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diff --git a/43590.txt b/43590.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3452800..0000000 --- a/43590.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,22087 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume II -(of 2), by Hazard Stevens - - -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 - - - - - -Title: The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume II (of 2) - - -Author: Hazard Stevens - - - -Release Date: August 31, 2013 [eBook #43590] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS, -VOLUME II (OF 2)*** - - -E-text prepared by KD Weeks, Jana Srna, Bryan Ness, Jennie Gottschalk, and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page -images generously made available by the Google Books Library Project -(http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 43590-h.htm or 43590-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43590/43590-h/43590-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43589/43590-h.zip) - - - Project Gutenberg has the other volume of this work. - Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43589 - - - Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://books.google.com/books?id=yfABAAAAMAAJ - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - A carat character is used to denote superscription. A - single character following the carat is superscripted - (example: Isaac^1). - - The 'oe' ligature appears only in the words 'Coeur - d'Alene', and is rendered as 'C[oe]ur.' - - Words printed using "small capitals" are shifted to all - upper-case. - - Please consult the note at the end of this text for - details of corrections made. - - - - - -THE LIFE OF ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS - -By His Son - -HAZARD STEVENS - -With Maps and Illustrations - -In Two Volumes - -VOL. I - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -Boston and New York -Houghton, Mifflin and Company -The Riverside Press, Cambridge -1900 - -Copyright, 1900, by Hazard Stevens -All Rights Reserved - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER XXVI - - THE CHEHALIS COUNCIL - - Graphic account by Judge James G. Swan--Indians assemble on - lower Chehalis River--The camp and scenes--Method of - proceeding--Indians object to leaving their wonted - resorts--Tleyuk, young Chehalis chief, proves recusant and - insolent--Governor Stevens rebukes him--Tears up his - commission before his face--Dismisses the council--His - forbearance, and desire to assist the Indians--Treaty made - with Quenaiults and Quillehutes next fall as result of this - council 1 - - - CHAPTER XXVII - - PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.--SAN JUAN CONTROVERSY - - Death of George Watson Stevens--Governor Stevens keeps Indians - in order--Visits Vancouver--Confers with Superintendent - Palmer, of Oregon--Firm stand against British claim to San - Juan Archipelago--Purchases Taylor donation claim--Democratic - convention to nominate delegate in Congress--Governor Stevens - a candidate--Effect of speech before convention: "If he gets - into Congress, we can never get him out"--J. Patton Anderson - nominated 10 - - CHAPTER XXVIII - - INDIANS OF THE UPPER COLUMBIA - - Manly Indians--Ten Great Tribes--Nez Perces--Missionary - Spalding--His work--Abandons mission--Escorted in safety by - Nez Perces--Intractable Cuyuses--Religious rivalry--Dr. - Whitman--Yakimas, Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, Flatheads, Pend - Oreilles, Koutenays--Upper country free from settlers--Indian - jealousy--Conspiracy to destroy whites discovered by Major - Alvord--Warnings disregarded--Governor Stevens thrown in - gap--Prepares for council--Walla Walla valley chosen by - Kam-i-ah-kan--Journey to Dalles--Incidents--Unfavorable - outlook--Escort secured--Trip to Walla Walla--"Call yourself - a great chief and steal wood?"--Council ground--Scenes--General - Palmer arrives--Programme for treaty--Officers--Lieutenant - Gracie, Mr. Lawrence Kip, and escort arrive--Governor Stevens - urges General Wool to establish post there 16 - - CHAPTER XXIX - - THE WALLA WALLA COUNCIL - - Nez Perces arrive--Savage parade--Head chief Hal-hal-tlos-sot or - Lawyer, an Indian Solon--Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, Umatillas - arrive--Pu-pu-mox-mox--Feasting the chiefs--Fathers Chirouse - and Pandosy arrive--Kam-i-ah-kan--Four hundred mounted braves - ride around Nez Perce camp--Young Chief--Spokane - Garry--Palouses fail to attend--Timothy preaches in Nez Perce - camp--Yakimas arrive--Commissioners visit Lawyer--Spotted - Eagle discloses Cuyuse plots--Council opened--Treaties - explained--Five thousand Indians present--Horse and foot - races--Young Chief asks holiday--Pu-pu-mox-mox's bitter - speech--Lawyer discloses conspiracy of Cuyuses to massacre - whites--Moves his lodge into camp to put it under protection - of Nez Perces--Governor Stevens prepares for trouble--Determines - to continue council--Invites Indians to speak their minds--Lawyer - favorable--Kam-i-ah-kan scornful--Pathetic speech of - Eagle-from-the-Light--Steachus wants reservation in his own - country--General Stevens's tent flooded--Lawyer accepts - treaty--Young Chief and others refuse--Governor Stevens's pointed - words--Separate reservations for Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and - Umatillas--Sudden arrival of Looking Glass--His indignation-- - Orders Nez Perces to their lodges--Night conference with - Yakimas--Stormy council--Lawyer goes to his lodge--Kam-i-ah-kan, - Pu-pu-mox-mox sign treaties--Lawyer's advice--Nez Perces - and Cuyuses counsel by themselves--Lawyer's authority confirmed-- - Last day of treaty--Both tribes sign--Eagle-from-the-Light - presents his medicine, a grizzly bear's skin, to Governor - Stevens--Satisfactory ending great relief--Delegations - to Blackfoot council--Nez Perce scalp-dance--Treachery of other - tribes--Outbreak--Compelled to live under treaties--Provisions - of treaties--Benefits of council--Present prosperity 34 - - - CHAPTER XXX - - CROSSING THE BITTER ROOTS - - Party for Blackfoot council--Crossing Snake River--Red Wolf and - Timothy thrifty chiefs--Traverse fine country--Coeur - d'Alene Mission--Council with Indians--Wrestling - match--Crossing the Bitter Root Mountains--Rafting the Bitter - Root River--Bitter Root or St. Mary's valley--Reception by - the Flatheads and Pend Oreilles--Victor complains of the - Blackfeet 66 - - - CHAPTER XXXI - - THE FLATHEAD COUNCIL - - Chiefs unwilling to unite on one reservation--Alexander dreads - strictness of the white man's rule--Big Canoe--What need of - treaty between friends?--Let us live together--Protracted - debates--Indians feast and counsel among themselves--No - result--Victor leaves the council--Two days' - intermission--Governor Stevens accepts Victor's proposition - and concludes treaty--Moses refuses to sign treaty--"The - Blackfeet will get his hair" 81 - - CHAPTER XXXII - - MARCH TO FORT BENTON.--MARSHALING THE TRIBES - - Nez Perces and Flatheads to hunt south of Missouri pending - council--Prairie Plateau on summit of Rocky Mountains--Elk - for supper--Lewis and Clark's Pass--Management of - train--Traverse the plains--Abundant game--Bewildering - buffalo trails--Reach Fort Benton--Governor Stevens meets - Commissioner Cumming on Milk River--Boats belated--Provisions - exhausted--Leathery jerked meat--Pemmican two years - old--Hunting buffalo on Judith--Bighorn at Citadel - Rock--Metsic, the hunter--Two thousand western Indians - fraternizing with Blackfeet--Stolen horses--Doty recovers - them--Cumming claims sole authority--Forced to subside into - proper place--He stigmatizes Blackfeet and country--Disagrees - on all points--Governor Stevens's views--A million and a half - buffalo find sustenance on these plains 92 - - CHAPTER XXXIII - - THE BLACKFOOT COUNCIL - - Twelve thousand Indians kept in hand for months--Nez Perces and - Snakes move to Yellowstone for food--Adams and Tappan seek - Crows--Delay of boats imperils council--Indians - summoned--Council changed to mouth of Judith - River--Remarkable express service--Three thousand five - hundred Indians assemble--Best feeling--Treaty - concluded--Peace established--Terms well kept by - Blackfeet--Scenes at council ground--Grand chorus of one - hundred Germans--Homeric feasts--Disgruntled commissioner 107 - - CHAPTER XXXIV - - CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS IN MIDWINTER.--SURPRISE OF THE - COEUR D'ALENES AND SPOKANES - - The start homeward--The haggard expressman brings news of Indian - outbreak--How Pearson ran the gauntlet of hostile - Indians--Governor Stevens disregards warning - dispatches--Resolves to force his way back by the direct - route--Sends to Fort Benton for arms and ammunition--Hastens - ahead of train to Bitter Root valley--Confers with Flatheads - and Nez Perces--Alarming reports--Procures fresh animals--Nez - Perce chiefs join the party--Taking the unexpected - route--Crossing the snowy Bitter Roots--Ten dead horses--The - surprise of the Coeur d'Alenes--"Peace or war?"--Craig and - the Nez Perces take direct route home--Surprise of the - Coeur d'Alenes--Rescue of blockaded miners--Indians called - to council--The Stevens Guards and Spokane Invincibles - organized 120 - - CHAPTER XXXV - - STORMY COUNCIL WITH THE SPOKANES - - Disaffected Indians--Kam-i-ah-kan's emissaries and - falsehoods--Governor Stevens's firm front preserves - friendship--Looking Glass's treachery discovered and - frustrated--Dubious speeches--Indians' friendship - gained--Light marching order--Four days' march in driving - storm to the Nez Perce country 133 - - - CHAPTER XXXVI - - THE FAITHFUL NEZ PERCES - - Two thousand assemble in council--Offer two hundred and fifty - warriors to force way through hostiles--Battle of Oregon - volunteers--The way cleared--The Nez Perce guard of - honor--March to Walla Walla--Capture of Ume-how-lish--Reception - by the volunteers--Governor Stevens's speech--Winter - campaign--Letter to General Wool--His inaction and mistaken - views--In camp, 27 deg. below zero--The Nez Perces dismissed-- - Governor Stevens pushes on to the Dalles in advance of - train--Crossing the gorged Deschutes--By trail down the - Columbia to Vancouver--The sail at night in the storm--Arrival - at Olympia after nine months' absence--Mrs. Stevens and - children visit Whitby Island--In danger from northern Indians 143 - - - CHAPTER XXXVII - - PROSTRATION.--RESCUE - - Country utterly prostrated--Settlers take refuge in - towns--Abandon farms--General Wool disbands volunteers, takes - the defensive, and maligns the people--Review of war-- - Kam-i-ah-kan, leading spirit--Treacherous chiefs, fresh from - signing treaties, incite war--Miners massacred--Agent - Bolon murdered--Major Haller's repulse--Settlers driven from - Walla Walla--Massacre on White River--Volunteers raised-- - Lieutenant Slaughter killed--Impenetrable forests and - swamps--Cascades afford hidden resorts--Fruitless march of - Major Rains to Yakima--Governor Stevens addresses - legislature--His measures of relief--Calls out volunteers-- - Visits lower Sound--Enlists Indian auxiliaries--Settlers - return to farms--Build blockhouses--Organization of - volunteers 156 - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII - - WAGING THE WAR ON THE SOUND - - Volunteers form Northern, Central, and Southern battalions--Plan - of campaign--Cooperation sought with regulars--Memoir of - information sent General Wool and Colonel Wright--Campaign - east of Cascades suggested--Wool's flying visit to - Sound--Demands virtual disbanding of volunteers--Governor - Stevens's caustic letter of refusal--Pat-ka-nim fights - hostiles--Naval forces--Battle of Connell's prairie--Scouring - the forests and swamps amid rains and storms--Red - allies--Massacre at Cascades--Two companies of rangers called - out to reassure settlers--Unremitting warfare--Hostiles - surrender or flee across Cascades--Posts and blockhouses - turned over to regulars--Volunteers on Sound disbanded 171 - - CHAPTER XXXIX - - THE WAR IN THE UPPER COUNTRY - - Fruitless movements of Oregon volunteers--Colonel Wright - marches to Yakima valley in May--Parleys instead of - fighting--Governor Stevens proposes joint movement across - Cascades--Colonel Casey declines--Colonel Shaw crosses - Nahchess Pass--Marches to Walla Walla--Governor Stevens - journeys to Dalles--Dispatches Goff's and Williams's - companies to Walla Walla--Seeks cooperation with Colonel - Wright--Warns him against amnesty to Sound murderers--Three - columns reach Walla Walla the same day--Shaw defeats hostiles - in Grande Ronde--His victory restrains disaffected Nez - Perces--Governor Stevens invites Colonel Wright to attend - peace council in Walla Walla--That officer fooled by the - Yakimas--His abortive campaign--Ow-hi's diplomacy 194 - - CHAPTER XL - - THE FRUITLESS PEACE COUNCIL - - Governor Stevens, assured of support by Colonel Wright, - revokes call for additional volunteers--Council with - Klikitats--Refuses to receive Indian murderers on - reservation--Pushes forward to Walla Walla--Indians take - pack-train--Steptoe arrives with four companies--Indians - assemble--Manifest hostility--Steptoe moves off--Volunteers - start for Dalles--Steptoe refuses guard--Governor Stevens - recalls volunteers--Hostile and threatening Indians--Steptoe - refusing support, Governor Stevens moves to his camp-- - Disaffected chiefs demand that treaties be abrogated, - whites leave the country--Governor Stevens demands - submission--Terminates council--Starts for Dalles--Attacked - on march--The fight--Moves back to Steptoe's camp--Indians - attack it--Repulsed--Blockhouse built--One company - left--Both commands march to Dalles--Steptoe's change of - views--Demand on Colonel Wright to deliver up Sound - murderers, who gives order--Cleverly evaded--Colonel Wright - marches to Walla Walla--Counsels with hostile chiefs--Yields - to their demands--Whites ordered out of the country--Shameful - betrayal of duty--Governor Stevens's indignant letters to the - War and Indian departments--Pernicious influence of - missionaries and Hudson Bay Company--Governor Stevens's views - finally adopted--Steptoe's defeat--Wright defeats - hostiles--Summary executions--Fate of Ow-hi and Qualchen 206 - - CHAPTER XLI - - DISBANDING THE VOLUNTEERS - - Entire force disbanded--Their character, discipline--Public - property sold--So many captured animals that more were sold - than purchased--Transportation cost nothing--Anecdote of - Captain Henness--Thirty-five forts built by volunteers, - twenty-three by settlers, seven by regulars--Colonel Casey - refuses demand for surrender of murderers--Governor Stevens - insists--Sharply rebukes Colonel Casey's slurs--Leschi - surrendered for trial--Is finally hanged--Qui-e-muth killed 232 - - CHAPTER XLII - - MARTIAL LAW.--DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME - - Hudson Bay Company's ex-employees remain in Indian - country--Suspected of aiding enemy--Governor Stevens orders - them to the towns--Five return to farms, at instigation of - trouble-makers--Arrested and thrown in jail Judge Lander - issues writ of habeas corpus--Martial law proclaimed in - Pierce County--Colonel Shaw arrests judge and clerk, who are - taken to Olympia and released--Lawyers pass condemnatory - resolutions--Judge Lander holds court in Olympia--Issues - writs--Martial law in Thurston County--Judge Lander - arrested--Held prisoner at Camp Montgomery until end of - war--Martial law abrogated--Governor Stevens fined fifty - dollars--His action in proclaiming martial law disapproved by - the President--Dishonorable discharge used to maintain - discipline--Company A refuse to take field--Pass contumacious - resolutions--Are dishonorably discharged--Control of - disaffected Indians--Agents in constant danger--Summary - dealing with whiskey-sellers--Agents men of high - qualities--Statement of temporary reserves--Indians and - agents--Northern Indians depredate on Sound--Captain - Gansevoort severely punishes them at Port Gamble, and sends - them north--Colonel Ebey falls victim to their revenge 242 - - - CHAPTER XLIII - - LEGISLATIVE CENSURE.--POPULAR VINDICATION - - Governor Stevens's habits of labor--Adopts costume of the - country--Builds home--Housewarming--Fourth message to - legislature--Renders account of Indian war--Resolutions - censuring Governor Stevens, for dismissing Company A and - proclaiming martial law, pooled and passed--Indignation - of the people--Governor Stevens nominated for Congress-- - Canvasses the Territory--Elected by two thirds vote-- - Resigns as governor--Death of James Doty--Turns over - governorship to Governor McMullan; Indian affairs, to - Superintendent Nesmith--Return journey East--Incidents 260 - - CHAPTER XLIV - - IN CONGRESS.--VINDICATING HIS COURSE - - Passing Superintendent Nesmith's accounts--Obtaining funds for - Indian service--President recommends confirmation of the - treaties--Welcomed back by old friends--General Lane a tower - of strength--Demands that military deliver Yakima murderers - to punishment--They abandon their proteges--Takes house and - moves family to Washington--Mr. James G. Swan, - secretary--Circular letter to emigrants--Appeals to Indian - Department to establish farms promised Blackfeet--Has - Lieutenant John Mullan placed in charge of building - wagon-road between Fort Benton and Walla Walla--Exposes - memoir of Captain Cram--Convinces Senate Indian committee - that treaties ought to be confirmed--Advocates Northwestern - boundary commission--Speeches on Indian war--Pacific - Railroad--Defends Nesmith--Matters engaging - attention--Resists exactions of Hudson Bay Company in memoir - to Secretary of State--Steptoe's defeat--Colonel Wright - punishes Indians--General Harney placed in command of - Washington and Oregon departments--He revokes Wool's order - excluding settlers from upper country--Address on - Northwest--Walter W. Johnson, private secretary--Treaties all - confirmed March 8, 1859--Dictates his final report on - Northern route before breakfast 271 - - CHAPTER XLV - - SAVING SAN JUAN - - Returns to Puget Sound--Guest of General Harney--Close relations - with--Renominated for Congress--The canvass--Elected--Death - of Mr. Mason--San Juan dispute waxes warm over a pig--General - Harney advised by Governor Stevens--Sends Captain Pickett to - occupy the island--British fleet blockade--Reinforcements - sent to Pickett--British powerless on land--Thousands of - American miners in Victoria and on Fraser River--Governor - Gholson guided by Governor Stevens--Offers support of militia - to General Harney, who places ammunition at his - disposal--General Scott pacifies British lion--Governor - Stevens's influence in saving the archipelago 288 - - CHAPTER XLVI - - THE STAND AGAINST DISUNION - - Governor Stevens becomes chief exponent and authority on - Northern route--Letter to Vancouver railroad convention-- - Contending for the Northern route--Governor Stevens lives - down prejudice--Gains respect--Great influence with - President and departments--His habits--Rebuke of - self-seekers--Political issues--Governor Stevens a national - man--Sustained constitutional rights of South, as matter - of justice and to defeat disunion--Patriotism of men of - this view--Attends Charleston and Baltimore Democratic - conventions--Supports General Lane--Split in party--Governor - Stevens accepts as chairman of executive committee of - National Democracy--Writes address in a single night--Labors - hard--Hopes of success--Abraham Lincoln elected - President--Act to pay Indian war debt passed--W.W. Miller - appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Washington - Territory--Governor Stevens's achievements in seven - years--His firm Union sentiments--Denounces - secession--Strengthens the hands of the President 296 - - CHAPTER XLVII - - THE OFFER OF SWORD AND SERVICES - - Governor Stevens returns to Washington Territory--Recommends - supporting the government and arming the militia--Elected - captain of Puget Sound Rifles of Olympia--Democratic - convention meets--Governor Stevens withdraws his name as - candidate for delegate--His speech--Offers services--Hastens - to Washington--Meets cold reception--Accepts colonelcy of - 79th Highlanders--Governors Andrew and Sprague offer - regiments 313 - - CHAPTER XLVIII - - THE 79TH HIGHLANDERS.--THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC - - The Highland Guard, a New York city militia battalion, volunteer - as the 79th Highlanders--Splendid material--Severe losses at - Bull Run--Promised to be sent home to recruit--Disappointed-- - Colonel Stevens takes command--Breaks unworthy officers--The - mutiny and its suppression--Colonel Stevens enforces - discipline--Marches through Washington with band playing - the dead march--Removes camp guards and appeals to honor of - the regiment--Crossing the Potomac into Virginia--Colonel - Stevens's brief speech at midnight--Building Fort Ethan - Allen--Digging forts and felling forests--Picket alarms--The - reconnoissance of Lewinsville--General McClellan meets - returning column; his anxiety to avoid a general engagement-- - Colonel Stevens deprived of his brigade and given three green - regiments--President Lincoln reminded, directs appointment of - Colonel Stevens as brigadier-general; says delay is owing to - General McClellan's advice--Hazard Stevens appointed adjutant - 79th Highlanders--Colonel Stevens appointed brigadier-general-- - Moves forward four miles to Camp of the Big Chestnut--The - recusant wagon-master--The unexpected rebuke--McClellan's - passive-defensive--General Stevens ordered to Annapolis--Bids - farewell to the Highlanders--Whole line cries, "Tak' us wi' - ye!"--Secures appointment of his son as captain and assistant - adjutant-general--Condemns McClellan's management--Predicts - disaster--Reaches Annapolis--Applies for Highlanders--McClellan - objects, but President Lincoln overrules him and sends them 321 - - CHAPTER XLIX - - THE PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION - - General Thomas W. Sherman--His army--General Stevens's - brigade--The embarkation--Fleet assemble off Fortress - Monroe--Boat's crew of Highlanders--Lively scenes--Sailing - out to sea--Storm scatters the fleet--Opening sealed - orders--Sail for Port Royal--The rebel defenses--Commodore - Dupont's attack--The enemy's flight--Landing of the - troops--Demoralized by sweet-potato field--General Stevens - alone urges advance inland--Constructs a mile of defensive - works--Sickness--Life on Hilton Head 341 - - CHAPTER L - - BEAUFORT.--ACTION OF PORT ROYAL FERRY - - General Stevens occupies Beaufort, the Newport of the - South--Abandoned by white population--Sacked by negroes; - their ignorance, habits, condition--Faint attack on the - pickets--General Stevens advances across Port Royal - Island--Pickets outer side, throwing enemy on the - defensive--Enemy close the Coosaw River--General Stevens's - plan to dislodge them authorized--Reinforcement by two - regiments and gunboats--Flatboats assembled in a hidden - creek--Troops embark at midnight, cross Coosaw, and effect - landing--March in echelon toward Port Royal Ferry--The - action--The enemy's hasty retreat--The Ferry occupied--The - forts destroyed--Troops bivouac for the night--Cross the - ferry and march to Beaufort in triumph--Thanked in general - orders for the victory of Port Royal Ferry 353 - - CHAPTER LI - - BEAUFORT.--CAMPAIGN PLANNED AGAINST CHARLESTON - - General Stevens restores public library--It is confiscated by - Treasury agents against his protest--The Gideonites come to - elevate the freedmen--General Stevens moderates their zeal; - wins their gratitude--Other visitors--Thorough course of - drill and discipline--Twenty-five-mile picket - line--Detachment of 8th Michigan defeat 13th Georgia regiment - on Wilmington Island--Death of Mr. Caverly--Governor - Stevens's views on military situation--General Stevens's - force a menace to Charleston and Savannah Railroad--Six - miles trestle bridges--General Robert E. Lee's defensive - measures--General Stevens eager to cross swords with - Lee--Plans movement to destroy railroad and hurl whole army - on Charleston--Captain Elliott's scouting trips--General - Sherman adopts plan--Commodore Dupont to cooperate--General - Hunter supersedes General Sherman--Fort Pulaski - taken--General Hunter proclaims negroes forever free, then - impresses them as soldiers--General Stevens's views on the - negro soldier--He is confirmed as brigadier-general 367 - - CHAPTER LII - - JAMES ISLAND CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARLESTON - - Enemy abandon lower part of Stono River and batteries--General - Benham plans movement on Charleston by way of James - Island--General Stevens lands on James Island--Drives back - enemy in sharp action--Takes three guns--Cautions Benham of - need of a day's preparation before attacking--Incompetent - commanders--Wright joins, a week later, with his - division--Organization of the army--Enemy strengthening works - across island--Fort Lamar, strong advanced work--General - Stevens erects counter-battery--Reconnoissances 387 - - CHAPTER LIII - - BATTLE OF JAMES ISLAND - - General Benham's precipitate determination to assault Fort - Lamar--Protests of his generals--He orders General Stevens to - assault at dawn, Wright and Williams to support--Attacking - column--Forms at two P.M.--Drives in and follows hard on - enemy's pickets--Enters field in front of fort at - daylight--Rushes on the work in column of regiments--The - fight over the parapet--Deadly fire from enemy's reserves in - rear of the work--Troops withdrawn in good order and - reformed--General Williams attacks on left--General Wright - takes position to protect left and rear--General Stevens - about to assault a second time, when General Benham suddenly - gives up the fight and orders both columns to retreat--Forces - and losses--Causes of the repulse--Highlanders' revenge at - Fort Saunders--Benham deprived of command and sent North 399 - - - CHAPTER LIV - - RETURN TO VIRGINIA - - The Highlanders present General Stevens with a sword--His - response--Death of Daniel Lyman Arnold--General Stevens's - letters to his wife--Holds Benham to account--General Wright - succeeds to command on Benham's arrest--James Island - evacuated--Troops uselessly harassed--Jean Ribaut's - fort--Voyage to Virginia--General Stevens's letter to - President Lincoln recommending such movement--His views of - military situation--Lands at Newport News--Ninth corps - formed, General Stevens commanding first division--Meets - General Cullum 416 - - - CHAPTER LV - - POPE'S CAMPAIGN - - General Stevens moves to Fredericksburg--Division in three - brigades, and joined by two light batteries--Stevens and - Reno's division, march up the Rappahannock; join Pope's army - at Culpeper Court House--General Stevens stops straggling and - marauding--Battle of Cedar Mountain--Army of Virginia--Pope - advances to Rapidan--General Stevens holds Raccoon Ford--Lee - leaves McClellan--Concentrates against Pope, who withdraws - behind Rappahannock--General Stevens's action at Kelly's - Ford--Marching up the river to head off Lee--Benjamin - silences enemy's gun with a single shot--Reinforcements - arrive from Army of the Potomac--Jackson marches around right - flank and falls on rear--Positions and movements, August 26, - 27, 28--Description of Bull Run battlefield--Jackson - withdraws from Manassas and takes position there--Movements - of Pope's forces--Fiasco of McDowell and Sigel--Jackson - attacks--Stubborn fight of General Gibbon near - Groveton--Generals King and Ricketts march away from the - enemy--Pope reiterates order to attack 425 - - - CHAPTER LVI - - THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN - - Jackson resumes his position--Sigel's troops move forward slowly - and become engaged--Reynolds, on left, advances, but falls - back--Troops of right wing arrive, scattered to meet Sigel's - cries for reinforcements--General Stevens advances with - small force to Groveton--Unexpectedly fired on by enemy's - skirmishers--Benjamin maintains unequal artillery - combat--Sigel and Schenck withdraw troops from - key-point--Jackson forces back Milroy and Schurz--General - Porter's movement--Inactive all day--Pope hurls disconnected - brigades on Jackson's corps--Attacks by Grover, Reno, Kearny, - Stevens, all repulsed--King's division slaughtered--General - Stevens collects his scattered division--Union attacks - repulsed the first day--Lee master of the situation--August - 30, second day--Pope sure the enemy had retreated--General - Stevens expresses contrary view--Captain John More finds - enemy in force--Pope's fatuous Order of pursuit--Porter - slowly forms column in centre--Pope's faulty dispositions-- - Whole army bunched in centre--Wings stripped of troops-- - Porter's attack--General Stevens joins in it--The repulse-- - Lee's opportunity--Longstreet's onslaught--The battle on left - and centre--The right firmly held--General Stevens's - remark--Pope orders retreat--General Stevens withdraws - deliberately--Checks pursuit--Capture of Lieutenant - Heffron--Crosses Bull Run at Lock's Ford--Bivouac for - night--Battle lost by incompetent commander--Troops fought - bravely 446 - - - CHAPTER LVII - - THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY - - Retreat to Centreville--Rear-guard--Bivouac on Centreville - heights--Counting stacks--Two thousand and twelve muskets - left--Loss nearly one half--General Stevens's last - letter--Sudden orders--March to intercept Jackson--Battle of - Chantilly--General Stevens's charge--He falls, bearing the - colors--The enemy driven from his position--Sudden and - furious thunderstorm bursts over the field 477 - - - CHAPTER LVIII - - THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY - - Progress of the fight--General Kearny responds to General - Stevens's summons with Birney's brigade--His death--Three of - Reno's regiments engaged--Night ends the contest--Sixteen - Union regiments against forty-eight Confederate--Respective - losses and forces--General Stevens averted great disaster 487 - - - CHAPTER LIX - - FINAL SCENE - - General Stevens's body borne from battle to Washington--President - considering placing him in command at time of his death-- - Burial in Newport, R.I.--City erects monument--Inscription-- - Poem--General Stevens's descendants 498 - - APPENDIX--Census of Indians 503 - - INDEX 507 - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - Arrival of Nez Perce Cavalcade at the Council 34 - - Feasting the Chiefs 36 - - Kam-i-ah-kan, Head Chief of the Yakimas 38 - - U-u-san-male-e-can: Spotted Eagle, a chief of the Nez Perces 40 - - Walla Walla Council 42 - - Pu-pu-mox-mox: Yellow Serpent, Head Chief of the Walla Wallas 46 - - We-ah-te-na-tee-ma-ny: Young Chief, Head Chief of the Cuyuses 50 - - She-ca-yah: Five Crows, a Chief of the Cuyuses 52 - - Appushwa-hite: Looking Glass, War Chief of the Nez Perces 54 - - Hal-hal-tlos-sot: The Lawyer, Head Chief of the Nez Perces 58 - - The Scalp Dance 60 - - Ow-hi, a Chief of the Yakimas 64 - - The Flathead Council 82 - - The Blackfoot Council 112 - - Group of Blackfoot Chiefs--Ha-ca-tu-she-ye-hu, Star Robe, - Chief of the Gros Ventres; Th-ke-te-pers, The Rider, Great - War Chief of the Gros Ventres; Sak-uis-tan, Heavy Shield, - Great Warrior of the Blood Indians; Stam-yekh-sas-ci-cay, - Lame Bull, Piegan Chief 114 - - Blackfoot Chiefs--Tat-tu-ye, The Fox, Chief of the Blood - Indians; Mek-ya-py, Red Dye, Piegan Warrior 116 - - Group: Commissioner Alfred Cumming, Alexander Culbertson, - William Craig, Delaware Jim, James Bird 118 - - Crossing the Bitter Roots in Midwinter 126 - - Coeur d'Alene Mission 128 - - Spokane Garry: Head Chief of the Spokanes 140 - - Ume-how-lish, War Chief of the Cuyuses 148 - - Homestead in Olympia 260 - - Letter offering Sword and Services (facsimile) 316 - - Captain Hazard Stevens at the age of 19, from a photograph 340 - - Headquarters at Beaufort 372 - - General Stevens and Staff: Captain B.F. Porter, Lieutenant - William T. Lusk, Captain Hazard Stevens, Lieutenant Abraham - Cottrell, General Stevens, Major George S. Kemble, Lieutenant - Benjamin R. Lyons 386 - - Headquarters on James Island 398 - - Camp of General Stevens's Division at Newport News 422 - - Headquarters at Newport News 424 - - The Monument 502 - - The portraits of Indian chiefs were made by Gustavus Sohon, a - private soldier of the 4th infantry, an intelligent and - well-educated German, who had great skill in making expressive - likenesses. He also made the views of the councils and expedition. - These portraits, with many others taken by the same artist, were - intended by General Stevens to be used to illustrate a complete - account of his treaty operations. The views of camps and - headquarters were sketched by E. Henry, E Company, 79th - Highlanders. - - - - -MAPS AND PLANS - - - The Interior from Cascade Mountains to Fort Benton. Made on - reduced scale from Governor Stevens's map of April 30, 1857, - sent to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Routes traversed - by Governor Stevens taken from maps accompanying his final - report of the Northern Pacific Railroad route. See Appendix - for marginal notes 16 - - Theatre of Indian War of 1855-56 on Puget Sound and West of - Cascade Mountains. Made on reduced scale from map sent by - Governor Stevens to the Secretary of War with report of March - 21, 1856 172 - Reconnoissance of Lewinsville, September 11, 1862 330 - - Port Royal and Sea Islands of South Carolina 352 - - Action at Port Royal Ferry, January 1, 1862 358 - - Battle of James Island, June 16, 1862 402 - - Virginia--Potomac to Rapidan River 426 - - Positions of forces August 26, 1862, 9 P.M. 432 - - Positions of forces August 27, 9 P.M. 433 - - Positions of forces August 28, 9 P.M. 443 - - Second Battle of Bull Run, August 29 446 - - Second Battle of Bull Run, August 30 464 - - Jackson's flank march, August 31 480 - - Battle of Chantilly, September 1 482 - - - - - THE LIFE - - OF - - ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - - THE CHEHALIS COUNCIL - - -While treating with the Sound Indians, the governor sent William H. -Tappan, agent for the southwestern tribes, Henry D. Cock, and Sidney -Ford to summon the Chinooks, Chehalis, and coast Indians to meet in -council on the Chehalis River, just above Gray's Harbor, on February 25, -and on returning to Olympia dispatched Simmons and Shaw on the same -duty. On the 22d he left Olympia on horseback, rode to the Chehalis, -thirty miles, and the following day descended that stream in a canoe to -the treaty ground. Among other settlers who attended the council at the -governor's invitation was James G. Swan, then residing on Shoalwater -Bay, and since noted for his interesting writings on the Pacific -Northwest, and for the valuable collections of Indian implements and -curiosities, and monographs of their languages, customs, and history -that he has made for the Smithsonian Institution. Judge Swan gives the -following graphic and lively account of this council in his "Three -Years' Residence in Washington Territory." He describes how he and Dr. -J.G. Cooper, accompanied by twenty canoe-loads of Indians, paddled up -the Chehalis one cold, damp morning, without waiting for breakfast, -finding it difficult to keep warm:-- - - "But the Indians did not seem to mind it at all; for, excited with - the desire to outvie each other in their attempts to be first to - camp, they paddled, and screamed, and shouted, and laughed, and cut - up all kinds of antics, which served to keep them in a glow. As we - approached the camp we all stopped at a bend in the river, about - three quarters of a mile distant, when all began to wash their - faces, comb their hair, and put on their best clothes. The women got - out their bright shawls and dresses, and painted their faces with - vermilion, or red ochre and grease, and decked themselves out with - their beads and trinkets, and in about ten minutes we were a - gay-looking set; and certainly the appearance of the canoes filled - with Indians dressed in their brightest colors was very picturesque, - but I should have enjoyed it better had the weather been a little - warmer. - - "The camp ground was situated on a bluff bank of the river, on its - south side, about ten miles from Gray's Harbor, on the claim of Mr. - James Pilkington. A space of two or three acres had been cleared - from logs and brushwood, which had been piled up so as to form an - oblong square. One great tree, which formed the southern side to the - camp, served also as an immense backlog, against which our great - camp-fire and sundry smaller ones were kindled, both to cook by and - to warm us. In the centre of the square, and next the river, was the - governor's tent; and between it and the south side of the ground - were the commissary's and other tents, all ranged in proper order. - Rude tables, laid in open air, and a huge framework of poles, from - which hung carcasses of beef, mutton, deer, elk, and salmon, with a - cloud of wild geese, ducks, and smaller game, gave evidence that the - austerities of Lent were not to form any part of our services. - - "Around the sides of the square were ranged the tents and wigwams of - the Indians, each tribe having a space allotted to it. The coast - Indians were placed at the lower part of the camp; first the - Chinooks, then the Chehalis, Quen-ai-ult, and Quaitso, Satsop, upper - Chehalis, and Cowlitz. These different tribes had sent - representatives to the council, and there were present about three - hundred and fifty of them, and the best feeling prevailed among all. - - "The white persons present consisted of only fourteen, viz., - Governor Stevens, George Gibbs (who officiated as secretary to the - commission), Judge Ford, with his two sons, who were assistant - interpreters, Lieutenant-Colonel B.F. Shaw, the chief interpreter, - Colonel Simmons and Mr. Tappan, Indian agents, Dr. Cooper, Mr. - Pilkington, the owner of the claim, Colonel Cock, myself, and last, - though by no means the least, Cushman, our commissary, orderly - sergeant, provost marshal, chief story-teller, factotum, and life of - the party,--'Long may he wave.' Nor must I omit Green McCafferty, - the cook, whose name had become famous for his exploits in an - expedition to Queen Charlotte's Island to rescue some sailors from - the Indians. He was a good cook and kept us well supplied with hot - biscuit and roasted potatoes. - - "Our table was spread in the open air, and at breakfast and supper - was pretty sure to be covered with frost, but the hot dishes soon - cleared that off, and we found the clear, fresh breeze very - conducive to a good appetite. After supper we all gathered round the - fire to smoke our pipes, toast our feet, and tell stories. - - "The next morning the council was commenced. The Indians were all - drawn up in a large circle in front of the governor's tent, and - around a table on which were placed the articles of treaty and other - papers. The governor, General Gibbs, and Colonel Shaw sat at the - table, and the rest of the whites were honored with camp-stools, to - sit around as a sort of guard, or as a small cloud of witnesses. - - "Although we had no regimentals on, we were dressed pretty uniform. - His Excellency the Governor was dressed in a red flannel shirt, dark - frock coat and pants, and these last tucked in his boots, California - fashion; a black felt hat, with, I think, a pipe stuck through the - band; and a paper of fine-cut tobacco in his coat pocket. We also - were dressed like the governor, not in ball-room or dress-parade - uniform, but in good, warm, serviceable clothes. - - "After Colonel Mike Simmons, the agent, and, as he has been termed, - the Daniel Boone of the Territory, had marshaled the savages into - order, an Indian interpreter was selected from each tribe to - interpret the jargon of Shaw into such language as their tribes - could understand. The governor then made a speech, which was - translated by Colonel Shaw into jargon, and spoken to the Indians, - in the same manner the good old elders of ancient times were - accustomed to deacon out the hymns to the congregation. First the - governor spoke a few words, then the colonel interpreted, then the - Indians; so that this threefold repetition made it rather a lengthy - operation. After this speech the Indians were dismissed till the - following day, when the treaty was to be read. We were then - requested by the governor to explain to those Indians we were - acquainted with what he had said, and they seemed very well - satisfied. The governor had purchased of Mr. Pilkington a large pile - of potatoes,--about a hundred bushels,--and he told the Indians to - help themselves. They made the heap grow small in a short time, each - taking what he required for food; but lest any one should get an - undue share, Commissary Cushman and Colonel Simmons were detailed to - stand guard on the potato pile, which they did with the utmost good - feeling, keeping the savages in a roar of laughter by their humorous - ways. - - "At night we again gathered around the fire, and the governor - requested that we should enliven the time by telling anecdotes, - himself setting the example. Governor Stevens has a rich fund of - interesting and amusing incidents that he has picked up in his camp - life, and a very happy way of relating them. We were all called upon - in turn. There were some tales told of a wild and romantic nature, - and Judge Ford and Colonel Mike did their part. Old frontiersmen and - early settlers, they had many a legend to relate of toil, privation, - fun, and frolic; but the palm was conceded to Cushman, who certainly - could vie with Baron Munchausen or Sindbad the Sailor in his - wonderful romances. His imitative powers were great, and he would - take off some speaker at a political gathering or a camp-meeting in - so ludicrous a style that even the governor could not preserve his - gravity, but would be obliged to join the rest in a general laughing - chorus. Whenever Cushman began one of his harangues, he was sure to - draw up a crowd of Indians, who seemed to enjoy the fun as much as - we, although they could not understand a word he said. He usually - wound up by stirring up the fire; and this, blazing up brightly and - throwing off a shower of sparks, would light the old forest, making - the night look blacker in the distance, and showing out in full - relief the dusky, grinning faces of the Indians, with their blankets - drawn around them, standing up just outside the circle where we were - sitting. Cushman was a most capital man for a camp expedition, - always ready, always prompt and good-natured. - - "The second morning after our arrival the terms of the treaty were - made known. This was read line by line by General Gibbs, and then - interpreted by Colonel Shaw to the Indians. The provisions of the - treaty were these: They were to be placed on a reservation between - Gray's Harbor and Cape Flattery, and were to be paid forty thousand - dollars in different installments. Four thousand dollars in addition - was also to be paid them, to enable them to clear and fence in land - and cultivate. No spirituous liquors were to be allowed on the - reservation; and any Indian who should be guilty of drinking liquor - would have his or her annuity withheld. - - "Schools, carpenters' and blacksmiths' shops were to be furnished by - the United States; also a sawmill, agricultural implements, - teachers, and a doctor. All their slaves were to be free, and none - afterwards to be bought or sold. The Indians, however, were not to - be restricted to the reservation, but were to be allowed to procure - their food as they had always done, and were at liberty at any time - to leave the reservation to trade with or work for the whites. - - "After this had all been interpreted to them, they were dismissed - till the next day, in order that they might talk the matter over - together, and have any part explained to them which they did not - understand. The following morning the treaty was again read to them - after a speech from the governor, but although they seemed - satisfied, they did not perfectly comprehend. The difficulty was in - having so many tribes to talk to at the same time, and being obliged - to use the jargon, which at best is a poor medium of conveying - intelligence. The governor requested any one of them that wished, to - reply to him. Several of the chiefs spoke, some in jargon and some - in their own tribal language, which would be interpreted into jargon - by one of their people who was conversant with it; so that, what - with this diversity of tongues, it was difficult to have the subject - properly understood. But their speeches finally resulted in one and - the same thing, which was that they felt proud to have the governor - talk with them; they liked his proposition to buy their land, but - they did not want to go to the reservation. The speech of Narkarty, - one of the Chinook chiefs, will convey the idea they all had. 'When - you first began to speak,' said he to the governor, 'we did not - understand you; it was all dark to us as the night; but now our - hearts are enlightened, and what you say is clear to us as the sun. - We are proud that our Great Father in Washington thinks of us. We - are poor, and can see how much better off the white men are than we - are. We are willing to sell our land, but we do not want to go away - from our homes. Our fathers and mothers and ancestors are buried - there, and by them we wish to bury our dead and be buried ourselves. - We wish, therefore, each to have a place on our own land where we - can live, and you may have the rest; but we can't go to the north - among the other tribes. We are not friends, and if we went together - we should fight, and soon we would all be killed.' This same idea - was expressed by all, and repeated every day. The Indians from the - interior did not want to go on a reservation with the coast or canoe - Indians. The whole together only numbered 843 all told, as may be - seen by the following census, which was taken on the ground:-- - - Lower Chehalis 217 - Upper Chehalis 216 - Quenaiults 158 - Chinooks 112 - Cowlitz 140 - --- - 843 - - "But though few in numbers, there were among them men possessed of - shrewdness, sense, and great influence. They felt that though they - were few, they were as much entitled to a separate treaty as the - more powerful tribes in the interior. We all reasoned with them to - show the kind intentions of the governor, and how much better off - they would be if they could content themselves to live in one - community; and our appeals were not altogether in vain. Several of - the tribes consented, and were ready to sign the treaty, and of - these the Quenaiults were the most prompt, evidently, however, from - the fact that the proposed reservation included their land, and they - would consequently remain at home. - - "I think the governor would have eventually succeeded in inducing - them all to sign, had it not been for the son of Carcowan, the old - Chehalis chief. This young savage, whose name is Tleyuk, and who was - the recognized chief of his tribe, had obtained great influence - among all the coast Indians. He was very willing at first to sign - the treaty, provided the governor would select _his_ land for the - reservation, and make him the grand _Tyee_, or chief, over the whole - five tribes; but when he found he could not effect his purpose, he - changed his behavior, and we soon found his bad influence among the - other Indians, and the meeting broke up that day with marked - symptoms of dissatisfaction. This ill-feeling was increased by old - Carcowan, who smuggled some whiskey into the camp, and made his - appearance before the governor quite intoxicated. He was handed over - to Provost Marshal Cushman, with orders to keep him quiet till he - got sober. The governor was very much incensed at this breach of his - orders, for he had expressly forbidden either whites or Indians - bringing one drop of liquor into the camp. - - "The following day Tleyuk stated that he had no faith in anything - the governor said, for he had been told that it was the intention of - the United States government to put them all on board steamers and - send them away out of the country, and that the Americans were not - their friends. He gave the names of several white persons who had - been industrious in circulating these reports to thwart the governor - in his plans, and most all of them had been in the employ of the - Hudson Bay Company. He was assured that there was no truth in the - report, and pretended to be satisfied, but in reality was doing all - in his power to break up the meeting. That evening the governor - called the chiefs into his tent, but to no purpose, for Tleyuk made - some insolent remarks, and peremptorily refused to sign the treaty, - and with his people refused to have anything to do with it. That - night in his camp they behaved in a very disorderly manner, firing - off guns, shouting, and making a great uproar. - - "The next morning, when the council was called, the governor gave - Tleyuk a severe reprimand, and, taking from him his paper, which had - been given to show that the government recognized him as chief, he - tore it to pieces before the assemblage. Tleyuk felt this disgrace - very keenly, but said nothing. The paper was to him of great - importance, for they all look on a printed or written document as - possessing some wonderful charm. The governor then informed them - that as all would not sign the treaty it was of no effect, and the - camp was then broken up. - - "Throughout the whole of the conference Governor Stevens evinced a - degree of forbearance, and a desire to do everything he could for - the benefit of the Indians. Nothing was done in a hurry. We remained - in the camp a week, and ample time was given them each day to - perfectly understand the views of the governor. The utmost good - feeling prevailed, and every day they were induced to some games of - sport to keep them good humored. Some would have races on the river - in their canoes, others danced, and others gambled; all was friendly - till the last day, when Tleyuk's bad conduct spoiled the whole." - -That was an intrepid and resolute act of Governor Stevens, thus to tear -up the turbulent chief's commission before his face, surrounded by three -hundred and fifty Indians and supported by only fourteen whites; but it -effectually cowed the insolent young savage, and preserved the respect -of the Indians. - -The council was by no means abortive, for in consequence of it the -following fall Colonel Simmons obtained the assent and signature of the -chiefs of the Quenaiult and Quillehute coast tribes to the treaty so -carefully explained to them at the Chehalis council, and it was signed -by Governor Stevens at Olympia, January 25, 1856, on his return from the -Blackfoot council, and duly confirmed with the other treaties on March -8, 1859. These Indians were given $25,000 in annuities, and $2500 to -improve the reservation, the selection of which was left to the -President. A reservation of ten thousand acres was set off at the mouth -of the Quenaiult River, including their principal village and salmon -fishery, renowned as yielding the richest and finest salmon on the -coast, a fish of medium size, deep, rich color, and exquisite flavor. -The other provisions were the same as those secured to the Sound -Indians. - -Tah-ho-lah and How-yatl, head chiefs of the two tribes, and twenty-nine -other chiefs signed the treaty, and it was witnessed by M.T. Simmons, -general Indian agent; H.A. Goldsborough, surveyor; B.F. Shaw, -interpreter; James Tilton, surveyor-general; F. Kennedy, J.Y. Miller, -and H.D. Cock. - -These two tribes numbered four hundred and ninety-three, a number -greatly in excess of the census given in Swan's account. In their -distrust the Indians invariably reported less than their actual numbers, -and nearly every tribe was found to be larger than the first estimate. -The numbers of the Chinook, Chehalis, and Cowlitz Indians were reported -by Governor Stevens in 1857 as one thousand one hundred and fifteen. - -Including the Quenaiults and the Cowlitz, and other Indians not on -reservations, they now number some seven hundred, and are in about the -same condition as the Sound Indians.[1] - -FOOTNOTES: - - [1] A census of all the tribes in the Territory, returned with - Governor Stevens's report and map of April 30, 1857, is given - in the Appendix. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - - PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.--SAN JUAN CONTROVERSY - - -Just before going to the Chehalis council, Governor Stevens and his -family suffered a sad and severe affliction in the death of his young -kinsman, George Watson Stevens, who was drowned on February 16 at the -debouch of the Skookumchuck Creek into the Chehalis River, as he was -returning from Portland, whither he had gone to cash some government -drafts. He was accompanied on the journey by A.B. Stuart, the mail and -express carrier, who, as they approached the stream, had occasion to -stop at a settler's house, while George Stevens kept on, and, although -cautioned by Stuart, lost his life in the attempt to cross by the usual -ford. The Skookumchuck empties into the Chehalis at right angles, and -although ordinarily a stream of moderate size, becomes, when swollen by -rains, a mighty and furious flood, which, encountering the rapid current -of the Chehalis, forms a dangerous whirlpool in the centre of that -river. Not realizing the danger, and anxious to reach his journey's end -that day, he forced his horse into the raging torrent, and was swept, -man and steed, into the whirlpool below, where, although a fine swimmer -and a strong, vigorous man, he met his death. Stuart reached the ford -soon afterwards, and finding it impassable and his companion nowhere -visible, rightly concluded that he was lost, and hastened to Olympia -with the sad tidings. - -Governor Stevens with a party hastened to the scene, and diligently -searched for the missing one. The governor caused a band of horses to -be driven into the stream to test its power, but all were instantly -swept down into the larger river, several of them clear to the -whirlpool, although the water had fallen considerably. The unfortunate -youth's horse swam ashore, and was found with the saddle and saddle-bags -soaked with water, and a few days later his remains were found in the -river a mile below the whirlpool. This sad event cast a deep gloom upon -the family, and indeed all the community, for he was a young man of -great promise, noble traits, and only twenty-two years of age. The -governor said of him:-- - - "His whole character was an admirable blending of strength and - gentleness. He was essentially a man of great resolution, daring, - enterprise, and purpose, who adhered with great inflexibility to his - determinations; yet he was so gentle, so kindly, so courteous, and - so disinterested that his strength did not fully appear in ordinary - intercourse. To his friends his death is a sad bereavement, which - time only can obliterate. His memory will be precious, his life an - example, his bright and pure spirit is now in the heavenly mansion." - - "He was a brother in the house," wrote Mrs. Stevens to her mother; - "evenings he always spent at home, and took an interest in - everything about the house, played with the children, seemed to be - happy just staying in our society. Here is my garden he made, and - the flowers he set out, and marks of him all about us." - -It was a sad time when his remains were brought in, and the little toys -and candy he had thoughtfully purchased for the children were found in -his pockets and saddle-bags. He was buried on the beautiful green Bush -Prairie, amid the scenes of mountain, prairie, and forest he loved so -well. His intimate friends, Mason and Doty, were soon to be laid at rest -by his side. - -In a letter to a sister Mrs. Stevens relates another instance of the -governor's firmness and fearlessness in dealing with the Indians:-- - - "There are three different tribes of Indians in Olympia now, all - different,--the Nisquallies, Chissouks, and northern Fort Simpson - Indians. A curious sight it is to see them. They are all gambling, - their mats spread on the ground; and you will see groups of fifty - seated on the ground, and playing all day and night. The town is - full of them. Mr. Stevens has them right under his thumb. They are - as afraid as death of him, and do just what he tells them. He told - the chiefs of the tribes he would not let them disturb the whites. - That night they kept up an awful howling and singing, making night - hideous like a pack of wolves. Mr. Stevens got up, took a big club, - and went right in among them, and talked to them, and told them that - the first man that opened his lips he would knock down. The chief - said, 'Close' (All right), and not another sound came from them that - night. When he came back, he said the biggest lodge was full of men - sitting in a circle around a big fire, smoking and singing." - -Returning from the Chehalis council, Governor Stevens remained the next -two months in Olympia, hard at work with his multifarious duties, -reviewing legislative acts, preparing reports of the councils and -treaties, instructing the Indian agents, and attending to the unceasing -cares and questions arising from the Indians, and preparing for the trip -east of the mountains. In April he made the arduous horseback and river -trip to Vancouver, and there met Superintendent Joel Palmer, of Oregon, -by appointment, having previously invited him, in order to arrange with -him in regard to the proposed council with the Indians of the upper -country, some of whom were within General Palmer's superintendency. - -This spring began the San Juan Island controversy with Great Britain, -which came near involving the two countries in war, and lasted with -various phases for eighteen years, until it was finally decided in favor -of the United States by Emperor William I., of Germany. - -By the treaty of 1846 the main ship-channel which separates the -continent from Vancouver Island was fixed as the boundary from the point -where the 49th parallel intersects the Gulf of Georgia, in order to give -the whole of that island to Great Britain, for the parallel intersects -it. It happens, however, that there are two channels, with a valuable -group of islands between them, answering this description. The Americans -claimed the western-most, the Canal de Haro, which runs next to -Vancouver Island, and is the shorter, broader, and deeper, in every -respect the main ship-channel, while the English insisted that the -eastern channel, Rosario Straits, was the proper boundary. The shrewd -and aggressive officers of the Hudson Bay Company at Victoria, Sir James -Douglass at their head, originated the British claim, which otherwise -had never arisen, so little merit had it, and in order to gain a -foothold on, and claim possession of, these valuable islands, placed a -flock of sheep on San Juan, and stationed there a petty official of the -company. The island was included in Whatcom County by act of the -Washington legislature, the property thereon became subject to taxation, -and the sheriff of the county levied upon and seized a number of the -sheep in default of payment of taxes. - -Sir James Douglass thereupon addressed Governor Stevens, complaining of -the seizure, and demanding to know if the sheriff's proceedings were -authorized or sanctioned in any manner by the executive officer of -Washington Territory. The governor promptly replied, May 12, 1855, and -firmly and uncompromisingly asserted the American right, and justified -the sheriff. After reciting the acts of Oregon and Washington assuming -jurisdiction over the islands, he continued:-- - - "The sheriff, in proceeding to collect taxes, acts under a law - directing him to do so. Should he be resisted in such an attempt, it - would become the duty of the governor to sustain him to the full - force of the authority vested in him. - - "The ownership remains now as it did at the execution of the treaty - of June 11, 1846, and can in no wise be affected by the alleged - 'possession of British subjects.'" - -The correspondence was communicated to the Secretary of State, who in -reply deprecated any action by the territorial authorities pending a -settlement of the question by the respective governments, and the -dispute remained in abeyance until excited some years afterwards by -another British act of aggression. Had our government firmly asserted -its undoubted right at this time, the matter would have been settled. To -the resolute and patriotic stand of Governor Stevens on this occasion, -and his subsequent course in defense of this American territory, as will -be seen hereafter, were due the ultimate defeat of the persistent and -hard-fought British demands. - -At this time the governor purchased of William Taylor for $2000 his -donation claim, a fine tract of half a section, 320 acres, six miles -southwest of Olympia, and in the northwestern corner of Bush Prairie. It -comprised a few acres of prairie, over a hundred acres of heavy meadow, -and the remainder in heavy fir timber. A small house and a field fenced -off the prairie were the only improvements. The governor always took -great interest and pleasure in the soil, in gardening and farming. He -soon put a man on the place, and laid out extensive plans of improving -it. - -In April the Democratic convention met in Olympia to nominate a -candidate for delegate in Congress, to succeed Judge Lancaster. The -delegates assembled in a large store building on the southwest corner of -Main and First streets, belonging to George A. Barnes. Governor Stevens -was a candidate for the nomination. He was desirous, after completing -his treaty operations and returning from the Blackfoot council, to -represent the Territory in Congress, and there push forward his plans -for the public service, further railroad surveys, wagon roads, mail -routes, steamer service, Indian treaties and policy, and, above all, the -Northern Pacific Railroad. Many of the first settlers were strong in his -support, recognizing how much such a man in Congress could accomplish -for the Territory. There were two other candidates, Judge Columbia -Lancaster, very anxious to succeed himself, and J. Patton Anderson, -United States marshal, who had traveled all over the Territory in taking -the census the previous year, and, it was said, had diligently improved -his opportunities as census-taker by paying court to all the women, -kissing all the babies, and pledging all the men to support him for -delegate. He was a man of good appearance, cordial, pleasant Southern -manners, and well calculated to make friends. The convention divided -between the three candidates, and balloted an entire day without result. -In the evening the candidates were invited to address the convention. -Colonel Shaw, who was one of the governor's supporters, although not a -member of the convention, says that he advised the governor not to -accept the invitation, lest the friends of the other candidates, hearing -him speak, should become alarmed at his ability and power, and combine -against him. Such advice was the very last that the governor, with his -straightforward and positive character, would relish. He went before the -convention, and in a forcible and patriotic speech, without reference to -himself, set forth the needs of the Territory, and the public measures -required for its advancement, so ably and clearly that his friends were -delighted, and felt sure that he would be chosen on the next ballot. But -it turned out as Shaw feared. Although he gained votes, his opponents -combined on Anderson, and nominated him, some of them exclaiming, "It -won't do to nominate the governor, for if he once gets into Congress, we -can never get him out again." - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - - INDIANS OF THE UPPER COLUMBIA - - -The Indians of the upper Columbia, with whom Governor Stevens was next -to treat, presented a far more pressing and difficult problem than the -reduced tribes of the Sound. They numbered fourteen thousand souls, -comprised in ten powerful tribes, viz., Nez Perces, Cuyuses, Umatillas, -Walla Wallas, Yakimas, Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, Flatheads, Pend -Oreilles, and Kootenais.[2] They were a manly, athletic race, still -uncontaminated by the vices and diseases which so often result from -contact with the whites, and far superior in courage and enterprise, as -well as in form and feature, to the canoe Indians of the Sound and -coast. Each tribe possessed its own country, clearly defined by -well-known natural boundaries, within whose limits their wanderings were -restrained, save when they "went to buffalo," or attended some grand -council or horse-race with a neighboring tribe. The chase, the salmon -fishery, the root ground, the numerous bands of horses and cattle, -furnished easy and ample sustenance. It was estimated that the Nez -Perces owned twenty thousand head of these animals, and the Cuyuses, -Umatillas, and Walla Wallas not less than fifteen thousand. The Yakimas -and Spokanes also possessed great numbers. - - [Illustration: THE INTERIOR FROM CASCADE MOUNTAINS TO FORT BENTON] - -Of all these tribes, the Nez Perces or Sahaptin were the most -numerous and progressive. They numbered 3300, and occupied the country -along the western base of the Bitter Root Mountains for over two hundred -miles, and a hundred miles in width, including both banks of the Snake -and its tributaries, the Kooskooskia or Clearwater, Salmon, Grande -Ronde, Tucanon, etc. Yearly, in the spring or fall, their war chief -would lead a strong party across the Rocky Mountains to hunt the buffalo -on the plains of the Missouri, and many were the bloody encounters they -had with the dreaded Blackfeet, the Arabs of the plains. They owned -great numbers of horses, and the advent of the horse among them, about -the middle of the eighteenth century, obtained from the Spaniards of New -Mexico or California, of which they preserved the tradition, was the -chief cause of their prosperous condition. From the days of Lewis and -Clark, the first of the white race to meet their astonished gaze, they -were famed as the firm friends of the white man. During all the -fur-hunting and trading epoch the "mountain men," as the trappers and -voyageurs delighted to call themselves, were welcome in the lodges of -the Nez Perces. Together they wintered in safety on the banks of the -Kooskooskia, and together they hunted the buffalo on the plains of the -Missouri, and made common cause against the Blackfeet. Among the most -noted of the numerous encounters in which they were allied against their -common foe was the stubborn fight of Pierre's Hole in 1832, so -graphically described by Washington Irving in his "Bonneville -Adventures." It was in this fight that Lawyer, then a promising young -brave, and afterwards for many years the powerful head chief of the -Sahaptin, received a severe wound in the hip, which never entirely -healed, and doubtless hastened his death. - -In 1836 Rev. H.H. Spalding with his wife was sent out by the -Presbyterians, and settled as a missionary on the Lapwai, a branch on -the southern side of the Kooskooskia, twelve miles above its confluence -with the Snake. Here he was preceded by William Craig, a Virginian, one -of the best type of mountain men, who had married a Nez Perce maiden and -made his home among her people. Aided by Craig's knowledge of the Nez -Perce tongue and character, and of the Indians themselves, Mr. Spalding -taught the whole tribe a simple Christian faith, made a dictionary of -their language, and translated and had printed in the native tongue a -hymn-book, catechism, and New Testament, taught a number of the young -men to read and write their own language, built a saw and grist mill, -and labored to induce them, not without success, to till the soil. Yet, -after all this achievement, he was in the end led to abandon his -mission. In an unhappy hour he opened a store and went to trading with -the Indians. In their experience a trader was the personification of -greed and falsehood. To them the union of the trader, all selfishness -and fraud, and the preacher of morality and truth was monstrous, nay, -impossible. Mr. Spalding, too, was hard and exacting in his dealings, -and offended in that way. With all his zeal and energy, he evidently -lacked knowledge of Indian nature, perhaps of human nature. What wonder -that some of the Nez Perces, seeing that the trading-post was a fact, -concluded that his preaching was a fraud, and warned him out of their -country! The massacre of the devoted missionary, Dr. Marcus Whitman, and -his family, by the Cuyuses, in 1847, had just occurred, and Mr. -Spalding, fearing a like fate if he remained after the warning, -abandoned the mission where he had done so much. The majority of the Nez -Perces, however, desired him to remain; and when he decided upon going, -they formed a strong party of warriors, and escorted him with his -family and effects unharmed through the hostile Indians to the frontier -settlement. They magnanimously refused the large reward offered them, -saying, "We will not sell Mr. Spalding; he left our country of his own -free will, and we escorted him as his friends." In the war which ensued -they remained the firm friends of the whites, and the officers of the -Oregon volunteers engaged in it presented them with a fine, large -American flag, in which they took great pride. It was their boast that -"We are the friends of the white man. The white man is our brother. His -blood has never stained our hands." Craig remained among them in perfect -safety, and was treated with undiminished kindness. Although abandoned -by Mr. Spalding, they by no means discarded the good he had taught them. -They maintained, unaided, their simple religious worship, and held -services regularly every Sabbath, with preaching, singing of hymns, and -reading of the Bible, all in their own language, with the books -translated and printed for them by the devoted missionary. They prided -themselves upon their superior intelligence, upon having young men who -could read and write, and upon their ancient and fast friendship with -the whites. This friendship indeed was not merely a matter of sentiment. -They were shrewd enough to turn it to good account. Large emigrations -crossed the plains to Oregon during the period from 1843 to 1855; and -the Nez Perces used to go down to the emigrant road on the Grande Ronde -or Umatilla, with bands of fat, sleek, handsome ponies, and exchange -them with the emigrants for their worn-out horses, oxen, and sometimes a -cow, clothing, groceries, ammunition, etc. The Pikes, as the Missourians -who comprised the majority of the emigrants were called, "allowed that -the Nez Perces could beat a Yankee on a trade." By these means they were -beginning to obtain cattle as well as horses, were learning to wear -blankets and shirts instead of skins, and individuals were even -beginning to set out fruit trees, and plant corn and potatoes, and in a -word the Nez Perces were making rapid strides toward civilization. There -is no more interesting and instructive example of the amelioration of a -savage tribe by the introduction of domestic animals, and its steady -growth from abject barbarism, than that afforded by the Nez Perces. But -little more than a century ago they were a tribe of naked savages, -engaged in a perpetual struggle against starvation. Their country -afforded but little game, and they subsisted almost exclusively on -salmon, berries, and roots. The introduction of the horse enabled them -to make long journeys to the buffalo plains east of the Rocky Mountains, -where they could lay in great abundance of meat and furs; furnished them -with a valuable animal for trading with other less favored tribes; soon -raised them to comparative affluence, and developed in their hunting and -trading expeditions a manly, enterprising, shrewd, and intelligent -character. They had improved and profited still more from their -intercourse with the whites, until there seemed every prospect that, -with the introduction of cattle, they might lay aside their nomadic -habits, and become a pastoral and then an agricultural people. - -The Cuyuses were the most disaffected and intractable of all the tribes. -But little is known of their early history. They are said to have come -from the east many years ago. No tribe could resist their prowess, and -when they settled on the Umatilla and Walla Walla rivers, having driven -out the original inhabitants, none dared molest them; since which, wars -and pestilence had reduced their numbers to but five hundred, and -continual intermarriages with the neighboring tribes had caused their -own language to fall into disuse. But they still maintained their -separate independence, and were as haughty and arrogant as ever. The -Jesuits established a mission on the Umatilla and made some progress in -their conversion, and then Dr. Whitman came among them, establishing his -mission in the Walla Walla valley, and for several years possessed their -confidence and accomplished much good. The rivalry between Jesuit and -Protestant missionary was carried to a high pitch. Pictorial cards were -issued by each party, representing its opponents descending into the -fiery depths of the infernal regions, where Satan and his imps, with -red-hot pitchforks, were impatiently waiting to receive their prey, -while the converts to the true faith were ascending to heaven up a broad -flight of stairs with winged angels on either side. This hostile and -bigoted attitude of the missionaries towards each other must have -weakened the respect and confidence of the Indians, and contributed not -a little to the troubles that followed. - -Dr. Whitman was accustomed to attend the Indians when sick, and these -labors, undertaken in the purest benevolence, were ultimately the cause -of his death; for, the measles having broken out among them, and great -numbers, especially of the children, dying, their suspicions were -directed towards this devoted and able missionary. - -In the war which ensued the Cuyuses suffered severely, were deprived of -great numbers of horses, compelled to relinquish their white captives, -and to surrender to well-deserved death some of the most active in the -massacre. Their head chief was known as the Young Chief, and next in -rank and influence was the Five Crows. - -The Walla Wallas and Umatillas numbered upwards of one thousand, and -inhabited the banks of the rivers which bear their names, and those of -the Columbia. Their head chief was Pu-pu-mox-mox or the Yellow Serpent, -a man of great intelligence and force of character, but well stricken in -years. - -The Yakimas, including outlying bands,[3] were over 3900 strong, and -occupied the large region between the Columbia and the Cascades, with -their principal abodes in the Yakima valley. One band, the Palouses, -lived on the Palouse River, on the north side of the Snake and east of -the Columbia, next the Nez Perce country. Large bands of the Yakimas had -crossed the Cascades and were pressing on the feebler races on the west, -by whom they were appropriately termed "Klik-i-tats" or robbers. The -Jesuits had a mission on the Ah-ti-nam Creek, on the Yakima, but do not -seem to have acquired much influence over them. - -The Spokanes numbered 2200, including the Colvilles, 500, and -Okinakanes, 600, and held the country north of Snake River to Pend -Oreille Lake and the 49th parallel, and extending west from the Nez -Perce country, and that occupied by the Coeur d'Alenes at the base of -the Bitter Root Mountains, to the Columbia River. A Presbyterian mission -was also established among them under Rev. E. Walker and G.C. Eells, and -abandoned about the same time as that of Mr. Spalding. - -Immediately east of the Spokanes, under the western slope of the Bitter -Roots, lived the Coeur d'Alenes, a tribe of about five hundred. There -was a Catholic mission among them presided over by Father Ravalli, and -they had been converted to the ancient faith, and their material -condition greatly improved by the good fathers. - -The Flatheads, Pend Oreilles, and Koutenays lived in the mountain -valleys between the main range of the Rockies and the Bitter Roots, upon -the tributaries of Clark's Fork chiefly, and depended largely upon the -buffalo for their subsistence. They, too, like the Nez Perces, were -distinguished as the constant friends of the whites, and were exposed -to the unceasing forays of the Blackfeet. They numbered 2250. They -termed themselves the Salish, and the Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes were -of the same stock. - -There were also some small independent bands along the Columbia, who -subsisted chiefly on salmon. Five sixths of the Indians lived within the -Washington superintendency,--all, indeed, except the Cuyuses, Umatillas, -Walla Wallas, and a small number of the Nez Perces, who dwelt or roamed -in both territories, and the small bands about the Dalles and on the -Columbia, Des Chutes, and John Day's rivers, who lived wholly in Oregon. - -The whole vast region occupied by these numerous, brave, and manly -Indians was still free from the intrusion of white settlers, save a -handful in the Walla Walla valley and about Colville. But year after -year they saw the long trains of emigrants pass through their country -and settle, like swarming bees, upon the fertile plains of the Wallamet. -They saw the Indians there dispossessed of their hunting grounds, and -rapidly dying off the face of the earth. The tale of every Indian -wronged or aggrieved, or who thought himself wronged or aggrieved, was -borne with startling rapidity to their ears. Thus far their intercourse -with the whites had been of immense benefit to them. The fur traders -supplied them with superior weapons, blankets, and many articles of -comfort, and had greatly improved their condition. Devoted missionaries -had labored among them for years, and with marked success. By trade with -the emigrants they were growing rich in cattle. But the actual -occupation of the soil by the settlers filled them with alarm. Amid all -these benefits, the fear was fast growing into conviction that the fate -of the Chinooks and the Wallamets was the presage of their fate, and -that the whites would sooner or later pour with increasing numbers into -their country, and appropriate it for themselves. The Flatheads, Pend -Oreilles, and Koutenays, remote from the settlements, retained their -ancient friendship for the whites. But among the other tribes the -desperate resolution was extending and deepening itself to rise and wipe -out the dreaded invaders ere it was too late. For several years the bold -and turbulent spirits among them had been enlisting the disaffected -Indians far and wide in a great combination designed to crush the -unsuspecting whites simultaneously at all points by one sudden and -mighty blow. In 1853 the wild rumors of impending outbreaks, the -forerunners of every Indian war, but which have been invariably unheeded -by the over-confident whites, were flying about the land. Yet outwardly -all was serene. The great tribes of the upper country, from whom alone -danger was to be feared, were as yet unmolested by settlers, had reaped -only benefits from the whites, and were as friendly as ever to all -appearance. Both authorities and people were lulled into a sense of -complete security, and disregarded with contempt the warnings of the few -who foresaw the danger. In truth, a similar state of affairs has -preceded nearly all our great Indian wars. They have not been caused by -petty acts of aggression, stinging whole tribes to frenzied revenge. -Indians who undergo such treatment are usually too degraded and helpless -to resist. But powerful tribes, unbroken by too long contact with the -whites, fired and led by their master spirits, have from time to time -risen in arms, and vainly striven to arrest and drive back the white -race ere it overwhelmed them, as it had overwhelmed their kindred. Many -chiefs have shown profound sagacity in foreseeing the danger menacing -their race, and the highest talents and bravery in their bloody -struggles to avert it. The Nez Perces saw the danger, but they alone -realized the hopelessness of averting it by war. The Nez Perces alone -discerned that their only safety was to "follow the white man's road," -and that his mode of life was better than their own. Under the wise -guidance of Lawyer, they had become imbued with these convictions, by -which their traditional friendship to the whites was strengthened and -confirmed, and the time was fast approaching when their fidelity was to -save many a valuable life, and preserve the settlements from -destruction. - -In the spring of 1853 General Benjamin Alvord, then a major and -commanding the military post at the Dalles, heralded among the Indians -the approach of Governor Stevens with the exploring parties, and in -reply was visited by a delegation of chiefs of the Yakimas, Cuyuses, and -Walla Wallas, who said that "they always liked to have gentlemen, Hudson -Bay Company men, or officers of the army, or engineers, pass through -their country, to whom they would extend every token of hospitality. -They did not object to persons merely hunting, or those wearing swords, -but they dreaded the approach of the whites with ploughs, axes, and -shovels in their hands." Major Alvord had largely dealt with and studied -these Indians, and moreover he had confidential sources of information -from the Catholic priests of the Yakima Mission. He became so impressed -with the danger of an outbreak that he reported the facts and rumors to -his superior, General Hitchcock, commanding the Pacific Department, by -whom they were discredited, and Major Alvord was soon afterwards -relieved from the Dalles. Events were soon to prove that the magnitude -and imminence of the danger were even greater than he apprehended. Says -General Alvord:[4]-- - - "I informed Governor Stevens of these threatened Indian - difficulties, and of the gigantic scale of their proposed - insurrection. What should he do? Was he to remain idle and let the - storm come? No, he set to work to provide for the inevitable. As the - whites would come as five or six, or ten thousand would come every - summer, he did his best to get the Indians to sell their Indian - titles." - -It was on reaching the Dalles on his overland exploration that the -governor first learned of this smouldering fire. Quick to grasp the -situation, to see the breach into which, as Governor and Superintendent -of Indian Affairs, it was his duty to throw himself, he lost no time, by -his earnest and forcible reports, and by his visit in Washington, in -obtaining the necessary authority for treating with these Indians. - -Five years had elapsed since Congress, by the Donation Acts, had invited -settlers to take possession of the lands of these brave and numerous -Indians, utterly disregarding their rights, and now, when the volcano -was ready to burst forth, the effort was to be made for the first time -to treat with them, and the herculean task was devolved upon Governor -Stevens of buying their country, allaying their well-founded fears, -adjusting their jealousies and disputes with the whites and with each -other, and inducing them to relinquish their savage and nomadic mode of -life for agriculture and civilization. Many of the best informed -settlers and army officers thought that any attempt to treat with these -Indians for their lands was a useless and dangerous enterprise, and -would surely lead to collision and bloodshed. - -During the spring Mr. Doty and agents A.J. Bolen and R.H. Lansdale were -visiting the powerful tribes of the upper country, and preparing them -for treating. The Walla Walla valley was chosen for the council ground -at the instance of Kam-i-ah-kan, the head chief of the Yakimas, who -said, "There is the place where in ancient times we held our councils -with the neighboring tribes, and we will hold it there now." A large -quantity of goods was taken up the Columbia to Walla Walla in -keel-boats. A party of twenty-five men was organized at the Dalles, -outfitted with a complete pack-train, mules, riding animals, and -provisions, and sent to the council ground to make ready for the -reception of the Indians, and afterwards to accompany the governor to -the Blackfoot council. The Walla Walla council, like the Blackfoot, was -conceived and planned exclusively by Governor Stevens. He alone -impressed the necessity of them upon the government, and obtained the -requisite authority. The work of collecting the Indians was done chiefly -by his agents, and it was not until he learned from Doty that the -Indians had agreed to attend, and that the council was assured, that he -invited Superintendent Palmer to take part in it as joint commissioner -with himself for such tribes as lived partly in both Territories. This -fact he caused to be entered on the joint record of the council. - -Leaving the gubernatorial office in the hands of Mr. Mason, and the -Indian service, now well organized, in charge of Colonel Simmons and -other agents, Governor Stevens early in May left Olympia on his -treaty-making expedition east of the mountains, calculating to be absent -from five to six months. He was accompanied by Lieutenant Richard -Arnold, en route to San Francisco; Captain A.J. Cain, Indian agent for -the lower Columbia; R.H. Crosby; his son Hazard, whom he decided to take -as far as the Dalles and then send home; and some other gentlemen. The -little cavalcade trotted rapidly across the prairies amidst severe and -drenching showers, and after a brisk ride of thirty miles reached the -hospitable log-house of Judge Ford for supper and shelter. - -It rained heavily during the night, and on continuing the journey the -next morning, and fording the Skookumchuck, where poor George Stevens -was so recently lost, and which was then barely passable, a terribly -swift, turbulent, and dangerous-looking torrent, the whole country -seemed to be under water. The prairie upon which the town of Newarkum is -built was flooded, and the horses laboriously waded across the plain in -single file, belly-deep in water. The narrow track through the timber -beyond the prairie was like a canal. Dick Arnold, who led the party, a -tall, erect, athletic, soldierly figure, suddenly sunk down into the -water with a plunge until only his head and his horse's ears were -visible. He had ridden into a deep slough, which here crossed the road, -indistinguishable in the general flood, but his steed swam and struggled -across it and climbed out on the other side, the water dripping from man -and horse, but the rider remaining firm in his seat through it all. -After some delay the rest of the party effected a crossing on foot by a -fallen tree, and drove the horses across by the road, swimming. Without -further mishap, save the toils and discomforts of muddy roads and rains, -they reached Cowlitz Landing that afternoon, descended the Cowlitz in -canoes the next day, and proceeded by steamboat to Vancouver. After a -day's stay here the governor continued his journey up the river by -steamboat to the lower Cascades, where he spent the night, crossed the -Cascades portage on horseback early the next morning, proceeded by -steamboat to the Dalles, and found hospitable quarters with Major -Granville O. Haller at the military post, where were stationed two -companies of the 4th infantry, under Major G.J. Rains. Superintendent -Palmer was found at the Dalles, awaiting the governor's arrival. - -The outlook for effecting a treaty was deemed unfavorable by all. -Governor Stevens was warned by Father Ricard, of the Yakima Mission, -that the Indians were plotting to cut off the white chiefs who might -attempt to hold a council.[5] The Snake Indians had attacked and -massacred parties of emigrants recently, and Major Rains was under -orders to send a force on the emigrant road to protect them. General -Palmer and his Indian agents were reluctant to attempt to treat with the -Indians at that time. The governor relates in his diary how he induced -Major Rains to send from his small force a detachment of forty soldiers, -under Lieutenant Archibald Gracie, to the council as a guard. Mr. -Lawrence Kip, afterwards a colonel of the United States army, -accompanied Mr. Gracie on the trip, and published an interesting account -of the council:-- - - "After supper, went with Major Haller to see Major Rains. It was - about midnight, but the major got up, and we talked for two hours on - Indian matters. I dwelt particularly on the necessity of a small - force on the treaty ground to maintain order. He saw the necessity, - but had no suitable force at his disposal, etc. The bearing of the - proposed council on the Snakes was then alluded to by me, and I - remarked that the services of a small force in checking insolence - would be as good as two hundred men subsequently. We deemed it - necessary to maintain our dignity and that of our government at the - council, and we would seize any person, whether white man or Indian, - who behaved in an improper manner. There were unquestionably a great - many malcontents in each tribe. A few determined spirits, if not - controlled, might embolden all not well disposed, and defeat the - negotiations. Should this spirit be shown, they must be seized; the - well affected would then govern in the deliberations, and I - anticipated little or no difficulty in negotiating. I then alluded - to my determination to call out the militia of the Territory should - I find, on reaching the council ground, that any plan of hostilities - was being matured, or should a feeling of hostility be manifested, - in case a small force was not sent from the garrison. - - "So doubtful did General Palmer consider the whole matter of the - council, that it was only the circumstance of a military force being - dispatched which determined him to send to the treaty ground - presents to the Indians. He stated to me that he had concluded to - send up no goods; but, the escort having been ordered, he would send - up his goods. At this time the Oregon officers expected little from - the council, and evidently believed that the whole thing was - premature and ill-advised." - -Stopping at the Dalles only long enough to obtain this detachment and -outfit his own small party with riding animals, seven pack-mules, two -packers, and a cook, the governor again took the saddle, and traveling -rapidly overland two hundred miles to the Walla Walla valley in four -days, camping the first night on the Des Chutes River, the second on -John Day's River, the third on the Umatilla, reached the council ground -on May 21 towards evening, the party thoroughly drenched by the soaking -rain in which they had traveled all day. - -An amusing incident occurred at the camp on John Day's River, which the -governor was fond of relating as a good joke on himself. There was no -wood to be found in that vicinity, except some drift sticks, which were -claimed by an old Indian who had pitched his lodge on the river's bank. -After many fruitless attempts to purchase some of his wood, the men took -advantage of the temporary absence of the old fellow to purloin a small -quantity of it. This was nearly all consumed, and a hot and savory -supper was smoking before our travelers, when the old Indian returned -and discovered his loss. Dismounting from his pony, he approached the -governor, and, in a tone of indignation and scorn, exclaimed, "Do you -call yourself a great chief and steal wood?" A liberal present mollified -him considerably, and after partaking of the supper, he departed in -great good humor. - -The council ground was situated on the right bank of Mill Creek, a -tributary of the Walla Walla River, and about six miles above the site -of the unfortunate Whitman Mission, in the midst of a wide and fertile -valley, bounded in the distance on either hand by high, bare, rolling -hills, and extending, fan-shaped, far eastward to the Blue Mountains, -whose lofty and wooded heights bounded and overlooked the plain. The -valley was almost a perfect level, covered with the greatest profusion -of waving bunch grass and flowers, amidst which grazed numerous bands of -beautiful, sleek mustangs, and herds of long-horned Spanish cattle -belonging to the Indians, and was intersected every half mile by a -clear, rapid, sparkling stream, whose course could be easily traced in -the distance by its fringe of willows and tall cottonwoods. Now every -foot of this rich valley is under cultivation, a dozen gristmills run -their wheels by these streams, and the very treaty ground is the centre -of the thriving town of Walla Walla, with a population of six thousand -souls. - -Under the energetic hands of Doty and C.P. Higgins, the packmaster,--a -position corresponding to the chief mate on shipboard, or the orderly -sergeant of a company of troops,--the camp was found pitched, and -everything in readiness for the council. A wall tent, with a large arbor -of poles and boughs in front, stood on level, open ground a short -distance from the creek, and facing the Blue Mountains, all ready for -the governor. This was also to serve as the council chamber, and ample -clear space was left for the Indians to assemble and seat themselves on -the ground in front of the arbor. A little farther in front, and nearer -the creek, were ranged the tents of the rest of the party, a stout -log-house to safely hold the supplies and Indian goods, and a large -arbor to serve as a banqueting-hall for distinguished chiefs, so that, -as in civilized lands, gastronomy might aid diplomacy. A large herd of -beef cattle and a pile of potatoes, purchased of Messrs. Lloyd Brooke, -Bumford & Noble, traders and stock-raisers, who were occupying the site -of the Whitman Mission, and ample stores of sugar, coffee, bacon, and -flour furnished the materials for the feasts. - -General Palmer arrived the same day with R.R. Thompson and R.B. -Metcalfe, Indian agents for Oregon tribes, who had visited the Cuyuses -and Umatillas and small bands living wholly in Oregon, and summoned them -to attend the council. Fatigued and uncomfortable as they must have been -after the day's journey and drenching, the commissioners had a long -conference in the evening, listened to Doty's report of his visits to -the tribes and the talk and dispositions of the chiefs, and discussed -the location of reservations and other points. The following programme -was agreed upon:-- - -1. Governor Stevens to preside at the council. - -2. Each superintendent to be sole commissioner for the Indians within -his jurisdiction. - -3. Both to act jointly for tribes common to both Territories, each to -appoint an agent and commissary for them, and goods and provisions to be -distributed to them in proportion to the number under the respective -jurisdictions. - -4. To keep separate records, to be carefully compared and certified -jointly as far as related to tribes common to both Territories. - -5. To keep a public table for the chiefs. - -The following officers were appointed for the joint treaties, in each -case the first named for Washington, the second for Oregon: Governor -Isaac I. Stevens and Superintendent Joel Palmer, commissioners; James -Doty and William C. McKay, secretaries; R.H. Crosby and N. Olney, -commissaries; R. H. Lansdale and R.R. Thompson, agents; William Craig, -N. Raymond, Matthew Danpher, and John Flette, interpreters. - -The governor also appointed as interpreters A.D. Pambrun, John Whitford, -James Coxie, and Patrick McKensie. - -Lieutenant Gracie, with his little detachment, arrived on the 23d. A -tent, furnished by the governor, was pitched for the officer and his -guest, Mr. Kip, while the soldiers built huts of boughs, and spread over -them canvas pack-covers. The two gentlemen dined with the governor under -the arbor near his tent, "off a table constructed from split pine logs, -smoothed off, but not very smooth," says Mr. Kip. - -The scanty treating party of whites were now all assembled, and awaited -the arrival of the Indians with interest, not unmixed with apprehension; -for it seemed a bold and perilous step to meet so many brave and warlike -Indians, many of whom were known to be disaffected and ready to provoke -an outbreak, in the heart of the Indian country, two hundred miles from -the nearest settlement or military post, with such a mere handful. They -numbered barely a hundred men,--the governor's party of thirty-five, -twelve with General Palmer, the military guard of forty-seven, two -Catholic missionaries, and a few settlers. - -The second day after reaching the valley Governor Stevens, learning that -General Wool had just arrived at Vancouver, wrote him a letter urging -the importance of occupying the Walla Walla valley with a strong -military force, preferably of cavalry, pointing out the central location -of the point, and its strategic advantages for protecting the emigrant -road, the trails to the Missouri on the east, the Puget Sound on the -west, and for controlling the disaffected Indians, particularly the -Cuyuses and Snakes. This, like other sound and indeed necessary measures -recommended by the governor, was ignored by the self-sufficient Wool and -his officers, until they were obliged to adopt them from necessity. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [2] Numbers and names of all these tribes as given in tabular - statement or census, in Governor Stevens's map and report of April - 30, 1857, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, now on file in - Indian Bureau. See Appendix. - - [3] Pisquouse or Wenatchee, 600; Yakimas, 700; Ps-hawn-appan, 500; - Columbia River bands, 1000; Palouses, 600; Klikitats, 500. - - [4] Letter to author; Report of J. Ross Browne, H. Doc., p. 38, 1st - session, 35th Congress; Swan's Three Years, Washington Territory, - pp. 324-425; Speech of Governor Stevens, 1st session, 35th - Congress, Congressional Globe, vol. 37, pp. 490-494. - - [5] Speech of Governor Stevens, 1st session, 35th Congress, - Congressional Globe, vol. 37, p. 490. