abounding in the riches +which he sought, could they only be secured without +coming into too frequent conflict with the natives: always +a doubtful question concerning these savages. He had +proceeded in this direction as far as Bovey's Fork of the +Bighorn, when the camp was overtaken by a heavy fall +of snow, which made traveling extremely difficult, and +which, when melted, caused a sudden great rise in the +mountain streams. In attempting to cross Bovey's Fork +during the high water, he had thirty horses swept away, +with three hundred traps: a serious loss in the business +of hunting beaver.</p> + +<p>In the manner described, pushing on through an un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>known +country, hunting and trapping as they moved, the +company proceeded, passing another low chain of mountains, +through a pass called Pryor's Gap, to Clark's Fork +of the Yellowstone, thence to Rose-Bud River, and finally +to the main Yellowstone River, where it makes a great +bend to the east, enclosing a large plain covered with +grass, and having also extensive cotton-wood bottoms, +which subsequently became a favorite wintering ground +of the fur companies.</p> + +<p>It was while trapping up in this country, on the Rose-Bud +River, that an amusing adventure befel our trapper +Joe. Being out with two other trappers, at some distance +from the great camp, they had killed and supped off a fat +buffalo cow. The night was snowy, and their camp was +made in a grove of young aspens. Having feasted themselves, +the remaining store of choice pieces was divided +between, and placed, hunter fashion, under the heads of +the party, on their betaking themselves to their blanket +couches for the night. Neither Indian nor wild beast disturbed +their repose, as they slept, with their guns beside +them, filled with comfort and plenty. But who ever +dreams of the presence of a foe under such circumstances? +Certainly not our young trapper, who was only +awakened about day-break by something very large and +heavy walking over him, and snuffing about him with a +most insulting freedom. It did not need Yankee powers +of guessing to make out who the intruder in camp might +be: in truth, it was only too disagreeably certain that it +was a full sized grizzly bear, whose keenness of smell had +revealed to him the presence of fat cow-meat in that +neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"You may be sure," says Joe, "that I kept very quiet, +while that bar helped himself to some of my buffalo meat, +and went a little way off to eat it. But Mark Head, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +of the men, raised up, and back came the bar. Down +went our heads under the blankets, and I kept mine covered +pretty snug, while the beast took another walk over +the bed, but finally went off again to a little distance. +Mitchel then wanted to shoot; but I said, 'no, no; hold +on, or the brute will kill us, sure.' When the bar heard +our voices, back he run again, and jumped on the bed as +before. I'd have been happy to have felt myself sinking +ten feet under ground, while that bar promenaded over +and around us! However, he couldn't quite make out our +style, and finally took fright, and ran off down the mountain. +Wanting to be revenged for his impudence, I went +after him, and seeing a good chance, shot him dead. +Then I took my turn at running over him awhile!"</p> + +<p>Such are the not infrequent incidents of the trapper's +life, which furnish him with material, needing little embellishment +to convert it into those wild tales with which +the nights are whiled away around the winter camp-fire.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the Yellowstone with his company, Smith +found it necessary, on account of the high water, to construct +Bull-boats for the crossing. These are made by +stitching together buffalo hides, stretching them over light +frames, and paying the seams with elk tallow and ashes. +In these light wherries the goods and people were ferried +over, while the horses and mules were crossed by swimming.</p> + +<p>The mode usually adopted in crossing large rivers, was +to spread the lodges on the ground, throwing on them the +light articles, saddles, etc. A rope was then run through +the pin-holes around the edge of each, when it could be +drawn up like a reticule. It was then filled with the +heavier camp goods, and being tightly drawn up, formed a +perfect ball. A rope being tied to it, it was launched on +the water, the children of the camp on top, and the women +swimming after and clinging to it, while a man, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +had the rope in his hand, swam ahead holding on to his +horse's mane. In this way, dancing like a cork on the +waves, the lodge was piloted across; and passengers as +well as freight consigned, undamaged, to the opposite +shore. A large camp of three hundred men, and one +hundred women and children were frequently thus crossed +in one hour's time.</p> + +<p>The camp was now in the excellent but inhospitable +country of the Blackfeet, and the commander redoubled +his precautions, moving on all the while to the Mussel Shell, +and thence to the Judith River. Beaver were plenty +and game abundant; but the vicinity of the large village +of the Blackfeet made trapping impracticable. Their +war upon the trappers was ceaseless; their thefts of traps +and horses ever recurring: and Smith, finding that to remain +was to be involved in incessant warfare, without +hope of victory or gain, at length gave the command to +turn back, which was cheerfully obeyed: for the trappers +had been very successful on the spring hunt, and thinking +discretion some part at least of valor, were glad to get +safe out of the Blackfoot country with their rich harvest +of beaver skins.</p> + +<p>The return march was by the way of Pryor's Gap, and +up the Bighorn, to Wind River, where the cache was +made in the previous December. The furs were now +taken out and pressed, ready for transportation across the +plains. A party was also dispatched, under Mr. Tullock, +to raise the cache on the Bighorn River. Among this +party was Meek, and a Frenchman named Ponto. While +digging to come at the fur, the bank above caved in, falling +upon Meek and Ponto, killing the latter almost instantly. +Meek, though severely hurt, was taken out alive: +while poor Ponto was "rolled in a blanket, and pitched +into the river." So rude were the burial services of the +trapper of the Rocky Mountains.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meek was packed back to camp, along with the furs, +where he soon recovered. Sublette arrived from St. +Louis with fourteen wagons loaded with merchandise, and +two hundred additional men for the service. Jackson also +arrived from the Snake country with plenty of beaver, +and the business of the yearly rendezvous began. Then +the scenes previously described were re-enacted. Beaver, +the currency of the mountains, was plenty that year, and +goods were high accordingly. A thousand dollars a day +was not too much for some of the most reckless to spend +on their squaws, horses, alcohol, and themselves. For +"alcohol" was the beverage of the mountaineers. Liquors +could not be furnished to the men in that country. Pure +alcohol was what they "got tight on;" and a desperate +tight it was, to be sure!</p> + +<p>An important change took place in the affairs of the +Rocky Mountain Company at this rendezvous. The three +partners, Smith, Sublette, and Jackson, sold out to a new +firm, consisting of Milton Sublette, James Bridger, Fitzpatrick, +Frapp, and Jervais; the new company retaining +the same name and style as the old.</p> + +<p>The old partners left for St. Louis, with a company of +seventy men, to convoy the furs. Two of them never returned +to the Rocky Mountains; one of them, Smith, being +killed the following year, as will hereafter be related; +and Jackson remaining in St. Louis, where, like a true +mountain-man, he dissipated his large and hard-earned +fortune in a few years. Captain Sublette, however, continued +to make his annual trips to and from the mountains +for a number of years; and until the consolidation of another +wealthy company with the Rocky Mountain Company, +continued to furnish goods to the latter, at a profit +on St. Louis prices; his capital and experience enabling +him to keep the new firm under his control to a large +degree.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>1830. The whole country lying upon the Yellowstone +and its tributaries, and about the head-waters of the Missouri, +at the time of which we are writing, abounded not only in +beaver, but in buffalo, bear, elk, antelope, and many smaller +kinds of game. Indeed the buffalo used then to cross +the mountains into the valleys about the head-waters of the +Snake and Colorado Rivers, in such numbers that at certain +seasons of the year, the plains and river bottoms +swarmed with them. Since that day they have quite disappeared +from the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, +and are no longer seen in the same numbers on the eastern +side.</p> + +<p>Bear, although they did not go in herds, were rather +uncomfortably numerous, and sometimes put the trapper +to considerable trouble, and fright also; for very few were +brave enough to willingly encounter the formidable grizzly, +one blow of whose terrible paw, aimed generally at +the hunter's head, if not arrested, lays him senseless and +torn, an easy victim to the wrathful monster. A gunshot +wound, if not directed with certainty to some vulnerable +point, has only the effect to infuriate the beast, and make +him trebly dangerous. From the fact that the bear always +bites his wound, and commences to run with his +head thus brought in the direction from which the ball +comes, he is pretty likely to make a straight wake towards +his enemy, whether voluntarily or not; and woe be to the +hunter who is not prepared for him, with a shot for his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +eye, or the spot just behind the ear, where certain death +enters.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i101" name="i101"></a> +<img src="images/i101.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE THREE "BARES."</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>In the frequent encounters of the mountain-men with +these huge beasts, many acts of wonderful bravery were +performed, while some tragedies, and not a few comedies +were enacted.</p> + +<p>From something humorous in Joe Meek's organization, +or some wonderful "luck" to which he was born, or both, +the greater part of his adventures with bears, as with men, +were of a humorous complexion; enabling him not only +to have a story to tell, but one at which his companions +were bound to laugh. One of these which happened during +the fall hunt of 1830, we will let him tell for himself:</p> + +<p>"The first fall on the Yellowstone, Hawkins and myself +were coming up the river in search of camp, when we discovered +a very large bar on the opposite bank. We shot +across, and thought we had killed him, fur he laid quite +still. As we wanted to take some trophy of our victory +to camp, we tied our mules and left our guns, clothes, and +everything except our knives and belts, and swum over to +whar the bar war. But instead of being dead, as we expected, +he sprung up as we come near him, and took after +us. Then you ought to have seen two naked men run! +It war a race for life, and a close one, too. But we made +the river first. The bank war about fifteen feet high above +the water, and the river ten or twelve feet deep; but we +didn't halt. Overboard we went, the bar after us, and in +the stream about as quick as we war. The current war +very strong, and the bar war about half way between +Hawkins and me. Hawkins was trying to swim down +stream faster than the current war carrying the bar, and I +war a trying to hold back. You can reckon that I swam! +Every moment I felt myself being washed into the yawning +jaws of the mighty beast, whose head war up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +stream, and his eyes on me. But the current war too strong +for him, and swept him along as fast as it did me. All this +time, not a long one, we war looking for some place to +land where the bar could not overtake us. Hawkins war +the first to make the shore, unknown to the bar, whose +head war still up stream; and he set up such a whooping +and yelling that the bar landed too, but on the opposite +side. I made haste to follow Hawkins, who had landed +on the side of the river we started from, either by design +or good luck: and then we traveled back a mile and more +to whar our mules war left—a bar on one side of the river, +and <i>two bares</i> on the other!"</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding that a necessary discipline was observed +and maintained in the fur traders' camp, there was at the +same time a freedom of manner between the Booshways +and the men, both hired and free, which could not obtain +in a purely military organization, nor even in the higher +walks of civilized life in cities. In the mountain community, +motley as it was, as in other communities more refined, +were some men who enjoyed almost unlimited freedom of +speech and action, and others who were the butt of everybody's +ridicule or censure. The leaders themselves did +not escape the critical judgment of the men; and the estimation +in which they were held could be inferred from +the manner in which they designated them. Captain Sublette, +whose energy, courage, and kindness entitled him to +the admiration of the mountaineers, went by the name of +<i>Billy</i>: his partner Jackson, was called <i>Davey</i>; Bridger, +<i>old Gabe</i>, and so on. In the same manner the men distinguished +favorites or oddities amongst themselves, and to +have the adjective <i>old</i> prefixed to a man's name signified +nothing concerning his age, but rather that he was an +object of distinction; though it did not always indicate, +except by the tone in which it was pronounced, whether +that distinction were an enviable one or not.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Whenever a trapper could get hold of any sort of story +reflecting on the courage of a leader, he was sure at some +time to make him aware of it, and these anecdotes were +sometimes sharp answers in the mouths of careless camp-keepers. +Bridger was once waylaid by Blackfeet, who +shot at him, hitting his horse in several places. The +wounds caused the animal to rear and pitch, by reason of +which violent movements Bridger dropped his gun, and +the Indians snatched it up; after which there was nothing +to do except to run, which Bridger accordingly did. Not +long after this, as was customary, the leader was making +a circuit of the camp examining the camp-keeper's guns, +to see if they were in order, and found that of one Maloney, +an Irishman, in a very dirty condition.</p> + +<p>"What would you do," asked Bridger, "with a gun like +that, if the Indians were to charge on the camp?"</p> + +<p>"Be ——, I would throw it to them, and run the way +ye did," answered Maloney, quickly. It was sometime +after this incident before Bridger again examined Maloney's +gun.</p> + +<p>A laughable story in this way went the rounds of the +camp in this fall of 1830. Milton Sublette was out on a +hunt with Meek after buffalo, and they were just approaching +the band on foot, at a distance apart of about fifty yards, +when a large grizzly bear came out of a thicket and made +after Sublette, who, when he perceived the creature, ran +for the nearest cotton-wood tree. Meek in the meantime, +seeing that Sublette was not likely to escape, had taken +sure aim, and fired at the bear, fortunately killing him. +On running up to the spot where it laid, Sublette was discovered +sitting at the foot of a cotton-wood, with his legs and +arms clasped tightly around it.</p> + +<p>"Do you always climb a tree in that way?" asked Meek.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I reckon you took the wrong end of it, that time, +Milton!"</p> + +<p>"I'll be ——, Meek, if I didn't think I was twenty +feet up that tree when you shot;" answered the frightened +Booshway; and from that time the men never tired of +alluding to Milton's manner of climbing a tree.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i106" name="i106"></a> +<img src="images/i106.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">THE WRONG END OF THE TREE.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>These were some of the mirthful incidents which gave +occasion for a gayety which had to be substituted for happiness, +in the checkered life of the trapper; and there +were like to be many such, where there were two hundred +men, each almost daily in the way of adventures by +flood or field.</p> + +<p>On the change in the management of the Company +which occurred at the rendezvous this year, three of the +new partners, Fitzpatrick, Sublette, and Bridger, conducted +a large party, numbering over two hundred, from the Wind +River to the Yellowstone; crossing thence to Smith's River, +the Falls of the Missouri, three forks of the Missouri, and +to the Big Blackfoot River. The hunt proved very successful; +beaver were plentiful; and the Blackfeet shy of +so large a traveling party. Although so long in their +country, there were only four men killed out of the whole +company during this autumn.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the Blackfoot River the company proceeded down +the west side of the mountains to the forks of the Snake +River, and after trapping for a short time in this locality, +continued their march southward as far as Ogden's Hole, +a small valley among the Bear River Mountains.</p> + +<p>At this place they fell in with a trading and trapping +party, under Mr. Peter Skeen Ogden, of the Hudson's Bay +Company. And now commenced that irritating and reprehensible +style of rivalry with which the different companies +were accustomed to annoy one another. Accompanying +Mr. Ogden's trading party were a party of Rockway +Indians, who were from the North, and who were +employed by the Hudson's Bay Company, as the Iroquois +and Crows were, to trap for them. Fitzpatrick and associates +camped in the neighborhood of Ogden's company, +and immediately set about endeavoring to purchase from +the Rockways and others, the furs collected for Mr. Ogden. +Not succeeding by fair means, if the means to such an end +could be called fair,—they opened a keg of whiskey, which, +when the Indians had got a taste, soon drew them away +from the Hudson's Bay trader, the regulations of whose +company forbade the selling or giving of liquors to the +Indians. Under its influence, the furs were disposed of to +the Rocky Mountain Company, who in this manner obtained +nearly the whole product of their year's hunt. This course +of conduct was naturally exceedingly disagreeable to Mr. +Ogden, as well as unprofitable also; and a feeling of hostility +grew up and increased between the two camps.</p> + +<p>While matters were in this position, a stampede one day +occurred among the horses in Ogden's camp, and two or +three of the animals ran away, and ran into the camp of +the rival company. Among them was the horse of Mr. +Ogden's Indian wife, which had escaped, with her babe +hanging to the saddle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not many minutes elapsed, before the mother, following +her child and horse, entered the camp, passing right +through it, and catching the now halting steed by the bridle. +At the same moment she espied one of her company's +pack-horses, loaded with beaver, which had also +run into the enemy's camp. The men had already begun +to exult over the circumstance, considering this chance +load of beaver as theirs, by the laws of war. But not so +the Indian woman. Mounting her own horse, she fearlessly +seized the pack-horse by the halter, and led it out of camp, +with its costly burden.</p> + +<p>At this undaunted action, some of the baser sort of men +cried out "shoot her, shoot her!" but a majority interfered, +with opposing cries of "let her go; let her alone; she's +a brave woman: I glory in her pluck;" and other like +admiring expressions. While the clamor continued, the +wife of Ogden had galloped away, with her baby and +her pack-horse.</p> + +<p>As the season advanced, Fitzpatrick, with his other partners, +returned to the east side of the mountains, and went +into winter quarters on Powder river. In this trapper's +"land of Canaan" they remained between two and three +months. The other two partners, Frapp and Jervais, who +were trapping far to the south, did not return until the +following year.</p> + +<p>While wintering it became necessary to send a dispatch +to St. Louis on the company's business. Meek and a +Frenchman named Legarde, were chosen for this service, +which was one of trust and peril also. They proceeded +without accident, however, until the Pawnee villages were +reached, when Legarde was taken prisoner. Meek, more +cautious, escaped, and proceeded alone a few days' travel +beyond, when he fell in with an express on its way to St. +Louis, to whom he delivered his dispatches, and returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +to camp, accompanied only by a Frenchman named Cabeneau; +thus proving himself an efficient mountaineer at +twenty years of age.</p> + +<p>1831. As soon as the spring opened, sometime in +March, the whole company started north again, for the +Blackfoot country. But on the night of the third day out, +they fell unawares into the neighborhood of a party of +Crow Indians, whose spies discovered the company's +horses feeding on the dry grass of a little bottom, and +succeeded in driving off about three hundred head. Here +was a dilemma to be in, in the heart of an enemy's country! +To send the remaining horses after these, might be +"sending the axe after the helve;" besides most of them +belonged to the free trappers, and could not be pressed +into the service.</p> + +<p>The only course remaining was to select the best men +and dispatch them on foot, to overtake and retake the +stolen horses. Accordingly one hundred trappers were +ordered on this expedition, among whom were Meek, +Newell, and Antoine Godin, a half-breed and brave fellow, +who was to lead the party. Following the trail of +the Crows for two hundred miles, traveling day and night, +on the third day they came up with them on a branch of +the Bighorn river. The trappers advanced cautiously, +and being on the opposite side of the stream, on a wooded +bluff, were enabled to approach close enough to look into +their fort, and count the unsuspecting thieves. There +were sixty of them, fine young braves, who believed that +now they had made a start in life. Alas, for the vanity +of human, and especially of Crow expectations! Even +then, while they were grouped around their fires, congratulating +themselves on the sudden wealth which had descended +upon them, as it were from the skies, an envious fate, +in the shape of several roguish white trappers, was laugh<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>ing +at them and their hopes, from the overhanging bluff +opposite them. And by and by, when they were wrapped +in a satisfied slumber, two of these laughing rogues, Robert +Newell, and Antoine Godin, stole under the very +walls of their fort, and setting the horses free, drove them +across the creek.</p> + +<p>The Indians were awakened by the noise of the trampling +horses, and sprang to arms. But Meek and his fellow-trappers +on the bluff fired into the fort with such effect +that the Crows were appalled. Having delivered their +first volley, they did not wait for the savages to recover +from their recoil. Mounting in hot haste, the cavalcade +of bare-back riders, and their drove of horses, were soon +far away from the Crow fort, leaving the ambitious braves +to finish their excursion on foot. It was afterwards ascertained +that the Crows lost seven men by that one volley +of the trappers.</p> + +<p>Flushed with success, the trappers yet found the backward +journey more toilsome than the outward; for what +with sleeplessness and fatigue, and bad traveling in melted +snow, they were pretty well exhausted when they reached +camp. Fearing, however, another raid from the thieving +Crows, the camp got in motion again with as little delay +as possible. They had not gone far, when Fitzpatrick +turned back, with only one man, to go to St. Louis for +supplies.</p> + +<p>After the departure of Fitzpatrick, Bridger and Sublette +completed their spring and summer campaign without any +material loss in men or animals, and with considerable +gain in beaver skins. Having once more visited the Yellowstone, +they turned to the south again, crossing the +mountains into Pierre's Hole, on to Snake river; thence +to Salt river; thence to Bear river; and thence to Green +river, to rendezvous.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was expected that Fitzpatrick would have arrived +from St. Louis with the usual annual recruits and supplies +of merchandise, in time for the summer rendezvous; but +after waiting for some time in vain, Bridger and Sublette +determined to send out a small party to look for him. +The large number of men now employed, had exhausted +the stock of goods on hand. The camp was without +blankets and without ammunition; knives were not to be +had; traps were scarce; but worse than all, the tobacco +had given out, and alcohol was not! In such a case as +this, what could a mountain-man do?</p> + +<p>To seek the missing Booshway became not only a duty, +but a necessity; and not only a necessity of the physical +man, but in an equal degree a need of the moral and spiritual +man, which was rusting with the tedium of waiting. +In the state of uncertainty in which the minds of the company +were involved, it occurred to that of Frapp to consult +a great "medicine-man" of the Crows, one of those +recruits filched from Mr. Ogden's party by whiskey the +previous year.</p> + +<p>Like all eminent professional men, the Crow chief required +a generous fee, of the value of a horse or two, +before he would begin to make "medicine." This peculiar +ceremony is pretty much alike among all the different +tribes. It is observed first in the making of a medicine +man, <i>i. e.</i>, qualifying him for his profession; and afterwards +is practiced to enable him to heal the sick, to +prophecy, and to dream dreams, or even to give victory +to his people. To a medicine-man was imputed great +power, not only to cure, but to kill; and if, as it sometimes +happened, the relatives of a sick man suspected the +medicine-man of having caused his death, by the exercise +of evil powers, one of them, or all of them, pursued him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +to the death. Therefore, although it might be honorable, +it was not always safe to be a great "medicine."</p> + +<p>The Indians placed a sort of religious value upon the +practice of fasting; a somewhat curious fact, when it is +remembered how many compulsory fasts they are obliged +to endure, which must train them to think lightly of the +deprivation of food. Those, however, who could endure +voluntary abstinence long enough, were enabled to become +very wise and very brave. The manner of making +a "medicine" among some of the interior tribes, is in certain +respects similar to the practice gone through with by +some preachers, in making a convert. A sort of camp-meeting +is held, for several nights, generally about five, +during which various dances are performed, with cries, +and incantations, bodily exercises, singing, and nervous +excitement; enough to make many patients, instead of +one doctor. But the native's constitution is a strong one, +and he holds out well. At last, however, one or more +are overcome with the mysterious <i>power</i> which enters into +them at that time; making, instead of a saint, only a superstitious +Indian doctor.</p> + +<p>The same sort of exercises which had made the Cree +man a doctor were now resorted to, in order that he might +obtain a more than natural sight, enabling him to see visions +of the air, or at the least to endow him with prophetic +dreams. After several nights of singing, dancing, +hopping, screeching, beating of drums, and other more +violent exercises and contortions, the exhausted medicine-man +fell off to sleep, and when he awoke he announced +to Frapp that Fitzpatrick was not dead. He was on the +road; some road; but not the right one; etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, Frapp determined to take a party, +and go in search of him. Accordingly Meek, Reese, +Ebarts, and Nelson, volunteered to accompany him. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +party set out, first in the direction of Wind River; but +not discovering any signs of the lost Booshway in that +quarter, crossed over to the Sweetwater, and kept along +down to the North Fork of the Platte, and thence to the +Black Hills, where they found a beautiful country full of +game; but not the hoped-for train, with supplies. After +waiting for a short time at the Black Hills, Frapp's party +returned to the North Fork of the Platte, and were +rejoiced to meet at last, the long absent partner, with his +pack train. Urged by Frapp, Fitzpatrick hastened forward, +and came into camp on Powder River after winter +had set in.</p> + +<p>Fitzpatrick had a tale to tell the other partners, in explanation +of his unexpected delay. When he had started +for St. Louis in the month of March previous, he had +hoped to have met the old partners, Capt. Sublette and +Jedediah Smith, and to have obtained the necessary supplies +from them, to furnish the Summer rendezvous with +plenty. But these gentlemen, when he fell in with them, +used certain arguments which induced him to turn back, +and accompany them to Santa Fe, where they promised +to furnish him goods, as he desired, and to procure +for him an escort at that place. The journey had proven +tedious, and unfortunate. They had several times been +attacked by Indians, and Smith had been killed. While +they were camped on a small tributary of the Simmaron +River, Smith had gone a short distance from camp to procure +water, and while at the stream was surprised by an +ambush, and murdered on the spot, his murderers escaping +unpunished. Sublette, now left alone in the business, +finally furnished him; and he had at last made his way +back to his Rocky Mountain camp.</p> + +<p>But Fitzpatrick's content at being once more with his +company was poisoned by the disagreeable proximity of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +rival company. If he had annoyed Mr. Ogden of the +Hudson's Bay Company, in the previous autumn, Major +Vanderburg and Mr. Dripps, of the American Company, +in their turn annoyed him. This company had been on +their heels, from the Platte River, and now were camped +in the same neighborhood, using the Rocky Mountain +Company as pilots to show them the country. As this +was just what it was not for their interest to do, the +Rocky Mountain Company raised camp, and fairly ran +away from them; crossing the mountains to the Forks of +the Snake River, where they wintered among the Nez Perces +and Flathead Indians.</p> + +<p>Some time during this winter, Meek and Legarde, who +had escaped from the Pawnees, made another expedition +together; traveling three hundred miles on snowshoes, to +the Bitter Root River, to look for a party of free trappers, +whose beaver the company wished to secure. They were +absent two months and a half, on this errand, and were +entirely successful, passing a Blackfoot village in the +night, but having no adventures worth recounting.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>1832. In the following spring, the Rocky Mountain Fur +Company commenced its march, first up Lewis' Fork, then +on to Salt River, thence to Gray's River, and thence to +Bear River. They fell in with the North American Fur +Company on the latter river, with a large lot of goods, +but no beaver. The American Company's resident partners +were ignorant of the country, and were greatly at a +loss where to look for the good trapping grounds. These +gentlemen, Vanderburg and Dripps, were therefore inclined +to keep an eye on the movements of the Rocky +Mountain Company, whose leaders were acquainted with +the whole region lying along the mountains, from the +head-waters of the Colorado to the northern branches of +the Missouri. On the other hand, the Rocky Mountain +Company were anxious to "shake the dust from off their +feet," which was trodden by the American Company, and +to avoid the evils of competition in an Indian country. +But they found the effort quite useless; the rival company +had a habit of turning up in the most unexpected places, +and taking advantage of the hard-earned experience of +the Rocky Mountain Company's leaders. They tampered +with the trappers, and ferreted out the secret of their next rendezvous; +they followed on their trail, making them pilots +to the trapping grounds; they sold goods to the Indians, +and what was worse, to the hired trappers. In this way +grew up that fierce conflict of interests, which made it "as +much as his life was worth" for a trapper to suffer himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +to be inveigled into the service of a rival company, which +about this time or a little later, was at its highest, and +which finally ruined the fur-trade for the American companies +in the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>Finding their rivals in possession of the ground, Bridger +and Milton Sublette resolved to spend but a few days in +that country. But so far as Sublette was concerned, circumstances +ordered differently. A Rockway Chief, named +Gray, and seven of his people, had accompanied the camp +from Ogden's Hole, in the capacity of trappers. But during +the sojourn on Bear River, there was a quarrel in +camp on account of some indignity, real or fancied, which +had been offered to the chief's daughter, and in the affray +Gray stabbed Sublette so severely that it was thought he +must die.</p> + +<p>It thus fell out that Sublette had to be left behind; and +Meek who was his favorite, was left to take care of him +while he lived, and bury him if he died; which trouble +Sublette saved him, however, by getting well. But they +had forty lonesome days to themselves after the camps +had moved off,—one on the heels of the other, to the +great vexation of Bridger. Time passed slowly in Sublette's +lodge, while waiting for his wound to heal. Day +passed after day, so entirely like each other that the monotony +alone seemed sufficient to invite death to an easy +conquest. But the mountain-man's blood, like the Indians, +is strong and pure, and his flesh heals readily, therefore, +since death would not have him, the wounded man +was forced to accept of life in just this monotonous form. +To him Joe Meek was everything,—hands, feet, physician, +guard, caterer, hunter, cook, companion, friend. What +long talks they had, when Sublette grew better: what +stories they told; what little glimpses of a secret chamber +in their hearts, and a better than the every-day spirit, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +their bosoms, was revealed,—as men will reveal such +things in the isolation of sea-voyages, or the solitary presence +of majestic Nature.</p> + +<p>To the veteran mountaineer there must have been +something soothing in the care and friendship of the +youth of twenty-two, with his daring disposition, his frankness, +his cheerful humor, and his good looks;—for our Joe +was growing to be a maturely handsome man—tall, broad-shouldered, +straight, with plenty of flesh, and none too +much of it; a Southerner's olive complexion; frank, dark +eyes, and a classical nose and chin. What though in the +matter of dress he was ignorant of the latest styles?—grace +imparts elegance even to the trapper's beaver-skin +cap and blanket capote.</p> + +<p>At the end of forty days, as many as it took to drown +a world, Sublette found himself well enough to ride; and +the two set out on their search for camp. But now other +adventures awaited them. On a fork of Green River, +they came suddenly upon a band of Snake Indians feeding +their horses. As soon as the Snakes discovered the +white men, they set up a yell, and made an instinctive +rush for their horses. Now was the critical moment. +One word passed between the travelers, and they made a +dash past the savages, right into the village, and never +slacked rein until they threw themselves from their horses +at the door of the Medicine lodge. This is a large and fancifully +decorated lodge, which stands in the centre of a village, +and like the churches of Christians, is sacred. Once +inside of this, the strangers were safe for the present; their +blood could not be shed there.</p> + +<p>The warriors of the village soon followed Sublette and +Meek into their strange house of refuge. In half an +hour it was filled. Not a word was addressed to the +strangers; nor by them to the Indians, who talked among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +themselves with a solemn eagerness, while they smoked +the medicine pipe, as inspiration in their councils. Great +was the excitement in the minds of the listeners, who understood +the Snake tongue, as the question of their life or +death was gravely discussed; yet in their countenances +appeared only the utmost serenity. To show fear, is to +whet an Indian's appetite for blood: coolness confounds +and awes him when anything will.</p> + +<p>If Sublette had longed for excitement, while an invalid +in his lonely lodge on Bear River, he longed equally now +for that blissful seclusion. Listening for, and hearing +one's death-warrant from a band of blood-thirsty savages, +could only prove with bitter sharpness how sweet was life, +even the most uneventful. For hours the council continued, +and the majority favored the death-sentence. But one old +chief, called the good <i>Gotia</i>, argued long for an acquittal: +he did not see the necessity of murdering two harmless +travelers of the white race. Nothing availed, however, +and just at sunset their doom was fixed.</p> + +<p>The only hope of escape was, that, favored by darkness, +they might elude the vigilance of their jailers; and night, +although so near, seemed ages away, even at sundown. +Death being decreed, the warriors left the lodge one by +one to attend to the preparation of the preliminary ceremonies. +Gotia, the good, was the last to depart. As he +left the Medicine lodge he made signs to the captives to +remain quiet until he should return; pointing upwards to +signify that there was a chance of life; and downwards +to show that possibly they must die.</p> + +<p>What an age of anxiety was that hour of waiting! Not +a word had been exchanged between the prisoners since +the Indians entered the lodge, until now; and now very +little was said, for speech would draw upon them the vigilance +of their enemy, by whom they desired most ardently +to be forgotten.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>About dusk there was a great noise, and confusion, and +clouds of dust, in the south end of the village. Something +was going wrong among the Indian horses. Immediately +all the village ran to the scene of the disorder, +and at the same moment Gotia, the good, appeared at the +door of the Medicine lodge, beckoning the prisoners to +follow him. With alacrity they sprang up and after him, +and were led across the stream, to a thicket on the opposite +side, where their horses stood, ready to mount, in the +charge of a young Indian girl. They did not stop for +compliments, though had time been less precious, they +might well have bestowed some moments of it in admiration +of <i>Umentucken Tukutsey Undewatsey</i>, the Mountain +Lamb. Soon after, the beautiful Snake girl became the wife +of Milton Sublette; and after his return to the States, of the +subject of this narrative; from which circumstance the +incident above related takes on something of the rosy hue +of romance.</p> + +<p>As each released captive received his bridle from the +delicate hand of the Mountain Lamb, he sprang to the +saddle. By this time the chief had discovered that the +strangers understood the Snake dialect. "Ride, if you +wish to live," said he: "ride without stopping, all night: +and to-morrow linger not." With hurried thanks our +mountain-men replied to this advice, and striking into a +gallop, were soon far away from the Snake village. The +next day at noon found them a hundred and fifty miles on +their way to camp. Proceeding without further accident, +they crossed the Teton Mountains, and joined the company +at Pierre's Hole, after an absence of nearly four +months.</p> + +<p>Here they found the ubiquitous if not omnipresent +American Fur Company encamped at the rendezvous of +the Rocky Mountain Company. The partners being anx<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>ious +to be freed from this sort of espionage, and obstinate +competition on their own ground, made a proposition to +Vanderburg and Dripps to divide the country with them, +each company to keep on its own territory. This proposition +was refused by the American Company; perhaps because +they feared having the poorer portion set off to +themselves by their more experienced rivals. On this refusal, +the Rocky Mountain Company determined to send +an express to meet Capt. William Sublette, who was on +his way out with a heavy stock of merchandise, and hurry +him forward, lest the American Company should have the +opportunity of disposing of its goods, when the usual +gathering to rendezvous began. On this decision being +formed, Fitzpatrick determined to go on this errand himself; +which he accordingly did, falling in with Sublette, +and Campbell, his associate, somewhere near the Black +Hills. To them he imparted his wishes and designs, and +receiving the assurance of an early arrival at rendezvous, +parted from them at the Sweetwater, and hastened back, +alone, as he came, to prepare for business.</p> + +<p>Captain Sublette hurried forward with his train, which +consisted of sixty men with pack-horses, three to a man. +In company with him, was Mr. Nathaniel Wyeth, a history +of whose fur-trading and salmon-fishing adventures has +already been given. Captain Sublette had fallen in with +Mr. Wyeth at Independence, Missouri; and finding him +ignorant of the undertaking on which he was launched, +offered to become pilot and traveling companion, an offer +which was gratefully accepted.</p> + +<p>The caravan had reached the foot-hills of the Wind +River Mountains, when the raw recruits belonging to both +these parties were treated to a slight foretaste of what +Indian fighting would be, should they ever have to encounter +it. Their camp was suddenly aroused at midnight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +by the simultaneous discharge of guns and arrows, and +the frightful whoops and yells with which the savages +make an attack. Nobody was wounded, however; but +on springing to arms, the Indians fled, taking with them +a few horses which their yells had frightened from their +pickets. These marauders were Blackfeet, as Captain +Sublette explained to Mr. Wyeth, their moccasin tracks +having betrayed them; for as each tribe has a peculiar +way of making or shaping the moccasin, the expert in +Indian habits can detect the nationality of an Indian thief +by his foot-print. After this episode of the night assault, +the leaders redoubled their watchfulness, and reached +their destination in Pierre's hole about the first of July.</p> + +<p>When Sublette arrived in camp, it was found that Fitzpatrick +was missing. If the other partners had believed +him to be with the Captain, the Captain expected to find +him with them; but since neither could account to the +other for his non-appearance, much anxiety was felt, and +Sublette remembered with apprehension the visit he had +received from Blackfeet. However, before anything had +been determined upon with regard to him, he made his +appearance in camp, in company with two Iroquois half-breeds, +belonging to the camp, who had been out on a +hunt.</p> + +<p>Fitzpatrick had met with an adventure, as had been +conjectured. While coming up the Green river valley, +he descried a small party of mounted men, whom he mistook +for a company of trappers, and stopped to reconnoitre; +but almost at the same moment the supposed +trappers, perceiving him, set up a yell that quickly undeceived +him, and compelled him to flight. Abandoning +his pack-horse, he put the other to its topmost speed, +and succeeded in gaining the mountains, where in a deep +and dark defile he secreted himself until he judged the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +Indians had left that part of the valley. In this he was +deceived, for no sooner did he emerge again into the open +country, than he was once more pursued, and had to +abandon his horse, to take refuge among the cliffs of the +mountains. Here he remained for several days, without +blankets or provisions, and with only one charge of ammunition, +which was in his rifle, and kept for self-defense. +At length, however, by frequent reconnoitering, he managed +to elude his enemies, traveling by night, until he +fortunately met with the two hunters from camp, and was +conveyed by them to the rendezvous.</p> + +<p>All the parties were now safely in. The lonely mountain +valley was populous with the different camps. The +Rocky Mountain and American companies had their separate +camps; Wyeth had his; a company of free trappers, +fifteen in number, led by a man named Sinclair, from Arkansas, +had the fourth; the Nez Perces and Flatheads, the +allies of the Rocky Mountain company, and the friends of +the whites, had their lodges along all the streams; so that +altogether there could not have been less than one thousand +souls, and two or three thousand horses and mules +gathered in this place.</p> + +<p>"When the pie was opened then the birds began to +sing." When Captain Sublette's goods were opened and +distributed among the trappers and Indians, then began +the usual gay carousal; and the "fast young men" of the +mountains outvied each other in all manner of mad pranks. +In the beginning of their spree many feats of horsemanship +and personal strength were exhibited, which were +regarded with admiring wonder by the sober and inexperienced +New Englanders under Mr. Wyeth's command. +And as nothing stimulated the vanity of the mountain-men +like an audience of this sort, the feats they performed +were apt to astonish themselves. In exhibitions of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +kind, the free trappers took the lead, and usually carried +off the palm, like the privileged class that they were.</p> + +<p>But the horse-racing, fine riding, wrestling, and all the +manlier sports, soon degenerated into the baser exhibitions +of a "crazy drunk" condition. The vessel in which +the trapper received and carried about his supply of alcohol +was one of the small camp kettles. "Passing round" +this clumsy goblet very freely, it was not long before a +goodly number were in the condition just named, and +ready for any mad freak whatever. It is reported by several +of the mountain-men that on the occasion of one of +these "frolics," one of their number seized a kettle of alcohol, +and poured it over the head of a tall, lank, redheaded +fellow, repeating as he did so the baptismal ceremony. +No sooner had he concluded, than another man +with a lighted stick, touched him with the blaze, when in +an instant he was enveloped in flames. Luckily some of +the company had sense enough left to perceive his danger, +and began beating him with pack-saddles to put out the +blaze. But between the burning and the beating, the +unhappy wretch nearly lost his life, and never recovered +from the effects of his baptism by fire.</p> + +<p>Beaver being plenty in camp, business was correspondingly +lively, there being a great demand for goods. When +this demand was supplied, as it was in the course of about +three weeks, the different brigades were set in motion. +One of the earliest to move was a small party under Milton +Sublette, including his constant companion, Meek. +With this company, no more than thirty in number, Sublette +intended to explore the country to the south-west, +then unknown to the fur companies, and to proceed as far +as the Humboldt river in that direction.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of July they set out toward the south end +of the valley, and having made but about eight miles the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +first day, camped that night near a pass in the mountains. +Wyeth's party of raw New Englanders, and Sinclair's free +trappers, had joined themselves to the company of Milton +Sublette, and swelled the number in camp to about +sixty men, many of them new to the business of mountain +life.</p> + +<p>Just as the men were raising camp for a start the next +morning, a caravan was observed moving down the mountain +pass into the valley. No alarm was at first felt, as an +arrival was daily expected of one of the American company's +partisans, Mr. Fontenelle, and his company. But +on reconnoitering with a glass, Sublette discovered them +to be a large party of Blackfeet, consisting of a few +mounted men, and many more, men, women, and children, +on foot. At the instant they were discovered, they set up +the usual yell of defiance, and rushed down like a mountain +torrent into the valley, flourishing their weapons, and +fluttering their gay blankets and feathers in the wind. +There was no doubt as to the warlike intentions of the +Blackfeet in general, nor was it for a moment to be supposed +that any peaceable overture on their part meant +anything more than that they were not prepared to fight at +that particular juncture; therefore let not the reader judge +too harshly of an act which under ordinary circumstances +would have been infamous. In Indian fighting, every +man is his own leader, and the bravest take the front +rank. On this occasion there were two of Sublette's men, +one a half-breed Iroquois, the other a Flathead Indian, +who had wrongs of their own to avenge, and they never +let slip a chance of killing a Blackfoot. These two men +rode forth alone to meet the enemy, as if to hold a "talk" +with the principal chief, who advanced to meet them, +bearing the pipe of peace. When the chief extended +his hand, Antonio Godin, the half-breed, took it, but at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +same moment he ordered the Flathead to fire, and the +chief fell dead. The two trappers galloped back to camp, +Antoine bearing for a trophy the scarlet blanket of his +enemy.</p> + +<p>This action made it impossible to postpone the battle, +as the dead chief had meant to do by peaceful overtures, +until the warriors of his nation came up. The Blackfeet +immediately betook themselves to a swamp formed by an +old beaver dam, and thickly overgrown with cotton-wood +and willow, matted together with tough vines. On the +edge of this dismal covert the warriors skulked, and shot +with their guns and arrows, while in its very midst the +women employed themselves in digging a trench and +throwing up a breastwork of logs, and whatever came to +hand. Such a defence as the thicket afforded was one not +easy to attack; its unseen but certain dangers being sufficient +to appal the stoutest heart.</p> + +<p>Meantime, an express had been sent off to inform Captain +Sublette of the battle, and summon assistance. Sinclair +and his free trappers, with Milton Sublette's small +company, were the only fighting men at hand. Mr. Wyeth, +knowing the inefficiency of his men in an Indian fight, +had them entrenched behind their packs, and there left +them to take care of themselves, but charged them not to +appear in open field. As for the fighting men, they stationed +themselves in a ravine, where they could occasionally +pick off a Blackfoot, and waited for reinforcements.</p> + +<p>Great was the astonishment of the Blackfeet, who believed +they had only Milton Sublette's camp to fight, when +they beheld first one party of white men and then another; +and not only whites, but Nez Perces and Flatheads +came galloping up the valley. If before it had been a +battle to destroy the whites, it was now a battle to defend +themselves. Previous to the arrival of Captain Sublette,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +the opposing forces had kept up only a scattering fire, in +which nobody on the side of the trappers had been either +killed or wounded. But when the impetuous captain +arrived on the battle-field, he prepared for less guarded +warfare. Stripped as if for the prize-ring, and armed +<i>cap-a-pie</i>, he hastened to the scene of action, accompanied +by his intimate friend and associate in business, Robert +Campbell.</p> + +<p>At sight of the reinforcements, and their vigorous +movements, the Indians at the edge of the swamp fell +back within their fort. To dislodge them was a dangerous +undertaking, but Captain Sublette was determined to +make the effort. Finding the trappers generally disinclined +to enter the thicket, he set the example, together +with Campbell, and thus induced some of the free trappers, +with their leader, Sinclair, to emulate his action. +However, the others took courage at this, and advanced +near the swamp, firing at random at their invisible foe, +who, having the advantage of being able to see them, inflicted +some wounds on the party.</p> + +<p>The few white "braves" who had resolved to enter the +swamp, made their wills as they went, feeling that they +were upon perilous business. Sublette, Campbell, and +Sinclair succeeded in penetrating the thicket without +alarming the enemy, and came at length to a more open +space from whence they could get a view of the fort. +From this they learned that the women and children had +retired to the mountains, and that the fort was a slight +affair, covered with buffalo robes and blankets to keep out +prying eyes. Moving slowly on, some slight accident +betrayed their vicinity, and the next moment a shot struck +Sinclair, wounding him mortally. He spoke to Campbell, +requesting to be taken to his brother. By this time some +of the men had come up, and he was given in charge to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +be taken back to camp. Sublette then pressed forward, +and seeing an Indian looking through an aperture, aimed +at him with fatal effect. No sooner had he done so, and +pointed out the opening to Campbell, than he was struck +with a ball in the shoulder, which nearly prostrated him, +and turned him so faint that Campbell took him in his +arms and carried him, assisted by Meek, out of the swamp. +At the same time one of the men received a wound in the +head. The battle was now carried on with spirit, although +from the difficulty of approaching the fort, the firing was +very irregular.</p> + +<p>The mountaineers who followed Sublette, took up their +station in the woods on one side of the fort, and the Nez +Perces, under Wyeth, on the opposite side, which accidental +arrangement, though it was fatal to many of the +Blackfeet in the fort, was also the occasion of loss to +themselves by the cross-fire. The whites being constantly +reinforced by fresh arrivals from the rendezvous, were +soon able to silence the guns of the enemy, but they were +not able to drive them from their fort, where they remained +silent and sullen after their ammunition was exhausted.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the women of the Nez Perces and Flatheads +were gathering up sticks to set fire to their breastwork +of logs, an old chief proclaimed in a loud voice +from within, the startling intelligence that there were +four hundred lodges of his people close at hand, who +would soon be there to avenge their deaths, should the +whites choose to reduce them to ashes. This harangue, +delivered in the usual high-flown style of Indian oratory, +either was not clearly understood, or was wrongly interpreted, +and the impression got abroad that an attack was +being made on the great encampment. This intelligence +occasioned a diversion, and a division of forces; for while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +a small party was left to watch the fort, the rest galloped +in hot haste to the rescue of the main camp. When they +arrived, they found it had been a false alarm, but it was +too late to return that night, and the several camps remained +where they were until the next day.</p> + +<p>Meantime the trappers left to guard the fort remained +stationed within the wood all night, firmly believing they +had their enemy "corraled," as the horsemen of the +plains would say. On the return, in the morning, of their +comrades from the main camp, they advanced cautiously +up to the breastwork of logs, and behold! not a buffalo +skin nor red blanket was to be seen! Through the crevices +among the logs was seen an empty fort. On making +this discovery there was much chagrin among the white +trappers, and much lamentation among the Indian allies, +who had abandoned the burning of the fort expressly to +save for themselves the fine blankets and other goods of +their hereditary foes.</p> + +<p>From the reluctance displayed by the trappers, in the +beginning of the battle, to engage with the Indians while +under cover of the woods, it must not be inferred that +they were lacking in courage. They were too well informed +in Indian modes of warfare to venture recklessly +into the den of death, which a savage ambush was quite +sure to be. The very result which attended the impetuosity +of their leaders, in the death of Sinclair and the +wounding of Captain Sublette, proved them not over +cautious.</p> + +<p>On entering the fort, the dead bodies of ten Blackfeet +were found, besides others dead outside the fort, and over +thirty horses, some of which were recognized as those +stolen from Sublette's night camp on the other side of +the mountains, besides those abandoned by Fitzpatrick. +Doubtless the rascals had followed his trail to Pierre's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +Hole, not thinking, however, to come upon so large a +camp as they found at last. The savage garrison which +had so cunningly contrived to elude the guard set upon +them, carried off some of their wounded, and, perhaps, also +some of their dead; for they acknowledged afterwards a +much larger loss than appeared at the time. Besides Sinclair, +there were five other white men killed, one half-breed, +and seven Nez Perces. About the same number +of whites and their Indian allies were wounded.</p> + +<p>An instance of female devotion is recorded by Bonneville's +historian as having occurred at this battle. On the +morning following it, as the whites were exploring the +thickets about the fort, they discovered a Blackfoot +woman leaning silent and motionless against a tree. According +to Mr. Irving, whose fine feeling for the sex +would incline him to put faith in this bit of romance, +"their surprise at her lingering here alone, to fall into the +hands of her enemies, was dispelled when they saw the +corpse of a warrior at her feet. Either she was so lost in +grief as not to perceive their approach, or a proud spirit +kept her silent and motionless. The Indians set up a yell +on discovering her, and before the trappers could interfere, +her mangled body fell upon the corpse which she had +refused to abandon." This version is true in the main incidents, +but untrue in the sentiment. The woman's leg +had been broken by a ball, and she was unable to move +from the spot where she leaned. When the trappers approached +her, she stretched out her hands supplicatingly, +crying out in a wailing voice, "kill me! kill me! O white +men, kill me!"—but this the trappers had no disposition +to do. While she was entreating them, and they refusing, +a ball from some vengeful Nez Perce or Flathead put an +end to her sufferings.</p> + +<p>Still remembering the threats of the Blackfoot chief,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +that four hundred lodges of his brethren were advancing +on the valley, all the companies returned to rendezvous, +and remained for several days, to see whether an attack +should take place. But if there had ever been any such +intention on the part of the Blackfoot nation, the timely +lesson bestowed on their advance guard had warned them +to quit the neighborhood of the whites.</p> + +<p>Captain Sublette's wound was dressed by Mr. Wyeth's +physician, and although it hindered his departure for St. +Louis for some time, it did not prevent his making his +usual journey later in the season. It was as well, perhaps, +that he did not set out earlier, for of a party of +seven who started for St. Louis a few days after the battle, +three were killed in Jackson's Hole, where they fell in +with the four hundred warriors with whom the Blackfoot +chief threatened the whites at the battle of Pierre's Hole. +From the story of the four survivors who escaped and returned +to camp, there could no longer be any doubt that +the big village of the Blackfeet had actually been upon +the trail of Capt. Sublette, expecting an easy victory +when they should overtake him. How they were disappointed +by the reception met with by the advance camp, +has already been related.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>1832. On the 23d of July, Milton Sublette's brigade +and the company of Mr. Wyeth again set out for the +southwest, and met no more serious interruptions while +they traveled in company. On the head-waters of the +Humboldt River they separated, Wyeth proceeding north +to the Columbia, and Sublette continuing on into a country +hitherto untraversed by American trappers.</p> + +<p>It was the custom of a camp on the move to depend +chiefly on the men employed as hunters to supply them +with game, the sole support of the mountaineers. When +this failed, the stock on hand was soon exhausted, and the +men reduced to famine. This was what happened to +Sublette's company in the country where they now found +themselves, between the Owyhee and Humboldt Rivers. +Owing to the arid and barren nature of these plains, the +largest game to be found was the beaver, whose flesh +proved to be poisonous, from the creature having eaten +of the wild parsnip in the absence of its favorite food. +The men were made ill by eating of beaver flesh, and the +horses were greatly reduced from the scarcity of grass +and the entire absence of the cotton-wood.</p> + +<p>In this plight Sublette found himself, and finally resolved +to turn north, in the hope of coming upon some +better and more hospitable country. The sufferings of +the men now became terrible, both from hunger and +thirst. In the effort to appease the former, everything +was eaten that could be eaten, and many things at which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +the well-fed man would sicken with disgust. "I have," +says Joe Meek, "held my hands in an ant-hill until they +were covered with the ants, then greedily licked them off. +I have taken the soles off my moccasins, crisped them in +the fire, and eaten them. In our extremity, the large +black crickets which are found in this country were considered +game. We used to take a kettle of hot water, +catch the crickets and throw them in, and when they +stopped kicking, eat them. That was not what we called +<i>cant tickup ko hanch</i>, (good meat, my friend), but it kept +us alive."</p> + +<p>Equally abhorrent expedients were resorted to in order +to quench thirst, some of which would not bear mention. +In this condition, and exposed to the burning suns and +the dry air of the desert, the men now so nearly exhausted +began to prey upon their almost equally exhausted animals. +At night when they made their camp, by mutual +consent a mule was bled, and a soup made from its blood. +About a pint was usually taken, when two or three would +mess together upon this reviving, but scanty and not very +palatable dish. But this mode of subsistence could not +be long depended on, as the poor mules could ill afford to +lose blood in their famishing state; nor could the men afford +to lose their mules where there was a chance of life: +therefore hungry as they were, the men were cautious in +this matter; and it generally caused a quarrel when a man's +mule was selected for bleeding by the others.</p> + +<p>A few times a mule had been sacrificed to obtain meat; +and in this case the poorest one was always selected, so as +to economise the chances for life for the whole band. In +this extremity, after four days of almost total abstinence +and several weeks of famine, the company reached the +Snake River, about fifty miles above the fishing falls, where +it boils and dashes over the rocks, forming very strong<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +rapids. Here the company camped, rejoiced at the sight +of the pure mountain water, but still in want of food. +During the march a horse's back had become sore from +some cause; probably, his rider thought, because the saddle +did not set well; and, although that particular animal +was selected to be sacrificed on the morrow, as one that +could best be spared, he set about taking the stuffing out +of his saddle and re-arranging the padding. While engaged +in this considerate labor, he uttered a cry of delight +and held up to view a large brass pin, which had accidentally +got into the stuffing, when the saddle was made, and +had been the cause of all the mischief to his horse.</p> + +<p>The same thought struck all who saw the pin: it was +soon converted into a fish-hook, a line was spun from horse-hair, +and in a short time there were trout enough caught +to furnish them a hearty and a most delicious repast. "In +the morning," says Meek, "we went on our way rejoicing;" +each man with the "five fishes" tied to his saddle, if without +any "loaves." This was the end of their severest suffering, +as they had now reached a country where absolute +starvation was not the normal condition of the inhabitants; +and which was growing more and more bountiful, as they +neared the Rocky Mountains, where they at length joined +camp, not having made a very profitable expedition.</p> + +<p>It may seem incredible to the reader that any country +so poor as that in which our trappers starved could have +native inhabitants. Yet such was the fact; and the people +who lived in and who still inhabit this barren waste, +were called <i>Diggers</i>, from their mode of obtaining their +food—a few edible roots growing in low grounds, or marshy +places. When these fail them they subsist as did our trappers, +by hunting crickets and field mice.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more abject than the appearance of the +Digger Indian, in the fall, as he roams about, without food<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +and without weapons, save perhaps a bow and arrows, +with his eyes fixed upon the ground, looking for crickets! +So despicable is he, that he has neither enemies nor friends; +and the neighboring tribes do not condescend to notice his +existence, unless indeed he should come in their way, +when they would not think it more than a mirthful act to +put an end to his miserable existence. And so it must be +confessed the trappers regarded him. When Sublette's +party first struck the Humboldt, Wyeth's being still with +them, Joe Meek one day shot a Digger who was prowling +about a stream where his traps were set.</p> + +<p>"Why did you shoot him?" asked Wyeth.</p> + +<p>"To keep him from stealing traps."</p> + +<p>"Had he stolen any?"</p> + +<p>"No: but he <i>looked as if he was going to</i>!"</p> + +<p>This recklessness of life very properly distressed the just +minded New Englander. Yet it was hard for the trappers +to draw lines of distinction so nice as his. If a tribe was +not known to be friendly, it was a rule of necessity to consider +it unfriendly. The abjectness and cowardice of the +Diggers was the fruit of their own helpless condition. That +they had the savage instinct, held in check only by circumstances, +was demonstrated about the same time that +Meek shot one, by his being pursued by four of them when +out trapping alone, and only escaping at last by the assistance +of one of his comrades who came to the rescue. +They could not fight, like the Crows and Blackfeet, but +they could steal and murder, when they had a safe opportunity.</p> + +<p>It would be an interesting study, no doubt, to the philanthropist, +to ascertain in how great a degree the habits, +manners, and morals of a people are governed by their +resources, especially by the quality and quantity of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +diet. But when diet and climate are both taken into consideration, +the result is striking.</p> + +<p>The character of the Blackfeet who inhabited the good +hunting grounds on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, +is already pretty well given. They were tall, sinewy, well-made +fellows; good horsemen, and good fighters, though +inclined to marauding and murdering. They dressed comfortably +and even handsomely, as dress goes amongst savages, +and altogether were more to be feared than despised.</p> + +<p>The Crows resembled the Blackfeet, whose enemies they +were, in all the before-mentioned traits, but were if possible, +even more predatory in their habits. Unlike the +Blackfeet, however, they were not the enemies of all +mankind; and even were disposed to cultivate some friendliness +with the white traders and trappers, in order, as +they acknowledged, to strengthen their own hands +against the Blackfeet. They too inhabited a good country, +full of game, and had horses in abundance. These +were the mountain tribes.</p> + +<p>Comparing these with the coast tribes, there was a striking +difference. The natives of the Columbia were not a +tall and robust people, like those east of the Rocky Mountains, +who lived by hunting. Their height rarely exceeded +five feet six inches; their forms were good, rather inclining +to fatness, their faces round, features coarse, but +complexion light, and their eyes large and intelligent. +The custom of flattening their heads in infancy gave them +a grotesque and unnatural appearance, otherwise they +could not be called ill-looking. On the first advent of +white men among them, they were accustomed to go entirely +naked, except in winter, when a panther skin, or a +mantle of other skins sewed together, served to protect +them from the cold: or if the weather was rainy, as it +generally was in that milder climate, a long mantle of rush<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +mats, like the toga of the ancient Romans, took the place +of that made of skins. To this was added a conical hat, +woven of fibrous roots, and gaily painted.</p> + +<p>For defensive armor they were provided with a tunic +of elkskin double, descending to the ankles, with holes in +it for the arms, and quite impenetrable to arrows. A helmet +of similar material covered the head, rendering them +like Achilles, invulnerable except in the heels. In this +secure dress they went to battle in their canoes, notice +being first given to the enemy of the intended attack. +Their battles might therefore be termed compound duels, +in which each party observed great punctiliousness and +decorum. Painted and armor-encased, the warriors in two +flotillas of canoes were rowed to the battle ground by +their women, when the battle raged furiously for some +time; not, however, doing any great harm to either side. +If any one chanced to be killed, that side considered itself +beaten, and retired from the conflict to mourn over and +bury the estimable and departed brave. If the case was a +stubborn one, requiring several days fighting, the opponents +encamped near each other, keeping up a confusion +of cries, taunts, menaces, and raillery, during the whole +night; after which they resumed the conflict, and continued +it until one was beaten. If a village was to be attacked, +notice being received, the women and children +were removed; and if the village was beaten they made +presents to their conquerors. Such were the decorous +habits of the warriors of the lower Columbia.</p> + +<p>These were the people who lived almost exclusively by +fishing, and whose climate was a mild and moist one. Fishing, +in which both sexes engaged about equally, was an important +accomplishment, since it was by fish they lived in +this world; and by being good fishermen that they had hopes +of the next one. The houses in which they lived, instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +of being lodges made of buffalo skins, were of a large +size and very well constructed, being made out of cedar +planks. An excavation was first made in the earth two or +three feet deep, probably to secure greater warmth in +winter. A double row of cedar posts was then planted +firmly all round the excavation, and between these the +planks were laid, or, sometimes cedar bark, so overlapped +as to exclude the rain and wind. The ridge-pole of the +roof was supported on a row of taller posts, passing +through the centre of the building, and notched to receive +it. The rafters were then covered with planks or bark, +fastened down with ropes made of the fibre of the cedar +bark. A house made in this manner, and often a hundred +feet long by thirty or forty wide, accommodated several +families, who each had their separate entrance and fireplace; +the entrance being by a low oval-shaped door, and +a flight of steps.</p> + +<p>The canoes of these people were each cut out of a single +log of cedar; and were often thirty feet long and five +wide at midships. They were gaily painted, and their +shape was handsome, with a very long bow so constructed +as to cut the surf in landing with the greatest ease, or the +more readily to go through a rough sea. The oars were +about five feet long, and bent in the shape of a crescent; +which shape enabled them to draw them edgewise through +the water with little or no noise—this noiselessness being +an important quality in hunting the sea otter, which is +always caught sleeping on the rocks.</p> + +<p>The single instrument which sufficed to build canoes +and houses was the chisel; generally being a piece of old +iron obtained from some vessel and fixed in a wooden +handle. A stone mallet aided them in using the chisel; +and with this simple "kit" of tools they contrived to +manufacture plates, bowls, carved oars, and many ornamental +things.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>Like the men of all savage nations, they made slaves of +their captives, and their women. The dress of the latter +consisted merely of a short petticoat, manufactured from +the fibre of the cedar bark, previously soaked and prepared. +This material was worked into a fringe, attached +to a girdle, and only long enough to reach the middle of +the thigh. When the season required it, they added a +mantle of skins. Their bodies were anointed with fish-oil, +and sometimes painted with red ochre in imitation of the +men. For ornaments they wore strings of glass beads, +and also of a white shell found on the northern coast, called +<i>haiqua</i>. Such were the <i>Chinooks</i>, who lived upon the +coast.</p> + +<p>Farther up the river, on the eastern side of the Cascade +range of mountains, a people lived, the same, yet different +from the Chinooks. They resembled them in form, features, +and manner of getting a living. But they were +more warlike and more enterprising; they even had some +notions of commerce, being traders between the coast +Indians and those to the east of them. They too were +great fishermen, but used the net instead of fishing in +boats. Great scaffoldings were erected every year at the +narrows of the Columbia, known as the Dalles, where, as +the salmon passed up the river in the spring, in incredible +numbers, they were caught and dried. After drying, the +fish were then pounded fine between two stones, pressed +tightly into packages or bales of about a hundred pounds, +covered with matting, and corded up for transportation. +The bales were then placed in storehouses built to receive +them, where they awaited customers.</p> + +<p>By and by there came from the coast other Indians, +with different varieties of fish, to exchange for the salmon +in the Wish-ram warehouses. And by and by there came +from the plains to the eastward, others who had horses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +camas-root, bear-grass, fur robes, and whatever constituted +the wealth of the mountains and plains, to exchange for +the rich and nutritious salmon of the Columbia. These +Wish-ram Indians were sharp traders, and usually made +something by their exchanges; so that they grew rich +and insolent, and it was dangerous for the unwary +stranger to pass their way. Of all the tribes of the Columbia, +they perpetrated the most outrages upon their +neighbors, the passing traveler, and the stranger within +their gates.</p> + +<p>Still farther to the east, on the great grassy plains, watered +by beautiful streams, coming down from the mountains, +lived the Cayuses, Yakimas, Nez Perces, Wallah-Wallahs, +and Flatheads; as different in their appearance +and habits as their different modes of living would naturally +make them. Instead of having many canoes, they +had many horses; and in place of drawing the fishing net, +or trolling lazily along with hook and line, or spearing +fish from a canoe, they rode pell-mell to the chase, or sallied +out to battle with the hostile Blackfeet, whose country +lay between them and the good hunting-grounds, where +the great herds of buffalo were. Being Nimrods by nature, +they were dressed in complete suits of skins, instead +of going naked, like their brethren in the lower country. +Being wandering and pastoral in their habits, they lived +in lodges, which could be planted every night and raised +every morning.</p> + +<p>Their women, too, were good riders, and comfortably +clad in dressed skins, kept white with chalk. So wealthy +were some of the chiefs that they could count their fifteen +hundred head of horses grazing on their grassy uplands. +Horse-racing was their delight, and betting on them their +besetting vice. For bridles they used horse-hair cords, +attached around the animal's mouth. This was sufficient<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +to check him, and by laying a hand on this side or that of +the horse's neck, the rider could wheel him in either direction. +The simple and easy-fitting saddle was a stuffed +deer-skin, with stirrups of wood, resembling in shape those +used by the Mexicans, and covered with deer-skin sewed +on wet, so as to tighten in drying. The saddles of the +women were furnished with a pair of deer's antlers for the +pommel.</p> + +<p>In many things their customs and accoutrements resembled +those of the Mexicans, from whom, no doubt, they +were borrowed. Like the Mexican, they threw the lasso +to catch the wild horse. Their horses, too, were of Mexican +stock, and many of them bore the brand of that +country, having been obtained in some of their not infrequent +journeys into California and New Mexico.</p> + +<p>As all the wild horses of America are said to have +sprung from a small band, turned loose upon the plains +by Cortez, it would be interesting to know at what time +they came to be used by the northern Indians, or whether +the horse and the Indian did not emigrate together. If the +horse came to the Indian, great must have been the change +effected by the advent of this new element in the savage's +life. It is impossible to conceive, however, that the Indian +ever could have lived on these immense plains, barren +of everything but wild grass, without his horse. With +him he does well enough, for he not only "lives on horseback," +by which means he can quickly reach a country +abounding in game, but he literally lives on horse-flesh, +when other game is scarce.</p> + +<p>Curious as the fact may seem, the Indians at the mouth +of the Columbia and those of New Mexico speak languages +similar in construction to that of the Aztecs; and from +this fact, and the others before mentioned, it may be very +fairly inferred that difference of circumstances and localities +have made of the different tribes what they are.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>As to the Indian's moral nature, that is pretty much alike +everywhere; and with some rare exceptions, the rarest of +which is, perhaps, the Flathead and Nez Perces nations, +all are cruel, thieving, and treacherous. The Indian gospel +is literally the "gospel of blood"; an "eye for an +eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Vengeance is as much a +commandment to him as any part of the decalogue is to +the Christian. But we have digressed far from our narrative; +and as it will be necessary to refer to the subject of +the moral code of savages further on in our narrative, we +leave it for the present.</p> + +<p>After the incident of the pin and the fishes, Sublette's +party kept on to the north, coursing along up Payette's +River to Payette Lake, where he camped, and the men +went out trapping. A party of four, consisting of Meek, +Antoine Godin, Louis Leaugar, and Small, proceeded to the +north as far as the Salmon river and beyond, to the head +of one of its tributaries, where the present city of Florence +is located. While camped in this region, three of +the men went out one day to look for their horses, which +had strayed away, or been stolen by the Indians. During +their absence, Meek, who remained in camp, had killed a +fine fat deer, and was cooking a portion of it, when he +saw a band of about a hundred Indians approaching, and +so near were they that flight was almost certainly useless; +yet as a hundred against one was very great odds, and +running away from them would not increase their number, +while it gave him something to do in his own defence, he +took to his heels and ran as only a mountain-man can run. +Instead, however, of pursuing him, the practical-minded +braves set about finishing his cooking for him, and soon +had the whole deer roasting before the fire.</p> + +<p>This procedure provoked the gastronomic ire of our +trapper, and after watching them for some time from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +hiding-place, he determined to return and share the feast. +On reaching camp again, and introducing himself to his +not over-scrupulous visitors, he found they were from the +Nez Perces tribe inhabiting that region, who, having been +so rude as to devour his stock of provisions, invited him +to accompany them to their village, not a great way off, +where they would make some return for his involuntary +hospitality. This he did, and there found his three comrades +and all their horses. While still visiting at the Nez +Perces village, they were joined by the remaining portion +of Sublette's command, when the whole company started +south again. Passing Payette's lake to the east, traversing +the Boise Basin, going to the head-waters of that river, +thence to the Malade, thence to Godin's river, and finally +to the forks of the Salmon, where they found the main +camp. Captain Bonneville, of whose three years wanderings +in the wilderness Mr. Irving has given a full and interesting +account, was encamped in the same neighborhood, +and had built there a small fort or trading-house, +and finally wintered in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>An exchange of men now took place, and Meek went +east of the mountains under Fitzpatrick and Bridger. +When these famous leaders had first set out for the summer +hunt, after the battle of Pierre's Hole, their course +had been to the head-waters of the Missouri, to the Yellowstone +lake, and the forks of the Missouri, some of the +best beaver grounds known to them. But finding their +steps dogged by the American Fur Company, and not +wishing to be made use of as pilots by their rivals, they +had flitted about for a time like an Arab camp, in the endeavor +to blind them, and finally returned to the west side +of the mountains, where Meek fell in with them.</p> + +<p>Exasperated by the perseverance of the American +Company, they had come to the determination of leading<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +them a march which should tire them of the practice of +keeping at their heels. They therefore planned an expedition, +from which they expected no other profit than that +of shaking off their rivals. Taking no pains to conceal +their expedition, they rather held out the bait to the +American Company, who, unsuspicious of their purpose, +took it readily enough. They led them along across the +mountains, and on to the head-waters of the Missouri. +Here, packing up their traps, they tarried not for beaver, +nor even tried to avoid the Blackfeet, but pushed right +ahead, into the very heart of their country, keeping away +from any part of it where beaver might be found, and +going away on beyond, to the elevated plains, quite destitute +of that small but desirable game, but followed +through it by their rivals.</p> + +<p>However justifiable on the part of trade this movement +of the Rocky Mountain Company might have been, +it was a cruel device as concerned the inexperienced leaders +of the other company, one of whom lost his life in +consequence. Not knowing of their danger, they only +discovered their situation in the midst of Blackfeet, +after discovering the ruse that had been played upon +them. They then halted, and being determined to find +beaver, divided their forces and set out in opposite directions +for that purpose. Unhappily, Major Vanderburg +took the worst possible direction for a small party to take, +and had not traveled far when his scouts came upon the +still smoking camp-fires of a band of Indians who were +returning from a buffalo hunt. From the "signs" left +behind them, the scout judged that they had become +aware of the near neighborhood of white men, and from +their having stolen off, he judged that they were only +gone for others of their nation, or to prepare for war.</p> + +<p>But Vanderburg, with the fool-hardiness of one not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +"up to Blackfeet," determined to ascertain for himself +what there was to fear; and taking with him half a score +of his followers, put himself upon their trail, galloping +hard after them, until, in his rashness, he found himself +being led through a dark and deep defile, rendered darker +and gloomier by overhanging trees. In the midst of this +dismal place, just where an ambush might have been expected, +he was attacked by a horde of savages, who +rushed upon his little party with whoops and frantic gestures, +intended not only to appal the riders, but to frighten +their horses, and thus make surer their bloody butchery. +It was but the work of a few minutes to consummate their +demoniac purpose. Vanderburg's horse was shot down +at once, falling on his rider, whom the Indians quickly +dispatched. One or two of the men were instantly tomahawked, +and the others wounded while making their escape +to camp. The remainder of Vanderburg's company, +on learning the fate of their leader, whose place there +was no one to fill, immediately raised camp and fled with +all haste to the encampment of the Pends Oreille Indians +for assistance. Here they waited, while those Indians, a +friendly tribe, made an effort to recover the body of their +unfortunate leader; but the remains were never recovered, +probably having first been fiendishly mutilated, and then +left to the wolves.</p> + +<p>Fitzpatrick and Bridger, finding they were no longer +pursued by their rivals, as the season advanced began to +retrace their steps toward the good trapping grounds. +Being used to Indian wiles and Blackfeet maraudings and +ambushes, they traveled in close columns, and never +camped or turned out their horses to feed, without the +greatest caution. Morning and evening scouts were sent +out to beat up every thicket or ravine that seemed to +offer concealment to a foe, and the horizon was searched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +in every direction for signs of an Indian attack. The +complete safety of the camp being settled almost beyond +a peradventure, the horses were turned loose, though +never left unguarded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i145" name="i145"></a> +<img src="images/i145.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">SCOUTS IN THE BLACKFOOT COUNTRY—"ELK OR INDIANS?"</p> + +</div> + + +<p>It was not likely, however, that the camp should pass +through the Blackfoot country without any encounters +with that nation. When it had reached the head-waters +of the Missouri, on the return march, a party of trappers, +including Meek, discovered a small band of Indians in a +bend of the lake, and thinking the opportunity for sport +a good one, commenced firing on them. The Indians, +who were without guns, took to the lake for refuge, while +the trappers entertained themselves with the rare amusement +of keeping them in the water, by shooting at them +occasionally. But it chanced that these were only a few +stragglers from the main Blackfoot camp, which soon +came up and put an end to the sport by putting the trappers +to flight in their turn. The trappers fled to camp, +the Indians pursuing, until the latter discovered that they +had been led almost into the large camp of the whites. +This occasioned a halt, the Blackfeet not caring to engage +with superior numbers.</p> + +<p>In the pause which ensued, one of the chiefs came out +into the open space, bearing the peace pipe, and Bridger +also advanced to meet him, but carrying his gun across +the pommel of his saddle. He was accompanied by a +young Blackfoot woman, wife of a Mexican in his service, +as interpreter. The chief extended his hand in token of +amity; but at that moment Bridger saw a movement of +the chiefs, which he took to mean treachery, and cocked +his rifle. But the lock had no sooner clicked than the +chief, a large and powerful man, seized the gun and +turned the muzzle downward, when the contents were +discharged into the earth. With another dexterous move<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>ment +he wrested it from Bridger's hand, and struck him +with it, felling him to the ground. In an instant all was +confusion. The noise of whoops, yells, of fire-arms, and +of running hither and thither, gathered like a tempest. +At the first burst of this demoniac blast, the horse of the +interpreter became frightened, and, by a sudden movement, +unhorsed her, wheeling and running back to camp. +In the melee which now ensued, the woman was carried +off by the Blackfeet, and Bridger was wounded twice in +the back with arrows. A chance medley fight now ensued, +continuing until night put a period to the contest. So +well matched were the opposing forces, that each fought +with caution firing from the cover of thickets and from +behind rocks, neither side doing much execution. The +loss on the part of the Blackfeet was nine warriors, and +on that of the whites, three men and six horses.</p> + +<p>As for the young Blackfoot woman, whose people retained +her a prisoner, her lamentations and struggles to +escape and return to her husband and child so wrought +upon the young Mexican, who was the pained witness of +her grief, that he took the babe in his arms, and galloped +with it into the heart of the Blackfoot camp, to place it +in the arms of the distracted mother. This daring act, +which all who witnessed believed would cause his death, +so excited the admiration of the Blackfoot chief, that he +gave him permission to return, unharmed, to his own +camp. Encouraged by this clemency, Loretta begged to +have his wife restored to him, relating how he had rescued +her, a prisoner, from the Crows, who would certainly +have tortured her to death. The wife added her entreaties +to his, but the chief sternly bade him depart, and as +sternly reminded the Blackfoot girl that she belonged to +his tribe, and could not go with his enemies. Loretta<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +was therefore compelled to abandon his wife and child, +and return to camp.</p> + +<p>It is, however, gratifying to know that so true an instance +of affection in savage life was finally rewarded; +and that when the two rival fur companies united, as they +did in the following year, Loretta was permitted to go +to the American Company's fort on the Missouri, in the +Blackfoot country, where he was employed as interpreter, +assisted by his Blackfoot wife.</p> + +<p>Such were some of the incidents that signalized this +campaign in the wilderness, where two equally persistent +rivals were trying to outwit one another. Subsequently, +when several years of rivalry had somewhat exhausted +both, the Rocky Mountain and American companies consolidated, +using all their strategy thereafter against the +Hudson's Bay Company, and any new rival that chanced +to enter their hunting grounds.</p> + +<p>After the fight above described, the Blackfeet drew off +in the night, showing no disposition to try their skill next +day against such experienced Indian fighters as Bridger's +brigade had shown themselves. The company continued +in the Missouri country, trapping and taking many beaver, +until it reached the Beaver Head Valley, on the head-waters +of the Jefferson fork of the Missouri. Here the +lateness of the season compelled a return to winter-quarters, +and by Christmas all the wanderers were gathered +into camp at the forks of the Snake River.</p> + +<p>1833. In the latter part of January it became necessary +to move to the junction of the Portneuf to subsist +the animals. The main body of the camp had gone on +in advance, while some few, with pack horses, or women +with children, were scattered along the trail. Meek, with +five others, had been left behind to gather up some horses +that had strayed. When about a half day's journey from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +camp, he overtook <i>Umentucken</i>, the Mountain Lamb, now +the wife of Milton Sublette, with her child, on horseback. +The weather was terribly cold, and seeming to grow +colder. The naked plains afforded no shelter from the +piercing winds, and the air fairly glittered with frost. +Poor Umentucken was freezing, but more troubled about +her babe than herself. The camp was far ahead, with all +the extra blankets, and the prospect was imminent that +they would perish. Our gallant trapper had thought +himself very cold until this moment, but what were his +sufferings compared to those of the Mountain Lamb and +her little Lambkin? Without an instant's hesitation, he +divested himself of his blanket capote, which he wrapped +round the mother and child, and urged her to hasten to +camp. For himself, he could not hasten, as he had the +horses in charge, but all that fearful afternoon rode naked +above the waist, exposed to the wind, and the fine, dry, +icy hail, which filled the air as with diamond needles, to +pierce the skin; and, probably, to the fact that the hail +<i>was</i> so stinging, was owing the fact that his blood did not +congeal.</p> + +<p>"O what a day was that!" said Meek to the writer; +"why, the air war thick with fine, sharp hail, and the sun +shining, too! not one sun only, but three suns—there +were <i>three</i> suns! And when night came on, the northern +lights blazed up the sky! It was the most beautiful sight +I ever saw. That is the country for northern lights!"</p> + +<p>When some surprise was expressed that he should have +been obliged to expose his naked skin to the weather, in +order to save Umentucken—"In the mountains," he answered, +"we do not have many garments. Buckskin +breeches, a blanket capote, and a beaver skin cap makes +up our rig."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You do not need a laundress, then? But with such +clothing how could you keep free of vermin?"</p> + +<p>"We didn't always do that. Do you want to know +how we got rid of lice in the mountains? We just took +off our clothes and laid them on an ant-hill, and you +ought to see how the ants would carry off the lice!"</p> + +<p>But to return to our hero, frozen, or nearly so. When +he reached camp at night, so desperate was his condition +that the men had to roll him and rub him in the snow for +some time before allowing him to approach the fire. But +Umentucken was saved, and he became heroic in her eyes. +Whether it was the glory acquired by the gallant act just +recorded, or whether our hero had now arrived at an age +when the tender passion has strongest sway, the writer is +unprepared to affirm: for your mountain-man is shy of +revealing his past gallantries; but from this time on, there +are evidences of considerable susceptibility to the charms +of the dusky beauties of the mountains and the plains.</p> + +<p>The cold of this winter was very severe, insomuch that +men and mules were frozen to death. "The frost," says +Meek, "used to hang from the roofs of our lodges in the +morning, on first waking, in skeins two feet long, and our +blankets and whiskers were white with it. But we trappers +laid still, and called the camp-keepers to make a fire, +and in our close lodges it was soon warm enough.</p> + +<p>"The Indians suffered very much. Fuel war scarce on +the Snake River, and but little fire could be afforded—just +sufficient for the children and their mothers to get +warm by, for the fire was fed only with buffalo fat torn in +strips, which blazed up quickly and did not last long. +Many a time I have stood off, looking at the fire, but not +venturing to approach, when a chief would say, 'Are you +cold, my friend? come to the fire'—so kind are these +Nez Perces and Flatheads."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>The cold was not the only enemy in camp that winter, +but famine threatened them. The buffalo had been early +driven east of the mountains, and other game was scarce. +Sometimes a party of hunters were absent for days, even +weeks, without finding more game than would subsist +themselves. As the trappers were all hunters in the winter, +it frequently happened that Meek and one or more +of his associates went on a hunt in company, for the benefit +of the camp, which was very hungry at times.</p> + +<p>On one of these hunting expeditions that winter, the +party consisting of Meek, Hawkins, Doughty, and Antoine +Claymore, they had been out nearly a fortnight without +killing anything of consequence, and had clambered up +the side of the mountains on the frozen snow, in hopes of +finding some mountain sheep. As they traveled along +under a projecting ledge of rocks, they came to a place +where there were the impressions in the snow of enormous +grizzly bear feet. Close by was an opening in the +rocks, revealing a cavern, and to this the tracks in the +snow conducted. Evidently the creature had come out +of its winter den, and made just one circuit back again. +At these signs of game the hunters hesitated—certain it +was there, but doubtful how to obtain it.</p> + +<p>At length Doughty proposed to get up on the rocks +above the mouth of the cavern and shoot the bear as he +came out, if somebody would go in and dislodge him.</p> + +<p>"I'm your man," answered Meek.</p> + +<p>"And I too," said Claymore.</p> + +<p>"I'll be —— if we are not as brave as you are," said +Hawkins, as he prepared to follow.</p> + +<p>On entering the cave, which was sixteen or twenty feet +square, and high enough to stand erect in, instead of one, +three bears were discovered. They were standing, the +largest one in the middle, with their eyes staring at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +entrance, but quite quiet, greeting the hunters only with +a low growl. Finding that there was a bear apiece to be +disposed of, the hunters kept close to the wall, and out of +the stream of light from the entrance, while they advanced +a little way, cautiously, towards their game, which, +however, seemed to take no notice of them. After maneuvering +a few minutes to get nearer, Meek finally struck +the large bear on the head with his wiping-stick, when it +immediately moved off and ran out of the cave. As it +came out, Doughty shot, but only wounded it, and it +came rushing back, snorting, and running around in a +circle, till the well directed shots from all three killed it +on the spot. Two more bears now remained to be disposed +of.</p> + +<p>The successful shot put Hawkins in high spirits. He +began to hallo and laugh, dancing around, and with the +others striking the next largest bear to make him run out, +which he soon did, and was shot by Doughty. By this +time their guns were reloaded, the men growing more +and more elated, and Hawkins declaring they were "all +Daniels in the lions' den, and no mistake." This, and +similar expressions, he constantly vociferated, while they +drove out the third and smallest bear. As it reached the +cave's mouth, three simultaneous shots put an end to the +last one, when Hawkins' excitement knew no bounds. +"Daniel was a humbug," said he. "Daniel in the lions' +den! Of course it was winter, and the lions were sucking +their paws! Tell me no more of Daniel's exploits. We +are as good Daniels as he ever dared to be. Hurrah for +these Daniels!" With these expressions, and playing +many antics by way of rejoicing, the delighted Hawkins +finally danced himself out of his "lion's den," and set to +work with the others to prepare for a return to camp.</p> + +<p>Sleds were soon constructed out of the branches of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +mountain willow, and on these light vehicles the fortunate +find of bear meat was soon conveyed to the hungry camp +in the plain below. And ever after this singular exploit +of the party, Hawkins continued to aver, in language +more strong than elegant, that the Scripture Daniel was a +humbug compared to himself, and Meek, and Claymore.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>1833. In the spring the camp was visited by a party +of twenty Blackfeet, who drove off most of the horses; +and among the stolen ones, Bridger's favorite race-horse, +Grohean, a Camanche steed of great speed and endurance. +To retake the horses, and if possible punish the thieves, +a company of the gamest trappers, thirty in number, including +Meek, and Kit Carson, who not long before had +joined the Rocky Mountain Company, was dispatched on +their trail. They had not traveled long before they came +up with the Blackfeet, but the horses were nowhere to be +seen, having been secreted, after the manner of these thieves, +in some defile of the mountains, until the skirmish was +over which they knew well enough to anticipate. Accordingly +when the trappers came up, the wily savages were +prepared for them. Their numbers were inferior to that +of the whites; accordingly they assumed an innocent and +peace-desiring air, while their head man advanced with the +inevitable peace-pipe, to have a "talk." But as their talk +was a tissue of lies, the trappers soon lost patience, and a +quarrel quickly arose. The Indians betook themselves to +the defences which were selected beforehand, and a fight +began, which without giving to either party the victory +of arms, ended in the killing of two or three of the Blackfeet, +and the wounding very severely of Kit Carson. +The firing ceased with nightfall; and when morning came, +as usual the Blackfeet were gone, and the trappers returned +to camp without their horses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The lost animals were soon replaced by purchase from +the Nez Perces, and the company divided up into brigades, +some destined for the country east of the mountains, and +others for the south and west. In this year Meek rose a +grade above the hired trapper, and became one of the +order denominated skin trappers. These, like the hired +trappers, depend upon the company to furnish them an +outfit; but do not receive regular wages, as do the others. +They trap for themselves, only agreeing to sell their beaver +to the company which furnishes the outfit, and to no +other. In this capacity, our Joe, and a few associates, +hunted this spring, in the Snake River and Salt Lake countries; +returning as usual to the annual rendezvous, which +was appointed this summer to meet on Green River. Here +were the Rocky Mountain and American Companies; the +St. Louis Company, under Capt. Wm. Sublette and his +friend Campbell; the usual camp of Indian allies; and, a +few miles distant, that of Captain Bonneville. In addition +to all these, was a small company belonging to Capt. Stuart, +an Englishman of noble family, who was traveling in the +far west only to gratify his own love of wild adventure, +and admiration of all that is grand and magnificent in nature. +With him was an artist named Miller, and several +servants; but he usually traveled in company with one or +another of the fur companies; thus enjoying their protection, +and at the same time gaining a knowledge of the +habits of mountain life.</p> + +<p>The rendezvous, at this time, furnished him a striking +example of some of the ways of mountain-men, least to +their honorable fame; and we fear we must confess that +our friend Joe Meek, who had been gathering laurels as a +valiant hunter and trapper during the three or four years +of his apprenticeship, was also becoming fitted, by frequent +practice, to graduate in some of the vices of camp life,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +especially the one of conviviality during rendezvous. Had +he not given his permission, we should not perhaps have +said what he says of himself, that he was at such times often +very "powerful drunk."</p> + +<p>During the indulgence of these excesses, while at this +rendezvous, there occurred one of those incidents of wilderness +life which make the blood creep with horror. +Twelve of the men were bitten by a mad wolf, which hung +about the camp for two or three nights. Two of these +were seized with madness in camp, sometime afterwards, +and ran off into the mountains, where they perished. One +was attacked by the paroxysm while on a hunt; when, +throwing himself off his horse, he struggled and foamed +at the mouth, gnashing his teeth, and barking like a wolf. +Yet he retained consciousness enough to warn away his +companions, who hastened in search of assistance; but +when they returned he was nowhere to be found. It was +thought that he was seen a day or two afterwards, but no +one could come up with him, and of course, he too, perished. +Another died on his journey to St. Louis; and +several died at different times within the next two years.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, immediately following the visit +of the wolf to camp, Captain Stuart was admonishing +Meek on the folly of his ways, telling him that the wolf +might easily have bitten him, he was so drunk.</p> + +<p>"It would have killed him,—sure, if it hadn't cured +him!" said Meek,—alluding to the belief that alcohol is a +remedy for the poison of hydrophobia.</p> + +<p>When sobriety returned, and work was once more to be +resumed, Meek returned with three or four associates to +the Salt Lake country, to trap on the numerous streams +that flow down from the mountains to the east of Salt Lake. +He had not been long in this region when he fell in on +Bear River with a company of Bonneville's men, one hun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>dred +and eighteen in number, under Jo Walker, who had +been sent to explore the Great Salt Lake, and the adjacent +country; to make charts, keep a journal, and, in short, +make a thorough discovery of all that region. Great expectations +were cherished by the Captain concerning this +favorite expedition, which were, however, utterly blighted, +as his historian has recorded. The disappointment and loss +which Bonneville suffered from it, gave a tinge of prejudice +to his delineations of the trapper's character. It was +true that they did not explore Salt Lake; and that they +made a long and expensive journey, collecting but few +peltries. It is true also, that they caroused in true mountain +style, while among the Californians: but that the expedition +was unprofitable was due chiefly to the difficulties +attending the exploration of a new country, a large +portion of which was desert and mountain.</p> + +<p>But let us not anticipate. When Meek and his companions +fell in with Jo Walker and his company, they resolved +to accompany the expedition; for it was "a feather in a +man's cap," and made his services doubly valuable to have +become acquainted with a new country, and fitted himself +for a pilot.</p> + +<p>On leaving Bear River, where the hunters took the precaution +to lay in a store of dried meat, the company passed +down on the west side of Salt Lake, and found themselves +in the Salt Lake desert, where their store, insufficiently +large, soon became reduced to almost nothing. Here was +experienced again the sufferings to which Meek had once +before been subjected in the Digger country, which, in +fact, bounded this desert on the northwest. "There was," +says Bonneville, "neither tree, nor herbage, nor spring, +nor pool, nor running stream; nothing but parched wastes +of sand, where horse and rider were in danger of perishing." +Many an emigrant has since confirmed the truth of +this account.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>It could not be expected that men would continue on +in such a country, in that direction which offered no change +for the better. Discerning at last a snowy range to the +northwest, they traveled in that direction; pinched with +famine, and with tongues swollen out of their mouths with +thirst. They came at last to a small stream, into which +both men and animals plunged to quench their raging +thirst.</p> + +<p>The instinct of a mule on these desert journeys is something +wonderful. We have heard it related by others besides +the mountain-men, that they will detect the neighborhood +of water long before their riders have discovered a +sign; and setting up a gallop, when before they could +hardly walk, will dash into the water up to their necks, +drinking in the life-saving moisture through every pore of +the skin, while they prudently refrain from swallowing +much of it. If one of a company has been off on a hunt +for water, and on finding it has let his mule drink, when +he returns to camp, the other animals will gather about +it, and snuff its breath, and even its body, betraying +the liveliest interest and envy. It is easy to imagine that +in the case of Jo Walker's company, not only the animals +but the men were eager to steep themselves in the reviving +waters of the first stream which they found on the +border of this weary desert.</p> + +<p>It proved to be a tributary of Mary's or Ogden's River, +along which the company pursued their way, trapping as +they went, and living upon the flesh of the beaver. They +had now entered upon the same country inhabited by +Digger Indians, in which Milton Sublette's brigade had so +nearly perished with famine the previous year. It was +unexplored, and the natives were as curious about the +movements of their white visitors, as Indians always are +on the first appearance of civilized men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>They hung about the camps, offering no offences by day, +but contriving to do a great deal of thieving during the +night-time. Each day, for several days, their numbers +increased, until the army which dogged the trappers by +day, and filched from them at night, numbered nearly a +thousand. They had no guns; but carried clubs, and +some bows and arrows. The trappers at length became +uneasy at this accumulation of force, even though they +had no fire-arms, for was it not this very style of people, +armed with clubs, that attacked Smith's party on the +Umpqua, and killed all but four?</p> + +<p>"We must kill a lot of them, boys," said Jo Walker. +"It will never do to let that crowd get into camp." Accordingly, +as the Indians crowded round at a ford of Mary's +River, always a favorite time of attack with the savages, +Walker gave the order to fire, and the whole company +poured a volley into the jostling crowd. The effect was +terrible. Seventy-five Diggers bit the dust; while the +others, seized with terror and horror at this new and instantaneous +mode of death, fled howling away, the trappers +pursuing them until satisfied that they were too much +frightened to return. This seemed to Captain Bonneville, +when he came to hear of it, like an unnecessary and ferocious +act. But Bonneville was not an experienced Indian +fighter. His views of their character were much governed +by his knowledge of the Flatheads and Nez Perces; and +also by the immunity from harm he enjoyed among the +Shoshonies on the Snake River, where the Hudson's Bay +Company had brought them into subjection, and where +even two men might travel in safety at the time of his +residence in that country.</p> + +<p>Walker's company continued on down to the main or +Humboldt River, trapping as they went, both for the furs, +and for something to eat; and expecting to find that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +river whose course they were following through these barren +plains, would lead them to some more important river, +or to some large lake or inland sea. This was a country +entirely unknown, even to the adventurous traders and +trappers of the fur companies, who avoided it because it +was out of the buffalo range; and because the borders of +it, along which they sometimes skirted, were found to be +wanting in water-courses in which beaver might be looked +for. Walker's company therefore, now determined to +prosecute their explorations until they came to some new +and profitable beaver grounds.</p> + +<p>But after a long march through an inhospitable country +they came at last to where the Humboldt sinks itself in a +great swampy lake, in the midst of deserts of sage-brush. +Here was the end of their great expectations. To the +west of them, however, and not far off, rose the lofty summits +of the Sierra Nevada range, some of whose peaks +were covered with eternal snows. Since they had already +made an unprofitable business of their expedition, and +failed in its principal aim, that of exploring Salt Lake, +they resolved upon crossing the mountains into California, +and seeking new fields of adventure on the western side +of the Nevada mountains.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, although it was already late in the autumn, +the party pushed on toward the west, until they came to +Pyramid Lake, another of those swampy lakes which are +frequently met with near the eastern base of these Sierras. +Into this flowed a stream similar to the Humboldt, which +came from the south, and, they believed, had its rise in +the mountains. As it was important to find a good pass, +they took their course along this stream, which they +named Trucker's River, and continued along it to its +head-waters in the Sierras.</p> + +<p>And now began the arduous labor of crossing an un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>known +range of lofty mountains. Mountaineers as they +were, they found it a difficult undertaking, and one attended +with considerable peril. For a period of more +than three weeks they were struggling with these dangers; +hunting paths for their mules and horses, traveling around +canyons thousands of feet deep; sometimes sinking in +new fallen snow; always hungry, and often in peril +from starvation. Sometimes they scrambled up almost +smooth declivities of granite, that offered no foothold +save the occasional seams in the rock; at others they +traveled through pine forests made nearly impassable by +snow; and at other times on a ridge which wind and sun +made bare for them. All around rose rocky peaks and +pinnacles fretted by ages of denudation to very spears +and needles of a burnt looking, red colored rock. Below, +were spread out immense fields, or rather oceans, of +granite that seemed once to have been a molten sea, whose +waves were suddenly congealed. From the fissures between +these billows grew stunted pines, which had found +a scanty soil far down in the crevices of the rock for their +hardy roots. Following the course of any stream flowing +in the right direction for their purpose, they came not infrequently +to some small fertile valley, set in amidst the +rocks like a cup, and often containing in its depth a bright +little lake. These are the oases in the mountain deserts. +But the lateness of the season made it necessary to avoid +the high valleys on account of the snow, which in winter +accumulates to a depth of twenty feet.</p> + +<p>Great was the exultation of the mountaineers when +they emerged from the toils and dangers, safe into the +bright and sunny plains of California; having explored +almost the identical route since fixed upon for the Union +Pacific Railroad.</p> + +<p>They proceeded down the Sacramento valley, toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +the coast, after recruiting their horses on the ripe wild oats, +and the freshly springing grass which the December rains +had started into life, and themselves on the plentiful game +of the foot-hills. Something of the stimulus of the Californian +climate seemed to be imparted to the ever buoyant +blood of these hardy and danger-despising men. +They were mad with delight on finding themselves, after +crossing the stern Sierras, in a land of sunshine and plenty; +a beautiful land of verdant hills and tawny plains; of +streams winding between rows of alder and willow, and +valleys dotted with picturesque groves of the evergreen +oak. Instead of the wild blasts which they were used to +encounter in December, they experienced here only those +dainty and wooing airs which poets have ascribed to spring, +but which seldom come even with the last May days in an +eastern climate.</p> + +<p>In the San José valley they encountered a party of one +hundred soldiers, which the Spanish government at Monterey +had sent out to take a party of Indians accused of +stealing cattle. The soldiers were native Californians, descendants +of the mixed blood of Spain and Mexico, a wild, +jaunty looking set of fellows, who at first were inclined +to take Walker's party for a band of cattle thieves, and to +march them off to Monterey. But the Rocky Mountain +trapper was not likely to be taken prisoner by any such +brigade as the dashing <i>cabelleros</i> of Monterey.</p> + +<p>After astonishing them with a series of whoops and +yells, and trying to astonish them with feats of horsemanship, +they began to discover that when it came to the latter +accomplishment, even mountain-men could learn something +from a native Californian. In this latter frame of +mind they consented to be conducted to Monterey as prisoners +or not, just as the Spanish government should hereafter +be pleased to decree; and they had confidence in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +themselves that they should be able to bend that high and +mighty authority to their own purposes thereafter.</p> + +<p>Nor were they mistaken in their calculations. Their +fearless, free and easy style, united to their complete furnishing +of arms, their numbers, and their superior ability +to stand up under the demoralizing effect of the favorite +<i>aguadiente</i>, soon so far influenced the soldiery at least, that +the trappers were allowed perfect freedom under the very +eyes of the jealous Spanish government, and were treated +with all hospitality.</p> + +<p>The month which the trappers spent at Monterey was +their "red letter day" for a long time after. The habits +of the Californians accorded with their own, with just difference +enough to furnish them with novelties and excitements +such as gave a zest to their intercourse. The +Californian, and the mountain-men, were alike centaurs. +Horses were their necessity, and their delight; and the +plains swarmed with them, as also with wild cattle, descendants +of those imported by the Jesuit Fathers in the +early days of the Missions. These horses and cattle were +placed at the will and pleasure of the trappers. They +feasted on one, and bestrode the other as it suited them. +They attended bull-fights, ran races, threw the lasso, and +played monte, with a relish that delighted the inhabitants +of Monterey.</p> + +<p>The partial civilization of the Californians accorded +with every feeling to which the mountain-men could be +brought to confess. To them the refinements of cities +would have been oppressive. The adobe houses of Monterey +were not so restraining in their elegance as to trouble +the sensations of men used to the heavens for a roof +in summer, and a skin lodge for shelter in winter. Some +fruits and vegetables, articles not tasted for years, they +obtained at the missions, where the priests received them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +courteously and hospitably, as they had done Jedediah +Smith and his company, five years before, when on their +long and disastrous journey they found themselves almost +destitute of the necessaries of life, upon their arrival in +California. There was something too, in the dress of the +people, both men and women, which agreed with, while +differing from, the dress of the mountaineers and their +now absent Indian dulcineas.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i166" name="i166"></a> +<img src="images/i166.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>BRANDING CATTLE.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>The men wore garments of many colors, consisting of +blue velveteen breeches and jacket, the jacket having a +scarlet collar and cuffs, and the breeches being open at +the knee to display the stocking of white. Beneath these +were displayed high buskins made of deer skin, fringed +down the outside of the ankle, and laced with a cord and +tassels. On the head was worn a broad brimmed <i>sombrero</i>; +and over the shoulders the jaunty Mexican <i>sarape</i>. When +they rode, the Californians wore enormous spurs, fastened +on by jingling chains. Their saddles were so shaped that +it was difficult to dislodge the rider, being high before and +behind; and the indispensable lasso hung coiled from the +pommel. Their stirrups were of wood, broad on the bottom, +with a guard of leather that protected the fancy buskin +of the horseman from injury. Thus accoutred, and +mounted on a wild horse, the Californian was a suitable +comrade, in appearance, at least, for the buckskin clad trapper, +with his high beaver-skin cap, his gay scarf, and moccasins, +and profusion of arms.</p> + +<p>The dress of the women was a gown of gaudy calico +or silk, and a bright colored shawl, which served for mantilla +and bonnet together. They were well formed, with +languishing eyes and soft voices; and doubtless appeared +charming in the eyes of our band of trappers, with whom +they associated freely at fandangoes, bull-fights, or bear-baitings. +In such company, what wonder that Bonneville's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +men lingered for a whole month! What wonder that the +California expedition was a favorite theme by camp-fires, +for a long time subsequent?</p> + +<p>1834. In February the trappers bethought themselves +of returning to the mountains. The route fixed upon was +one which should take them through Southern California, +and New Mexico, along the course of all the principal +rivers. Crossing the coast mountains, into the valley of +the San Joaquin, they followed its windings until they +came to its rise in the Lulare Lake. Thence turning in a +southeasterly course, they came to the Colorado, at the +Mohave villages, where they traded with the natives, +whom they found friendly. Keeping on down the Colorado, +to the mouth of the Gila, they turned back from +that river, and ascended the Colorado once more, to Williams' +Fork, and up the latter stream to some distance, +when they fell in with a company of sixty men under +Frapp and Jervais, two of the partners in the Rocky +Mountain Company. The meeting was joyful on all +sides; but particularly so between Meek and some of his +old comrades, with whom he had fought Indians and grizzly +bears, or set beaver traps on some lonely stream in +the Blackfoot country. A lively exchange of questions +and answers took place, while gaiety and good feeling +reigned.</p> + +<p>Frapp had been out quite as long as the Monterey party. +It was seldom that the brigade which traversed the southern +country, on the Colorado, and its large tributaries, +returned to winter quarters; for in the region where they +trapped winter was unknown, and the journey to the northern +country a long and hazardous one. But the reunited +trappers had each their own experiences to relate.</p> + +<p>The two companies united made a party nearly two hundred +strong. Keeping with Frapp, they crossed over from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +Williams' Fork to the Colorado Chiquito river, at the Moquis +village, where some of the men disgraced themselves +far more than did Jo Walker's party at the crossing of +Mary's River. For the Moquis were a half-civilized nation, +who had houses and gardens, and conducted themselves +kindly, or at the worst peaceably, toward properly behaved +strangers. These trappers, instead of approaching them +with offers of purchase, lawlessly entered their gardens, +rifling them of whatever fruit or melons were ripe, and +not hesitating to destroy that which was not ripe. To this, +as might be expected, the Moquises objected; and were +shot down for so doing. In this truly infamous affair fifteen +or twenty of them were killed.</p> + +<p>"I didn't belong to that crowd," says Joe Meek, "I sat +on the fence and saw it, though. It was a shameful thing."</p> + +<p>From the Moquis village, the joint companies crossed +the country in a northeasterly direction, crossing several +branches of the Colorado at their head-waters, which +course finally brought them to the head-waters of the Rio +Grande. The journey from the mouth of the Gila, though +long, extended over a country comparatively safe. Either +farther to the south or east, the caravan would have been +in danger of a raid from the most dangerous tribes on the +continent.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>1834. But Joe Meek was not destined to return to the +Rocky Mountains without having had an Indian fight. If +adventures did not come in his way he was the man to put +himself in the way of adventures.</p> + +<p>While the camp was on its way from the neighborhood +of Grande River to the New Park, Meek, Kit Carson, +and Mitchell, with three Delaware Indians, named Tom +Hill, Manhead, and Jonas, went on a hunt across to the +east of Grande River, in the country lying between the +Arkansas and Cimarron, where numerous small branches +of these rivers head together, or within a small extent of +country.</p> + +<p>They were about one hundred and fifty miles from camp, +and traveling across the open plain between the streams, +one beautiful May morning, when about five miles off they +descried a large band of Indians mounted, and galloping +toward them. As they were in the Camanche country, +they knew what to expect if they allowed themselves +to be taken prisoners. They gave but a moment to the +observation of their foes, but that one moment revealed +a spirited scene. Fully two hundred Camanches, their +warriors in front, large and well formed men, mounted on +fleet and powerful horses, armed with spears and battle +axes, racing like the wind over the prairie, their feather +head-dresses bending to the breeze, that swept past them +in the race with double force; all distinctly seen in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +clear air of the prairie, and giving the beholder a thrill of +fear mingled with admiration.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i171" name="i171"></a> +<img src="images/i171.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE MULE FORT.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>The first moment given to this spectacle, the second one +was employed to devise some means of escape. To run +was useless. The swift Camanche steeds would soon overtake +them; and then their horrible doom was fixed. No +covert was at hand, neither thicket nor ravine, as in the +mountains there might have been. Carson and Meek exchanged +two or three sentences. At last, "we must kill +our mules!" said they.</p> + +<p>That seems a strange devise to the uninitiated reader, +who no doubt believes that in such a case their mules must +be their salvation. And so they were intended to be. In +this plight a dead mule was far more useful than a live +one. To the ground sprang every man; and placing their +mules, seven in number, in a ring, they in an instant cut +their throats with their hunting knives, and held on to the +bridles until each animal fell dead in its appointed place. +Then hastily scooping up what earth they could with +knives, they made themselves a fort—a hole to stand in +for each man, and a dead mule for a breastwork.</p> + +<p>In less than half an hour the Camanches charged on +them; the medicine-man in advance shouting, gesticulating, +and making a desperate clatter with a rattle which he +carried and shook violently. The yelling, the whooping, +the rattling, the force of the charge were appalling. But +the little garrison in the mule fort did not waver. The +Camanche horses did. They could not be made to charge +upon the bloody carcasses of the mules, nor near enough +for their riders to throw a spear into the fort.</p> + +<p>This was what the trappers had relied upon. They +were cool and determined, while terribly excited and +wrought up by their situation. It was agreed that no +more than three should fire at a time, the other three re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>serving +their fire while the empty guns could be reloaded. +They were to pick their men, and kill one at every shot.</p> + +<p>They acted up to their regulations. At the charge the +Camanche horses recoiled and could not be urged upon +the fort of slaughtered mules. The three whites fired first, +and the medicine-man and two other Camanches fell. +When a medicine-man is killed, the others retire to hold a +council and appoint another, for without their "medicine" +they could not expect success in battle. This was time +gained. The warriors retired, while their women came +up and carried off the dead.</p> + +<p>After devoting a little time to bewailing the departed, +another chief was appointed to the head place, and another +furious charge was made with the same results as before. +Three more warriors bit the dust; while the spears of their +brethren, attached to long hair ropes by which they could +be withdrawn, fell short of reaching the men in the fort. +Again and again the Camanches made a fruitless charge, +losing, as often as they repeated it, three warriors, either +dead or wounded. Three times that day the head chief +or medicine-man was killed; and when that happened, +the heroes in the fort got a little time to breathe. While +the warriors held a council, the women took care of the +wounded and slain.</p> + +<p>As the women approached the fort to carry off the fallen +warriors, they mocked and reviled the little band of trappers, +calling them "women," for fighting in a fort, and +resorting to the usual Indian ridicule and gasconade. +Occasionally, also, a warrior raced at full speed past the +fort apparently to take observations. Thus the battle continued +through the entire day.</p> + +<p>It was terrible work for the trappers. The burning sun +of the plains shone on them, scorching them to faintness. +Their faces were begrimed with powder and dust; their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +throats parched, and tongues swollen with thirst, and their +whole frames aching from their cramped positions, as well +as the excitement and fatigue of the battle. But they +dared not relax their vigilance for a moment. They were +fighting for their lives, and they meant to win.</p> + +<p>At length the sun set on that bloody and wearisome +day. Forty-two Camanches were killed, and several more +wounded, for the charge had been repeated fifteen or +twenty times. The Indians drew off at nightfall to mourn +over their dead, and hold a council. Probably they had +lost faith in their medicines, or believed that the trappers +possessed one far greater than any of theirs. Under the +friendly cover of the night, the six heroes who had fought +successfully more than a hundred Camanches, took each +his blanket and his gun, and bidding a brief adieu to dead +mules and beaver packs, set out to return to camp.</p> + +<p>When a mountain-man had a journey to perform on foot, +to travel express, or to escape from an enemy, he fell into +what is called a dog trot, and ran in that manner, sometimes, +all day. On the present occasion, the six, escaping +for life, ran all night, and found no water for seventy-five +mile. When they did at last come to a clear running +stream, their thankfulness was equal to their necessity, +"for," says Meek, "thirst is the greatest suffering I ever +experienced. It is far worse than hunger or pain."</p> + +<p>Having rested and refreshed themselves at the stream, +they kept on without much delay until they reached camp +in that beautiful valley of the Rocky Mountains called the +New, or the South Park.</p> + +<p>While they remained in the South Park, Mr. Guthrie, +one of the Rocky Mountain Company's traders, was killed +by lightning. A number of persons were collected in the +lodge of the Booshway, Frapp, to avoid the rising tempest, +when Guthrie, who was leaning against the lodge pole,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +was struck by a flash of the electric current, and fell dead +instantly. Frapp rushed out of the lodge, partly bewildered +himself by the shock, and under the impression that +Guthrie had been shot. Frapp was a German, and spoke +English somewhat imperfectly. In the excitement of the +moment he shouted out, "By ——, who did shoot +Guttery!"</p> + +<p>"— a'——, I expect: He's a firing into camp;" +drawled out Hawkins, whose ready wit was very disregardful +of sacred names and subjects.</p> + +<p>The mountaineers were familiar with the most awful +aspects of nature; and if their familiarity had not bred +contempt, it had at least hardened them to those solemn +impressions which other men would have felt under their +influence.</p> + +<p>From New Park, Meek traveled north with the main +camp, passing first to the Old Park; thence to the Little +Snake, a branch of Bear River; thence to Pilot Butte; +and finally to Green River to rendezvous; having traveled +in the past year about three thousand miles, on horseback, +through new and often dangerous countries. It is easy to +believe that the Monterey expedition was the popular +theme in camp during rendezvous. It had been difficult +to get volunteers for Bonneville's Salt Lake Exploration: +but such was the wild adventure to which it led, that volunteering +for a trip to Monterey would have been exceedingly +popular immediately thereafter.</p> + +<p>On Bear River, Bonneville's men fell in with their commander, +Captain Bonneville, whose disappointment and +indignation at the failure of his plans was exceedingly +great. In this indignation there was considerable justice; +yet much of his disappointment was owing to causes which +a more experienced trader would have avoided. The only +conclusion which can be arrived at by an impartial ob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>server +of the events of 1832-35, is, that none but certain +men of long experience and liberal means, could succeed +in the business of the fur-trade. There were too many +chances of loss; too many wild elements to be mingled +in amity; and too powerful opposition from the old established +companies. Captain Bonneville's experience was +no different from Mr. Wyeth's. In both cases there was +much effort, outlay, and loss. Nor was their failure owing +to any action of the Hudson's Bay Company, different +from, or more tyrannical, than the action of the American +companies, as has frequently been represented. It was +the American companies in the Rocky Mountains that +drove both Bonneville and Wyeth out of the field. Their +inexperience could not cope with the thorough knowledge +of the business, and the country, which their older rivals +possessed. Raw recruits were no match, in trapping or +fighting, for old mountaineers: and those veterans who +had served long under certain leaders could not be inveigled +from their service except upon the most extravagant +offers; and these extravagant wages, which if one +paid, the other must, would not allow a profit to either of +the rivals.</p> + +<p>"How much does your company pay you?" asked Bonneville +of Meek, to whom he was complaining of the conduct +of his men on the Monterey expedition.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen hundred dollars," answered Meek.</p> + +<p>"Yes: and <i>I</i> will give it to you," said Bonneville with +bitterness.</p> + +<p>It was quite true. Such was the competition aroused +by the Captain's efforts to secure good men and pilots, +that rather than lose them to a rival company, the Rocky +Mountain Company paid a few of their best men the wages +above named.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>1834. The gossip at rendezvous was this year of an +unusually exciting character. Of the brigades which left +for different parts of the country the previous summer, +the Monterey travelers were not the only ones who had +met with adventures. Fitzpatrick, who had led a party +into the Crow country that autumn, had met with a characteristic +reception from that nation of cunning vagabonds.</p> + +<p>Being with his party on Lougue River, in the early part +of September, he discovered that he was being dogged +by a considerable band of Crows, and endeavored to elude +their spying; but all to no purpose. The Crow chief +kept in his neighborhood, and finally expressed a desire +to bring his camp alongside that of Fitzpatrick, pretending +to the most friendly and honorable sentiments toward +his white neighbors. But not feeling any confidence in +Crow friendship, Fitzpatrick declined, and moved camp a +few miles away. Not, however, wishing to offend the dignity +of the apparently friendly chief, he took a small escort, +and went to pay a visit to his Crow neighbors, that +they might see that he was not afraid to trust them. +Alas, vain subterfuge!</p> + +<p>While he was exchanging civilities with the Crow chief, +a party of the young braves stole out of camp, and taking +advantage of the leader's absence, made an attack on his +camp, so sudden and successful that not a horse, nor anything +else which they could make booty of was left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +Even Captain Stuart, who was traveling with Fitzpatrick, +and who was an active officer, was powerless to resist the +attack, and had to consent to see the camp rifled of everything +valuable.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Fitzpatrick, after concluding his visit +in the most amicable manner, was returning to camp, when +he was met by the exultant braves, who added insult to +injury by robbing him of his horse, gun, and nearly all +his clothes, leaving him to return to his party in a deplorable +condition, to the great amusement of the trappers, +and his own chagrin.</p> + +<p>However, the next day a talk was held with the head +chief of the Crows, to whom Fitzpatrick represented the +infamy of such treacherous conduct in a very strong light. +In answer to this reproof, the chief disowned all knowledge +of the affair; saying that he could not always control +the conduct of the young men, who would be a little +wild now and then, in spite of the best Crow precepts: +but that he would do what he could to have the property +restored. Accordingly, after more talk, and much eloquence +on the part of Fitzpatrick, the chief part of the +plunder was returned to him, including the horses and +rifles of the men, together with a little ammunition, and a +few beaver traps.</p> + +<p>Fitzpatrick understood the meaning of this apparent +fairness, and hastened to get out of the Crow country before +another raid by the mischievous young braves, at a +time when their chief was not "honor bound," should deprive +him of the recovered property. That his conjecture +was well founded, was proven by the numerous petty +thefts which were committed, and by the loss of several +horses and mules, before he could remove them beyond +the limits of the Crow territory.</p> + +<p>While the trappers exchanged accounts of their indi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>vidual +experiences, the leaders had more important matters +to gossip over. The rivalry between the several fur +companies was now at its climax. Through the energy +and ability of Captain Sublette of the St. Louis Company, +and the experience and industry of the Rocky Mountain +Company, which Captain Sublette still continued to control +in a measure, the power still remained with them. +The American Company had never been able to cope with +them in the Rocky Mountains; and the St. Louis Company +were already invading their territory on the Missouri +River, by carrying goods up that river in boats, to trade +with the Indians under the very walls of the American +Company's forts.</p> + +<p>In August of the previous year, when Mr. Nathaniel +Wyeth had started on his return to the states, he was accompanied +as far as the mouth of the Yellowstone by +Milton Sublette; and had engaged with that gentleman +to furnish him with goods the following year, as he believed +he could do, cheaper than the St. Louis Company, +who purchased their goods in St. Louis at a great advance +on Boston prices. But Milton Sublette fell in with his +brother the Captain, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, +with a keel-boat loaded with merchandise; and while +Wyeth pursued his way eastward to purchase the Indian +goods which were intended to supply the wants of the +fur-traders in the Rocky Mountains, at a profit to him, and +an advantage to them, the Captain was persuading his +brother not to encourage any interlopers in the Indian +trade; but to continue to buy goods from himself, as formerly. +So potent were his arguments, that Milton yielded +to them, in spite of his engagement with Wyeth. Thus +during the autumn of 1833, while Bonneville was being +wronged and robbed, as he afterwards became convinced, +by his men under Walker, and anticipated in the hunting-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>ground +selected for himself, in the Crow country, by Fitzpatrick, +as he had previously been in the Snake country +by Milton Sublette, Wyeth was proceeding to Boston in +good faith, to execute what proved to be a fool's errand. +Bonneville also had gone on another, when after the trapping +season was over he left his camp to winter on the +Snake River, and started with a small escort to visit the +Columbia, and select a spot for a trading-post on the lower +portion of that river. On arriving at Wallah-Wallah, after +a hard journey over the Blue Mountains in the winter, +the agent at that post had refused to supply him with provisions +to prosecute his journey, and given him to understand +that the Hudson's Bay Company might be polite +and hospitable to Captain Bonneville as the gentleman, +but that it was against their regulations to encourage the +advent of other traders who would interfere with their +business, and unsettle the minds of the Indians in that +region.</p> + +<p>This reply so annoyed the Captain, that he refused the +well meant advice of Mr. Pambrun that he should not undertake +to recross the Blue Mountains in March snows, but +travel under the escort of Mr. Payette, one of the Hudson's +Bay Company's leaders, who was about starting for +the Nez Perce country by a safer if more circuitous route. +He therefore set out to return by the route he came, +and only arrived at camp in May, 1834, after many dangers +and difficulties. From the Portneuf River, he then +proceeded with his camp to explore the Little Snake +River, and Snake Lake; and it was while so doing that +he fell in with his men just returned from Monterey.</p> + +<p>Such was the relative position of the several fur companies +in the Rocky Mountains in 1834; and it was of +such matters that the leaders talked in the lodge of the +Booshways, at rendezvous. In the meantime Wyeth ar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>rived +in the mountains with his goods, as he had contracted +with Milton Sublette in the previous year. But +on his heels came Captain Sublette, also with goods, and +the Rocky Mountain Company violated their contract with +Wyeth, and purchased of their old leader.</p> + +<p>Thus was Wyeth left, with his goods on his hands, in a +country where it was impossible to sell them, and useless +to undertake an opposition to the already established fur-traders +and trappers. His indignation was great, and certainly +was just. In his interview with the Rocky Mountain +Company, in reply to their excuses for, and vindication +of their conduct, his answer was:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I will roll a stone into your garden that +you will never be able to get out."</p> + +<p>And he kept his promise; for that same autumn he +moved on to the Snake River, and built Fort Hall, storing +his goods therein. The next year he sold out goods and +fort to the Hudson's Bay Company; and the stone was in +the garden of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company that +they were never able to dislodge. When Wyeth had built +his fort and left it in charge of an agent, he dispatched a +party of trappers to hunt in the Big Blackfoot country, +under Joseph Gale, who had previously been in the service +of the Rocky Mountain Company, and of whom we +shall learn more hereafter, while he set out for the Columbia +to meet his vessel, and establish a salmon fishery. +The fate of that enterprise has already been recorded.</p> + +<p>As for Bonneville, he made one more effort to reach the +lower Columbia; failing, however, a second time, for the +same reason as before—he could not subsist himself and +company in a country where even every Indian refused to +sell to him either furs or provisions. After being reduced +to horse-flesh, and finding no encouragement that his condition +would be improved farther down the river, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +turned back once more from about Wallah-Wallah, and +returned to the mountains, and from there to the east in +the following year. A company of his trappers, however, +continued to hunt for him east of the mountains for two +or three years longer.</p> + +<p>The rivalry between the Rocky Mountain and American +Companies was this year diminished by their mutually +agreeing to confine themselves to certain parts of the +country, which treaty continued for two years, when they +united in one company. They were then, with the exception +of a few lone traders, the only competitors of the +Hudson's Bay Company, for the fur-trade of the West.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i183" name="i183"></a> +<img src="images/i183.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">VIEW ON THE COLUMBIA.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>1834. The Rocky Mountain Company now confined +themselves to the country lying east of the mountains, +and upon the head-waters and tributaries of the Missouri, +a country very productive in furs, and furnishing abundance +of game. But it was also the most dangerous of +all the northern fur-hunting territory, as it was the home +of those two nations of desperadoes, the Crows and +Blackfeet. During the two years in which the company +may have been said almost to reside there, desperate encounters +and hair-breadth escapes were incidents of daily +occurrence to some of the numerous trapping parties.</p> + +<p>The camp had reached the Blackfoot country in the +autumn of this year, and the trappers were out in all +directions, hunting beaver in the numerous small streams +that flow into the Missouri. On a small branch of the +Gallatin Fork, some of the trappers fell in with a party +of Wyeth's men, under Joseph Gale. When their neighborhood +became known to the Rocky Mountain camp, +Meek and a party of sixteen of his associates immediately +resolved to pay them a visit, and inquire into their experience +since leaving rendezvous. These visits between +different camps are usually seasons of great interest and +general rejoicing. But glad as Gale and his men were +to meet with old friends, when the first burst of hearty +greeting was over, they had but a sorry experience to relate. +They had been out a long time. The Blackfeet +had used them badly—several men had been killed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +Their guns were out of order, their ammunition all but +exhausted; they were destitute, or nearly so, of traps, +blankets, knives, everything. They were what the Indian +and the mountain-man call "very poor."</p> + +<p>Half the night was spent in recounting all that had +passed in both companies since the fall hunt began. Little +sympathy did Wyeth's men receive for their forlorn condition, +for sympathy is repudiated by your true mountaineer +for himself, nor will he furnish it to others. The +absurd and humorous, or the daring and reckless, side of +a story is the only one which is dwelt upon in narrating +his adventures. The laugh which is raised at his expense +when he has a tale of woes to communicate, is a better +tonic to his dejected spirits than the gentlest pity would +be. Thus lashed into courage again, he is ready to declare +that all his troubles were only so much pastime.</p> + +<p>It was this sort of cheer which the trapping party conveyed +to Wyeth's men on this visit, and it was gratefully +received, as being of the true kind.</p> + +<p>In the morning the party set out to return to camp, +Meek and Liggit starting in advance of the others. They +had not proceeded far when they were fired on by a large +band of Blackfeet, who came upon them quite suddenly, +and thinking these two trappers easy game, set up a yell +and dashed at them. As Meek and Liggit turned back +and ran to Gale's camp, the Indians in full chase charged +on them, and rushed pell-mell into the midst of camp, +almost before they had time to discover that they had +surprised so large a party of whites. So sudden was +their advent, that they had almost taken the camp before +the whites could recover from the confusion of the charge.</p> + +<p>It was but a momentary shock, however. In another +instant the roar of twenty guns reverberated from the +mountains that rose high on either side of camp. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +Blackfeet were taken in a snare; but they rallied and fell +back beyond the grove in which the camp was situated, +setting on fire the dry grass as they went. The fire +quickly spread to the grove, and shot up the pine trees in +splendid columns of flame, that seemed to lick the face +of heaven. The Indians kept close behind the fire, shooting +into camp whenever they could approach near enough, +the trappers replying by frequent volleys. The yells of +the savages, the noise of the flames roaring in the trees, +the bellowing of the guns, whose echoes rolled among +the hills, and the excitement of a battle for life, made the +scene one long to be remembered with distinctness.</p> + +<p>Both sides fought with desperation. The Blackfoot +blood was up—the trapper blood no less. Gale's men, +from having no ammunition, nor guns that were in order, +could do little more than take charge of the horses, which +they led out into the bottom land to escape the fire, fight +the flames, and look after the camp goods. The few +whose guns were available, showed the game spirit, and +the fight became interesting as an exhibition of what +mountain white men could do in a contest of one to ten, +with the crack warriors of the red race. It was, at any +time, a game party, consisting of Meek, Carson, Hawkins, +Gale, Liggit, Rider, Robinson, Anderson, Russel, Larison, +Ward, Parmaley, Wade, Michael Head, and a few others +whose names have been forgotten.</p> + +<p>The trappers being driven out of the grove by the fire, +were forced to take to the open ground. The Indians, +following the fire, had the advantage of the shelter +afforded by the trees, and their shots made havoc among +the horses, most of which were killed because they could +not be taken. As for the trappers, they used the horses +for defence, making rifle-pits behind them, when no other +covert could be found. In this manner the battle was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +sustained until three o'clock in the afternoon, without loss +of life to the whites, though several men were wounded.</p> + +<p>At three in the afternoon, the Blackfoot chief ordered +a retreat, calling out to the trappers that they would fight +no more. Though their loss had been heavy, they still +greatly outnumbered the whites; nor would the condition +of the arms and the small amount of ammunition left +permit the trappers to pursue them. The Indians were +severely beaten, and no longer in a condition to fight, all +of which was highly satisfactory to the victors. The only +regret was, that Bridger's camp, which had become aware +during the day that a battle was going on in the neighborhood, +did not arrive early enough to exterminate the +whole band. As it was, the big camp only came up in +time to assist in taking care of the wounded. The destruction +of their horses put an end to the independent +existence of Gale's brigade, which joined itself and its +fortunes to Bridger's command for the remainder of the +year. Had it not been for the fortunate visit of the trappers +to Gale's camp, without doubt every man in it would +have perished at the hands of the Blackfeet: a piece of +bad fortune not unaccordant with that which seemed to +pursue the enterprises set on foot by the active but unlucky +New England trader.</p> + +<p>Not long after this battle with the Blackfeet, Meek and +a trapper named Crow, with two Shawnees, went over +into the Crow Country to trap on Pryor's River, a branch +of the Yellowstone. On coming to the pass in the mountains +between the Gallatin Fork of the Missouri and the +great bend in the Yellowstone, called Pryor's Gap, Meek +rode forward, with the mad-cap spirit strong in him, to +"have a little fun with the boys," and advancing a short +distance into the pass, wheeled suddenly, and came racing +back, whooping and yelling, to make his comrades think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +he had discovered Indians. And lo! as if his yells had +invoked them from the rocks and trees, a war party suddenly +emerged from the pass, on the heels of the jester, +and what had been sport speedily became earnest, as the +trappers turned their horses' heads and made off in the +direction of camp. They had a fine race of it, and heard +other yells and war-whoops besides their own; but they +contrived to elude their pursuers, returning safe to camp.</p> + +<p>This freak of Meek's was, after all, a fortunate inspiration, +for had the four trappers entered the pass and come +upon the war party of Crows, they would never have escaped +alive.</p> + +<p>A few days after, the same party set out again, and +succeeded in reaching Pryor's River unmolested, and setting +their traps. They remained some time in this neighborhood +trapping, but the season had become pretty well +advanced, and they were thinking of returning to camp +for the winter. The Shawnees set out in one direction +to take up their traps, Meek and Crow in another. The +stream where their traps were set was bordered by thickets +of willow, wild cherry, and plum trees, and the bank +was about ten feet above the water at this season of the +year.</p> + +<p>Meek had his traps set in the stream about midway between +two thickets. As he approached the river he observed +with the quick eye of an experienced mountain-man, +certain signs which gave him little satisfaction. The +buffalo were moving off as if disturbed; a bear ran suddenly +out of its covert among the willows.</p> + +<p>"I told Crow," said Meek, "that I didn't like to go in +there. He laughed at me, and called me a coward. 'All +the same,' I said; I had no fancy for the place just then—I +didn't like the indications. But he kept jeering me, +and at last I got mad and started in. Just as I got to my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +traps, I discovered that two red devils war a watching me +from the shelter of the thicket to my left, about two rods +off. When they saw that they war discovered they raised +their guns and fired. I turned my horse's head at the +same instant, and one ball passed through his neck, under +the neck bone, and the other through his withers, just +forward of my saddle.</p> + +<p>"Seeing that they had not hit me, one of them ran up +with a spear to spear me. My horse war rearing and pitching +from the pain of his wounds, so that I could with difficulty +govern him; but I had my gun laid across my arm, +and when I fired I killed the rascal with the spear. Up +to that moment I had supposed that them two war all I +had to deal with. But as I got my horse turned round, +with my arm raised to fire at the other red devil, I encountered +the main party, forty-nine of them, who war in the +bed of the stream, and had been covered by the bank. +They fired a volley at me. Eleven balls passed through +my blanket, under my arm, which war raised. I thought +it time to run, and run I did. Crow war about two hundred +yards off. So quick had all this happened, that he +had not stirred from the spot whar I left him. When I +came up to him I called out that I must get on behind +him, for my horse war sick and staggering.</p> + +<p>"'Try him again,' said Crow, who war as anxious to be +off as I war. I did try him agin, and sure enough, he got +up a gallop, and away we went, the Blackfeet after us. +But being mounted, we had the advantage, and soon distanced +them. Before we had run a mile, I had to dismount +and breathe my horse. We war in a narrow pass whar it +war impossible to hide, so when the Indians came up with +us, as they did, while I war dismounted we took sure aim +and killed the two foremost ones. Before the others could +get close enough to fire we war off agin. It didn't take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +much urging to make my horse go then, for the yells of +them Blackfeet spurred him on.</p> + +<p>"When we had run another mile I dismounted agin, for +fear that my horse would give out, and agin we war overtaken. +Them Blackfeet are powerful runners:—no better +than us mountain-men, though. This time we served +them just as we did before. We picked off two of the +foremost, and then went on, the rest whooping after us. +We war overtaken a third time in the same manner; and +the third time two Blackfeet fell dead in advance. At this, +they took the hint. Six warriors already gone for two +white scalps and two horses; they didn't know how many +more would go in the same way. And I reckon they had +run about all they wanted to, anyway."</p> + +<p>It is only necessary to add that Meek and Crow arrived +safely at camp; and that the Shawnees came in after a day +or two all right. Soon after the whole command under +Bridger moved on to the Yellowstone, and went into winter +camp in the great bend of that river, where buffalo +were plenty, and cotton-wood was in abundance.</p> + +<p>1835. Towards spring, however, the game had nearly +all disappeared from the neighborhood of the camp; and +the hunters were forced to follow the buffalo in their migration +eastward. On one of these expeditions a party +of six trappers, including Meek, and a man named Rose, +made their camp on Clarke's fork of the Yellowstone. +The first night in camp Rose had a dream with which he +was very much impressed. He dreamed of shaking hands +with a large white bear, which insisted on taking his right +hand for that friendly ceremony. He had not given it +very willingly, for he knew too much about bears in general +to desire to be on very intimate terms with them.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the dream troubled Rose, who was superstitiously +inclined, Meek resorted to that "certain medicine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +for minds diseased" which was in use in the mountains, and +added to the distress of Rose his interpretation, in the +spirit of ridicule, telling him that he was an adept in the +matter of dreams, and that unless he, Rose, was very mindful +of himself that day, he would shake hands with Beelzebub +before he slept again.</p> + +<p>With this comforting assurance, Rose set out with the +remainder of the party to hunt buffalo. They had proceeded +about three miles from camp, Rose riding in advance, +when they suddenly encountered a company of +Blackfeet, nine in number, spies from a war party of one +hundred and fifty, that was prowling and marauding +through the country on the lookout for small parties from +the camp of Bridger. The Blackfeet fired on the party +as it came up, from their place of concealment, a ball striking +Rose's right arm, and breaking it at the elbow. This +caused his gun to fall, and an Indian sprang forward and +raised it up quickly, aiming it at Meek. The ball passed +through his cap without doing any other harm. By this +time the trappers were made aware of an ambuscade; but +how numerous the enemy was they could not determine. +However, as the rest, who were well-mounted, turned to +fly, Meek, who was riding an old mule that had to be beaten +over the head to make it go, seeing that he was going to +be left behind, called out lustily, "hold on, boys! There's +not many of them. Let's stop and fight 'em;" at the +same time pounding the mule over the head, but without +effect. The Indians saw the predicament, and ran up to +seize the mule by the bridle, but the moment the mule got +wind of the savages, away he went, racing like a thoroughbred, +jumping impediments, and running right over a ravine, +which was fortunately filled with snow. This movement +brought Meek out ahead.</p> + +<p>The other men then began to call out to Meek to stop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +and fight. "Run for your lives, boys," roared Meek back +at them, "there's ten thousand of them; they'll kill every +one of you!"</p> + +<p>The mule had got his head, and there was no more stopping +him than there had been starting him. On he went +in the direction of the Yellowstone, while the others made +for Clarke's Fork. On arriving at the former river, Meek +found that some of the pack horses had followed him, +and others the rest of the party. This had divided the +Indians, three or four of whom were on his trail. Springing +off his mule, he threw his blankets down on the ice, +and by moving them alternately soon crossed the mule +over to the opposite side, just in time to avoid a bullet that +came whistling after him. As the Indians could not follow, +he pursued his way to camp in safety, arriving late +that evening. The main party were already in and expecting +him. Soon after, the buffalo hunters returned to the +big camp, minus some pack horses, but with a good story +to tell, at the expense of Meek, and which he enjoys telling +of himself to this day.</p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>1835. Owing to the high rate of pay which Meek was +now able to command, he began to think of imitating the +example of that distinguished order, the free trappers, to +which he now belonged, and setting up a lodge to himself +as a family man. The writer of this veracious history has +never been able to obtain a full and particular account of +our hero's earliest love adventures. This is a subject on +which, in common with most mountain-men, he observes a +becoming reticence. But of one thing we feel quite well +assured: that from the time when the young Shoshonie +beauty assisted in the rescue of himself and Sublette from +the execution of the death sentence at the hands of her +people, Meek had always cherished a rather more than +friendly regard for the "Mountain Lamb."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i194" name="i194"></a> +<img src="images/i194.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE FREE TRAPPER'S INDIAN WIFE.</i></p> + +</div> + +<p>But Sublette, with wealth and power, and the privileges +of a Booshway, had hastened to secure her for himself; +and Meek had to look and long from afar off, until, in the +year of which we are writing, Milton Sublette was forced +to leave the mountains and repair to an eastern city for +surgical aid; having received a very troublesome wound +in the leg, which was only cured at last by amputation.</p> + +<p>Whether it was the act of a gay Lothario, or whether +the law of divorce is even more easy in the mountains +than in Indiana, we have always judiciously refrained from +inquiring; but this we do know, upon the word of Meek +himself, no sooner was Milton's back turned, than his friend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +so insinuated himself into the good graces of his <i>Isabel</i>, +as Sublette was wont to name the lovely Umentucken, that +she consented to join her fortunes to those of the handsome +young trapper without even the ceremony of serving a +notice on her former lord. As their season of bliss only +extended over one brief year, this chapter shall be entirely +devoted to recording such facts as have been imparted to +us concerning this free trapper's wife.</p> + +<p>"She was the most beautiful Indian woman I ever saw," +says Meek: "and when she was mounted on her dapple +gray horse, which cost me three hundred dollars, she +made a fine show. She wore a skirt of beautiful blue +broadcloth, and a bodice and leggins of scarlet cloth, of +the very finest make. Her hair was braided and fell over +her shoulders, a scarlet silk handkerchief, tied on hood +fashion, covered her head; and the finest embroidered +moccasins her feet. She rode like all the Indian women, +astride, and carried on one side of the saddle the tomahawk +for war, and on the other the pipe of peace.</p> + +<p>"The name of her horse was "All Fours." His accoutrements +were as fine as his rider's. The saddle, crupper, +and bust girths cost one hundred and fifty dollars; the +bridle fifty dollars; and the musk-a-moots fifty dollars more. +All these articles were ornamented with fine cut glass beads, +porcupine quills, and hawk's bells, that tinkled at every step. +Her blankets were of scarlet and blue, and of the finest +quality. Such was the outfit of the trapper's wife, <i>Umentucken, +Tukutey Undenwatsy</i>, the Lamb of the Mountains."</p> + +<p>Although Umentucken was beautiful, and had a name +signifying gentleness, she was not without a will and a +spirit of her own, when the occasion demanded it. While +the camp was on the Yellowstone River, in the summer of +1835, a party of women left it to go in search of berries, +which were often dried and stored for winter use by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +Indian women. Umentucken accompanied this party, +which was attacked by a band of Blackfeet, some of the +squaws being taken prisoners. But Umentucken saved +herself by flight, and by swimming the Yellowstone while +a hundred guns were leveled on her, the bullets whistling +about her ears.</p> + +<p>At another time she distinguished herself in camp by a +quarrel with one of the trappers, in which she came off +with flying colors. The trapper was a big, bullying Irishman +named O'Fallen, who had purchased two prisoners +from the Snake Indians, to be kept in a state of slavery, +after the manner of the savages. The prisoners were +Utes, or Utahs, who soon contrived to escape. O'Fallen, +imagining that Umentucken had liberated them, threatened +to whip her, and armed himself with a horsewhip for that +purpose. On hearing of these threats Umentucken repaired +to her lodge, and also armed herself, but with a +pistol. When O'Fallen approached, the whole camp looking +on to see the event, Umentucken slipped out at the +back of the lodge and coming around confronted him before +he could enter.</p> + +<p>"Coward!" she cried. "You would whip the wife of +Meek. He is not here to defend me; not here to kill you. +But I shall do that for myself," and with that she presented +the pistol to his head. O'Fallen taken by surprise, and +having every reason to believe she would keep her word, +and kill him on the spot, was obliged not only to apologize, +but to beg to have his life spared. This Umentucken consented +to do on condition of his sufficiently humbling himself, +which he did in a very shame-faced manner; and a shout +then went up from the whole camp—"hurrah for the +Mountain Lamb!" for nothing more delights a mountaineer +than a show of pluck, especially in an unlooked for +quarter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indian wives of the trappers were often in great +peril, as well as their lords. Whenever it was convenient +they followed them on their long marches through dangerous +countries. But if the trapper was only going out +for a few days, or if the march before him was more than +usually dangerous, the wife remained with the main camp.</p> + +<p>During this year of which we are writing, a considerable +party had been out on Powder River hunting buffalo, +taking their wives along with them. When on the return, +just before reaching camp, Umentucken was missed from +the cavalcade. She had fallen behind, and been taken +prisoner by a party of twelve Crow Indians. As soon as +she was missed, a volunteer party mounted their buffalo +horses in such haste that they waited not for saddle or bridle, +but snatched only a halter, and started back in pursuit. +They had not run a very long distance when they discovered +poor Umentucken in the midst of her jubilant captors, +who were delighting their eyes with gazing at her fine +feathers, and promising themselves very soon to pluck the +gay bird, and appropriate her trinkets to their own use.</p> + +<p>Their delight was premature. Swift on their heels came +an avenging, as well as a saving spirit. Meek, at the +head of his six comrades, no sooner espied the drooping +form of the Lamb, than he urged his horse to the top of +its speed. The horse was a spirited creature, that seeing +something wrong in all these hasty maneuvers, took fright +and adding terror to good will, ran with the speed of madness +right in amongst the startled Crows, who doubtless +regarded as a great "medicine" so fearless a warrior. It +was now too late to be prudent, and Meek began the battle +by yelling and firing, taking care to hit his Indian. +The other trappers, emulating the bold example of their +leader, dashed into the melee and a chance medley fight +was carried on, in which Umentucken escaped, and another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +Crow bit the dust. Finding that they were getting the +worst of the fight, the Indians at length took to flight, +and the trappers returned to camp rejoicing, and complimenting +Meek on his gallantry in attacking the Crows +single-handed.</p> + +<p>"I took their compliments quite naturally," says Meek, +"nor did I think it war worth while to explain to them +that I couldn't hold my horse."</p> + +<p>The Indians are lordly and tyrannical in their treatment +of women, thinking it no shame to beat them cruelly; +even taking the liberty of striking other women than those +belonging to their own families. While the camp was traveling +through the Crow country in the spring of 1836, a +party of that nation paid a visit to Bridger, bringing skins +to trade for blankets and ammunition. The bargaining +went on quite pleasantly for some time; but one of +the braves who was promenading about camp inspecting +whatever came in his way, chanced to strike Umentucken +with a whip he carried in his hand, by way of displaying +his superiority to squaws in general, and trappers' wives +in particular. It was an unlucky blow for the brave, for +in another instant he rolled on the ground, shot dead by +a bullet from Meek's gun.</p> + +<p>At this rash act the camp was in confusion. Yells from +the Crows, who took the act as a signal for war; hasty +questions, and cries of command; arming and shooting. +It was some time before the case could be explained or +understood. The Crows had two or three of their party +shot; the whites also lost a man. After the unpremeditated +fight was over, and the Crows departed not thoroughly +satisfied with the explanation, Bridger went round to +Meek's lodge.</p> + +<p>"Well, you raised a hell of a row in camp;" said the +commander, rolling out his deep bass voice in the slow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +monotonous tones which mountain men very quickly acquire +from the Indians.</p> + +<p>"Very sorry, Bridger; but couldn't help it. No devil +of an Indian shall strike Meek's wife."</p> + +<p>"But you got a man killed."</p> + +<p>"Sorry for the man; couldn't help it, though, Bridger."</p> + +<p>And in truth it was too late to mend the matter. Fearing, +however, that the Crows would attempt to avenge +themselves for the losses they had sustained, Bridger hurried +his camp forward, and got out of their neighborhood +as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>So much for the female element in the camp of the +Rocky Mountain trapper. Woman, it is said, has held the +apple of discord, from mother Eve to Umentucken, and +in consonance with this theory, Bridger, doubtless, considered +the latter as the primal cause of the unfortunate +"row in camp," rather than the brutality of the Crow, or +the imprudence of Meek.</p> + +<p>But Umentucken's career was nearly run. In the following +summer she met her death by a Bannack arrow; +dying like a warrior, although living she was only a woman.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>1835. The rendezvous of the Rocky Mountain Company +seldom took place without combining with its many +wild elements, some other more civilized and refined. +Artists, botanists, travelers, and hunters, from the busy +world outside the wilderness, frequently claimed the companionship, +if not the hospitality of the fur companies, in +their wanderings over prairies and among mountains. Up +to the year 1835, these visitors had been of the classes +just named; men traveling either for the love of adventure, +to prosecute discoveries in science, or to add to art +the treasure of new scenes and subjects.</p> + +<p>But in this year there appeared at rendezvous two gentlemen, +who had accompanied the St. Louis Company in +its outward trip to the mountains, whose object was not +the procurement of pleasure, or the improvement of science. +They had come to found missions among the Indians; +the Rev. Samuel Parker and Rev. Dr. Marcus +Whitman; the first a scholarly and fastidious man, and +the other possessing all the boldness, energy, and contempt +of fastidiousness, which would have made him as good a +mountain leader, as he was an energetic servant of the +American Board of Foreign Missions.</p> + +<p>The cause which had brought these gentlemen to the +wilderness was a little incident connected with the fur +trade. Four Flathead Indians, in the year 1832, having +heard enough of the Christian religion, from the few de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>vout +men connected with the fur companies, to desire to +know more, performed a winter journey to St. Louis, and +there made inquiry about the white man's religion. This +incident, which to any one acquainted with Indian character, +would appear a very natural one, when it became +known to Christian churches in the United States, excited +a very lively interest, and seemed to call upon them like +a voice out of heaven, to fly to the rescue of perishing +heathen souls. The Methodist Church was the first to respond. +When Wyeth returned to the mountains in 1834, +four missionaries accompanied him, destined for the valley +of the Wallamet River in Oregon. In the following year, +the Presbyterian Church sent out its agents, the two gentlemen +above mentioned; one of whom, Dr. Whitman, +subsequently located near Fort Walla-Walla.</p> + +<p>The account given by Capt. Bonneville of the Flatheads +and Nez Perces, as he found them in 1832, before missionary +labor had been among them, throws some light on the +incident of the journey to St. Louis, which so touched the +Christian heart in the United States. After relating his +surprise at finding that the Nez Perces observed certain +sacred days, he continues: "A few days afterwards, four +of them signified that they were about to hunt. 'What!' +exclaimed the captain, 'without guns or arrows; and +with only one old spear? What do you expect to kill?' +They smiled among themselves, but made no answer. +Preparatory to the chase, they performed some religious +rites, and offered up to the Great Spirit a few short +prayers for safety and success; then having received the +blessing of their wives, they leaped upon their horses and +departed, leaving the whole party of Christian spectators +amazed and rebuked by this lesson of faith and dependence +on a supreme and benevolent Being. Accustomed +as I had heretofore been to find the wretched Indian rev<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>eling +in blood, and stained by every vice which can degrade +human nature, I could scarcely realize the scene +which I had witnessed. Wonder at such unaffected tenderness +and piety, where it was least to have been sought, +contended in all our bosoms with shame and confusion, at +receiving such pure and wholesome instructions from +creatures so far below us in all the arts and comforts +of life.</p> + +<p>"Simply to call these people religious," continued Bonneville, +"would convey but a faint idea of the deep hue of +piety and devotion which pervades their whole conduct. +Their honesty is immaculate, and their purity of purpose, +and their observance of the rites of their religion, are +most uniform and remarkable. They are certainly more +like a nation of saints than a horde of savages."</p> + +<p>This was a very enthusiastic view to take of the Nez +Perce character, which appeared all the brighter to the +Captain, by contrast with the savage life which he had +witnessed in other places, and even by contrast with the +conduct of the white trappers. But the Nez Perces and +Flatheads were, intellectually and morally, an exception +to all the Indian tribes west of the Missouri River. Lewis +and Clarke found them different from any others; the fur-traders +and the missionaries found them different; and +they remain at this day an honorable example, for probity +and piety, to both savage and civilized peoples.</p> + +<p>To account for this superiority is indeed difficult. The +only clue to the cause is in the following statement of +Bonneville's. "It would appear," he says, "that they had +imbibed some notions of the Christian faith from Catholic +missionaries and traders who had been among them. They +even had a rude calender of the fasts and festivals of the +Romish Church, and some traces of its ceremonials. These<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +have become blended with their own wild rites, and present +a strange medley, civilized and barbarous."</p> + +<p>Finding that these people among whom he was thrown +exhibited such remarkable traits of character, Captain +Bonneville exerted himself to make them acquainted with +the history and spirit of Christianity. To these explanations +they listened with great eagerness. "Many a time," +he says, "was my little lodge thronged, or rather piled +with hearers, for they lay on the ground, one leaning over +the other, until there was no further room, all listening +with greedy ears to the wonders which the Great Spirit +had revealed to the white man. No other subject gave +them half the satisfaction, or commanded half the attention; +and but few scenes of my life remain so freshly on +my memory, or are so pleasurably recalled to my contemplation, +as these hours of intercourse with a distant and benighted +race in the midst of the desert."</p> + +<p>It was the interest awakened by these discourses of +Captain Bonneville, and possibly by Smith, and other +traders who happened to fall in with the Nez Perces and +Flatheads, that stimulated those four Flatheads to undertake +the journey to St. Louis in search of information; +and this it was which resulted in the establishment of +missions, both in western Oregon, and among the tribes +inhabiting the country between the two great branches of +the Columbia.</p> + +<p>The trait of Indian character which Bonneville, in his +pleased surprise at the apparent piety of the Nez Perces +and Flatheads, failed to observe, and which the missionaries +themselves for a long time remained oblivious to, was +the material nature of their religious views. The Indian +judges of all things by the material results. If he is possessed +of a good natural intelligence and powers of observation, +he soon discovers that the God of the Indian is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +but a feeble deity; for does he not permit the Indian to +be defeated in war; to starve, and to freeze? Do not the +Indian medicine men often fail to save life, to win battles, +to curse their enemies? The Indian's God, he argues, +must be a good deal of a humbug. He sees the white +men faring much better. They have guns, ammunition, +blankets, knives, everything in plenty; and they are successful +in war; are skillful in a thousand things the Indian +knows nothing of. To be so blest implies a very wise and +powerful Deity. To gain all these things they are eager +to learn about the white man's God; are willing to do +whatever is necessary to please and propitiate Him. Hence +their attentiveness to the white man's discourse about his +religion. Naturally enough they were struck with wonder +at the doctrine of peace and good will; a doctrine so +different from the law of blood by which the Indian, in +his natural state, lives. Yet if it is good for the white +men, it must be good for him; at all events he is anxious +to try it.</p> + +<p>That is the course of reasoning by which an Indian is +led to inquire into Christianity. It is a desire to better +his physical, rather than his spiritual condition; for of the +latter he has but a very faint conception. He was accustomed +to desire a material Heaven, such a world beyond +the grave, as he could only imagine from his earthly experience. +Heaven was happiness, and happiness was +plenty; therefore the most a good Indian could desire +was to go where there should forevermore be plenty.</p> + +<p>Such was the Indian's view of religion, and it could be +no other. Until the wants of the body have been supplied +by civilization, the wants of the soul do not develop +themselves: and until then the savage is not prepared +to understand Christianity. This is the law of Nature and +of God. Primeval man was a savage; and it was little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +by little, through thousands of years, that Christ was revealed. +Every child born, even now, is a savage, and has +to be taught civilization year after year, until he arrives +at the possibility of comprehending spiritual religion. So +every full grown barbarian is a child in moral development; +and to expect him to comprehend those mysteries +over which the world has agonized for centuries, is to +commit the gravest error. Into this error fell all the missionaries +who came to the wilds that lay beyond the Rocky +Mountains. They undertook to teach religion first, and +more simple matters afterward—building their edifice like +the Irishman's chimney, by holding up the top brick, and +putting the others under it. Failure was the result of +such a process, as the record of the Oregon Missions sufficiently +proves.</p> + +<p>The reader will pardon this digression—made necessary +by the part which one of the gentlemen present at this +year's rendezvous, was destined to take in the history +which we are writing. Shortly after the arrival of Messrs. +Parker and Whitman, rendezvous broke up. A party, to +which Meek was attached, moved in the direction of the +Snake River head-waters, the missionaries accompanying +them, and after making two camps, came on Saturday eve +to Jackson's Little Hole, a small mountain valley near the +larger one commonly known as Jackson's Hole.</p> + +<p>On the following day religious services were held in the +Rocky Mountain Camp. A scene more unusual could +hardly have transpired than that of a company of trappers +listening to the preaching of the Word of God. +Very little pious reverence marked the countenances of +that wild and motley congregation. Curiosity, incredulity, +sarcasm, or a mocking levity, were more plainly perceptible +in the expression of the men's faces, than either devotion +or the longing expectancy of men habitually deprived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +of what they once highly valued. The Indians alone +showed by their eager listening that they desired to become +acquainted with the mystery of the "Unknown +God."</p> + +<p>The Rev. Samuel Parker preached, and the men were +as politely attentive as it was in their reckless natures to +be, until, in the midst of the discourse, a band of buffalo +appeared in the valley, when the congregation incontinently +broke up, without staying for a benediction, and +every man made haste after his horse, gun, and rope, +leaving Mr. Parker to discourse to vacant ground.</p> + +<p>The run was both exciting and successful. About +twenty fine buffaloes were killed, and the choice pieces +brought to camp, cooked and eaten, amidst the merriment, +mixed with something coarser, of the hunters. On this +noisy rejoicing Mr. Parker looked with a sober aspect: +and following the dictates of his religious feeling, he rebuked +the sabbath-breakers quite severely. Better for his +influence among the men, if he had not done so, or had +not eaten so heartily of the tender-loin afterwards, a circumstance +which his irreverent critics did not fail to remark, +to his prejudice; and upon the principle that the +"partaker is as bad as the thief," they set down his lecture +on sabbath-breaking as nothing better than pious humbug.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i208" name="i208"></a> +<img src="images/i208.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">VIEW ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>Dr. Marcus Whitman was another style of man. Whatever +he thought of the wild ways of the mountain-men +he discreetly kept to himself, preferring to teach by example +rather than precept; and showing no fastidious +contempt for any sort of rough duty he might be called +upon to perform. So aptly indeed had he turned his hand +to all manner of camp service on the journey to the mountains, +that this abrogation of clerical dignity had become +a source of solicitude, not to say disapproval and displeasure +on the part of his colleague; and it was agreed be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>tween +them that the Doctor should return to the states +with the St. Louis Company, to procure recruits for the +promising field of labor which they saw before them, +while Mr. Parker continued his journey to the Columbia +to decide upon the location of the missionary stations. +The difference of character of the two men was clearly +illustrated by the results of this understanding. Parker +went to Vancouver, where he was hospitably entertained, +and where he could inquire into the workings of the missionary +system as pursued by the Methodist missionaries. +His investigations not proving the labor to his taste, he +sailed the following summer for the Sandwich Islands, and +thence to New York; leaving only a brief note for Doctor +Whitman, when he, with indefatigable exertions, arrived +that season among the Nez Perces with a missionary company, +eager for the work which they hoped to make as +great as they believed it to be good.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>From the mountains about the head-waters of the +Snake River, Meek returned, with Bridger's brigade to +the Yellowstone country, where he fell into the hands of +the Crows. The story as he relates it, is as follows:</p> + +<p>"I war trapping on the Rocky Fork of the Yellowstone. +I had been out from camp five days; and war solitary and +alone, when I war discovered by a war party of Crows. +They had the prairie, and I war forced to run for the +Creek bottom; but the beaver had throwed the water out +and made dams, so that my mule mired down. While I +war struggling in the marsh, the Indians came after me, +with tremendous yells; firing a random shot now and +then, as they closed in on me.</p> + +<p>"When they war within about two rods of me, I brought +old <i>Sally</i>, that is my gun, to my face, ready to fire, and +then die; for I knew it war death this time, unless Providence +interfered to save me: and I didn't think Providence +would do it. But the head chief, when he saw the +warlike looks of <i>Sally</i>, called out to me to put down my +gun, and I should live.</p> + +<p>"Well, I liked to live,—being then in the prime of life; +and though it hurt me powerful, I resolved to part with +<i>Sally</i>. I laid her down. As I did so, the chief picked her +up, and one of the braves sprang at me with a spear, and +would have run me through, but the chief knocked him +down with the butt of my gun. Then they led me forth +to the high plain on the south side of the stream. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +they called a halt, and I was given in charge of three women, +while the warriors formed a ring to smoke and consult. +This gave me an opportunity to count them: they +numbered one hundred and eighty-seven men, nine boys, +and three women.</p> + +<p>"After a smoke of three long hours, the chief, who war +named 'The Bold,' called me in the ring, and said:</p> + +<p>"'I have known the whites for a long time, and I know +them to be great liars, deserving death; but if <i>you</i> will +tell the truth, you shall live.'</p> + +<p>"Then I thought to myself, they will fetch the truth +out of me, if thar is any in me. But his highness continued:</p> + +<p>"'Tell me whar are the whites you belong to; and what +is your captain's name.'</p> + +<p>"I said 'Bridger is my captain's name; or, in the Crow +tongue, <i>Casapy</i>,' the 'Blanket chief.' At this answer the +chief seemed lost in thought. At last he asked me—</p> + +<p>"'How many men has he?'</p> + +<p>"I thought about telling the truth and living; but I +said 'forty,' which war a tremendous lie; for thar war +two hundred and forty. At this answer The Bold laughed:</p> + +<p>"'We will make them poor,' said he; 'and you shall +live, but they shall die.'</p> + +<p>"I thought to myself, 'hardly;' but I said nothing. He +then asked me whar I war to meet the camp, and I told +him:—and then how many days before the camp would +be thar; which I answered truly, for I wanted them to +find the camp.</p> + +<p>"It war now late in the afternoon, and thar war a great +bustle, getting ready for the march to meet Bridger. Two +big Indians mounted my mule, but the women made me +pack moccasins. The spies started first, and after awhile +the main party. Seventy warriors traveled ahead of me:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +I war placed with the women and boys; and after us the +balance of the braves. As we traveled along, the women +would prod me with sticks, and laugh, and say 'Masta +Sheela,' (which means white man,) 'Masta sheela very +poor now.' The fair sex war very much amused.</p> + +<p>"We traveled that way till midnight, the two big bucks +riding my mule, and I packing moccasins. Then we +camped; the Indians in a ring, with me in the centre, to +keep me safe. I didn't sleep very well that night. I'd a +heap rather been in some other place.</p> + +<p>"The next morning we started on in the same order as +before: and the squaws making fun of me all day; but I +kept mighty quiet. When we stopped to cook that evening, +I war set to work, and war head cook, and head +waiter too. The third and the fourth day it war the same. +I felt pretty bad when we struck camp on the last day: for +I knew we must be coming near to Bridger, and that if +any thing should go wrong, my life would pay the forfeit.</p> + +<p>"On the afternoon of the fourth day, the spies, who +war in advance, looking out from a high hill, made a sign +to the main party. In a moment all sat down. Directly +they got another sign, and then they got up and moved +on. I war as well up in Indian signs as they war; and I +knew they had discovered white men. What war worse, +I knew they would soon discover that I had been lying to +them. All I had to do then war to trust to luck. Soon we +came to the top of the hill, which overlooked the Yellowstone, +from which I could see the plains below extending +as far as the eye could reach, and about three miles off, +the camp of my friends. My heart beat double quick +about that time; and I once in a while put my hand to +my head, to feel if my scalp war thar.</p> + +<p>"While I war watching our camp, I discovered that the +horse guard had seen us, for I knew the sign he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +make if he discovered Indians. I thought the camp a +splendid sight that evening. It made a powerful show to +me, who did not expect ever to see it after that day. And +it <i>war</i> a fine sight any how, from the hill whar I stood. +About two hundred and fifty men, and women and children +in great numbers, and about a thousand horses and +mules. Then the beautiful plain, and the sinking sun; +and the herds of buffalo that could not be numbered; +and the cedar hills, covered with elk,—I never saw so fine +a sight as all that looked to me then!</p> + +<p>"When I turned my eyes on that savage Crow band, +and saw the chief standing with his hand on his mouth, lost +in amazement; and beheld the warriors' tomahawks and +spears glittering in the sun, my heart war very little. +Directly the chief turned to me with a horrible scowl. +Said he:</p> + +<p>"'I promised that you should live if you told the truth; +but you have told me a great lie.'</p> + +<p>"Then the warriors gathered around, with their tomahawks +in their hands; but I war showing off very brave, +and kept my eyes fixed on the horse-guard who war approaching +the hill to drive in the horses. This drew the +attention of the chief, and the warriors too. Seeing that +the guard war within about two hundred yards of us, the +chief turned to me and ordered me to tell him to come +up. I pretended to do what he said; but instead of that +I howled out to him to stay off, or he would be killed; +and to tell Bridger to try to treat with them, and get me +away.</p> + +<p>"As quick as he could he ran to camp, and in a few +minutes Bridger appeared, on his large white horse. He +came up to within three hundred yards of us, and called +out to me, asking who the Indians war. I answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +'Crows.' He then told me to say to the chief he wished +him to send one of his sub-chiefs to smoke with him.</p> + +<p>"All this time my heart beat terribly hard. I don't +know now why they didn't kill me at once; but the head +chief seemed overcome with surprise. When I repeated +to him what Bridger said, he reflected a moment, and then +ordered the second chief, called Little-Gun, to go and +smoke with Bridger. But they kept on preparing for +war; getting on their paint and feathers, arranging their +scalp locks, selecting their arrows, and getting their ammunition +ready.</p> + +<p>"While this war going on, Little-Gun had approached +to within about a hundred yards of Bridger; when, according +to the Crow laws of war, each war forced to strip +himself, and proceed the remaining distance in a state of +nudity, and kiss and embrace. While this interesting ceremony +war being performed, five of Bridger's men had +followed him, keeping in a ravine until they got within +shooting distance, when they showed themselves, and cut +off the return of Little-Gun, thus making a prisoner of +him.</p> + +<p>"If you think my heart did not jump up when I saw +that, you think wrong. I knew it war kill or cure, now. +Every Indian snatched a weapon, and fierce threats war +howled against me. But all at once about a hundred of +our trappers appeared on the scene. At the same time +Bridger called to me, to tell me to propose to the chief to +exchange me for Little-Gun. I explained to The Bold +what Bridger wanted to do, and he sullenly consented: +for, he said, he could not afford to give a chief for one +white dog's scalp. I war then allowed to go towards my +camp, and Little-Gun towards his; and the rescue I hardly +hoped for war accomplished.</p> + +<p>"In the evening the chief, with forty of his braves, vis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>ited +Bridger and made a treaty of three months. They +said they war formerly at war with the whites; but that +they desired to be friendly with them now, so that together +they might fight the Blackfeet, who war everybody's +enemies. As for me, they returned me my mule, +gun, and beaver packs, and said my name should be +<i>Shiam Shaspusia</i>, for I could out-lie the Crows."</p> + +<p>In December, Bridger's command went into winter +quarters in the bend of the Yellowstone. Buffalo, elk, +and bear were in great abundance, all that fall and winter. +Before they went to camp, Meek, Kit Carson, Hawkins, +and Doughty were trapping together on the Yellowstone, +about sixty miles below. They had made their temporary +camp in the ruins of an old fort, the walls of which were +about six feet high. One evening, after coming in from +setting their traps, they discovered three large grizzly +bears in the river bottom, not more than half a mile off, +and Hawkins went out to shoot one. He was successful +in killing one at the first shot, when the other two, taking +fright, ran towards the fort. As they came near enough +to show that they were likely to invade camp, Meek and +Carson, not caring to have a bear fight, clambered up a +cotton-wood tree close by, at the same time advising +Doughty to do the same. But Doughty was tired, and +lazy besides, and concluded to take his chances where he +was; so he rolled himself in his blanket and laid quite +still. The bears, on making the fort, reared up on their +hind legs and looked in as if meditating taking it for a +defence.</p> + +<p>The sight of Doughty lying rolled in his blanket, and +the monster grizzlys inspecting the fort, caused the two +trappers who were safely perched in the cotton-wood to +make merry at Doughty's expense; saying all the mirth-provoking +things they could, and then advising him not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +to laugh, for fear the bears should seize him. Poor +Doughty, agonizing between suppressed laughter and +growing fear, contrived to lie still however, while the +bears gazed upward at the speakers in wonder, and alternately +at the suspicious looking bundle inside the fort. +Not being able to make out the meaning of either, they +gave at last a grunt of dissatisfaction, and ran off into a +thicket to consult over these strange appearances; leaving +the trappers to enjoy the incident as a very good joke. +For a long time after, Doughty was reminded how close +to the ground he laid, when the grizzlys paid their compliments +to him. Such were the every day incidents from +which the mountain-men contrived to derive their rude +jests, and laughter-provoking reminiscences.</p> + +<p>A few days after this incident, while the same party +were trapping a few miles farther down the river, on their +way to camp, they fell in with some Delaware Indians, +who said they had discovered signs of Blackfeet, and +wanted to borrow some horses to decoy them. To this +the trappers very willingly agreed, and they were furnished +with two horses. The Delawares then went to the +spot where signs had been discovered, and tying the +horses, laid flat down on the ground near them, concealed +by the grass or willows. They had not long to wait before +a Blackfoot was seen stealthily advancing through the +thicket, confident in the belief that he should gain a couple +of horses while their supposed owners were busy with +their traps.</p> + +<p>But just as he laid his hand on the bridle of the first +one, crack went the rifles of the Delawares, and there was +one less Blackfoot thief on the scent after trappers. As +soon as they could, after this, the party mounted and rode +to camp, not stopping by the way, lest the main body of +Blackfeet should discover the deed and seek for vengeance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +Truly indeed, was the Blackfoot the Ishmael of the wilderness, +whose hand was against every man, and every +man's hand against him.</p> + +<p>The Rocky Mountain Company passed the first part of +the winter in peace and plenty in the Yellowstone camp, +unannoyed either by enemies or rivals. Hunting buffalo, +feeding their horses, playing games, and telling stories, occupied +the entire leisure of these months of repose. Not +only did the mountain-men recount their own adventures, +but when these were exhausted, those whose memories +served them rehearsed the tales they had read in their +youth. Robinson Crusoe and the Arabian Nights Entertainment, +were read over again by the light of memory; +and even Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress was made to recite +like a sensation novel, and was quite as well enjoyed.</p> + +<p>1836. In January, however, this repose was broken in +upon by a visit from the Blackfeet. As their visitations +were never of a friendly character, so then they were not +bent upon pacific rites and ceremonies, such as all the rest +of the world find pleasure in, but came in full battle array +to try their fortunes in war against the big camp of the +whites. They had evidently made great preparation. +Their warriors numbered eleven hundred, got up in the +top of the Blackfoot fashions, and armed with all manner +of savage and some civilized weapons. But Bridger was +prepared for them, although their numbers were so overwhelming. +He built a fort, had the animals corraled, and +put himself on the defensive in a prompt and thorough manner. +This made the Blackfeet cautious; they too built +forts of cotton-wood in the shape of lodges, ten men to +each fort, and carried on a skirmishing fight for two days, +when finding there was nothing to be gained, they departed, +neither side having sustained much loss; the +whites losing only two men by this grand Blackfoot army.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after this attack Bridger broke camp, and traveled +up the Yellowstone, through the Crow country. It was +while on this march that Umentucken was struck by a +Crow, and Meek put the whole camp in peril, by shooting +him. They passed on to the Big Horn and Little Horn +rivers, down through the Wind River valley and through +the South Pass to Green River.</p> + +<p>While in that country, there occurred the fight with the +Bannacks in which Umentucken was killed. A small party +of Nez Perces had lost their horses by the thieving of the +Bannacks. They came into camp and complained to the +whites, who promised them their protection, should they +be able to recover their horses. Accordingly the Nez Perces +started after the thieves, and by dogging their camp, +succeeded in re-capturing their horses and getting back +to Bridger's camp with them. In order to divert the +vengeance of the Bannacks from themselves, they presented +their horses to the whites, and a very fine one to +Bridger.</p> + +<p>All went well for a time. The Bannacks went on their +way to hunt buffalo; but they treasured up their wrath +against the supposed white thieves who had stolen the +horses which they had come by so honestly. On their return +from the hunt, having learned by spies that the horses +were in the camp of the whites, they prepared for war. +Early one morning they made their appearance mounted +and armed, and making a dash at the camp, rode through +it with the usual yells and frantic gestures. The attack +was entirely unexpected. Bridger stood in front of his +lodge, holding his horse by a lasso, and the head chief +rode over it, jerking it out of his hand. At this unprecedented +insult to his master, a negro named Jim, cook to +the Booshways, seized a rifle and shot the chief dead. At +the same time, an arrow shot at random struck Umen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>tucken +in the breast, and the joys and sorrows of the +Mountain Lamb were over forevermore.</p> + +<p>The killing of a head chief always throws an Indian +war party into confusion, and negro Jim was greatly elated +at this signal feat of his. The trappers, who were as +much surprised at the suddenness of the assault as it is in +the mountain-man's nature to be, quickly recovered themselves. +In a few moments the men were mounted and in +motion, and the disordered Bannacks were obliged to fly +towards their village, Bridger's company pursuing them.</p> + +<p>All the rest of that day the trappers fought the Bannacks, +driving them out of their village and plundering +it, and forcing them to take refuge on an island in the +river. Even there they were not safe, the guns of the +mountain-men picking them off, from their stations on the +river banks. Umentucken was well avenged that day.</p> + +<p>All night the Indians remained on the island, where +sounds of wailing were heard continually; and when +morning came one of their old women appeared bearing the +pipe of peace. "You have killed all our warriors," she +said; "do you now want to kill the women? If you +wish to smoke with women, I have the pipe."</p> + +<p>Not caring either to fight or to smoke with so feeble a representative +of the Bannacks, the trappers withdrew. But +it was the last war party that nation ever sent against the +mountain-men; though in later times they have by their +atrocities avenged the losses of that day.</p> + +<p>While awaiting, in the Green River valley, the arrival +of the St. Louis Company, the Rocky Mountain and North +American companies united; after which Captain Sublette +and his brother returned no more to the mountains. The +new firm was known only as the American Fur Company, +the other having dropped its title altogether. The object +of their consolidation was by combining their capital and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +experience to strengthen their hands against the Hudson's +Bay Company, which now had an establishment at Fort +Hall, on the Snake River. By this new arrangement, +Bridger and Fontenelle commanded; and Dripps was to +be the traveling partner who was to go to St. Louis for +goods.</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of this agreement, Dripps, with the +restlessness of the true mountain-man, decided to set out, +with a small party of equally restless trappers, always +eager to volunteer for any undertaking promising either +danger or diversion, to look for the St. Louis Company +which was presumed to be somewhere between the Black +Hills and Green River. According to this determination +Dripps, Meek, Carson, Newell, a Flathead chief named +Victor, and one or two others, set out on the search for +the expected company.</p> + +<p>It happened, however, that a war party of a hundred +Crows were out on the trail before them, looking perhaps +for the same party, and the trappers had not made more +than one or two camps before they discovered signs which +satisfied them of the neighborhood of an enemy. At +their next camp on the Sandy, Meek and Carson, with the +caution and vigilance peculiar to them, kept their saddles +on their horses, and the horses tied to themselves by a +long rope, so that on the least unusual motion of the animals +they should be readily informed of the disturbance. +Their precaution was not lost. Just after midnight had +given place to the first faint kindling of dawn, their ears +were stunned by the simultaneous discharge of a hundred +guns, and the usual furious din of the war-whoop and yell. +A stampede immediately took place of all the horses excepting +those of Meek and Carson. "Every man for himself +and God for us all," is the motto of the mountain-man in +case of an Indian attack; nor did our trappers forget it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +on this occasion. Quickly mounting, they put their horses +to their speed, which was not checked until they had left +the Sandy far behind them. Continuing on in the direction +of the proposed meeting with the St. Louis Company, +they made their first camp on the Sweetwater, where they +fell in with Victor, the Flathead chief, who had made his +way on foot to this place. One or two others came into +camp that night, and the following day this portion +of the party traveled on in company until within about +five miles of Independence Rock, when they were once +more charged on by the Indians, who surrounded them in +such a manner that they were obliged to turn back to +escape.</p> + +<p>Again Meek and Carson made off, leaving their dismounted +comrades to their own best devices. Finding +that with so many Indians on the trail, and only two horses, +there was little hope of being able to accomplish their +journey, these two lucky ones made all haste back to camp. +On Horse Creek, a few hours travel from rendezvous, they +came up with Newell, who after losing his horse had fled +in the direction of the main camp, but becoming bewildered +had been roaming about until he was quite tired +out, and on the point of giving up. But as if the Creek +where he was found meant to justify itself for having so +inharmonious a name, one of their own horses, which had +escaped from the Crows was found quietly grazing on its +banks, and the worn out fugitive at once remounted. +Strange as it may appear, not one of the party was killed, +the others returning to camp two days later than Meek +and Carson, the worse for their expedition only by the loss +of their horses, and rather an unusually fatigued and forlorn +aspect.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i222" name="i222"></a> +<img src="images/i222.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">"INDIANS BY JOVE!"</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>1836. While the resident partners of the consolidated +company waited at the rendezvous for the arrival of the +supply trains from St. Louis, word came by a messenger +sent forward, that the American Company under Fitzpatrick, +had reached Independence Rock, and was pressing +forward. The messenger also brought the intelligence +that two other parties were traveling in company with the +fur company; that of Captain Stuart, who had been to +New Orleans to winter, and that of Doctor Whitman, one +of the missionaries who had visited the mountains the year +previous. In this latter party, it was asserted, there were +two white ladies.</p> + +<p>This exhilarating news immediately inspired some of the +trappers, foremost among whom was Meek, with a desire +to be the first to meet and greet the on-coming caravan; +and especially to salute the two white women who were +bold enough to invade a mountain camp. In a very short +time Meek, with half-a-dozen comrades, and ten or a dozen +Nez Perces, were mounted and away, on their self-imposed +errand of welcome; the trappers because they were +"spoiling" for a fresh excitement; and the Nez Perces +because the missionaries were bringing them information +concerning the powerful and beneficent Deity of the white +men. These latter also were charged with a letter to +Doctor Whitman from his former associate, Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>On the Sweetwater about two days' travel from camp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +the caravan of the advancing company was discovered, +and the trappers prepared to give them a characteristic +greeting. To prevent mistakes in recognizing them, a +white flag was hoisted on one of their guns, and the word +was given to start. Then over the brow of a hill they +made their appearance, riding with that mad speed only +an Indian or a trapper can ride, yelling, whooping, dashing +forward with frantic and threatening gestures; their +dress, noises, and motions, all so completely savage that +the white men could not have been distinguished from +the red.</p> + +<p>The first effect of their onset was what they probably +intended. The uninitiated travelers, including the missionaries, +believing they were about to be attacked by +Indians, prepared for defence, nor could be persuaded that +the preparation was unnecessary until the guide pointed +out to them the white flag in advance. At the assurance +that the flag betokened friends, apprehension was changed +to curiosity and intense interest. Every movement of the +wild brigade became fascinating. On they came, riding +faster and faster, yelling louder and louder, and gesticulating +more and more madly, until, as they met and passed +the caravan, they discharged their guns in one volley over +the heads of the company, as a last finishing <i>feu de joie</i>; +and suddenly wheeling rode back to the front as wildly +as they had come. Nor could this first brief display content +the crazy cavalcade. After reaching the front, they +rode back and forth, and around and around the caravan, +which had returned their salute, showing off their feats of +horsemanship, and the knowing tricks of their horses together; +hardly stopping to exchange questions and answers, +but seeming really intoxicated with delight at the +meeting. What strange emotions filled the breasts of the +lady missionaries, when they beheld among whom their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +lot was cast, may now be faintly outlined by a vivid +imagination, but have never been, perhaps never could be +put into words.</p> + +<p>The caravan on leaving the settlements had consisted +of nineteen laden carts, each drawn by two mules driven +tandem, and one light wagon, belonging to the American +Company; two wagons with two mules to each, belonging to +Capt. Stuart; and one light two-horse wagon, and one four-horse +freight wagon, belonging to the missionaries. However, +all the wagons had been left behind at Fort Laramie, +except those of the missionaries, and one of Capt. Stuart's; +so that the three that remained in the train when it reached +the Sweetwater were alone in the enjoyment of the Nez +Perces' curiosity concerning them; a curiosity which they +divided between them and the domesticated cows and +calves belonging to the missionaries: another proof, as +they considered it, of the superior power of the white +man's God, who could give to the whites the ability to tame +wild animals to their uses.</p> + +<p>But it was towards the two missionary ladies, Mrs. Whitman +and Mrs. Spalding, that the chief interest was directed; +an interest that was founded in the Indian mind upon wonder, +admiration, and awe; and in the minds of the trappers +upon the powerful recollections awakened by seeing in +their midst two refined Christian women, with the complexion +and dress of their own mothers and sisters. United +to this startling effect of memory, was respect for the religious +devotion which had inspired them to undertake the +long and dangerous journey to the Rocky Mountains, and +also a sentiment of pity for what they knew only too well +yet remained to be encountered by those delicate women +in the prosecution of their duty.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Whitman, who was in fine health, rode the greater +part of the journey on horseback. She was a large, stately,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +fair-skinned woman, with blue eyes and light auburn, almost +golden hair. Her manners were at once dignified +and gracious. She was, both by nature and education a +lady; and had a lady's appreciation of all that was courteous +and refined; yet not without an element of romance +and heroism in her disposition strong enough to have +impelled her to undertake a missionary's life in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Spalding was a different type of woman. Talented, +and refined in her nature, she was less pleasing in exterior, +and less attached to that which was superficially pleasing +in others. But an indifference to outside appearances was +in her case only a sign of her absorption in the work she +had taken in hand. She possessed the true missionary +spirit, and the talent to make it useful in an eminent degree; +never thinking of herself, or the impression she +made upon others; yet withal very firm and capable of +command. Her health, which was always rather delicate, +had suffered much from the fatigue of the journey, and +the constant diet of fresh meat, and meat only, so that she +was compelled at last to abandon horseback exercise, and +to keep almost entirely to the light wagon of the missionaries.</p> + +<p>As might be expected, the trappers turned from the contemplation +of the pale, dark-haired occupant of the wagon, +with all her humility and gentleness, to observe and +admire the more striking figure, and more affably attractive +manners of Mrs. Whitman. Meek, who never lost an +opportunity to see and be seen, was seen riding alongside +Mrs. Whitman, answering her curious inquiries, and entertaining +her with stories of Blackfeet battles, and encounters +with grizzly bears. Poor lady! could she have looked +into the future about which she was then so curious, she +would have turned back appalled, and have fled with fran<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>tic +fear to the home of her grieving parents. How could +she then behold in the gay and boastful mountaineer, +whose peculiarities of dress and speech so much diverted +her, the very messenger who was to bear to the home of +her girlhood the sickening tale of her bloody sacrifice to +savage superstition and revenge? Yet so had fate decreed +it.</p> + +<p>When the trappers and Nez Perces had slaked their thirst +for excitement by a few hours' travel in company with the +Fur Company's and Missionary's caravan, they gave at +length a parting display of horsemanship, and dashed off +on the return trail to carry to camp the earliest news. It +was on their arrival in camp that the Nez Perce and Flathead +village, which had its encampment at the rendezvous +ground on Green River, began to make preparations for +the reception of the missionaries. It was then that Indian +finery was in requisition! Then the Indian women combed +and braided their long black hair, tying the plaits with +gay-colored ribbons, and the Indian braves tied anew +their streaming scalp-locks, sticking them full of flaunting +eagle's plumes, and not despising a bit of ribbon either. +Paint was in demand both for the rider and his horse. Gay +blankets, red and blue, buckskin fringed shirts, worked +with beads and porcupine quills, and handsomely embroidered +moccasins, were eagerly sought after. Guns were +cleaned and burnished, and drums and fifes put in tune.</p> + +<p>After a day of toilsome preparation all was ready for +the grand reception in the camp of the Nez Perces. Word +was at length given that the caravan was in sight. There +was a rush for horses, and in a few moments the Indians +were mounted and in line, ready to charge on the advancing +caravan. When the command of the chiefs was given +to start, a simultaneous chorus of yells and whoops burst +forth, accompanied by the deafening din of the war-drum,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +the discharge of fire-arms, and the clatter of the whole +cavalcade, which was at once in a mad gallop toward the +on-coming train. Nor did the yelling, whooping, drumming, +and firing cease until within a few yards of the +train.</p> + +<p>All this demoniac hub-bub was highly complimentary +toward those for whom it was intended; but an unfortunate +ignorance of Indian customs caused the missionaries +to fail in appreciating the honor intended them. Instead +of trying to reciprocate the noise by an attempt at imitating +it, the missionary camp was alarmed at the first burst +and at once began to drive in their cattle and prepare for +an attack. As the missionary party was in the rear of the +train they succeeded in getting together their loose stock +before the Nez Perces had an opportunity of making themselves +known, so that the leaders of the Fur Company, and +Captain Stuart, had the pleasure of a hearty laugh at their +expense, for the fright they had received.</p> + +<p>A general shaking of hands followed the abatement of +the first surprise, the Indian women saluting Mrs. Whitman +and Mrs. Spalding with a kiss, and the missionaries were +escorted to their camping ground near the Nez Perce encampment. +Here the whole village again formed in line, +and a more formal introduction of the missionaries took +place, after which they were permitted to go into camp.</p> + +<p>When the intention of the Indians became known, Dr. +Whitman, who was the leader of the missionary party, was +boyishly delighted with the reception which had been +given him. His frank, hearty, hopeful nature augured +much good from the enthusiasm of the Indians. If his +estimation of the native virtues of the savages was much +too high, he suffered with those whom he caused to suffer +for his belief, in the years which followed. Peace to the +ashes of a good man! And honor to his associates, whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +hearts were in the cause they had undertaken of Christianizing +the Indians. Two of them still live—one of whom, +Mr. Spalding, has conscientiously labored and deeply suffered +for the faith. Mr. Gray, who was an unmarried man, +returned the following year to the States, for a wife, and +settled for a time among the Indians, but finally abandoned +the missionary service, and removed to the Wallamet valley. +These five persons constituted the entire force of +teachers who could be induced at that time to devote +their lives to the instruction of the savages in the neighborhood +of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>The trappers, and gentlemen of the Fur Company and +Captain Stuart, had been passive but interested spectators +of the scene between the Indians and the missionaries. +When the excitement had somewhat subsided, and the +various camps had become settled in their places, the tents +of the white ladies were besieged with visitors, both civilized +and savage. These ladies, who were making an endeavor +to acquire a knowledge of the Nez Perce tongue +in order to commence their instructions in the language +of the natives, could have made very little progress, had +their purpose been less strong than it was. Mrs. Spalding +perhaps succeeded better than Mrs. Whitman in the difficult +study of the Indian dialect. She seemed to attract +the natives about her by the ease and kindness of her +manner, especially the native women, who, seeing she was +an invalid, clung to her rather than to her more lofty and +self-asserting associate.</p> + +<p>On the contrary, the leaders of the American Fur Company, +Captain Wyeth and Captain Stuart, paid Mrs. Whitman +the most marked and courteous attentions. She shone +the bright particular star of that Rocky Mountain encampment, +softening the hearts and the manners of all who +came within her womanly influence. Not a gentleman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +among them but felt her silent command upon him to be +his better self while she remained in his vicinity; not a +trapper or camp-keeper but respected the presence of +womanhood and piety. But while the leaders paid court +to her, the bashful trappers contented themselves with +promenading before her tent. Should they succeed in +catching her eye, they never failed to touch their beaver-skin +caps in their most studiously graceful manner, though +that should prove so dubious as to bring a mischievous +smile to the blue eyes of the observant lady.</p> + +<p>But our friend Joe Meek did not belong by nature to +the bashful brigade. He was not content with disporting +himself in his best trapper's toggery in front of a lady's +tent. He became a not infrequent visitor, and amused +Mrs. Whitman with the best of his mountain adventures, +related in his soft, slow, yet smooth and firm utterance, +and with many a merry twinkle of his mirthful dark eyes. +In more serious moments he spoke to her of the future, +and of his determination, sometime, to "settle down." +When she inquired if he had fixed upon any spot which +in his imagination he could regard as "home" he replied +that he could not content himself to return to civilized life, +but thought that when he gave up "bar fighting and Injun +fighting" he should go down to the Wallamet valley +and see what sort of life he could make of it there. How +he lived up to this determination will be seen hereafter.</p> + +<p>The missionaries remained at the rendezvous long enough +to recruit their own strength and that of their stock, and +to restore to something like health the invalid Mrs. Spalding, +who, on changing her diet to dried meat, which the +resident partners were able to supply her, commenced rapidly +to improve. Letters were written and given to Capt. +Wyeth to carry home to the States. The Captain had +completed his sale of Fort Hall and the goods it contained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +to the Hudson's Bay Company only a short time previous, +and was now about to abandon the effort to establish any +enterprise either on the Columbia or in the Rocky Mountains. +He had, however, executed his threat of the year +previous, and punished the bad faith of the Rocky Mountain +Company by placing them in direct competition with +the Hudson's Bay Company.</p> + +<p>The missionaries now prepared for their journey to the +Columbia River. According to the advice of the mountain-men +the heaviest wagon was left at the rendezvous, +together with every heavy article that could be dispensed +with. But Dr. Whitman refused to leave the light wagon, +although assured he would never be able to get it to the +Columbia, nor even to the Snake River. The good Doctor +had an immense fund of determination when there was +an object to be gained or a principle involved. The only +persons who did not oppose wagon transportation were +the Indians. They sympathised with his determination, +and gave him their assistance. The evidences of a different +and higher civilization than they had ever seen were +held in great reverence by them. The wagons, the domestic +cattle, especially the cows and calves, were always +objects of great interest with them. Therefore they freely +gave their assistance, and a sufficient number remained +behind to help the Doctor, while the main party of both +missionaries and Indians, having bidden the Fur Company +and others farewell, proceeded to join the camp of two +Hudson's Bay traders a few miles on their way.</p> + +<p>The two traders, whose camp they now joined, were +named McLeod and McKay. The latter, Thomas McKay, +was the half-breed son of that unfortunate McKay in Mr. +Astor's service, who perished on board the <i>Tonquin</i>, as related +in Irving's <span class="smcap">Astoria</span>. He was one of the bravest +and most skillful partisans in the employ of the Hudson's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +Bay Company. McLeod had met the missionaries at the +American rendezvous and invited them to travel in his +company; an offer which they were glad to accept, as it +secured them ample protection and other more trifling +benefits, besides some society other than the Indians.</p> + +<p>By dint of great perseverance, Doctor Whitman contrived +to keep up with the camp day after day, though +often coming in very late and very weary, until the party +arrived at Fort Hall. At the fort the baggage was again +reduced as much as possible; and Doctor Whitman was +compelled by the desertion of his teamster to take off two +wheels of his wagon and transform it into a cart which +could be more easily propelled in difficult places. With +this he proceeded as far as the Boise River where the +Hudson's Bay Company had a small fort or trading-post; +but here again he was so strongly urged to relinquish the +idea of taking his wagon to the Columbia, that after much +discussion he consented to leave it at Fort Boise until +some future time when unencumbered by goods or passengers +he might return for it.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the crossing of the Snake River, Mrs. Whitman +and Mrs. Spalding were treated to a new mode of ferriage, +which even in their varied experience they had +never before met with. This new ferry was nothing more +or less than a raft made of bundles of bulrushes woven +together by grass ropes. Upon this frail flat-boat the +passengers were obliged to stretch themselves at length +while an Indian swam across and drew it after him by a +rope. As the waters of the Snake River are rapid and +often "dancing mad," it is easy to conjecture that the +ladies were ill at ease on their bulrush ferry.</p> + +<p>On went the party from the Snake River through the +Grand Ronde to the Blue Mountains. The crossing here +was somewhat difficult but accomplished in safety. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +descent from the Blue Mountains on the west side gave +the missionaries their first view of the country they had +come to possess, and to civilize and Christianize. That +view was beautiful and grand—as goodly a prospect as +longing eyes ever beheld this side of Canaan. Before +them lay a country spread out like a map, with the windings +of its rivers marked by fringes of trees, and its boundaries +fixed by mountain ranges above which towered the +snowy peaks of +Mt. Hood, Mt. +Adams, and Mt. +Rainier. Far +away could be +traced the +course of the +Columbia; and +over all the magnificent +scene +glowed the red +rays of sunset, +tinging the distant +blue of the +mountains until +they seemed +shrouded in a +veil of violet +mist. It were +not strange that +with the reception +given them by the Indians, and with this bird's-eye +view of their adopted country, the hearts of the missionaries +beat high with hope.</p> + +<div class="figright"><a id="i233" name="i233"></a> +<img src="images/i233.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">DESCENDING THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>The descent from the Blue Mountains brought the party +out on the Umatilla River, where they camped, Mr. McLeod<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +parting company with them at this place to hasten forward +to Fort Walla-Walla, and prepare for their reception. +After two more days of slow and toilsome travel +with cattle whose feet were cut and sore from the sharp +rocks of the mountains, the company arrived safely at +Walla-Walla fort, on the third of September. Here +they found Mr. McLeod, and Mr. Panbram who had charge +of that post.</p> + +<p>Mr. Panbram received the missionary party with every +token of respect, and of pleasure at seeing ladies among +them. The kindest attentions were lavished upon them +from the first moment of their arrival, when the ladies +were lifted from their horses, to the time of their departure; +the apartments belonging to the fort being assigned +to them, and all that the place afforded of comfortable +living placed at their disposal. Here, for the first time in +several months, they enjoyed the luxury of bread—a favor +for which the suffering Mrs. Spalding was especially grateful.</p> + +<p>At Walla-Walla the missionaries were informed that +they were expected to visit Vancouver, the head-quarters +of the Hudson's Bay Company on the Lower Columbia. +After resting for two days, it was determined to make this +visit before selecting places for mission work among the +Indians. Accordingly the party embarked in the company's +boats, for the voyage down the Columbia, which +occupied six days, owing to strong head winds which were +encountered at a point on the Lower Columbia, called +Cape Horn. They arrived safely on the eleventh of September, +at Vancouver, where they were again received +with the warmest hospitality by the Governor, Dr. John +McLaughlin, and his associates. The change from the +privations of wilderness life to the luxuries of Fort Vancouver +was very great indeed, and two weeks passed rap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>idly +away in the enjoyment of refined society, and all +the other elegancies of the highest civilization.</p> + +<p>At the end of two weeks, Dr. Whitman, Mr. Spalding, +and Mr. Gray returned to the Upper Columbia, leaving +the ladies at Fort Vancouver while they determined upon +their several locations in the Indian country. After an +absence of several weeks they returned, having made their +selections, and on the third day of November the ladies +once more embarked to ascend the Columbia, to take up +their residence in Indian wigwams while their husbands +prepared rude dwellings by the assistance of the natives. +The spot fixed upon by Dr. Whitman for his mission was +on the Walla-Walla River about thirty miles from the fort +of that name. It was called <i>Waiilatpu</i>; and the tribe +chosen for his pupils were the Cayuses, a hardy, active, +intelligent race, rich in horses and pasture lands.</p> + +<p>Mr. Spalding selected a home on the Clearwater River, +among the Nez Perces, of whom we already know so +much. His mission was called <i>Lapwai</i>. Mr. Gray went +among the Flatheads, an equally friendly tribe; and here +we shall leave the missionaries, to return to the Rocky +Mountains and the life of the hunter and trapper. At a +future date we shall fall in once more with these devoted +people and learn what success attended their efforts to +Christianize the Indians.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>1836. The company of men who went north this year +under Bridger and Fontenelle, numbered nearly three +hundred. Rendezvous with all its varied excitements +being over, this important brigade commenced its march. +According to custom, the trappers commenced business +on the head-waters of various rivers, following them down +as the early frosts of the mountains forced them to do, +until finally they wintered in the plains, at the most +favored spots they could find in which to subsist themselves +and animals.</p> + +<p>From Green River, Meek proceeded with Bridger's command +to Lewis River, Salt River, and other tributaries of +the Snake, and camped with them in Pierre's Hole, that +favorite mountain valley which every year was visited by +the different fur companies.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i237" name="i237"></a> +<img src="images/i237.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE BEAR IN CAMP.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>Pierre's Hole, notwithstanding its beauties, had some repulsive +features, or rather perhaps <i>one</i> repulsive feature, +which was, its great numbers of rattlesnakes. Meek relates +that being once caught in a very violent thunder storm, +he dismounted, and holding his horse, a fine one, by the +bridle, himself took shelter under a narrow shelf of rock +projecting from a precipitous bluff. Directly he observed +an enormous rattlesnake hastening close by him to its den +in the mountain. Congratulating himself on his snake-ship's +haste to get out of the storm and his vicinity, he +had only time to have one rejoicing thought when two or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +three others followed the trail of the first one. They were +seeking the same rocky den, of whose proximity Meek +now felt uncomfortably assured. Before these were out +of sight, there came instead of twos and threes, tens and +twenties, and then hundreds, and finally Meek believes +thousands, the ground being literally alive with them. +Not daring to stir after he discovered the nature of his +situation, he was obliged to remain and endure the disgusting +and frightful scene, while he exerted himself to +keep his horse quiet, lest the reptiles should attack him. +By and by, when there were no more to come, but all +were safe in their holes in the rock, Meek hastily mounted +and galloped in the face of the tempest in preference to +remaining longer in so unpleasant a neighborhood.</p> + +<p>There was an old Frenchman among the trappers who +used to charm rattlesnakes, and handling them freely, +place them in his bosom, or allow them to wind about his +arms, several at a time, their flat heads extending in all +directions, and their bodies waving in the air, in the most +snaky and nerve-shaking manner, to the infinite disgust +of all the camp, and of Hawkins and Meek in particular. +Hawkins often became so nervous that he threatened to +shoot the Frenchman on the instant, if he did not desist; +and great was the dislike he entertained for what he termed +the "—— infernal old wizard."</p> + +<p>It was often the case in the mountains and on the plains +that the camp was troubled with rattlesnakes, so that +each man on laying down to sleep found it necessary to +encircle his bed with a hair rope, thus effectually fencing +out the reptiles, which are too fastidious and sensitive of +touch to crawl over a hair rope. But for this precaution, +the trapper must often have shared his blanket couch +with this foe to the "seed of the woman," who being +asleep would have neglected to "crush his head," receiv<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>ing +instead the serpent's fang in "his heel," if not in some +nobler portion of his body.