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - - THE WALLA WALLA COUNCIL - - -The Nez Perces, the first to arrive, came the next day, May 24, 2500 -strong. Hearing of their approach, the commissioners drew up their -little party on a knoll commanding a fine view of the unbroken level of -the valley. The standard of the Nez Perces, the large American flag -given them by the officers engaged in the Cuyuse war, was sent forward -and planted on the knoll. Soon their cavalcade came in sight, a thousand -warriors mounted on fine horses and riding at a gallop, two abreast, -naked to the breech-clout, their faces covered with white, red, and -yellow paint in fanciful designs, and decked with plumes and feathers -and trinkets fluttering in the sunshine. The ponies were even more -gaudily arrayed, many of them selected for their singular color and -markings, and many painted in vivid colors contrasting with their -natural skins,--crimson slashed in broad stripes across white, yellow or -white against black or bay; and with their free and wild action, the -thin buffalo line tied around the lower jaw,--the only bridle, almost -invisible,--the naked riders, seated as though grown to their backs, -presented the very picture of the fabled centaurs. Halting and forming a -long line across the prairie, they again advanced at a gallop still -nearer, then halted, while the head chief, Lawyer, and two other chiefs -rode slowly forward to the knoll, dismounted and shook hands with the -commissioners, and then took post in rear of them. The other chiefs, -twenty-five in number, then rode forward, and went through the same -ceremony. Then came charging on at full gallop in single file the -cavalcade of braves, breaking successively from one flank of the line, -firing their guns, brandishing their shields, beating their drums, and -yelling their war-whoops, and dashed in a wide circle around the little -party on the knoll, now charging up as though to overwhelm it, now -wheeling back, redoubling their wild action and fierce yells in frenzied -excitement. At length they also dismounted, and took their stations in -rear of the chiefs. Then a number of young braves, forming a ring, while -others beat their drums, entertained the commissioners with their -dances, after which the Indians remounted and filed off to the place -designated for their camp. This was on a small stream, flowing parallel -to Mill Creek, on the same side with and over half a mile from the -council camp. The chiefs accompanied the governor to his tent and arbor, -smoked the pipe of peace, and had an informal talk. - - [Illustration: THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEZ PERCES] - -Hal-hal-tlos-sot or the Lawyer, the head chief of the Nez Perces, was an -Indian Solon in his efforts to improve the condition of his people. -Without any advantages of birth or wealth, he made himself the first in -his tribe, while yet in middle life, by his unrivaled wisdom and force -of character. His first acts were directed against gambling, which was -indulged in to great excess, and against polygamy. Finding, however, -that his influence as head chief was insufficient to carry out his plans -for the improvement of his people, he reorganized the government of the -tribe, appointed an additional number of chiefs from the young men, and, -having thus increased and strengthened his influence, was enabled to -accomplish his reforms. He early perceived that the growing power of the -whites, which threatened to swallow up all before it, could not be -resisted by force, and in consequence all his efforts were directed to -inducing the Indians to adopt the customs and civilization of the -whites, and to preserving the unbroken friendship between the two races. -From the effects of the wound received at the battle of Pierre's Hole he -was still suffering, and his right arm had been twice broken in a fight -with a grizzly bear. Wise, enlightened, and magnanimous, the head chief, -yet one of the poorest of his tribe, he stood head and shoulders above -the other chiefs, whether in intellect, nobility of soul, or influence. - -Provisions were issued to the Nez Perces, and some petty tribes which -had come in, at the rate of one and a half pounds of beef, two pounds of -potatoes, and one half a pound of corn to each person. - -The Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and Umatillas next arrived, and went into -camp without any parade or salutations on a stream on the other side of -Mill Creek, and over a mile distant from the camp of the whites, from -which the intervening fringes of trees completely hid them. The head -chief of the Walla Wallas and Umatillas was Pu-pu-mox-mox or the Yellow -Serpent, who held despotic sway over his own people, and great influence -with neighboring tribes. He owned thousands of horses and cattle, and -had amassed a large sum in specie, from trade with settlers and -emigrants. Some years before one of his sons, a youth of promise, was -murdered by a miner in California, and although he had always been on -friendly terms with the whites, not even allowing his people to take -part in the Cuyuse war, it was believed that the outrage rankled in his -heart. He was well advanced in years, and somewhat childish and -capricious in small things, but his form was as erect, his mind as firm, -and his authority as unimpaired as ever. - - [Illustration: FEASTING THE CHIEFS] - -The day after their arrival many of the Nez Perce chiefs came to see the -commissioners, and after much friendly conversation were invited to -dine. Governor Stevens and General Palmer presided at opposite ends -of the long table, at which were seated some thirty chiefs, and, having -heard of the enormous appetites of the Indians, piled the tin plates, as -they were presented, to the brim. Again and again were the plates passed -up for a fresh supply; the chiefs feasted and gorged like famished -wolves; and the arms of the hosts became so wearied from carving and -dispensing the food that they were glad to resign the posts of honor to -a couple of stalwart packers. The table for the chiefs was kept up -during the council, and every day was well attended, but it was not -again graced by the presence of the commissioners. - -During the morning an express was received from the Yellow Serpent. He -sent word that the Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and Yakimas would accept no -provisions from the commissioners, but would bring their own, and -proposed that the Young Chief, Lawyer, Kam-i-ah-kan, and himself, the -head chiefs of the Cuyuses, Nez Perces, Yakimas, and Walla Wallas -respectively, should do all the talking for the Indians at the council. -The messenger would accept no tobacco for the chief, a very unfriendly -sign, and muttered as he rode off, loud enough to be overheard by the -interpreter, "You will find out by and by why we won't take provisions." - -Every effort was made by the other Indians to induce the Nez Perces to -refuse provisions, but without avail. The latter took great pride in -their unwavering friendship to the whites, and were fond of contrasting -their course with that of the Cuyuses. Considerable jealousy sprung up -between them in consequence. - -Two of the priests, Fathers Chirouse, of the Walla Walla, and Pandosy, -of the Yakima Mission, arrived for the purpose of attending the council. -They reported that these Indians were generally well disposed towards -the whites, with the exception of Kam-i-ah-kan. The latter said, -referring to the proposed council: "If the governor speaks hard, I will -speak hard, too." Other Indians had said, "Kam-i-ah-kan will come with -his young men with powder and ball." They were opposed to selling their -lands; and when Secretary Doty visited and invited them to attend the -council, Kam-i-ah-kan refused the presents offered him, saying that he -"had never accepted anything from the whites, not even to the value of a -grain of wheat, without paying for it, and that he did not wish to -purchase the presents." He was a man of fine presence and bearing, over -six feet in height, well built and athletic. Governor Stevens said of -him: "He is a peculiar man, reminding me of the panther and the grizzly -bear. His countenance has an extraordinary play, one moment in frowns, -the next in smiles, flashing with light and black as Erebus the same -instant. His pantomime is great, and his gesticulation much and -characteristic. He talks mostly in his face, and with his hands and -arms." - -Reports were flying about that these tribes had combined to resist a -treaty, and fears were expressed that an attempt to open the council -would be the signal for an outbreak. - -The following day a body of four hundred mounted Indians, supposed to be -Cuyuses and Walla Wallas, were observed approaching, armed and in full -gala dress, and uttering their war-whoops like so many demons, and, -after riding three times around the Nez Perce camp, they departed. Soon -after the Young Chief, accompanied by his principal chiefs, rode into -camp, and, being invited to dismount, did so with evident reluctance, -and shook hands in a very cold manner. They refused to smoke, and -remained but a short time. "The haughty carriage of these chiefs," -remarks Governor Stevens in his journal, "and their manly character -have, for the first time in my Indian experience, realized the -descriptions of the writers of fiction." - - [Illustration: KAM-I-AH-KAN - _Head Chief of the Yakimas_] - -Garry, the head chief of the Spokanes, came, not to take part in the -council, but as a spectator. When a boy he had been sent to the Red -River settlements in Manitoba by Sir George Simpson, then governor of -the Hudson Bay Company, where he acquired a common-school, English -education. It being impracticable to assemble so distant and widely -scattered a tribe as the Spokanes in time for this council, Governor -Stevens designed making a separate treaty with them later in the season -on his return from the Missouri. - -Father Menetrey, from the Catholic mission among the Pend Oreilles, also -arrived to attend the council,--a cultivated man, who spoke English -fluently. - -A messenger sent to invite the Palouses returned accompanied by only one -of the chiefs, who reported that his people were indifferent to the -matter, and would not come. A number of scattered and insignificant -bands, who lived at different points on the Columbia, also arrived. - -The following is from Governor Stevens's journal:-- - - May 27, Sunday. There was service in the Nez Perce camp and in the - Nez Perce language, Timothy being the preacher. The commissioners - attended. The sermon was on the Ten Commandments. Timothy has a - natural and graceful delivery, and his words were repeated by a - prompter. The Nez Perces have evidently profited much from the labor - of Mr. Spalding, who was with them ten years, and their whole - deportment throughout the service was devout. - -The next day agent Bolon, with an interpreter, was sent to meet the -Yakimas, who were thought to be near at hand. He soon returned, having -met Kam-i-ah-kan and also the Yellow Serpent. The latter said to Mr. -Bolon that he was very sorry to hear that the chiefs and others in the -commissioners' camp had said that he was unfriendly to the whites,--that -his heart was with the Cuyuses, whose hearts were bad. He had always -been friendly to the whites, and was so now, and he would go to-day to -see the commissioners, and ask why such things had been said of him. -Accordingly, soon after Bolon's return, Pu-pu-mox-mox, Kam-i-ah-kan, -Ow-hi, and Skloom, the two latter being chiefs of the Yakimas, -accompanied by a number of their braves, rode into camp. Dismounting, -they shook hands in the most friendly manner, and seating themselves -under the arbor indulged in a smoke, using their own tobacco -exclusively, although other was offered them. - -Governor Stevens addressed them, saying that he had important business -to lay before them, and proposed to open the council the next day at -noon. The Yellow Serpent replied that he wanted more than one -interpreter at the council, that they might know they translated truly. -Being assured on this point, and invited to designate an interpreter in -whom he had confidence, he said, in a scornful manner, "I do not wish my -boys running around the camp of the whites like these young men," -alluding to some young Nez Perces present and feeling quite at home. He -added that he had only ridden over to-day to see the commissioners, and -soon withdrew with his party. - -In the morning the commissioners and Secretary Doty visited the Lawyer -at his lodge, as, his wound having broken out afresh, he was unable to -walk without great pain and difficulty. He exhibited and explained a map -of his country, which he had drawn at Governor Stevens's request. During -the conference several chiefs came in, and suddenly one of them, -U-u-san-male-e-can or Spotted Eagle, said:-- - - [Illustration: SPOTTED EAGLE - _A Chief of the Nez Perces_] - - "The Cuyuses want us to go to their camp and hold a council with - them and Pu-pu-mox-mox. What are their hearts to us? Did we propose - to hold a council with them, or ask them for advice? Our hearts are - Nez Perce hearts, and we know them. We came here to hold a great - council with the great chiefs of the Americans, and we know the - straightforward path to pursue, and are alone responsible for our - actions. Three Cuyuses came last night and spoke to me and two other - chiefs, urging us to come to a council at the Cuyuse camp to meet - Pu-pu-mox-mox and Kam-i-ah-kan. We did not wish to go. They - insisted. Then I said to them, 'You had best say no more. My mind is - made up. Why do you come here and ask three chiefs to come to a - council, while to the head chief and the rest you say nothing? Have - we not told your messenger yesterday that our hearts are not Cuyuse - hearts? Go home! Our chiefs will not go. We have our own people to - take care of; they give us trouble enough, and we will not have the - Cuyuse troubles on our hands.'" - -The Lawyer then opened a book containing in their own language the -advice left them by their former head chief, Ellis, and read as -follows:-- - - "Whenever the great chief of the Americans shall come into your - country to give you laws, accept them. A Walla Walla heart is a - Walla Walla, a Cuyuse heart is a Cuyuse, so is a Yakima heart a - Yakima, but a Nez Perce heart is a Nez Perce heart. While the Nez - Perces are going straight, why should they turn aside to follow - others? Ellis's advice is to accept the white law. I have read it to - you to show my heart." - -The speech of U-u-san-male-e-can afforded new evidence that the Cuyuses -were plotting underhand, although but little could be learned as to the -nature of their designs. - -At two P.M., on May 29, 1855, the council was formally opened by -Governor Stevens. Under the roomy arbor in front of the tent were seated -the commissioners, secretaries who kept the records, interpreters, and -Indian agents, while the Indians were seated on the ground in front in -semicircular rows forty deep, one behind another. Timothy, the chief and -preacher, concerning whom Governor Stevens said, "He and others are very -devout, and seem to form a theocracy in the tribe, and, like the old New -England fathers, to require every one to worship God in some visible -way,"--this Timothy, assisted by several of the young men, who were very -tolerable penmen, kept the records of the council for the Nez Perces. -They were accommodated with a table under the arbor, where everything -could be seen and heard. Some two thousand Indians were present, fully -half of whom were Nez Perces. The pipe having been smoked with due -solemnity, two interpreters were appointed and sworn for each tribe, -some preliminary remarks were made, and the council was adjourned until -ten o'clock the next morning. Before adjourning Governor Stevens renewed -the offer of provisions to the recusant Indians, proposing that each -tribe should take two oxen to its own camp and slaughter for themselves. - - Young Chief: "We have plenty of cattle. They are close to our camp. - We have already killed three, and have plenty of provisions." - - General Palmer to the interpreter: "Say to the Yakimas, 'You have - come a long way. You may not have provisions. If you want any, we - have them, and you are welcome.'" - - Young Chief: "Kam-i-ah-kan is supplied at our camp." - -The Yellow Serpent and Kam-i-ah-kan dined with the commissioners, and -remained in their tent for a long time, smoking in a friendly manner, -but the Young Chief declined the invitation to dine. - - [Illustration: WALLA WALLA COUNCIL] - -The two following days Governor Stevens explained the proposed treaties -at length, item by item. There were to be two reservations,--one in the -Nez Perce country of three million acres, on the north side of Snake -River, embracing both the Kooskooskia and Salmon rivers, including a -large extent of good arable land, with fine fisheries, root grounds, -timber and mill-sites, and was for the accommodation of the Cuyuses, -Walla Wallas, Umatillas, and Spokanes, as well as the Nez Perces. The -other embraced a large and fertile tract on the upper waters of the -Yakima, and was for the Yakimas, Klikitats, Palouses, and kindred bands. -The reservations were to belong to the Indians, and no white man should -come upon them without their consent. An agent, with school-teachers, -mechanics, and farmers, would take charge of each reservation, and -instruct them in agriculture, trades, etc.; grist and saw mills were to -be built; the head chiefs were to receive an annuity of five hundred -dollars each, in order that they might devote their whole time to their -people; and annuities in clothing, tools, and useful articles were to be -given for twenty years, after which they were to be self-supporting. At -first the reservations were to be used in common, but provision was made -for the survey and subdivision of the land, and its allotment to the -Indians in severalty as soon as they should be prepared to receive and -utilize it. As it was evidently impracticable to make so radical a -change in their habits suddenly, the Indians were to have the privilege -of hunting, root-gathering, and pasturing stock on vacant land until -appropriated by settlers, and the right of fishing. The advantages of -the reservations were dwelt upon. They embraced some of the best land in -the country, and were large enough to afford each family a farm to -itself, besides grazing for all their stock; they contained good -fisheries, abundance of roots and berries, and considerable game. They -were near enough to the great roads for trade with the emigrants, yet -far enough from them to be undisturbed by travelers. By having so many -tribes on the same reservation, the agent could better look after them, -and could accomplish more with the means at his disposal. The staple -argument held out was the superior advantages of civilization, and the -absolute necessity of their adopting the habits and mode of life of the -white man in order to escape extinction. Governor Stevens also exhorted -them to treat, for the sake of the example upon their inveterate -enemies, the Blackfeet, that thereby they would prove themselves firm -friends of the whites, and that he would then take delegations from each -tribe with his party and proceed to the Blackfoot country, and make a -lasting treaty of peace, so that they could ever after hunt the buffalo -in safety, and trade horses with the Indians east of the Rocky -Mountains. The Indians listened gravely and in silence, as these matters -were slowly unfolded to them, sentence by sentence through the -interpreters, for five or six hours each day, and upon the adjournment -of the council, quietly dispersed to their lodges. The third day the -Young Chief for the first time dined at Governor Stevens's table with -the other head chiefs, and General Palmer and the gentlemen of the -party; and in the evening he sent word that his young men were tired of -such close confinement as they had undergone at the council, and desired -to have a feast and holiday to-morrow, and he requested that no council -be held until the day after (Saturday). The commissioners cheerfully -acceded to his request, well pleased at these signs of mollifying the -opposition of the haughty savage. - -There were now assembled on the ground between five and six thousand -Indians. Says Colonel Kip: "About five thousand Indians, including -squaws and children. Their encampment and lodges are scattered over the -valley for more than a mile, presenting a wild and fantastic -appearance." - -Every afternoon, after the council adjourned for the day, horse-races -and foot-races were held at the Nez Perce camp, attended by the sporting -bloods of the other tribes, and witnessed by many of the whites. The -usual course was a long one,--some two miles out and back, making four -miles. Oftentimes thirty horses would start together in a grand -sweepstakes; the riders and betters would throw into one common pile the -articles put up as stakes,--blankets, leggings, horse equipments, and -whatever was bet, and the winner would take the whole pile. The -foot-races were equally long, and the runners would be escorted in their -course by a crowd of mounted Indians, galloping behind and beside them -so closely that the exhausted ones could hardly stop without being run -down. The riders and runners were invariably stripped to the -breech-cloth, and presented many fine, manly forms, perfect Apollos in -bronze. - -Everything was very quiet about the council ground the day begged for a -holiday by the Young Chief, the Indians remaining at their own camps. -But the next day, Saturday, June 2, they reassembled as usual; and after -several hours had been spent in further explaining the provisions of the -treaties, Governor Stevens called them to speak freely, saying, "We want -you to open your hearts to us," etc. - -Hitherto the Indians had listened in grave silence, but now the -opponents of the treaties took the lead in the discussion. The Yellow -Serpent, in a speech marked by strength and sarcasm, uttered the -prevailing reluctance to part with their lands, and their dread and -distrust of the whites:-- - - "We have listened to all you have to say, and we desire you to - listen when any Indian speaks. It appears that Craig knows the heart - of his people; that the whole has been prearranged in the hearts of - the Indians; that he wants an answer immediately, without giving - them time to think; that the Indians have had nothing to say, so - that it would appear that we have no chief. I know the value of your - speech from having experienced the same in California, having seen - treaties there. We have not seen in a true light the object of your - speeches, as if there was a post set between us, as if my heart wept - for what you have said. Look at yourselves: your flesh is white; - mine is different, mine looks poor; our languages are different. If - you would speak straight, then I would think that you spoke well. - - "Should I speak to you of things that happened long ago, as you have - done? The whites made me do what they pleased. They told me to do - this, and I did it. They used to make our women to smoke. I supposed - then they did what was right. When they told me to dance with all - these nations that are here, then I danced. From that time, all the - Indians became proud and called themselves chiefs. - - "Now, how are we here as at a post? From what you have said, I think - that you intend to win our country, or how is it to be? In one day - the Americans become as numerous as the grass. This I learned in - California. I know it is not right; you have spoken in a roundabout - way. Speak straight. I have ears to hear you, and here is my heart. - Suppose you show me goods, shall I run up and take them? That is the - way with all us Indians as you know us. Goods and the earth are not - equal. Goods are for using on the earth. I do not know where they - have given lands for goods. - - "We require time to think quietly, slowly. You have spoken in a - manner partly tending to evil. Speak plain to us. I am a poor - Indian. Show me charity. If there was a chief among the Nez Perces - or Cuyuses, if they saw evil done they would put a stop to it, and - all would be quiet. Such chiefs I hope Governor Stevens and General - Palmer have. I should feel very much ashamed if the Americans did - anything wrong. I had but a little to say, that is all. I do not - wish a reply to-day. Think over what I have said." - -After a stinging rebuke administered by Camospelo, a Cuyuse chief, to -some of his young men who had behaved in a surly manner, talking and -walking about during the proceedings, the council was adjourned until -Monday. - - [Illustration: PU-PU-MOX-MOX: YELLOW SERPENT - _Head Chief of the Walla Wallas_] - -This speech of the Yellow Serpent is marked in every sentence by his -bitter distrust of the whites. He intimates, almost asserts, that the -commissioners are trying to deceive and overreach the Indians, and with -biting irony declares that he would feel very much ashamed if the -Americans did anything wrong. - -Late that evening the Lawyer came unattended to see Governor Stevens. He -disclosed a conspiracy on the part of the Cuyuses to suddenly rise upon -and massacre all the whites on the council ground,--that this measure, -deliberated in nightly conferences for some time, had at length been -determined upon in full council of the tribe the day before, which the -Young Chief had requested for a holiday; they were now only awaiting the -assent of the Yakimas and Walla Wallas to strike the blow; and that -these latter had actually joined, or were on the point of joining, the -Cuyuses in a war of extermination against the whites, for which the -massacre of the governor and his party was to be the signal. They had -conducted these plottings with the greatest secrecy, not trusting the -Nez Perces; and the Lawyer, suspecting that all was not right, had -discovered the plot by means of a spy with the greatest difficulty, and -only just in time to avert the catastrophe. - -The Lawyer concluded by saying: "I will come with my family and pitch my -lodge in the midst of your camp, that those Cuyuses may see that you and -your party are under the protection of the head chief of the Nez -Perces." He did so immediately, although it was now after midnight, and, -without awakening the suspicions of any one, he caused it to be reported -among the other Indians that the commissioners were under the protection -of the Nez Perces. - -Governor Stevens on his part imparted his knowledge of the conspiracy to -Secretary Doty and Packmaster Higgins, and to them alone, for he feared -that, should the party generally learn of it, a stampede would ensue. -Having through these efficient officers quietly caused the men to put -their arms in readiness, and posting night guards, he determined to -continue the council as usual, hoping that the Cuyuses, foiled in their -design, would finally conclude to treat. - -On Monday the governor opened the council by inviting the Indians to -speak their minds freely, and, no one responding, finally called on the -Lawyer. He expressed himself in terms favorable to the treaty, and was -followed by several of his chiefs in a similar strain. Kam-i-ah-kan, on -the other hand, avowed his distrust of the whites, and alluded in a -contemptuous manner to the speeches of the Lawyer and the others:-- - - "I have something different to say from what the others have said. - They are young men who have spoken as they have spoken. I have been - afraid of the white man. His doings are different from ours. Perhaps - you have spoken straight that your children will do what is right. - Let them do as they have promised." - -The Yellow Serpent said with bitter irony, "I do not wish to speak. I -leave it to the old men." - -Steachus, the only chief of the Cuyuses reported to be well disposed, -commended the speech of the Lawyer, and exhorted all present to speak -their minds freely. - -But the most impressive speech by far was that of -Tip-pee-il-lan-oh-cow-pook, the Eagle-from-the-Light, a pathetic and -touching speech:-- - - "You are now come to join together the white man and the red man. - And why should I hide anything? I am going now to tell you a tale. I - like the President's talk. I am glad of it when I hear it here, and - for that reason I am going to tell you a tale. - - "The time the whites first passed through this country, although - the people of this country were blind, it was their heart to be - friendly to them. Although they did not know what the white people - said to them, they answered Yes, as if they were blind. They - traveled about with the white people as if they had been lost. - - "I have been talked to by the French [Hudson Bay Company men] and by - the Americans, and one says to me go this way, and the other says go - another way, and that is the reason I am lost between them. - - "A long time ago they hung my brother for no offense, and this I say - to my brother here, that he may think of it. Afterwards came - Spalding and Whitman. They advised us well, and taught us - well,--very well. It was from the same source,--the light [the - east]. They had pity on us, and we were pitied, and Spalding sent my - father to the east,--the States,--and he went. His body has never - returned. He was sent to learn good counsel, and friendship and many - things. This is another thing to think of. At the time, in this - place here, when there was blood spilled on the ground, we were - friends to the whites and they to us. At that time they found it out - that we were friends to them. My chief, my own chief, said, 'I will - try to settle all the bad matters with the whites,' and he started - to look for counsel to straighten up matters, and there his body - lies beyond here. He has never returned. - - "At the time the Indians held a grand council at Fort Laramie, I was - with the Flatheads, and I heard there would be a grand council this - side next year. We were asked to go and find counsel, friendship, - and good advice. Many of my people started, and died in the - country,--died hunting what was right. There were a good many - started; on Green River the smallpox killed all but one. They were - going to find good counsel in the east, and here am I looking still - for counsel, and to be taught what is best to be done. - - "And now look at my people's bodies scattered everywhere, hunting - for knowledge,--hunting for some one to teach them to go straight. - And now I show it to you, and I want you to think of it. I am of a - poor people. A preacher came to us, Mr. Spalding. He talked to us to - learn, and from that he turned to be a trader, as though there were - two in one, one a preacher and the other a trader. He made a farm - and raised grain and bought our stock, as though there were two in - one, one a preacher, the other a trader. And now one from the east - has spoken, and I have heard it, and I do not wish another preacher - to come, and be both trader and preacher in one. A piece of ground - for a preacher big enough for his own use is all that is necessary - for him. - - "Look at that; it is the tale I had to tell you, and now I am going - to hunt friendship and good advice. We will come straight - here,--slowly perhaps, but we will come straight." - -The next two days Governor Stevens continued, explaining the treaties -still further. A large map was brought forth, and the boundaries of the -reservations accurately marked out and shown. The Indians took great -interest in this map, asking many questions about the mountains and -streams they saw represented upon it, and in some instances adding -streams which were not laid down. - -Superintendent Palmer spoke for some time, going over the same ground as -Governor Stevens. After he had concluded, Steachus, the friendly Cuyuse, -arose and said:-- - - "My friends, I wish to show you my heart. If your mother were in - this country, gave you birth and suckled you, and, while you were - suckling, some person came and took away your mother and left you - alone and sold your mother, how would you feel then? This is our - mother,--this country,--as if we drew our living from her. My - friends, all of this you have taken. Had I two rivers, I would leave - the one, and be content to live on the other. I name the place for - myself, the Grande Ronde, the Touchet towards the mountains, and the - Tucanon." - -Thus even Steachus, the most friendly of the Cuyuses, was the first to -express his dissatisfaction with a treaty which left him none of his own -country, and to request a reservation within its borders. The Indians -were slow to speak; they required time to make up their minds, and the -council was therefore adjourned. - - [Illustration: WE-AH-TE-NA-TEE-MA-NY: YOUNG CHIEF - _Head Chief of the Cuyuses_] - -About midnight the governor and his little son were awakened by Lawyer, -who shook the tent and said, in a low, soft voice, without a trace of -hurry or excitement, "Water come now." On springing out of bed, they -splashed knee-deep in water flooding the tent, and were forced to make a -hasty flight to higher ground. The creek had risen suddenly without -warning, probably from a waterspout or heavy rains in the mountains. The -following day it subsided again as rapidly as it rose. - -When the council met the next day, Lawyer spoke first, and expressed the -assent of himself and his people to the treaty. A great part of his -speech was addressed to the Indians. He traced the increase of the -whites from the discovery of the New World by Columbus; alluded in a -touching manner to the way in which the Indians had passed and were -passing away; and urged his auditors, as their only refuge, to place -themselves under the protection of the Great Father in Washington. - -When Lawyer concluded, the Young Chief, the haughty Cuyuse, was the -first to break the silence:-- - - "He would not sell his country. He heard what the earth said. The - earth said, 'God has placed me here to take care of the Indian, to - produce roots for him, and grass for his horses and cattle.' The - water spoke the same way. God has forbidden the Indian to sell his - country except for a fair price, and he did not understand the - treaty." - -Five Crows, the Yellow Serpent, Ow-hi, and several other chiefs followed -in similar strain. The Yellow Serpent proposed that another council -should be held at some future time. He insisted that the whites should -not be allowed to come into his country to settle. He complained that -the Indians were treated like children, were not consulted in drawing up -the terms of the treaties, etc. - -Kam-i-ah-kan refused to speak, although several times urged to do so. -His invariable reply was, "I have nothing to say." - -The commissioners replied, explaining those parts of the treaties which -the Indians did not understand, and answering their objections. The -discussion on the part of the Indians was captious, stormy, and -unsatisfactory. Governor Stevens in pointed words, well calculated to -touch their pride, urged the recusant and evasive chiefs to speak -plainly:-- - - "My brother and myself have talked straight. Have all of you talked - straight? Lawyer has, and his people here, and their business will - be done to-morrow. - - "The Young Chief says he is blind, and does not understand. What is - it that he wants? Steachus says that his heart is in one of three - places, the Grande Ronde, the Touchet, and the Tucanon. Where is the - heart of Young Chief? - - "Pu-pu-mox-mox (the Yellow Serpent) cannot be wafted off like a - feather. Does he prefer the Yakima reservation to that of the Nez - Perces? We have asked him before. We ask him now. Where is his - heart? - - "And Kam-i-ah-kan, the great chief of the Yakimas, he has not spoken - at all. His people have had no voice here to-day. He is not ashamed - to speak. He is not afraid to speak. Then speak out! - - "But Ow-hi is afraid lest God be angry at his selling his land. - Ow-hi, my brother, I do not think that God will be angry if you do - your best for yourself and your children. Ask yourself this question - to-night: 'Will not God be angry with me if I neglect this - opportunity to do them good?' Ow-hi says his people are not here. - Why did he promise to come here, then, to hear our talk? I do not - want to be ashamed of Ow-hi. We expect him to speak straight out. We - expect to hear from Kam-i-ah-kan, from Skloom." - - [Illustration: SHE-CA-YAH: FIVE CROWS - _Cuyuse Chief_] - -At length Five Crows proposed an adjournment. "Listen to me, you chiefs. -We have been as one people with the Nez Perces hitherto. This day we are -divided. We, the Cuyuses, the Walla Wallas, and Kam-i-ah-kan's people -and others will think over the matter to-night, and give you an answer -to-morrow." - -The feature of the treaties which met with the greatest opposition was -the provision that the Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and Umatillas should -relinquish the whole of their own lands, and remove to a reservation in -the Nez Perce country. The commissioners therefore decided to establish -a separate reservation for these three tribes on the headwaters of the -Umatilla, at the base of the Blue Mountains. Conferences were had with -the recusant chiefs separately, the proposition of a reservation in -their own country was broached, and the whole ground of the treaties -again gone over and fully discussed. Steachus expressed himself as -highly pleased with the new arrangement, and, although the others gave -less encouragement, the commissioners were hopeful that a successful -result would soon be reached. - -The change of reservations was brought forward in council the next day. -The annuities of five hundred dollars for ten years to each of the head -chiefs were extended to twenty years. The Yellow Serpent was given the -privilege of establishing a trading-post for trade with the settlers and -emigrants, and an annuity of one hundred dollars a year for twenty years -was given his son. Young Chief and Yellow Serpent were the principal -speakers, and in lengthy and rambling speeches gave their assent to the -treaties. The latter, on declaring his acceptance, exclaimed, "Now you -may send me provisions!" Kam-i-ah-kan was sullen, and refused his -assent. - -Some commotion was now observed among the Indians, and suddenly a small -party of warriors were seen approaching, painted and armed, singing a -war-song, and flourishing on the top of a pole a freshly taken scalp. It -proved to be a party of Nez Perces, headed by Looking Glass, the war -chief, just from the Blackfoot country, where they had been for three -years hunting the buffalo. Looking Glass was old, irascible, and -treacherous, yet second only to Lawyer in influence. While hunting the -buffalo he had several fights with the Blackfeet. At one time seventy of -his horses were stolen by them; but the vigorous old chief hotly pursued -the depredators, killed two, put the rest to flight, and recovered his -horses. He had reached the Bitter Root valley on his return home, when -he heard that the Nez Perces were at a great council, and concluding a -treaty without his presence. Leaving his party to follow more slowly, he -pushed on with a few chosen braves, crossed the Bitter Root Mountains, -where for some distance the snow was shoulder-deep on their horses, and, -having ridden three hundred miles in seven days at the age of seventy, -reached the council ground while Governor Stevens was urging -Kam-i-ah-kan to give his assent to the treaty, for the governor, hearing -the arrival of Looking Glass announced, seized the occasion to call upon -the Yakima chief to sign the treaty in the name of Looking Glass, there -being great friendship between these two. Scarcely had he concluded when -Looking Glass, surrounded by his knot of warriors with the scalps -tossing above them, rode up, excited and agitated, received his friends -coldly, and finally broke forth into a most angry philippic against his -tribe and the treaty:-- - - "My people, what have you done? While I was gone, you have sold my - country. I have come home, and there is not left me a place on which - to pitch my lodge. Go home to your lodges. I will talk to you." - - [Illustration: LOOKING GLASS - _War Chief of the Nez Perces_] - -The council was immediately adjourned. Governor Stevens consulted -Lawyer, who was of opinion that Looking Glass would calm down in a day -or two and accept the treaty. He said, however, that the latter's -return would make it impossible to reduce the Nez Perce reservation, -which, originally intended for the Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and Umatillas, -in addition to the Nez Perces, was larger than they alone required, and -it was determined to make it a general reservation for other tribes, not -exceeding in numbers those for whom it was at first designed. - -In the evening Governor Stevens assembled the Yakima chiefs in his tent, -and discussed the treaties with them until one o'clock in the morning. -Kam-i-ah-kan was not present, but Skloom acted as the principal -spokesman. The governor remarks in his journal, "Skloom was desirous -that his land should first be surveyed." - -The council of the following day, however, soon made it evident that -Looking Glass had not yet calmed down. He declared himself the head -chief of the tribes present; that the boys had spoken yesterday, but -that he would speak to-day. He made many inquiries, raised many -objections, and finally marked another line for the reservation, -including nearly the whole of the Nez Perce territory. The Cuyuses -seized the occasion to retract their assent to their treaty, and the -Young Chief strenuously supported Looking Glass in his objections, and -omitted no opportunity to assert his supremacy as head chief of the Nez -Perces. At length Lawyer abruptly left the council in the midst of one -of Looking Glass's philippics, and retired to his lodge. Governor -Stevens refused to submit to the demands of the angry and grasping old -chief, and adjourned the council until the following Monday. - -After the adjournment the Yellow Serpent and Kam-i-ah-kan, who had at -length yielded to the advice of the other chiefs, with all the chiefs -and prominent men of the two tribes, came forward and signed their -respective treaties. The former had remarked in the morning that his -word was pledged, and that he should sign the treaty no matter what -Looking Glass and the Nez Perces did. It was thought that his example -had great weight with Kam-i-ah-kan. - -Late in the evening Governor Stevens had an interview with Lawyer, who -said:-- - - "Governor Stevens, you are my chief. You come from the President. He - has spoken kind words to us, a poor people. We have listened to - them, and have agreed to a treaty. We are bound by the agreement. - When Looking Glass asked you, 'How long will the agent live with - us?' you might have replied by asking the question, 'How long have - you been head chief of the Nez Perces?' When he said, 'I, the head - chief, have just got back; I will talk; the boys talked yesterday,' - you might have replied, 'The Lawyer, and not you, is the head chief. - The whole Nez Perce tribe have said in council Lawyer was the head - chief. Your faith is pledged. You have agreed to the treaty. I call - upon you to sign it.' Had this course been taken, the treaty would - have been signed." - - "In reply," says the governor, "I told the Lawyer that we considered - all the talk of Looking Glass as the outpourings of an angry and - excited old man, whose heart would become all right if left to - himself for a time; that the Lawyer had left the council whilst in - session, and without speaking. It was his business to have - interfered in this way, had it been necessary. We considered the - Lawyer's leaving as saying, 'Nothing more can be done to-day; it - must be finished to-morrow.' Your authority will be sustained, and - your people will be called upon to keep their word. You will be - sustained. The Looking Glass will not be allowed to speak as head - chief. You, and you alone, will be recognized. Should Looking Glass - persist, the appeal will be made to your people. They must sign the - treaty agreed to by them through you as head chief, or the council - will be broken up and you will return home, your faith broken, your - hopes of the future gone." - -The council being adjourned, the Cuyuses and Nez Perces retired to -their respective camps to hold councils by themselves, which lasted all -night. The position of Looking Glass was determined by the latter to be -second to Lawyer, who was reaffirmed head chief. The council was stormy, -but the chiefs at length all agreed on a paper sent in by Lawyer, and -read in council, which declared the faith of the tribe pledged to -Governor Stevens, and that the treaty must be signed. "Those who would -advise breaking their word were no better than the Cuyuses. Let them -share the lot of the Cuyuses." The morning after this council being -Sunday, Timothy preached a sermon for the times, and held up to the -indignation of the tribe, and the retribution of the Almighty, those who -would coalesce with the Cuyuses, and break the faith of the Nez Perces. - -The governor had a conversation with Kam-i-ah-kan, who said:-- - - "Looking Glass, if left alone, will sign the treaty. Don't ask me to - accept presents. I have never taken one from a white man. When the - payments are made, I will take my share." - -Steachus, the friendly Cuyuse chief, expressed his earnest desire that -his tribe should sign the treaty, and both Pu-pu-mox-mox and -Kam-i-ah-kan used their influence to induce them to accept it. - -Early Monday morning Governor Stevens saw Lawyer, and said to him: "We -are now ready to go into council. I shall call upon your people to keep -their word, and upon you as head chief to sign first. We want no -speeches. This will be the last day of the council. Call your people -together as soon as possible." The Lawyer replied, "This is the right -course," and immediately summoned his tribe. The closing scene of the -council is best given in Governor Stevens's own words:-- - - "The Looking Glass took his seat in council in the very best humor. - The Cuyuses and Nez Perces were all present. Kam-i-ah-kan sat down - near the Young Chief. The council was opened by me in a brief - speech: 'We meet for the last time. Your words are pledged to sign - the treaty. The tribes have spoken through their head chiefs, - Joseph, Red Wolf, the Eagle, Ip-se-male-e-con, all declaring Lawyer - was the head chief. I call upon Lawyer to sign first.' Lawyer then - signed the treaty. 'I now call upon Joseph and the Looking Glass.' - Looking Glass signed, then Joseph. Then every chief and man of note, - both Nez Perces and Cuyuses, signed their respective treaties. - - "After the treaties were signed, I spoke briefly of the Blackfoot - council, and asked each tribe to send delegations, the Nez Perces a - hundred chiefs and braves, the whole under the head chief, or some - chief of acknowledged authority, as Looking Glass. There was much - talk on the subject on the part of the Indians. Looking Glass said - he would have a talk with me alone some other time." - -The council being completed, presents were made to all the assembled -tribes, who began packing up and moving off. Eagle-from-the-Light, the -Nez Perce chief, who was at first opposed to the treaty and refused to -accept provisions, now presented a magnificent grizzly bear's skin, with -the teeth and claws intact, to Governor Stevens with the following -speech: "This skin is my medicine. It came with me every day to council. -It tells me everything. It says what has been done is right. Had -anything been done wrong, it would have spoken out. I have now no use -for it. I give it to you that you may know my heart is right." Every day -Eagle-from-the-Light had brought this skin to the council, and, placing -it with the teeth and claws turned towards the commissioners, had used -it as a seat, declining the roll of blankets offered him. - - [Illustration: HAL-HAL-TLOS-SOT: THE LAWYER - _Head Chief of the Nez Perces_] - - "Thus ended," says the journal, "in the most satisfactory manner, - this great council, prolonged through so many days,--a council - which--in the number of Indians assembled and the different tribes, - old difficulties and troubles between them and the whites, a - deep-seated dislike to and determination against giving up their - lands, and the great importance, nay, absolute necessity, of opening - this land by treaty to occupation by the whites, that bloodshed and - the enormous expense of Indian wars might be avoided, and in its - general influence and difficulty--has never been equaled by any - council held with the Indian tribes of the United States. - - "It was so considered by all present, and a final relief from the - intense anxiety and vexation of the last month was especially - grateful to all concerned." - -The following day the Nez Perces celebrated the happy conclusion of the -treaty, and the return of Looking Glass and his braves from the buffalo -country, by a scalp-dance. The chiefs and braves, in full war-paint and -adorned with all their savage finery, formed a large circle, standing -several ranks deep. Within this arena a chosen body of warriors -performed the war-dance, while the densely massed ranks of braves -circled around them, keeping time in measured tread, and accompanying it -with their wild and barbaric war-song. The ferocious and often hideous -mien of these stalwart savages, their frenzied attitudes and shrill and -startling yells, formed a subject worthy the pen of Dante and the pencil -of Dore. The missionary still had work to do. Presently an old hag, the -very picture of squalor and woe, burst into the circle, bearing aloft -upon a pole one of the fresh scalps so recently taken by Looking Glass, -and, dancing and jumping about with wild and extravagant action, heaped -upon the poor relic of a fallen foe every mark of indignity and -contempt. Shaking it aloft, she vociferously abused it; she beat it, she -spat upon it, she bestrode the pole and rushed around the ring, trailing -it in the dust, again and again; while the warriors, with grim -satisfaction, kept up their measured tread, chanted their war-songs, -and uttered if possible yet more ear-piercing yells. A softer and more -pleasing scene succeeded. The old hag retired with her bedraggled -trophy, and a long line of Indian maidens stepped within the circle, -and, forming an inner rank, moved slowly round and round, chanting a -mild and plaintive air. A number of the stylish young braves, real -Indian beaux in the height of paint and feathers, next took post within -the circle, near the rank of moving maidens, and each one, as the object -of his adoration passed him, placed a gayly decorated token upon her -shoulder. If she allowed it to remain, his affection was returned and he -was accepted, but if she shook it off, he knew that he was a rejected -suitor. Coquetry evidently is not confined to the civilized fair, for, -without exception, the maidens, as if indignant at such public wooing, -threw off the token with disdain, while every new victim of delusive -hopes was greeted with shouts of laughter from the spectators. - -The turning-point in the council was undoubtedly the discovery of the -Cuyuse conspiracy by Lawyer, and his act of moving his lodge into -Governor Stevens's camp, thereby placing the whites under the protection -of the Nez Perces. This was all that prevented the hostile chiefs and -braves from striking the blow. They refrained because they knew that if -Lawyer was killed in an attack on the camp, which was to be expected in -the melee, the whole Nez Perce nation would avenge his slaughter in -their blood. The real extent and imminence of the danger was known to -but few, but the fact of the plot was soon generally bruited about. - - [Illustration: THE SCALP DANCE] - - "Their design," says Colonel Kip, "was first to massacre the escort, - which _could have been easily_ done. Fifty soldiers against three - thousand Indian warriors, out on the open plains, made rather too - great odds. We should have had time, like Lieutenant Grattan at - Fort Laramie last season, to deliver one fire, and then the contest - would have been over. Their next move was to surprise the post at - the Dalles, as they could also have easily done, as most of the - troops were withdrawn, and the Indians in the neighborhood had - recently united with them. This would have been the beginning of - their war of extermination against the settlers." - -Foiled in their plot, why did they then so quickly agree to the -treaties, which up to that time they had so bitterly spurned? All the -circumstances and evidence go to show that, with the exception of -Steachus, the friendly Cuyuse, they all--Young Chief, Five Crows, -Pu-pu-mox-mox, Kam-i-ah-kan, and their sub-chiefs--all signed the -treaties as a deliberate act of treachery, in order to lull the whites -into fancied security, give time for Governor Stevens to depart to the -distant Blackfoot country, where he would probably be "wiped out" by -those truculent savages, and for the Nez Perces to return home, and also -for completing their preparations for a widespread and simultaneous -onslaught on all the settlements. Scarcely had they reached home from -the council when they resumed such preparations, buying extra stores of -ammunition, and sending emissaries to the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, -and even to some of the Nez Perces and to other tribes, to incite them -to war, actually held a council of the disaffected at a point in the -Palouse country the following month, and, within three months of -accepting ostensibly the protection of the Great Father, precipitated -the conflict. Agent Bolon and many white miners and settlers in the -upper country were massacred, and settlements as widespread as Puget -Sound and southern Oregon, six hundred miles apart, were attacked on the -same day. In this conspiracy and contest Kam-i-ah-kan was the moving -spirit, the organizer, the instigator, whose crafty wiles never slept, -and whose stubborn resolution no disaster could break. But in the end, -after protracted and stubborn resistance, they were defeated and -compelled to move on their reservations, and live under the very -treaties they so treacherously agreed to, and under which they still -live and have greatly prospered. - -Whether or not the Walla Walla council precipitated the outbreak, as has -been claimed, it is certain that it confirmed the Nez Perces in their -friendship, neutralized the Spokanes for two years, kept even some of -the Cuyuses friendly all through the war, namely, Steachus and his band, -extinguished the Indian title, and permanently settled the status of the -Indian and his relation with the white man, without which peace was an -impossibility. The outbreak itself could have been suppressed in a -single season, had Governor Stevens's firm policy and sagacious views -been sustained. - -Over sixty thousand square miles were ceded by these treaties. The Nez -Perce reservation contained five thousand square miles, including -mountain and forest as well as good land, and provision was made for -moving other tribes upon it. The payment for the Nez Perce lands -comprised $200,000 in the usual annuities, and $60,000 for improving the -reservation, saw and grist mills, schools, shops, teachers, farmers, -mechanics, etc. Ardent spirits were excluded; the right to hunt, fish, -gather roots and berries, and pasture stock on vacant land was secured, -and provision was made for ultimately allotting the land in severalty. -An annuity of $500 for twenty years was given the head chief, and a -house was to be built for him, and ten acres of land fenced and broken -up the first year. At the special request of the Indians, the claim and -homestead of William Craig was confirmed to him, and was not to be -considered part of the reservation, although within its boundaries. - -Besides Lawyer and Looking Glass, fifty-six chiefs signed this treaty, -and among them were Joseph (the father of the chief Joseph, who in 1877 -fought the brilliant campaign against Generals Howard, Gibbon, and -Miles, the only conflict that has ever occurred between the Nez Perces -and the whites), James, Red Wolf, Timothy, Spotted Eagle, and -Eagle-from-the-Light. - -The Umatilla reservation contained eight hundred square miles. $100,000 -to be given for annuities in goods, etc., for twenty years; $50,000 for -improving the reservation; $10,000 for moving the emigrant road, which -passed through it, around its borders; a sawmill, a flour-mill; two -schoolhouses; a blacksmith's shop, a wagon and plough making shop, a -carpenter and joiner shop; tools and equipments; and teachers, farmers, -and mechanics to instruct them for twenty years,--were the very liberal -payments for their lands. Moreover, the head chief of each tribe was to -have his annuity of $500 for twenty years, a house built, and ten acres -fenced and ploughed. Pu-pu-mox-mox, in addition, was to be allowed to -maintain a trading-post at the mouth of the Yakima; his first year's -salary was to be paid him on signing the treaty; he was also to receive -three yoke of oxen, three yokes and four chains, a wagon, two ploughs, -twelve axes, two shovels, twelve hoes, one saddle and bridle, a set of -wagon harness and one of plough harness; and his son was to have an -annuity of $100 for twenty years, and have a house built, and five acres -of land ploughed and fenced. - -The wily old chief had certainly gotten all he could. - -The other provisions were similar to those of the Nez Perce treaty. It -was signed by the three head chiefs and thirty-two sub-chiefs. - -The Yakima treaty contained the same general provisions. A large -reservation on the Simcoe, a southern branch of the Yakima, and a -smaller one on the Wenatchee, including the fishery there, were set -apart for them. The payments include $200,000 in annuities, $60,000 for -improving the reservations, the annuity, house and field for the chief, -etc. In all the treaties provision is made for finally dividing the land -among the Indians in severalty. - -Kam-i-ah-kan, Ow-hi, Skloom, and eleven other chiefs signed the treaty. -The first three were able and persistent inciters of, and leaders in, -the Indian war. Ow-hi is mentioned in "The Canoe and Saddle," by -Theodore Winthrop, and met a tragic end, being slain while a prisoner -trying to escape from the troops under Colonel George Wright. - -After their exemplary punishment the Yakimas settled down on their -reservation, and for many years were prosperous and contented under the -charge of the faithful agent Wilbur. They number 2556, showing little -diminution; have taken their lands in severalty; most of them wear -civilized dress in whole or part; have 17,000 acres under cultivation; -raise 50,000 bushels of grain, 9600 of vegetables, and 25,000 tons of -hay. - -The Spokanes number 3000. While some of the bands are backward, others -have made encouraging progress, "are thrifty and industrious, have -splendid farms, and raise large crops of grain and hay, ... are -self-supporting, and, but for the intemperance of some of them, are -making rapid strides towards civilization." The agent says of one band: -"They accept no issues from the government, and are independent and -self-supporting. They are peaceable in their own social relations, and -courteous to their white brethren. They have made material progress, -having good farms, fine horses, and many of them small herds of cattle." - - [Illustration: OW-HI - _A Chief of the Yakimas_] - -The Coeur d'Alenes, numbering 506, are further advanced in civilization, -and in better condition financially than any other tribe. They are well -supplied with all kinds of farming implements, from a plough to a -threshing-machine, of which latter they now have thirteen in operation, -purchased by themselves with their own money. - -The Nez Perces, the most progressive and deserving of all, seem to have -fared the worst. Their reservation was early overrun by thousands of -miners, and they were outrageously swindled by dishonest agents. They -number only 1795, having diminished one half. But they have taken their -lands in severalty; have 10,000 acres under cultivation, 100,000 acres -under fence; raise 55,000 bushels of grain, 15,000 bushels of -vegetables; own 30,000 horses, 15,000 cattle, 3000 swine, and 20,000 -fowls. "Very enthusiastic revival meetings were conducted here last -winter by the native elders, which resulted in quite a number of -converts being made."[6] - - [6] Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1899, pp. 147, - 148, 297, 298, 304, 612, 618, 626, 628. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - - CROSSING THE BITTER ROOTS - - -On the close of the council the Indians homeward-bound filled all the -trails leading out of the valley with their wild and picturesque -cavalcades,--the braves resplendent with scarlet blankets and leggings; -the squaws and pappooses decked with bright calico shirts and kerchiefs. -Lieutenant Gracie marched away to join Major Haller in an expedition -against the predatory Snakes. The secretaries and other treaty officers -toiled early and late making up the records and reports for Washington, -which, with letters and instructions for Olympia, were dispatched on the -14th by W.H. Pearson, the express rider. - -It will be noted how carefully and fully the proceedings of all Governor -Stevens's councils were recorded; not merely a statement of what was -done, but a complete verbatim report of the deliberations, the speeches, -every word uttered by both whites and Indians in council, and many of -the talks out of council, was reduced to writing and made part of the -official record,--a record which now affords the most convincing -evidence of the wisdom, foresight, and benevolence of the treaties, as -well as the difficulties and dangers attending them, and presents a most -interesting and historically valuable picture of the characters, -dispositions, and feelings of the Indians. - -General Palmer had been appointed one of the commissioners to treat with -the Blackfeet, Governor Stevens and Alfred Cumming, Superintendent of -Indian Affairs for Nebraska, being the others, but he declined the -arduous and dangerous duty, and, with the Oregon Indian officers, -started for home. - -A.J. Bolon, the Yakima Indian agent, with a small party, was sent to old -Fort Walla Walla with a quantity of Indian goods intended for the -Spokanes, there to be stored for safe-keeping. He was instructed to -visit and inspect the Yakima reservation, thence proceed to the Dalles -and bring the Nez Perce Indian goods to Walla Walla, deposit them, and, -loading up with the Spokane goods, take them to Antoine Plante's ranch -on the Spokane River, in readiness for the council on the governor's -return from the Blackfoot country. Mr. Henry R. Crosby was dispatched to -Colville to notify the Indians, the Hudson Bay Company officers, and the -missionaries of the proposed council. Agent W.H. Tappan was sent with -Craig to Lapwai to organize a delegation of the Nez Perces to go to the -Blackfoot council, and was to accompany them himself. All the officers -were charged to examine the regions traversed by them, and report on the -topographical and agricultural features, etc. The governor had procured -from New York a supply of barometers and other instruments, and was -determined to continue and complete his railroad explorations, so -summarily arrested by Jefferson Davis, as far as possible on this -expedition, although it was one primarily on the Indian service. In his -final railroad report he gives a daily journal of this trip, and a -graphic description of the country passed over, together with an immense -amount of new information, the fruits of his own indefatigable personal -exertions and those of his subordinates, amplifying and triumphantly -vindicating his first report. - -It was a beautiful, sunny June morning, the 16th, when the little train -drew out from the deserted council ground, and took its way in single -file across the level valley prairie, covered with luxuriant bunch -grass and vivid-hued flowers. A large, fine-looking Coeur d'Alene -Indian, named Joseph, led the way as guide; then rode the governor with -his son, Secretary Doty, Agent Lansdale, and Gustave Sohon the artist, -barometer-carrier, and observer; then came Packmaster Higgins, followed -by the train of eleven packers and two cooks, and forty-one sleek, -long-eared pack-mules, each bearing a burden of two hundred pounds, the -men interspersed with the mules to keep them moving on the trail; while -seventeen loose animals, in a disorderly bunch, driven by a couple of -herders, brought up the rear. It was a picked force, both men and -animals, and made up in efficiency for scanty numbers. The artist, -Gustave Sohon, a soldier of the 4th infantry, detailed for the trip, was -an intelligent German, a clever sketcher, and competent to take -instrumental observations. Higgins, ex-orderly sergeant of dragoons, a -tall, broad-shouldered, spare, sinewy man, a fine swordsman and -drill-master, a scientific boxer, was a man of unusual firmness, -intelligence, and good judgment, and quiet, gentlemanly manners, and -held the implicit respect, obedience, and goodwill of his subordinates. -He afterwards became the founder, banker, and first citizen of the -flourishing town of Missoula, at Hell Gate, in the Bitter Root valley. -A.H. Robie worked up from the ranks, married a daughter of Craig, and -settled at Boise City, Idaho, where he achieved a highly prosperous and -respected career. Sidney Ford, a son of Judge Ford, already mentioned, -was a handsome, stalwart young Saxon in appearance, broad-shouldered, -sensible, capable, and kindly. The others were all men of experience on -the plains and mountains, brave and true; several had been members of -the exploring expedition; others had served the fur companies, or -voyageured and trapped on their own account. By all odds the most -skillful and picturesque of these mountain men, and having the most -varied and romantic history, was Delaware Jim, whose father was a -Delaware chief and his mother a white woman, and who had spent a -lifetime--for he was now past middle age--in hunting and traveling over -all parts of the country, from the Mississippi to the Pacific, meeting -with many thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes. He had a tall, -slender form, a keen eye, an intelligent face, and reserved manners. He -was reticent in speech, although he spoke English well; but when he was -induced to relate his varied experiences and adventures, his simple and -modest narrative impressed every auditor with its truth. Many of the men -were clad in buckskin moccasins, breeches, and fringed hunting-shirts; -others in rough, serviceable woolen garb, stout boots, and wide slouch -hats. All carried navy revolvers and keen bowie-knives, and many in -addition bore the long, heavy, small-bored Kentucky rifle, which they -fired with great deliberation and unerring skill. - -One of the most remarkable men connected with the expedition was the -express rider, W.H. Pearson. A native of Philadelphia, of small but -well-knit frame, with muscles of steel, and spirit and endurance that no -exertion apparently could break down, waving, chestnut hair, a fair, -high forehead, a refined, intelligent, and pleasant face, the manners -and bearing of a gentleman,--such was Pearson. He was destined that year -to render services invaluable in character and incredible in extent. Of -him the governor remarks in his final report, p. 210: - - "Hardy, bold, intelligent, and resolute, having a great diversity of - experience, which had made him acquainted with all the relations - between Indians and white men from the borders of Texas to the 49th - parallel, and which enabled him to know best how to move, whether - under the Southern tropics or the winter snows of the North, I - suppose there has scarcely ever been any man in the service of the - government who excelled Pearson as an expressman." - -He was still young, about thirty-five, but, as a Texan ranger, a scout, -Indian fighter, and express rider, knew the frontiers from the Rio -Grande to the Columbia and Missouri like an open book. - -The party thus starting on the protracted and perilous expedition was -composed of only twenty-two persons, as follows: Governor Isaac I. -Stevens; James Doty, secretary; R.H. Lansdale, Indian agent; Gustave -Sohon, artist; Hazard Stevens; C.P. Higgins, packmaster; Sidney S. Ford, -Jr., A.H. Robie, Joseph Lemere, Frank Genette, H. Palmer, William -Simpson, John Canning, Frank Hale, Louis Oson, Louis Fourcier, C. -Hughes, John Johnson, William S. De Parris, William Prudhomme, packers, -the last two cooks; Joseph, the C[oe]ur d'Alene guide; and Delaware Jim, -who deserves a place by himself. - -The party followed the Nez Perce trail, and, after a short march of -eight miles, made camp on Dry Creek. Two messes were formed,--the -gentlemen of the party, with the guide Joseph, Delaware Jim, Ford, -Genette, and De Parris as cook, comprising the governor's mess, and the -remainder of the party Higgins's mess. - -Continuing on the Nez Perce trail, the party in the next three days and -fifty-four miles traversed a beautiful rolling prairie country of -fertile soil, luxuriant bunch grass, and wild flowers, crossing the -Touchet and Tucanon rivers, and ascending the Pa-ta-ha branch of the -latter, and, descending the Al-pa-wha Creek, reached its confluence with -Snake River at Red Wolf's ground. Here was found a village of thirteen -lodges of Nez Perces, under the chiefs Red Wolf and Timothy, with a -fenced field of thirty acres, well watered by irrigation from the -Al-pa-wha, and containing a fine crop of corn and a promising orchard. -"I observed with great pleasure that men as well as women and children -were at work in this field, ploughing and taking care of their crops," -observes the governor. After some bargaining, for the chiefs were keen -traders and exacted a stiff toll for the service, the party, with packs -and baggage, were ferried across the Snake, a notably swift and -dangerous river, by the Indians in their canoes, and went into camp, -while the animals crossed by swimming. - -By appointment Lawyer met the governor here, and with the other two -chiefs took supper with him, the three devouring the lion's share of a -fine salmon, which Timothy had just sold at an exorbitant -price,--clearly the Nez Perces were fast learning the ways of -civilization,--and completed the arrangements for sending their -delegation to the Blackfoot council. Lawyer also gave much information -about his people and country. - -Climbing out of the deep canyon of the river next morning by an easy -grade up a lateral creek, the party took a general N.N.E. course across -the high, rolling plains stretching away to the mountains, for five days -traversing a fine fertile and diversified country, clothed with waving -grass and bright flowers, well wooded with groves of pine, and -abundantly watered. They passed on the second day 600 Nez Perces -gathering the kamas root, and having with them 2000 horses, and crossed -the Palouse River, with its broad valley extending far eastward into the -heart of the mountains. Says the governor: "We have been astonished at -the luxuriance of the grass and the fertility of the soil. The whole -view presents to the eye a vast bed of flowers in all their varied -beauty." The governor continually remarks the fertility and agricultural -capabilities of the country traversed. It now forms the most productive -part of the wheat belt of eastern Washington, and is all settled up by a -prosperous farming community. The third day's camp was made at the -kamas prairie of the Coeur d'Alenes, where were found 29 lodges and -250 Indians of that tribe, gathering and drying kamas. This esculent is -about the size and shape of a large tulip bulb, and when dried and -smoked for use has a dark color and sweet taste, and was highly esteemed -by the Indians and mountain men. The governor had a talk with Stellam, -the head chief, and a number of other chiefs, and requested them to meet -him at the mission in order to learn about the treaty the Great Father -desired to make with them. They promised to attend. In the evening came -the Palouse chief, Slah-yot-see, with 30 braves, and complained that no -goods were given him at the recent council. The governor replied:-- - - "Slah-yot-see, you went away before the council was ended. - Koh-lat-toose remained and signed the treaty. He was recognized as - the head chief of the Palouses, and to him the goods were given to - be distributed among his tribe as he and the principal men should - determine. I have brought no goods to give you. Go to Koh-lat-toose. - He is the chief, and it is from him you must obtain your share of - the presents. Had you remained until the council terminated, you - would have had a voice in the distribution of the goods. - Kam-i-ah-kan, your head chief, signed the treaty, and said that he - should bring the Palouses into the Yakima country, where they - properly belonged." - -The chief said but little in reply except acknowledging Kam-i-ah-kan as -his head chief. The Palouses had a bad name, and were regarded as -sullen, insolent, and disaffected. - -The last day, putting the party in camp on the Coeur d'Alene River, -the governor with Doty and Sohon rode on nine miles farther to the -mission, where he was received with the utmost hospitality by good -Father Ravalli, and where he found Crosby, just arrived from Colville. -The mission was situated on a sightly eminence in the midst of a little -prairie on the right bank of the river. On this beautiful and commanding -site stood a well-proportioned church, solidly built of squared timbers -as smoothly hewn and closely fitted as though done by skillful white -artisans, yet all the work of the Indians, under the direction of the -priests. A long wooden building, plain but comfortable, afforded -quarters for the fathers and two or three lay brothers and the transient -guests. At the foot of the knoll, near the river, were the lodges of the -Indians, constituting their principal village. - -At the camp of the party this evening an incident occurred of quite -unusual character,--a wrestling match between Indian and white. A large -number of the Coeur d'Alenes had come down with their canoes, and -assisted the party in crossing the rivers, and had taken the packs by -water a long distance, thus relieving the animals over a stretch of -muddy trail, and at night camped near the whites. After supper they came -over to camp, and, with much talk in Chinook and many signs, at length -conveyed the idea of a challenge at wrestling between an immense, -powerfully formed Indian, whom they brought forward as their champion, -and any "skookum man" of the whites. The latter were rather taken back. -None liked the looks of the big and muscular savage, but all agreed that -it would never do to decline the challenge, and back down before a -parcel of Indians. At last Sidney Ford stepped forward, declaring that -he would try a fall with him, if he broke his back in the effort. In the -struggle which ensued, it was soon apparent that the Indian was the -superior in weight and strength, and Ford had to put forth all his skill -and agility to prevent being forced to the ground. At last, while all -the spectators, both red and white, were breathlessly watching the -straining, panting wrestlers, the whites especially with great anxiety -and apprehension, Ford gave a sudden and mighty heave, the huge Indian's -bare legs and moccasined feet whirled in the air, and the next instant -he struck the ground with a heavy and sickening thud, and lay senseless -as the dead. Ford had thrown him completely over his shoulder by some -skillful wrestling stroke. The Indian soon recovered, and departed with -his companions, well satisfied that the white man was "hi-u skookum" -(mighty strong). This rencounter led to much discussion around the -camp-fire that evening as to the relative prowess of Indian and white. -All agreed that the latter was far superior, not only in courage and -physical strength, but even in endurance and woodland and savage arts -and skill. - -The next day the party moved and encamped near the village, and on the -following morning the principal chiefs to the number of thirty assembled -in front of the governor's tent, and listened attentively as he -explained to them the benefits they would gain by learning to "follow -the white man's road," and referred to the treaties made with the other -tribes at the recent council, at which some of them were present, and -asked them to meet him in council with the Spokanes on his return. -Finally he invited them to send with him a delegation to the Blackfoot -council, and make peace with those fierce and feared marauders. The -chiefs received the talk favorably, but declined to send the delegation, -saying that only a few of their people went to buffalo, and besides they -were afraid to go to the council. The Blackfeet would kill them. - -At noon, after this conference, the train set out in charge of Higgins, -while the governor, with Doty and Crosby, remained a few hours longer. -The oath of allegiance to the United States was administered by Crosby -to the fathers and lay brothers, who subscribed the naturalization -papers, and seemed much pleased with the idea of becoming American -citizens. Towards evening they bade the hospitable missionaries -farewell, and, riding rapidly eleven miles, found the train snugly -encamped in a large prairie with fine grass, where the governor -encamped, October 12, 1853. The next two days the party were kept in -camp by a pelting summer rain. - -Friday, June 29, on a cool and delightful morning after the storm, the -march was continued up the Coeur d'Alene River, retracing the -governor's route of 1853 across the Bitter Root Mountains; the summit -was passed on July 1, and, descending the St. Regis de Borgia, crossing -and recrossing the stream no less than thirty-five times, the Bitter -Root River was reached on the 3d, eighty-six miles distant from the -mission. The Father Superior of the Catholic missions, with two -companions returning from an inspection of the Pend Oreille Mission, was -met the first day, and on the summit a Coeur d'Alene Indian, whom the -governor had previously sent to the Bitter Root valley[7] with -dispatches to Mr. Adams, special agent for the Flatheads, in regard to -holding a council with them, brought the gratifying intelligence that -the Indians were all ready to assemble, all full of the Blackfoot -council, and that everything was quiet in the Indian country. The -governor took great pains in examining the route and the topography of -the country, and in determining the altitude by the barometer. - -The Fourth of July was spent in crossing the Bitter Root, which was at -this point one hundred and fifty yards wide, with a swift, strong -current, and fordable only at the lowest stage of water in fall and -winter. It was now swollen from recent rains and melting snows in the -mountains. All hands set to work felling trees and building rafts, with -which to effect a crossing. While thus laboriously engaged, a large -band of Flathead Indians, who were encamped here, took down their -lodges, and ferried themselves over the swift and broad river, with all -their women, children, horses, dogs, lodges, and effects, in less than -an hour's time, and in a simple and ingenious manner, which put the -whites quite to the blush. The buffalo-skin lodge was spread out on a -smooth, flat place at the water's edge, all the blankets, robes, -clothing, bundles of provisions, saddles, packs, everything in short in -the way of goods and chattels were piled in a broad, circular pile upon -it, and the ends and edges of the skin were stretched up and tied -together on top, as one would tie up a bundle of clothes in a -handkerchief. This being completed, a brave rode his horse into the -river until almost swimming, holding by his teeth the end of a line; the -bundle was then pushed and lifted into the river; the squaws climbed on -top of it with the children and babies around them, one of them took and -held the other end of the line, and the brave started his pony swimming -across the stream, holding by the mane or tail with one hand, and -swimming with the other, and soon reached the opposite bank in safety. -It was a curious and exciting spectacle to see ten or twelve of these -bundles, the size of large haycocks, surmounted by groups of squaws and -pappooses, rapidly floating down the stream, while being slowly towed -across, nothing visible of the ponies and braves except their heads, -while the loud, labored breathing of the swimming horses and the shouts -and splashings of the Indians echoed across the water. - -The Flatheads were accustomed to train and exercise their horses in -swimming, and were very skillful in crossing streams in this manner. The -buffalo-skin lodges were impervious to water for only a short time, and -would become leaky and useless by a prolonged soaking. - -The party built three large rafts, loaded all the goods upon them, and -poled them across the river with long poles. The animals were compelled -to swim. The last, bearing the governor, was the largest and least -manageable, and came near escaping down the river on a voyage of its own -choosing. It was carried farther down than the others, and on nearing -the other bank got into a swifter current, where the poles were quite -useless, and was swept along at break-neck speed, flying past the rocks -and trees of the bank only forty feet away. At this juncture Higgins -seized the end of a pack rope and plunged headfirst into the raging -current, gained the shore in a few powerful strokes, raced along it at -top speed to keep the rope from being jerked out of his hands by the -flying raft until he came to a tree, threw a turn of the rope around it, -and checked the raft, which then swung inshore under the pressure of the -current. In these few minutes the unwieldy craft was carried down two -miles. But everything was gotten together and a comfortable camp pitched -before night. The tired men smoked their pipes around the camp-fire -after supper and recounted the adventures of the day, with great -satisfaction that the river was behind them. - -After a late start the next morning the party moved eighteen miles up -the right bank of the beautiful river, traversing tracts of open woods -and prairies, alternating in pleasing variety with the dark, rugged -range just surmounted, frowning on the right. Large schools of salmon or -trout were seen in the clear, pellucid water, motionless over the -spawning-beds, fairly covering and hiding the river's bed, in such -numbers were they. The next day's march was thirty-seven miles. On the -7th, soon after leaving camp, they were met and received by three -hundred chiefs and braves of the Flathead, Pend Oreille, and Koo-te-nay -tribes, in the most cordial manner, with a salute of musketry, and -escorted to their camp near Hell Gate River. After spending some hours -with them, learning their condition, and establishing pleasant relations -between them and his own party, the governor moved to the main river, a -mile distant, and established his camp and council ground. - -In the afternoon the three head chiefs, Victor of the Flatheads, -Alexander of the Pend Oreilles, and Michelle of the Koo-te-nays, -accompanied by a number of other chiefs, visited Governor Stevens, and -after the pipe had passed around,--the indispensable introduction to -every Indian conference,--the latter spoke to them in his usual vein, -proposing a treaty, referring to the great council just held with so -many Indians in the Walla Walla valley, and appointing the next Monday -for opening the council with them. He also spoke of his efforts to make -peace with the Blackfeet, and urged them to send a delegation to the -proposed council with these, their inveterate and bloody foes. This was -a sore subject with the Flatheads, for the Blackfeet had but faithlessly -kept their promises of amity and good conduct towards their neighbors. -Many of their young braves, despite the efforts of the chiefs and elders -to restrain them, had continued their predatory raids, saying, "Let us -steal all the horses we can before the great white chief returns and -makes peace with all the tribes, and stops horse-stealing forever," and -had inflicted severe losses upon the Flatheads since the governor passed -through their country nearly two years before, notwithstanding, and that -was what made it all the harder to bear; the Flatheads had scrupulously -heeded the governor's admonitions, and refrained from retaliation. On -one occasion, when some young Pend Oreilles ran off a number of -Blackfoot horses, the chiefs sent them back, at the risk of the lives of -the party returning them. When the governor finished, Victor said:-- - - - "The Blackfeet have troubled us very much. I am going to tell what - has happened since you were here. Twelve men have been killed when - out hunting, not on war-parties. I fear the whites and keep quiet. I - cannot tell how many horses have been stolen since. Now I listen, - and hear what you wish me to do. Were it not for you, I would have - had my revenge ere this. They have stolen horses seven times this - spring." - -The chiefs then returned to their camp, promising to attend the council -the following Monday. - -The Flatheads or Salish, including the Pend Oreilles and Koo-te-nays, -were among those who had been driven westward by the Blackfeet, and now -occupied the pleasant valleys of the mountains. They were noted for -their intelligence, honesty, and bravery, and although of medium stature -and inferior in physique to the brawny Blackfeet, never hesitated to -attack them if the odds were not greater than five to one. Having been -supplied by the early fur traders with firearms, which enabled them to -make a stand against their outnumbering foe, they had always been the -firm friends of the whites, and, like the Nez Perces, often hunted with -the mountain men, and entertained them in their lodges. A number of -Iroquois hunters and half-breeds had joined and intermarried with them. -The Bitter Root valley was the seat of the Flatheads proper. The Pend -Oreilles lived lower down the river, or northward, in two bands, the -upper Pend Oreilles on the Horse Plains and Jocko prairies, and the -lower Pend Oreilles on Clark's Fork, below the lake of their name, and -were canoe Indians, owning few horses. The Koo-te-nays lived about the -Flathead River and Lake. All these, except the lower Pend Oreilles, went -to buffalo, and their hunting-trips were spiced with the constant peril -and excitement of frequent skirmishes with their hereditary enemies. The -Jesuits, in 1843, established a mission among the lower Pend Oreilles, -but in 1854 moved to the Flathead River, near the mouth of the Jocko. -They also started a mission among the Flatheads in the Bitter Root -valley, forty miles above Hell Gate, where they founded the beautiful -village of St. Mary, amid charming scenery; but the incessant raids of -the Blackfeet were slowly but surely "wiping out" these brave and -interesting Indians, and the mission was abandoned in 1850 as too much -exposed. The Owen brothers then started a trading-post at this point, -which they named Fort Owen; and fourteen miles above it Lieutenant -Mullan built his winter camp in 1853, known as Cantonment Stevens, which -has been succeeded by the town of Stevensville. The term "Flathead" was -a misnomer, as none of them practiced the custom of flattening -the head. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [7] Now known as the Missoula Valley and River. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI - - THE FLATHEAD COUNCIL - - -After a quiet and restful Sunday in both camps the Indians assembled at -the appointed time, and the council was opened on Monday, July 9, at -half past one P.M., by the governor, in a long speech, explaining, as at -the other councils, the terms and advantages proffered by the -government. Although the Indians were extremely friendly, and very -desirous of "following the white man's road" and coming under the -protection of the Great Father, their only apparent refuge from the -fierce Blackfeet, whose incessant raids threatened them with speedy -extinction, the council proved unexpectedly difficult and protracted, -lasting eight days, and the treaty was only saved by Governor Stevens's -persistence and astuteness in accepting an alternative proposition -offered by Victor at the last moment. The chronic objection of every -tribe to leaving its own country and going on a reservation in the -territory of another was the stumbling-block. - -The governor required the three tribes, as they were really one people, -being all Salish, speaking a common language, and closely intermarried -and allied, and also reduced in numbers, to unite upon one reservation. -He offered to set apart a tract for them either in the upper Bitter Root -valley in Victor's country, or the Horse Plains and Jocko River in the -Pend Oreille territory, as they might prefer, and urged them to decide -and agree among themselves upon one of these locations; but neither -tribe was willing to abandon its wonted region, where they were -accustomed to pitch their lodges, and where their dead were buried. The -following brief extracts from the proceedings give an idea of the course -of the difficult and at times stormy and vexatious negotiations. - -When the governor finished Victor said:-- - - "I am very tired now, and my people. You [the governor] are the only - man who has offered to help us.... I have two places, here is mine - [pointing out Bitter Root valley on the map], and this is mine - [pointing out Flathead River and Clark's Fork]. I will think of it, - and tell you which is best. I believe you wish to assist me to help - my children here so that they may have plenty to eat, and so that - they may save their souls." - - Alexander: "You are talking to me now, my Big Father. You have told - me you have to make your own laws to punish your children. I love my - children. I think I could not head them off to make them go - straight. I think it is with you to do so. If I take your own way, - your law, my people then will be frightened. These growing people - [young people] are all the same. Perhaps those who come after them - may see it well before them. I do not know your laws. Perhaps, if we - see a rope, if we see how it punishes, we will be frightened. When - the priest talked to them, tried to teach them, they all left him. - My children, maybe when the whites teach you, you may see it before - you. Now this is my ground. We are poor, we Indians. The priest is - settled over there [pointing across the mountains towards the north, - the direction of his country]. There, where he is, I am very well - satisfied. I will talk hereafter about the ground. I am done for - to-day." - -In this speech Alexander expresses the difficulty he has to manage his -unruly young people, and his fear that the white rule might prove too -strict for them. - - [Illustration: THE FLATHEAD COUNCIL] - - Red Wing, a Flathead chief: "We gathered up yesterday the three - peoples you see here. They think they are three nations. I thought - these nations were going to talk each about its own land. Now I hear - the governor: my land is all cut up in pieces. I thought we had two - places. This ground is the Flatheads', that across the mountains - is the Pend Oreilles'; perhaps not, perhaps we are all one. We made - up another mind yesterday, to-day it is different. We will go back - and have another council." - -The governor adjourned the council to the next day, urging them to talk -and agree among themselves as to the reservation. - -The following day the governor called on the chiefs to speak their minds -freely. - -Big Canoe, a Pend Oreille chief, made a long and sententious speech, in -which he deprecated making any treaty, or parting with any of his -country, and thought the whites and Indians could live together in the -same land:-- - - "Talk about treaty, when did I kill you? When did you kill me? What - is the reason we are talking about treaties? We are friends. We - never spilt the blood of one of you. I never saw your blood. I want - my country. I thought no one would ever want to talk about my - country. Now you talk, you white men. Now I have heard, I wish the - whites to stop coming. Perhaps you will put me in a trap if I do not - listen to you, white chiefs. It is our land, both of us. If you make - a farm, I would not go there and pull up your crops. I would not - drive you away from it. If I were to go to your country and say, - 'Give me a little piece,' I wonder would you say, 'Here, take it.' I - expect that is the same way you want me to do here. This country you - want to settle here, me with you.... You tell us, 'Give us your - land.' I am very poor. This is all the small piece I have got. I am - not going to let it go. I did not come to make trouble; therefore I - would say, I am very poor.... - - "It is two winters since you passed here. Every year since, my - horses have gone to the Blackfeet. Here this spring the Blackfeet - put my daughter on foot. She packed her goods on her back. It made - me feel bad. I was going on a war-party as your express passed - along. Then I think of what I heard from you, my father, and take my - heart back and keep quiet. If I had not listened to your express, I - should have gone on war-parties over yonder. We drove one band of - horses from the Blackfeet. I talked about it to my Indians. I said, - 'Give the horses back, my children.' My chief took them back. You - talked about it strong, my father. My chief took them back. That is - the way we act. When I found my children were going on war-parties, - I would tell them to stop, be quiet; tell them I expect now we will - see the chief; I expect he will talk to the Blackfeet again." - - Governor Stevens: "I will ask you, my children, if you fully - understand all that was said yesterday? I ask you now, can you all - agree to live on one reservation? I ask Victor, are you willing to - go on the same reservation with the Pend Oreilles and Koo-te-nays? I - ask Alexander, are you willing to go on the same reservation with - the Flatheads and Koo-te-nays? I ask Michelle, are you willing to go - on the same reservation with the Flatheads and Pend Oreilles? What - do you, Victor, Alexander, and Michelle, think? You are the head - chiefs. I want you to speak." - - Victor: "I am willing to go on one reservation, but I do not want to - go over yonder" [Pend Oreille country]. - - Alexander: "It is good for us all to stop in one place." - - Michelle: "I am with Alexander." - - Governor Stevens: "The Pend Oreilles and Koo-te-nays think it well - to have all these tribes together. Perhaps Victor might think so by - and by, if the place suits. Alexander and Michelle wish to live - together, their people on one place,--they have a thousand people, - the land ought to be good. Each man wants his field. The climate - ought to be mild.... - - "I ask Victor, Alexander, and Michelle to think it over. Will they - go to the valley with Victor, or to the mission with Alexander and - Michelle? I do not care which. You will have your priests with you, - whether you go to the mission or Fort Owen. Those who want the - priest can have him. The Great Father means that every one shall do - as he pleases in regard to receiving the instructions of the - priests." - -But the council next day showed no change in the situation. Victor was -unwilling to move to the mission, and Alexander to the valley. Neither -would object to the other coming to his place. It being evident, after -protracted discussion, that no progress would be made by continuing the -council that day, and it appearing that an influence was being exerted -by the priests of the mission which might be adverse to the views of the -government, a messenger was dispatched directing the presence of Father -Hoecken for the purpose of investigating it, the council was adjourned -over to Friday, and the Indians were recommended to have a feast and a -council among themselves on the morrow. Accordingly they had a grand -feast on the 12th, the means for which--two beeves, coffee, sugar, -flour, etc.--were furnished them, after which the day was spent in -discussing the question of the reservation among themselves. - -But in council next day they appeared no nearer an agreement, and, after -much and fruitless talk, Ambrose, a Flathead chief, said:-- - - "Yesterday Victor spoke to Alexander. He said: 'I am not headstrong. - The whites picked out a place for us, the best place, and that is - the reason I do not want to go. Two years since they passed us. Now - the white man has his foot on your ground. The white man will stay - with you.' Yesterday, when we had the feast, then Alexander spoke; - he said, 'Now I will go over to your side. I will let them take my - place, and come to your place.' But Victor did not speak, and the - council broke up." - - Governor Stevens: "Alexander, did you agree yesterday to give up - your country and join Victor?" - - Alexander: "Yes, yesterday I did give up. I listened and he did not - give me an answer; then I said, 'I will not give up my land.'" - - Governor Stevens: "I speak now to the Pend Oreilles and Koo-te-nays. - Do you agree to this treaty?--the treaty placing the Pend Oreilles - and Koo-te-nays on this reservation? [at the mission]. I ask Victor - if he declines to treat?" - - Victor: "Talk! I have nothing to say now." - - Governor Stevens: "Does Victor want to treat? Why did he not say to - Alexander yesterday, 'Come to my place'? or is not Victor a chief? - Is he, as one of his people has called him, an old woman? Dumb as a - dog? If Victor is a chief, let him speak now." - - Victor: "I thought, my people, perhaps you would listen. I said, - 'This [at the mission] is my country, and all over here is my - country. Some of my people want to be above me. I sit quiet, and - before me you give my land away. If I thought so, I would tell the - whites to take the land there [the mission]. It is my country. I am - listening, and my people say, "Take my country."'" - - Governor Stevens: "Alexander said yesterday that he would come up - here. Why did you not answer and say 'Come'?" - - Victor: "Yesterday I did talk." - - Governor Stevens: "Alexander said yesterday he offered to give up - his land and go to you. Alexander says you made no answer. Why did - you not say, 'Yes, come to my place'?" - - Victor: "I did not understand it so." - - Governor Stevens: "Ambrose says he understood Alexander to say so. - Alexander says he said so. You did not speak and say, 'Come to my - place,' but you were dumb. Does Victor mean to say that he will - neither let Alexander come to his place nor go to Alexander's?" - -Ambrose, Til-coos-tay, Red Wolf, and Bear Tracks, Flathead chiefs, took -up the discussion, pouring oil on the troubled waters, and excusing -Victor for not speaking in answer to Alexander at their own council. - -At length the governor said:-- - - "My children, I find that things are nearer to an agreement than - when we began talking this morning. Ambrose says the people are not - quite prepared, but will be ready by and by. Ambrose says, 'Be - patient and listen.' I am patient, and have been patient and - listened to them. Others of you have said they they were hiding - their minds and did not speak; hence I reproved you and said, 'Speak - out, let us have your hearts.' It seems many of the Flatheads are - ready to go to the mission. If their chief says so, they will go. - Victor says, 'I am ready to go, but my people will not;' but the - people say they are ready to go. We want all parties to speak - straight, to let us have their hearts, then we can agree. If - Victor's people will go, we want Victor as a chief to say, 'I will - go.'" - -Victor here arose and left the council. After a pause of some minutes -Governor Stevens said:-- - - "I will ask Ambrose where is Victor?" - - Ambrose: "He is gone home." - - Governor Stevens: "Ambrose, speaking of Victor, said he wanted time. - Victor is now thinking and studying over this matter. We don't wish - to drive or hurry you in this business. Think over this matter - to-night, and meet here to-morrow. I ask Ambrose to speak to Victor - and tell him what I say. Ambrose loves his chief, let him take my - words to him." - -He then adjourned the council to meet in the morning. - -But the following day word was sent by Victor to the governor that he -had not yet made up his mind, and the council was postponed to Monday -morning. - -When the council opened at eleven Monday morning, Victor said:-- - - "I am now going to talk. I was not content. You gave me a very small - place. Then I thought, here they are giving away my land. That is my - country over there at the mission, this also. Plenty of you say - Victor is the chief of the Flatheads. The place you pointed out - above is too small. From Lo Lo Fork above should belong to me. My - stock will have room, and if the Blackfeet will let my horses alone, - they will increase. I believe that you wish to help me, and that my - people will do well there. We will send this word to the Great - Father. Come and look at our country. When you look at Alexander's - place, and say the land is good, and say, Come, Victor, I will go. - If you think this above is good land, then Victor will say, Come - here, Alexander. Then our children will be well content. That is the - way we will make the treaty, my father." - - Governor Stevens: "Victor has spoken. Do Alexander and Michelle - speak in the same way? I will ask Alexander if he agrees." - - Alexander: "Maybe we cannot all come together. Here is Michelle, I - know his mind. He told me, you go this way, I won't go. Here are the - lower Pend Oreilles. Maybe they are the same way. They have no - horses; they have only canoes. I am very heavy, as though they tied - me there." - - Michelle: "I am just following Alexander's mind. If he goes this - way, I will not go. I have come a long way to see you; when you - leave I go back." - -The governor again asked them if they would agree to Victor's -proposition, and go to the reservation which was found best adapted to -their needs after survey and examination, but both chiefs positively -refused. - -The governor then cut the knot by accepting Victor's proposition as far -as it concerned him, and giving the others the reservation at the -mission:-- - - "My children, Victor has made his proposition. Alexander and - Michelle have made theirs. We will make a treaty for them. Both - tracts shall be surveyed. If the mission is the best land, Victor - shall live there. If the valley is the best land, Victor shall stay - here. Alexander and Michelle may stay at the mission.... - - "I ask Victor to come up and sign the treaty. [He came up and - signed.] Now I ask Alexander and Michelle." [They also then signed.] - -Moses, a Flathead chief, on being called on to sign, refused. He stepped -forward, and said:-- - - "My brother is buried here. I did not think you would take the only - piece of ground I had. Here are three fellows [the head chiefs]; - they say, 'Get on your horses and go.' ... Last year, when you were - talking about the Blackfeet, you were joking." - - Governor Stevens: "How can Moses say I am not going to the Blackfoot - country? I have gone all the way to the Great Father to arrange - about the Blackfoot council. What more can I do? A man is coming - from the Great Father to meet me. Does he not know that Mr. Burr and - another man went to Fort Benton the other day?" - - - Moses: "You have pulled all my wings off, and then let me down." - - Governor Stevens: "All that we have done is for your benefit. I have - said that the Flatheads were brave and honest, and should be - protected. Be patient. Everything will come right." - - Moses: "I do not know how it will be straight. A few days ago the - Blackfeet stole horses at Salmon River." - - Governor Stevens: "Ask him if he sees the Nez Perce chief, - Eagle-from-the-Light; he is going to the Blackfoot council with me." - - Moses: "Yes, I see him. They will get his hair. The Blackfeet are - not like these people. They are all drunk." - -All the principal men came forward and signed the treaty. Governor -Stevens then said:-- - - "Here are three papers which you have signed, copies of the same - treaty. One goes to the President, one I place in the hands of the - head chief, and one I keep myself. Everything that has been said - here goes to the President. I have now a few presents for you. They - are simply a gift, no part of the payments. The payments cannot be - made until we hear from the President next year." - -The presents were then distributed. The chiefs were then requested to -assemble on the morrow with regard to the Blackfoot council. - -Thus successfully and happily terminated this protracted council, "every -man pleased and every man satisfied," says the governor. Twelve hundred -Indians were present on the treaty ground. - -The jealousy and pride of the chiefs, Victor and Alexander, greatly -increased the difficulty of coming to an agreement. The former -repeatedly asserted his chieftainship over both tribes by claiming that -the countries of both were his, a claim that Alexander offered to -recognize if Victor would move to the Horse Plains (mission) -reservation. Alexander claimed to be chief of the lower Pend Oreilles, a -claim the governor summarily rejected. The influence and advice of the -former Hudson Bay Company employees and half-breeds, to this and to the -other treaties, was prejudicial, instigating the Indians to make -unreasonable demands, and often opposing and misrepresenting the -treaties themselves. - -Father Hoecken arrived before the end of the council, in response to the -governor's summons. It did not appear that he was exerting any adverse -influence. On the contrary, he highly approved the treaty, and signed it -as one of the witnesses. It seems, however, as the governor reported, -that the dislike of the Flatheads to the mission establishment was one -cause of their unwillingness to move to the reservation in the Pend -Oreille country. It is probable that the missionaries at St. Mary's had -been too strict and exacting for their independent natures. Moreover, it -was the fact, as the governor had cause to realize later, that the -missionaries feared and dreaded the approach of the settlers, and -sympathized wholly with the Indians as between the two. - -This treaty, like all made by Governor Stevens, was remarkably liberal -in its terms to the Indians. The reservation on the Flathead River -comprises a million and a quarter acres. $84,000 in annuity goods; -$36,000 to improve the reservation; salaries of $500 a year for twenty -years, with a house and ten acres fenced and ploughed, to the three head -chiefs; schools, mills, hospitals, shops; teachers and mechanics for -twenty years; the right to fish, hunt, gather roots and berries, and -pasture stock on vacant land; and the provision for ultimately dividing -the reservation among them in severalty,--were all embraced. It was -agreed that the three tribes were to constitute one nation under Victor -as head chief, to be known as the Flathead nation, in which, and on the -same reservation, were to be included other friendly tribes, as the -lower Pend Oreilles and Coeur d'Alenes. Besides Father Hoecken, R.H. -Lansdale, W.H. Tappan, R.H. Crosby, Gustavus Sohon, and William Craig -witnessed the treaty. Some 25,000 square miles were ceded. - -All three tribes now occupy the reservation on the Jocko (mission), -together with the lower Pend Oreilles and a few Spokanes. They number -2000, showing little diminution since the treaty, and have made fair -progress. Nearly all have houses with some land inclosed. Many raise -small crops of wheat and have good gardens. They have 20,000 acres under -fence, over ten miles of irrigation ditches, and raised last year 25,000 -bushels of grain, 10,000 bushels of vegetables, and 7000 tons of hay. -Their lands have not yet been allotted in severalty. The agent complains -that worthless employees are frequently foisted upon the agency, "many -incompetent men hold positions who take no interest in their work,"[8] -etc.,--a state of things equally unfair to the Indians and disgraceful -to the government. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [8] Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1899, pp. 192-194, - 620. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII - - MARCH TO FORT BENTON.--MARSHALING THE TRIBES - - -Before the close of the council, agents Tappan and Craig arrived with -the proposed delegation of Nez Perces under Looking Glass, Spotted -Eagle, Eagle-from-the-Light, and other chiefs. It was agreed that they -and the Flatheads and Pend Oreilles, under their chiefs Victor and -Alexander, and accompanied by agent Thomas Adams and interpreter Ben -Kiser, should cross the mountains to the buffalo country, and hunt on -the plains south of the Missouri, until the time came for holding the -great peace council at Fort Benton, of which they would be notified. -Their agents were instructed to keep the governor informed of their -whereabouts by frequent expresses, and to guard against collisions with -the Blackfoot war-parties, and also to communicate with the Crow Indians -and induce them to attend the council. Dr. Lansdale, agent for the -Flathead nation, remained, and during the summer made extensive -examinations of the reservation on the Flathead River and the -surrounding country. - -These arrangements completed, on Wednesday, July 18, the second day -after the close of the council, the governor dispatched Pearson, who had -just returned to the party after his rapid trip to Olympia from the -Walla Walla council, with full reports of the council just held, and -letters to the Indian and territorial officers in Olympia, and resumed -the march to Fort Benton, crossing for six miles the broad level valley -here known as the Hell Gate Ronde, and passing the deep, dark portal of -that name,[9] and, six miles beyond it, encamped on the Hell Gate -River. During the next five days and one hundred miles the party -traversed the broad plateau of the great mountain chain over a beautiful -rolling country of wide grassy valleys and gently rolling prairies, -interspersed with low wooded hills and spurs, and well watered by clear, -cold, rapid mountain streams. It was hard to realize that this beautiful -and diversified prairie country was the top of the Rocky Mountains, the -backbone of the continent. At the second day's camp the Indian hunter -and guide, a Pend Oreille furnished by Alexander, brought in a fine -string of mountain trout, and, not content with this, started out again, -and soon returned with an elk, and after this the messes were rarely out -of game,--elk, deer, antelope, and mountain trout. The trail followed up -the Hell Gate and its chief tributary, the Big Blackfoot, the route of -1853, and crossed the divide by Lewis and Clark's Pass. From the summit -the governor obtained a magnificent and beautiful view of the country -about an hour before sunset, the main chain stretching far to the north, -and the broad plains, broken by many streams and coulees, extending -eastward as far as the eye could reach, like an illimitable sea. - -He spent the whole day, with Doty and Sohon, examining the approaches to -the summit pass, and those to Cadotte's Pass, ten miles farther south, -and determining altitudes and grades, and reached camp long after dark, -well fatigued with the day's work. Throughout the expedition the -governor was constantly examining the topographical features of the -country. He would frequently ride ahead of the train, and, sitting on a -log or on the ground, would write up his notes or journal until it came -up. He was accustomed to start the train rather late in the morning, -about eight o'clock, move at a steady, brisk walk, without stopping for -noon rest or meal, and make camp early in the afternoon, and by this -management plenty of time was afforded the animals to feed mornings and -evenings. Twenty miles was the average day's journey, but thirty or -forty miles were made with ease whenever expedient, as often happened. -No better equipped or manned train ever traversed the plains and -mountains. - -It always moved in fine order, without delays, confusion, or friction. A -worn-down or sore-backed mule or horse was a rarity. At the first -symptom of need of rest, a fresh animal from the loose herd relieved the -distressed one. The packers worked in couples, each two packing and -caring for ten pack-mules. The riding animals were picked Indian horses. -The mules were of large American stock, mostly those of the exploration -of 1853. Thorough discipline and the best feeling prevailed among the -party. There was scarcely a quarrel during the whole nine months the -expedition lasted. This judicious care of the animals was characteristic -of the governor, and it is noticeable that on his arduous expeditions, -though hard-worked and only grass-fed, they actually improved in -condition,--a unique experience on the plains. - -Leaving behind the prairies, groves, and sparkling, rippling streams of -the mountain plateau, the party entered upon the vast rolling plains, -gray and arid, and, traveling over them one hundred and thirty miles, -camping one night on the Dearborn River, one on the Sun, and three on -the Teton, reached the vicinity of Fort Benton on the fifth day, and -went into camp on the last-named river four miles from the fort. The -governor, riding ahead, reached it a day sooner, on the 26th, and was -disappointed in not finding or hearing from his co-commissioner, -Superintendent Alfred Cumming. During this march the party were rarely -out of sight of game. Large herds of graceful, fleet antelopes would -come scouring across the plains, and circle around the slowly moving -train, now abruptly halting to gaze with erect heads and distended eyes -at the strange procession, and now dashing on again in full career, and -presently, their curiosity satisfied, turning away and scampering out of -sight. Deer and elk were constantly seen by the river banks and under -the cottonwood groves. Buffalo trails crossed the country in every -direction, and their skulls and bones were frequent. Thus far the party -followed well-marked trails, but on entering the plains the guide -directed his course by some distant butte or landmark, or by the sun, -for there was no trail leading in a given course, and the buffalo trails -lacing the plains in every direction were very misleading. The plains -were covered with the short, fine, curly buffalo grass, very different -from the luxuriant, waving bunch grass of the Columbia, but equally -nutritious. - -Learning of Mr. Cumming's approach, the governor, accompanied by Doty -and Sohon and a small party, made a three days' trip to Milk River, -August 11-13, a distance of eighty miles, where the commissioners met -and formally organized the commission, appointing Mr. Doty secretary, -and Mr. H. Kennedy, who came with Mr. Cumming, assistant secretary, and -returned together to Fort Benton. The governor was seriously concerned -to learn that the treaty goods and supplies were greatly delayed. -Commissioner Cumming had been specially charged with the duty of -transporting them to Fort Benton; but under his dilatory management the -steamboat, which carried them with himself up the Missouri, did not -reach Fort Union until late in the season, and, instead of continuing up -the river as far as possible, discharged her cargo and returned to St. -Louis. The goods were then loaded into boats, which were now slowly -proceeding up the river by cordeling, or towing by a force of men -walking along the bank and pulling on a long tow-rope. This unexpected -and inexcusable delay seriously imperiled the holding of the council. -Governor Stevens had brought with him only sufficient supplies to carry -his small party to Fort Benton, expecting to find there ample stores -sent up by the government under charge of Cumming. The western Indians, -who at his invitation had come so far to attend the council, could not -find subsistence for a long wait; and it was necessary for them, as well -as for the governor and party, to start home before winter set in and -blocked the return journey. The great numbers of the Blackfeet made it -difficult to keep them in hand and assemble them late in the season, for -they were accustomed, and indeed were obliged, to spread over a wide -territory in order to hunt buffalo, and lay in their winter robes, -lodge-skins, and food. - -While in Washington the preceding summer Governor Stevens had urged upon -the Indian Department the importance of the early arrival of the goods -at Fort Benton, and on reaching Olympia in December, repeated his -recommendations in writing. Moreover, he wrote a personal letter to the -President urging the necessity of having a steamer start with them at -the earliest moment in the spring, and push up the Missouri above Fort -Union as far as possible, and especially recommended that a boat be -chartered expressly for the trip. He added a prophetic caution, or -warning, against relying upon the American Fur Company to transport the -goods, as they could not be depended upon to make the necessary early -start and vigorous push up the river, which would entail some extra -expense and risk, but would surely pursue their usual methods, and in -the end sacrifice the public interests to their own. Notwithstanding -these wise and urgent recommendations, the whole matter was left to -Cumming, who late in the spring wrote the commissioner, proposing that -the council be postponed to another year. Being thereupon informed that -Governor Stevens was probably already on his way with the western -Indians too far to be recalled, and instructed to proceed, he contracted -with the fur company to transport the goods, with the predicted result. -In this and other ways he manifested a perfect willingness to play into -the hands of the fur company, a willingness which, whatever the motive, -affords the only rational explanation of this transaction, of his entire -indifference to the success of the council, and of his opposition to -making adequate provision in the way of farms and annuities for -civilizing the Indians. Of course, the American Fur Company, like the -Hudson Bay Company, was averse to having its trade impaired and -eventually destroyed by the government's giving goods to, and -civilizing, the Indians. - -At the governor's instance, messengers were immediately dispatched to -the boats to ascertain how long before they would probably arrive, and -to the different bands of Indians to advise them that they must wait -longer than was expected, and to ascertain and regulate their movements, -so that they might readily reach the council ground when notified, and -meantime find sufficient buffalo and other game to support them. - -Provisions for his own party, now nearly out, were sought at the fort, -but the traders were also destitute, not having yet received their -annual supply from below, and could furnish nothing but a few hundred -pounds of old jerked buffalo meat, exactly like worn-out boot-leather in -appearance,--so black, dry, tough, and dirty was it. It seems that all -the jerked meat, when first obtained, was piled up loose in one of the -store-rooms, and free access to it given the cooks and Indian wives of -the employees. They naturally picked out the best first, so that, after -the winter's use, only the dryest and toughest pieces and scraps -remained. However, two parfleches of pemmican of one hundred pounds each -were found among the goods left by the exploring party two years before. -This pemmican was put up by the Red River half-breeds, and consisted of -jerked buffalo meat pounded fine and mixed with buffalo fat and dried -berries, and then packed in large bags of rawhide called parfleches. It -had become so hardened by age that it had to be chopped out of the -parfleches with an axe, but it was perfectly sweet and good, and -afforded a very palatable and nourishing hash. - -The governor now fitted out a hunting party under Hugh Robie, with a -pack-train, and sent them with a party of Gros Ventre Indians to the -Judith River, some eighty miles south of the fort, after buffalo. These -noble game animals were found there in great numbers and very fat. The -hunters, white and red, killed hundreds of them, stripping off the hides -and flesh, which they brought into camp, where the squaws jerked the -meat by cutting it into thin slices and strips and drying it on -scaffolds in the sun, and dressed the skins for lodges. In three weeks -Robie and his party returned with his pack-mules and riding animals -loaded down with fat, juicy buffalo meat,--a two months' supply for the -whole party. Metsic, an Indian hunter, was kept busy hunting in the -vicinity of the fort, and brought in many deer and antelope, and small -parties were from time to time sent to the Citadel Rock, a noted -landmark twenty miles down the river, after bighorn, which were so -abundant there that the hunters would load their animals in a day's -hunt. The governor was desirous that his son should see and experience -all the aspects of the trip, and believed in throwing a boy on his own -resources, without too close supervision, as the proper way of -developing his judgment and capacity; so Hazard, who was now well -hardened to riding and the fatigues of the field, and sufficiently -adventurous, accompanied the buffalo and big-horn hunting parties. There -was no danger of starving, but the governor remarks:-- - - "As we had very little bread, sugar, or coffee, the bighorn of - Citadel Rock were exceedingly delightful as an article of food, and - are generally preferred by the mountain men to any other game except - buffalo; so between buffalo, bighorn, and the smaller game we fared - very well. The parties who extended our information of the country - in conveying messages to the Indians, etc., invariably lived either - on the dried meat they took with them, or on the game which they - killed from day to day. They had no flour, no sugar, no coffee, and - yet there was not a word of complaint from one of them; but we made - it the subject of a good deal of merriment when we were able to - reach the boats and have a sufficiency of those articles which in - civilized life are deemed indispensable to comfort." - -Meanwhile the Indians were all well in hand, ready and anxious for the -council, which nothing delayed but the unfortunate backwardness of the -boats. The Blackfeet were mostly north of the Missouri, the western -Indians south of it, and the governor by his expresses kept himself -informed of and guided their movements. The reports from the agents with -the latter were especially encouraging. The Nez Perces, 108 lodges; -Flatheads and Pend Oreilles, 68 lodges; and 40 lodges of the Snakes, -numbering all told 216 lodges, or over 2000 souls,--were in one camp on -the Muscle Shell River, awaiting the call to the council. The whole camp -of the Gros Ventres, and Low Horn's band of the Piegans of 54 lodges, -were in the vicinity. The hereditary enemies were visiting and hunting -together on most friendly terms, their minds all attuned to peace and -friendship, and all anxious for the council. - -An incident now occurred well calculated to test the good faith of the -Blackfeet. When making arrangements in the Bitter Root valley for the -western Indians to attend the council, and they had objected that the -Blackfeet would steal their horses, Governor Stevens assured them of his -belief that the Blackfeet would receive them with kindness and -hospitality, using this expression: "I guarantee that when you pull in -your lariat in the morning, you will find a horse at the end of it." -Relying on his assurance, four young Pend Oreille braves visited the -governor at Fort Benton, and on his invitation turned their horses into -his band, which grazed two miles above the fort. Next morning they were -gone. Two young warriors of the northern Blackfeet had picked them out -from over a hundred animals, and made off with them. The governor -immediately put Little Dog, a prominent chief of the Bloods, to search -for the trail of the raiders, and at the same time dispatched Doty with -one attendant and a guide to the northern camps, judging that the -thieves would seek refuge in that quarter. Little Dog returned -unsuccessful, not finding a hoof-print of the missing horses in one -hundred miles and thirty hours' hard riding, and was sent north to -follow Doty. The latter pushed on fifty miles a day for two hundred and -thirty miles to Bow River in British territory, a tributary of the -Saskatchewan, where he struck a large Blackfoot camp only two hours -after the arrival there of the stolen horses. He immediately called -together the chiefs, and demanded the surrender of the animals. The head -chief, Lame Bull, returned three of them, but stated that one of the -scamps had gotten off with the fourth. He expressed great regret at the -theft, and offered two of his own horses in place of the one not -recovered. Doty placed the rescued animals in charge of Little Dog, who -had overtaken him, and resuming the pursuit of the remaining one, rode -seventy miles to Elk River, another branch of the Saskatchewan, where -he found another large camp of Blackfeet, and where the chief, Bull's -Head, delivered to him the last horse with expressions of regret at the -misconduct of his young men, and the offer of another horse by way of -amends. On the sixteenth day after the horses were taken they were -returned to the Pend Oreille braves at the fort. This was the first and -last instance of horse-stealing by the Blackfeet pending the council, -and afforded most gratifying proof of their good faith. Thus a -depredation which might have led to disastrous results was made the -means of demonstrating the sincerity and strengthening the friendship of -the Indians. - -All these Indians professed great willingness to make friends with the -western tribes and the Crows, and agreed to meet them at the council and -conclude a treaty. They arranged with Mr. Doty to so direct their -movements as to bring them within reach of Fort Benton at the proper -time. He also secured James Bird as interpreter, an intelligent -half-breed, said to be the best interpreter in the country, who was then -visiting Low Horn's band. - -On August 27 Pearson arrived with letters from Olympia, and reported -that everything was quiet and favorable west of the mountains, and that -many miners and settlers were going into the upper country, gold having -recently been discovered on the Columbia, near Colville. - - "Pearson rode seventeen hundred and fifty miles by the route he took - from the Bitter Root valley to Olympia, and back to Benton, in - twenty-eight days, during some of which he did not travel. He was - less than three days going from Fort Owen to Fort Benton, a - distance, by the route he pursued, of some two hundred and sixty - miles, which he traveled without a change of animals, having no food - but the berries of the country, except a little fish, which he - killed on Travelers' Rest Creek of Lewis and Clark on the morning - of starting from Fort Owen, which served him for a single meal," as - the governor says in his final report. - -On his trips Pearson usually drove two extra horses ahead of him, and, -when the one he was riding became tired, changed his saddle to a fresh -one. He could "ride anything that wore hair," and was equally expert -with the lariat which he carried at the horn of his saddle. He always -contrived, too, to procure fresh horses at certain points on his long -trips, as at Walla Walla, Lapwai, and the Bitter Root valley, sometimes -having previously left them, and sometimes by trading with the Indians. -Imagine this little man of steel, insensible to cold, hunger, and -fatigue, galloping like a centaur, day after day, across the vast, -lonely plains, driving before him his two loose horses! - -The messenger dispatched to the boats returned with the report that they -would probably reach the mouth of the Judith in twenty days, and Fort -Benton in thirty or thirty-five, or on the 5th to the 10th of October. -The governor proposed that one of the boats be loaded with the most -necessary goods and forced up faster by an extra crew, in order to -hasten the opening of the council, leaving the others to follow; but -Commissioner Cumming refused to consent to this expedient. He was a -large, portly man, pompous, and full of his own importance, and having -been named first as commissioner, and charged with bringing up the goods -and the disbursements for the council, now attempted to arrogate to -himself practically sole and exclusive authority. He even attempted to -dismiss Doty as secretary, and claimed the right to appoint all the -officers for the council; and this was the more unreasonable because he -had not brought with him a single efficient man, and the whole work of -holding and collecting the Indians, furnishing interpreters, and in -short carrying the council through successfully, had to be done, and was -done, by Governor Stevens and the trained force he had provided for the -purpose. But the governor firmly insisted that nothing could be done -except by the act of the commission; sternly informed his colleague that -he would not permit him to repudiate his own action in organizing it, -appointing the secretary, etc.; submitted a series of rules regulating -its proceedings, and required all official communications between them -to be in writing and made a matter of record. Under this firm and -decided treatment Cumming was forced to abate his pretensions and -subside into his proper place; but he opposed most of the governor's -suggestions, disagreed with him on all points, and exhibited a degree of -arrogance, ignorance, and childish petulance hard to be believed, were -they not so plainly shown by the official record. - -In framing the treaty the governor proposed that farms be opened for the -Blackfeet on the upper waters of the Sun River, and that $50,000 a year -be allowed the Indians for twenty years, the greater part to be expended -in carrying on the farms, instructing the Indians, etc. This amount was -authorized by their instructions, and did not seem very extravagant for -teaching twelve thousand Indians the ways of civilization, and leading -them to abandon their life-long hostilities and predatory raids, being -only about four dollars per capita. But Cumming flatly refused to agree -to more than $35,000, and objected to the farms as "affording -opportunities for speculating under the guise of philanthropy." As the -Blackfeet were within his superintendency, this was really a reflection -upon himself and his agents not intended by the self-sufficient -official. The commissioners were instructed to report generally on the -Indians and the country. Cumming stigmatized the Blackfeet as utter -savages, bloodthirsty and depraved, and declared that they would use -goods that might be furnished them as the means of buying rum at the -British trading-posts, and, therefore, that annuities of goods, etc., -would only aid in demoralizing them. As to the country, he adopted, _con -amore_, the Jefferson Davis theory, asserting that "it is a vast and -sterile region, which could not sustain the animals required for even a -limited emigration, and altogether unfitted for cultivation. Every part -of this barren region must forever be closed against all modern -improvements in the way of transportation, with the exception of the -Missouri River." He was as unable to appreciate the philanthropic views -of Governor Stevens, and his earnest desire to improve the Indians, as -he was ignorant of them and of the country. - -The governor's views are given at length, and have been remarkably -sustained by the subsequent settlement of the country. The following -extracts will be found interesting, particularly his calculation that a -million and a half buffalo grazed over the region:-- - - "It is in the main an exceedingly fine grazing country, of great - salubrity of climate, much arable land of good quality, with - abundant cottonwood on the streams, and many localities abound in - pine of the finest quality. A portion of the country is scantily - watered, but not seriously to affect its capabilities as a grazing - country, or to interfere with emigration. At the base of the - mountains, throughout nearly the whole length of the Blackfoot - country, the soil is good, in many places exceedingly rich, and the - grasses abundant and of the finest quality. At the heads of Milk and - Marias rivers, and at the heads of all the southern tributaries of - the south branch of the Saskatchewan, between latitudes 48 deg. 30' - and 49 deg., there are abundant forests of pine, large tracts of arable - land, and lakes well stocked with fish. On the Highwood alone, there - are at least fifteen thousand acres of arable land. - - "So far from this country not being able to supply the wants of - even a limited emigration, an emigration could not possibly take - place which would exhaust its capabilities. - - "The quantities of buffalo which these plains subsist, not to take - into account the vast herds of elk, deer, bighorn, antelope, and - other game, will alone carry conviction that the territory inhabited - by the Blackfeet is a good grazing country. - - "The Blackfeet live almost exclusively on the buffalo. They number - above ten thousand souls. They make twenty thousand robes a year. - They require nearly twenty thousand skins for their renewal of - lodges annually and other purposes. All these are the skins of cows. - For several months they live entirely on bulls, and many bulls are - killed at all seasons of the year. Making the proper allowance for - animals that die of disease, are killed by wolves, or other causes, - and for the known improvidence of Indians, it is believed that one - hundred and fifty thousand buffalo of three years old and upward are - required each year to subsist, clothe, and house these Indians. This - number must be added each year to the herds of grown animals to - prevent a decrease. Estimating that three quarters of the cows bear - young, and that one half of these come to maturity, eight hundred - thousand buffalo of and above three years, and one million and a - half buffalo of all ages must be roaming on these plains to enable - the Indians to live. Yet, on a large portion of this region the - grass is hardly touched from one year's end to another. - - "The whole of the Gros Ventres and nearly three fourths of the - Piegans, Bloods, and Blackfeet winter on the Milk, Marias, and - Teton, finding subsistence for their animals in the bottoms, and - food from the buffalo which frequent the groves of cottonwood. - - - "THE CHARACTER OF THE BLACKFEET. - - "They are called savages, yet their four tribes have lived together - many years on terms of amity, making war only on the neighboring - tribes. The chiefs, who promised the undersigned two years' since to - use their influence to prevent their people from warring on the - neighboring tribes, have been true to their word, and have in some - cases incurred the displeasure of their wild young men for their - persistency. These chiefs, and all the Blackfoot chiefs, have sent - word to their hereditary enemies, the Flatheads, the Nez Perces, and - the Crows: 'Come to the council without fear. Your persons and your - horses shall be under our protection, and if a horse be taken by - some of our wild young men, his place shall at once be made good.' - The undersigned looks forward to no disturbance at the council, for - he believes the Blackfeet will keep their word. - - "The Blackfeet have expressed a strong desire for farms, schools, - mills, and shops. They are quick to learn, have a great curiosity to - handle tools and implements, and are excellent herders of animals. - The women are proverbially industrious, many of them expert in the - use of the needle, and persons of both sexes seem to fall readily - into the ways of the whites." - -FOOTNOTES: - - [9] Now occupied by the thriving town, Missoula. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII - - THE BLACKFOOT COUNCIL - - -By his careful preparation for two years, and masterly handling of them, -Governor Stevens brought and kept these various tribes of Indians within -easy distance of Fort Benton, all ready and anxious for the council, and -in the most friendly and favorable state of feeling, during the whole -month of August and half of September, fully six weeks. Had the goods -arrived at any time during this waiting period, not less than 12,000 -Indians would have attended the council, comprising 10,000 Blackfeet, -1100 Nez Perces, 700 Flatheads and Pend Oreilles, and 400 Snakes, the -western Indians numbering 2200. But it now became impossible for the -latter to remain longer on the Muscle Shell and Judith, for lack of -game. The buffalo had disappeared. The grass was drying up. No day could -yet be fixed for the council in the uncertainty of the arrival of the -boats. On September 8 the Nez Perce camp of one hundred and three -lodges, in charge of agent Tappan, was obliged to start southward for -the Yellowstone, hoping to find buffalo. Tappan wrote that, unless the -council was held within three weeks, not twelve Nez Perces would be able -to attend it. Eagle-from-the-Light and other chiefs, with several -lodges, joined the Flathead camp in order not to miss the council. But -on September 10 agent Adams reported that the Flatheads might in twelve -or fourteen days be obliged, also, to go to the Yellowstone for food. -The Snake camp also moved to the same region for the same cause. In -compliance with his instructions, Adams made a trip to the Yellowstone -in search of the Crows, and descended it to a point below the Big Horn -River, where he met Tappan with some Nez Perces on the same quest. But -these Indians could not be found. It was reported that, in consequence -of the measles having broken out among them and many having died, they -had scattered, a part going down the river and part taking to the -mountains. - -To prevent, if possible, the failure of the whole council undertaking, -now imminent, the governor dispatched Packmaster Higgins with a few -picked men to visit both camps, and notify them that October 3, or a few -days later, was fixed for holding the council, and directing them to -move to the vicinity of Fort Benton, and to find camps on the Shantier -and Highwood creeks. Mr. Tappan was also instructed to secure, if -possible, the attendance of the principal Crow chiefs. - -On the fourth day out Higgins met Adams and Tappan returning to Fort -Benton, despairing of the council, but the former hastened back to the -Flatheads with the new orders, while Tappan joined Higgins, and, with -Craig, Delaware Jim, and the voyageur Legare, pushed across the country -and struck the Nez Perce camp high up on the Yellowstone. Although none -of the party had ever passed over this part of the country before, -Delaware Jim was so thoroughly conversant with the Yellowstone country -and the upper Missouri, and certain mountain heights flanking the route, -that he actually guided them on an air-line, and struck the looked-for -camp without making a detour of a mile on the course, and that, too, -traveling fifty miles a day. - -As the result of this prompt and decided action, Adams reached Fort -Benton October 3, and reported that Victor's whole camp would soon be on -the Judith, and that Victor himself, leaving his camp there, would come -with his chiefs and principal men to Fort Benton to attend the council. -On the 5th Higgins and Tappan arrived, and at noon next day a large -delegation of Nez Perce chiefs, under charge of Craig, also came in, but -did not bring the large numbers in their camp, for fear they could not -find sufficient game to feed them. Tappan was unable to learn anything -of the Crows except the report already mentioned. The Snakes, too, had -gone beyond reach, and could not be summoned. In the mean time the -northern bands of the Blackfeet, in accordance with the programme -arranged by Mr. Doty, had been moving down, and were now all on the -Teton and Marias rivers. The Gros Ventres were on Milk River. Low Horn's -and Little Gray Head's bands of the Piegans were on the Honkee. -Alexander, the Pend Oreille chief's camp, was established on the -Highwood. The buffalo were in great numbers between the Marias and Milk, -and herds of them were coming within twenty miles of Fort Benton. "The -arrival of the Nez Perces," says the governor, "brought all the Indians -within the direct purview of the commission, and the most remote camps, -those of the Flatheads and Gros Ventres, could be reached in a single -day." These two camps were some seventy-five miles distant each, in -different directions, and the area within which the Indians were now -brought was little less than the State of Massachusetts, not counting -the large Nez Perce camp on the Yellowstone. - -Even yet the boats had not reached the Judith, could not reach it -probably before the 8th, thirty-seven days from the Muscle Shell, -instead of twenty as promised. It would require twenty-five days longer -to drag them up the river another hundred miles to Fort Benton. The -Blackfeet and the western Indians had now been freely mingling together -for several days, and it was important that their present favorable -disposition should be availed of. Accordingly Governor Stevens proposed -to hold the council on the mouth of the Judith, and upon his urgency and -arguments it was so decided on the evening of the 5th, the day the Nez -Perce chiefs arrived, and the 13th was fixed as the time. The necessary -measures to assemble the Indians at that point were devolved upon the -governor as usual, and also to notify the boats to stop and unload -there. By the 7th all the camps were notified, the Flatheads being -already on the appointed ground, and most of the chiefs conferred with -the governor in person, who, during these days, held a constant levee in -his camp at the fort. The northern camps, however, were unwilling to -move seventy miles farther than they expected, with their large supplies -of meat recently taken, and it was decided that the chiefs, with a -portion of their people, should attend, leaving the main camps -undisturbed. - -The governor relates the following incident:-- - - "My son Hazard, thirteen years of age, had accompanied me from - Olympia to the waters of the Missouri. Like all youths of that age, - he was always ready for the saddle, and had spent some days with one - of my hunting parties on the Judith, where he had become well - acquainted with the Gros Ventres. When we determined to change the - council from Fort Benton to the mouth of the Judith, I undertook the - duty of seeing the necessary messages sent to the various bands and - tribes, and to bring them all to the mouth of the Judith at the - proper moment. These Indians were scattered from Milk River, near - Hammell's Houses, along the Marias, along the Teton, to a - considerable distance south of the Missouri, the Flatheads being on - the Judith, and the Pend Oreilles on Smith's Fork of the Missouri, - with two bands of the Blackfeet lying somewhat intermediate, but in - the vicinity of the Girdle Mountain. I succeeded in securing the - services of a fit and reliable man for each one of these bands and - tribes, except the Gros Ventres, camped on Milk River. There were - several men, who had considerable experience among Indians and in - voyageuring, who desired to go, but I had not confidence in them, - and accordingly, at ten o'clock on Sunday morning, I started my - little son as a messenger to the Gros Ventres. Accompanied by the - interpreter, Legare, he made that Gros Ventre camp before dark, a - distance of seventy-five miles, and gave his message the same - evening to the chiefs, and without changing horses they were in the - saddle early in the morning, and reached my camp at half past three - o'clock. Thus a youth of thirteen traveled one hundred and fifty - measured miles from ten o'clock of one day to half past three - o'clock in the afternoon of the next. The Gros Ventres made their - marches exactly as I had desired, and reached the new council ground - at the mouth of the Judith the very morning which had been - appointed. - - "I doubt whether such an express service as we were obliged to - employ at Fort Benton to keep the Indians in hand was ever employed - in this country with the same means. Many of our animals, which had - done service all the way from the Dalles, traveled at express rates - more than a thousand miles before we started on our return from Fort - Benton. Many of our mules traveled from seven to eight hundred miles - with packs in going to the boats for provisions and to the hunting - grounds for meat; and yet, after our treaty was concluded and we - were ready to move home, we were able to make very good rates with - these same animals, although the season was so late as November." - -To realize the remarkable extent and efficiency of this express service, -bear in mind Doty's trip to Bow River, three hundred miles north of Fort -Benton; Tappan's and Adams's and Higgins's to the Yellowstone, two -hundred miles southeast; and the expresses down the river to the boats, -one hundred and fifty miles; not to speak of Pearson's trip to Olympia, -one thousand miles. It was as though one in New York, without -telegraphs, railroads, or mails, had to regulate by pony express the -movements of bands of Indians at Boston, Portland, Montreal, Buffalo, -and Washington. - -After spending four days in conferences with the chiefs, explaining the -reasons for changing the council ground, etc., the governor broke camp -on the 10th, and on the next day, Thursday, reached the point where the -boats were unloading, a mile below the mouth of the Judith, selected and -prepared the council ground, and received and assigned to their camps -the Indians as they arrived. His colleague descended the river in a -skiff, and did not arrive until the following Saturday. By Monday all -the Indians had assembled, and numbered thirty-five hundred. - -On Tuesday Governor Stevens formally opened the council. The Indians, as -usual on such occasions, "reposed on the bosom of their mother," that -is, sat on the ground in semicircular rows, twenty-six principal chiefs -in the first row, lesser chiefs in succeeding rows, and the rank and -file in the rear. The governor administered the oath to the interpreters -to translate truly, having first inquired of the Indians if they were -satisfied with them and received an affirmative reply. - - [Illustration: THE BLACKFOOT COUNCIL] - -Governor Stevens said:-- - - "My children, my heart is glad to-day. I see Indians east of the - mountains and Indians west of the mountains sitting here as friends, - Bloods, Blackfeet, Piegans, Gros Ventres, and Nez Perces, - Koo-te-nays, Pend Oreilles, Flatheads; and we have the Cree chief - sitting down here from the north and east, and Snakes farther from - the west. There is peace now between you all here present. We want - peace also with absent tribes, with the Crees and Assiniboines, with - the Snakes, and, yes, even with the Crows. You have all sent your - message to the Crows, telling them you would meet them in friendship - here. The Crows were far, and could not be present, but we expect - you to promise to be friends with the Crows. - - "It was Low Horn who, two years since, said to me, 'Peace with the - Flatheads and Nez Perces.' The Little Dog, Little Gray Head, and all - the Blackfoot chiefs said, 'Peace with them; come and meet us in - council,' and here they are. Here you see them face to face. I met - them the same year. I told them your words. They said, 'Peace - also with the Blackfeet.' And the Great Father has said, 'Peace with - the Crees and Assiniboines, the Crows, and all neighboring tribes.' - - "I shall say nothing about peace with the white man. No white man - enters a Blackfoot or a western Indian's lodge without being treated - to the very best. Peace already prevails. We trust such will - continue to be the case forever. We have been traveling over your - whole country, both to the east and west of the mountains, in small - parties, ranging away north to Bow River, and south to the - Yellowstone. We have kept no guard. We have not tied up our horses. - All has been safe. Therefore I say peace has been, is now, and will - continue, between these Indians and the white man." - -The treaty was then read to them, after which the governor went over its -provisions, explaining them, etc. - -The council lasted three days. The best feeling prevailed, all the -chiefs making earnest and sincere speeches in favor of peace, -contrasting the advantages of hunting in safety and trading between the -tribes with the continual losses of their young braves and the steady -decline in numbers from perpetual war, although some of them expressed -doubts as to restraining the ambitious young warriors. Only one passing -shadow was cast over the assemblage, and that but for a moment. The -treaty made all the country south of the Missouri a common hunting -ground for all the tribes, while the country north of the river was to -be reserved to the Blackfeet for hunting purposes, although open to the -western Indians for trading and visiting. To this restriction Alexander, -the Pend Oreille chief, demurred. Said he:-- - - "A long time ago this country belonged to our ancestors, and the - Blackfeet lived far north. We Indians were all well pleased when we - came together here in friendship. Now you point us out a little - piece of land to hunt our game in. When we were enemies I always - crossed over there, and why should I not now when we are friends? - Now I have two hearts about it. What is the reason? Which of these - chiefs [pointing to the Blackfeet] says we are not to go there? - Which is the one?" - - The Little Dog, a Piegan chief: "It is I, and not because we have - anything against you. We are friendly, but the north Blackfeet might - make a quarrel if you hunted near them. Do not put yourself in their - way." - -On Alexander's insisting, the Little Dog said:-- - - "Since he speaks so much of it, we will give him liberty to come out - in the north." - -Alexander's contention will be better understood by considering the fact -that his country, on the Flathead River and Clark's Fork, lies directly -opposite the region of the upper Marias, and that by going directly east -across the mountains through the Marias Pass he could reach buffalo in a -short trip, while the journey to the plains south of the Missouri was a -much longer one. - -On the last day the commissioners and the chiefs and headmen of all the -tribes present signed the treaty amid the greatest satisfaction and good -feeling. During the next three days, October 18-20, the presents were -distributed, and coats and medals were presented to the chiefs, with -speeches by the commissioners, exhorting them to keep their promises to -their Great Father, and control their young braves. The several tribes -fraternized most amicably throughout all these proceedings, particularly -the Flatheads and Gros Ventres,--who had hunted together and exchanged -friendly visits for many weeks on the Muscle Shell,--the Nez Perces and -Piegans, and the Bloods and Pend Oreilles. Though the Crows were not -present, the Indians pledged themselves not to war upon them, nor upon -any of the neighboring tribes. The officers of this council were: Isaac -I. Stevens and Alfred Cumming, commissioners; James Doty, secretary; -Thomas Adams and A.J. Vaughan, reporters. The interpreters were: James -Bird, A. Culbertson, and M. Roche, for the Blackfeet; Benjamin Kiser, -G. Sohon, for the Flatheads; William Craig, Delaware Jim, for the Nez -Perces. - - [Illustration: STAR ROBE - THE RIDER HEAVY SHIELD - LAME BULL - BLACKFOOT CHIEFS] - -The treaty was much more than a treaty of peace as far as the Blackfeet -were concerned, for it gave them schools, farms, agricultural -implements, etc., and an agent, and annuities of $35,000 for ten years, -of which $15,000 was devoted to educating them in agriculture and to -teaching the children. At the last moment the governor induced Cumming -to agree to a clause empowering the President and Senate to increase the -annuities $15,000 more, if the amount fixed in the treaty was deemed -insufficient. It contained the usual provision prohibiting intoxicating -liquor. The extensive region between the Missouri and Yellowstone was -made the common hunting ground of all the tribes. All agreed to maintain -peace with each other, including those tribes that were unable to be -present, the Crows, Crees, Assiniboines, and Snakes. The treaty was made -obligatory on the Indians from their signing it, and on the United -States from its ratification, which occurred the next spring, and it was -duly proclaimed by the President on April 25, 1856. - -The tribes actually parties to this treaty numbered, by the -commissioners' calculation, Blackfeet, 11,500; Nez Perces, 2500; -Flathead nation, 2000; total 16,000. Nearly all of their chiefs and -principal men attended the council and signed the treaty. - -The peace made at this council was observed with gratifying fidelity in -the main. The Blackfeet ceased their incessant and bloody raids, and met -their former enemies on friendly terms upon the common hunting grounds. -Within a few years, in 1862-63, large white settlements sprang up on the -headwaters of the Missouri, but they were spared the horrors and -sufferings of Indian warfare with so powerful a tribe largely in -consequence of this treaty. The council, which Governor Stevens planned -and carried out with such foresight, sagacity, and indefatigable -exertions during two years, bore fruit at last in the perpetual peace he -hoped for and predicted. Few treaties with Indians have been so well -observed by them as this by the "bloodthirsty" Blackfeet. They took no -part in the great Sioux wars, nor in the outbreak of Joseph. They were -afterwards gathered together on a large reservation, including the -country about the Sun River, where the governor proposed to establish -their farms. - -The council ground was a wide, level plain covered with a noble grove of -huge cottonwoods. It was on the left bank of the Missouri, nearly -opposite but below the mouth of the Judith. This stream was also -bordered by broad bottoms, which were covered with large sage-brush, and -fairly swarming with deer. The governor's camp was pitched under the -lofty cottonwoods, and lower down was the camp of the crew of men who -had dragged the boats up the river. They were a hundred strong, mostly -Germans, having many fine voices among them, and were fond of spending -the evenings in singing. The effect of their grand choruses, pealing -forth over the river and resounding among the lofty trees, was -magnificent. In the governor's camp an unusually large Indian lodge--a -great cone of poles covered with dressed and smoke-stained buffalo -skins--was erected and used as an office tent, where the records were -copied and smaller conferences held. Every night between eleven and -twelve, when the work of the day was concluded, the governor would call -in the gentlemen of the party, a few chiefs, and some of the -interpreters, and have a real Homeric feast of buffalo ribs, flapjacks -with melted sugar, and hot coffee. Whole sides of ribs would be brought -in, smoking-hot from the fire, and passed around, and each guest would -cut off a rib for himself with his hunting knife, and sit there holding -the huge dainty, three feet long, and tearing off the juicy and -delicious meat with teeth and knife, principally the former. No -description can convey an idea of the hearty zest and relish and -enjoyment, or the keen appetites, with which they met at these -hospitable repasts, and recounted the varied adventures and experiences -of their recent trips, or listened as Craig, Delaware Jim, or Ben Kiser -related some thrilling tale of trapper days, or desperate fight with -Indian or grizzly bear. - - [Illustration: TAT-TU-YE, THE FOX - _Chief of the Blood Indians_] - - [Illustration: MEK-YA-PY, RED DYE - _Piegan Warrior_] - -The other commissioner did not grace these reunions with his presence. -Chafing at the constraint put upon him, and the secondary part which he -could not help taking, despite all his pretensions, he kept his quarters -on one of the boats, and relieved his mind by refusing to recommend the -allowance of the governor's accounts for the extra expenses necessarily -incurred by the two months' delay, the result of his own inefficiency; -refused to allow Mr. Doty more than five dollars a day for his services -as secretary, which pitiful stipend he took pains to call "wages;" and -among other grievances complained that Governor Stevens had insinuated -that he, Cumming, had shown a disposition to repudiate his own acts done -in commission,--all this gravely set forth in official communications -addressed to the Secretary, and made part of the record. This was too -much for the governor's patience, and he replied:-- - - "The undersigned has made no such intimation. On the contrary, in - his communications to the commission he has demonstrated that - Commissioner Cumming had repudiated his own act, and used every - exertion to usurp the rights and powers of the commission, and - reduce the undersigned to the position of a subordinate. Fortunately - for the dignity of the commission and the success of the treaty, - this attempt was most successfully resisted, and Commissioner - Cumming was compelled to surrender his claims. Commissioner Stevens - has no grievance for which he asks redress from the Department of - the Interior. He has protected his own rights here." - -In the joint report forwarding the treaty, prepared like all the -official papers by Governor Stevens, he states the disagreements between -the commissioners on nearly every point, and adds:-- - - "So utterly at variance have been their views that it has only been - with great difficulty that a concert of action has been effected at - all." - -The governor's last official communication to the secretary of the -commission fitly expressed his indignation at the action of the -department in naming Cumming first on the commission:-- - -"The undersigned solemnly protests against the instructions of the -Commissioner of Indian Affairs placing the name of Commissioner Cumming -first on the commission, and he appeals from said instructions to the -President of the United States. - - "The undersigned was, in his opinion, entitled to be placed first, - and for the following reasons:-- - - "1. He originated the Blackfoot council, prepared the Indians on - both sides of the mountains for it, and, for all practical purposes, - has been the superintendent of all these tribes since he explored - the country in 1853. He has appointed special agents for the - Blackfeet, distributed goods and provisions among them, and in other - ways has by authority of the Interior Department had the - administrative charge of these tribes. - - "2. He was the senior officer by date of priority of commission. - - "3. He was better fitted, by experience and adaptation to the - duties, to take a prominent part in the negotiations, and he - fearlessly refers to the official record to show that the success of - the treaty is mainly due to his previous labors, his forecast in - bringing the necessary force to the theatre of the principal - operations, and to the vigilance, energy, and force of character - which he has exhibited throughout, and that thus was redressed the - wrong which otherwise would have been done to the public service, - and injury to the reputation and services of the undersigned, by - placing his name second on the commission." - - [Illustration: JAMES BIRD DELAWARE JIM - COLONEL ALFRED CUMMING - WILLIAM CRAIG ALEXANDER CULBERTSON - COMMISSIONER CUMMING AND INTERPRETERS] - -With this parting shot the governor bade a heartfelt farewell to the -pretentious incapable, who had so nearly wrecked the council, and added -so much to his labors and perplexities. Cumming started down the river -on one of the boats on the 23d. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV - - CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS IN MIDWINTER.--SURPRISE - OF THE C[OE]UR D'ALENES AND SPOKANES - - -Having made a good riddance of his troublesome colleague, and seen the -Indians depart their several ways with much hand-shaking and many -expressions of goodwill and satisfaction, the governor and his little -party packed up and started on the 24th, and reached Fort Benton the -following day. Two days were spent here preparing for the long return -journey across the mountains; for the animals were well worn by the hard -express service of the summer, and it was necessary to lighten loads as -much as possible. On October 28 the homeward start was made; the party -moved over to and up the Teton, continued up that stream the 29th, and -went into camp thirty-five miles from the fort. - -Supper was just over, and the men were gathering around the camp-fires, -for the evening was frosty, when a lone horseman was discerned in the -twilight slowly making his way over the plains towards the camp, and -soon Pearson rode in, or rather staggered in, for his horse was utterly -exhausted, and tottered as it walked. The eager men crowded around, and -helped the wiry expressman from the saddle and supported him to a seat, -for he was unable to stand, and his emaciated, wild, and haggard -appearance bore witness to the hardships he had undergone. He delivered -his dispatches, and, after being revived with food and warmth, was able -to make his report, and surely one more fraught with astonishment and -consternation for that little party on the lonely plains, a thousand -miles from home, could not be imagined. - -The great tribes of the upper Columbia country, the Cuyuses, Yakimas, -Walla Wallas, Umatillas, Palouses, and all the Oregon bands down to the -Dalles, the very ones who had signed the treaties at the Walla Walla -council and professed such friendship, had all broken out in open war. -They had swept the upper country clean of whites, killing all the -settlers and miners found there, and murdered agent Bolon under -circumstances of peculiar atrocity. Major Haller, sent into the Yakima -country with a hundred regulars and a howitzer, had been defeated and -forced to retreat by Kam-i-ah-kan's warriors, with the loss of a third -of his force and his cannon. The Indians west of the Cascades had also -risen simultaneously, and laid waste the settlements on Puget Sound and -in Oregon, showing that a widespread conspiracy prevailed. The Spokanes -and Coeur d'Alenes were hostile, or soon would become hostile under -the spur and taunts of the young Cuyuse and Yakima warriors sent among -them to stir them up, and even some of the Nez Perces were disaffected. -A thousand well-armed and brave hostile warriors under Kam-i-ah-kan, -Pu-pu-mox-mox, Young Chief, and Five Crows were gathered in the Walla -Walla valley, waiting to "wipe out" the party on its return; squads of -young braves were visiting the Nez Perces, Spokanes, and Coeur -d'Alenes, vaunting their victories, displaying fresh gory scalps, and -using every effort to cajole or force them into hostility to the whites. - -The daring expressman's story of how he ran the gauntlet of the hostile -tribes with the dispatches and information upon which depended the lives -of the party heightened the impression made by his wretched appearance -and doleful tidings. He left the Dalles on his return trip, fresh and -well mounted, and, riding all day and night, reached Billy McKay's ranch -on the Umatilla River at daylight, and stopped to get breakfast. The -place was deserted. After eating he lassoed a fine powerful horse among -a large band grazing near by, and after a hard struggle managed to -saddle, bridle, and mount it. The steed was wild, and started off -jumping stiff-legged. As Pearson rode from under the trees surrounding -the house into the road, he saw a party of Indians racing down the hill -into the valley, evidently on his trail, and heard their yells as they -caught sight of him,--"Whup si-ah si-ah-poo! Whup si-ah!" "Kill the -white man! Kill the white!"--and redoubled their speed in pursuit. His -new mount proved of speed and bottom, and under whip and spur gave over -his jumping for swift running. As he climbed the hill leading out of the -valley on to the high plains and looked back, he again saw the red -devils and heard their yells; and for mile after mile, from the top of -every ridge and roll of the plains crossed by the trail, he would look -back and see his pursuers, or the dust rising under the hoofs of their -horses. But they could not lessen the distance between them; gradually -they fell behind farther and farther, and at length were lost to sight. -Pearson pushed his horse on all day as rapidly as it could stand without -breaking down, and, when night fell, turned off the trail at right -angles for several miles, then struck a course parallel to it, traveled -all night, crossed the Walla Walla River and valley above the usual ford -and crossings, and, having found a secluded depression in the plains -beyond, stopped to rest and let his horse feed a couple of hours. -Pushing on without further adventure, and exchanging his worn-out steed -for a fresh one at Red Wolf's ground, he reached Lapwai the next day. -Here he obtained a day's rest. - -Thus refreshed, and securing fresh horses and a young Nez Perce brave as -guide, he started across the Bitter Root Mountains by the direct Nez -Perce trail, the shortest but also the most rugged and elevated route, -and at dark made camp high up in the mountains. That night a furious -snowstorm set in. A tree fell and crushed his Indian companion. Pearson -dragged his insensible body from beneath the tree, and said to himself, -"Now the Nez Perces, too, will break out. They never will believe this -buck's death was accidental. They will deem me his murderer, and always -hunt my scalp after this." But to his great joy the young Indian came to -his senses, and proved not to be seriously hurt. The storm raged three -days; several feet of snow fell, too deep for horses to travel. When it -ceased, Pearson sent the Indian back with the horses, and, packing his -dispatches, blankets, and some dried meat on his back, continued across -on snowshoes, which he had made during the storm, cutting the bows with -his knife, and unraveling his lariat for the webs. The trail was hidden -under the snow, but he guided his course largely by the marks of packs -against the trees made by Indians who had crossed in winter. Struggling -on in this manner for four days, he emerged upon the Bitter Root valley -near Fort Owen, almost dead with fatigue and privation. Stopping only a -few hours for rest, and procuring a good horse and equipments from the -ever friendly Flatheads, he again took the saddle, and on the third day -staggered into the governor's camp on the Teton. - -The dispatches fully corroborated Pearson's information. Among them were -letters from Acting-Governor Mason, Colonel Simmons, Major Tilton, and -others, warning the governor on no account to attempt to return home by -the direct route across the mountains, and urging him to descend the -Missouri and return by way of the Isthmus. He was assured that there -were scarcely any troops in the country, that it was impossible to -succor him, and equally impossible for him to get through so many -hostile Indians, and that his only way of safety lay down the Missouri -River. - -Governor Stevens's decision was instant and unwavering. It was to force -his way back to his Territory by the direct route through all opposition -and obstacles. He fully appreciated the perils and difficulties of the -attempt, but his determination was unalterably fixed sternly to confront -them all, and by a bold, decided course and rapid movements to force a -passage through the hostile country and hostile savages. - -Doty was sent back to the fort the next morning for additional arms and -ammunition. At noon the following day, October 31, leaving orders for -Doty to follow with the train on his return from the fort, the governor, -with Delaware Jim and Hugh Robie, his only companions, started for the -Bitter Root valley, and reached Fort Owen in four and a half days, a -distance of two hundred and thirty miles. Says the governor of this -trip:-- - - "The first night we camped on Sun River, having made a distance of - some twenty-nine miles from about noon to sundown. On the 1st of - November we were in the saddle at early dawn, pushed towards - Cadotte's Pass, between the Crown Butte and Rattlers, passed by the - Bird Tail Rock, crossed the Dearborn, and went into camp four miles - before reaching the divide, at a point which was the camp of - Lieutenant Grover and Mr. Robie in their winter trip of 1854. This - evening a snow came on about an hour before sundown, or we should - have crossed the divide that night. The weather in the morning was - clear and beautiful, but as we had no tent, we built up a large fire - in order to dry ourselves, and got breakfast before leaving camp, - and at half past eight we were on the road. There were some six or - seven inches of snow on the ground, but the weather was extremely - mild, and the snow was rapidly passing away. I went up the divide - on the ravine north of the usual trail, and was able to find a very - good route for our animals. There was little or no snow on the - western slope of the divide; continuing down the Blackfoot valley - five and one half miles, the snow was only an inch or two deep, and - entirely passed away before we reached Lander's Fork. We halted on - Lander's Fork for a few minutes to rest our animals; then, moving - very rapidly through the Belly prairie and canyon, we came out on the - large prairie of the Blackfoot at a little after dark, camping where - I had camped with Lieutenant Donelson in 1853. The next day we were - in the saddle early, and, moving over this prairie at a very rapid - rate, ate breakfast at a point some eighteen miles from our - morning's camp, and made our evening camp within about ten miles of - the Hell Gate crossing to Fort Owen. The next day we reached Fort - Owen, meeting at the crossing some Indians, by whom I was able to - communicate with Dr. Lansdale. On our way to Fort Owen we met a Nez - Perce delegation on their way home, and made arrangements to meet - them at the crossing of Hell Gate, in order to confer about - difficulties ahead. After waiting a day at Fort Owen, I moved down - to and established my camp at Hell Gate, to await the arrival of Mr. - Doty. Just before reaching the Dearborn River, Delaware Jim shot a - deer, but on going up to it they were surprised to find a well-grown - fawn lying dead beside it, killed by the same ballet as it stood - beside and concealed by its mother." - -Many of the Flatheads came with Dr. Lansdale in response to the -governor's summons to confer with him at this camp, and the conference -with them and also with the Nez Perce chiefs was most satisfactory. In -response to the governor's request to the latter that some of their -number would accompany him, the whole delegation, fourteen in number, -offered to do so, and declared their willingness to share any danger -that might be encountered, and accordingly joined the party. Says the -governor:-- - - "I was here able to gain no additional information of the condition - of the Indian tribes between the Cascade Mountains and the Bitter - Root, but the reports were that all were in arms except the Nez - Perces, a large portion of whom were said to be disaffected, and - some of them even hostile. I now purchased every good mule and horse - I could get in this valley, for it was my determination to have my - whole command in a position so that they could move rapidly and act - promptly. The question was, What should be our route home? It was - important, it seemed to me, to our success that we should be able to - cross the mountains and throw ourselves into the nearest tribes - without their having the slightest notice of our coming. I felt a - strong assurance that, if I could bring this about, I could handle - enough tribes, and conciliate the friendship of enough Indians, to - be sufficiently strong to defy the rest. There would certainly be no - difficulty from the snow down Clark's Fork; but it was known that - the upper and lower Pend Oreille Indians were along the road, and no - party could travel over it without its approach being communicated - to the Indians; whereas Indian report had it that the Coeur - d'Alene Pass was blocked up with snow at this season of the year, - and I felt satisfied that they would not expect us on this route, - and therefore I determined to move over it. It was the shorter route - of the two; it was a route where I wished to make additional - examinations; it was a route which enabled me to creep up, as it - were, to the first Indian tribe, and then, moving rapidly, to jump - upon them without their having time for preparation. I knew that - Kam-i-ah-kan and Pu-pu-mox-mox had sent a body of warriors to cut - off my party, and that we had to guard against falling into an - ambush; but an Indian has not patience to wait many days for such a - purpose, and I thought, looking to all these things, that the line - of safety was to move over the Coeur d'Alene Pass." - -Mr. Doty arrived with the train on the 11th. At the camp on the Teton -occurred the only death that befell the party during the expedition, -that of H. Palmer, who died of a lingering and incurable malady, and was -laid at rest on the lonely prairie by his warm-hearted and sorrowing -companions. Three days more were spent after the arrival of the train in -making necessary arrangements with Dr. Lansdale, who was placed in -charge of the Flatheads as their agent, with Mr. Owen and the -missionaries. - - [Illustration: CROSSING THE BITTER ROOTS IN MIDWINTER] - -Keeping his decision as to the route to himself, the governor allowed -the report to become current that he would pursue the way by Pend -Oreille Lake, and this was universally believed, because both Indians -and mountain men pronounced the Coeur d'Alene impassable from snow so -late in the season. Still further to throw any hostile spies or runners, -who might be lurking about, off the scent, and prevent their carrying -word ahead of him, the governor, on the first day's march, November 14, -on reaching the forks, where the trails divided, took that by the Lake -route, moved down it two miles, and went into camp. - -At earliest daylight the next morning the train was on the march, -retraced its steps to the forks, and struck rapidly down the Coeur -d'Alene trail a long distance, camping at the governor's camp ground of -October 7, 8, two years before. Pushing on by forced marches, the Bitter -Root River was crossed on the ice November 17, and the summit of the -mountains on the 20th, where, for lack of grass, the half-famished -animals had to be tied to trees all night. The snow was from three to -six feet deep for a long distance, and would have proved a serious -obstacle, had not a large party of Coeur d'Alene Indians crossed a -fortnight before and beaten down a passable trail; but ten dead horses -lying stiff and stark within a distance of eight miles showed how -severely their animals had suffered in the passage. - -On this trip the governor adopted the plan of starting at daylight, -moving rapidly for the day's march, and encamping early in the -afternoon, thinking thus to give the animals the best opportunities for -finding grass, now dry and scanty, but their only feed. The precision -and rapidity with which the train packed up, started, and moved was -astonishing. An hour before daylight the cooks were up and preparing -breakfast; half an hour later the mules were driven up and the -pack-saddles placed upon them, and the riding animals were also saddled; -then breakfast, taking about twenty minutes; then the governor, watch in -hand, would give the command to load, and in five minutes from the word -every mule would be packed and the train moving out. The governor took -great pride in this feat every morning, and the men entered into the -spirit of it, strove to outdo themselves at every camp, and made the -gain of half a minute in packing and starting the subject of talk and -congratulation. The mules, by their perverse and vexatious conduct, -arising from their invincible repugnance to water and cold, gave rise to -many comical and diverting incidents. Dreading the icy water, they would -hold back from plunging into the fords, and would seek a dryer way by -going out on the skirt or points of ice which fringed the streams, only -to have it give way and drop them into deeper water. They were -continually getting off the narrow, beaten path in the snow, and -floundering helpless in the fleecy material, and then half a dozen -sturdy packers would unsling the packs, seize the unlucky mule by tail -and ears, neck-rope and saddle, and haul him back on the trail by main -strength. - - [Illustration: C[OE]UR D'ALENE MISSION] - -The party reached good grass the day after crossing the divide, and -rested another day to allow the exhausted animals to fill up and -recuperate. On the 23d a long march was made, and the party encamped -twenty-six miles from the Coeur d'Alene Mission. From the appearance -of everything around, the governor was satisfied that no Indian spies -had yet observed his march. He deemed it impracticable to move the train -to the mission in one day without breaking down the animals, yet he -counted on taking the Indians there by surprise, thus giving them no -opportunity to waylay his party if they were hostile, and relying upon -his sudden and unexpected appearance to retrieve their wavering -friendship, if they were not too far committed to hostility. At daylight -the next morning, with Craig, Pearson, and the four Nez Perce chiefs, -Looking Glass, Spotted Eagle, Three Feathers, and Captain John, the -governor pushed on, leaving directions for the train to follow and come -in next day. The evening sun was just sinking behind the mountains when -the seven well-armed horsemen dashed up in front of the Coeur d'Alene -village, rifles in hand and presented ready to fire, and in peremptory -tones demanded of the astonished Indians, as they poured out of their -lodges, "Are you friends or enemies? Do you want peace or war?" The -governor's orders, impressed upon his followers, were, that at the first -hostile act or word they were to fire upon the Indians, disabling as -many of them as possible, and then to fall back upon and occupy the -solidly built church on the knoll overlooking the village, and hold this -stronghold against all attacks until the main party should arrive the -next day. - -The Coeur d'Alenes, thus taken by surprise, in response to this -formidable summons declared that they were friends and preferred peace, -and gathered around with apparently friendly greetings. In fact, -however, as became more apparent at the council next day, "they were -much excited, on a balance for peace or war, and a chance word might -turn them either way," as says the official journal. Some of their young -men had joined the hostiles; and the rumor was current that the son of -the chief, Stellam, had recently been slain by the whites. The chiefs -and elders were inclined to be friendly, and wished to avoid war. On the -way to the village the governor charged the four Nez Perce chiefs:-- - - - "When you reach the Coeur d'Alenes, talk to them Blackfoot; tell - them about our great council and treaty at Fort Benton; tell them - that they can hunt buffalo without being disturbed by their - hereditary enemies, the Blackfeet; tell them the lion and the lamb - have laid down together; get their minds off their troubles here, - and turn them to other subjects in which they take an interest." - -The train arrived the next day. A council was held with the Indians, and -they were exhorted to continue their friendly attitude, and keep their -young men from war. The emissaries of the Yakimas had left the mission -only five days before the arrival of the party, having despaired of its -crossing the mountains. All sorts of rumors were rife, but nothing -certain except that the tribes below were in arms, blocking up the road, -and that they had threatened to cut off the party, Pu-pu-mox-mox -especially having made his boast that he would take Governor Stevens's -scalp. It was learned, however, that four men, who had brought up the -goods for the proposed Spokane council, with the unfortunate agent -Bolon, were at Antoine Plante's, and that fifteen miners were also at -that point, fearing to go below on account of the hostiles, and -virtually blockaded by the Spokanes. - -Governor Stevens at once determined to proceed to the Spokane to rescue -these men, and if possible to restrain the Spokanes from hostilities. He -dispatched Craig with all but three of the Nez Perce chiefs to Lapwai, -there to confer with Lawyer, assemble the nation, and prepare them for -the governor's arrival. He was also instructed to send an express to the -Spokane with information of his success, and the disposition of the Nez -Perces. The chiefs retained with the party were Looking Glass, Spotted -Eagle, and Three Feathers. - -As at Hell Gate, the governor's determination rested in his own breast, -and it was currently reported and believed that the party would move -directly south along the base of the mountains to the Nez Perce country, -the shortest and safest route to the refuge of that friendly tribe. To -move away from it and adventure sixty miles farther among the supposedly -hostile, and certainly disaffected, Spokanes seemed little short of -madness. In the evening some of the men, in discussing the matter, -declared that if the governor started for the Spokane, they would not -follow him, but would take the Nez Perce trail; but Higgins swore that -no man should desert the governor if he started for Hell, and the -incipient mutiny went no farther. The next day, November 27, the party -marched down the Coeur d'Alene River to Wolf's Lodge, nineteen miles, -and, starting at daylight the following morning and making a rapid, -forced march of forty miles, reached the Spokane village, just below -Antoine Plante's, before sunset. - -The last four miles across the prairie was made at a round trot, and -within thirty minutes after first sighting the rapidly approaching -column, the astonished Indians beheld thirty well-armed men gallop -boldly up, range themselves in front of their lodges ready to open fire, -and heard the peremptory summons to decide instantly for peace or war. -Needless to say that they, too, were friendly and for peace. They were -taken completely by surprise, and had no alternative but to choose the -olive branch. Only three hours before they had heard that Governor -Stevens had gone down the Missouri. - -The Indian employees and goods and the miners were safe. They had built -a blockhouse, and were on terms of armed truce with the Indians rather -than actual hostility. Before midnight Indian messengers were dispatched -to Colville and the various camps, summoning the head chief Garry and -the other chiefs, the Hudson Bay Company's factor, McDonald, and the -Jesuit missionaries to meet the governor in council at Plante's. It is -noteworthy that during all these troubles the Hudson Bay Company people -and the Catholic missionaries were not molested by the hostile Indians. - -The governor now gave his party, augmented by the four rescued -employees, a military organization and the name of Stevens Guards, the -name being the choice of the men, and appointed as officers C.P. -Higgins, captain; W.H. Pearson, first lieutenant; A.H. Robie, second -lieutenant; and S.S. Ford, third lieutenant. He also appointed Doty -lieutenant-colonel, aide-de-camp, and adjutant, and Tappan captain and -quartermaster. The miners were also formed into a military company, and -adopted the name of Spokane Invincibles, with Judge B.F. Yantis as -captain. The governor ordered guards regularly mounted at night. - -A half-breed, who had been captured by Pu-pu-mox-mox and set free by him -on condition that he would take a message to the governor to the effect -that he, Pu-pu-mox-mox, intended to take the governor's scalp, came and -delivered his message. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV - - STORMY COUNCIL WITH THE SPOKANES - - -During the next few days the Indians were gathering for the council. -Garry and a party of Coeur d'Alenes came on the 29th, and McDonald -with the Colville chiefs, the missionaries, and four white miners on -December 2. The council lasted three days, December 3, 4, 5, and was -marked by disaffected and at times openly hostile views and expressions -and uncertain purposes, on the part of the Indians, and steadfast -determination to hold their friendship and restrain them from war, on -the part of the governor. The Spokanes openly sympathized with the -hostiles. Many of their young braves had joined them. They insisted that -no white troops should enter their country, and urged the governor to -make peace with the Yakimas, for the rumor was current that the troops -had driven them across the Columbia and into the region claimed by the -Spokanes. They objected to the whites taking up their land before they -had made treaties and sold it, and were much stirred up because a number -of Hudson Bay Company ex-employees at Colville had staked out claims, -and filed with Judge Yantis the declaratory statements claiming them -under the Donation Act. Kam-i-ah-kan's emissaries had imbued them with -all kinds of falsehoods concerning the war and its causes, and the -purposes of the whites, particularly of Governor Stevens, and what he -did and said at the Walla Walla council. They were to be driven by -soldiers from their own country, and forced to go on the Nez Perce -reservation without any treaty or compensation. They were to be -deported west of the Cascades, and shipped across seas to an unknown and -dreadful doom. Highly colored but imaginary stories of wrong and outrage -inflicted by whites upon Indians were industriously circulated, and -equally mythical tales of Indian victories and exploits. - -Governor Stevens met their excited and hostile talk with a firm and -unruffled front. He appealed to the well-known facts,--to the policy he -had uniformly and consistently urged upon them and upon all the tribes -since first coming to the country, the policy of peace and friendship -with the whites, and of adopting the civilization of the whites, and -which had been proclaimed as from the housetops, and established by -treaty at the Walla Walla council, in the presence and hearing of their -own head chief, Garry, and others of their number. He showed them how -this policy was for their own benefit and protection, and referred to -the Blackfoot council, and the peace he had there established, of which -the Nez Perce chiefs present could give them full particulars. He -declared he was ready to make a treaty with them on the spot, if they -desired one, but in the troubled state of affairs would not himself urge -it. By this firm and conciliatory treatment he at length brought them to -a more reasonable state of mind, and induced them to lay aside all -thoughts of war and preserve their friendship with the whites. The -results of this remarkable conference are graphically stated in his own -words:-- - - "We remained on the Spokane nine days, and I had there one of the - most stormy councils for three days that ever occurred in my whole - Indian experience; yet, having gone there with the most earnest - desire to prevent their entering into the war, but with a firm - determination to tell them plainly and candidly the truth, I - succeeded both in convincing them of the facts and in gaining their - entire confidence. At this council were all the chiefs and people - of the Coeur d'Alenes and of the Spokanes,--the very tribes who - defeated Steptoe the past season, the very tribes who have met our - troops since in two pitched battles; and I feel that I can without - impropriety refer to the success of my labors among these Indians, - backed up simply with a little party of twenty-four men. When the - council was adjourned, the Indians gave the best test of their - friendship by each coming to lay before me his little wrongs, and - ask redress. They came in a body, and offered me a force to help me - through the hostilities of Walla Walla valley and on the banks of - the Columbia, which I declined, saying that I came not among the - Spokanes for their aid, but to protect them as their father." - -The Spokanes preserved the friendship thus gained and confirmed, and -abstained from all acts of hostility for two years after this council, -and until Colonel E.J. Steptoe, against their warning and protest, -entered their country with a force of two hundred dragoons. Then they -flew to arms, attacked, defeated, and drove him in precipitate retreat -eighty miles to the bank of Snake River, where his men were only saved -from massacre by the friendly Nez Perces, who ferried them across the -river in their canoes, and boldly interposed between them and the -victorious Spokanes. - -Soon after reaching the Spokane the governor was led to distrust Looking -Glass from his changed demeanor and countenance, and set a faithful -half-breed interpreter to keep watch of him. The spy saw him enter -Garry's lodge late at night, and, stealing up to and lying prone beside -it, overheard the talk between the chiefs, in which Looking Glass -disclosed a plot on his part to entrap the governor and his party when -they went among the Nez Perces, and compel him to enlarge their -reservation to the bounds first proposed by Looking Glass at the Walla -Walla council, and to exact such other payments and advantages as -amounted to a swingeing ransom. Looking Glass strongly advised Garry to -adopt a similar course, and both chiefs seemed bent upon using their -advantages to the utmost. On receiving this alarming report the governor -instantly, but secretly, dispatched a messenger to Lapwai, informing -Craig of the plot, and instructing him how best to forestall and -frustrate it by advising with Lawyer, and committing the other chiefs to -a firm adherence to the treaty and active support of the governor. Thus -forewarned, he was enabled to frustrate the designs of the treacherous -chief without his suspecting that they had been discovered. - -The following extracts from the speeches show the excited and -disaffected mood in which they entered the council. Observe in Garry's -second speech his artful advice in aid of his friend Looking Glass's -design to enlarge the reservation:-- - - Garry: "When I heard of the war, I had two hearts, and have had two - hearts ever since. The bad heart was a little larger than the good. - Now I am thinking that if you do not make peace with the Yakimas, - war will come into this country like the waters of the sea. From the - time of my first recollection, no blood has ever been on the hands - of my people. Now that I am grown up, I am afraid that we may have - the blood of the whites on our hands.... - - "I hope that you will make peace on the other side of the Columbia, - and keep the soldiers from coming here. The Americans and the - Yakimas are fighting. I think they are both equally guilty. If there - were many Frenchmen here, my heart would be like fighting. [Meaning - Canadians, ex-employees of the Hudson Bay Company.] These French - people here have talked too much. I went to the Walla Walla council, - and when I returned I found that all the Frenchmen had gotten their - land written down on a paper. [Alluding to notifications under the - Donation Act.] I ask them, Why are you in such a hurry to have - writings for your lands now? Why don't you wait until a treaty is - made? - - "Governor, these troubles are on my mind all the time, and I will - not hide them. When I was at the Walla Walla council my mind was - divided. When you first commenced to speak, you said the Walla - Wallas, Cuyuses, and Umatillas were to move on to the Nez Perce - reservation, and the Spokanes were to move there also. Then I - thought you spoke bad. Then I thought, when you said that, that you - would strike the Indians to the heart. After you had spoken of these - nine different things, as schools, and shops, and farms, if you had - then asked the chiefs to mark out a piece of land--a pretty large - piece--to give you, it would not have struck the Indians so to the - heart. Your thought was good. You see far. But the Indians, being - dull-headed, cannot see far. Now your children have fallen. They - [the Indians] have spilled their blood, because they have not sense - enough to understand you. Those who killed Pu-pu-mox-mox's son in - California, they were Americans. Why are those Americans alive now? - Why are they not hanged? This is what the Indians think, that it - will be Indians only who are hanged for murder. Now, governor, here - are these young people,--my people. I do not know their minds, but - if they will listen to you, I shall be very glad. When you talk to - your soldiers and tell them not to cross Snake River into our - country, I shall be glad." - - A principal chief of the lower Spokanes said: "Why is the country in - difficulty again? That comes on account of the smallpox brought into - the country, and is all the time on the Indians' heart. They would - keep thinking the whites brought sickness into the country to kill - them. That is what has hurt the hearts of the Yakimas. That is what - we think has brought about this difficulty between the Indians and - the whites. I think, governor, you have talked a little too hard. It - is as if you had thrown away all the Indians. I heard you said at - the Walla Walla council that we were children, and that our women - and children and cattle should be for you, and then we thought we - would never raise camp and move where you wished us to. We had in - our hearts that if you tried to move us off we would die on our - land." - - Stellam, Coeur d'Alene head chief: "We have not yet made friends. - All the Indians are not yet your children. When I heard that war had - commenced in the Yakima country, I did not believe they had done - well to commence. I wish you would speak and dry the blood on that - land now. If you would do that, then I would take you for a friend. - You have many soldiers, and I would not like to have them mix among - my people." - - Schlat-eal: "Now the Yakimas have crossed the Columbia. I would not - like to have the whites cross to this side. If the whites do not - cross the river, the Indians will all be pleased. We have not made - friendship yet. We have not shaken hands yet. When we see that the - soldiers don't cross the Columbia, we shall believe you take us for - your friends. When you stop that difficulty, the fighting now going - on, we shall believe you intend to adopt us for your children. Then - I will believe that you have taken us for your friends, and will - take you for my friend." - - Peter John Colville, chief: "My heart is very poor, very bad. My - heart is of all nations. I never hide it. My heart is fearful. There - are some who have talked bad. I am always thinking that all would be - well. I wish all the whites and Indians to be friendly; but even if - my people should take up arms against the Americans, I myself would - not. I know we cannot stop the river from running, nor the wind from - blowing, and I have heard that you whites are the same. We could not - stop you. I only speak to show my heart. I am done." - - Sno-ho-mish, a chief of the lower Spokanes, near the Columbia: "When - you went away to the Blackfoot country, and the Yakimas commenced - fighting, my heart was broken. Ever since my heart is very small. - Ever since I have been thinking, How will the governor speak to us? - And yesterday he did speak, and said to the Indians, 'You must keep - peace;' and I have been thinking what God would say if we should - spill blood on our land. I never loved bad Indians, nor war; I never - believed in making war against Americans. I wish they would stop all - the whites and Indians from fighting. Now I will stop. I have shown - my heart." - - Big Star, Spokane chief: "The reason that I am talking now is that - all the Indians did not like what you said at the Walla Walla - council. They put all the blame on you for the trouble since. The - Indians say you are the cause of the war. My heart is very small - towards you. My heart is the same as the others for you. Ever since - I heard there was war, I was afraid for you. I am afraid you will be - killed. You have not yet made a treaty, and you passed by us, and - your people have commenced coming,--the miners,--and they will upset - my land. This spring, when my people commenced talking about the - ammunition, I said, 'My children, do not listen to my children who - wish to do wrong.' I said to the Sun chief, 'What is the reason you - are getting into trouble? Your father was good. Now he is killed by - the Blackfeet.' And this summer when the governor passed here, I - spoke to him again, and he would not listen. That is why my heart is - small,--that young man would not listen. I left home and went to the - Nez Perces, and there met Mr. McDonald. After crossing the Columbia - River those two young fellows overtook me. I spoke to Mr. McDonald - to give me good advice to help my children. He did speak, and I - thought he gave me good help. I was glad. We had not yet arrived at - the fort when that young man [a young Spokane] rushed on the whites - and choked them. After McDonald and myself had talked to them, I - thought they would listen. If I had not tried to make them do right, - it would not have hurt my feelings so much. Since that, I am crying - all the time." - - Quin-quim-moe-so, Spokane chief, living at Eells's old mission: - "When I heard, governor, what you had said at the Walla Walla - ground, I thought you had done well. But one thing you said was not - right. You alone arranged the Indian's land. The Indians did not - speak. Then you struck the Indians to the heart. You thought they - were only Indians. That is why you did it. I am not a big chief, but - I will not hide my mind. I will not talk low. I wish you to hear - what I am saying. That is the reason, governor; it is all your fault - the Indians are at war. It is your fault, because you have said that - the Cuyuses and Walla Wallas will be moved to the Yakima land. They - who owned the land did not speak, and yet you divided the land." - - Garry: "When you look at those red men, you think you have more - heart, more sense, than these poor Indians. I think the difference - between us and you Americans is in the clothing,--the blood and - body are the same. Do you think, because your mother was white and - theirs black, that you are higher or better? We are black, yet if we - cut ourselves the blood will be red, and so with the whites it is - the same, though their skin is white. I do not think we are poor - because we belong to another nation. If you take those Indians for - men, treat them so now. If you talk to the Indians to make a peace, - the Indians will do the same to you. You see now the Indians are - proud. On account of one of your remarks, some of your people have - already fallen to the ground. The Indians are not satisfied with the - land you gave them. What commenced the trouble was the murder of - Pu-pu-mox-mox's son and Dr. Whitman, and _now_ they find their - reservations too small. If all those Indians had marked out their - own reservations, the trouble would not have happened. If you could - get their reservations made a little larger, they would be pleased. - If I had the business to do, I could fix it by giving them a little - more land. Talking about land, I am only speaking my mind. What I - was saying yesterday about not crossing the soldiers to this side of - the Columbia is my business. Those Indians have gone to war, and I - don't know myself how to fix it up. That is your business. Since, - governor, the beginning of the world, there has been war. Why cannot - you manage to keep peace? Maybe there will be no peace ever. Even if - you should hang all the bad people, war would begin again, and would - never stop." - -In these speeches can be seen the reflection of the tales spread by the -Yakima emissaries. It was afterwards learned that some of the Yakimas -had really crossed the Columbia to avoid an expedition into the Yakima -valley, under Major Rains with a force of regulars, and Colonel J.W. -Nesmith with a detachment of Oregon volunteers, which proved abortive, -except in the loss of many of the horses and mules belonging to the -regulars, which were run off by the hostile Yakimas. - - [Illustration: SPOKANE GARRY - _Head Chief of the Spokanes_] - -After the council the Indians were so friendly and well disposed that -they readily exchanged their fine, fresh horses for the jaded and -tired animals of the party and the Indian goods, which had been brought -up for the now deferred treaty, and even sold several rifles, which were -used to arm the Spokane Invincibles. - -On the afternoon of the 6th, with transportation reduced to twelve days' -supplies, packs to eighty pounds, the best train of the season, and the -party, with the recent accessions, forty-eight strong, the governor -struck out for the Nez Perce country, "in condition," he says, "that if -the Nez Perces were really hostile, and I was not strong enough to -fight, I could make a good run!" He moved three miles to the Spokane -River, crossed it just above the falls, and encamped on the site of the -present city of that name. The march thence to the Clearwater and -Lapwai, a distance of one hundred and eight miles, occupied four days, -and was made in the midst of a driving and continuous storm of cold -rain, sleet, and snow, wetting and chilling every one to the bone. The -trail was excessively muddy and slippery, and for half a day's travel -the snow was ten inches deep. On the second day an express from Craig -brought the cheering news that the Nez Perces were faithful, and the -whole tribe ready to support the governor to the death. And on reaching -camp the same day two Frenchmen or Canadians were met making their way -from Walla Walla to the Spokane, who reported the valley overrun with -hostile Indians, the settlers killed or driven below, and their stock -swept off by the savages. Fifty miles from the Spokane they struck the -same trail passed over in June on the way to the Coeur d'Alene, and -pursued it for twenty miles, crossing the Palouse, where an enemy was -most likely to be encountered, but no Indians were seen. The Clearwater, -or Kooskooskia, was crossed just above the mouth of the Lapwai. The -river was barely fordable, with a powerful current and rocky bottom, and -two riding horses were swept off their feet into deep water and -drowned, making no effort to swim, benumbed in the icy water, and their -riders barely escaped a similar fate. Moving seven miles up the Lapwai, -Craig's hospitable house, and the end of this severe march, the most -comfortless and trying of the whole trip, was reached, and camp gladly -made on the 11th. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI - - THE FAITHFUL NEZ PERCES - - -Although it was now in the midst of winter, and the ground was covered -with snow, Lawyer had assembled two hundred and eight lodges, containing -over two thousand Indians, and able to muster eight hundred warriors. An -animated council was at once held. The council lodge was a hundred feet -in length, built of poles, mats, and skins, and in this assembled two -hundred chiefs and principal men, Lawyer presiding. An ox had been -killed, and young men, who officiated for the occasion, roasted or -boiled the meat at fires in the lodge, and handed it around in large -pans, from which each person selected such choice pieces as suited his -fancy. - -The scheme of Looking Glass found no adherent, indeed was not broached, -and the unanimous resolve was not only to maintain their friendship to -the whites and stand by their treaty, but to escort Governor Stevens -with two hundred and fifty of their bravest and best-armed warriors, -stark buffalo hunters and Blackfoot fighters every one, and force their -way through the masses of hostile Indians gathered in the Walla Walla -valley. - -Looking Glass, too, was among the first in his professions of -friendship. Jealousy of Lawyer, and the hope of increasing his own -influence among his people by obtaining great and exceptional advantages -for them, were probably the causes of his unworthy plot, rather than -actual enmity to the whites. - - Said Looking Glass: "I told the governor that the Walla Walla - country was blocked up by bad Indians, and that I would go ahead and - he behind, and that's my heart now. Now that he says he will go, I - will get up and go with him. Now let none of you turn your face from - what has been said. Your old men have spoken, and where is the man - will turn his back on it?" - - Three Feathers: "Why don't you get up and say you are all going with - Governor Stevens? We said before coming here they should go over our - dead bodies before coming to him. That is our hearts now." - -And chief after chief spoke in similar vein. - - Red Wolf in his speech said: "I was on the Spokane at the council - held there by the Indians last summer, when runners sent by - Kam-i-ah-kan came there to get all the people to go to war." - - Scotum declared: "The chief Pu-pu-mox-mox sent us word, and so did - the Cuyuses; they sent us word many times, but we have always turned - our faces from them and kept the laws." - -Here was evidence that the treacherous chiefs were inciting hostilities -immediately after signing the treaties. - -At this juncture an Indian runner was announced from the Walla Walla -valley with the important news that a force of five hundred Oregon -volunteers, under Colonel Kelly (late United States senator), after a -severe battle of four days' duration, had defeated the hostiles, and -driven them from the valley. The absence of the Palouse Indians during -the forced march through their country was now explained. They were -fighting the volunteers at that very time. The way being thus opened, -Governor Stevens was enabled to dispense with the proffered aid of the -Nez Perces; but in order to confirm their fidelity and good feeling, he -invited a hundred warriors to accompany his party as a guard of honor as -far as the Walla Walla valley. - -It was a clear, bright, frosty December morning that the mingled -cavalcade of white and Indian left behind the hospitable lodges of the -Nez Perces, and filed along the banks of the Lapwai and Kooskooskia. -Rarely has the Clearwater reflected a more picturesque or jovial crew. -Here were the gentlemen of the party, with their black felt hats and -heavy cloth overcoats; rough-clad miners and packers; the mountain men, -with buckskin shirts and leggings and fur caps; the long-eared -pack-mules, with their bulky loads; and the blanketed young braves, with -painted visage, and hair adorned with eagle feathers, mounted on sleek -and spirited mustangs, and dashing hither and thither in the greatest -excitement and glee. Each of the warriors had three fine, spirited -horses, which he rode in turn as the fancy moved him. They used buckskin -pads, or wooden saddles covered with buffalo, bear, or mountain-goat -skin. The bridle was a simple line of buffalo hair tied around the lower -jaw of the steed, which yielded implicit obedience to this scanty -headgear. At a halt the long end of the line is flung loosely on the -ground, and the horse is trained to stand without other fastening. - -The whole party were ferried across Snake River by the Indians in their -canoes, the animals swimming. Proceeding down the left bank some -distance as the trail to Walla Walla ran, it was found that the Nez -Perces had wholly vacated that side of the river, and removed with their -bands of horses, goods, and lodges, and especially their canoes, to the -other side, in order to cut off intercourse with the hostile Indians. -The demeanor of the young braves on this march was in marked contrast to -the traditional gravity and stoicism of their race. They shouted, -laughed, told stories, cracked jokes, and gave free vent to their native -gayety and high spirits. Craig, who accompanied the party, translated -these good things as they occurred, to the great amusement of the -whites. Crossing a wide, flat plain, covered with tall rye grass, he -related an anecdote of Lawyer, with the reminiscence of which the young -braves seemed particularly tickled. When yet an obscure young warrior, -Lawyer was traveling over this ground with a party of the tribe, -including several of the principal chiefs. It was a cold winter day, and -a biting gale swept up the river, penetrating their clothing and -chilling them to the bone. The chiefs sat down in the shelter of the -tall rye grass, and were indulging in a cosy smoke, when Lawyer fired -the prairie far to windward, and in an instant the fiery element, in a -long, crackling, blazing line, came sweeping down on the wings of the -wind upon the comfort-taking chiefs, and drove them to rush -helter-skelter into the river for safety, dropping robes, pipes, and -everything that might impede their flight. For this audacious prank -Lawyer barely escaped a public whipping. - -At the governor's request, the Indians undertook to guard the horses -while the whites guarded the camp at night, and as the country was still -infested with bands of hostiles, who had burned off nearly all the -grass, and the animals were with difficulty prevented from straying far -and wide in search of feed, it will be readily seen that they had chosen -the more arduous task. Every evening, as the young men would linger -around the camp-fires, reluctant to start out upon the cold and dreary -night work, one or more of the chiefs would exhort them to their duty, -bemoan the degeneracy of the present race, and relate instances of the -superior bravery and fortitude of young men in former times. The young -fellows were not slow to retort to these harangues with many a sarcastic -gibe and jest, but finally they would go forth to spend the cold winter -night upon the exposed prairie on horseback, posted around the band of -animals. So faithfully did they perform this duty that not one was lost -during the march. - -It was a gala day for the Nez Perces when the party reached the valley, -and were received by the Oregon volunteers with a military parade and a -salute of musketry; and when Governor Stevens dismissed them with -presents and thanks and words of encouragement, they returned home the -most devoted and enthusiastic auxiliaries that ever marched in behalf of -the whites. - -On this march the Nez Perce escort captured a strange Indian on -Al-pa-wha Creek, who proved to be the son of Ume-how-lish, the war chief -of the Cuyuses, and who said that the chief, with one follower and a -number of women, was in hiding farther up the creek, having fled from -the valley the last day of the recent fight. The governor sent the young -man to his father with the summons to surrender himself a prisoner. The -next day Ume-how-lish delivered himself up, saying that he had done -nothing bad, and was not afraid to be tried by the white man's law, and -thereafter traveled along with the party to his uncertain fate with true -Indian stoicism. He accompanied the governor to the Dalles, where he was -turned over to the Oregon authorities. He was afterwards released by -Colonel Wright. There was no evidence that he had taken part in the -murder of settlers, although he had undoubtedly fought in the recent -battle. - -The valley was reached on the 20th. Major Chinn, commanding the -volunteers, and other officers rode out to meet the governor, and, on -reaching the volunteer camp, the troops, four hundred in number, -paraded, and fired a volley in salute as the picturesque column marched -past, the fifty sturdy, travel-stained whites in advance, followed by -the hundred proud and flaunting braves, curveting their horses and -uttering their war-whoops. The volunteers then formed in hollow square, -and the governor addressed them in a brief speech, complimenting them on -their energy in pushing forward at that inclement season, and gallantry -in engaging and routing a superior force of the enemy, and tendering the -thanks of his party for opening the road. He seized the occasion also to -dwell upon the advantages--the necessity--of a winter campaign to bring -the war to a speedy end. The governor was the first to grasp this idea -of a winter campaign as the most effective method of reducing hostile -Indians to subjection. As will be seen hereafter, he urged this course -upon General Wool and the military authorities, but only to have his -views denounced and ridiculed as "impracticable;" but finally, under the -stern lessons of experience, they had to be adopted. It was only by -winter campaigns that General Crook succeeded in subduing the Snakes of -Idaho and eastern Oregon in 1868-69. - -Over a hundred of the Cuyuses and Walla Wallas refused to join their -kindred in the war, and remained friendly, including Steachus, -Tin-tim-meet-see, and How-lish-wam-poo, and were now encamped on Mill -Creek under the protection of a guard, needed unhappily not less against -a few of the unruly volunteers, who had already killed some of their -cattle, than against apprehended raids by the hostiles. The little flock -of Indians under the ministrations of Father Chirouse of the Catholic -mission also remained friendly, thanks to the good influence of the -Fathers. - - [Illustration: UME-HOW-LISH - _War Chief of the Cuyuses_] - -Colonel Frank Shaw was found with the volunteers, and from him and the -Oregon officers the governor learned the latest news and the condition -of affairs. The fight had been a severe one. The Indians resisted -stoutly for four days, and only gave way at last because they mistook a -large pack-train, seen descending into the valley, for reinforcements to -the whites. Pu-pu-mox-mox had been captured, and slain attempting to -escape. General Wool had arrived at Vancouver, but had refused to -take active measures against the enemy, assuming that the Indians were -not at fault, but that the war had been gotten up by white speculators. -He had even disbanded two companies of Washington volunteers at -Vancouver after they had been actually mustered into the United States -service. And a company that had been raised under the direction of Shaw, -for the express purpose of going to the assistance of the governor, was -dismissed by Wool in spite of the remonstrances of its officers and of -Major Rains. - -The first act of the governor after grasping the situation was to indite -a letter to Wool announcing his safe return, and suggesting the -energetic and aggressive military measures by which the outbreak could -be speedily quelled. - -Some of the fruits of the delay in holding the Blackfoot council, caused -by the mulish and incapable Cumming, were now apparent. Had it been held -early in August, as it might and should have been, the governor would -have gotten back early in September, in time to cope with the first -outbreak, to infuse the military authorities with a little of his own -sound judgment and energy, to induce harmony and concert of action -between the regular and volunteer forces, possibly to remove even Wool's -prejudiced and utterly wrong views, certainly in time to prevent the -volunteers of his own territory from being paralyzed in action, and -rendered worse than useless. But he was delayed, and in his absence -bitter prejudice and divided councils ruled the hour, and the war, which -should have been brought to an end in a single season by a few quick, -strong blows, was suffered to drag on for years. - -After the reception by the volunteers the train moved up the Walla Walla -to a point opposite the mission and went into camp, where it remained -the next three days. The weather grew intensely cold, the glass ranging -27 deg. below zero; nevertheless, the governor kept the officers at work -gathering information concerning trails, crossings of rivers, etc., with -a view to military operations, and had a conference with Major Chinn as -to pushing against the Indians beyond Snake River; but it appeared that -the lack of rations and transportation rendered an advance -impracticable, and of course no move could be made while the severe -weather continued. On the 24th the camp was moved four miles farther -upstream to a more sheltered spot, with plenty of wood, and where there -was a deserted house, which the governor and the officers occupied. The -cold weather continued unabated for fourteen days. The men had all they -could do to keep the fires going and avoid freezing, and many of the -horses in the volunteer camp were frozen to death. Although the ground -was covered with snow, the animals found grass enough projecting above -it, or by pawing it off, to avoid starvation. Herds of cattle, abandoned -by the Indians in their flight, grazed within sight of camp, and were -driven in and slaughtered as needed, and great flocks of -prairie-chickens roosted in the trees about camp, so there was no lack -of food. - -On the 29th the governor dismissed the Nez Perce escort, who were to -return home under Craig as soon as the cold abated, thanking them for -their fidelity and services, and charging them to stay on their own side -of Snake River, and shun intercourse with the hostiles. The friendly -Cuyuse, Steachus, attended this conference, very desirous of joining the -Nez Perces and moving into their country, and asking permission to do -so. "I am really afraid of those whites, those volunteers," said he. The -Nez Perce chiefs strongly supported him in his request. Said Spotted -Eagle: "I am glad to hear those Indians ask to go with us. It looks as -if they wished to live and do right when they talk of joining the Nez -Perces." But the governor, after considering the matter for a day, -denied the request, for the reason that he feared that the disaffected -and hostile kindred of these friendly Cuyuses would be constantly -visiting them, and would exert a bad influence upon the Nez Perces, whom -he wished to keep entirely aloof from the hostiles. - -On the last day of the year, the cold weather continuing with -unmitigated severity, the governor decided to hasten below in advance of -the train, deeming his presence imperatively required within the -settlements on Puget Sound, and issued general orders directing Colonel -Doty to move the train to the Dalles as soon as the weather permitted, -and there muster out the Stevens Guards and Spokane Invincibles, -constituting the Walla Walla Battalion, appointing Craig lieutenant and -aide-de-camp, and instructing him as to marching home and disbanding the -Nez Perce allies, and taking measures for protecting that tribe against -hostile raids or attempts, and assigning Colonel Shaw of the territorial -militia to take charge of matters in the valley, organize the settlers -and friendly Indians as a military force, to act as their own guards at -least, and appointing Sidney S. Ford and Green McCafferty captain and -lieutenant of volunteers respectively as his assistants, and finally -returning thanks to the battalion - - "for the alacrity with which they have obeyed his orders and - discharged their duty, for their constancy and manliness in the - rapid movement which they made from the Spokane to this valley in - bad weather and in an inclement season, a movement begun and half - accomplished with the certain knowledge that a large force of - hostile Indians were to be met in this valley, and no expectation - that aid was near at hand and would be extended in season. - - "But aid was at hand, and the commander-in-chief would do injustice - to his own feelings, and those of the men of his immediate command, - if in the general order he did not acknowledge the services of the - gallant volunteers of Oregon, who successfully met in arms in this - valley the combined forces of the hostile Indians at the time he was - moving from the Spokane to the Nez Perce country." - -On New Year's Day, 1856, Governor Stevens started for the Dalles, -accompanied only by his son, Pearson, Robie, the Nez Perce chief, -Captain John, and the captive Ume-how-lish, and reached that point in -three days and a half. The intense cold continued unabated. Every -morning the little party saddled in the darkness and started at daylight -without breakfast, pushed their horses at a speed of ten miles an hour -for about six hours, making about sixty miles, and made camp early in -the afternoon, giving the horses several hours to graze before dark, and -themselves plenty of time to gather wood, build up a rousing fire, and -cook and eat a tremendous meal, breakfast, dinner, and supper in one; -then early to bed, sound slumbers, and off again at daylight. All the -streams were crossed on the ice until the Des Chutes River was reached. -Here was found a great gorge of broken ice twenty feet deep, through the -centre of which the rapid and powerful stream had torn its way, a -hundred yards wide, bordered by perpendicular walls of ice. Carefully -leading their horses over the broken ice masses, they reached the usual -fording-place, only to find the dark, swirling river sweeping past -twenty feet below them at the foot of this perpendicular and impassable -icy cliff, while a similar obstacle stared at them from the other side -of the river, and barred exit from the stream even should its passage be -accomplished. But, nothing daunted, all set to work with stakes and -knives, and at length broke down a barely passable path to the ford. -Captain John now led the way across, the water coming to the -saddle-skirts; a practicable passage out was found, and all felt much -relieved as they again spurred on. - -Resting one day at the Dalles, and accompanied only by his son and a -guide, the governor continued his journey by the trail down the Oregon -side of the Columbia. It was a little-used track, barely passable, or -indeed visible, in many places, jammed between the river and the foot of -the great mountain masses and precipices which overhang that mighty and -sublime gorge. Although the severe cold had abated, considerable snow -had fallen, greatly increasing the dangers of the way; but he reached -the lower Cascades without mishap, and crossed to the Washington side -late in the evening of the second day, spending the intermediate night -at Hood River, at the house of Mr. Coe. The next day he continued by -land, passing in rear of Cape Horn, and reached a landing on the -Columbia, six miles above Vancouver, soon after dark. Here a ship's -long-boat, a stout, staunch craft, with a good sail, was obtained, with -a crew of three sturdy fellows. On getting well out in the river away -from land, a terrific gale came tearing downstream, struck the boat, and -drove her on at great speed. The sail was quickly reefed, but the little -craft careened to the gunwale; the waves broke over her; only incessant -bailing kept her afloat. The dark night, the tumultuous waves, the -howling gale, the open boat tearing along with the helmsman braced -against the tiller, the bailer dipping the water overboard with furious -haste, and the rest of the party clinging to the upper rail with -clenched grasp and tense faces, can never be forgotten by one who -witnessed the scene. Vancouver was reached in twenty-six minutes from -starting, and all landed with a strong feeling of relief at having -escaped a watery grave. - -The governor again endeavored to communicate with General Wool, and -hastened to Portland to see him, but he had left on the steamer for San -Francisco only the day before. - -The journey up the Cowlitz in canoe and across the muddy road to Olympia -was made in three days, without special incident to vary the monotony of -toil and discomfort ever attending it at that season, and on January 19, -after an absence of nearly nine months, the governor reached Olympia, -and found himself once more at home with his family. - -During the governor's absence Mrs. Stevens, with her little girls and -the nurse Ellen, spent several weeks on Whitby Island, at the home of a -family named Crockett, in hopes that the stronger sea air of that -locality would overcome the Panama fever, from which they were still -suffering. The Crocketts were hearty and kindly Kentucky farmer folks of -the best type, and received the sick lady and her children with -warm-hearted hospitality and kindness. Mrs. Stevens with the children -used frequently to bathe in the Sound, and on one occasion, as they were -in the water, a band of northern Indians was observed approaching in -their great war-canoes at rapid speed. Mr. Crockett hastened to the -beach in great apprehension and hurried the bathers to the house, -declaring that the predatory savages would be sure to seize and carry -them off, if they were given an opportunity. Under the invigorating -open-air life on the island and the excellent fare, with abundance of -venison and other game, the family rapidly regained health, and after -their visit returned in canoes to Olympia. - -Mrs. Stevens afterward visited the military post at Steilacoom, and the -wives of the officers there visited her in Olympia, and it was at her -house that Mrs. Slaughter received news of the death of her husband, -Lieutenant W.A. Slaughter, who was killed by the Indians, December 5. -Several times, after the war broke out, circumstantial and apparently -trustworthy reports were brought of the massacre of the governor and his -party by the Indians, all of which Mrs. Stevens utterly disbelieved. -She scouted even more decidedly the idea that he would return by way of -the Missouri and Isthmus of Panama, which his friends were so strongly -urging him to do, and declared to them that he would certainly come back -by the direct route, no matter what obstacles might intervene. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII - - PROSTRATION.--THE RESCUE - - -When Governor Stevens, after his midwinter forced march across the -mountains, reached Olympia, he found the whole country utterly -prostrated, overwhelmed. The settlers in dismay had abandoned their -farms and fled for refuge to the few small villages. They were all poor, -having no reserves of money, food, or supplies, and starvation stared -them in the face if prevented from planting and raising a crop. The only -military post on Puget Sound, Fort Steilacoom, could muster less than a -hundred soldiers, and was so far from protecting the settlers that it -had called for and received the reinforcement of a company of volunteers -for its own protection. The post at Vancouver was also but a handful in -strength, and had also been reinforced by two companies of volunteers. -But even this pitiful force was not to be used against the savage enemy; -for Wool had just gone back to San Francisco after a flying visit to the -Columbia River, during which he had disbanded the volunteer companies, -refused to take any active measures to protect the people, and loudly -proclaimed, both in official reports and through the press, that the war -had been forced upon the Indians by the greed and brutality of the -whites, and that the former would be peaceful if only let alone and not -treated with injustice. - -There was a deficiency of arms, and still more of ammunition, in the -country. Six weeks were required to send a letter to Washington City, -and three months before an answer to the most urgent demand or entreaty -could be received. It was no wonder that the pioneers were universally -discouraged, and that nothing kept many of them from abandoning the -country but their absolute inability to get away.[10] - -A brief review of the outbreak and course of the war will make clearer -the situation at this juncture. - -Scarcely was the ink dry upon his signature to the Walla Walla treaty, -when Kam-i-ah-kan, the leading and most potent spirit, and his Yakimas -were hard at work inciting an outbreak against the whites. They with the -Cuyuse and Walla Walla chiefs assembled the disaffected Indians, and -many of the others, at a council north of Snake River in the summer, and -made every effort to gain over the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, and even -some of the Nez Perces, who had intermarried with the Cuyuses, and not -without success among the young braves. Their emissaries stirred up the -tribes on the eastern shore of the Sound, too, the Nisquallies, -Puyallups, and Duwhamish, who had intermarried to some extent with the -Yakimas, and penetrated even to Gray's Harbor and Shoalwater Bay on the -coast, and to southern Oregon. Every falsehood that Indian ingenuity -could invent, or credulity swallow, was employed to fire the Indian -heart. The conspiracy was in full train, but not yet ripe, when the -outbreak was prematurely begun by the murder of the miners in the Yakima -valley in September, by Kam-i-ah-kan's warriors, who could no longer be -held back; and when agent Bolon visited the tribe to investigate the -matter, he was treacherously shot in the back, seized and his throat -cut, and with his horse burned to ashes, September 23. Qualchen, the son -of Ou-hi and nephew of Kam-i-ah-kan, was the chief actor in this -tragedy. Major Haller marched with a hundred men from the Dalles into -the Yakima valley to demand the surrender of or to punish the -murderers; and Lieutenant W.A. Slaughter, with a small force of forty -men, moved from Steilacoom across the Nahchess Pass to the Yakima to -cooperate with Haller. But the Yakimas attacked the latter October 6, -and compelled him to retreat with the loss of twenty-two killed and -wounded, his howitzer, and baggage. Pu-pu-mox-mox then seized and -plundered old Fort Walla Walla, which had no garrison, and distributed -the goods found there, including a considerable supply of Indian goods, -among his followers, who danced the war-dance in front of his lodge -around a fresh white scalp. These Indians, with the Cuyuses and -Umatillas, then drove the settlers out of the Walla Walla valley, -destroyed their houses and improvements, and killed or ran off the -stock. Lieutenant Slaughter, after crossing the summit of the Cascades, -being unable to learn anything of Haller, hastily but wisely fell back -to the western side. Here Captain M. Maloney joined him with seventy -regulars and a company of volunteers, under Captain Gilmore Hays, and -again advanced across the mountains, but in turn retreated, fearing to -leave the settlements on Puget Sound wholly unprotected; but his -messengers were waylaid and slain by the Sound Indians, and the settlers -on White or Duwhamish River, near Seattle, were massacred with -unspeakable atrocity, the bodies of the women and children being thrown -into the wells. These settlers had taken refuge in Seattle, but were -induced to go back to their farms by the friendly professions and -assurances of the very savages who fell upon and butchered them the -night after their return. And settlers on the Nisqually and at other -points met a similar fate. - -At Major Rains's request, Acting-Governor Mason called out two companies -of volunteers, which were mustered into the United States service, one -being used to reinforce Fort Steilacoom, and one the Vancouver post. A -company was also raised at Vancouver for the express purpose of going to -the assistance of Governor Stevens, in case he attempted to force his -way through the hostiles. - -In November an engagement took place on White River, in which some loss -was inflicted upon the Indians, but they soon reappeared in undiminished -strength, surrounded the troops at night, and captured a number of -baggage animals, and on December 5 killed Lieutenant Slaughter and two -men, and wounded six others. Several more companies of volunteers were -raised for home defense, and efforts were made to separate the friendly -Indians from the hostiles. Acting-Governor Mason did all that was -possible to meet the crisis, and he was ably seconded by Major Tilton, -whom he appointed adjutant-general, and by Colonel Simmons, but the -storm was too great for their efforts. Moreover, they depended upon the -regular officers to conduct the war, which made Wool's action doubly -paralyzing. - -The whole region about the Sound, with the exception of the prairies -scattered about the head of it, was covered with the primeval evergreen -forest and a dense and tangled undergrowth, so thick and matted, and -obstructed by immense fallen giants and downfalls of every kind, that -the most energetic hunter or woodsman could traverse through it only -five or six miles a day. There were also numerous river-bottoms and -swamps, even more impenetrable. Only seventy miles back to the eastward -stretched north and south the great Cascade Range, affording innumerable -safe and hidden retreats; and many trails across it, well known to the -Indians, but unknown to the whites, gave access to the Yakima emissaries -and reinforcements to join the hostiles on the Sound, and furnished the -latter the ready means of retreat to the Yakima country when hard -pressed. In the dense forests and swamps the savages lurked at the very -doors of the settlements, and no man ventured out, for fear of ambush by -the wily and omnipresent foe. - -After Haller's defeat Major G.J. Rains led an expedition from the Dalles -to the Yakima valley with three hundred and fifty regulars and two -companies of Washington volunteers, under Captains William Strong and -Robert Newell, and was supported by four companies of Oregon volunteers, -under Colonel J.W. Nesmith. He reached the Catholic mission on the -Ah-tah-nam branch of the Yakima, which was found deserted, and destroyed -it, and then returned to the Dalles, having accomplished nothing except -the breaking down of his animals. The Yakimas, avoiding battle with so -large a force, managed to run off fifty-four of his mules and horses, -and immediately their young braves rode post-haste to the neighboring -tribes, proclaiming victory over the troops, and proudly showing the -captured animals with the United States brand on their shoulders in -proof of their success. - -Another force of about five hundred Oregon volunteers, under Colonel -James K. Kelly, marched to the Walla Walla valley and defeated the -hostiles there congregated, which opened the road to Governor Stevens, -as already related. But the Indians, although punished, simply fled -across Snake River, and were free to continue their efforts to stir up -the friendly tribes, for the volunteers, from lack of supplies and -transportation, were unable to pursue them. - -The Oregon volunteers were not mustered into the United States service, -because both they and Governor Curry were anxious to strike the Indians, -and justly feared that if placed under the orders of regular officers, -they would be held back or placed in garrison. - -In December General Wool came up from San Francisco to Vancouver, -mustered out the Washington volunteers, placed the regulars at the -Dalles, Vancouver, and Steilacoom strictly on the defensive, and -denounced in unmeasured terms the brave Oregon volunteers, who had -struck the only real blow inflicted upon the enemy. He disbanded even -the company specially raised for Governor Stevens's relief, -notwithstanding the remonstrances of its captain, of Major Rains, and of -his own aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Richard Arnold. - -Thus, at the beginning of the year 1856, the Indians of the upper -country held the whole region, except the point occupied in the Walla -Walla valley by the Oregon volunteers; the Yakimas were more hostile, -active, and triumphant than ever; the Cuyuses, Walla Wallas, and -Umatillas were made more embittered and defiant by the punishment they -had received; and all were free to instigate more hostility among the -other tribes, which they were industriously doing. The regulars were on -the defensive by Wool's orders, while the volunteers in the valley were -unable to take the aggressive for lack of supplies. - -West of the Cascades the Indians infested and held the whole country -except a few points. The whites were virtually in a state of siege, -deserted and maligned by a veteran officer, whose duty it was to protect -them; not knowing where to find succor, or even food, completely -discouraged and dismayed. The great majority of Indians on the Sound had -not yet taken to the war-path, although much disaffected. Even among the -most hostile, the Nisquallies, Puyallups, and Duwhamish, it is doubtful -if a majority of any tribe took active part in the outbreak; but the war -faction comprised the chiefs and the vigorous young warriors, and they -were constantly stimulated and encouraged, and at times largely -reinforced, by their Yakima kinsmen. The hostile warriors on the Sound -probably varied in numbers from two hundred and fifty to five hundred, -but the swamps and forests, with their knowledge of the country, gave -them every advantage. The great danger was that the other Indians, -already disaffected, and many of whose restless young braves were aiding -the hostiles to an extent which cannot be certainly determined, would -openly join in the outbreak, and this danger was aggravated by every -day's delay on the part of the whites in attacking and striking the -enemy. A defensive policy was sure to throw the whole Indian population -into the arms of the hostiles. An additional and imminent danger was -found in the northern Indians, gangs of whom were prowling about the -Sound, ever ripe for murder and plunder. - -The first day after his arrival Governor Stevens delivered in person and -orally a special message to the legislature, then in session. He pointed -out how the Donation Act and the advent of settlers had made it -absolutely necessary to treat with the Indian tribes and extinguish -their title to the soil. He showed how this had been accomplished by the -treaties he had made, and described the care taken to deal with the -Indians justly and understandingly, especially at the Walla Walla -council:-- - - "The greatest care was taken to explain the treaties, and the - objects of them, and to secure the most faithful interpreters. Three - interpreters were provided for each language. The record of that - council was made up by intelligent and dispassionate men, and the - speeches of all there made are recorded verbatim. The dignity, - humanity, and justice of the national government are there signally - exhibited, and none of the actors therein need fear the criticism of - an intelligent community, nor the supervision of intelligent - superiors. By these treaties, had the Indians been faithful to them, - the question as to whether the Indian tribes of this Territory can - become civilized and Christianized would have been determined - practically. The written record will show that the authorities and - the people of this Territory have nothing to blush for, nothing to - fear in the judgment of impartial men now living, nor the rebuke of - posterity. It was a pleasant feeling that actuated me, on my mission - in making these treaties, to think I was doing something to civilize - and to render the condition of the Indian happier.... - - "The war has been plotting for two or three years,--a war entered - into by these Indians without a cause; a war having not its origin - in these treaties, nor in the bad conduct of the whites. It - originated in the native intelligence of restless Indians, who, - foreseeing destiny against them,--that the white man was moving upon - them,--determined that it must be met and resisted by arms. We may - sympathize with such a manly feeling, but in view of it we have high - duties. - - "The war must be vigorously prosecuted now. Seedtime is coming, and - the farmer should be at his plough in the field. In my judgment, it - would be expedient forthwith to raise a force of three hundred men - from the Sound to push into the Indian country, build a depot, and - vigorously operate against the Indians in this quarter, and nearly - the same force should be raised on the Columbia River to prosecute - the war east of the Cascade Mountains. It would prevent - reinforcements from either side joining the bands of the other side, - and would effectually crush both. But what is more important would - be the influence upon the numerous tribes not yet broken out into - hostility. There is a surprising feeling of uneasiness among all the - tribes who have not broken out, except alone the Nez Perces. These - tribes may be led into war, if delay attends our operations. The - Indians must be struck now. But if we delay, in a few months the - roots and fish will abound, supplying the Indians with food; the - snows will melt; and the mountain passes will allow them - hiding-places. It is my opinion that if operations are deferred till - summer, they must be deferred till winter again. - - "What effect would it have on the Sound should nothing be done until - May or June? The whole industrial community would be ruined, the - Sound paralyzed; the husbandman would be kept in a state of suspense - by rumors of wars, and could not adhere to his pursuits; fields - would not be tilled; and the Territory would starve out." - -While approving as a general rule the mustering into the United States -service of volunteers, and disclaiming any impugning of Wool's motives, -he advised against mustering them into that service, in consequence of -that officer's "disbanding troops in violation of a positive -understanding," and boldly declared:-- - - "I am ready to take the responsibility of raising them independent - of that service, and it is due to the Territory and myself that the - reasons for assuming it should go to the President and the - department at Washington. - - "The spirit of prosecuting this war should be to accomplish a - lasting peace,--not to make treaties, but to punish their violation. - While justice and mercy should characterize the acts of our - government, there should be no weakness, no imbecility. The tribes - now at war must submit unconditionally to the justice, mercy, and - leniency of our government. The guilty ones should suffer, and the - remainder be placed on reservations under the eye of the military. - By such a decisive, energetic, and firm course the difficulty may be - grappled with, and peace restored. - - "Let not our hearts be discouraged. I have an abiding confidence in - the future destiny of our Territory. Gloom must give way to - sunlight. Let us never lose sight of the resources, capacities, and - natural advantages of the Territory of Washington. Gather heart, - then, fellow citizens. Do not now talk of leaving us in our hour of - adversity, but stay till the shade of gloom is lifted, and await - that destiny to be fulfilled. Let us all put hands together and - rescue the Territory from its present difficulties, so that we may - all feel that we have done our whole duty in the present exigency." - -To this manly and clear-sighted appeal the legislature made haste to -respond with the alacrity and heartfelt sense of relief, and renewal of -hope and courage, with which men in the extremity of danger ever turn to -a natural leader, and, so far as lay in its power, gave him unlimited -authority to take measures necessary to save the settlements from -extinction. - -Forthwith Governor Stevens adopted and put in force, with all the energy -of his determined and vigorous nature, the following measures:-- - -1. He called upon the people by proclamation, dated January 22, to raise -a thousand volunteers for six months for offensive operations against -the enemy, wherever they might be ordered. He refused to enlist any -troops for local or home defense or short terms, and summarily disbanded -all the companies which were under arms, they having been raised for -such restricted service. - -2. He called upon the settlers, wherever three or four families could -join together, to return to their abandoned farms, build blockhouses, -and hold and cultivate the soil. - -3. He required all Indians on the eastern side of the Sound to move to, -and remain upon, reservations selected on islands, or on points on the -western shore, under the care and oversight of agents, there to be fed -and protected by the government while the war lasted. Any Indian found -on the eastern side without permission of his agent was to be deemed -hostile. - -4. He sent Secretary Mason to Washington to lay the pressing need of -funds to meet the expenses of feeding and caring for the non-hostile -Indians before the government, and to enlighten it as to the war and -general situation. - -5. He made effective use of the friendly Indians in scouting operations -against the hostiles, hunting them down in their retreats, and -confirming the fidelity of the doubtful tribes. - -6. He sent agents to Portland, San Francisco, and Victoria, B.C., with -urgent appeals for arms, ammunition, and supplies, and published his -appeal in the San Francisco papers. - -7. He issued territorial scrip, or certificates of indebtedness, to -defray the pay of volunteers and cost of munitions and supplies. - -8. He freely resorted to impressment or seizure of supplies, teams, -etc., whenever necessary. - -9. He appealed to the patriotism and good feeling of the volunteers, but -enforced discipline, and punished misconduct by summary and dishonorable -dismissal of the guilty from the service. - -It is only by bearing in mind the facts that the entire white population -numbered only four thousand souls, of whom the males fit to bear arms -barely equaled the number of volunteers called for; that they were -destitute of arms, ammunition, supplies, money, and credit; discouraged -and wholly on the defensive; denied protection by the regular troops, -who indeed were too few to afford it; and all hope of support and -sympathy from the government, or from outside, blasted by the -denunciations of Wool,--that one can really appreciate the courage and -self-reliance of Governor Stevens in undertaking the task before him. -The ability and self-devotion with which he successfully accomplished -it, and the remarkable spirit and patriotism of the people, who -sustained their leader, and loyally and patiently submitted to these -stringent measures, furnish one of the brightest pages in the history of -the Republic. - -The day after delivering his message, the second after arriving home, -the governor hastened down the Sound to inspect the reservations and -agents, and perfect measures to enforce the removal of the Indians from -the theatre of war. He visited every point of importance on the eastern -side, informed himself thoroughly of the needs and conditions at each, -and returned to Olympia on the 28th. On this trip he secured the aid of -Pat-ka-nim, head chief of the Snohomish, and a force of his warriors, -the first Indian auxiliaries to take the field. - -The Indians attacked Seattle on January 26 in force, destroyed the -larger part of the town, driving the whites to one corner of it, and -were only repulsed in the end by the fire of the United States -man-of-war Decatur, Captain G. Gansevoort. - -The people responded instantly to the governor's manly appeal, with true -American spirit and patriotism. They made haste to enlist _en masse_ in -the volunteer companies, eager to be led against the savage foe. The -refugee settlers banded together in small squads, returned to the -country, erected blockhouses at or near their farms, and held them with -old men and boys. The merchants of San Francisco refused to be misled by -the libels of Wool, and furnished supplies and munitions. Inside of -three weeks eleven companies were raised, equipped, and taking the -field, besides two bodies of Indian auxiliaries. - -A regular and efficient express service was organized throughout the -Territory. An assistant quartermaster and commissary, the two usual -supply departments being united, was stationed in each town and -principal settlement on purpose to collect provisions, transportation, -etc., as well as to provide for the troops. By these skillful measures -the governor so successfully overcame the two great difficulties -attending the prosecution of the war, viz., the vast extent of the -region and the lack of supplies, that the volunteers never had to wait -for orders, nor were they ever put to unnecessary or fruitless marches -or labors; and during all their campaigns on both sides of the Cascade -Mountains, and expeditions of hundreds of miles, they never suffered, -nor lost a day, for lack of supplies. - -The military organization is given below, not only as necessary to a -clear presentation of this part of Governor Stevens's life, but as a -tribute to those patriotic men who so gallantly and faithfully served -and saved the Territory of Washington in her hour of extreme need:-- - - James Tilton, adjutant-general. - - James Doty, William Craig, B.F. Shaw, E.C. Fitzhugh, H. R. Crosby, - Jared S. Hurd, S.S. Ford, Edward Gibson, lieutenant-colonels and - aides. - - W.W. De Lacy, captain of engineers. - - Rudolph M. Walker, ordnance officer. - - Dr. Gallio K. Willard, surgeon and medical purveyor. - - Drs. U.G. Warbass and Albert Eggers, assistant surgeons. - - W.W. Miller, quartermaster and commissary-general. - - James K. Hurd, assistant quartermaster and commissary-general, in - charge on Columbia River. - - Frank Matthias, assistant quartermaster and commissary, Seattle. - - Warren Gove, Steilacoom. - - Charles E. Weed, Olympia. - - R.S. Robinson, Port Townsend. - - M.R. Hathaway, succeeded by M.B. Millard, Vancouver. - - A.H. Robie, Dalles and in the field. - - S.W. Percival was sent as agent to San Francisco. - - - SECOND REGIMENT, RAISED FOR SIX MONTHS. - - Lieutenant-Colonel B.F. Shaw, commanding the right wing, consisting - of Central and Southern battalions. - - Major J.J.H. Van Bokkelen, commanding Northern battalion. - - Major Gilmore Hays, succeeded by Major George Blankenship, Central - battalion. - - Major H.J.G. Maxon, Southern battalion. - - Lieutenant Eustis Huger, adjutant; Lieutenants Humphrey Hill, B.F. - Ruth, W.W. De Lacy, adjutants of Northern, Central, and Southern - battalions respectively. - - Captain C.H. Armstrong, regimental quartermaster and commissary in - field with right wing. - - R.M. Bigelow, Justin Millard, M.P. Burns, surgeons, Northern, - Southern, and Central battalions respectively. - - MOUNTED MEN. - - Company. Strength. Captain. - - C 67 B.L. Henness - D 44 {Achilles - {Jephtha S. Powell - I 40 Bluford Miller - K 101 Francis M.P. Goff - M 53 Henry M. Chase - N 74 {Richards - {James Williams - Washington Mounted Rifles 95 H.J.G. Maxon - Clark County Rangers 81 William Kelly - Walla Walla Company 29 Sidney S. Ford - ---- - 584 - - - INFANTRY. - - A 53 Edward Lander - {Gilmore Hays - B 52 {A.B. Rabbeson - {David E. Burntrager - E 21 C.W. Riley - F 40 C.W. Swindal - G 55 {J.J.H. Van Bokkelen - {Daniel Smalley - H 42 R.V. Peabody - I 35 {Samuel D. Howe - {George W. Beam - L 91 Edward D. Warbass - Train guard 47 Oliver Shead - Pioneer Company 40 {Joseph White - {Urban E. Hicks - Nisqually Ferry Guard 9 Sergeant William Packwood - ---- - 485 - - Stevens Guards 25 C.P. Higgins - Spokane Invincibles 23 B.F. Yantis - - INDIAN AUXILIARIES. - - Nez Perces, Volunteers 70 Chief Spotted Eagle - Snohomish 82 Chiefs Pat-ka-nim and John Taylor - Squaxon 15 Lieutenant Wesley Gosnell - Chehalis 17 Sidney S. Ford - Cowlitz 9 Pierre Charles - ---- - Total 1310 - - The horses used for mounted men were furnished partly by the - government and partly by the volunteers. - - Company M was composed of ten white men and forty-three Nez Perces, - Indians furnishing their own horses. - - Company N was first commanded by Captain Richards, and second by - Captain Williams. - - A portion of the Pioneer Company, after Colonel Shaw's march across - the Cascades, served as mounted men in the Puget Sound country. - - Company B was commanded first by Captain Gilmore Hays, second by - Captain A.B. Rabbeson, and lastly by Captain David E. Burntrager. - - Company E was first commanded by Captain Riley, and second by - Lieutenant Cole. - - Company G was first commanded by Captain Van Bokkelen, and second by - Captain Smalley. - - Company I was first commanded by Captain Howe, and second by Captain - Beam. - -Volunteers called out by Acting-Governor Mason:-- - - FIRST REGIMENT, RAISED FOR THREE MONTHS OR LESS. - - MOUNTED MEN. - - Company. Strength. Captain. - - A 61 William Strong - B 91 Gilmore Hays - E 40 Isaac Hays - F 63 Benjamin L. Henness - K 26 John R. Jackson - Cowlitz Rangers 39 Henry A. Peers - Lewis River Rangers 44 William Bratton - Puget Sound Rangers 36 Charles H. Eaton - ---- - 408 - - INFANTRY. - - Company. Strength. Captain. - - C 70 George B. Goudy - D 55 William H. Wallace - G 22 W.A.L. McCorkle - M 75 C.C. Hewett - I 84 Isaac N. Ebey - J 29 Alfred A. Plummer - Nisqually Ferry Guard 10 Sergeant William Packwood - ---- - 345 - - Newell's Company, mounted Captain Robert Newell - McKay's Company " Captain William C. McKay - - Captain Strong's and Hays's companies were mustered into the regular - service. The mounted men furnished their own horses. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [10] Bancroft, vol. xxvi. p. 143. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII - - WAGING THE WAR ON THE SOUND - - -The force thus speedily raised was organized into three battalions, -designated the Northern, Southern, and Central, each of which elected -its major, and the two latter were subsequently formed into a single -command by the election of Shaw as lieutenant-colonel. - -The Northern battalion, under the command of Major J.J.H. Van Bokkelen, -consisted of companies C, Captain Daniel Smalley; H, Captain R.V. -Peabody; and I, Captain Samuel D. Howe. The Central battalion, under -Major Gilmore Hays, comprised companies B, Captain A.B. Rabbeson; C, -Captain B.L. Henness; E, Captain C.W. Riley; F, Captain C.W. Swindal; -the Pioneer Company, Captain White; and the train guard, Captain Oliver -Shead. The Southern battalion included the Washington Mounted Rifles, -Major H.J.G. Maxon; Company D, Captain Achilles; J, Captain Bluford -Miller; and K, Captain Francis M.P. Goff, all under the command of Major -Maxon. The Southern battalion and Captain Henness's Company C were -mounted, most of the volunteers furnishing their own horses. The others -served as infantry. Besides these, Company A, of forty-two men, Captain -Edward Lander (chief justice of the Territory), was raised at Seattle, -and garrisoned that place. - -The plan of campaign was to guard the line of the Snohomish River with -the whole available force of the Northern battalion, to move with the -Central battalion at once into the heart of the enemy's country with -one hundred days' supplies, to operate with the Southern battalion east -of the Cascades, and to combine all the operations by a movement from -the Sound to the interior, or from the interior to the Sound, according -to circumstances. - -The most favorable and commonly used passes across the Cascades were at -the head of the Snohomish and its southern branch, the Snoqualmie; about -and opposite the mouth of the river were a good part of the Sound -Indians; it was here that the council of Mukilteo was held, at which -twenty-three hundred Indians were present, and across the Sound, nearly -opposite, was collected the greatest number of non-hostiles. The -occupation of the line of the Snohomish, therefore, was a move of the -first strategic importance as shutting the door against the incursions -of the Yakimas, and cutting off the tribes on the Sound from access to -the back country and intercourse with them and other hostiles. - -It was determined to occupy the country permanently by roads and -blockhouses, by which, together with the stockades and blockhouses which -the encouraged settlers were building and holding at many points, to -circumscribe the hostile resorts and coverts, and open up the trackless -back country. Indian auxiliaries were to be used as the best means of -preserving their doubtful fidelity, and of using their knowledge of the -country to search out and hunt down the hostiles. - - [Illustration: THEATRE OF INDIAN WAR OF 1855-56 ON PUGET SOUND AND WEST - OF CASCADE MOUNTAINS] - -This plan the governor early communicated to Lieutenant-Colonel Silas -Casey (major-general in the Civil War), then commanding at Steilacoom, -and invited and secured his cooperation therewith. So desirous was he to -insure cooperation between the regular and volunteer forces that, -waiving etiquette, he twice visited Casey in person; and early in -February he again made the arduous journey to Vancouver, and by -personal conference with Colonel George Wright, who commanded the -regular troops both on the river and the Sound, sought to arrange -harmonious and combined action between their respective forces, -returning to Olympia by the 17th. During the war the governor spared no -pains to consult with the regular officers and secure their concert of -action with him, and this end he brought about quite fully with Casey, -and partially with Wright, notwithstanding both officers were under the -strictest injunctions from Wool not to recognize the volunteer forces in -any way. The letter which Governor Stevens wrote to General Wool on -reaching Walla Walla gave very fully the results of his knowledge of the -country and the Indians, and his views and suggestions in regard to -prosecuting the war, which, if adopted or heeded by the prejudiced -commander, would have brought the contest to an end in a few months. -After announcing his safe arrival, and giving a brief account of the -numbers and dispositions of the Indian tribes, he describes the features -of the Walla Walla, Palouse, Spokane, and Yakima countries which a -military mail should know for planning the movement of troops, namely, -roads, river crossings, grass, wood, depth of snow, etc., sending also a -map. - -The governor recommended Wool to occupy the Walla Walla valley with all -his available force in January, establishing a depot camp there, and a -line of barges on the Columbia between the mouth of the Des Chutes and -old Fort Walla Walla, to bring up supplies; in February to cross Snake -River with 500 men and strike the Indians on the Palouse, where the -hostiles driven out of the valley were congregated; to follow up this -blow by sending a column of 300 men up the left bank of the Columbia -towards the Okinakane River (Okanogan), while 200 remained to guard the -line of the Snake, and keep the Indians from doubling back. The effect -of these movements would be to drive these hostiles across the Columbia -into the Yakima country, when the troops north of the Snake were to -follow them, and all the troops south of that stream, who had been -holding the river crossings and depot camps, were to unite, cross the -Columbia at the mouth of the Snake, and move up the Yakima valley, and -with the other column put the Indians to their last battle, for the -effect of these movements would be to drive the enemy into a corner from -which he could not easily escape. Moreover, and this was of the first -importance, this plan would interpose the troops between the hostile and -friendly tribes. Simultaneous movements against the Yakimas and north of -Snake River would throw the hostiles upon the Spokanes, and might cause -them to take up arms. About 800 effective troops would be required. -There were already 500 mounted Oregon volunteers in the Walla Walla -valley, and Wool had, or would soon have, 500 to 600 regulars available. - -In the last paragraph of this letter the governor stated:-- - - "In conclusion, it is due to frankness that I should state that I - have determined to submit to the department the course taken by the - military authorities in disbanding the troops raised in the - Territory of Washington for my relief. No effort was made, although - the facts were presented both to Major-General Wool and Major Rains, - to send me assistance. The regular troops were all withdrawn into - garrison, and I was left to make my way the best I could, through - tribes known to be hostile. It remains to be seen whether the - commissioner selected by the President to make treaties with the - Indians in the interior of the continent is to be ignored, and his - safety left to chance." - -On finding that General Wool had left so hastily for San Francisco the -governor sent a copy of this memoir to Colonel Wright, with a letter, -dated February 6, urging him to send at least two companies of the -troops at Vancouver to the Sound, and to push his troops against the -Indians east of the mountains. - -But instead of profiting by the valuable information and sound views -given him by Governor Stevens, Wool sarcastically replied that he had -neither the resources of a Territory nor the treasury of the United -States at his command. Instead of making use of, or cooperating with, -the Oregon volunteers already in the Walla Walla valley, he denounced -them as making war upon friendly Indians, and declared that, with the -additional force recently arrived at the Dalles and Vancouver, he could -bring the war to a close in a few months, provided the extermination of -the Indians was not determined upon, and the volunteers were withdrawn -from the Walla Walla valley. He filled the greater part of a long letter -with denunciations of outrages by whites upon Indians in southern -Oregon, and of the Oregon volunteers and of Governor Curry. He declared -that two companies he had just sent to the Sound, with three already -there, making five in all, under Lieutenant-Colonel Casey, would be a -sufficient force to suppress the outbreak in that region. He concluded -by saying:-- - - "In your frankness and determination to represent me to the - department, I trust you will be governed by truth, and by truth - only. I disbanded no troops raised for your relief; and your - communication gave me the first intelligence that any were raised - for such a purpose." - -The bad blood and duplicity of this communication was the more -inexcusable from the facts that it was on the requisition of his own -officers that the Washington volunteers had been raised and mustered -into the United States service, that he made no complaint whatever -against them or the people of that Territory, and that his last -assertion was a downright falsehood. Even after receiving the full and -valuable memoir which Governor Stevens sent him, he declared in official -communications: "I have been kept wholly ignorant of the state of the -country, except through the regular officers of the army." - -On March 15 Wool made another flying visit to Vancouver, thence by -steamer to Steilacoom, where he tarried but a single day, conferred with -and instructed Colonel Casey, rebuked him for cooperating with the -volunteers, and hurried away without deigning to notify the governor of -his presence. The latter, on hearing that he had left Vancouver for the -Sound, immediately dispatched Adjutant-General Tilton to Steilacoom with -a letter to Wool, stating:-- - - "He is instructed to advise you of the plan of operations which I - have adopted, the force in the field, and the condition of the - country. I have to acquaint you of my desire to cooperate with you - in any plans you may think proper to adopt, and I shall be pleased - to hear from you in reference to the prosecution of the campaign." - -But Wool had left before Tilton could reach him. - -The first and only result of Wool's flying visit was manifested next day -in a formal demand by Colonel Casey on Governor Stevens for two -companies of volunteers to be mustered into the United States service, -and placed under his orders. He stated in conclusion:-- - - "I received yesterday an accession of two companies of the 9th - infantry. With this accession of force and the two companies of - volunteers called for, I am of the opinion that I shall have a - sufficient number of troops to protect this frontier without the aid - of those now in the service of the Territory." - -This demand was made just after the volunteers had defeated the -hostiles, as will soon be narrated. - -Thus, instead of the cooperation which he so earnestly sought with the -regular service, he was coolly required by the commanding general to -disband thirteen companies of white troops and four bodies of Indian -auxiliaries, abandon his posts and blockhouses defending the settlements -and in the enemy's country, leave the door of the Snohomish open for the -Yakima emissaries to strike the reservations and the settlements,--in a -word, give up his whole campaign at the moment when he had inflicted a -severe defeat upon the enemy, and, fully prepared, was on the eve of -following it up with his whole force, all posted in the very positions, -and furnished with the needed supplies, which he had secured by so much -labor and foresight, and to leave the defense of this extended and -exposed frontier to an officer whose force would consist of only five -companies of regulars and two of volunteers,--seven in all,--and whose -most extended operations thus far had never gone beyond fifteen miles -from his headquarters at Fort Steilacoom. This artful and impudent -request of Wool--for Colonel Casey made it by his instructions--was -instantly rejected by the governor with the scorn it deserved; and in a -letter to Wool, dated March 20, he administered a well-deserved -castigation to that ill-disposed officer:-- - - EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, - OLYMPIA, March 20, 1856. - - MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN E. WOOL, - _Commanding Pacific Division_. - - _Sir_,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your - communication of the 12th of February, and to state generally in - answer thereto that the events of the past four weeks, in connection - with your own official course, afford satisfactory evidence that the - most objectionable positions of your letter have been abandoned, and - that you have finally been awakened to the true condition of the - Indian war, and are seeking to make some amends for the unfortunate - blunders of the past. You have probably learned how much you have - been misled in your views of the operations of the Oregon - volunteers, and how much unnecessary sympathy you have wasted on - the infamous Pu-pu-mox-mox. For your own reputation I have felt pain - at the statement made in your letter to me, for I am an - authoritative witness in the case; and in the letter which submitted - your own action in refusing to send me succor, I have presented - briefly the facts, showing the unmitigated hostility of that chief. - I assert that I can prove by incontrovertible evidence that - Pu-pu-mox-mox had been hostile for months; that he exerted his - influence to effect a general combination of the tribes; that he - plundered Walla Walla and the settlers of the valley, distributing - the spoils to his own and the neighboring tribes as war trophies; - that he rejected the intercession of the friendly Nez Perces to - continue peaceful; that he had sworn to take my life and cut off my - party; that he and the adjoining tribes of Oregon and Washington had - taken up their military position as warriors at the proper points of - the Walla Walla valley,--and all this before the volunteers of - Oregon moved upon him.... - - That some turbulent men of the Oregon volunteers have done injury to - the friendly Cuyuses is unquestionable, and it is reprobated by the - authorities and citizens of both Territories. It has, however, been - grossly exaggerated. Had, sir, the regulars moved up to the Walla - Walla valley, as I most earnestly urged both Major Rains and Colonel - Wright both by letter and in person, these Indians would have been - protected. The presence of a single company would have been - sufficient. The responsibility, if evil follows, will attach, sir, - to you, as well as to the volunteers. - - In your letter of the 12th of February you state: "I have recently - sent to Puget Sound two companies of the 9th infantry. These, with - the three companies there, will give a force of nearly or quite four - hundred regulars, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Casey. This force, - with several ships of war on the Sound, to which will be added in a - few days the United States steamer Massachusetts, it seems to me, if - rightly directed, ought to be sufficient to bring to terms two - hundred Indian warriors. Captain Keyes, in his last report, says - there are not quite two hundred in arms in that region." - - Here you have expressed a very confident opinion. You thought proper - to quote Captain Keyes as to the number of Indians, but you found - it did not suit your purpose to refer to the requisitions he had - made upon you for six additional companies, two of which only had - been sent forward; nor could you find time to refer to the fact that - Colonel Casey had recommended that, after the war was over, eight - companies should be permanently stationed there for the protection - of the Sound. - - You think volunteers entirely unnecessary, although after having - received from the executive information as to the condition of the - country. It is now March, a month later, and you send two companies - of regulars, and direct Colonel Casey to call upon me for two - additional companies of volunteers. - - Thus you have practically acknowledged that you were wrong, and that - I was right; and thus I have your testimony as against yourself in - vindication of the necessity of my calling out volunteers. As - regards this call for volunteers, it is presumed that Colonel Casey - informed you that the whole available force of the Sound country was - bearing arms, and that the great proportion of them were actively - engaging the enemy; that, organized in two battalions, the Northern - battalion occupied the line of the Snohomish, where they were - establishing blockhouses and closing the passes of the Snoqualmie. - - That the Central battalion was occupying the military road over the - Nahchess, in relation to which road and its military bearing your - aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Arnold, will be able to give you full - information; and that on both lines decisive blows had been struck; - and also that it was beyond the ability of our citizens to raise an - additional company of even fifty men to honor your requisition. - - I have a right to hold you to a full knowledge of our condition - here. If you say you were misinformed, then you are not fit for your - position, and should give place to a better man. If you were - informed, then your measures as a military man manifest an - incapacity beyond example. - - Therefore the call on me for two companies of volunteers is a call - upon me to withdraw the troops now in the field with sixty to eighty - days' provisions, after decisive blows have been struck, and when - everything is ready to strike a, and perhaps _the_, decisive blow to - end the war. - - I am, sir, too old a soldier ever to abandon a well-considered plan - of campaign, or to do otherwise than to press forward with all my - energies in the path marked out, promising, as it does, the speedy - termination of the war; and, sir, I am too wary a man not to detect - the snare that has been laid for me. You never expected, sir, that - the requisition would be complied with. You knew that it was a - practical impossibility; but, not having the courage to acknowledge - your errors, it was resorted to in the hope that my refusing your - requisition might enable you to occupy my vantage-ground, and throw - me on the defensive. I hold you, sir, to the facts and necessity of - the case, clearly demonstrating by your own confession the propriety - of my course, and the necessity on my part of a steady adherence to - it. - - You have referred to the atrocities committed upon the friendly - Indians by the whites. I know nothing of what has occurred in - southern Oregon; but I have to state that no man, to my knowledge, - in the Territory of Washington advocates the extermination of the - Indians. The authorities here have not only used every exertion to - protect them, but their exertions have been completely successful. - Did you learn, sir, in your brief visit to the Sound, that nearly - four thousand Indians--friendly Indians--had been moved from the war - ground on the eastern shore of the Sound and its vicinity to the - adjacent islands, and have for nearly five months been living in - charge of local agents? That not an Indian in the whole course of - the war has been killed by the whites except in battle? That where a - military commission, composed of a majority of volunteer officers, - tried some months since eight Indians, only one was convicted, and - that the sentence of death passed upon him has not yet been - executed? It is the good conduct of our people, sir, that has so - strengthened the hands of the authorities as to enable them to - control these friendly Indians, and to prevent any considerable - accessions to the ranks of the hostiles. - - I have recently heard from the Nez Perces, the Coeur d'Alenes, and - the Spokanes. The former are firm in their allegiance; but the - Spokanes urge me to have a military force on the great prairie - between them and the hostile Indians, so these latter may not be - driven to their country, and thus incite their young men to war. The - letter of Garry, chief of the Spokanes, is a most earnest and - plaintive call for help, so his hands may be strengthened in keeping - his people to their plighted faith; and the coincidence is - remarkable, that this Indian chief, a white man in education and - views in life, should have asked me to do the very thing I have - urged upon you; for you will remember, in my memoir I urge that the - troops, in operating against the Indians, should be interposed - between the friendly and hostile tribes to prevent those now - friendly from joining in the war. I have, sir, studied the character - of these Indians, and my views as to the influence upon the friendly - Indians of the mode of carrying on the war against the hostiles are - confirmed by the only educated Indian of either Oregon or - Washington, and the head chief of the tribe in reference to which I - made the recommendation and felt the most solicitude. - - It seems to me that the present condition of things imposes upon you - the necessity of recognizing the services of the volunteers of the - two Territories now in the field, and of your doing everything to - facilitate their operations. But if you waste your exertions in the - fruitless effort to induce either the authorities to withdraw their - troops, to abandon their plan of campaign in order to comply with - your requisition, or to meet your peculiar notions, I warn you now, - sir, that I, as the governor of Washington, will cast upon you the - whole responsibility of any difficulties which may arise in - consequence, and that by my firm, steady, and energetic course, and - by my determination to cooperate with the regular service, whatever - may be the provocation to the contrary, I will vindicate the justice - of my course, and maintain my reputation as a faithful public - servant. I warn you, sir, that, unless your course is changed, you - will have difficulties in relation to which your only salvation will - be the firm and decided policy of the two Territories whose services - you have ignored, whose people you have calumniated, and whose - respect you have long since ceased to possess. - - Can you presume, sir, to be able to correct your opinions by a hasty - visit to the Sound for a few days? And do you expect, after having - taken my deliberate course, that I shall change my plans on a simple - intimation from you, without even a conference between us? Were you - desirous, sir, to harmonize the elements of strength on the Sound, - you would have seen that it was your duty at least to have informed - me of your presence, and to have invited me to a conference. - - Whilst in the country, in the fall and winter, you complained that - the authorities of the two Territories did not communicate with you. - Why did you not inform me of your presence in the Sound on your - arrival at Steilacoom? I learned of your probable arrival by simply - learning on Saturday morning by my express of your having left - Vancouver, and I immediately dispatched the chief of my staff to - wait upon you with a letter. But you were gone; and whether you did - not know the courtesy due the civil authorities of the Territory, - who had taken the proper course to place themselves in relations - with you, or whether you were unwilling to meet a man whose safety - you had criminally neglected, and whose general views you have been - compelled to adopt, is a matter entirely immaterial to me. - - What, sir, would have been the effect if Governor Curry had not made - the movement which you condemn, and my party with the friendly Nez - Perces had been cut off? Sir, there would have been a hurricane of - war between the Cascades and Bitter Root, and three thousand - warriors would now be in arms. Every tribe would have joined, - including the Snakes, and the spirit of hostility would have spread - east of the Bitter Root to the upper Pend Oreilles. - - I believe, sir, I would have forced my way through the five or six - hundred hostiles in the Walla Walla valley with fifty-odd white men - and one hundred and fifty Nez Perces. Would you have expected it? - Could the country expect it? And what was the duty of those having - forces at their command? Governor Curry sent his volunteers and - defeated the enemy. You disbanded the company of Washington - Territory volunteers raised expressly to be sent to my relief. - - I have reported your refusal to send me succor to the Department of - War, and have given some of the circumstances attending that - refusal. The company was under the command of Captain William McKay. - Before your arrival there was a pledge that it should be mustered - into the regular service and sent to my assistance. Major Rains - informs me that he did everything in his power to induce you to send - it on. William McKay informs me that he called on you personally, - and that you would do nothing. I am informed that your aide-de-camp, - Lieutenant Arnold, endeavored to get you to change your - determination. What was your reply? "Governor Stevens can take care - of himself. Governor Stevens will go down the Missouri. Governor - Stevens will get aid from General Harney. If Governor Stevens wants - aid, he will send for it." These were your answers, according to the - changing humor of the moment. - - And now, sir, in view of your assertion that you disbanded no troops - raised for my relief, and that my communication gave you the first - intelligence that any were raised for that purpose, I would commend - the chalice to your own lips, "that I trust you will be governed" - hereafter "by the truth, and the truth only." - - I am, sir, very respectfully, - - Your obedient servant, - - ISAAC I. STEVENS, - _Governor, Washington Territory_. - -Unable to answer this letter, which so clearly exposed and justly -rebuked his reprehensible course and conduct, Wool returned it, with a -note from his aide stating that it was done by his order. In response -the governor, in a final letter to Wool, remarks of this act:-- - - "It can only be construed as evincing a determination on your part - to have no further official communication with the executive of the - Territory of Washington, at the very time when, from the - circumstances of the case and the nature of their respective duties, - there should, and must often be, such communications. - - "It is a matter which is not to be decided by personal feeling, but - by consideration of public duty, which alone should govern public - acts. I shall therefore continue in my official capacity to - communicate with the major-general commanding the Department of the - Pacific whenever, in my judgment, duty and the paramount interests - of the Territory shall demand such communication to be made, casting - upon that officer whatever responsibility before the country and his - superiors may attach to his refusal to receive such communications. - My duty shall be done. Let others do their duty." - -The governor was always of the opinion, the result undoubtedly of what -he was told by other officers, that, in disbanding the troops raised for -his relief, Wool was actuated by resentment at his, the governor's, -manly declaration in San Francisco, when, disgusted at Wool's -self-laudation and disparagement of a greater commander, he said that -"every officer knew, and history would record, that General Taylor won -the battle of Buena Vista." However that may be, after the caustic -letter given above, Wool's malice knew no bounds. He redoubled his -accusations of making war upon friendly Indians, gathered up and sent on -to the War Department in his official reports newspaper slanders against -the governor, and even declared that he was crazy. He reiterated his -orders to his subordinates to have nothing to do with the territorial -volunteers or authorities, and finally went to the length of directing -his officers to disarm the volunteers, if practicable. No attempt was -ever made in that direction. - -Early in February Pat-ka-nim, with eighty Snohomish braves, accompanied -by Colonel Simmons, pushed up the Snohomish and against the hostiles on -Green River under Leschi, the Nisqually chief, and defeated them in a -sharp fight, inflicting a loss of five killed and six wounded, besides -two taken and executed. - -As fast as organized, the Northern battalion was advanced on the line of -the Snohomish, where it built blockhouses and a camp known as Fort -Tilton below the Snoqualmie Falls, and Fort Alden above them, and -scouted the surrounding country. This battalion also established a -blockhouse, with a garrison of fifteen men, at Bellingham Bay, and with -blockhouses on Whitby Island and at Point Wilson, near Port Townsend, -and a service of small vessels and canoes, kept watch over the lower -Sound. - -The Central battalion, having been assembled on Yelm prairie, twenty -miles east of Olympia, and constructed there Fort Stevens, moved to and -built Camp Montgomery, twelve miles back of Steilacoom, February 19 to -23; the post and ferry at the emigrant crossing of the Puyallup, 25th to -29th; and the post and blockhouses, named Fort Hays, on Connell's -prairie, on White River, by March 2; and later two blockhouses at the -crossing of that river, named Forts Pike and Posey. Small garrisons held -this line of blockhouses; roads were cut and opened through the forest; -and a train of thirty ox-teams, three yoke each, bought, hired, or -impressed from the settlers, hauled out a hundred days' supplies. -Captain Henness's mounted rangers cheerfully dismounted, and, leaving -their horses at Yelm prairie, advanced on foot. The governor visited -Camp Montgomery on the 28th, pressing forward the movement. - -Captain Sidney S. Ford, with a force of friendly Chehalis Indians, -scouted the lower Puyallup. Lieutenant-Colonel Casey advanced a -detachment of regulars to the Muckleshoot prairie, eight miles below -Connell's prairie, where they built a blockhouse named Fort Slaughter. - -The government vessels on the Sound were the war steamer Massachusetts, -Captain Samuel Swartwout, which remained mostly in Seattle harbor, where -she relieved the Decatur; the Coast Survey steamer Active, Captain James -Alden; and the revenue cutter Jefferson Davis, a sailing vessel, Captain -William C. Pease. These officers were ever ready to aid in the defense -of the settlements by every means in their power. They furnished -ammunition, transported volunteers and supplies, and cruised the Sound -to overawe the northern Indians. - -On March 2 two white men were killed by Indians within a few miles of -Olympia; Indians were seen and stock was driven off at other points; a -band of savages under Qui-e-muth were discovered in the Nisqually -bottom; and it appeared that, while the troops were pushing out, the -Indians were coming in behind them to raid the settlements. Unwilling to -arrest the forward movement, the governor immediately ordered Maxon's -company, of the Southern battalion, over to the Sound from Vancouver, -and soon after brought over the rest of the battalion. By a special war -notice he also called a hundred more men from the already denuded -settlements, and, with the few that were able to respond, strengthened -the exposed points. - -On March 6 Colonel Casey's troops on Muckleshoot prairie had a sharp -fight with the enemy. On the 10th Major Hays, with 110 men of his -Central battalion, fought the principal and decisive battle of the war -on the Sound, known as the battle of Connell's prairie. It was brought -on by the Indians, who, emboldened by their previous successes, fought -for five hours with a confidence and stubbornness that enabled the -volunteers to inflict severe losses upon them. They were finally routed -by a charge on their left flank by Captains Swindal and Rabbeson, and a -simultaneous attack in front by Captains Henness and White, with a loss -of twenty-five or thirty killed and many wounded. They even abandoned -their war-drum in their flight. Major Hays, who handled his command with -skill and judgment as well as courage, reported that they numbered at -least two hundred warriors. It afterwards appeared that their numbers -were much larger, and that they were aided in the fight by a hundred -Yakima warriors. - -The fruits of Governor Stevens's thorough preparations were now -manifested by incessant blows and untiring, unsparing warfare. The -Indians were allowed no respite from attack, and could find no refuge, -even in the densest swamps and thickets. The Central battalion sent out -strong parties to beat up the country of the White, Green, Cedar, and -Puyallup rivers to the base of the mountains. Major Van Bokkelen, with -Captain Smalley's Company G, forty-six men, and seventy-six of -Pat-ka-nim's braves, swept the forests from the Snohomish to Connell's -prairie, thence up the mountain to the Nahchess Pass, thence northward -along the foot of the range to his own northern line, and thence into -and over the Snoqualmie passes. Captain Sidney Ford with his Chehalis -Indians, and agent Wesley Gosnell with a party of friendly, or pretended -friendly, Indians from the Squaxon reservation--own brothers to the -hostiles these--scoured the swamps and bottoms of the Puyallup and -Nisqually; Lieutenant Pierre Charles, with a force of Cowlitz and -Chehalis Indians, scouted up the Cowlitz and Newarkum rivers, and -captured a number of the enemy. The ladies of Olympia, under the lead of -Mrs. Stevens, made blue caps with red facings, with which these red -allies were equipped, to distinguish them from their hostile kindred. -Another company was called out and organized among the settlers of the -Cowlitz plains under Captain E.D. Warbass, which built a blockhouse on -Klikitat prairie, twelve miles higher up the Cowlitz, and also kept -scouting parties constantly on the move. Major Maxon and his company -scouted and searched the whole length of the Nisqually valley far into -the range, leaving their horses and plunging into the tangled forests on -foot, and on one of their scouts killed eight and brought in fourteen -captives of the enemy. Miller's and Achilles's companies joined in the -work, while Goff was sent back to the river to increase his strength to -a hundred, and, with another company to be raised there,--N, Captain -Richards,--to rendezvous at the Dalles in readiness for operations in -the upper country. - -The governor urged Captain Swartwout to unite with Captain Lander's -company, by furnishing a detachment and boats from the Massachusetts, in -routing out the Indians who infested the shores of Lake Washington; and -when the naval officer declined, Captains Howe and Peabody led -detachments of the Northern battalion from the Snohomish down through -the unknown and trackless forest, and beat up the shores of the lake. -Lander's Company A was posted on the Duwhamish River, a few miles from -Seattle, where it built a blockhouse, and from which point Lieutenant -Neely led a party in a canoe expedition up Black River into the lake, -and fell upon a camp of the hostiles just after it had been abandoned, -which was found filled with remains of cattle, stores, and goods -recently plundered from Seattle and the settlers. Colonel Casey, after -being reinforced by the two companies brought over from Vancouver, -established a post higher up on White River, from which, and from his -post on Muckleshoot prairie, parties scouted the surrounding forest. -Every blockhouse with its little garrison, every armed train and express -and canoe, as well as the numerous scouting parties, was constantly -watching and searching for hostile Indians, and, worse than all, their -own kindred, of whom Shaw declared "blankets will turn any Indian on the -side of the whites," now joined in the hunt, and, stimulated by rewards -offered for the heads of the hostile chiefs and warriors, showed the way -to all their secret haunts and trails. The tide had, indeed, turned, -after two months of this unrelenting warfare, and nearly every tribe on -the Sound now freely proffered its assistance. The northern Indians, -also, tendered their services, which were declined, excepting eight men, -who joined the Northern battalion, and proved themselves uncommonly -brave, strong, and hardy soldiers. - -Thus the whole tangled region, with its dense forests and almost -impenetrable swamps, from the Snohomish to the Cowlitz, nearly two -hundred miles, was beaten up, the Indian resorts and hiding-places -searched out, and their trails discovered and explored, especially those -across the mountain passes, many of which were now for the first time -made known to the whites. The whole policy and plan of campaign were -Governor Stevens's, and the execution almost entirely the work of his -brave and patriotic volunteers. The governor had, indeed, brought about -a real concert of action with Colonel Casey by his frank and considerate -treatment of that officer, but the regular forces kept within a very -short tether of Fort Steilacoom. - -It was in the midst of the rainy season that this aggressive campaign -was waged. So impracticable and unwise was it deemed by the brave and -excellent Major Hays that he remonstrated with the governor against -exposing the volunteers to such hardships, and, finding him inexorable, -resigned rather than undertake it, as also did two officers of his -former company. Amid constant rains and swollen streams the volunteers -thridded the dripping forests, where every shaken bough drenched the -toiling soldiers with another shower-bath, following some dim trail, or -oftener cutting or forcing their way through the trackless woods,--heavy -packs of blankets and rations on their backs, the axe in one hand and -the rifle in the other. Scarcely would they return from one scout when -they would be ordered out again. To every demand the volunteers -responded with the greatest alacrity, spirit, and fortitude. The mounted -men without a murmur left their horses and took to the woods as foot -scouts. The Southern battalion, enlisting with the expectation of -campaigning on the plains of the upper country, instantly and without a -murmur obeyed the order summoning them to the Sound, to the discomforts -and hardships of the rains and forests and swamps. The settlers freely -turned out with their teams of oxen, and the storekeepers furnished -blankets, clothing, shoes, and provisions to the extent of their -ability. - -On March 26, just as the campaign was well under way, the Yakimas and -Klikitats swooped down upon the Cascades portage on the Columbia, which -was left insufficiently guarded by Colonel Wright with a force of only -nine regular soldiers in a blockhouse, and massacred nineteen settlers, -and killed one soldier and wounded two others. Colonel Wright, who was -at the Dalles preparing an expedition for the Yakima country, -immediately proceeded to the Cascades with a strong force of regular -troops, and the Indians disappeared. Satisfied that the friendly Indians -in that vicinity were implicated in the attack, he caused ten of them, -including the chief, to be summarily tried by military commission and -hanged, an act which, if committed by the territorial authorities or -volunteers, would have caused redoubled denunciations on the part of -Wool and his parasites, but which, done by this regular officer, excited -no comment. This affair at the Cascades is also of interest as being -General P.H. Sheridan's debut in the art of war. - -The massacre at the Cascades excited new alarm among the settlers about -Vancouver and along the Columbia. To reassure them, and keep them from -abandoning their farms, the governor called out another company of -volunteers under Captain William Kelly, known as the Clark County -Rangers, caused several new blockhouses to be built, and had the rangers -constantly patrol the settlements. It was at this time, and largely in -consequence of the Cascades massacre, that he called out Captain -Warbass's company, for he deemed it essential that the settlers should -not again abandon their farms. He also wrote Colonel Wright proposing a -"thorough understanding between the regular and volunteer service, so -their joint efforts may be applied to the protection of the settlements -and the prosecution of the war," in order that no force need be wasted, -and inviting his suggestions to that end. But Colonel Wright, although -personally ready to cooperate like Colonel Casey, was under the -strictest orders from Wool in no way to recognize the volunteers. In his -reply to the governor he simply stated what he was doing, and proposing -to do, without venturing any suggestions. In truth, between the governor -and his volunteers, who were so efficiently protecting the settlements -and attacking the common foe, on the one hand, and his irate commanding -general, who had positively ordered him to ignore the territorial -authorities and forces, on the other, Colonel Wright was in something of -a quandary, and it must be confessed that he conducted himself with no -little diplomatic skill. - -For two months after the fight of Connell's prairie, Governor Stevens -kept his whole force thus incessantly searching the forests and hunting -down the hostiles with unrelenting vigor. The Indians, thrown completely -on the defensive, did not commit another depredation after the Cascades -disaster on all that long line of exposed and scattered settlements. -They were driven and chased from resort to resort; their most hidden -camps and caches of provisions were discovered and destroyed; many were -killed or captured; and by the middle of May over five hundred came in -and gave themselves up, while the guilty chiefs and warriors fled across -the Cascades and sought refuge among their Yakima kindred. The -surrendered were placed on the reservations with the friendly Indians, -except a number of suspected murderers, who were tried by military -commissions; but very few were found guilty for lack of evidence, and -they were also sent to join their people on the reservations. It was not -the governor's policy to punish them for taking part in the war, or -fights only, but he deemed it essential to the future peace of the -country that the murderers of settlers and chief instigators of the -outbreak should be punished, and believed that if they were allowed to -escape scot free they would stir up trouble again. - -Thus the war west of the Cascades was ended by the complete surrender or -flight of the hostiles. - -In June the posts and blockhouses built by the volunteers on Puyallup -and White rivers, Connell's prairie, and Camp Montgomery were turned -over to the regulars, and the volunteers who were not required for an -expedition east of the Cascades were disbanded in July. - -After the suppression of hostilities on the Sound, becoming satisfied -that the reservations set apart at the treaty of Medicine Creek were -inadequate for the Nisquallies and Puyallups, Governor Stevens held a -council with these Indians on Fox Island on August 4, and arranged with -them to give them, in place of those established by the treaty, a larger -reservation for the former tribe on the Nisqually River, a few miles -above its mouth, embracing some excellent bottom land, and for the -latter twenty-one thousand acres of the finest alluvial land at the -mouth of the Puyallup River. At the same time a smaller reservation was -given the Duwhamish Indians on the Muckleshoot prairie. The Puyallup -reservation included thirteen donation claims taken by white settlers, -but the governor had these appraised by a commission which he appointed -for the purpose, and its awards, amounting to some five thousand -dollars, were paid by Congress. On his recommendation the President, by -executive order, promptly established the new reservations, in pursuance -of the sixth article of the treaty, which empowered him to take such -action. The Indians have remained in undisturbed possession of them ever -since. When the Northern Pacific Railroad Company fixed its terminus at -Tacoma in 1874, it cast covetous eyes upon this noble tract of land -situated across the bay, right opposite the proposed city, and the -author, then its attorney in Washington Territory, was instructed to -examine and report upon the validity of the Indian title to it. His -report satisfied the officers of the company that the right of the -Indians to their reservation was indisputable. - -Much of the success attending Governor Stevens's prosecution of the -Indian war was due to the able and energetic men he called to his aid as -staff officers. He especially commended General W.W. Miller as having -imparted "extraordinary efficiency to the quartermaster's and commissary -department, the most difficult of all,--which, generally kept distinct, -was a single department in our service,--reflecting the highest capacity -and devotion to the public service upon its chief and subordinate -officers." It was General Miller who collected, largely by impressment, -organized, and led out into the Indian country the large ox-train which -hauled out three months' supplies for the volunteers in the beginning of -the campaign, without which it could not have been waged. He was -distinguished by remarkable sound sense and judgment, and the governor -counseled with and relied upon him more than any other. And after the -Indian war General Miller was his closest friend in the Territory. The -governor also took occasion to make special acknowledgment to General -Tilton for his services as adjutant-general, where his military -experience was of great value. It is much to be regretted that the -limits of this work preclude the detailed mention of their services, -which they so well merit; but the remarkable success of their -departments is their best encomium. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX - - THE WAR IN THE UPPER COUNTRY - - -While the war of the Sound was thus vigorously and successfully -prosecuted, operations east of the Cascades were marked by lack of vigor -and purpose, and no impression was made upon the hostile tribes, except -to encourage them to continue on the war-path. The Oregon volunteers, -who wintered in the Walla Walla valley, crossed Snake River in March, -advanced a short distance up the Palouse, then traversed the country -over to the Columbia below Priest's Rapids, from which point they -returned to Walla Walla, and in May moved back to the Dalles and were -disbanded. Thus it will be seen how easy it would have been for the -regular forces, supporting and supplementing this movement of the Oregon -volunteers across Snake River, to have made the effective campaign that -Governor Stevens outlined to Wool. With a little reinforcement, the -volunteers could have pushed beyond Priest's Rapids up the left bank of -the Columbia, driving the hostiles across the river into the Yakima -country, when the main columns of regulars, entering that country from -the Dalles and up the Yakima River, could have "put the hostiles to -their last battle." - -But it was not until May that Colonel Wright marched from the Dalles -into the Yakima country with five companies of regulars. He found the -hostiles in strong force on the Nahchess River, one of the upper -tributaries of the Yakima. Instead of fighting, he stopped to parley -with them; but after a week of talking to no purpose, he sent back for -reinforcements. - -At this juncture, the hostile Indians on the Sound having been -thoroughly subdued, and those of the upper country being still in -unbroken strength and confidence, Governor Stevens, on May 28, proposed -to Lieutenant-Colonel Casey a joint movement of their respective forces -across the Cascades:-- - - "I would suggest your sending three companies to the Nahchess, - retaining one at or near the pass, and advancing the others into the - Yakima country. - - "At the same time I will put my whole mounted force through the - Snoqualmie Pass and down the main Yakima. The Northern battalion - shall occupy posts on the line of the Snoqualmie from the falls to - the eastern slope. A depot shall be established on the eastern - slope; all the horsemen will then be available to strike and pursue - the enemy." - -But Casey, strictly forbidden by Wool to recognize the volunteers, sent -two companies under Major Garnett to reinforce Wright by the circuitous -Cowlitz and Columbia route, declining to "send him across the Nahchess -Pass, for the reason, first, I consider there would be too much delay in -getting across. In the next place, I have not sufficient transportation -to spare for that purpose." From Steilacoom to Wright's camp on the -Nahchess was barely a hundred miles by the direct route across the pass; -by the Cowlitz-Columbia route it was three hundred and fifteen miles, -for a hundred and fifteen of which the troops could be transported by -water, leaving two hundred to march. By these facts, and by the ease and -celerity of Shaw's march a few days later over the rejected route, the -validity and candor of Casey's "reason" may be judged. - -Such a combined movement would have given Wright ample reinforcements, -and in the mounted volunteers the very arm he most needed; for infantry -could never reach the Indians on those plains in summer unless the -latter chose to fight. And for the second time he was given the -opportunity, by availing himself of the cooperation of the volunteers, -to inflict a severe punishment upon the enemy. Unhappily Wool's orders -tied his hands, and Wright himself was imbued with Wool's delusion that -the Indians of the upper country--the great hostile tribes that had -plotted and brought on the war fresh from treacherously signing the -treaties at Walla Walla, had murdered the miners and agent Bolon, and -had plundered Fort Walla Walla, and laid themselves in wait to cut off -Governor Stevens and his party--were innocent and peaceably disposed -Indians, who had been forced to war by the aggressions of the whites. - -Upon Casey's rejection or evasion of the joint operation he proposed, -Governor Stevens determined to push his mounted men across the -mountains, and throw upon that officer the burden of protecting the -settlements upon the Sound against hostile incursions. Accordingly he -offered to turn over to him his posts on the Puyallup, and on Connell's -and South prairies, and the colonel received and occupied them, for -which he was censured and rebuked by Wool as soon as the latter was -informed of it. The governor was convinced that the war could be brought -to a close only by subduing the hostile tribes of the upper country; -that until this was done the Sound country was liable to their raids and -stirring up of fresh outbreaks among the Sound Indians; and that every -day's delay in striking them was helping Kam-i-ah-kan and his emissaries -in winning over the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, and disaffected Nez -Perces to their side. He also deemed it necessary to send supplies and -Indian goods to Craig and Lawyer, and strengthen their hands in keeping -the Nez Perces loyal, now left more exposed by the withdrawal of the -Oregon volunteers from the Walla Walla valley. He proceeded, therefore, -to carry out his plans, cherished from the beginning, of striking a -blow in the upper country. - -On June 12 Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw marched from Camp Montgomery with one -hundred and seventy-five mounted men of the Central and Southern -battalions, under their respective majors, Blankenship and Maxon, -comprising Captain Henness's Company C, Maxon's Washington Mounted -Rifles, Company D, under Lieutenant Powell, Captain Miller's Company J, -and a pack-train of twenty-seven packers and one hundred and seven pack -animals, under Captain C.H. Armstrong, the regimental quartermaster and -commissary. On the 20th he reached the Wenass branch of the Yakima, with -the loss of only one animal, finding the road good for a mountain road. -Colonel Wright was still parleying with the Yakimas, trying to patch up -a peace, and not only with them, but also with Leschi, Kitsap, Stahi, -Nelson, and Qui-e-muth, the hostile chiefs who had fled from the Sound -country, and would vouchsafe no information or suggestion to the -volunteer colonel, except the statement that the regular troops were -amply sufficient for the Yakima. Shaw therefore continued his march, -crossed the Columbia at old Fort Walla Walla, and reached and made camp -on Mill Creek, in the valley, on the 9th of July. - -Having seen the necessary arrangements made, and orders given for Shaw's -march, the governor hastened in person to the Dalles, arriving there -June 12, where he had already assembled Captains Goff's and Richards's -companies, in anticipation of operating in the upper country. - -He had previously, on April 27, inquired of Colonel Wright if he -intended to occupy the Walla Walla valley, and if, in case it were not -occupied, and the Oregon volunteers there were withdrawn, he could -furnish an escort of one company to guard the train to the Nez Perce -country. To this Wright replied that it was no part of his plan of -campaign to occupy the Walla Walla country, "as we are assured that the -Indians in that district are peacefully inclined," and that the matter -of an escort was referred to General Wool, which, of course, was -equivalent to refusal. The governor, on receiving this reply, at once -wrote Wright:-- - - "My information in regard to the Indians in the Walla Walla, and on - the Snake River, is that they are determined to prosecute the war. - This was the declaration made by the prominent chiefs of the Cuyuses - to the express of Mr. McDonald some weeks since. This is the opinion - of my agent in the Nez Perce country and of the Nez Perce chiefs, - and it would seem to be indicated by the recent attack by the - Indians on the volunteers at the Umatilla. - - "I have therefore thought it my duty to communicate these views, and - I will suggest that you receive with great caution any information - of their peaceful intention, to the end that you may not be thrown - off your guard." - -Thus Wright was fixed in the opinion that these Indians were peaceably -disposed, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. He ignored the -information and views given him by Governor Stevens, who, as -Superintendent of Indian Affairs, was especially charged with the care -and management of them; the information furnished by the Hudson Bay -Company's officer at Colville; the opinions of the Nez Perce chiefs and -agent Craig; and even a recent attack actually made upon a post of -Oregon volunteers on the Umatilla. - -The governor now notified Wright of Shaw's march and orders to cooperate -with him:-- - - "His orders are to cooperate with you in removing the seat of war - from the base of the mountains to the interior, and for reasons - affecting the close of the war on the Sound obvious to all persons. - - "He will then push to the Walla Walla valley, crossing the Columbia - at Fort Walla Walla. - - "The supplies and escort for the Walla Walla will move from the - Dalles on Friday morning. - - "The Walla Walla valley must be occupied immediately, to prevent the - extension of the war into the interior. - - "Kam-i-ah-kan has, since your arrival on the Nahchess, made every - exertion to induce the tribes thus far friendly to join in the war. - He has flattered the Spokanes, where he was on the 25th of May, and - has endeavored to browbeat the Nez Perces. The Spokanes have - answered in the negative, and the Nez Perces will, I am satisfied, - continue friendly. - - "I am ready, as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to take charge - of any Indians that may be reported by yourself as having changed - their condition from hostility to peace. - - "From all I can gather, I presume your views and my own do not - differ as to the terms which should be allowed the Indians, viz., - unconditional submission, and the rendering up of murderers and - instigators of the war to punishment. - - "I will, however, respectfully put you on your guard in reference to - Leschi, Nelson, Kitsap, and Qui-e-muth, from the Sound, and suggest - that no arrangement be made which shall save their necks from the - executioner." - -But the governor's wise and patriotic efforts to secure cooperation, and -this fine opportunity to strike the enemy a crushing blow, were -frustrated by Wright's pacific attitude and the cold shoulder he turned -to Shaw. It was indeed hard to induce concert of action, especially -aggressive action, between authorities who knew the Indians as hostile -and murderous, and to be subdued only by defeat and punishment, and -officers who regarded them as wronged, and deserving to be made peace -with and protected. Thus Wool's pernicious and inexcusable views and -orders paralyzed the campaign of his subordinate, who shared his -delusion. - -The governor remained at the Dalles some two weeks, combining and -expediting the movements of his two columns to the Walla Walla valley, -and gaining the latest information from the Indian country, and returned -to Olympia June 30. - -On this trip the governor summarily dismissed a quartermaster at -Vancouver for dishonest conduct, and the incident was made the subject -of a caricature by John Phoenix, the _nom de plume_ of that inveterate -wit and joker, Lieutenant George H. Derby, who was then stationed at -Vancouver.