</p> + +<p>There is a common belief abroad that the prairie dog +harbors the rattlesnake, and the owl also, in his subterranean +house, in a more or less friendly manner. Meek, +however, who has had many opportunities of observing +the habits of these three ill-assorted denizens of a common +abode, gives it as his opinion that the prairie dog consents +to the invasion of his premises alone through his inability +to prevent it. As these prairie dog villages are always +found on the naked prairies, where there is neither rocky +den for the rattlesnake, nor shade for the blinking eyes of +the owl, these two idle and impudent foreigners, availing +themselves of the labors of the industrious little animal +which builds itself a cool shelter from the sun, and a safe +one from the storm, whenever their own necessities drive +them to seek refuge from either sun or storm, enter uninvited +and take possession. It is probable also, that so far +from being a welcome guest, the rattlesnake occasionally +gorges himself with a young prairie-dog, when other game +is not conveniently nigh, or that the owl lies in wait at the +door of its borrowed-without-leave domicile, and succeeds +in nabbing a careless field-mouse more easily than it could +catch the same game by seeking it as an honest owl should +do. The owl and the rattlesnake are like the Sioux when +they go on a visit to the Omahas—the visit being always +timed so as to be identical in date with that of the Government +Agents who are distributing food and clothing. +They are very good friends for the nonce, the poor Omahas +not daring to be otherwise for fear of the ready vengeance +on the next summer's buffalo hunt; therefore they +conceal their grimaces and let the Sioux eat them up; and +when summer comes get massacred on their buffalo hunt, +all the same.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>But to return to our brigade. About the last of October +Bridger's company moved down on to the Yellowstone by +a circuitous route through the North Pass, now known as +Hell Gate Pass, to Judith River, Mussel Shell River, Cross +Creeks of the Yellowstone, Three Forks of Missouri, Missouri +Lake, Beaver Head country, Big Horn River, and +thence east again, and north again to the wintering ground +in the great bend of the Yellowstone.</p> + +<p>The company had not proceeded far in the Blackfeet +country, between Hell Gate Pass and the Yellowstone, +before they were attacked by the Blackfeet. On arriving +at the Yellowstone they discovered a considerable encampment +of the enemy on an island or bar in the river, and +proceeded to open hostilities before the Indians should +have discovered them. Making little forts of sticks or +bushes, each man advanced cautiously to the bank overlooking +the island, pushing his leafy fort before him as he +crept silently nearer, until a position was reached whence +firing could commence with effect. The first intimation +the luckless savages had of the neighborhood of the whites +was a volley of shots discharged into their camp, killing +several of their number. But as this was their own mode +of attack, no reflections were likely to be wasted upon the +unfairness of the assault; quickly springing to their arms +the firing was returned, and for several hours was kept up +on both sides. At night the Indians stole off, having lost +nearly thirty killed; nor did the trappers escape quite unhurt, +three being killed and a few others wounded.</p> + +<p>Since men were of such value to the fur companies, it +would seem strange that they should deliberately enter +upon an Indian fight before being attacked. But unfortunate +as these encounters really were, they knew of no +other policy to be pursued. They, (the American Companies,) +were not resident, with a long acquaintance, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +settled policy, such as rendered the Hudson's Bay Company +so secure amongst the savages. They knew that +among these unfriendly Indians, not to attack was to be +attacked, and consequently little time was ever given for +an Indian to discover his vicinity to a trapper. The trapper's +shot informed him of that, and afterwards the race +was to the swift, and the battle to the strong. Besides +this acknowledged necessity for fighting whenever and +wherever Indians were met with in the Blackfeet and Crow +countries, almost every trapper had some private injury to +avenge—some theft, or wound, or imprisonment, or at the +very least, some terrible fright sustained at the hands of +the universal foe. Therefore there was no reluctance to +shoot into an Indian camp, provided the position of the +man shooting was a safe one, or more defensible than that +of the man shot at. Add to this that there was no law in +the mountains, only license, it is easy to conjecture that +might would have prevailed over right with far less incentive +to the exercise of savage practices than actually did +exist. Many a trapper undoubtedly shot his Indian "for +the fun of it," feeling that it was much better to do so than +run the risk of being shot at for no better reason. Of this +class of reasoners, it must be admitted, Meek was one. +Indian-fighting, like bear-fighting, had come to be a sort +of pastime, in which he was proud to be known as highly +accomplished. Having so many opportunities for the display +of game qualities in encounters with these two by-no-means-to-be +despised foes of the trapper, it was not often +that they quarreled among themselves after the grand frolic +of the rendezvous was over.</p> + +<p>It happened, however, during this autumn, that while +the main camp was in the valley of the Yellowstone, a +party of eight trappers, including Meek and a comrade +named Stanberry, were trapping together on the Mussel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +Shell, when the question as to which was the bravest man +got started between them, and at length, in the heat of +controversy, assumed such importance that it was agreed +to settle the matter on the following day according to the +Virginia code of honor, <i>i.e.</i>, by fighting a duel, and shooting +at each other with guns, which hitherto had only done +execution on bears and Indians.</p> + +<p>But some listening spirit of the woods determined to +avert the danger from these two equally brave trappers, +and save their ammunition for its legitimate use, by giving +them occasion to prove their courage almost on the instant. +While sitting around the camp-fire discussing the coming +event of the duel at thirty paces, a huge bear, already +wounded by a shot from the gun of their hunter who was +out looking for game, came running furiously into camp, +giving each man there a challenge to fight or fly.</p> + +<p>"Now," spoke up one of the men quickly, "let Meek +and Stanberry prove which is bravest, by fighting the +bear!" "Agreed," cried the two as quickly, and both +sprang with guns and wiping-sticks in hand, charging upon +the infuriated beast as it reached the spot where they were +awaiting it. Stanberry was a small man, and Meek a large +one. Perhaps it was owing to this difference of stature +that Meek was first to reach the bear as it advanced. Running +up with reckless bravado Meek struck the creature +two or three times over the head with his wiping-stick +before aiming to fire, which however he did so quickly +and so surely that the beast fell dead at his feet. This act +settled the vexed question. Nobody was disposed to dispute +the point of courage with a man who would stop to +strike a grizzly before shooting him: therefore Meek was +proclaimed by the common voice to be "cock of the walk" +in that camp. The pipe of peace was solemnly smoked +by himself and Stanberry, and the tomahawk buried never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +more to be resurrected between them, while a fat supper +of bear meat celebrated the compact of everlasting amity.</p> + +<p>It was not an unfrequent occurrence for a grizzly bear +to be run into camp by the hunters, in the Yellowstone +country where this creature abounded. An amusing incident +occurred not long after that just related, when the +whole camp was at the Cross Creeks of the Yellowstone, +on the south side of that river. The hunters were out, +and had come upon two or three bears in a thicket. As +these animals sometimes will do, they started off in a great +fright, running toward camp, the hunters after them, yelling, +frightening them still more. A runaway bear, like a +runaway horse, appears not to see where it is going, but +keeps right on its course no matter what dangers lie in +advance. So one of these animals having got headed for +the middle of the encampment, saw nothing of what lay +in its way, but ran on and on, apparently taking note of +nothing but the yells in pursuit. So sudden and unexpected +was the charge which he made upon camp, that +the Indian women, who were sitting on the ground engaged +in some ornamental work, had no time to escape out of the +way. One of them was thrown down and run over, and +another was struck with such violence that she was thrown +twenty feet from the spot where she was hastily attempting +to rise. Other objects in camp were upset and thrown out +of the way, but without causing so much merriment as the +mishaps of the two women who were so rudely treated by +the monster.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i245" name="i245"></a> +<img src="images/i245.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">SATISFIED WITH BEAR FIGHTING.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>It was also while the camp was at the Cross Creeks of +the Yellowstone that Meek had one of his best fought battles +with a grizzly bear. He was out with two companions, +one Gardiner, and Mark Head, a Shawnee Indian. +Seeing a very large bear digging roots in the creek bottom, +Meek proposed to attack it, if the others would hold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +his horse ready to mount if he failed to kill the creature. +This being agreed to he advanced to within about forty +paces of his game, when he raised his gun and attempted +to fire, but the cap bursting he only roused the beast, +which turned on him with a terrific noise between a snarl +and a growl, showing some fearful looking teeth. Meek +turned to run for his horse, at the same time trying to put +a cap on his gun; but when he had almost reached his +comrades, their horses and his own took fright at the bear +now close on his heels, and ran, leaving him alone with the +now fully infuriated beast. Just at the moment he succeeded +in getting a cap on his gun, the teeth of the bear +closed on his blanket capote which was belted around the +waist, the suddenness and force of the seizure turning him +around, as the skirt of his capote yielded to the strain +and tore off at the belt. Being now nearly face to face +with his foe, the intrepid trapper thrust his gun into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +creature's mouth and attempted again to fire, but the gun +being double triggered and not set, it failed to go off. +Perceiving the difficulty he managed to set the triggers +with the gun still in the bear's mouth, yet no sooner was +this done than the bear succeeded in knocking it out, and +firing as it slipped out, it hit her too low down to inflict a +fatal wound and only served to irritate her still farther.</p> + +<p>In this desperate situation when Meek's brain was rapidly +working on the problem of live Meek or live bear, +two fresh actors appeared on the scene in the persons of +two cubs, who seeing their mother in difficulty seemed +desirous of doing something to assist her. Their appearance +seemed to excite the bear to new exertions, for +she made one desperate blow at Meek's empty gun with +which he was defending himself, and knocked it out of his +hands, and far down the bank or sloping hillside where +the struggle was now going on. Then being partially +blinded by rage, she seized one of her cubs and began to +box it about in a most unmotherly fashion. This diversion +gave Meek a chance to draw his knife from the scabbard, +with which he endeavored to stab the bear behind the +ear: but she was too quick for him, and with a blow struck +it out of his hand, as she had the gun, nearly severing his +forefinger.</p> + +<p>At this critical juncture the second cub interfered, and +got a boxing from the old bear, as the first one had done. +This too, gave Meek time to make a movement, and loosening +his tomahawk from his belt, he made one tremendous +effort, taking deadly aim, and struck her just behind +the ear, the tomahawk sinking into the brain, and his +powerful antagonist lay dead before him. When the blow +was struck he stood with his back against a little bluff of +rock, beyond which it was impossible to retreat. It was +his last chance, and his usual good fortune stood by him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +When the struggle was over the weary victor mounted +the rock behind him and looked down upon his enemy +slain; and "came to the conclusion that he was satisfied +with bar-fighting."</p> + +<p>But renown had sought him out even here, alone with +his lifeless antagonist. Capt. Stuart with his artist, Mr. +Miller, chanced upon this very spot, while yet the conqueror +contemplated his slain enemy, and taking possession +at once of the bear, whose skin was afterward preserved +and stuffed, made a portrait of the "satisfied" slayer. A +picture was subsequently painted by Miller of this scene, +and was copied in wax for a museum in St. Louis, where +it probably remains to this day, a monument of Meek's +best bear fight. As for Meek's runaway horse and runaway +comrades, they returned to the scene of action too +late to be of the least service, except to furnish our hero +with transportation to camp, which, considering the weight +of his newly gathered laurels, was no light service after +all.</p> + +<p>In November Bridger's camp arrived at the Bighorn +River, expecting to winter; but finding the buffalo all gone, +were obliged to cross the mountains lying between the +Bighorn and Powder rivers to reach the buffalo country +on the latter stream. The snow having already fallen +quite deep on these mountains the crossing was attended +with great difficulty; and many horses and mules were +lost by sinking in the snow, or falling down precipices +made slippery by the melting and freezing of the snow on +the narrow ridges and rocky benches along which they +were forced to travel.</p> + +<p>About Christmas all the company went into winter-quarters +on Powder River, in the neighborhood of a company +of Bonneville's men, left under the command of Antoine +Montero, who had established a trading-post and fort at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +this place, hoping, no doubt, that here they should be +comparatively safe from the injurious competition of the +older companies. The appearance of three hundred men, +who had the winter before them in which to do mischief, +was therefore as unpleasant as it was unexpected; and +the result proved that even Montero, who was Bonneville's +experienced trader, could not hold his own against so +numerous and expert a band of marauders as Bridger's +men, assisted by the Crows, proved themselves to be; for +by the return of spring Montero had very little remaining +of the property belonging to the fort, nor anything to show +for it. This mischievous war upon Bonneville was prompted +partly by the usual desire to cripple a rival trader, +which the leaders encouraged in their men; but in some +individual instances far more by the desire for revenge +upon Bonneville personally, on account of his censures +passed upon the members of the Monterey expedition, +and on the ways of mountain-men generally.</p> + +<p>About the first of January, Fontenelle, with four men, +and Captain Stuart's party, left camp to go to St. Louis +for supplies. At Fort Laramie Fontenelle committed suicide, +in a fit of <i>mania a potu</i>, and his men returned to +camp with the news.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>1837. The fate of Fontenelle should have served as a +warning to his associates and fellows. 'Should have done,' +however, are often idle words, and as sad as they are idle; +they match the poets 'might have been,' in their regretful +impotency. Perhaps there never was a winter camp +in the mountains more thoroughly demoralized than that +of Bridger during the months of January and February. +Added to the whites, who were reckless enough, were a +considerable party of Delaware and Shawnee Indians, excellent +allies, and skillful hunters and trappers, but having +the Indian's love of strong drink. "Times were pretty +good in the mountains," according to the mountain-man's +notion of good times; that is to say, beaver was plenty, +camp large, and alcohol abundant, if dear. Under these +favorable circumstance much alcohol was consumed, and +its influence was felt in the manners not only of the trappers, +white and red, but also upon the neighboring Indians.</p> + +<p>The Crows, who had for two years been on terms of a +sort of semi-amity with the whites, found it to their interest +to conciliate so powerful an enemy as the American +Fur Company was now become, and made frequent visits +to the camp, on which occasion they usually succeeded in +obtaining a taste of the fire-water of which they were inordinately +fond. Occasionally a trader was permitted to +sell liquor to the whole village, when a scene took place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +whose peculiar horrors were wholly indescribable, from the +inability of language to convey an adequate idea of its +hellish degradation. When a trader sold alcohol to a +village it was understood both by himself and the Indians +what was to follow. And to secure the trader against injury +a certain number of warriors were selected out of +the village to act as a police force, and to guard the trader +during the 'drunk' from the insane passions of his customers. +To the police not a drop was to be given.</p> + +<p>This being arranged, and the village disarmed, the carousal +began. Every individual, man, woman, and child, +was permitted to become intoxicated. Every form of +drunkenness, from the simple stupid to the silly, the heroic, +the insane, the beastly, the murderous, displayed +itself. The scenes which were then enacted beggared description, +as they shocked the senses of even the hard-drinking, +license-loving trappers who witnessed them. +That they did not "point a moral" for these men, is the +strangest part of the whole transaction.</p> + +<p>When everybody, police excepted, was drunk as drunk +could be, the trader began to dilute his alcohol with water, +until finally his keg contained water only, slightly flavored +by the washings of the keg, and as they continued to +drink of it without detecting its weak quality, they finally +drank themselves sober, and were able at last to sum up +the cost of their intoxication. This was generally nothing +less than the whole property of the village, added to which +were not a few personal injuries, and usually a few murders. +The village now being poor, the Indians were correspondingly +humble; and were forced to begin a system +of reprisal by stealing and making war, a course for which +the traders were prepared, and which they avoided by +leaving that neighborhood. Such were some of the sins +and sorrows for which the American fur companies were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +answerable, and which detracted seriously from the respect +that the courage, and other good qualities of the +mountain-men freely commanded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i251" name="i251"></a> +<img src="images/i251.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">THE GAME OF CACHE.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>By the first of March these scenes of wrong and riot +were over, for that season at least, and camp commenced +moving back toward the Blackfoot country. After recrossing +the mountains, passing the Bighorn, Clarke's, and +Rosebud rivers, they came upon a Blackfoot village on +the Yellowstone, which as usual they attacked, and a battle +ensued, in which Manhead, captain of the Delawares +was killed, another Delaware named Tom Hill succeeding +him in command. The fight did not result in any great +loss or gain to either party. The camp of Bridger fought +its way past the village, which was what they must do, in +order to proceed.</p> + +<p>Meek, however, was not quite satisfied with the punishment +the Blackfeet had received for the killing of Manhead, +who had been in the fight with him when the Camanches +attacked them on the plains. Desirous of doing +something on his own account, he induced a comrade +named LeBlas, to accompany him to the village, after night +had closed over the scene of the late contest. Stealing +into the village with a noiselessness equal to that of one +of Fennimore Cooper's Indian scouts, these two daring +trappers crept so near that they could look into the lodges, +and see the Indians at their favorite game of <i>Cache</i>. Inferring +from this that the savages did not feel their losses +very severely, they determined to leave some sign of their +visit, and wound their enemy in his most sensitive part, +the horse. Accordingly they cut the halters of a number +of the animals, fastened in the customary manner to a +stake, and succeeded in getting off with nine of them, +which property they proceeded to appropriate to their +own use.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the spring and summer advanced, Bridger's brigade +advanced into the mountains, passing the Cross Creek of +the Yellowstone, Twenty-five-Yard River, Cherry River, +and coming on to the head-waters of the Missouri spent the +early part of the summer in that locality. Between Gallatin +and Madison forks the camp struck the great trail of +the Blackfeet. Meek and Mark Head had fallen four or +five days behind camp, and being on this trail felt a good +deal of uneasiness. This feeling was not lessened by +seeing, on coming to Madison Fork, the skeletons of two +men tied to or suspended from trees, the flesh eaten off +their bones. Concluding discretion to be the safest part +of valor in this country, they concealed themselves by day +and traveled by night, until camp was finally reached +near Henry's Lake. On this march they forded a flooded +river, on the back of the same mule, their traps placed on +the other, and escaped from pursuit of a dozen yelling +savages, who gazed after them in astonishment; "taking +their mule," said Mark Head, "to be a beaver, and themselves +great medicine men." "That," said Meek, "is what +I call 'cooning' a river."</p> + +<p>From this point Meek set out with a party of thirty or +forty trappers to travel up the river to head-waters, accompanied +by the famous Indian painter Stanley, whose party +was met with, this spring, traveling among the mountains. +The party of trappers were a day or two ahead of the +main camp when they found themselves following close +after the big Blackfoot village which had recently passed +over the trail, as could be seen by the usual signs; and +also by the dead bodies strewn along the trail, victims of +that horrible scourge, the small pox. The village was evidently +fleeing to the mountains, hoping to rid itself of the +plague in their colder and more salubrious air.</p> + +<p>Not long after coming upon these evidences of prox<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>imity +to an enemy, a party of a hundred and fifty of their +warriors were discovered encamped in a defile or narrow +bottom enclosed by high bluffs, through which the trappers +would have to pass. Seeing that in order to pass this +war party, and the village, which was about half a mile in +advance, there would have to be some fighting done, the +trappers resolved to begin the battle at once by attacking +their enemy, who was as yet ignorant of their neighborhood. +In pursuance of this determination, Meek, Newell, +Mansfield, and Le Blas, commenced hostilities. Leaving +their horses in camp, they crawled along on the edge of +the overhanging bluff until opposite to the encampment +of Blackfeet, firing on them from the shelter of some +bushes which grew among the rocks. But the Blackfeet, +though ignorant of the number of their enemy, were not +to be dislodged so easily, and after an hour or two of random +shooting, contrived to scale the bluff at a point higher +up, and to get upon a ridge of ground still higher than +that occupied by the four trappers. This movement dislodged +the latter, and they hastily retreated through the +bushes and returned to camp.</p> + +<p>The next day, the main camp having come up, the fight +was renewed. While the greater body of the company, +with the pack-horses, were passing along the high bluff +overhanging them, the party of the day before, and forty +or fifty others, undertook to drive the Indians out of the +bottom, and by keeping them engaged allow the train to +pass in safety. The trappers rode to the fight on this occasion, +and charged the Blackfeet furiously, they having +joined the village a little farther on. A general skirmish +now took place. Meek, who was mounted on a fine horse, +was in the thickest of the fight. He had at one time a +side to side race with an Indian who strung his bow so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +hard that the arrow dropped, just as Meek, who had loaded +his gun running, was ready to fire, and the Indian dropped +after his arrow.</p> + +<p>Newell too had a desperate conflict with a half-dead +warrior, who having fallen from a wound, he thought dead +and was trying to scalp. Springing from his horse he +seized the Indian's long thick hair in one hand, and with +his knife held in the other made a pass at the scalp, when +the savage roused up knife in hand, and a struggle took +place in which it was for a time doubtful which of the +combatants would part with the coveted scalp-lock. Newell +might have been glad to resign the trophy, and leave +the fallen warrior his tuft of hair, but his fingers were in +some way caught by some gun-screws with which the savage +had ornamented his <i>coiffure</i>, and would not part company. +In this dilemma there was no other alternative but +fight. The miserable savage was dragged a rod or two in +the struggle, and finally dispatched.</p> + +<p>Mansfield also got into such close quarters, surrounded +by the enemy, that he gave himself up for lost, and called +out to his comrades: "Tell old Gabe, (Bridger,) that old +Cotton (his own sobriquet) is gone." He lived, however, +to deliver his own farewell message, for at this critical +juncture the trappers were re-inforced, and relieved. Still +the fight went on, the trappers gradually working their +way to the upper end of the enclosed part of the valley, +past the point of danger.</p> + +<p>Just before getting clear of this entanglement Meek became +the subject of another picture, by Stanley, who was +viewing the battle from the heights above the valley. +The picture which is well known as "The Trapper's Last +Shot," represents him as he turned upon his horse, a fine +and spirited animal, to discharge his last shot at an Indian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +pursuing, while in the bottom, at a little distance away, +other Indians are seen skulking in the tall reedy grass.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i257" name="i257"></a> +<img src="images/i257.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>THE TRAPPER'S LAST SHOT.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>The last shot having been discharged with fatal effect, +our trapper, so persistently lionized by painters, put his +horse to his utmost speed and soon after overtook the +camp, which had now passed the strait of danger. But +the Blackfeet were still unsatisfied with the result of the +contest. They followed after, reinforced from the village, +and attacked the camp. In the fight which followed a +Blackfoot woman's horse was shot down, and Meek tried +to take her prisoner: but two or three of her people coming +to the rescue, engaged his attention; and the woman +was saved by seizing hold of the tail of her husband's +horse, which setting off at a run, carried her out of +danger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i259" name="i259"></a> +<img src="images/i259.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">"AND THEREBY HANGS A TAIL."</p> + +</div> + + +<p>The Blackfeet found the camp of Bridger too strong +for them. They were severely beaten and compelled to +retire to their village, leaving Bridger free to move on. +The following day the camp reached the village of Little-Robe, +a chief of the Peagans, who held a talk with Bridger,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +complaining that his nation were all perishing from the +small-pox which had been given to them by the whites. +Bridger was able to explain to Little-Robe his error; inasmuch +as although the disease might have originated +among the whites, it was communicated to the Blackfeet +by Jim Beckwith, a negro, and principal chief of their +enemies the Crows. This unscrupulous wretch had caused +two infected articles to be taken from a Mackinaw boat, +up from St. Louis, and disposed of to the Blackfeet—whence +the horrible scourge under which they were suffering.</p> + +<p>This matter being explained, Little-Robe consented to +trade horses and skins; and the two camps parted amicably. +The next day after this friendly talk, Bridger being +encamped on the trail in advance of the Blackfeet, an Indian +came riding into camp, with his wife and daughter, +pack-horse and lodge-pole, and all his worldly goods, unaware +until he got there of the snare into which he had +fallen. The French trappers, generally, decreed to kill +the man and take possession of the woman. But Meek, +Kit Carson, and others of the American trappers of the +better sort, interfered to prevent this truly savage act. +Meek took the woman's horse by the head, Carson the +man's, the daughter following, and led them out of camp. +Few of the Frenchmen cared to interrupt either of these +two men, and they were suffered to depart in peace. +When at a safe distance, Meek stopped, and demanded as +some return for having saved the man's life, a present of +tobacco, a luxury which, from the Indian's pipe, he suspected +him to possess. About enough for two chews was +the result of this demand, complied with rather grudgingly, +the Indian vieing with the trapper in his devotion +to the weed. Just at this time, owing to the death of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +Fontenelle, and a consequent delay in receiving supplies, +tobacco was scarce among the mountaineers.</p> + +<p>Bridger's brigade of trappers met with no other serious +interruptions on their summer's march. They proceeded +to Henry's Lake, and crossing the Rocky Mountains, traveled +through the Pine Woods, always a favorite region, to +Lewis' Lake on Lewis' Fork of the Snake River; and +finally up the Grovant Fork, recrossing the mountains to +Wind River, where the rendezvous for this year was appointed.</p> + +<p>Here, once more, the camp was visited by a last years' +acquaintance. This was none other than Mr. Gray, of the +Flathead Mission, who was returning to the States on business +connected with the missionary enterprise, and to +provide himself with a helpmeet for life,—a co-laborer +and sufferer in the contemplated toil of teaching savages +the rudiments of a religion difficult even to the comprehension +of an old civilization.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gray was accompanied by two young men (whites) +who wished to return to the States, and also by a son of +one of the Flathead chiefs. Two other Flathead Indians, +and one Iroquois and one Snake Indian, were induced to +accompany Mr. Gray. The undertaking was not without +danger, and so the leaders of the Fur Company assured +him. But Mr. Gray was inclined to make light of the +danger, having traveled with entire safety when under the +protection of the Fur Companies the year before. He +proceeded without interruption until he reached Ash Hollow, +in the neighborhood of Fort Laramie, when his party +was attacked by a large band of Sioux, and compelled to +accept battle. The five Indians, with the whites, fought +bravely, killing fifteen of the Sioux, before a parley was +obtained by the intervention of a French trader who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +chanced to be among the Sioux. When Mr. Gray was +able to hold a 'talk' with the attacking party he was assured +that his life and that of his two white associates +would be spared, but that they wanted to kill the strange +Indians and take their fine horses. It is not at all probable +that Mr. Gray consented to this sacrifice; though he +has been accused of doing so.</p> + +<p>No doubt the Sioux took advantage of some hesitation +on his part, and rushed upon his Indian allies in an +unguarded moment. However that may be, his allies +were killed and he was allowed to escape, after giving up +the property belonging to them, and a portion of his own.</p> + +<p>This affair was the occasion of much ill-feeling toward +Mr. Gray, when, in the following year, he returned to the +mountains with the tale of massacre of his friends and his +own escape. The mountain-men, although they used their +influence to restrain the vengeful feelings of the Flathead +tribe, whispered amongst themselves that Gray had preferred +his own life to that of his friends. The old Flathead +chief too, who had lost a son by the massacre, was +hardly able to check his impulsive desire for revenge; for +he held Mr. Gray responsible for his son's life. Nothing more +serious, however, grew out of this unhappy tragedy than a +disaffection among the tribe toward Mr. Gray, which made +his labors useless, and finally determined him to remove to +the Wallamet Valley.</p> + +<p>There were no outsiders besides Gray's party at the rendezvous +of this year, except Captain Stuart, and he was +almost as good a mountaineer as any. This doughty +English traveler had the bad fortune together with that +experienced leader Fitzpatrick, of being robbed by the +Crows in the course of the fall hunt, in the Crow country. +These expert horse thieves had succeeded in stealing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +nearly all the horses belonging to the joint camp, and had +so disabled the company that it could not proceed. In +this emergency, Newell, who had long been a sub-trader +and was wise in Indian arts and wiles, was sent to hold a +talk with the thieves. The talk was held, according to +custom, in the Medicine lodge, and the usual amount +of smoking, of long silences, and grave looks, had to be +participated in, before the subject on hand could be considered. +Then the chiefs complained as usual of wrongs +at the hands of the white men; of their fear of small-pox, +from which some of their tribe had suffered; of friends +killed in battle with the whites, and all the list of ills that +Crow flesh is heir to at the will of their white enemies. +The women too had their complaints to proffer, and the +number of widows and orphans in the tribe was pathetically +set forth. The chiefs also made a strong point of +this latter complaint; and on it the wily Newell hung +his hopes of recovering the stolen property.</p> + +<p>"It is true," said he to the chiefs, "that you have sustained +heavy losses. But that is not the fault of the Blanket +chief (Bridger.) If your young men have been killed, +they were killed when attempting to rob or kill our Captain's +men. If you have lost horses, your young men have +stolen five to our one. If you are poor in skins and other +property, it is because you sold it all for drink which did +you no good. Neither is Bridger to blame that you have +had the small-pox. Your own chief, in trying to kill your +enemies the Blackfeet, brought that disease into the country.</p> + +<p>"But it is true that you have many widows and orphans +to support, and that is bad. I pity the orphans, and will +help you to support them, if you will restore to my captain +the property stolen from his camp. Otherwise +Bridger will bring more horses, and plenty of ammuni<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>tion, +and there will be more widows and orphans among +the Crows than ever before."</p> + +<p>This was a kind of logic easy to understand and quick +to convince among savages. The bribe, backed by a threat, +settled the question of the restoration of the horses, which +were returned without further delay, and a present of +blankets and trinkets was given, ostensibly to the bereaved +women, really to the covetous chiefs.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>1837. The decline of the business of hunting furs began +to be quite obvious about this time. Besides the +American and St. Louis Companies, and the Hudson's Bay +Company, there were numerous lone traders with whom +the ground was divided. The autumn of this year was +spent by the American Company, as formerly, in trapping +beaver on the streams issuing from the eastern side of the +Rocky Mountains. When the cold weather finally drove +the Fur Company to the plains, they went into winter +quarters once more in the neighborhood of the Crows on +Powder River. Here were re-enacted the wild scenes of +the previous winter, both trappers and Indians being +given up to excesses.</p> + +<p>On the return of spring, Bridger again led his brigade +all through the Yellowstone country, to the streams on +the north side of the Missouri, to the head-waters of that +river; and finally rendezvoused on the north fork of the +Yellowstone, near Yellowstone Lake. Though the amount +of furs taken on the spring hunt was considerable, it was +by no means equal to former years. The fact was becoming +apparent that the beaver was being rapidly exterminated.</p> + +<p>However there was beaver enough in camp to furnish +the means for the usual profligacy. Horse-racing, betting, +gambling, drinking, were freely indulged in. In the +midst of this "fun," there appeared at the rendezvous Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +Gray, now accompanied by Mrs. Gray and six other missionary +ladies and gentlemen. Here also were two gentlemen +from the Methodist mission on the Wallamet, who were +returning to the States. Captain Stuart was still traveling +with the Fur Company, and was also present with his +party; besides which a Hudson's Bay trader named Ematinger +was encamped near by. As if actuated to extraordinary +displays by the unusual number of visitors, especially +the four ladies, both trappers and Indians conducted +themselves like the mad-caps they were. The Shawnees +and Delawares danced their great war-dance before the +tents of the missionaries; and Joe Meek, not to be outdone, +arrayed himself in a suit of armor belonging to Captain +Stuart and strutted about the encampment; then +mounting his horse played the part of an ancient knight, +with a good deal of <i>eclat</i>.</p> + +<p>Meek had not abstained from the alcohol kettle, but had +offered it and partaken of it rather more freely than usual; +so that when rendezvous was broken up, the St. Louis +Company gone to the Popo Agie, and the American Company +going to Wind River, he found that his wife, a Nez +Perce who had succeeded Umentucken in his affections, +had taken offence, or a fit of homesickness, which was +synonymous, and departed with the party of Ematinger +and the missionaries, intending to visit her people at +Walla-Walla. This desertion wounded Meek's feelings; +for he prided himself on his courtesy to the sex, and did +not like to think that he had not behaved handsomely. +All the more was he vexed with himself because his spouse +had carried with her a pretty and sprightly baby-daughter, +of whom the father was fond and proud, and who had +been christened Helen Mar, after one of the heroines of +Miss Porter's <i>Scottish Chiefs</i>—a book much admired in +the mountains, as it has been elsewhere.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>Therefore at the first camp of the American Company, +Meek resolved to turn his back on the company, and go +after the mother and daughter. Obtaining a fresh kettle +of alcohol, to keep up his spirits, he left camp, returning +toward the scene of the late rendezvous. But in the effort +to keep up his spirits he had drank too much alcohol, and +the result was that on the next morning he found himself +alone on the Wind River Mountain, with his horses and +pack mules, and very sick indeed. Taking a little more +alcohol to brace up his nerves, he started on again, passing +around the mountain on to the Sweetwater; thence to +the Sandy, and thence across a country without water for +seventy-five miles, to Green River, where the camp of Ematinger +was overtaken.</p> + +<p>The heat was excessive; and the absence of water made +the journey across the arid plain between Sandy and +Green Rivers one of great suffering to the traveler and +his animals; and the more so as the frequent references to +the alcohol kettle only increased the thirst-fever instead +of allaying it. But Meek was not alone in suffering. +About half way across the scorching plain he discovered a +solitary woman's figure standing in the trail, and two +riding horses near her, whose drooping heads expressed +their dejection. On coming up with this strange group, +Meek found the woman to be one of the missionary ladies, +a Mrs. Smith, and that her husband was lying on the +ground, dying, as the poor sufferer believed himself, for +water.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith made a weeping appeal to Meek for water +for her dying husband; and truly the poor woman's situation +was a pitiable one. Behind camp, with no protection +from the perils of the desert and wilderness—only a +terrible care instead—the necessity of trying to save her +husband's life. As no water was to be had, alcohol was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +offered to the famishing man, who, however, could not be +aroused from his stupor of wretchedness. Seeing that +death really awaited the unlucky missionary unless something +could be done to cause him to exert himself, Meek +commenced at once, and with unction, to abuse the man +for his unmanliness. His style, though not very refined, +was certainly very vigorous.</p> + +<p>"You're a —— pretty fellow to be lying on the +ground here, lolling your tongue out of your mouth, and +trying to die. Die, if you want to, you're of no account +and will never be missed. Here's your wife, who you +are keeping standing here in the hot sun; why don't <i>she</i> +die? She's got more pluck than a white-livered chap like +you. But I'm not going to leave her waiting here for +you to die. Thar's a band of Indians behind on the trail, +and I've been riding like —— to keep out of their way. +If you want to stay here and be scalped, you can stay; +Mrs. Smith is going with me. Come, madam," continued +Meek, leading up her horse, "let me help you to mount, +for we must get out of this cursed country as fast as possible."</p> + +<p>Poor Mrs. Smith did not wish to leave her husband; nor +did she relish the notion of staying to be scalped. Despair +tugged at her heart-strings. She would have sunk to the +ground in a passion of tears, but Meek was too much in +earnest to permit precious time to be thus wasted. "Get +on your horse," said he rather roughly. "You can't save +your husband by staying here, crying. It is better that +one should die than two; and he seems to be a worthless +dog anyway. Let the Indians have him."</p> + +<p>Almost lifting her upon the horse, Meek tore the distracted +woman away from her husband, who had yet +strength enough to gasp out an entreaty not to be left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can follow us if you choose," said the apparently +merciless trapper, "or you can stay where you are. Mrs. +Smith can find plenty of better men than you. Come, +madam!" and he gave the horse a stroke with his riding-whip +which started him into a rapid pace.</p> + +<p>The unhappy wife, whose conscience reproached her +for leaving her husband to die alone, looked back, and +saw him raising his head to gaze after them. Her grief +broke out afresh, and she would have gone back even +then to remain with him: but Meek was firm, and again +started up her horse. Before they were quite out of sight, +Meek turned in his saddle, and beheld the dying man sitting +up. "Hurrah;" said he: "he's all right. He will +overtake us in a little while:" and as he predicted, in +little over an hour Smith came riding up, not more than +half dead by this time. The party got into camp on +Green River, about eleven o'clock that night, and Mrs. +Smith having told the story of her adventures with the +unknown trapper who had so nearly kidnaped her, the +laugh and the cheer went round among the company. +"That's Meek," said Ematinger, "you may rely on that. +He's just the one to kidnap a woman in that way." When +Mrs. Smith fully realized the service rendered, she was +abundantly grateful, and profuse were the thanks which +our trapper received, even from the much-abused husband, +who was now thoroughly alive again. Meek failed to +persuade his wife to return with him. She was homesick +for her people, and would go to them. But instead of +turning back, he kept on with Ematinger's camp as far as +Fort Hall, which post was then in charge of Courtenay +Walker.</p> + +<p>While the camp was at Soda Springs, Meek observed +the missionary ladies baking bread in a tin reflector before +a fire. Bread was a luxury unknown to the mountain-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>man,—and +as a sudden recollection of his boyhood, and +the days of bread-and-butter came over him, his mouth +began to water. Almost against his will he continued to +hang round the missionary camp, thinking about the bread. +At length one of the Nez Perces, named James, whom the +missionary had taught to sing, at their request struck up +a hymn, which he sang in a very creditable manner. As +a reward of his pious proficiency, one of the ladies gave +James a biscuit. A bright thought struck our longing +hero's brain. "Go back," said he to James, "and sing +another hymn; and when the ladies give you another biscuit, +bring it to me." And in this manner, he obtained a +taste of the coveted luxury, bread—of which, during nine +years in the mountains he had not eaten.</p> + +<p>At Fort Hall, Meek parted company with the missionaries, +and with his wife and child. As the little black-eyed +daughter took her departure in company with this new +element in savage life,—the missionary society,—her father +could have had no premonition of the fate to which +the admixture of the savage and the religious elements +was step by step consigning her.</p> + +<p>After remaining a few days at the fort, Meek, who found +some of his old comrades at this place, went trapping with +them up the Portneuf, and soon made up a pack of one +hundred and fifty beaver-skins. These, on returning to +the fort, he delivered to Jo Walker, one of the American +Company's traders at that time, and took Walker's receipt +for them. He then, with Mansfield and Wilkins, set out +about the first of September for the Flathead country, +where Wilkins had a wife. In their company was an old +Flathead woman, who wished to return to her people, and +took this opportunity.</p> + +<p>The weather was still extremely warm. It had been +a season of great drought, and the streams were nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +all entirely dried up. The first night out, the horses, +eight in number, strayed off in search of water, and were +lost. Now commenced a day of fearful sufferings. No +water had been found since leaving the fort. The loss of +the horses made it necessary for the company to separate +to look for them; Mansfield and Wilkins going in one direction, +Meek and the old Flathead woman in another. +The little coolness and moisture which night had imparted +to the atmosphere was quickly dissipated by the unchecked +rays of the pitiless sun shining on a dry and barren plain, +with not a vestige of verdure anywhere in sight. On +and on went the old Flathead woman, keeping always in +the advance, and on and on followed Meek, anxiously +scanning the horizon for a chance sight of the horses. +Higher and higher mounted the sun, the temperature increasing +in intensity until the great plain palpitated with +radiated heat, and the horizon flickered almost like a +flame where the burning heavens met the burning earth. +Meek had been drinking a good deal of rum at the fort, +which circumstance did not lessen the terrible consuming +thirst that was torturing him.</p> + +<p>Noon came, and passed, and still the heat and the suffering +increased, the fever and craving of hunger being now +added to that of thirst. On and on, through the whole +of that long scorching afternoon, trotted the old Flathead +woman in the peculiar traveling gait of the Indian and the +mountaineer, Meek following at a little distance, and going +mad, as he thought, for a little water. And mad he +probably was, as famine sometimes makes its victims. +When night at last closed in, he laid down to die, as the +missionary Smith had done before. But he did not remember +Smith: he only thought of water, and heard it +running, and fancied the old woman was lapping it like a +wolf. Then he rose to follow her and find it; it was al<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>ways +just ahead, and the woman was howling to him to +show him the trail.</p> + +<p>Thus the night passed, and in the cool of the early +morning he experienced a little relief. He was really +following his guide, who as on the day before was trotting +on ahead. Then the thought possessed him to overtake +and kill her, hoping from her shriveled body to obtain a +morsel of food, and drop of moisture. But his strength +was failing, and his guide so far ahead that he gave up +the thought as involving too great exertion, continuing +to follow her in a helpless and hopeless kind of way.</p> + +<p>At last! There was no mistake this time: he heard +running water, and the old woman <i>was</i> lapping it like a +wolf. With a shriek of joy he ran and fell on his face +in the water, which was not more than one foot in depth, +nor the stream more than fifteen feet wide. But it had a +white pebbly bottom; and the water was clear, if not very +cool. It was something to thank God for, which the none +too religious trapper acknowledged by a fervent "Thank +God!"</p> + +<p>For a long time he lay in the water, swallowing it, and +by thrusting his finger down his throat vomiting it up +again, to prevent surfeit, his whole body taking in the +welcome moisture at all its million pores. The fever +abated, a feeling of health returned, and the late perishing +man was restored to life and comparative happiness. +The stream proved to be Godin's Fork, and here Meek +and his faithful old guide rested until evening, in the +shade of some willows, where their good fortune was +completed by the appearance of Mansfield and Wilkins +with the horses. The following morning the men found +and killed a fat buffalo cow, whereby all their wants were +supplied, and good feeling restored in the little camp.</p> + +<p>From Godin's Fork they crossed over to Salmon River,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +and presently struck the Nez Perce trail which leads from +that river over into the Beaver-head country, on the +Beaver-head or Jefferson Fork of the Missouri, where +there was a Flathead and Nez Perce village, on or about +the present site of Virginia City, in Montana.</p> + +<p>Not stopping long here, Meek and his companions went +on to the Madison Fork with the Indian village, and to +the shores of Missouri Lake, joining in the fall hunt for +buffalo.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i273" name="i273"></a> +<img src="images/i273.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">HORSE-TAIL FALL.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>"Tell me all about a buffalo hunt," said the writer to +Joe Meek, as we sat at a window overlooking the Columbia +River, where it has a beautiful stretch of broad waters +and curving wooded shores, and talking about mountain +life, "tell me how you used to hunt buffalo."</p> + +<p>"Waal, there is a good deal of sport in runnin' buffalo. +When the camp discovered a band, then every man that +wanted to run, made haste to catch his buffalo horse. We +sometimes went out thirty or forty strong; sometimes two +or three, and at other times a large party started on the +hunt; the more the merrier. We alway had great bantering +about our horses, each man, according to his own +account, having the best one.</p> + +<p>"When we first start we ride slow, so as not to alarm +the buffalo. The nearer we come to the band the greater +our excitement. The horses seem to feel it too, and are +worrying to be off. When we come so near that the band +starts, then the word is given, our horses' mettle is up, +and away we go!</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i275" name="i275"></a> +<img src="images/i275.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>A BUFFALO HUNT.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>"Thar may be ten thousand in a band. Directly we +crowd them so close that nothing can be seen but dust, +nor anything heard but the roar of their trampling and +bellowing. The hunter now keeps close on their heels to +escape being blinded by the dust, which does not rise as +high as a man on horseback, for thirty yards behind the +animals. As soon as we are close enough the firing begins,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +and the band is on the run; and a herd of buffalo can run +about as fast as a good race-horse. How they <i>do</i> thunder +along! They give us a pretty sharp race. Take care! +Down goes a rider, and away goes his horse with the band. +Do you think we stopped to look after the fallen man? +Not we. We rather thought that war fun, and if he got +killed, why, 'he war unlucky, that war all. Plenty more +men: couldn't bother about him.'</p> + +<p>"Thar's a fat cow ahead. I force my way through the +band to come up with her. The buffalo crowd around so +that I have to put my foot on them, now on one side, now +the other, to keep them off my horse. It is lively work, +I can tell you. A man has to look sharp not to be run +down by the band pressing him on; buffalo and horse at +the top of their speed.</p> + +<p>"Look out; thar's a ravine ahead, as you can see by the +plunge which the band makes. Hold up! or somebody +goes to the d—l now. If the band is large it fills the +ravine full to the brim, and the hindmost of the herd pass +over on top of the foremost. It requires horsemanship +not to be carried over without our own consent; but +then we mountain-men are <i>all</i> good horsemen. Over the +ravine we go; but we do it our own way.</p> + +<p>"We keep up the chase for about four miles, selecting our +game as we run, and killing a number of fat cows to each +man; some more and some less. When our horses are +tired we slacken up, and turn back. We meet the camp-keepers +with pack-horses. They soon butcher, pack up +the meat, and we all return to camp, whar we laugh at +each other's mishaps, and eat fat meat: and this constitutes +the glory of mountain life."</p> + +<p>"But you were going to tell me about the buffalo hunt +at Missouri Lake?"</p> + +<p>"Thar isn't much to tell. It war pretty much like other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +buffalo hunts. Thar war a lot of us trappers happened to +be at a Nez Perce and Flathead village in the fall of '38, +when they war agoin' to kill winter meat; and as their +hunt lay in the direction we war going, we joined in. The +old Nez Perce chief, <i>Kow-e-so-te</i> had command of the village, +and we trappers had to obey him, too.</p> + +<p>"We started off slow; nobody war allowed to go ahead +of camp. In this manner we caused the buffalo to move +on before us, but not to be alarmed. We war eight or ten +days traveling from the Beaver-head to Missouri Lake, and +by the time we got thar, the whole plain around the lake +war crowded with buffalo, and it war a splendid sight!</p> + +<p>"In the morning the old chief harangued the men of his +village, and ordered us all to get ready for the surround. +About nine o'clock every man war mounted, and we began +to move.</p> + +<p>"That war a sight to make a man's blood warm! A +thousand men, all trained hunters, on horseback, carrying +their guns, and with their horses painted in the height of +Indians' fashion. We advanced until within about half a +mile of the herd; then the chief ordered us to deploy to +the right and left, until the wings of the column extended +a long way, and advance again.</p> + +<p>"By this time the buffalo war all moving, and we had +come to within a hundred yards of them. <i>Kow-e-so-te</i> then +gave us the word, and away we went, pell-mell. Heavens, +what a charge! What a rushing and roaring—men shooting, +buffalo bellowing and trampling until the earth shook +under them!</p> + +<p>"It war the work of half an hour to slay two thousand +or may be three thousand animals. When the work was +over, we took a view of the field. Here and there and +everywhere, laid the slain buffalo. Occasionally a horse +with a broken leg war seen; or a man with a broken arm; +or maybe he had fared worse, and had a broken head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now came out the women of the village to help us +butcher and pack up the meat. It war a big job; but we +war not long about it. By night the camp war full of +meat, and everybody merry. Bridger's camp, which war +passing that way, traded with the village for fifteen hundred +buffalo tongues—the tongue being reckoned a choice +part of the animal. And that's the way we helped the +Nez Perces hunt buffalo."</p> + +<p>"But when you were hunting for your own subsistence +in camp, you sometimes went out in small parties?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, it war the same thing on a smaller scale. One +time Kit Carson and myself, and a little Frenchman, named +Marteau, went to run buffalo on Powder River. When +we came in sight of the band it war agreed that Kit and +the Frenchman should do the running, and I should stay +with the pack animals. The weather war very cold and I +didn't like my part of the duty much.</p> + +<p>"The Frenchman's horse couldn't run; so I lent him +mine. Kit rode his own; not a good buffalo horse either. +In running, my horse fell with the Frenchman, and nearly +killed him. Kit, who couldn't make his horse catch, +jumped off, and caught mine, and tried it again. This +time he came up with the band, and killed four fat cows.</p> + +<p>"When I came up with the pack-animals, I asked Kit +how he came by my horse. He explained, and wanted to +know if I had seen anything of Marteau: said my horse +had fallen with him, and he thought killed him. 'You +go over the other side of yon hill, and see,' said Kit.</p> + +<p>"What'll I do with him if he is dead?" said I.</p> + +<p>"Can't you pack him to camp?"</p> + +<p>"Pack ——" said I; "I should rather pack a load of +meat."</p> + +<p>"Waal," said Kit, "I'll butcher, if you'll go over and +see, anyhow."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So I went over, and found the dead man leaning his +head on his hand, and groaning; for he war pretty bad +hurt. I got him on his horse, though, after a while, and +took him back to whar Kit war at work. We soon finished +the butchering job, and started back to camp with our +wounded Frenchman, and three loads of fat meat."</p> + +<p>"You were not very compassionate toward each other, +in the mountains?"</p> + +<p>"That war not our business. We had no time for such +things. Besides, live men war what we wanted; dead +ones war of no account."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>1838. From Missouri Lake, Meek started alone for the +Gallatin Fork of the Missouri, trapping in a mountain +basin called Gardiner's Hole. Beaver were plenty here, +but it was getting late in the season, and the weather was +cold in the mountains. On his return, in another basin +called the Burnt Hole, he found a buffalo skull; and +knowing that Bridger's camp would soon pass that way, +wrote on it the number of beaver he had taken, and also +his intention to go to Fort Hall to sell them.</p> + +<p>In a few days the camp passing found the skull, which +grinned its threat at the angry Booshways, as the chuckling +trapper had calculated that it would. To prevent its +execution runners were sent after him, who, however, +failed to find him, and nothing was known of the supposed +renegade for some time. But as Bridger passed through +Pierre's Hole, on his way to Green river to winter, he was +surprised at Meek's appearance in camp. He was soon +invited to the lodge of the Booshways, and called to account +for his supposed apostacy.</p> + +<p>Meek, for a time, would neither deny nor confess, but +put on his free trapper airs, and laughed in the face of +the Booshways. Bridger, who half suspected some trick, +took the matter lightly, but Dripps was very much annoyed, +and made some threats, at which Meek only +laughed the more. Finally the certificate from their own +trader, Jo Walker, was produced, the new pack of furs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +surrendered, and Dripps' wrath turned into smiles of approval.</p> + +<p>Here again Meek parted company with the main camp, +and went on an expedition with seven other trappers, under +John Larison, to the Salmon River: but found the +cold very severe on this journey, and the grass scarce and +poor, so that the company lost most of their horses.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the Nez Perce village in the Forks of +the Salmon, Meek found the old chief <i>Kow-e-so-te</i> full of +the story of the missionaries and their religion, and anxious +to hear preaching. Reports were continually arriving +by the Indians, of the wonderful things which were +being taught by Mr. and Mrs. Spalding at Lapwai, on the +Clearwater, and at Waiilatpu, on the Walla-Walla River. +It was now nearly two years since these missions had been +founded, and the number of converts among the Nez +Perces and Flatheads was already considerable.</p> + +<p>Here was an opening for a theological student, such as +Joe Meek was! After some little assumption of modesty, +Meek intimated that he thought himself capable of giving +instruction on religious subjects; and being pressed +by the chief, finally consented to preach to <i>Kow-e-so-te's</i> +people. Taking care first to hold a private council with +his associates, and binding them not to betray him, Meek +preached his first sermon that evening, going regularly +through with the ordinary services of a "meeting."</p> + +<p>These services were repeated whenever the Indians +seemed to desire it, until Christmas. Then, the village +being about to start upon a hunt, the preacher took occasion +to intimate to the chief that a wife would be an +agreeable present. To this, however, <i>Kow-e-so-te</i> demurred, +saying that Spalding's religion did not permit +men to have two wives: that the Nez Perces had many +of them given up their wives on this account; and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +therefore, since Meek already had one wife among the Nez +Perces, he could not have another without being false to +the religion he professed.</p> + +<p>To this perfectly clear argument Meek replied, that +among white men, if a man's wife left him without his +consent, as his had done, he could procure a divorce, and +take another wife. Besides, he could tell him how the +Bible related many stories of its best men having several +wives. But <i>Kow-e-so-te</i> was not easily convinced. He +could not see how, if the Bible approved of polygamy, +Spalding should insist on the Indians putting away all +but one of their wives. "However," says Meek, "after +about two weeks' explanation of the doings of Solomon +and David, I succeeded in getting the chief to give me a +young girl, whom I called Virginia;—my present wife, +and the mother of seven children."</p> + +<p>After accompanying the Indians on their hunt to the +Beaver-head country, where they found plenty of buffalo, +Meek remained with the Nez Perce village until about the +first of March, when he again intimated to the chief that +it was the custom of white men to pay their preachers. +Accordingly the people were notified, and the winter's +salary began to arrive. It amounted altogether to thirteen +horses, and many packs of beaver, beside sheep-skins +and buffalo-robes; so that he "considered that with his +young wife, he had made a pretty good winter's work +of it."</p> + +<p>In March he set out trapping again, in company with +one of his comrades named Allen, a man to whom he was +much attached. They traveled along up and down the +Salmon, to Godin's River, Henry's Fork of the Snake, to +Pierre's Fork, and Lewis' Fork, and the Muddy, and +finally set their traps on a little stream that runs out of +the pass which leads to Pierre's Hole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>Leaving their camp one morning to take up their traps, +they were discovered and attacked by a party of Blackfeet +just as they came near the trapping ground. The only +refuge at hand was a thicket of willows on the opposite +side of the creek, and towards this the trappers directed +their flight. Meek, who was in advance, succeeded in +gaining the thicket without being seen; but Allen stumbled +and fell in crossing the stream, and wet his gun. He +quickly recovered his footing and crossed over; but the +Blackfeet had seen him enter the thicket, and came up to +within a short distance, yet not approaching too near the +place where they knew he was concealed. Unfortunately, +Allen, in his anxiety to be ready for defense, commenced +snapping caps on his gun to dry it. The quick ears of the +savages caught the sound, and understood the meaning +of it. Knowing him to be defenceless, they plunged into +the thicket after him, shooting him almost immediately, +and dragging him out still breathing to a small prairie +about two rods away.</p> + +<p>And now commenced a scene which Meek was compelled +to witness, and which he declares nearly made him +insane through sympathy, fear, horror, and suspense as to +his own fate. Those devils incarnate deliberately cut up +their still palpitating victim into a hundred pieces, each +taking a piece; accompanying the horrible and inhuman +butchery with every conceivable gesture of contempt for +the victim, and of hellish delight in their own acts.</p> + +<p>Meek, who was only concealed by the small patch of +willows, and a pit in the sand hastily scooped out with +his knife until it was deep enough to lie in, was in a state +of the most fearful excitement. All day long he had to +endure the horrors of his position. Every moment seemed +an hour, every hour a day, until when night came, and the +Indians left the place, he was in a high state of fever.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>About nine o'clock that night he ventured to creep to +the edge of the little prairie, where he lay and listened a +long time, without hearing anything but the squirrels +running over the dry leaves; but which he constantly +feared was the stealthy approach of the enemy. At last, +however, he summoned courage to crawl out on to the open +ground, and gradually to work his way to a wooded bluff +not far distant. The next day he found two of his horses, +and with these set out alone for Green River, where the +American Company was to rendezvous. After twenty-six +days of solitary and cautious travel he reached the appointed +place in safety, having suffered fearfully from the +recollection of the tragic scene he had witnessed in the +death of his friend, and also from solitude and want of +food.</p> + +<p>The rendezvous of this year was at Bonneville's old +fort on Green River, and was the last one held in the +mountains by the American Fur Company. Beaver was +growing scarce, and competition was strong. On the disbanding +of the company, some went to Santa Fe, some to +California, others to the Lower Columbia, and a few remained +in the mountains trapping, and selling their furs +to the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Hall. As to the +leaders, some of them continued for a few years longer to +trade with the Indians, and others returned to the States, +to lose their fortunes more easily far than they made them.</p> + +<p>Of the men who remained in the mountains trapping, +that year, Meek was one. Leaving his wife at Fort Hall, +he set out in company with a Shawnee, named Big Jim, +to take beaver on Salt River, a tributary of the Snake. +The two trappers had each his riding and his pack horse, +and at night generally picketed them all; but one night +Big Jim allowed one of his to remain loose to graze. +This horse, after eating for some hours, came back and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +laid down behind the other horses, and every now and +then raised up his head; which slight movement at length +aroused Big Jim's attention, and his suspicions also.</p> + +<p>"My friend," said he in a whisper to Meek, "Indian +steal our horses."</p> + +<p>"Jump up and shoot," was the brief answer.</p> + +<p>Jim shot, and ran out to see the result. Directly he +came back saying: "My friend, I shoot my horse; break +him neck;" and Big Jim became disconsolate over what +his white comrade considered a very good joke.</p> + +<p>The hunt was short and not very remunerative in furs. +Meek soon returned to Fort Hall; and when he did so, +found his new wife had left that post in company with a +party under Newell, to go to Fort Crockett, on Green +River,—Newell's wife being a sister of Virginia's,—on +learning which he started on again alone, to join that party. +On Bear River, he fell in with a portion of that Quixotic +band, under Farnham, which was looking for paradise and +perfection, something on the Fourier plan, somewhere in +this western wilderness. They had already made the discovery +in crossing the continent, that perfect disinterestedness +was lacking among themselves; and that the +nearer they got to their western paradise the farther off it +seemed in their own minds.</p> + +<p>Continuing his journey alone, soon after parting from +Farnham, he lost the hammer of his gun, which accident +deprived him of the means of subsisting himself, and he +had no dried meat, nor provisions of any kind. The +weather, too, was very cold, increasing the necessity for +food to support animal heat. However, the deprivation +of food was one of the accidents to which mountain-men +were constantly liable, and one from which he had often +suffered severely; therefore he pushed on, without feeling +any unusual alarm, and had arrived within fifteen miles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +of the fort before he yielded to the feeling of exhaustion, +and laid down beside the trail to rest. Whether he would +ever have finished the journey alone he could not tell; but +fortunately for him, he was discovered by Jo Walker, and +Gordon, another acquaintance, who chanced to pass that +way toward the fort.</p> + +<p>Meek answered their hail, and inquired if they had anything +to eat. Walker replied in the affirmative, and getting +down from his horse, produced some dried buffalo +meat which he gave to the famishing trapper. But seeing +the ravenous manner in which he began to eat, Walker +inquired how long it had been since he had eaten anything.</p> + +<p>"Five days since I had a bite."</p> + +<p>"Then, my man, you can't have any more just now," said +Walker, seizing the meat in alarm lest Meek should kill +himself.</p> + +<p>"It was hard to see that meat packed away again," says +Meek in relating his sufferings, "I told Walker that if my +gun had a hammer I'd shoot and eat him. But he talked +very kindly, and helped me on my horse, and we all went +on to the Fort."</p> + +<p>At Fort Crockett were Newell and his party, the remainder +of Farnham's party, a trading party under St. Clair, who +owned the fort, Kit Carson, and a number of Meek's former +associates, including Craig and Wilkins. Most of these +men, Othello-like, had lost their occupation since the disbanding +of the American Fur Company, and were much at +a loss concerning the future. It was agreed between Newell +and Meek to take what beaver they had to Fort Hall, to +trade for goods, and return to Fort Crockett, where they +would commence business on their own account with the +Indians.</p> + +<p>Accordingly they set out, with one other man belonging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +to Farnham's former adherents. They traveled to Henry's +Fork, to Black Fork, where Fort Bridger now is, to Bear +River, to Soda Springs, and finally to Fort Hall, suffering +much from cold, and finding very little to eat by the way. +At Fort Hall, which was still in charge of Courtenay +Walker, Meek and Newell remained a week, when, having +purchased their goods and horses to pack them, they once +more set out on the long, cold journey to Fort Crockett. +They had fifteen horses to take care of and only one assistant, +a Snake Indian called Al. The return proved an +arduous and difficult undertaking. The cold was very severe; +they had not been able to lay in a sufficient stock of +provisions at Fort Hall, and game there was none, on the +route. By the time they arrived at Ham's Fork the only +atom of food they had left was a small piece of bacon which +they had been carefully saving to eat with any poor meat +they might chance to find.</p> + +<p>The next morning after camping on Ham's Fork was +stormy and cold, the snow filling the air; yet Snake Al, +with a promptitude by no means characteristic of him, rose +early and went out to look after the horses.</p> + +<p>"By that same token," said Meek to Newell, "Al has +eaten the bacon." And so it proved, on investigation. +Al's uneasy conscience having acted as a goad to stir him +up to begin his duties in season. On finding his conjecture +confirmed, Meek declared his intention, should no +game be found before next day night, of killing and eating +Al, to get back the stolen bacon. But Providence +interfered to save Al's bacon. On the following afternoon +the little party fell in with another still smaller but better +supplied party of travelers, comprising a Frenchman and +his wife. These had plenty of fat antelope meat, which +they freely parted with to the needy ones, whom also they +accompanied to Fort Crockett.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was now Christmas; and the festivities which took +place at the Fort were attended with a good deal of rum +drinking, in which Meek, according to his custom, joined, +and as a considerable portion of their stock in trade +consisted of this article, it may fairly be presumed that +the home consumption of these two "lone traders" +amounted to the larger half of what they had with so +much trouble transported from Fort Hall. In fact, "times +were bad enough" among the men so suddenly thrown +upon their own resources among the mountains, at a time +when that little creature, which had made mountain life +tolerable, or possible, was fast being exterminated.</p> + +<p>To make matters more serious, some of the worst of the +now unemployed trappers had taken to a life of thieving +and mischief which made enemies of the friendly Indians, +and was likely to prevent the better disposed from enjoying +security among any of the tribes. A party of these +renegades, under a man named Thompson, went over to +Snake River to steal horses from the Nez Perces. Not +succeeding in this, they robbed the Snake Indians of about +forty animals, and ran them off to the Uintee, the Indians +following and complaining to the whites at Fort Crockett +that their people had been robbed by white trappers, and +demanding restitution.</p> + +<p>According to Indian law, when one of a tribe offends, +the whole tribe is responsible. Therefore if whites stole +their horses they might take vengeance on any whites they +met, unless the property was restored. In compliance +with this well understood requisition of Indian law, a party +was made up at Fort Crockett to go and retake the horses, +and restore them to their rightful owners. This party +consisted of Meek, Craig, Newell, Carson, and twenty-five +others, under the command of Jo Walker.</p> + +<p>The horses were found on an island in Green River, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +robbers having domiciled themselves in an old fort at the +mouth of the Uintee. In order to avoid having a fight +with the renegades, whose white blood the trappers were +not anxious to spill, Walker made an effort to get the horses +off the island undiscovered. But while horses and men +were crossing the river on the ice, the ice sinking with +them until the water was knee-deep, the robbers discovered +the escape of their booty, and charging on the trappers +tried to recover the horses. In this effort they were not +successful; while Walker made a masterly flank movement +and getting in Thompson's rear, ran the horses into the +fort, where he stationed his men, and succeeded in keeping +the robbers on the outside. Thompson then commenced +giving the horses away to a village of Utes in the +neighborhood of the fort, on condition that they should +assist in retaking them. On his side, Walker threatened +the Utes with dire vengeance if they dared interfere. The +Utes who had a wholesome fear not only of the trappers, +but of their foes the Snakes, declined to enter into the +quarrel. After a day of strategy, and of threats alternated +with arguments, strengthened by a warlike display, +the trappers marched out of the fort before the faces of +the discomfitted thieves, taking their booty with them, +which was duly restored to the Snakes on their return to +Fort Crockett, and peace secured once more with that +people.</p> + +<p>Still times continued bad. The men not knowing what +else to do, went out in small parties in all directions seeking +adventures, which generally were not far to find. On +one of these excursions Meek went with a party down the +canyon of Green River, on the ice. For nearly a hundred +miles they traveled down this awful canyon without finding +but one place where they could have come out; and +left it at last at the mouth of the Uintee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> + +<p>This passed the time until March. Then the company +of Newell and Meek was joined by Antoine Rubideau, +who had brought goods from Santa Fe to trade with the +Indians. Setting out in company, they traded along up +Green River to the mouth of Ham's fork, and camped. +The snow was still deep in the mountains, and the trappers +found great sport in running antelope. On one occasion +a large herd, numbering several hundreds, were run on to +the ice, on Green River, where they were crowded into +an air hole, and large numbers slaughtered only for the +cruel sport which they afforded.</p> + +<p>But killing antelope needlessly was not by any means +the worst of amusements practiced in Rubideau's camp. +That foolish trader occupied himself so often and so long +in playing <i>Hand</i>, (an Indian game,) that before he parted +with his new associates he had gambled away his goods, +his horses, and even his wife; so that he returned to Santa +Fe much poorer than nothing—since he was in debt.</p> + +<p>On the departure of Rubideau, Meek went to Fort Hall, +and remained in that neighborhood, trapping and trading +for the Hudson's Bay Company, until about the last of +June, when he started for the old rendezvous places of the +American Companies, hoping to find some divisions of them +at least, on the familiar camping ground. But his journey +was in vain. Neither on Green River or Wind River, +where for ten years he had been accustomed to meet the +leaders and their men, his old comrades in danger, did he +find a wandering brigade even. The glory of the American +companies was departed, and he found himself solitary +among his long familiar haunts.</p> + +<p>With many melancholy reflections, the man of twenty-eight +years of age recalled how, a mere boy, he had fallen +half unawares into the kind of life he had ever since<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +led amongst the mountains, with only other men equally +the victims of circumstance, and the degraded savages, for +his companions. The best that could be made of it, +such life had been and must be constantly deteriorating +to the minds and souls of himself and his associates. +Away from all laws, and refined habits of living; away +from the society of religious, modest, and accomplished +women; always surrounded by savage scenes, and forced +to cultivate a taste for barbarous things—what had this +life made of him? what was he to do with himself in the +future?</p> + +<p>Sick of trapping and hunting, with brief intervals of +carousing, he felt himself to be. And then, even if he +were not, the trade was no longer profitable enough to +support him. What could he do? where could he go? +He remembered his talk with Mrs. Whitman, that fair, +tall, courteous, and dignified lady who had stirred in him +longings to return to the civilized life of his native state. +But he felt unfit for the society of such as she. Would +he ever, could he ever attain to it now? He had promised +her he might go over into Oregon and settle down. +But could he settle down? Should he not starve at trying +to do what other men, mechanics and farmers, do? +And as to learning, he had none of it; there was no hope +then of "living by his wits," as some men did—missionaries +and artists and school teachers, some of whom he had +met at the rendezvous. Heigho! to be checkmated in +life at twenty-eight, that would never do.</p> + +<p>At Fort Hall, on his return, he met two more missionaries +and their wives going to Oregon, but these four did +not affect him pleasantly; he had no mind to go with +them. Instead, he set out on what proved to be his last +trapping expedition, with a Frenchman, named Mattileau.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +They visited the old trapping grounds on Pierre's Fork, +Lewis' Lake, Jackson's River, Jackson's Hole, Lewis +River and Salt River: but beaver were scarce; and it +was with a feeling of relief that, on returning by way +of Bear River, Meek heard from a Frenchman whom +he met there, that he was wanted at Fort Hall, by his +friend Newell, who had something to propose to him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i293" name="i293"></a> +<img src="images/i293.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">CASTLE ROCK.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>1840. When Meek arrived at Fort Hall, where Newell +was awaiting him, he found that the latter had there the +two wagons which Dr. Whitman had left at the points on +the journey where further transportation by their means +had been pronounced impossible. The Doctor's idea of +finding a passable wagon-road over the lava plains and +the heavily timbered mountains lying between Fort Hall +and the Columbia River, seemed to Newell not so wild a +one as it was generally pronounced to be in the mountains. +At all events, he was prepared to undertake the +journey. The wagons were put in traveling order, and +horses and mules purchased for the expedition.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Newell to Meek, "we are done with this +life in the mountains—done with wading in beaver-dams, +and freezing or starving alternately—done with Indian +trading and Indian fighting. The fur trade is dead in the +Rocky Mountains, and it is no place for us now, if ever it +was. We are young yet, and have life before us. We +cannot waste it here; we cannot or will not return to the +States. Let us go down to the Wallamet and take farms. +There is already quite a settlement there made by the +Methodist Mission and the Hudson's Bay Company's retired +servants.</p> + +<p>"I have had some talk with the Americans who have +gone down there, and the talk is that the country is going +to be settled up by our people, and that the Hudson's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +Bay Company are not going to rule this country much +longer. What do you say, Meek? Shall we turn American +settlers?"</p> + +<p>"I'll go where you do, Newell. What suits you suits +me."</p> + +<p>"I thought you'd say so, and that's why I sent for you, +Meek. In my way of thinking, a white man is a little +better than a Canadian Frenchman. I'll be —— if I'll +hang 'round a post of the Hudson's Bay Company. So +you'll go?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon I will! What have you got for me to do? +<i>I</i> haven't got anything to begin with but a wife and +baby!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you can drive one of the wagons, and take your +family and traps along. Nicholas will drive the other, +and I'll play leader, and look after the train. Craig will +go also, so we shall be quite a party, with what strays +we shall be sure to pick up."</p> + +<p>Thus it was settled. Thus Oregon began to receive +her first real emigrants, who were neither fur-traders nor +missionaries, but true frontiersmen—border-men. The +training which the mountain-men had received in the +service of the fur companies admirably fitted them to be, +what afterwards they became, a valuable and indispensable +element in the society of that country in whose peculiar +history they played an important part. But we +must not anticipate their acts before we have witnessed +their gradual transformation from lawless rangers of the +wilderness, to law-abiding and even law-making and law-executing +citizens of an isolated territory.</p> + +<p>In order to understand the condition of things in the +Wallamet Valley, or Lower Columbia country, it will be +necessary to revert to the earliest history of that territory, +as sketched in the first chapter of this book. A history<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +of the fur companies is a history of Oregon up to the +year 1834, so far as the occupation of the country was +concerned. But its political history was begun long before—from +the time (May 11th, 1792) when the captain +of a New England coasting and fur-trading vessel entered +the great "River of the West," which nations had been +looking for a hundred years. At the very time when +the inquisitive Yankee was heading his little vessel through +the white line of breakers at the mouth of the long-sought +river, a British exploring expedition was scanning the +shore between it and the Straits of Fuca, having wisely +declared its scientific opinion that there was no such river +on that coast. Vancouver, the chief of that expedition, +so assured the Yankee trader, whose views did not agree +with his own: and, Yankee-like, the trader turned back +to satisfy himself.</p> + +<p>A bold and lucky man was Captain Gray of the ship +<i>Columbia</i>. No explorer he—only an adventurous and, +withal, a prudent trader, with an eye to the main chance; +emulous, too, perhaps, of a little glory! It is impossible +to conceive how he could have done this thing calmly. +We think his stout heart must have shivered somewhat, +both with anticipation and dread, as he ran for the "opening," +and plunged into the frightful tumult—straight +through the proper channel, thank God! and sailed out +on to the bosom of that beautiful bay, twenty-five miles +by six, which the great river forms at its mouth.</p> + +<p>We trust the morning was fine: for then Captain Gray +must have beheld a sight which a discoverer should remember +for a lifetime. This magnificent bay, surrounded +by lofty hills, clad thick with noble forests of fir, and +fretted along its margin with spurs of the highlands, forming +other smaller bays and coves, into which ran streams +whose valleys were hidden among the hills. From beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +the farthest point, whose dark ridge jutted across this inland +sea, flowed down the deep, broad river, whose course +and origin was still a magnificent mystery, but which indicated +by its volume that it drained a mighty region of +probable great fertility and natural wealth. Perhaps Captain +Gray did not fully realize the importance of his discovery. +If the day was fine, with a blue sky, and the +purple shadows lying in among the hills, with smooth +water before him and the foamy breakers behind—<i>if</i> he +felt what his discovery was, in point of importance, to +the world, he was a proud and happy man, and enjoyed +the reward of his daring.</p> + +<p>The only testimony on that head is the simple entry on +his log-book, telling us that he had named the river "<i>Columbia's +River</i>,"—with an apostrophe, that tiny point +intimating much. This was one ground of the American +claim, though Vancouver, after Gray had reported his +success to him, sent a lieutenant to explore the river, and +then claimed the discovery for England! The next claim +of the United States upon the Oregon territory was by +virtue of the Florida treaty and the Louisiana purchase. +These, and the general one of natural boundaries, England +contested also. Hence the treaty of joint occupancy +for a term of ten years, renewable, unless one of the parties +to it gave a twelve-month's notice of intention to withdraw. +Meantime this question of territorial claims hung +over the national head like the sword suspended by a +hair, which statesmen delight in referring to. We did +not dare to say Oregon was ours, because we were afraid +England would make war on us; and England did not +dare say Oregon was hers, for the same reason. Therefore +"joint-occupancy" was the polite word with which +statesmen glossed over the fact that Great Britain actually +possessed the country through the monopoly of the Hud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>son's +Bay Company. That company had a good thing so +long as the government of Great Britain prevented any +outbreak, by simply renewing the treaty every ten years. +Their manner of doing business was such as to prevent +any less powerful corporation from interfering with them, +while individual enterprise was sure to be crushed at the +start.</p> + +<p>But "man proposes and God disposes." In 1834, the +Methodist Episcopal Board of Missions sent out four missionaries +to labor among the Indians. These were two +preachers, the Rev. Messrs. Jason and Daniel Lee, and +two lay members, Cyrus Shepard and P.L. Edwards. +These gentlemen were liberally furnished with all the +necessaries and comforts of life by the Board, in addition +to which they received the kindest attentions and consideration +from the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company at +Vancouver. Their vessel, the <i>May Dacre</i>, Captain Lambert, +had arrived safely in the river with the mission +goods. The gentlemen at Vancouver encouraged their +enterprise, and advised them to settle in the Wallamet +valley, the most fertile tract of country west of the Rocky +Mountains. Being missionaries, nothing was to be feared +from them in the way of trade. The Wallamet valley +was a good country for the mission—at the same time it +was south of the Columbia River. This latter consideration +was not an unimportant one with the Hudson's Bay +Company, it being understood among those in the confidence +of the British government, that in case the Oregon +territory had to be divided with the United States, the +Columbia River would probably be made the northern +boundary of the American possessions.</p> + +<p>There was nothing in the character of the Christian +Missionary's labor which the Hudson's Bay Company could +possibly object to without a palpable violation of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +Convention of 1818. Therefore, although the Methodist +mission in the Wallamet Valley received a large accession +to its numbers in 1837, they were as kindly welcomed +as had been those of 1834; and also those Presbyterian +missionaries of 1836, who had settled in the +"upper country."</p> + +<p>Three points, however, the Hudson's Bay Company +insisted upon, so far as, under the treaty, they could; +the Americans must not trade with the Indians, but confine +themselves to agricultural pursuits and missionary +labor, and keep on the south side of the Columbia.</p> + +<p>Not an immigrant entered Oregon in that day who +did not proceed at once to Vancouver: nor was there +one who did not meet with the most liberal and +hospitable treatment. Neither was this hospitality a trifling +benefit; to the weary traveler just arrived from a +long and most fatiguing journey, it was extremely welcome +and refreshing. At Vancouver was the only society, +and the only luxurious living to be enjoyed on the whole +Northwest coast.</p> + +<p>At the head of the first was Dr. John McLaughlin, already +mentioned as the Chief Factor, and Deputy Governor +of the Hudson's Bay Company in Oregon, and all the +Northwest. He was of Scotch origin, and Canadian birth, +a gentleman bred, with a character of the highest integrity, +to which were united justice and humanity. His position +as head of the Hudson's Bay Company's affairs, was +no enviable one during that period of Oregon history +which followed the advent of Americans in the Wallamet +Valley. Himself a British subject, and a representative +of that powerful corporation which bent the British Government +to its will, he was bound to execute its commands +when they did not conflict too strongly with his consciousness +of right and justice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>As has been stated, the Methodist mission settlement was +reinforced in 1837, by the arrival of about twenty persons, +among whom were several ladies, and a few children. +These, like those preceding them, were first entertained at +Fort Vancouver before proceeding to the mission, which +was between fifty and sixty miles up the Wallamet, in the +heart of that delightful valley. These persons came by a +sailing vessel around Cape Horn, bringing with them supplies +for the mission.</p> + +<p>In the two following years there were about a dozen +missionary arrivals overland, all of whom tarried a short +time at the American Company's rendezvous, as before related. +These were some of them designed for the upper +country, but most of them soon settled in the Wallamet +valley.</p> + +<p>During these years, between 1834 and 1840, there had +drifted into the valley various persons from California, the +Rocky Mountains, and from the vessels which sometimes +appeared in the Columbia; until at the time when Newell +and Meek resolved to quit the mountains, the American +settlers numbered nearly one hundred, men, women, and +children. Of these, about thirty belonged to the missions; +the remainder were mountain-men, sailors, and adventurers. +The mountain-men, most of them, had native wives. +Besides the Americans there were sixty Canadian Frenchmen, +who had been retired upon farms by the Hudson's +Bay Company; and who would probably have occupied +these farms so long as the H.B. Company should have +continued to do business in Oregon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>When it was settled that Newell and Meek were to go +to the Wallamet, they lost no time in dallying, but packed +the wagons with whatever they possessed in the way of +worldly goods, topped them with their Nez Perce wives +and half-breed children, and started for Walla-Walla, accompanied +by Craig, another mountain-man, and either +followed or accompanied by several others. Meek drove +a five-in-hand team of four horses and one mule. Nicholas +drove the other team of four horses, and Newell, who +owned the train, was mounted as leader.</p> + +<p>The journey was no easy one, extending as it did over +immense plains of lava, round impassable canyons, over +rapid unbridged rivers, and over mountains hitherto believed +to be only passable for pack trains. The honor +which has heretofore been accorded to the Presbyterian +missionaries solely, of opening a wagon road from the +Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River, should in justice +be divided with these two mountaineers, who accomplished +the most difficult part of this difficult journey.</p> + +<p>Arrived at Fort Boise, a post of the Hudson's Bay Company, +the little caravan stopped for a few days to rest and +recruit their animals. With the usual courtesy of that +Company, Mr. Payette, the trader in charge, offered Newell +quarters in the fort, as leader of his party. To Meek +and Craig who were encamped outside, he sent a piece of +sturgeon with his compliments, which our incipient Ore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>gonians +sent back again with <i>their</i> compliments. No +Hudson's Bay distinctions of rank for them! No, indeed! +The moment that an American commenced to think of +himself as a settler on the most remote corner of American +soil, that moment, as if by instinct, he began to defend +and support his republicanism.</p> + +<p>After a few days' rest, the party went on, encountering, +as might be expected, much difficulty and toil, but arriving +safely after a reasonable time at the Columbia River, at +the junction of the Umatilla. Here the wagons and stock +were crossed over, and the party proceeded directly to +Dr. Whitman's mission at Waiilatpu. Dr. Whitman gave +them a friendly reception; killing for them, if not the fatted +calf, the fattest hog he had; telling Meek at the same +time that "fat pork was good for preachers," referring to +Meek's missionary labors among the Nez Perces.</p> + +<p>During the three years since the commencement of the +mission at Waiilatpu considerable advancement had been +made in the progress of civilization among the Cayuses. +Quite a number of Indian children were domesticated with +Mrs. Whitman, who were rapidly acquiring a knowledge +of housekeeping, sewing, reading, and writing, and farm +labor. With Mrs. Whitman, for whom Meek still entertained +great admiration and respect, he resolved to leave +his little girl, Helen Mar; the fruit of his connexion with +the Nez Perce woman who persisted in abandoning him in +the mountains, as already related. Having thus made +provision for the proper instruction of his daughter, and +conferred with the Doctor on the condition of the American +settlers in Oregon—the Doctor being an ardent +American—Meek and his associates started once more for +the Wallamet.</p> + +<p>At Walla-Walla Newell decided to leave the wagons, +the weather having become so rainy and disagreeable as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +to make it doubtful about getting them over the Cascade +Mountains that fall. Accordingly the goods were transferred +to pack-horses for the remainder of the journey. +In the following year, however, one of the wagons was +brought down by Newell, and taken to the plains on the +Tualatin River, being the first vehicle of the kind in the +Wallamet Valley.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the Dalles of the Columbia, our mountain +men found that a mission had been established at that +place for the conversion of those inconscionable thieves, +the Wish-ram Indians, renowned in Indian history for their +acquisitiveness. This mission was under the charge of +Daniel Lee and a Mr. Perkins, and was an offshoot of the +Methodist Mission in the Wallamet Valley. These gentlemen +having found the benighted condition of the Indians +to exceed their powers of enlightment in any ordinary +way, were having recourse to extraordinary efforts, and +were carrying on what is commonly termed a <i>revival</i>; +though what piety there was in the hearts of these savages +to be revived, it would be difficult to determine. However, +they doubtless hoped so to wrestle with God themselves, +as to compel a blessing upon their labors.</p> + +<p>The Indians indeed were not averse to prayer. They +could pray willingly and sincerely enough when they could +hope for a speedy and actual material answer to their +prayers. And it was for that, and that only, that they +importuned the Christian's God. Finding that their +prayers were not answered according to their desire, it at +length became difficult to persuade them to pray at all. +Sometimes, it is true, they succeeded in deluding the missionaries +with the belief that they were really converted, +for a time. One of these most hopeful converts at the +Dalles mission, being in want of a shirt and capote, volunteered +to "pray for a whole year," if Mr. Lee would furnish +him with these truly desirable articles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is no wonder that with such hopeless material to work +upon the Dalles missionaries withdrew from them a portion +of their zeal, and bestowed it, where it was quite as much +needed, upon any "stray mountain-man" who chanced to +be entertained "within their gates." Newell's party, +among others, received the well-meant, but not always +well-received or appreciated attentions of these gentlemen. +The American mountaineer was not likely to be suddenly +surprised into praying in earnest; and he generally had +too much real reverence to be found making a jest in the +form of a mocking-prayer.</p> + +<p>Not so scrupulous, however, was Jandreau, a lively +French Canadian, who was traveling in company with the +Americans. On being repeatedly importuned to pray, +with that tireless zeal which distinguishes the Methodist +preacher above all others, Jandreau appeared suddenly to +be smitten with a consciousness of his guilt, and kneeling +in the midst of the 'meeting,' began with clasped hands +and upturned eyes to pour forth a perfect torrent of words. +With wonderful dramatic power he appeared to confess, +to supplicate, to agonize, in idiomatic French. His tears +and ejaculations touched the hearts of the missionaries, +and filled them with gladness. They too ejaculated and +wept, with frequently uttered "Amens" and "hallelujahs," +until the scene became highly dramatic and exciting. In +the midst of this grand tableau, when the enthusiasm was +at its height, Jandreau suddenly ceased and rose to his feet, +while an irrepressible outburst of laughter from his associates +aroused the astonished missionaries to a partial comprehension +of the fact that they had been made the subjects +of a practical joke, though they never knew to exactly +how great an extent.</p> + +<p>The mischievous Frenchman had only recited with truly +artistic power, and with such variations as the situation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +suggested, one of the most wonderful and effective tales +from the <i>Arabian Nights Entertainment</i>, with which he +was wont to delight and amuse his comrades beside the +winter camp-fire!</p> + +<p>But Jandreau was called to account when he arrived at +Vancouver. Dr. McLaughlin had heard the story from +some of the party, and resolved to punish the man's irreverence, +at the same time that he gave himself a bit of +amusement. Sending for the Rev. Father Blanchet, who +was then resident at Vancouver, he informed him of the +circumstance, and together they arranged Jandreau's punishment. +He was ordered to appear in their united presence, +and make a true statement of the affair. Jandreau +confessed that he had done what he was accused of doing—made +a mock of prayer, and told a tale instead of +offering a supplication. He was then ordered by the Rev. +Father to rehearse the scene exactly as it occurred, in order +that he might judge of the amount of his guilt, and +apportion him his punishment.</p> + +<p>Trembling and abashed, poor Jandreau fell upon his +knees and began the recital with much trepidation. But +as he proceeded he warmed with the subject, his dramatic +instinct asserted itself, tears streamed, and voice and eyes +supplicated, until this second representation threatened to +outdo the first. With outward gravity and inward mirth +his two solemn judges listened to the close, and when Jandreau +rose quite exhausted from his knees, Father Blanchet +hastily dismissed him with an admonition and a +light penance. As the door of Dr. McLaughlin's office +closed behind him, not only the Doctor, but Father Blanchet +indulged in a burst of long restrained laughter at +the comical absurdities of this impious Frenchman.</p> + +<p>To return to our immigrants. On leaving the Dalles +they proceeded on down the south side of the river as far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +as practicable, or opposite to the Wind Mountain. At this +point the Indians assisted to cross them over to the north +side, when they again made their way along the river as +far as <i>Tea Prairie</i> above Vancouver. The weather was +execrable, with a pouring rain, and sky of dismal gray; +December being already far advanced. Our travelers +were not in the best of humors: indeed a saint-like amiability +is seldom found in conjunction with rain, mud, fatigue, +and an empty stomach. Some ill-natured suspicions +were uttered to the effect that the Indians who were assisting +to cross the party at this point, had stolen some ropes +that were missing.</p> + +<p>Upon this dishonorable insinuation the Indian heart was +fired, and a fight became imminent. This undesirable climax +to emigrant woes was however averted by an attack +upon the indignant natives with firebrands, when they +prudently retired, leaving the travelers to pursue their +way in peace. It was on Sunday that the weary, dirty, +hungry little procession arrived at a place on the Wallamet +River where the present town of Milwaukie is situated, +and found here two missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. +Waller and Beers, who were preaching to the Indians.</p> + +<p>Meek immediately applied to Mr. Waller for some provisions, +and received for answer that it was "Sunday." +Mr. Waller, however, on being assured that it was no more +agreeable starving on Sunday than a week-day, finally allowed +the immigrants to have a peck of small potatoes. +But as a party of several persons could not long subsist on +so short allowance, and as there did not seem to be any +encouragement to expect more from the missionaries, there +was no course left to be pursued but to make an appeal to +Fort Vancouver.</p> + +<p>To Fort Vancouver then, Newell went the next day, +and returned on the following one with some dried sal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>mon, +tea, sugar, and sea-bread. It was not quite what the +mountain-men could have wished, this dependence on the +Hudson's Bay Company for food, and did not quite agree +with what they had said when their hearts were big in the +mountains. Being patriotic on a full stomach is easy compared +to being the same thing on an empty one; a truth +which became more and more apparent as the winter progressed, +and the new settlers found that if they would eat +they must ask food of some person or persons outside of +the Methodist Mission. And outside of that there was in +all the country only the Hudson's Bay Company, and a +few mountain-men like themselves, who had brought nothing +into the country, and could get nothing out of it at +present.</p> + +<p>There was but short time in which to consider what +was to be done. Newell and Meek went to Wallamet +Falls, the day after Newell's return from Vancouver, and +there met an old comrade, Doughty, who was looking for +a place to locate. The three made their camp together +on the west side of the river, on a hill overlooking the +Falls. While in camp they were joined by two other +Rocky Mountain men, Wilkins and Ebbarts, who were also +looking for a place to settle in. There were now six of +the Rocky Mountain men together; and they resolved to +push out into the plains to the west of them, and see what +could be done in the matter of selecting homes.</p> + +<p>As for our hero, we fear we cannot say much of him +here which would serve to render him heroic in criticising +Yankee eyes. He was a mountain-man, and <i>that only</i>. +He had neither book learning, nor a trade, nor any knowledge +of the simplest affairs appertaining to the ordinary +ways of getting a living. He had only his strong hands, +and a heart naturally stout and light.</p> + +<p>His friend Newell had the advantage of him in several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +particulars. He had rather more book-knowledge, more +business experience, and also more means. With these +advantages he became a sort of "Booshway" among his +old comrades, who consented to follow his lead in the important +movement about to be made, and settle in the +Tualatin Plains should he decide to do so.</p> + +<p>Accordingly camp was raised, and the party proceeded +to the Plains, where they arrived on Christmas, and went +into camp again. The hardships of mountain life were +light compared to the hardships of this winter. For in +the mountains, when the individual's resources were exhausted, +there was always the Company to go to, which +was practically inexhaustible. Should it be necessary, the +Company was always willing to become the creditor of a +good mountain-man. And the debtor gave himself no +uneasiness, because he knew that if he lived he could discharge +his indebtedness. But everything was different +now. There was no way of paying debts, even if there +had been a company willing to give them credit, which +there was not, at least among Americans. Hard times +they had seen in the mountains; harder times they were +likely to see in the valley; indeed were already experiencing.</p> + +<p>Instead of fat buffalo meat, antelope, and mountain +mutton, which made the plenty of a camp on Powder +River, our carniverous hunters were reduced to eating +daily a little boiled wheat. In this extremity, Meek went +on an expedition of discovery across the highlands that +border the Lower Wallamet, and found on Wappatoo +(now Sauvis) Island, a Mr. and Mrs. Baldra living, who +were in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and +drew rations from them. With great kindness they +divided the provisions on hand, furnishing him with dried +salmon and sea-bread, to which he added ducks and swans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +procured from the Indians. Poor and scanty as was the +supply thus obtained, it was, after boiled wheat, comparative +luxury while it lasted.</p> + +<p>1841. The winter proved a very disagreeable one. +Considerable snow fell early, and went off with heavy +rains, flooding the whole country. The little camp on +the Tualatin Plains had no defence from the weather better +than Indian lodges, and one small cabin built by +Doughty on a former visit to the Plains; for Doughty had +been one of the first of the mountain-men to come to the +Wallamet on the breaking up of the fur companies. Indian +lodges, or no lodges at all, were what the men were +used to; but in the dryer climate of the Rocky Mountains +it had not seemed such a miserable life, as it now +did, where, for months together, the ground was saturated +with rain, while the air was constantly charged with +vapor.</p> + +<p>As for going anywhere, or doing anything, either were +equally impossible. No roads, the streams all swollen and +out of banks, the rains incessant, there was nothing for +them but to remain in camp and wait for the return of +spring. When at last the rainy season was over, and the +sun shining once more, most of the mountain-men in the +Tualatin Plains camp took land-claims and set to work +improving them. Of those who began farming that +spring, were Newell, Doughty, Wilkins, and Walker. +These obtained seed-wheat from the Hudson's Bay Company, +also such farming implements as they must have, +and even oxen to draw the plow through the strong +prairie sod. The wheat was to be returned to the company—the +cattle also; and the farming implements paid +for whenever the debtor became able. This was certainly +liberal conduct on the part of a company generally understood +to be opposed to American settlement.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>1841. When spring opened, Meek assisted Newell in +breaking the ground for wheat. This done, it became necessary +to look out for some immediately paying employment. +But paying occupations were hard to find in that +new country. At last, like everybody else, Meek found +himself, if not "hanging about," at least frequently visiting +Vancouver. Poor as he was, and unpromising as +looked the future, he was the same light-hearted, reckless, +and fearless Joe Meek that he had been in the mountains: +as jaunty and jolly a ragged mountaineer as ever was seen +at the Fort. Especially he delighted in recounting his Indian +fights, because the Company, and Dr. McLaughlin in +particular, disapproved the American Company's conduct +with the Indians.</p> + +<p>When the Doctor chanced to overhear Meek's stories, +as he sometimes did, he would say "Mr. Joe, Mr. Joe,—(a +habit the Doctor had of speaking rapidly, and repeating +his words,)—Mr. Joe, Mr. Joe, you must leave off killing +Indians, and go to work."</p> + +<p>"I can't work," Meek would answer in his impressively +slow and smooth utterance, at the same time giving his +shoulders a slight shrug, and looking the Doctor pleasantly +in the face.</p> + +<p>During the summer, however, the United States Exploring +Squadron, under Commodore Wilkes, entered the Columbia +River, and proceeded to explore the country in +several directions; and it was now that Meek found an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +employment suited to him; being engaged by Wilkes as +pilot and servant while on his several tours through the +country.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of three vessels of the squadron at Vancouver, +and the first ceremonious visit of Dr. McLaughlin +and his associates to Commodore Wilkes on board, there +was considerable display, the men in the yards, saluting, +and all the honors due to the representative of a friendly +foreign power. After dinner, while the guests were walking +on deck engaged in conversation, the talk turned upon +the loss of the <i>Peacock</i>, one of the vessels belonging +to the U.S. squadron, which was wrecked on the bar at +the mouth of the Columbia. The English gentlemen were +polite enough to be expressing their regrets at the loss to +the United States, when Meek, who had picked up a little +history in spite of his life spent in the mountains, laughingly +interrupted with:</p> + +<p>"No loss at all, gentlemen. Uncle Sam can get another +Peacock the way he got that one."</p> + +<p>Wilkes, who probably regretted the allusion, as not being +consonant with the spirit of hospitality, passed over +the interruption in silence. But when the gentlemen from +Vancouver had taken leave he turned to Meek with a +meaning twinkle in his eyes:</p> + +<p>"Meek," said he, "go down to my cabin and you'll find +there something good to eat, and some first-rate brandy." +Of course Meek went.</p> + +<p>While Wilkes was exploring in the Cowelitz Valley, +with Meek and a Hudson's Bay man named Forrest, as +guides, he one day laid down in his tent to sleep, leaving +his chronometer watch lying on the camp-table beside +him. Forrest, happening to observe that it did not agree +with his own, which he believed to be correct, very kindly, +as he supposed, regulated it to agree with his. On awak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>ening +and taking up his watch, a puzzled expression came +over Wilkes' face for a moment, as he discovered the +change in the time; then one of anger and disappointment, +as what had occurred flashed over his mind; followed +by some rather strong expressions of indignation. +Forrest was penitent when he perceived the mischief done +by his meddling, but that would not restore the chronometer +to the true time: and this accident proved a serious +annoyance and hindrance during the remainder of the +expedition.</p> + +<p>After exploring the Cowelitz Valley, Wilkes dispatched +a party under Lieutenant Emmons, to proceed up the +Wallamet Valley, thence south along the old trail of the +Hudson's Bay Company, to California. Meek was employed +to pilot this party, which had reached the head of +the valley, when it became necessary to send for some papers +in the possession of the Commodore; and he returned +to Astoria upon this duty. On joining Emmons again he +found that some of his men had become disaffected toward +him; especially Jandreau, the same Frenchman who +prayed so dramatically at the Dalles.</p> + +<p>Jandreau confided to Meek that he hated Emmons, and +intended to kill him. The next morning when Lieut. E. +was examining the arms of the party, he fired off Jandreau's +gun, which being purposely overcharged, flew +back and inflicted some injuries upon the Lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by loading a gun like that?" inquired +Emmons, in a rage.</p> + +<p>"I meant it to kill two Injuns;—one before, and one +behind;" answered Jandreau.</p> + +<p>As might be conjectured Jandreau was made to fire his +own gun after that.</p> + +<p>The expedition had not proceeded much farther when +it again became necessary to send an express to Vancou<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>ver, +and Meek was ordered upon this duty. Here he +found that Wilkes had purchased a small vessel which he +named the <i>Oregon</i>, with which he was about to leave the +country. As there was no further use for his services our +quondam trapper was again thrown out of employment. +In this exigency, finding it necessary to make some provision +for the winter, he became a gleaner of wheat in the +fields of his more provident neighbors, by which means a +sufficient supply was secured to keep himself and his small +family in food until another spring.</p> + +<p>When winter set in, Meek paid a visit to the new mission. +He had been there once before, in the spring, to +buy an axe. Think, O reader, of traveling fifty or more +miles, on horseback, or in a small boat, to procure so simple +and necessary an article of civilized life as an axe! +But none of the every-day conveniencies of living grow +spontaneously in the wilderness—more's the pity:—else +life in the wilderness would be thought more delightful +far than life in the most luxurious of cities; inasmuch as +Nature is more satisfying than art.</p> + +<p>Meek's errand to the mission on this occasion was to +find whether he could get a cow, and credit at the same +time: for the prospect of living for another winter on +boiled wheat was not a cheerful one. He had not succeeded, +and was returning, when at Champoeg he met +a Mr. Whitcom, superintendent of the mission farm. A +conversation took place wherein Meek's desire for a cow +became known. The missionaries never lost an opportunity +of proposing prayers, and Mr. Whitcom thought this +a good one. After showing much interest in the condition +of Meek's soul, it was proposed that he should pray.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> can't pray: that's your business, not mine," said +Meek pleasantly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is every man's business to pray for himself," answered +Whitcom.</p> + +<p>"Very well; some other time will do for that. What +I want now is a cow."</p> + +<p>"How can you expect to get what you want, if you +wont ask for it?" inquired Whitcom.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I have asked you; and I don't see nary cow +yet."</p> + +<p>"You must ask God, my friend: but in the first place +you must pray to be forgiven for your sins."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will furnish the cow, +I'll agree to pray for half an hour, right here on the +spot."</p> + +<p>"Down on your knees then."</p> + +<p>"You'll furnish the cow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Whitcom, fairly cornered.</p> + +<p>Down on his knees dropped the merry reprobate, and +prayed out his half hour, with how much earnestness only +himself and God knew.</p> + +<p>But the result was what he had come for, a cow; for +Whitcom was as good as his word, and sent him home rejoicing. +And thus, with what he had earned from Wilkes, +his gleaned wheat, and his cow, he contrived to get +through another winter.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most important personal event which distinguished +this year in Meek's history, was the celebration, +according to the rites of the Christian church, of his +marriage with the Nez Perce woman who had already +borne him two children, and who still lives, the mother +of a family of seven.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + + +<p>1842. By the opening of another spring, Meek had +so far overcome his distaste for farm labor as to put in a +field of wheat for himself, with Doughty, and to make +some arrangements about his future subsistence. This +done, he was ready, as usual, for anything in the way of +adventure which might turn up. This was, however, a +very quiet summer in the little colony. Important events +were brooding, but as yet results were not perceptible, +except to the mind of a prophet. The Hudson's Bay +Company, conformably to British policy, were at work +to turn the balance of power in Oregon in favor of British +occupation, and, unknown even to the colonists, the +United States Government was taking what measures it +could to shift the balance in its own favor. Very little +was said about the subject of government claims among +the colonists, but a feeling of suspense oppressed all +parties.</p> + +<p>The work of putting in wheat and improving of farms +had just begun to slacken a little, when there was an arrival +in the Columbia River of a vessel from Boston—the +<i>Chenamus</i>, Captain Couch. The <i>Chenamus</i> brought a +cargo of goods, which were placed in store at Wallamet +Falls, to be sold to the settlers, being the first successful +attempt at trade ever made in Oregon, outside of the +Hudson's Bay and Methodist Mission stores.</p> + +<p>When the Fourth of July came, the <i>Chenamus</i> was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +lying in the Wallamet, below the Falls, near where the +present city of Portland stands. Meek, who was always +first to be at any spot where noise, bustle, or excitement +might be anticipated, and whose fine humor and fund of +anecdote made him always welcome, had borrowed a boat +from Capt. Couch's clerk, at the Falls, and gone down to +the vessel early in the morning, before the salute for the +Glorious Fourth was fired. There he remained all day, +enjoying a patriotic swagger, and an occasional glass of +something good to drink. Other visitors came aboard +during the day, which was duly celebrated to the satisfaction +of all.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, a party from the Mission, wishing to +return to the Falls, took possession of Meek's borrowed +boat to go off with. Now was a good opportunity to +show the value of free institutions. Meek, like other +mountain-men, felt the distance which the missionaries +placed between him and themselves, on the score of their +moral and social superiority, and resented the freedom +with which they appropriated what he had with some +trouble secured to himself. Intercepting the party when +more than half of them were seated in the boat, he informed +them that they were trespassing upon a piece of +property which for the present belonged to him, and for +which he had a very urgent need. Vexed by the delay, +and by having to relinquish the boat to a man who, according +to their view of the case, could not "read his +title clear," to anything either on earth or in heaven, the +missionaries expostulated somewhat warmly, but Meek insisted, +and so compelled them to wait for some better +opportunity of leaving the ship. Then loading the boat +with what was much more to the purpose—a good supply +of provisions, Meek proceeded to drink the Captain's +health in a very ostentatious manner, and take his leave.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the meantime, Dr. Marcus Whitman, of the Waiilatpu +Mission, in the upper country, was so fearful of the +intentions of the British government that he set out for +Washington late in the autumn of 1842, to put the Secretary +of State on his guard concerning the boundary +question, and to pray that it might be settled conformably +with the wishes of the Americans in Oregon.</p> + +<p>There was one feature, however, of this otherwise +rather entertaining race for possession, which was becoming +quite alarming. In all this strife about claiming the +country, the Indian claim had not been considered. It +has been already intimated that the attempt to civilize or +Christianize the Indians of western Oregon was practically +an entire failure. But they were not naturally of a warlike +disposition, and had been so long under the control +of the Hudson's Bay Company that there was comparatively +little to apprehend from them, even though they +felt some discontent at the incoming immigration.</p> + +<p>But with the Indians of the upper Columbia it was different; +especially so with the tribes among whom the +Presbyterian missionaries were settled—the Walla-Wallas, +Cayuses, and Nez Perces, three brave and powerful nations, +much united by intermarriages. The impression +which these people had first made on the missionaries was +very favorable, their evident intelligence, inquisitiveness, +and desire for religious teachings seeming to promise a +good reward of missionary labor. Dr. Whitman and his +associates had been diligent in their efforts to civilize and +Christianize them—to induce the men to leave off their +migratory habits and learn agriculture, and the women to +learn spinning, sewing, cooking, and all the most essential +arts of domestic life. At the first, the novelty of these +new pursuits engaged their interest, as it also excited +their hope of gain. But the task of keeping them to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +their work with sufficient steadiness, was very great. +They required, like children, to be bribed with promises +of more or less immediate reward of their exertions, nor +would they relinquish the fulfilment of a promise, even +though they had failed to perform the conditions on which +the promise became binding.</p> + +<p>By-and-by they made the discovery that neither the +missionaries could, nor the white man's God did, confer +upon them what they desired—the enjoyment of all the +blessings of the white men—and that if they wished to +enjoy these blessings, they must labor to obtain them. +This discovery was very discouraging, inasmuch as the +Indian nature is decidedly averse to steady labor, and +they could perceive that very little was to be expected +from any progress which could be achieved in one generation. +As for the Christian faith, they understood about +as much of its true spirit as savages, with the law of +blood written in their hearts, could be expected to understand. +They looked for nothing more nor less than the +literal fulfilment of the Bible promises—nothing less +would content them; and as to the forms of their new +religion, they liked them well enough—liked singing and +praying, and certain orderly observances, the chiefs leading +in these as in other matters. So much interest did +they discover at first, that their teachers were deceived +as to the actual extent of the good they were doing.</p> + +<p>As time went on, however, there began to be cause for +mutual dissatisfaction. The Indians became aware that +no matter how many concessions their teachers made to +them, they were still the inferiors of the whites, and that +they must ever remain so. But the thought which produced +the deepest chagrin was, that they had got these +white people settled amongst them by their own invitation +and aid, and that now it was evident they were not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +to be benefited as had been hoped, as the whites were +turning their attention to benefiting themselves.</p> + +<p>As early as 1839, Mr. Smith, an associate of Mr. Spalding +in the country of the Nez Perces, was forbidden by +the high chief of the Nez Perces to cultivate the ground. +He had been permitted to build, but was assured that if he +broke the soil for the purpose of farming it, the ground +so broken should serve to bury him in. Still Smith went +on in the spring to prepare for ploughing, and the chief +seeing him ready to begin, inquired if he recollected that +he had been forbidden. Yet persisting in his undertaking, +several of the Indians came to him and taking him by the +shoulder asked him again "if he did not know that the hole +he should make in the earth would be made to serve for +his grave." Upon which third warning Smith left off, and +quitted the country. Other missionaries also left for the +Wallamet Valley.</p> + +<p>In 1842 there were three mission stations in the upper +country; that of Dr. Whitman at Waiilatpu on the Walla-Walla +River, that of Mr. Spalding on the Clearwater River, +called Lapwai, and another on the Spokane River, called +Cimakain. These missions were from one hundred and +twenty to three hundred miles distant from each other, +and numbered altogether only about one dozen whites of +both sexes. At each of these stations there was a small +body of land under cultivation, a few cattle and hogs, a +flouring and saw mill, and blacksmith shop, and such improvements +as the needs of the mission demanded. The +Indians also cultivated, under the direction of their teachers, +some little patches of ground, generally but a small +garden spot, and the fact that they did even so much was +very creditable to those who labored to instruct them. +There was no want of ardor or industry in the Presbyterian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +mission; on the contrary they applied themselves conscientiously +to the work they had undertaken.</p> + +<p>But this conscientious discharge of duty did not give +them immunity from outrage. Both Mr. Spalding and Dr. +Whitman had been rudely handled by the Indians, had +been struck and spat upon, and had nose and ears pulled. +Even the delicate and devoted Mrs. Spalding had been +grossly insulted. Later the Cayuses had assailed Dr. Whitman +in his house with war-clubs, and broken down doors +of communication between the private apartments and the +public sitting room. Explanations and promises generally +followed these acts of outrage, yet it would seem that the +missionaries should have been warned.</p> + +<p>Taking advantage of Dr. Whitman's absence, the Cayuses +had frightened Mrs. Whitman from her home to the Methodist +mission at the Dalles, by breaking into her bed-chamber +at night, with an infamous design from which she +barely escaped, and by subsequently burning down the +mill and destroying a considerable quantity of grain. +About the same time the Nez Perces at the Lapwai mission +were very insolent, and had threatened Mr. Spalding's life; +all of which, one would say, was but a poor return for the +care and instruction bestowed upon them during six years +of patient effort on the part of their teachers. Poor as it +was, the Indians did not see it in that light, but only +thought of the danger which threatened them, in the possible +loss of their country.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + + +<p>1842-3. The plot thickened that winter, in the little +drama being enacted west of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>The forests which clad the mountains and foot-hills in +perpetual verdure, and the thickets which skirted the numerous +streams flowing into the Wallamet, all abounded +in wild animals, whose depredations upon the domestic +cattle, lately introduced into the country, were a serious +drawback to their natural increase. Not a settler, owning +cattle or hogs, but had been robbed more or less frequently +by the wolves, bears, and panthers, which prowled +unhindered in the vicinity of their herds.</p> + +<p>This was a ground of common interest to all settlers of +whatever allegiance. Accordingly, a notice was issued +that a meeting would be held at a certain time and place, +to consider the best means of preventing the destruction +of stock in the country, and all persons interested were +invited to attend. This meeting was held on the 2d of +February, 1843, and was well attended by both classes of +colonists. It served, however, only as a preliminary step +to the regular "Wolf Association" meeting which took +place a month later. At the meeting, on the 4th of March, +there was a full attendance, and the utmost harmony prevailed, +notwithstanding there was a well-defined suspicion +in the minds of the Canadians, that they were going to be +called upon to furnish protection to something more than +the cattle and hogs of the settlers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the proper parliamentary forms, and the choosing +of the necessary officers for the Association, the meeting +proceeded to fix the rate of bounty for each animal killed +by any one out of the Association, viz: $3.00 for a large +wolf; $1.50 for a lynx; $2.00 for a bear; and $5.00 for +a panther. The money to pay these bounties was to be +raised by subscription, and handed over to the treasurer +for disbursement; the currency being drafts on Fort Vancouver, +the Mission, and the Milling Company; besides +wheat and other commodities.</p> + +<p>This business being arranged, the real object of the +meeting was announced in this wise:</p> + +<p>"<i>Resolved</i>,—That a committee be appointed to take into +consideration the propriety of taking measures for the +civil and military protection of this colony."</p> + +<p>A committee of twelve were then selected, and the +meeting adjourned. But in that committee there was a +most subtle mingling of all the elements—missionaries, +mountain-men, and Canadians—an attempt by an offer of +the honors, to fuse into one all the several divisions of political +sentiment in Oregon.</p> + +<p>On the 2d day of May, 1843, the committee appointed +March 4th to "take into consideration the propriety of taking +measures for the civil and military protection of the +colony," met at Champoeg, the Canadian settlement, and +presented to the people their ultimatum in favor of organizing +a provisional government.</p> + +<p>On a motion being made that the report of the committee +should be accepted, it was put to vote, and lost. All +was now confusion, various expressions of disappointment +or gratification being mingled in one tempest of sound.</p> + +<p>When the confusion had somewhat subsided, Mr. G.W. +LeBreton made a motion that the meeting should divide; +those who were in favor of an organization taking their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +positions on the right hand; and those opposed to it on +the left, marching into file. The proposition carried; and +Joe Meek, who, in all this historical reminiscence we have +almost lost sight of—though he had not lost sight of +events—stepped to the front, with a characteristic air of +the free-born American in his gait and gestures:—</p> + +<p>"Who's for a divide! All in favor of the Report, and +an Organization, follow me!"—then marched at the head +of his column, which speedily fell into line, as did also the +opposite party.</p> + +<p>On counting, fifty-two were found to be on the right +hand side, and fifty on the left,—so evenly were the +two parties balanced at that time. When the result was +made known, once more Meek's voice rang out—</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for our side!"</p> + +<p>It did not need a second invitation; but loud and long +the shout went up for <span class="smcap">Freedom</span>; and loudest and longest +were heard the voices of the American "mountain-men." +Thus the die was cast which made Oregon ultimately a +member of the Federal Union.</p> + +<p>The business of the meeting was concluded by the election +of a Supreme Judge, with probate powers, a clerk +of the court, a sheriff, four magistrates, four constables, +a treasurer, a mayor, and a captain,—the two latter officers +being instructed to form companies of mounted riflemen. +In addition to these officers, a legislative committee +was chosen, consisting of nine members, who were to report +to the people at a public meeting to be held at Champoeg +on the 5th of July following. Of the legislative +committee, two were mountain-men, with whose names the +reader is familiar—Newell and Doughty. Among the +other appointments, was Meek, to the office of sheriff; a +position for which his personal qualities of courage and +good humor admirably fitted him in the then existing state +of society.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + + +<p>The immigration into Oregon of the year 1843, was +the first since Newell and Meek, who had brought wagons +through to the Columbia River; and in all numbered +nearly nine hundred men, women, and children. These +immigrants were mostly from Missouri and other border +States. They had been assisted on their long and perilous +journey by Dr. Whitman, whose knowledge of the +route, and the requirements of the undertaking, made him +an invaluable counselor, as he was an untiring friend of +the immigrants.</p> + +<p>At the Dalles of the Columbia the wagons were abandoned; +it being too late in the season, and the wants of +the immigrants too pressing, to admit of an effort being +made to cut out a wagon road through the heavy timber +of the Cascade mountains. Already a trail had been made +over them and around the base of Mount Hood, by which +cattle could be driven from the Dalles to the settlements +on the Wallamet; and by this route the cattle belonging to +the train, amounting to thirteen hundred, were passed +over into the valley.</p> + +<p>But for the people, especially the women and children, +active and efficient help was demanded. There was something +truly touching and pitiable in the appearance of these +hundreds of worn-out, ragged, sun-burnt, dusty, emaciated, +yet indomitable pioneers, who, after a journey of nearly +two thousand miles, and of several months duration, over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +fertile plains, barren deserts, and rugged mountains, stood +at last beside the grand and beautiful river of their hopes, +exhausted by the toils of their pilgrimage, dejected and +yet rejoicing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i325" name="i325"></a> +<img src="images/i325.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>WRECKED IN THE RAPIDS.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>Much they would have liked to rest, even here; but +their poverty admitted of no delay. The friends to +whom they were going, and from whom they must exact +and receive a temporary hospitality, were still separated +from them a weary and dangerous way. They delayed as +little as possible, yet the fall rains came upon them, and +snow fell in the mountains, so as seriously to impede the +labor of driving the cattle, and hunger and sickness began +to affright them.</p> + +<p>In this unhappy situation they might have remained a +long time, had there been no better dependence than the +American settlers already in the valley, with the Methodist +Mission at their head; for from them it does not appear +that aid came, nor that any provision had been made +by them to assist the expected immigrants. As usual in +these crises, it was the Hudson's Bay Company who came +to the rescue, and, by the offer of boats, made it possible +for those families to reach the Wallamet. Not only were +the Hudson's Bay Company's boats all required, but canoes +and rafts were called into requisition to transport passengers +and goods. No one, never having made the voyage +of the Columbia from above the Dalles to Vancouver, +could have an adequate idea of the perils of the passage, +as it was performed in those days, by small boats and the +flat-bottomed "Mackinaw" boats of the Hudson's Bay +Company. The Canadian "voyageurs," who handled a +boat as a good rider governs a horse, were not always +able to make the passage without accident: how, then, +could the clumsy landsmen, who were more used to the +feel of a plow handle than an oar, be expected to do so?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +Numerous have been the victims suddenly clutched from +life by the grasp of the whirlpools, or dashed to death +among the fearful rapids of the beautiful, but wild and +pitiless, Columbia.</p> + +<p>The immigration of 1843 did not escape without loss +and bereavement. Three brothers from Missouri, by the +name of Applegate, with their families, were descending +the river together, when, by the striking of a boat on a +rock in the rapids, a number of passengers, mostly children +of these gentlemen, were precipitated into the frightful +current. The brothers each had a son in this boat, +one of whom was lost, another injured for life, and the +third escaped as by a miracle. This last boy was only +ten years of age, yet such was the presence of mind and +courage displayed in saving his own and a companion's +life, that the miracle of his escape might be said to be his +own. Being a good swimmer, he kept himself valiantly +above the surface, while being tossed about for nearly two +miles. Succeeding at last in grasping a feather bed which +was floating near him, he might have passed the remaining +rapids without serious danger, had he not been seized, +as it were, by the feet, and drawn down, down, into a +seething, turning, roaring abyss of water, where he was +held, whirling about, and dancing up and down, striking +now and then upon the rocks, until death seemed not +only imminent but certain. After enduring this violent +whirling and dashing for what seemed a hopelessly long +period of time, he was suddenly vomited forth by the +whirlpool once more upon the surface of the rapids, and, +notwithstanding the bruises he had received, was able, by +great exertion, to throw himself near, and seize upon a +ledge of rocks. To this he clung with desperation, until, +by dint of much effort, he finally drew himself out of the +water, and stretched himself on the narrow shelf, where,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +for a moment, he swooned away. But on opening his +eyes, he beheld, struggling in the foaming flood, a young +man who had been a passenger in the wrecked boat with +himself, and who, though older, was not so good a swimmer. +Calling to him with all his might, to make his voice +heard above the roar of the rapids, he at last gained his +attention, and encouraged him to try to reach the ledge +of rocks, where he would assist him to climb up; and the +almost impossible feat was really accomplished by their +united efforts. This done, young Applegate sank again +into momentary unconsciousness, while poor exhausted +Nature recruited her forces.</p> + +<p>But, although they were saved from immediate destruction, +death still stared them in the face. That side of the +river on which they had found lodgment, was bounded +by precipitous mountains, coming directly down to the +water. They could neither ascend nor skirt along them, +for foot-hold there was none. On the other side was level +ground, but to reach it they must pass through the rapids—an +alternative that looked like an assurance of destruction.</p> + +<p>In this extremity, it was the boy who resolved to risk +his life to save it. Seeing that a broken ledge of rock +extended nearly across the river from a point within his +reach, but only coming to the surface here and there, and +of course very slippery, he nevertheless determined to attempt +to cross on foot, amidst the roaring rapids. Starting +alone to make the experiment, he actually made the crossing +in safety, amid the thundering roar and dizzying rush +of waters—not only made it once, but returned to assure +his companion of its practicability. The young man, however, +had not the courage to undertake it, until he had +repeatedly been urged to do so, and at last only by being +pursuaded to go before, while his younger comrade fol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>lowed +after, not to lose sight of him, (for it was impossible +to turn around,) and directed him where to place +his steps. In this manner that which appears incredible +was accomplished, and the two arrived in safety on the +opposite side, where they were ultimately discovered by +their distressed relatives, who had believed them to be +lost. Such was the battle which young Applegate had +with the rocks, that the flesh was torn from the palms of +his hands, and his whole body bruised and lacerated.</p> + +<p>So it was with sorrow, after all, that the immigrants +arrived in the valley. Nor were their trials over when +they had arrived. The worst feature about this long and +exhausting journey was, that it could not be accomplished +so as to allow time for recruiting the strength of the travelers, +and providing them with shelter before the rainy +season set in. Either the new arrivals must camp out in +the weather until a log house was thrown up, or they +must, if they were invited, crowd into the small cabins +of the settlers until there was scarce standing room, and +thus live for months in an atmosphere which would have +bred pestilence in any other less healthful climate.</p> + +<p>Not only was the question of domiciles a trying one, +but that of food still more so. Some, who had families +of boys to help in the rough labor of building, soon became +settled in houses of their own, more or less comfortable; +nor was anything very commodious required +for the frontiers-men from Missouri; but in the matter of +something to eat, the more boys there were in the family, +the more hopeless the situation. They had scarcely managed +to bring with them provisions for their summer's +journey—it was not possible to bring more. In the +colony was food, but they had no money—few of them +had much, at least; they had not goods to exchange; +labor was not in demand: in short, the first winter in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +Oregon was, to nearly all the new colonists, a time of +trial, if not of actual suffering. Many families now occupying +positions of eminence on the Pacific coast, knew +what it was, in those early days, to feel the pangs of +hunger, and to want for a sufficient covering for their +nakedness.</p> + +<p>Two anecdotes of this kind come to the writer's memory, +as related by the parties themselves: the Indians, +who are everywhere a begging race, were in the habit of +visiting the houses of the settlers and demanding food. +On one occasion, one of them came to the house of a now +prominent citizen of Oregon, as usual petitioning for something +to eat. The lady of the house, and mother of several +young children, replied that she had nothing to give. +Not liking to believe her, the Indian persisted in his demand, +when the lady pointed to her little children and +said, "Go away; I have nothing—not even for those." +The savage turned on his heel and strode quickly away, +as the lady thought, offended. In a short time he reappeared +with a sack of dried venison, which he laid at her +feet. "Take that," he said, "and give the <i>tenas tillicum</i> +(little children) something to eat." From that day, as +long as he lived, that humane savage was a "friend of the +family."</p> + +<p>The other anecdote concerns a gentleman who was +chief justice of Oregon under the provisional government, +afterwards governor of California, and at present a +banker in San Francisco. He lived, at the time spoken +of on the Tualatin Plains, and was a neighbor of Joe +Meek. Not having a house to go into at first, he was permitted +to settle his family in the district school-house, +with the understanding that on certain days of the month +he was to allow religious services to be held in the building. +In this he assented. Meeting day came, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +family put on their best apparel to make themselves tidy +in the eyes of their neighbors. Only one difficulty was +hard to get over: Mr. —— had only one shoe, the other +foot was bare. But he considered the matter for some +time, and then resolved that he might take a sheltered +position behind the teacher's desk, where his deficiency +would be hidden, and when the house filled up, as it +would do very rapidly, he could not be expected to stir +for want of space. However, that happened to the ambitious +young lawyer which often does happen to the "best +laid schemes of mice and men"—his went "all aglee." +In the midst of the services, the speaker needed a cup of +water, and requested Mr. —— to furnish it. There was +no refusing so reasonable a request. Out before all the +congregation, walked the abashed and blushing pioneer, +with his ill-matched feet exposed to view. This mortifying +exposure was not without an agreeable result; for +next day he received a present of a pair of moccasins, +and was enabled thereafter to appear with feet that bore +a brotherly resemblance to each other.</p> + +<p>About this time, the same gentleman, who was, as has +been said, a neighbor of Meek's, was going to Wallamet +Falls with a wagon, and Meek was going along. "Take +something to eat," said he to Meek, "for I have nothing;" +and Meek promised that he would.</p> + +<p>Accordingly when it came time to camp for the night, +Meek was requested to produce his lunch basket. Going +to the wagon, Meek unfolded an immense pumpkin, and +brought it to the fire.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Mr. ——, "is that all we have for +supper?"</p> + +<p>"Roast pumpkin is not so bad," said Meek, laughing +back at him; "I've had worse fare in the mountains. +It's buffalo tongue compared to ants or moccasin soles."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<p>And so with much merriment they proceeded to cut up +their pumpkin and roast it, finding it as Meek had said—"not +so bad" when there was no better.</p> + +<p>These anecdotes illustrate what a volume could only describe—the +perils and privations endured by the colonists +in Oregon. If we add that there were only two flouring +mills in the Wallamet Valley, and these two not convenient +for most of the settlers, both belonging to the mission, +and that to get a few bushels of wheat ground involved +the taking of a journey of from four to six days, +for many, and that, too, over half-broken roads, destitute +of bridges, it will be seen how difficult it was to obtain +the commonest comforts of life. As for such luxuries as +groceries and clothing, they had to wait for better times. +Lucky was the man who, "by hook or by crook," got +hold of an order on the Hudson's Bay Company, the +Methodist Mission, or the Milling Company at the Falls. +Were he thus fortunate, he had much ado to decide how +to make it go farthest, and obtain the most. Not far +would it go, at the best, for fifty per cent. profit on all +sales was what was demanded and obtained. Perhaps the +holder of a ten dollar draft made out his list of necessaries, +and presented himself at the store, expecting to get +them. He wanted some unbleached cotton, to be dyed to +make dresses for the children; he would buy a pair of +calf-skin shoes if he could afford them; and—yes—he +would indulge in the luxury of a little—a very little—sugar, +just for that once!</p> + +<p>Arrived at the store after a long, jolting journey, in +the farm wagon which had crossed the continent the year +before, he makes his inquiries: "Cotton goods?" "No; +just out." "Shoes?" "Got one pair, rather small—wouldn't +fit you." "What have you got in the way of +goods?" "Got a lot of silk handkerchiefs and twelve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +dozen straw hats." "Any pins?" "No; a few knitting +needles." "Any yarn?" "Yes, there's a pretty good +lot of yarn, but don't you want some sugar? the last +ship that was in left a quantity of sugar." So the holder +of the draft exchanges it for some yarn and a few nails, +and takes the balance in sugar; fairly compelled to be +luxurious in one article, for the reason that others were +not to be had till some other ship came in.</p> + +<p>No mails reached the colony, and no letters left it, except +such as were carried by private hand, or were sent +once a year in the Hudson's Bay Company's express to +Canada, and thence to the States. Newspapers arrived +in the same manner, or by vessel from the Sandwich +Islands. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, education +was encouraged even from the very beginning; a library +was started, and literary societies formed, and this all the +more, perhaps, that the colony was so isolated and dependent +on itself for intellectual pleasures.</p> + +<p>The spring of 1844 saw the colony in a state of some excitement +on account of an attempt to introduce the manufacture +of ardent spirits. This dangerous article had always +been carefully excluded from the country, first by +the Hudson's Bay Company, and secondly by the Methodist +Mission; and since the time when a Mr. Young +had been induced to relinquish its manufacture, no serious +effort had been made to introduce it.</p> + +<p>It does not appear from the Oregon archives, that any +law against its manufacture existed at that time: it had +probably been overlooked in the proceedings of the legislative +committee of the previous summer; neither was +there yet any executive head to the Provisional Government, +the election not having taken place. In this dilemma +the people found themselves in the month of Feb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>ruary, +when one James Conner had been discovered to be +erecting a distillery at the Falls of the Wallamet.</p> + +<p>It happened, however, that an occasion for the exercise +of executive power had occurred before the election +of the executive committee, and now what was to be +done? It was a case too, which required absolute power, +for there was no law on the subject of distilleries. After +some deliberation it was decided to allow the Indian agent +temporary power, and several letters were addressed to +him, informing him of the calamity which threatened the +community at the Falls. "Now, we believe that if there +is anything which calls your attention in your official capacity, +or anything in which you would be most cordially +supported by the good sense and prompt action of the +better part of community, it is the present case. We do +not wish to dictate, but we hope for the best, begging +pardon for intrusions." So read the closing paragraph +of one of the letters.</p> + +<p>Perhaps this humble petition touched the Doctor's heart; +perhaps he saw in the circumstance a possible means of +acquiring influence; at all events he hastened to the Falls, +a distance of fifty miles, and entered at once upon the discharge +of the executive duties thus thrust upon him in +the hour of danger. Calling upon Meek, who had entered +upon his duties as sheriff the previous summer, he gave +him his orders. Writ in hand, Meek proceeded to the +distillery, frightened the poor sinner into quiet submission +with a display of his mountain manners; made a bugle of +the worm, and blew it, to announce to the Doctor his complete +success; after which he tumbled the distillery apparatus +into the river, and retired. Connor was put under +three hundred dollar bonds, and so the case ended.</p> + +<p>But there were other occasions on which the Doctor's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +authority was put in requisition. It happened that a vessel +from Australia had been in the river, and left one Madam +Cooper, who was said to have brought with her a barrel +of whisky. Her cabin stood on the east bank of the +Wallamet, opposite the present city of Portland. Not +thinking it necessary to send the sheriff to deal with a +woman, the Doctor went in person, accompanied by a +couple of men. Entering the cabin the Doctor remarked +blandly, "you have a barrel of whisky, I believe."</p> + +<p>Not knowing but her visitor's intention was to purchase, +and not having previously resided in a strictly temperance +community, Madam Cooper replied frankly that she had, +and pointed to the barrel in question.</p> + +<p>The Doctor then stepped forward, and placing his foot +on it, said: "In the name of the United States, I levy +execution on it!"</p> + +<p>At this unexpected declaration, the English woman +stared wildly one moment, then recovering herself quickly, +seized the poker from the chimney corner, and raising it +over the Doctor's head, exclaimed—"In the name of +Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland, I levy execution on +you!"</p> + +<p>But when the stick descended, the Doctor was not there. +He had backed out at the cabin door; nor did he afterwards +attempt to interfere with a subject of the crown of +Great Britain.</p> + +<p>On the following day, however, the story having got +afloat at the Falls, Meek and a young man highly esteemed +at the mission, by the name of Le Breton, set out to +pay their respects to Madam Cooper. Upon entering the +cabin, the two callers cast their eyes about until they +rested on the whisky barrel.</p> + +<p>"Have <i>you</i> come to levy on my whisky?" inquired the +now suspicious Madam.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Meek, "I have come to levy on it; but as +I am not quite so high in authority as Doctor White, I +don't intend to levy on the whole of it at once. I think +about a quart of it will do me."</p> + +<p>Comprehending by the twinkle in Meek's eye that she +had now a customer more to her mind, Madam Cooper +made haste to set before her visitors a bottle and tin cup, +upon which invitation they proceeded to levy frequently +upon the contents of the bottle; and we fear that the +length of time spent there, and the amount of whisky +drank must have strongly reminded Meek of past rendezvous +times in the mountains; nor can we doubt that he +entertained Le Breton and Madam Cooper with many reminiscences +of those times. However that may be, this +was not the last visit of Meek to Madam Cooper's, nor his +last levy on her whisky.</p> + +<p>Shortly after his election as sheriff he had been called +upon to serve a writ upon a desperate character, for an +attempt to kill. Many persons, however, fearing the result +of trying to enforce the law upon desperadoes, in the +then defenceless condition of the colony, advised him to +wait for the immigration to come in before attempting the +arrest. But Meek preferred to do his duty then, and went +with the writ to arrest him. The man resisted, making +an attack on the sheriff with a carpenter's axe; but Meek +coolly presented a pistol, assuring the culprit of the uselessness +of such demonstrations, and soon brought him to +terms of compliance. Such coolness, united with a fine +physique, and a mountain-man's reputation for reckless +courage, made it very desirable that Meek should continue +to hold the office of sheriff during that stage of the +colony's development.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + + +<p>1844. As has before been mentioned, the Indians of +the Wallamet valley were by no means so formidable as +those of the upper country: yet considering their numbers +and the condition of the settlers, they were quite formidable +enough to occasion considerable alarm when any +one of them, or any number of them betrayed the savage +passions by which they were temporarily overcome. Considerable +excitement had prevailed among the more scattered +settlers, ever since the reports of the disaffection +among the up-country tribes had reached them; and Dr. +White had been importuned to throw up a strong fortification +in the most central part of the colony, and to procure +arms for their defence, at the expense of the United +States.</p> + +<p>This excitement had somewhat subsided when an event +occurred which for a time renewed it: a house was plundered +and some horses stolen from the neighborhood of +the Falls. An Indian from the Dalles, named Cockstock, +was at the bottom of the mischief, and had been committing +or instigating others to commit depredations upon the +settlers, for a year previous, because he had been, as he +fancied, badly treated in a matter between himself and a +negro in the colony, in which the latter had taken an unfair +advantage of him in a bargain.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i339" name="i339"></a> +<img src="images/i339.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">A WILD INDIAN IN TOWN.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>To crown his injuries Dr. White had caused a relative +of his to be flogged by the Dalles chief, for entering the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +house of the Methodist missionary at that place, and tying +him, with the purpose of flogging him. (It was a poor +law, he thought, that would not work both ways.)</p> + +<p>In revenge for this insult Cockstock came to the Doctor's +house in the Wallamet, threatening to shoot him at +sight, but not finding him at home, contented himself +for that time, by smashing all the windows in the dwelling +and office of the Doctor, and nearly frightening to +death a young man on the premises.</p> + +<p>When on the Doctor's return in the evening, the extent +of the outrage became known, a party set out in pursuit +of Cockstock and his band, but failed to overtake them, +and the settlers remained in ignorance concerning the +identity of the marauders. About a month later, however, +a party of Klamath and Molalla Indians from the +south of Oregon, numbering fifteen, came riding into the +settlement, armed and painted in true Indian war-style. +They made their way to the lodge of a Calapooya chief +in the neighborhood—the Calapooyas being the Indians +native to the valley. Dr. White fearing these mischievous +visitors might infect the mind of the Calapooya chief, +sent a message to him, to bring his friends to call upon +him in the morning, as he had something good to say to +them.</p> + +<p>This they did, when Dr. White explained the laws of the +Nez Perces to them, and told them how much it would be +to their advantage to adopt such laws. He gave the Calapooya +chief a fine fat ox to feast his friends with, well +knowing that an Indian's humor depends much on the +state of his stomach, whether shrunken or distended. After +the feast there was some more talk about the laws, in +the midst of which the Indian Cockstock made his appearance, +armed, and sullen in his demeanor. But as Dr. +White did not know him for the perpetrator of the out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>rage +on his premises, he took no notice of him more than +of the others. The Molallas and Klamaths finally agreed to +receive the laws; departing in high good humor, singing +and shouting. So little may one know of the savage +heart from the savage professions! Some of these Indians +were boiling over with secret wrath at the weakness +of their brethren in consenting to laws of the Agent's dictation; +and while they were crossing a stream, fell upon +and massacred them without mercy, Cockstock taking an +active part in the murder.</p> + +<p>The whites were naturally much excited by the villainous +and horrible affray, and were for taking and hanging the +murderers. The Agent, however, was more cautious, and +learning that there had been feuds among these Indians +long unsettled, decided not to interfere.</p> + +<p>In February, 1844, fresh outrages on settlers having +been committed so that some were leaving their claims +and coming to stop at the Falls through fear, Dr. White +was petitioned to take the case in hand. He accordingly +raised a party of ten men, who had nearly all suffered +some loss or outrage at Cockstock's hands, and set out in +search of him, but did not succeed in finding him. His +next step was to offer a reward of a hundred dollars for +his arrest, meaning to send him to the upper country to +be tried and punished by the Cayuses and Nez Perces, the +Doctor prudently desiring to have them bear the odium, +and suffer the punishment, should any follow, of executing +justice on the Indian desperado. Not so had the fates ordained.</p> + +<p>About a week after the reward was offered, Cockstock +came riding into the settlement at the Falls, at mid-day, +accompanied by five other Indians, all well armed, and +frightfully painted. Going from house to house on their +horses, they exhibited their pistols, and by look and ges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>ture +seemed to defy the settlers, who, however, kept quiet +through prudential motives. Not succeeding in provoking +the whites to commence the fray, Cockstock finally retired +to an Indian village on the other side of the river, +where he labored to get up an insurrection, and procure +the burning of the settlement houses.</p> + +<p>Meantime the people at the Falls were thoroughly +alarmed, and bent upon the capture of this desperate savage. +When, after an absence of a few hours, they saw +him recrossing the river with his party, a crowd of persons +ran down to the landing, some with offers of large +reward to any person who would attempt to take him, +while others, more courageous, were determined upon +earning it. No definite plan of capture or concert of action +was decided on, but all was confusion and doubt. In +this frame of mind a collision was sure to take place; both +the whites and Indians firing at the moment of landing. +Mr. LeBreton, the young man mentioned in the previous +chapter, after firing ineffectually, rushed unarmed upon +Cockstock, whose pistol was also empty, but who still had +his knife. In the struggle both fell to the ground, when +a mulatto man, who had wrongs of his own to avenge, ran +up and struck Cockstock a blow on the head with the butt +of his gun which dispatched him at once.</p> + +<p>Thus the colony was rid of a scourge, yet not without +loss which counterbalanced the gain. Young LeBreton +besides having his arm shattered by a ball, was wounded +by a poisoned arrow, which occasioned his death; and +Mr. Rogers, another esteemed citizen, died from the same +cause; while a third was seriously injured by a slight +wound from a poisoned arrow. As for the five friends of +Cockstock, they escaped to the bluffs overlooking the settlement, +and commenced firing down upon the people. +But fire-arms were mustered sufficient to dislodge them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +and thus the affair ended; except that the Agent had +some trouble to settle it with the Dalles Indians, who came +down in a body to demand payment for the loss of their +brother. After much talk and explanation, a present to +the widow of the dead Indian was made to smooth over +the difficulty.</p> + +<p>Meek, who at the time of the collision was rafting timber +for Dr. McLaughlin's mill at the Falls, as might have +been expected was appealed to in the melee by citizens +who knew less about Indian fighting.</p> + +<p>A prominent citizen and merchant, who probably seldom +spoke <i>of</i> him as Mr. Meek, came running to him in +great affright:—"Mr. Meek! Mr. Meek! Mr. Meek!—I +want to send my wife down to Vancouver. Can you assist +me? Do you think the Indians will take the town?"</p> + +<p>"It 'pears like half-a-dozen Injuns might do it," retorted +Meek, going on with his work.</p> + +<p>"What do you think we had better do, Mr. Meek?—What +do you advise?"</p> + +<p>"I think <i>you'd</i> better <span class="smcap">run</span>."</p> + +<p>In all difficulties between the Indians and settlers, Meek +usually refrained from taking sides—especially from taking +sides against the Indians. For Indian slayer as he had +once been when a ranger of the mountains, he had too +much compassion for the poor wretches in the Wallamet +Valley, as well as too much knowledge of the savage nature, +to like to make unnecessary war upon them. Had +he been sent to take Cockstock, very probably he would +have done it with little uproar; for he had sufficient influence +among the Calapooyas to have enlisted them in the +undertaking. But this was the Agent's business and he +let him manage it; for Meek and the Doctor were not in +love with one another; one was solemnly audacious, the +other mischievously so. Of the latter sort of audacity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +here is an example. Meek wanted a horse to ride out to +the Plains where his family were, and not knowing how +else to obtain it, helped himself to one belonging to Dr. +White; which presumption greatly incensed the Doctor, +and caused him to threaten various punishments, hanging +among the rest. But the Indians overhearing him replied,</p> + +<p>"<i>Wake nika cumtux</i>—You dare not.—You no put rope +round Meek's neck. He <i>tyee</i> (chief)—no hang him."</p> + +<p>Upon which the Doctor thought better of it, and having +vented his solemn audacity, received smiling audacity with +apparent good humor when he came to restore the borrowed +horse.</p> + +<p>As our friend Meek was sure to be found wherever there +was anything novel or exciting transpiring, so he was sure +to fall in with visitors of distinguished character, and as +ready to answer their questions as they were to ask them. +The conversation chanced one day to run upon the changes +that had taken place in the country since the earliest settlement +by the Americans, and Meek, who felt an honest +pride in them, was expatiating at some length, to the ill-concealed +amusement of two young officers, who probably +saw nothing to admire in the rude improvements of the +Oregon pioneers.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Meek," said one of them, "if you have been so +long in the country and have witnessed such wonderful +transformations, doubtless you may have observed equally +great ones in nature; in the rivers and mountains, for instance?"</p> + +<p>Meek gave a lightning glance at the speaker who had so +mistaken his respondent:</p> + +<p>"I reckon I have," said he slowly. Then waving his +hand gracefully toward the majestic Mt. Hood, towering +thousands of feet above the summit of the Cascade range,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +and white with everlasting snows: "When <i>I</i> came to this +country, Mount Hood was <i>a hole in the ground</i>!"</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to say that the conversation terminated +abruptly, amid the universal cachinations of the +bystanders.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the slighting views of Her British Majesty's +naval officers, the young colony was making rapid +strides. The population had been increased nearly eight +hundred by the immigration of 1844, so that now it numbered +nearly two thousand. Grain had been raised in +considerable quantities, cattle and hogs had multiplied, +and the farmers were in the best of spirits. Even our hero, +who hated farm labor, began to entertain faith in the resources +of his land claim to make him rich.</p> + +<p>Such was the promising condition of the colony in the +summer of 1845. Much of the real prosperity of the settlers +was due to the determination of the majority to exclude +ardent spirits and all intoxicating drinks from the +country. So well had they succeeded that a gentleman +writing of the colony at that time, says: "I attended the +last term of the circuit courts in most of the counties, and +I found great respect shown to judicial authority everywhere; +nor did I see a single <i>drunken juryman</i>, <i>nor witness</i>, +<i>nor spectator</i>. So much industry, good order, and +sobriety I have never seen in any community."</p> + +<p>While this was the rule, there were exceptions to it. +During the spring term of the Circuit Court, Judge Nesmith +being on the bench, a prisoner was arraigned before +him for "assault with intent to kill." The witness for the +prosecution was called, and was proceeding to give evidence, +when, at some statement of his, the prisoner vociferated +that he was a "d——d liar," and quickly stripping +off his coat demanded a chance to fight it out with the +witness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span></p> + +<p>Judge Nesmith called for the interference of Meek, +who had been made marshal, but just at that moment he +was not to be found. Coming into the room a moment +later, Meek saw the Judge down from his bench, holding +the prisoner by the collar.</p> + +<p>"You can imagine," says Meek, "the bustle in court. +But the Judge had the best of it. He fined the rascal, +and made him pay it on the spot; while I just stood back +to see his honor handle him. That was fun for me."</p> + +<p>The autumn of 1845 was marked less by striking events +than by the energy which the people exhibited in improving +the colony by laying out roads and town-sites. Already +quite a number of towns were located, in which +the various branches of business were beginning to develop +themselves. Oregon City was the most populous +and important, but Salem, Champoeg, and Portland were +known as towns, and other settlements were growing up +on the Tualatin Plains and to the south of them, in the +fertile valleys of the numerous tributaries to the Wallamet.</p> + +<p>Portland was settled in this year, and received its name +from the game of "heads you lose, tails I win," by which +its joint owners agreed to determine it. One of them +being a Maine man, was for giving it the name which it +now bears, the other partner being in favor of Boston, +because he was a Massachusetts man. It was, therefore, +agreed between them that a copper cent should be tossed +to decide the question of the christening, which being +done, heads and Portland won.</p> + +<p>The early days of that city were not always safe and +pleasant any more than those of its older rivals; and the +few inhabitants frequently were much annoyed by the +raids they were subject to from the now thoroughly vagabondized +Indians. On one occasion, while yet the population +was small, they were very much annoyed by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +visit of eight or ten lodges of Indians, who had somewhere +obtained liquor enough to get drunk on, and were +enjoying a debauch in that spirit of total abandon which +distinguishes the Indian carousal.</p> + +<p>Their performances at length alarmed the people, yet +no one could be found who could put an end to them. +In this dilemma the Marshal came riding into town, splendidly +mounted on a horse that would turn at the least +touch of the rein. The countenances of the anxious +Portlanders brightened. One of the town proprietors +eagerly besought him to "settle those Indians." "Very +well," answered Meek; "I reckon it won't take me long." +Mounting his horse, after first securing a rawhide rope, he +"charged" the Indian lodges, rope in hand, laying it on +with force, the bare shoulders of the Indians offering +good <i>back-grounds</i> for the pictures which he was rapidly +executing.</p> + +<p>Not one made any resistance, for they had a wholesome +fear of <i>tyee</i> Meek. In twenty minutes not an Indian, man +or woman, was left in Portland. Some jumped into the +river and swam to the opposite side, and some fled to the +thick woods and hid themselves. The next morning, +early, the women cautiously returned and carried away +their property, but the men avoided being seen again by +the marshal who punished drunkenness so severely.</p> + +<p><i>Reader's query.</i> Was it Meek or the Marshal who so +strongly disapproved of spreeing?</p> + +<p><i>Ans.</i> It was the Marshal.</p> + +<p>The immigration to Oregon this year much exceeded +that of any previous year; and there was the usual +amount of poverty, sickness, and suffering of every sort, +among the fresh arrivals. Indeed the larger the trains +the greater the amount of suffering generally; since the +grass was more likely to be exhausted, and more hin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>drances +of every kind were likely to occur. In any case, +a march of several months through an unsettled country +was sure to leave the traveler in a most forlorn and exhausted +condition every way.</p> + +<p>This was the situation of thousands of people who +reached the Dalles in the autumn of 1845. Food was +very scarce among them, and the difficulties to encounter +before reaching the Wallamet just as great as those of the +two previous years. As usual the Hudson's Bay Company +came to the assistance of the immigrants, furnishing a passage +down the river in their boats; the sick, and the +women and children being taken first.</p> + +<p>Among the crowd of people encamped at the Dalles, +was a Mr. Rector, since well known in Oregon and California. +Like many others he was destitute of provisions; +his supplies having given out. Neither had he any money. +In this extremity he did that which was very disagreeable +to him, as one of the "prejudiced" American citizens +who were instructed beforehand to hate and suspect the +Hudson's Bay Company—he applied to the company's +agent at the Dalles for some potatoes and flour, confessing +his present inability to pay, with much shame and reluctance.</p> + +<p>"Do not apologize, sir," said the agent kindly; "take +what you need. There is no occasion to starve while our +supplies hold out."</p> + +<p>Mr. R. found his prejudices in danger of melting away +under such treatment; and not liking to receive bounty a +second time, he resolved to undertake the crossing of the +Cascade mountains while the more feeble of the immigrants +were being boated down the Columbia. A few +others who were in good health decided to accompany +him. They succeeded in getting their wagons forty miles +beyond the Dalles; but there they could move no further.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> + +<p>In this dilemma, after consultation, Mr. Rector and Mr. +Barlow agreed to go ahead and look out a wagon road. +Taking with them two days' provisions, they started on +in the direction of Oregon City. But they found road +hunting in the Cascade mountains an experience unlike +any they had ever had. Not only had they to contend +with the usual obstacles of precipices, ravines, mountain +torrents, and weary stretches of ascent and descent; but +they found the forests standing so thickly that it would +have been impossible to have passed between the trees +with their wagons had the ground been clear of fallen +timber and undergrowth. On the contrary these latter +obstacles were the greatest of all. So thickly were the +trunks of fallen trees crossed and recrossed everywhere, +and so dense the growth of bushes in amongst them, that +it was with difficulty they could force their way on foot.</p> + +<p>It soon became apparent to the road hunters, that two +days' rations would not suffice for what work they had +before them. At the first camp it was agreed to live +upon half rations the next day; and to divide and subdivide +their food each day, only eating half of what was +left from the day before, so that there would always still +remain a morsel in case of dire extremity.</p> + +<p>But the toil of getting through the woods and over the +mountains proved excessive; and that, together with insufficient +food, had in the course of two or three days +reduced the strength of Mr. Barlow so that it was with +great effort only that he could keep up with his younger +and more robust companion, stumbling and falling at +every few steps, and frequently hurting himself considerably.</p> + +<p>So wolfish and cruel is the nature of men, under trying +circumstances, that instead of feeling pity for his weaker +and less fortunate companion, Mr. Rector became impa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>tient, +blaming him for causing delays, and often requiring +assistance.</p> + +<div class="figleft"><a id="i351" name="i351"></a> +<img src="images/i351.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">THE ROAD-HUNTERS.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>To render their situation still more trying, rain began +to fall heavily, which with the cold air of the mountains, +soon benumbed their exhausted frames. Fearing that +should they go to sleep so cold and famished, they might +never be able to rise again, on the fourth or fifth evening +they resolved to +kindle a fire, if by +any means they +could do so. Dry +and broken wood +had been plenty +enough, but for the +rain, which was +drenching everything. +Neither +matches nor flint +had they, however, +in any case. The +night was setting +in black with darkness; +the wind +swayed the giant +firs over head, and +then they heard +the thunder of a +falling monarch of +the forest unpleasantly +near. Searching +among the bushes, +and under fallen timber for some dry leaves and sticks, +Mr. Rector took a bundle of them to the most sheltered +spot he could find, and set himself to work to coax a spark +of fire out of two pieces of dry wood which he had split<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +for that purpose. It was a long and weary while before success +was attained, by vigorous rubbing together of the dry +wood, but it was attained at last; and the stiffening limbs +of the road-hunters were warmed by a blazing camp-fire.</p> + +<p>The following day, the food being now reduced to a +crumb for each, the explorers, weak and dejected, toiled +on in silence, Mr. Rector always in advance. On chancing +to look back at his companion he observed him to be +brushing away a tear. "What now, old man?" asked +Mr. R. with most unchristian harshness.</p> + +<p>"What would you do with me, Rector, should I fall and +break a leg, or become in any way disabled?" inquired +Mr. Barlow, nervously.</p> + +<p>"Do with you? <i>I would eat you!</i>" growled Mr. Rector, +stalking on again.</p> + +<p>As no more was said for some time, Mr. R.'s conscience +rather misgave him that he treated his friend unfeelingly; +then he stole a look back at him, and beheld the wan face +bathed in tears.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Barlow," said he more kindly, "don't +take affairs so much to heart. You will not break a leg, +and I should not eat you if you did, for you haven't any +flesh on you to eat."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Rector, I want you to promise me that +in case I should fall and disable myself, so that I cannot +get on, you will not leave me here to die alone, but will +kill me with your axe instead."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Barlow; you are weak and nervous, but +you are not going to be disabled, nor eaten, nor killed. +Keep up man; we shall reach Oregon City yet."</p> + +<p>So, onward, but ever more slowly and painfully, toiled +again the pioneers, the wonder being that Mr. Barlow's +fears were not realized, for the clambering and descending +gave him many a tumble, the tumbles becoming more +frequent as his strength declined.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> + +<p>Towards evening of this day as they came to the precipitous +bank of a mountain stream which was flowing in +the direction they wished to go, suddenly there came to +their ears a sound of more than celestial melody; the +tinkling of bells, lowing of cattle, the voice of men hallooing +to the herds. They had struck the cattle trail, +which they had first diverged from in the hope of finding +a road passable to wagons. In the overwhelming revulsion +of feeling which seized them, neither were able for +some moments to command their voices to call for assistance. +That night they camped with the herdsmen, and +supped in such plenty as an immigrant camp afforded.</p> + +<p>Such were the sufferings of two individuals, out of a +great crowd of sufferers; some afflicted in one way and +some in another. That people who endured so much to +reach their El Dorado should be the most locally patriotic +people in the world, is not singular. Mr. Barlow lived to +construct a wagon road over the Cascades for the use of +subsequent immigrations.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i353" name="i353"></a> +<img src="images/i353.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>Early in 1846, Meek resigned his office of marshal of +the colony, owing to the difficulty of collecting taxes; for +in a thinly inhabited country, where wheat was a legal +tender, at sixty cents per bushel, it was rather a burdensome +occupation to collect, in so ponderous a currency; +and one in which the collector required a granary more +than a pocket-book. Besides, Meek had out-grown the +marshalship, and aspired to become a legislator at the next +June election.</p> + +<p>He had always discharged his duty with promptitude +and rectitude while sheriff; and to his known courage +might be attributed, in many instances, the ready compliance +with law which was remarkable in so new and peculiar +an organization as that of the Oregon colony. The +people had desired not to be taxed, at first; and for a +year or more the government was sustained by a fund +raised by subscription. When at last it was deemed best +to make collections by law, the Canadians objected to taxation +to support an American government, while they were +still subjects of Great Britain; but ultimately yielded the +point, by the advice of Dr. McLaughlin.</p> + +<p>But it was not always the Canadians who objected to +being taxed, as the following anecdote will show. Dr. +McLaughlin was one day seated in his office, in conversation +with some of his American friends, when the tall form +of the sheriff darkened the doorway.</p> + +<p>"I have come to tax you, Doctor," said Meek with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +blandest manner, and with a merry twinkle, half suppressed, +in his black eyes.</p> + +<p>"To tax me, Mr. Jo. I was not aware—I really was +not aware—I believed I had paid my tax, Mr. Jo," +stammered the Doctor, somewhat annoyed at the prospect +of some fresh demand.</p> + +<p>"Thar is an old ox out in my neighborhood, Doctor, +and he is said to belong to you. Thar is a tax of twenty-five +cents on him."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you, Mr. Jo. I have no cattle out +in your neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't say how that may be, Doctor. All I do +know about it, is just this. I went to old G——'s to collect +the tax on his stock—and he's got a powerful lot of cattle,—and +while we war a countin 'em over, he left out +that old ox and said it belonged to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, I see, Mr. Jo: yes, yes, I see! So it was +Mr. G——," cried the Doctor, getting very red in the face. +"I do remember now, since you bring it to my mind, that +<i>I lent Mr. G—— that steer six years ago</i>! Here are the +twenty-five cents, Mr. Jo."</p> + +<p>The sheriff took his money, and went away laughing; +while the Doctor's American friends looked quite as much +annoyed as the Doctor himself, over the meanness of some +of their countrymen.</p> + +<p>The year of 1846 was one of the most exciting in the +political history of Oregon. President Polk had at last +given the notice required by the Joint occupation treaty, +that the Oregon boundary question must be settled.</p> + +<p>Agreeably to the promise which Dr. McLaughlin had +received from the British Admiral, H.B.M. Sloop of war +<i>Modeste</i> had arrived in the Columbia River in the month +of October, 1845, and had wintered there. Much as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +Doctor had wished for protection from possible outbreaks, +he yet felt that the presence of a British man-of-war in +the Columbia, and another one in Puget Sound, was offensive +to the colonists. He set himself to cover up as carefully +as possible the disagreeable features of the British +lion, by endeavoring to establish social intercourse between +the officers of the <i>Modeste</i> and the ladies and gentlemen +of the colony, and his endeavors were productive of a +partial success.</p> + +<p>During the summer, however, the United States Schooner +<i>Shark</i> appeared in the Columbia, thus restoring the balance +of power, for the relief of national jealousy. After remaining +for some weeks, the <i>Shark</i> took her departure, +but was wrecked on the bar at the mouth of the river, +according to a prophecy of Meek's, who had a grudge +against her commander, Lieut. Howison, for spoiling the +sport he was having in company with one of her officers, +while Howison was absent at the Cascades.</p> + +<p>It appears that Lieut. Schenck was hospitably inclined, +and that on receiving a visit from the hero of many bear-fights, +who proved to be congenial on the subject of good +liquors, he treated both Meek and himself so freely as to +render discretion a foreign power to either of them. Varied +and brilliant were the exploits performed by these +jolly companions during the continuance of the spree; +and still more brilliant were those they talked of performing, +even the taking of the <i>Modeste</i>, which was lying a +little way off, in front of Vancouver. Fortunately for the +good of all concerned, Schenck contented himself with +firing a salute as Meek was going over the side of the ship +on leaving. But for this misdemeanor he was put under +arrest by Howison, on his return from the Cascades, an indignity +which Meek resented for the prisoner, by assuring +Lieut. Howison that he would lose his vessel before he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> +got out of the river. And lose her he did. Schenck was +released after the vessel struck, escaping with the other +officers and crew by means of small boats. Very few articles +were saved from the wreck, but among those few was +the stand of colors, which Lieut. Howison subsequently +presented to Gov. Abernethy for the colony.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">There sinks the sun; like cavalier of old,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Servant of crafty Spain,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">He flaunts his banner, barred with blood and gold,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Wide o'er the western main;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A thousand spear heads glint beyond the trees<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In columns bright and long,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">While kindling fancy hears upon the breeze<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The swell of shout and song.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And yet not here Spain's gay, adventurous host<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Dipped sword or planted cross;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The treasures guarded by this rock-bound coast<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Counted them gain nor loss.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The blue Columbia, sired by the eternal hills<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And wedded with the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O'er golden sands, tithes from a thousand rills,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Boiled in lone majesty—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Through deep ravine, through burning, barren plain,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Through wild and rocky strait,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Through forest dark, and mountain rent in twain<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Toward the sunset gate;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">While curious eyes, keen with the lust of gold,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Caught not the informing gleam,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">These mighty breakers age on age have rolled<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To meet this mighty stream.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Age after age these noble hills have kept,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The same majestic lines;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Age after age the horizon's edge been swept<br /></span> +<span class="i4">By fringe of pointed pines.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Summers and Winters circling came and went,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bringing no change of scene;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Unresting, and unhasting, and unspent,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Dwelt Nature here serene!</span><br /><span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Till God's own time to plant of Freedom's seed,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In this selected soil;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Denied forever unto blood and greed,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But blest to honest toil.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">There sinks the sun; Gay cavalier no more!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">His banners trail the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And all his legions shining on the shore<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Fade into mystery.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">The swelling tide laps on the shingly beach,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Like any starving thing;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And hungry breakers, white with wrath, upreach,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In a vain clamoring.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The shadows fall; just level with mine eye<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sweet Hesper stands and shines,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And shines beneath an arc of golden sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Pinked round with pointed pines.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">A noble scene! all breadth, deep tone, and power,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Suggesting glorious themes;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Shaming the idler who would fill the hour<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With unsubstantial dreams.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Be mine the dreams prophetic, shadowing forth<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The things that yet shall be,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When through this gate the treasures of the North<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Flow outward to the sea.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + + +<p>The author of the following, "poem" was not either a +dull or an unobservant writer; and we insert his verses as +a comical bit of natural history belonging peculiarly to +Oregon.</p> + +<p class="center small">ADVENTURES OF A COLUMBIA SALMON.</p> + +<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">What is yon object which attracts the eye<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of the observing traveler, who ascends<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Columbia's waters, when the summer sky<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In one soft tint, calm nature's clothing blends:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As glittering in the sunbeams down it floats<br /></span> +<span class="i4">'Till some vile vulture on its carcase gloats?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">'Tis a poor salmon, which a short time past,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With thousands of her finny sisters came,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">By instinct taught, to seek and find at last,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The place that gave her birth, there to remain<br /></span> +<span class="i4">'Till nature's offices had been discharged,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And fry from out the ova had emerged.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Her Winter spent amongst the sheltered bays<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of the salt sea, where numerous fish of prey,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With appetite keen, the number of her days<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Would soon have put an end to, could but they<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Have caught her; but as they could not, she,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Spring having come, resolved to quit the sea:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And moving with the shoal along the coast, at length<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She reached the outlet of her native river,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">There tarried for a little to recruit her strength,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So tried of late by cold and stormy weather;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Sporting in playful gambols o'er the banks and sands,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Chasing the tiny fish frequenting there in bands.</span><br /><span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">But ah, how little thought this simple fish,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The toils and perils she had yet to suffer,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The chance she ran of serving as a dish<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For hungry white men or for Indian's supper,—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Of enemies in which the stream abounded,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When lo! she's by a fisher's net surrounded.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Partly conscious of her approaching end,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She darts with meteoric swiftness to and fro,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Striking the frail meshes, within which she's penned,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Which bid defiance to her stoutest blow:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To smaller compass by degrees the snare is drawn,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When with a leap she clears it and is gone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Once more at large with her companions, now<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Become more cautious from her late escape,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">She keeps in deeper water and thinks how<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Foolish she was to get in such a scrape;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As mounting further up the stream, she vies<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With other fish in catching gnats and flies.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And as she on her way did thus enjoy<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Life's fleeting moments, there arose a panic<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Amongst the stragglers, who in haste deploy<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Around their elder leaders, quick as magic,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">While she unconscious of the untimely rout,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Was by a hungry otter singled out:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Vigorous was the chase, on the marked victim shot<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Through the clear water, while in close pursuit<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Followed her amphibious foe, who scarce had got<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Near enough to grasp her, when with turns acute,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And leaps and revolutions, she so tried the otter,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">He gave up the hunt with merely having bit her.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Scarce had she recovered from her weakness, when<br /></span> +<span class="i4">An ancient eagle, of the bald-head kind,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Winging his dreary way to'rds some lone glen,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Where was her nest with four plump eaglets lined,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Espied the fish, which he judged quite a treat,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And just the morsel for his little ones to eat:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And sailing in spiral circles o'er the spot,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Where lay his prey, then hovering for a time,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To take his wary aim, he stooped and caught<br /></span> +<span class="i4">His booty, which he carried to a lofty pine;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Upon whose topmost branches, he first adjusted<br /></span> +<span class="i4">His awkward load, ere with his claws he crushed it.</span><br /><span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"Ill is the wind that blows no person good"—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So said the adage, and as luck would have it,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A huge grey eagle out in search of food,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Who just had whet his hunger with a rabbit,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Attacked the other, and the pair together,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In deadly combat fell into the river.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Our friend of course made off, when she'd done falling<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Some sixty yards, and well indeed she might;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For ne'er, perhaps, a fish got such a mauling<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Since Adam's time, or went up such a height<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Into the air, and came down helter-skelter,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As did this poor production of a melter.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">All these, with many other dangers, she survived,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Too manifold in this short space to mention;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So we'll suppose her to have now arrived<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Safe at <i>the Falls</i>, without much more detention<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Than one could look for, where so many liked her<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Company, and so many Indians spiked her.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And here a mighty barrier stops her way:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The tranquil water, finding in its course<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Itself beset with rising rocks, which lay<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As though they said, "retire ye to your source,"<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Bursts with indignant fury from its bondage, now<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Rushes in foaming torrents to the chasm below.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">The persevering fish then at the foot arrives,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Laboring with redoubled vigor mid the surging tide,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And finding, by her strength, she vainly strives<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To overcome the flood, though o'er and o'er she tried;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Her tail takes in her mouth, and bending like a bow<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That's to full compass drawn, aloft herself doth throw;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">And spinning in the air, as would a silver wand<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That's bended end to end and upwards cast,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Headlong she falls amid the showering waters, and<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Gasping for breath, against the rocks is dashed:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Again, again she vaults, again she tries,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And in one last and feeble effort—dies.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There was, in Oregon City, a literary society called the +"Falls Association," some of whose effusions were occasionally +sent to the <i>Spectator</i>, and this may have been one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +of them. At all events, it is plain that with balls, theatres, +literary societies, and politics, the colony was not +afflicted with dullness, in the winter of 1846.</p> + +<p>But the history of the immigration this year, afforded, +perhaps, more material for talk than any one other subject. +The condition in which the immigrants arrived was +one of great distress. A new road into the valley had +been that season explored, at great labor and expense, by +a company of gentlemen who had in view the aim to +lessen the perils usually encountered in descending the +Columbia. They believed that a better pass might be +discovered through the Cascade range to the south, than +that which had been found around the base of Mount +Hood, and one which should bring the immigrants in at +the upper end of the valley, thus saving them considerable +travel and loss of time at a season of the year +when the weather was apt to be unsettled.</p> + +<p>With this design, a party had set out to explore the +Cascades to the south, quite early in the spring; but failing +in their undertaking, had returned. Another company +was then immediately formed, headed by a prominent +member of society and the legislature. This company +followed the old Hudson's Bay Company's trail, +crossing all those ranges of mountains perpendicular to +the coast, which form a triple wall between Oregon and +California, until they came out into the valley of the Humboldt, +whence they proceeded along a nearly level, but +chiefly barren country to Fort Hall, on the Snake River.</p> + +<p>The route was found to be practicable, although there +was a scarcity of grass and water along a portion of it; +but as the explorers had with great difficulty found out +and marked all the best camping grounds, and encountered +first for themselves all the dangers of a hitherto unexplored +region, most of which they believed they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +overcome, they felt no hesitation in recommending the +new road to the emigrants whom they met at Fort Hall.</p> + +<p>Being aware of the hardships which the immigrants of +the previous years had undergone on the Snake River +plains, at the crossing of Snake River, the John Day, and +Des Chutes Rivers, and the passage of the Columbia, the +travelers gladly accepted the tidings of a safer route to +the Wallamet. A portion of the immigration had already +gone on by the road to the Dalles; the remainder turned +off by the southern route.</p> + +<p>Of those who took the new route, a part were destined +for California. All, however, after passing through the +sage deserts, committed the error of stopping to recruit +their cattle and horses in the fresh green valleys among +the foot-hills of the mountains. It did not occur to +them that they were wasting precious time in this way; +but to this indulgence was owing an incredible amount of +suffering. The California-bound travelers encountered +the season of snow on the Sierras, and such horrors are +recorded of their sufferings as it is seldom the task of ears +to hear or pen to record. Snow-bound, without food, +those who died of starvation were consumed by the living; +even children were eaten by their once fond parents, +with an indifference horrible to think on: so does the +mind become degraded by great physical suffering.</p> + +<p>The Oregon immigrants had not to cross the lofty Sierras; +but they still found mountains before them which, in +the dry season, would have been formidable enough. Instead, +however, of the dry weather continuing, very heavy +rains set in. The streams became swollen, the mountain +sides heavy and slippery with the wet earth. Where the +road led through canyons, men and women were sometimes +forced to stem a torrent, breast high, and cold +enough to chill the life in their veins. The cattle gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +out, the wagons broke down, provisions became exhausted, +and a few persons perished, while all were in the direst +straits.</p> + +<p>The first who got through into the valley sent relief to +those behind; but it was weeks before the last of the +worn, weary, and now impoverished travelers escaped +from the horrors of the mountains in which they were so +hopelessly entangled, and where most of their worldly +goods were left to rot.</p> + +<p>The Oregon legislature met as usual, to hold its winter +session, though the people hoped and expected it would +be for the last time under the Provisional Government. +There were only two "mountain-men" in the House, at +this session—Meek and Newell.</p> + +<p>In the suspense under which they for the present remained, +there was nothing to do but to go on in the path +of duty as they had heretofore done, keeping up their +present form of government until it was supplanted by a +better one. So passed the summer until the return of the +"Glorious Fourth," which, being the first national anniversary +occurring since the news of the treaty had reached +the colony, was celebrated with proper enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>It chanced that an American ship, the <i>Brutus</i>, Capt. +Adams, from Boston, was lying in the Wallamet, and that +a general invitation had been given to the celebrationists +to visit the ship during the day. A party of fifty or sixty, +including Meek and some of his mountain associates, had +made their calculations to go on board at the same time, +and were in fact already alongside in boats, when Captain +Adams singled out a boat load of people belonging to the +mission clique, and inviting them to come on board, ordered +all the others off.</p> + +<p>This was an insult too great to be borne by mountain-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>men, +who resented it not only for themselves, but for the people's +party of Americans to which they naturally belonged. +Their blood was up, and without stopping to deliberate, +Meek and Newell hurried off to fetch the twelve-pounder +that had a few hours before served to thunder forth the +rejoicings of a free people, but with which they now purposed +to proclaim their indignation as freeman heinously +insulted. The little twelve-pound cannon was loaded with +rock, and got into range with the offending ship, and there +is little doubt that Capt. Adams would have suffered loss +at the hands of the incensed multitude, but for the timely +interference of Dr. McLaughlin. On being informed of +the warlike intentions of Meek and his associates, the good +Doctor came running to the rescue, his white hair flowing +back from his noble face with the hurry of his movements.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, Mr. Joe, Mr. Joe, you must not do this! indeed, +you must not do this foolish thing! Come now; +come away. You will injure your country, Mr. Joe. How +can you expect that ships will come here, if they are fired +on? Come away, come away!"</p> + +<p>And Meek, ever full of waggishness, even in his wrath, +replied:</p> + +<p>"Doctor, it is not that I love the Brutus less, but my +dignity more."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Shakespeare, Mr. Joe! But come with me; come +with me."</p> + +<p>And so the good Doctor, half in authority, half in kindness, +persuaded the resentful colonists to pass by the favoritism +of the Boston captain.</p> + +<p>Meek was reëlected to the legislature this summer, and +swam out to a vessel lying down at the mouth of the +Wallamet, to get liquor to treat his constituents; from +which circumstance it may be inferred that while Oregon +was remarkable for temperance, there were occasions on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +which conviviality was deemed justifiable by a portion of +her people.</p> + +<p>Thus passed the summer. The autumn brought news +of a large emigration <i>en route</i> for the new territory; but +it brought no news of good import from Congress. On +the contrary the bill providing for a territorial government +for Oregon had failed, because the Organic Laws of that +territory excluded slavery forever from the country. The +history of its failure is a part and parcel of the record of +the long hard struggle of the south to extend slavery into +the United States' territories.</p> + +<p>Justly dissatisfied, but not inconsolable, the colony, now +that hope was extinguished for another season, returned +to its own affairs. The immigration, which had arrived +early this year, amounted to between four and five thousand. +An unfortunate affray between the immigrants and +the Indians at the Dalles, had frightened away from that +station the Rev. Father Waller; and Dr. Whitman of the +Waiilatpu mission had purchased the station for the Presbyterian +mission, and placed a nephew of his in charge. +Although, true to their original bad character, the Dalles +Indians had frequently committed theft upon the passing +emigration, this was the first difficulty resulting in loss +of life, which had taken place. This quarrel arose out of +some thefts committed by the Indians, and the unwise advice +of Mr. Waller, in telling the immigrants to retaliate +by taking some of the Indian horses. An Indian can see +the justice of taking toll from every traveler passing +through his country; but he cannot see the justice of being +robbed in return; and Mr. Waller had been long +enough among them to have known this.</p> + +<p>Finding that it must continue yet a little longer to look +after its own government and welfare, the colony had +settled back into its wonted pursuits. The legislature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> +had convened for its winter session, and had hardly elected +its officers and read the usual message of the Governor, +before there came another, which fell upon their ears like +a thunderbolt. Gov. Abernethy had sent in the following +letter, written at Vancouver the day before:</p> + +<blockquote class="small"> +<p class="midind"> +<span class="smcap">Fort Vancouver</span>, Dec. 7, 1847.</p> +<p><i>George Abernethy, Esq.</i>; +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>:—Having received intelligence, last night, by special express from +Walla-Walla, of the destruction of the missionary settlement at Waiilatpu, by +the Cayuse Indians of that place, we hasten to communicate the particulars of +that dreadful event, one of the most atrocious which darkens the annals of Indian +crime.</p> + +<p>Our lamented friend, Dr. Whitman, his amiable and accomplished lady, with +nine other persons, have fallen victims to the fury of these remorseless savages, +who appear to have been instigated to this appalling crime by a horrible suspicion +which had taken possession of their superstitious minds, in consequence +of the number of deaths from dysentery and measles, that Dr. Whitman was +silently working the destruction of their tribe by administering poisonous drugs, +under the semblance of salutary medicines.</p> + +<p>With a goodness of heart and benevolence truly his own, Dr. Whitman had +been laboring incessantly since the appearance of the measles and dysentery +among his Indian converts, to relieve their sufferings; and such has been the +reward of his generous labors.</p> + +<p>A copy of Mr. McBean's letter, herewith transmitted, will give you all the +particulars known to us of this indescribably painful event.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ogden, with a strong party, will leave this place as soon as possible for +Walla-Walla, to endeavor to prevent further evil; and we beg to suggest to +you the propriety of taking instant measures for the protection of the Rev. Mr. +Spalding, who, for the sake of his family, ought to abandon the Clear-water +mission without delay, and retire to a place of safety, as he cannot remain at +that isolated station without imminent risk, in the present excited and irritable +State of the Indian population.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="midind"> +JAMES DOUGLAS. +</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + + +<p>1842-7. Doubtless the reader remembers the disquiet +felt and expressed by the Indians in the upper country in +the year 1842. For the time they had been quieted by +presents, by the advice of the Hudson's Bay Company, +and by the Agent's promise that in good time the United +States would send them blankets, guns, ammunition, food +farming implements, and teachers to show them how to +live like the whites.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, five years having passed, these promises +had not been kept. Five times a large number of +whites, with their children, their cattle, and wagons, had +passed through their country, and gone down into the +Wallamet Valley to settle. Now they had learned that +the United States claimed the Wallamet valley; yet they +had never heard that the Indians of that country had received +any pay for it.</p> + +<p>They had accepted the religion of the whites believing +it would do them good; but now they were doubtful. +Had they not accepted laws from the United States agent, +and had not their people been punished for acts which +their ancestors and themselves had always before committed +at will? None of these innovations seemed to do +them any good: they were disappointed. But the whites, +or Bostons, (meaning the Americans) were coming more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> +and more every year, so that by-and-by there would be +all Bostons and no Indians.</p> + +<p>Once they had trusted in the words of the Americans; +but now they knew how worthless were their promises. +The Americans had done them much harm. Years before +had not one of the missionaries suffered several of their +people, and the son of one of their chiefs, to be slain in +his company, yet himself escaped? Had not the son of +another chief, who had gone to California to buy cattle, +been killed by a party of Americans, for no fault of his +own? Their chief's son was killed, the cattle robbed from +his party, after having been paid for; and his friends +obliged to return poor and in grief.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Dr. White had given them some drafts to +be used in obtaining cattle from the immigration, as a +compensation for their losses in California; but they could +not make them available; and those who wanted cattle +had to go down to the Wallamet for them. In short, +could the Indians have thought of an American epithet to +apply to Americans, it would have been that expressive +word <i>humbug</i>. What they felt and what they thought, +was, that they had been cheated. They feared greater +frauds in the future, and they were secretly resolved not +to submit to them.</p> + +<p>So far as regarded the missionaries, Dr. Whitman and +his associates, they were divided; yet as so many looked +on the Doctor as an agent in promoting the settlement of +the country with whites, it was thought best to drive him +from the country, together with all the missionaries. Several +years before Dr. Whitman had known that the Indians +were displeased with his settlement among them. They +had told him of it: they had treated him with violence; +they had attempted to outrage his wife; had burned his +property; and had more recently several times warned +him to leave their country, or they should kill him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not that all were angry at him alike, or that any were +personally very ill-disposed towards him. Everything +that a man could do to instruct and elevate these savage +people, he had done, to the best of his ability, together +with his wife and assistants. But he had not been able, or +perhaps had not attempted, to conceal the fact, that he +looked upon the country as belonging to his people, rather +than to the natives, and it was this fact which was at the +bottom of their "bad hearts" toward the Doctor. So often +had warnings been given which were disregarded by Dr. +Whitman, that his friends, both at Vancouver and in the +settlements, had long felt great uneasiness, and often besought +him to remove to the Wallamet valley.</p> + +<p>But although Dr. Whitman sometimes was half persuaded +to give up the mission upon the representations of +others, he could not quite bring himself to do so. So far +as the good conduct of the Indians was concerned, they +had never behaved better than for the last two years. +There had been less violence, less open outrage, than formerly; +and their civilization seemed to be progressing; +while some few were apparently hopeful converts. Yet +there was ever a whisper in the air—"Dr. Whitman must +die."</p> + +<p>The mission at Lapwai was peculiarly successful. Mrs. +Spalding, more than any other of the missionaries, had +been able to adapt herself to the Indian character, and to +gain their confidence. Besides, the Nez Perces were a +better nation than the Cayuses;—more easily controlled +by a good counsel; and it seemed like doing a wrong to +abandon the work so long as any good was likely to result +from it. There were other reasons too, why the missions +could not be abandoned in haste, one of which was the +difficulty of disposing of the property. This might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> +been done perhaps, to the Catholics, who were establishing +missions throughout the upper country; but Dr. Whitman +would never have been so false to his own doctrines, +as to leave the field of his labors to the Romish Church.</p> + +<p>Yet the division of sentiment among the Indians with +regard to religion, since the Catholic missionaries had come +among them, increased the danger of a revolt: for in +the Indian country neither two rival trading companies, +nor two rival religions can long prosper side by side. +The savage cannot understand the origin of so many religions. +He either repudiates all, or he takes that which +addresses itself to his understanding through the senses. +In the latter respect, the forms of Catholicism, as adapted +to the savage understanding, made that religion a dangerous +rival to intellectual and idealistic Presbyterianism. +But the more dangerous the rival, the greater the firmness +with which Dr. Whitman would cling to his duty.</p> + +<p>There were so many causes at work to produce a revolution +among the Indians, that it would be unfair to name +any one as <i>the</i> cause. The last and immediate provocation +was a season of severe sickness among them. The +disease was measles, and was brought in the train of the +immigration.</p> + +<p>This fact alone was enough to provoke the worst passions +of the savage. The immigration in itself was a sufficient +offense; the introduction through them of a pestilence, +a still weightier one. It did not signify that Dr. +Whitman had exerted himself night and day to give them +relief. Their peculiar notions about a medicine-man made +it the Doctor's duty to cure the sick; or made it the duty +of the relatives of the dead and dying to avenge their +deaths.</p> + +<p>Yet in spite of all and every provocation, perhaps the +fatal tragedy might have been postponed, had it not been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> +for the evil influence of one Jo Lewis, a half-breed, who +had accompanied the emigration from the vicinity of Fort +Hall. This Jo Lewis, with a large party of emigrants, +had stopped to winter at the mission, much against Dr. +Whitman's wishes; for he feared not having food enough +for so many persons. Finding that he could not prevent +them, he took some of the men into his employ, and among +others the stranger half-breed.</p> + +<p>This man was much about the house, and affected to relate +to the Indians conversations which he heard between +Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, and Mr. Spalding, who with his +little daughter, was visiting at Waiilatpu. These conversations +related to poisoning the Indians, in order to get +them all out of the way, so that the white men could enjoy +their country unmolested. Yet this devil incarnate +did not convince his hearers at once of the truth of his +statements; and it was resolved in the tribe to make a +test of Dr. Whitman's medicine. Three persons were selected +to experiment upon; two of them already sick, and +the third quite well. Whether it was that the medicine +was administered in too large quantities, or whether an +unhappy chance so ordered it, all those three persons died. +Surely it is not singular that in the savage mind this circumstance +should have been deemed decisive. It was +then that the decree went forth that not only the Doctor +and Mrs. Whitman, but all the Americans at the mission +must die.</p> + +<p>On the 22d of November, Mr. Spalding arrived at +Waiilatpu, from his mission, one hundred and twenty +miles distant, with his daughter, a child of ten years, +bringing with him also several horse-loads of grain, to +help feed the emigrants wintering there. He found the +Indians suffering very much, dying one, two, three, and +sometimes five in a day. Several of the emigrant families,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> +also, were sick with measles and the dysentery, which followed +the disease. A child of one of them died the day +following Mr. Spalding's arrival.</p> + +<p>Dr. Whitman's family consisted of himself and wife, +a young man named Rodgers, who was employed as a +teacher, and also studying for the ministry, two young +people, a brother and sister, named Bulee, seven orphaned +children of one family, whose parents had died on the +road to Oregon in a previous year, named Sager, Helen +Mar, the daughter of Joe Meek, another little half-breed +girl, daughter of Bridger the fur-trader, a half-breed +Spanish boy whom the Doctor had brought up from infancy, +and two sons of a Mr. Manson, of the Hudson's +Bay Company.</p> + +<p>Besides these, there were half-a-dozen other families at +the mission, and at the saw-mill, twenty miles distant, five +families more—in all, forty-six persons at Waiilatpu, and +fifteen at the mill, who were among those who suffered by +the attack. But there were also about the mission, three +others, Jo Lewis, Nicholas Finlay, and Joseph Stanfield, +who probably knew what was about to take place, and +may, therefore be reckoned as among the conspirators.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Spalding was at Waiilatpu, a message came +from two Walla-Walla chiefs, living on the Umatilla River, +to Dr. Whitman, desiring him to visit the sick in their +villages, and the two friends set out together to attend to +the call, on the evening of the 27th of November. Says +Mr. Spalding, referring to that time: "The night was +dark, and the wind and rain beat furiously upon us. But +our interview was sweet. We little thought it was to be +our last. With feelings of the deepest emotion we called +to mind the fact, that eleven years before, we crossed this +trail before arriving at Walla-Walla, the end of our seven +months' journey from New York. We called to mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +the high hopes and thrilling interests which had been +awakened during the year that followed—of our successful +labors and the constant devotedness of the Indians to +improvement. True, we remembered the months of deep +solicitude we had, occasioned by the increasing menacing +demands of the Indians for pay for their wood, their +water, their air, their lands. But much of this had passed +away, and the Cayuses were in a far more encouraging +condition than ever before." Mr. Spalding further relates +that himself and Dr. Whitman also conversed on the +danger which threatened them from the Catholic influence. +"We felt," he says, "that the present sickness afforded +them a favorable opportunity to excite the Indians to +drive us from the country, and all the movements about +us seemed to indicate that this would soon be attempted, +if not executed." Such was the suspicion in the minds +of the Protestants. Let us hope that it was not so well +founded as they believed.</p> + +<p>The two friends arrived late at the lodge of <i>Stickas</i>, a +chief, and laid down before a blazing fire to dry their +drenched clothing. In the morning a good breakfast was +prepared for them, consisting of beef, vegetables, and +bread—all of which showed the improvement of the Indians +in the art of living. The day, being Sunday, was +observed with as much decorum as in a white man's house. +After breakfast, Dr. Whitman crossed the river to visit +the chiefs who had sent for him, namely, <i>Tan-i-tan</i>, <i>Five +Crows</i>, and <i>Yam-ha-wa-lis</i>, returning about four o'clock +in the afternoon, saying he had taken tea with the Catholic +bishop and two priests, at their house, which belonged +to <i>Tan-i-tan</i>, and that they had promised to visit him in a +short time. He then departed for the mission, feeling +uneasy about the sick ones at home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Spalding remained with the intention of visiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +the sick and offering consolation to the dying. But he +soon discovered that there was a weighty and uncomfortable +secret on the mind of his entertainer, <i>Stickas</i>. After +much questioning, <i>Stickas</i> admitted that the thought which +troubled him was that the Americans had been "decreed +against" by his people; more he could not be induced to +reveal. Anxious, yet not seriously alarmed,—for these +warnings had been given before many times,—he retired +to his couch of skins, on the evening of the 29th, being +Monday—not to sleep, however; for on either side of +him an Indian woman sat down to chant the death-song—that +frightful lament which announces danger and death. +On being questioned they would reveal nothing.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, Mr. Spalding could no longer +remain in uncertainty, but set out for Waiilatpu. As he +mounted his horse to depart, an Indian woman placed +her hand on the neck of his horse to arrest him, and pretending +to be arranging his head-gear, said in a low voice +to the rider, "Beware of the Cayuses at the mission." +Now more than ever disturbed by this intimation that it +was the mission which was threatened, he hurried forward, +fearing for his daughter and his friends. He proceeded +without meeting any one until within sight of the +lovely Walla-Walla valley, almost in sight of the mission +itself, when suddenly, at a wooded spot where the trail +passes through a little hollow, he beheld two horsemen +advancing, whom he watched with a fluttering heart, +longing for, and yet dreading, the news which the very +air seemed whispering.</p> + +<p>The two horsemen proved to be the Catholic Vicar +General, Brouillet, who, with a party of priests and nuns +had arrived in the country only a few months previous, +and his half-breed interpreter, both of whom were known<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +to Mr. Spalding. They each drew rein as they approached, +Mr. Spalding immediately inquiring "what news?"</p> + +<p>"There are very many sick at the Whitman station," +answered Brouillet, with evident embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"How are Doctor and Mrs. Whitman?" asked Spalding +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"The Doctor is ill—is dead," added the priest reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"And Mrs. Whitman?" gasped Spalding.</p> + +<p>"Is dead also. The Indians have killed them."</p> + +<p>"My daughter?" murmured the agonized questioner.</p> + +<p>"Is safe, with the other prisoners," answered Brouillet.</p> + +<p>"And then," says Spalding in speaking of that moment +of infinite horror, when in his imagination a picture of the +massacre, of the anguish of his child, the suffering of the +prisoners, of the probable destruction of his own family +and mission, and his surely impending fate, all rose up +before him—"I felt the world all blotted out at once, and +sat on my horse as rigid as a stone, not knowing or feeling +anything."</p> + +<p>While this conversation had been going on the half-breed +interpreter had kept a sinister watch over the communication, +and his actions had so suspicious a look that +the priest ordered him to ride on ahead. When he had +obeyed, Brouillet gave some rapid instructions to Spalding; +not to go near the mission, where he could do no +good, but would be certainly murdered; but to fly, to +hide himself until the excitement was over. The men at +the mission were probably all killed; the women and +children would be spared; nothing could be done at present +but to try to save his own life, which the Indians were +resolved to take.</p> + +<p>The conversation was hurried, for there was no time to +lose. Spalding gave his pack-horse to Brouillet, to avoid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +being encumbered by it; and taking some provisions +which the priest offered, struck off into the woods there +to hide until dark. Nearly a week from this night he arrived +at the Lapwai mission, starved, torn, with bleeding +feet as well as broken heart. Obliged to secrete himself +by day, his horse had escaped from him, leaving him to +perform his night journeys on foot over the sharp rocks +and prickly cactus plants, until not only his shoes had +been worn out, but his feet had become cruelly lacerated. +The constant fear which had preyed upon his heart of +finding his family murdered, had produced fearful havoc +in the life-forces; and although Mr. Spalding had the happiness +of finding that the Nez Perces had been true to +Mrs. Spalding, defending her from destruction, yet so +great had been the first shock, and so long continued the +strain, that his nervous system remained a wreck ever +afterward.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i377" name="i377"></a> +<img src="images/i377.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MOUNT HOOD FROM THE DALLES.</p> + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + + +<p>1847. When Dr. Whitman reached home on that Sunday +night, after parting with Mr. Spalding at the Umatilla, +it was already about midnight; yet he visited the sick +before retiring to rest; and early in the morning resumed +his duties among them. An Indian died that morning. +At his burial, which the Doctor attended, he observed +that but few of the friends and relatives of the deceased +were present but attributed it to the fear which the Indians +have of disease.</p> + +<p>Everything about the mission was going on as usual. +Quite a number of Indians were gathered about the place; +but as an ox was being butchered, the crowd was easily +accounted for. Three men were dressing the beef in the +yard. The afternoon session of the mission school had +just commenced. The mechanics belonging to the station +were about their various avocations. Young Bulee was +sick in the Doctor's house. Three of the orphan children +who were recovering from the measles, were with the +Doctor and Mrs. Whitman in the sitting-room; and also a +Mrs. Osborne, one of the emigrants who had just got up +from a sick bed, and who had a sick child in her arms.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i379" name="i379"></a> +<img src="images/i379.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>MASSACRE OF REV. DR. WHITMAN OF THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>The Doctor had just come in, wearied, and dejected as it +was possible for his resolute spirit to be, and had seated +himself, bible in hand, when several Indians came to a side +door, asking permission to come in and get some medicine. +The Doctor rose, got his medicines, gave them out, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +sat down again. At that moment Mrs. Whitman was in +an adjoining room and did not see what followed. <i>Tam-a-has</i>, +a chief called "the murderer," came behind the +Doctor's chair, and raising his tomahawk, struck the Doctor +in the back of the head, stunning but not killing him.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a violent commotion. John Sager, +one of the adopted children, sprang up with his pistol in +his hand, but before he could fire it, he too was struck +down, and cut and hacked shockingly. In the meantime +Dr. Whitman had received a second blow upon the head, +and now laid lifeless on the floor. Cries and confusion +filled the house.</p> + +<p>At the first sound, Mrs. Whitman, in whose ears that +whisper in the air had so long sounded, began in agony +to stamp upon the floor, and wring her hands, crying out, +"Oh, the Indians, the Indians!" At that moment one of +the women from an adjoining building came running in, +gasping with terror, for the butchery was going on outside +as well, and <i>Tam-a-has</i> and his associates were now assisting +at it. Going to the room where the Doctor lay insensible, +Mrs. Whitman and her terrified neighbor dragged +him to the sofa and laid him upon it, doing all they could +to revive him. To all their inquiries he answered by a +whispered "no," probably not conscious what was said.</p> + +<p>While this was being done, the people from every quarter +began to crowd into the Doctor's house, many of them +wounded. Outside were heard the shrieks of women, the +yells of the Indians, the roar of musketry, the noise of furious +riding, of meeting war-clubs, groans, and every +frightful combination of sound, such as only could be heard +at such a carnival of blood. Still Mrs. Whitman sat by +her husband's side, intent on trying to rouse him to say +one coherent word.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the struggle, and she heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +some one exclaim that two of her friends were being murdered +beneath the window. Starting up, she approached +the casement to get a view, as if by looking she could +save; but that moment she encountered the fiendish gaze +of Jo Lewis the half-breed, and comprehended his guilt. +"Is it <i>you</i>, Jo, who are doing this?" she cried. Before the +expression of horror had left her lips, a young Indian who +had been a special favorite about the mission, drew up his +gun and fired, the ball entering her right breast, when she +fell without a groan.</p> + +<p>When the people had at first rushed in, Mrs. Whitman +had ordered the doors fastened and the sick children removed +to a room up stairs. Thither now she was herself +conveyed, having first recovered sufficiently to stagger to +the sofa where lay her dying husband. Those who witnessed +this strange scene, say that she knelt and prayed—prayed +for the orphan children she was leaving, and for +her aged parents. The only expression of personal regret +she was heard to utter, was sorrow that her father and +mother should live to know she had perished in such a +manner.