[11] - -It will be recollected that the governor left Captain Sidney S. Ford in -the Walla Walla to organize a company for home defense of the few -settlers who had returned with the Oregon volunteers. He succeeded in -raising twenty-five men, but was soon succeeded by a company under -Captain Henry M. Chase, composed of ten whites and forty-three Nez -Perces. On the withdrawal of the volunteers, they, too, had to be -disbanded, and the valley was wholly abandoned. - -On the 22d the two companies under Captains Goff and Williams, who -succeeded Richards, mustering one hundred and seventy-five men, with a -train of forty-five wagons and thirty-five pack-animals, in charge of -Quartermaster Robie, marched from the Dalles, and on July 9 joined Shaw -on Mill Creek, except a detachment of seventy-five men under Captain -Goff, which left the train on the Umatilla to go to the assistance of -Major Lupton, of the Oregon volunteers, who was in the presence of a -force of the enemy in the Blue Mountains. Goff and Lupton followed the -hostiles across the mountains, and on the 15th and 16th inflicted a -sharp blow upon them on Burnt River. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Craig, with a force of seventy-five Nez Perce -volunteers under Spotted Eagle, marched from Lapwai and joined Shaw's -command, also on the 9th, so that the three columns, starting from -points as widely divergent as Puget Sound, the Dalles, and Lapwai, all -met in the valley on the same day. The Nez Perces gave assurances of the -continued friendship of the tribe, and Robie proceeded with the train of -Indian goods to their country under their escort alone. - -Thus far Shaw had encountered no enemy in his march, the Yakimas being -virtually protected by Colonel Wright and his parleyings, and the -Cuyuses and Walla Wallas having left the valley; but learning that the -hostiles were in the Grande Ronde valley in force, he determined to -strike them. Moving by night by an unused trail across the Blue -Mountains, guided by the faithful Nez Perce chief, Captain John, he -encountered the enemy on the third day, July 17, in the open valley. -Although taken by surprise, they received him in a defiant attitude; -large numbers of braves, mounted and armed, and with a white scalp borne -on a pole among them, confronted him, while the squaws were fleeing -across the valley to seek refuge, and, on Captain John's approaching -them to parley, cried out to shoot him. Upon this, throwing off his hat, -and with a shout, the tall, rawboned leader of the volunteers instantly -charged at the head of his men, his long red hair and beard streaming in -the wind, broke and scattered the Indians, chased them fifteen miles -clear across the valley, killed forty, and captured a hundred pounds of -ammunition, all their provisions, and over two hundred horses and mules, -many of which bore the United States brand, and had been evidently run -off from Wright's and Rains's commands. Shaw's loss was only three -killed and four wounded. - -Having driven the hostiles beyond the Grande Ronde, and not having -sufficient supplies to warrant pursuing them farther, Shaw returned to -his camp in the Walla Walla. - -Meanwhile Robie had been threatened and ordered out of the Nez Perce -country by the disaffected portion of that tribe, and had returned by -forced marches to the valley, but on learning of Shaw's victory, and in -answer to his message that "if they beat their drums for war, he would -parade his men for battle," the recusant chiefs again made professions -of friendship. Lawyer and the majority of the tribe were unwavering in -their friendship, but there were a considerable number who sympathized -with their Cuyuse kindred, and repented having made the treaty, among -whom Looking Glass, Red Wolf, Joseph, and Eagle-from-the-Light were -leaders. - -One of the first acts of Colonel Wright at the Dalles had been to -release the Cuyuse war chief, Um-how-lish, whom the governor had -captured and brought to that point, and to allow him to return to his -people, accepting all his professions at par. Under this encouragement -some of the friendly Cuyuses and the families of some of the hostiles -had taken refuge among the Nez Perces, despite the governor's refusal to -permit them to go there. The very thing he apprehended occurred, viz., -the disaffected and hostile Cuyuses, visiting their kindred with, and -mingling among, the Nez Perces, had stirred up considerable disaffection -in this hitherto faithful tribe. Moreover, the Yakima emissaries had -assured the Nez Perces that the Spokanes were about to break out against -the whites, and threatened them with the same treatment accorded the -whites, unless they, too, would make common cause against the -encroaching race. Lawyer and Craig, therefore, were sorely troubled to -hold firm the wavering friendship of the disaffected part of the tribe, -and had written the most urgent messages to the governor for assistance. -Hence his great anxiety to have the Walla Walla valley held in force, -and to get through to the Nez Perce country a train bearing supplies and -encouragement to the faithful chiefs. - -Shaw's victory occurred most opportunely to restrain the disaffected, -and both he and Craig represented that the moral effect of it was great -and salutary upon them. The governor therefore decided to proceed in -person to Walla Walla, and there hold a council with the Indians, in -order to confirm the friendship of the Nez Perces and restrain the -doubtful and wavering from active hostility. He directed Craig and Shaw -to summon the hitherto friendly Indians, the Nez Perces, Spokanes, -Coeur d'Alenes, and friendly Cuyuses, to the council; and also to send -messengers to the hostiles, inviting them to attend it also, under the -sole condition of submission to the government, requiring them to come -unarmed, and assuring them of safe conduct to, at, and from the council. -He took this course in order to give the hostiles every opportunity to -give up the conflict and accept peace, if their minds were ripe for it, -and also to refute the infamous charges of Wool and satisfy the doubts -or scruples of other regular officers, by demonstrating his earnest wish -to end the war and treat the hostiles with all possible leniency. To -this end, on August 3 he wrote a pressing invitation to Colonel Wright -to attend the council, recommended him to establish a permanent garrison -in the Walla Walla valley, and requested a conference at the Dalles on -the 14th of September. - -The governor called out two hundred more volunteers to maintain the -strength of Shaw's command, whose term of enlistment was about to -expire, for he deemed it indispensable to hold the Walla Walla valley. - -Colonel Wright, acting on Wool's theory of wronged and innocent Indians, -had suffered himself to be completely deceived by the wily Yakimas, and -had given open ear to their lying tales and treacherous professions, -and, without striking a blow, or seizing a single murderer, or exacting -any guaranty for future good behavior,--not even a promise to observe -their treaty and allow whites to come into their country,--had concluded -a quasi-peace with them. This was as great a victory for their diplomacy -as Haller's defeat was for their arms. It rendered Wright's campaign -utterly abortive, saved them from losses and punishment, recognized as -valid their objections to the treaty and the presence of white settlers, -and left Kam-i-ah-kan and his followers free to continue their -machinations among the doubtful tribes, which they were actively -carrying on. - -While these wily Indians were thus beguiling Wright, they also tried -their diplomacy on the authorities on the west side of the Cascades. In -May Indian messengers from Ow-hi and Te-i-as--two of the most cunning -and treacherous of the Yakima chiefs, the former second only to -Kam-i-ah-kan, as well as foremost in bringing on the war--approached -Colonel Simmons through friendly Indians, pretending a desire to make -peace, and were sent to Olympia to the governor. After conversing with -them, the latter was satisfied that they came only as spies and -trouble-instigators, but directed them to return to the chiefs who sent -them, bearing his invitation to all who wished to resume friendly -relations to come with their women and children to the prairie above -Snoqualmie Falls, and submit to the justice and mercy of the government; -that only those guilty of murder and instigating the war would be -punished, and all others would be pardoned and kindly treated, like the -Indians on the reservations. At the same time he charged Colonel -Fitzhugh, in connection with Colonel Simmons, with the mission of -bringing about the surrender of the Indians in question in case they -were acting in good faith. Three weeks later, June 20, Fitzhugh reported -that his mission had turned out a perfect failure, that the governor was -correct in his opinion, that the messengers only wanted to gain time and -information, and added:-- - - "The Indians expected to make better terms with Colonel Wright, who - had been entertaining them and making them presents on the other - side of the mountains, and had told them that he was the 'Big Dog' - in this part of the world, and had come a long distance to treat - with them, and if they would only stop fighting all would be well. - As things now are, they will have to be well thrashed before they - will treat. From the beginning of the difficulty to the present - time, the regulars, from their commander-in-chief down, have - stultified themselves. They have done no fighting, and now they wish - to patch up a treaty, so as to get the credit for putting an end to - the war." - -Little did the cunning Ow-hi foresee the tragic fate that awaited him -and his son, only two years later, at the hands of Colonel Wright. - -Thus ingloriously was the war carried on, or rather paralyzed, by the -regular forces in the upper country. The only blow inflicted upon the -hostiles of that region during the year was struck by Shaw in the Grande -Ronde, and the effect of that was dissipated by the subsequent behavior -of Wool's officers. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [11] In this cartoon two settlers in roughest costumes, slouch hats, - woolen shirts, huge muddy boots with trousers tucked into them, - and long, unkempt hair and beard, are represented standing in - front of a log-hut in the woods, while in the distance appears a - building, having over the door the sign "Quartermaster's Office," - from which a man is being kicked into the street. - - "_First Pike._ That's pretty rough, Bill, yanking a man out - of office like that, without giving him ary show or trial. - - "_Second Pike._ Well, the governor's generally about right, - and he's dead right this time, you bet." - - - - - CHAPTER XL - - THE FRUITLESS PEACE COUNCIL - - -It will be remembered that Colonel Wright, hugging his delusion and -shutting his eyes to obvious facts, in April expressed the opinion that -the hostile Cuyuses and Walla Wallas were "peaceably disposed" when -declining to occupy the valley or furnish an escort for the Nez Perce -train. The governor, by bringing him to attend the council and see and -judge for himself, hoped to open his eyes to the real situation, and to -induce him to take a more manly and aggressive course in case the -Indians persisted in the war. - -Accordingly, leaving Olympia August 11, Governor Stevens reached -Vancouver on the 13th, and there met Colonel Wright, who informed him -that he was unable to attend the council from pressure of other duties, -but that he was dispatching a force of four companies of regulars under -Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe in season to be present, and that the -governor could rely upon that officer for support in case of need, an -assurance not made good, and which involved him in no little personal -peril. - -As it was no longer necessary to maintain Shaw's force in the valley, -since the regulars were to occupy it, the governor now revoked his call -for two hundred more volunteers. - -Traveling together to the Dalles, the governor and Colonel Wright had -repeated conferences en route, and at that point also met and conferred -with Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe, Major Lugenbeel, and Captain Jordan, -with the result, as the governor supposed and reported to the Indian -Bureau, of establishing "the most cordial and effective cooperation in -all the measures taken to maintain the friendly relations of the tribes -east of the mountains." It is evident that Governor Stevens, by his -personal ascendency over men, and the manifest wisdom and necessity of -his measures, actually compelled these officers, like Lieutenant-Colonel -Casey, to a degree of cooperation incompatible with Wool's orders, and -probably repugnant to their own prejudices. It is impossible, however, -to acquit Wright and Steptoe of a lack of candor in concealing from the -governor the real character of Wool's instructions, and in leading him -to expect their faithful cooperation and support. For not only had Wool -positively forbidden anything of the kind, but had ordered them to -disarm the volunteers, if they had sufficient force to do so, and expel -them from the Indian country, as appeared from Wool's orders when -subsequently published by the government. He also ordered them to -exclude American settlers from the entire upper country, but not to -interfere with the Hudson Bay Company people, it being his intention to -make the Cascade Range a scientific frontier to the settlements. - -It is noteworthy that the officers of the 4th infantry, who garrisoned -the country at and before the outbreak of the war,--Alvord, Rains, -Haller, Maloney, Slaughter, and Nugen,--agreed perfectly with the -territorial authorities and the people as to the causes of the outbreak, -and were always ready to cooperate with them. It was Major Alvord who -first detected and reported the existence of the Indian conspiracy, and -Major Rains who called for the volunteers. - -But the officers of the 9th infantry, like Wright and Casey, were -new-comers in the country, bound by Wool's orders, and prejudiced by his -infamous slanders, and undoubtedly affected by professional jealousy. -They were ready to ignore the territorial authorities, and to make peace -by restraining the whites instead of punishing the hostile Indian -aggressors. They prolonged the war east of the mountains and kept back -the settlement of the country for two years, but at last the scales were -torn from their eyes by stern experience; they realized how mistaken had -been their views and fruitless their policy, and found themselves -obliged to adopt the views of Governor Stevens and make war in earnest. -Then, under the severe blows of Wright, the hostile tribes were finally -punished and subdued, and permanent peace assured. - -On the day after reaching Vancouver the governor held a council with a -band of Klikitat Indians, at which Colonel Wright was present, and made -arrangements for removing them temporarily to their original home east -of the Cascades on the Klikitat River, with the view of placing them -ultimately on the Yakima reservation. He informed Colonel Wright that he -would receive and care for, as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, any -surrendered Indians, except the Sound murderers,--Leschi, Qui-e-muth, -Nelson, Sta-hi, etc.,--to whom he had already cautioned him against -granting amnesty. He now made formal requisition upon Colonel Wright for -the surrender of these chiefs to be tried for their crimes, and notified -him that he had forbidden the Indian agents to receive them on any -reservation either east or west of the Cascades. He gave full and -careful instructions on all these matters to the agents on the -river,--Captain J. Cain, who had general charge of the Indians on the -Columbia, Mr. Field at Vancouver, Mr. Lear at the Cascades, and the -agent near the Dalles,--and made the necessary arrangements to meet all -exigencies. This trip affords one of many examples of the governor's -untiring zeal and energy in the public service. In a single week he -travels sixty miles on horseback, thirty in canoe, and forty by -steamboat to Vancouver; holds a council with the Klikitats, and arranges -for removing them from the settlements; instructs five Indian agents; -revokes his call for volunteers; confers with Colonel Wright; demands of -him the surrender of Indian murderers for punishment; travels eighty -miles farther to the Dalles; and, by repeated conferences with Wright -and his officers, secures their cooperation, as he has reason to -believe. Moreover, he finds time to write the most clear and detailed -reports to the Indian Bureau and to the Secretary of War. - -Leaving the Dalles on the 19th, and pushing forward in advance of -Steptoe with a train of thirty wagons drawn by eighty oxen, and two -hundred loose animals, attended only by Pearson, and without escort -except the employees, Governor Stevens reached Shaw's camp in the valley -on the 23d. On the evening of the 28th a small pack-train was captured -by the Indians within a few miles of camp, the packers escaping on their -horses without loss, after firing away all their ammunition. The -governor was much chagrined at this, the only loss of animals or -supplies suffered by his volunteers during the whole war, and in orders -rebuked the parties whose negligence was responsible for the mishap, and -concluded: - - "He desires to impress upon the troops the fact established by - experience, especially in the present Indian war, that bold and - repeated charges upon the enemy, even when the disparity of numbers - is great, will alone lead to results. In this way only can the - superiority of our race be established. In all mere defensive - contests with Indians, whether behind breast-works or in the brush, - an Indian is as good as a white man; few laurels can thus be won, - and the result may be discreditable." - -Craig and Dr. Lansdale, the latter the agent for the Flatheads, just -down from the Bitter Root valley, arrived on the 30th with some of the -Nez Perce chiefs. The next day agent Montour and Antoine Plante came in -from the Spokanes and reported that, although the tribe professed a -friendly disposition, they would not attend the council. Captain D.A. -Russell (later major-general commanding 1st division, 6th corps, Army of -the Potomac) with three companies marched from the Yakima to the -Columbia, opposite old Fort Walla Walla, and, being without means of -crossing, the governor sent him a wagon boat guarded by twenty -volunteers, by means of which he ferried his command over the river. On -the 5th Steptoe reached the valley, and went into camp four miles below -the governor's camp, his force, including Russell's, consisting of four -companies. The volunteers were therefore all started for the Dalles, -their term of service expiring on the 8th, except Captain Goff's -company, which cheerfully consented to remain as a guard at the camp -until relieved by the regulars. - -Lawyer and the bulk of the Nez Perces arrived on the 6th, and encamped -four miles above. A train of Indian goods under Robie reached the camp -the next day. On the 8th the governor received the Nez Perce chiefs and -headmen to the number of three hundred, after which he held a conference -with the chiefs, and entertained them at dinner. Father A. Ravalli, of -the Coeur d'Alene mission, arrived in the evening, bringing important -information. Reports the governor:-- - - "The Father reports having seen and conversed with Kam-i-ah-kan, - Skloom, Ow-hi, and his son, and that they will not attend the - council. The Spokanes also declined coming. He also saw Looking - Glass, who was not well disposed, and said he would not come to the - council. From Father Ravalli's report, it became evident to me that - all the Indians in the upper country, if not openly hostile, were - yet far from entertaining a disposition for friendship to be relied - upon. Kam-i-ah-kan had taken advantage of the cessation of - hostilities against him in the Yakima to circulate the grossest - falsehoods as to the objects of the government in making treaties, - against the volunteers, the miners, the settlers, and Americans in - general, and he declares that no settler shall live in the country. - These falsehoods are universally credited by the Indians, and thus - Kam-i-ah-kan, who personally visited most of the tribes, has by his - intrigues been enabled to excite to a point verging upon open - hostility all the tribes in the upper country, withdrawing from - their allegiance one half of the Nez Perce nation. As yet, however, - the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, and Colvilles have not molested the - settlers or miners passing through their country." - -On the 9th provisions were issued to the Nez Perces. In the evening it -was reported that a party of volunteers on their way to the Dalles were -being attacked by the hostile Indians, and Colonel Shaw was dispatched -to their assistance with all the volunteers in camp and a detachment of -Nez Perces. This left the governor with only ten men, and as he expected -to open the council the next day, and had a large quantity of Indian -goods on the ground, he requested Steptoe to send a company of dragoons -to the council ground as early as practicable. In notes to and -conversation with him the governor had repeatedly requested him to camp -at or near the council ground, in order "to show the Indians the -strength of our people and the unity of our councils." In sending the -wagon boat to Captain Russell he made a similar request. He well knew -that the pacific and parleying attitude of the regular officers had -imbued the Indians with the idea that the regular troops were a -different people from the settlers and volunteers. He wished to disabuse -the Indians, and moreover a guard would be indispensable for the -protection of his camp and supplies as soon as the last of the -volunteers moved away. Wright's assurances, and the cordial conferences -with that officer and Steptoe, fully justified him in relying upon their -support. - -The next morning Colonel Steptoe moved his camp farther up the valley, -and on his way called at the governor's camp with a company of dragoons. -The latter, supposing that, after his repeated request and the manifest -necessity of the case, Steptoe would of course encamp near by, did not -reiterate his request, and the regular officer continued his march and -established his camp eight miles above the council ground, leaving it -wholly unprotected. Fortunately Shaw, with his small force, returned in -the afternoon, the rumored attack proving a false alarm, and reported -having seen Stock Whitley, chief of the Des Chutes Indians, who said his -people and the Cuyuses would come to the council that day. The opening -of the council was postponed to the morrow. Later in the afternoon these -Indians, with the Umatillas in large force, advanced mounted to within a -short distance of camp, then, without any salutation or shaking hands, -wheeled and moved off to the Nez Perce camp, where they partook of a -feast prepared for them, after which they encamped just above their -hosts. This demeanor, with the facts that they fired the prairie when -coming in, and treated some members of the party with great insolence, -was indicative of anything but a friendly spirit. - -The governor now ordered the company of volunteers to march for the -Dalles the next morning, and made a requisition on Colonel Steptoe for -the presence of two companies of troops on the council ground, stating -that the Cuyuses had all come in, and, as the volunteers were about to -leave, it was essential to have a force on the ground to control the -Indians. Incredible as it may seem, Steptoe refused, giving several lame -excuses, and his real reason in the following pregnant sentence: "And -permit me to say that my instructions from General Wool do not authorize -me to make any arrangements whatever of the kind you wish." As the -governor requested no arrangements except that a regular force should -camp near him to protect his council ground and show the Indians "the -unity of our councils," as he bore the President's commission, and was -charged by the government with the care of the Indians, this act shows -to what length the malignity of Wool and the prejudices of a somewhat -weak though well-meaning officer could extend. The fact was that these -regular officers had idealized the Indians, accepting as true the -falsehood of Kam-i-ah-kan, sympathized with the savages, and were "down" -on the settlers and volunteers. - -The governor learned for the first time from this note that Steptoe had -moved his camp so far away, for he had taken it for granted that that -officer had encamped near by. Therefore he retained Goff's company of -only sixty-nine men for the protection of the council, countermanding -the order for it to march below in the morning. A portion of it was -already one day's march on their way down, but was immediately brought -back. - -The council was duly opened the next day, September 11, the chiefs of -the Nez Perce, Cuyuse, Umatilla, John Day, and Des Chutes Indians being -present. The governor expressed his sorrow at the state of -hostilities,--reviewed the course of Kam-i-ah-kan, Pu-pu-mox-mox, and -the hostiles in accepting their treaties, professing the utmost -satisfaction with them, and then murdering whites traveling through -their country and their agent, Bolon, plundering Fort Walla Walla, -burning the houses of settlers, and threatening the lives of himself and -party returning from the Blackfoot council. He had labored only for -their good as their friend, and could they wonder that he was grieved at -this state of affairs? The provisions of the treaties relating to -punishments for offenses committed by Indians upon whites, or by whites -upon Indians, were fully explained, and the fact stated that under the -treaties they had bound themselves to deliver up the murderers. It was -the law, and to that they must submit. Men were killed on both sides in -battle, but that was not murder. But the Indians who killed their agent, -Bolon, and others must be given up to be tried and punished by the law. -He invited all Indians who desired peace to submit unconditionally to -the justice and mercy of the government; the lives of all except the -murderers should be safe. He spoke of the Indians of the Sound who had -surrendered and been placed on reservations, fed, clothed, and -protected, and treated not harshly, but with kindness. Few of the -hostiles were present. Many conflicting rumors were current as to the -whereabouts of Kam-i-ah-kan and other hostile chiefs. - -The council continued the next day. The governor said that he had given -his views in regard to the war and how it could be ended, that his words -were intended for all the Indians of the country, and called upon them -to express their minds. The Indians manifested a reluctance to speak, -each seeming to wait for another. Several chiefs expressed sorrow that -war existed, and hoped a peace might be made. Peeps, a hostile Cuyuse -chief, said there was no haste, as Kam-i-ah-kan was coming, and they -waited for him. - -Wee-lap-to-leek, a hostile chief of the Tigh Indians, a band near the -Dalles, said that the Indians were determined to have their country; -they would bet it on a fight with the whites, and the winners should -take it. He was indorsed by Camas-pello, former war chief of the -Cuyuses. - -Eagle-from-the-Light, the prominent Nez Perce chief, complained bitterly -because a Nez Perce brave had been hanged in the valley last winter by -the Oregon volunteers, and asserted that the man was guiltless. He was -followed by others in the same strain. - -The governor explained the laws of the whites in regard to spies, and -that the executed Nez Perce was punished as one, and that he would speak -further of the case the next day, after he had learned all the facts. He -then adjourned the council, expressing the hope that Kam-i-ah-kan and -Garry would be present the next day. - -The Indians held councils in their camps all night. So hostile were the -Cuyuses, Umatillas, Walla Wallas, and others, and so much did more than -half of the Nez Perces sympathize with them, that the friendly Nez -Perces danced the war-dance during the whole night. The lives of the -friendly chiefs were threatened, and the great bulk of the Indians -seemed simply to be waiting for the coming of Kam-i-ah-kan to fall upon -the governor and his party. Some of the Indians were detected attending -the council with arms under their blankets, and posting themselves near -the governor and other members of the party; but although no open notice -was taken of them, the redoubled vigilance of the volunteer guards gave -no chance for their premeditated treachery. - -Early the following morning the governor sent the following letter to -Steptoe:-- - - COUNCIL GROUNDS, WALLA WALLA VALLEY, W.T., - September 13, 1856. - - LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E.J. STEPTOE. - - _My dear Sir_,--The council did not adjourn yesterday till near - sundown. I understand the feelings of the Indians from what was - developed yesterday. - - The want of a military force on the ground seriously embarrassed me - (I have retained for a day some fifty of Goff's company), but having - called the council in good faith as the Indian superintendent, and - also as the commissioner to treat with the Indian tribes by the - appointment of the President, I shall go through with the duty I - have undertaken. - - One half of the Nez Perces and all the other tribes, except a very - few persons, are unmistakably hostile in feeling. The Cuyuses, the - Walla Wallas, and other hostiles were so when they came in. Hence - the requisition I made upon you for troops. - - I particularly desire you to be present to-day, if your duties will - permit, and I will also state that I think a company of your troops - is essential to the security of my camp. - - I shall, as I said, go through with this business whatever be the - consequences as regards my own personal safety, but I regard it to - be my duty to the public, to the Indians, and to my own character. - - This communication is marked confidential, but is intended as an - official communication, and will go on my files as such, only I do - not think it prudent that my judgment as to the aspect of affairs - should, at this time, be disclosed to any other person than - yourself. - - I have the honor to be, very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - - ISAAC I. STEVENS, - _Governor and Superintendent_. - -While this letter was being dispatched the council reopened, and the -governor took up the case of the Nez Perce spy, showed that he had -joined Kam-i-ah-kan, taken presents from him, participated in burning -settlers' houses and in stirring up hostilities, and pointed out that -Kam-i-ah-kan and his people were to blame for the death of this man, for -they had caused the war, and but for them he would still have been -living. He had visited and been arrested in the volunteer camp in time -of war, and duly tried, convicted, and executed. Finally Red Wolf, to -whose band the spy belonged, admitted that he committed the offense for -which he was punished, and this ended all complaint. - -Speaking Owl, a Nez Perce chief and the mouthpiece of Looking Glass, now -spoke up and said, "Will you give us back our lands? That is what we all -want to hear about; that is what troubles us. I ask plainly to have a -plain answer." The governor, in his report to the Indian Bureau, -comments on this demand as follows:-- - - "Now thus far there had not been the slightest allusion to the land - of the Nez Perces in council, and this rapid change of front was - most extraordinary. The case of the Nez Perce who was hanged was - simply a device by means of which they hoped to get the desired - concession from me by way of propitiation. When they were obliged to - abandon the case, they had no alternative but to show their hand, - which they did very promptly. I called upon Lawyer, the head chief, - to speak. He produced his commission and a copy of the Nez Perce - treaty, remarking that he knew that, if he cast away the laws, he - should be brought to justice. He pointed out to them the boundaries - of the country sold, and of the reservation, and spoke of other - provisions of the treaty, and concluded by saying that fifty-eight - great chiefs of the Nez Perces had signed the treaty made at the - council of last year, when all fully understood it, and it was his - determination to abide by it, and he trusted his people would do the - same." - -Timothy and James expressed a similar determination, but Joseph, -Speaking Owl, Eagle-from-the-Light, and Red Wolf denied that they -understood the treaty, or ever intended to give their land away, and -declared that Lawyer had sold it unfairly. It appeared almost certain -that no satisfactory peace could be made with the hostiles, and that one -half of the Nez Perces, through the intrigues of Kam-i-ah-kan and the -Cuyuses, had become disaffected and desirous of annulling their treaty. - -In the afternoon a company of dragoons came with Steptoe's answer to the -governor's dispatch of the morning:-- - - "If the Indians," he wrote, "are really meditating an outbreak, it - will be difficult for me to provide for the safety of my own camp, - _impossible_ to defend _both_ camps. Under these circumstances, if - you are resolved to go on with your council, does it not seem more - reasonable that you shall move your camp to the vicinity of mine? I - send down the company of dragoons to bring you up to this place, if - you desire to come. My force is so small that to be efficient - against the large number of savages in the neighborhood it must be - concentrated; nor can I detach any portion of it, in execution of - certain instructions received from General Wool, while the Indian - host remains so near to me." - -In view of the threatening attitude of the hostiles, and the approach of -Kam-i-ah-kan, who was reported as encamped that day on the Touchet, only -a few miles distant, as well as for the protection of the large quantity -of Indian goods brought up for the friendly Nez Perces, and such of the -hostiles as might surrender, the governor the next day moved his whole -party and train to Steptoe's camp, and established a new camp and -council ground within a quarter of a mile of his encampment. They were -met on the march by Kam-i-ah-kan and Ow-hi, with a party of one hundred -warriors under the lead of Ow-hi's son, Qualchen, who clearly meant -mischief; but the coolness with which they were received, and the -manifest readiness of the volunteers and dragoons for battle, checked -them, and they made no disturbance save attempting to provoke a quarrel -with the friendly Nez Perces in rear of the train. The Indians, having -been notified in the morning of the change of council grounds, moved up -to the new location the same day and the following. Kam-i-ah-kan and his -followers encamped a quarter of a mile from the council ground, -separated therefrom only by Mill Creek and its wooded bottom. - -The council continued the next two days, the 16th and 17th. The Lawyer -and half the Nez Perces were determined in their adherence to their -treaty and ancient friendship to the whites, and approved of all the -governor said. The other half of the tribe wished the treaty done away -with. The hostiles all said, "Do away with all treaties, give us back -our lands, let no white man come into our country, and there will be -peace; if not, then we will fight." - -The governor advised the Nez Perces to stand by their treaty. It was now -in the hands of the President, and could only be set aside by him. To -the hostiles he repeated the terms of peace alone possible: they must -throw aside their guns and submit to the justice and mercy of the -government; but as they were invited under safe conduct, they were safe -in coming, safe in council, and safe in going. The council was then -declared at an end. Many of the friendly Nez Perces departed at once to -their camp, but a large number of hostiles, most of whom it was observed -had arms concealed beneath their blankets, remained loitering around the -council ground. Noting the vigilance and readiness of the volunteers, -they made no disturbance, and by nightfall all retired to their camps. -On every day except the first, known braves of the hostiles came to the -council armed to the teeth, and took positions evincing designs upon the -life of the governor; but picked men watched them closely, ready to -strike down any assailant at the first overt act, so no attempt was -made. - -During the night of the 16th there was great excitement among the -Indians. The friendly Nez Perces were much alarmed, and brought frequent -reports that the hostiles were bent upon attacking the camp, and wiping -out the governor and his party. These faithful allies beat the drum all -night, and kept guard around his camp. - -The governor called attention especially to the speech of Spotted Eagle -on the last day,-- - - "which for feeling, courage, and truth, I have never seen surpassed - in an Indian council. The Spotted Eagle is the great war chief of - the Nez Perces, and the right arm of Lawyer. Both the words and - manner of the Spotted Eagle showed that his object in speaking was - to set himself and the friendly Indians right, and that he had no - expectation of changing the hearts of those who were bent on war. - His words, however, 'I will not follow you into the war,' were - significant." - -The day after the conclusion of the council the governor made -preparations for returning to the settlements. He decided to withdraw -Craig temporarily from the Nez Perce country on the advice of the -friendly chiefs, who feared he might be killed by Kam-i-ah-kan's -warriors as a means of embroiling the Nez Perces in war against the -whites. Said the Spotted Eagle:-- - - "If you [Craig] do not return with me, we shall go back as if our - eyes were shut. I think my people will not go straight if Craig gets - up from that place. But, my friend Craig, on account of the talking - I have heard at this place, I am afraid for you." - -That afternoon Steptoe had a conference with the Indians, in which he -declared: "My mission is pacific. I have come not to fight you, but to -live among you. Come into my camp when you please. I trust we shall live -together as friends," and he appointed the next day for a fuller -conference with the chiefs. By this action Steptoe intentionally -repelled the governor's wise recommendation and endeavor to "show the -Indians the strength of our people and the unity of our councils." -Reports the governor:-- - - "Indeed, the Indians looked upon the Indian superintendent and the - military officer as not representing a common cause. The former in - the morning parts from them, having signally failed in making any - arrangement to end the war; the latter speaks to the Indians as - though there was no war, and therefore no necessity of making any - arrangement at all. - - "The Indians, sharp-sighted and constantly on the alert from the - merest trifles to draw conclusions as to character and policy, saw - there did not exist between the Indian Department and the military - the proper cooperation." - -What next occurred is graphically related by the governor, in his report -to Secretary of War Davis, as follows:-- - - I was occupied the remainder of the day and the next morning in - establishing Craig's agency in the neighborhood of Steptoe's camp, - and a little before noon, with some fifty friendly Nez Perces in - charge of sub-agent Craig, I started with the train and Goff's - company for the Dalles. - - The Indians did not, however, come to see Steptoe at the time - appointed. They previously set fire to his grass, and, following me - as I set out about eleven o'clock on my way to the Dalles, they - attacked me within three miles of Steptoe's camp at about one - o'clock in the afternoon. - - So satisfied was I that the Indians would carry into effect the - determination avowed in their councils in their own camps for - several nights previously to attack me, that in starting I formed my - whole party, and moved in order of battle. - - I moved on under fire one mile to water, when, forming a corral of - the wagons, and holding the adjacent hills and the brush on the - stream by pickets, I made my arrangements to defend my position and - fight the Indians. Our position in a low, open basin some five - hundred or six hundred yards across was good, and with the aid of - our corral we could defend ourselves against a vastly superior force - of the enemy. - - The fight continued till late in the night. Two charges were made to - disperse the Indians, the last led by Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw in - person with twenty-four men, but whilst driving before him some one - hundred and fifty Indians, an equal number pushed into his rear, and - he was compelled to cut his way through them towards camp, when, - drawing up his men, and aided by the teamsters and pickets, who - gallantly sprang forward, he drove the Indians back when in full - charge upon the corral. - - Just before the charge the friendly Nez Perces, fifty in number, who - had been assigned to holding the ridge on the south side of the - corral, were told by the enemy, "We came not to fight the Nez - Perces, but the whites; go to your camp, or we wipe it out." Their - camp, with their women and children, was on a stream about a mile - distant, upon which I directed the Nez Perces to retire, as I did - not require their assistance, and I was fearful that my men might - not be able to distinguish them from the hostiles, and thus friendly - Indians might be killed. - - Towards night I notified Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe that I was - fighting the Indians, that I should move the next morning, and - expressed the opinion that a company of his troops would be of - service. In his reply he stated that the Indians had burnt up his - grass, and suggested that I should return to his camp, and place at - his disposal my wagons, in order that he might move his whole - command and his supplies to the Umatilla, or some other point, where - sustenance could be found for his animals. To this arrangement I - assented, and Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe sent to my camp Lieutenant - Davidson with detachments from the companies of dragoons and - artillery with a mountain howitzer. They reached my camp about two - o'clock in the morning, where everything was in good order, and most - of the men at the corral asleep. A picket had been driven in an hour - and a half before by the enemy,--that on the hill south of the - corral, but the enemy was immediately dislodged, and all the points - were held, and ground-pits being dug. - - The howitzer having been fired on the way out, it was believed - nothing would be gained by waiting till morning, and the whole force - immediately returned to Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe's camp. - - Soon after sunrise the enemy attacked his camp, but were soon - dislodged by the howitzer, and a charge by a detachment from - Steptoe's command. - - On my arrival at the camp I urged Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe to - build a blockhouse immediately, to leave one company to defend it - with all his supplies, _then_ to march below and return with an - additional force and additional supplies, and by a vigorous winter - campaign to whip the Indians into submission. I placed at his - disposal for the building my teams and Indian employees. - - The blockhouse and stockade were built in a little more than two - days. My Indian store-room was rebuilt at one corner of the - stockade. - - In the action my whole force consisted of Goff's company of - sixty-nine men, the teamsters, herders, and Indian employees, - numbering about fifty men, and the fifty Nez Perces. Our train - consisted of about five hundred animals, not one of which was - captured by the enemy. We fought four hundred and fifty Indians, - and had one man mortally, one dangerously, and two slightly wounded. - We killed and wounded thirteen Indians. - - One half the Nez Perces, one hundred and twenty warriors, all of the - Yakimas and Palouses, two hundred warriors, the great bulk of the - Yakimas, Walla Wallas, and Umatillas were in the fight. The - principal war chiefs were the son of Ow-hi and the Isle de Pere - chief, Quil-to-mee, the latter of whom had two horses shot under - him, and who at the council showed me a letter from Colonel Wright - acknowledging his valuable services in bringing about the peace of - the Yakima. - -In his report to the Indian Bureau the governor adds: - - "The Indians were greatly surprised at Steptoe's sending a force to - my assistance, and Kam-i-ah-kan said on learning it, 'I will let - these men [referring to the regular troops] know who Kam-i-ah-kan - is.'" - -On the 23d the combined force, accompanied by Craig and the fifty Nez -Perce auxiliaries, started for the Dalles, where they arrived on October -2 without incident of moment. Thus, as the governor remarks:-- - - "Circumstances had brought about the cooperation between the - military and the Indian service which had not previously existed, - and the words of Steptoe to the hostiles and mine to the friendly - Indians corresponded. I had sent messengers to the Nez Perce country - directing the friendly Nez Perces to separate from the hostile Nez - Perces, and to keep the latter out of their portion of the country. - Steptoe sent word that good Indians he would protect, and bad - Indians he would punish." - -In truth, a great change had come over Steptoe's views. The burning of -his grass and the attack on his camp were too strong even for the orders -of Wool and his own prejudices. He writes to Colonel Wright from his -camp on the Umatilla, September 27:-- - - "In general terms I may say that in my judgment we are reduced to - the necessity of waging a vigorous war, striking the Cuyuses at the - Grande Ronde, and Kam-i-ah-kan wherever he may be found." - -The day before the attack on the governor, he wrote the same officer:-- - - "As it is, he [Governor Stevens] complains that I have, by not - aiding him, or by not cooperating heartily with him, actually - opposed him. This may be so, but I certainly have done for him all, - and more than, my instructions warranted." - -The governor warmly commends-- - - "the admirable conduct of the volunteers and the Indian employees - not only during the council, but in all the operations east of the - Cascade Mountains.... There was not a single case of injury either - to the person or the property of a friendly Indian, or of injury to - the persons or property of the hostiles, during the council. The - kindness and forbearance of officers and men, agents and employees, - even when treated with rudeness by the hostiles, was extraordinary. - The strayed cattle and horses of the Indians were restored to them. - The volunteers were well supplied, and were not tempted to plunder - for subsistence. I have the permission of Colonel Steptoe to refer - to him and his officers as witnesses of what I have stated, and have - the assurance from Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe that he has reported - it to Colonel Wright, and of Colonel Wright that he has forwarded - the report to General Wool." - -But Wool's malignant animosity was not to be abated by the testimony of -his own officers. He augmented his charges by declaring that Governor -Stevens had called the council on purpose to force war upon the friendly -Indians. - -Immediately on reaching the Dalles, Governor Stevens renewed his demand -upon Colonel Wright for the delivery of the Sound murderers for trial. -Writes Wright in reply:-- - - "You know the circumstances under which the Indians referred to were - permitted to come in and remain with the friendly Yakimas. Although - I have made no promises that they should not be held to account for - their former acts, yet in the present unsettled state of our Indian - relations I think it would be unwise to seize them and transport - them for trial. I would therefore respectfully suggest that the - delivery of the Indians be suspended for the present." - -But the governor firmly reiterated his demand, declaring:-- - - "If the condition of things is so unsettled in the Yakima that the - seizing of these men will lead to war, the sooner the war commences - the better. Nothing in my judgment will be gained by a temporizing - policy." - -The result was that Colonel Wright gave an order on Major Garnett, who -commanded the post in the Yakima, to deliver up to the governor, for -trial before the courts, Leschi, Nelson, Qui-e-muth, and Stahi. - -But any embarrassment that might be caused to the peace on the Yakima by -the execution of this order was very cleverly obviated by sending these -Indians, or permitting them to go, back to the Sound country, and -placing them under the protection of Colonel Casey, as will more fully -appear hereafter. - -On the 5th Wright and Steptoe started for the Walla Walla, their force -being increased one company. One of Colonel Wright's first acts on -arriving there was to hold councils with the disaffected and hostile -chiefs, the same who had so recently attacked the governor and the camp -of his own officer, Steptoe, at which he assured them that "the bloody -cloth should be washed, past differences thrown behind us, and perpetual -friendship must exist between us." He gave ready ear to their complaints -and demands, adopted their views in regard to the Walla Walla -treaties, and actually recommended that they never be confirmed. -Lieutenant-Colonel Steptoe put forth a proclamation, by order of General -Wool, forbidding all white settlers to return to the country except the -missionaries and Hudson Bay Company people. Wool instructs Wright under -date of October 19: "Warned by what has occurred, the general trusts -you will be on your guard against the whites, ... and prevent further -trouble by keeping the whites out of the Indian country." - -A month later Steptoe, who seems to have had doubts of the good faith of -the Indians, and to apprehend that they might resume active hostilities -in the spring, ventured to recommend that "a good industrious colony" be -permitted to settle the Walla Walla valley, but Wool promptly negatived -this suggestion, declaring that "the Cascade Range formed, if not an -impassable barrier, an excellent line of defense, a most valuable wall -of separation between two races always at war when in contact. To permit -settlers to pass the Dalles and occupy the natural reserve is to give up -this advantage, throw down this wall, and advance the frontier hundreds -of miles to the east, and add to the protective labors of the army." He -charged Steptoe to carry out his orders strictly. Thus he joined hands -with the Indian enemy to keep out American settlers from the region to -which they had been especially invited by Congress by the Donation Acts, -and strove to frustrate the policy of his own government of -extinguishing the Indian title and settling up the country. Seldom has -our history shown a more shameful betrayal of duty than this veteran -officer and his subordinates making a quasi-peace by surrendering to the -demands of the hostile Indians for the abrogation of the treaties they -had accepted, and the exclusion of white settlers from their country, -and seeking to lighten "the protective duties of the army" by abandoning -the defense and protection of their own race. - -Governor Stevens remained at the Dalles until the 6th, settling up the -business of the expedition and the Indian service, when he proceeded -down the river, and, after spending some days at Vancouver and Portland -in discharge of his multifarious duties, reached Olympia on the 15th. - -In his reports, both to the Indian Bureau and to Secretary of War Davis, -Governor Stevens condemned with just severity this craven policy. - -On learning of Colonel Wright's pacific and sympathetic talks with the -disaffected and hostile chiefs in the valley, he again protested to -Secretary Davis in the following indignant strain:-- - - "It would seem that, to get the consent of Colonel Wright to take - the ground that a treaty should not be insisted upon, it was simply - necessary for the malcontents to attack the Superintendent of Indian - Affairs and his party. Now, one half of the Nez Perce nation, - including the head chief, Lawyer, wish the treaty to be carried out. - They have suffered much from their steadfast adherence to it. Are - their wishes to be disregarded? - - "It seems to me that we have in this Territory fallen upon evil - times. I hope and trust some energetic action may be taken to stop - this trifling with great public interests, and to make our flag - respected by the Indians of the interior." - -The following, from his report of October 22 to the Indian Department, -sums up the mistaken policy of the regular officers and its deplorable -results, and gives his opinion of those neutrals in the war, the Hudson -Bay Company and the missionaries:-- - - The department is aware that for many months I have been of opinion - that a large portion of the Nez Perces were on the verge of - hostilities, and that I deplored the mistaken course of Colonel - Wright in the Yakima as tending directly to inflame the whole - interior and prepare it for war. The war commenced, on our part, in - the Yakima, in consequence of the attempt to arrest the murderers of - Bolon, Mattice, and others, killed without provocation and under - circumstances of unsurpassed atrocity. Two expeditions were made to - effect this object and to punish the tribe. After the massacre of - the Cascades, the third expedition, under Colonel Wright, went to - the Yakima with the avowed object of pacifying the Indians, and a - quasi-peace is made, and murderers are allowed to come into camp - with impunity. - - No effort is made to strike the Indians when within reach, and they - breathe nothing but war, and the result of the campaign is that, - after the chiefs had refused to come into council as they had - promised, and weeks are fruitlessly expended in the attempt to - negotiate, certain Indians with their families come in, and the - master spirits of these tribes, with the flower of the young men, go - east of the Columbia to prepare for continuing the war. - - I state boldly and plainly to the authorities that this mode of - managing affairs is disgraceful to the government, and will bring - with it in the future the most bitter consequences to the character - and prosperity of the people of this most remote portion of our - country. - - The demand for the murderers should have been inflexibly insisted - upon; the Indians should have been struck in battle and severely - chastised. Then there would have been peace in the Yakima. There - would not have been war in the interior. - - But feeble and procrastinating measures having been pursued, even to - the extent of impressing the Indians with the belief that the - regular troops were a distinct people from the Americans, and were - even allies of the Indians, Kam-i-ah-kan and Looking Glass have - effected that combination in the interior which I apprehended and - predicted. The brilliant victory of the Grande Ronde, which caused - for a time the lower Nez Perces to break from the war party, has - proved unavailing. - - I have therefore determined to have no agent on the Spokane, - believing, in view of certain influences there, to which I will - briefly allude, his presence would not be beneficial. - - In times of peace the influence of the Catholic missionaries is good - in that quarter, and their good offices are desirable till some - outrage is committed, or war breaks out. But since the war has - broken out, whilst they have made every exertion to protect - individuals, and to prevent other tribes joining in the war, they - have occupied a position which cannot be filled on earth,--a - position between the hostiles and the Americans. So great has been - their desire for peace that they have overlooked all right, - propriety, justice, necessity, siding with the Indians, siding with - the Americans, but advising the latter particularly to agree to all - the demands of the former,--murderers to go free, treaties to be - abrogated, whites to retire to the settlements. And the Indians, - seeing that the missionaries are on their side, are fortified in the - belief that they are fighting in a holy cause. I state on my - official responsibility that the influence of the Catholic - missionaries in the upper country has latterly been most baneful and - pernicious. - - Again, what is the interest of the Hudson Bay Company? There are - unquestionably large deposits of gold, both north and south of the - 49th parallel, east of the Cascade Mountains. A road has been made - connecting Fraser River with the British interior, and the Hudson - Bay Company have established a post in connection therewith on the - main Columbia, north of the 49th parallel. This post and Fort - Colville were supplied over this road the present year. - - I ask again, what is the interest of the Hudson Bay Company? Most - unquestionably to develop the British interior and its mines of - gold, and to keep the Americans out, which will be most effectually - accomplished by yielding to the demands of the Indians east of the - Cascades, and making peace by an abandonment of the country. - - I charge no man of that company with collusion with the Indians, but - I know what human nature is; it will look out sharply for its own - interests, and the interest of the Hudson Bay Company is the same as - the Indian conceives to be his interest in that quarter. - - It will be impossible for Dr. Lansdale to return to the Flathead - agency this year; both the hostility of the Indians through whose - country he would have to pass and the lateness of the season forbid - it. I regret this, as the Flathead nation have stood firmly by the - Blackfoot treaty, and take a proper view of the acts of the hostiles - between the Cascades and the Bitter Root. - - Thus, sir, east of the main Columbia the result of the operations of - the regular troops has been that I am compelled to withdraw all my - agents, except that it is barely possible that Craig, when he - reaches the Walla Walla valley on his return, may be able to go to - the Nez Perce country. - - What is the remedy for this state of things? I answer, vigorous - military operations,--the whipping of hostile Indians into absolute - submission, the hanging of murderers on conviction, and the planting - of these Indians on reserves established by Congress. - -Agent Craig did return to Lapwai at the request of the Lawyer. - -The soundness of Governor Stevens's views and the accuracy of his -foresight were abundantly vindicated within two years. During the -following year, 1857, the settlers were excluded, the regulars lay -inactive in their posts, and the quasi-peace continued. But in 1858 the -Yakimas waxed too insolent and predatory for even Wright's patience. He -sent Major Garnett through their country with a large force, who -summarily seized and hanged a number of the chiefs and warriors, shot -seven hundred of their ponies, and these severe acts humbled the haughty -savages and reduced them to good behavior at last. - -Colonel Wright also ordered Steptoe, with two hundred dragoons, to -advance from Walla Walla across Snake River towards Spokane. The -Spokanes had warned the troops not to invade their country, alleging -that they were neutral, and would permit neither the Yakima braves nor -the white soldiers to enter their limits. Disregarding this warning, -Steptoe marched some eighty miles north of the Snake, when he was -assailed by the whole force of the Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes, badly -defeated, and driven in precipitate retreat the whole distance back to -Snake River, hotly pursued by the victorious Indians, and his force was -only saved from massacre by the friendly Nez Perces, who ferried the -fugitive troops over the river in their canoes, and boldly interposed -between them and the pursuing savages. - -As soon as he could organize a powerful force, Colonel Wright in -September, two months later, marched to the Spokane in person, -encountered and defeated the Indians near the scene of Steptoe's defeat, -and reduced them to submission, hanging a number of them offhand without -trial, and killing many of their horses. On his return to Walla Walla he -seized and executed in like manner several of the more turbulent Cuyuse -and Walla Walla warriors. And this was the end of Wool's theory of -peaceable and injured Indians, and the prejudiced officers, who clung to -it so long and so obstinately, were at length obliged to adopt the very -policy that Governor Stevens urged upon them in the beginning. - -The Yakima chief, Ow-hi, most active next to Kam-i-ah-kan in bringing on -the war and inciting the other tribes to hostility, and cunning and -treacherous in his diplomacy, boldly entered Wright's camp on the -Spokane soon after the fight, and was forthwith arrested and held a -prisoner by that commander. The next day Ow-hi's son, Qualchen,--the -murderer of agent Bolon,--rode into camp, putting on a bold face and -fully expecting to be treated with the consideration formerly shown the -Yakima chiefs. Far different was his fate. Wright sternly ordered him to -immediate execution, and the wretched brave was forthwith hanged by the -guard, despite his frantic pleadings and protestations. His father, the -chief Ow-hi, was killed a few days later while attempting to escape. But -Wool and his parasites, so vociferous in denouncing the slaying of -Pu-pu-mox-mox under like circumstances, raised no voice in rebuke of the -merciless severity of Wright. - - - - - CHAPTER XLI - - DISBANDING THE VOLUNTEERS - - -On returning to Olympia the governor issued the order disbanding the -entire volunteer organization, and took the necessary steps for -disposing at public auction of the animals, equipments, and supplies on -hand, and settling the accounts. The animals captured by Shaw in the -Grande Ronde were sold at Vancouver, and brought enough to defray the -entire cost of the expedition. In fact, owing to the large number taken, -there were more animals actually sold at the several auctions than the -whole number purchased for the volunteer service, notwithstanding the -many worn out during the months of hard service. The sales of property -realized some $150,000, and the articles sold generally brought more -than the original cost. "I trust," remarked the governor, "that in view -of the fact that our transportation has cost us nothing, that our people -have let their animals go into the service from three to nine months, -and have taken them back at a premium, the enemies of the Territory will -be more guarded in their speech." As all the expenses of the volunteer -organization had been defrayed by scrip, the sales were made for scrip, -and many of the settler-volunteers were glad to purchase stock, wagons, -or supplies to take home with them, instead of paper promises to pay, -yet at that time the scrip was but little depreciated. - -An incident showing the scrupulous regard for orders and public property -maintained among the volunteers is related of Captain Henness. He -captured a mule at the battle of the Grande Ronde and rode it home to -Olympia, a distance of some five hundred miles. Desirous of owning the -animal, he bid for it when put up at the public auction, but it was -struck off to another for $475; and this brave officer, who had served -in the field as captain of a company for ten months, was unable to -secure his own riding mule, and one, too, captured by himself. - -When the accounts were finally adjusted, the scrip issued amounted to-- - - Equipments, supplies, etc., $961,882.39 - Pay-rolls of the troops 519,593.06 - ------------- - Total $1,481,475.45 - -The aggregate number of volunteers was 1896. About one thousand were in -service at one time. They were about equally divided between mounted and -infantry troops. Oregon furnished 215,--the companies of Miller, Goff, -and Richards (afterwards Williams). As the whites capable of bearing -arms in the entire Territory did not exceed 1700, it is evident that -this aid from Oregon was of great value. - -Thirty-five stockades, forts, and blockhouses were built by the -volunteers, some of them being quite large works, twenty-three by the -settlers, and seven by the regular troops. Besides which, the roads and -trails cut by the volunteers involved an immense amount of labor. - -The strict discipline, high _morale_ and good conduct of the volunteers -were remarkable, and very creditable to them, and to the firm and -sagacious mind that organized and commanded them. All captured property -was turned over to the quartermasters, and properly accounted for. There -was no case of murder, or unauthorized killing of Indians, by the -volunteers. There was no plundering or serious offenses of any kind -charged upon them. They obeyed their orders with alacrity and zeal, no -matter how arduous or how dangerous the duty required of them. They were -the best type of American settlers, brave, intelligent, patriotic, -self-respecting. They went into the war in self-defense, and were -determined to put it through as soon as possible. - -Study the maps of their marches and scouts; count the blockhouses they -built, the roads and trails they opened; consider the unknown and almost -impenetrable forest region the theatre of war; the rains; the hardships, -the labors they underwent; and reflect how uniformly successful they -were, not only in engagements, but in throwing the savage enemy wholly -on the defensive, in completely putting an end to his attacks and -depredations, and hunting him down so vigorously that only flight or -submission could save him from death,--and one cannot but realize how -necessary were their patriotic services and achievements, and how well -they justified the wisdom and ability of Governor Stevens in calling -them to the defense of the country, and carrying on an aggressive war. - - - FORTS AND BLOCKHOUSES BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS. - - Stockade, Cowlitz Landing - Blockhouse, Cowlitz Farms - Blockhouse, Skookumchuck - Blockhouse, Chehalis River, at Ford's - Fort Miller, Tanalquot Plains - Fort Stevens, Yelm Prairie - Blockhouse at Lowe's, Chambers' Prairie - Blockhouse, Olympia - Stockade, Olympia - Fort Hicks, Camp Montgomery - Blockhouse, Camp Montgomery - Fort White, Puyallup Crossing - Fort Hays, Connell's Prairie - Blockhouse, Connell's Prairie - Fort White, White River Crossing - Fort Posey, White River Crossing - Fort McAllister, South Prairie - Blockhouse, Lone Tree Point - Fort Ebey, Snohomish River - Fort Tilton, below Snoqualmie Falls - Fort Alden, Ranger's Prairie - Blockhouse, Port Townsend - " Point Wilson - " Bellingham Bay - " on Skookumchuck - " Vancouver - " Fourth Prairie - " Washougal River - " Lewis River - Fort Mason, Walla Walla Valley - Fort Preston, Michel Fork of Nisqually - Blockhouse, Klikitat Prairie - Fort Kitsap, Port Madison - Fort Lander, Duwhamish River - Stockade, Seattle - - BY SETTLERS FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION. - - Blockhouse at Davis's, Claquato - Stockade at Cochran's, Skookumchuck - Stockade, Fort Henness, Grand Mound Prairie - Stockade at Goodell's, Grand Mound Prairie - Blockhouse, Tanalquot Plains - Blockhouse, Nathan Eaton's, Chambers' Prairie - Two blockhouses, Chambers' Prairie - Blockhouse at Ruddell's, Chambers' Prairie - Stockade at Bush's, Bush Prairie - Blockhouse at Rutledge's, Bush Prairie - Two blockhouses at Tumwater - Blockhouse, Dofflemyer's Point - Blockhouse, Whitby Island - " Port Gamble - Fort Arkansas, on Cowlitz - Blockhouse, on Miami Prairie - Blockhouse, Port Ludlow - " Port Madison - Two blockhouses, Boisfort - Two blockhouses, Cascades - - BY REGULAR TROOPS. - - Fort Slaughter, Muckleshoot Prairie - Fort Maloney, Puyallup River - Fort Thomas, Green River - Blockhouse, Black River - Fort, Walla Walla Valley - Fort, Yakima Valley - Blockhouse, Cascades - -A few days after his return Governor Stevens was requested by Colonel -Casey to take charge of a band of about a hundred lately hostile Sound -Indians who had recently returned, or been sent back, from the Yakima. -The colonel complained that he had already sent them to the reservation, -but the agent had refused to receive them, and, in order to prevent any -disturbance that might arise from the "strange conduct of your agent," -he had again received and was feeding them. The governor, having learned -that Stahi and other known murderers were with this band, and that -Leschi had been recently seen near Fort Nisqually, the Hudson Bay -Company post, at once replied, positively refusing to receive them until -the murderers among them were arrested for trial, and formally demanded -Colonel Casey's aid to that end:-- - - "I have therefore to request your aid in apprehending Leschi, - Qui-e-muth, Kitsap, Stahi, and Nelson, and other murderers, and to - keep them in custody awaiting a warrant from the nearest magistrate, - which being accomplished, I will receive the remainder. - - "In conclusion, I have to state that I do not believe any country or - any age has afforded an example of the kindness and justice which - has been shown towards the Indians by the suffering inhabitants of - the Sound during the recent troubles. They have, in spite of the few - cases of murder which have occurred, shown themselves eminently a - law-abiding, a just, and a forbearing people. They desire the - murderers of Indians to be punished, but they complain, and they - have a right to complain, if Indians, whose hands are steeped in the - blood of the innocent, go unwhipped of justice." - -In response to this Colonel Casey declared that these Indians "delivered -themselves up to Colonel Wright when in the Yakima country, made their -peace with him, and were promised protection. Colonel Wright informed me -of these facts." He declined, therefore, to assist in arresting the -murderers, on the ground that it would be bad policy, if not bad faith, -to do so, and added that he would refer the matter to General Wool. He -also remarked: "The Indians on the Sound, there is no doubt, can, by -neglect and ill-usage, be driven to desperation." - -The governor controverted the position assumed by Colonel Casey that -protection had been promised these Indians by Colonel Wright, and -renewed his demand:-- - - "I have the statement to me by Colonel Wright that he had made no - terms with them, and had guaranteed to them no immunity from trial - and punishment. This statement was made to me repeatedly by Colonel - Wright, and in the presence of witnesses, one of whom is Mr. - Secretary Mason. On the contrary, I have twice in writing made - requisition on Colonel Wright for the delivery to me, in order that - they might be brought within reach of the civil authorities, of - Leschi, Qui-e-muth, Kitsap, Stahi, and Nelson,--a requisition which - he has not pretended to disregard, but which he simply asked my - consent to have suspended for the present in view of the - circumstances under which they came in. I renew my requisition upon - you, as I did upon Colonel Wright, and I inclose for your - information the correspondence with Colonel Wright in relation to - the subject. - - "Granted that it was a case of legitimate warfare, the men for whom - I make requisition committed the murders in a time of profound - peace, wider circumstances of unsurpassed treachery and barbarity, - when their victims were entirely unsuspicious of danger, and this, - too, in violation of the faith of treaties, which expressly - stipulated for the giving up of men guilty of such offenses. - - "Nor is there any analogy between the cases of known Indians who - have murdered white men and certain unknown white men who have - murdered Indians. Your soldiers killed an Indian. Where are they? - The citizens have killed Indians. Where are they? Two are in your - own garrison in confinement awaiting trial; and the others,--proof - has not yet been found, after every exertion has been made to insure - a bill from a grand jury in regard to the persons suspected. - - "I do not understand, in view of the known humanity and energy of - the Indian service on the Sound, aided as it has been by the body of - the citizens, the necessity, in communications to me, of this - constant reference to the ill-treatment of the Indians, for it must - be borne in mind that we have managed some four thousand five - hundred Indians on temporary reservations on the Sound during the - war. Indians taken from the war ground, by unwearied vigilance and - care, have been seen to pass from a state of uncertainty as to - whether they would join the war party, to one of contentment and - satisfaction, with no assistance from the military whatever." - -The governor also sent Colonel Casey a copy of Colonel Wright's order on -Major Garnett to deliver up the murderers. - -This correspondence seems to raise an ugly question of veracity between -the two regular officers in regard to whether protection had or had not -been promised the Sound murderers, but the strenuous efforts to shield -them from punishment for their crimes made by these officers is passing -strange. - -Colonel Casey persisted in his refusal, saying: "This is a case in which -the rights and usages of war are somewhat involved, and in consequence I -consider myself and military superiors the proper persons to judge in -the matter," and he referred it to General Wool. That officer, of -course, swiftly directed him to protect Leschi, and all other Indians -professing friendship, against the whites. - -A few days later Colonel Casey again referred to the case of the -Indians, suggested that the reports which his agents and others carried -to the governor should be received with great caution, and remarked:-- - - "The one which I had the honor to receive from you a few days since, - that more than one hundred Indians had left the reservation for the - purpose of joining Leschi, proves to have been, what I believed at - the time, a baseless fabrication. With a sincere desire to do - justice to all, I will say that it is my firm belief, after weighing - I trust with due consideration all the circumstances connected with - the matter, that if, in dealing with the Indians on the Sound, a - spirit of justice is exercised, and those who have charge of them - are actuated by an eye single to their duties and the peace of the - country, there need be no further difficulty." - -This unwarrantable slur called forth the following pungent reply from -the governor. He had made no such report as Casey attributed to him:-- - - LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SILAS CASEY. - - _Sir_,--My reasons for declining to receive the Indians at your post - have been already stated, and remain in full force. When the - murderers, and those accused of murder, are, in compliance with my - requisition, placed by you in the hands of the civil authority, the - Indians will be received. The agents have positive orders to receive - none of these Indians except by my written instructions. The - Indians have been or will be indicted by the grand jury of the - several counties. As you have proclaimed that hostilities have - ceased, they are in your military possession. - - In regard to your observations about the reports which my "agents - and others carry to me," as well as the reiterations of former - observations in reference to the exercise of a spirit of justice, - and the efforts of persons in charge of Indians being "actuated by - an eye single to those duties and the peace of the country," I have - simply to state that the tone of them is offensive, and comes with - an ill grace from the authority which has done little to that which - has done much. It is not my disposition to retaliate, but the - occasion makes it proper for me to state that the greatest - difficulty I have had to encounter in stopping the whiskey traffic - with the Indians at Steilacoom and Bellingham Bay has been the - conduct of your own command. It would seem to be more appropriate - that you should first control and reform the conduct of your own - people, before going out of your way to instruct and rebuke another - branch of the public service,--a service, too, which, both from its - experience and the success which has attended its labors, is - entitled to the presumption that it is as much interested in, and as - much devoted to, the peace of the country as yourself, and as well - qualified, to say the least, to consider dispassionately and to - judge wisely of affairs at the present juncture. - - I have also been informed of your thanking God, in the presence of - Mr. Wells, who informed you how the Muckleshoot reservation was laid - off, that the iniquity of it was not upon your hands,--a remark - highly presumptuous and insulting, as well from the fact that the - business did not concern you, as from the fact that the reservation - was laid off both in the way I arranged with the Indians at the - council on Fox Island and to their entire satisfaction on the - ground. - - Very respectfully your obedient servant, - - ISAAC I. STEVENS, - _Governor and Supt. Indian Affairs_. - - N.B. I will respectfully ask you to send me a copy of my letter - notifying you that one hundred Indians had left to join Leschi. - -It is perhaps creditable to Colonel Casey's discretion that he attempted -no reply to this letter, but simply acknowledged its receipt, and -admitted that, in attributing the report about Leschi to the governor, -"it was an error on my part, and I cheerfully correct it." A thoroughly -well-meaning man, he was evidently affected by Wool's orders and -influence; and, moreover, he suffered himself to give ear to, and was -consequently misled by, the clique of lawyers and politicians who had -instigated the martial law trouble in order to embarrass the governor, -and were now hounding him with unabated rancor. - -Notwithstanding Casey's scruples and Wool's orders, Leschi and other -accused murderers were duly indicted, arrested, and delivered to and -received by Colonel Casey for custody at Fort Steilacoom, and thereupon -the governor relieved him of his unwelcome proteges by sending them to -the reservation. Leschi was tried in due time, but the jury disagreed. -He was convicted at a subsequent trial, and expiated his crimes on the -gallows. The regular officers at Fort Steilacoom, with certain lawyers -and Indian sympathizers, made desperate efforts to save him from -punishment, but in vain. The well-meaning Casey was even hanged in -effigy by the people, indignant at his course. - -Leschi's brother, Qui-e-muth, was captured near Yelm prairie, November -18, and brought to the governor's office in Olympia at midnight. The -governor gave strict orders for guarding and protecting him there until -morning, when he was to be taken to Steilacoom. Just before daylight, as -he was sleeping on the floor, surrounded by his guards, who were also -asleep, a man rushed into the room, the door being unlocked, shot -Qui-e-muth in the arm with a pistol, and, as he rose to his feet, drove -a bowie knife into his heart, and rushed out as suddenly as he had -entered. The deed was done, the assassin vanished, the victim sank -lifeless to the floor, all in an instant, ere the startled and -astonished guards could raise a hand to protect their charge. The -governor, who had retired to rest in his quarters in the next building, -aroused by the shot and the trampling of feet, came immediately to the -scene, and was horror-struck and filled with indignation at the crime, -and denounced it in unmeasured terms as a disgrace to the good name of -the people and of the Territory. He made every effort to identify and -punish the murderer, but without avail. None of the guards could -identify him, and no testimony could be found against any one. Yet it -was currently whispered that vengeance for the murder of McAlister, a -settler on the Nisqually and one of the earliest victims of savage -treachery, had nerved the arm of his son-in-law, Joseph Bunting, to -strike the blow. - -Nothing that occurred during the whole war excited greater indignation -in the mind of the governor than this act, or caused him more regret and -chagrin. He had been unremitting in his efforts to protect the Indians -from lawless violence, and with such remarkable success that the -volunteers were wholly free from reproach; only six cases had occurred -among the exasperated settlers, and several of these he had brought to -trial. And now this dastardly deed brought reproach to his very door. - - - - - CHAPTER XLII - - MARTIAL LAW.--DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME - - -During all the Indian outbreak and hostilities a number of Hudson Bay -Company ex-employees, Scotchmen and Canadians, were living in the Indian -country back of Steilacoom in safety, when every American settler was -murdered, or had fled to the towns. They had Indian wives and half-breed -children, and claimed to be neutral. They were in frequent communication -with the hostile Indians, and were not molested by them. Captain Maxon -and other officers reported that they were undoubtedly giving -information, aid, and comfort to the enemy, and that their scouting -expeditions were fruitless in consequence. The Indians who killed White -and Northcraft in March so near Olympia were tracked straight to the -houses of two of these neutrals, who acknowledged having been visited by -the savages, but disclaimed any knowledge of their deeds. The volunteer -officers, however, believed that they were not only sympathizers with, -but active allies of, the hostiles, and were ready at the least -intimation from the governor to treat them as hostiles. Colonel Casey -declared that they ought not to be suffered to remain on their farms, -where they could aid the enemy, if so disposed. The governor therefore -ordered them to leave the Indian country and remove to Olympia, Fort -Nisqually, or Steilacoom, and there remain until further orders, in -order to place them where they would be unable to give information or -aid to the enemy, and also for their own safety, for the indignation of -the volunteers was at white heat against them. Accordingly they moved -in as ordered, twelve of them. - -Most of them had already taken out their first naturalization papers, -and filed on their claims under the Donation Acts, and were entitled to -all the rights of American citizens. A few lawyers at Steilacoom, -political or personal opponents of the governor, most active of whom was -Frank Clark, saw here a chance to embarrass him,--in their own -vernacular, "to get him down." They went to these ignorant men, exhorted -them in regard to their rights as citizens, assured them that the -governor had no authority to order them to abandon their claims, which -Congress had bestowed upon them, and that they could return to their -homes with safety, because the law and the courts would protect them in -so doing. Thus persuaded, five of these misguided men, Charles Wren, -Sandy Smith, John McLeod, Henry Smith, and John McField, went back to -their farms. As soon as informed of their return, the governor caused -them to be seized by a party of volunteers, taken to Fort Steilacoom, -and turned over to Colonel Casey for safe custody, there being no jails -in the Territory. - -Clark and his coadjutors lost no time in suing out a writ of habeas -corpus. They represented matters to Colonel Casey in such a light that -he notified the governor to relieve him of the prisoners. But the -governor was not the man to suffer a few political tricksters to -frustrate his necessary military measures. He well knew that if he -surrendered in this case, he would have to abandon the practice, -indispensable for carrying on the war, of impressing teams and supplies, -and that his hold upon and discipline of the volunteers would be -seriously impaired. On April 3 he proclaimed _martial law_ over the -county of Pierce, and suspended the functions of all civil officers -therein. He caused the prisoners to be taken from the custody of -Colonel Casey, brought to Olympia, and incarcerated in a blockhouse. - -As the regular May term of the United States Court for Pierce County -drew near, the mischief-makers were urgent for Judge F.A. Chenoweth, of -whose district that county formed part, to hold court and enforce the -writ of habeas corpus; but he, being sick, or else, as was currently -believed at the time, fearing trouble and feigning sickness, requested -Chief Justice Edward Lander to hold the term in his stead. Judge Lander -at the time was captain of Company A, and with his company was -garrisoning the post on the Duwhamish, near Seattle; but without a word -of notice to his military superiors he forsook his post, hastened to -Steilacoom, and opened court on May 7. The governor previously urged him -to adjourn his court for one month, by which time there was every -prospect that the Indians would be subdued, and the exigency -necessitating the restraint of the prisoners would have passed. But -Lander refused this way of avoiding a conflict, and persisted in what he -doubtless deemed his duty. - -The governor resolutely met the issue thus raised. The court was duly -opened on the appointed day, the lawyers were ready with their motions, -when a detachment of volunteers under Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw marched -into the court-room, arrested the chief justice on the bench and the -clerk at his table, and carried them under guard to Olympia, where they -were released. - -As soon as the detachment had departed with the prisoner judge and -clerk, the clique, which had so cunningly engineered this conflict -between the federal governor and the federal judge, both commissioned by -the same President, made haste to hold a meeting of the "bar," -vociferously to denounce the "flagrant usurpation and high-handed -outrage" of the governor, and to pass a long string of condemnatory -resolutions, which were signed by all the members participating in the -meeting, nine in number. Immediately afterwards the same parties held a -"citizens' meeting" with a few others in the same room, and gave vent to -more vituperative oratory, and passed more denunciatory resolutions. The -whole proceedings were then published in a circular and in the -newspapers. Undoubtedly some who took part in these demonstrations were -sincere in believing the governor's action to be wrong and uncalled for, -but the real motives and animus of the prime movers were abundantly -shown by the false, bitter, and scandalous statements and affidavits -they made against him, and dispatched to the President, committees of -Congress, and the Eastern press. They vehemently accused him not only of -high-handed tyranny and usurpation, but of getting up the war by his -Indian treaties, which he had made in obedience to the instructions of -the government; of vindictively oppressing and persecuting the Indians, -when he was feeding five thousand of them on the reservations, and -standing like a rock to protect them from abuse; and even of drunkenness -and embezzlement of public funds. These charges, from their very excess -and bitterness, largely defeated themselves with the government, and -with all by whom Governor Stevens was personally known; but they excited -a deep prejudice against him in the minds of many, as he afterwards -found in his congressional career. Wool, too, welcomed with avidity -these reinforcements to his crusade, and immediately forwarded copies of -the resolutions, together with anonymous articles reflecting on the -governor, to the War Department. - -The signers of the resolutions were: W.H. Wallace, George Gibbs, Elwood -Evans, C.C. Hewitt, Frank Clark, B.F. Kendall, William C. Peas, E.O. -Murden, H.A. Goldsborough. - -Wallace and Gibbs were the principal speakers at the citizens' meeting; -Thomas M. Chambers, chairman; E. Schrotter and E.M. Meeker, secretaries; -S. McCaw, R. S. Moore, Hugh Patteson, William M. Kincaid, William R. -Downey, committee on resolutions. - -Evans and Kendall came among the aides whom Governor Stevens brought to -the country with the Northern exploration, and who settled in Olympia. -The former became distinguished as an eloquent speaker and writer and -historian of the Pacific Northwest, and, in after-years, paid the most -warm, heartfelt, and appreciative eulogies to Governor Stevens's -character and public services. Gibbs and Goldsborough, whom it will be -remembered the governor had employed in the Indian service and treated -with great kindness and consideration, were unsuccessful and -disappointed men. The former nursed a grievance, in that the governor -had rejected an extensive and ambitious policy of Indian treaties and -Indian management which Gibbs had elaborately set forth in his report on -the Indians, and which, if accepted, would probably have furnished a -good position for himself. - -The circular contained many misstatements, and was highly colored to -give a wrong impression of the actual condition of affairs. To correct -this, the governor published his vindication for proclaiming and -enforcing martial law in Pierce County. In this he clearly and forcibly -states the facts and conditions rendering it necessary, for the success -of military operations, that the suspected men be removed from the -Indian country, and sums up:-- - - "It is simply a question as to whether the executive has the power, - in carrying on the war, to take a summary course with a dangerous - band of emissaries who have been the confederates of the Indians - throughout, and by their exertions and sympathy can render to a - great extent the military operations abortive. - - "It is a question as to whether the military power, or public - committees of the citizens, without law, as in California, shall see - that justice is done in the case. - - "And he solemnly appeals to the same tribunals, before which he has - been arraigned in the circular, in vindication of his course, being - assured that it ought to be, and will be, sustained as an imperious - necessity, growing out of an almost unexampled condition of things." - -Judge Lander's own district included Thurston County and Olympia, and -the term of his court was to be held in a few days after his release -from arrest. The governor's opponents and the judge determined to call -him to account for contempt of court in proclaiming martial law and -arresting the judge; and a strong-room was quietly prepared by the -United States marshal for his incarceration in case of sentence to -imprisonment. The governor issued his proclamation declaring martial law -in Thurston County on May 13, and sent two of the prisoners, Charles -Wren and John McLeod, to Cape Montgomery for trial before a military -commission. The others were released and permitted to go to Steilacoom, -on giving their parole to remain there. - -Judge Lander opened his court on the 14th, and issued notice, and then a -writ, summoning the governor to show cause why he should not be punished -for contempt. No notice being taken of these missives, on the 15th a -writ of attachment was issued to be served _instanter_, and United -States Marshal George W. Corliss, with a strong posse, armed with this -document, proceeded to the executive office for the purpose of arresting -the governor and bringing him before the court. The governor received -them, when they announced their business, with a quiet, cool dignity, -which completely nonplussed them, and remarked, "Gentlemen, why don't -you execute your office?" As they still hung back, and looked at each -other, as though at a loss to know what to do, the clerks, aided by -some gentlemen present, ejected the posse from the office, to which they -offered no resistance. Major Tilton, Captain A.J. Cain, James Doty, -Quincy A. Brooks, R.M. Walker, A.J. Baldwin, Lewis Ensign, Charles E. -Weed, and Joseph L. Mitchell were they who expelled the posse; but it is -evident that the latter made only a formal show of executing the writ. - -This farcical attempt had scarcely ended when a force of mounted -volunteers rode rapidly into town. Judge Lander, hearing of their -approach, hastily adjourned court, and took refuge in the office of -Elwood Evans, the acting clerk of court, a wooden building of two rooms, -situated on the east side of Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth -streets. To this, a few minutes later, came Captain Bluford Miller with -a file of men, and demanded admittance. Finding the door locked, he -remarked, "I'll add a new letter to the alphabet: let her rip," and -kicked in the door with his heavy boots. Entering, he found the judge -and Evans in the rear room, and arrested them. Mr. Evans was immediately -released, and Judge Lander was taken to Camp Montgomery, where he was -held in honorable custody until the war on the Sound was practically -over, when he was set at liberty. - -Immediately on the departure of the volunteers with their judicial -prisoner, an attempt was made to hold a public meeting to protest -against the governor's action. Evans and Kendall were the chief movers -and speakers, and harangued a small crowd on Main Street, in front of -the governor's dwelling and office. Mrs. Stevens, with her little girls, -happened to be sitting in the front doorway as they approached, and -refused to withdraw; but her presence did not deter nor mollify the -speeches. Despite the would-be indignation of the promoters, the whole -proceeding fell flat, for nearly every one approved the governor's -course, and only a mere handful took part in the demonstration. At -length, having emptied the vials of their wrath, one of the speakers -moved to adjourn in order to spare the feelings of Mrs. Stevens, who had -sat apparently unmoved through it all, and the assemblage dispersed. - -A mass meeting, one of the largest ever convened in Olympia, was held at -the blockhouse on the public square, Judge B.F. Yantis presiding, and -J.W. Goodell, secretary, and the course of Governor Stevens in the -matter of martial law was emphatically indorsed, with but twelve -dissenting votes. Memorials strongly defending his action were almost -unanimously signed by the volunteers, and sent to the Oregon and -Washington delegates in Congress. Both Judge Lander and Judge Chenoweth, -in their reports to the Secretary of State, complaining of the governor -for enforcing martial law, admit that the people indorsed his course, -and that the marshals or sheriffs were powerless to resist his orders. - -The two prisoners, Wren and McLeod, were tried by military commission on -the charge of giving aid and comfort to the enemy; but owing to lack of -evidence and the end of the war, they were not convicted, and were -finally set at liberty. - -Martial law was revoked by proclamation on May 24. Judge Lander held his -court at its next regular term in July. In response to notice the -governor appeared by counsel, disclaimed any intentional disrespect to -the court, but justified his action in proclaiming and enforcing martial -law on the ground of imperious public necessity. A fine of fifty dollars -for contempt was imposed, which he paid. Anticipating a heavy fine, his -friends and admirers were preparing a popular subscription to defray it, -but they were not called upon. The judge's action in imposing a merely -nominal fine was taken to be an acknowledgment, in accordance with the -opinion of nine tenths of the community, that the governor's course, if -technically illegal, was necessary and right. No action was taken -against the volunteers who broke up the courts, or the citizens who -turned the marshal and his posse into the street. In his communications -to the government in defense of his course in proclaiming martial law, -Governor Stevens advanced almost identically the same reasons and -arguments that were afterwards adduced by President Lincoln to justify -his suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. - -By a letter of the Secretary of State, dated September 12, Governor -Stevens was informed that the President, while having no doubt of the -purity of his motives, disapproved his action in proclaiming martial -law. - - - THE CASE OF COMPANY A. - -The chief punishment by which the governor maintained such excellent -discipline among the volunteers was that of dishonorable dismissal from -the service, which carried with it the loss of pay. This was inflexibly -enforced in flagrant cases of disobedience or misconduct, and, being -regarded as a disgraceful stigma, was found sufficient. The good conduct -and discipline of the volunteers was doubtless promoted by the incessant -activity and labor to which they were put; but they were due still more -to the superior intelligence and character of the settlers who turned -out _en masse_ in defense of their hearthstones, and carried on the war -with such patriotic zeal. - -In one case, however, the governor felt constrained to dismiss a whole -company, an act afterwards made the pretext for much political -denunciation and censure. It will be remembered that almost the first -act of the governor, in the prosecution of the war, was to disband all -local and home guards, and to enlist volunteers for general defense, to -serve wherever and whenever ordered. On February 1 he directed Judge -Lander to disband a company he had raised in Seattle for home defense, -and to enlist there a company for six months, subject to the orders of -the executive, in conformity with the proclamation calling out -volunteers. "Every man," wrote the governor to Lander, "who enlists, -must do so with the understanding that he enlists for the general -defense of the Territory, and that he must move to any point where his -services, in the opinion of his commanding officer, are most needed." - -Under these instructions Lander disbanded his first company and raised -another, Company A, which garrisoned Seattle for a time, and then built -and occupied a post on the Duwhamish River, a few miles above Seattle, -and rendered good service in scouting that vicinity and Lake Washington. -It was this post and command that Lander abandoned in order to hold -Judge Chenoweth's court, with such mortifying results to himself. - -On June 9 Lieutenant A.A. Denny, who succeeded to the command of Company -A on Lander's abandonment of it, was ordered to detail an officer and -eight men to hold the post, and to move with his company to Fort Hays, -on Connell's prairie, thence to assist in cutting a road to Snoqualmie -Falls. On his representation that a greater force was needed for the -protection of the citizens in his vicinity than was designated, he was -directed to leave twenty men at the post, and to send the remainder of -his company by canoe to Steilacoom, thence to march to Camp Montgomery, -where he would receive supplies. He was informed that-- - - "the representation of Captain Lander that forty men could be - spared, the fact of parties of from three to five having traveled in - safety the route from the falls of the Snoqualmie to Porter's - prairie, and the reports of Mr. Yesler that but six or eight - Indians are still out east of Seattle, are sufficient to warrant the - leaving of the town of Seattle to the protection of the naval forces - and the regulars at Fort Thomas;" - -and that fifteen days would probably be occupied in cutting the road. -The Massachusetts lay in the harbor of Seattle, and fifteen of her men -were on shore garrisoning the town. Lieutenant Denny, in a long and -argumentative letter dated June 19, reiterated his opinion that it would -not be safe to withdraw the company from its post. He wrote:-- - - "I am extremely surprised at the opinion represented as expressed by - Judge Lander. During the period of his command it was often publicly - stated by him that this company was expressly organized (by private - understanding with the governor and commander-in-chief) for the - protection of this immediate neighborhood." - -It is hard to reconcile this with the governor's explicit orders and -letter to Judge Lander. - -For such failure to obey orders Lieutenant Denny was directed to turn -over his command to the next officer in rank, and was relieved from duty -in the volunteer service until further orders. Lieutenant D.A. Neely, -the next in rank, was ordered to assume command of the company, and -detail twenty men to proceed to Camp Montgomery for work on the road. -But Lieutenant Neely and the whole company proved equally recusant, and -signed and transmitted to the governor resolutions fully indorsing the -course of Lieutenant Denny, and declaring that they considered the -course of the commander-in-chief in suspending Lieutenant Denny from his -command an act of injustice and an insult to the company, wholly -unjustifiable and uncalled for. - -With great forbearance, regarding the company not as willfully -disobedient, but as led astray by feeling and bad advice, the governor -sent his aide, Colonel Fitzhugh, to endeavor to bring them to reason and -due sense of duty, and gave him the following instructions:-- - - "You will show these resolutions to the company, and request the - signers to either repudiate or modify them in such a manner as to - relieve themselves from the position of disobedience to the orders - which these resolutions condemn. - - "You will represent to the company that the resolution disapproving - of the course of the commander-in-chief, and considering it 'an act - of injustice and wholly uncalled for,' places the company in an - attitude of insubordination which will necessarily preclude the - possibility of their being honorably discharged from the service - until they, by their own acts, occupy different ground from that of - justifying disobedience to orders. - - "There is nothing improper or objectionable in Company A requesting - the reinstatement of Lieutenant Denny, and a request to that effect - would be properly considered, but by indorsing and sustaining that - officer in his refusal to obey orders they participate in a state of - indiscipline and insubordination which is destructive to efficiency, - and injurious to the reputation of the volunteer service of - Washington Territory. - - "In the hope that the intelligent and gallant men of Company A will - see the matter in the true light, and by their act in rescinding - these unmilitary and insubordinate resolutions will place themselves - upon the same footing as the rest of the regiment, and so enable the - commander-in-chief to report as efficient and useful the whole body - of troops raised from the citizen soldiery of Washington Territory, - I have the honor to be," etc. - -But Colonel Fitzhugh was unable to induce the company to rescind the -resolutions, and reported that a false sense of shame restrained them. -He was then sent back to formally disband the company, which he did July -28, and they were dishonorably discharged. The governor, however, did -not allow this discharge to deprive them of full pay, but in this -respect presented their claims on the same footing as the other -volunteers. All were finally paid by Congress. - - - CONTROL OF DISAFFECTED INDIANS. - -Governor Stevens's responsibilities and labors were vastly increased by -the great number of Indians on the Sound who did not actively join in -the outbreak, but who caused constant care and anxiety on the one hand -to prevent their aiding their kindred who had taken the war-path, and on -the other to protect them from retaliatory violence at the hands of -infuriated settlers, whose nearest and dearest had been sacrificed in -savage massacre, and from the destructive whiskey traffic with vicious -and debased white men. Five thousand of such Indians were placed upon -the insular reservations and supported, in large part, under the charge -of reliable agents; while three thousand more remained on the Strait of -Fuca and the western shore of the Sound in less strict custody, as they -were more remote from the scene of hostilities. For a time these -reservation Indians were in a very excited and disaffected state. It was -impossible to prevent hostile emissaries from mingling among them, or -some of the young braves from slipping away to help their brethren -against the hated whites. The agents lived among them in constant and -imminent danger of massacre; they carried their lives in their hands. -The governor's plan of enlisting them as auxiliaries, and sending them -out under white officers to hunt down the enemy, although attended at -first with great risk of treachery, was the most effective means of -confirming their fidelity, and when the tide turned against the enemy, -all were eager in their professions of friendship and offers of -services. The first of these expeditions, that of Pat-ka-nim and his -Snohomish warriors under Colonel Simmons, was considered a very doubtful -and dangerous experiment; but heavy rewards were offered the chief for -the heads of the hostiles he might slay, and one that he sent in was -said to have been that of his own brother. Well might Shaw exclaim, -"Blankets will turn any Indian on the side of the whites." After this, -Pat-ka-nim's allegiance was well secured. - -When Sidney Ford led a party of Chehalis Indians on a scout against the -enemy, he lay one night pretending slumber, while he listened to a long -discussion between his _friendly_ Indian followers as to the expediency -of killing him and joining the hostiles. Agent Wesley Gosnell had a -somewhat similar experience. What iron nerves, what devoted patriotism, -thus to venture into the trackless forests at the head of these -uncertain and treacherous savages! There is not the slightest doubt that -a few weeks of Wool's pacific and defensive policy would have united all -these disaffected Indians in the outbreak, and swept the whole country -with a whirlwind of savage war. Nothing but Governor Stevens's prompt, -aggressive, and masterly measures prevented the catastrophe. - -By many of the settlers the governor's treatment of the Indians was -deemed too lenient and generous. They declared that Indians who received -and concealed the visits of hostile warriors, and allowed their young -men to join in the raids and fights, ought themselves to be treated as -hostile, and warred down without mercy. On one occasion a worthy and -intelligent clergyman pleaded long and earnestly with the governor, -urging him to attack and put to the sword the Indians on the Squaxon -reservation, many of whom were Nisquallies, the tribe that had taken the -lead in the outbreak. But the governor disregarded all such appeals, and -remained as firm in protecting the friendly or merely disaffected -Indians as inflexible in requiring the punishment of the murderers who -first instigated the war by the wanton massacre of inoffensive settlers. - -Summary measures were taken with whiskey-sellers, when caught about the -reservations. The agent would arm his employees, and when necessary a -few stout and trustworthy Indians, descend on the culprit, stave, smash, -and destroy his poisonous stores, and drive him to instant flight. There -was no fooling with legal proceedings or courts. The means were -effective, if somewhat high-handed, and the only ones that could be made -so. It was more difficult to prevent the Indians from obtaining liquor -away from the reservations, especially about the towns, and the governor -complained that the regular soldiers were among the worst offenders in -this respect. - -In a private letter to Colonel Nesmith, who succeeded him as -Superintendent of Indian Affairs, the governor says of his Indian -agents:-- - - "I have never known a more faithful and efficient body of men than - the officers and employees connected with me in the Indian service. - I have never known, all things considered, a body of men at all to - be compared to them in the high qualities which fit men for duty in - times of emergency. They literally for months went with their lives - in their hands, and moreover in the economy of the service they were - vigilant and faithful. I look upon it as the duty of all officers, - without waiting for instructions, to guard the treasury. I have had - some difficulties to contend with in the past, growing out of - political antipathies. I have from the beginning set my face sternly - against all cliques, combinations, and sinister influences in the - discharge of my duty." - -On these temporary insular reservations were collected some 5000 -Indians. The Snohomish and other tribes, numbering 1700, were placed on -Skagit Head, the southern point of Whitby Island, under Colonel M.T. -Simmons; the Lummi, Nooksahk, and Samish, 1050, at Penn's Cove, Whitby -Island, under R.C. Fay; the Duwhamish, etc., 1000, on Port Madison Bay, -Dr. D.T. Maynard, H. L. Yesler, and G.A. Paige taking charge of them; -the Puyallaps, and Nisquallies, 806, on Fox Island, under Sidney S. -Ford; the Quaks-na-mish, 400, on Klah-shemin or Squaxon Island, under -Wesley Gosnell; the Chehalis, 400, on the Chehalis River, near Judge -S.S. Ford's, and under his charge; the Cowlitz, 300, near Cowlitz, under -Pierre Charles. - -On the Columbia River, under general charge of agent J. Cain, 200 -Chinooks were collected at Vancouver; 200 Klikitats on the White Salmon, -under A. Townsend; and 300 Yakimas, opposite the Dalles, under A.H. -Robie. - -The Indian Department, in response to Governor Stevens's urgent letters -taken to Washington by Secretary Mason, and the latter's clear statement -of the emergency, promptly remitted $27,000 to feed these Indians, and -followed it with large sums for that purpose. - -The northern Indians, gangs of whom persisted in visiting the Sound in -their great war canoes in spite of the prohibition and warnings of both -American and British authorities, caused great anxiety and apprehension. -The governor urged the naval officers to keep a vessel constantly -cruising the lower Sound to overawe and restrain them. On February 17 he -wrote Captain Gansevoort that, from information received, he was -apprehensive of a descent on the settlements by fourteen war canoes of -these savages, and urged that the Active be kept cruising the whole time -between Port Townsend, Bellingham Bay, and Seattle, saying:-- - - "These northern Indians, in daring, force, and intelligence, greatly - surpass the Indians of the Sound. Their war canoes, carrying - seventy-five men, can be moved through stormy seas, and with great - rapidity. I deem it essential to the safety of the lower portion of - the Sound that a steamer should be constantly in motion there." - -Apparently reliable reports were brought to the governor from time to -time that these desperadoes were seeking to join the hostiles. Some of -them actually offered their services to fight for the whites. They were -attracted to the scene of war like vultures to the carrion, and were -equally ready to fight and spoil either party to the conflict, or both. -In July one of these unwelcome visitors was killed in a drunken brawl by -a regular soldier at Steilacoom. From their well-known vindictive -character, it was certain that they would avenge the death sooner or -later by some act of atrocity. The governor therefore reinforced Whitby -Island with fifteen men from the line of the Snohomish, and the -Massachusetts and Hancock were kept diligently cruising. When, in -November, another party appeared near Steilacoom, committing -depredations, and had a fight with the Indians on the reservation, in -which two of their number were killed, Captain Gansevoort hastened to -the scene in the Massachusetts, determined to compel them to leave the -Sound. They had already started down it, but he pursued and overtook -them at Port Gamble, where he found them encamped on an island. After -exhausting all efforts at conciliation, offering to pardon all their -depredations, and even to tow their canoes to Victoria if they would -only depart from the Sound, and all friendly overtures being treated -with the utmost contempt and ridicule by the Indians, Captain Gansevoort -opened fire upon them from his guns, and, throwing a party ashore, -attacked them on land also. Their canoes were destroyed, and they were -driven back into the woods, but they fought with desperate courage and -determination, and continued the contest the entire day. To a message -sent by a captured squaw, inviting them to surrender with the sole -condition of leaving the Sound, they returned the defiant answer that -they would fight as long as there was a man left alive. But being on a -small island, and all their canoes and supplies destroyed, they were -forced by hunger to surrender, which they did after holding out for -forty-eight hours. The party consisted of one hundred and seventeen men, -besides squaws and boys, and lost twenty-seven killed and twenty-one -wounded. Captain Gansevoort took the survivors in his vessel to -Victoria, where he purchased canoes for them and started them northward, -exacting their promises never to return to the Sound. Even this severe -punishment did not deter them from seeking revenge. The following year a -party of them landed on Whitby Island, murdered Colonel Isaac N. Ebey, -the United States collector of customs, cut off his head, plundered his -house, and departed northward with their booty and ghastly trophy. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIII - - LEGISLATIVE CENSURE.--POPULAR VINDICATION - - -The family remained in Olympia during this year of Indian troubles. The -children attended the public school, and found kind and judicious -teachers in the Rev. George F. Whitworth and his estimable wife. Mrs. -Stevens, escorted by her son, frequently rode on horseback over the -neighboring prairies, heedlessly running a greater peril than they knew -of, for the Indians murdered two men and committed depredations quite -near the town. There was not much social gayety at such an anxious time, -but the little community were drawn closer together by the dangers -surrounding it. - -When not absent on his trips, the governor usually worked in his office -till long after midnight, and his assistants and clerks were kept hard -at it to dispose of the multifarious orders, reports, accounts, and -other details of the war and the Indian service. He kept both the War -and Indian departments in Washington constantly informed of the progress -of the war and the condition of affairs by frequent detailed and graphic -reports, and these, with his correspondence, made a volume of four -hundred pages as published with his message of 1857. His physical labors -were also extreme, involving journeys to the Columbia River, the Dalles, -Walla Walla, and down the Sound, aggregating over two thousand miles. -And it should be borne in mind that he was not assisted by any regularly -long established and tried services, but had in a measure to create the -organizations, and to make use of hastily selected and inexperienced -officers. He had by this time fully adopted the rough, serviceable -costume of the country,--slouch hat, woolen shirt, and heavy -riding-boots,--and, indeed, no other garb was practicable for one so -constantly engaged on long and arduous journeys by horseback and canoe, -frequently in stormy weather. - - [Illustration: HOMESTEAD IN OLYMPIA] - -In the summer and fall the governor caused his block of land No. 84, -which he purchased on his first arrival, to be cleared, and the late -Benjamin Harned built for him a plain, square dwelling, with a wide hall -in the centre and rooms on either side, a story and a half high. A -smaller building, for an office, on the northeast corner of the block, -and a stable in the rear on the southwest corner were also built. The -family moved into the new home in December, and found the spacious -rooms, with the magnificent view of the Sound and the Coast Range, a -most agreeable change from the former contracted quarters and noisy -surroundings. - -The governor gave a house-warming, to which he invited the members of -the legislature, a number of naval officers, who happened to be in the -harbor, and about all the townspeople, including Elwood Evans and others -who had been unmeasured in their denunciation of his course. - -The site of the residence had been covered with immense fir-trees, and -all within reach of the dwelling had to be felled to avoid danger of -their falling and crushing the house during some storm, which involved -the felling of the trees over an area of ten acres. But notwithstanding -all this care, one of these forest monarchs was left standing some -distance in front of the office, and the following winter fell directly -across it, cutting the building clear to the ground. The labor of -digging out the immense stumps was very great and expensive, and when -the governor, late in the winter, assured Colonel Cock and Mr. George A. -Barnes that he meant to have the finest garden in town the next spring, -and would send them the earliest vegetables, these old settlers laughed -in confident incredulity. - -The governor was unable to follow up the improvement of the Taylor claim -this year, but John Dunn, the hired man, and Hazard, now an active lad -of fourteen, rode out there from time to time and planted and raised -quite a crop of potatoes, celery, cabbages, etc., on the beaver meadow, -which also afforded several tons of hay. - -The legislature met in December, and Governor Stevens, in a strong -message, accompanied by the correspondence with the War Department and -military officers, rendered a clear and graphic account of his -successful prosecution of the war. In view of his herculean labors and -entire self-devotion, and the outrageous abuse heaped upon him, the -concluding paragraph is touching in its manly simplicity and -confidence:-- - - "I have endeavored faithfully to do my whole duty, and have nothing - to reproach myself with as regards intention. I could have wished - some things had been done more wisely, and that my whole course had - been guided by my present experience. I claim at your hands simply - the merit of patient and long labor, and of having been animated - with the fixed determination of suffering and enduring all things in - your behalf. Whether in the wilderness contending with the hostile - elements, managing and controlling the more hostile aborigines, or - exploring the country, or at the Capitol struggling with - disaffection, the subject of obloquy and abuse, I have had no end - but my duty, no reward in view but my country's good. It is for you - to judge how I have done my part, and for the Almighty Ruler to - allot each man his desert." - -It was generally believed that the legislature, like the people, would -gladly recognize the great services of the governor, and do all in their -power to sustain him. But his political and personal enemies had been -very active, and had covertly secured a number of members, some of them -elected in the guise of pretended friends. From Whitby Island was chosen -an able but corrupt man, J.S. Smith, commonly known as "Carving Fork -Smith," from the current report that his too pressing advances towards a -married woman in Oregon had been repulsed with such an implement by the -insulted matron. This worthy called upon Governor Stevens at the -beginning of the session and proposed some deal, with the result that -the governor indignantly ordered him out of the office. Angered at this -repulse, he made common cause with the governor's enemies, and eagerly -sought means to attack and injure him. His general course in the -prosecution of the war, and even in the martial-law difficulty, was so -universally approved that it would be useless to assail him on that -score, but finally they concluded to make a handle of the dismissal of -Company A. Their object was to obtain some sort of legislative censure -of the governor in aid of the untiring and unscrupulous efforts they -were making for his removal. A resolution pronouncing the charge of -insubordination against Company A to be without sufficient foundation -and also a resolution condemning martial law were introduced, and by the -combination of the supporters of the two, and the strenuous efforts of -the governor's enemies, were passed by a bare majority. - -A committee was appointed to present them to him in person, in order to -make the censure more emphatic and offensive. The governor received the -committee with his wonted dignity and equanimity. One of the members was -Colonel William Cock, whom the governor had always treated with -consideration, whose son he had befriended and employed in the Indian -service, and who had always professed a warm friendship for the -governor, and approval of his course. But Colonel Cock had been won -over by the conspirators by appeals to his vanity, and had allowed -himself to be placed on the committee. When it had delivered its -message, the governor, genuinely grieved at the defection of a friend, -addressed Colonel Cock in a quiet and friendly manner, pointing out how -he had stultified himself, repudiating his own sentiments and -declarations, endeavored to strike down the man who had done so much to -defend the country, and his own professed friend, and finally, against -his better feelings and judgment, had allowed himself to be made a tool -of as a member of the committee. Colonel Cock, realizing at last the -ignoble part he was playing, was thoroughly ashamed and took his leave, -expressing his regret and sorrow at his course. The remainder of the -committee sneaked out, feeling small and crestfallen. But the -conspirators were jubilant, making sure that this legislative censure, -coming on top of General Wool's attacks, the martial-law resolutions, -and the numerous secret affidavits sent on, would certainly cause the -governor's removal, and went about exclaiming, "Governor Stevens is a -dead lion at last." - -After this deliverance, the legislature passed all the measures and -memorials that the governor recommended. Some of the members who voted -for the resolutions of censure regretted their action like Colonel Cock, -and all were soon compelled to cower and apologize before the -indignation which their action excited all over the Territory. -Everywhere the real people, the stalwart settlers, the men of worth and -character, were denouncing this underhanded and cowardly attempt to -misrepresent their sentiments, and strike down the man who had saved the -Territory in her peril and defended her fair fame against the slanders -of high officials, whose patriotic self-devotion and herculean labors -they had witnessed, whose courage, force of character, and ability they -admired, and whose leadership they were proud to follow. The people -were eager to manifest their approval and support of Governor Stevens, -and in response to this sentiment the Democratic convention, meeting at -Cowlitz Landing, unanimously nominated him for delegate in Congress. - -Meantime the governor, least disturbed of all at the unjust but impotent -censure, enjoyed a little respite after four years of incessant and -overwhelming responsibilities and labors. He was comfortably established -in his new home, and hugely enjoyed his garden and farming. He employed -two excellent men about the place, Joel Risden and William Van Ogle, and -fully redeemed his promise of the finest garden and earliest vegetables -in Olympia. He purchased a yoke of oxen, had a cart built, and commenced -clearing the Walker claim, situated half way to Tumwater. The malignant -charges and attacks upon him failed to cause his removal. - -The governor, however, felt that he had not been properly supported at -Washington. His Indian treaties were left unconfirmed, and Wool's course -in excluding settlers from the upper country and vilifying the people -was not rebuked. He declared with great feeling that he would never -accept another appointive civil office. - -On January 26, 1857, at the instance of the governor, the legislature -passed an act incorporating the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, with -a capital of fifteen millions, which might be increased to thirty -millions, and authority to build a railroad from one of the passes in -the Rocky Mountains, on the border of Nebraska, westwardly across -Washington by the Bitter Root valley, crossing the Coeur d'Alene -Mountains, and traversing the plain of the Columbia, with two branches, -one down the Columbia, the other over the Cascade Mountains to the -Sound, with a line from the river to the Sound. Among the incorporators -were Governor Isaac I. Stevens, Senator Ramsay, and General James -Shields, of Minnesota, Judge William Strong, Colonel William Cock, -Elwood Evans, A.A. Denny, and W.S. Ladd. The governor expected a rapid -development of the Territory, and evidently thought that an organized -company with a charter was a practical step towards starting the great -railroad enterprise. - -Early in the year 1857 General Wool was relieved of the command of the -Pacific Department by General N. G. Clarke, colonel 6th infantry, and -went to New York, where he continued his malignant warfare upon the -authorities, volunteers, and people of Oregon and Washington, by whose -governors and legislatures he was denounced, "and whose respect he had -long since ceased to possess." - -After his nomination the governor determined to make a canvass of the -Territory, and invited Alexander S. Abernethy, who was nominated by the -Whig convention, to accompany and meet him in joint discussion. The -newly appointed receiver of the Land Office, just arrived from the East, -Selucious Garfielde, a man of fine, showy presence and great oratorical -gifts, offered to assist in the canvass by discussing national politics. -A small steam-tug, the Traveler, W.H. Horton owner and captain, was -chartered to take the party around the Sound. Mr. Abernethy declined the -invitation, but Colonel William H. Wallace went in his stead, and the -governor, accompanied by Garfielde, Wallace, his son Hazard, and a few -friends, started from Olympia in May, and visited Steilacoom, Seattle, -Ports Madison, Gamble, Ludlow, and Townsend, thence up Hood's Canal to -Sebec, thence Whitby Island, thence Bellingham Bay, and thence returned -to Olympia. At each point the governor spoke at length, defending his -course, but devoting more time to pointing out the needs of the -Territory and the measures necessary for its benefit, such as the -confirmation of the treaties, payment of the war debt, additional roads -and mail service, and especially the Northern Pacific Railroad and its -relation to the trade of Asia. With much feeling he indignantly denied -the personal charges against himself, denounced the traducers, and -defied them to meet him face to face and repeat them. Though not a -fluent speaker, he was clear, strong, earnest, and convincing, and was -everywhere received with the greatest attention and respect. - -A plot was formed at Steilacoom to get up a row at the meeting to be -held there, and under cover of it to assassinate the governor; and in -consequence of the earnest entreaties of his friends there, who had -discovered the plot at the last moment and were wholly unprepared for -it, he made but a short stop at that point. In July he again visited -Steilacoom, and held a meeting and joint discussion, but no attempt at -disturbance was made, his friends being ready for it. - -As the little Traveler slowly churned her way into Bellingham Bay, a -great war canoe, manned by the northern Indians,--those dreaded sea -wolves,--went speeding across the entrance to the bay twice as fast as -the Traveler could possibly go, and the little party felt rejoiced to -have escaped meeting them. It was only a few weeks later that the -unfortunate Colonel Ebey met his tragic fate at the hands of a crew of -these savages. They were forbidden to enter the Sound, and the -appearance of one of their war canoes betokened only violence and -robbery. - -After returning to Olympia the governor spoke at meetings of the -settlers there, at Tumwater, and Yelm, Chambers', and Grand Mound -prairies. Then he proceeded down the Chehalis River and traveled along -the coast, crossing Gray's Harbor and Shoalwater Bay, to the mouth of -the Columbia, holding meetings on Miami prairie, and each of these -points; thence, continuing the canvass, he went up the river, speaking -at Cathlamet, Monticello, Lewis River, Vancouver, and the Cascades, and -then, returning home by way of the Cowlitz, he spoke at Cowlitz Landing -and Judge Ford's. - -In this canvass, in five weeks Governor Stevens traveled by steamer, -canoe, and on horseback fourteen hundred and sixty miles, and spoke at -forty meetings. His friends supported him with great enthusiasm, and one -of the features of the contest was the "Stevens Hat," adopted as a badge -by his more enthusiastic supporters,--a black slouch hat, the rougher -and shabbier the better. - -The election took place July 13, and he was chosen by a vote of 986 -against 549 for his opponent. - -During the governor's absence on the canvass occurred the untimely death -of James Doty, his faithful secretary and assistant in so many difficult -and dangerous Indian councils and expeditions. "I have never been -connected with a more intelligent and upright man," declared the -governor. He was buried on Bush prairie beside his friend, George W. -Stevens. - -After his election as delegate Governor Stevens resigned as governor, -August 11, 1857, and Lafayette McMullan, of Virginia, was appointed his -successor. The governor turned over the gubernatorial office to the new -appointee on his arrival, and the Indian superintendency to Colonel -Nesmith, who was appointed superintendent for both Oregon and -Washington, the two superintendencies having been united by the last -Congress, in May. At his invitation Colonel Nesmith visited him at -Olympia, and the governor took the greatest pains to impart to him all -the information and assistance in regard to his new duties in his power. - -It was on a beautiful morning in the early fall that Governor Stevens -with his family started from Olympia on the return journey to the East. -He rode his noble gray charger Charlie, and his son was also mounted, -while Mrs. Stevens and the three little girls rode in an easy spring -wagon. The roads were dry, the weather of the finest, the country in its -most beautiful garb, and all the family were in high health and spirits; -and the governor, buoyant with courage, hope, and vigor, having -accomplished the tremendous tasks laid upon him by the government, -carried the Territory through the Indian hostilities, overcome all -obstacles, and put down his enemies, now looked forward with renewed -confidence to vindicating his course in Washington, and compelling a -deceived and misguided Congress and administration to do justice to his -people and himself. - -The return journey to the Cowlitz, and down that stream in canoes, and -up the Columbia to Portland by steamboat was uneventful but pleasant, in -strong contrast to the discomforts of the trip on entering the country -three years previously. San Francisco was reached after a short voyage -down the coast, where the governor was again welcomed by his old -friends, and everywhere received with the attention and deference -considered due his remarkable achievements in face of unprecedented -obstacles. - -On the voyage to Panama, the steamer Golden Gate broke her shaft the -second day out, and had to creep back to port with one wheel, like a -bird with a broken wing, losing an entire week. The Golden Age, which -took her place, came near meeting a worse disaster; for one stormy and -misty afternoon, as the captain and cabin passengers were at dinner, a -steerage passenger on the forward upper deck espied a rock-bound island -directly in front of the steamship, upon which she was rushing at full -speed, and gave the alarm. The great paddle-wheels were instantly -reversed, and the vessel just managed to back off before striking. - -Colonel John C. Fremont, the Pathfinder, the Republican candidate for -the presidency, was one of the passengers,--a slender, alert man,--as -was also one of the Californian senators, John Broderick, who fell in a -duel with Judge Terry soon afterwards. The passage across the Isthmus -was made safely and easily all the way by rail; and the voyage from -Aspinwall to New York was unmarked, save by a severe storm, with -mountainous billows for three days, off Cape Hatteras. They arrived in -New York in time to make a short visit in Newport, and to spend -Thanksgiving at Andover with the Puritan father. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIV - - IN CONGRESS.--VINDICATING HIS COURSE - - -Governor Stevens lost no time in hastening to Washington, and the very -next day after his arrival called upon the Commissioner of Indian -Affairs in regard to the funds for, and accounts of, Superintendent -Nesmith. The large numbers of Indians, chiefly in Oregon, still being -restricted to reservations and partially supported by the government, -necessitated heavy expenditures, some of which were made without -previous authorization, and it was essential for the peace of the -country that they should be approved and Nesmith sustained. Following -the matter up with his accustomed energy and thoroughness, he calls upon -the commissioner and Secretary of the Interior again and again; he has -all the suspended accounts, estimates, and papers brought together, and, -having mastered them, he sits down with the chief clerk,--"an old friend -of mine," he writes Nesmith,--posts him up and satisfies him on all -points, and secures his favorable report, and then convinces the -commissioner and secretary. By the very next steamer the funds for -Washington Territory liabilities are sent to Nesmith, and during the -next few months, by unremitting and painstaking efforts, his deficiency -payments are allowed, his estimates approved, and ample funds remitted. -This was an extremely difficult and laborious task, for the expenditures -for the Indian service in the two Territories were unexpectedly large, -the department was naturally reluctant to authorize them, and the -difficulties were largely increased by the rasping and peppery, if not -insubordinate, letters which Nesmith, indignant at the neglect of his -recommendations, addressed to the commissioner, and which the governor -ingeniously neutralized by personally vouching for Colonel Nesmith, and -submitting extracts of Nesmith's letters to himself evincing the -superintendent's devotion to duty. - -The still more important duty of vindicating his Indian treaties and -procuring their ratification engaged his closest attention. In one short -fortnight, by his clear exposition of their wise and beneficent -provisions, and by his graphic portrayal of the conditions in the -Pacific Northwest, he satisfies Commissioner Mix, Secretary Thompson, -and President Buchanan that the treaties ought to be confirmed, and -secures their urgent recommendations to the Senate in favor of -confirming them without delay. He seemed to take his former attitude of -personal influence with the highest officers of the government at a -bound, despite the serious charges that had been made against him. On -December 2 he writes Nesmith:-- - - "We have had many conferences with the commissioner, and two with - the President and Secretary of War, in regard to Indian affairs. I - am working very hard with the department in order to have everything - completely in train against the meeting of Congress. - - "I have been most cordially received in all quarters since my - arrival, and I hope I shall be useful to our Territories." - -And again, on December 17:-- - - "Lane and myself will canvass the Indian committees. Have seen - Senator Sebastian, chairman Senate committee. Pushing armed steamer - for the Sound. Indian and War departments and President all concur. - I have had a most attentive and courteous hearing from all these - gentlemen. Years since, I learned brevity and directness in the - transaction of business here, and I find no difficulty whatever in - effecting a good deal in very brief interviews." - -His old friends in Washington--Professors Bache, Henry, and Baird, -General Totten, Mr. John L. Hayes, former brother officers, and -others--welcomed him back, and were glad and proud to observe that he -was unchanged except in increased maturity and strength of character, -and that his very presence, with his simple, earnest, and dignified -demeanor, refuted the infamous slanders that had been circulated against -him. General Joseph Lane, the delegate from Oregon, received him with -open arms, delighted to have so able a coadjutor to fight the battles of -the far-distant and neglected Northwestern Territories. General Lane was -highly esteemed by all parties, and had much influence with the -Democratic leaders. The governor said he was a tower of strength. A -devoted friendship grew up between the two whole-souled and patriotic -men. - -It will be remembered how inflexibly Governor Stevens insisted upon the -trial and punishment of the Indian murderers who so treacherously -massacred unoffending settlers, deeming the example absolutely -necessary, to deter the commission of outrages by the Indians in the -future. Having brought Leschi and the Sound murderers to condign -punishment, in spite of the efforts of the regular officers to shield -them, he now urged the Indian Department to make requisition upon the -War Department for the arrest and delivery to the civil courts, for -trial, of the Yakima murderers, whose atrocious slaying of their agent, -Bolon, and the miners, precipitated the war, but who thus far had been -virtually safeguarded by the pacific and temporizing policy of the -regular officers. After a number of interviews with the Indian -commissioner and the two secretaries, the demand was about to be -complied with, for all agreed that the murderers ought to be punished, -when the objection was raised by the military authorities on the Pacific -that an attempt to seize the offenders would lead to further -hostilities, and it was intimated that the Indians regarded the -quasi-peace operations of Colonel Wright in 1856 as promising them -immunity for the murders. The Secretary of the Interior, doubtful how -far the good faith of the government might be involved, was consequently -reluctant to make the necessary requisition on the War Department. The -governor thereupon addressed an able letter to the commissioner, in -which he pointed out that an inflexible adherence to the policy of -punishing perpetrators of unprovoked murders was the only course to -impress savage tribes with respect, and deter them from the commission -of similar outrages; that, while such a course in this case might be -attended with the renewal of hostilities on a small scale with the -recalcitrant faction of the Yakimas, it would do more than all else to -strengthen the hands of peaceful and friendly Indians in other tribes. -He declared that he had always understood, from repeated interviews with -Colonel Wright, that that officer had given no immunity to murderers. -Moreover, the very manner in which the military objected showed -conclusively that no such immunity was ever granted; for, if it had been -granted, they would have avowed it positively as their own act, and not -merely have referred to it hypothetically, as it were, and as -subordinate to the question of expediency. For if the faith of the -government had been pledged, questions of expediency were subordinate. -He concluded:-- - - "I must therefore urge the requisition, unless the military will - take the responsibility of saying, 'We did make a pacification on - the ground of immunity to the murderers,' in which case I shall - press the matter no further, except to suggest that measures be - taken to prevent such pacifications hereafter." - -Thus ably and ingeniously the governor forced upon the military the onus -of acknowledging having patched up a fictitious peace by granting -immunity to murderous savages, whom it was their duty to punish. This -they could not bring themselves to do; they were obliged to abandon -their proteges to their fate, and the requisition was made. One cannot -but think, after a careful study of all the evidence, that the Indian -murderers were led to believe in the promise of immunity, if it was not -explicitly promised them. - -At the end of December he broke away from these engrossing cares and -labors for a few days, and went North for his family, having leased a -commodious brick house, No. 510, on the north side of Twelfth Street, -between E and F, at $200 a month; but on January 4 he is again at his -post in the House. He installed Mr. James G. Swan as his secretary, set -apart the upper rooms in the house as an office, and plunged with -redoubled energy into the important and multifarious duties and objects -he had undertaken, chief of which was the confirmation of the Indian -treaties; payment of the Indian war debt; advocacy of the Northern -route, separate Indian superintendency for Washington Territory, armed -steamer for Puget Sound, mail route, military roads, appropriations for -Indian service, and for other needs of the Territory; and pressing -before the departments many private claims growing out of the Indian -war. Besides all these, he published, February 1, a circular letter to -emigrants, giving useful information for those wishing to move to the -Territory. In this month he also wrote a strong appeal to the Indian -Department, urging that the farms promised the Blackfeet by the treaty -of the Blackfoot council be established without further delay, and -suggesting that the commissioner confer with Alexander Culbertson, who -was then visiting Washington,--an appeal which bore fruit, for the -commissioner immediately sent for Mr. Culbertson, and took steps to -start the farms. The governor also gave effective aid to Mr. Culbertson -in collecting an account due him from the government. - -The appropriation of $30,000 for a wagon-road between Fort Benton and -Walla Walla--made in 1855--had never been used, in consequence of the -Indian hostilities, and the governor now induced the Secretary of War to -authorize the commencement of the road, and to place Lieutenant Mullan -in charge of it. The topographical engineers of the army were not a -little put out at the governor's action in Mullan's behalf, claiming -that the duty rightfully belonged to one of their corps, and that he was -disregarding the rights of the engineers in bestowing it upon a line -officer; but he had found Mullan one of the most zealous and efficient -officers of the Exploration, and one, moreover, especially conversant -with the country. His recommendation had great weight with the War -Department, thus to overcome the influence of the corps and the almost -invariable usage. Another incident which occurred at this time afforded -further evidence of his influence. An officer of General Wool's staff, -Captain T.J. Cram, in 1857 made a report to him upon the upper Columbia -country, much of which was taken from Governor Stevens's exploration -reports without acknowledgment. Moreover, the navigability of the great -river was pronounced utterly impracticable, and the country itself -stigmatized as essentially barren and worthless; and the report was made -the vehicle for reiterating all Wool's exploded charges against the -territorial authorities, people, and volunteers, and collecting and -retailing all the stories of outrage upon Indians by whites that could -be trumped up. This precious "topographical memoir" was widely published -in the newspapers, and was submitted by General Wool to the War -Department, with the evident design of defeating the confirmation of -the treaties and the payment of the war debt. When the report arrived, -the governor filed a statement in the department exposing its character; -and at his instance Captain A.A. Humphreys, who had charge of all the -Pacific Railroad reports, also filed a similar statement, pointing out -Cram's unreliability and plagiarisms, so thoroughly discrediting the -report that the department would never give it out, and it failed of its -intended effect. - -It was a hard fight over the treaties before the Senate committee. -Wool's charges, widely spread in the newspapers, had excited much -prejudice against them, and they were strenuously opposed by most of the -regular officers on the Pacific. But by the middle of March the governor -was equally successful in convincing that committee that they ought to -be confirmed, and was able to write Nesmith that the committee would -report favorably, and that there was every prospect of confirmation. - -The Northwestern boundary, with the disputed question of the San Juan -archipelago, also claimed his attention. His resolute letter of May, -1855, to Sir James Douglass, declaring that he would sustain the -American right to the islands to the full force of his authority, having -been submitted to both governments with Sir James's protests, had -brought home to them the risk of armed collision unless the boundary -question were speedily settled. Accordingly commissioners were appointed -on both sides to determine and delimit the boundary as drawn by the -treaty of 1846. But as the controversy turned on the construction of the -treaty itself, it could not be settled by any survey, and in this, the -most important part of their task, the commissioners soon became clever -disputants, each advocating his own side of the question. Jefferson -Davis, now a senator of great influence, writes Governor Stevens, March -18, requesting him "to call on the President and Secretary of State, and -give them your views as to the importance and necessity of marking the -boundary," etc. The American commissioner was Mr. Archibald Campbell, -and Captain J. G. Parke, of the engineers, was the chief surveyor, both -old friends of Governor Stevens. With his thorough knowledge of the -islands in dispute, and of the astute, grasping, and persistent -character of the Hudson Bay Company and British officials, the governor -strove to stiffen the backbone of the administration, and to expedite -the boundary survey. - -Governor Stevens's first speech in the House occurred May 12, on his -bill to create additional land districts in his Territory, and was a -brief one. The next day a bill came up to reimburse Governor Douglass -for the supplies he had furnished in the Indian war, and the governor -seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful speech in behalf of the war -debt. He referred to Sir James's emphatic testimony that his, the -governor's, course was the only one which could have protected the -settlements, or prevented their depopulation, and vigorously defended -the people and volunteers:-- - - "During the whole course of that war, not a friendly Indian, nor an - Indian prisoner, was ever maltreated in the camp of the volunteers - of Washington. For six months the people of Washington had to live - in blockhouses; and yet so obedient were the people to law, so proud - of their country, doing such high homage to the spirit of humanity - and justice, that during all that time the life of the Indian was - safe in the camp of the volunteers. Why, sir, there were nearly five - thousand disaffected Indians during all this time on the - reservations lying along the waters of the Sound, and not a man ever - went there to do them harm. - - "I trust that the same measure of justice, which the committee - propose to deal out to Governor Douglass, will be dealt out to the - people of the Territories of Oregon and Washington. The debt in all - the cases rests upon the same foundation. Our people furnished - supplies and animals and shipping, and rendered their own services, - on the faith of the government." - -On the 31st he delivered a long and exhaustive speech on the same -subject, giving the history of the war, vindicating his own course, and -the patriotism and conduct of the volunteers and people. - -On May 25 he delivered a speech of an hour upon the Pacific Railroad, -the subject of all others in which he took the greatest interest and -expended the greatest exertions. He took the broad national view, -embracing the whole country, and advocated three routes, and then -pointed out the superior advantages of the Northern route, and dwelt -upon its value for gaining the trade of Asia:-- - - "Therefore I would not carve our way to the Pacific by a single - route. It would not satisfy the country. It is not for its peace and - harmony politically. It could not do the business of the country. It - is not up to the exigencies of the occasion. But carve your way to - the Western ocean with at least three roads. - - "Considering, therefore, the greater shortness of the Northern - route, and its nearer connections with both Asia and Europe, it must - become the great route of freight and passengers from Asia to - Europe, and even of freight from Asia to the whole valley of the - Mississippi." - -These views have become established facts for so many years that it is -hard to realize how far in advance of his contemporaries Governor -Stevens was in holding them. He was one of the first, if not the very -first, to discern the necessity for three transcontinental railroads, -and the opportunity for securing the trade of Asia offered by the -Northern route. - -A few days later he sprang to his feet in defense of his friend Nesmith, -who was bitterly assailed by M.R.H. Garnett, of Virginia, and answered -him in a manner so complete and satisfactory as to defeat an amendment -offered by him. - -On the 27th he spoke in support of an appropriation for a military -survey of the upper Columbia, and in a sharp and breezy debate had the -satisfaction of exposing Cram's report. - -Congress adjourned on June 9. The treaties were not reached, but the -governor writes Nesmith that a test vote showed that the Senate was -strongly in favor of them, and that they would all be confirmed next -session. - -During the session Governor Stevens introduced nineteen bills and -resolutions, and offered four amendments. He spoke nine times, making -five considerable speeches, including two on the war debt, one on the -Pacific Railroad, one on the survey of the Columbia, and the defense of -Nesmith. The following synopsis gives the matters which claimed his -attention in Congress:-- - - Indian war debt. - Military roads. - Additional land districts. - Settlement of accounts of clerks of courts. - Erection of public buildings. - Survey of Columbia River. - Geological survey. - Military road, Columbia to Missouri. - Increased pay for land surveys. - Relief of C.H. Mason. - Additional post and mail routes. - Pacific Railroad. - Port of entry at Vancouver. - Marine hospital. - Land for lunatic asylum. - Port of delivery at Whatcom. - Enrolling clerk for legislature. - As to false reports of Wool. - Bringing on Indian chiefs. - Payment territorial deficiency. - Extending certain acts to Washington Territory. - -The above summary gives but a faint idea of the amount of work and -attention involved in the several matters enumerated. With -characteristic thoroughness, the governor always paved the way for his -measures by first obtaining the support and recommendation of the -department to which each pertained, and was equally indefatigable in -following them up before the committees. But nothing engrossed so much -of his time and attention as the numerous claims for losses and services -growing out of the Indian war, sent to him by his constituents, almost -all poor men, all of which he presented and pressed with the greatest -pains and assiduity. - -So intent had he become upon all these important measures that, as he -writes Nesmith, he determined to remain in Washington during the recess -of Congress, and prepare for success the next session. - -On July 21 Governor Stevens submitted an able and exhaustive memoir to -Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, on the unjust and exorbitant exactions -imposed upon Americans, who were then flocking to the newly discovered -gold fields of New Caledonia,--now British Columbia,--on Fraser and -Thompson rivers, having previously, on May 18 and June 29, informed him -of this emigration, and the impositions placed upon it by Governor -Douglass. The chief of these were, a license tax of five dollars a month -for the privilege of mining, and the prohibition of all navigation and -trading except by license from the Hudson Bay Company, and the -requirement that all supplies must be purchased from that company. He -showed that with forty thousand miners, nearly all of them American -citizens, entering the gold fields, as was the estimate of the most -intelligent gentlemen of the Pacific coast, the license tax would amount -to $2,400,000 per annum; while the Hudson Bay Company, from the -exclusive right of furnishing supplies, would reap the enormous harvest -of $14,000,000 per annum. Moreover, as the bulk of these supplies could -not be furnished from the present resources of that company, they would -have to be drawn by it from California, Oregon, and Washington, so that -in fact those States were compelled to make that company their factor -for the sale of their products, and allow it all the profits from the -sale of their own products to their own citizens. - -The governor declared that this state of things could not be submitted -to by American citizens unless imposed by positive and imperative law, -and that the exactions in question had been imposed without any legal -authority which should be respected by the citizens or government of the -United States. - -He held that, the British government having passed no law levying a -mining tax, Governor Douglass, as governor of Vancouver Island, was not -given authority by his commission or instructions to impose such tax; -that he was governor of Vancouver Island only, and his political -jurisdiction did not extend to the mainland, where, in fact, he had -always declined to exercise authority over the Indians as governor, -while he had dealt with them as chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company. - -That the company, a mere Indian trading company, had no authority under -its charter to set up a monopoly of selling supplies to white men, -whether American citizens or British subjects, such monopoly, moreover, -being expressly prohibited by British law. - -And he concluded by asking, in behalf of the citizens of our whole -Pacific coast, that the government would interpose with the British -authorities for the removal of the restrictions, and would demand the -repayment of all mining taxes collected, and of the value of all vessels -and cargoes confiscated. In the last paragraph he takes pains to -acknowledge the assistance of his friend, John L. Hays, Esq., in the -investigation of the legal questions involved. - -The memorial was widely published in the papers, and produced an -excellent effect on the Pacific coast. The Hudson Bay Company -relinquished its attempt to compel the miners to purchase supplies from -it exclusively, and the monthly mining tax was reduced to a moderate -yearly one. The memorial was a timely and much-needed warning to the -Buchanan administration to stand up against the ever greedy and bull-dog -demands of the British upon the Pacific Northwest. - -The news of Steptoe's defeat reached Washington in June, and created a -great sensation. It was looked upon as a complete vindication of -Governor Stevens's views and policy in regard to the management of the -Indians, and a convincing proof of the folly and failure of the Wool -military peace policy. The very officers who had condemned and denounced -the governor's plan of punishing and subduing the hostiles in order to -preserve the fidelity and peace of the friendly and doubtful tribes, now -that their weak temporizing had drawn the latter into hostilities, -breathed nothing but war. Writes Colonel Nesmith with glee, natural -enough considering how his request for two howitzers had been brusquely -refused, and himself treated with contumely, by Wool:-- - - "General Clarke and the whole military are now fully answered, and - they believe there _is a war_. The military now find themselves in - something like your position when the Indians, in violation of all - pledges, attacked your camp in the Walla Walla. I say again, 'Hands - off;' they have a fair field, and I hope they will have a _free - fight_!" - -The War Department took energetic measures in consequence of Steptoe's -defeat. Colonel Wright was largely reinforced, and in September led a -thousand troops into the Spokane country, defeated the Indians in two -engagements, and summarily hanged sixteen of them without trial. The -same month Oregon and Washington were constituted a separate military -department, and the veteran general, William S. Harney, was sent out in -command. This appointment was highly satisfactory to Governor Stevens, -for General Harney adopted all his views in regard to the military -problem, the Indians, the opening of the country to settlement, and -later, as will be seen, in regard to defending our right to the San Juan -archipelago. The governor writes Colonel Nesmith and Governor Curry -requesting them to call on the veteran commander on his arrival, and -extend to him their good will and support. - -General Harney's first act on reaching his new command was to throw open -to settlement the whole upper country, revoking Wool's orders excluding -settlers therefrom. This was a notable victory for Governor Stevens, and -wiped out the last of Wool's reactionary measures. - -The governor spent the whole recess in Washington, except for a flying -visit North in July (when, in passing through New York, he had his -phrenological chart again drawn by Fowler) and a visit of three weeks in -the fall to Newport and Andover. - -In the evening of December 2 he delivered before the American -Geographical and Statistical Society, in New York, an elaborate address -on the Northwest, comprising fifty-six printed pages. Mr. E.V. Smalley, -the historian of the Northern Pacific Railroad, says of this address -that "he presented the whole argument in behalf of the Northern route. -Some of his statements were received with a great deal of skepticism, -but time has shown that they were strictly and conscientiously -accurate." - -Mr. Swan returned to the Pacific coast in the fall, and a very capable, -faithful, and agreeable young man, Mr. Walter W. Johnson, succeeded him -as secretary. The adjacent house on the south side was occupied by Mr. -Johnson's aunts, Mrs. W.R. Johnson and Miss Donelson, most estimable, -cultivated, and attractive ladies, and the two families contracted the -warmest friendship for each other. - -Congress reassembled December 6. During the session Governor Stevens -offered seven bills and five resolutions, and moved four amendments. His -longest and most important speech was on the payment of the war debt, -delivered February 21, 1859. He also spoke on bringing Indian chiefs to -Washington, twice on the Northwest boundary, and on the military road -between Fort Benton and Walla Walla. - -In January he had two hearings before the Senate Indian Committee. The -treaties were all confirmed in the Senate on March 8 without serious -opposition, for by this time their wisdom and merit were recognized on -all hands. J. Ross Browne, special agent sent out by the Interior -Department to investigate matters, strongly urged their confirmation. -Judge G. Mott, another special agent, who had been dispatched to examine -Nesmith's superintendency, did the same. Colonel Mansfield, the -inspector-general of the army, after visiting the upper country and -studying the conditions there, strongly recommended the treaties. And -even General Clarke and Colonel Wright, nobly acknowledging their -mistake in opposing them, joined in the recommendation. At last Governor -Stevens's great work was vindicated by the test of experience, and -approved by its former opponents. - -It has already been related how Jefferson Davis, as Secretary of War, -summarily rejected Governor Stevens's plans for continuing the surveys -on the Northern route, throwing the whole influence of the government in -favor of the Southern route, and strove to discredit his report of the -superior advantages of the former; and how the governor, on his -expedition to the Blackfoot council, notwithstanding this rebuff, -indefatigably continued his surveys, taking barometrical observations, -and making careful examinations of different passes and routes, using -the officers and parties of the Indian service for the purpose. -Throughout all the labors and responsibilities of the Indian war he -kept up the determination of important points, and the collection of -data concerning the climate, snows, navigability of the great rivers, -passes, etc., making use in like manner of the volunteer parties. - -During this fall and winter he made his final report on the Northern -Pacific Railroad route, giving the results of his labors since the first -report, made some three years before. This final report was published in -two large quarto volumes, containing 797 pages. The first volume -contains the Narrative, 225 pages; Geographical Memoir, 81 pages; -Meteorology, 25 pages; Estimate, 27 pages; and, with the exception of -the meteorological tables and a paper on the hydrography of Washington -Territory, comprising 28 pages, was entirely the governor's own -composition, and equal to about 700 ordinary printed pages. The second -volume contains the botany, zoology, ichthyology, etc., with numerous -plates. - -The governor expected, on returning from Fort Benton, to devote a year -to the preparation of his final report, but this was interrupted by the -Indian war, and then, with largely increased data, he found himself -absorbed in these congressional duties and labors, which completely -engrossed all his time and attention. It was a physical impossibility -for any man to write out with his own hand in a few months such a -report, even if it lay all composed and arranged in his mind. The way in -which Governor Stevens overcame the difficulty was original, and showed -his remarkable mental grasp and powers of memory. He dictated the whole -report. Every morning an expert stenographer came at six, and the -governor, walking up and down in the dining-room, dictated to him for -one or two hours before breakfast. The reporter then took his notes, -wrote them out, and had the manuscript ready for the governor's revision -at the next sitting. Walter W. Johnson, Dr. J.G. Cooper, and other -assistants were kept hard at work on the report, and on February 7, -1859, the governor had the satisfaction of submitting it to the -Secretary of War, John B. Floyd, Jefferson Davis's successor. - -The report is written in a clear and graphic style. The facts presented -in it fully sustained and confirmed the conclusions of the first report, -and made a crushing answer to Jefferson Davis's doubts and criticisms. -And Governor Stevens's views set forth therein have been fully and -strikingly borne out in the subsequent development of the country. - -Ten thousand copies of the report were ordered to be printed by the -Senate March 3, and afterwards the House ordered ten thousand extra -copies March 25, and the Senate as many more May 9, 1860. Those first -printed were not satisfactory to the governor in execution, paper, or -binding, and he was at no little pains to have the twenty thousand extra -copies ordered. Being disappointed in a certain senator whom he expected -to pass the desired order in the Senate, the governor frankly applied to -Jefferson Davis to secure the order, and Davis was manly and magnanimous -enough to do so at once. It was characteristic of Governor Stevens, as -has already been pointed out, to base all his action and objects upon -the high ground of public needs and welfare, and therefore, ignoring any -personal considerations, he demanded Davis's aid, on the ground that the -valuable data in his final report ought to be published for the benefit -of the country. - -The governor was inclined to attribute good motives to his opponents, or -those who differed from him; was quick to see and admit their points of -view; and never assailed their motives, nor descended to personal -attacks. Indeed, he was inclined to think too well of men, and to expect -too much of them. - - - - - CHAPTER XLV - - SAVING SAN JUAN - - -Six weeks after the final adjournment of Congress, Governor Stevens left -New York in April, on the steamer Northerner, on the long journey to -Puget Sound, via the Isthmus and San Francisco. He was accompanied by -his family, except his son, who remained at school in Boston, and by his -brother-in-law, Mr. Daniel L. Hazard, who was going to the Pacific coast -to seek his fortune, which he found after six years' devotion to -business. The journey out was a pleasant one, and they reached Vancouver -on the Columbia, and repaired to the hotel of the town. General Harney -immediately called, and insisted on taking the governor and family to -his house, where they remained several days. The incident is significant -as showing the close relations between the veteran commander and -Governor Stevens, and helps explain the prompt and decisive action of -the former on the San Juan controversy a few weeks later. This dispute -was in the acute stage; the boundary commissioners were as busy with -arguments and contentions as a whole bar of lawyers, and as far from -agreement. Undoubtedly the governor, in his earnest and convincing -manner, fully imbued the general with his views of the American right, -and the duty of the authorities to defend it. - -The journey from Vancouver to Olympia was made in the manner usual in -those days,--down the Columbia in river steamboat, up the Cowlitz in -canoes paddled and poled by Indians, and across country in wagons to -Olympia. The governor was everywhere received with demonstrations of -popular confidence and goodwill. The Democratic convention unanimously -renominated him as delegate to the next Congress. - -Colonel William H. Wallace was nominated by the Republican convention. -Selucious Garfielde, having been removed from his office of receiver of -the Land Office for misconduct, now vehemently opposed the governor, and -came out in support of Wallace. Governor Stevens at once entered upon a -systematic and thorough canvass of the Territory, inviting his -competitor to accompany him, which he did. But Garfielde and Judge -Chenoweth started around the Sound ahead of the candidates, hoping to -capture the vote of the people for Wallace beforehand. Mr. Daniel L. -Hazard accompanied the canvassing party. The governor, as was too much -his habit, crowded into a short space of time a greater amount of -speaking and traveling than most men could stand. Colonel Wallace broke -down on the Columbia River under the strain, and had to return home, -whereat the governor seemed rather pleased, not at his opponent's -misfortune, but at his own superior endurance. - -The election took place July 11, and he was chosen by a vote of 1684 -against 1094. - -Mr. Charles H. Mason, the secretary of the Territory and at times the -acting governor, died on July 23, rather unexpectedly. He was beloved by -every one, and the whole town was plunged in mourning. The governor felt -his loss as that of a brother, and was very much affected. Two days -later the funeral services were held in the Capitol building. Governor -Stevens delivered an eloquent and heartfelt eulogy, moving all present -to tears, after which a procession was formed, and almost the entire -population followed the remains to the grave. He was laid at rest on -Bush prairie, beside his friend, George W. Stevens. - -A row over a pig precipitated a crisis in the San Juan dispute. An -American settler shot a Hudson Bay Company's porker found rooting in his -garden, whereupon Governor Douglass promptly dispatched a steamer to the -scene, bearing his son-in-law, who was a high official of the company -and also of the colony, and two members of the colonial council. -Landing, they loudly claimed the island as British soil, and ordered the -settler to pay one hundred dollars for the slain pig, on penalty of -being taken to Victoria for trial if he refused. But the settler, who -had already offered to pay the reasonable value of the pig, did refuse, -and boldly defied arrest, revolver in hand. The British officials -retired, baffled for the time, but declaring that the settler was a -trespasser on British soil, and must submit to trial by a British court -for his offense. A few days after this episode General Harney, returning -from a visit to Governor Douglass, stopped at San Juan, and the American -settlers there invoked his protection against British aggression, -relating the story of the pig. They also begged protection against the -raids of the northern Indians, who had committed many depredations on -Americans, while they never molested the English or Hudson Bay Company -people, whom they regarded as friends. The old soldier realized the -defenseless condition of the settlers. His blood was stirred at the -attempted outrage. On his way back to Vancouver he stopped at Olympia -and dined with Governor Stevens, and discussed with him what action the -emergency required. Immediately on reaching his headquarters at -Vancouver, General Harney ordered Captain George E. Pickett,--the same -who, a Confederate general, led the famous charge at Gettysburg,--to -proceed with his company of the 9th infantry from Bellingham Bay to San -Juan Island, occupy it, and afford protection to American settlers. -Pickett landed on the island July 27, and at once issued a proclamation -declaring that, in compliance with the orders of the commanding general -(Harney), he came to establish a military post on the island, notifying -the inhabitants to call on him for protection against northern Indians, -and stating that "this being United States territory, no laws other than -those of the United States, nor courts except such as are held by virtue -of said laws, will be recognized or allowed on this island." This was -throwing down the gauntlet at the feet of the British lion with a -vengeance; and Governor Douglass, a bold, haughty, and determined man, -hurried three warships to the island, with positive orders to prevent -the landing of any more United States troops; but Pickett took up a -position on high ground, threw up intrenchments, and notified the -British that he would fire upon them if they attempted to land. - -Governor Douglass now issued his proclamation, protesting against the -"invasion," and reasserting that the island was British soil; and, armed -with this document, his three naval commanders waited on Pickett, and -formally demanded his withdrawal. On his refusal, they proposed a joint -occupation. But the daredevil American officer was equally obdurate in -rejecting this compromise, and repeated his warning to them not to land. -Nothing remained for them but to report their mortifying failure to -Governor Douglass. It happened that Admiral Baynes, commanding the -British Pacific fleet, had just put into Esquimault Harbor, the British -naval station on Vancouver Island, four miles from Victoria, with a -strong naval force. Sir James, his indignation at white-heat, and -fiercely determined to expel the Yankees from the coveted island, now -ordered the admiral to take his whole force and drive them from it. As -governor of a British colony, Sir James was authorized to give the -order, and it was the admiral's duty to obey it. But Admiral Baynes -took the responsibility of not obeying it. It would be ridiculous, he -declared, to involve the two great nations in war over a squabble about -a pig. But he reinforced the ships blockading San Juan, and renewed the -orders to prevent the landing of any more American troops. Five British -ships of war, carrying 167 guns and 2140 men, closely beset the -southeastern end of the island, charged with the execution of these -orders. - -Governor Stevens visited San Juan soon after Pickett landed, and on -August 4 left it in the steamer Julia. Captain Jack Scranton, with -dispatches from Captain Pickett to General Harney, reached Olympia the -next day, and at once forwarded the dispatches by special messenger to -General Harney at Vancouver. In return, Harney's orders reached Olympia -on the 8th, were forwarded immediately by the Julia to Steilacoom, and -in pursuance of them Colonel Casey embarked on the steamer with three -companies, hastened down the Sound, silently stole through the -blockading fleet in a dense fog, and effected a landing on San Juan on -the 10th. The sight of the empty steamer anchored close to the shore in -the gray of the morning, and the cheers of the reinforcements as they -marched into Pickett's fort on the hill above, first apprised the -British navy of the successful landing. - -Soon afterwards Admiral Baynes withdrew his ships and relinquished the -blockade, leaving the American forces in undisputed possession. - -While the British were omnipotent on the water, they were ill prepared -to sustain a contest on land, and undoubtedly the knowledge of this fact -influenced Admiral Baynes, and Governor Douglass, too, after his first -indignation, in their forbearing attitude. Victoria and all the points -on Fraser and Thompson rivers and other places on the mainland were -thronged with American miners, attracted by the recently discovered gold -fields. The British were but a handful. The brave and adventurous -pioneers of Washington and Oregon, the Indian war volunteers, were close -at hand. The first clash of arms on San Juan would have signaled the -downfall of every vestige of British authority in northwest America, -except on the decks of their warships. There is no doubt that Governor -Stevens and the American commander intended to press their advantage to -the utmost in case of conflict. The governor of the Territory was then -R.D. Gholson, a well-meaning and respectable Kentuckian, who had -recently succeeded McMullan, and who reposed wholly on Governor Stevens -for advice and guidance, constantly consulting him. This governor now -tendered to General Harney the support of the territorial militia in -case of need, sending him a return showing the number of stands of arms -the Territory possessed, with the statement that there was a lack of -ammunition. In response General Harney immediately dispatched a large -quantity of ammunition to Fort Steilacoom and placed it at the -governor's disposal. Truly the times were changed since General Wool -refused ammunition to the settlers battling for their homes against the -savage foe, and maligned their patriotic efforts. - -The directing hand of Governor Stevens is manifest in this resolute -assertion of American rights. It was his determined stand, when -governor, against the persistent encroachments of the British, which -first put our government on its guard. He it was who instructed General -Harney as to the merits of the controversy, encouraged him to take -decisive action, visited San Juan and noted the conditions there at the -critical time, and saw to hurrying reinforcements to Pickett. It is not -too much to say that he was the master spirit whose bold and decided -action repelled the foreign aggression, aroused public opinion, deterred -a weak and timid administration from surrendering our rights, and saved -the archipelago to the United States. - -Judge James G. Swan, who was acting as the governor's secretary at this -time, quotes from his diary how General Harney and Governor Gholson -consulted Governor Stevens, and declares that the stand he took and his -influence were the great means of saving San Juan to the United States; -that, without his clear and decided counsel, General Harney would hardly -have felt justified in taking such vigorous action as he did; that there -was a deal of doubt felt and expressed among officers of the army, and -it needed the strong, outspoken action of such a man as Governor Stevens -at that crisis to turn the scale. - -Alarmed at the risk of war, and the scarcely veiled threats of the -British minister, the government hastened to send General Scott to the -seat of war, big with compromise. He withdrew Captain Pickett and all -the troops save one company from the island. Admiral Baynes established -a post of an equal number of marines on the opposite or western end, and -the joint occupation was maintained thirteen years, and until terminated -by the Emperor William's award in favor of the United States. - -Scott then endeavored to perform a still more ungracious task, laid upon -him by the administration, to wit, to remove Harney in deference to -Great Britain, without arousing the indignation of the people at such a -rebuke for his spirited and patriotic action; to cringe to the Lion -without exciting the Eagle. He gave Harney an order to relinquish his -command on the Pacific and take the Department of the West, with -headquarters at St. Louis, with permission to accept or decline the -order as he saw fit. But Harney was not disposed to assist in his own -rebuke, or smooth the way of truckling to England, and kept his post. -Hardly had Scott turned his back, when Harney ordered Pickett back to -San Juan, an order in turn countermanded by the general-in-chief.[12] - -The people of the Pacific coast were enthusiastic over Harney, the -legislatures of Oregon and Washington applauded his course by public -resolutions, and the public opinion thus aroused put a needed check to -the compromising spirit of the administration. - -Governor Stevens spent the remainder of August and part of September in -Olympia. He enjoyed visiting his farms and planning their improvement, -for his early and hereditary love of the soil was always strong. In -September he started eastward by the Isthmus route with his family, and -reached Washington the following month. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [12] Major Granville O. Haller, in an article on the San Juan - affair, states that immediately on receipt of news of the - action of the British he was sent with his company by Colonel - Casey from Steilacoom to San Juan, ostensibly as a guard - against northern Indians, but with instructions to confer with - Pickett, and if he needed aid, to land and assume command. On - reaching the scene of action he was closely questioned by the - British officers as to the latest news from the east,--the - American mail had just brought news of the battle of - Solferino,--for their mails were delayed, and they were - somewhat restrained by the reflection that their government - might have already relinquished the archipelago, and advices of - it not yet arrived. Major Haller remained on his vessel a few - days, probably not wishing to precipitate a conflict by forcing - a landing, but did land soon afterwards. - - - - CHAPTER XLVI - - THE STAND AGAINST DISUNION - - -The Indian treaties confirmed, Governor Stevens was more determined than -ever to secure the payment of the Indian war debt. This had been -thoroughly examined and audited by a commission appointed by the -Secretary of War, consisting of Captains Rufus Ingalls and A.J. Smith, -of the army, and Mr. Lafayette Grover, the brother of Lieutenant Grover -and afterwards governor of Oregon, and their report had been referred by -the last Congress to the third auditor. It was a long time before he -reported, and his report, when made, was a very unjust and condemnatory -one, manifestly tinged with the prejudice so widely spread by Wool's -slanders. The friends of the debt for some time were unable to get it -before the House, and had to content themselves with enlightening -individual members and the public. - -The governor followed up the various matters in behalf of the Pacific -Northwest with his usual energy this session. He spoke on the Pacific -Railroad, on steam vessels for Puget Sound, on Indian appropriations, -military post on Red River, appropriations for surveys, separate Indian -superintendency for Washington Territory, etc. He succeeded in obtaining -an appropriation of $100,000 for the military road between Fort Benton -and Walla Walla, which Lieutenant Mullan was now building, $10,000 for a -military road between Steilacoom and Vancouver, $4500 for the boundary -survey between Oregon and Washington, $95,500 for the Indian service, -and secured a new land office and district for the southern part of the -Territory. During the session he offered thirteen bills, eight -resolutions, and two memorials. - -His chief interest and labors, however, were on the Northern Railroad -route. He was indefatigable in making known its great national -advantages. On April 3 he addressed an elaborate letter on the subject -to the railroad convention of the Pacific coast, held at Vancouver. In -this he again advocated three routes; showed the national importance of -the Northern route, its advantages for securing the trade of Asia, and -the danger, if that route were neglected, that the British-Canadians -would build a line to the Pacific within their own borders, and thereby -forestall this country in developing its Pacific ports and securing the -Asiatic commerce. He declared that the explorations thus far made were -simply reconnoissances; that two years would be required to complete the -surveys, and probably ten years to build the road. He urged the -convention to reject absolutely the compromise in the shape of a branch -line from some point on the central route to the Columbia River and -Puget Sound, which had been urged in Congress and elsewhere, and firmly -to insist on the Northern route as a great national work. As published, -this letter makes twenty-four printed pages, and Mr. Smalley, the -historian of the Northern Pacific Railroad, already quoted, says of it -that-- - - "he gave so clear and condensed an account of the Northern route, - its distances and grades, as compared with the line then projected - to Benicia, California, its advantageous situation in relation to - the China and Japan trade, and the adaptability of the country it - would traverse for continuous settlement, that the document, printed - in pamphlet form, became a cyclopedia in miniature, from which facts - and arguments have ever since been drawn by the friends of that - route." - -Governor Stevens had now become the recognized authority on the Northern -route, and the acknowledged leader of its advocates in Congress. He was -ably supported by General Lane, and by the Minnesota senators, Rice and -Ramsay, and was indefatigable in furnishing them with data and points -for use in debate. At a dinner party on one occasion, Senator Gwin -openly taxed the governor with writing the speech which a certain -senator had just delivered in behalf of that route, and which made some -stir, declaring that no one could mistake the governor's style and -ideas; and the charge was well founded. - -During Governor Stevens's first term in Congress great efforts were made -by the friends of the Central route to pass a bill granting a subsidy in -lands and bonds to that route, and the bait of a branch from the -vicinity of Salt Lake to the Columbia River and Puget Sound was held out -to placate the adherents of the Northern route. Governor Stevens -strenuously fought this scheme of a branch instead of the through -Northern route. The proposed bill failed. - -In the next Congress the adherents of the Central and Southern routes -joined forces. The extreme secessionists, on the eve of withdrawing from -Congress in order to break up the Union, were ready enough to vote -subsidies to the united routes, and the Union sentiment was invoked by -the argument that the aid extended to the Southern route would help -satisfy the South and strengthen the Union. By this combination the -House, on December 20, 1860, passed a bill for a land grant and subsidy -to both the Central and Southern routes. The Northern route was -completely ignored. An amendment offered by Governor Stevens, granting -ten sections of land per mile for a road from Red River to Puget Sound, -was rejected. But when the bill came before the Senate, an amendment -was offered by Senator Wilkinson, of Minnesota, and adopted, the New -England senators aiding those from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oregon, -giving a subsidy of twenty-five millions for a railroad from Lake -Superior to Puget Sound, and a land grant of six alternate sections per -mile on each side of the track in Minnesota, and ten alternate sections -for the rest of the way. The amendment created the Northern Pacific -Railroad Company, and empowered Charles D. Gilfillan, of Minnesota, -Nathaniel P. Banks, of Wisconsin, and Isaac I. Stevens, of Washington -Territory, to act as a board of commissioners to organize the company. -The bill thus amended went back to the House for concurrence, but the -session was almost at an end, and repeated efforts to take the bill from -the speaker's table, to get it before the House for consideration, -failed for lack of a two thirds vote. - -Governor Stevens rapidly overcame--lived down--the prejudice excited by -the charges and reports against him, and won the respect of his fellow -members. Several of them expressed to him their surprise at finding him -so different a man from what they had been led to believe. Said one -gentleman, "I expected to find you a loud-voiced, tobacco-chewing, -drinking, swearing, violent man, and instead I find a gentleman of quiet -manners, education, ability, and high aims and ideals." The governor -used to regard this change of opinion, which he personally made upon -members, with a good deal of satisfaction. - -He usually rose early, and spent the two hours before breakfast at work -in his office. After breakfast and until noon, when Congress met, he -would spend in visiting the departments. He kept a light carriage with -one horse for this purpose, and for going to and from the Capitol, -having the colored servant Bob drive it, or driving himself. He had -unbounded influence in all the departments. The clear, lucid way in -which he presented his cases; his brief, prompt, business-like methods; -the fact that he never asked anything that he did not believe to be -right, and called for by public interests, and that he would not submit -to delay or neglect, but would follow up his matters until they received -due attention, even to the President himself if necessary,--made him -respected and somewhat feared, while his uniform courtesy and -consideration for the clerks and subordinates won their goodwill. - -He acquired great influence with President Buchanan. His son Hazard was -desirous of entering West Point, and he took the youth to call on the -President and ask an appointment for him. Mr. Buchanan very naturally -asked the governor why he did not give his son the appointment within -his own gift as a member of Congress. The latter declared he could not -do this with propriety, and pointedly requested the desired appointment, -which the President seemed reluctant to make, pleading the many claims -upon him for the few cadetships at his disposal. But finding the -governor still firm in his request, he promised unequivocally and -positively to appoint his son. The governor carefully refrained from -advising or influencing the latter in the choice of a profession, -telling him that he had better decide the matter for himself. An uncle, -however, very strenuously urged him not to go to West Point. At last the -young man besought the advice of his father, who simply said that he -would not advise him to enter West Point, or adopt the army as a -profession, but told him to decide according to his own judgment and -inclination. Under these circumstances he concluded to give up West -Point. Within a year the rebellion broke out, and he was carrying a -musket in the ranks of the Union volunteers. How little can we foresee -the future! - -The governor appointed Robert Catlin as cadet to West Point from -Washington Territory. - -He dined at six, and spent the evening in social intercourse. Sometimes -he would make the rounds of the hotels, meeting old friends and -acquaintances, and frequently would work late in the night on some -matter that engaged his attention. Like all rising and influential men, -he was more and more sought after in behalf of all sorts of people and -schemes. Mrs. Stevens relates that on one occasion, when she was reading -in the rear end of the large double parlors and the governor was -receiving two gentlemen in the front room, she was startled to see him -suddenly spring from his chair, face his visitors with upright, -soldierly bearing and head erect, exclaiming in a stern and indignant -voice, "Look at me, gentlemen, and tell me what you see about me that -you dare intimate such a proposition! Leave my house!" They slunk off -without a word. - -The governor delighted in hospitality, and was never happier than when -entertaining his friends. While in Washington he was visited by many of -his own and Mrs. Stevens's relatives. - -Governor Stevens was preeminently a national man in all his ideas and -sympathies. His Revolutionary ancestry, his West Point training, his -participation in large national interests,--as the Mexican war, the -Coast Survey, the exploration of the continent and upbuilding of the -Pacific Northwest, together with the natural bent of his patriotic -nature and comprehensive, far-sighted mind,--strengthened his love for -and pride in the great Republic, and made sectionalism or disunion -utterly abhorrent to him. Like Webster, he regarded the Union as the -palladium of national liberty, life, and power, and its preservation the -highest patriotic duty. - -There was an aggressive disunion faction, in the Southern tier of slave -States, seeking to disrupt the Union by magnifying Northern -encroachments against the Southern institution of negro slavery; but the -great bulk of the Southern people still held fast to their ancient -moorings. Governor Stevens firmly believed that to maintain unimpaired -the compromises of the Constitution in regard to slavery was not only -the highest statesmanship looking to the preservation of the Union, but -a matter of justice and good faith to the Southern Unionists. He -believed that as long as the Northern Democracy stood by the -constitutional rights of the South, they would continue to hold fast to -the Union, and defeat the Secessionists, and that thus, by the league of -broad-minded national men both North and South, the extremists could be -kept down and the Union maintained. - -The political issues of the day sprang up over the question of slavery -in the Territories. The Republican party held that Congress had the -right, and it was its duty, to prohibit slavery within them; and its -more progressive leaders openly expressed the belief that the -institution, if debarred from extension and confined to the existing -slave States, would ultimately become extinct. The Democratic party was -divided between two doctrines on the question. The majority of Northern -Democrats upheld the "Squatter Sovereignty" doctrine of Stephen A. -Douglas, to wit, that the people of each Territory had the right to -decide for or against slavery; while the Southern Democrats and a large -part of those in the North, including many of the oldest and ablest -leaders and public men, held that, as the Territories had been acquired -by the blood and treasure of all the States, neither Congress nor the -citizens of a Territory could lawfully prohibit slavery therein as long -as they remained Territories; but when they assumed Statehood, the -people could prohibit or establish slavery, as they saw fit. The latter -doctrine had the support of a dictum of the Supreme Court. Moreover, -well-informed men knew that, as a practical matter, there was no -probability that negro slavery could be extended into any of the -existing Territories, for both natural conditions and the great -preponderance of Northern emigration to the West were adverse to it. A -few brief years would settle the question in the Territories, and remove -it from national politics; and meantime, if the Southern people, the -great majority of whom were Union-loving and patriotic, could be -reassured that their constitutional rights as to slavery would be -respected, the disunionists would become powerless, the dangerous -controversies over slavery would die out, and the Union would be saved, -stronger and more glorious than ever. Such were the views of Stevens and -many of the ablest Democratic leaders, the same views that actuated Clay -and Webster and their compatriots when they allayed the storm of an -earlier strife over the same subject. No spirit of subserviency to the -South actuated them, but a strong sense of justice to the weaker -section, of fidelity to the Constitution, of loyalty to the Southern -Unionists, and, above all, a broad-minded national patriotism. Thus it -was that the men of whom Governor Stevens was a type, after striving to -the utmost to safeguard the Southern constitutional rights, when -sacrilegious hands assailed the nation's life, and the Southern people, -frenzied with the madness of the hour, were swept into the maelstrom of -the great rebellion, were foremost in defense of the country, in -self-devotion and self-sacrifice for her sake. In this school of -patriots are numbered two members of Lincoln's cabinet, Edwin M. -Stanton, the great War Secretary, and Joseph Holt, the Attorney-General; -General John A. Dix and Daniel L. Dickinson, of New York; Generals -Grant, Sherman, Halleck, Sheridan; Benjamin F. Butler, of -Massachusetts; John A. Logan, of Illinois; and many others, all of whom -supported Breckinridge and Lane. - -Although deeply immersed in the important practical measures for the -advancement of the Northern route and the Pacific Northwest, Governor -Stevens was as earnest and decided in his political views as in -everything else he undertook. He attended the Democratic National -Convention, which was held in Charleston, S.C., April 23, as a delegate -representing Oregon, the Territories having no representation. He -ardently advocated the nomination of General Lane, his friend and -co-worker in behalf of the Pacific Territories. General Lane had -achieved much distinction in the Mexican war, was a man of broad, -statesman-like views, sound judgment, upright, high-toned, generous, and -considerate of others, and universally esteemed. He was just the man for -a compromise candidate, and his chances were good for the nomination -after the more prominent candidates should defeat each other. But the -convention split upon the platform, the Northern delegates insisting -upon the squatter sovereignty doctrine; whereupon the representatives of -nine extreme Southern States seceded from the convention, which, without -making any nominations, adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18. In -the few ballots taken, General Lane received six votes; but the -opportune moment for which his friend hoped never arrived, owing to the -disruption of the convention. - -The Baltimore convention served but to emphasize the irreconcilable -difference between the two doctrines and wings dividing the Democracy. -Douglas's doctrine was adopted, and himself nominated, by a reduced -convention; while the delegations of eight more States, withdrawing from -it, met in separate convention on June 28, in the same city, and -nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph -Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President, on a platform declaring the other -doctrine, and assuming the name of the National Democratic party. - -President Buchanan and the entire influence of the administration -supported the latter, and, as the election showed, not only the majority -of the foremost public men of the Northern Democracy, but one third of -its voters. - -Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin were nominated by the Republican -party on a platform opposing the extension of slavery in the -Territories; and a convention representing the old Whigs, and many -moderate men and Unionists in both sections, nominated John Bell, of -Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, on the bare declaration -of "The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws." - -The National Democratic party, thus launched into the struggle, was -destitute of any national organization, so essential for carrying on a -presidential contest. The leaders, including the nominees and members of -the cabinet, after full consultation, besought Governor Stevens to -accept the position of chairman of the National Executive Committee, -organize it, and carry on the canvass. Ever ready to devote himself to -any cause in which he was enlisted, the governor undertook the herculean -task. In a single night he wrote the party address to the country,--an -address covering a whole page of a large metropolitan newspaper, a feat -for which General Lane years afterwards expressed unbounded admiration -and astonishment, both for its ability and for the ease and rapidity -with which it was dashed off. - -During the next four months Governor Stevens drove on the canvass with -his accustomed energy and ability. Headquarters were opened in New York, -contributions collected, meetings organized, and large numbers of -speeches and documents circulated all over the country. On September 5 -he entertained at dinner, in Washington, General Lane, Secretaries -Howell Cobb and Jacob Thompson, of the cabinet, and a delegation from -New York. The situation seemed by no means hopeless to the adherents of -Breckinridge and Lane. The Republican vote at the last presidential -election was far in the minority, even in the North; and now, with four -candidates in the field, it seemed probable that there would be no -popular election. In such case the choice of President would devolve -upon the House of Representatives, voting by States, and the Democratic -members controlled a majority of the States, and could therefore choose -one of the Democratic candidates. In the event that the House failed to -elect, owing either to dissensions among the Democratic members, or the -abstention of enough members to break a quorum, which the Republican -members could bring about, as they had the numerical majority, then the -Senate had the election of Vice-President, who would act as President, -and that insured the choice of General Lane, because the majority of the -States were represented in the Senate by senators who supported -Breckinridge and Lane.