</p> + +<p>In the chamber were now gathered Mrs. Whitman, Mrs. +Hayes, Miss Bulee, Catharine Sager, thirteen years of age, +and three of the sick children, besides Mr. Rogers and Mr. +Kimble. Scarcely had they gained this retreat when the +crashing of windows and doors was heard below, and with +whoops and yells the savages dashed into the sitting-room +where Doctor Whitman still lay dying. While some +busied themselves removing from the house the goods and +furniture, a chief named <i>Te-lau-ka-ikt</i>, a favorite at the +mission, and on probation for admission into the church, +deliberately chopped and mangled the face of his still +breathing teacher and friend with his tomahawk, until every +feature was rendered unrecognizable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> + +<p>The children from the school-house were brought into +the kitchen of the Doctor's house about this time, by Jo +Lewis, where, he told them, they were going to be shot. +Mr. Spalding's little girl Eliza, was among them. Understanding +the native language, she was fully aware of the +terrible import of what was being said by their tormentors. +While the Indians talked of shooting the children +huddled together in the kitchen, pointing their guns, and +yelling, Eliza covered her face with her apron, and leaned +over upon the sink, that she might not see them shoot her. +After being tortured in this manner for some time, the +children were finally ordered out of doors.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, a chief called <i>Tamt-sak-y</i>, was +trying to induce Mrs. Whitman to come down into the +sitting-room.</p> + +<p>She replied that she was wounded and could not do so, +upon which he professed much sorrow, and still desired +her to be brought down, "If you are my friend <i>Tamt-sak-y</i>, +come up and see me," was her reply to his professions, +but he objected, saying there were Americans concealed +in the chamber, whom he feared might kill him. +Mr. Rogers then went to the head of the stairs and endeavored +to have the chief come up, hoping there might +be some friendly ones, who would aid them in escaping +from the murderers. <i>Tamt-sak-y</i>, however, would not +come up the stairs, although he persisted in saying that +Mrs. Whitman should not be harmed, and that if all would +come down and go over to the other house where the families +were collected, they might do so in safety.</p> + +<p>The Indians below now began to call out that they were +going to burn the Doctor's house. Then no alternative +remained but to descend and trust to the mercy of the +savages. As Mrs. Whitman entered the sitting-room, leaning +on one arm of Mr. Rogers, who also was wounded in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> +the head, and had a broken arm, she caught a view of the +shockingly mutilated face of her husband and fell fainting +upon the sofa, just as Doctor Whitman gave a dying gasp.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rogers and Mrs. Hayes now attempted to get the +sofa, or settee, out of the house, and had succeeded in +moving it through the kitchen to the door. No sooner +did they appear in the open door-way than a volley of balls +assailed them. Mr. Rogers fell at once, but did not die +immediately, for one of the most horrid features in this +horrid butchery was, that the victims were murdered by +torturing degrees. Mrs. Whitman also received several +gunshot wounds, lying on the settee. Francis Sager, the +oldest of her adopted boys, was dragged into the group of +dying ones and shot down.</p> + +<p>The children, who had been turned out of the kitchen +were still huddled together about the kitchen door, so +near to this awful scene that every incident was known to +them, so near that the flashes from the guns of the Indians +burnt their hair, and the odor of the blood and the burning +powder almost suffocated them.</p> + +<p>At two o'clock in the afternoon the massacre had commenced. +It was now growing dusk, and the demons were +eager to finish their work. Seeing that life still lingered +in the mangled bodies of their victims, they finished their +atrocities by hurling them in the mud and gore which filled +the yard, and beating them upon their faces with whips +and clubs, while the air was filled with the noise of their +shouting, singing, and dancing—the Indian women and +children assisting at these orgies, as if the Bible had never +been preached to them. And thus, after eleven years of +patient endeavor to save some heathen souls alive, perished +Doctor and Mrs. Whitman.</p> + +<p>In all that number of Indians who had received daily +kindnesses at the hands of the missionaries, only two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> +showed any compassion. These two, <i>Ups</i> and <i>Madpool</i>, +Walla-Wallas, who were employed by the Doctor, took +the children away from the sickening sights that surrounded +them, into the kitchen pantry, and there in secret +tried to comfort them.</p> + +<p>When night set in the children and families were all removed +to the building called the mansion-house, where they +spent a night of horror; all, except those who were left in +Mrs. Whitman's chamber, from which they dared not descend, +and the family of Mr. Osborne, who escaped.</p> + +<p>On the first assault Mr. and Mrs. Osborne ran into their +bedroom which adjoined the sitting-room, taking with +them their three small children. Raising a plank in the +floor, Mr. O. quickly thrust his wife and children into the +space beneath, and then following, let the plank down to +its place. Here they remained until darkness set in, able +to hear all that was passing about them, and fearing to +stir. When all was quiet at the Doctor's house, they stole +out under cover of darkness and succeeded in reaching +Fort Walla-Walla, after a painful journey of several days, +or rather nights, for they dared not travel by day.</p> + +<p>Another person who escaped was a Mr. Hall, carpenter, +who in a hand to hand contest with an Indian, received a +wound in the face, but finally reached the cover of some +bushes where he remained until dark, and then fled in the +direction of Fort Walla-Walla. Mr. Hall was the first to +arrive at the fort, where, contrary to his expectations, and +to all humanity, he was but coldly received by the gentleman +in charge, Mr. McBean.</p> + +<p>Whether it was from cowardice or cruelty as some alleged, +that Mr. McBean rejoiced in the slaughter of the +Protestant missionaries, himself being a Catholic, can never +be known. Had that been true, one might have supposed +that their death would have been enough, and that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> +might have sheltered a wounded man fleeing for his life, +without grudging him this atom of comfort. Unfortunately +for Mr. McBean's reputation, he declined to grant such shelter +willingly. Mr. Hall remained, however, twelve hours, +until he heard a report that the women and children were +murdered, when, knowing how unwelcome he was, and being +in a half distracted state, he consented to be set across +the Columbia to make his way as best he could to the Wallamet. +From this hour he was never seen or heard from, +the manner of his death remaining a mystery to his wife +and their family of five children, who were among the +prisoners at Waiilatpu.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Osborne left the mission in the darkness, he +was able only to proceed about two miles, before Mrs. Osborne's +strength gave way, she lately having been confined +by an untimely birth; and he was compelled to stop, +secreting himself and family in some bushes. Here they +remained, suffering with cold, and insufficient food, having +only a little bread and cold mush which they had found +in the pantry of the Doctor's house, before leaving it. On +Tuesday night, Mrs. O. was able to move about three miles +more: and again they were compelled to stop. In this +way to proceed, they must all perish of starvation; +therefore on Wednesday night Mr. O. took the second +child and started with it for the fort, where he arrived before +noon on Thursday.</p> + +<p>Although Mr. McBean received him with friendliness of +manner, he refused him horses to go for Mrs. Osborne and +his other children, and even refused to furnish food to relieve +their hunger, telling him to go to the Umatilla, +and forbidding his return to the fort. A little food was +given to himself and child, who had been fasting since +Monday night. Whether Mr. McBean would have allowed +this man to perish is uncertain: but certain it is that some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> +base or cowardly motive made him exceedingly cruel to +both Hall and Osborne.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Osborne was partaking of his tea and crackers, +there arrived at the fort Mr. Stanley, the artist, whom the +reader will remember having met in the mountains several +years before. When the case became known to him, he +offered his horses immediately to go for Mrs. Osborne. +Shamed into an appearance of humanity, Mr. McBean then +furnished an Indian guide to accompany Mr. O. to the +Umatilla, where he still insisted the fugitives should go, +though this was in the murderer's country.</p> + +<p>A little meat and a few crackers were furnished for the +supper of the travelers; and with a handkerchief for his +hatless head and a pair of socks for his child's naked feet, +all furnished by Mr. Stanley, Mr. Osborne set out to return +to his suffering wife and children. He and his guide traveled +rapidly, arriving in good time near the spot where +he believed his family to be concealed. But the darkness +had confused his recollection, and after beating the bushes +until daylight, the unhappy husband and father was about +to give up the search in despair, when his guide at length +discovered their retreat.</p> + +<p>The poor mother and children were barely alive, having +suffered much from famine and exposure, to say nothing +of their fears. Mrs. Osborne was compelled to be +tied to the Indian in order to sit her horse. In this condition +the miserable fugitives turned toward the Umatilla, +in obedience to the command of McBean, and were only +saved from being murdered by a Cayuse by the scornful +words of the guide, who shamed the murderer from his +purpose of slaughtering a sick and defenceless family. +At a Canadian farm-house, where they stopped to change +horses, they were but roughly received; and learning +here that <i>Tamt-sak-y's</i> lodge was near by, Mrs. Osborne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> +refused to proceed any farther toward the Umatilla. She +said, "I doubt if I can live to reach the Umatilla; and if +I must die, I may as well die at the gates of the Fort. +Let us, then, turn back to the Fort."</p> + +<p>To this the guide assented, saying it was not safe going +among the Cayuses. The little party, quite exhausted, +reached Walla-Walla about ten o'clock at night, and were +at once admitted. Contrary to his former course, Mr. +McBean now ordered a fire made to warm the benumbed +travelers, who, after being made tolerably comfortable, +were placed in a secret room of the fort. Again Mr. +Osborne was importuned to go away, down to the Wallamet, +Mr. McBean promising to take care of his family +and furnish him an outfit if he would do so. Upon being +asked to furnish a boat, and Indians to man it, in order +that the family might accompany him, he replied that his +Indians refused to go.</p> + +<p>From all this reluctance, not only on the part of McBean, +but of the Indians also, to do any act which appeared +like befriending the Americans, it would appear +that there was a very general fear of the Cayuse Indians, +and a belief that they were about to inaugurate a general +war upon the Americans, and their friends and allies. Mr. +Osborne, however, refused to leave his family behind, and +Mr. McBean was forced to let him remain until relief +came. When it did come at last, in the shape of Mr. +Ogden's party, <i>Stickas</i>, the chief who had warned Mr. +Spalding, showed his kind feeling for the sufferers by +removing his own cap and placing it on Mr. Osborne's +head, and by tying a handkerchief over the ears of Mr. +Osborne's little son, as he said, "to keep him warm, going +down the river." Sadly indeed, did the little ones who +suffered by the massacre at Waiilatpu, stand in need of +any Christian kindness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + + +<p>1847. A full account of the horrors of the Waiilatpu +massacre, together with the individual sufferings of +the captives whose lives were spared, would fill a volume, +and be harrowing to the reader; therefore, only so much +of it will be given here as, from its bearing upon Oregon +history, is important to our narrative.</p> + +<p>The day following the massacre, being Tuesday, was +the day on which Mr. Spalding was met and warned not +to go to the mission, by the Vicar General, Brouillet. +Happening at the mission on that day, and finding the +bodies of the victims still unburied, Brouillet had them +hastily interred before leaving, if interment it could be +called which left them still a prey to wolves. The reader +of this chapter of Oregon history will always be very much +puzzled to understand by what means the Catholic priests +procured their perfect exemption from harm during this +time of terror to the Americans. Was it that they were +French, and that they came into the country <i>only</i> as missionaries +of a religion adapted to the savage mind, and +not as settlers? Was it at all owing to the fact that they +were celibates, with no families to excite jealous feelings +of comparison in the minds of their converts?</p> + +<p>Through a long and bitter war of words, which followed +the massacre at Waiilatpu, terrible sins were charged +upon the priests—no less than inciting the Indians to the +murder of the Protestants, and winking at the atrocities of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> +every kind committed by the savages. Whether they +feared to enter into the quarrel, and were restrained from +showing sympathy solely by this fear, is a question only +themselves can determine. Certain it is, that they preserved +a neutral position, when to be neutral was to seem, +if not to be, devoid of human sympathies. That the +event would have happened without any other provocation +than such as the Americans furnished by their own +reckless disregard of Indian prejudices, seems evident. +The question, and the only question which is suggested +by a knowledge of all the circumstances, is whether the +event was helped on by an intelligent outside influence.</p> + +<p>It was quite natural that the Protestants should wonder +at the immunity from danger which the priests enjoyed; +and that, not clearly seeing the reason, they should suspect +them of collusion with the Indians. It was natural, +too, for the sufferers from the massacre to look for some +expression of sympathy from any and all denominations +of Christians; and that, not receiving it, they should have +doubts of the motives which prompted such reserve. +The story of that time is but an unpleasant record, and +had best be lightly touched upon.</p> + +<p>The work of death and destruction did not close with +the first day at Waiilatpu. Mr. Kimble, who had remained +in the chamber of the Doctor's house all night, +had suffered much from the pain of his broken arm. On +Tuesday, driven desperate by his own sufferings, and those +of the three sick children with him, one of whom was the +little Helen Mar Meek, he resolved to procure some water +from the stream which ran near the house. But he had +not proceeded more than a few rods before he was shot +down and killed instantly. The same day, a Mr. Young, +from the saw-mill, was also killed. In the course of the +week, Mr. Bulee, who was sick over at the mansion, was +brutally murdered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile the female captives and children were enduring +such agony as seldom falls to the lot of humanity +to suffer. Compelled to work for the Indians, their feelings +were continually harrowed up by the terrible sights +which everywhere met their eyes in going back and forth +between the houses, in carrying water from the stream, or +moving in any direction whatever. For the dead were +not removed until the setting in of decay made it necessary +to the Indians themselves.</p> + +<p>The goods belonging to the mission were taken from +the store-room, and the older women ordered to make them +up into clothing for the Indians. The buildings were plundered +of everything which the Indians coveted; all the +rest of their contents that could not be made useful to +themselves were destroyed. Those of the captives who +were sick were not allowed proper attention, and in a day +or two Helen Mar Meek died of neglect.</p> + +<p>Thus passed four or five days. On Saturday a new +horror was added to the others. The savages began to +carry off the young women for wives. Three were thus +dragged away to Indian lodges to suffer tortures worse +than death. One young girl, a daughter of Mr. Kimble, +was taken possession of by the murderer of her father, +who took daily delight in reminding her of that fact, and +when her sorrow could no longer be restrained, only +threatened to exchange her for another young girl who +was also a wife by compulsion.</p> + +<p>Miss Bulee, the eldest of the young women at the mission, +and who was a teacher in the mission school, was taken to +the Umatilla, to the lodge of <i>Five-Crows</i>. As has before +been related, there was a house on the Umatilla belonging +to <i>Tan-i-tan</i>, in which were residing at this time two Catholic +priests—the Vicar-General Brouillet, and Blanchet, +Bishop of Walla-Walla. To this house Miss Bulee applied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> +for protection, and was refused, whether from fear, or from +the motives subsequently attributed to them by some +Protestant writers in Oregon, is not known to any but +themselves. The only thing certain about it is, that Miss +Bulee was allowed to be violently dragged from their +presence every night, to return to them weeping in the +morning, and to have her entreaties for their assistance +answered by assurances from them that the wisest course +for her was to submit. And this continued for more than +two weeks, until the news of Mr. Ogden's arrival at Walla-Walla +became known, when Miss Bulee was told that if +<i>Five-Crows</i> would not allow her to remain at their house +altogether, she must remain at the lodge of <i>Five-Crows</i> +without coming to their house at all, well knowing what +<i>Five-Crows</i> would do, but wishing to have Miss Bulee's +action seem voluntary, from shame perhaps, at their own +cowardice. Yet the reason they gave ought to go for all +it is worth—that they being priests could not have a +woman about their house. In this unhappy situation did +the female captives spend three most miserable weeks.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the mission at Lapwai had been broken +up, but not destroyed, nor had any one suffered death as +was at first feared. The intelligence of the massacre at +Waiilatpu was first conveyed to Mrs. Spalding by a Mr. +Camfield, who at the breaking out of the massacre, fled +with his wife and children to a small room in the attic of +the mansion, from the window of which he was able to +behold the scenes which followed. When night came Mr. +Camfield contrived to elude observation and descend into +the yard, where he encountered a French Canadian long +in the employ of Dr. Whitman, and since suspected to +have been privy to the plan of the murders. To him Mr. +Camfield confided his intention to escape, and obtained a +promise that a horse should be brought to a certain place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> +at a certain time for his use. But the Canadian failing to +appear with his horse, Mr. C. set out on foot, and under +cover of night, in the direction of the Lapwai mission. +He arrived in the Nez Perce country on Thursday. On +the following day he came upon a camp of these people, +and procured from them a guide to Lapwai, without, however, +speaking of what had occurred at Waiilatpu.</p> + +<p>The caution of Mr. Camfield relates to a trait of Indian +character which the reader of Indian history must bear in +mind, that is, the close relationship and identity of feeling +of allied tribes. Why he did not inform the Nez Perces +of the deed done by their relatives, the Cayuses, was because +in that case he would have expected them to have +sympathized with their allies, even to the point of making +him a prisoner, or of taking his life. It is this fact concerning +the Indian character, which alone furnishes an excuse +for the conduct of Mr. McBean and the Catholic priests. +Upon it Mr. Camfield acted, making no sign of fear, nor +betraying any knowledge of the terrible matter on his +mind to the Nez Perces.</p> + +<p>On Saturday afternoon Mr. C. arrived at Mrs. Spalding's +house and dismissed his guide with the present of a buffalo +robe. When he was alone with Mrs. Spalding he +told his unhappy secret. It was then that the strength +and firmness of Mrs. Spalding's character displayed itself +in her decisive action. Well enough she knew the close +bond between the Nez Perces and Cayuses, and also the +treachery of the Indian character. But she saw that if +affairs were left to shape themselves as Mr. Camfield +entreated they might be left to do, putting off the evil +day,—that when the news came from the Cayuses, there +would be an outbreak.</p> + +<p>The only chance of averting this danger was to inform +the chiefs most attached to her, at once, and throw herself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> +and her family upon their mercy. Her resolution was +taken not an hour too soon. Two of the chiefs most relied +upon happened to be at the place that very afternoon, +one of whom was called <i>Jacob</i>, and the other <i>Eagle</i>. To +these two Mrs. Spalding confided the news without delay, +and took counsel of them. According to her hopes, they +assumed the responsibility of protecting her. One of +them went to inform his camp, and give them orders to +stand by Mrs. S., while the other carried a note to Mr. +Craig, one of our Rocky Mountain acquaintances, who +lived ten miles from the mission.</p> + +<p><i>Jacob</i> and <i>Eagle</i>, with two other friendly chiefs, decided +that Mrs. S. must go to their camp near Mr. Craig's; +because in case the Cayuses came to the mission as was to +be expected, she would be safer with them. Mrs. S. however +would not consent to make the move on the Sabbath, +but begged to be allowed to remain quiet until Monday. +Late Saturday evening Mr. Craig came down; and Mrs. +Spalding endeavored with his assistance to induce the Indians +to carry an express to Cimikain in the country of +the Spokanes, where Messrs. Walker and Eells had a station. +Not an Indian could be persuaded to go. An effort, +also, was made by the heroic and suffering wife and +mother, to send an express to Waiilatpu to learn the fate +of her daughter, and if possible of her husband. But the +Indians were none of them inclined to go. They said, +without doubt all the women and children were slain. +That Mr. Spalding was alive no one believed.</p> + +<p>The reply of Mrs. S. to their objections was that she +could not believe that they were her friends if they would +not undertake this journey, for the relief of her feelings +under such circumstances. At length <i>Eagle</i> consented to +go; but so much opposed were the others to having anything +done which their relations, the Cayuses, might be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> +displeased with, that it was nearly twenty-four hours before +<i>Eagle</i> got leave to go.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning a Nez Perce arrived from Waiilatpu +with the news of what the Cayuses had done. With +him were a number of Indians from the camp where Mr. +Camfield had stopped for a guide, all eager for plunder, and +for murder too, had not they found Mrs. Spalding protected +by several chiefs. Her removal to their camp +probably saved her from the fate of Mrs. Whitman.</p> + +<p>Among those foremost in plundering the mission buildings +at Lapwai were some of the hitherto most exemplary +Indians among the Nez Perces. Even the chief, first in +authority after Ellis, who was absent, was prominent in +these robberies. For eight years had this chief, Joseph, +been a member of the church at Lapwai, and sustained a +good reputation during that time. How bitter must have +been the feelings of Mrs. Spalding, who had a truly devoted +missionary heart, when she beheld the fruit of her +life's labor turned to ashes in her sight as it was by the +conduct of Joseph and his family.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the removal of Mrs. Spalding, and the pillaging +of the buildings, Mr. Spalding arrived at Lapwai +from his long and painful journey during which he had +wandered much out of his way, and suffered many things. +His appearance was the signal for earnest consultations +among the Nez Perces who were not certain that they +might safely give protection to him without the consent +of the Cayuses. To his petition that they should carry a +letter express to Fort Colville or Fort Walla-Walla, they +would not consent. Their reason for refusing seemed to +be a fear that such a letter might be answered by an +armed body of Americans, who would come to avenge the +deaths of their countrymen.</p> + +<p>To deprive them of this suspicion, Mr. Spalding told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> +them that as he had been robbed of everything, he had +no means of paying them for their services to his family, +and that it was necessary to write to Walla-Walla for +blankets, and to the Umatilla for his horses. He assured +them that he would write to his countrymen to keep quiet, +and that they had nothing to fear from the Americans. +The truth was, however, that he had forwarded through +Brouillet, a letter to Gov. Abernethy asking for help +which could only come into that hostile country armed +and equipped for war.</p> + +<p>Late in the month of December there arrived in Oregon +City to be delivered to the governor, sixty-two captives, +bought from the Cayuses and Nez Perces by Hudson's +Bay blankets and goods; and obtained at that price +by Hudson's Bay influence. "No other power on earth," +says Joe Meek, the American, "could have rescued those +prisoners from the hands of the Indians;" and no man +better than Mr. Meek understood the Indian character, +or the Hudson's Bay Company's power over them.</p> + +<p>The number of victims to the Waiilatpu massacre was +fourteen. None escaped who had not to mourn a father, +brother, son, or friend. If "the blood of the martyrs is +the seed of the church," there ought to arise on the site +of Waiilatpu a generation of extraordinary piety. As for +the people for whom a noble man and woman, and numbers +of innocent persons were sacrificed, they have returned +to their traditions; with the exception of the Nez +Perces, who under the leadership of their old teacher Mr. +Spalding, have once more resumed the pursuits of civilized +and Christianized nations.</p> + +<p>The description of Waiilatpu at the present time given +on the following page, is from "<i>All Over Oregon and +Washington</i>" by the author of this book.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Waiilatpu is just that—a creek-bottom—the creeks on either +side of it fringed with trees; higher land shutting out the view +in front; isolation and solitude the most striking features of +the place. Yet here came a man and a woman to live and to +labor among the savages, when all the old Oregon territory was +an Indian country. Here stood the station erected by them: +<i>adobe</i> houses, a mill, a school-house for the Indians, shops, +and all the necessary appurtenances of an isolated settlement. +Nothing remains to-day but mounds of earth, into which the +<i>adobes</i> were dissolved by weather, after burning.</p> + +<p>"A few rods away, on the side of the hill, is a different mound: +the common grave of fourteen victims of savage superstition, +jealousy, and wrath. It is roughly inclosed by a board fence, +and has not a shrub or a flower to disguise its terrible significance. +The most affecting reminders of wasted effort which +remain on the old Mission-grounds are the two or three apple-trees +which escaped the general destruction, and the scarlet +poppies which are scattered broadcast through the creek-bottom +near the houses. Sadly significant it is that the flower whose +evanescent bloom is the symbol of unenduring joys, should be +the only tangible witness left of the womanly tastes and labors +of the devoted Missionary who gave her life a sacrifice to ungrateful +Indian savagery.</p> + +<p>"The place is occupied, at present, by one of Dr. Whitman's +early friends and co-laborers, who claimed the Mission-ground, +under the Donation Act, and who was first and most active in +founding the seminary to the memory of a Christian gentleman +and martyr. On the identical spot where stood the Doctor's +residence, now stands the more modern one of his friend; and +he seems to take a melancholy pleasure in keeping in remembrance +the events of that unhappy time, which threw a gloom +over the whole territory west of the Rocky Mountains."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + + +<p>1847-8. When the contents of Mr. Douglas' letter to +the governor became known to the citizens of the Wallamet +settlement, the greatest excitement prevailed. On +the reading of that letter, and those accompanying it, before +the House, a resolution was immediately introduced +authorizing the governor to raise a company of riflemen, +not to exceed fifty in number, to occupy and hold the +mission station at the Dalles, until a larger force could be +raised, and such measures adopted as the government +might think advisable. This resolution being sent to the +governor without delay, received his approval, when the +House adjourned.</p> + +<p>A large meeting of the citizens was held that evening, +which was addressed by several gentlemen, among whom +was Meek, whose taste for Indian fighting was whetted to +keenness by the aggravating circumstances of the Waiilatpu +massacre, and the fact that his little Helen Mar was +among the captives. Impatient as was Meek to avenge +the murders, he was too good a mountain-man to give any +rash advice. All that could be done under the existing +circumstances was to trust to the Hudson's Bay Company +for the rescue of the prisoners, and to take such means for +defending the settlements as the people in their unarmed +condition could devise.</p> + +<p>The legislature undertook the settlement of the question +of ways and means. To raise money for the carrying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> +out of the most important measures immediately, was a +task which after some consideration was entrusted to three +commissioners; and by these commissioners letters were +addressed to the Hudson's Bay Company, the superintendent +of the Methodist mission, and to the "merchants and +citizens of Oregon." The latter communication is valuable +as fully explaining the position of affairs at that time +in Oregon. It is dated Dec. 17th, and was as follows:</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p><span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>:—You are aware that the undersigned have been charged by +the legislature of our provisional government with the difficult duty of obtaining +the necessary means to arm, equip, and support in the field a force sufficient +to obtain full satisfaction of the Cayuse Indians, for the late massacre at Waiilatpu, +and to protect the white population of our common country from further +aggression.</p> + +<p>In furtherance of this object they have deemed it their duty to make immediate +application to the merchants and citizens of the country for the requisite +assistance.</p> + +<p>Though clothed with the power to pledge, to the fullest extent, the faith and +means of the present government of Oregon, they do not consider this pledge +the only security to those who, in this distressing emergency, may extend to the +people of this country the means of protection and redress.</p> + +<p>Without claiming any special authority from the government of the United +States to contract a debt to be liquidated by that power, yet, from all precedents +of like character in the history of our country, the undersigned feel confident +that the United States government will regard the murder of the late +Dr. Whitman and his lady, as a national wrong, and will fully justify the people +of Oregon in taking active measures to obtain redress for that outrage, and +for their protection from further aggression.</p> + +<p>The right of self-defence is tacitly acknowledged to every body politic in the +confederacy to which we claim to belong, and in every case similar to our own, +within our knowledge, the general government has promptly assumed the payment +of all liabilities growing out of the measures taken by the constituted +authorities, to protect the lives and property of those who reside within the +limits of their districts.</p> + +<p>If the citizens of the States and territories, east of the Rocky mountains, +are justified in promptly acting in such emergencies, who are under the +immediate protection of the general government, there appears no room for +doubt that the lawful acts of the Oregon government will receive a like approval.</p> + +<p>Though the Indians of the Columbia have committed a great outrage upon +our fellow citizens passing through their country, and residing among them,<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> +and their punishment for these murders may, and ought to be, a prime object +with every citizen of Oregon, yet, as that duty more particularly devolves upon +the government of the United States, and admits of delay, we do not make +this the strongest ground upon which to found our earnest appeal to you for +pecuniary assistance. It is a fact well known to every person acquainted with +the Indian character, that, by passing silently over their repeated thefts, robberies, +and murders of our fellow-citizens, they have been emboldened to the +commission of the appalling massacre at Waiilatpu. They call us women, +destitute of the hearts and courage of men, and if we allow this wholesale murder +to pass by as former aggressions, who can tell how long either life or property +will be secure in any part of this country, or what moment the Willamette +will be the scene of blood and carnage.</p> + +<p>The officers of our provisional government have nobly performed their duty. +None can doubt the readiness of the patriotic sons of the west to offer their +personal services in defence of a cause so righteous. So it now rests with you, +gentlemen, to say whether our rights and our fire-sides shall be defended, or +not.</p> + +<p>Hoping that none will be found to falter in so high and so sacred a duty, we +beg leave, gentlemen, to subscribe ourselves,</p> + +<p class="midind"> +Your servants and fellow-citizens,</p> +<p class="deepind"><span class="smcap">Jesse Applegate</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">A.L. Lovejoy</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Geo. L. Curry</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Commissioners</i>.<br /></span> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>A similar letter had been addressed to the Hudson's +Bay Company, and to the Methodist mission. From each +of these sources such assistance was obtained as enabled +the colony to arm and equip the first regiment of Oregon +riflemen, which in the month of January proceeded to the +Cayuse country. The amount raised, however, was very +small, being less than five thousand dollars, and it became +imperatively necessary that the government of the United +States should be called upon to extend its aid and protection +to the loyal but distressed young territory.</p> + +<p>In view of this necessity it was resolved in the legislature +to send a messenger to carry the intelligence +of the massacre to Gov. Mason of California, and through +him to the commander of the United States squadron +in the Pacific, that a vessel of war might be sent into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> +the Columbia River, and arms and ammunition borrowed +for the present emergency, from the nearest arsenal. +For this duty was chosen Jesse Applegate, Esq., a gentleman +who combined in his character and person the ability +of the statesman with the sagacity and strength of the +pioneer. Mr. Applegate, with a small party of brave +men, set out in midwinter to cross the mountains into California, +but such was the depth of snow they encountered +that traveling became impossible, even after abandoning +their horses, and they were compelled to return.</p> + +<p>The messenger elected to proceed to the United States +was Joseph L. Meek, whose Rocky Mountain experiences +eminently fitted him to encounter the dangers of such a +winter journey, and whose manliness, firmness, and ready +wit stood him instead of statesmanship.</p> + +<p>On the 17th December Meek resigned his seat in the +House in order to prepare for the discharge of his duty as +messenger to the United States. On the 4th of January, +armed with his credentials from the Oregon legislature, +and bearing dispatches from that body and the Governor +to the President, he at length set out on the long and perilous +expedition, having for traveling companions Mr. +John Owens, and Mr. George Ebbarts—the latter having +formerly been a Rocky Mountain man, like himself.</p> + +<p>At the Dalles they found the first regiment of Oregon +Riflemen, under Major Lee, of the newly created army of +Oregon. From the reports which the Dalles Indians +brought in of the hostility of the Indians beyond the Des +Chutes River it was thought best not to proceed before +the arrival of the remainder of the army, when all the +forces would proceed at once to Waiilatpu. Owing to +various delays, the army, consisting of about five hundred +men, under Colonel Gilliam, did not reach the Dalles until +late in January, when the troops proceeded at once to the +seat of war.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> + +<p>The reports concerning the warlike disposition of the +Indians proved to be correct. Already, the Wascopams +or Dalles Indians had begun robbing the mission at that +place, when Colonel Lee's arrival among them with troops +had compelled them to return the stolen property. As +the army advanced they found that all the tribes above +the Dalles were holding themselves prepared for hostilities. +At Well Springs, beyond the Des Chutes River, they were +met by a body of about six hundred Indians to whom they +gave battle, soon dispersing them, the superior arms and +equipments of the whites tending to render timid those +tribes yet unaccustomed to so superior an enemy. From +thence to Waiilatpu the course of the army was unobstructed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the captives had been given up to the +Hudson's Bay Company, and full particulars of the massacre +were obtained by the army, with all the subsequent +abuses and atrocities suffered by the prisoners. The horrible +details were not calculated to soften the first bitterness +of hatred which had animated the volunteers on going +into the field. Nor was the appearance of an armed force +in their midst likely to allay the hostile feelings with +which other causes had inspired the Indians. Had not the +captives already been removed out of the country, no +influence, not even that of the Hudson's Bay Company, +could have prevailed to get them out of the power of their +captors then. Indeed, in order to treat with the Cayuses +in the first place, Mr. Ogden had been obliged to promise +peace to the Indians, and now they found instead of peace, +every preparation for war. However, as the army took +no immediate action, but only remained in their country to +await the appearance of the commissioners appointed by +the legislature of Oregon to hold a council with the chiefs +of the various tribes, the Cayuses were forced to observe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> +the outward semblance of amity while these councils were +pending.</p> + +<p>Arrived at Waiilatpu, the friends and acquaintances of +Dr. Whitman were shocked to find that the remains of the +victims were still unburied, although a little earth had +been thrown over them. Meek, to whom, ever since his +meeting with her in the train of the fur-trader, Mrs. Whitman +had seemed all that was noble and captivating, had +the melancholy satisfaction of bestowing, with others, the +last sad rite of burial upon such portions of her once fair +person as murder and the wolves had not destroyed. Some +tresses of golden hair were severed from the brow so terribly +disfigured, to be given to her friends in the Wallamet +as a last and only memorial. Among the State documents +at Salem, Oregon, may still be seen one of these +relics of the Waiilatpu tragedy.</p> + +<p>Not only had Meek to discover and inter the remains of +Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, but also of his little girl, who was +being educated at the mission, with a daughter of his +former leader, Bridger.</p> + +<p>This sad duty performed, he immediately set out, escorted +by a company of one hundred men under Adjutant Wilcox, +who accompanied him as far as the foot of the Blue +Mountains. Here the companies separated, and Meek +went on his way to Washington.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + + +<p>1848. Meek's party now consisted of himself, Ebbarts, +Owens, and four men, who being desirous of returning to +the States took this opportunity. However, as the snow +proved to be very deep on the Blue Mountains, and the +cold severe, two of these four volunteers became discouraged +and concluded to remain at Fort Boise, where was a +small trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company.</p> + +<p>In order to avoid trouble with the Indians he might +meet on the western side of the Rocky mountains, Meek +had adopted the red belt and Canadian cap of the employees +of the Hudson's Bay Company; and to this precaution +was owing the fact of his safe passage through the country +now all infected with hostility caught from the Cayuses. +About three days' travel beyond Fort Boise, the party +met a village of Bannack Indians, who at once made warlike +demonstrations; but on seeing Meek's costume, and +receiving an invitation to hold a 'talk', desisted, and received +the travelers in a friendly manner. Meek informed +the chief, with all the gravity which had won for him the +name of "<i>shiam shuspusia</i>" among the Crows in former +years, that he was going on the business of the Hudson's +Bay Company to Fort Hall; and that Thomas McKay was +a day's march behind with a large trading party, and +plenty of goods. On the receipt of this good news, the +chief ordered his braves to fall back, and permit the party +to pass. Yet, fearing the deception might be discovered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> +they thought it prudent to travel day and night until they +reached Fort Hall.</p> + +<p>At this post of the Hudson's Bay Company, in charge +of Mr. Grant, they were kindly received, and stopped for +a few hours of rest. Mr. Grant being absent, his wife provided +liberally for the refreshment of the party, who were +glad to find themselves even for a short interval under a +roof, beside a fire and partaking of freshly cooked food. +But they permitted themselves no unnecessary delay. Before +night they were once more on their way, though +snow had now commenced to fall afresh, rendering the +traveling very difficult. For two days they struggled on, +their horses floundering in the soft drifts, until further +progress in that manner became impossible. The only alternative +left was to abandon their horses and proceed on +snow-shoes, which were readily constructed out of willow +sticks.</p> + +<p>Taking only a blanket and their rifles, and leaving the +animals to find their way back to Fort Hall, the little party +pushed on. Meek was now on familiar ground, and the +old mountain spirit which had once enabled him to endure +hunger, cold, and fatigue without murmuring, possessed +him now. It was not without a certain sense of enjoyment +that he found himself reduced to the necessity of +shooting a couple of pole-cats to furnish a supper for himself +and party. How long the enjoyment of feeling want +would have lasted is uncertain, but probably only long +enough to whet the appetite for plenty.</p> + +<p>To such a point had the appetites of all the party been +whetted, when, after several days of scarcity and toil, followed +by nights of emptiness and cold, Meek had the +agreeable surprise of falling in with an old mountain comrade +on the identical ground of many a former adventure, +the head-waters of Bear River. This man, whom Meek<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> +was delighted to meet, was Peg-leg Smith, one of the +most famous of many well-known mountain-men. He +was engaged in herding cattle in the valley of Thomas' +Fork, where the tall grass was not quite buried under +snow, and had with him a party of ten men.</p> + +<p>Meek was as cordially received by his former comrade +as the unbounded hospitality of mountain manners rendered +it certain he would be. A fat cow was immediately +sacrificed, which, though not buffalo meat, as in former +times it would have been, was very good beef, and furnished +a luxurious repast to the pole-cat eaters of the +last several days. Smith's camp did not lack the domestic +element of women and children, any more than had +the trapper's camps in the flush times of the fur-trade. +Therefore, seeing that the meeting was most joyful, and +full of reminiscences of former winter camps, Smith +thought to celebrate the occasion by a grand entertainment. +Accordingly, after a great deal of roast beef had +been disposed of, a dance was called for, in which white +men and Indian women joined with far more mirth and +jollity than grace or ceremony. Thus passed some hours +of the night, the bearer of dispatches seizing, in true +mountain style, the passing moment's pleasure, so long as +it did not interfere with the punctilious discharge of his +duty. And to the honor of our hero be it said, nothing +was ever allowed to interfere with that.</p> + +<p>Refreshed and provided with rations for a couple of +days, the party started on again next morning, still on +snow-shoes, and traveled up Bear River to the head-waters +of Green River, crossing from the Muddy fork over to +Fort Bridger, where they arrived very much fatigued but +quite well in little more than three days' travel. Here +again it was Meek's good fortune to meet with his former +leader, Bridger, to whom he related what had befallen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> +him since turning pioneer. The meeting was joyful on +both sides, clouded only by the remembrance of what had +brought it about, and the reflection that both had a personal +wrong to avenge in bringing about the punishment +of the Cayuse murderers.</p> + +<p>Once more Meek's party were generously fed, and furnished +with such provisions as they could carry about +their persons. In addition to this, Bridger presented +them with four good mules, by which means the travelers +were mounted four at a time, while the fifth took exercise +on foot; so that by riding or walking, turn about, they +were enabled to get on very well as far as the South Pass. +Here again for some distance the snow was very deep, +and two of their mules were lost in it. Their course lay +down the Sweetwater River, past many familiar hunting +and camping grounds, to the Platte River. Owing to the +deep snows, game was very scarce, and a long day of toil +was frequently closed by a supperless sleep under shelter +of some rock or bank, with only a blanket for cover. At +Red Buttes they were so fortunate as to find and kill a +single buffalo, which, separated from the distant herd, was +left by Providence in the path of the famished travelers.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Platte River they found the traveling +improved, as well as the supply of game, and proceeded +with less difficulty as far as Fort Laramie, a trading post +in charge of a French trader named Papillion. Here +again fresh mules were obtained, and the little party +treated in the most hospitable manner. In parting from +his entertainer, Meek was favored with this brief counsel:</p> + +<p>"There is a village of Sioux, of about six hundred +lodges, a hundred miles from here. Your course will +bring you to it. Look out for yourself, and don't make +a Gray muss of it!"—which latter clause referred to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> +affair of 1837, when the Sioux had killed the Indian escort +of Mr. Gray.</p> + +<p>When the party arrived at Ash Hollow, which they +meant to have passed in the night, on account of the +Sioux village, the snow was again falling so thickly that +the party had not perceived their nearness to the village +until they were fairly in the midst of it. It was now no +safer to retreat than to proceed; and after a moment's +consultation, the word was given to keep on. In truth, +Meek thought it doubtful whether the Sioux would trouble +themselves to come out in such a tempest, and if they did +so, that the blinding snow-fall was rather in his favor. +Thus reasoning, he was forcing his mule through the +drifts as rapidly as the poor worried animal could make +its way, when a head was protruded from a lodge door, +and "Hallo, Major!" greeted his ear in an accent not +altogether English.</p> + +<p>On being thus accosted, the party came to a halt, and +Meek was invited to enter the lodge, with his friends. +His host on this occasion was a French trader named Le +Bean, who, after offering the hospitalities of the lodge, +and learning who were his guests, offered to accompany +the party a few miles on its way. This he did, saying by +way of explanation of this act of courtesy, "The Sioux +are a bad people; I thought it best to see you safe out +of the village." Receiving the thanks of the travelers, +he turned back at night-fall, and they continued on all +night without stopping to camp, going some distance to +the south of their course before turning east again, in +order to avoid any possible pursuers.</p> + +<p>Without further adventures, and by dint of almost constant +travel, the party arrived at St. Joseph, Mo., in +safety, in a little over two months, from Portland, Oregon. +Soon afterwards, when the circumstances of this journey<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> +became known, a steamboat built for the Missouri River +trade was christened the <i>Joseph L. Meek</i>, and bore for a +motto, on her pilot-house, "The quickest trip yet," in +reference both to Meek's overland journey and her own +steaming qualities.</p> + +<p>As Meek approached the settlements, and knew that he +must soon be thrown into society of the highest official +grade, and be subjected to such ordeals as he dreaded far +more than Indian fighting, or even traveling express +across a continent of snow, the subject of how he was to +behave in these new and trying positions very frequently +occurred to him. He, an uneducated man, trained to +mountain life and manners, without money, or even +clothes, with nothing to depend on but the importance of +his mission and his own mother wit, he felt far more +keenly than his careless appearance would suggest, the +difficulties and awkwardness of his position.</p> + +<p>"I thought a great deal about it," confesses the Col. +Joseph L. Meek of to-day, "and I finally concluded that +as I had never tried to act like anybody but myself, I +would not make myself a fool by beginning to ape other +folks now. So I said, 'Joe Meek you always have been, +and Joe Meek you shall remain; go ahead, Joe Meek!'"</p> + +<p>In fact, it would have been rather difficult putting on +fine gentleman airs, in that old worn-out hunting suit of +his, and with not a dollar to bless himself. On the contrary, +it needed just the devil-may-care temper which +naturally belonged to our hero, to carry him through the +remainder of his journey to Washington. To be hungry, +ill-clad, dirty, and penniless, is sufficient in itself for the +subduing of most spirits; how it affected the temper of +the messenger from Oregon we shall now learn.</p> + +<p>When the weary little party arrived in St. Joseph, they +repaired to a hotel, and Meek requested that a meal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> +should be served for all, but frankly confessing that they +had no money to pay. The landlord, however, declined +furnishing guests of his style upon such terms, and our +travelers were forced to go into camp below the town. +Meek now bethought himself of his letters of introduction. +It chanced that he had one from two young men +among the Oregon volunteers, to their father in St Joseph. +Stopping a negro who was passing his camp, he +inquired whether such a gentleman was known to him; +and on learning that he was, succeeded in inducing the +negro to deliver the letter from his sons.</p> + +<p>This movement proved successful. In a short space of +time the gentleman presented himself, and learning the +situation of the party, provided generously for their present +wants, and promised any assistance which might be +required in future. Meek, however, chose to accept only +that which was imperatively needed, namely, something +to eat, and transportation to some point on the river +where he could take a steamer for St. Louis. A portion +of his party chose to remain in St. Joseph, and a portion +accompanied him as far as Independence, whither this +same St. Joseph gentleman conveyed them in his carriage.</p> + +<p>While Meek was stopping at Independence, he was +recognized by a sister, whom he had not seen for nineteen +years; who, marrying and emigrating from Virginia, had +settled on the frontier of Missouri. But he gave himself +no time for family reunion and gossip. A steamboat that +had been frozen up in the ice all winter, was just about +starting for St. Louis, and on board of this he went, with +an introduction to the captain, which secured for him +every privilege the boat afforded, together with the kindest +attention of its officers.</p> + +<p>When the steamer arrived in St. Louis, by one of those +fortuitous circumstances so common in our hero's career,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> +he was met at the landing by Campbell, a Rocky Mountain +trader who had formerly belonged to the St. Louis +Company. This meeting relieved him of any care about +his night's entertainment in St. Louis, and it also had another +effect—that of relieving him of any further care +about the remainder of his journey; for, after hearing +Meek's story of the position of affairs in Oregon and his +errand to the United States, Campbell had given the +same to the newspaper reporters, and Meek, like Byron, +waked up next morning to find himself famous.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i411" name="i411"></a> +<img src="images/i411.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MEEK AS STEAMBOAT RUNNER.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>Having telegraphed to Washington, and received the +President's order to come on, the previous evening, our +hero wended his way to the levee the morning after his +arrival in St. Louis. There were two steamers lying side +by side, both up for Pittsburg, with runners for each,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> +striving to outdo each other in securing passengers. A +bright thought occurred to the moneyless envoy—he +would earn his passage!</p> + +<p>Walking on board one of the boats, which bore the +name of <i>The Declaration</i>, himself a figure which attracted +all eyes by his size and outlandish dress, he mounted to +the hurricane deck and began to harrangue the crowd +upon the levee, in the voice of a Stentor:</p> + +<p>"This way, gentlemen, if you please. Come right on +board the <i>Declaration</i>. I am the man from Oregon, with +dispatches to the President of these United States, that +you all read about in this morning's paper. Come on +board, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to hear the news +from Oregon. I've just come across the plains, two +months from the Columbia River, where the Injuns are +killing your missionaries. Those passengers who come +aboard the <i>Declaration</i> shall hear all about it before they +get to Pittsburg. Don't stop thar, looking at my old +wolf-skin cap, but just come aboard, and hear what I've +got to tell!"</p> + +<p>The novelty of this sort of solicitation operated capitally. +Many persons crowded on board the <i>Declaration</i> +only to get a closer look at this picturesque personage +who invited them, and many more because they were really +interested to know the news from the far off young +territory which had fallen into trouble. So it chanced +that the <i>Declaration</i> was inconveniently crowded on this +particular morning.</p> + +<p>After the boat had got under way, the captain approached +his roughest looking cabin passenger and inquired +in a low tone of voice if he were really and truly +the messenger from Oregon.</p> + +<p>"Thar's what I've got to show for it;" answered Meek, +producing his papers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, all I have to say is, Mr. Meek, that you are the +best runner this boat ever had; and you are welcome to +your passage ticket, and anything you desire besides."</p> + +<p>Finding that his bright thought had succeeded so well, +Meek's spirit rose with the occasion, and the passengers +had no reason to complain that he had not kept his word. +Before he reached Wheeling his popularity was immense, +notwithstanding the condition of his wardrobe. At Cincinnati +he had time to present a letter to the celebrated +Doctor ——, who gave him another, which proved to be +an 'open sesame' wherever he went thereafter.</p> + +<p>On the morning of his arrival in Wheeling it happened +that the stage which then carried passengers to Cumberland, +where they took the train for Washington, had already +departed. Elated by his previous good fortune our +ragged hero resolved not to be delayed by so trivial a +circumstance; but walking pompously into the stage office +inquired, with an air which must have smacked strongly +of the mock-heroic, if he "could have a stage for Cumberland?"</p> + +<p>The nicely dressed, dignified elderly gentleman who +managed the business of the office, regarded the man who +proffered this modest request for a moment in motionless +silence, then slowly raising the spectacles over his eyes to +a position on his forehead, finished his survey with unassisted +vision. Somewhat impressed by the manner in +which Meek bore this scrutiny, he ended by demanding +"who are you?"</p> + +<p>Tickled by the absurdity of the tableau they were enacting, +Meek straightened himself up to his six feet two, +and replied with an air of superb self assurance—</p> + +<p>"I am Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary +from the Republic of Oregon to the Court of the +United States!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a pause in which the old gentleman seemed to be +recovering from some great surprise, he requested to see +the credentials of this extraordinary envoy. Still more +surprised he seemed on discovering for himself that the +personage before him was really a messenger from Oregon +to the government of the United States. But the effect +was magical. In a moment the bell-rope was pulled, and +in an incredibly short space of time a coach stood at the +door ready to convey the waiting messenger on his way +to Washington.</p> + +<p>In the meantime in a conversation with the stage agent, +Meek had explained more fully the circumstances of his +mission, and the agent had become much interested. On +parting, Meek received a ticket to the Relay House, with +many expressions of regret from the agent that he could +ticket him no farther.</p> + +<p>"But it is all the same," said he; "you are sure to go +through."</p> + +<p>"Or run a train off the track," rejoined Meek, as he +was bowed out of the office.</p> + +<p>It happened that there were some other passengers +waiting to take the first stage, and they crowded into this +one, glad of the unexpected opportunity, but wondering +at the queer looking passenger to whom the agent was so +polite. This scarcely concealed curiosity was all that was +needed to stimulate the mad-cap spirits of our so far "conquering +hero." Putting his head out of the window just +at the moment of starting, he electrified everybody, +horses included, by the utterance of a war-whoop and yell +that would have done credit to a wild Camanche. Satisfied +with the speed to which this demoniac noise had excited +the driver's prancing steeds, he quietly ensconced +himself in his corner of the coach and waited for his fellow +passengers to recover from their stunned sensations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> +When their complete recovery had been effected, there +followed the usual questioning and explanations, which +ended in the inevitable lionizing that was so much to the +taste of this sensational individual.</p> + +<p>On the cars at Cumberland, and at the eating-houses, +the messenger from Oregon kept up his sensational character, +indulging in alternate fits of mountain manners, and +again assuming a disproportionate amount of grandeur; +but in either view proving himself very amusing. By the +time the train reached the Relay House, many of the passengers +had become acquainted with Meek, and were prepared +to understand and enjoy each new phase of his +many-sided comicality.</p> + +<p>The ticket with which the stage agent presented him, +dead-headed him only to this point. Here again he must +make his poverty a jest, and joke himself through to +Washington. Accordingly when the conductor came +through the car in which he, with several of his new +acquaintances were sitting, demanding tickets, he was +obliged to tap his blanketed passenger on the shoulder +to attract his attention to the "ticket, sir!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Ha ko any me ca, hanch?</i>" said Meek, starting up +and addressing him in the Snake tongue.</p> + +<p>"Ticket, sir!" repeated the conductor, staring.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ka hum pa, hanch?</i>" returned Meek, assuming a look +which indicated that English was as puzzling to him, as +Snake to other people.</p> + +<p>Finding that his time would be wasted on this singular +passenger, the conductor went on through the train; returning +after a time with a fresh demand for his ticket. +But Meek sustained his character admirably, and it was +only through the excessive amusement of the passengers +that the conductor suspected that he was being made the +subject of a practical joke. At this stage of affairs it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> +privately explained to him who and what his waggish customer +was, and tickets were no more mentioned during +the journey.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of the train at Washington, the heart of +our hero became for a brief moment of time "very little." +He felt that the importance of his mission demanded some +dignity of appearance—some conformity to established +rules and precedents. But of the latter he knew absolutely +nothing; and concerning the former, he realized +the absurdity of a dignitary clothed in blankets and a +wolf-skin cap. 'Joe Meek I must remain,' said he to himself, +as he stepped out of the train, and glanced along the +platform at the crowd of porters with the names of their +hotels on their hat-bands. Learning from inquiry that +Coleman's was the most fashionable place, he decided that +to Coleman's he would go, judging correctly that it was +best to show no littleness of heart even in the matter of +hotels.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + + +<p>1848. When Meek arrived at Coleman's it was the +dinner hour, and following the crowd to the dining saloon, +he took the first seat he came to, not without being very +much stared at. He had taken his cue and the staring +was not unexpected, consequently not so embarrassing as +it might otherwise have been. A bill of fare was laid beside +his plate. Turning to the colored waiter who placed +it there, he startled him first by inquiring in a low growling +voice—</p> + +<p>"What's that boy?"</p> + +<p>"Bill of fare, sah," replied the "boy," who recognized +the Southerner in the use of that one word.</p> + +<p>"Read!" growled Meek again. "The people in <i>my</i> +country can't read."</p> + +<p>Though taken by surprise, the waiter, politely obedient, +proceeded to enumerate the courses on the bill of fare. +When he came to game——</p> + +<p>"Stop thar, boy!" commanded Meek, "what kind of +game?"</p> + +<p>"Small game, sah."</p> + +<p>"Fetch me a piece of antelope," leaning back in his +chair with a look of satisfaction on his face.</p> + +<p>"Got none of that sah; don't know what that ar' sah."</p> + +<p>"Don't know!" with a look of pretended surprise. "In +<i>my</i> country antelope and deer ar' small game; bear and +buffalo ar' large game. I reckon if you haven't got one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> +you haven't got the other, either. In that case you may +fetch me some beef."</p> + +<p>The waiter disappeared grinning, and soon returned with +the customary thin and small cut, which Meek eyed at first +contemptuously, and then accepting it in the light of a +sample swallowed it at two mouthfuls, returning his plate +to the waiter with an approving smile, and saying loud +enough to be overheard by a score of people——</p> + +<p>"Boy, that will do. Fetch me about four pounds of the +same kind."</p> + +<p>By this time the blanketed beef-eater was the recipient +of general attention, and the "boy" who served him comprehending +with that quickness which distinguishes servants, +that he had no ordinary backwoodsman to deal with, +was all the time on the alert to make himself useful. People +stared, then smiled, then asked each other "who is it?" +loud enough for the stranger to hear. Meek looked neither +to the right nor to the left, pretending not to hear +the whispering. When he had finished his beef, he again +addressed himself to the attentive "boy."</p> + +<p>"That's better meat than the old mule I eat in the mountains."</p> + +<p>Upon this remark the whispering became more general, +and louder, and smiles more frequent.</p> + +<p>"What have you got to drink, boy?" continued Meek, +still unconscious. "Isn't there a sort of wine called—some +kind of <i>pain</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Champagne, sah?"</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff, I reckon; bring me some."</p> + +<p>While Meek drank his champagne, with an occasional +aside to his faithful attendant, people laughed and wondered +"who the devil it was." At length, having finished +his wine, and overhearing many open inquiries as to his +identity, the hero of many bear-fights slowly arose, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> +addressing the company through the before-mentioned +"boy," said:</p> + +<p>"You want to know who I am?"</p> + +<p>"If you please, sah; yes, if you please, sah, for the +sake of these gentlemen present," replied the "boy," answering +for the company.</p> + +<p>"Wall then," proclaimed Meek with a grandiloquent +air quite at variance with his blanket coat and unkempt +hair, yet which displayed his fine person to advantage, "I +am Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from +the Republic of Oregon to the Court of the United +States!"</p> + +<p>With that he turned and strode from the room. He +had not proceeded far, however, before he was overtaken +by a party of gentlemen in pursuit. Senator Underwood +of Kentucky immediately introduced himself, calling the +envoy by name, for the dispatch from St. Louis had prepared +the President and the Senate for Meek's appearance +in Washington, though it had not advised them of his +style of dress and address. Other gentlemen were introduced, +and questions followed questions in rapid succession.</p> + +<p>When curiosity was somewhat abated, Meek expressed +a wish to see the President without delay. To Underwood's +question as to whether he did not wish to make his +toilet before visiting the White House, his reply was, +"business first, and toilet afterwards."</p> + +<p>"But," said Underwood, "even your business can wait +long enough for that."</p> + +<p>"No, that's your mistake, Senator, and I'll tell you why: +I can't dress, for two reasons, both good ones. I've not +got a cent of money, nor a second suit of clothes."</p> + +<p>The generous Kentuckian offered to remove the first of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> +the objections on the spot, but Meek declined. "I'll see +the President first, and hear what he has to say about my +mission." Then calling a coach from the stand, he sprang +into it, answering the driver's question of where he would +be taken, with another inquiry.</p> + +<p>"Whar should a man of <i>my</i> style want to go?—to the +White House, of course!" and so was driven away amid +the general laughter of the gentlemen in the portico at +Coleman's, who had rather doubted his intention to pay +his respects to the President in his dirty blankets.</p> + +<p>He was admitted to the Presidential mansion by a mulatto +of about his own age, with whom he remembered +playing when a lad, for it must be remembered that the +Meeks and Polks were related, and this servant had grown +up in the family. On inquiring if he could see the President, +he was directed to the office of the private Secretary, +Knox Walker, also a relative of Meek's on the mother's +side.</p> + +<p>On entering he found the room filled with gentlemen +waiting to see the President, each when his turn to be admitted +should arrive. The Secretary sat reading a paper, +over the top of which he glanced but once at the new +comer, to ask him to be seated. But Meek was not in the +humor for sitting. He had not traveled express for more +than two months, in storm and cold, on foot and on horseback, +by day and by night, with or without food, as it +chanced, to sit down quietly now and wait. So he took a +few turns up and down the room, and seeing that the +Secretary glanced at him a little curiously, stopped and +said:</p> + +<p>"I should like to see the President immediately. Just +tell him if you please that there is a gentleman from Oregon +waiting to see him on very important business."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the word <i>Oregon</i>, the Secretary sprang up, dashed +his paper to the ground, and crying out "Uncle Joe!" +came forward with both hands extended to greet his long +lost relative.</p> + +<p>"Take care, Knox! don't come too close," said Meek +stepping back, "I'm ragged, dirty, and—lousy."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i421" name="i421"></a> +<img src="images/i421.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"> "TAKE CARE, KNOX."</p> + +</div> + + +<p>But Walker seized his cousin's hand, without seeming +fear of the consequences, and for a few moments there +was an animated exchange of questions and answers, which +Meek at last interrupted to repeat his request to be admitted +to the President without delay. Several times the Secretary +turned to leave the room, but as often came back +with some fresh inquiry, until Meek fairly refused to say +another word, until he had delivered his dispatches.</p> + +<p>When once the Secretary got away he soon returned +with a request from the President for the appearance of +the Oregon messenger, all other visitors being dismissed +for that day. Polk's reception proved as cordial as Walk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span>er's +had been. He seized the hand of his newly found +relative, and welcomed him in his own name, as well as +that of messenger from the distant, much loved, and long +neglected Oregon. The interview lasted for a couple of +hours. Oregon affairs and family affairs were talked over +together; the President promising to do all for Oregon +that he could do; at the same time he bade Meek make +himself at home in the Presidential mansion, with true +southern hospitality.</p> + +<p>But Meek, although he had carried off his poverty and +all his deficiencies in so brave a style hitherto, felt his assurance +leaving him, when, his errand performed, he stood +in the presence of rank and elegance, a mere mountain-man +in ragged blankets, whose only wealth consisted of +an order for five hundred dollars on the Methodist mission +in New York, unavailable for present emergencies. And +so he declined the hospitalities of the White House, saying +he "could make himself at home in an Indian wigwam +in Oregon, or among the Rocky Mountains, but in the +residence of the chief magistrate of a great nation, he felt +out of place, and ill at ease."</p> + +<p>Polk, however, would listen to no refusal, and still further +abashed his Oregon cousin by sending for Mrs. Polk +and Mrs. Walker, to make his acquaintance. Says Meek:</p> + +<p>"When I heard the silks rustling in the passage, I felt +more frightened than if a hundred Blackfeet had whooped +in my ear. A mist came over my eyes, and when Mrs. +Polk spoke to me I couldn't think of anything to say in +return."</p> + +<p>But the ladies were so kind and courteous that he soon +began to see a little, though not quite plainly while their +visit lasted. Before the interview with the President and +his family was ended, the poverty of the Oregon envoy +became known, which led to the immediate supplying of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> +all his wants. Major Polk was called in and introduced; +and to him was deputed the business of seeing Meek +"got up" in a style creditable to himself and his relations. +Meek avers that when he had gone through the hands of +the barber and tailor, and surveyed himself in a full length +mirror, he was at first rather embarrassed, being under the +impression that he was being introduced to a fashionable +and decidedly good-looking gentleman, before whose overpowering +style he was disposed to shrink, with the old familiar +feeling of being in blankets.</p> + +<p>But Meek was not the sort of man to be long in getting +used to a situation however novel or difficult. In a very +short time he was <i>au fait</i> in the customs of the capital. +His perfect frankness led people to laugh at his errors as +eccentricities; his good looks and natural <i>bonhomie</i> procured +him plenty of admirers; while his position at the +White House caused him to be envied and lionized at +once.</p> + +<p>On the day following his arrival the President sent in a +message to Congress accompanied by the memorial from +the Oregon legislature and other documents appertaining +to the Oregon cause. Meek was introduced to Benton, +Oregon's indefatigable friend, and received from him the +kindest treatment; also to Dallas, President of the Senate; +Douglas, Fremont, Gen. Houston, and all the men who +had identified themselves with the interests of the West.</p> + +<p>It should be stated that only a short time previous +to the Waiilatpu massacre a delegate had left Oregon for +Washington, by ship around Cape Horn, who had been +accredited by the governor of the colony only, and that +the legislature had subsequently passed resolutions expressive +of their disapproval of "secret factions," by which +was meant the mission party, whose delegate Mr. Thornton +was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span></p> + +<p>It so happened that, by reason of the commander of the +<i>Portsmouth</i> having assumed it to be a duty to convey Mr. +Thornton from La Paz, where through the infidelity of the +Captain of the <i>Whitton</i>, he was stranded, he was enabled +to reach the States early in the Spring, arriving in fact a +week or two before Meek reached Washington. Thus +Oregon had two representatives, although not entitled to +any: nor had either a right to a seat in either House; yet +to one this courtesy was granted, while the two together +controlled more powerful influences than were ever before +or since brought to bear on the fate of any single territory +of the United States. While Mr. Thornton sat among +Senators as a sort of consulting member or referee, but +without a vote; Meek had the private ear of the President, +and mingled freely among members of both Houses, +in a social character, thereby exercising a more immediate +influence than his more learned coadjutor.</p> + +<p>In the meantime our hero was making the most of his +advantages. He went to dinners and champagne suppers, +besides giving an occasional one of the latter. At the +presidential levees he made himself agreeable to witty and +distinguished ladies, answering innumerable questions +about Oregon and Indians, generally with a veil of reserve +between himself and the questioner whenever the inquiries +became, as they sometimes would, disagreeably searching. +Again the spirit of perversity and mischief led him +to make his answers so very direct as to startle or bewilder +the questioner.</p> + +<p>On one occasion a lady with whom he was promenading +a drawing-room at some Senator's reception, admiring his +handsome physique perhaps, and wondering if any woman +owned it, finally ventured the question—was he married?</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," answered Meek, with emphasis, "I have +a wife and several children."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh dear," exclaimed the lady, "I should think your +wife would be <i>so</i> afraid of the Indians!"</p> + +<p>"Afraid of the Indians!" exclaimed Meek in his turn; +"why, madam, she is an Indian herself!"</p> + +<p>No further remarks on the subject were ventured that +evening; and it is doubtful if the lady did not take his +answer as a rebuke to her curiosity rather than the plain +truth that it was.</p> + +<p>Meek found his old comrade, Kit Carson, in Washington, +staying with Fremont at the house of Senator Benton. +Kit, who had left the mountains as poor as any other of +the mountain-men, had no resource at that time except +the pay furnished by Fremont for his services as guide and +explorer in the California and Oregon expeditions; where, +in fact, it was Carson and not Fremont who deserved fame +as a path-finder. However that may be, Carson had as +little money as men of his class usually have, and needed +it as much. So long as Meek's purse was supplied, as it +generally was, by some member of the family at the White +House, Carson could borrow from him. But one being +quite as careless of money as the other, they were sometimes +both out of pocket at the same time. In that case +the conversation was apt to take a turn like this:</p> + +<p><i>Carson.</i> Meek, let me have some money, can't you?</p> + +<p><i>Meek.</i> I haven't got any money, Kit.</p> + +<p><i>Carson.</i> Go and get some.</p> + +<p><i>Meek.</i> —— it, whar am I to get money from?</p> + +<p><i>Carson.</i> Try the "contingent fund," can't you?</p> + +<p>Truth to tell the contingent fund was made to pay for +a good many things not properly chargeable to the necessary +expenditures of "Envoy Extraordinary" like our +friend from Oregon.</p> + +<p>The favoritism with which our hero was everywhere received +was something remarkable, even when all the cir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span>cumstances +of his relationship to the chief magistrate, and +the popularity of the Oregon question were considered. +Doubtless the novelty of having a bear-fighting and Indian-fighting +Rocky Mountain man to lionize, was one +great secret of the furore which greeted him wherever he +went; but even that fails to account fully for the enthusiasm +he awakened, since mountain-men had begun to be +pretty well known and understood, from the journal of +Fremont and other explorers. It could only have been +the social genius of the man which enabled him to overcome +the impediments of lack of education, and the associations +of half a lifetime. But whatever was the fortunate +cause of his success, he enjoyed it to the full. He +took excursions about the country in all directions, +petted and spoiled like any "curled darling" instead of +the six-foot-two Rocky Mountain trapper that he was.</p> + +<p>In June he received an invitation to Baltimore, tendered +by the city council, and was received by that body +with the mayor at its head, in whose carriage he was conveyed +to Monument Square, to be welcomed by a thousand +ladies, smiling and showering roses upon him as he +passed. And kissing the roses because he could not kiss +the ladies, he bowed and smiled himself past the festive +groups waiting to receive the messenger from Oregon. +Music, dining, and the parade usual to such occasions +distinguished this day, which Meek declares to have been +the proudest of his life; not denying that the beauty of +the Baltimore ladies contributed chiefly to produce that +impression.</p> + +<p>On the fourth of July, Polk laid the corner stone of the +National Monument. The occasion was celebrated with +great <i>eclat</i>, the address being delivered by Winthrop, the +military display, and the fire-works in the evening being +unusually fine. In the procession General Scott and staff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> +rode on one side of the President's carriage, Col. May and +Meek on the other,—Meek making a great display of +horsemanship, in which as a mountain-man he excelled.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i427" name="i427"></a> +<img src="images/i427.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>A MOUNTAIN-MAN IN CLOVER.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>A little later in the summer Meek joined a party of Congressmen +who were making campaign speeches in the +principal cities of the north. At Lowell, Mass., he visited +the cotton factories, and was equally surprised at the extent +of the works, and the number of young women employed +in them. Seeing this, the forewoman requested +him to stop until noon and see the girls come out. As +they passed in review before him, she asked if he had +made his choice.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the gallant Oregonian, "it would be impossible +to choose, out of such a lot as that; I should have +to take them all."</p> + +<p>If our hero, under all his gaity smothered a sigh of regret +that he was not at liberty to take <i>one</i>—a woman like +those with whom for the first time in his life he was privileged +to associate—who shall blame him? The kind of +life he was living now was something totally different to +anything in the past. It opened to his comprehension +delightful possibilities of what might have been done and +enjoyed under other circumstances, yet which now never +could be done or enjoyed, until sometimes he was ready +to fly from all these allurements, and hide himself again +in the Rocky Mountains. Then again by a desperate effort, +such thoughts were banished, and he rushed more eagerly +than before into every pleasure afforded by the present +moment, as if to make the present atone for the past and +the future.</p> + +<p>The kindness of the ladies at the White House, while it +was something to be grateful for, as well as to make him +envied, often had the effect to disturb his tranquility by +the suggestions it gave rise to. Yet he was always de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span>manding +it, always accepting it. So constantly was he +the attendant of his lady cousins in public and in private, +riding and driving, or sauntering in the gardens of the +presidential mansion, that the less favored among their +acquaintances felt called upon to believe themselves aggrieved. +Often, as the tall form of our hero was seen +with a lady on either arm promenading the gardens at +evening, the question would pass among the curious but +uninitiated—"Who is that?" And the reply of some +jealous grumbler would be—"It is that —— Rocky +Mountain man," so loud sometimes as to be overheard by +the careless trio, who smothered a laugh behind a hat or +a fan.</p> + +<p>And so passed that brief summer of our hero's life. A +great deal of experience, of sight-seeing, and enjoyment +had been crowded into a short few months of time. He +had been introduced to and taken by the hand by the +most celebrated men of the day. Nor had he failed to +meet with men whom he had known in the mountains and +in Oregon. His old employer, Wilkes, who was ill in +Washington, sent for him to come and tell "some of those +Oregon lies" for his amusement, and Meek, to humor him, +stretched some of his good stories to the most wonderful +dimensions.</p> + +<p>But from the very nature of the enjoyment it could not +last long; it was too vivid and sensational for constant +wear. Feeling this, he began to weary of Washington, +and more particularly since he had for the last few weeks +been stopping away from the White House. In one of his +restless moods he paid a visit to Polk, who detecting the +state of his mind asked laughingly——</p> + +<p>"Well, Meek, what do you want now?"</p> + +<p>"I want to be franked."</p> + +<p>"How long will five hundred dollars last you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About as many days as there ar' hundreds, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"You are shockingly extravagant, Meek. Where do +you think all this money is to come from?"</p> + +<p>"It is not my business to know, Mr. President," replied +Meek, laughing, "but it <i>is</i> the business of these United +States to pay the expenses of the messenger from Oregon, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"I think I will send you to the Secretary of War to be +franked, Meek; his frank is better than mine. But no, +stay; I will speak to Knox about it this time. And you +must not spend your money so recklessly, Meek; it will +not do—it will not do."</p> + +<p>Meek thanked the President both for the money and the +advice, but gave a champagne supper the next night, and +in a week's time was as empty-handed as ever.</p> + +<p>The close of the session was at hand and nothing had +been done except to talk. Congress was to adjourn at +noon on Monday, August 14th, and it was now Saturday +the 12th. The friends of Oregon were anxious; the two +waiting Oregonians nearly desperate. On this morning +of the 12th, the friends of the bill, under Benton's lead, determined +upon obtaining a vote on the final passage of the +bill; resolving that they would not yield to the usual motions +for delay and adjournments, but that they would, if +necessary, sit until twelve o'clock Monday.</p> + +<p>Saturday night wore away; the Sabbath morning's +sun arose; and at last, two hours after sunrise, a consultation +was held between Butler, Mason, Calhoun, Davis, +and Foote, which resulted in the announcement that no +further opposition would be offered to taking the vote +upon the final passage of the Oregon bill. The vote +was then taken, the bill passed, and the weary Senate +adjourned, to meet again on Monday for a final adjournment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + + +<p>1848-9. The long suspense ended, Meek prepared to +return to Oregon, if not without some regrets, at the same +time not unwillingly. His restless temper, and life-long +habits of unrestrained freedom began to revolt against the +conventionality of his position in Washington. Besides, +in appointing officers for the new territory, Polk had made +him United States Marshal, than which no office could +have suited him better, and he was as prompt to assume +the discharge of its duties, as all his life he had been to +undertake any duty to which his fortunes assigned him.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of August, only six days after the passage +of the territorial bill, he received his papers from Buchanan, +and set off for Bedford Springs, whither the family +from the White House were flown to escape from the suffocating +air of Washington in August. He had brought +his papers to be signed by Polk, and being expected by +the President found everything arranged for his speedy +departure; Polk even ordering a seat for him in the upcoming +coach, by telegraph. On learning this from the +President, at dinner, when the band was playing, Meek +turned to the leader and ordered him to play "Sweet +Home," much to the amusement of his lady cousins, who +had their own views of the sweets of a home in Oregon. +A hurried farewell, spoken to each of his friends separately, +and Oregon's new Marshal was ready to proceed +on his long journey toward the Pacific.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span></p> + +<p>The occasion of Polk's haste in the matter of getting +Meek started, was his anxiety to have the Oregon government +become a fact before the expiration of his term of +office. The appointment of Governor of the new territory +had been offered to Shields, and declined. Another +commission had been made out, appointing General Joseph +Lane of Indiana, Governor of Oregon, and the commission +was that day signed by the President and given +to Meek to be delivered to Lane in the shortest possible +time. His last words to the Marshal on parting were—"God +bless you, Meek. Tell Lane to have a territorial +government organized during my administration."</p> + +<p>Of the ten thousand dollars appropriated by Congress +"to be expended under the direction of the President, in +payment for services and expenses of such persons as had +been engaged by the provisional government of Oregon +in conveying communications to and from the United +States; and for purchase of presents for such Indian +tribes as the peace and quiet of the country required"—Thornton +received two thousand six hundred dollars, +Meek seven thousand four hundred, and the Indian tribes +none. Whether the President believed that the peace +and quiet of the country did not require presents to be +made to the Indians, or whether family credit required +that Meek should get the lion's share, is not known. However +that may be, our hero felt himself to be quite rich, +and proceeded to get rid of his superfluity, as will hereafter +be seen, with his customary prodigality and enjoyment of +the present without regard to the future.</p> + +<p>Before midnight on the day of his arrival at the springs, +Meek was on his way to Indiana to see General Lane. Arriving +at the Newburg landing one morning at day-break, +he took horse immediately for the General's residence at +Newburg, and presented him with his commission soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> +after breakfast. Lane sat writing, when Meek, introducing +himself, laid his papers before him.</p> + +<p>"Do you accept?" asked Meek.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Lane.</p> + +<p>"How soon can you be ready to start?"</p> + +<p>"In fifteen minutes!" answered Lane, with military +promptness.</p> + +<p>Three days, however, were actually required to make the +necessary preparations for leaving his farm and proceeding +to the most remote corner of the United States territory.</p> + +<p>At St. Louis they were detained one day, waiting for a +boat to Leavenworth, where they expected to meet their +escort. This one day was too precious to be lost in waiting +by so business-like a person as our hero, who, when +nothing more important was to be done generally was +found trying to get rid of his money. So, on this occasion, +after having disburdened himself of a small amount +in treating the new Governor and all his acquaintances, he +entered into negotiations with a peddler who was importuning +the passengers to buy everything, from a jack-knife +to a silk dress.</p> + +<p>Finding that Nat. Lane, the General's son, wanted a +knife, but was disposed to beat down the price, Meek +made an offer for the lot of a dozen or two, and thereby +prevented Lane getting one at any price. Not satisfied +with this investment, he next made a purchase of three +whole pieces of silk, at one dollar and fifty cents per yard. +At this stage of the transaction General Lane interfered +sufficiently to inquire "what he expected to do with that +stuff?"</p> + +<p>"Can't tell," answered Meek; "but I reckon it is worth +the money."</p> + +<p>"Better save your money," said the more prudent Lane.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> +But the incorrigible spendthrift only laughed, and threatened +to buy out the Jew's entire stock, if Lane persisted +in preaching economy.</p> + +<p>At St. Louis, besides his son Nat., Lane was met by +Lieut. Hawkins, who was appointed to the command of +the escort of twenty-five riflemen, and Dr. Hayden, surgeon +of the company. This party proceeded to Leavenworth, +the point of starting, where the wagons and men +of Hawkins' command awaited them. At this place, Meek +was met by a brother and two sisters who had come to +look on him for the first time in many years. The two +days' delay which was necessary to get the train ready for +a start, afforded an opportunity for this family reunion, the +last that might ever occur between its widely separated +branches, new shoots from which extend at this day from +Virginia to Alabama, and from Tennessee to California +and Oregon.</p> + +<p>By the 10th of September the new government was on +its way to Oregon in the persons of Lane and Meek. The +whole company of officers, men, and teamsters, numbered +about fifty-five; the wagons ten; and riding-horses, an +extra supply for each rider.</p> + +<p>The route taken, with the object to avoid the snows of +a northern winter, was from Leavenworth to Santa Fe, +and thence down the Rio Grande to near El Paso; thence +northwesterly by Tucson, in Arizona; thence to the +Pimas village on the Gila River; following the Gila to its +junction with the Colorado, thence northwesterly again to +the Bay of San Pedro in California. From this place the +company were to proceed by ship to San Francisco; and +thence again by ship to the Columbia River.</p> + +<p>On the Santa Fe trail they met the army returning +from Mexico, under Price, and learned from them that +they could not proceed with wagons beyond Santa Fe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> +The lateness of the season, although it was not attended +with snow, as on the northern route it would have been, +subjected the travelers nevertheless to the strong, cold +winds which blow over the vast extent of open country +between the Missouri River and the high mountain range +which forms the water-shed of the continent. It also +made it more difficult to subsist the animals, especially +after meeting Price's army, which had already swept the +country bare.</p> + +<p>On coming near Santa Fe, Meek was riding ahead of +his party, when he had a most unexpected encounter. +Seeing a covered traveling carriage drawn up under the +shade of some trees growing beside a small stream, not +far off from the trail, he resolved, with his usual love of +adventure, to discover for himself the character of the +proprietor. But as he drew nearer, he discovered no +one, although a camp-table stood under the trees, spread +with refreshments, not only of a solid, but a fluid nature. +The sight of a bottle of cognac induced him to dismount, +and he was helping himself to a liberal glass, when a +head was protruded from a covering of blankets inside +the carriage, and a heavy bass voice was heard in a polite +protest:</p> + +<p>"Seems to me, stranger, you are making free with my +property!"</p> + +<p>"Here's to you, sir," rejoined the purloiner; "it isn't +often I find as good brandy as that,"—holding out the +glass admiringly,—"but when I do, I make it a point of +honor not to pass it."</p> + +<p>"May I inquire your name, sir?" asked the owner of +the brandy, forced to smile at the good-humored audacity +of his guest.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't refuse to give my name after that,"—replacing +the glass on the table,—"and I now introduce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span> +myself as Joseph L. Meek, Esq., Marshal of Oregon, on +my way from Washington to assist General Lane in establishing +a territorial Government west of the Rocky Mountains."</p> + +<p>"Meek!—what, not the Joe Meek I have heard my +brothers tell so much about?"</p> + +<p>"Joe Meek is my name; but whar did your brothers +know me?" inquired our hero, mystified in his turn.</p> + +<p>"I think you must have known Captain William Sublette +and his brother Milton, ten or twelve years ago, in +the Rocky Mountains," said the gentleman, getting out of +the carriage, and approaching Meek with extended hand.</p> + +<p>A delighted recognition now took place. From Solomon +Sublette, the owner of the carriage and the cognac, +Meek learned many particulars of the life and death of +his former leaders in the mountains. Neither of them +were then living; but this younger brother, Solomon, +had inherited Captain Sublette's wife and wealth at the +same time. After these explanations, Mr. Sublette raised +the curtains of the carriage again, and assisted to descend +from it a lady, whom he introduced as his wife, and who +exhibited much gratification in becoming acquainted with +the hero of many a tale recited to her by her former husband, +Captain Sublette.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this pleasant exchange of reminiscences, +the remainder of Meek's party rode up, were introduced, +and invited to regale themselves on the fine liquors with +which Mr. Sublette's carriage proved to be well furnished. +This little adventure gave our hero much pleasure, as +furnishing a link between the past and present, and bringing +freshly to mind many incidents already beginning to +fade in his memory.</p> + +<p>At Santa Fe, the train stopped to be overhauled and +reconstructed. The wagons having to be abandoned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> +their contents had to be packed on mules, after the manner +of mountain or of Mexican travel and transportation. +This change accomplished, with as little delay as possible, +the train proceeded without any other than the usual +difficulties, as far as Tucson, when two of the twenty-five +riflemen deserted, having become suddenly enamored of +liberty, in the dry and dusty region of southern Arizona.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Hawkins, immediately on discovering the +desertion, dispatched two men, well armed, to compel +their return. One of the men detailed for this duty belonged +to the riflemen, but the other was an American, +who, with a company of Mexican packers, had joined the +train at Santa Fe, and was acting in the capacity of pilot. +In order to fit out this volunteer for the service, always +dangerous, of retaking deserting soldiers, Meek had lent +him his Colt's revolvers. It was a vain precaution, however, +both the men being killed in attempting to capture +the deserters; and Meek's pistols were never more heard +of, having fallen into the murderous hands of the runaways.</p> + +<p>Drouth now began to be the serious evil with which +the travelers had to contend. From the Pimas villages +westward, it continually grew worse, the animals being +greatly reduced from the want both of food and water. +At the crossing of the Colorado, the animals had to be +crossed over by swimming, the officers and men by rafts +made of bulrushes. Lane and Meek being the first to be +ferried over, were landed unexpectedly in the midst of a +Yuma village. The Indians, however, gave them no +trouble, and, except the little artifice of drowning some +of the mules at the crossing, in order to get their flesh to +eat, committed neither murders nor thefts, nor any outrage +whatever.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i440" name="i440"></a> +<img src="images/i440.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption"><i>GOVERNOR LANE AND MARSHAL MEEK ENROUTE TO OREGON.</i></p> + +</div> + + +<p>It was quite as well for the unlucky mules to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> +drowned and eaten as it was for their fellows to travel on +over the arid desert before them until they starved and +perished, which they nearly all did. From the Colorado +on, the company of Lieut. Hawkins became thoroughly +demoralized. Not only would the animals persist in +dying, several in a day, but the soldiers also persisted in +deserting, until, by the time he reached the coast, his forlorn +hope was reduced to three men. But it was not the +drouth in their case which caused the desertions: it was +rumors which they heard everywhere along the route, of +mines of gold and silver, where they flattered themselves +they could draw better pay than from Uncle Sam's coffers.</p> + +<p>The same difficulty from desertion harassed Lieutenant-Colonel +Loring in the following summer, when he attempted +to establish a line of posts along the route to +Oregon, by the way of Forts Kearney, Laramie, and +through the South Pass to Fort Hall. His mounted rifle +regiment dwindled down to almost nothing. At one +time, over one hundred men deserted in a body: and although +he pursued and captured seventy of them, he +could not keep them from deserting again at the first +favorable moment. The bones of many of those gold-seeking +soldiers were left on the plains, where wolves had +stripped the flesh from them; and many more finally had +rude burial at the hands of fellow gold-seekers: but few +indeed ever won or enjoyed that for which they risked +everything.</p> + +<p>On arriving at Cook's wells, some distance beyond the +Colorado, our travelers found that the water at this place +was tainted by the body of a mule which had lost its life +some days before in endeavoring to get at the water. +This was a painful discovery for the thirsty party to make. +However, there being no water for some distance ahead, +General Lane boiled some of it, and made coffee of it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> +remarking that "maggots were more easily swallowed +cooked than raw!"</p> + +<p>And here the writer, and no doubt, the reader too, is +compelled to make a reflection. Was the office of Governor +of a Territory at fifteen hundred dollars a year, and +Indian agent at fifteen hundred more, worth a journey of +over three thousand miles, chiefly by land, even allowing +that there had been no maggots in the water? <i>Quien +sábe?</i></p> + +<p>Not far from this locality our party came upon one hundred +wagons abandoned by Major Graham, who had not +been able to cross the desert with them. Proceeding onward, +the riders eventually found themselves on foot, there +being only a few animals left alive to transport the baggage +that could not be abandoned. So great was their +extremity, that to quench their thirst the stomach of a +mule was opened to get at the moisture it contained. In +the horror and pain of the thirst-fever, Meek renewed +again the sufferings he had undergone years before in the +deserts inhabited by Diggers, and on the parched plains +of the Snake River.</p> + +<p>About the middle of January the Oregon Government, +which had started out so gaily from Fort Leavenworth, +arrived weary, dusty, foot-sore, famished, and suffering, at +William's Ranch on the Santa Anna River, which empties +into the Bay of San Pedro. Here they were very kindly +received, and their wants ministered to.</p> + +<p>At this place Meek developed, in addition to his various +accomplishments, a talent for speculation. While overhauling +his baggage, the knives and the silk which had +been purchased of the <i>peddler</i> in St. Louis, were brought +to light. No sooner did the senoritas catch a glimpse of +the shining fabrics than they went into raptures over them, +after the fashion of their sex. Seeing the state of mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span> +to which these raptures, if unheeded, were likely to reduce +the ladies of his house, Mr. Williams approached +Meek delicately on the subject of purchase. But Meek, +in the first flush of speculative shrewdness declared that +as he had bought the goods for his own wife, he could not +find it in his heart to sell them.</p> + +<p>However, as the senoritas were likely to prove inconsolable, +Mr. Williams again mentioned the desire of his family +to be clad in silk, and the great difficulty, nay, impossibility, +of obtaining the much coveted fabric in that part +of the world, and accompanied his remarks with an offer +of ten dollars a yard for the lot. At this magnificent offer +our hero affected to be overcome by regard for the feelings +of the senoritas, and consented to sell his dollar and +a-half silks for ten dollars per yard.</p> + +<p>In the same manner, finding that knives were a desirable +article in that country, very much wanted by miners +and others, he sold out his dozen or two, for an ounce +each of gold-dust, netting altogether the convenient little +profit of about five hundred dollars. When Gen. Lane +was informed of the transaction, and reminded of his objections +to the original purchase, he laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"Well, Meek," said he, "you were drunk when you +bought them, and by —— I think you must have been +drunk when you sold them; but drunk or sober, I will +own you can beat me at a bargain."</p> + +<p>Such bargains, however, became common enough about +this time in California, for this was the year memorable in +California history, of the breaking out of the gold-fever, +and the great rush to the mines which made even the +commonest things worth their weight in gold-dust.</p> + +<p>Proceeding to Los Angelos, our party, once more comfortably +mounted, found traveling comparatively easy. At this +place they found quartered the command of Maj. Graham,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> +whose abandoned wagons had been passed at the <i>Hornella</i> +on the Colorado River. The town, too, was crowded +with miners, men of every class, but chiefly American +adventurers, drawn together from every quarter of California +and Mexico by the rumor of the gold discovery at +Sutter's Fort.</p> + +<p>On arriving at San Pedro, a vessel—the <i>Southampton</i>, +was found ready to sail. She had on board a crowd of +fugitives from Mexico, bound to San Francisco, where they +hoped to find repose from the troubles which harassed +that revolutionary Republic.</p> + +<p>At San Francisco, Meek was surprised to meet about +two hundred Oregonians, who on the first news of the +gold discovery the previous autumn, had fled, as it is said +men shall flee on the day of judgment—leaving the wheat +ungathered in the fields, the grain unground in the mills, +the cattle unherded on the plains, their tools and farming +implements rusting on the ground—everything abandoned +as if it would never more be needed, to go and seek the +shining dust, which is vainly denominated "filthy lucre." +The two hundred were on their way home, having all +either made something, or lost their health by exposure +so that they were obliged to return. But they left many +more in the mines.</p> + +<p>Such were the tales told in San Francisco of the wonderful +fortunes of some of the miners that young Lane became +infected with the universal fever and declared his +intention to try mining with the rest. Meek too, determined +to risk something in gold-seeking, and as some of +the teamsters who had left Fort Leavenworth with the +company, and had come as far as San Francisco, were very +desirous of going to the mines, Meek fitted out two or +three with pack-horses, tools, and provisions, to accompany +young Lane. For the money expended in the outfit he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span> +was to receive half of their first year's profits. The result +of this venture was three pickle-jars of gold-dust, +which were sent to him by the hands of Nat. Lane, the +following year; and which just about reimbursed him for +the outlay.</p> + +<p>At San Francisco, Gen. Lane found the U.S. Sloop of +War, the <i>St. Mary's</i>; and Meek insisted that the Oregon +government, which was represented in their persons, had +a right to require her services in transporting itself to its +proper seat. But Lane, whose notions of economy extended, +singularly enough, to the affairs of the general +government, would not consent to the needless expenditure. +Meek was rebellious, and quoted Thornton, by +whom he was determined not to be outdone in respect of +expense for transportation. Lane insisted that his dignity +did not require a government vessel to convey him to +Oregon. In short the new government was very much +divided against itself, and only escaped a fall by Meek's +finding some one, or some others, else, on whom to play +his pranks.</p> + +<p>The first one was a Jew peddler who had gentlemen's +clothes to sell. To him the Marshal represented himself +as a United States Custom officer, and after frightening +him with a threat of confiscating his entire stock, finally +compromised with the terrified Israelite by accepting a +suit of clothes for himself. After enjoying the mortification +of spirit which the loss inflicted on the Jew, for twenty-four +hours, he finally paid him for the clothes, at the +same time administering a lecture upon the sin and danger +of smuggling.</p> + +<p>The party which had left Leavenworth for Oregon +nearly six months before, numbering fifty-five, now numbered +only seven. Of the original number two had been +killed, and all the rest had deserted to go to the mines.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> +There remained only Gen. Lane, Meek, Lieut. Hawkins +and Hayden, surgeon, besides three soldiers. With this +small company Gen. Lane went on board the <i>Jeanette</i>, a +small vessel, crowded with miners, and destined for the +Columbia River. As the <i>Jeanette</i> dropped down the Bay, +a salute was fired from the <i>St. Mary's</i> in honor of Gen. +Lane, and appropriated to himself by Marshal Meek, who +seems to have delighted in appropriating to himself all +the honors in whatever circumstances he might be placed; +the more especially too, if such assumption annoyed the +General.</p> + +<p>After a tedious voyage of eighteen days the <i>Jeanette</i> +arrived in the Columbia River. From Astoria the party +took small boats for Oregon City, a voyage of one hundred +and twenty miles; so that it was already the 2d of +March when they arrived at that place, and only one day +was left for the organization of the Territorial Government +before the expiration of Polk's term of office.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of March Gen. Lane arrived at Oregon City, +and was introduced to Gov. Abernethy, by Marshal Meek. +On the 3d, there appeared the following—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p class="center">PROCLAMATION.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of an act of Congress, approved the 14th of August, in the +year of our Lord 1848, establishing a Territorial Government in the Territory +of Oregon:</p> + +<p>I, Joseph Lane, was, on the 18th day of August, in the year 1848, appointed +Governor in and for the Territory of Oregon. I have therefore thought it +proper to issue this, my proclamation, making known that I have this day entered +upon the discharge of the duties of my office, and by virtue thereof do +declare the laws of the United States extended over, and declared to be in +force in said Territory, so far as the same, or any portion thereof may be applicable.</p> + +<p>Given under my hand at Oregon City, in the Territory of Oregon, this 3d +day of March, Anno Domini 1849.</p> + +<p class="deepind"> +<span class="smcap">Joseph Lane.</span><br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Thus Oregon had one day, under Polk, who, take it all +in all, had been a faithful guardian of her interests.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the month of August, 1848, the <i>Honolulu</i>, a vessel +of one hundred and fifty tons, owned in Boston, carrying +a consignment of goods to a mercantile house in Portland, +arrived at her anchorage in the Wallamet, <i>via</i> San Francisco, +California. Captain Newell, almost before he had +discharged freight, commenced buying up a cargo of flour +and other provisions. But what excited the wonder of +the Oregonians was the fact that he also bought up all +manner of tools such as could be used in digging or cutting, +from a spade and pickaxe, to a pocket-knife. This +singular proceeding naturally aroused the suspicions of a +people accustomed to have something to suspect. A demand +was made for the <i>Honolulu's</i> papers, and these not +being forthcoming, it was proposed by some of the prudent +ones to tie her up. When this movement was attempted, +the secret came out. Captain Newell, holding +up a bag of gold-dust before the astonished eyes of his +persecutors, cried out—</p> + +<p>"Do you see that gold? —— you, I will depopulate +your country! I know where there is plenty of this stuff, +and I am taking these tools where it is to be found."</p> + +<p>This was in August, the month of harvest. So great +was the excitement which seized the people, that all classes +of men were governed by it. Few persons stopped to +consider that this was the time for producers to reap golden +harvests of precious ore, for the other yellow harvest of +grain which was already ripe and waiting to be gathered. +Men left their grain standing, and took their teams from +the reapers to pack their provisions and tools to the mines.</p> + +<p>Some men would have gladly paid double to get back +the spades, shovels, or picks, which the shrewd Yankee +Captain had purchased from them a week previous. All +implements of this nature soon commanded fabulous prices, +and he was a lucky man who had a supply.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + + +<p>1850-4. The Territorial law of Oregon combined the +offices of Governor and Indian Agent. One of the most +important acts which marked Lane's administration was +that of securing and punishing the murderers of Dr. and +Mrs. Whitman. The Indians of the Cayuse tribe to whom +the murderers belonged, were assured that the only way +in which they could avoid a war with the whites was to +deliver up the chiefs who had been engaged in the massacre, +to be tried and punished according to the laws of the +whites. Of the two hundred Indians implicated in the +massacre, five were given up to be dealt with according to +law. These were the five chiefs, <i>Te-lou-i-kite</i>, <i>Tam-a-has</i>, +<i>Klok-a-mas</i>, <i>Ki-am-a-sump-kin</i>, and <i>I-sa-i-a-cha-lak-is</i>.</p> + +<p>These men might have made their escape; there was +no imperative necessity upon them to suffer death, had +they chosen to flee to the mountains. But with that +strange magnanimity which the savage often shows, to the +astonishment of Christians, they resolved to die for their +people rather than by their flight to involve them in +war.</p> + +<p>Early in the summer of 1850, the prisoners were delivered +up to Gov. Lane, and brought down to Oregon City, +where they were given into the keeping of the marshal. +During their passage down the river, and while they were +incarcerated at Oregon City, their bearing was most proud +and haughty. Some food, more choice than their prisoner's +fare, being offered to one of the chiefs at a camp of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span> +the guard, in their transit down the Columbia, the proud +savage rejected it with scorn.</p> + +<p>"What sort of heart have you," he asked, "that you +offer food to me, whose hands are red with your brother's +blood?"</p> + +<p>And this, after eleven years of missionary labor, was all +the comprehension the savage nature knew of the main +principle of Christianity,—forgiveness, or charity toward +our enemies.</p> + +<p>At Oregon City, Meek had many conversations with +them. In all of these they gave but one explanation of +their crime. They feared that Dr. Whitman intended, +with the other whites, to take their land from them; and +they were told by Jo Lewis, the half-breed, that the Doctor's +medicine was intended to kill them off quickly, in +order the sooner to get possession of their country. None +of them expressed any sorrow for what had been done; +but one of them, <i>Ki-am-a-sump-kin</i>, declared his innocence +to the last.</p> + +<p>In conversations with others, curious to gain some +knowledge of the savage moral nature, <i>Te-lou-i-kite</i> often +puzzled these students of Indian ethics. When questioned +as to his motive for allowing himself to be taken, +<i>Te-lou-i-kite</i> answered:</p> + +<p>"Did not your missionaries tell us that Christ died to +save his people? So die we, to save our people!"</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the prisoners were pre-doomed to +death, a regular form of trial was gone through. The +Prosecuting Attorney for the Territory, A. Holbrook, conducted +the prosecution: Secretary Pritchett, Major Runnels, +and Captain Claiborne, the defence. The fee offered +by the chiefs was fifty head of horses. Whether it +was compassion, or a love of horses which animated the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> +defence, quite an effort was made to show that the murderers +were not guilty.</p> + +<p>The presiding Justice was O.C. Pratt—Bryant having +resigned. Perhaps we cannot do better than to give the +Marshal's own description of the trial and execution, +which is as follows: "Thar war a great many indictments, +and a great many people in attendance at this +court. The Grand Jury found true bills against the five +Indians, and they war arraigned for trial. Captain Claiborne +led off for the defence. He foamed and ranted +like he war acting a play in some theatre. He knew +about as much law as one of the Indians he war defending; +and his gestures were so powerful that he smashed +two tumblers that the Judge had ordered to be filled with +cold water for him. After a time he gave out mentally +and physically. Then came Major Runnels, who made a +very good defence. But the Marshal thought they must +do better, for they would never ride fifty head of horses +with them speeches.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pritchett closed for the defence with a very able +argument; for he war a man of brains. But then followed +Mr. Holbrook, for the prosecution, and he laid down the +case so plain that the jury were convinced before they +left the jury-box. When the Judge passed sentence of +death on them, two of the chiefs showed no terror; but +the other three were filled with horror and consternation +that they could not conceal.</p> + +<p>After court had adjourned, and Gov. Lane war gone +South on some business with the Rogue River Indians, +Secretary Pritchett came to me and told me that as he +war now acting Governor he meant to reprieve the Indians. +Said he to me, 'Now Meek, I want you to liberate +them Indians, when you receive the order.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Pritchett,' said I, 'so far as Meek is concerned, he +would do anything for you.'</p> + +<p>This talk pleased him; he said he 'war glad to hear it; +and would go right off and write the reprieve.'</p> + +<p>'But,' said I, 'Pritchett, let us talk now like men. I +have got in my pocket the death-warrant of them Indians, +signed by Gov. Lane. The Marshal will execute them +men, as certain as the day arrives.'</p> + +<p>Pritchett looked surprised, and remarked—'That war +not what you just said, that you would do anything for +me.'</p> + +<p>Said I, 'you were talking then to Meek,—not to the +Marshal, who always does his duty.' At that he got mad +and left.</p> + +<p>When the 3d of June, the day of execution, arrived, +Oregon City was thronged with people to witness it. I +brought forth the five prisoners and placed them on a +drop. Here the chief, who always declared his innocence, +<i>Ki-am-i-sump-kin</i>, begged me to kill him with my knife,—for +an Indian fears to be hanged,—but I soon put an end +to his entreaties by cutting the rope which held the drop, +with my tomahawk. As I said 'The Lord have mercy on +your souls,' the trap fell, and the five Cayuses hung in +the air. Three of them died instantly. The other two +struggled for several minutes; the Little Chief, <i>Tam-a-has</i>, +the longest. It was he who was cruel to my little girl at +the time of the massacre; so I just put my foot on the +knot to tighten it, and he got quiet. After thirty-five +minutes they were taken down and buried."</p> + +<p>Thus terminated a tragic chapter in the history of Oregon. +Among the services which Thurston performed for +the Territory, was getting an appropriation of $100,000, +to pay the expenses of the Cayuse war. From the Spring +of 1848, when all the whites, except the Catholic missionaries, +were withdrawn from the upper country, for a pe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span>riod +of several years, or until Government had made +treaties with the tribes east of the Cascades, no settlers +were permitted to take up land in Eastern Oregon. During +those years, the Indians, dissatisfied with the encroachments +which they foresaw the whites would finally make +upon their country, and incited by certain individuals who +had suffered wrongs, or been punished for their own offences +at the hands of the whites, finally combined, as it +was supposed from the extent of the insurrection, and +Oregon was involved in a three years Indian war, the history +of which would fill a volume of considerable size.</p> + +<p>When Meek returned to Oregon as marshal, with his +fine clothes and his newly acquired social accomplishments, +he was greeted with a cordial acknowledgment of +his services, as well as admiration for his improved appearance. +He was generally acknowledged to be the model +of a handsome marshal, when clad in his half-military +dress, and placed astride of a fine horse, in the execution +of the more festive duties of marshal of a procession on +some patriotic occasion.</p> + +<p>But no amount of official responsibility could ever +change him from a wag into a "grave and reverend +seignior." No place nor occasion was sacred to him when +the wild humor was on him.</p> + +<p>At this same term of court, after the conviction of the +Cayuse chiefs, there was a case before Judge Pratt, in +which a man was charged with selling liquor to the Indians. +In these cases Indian evidence was allowed, but +the jury-room being up stairs, caused a good deal of +annoyance in court; because when an Indian witness was +wanted up stairs, a dozen or more who were not wanted +would follow. The Judge's bench was so placed that it +commanded a full view of the staircase and every one +passing up or down it.</p> + +<p>A call for some witness to go before the jury was fol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span>lowed +on this occasion, as on all others, by a general rush +of the Indians, who were curious to witness the proceedings. +One fat old squaw had got part way up the stairs, +when the Marshal, full of wrath, seized her by a leg and +dragged her down flat, at the same time holding the fat +member so that it was pointed directly toward the Judge. +A general explosion followed this <i>pointed</i> action, and the +Judge grew very red in the face.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i453" name="i453"></a> +<img src="images/i453.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MEEK AS UNITED STATES MARSHAL.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>"Mr. Marshal, come within the bar!" thundered the +Judge.</p> + +<p>Meek complied, with a very dubious expression of +countenance.</p> + +<p>"I must fine you fifty dollars," continued the Judge; +"the dignity of the Court must be maintained."</p> + +<p>When court had adjourned that evening, the Judge +and the Marshal were walking toward their respective +lodgings. Said Meek to his Honor:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why did you fine me so heavily to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>must</i> do it," returned the Judge. "I must keep up +the dignity of the Court; I must do it, if I pay the fines +myself."</p> + +<p>"And you <i>must</i> pay all the fines you lay on the marshal, +of course," answered Meek.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the Judge; "I shall do so."</p> + +<p>"All right, Judge. As I am the proper disbursing +officer, you can pay that fifty dollars to me—and I'll take +it now."</p> + +<p>At this view of the case, his Honor was staggered for +one moment, and could only swing his cane and laugh +faintly. After a little reflection, he said:</p> + +<p>"Marshal, when court is called to-morrow, I shall remit +your fine; but don't you let me have occasion to fine you +again!"</p> + +<p>After the removal of the capital to Salem, in 1852, +court was held in a new building, on which the carpenters +were still at work. Judge Nelson, then presiding, was +much put out by the noise of hammers, and sent the +marshal more than once, to request the men to suspend +their work during those hours when court was in session, +but all to no purpose. Finally, when his forbearance was +quite exhausted, he appealed to the marshal for advice.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do, Meek," said he, "to stop that infernal +noise?"</p> + +<p>"Put the workmen on the Grand Jury," replied Meek.</p> + +<p>"Summon them instantly!" returned the Judge. They +were summoned, and quiet secured for that term.</p> + +<p>At this same term of court, a great many of the foreign +born settlers appeared, to file their intention of becoming +American citizens, in order to secure the benefits of the +Donation Law. Meek was retained as a witness, to swear +to their qualifications, one of which was, that they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> +possessed of good moral characters. The first day there +were about two hundred who made declarations, Meek +witnessing for most of them. On the day following, he +declined serving any longer.</p> + +<p>"What now?" inquired the Judge; "you made no +objections yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Very true," replied Meek; "and two hundred lies +are enough for me. I swore that all those mountain-men +were of 'good moral character,' and I never knew a +mountain-man of that description in my life! Let Newell +take the job for to-day."</p> + +<p>The "job" was turned over to Newell; but whether +the second lot was better than the first, has never transpired.</p> + +<p>During Lane's administration, there was a murder committed +by a party of Indians at the Sound, on the person +of a Mr. Wallace. Owing to the sparse settlement of the +country, Governor Lane adopted the original measure of +exporting not only the officers of the court, but the jury +also, to the Sound district. Meek was ordered to find +transportation for the court <i>in toto</i>, jury and all. Boats +were hired and provisioned to take the party to the +Cowelitz Landing, and from thence to Fort Steilacoom, +horses were hired for the land transportation.</p> + +<p>The Indians accused were five in number—two chiefs +and three slaves. The Grand Jury found a true bill +against the two chiefs, and let the slaves go. So few +were the inhabitants of those parts, that the marshal was +obliged to take a part of the grand jury to serve on the +petite jury. The form of a trial was gone through with, +the Judge delivered his charge, and the jury retired.</p> + +<p>It was just after night-fall when these worthies betook +themselves to the jury-room. One of them curled himself +up in a corner of the room, with the injunction to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span> +the others to "wake him up when they got ready to hang +them —— rascals." The rest of the party spent four +or five hours betting against monte, when, being sleepy +also, they waked up their associate, spent about ten minutes +in arguing their convictions, and returned a verdict +of "guilty of murder in the first degree."</p> + +<p>The Indians were sentenced to be hung at noon on the +following day, and the marshal was at work early in the +morning preparing a gallows. A rope was procured +from a ship lying in the sound. At half-past eleven +o'clock, guarded by a company of artillery from the fort, +the miserable savages were marched forth to die. A +large number of Indians were collected to witness the +execution; and to prevent any attempt at rescue, Captain +Hill's artillery formed a ring around the marshal and his +prisoners. The execution was interrupted or delayed for +some moments, on account of the frantic behavior of an +Indian woman, wife of one of the chiefs, whose entreaties +for the life of her husband were very affecting. Having +exhausted all her eloquence in an appeal to the nobler +feelings of the man, she finally promised to leave her +husband and become his wife, if he, the marshal, would +spare her lord and chief.</p> + +<p>She was carried forcibly out of the ring, and the hanging +took place. When the bodies were taken down, +Meek spoke to the woman, telling her that now she could +have her husband; but she only sullenly replied, "You +have killed him, and you may bury him."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>While Meek was in Washington, he had been dubbed +with the title of Colonel, which title he still bears, though +during the Indian war of 1855-56, it was alternated with +that of Major. During his marshalship he was fond of +showing off his titles and authority to the discomfiture of +that class of people who had "put on airs" with him +in former days, when he was in his transition stage from +a trapper to a United States Marshal.</p> + +<p>While Pratt was Judge of the District Court, a kidnaping +case came before him. The writ of <i>habeas corpus</i> +having been disregarded by the Captain of the <i>Melvin</i>, +who was implicated in the business, Meek was sent to +arrest him, and also the first mate. Five of the <i>Melvin's</i> +sailors were ordered to be summoned as witnesses, at the +same time.</p> + +<p>Meek went on board with his summons, marched forward, +and called out the names of the men. Every man +came up as he was summoned. When they were together, +Meek ordered a boat lowered for their conveyance to +Oregon City. The men started to obey, when the Captain +interfered, saying that the boat should not be taken +for such a purpose, as it belonged to him.</p> + +<p>"That is of no consequence at all," answered the smiling +marshal. "It is a very good boat, and will suit our purpose +very well. Lower away, men!"</p> + +<p>The men quickly dropped the boat. As it fell, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> +were ordered to man it. When they were at the oars, +the mate was then invited to take a seat in it, which he +did, after a moment's hesitation, and glancing at his superior +officer. Meek then turned to the Captain, and extended +the same invitation to him. But he was reluctant +to accept the courtesy, blustering considerably, and declaring +his intention to remain where he was. Meek +slowly drew his revolver, all the time cool and smiling.</p> + +<p>"I don't like having to urge a gentleman too hard," +he said, in a meaning tone; "but thar is an argument +that few men ever resist. Take a seat, Captain."</p> + +<p>The Captain took a seat; the idlers on shore cheered +for "Joe Meek"—which was, after all, his most familiar +title; the Captain and mate went to Oregon City, and +were fined respectively $500 and $300; the men took +advantage of being on shore to desert; and altogether, +the master of the <i>Melvin</i> felt himself badly used.</p> + +<p>About the same time news was received that a British +vessel was unloading goods for the Hudson's Bay Company, +somewhere on Puget Sound. Under the new order +of affairs in Oregon, this was smuggling. Delighted with +an opportunity of doing the United States a service, and +the British traders an ill turn, Marshal Meek immediately +summoned a <i>posse</i> of men and started for the Sound. On +his way he learned the name of the vessel and Captain, +and recognized them as having been in the Columbia +River some years before. On that occasion the Captain +had ordered Meek ashore, when, led by his curiosity and +general love of novelty, he had paid a visit to this vessel. +This information was "nuts" to the marshal, who believed +that "a turn about was fair play."</p> + +<p>With great dispatch and secrecy he arrived entirely +unexpected at the point where the vessel was lying, and +proceeded to board her without loss of time. The Cap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span>tain +and officers were taken by surprise and were all +aghast at this unlooked for appearance. But after the +first moment of agitation was over, the Captain recognized +Meek, he being a man not likely to be forgotten, and +thinking to turn this circumstance to advantage, approached +him with the blandest of smiles and the most cordial +manner, saying with forced frankness—</p> + +<p>"I am sure I have had the pleasure of meeting you before. +You must have been at Vancouver when my vessel +was in the river, seven or eight years ago. I am very +happy to have met with you again."</p> + +<p>"Thar is some truth in that remark of yours, Captain," +replied Meek, eyeing him with lofty scorn; "you <i>did</i> +meet me at Vancouver several years ago. But I was +nothing but 'Joe Meek' at that time, and you ordered me +ashore. Circumstances are changed since then. I am +now Colonel Joseph L. Meek, United States Marshal for +Oregon Territory; and you sir, are only a —— smuggler! +Go ashore, sir!"</p> + +<p>The Captain saw the point of that concluding "go +ashore, sir!" and obeyed with quite as bad a grace as 'Joe +Meek' had done in the first instance.</p> + +<p>The vessel was confiscated and sold, netting to the Government +about $40,000, above expenses. This money, +which fell into bad hands, failed to be accounted for. +Nobody suspected the integrity of the marshal, but most +persons suspected that he placed too much confidence in +the District Attorney, who had charge of his accounts. +On some one asking him, a short time after, what had become +of the money from the sale of the smuggler, he +seemed struck with a sudden surprise:</p> + +<p>"Why," said he, looking astonished at the question, +"thar was barly enough for the officers of the court!"</p> + +<p>This answer, given as it was, with such apparent simplic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span>ity +became a popular joke; and "barly enough" was +quoted on all occasions.</p> + +<p>The truth was, that there was a serious deficiency in +Meek's account with the Government, resulting entirely +from his want of confidence in his own literary accomplishments, +which led him to trust all his correspondence +and his accounts to the hands of a man whose talents were +more eminent than his sense of honor. The result of this +misplaced confidence was a loss to the Government, and +to himself, whom the Government held accountable. Contrary +to the general rule of disbursing officers, the office +made him poor instead of rich; and when on the incoming +of the Pierce administration he suffered decapitation +along with the other Territorial officers, he was forced to +retire upon his farm on the Tualatin Plains, and become a +rather indifferent tiller of the earth.</p> + +<p>The breaking out of the Indian war of 1855-6, was +preceded by a long period of uneasiness among the Indians +generally. The large emigration which crossed the +plains every year for California and Oregon was one cause +of the disturbance; not only by exciting their fears for +the possession of their lands, but by the temptation which +was offered them to take toll of the travelers. Difficulties +occurred at first between the emigrants and Indians concerning +stolen property. These quarrels were followed, +probably the subsequent year, by outrages and murder +on the part of the Indians, and retaliation on the part of +volunteer soldiers from Oregon. When once this system +of outrage and retaliation on either side, was begun, there +was an end of security, and war followed as an inevitable +consequence. Very horrible indeed were the acts perpetrated +by the Indians upon the emigrants to Oregon, +during the years from 1852 to 1858.</p> + +<p>But when at last the call to arms was made in Oregon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span> +it was an opportunity sought, and not an alternative +forced upon them, by the politicians of that Territory. +The occasion was simply this. A party of lawless wretches +from the Sound Country, passing over the Cascade Mountains +into the Yakima Valley, on their way to the Upper +Columbia mines, found some Yakima women digging roots +in a lonely place, and abused them. The women fled to +their village and told the chiefs of the outrage; and a party +followed the guilty whites and killed several of them in a +fight.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bolin, the Indian sub-agent for Washington went +to the Yakima village, and instead of judging of the case +impartially, made use of threats in the name of the United +States Government, saying that an army should be sent to +punish them for killing his people. On his return home, +Mr. Bolin was followed and murdered.</p> + +<p>The murder of an Indian agent was an act which could +not be overlooked. Very properly, the case should have +been taken notice of in a manner to convince the Indians +that murder must be punished. But, tempted by an opportunity +for gain, and encouraged by the somewhat reasonable +fears of the white population of Washington and +Oregon, Governor G.L. Curry, of the latter, at once proclaimed +war, and issued a call for volunteers, without waiting +for the sanction or assistance of the general Government. +The moment this was done, it was too late to retract. +It was as if a torch had been applied to a field of +dry grass. So simultaneously did the Indians from Puget +Sound to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Rocky Mountains +to the southern boundary of Oregon send forth the +war-whoop, that there was much justification for the belief +which agitated the people, that a combination among the +Indians had been secretly agreed to, and that the whites +were all to be exterminated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span></p> + +<p>Volunteer companies were already raised and sent into +the Indian country, when Brevet Major G.O. Haller arrived +at Vancouver, now a part of the United States. He +had been as far east as Fort Boise to protect the incoming +immigration; and finding on his return that there was an +Indian war on hand, proceeded at once to the Yakima +country with his small force of one hundred men, only +fifty of whom were mounted. Much solicitude was felt +for the result of the first engagement, every one knowing +that if the Indians were at first successful, the war would +be long and bloody.</p> + +<p>Major Haller was defeated with considerable loss, and +notwithstanding slight reinforcements, from Fort Vancouver, +only succeeded in getting safely out of the country. +Major Raines, the commanding officer at Vancouver, seeing +the direction of events, made a requisition upon Governor +Curry for four of his volunteer companies to go into the +field. Then followed applications to Major Raines for +horses and arms to equip the volunteers; but the horses +at the Fort being unfit for service, and the Major unauthorized +to equip volunteer troops, there resulted only +misunderstandings and delays. When General Wool, at +the head of the Department in San Francisco, was consulted, +he also was without authority to employ or receive +the volunteers; and when the volunteers, who at length +armed and equipped themselves, came to go into the field +with the regulars, they could not agree as to the mode of +fighting Indians; so that with one thing and another, the +war became an exciting topic for more reasons than because +the whites were afraid of the Indians. As for General +Wool, he was in great disfavor both in Oregon and +Washington because he did not believe there ever had +existed the necessity for a war; and that therefore he +bestowed what assistance was at his command very grudg<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span>ingly. +General Wool, it was said, was jealous of the volunteers; +and the volunteers certainly cared little for the +opinion of General Wool.</p> + +<p>However all that may be, Col. Meek gives it as his opinion +that the old General was right. "It makes me think," +said he, "of a bear-fight I once saw in the Rocky Mountains, +where a huge old grizzly was surrounded by a pack +of ten or twelve dogs, all snapping at and worrying him. +It made him powerful mad, and every now and then he +would make a claw at one of them that silenced him at +once."</p> + +<p>The Indian war in Oregon gave practice to a number of +officers, since become famous, most prominent among +whom is Sheridan, who served in Oregon as a Lieutenant. +Grant himself, was at one time a Captain on that frontier. +Col. Wright, afterwards Gen. Wright, succeeded Major +Raines at Vancouver, and conducted the war through its +most active period. During a period of three years there +were troops constantly occupied in trying to subdue the +Indians in one quarter or another.</p> + +<p>As for the volunteers they fared badly. On the first +call to arms the people responded liberally. The proposition +which the Governor made for their equipment was +accepted, and they turned in their property at a certain +valuation. When the war was over and the property sold, +the men who had turned it in could not purchase it without +paying more for it in gold and silver than it was valued +at when it was placed in the hands of the Quartermaster. +It was sold, however, and the money enjoyed by +the shrewd political speculators, who thought an Indian +war a very good investment.</p> + +<p>Meek was one of the first to volunteer, and went as a +private in Company A. On arriving at the Dalles he was +detailed for special service by Col. J.W. Nesmith, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span> +sent out as pilot or messenger, whenever any such duty +was required. He was finally placed on Nesmith's staff, +and given the title of Major. In this capacity, as in every +other, he was still the same alert and willing individual +that we have always seen him, and not a whit less inclined +to be merry when an opportunity offered.</p> + +<p>While the army was in the Yakima country, it being an +enemy's country, and provisions scarce, the troops sometimes +were in want of rations. But Meek had not forgotten +his mountain craft, and always had something to eat, +if anybody did. One evening he had killed a fat cow +which he had discovered astray, and was proceeding to +roast a twenty-pound piece before his camp-fire, when a +number of the officers called on him. The sight and savory +smell of the beef was very grateful to them.</p> + +<p>"Major Meek," said they in a breath, "we will sup with +you to-night."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, gentlemen, to decline the honor," +returned Meek with a repetition of the innocent surprise +for which he had so often been laughed at, "but I am +very hungry, and thar is barly enough beef for one +man!"</p> + +<p>On hearing this sober assertion, those who had heard +the story laughed, but the rest looked rather aggrieved. +However, the Major continued his cooking, and when the +beef was done to a turn, he invited his visitors to the +feast, and the evening passed merrily with jests and camp +stories.</p> + +<p>After the army went into winter-quarters, Nesmith having +resigned, T.R. Cornelius was elected Colonel. One +of his orders prohibited firing in camp, an order which as +a good mountaineer the Major should have remembered. +But having been instructed to proceed to Salem without +delay, as bearer of dispatches, the Major committed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> +error of firing his gun to see if it was in good condition +for a trip through the enemy's country. Shortly after he +received a message from his Colonel requesting him to +repair to his tent. The Colonel received him politely, and +invited him to breakfast with him. The aroma of coffee +made this invitation peculiarly acceptable—for luxuries +were scarce in camp—and the breakfast proceeded for +some time very agreeably. When Meek had breakfasted, +Colonel Cornelius took occasion to inquire if the Major +had not heard his order against firing in camp. "Yes," +said Meek. "Then," said the Colonel, "I shall be +obliged to make an example of you."</p> + +<p>While Meek stood aghast at the idea of punishment, a +guard appeared at the door of the tent, and he heard +what his punishment was to be, "Mark time for twenty +minutes in the presence of the whole regiment."</p> + +<p>"When the command "forward!" was given," says Meek, +"you might have seen somebody step off lively, the officer +counting it off, 'left, left.' But some of the regiment +grumbled more about it than I did. I just got my horse +and my dispatches and left for the lower country, and +when I returned I asked for my discharge, and got it."</p> + +<p>And here ends the career of our hero as a public man. +The history of the young State, of which he is so old a +pioneer furnishes ample material for an interesting volume, +and will sometime be written by an abler than our sketchy +pen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PART II.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ishortline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center small">OUR</p> + +<p class="center bigger">CENTENNIAL INDIAN WAR</p> + +<p class="center smaller">AND THE</p> + +<p class="center big">LIFE OF GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p>The reader of the foregoing pages can hardly have +failed to observe, that the region east of the Big Horn +Mountains, including the valleys of the Yellowstone, +Big Horn, Powder, and Rosebud Rivers, was the +favorite haunt of the Rocky Mountain hunters and +trappers—the field of many of their stirring adventures +and hardy exploits. Here was the "hunters' paradise," +where they came to secure game for food and +to feed their animals on the nutritious bark of the +cottonwoods; here they assembled at the Summer rendezvous, +to exchange their peltries for supplies; and +here, ofttimes, was established their winter camp, with +its rough cheer, athletic sports, and wild carousals.</p> + +<p>Here, also, between the plains and the mountains, +was the dark and sanguinary ground where terrific and +deadly combats were fought between the Delawares, +Iroquois, Crows, and Blackfeet, and between the trappers +and Indians; and here, fifty years later, were enacted +scenes of warfare and massacre which cast a gloom +over the festivities of our Centennial anniversary.</p> + +<p>The recent campaign against the hostile Sioux was +over the identical ground where the fur-traders roamed +intent on beaver-skins and adventure; and it is believed +that some account thereof, and a sketch of the +renowned Indian fighter who perished on the Little +Big Horn, may appropriately supplement the story of +the Mountain-men.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_part2"> +C H A P T E R I.</a></p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 32em;" class="smcap">Page</span></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Our Centennial War with the Sioux—Scene of the Campaign—General +Aspect of the Country—The hostile Indians and their Grievances—The +People of the Frontier—The Treaty of 1868—The Invasion of +the Black Hills—Sitting Bull—Immediate Causes of the War—The +Indians Warned and Threatened—The Warning Disregarded—An +Appeal to Arms—Bishop Whipple on the Roaming Indians, <span class="pgnum">7</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_part2"> +C H A P T E R I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">General Crook's First Expedition—The March Northward—Reynolds +Follows a Trail—Camp of Crazy Horse Discovered and Attacked—The +Battle of Powder River—Return to Fort Fetterman—Crook's +Second Expedition—On the Head Waters of Tongue River—Friendly +Crows—Battle of the Rosebud—Retreat to Goose Creek Camp, <span class="pgnum">20</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III_part2"> +C H A P T E R I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Gen. Terry's Expedition—March from Fort Lincoln—Rendezvous on +the Yellowstone—The Montana Column—Reno's Scouting Party +Discovers a Trail—The Seventh Cavalry Start up the Rosebud—Custer +Discovers an Indian Village and Advances to Attack, <span class="pgnum">26</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV_part2"> +C H A P T E R I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Gibbon's Troops Cross the Yellowstone—March up the Big Horn—A +Smoke Cloud—An Omen of Victory—Crow Scouts—Indians in Front—A +Night's Bivouac on the Little Big Horn—Site of a deserted +Village—Evidences of Conflict—A breathless Scout—Intrenched +Cavalry—Reno Relieved—"Where is Custer?" <span class="pgnum">30</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V_part2"> +C H A P T E R V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Custer's last Battle—Revelations of the Battle-field—Theories as to the +Engagement—Custer and His Officers—Capt. Tom Custer—Boston +Custer—Armstrong Reed—Burial of the Slain—Retreat to the +Yellowstone—Story of Custer's Scout "Curley"—Death of Custer, <span class="pgnum">35</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI_part2"> +C H A P T E R V I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Reno's Battles—His Charge down the Valley, and Retreat to the Bluffs—Benteen's +Battalion—A terrific Assault—Holding the Fort—Volunteer +Water Carriers—Removal of Indian Village—Approach of Terry—Statements +of Benteen and Godfrey—A Scout's Narrative, <span class="pgnum">40</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII_part2"> +C H A P T E R V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Kill Eagle at Sitting Bull's Camp—His Account of the Battles with +Custer and Reno—"We have Killed them all"—What Buck Elk Saw, <span class="pgnum">52</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII_part2"> +C H A P T E R V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Criticisms on the Conduct of Reno and Benteen—Reno's Defence—What +Benteen Says—Gen. Sheridan on the Custer Disaster, <span class="pgnum">56</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX_part2"> +C H A P T E R I X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Midsummer Campaign—Adventures of a Scouting Party—Running +the Gauntlet—Indian Allies—Hazardous Service—Junction of Terry +and Crook—Following the Trail—At the Mouth of Powder River—Crook +Starts for the Black Hills—Short Rations—Battle of Slim +Buttes—The Chief American Horse—Deadwood—Terry at Glendive +Creek—A Chase after Sitting Bull—Close of the Campaign—Long +Dog's Reconnoitering Party, <span class="pgnum">62</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X_part2"> +C H A P T E R X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Autumn on the Yellowstone—Gallant Defence of a Wagon Train—A +Letter from Sitting Bull—A Flag of Truce—Col. Miles and Sitting +Bull Have a "Talk" between the Lines—An Exciting Scene—The +Council Disperses—The Troops Advance—A Battle and its Results—Escape +of Sitting Bull—Surrender of Chiefs as Hostages, <span class="pgnum">70</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI_part2"> +C H A P T E R X I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Terry and Crook at the Sioux Agencies—The Agency Indians Disarmed +and Dismounted—A Gleam of Daylight—What became of the Ponies—Red +Cloud Deposed—Spotted Tail Declared Chief Sachem—Gen. +Crook's Address to His Troops, <span class="pgnum">77</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII_part2"> +C H A P T E R X I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Winter Operations—Crook's Expedition—Col. McKenzie on the Trail—A +Night's March—A Charge down a Canyon—Destruction of a +Cheyenne Village—Life at the Tongue River Cantonment—Miles' +Excursion Northward—Capture of Sitting Bull's Camp—An Unfortunate +Affair—Massacre of Five Chiefs—Treacherous Crows—Winter +March Southward—Desperate Battle in the Wolf Mountains—Defeat +of Crazy Horse—Red Horse Surrenders—His Story of the +Big Horn Battles—Spotted Tail's Mission—Surrender of Roman +Nose, Standing Elk and Crazy Horse, <span class="pgnum">81</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII_part2"> +C H A P T E R X I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">George A. Custer—Early Youth—Cadet Life—From West Point to +Bull Run—On Kearny's Staff—Wades the Chickahominy—On McClellan's +Staff—Antietam—On Pleasonton's Staff—Aldie—A General +at Gettysburg—Pursues Lee—Falling Waters—Wounded—Cavalry +Engagement at Brandy Station—Marriage, <span class="pgnum">90</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV_part2"> +C H A P T E R X I V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">A Raid toward Richmond—With Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley—Opequan +Creek—Fisher's Hill—Commander of the Third Division—Fight +with Rosser—Sheridan's Army Surprised—Defeat and Victory—The +Cavalry at Cedar Creek—The last great Raid, <span class="pgnum">98</span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV_part2"> +C H A P T E R X V.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The last Struggle for Richmond—Custer at Dinwiddie and Fire Forks—Petersburg +Evacuated—The Pursuit of Lee—Jetersville—Sailor's +Creek—Appomattox—A Flag of Truce—Custer's Address to His +Soldiers—The Great Parade—A Major General—Texas—Negotiation +with Romero, <span class="pgnum">106</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI_part2"> +C H A P T E R X V I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Seventh Cavalry—Hancock's Expedition—Tricky Indians—A +Scout on the Plains—Camp Attacked by Indians—A Fight for the +Wagon Train—The Kidder Massacre—Court Martialed—Sully's +Expedition—Battle of the Washita—Death of Black Kettle—Fate of +Major Elliot—Night Retreat—March to Fort Cobb—Lone Wolf and +Satanta—After the Cheyennes—Captive Women Recovered, <span class="pgnum">113</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII_part2"> +C H A P T E R X V I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Yellowstone Expedition—Road-hunters—A Siesta—Dashing +Indians—A Trap—Fearful Odds—Rapid Volleys—Attack Renewed—Reinforcements—The +Foe Repulsed—A Tragedy—The Revenge of +Rain in the Face—Another Fight—Assigned to Fort Lincoln—Mrs. +Custer, <span class="pgnum">121</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII_part2"> +C H A P T E R X V I I I.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Campaign of 1876—The Dakota Column—The Babcock Investigation—The +Congressional Committee—Grant's Displeasure—Appeal +to the President—Custer's last Campaign, <span class="pgnum">126</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX_part2"> +C H A P T E R X I X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">Reminiscences of General Custer—Personal Characteristics, <span class="pgnum">132</span></p> + + +<p class="center big pchap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX_part2"> +C H A P T E R X X.</a></p> + +<p class="hang2 prm">The Indian Commission of 1876—Purchase of the Black Hills—Indian +Orators—Speeches of Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, Blue Teeth, Running +Antelope, Two Bears, Red Feather, Swan, White Ghost, etc., <span class="pgnum">138</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i472" name="i472"></a> +<img src="images/i472.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">MAP OF THE SIOUX COUNTRY.</p> + +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE INDIAN WAR.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/iline.jpg" alt="line" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I_part2" id="CHAPTER_I_part2"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="center small">THE SIOUX TRIBES—CAUSES OF THE WAR.</p> + + +<p>The scene of the campaign against the hostile +Indians in 1876, was the rugged, desolate, and partially +unexplored region lying between the Big Horn +and Powder Rivers, and extending from the Big Horn +Mountains northerly to and beyond the Yellowstone +River. This region is the most isolated and inaccessible +of any lying east of the Rocky Mountains, and is +admirably adapted for Indian warfare and defense. +Several rivers, tributaries of the Yellowstone, flow +through it, and it abounds in creeks, ravines, and +canyons. It is the hereditary country of the Crows, +who for generations defended it against marauding +tribes of Blackfeet.</p> + +<p>A vivid description of the general aspect of the +country and of the hardships and perils of our soldiers, +has been given by Col. Nelson A. Miles, of the Fifth +Infantry, in a letter written from the mouth of the +Powder River. "No service," he says, "is more +thankless or dangerous than contending against these +treacherous savages, and if you will come out and +learn the real sentiment of the army, you will find +the officers of the army the strongest advocates of any +peace policy that shall be just and honorable. You +will find us out here, five hundred miles from railroad +communication, in as barren, desolate and worthless a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_8" id="Page_2_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +country as the sun shines upon—volcanic, broken, and +almost impassable—so rugged as to make our granite +hills of Vermont and New Hampshire appear in comparison +as pleasant parks. Jagged and precipitous +cliffs; narrow and deep arroyos filled with massive +boulders; alkali water, or for miles and miles none +at all; and vegetation of cactus and sage-bushes, will +represent to you, feebly indeed, the scene of the +present campaign, in which we are contending against +the most powerful, warlike, and best-armed body +of savages on the American Continent, armed and +mounted partly at the expense of the Government, +and fully supplied with the most improved magazine +guns and tons of metallic ammunition."</p> + +<p>"The brave mariner," wrote a newspaper correspondent, +"on the trackless ocean without compass, +is no more at the mercy of wind and wave than Terry's +army, out upon this vast trackless waste, is at the +mercy of his guides and scouts. The sun rises in the +east, shines all day upon a vast expanse of sage-brush +and grass, and, as it sets in the west, casts its dull rays +into a thousand ravines that neither man nor beast +can cross. The magnet always points north; but +whether one can go either north or south can be decided +only by personal effort. An insignificant turn +to the wrong side of a little knoll or buffalo-wallow +ofttimes imperceptibly leads the voyager into ravine +after ravine, over bluff after bluff, until at last he +stands on the edge of a yawning canyon, hundreds of +feet in depth and with perpendicular walls. Nothing +is left for him to do but to retrace his steps and find +an accessible route."</p> + +<p>The hostile Indians with whom our soldiers have +had to contend are no despicable foe; on the contrary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_9" id="Page_2_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +they are quite able, in frontier warfare, to cope with +disciplined troops. They fight in bodies, under skilled +leaders, and have regular rules which they observe in +battle, on their marches, and in their camps. "They +have systems of signalling and of scouting, of posting +sentinels and videttes, and of herding their animals." +They are remarkably expert horsemen, and are so dependent +on their steeds, that "a Sioux on foot is a +Sioux warrior no longer." Gen. Crook testifies to +their adroitness and skill as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"When the Sioux Indian was armed with a bow and arrow he +was more formidable, fighting as he does most of the time on +horseback, than when he came into possession of the old fashioned +muzzle loading rifle. But when he came into possession of +the breech loader and metallic catridge, which allows him to load +and fire from his horse with perfect ease, he became at once ten +times more formidable. With the improved arms I have seen +our friendly Indians, riding at full speed, shoot and kill a wolf, +also on the run, while it is a rare thing that our troops can hit an +Indian on horseback though the soldier may be on his feet at the +time.</p> + +<p>"The Sioux is a cavalry soldier from the time he has intelligence +enough to ride a horse or fire a gun. If he wishes to dismount, +his hardy pony, educated by long usage, will graze +around near where he has been left, ready when his master wants +to mount either to move forward or escape. Even with their +lodges and families they can move at the rate of fifty miles per +day. They are perfectly familiar with the country, have their +spies and hunting parties out all the time at distances of from +twenty to fifty miles each way from their villages, know the +number and movements of all the troops that may be operating +against them, just about what they can probably do, and hence +can choose their own times and places of conflict or avoid it +altogether."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The primary causes of the hostilities of the Indians +which made this campaign and previous ones against +them necessary, extend far back and are too numerous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_10" id="Page_2_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +to be here fully stated. The principal Indian grievances +however, for which the government is responsible, +are a failure to fulfil treaties, encroachment on +reserved territories, and the dishonesty of agents. +Col. Miles speaks of our relationship with the Indians +for the last fifty years, as the dark page in our history, +which, next to African slavery, has done more to disgrace +our government, blacken our fair name, and +reflect upon our civilization, than aught else. It has, +he says, been a source of corruption and a disturbing +element, unconfined to any one political party or class +of individuals.</p> + +<p>Wendell Phillips asserts that the worst brutality +which prurient malice ever falsely charged the Indian +with, is but weak imitation of what the white man has +often inflicted on Indian men, women and children; +and that the Indian has never lifted his hand against +us until provoked to it by misconduct on our part, +compared with which, any misconduct of his is but +dust in the balance.</p> + +<p>The great difference in the condition and character +of the Indians over the Canada line and our own, +can only be accounted for by the different treatment +they have received. The Canadian Indians are, on +the whole, a harmless, honest people, who, though +they are gradually disappearing before the white +man, bear him no ill-will, but rather the contrary. +Bishop Whipple of Minnesota, an earnest advocate +of the peace policy, draws the following contrast:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Here are two pictures—on one side of the line a nation has +spent $500,000,000 in Indian war; a people who have not 100 +miles between the Atlantic and the Pacific which has not been +the scene of an Indian massacre; a government which has not +passed twenty years without an Indian war; not one Indian +tribe to whom it has given Christian civilization; and which<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_11" id="Page_2_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +celebrates its centennial year by another bloody Indian war. On +the other side of the line there is the same greedy, dominant +Anglo-Saxon race, and the same heathen. They have not spent +one dollar in Indian war; they have had no Indian massacres. +Why? In Canada the Indian treaty calls these men 'the Indian +subjects of her Majesty.' When civilization approaches them +they are placed on ample reservations; they receive aid in civilization; +they have personal rights of property; they are amenable +to law and are protected by law; they have schools, and +Christian people delight to give them their best men to teach +them the religion of Christ. We expend more than one hundred +dollars to their one in caring for Indian wards."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The results of the Indian disturbances, whatever +their causes, have borne heavily on the hardy and enterprising +settlers along the border. Of these citizens +Gen. Crook says:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"I believe it is wrong for a Government as great and powerful +as ours not to protect its frontier people from savages. I do +not see why a man who has the courage to come out here and +open the way for civilization in his own country, is not as much +entitled to the protection of his Government as anybody else. +I am not one of those who believe, as many missionaries sent +out here by well-meaning eastern socities do, that the people of +the frontiers are cut-throats, thieves, and murderers. I have +been thrown among them for nearly 25 years of my life, and +believe them to compare favorably in energy, intelligence and +manhood with the best of their eastern brethren. They are +mercilessly plundered by Indians without any attempt being +made to punish the perpetrators, and when they ask for protection, +they are told by some of our peace commissioners sent out +to make further concessions to the Indians, that they have no +business out here anyhow. I do not deny that my sympathies +have been with the frontier people in their unequal contest +against such obstacles. At the same time I do not wish to be +understood as the unrelenting foe of the Indian."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Sioux Indians, embracing several tribes, are +the old Dakotahs, long known as among the bravest +and most warlike aboriginals of this continent. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_12" id="Page_2_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +were steadily pushed westward by the tide of civilization +to the Great Plains north of the Platte, where +they claimed as their own all the vast region west of +the Missouri as far as they could roam or fight their +way. They resisted the approach of all settlers and +opposed the building of the Pacific Railroad.</p> + +<p>In 1867, Congress sent out four civilians and three +army officers as Peace Commissioners, who, in 1868, +made a treaty with the Sioux, whereby for certain +payments or stipulations, they agreed to surrender +their claims to a vast tract of country, to live at peace +with their neighbors, and to restrict themselves to a +territory bounded south by Nebraska, west by the +104th meridian, and north by the 46th parallel of +latitude—a territory as large as the State of Michigan. +"They had the solemn pledge of the United States +that they should be protected in the absolute and +peaceable possession of the country thus set apart for +them; and the constitution makes such treaties the +highest of all authorities, and declares that they are +binding upon every citizen."</p> + +<p>In the western part of the Sioux territory, lying +between the two forks of the Cheyenne River, is the +Black Hills country with an area of four or five +thousand square miles. Of the interior of this region +up to 1874 nothing was known excepting from the +indefinite reports of hunters who had penetrated +therein. The arrival at a trading post of Indians who +offered gold-dust for sale which they said was procured +at the Black Hills, caused much excitement; and +a military expedition of 1200 men was sent from Fort +Lincoln in July 1874, to explore the Hills and ascertain +if gold existed there. As was expected, no hostile +enemy were encountered by the large expedition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_13" id="Page_2_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +which thus invaded the Indian territory. A few +lodges of Indians were met in the Hills, and they ran +away notwithstanding friendly overtures were made. +An attempt was made to lead the pony of one +mounted Indian to headquarters, but he got away, +and a shot was fired after him which, says General +Custer, wounded either the Indian or his pony as +blood was found on the ground.</p> + +<p>The geologists of the expedition reported that there +was gold in the Black Hills, and miners and others +began to flock thither. In 1875, troops were sent to +remove the trespassers on the Indian reservation, but +as fast as they compelled or persuaded the miners to +go away others came to fill their places; and at the +present date there are more settlers there than ever +before.</p> + +<p>Of the treaty of 1868 and the so-called peace policy +then inaugurated various opinions are entertained. +Gen. Sherman, a member of the commission, in his +report for 1876, says:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The commission had also to treat with other tribes at the south; +viz,—the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas and Commanches; were +engaged for two years in visiting and confering with these +scattered bands; and finally, in 1868, concluded many treaties, +which were the best possible at that date, and which resulted in +comparative peace on the Plains, by defining clearly the boundaries +to be thereafter occupied by the various tribes, with the +annuities in money, provisions, and goods to be paid the Indians +for the relenquishment of their claims to this vast and indefinite +region of land. At this time the Sioux nation consisted of +many distinct tribes, and was estimated at 50,000, of whom some +8,000 were named as hostiles.</p> + +<p>"These Indians, as all others, were under the exclusive jurisdiction +of the Indian Bureau, and only small garrisons of soldiers +were called for at the several agencies, such as Red Cloud and +Spotted Tail on the head of the White Earth River in Nebraska +(outside their reservation), and at Standing Rock, Cheyenne,<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_14" id="Page_2_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +and Crow Creek on the Missouri River, to protect the persons of +the agents and their employes. About these several agencies +were grouped the several bands of Sioux under various names, +receiving food, clothing, etc., and undergoing the process of civilization; +but from the time of the Peace Commission of 1868 to +the date of this report, a number of Sioux, recognized as hostile +or 'outlaws,' had remained out under the lead of Sitting Bull and +a few other chiefs."</p> + +<p>"The so-called peace policy," says Bishop Whipple, "was +commenced when we were at war. The Indian tribes were +either openly hostile, or sullen and turbulent. The new policy +was a marvellous success. I do honestly believe that it has +done more for the civilization of the Indians than all which the +Government has done before. Its only weakness was that the +system was not reformed. The new work was fettered by all +the faults and traditions of the old policy. The nation left +300,000 men living within our own borders without a vestige of +government, without personal rights of property, without the +slightest protection of person, property, or life. We persisted in +telling these heathen tribes that they were independent nations. +We sent out the bravest and best of our officers, some who had +grown gray in the service of the country; men whose slightest +word was as good as their bond—we sent them because the Indians +would not doubt a soldier's honor. They made a treaty, +and they pledged the nation's faith that no white man should +enter that territory. I do not discuss its wisdom. The Executive +and Senate ratified it.... A violation of its plain +provisions was an act of deliberate perjury. In the words of +Gen. Sherman, 'Civilization made its own compact with the +weaker party; it was violated, but not by the savage.' The +whole world knew that we violated that treaty, and the reason +of the failure of the negotiations of last year was that our own +commissioners did not have authority from Congress to offer the +Indians more than one-third of the sum they were already receiving +under the old treaty."</p> + +<p>"The Sioux Nation," says Gen. Crook, in his report of Sept. +1876, "numbers many thousands of warriors, and they have +been encouraged in their insolent overbearing conduct by the +fact, that those who participated in the wholesale massacre of +the innocent people in Minnesota during the brief period that<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_15" id="Page_2_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +preceded their removal to their present location, never received +adequate punishment therefor. Following hard upon and as the +apparent result of the massacre of over eighty officers and men of +the army at Fort Phil Kearney, the Government abandoned three +of its military posts, and made a treaty of unparalleled liberality +with the perpetrators of these crimes, against whom any other +nation would have prosecuted a vigorous war.</p> + +<p>"Since that time the reservations, instead of being the abode +of loyal Indians holding the terms of their agreement sacred, +have been nothing but nests of disloyalty to their treaties and +the Government, and scourges to the people whose misfortune it +has been to be within the reach of the endurance of their ponies. +And in this connection, I regret to say, they have been materially +aided by sub-agents who have disgraced a bureau established for +the propagation of peace and good will, man to man.</p> + +<p>"What is the loyal condition of mind of a lot of savages, who +will not allow the folds of the flag of the country to float over +the very sugar, coffee and beef, they are kind enough to accept +at the hands of the nation to which they have thus far dictated +their own terms? Such has been the condition of things at the +Red Cloud Agency.</p> + +<p>"The hostile bands roamed over a vast extent of country, +making the Agencies their base of supplies, their recruiting and +ordinance depots, and were so closely connected by intermarriage, +interest and common cause with the Agency Indians, that it was +difficult to determine where the line of peaceably disposed ceased +and the hostile commenced. They have, without interruption, +attacked persons at home, murdered and scalped them, stolen +their stock—in fact violated every leading feature in the treaty. +Indeed, so great were their depredations on the stock belonging +to the settlers, that at certain times they have not had sufficient +horses to do their ordinary farming work—all the horses being +concentrated on the Sioux Reservation or among the bands which +owe allegiance to what is called the Sioux Nation. In the winter +months these renegade bands dwindle down to a comparatively +small number; while in summer they are recruited by restless +spirits from the different reservations, attracted by the opportunity +to plunder the frontiersman, so that by midsummer they +become augmented from small bands of one hundred to thousands.</p> + +<p>"In fact, it was well known that the treaty of 1868 had been +regarded by the Indians as an instrument binding on us but not<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_16" id="Page_2_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +binding on them. On the part of the Government, notwithstanding +the utter disregard by the Sioux of the terms of the treaty, +stringent orders, enforced by military power, had been issued +prohibiting settlers from trespassing upon the country known as +the Black Hills. The people of the country against whom the +provisions of the treaty were so rigidly enforced naturally complained +that if they were required to observe this treaty, some +effort should be made to compel the Indians to observe it +likewise.</p> + +<p>"The occupation by the settlers of the Black Hills country had +nothing to do with the hostilities which have been in progress. +In fact, by the continuous violations by these Indians of the +treaty referred to, the settlers were furnished with at least a +reasonable excuse for such occupation, in that a treaty so long +and persistently violated by the Indians themselves, should not +be quoted as a valid instrument for the preventing of such occupation. +Since the occupation of the Black Hills there has not +been any greater number of depredations committed by the +Indians than previous to such occupation; in truth, the people +who have gone to the Hills have not suffered any more and +probably not as much from Indians, as they would had they +remained at their homes along the border."</p> + +<p>"In 1868," says Wm. R. Steele, delegate from Wyoming, "the +United States made a treaty with the Sioux Nation, which was +a grave mistake, if it was not a national dishonor and disgrace; +that treaty has been the foundation of all the difficulties in the +Sioux country. In 1866, Gen. Pope established posts at Fort +Phil Kearney, Reno, and Fort Smith, so as to open the road to +Montana and protect the country and friendly Crows from the +hostile Sioux. In keeping these posts and opening that road, +many men, citizens and soldiers, had been killed. Notable +among the actions that had taken place was the massacre of +Fetterman and his command at Fort Phil Kearney; and yet +after these men had sacrificed their lives, the Government went +to work and made a treaty by which it ignominiously abandoned +that country to these savages, dismantling its own forts, and +leaving there the bones of men who had laid down their lives in +the wilderness. Was it to be wondered at, under these circumstances, +that Sitting Bull and his men believed they were superior +to the general government? Any body who knows anything<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_17" id="Page_2_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +about Indian nature knows that the legitimate result of that cowardly +policy of peace at any price, was to defer only the evil +day which has now come upon us. Since that time the Sioux +have been constantly depredating on the frontiers of Nebraska, +Wyoming and Montana, and more men have fallen there in the +peaceful vocations of civil life, without a murmur being heard, +than fell under the gallant Custer. The friendly Crows have +been raided with every full moon; so with the Shoshones; and at +last these outrages have become so great and so long continued +that even the peaceable Indian Department could not stand them +any longer, and called on the military arm of the Government to +punish these men."</p> + +<p>President Grant, in his message of December, 1876, uses the +following language:—"A policy has been adopted towards the +Indian tribes inhabiting a large portion of the territory of the +United States, which has been humane, and has substantially +ended Indian hostilities in the whole land, except in a portion of +Nebraska, and Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana territories, the +Black Hills region, and approaches thereto. Hostilities there +have grown out of the avarice of the white man, who has violated +our treaty stipulations in his search for gold. The question +might be asked, why the Government had not enforced obedience +to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupation of the +Black Hills region by whites? The answer is simple. The first +immigrants to the Black Hills were removed by troops, but +rumors of rich discoveries of gold took into that region increased +numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantity, +and an effort to remove the miners would only result in the desertion +of the bulk of the troops that might be sent there to +remove them."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The causes and objects of the military operations +against the Sioux in 1876, as stated by the Secretary +of War in a letter to the President dated July 8th, +1876, were in part as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The present military operations are not against the Sioux +nation at all, but against certain hostile parts of it which defy +the Government, and are undertaken at the special request of +the bureau of the Government charged with their supervision, +and wholly to make the civilization of the remainder possible.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_18" id="Page_2_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +No part of these operations are on or near the Sioux reservation. +The accidental discovery of gold on the western border of the +Sioux reservation and the intrusion of our people thereon have +not caused this war, and have only complicated it by the uncertainty +of numbers to be encountered. The young warriors love +war, and frequently escape their agents to go to the hunt or war +path—their only idea of the object of life. The object of these +military expeditions was in the interest of the peaceful parts of +the Sioux nation, supposed to embrace at least nine-tenths of the +whole, and not one of these peaceful treaty Indians has been +molested by the military authorities."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Of the hostile Indians referred to by the Secretary +of War, Hon. E.P. Smith, Commissioner of Indian +Affairs, reported Nov. 1st, 1875:—"It will probably +be found necessary to compel the Northern non-treaty +Sioux, under the leadership of Sitting Bull, +who have never yet in any way recognized the United +States Government, except by snatching rations occasionally +at an agency, and such outlaws from the +several agencies as have attached themselves to these +same hostiles, to cease marauding and settle down, as +the other Sioux have done, at some designated point."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards, Indian Inspector E.C. Watkins +addressed the Commissioner respecting these Indians, +as follows:—"The true policy in my judgment is to +send troops against them in winter, the sooner the +better, and whip them into subjection. They richly +merit punishment for their incessant warfare and their +numerous murders of white settlers and their families, +or white men whenever found unarmed."</p> + +<p>Early in December, by the advice of the Secretary +of the Interior, Commissioner Smith directed that +runners be sent out to notify "said Indian Sitting +Bull, and others outside their reservation, that they +must move to the reservation before the 31st day of +January, 1876; that if they neglect or refuse so to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_19" id="Page_2_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +move, they will be reported to the War Department +as hostile Indians, and that a military force will be +sent to compel them to obey the order of the Indian +officer." Respecting this order to the Indians, Bishop +Whipple, in a letter to the <i>New York Tribune</i>, says:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"There was an inadequate supply of provisions at the agencies +that Fall, and the Indians went out to their unceded territory +to hunt. They went as they were accustomed to do—with the +consent of their agents and as provided by the treaty. * * * +The Indians had gone a way from the agencies to secure food, +and skins for clothing. The United States had set apart this very +country as a hunting-ground for them forever. Eight months +after this order to return or be treated as hostile, Congress +appropriated money for the seventh of thirty installments for +these roaming Indians. It was impossible for the Indians to obey +the order. No one of the runners sent out to inform the Indians, +was able to return himself by the time appointed; yet Indian +women and children were expected to travel a treeless desert, +without food or proper clothing, under the penalty of death."</p></blockquote> + +<p>As the order and warning were disregarded by the +Indians, the Secretary of the Interior notified the Secretary +of War, Feb. 1st, 1876, that "the time given +him (Sitting Bull) in which to return to an agency +having expired, and advices received at the Indian +Office being to the effect that Sitting Bull still refuses +to comply with the direction of the Commissioner, +the said Indians are hereby turned over to the War +Department for such action on the part of the army +as you may deem proper under the circumstances."</p> + +<p>By direction of Lieut. General Sheridan, Commander +over the vast extent of territory included in +the Military Division of Missouri, Brig. Gen. George +Crook, Commander of the Department of the Platte, +an officer of great merit and experience in Indian +fighting, now undertook to reduce these Indian outlaws +to subjection, and made preparations for an expedition +against them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II_part2" id="CHAPTER_II_part2"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="center small">BATTLES OF THE POWDER AND ROSEBUD.</p> + + +<p>General Crook started from Fort Fetterman, W.T., +March 1st, 1876, at the head of an expedition +composed of ten companies of the 2d and 3d Cavalry +under Col. J.J. Reynolds, and two companies of the +4th Infantry, with teamsters, guides, etc., amounting +in all to nearly nine hundred men. His course was +nearly north, past the abandoned Forts Reno and +Phil. Kearney to Tongue River. He descended this +river nearly to the Yellowstone, scouted Rosebud +River, and then changed his course to the south-east +toward Powder River. At a point on the head of +Otter Creek, Crook divided his command, and sent +Col. Reynolds with six companies of cavalry and one +day's rations to follow the trail of two Indians discovered +that day in the snow.</p> + +<p>Col. Reynolds moved at 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> of the 16th, and at +4.20 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, after a night's march of thirty miles, was +near the forks of Powder River. The following +extracts are copied from a letter written to the <i>New +York Tribune</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"A halt was called here and the column took shelter in a +ravine. No fires were allowed to be kindled, nor even a match +lighted. The cold was intense and seemed to be at least 30° +below zero. The command remained here till about 6 o'clock, +doing their uttermost to keep from freezing, the scouts meantime +going out to reconnoitre. At this hour they returned, reporting<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_21" id="Page_2_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +a larger and fresher trail leading down to the river which was +about four miles distant. The column immediately started on +the trail. The approach to the river seemed almost impracticable. +Before reaching the final precipices which overlooked the riverbed, +the scouts discovered that a village lay in the valley at the +foot of the bluffs. It was now 8 o'clock. The sun shone brightly +through the cold frosty air.</p> + +<p>"The column halted, and Noyes's battalion, 2d Cavalry, was +ordered up to the front. It consisted of Company I, Capt. Noyes, +and Company K, Capt. Egan. This battalion was ordered to +descend to the valley, and while Egan charged the camp, Noyes +was to cut out the herd of horses feeding close by and drive it +up the river. Capt. Moore's battalion of two companies was +ordered to dismount and proceed along the edge of the ridge to +a position covering the eastern side of the village opposite that +from which Egan was to charge. Capt. Mills's battalion was +ordered to follow Egan dismounted, and support him in the engagement +which might follow the charge.</p> + +<p>"These columns began the descent of the mountain, through +gorges which were almost perpendicular. Nearly two hours +were occupied in getting the horses of the charging columns +down these rough sides of the mountain, and even then, when a +point was reached where the men could mount their horses and +proceed toward the village in the narrow valley beneath, Moore's +battalion had not been able to gain its position on the eastern +side after clambering along the edges of the mountain. A few +Indians could be seen with the herd, driving it to the edge of +the river, but nothing indicated that they knew of our approach.</p> + +<p>"Just at 9 o'clock Capt. Egan turned the point of the mountain +nearest the river, and first in a walk and then in a rapid trot +started for the village. The company went first in column of +twos, but when within 200 yards of the village the command 'Left +front into line' was given, and with a yell they rushed into the +encampment. Capt. Noyes had in the meantime wheeled to the +right and started the herd up the river. With the yell of the +charging column the Indians sprang up as if by magic and +poured in a rapid fire from all sides. Egan charged through +and through the village before Moore's and Mills's battalions got +within supporting distance, and finding things getting very hot, +formed his line in some high willows on the south side of the +camp, from which he poured in rapid volleys upon the Indians.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_22" id="Page_2_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Up to this time the Indians supposed that one company was +all they had to contend with, but when the other battalions +appeared, rapidly advancing, deployed as skirmishers and +pouring in a galling fire of musketry, they broke on all sides and +took refuge in the rocks along the side of the mountain. The +camp, consisting of 110 lodges, with immense quantities of robes, +fresh meat, and plunder of all kinds, with over 700 head of +horses were in our possession. The work of burning immediately +began, and soon the whole encampment was in flames.</p> + +<p>"After the work of destruction was completed the whole command +moved rapidly up the river twenty miles to Lodgepole +Creek. This point was reached at nightfall by all except +Moore's battalion and Egan's company. Company E was the +rear guard, and assisted Major Stanton and the scouts in bringing +up the herd of horses; many of these were shot on the road, +and the remainder reached camp about 9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> These troops +had been in the saddle for 36 hours, with the exception of five +hours during which they were fighting, and all, officers and men, +were much exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Upon arriving at Lodgepole, it was found that General Crook +and the other four companies and pack-train had not arrived, +so that everybody was supperless and without a blanket. The +night, therefore, was not a cheerful one, but not a murmur was +heard. The tired men lay upon the snow or leaned against a +tree, and slept as best they could on so cold a night. Saturday, +at noon, General Crook arrived. In the meantime a portion of +the herd of horses had straggled into the ravines, and fallen into +the hands of the Indians."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The village thus destroyed was that of Crazy Horse, +one of the avowedly hostile chiefs. "He had with +him," wrote Gen. Crook, "the Northern Cheyennes, +and some of the Minneconjous—probably in all one-half +of the Indians off the reservations." The Indian +loss was unknown. Four of Reynolds' men were +killed, and six men including one officer were wounded. +The whole force subsequently returned to Fort +Fetterman, reaching there March 26th.</p> + +<p>The results of this expedition were neither conclu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_23" id="Page_2_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>sive +or satisfactory. Therefore, Gen. Sheridan determined +to proceed more systematically by concentric +movements. He ordered three distinct columns to +be prepared to move to a common centre, where the +hostiles were supposed to be, from Montana, from +Dakota, and from the Platte. The two former fell +under the command of Gen. Alfred H. Terry, Commander +of the Department of Dakota, and the latter +under Gen. Crook. These movements were to be +simultaneous, so that Indians avoiding one column +might be encountered by another.</p> + +<p>Gen. Crook marched from Fort Fetterman on the +29th of May, with two battalions of the 2d and 3d +Cavalry under Lieut. Col. W.B. Royall, and a battalion +of five companies of the 4th and 9th Infantry +under Major Alex. Chambers, with a train of wagons, +pack-mules, and Indian scouts, all amounting to 47 +officers and 1,000 men present for duty. This expedition +marched by the same route as the preceding +one, to a point on Goose Creek, which is the head of +Tongue River, where a supply camp was established +on June 8th. During the preceding night a party of +Sioux came down on the encampment, and endeavored +to stampede the horses, bringing on an engagement +which resulted in the discomfiture and retreat of the +enemy. On the 14th, a band of Shoshones and Crows—Indians +unfriendly to the Sioux—joined Crook, and +were provided with arms and ammunition.</p> + +<p>The aggressive column of the expedition resumed +the march forward on the morning of the 16th, leaving +the trains parked at the Goose Creek camp. The +infantry were mounted on mules borrowed from the +pack-train, and each man carried his own supplies +consisting of only three days' rations and one blanket.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_24" id="Page_2_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +At night, after marching about 35 miles, the little +army encamped between high bluffs at the head +waters of Rosebud River.</p> + +<p>At 5 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> on the morning of the 17th the troops +started down the valley of the Rosebud, the Indian +allies marching in front and on the flanks. After +advancing about seven miles successive shots were +heard in front, the scouts came running in to report +Indians advancing, and Gen. Crook had hardly time +to form his men, before large numbers of warriors +fully prepared for a fight were in view.</p> + +<p>The battle which ensued was on both banks of the +Rosebud, near the upper end of a deep canyon having +sides which were steep, covered with pine, and apparently +impregnable, through which the stream ran. +The Indians displayed a strong force at all points, and +contested the ground with a tenacity which indicated +that they were fighting for time to remove their village, +which was supposed to be about six miles down +the Rosebud at the lower end of the canyon, or +believed themselves strong enough to defeat their +opponents.</p> + +<p>The officers and men of Crook's command behaved +with marked gallantry during the engagement. The +Sioux were finally repulsed in their bold onset, and +lost many of their bravest warriors; but when they +fled they could not be pursued far without great +danger owing to the roughness of the country. The +Indian allies were full of enthusiasm but not very +manageable, preferring to fight independently of orders. +Crook's losses were nine soldiers killed, and twenty-one +wounded, including Capt. Henry of the 3d +Cavalry. Seven of the friendly Indians were wounded, +and one was killed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_25" id="Page_2_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gen. Crook was satisfied that the number and +quality of the enemy required more men than he had, +and being encumbered with wounded he concluded +to retreat. The night was passed on the battle-field, +and the next day he started for his camp on Goose +Creek, which was reached June 19th. Couriers were +sent to Fort Fetterman for reinforcements and supplies, +and the command remained inactive for several +weeks awaiting their arrival.</p> + +<p>The battle of the Rosebud was fought not very far +from the scene of Custer's defeat a few days later, +and Gen. Crook concludes that his opponents were +the same that Custer and Reno encountered.</p> + +<p>"It now became apparent," says Gen. Sheridan in +his report "that Gen. Crook had not only Crazy +Horse and his small band to contend with, but that +the hostile force had been augmented by large +numbers of the young warriors from the agencies +along the Missouri River, and the Red Cloud and +Spotted Tail agencies in Nebraska, and that the +Indian agents at these agencies had concealed the fact +of the departure of these warriors, and that in most +cases they continued to issue rations as though they +were present."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III_part2" id="CHAPTER_III_part2"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="center small">TERRY'S EXPEDITION—OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.</p> + + +<p>General Terry left Fort Abraham Lincoln on the +Missouri River, May 17th 1876, with his division, consisting +of the 7th Cavalry under Lieut. Col. George +A. Custer, three companies of infantry, a battery of +Gatling guns, and 45 enlisted scouts. His whole force, +exclusive of the wagon-train drivers, numbered about +1000 men. His march was westerly, over the route +taken by the Stanley expedition in 1873.</p> + +<p>On the 11th of June, Terry reached the south bank +of the Yellowstone at the mouth of Powder River, +where by appointment he met steamboats, and established +his supply camp. A scouting party of six +companies of the 7th Cavalry under Major M.A. Reno +was sent out June 10th, which ascended Powder +River to its forks, crossed westerly to Tongue River +and beyond, and discovered, near Rosebud River, a +heavy Indian trail about ten days old leading westward +toward Little Big Horn River. After following +this trail a short distance Reno returned to the +Yellowstone and rejoined his regiment, which then +marched, accompanied by steamboats, to the mouth +of Rosebud River where it encamped June 21st. +Communication by steamboats and scouts had previously +been opened with Col. John Gibbon, whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_27" id="Page_2_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +column was at this time encamped on the north side +of the Yellowstone, near by.</p> + +<p>Col. Gibbon of the 7th Infantry had left Fort Ellis +in Montana about the middle of May, with a force +consisting of six companies of his regiment, and four +companies of the 2d Cavalry under Major J.S. Brisbin. +He had marched eastward down the north +bank of the Yellowstone to the mouth of the Rosebud, +where he encamped about June 1st.</p> + +<p>Gen. Terry now consulted with Gibbon and Custer, +and decided upon a plan for attacking the Indians +who were believed to be assembled in large numbers +near Big Horn River. Custer with his regiment was +to ascend the valley of the Rosebud, and then turn +towards Little Big Horn River, keeping well to the +south. Gibbon's troops were to cross the Yellowstone +at the mouth of Big Horn River, and march up the +Big Horn to its junction with the Little Big Horn, +to co-operate with Custer. It was hoped that the +Indians would thus be brought between the two +forces so that their escape would be impossible.</p> + +<p>Col. Gibbon's column was immediately put in +motion for the mouth of the Big Horn. On the next +day, June 22d, at noon, Custer announced himself +ready to start, and drew out his regiment. It consisted +of 12 companies, numbering 28 officers and 747 +soldiers. There were also a strong detachment of +scouts and guides, several civilians, and a supply train +of 185 pack mules. Gen. Terry reviewed the column +in the presence of Gibbon and Brisbin, and it was +pronounced in splendid condition. "The officers +clustered around Terry for a final shake of the hand, +the last good-bye was said, and in the best of spirits,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_28" id="Page_2_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +filled with high hopes, they galloped away—many of +them to their death."</p> + +<p>Gen. Terry's orders to Custer were as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"> +<table class="other" summary="curlybracket"> + +<tr> +<td></td> + +<td class="tdcurly" rowspan="3"> +<span style="font-size:2.25em;">}</span></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Camp at the mouth of Rosebud River</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">June 22d, 1876.</td></tr> + + +</table> +<p><i>Lieut. Col. Custer, 7th Cavalry.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Colonel</span>: The Brigadier General Commanding directs that +as soon as your regiment can be made ready for the march, you +proceed up the Rosebud in pursuit of the Indians whose trail was +discovered by Major Reno a few days ago. It is, of course, impossible +to give any definite instructions in regard to this movement, +and, were it not impossible to do so, the Department Commander +places too much confidence in your zeal, energy, and +ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which might +hamper your action when nearly in contact with the enemy. He +will, however, indicate to you his own views of what your action +should be, and he desires that you should conform to them unless +you shall see sufficient reason for departing from them. He +thinks that you should proceed up the Rosebud until you ascertain +definitely the direction in which the trail above spoken of +leads. Should it be found (as it appears to be almost certain +that it will be found) to turn towards the Little Big Horn, he +thinks that you should still proceed southward perhaps as far +as the head waters of the Tongue, and then turn toward the Little +Big Horn, feeling constantly, however, to your left, so as to preclude +the possibility of the escape of the Indians to the south or +south-east by passing around your left flank. The column of +Col. Gibbon is now in motion for the mouth of the Big Horn. +As soon as it reaches that point it will cross the Yellowstone, +and move up at least as far as the forks of the Big and Little +Big Horn. Of course its future movements must be controlled +by circumstances as they arise; but it is hoped that the Indians, +if up on the Little Big Horn, may be so nearly inclosed by the +two columns that their escape will be impossible. The Department +Commander desires that on your way up the Rosebud you +should thoroughly examine the upper part of Tulloch's Creek, +and that you should endeavor to send a scout through to Col. +Gibbon's column with information of the result of your examination. +The lower part of this creek will be examined by a detachment +from Col. Gibbon's command. The supply steamer will<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_29" id="Page_2_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +be pushed up the Big Horn as far as the forks of the river are +found to be navigable for that space, and the Department Commander, +who will accompany the column of Col. Gibbon, desires +you to report to him there not later than the expiration of the +time for which your troops are rationed, unless in the meantime +you receive further orders. Respectfully, &c.,</p> + +<p class="smallind"> +<span class="smcap">E.W. Smith</span>, Captain 18th Infantry,</p> +<p class="midind">Acting Assistant Adjutant General.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>After proceeding southerly up the Rosebud for +about seventy miles, Custer, at 11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> on the night +of the 24th, turned westerly towards Little Big Horn +River. The next morning while crossing the elevated +land between the two rivers, a large Indian village +was discovered about fifteen miles distant, just across +Little Big Horn River. Custer with characteristic +promptness decided to attack the village at once.</p> + +<p>One company was escorting the train at the rear. +The balance of the force was divided into three columns. +The trail they were on led down to the stream +at a point some distance south of the village. Major +Reno, with three companies under Capt. T.H. French, +Capt. Myles Moylan, and Lieut. Donald Mclntosh, +was ordered to follow the trail, cross the stream, and +charge down its north bank. Capt. F.W. Benteen, +with his own company and two others under Capt. T. +B. Weir and Lieut. E.S. Godfrey, was sent to make a +detour to the south of Reno. The other five companies +of the regiment, under the immediate command +of Custer, formed the right of the little army.</p> + +<p>On reaching the river Reno crossed it as ordered, +and Custer with his five companies turned northerly +into a ravine running behind the bluffs on the east +side of the stream.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV_part2" id="CHAPTER_IV_part2"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="center small">GIBBON'S MARCH UP THE BIG HORN RIVER.</p> + + +<p>The supply steamer Far West with Gen. Terry +and Col. Gibbon on board, which steamed up the +Yellowstone on the evening of June 23d, overtook +Gibbon's troops near the mouth of the Big Horn +early on the morning of the 24th; and by 4 o'clock +<span class="smcap">p.m.</span> of the same day, the entire command with the +animals and supplies had been ferried over to the +south side of the Yellowstone. An hour later the +column marched out to and across Tulloch's Creek, +and then encamped for the night.</p> + +<p>At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 25th, (Sunday) +the column was again in motion; and after marching +22 miles over a country so rugged as to task the endurance +of the men to the utmost, the infantry halted +for the night. Gen. Terry, however, with the cavalry +and the battery pushed on 14 miles further in hopes +of opening communication with Custer, and camped +at midnight near the mouth of the Little Big Horn.</p> + +<p>Scouts sent out from Terry's camp early on the +morning of the 26th discovered three Indians, who +proved to be Crows who had accompanied Custer's +regiment. They reported that a battle had been +fought and that the Indians were killing white men +in great numbers. Their story was not fully credited, +as it was not expected that a conflict would occur so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_31" id="Page_2_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +soon, or believed that serious disaster could have overtaken +so large a force.</p> + +<p>The infantry, which had broken camp very early, +now came up, and the whole column crossed the +Little Big Horn and moved up its western valley. +It was soon reported that a dense heavy smoke was +resting over the southern horizon far ahead, and in a +short time it became visible to all. This was hailed as +a sign that Custer had met the Indians, defeated them, +and burned their village. The weary foot soldiers +were elated and freshened by the sight, and pressed +on with increased spirit and speed.</p> + +<p>Custer's position was believed to be not far ahead, +and efforts were repeatedly made during the afternoon +to open communication with him; but the scouts +who attempted to go through were met and driven +back by hostile Indians who were hovering in the +front. As evening came on, their numbers increased +and large parties could be seen on the bluffs hurrying +from place to place and watching every movement of +the advancing soldiers.</p> + +<p>At 8:40 in the evening the infantry had marched +that day about 30 miles. The forks of the Big Horn, +the place where Terry had requested Custer to report +to him, were many miles behind and the expected +messenger from Custer had not arrived. Daylight +was fading, the men were fatigued, and the column +was therefore halted for the night. The animals +were picketed, guards were set, and the weary men, +wrapped in their blankets and with their weapons +beside them, were soon asleep on the ground.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 27th the march up the +Little Big Horn was resumed. The smoke cloud was +still visible and apparently but a short distance ahead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_32" id="Page_2_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +Soon a dense grove of trees was reached and passed +through cautiously, and then the head of the column +entered a beautiful level meadow about a mile in +width, extending along the west side of the stream +and overshadowed east and west by high bluffs. It +soon became apparent that this meadow had recently +been the site of an immense Indian village, and the +great number of temporary brushwood and willow +huts indicated that many Indians beside the usual +inhabitants had rendezvoused there. It was also evident +that it had been hastily deserted. Hundreds of +lodge-poles, with finely-dressed buffalo-robes and other +hides, dried meat, stores, axes, utensils, and Indian +trinkets were left behind; and in two tepees or +lodges still standing, were the bodies of nine Indians +who had gone to the "happy hunting-grounds."</p> + +<p>Every step of the march now revealed some +evidence that a conflict had taken place not far +away. The dead bodies of Indian horses were seen, +and cavalry equipments and weapons, bullet-pierced +clothing, and blood-stained gloves were picked up; +and at last the bodies of soldiers and their horses +gave positive proof that a disastrous battle had taken +place. The Crow Indians had told the truth.</p> + +<p>The head of the column was now met by a breathless +scout, who came running up with the intelligence +that Major Reno with a body of troops was intrenched +on a bluff further on, awaiting relief. The +soldiers pushed ahead in the direction pointed out, +and soon came in sight of men and horses intrenched +on top of a hill on the opposite or east side of the +river. Terry and Gibbon immediately forded the +stream and rode toward the group. As they approached +the top of the hill, they were welcomed by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_33" id="Page_2_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +hearty cheers from a swarm of soldiers who came out +of their intrenchments to meet their deliverers. The +scene was a touching one. Stout-hearted soldiers who +had kept bravely up during the hours of conflict and +danger now cried like children, and the pale faces of +the wounded lighted up as hope revived within them.</p> + +<p>The story of the relieved men briefly told was as +follows:—After separating from Custer about noon, +June 25th, (as related in the last chapter) Reno proceeded +to the river, forded it, and charged down its +west bank toward the village, meeting at first with +but little resistance. Soon however he was attacked +by such numbers as to be obliged to dismount his +men, shelter his horses in a strip of woods, and fight +on foot. Finding that they would soon be surrounded +and defeated, he again mounted his men, and charging +upon such of the enemy as obstructed his way, retreated +across the river, and reached the top of a bluff +followed closely by Indians. Just then Benteen, returning +from his detour southward, discovered Reno's +perilous position, drove back the Indians, and joined +him on the hill. Shortly afterward, the company +which was escorting the mule train also joined Reno. +The seven companies thus brought together had been +subsequently assailed by Indians; many of the men +had been killed and wounded, and it was only by +obstinate resistance that they had been enabled to +defend themselves in an entrenched position. The +enemy had retired on the evening of the 26th.</p> + +<p>After congratulations to Reno and his brave men +for their successful defence enquiries were made respecting +Custer, but no one could tell where he was. +Neither he or any of his men had been seen since the +fight commenced, and the musketry heard from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_34" id="Page_2_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +direction he took had ceased on the afternoon of the +25th. It was supposed by Reno and Benteen that he +had been repulsed, and retreated northerly towards +Terry's troops.</p> + +<p>A search for Custer and his men was immediately +began, and it revealed a scene calculated to appal the +stoutest heart. Although neither Custer or any of +that part of his regiment which he led to combat were +found alive to tell the tale, an examination of their +trail and the scene of conflict enabled their comrades +to form some idea of the engagement in which they +perished.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i500" name="i500"></a> +<img src="images/i500.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V_part2" id="CHAPTER_V_part2"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="center small">CUSTER'S LAST BATTLE.</p> + + +<p>General Custer's trail, from the place where he +left Reno's and turned northward, passed along and +in the rear of the crest of hills on the east bank of +the stream for nearly three miles, and then led, +through an opening in the bluff, down to the river. +Here Custer had evidently attempted to cross over to +attack the village. The trail then turned back on +itself, as if Custer had been repulsed and obliged to +retreat, and branched to the northward, as if he had +been prevented from returning southerly by the way +he came, or had determined to retreat in the direction +from which Terry's troops were advancing.</p> + +<p>Several theories as to the subsequent movements +of the troops have been entertained by persons who +visited the grounds. One is, that the soldiers in retreating +took advantage of two ravines; that two +companies under Capt. T.W. Custer and Lieut. A. +E. Smith, were led by Gen. Custer up the ravine +nearest the river, while the upper ravine furnished a +line of retreat for the three companies of Capt. G.W. +Yates, Capt. M.W. Keogh, and Lieut. James Calhoun. +At the head of this upper ravine, a mile from the +river, a stand had been made by Calhoun's company; +the skirmish lines were marked by rows of the slain +with heaps of empty cartridge shells before them, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_36" id="Page_2_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +Lieuts. Calhoun and Crittenden lay dead just behind +the files. Further on, Capt. Keogh had fallen surrounded +by his men; and still further on, upon a +hill, Capt. Yates' company took its final stand. Here, +according to this theory, Yates was joined by what +remained of the other two companies, who had been +furiously assailed in the lower ravine; and here Gen. +Custer and the last survivors of the five companies +met their death, fighting bravely to the end.</p> + +<p>Another theory of the engagement is, that Custer +attempted to retreat up the lower ravine in columns +of companies; that the companies of Custer and Smith +being first in the advance and last in the retreat, fell +first in the slaughter which followed the retrograde +movement; that Yates' company took the position on +the hill, and perished there with Custer and other +officers; and that the two other companies, Keogh's +and Calhoun's, perished while fighting their way back +towards Reno—a few reaching the place where Custer +first struck the high banks of the river.</p> + +<p>Still another theory is, that the main line of retreat +was by the upper ravine; that Calhoun's company +was thrown across to check the Indians, and was the +first annihilated. That the two companies of Capt. +Custer and Lieut. Smith retreated from the place +where Gen. Custer was killed into the lower ravine, +and were the last survivors of the conflict.</p> + +<p>Near the highest point of the hill lay the body of +General Custer, and near by were those of his brother +Captain Custer, Lieut. Smith, Capt. Yates, Lieut. W. +V. Riley of Yates' company, and Lieut. W.W. Cooke. +Some distance away, close together, were found +another brother of Gen. Custer—Boston Custer, a +civilian, who had accompanied the expedition as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_37" id="Page_2_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +forage master of the 7th Cavalry—and his nephew +Armstrong Reed, a youth of nineteen, who was visiting +the General at the time the expedition started, +and accompanied it as a driver of the herd of cattle +taken along. The wife of Lieut. Calhoun was a +sister of the Custer's, and she here lost her husband, +three brothers, and a nephew.</p> + +<p>Other officers of Custer's battalion killed but not +already mentioned, were Asst. Surgeon L.W. Lord, +and Lieuts. H.M. Harrington, J.E. Porter, and J.G. +Sturgis. The last named was a West Point graduate +of 1875, and a son of General S.D. Sturgis, the Colonel +of the 7th Cavalry, who had been detained by +other duties when his regiment started on this expedition. +The bodies of the slain were rifled of valuables +and all were mutilated excepting Gen. Custer, and +Mark Kellogg—a correspondent of the <i>New York +Herald</i>. Gen. Custer was clad in a buckskin suit; and +a Canadian—Mr. Macdonald—was subsequently informed +by Indians who were in the fight, that for this +reason he was not mangled, as they took him to be +some brave hunter accidentally with the troops. +Others believe that Custer was passed by from respect +for the heroism of one whom the Indians had learned +to fear and admire.</p> + +<p>The dead were buried June 28th, where they fell, +Major Reno and the survivors of his regiment performing +the last sad rites over their comrades.</p> + +<p>A retreat to the mouth of Big Horn River was now +ordered and successfully effected, the wounded being +comfortably transported on mule litters to the mouth +of the Little Big Horn, where they were placed on a +steamboat and taken to Fort Lincoln. Gibbon's +Cavalry followed the Indians for about ten miles, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_38" id="Page_2_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +ascertained that they had moved to the south and +west by several trails. A good deal of property had +been thrown away by them to lighten their march, +and was found scattered about. Many of their dead +were also discovered secreted in ravines a long distance +from the battle field.</p> + +<p>At the boat was found one of Custer's scouts, who +had been in the fight—a Crow named Curley; his +story was as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Custer kept down the river on the north bank four miles, +after Reno had crossed to the south side above. He thought +Reno would drive down the valley, to attack the village at the +upper end, while he (Custer) would go in at the lower end. +Custer had to go further down the river and further away from +Reno than he wished on account of the steep bank along the +north side; but at last he found a ford and dashed for it. The +Indians met him and poured in a heavy fire from across the narrow +river. Custer dismounted to fight on foot, but could not +get his skirmishers over the stream. Meantime hundreds of +Indians, on foot and on ponies, poured over the river, which was +only about three feet deep, and filled the ravine on each side of +Custer's men. Custer then fell back to some high ground behind +him and seized the ravines in his immediate vicinity. The Indians +completely surrounded Custer and poured in a terrible fire +on all sides. They charged Custer on foot in vast numbers, but +were again and again driven back.</p> + +<p>"The fight began about 2 o'clock, and lasted almost until the +sun went down over the hills. The men fought desperately, and +after the ammunition in their belts was exhausted went to their +saddlebags, got more and continued the fight. Custer lived until +nearly all his men had been killed or wounded, and went about +encouraging his soldiers to fight on. He got a shot in the left +side and sat down, with his pistol in his hand. Another shot +struck Custer in the breast, and he fell over. The last officer +killed was a man who rode a white horse—believed to be Lieut. +Cooke, as Cooke and Calhoun were the only officers who rode +white horses.</p> + +<p>"When he saw Custer hopelessly surrounded he watched his<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_39" id="Page_2_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +opportunity, got a Sioux blanket, put it on, and worked up a +ravine, and when the Sioux charged, he got among them and +they did not know him from one of their own men. There were +some mounted Sioux, and seeing one fall, he ran to him, mounted +his pony, and galloped down as if going towards the white +men, but went up a ravine and got away. As he rode off he +saw, when nearly a mile from the battle field, a dozen or more +soldiers in a ravine, fighting with Sioux all around them. He +thinks all were killed, as they were outnumbered five to one, and +apparently dismounted. The battle was desperate in the extreme, +and more Indians than white men must have been killed."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following extract is from a letter written to +Gen. Sheridan by Gen. Terry at his camp on the Big +Horn, July 2d:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"We calculated it would take Gibbon's command until the +26th to reach the mouth of the Little Big Horn, and that the +wide sweep I had proposed Custer should make would require so +much time that Gibbon would be able to co-operate with him in +attacking any Indians that might be found on the stream. I +asked Custer how long his marches would be. He said they +would be at the rate of about 30 miles a day. Measurements +were made and calculations based on that rate of progress. I +talked with him about his strength, and at one time suggested +that perhaps it would be well for me to take Gibbon's cavalry +and go with him. To the latter suggestion he replied:—that, +without reference to the command, he would prefer his own regiment +alone. As a homogeneous body, as much could be done +with it as with the two combined. He expressed the utmost +confidence that he had all the force that he could need, and I +shared his confidence. The plan adopted was the only one +which promised to bring the infantry into action, and I desired +to make sure of things by getting up every available man. I +offered Custer the battery of Gatling guns, but he declined it, +saying that it might embarrass him, and that he was strong +enough without it. The movements proposed by General Gibbon's +column were carried out to the letter, and had the attack +been deferred until it was up, I cannot doubt that we should +have been successful."</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI_part2" id="CHAPTER_VI_part2"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="center small">RENO'S BATTLES ON THE LITTLE BIG HORN.</p> + + +<p>After the battle in which Lieut. Col. Custer lost +his life, the command of the 7th Cavalry regiment devolved +on Major Reno. The following is a copy of +Reno's official report to Gen. Terry, excepting that a +few unimportant paragraphs are omitted. It is dated +July 5th, 1876.</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The regiment left the camp at the mouth of Rosebud River, +after passing in review before the department commander, under +command of Brevet Major General G.A. Custer, Lieutenant +Colonel, on the afternoon of the 22d of June, and marched up +the Rosebud 12 miles and encamped. 23d—Marched up the +Rosebud, passing many old Indian camps, and following a very +large lodge-pole trail, but not fresh, making 33 miles. 24th—The +march was continued up the Rosebud, the trail and signs freshening +with every mile until we had made 28 miles, and we then +encamped and waited for information from the scouts. At 9.25 +<span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, Custer called the officers together, and informed us that +beyond a doubt the village was in the valley of the Little Big +Horn, and that to reach it, it was necessary to cross the divide +between the Rosebud and Little Big Horn, and it would be impossible +to do so in the daytime without discovering our march +to the Indians; that we would prepare to move at 11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> This +was done, the line of march turning from the Rosebud to the +right, up one of its branches, which headed near the summit of +the divide.</p> + +<p>"About 2 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> of the 25th, the scouts told him that he could not +cross the divide before daylight. We then made coffee and +rested for three hours, at the expiration of which time the march +was resumed, the divide crossed, and about 8 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> the command<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_41" id="Page_2_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +was in the valley of one of the branches of the Little Big Horn. +By this time Indians had been seen, and it was certain that we +could not surprise them, and it was determined to move at once +to the attack.</p> + +<p>"Previous to this no division of the regiment had been made +since the order was issued on the Yellowstone, annulling wing +and battalion organizations. General Custer informed me he +would assign commands on the march. I was ordered by Lieut. +W.W. Cooke, Adjutant, to assume command of Companies M, +A, and G; Capt. Benteen of Companies H, D, and K; Custer +retaining C, E, F, I, and L, under his immediate command; and +Company B, Capt. McDougall, being in rear of the pack train. +I assumed command of the companies assigned to me, and without +any definite orders, moved forward with the rest of the column, +and well to its left. I saw Benteen moving further to the +left, and, as they passed, he told me he had orders to move well +to the left, and sweep everything before him; I did not see him +again until about 2:30 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> The command moved down the +creek towards the Little Big Horn Valley. Custer with five +companies on the right bank; myself and three companies on +the left bank; and Benteen further to the left, and out of sight.</p> + +<p>"As we approached a deserted village, in which was standing +one tepee, about 11 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, Custer motioned me to cross to him, +which I did, and moved nearer to his column, until about 12:30 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, when Lieut. Cooke came to me and said the village was +only two miles ahead and running away. To 'move forward at as +rapid a gait as I thought prudent and to charge afterward, and +that the whole outfit would support me.' I think those were his +exact words. I at once took a fast trot, and moved down +about two miles, when I came to a ford of the river. I crossed +immediately, and halted about ten minutes or less, to gather the +battalion, sending word to Custer that I had everything in front +of me, and that they were strong.</p> + +<p>"I deployed, and, with the Ree scouts on my left, charged +down the valley, driving the Indians with great ease for about +2½ miles. I, however, soon saw that I was being drawn into +some trap, as they certainly would fight harder, and especially as +we were nearing their village, which was still standing; besides, +I could not see Custer or any other support; and at the same time +the very earth seemed to grow Indians, and they were running<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_42" id="Page_2_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +toward me in swarms, and from all directions. I saw I must +defend myself, and give up the attack mounted. This I did, +taking possession of a point of woods, which furnished near its +edge a shelter for the horses; dismounted, and fought them on +foot, making headway through the woods. I soon found myself +in the near vicinity of the village, saw that I was fighting odds of +at least five to one, and that my only hope was to get out of the +woods, where I would soon have been surrounded, and gain some +high ground. I accomplished this by mounting and charging the +Indians between me and the bluffs on the opposite side of the +river. In this charge First Lieut. Donald McIntosh, Second +Lieut. Benjamin H. Hodgson, and Acting Assistant Surgeon J. +M. De Wolf were killed.</p> + +<p>"I succeeded in reaching the top of the bluff, with a loss of the +three officers and 29 enlisted men killed, and seven men wounded. +Almost at the same time I reached the top, mounted men were +seen to be coming toward us, and it proved to be Capt. Benteen's +battalion, Companies H, D, and K; we joined forces, and in a +short time the pack train came up. As senior my command was +then Companies A, B, D, G, H, K, and M, about 380 men; and +the following officers:—Captains Benteen, Weir, French, and +McDougall, First Lieutenants Godfrey, Mathey, and Gibson, +Second Lieutenants Edgerly, Wallace, Varnum, and Hare, and +A.A. Surgeon Porter. First Lieut. De Rudio was in the dismounted +fight in the woods, but having some trouble with his +horse did not join the command in the charge out, and hiding +himself in the woods, joined the command after nightfall of the +26th.</p> + +<p>"Still hearing nothing of Custer, and with this reinforcement, +I moved down the river in the direction of the village, keeping on +the bluffs. We had heard firing in that direction, and knew it +could only be Custer. I moved to the summit of the highest +bluff, but seeing and hearing nothing, sent Capt. Weir, with his +company, to open communication with the other command. He +soon sent back word by Lieut. Hare that he could go no further, +and that the Indians were getting around him. At this time he +was keeping up a heavy fire from his skirmish line. I at once +turned everything back to the first position I had taken on the +bluff, and which seemed to me the best. I dismounted the men, +had the horses and mules of the pack train driven together in a<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_43" id="Page_2_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +depression, put the men on the crests of the hills making the +depression, and had hardly done so when I was furiously attacked. +This was about 6 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> We held our ground, with the loss +of 18 enlisted men killed and 46 wounded, until the attack ceased, +about 9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span></p> + +<p>"As I knew by this time their overwhelming numbers, and had +given up any support from the portion of the regiment with Custer, +I had the men dig rifle-pits; barricaded with dead horses, +mules, and boxes of hard bread, the opening of the depression +toward the Indians in which the animals were herded; and made +every exertion to be ready for what I saw would be a terrific +assault the next day. All this night the men were busy, and the +Indians holding a scalp dance underneath us in the bottom and +in our hearing.</p> + +<p>"On the morning of the 26th I felt confident that I could hold +my own, and was ready as far as I could be, when at daylight, +about 2:30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, I heard the crack of two rifles. This was the +signal for the beginning of a fire that I have never seen equaled. +Every rifle was handled by an expert and skilled marksman, and +with a range that exceeded our carbine; and it was simply impossible +to show any part of the body, before it was struck. We +could see, as the day brightened, countless hordes of them pouring +up the valley from out the village, and scampering over the +high points toward the places designated for them by their chiefs, +and which entirely surrounded our position. They had sufficient +numbers to completely encircle us, and men were struck on the +opposite sides of the lines from which the shots were fired. I +think we were fighting all the Sioux nation, and also all the desperados, +renegades, half-breeds and squaw men, between the +Missouri and the Arkansas and east of the Rocky Mountains. +They must have numbered at least 2,500 warriors.</p> + +<p>"The fire did not slacken until about 9:30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, and then we +discovered that they were making a last desperate attempt, which +was directed against the lines held by Companies H and M. In +this attack they charged close enough to use their bows and +arrows, and one man lying dead within our lines was touched by +the 'coup stick' of one of the foremost Indians. When I say +the stick was only about 10 or 12 feet long, some idea of the +desperate and reckless fighting of these people may be understood. +This charge of theirs was gallantly repulsed by the men<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_44" id="Page_2_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +on that line led by Capt. Benteen. They also came close enough +to send their arrows into the line held by Companies D and K, +but were driven away by a like charge of the line, which I accompanied. +We now had many wounded, and the question of water +was vital, as from 6 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> of the previous evening until now, 10 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span> (about 16 hours) we had been without it. A skirmish line +was formed under Capt. Benteen, to protect the descent of volunteers +down the hill in front of his position to reach the water. +We succeeded in getting some canteens, although many of the +men were hit in doing so.</p> + +<p>"The fury of the attack was now over, and to my astonishment +the Indians were seen going in parties toward the village. +But two solutions occurred to us for this movement—that they +were going for something to eat, more ammunition (as they had +been throwing arrows), or that Custer was coming. We took +advantage of this lull to fill all vessels with water, and soon had +it by the camp kettle full; but they continued to withdraw, and +all firing ceased, save occasional shots from sharpshooters, sent +to annoy us about the water. About 2 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> the grass in the +bottom was set on fire, and followed up by Indians who encouraged +its burning, and it was evident it was done for a purpose, +which purpose I discovered, later on, to be the creation of a dense +cloud of smoke, behind which they were packing and preparing +to move their tepees.</p> + +<p>"It was between 6 and 7 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> that the village came out from +behind the clouds of smoke and dust. We had a close and good +view of them, as they filed away in the direction of the Big Horn +Mountains, moving in almost perfect military order. The length +of the column was fully equal to that of a large division of the +cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, as I have seen it on +its march.</p> + +<p>"We now thought of Custer, of whom nothing had been seen +and nothing heard since the firing in his direction about 6 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> +on the eve of the 25th, and we concluded that the Indians had +gotten between him and us, and driven him toward the boat, at +the mouth of Little Big Horn River; the awful fate that did befall +him never occurring to any of us as within the limits of possibilities. +During the night I changed my position, in order to secure +an unlimited supply of water, and was prepared for their return, +feeling sure they would do so, as they were in such numbers. But<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_45" id="Page_2_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +early in the morning of the 27th, and while we were on the <i>qui +vive</i> for Indians, I saw with my glass a dust some distance down +the valley. There was no certainty for some time what they +were, but finally I satisfied myself they were cavalry, and if so +could only be Custer, as it was ahead of the time that I understood +that General Terry could be expected. Before this time, +however, I had written a communication to Gen. Terry, and three +volunteers were to try and reach him (I had no confidence in the +Indians with me, and could not get them to do anything). If +this dust were Indians, it was possible they would not expect any +one to leave. The men started, and were told to go as near as +was safe to determine if the approaching column was white men, +and to return at once in case they found it so; but if they were +Indians to push on to General Terry. In a short time we saw +them returning over the high bluff already alluded to; they were +accompanied by a scout who had a note from Terry to Custer, +saying, 'Crow scouts had come to camp saying he had been +whipped, but it was not believed.' I think it was about 10:30 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span> that General Terry rode into my lines, and the fate of +Custer and his brave men was soon determined by Capt. Benteen +proceeding with his company to the battle ground.</p> + +<p>"The wounded in my lines were, during the afternoon and eve +of the 27th, moved to the camp of General Terry; and at 5 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> +of the 28th, I proceeded with the regiment to the battle ground +of Custer, and buried 204 bodies, including the following named +citizens:—Mr. Boston Custer, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Kellogg. +The following named citizens and Indians, who were with my +command, were also killed:—Charles Reynolds (guide and +hunter); Isaiah (colored) interpreter; Bloody Knife (who fell +from immediately by my side); Bob-tailed Bull and Stab of the +Indian scouts.</p> + +<p>"After following over his trail, it is evident to me that Custer +intended to support me by moving further down the stream, and +attacking the village in flank; that he found the distance to the +ford greater than he anticipated; that he did charge, but his +march had taken so long, although his trail shows he moved +rapidly, that they were ready for him; that Companies C and I, +and perhaps part of Company E, crossed to the village or +attempted it at the charge and were met by a staggering fire; and +that they fell back to secure a position from which to defend<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_46" id="Page_2_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +themselves; but they were followed too closely by the Indians to +permit him to form any kind of a line. I think had the regiment +gone in as a body, and from the woods in which I fought advanced +on the village, its destruction was certain; but he was fully confident +they were running, or he would not have turned from +me. I think (after the great number of Indians that were in the +village) that the following reasons obtained for the misfortune: +His rapid marching for two days and one night before the fight, +attacking in the day time at 12 <span class="smcap">m.