[13] - -The election of Lincoln in November overset all these hopes and -calculations, and the drama of the great rebellion, which was to humble -the arrogant fire-eaters of the South, free the land from the curse of -slavery, and vindicate the Union by the sword, the last argument of -kings and nations, was ushered in. - -At the last session of this, the 36th Congress, the bill to pay the -Indian war debt was passed, notwithstanding the most strenuous and -bitter opposition, led by a member from New York, General Wool's State, -and inspired by him. The report of the third auditor, which greatly and -very unfairly cut down the award of the Ingalls commission, was made the -basis of the bill. Governor Stevens, in his speeches in Congress, -severely criticised and exposed the mistakes and unfair findings of the -auditor, without impugning his honesty. He was a well-meaning but narrow -man, who had allowed himself to be prejudiced against the volunteers. -Other advocates of the bill were less considerate towards him. On one -occasion he thanked the governor with great warmth and sincerity for -always treating him, and referring to him, as an honest man and -well-meaning public servant, much to the governor's surprise. - -He also succeeded in having his Territory made a separate Indian -superintendency, and his friend W.W. Miller appointed superintendent. He -also increased the mail service on the Sound from weekly to semi-weekly, -and secured appropriations of $59,700 for the Indian service, $61,000 -for general expenses, and had Lieutenant Mullan's report on building the -military road across the mountains printed. He offered five bills, six -resolutions, and four amendments, and spoke on the Northern Pacific -Railroad, in defense of the Coast Survey, Indian war debt, increased -mail service on Puget Sound, military post on Red River, etc. - -During his congressional tour the governor was particularly -indefatigable and successful in establishing new post-roads, and -increasing mail facilities in all parts of the Territory. Years -afterwards General Miller declared that the government had done nothing -since his death but to cut down the mail service, and abolish the -post-offices and routes he had caused to be established. - -The military road between Fort Benton and Walla Walla, which the -governor caused to be opened, and in charge of which he had placed -Lieutenant Mullan, known as the Mullan road popularly, was for a number -of years the highway across the Bitter Root and Rocky Mountains, -traversed by thousands of trains, and the great artery for communication -with and supply of thousands of settlers and miners in Montana, until -superseded by the railroads. - -The payment of the Indian war debt was a great triumph for Governor -Stevens, and completed the vindication of his course, as the -confirmation of his treaties vindicated his Indian policy. - -During the last seven years, what severe and unremitting labors he had -undergone, what great results he had achieved, and what tremendous -obstacles and opposition he had overcome! He had made the exploration of -the Northern route the most complete and exhaustive of all; had -demonstrated its superiority, not simply as a transcontinental line, but -as a world route for the world's commerce, and had made himself the -authority and exponent of that route. By his Indian service he had -treated with over thirty thousand Indians, extinguished the Indian title -to a hundred and fifty million acres, established peace among hereditary -enemies over an area larger than New England and the Middle States, and -instituted over thousands of savages a beneficent policy of instruction -and civilization. By calling out volunteers and waging an aggressive war -against the savage foe, when all was gloom and terror, and the settlers -were not only forsaken but vilified by the military authority, whose -duty it was to protect them, he saved the settlements of his Territory -from extinction, and the progress of the Northwest from being set back -for years. And his firm and patriotic stand against British aggression -saved the San Juan group to the United States. - -Entering Congress vilified by high and low, with the censure of his -territorial legislature and the disapproval of the President recorded -against him, he had so ably demonstrated the wisdom and rightfulness of -his course that he secured the ratification of his Indian treaties, the -payment of the Indian war debt, the reversal of the reactionary policy -of Wool, the opening of the interior to settlement, and the punishment -of Indian murderers. - -During his brief career up to this time he disbursed over three quarters -of a million dollars for the government, as follows:[14]-- - - As an officer of engineers, the larger part on Fort Knox $278,108.29 - As Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs 386,642.66 - In the Northern route exploration 114,103.56 - ----------- - $778,854.51 - -Events followed fast that winter in the great national drama. The -ultra-secessionists in the cotton States had it all their own way; and -the Democratic leaders throughout the South, regardless of their -Northern allies, who had stood by them so bravely and against such odds, -were only too ready to follow in the same treasonable path, some -accepting Seward's doctrine of an irrepressible conflict between slavery -and freedom, and believing that separation and an independent government -were the only means by which slavery could be maintained; while others, -furious at the loss of political power, like Lucifer, would rather reign -in hell than serve in heaven,--would ruin where they could no longer -rule. - -Great efforts were made by the moderate men, especially of the border -States, to heal the breach; the Republican leaders, frightened at the -storm, displayed a conciliatory spirit; and it seemed for a time that -the differences might be compromised, the fears of the South allayed, -and the Union peacefully preserved. Governor Stevens clung to this hope -to the last. He thought that if a constitutional convention could be -held, the breach could be healed; that the strong Union sentiment in -most of the Southern States would cause them to adhere to the Union; and -that the few seceding States, isolated and helpless, would soon be glad -to resume their places. It is altogether probable that this view was -correct, but one essential condition of such a plan was that no overt -act of hostility should be committed. The secessionists, by violently -seizing the national forts and property, and beginning hostilities, -rendered peaceful adjustment hopeless. - -Governor Stevens was firm and decided in his opinion that it was the -duty of the President to protect the national property and forts and -enforce the laws. The following sentences culled from his correspondence -show his views and feelings at this trying and momentous crisis:-- - - December 10. Should Carolina attack the forts, or seize the revenue, - there must be collision. The government must protect its property - and execute its laws. - - Let all men agree to a convention of all the States. When the - delegates meet, I am sure it will be found easier to unite than to - separate. If Union seems to be accompanied by occasional discord, - separation will threaten perpetual war. If in Union there is not - always harmony, in separation there will never be peace. - - December 17. That the President will protect the public property and - execute the laws, no one can doubt. That he has troops in readiness - to embark at a moment's warning to succor the forts in the event of - their attack by South Carolina cannot be doubted. I do not believe - that the authorities of South Carolina will make any attack of the - kind, or resist the collecting of the revenue, at least until ample - notice has been given. When the case arises will be the time for the - President to act. That he will act decisively I do not doubt. But - the great problem to be solved is to vindicate the laws without - collision. The only hope of reconciliation is in avoiding collision. - Never were wanted more the qualities of forbearance and moderation - in connection with those of decision and of action. - - January 3. The blow of the secessionists in seizing the arsenal and - forts at Charleston has been followed up by the seizure of the - arsenal at Augusta, and of the forts on the Savannah River. There is - no doubt that the secessionists here sent word South some time ago - to seize all the forts on the Gulf, and most if not all are probably - now in their hands. - - The mad, headlong, and unjustifiable course of the Southern States - is tending to unite the North as one man. The firm course which the - President is taking will rally around him all true, Union-loving, - conservative men. - -When secession raised its treasonable head among his political -associates, Governor Stevens denounced it, and broke with them at once -and forever. He took an active part in urging President Buchanan to -withdraw his confidence from the Southern members of his cabinet, and -take a positive stand in defense of the government and country. He -called on Mr. Buchanan repeatedly, and strongly urged this course. His -recent position as chairman of the National Democratic Executive -Committee added strength to the personal influence he already had, and -aided much in bringing the President to the firmer attitude which -distinguished the last days of his administration. The governor -respected Mr. Buchanan, while he pitied his lack of firmness and moral -courage. He said that for a time Mr. Buchanan presented a pitiable -spectacle of indecision and lack of firmness and courage. He even feared -personal violence, and had been threatened with it by some of the -Southerners. - -During the winter Washington was filled with alarming rumors that the -secessionists were plotting to seize the capital, to assassinate the -President-elect, to prevent his inauguration, and there was considerable -foundation for them. To guard against such dangers, Governor Stevens -aided in the organization of a regiment of District of Columbia militia, -and was one of the chief advisers and supporters of Colonel C.P. Stone, -who raised and commanded it, assisting him in procuring arms and -equipments. Colonel Stone was the General Stone who was so unjustly -persecuted for the disaster at Ball's Bluff. The governor personally -urged Mr. Buchanan to sustain Major Anderson in his bold move of -occupying Fort Sumter, to give his entire confidence to General Scott, -and approved and defended his bringing regular troops to Washington. In -these matters Governor Stevens was intimately associated and acted with -Holt, Stanton, Dix, and other Democrats, most of whom had been -supporting Breckinridge and Lane, and who rescued Mr. Buchanan from the -hands of his secessionist cabinet, and inspired him to assert the -national authority. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [13] Alexander H. Stephens, _The War Between the States_, vol. ii. - p. 276. - - [14] The accounts for this vast sum were all found correct, and were - all passed by the accounting officers of the treasury, except - some of the expenditures on the exploration, and it is - instructive to note these items as an example of how great - injustice the rigid rules, or notions of accounting officials, - ofttimes inflict upon the most scrupulous and careful officers. - Governor Stevens was charged with a balance of $8856.14, the - largest item in which ($2626) consisted of the payment to ten - regular officers on the exploration of one dollar per diem - each, while engaged in topographical duty, according to an - established regulation. Other items were for payments for - subsistence and transportation; for compensation paid civil - employees; for interest on the protested drafts, which were - necessary to continue the survey, and for which Congress made - appropriation; for articles and animals necessarily lost or - worn out in so widespread and extended a service; and even for - recompense paid certain of the party who had to abandon their - clothing and effects in the mountains in a snowstorm. No - compensation was ever allowed Governor Stevens for his services - in conducting the exploration and preparing his final report. - Although the disallowed items were referred to Captain A.A. - Humphreys (General Humphreys) for examination, and he reported - in favor of Governor Stevens, and recommended the allowance of - nearly every item, no action was taken before the latter fell - at the battle of Chantilly, the following year. Since then - application has been made to Congress, resulting in one bill - passing the House and another the Senate at different times, - but neither passed both branches. And General Stevens, after - serving his country so faithfully, and accomplishing so much in - her behalf, is accounted a _debtor_ to the government. - - - - CHAPTER XLVII - - THE OFFER OF SWORD AND SERVICES - - -Immediately after the inauguration of President Lincoln, Governor -Stevens hastened to return to the Territory. General Miller wrote:-- - - "I believe that the National Democracy can easily keep possession of - the Territory. As to your own prospects, they seem as good to me as - ever they were. Now that you have won a national fame, you will - always be looked upon as the leading man of the Northwest. Should - you be thrown out of the delegateship at the next election, in two - years you would be the strongest man on the coast. But you cannot be - beaten even at the next election." - -General Lane, however, had just been defeated in Oregon by a coalition -of the Republicans and Douglas Democrats, and Colonel J.W. Nesmith was -chosen his successor. - -Breaking up the Twelfth Street establishment, and leaving Mrs. Stevens -and the three girls in Newport and his son at Harvard, Governor Stevens -sailed from New York on the steamer Northern Light, March 12, by the -Isthmus route, and arrived in Olympia the last of April. There he -denounced secession, took strong ground in favor of supporting the -government, and recommended organizing and arming the territorial -militia. Accordingly a company was raised in Olympia, known as the Puget -Sound Rifles; he was elected captain, accepted the command without -hesitation, and was duly commissioned and sworn in. This was before the -news of the attack on Fort Sumter and the grand uprising of the nation -had reached the Pacific slope, and the minds of many were still in -doubt. - -The Democratic convention was held at Vancouver in May. Untiring efforts -had been made by the faction opposed to Governor Stevens to defeat his -renomination, and the showy and oratorical Garfielde headed the -opposition. The governor's friends felt too secure in his well-earned -and undiminished popularity, and the prestige of his successful career -in Congress, just crowned by the payment of the war debt, and neglected -the active work and support the occasion called for. Notwithstanding -this, a clear majority of the delegates were elected as Stevens men; but -when the convention met, the opposition were found well organized, -active, and bitter; they won over a number of delegates, several of them -by bribery, as was publicly charged, and rendered the governor's -nomination doubtful, and only to be made at the cost of a protracted -contest. Indignant at such unworthy treatment at the hands of the party -he had served so faithfully and well, and disdaining such a contest at -such a time, for the news of the firing on Sumter had just been -received, and he had resolved to tender his service to the country, -Governor Stevens at once withdrew his name as a candidate before the -convention. Garfielde was then nominated, and the governor accepted the -situation in the following manly and magnanimous speech:-- - - MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION, AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF - THE TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,--I congratulate you on the harmonious - termination of your labors. Notwithstanding great differences of - judgment as to the admission of delegates and the fairness of the - organization of this convention, you have at length, with almost - entire unanimity, agreed upon a platform and a candidate. By your - action I shall abide. The choice of this convention is my choice, - and shall receive my cordial and unwavering support. For one, I - shall not look mournfully into the past. This, the hour of agony of - our country's life, is no time for recrimination and the indulgence - of selfish feeling. It appeals to whatever is noble and patriotic in - behalf of that country's cause. Our beloved Union is in most - imminent peril. The sad spectacle of civil and fratricidal strife is - being exhibited to the world, and doubt has arisen as to the - capacity of man for self-government. No longer devotion to our whole - country, no longer an enlarged view of the liberties and progress of - mankind, shapes the policies of parties and prevails in the councils - of the government, but the strife of jarring sections and an insane - grasp after ascendency has precipitated upon the country a cruel, - internecine war. It is the duty of the Democracy to unite for the - sake of the union of these States. The sundered Democracy of the - States has already come together. Let not our hitherto united - Democracy now separate. - - I most heartily indorse the platform of the convention that - secession is revolution. There is no such thing, indeed, as - peaceable secession. From the beginning of this controversy, not - only have I deprecated, but I have denounced secession. I have - deemed it the worst possible remedy for the redress of the - grievances of the South. I have considered it an aggravation - ten-thousand-fold of all their wrongs. I feel that, as the - representative of the most northwest Territory, I have been true and - unfaltering to my constituency and my country. For during the entire - winter past I have used every exertion of my nature in behalf of the - union of these States and against secession. - - Gentlemen, it is our duty as patriots, and as true lovers of - liberty, to stand by our government and our country in this its - great emergency. The aggressions of the South upon the property and - the forces of the general government must be sternly repelled. The - government must be maintained as well against domestic as foreign - foes. Let these States become the prey of revolutionary schemes, let - the doctrine be admitted that one of the parties can alter or break - up the compact without the consent of the others, and anarchy will - reign throughout the land and all hopes of regulated liberty will - come to an end. We must, I repeat, stand steadfastly by the - constituted authorities in their efforts to sustain the government. - - Fellow citizens and fellow Democrats, I am profoundly grateful for - the confidence which, during eight long years of labor, you have - placed in me. I am especially grateful for the marks of confidence - which I have received in this hour of uncertainty and doubt. My own - views and opinions are known to you. I have nothing to explain, to - retract, or to apologize for. I have sought faithfully, under all - circumstances, to do my duty. I feel that at my hands the honor of - the Territory has been sustained, and I can look every man in the - face, knowing, as I do, that I have done no man intentional - injustice. - -But many of his friends were so indignant at the rascally methods -employed to compass his defeat that they refused to support Garfielde, -and he was badly defeated in the election. - -The day the convention adjourned, Governor Stevens tendered his services -to the government in the following letter:-- - - PORTLAND, OREGON, May 22, 1861. - - HON. SIMON CAMERON, _Secretary of War_. - - _Sir_,--I have the honor to offer my services in the great contest - now taking place for the maintenance of the Union in whatever - military position the government may see fit to employ them. - - For my services in the war with Mexico I will respectfully refer you - to General Scott, on whose staff I served as an officer of engineers - during that war. - - For my services in the subsequent Indian wars of the country, I will - refer you to the Hon. J.W. Nesmith, one of the senators from Oregon. - - I need not add that, throughout this unhappy secession controversy, - I have been an unwavering and steadfast Union man. - - I am, sir, very respectfully, - - Your obedient servant, - ISAAC I. STEVENS. - - [Illustration: _Facsimile of Letter offering Services_] - -The same day, from Vancouver the governor wrote Senator Nesmith, -requesting him to see the Secretary and-- - - "let him know that the offer is made from the earnest purpose and - desire to do my duty in this great emergency of our country's - history.... I am afraid there is to be a protracted contest. I want - to see the rebellion crushed out. The policy of conciliation, to - which I adhered as long as it presented the least hope, has not only - been exhausted, but it has been contemptuously rejected by the - South. The war ought to be prosecuted with the utmost vigor. Let us - see if we have a government. Nothing can be worse than anarchy." - -The governor was anxious to reach Washington at the earliest possible -moment in order to renew in person his tender of services, but was -detained in Portland over the sailing of one steamer by a severe though -brief fit of sickness. At this time he was obliged to borrow $600 of -Judge Seth Catlin,--a warm personal and political friend,--for his -expenses in Washington had been heavy and he had nothing laid up. He was -always too much engrossed in public affairs to give due attention to his -private interests, but he was always careful to meet his bills and -expenses. He was able to take the next steamer down the coast, the -Cortez, and on board of her he wrote General Totten as follows:-- - - STEAMER CORTEZ, June 19, 1861. - - MY DEAR GENERAL,--I am on my way to the States to offer my services - in a military capacity to the government, and for the war.[15] I - feel and know that I can do good service. Educated at the public - expense, my country has a right to my services. This secession - movement must be put down with an iron hand. Anarchy and - interminable civil wars will be the inevitable, logical consequence - of yielding to it. - - I do not propose a permanent return to the service, but simply - service for the war. Whilst I shall accept any military position the - government may tender me, I take it for granted proper regard will - be had to my somewhat large military experience since I left the - army, and my position before the public. - - I want, therefore, the confidence of those in authority. You can - render good offices in the matter. I want the confidence of General - Scott. I have ever been his discriminating friend. Last winter I - sustained his entire course. I personally urged the President to - give his entire confidence to General Scott. I approved and defended - the bringing of regular troops to the city, the organizing, arming, - and promptly officering the District militia, of which, except the - late President and Secretary of War, the inspector-general, Colonel - Stone, is more cognizant than any one else. I had frequent - conferences with him about the District militia, and was able to be - of some service to him in consequence of my relations with Mr. - Buchanan and Mr. Holt. - - It has been most fortunate that, notwithstanding my intimate - relations with most of the secession leaders, in consequence of the - part I took in the presidential campaign, I never wavered for a - moment in resolutely fighting secession. I was actively at work the - moment it arose. I gave it no quarter. My position was well known in - Congress. - -General Totten forwarded this letter with the following indorsement:-- - - "With a high order of talent, his great characteristics of - promptness, boldness, and energy cannot fail to mark prominently any - career that may be opened to him as a soldier, and I trust the - government will at once avail itself of his high qualifications by - assigning him a position that will give full play to powers so well - suited to the present wants of the country." - -Governor Stevens also wrote Professor Bache, Colonel Stone, and others -to present his merits to the new administration; for, confident in his -own powers, he was most anxious to secure such a position as would -enable him to render his best service to his country. - -He reached New York early in July, and went straight to Washington, not -even stopping to visit his family in Newport. His reception there was -cold and discouraging. The very active part he had taken in the recent -presidential campaign, and his intimate association during it with men -who were now foremost in striving to destroy the country, prejudiced -many against him, and Douglas Democrats even more than Republicans. -Senator Nesmith rather turned the cold shoulder, alleging that he felt -bound to reserve all his influence for the benefit of men from his own -State. Governor Stevens called upon the new President, and made a good -and lasting impression upon him, but no response was made to his tender; -and while the whole country was aroused, and troops were flocking to -Washington, and the great needs of the hour were military ability and -experience, it seemed as though the services of one of her best -qualified and most patriotic sons would be rejected, and he be denied -the opportunity of serving his country in her extremity. He offered his -services to General McDowell as aide, or in any capacity, for the -movement which culminated in the defeat of Bull Run, but they were -declined. The only bright spot in this time of disappointment and -mortification was his meeting General Scott, and regaining the esteem -and confidence of his old chief. - -Meantime his friends and patriotic men of all parties, who were anxious -that his services should not be lost to the country, were sending on -recommendations in his behalf. Governor Sprague and the legislature of -Rhode Island, Governor Andrew, Senator Wilson, Representatives Rice, -Train, and others, of Massachusetts, Senator John P. Hale, of New -Hampshire, Nesmith, of Oregon, Rice, of Minnesota, and many other -members of Congress urged his appointment as brigadier-general. The -"Springfield Republican" strongly set forth his qualifications, and -urged the government to employ his services. As, contrary to -expectations, it was not made, Governor Andrew offered him the colonelcy -of a Massachusetts regiment, and Governor Sprague that of a Rhode Island -regiment, both explaining that they would have made the offer before, -had they not supposed he would be given the position of general. But -just before these offers were received, the Secretary of War tendered -him the colonelcy of the 79th Highlanders, a New York regiment, which -had been badly cut up at Bull Run, and he had accepted it. A few days -later a paragraph appeared in the papers to the effect that he had -declined this position, and immediately Governor Andrew telegraphed, -"Can you now accept regiment temporarily while we try for brigade?" and -Governor Sprague telegraphed, "I hear you decline position in 79th. Will -you accept my offer?" But having tendered his services to the government -without qualification, Governor Stevens felt in duty bound to accept any -position to which he might be assigned, and therefore was obliged to -decline both offers. - -Before entering upon the new duty he made a hasty visit of two days to -his family in Newport, where he addressed a Union meeting with General -Burnside. - -At this time he was still reduced in health and strength from the -overwork of the last year, and mortified and depressed in spirit, almost -the only occasion his buoyant and self-reliant character was thus -affected. To a personal friend he exclaimed, "I will show those men in -Washington that I am worthy of something better than a regiment, or I -will lay my bones on the battlefield." - -FOOTNOTES: - - [15] Governor Alexander S. Abernethy writes the following anecdote - of Governor Stevens. Meeting him just before starting East, the - governor said that he had told the Southern gentlemen, with - whom he had been associated in the Democratic Executive - Committee and in the convention, that, if a war should result - from the action they had taken, he would be found supporting - the government against them. "And," said he, "I am going to - Washington at once, and shall offer the President my sword and - my services as long as this war shall last." - - - - - CHAPTER XLVIII - - THE 79TH HIGHLANDERS.--THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC - - -For many years the Highland Guard was a crack New York city militia -battalion, composed of Scots, or men of Scottish lineage. They wore the -kilt as their uniform, and, for fatigue or undress, a blue jacket with -red facings, and trousers of Cameronian tartan. At the breaking out of -the rebellion, the battalion was raised to a full regiment by the -addition of two companies and filling up the ranks, and on May 13, 1861, -entered the United States service for three years as the 79th -Highlanders, New York volunteers. - -Few regiments even in those patriotic days contained a finer, braver, or -more intelligent body of men. Nearly every walk of life was represented -among them except common laborers; but business men, clerks, and -mechanics, with some sailors and even a few veteran British soldiers, -filled the ranks. One company contained so many bookkeepers and clerks -that it was known as the clerks' company. If a skilled man was wanted at -headquarters for any purpose, from clerk to mule-driver, from manning a -light battery to rowing a boat, the Highlanders were always called upon -to furnish the detail, and their successive commanders had all they -could do to prevent the regiment from being depleted by such calls. - -At the battle of Bull Run the Highlanders were terribly cut up, losing -one hundred and ninety-eight killed, wounded, and missing, including -eleven officers. The colonel, James Cameron, brother to the Secretary of -War, was killed gallantly leading his regiment, which was considerably -scattered after the battle. It was collected together in a few days, and -moved to a camp on Meridian Hill, at the head of Tenth Street, north of -Washington, named Camp Ewen. The officers and non-commissioned officers -now petitioned the secretary to order the regiment home to recruit and -recuperate. The secretary, visiting the camps, repeatedly expressed -great regard for the regiment, and promised to do anything in his power -for it. When the petition reached him, he indorsed it as follows:-- - - The Secretary of War believes that in consideration of the gallant - services of the 79th regiment, New York volunteers, and of their - losses in battle, they are entitled to the special consideration of - their country; and he also orders that the regiment be sent to some - one of the forts in the bay of New York to fill up the regiment by - recruits, as soon as Colonel Stevens returns to the command. - - SIMON CAMERON, - _Secretary of War_. - -The men were informed of the secretary's order, and notified to prepare -for the homeward trip, to which they looked forward with eager -anticipations and longing. But the military authorities remonstrated so -strenuously against the order, on the ground of the bad effect on other -troops of allowing one regiment to go home, that the secretary allowed -it to be set aside, yet no notice of the revocation was given the -Highlanders. As day by day went by without the much-desired homeward -orders, they became more and more dissatisfied; the officers, as much in -the dark as the men, could not satisfy their doubts and misgivings, and -the spirit of insubordination grew daily. - -On August 7 Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel M. Elliott was directed from -Headquarters First Division, New York State Militia, to convene the -commissioned officers, after five days' notice, for the purpose of -electing a colonel, and accordingly notified them to meet on the 13th at -four P.M. for such purpose. Apparently the state authorities ignored the -action of the War Department in appointing a new colonel, and it does -not appear that the appointment of Colonel Stevens was announced to the -regiment, except by his own order assuming command. - -On August 10 Colonel Stevens arrived at the camp, and at dress parade -that evening the following order was read:-- - - The undersigned, in pursuance of orders from the War Department, - hereby assumes command of the 79th regiment, New York State Militia. - He will devote himself earnestly to the regiment, and trusts that - its high reputation, gained by honorable service in the face of the - enemy, will not suffer at his hands. He doubts not that zeal, - fidelity, and soldierly bearing will continue to characterize every - member of the regiment. - - ISAAC I. STEVENS, - _Colonel_. - -The new colonel spent the next day in simply observing the officers and -men and inspecting the camp, taking no active steps. On the following -day, however, he summoned the major and several other officers to his -tent, and demanded and exacted their resignations. On the 13th, the -third day of his command, he issued an order at dress parade that the -regiment should move camp on the morrow. - -This brought matters to a climax. The men plainly saw that they were not -to go to New York, and felt that they had been trifled with and -deceived. They gathered in knots like angry bees to discuss their -wrongs. Many of them went into the city that night and returned late, -more or less intoxicated. Whiskey was smuggled into the camp, and some -of the forced-to-resign officers had a hand in this, and by the -eventful morning of the 14th the regiment was ripe for mutiny. - -When, after an early breakfast, the order was given to strike tents, all -flatly refused except two companies,--I and K,--which remained faithful -and obedient during the trouble. These were the new companies recently -organized, and probably were less infected with militia notions than the -others. Colonel Stevens visited the refractory companies in turn, but -the men, deaf to orders and expostulations, stubbornly refused -obedience, and told how they had been deceived and disappointed. -Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott attempted to explain his action, but without -satisfying the colonel, who gave him half an hour in which to resign, on -penalty of court-martial. Elliott resigned. - -Colonel Stevens continued going freely and fearlessly among the men, -remonstrating with them and urging them not to bring disgrace upon the -regiment, but in vain. When the officers attempted to strike the tents -themselves, they were forcibly prevented, and several of them roughly -handled. Colonel Stevens, coming to a group where some officers had just -been thus repulsed, the armed and angry mutineers threatening to shoot -any one who touched a tent, at once exclaimed, "Then I will take it down -myself," and, disregarding threatening words and looks, laid hold of the -tent to strike it. At this the men, struck with admiration at his -intrepidity, exclaimed, "Dinna mind, colonel; we'll take it doon for ye -this ance." - -At length, finding all efforts to restore obedience fruitless, Colonel -Stevens felt obliged to report the mutiny, and ask for troops to -suppress it. In response the camp was surrounded late in the afternoon -by an overpowering force of regular infantry, artillery, and cavalry, -which, in presence of the refractory regiment, ostentatiously loaded -muskets, drew sabres, and charged the guns with canister and trained -them on the camp. Colonel Stevens then addressed them, standing in the -midst of the camp:-- - - "I know you have been deceived. You have been told you were to go to - your homes, when no such orders had been given. But you are - soldiers, and your duty is to obey. I am your colonel, and your - obedience is due to me. I am a soldier of the regular army. I have - spent many years on the frontier fighting the Indians. I have been - surrounded by the red devils, fighting for my scalp. I have been a - soldier in the war with Mexico, and bear honorable wounds received - in battle, and have been in far greater danger than that surrounding - me now. All the morning I have begged you to do your duty. Now I - shall order you; and if you hesitate to obey instantly, my next - order will be to those troops to fire upon you. Soldiers of the 79th - Highlanders, fall in!" - -His voice rang out like a trumpet. The men, thoroughly cowed, made haste -to fall into the ranks. - -The regiment, guarded on both flanks by the regulars, was then marched -into Fourteenth Street, the colors were taken away by order of General -McClellan, and thirty-five men, reported by the officer of the guard as -active in the disturbance, were marched off to prison. The regiment -resumed its march for the Eastern Branch, crossed that stream, and -bivouacked for the night near the Maryland Insane Asylum,--a suggestive -coincidence, remarks the historian of the regiment. Soon after daylight -the next morning the new camp was reached, named Camp Causten, after a -resident of Washington, who had shown the Highlanders many kind -attentions after Bull Run, tents were pitched, and the routine of camp -life established. - -Fourteen of the so-called ringleaders were soon afterwards released and -returned to the regiment, and the remainder were sent to the Dry -Tortugas on the Florida coast, where they were kept on fatigue duty -until the 16th of the following February, when they were also released, -and rejoined the regiment at Beaufort, S.C. - -Colonel Stevens commanded his regiment with a firm and severe hand. He -enforced early roll-calls, hard drilling, and strict cleanliness in -person and camp. There were some men so demoralized, by homesickness or -otherwise, that they could not be induced to keep themselves decent, or -attend to their duties, and he made the guard take them daily to the -river, and strip and scrub them with soap and brooms. Under such drastic -treatment they speedily recovered their tone. He promptly and severely -punished every neglect of duty. He selected a number of bright, -efficient young sergeants, and promoted them to be officers of the -companies. He daily sent out detachments on scouting expeditions, or -marches of ten or twelve miles, and had sketches and measurements made -for a topographical map. By these means he varied the monotony of camp -life, and infused hope and spirit into the command. He obtained -furloughs for a limited number of men, those with families having the -preference, and thus assisted some forty to visit their homes for -fifteen days each. He was especially strict with the officers, taught -them to assert their authority, and broke up the time-honored habit, the -curse of militia organizations, of deferring to, and hobnobbing with, -the rank and file. - -On the 26th the regiment broke camp, marched through Washington, the -band playing the dead march, by order of the colonel, in token of their -disgraced condition and loss of the colors, and went into camp on -Kalorama Hill, beyond Georgetown, a mile from the Chain Bridge. Colonel -Stevens named the new location Camp Hope, and in a brief address to the -regiment bade them hope, and declared that together they would win back -the colors and achieve a glorious career. With all his matter-of-fact -judgment, he had a pronounced vein of enthusiasm and poetic feeling, and -had a singular power of arousing them in others, and of appealing to the -higher motives. It was Napoleon who declared that in war the moral is to -the physical as three to one. - -At this camp Colonel Stevens dispensed entirely with camp guards, which -in all the new regiments were deemed indispensable, and appealed to the -sense of honor and discipline of the Highlanders to refrain from -wandering from camp, and from annoying, or pilfering from, the country -people. The men responded nobly to this appeal, and took great pride in -scrupulously obeying these orders, and in the confidence reposed in -them. The inhabitants felt safe when they saw the uniform of the -Highlanders, and frequently spoke of the difference between them and -other troops. The Highlanders still wore the blue jacket with red -facings, but the regulation uniform as to the remainder. Later, when the -jackets were worn out, they were uniformed like other troops. - -On the evening of the 6th of September a large force, including the -Highlanders, crossed Chain Bridge to the southern side of the Potomac, -and took up positions in front and extending to the left, connecting -with troops from Arlington. At midnight, as the regiment was drawn up in -line, Colonel Stevens addressed them as follows:-- - - "'Soldiers of the 79th! You have been censured, and I have been - censured with you. You are now going to fight the battles of your - country without your colors. I pray God you may soon have an - opportunity of meeting the enemy, that you may return victorious - with your colors gloriously won.' - - "As cheering was prohibited," says the historian, "the men listened - in silence, but with a determination to do all in our power to - recover our lost honors." - -It was an impressive scene,--the long line of silent soldiers dimly seen -in the gloom of night, as they gained new courage and determination from -the brief, brave, and soldierly words of their leader. - -The troops in front of Chain Bridge constituted a division under General -W.F. Smith (Baldy Smith), of the Army of the Potomac, forming under -General George B. McClellan, and Colonel Stevens was placed in charge of -the First Brigade, consisting of the 2d and 3d Vermont, the 6th Maine, -and his own regiment, and was intrusted with building Fort Ethan Allen, -a strong and extensive earthwork on the left of the Leesburg turnpike, -and of felling the woods in the vicinity. The Maine men, all expert -woodsmen, armed with axes and deployed in a long line at the foot of a -wooded slope, worked upwards, chopping every tree nearly through, so -that it stood by only a narrow chip, until they reached the top of the -slope; then at the signal of the bugle the last few quick strokes of the -axe resounded against the top row of trees, which fell crashing on those -below, and they on the next lower, and so on, until the whole forest -crashed down together in thundering ruin. - -The troops were kept hard at work, thus felling forests and digging -forts, and also in outpost duty, for a strong picket line to cover the -front, posted nearly a mile in advance, had to be maintained. Alarms -from this line were frequent, and on one occasion the enemy were -reported as advancing in heavy force, and the troops were hastily gotten -under arms. Every one expected to take post in the fort, but Colonel -Stevens led his brigade out nearly to the picket line, deployed them on -a commanding position on both sides of the road, and coolly awaited the -attack. This movement, so promptly but deliberately made, visibly raised -the confidence and _morale_ of the troops; and when, the alarm proving -unfounded, they marched back to camp, they felt able and eager to -encounter the enemy on equal ground. - -On the 11th, under orders from General Smith, but with strictest -injunction not to bring on a general engagement under any circumstances, -Colonel Stevens, with two thousand troops, made a reconnoissance in -force of Lewinsville, a hamlet six miles in advance of Chain Bridge. His -force comprised the Highlanders; the 3d Vermont, under Colonel Breed N. -Hyde; two companies of the 2d Vermont, under Lieutenant-Colonel George -J. Stannard; four companies of the 1st Chasseurs or 65th New York, under -Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Shaler; five companies of the 19th Indiana, -under Colonel Solomon Meredith; four guns of Griffin's battery, 5th -United States artillery, Captain Charles Griffin; a detachment of fifty -of the 5th regular cavalry, under Lieutenant William McLean; and one of -forty volunteer cavalry, under Captain Robinson. - -With skirmishers in advance, and exploring the ground on both flanks to -the distance of a mile, the command advanced steadily to Lewinsville, -the enemy's cavalry pickets falling back without resistance, and -occupied the village at ten A.M. Cavalry pickets were thrown out on all -the roads; three guns and some five hundred skirmishers were posted well -out to command the approaches on all sides; and the position was held -for five hours, during which Lieutenant Orlando M. Poe, of the engineers -(afterwards General Poe), and Mr. West, of the Coast Survey, made a -topographical map and sketch of the place and vicinity. Colonel Stevens, -with Captain Griffin and Lieutenant Poe, thoroughly examined the whole -position of Lewinsville, of which he reported, "It has great natural -advantages, is easily defensible, and should be occupied without delay." -During this time small bodies of the enemy were seen observing the Union -force at a safe distance, and a cavalry picket, or reconnoitring party -of fifty men, was driven off by Lieutenant McLean. - -The accompanying sketch shows the roads and dispositions of the force to -cover the reconnoissance. Colonel Meredith, with three companies of his -regiment and one gun, held the road leading north to the Leesburg pike. -The same road, running south of the village to Falls Church, was guarded -by one company of the same regiment with one gun. Colonel Hyde, with the -3d Vermont and one gun, held the road leading westward to Vienna, and -also the new road to Vienna, which fell into the Falls Church road half -a mile south of the hamlet. The remaining gun, with the two companies of -the 2d Vermont, was kept in reserve at the cross-roads; while the -Highlanders and Chasseurs were held in reserve a third of a mile back -from the village, and two companies of the former were thrown out as -skirmishers to cover the left flank and rear, and connected with the -Indiana skirmishers on the Falls Church road. - -About three in the afternoon the skirmishers were called in, and the -column formed for the return march. Just as the bugle sounded "Forward!" -a section of artillery, which the enemy, stealing up under cover of the -woods as the Highlanders' skirmishers retired, had adroitly planted on -the left rear, opened a brisk fire of shells over the head of the column -as it marched back; and simultaneously a considerable force of their -skirmishers from the Vienna and Falls Church roads advanced on the -village and commenced firing on the withdrawing troops, but were -directly repulsed, and gave no further trouble. For a few minutes there -was some flurry in the column under the shell fire at a turn in the road -where it was most exposed. Some of the officers and men threw themselves -flat on the ground at every missile that burst or hurtled overhead, and -once twenty men ranged themselves in line behind a tree barely a foot -in diameter. But this confusion was over in a few minutes; the excitable -ones, under the jeers and laughter of their comrades, resumed their -places in the ranks, and the column was not broken or delayed. - - [Illustration: RECONNOISSANCE OF LEWINSVILLE, SEPTEMBER 11, 1862] - -Colonel Stevens posted Griffin's battery in a good position on the -right, or north of the road, which opened a rapid and well-sustained -fire on the enemy's guns, and in half an hour silenced them. The column -continued its march meantime in admirable order, and Lieutenant McLean -brought up the rear unmolested. Colonel Stevens, having thus withdrawn -his column from the village and well past the annoying battery, selected -other positions for the guns, a section on each side of the road, and -disposed his troops to meet the enemy's attack, or to attack him if -opportunity offered. The troops were in fine spirits, and obeyed every -order with alacrity. But the enemy having ceased his artillery fire, and -making no demonstration, showing glimpses only of cavalry and infantry -at a distance, the return march was continued, and the troops reached -their camps without further incident. - -The Union loss in this affair was two killed and thirteen wounded, -besides three captured, the latter having, in their eagerness to get a -shot at the enemy, ventured too far in front of the skirmish line of the -19th Indiana, to which they belonged. - -The enemy's force consisted of the 13th Virginia, a section of Rosser's -battery of the Washington artillery, and a detachment of the 1st -Virginia cavalry, all under command of Colonel J.E.B. Stuart, of the -latter. Colonel Stuart made a most exaggerated and magniloquent report -of the action, and was actually promoted to brigadier-general for it. - -The action was over, and the Union troops were calmly marching down the -road, when General Baldy Smith came galloping up it in hot haste, -followed by his staff and a section of Mott's battery, and manifesting -considerable anxiety, for the artillery firing had been brisk and noisy -while it lasted, and his orders from McClellan--the same he had -impressed on Colonel Stevens--charged him not to bring on a general -engagement. But perceiving the fine order and undaunted bearing of the -troops, and learning how well they had all behaved, and that the enemy -was keeping his distance, he resumed his wonted coolness, and heartily -congratulated Colonel Stevens and his command on the well-conducted and -successful reconnoissance. Half an hour later General McClellan, with a -large following of staff and escort, came tearing up the road to the -returning column, showing even greater excitement and anxiety. He, too, -calmed down on learning that the affair was all over, congratulated -General Smith, ostentatiously visited and commiserated the wounded, and -returned to Washington without noticing Colonel Stevens. - -A few days later the colors were restored to the Highlanders by General -McClellan in person, in recognition of their soldierly conduct since -recrossing the Potomac, especially in the affair at Lewinsville. - -Colonel Stevens took great pains in disciplining and training the -regiments under his command, one of which, the 6th Maine, was raised at -Bucksport and vicinity, and some of whose officers he knew when building -Fort Knox, and he looked forward with confidence and pride to forming -and commanding in them a fine body of soldiers. They, too, were -responding to and appreciating his efforts, and strong feelings of -mutual esteem and devotion were fast growing up between the commander -and command. Before moving from Camp Hope, President Lincoln had assured -him of his appointment as brigadier-general within a week, and he was -daily expecting it. He never doubted that the troops he was so -carefully instructing would form his brigade when he became a general, -nor did they. His surprise and chagrin, therefore, were great when the -Maine and Vermont regiments were summarily taken from him to make up a -brigade for General W.S. Hancock, who, a new brigadier, had just -reported to Smith, and three newer and greener regiments were sent to -replace them. They were the 33d and 49th New York and 47th Pennsylvania. -Colonel Stevens was deeply hurt and disappointed at this action. With -the unexplained delay in his promised appointment, and McClellan's -significant and averted demeanor, it seemed to indicate a fixed -intention on the part of the authorities to deny him promotion, and to -keep him down to his colonelcy indefinitely. But he uttered no word of -remonstrance or repining at this unworthy treatment, and took the new -regiments in hand with unabated care and vigor. He declared to his son, -in strict confidence, that, if his appointment as general was not soon -made, he would relinquish the command of a brigade and devote himself to -the Highlanders; that he would make them the best-disciplined and the -best-drilled regiment in the army, and would so infuse them with the -spirit of devotion to the country and the cause that, like Cromwell's -Ironsides, nothing could resist their onset. He dwelt much at this time -on Cromwell, and how he had formed and trained his invincible soldiers. - -Before embracing the contemplated course, however, Colonel Stevens sent -his son to see the President and deliver a brief message to the effect -that, although several weeks had elapsed since the assurance was given -of his appointment as a general officer within a week, he had heard -nothing of it, and feared that the President, under the great weight of -care and responsibilities, might have forgotten it. The young man -accordingly rode into the city and presented himself at the White -House. His card was taken; the ante-rooms were crowded with anxious -applicants and callers, and among them he waited for hours, unable to -get access to the President, or secure any attention. At last he -accosted a colored messenger, who from time to time entered the -President's room with cards, and begged his assistance in obtaining an -interview, stating that he had a message of great importance from his -father, Colonel Isaac I. Stevens, who had sent him expressly to deliver -it to the President. The messenger would scarcely listen, indeed, had to -be almost forcibly detained, until the name struck his ear, when his -whole manner changed. "Do you mean Governor Stevens?" he exclaimed. "Is -Governor Stevens your father? I used to see him here often in Mr. -Buchanan's time, and I am glad to do anything in the world I can for -him. I'll take your name in the next time, and you shall see the -President, if I can fix it." He was as good as his word, and soon -ushered the youth into the inner office. - -Mr. Lincoln received him in a kindly and fatherly manner that at once -placed him at ease, listened to the message, and said: "Tell your father -that I have not forgotten my promise, nor him; that I should have had -his appointment made before this, if it had not been for General -McClellan; that General McClellan said Colonel Stevens had better remain -in command of the Highlanders some time longer; that they were not yet -reduced to proper discipline, and it would be unsafe to take away their -colonel at present. But tell your father," he added, "that it shall be -no longer delayed." He then took a small blank card and wrote a line -upon it, directing that Colonel Stevens's appointment as -brigadier-general be made out, and handed it to his visitor, bidding him -take it over to the War Department and deliver it to the -adjutant-general. This was soon done, and the young man, plying the -spur, joyfully galloped back to camp with the gratifying news. - -Any military man knows perfectly well that as brigadier-general he could -have as much oversight and control over a regiment in his brigade as -though he remained its colonel. In fact, General Stevens retained -personal and immediate command of the Highlanders, although he commanded -a brigade, and long after he became a general. - -On the 25th General Smith advanced to Lewinsville with five thousand -troops on a foraging expedition. Colonel Stevens, with the Highlanders -and the 2d Vermont, led the advance, and the skirmishers of the former -captured an officer of Stuart's regiment with his horse. The enemy made -no resistance, and after loading ninety wagons with corn and grain, the -expedition returned. - - CAMP ADVANCE, September 27, 1861. - - MY DEAR WIFE,--I appointed Hazard adjutant of the Highlanders - yesterday. He has been with the regiment under fire three times, - acting as my aide on two occasions, and the aide of Captain Ireland - on the third. The appointment is very acceptable to the regiment. - - Hazard will make an excellent adjutant. It will be easy for him to - learn the technical part. His general experience will make - everything easy. - - I am looking somewhat for my brigadier's commission this week. - -The young man joined the regiment immediately after it crossed the -Potomac, and had borne a musket in some of its skirmishes, and was -appointed adjutant on the advancement of the former adjutant, David -Ireland, to a captaincy in the regular army. - -General Stevens's appointment as brigadier was made on the 28th, and on -the following day he was formally assigned to the command of the third -brigade of Smith's division, consisting of the four regiments already -under his charge, viz., the Highlanders, 33d and 49th New York, and -47th Pennsylvania. He retained the immediate command of the Highlanders -in addition to that of the brigade. - -A few days afterwards Smith's division and other troops of the right -wing were advanced some four miles permanently, without encountering the -enemy. About noon, soon after the troops had come to a halt, General -McClellan, escorted as usual by a numerous staff, appeared on the scene, -and, after visiting different points, dismounted, and sat down to a -lunch which his attendants spread for him. He invited General Smith and -some other officers to partake of the repast, but ignored the presence -of General Stevens, who was quite near. The latter may have been unduly -sensitive, but he regarded the omission as an intentional slight, and -remarked that he actually pitied McClellan. - -General Stevens named the new position occupied by his brigade, which -was not far from Falls Church, the Camp of the Big Chestnut, from a huge -sylvan monarch near by. A train of one hundred and forty-four wagons -came over from Washington to move the tents and baggage of the -command,--what a contrast to later campaign days, when four wagons only, -or even less, were allowed to a brigade!--but even this number proved -inadequate to bring everything at one trip. The new adjutant of the -Highlanders directed the wagon-master to send some wagons back for what -was left behind, but that functionary flatly refused, alleging that he -was under orders to make but one trip, and then return to the city. The -adjutant thereupon applied to the general for instructions in the -premises, but his reception was hotter than he bargained for. "Have you -a thousand men at your disposal, and suffer yourself to be set at -defiance by a wagon-master? If you are not man enough to make your -authority respected, you are not fit to be an officer. Go back to your -regiment and attend to your duty." - -Smarting under this unexpected rebuke, the young officer again summoned -the wagon-master and reiterated the order, and, on his second refusal to -obey it, had him lashed fast to a neighboring tree. Four of his -wagoners, equally contumacious, shared the same fate; and a sergeant and -four soldiers of the ever ready and capable Highlanders were soon -driving the teams back to the old camp, and in a few hours safely -returned with the left-behind goods. The bound wagon-master and -teamsters were then set free and ordered to mount their wagons and drive -off instantly, an order which they obeyed with alacrity, and returned to -Washington doubtless madder if not wiser men. Although at times a severe -and exacting man, General Stevens always encouraged his subordinates to -self-reliance, to do things, "to take the responsibility," in Jackson's -phrase, and was sure to back them up if they acted in this spirit. - -Drilling, picketing, and tree-felling fully employed the troops, at Camp -of the Big Chestnut. By McClellan's orders the woods, which covered a -good part of the country, were slashed, the roads blocked, and the whole -front obstructed by felled trees. The troops were ordered to get under -arms and stand in line for half an hour before daylight every morning in -anticipation of an attack which never came. This was an especially -disagreeable and unhealthy task, for the Potomac fog shrouded the -country at that hour, the autumnal mornings were damp and chilly, and -the men would stand coughing all along the line. Many a poor fellow owed -his death or disablement to this useless exposure. Strict orders were -issued to avoid any movement which might lead to a collision with the -enemy, and especially to shun everything which might bring on a general -engagement. The orders frequently repeated these cautions, and seemed to -be filled with a nervous apprehension of fighting. General Stevens -thought this passive-defensive attitude all wrong. He took great pains -to inculcate and develop a bold and enterprising spirit in his own -brigade, especially charging his pickets to hold their ground in case of -attack, and was delighted when a detachment of the 49th New York stood -firm, and handsomely repulsed a dash of the enemy. - -At breakfast on October 16 General Stevens unexpectedly received orders -to turn over the command of his brigade to the senior colonel, and -report in person to General Thomas W. Sherman at Annapolis, Md., by -daylight the next morning. By eleven o'clock A.M. he had written -farewell orders to the brigade and to the Highlanders, devolved the -command upon Colonel Taylor, of the 33d New York, had all his belongings -packed up, and mounted his horse to ride to Washington. - -To avoid anything like a scene, the general was about to ride away -without visiting the regiment and bidding them farewell, but Captain -David Morrison, the senior officer, came and begged him to say good-by -in person, saying that the regiment was formed and was most anxious to -see him. He rode in front of the line, and in a few feeling words -expressed his regards and hopes for them and bade them farewell. As he -wheeled and rode off, a spontaneous and universal cry of "Tak' us wi' -ye! Tak' us wi' ye!" burst from end to end of the line, and tears stood -in many a manly eye. - -Stopping only two hours in Washington, during which he called at the War -Department and secured the appointment of his son as captain and -assistant adjutant-general of United States volunteers, and to make -necessary purchases, he took the cars in the afternoon for Annapolis. - -As they rolled along through the pleasant rural scenery of Maryland, -General Stevens threw off all traces of care and became as cheerful and -light-hearted as a boy. He fell to talking about the recent experiences -in the Army of the Potomac in a most interesting and instructive way, -exposing and condemning the mistakes and evil effects of McClellan's -passive-defensive management, and pointing out what he deemed to be the -right course. Instead of obstructing the entire front with blocked roads -and tracts of slashed woods, which would impede the enemy's attack -indeed, but would also confine the Union troops to the strict defensive, -making it impossible to manoeuvre them offensively outside the works, -the front should have been kept clear and unobstructed, and the ground -carefully studied and understood by subordinate commanders, with the -view of throwing a heavy force upon the enemy's flank, or any weak point -he might offer, in case he attacked. Instead of restraining the natural -enterprise and ardor of the troops, prohibiting and deprecating all -hostile contact with the enemy, as if they were no match for the rebels, -thus keeping them under the cowing of Bull Run, and aggravating the awe -of the enemy's prowess inspired by that defeat, they should have been -continually brought face to face with the foe, scouts and -reconnoissances kept afoot and boldly pushed, and parties of picked men -under picked officers sent to fall upon the enemy's pickets and exposed -detachments at every favorable opportunity. Such a course, he declared, -would most speedily give the troops confidence and restore their -_morale_, would foster and develop their natural enterprise and bravery, -and would most effectively and quickly make them reliable soldiers. He -had none of that distrust of volunteers often felt by regular officers, -and which undoubtedly influenced McClellan, for he knew how quickly such -splendid material as the brave young volunteers then flocking to the -country's defense would become soldiers, if well officered and under a -bold and skillful commander. He discussed, also, McClellan's character -without the least trace of animosity, admitting his ability and -patriotism, but lamenting his fatal lack of boldness and decision, -which, he said, rendered his failure inevitable, and finally he -exclaimed, with great feeling and conviction, "I am glad to leave -McClellan's army. I am rejoiced to get out of that army. I tell you that -army under McClellan is doomed to disaster." - -They reached Annapolis that evening, and were most cordially received by -General Sherman, and by Colonel Daniel Leasure, of the 100th -Pennsylvania, known as the "Roundheads," which was to form part of -General Stevens's new brigade. His first act on reaching Annapolis was -to apply by telegraph to the Secretary of War, in conjunction with -General Sherman, for the Highlanders. He also personally telegraphed the -President to that effect. Colonel Leasure, too, telegraphed the -Secretary that his regiment was largely composed of the descendants of -Scotch Covenanters and Cromwell's soldiers, and were anxious to be -joined by the Highlanders. Both the President and secretary were -desirous of granting the request, but it was first referred to General -McClellan, and properly, as the regiment was in his army. He strenuously -objected to it, protesting that he could not possibly spare one of his -best veteran regiments. But Mr. Lincoln again overruled the "Young -Napoleon," and ordered the Highlanders to Annapolis to rejoin their -beloved commander. - - [Illustration: Hazard Stevens, - Capt. & Asst. Adj. Gen'l.] - - - - - CHAPTER XLIX - - THE PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION - - -The force which General Sherman was fitting out at Annapolis was -destined, in conjunction with the navy, to secure a harbor on the -Southern coast to serve as a base for the blockading fleets. General -Sherman was a veteran regular officer of artillery, who had greatly -distinguished himself at the battle of Buena Vista, a thorough soldier, -a strict disciplinarian, devoted to his profession, and moreover a man -of ability, sound judgment, and true patriotism, but perhaps somewhat -deficient in enterprise. He personally applied for General Stevens, for -whom he entertained great esteem, as one of his brigade commanders. His -force numbered some twelve thousand, all new, raw volunteers, except two -regular batteries and the Highlanders, who, having fought at Bull Run, -were looked up to as veterans by the other troops, and was divided into -three brigades, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Egbert L. Viele the -first, Isaac I. Stevens the second, and Horatio G. Wright the third. - -General Stevens's brigade consisted of the Highlanders, the 100th -Pennsylvania or Roundheads, Colonel Daniel Leasure; the 50th -Pennsylvania, Colonel B. C. Christ; and the 8th Michigan, Colonel -William M. Fenton. They were all brave, patriotic, and intelligent men, -the best types of American volunteers, and destined to render great and -glorious service to the very end of the war, participating in many -battles and engagements, and preserving their colors without a stain. -The Michiganders, as they were familiarly called, were largely of New -England stock, many of them farmers' boys, and had all the grit, -intelligence, and enterprise of their lineage. The 50th Pennsylvania -were Pennsylvania Dutch, descendants of the Germans who settled the -central part of the State before the Revolution, and were slower, more -heavily moulded than the others, but always steadfast and reliable. The -Roundheads came from the western, more mountainous part of the Keystone -State, and were of the vigorous Scotch-Irish stock, with many tall, -rawboned men. - -The regiments were quartered in the Naval Academy buildings and grounds. -On Colonel Leasure's recommendation, General Stevens took a large brick -building as headquarters, but soon after moving into it an ambulance was -driven up to the front door, and a soldier in an advanced stage of the -smallpox, his face perfectly black and festering, was taken out of the -vehicle on a stretcher and borne into the house, which, it seems, had -been selected as a smallpox hospital. Needless to say that headquarters -fled before this visitation. General Stevens, indignant at Leasure's -carelessness in the matter, summarily ordered him out of his own -spacious quarters and took them for himself, greatly to the colonel's -disgust, who was heard to exclaim that there were too many Roundheads -about for him to submit to such an indignity; but the incident had a -good effect in showing that the new commander would stand no trifling. - -The Highlanders arrived on the 18th, and the next day the troops were -taken off in small bay steamboats to the large ocean steamships anchored -two miles out, and embarked upon them. The largest of these vessels, and -second only to the Great Eastern, was the Vanderbilt, a noble side-wheel -ship of three thousand tonnage, which had recently been given the -government by Cornelius Vanderbilt, the old commodore, and was named -after him. His favorite captain, Le Favre, a skillful navigator and -accomplished gentleman, commanded her. On this fine steamer were crowded -General Stevens and staff, the Highlanders, the 8th Michigan, and a -hundred quartermaster's employees, all together over two thousand men. A -large number of surf-boats and quantities of tents and baggage were -piled in confusion on her decks, leaving scarce standing-room for the -troops. The Roundheads and one battalion of the 50th embarked on the -Ocean Queen, while Colonel Christ with the remainder of his regiment -were loaded on the Winfield Scott. - -Captain and Assistant Quartermaster William Lilly here joined the -command as brigade quartermaster. He had met General Stevens during the -presidential campaign and won his confidence, of which he proved -unworthy, and owed his appointment to the general's recommendation. -General Stevens was also joined by Colonel William H. Nobles, who had -seen much service on the frontier, and whom he appointed -lieutenant-colonel of the Highlanders, but he was unequal to the -position and soon afterwards resigned. The general appointed as his -first aide-de-camp Lieutenant William T. Lusk, of the Highlanders, an -educated and high-toned gentleman, who had abandoned his studies in -Germany to fight for his country, and who proved a brave and excellent -officer, and has since achieved distinction in his profession as a -physician. The remaining members of the staff were Dr. George S. Kemble, -brigade surgeon; Captain L.A. Warfield, brigade commissary; and -Lieutenants Henry S. Taft and William S. Cogswell, signal officers. - -The transports sailed on the 20th and reached Fortress Monroe the next -day. Here were awaiting them a fleet of thirty warships, under Commodore -Samuel F. Dupont, and a large number of sailing vessels laden with -munitions and stores. The expedition lay here at anchor for a week, -completing the necessary preparations. Commodore Dupont held many -conferences on his flagship, the Wabash, with General Sherman and the -brigade commanders, at which the objective point was decided upon. The -weather was fine, the sea smooth, and the blue road-stead, covered with -the great fleet, comprising every variety of vessel,--the great, grim, -black warships, with their frowning batteries; the transports, swarming -with blue-clad soldiers; the deep-laden sailing ships, with their tall -spars,--presented an impressive and animated scene, enlivened by the -numerous launches and cutters darting from ship to ship with officers -bearing dispatches or exchanging calls. One of the swiftest and nattiest -of these small craft was the captain's gig of the Vanderbilt, manned by -a crew of fine oarsmen from the Highlanders, which attracted much -attention from the army and navy alike, was the envy of other -headquarters, and was kept busy conveying General Stevens and staff over -the waters blue. - -It was a fine, bracing autumn afternoon, October 29, when the great -fleet sailed out of the Chesapeake in two parallel columns a mile apart. -The giant warship Wabash led the right column, followed in single file -by the war vessels, thirty in number, a black and formidable array. The -left column was composed of the transport steamers, crowded with troops, -each towing one of the sailing-vessels, and also contained some thirty -ships. The Vanderbilt towed the Great Republic, a four-masted, -full-rigged ship of four thousand tons, the largest sailing-ship then -afloat. Besides a vast cargo of stores, she carried on her main and -upper decks a great number of artillery horses. Thus the mighty armada -steadily ploughed its way out to sea, with flags waving and bands -playing, a glorious and awe-inspiring sight; while the troops, -exhilarated by the novel and stirring scene and the excitement of -sailing to an unknown destination, their hearts swelling with the hope -and determination of soon dealing the rebel lion a mighty and perhaps -fatal blow, cheered and cheered again until they could cheer no more. - -The third day a furious storm struck the combined fleet and scattered it -far and wide. At midnight, in the height of the tempest, the great -hawsers by which the Vanderbilt was towing her consort threatened to -tear off her quarters under the terrific strain of the mountain billows, -and had to be cut asunder with axes, and the Great Republic was -abandoned to her fate in the raging storm, furious sea, and black night. -When day broke no other sail was visible amid the driving and tossing -billows. Later in the day General Stevens opened the sealed orders with -which every ship was provided, to be opened in case of separation from -the fleet, in presence of Captains Le Favre, Stevens, and Lilly, and -announced that the destination and point of rendezvous was off Port -Royal, one of the finest harbors on the Southern coast, situated midway -between Charleston and Savannah. The Vanderbilt, the swiftest of the -fleet, arrived off the entrance on November 3, among the first. The -other ships came straggling in, and by the 6th were nearly all assembled -and anchored just outside the bar, save four, the Governor and Peerless, -that foundered in the storm, and the Osceola and Union, that were driven -ashore. The loss of life, however, was small under the circumstances, -being seven drowned and ninety-three captured. The 50th Pennsylvania, on -the Winfield Scott, came near going to the bottom, and were only saved -by incessant pumping and bailing, and throwing overboard the entire -cargo. - -Port Royal was defended by earthworks on each side of the entrance, Fort -Walker on Hilton Head, the south side, and Fort Beauregard on Bay Point, -on the north. These were strong and well-constructed forts, with heavy -parapets, traverses, and bomb-proofs, mounted forty-one guns of large -calibre, and were garrisoned and defended by three thousand troops, -under General Thomas F. Drayton, whose brother, Captain Percival -Drayton, commanded the gunboat Pocahontas in Dupont's fleet. The enemy -had also three small gunboats in the bay, under Commodore Tatnall, -formerly an officer of the United States navy. - -After reconnoissance by his gunboats, Commodore Dupont decided to attack -the forts with his fleet, and arranged with General Sherman that the -troops were to land in small boats on the open beach during the naval -bombardment and carry the works by assault, in case the navy failed to -shell the enemy out. Accordingly, on the morning of November 7 the -surf-boats, of which there were a large number, and all the boats -belonging to the vessels, were launched, and brought up alongside or -astern of the transports, and the troops of Stevens's and Wright's -brigades were provided with ammunition and one day's cooked rations, and -held in readiness to land and attack. While they awaited this movement -in high-wrought expectation, the following order was written by General -Stevens and read to them, and had a marked effect to increase their -determination and ardor:-- - - HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, - S.S. VANDERBILT, November 7, 1861. - - GENERAL ORDERS No. 5. - - The brigadier-general commanding the second brigade trustfully - appeals to each man of his command this day to strike a signal blow - for his country. She has been stabbed by traitorous hands, and by - her most favored sons. Show by your acts that the hero age has not - passed away, and that patriotism still lives. Better to fall nobly - in the forlorn hope in vindication of home and nationality than to - live witnesses of the triumph of a sacrilegious cause. The Lord God - of battles will direct us; to Him let us humbly appeal this day to - vouchsafe to us his crowning mercy; and may those of us who survive, - when the evening sun goes down, ascribe to Him, and not to - ourselves, the glorious victory. - - By order of BRIGADIER-GENERAL STEVENS. - - HAZARD STEVENS, - _Capt. and Ass't Adj't-Gen_. - -At nine o'clock on the bright, clear morning, with a smooth sea, the -great war fleet crossed the bar, and deliberately advanced to attack the -forts in a long column of single ships, while the transports lay at -anchor just outside with their decks, masts, and shrouds covered with -the troops, eagerly watching the scene. Commodore Dupont in the Wabash -led the long string of warships slowly up the middle of the bay, -receiving and replying to the fire of both forts until two miles beyond -them, then turned to the left in a wide circle and led back past Fort -Walker, at a thousand yards distance, opening upon it broadside after -broadside. At the same time a flanking column of five gunboats steamed -up the bay nearer to Bay Point and poured its broadsides into Fort -Beauregard, and, steering towards the other side, advanced against -Tatnall's fleet, driving it into Skull Creek, which cuts off Hilton Head -on the inside, and then, taking position near the shore and flanking the -fort, opened upon it a destructive fire. Meantime the main column, led -by the Wabash, was majestically and slowly passing the work, each -succeeding vessel opening its batteries upon it in turn as it came -within range, and maintaining a rapid fire as it drew past. The naval -gun fire was terrific, rising at times to a continuous roar; dense -clouds of smoke belched forth and hung about the ships, while the white -puff-balls showed where the great 11 and 9-inch shells were bursting -over and about the work. The enemy replied with a brisk and -well-maintained fire, and many of his missiles could be traced by the -great columns of water dashed up as they ricochetted across the bay -beyond the vessels. After passing down the bay as far as the depth of -water permitted, Dupont turned and again led the fleet in front of Fort -Walker, at much closer range than before, pouring upon the devoted work -a still more terrific fire. As the admiral repeated this manoeuvre for -the third time, one of the light-draught gunboats, pushing closely in at -six P.M., discovered that the enemy had fled, and sent a boat with a -small party ashore, who pulled down the rebel flag and hoisted over it -the glorious stars and stripes. What cheers then burst forth from ship -to ship of the crowded transports, what joy and relief from suspense -were felt by the officers who had so anxiously watched the bombardment -for hours, momentarily looking for orders to land and assault the works, -which were so stubbornly resisting the navy, can never be realized by -those not actors in the scene. - -The flight of the enemy was panic. They left their flags flying, their -tents standing, and all their supplies. Tatnall's mosquito fleet -hastened up Skull Creek, and, with the aid of some large flatboats, -ferried the fugitives across that stream. The fact that the enemy's -retreat might have been cut off and his entire force captured, by -sending gunboats up the inner channels separating Hilton Head and Bay -Point from adjacent islands, lent wings to his flight. The opportunity -was not improved. Fort Beauregard was abandoned in equal haste, although -not subjected to nearly so severe a battering as Fort Walker. The navy -lost only thirty-one killed and wounded; that of the enemy was -sixty-six. - -The morning after the bombardment the Highlanders went ashore on Bay -Point, and occupied Fort Beauregard and the deserted camp, and the rest -of the troops were landed on Hilton Head. The beach shoals very -gradually, and the men and impedimenta had to be loaded from the ocean -steamers into small boats, which took them in until they grounded, a -hundred yards or more from the beach, when the troops had to jump -overboard and wade ashore. All the camp equipage and supplies had to be -taken ashore in the arms of men detailed for the purpose, so that the -landing was a very laborious and tedious process. - -The enemy's camp bore witness to his panic flight; clothing, bedding, -half-cooked provisions, even a rebel flag over one tent and a sword -inside, and in another an excellent repast, with jelly, cake, and wine, -were found abandoned. General Drayton's headquarters, in a large -building near Fort Walker, was abandoned in such haste that the horses -in the stable were left behind, and General Drayton's own charger, a -fine, handsome bay horse of medium size, but compactly built and of -great spirit and endurance, was captured here and became the favorite -horse of General Stevens. Back of the fort was a large field in sweet -potatoes, and it presented a singular appearance after the soldiers -landed and discovered it, covered with thousands of men, all digging the -tubers for dear life. General Sherman facetiously remarked that General -Drayton planted that potato-field on purpose to demoralize his army. - -Immediately after landing, General Sherman held a conference with his -general officers as to undertaking an offensive movement. The enemy was -evidently demoralized, and either Charleston or Savannah might fall -before a sudden dash, and offered a tempting prize. But the general -opinion was that a movement upon either involved too great risks, and -that the first duty was to fortify and render absolutely secure the -point already gained. General Stevens alone dissented from this view. He -strenuously urged an aggressive movement inland to the mainland, then, -turning to right or left, against one of the cities. In answer to -objections, he declared that the overpowering naval force rendered -Hilton Head already secure, and it could be fortified at leisure. The -navy, too, could support an advance, and cover a withdrawal in case of -need. The country was full of flatboats used by the planters for the -transportation of cotton. Hundreds of these could be collected among the -islands by the negroes, and would furnish means of transporting the -troops up, or ferrying them across the inland waters, which, instead of -an obstacle, could thus be made an aid to the movement. But the cautious -counsel prevailed, and General Sherman reaped the reward of his lack of -enterprise by being superseded a few months later, after rendering -faithful service. Certainly he lost a great opportunity. With such -subordinates as Generals Stevens and Wright, and the navy to assist, he -might have taken Savannah, and could not have been badly damaged, even -if repulsed. General Stevens had visited Savannah as an engineer officer -shortly after the Mexican war, and his habit of acquiring information -about every subject that interested him entitled his views to more -attention. But, after all, the general, like the poet, is born, not -made, and Sherman may have been wisely governed by his own limitations. -As will be seen hereafter, this idea of a movement inland, and making -use of flatboats, took a deep hold of General Stevens's mind. - -He placed his brigade in camp a mile back from the beach, and was given -charge of an extensive line of works, laid out by Captain Q.A. Gilmore, -the chief engineer officer. He pushed this work with his accustomed -vigor, detailing daily the greater part of his force as working parties. -He had a full quota of officers turn out with the men, the details -verified every morning, and kept some of his staff always on the work. -The troops, seeing that no shirking was tolerated, gave diligent labor, -and within a month the line, over a mile in length, was completed. The -Highlanders, however, continued to occupy Bay Point, and made many -scouting expeditions on neighboring islands. Considerable sickness broke -out among the troops on Hilton Head,--smallpox, measles, and -typhoid,--and there were many deaths, so that the practice of playing -the dead march at funerals was forbidden, notwithstanding which the -troops were generally in fine condition and spirits. General Stevens -himself had a severe attack of bilious fever, from which he but slowly -recovered. The following letters give a pleasant sketch of life at -Hilton Head:-- - - HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, E.C., - HILTON HEAD, November 28, 1861. - - MY DEAREST WIFE,--We are getting on in the most quiet manner - possible. As I wrote you a day or two since, my brigade is almost - exclusively occupied in throwing up intrenchments. It has been hard - at work the last ten days, working even the last Sunday. I have - to-day nearly thirteen hundred men in the trenches. We are living at - my headquarters quite comfortably. For instance, to-day is - considered a sort of Thanksgiving Day, being the day set apart for - Thanksgiving in some of the States. I have for dinner, at half past - five o'clock, roast turkey, boiled turkey, and a fine boiled ham. - This ought to be pretty satisfactory. In our stores we have two - dozen fine turkeys, growing in better condition every day. These - turkeys we buy from the negroes. We have plenty of beef and mutton - and sweet potatoes, also oysters and fish. - - HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, E.C., - HILTON HEAD, December 5, 1861. - - MY DEAR WIFE,--We are enjoying fine weather, and the health of the - troops is daily improving. My brigade is still at work on the - intrenchments. They have done an immense amount of work, much to the - satisfaction of General Sherman. Hazard takes great interest in - everything. We are living quite comfortably; have an old house with - a fireplace, which answers for my office and Hazard's office and our - quarters. Hazard has three and sometimes four clerks, two - messengers, and, when needed, an officer to assist him. Our mess - consists of the brigade quartermaster, Captain Lilly; the brigade - surgeon, Dr. Kemble; my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Lusk; Hazard, and - myself. We have a most excellent cook, brought from New York, and a - good dining-room servant picked up here. We have our breakfast at - seven o'clock, lunch at twelve, and dinner between half past five - and six. How long we shall remain here, I cannot form an - idea,--probably some months. We are most wanting in books. I must - also get some more military books, and now regret I left so many - behind me. Hazard is in the trenches to-day. I keep a large force - out, and all my staff that can be spared. - - [Illustration: PORT ROYAL AND SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA] - - - - - CHAPTER L - - BEAUFORT.--ACTION OF PORT ROYAL FERRY - - -Scarcely were the works at Hilton Head completed when General Stevens -was ordered, early in December, to occupy Beaufort, as an advanced post -threatening the mainland, and affording protection to the negroes on the -islands. This was a town of five thousand souls, delightfully situated -on Port Royal Island on the banks of Beaufort River, some fifteen miles -above Hilton Head. It was a place of fine mansions and houses, almost -wholly exempt from the poorer class, the seat of wealth and refinement, -and often styled the Newport of the South. It was the headquarters of -the Sea Islands, upon which alone was grown the fine, long stapled Sea -Island cotton, worth a dollar a pound during the war. With unbounded -confidence in the strength of the forts at the harbor entrance, and in -the prowess of their defenders, the most chivalric blood of Carolina, -the people of Beaufort listened to the thunder of Dupont's guns on the -eventful 7th of November, and from the steeples and roofs watched the -moving masts and clouds of smoke of his fleet as he attacked the works; -and when the appalling news reached them of his victory, the whole white -population fled in terror, only one white person, and he a native of New -England, remaining in the town. From all the islands the flight of the -planters was equally hasty and complete. Negroes, live-stock, large -quantities of cotton, household goods and furniture, and even wearing -apparel, were all abandoned in the panic exodus. Since the bombardment, -raiding parties of the enemy were venturing over with increasing -boldness, burning the cotton and terrorizing the negroes. These numbered -at least ten thousand, thus abandoned by their masters, and were -scattered over the extensive archipelago, but chiefly upon Port Royal, -Ladies', and St. Helena islands. - -The more intelligent house servants having gone with their owners, -nearly all the negroes left on the islands were in the densest -ignorance, some of them the blackest human beings ever seen, and others -the most bestial in appearance, and there were even some native -Africans, brought over by slavers in recent years. They were not put to -hard labor, judging by Northern standards, and were set so light a daily -task in the cotton-field that they would usually finish it in the -forenoon, and have the rest of the day to themselves. The only food -furnished them was a peck of shelled Indian corn a week apiece, which -the black women had to grind into meal upon rude stones turned by hand; -but this ration was eked out by fish and oysters, with which the waters -abounded, by the poultry which they were allowed to keep, and also by -the vegetables from their little garden patches. At Christmas they were -given a liberal dole of fresh beef for a grand feast. The turkeys, of -which great numbers were kept on every plantation, were deemed a kind of -royal fowl, reserved for the whites like the cattle, and tabooed to the -blacks, who were not allowed to raise them as they did the common -barnyard fowl. But upon the flight of their masters the negroes were -prompt enough to take them for their own, and used to sell them to the -troops at generous prices. - -These ignorant and benighted creatures flocked into Beaufort on the -hegira of the whites, and held high carnival in the deserted mansions, -smashing doors, mirrors, and furniture, and appropriating all that took -their fancy. After this loot, a common sight was a black wench dressed -in silks, or white lace curtains, or a stalwart black field-hand -resplendent in a complete suit of gaudy carpeting just torn from the -floor. After this sack, they remained at home upon the plantations, and -reveled in unwonted idleness and luxury, feasting upon the corn, cattle, -and turkeys of their fugitive masters. - -Embarking his brigade and a section of Battery E, 3d United States -artillery, under Lieutenant Dunbar R. Ransom, on steamers at Hilton -Head, General Stevens on the Ocean Queen, with the 50th Pennsylvania, -reached Beaufort at seven in the evening of December 11, landed, and -threw out a strong picket on the main road across the island, known as -the shell-road. The negroes stated that a party of rebel cavalry had -visited the town that afternoon, and threatened to return at night and -lay it in ashes. At midnight they came riding down the shell-road; but -being fired upon by the picket, the whole party, with the exception of -the "colonel" and his son, took to their heels, and never drew rein -until they reached the mainland, ten miles distant, according to the -report of the doughty commander. - -The next morning the remainder of the troops landed, and General Stevens -advanced across the island on the shell-road to Port Royal Ferry on the -Coosaw River, with two regiments and Ransom's guns. The rebel cavalry, -falling back without resistance, crossed the ferry, taking to the -farther side the ferry-boat and ropes and all other boats. The Coosaw is -a large and deep tidal river, separating the island from the mainland. -It is bordered by wide, impassable marshes, across which at the ferry -long causeways extended on each side from the firm land to the main -river. A small, square ferry-house stood at the end of each causeway, -and the one on the farther side had been strengthened and converted into -a blockhouse, and from it the enemy fired on the Union advance. But the -first shell from the 3-inch rifled gun went crashing through the -extempore blockhouse, and sent its brave defenders scampering up the -long causeway. Two adventurous soldiers then swam the river and brought -back a boat, in which a party crossed over, demolished the blockhouse, -and returned with the ferry scow and paraphernalia. - -A strong picket-line was posted along the river, a good force left in -support at a cross-roads some miles back on the shell-road, and the -general with the remainder of the party returned to Beaufort. - -General Stevens at once cleared the blacks out of town, and established -a camp in the suburbs for the temporary reception of refugees and -vagrant negroes. He placed the troops under canvas in the outskirts, and -prohibited their entering the town without a permit, and strictly -forbade all plundering, or even entering the empty houses. Guards were -posted over a fine public library, the pride of the town, which, -however, had been thrown about in utter disorder; patrols were kept -scouring the streets, and the strictest order and discipline were -enforced. - -In order to protect the negroes and keep the enemy within his own lines, -General Stevens strongly picketed the western or exposed side of Port -Royal and Ladies' islands, guarding all the landing-places, and watching -the Coosaw and Broad rivers for twenty-five miles. Knowing the -difficulty of maintaining so long and exposed a line of outposts against -an enterprising enemy, he threw him on the defensive by the boldness of -his advanced line, and by a succession of well-planned and daring raids -upon his pickets on the opposite shore. Thus Lieutenant Benjamin F. -Porter, of the 8th Michigan, on the night of December 17 captured a -picket of six men on Chisholm's Island, and on several occasions small -parties were thrown across the Coosaw in boats, the enemy's pickets -were driven off, and the buildings from which they fired upon the Union -pickets were destroyed. So successfully was this policy carried out that -the enemy made but one counter attack during the six months that General -Stevens occupied the islands, viz., an attempt on the picket on Barnwell -Island, February 11, 1862, and that was repulsed without loss on our -side. - -The first and, as it turned out, only serious operation undertaken by -General Sherman was the siege of Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the -Savannah River. A large force of troops, under General Viele, and heavy -guns and mortars were dispatched to this quarter, and Captain Q. A. -Gilmore, the chief engineer officer, was given charge of the siege -works. - -General Wright was sent down the coast with a considerable force, and in -March occupied Fernandina and Jacksonville, Fla., which had been -abandoned by the enemy. - -By the end of December the enemy erected a strong field-work on the -mainland, opposite and commanding Port Royal Ferry, and repulsed the -efforts of the gunboats to dislodge him. The naval authorities -pronounced it impracticable to reduce the work, or to keep the river -open with the light wooden gunboats which alone could operate in those -waters. Negro refugees reported a large force of the enemy at Garden's -Corners, only four miles from the ferry. They were endeavoring to -obstruct the channel by driving piles in it. Opposite Seabrook, at a -point a mile and a half above the ferry, they were throwing up a -formidable-looking battery. Their increased activity and boldness, as -well as their success in closing the river to the navy, indicated -aggressive action; for with the river closed they could throw a force -upon Port Royal Island without fear of its being cut off, could raid the -plantation and negroes, and could compel the Union commander to -maintain a large force on the island, or run the risk of losing a small -one. - -Impressed with the importance of dislodging the enemy and keeping the -river open, General Stevens laid before General Sherman a plan to that -end, which the latter promptly approved. It was simply to throw a -sufficient force across the river several miles below the ferry, advance -up the left bank, beat any force that might be found covering the work, -and take it in the rear. Three light-draught gunboats were to cooperate -in the movement. At the same time, two gunboats entering the Coosaw from -Broad River through Whale Branch and small bodies of troops from -Seabrook Landing and opposite the ferry were to threaten the enemy on -the upper side, and distract his attention from the real attack. It was -decided to reinforce General Stevens with two regiments from Hilton Head -for the movement,--the 47th and 48th New York. - -Nearly every plantation on these islands was supplied with large -flatboats, used chiefly for the transportation of cotton. Ever since his -occupation General Stevens had been quietly collecting these scows at -Beaufort, with a view to using them in future operations. During the -night of December 30 over one hundred of these flats, with a crew of -negro oarsmen and a guard of two soldiers in each boat, were sent up -Beaufort River, Brickyard Creek, and an inlet or creek which branches -from the Coosaw near the northeast corner of the island and extends -inland southwesterly several miles. There was an excellent landing-place -two and a half miles up this creek, and only eight miles from Beaufort, -with good roads between. At this landing, screened from sight of the -enemy by well-wooded banks, the fleet of flatboats lay during the day. -Every precaution was taken to prevent any negro from leaving the party -and giving information of the movement. - - [Illustration: ACTION AT PORT ROYAL FERRY, JANUARY 1, 1862] - -Commodore Dupont furnished the desired gunboats, placing them under the -command of Captain C.P.R. Rodgers. About noon on the 31st that officer -reached Beaufort with the Ottawa and Pembina, followed by the Hale, and -the details of the joint movement, and particularly the signals to -enable the troops and ships to act in concert, were arranged between him -and General Stevens. About dark the 47th and 48th New York, under -Lieutenant-Colonel James L. Fraser and Colonel James H. Perry -respectively, arrived on the transport steamer Boston. - -Two companies of the Roundheads were left to guard the town and depot of -Beaufort. Another company of that regiment took post three miles out at -the cross-roads. Two companies of the Highlanders and two of the -Roundheads, under Captain William St. George Elliott of the former, were -posted at Seabrook, with orders, when the gunboats came through Whale -Branch and opened on the enemy's battery, to cross over and take it if -practicable. Colonel Leasure, with the remainder of his Roundheads and -one company of the Highlanders, was stationed at the ferry to observe -the enemy, make a demonstration against him, and cross over if -circumstances permitted. Flatboats were collected at both points in -readiness for the crossing. Lieutenant Ransom, with his guns, was also -posted near the ferry. Four companies of the 50th Pennsylvania were left -in Beaufort with orders to embark on flats at midnight and proceed -upstream to the mouth of the creek already mentioned. - -After dark the remainder of the brigade, viz., the 8th Michigan and six -companies of the 50th Pennsylvania from Beaufort, and seven companies of -the Highlanders from Seabrook and other advanced posts, from which they -had been relieved by the Roundheads during the day, marched to the -well-hidden landing-place on the creek, where the flats lay awaiting -them. At one A.M. New Year's morning the embarkation commenced. The -landing-place was narrow, and only two or three flats at a time could be -loaded, which made the embarkation slow, tedious, and confused. Each -boat was ordered to push off into the stream as soon as loaded, and -proceed far enough down it to give plenty of room for others. But the -creek became almost blocked with flats crowded with men, laden to the -gunwale, and apparently floating about without aim or order. The night -was dark, a pale mist rose on the water, the sickly beams of a half moon -struggled through the gloom, the fires and lanterns flared at the -landing, the smothered orders, oaths and calls of officers from flat to -flat, striving to avoid becoming separated from their regiments, made a -babel of voices, and all added to and heightened the appearance of -hopeless confusion. The scene to the painter or poet was weird and -picturesque in the extreme, but to a soldier most exasperating. - -When half the troops were afloat, and the embarkation of the remainder, -proceeding steadily though slowly, was assured, General Stevens entered -his barge and, rowing rapidly downstream, placed himself at the head of -the flotilla. Each boat as passed was ordered to follow. Their progress, -deeply laden as they were, was necessarily slow, but as they took up the -movement, the dense and confused mass very soon lengthened out into an -orderly column, and the perplexities and misgivings of many an officer -gave place to the alacrity and confidence which aggressive action ever -inspires. The first faint pencilings of dawn were streaking the eastern -sky as the flotilla slowly drew out of the mouth of the creek and -entered the river. The fog lay low upon the water, and completely -shrouded the farther shore. Here joined Captain Rodgers with four -launches, each armed with a 12-pounder boat howitzer, and the four -companies of the 50th Pennsylvania, which embarked at Beaufort. Then -hove in sight the gunboat Ottawa. - -Noiselessly the stalwart blacks strained at the muffled oars, the long -ashen blades steadily rose and dipped; the blue-coated masses sat in -silence, muskets in hand, straining their eyes ahead; while the -flotilla, like a huge black cloud, slowly crept over the face of the -broad sound, here a mile and a half wide. After an age of cramped -waiting and suspense, the dim, spectral trees lining the low shore -opposite comes in sight; the launches and swiftest boats now shoot -rapidly ahead, the rowers straining every nerve, and the soldiers -anxiously scanning the hostile shore; a score of gray forms are -discerned among the trees; a straggling volley spatters harmlessly over -the water, and the next instant the boats drive upon the bank, and the -landing is effected. General Stevens's barge outstripped the other -boats, and he leaped ashore the first man, closely followed by Captain -John More and ten picked men of the Highlanders, and the enemy's pickets -took to their heels. - -It was now found that the 8th Michigan, through some strange mistake, -had remained near the mouth of the creek, notwithstanding the explicit -orders, repeated, too, by General Stevens in person when passing down -the creek. Orders were immediately dispatched to Colonel Fenton to -proceed across and up the river and land at the Adams House, some three -miles above, where there was an excellent landing-place. Colonel Perry -had received orders the night before to follow the gunboats, and debark -his two regiments at the same point as soon as it was in the possession -of the landing party. Thither were also sent the empty flats. - -Skirmishers and scouts were thrown out while the troops were landing, -and several negroes were picked up who proved useful as guides. With -the Highlanders in the advance, preceded by two companies deployed as -skirmishers, and followed by two boat howitzers under Lieutenant Irwin, -of the navy, and the 50th Pennsylvania bringing up the rear, the little -column pushed rapidly on, taking a course parallel to the river, and -traversing woods and swampy and difficult ground, without any road for -most of the way, and at eleven A.M., after a hot and fatiguing march, -reached a position abreast of the Adams house. Small parties of the -enemy, who fired a few shots, were observed at several points on the -march, but a few shells from the howitzers and the Highlanders' -skirmishers easily brushed them aside. - -The column now rested for two and a half hours while the remainder of -the troops were debarking, for the landing-place was contracted, and the -regiments on the Boston had to be put ashore in small boats. At 1.30 -P.M. General Stevens formed his order of march, and moved forward for -the fort, marching parallel to the river. The Highlanders, with two -companies skirmishing in advance, led the way; the two naval howitzers -followed; Colonel Christ's 50th Pennsylvania and Colonel Fenton's -Michiganders formed the support, and the 47th and 48th New York the -reserve. The column advanced in echelon, the Highlanders nearest the -river, and each succeeding regiment battalion distance in rear of and to -the right of the one preceding it. This formation was equally well -adapted to meet an attack in front or on the right flank. The river -protected the left. - -A broad belt of cotton-fields stretched along the river to and beyond -the ferry, some three miles distant. Back of the open fields a body of -woods presented an irregular front, from a mile to half a mile distant -from the river. Over these fields the skirmishers advanced steadily, -followed by the entire command in the order by echelon described, each -regiment moving in line, or occasionally by the flank, or by column of -companies, according to the ground, with the regularity of parade. The -signal officer, Lieutenant Henry S. Tafft, kept with the skirmishers, -signaling constantly with his colleague, Lieutenant Cogswell, on the -Ottawa, thus directing her fire, and establishing perfect concert of -action afloat and ashore. The shells from the gunboat tore the wood just -in front of the skirmishers as they advanced. As the troops advanced in -this order the scene from the gunboats was most inspiriting,--the wide -strip of open country, the dark, frowning forest beyond it, the broad, -silver-hued river with the black gunboats, and line after line of -dark-blue infantry, tipped with steel, moving onward over the fields -with the steady, rapid, irresistible flow of billows rolling across the -sea. - -The column had advanced a mile in this order when a puff of smoke and -the roar of a gun burst from the edge of the woods, followed by others -in rapid succession, and a battery, well screened in the timber, opened -a rapid fire of shells over and among the leading regiments. But, -without pause, General Stevens continued his movement, regardless of the -noisy shelling, until the third regiment, the Michiganders, was fully -abreast with the battery. Then halting, he brought his three leading -regiments into line, facing the woods, wheeling them to the right, and -advancing the Highlanders and 50th on a line with the Michiganders, and -threw out four companies of the latter upon the battery to develop the -enemy's force. He left the reserve regiments as they stood when halted, -being already considerably to the right and in advance of the newly -formed line. - -The Michigan skirmishers had scarcely disappeared within the bushes -which masked the battery, when a rolling volley of musketry rattled -among the trees, and out they came, falling back. At the same time a -large regiment of the enemy appeared from behind a point of the woods -which partially screened its advance, bearing directly down upon the -50th Pennsylvania. Colonel Christ was directed to meet and not to await -the attack. At the command his regiment deliberately fixed bayonets and -moved forward, presenting a long and imposing line. The charging rebel -regiment first ceased its shouts and yells, then fired a scattering and -ineffective volley, and broke and fled to the cover of the woods so -precipitantly that the 50th had scarcely time to fire a round after -them. General Stevens now threw one wing of the 50th upon the flank of -the enemy's position, and Colonel Perry's regiment upon the other flank. -But the hostile battery ceased its fire, and the troops, on reaching its -position, found the enemy gone, with every sign of a precipitate -retreat. - -Meantime the Highlanders' skirmishers, never halting, had reached the -fort, and entered it simultaneously with the force under Colonel Leasure -which crossed at the ferry. A single gun, a 12-pounder, was found in the -work; the others had been removed by the enemy. The troops were -recalled, the wounded cared for, and the march was resumed to the ferry -without further opposition. Colonel Leasure and Captain Elliott were -found at the fort, and reported the complete success of the movements -intrusted to them. Two gunboats--the Seneca, Captain Daniel Ammen, and -Ellen, Captain Budd--entered Whale Branch as prearranged, and opened -fire on the battery opposite Seabrook. Captain Elliott immediately -crossed over with his party, found the battery ready for guns, but none -there, and, after destroying the work, returned to Seabrook. Thence -hastening to the ferry, he joined Colonel Leasure, and crossed at that -point just as the skirmishers from the main column appeared. - -The troops bivouacked that night at the ferry, with pickets well out, -and two naval howitzers, under Lieutenant J.H. Upshur, in position -commanding the main road, while at short intervals the gunboats fired -big 11-inch shells as far into rebeldom as heavy charges could throw -them. It was afterwards reported by the refugee negroes that one of -these "rotten shot," as they termed the bursting shells, fell at -Garden's Corners, four miles away. - -During the night the ferry was completely restored. The captured gun and -wagons, with the wounded, crossed early in the morning. The captured -work was leveled, and at nine A.M. the troops commenced crossing, using -both the ferryboat and flats. By noon the entire force of three thousand -men was over. The enemy remained quiet back in the woods. The troops -marched into Beaufort that afternoon in fine spirits, and with -confidence in themselves heightened by the brush with the enemy and the -success of the expedition. Both officers and men had shown themselves -steady, prompt, and ready to march, manoeuvre, and fight, and it was -not their fault if the enemy would not give them a harder tussle. -Excepting the Highlanders, all were green troops, never having even seen -an enemy before, except as distant witnesses of the naval bombardment of -Hilton Head. The 47th and 48th New York embarked on their transport at -Beaufort, and returned to Hilton Head the next morning. - -The enemy's forces in the action, as reported by him, comprised the 14th -and four companies of the 12th South Carolina, a section of Leake's -Virginia battery, and a detachment of cavalry, forty-two in number, who -are commended as participating with their double-barreled shotguns and -navy revolvers. Colonel James Jones, of the 14th, commanded. Besides -these troops General Pemberton hurried forward from Pocotaligo a large -part of a Tennessee brigade, under General Donelson, which met the -retreating troops after the action was over. - -The Union losses consisted of three men of the 8th Michigan killed, and -one officer, Major Watson, and eight men of the same regiment, three men -of the 48th New York, and two of the 50th Pennsylvania, wounded,--in -all, seventeen. - -The enemy acknowledged, in official reports, the loss of an officer and -seven men killed, and an officer and twenty-three men wounded,--in all, -thirty-two. - -General Stevens warmly commended the conduct of his troops and the -services of his staff, Captain Hazard Stevens, assistant -adjutant-general; Lieutenants William T. Lusk and Benjamin R. Lyons, -aides; Andrew J. Holbrook, volunteer aide; Henry S. Tafft and William S. -Cogswell, signal officers; and Captain Charles A. Fuller, quartermaster. - -This action was almost the first Union success achieved by the army -since the disaster of Bull Run, and the thanks of the government were -extended in general orders to General Stevens and his command for their -victory, styled the battle of Port Royal Ferry. - - - - - CHAPTER LI - - BEAUFORT.