</span> and when they were on the +<i>qui vive</i>, instead of early in the morning; and lastly, his unfortunate +division of the regiment into three commands.</p> + +<p>"During my fight with the Indians I had the heartiest support +from officers and men, but the conspicuous services of Brevet +Colonel F.W. Benteen, I desire to call attention to especially, +for if ever a soldier deserved recognition by his government for +distinguished services, he certainly does.</p> + +<p>"The harrowing sight of the dead bodies crowning the height +on which Custer fell, and which will remain vividly in my memory +until death, is too recent for me not to ask the good people of +this country whether a policy that sets opposing parties in the +field, armed, clothed, and equipped by one and the same government, +should not be abolished. All of which is respectfully +submitted."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following is Capt. Benteen's account of his detour +to the south and junction with Reno:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"I was sent with my battalion to the left to a line of bluffs +about five miles off, with instructions to look for Indians and +see what was to be seen, and if I saw nothing there to go on, and +when I had satisfied myself that it was useless to go further in +that direction to rejoin the main trail. After proceeding through +a rough and difficult country, very tiring on the horses, and seeing +nothing, and wishing to save the horses unnecessary fatigue, I +decided to return to the main trail. Before I had proceeded a +mile in the direction of the bluffs I was overtaken by the chief +trumpeter and the sergeant major, with instructions from Gen. +Custer to use my own discretion, and in case I should find any +trace of Indians, at once to notify Gen. Custer.</p> + +<p>"Having marched rapidly and passed the line of bluffs on the +left bank of a branch of the Little Big Horn which made into the +main stream about two and a half miles above the ford crossed by<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_47" id="Page_2_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +Col. Reno's command, as ordered, I continued my march in the +same direction. The whole time occupied in this march was +about an hour and a half. As I was anxious to regain the main +command, as there was no signs of Indians, I then decided to +rejoin the main trail, as the country before me was mostly of the +same character as that I had already passed over, without valley +and without water, and offering no inducement for the Indians. +No valleys were visible, not even the valley where the fight took +place, until my command struck the river.</p> + +<p>"About three miles from the point where Reno crossed the +ford, I met a sergeant bringing orders to the commanding officer +of the rear guard, Capt. McDougall, to hurry up the pack trains. +A mile further I was met by my trumpeter, bringing a written +order from Lieut. Cooke, the adjutant of the regiment, to this +effect:—'Benteen, come on; big village; be quick; bring packs:' +and a postscript saying, 'Bring packs.' A mile or a mile and +a half further on I first came in sight of the valley and Little Big +Horn. About twelve or fifteen dismounted men were fighting on +the plains with Indians, charging and recharging them. This +body numbered about 900 at this time. Col. Reno's mounted +party were retiring across the river to the bluffs. I did not recognize +till later what part of the command this was, but was clear +they had been beaten. I then marched my command in line to +their succor.</p> + +<p>"On reaching the bluff I reported to Col. Reno, and first +learned that the command had been separated and that Custer +was not in that part of the field, and no one of Reno's command +was able to inform me of the whereabouts of Gen. Custer. While +the command was awaiting the arrival of the pack mules, a company +was sent forward in the direction supposed to have been +taken by Custer. After proceeding about a mile they were attacked +and driven back. During this time I heard no heavy +firing, and there was nothing to indicate that a heavy fight was +going on, and I believe that at this time Custer's immediate +command had been annihilated."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In a letter addressed to the <i>Army and Navy Journal</i>, +Lieut. E.L. Godfry, of Benteen's battalion, gives +the following information:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Captain Benteen was some six miles from the scene of action +when he received Lieut. Cooke's note; he had no intimation that<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_48" id="Page_2_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +the battle had begun, of the force of the Indians, or plan of +attack. Benteen pushed ahead; the packs followed, and not +until he reached the high bluffs over-looking the river valley and +near to where the troops afterwards were besieged did he know +of the battle or immediate presence of the troops to the enemy; +he could only hear occasional shots, not enough to intimate that +a battle was going on. Soon after reaching this point two +volleys were heard down the river where Gen. Custer was, but +his force was not in sight. Soon after this Reno and Benteen +joined. By accident Benteen's column constituted a reserve. It +was well it was so. As soon as dispositions were made on the +bluff, Weir's company was sent to look for Gen. Custer. He +went to a high point about three-quarters of a mile down the +river, from which he had a good view of the country. From it +could be seen Custer's battle field, but there was nothing to indicate +the result. The field was covered with Indians. He was +recalled from the place; the packs closed up; ammunition was +issued and the command moved down the river to, if possible, +join Custer. Upon reaching this high point we could see nothing, +hear nothing, to indicate Custer's vicinage. But immediately the +Indians started for us."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following is the narrative of George Herndon, +a scout, published in the <i>New York Herald</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"At 11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, June 24th, Custer followed the scouts up the +right-hand fork of the Rosebud. About daylight we went into +camp, made coffee, and soon after it was light the scouts brought +Custer word that they had seen the village from the top of a +divide that separates the Rosebud from Little Big Horn River. +We moved up the creek until near its head, and concealed ourselves +in a ravine. It was about three miles from the head of +the creek where we then were to the top of the divide where the +Indian scouts said the village could be seen, and after hiding his +command, General Custer with a few orderlies galloped forward +to look at the Indian camp. In about an hour he returned, and +said he could not see the Indian village, but the scouts and a +half-breed guide said they could distinctly see it some 15 miles +off. Custer had 'officers' call' blown, gave his orders, and the +command was put in fighting order. The scouts were ordered +forward, and the regiment moved at a walk. After going about<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_49" id="Page_2_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +three miles the scouts reported Indians ahead, and the command +then took the trail.</p> + +<p>"Our way lay down a little creek, a branch of the Little Big +Horn, and after going some six miles we discovered an Indian +lodge ahead and Custer bore down on it at a stiff trot. In +coming to it we found ourselves in a freshly-abandoned Indian +camp, all the lodges of which were gone except the one we saw, +and on entering it we found it contained a dead Indian. From +this point we could see into the Little Big Horn valley, and observed +heavy clouds of dust rising about five miles distant. +Many thought the Indians were moving away, and I think Custer +believed so, for he sent word to Reno, who was ahead, to push on +the scouts rapidly and head for the dust. Reno took a steady +gallop down the creek bottom three miles to where it emptied +into the Little Big Horn, and found a natural ford across Little +Big Horn River. He started to cross, when the scouts came +back and called out to him to hold on, that the Sioux were +coming in large numbers to meet him. He crossed over, however, +formed his companies on the prairie in line of battle, and moved +forward at a trot, but soon took a gallop.</p> + +<p>"The valley was about three-fourths of a mile wide. On the +left a line of low, round hills, and on the right the river bottom, +covered with a growth of cottonwood trees and bushes. After +scattering shots were fired from the hills and a few from the river +bottom, and Reno's skirmishers had returned the shots, he advanced +about a mile from the ford, to a line of timber on the +right, and dismounted his men to fight on foot. The horses were +sent into the timber, and the men formed on the prairies and advanced +toward the Indians. The Indians, mounted on ponies, +came across the prairies and opened a heavy fire on the soldiers. +After skirmishing for a few minutes Reno fell back to his horses +in the timber. The Indians moved to his left and rear, evidently +with the intention of cutting him off from the ford. Reno ordered +his men to mount and move through the timber. Just as +the men got into the saddle the Sioux, who had advanced in the +timber, fired at close range and killed one soldier. Reno then +commanded the men to dismount, and they did so; but he soon +ordered them to mount again and moved out on the open prairie. +The command headed for the ford, pressed closely by Indians in +large numbers, and at every moment the rate of speed was<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_50" id="Page_2_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +increased, until it became a dead run for the ford. The Sioux, +mounted on their swift ponies, dashed up by the side of the soldiers +and fired at them, killing both men and horses. Little +resistance was offered, and it was a complete route to the ford.</p> + +<p>"I did not see the men at the ford, and do not know what +took place further than a good many were killed when the command +left the timber. Just as I got out my horse stumbled and +fell, and I was dismounted—the horse running away after Reno's +command. I saw several soldiers who were dismounted, their +horses having been killed or having run away. There were also +some soldiers mounted who had remained behind. In all there +was as many as 13 men, three of whom were wounded. Seeing no +chance to get away, I called on them to come into the timber +and we would stand off the Indians. They wanted to go out, +but I said 'No, we can't get to the ford, and, besides, we have +wounded men and must stand by them.' They still wanted +to go, but I told them I was an old frontiersman, understood +Indians, and, if they would do as I said, I would get them out +of the scrape, which was no worse than scrapes I had been in +before. About half of the men were mounted, and they wanted +to keep their horses with them; but I told them to let them go, +and fight on foot. We stayed in the bush about three hours, and +I could hear heavy firing below in the river, apparently about +two miles distant. I did not know who it was, but knew the +Indians were fighting some of our men, and learned afterward +it was Custer's command. Nearly all the Indians in the upper +end of the valley drew off down the river, and the fight with +Custer lasted about one hour, when the heavy firing ceased.</p> + +<p>"When the shooting below began to die away I said to the +boys, 'Come, now is the time to get out; the Indians will come +back, and we had better be off at once.' Eleven of the 13 said +they would go, but two staid behind. I deployed the men as +skirmishers, and we moved forward on foot toward the river. +When we had got nearly to the river we met five Indians on +ponies, and they fired on us. I returned the fire and the Indians +broke, and we forded the river, the water being breast-deep. We +finally got over, wounded men and all, and headed for Reno's +command, which I could see drawn up on the bluffs along the +river about a mile off. We reached Reno in safety. We had +not been with Reno more than 15 minutes when I saw the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_51" id="Page_2_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +Indians coming up the valley from Custer's fight. Reno was +then moving his whole command down the ridge toward Custer. +The Indians crossed the river below Reno and swarmed up the +bluff on all sides. After skirmishing with them Reno went back +to his old position which was on one of the highest points along +the bluffs. It was now about 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, and the fight lasted until +it was too dark to see to shoot. As soon as it was dark, Reno +took the packs and saddles off the mules and horses and made +breastworks of them. He also dragged the dead horses and +mules on the line and sheltered the men behind them. Some of +the men dug rifle pits with their butcher knives and all slept on +their arms.</p> + +<p>"At the peep of day the Indians opened a heavy fire and a +desperate fight ensued, lasting until 10 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> The Indians +charged our position three or four times, coming up close enough +to hit our men with stones, which they threw by hand. Captain +Benteen saw a large mass of Indians gathering on his front to +charge, and ordered his men to charge on foot and scatter them. +Benteen led the charge, and was upon the Indians before they +knew what they were about and killed a great many. They were +evidently surprised at this offensive movement. I think in desperate +fighting Benteen is one of the bravest men I ever saw. +All the time he was going about through the bullets, encouraging +the soldiers to stand up to their work and not let the Indians +whip them. He never sheltered his own person once during the +battle, and I do not see how he escaped being killed. The desperate +charging and fighting was at about 1 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, but firing was +kept up on both sides until late in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"I think the Indian village must have contained about 6,000 +people, fully 3,000 of whom were warriors. The Indians fought +Reno first and then went to fight Custer, after which they came +back to finish Reno. Hordes of squaws and old, gray-haired +Indians were roaming over the battle-field howling like mad. +The squaws had stone mallets, and mashed in the skulls of the +dead and wounded. Our men did not kill any squaws, but the +Ree Indian scouts did. The bodies of six squaws were found +in the little ravine. The Indians must have lost as many men in +killed and wounded as the whites did."</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII_part2" id="CHAPTER_VII_part2"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">KILL EAGLE'S NARRATIVE.</p> + + +<p>A vivid account of Custer's last battle has been +given by an Indian named Kill Eagle, who was in +Sitting Bull's village on the day of the fight as, he +claims, a non-combatant. Kill Eagle was head chief +of the Cheyenne River Agency Indians who had +become much dissatisfied. Capt. Poland, formerly +commander of the troops at Standing Rock, says that +the Indians there were "abominably starved during +the winter and spring of 1875—the authorities having +failed to deliver the rations due them; and in +May and June 1876, the Indians received practically +nothing except two issues of beef and ground corn, +called meal, but so coarse that one peck yielded but +a quart of meal."</p> + +<p>Early in May, Kill Eagle entered the military post +with a party of warriors, gave a dance, demanded +rations, and proclaimed "that he owned the land the +post was built on, the timber and stone which had +been used in its construction, and that he would have +the Great Father pay for all these things; that his +people were starving and they could get no food from +the agent." The post commander told them he could +do nothing for them. Kill Eagle's party manifested +sulliness, and demonstrated their defiance by firing +off pistols in the air as they marched outside of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_53" id="Page_2_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +garrison. A few days later the post commander was +informed that Kill Eagle had started for the hostile +camp with about thirty lodges.</p> + +<p>In September, Kill Eagle came near the post and +sent word that he intended to kill all the soldiers +unless they crossed the river. The troops were under +arms all night anticipating an attack, but none was +made. Subsequently Kill Eagle surrendered to the +authorities, and gave them an account of his wanderings +during the summer. A letter written at Standing +Rock described his story as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"He commences with the date at which he left this agency, +last spring, with 26 lodges, for the purpose of hunting buffalo +and trading with the hostile Indians. He speaks of having +heard reports that troops were going out to punish the hostiles, +but thought he would have time to do his hunting and trading +and get out of the way before a battle occurred. They were +obliged to hunt, as they were starving at the agency, and were +very successful.</p> + +<p>"On the seventh day they arrived at Sitting Bull's village, +where a feast and numerous presents of ponies and robes were +given them. Efforts were made to induce Kill Eagle and his +band to join in the contemplated movements and hostilities, but +evidently without much success. They were desirous of getting +back again to the protecting arms of their agency, but were unable +to escape from the meshes of the wily Sitting Bull. They +found, too late, that for them there was no escape; their horses +were either shot or stolen, and wounds and insults were showered +upon them from every side. In the meantime the forces of +Crook were approaching, and with his people Kill Eagle succeeded +in escaping temporarily from the hostiles. He claims to +have been distant some forty or fifty miles from the scene of the +Rosebud fight, and relates many of the incidents which he was +able subsequently to gather from the participants. He places the +loss of the Indians in the Rosebud fight at four dead, left on the +field, and twelve that were brought to camp. He places the +wounded at as high as 400, and says they had 180 horses killed, +besides those that were captured.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_54" id="Page_2_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He next comes to the fight on the Little Big Horn, and +describes the Indian village, which was six miles long and one +wide. He then speaks of Custer's approach and fight with its +tragic details as an unwilling spectator, rather than a participant, +who, during its progress, remained quietly in his lodge in the +centre of the Indian village. The fight with Reno commenced +about noon, the Indians all rushing to oppose his advance, until +the approach of Custer toward the lower end of the village was +announced, when the wildest confusion prevailed throughout the +camp. Lodges were struck and preparations made for instant +flight. Vast numbers of Indians left Reno's front and hastened +to the assistance of their red brethren engaged with Custer, who +was steadily forced back and surrounded until all were swept +from the field by the repeated charges of the Indians.</p> + +<p>"He described the firing at this point as simply terrific, and +illustrated its force by clapping his hands together with great +rapidity and regularity. Then came a lull in the fearful storm +of iron hail and his hands were still again. The storm beat fast +and furious as the thought of some loved one nerved the arm of +each contending trooper. Then the movement of his hands +slackened and gradually grew more feeble. A few scattering +shakes, like the rain upon a window pane, and then the movement +ceased as the last of Custer's band of heroes went down +with the setting sun.</p> + +<p>"It was dusk as the successful combatants returned to camp +littered with their dead and wounded. 'We have killed them +all,' they said, 'put up your lodges where they are.' They had +just began to fix their lodges that evening, when a report came +that troops were coming from toward the mouth of the creek. +When this report came, after dark, the lodges were all taken +down and they started up the creek. 'I told my men,' says Kill +Eagle, 'to keep together, and we would try and get away. Some +one told on me, and they said let us kill him and his band, we +have lost many young men to-day, and our hearts are bad. We +travelled all night and next day; after crossing the Greasy +Grass we encamped near the foot of the White Mountains. That +night, when I was asleep, I heard a man calling. I woke up my +people and this man proved to be a Cheyenne Indian, belonging +to a party that had been off on the war-path in the White +Mountains.'<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_55" id="Page_2_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was not to the Indians a bloodless victory. Fourteen had +fallen in front of Reno, thirty-nine went down with Custer, and +fourteen were dead in camp. Horses and travoises were laden +with their wounded on every hand and in countless numbers. +One band alone of Ogallallas had twenty-seven wounded on +travoises, and thirty-eight thrown across horses. There were no +white men in the fight or on the field. The bugle calls were +sounded by an Indian. No prisoners were taken. The troops +were all killed on the east side; none crossed the river."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Little Buck-Elk, an Uncapapa chief who came into +Fort Peck in September, said that he was present at +the fight with Custer, and that eleven different tribes +were engaged in it. "The Indians were as thick as +bees at the fight, and there were so many of them +that they could not all take part in it. The soldiers +were all brave men and fought well; some of them, +when they found themselves surrounded and overpowered, +broke through the lines and tried to make +their escape, but were pursued and killed miles from +the battle ground. The Indians captured six battle +flags. No soldiers were taken alive, but after the +fight the women went among the dead bodies and +robbed and mutilated them. There were plenty of +watches and money taken, which the young warriors +are wearing in their shirts and belts."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII_part2" id="CHAPTER_VIII_part2"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">AN ATTACK IN THE REAR.</p> + + +<p>Major Reno's conduct on the first day of the fighting +on the Little Big Horn, has been severely criticised +by several of Gen. Custer's personal friends; and one +of them, Gen T.L. Rosser, in a letter addressed to +Reno and published in the <i>Army and Navy Journal</i>, +blames him for taking to the timber when his "loss +was little or nothing." "You had," he says, "an open +field for cavalry operations, and I believe that if you +had remained in the saddle and charged boldly into +the village, the shock upon the Indians would have +been so great that they would have been compelled to +withdraw their attacking force from Custer, who, when +relieved, could have pushed his command through to +open ground, where he could have manœuvred his +command, and thus greatly have increased his chances +of success." It would seem as if this and similar criticisms +were sufficiently answered by Reno's report; and +by his reply to Rosser, which is given in part below:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"After reading all your letter I could no longer look upon it +as a tribute of a generous enemy, since through me you had attacked +as brave officers as ever served a government, and with +the same recklessness and ignorance of circumstances as Custer +is charged with in his attacks upon the hostile Indians. Both +charges—the one made against him and the one made by you +against us—are equally untrue, You say:—'I feel Custer would +have succeeded had Reno, with all the reserve of seven companies, +passed through and joined Custer after the first repulse;' and<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_57" id="Page_2_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +after confessing that you are firing at long range say further: +'I think it quite certain that Custer had agreed with Reno upon a +place of junction in case of the repulse of either or both detachments; +and, instead of an effort being made by Reno for such a +junction, as soon as he encountered heavy resistance he took +refuge in the hills and abandoned Custer and his gallant comrades +to their fate.</p> + +<p>"As I shall show, both the premises are false, and consequently +all the conclusions of your letter fall to the ground. * * * The +only official orders I had from Custer were about five miles from +the village, when Cooke gave me his orders in these words: 'Custer +says to move at as rapid a gait as you think prudent, and to +charge afterwards, and you will be supported by the whole outfit.'</p> + +<p>"No mention of any plan, no thought of junction, only the +usual orders to the advance guard to attack by the charge. When +the enemy was reached I moved to the front at a fast trot, and at +the river halted ten minutes or less to gather the battalion. I +sent word to Custer that I had the enemy in my front very strong, +and then charged, driving the reds before me about three miles +or less, to within a short distance of their village, supposing my +command, consisting of 120 officers and men and about 25 scouts +and guards, followed by the columns under Custer. The stream +was very crooked, like a letter S in its wanderings, and on the +side on which the village was it opened out into a broad bottom, +perhaps half or three-quarters of a mile wide. The stream was +fringed, as usual, with the trees of the plains—a growth of large +cottonwood, and on the opposite side was a range of high bluffs +which had been cut into very deep ravines.</p> + +<p>"As I neared the village the Indians came out in great numbers, +and I was soon convinced I had at least ten to one against me, +and was forced on the defensive. This I accomplished by taking +possession of a point of woods where I found shelter for my horses. +I fought there dismounted, and made my way to within 200 yards +of the village, and firmly believe that if, at that moment, the +seven companies had been together the Indians could have been +driven from their village. As we approached near their village +they came out in overwhelming numbers, and soon the small command +would have been surrounded on all sides, to prevent which +I mounted and charged through them to a position I could hold +with the few men I had.</p> + +<p>"You see by this I was the advance and the first to be engaged<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_58" id="Page_2_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +and draw fire, and was consequently the command to be supported, +and not the one from which support could be expected. All +I know of Custer from the time he ordered me to attack till I saw +him buried, is that he did not follow my trail, but kept on his side +of the river and along the crest of the bluffs on the opposite side +from the village and from my command; that he heard and saw +my action I believe, although I could not see him; and it is just +here that the Indians deceived us. All this time I was driving +them with ease, and his trail shows he moved rapidly down the +river for three miles to the ford, at which he attempted to cross +into their village, and with the conviction that he would strike a +a retreating enemy. Trumpeter Martin, of Co. H, who the last +time of any living person heard and saw Gen. Custer, and who +brought the last order his adjutant ever penciled, says he left +the General at the summit of the highest bluff on that side, and +which overlooked the village and my first battle-field, and as he +turned, Gen. Custer raised his hat and gave a yell, saying they +were asleep in their tepees and surprised, and to charge. * * *</p> + +<p>"The Indians made him over confident by appearing to be +stampeded, and, undoubtedly, when he arrived at the ford, expecting +to go with ease through their village, he rode into an ambuscade +of at least 2,000 reds. My getting the command of the +seven companies was not the result of any order or prearranged +plan. Benteen and McDougal arrived separately, and saw the +command on the bluffs and came to it. They did not go into the +bottom at all after the junction. They attempted to go down the +trail of Gen. Custer, but the advance company soon sent back +word they were being surrounded. Crowds of reds were seen on +all sides of us, and Custer's fate had evidently been determined. +I knew the position I had first taken on the bluff was near and a +strong one. I at once moved there, dismounted, and herded the +pack train, and had but just time to do so when they came upon +me by thousands. Had we been twenty minutes later effecting +the junction not a man of that regiment would be living to-day to +tell the tale."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Another writer attacks both Reno and Benteen, +accusing one of incapacity and utter demoralization +during the attack of the Indians, and the other of +wilful disobedience. "That he (Benteen) should have, +as his own testimony confesses, deliberately disobeyed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_59" id="Page_2_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +the <i>peremptory order of Custer</i> to 'Come on,' argues +either a desire to sacrifice Custer, or an ignorance of +which his past career renders him incapable. Custer +told him to 'Come on,' and he reported to Reno." In +order, as he says, to "vindicate the reputation of a +noble man from unjust aspersions," this writer further +declares, that "had Reno fought as Custer fought, and +had Benteen obeyed Custer's orders, the battle of the +Little Big Horn might have proved Custer's last and +greatest Indian victory."</p> + +<p>Of the writer last quoted, the <i>Army and Navy +Journal</i> says:—"With reckless pen he thrusts right +and left, careless of reputations, regardless of facts, +darkening the lives of other men, in the vain hope +that one name may shine more brightly on the page +of history * * * Nothing but the most absolute +demonstration, accompanied by the proof, would justify +such statements as he has made, and this he has +not given. The reports of anonymous newspaper correspondents, +and an <i>ex parte</i> statement of the conclusions +drawn from letters, of which we have not so +much as the names of the writers, is not proof on which +to base criticisms affecting character and reputation."</p> + +<p>Capt. Benteen, Brevet Colonel U.S.A., who has +been a captain in the 7th Cavalry since its organization +in 1866, at which date Gen. Custer was appointed +its Lieut. Colonel, in a letter to the <i>Army and Navy +Journal</i> uses the following language:—</p> + +<p>"Col. Reno and I thought during the siege of June +25th and 26th, at the Little Big Horn, that he, Reno, +was the abandoned party, and spoke of it as another +'Major Elliot<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> affair'; thinking that General Custer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_60" id="Page_2_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +had retreated to the mouth of the river, where the +steamboat was supposed to be, and that Reno's command +was left to <i>its</i> fate. I am accused of disobeying +Custer's orders. Nothing is further from the truth +in point of fact; and I do not think the matter of sufficient +importance to attempt to vindicate myself, but +can rest contentedly under the ban when I have the +consoling belief that the contrary is so well known by +all my military superiors and comrades."</p> + + +<p>Lieut. Gen. Sheridan, in his report for 1876, expresses +his views of the Custer disaster as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"As much has been said in regard to the misfortune that occurred +to General Custer and the portion of his regiment under +his immediate command in this action, I wish to express the conviction +I have arrived at concerning it. From all the information +that has reached me, I am led to believe that the Indians were +not aware of the proximity of Custer until he had arrived within +about eight or nine miles of their village, and that then their scouts +who carried the intelligence back to the valley were so closely +followed up by Custer, that he arrived on the summit of the divide +overlooking the upper portion of the village, almost as soon as +the scouts reached it. As soon as the news was given, the Indians +began to strike their lodges and get their women and children out +of the way—a movement they always make under such circumstances. +Custer, seeing this, believed the village would escape +him if he awaited the arrival of the four companies of his regiment—still +some miles in his rear. Only about 75 or 100 lodges +or tepees could be seen from the summit or divide, and this, probably, +deceived him as to the extent of the village. He therefore +directed Major Reno, with three companies, to cross the river and +charge the village, while he, with the remaining five companies, +would gallop down the east bank of the river behind the bluff and +cut off the retreat of the Indians. Reno crossed and attacked +gallantly with his three companies—about 110 men—but the +warriors, leaving the women to strike the lodges, fell on Reno's +handful of men and drove them back to and over the river with +severe loss.</p> + +<p>"About this time Custer reached a point about three and a half<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_61" id="Page_2_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +or four miles down the river, but instead of finding a village of +75 or 100 lodges, he found one of perhaps from 1500 to 2000, +and swarming with warriors, who brought him to a halt. This, I +think, was the first intimation the Indians had of Custer's approach +to cut them off, for they at once left Reno and concentrated to +meet the new danger. The point where Custer reached the river, +on the opposite side of which was the village, was broken into +choppy ravines, and the Indians, crossing from Reno, got between +the two commands, and as Custer could not return, he fell back +over the broken ground with his tired men and tired horses (they +had ridden about 70 miles with but few halts) and became, I am +afraid, an easy prey to the enemy. Their wild, savage yells, +overwhelming numbers, and frightening war paraphernalia, made +it as much as each trooper could do to take care of his horse, thus +endangering his own safety and efficiency. If Custer could have +reached any position susceptible of defence, he could have defended +himself; but none offered itself in the choppy and broken +ravines over which he had to pass, and he and his command were +lost without leaving any one to tell the tale.</p> + +<p>"As soon as Custer and his gallant officers and men were exterminated +and the scenes of mutilation by the squaws commenced, +the warriors returned to renew the attack upon Reno; but he had +been joined by Captain Benteen and the four companies of the +regiment that were behind when the original attack took place, +and the best use had been made of the respite given by the attack +on Custer, to entrench their position.</p> + +<p>"Had the 7th Cavalry been kept together, it is my belief it +would have been able to handle the Indians on the Little Big +Horn, and under any circumstances it could have at least defended +itself; but separated as it was into three distinct detachments, +the Indians had largely the advantage in addition to their overwhelming +numbers. If Custer had not come upon the village so +suddenly, the warriors would have gone to meet him, in order to +give time to the women and children to get out of the way, as they +did with Crook only a few days before, and there would have +been, as with Crook, what might be designated a rearguard fight—a +fight to get their valuables out of the way, or in other words, +to cover the escape of their women, children and lodges."</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX_part2" id="CHAPTER_IX_part2"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="center small">THE MIDSUMMER CAMPAIGN.</p> + + +<p>After regaining his position at the mouth of the +Big Horn River, Gen. Terry called for reinforcements +and additional troops were at once put in motion for +his camp; but as they had to be collected from all the +various stations on the frontier—some of them very +remote from railroads—considerable time elapsed +before their arrival.</p> + +<p>During this period, the bands which had broken +off from the main body of hostiles, and the young +men at the agencies, continued their old and well-known +methods of warfare, stealing horses on the +frontier and killing small parties of citizens; while +the constant communication by the hostiles with the +Indians at the agencies made it evident that supplies +of food and ammunition were being received. To +prevent this, Gen. Sheridan deemed it necessary that +the military should control the agencies, and at his +request, the Secretary of the Interior, July 22d, authorized +the military to assume control of all the +agencies in the Sioux country.</p> + +<p>About the same date Medicine Cloud, a chief, who +had been sent from Fort Peck, in May, with a message +to Sitting Bull inviting him to visit Fort Peck +with a view to reconciliation, returned to the agency. +To the invitation, Sitting Bull had replied:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_63" id="Page_2_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Tell him I am coming before long to his post to +trade. Tell him I did not commence. I am getting +old, and I did not want to fight, but the whites rush +on me, and I am compelled to defend myself. But +for the soldiers stationed on the Rosebud, I with my +people would have been there before that. If I was +assured of the protection of the Great Father, I +would go to Fort Peck for the purpose of making +peace. I and others want the Black Hills abandoned, +and we will make peace."</p> + +<p>While awaiting reinforcements, Generals Terry and +Crook were separated by about 100 miles of rough +territory, the hostile Indians were between them, and +for reliable communication with each other it was +necessary to send around by the rear nearly 2000 +miles. The carrying of dispatches direct was a work +of the most arduous and perilous nature, and in +doing it, and in reconnoitering, brave and gallant +deeds were performed.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of July, Gen. Crook sent out Lieut. Sibley +of the 2nd Cavalry with 25 mounted troops and two +guides, Gerard and Baptiste, to reconnoiter the country +to the front, and learn if possible the movements +of the enemy and the whereabouts of Terry's division. +The party marched all night, and in the morning +were near where the Little Big Horn debouches from +the mountains. Here, from an eminence, they espied +a large body of Indians marching eastward as though +meditating an attack on the camp at Goose Creek. +Concealing themselves as well as they could, they +watched the movements of the enemy; but a great +shout soon warned them that their trail had been discovered, +and hundreds of savages immediately set out +to follow it, uttering terrific cries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_64" id="Page_2_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fugitives galloped toward the mountains, and +seemed to outrun their pursuers; but about noon, +while going through a ravine, a sudden volley was +fired upon them from the surrounding slopes, and +many Indians charged down upon them. They +wheeled, and took refuge in the woods, but three +horses were already wounded. Taking the ammunition +from the saddles, and leaving their horses tied to +the trees to divert the enemy, they now moved stealthily +and unseen from the ground, and escaped behind +adjacent rocks; then they climbed over steep and +slippery places till exhausted, and while halting for a +rest knew by the repeated firing that their horses +were undergoing an attack.</p> + +<p>All that night they toiled among the mountains, +and on the morning of the 9th reached Tongue River. +As they had left their rations behind, they suffered +much from hunger, and two of the men were so weak +they could not ford the deep stream, and remained +behind. When near the camp one of the guides went +ahead for assistance, and a company of cavalry brought +in the exhausted men.</p> + +<p>Having urgent occasion to communicate with Gen. +Crook, Gen. Terry, by the promise of a large reward, +induced a professional scout to make an attempt to +reach him, but he soon returned unsuccessful. No +other scout would undertake the task, and as a last +resort a call for volunteers was made, in response to +which, 12 soldiers promptly offered their services for +the hazardous duty without hope of pecuniary reward. +Three of these, Privates Wm. Evans, Benjamin F. +Stewart, and Joseph Bell, of the 17th Infantry, were +selected. They set out on the 9th of July, reached +Crook's camp on the 12th; and returned on the 25th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_65" id="Page_2_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +accompanied by three Crow Indians who had arrived +from Terry's camp on the 19th. The three soldiers +were thanked by their commander, in a General Order, +"for a deed reflecting so much credit on the Service."</p> + +<p>Partial reinforcements having reached Gen. Crook, +on the 16th of July he broke camp and moved gradually +along the hills toward Tongue River. On the +3d of August, just before sunset, an additional regiment, +the 5th Cavalry, ten companies, under Col. W. +Merritt, "marched into camp with their supply wagons +close on their heels, presenting a fine appearance, +despite the fatigue and dust of the march."</p> + +<p>Gen. Crook's fighting force now numbered about +2000 men. Among them were over 200 Shoshone +and Ute Indians, sworn enemies to the Sioux, led +by Washakie, a well known Shoshone chief. These +Indians were thus spoken of by a correspondent who +saw them at Fort Bridger, drawn up in line before +starting to join Gen. Crook:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"In advance of the party was a swarthy temporary chief, his face +covered with vertical white streaks. In his right hand, hanging +to the end of a window-blind rod, were the two fingers of a dead +Sioux. Another rod had a white flag nailed to it—a precaution +necessary to preserve them from being fired upon in proceeding +to the seat of war. The faces of the rest had on a plentiful supply +of war paint. Once in line, they struck up a peculiar grunting +sound on a scale of about five notes. One of the braves, afflicted +with a malady peculiar to the Caucasian race, began to brag what +he'd do when he got to the seat of war, winding up in broken +English, 'Me little mad now; bime by me heap mad.' Old +Washakie, their chief, wants to die in battle, and not in bed."</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the 5th of Aug., Gen. Crook cut loose from his +wagon trains and started in pursuit of the Indians +who, it was ascertained, had left the foot of the Big +Horn Mountains, July 25th, and moved eastward. +His route was north-easterly, across the Panther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_66" id="Page_2_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Mountains to Rosebud River. On the 8th of Aug. +the troops were ten miles north of the battle-ground +of June 17th, and near the site of a deserted village. +The country west of the Rosebud had been burned +over, and a trail recently traveled by large numbers +of Indians led down the valley. Upon this trail the +march was continued.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Gen. Terry had been reinforced by six +companies of the 5th Infantry under Col. Nelson A. +Miles, six companies of the 22d Infantry under Lt. +Col. Otis, and other detachments, until his command +numbered about the same as Gen. Crook's. On the +25th of July, he started for the mouth of the Rosebud +and there established a base of operations. On the +8th of Aug., with his troops and a train of 225 wagons +with supplies for 30 days, he moved down the west +bank of the Rosebud; and on the 10th, when 35 miles +from its mouth, made a junction with Crook's command. +Col. Miles with the 5th Infantry was sent +back to the mouth of the Rosebud to patrol the +Yellowstone, aided by steamboats, and intercept the +Indians should they attempt to cross the river.</p> + +<p>The trail which Gen. Crook had been following +now turned from the Rosebud eastward, and its pursuit +was promptly and steadily continued by the +united forces. It led the troops across to Powder +River and down its valley. On the 17th of August +they were encamped near the mouth of Powder River, +on both sides of the stream; and here the two commands +separated on the 24th of August.</p> + +<p>As the principal Indian trail had turned eastward +toward the Little Missouri, Gen. Crook's column took +up the pursuit in that direction. On the 5th of Sept, +when on the headwaters of Heart River, a small party<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_67" id="Page_2_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +of Indians were discovered going eastward,—the first +hostile Indians seen since leaving Tongue River.</p> + +<p>The trail had now scattered so that it could be +followed no longer, and Crook decided to push for +the Black Hills settlements. His troops were nearly +out of food, and suffering from want of clothing, and +bad weather. Cold rains prevailed, and camp life +with no tents, few blankets, and half rations, bore hard +on the soldiers. Meat was scarce and some of the +horses were killed to supply food.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of Sept., Capt. Anson Mills with 150 men +and a pack-train, was sent ahead with directions to +obtain food at the Black Hills settlements about 100 +miles distant, and to return to the hungry column as +soon as possible. Gerard, the scout, accompanied the +detachment, and on the evening of the 8th, he discovered +a hostile village of 40 lodges and several +hundred ponies. Capt. Mills retreated a few miles, +hid his men in a ravine, and at daybreak next morning +dashed into the village. The Indians were completely +surprised and fled to the surrounding hills, +from which they exchanged shots with their assailants. +The lodges were secured, with their contents consisting +of large quantities of dried meat and other food, +robes, and flags and clothing taken from Custer and +his men. 140 ponies were also among the spoils.</p> + +<p>A small party of the Indians had taken possession +of a narrow ravine or canyon near the village, and in +trying to dislodge them several soldiers were wounded. +By direction of Gen. Crook, who had reached the +field with reinforcements, the Indians in the ravine +were informed that if they would surrender they +would not be harmed. An old squaw was the first +to take advantage of the offer, and was followed by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_68" id="Page_2_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +15 women and children, and, lastly, by three warriors, +one of whom, the chief American Horse, had been +mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>Later in the day, before the troops had left the +village, the Indians appeared in force and began a +vigorous attack. Infantry were at once thrown out +along the slope of the bluffs and, "about sundown +it was a very inspiring sight to see this branch of the +command with their long Springfield breech-loaders +drive the enemy for a mile and a half to the west, +and behind the castellated rocks." The captives in +camp said the attacking Indians were reinforcements +from the camp of Crazy Horse further west. This +engagement is known as the battle of Slim Buttes. +Our losses during the day were three killed, and 11 +wounded including Lieut. Von Leuttroitz.</p> + +<p>During the march of Sept. 10th a number of Indians +came down on the rear, but were repulsed with a loss +of several killed and wounded. Three soldiers were +wounded in this skirmish.</p> + +<p>The remainder of this long and difficult march was +successfully accomplished. On the 16th, Gen. Crook +reached Deadwood, a Black Hills settlement, and was +cordially received by the inhabitants. In a speech +made by the General on this occasion, he said:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Citizens: while you welcome me and my personal staff as the +representatives of the soldiers who are here encamped upon the +Whitewood, let me ask you, when the rank and file pass through +here, to show that you appreciate their admirable fortitude in +bearing the sufferings of a terrible march almost without a +murmur, and to show them that they are not fighting for $13 per +month, but for the cause—the proper development of our gold +and other mineral resources, and of humanity. This exhibition +of your gratitude need not be expensive. Let the private soldier +feel that he is remembered by our people as the real defender of +his country."</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_69" id="Page_2_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>After parting with Gen. Crook, Aug. 24th, Gen. +Terry crossed the Yellowstone and marched down its +left bank, his object being to intercept the Indians +Crook was following if they attempted to cross the +river. On the 27th he left the river, and moved northerly +into the buffalo range where hunting parties +were detailed who secured considerable game. The +country was parched, the small streams dry, and +water scarce. A scouting party made a detour to the +north and west, but no Indians could be found. On +the 5th of Sept. the whole command was at the mouth +of Glendive Creek, where a military post had been +established.</p> + +<p>Gen. Terry now decided to close the campaign and +distribute his troops to their winter quarters. The +Montana column under Col. Gibbon started on the +return march to Fort Ellis, 400 miles distant; Lieut. +Col. Otis of the 22d Infantry, with his command, remained +at Glendive Creek, to build a stockade and +co-operate with Col. Miles, who was establishing a +winter post at the mouth of Tongue River; and Gen. +Terry with the balance of the troops started for +Fort Buford at the mouth of the Yellowstone.</p> + +<p>Hearing that Sitting Bull with a large band had +recently crossed to the north side of the Missouri +River near Fort Peck, Terry sent Reno with troops—then +en route to Fort Buford—in pursuit. Reno +marched to Fort Peck, and thence to Fort Buford, +but encountered no Indians. A reconnoitering party +under Long Dog had been near Fort Peck, and that +chief passed one night at the agency. They did not +want rations or annuities, but desired plenty of ammunition, +for which they were ready to exchange 7th +Cavalry horses, arms and equipments.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X_part2" id="CHAPTER_X_part2"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="center small">AUTUMN ON THE YELLOWSTONE.</p> + + +<p>On the 10th of October, as a train escorted by two +companies of the 6th Infantry was carrying supplies +from Glendive Creek to the cantonment at the mouth +of Tongue River, it was attacked by Indians, and was +obliged to return to Glendive with a loss of sixty +mules.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Col. Otis was in command at Glendive, and +on the 14th he again started out the train and personally +accompanied it. The train consisted of 86 +wagons, 41 of which were driven by soldiers, who had +taken the places of as many citizen teamsters too demoralized +by the recent attack to continue in the +service. The military escort numbered with officers +196 men. The following interesting narrative of +subsequent events is from the report of Col. Otis:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"We proceeded on the first day 12 miles, and encamped on the +broad bottom of the Yellowstone River, without discovering a +sign of the presence of Indians. During the night a small thieving +party was fired upon by the pickets, but the party escaped, +leaving behind a single pony, with its trappings, which was killed. +At dawn of day, upon the 15th, the train pulled out in two strings, +and proceeded quietly to Spring Creek, distant from camp about +three miles, when I directed two mounted men to station themselves +upon a hill beyond the creek, and watch the surrounding +country until the train should pass through the defile. The men +advanced at swift pace in proper direction, and when within 50 +yards of the designated spot, they received a volley from a number<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_71" id="Page_2_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +of concealed Indians, when suddenly men and Indians came +leaping down the bluff. The men escaped without injury to person, +although their clothing was riddled with bullets. I quickly +advanced on the skirmish line, which drove out 40 or 50 Indians, +and making a similar movement on the opposite flank, passed +through the gorge and gained the high table land. Here, three +or four scouts, sent out by Colonel Miles, from Tongue River, +joined us. They had been driven into the Tongue upon the previous +evening, there corraled, had lost their horses and one of +their number, and escaped to the bluffs under cover of the darkness. +The dead scout was found and buried.</p> + +<p>"The train proceeded along the level prairie, surrounded by +the skirmish line, and the Indians were coming thick and fast +from the direction of Cabin Creek. But few shots were exchanged, +and both parties were preparing for the struggle which +it was evident would take place at the deep and broken ravine +at Clear Creek, through which the train must pass. We cautiously +entered the ravine, and from 150 to 200 Indians had gained +the surrounding bluffs to our left; signal fires were lighted for +miles around, and extended far away on the opposite side of the +Yellowstone. The prairies to our front were fired, and sent up +vast clouds of smoke. We had no artillery, and nothing remained +to us except to charge the bluffs. Company C, of the 17th Infantry, +and Company H, of the 22d Infantry, were thrown forward +upon the run, and gallantly scaled the bluffs, answering the +Indian yell with one equally as barbarous, and driving back the +enemy to another ridge of hills. We then watered all the stock +at the creek, took on water for the men, and the train slowly +ascended the bluffs.</p> + +<p>"The country now surrounding us was broken. The Indians +continued to increase in numbers, surrounded the train, and the +entire escort became engaged. The train was drawn up in four +strings, and the entire escort enveloped it by a thin skirmish line. +In that formation we advanced, the Indians pressing every point, +especially the rear, Company C, 17th, which was only able to +follow by charging the enemy, and then retreating rapidly toward +the train, taking advantage of all the knolls and ridges in its +course. The flanks, Companies G, 17th, and K and G, 22d, were +advanced about 1000 yards, and the road was opened in the front, +by Company H, 22d, by repeated charges.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_72" id="Page_2_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In this manner we advanced several miles, and then halted +for the night upon a depression of the high prairie, the escort +holding the surrounding ridge. The Indians now had attempted +every artifice. They had pressed every point of the line, had run +their fires through the train, which we were compelled to cross +with great rapidity, had endeavored to approach under cover of +smoke, when they found themselves overmatched by the officers +and men, who, taking advantage of the cover, moved forward and +took them at close range. They had met with considerable loss, +a good many of their saddles were emptied, and several ponies +wounded. Their firing was wild in the extreme, and I should +consider them the poorest of marksmen. For several hours they +kept up a brisk fire and wounded but three of our men.</p> + +<p>"Upon the morning of the 16th, the train pulled out in four +strings, and we took up the advance, formed as on the previous +day. Many Indians occupied the surrounding hills, and soon a +number approached, and left a communication upon a distant hill. +It was brought in by Scout Jackson, and read as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center"> +"<span class="smcap">Yellowstone.</span>"<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I want to know what you are doing traveling on this road? +you scare all the buffalo away. I want to hunt on the place. I +want you to turn back from here: if you don't I will fight you +again. I want you to leave what you have got here, and turn +back from here.</p> + +<p class="midind"> +"I am your friend,</p> +<p class="deepind"><span class="smcap">Sitting Bull</span>. +</p> + +<p>"I mean all the rations you have got and some powder; I wish +you would write as soon as you can."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"I directed the Scout Jackson to inform the Indians that I +had nothing to say in reply, except that we intended to take the +train through to Tongue River, and that we should be pleased to +accommodate them at any time with a fight. The train continued +to proceed, and about eight o'clock the Indians began to gather +for battle.</p> + +<p>"We passed through the long, narrow gorge, near Bad Route +Creek, when we again watered the stock, and took in wood and +water, consuming in this labor about an hour's time. When we +had pulled up the gentle ascent, the Indians had again surrounded +us, but the lesson of the previous day taught them to keep at +long range, and there was but little firing by either party. I +counted 150 Indians in our rear, and from their movements and +position I judged their numbers to be between 300 and 500.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_73" id="Page_2_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +After proceeding a short distance, a flag of truce appeared on +the left flank, borne by two Indians, whom I directed to be +allowed to enter the lines. They proved to be Indian scouts +from Standing Rock Agency, bearing dispatches from Lieut. Col. +Carlin, of the 17th Infantry, stating that they had been sent out +to find Sitting Bull, and to endeavor to influence him to proceed +to some military post and treat for peace.</p> + +<p>"These scouts informed me that they had that morning +reached the camp of Sitting Bull and Man-afraid-of-his-horse, +near the mouth of Cabin Creek, and that they had talked with +Sitting Bull, who wished to see me outside the lines. I declined +the invitation, but professed a willingness to see Sitting Bull +within my own lines. The scouts left me, and soon returned +with three of the principal soldiers of Sitting Bull—the last +named individual being unwilling to trust his person within our +reach. The chiefs said that their people were angry because our +train was driving away the buffalo from their hunting grounds, +that they were hungry and without ammunition, and that they +especially wished to obtain the latter; that they were tired of war, +and desired to conclude a peace.</p> + +<p>"I informed them that I could not give them ammunition, +that had they saved the amount already wasted upon the train +it would have supplied them for hunting purposes for a long +time, that I had no authority to treat with them upon any terms +whatever, but they were at liberty to visit Tongue River, and +there make known conditions. They wished to know what assurance +I could give them of their safety should they visit that place, +and I replied that I could give them nothing but the word of an +officer. They then wished rations for their people, promising to +proceed to Fort Rock immediately, and from thence to Tongue +River. I declined to give them rations, but finally offered them +as a present 150lb. of hard bread and two sides of bacon, which +they gladly accepted. The train moved on, and the Indians fell +to the rear. Upon the following day I saw a number of them +from Cedar Creek, far away to the right, and after that time they +disappeared entirely.</p> + +<p>"Upon the evening of the 18th I met Col. Miles encamped with +his entire regiment on Custer Creek. Alarmed for the safety of +the train, he had set out from Tongue River upon the previous +day."</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_74" id="Page_2_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>While Col. Otis was thus gallantly advancing with +his train, Col. Miles, of the 5th Infantry, fearing for +its safety, had crossed the Yellowstone before daybreak +on the 17th and started toward Glendive. He +met Col. Otis, as above stated, on the evening of the +18th; and on being informed of the attack on the +train, started in pursuit of the enemy. On the 21st, +when about eight miles beyond Cedar Creek, a large +number of Indians appeared in front of the column, +and two of them, bearing a white flag, rode up to the +line. They proved to be the Standing Rock ambassadors +who had met Col. Otis; and brought word +that Sitting Bull wished a conference with Col. Miles. +Lieut. H.R. Bailey accompanied the two friendly +Indians to the hostile camp, and there arranged with +Sitting Bull's white interpreter for a meeting to take +place between the lines.</p> + +<p>The troops rested on their arms in line of battle +while Col. Miles with a few officers rode forward and +halted about half way between the two forces. Sitting +Bull with a dozen unarmed warriors presently +emerged from the hostile lines and walked slowly +forward in single file. Col. Miles' party dismounted +and advanced to meet them, and the council began. +The scene was picturesque and exciting; and the occasion +one of much anxiety to the troops who remembered +the assassination of Gen. Canby—especially so +when dozens of armed warriors rode forward and surrounded +the little group.</p> + +<p>The "talk" was long and earnest; the Indians +wanted an "old-fashioned peace," with privileges of +trade—especially in ammunition, and demanded the +discontinuing of supply trains and the abandonment +of Fort Buford. Col. Miles explained that he could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_75" id="Page_2_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +only accept surrender on the terms of absolute submission +to the U.S. Government. At evening the +conference was adjourned to the next day, and the +parties separated as quietly as they had assembled.</p> + +<p>In the morning Col. Miles moved his command north, +so as to intercept retreat in that direction. At about +11 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, Sitting Bull, Pretty Bear, Bull Eagle, John, +Standing Bear, Gall, White Bull and others, came +forward, marching abreast, and met Col. Miles and +several officers on a knoll half way between the opposing +lines. The Indians asked to be let alone, and +professed a wish for peace, but such a peace as Col. +Miles could not concede. "After much talk by the +various chiefs, Sitting Bull was informed once and for +all that he must accept the liberal conditions offered +by the Government or prepare for immediate hostilities; +and the council dispersed—Sitting Bull disappearing +like a shadow in the crowd of warriors behind +him."</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The scene," wrote a correspondent of the <i>Army and Navy +Journal</i>, "was now most animated. Col. Miles sent for his +company commanders, and they came charging over the field +to receive his final instructions. On the other side, the Sioux +leaders rode hither and thither at full speed in front of their line, +marshaling their men and haranguing them, calling on them to +be brave. Sitting Bull's interpreter, Bruey, rode back to ask +why the troops were following him? He was answered by Col. +Miles, that the non-acceptance of the liberal terms offered was +considered an act of hostility, and he would open fire at once. +The whole line then advanced in skirmish order. One company +occupied a knoll on the left with the 3-inch gun, the first shell +from which was greeted with a hearty cheer from the advancing +line. The Indians tried their old tactics and attempted rear and +flank attacks from the ravines, but they found those vital points +well protected by companies disposed <i>en potence</i>, which poured +in a torrent of lead wherever an Indian showed himself. The<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_76" id="Page_2_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +firing then became general along the whole line. Some of the +sharpest shooting was done by the Sioux, and many officers only +escaped "close calls" by the ends of their hair. Two enlisted +men were wounded. Finally, Sitting Bull, finding his old plan +of battle frustrated by that solid infantry skirmish line advancing +upon him with the relentless sternness of fate, began a +general and precipitate retreat."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The pursuit was resolutely kept up. The Indians +fled down Bad Route Creek and across the Yellowstone, +a distance of 42 miles, abandoning tons of dried +meat, lodge-poles, camp equipments, ponies, etc. The +troops on foot followed rapidly, not stopping to count +the dead or gather the plunder; and the result was, +that on the 27th of October five principal chiefs surrendered +themselves to Col. Miles, on the Yellowstone, +opposite the mouth of Cabin Creek, as hostages +for the surrender of their whole people, represented +as between 400 and 500 lodges, equal to about 2,000 +souls. The hostages were sent under escort to Gen. +Terry, at St. Paul, and the Indians were allowed five +days in their then camp to gather food, and thirty +days to reach the Cheyenne Agency on the Missouri +River, where they were to surrender their arms and +ponies, and remain either as prisoners of war or +subject to treatment such as is usually accorded to +friendly Indians.</p> + +<p>Sitting Bull was not among the chiefs who surrendered; +during the retreat, they said, he had slipped +out, with thirty lodges of his own special followers, +and gone northerly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI_part2" id="CHAPTER_XI_part2"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="center small">TERRY AND CROOK AT THE SIOUX AGENCIES.</p> + + +<p>The disarming and dismounting of the Sioux +Agency Indians being deemed necessary as a precautionary +measure, to prevent the hostile Indians +from receiving constant supplies of arms, ammunition, +and ponies from their friends at the agencies, +General Sheridan directed Generals Crook and Terry +to act simultaneously in accomplishing that object. +The friendly and unfriendly Indians at the agencies +were so intermixed, that it seemed impossible to discriminate +between them.</p> + +<p>After refitting at the Black Hills, Gen. Crook proceeded +to the Red Cloud Agency, and found the +Indians there in a dissatisfied mood and probably +about to start to join the hostile bands. They had +moved out some 25 miles from the agency, and refused +to return although informed that no more +rations would be given them till they did so.</p> + +<p>At daylight, Oct. 22d, Col. Mackenzie, the post +commander, with eight companies of the 4th and +5th Cavalry, surrounded the Indian camp containing +300 lodges, and captured Red Cloud and his whole +band, men, squaws and ponies without firing a shot, +and marched them into the agency dismounted and +disarmed. The Indians at Spotted Tail Agency were +also disarmed and dismounted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_78" id="Page_2_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gen. Crook had an interview with Spotted Tail, +and being satisfied that he was the only important +Sioux leader who had remained friendly, he deposed +Red Cloud, and declared Spotted Tail, his rival, the +"Sachem of the whole Sioux Nation, by the grace of +the Great Father the President. As the representative +of the latter, Gen. Crook invested him with the +powers of a grand chief, and in token thereof presented +him his commission as such, written upon a +parchment scroll tied with richly colored ribbons. +Spotted Tail's heart was very glad."</p> + +<p>"The line of the hostile and the peaceably disposed," +wrote Gen. Crook at this time, "is now +plainly drawn, and we shall have our enemies only +in the front in the future. I feel that this is the first +gleam of daylight we have had in this business."</p> + +<p>Meantime Gen. Terry, with the 7th Cavalry and +local garrisons, was disarming and dismounting the +Indians at the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River +Agencies. The following is a copy of his report to +Gen. Sheridan, written at Standing Rock, Oct. 25th:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Colonel Sturgis left Lincoln on the 20th, Major Reno on the +21st, and each arrived here on the afternoon of the 22d. Sturgis +immediately commenced dismounting and disarming the Indians +at Two Bears' camp, on the left bank of the river, and Lieut. +Col. Carlin, with his own and Reno's forces, dismounted and disarmed +them at both camps on this side. Owing partially to the +fact that before I arrived at Lincoln news was sent the Indians +here, it is said, by Mrs. Galpin, that we were coming, and our +purpose stated; but principally, I believe, that some time since, +owing to the failure of the grass here, the animals were sent to +distant grazing places many miles away, comparatively only a few +horses were found. I, therefore, the next morning, called the +chiefs together, and demanded the surrender of their horses and +arms, telling them that unless they complied their rations would +be stopped, and also telling them that whatever might be realized<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_79" id="Page_2_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +from the sale of the property taken would be invested in stock +for them. They have quietly submitted, and have sent out to +bring in their animals. Some have already arrived, and we +have now in our possession 700. More are arriving rapidly, and +I expect to double that number. I have kept the whole force +here until now for the effect its presence produces.</p> + +<p>"I shall start Sturgis to-morrow morning for Cheyenne, leaving +Reno until Carlin completes the work here. Only a few arms +have yet been found or surrendered, but I think our results are +satisfactory. Not a shot was fired on either side of the river. +Of course no surprise can now be expected at Cheyenne. The +desired effect will be attained there by the same means as those +employed here."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The late Sioux Commissioners, who made a treaty +for the Black Hills in Sept. 1876, gave their pledge +that all <i>friendly</i> Indians would be protected in their +persons and property. Bishop Whipple comments on +the dismounting of the Indians as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"In violation of these pledges 2,000 ponies were taken from +Cheyenne and Standing Rock Agencies. No inventory was +kept of individual property. Of 1,100 ponies taken at Standing +Rock, only 874 left Bismark for Saint Paul. No provision was +made to feed them on the way. The grass had burned on the +prairie and there was several inches of snow on the ground. +The small streams were frozen, and no water was to be had until +they reached the James River. There was no grass, and no hay +could be purchased until they reached the Cheyenne River, more +than ten days' travel, and then nothing until they reached Fort +Abercrombie. No wonder that there were only 1,200 ponies out +of 2,000 that left Abercrombie, and that of these only 500 reached +St. Paul. The wretched, dying brutes were made the subject of +jest as the war horses of the Dakota. Many died on the way, +many were stolen, and the remnant were sold in St. Paul. It +was worse than the ordinary seizure of property without color of +law. It was not merely robbery of our friends. It was cruel. +The Indians are compelled to camp from 10 to 40 miles away +from the agency to find fuel. They have to cross this distance +in the coldest weather to obtain their rations, and without ponies +they must cross on foot, and some of them may perish."</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_80" id="Page_2_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gen. Crook issued at Red Cloud Agency his General +Orders, No. 8—in part as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"> +<table class="other" summary="curlybracket"> + +<tr> +<td></td> + +<td class="tdcurly" rowspan="3"> +<span style="font-size:2.25em;">}</span></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Headquarters Department of the Platte, in the Field</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Camp Robinson, Neb.</span>, Oct. 24th, 1876.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"The time having arrived when the troops composing the Big +Horn and Yellowstone Expedition are about to separate, the +Brigadier-General commanding addresses himself to the officers +and men of the command, to say:—</p> + +<p>"In the campaign now closed he has been obliged to call upon +you for much hard service and many sacrifices of personal comfort. +At times you have been out of reach of your base of supplies; +in most inclement weather you have marched without +food and slept without shelter. In your engagements you have +evinced a high order of discipline and courage, in your marches +wonderful powers of endurance, and in your deprivations and +hardships, patience and fortitude.</p> + +<p>"Indian warfare is, of all warfare, the most trying, the most +dangerous, and the most thankless; not recognized by the high +authority of the United States Congress as war, it still possesses +for you the disadvantages of civilized warfare with all the horrible +accompaniments that barbarians can invent and savages can +execute. In it, you are required to serve without the incentive +to promotion or recognition; in truth, without favor or hope of +reward.</p> + +<p>"The people of our sparsely settled frontier, in whose defence +this war is waged, have but little influence with the powerful +communities in the East; their representatives have little voice +in our national councils, while your savage foes are not only the +wards of the nation, supported in idleness, but objects of sympathy +with a large number of people otherwise well informed +and discerning. You may, therefore, congratulate yourselves +that in the performance of your military duty you have been +on the side of the weak against the strong, and that the few +people there are on the frontier will remember your efforts with +gratitude."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Gen. Crook's losses during the campaign extending +from May 27th to Oct. 24th, were 12 killed, 32 +wounded (most of whom subsequently returned to +duty), one death by accident and one by disease.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII_part2" id="CHAPTER_XII_part2"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">THE WINTER OF 1876-7.</p> + + +<p>After leaving Red Cloud, Gen. Crook marched to +Fort Fetterman and organized a new column for a +winter expedition against the enemy. Subsequently, +with a force of ten companies of cavalry under Col. +Mackenzie, eleven companies of infantry and four of +artillery under Lieut. Col. R.I. Dodge, and about 200 +Indian allies, some of whom were friendly Sioux enlisted +at Red Cloud Agency, Gen. Crook advanced +to old Fort Reno, head of Powder River, where a cantonment +had been built.</p> + +<p>Hearing that a band of Cheyenne Indians were encamped +among the Big Horn Mountains to the southwest, +Gen. Crook, Nov. 23d, sent Col. Mackenzie with +his cavalry and the Indian allies to hunt them up. At +noon, Nov. 24th, after marching some 30 miles along +the base of the mountains toward the Sioux Pass, Mackenzie +met five of seven Indian scouts who had been +sent ahead the evening previously. These scouts +reported that they had discovered the camp of the +Cheyennes at a point in the mountains about 20 miles +distant, and that the other two scouts had remained +to watch the camp.</p> + +<p>A night's march was decided upon and, at sunset, +after a halt of three hours, the command moved forward +toward the village; but owing to the roughness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_82" id="Page_2_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +of the country, it was daylight when they reached the +mouth of a canyon leading to and near the village. +Through this canyon the column advanced, crossing +several deep ravines, and when within a mile of the +camp the order to charge was given. The Indian +allies, who were in front, rushed forward howling and +blowing on instruments, and some of them subsequently +ascended the side of the canyon and occupied +a high bluff opposite to and overlooking the village.</p> + +<p>The surprise was nearly complete; but some of the +Cheyennes, whom the scouts had reported as being engaged +in a war dance, sounded the alarm on a drum, +and began firing on the advancing column. The inhabitants +immediately deserted their lodges, taking +nothing but their weapons with them, and took refuge +in a net-work of very difficult ravines beyond the +upper end of the village. A brisk fight for about +an hour ensued, after which skirmishing was kept up +until night. The village of 173 lodges and their +entire contents were destroyed, about 500 ponies +were captured, and the bodies of 25 Indians killed in +the engagement were found. Col. Mackenzie's loss +was Lieut. J.A. McKinney and six men killed, and +twenty-two men wounded.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of Dec., Gen. Crook left Fort Reno with +his whole force, and moved down Little Powder +River, intending to form at its junction with Powder +River a supply camp from which to operate against +the Indians. Subsequently, however, he crossed over +to the Belle Fourche River, and, Dec. 22d, started for +Fort Fetterman where he arrived Dec. 29th. The +weather during this homeward march was at times +intensely cold, and the men and horses suffered considerably +thereby.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_83" id="Page_2_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>While Gen. Crook was thus looking for and harassing +the Indians in the Powder River country, the +isolated garrison of the Tongue River cantonment, further +north, were not idle. An excursion northward in +search of Sitting Bull was led by Col. Miles, the post-commander, +and as reports as to the location of the +Indians were conflicting and their trails obscured by +snow, he divided his force, and sent Lieut. Frank D. +Baldwin with three companies of the 5th Infantry +to the north of the Missouri, while he examined the +the Mussel Shell and Dry Forks country.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of Dec., Lieut. Baldwin discovered +Sitting Bull's band, and followed the Indians to the +Missouri River, where they crossed and for a short +time resisted the crossing of the troops. The Indians +then retreated south, but were overtaken in the Redwood +country and attacked, Dec. 18th. Their camp of +122 lodges was captured and burned with its contents, +and 60 mules and horses were taken. The Indians +escaped, but carried off little property except what +they had on their backs. Lieut. Baldwin's command +marched on this expedition over 500 miles—walking +on one occasion 73 miles in 48 hours—and endured +the cold of a Montana winter with great fortitude.</p> + +<p>A very unfortunate affair occurred at the Tongue +River cantonment, within a few hundred yards of the +parade-ground, Dec. 16th. The following is from Col. +Miles' report thereof:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"As five Minneconjou chiefs were coming in, bearing two +white flags, followed by twenty or thirty other Indians, and were +passing by the Crow Indian camp, the five in advance were surrounded +by twelve Crows and instantly killed. The act was an +unprovoked, cowardly murder. The Crows approached them in +a friendly manner, said "How," shook hands with them, and +when they were within their power and partly behind a large<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_84" id="Page_2_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +wood pile, killed them in a most brutal manner. Upon hearing +the first shot, both officers and men rushed out and tried to save +the Minneconjous, but could not reach them in time. The Crows +were aware of the enormity of their crime, as they saw that the +Minneconjous had a flag of truce, and they were told to come +back. They were warned the day before against committing any +act of violence against messengers or other parties coming in +for friendly purposes. They tried to hide the flag of truce and, +taking advantage of the momentary excitement, while efforts +were being made to open communication and bring back the +others, who were following, and who became alarmed and fled to +the bluffs, the guilty Crow Indians jumped upon their ponies and +fled to their agency in Montana. The only thing that can be +said in defence of the Crows is, that a false report was made by +one of the Crow women that the Sioux had fired upon her, and +that within the last few months some of their number had lost +relatives killed by the Sioux in the vicinity of the Rosebud. +These Indians have claimed to be friends of the white man for +years, have been frequently in the Government employ, and were +brought down to fight such outlaws as Sitting Bull and Crazy +Horse.</p> + +<p>"Those killed were believed to be Bull Eagle, Tall Bull, Red ——, +Red Cloth, and one other prominent chief of the Sioux +nation. I am unable to state the object of Bull Eagle's coming, +but am satisfied he came with the best of motives. I can only +judge from the following:—When he surrendered on the Yellowstone, +after the engagement on Cedar Creek, he was the first to +respond to my demands, and, I believe, was largely instrumental +in bringing his people to accept the terms of the Government. +When I had received five of the principal chiefs as hostages, and +was about parting with him, I told him, if he had any trouble in +going in, or his people hesitated or doubted that the Government +would deal fairly and justly with them, to come back to me, +and I would tell him what to do; that if he would come back to +my command, I would be glad to see him and, so long as he +complied with the orders of the Government, he could be assured +of the friendship of its officers. I could not but regard him with +respect, as he appeared in every sense a chief, and seemed to be +doing everything in his power for the good of his people, and +endeavoring to bring them to a more peaceful condition. He<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_85" id="Page_2_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +appeared to have great confidence in what I told him; I gave +him five days to obtain meat; during that time he lost three +favorite ponies, which were brought to this place. During my +absence he came in, bringing five horses that had strayed or +been stolen from some citizens in the vicinity, and requested his +own. He also inquired if he could send up to the Big Horn +country for the remainder of his people, and take them in on the +pass I had given him. He was informed by the commanding +officer, Gen. Whistler (whom he had known for years before), +that he could, and was told to send for them. Whether he had +met with some trouble in taking his people in to their agency, and +had returned, as I had told him, for directions, or had gathered +up his people, and in passing had come in to apprise me of the +fact, I know not; but there is every reason to believe that the +above mentioned circumstances gave rise to his motives and +prompted his actions.</p> + +<p>"The Crows were immediately disarmed, twelve of their ponies +taken from them, and other considerations, together with a letter +explaining the whole affair, were sent to the people and friends +of those killed, as an assurance that no white man had any part +in the affair, and that we had no heart for such brutal and cowardly +acts.</p> + +<p>"It illustrates clearly the ferocious, savage instincts of even +the best of these wild tribes, and the impossibility of their controlling +their desire for revenge when it is aroused by the sight of +their worst enemies, who have whipped them for years and driven +them out of this country. Such acts are expected and considered +justifiable among these two tribes of Indians, and it is to be hoped +that the Sioux will understand that they fell into a camp of their +ancient enemies, and did not reach the encampment of this +command."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In January, 1877, Col. Miles with 350 of his troops +marched southerly sixty miles up the Tongue River, +and on the evening of the 7th discovered a large +Indian village. Skirmishing ensued, and on the next +day 1000 well-armed warriors appeared in front, and a +battle was fought. The battle-ground was very rough +and broken, and a heavy snow storm came on during +the fight. The Indians fought with desperation; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_86" id="Page_2_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +our troops had been so admirably arranged that they +succeeded in gaining a decisive victory. The following +is Col. Miles' report of the affair:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"I have the honor to report that this command fought the +hostile tribes of Cheyenne and Ogallala Sioux, under Crazy +Horse, in skirmishes on the 1st, 3d, and 7th of January, and in a +five hours' engagement on the 8th inst. Their camp, consisting +of some 500 lodges, extended three miles along the valley of +Tongue River, below Hanging Woman's Creek. They were +driven through the canyons of the Wolf or Panther Mountains, in +the direction of Big Horn Mountains. Their fighting strength +outnumbered mine by two or three to one, but by taking advantage +of the ground we had them at a disadvantage, and their loss +is known to be heavy. Our loss is three killed and eight wounded. +They fought entirely dismounted, and charged on foot to +within fifty yards of Captain Casey's line, but were taken in front +and flank by Captain Butler's and Lieutenant McDonald's companies. +They were whipped at every point and driven from the +field, and pursued so far as my limited supplies and worn down +animals would carry my command."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following additional particulars are derived +from a letter to the <i>Army and Navy Journal</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"On the 5th January, Indian signs grew thicker and thicker. +Miles of hastily abandoned war lodges were passed. The +country became very rough. The valley of the Tongue grew +narrower, the stream more tortuous, and the hills on both sides +loftier and more precipitous, until the valley shrank into a prolonged +and winding canyon. At short distances, jutting bluffs +made narrow passes which offered points of vantage to the savage +enemy. The gorges of the Wolf Mountains had been reached.</p> + +<p>"On the 6th, the march was through a large war camp, recently +and hurriedly abandoned. Unusual heat was followed by snow. +In the evening there was snow and hail driven by a cruel wind, +and by 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> it was pitch dark. On the evening of the 7th, the +scouts captured four Cheyenne squaws, a youth, and three young +children. Two hundred Indians made a dash at the scouts, shot +two of their horses and made a desperate effort to take them. +Casey opened a musketry fire on the Indians, and darkness supervening, +they withdrew.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_87" id="Page_2_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Next morning the fight was renewed shortly after daylight. +The Indians charged down the valley in large force, close up to +the skirmish line, but failed to make any impression. They then +turned their attention to the flanks, and began to swarm on the +bluffs to the right. The action then became general. The +Indians were in strong force, and tried every point of the line. +The hills and woods resounded with their cries and the high-pitched +voices of the chiefs giving their orders.</p> + +<p>"It is the opinion of some who have had years of experience +in Indian fighting, that there has rarely, if ever, been a fight +before in which the Sioux and Cheyenne showed such determination +and persistency, where they were finally defeated. They +had chosen their ground; and it has since been learned that they +expected to make another Custer slaughter. The Cheyenne +captives, in the hands of the troops, sang songs of triumph +during the entire fight, in anticipation of a speedy rescue and the +savage orgies of a massacre."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In a complimentary order to his troops, dated +Jan. 31st, Col. Miles says:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Here in the home of the hostile Sioux, this command, during +the past three months, has marched 1200 miles and fought three +engagements—besides affairs of less importance. * * * Fortunate +indeed is the officer who commands men who will improvise +boats of wagon beds, fearlessly dash out into the cold and turbid +waters, and amid the treacherous current and floating ice, cross +and recross the great Missouri; who will defy the elements on +these bleak plains in a Montana winter; and who have in every +field defeated superior numbers."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The dismounting and disarming policy was kept up +at the Agencies through the winter. Several bands +came in and surrendered—among them that of Red +Horse, who had been actively hostile. This chief +thus describes the engagement on the Little Big +Horn. The "brave officer" referred to is said to be +Capt. T.H. French, of Reno's battalion.</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"On the morning of the attack, myself and several women +were out about a mile from camp gathering wild turnips. Suddenly +one of the women called my attention to a cloud of dust<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_88" id="Page_2_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +rising in the neighborhood of the camp. I soon discovered that +troops were making an attack. We ran for the camp, and +when I got there I was sent for at once to come to the council-lodge. +I found many of the council men already there when I +arrived. We gave directions immediately for every Indian to +get his horse and arms; for the women and children to mount +the horses and get out of the way, and for the young men to go +and meet the troops.</p> + +<p>"Among the troops was an officer who rode a horse with four +white feet. The Indians have fought a great many tribes of +people, and very brave ones, too, but they all say that this man +was the bravest man they had ever met. I don't know whether +this man was General Custer or not. This officer wore a large-brimmed +hat and buckskin coat. He alone saved his command +a number of times by turning on his horse in the retreat. In +speaking of him, the Indians call him the 'man who rode the +horse with four white feet.'</p> + +<p>"After driving this party back, the Indians corraled them on +top of a high hill, and held them there until they saw that the +women and children were in danger of being made prisoners by +another party of troops which just then made its appearance +below. The word passed among the Indians like a whirlwind, and +they all started to attack the new party, leaving the troops on the +hill. When we attacked the other party, we swarmed down on +them and drove them in confusion. No prisoners were taken. +All were killed. None were left alive even for a few minutes. +These troopers used very few of their cartridges. I took a gun +and a couple of belts off two dead men. Out of one belt two +cartridges were gone; out of the other five.</p> + +<p>"It was with captured ammunition and arms that we fought +the other body of troops. If they had all remained together they +would have hurt us very badly. The party we killed made five +different starts. Once we charged right in until we scattered the +whole of them, fighting among them hand to hand. One band of +soldiers was right in the rear of us when they charged. We fell +back, and stood for one moment facing each other. Then the +Indians got courage and started for them in a solid body. We +went but a little distance when we spread out and encircled them. +All the time I could see their officers riding in front, and hear +them shouting to their men. We finished up the party right there +in the ravine.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_89" id="Page_2_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The troops up the river made their first attack, skirmishing a +little while after the fight commenced with the other troops below +the village. While the latter fight was going on we posted some +Indians to prevent the other command from forming a junction. +As soon as we had finished the fight we all went back to massacre +the troops on the hill. After skirmishing around awhile we saw +the walking soldiers coming. These new troops making their +appearance was the saving of the others. An Indian started to +go to Red Cloud Agency that day, and when a few miles from +camp discovered dust rising. He turned back and reported that +a large herd of buffalo was approaching the camp, and a short +time after he reported this the camp was attacked by troops."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In February, Spotted Tail, with a body-guard of 200 +warriors, started out to visit his roaming brethren as +a peacemaker; and through his influence, or for other +reasons, all the hostile bands, it is believed, except +Sitting Bull's, have accepted the terms offered by the +Government and surrendered their arms and ponies. +One band of about 1000 encircled the Indian camp +at Spotted Tail Agency, April 16th, and after discharging +their guns in the air by way of salutation, +surrendered to Gen. Crook. Roman Nose, whose +village was destroyed at Slim Buttes, indicated his +desire for peace in a short speech and by laying his +rifle at the feet of the General. Five days later, 500 +Cheyennes, with 600 ponies, came into Red Cloud +Agency. Their village near Sioux Pass had been +destroyed in November, and they were in a destitute +and pitiable condition.</p> + +<p>Crazy Horse and his band of 900 Indians surrendered +at Red Cloud, May 5th. They appeared to be +in a comfortable condition and had 2000 ponies.</p> + +<p>At the latest date, Sitting Bull and his band were +reported moving toward Canada. If they return +south, Col. Miles will be prepared to give them a +suitable reception.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII_part2" id="CHAPTER_XIII_part2"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + + +<p>George Armstrong Custer, son of Emmanuel H. +Custer, a hard-working, enterprising farmer, was born +at New Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio, December +5th, 1839. He grew up into an active, athletic, and +amiable youth, acquired a fair English education, and +at the age of sixteen years engaged in teaching school +near his native town.</p> + +<p>Having determined to go to West Point if possible, +young Custer addressed a letter on the subject to +Hon. John A. Bingham, Member of Congress from +his district, to whom he was personally unknown, +and subsequently called on him. The result was +that he entered West Point Academy as a cadet in +1857. The official notification of his appointment +was signed by Jefferson Davis, President Buchanan's +secretary of war.</p> + +<p>As a cadet, Custer did not achieve a brilliant record +either for scholarship or good behavior. This was +not owing to any want of intelligence or quickness of +comprehension, but rather to a love of mischief and +hatred of restraint. During the four years of his +academic term he spent 66 Saturdays in doing extra +guard duty as penance for various offences; and he +graduated in 1861, at the foot of a class of 34.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i557" name="i557"></a> +<img src="images/i557.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">GENERAL GEORGE A. CUSTER.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>His stay terminated with a characteristic incident.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_91" id="Page_2_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +He chanced one day when officer of the guard to come +upon two angry cadets, who from words had come +to blows, and were just ready to settle their difficulty +with their fists. Custer pushed through the crowd +of spectators who surrounded the combatants, but +instead of arresting them, as was his duty, he restrained +those who were endeavoring to restrain them, +and called out:—</p> + +<p>"Stand back, boys; let's have a fair fight."</p> + +<p>His appeal was heard by Lieuts. Hazen and Merritt, +and he was placed under arrest and kept back to be +court-martialed, while the rest of his class, (excepting +such as had already resigned to join the Southern +army) departed for active service. The court-martial +was however cut short, through the exertions of his +fellow cadets at Washington, by a telegraphic order +summoning him there.</p> + +<p>Custer reported to the Adjutant-General of the +Army at Washington, July 20th, and was by him introduced +to Gen. Scott. The company (G, 2nd +Cavalry) to which he had been assigned, with the +rank of 2nd lieutenant, was at this time near Centerville, +and as he was to join it, Gen. Scott entrusted to +him some dispatches for Gen. McDowell who commanded +the troops in the field. A night's ride on +horseback took him to the army, the dispatches were +delivered, and then he joined his company before +daybreak just as they were preparing to participate in +the battle of Bull Run. In this battle, however, the +cavalry took but little part; in the frantic retreat +that followed, Custer's company was among the last +to retire, and did so in good order, taking with them +Gen. Heintzelman who was wounded.</p> + +<p>After Gen. McClellan took command of the army,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_92" id="Page_2_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +Custer's company was attached to Gen. Phil Kearny's +brigade, and that general detailed Custer as his aid-de-camp, +and afterwards as assistant adjutant-general, +which position he held till deprived of it by a general +order prohibiting officers of the regular army from +serving on the staffs of volunteer officers.</p> + +<p>About this time he obtained leave of absence on +account of ill health, and visited his sister, Mrs. Reed, +at her home in Monroe, Michigan; and it is said that +through her entreaties and influence he then gave up +the habit of using strong drinks, which, in common +with many of his fellow officers, he had acquired +during his brief army life near Washington. Thenceforth, +through the remainder of his life, he drank no +intoxicating liquor.</p> + +<p>Returning to the army in Feb. 1862, he was assigned +to the 5th Cavalry, and when the enemy evacuated +Manassas he participated in the advance on that place, +and led the company which drove the hostile pickets +across Cedar Run.</p> + +<p>When the Army of the Potomac was transferred to +the Peninsula, Custer's company was among the first +to reach Fortress Monroe, and it then marched to +Warwick. Here he was detailed as assistant to the +chief engineer, on Gen. W.F. Smith's staff; he served +in that capacity during the siege of Yorktown, and +planned the earthwork nearest the enemy's lines. +At the battle of Williamsburg, where he acted as aid-de-camp +to Gen. Hancock, he effected the capture of +a battle-flag—the first taken by the Army of the +Potomac.</p> + +<p>When the army was encamped near the Chickahominy +River, late in May, Custer accompanied +Gen. Barnard, the chief engineer of the army, on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_93" id="Page_2_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +reconnoisance outside the picket line to the bank of +the river; and at the request of his superior, he dismounted, +jumped into the river, and waded across +the stream—the object being to ascertain the depth +of the water, which in some places came nearly up to +his shoulders. On reaching the opposite bank he +examined the ground for some distance, and discovered, +unseen by them, the position of the enemy's +pickets. Barnard reported to McClellan that the +river was fordable, and how he had ascertained that +it was so. McClellan sent for Custer, and was so +pleased with his appearance and courageous act that +he transferred him to his own staff; and in June, +Custer received from the Secretary of War his appointment +as additional aid-de-camp, with the rank of +captain during the pleasure of the President. Previously +to this he had crossed the Chickahominy at daybreak +with a company of infantry, attacked the +enemy's picket post, and captured prisoners and arms.</p> + +<p>Custer served on McClellan's staff through all +of the Peninsular campaign; and after the battles +of Gaines' Mills, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, etc., retreated +with him to the protection of the gunboats at +Harrison's Landing on the James River. Subsequently, +after the withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula +and the defeat of Banks and Pope in Virginia, +he was McClellan's aid-de-camp in the Maryland campaign +which closed with the battle of Antietam. +When McClellan was superseded by Burnside, Nov. +10th, 1862, Custer accompanied his chief to Washington, +and subsequently visited his friends in Ohio +and Michigan. His staff position as captain ceased +with the retirement of McClellan, and he was now a +first lieutenant, commissioned July 17th, 1862.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_94" id="Page_2_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>In April, 1863, Custer rejoined his company which +was with Gen. Hooker's army near Fredericksburg, and +took part in the battle of Chancellorsville. In June +he was on the staff of Gen. Pleasonton, then chief of +the cavalry corps, and was conspicuous at Beverly +Ford and other places across the Rappahannock +where Stuart's cavalry were met and roughly handled.</p> + +<p>At the battle of Aldie, Virginia, Custer distinguished +himself in the charge made by Kilpatrick's +cavalry. The onset was irresistible; the Confederate +forces were driven back in confusion, and Custer's +impetuosity carried him far within their lines, from +which he was allowed to escape in consequence, he +believed, of the similarity of his hat to those worn +by the Confederates. For his gallantry in this action, +Custer was promoted at one bound from a first lieutenant +to a brigadier-general.</p> + +<p>Gen. Custer was now assigned to the command of +a Michigan brigade in Kilpatrick's division, the 1st, +5th, 6th and 7th Cavalry, and joined his command at +Hanover, Md., June 29th. The next day he was engaged +in a skirmish with Stuart's cavalry, and attracted +the attention of all by the peculiarity of his dress. +He wore a broad-brimmed, low-crowned felt hat; loose +jacket and trowsers of velveteen, the former profusely +trimmed with gold-braid and the latter tucked into +high boots; a blue shirt, with turnover collar on +either corner of which was an embroidered star; and +a flaming neck-tie.</p> + +<p>The battle of Gettysburg was now in progress, and +on the 2nd of July Custer distinguished himself, and +won the respect of his officers, by charging the enemy +at the head of a company of his troops, having his +horse shot under him. The next day his brigade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_95" id="Page_2_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +was actively engaged, and the charge of the 1st +Michigan Cavalry, supported by a battery, is designated +by Custer as one of the most brilliant and successful +recorded in the annals of warfare.</p> + +<p>After the battle Gen. Lee retreated rapidly toward +the Potomac, and the cavalry moving by different +routes harassed him continually, capturing trains and +prisoners. The following paragraph is copied from +Headley's "History of the Civil War."</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Kilpatrick clung to the rebel army with a tenacity that did +not allow it a moment's rest. At midnight, in a furious thunder +storm, he charged down the mountain through the darkness with +unparalleled boldness, and captured the entire train of Elwell's +division, eight miles long. At Emmettsburg, Haggerstown, and +other places, he smote the enemy, with blow after blow. Buford, +Gregg, Custer, and others, performed deeds which, but for the +greater movements that occupied public attention, would have +filled the land with shouts of admiration. In fact, the incessant +protracted labors of the cavalry during this campaign, rendered +it useless for some time."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Custer's brigade came upon the enemy's rear guard +at Falling Waters, and the 6th Michigan made a +gallant charge which was repulsed with considerable +loss; but after a two hours' fight the enemy was +driven to the river; Gen. Pettegrew and 125 of his +men were killed, and 1500 were taken prisoners; +cannon and battle-flags were also captured.</p> + +<p>When the cavalry crossed the Rappahannock in +September, pushing back Stuart's cavalry to Brandy +Station, Culpepper C.H., and across the Rapidan, +Custer, as usual, was with the advance, and in one +engagement was slightly wounded by a piece of a +shell—the first and only time he was wounded during +the war. After a short vacation in consequence of +his wound, he rejoined his command in season to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_96" id="Page_2_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +accompany the advance of cavalry to and across the +Rapidan in October; and when Mead's army was +forced back across the Rappahannock, he assisted in +covering the retreat. The following description of +the engagement at Brandy Station is also copied from +Headley:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Pleasonton, with the cavalry, remained behind to watch the +enemy, and then slowly retired toward the retreating army. +Buford had been forced back more rapidly than Kilpatrick, whose +command—with Davis over the right brigade, and Custer over +the left—fell back more slowly. When the latter reached Brandy +Station, he found the former, ignorant of his movements, was +far in advance, leaving his right entirely exposed. To make +matters worse Stuart had passed around his left, so that Kilpatrick, +with whom was Pleasonton himself, was suddenly cut +off. The gallant leader saw at a glance the peril of his position, +and, riding to a slight eminence took a hasty survey of the +ground before him. He then gave his orders, and three thousand +swords leaped from their scabbards, and a long, loud shout +rolled over the field.</p> + +<p>"With a heavy line of skirmishers thrown out, to protect his +flanks and rear, he moved in three columns straight on the rebel +host that watched his coming. At first, the well-closed columns +advanced on a walk, while the batteries of Pennington and Elder +played with fearful precision upon the hostile ranks. He thus +kept on, till within a few hundred yards of the rebel lines, when +the band struck up "Yankee Doodle." The next instant, a hundred +bugles pealed the charge, and away, with gleaming sabres +and a wild hurrah, went the clattering squadrons. As they came +thundering on, the hostile lines parted, and let them pass proudly +through. Buford was soon overtaken, and a line of battle formed; +for the rebels, outraged to think they had let Kilpatrick off so +easy, reorganized, and now advanced to the attack.</p> + +<p>"A fierce cavalry battle followed, lasting till after dark. +Pleasonton, Buford, Kilpatrick, Custer and Davis again and +again led charges in person. It seemed as if the leaders on both +sides were determined to test, on the plains of Brandy Station, +the question of superiority between the cavalry; for the charges +on both sides were of the most gallant and desperate character.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_97" id="Page_2_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +The dark masses would drive on each other, through the deepening +gloom, with defiant yells, while the flashing sabres struck +fire as they clashed and rung in the fierce conflict. At length +the rebels gave it up, and our cavalry, gathering up its dead +and wounded, crossed the Rappahannock."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In the spirited encounter near Buckland's Mills, +Oct. 19th, in which Stuart, aided by a flank attack +from Fitz Hugh Lee, worsted Kilpatrick by force of +numbers, Custer's brigade bore the brunt of the +attack, and did most of the fighting on our side. +This fight terminated the active campaign of 1863 +for Custer's brigade, which subsequently guarded the +upper fords of the Rapidan.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of February, 1864, Gen. Custer was +married at Monroe, Michigan, to Miss Elizabeth +Bacon, only daughter of Judge Daniel S. Bacon of +Monroe. When he rejoined his command at Stevensburg +a few days later, his wife accompanied him, +and she remained in camp till the opening of the +spring campaign of 1864. The marriage was, as far +as Custer was concerned, the consequence of love at +first sight, and ever proved to be for both parties a +happy one.</p> + +<p>Late in February, 1864, Gen. Custer crossed the +Rapidan with 1500 cavalry in light marching order, +flanking Lee's army on the west, and pushed rapidly +ahead to within four miles of Charlottesville, where +he found his progress arrested by a far superior force. +He then turned northward toward Stannardsville +where he again encountered the enemy, and after +skirmishing, returned to his camp followed by some +hundreds of refugees from slavery. This raid was +designed to draw attention from a more formidable +one led by Kilpatrick at the same time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV_part2" id="CHAPTER_XIV_part2"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONTINUED.)</p> + + +<p>In the spring of 1864, Gen. Grant was placed at +the head of all the Union armies; Gen. Sheridan +was called to command the cavalry corps in place of +Gen. Pleasonton; and Custer with his brigade was +transferred to the First division under Torbert.</p> + +<p>In May, the Army of the Potomac once more advanced +to the Rapidan and crossed it. In the battle +of the Wilderness, owing to the character of the field, +the cavalry were compelled to remain almost idle +spectators, but subsequently, at Spottsylvania C.H., +Torbert's division was seriously engaged.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of May, Gen. Sheridan started out on +his first great cavalry raid toward Richmond. At +Beaverdam Station he inflicted great damage on the +railroads, destroyed much property, and liberated 400 +Union prisoners on their way to Richmond. Continuing +his march, he found, at Yellow Tavern a few +miles north of Richmond, Stuart's cavalry drawn up +to oppose his passage. A spirited fight ensued, resulting +in the death of Stuart and the dispersion of +his troops. Our cavalry pressed on down the road to +Richmond, and Custer's brigade attacked and carried +the outer line of defenses, and took 100 prisoners.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_99" id="Page_2_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +The second line of works was too strong to be taken +by cavalry, and Sheridan was obliged to retreat. +Beating off assailants both in front and rear he crossed +the Chickahominy, pushed southward to Haxall's +Landing on the James River, and then leisurely returned +by way of White House and Hanover C.H. +to Grant's army, arriving in time to be present at the +sanguinary battle of Cool Arbor.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of June, Custer accompanied Sheridan +on a raid around Lee's army. They struck the railroad +at Trevilian's, drove off a large force of the +enemy and broke up a long section of the road. Retracing +their steps to Trevilian's, they had there a +spirited contest with Fitz Hugh Lee, and then drew +off and rejoined Gen. Grant. During this raid Sheridan +lost over 700 men, and captured 400 prisoners.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1864, two divisions of cavalry +under Torbert were with Sheridan's army operating +in the Shenandoah Valley. Custer's brigade was in +the First division, commanded by Merritt. Averill +commanded the Second division.</p> + +<p>Having received from Gen. Grant the order, "Go +in"—the only instructions which Grant deemed it +necessary to give—Sheridan, Sept. 19th, attacked the +Confederate forces at Opequan Creek. The artillery +opened along the whole line, the columns moved +steadily forward, and Gen. Early soon discovered that +Sheridan was in earnest. Early's position was a +strong one, and he stubbornly held it until the +cavalry bugles were heard on his right, as the firm-set +squadrons bore fiercely down. Rolled up before the +impetuous charge, the rebel line at length crumbled +into fragments, and the whole army broke in utter confusion +and was sent "whirling through Winchester,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_100" id="Page_2_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +followed until dark by the pursuing cavalry. 3000 +prisoners were taken.</p> + +<p>Three days later Sheridan attacked Early at Fisher's +Hill—a strong position to which he had retired—and +again forced him to retreat with a loss of 1100 +men taken prisoners. The cavalry pursued so sharply +and persistently, that Early left the valley and took +refuge in the mountains where cavalry could not +operate.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of Sept., Custer was transferred from +the command of the Michigan brigade in the First +division to the head of the Second division; but +before he was able to reach his new command, he was +placed at the head of the Third division, with which +he had formerly been connected under Kilpatrick.</p> + +<p>When Sheridan moved back through the valley +from Port Republic to Strasburg, sparing the houses, +but burning all the barns, mills and hay-stacks, and +driving off all the cattle, his rear was much harassed +by the rebel cavalry under Gen. Rosser—a class-mate +of Custer's at West Point; and on the night of Oct. +8th, Sheridan ordered Torbert to "start out at daylight, +and whip the rebel cavalry or get whipped himself." +Accordingly on the next morning the cavalry, +led on by Merritt and Custer and supported by batteries, +swept boldly out to attack a larger force drawn +up in battle array. At the first charge upon them +Rosser's men broke and fled, but subsequently rallied, +and were again pushed back and utterly routed. +Rosser lost all his artillery but one piece, and everything +else which was carried on wheels, and was pursued +to Mt. Jackson, 26 miles distant. Of this affair, +Gen. Torbert reported:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_101" id="Page_2_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p><blockquote class="small"><p>"The First Division captured five pieces of artillery, their +ordnance, ambulance, and wagon trains, and 60 prisoners. The +Third Division captured six pieces of artillery, all of their headquarter +wagons, ordnance, ambulance, and wagon trains. There +could hardly have been a more complete victory and rout. The +cavalry totally covered themselves with glory, and added to their +long list of victories the most brilliant one of them all, and the +most decisive the country has ever witnessed."</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the 15th of Oct., Sheridan started on a flying +visit to Washington, leaving his army encamped on +three ridges or hills. The crest nearest the enemy +was held by the Army of West Virginia under Crook; +half a mile to the rear of this was the second one, held +by the 19th Corps under Emory; and still further to +the rear, on the third crest, was the 6th Corps under +Gen. Wright, who commanded the whole army during +Sheridan's absence. The cavalry under Torbert lay to +the right of the 6th Corps.</p> + +<p>Gen. Early, having resolved to surprise and attack +the Union army, started out his troops on a dark and +foggy night, and advanced unperceived and unchallenged +in two columns along either flank of the 6th +Corps. The march was noiseless; and trusty guides +led the steady columns through the gloom, now pushing +through the dripping trees and now fording a +stream, till at length, an hour before day-break, Oct. +18th, Early's troops, shivering with cold, stood within +600 yards of Crook's camp. Two of Crook's pickets +had come in at 2 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> and reported a heavy, muffled +tramp heard at the front; but though some extra +precautions were taken, no one dreamed that an attack +would be made.</p> + +<p>Crook's troops, slumbering on unconscious of danger, +were awakened at daybreak by a deafening yell and +the crack of musketry on either flank; following +which, charging lines regardless of the pickets came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_102" id="Page_2_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +immediately on over the breastworks. The surprise +was complete, and after a brief struggle the Army of +West Virginia was flying in confusion toward the +second hill occupied by the 19th Corps. Emory attempted +to stop the progress of the enemy, but they +got in his rear, and his command soon broke and fled +with the rest toward the hill where the 6th Corps lay.</p> + +<p>Gen. Wright formed a new line of battle, and repulsed +a tremendous charge of the enemy, thus obtaining +time to cover the immense crowd of fugitives +that darkened the rear. A general retreat was then +begun and continued in good order till 10 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> +when, the enemy having ceased to advance, Wright +halted and commenced reorganizing the scattered +troops. The cavalry, being at the rear and extreme +right, had not suffered in the first assault on the +Union army, but they were subsequently transferred +to the left flank, and did brave service in covering +the retreat of the infantry.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Sheridan, returning from Washington, +had slept at Winchester 20 miles distant, and in the +morning rode leisurely toward his army. The +vibrations of artillery at first surprised him, and he +soon became aware that a heavy battle was raging +and that his army was retreating. Dashing his spurs +into his horse he pushed madly along the road, and +soon left his escort far behind. Further on he met +fugitives from the army, who declared that all was +lost. As the cloud of fugitives thickened he shouted, +as he drove on and swung his cap, "Face the other +way, boys; we are going back to our camp; we +are going to lick them out of their boots." The +frightened stragglers paused, and then turned back.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the front, where the work of reorgan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_103" id="Page_2_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>ization +was already well advanced, Sheridan inspired +his men with new courage by his appearance and +words. For two hours he rode back and forth in +front of the line, encouraging the troops; and when +the order was given, "The entire line will advance, +etc.," the infantry went steadily forward upon the +enemy. Early's front was soon carried, while his +left was partly turned back; and after much desperate +fighting, his astonished troops turned and fled in +utter confusion over the field.</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"As they streamed down into the Middletown meadow," says +Headley, "Sheridan saw that the time for the cavalry had +come, and ordered a charge. The bugles pealed forth their +stirring notes, and the dashing squadrons of Custer and Merritt +came down like a clattering tempest on the right and left, +doubling up the rebel flanks, and cleaving a terrible path through +the broken ranks. Back to, and through our camp, which they +had swept like a whirlwind in the morning, the panic-stricken +rebels went, pellmell, leaving all the artillery they had captured, +and much of their own, and strewing the way with muskets, +clothing, knapsacks, and everything that could impede their +flight. The infantry were too tired to continue the pursuit, but +the cavalry kept it up, driving them through Strasburg to Fisher's +Hill, and beyond, to Woodstock, sixteen miles distant."</p></blockquote> + +<p>After the battle of Cedar Creek and during the +winter of 1864—5, Sheridan's army, including Custer's +division, remained inactive, occupying cantonments +around Winchester.</p> + +<p>On the 27th of Feb., Sheridan started out on his last +great raid, taking with him Gen. Merritt as chief of +cavalry, the First and Third divisions of cavalry +under Generals Devin and Custer, artillery, wagons, +and pack-mules. The raiding column, including artillerymen +and teamsters, numbered 10,000 men.</p> + +<p>Moving rapidly up the Shenandoah Valley over the +turnpike road, they passed many villages without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_104" id="Page_2_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +halting or opposition, and on the 29th, approached +Mount Crawford, where Rosser with 400 men disputed +the passage over a stream and attempted to +burn the bridge; but Col. Capehart of Custer's command, +which was in advance, by a bold dash drove +Rosser away and saved the bridge.</p> + +<p>Custer now pushed on to Waynesboro' and finding +Early intrenched there, immediately attacked him. +The result, as told by Sheridan, was as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Gen. Custer found Gen. Early in a well chosen position, with +two brigades of infantry, and some cavalry under Rosser, the +infantry occupying breastworks. Custer, without waiting for the +enemy to get up courage over the delay of a careful reconnaissance, +made his dispositions for attack at once. Sending three +regiments around the left flank of the enemy, Custer with the +other two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, at a +given signal attacked and impetuously carried the enemy's works; +while the Eight New York and the First Connecticut cavalry, +who were formed in columns of fours, charged over the breastworks, +and continued the charge through the streets of Waynesboro', +sabring a few men as they went along, and did not stop +until they had crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah, +(which was immediately in Early's rear) where they formed as +foragers, and with drawn sabres held the east bank of the stream. +The enemy threw down their arms and surrendered, with cheers +at the suddenness with which they had been captured."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Sixteen hundred prisoners, 11 pieces of artillery, +200 loaded wagons, and 17 battle-flags were captured +single-handed by Custer at Waynesboro', while his +own loss was less than a dozen men. Vast amounts +of public property were subsequently destroyed. The +prisoners were sent to Winchester under guard.</p> + +<p>Pushing on across the Blue Ridge in a heavy rain +during the night after Early's defeat, Custer, still in +the van, approached Charlottesville the next afternoon, +and was met by the authorities, who surrendered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_105" id="Page_2_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +to him the keys of the public buildings as a token of +submission. The balance of the column soon came up, +and two days were spent in destroying bridges, mills, +and the railroad leading to Lynchburg.</p> + +<p>Sheridan now divided his command, and sent +Merritt and Devin to destroy the canal from Scottsville +to New Market, while he and Custer tore up +the railroads as far west as Amherst C.H. The columns +united again at New Market on the James +River; and as the enemy had burned the bridges so +they could not cross to the south side, they moved +eastward behind Lee's army, destroying bridges, canals, +railroads and supplies, thus inflicting a more serious +blow to the confederate cause than any victories by +land or sea gained during the last campaign. Then +they swept around by the Pamunkey River and +White House, and joined Grant's besieging army in +front of Petersburg, March 27th. They encamped +on the extreme left of the lines, close to their old +comrades of the Second Division of cavalry, (now +under Gen. Crook) who here again came under Sheridan's +command.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i573" name="i573"></a> +<img src="images/i573.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV_part2" id="CHAPTER_XV_part2"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONTINUED.)</p> + + +<p>The final struggle for the possession of Richmond +and Petersburg was now commenced by an extension +of the Union lines westward, Grant's object being to +attack the right flank of the Confederates.</p> + +<p>On the 29th of March, Sheridan, with his cavalry, +moved southwest to Dinwiddie C.H., where Devin's +and Crook's divisions halted for the night. Custer +was some distance in the rear protecting the train. +In the morning, Devin pushed the enemy back northerly +to their intrenchments at Five Forks; but being +unable to advance further, he returned to Dinwiddie +C.H. Gen. Warren, with the 5th Infantry Corps, had +meantime been put under Sheridan's command as a +support to the cavalry, but had not yet come up.</p> + +<p>The next day, 31st, Lee's troops attacked Warren +unexpectedly, and drove two of his divisions back +upon a third, where their advance was stopped; and +with the assistance of Humphrey's 2nd Corps, the +enemy were driven back into their entrenched position +along the White Oak road. Then the rebel infantry +moved westward along the road to Five Forks, and +attacked Devin, who, earlier in the day, had advanced +to Five Forks and carried that position. Devin was +driven out in disorder and forced back, and after some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_107" id="Page_2_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +difficulty rejoined Crook's division at Dinwiddie C. +H. The confederates now assailed Sheridan with a +superior force, but could make no headway, and +during the night they withdrew.</p> + +<p>Meantime Custer, and Gen. McKenzie with 1,000 +additional cavalry, had joined Sheridan, and Warren +was within supporting distance. At daybreak the +cavalry advanced steadily on the enemy, and by noon +had driven them behind their works at Five Forks, +and were menacing their front. Warren was now +ordered forward, and after more delay than Sheridan +deemed necessary, he reached his assigned position and +charged furiously westward on the enemy's left flank. +Custer and Devin at the same time charged their right +flank and front. Thus assailed by double their numbers +the rebel infantry fought on with great gallantry +and fortitude; but at length their flank defenses were +carried by Warren's troops, and simultaneously the +cavalry swept over their works. A large portion of +the enemy surrendered, and the balance fled westward, +pursued by Custer and McKenzie; 5,000 prisoners +were taken.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Sunday, April 2nd, at daybreak, +a general assault was made by Grant's army upon the +defences of Petersburg, and some of them were carried. +Lee telegraphed to Davis that Richmond must be +evacuated; and by night the Confederate rule in that +city was ended, and Davis and his Government on the +way by railroad to Danville. Lee's troops withdrew +from Richmond and Petersburg the same night, and +marched rapidly westward to Amelia C.H. on the +Danville railroad, where they halted, April 4th and +5th, to gather supplies of food from the country.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the Union army was pursuing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_108" id="Page_2_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +retreating Confederates and making every effort to +prevent their escape. Custer and Devin moved southwesterly +toward Burkesville destroying the railroad, +and then joined Crook, McKenzie, and the 5th Corps +at Jetersville five miles west of Amelia C.H. Sheridan +intrenched his infantry across the railroad, supported +them by his cavalry, and felt prepared to stop +the passage of Lee's whole army. Lee, however, finding +his way to Danville thus blocked, moved northerly +around Sheridan's left, and thence westerly +toward Farmville on the Appomattox River. Gen. +Davies, of Crook's division, made a reconnoisance +and struck Lee's train moving ahead of his troops, +destroying wagons, and taking prisoners. A fight +followed, and Davies fell back to Jetersville where +nearly the whole army was then concentrated.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 6th, Crook, Custer, and +Devin started out in pursuit. Crook, who was in +advance, was ordered to attack the trains, and if the +enemy was too strong, another division was to pass +him, while he held fast and pressed the enemy, and +attack at a point further on—thus alternating until +some vulnerable point was found. Crook came upon +Lee's columns near Deatonsville, and charged upon +them, determined to detain them at any cost. Crook +was finally repulsed, but his action gave Custer time +to push ahead, and strike further on at Sailor's Creek. +Crook and Devin came promptly to Custer's support, +and he pierced the line of march, destroyed 400 +wagons, and took many prisoners. Elwell's division +was separated from Lee, who was further ahead, and +being enclosed between the cavalry in front and the +infantry on their rear, the troops threw down their +arms and surrendered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_109" id="Page_2_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>That evening Lee crossed the Appomattox at Farmville, +and tried to burn the bridges behind him, but +troops arrived in season to save one of them. Lee +halted five miles beyond Farmville, intrenched himself, +and repulsed an attack from the infantry. At +night he silently resumed his retreat.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 7th, Custer and Devin, +under Merritt, were sent on a detour to the left, to +cut off retreat toward Danville should it be attempted; +while Crook forded the Appomattox and attacked a +train. On the 8th, Sheridan concentrated the cavalry +at Prospect Station, and sent Merritt, Custer, and +Devin swiftly ahead 28 miles to Appomattox Station, +where, he had learned from scouts, were four trains +loaded with supplies for Lee, just arrived from +Lynchburg.</p> + +<p>Gen. Custer took the lead, and on reaching the +railroad station he skillfully surrounded and captured +the trains. Then, followed by Devin, he hurried on +five miles further to Appomattox C.H., where he +confronted the van of Lee's army, immediately attacked +it, and by night had turned it back on the +main column, and captured prisoners, wagons, guns, +and a hospital train. The balance of the cavalry +hurried up, and a position was taken directly across +the road, in front of Lee's army.</p> + +<p>By a forced march the infantry under Griffin and +Ord, supporting the cavalry, reached the rear of +Sheridan's position by daybreak the next morning. +Grant and Mead were pressing closely on Lee's rear, +and Lee saw there was no escape for him unless +he could break through the cavalry force which he +supposed alone disputed his passage. He therefore +ordered his infantry to advance. The result of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_110" id="Page_2_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +charge, the last one made by the Army of Virginia, +is thus described in Greeley's "<i>American Conflict</i>":—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"By Sheridan's orders, his troopers, who were in line of battle +dismounted, gave ground gradually, while showing a steady +front, so as to allow our weary infantry time to form and take +position. This effected, the horsemen moved swiftly to the right, +and mounted, revealing lines of solid infantry in battle array, +before whose wall of gleaming bayonets the astonished enemy +recoiled in blank despair, as Sheridan and his troopers, passing +briskly around the rebel left, prepared to charge the confused, +reeling masses. A white flag was now waved by the enemy +before Gen. Custer, who held our cavalry advance, with the information +that they had concluded to surrender."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The next day, April 9th, Gen. Custer, who had +been brevetted Major-General after the battle of +Cedar Creek, issued the following complimentary +order to his troops:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"> + + +<table class="other" summary="curlybracket"> + +<tr> +<td></td> + +<td class="tdcurly" rowspan="3"> +<span style="font-size:2.25em;">}</span></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Head-Quarters Third Cavalry Division.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Appomattox Court House, Va.</span>, April 9, 1865.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION:— +</p> + +<p>With profound gratitude toward the God of battles, by whose +blessings our enemies have been humbled and our arms rendered +triumphant, your Commanding General avails himself of this his +first opportunity to express to you his admiration of the heroic +manner in which you have passed through the series of battles +which to-day resulted in the surrender of the enemy's entire army.</p> + +<p>The record established by your indomitable courage is unparalleled +in the annals of war. Your prowess has won for you even +the respect and admiration of your enemies. During the past +six months, although in most instances confronted by superior +numbers, you have captured from the enemy, in open battle, 111 +pieces of field artillery, 65 battle-flags, and upward of 10,000 +prisoners of war including seven general officers. Within the +last ten days, and included in the above, you have captured 46 +field-pieces of artillery and 37 battle-flags. You have never lost +a gun, never lost a color, and have never been defeated; and notwithstanding +the numerous engagements in which you have borne +a prominent part, including those memorable battles of the +Shenandoah, you have captured every piece of artillery which the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_111" id="Page_2_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +enemy has dared to open upon you. The near approach of peace +renders it improbable that you will again be called upon to undergo +the fatigues of the toilsome march, or the exposure of the +battle-field; but should the assistance of keen blades wielded by +your sturdy arms be required to hasten the coming of that +glorious peace for which we have been so long contending, the +General Commanding is firmly confident that, in the future as in +the past, every demand will meet a hearty and willing response.</p> + +<p>Let us hope that our work is done, and that blessed with the +comforts of peace, we may be permitted to enjoy the pleasures +of home and friends. For our comrades who have fallen, let us +ever cherish a grateful remembrance. To the wounded and to +those who languish in Southern prisons, let our heartfelt sympathy +be tendered.</p> + +<p>And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended +and the task of the historian begins; when those deeds of daring +which have rendered the name and fame of the Third Cavalry +Division imperishable are inscribed upon the bright pages of +our country's history, I only ask that my name may be written as +that of the Commander of the Third Cavalry Division.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Lee's flag of truce at Appomattox—a white towel—and +also the table on which Grant and Lee signed +the capitulation agreement, were presented to Mrs. +Custer by Gen. Sheridan, and are now in her possession. +In a letter accompanying them Sheridan wrote, +that he "knew of no person more instrumental in +bringing about this most desired event than her own +most gallant husband."</p> + +<p>In the great parade of the Army of the Potomac at +Washington in May 1865, Sheridan's cavalry were at +the head of the column; and the Third Division, +first in peace as it had been first in war, led the advance. +Custer, now a Major-General of volunteers, at +the age of 26 years, rode proudly at the head of his +troopers, a prominent figure in the stirring pageant, +and the observed of all beholders. He had put off +for the occasion his careless dashing style of dress,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_112" id="Page_2_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +and wore, with becoming dignity, the full regulation +uniform of a Major-General.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the parade, Custer was sent to Texas, +where he had command of a cavalry division at +Austin, but no active service became necessary. In +March, 1866, he was mustered out of service as a +Major-General, and took rank as a Captain, assigned +to the 5th Cavalry, U.S.A. Soon afterward, he +applied to Senor Romero, Minister from Mexico, for +a position as chief of President Juarez's cavalry, in +his struggle with Maximilian. He presented a letter +of introduction from General Grant in which he was +spoken of in the most complimentary terms. Romero +was anxious to secure his services, and made him +liberal offers; but as Custer could not obtain leave +of absence from his Government, the contemplated +arrangement was not completed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i580" name="i580"></a> +<img src="images/i580.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI_part2" id="CHAPTER_XVI_part2"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONTINUED.)</p> + + +<p>In July, 1866, Custer received from Andrew Johnson, +a commission as Lieut. Col. of the 7th Cavalry—a +new regiment; and after accompanying the President +on his famous tour through the country, he proceeded +to Fort Riley, Kansas.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1867, an expedition under Gen. +Hancock marched from Fort Riley to Fort Larned +near the Arkansas River, and the 7th Cavalry, under +Lieut. Col. Custer, accompanied it. The dissatisfied +Indians had been invited by the Indian agent to +meet Hancock in council at Fort Larned, and had +agreed to do so; but as they failed to appear at the +appointed time, Hancock started for a village of +Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, distant some 30 miles +from the fort. On the way he met several of the +chiefs, and they agreed to hold a council at Hancock's +camp on the next day, April 14th. As none of the +chiefs came, as promised, Hancock again started for +their village, and soon came upon several hundred +Indians drawn up in battle array directly across his +path. The troops were immediately formed in line +of battle, and then the General, with some of his +officers and the interpreter, rode forward and invited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_114" id="Page_2_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +the chiefs to a meeting between the lines, which were +half a mile apart. The invitation was accepted; +several chiefs advanced to the officers, and a friendly +interview was holden—all seeming pleased at the +peaceful turn things had taken. The result of the +"talk" was an arrangement for a council to be held +at Hancock's headquarters after he had camped near +the Indian village, toward which both parties then +proceeded. It was ascertained on reaching it that the +women and children had been sent away; and during +the night the warriors, unobserved by the white men, +also fled, leaving their lodges and stores.</p> + +<p>Mistrusting something of the kind, Custer, with the +cavalry, had during the night stealthily surrounded +the village, and on entering it later found it deserted. +Pursuit of the Indians was commenced, but their trail +soon scattered so it could not be followed. After +burning the deserted village, the expedition returned +to Fort Hayes, where the 7th Cavalry wintered.</p> + +<p>The next summer, Custer with several companies +of his regiment and 20 wagons, was sent on a long +scouting expedition to the southward in search of +Indians. Leaving Fort Hayes in June, he proceeded +to Fort McPherson on the Platte River, and thence to +the forks of the Republican River in the Indian +country. From this place he sent Major J.A. Elliott, +on the 23d of June, with ten men and one guide, to +carry despatches to Gen. Sherman at Fort Sedgwick, +100 miles distant. The wagons, escorted by cavalry, +were also started the same day to procure supplies +from Fort Wallace, about the same distance away in +an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning, an attack was made on +the camp, but the soldiers rallied so promptly and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_115" id="Page_2_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +effectively that the Indians soon withdrew. Interpreters +were then sent toward them, who arranged for a +council which was held near by. After an unsatisfactory +interview, Custer returned to his camp and +started in pursuit of the Indians, but was unable to +overtake them.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day after his departure, Major Elliott +returned in safety to the camp. He had traveled +only by night, and had seen no Indians. The wagon +train was not so fortunate. It reached Fort Wallace +safely, and started to return escorted by 48 troopers. +On the way it was attacked by a large number of +Indians, who for three hours kept up a running fight +around the circle. The wagons moved forward in +two strings, with the cavalry horses between them +for safety, and the dismounted soldiers defended +them so successfully that their progress forward was +uninterrupted. Meanwhile Custer, fearing for the +safety of the train, had sent out cavalry to meet it; +and their approach caused the Indians to cease from +their attack and withdraw. The balance of the +journey was safely accomplished.</p> + +<p>Resuming his march, Custer again struck the Platte, +some distance west of Fort Sedgwick. Here he +learned by telegraph that Lieut. Kidder with ten men +and an Indian scout had started from Fort Sedgwick, +with despatches for Custer directing him to proceed +to Fort Wallace, shortly after Major Elliott had left +the fort. As Kidder had not returned and Custer +had not seen him, fears for his safety were entertained, +and Custer immediately started for his late camp at +the forks of the Republican. On the way thither +some of his men deserted, and being followed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_116" id="Page_2_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +refusing to surrender, were fired upon, and three were +wounded.</p> + +<p>On reaching the camp, an examination was made by +the Indian guide, and it was ascertained that Kidder's +party had arrived there in safety, and continued on +towards Fort Wallace, over the trail made by the +wagons. In the morning Custer started in pursuit, +and by noon it became evident by the tracks of their +horses, that Kidder's party had been hard chased for +several miles. Further on one of their horses was +found, shot dead; and at last the mutilated and +arrow-pierced bodies of the 12 men were found lying +near each other. They had been chased, overtaken, +and killed by the savages. They were buried in one +grave, and the troops proceeded to Fort Wallace.</p> + +<p>Custer had been ordered to report to Gen. Hancock +at Fort Wallace, and receive further orders from him; +but on arriving there he found that the General had +retired to Fort Leavenworth. The location of Fort +Wallace was isolated and remote from railroads, and +as the stock of provisions was low, Custer decided to +go for supplies. He started on the evening of July +15th, with 100 men, and arrived at Fort Hayes on the +morning of July 18th, having marched 150 miles, +with a loss of two men who had been surprised by +Indians. He then proceeded to Fort Harker, 60 miles +further on, and after making arrangements for the +supplies, obtained from Gen. Smith permission to +visit his wife, who was at Fort Riley, 90 miles +distant by rail.</p> + +<p>Soon after this Custer was arraigned before a court-martial, +charged with leaving Fort Wallace without +orders, and making a journey on private business, +during which two soldiers were killed; also for over-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_117" id="Page_2_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>tasking +his men on the march, and for cruelty while +quelling a mutiny. After trial, he was pronounced +guilty of a breach of discipline in making a journey +on private business (which he earnestly denied) and +acquitted of the other charges. His sentence was a +suspension of pay and rank for a year, during which +period he remained in private life, while his regiment +was engaged in an expedition under Gen. Sully.</p> + +<p>In October, 1868, Custer was recalled into service, +and joined his regiment at Fort Dodge on the Arkansas +River. Early in Nov., a winter campaign against +the Indians was commenced. Gen. Sully, with the 7th +Cavalry, detachments of infantry, and a large supply +train, marched to the borders of the Indian country +and established a post called Camp Supply.</p> + +<p>On the 23d of Nov., Custer with his regiment of +about 800 men started out in a snow storm on a scout +for the enemy. The next day a trail was discovered +and pursued, and at night the troops were in the +valley of the Washita River, and near an Indian +village which had been seen from a distance. The +village was stealthily surrounded, and at daybreak an +attack was made simultaneously by several detachments.</p> + +<p>The Indians were taken entirely by surprise. The +warriors fled from the village, but took shelter behind +trees, logs, and the bank of the stream, and fought +with much desperation and courage, but were finally +driven off. The village was captured with its contents, +including 50 squaws and children who had remained +safely in the lodges during the fight. Some +800 ponies were also captured. On questioning the +squaws, one of them said that she was a sister of the +Cheyenne chief Black Kettle, that it was his village<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_118" id="Page_2_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +that had been captured, and that several other Indian +villages were located within ten miles—the +nearest one being only two miles distant.</p> + +<p>Before Custer had time to retreat, hostile Indians—reinforcements +from the other villages—arrived in +such numbers as to surround the captured village, +which Custer and his men occupied; and an attack +was begun which continued nearly all day. The +Indians were finally driven away. The village and +its contents were burned. The captives were allowed +to select ponies to ride on, and the balance of the +drove were shot. The retreat was begun by a march +forward, as if to attack the next village. The Indians +fled; and after dark Custer moved rapidly back +toward Supply Camp, taking the captives along as +prisoners of war.</p> + +<p>In this engagement, known as the Battle of the +Washita, Major Elliott, Capt. Hamilton, and 19 privates +were killed, and three officers and 11 privates +wounded. Captains Weir, Benteen, T.W. Custer, +and Lieut. Cook, participated in this fight. It was +estimated that at least 100 Indians were killed, among +whom was the noted chief Black Kettle.</p> + +<p>The death of Black Kettle was much regretted by +many white people. Gen. Harney said respecting +him:—"I have worn the uniform of my country 55 +years, and I know that Black Kettle was as good a +friend of the United States as I am." Col. A.G. Boone, +a member of the recent Indian Commission, who had +known Black Kettle for years, said tearfully:—"He +was a good man; he was my friend; he was murdered."</p> + +<p>Early in Dec., the 7th Cavalry and a Kansas cavalry +regiment, accompanied by Gen. Sheridan and staff,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_119" id="Page_2_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +again started out to look for Indians. The recent +battle-ground was revisited, and then the force proceeded +along the valley of the Washita, finding the +sites of several villages which appeared to have been +lately and hastily removed. Large numbers of lodge +poles, and robes, utensils, and stores were left behind; +and a broad trail, leading down the river toward Fort +Cobb, 100 miles distant, showed the direction their +owners had taken when frightened away from their +winter retreat. A pursuit of the trail was commenced, +but it soon branched. The troops continued on, and +when within 20 miles of Fort Cobb, Indians appeared +in front with a flag of truce. They proved to be +Kiowas led by Lone Wolf, Satanta, and other chiefs.</p> + +<p>A council was held, and both parties agreed to proceed +together to Fort Cobb; and the Indians agreed +that they would then remain on their reservation. +On the way to the fort, many of the Indians slipped +away, and as Custer then supposed (erroneously) that +Lone Wolf and Satanta had been engaged in the recent +battle and might also escape, he placed them under +guard and took them to Fort Cobb, where they were +held as hostages for the return of the roaming Kiowas, +who finally came in on learning that Sheridan had +determined to hang their chiefs if they failed to do so.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, Little Robe—a Cheyenne chief, and +Yellow Bear—a friendly Arapahoe, were visiting at +Fort Cobb, and at Custer's suggestion Sheridan permitted +him with a small party to go with these chiefs +as a peace ambassador. The mission was successful +as far as the Arapahoes were concerned, and as its +result the whole tribe returned to their reservation.</p> + +<p>The effort to arrange with the Cheyennes proving +unavailing, Custer with 800 men started, March, 1869,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_120" id="Page_2_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +in pursuit of them. On the 13th of March he arrived +in the vicinity of several Cheyenne villages, one of +which belonged to Little Robe. Several councils were +held with the chiefs; and it was ascertained that two +white women who had been recently captured in +Kansas were held as captives in one of the villages. +For this reason Custer could not attack the Indians, +who were still intractable, and had to continue negotiations +with them. They refused to release the +women unless a large ransom was paid.</p> + +<p>Custer subsequently seized four of the chiefs, and +threatened to hang them if the white women were +not given up unconditionally. This threat produced +the desired effect, and the women were surrendered. +Custer then marched to the supply camp, taking with +him the captured chiefs, who begged for freedom as +the white women had been given up. Their friends +also entreated for their release; but Custer assured +them that the Washita prisoners and the captive +chiefs would not be liberated until the Cheyennes returned +to their reservation. This they promised to +do, and subsequently kept their word.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i588" name="i588"></a> +<img src="images/i588.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII_part2" id="CHAPTER_XVII_part2"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONTINUED.)</p> + + +<p>A treaty having been made with the Indians and +peace restored, the 7th Cavalry enjoyed a long season +of rest. In the autumn of 1870, it was broken into detachments +and distributed to different posts. Custer, +with two companies, was assigned to a post at Elizabethtown, +Ky., 40 miles from Louisville, and in this +isolated place he remained two years. During this +period of inaction he engaged in literary pursuits and +wrote an account of his life on the Plains. He also +joined in a buffalo-hunt given on the Plains in honor +of the Russian Grand Duke Alexis, and after the +hunt he and Mrs. Custer accompanied the Duke in +his travels through the Southern States.</p> + +<p>In March, 1873, the 7th Cavalry was ordered to +Dakota, and in May was encamped at Fort Rice far +up the Missouri. Here also were assembled other +soldiers, and in July the so-called Yellowstone Expedition, +commanded by Gen. D.S. Stanley, started out +on its mission, which was to escort and protect the +engineers and surveyors of the Northern Pacific Railroad. +The march was westward to the Yellowstone +and up its valley, accompanied part of the way by +steamboats. The country was rough and broken, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_122" id="Page_2_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +the wagon trains were got forward with much difficulty. +It was Custer's custom to go ahead every day +with a small party of road-hunters, to pick out and +prepare the most suitable road for the train.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of Aug., when opposite the mouth of +Tongue River, as Custer and his advance party of +about 100 men were enjoying a noon-day siesta in a +grove on the bank of the river, they were aroused by +the firing of the pickets. A few Indians had made a +dash to stampede the horses which were grazing near +by, and failing in this, were riding back and forth as +if inviting pursuit. The soldiers speedily mounted, +and Custer with 20 men followed the Indians, who +retreated slowly, keeping out of the reach of shot.</p> + +<p>After going nearly two miles the retreating Indians +faced about as if to attack, and simultaneously, 300 +mounted warriors emerged from a forest and dashed +forward. Custer's men immediately dismounted, and +while five of them held the horses, the remainder, +with breech-loading carbines, awaited the enemy's +charge. Several rapid volleys were sufficient to repulse +the Indians, and cause them to take shelter +in the woods from which they came.</p> + +<p>Just then the remainder of Custer's men came up, +and the whole force retreated to the resting place +they had so lately vacated. The horses were sheltered +in the timber, and the men took advantage of a +natural terrace, using it as a breastwork. The Indians +had followed them closely, and now made persistent +but unsuccessful attempts to drive them from their +position. Being defeated in this, they next tried to +burn them out by setting fire to the grass. After +continuing their assault for several hours, the Indians +withdrew at the approach of the main column, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_123" id="Page_2_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +Custer and the fresh troops chased them several miles.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i592" name="i592"></a> +<img src="images/i592.jpg" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">COUNTING HIS COUPS.</p> + +</div> + + +<p>The same day, two elderly civilians connected with +the expedition were murdered while riding in advance +of the main column. Nearly two years later, Charles +Reynolds, a scout subsequently killed at the battle +of the Little Big Horn, while at Standing Rock +Agency, heard an Indian who was "counting his +<i>coups</i>," or in other words rehearsing his great achievements, +boast of killing two white men on the Yellowstone. +From his description of the victims and the +articles he exhibited, Reynolds knew that he was the +murderer of the two men.</p> + +<p>The name of this Indian was Rain in the Face. +He was subsequently arrested by Captains Yates and +Custer, and taken to Fort Lincoln where he was interviewed +by Gen. Custer and finally confessed the +deed. He was kept a close prisoner in the guardhouse +for several months, but managed to escape, and +joined Sitting Bull's band. It is thought by some that +he was the identical Indian who killed Gen. Custer, +and that he did it by way of revenge for his long imprisonment. +There seems to be no real foundation +for this theory; but the "Revenge of Rain in the +Face" will probably go down to posterity as an historical +truth, as it has already been immortalized in +verse by one of our most gifted poets, who seems, however, +to have overlooked the fact that Gen. Custer's +body was not mutilated.</p> + +<p>A week after the affair on the Yellowstone a large +Indian trail was discovered leading up the river, and +Custer was sent in pursuit. On arriving near the +mouth of Big Horn River, it was discovered that the +enemy had crossed the Yellowstone in "bull boats." +As Custer had no means of getting across, he camped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_124" id="Page_2_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +for the night. Early the next morning he was attacked +by several hundred warriors, some of whom +had doubtless recrossed the river for that purpose. +Sitting Bull was commander of the Indians, and large +numbers of old men, squaws, and children were +assembled on the high bluffs and mounds along the +river to witness the fight. After considerable skirmishing +Custer ordered his troops to charge, and as +they advanced the Indians fled, and were pursued +some distance.</p> + +<p>In these two engagements our loss was four men +killed, and two were wounded. Custer's horse was +shot under him. There was no further trouble with +the Indians, and the expedition returned to Fort Rice +about the 1st of October. Later in the autumn, Gen. +Custer was assigned to the command of Fort Lincoln, +on the Missouri River, opposite the town of Bismark.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1874, a military expedition to explore +the Black Hills was decided on, and Gen. Custer +was selected to command it. The column of 1,200 +troops, escorting a corps of scientists, etc., started from +Fort Lincoln, July 1st, moved southwesterly about +250 miles to the Black Hills, and then explored the +region. No trouble was experienced with Indians, +and the expedition returned to Fort Lincoln in September.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Custer had accompanied her husband to the +Plains when he first went thither, and excepting when +he was engaged in some active campaign or both were +East, she shared with him the hardships, privations, +and pleasures of frontier life. Mrs. Champney, +speaking of her in the <i>Independent</i>, says:—"She +followed the general through all his campaigns, her +constant aim being to make life pleasant for her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_125" id="Page_2_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +husband and for his command. General Custer's +officers were remarkably attached to him; to a man +they revered and admired his wife. She was with +him not only in the idleness of summer camp-life, +when the days passed in a <i>dolce far niente</i> resembling +a holiday picnic; but in ruder and more dangerous +enterprises she was, as far as he would permit, his constant +companion."</p> + +<p>When Gen. Custer was ordered to Fort Lincoln +Mrs. Custer went there with him; that retired post +was their home for the remainder of his life, and when +he started out on his last campaign she parted with +him there.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a id="i595" name="i595"></a> +<img src="images/i595.jpg" alt="" /> + + +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII_part2" id="CHAPTER_XVIII_part2"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONTINUED.)</p> + + +<p>When a campaign against the roaming hostile +Indians was decided on in 1876, Lieut. Col. Custer +was naturally selected as the leader of the Dakota +column, which was organized at Fort Lincoln, and +mainly composed of his regiment.</p> + +<p>About this time a Congressional committee at +Washington were investigating the charges against +Gen. Belknap, who had recently resigned the office of +Secretary of War. Many persons were called to testify; +and while Custer was actively engaged in +organizing the Sioux expedition, he received a telegraphic +summons to appear before the committee.</p> + +<p>On the receipt of the summons, Custer telegraphed +to Gen. Terry, the Department Commander, informing +him of the fact, stating that what he knew as to any +charges against the War Department was only from +hearsay evidence, and asking his advice as to what he +had better do. Terry, who was a lawyer as well as a +soldier, in reply informed Custer that his services +were indispensable, and that he feared it would delay +the expedition if he had to go to Washington. He +suggested that if Custer knew nothing of the matter, +he might perhaps get excused from going there.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_127" id="Page_2_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>After hearing from Terry, Custer telegraphed to the +chairman of the committee as follows;—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"While I hold myself in readiness to obey the summons of +your committee, I telegraph to state that I am engaged upon an +important expedition, intended to operate against the hostile +Indians, and I expect to take the field early in April. My +presence here is very necessary. In view of this, would it not +be satisfactory for you to forward to me such questions as may +be necessary, allowing me to return my replies by mail."</p></blockquote> + +<p>As the committee would not consent to the plan +proposed, Custer went to Washington, and was detained +there on this business about one month. He +was severely cross-examined, but the result showed that +he knew but little of the matter in controversy. All +he could say of his own knowledge was, that a contractor +had turned over to him at Fort Lincoln a +quantity of grain, which he suspected had been +stolen from the Indian Department, as the sacks bore +the Indian brand. He had at first refused to receive +the grain, and had informed the Department commander +of his suspicions. He had received in reply +an order to accept the grain; and he believed that the +order emanated from the Secretary of War, and so +testified before the committee. On returning west, +he learned from Gen. Terry that he alone was responsible +for the order to receive the grain; and thereupon, +Custer telegraphed the fact to Mr. Clymer, and +added:—"As I would not knowingly do injustice to +any individual, I ask that this telegram may be appended +to and made part of my testimony before +your committee."</p> + +<p>On being discharged by the committee, Custer, for +the third time it is said, called at the White House, +hoping to remove the wrong impression and misunderstanding +as to his action before the committee which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_128" id="Page_2_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +he had learned from private sources, the President +had received and still entertained. He did not however +succeed in getting an interview, and it is said +that Gen. Grant even refused to see him.</p> + +<p>Leaving the White House, Custer proceeded to the +office of Gen. Sherman, and learned that the General +had gone to New York, but was expected back that +evening. Custer then took the train for Chicago, and +on arriving there was halted by Gen. Sheridan who +had received from Gen. Sherman a telegram dated +May 2nd, as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"I am this moment advised that General Custer started last +night for Saint Paul and Fort Abraham Lincoln. He was not +justified in leaving without seeing the President or myself. +Please intercept him at Chicago or Saint Paul, and order him to +halt and await further orders. Meanwhile let the expedition +from Fort Lincoln proceed without him."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Gen. Custer was of course greatly surprised on +learning that such a telegram had been received, and +he immediately telegraphed to Gen. Sherman a statement +of the circumstances under which he left Washington. +He reminded the General that at their last +interview he had stated that he would start west May +1st, and had been told in reply that it was the best +thing he could do; he said further that he had every +reason to believe, that in leaving Washington when +he did he was acting in accordance with the General's +advice and wishes; and in conclusion, he reminded +the General of his promise that he should go in command +of his regiment, and asked that justice might be +done him. Receiving no answer to this message, he +again telegraphed to Sherman asking as a favor that +he might proceed to Fort Lincoln where his family +was. In reply, Sherman telegraphed as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_129" id="Page_2_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Before receipt of yours, I had sent orders to Gen. Sheridan, +to permit you to go to Fort Lincoln on duty, but the President +adheres to his conclusion that you are not to go on the expedition."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Sherman's orders to Sheridan were as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"I have received your despatch of to-day, announcing Gen. +Custer's arrival. Have just come from the President, who orders +that Gen. Custer be allowed to rejoin his post, to remain there on +duty, but not to accompany the expedition supposed to be on the +point of starting against the hostile Indians, under Gen. Terry."</p></blockquote> + +<p>General Custer accordingly started for Fort Lincoln, +and on arriving at Saint Paul, May 6th, he addressed +the following letter to President Grant:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"<span class="smcap">To His Excellency the President</span>, through Military Channels:</p> + +<p>I have seen your order transmitted through the General of +the army, directing that I be not permitted to accompany the +expedition about to move against hostile Indians. As my entire +regiment forms a part of the proposed expedition, and as I am +the senior officer of the regiment on duty in this Department, I +respectfully but most earnestly request that while not allowed to +go in command of the expedition, I may be permitted to serve +with my regiment in the field. I appeal to you as a soldier to +spare me the humiliation of seeing my regiment march to meet +the enemy and I not to share its dangers."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This appeal to the President was forwarded by Gen. +Terry with the following communication:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"In forwarding the above, I wish to say expressly, that I have +no desire to question the orders of the President, or of my +military superiors. Whether Lieut. Col. Custer shall be permitted +to accompany my column or not, I shall go in command +of it. I do not know the reasons upon which the orders already +given rest; but if those reasons do not forbid it, Lieut, Col. +Custer's services would be very valuable with his command."</p></blockquote> + +<p>It may be well to state here the probable causes +of the unfriendly feeling which Gen. Grant at this +period manifested toward one whom he had "endorsed +to a high degree" ten years previously. The Congressional +committee hitherto mentioned, had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_130" id="Page_2_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +appointed by the Opposition members of the House, +and some of its proceedings had, doubtless, annoyed +and vexed the President. Gen. Babcock had been +on his staff during the war, and enjoyed his friendship +and support even after the damaging disclosures +respecting the sale of the post-tradership at a western +fort. Attempts had also been made about this time +to injure Grant's administration, by seeking to identify +it with the frauds which had been discovered, or +which were suspected, and he naturally considered +those who volunteered information to the committee +as unfriendly to himself.</p> + +<p>It was currently reported that Custer telegraphed +to the committee's chairman, that an investigation +into the post-traderships upon the Upper Missouri +would reveal a state of things quite as bad as at +Fort Sill; and that in consequence of this communication +he was summoned before the committee.</p> + +<p>But whatever the causes of Gen. Grant's unfriendliness, +or the cruelty charged upon him for showing +his displeasure as he did, the result of Gen. Custer's +appeal was creditable to the President. Custer resumed +his position as Terry's trusted coadjutor in +fitting out the expedition, and finally marched from +Fort Lincoln as commander of his regiment. It was +no disgrace to him that Terry accompanied the column, +and the best feeling always existed between the +two officers. The junction with the Montana troops +was contemplated at the time, and their commander, +Col. Gibbon, would have ranked Lieut. Col. Custer +when their forces united. Some commanding general +had usually accompanied previous expeditions into +the Indian country, and it seems probable that Gen. +Terry would have participated in the campaign under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_131" id="Page_2_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +any circumstances. Besides, it does not appear from +Custer's despatch to Sheridan, that he had been promised +more than the command of his regiment.</p> + +<p>The history of the campaign, and the story of the +disastrous battle in which Gen. Custer lost his life +have been given in preceding chapters. His action +in attacking the Indians before the arrival of Gibbon's +troops has been the subject of controversy, and by +some few even his motives have been impugned. The +following paragraphs relative thereto are from the +editorial columns of the <i>Army and Navy Journal</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"It was not in Terry's instructions, and it clearly was not in +his mind, that Custer, if he came "in contact with the enemy," +should defer fighting him until the infantry came up. * * * +There could be no justification whatever for any plan of operations +which made an attack dependent upon a junction between +Custer and Gibbon, after three or four days' march from different +points.</p> + +<p>"It has been asserted that, smarting under the wounds which +preceding events had inflicted upon his pride, Custer dashed +recklessly into this affair for the purpose of eclipsing his superior +officers in the same field, regardless of cost or consequences. +This, it seems to us, is going much too far. Custer was doubtless +glad of the opportunity to fight the battle alone, and was stimulated +by the anticipation of a victory which, illuminating his +already brilliant career, would make him outshine those put on +duty over him in this campaign. But his management of the +affair was probably just about what it would have been under +the same circumstances, if he had had no grievance. His great +mistake was in acting in mingled ignorance of, and contempt +for his enemy. He regarded attack and victory in this instance +as synonymous terms, the only point being to prevent the escape +of the foe. Under this fatal delusion he opened the engagement, +with his command divided into four parts, with no certainty of +co-operation or support between any two of them. Neither +ambition, nor wounded vanity, prompted these vicious and fatal +dispositions, nor were they due to lack of knowledge of the principles +of his profession."</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX_part2" id="CHAPTER_XIX_part2"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="center small">A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR-GENERAL CUSTER.</p> + +<p class="center small">(CONCLUDED.)</p> + + +<p>As the foregoing biography of Gen. Custer has been +confined chiefly to his military career, it may be well +in conclusion to give some account of his personal +characteristics; and this can be best done in the language +of those who knew him well. A gentleman +who accompanied Gen. Custer on the Yellowstone +and Black Hills expeditions, contributed to the <i>New +York Tribune</i> the following:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Gen. Custer was a born cavalryman. He was never more in +his element than when mounted on Dandy, his favorite horse, +and riding at the head of his regiment. He once said to me, +'I would rather be a private in the cavalry than a line officer in +the infantry.' He was the personification of bravery and dash. +If he had only added discretion to his valor he would have been +a perfect soldier. His impetuosity very often ran away with his +judgment. He was impatient of control. He liked to act independently +of others, and take all the risk and all the glory to himself. +He frequently got himself into trouble by assuming more +authority than really belonged to his rank. It was on the +Yellowstone expedition where he came into collision with Gen. +Stanley, his superior officer, and was placed under arrest and +compelled to ride at the rear of his column for two or three days, +until Gen. Rosser, who fought against Custer in the Shenandoah +Valley during the war but was then acting as engineer of the +Northern Pacific Railroad, succeeded in effecting a reconciliation. +Custer and Stanley afterward got on very well, and perhaps the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_133" id="Page_2_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +quarrel would never have occurred if the two generals had been +left alone to themselves without the intervention of camp gossips, +who sought to foster the traditional jealousy between infantry and +cavalry. For Stanley was the soul of generosity, and Custer +did not really mean to be arrogant; but from the time when he +entered West Point to the day when he fell on the Big Horn, he +was accustomed to take just as much liberty as he was entitled +to.</p> + +<p>"For this reason, Custer worked most easily and effectively +when under general orders, when not hampered by special instructions, +or his success made dependent on anybody else. +Gen. Terry understood his man when, in the order directing him +to march up the Rosebud, he very liberally said: 'The Department +Commander places too much confidence in your zeal, energy, +and ability to wish to impose upon you precise orders which +might hamper your action when nearly in contact with the +enemy.' But Gen. Terry did not understand Custer if he +thought he would wait for Gibbon's support before attacking an +Indian camp. Undoubtedly he ought to have done this; but +with his native impetuosity, his reckless daring, his confidence +in his own regiment, which had never failed him, and his love +of public approval, Custer could no more help charging this +Indian camp, than he could help charging just so many buffaloes. +He had never learned to spell the word 'defeat;' he knew nothing +but success, and if he had met the Indians on the open plains, +success would undoubtedly have been his; for no body of Indians +could stand the charge of the 7th Cavalry when it swept over the +Plains like a whirlwind. But in the Mauvaises Terres and the +narrow valley of the Big Horn he did it at a fearful risk.</p> + +<p>"With all his bravery and self-reliance, his love of independent +action, Custer was more dependent than most men on the +kind approval of his fellows. He was even vain; he loved display +in dress and in action. He would pay $40 for a pair of +troop boots to wear on parade, and have everything else in +keeping. On the Yellowstone expedition he wore a bright red +shirt, which made him the best mark for a rifle of any man in the +regiment. I remonstrated with him for this reckless exposure, +but found an appeal to his wife more effectual, and on the next +campaign he wore a buckskin suit. He formerly wore his hair +very long, letting it fall in a heavy mass upon his shoulders, but<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_134" id="Page_2_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +cut it off before going out on the Black Hills, producing quite a +change in his appearance. But if vain and ambitious, Custer +had none of those great vices which are so common and so distressing +in the army. He never touched liquor in any form; he +did not smoke, or chew, or gamble. He was a man of great energy +and remarkable endurance. He could outride almost any +man in his regiment, I believe, if it were put to a test. When he +set out to reach a certain point at a certain time, you could be +sure that he would be there if he killed every horse in the command. +He was sometimes too severe in forcing marches, but he +never seemed to get tired himself, and he never expected his men +to be so. In cutting our way through the forests of the Black +Hills, I have often seen him take an ax and work as hard as any +of the pioneers. He was never idle when he had a pretext for +doing anything. Whatever he did he did thoroughly. He would +overshoot the mark, but never fall short. He fretted in garrison +sometimes, because it was too inactive; but he found an outlet +here for his energies in writing articles for the press.</p> + +<p>"He had a remarkable memory. He could recall in its proper +order every detail of any action, no matter how remote, of which +he was a participant. He was rather verbose in writing, and had +no gifts as a speaker; but his writings interested the masses from +their close attention to details, and from his facility with the pen +as with the sword in bringing a thing to a climax. As he was +apt to overdo in action, so he was apt to exaggerate in statement, +not from any wilful disregard of the truth, but because he +saw things bigger than they really were. He did not distort the +truth; he magnified it. He was a natural optimist. He took +rose-colored views of everything, even of the miserable lands of +the Northern Pacific Railroad. He had a historical memory, but +not a historical mind. He was no philosopher; he could reel off +facts from his mind better than he could analyze or mass them. +He was not a student, nor a deep thinker. He loved to take part +in events rather than to brood over them. He was fond of fun, +genial and pleasant in his manner; a loving and devoted husband. +It was my privilege to spend two weeks in his family at one +time, and I know how happy he was in his social relations."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following rambling remarks are accredited to +a general, whose name is not given:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2_135" id="Page_2_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p><blockquote class="small"><p>"The truth about Custer is, that he was a pet soldier, who had +risen not above his merit, but higher than men of equal merit. +He fought with Phil Sheridan, and through the patronage of +Sheridan he rose; but while Sheridan liked his valor and dash he +never trusted his judgment. He was to Sheridan what Murat +was to Napoleon. While Sheridan is always cool, Custer was +always aflame. Rising to high command early in life, he lost the +repose necessary to success in high command. * * * Then +Custer must rush into politics, and went swinging around the +circle with Johnson. He wanted to be a statesman, and but for +Sheridan's influence with Grant, the republicans would have +thrown him; but you see we all liked Custer, and did not mind +his little freaks in that way any more than we would have minded +temper in a woman. Sheridan, to keep Custer in his place, +kept him out on the Plains at work. He gave him a fine command—one +of the best cavalry regiments in the service. The +colonel, Sturgis, was allowed to bask in the sunshine in a large +city, while Custer was the real commander. In this service +Custer did well, and vindicated the partiality of Sheridan as well +as the kind feelings of his friends. * * * The old spirit which +sent Custer swinging around the circle revived in him. He came +East and took a prominent part in reforming the army. This +made feeling, and drew upon Custer the anger of the inside forces +of the administration.</p> + +<p>"Then he must write his war memoirs. Well, in these memoirs +he began to write recklessly about the army. He took to +praising McClellan as the greatest man of the war, and, coming +as it did when the democrats began to look lively, it annoyed the +administration. Grant grew so much annoyed that even Sheridan +could do no good, and Custer was disgraced. Technically it was +not a disgrace. All that Grant did was to put Terry, a general, +over Custer, a lieutenant-colonel, who had his regiment all the +same; but all things considered, it was a disgrace."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following is from an article by Gen. A.B. +Nettleton, published in the <i>Philadelphia Times</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"It must be remembered that in fighting with cavalry, which +was Custer's forte, instantaneous quickness of eye—that is, +the lightning-like formation and execution of successive correct +judgments on a rapidly-shifting situation—is the first thing, and +the second is the power of inspiring the troopers with that impetuous +yet intelligent ardor with which a mounted brigade<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_136" id="Page_2_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +becomes a thunderbolt, and without which it remains a useless +mass of horses and riders. These qualities Gen. Custer seemed +to me to manifest, throughout the hard fighting of the last year +of the war, to a degree that was simply astounding, and in a +manner that marked him as one of the few really great cavalry +commanders developed by the wars of the present century. Of +fear, in the sense of dread of death or of bodily harm, he was absolutely +destitute, yet his love of life and family and home was +keen and constant, leaving no room in his nature for desperation, +recklessness, or conscious rashness. In handling his division +under Sheridan's general oversight, he seemed to act always on +the belief that in campaigning with cavalry, when a certain work +must be done, audacity is the truest caution. In action, when +all was going well and success was only a question of time or of +steady 'pounding,' Gen. Custer did not unnecessarily expose +himself, but until the tide of battle had been turned in the right +direction, and especially when disaster threatened, the foremost +point in our division's line was almost invariably marked by the +presence of Custer, his waving division tri-color and his plucky +staff.</p> + +<p>"A major-general of wide and splendid fame at twenty-five, +and now slain at thirty-six, the gallant Custer had already lived +long if life be measured by illustrious deeds."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following is from a sketch of Gen. Custer +published in the <i>Army and Navy Journal</i>:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"Custer was passionately addicted to active and exciting sports +as the turf and hunting. He was a splendid horseman and a +lover of the horse; he attended many American race-meetings +and ran his own horses several times in the West. His greyhounds +and staghounds went with him at the head of his regiment, +to be let slip at antelope or buffalo. With rifle or shotgun +he was equally expert, and had killed his grizzly bear in the +most approved fashion. * * * Bold to rashness; feverish in +camp, but cool in action; with the personal vanity of a carpet +knight, and the endurance and insensibility to fatigue of the +hardiest and boldest rough rider; a prince of scouts; a chief of +guides, threading a trackless prairie with unerring eye of a native +and the precision of the needle to the star; by no means a martinet, +his men were led by the golden chain of love, admiration +and confidence. He had the proverbial assurance of a hussar,<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_137" id="Page_2_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +but his personal appearance varied with occasion. During the +war he was 'Custer of the golden locks, his broad sombrero +turned up from his hard-bronzed face, the ends of his crimson +cravat floating over his shoulder, gold galore spangling his +jacket sleeves, a pistol in his boot, jangling spurs on his heels, +and a ponderous claymore swinging at his side.' And long after, +when he roamed a great Indian fighter on the Plains, the portrait +was only slightly changed. The cavalry jacket was exchanged +for the full suit of buckskin, beautifully embroidered by Indian +maidens; across his saddle rested a modern sporting rifle, and +at his horse's feet demurely walked hounds of unmixed breed. +Again, within a few months, he appears in private society as an +honored guest; scrupulously avoiding anything like display, but +in a quiet conventional suit of blue, with the 'golden locks' +closely shorn, and the bronzed face pale from recent indisposition, +he moves almost unnoticed in the throng."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The faithful correspondent who perished with Gen. +Custer on the Little Big Horn portrayed him thus:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"A man of strong impulses, of great hearted friendships +and bitter enmities; of quick, nervous temperament, undaunted +courage, will, and determination; a man possessing electric +mental capacity, and of iron frame and constitution; a brave, +faithful, gallant soldier, who has warm friends and bitter enemies; +the hardest rider, the greatest pusher; with the most untiring +vigilance overcoming seeming impossibilities, and with an +ambition to succeed in all things he undertakes; a man to do +right, as he construes right, in every case; one respected and +beloved by his followers, who would freely follow him into the +'jaws of hell.'"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Gen. Custer's last battle "will stand in history as +one of the most heroic engagements ever fought, and +his name will be respected so long as chivalry is applauded +and civilization battles against barbarism."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX_part2" id="CHAPTER_XX_part2"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class="center small">THE SIOUX TREATY OF 1876—INDIAN ORATORS.</p> + + +<p>In 1875, the Black Hills country had acquired a +white population and an importance which rendered +its possession and control by the Government desirable +and necessary; and an attempt was made to treat +with the Indians for its purchase, but without success.</p> + +<p>In 1876, Congress expressed its determination to +appropriate nothing more for the subsistence of the +Sioux Indians unless they made certain concessions, +including the surrender of the Black Hills, and entered +into some agreement calculated to enable them +to become self-supporting. Geo. W. Manypenny, H. +C. Bullis, Newton Edmunds, Rt. Rev. H.B. Whipple, +A.G. Boone, A.S. Gaylord, J.W. Daniels, and Gen. +H.H. Sibley, were appointed commissioners to negotiate +for the concessions demanded. The following +is an extract from their instructions under which they +acted:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"The President is strongly impressed with the belief that the +agreement which shall be best calculated to enable the Indians +to become self-supporting is one which shall provide for their removal, +at as early a day as possible, to the Indian Territory. +For the past three years they have been kept from starvation by +large appropriations for their subsistence. These appropriations +have been a matter not of obligation but of charity, and the +Indians should be made to understand distinctly that they can +hope for continued appropriations only by full submission to the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_139" id="Page_2_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +authority and wishes of the Government, and upon full evidence +of their disposition to undertake, in earnest, measures for their +own advancement and support."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The first council was held Sept. 7th, at Red Cloud +agency, with chiefs and headmen representing 4,901 +Indians then at the agency. Red Cloud and other +chiefs met the commissioners with warm welcomes, +and said with deep earnestness:—"We are glad to +see you; you have come to save us from death." The +conditions required by Congress were then submitted +to the Indians, with the assurance that the commissioners +had no authority to change them in any particular; +but that they were authorized to devise a +plan to save their people from death and lead them +to civilization. The plan decided on was then carefully +explained and interpreted, and a copy of the +agreement given to the Indians to take to their own +council. Other councils were held Sept. 19th and +20th, and after mutual explanations the agreement +was signed.</p> + +<p>Subsequently, the commissioners visited Spotted +Tail agency, Standing Rock agency, Cheyenne River +agency, Crow Creek agency, Lower Brule agency, +and Santee agency. At all of these agencies the +agreement was made plain to the Indians, and after +due deliberation and considerable discussion, duly +signed. The following are extracts from the report +of the commissioners:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"While the Indians received us as friends, and listened with +kind attention to our propositions, we were painfully impressed +with their lack of confidence in the pledges of the Government. +At times they told their story of wrongs with such impassioned +earnestness that our cheeks crimsoned with shame. In their +speeches, the recital of the wrongs which their people had suffered +at the hands of the whites, the arraignment of the Government<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_140" id="Page_2_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +for gross acts of injustice and fraud, the description of treaties +made only to be broken, the doubts and distrusts of present professions +of friendship and good-will, were portrayed in colors so +vivid and language so terse, that admiration and surprise would +have kept us silent had not shame and humiliation done so. +Said a chief to a member of our commission:—'I am glad to +see you, you are our friends, but I hear that you have come to +move us. Tell your people that since the Great Father promised +that we should never be removed we have been moved five times.' +He added, with bitter irony, 'I think you had better put the +Indians on wheels so you can run them about wherever you wish.'</p> + +<p>"The present condition of the Sioux Indians is such as to +awaken the deepest sympathy. They were our friends. If many +of this powerful tribe have been changed to relentless foes, we +must not forget that it is the simple outcome of our own Indian +training-school. Generals Sherman, Harney, Terry, and others, +use these words:—</p> + +<p>'The moment the war of the rebellion was over, thousands of +our people turned their attention toward the treasures of Montana. +The Indian was forgotten. It did not occur to any man that +this poor, despised red man was the original discoverer, and sole +occupant for many centuries, of every mountain seamed with +quartz and every stream whose yellow sand glittered in the +noonday sun. He asked to retain only a secluded spot where +the buffalo and elk could live, and that spot he would make his +home. The truth is, no place was left for him. If the lands of +the white men are taken, civilization justifies him in resisting the +invader. Civilization does more than this—it brands him as a +coward and a slave if he submits to the wrong. If the savage +resists, civilization, with the Ten Commandments in one hand +and the sword in the other, demands his immediate extermination. +That he goes to war is not astonishing. He is often compelled +to do so. Wrongs are borne by him in silence that never fail to +drive civilized men to deeds of violence. * * * But it is said +that our wars with them have been almost constant. Have we +been uniformly unjust? We answer unhesitatingly, 'yes.'"</p> + +<p>"General Stanley in 1870 writes from Dakota, that he is +'ashamed to appear any longer in the presence of the chiefs of +the different tribes of the Sioux, who inquire why we do not do +as we promised, and in their vigorous language aver that we have<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_141" id="Page_2_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +lied.' Sitting Bull, who had refused to come under treaty relations +with the Government, based his refusal in these words, sent +to the commission of which Assistant Secretary Cowen was chairman: +'Whenever you have found a white man who will tell the +truth, you may return, and I shall be glad to see you.'"</p> + +<p>"It has been claimed that all Indians found outside of their +reservation shall be regarded as hostile. Gen. Sheridan, June +29th, 1869, says in an official order, that all Indians outside the +well-defined limits of the reservation are under the original and +exclusive jurisdiction of the military authority, <i>and as a rule will +be considered hostile</i>. This order is the more surprising to us +when we remember that the treaty made by General Sherman +and others expressly provided that these Indians might hunt +upon the unceded territory; and we find that so late as its last +session Congress appropriated $200,000 to be used in part for the +payment of the seventh of thirty installments '<i>for Indians roaming</i>.' +We repeat that, under this treaty, it is expressly provided +that the Indians may hunt in the unceded territory north and +west of the Sioux reservation, and until last year they had the +right to hunt in Western Nebraska. We believe that our failure +to recognize this right has led to many conflicts between the citizens +and army of the United States and the Indians."</p> + +<p>"In 1874, the late lamented Gen. Custer made an expedition +to the Black Hills. It was done against the protest of the +Indians and their friends, and in plain, direct violation of the +treaty. Gold was discovered, white men flocked to the El Dorado. +Notwithstanding the gross violation of the treaty, no open war +ensued. If our own people had a sad story of wrongs suffered +from the Indians, we must not forget that the Indians, who own +no telegraph-lines, who have no press and no reporters, claimed +that they, too, had been the victims of lawless violence, and had +a country of untold value wrested from them by force.</p> + +<p>"The charge is made that the agency Indians are hostile, and +that they have furnished ammunition and supplies to the Indians +with Sitting Bull. There is water-navigation for 3,000 miles +through this territory, and an unguarded border of several hundred +miles along the Canadian frontier. So long as the Indians will +sell buffalo-robes at a low price and pay two prices for guns, the +greed of white men will furnish them. It is gross injustice +to the agents and the Interior Department to accuse them of<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_142" id="Page_2_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +furnishing arms and ammunition for Indians to fight our army +and murder our citizens.</p> + +<p>"Of the results of this year's war we have no wish to speak. +It is a heart-rending record of the slaughter of many of the +bravest of our army. It has not only carried desolation and +woe to hundreds of our own hearthstones, but has added to the +cup of anguish which we have pressed to the lips of the Indian. +We fear that when others shall examine it in the light of history, +they will repeat the words of the officers who penned the report +of 1868:—'The results of the year's campaign satisfied all reasonable +men that the war was useless and expensive.'</p> + +<p>"We hardly know how to frame in words the feelings of shame +and sorrow which fill our hearts as we recall the long record of the +broken faith of our Government. It is made more sad, in that +the rejoicings of our centennial year are mingled with the wail +of sorrow of widows and orphans made by a needless Indian +war, and that our Government has expended more money in this +war than all the religious bodies of our country have spent in +Indian missions since our existence as a nation.</p> + +<p>"After long and careful examination we have no hesitation in +recommending that it is wise to continue the humane policy inaugurated +by President Grant. The great obstacle to its complete +success is that no change has been made in the laws for the care +of Indians. The Indian is left without the protection of law in +person, or property, or life. He has no personal rights. He has +no redress for wrongs inflicted by lawless violence. He may see +his crops destroyed, his wife or child killed. His only redress is +personal revenge. * * * In the Indian's wild state he has a rude +government of chiefs and headmen, which is advisory in its character. +When located upon reservations under the charge of a +United States agent, this government is destroyed, and we give +him nothing in its place.</p> + +<p>"We are aware that many of our people think that the only +solution of the Indian problem is in their extermination. We +would remind such persons that there is only One who can exterminate. +There are too many graves within our borders over +which the grass has hardly grown, for us to forget that God is +just. The Indian is a savage, but he is also a man. He is one +of the few savage men who clearly recognize the existence of a +Great Spirit. He believes in the immortality of the soul. He has<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_143" id="Page_2_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +a passionate love for his children. He loves his country. He +will gladly die for his tribe. Unless we deny all revealed religion, +we must admit that he has the right to share in all the benefits +of divine revelation. He is capable of civilization. Amid all +the obstacles, the wrongs, and evils of our Indian policy, there +are no missions which show richer rewards. Thousands of this +poor race, who were once as poor and degraded as the wild Sioux, +are to-day civilized men, living by the cultivation of the soil, and +sharing with us in those blessings which give to men home, +country, and freedom. There is no reason why these men may +not also be led out of darkness to light."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following is a synopsis of the arrangement +agreed on by the commissioners and Indians:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>The Sioux surrender all claim to so much of their reservation +as lies west of the 103d meridian of longitude, and to so much +of it as lies between the North and South Forks of the Cheyenne +River east of said meridian; also all claim to any country lying +outside of their reservation. Cannon Ball River and its south +branch are to be the northern boundary of the reservation. Three +wagon or other roads may be maintained across the reservation +from the Missouri River to the Black Hills. All subsistence +and supplies which may be hereafter provided, are to be delivered +on or near the Missouri River. A delegation of chiefs and leading +men from each band shall visit the Indian Territory, with a +view to selecting therein a permanent home for the Indians. If +such delegation shall make a selection satisfactory to the Indians +they represent and to the United States, then the Indians are to +remove to the selected country within one year, select allotments +as soon as possible afterwards, and use their best efforts to cultivate +the same. They are in all things to submit themselves to +such beneficent plans as the Government may provide for them +in the selection of a permanent home where they may live like +white men.</p> + +<p>The United States agree to furnish subsistence to the Sioux +until such time as they shall become self-supporting—rations to +be issued to heads of families; and in case the Indians are located +on lands suitable for cultivation, and educational facilities are +afforded by the Government, the issue of rations is to be conditioned +on the performance of labor by the Indians and the attendance +of their children at school. Assistance in the way of<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_144" id="Page_2_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +schools and instruction in the agricultural and mechanical arts, +as provided by the treaty of 1868, is guaranteed; and the building +of comfortable houses on allotments in severalty is provided +for. The Sioux are declared amenable to the laws of the United +States; and Congress shall secure to them an orderly government +and protect individual property, person, and life. The +agreement not to be binding on either party till approved by +Congress and the President.</p></blockquote> + +<p>With the exception of the Santees, the Indians on +the Missouri River objected to visiting the Indian +Territory, and were exempted from that part of the +agreement by a supplementary clause. A delegation +of 90 Indians from the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail +agencies visited the Indian Territory in October as +provided in the agreement. The following is from +the report of Commissioners Boone and Daniels who +accompanied the delegation:—</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p>"While travelling through the Territory, Spotted Tail took +special pains to inform us that he was not pleased with anything +that came within his observation, and his part of the delegation, +with but few exceptions, were not disposed to express themselves +in any other way. Many of the Red Cloud party were well +pleased. Their chief said 'his Great Father asked him to go +and find a place where his children could live by cultivating the +land. This was the country, and he should go back and tell his +people so.' The manual-labor school of 120 scholars at the Cheyenne +and Arapahoe agency, was of more interest to them and +gave them more pleasure than anything else seen on the journey. +They manifested much interest in the progress of civilization +among the Sac and Fox, and when passing the Creek country, +the delegation was received by these tribes with generous hospitality +and a hearty welcome. When we were at Okmulgee, the +capital of the Creek Nation, they were invited to the council-house +by the Creek chief, where he made a very friendly speech +to them. The following is a copy thereof:—</p> + +<p>"To the Sioux, my brethren:—I am well pleased to see you +here in the Mus-koke Nation, brethren of the same race as ourselves. +I was told a long time ago of my red brethren, the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_145" id="Page_2_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +Sioux, that were living in the far Northwest. I had heard of the +name of your tribe and of many of your leading chiefs. I have +heard of your great men, great in war, and great in council. I +have heard of your trouble on account of the intrusion of the +white men on your reservation in search of gold. I have heard +that the United States Government had determined to remove +you from your present home, and, perhaps it might be, to this +Indian Territory, to the west of us. When I heard that you +might possibly come to this Territory, which has been 'set apart +for the home of the Indians forever,' I was glad. I would like to +have all our red brethren settled in this Territory, as we have +provided in our treaty. We, the Creeks and Cherokees, have the +same kind of title and patent for our lands from the United +States, which guarantees this Territory to us for a home, under +our own form of government, by people of our own race, as long +as 'grass grows and water runs.' And I think, therefore, we +shall live forever on our lands. I should like—and I express the +wish of our people—that every Indian tribe should come here and +settle on these lands, that this Territory may become filled up +with Indians, to the exclusion of others who may be inimical to +our race and interests. We believe our right to our soil and our +government, which is best suited to our peculiar necessities, would +be safer if all our race were united together here. This is my +earnest wish. Then I think the rising generation could be educated +and civilized, and, what is still better, christianized, which, +I believe, would be the greatest benefit of all. This would be to +our mutual benefit and good. I know I express the minds of +our people when I give you this welcome to our life of a higher +civilization, which is better than the old life so long led by our +race in the past."</p></blockquote> + +<p>At the councils held at the different agencies, the +chiefs and principal men made numerous speeches, +which conveyed a good idea of Indian views and +feelings, and were often able and eloquent. The +balance of this chapter will be filled up with extracts +from some of these speeches.</p> + +<blockquote class="small"><p><i>Red Cloud Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">Fast Bear</span>:—My good friends, you have +come here to ask me for something, and I have come here to-day +to answer. You ask me to give up the mountains that are to the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_146" id="Page_2_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +north of us, and I answer yes to that question. I give them up. +You are here also to ask me to take a journey to look at a country, +and I also answer yes to that question. I consent for my young +men to go down there and see that country; but they must look +at it in silence, and come back in silence. When they have seen +the country I will consider it. If it is good I will consider it so; +if bad I will consider that it is bad. Do you understand, my +friends, what I last said to you? We do not agree to go there +to live before we have seen the country.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horse</span>:—My father shook hands +with the Dakotas peacefully on the Platte River. I have been +brought up here from a boy until I got to be a chief. The +soldiers have no business in this country at all. I wish to tell +you plainly that I have been very much ashamed ever since the +soldiers came here. This is my country, and I have remained +here with my women and children eating such things as the +Great Father has sent us. I am going to ask the Great Father +for a great many things, things that will make me rich. I am +going to ask for so much that I am afraid the Great Father will +not consent to give it to me. I want you to tell the Great Father +that I, and all the men like me, and the children, are going to +ask him for a great many things, and we expect to have food, +and blankets to wear as long as we live.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Black Coal</span>:—This place here is a place of peace, where we +and our people have lived together happily, and behaved ourselves, +and we do not understand why so many soldiers have +come here among us. We have never had any trouble and have +behaved ourselves, and wish to have the soldiers sent away as +soon as possible, and leave us in peace. The people that live +here have both minds and hearts and good sense, but it seems +as if the Great Father all at once thought differently, and speaks +of us as people that are very bad.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Red Cloud</span>:—The commissioners have both brains and hearts. +The Great Father has sent you here to visit me and my people, +and I want that you should help us. We see a great many +soldiers here in our country. We do not like to see them here. +I want you to have pity upon us, and have them all taken away. +I understand all the ways of the whites. I know that everything +that has been said has been written down, and I should like to +have a fair copy of that made and given to me.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_147" id="Page_2_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Little Wound</span>:—I always considered that when the Great +Father borrowed the country for the overland road that he made +an arrangement with us that was to last fifty years as payment +for that privilege, and yesterday another arrangement was mentioned +concerning the Black Hills, and the words that I heard +from the Great Father and from the commissioners from the +Great Council made me cry. The country upon which I am +standing is the country upon which I was born, and upon which +I heard that it was the wish of the Great Father and of the Great +Council that I should be like a man without a country. I shed +tears. I wish that the chief men among you that have come here +to see me would help me, and would change those things that do +not suit me.</p> + +<p><i>Spotted Tail Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">Spotted Tail</span>:—My friends that have +come here to see me; you have brought to us words from the +Great Father at Washington, and I have considered them now +for seven days, and have made up my mind. This is the fifth +time that you have come. At the time of the first treaty that +was made on Horse Creek—the one we call the "great treaty"—there +was provision made to borrow the overland road of the +Indians, and promises made at the time of the treaty, though I +was a boy at the time; they told me it was to last fifty years. +These promises have not been kept. All the words have proved +to be false. The next conference was the one held with Gen. +Manydear, when there were no promises made in particular, nor +for any amount to be given to us, but we had a conference with +him and made friends and shook hands. Then after that there +was a treaty made by Gen. Sherman. He told us we should have +annuities and goods from that treaty for thirty-five years. He +said this, but yet he didn't tell the truth. He told me the +country was mine, and that I should select any place I wished +for my reservation and live in it. My friends, I will show you +well his words to-day. * * * I see that my friends before me +are men of age and dignity. I think that each of you have +selected somewhere a good piece of land for himself, with the +intention of living on it, that he may there raise up his children. +My people, that you see here before you, are not different; they +also live upon the earth and upon the things that come to them +from above.</p> + +<p>My friends, this seems to me to be a very hard day, and we +have come upon very difficult times. This war did not spring up<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_148" id="Page_2_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +here in our land; this war was brought upon us by the children +of the Great Father who came to take our land from us without +price, and who, in our land, do a great many evil things. We +have a store-house to hold our provisions the Great Father sends +us, but he sends very little provisions to put in our store-house. +When our people become displeased with their provisions and +have gone north to hunt in order that they might live, the Great +Father's children are fighting them. It has been our wish to +live in our country peaceably, but the Great Father has filled it +with soldiers who think only of our death. It seems to me there +is a better way than this. When people come to trouble, it is +better for both parties to come together without arms and talk it +over and find some peaceful way to settle it. My friends, you +have come to me to-day, and mentioned two countries to me. +One of them I know of old—the Missouri River. It is not possible +for me to go there. When I was there before we had a +great deal of trouble. I left also 100 of my people buried there. +The other country you have mentioned is one I have never seen +since I was born, but I agree to go and look at it. When men +have a difficult business to settle it is not possible it should be +well settled in one day; it takes at least twelve months to +consider it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Spotted Tail</span>:—(<i>Second Council.</i>) This war has come from +robbery—from the stealing of our land. My friends, I wish to +tell the Great Father "Let us consider this matter." There are +on both sides a great many widows and a great many orphans. +Let us consider who is to take care of these. This matter has +not been begun with judgment; and I think it is displeasing to +the Great Spirit. The Great Father sent you out here to buy +our land and we have agreed together to that, but with one +understanding:—That it shall be the end, also, of this war. We +have always been peaceful friends of the Great Father, and shall +remain at peace with him; but all at once a whirlwind has passed +over our land, and the ammunition has been locked up so that we +cannot get it to hunt game to live upon. Now we shake hands +and make peace and wish it to be unlocked so we can buy ammunition. +You know this trouble does not please the Great Spirit, +and I want you to help me to blot it out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Baptiste Good</span>:—You have come here with considerations that +will make my people live, and my heart is glad. When Gen. +Sherman came to make a treaty with my people, I was also glad.<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_149" id="Page_2_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +That was like the birth of a child. I wish you would tell the +Great Father we need implements to work with, and wagons for +two horses. I have worn out my fingers working without implements. +I have planted corn, and I am happy to say it has grown +up and produced fruit. The white minister has come here to +teach me, but I don't think it is done properly. I would like to +have some female ministers come dressed in black to receive the +girls in one house and teach them, and have white male ministers +in black hat and coat to teach the boys in another house separately.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Blue Teeth</span>:—Just such men as you came to make the treaty +with me. They showed me a road to walk in, and I showed my +people and advised them according to their words, and they +were glad. But the things they promised me didn't turn out as +they promised them. I am the man that heard the promises +made. Spotted Tail told you about that yesterday, according to +my direction, but I was hiding myself. I want the man pointed +out that is going to talk to the Great Father. [Judge Gaylord is +pointed out.] You see that pipe: take it, [handing to Judge +Gaylord a pipe and tobacco-pouch.] The Great Spirit gave me +that pipe. He told me to point it to my mother, the earth, when +I prayed. I wish you to take it to the Great Father at Washington, +and tell him a man that made a speech here presented it +to him, and ask him to be merciful to him and help him to live. +Tell him this is my country, and for him to have pity upon me +and not move me away from it. I want to live here always.</p> + +<p><i>Standing Rock Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">John Grass</span>:—Look well at me with +both eyes and listen to me with both ears. I have considered +the words you have brought me, and I am ready to answer you. +The chiefs you see here have all come to the same conclusion. +You have brought words to the chiefs here that will bring life to +their children; that will make their children live; they answer +<i>how</i> [signifying their approval] to that. And now since they have +ceded their country to you, they want to tell you of certain things +that they shall want in the future.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Running Antelope</span>:—When people shake hands and talk, +they talk in earnest. I want you to look on this man Kill Eagle, +with his people who are prisoners here. He is one of us and is +our kindred. Kindred living with each other love each other, +and when they get into trouble they help each other out, and we +look on these Indians the same as white. He went out to the<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_150" id="Page_2_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +hostile camp, held his gun, witnessed a fight, and came back. +I want before the sun sets to see these men released. I am an +old man, and I ask these things as a favor.</p> + +<p>In regard to this store. I have been to see the Great Father, +and the white people are wealthy. Even they have stores one +right against the other, touching each other. When a man goes +in a store and finds something he wants and cannot obtain it as +cheaply as he desires, he goes into another, and so on until he gets +what he wants and at the proper price. We want to do so here.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two Bears</span>:—Hail Great Spirit, and hail my friends who I +see here, and hail Great Father! My heart is this day made +glad by seeing you here. You prayed to the Great Spirit and +that made our hearts glad. I was the chief owner of this country, +but the Great Father turned it over to his young men. This was +a hard thing for him to do to me; now that he proposes to pay +me for it I am very glad. I am of the fifth generation of the +Sioux Indians, and the sixth generation is growing up around +me. I want the Government to provide for the same number of +generations in the future. I am making this trade with the Great +Father, and I am not a white man and am not able to live like a +white man. They eat but little, but I am not able to get along +with a little yet. The Great Spirit fed me, and fed me in large +quantities. I eat all day, and eating great quantities has become +a habit with me. I am afraid of frightful things; I am afraid +of bad things; I am afraid of a battle. I like good things, and +straightforward dealings. For two winters I was starving and +have eaten a great number of my horses and dogs. In consequence +of this starvation many of our people fled from the agency +in search of food, and while they were out one of them got into +trouble. [referring to Kill Eagle.]</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mad Bear</span>:—I am an Indian, a poor, miserable Indian, but if +I should do as has been done by us, the Great Spirit would dislike, +and hate me, and for that reason I cannot do these things. +Men, civilians, that we have had for agents would steal our food, +steal things that were sent to us. It is the fault of the white +men that this is done. They select men that belong to the ring. +When one agent is removed they select his friend to succeed him, +and so the stealing goes on. The matter of their traders alone +is enough to drive the Indians hostile. It would drive a white +man hostile to be treated as we are treated, and to be charged +prices as our traders charge us for goods. If an Indian succeeds<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_151" id="Page_2_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +in getting a dollar he takes it to the store to trade, and what he +receives in return for it amounts to probably half a dime. We +want the monopoly of trading stores stopped. The work, the +labor, everything is monopolized by white men, who have everything +their own way. It is hard to be an Indian chief. Our +young men do not listen to us—they will not mind us.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fool Dog</span>:—The Great Spirit created these men and they expect +to raise children after them. Generations are not to stop +here, they are still to go on living, and we look to you for help +and assistance. I am an Indian, and am looked on by the whites +as a foolish man; but it must be because I follow the advice of +the white man.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Long Soldier</span>:—The Great Spirit called me forth to be a +chief, and this day I say <i>how</i> to you. The Great Father has +asked me for a portion of my country and has made me an offer +in return for it. I am very glad to get what has been offered to +me, and I therefore say <i>how</i> to your proposition. I am a very +suspicious man and always suspect people of some evil designs +when they talk to me, and therefore remain at home. My father, +who has instructed me to be a friend of the whites, is still living, +and I want him to share in the benefits that arise from the sale of +the Black Hills.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two Bears</span>:—My friends, to-day we have talked together with +smiles on our faces, and we are going to sign this paper with the +understanding that everything in it is true, and that we are not +deceiving each other. My children are very poor and very ignorant, +and they don't know anything about weights and measures, +and if you are going to issue my rations by weight I want you to +give good measure. In signing this agreement I don't sign it +myself; I have a young man who is my hope for the future. +Although I touch the pen myself, I touch it for my son, who is to +be my successor.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Drag Wood</span>:—I am an old man and my bones are getting +sore, and I want my son to sign this agreement with me.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wolf Necklace</span>:—I never want to leave this country; all my +relatives are lying here in the ground, and when I fall to pieces I +am going to fall to pieces here.</p> + +<p><i>Cheyenne River Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">Long Mandan</span>:—I am glad of one +thing; the Great Father knows that this is my country, and +before he takes it from me he is going to ask my permission. +Our people are poor, they have nothing in their lodges, and if<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_152" id="Page_2_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +you will visit them you would feel disposed to bring many things +to them to-day. My friends, when I went to Washington I went +into your money-house, and I had some young men with me, but +none of them took any money out of that house while I was with +them. At the same time, when your Great Father's people come +into my country, they go into my money-house and take money +out. More than that, they commit depredations on us; and stole +fifty head of horses and took them away from me. If the Great +Father was not a great man and was not a man that had great +power and a good man, I should have been mad; but he is a +great man and a good man, and that is the reason that I have not +been offended at him. I would much rather have gone to Washington +with my people and have signed this treaty there. I do +not want to spend a great deal of money for the Great Father, +but at the same time I know that the Great Father is wealthy. +I want to tap the telegraph that is over the river, and talk to the +Great Father in that way, and to have him answer me in the same +way. I want him to give me plenty of mowing-machines, and I +would like very much to have a good blacksmith. I will show +you something to-day that I have done in this country in the way +of farming; a large pumpkin that I have sent to be brought here +to show you. My friends, you may think that I never raised it +when you see it, but I want to show it to you, and have sent +for it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Red Feather</span>:—The Great Father asked me in regard to the +missions and churches and schools, and told me I must take hold +of that and assist him. There were two ministers here, and I regarded +them as two canes to walk upon and help me up with. +There is one thing that the people of the Great Father have that +I do not want, and that is whisky. I do not want any whisky +on my reservation. Whenever a man drinks whisky he loses his +senses, and that is the reason why I object to it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Duck</span>:—The soldiers that are fighting have killed a great many +people on both sides, and have made many widows and orphans +on both sides. I am sorry to know that anybody was killed on +either side. All the badness and all the trouble that has occurred +here formerly, I gather it up in my hand and throw it away; tell +the Great Father that. Look at this people; they are poor +people; they have a hard time to get what little furs and hides +they have; but when we take them to the stores we do not get +enough for them. If you are not afraid of me, and do not think<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_153" id="Page_2_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +I am fooling with you, I would like to have you attend to this +hide business, and see that we get $6 apiece for them.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">White Bull</span>:—I see, my friends, the soldiers standing here +about me. They are people whose business it is to die, but we +think better things for them. We have given them the Black +Hills; we wish they would go there and dig gold without being +afraid of anybody.</p> + +<p><i>Crow Creek Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">White Ghost</span>:—Around and about the +hills on the prairies there are a great many dead people lying, +but the Great Father has decided to give us a good price for the +hills; therefore it is—because the Great Father is strong—that +we are willing to give them up. We live right near a trading-post, +and we become poor because we have not money to buy +those things we want. I do not wish you to think that I am finding +fault or out of temper. I merely say the things I am instructed +to say. My people wish to have it understood that they +do not wish to have any soldiers sent here or any soldier for an +agent. I must tell everything that I am instructed to say; they +are all here listening to see whether I say everything, and I must +say all that I have been told. We would like to have Mr. +Premeau appointed for interpreter. He is a white man, a man +that understands the language, and does not drink whisky. My +people think that the flour that is sent here for them is sent for +them to eat, and they are not pleased that it is fed to the pigs +about the agency; and they wish me to mention that we take a +hide to the store, quite a large one, and receive an order for three +dollars' worth of goods. For this large beef-hide we get one +piece of leather the width of three fingers, for a belt; it is not +worth more than fifty cents. That does not please us.</p> + +<p>Last summer when I went to the council for the Black Hills, I +had a pipe with me. I told them, in reference to the Black Hills, +that we were bound by giving and receiving the pipe, the same +as white people when they make an oath in court and swear upon +the Bible, and if the party took the pipe that was offered to him +in council and held it in his hand everything went well, and if he +did not speak the truth always some evil would spring up in connection +with it. Last summer the pipe was given in council, and +what do you think of the matter now? Have the promises been +kept, or has the violation of them caused war and bloodshed? I +have for a long time known the ways of your people in dealing +with us and taking away our country, and I know that they have<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_154" id="Page_2_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +been such as to make us miserable. You have driven away our +game and our means of livelihood out of the country, until now +we have nothing left that is valuable except the hills that you +ask us to give up. When we give these up to the Great Father +we know that we give up the last thing that is valuable either to +us or the white people; and therefore my people wish me to say +that, as long as two Indians are living, we expect them to have +the benefit of the price paid for these lands.</p> + +<p>My friend, [to the chairman,] I am going to give you a pipe. +Perhaps we are deceiving each other in this matter, perhaps we +are not going to be truthful, and shall commit a great sin, but I +for my part am trying to speak the truth.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Running Bear</span>:—I look upon you as you sit before me, and I +see that there are no boys among you; that you are all men of +age, and I am glad to see it. I am very old, very near the time +when I shall lie down in the earth. Therefore if you have really +come to help us we are very happy. I will speak now about myself. +I am an orphan. Before my father died he told me that +my country was very valuable. You say you are going to give +me rations by weight; I do not know anything about that; I +think it will take me at least twelve years to understand it. It is +only yesterday that the people of my generation were laid in the +ground, and I am the only one left. My father, who is now dead, +went to the Great Father's house and talked with him there. +The people have now given you the Black Hills, and we for our +part would like to go to our Great Father's house and hear how +much money he proposes to give us in return. Again, the whisky +that the white people have and carry about with them is very +bad. We hear that our people who are living up to the north of +us drink a great deal of whisky. We do not like it at all. +My friends, I am going to ask you for something that I want. +I do not think it possible that you have come out here to ask +me for something without paying me for it. I do not consider +myself very rich. You white people come out here with a great +many pockets in your clothes. Probably the person who sent +you told you what to do with the things in your pockets. I +would like to have you take up a collection. Each of you put +your hands in your pockets and take out ten cents and give it to +me to buy something at the store. You are not particularly +modest in asking for the things you want, and I see no reason<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_155" id="Page_2_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +why I should not ask for the things that I want. Do you think +I do right in asking you?</p> + +<p>You are a chief, [to the chairman.] I, also, am a chief. I +have lived here now 13 years. I do not remember even a bad +word that I have said; perhaps the Great Father does. In every +country there are men who are skillful in talking in council. I +am such a man myself. I also have been instructed. This +medal that you see, was put about my neck by a Catholic priest, +and yet, notwithstanding I am so honored, you talk to me about +issuing rations by weight. I am astonished at you. You are +advanced in years; I am also advanced in years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">White Bear</span>:—I wonder if you know that I planted a field out +here. I raised pumpkins as large as this chair and corn taller +than I am, and after I had done that my father took my field +away to plant oats in. I wonder if you know that. Tell the +Great Father that there is only one store here, and all the young +men are shedding tears about it. If they had mowing-machines, +such as they could ride upon, to ride around their country and +cut hay, they would be able to earn something; but the agent +considers that the country belongs to him personally, and cuts +all the hay. My friends, I would like to have our agent, before +the sun goes down, climb up into the second story of the warehouse +and take down all the teepee cloths and blankets that he +has there, and divide them among the people.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dog Back</span>:—I am not anybody in particular. Although I am +not very strong and a man of no special importance, I took a +claim, and planted, and considered that I was watching my own +hay and grass. I am the man that has been trying to live in the +way that I have been told, but this summer a great many white +men have come there and cut my wood, and killed the fowls and +animals I have raised, and disturbed me in many ways. I do not +wish to make any disturbance about it, but I have been trying to +do as the Great Father advised us, and it seems to me that these +people who come and do such things to me are lawless people. +I have nobody to help me, but you come here to-day from the +Great Father, and I have told you these things in the hope that +you will help me.</p> + +<p><i>Santee Agency.</i> <span class="smcap">Hakewaste</span>:—I am an Indian and was born +naked. I now wear the same kind of clothes as the white man. +Old Wabashaw told me that the President wanted us to work,<span class="smpagenum"><a name="Page_2_156" id="Page_2_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +and for that reason I have dressed in this way, but what you have +been explaining to me I know nothing about. I have only been +six years a chief in this land. You can see how we are situated +here; that we have done part of what the President told us to do; +you see little patches of corn, &c. As old man Wabashaw is +buried here we would all like to live here. We will all do what +you ask of us in the treaty. We own nothing, and have nothing +to depend upon. When the President makes up his mind to do +a thing he generally does it, but we do not want to go to that +territory to the south.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wamamsa</span>:—The Lord above rules everything, and he has +given us a nice mild day for our council. We have prayed for +land and churches, and as we now have three churches I think +the Lord has taken good care of us and has answered our prayers. +Look at these young men. You have not seen any Indians +during your travels dressed in that way. We are not getting +along very well—not as well as we should. Twice now we have +had Quakers for agents, and we are going down hill all the time; +getting into the ground.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Husasa</span>:—I have been blind for four years, but I can hear +what is said. When any one comes from Washington to see us +we ought to be thankful to him. When we lived at Redwood we +made the treaty, and it was mentioned that we were to draw +annuities and money for fifty years, and for that reason we put +ourselves in the wrong place and suffer for it to-day. There are +only three chiefs left now, and all we have to do is to throw ourselves +into the arms of the Great Father. We are all pretty +badly off. When people used to come here from Washington, +Wabashaw was here to speak, but now he is lying in the ground +and we are all the time looking that way at him. A great many +of us have no wagons or oxen or anything to work with. I have +nothing but an old wagon that is not fit for use, and am as poor +as if I had not sold any land to the President. The Indians' +minds are not very long and we forget a thing in a very short +time. You have told us what to do. We have got it all in our +ears and ought to be proud of it.</p> + +<p>The President said that he would take good care of us, and +now here I am blind and have not got a wagon fit to use. +Although I am blind, if I had a wagon the women or some of +the boys could bring me water when I am thirsty.</p></blockquote> + +<div class="notes"> +<p>FOOTNOTES:</p> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Leaders or chiefs—corrupted from the French of Bourgeois, and borrowed +from the Canadians.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Major Joel H. Elliot of the 7th Cavalry, and 19 of his command, were +missing after the Battle of the Washita in Nov., 1868. Their dead bodies +were found some weeks later.</p></div> + +</div> + +<div class="notes"> + +<p>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors and printer errors have been corrected +without comment.</p> + +<p>On page 158, the word "Py" was changed to "By" in the phrase: "Py ----, +who did shoot...."</p> + +<p>With the exception of obvious errors, inconsistencies in the author's +spelling, punctuation, use of hyphens, and use of quotation marks have +been retained as in the original publication. Inconsistencies include, +but are not limited to the following:</p> + +<blockquote><p> gayety/ gaiety<br /> + Ogallala/ Ogallalla<br /> + Camanche/ Commanches</p></blockquote> + +<p>In the original publication, italics are used inconsistently in the illustration +captions. They are reproduced here as they appear in the original.</p> + +<p>Unconventional spelling has been retained in words such as (but not +limited to) the following:</p> + +<blockquote><p> befel<br /> + enlightment<br /> + Milwaukie<br /> + carniverous<br /> + conveniencies<br /> + conformably<br /> + kidnaped/ kidnaping<br /> + reconnoisance</p></blockquote> +</div> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELEVEN YEARS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND LIFE ON THE FRONTIER***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 39465-h.txt or 39465-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/6/39465">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/6/39465</a></p> +<p> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p> +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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