--CAMPAIGN PLANNED AGAINST CHARLESTON - - -After the action of Port Royal Ferry, General Stevens continued to hold -Beaufort and the neighboring islands for five months, without the -occurrence of any military event of importance, chiefly occupied in -thoroughly drilling and disciplining his troops. Lieutenant Abraham -Cottrell, of the 8th Michigan, was added to the staff as aide. A -battalion of the 1st Massachusetts cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel -H.B. Sargent, was added to his command; also another section of Battery -E of the 3d artillery, Captain A.P. Rockwell's Connecticut light -battery, and a company of Serrell's New York engineers, under Captain -Alfred F. Sears, with a pontoon bridge equipment. His attention, -moreover, was largely taken up with other matters, not military, but -growing out of the peculiar conditions there. He caused the public -library, which has already been mentioned, with several fine private -libraries added to it, to be put in order, restored to the shelves and -catalogued, and thrown open for the use of the troops. Corporal Joseph -Matthews, Joseph Hall, and George Lispenard, of Company E of the -Highlanders, were busy at this work for several months. He intended that -the library, thus preserved, should be cared for and kept in the town -where it belonged, and restored to the inhabitants when they resumed -their allegiance and returned to their homes. But one day the treasury -agent, Colonel William H. Reynolds, presented himself, and demanded the -books as captured rebel property, to be sold for the benefit of the -government,--a demand which General Stevens indignantly and peremptorily -rejected. A month later the agent again appeared with a formal demand -from the Secretary of the Treasury for the library, indorsed by General -Sherman with an order to give them up. Even then General Stevens -suspended the order, and wrote a strong protest to General Sherman, -setting forth the vandal character of the proposed action, and urging -him to represent the matter in its true light to the government, and -secure the revocation of the order. But General Sherman was unwilling to -take such a responsibility, and there was no alternative but to give up -the books. - -General Stevens disapproved the action of the government in sending such -treasury agents into the field, with independent authority to gather up -cotton and other property, as meddling with military operations, -encroaching on the authority of military commanders, and opening the -door for dishonest or over-zealous agents to plunder private property. -Such work, he declared, should be done by the army through the -quartermaster's department, and the captured property then turned over -to the Treasury Department. - -Apprehensive that the numerous negroes within his lines might become -vagrant and burdensome unless brought under control and made -self-supporting, General Sherman issued an elaborate order, providing -for teaching them the elementary branches, and inducing them to plant -crops. The latter requirement General Stevens heartily approved, but he -seriously doubted the propriety of the former, and wrote General -Sherman, pointing out that to educate the blacks and raise hopes of -freedom in their breast would make their condition doubly hard in case, -on the suppression of the rebellion, they had to return to their -masters, and that the order, manifestly looking to freeing the slaves, -might alienate the support of the border States from the Union cause. -This view now seems reactionary, but it should be borne in mind that the -great mass of Union soldiers sprang to arms, not to free the slaves, but -to preserve the Union. Lincoln himself guided his course by the same -view of not alienating the border States, withholding his emancipation -proclamation until the progress of public opinion made it expedient. -Writes General Sherman in reply:-- - - "After all, my dear general, the government will do as it sees best - in this matter. My order can be reversed at its pleasure. But, of - myself, it would be doing some violence to my own views of duty to - make the change you desire in the system therein indicated. But - allow me to express to you my warmest thanks for the thoughtful and - considerate manner in which you have done me the honor to write. - Although we may differ in our views in one or two points,--both - admitted to be delicate ones,--it will not permit any change of my - exalted opinion of your talents and your personal character." - -But the generals were only wasting time in discussing the negro problem, -for by the next steamer, early in March, there descended on the -Department of the South, like the locusts on Egypt, a swarm of treasury -agents and humanitarians, male and female, all zealously bent on -educating and elevating the "freedmen," as they immediately dubbed the -blacks. The irreverent young officers styled these good people the -"Gideonites," and were disposed to make all manner of fun of them; but -among the number were persons of the highest respectability and purest -motives, and they undoubtedly accomplished some good. They met with a -cold and ungracious reception from General Sherman, who declared that -their coming was uncalled for and entirely premature, and incontinently -packed them off to Beaufort to the care of General Stevens, thus washing -his hands of them. - -The latter treated them with the utmost courtesy and kindness, assigned -them good quarters in town, and detailed a capable and gentlemanly young -officer, Lieutenant H.G. Belcher, of the 8th Michigan, to see to their -comfort and needs. He not only gave them every facility and assistance -in his power in their care of the blacks, but took a real interest in -their mission, talked and advised with the chiefs, and exerted a decided -and salutary influence in modifying some of their crude and extravagant -ideas, and bringing them down to judicious and practicable measures. It -is a curious fact that in several instances he had to curb the attempts -of some of the more zealous, who strove to work the blacks harder than -their old masters did. Always frank and outspoken in his opinions, and -differing widely from many of the views of these visitors, General -Stevens impressed them with his sincere and earnest sense of duty, and -won their gratitude and goodwill. Hon. Edward L. Pierce, the biographer -of Sumner, who was the chief agent, thus acknowledged their feelings and -obligations toward General Stevens:-- - - "General Stevens was an officer with whom subordination was a - controlling duty. The order for sending able-bodied negroes to - Hilton Head to be armed imposed on him an uncongenial service, but - he performed it faithfully and with dispatch, and even aided in the - selection of the officers to drill them. His preconceived opinions, - although he desired them humane treatment, were understood to be - unfavorable to an effort at the present time to raise them to - intelligent citizenship; but to the industrial and educational - movement to that end he offered no opposition, but gave to it in - good faith his official protection and aid, and the special agent of - the Treasury Department, who was charged with its direction, never - asked facilities which he denied, often more being granted than was - requested. The better part of the territory to which that movement - applied was under his command, and its friends will gratefully - remember him for his personal courtesies and honorable cooperation." - -Mrs. Stevens also arrived on the same steamer to visit her husband, with -her youngest daughter, Kate, a beautiful and engaging little girl of -ten, and remained nearly a month. Their visit was a great solace to -General Stevens, and the last time he was to see them. - -The Washington ladies, Mrs. Johnson and Miss Donelson, their neighbors -and warm friends for four years, came with the Gideonites, actuated by -benevolence. Other visitors were Mr. Caverly, whom General Stevens had -met in Washington, and his beautiful young wife. He was in the last -stages of consumption, and the general had him taken into his own -quarters and carefully nursed and cared for until his death. Hon. John -M. Forbes, of Milton, Mass., and his wife, whose son, William H. Forbes, -was an officer of the 1st Massachusetts cavalry, then at Beaufort, also -visited there that winter; and Hon. W.J.A. Fuller, of New York, an -eminent lawyer, and brother to Captain Charles A. Fuller, was another -visitor. - -During all this time General Stevens was chiefly engaged in training and -disciplining his command. Besides company and battalion drills in the -forenoon, brigade drills were had four afternoons a week, usually in -some extensive cotton-field below the town, and occasionally these -drills were varied by movements through timber, bridging and crossing -streams, or overcoming other obstacles, the three arms being exercised -to act in concert. There was no other brigade in the armies on either -side that was put through such a complete and thorough course of brigade -drill as General Stevens gave his command at Beaufort. Schools of -instruction for officers and for non-commissioned officers were also -vigorously kept up. The picketing of the widely extended and exposed -points on the islands involved a line twenty-five miles in extent, and -was a severe task on the troops. An entire regiment was required for -this duty, and was changed every ten days. To insure the vigilance of -the pickets, General Stevens organized a system of nightly inspections -by members of his staff and other officers specially sent out from -Beaufort, in addition to the grand rounds and inspections by their own -officers. Besides the staff officers already mentioned, Lieutenant -Benjamin R. Lyons, of the 50th Pennsylvania, and Lieutenant A. Cottrell, -of the 8th Michigan, were detailed as aides, and Captain Charles A. -Fuller took the place of Captain Lilly as quartermaster, the latter -being court-martialed and cashiered. - -A fine mansion in the edge of town, in the midst of a luxuriant -semi-tropical garden, with the negro quarters and kitchens in detached -buildings, served as headquarters. On the open space on one side, -brigade guard-mounting was held every morning to the martial and -inspiring music of the Highlanders' band. This was one of the finest -bands in the service, or, indeed, in the country. It had been long -established in New York, and was maintained with indefatigable zeal and -industry by Lieutenant William Robertson, the band-master. - -Thus well occupied with drills, dress parades, guard-mountings, -picketing, and study, in that beautiful region and delightful winter -climate, profusely supplied with fresh beef, poultry, and sweet -potatoes, in addition to the ample regular ration, the troops greatly -enjoyed their sojourn at Beaufort, while they rapidly gained soldierly -discipline and efficiency. In April a detachment of two hundred and -fifty of the 8th Michigan escorted Lieutenant James H. Wilson on a -reconnoissance to Wilmington Island, on the Savannah River, and in a -very creditable action defeated and drove an entire rebel regiment, the -13th Georgia, suffering, however, a loss of forty-two killed and -wounded. - -The following letters from General Stevens to his wife give interesting -sketches of this period:-- - - [Illustration: HEADQUARTERS AT BEAUFORT] - - BEAUFORT, S.C., February 16, 1861. - - MY DEAR WIFE,--I am devoting my energies to perfecting the - discipline of my brigade. All the regiments are now in very - respectable drill,--one in very superior drill. For five weeks I - have had brigade drills, an average of four per week. In this week - they will have been instructed in all the evolutions of the line. - Hazard is very expert both at battalion and brigade drill, and he - can drill a brigade much better than any of my colonels. Then I have - a regiment doing picket duty on the island. I relieve it every ten - days, so each regiment has been thoroughly instructed in picket and - outpost duty. I have here the second battalion of the 1st - Massachusetts cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sargent. It - is finely officered, and is a splendid body of men. I have also a - Connecticut light battery of six guns. It will, however, take months - to make this battery efficient. For the last three weeks I have had - regimental schools for officers and non-commissioned officers. They - are doing well, and both officers and non-commissioned officers take - great interest in them. Hazard's health is excellent. He takes very - great interest in everything, is full of life and energy, very - industrious, studies carefully his tactics, regulations, etc. He is - making a very superior officer indeed; is a very efficient - adjutant-general. My aides, Captain Lusk and Lieutenant Cottrell, - are good men. - - April 17.... I have endeavored to do all I could with propriety to - facilitate everything which tended to the improvement of the - condition of the negroes. Many of the people here, both men and - women, understand pretty well the circumstances of the case, and are - getting to take practical views of the subject. - - April 21.... Mrs. Johnson and Miss Donelson leave day after - to-morrow on the Atlantic. We shall send for them and see that they - are comfortably taken on the ship. Two officers of my brigade return - at the same time on leave of absence, in whose special charge I will - place them. - - The 8th Michigan regiment had a very brilliant affair last - Wednesday. Whilst about two hundred and sixty of the regiment under - their colonel (Fenton) were reconnoitring Wilmington Island, they - were attacked by a full regiment (the Georgia 13th), eight hundred - strong. After a desperate conflict of nearly two hours our men - whipped them, drove them off the ground, pursued them for a mile, - and then carefully and leisurely held the field for five hours. All - our dead and wounded and every particle of baggage were brought off. - We lost two officers and ten men killed, and thirty men wounded,--a - very heavy loss, being one fifth of the entire command. On Friday - and Saturday we buried the dead. The services were very affecting. - The regiment returned on Saturday afternoon, and the whole brigade - turned out to receive them. We had invited the ladies from the Pope - plantation to come to Beaufort on Friday to attend a concert given - by the Highlanders on Friday evening. Mrs. Johnson, Miss Donelson, - and Miss Ward came over. They returned on Saturday evening. We had - the burial of the dead, the concert, and the reception while they - were here. We entertained them at the house, and they really enjoyed - their visit. Indeed, Mrs. J. and Miss D. have found it rather lonely - on Ladies' Island, and I thought, in view of old acquaintance' sake - and their kind and excellent natures, that we ought to do something - to give them a little change. - - May 24. We have had a sad household the last few days. Mr. Caverly - has been sinking gradually since Wednesday morning, and died this - morning at one o'clock. He was exceedingly patient and resigned, and - very grateful for the attentions he had received here. I am very - thankful I did not hesitate, in his enfeebled condition, insisting - upon his coming to my house. His wife has borne herself with great - fortitude and courage throughout. Lieutenant Pratt, of the - Massachusetts cavalry, is going home on leave of absence, and will - take charge of Mrs. Caverly. - - May 18. Above is a view of the steamer Planter, a dispatch boat of - General Ripley in Charleston harbor, which was run off by the pilot - Robert and the black crew last week. It is a very remarkable affair, - and makes quite a hero of Robert. She was tied up at the wharf close - to Ripley's office. Yet he slipped out of the harbor unobserved, and - gave the steamer up to our blockading fleet. The Planter lay at - Beaufort from Thursday morning to this morning. She was run off on - Tuesday, May 13. - -The following to Mr. Fuller gives General Stevens's views on the proper -war policy, and the severity of the contest yet to be fought. It was at -this time that the government, rendered over-confident by Western -successes, stopped recruiting. It will be seen how exactly he read the -military situation:-- - - BEAUFORT, S.C., March 15, 1862. - - MY DEAR SIR,-- ... At this moment every effort should be made to - keep our ranks full by enlistments. We are only at the beginning of - the hard fights. Our men will fall in battle, and die in the - hospitals. The best troops rapidly melt away in aggressive - movements. We must take nothing for granted except the determination - on the part of the South to make a stern and protracted resistance. - The great point is to open the Mississippi down to the Gulf, and - this can be done by driving our forces southward in Tennessee, and - farther south into Alabama and Mississippi. This should be combined - with a great movement from the Gulf. The Mississippi River in our - control, everything westward will fall by vigorous, rapid, - comparatively short movements. We must husband our men and - resources. We, if we don't look out, will find our victorious march - stayed in mid-course by the melting away of our attacking columns, - not kept full in consequence of a too great dissemination of our - force. - -At this time General Stevens wrote Professor Bache a memoir, to be laid -before the President, giving his views of the military policy and -operations to be undertaken. Dr. Lusk, who, as his aide, copied the -letter from the rough draft, declares that he urged the very movements -that were afterwards adopted, and was greatly impressed with the ability -and prophetic foresight of the memoir. Unfortunately, no copy of it has -been found. - - HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, E.C., - BEAUFORT, S.C., February 25, 1862. - - W.J.A. FULLER, ESQ., - - _My dear Sir_,--I hope not the least suggestion will be made in any - quarter in relation to placing me in command of the expeditionary - corps of General Sherman. I am induced to write you in relation to - it, because I have learned from a reliable source that it is being - spoken of in some influential quarters in Massachusetts. General - Sherman has treated me with marked kindness and consideration, and I - feel that I would be acting badly towards him if I did not express - decidedly my views and feelings in regard to the matter. It would - be, however, sheer affectation on my part to say that I did not - desire a separate command. I of course most earnestly desire one, - but not at the expense of a friend, or with injustice to any one. - -The advanced position of General Stevens's command was a constant threat -to the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, justly regarded by the enemy as -the vital line of communication between the two cities. The railroad -crossed the many rivers which empty along this part of the coast by long -pile or trestle bridges of hard Southern pine, full of pitch, and -exceedingly combustible. In thirty miles it thus crossed, going north -from Savannah, the Coosawhatchie, Tulifiny, Broad, Pocotaligo, Combahee, -and Ashepoo rivers, with six miles of bridges in the aggregate, and at -Pocotaligo, the centre of this stretch, was only eight miles distant -from Port Royal Ferry and the Union lines. So important was the -preservation of this railroad regarded by General Robert E. Lee, the -Confederate commander, and so probable did he deem our advance in this -direction, that he made his headquarters at Coosawhatchie, posted strong -detachments with guns and intrenchments at the bridges, and supported -them with considerable bodies of troops at central points, all under -General J.C. Pemberton, with headquarters at Pocotaligo. And that -officer, on succeeding Lee in command of South Carolina and Georgia in -March, remained at the same place, and continued the same attitude of -watchful defense. - -General Stevens early fixed his eye upon these bridges as affording the -most feasible way of breaking up the railroad. He was eager to cross -swords with Lee and confident, more than once remarking that he could -beat "Bob Lee,"--that he felt himself more than a match for him. From -negro refugees he learned that the enemy held them in force, but nothing -sufficiently definite and reliable to be of much value. Anxious to gain -exact and full information of the bridges, the enemy, and his -dispositions, and of the roads and nature of the country, he offered the -task to Captain Elliott, of the Highlanders, who undertook it with -alacrity. During January, February, and March, this intrepid officer -made trip after trip within the enemy's lines, explored the whole -region, and examined every bridge between the Coosawhatchie and the -Ashepoo, located the enemy's posts, ascertained their forces, -intrenchments, guns, etc., and gleaned much information in regard to the -roads, approaches, and country. On these scouts Captain Elliott went in -uniform. He would start at night in a small canoe with a trusty negro -guide, paddle noiselessly up one of the rivers until within the enemy's -lines, then land and pursue his explorations on foot. By day he usually -lay hid in the swamps or pine woods. The service was not only fraught -with danger, but extremely arduous, involving every hardship of cold, -hunger, and exposure. It was so well performed that it is doubtful if -the Confederate commander himself was much better informed as to the -state of things within his lines than was his opponent. No whisper of -suspicion of Captain Elliott's scouts was suffered to get out; and -although his long and frequent absences on special duty excited comment, -all knowledge of them was confined to himself, General Stevens, and the -assistant adjutant-general of the brigade. - -In the latter part of February General Stevens sent Captain Ralph Ely, -of the 8th Michigan, with four officers and twenty-two men, in boats on -a reconnoissance up the Combahee River. Captain Ely performed this duty -with skill and success, was gone three days, and went entirely around -some of the enemy's posts without revealing his presence to them. - -With the thorough knowledge of the enemy's defenses he had so carefully -gained, General Stevens conceived the plan of moving suddenly by land -and water upon the railroad, breaking it up irremediably by destroying -every bridge for thirty miles, thus cutting the communication between -the cities and threatening both, and then rapidly to countermarch the -whole force to the ferry, Beaufort, or Broad River, embark on -transports, and, reinforced by every available man of Sherman's command, -to strike for Charleston by the inner waterways of the North Edisto, -Wadmalaw, and Stono, thus completely turning the heavy harbor and sea -defenses which protected the city against a front attack. - -He worked out the details of this movement against the railroad with -great pains, knowing that he would have it to execute. He counted -largely upon the flotilla of launches and flatboats, by means of which -he would be enabled to throw strong forces up the rivers, and cut off -and isolate every position and bridge in turn. Port Royal Ferry had -demonstrated the practicability of thus moving troops by water, and had -given them the idea. He had plenty of flats, great numbers of negroes -trained to the oar, and there was no lack of good boatmen among the -soldiers. - -The largest part of the attacking force was to be thrown directly on the -railroad, moving simultaneously in two columns, one overland from Port -Royal Ferry via Garden's Corners, the other ascending Broad and -Pocotaligo rivers in flatboats, supported by naval launches and -light-draught gunboats. Strong detachments were boldly to press the -enemy's posts on the Coosawhatchie and Tulifiny, and be ready to join in -the attack upon them later by the main force. A picked detachment was to -ascend the Combahee in boats, carry the enemy's posts on that river and -on the Ashepoo, and destroy the railroad bridges, and then, proceeding -along the railroad, join and cooperate with the main column in -destroying the bridge over the Pocotaligo, when the united force were to -press southward down the railroad towards Savannah, sweeping everything -clear beyond the Coosawhatchie, and leaving the railroad in smoking -ruins for thirty miles. - -In connection with the siege of Pulaski, General Sherman desired to -operate against Savannah. He complained that a combined movement in -force upon that city planned by him in January was balked by the refusal -of the navy to cooperate. Later, he was ordered by McClellan to abandon -the design. Naturally impatient of delay, and anxious to achieve some -success, he was ripe for new undertakings. As the fall of Pulaski was -evidently impending, General Stevens unfolded his plan to General -Sherman, and the two officers, in several long and confidential -conferences, discussed it fully. General Sherman decided to adopt and -carry it out as soon as the fall of Pulaski should free his whole force -for the operation. Commodore Dupont also heartily entered into the plan, -and was ready to give it all requisite naval support. Moreover, he -proposed making a strong naval demonstration on Bull Bay, north of -Charleston, in order still further to distract the enemy at the critical -time. - -The objective point to be seized as the key to Charleston--the -turning-point of the campaign--was known as Church Flats, situated on -the stream extending from the Wadmalaw to the Stono River. From this -point a good road led to Charleston, fourteen miles distant. The -gunboats could approach within two miles of it. The movement of -Sherman's entire force was to be so combined and timed that every -effective man--Wright from Florida, Viele from Pulaski, Williams from -Hilton Head, and Stevens's flying column fresh from their attack on the -railroad, leaving ruined bridges and a beaten, disconcerted enemy behind -it--was to be transported by water and thrown upon Church Flats. True, -the point was fortified and garrisoned, but the navy would cover the -landing, and afford support in case of repulse. A successful dash might -take Charleston at a blow. Or, if a foothold only were gained, the army -could force its way by the Stono, turn all the defenses on James Island -and the harbor, and reduce or destroy the city from the banks of the -Ashley. This movement was taking the enemy by the throat. The subsequent -attacks on the sea front were taking the bull by the horns, and met the -usual fate of that performance. - -Fort Pulaski fell April 11. With due allowance for preparation and -delays, the railroad should have been destroyed and our army in -possession of Church Flats by May 1. What means of defense had the enemy -at this juncture? Lee had been sent to Virginia, and during the six -weeks succeeding his departure Pemberton was stripped of regiment after -regiment, dispatched to Richmond or to Corinth. About April 20 he -withdrew all troops except the cavalry between the Ashepoo and Oketie -for the defense of the two cities. "This," he reports, "will leave the -line of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad with no other protection -than what the cavalry companies can afford, which is altogether -insufficient." At this time also he moved his headquarters from -Pocotaligo to Charleston, and abandoned the defenses of Georgetown north -of Charleston, removing the guns therefrom for the protection of the -latter. - -Only four thousand men, under Colonel P.H. Colquitt, 46th Georgia, -guarded the long and exposed line south of the Ashepoo clear to -Savannah. Colquitt's headquarters, with his own regiment and two field -batteries, were at Pocotaligo; the remainder of his force was scattered -along the road. - -There were no obstructions yet planted in the Stono, except possibly at -Church Flats, where, as late as April 29, Pemberton orders Evans, "Sink -the obstructions at Church Flats immediately." The line of defenses -across James Island was not commenced. The guns with which it was -afterwards armed were in the exposed, advanced batteries on Cole and -Battery islands, and must have been abandoned there. - -The returns of Pemberton's forces for May 11, 1862, give the effective -force in his department:-- - - Georgia 9,172 - South Carolina 18,514 - ------ - Total 27,686 - -The South Carolina troops were disposed as follows:-- - - Charleston defenses, Brigadier-General Ripley 9750 - James Island to the Ashepoo, Brigadier-General Evans 4883 - Ashepoo to Savannah, Colonel Colquitt 3881 - -General Stevens's movement on the railroad, if successful, would -effectually break up Colquitt's command, and prevent succor reaching the -threatened point at Charleston from the troops at and about Savannah for -at least a week, most probably two weeks; for they would have to be sent -around by way of Augusta, Ga., and by this route the rail was not -continuous, there being a gap of over forty miles. - -Consequently Pemberton's available force to resist the proposed movement -would be reduced to Ripley's and Evans's commands, which mustered,-- - - - Infantry 10,477 - Artillery 3,032 - Cavalry 1,133 - ------ - Total 14,642 - -Counting out the garrisons of the forts and batteries about the city and -harbor, and on James, Cole, and Battery islands, it is clear that -Pemberton could not possibly have concentrated over six or seven -thousand troops to meet Sherman's advance on the Stono. In all -probability he would not have had half that number at the critical point -in time; for the vigor of the attack on the railroad, sweeping -southward, would surely have impressed him that Savannah was in danger, -causing him perhaps to hurry part of his troops to the relief of that -city via Augusta, while Dupont's demonstration on Bull Bay would have -still further distracted his attention from the real point of attack -until too late. - -Returns of the Union forces for April 30 show present for duty some -17,000, as follows:-- - - Brigadier-General Viele, Daufuskie, Bird and - Jones islands 3077 - Brigadier-General Stevens, Beaufort 3881 - Brigadier-General Wright, Edisto and Otter islands 3623 - Brigadier-General Q.A. Gilmore, Fort Pulaski, - Tybee, and Cockspur 2139 - Colonel Robert Williams, Hilton Head 2987 - Fernandina and St. Augustine, Florida 1194 - Fort Seward, South Carolina, 92, and department - commander and staff, 16 108 - ------ - Total 16,988 - -An effective force of 10,000 could have been formed from these troops -and thrown upon the Stono. Sherman was a good and resolute soldier; his -troops were in fine condition, and full of pluck and confidence. With -Stevens and Wright to lead them, and the navy at his back, he would -almost certainly have achieved success.[16] - -But this promising movement was nipped in the bud by the untimely and -unexpected arrival of Major-General David Hunter to supersede Sherman. -Brigadier-General H.W. Benham accompanied Hunter as a kind of second in -command. In fact, both officers were _enfants terribles_, whom the -administration exiled to South Carolina to get rid of. Hunter had just -been relieved from commanding in Missouri for an act of insubordination -in issuing an emancipation proclamation in defiance of orders; and -Benham, fresh from skirmishes in West Virginia, was in Washington, -claiming everything in the way of credit, and loudly importuning the -government for high command, when they were ordered to South Carolina. - -Sherman turned over the command of the department, and sailed north on -the 8th of April. Three days later Pulaski fell after a day and a half's -bombardment, and Benham made haste to claim the credit of the -achievement due to Sherman and Gilmore. - -General Hunter divided his department into the Northern and Southern -Districts, and gave Benham the command of the former, comprising South -Carolina, Georgia, and part of Florida, and nearly all the troops. About -the middle of April General Wright returned from Florida with the -greater part of his brigade, and took post on Edisto Island. - -Hunter, a sincere, earnest, and patriotic man, was absorbed in the -political and humanitarian aspects of the great struggle. He lost no -time in issuing another emancipation proclamation. "Martial law and -slavery," so ran this unique document, "in a free country are altogether -incompatible; the persons heretofore held as slaves are therefore -declared forever free." The same day he issued the following order to -the commanding officers of the several posts and islands: "Sir, you will -send immediately to these headquarters, under guard, all able-bodied -negroes capable of bearing arms within your lines." The six hundred -forlorn and frightened darkeys, who next day were loaded on a steamer at -Beaufort and shipped to Hilton Head, must have been sadly puzzled over -their new-found forever freedom. But Hunter soon solved all doubts by -throwing them into camp with uniforms on their backs, arms in their -hands, white officers to drill them, black preachers to exhort them, and -a cordon of white soldiers sentineling their camp to make sure they did -not run away. Thus was raised the first negro regiment. Hunter, having -proclaimed them free, felt no scruples in making them fight for freedom. - -General Stevens, after obeying the order with a promptness altogether -unexpected by General Hunter, and for which he was totally unprepared, -remonstrated against it in a letter to General Benham, his immediate -commander:-- - - "1. There is very little material for soldiers in the able-bodied - men of color in this department. I have not yet been able to find a - single man who would venture alone inside the enemy's lines, - although I have diligently sought to find such a man. Occasionally a - negro has been used to accompany white men. They have great fear of - the prowess of their masters, and of white men generally. They have - the strongest local and domestic attachments, which make them very - reluctant to leave their homes. - - "2: They can be used to very great advantage in connection with and - for the menial duties of the military service, and also as adjuncts - of existing organizations; thus, as quartermasters' employees, doing - all kinds of labor, from mechanical to the merest drudgery work. As - boatmen, also, and as laborers on the defensive works, as guides and - scouts, they can render most effective service, and should be - employed _as adjuncts of existing organizations_. In fixed batteries - they could do the heavy work, moving the guns, and carrying the shot - and shell. In engineering operations they could do the heavy labor, - even some of the hard lifting and carrying in managing the pontoon - equipage. Thus I conceive a great use can be made of the blacks in - our military operations in devolving upon them the menial duties, - and as strictly subordinate to existing organizations." - -These were precisely the views as to raising negro troops expressed not -long afterwards by the distinguished general, W.T. Sherman. - -The remonstrance seems to have had some effect, for General Hunter -telegraphed, and afterwards wrote, General Stevens to say to the negroes -that they were sent for to receive their free papers, and would have a -chance to volunteer, if they wished, and that those who did not wish to -remain would be sent back to their homes. In fact, the regiment was -disbanded not long afterwards. - -Another cause of anxiety to General Stevens was the delay of the Senate -in confirming his appointment as brigadier-general. The confirmation was -held up by Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, chairman of the Military -Committee, in consequence of numerous anonymous letters to him and other -senators, written from the Department of the South, charging that -General Stevens was unsound on the slavery question. But when General -Sherman reached Washington and indignantly refuted these slanders, -described the able handling of his troops at Port Royal Ferry, and the -fine condition to which he had brought his brigade; and Messrs. Pierce, -French, and Suydam, the treasury agents, abolitionists themselves, bore -willing witness to his patriotic spirit and the ungrudging assistance -he had given them,--Wilson assented to the confirmation. Senators -Fessenden, John P. Hale, Rice, Nesmith, and others strongly stood up for -him, and on April 12 it was made without further delay. - - NOTE.--Admiral Dupont's fleet-captain, Charles Henry Davis, in a - letter written soon after the naval victory at Port Royal, declares - that the true way of attacking Charleston is "by lines of water - communication from St. Helena Sound; and, if you will observe, South - Edisto, North Edisto, and Stono rivers and inlets afford the means - of lateral support to an army moving towards Charleston by vessels - of the navy," etc. _Life of Charles Henry Davis, Rear Admiral_, p. - 174. - - On the arrival of the new commanders, the admiral, waiving rank in - order to expedite matters, consented to put himself in official - communication with General Benham; but he soon had occasion to call - General Hunter's attention to the tone and character of one of - Benham's letters, and to withdraw the concession. - - In a subsequent letter to Hunter the admiral remarks: "I have, - however, to take exception to the attempt of General Benham to - attribute his inability to meet his own arrangements to any - shortcomings on my part." _Official Dispatches of Admiral Dupont_, - pp. 172-183. - - [Illustration: LIEUT. WM. T. LUSK, LIEUT. ABRAHAM COTTRELL, - ---- ----, MAJOR GEORGE S. KEMBLE, CAPT. B.F. - PORTER, CAPT. HAZARD STEVENS, GENERAL - STEVENS, LIEUT. BENJ. R. LYONS - GENERAL STEVENS AND STAFF] - -FOOTNOTES: - - [16] The author was General Stevens's chief of staff, and was - confidentially informed and employed by him in all the details - of this plan of campaign against Charleston, and of the scouts - by Captain Elliott and others. Since the war he has gone over - the whole matter with General Thomas W. Sherman, who expressed - the utmost confidence in the proposed movement, and his lasting - regret that he was deprived of the opportunity of carrying it - out. - - - - - CHAPTER LII - - JAMES ISLAND CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARLESTON - - -General Hunter, busy in proclaiming martial law and freedom, and in -raising a black army by conscription, with which he hoped to strike a -blow into the vitals of the Confederacy in the future, decided for the -present simply to maintain a defensive attitude. - -But Benham was greedy to signalize himself. His dense egotism and -self-sufficiency rendered him almost incapable of listening to any -suggestions, or even information, that did not originate with himself. -The movement planned by General Stevens with so much care was rejected -offhand by Benham. Yet he was extremely anxious to employ the troops in -some offensive operation, and gave Hunter no peace on that point. - -Early in May Pemberton abandoned his works at the mouth of the Stono, -dismantling them and removing the guns for the purpose of arming an -inner line across James Island, which he was commencing, and which ran -from Fort Johnson in the harbor to Fort Pemberton on the Stono, ten -miles above its mouth, and the naval gunboats entered and took -possession of the lower four miles of the river. Here Benham saw his -chance. Hunter at length yielded to his importunity, and consented to a -demonstration in force upon Charleston by way of James Island. Benham -made the plan. One division of troops, under General Stevens, embarking -on transports, were to go around by sea, enter the Stono, and debark on -James Island. Another division, under General Wright, who was already -on Edisto Island with four thousand troops, was to make a combined land -and water movement over Edisto and John's islands, crossing the -intervening bays and streams, and reach James Island simultaneously with -Stevens. A prompt and successful attack upon the incomplete line of -intrenchments across that island would place Charleston in our power. - -The plan was entirely practicable, but marred from the start by Benham's -unfortunate talent for blundering. When he communicated the details of -the movement to General Stevens, that officer pointed out to him that he -was not allowing time enough for Wright to make the movement required of -him, and reach James Island simultaneously with the other division, and -that he would necessarily be a week later in arriving unless his orders -were changed. Benham took this friendly advice in dudgeon. The orders -were not changed, and Wright was just one week behind the appointed -time, as predicted. - -As soon as he was informed of the intended movement, General Stevens -earnestly urged Benham to inaugurate it by sending him to break up the -railroad, as he had so long and so well planned, or, if not with the -heavy force and thoroughness approved by General Sherman, at least to -permit him to throw his own brigade upon it. In a personal interview he -presented his views with such clearness and force that he actually -obtained a reluctant consent from Benham to make the attack, but at the -last moment he peremptorily countermanded the movement. Finally, to -General Stevens's last earnest request by telegraph he would only -consent that a demonstration might be made by the single regiment that -was to be left to garrison Beaufort, the 50th Pennsylvania, stipulating, -moreover, that it was to be back the same day it started on the raid. -Accordingly the 50th, under Colonel Christ, supported by a company of -the Highlanders and another of the Michiganders, a detachment of eighty -men of the 1st Massachusetts cavalry under Major Henry L. Higginson, and -a section of Rockwell's battery, advanced on May 29 to Pocotaligo, had a -brisk skirmish with the enemy, driving him from his position, with a -loss of two killed, six wounded, and two captured, and returned. The -Union loss was two killed and nine wounded. How different this mere -demonstration from the bold and crushing onslaught planned by General -Stevens! - -General Rufus Saxton arrived at Beaufort to take charge of affairs there -on General Stevens's departure. He was one of the army officers who took -part in the Northern Pacific Railroad exploration under the latter, and -had been warmly recommended by him, as an able and experienced officer, -for appointment as brigadier-general, a recommendation which General -Saxton declares was finally the cause of his obtaining the appointment; -for, taking advanced views in favor of emancipating and elevating the -slaves, he was chiefly supported by the abolitionists, and was -considered a representative of that element. He brought with him a -provost-marshal, who, when the troops were embarking, came on the wharf -with a considerable guard, and summarily took from the hostler two -horses belonging to Captain Stevens, claiming that, having been captured -from the enemy, they were improperly held by that officer. They were, in -fact, captured animals, but had been regularly appraised by a board of -survey, and the value of them paid into the quartermaster's department. -The troops on the vessel witnessed this seizure with no goodwill, for -they all knew the horses, and one of the soldiers made haste to acquaint -the owner with what was taking place. He, finding remonstrance useless -and the captor determined to hold on to his prey, quietly stepped across -the wharf to the steamboat alongside, crowded with troops, all -interested spectators, and directed an officer of the 8th Michigan to -take his company ashore, seize the horses, and put them on board. The -order had scarcely left his lips when a hundred brawny fellows, musket -in hand, leaped over the ship's rail and on the wharf, rescued the -animals with no gentle hand, and drove the astonished and crestfallen -provost-marshal and his myrmidons off the wharf. Of course he rushed to -General Saxton, big with complaint, and the latter at once sought -redress of General Stevens for the forcing of his provost-guard. But the -latter in most emphatic terms rebuked the high-handed act of the -over-zealous provost, and fully upheld his staff officer. - -Embarking the other three regiments of his brigade and Rockwell's -battery, reduced to four guns, on June 1 General Stevens proceeded to -Hilton Head, where he was joined by the 28th Massachusetts and 46th New -York in transports, and on the 2d steamed by sea around to, and entered, -the Stono, which was held by several gunboats, to a point above -Grimball's plantation, which was six miles above the mouth. The -transports anchored two miles below this point, and opposite a hamlet on -John's Island known as Legareville. A strong picket was thrown ashore on -James Island for the night, it being too late to land the troops. On the -3d they were put on shore in small boats, which were insufficient in -number, and made the landing slow and laborious. As soon as a few -companies were ashore, General Stevens advanced with them, drove back -the enemy, who were in considerable force, after a sharp action, -captured three guns, which they were moving back to their inner line, -and established his permanent picket line two and a half miles from the -river, running diagonally across the island from Big Folly Creek to the -Stono near Grimball's. - -The action perhaps merits a fuller account. A farm road led back from -the river about two and a half miles to the bank of Big Folly Creek, -where it passed along a row of negro quarters. Here, turning to the left -or westward, it crossed a wide cotton-field, then traversed a strip of -woods, then crossed a marsh and slough by a causeway and continued on -across the island in a generally westward direction. Driving back the -enemy, General Stevens occupied the negro quarters with six companies, -two of the 28th Massachusetts on the right, then two of the Roundheads -and two of the Highlanders on the left. Two more companies of the -latter, as they came up, were posted farther to the left and front. The -enemy held the woods in front, and both sides opened a brisk musketry -fire across the broad intervening cotton-field. Some of their -skirmishers got across the field far to the right of our position, and, -under cover of the bushes which fringed the bank of the creek there, -threatened the flank. To meet this danger, Captain Stevens stationed a -platoon of the Roundheads a short distance to the right of the quarters, -where they, too, had the cover of the bushes. - -Soon afterwards a column of the enemy, apparently a regiment, and which -was in fact the Charleston battalion, the crack corps of the city, -emerged from the woods, and advanced by the flank in column of fours, -headed by a mounted officer. In this order they charged down the road -across the field at the double-quick, and, notwithstanding the fire of -the companies stationed at the negro quarters, which proved singularly -ineffective, actually penetrated to the buildings; the 28th companies -gave way, and for a moment they had the position. But the Roundheads -held their ground, while the Highlanders charged them with the bayonet -and drove them in confusion to the right, whence they escaped across the -field to the woods. In the rush, however, they swept off and captured -Captain Cline and part of his platoon, which was posted to protect the -right flank. The Highlanders wounded and captured Lieutenant Henry -Walker, adjutant of the battalion, in the melee. General Stevens -immediately followed up this repulse by advancing his troops upon and -through the woods, and to the other side of the marsh and causeway, -forcing the enemy to abandon three pieces of artillery in his hasty -retreat. The guns were hauled to camp in triumph. The enemy acknowledged -a loss of seventeen wounded, one mortally, and one captured. His force -consisted of the Marion Rifles, Pee Dee Rifles, Evans Guard, Sumter -Guard, Beauregard Light Infantry, Charleston Riflemen, Irish Volunteers, -Calhoun Guard, and Union Light Infantry, in all apparently nine -companies. Yet all this array of chivalry did not save the guns they -were sent to bring in. - -The picket line was posted along the front side of the woods, and on the -edge of the marsh. The enemy's pickets held the other side of the marsh. -There were several picket skirmishes during the next few days. The -troops were kept well employed in landing stores, making camps, and on -picket duty, awaiting the arrival of Wright's division. - -Benham was eager for General Stevens to make a dash upon the enemy's -lines without waiting for the balance of his army, but hesitated to give -the order. The latter, fearing most his commander's blundering -precipitancy, in the following confidential note urged him to come to a -speedy decision, representing that a day's preparation was absolutely -essential:-- - - JAMES ISLAND, June 6, 1862. - - DEAR GENERAL,--I understand your wish to be to make an armed - reconnoissance of the enemy's position, and if the result be - favorable, to follow it up by a dash, in order to seize James Island - below James River and Newton Cut. - - We shall probably be as well able to make it day after to-morrow - (daylight) as at any other time. - - Should you decide to make it day after to-morrow, it is of the first - consequence to make that decision without delay. It will require all - day to-morrow to prepare for it. I would suggest that not more than - three companies be left at Legareville; that everything else be - brought over to-morrow, including the six guns of Hamilton's - battery; that arrangements be made with the gunboats to open - cross-fires. The system of signals will require careful arrangement. - - I desire that the dash be successful, and therefore I want to see - every man thrown in. But I desire particularly to express my - judgment that, in the present position of our troops, twenty-four - hours of vigorous work is absolutely essential in the way of - preparation. - - Very truly yours, - ISAAC I. STEVENS. - - BRIGADIER-GENERAL BENHAM. - -How completely this judicious caution as to the necessity of due -preparation was thrown away upon the opinionated Benham was proved ten -days later, but for the present he gave up the idea of a dash. - -In a letter to his wife, dated June 11, General Stevens gives expression -to his disgust at the incompetents set over him:-- - - "I am not in very good spirits to-night, for the reason that I have - two commanders, Hunter and Benham, who are imbecile, vacillating, - and utterly unfit to command. Why it has been my fortune to be - placed in positions where I was of little account, and to be - subjected to such extreme mortification and annoyance, is beyond my - imagining. It may not even teach me patience. I shall, however, do - the best I can. If the authorities would send some man not - altogether incompetent, I should be better satisfied. Why can't - Mansfield be sent here, and both Hunter and Benham relieved? As for - myself, I am tabooed. No proper use is intended to be made of me, - and as everybody is in the humor to speak highly of my abilities, I - shall be held in part responsible for the follies of others. Benham - is an ass,--a dreadful man, of no earthly use except as a nuisance - and obstruction." - -A few days later he writes:-- - - "We are now attempting an enterprise for which our force is entirely - inadequate. The want of a proper commander is fearful. We shall try - to prevent any disaster occurring. This is all I can say at - present." - -On the 8th Wright's division reached Legareville, and was occupied the -next two days in crossing the river, and taking a position at -Grimball's, a mile and a half above General Stevens's camp. Colonel -Robert Williams went into camp with his 1st Massachusetts cavalry just -below Wright. The 7th Connecticut, which came with the overland column, -joined General Stevens's division. - -Wright's delay was caused by the inadequacy of the water transportation, -especially boats, furnished him. It was found an exceedingly slow and -laborious operation to transfer troops, guns, and horses from shore to -ship, and from ship to shore, in a few small boats. There were no -wharves, and the landing-places were narrow and swampy. It was only by -the greatest exertions, working his command night and day, that he was -able to accomplish in a week the movement which Benham expected made in -a day. Yet Benham, blind to the energetic and loyal character of Wright -and the strenuous exertions of his troops on this march, never forgave -that officer for the delay. Utterly unaccustomed to the command and -handling of troops, and swollen with new-found authority, he ever deemed -his loud and peremptory "Those are my orders, sir," an equivalent to -that painstaking attention to details and to means which Napoleon and -Wellington and all great soldiers have found indispensable. - -The army now assembled numbered about twelve thousand, and was organized -in two divisions and an independent brigade, as follows:-- - - - First Division, Brigadier-General H.G. Wright. - First Brigade, Colonel J.L. Chatfield. - 6th Connecticut, Colonel J.L. Chatfield. - 47th New York, Colonel P.C. Kane. - 97th Pennsylvania, Colonel H.R. Guss. - - Second Brigade, Colonel Thomas Welsh. - 45th Pennsylvania, Colonel Thomas Welsh. - 76th Pennsylvania, Colonel J.M. Power. - - Battery E, 3d U.S. artillery, Captain John Hamilton. - - Second Division, Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens. - First Brigade, Colonel William M. Fenton. - 8th Michigan, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Graves. - 28th Massachusetts, Lieutenant-Colonel M. Moore. - 7th Connecticut, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph R. Hawley. - - Second Brigade, Colonel Daniel Leasure. - 79th Highlanders, Lieutenant-Colonel David Morrison. - 100th Pennsylvania, Major David A. Lecky. - 46th New York, Colonel Rudolph Rosa. - 1st Connecticut Battery, Captain A.P. Rockwell. - - Independent Brigade, Colonel Robert Williams. - - 1st Massachusetts cavalry, Lieut.-Col. H.B. Sargent. - 3d R.I. heavy artillery (infantry), Major E. Metcalf. - 3d New Hampshire, Colonel J.H. Jackson. - 1st New York engineers, Colonel E.W. Serrell. - -All this time the enemy were concentrating and working like beavers on -their new line of works across the island. In advance of the left of the -line, at the narrowest neck of a peninsula formed by two inlets -extending from Big Folly Creek, they had previously erected a strong -work, known as Battery or Fort Lamar. It was a hundred yards long in -front, and completely blocked the neck from shore to shore, so that it -was impossible to turn or flank it. It had a wide and deep ditch, and a -heavy parapet sixteen feet in height above the general level of the -grounds and twenty-four feet above the bottom of the ditch, and -extended back on both flanks along the inlets. It mounted eight heavy -guns, viz., an 8-inch columbiad, two rifled 24-pounders, four -18-pounders, and a 15-inch mortar, and protected the whole left of their -line with a flank fire. The front was well covered by abattis, except at -the left angle, where a cart road ran along the left flank a hundred -yards, then passing inside and to the rear.[17] In front of the fort the -peninsula rapidly widened out. The ground was in old cotton-fields, open -and level, except for the high ridges and deep furrows resulting from -that crop. About five hundred yards in front of the fort a hedge and -ditch extended across the peninsula, separating field from field; and -five hundred yards farther another hedge-row and ditch separated the -second field from the road already mentioned. Both sides of the neck -were skirted with bushes along the banks of the inlets, a light fringe -on the eastward or left, a thicker fringe, affording some cover, on the -west side. The ground rose immediately behind the work, overlooking it, -and was covered with a growth of pine timber, above which uprose a tall, -skeleton signal tower. The peninsula was known as Secessionville Neck, -from the landing-place of that name on its extremity. - -Half a mile to the right of Battery Lamar, on the main line, was Battery -Reed, mounting two 24-pounders, and commanding the ground in front of -the former with a searching cross-fire. - -There was also a floating battery, mounting two guns, moored in the -inlet to the left rear of the fort. - -These works were continually shelling our pickets. The camps were beyond -their range. In order to answer them General Stevens was allowed by -Benham to erect a battery of three 24-pounder siege-guns on the point -nearest the enemy's fort, and half a mile to the right of the negro -quarters already mentioned. The battery was situated some two hundred -yards from the extreme point, and on the bank of Big Folly Creek, and -partially screened by the bushes there. It was well built, with heavy -parapet and traverse, and the detachment of Roundheads who manned the -guns soon felt quite secure. When it opened on the fort, it evidently -caused some perturbation among the enemy. For some time a lively -interchange of missiles was kept up. Our shells set fire to the floating -battery, and the next night it was moved farther down the inlet. The -Union battery could be approached on foot under cover of the bushes -which lined the bank of the creek, but to reach it on horseback it was -necessary to ride down the field in open view of the hostile work, and a -group of horsemen was pretty sure to draw their fire. - -A few days after the battery was completed, General Benham, accompanied -by General Stevens and quite a cavalcade of their respective staffs, -rode out to inspect the picket line. As they were returning by the road -towards the negro quarters, Benham expressed a wish to visit the -battery, and turned his horse to ride towards it. General Stevens -suggested that it would be better to approach the battery on foot under -cover of the bushes, as the enemy would probably fire on so large a -party in the open field. Benham repelled the suggestion with a rude -exclamation, and continued to ride towards the battery. General Stevens, -of course, kept his place by his side without further comment, and the -staffs and orderlies followed as in duty bound. As soon as the -cavalcade emerged beyond the shelter of the woods, and came in view of -the fort, a puff of smoke dashed from its side, and one of those -shrieking shells hurtled just overhead and struck with a splash in the -creek. Benham instantly pulled up, stared around bewildered a moment, -and, wheeling his horse short about, hastily rode back behind the -friendly screen and shelter of the woods, followed by his staff. General -Stevens, ignoring this manoeuvre, kept quietly on at a moderate trot, -followed by his staff, and all soon reached the welcome battery -unharmed, although several more shells were fired at them. - -On the 8th the 46th New York and one company of the 1st Massachusetts -cavalry, under Colonel J.H. Morrow, of Hunter's staff, made a -reconnoissance to the enemy's right through the woods above Grimball's, -but, meeting a heavy force of skirmishers, retired without seeing the -works. That same afternoon General Stevens sent Captain Stevens of his -staff, accompanied by Lieutenant P.H. O'Rourke of the engineers, with a -company of the 3d New Hampshire, under Captain M.T. Donohoe (afterwards -General Donohoe), to reconnoitre the fort at Secessionville. The enemy's -pickets were driven in, four of them captured; half the company, in -skirmish order, approached the fort to within six or seven hundred -yards, while the other half moved down the road to the left. Though -subjected to a brisk shell-fire, and the fire of the pickets, not a man -was touched. The character of the ground in front of the fort was -ascertained, and the little party withdrew deliberately. - -On the 10th the 13th Georgia, under cover of the woods, the pickets not -being sufficiently advanced, got close to Wright's camp, and opened a -sudden and furious attack upon it. They were repulsed in short order, -with severe loss, by Wright's troops, aided by the fire of the -gunboats. - - [Illustration: HEADQUARTERS, JAMES ISLAND] - -FOOTNOTES: - - [17] The Confederate major, Pressley, who went over the ground just - after the assault to be related in the next chapter, thus - describes Fort Lamar, in _Southern Historical Society Papers_, - vol. xvi.: "The work across the neck of the Secessionville - peninsula was about fifty yards in length, and was a very - well-constructed line of intrenchments. The ramparts were about - fifteen feet from the level of the ground. There was a ditch in - front about ten to fifteen feet in width. The exterior slope - was so nearly perpendicular that it was impossible to get up in - front without scaling-ladders. The enemy were not provided with - these." - - - - - CHAPTER LIII - - BATTLE OF JAMES ISLAND - - -Meantime Benham was chafing at the helpless and ignominious position in -which he found himself. At the head of twelve thousand fine troops, -within six miles of Charleston, he was confronted by a formidable line -of works, and had received positive orders from Hunter not to fight a -battle. For several days he contemplated a movement towards the enemy's -right, and issued some preliminary orders to that end. General Stevens -thought an attempt should have been made in that direction as soon as -Wright's division arrived. General Wright agreed that, if any part of -the line was to be attempted, it should be the right. Both judged the -left impracticable, resting as it did on the water, and covered by the -advanced flanking fort at Secessionville. - -General Hunter returned to Hilton Head for a short visit. In his -absence, in an evil hour General Benham took it into his head that he -might take the Secessionville fort. Its guns were shelling our pickets, -and even the commanding general himself, when he ventured within range. -They could almost reach Wright's camp. He resolved upon this attempt as -precipitantly, and as regardless of the difficulties, as was his wont. -On the evening of the 15th be summoned his subordinate commanders on -board his headquarters steamer. There assembled Generals Stevens, -Wright, and Williams. Captain Percival Drayton, commanding the naval -force, was also present. To them Benham announced his decision: General -Stevens to assault the fort before daylight with his division, Wright -and Williams to support, the navy to cooperate. This announcement, -coming at nine o'clock at night, for such an attack before daylight the -next morning, without any previous notice or chance for preparation, -must have taken them aback. - -General Wright couched an emphatic protest in the diplomatic form of -questions to General Stevens:-- - - "Have you impaired the strength of the enemy's works at - Secessionville by the firing of your battery?" - - "Not in the least," replied General Stevens; "I have driven the - enemy from his guns by my fire, and I can do it again, but as soon - as the fire ceases he returns. I have not dismounted a gun, and we - shall find him in the morning as strong as ever." - - "Do you know of any instance where volunteer troops have - successfully stormed works as strong as those which defend the - approach to Secessionville?" - - "I know of no such instance." - - "Have you any reason to believe that the result in the present case - will be different in its character from what it has invariably been - heretofore?" - - "I have no reason to expect a different result. It is simply a bare - possibility to take the work." - - "There, general," said General Wright, turning to Benham, "you have - my opinion." - -In this General Williams concurred. - -General Stevens states in a letter to General Hunter, written on July 8, -soon after the battle:-- - - "I then proceeded to state with all possible emphasis my objections - to this morning attack. I urged that it should be deferred to a much - later period in the day; that we should first shake the _morale_ of - the garrison, and endeavor to weaken its defenses by a continuous - fire of the battery and of our gunboats; that in the mean time we - should carefully survey the ground and prepare our troops, and make - the attack when the battery and gunboats had had the desired effect. - I closed by saying that under such circumstances I could do more - with two thousand men than I could with three thousand men in the - way he proposed. General Wright, moreover, warned General Benham - that his orders were in fact orders to fight a battle. In this - General Williams and myself in express terms concurred. General - Benham, however, overruled all our objections, and premptorily - ordered the attack to be made. - - "I assured him, as did the other gentlemen, that he should rely upon - my promptitude and activity in obeying his orders, but I considered - myself as obeying orders to which I had expressed the strongest - possible objections, and I therefore determined there should not be - the least want of energy or promptitude on my part." - -With this the conference broke up, and the officers hastened ashore to -their respective commands to prepare for the arduous task of the morrow. - -General Stevens at once ordered his troops to be in readiness at the -advanced camps, two miles from the river, at two A.M., with sixty rounds -of ammunition and twenty-four hours' cooked rations. Captain Strahan's -company, I, 3d Rhode Island, was detailed from Wright's division to -relieve the detachment of Roundheads in the three-gun battery. Over -three hundred of that regiment were out on the widely extended picket -line. Ordered to assemble and join their regiment, only one hundred and -thirty of the number succeeded in reaching it in time to take part in -the action, and then only after it had come under fire, so scanty and -inadequate was the time allowed for preparation. Two companies of the -28th Massachusetts were on fatigue duty and had to be left behind. The -7th Connecticut, moreover, had been on severe fatigue duty the three -previous nights, and were much jaded. - -At the hour fixed, the troops were at the appointed place. Before 3.30 -A.M. the column was advanced two miles farther to the outer pickets, and -was arranged in the following order:-- - -Lieutenant Benjamin R. Lyons, aide-de-camp, with a negro guide, led the -storming party, which consisted of two companies of the 8th Michigan, -commanded respectively by Captains Ralph Ely and Richard N. Doyle, -followed by Captain Alfred F. Sears's company, E, Serrell's New York -engineers. - -Then followed Fenton's first brigade, comprising the 8th Michigan, -Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Graves; the 7th Connecticut, Lieutenant-Colonel -Joseph R. Hawley; and the 28th Massachusetts, Lieutenant-Colonel -McClellan Moore. - -Then Rockwell's battery of four guns. - -Then Colonel Leasure's second brigade, consisting of the Highlanders, -Lieutenant-Colonel David Morrison; the Roundheads, Major David A. Lecky; -and the 46th New York, Colonel Rudolph Rosa. - -Captain L.M. Sargent, with his Company H, 1st Massachusetts cavalry, -twenty-eight men, brought up the rear. - -The attacking column numbered not exceeding 2900 officers and men, as -shown by the following return:-- - - Officers. Men. Total. - General and staff 9 6 15 - First brigade:-- - 8th Michigan 25 509 534 - 7th Connecticut 25 573 598 - 28th Massachusetts 20 416 436 - Second brigade:-- - 79th Highlanders 24 460 484 - 100th Pennsylvania 21 230 251 - 46th New York 22 452 474 - Rockwell's battery, four guns 4 73 77 - Sears's company, E, 1st New York engineers 2 59 61 - Sargent's company, H, 1st Mass. cavalry 2 28 30 - --- ---- ---- - Aggregate 154 2806 2960 - - [Illustration: BATTLE OF JAMES ISLAND, JUNE 16, 1862] - -General Stevens gave the most explicit orders, reiterated in person to -the several commanders, that the troops were to preserve strict silence, -no stop to be made after passing the enemy's pickets; to form forward -into line on reaching the fields in front of the fort; regiment to -follow regiment and storm the work; not to fire a shot but rely -exclusively on the bayonet, the muskets to be loaded but not capped. The -idea impressed upon all was simply to assault the work in column of -regiments, without an instant's pause after alarming the enemy's -pickets, and take it with the bayonet. - -Just before four A.M. the column moved forward on the road already -described, and crossed the marsh by the causeway. Here a section of -Rockwell's guns dropped out, and fell in again behind the second -brigade. No opposition was encountered until the first house beyond our -lines was reached, when the enemy's pickets fired, wounding five men of -the storming party, and fled; but an officer and three men of their -number were captured. The road was found blocked with felled timber, but -the column without any delay advanced through the fields alongside the -road until past the obstruction, and reached the open fields in front of -the fort at 4.15 A.M., just as day was breaking. The storming party and -the 8th Michigan filed into the field through an opening in the hedge -and ditch which bordered the road, formed forward into line without a -pause, and advanced steadily in excellent order over the uneven, deeply -furrowed ground, soon surmounted the second ditch and hedge, and swept -onward across the field next the work. The enemy were seen hastily -forming on the parapet; their commander, Colonel Lamar, rushing to the -gun half dressed, fired the great columbiad, heavily charged with grape, -which tore a great gap through the advancing line, and they immediately -opened with a storm of grape and canister from the guns, and a rapid and -deadly fire of musketry along the whole front. Closing their ranks -without break or pause, the gallant Michiganders pushed on, the -storming party forty yards in advance, strewing the ground at every step -with their dead and wounded. As they reached the ditch, Lieutenant Lyons -dashed forward crying, "Come on, boys!" was the first man across the -ditch, and fell half way up the parapet with a shattered arm. Many of -the brave fellows who survived the murderous fire resolutely pressed on, -gained the parapet, and poured their fire into the defenders behind it, -who visibly gave back. Captain Reed, of the 1st South Carolina -artillery, was killed at the gun he was serving by a Union captain, who -was in turn immediately shot down. But the enemy rallied, the supports -in the grove of pines in rear of the work poured in a deadly fire, and -the brave stormers on the parapet, too few in number, soon melted away. -The few survivors were forced to give back, and, throwing themselves on -the ground, sheltered themselves as best they could behind the cotton -ridges, from which they opened a fire on the fort with their muskets. - -Meantime the 7th Connecticut and 28th Massachusetts, following close -upon the 8th Michigan, turned into the field, deployed in like manner, -and moved forward. Unfortunately they inclined a little to the left, and -after crossing the second hedge the heavy grape and canister and -musketry of the fort cut them up severely, and drove them still farther -to the left, where they became disordered, and entangled in the bushes -and broken ground bordering the marsh on that side. Lieutenant-Colonel -Hawley tried to straighten out his regiment, setting up his colors in -the field, and moved it to the rear and to the right, when he was -ordered by Colonel Fenton to move still farther to the right, and -advance again on the fort. The 28th Massachusetts, although considerably -scattered, moved forward under cover of the bushes until they -encountered an inlet of the marsh and the abattis of slashed trees, -when they fell back under cover. - -By this time Leasure's brigade was up, and, directed by General Stevens -in person, advanced straight on the fort, regiment after regiment, -deploying as they advanced. The Highlanders moved forward in fine order, -followed by the Roundheads, taking ground a little more to the left. -Crossing the second hedge, they came under the terrible fire of canister -which struck the left of the Highlanders and the centre of the -Roundheads, literally cutting the latter in two. The Highlanders pushed -steadily forward, supported by the right wing of the Roundheads, passing -the 7th Connecticut as Hawley was endeavoring to lead it to the right as -directed by Fenton, struck the work at the angle on its left (our -right), and, led by the gallant Morrison, plunged across the ditch, and -clambered up the steep parapet; many of the defenders ran back, and -again the fort seemed won. But again the musketry from the sharpshooters -on the flanks and rear cut down the brave Scotsmen; a bullet grazed -Morrison's temple, inflicting a serious wound, and he and the half score -survivors of the brave band that so gallantly gained the parapet were -forced to leap down again. But they did not return empty handed. -Morrison brought out a prisoner at the muzzle of his revolver. The -capture of another was even more daring. A rebel soldier sprang upon the -parapet in his eagerness, and aimed his musket at one of the assailants, -scrambling up the steep and lofty bank, but the Highlander, making a -tremendous leap, dashed aside the weapon, seized his antagonist in his -arms, and rolled with him to the bottom of the ditch, where he was -forced to surrender. - -While the Highlanders were thus storming the work, the left wing of the -Roundheads, with some of the Highlanders, cut off and driven to the left -by the terrible hail which smote them, yet pushed determinedly on. They -ran over or through the 7th Connecticut as that regiment was moving out -into the field, as already narrated, throwing it into some confusion, -and dashed themselves against the fort. But here the front was well -protected by abattis, and afforded no opening. The Reed battery raked -them terribly. The men fell by scores, the line lost its impetus, and -the survivors threw themselves on the ground behind the cotton-ridges -for shelter. - -The 46th New York was double-quicked the last half mile of the road, -conducted across the first field and through the farther hedge, and -ordered forward. Its course, like that of the 7th Connecticut and 28th -Massachusetts, bore too much to the left, and like them it became -entangled in the bushes on that side. Here portions of the 7th -Connecticut and 28th Massachusetts, retreating, broke through the 46th, -carrying back fifty men of that regiment. There they stayed, suffering -considerably from grape, until the advanced regiments moved back, when -they also withdrew to the hedge. - -While the attack was making, Rockwell planted three guns of his battery -well forward and to the left in the first field, and maintained as -constant a fire of shells upon the fort as the movement of our troops -admitted. His fourth gun was posted on the road to guard the left rear. -Captain Sears aided Rockwell's guns across the hedge and ditch and high -ridges, and later cleared out the felled trees from the road in rear. - -General Stevens, from his position in the first field, had a clear view -of every movement. Lieutenant Lyons and other wounded officers brought -discouraging reports. Seeing plainly that the assailants were all driven -from the parapet, and that the attacking force was completely scattered -and had in a manner disappeared, he was satisfied the attack had failed. -With instant decision he ordered the troops to fall back, and reform -behind the hedges. Captain Stevens was sent with the order. On reaching -the front of the fort not a line, or semblance of one, could be seen, -except about forty men standing in the field within a hundred yards of -the work. Besides the dead and wounded, the ground was covered with -blue-clad men, crouching down between the ridges, many of whom were -firing on the work. A heavy hail of musketry came from it, or from the -pine grove and cover behind it. The guns fired only at intervals. -Captain Stevens did not see a mounted officer, nor a single color, -except perhaps one with the scanty line referred to, nor a single man -running away. Riding to this line, he found Lieutenant-Colonel Hawley -and two officers on the right of it, endeavoring to cheer on the men. -The line had stopped. The men were dropping fast, some stricken down, -others voluntarily for shelter in the deep furrows; two were knocked -over within arm's length as he delivered the order. - -Hawley at once about-faced his line and moved back. Then a most -remarkable sight was observed. The men of his regiment, lying between -the ridges, rose to their feet, and hastened to form on either flank of -the line, which rapidly grew and lengthened out as it withdrew. Then -another and another and another line rose out of the ground in like -manner, and in a few minutes the four regiments, which had so gallantly -dashed themselves against the fort, were moving back in four well-formed -lines with colors flying, and men rising from all parts of the field and -running to form on their respective regiments; but, alas, how reduced -and scanty were they as compared with the strong, brave regiments which -so proudly entered that fatal field barely a half hour before, where six -hundred brave men now lay weltering in their blood! - -The withdrawn regiments were halted behind the second hedge and -straightened out. As soon as the troops could be seen moving back, -Captain Strahan opened on the fort. Two of his guns were soon disabled, -and he lost a sergeant killed, but with the remaining gun he kept up a -well-directed and regular fire until the close of the battle. The -gunboats Ellen and Hale, moving up Big Folly Creek, now began throwing -shells at the long range of over two miles, some of which fell in the -fields, greatly endangering our own men; but, guided by the signal -officers, Lieutenant Henry S. Tafft on shore and Lieutenant O.H. Howard -on the Ellen, the subsequent fire was more accurately directed upon the -fort. The distance, however, was too great, and the shells too few, to -produce much effect. - -According to the plan, while General Stevens's division was assaulting -the fort, Wright and Williams, moving together from Grimball's, were to -act as a support to the former, protecting his left and rear from an -attack by the enemy from his main line. Williams's brigade comprised -five companies of the 3d Rhode Island, the 3d New Hampshire, six -companies of the 97th Pennsylvania, and a section of Battery E, 3d -United States artillery. - -Wright had of his own division, of Chatfield's brigade, two companies of -the 6th Connecticut and eight companies of the 47th New York; and of -Walsh's brigade, six companies of the 45th Pennsylvania, three companies -of Serrell's New York engineers, and besides these the other two -sections of Hamilton's battery, E, and two squadrons of the 1st -Massachusetts cavalry. These organizations were mere skeletons, and -numbered about two thousand seven hundred effective. The remaining -troops were left on picket, and to guard the camps. - -Wright moved soon after three A.M. to, and formed under cover of, the -woods one mile in front of his camp. Hearing a few shots on his right -front, he rightly judged that Stevens's column was advancing, and at -once moved forward. By this time daylight was upon him. Now he was -joined by General Benham, who assumed command, leaving Wright -responsible for only his own skeleton division. Moving rapidly to the -front, Wright soon placed his troops in position fronting the enemy's -main line, and maintained substantially this position until ordered to -withdraw, throwing the 47th New York to the left, and advancing a -section of Hamilton's battery, which opened a sharp fire. - -Before reaching this position General Benham received a message from -General Stevens asking immediate support, and ordered Williams to move -forward and report to him. Reaching the field just as the assaulting -column was falling back and reforming behind the hedges, and ordered by -General Stevens to push in on his left, and do the best in concert with -him that the ground would admit of, Williams threw the 3d New Hampshire -forward beyond, or on our left of the marsh and inlet which covered the -flank of the fort on that side, with the view of taking it in flank, and -supported it with the battalion of the 3d Rhode Island. The 97th -Pennsylvania he posted on the left of General Stevens's reforming -regiments. The two former advanced with great bravery and steadiness, so -far that they actually poured a telling fire into the flank of the fort, -and the garrison was manifestly shaken. For half an hour they maintained -the contest, sustaining unflinchingly a severe fire from the fort and -the 4th Louisiana battalion, which hastened to reinforce it, raked by -the Reed battery on the left and smitten in the rear by Boyce's field -battery. The 3d Rhode Island was thrown to the left against the latter. -It encountered three companies of the 24th South Carolina, drove them -back, and struck the 25th and 1st South Carolina, which supported -Boyce's guns, and were protected by a patch of felled timber, and -maintained an unequal contest with them until ordered to withdraw. - -Meantime General Stevens, with the greatest possible rapidity, was -advancing his regiments as fast as reorganized to the farther hedge, the -one nearest the fort, where they found cover in the ditch. The sun had -cleared away the morning clouds, and now shone bright and clear. It was -a beautiful and inspiriting sight to see each regiment move forward -across the wide field in well-dressed line with colors flying, unheeding -the shell and grape which hurtled past or overhead. Rockwell dashed his -guns up to the same line nearly, and in the open field maintained a -rapid and steady fire on the fort, only five hundred yards distant. -Strahan plied his single gun, and the occasional heavy shells from the -gunboats burst over the work with a deeper roar. Sharpshooters, as well -as the advanced men who still clung close up to the fort, kept the -parapet tolerably clear, but the fort was no whit silenced. The grape -fell in frequent showers. Notwithstanding the severe losses the men were -not discouraged, but were as determined and confident as before. -Stimulated by the volleys and cheers of Williams's troops, they were -ready, nay eager, to be led to the assault the second time. General -Stevens sent word to Benham that his whole division was in the advanced -position, reformed and ready, and that he would attack again as soon as -Williams's movement produced its effect. - -Just as he was about to give the order to advance, the firing on the -left slackened and ceased, and Williams's troops were seen moving back. -Benham, as hasty and ill judged in abandoning the field as he was -precipitate and obstinate in ordering the assault, had ordered them to -retreat. On the left were heard the rebel cheers. In front the fort -redoubled its fire. - -Soon afterwards General Benham ordered General Stevens to withdraw his -column to camp. Wright and Williams had already fallen back. The former -is particular to state in his report that "the withdrawal from the field -of both columns was ordered by General Benham." General Stevens withdrew -his forces without loss and unopposed. Even the advanced men were all -brought off. Lieutenant H.G. Belcher, of the 8th Michigan, took them the -order, and, working over singly to the left, they got under cover of the -bushes on that side and thus withdrew. The enemy attempted no pursuit, -and by ten A.M. the entire force was back in camp. - -Thus ended the battle of James Island or Secessionville, the culmination -of crass obstinacy and folly. Benham, who, deaf to the orders of his -commander, deaf to the warnings of Wright, deaf to Stevens's earnest -entreaties to be allowed to attack later in the day and after due -preparation, had so rashly and obstinately forced the fight,--this very -Benham shrank from the shock of battle, and ordered the retreat when -victory was within his grasp. - -The enemy's forces upon James Island were commanded by General N.G. -Evans, and numbered certainly not less than 9000 effective. Colonel T.G. -Lamar commanded the fort and was severely wounded. He had two companies, -B and I, of his own regiment, the 1st South Carolina artillery, the 1st -South Carolina or Charleston and 9th South Carolina or Pee Dee -battalions, four officers and one hundred picked men of the 22d South -Carolina, and three officers and presumably the crew of the floating -battery, which had been withdrawn from the fire of the three-gun battery -a few days before. All these commands must have numbered at least 800, -although Colonel Lamar reports that his force did not exceed 500 until -reinforced. He was soon reinforced by the 4th Louisiana battalion, -numbering 250, and later by the balance of the 22d South Carolina, so -that he must have had at least 1500 men before the action closed. The -losses in these commands amounted to 172, of which the original garrison -suffered 144, an unusually heavy loss behind strong works, viz.: -Charleston battalion, 42; 1st South Carolina artillery, 55; Pee Dee -battalion, 29; detachment 22d South Carolina, 18; total, 144. The loss -of the 1st South Carolina artillery, 55, would indicate that more than -two companies were in the fort. - -Colonel Lamar reports that he was expecting an attack, having a -detachment at each gun, and the alarm was given when the pickets were -driven in; yet the assaulting column advanced so rapidly that it was -within seven hundred yards when he reached the battery, and much nearer -when in person he fired the 8-inch columbiad heavily charged with grape, -which he says broke the leading regiment, cutting it completely in two. - -The other Confederate troops engaged were the 1st, 24th, and 25th South -Carolina, Boyce's field battery, and Company H, 1st South Carolina -artillery, which manned the Reed battery. General Evans ordered up the -47th and 51st Georgia to support his right. His force, engaged and on -the field, numbered 4500 effective, besides which were plenty of other -troops available on the main works. - -The Confederate loss all told was 204. - -The Union loss aggregated 685, of which Stevens's column suffered 529; -Williams's brigade, 152; Wright's division, four. - -The 8th Michigan lost 185 out of 534, or thirty per cent.; 13 out of 22 -officers who went into the fight, including every officer of the -storming party, were killed or wounded. The Highlanders lost 110 out of -484, notwithstanding which they withdrew in good order, and brought off -60 of their wounded, some of their dead, and their two prisoners. These -losses would have been much greater had it not been for the partial -shelter afforded by the cotton-ridges, and the fire of the men behind -them, which kept down that of the fort. But the loss of the garrison is -unparalleled behind such works, and shows the desperate nature of the -fighting. - -The nearest parallel to this assault afforded by the war was that on -Fort Saunders at Knoxville, where the Highlanders had their revenge. -They manned the exposed salient of the fort when Longstreet tried to -carry it by storm, November 29, 1863. This work was not so strong either -in profile or position as Fort Lamar. It was subjected to a severe -shelling and fire of sharpshooters, and then three veteran brigades, -fifteen regiments, rushed upon both faces of the salient angle. The -Highlanders and Benjamin's Battery E, of the 2d artillery, repulsed -every attack. No enemy raised his head above the parapet and lived. And -in the midst of the fight, amid the noise and fury of battle, as the -Highlanders plied their muskets and rolled by hand 20-pounder shells -with fuses cut short and lighted into the ditch, filled with the -struggling mass of men, the Highlanders grimly passed the word along the -line, "Remember James Island! Remember James Island!" - -The Highlanders here lost four killed and five wounded. The entire loss -in the fort was inconsiderable. The enemy lost 813 men, three flags, and -600 small-arms. This would seem almost incredible, were it not attested -by the official reports, both Union and Confederate. - -Why the assault failed, it is not far to seek. The principal cause was -the strength of the work, manned as it was by a resolute garrison, and -the destructive fire of its heavy guns. Although the alarm was given by -the outposts nearly a mile from the work, the column reached it upon the -heels of the fleeing picket, and was actually within five hundred yards -before the first gun could be fired. But this gun, an 8-inch columbiad -charged with grape, shattered the centre of the leading regiment, -cutting it completely in two. Then the canister from the big howitzer -and other guns doubly decimated them, yet the brave fellows gained the -parapet. Had the next two regiments, the 7th Connecticut and 28th -Massachusetts, following close upon the Michiganders as ordered, joined -them at this instant, the work would undoubtedly have been taken. But -they were green troops, never having been under fire; the 28th, indeed, -was fresh from home, and under the terrible storm of grape and canister -they were beaten to the left, and entangled in the bushes and broken -bank there. Although Lieutenant-Colonel Hawley lost no time in -disentangling his regiment and moving it out into the field and again -forward, it is significant, and well shows the difficulty of handling -green troops under fire, that the Highlanders rushed past the right of -the 7th Connecticut, and the Roundheads broke through or ran over its -centre, and both assaulted the fort and were repulsed--nearly all who -reached the parapet being killed, and the remainder forced to give -back--by the time the Connecticut regiment had advanced to within a -hundred yards of the work, where Hawley received the order to withdraw. - -Certainly the rapid advance and onset of the Michiganders, Highlanders, -and Roundheads were all that men could do. Their loss was so great and -the parapet so difficult that not enough men could surmount it to be -able to hold it; but the chief reason for the failure was the deadly -fire from the woods and cover behind the fort. The work was fairly -stormed, but the stormers, too few to hold it, were destroyed by the -deadly fire from its rear. - -These three regiments had already smelt powder, and had been well -drilled and disciplined by General Stevens. The others, new and -inexperienced, could not be expected to equal them, yet they evinced no -lack of bravery. - -General Stevens says in his report:-- - - "I must confess that the coolness and mobility of all the troops - engaged on the 16th surprised me, and I cannot but believe, had - proper use been made of the artillery, guns from the navy, and our - own batteries, fixed and field; had the position been gradually - approached and carefully examined, and the attack made much later in - the day, when our batteries had had their full effect, all of which, - you will recollect, was strongly urged by me upon General Benham the - evening of the conference,--the result might have been very - different."[18] - -General Stevens commends the gallantry of his troops in strong terms, -and the brave and efficient service of his staff, already mentioned, of -Lieutenant Orrin M. Dearborn, of the 3d New Hampshire, aide in place of -Lieutenant Cottrell, who, having been promoted captain, had command of -his company, and of Lieutenant Jefferson Justice, of the Roundheads, -acting division quartermaster, who served upon the field as his aide. -Lieutenant Lyons, who so bravely led the stormers, died of his wound in -hospital at Hilton Head soon afterwards. - -For his wrong-headed and disobedient conduct Benham was placed under -arrest by General Hunter and sent North. His appointment as -brigadier-general was revoked by the President. Later, by unwearied -importunity and the pressure of influence, he managed to get himself -reinstated, but never again was he trusted with the lives of brave men. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [18] See _Rebellion Records_, vol. xiv.; _History of the 79th - Highlanders_, by William Todd; Major Pressley, in _Southern - Historical Society Papers_, vol. xvi., Major John Johnson's - _Defense of Charleston Harbor_. - - - - - CHAPTER LIV - - RETURN TO VIRGINIA - - -A few days after their bloody repulse from Fort Lamar the Highlanders -paraded in front of General Stevens's headquarters and presented him -with a beautiful sword, together with a sash, belt, and spurs, in the -following feeling address. The address was inscribed upon a large sheet -of parchment by one of the skillful penmen in the regiment, in -characters as clear and distinct as copperplate engraving, and in the -middle of the sheet was an excellent photograph of the general in -uniform. The sword was the gift of the non-commissioned officers and -privates exclusively, for they had refused to permit the officers to -contribute a cent towards or bear any part in the testimonial, although -the latter were anxious to do their share. It was common talk among the -men that the officers never amounted to anything until General Stevens -took them in hand; that he had saved and redeemed the regiment after -they had well-nigh ruined it; and that they should not have any part in -the sword, which was the tribute of the rank and file. The presentation -was a great surprise to General Stevens, and was the more gratifying as -showing the undiminished regard of the regiment immediately after the -recent severe battle and loss:-- - - BRIGADIER-GENERAL ISAAC I. STEVENS. - - _Sir_,--A unanimous feeling of gratitude and respect pervading the - non-commissioned officers and privates of the Seventy Ninth Regiment - (Highland Guard) New York State Militia, and wishing to give that - feeling a humble and appropriate expression, we have determined - to-day to present for your acceptance this sword, feeling assured - that by you it will be worthily worn, and never drawn but in defense - of human rights and their political guaranties. Your recent - connection with us as our colonel, our friend, and our counselor has - fitted us in a peculiar manner to judge of and appreciate your - virtues in each of these capacities. Coming amongst us at a critical - period in our history as a regiment, when our fair fame was - eclipsed, and demoralization was fast hurrying us to the vortex of - anarchy, you listened to the story of our wrongs, tempered your - decisions against the erring ones with the high attribute of mercy, - and bade us hope. We did hope, and ere long we found ourselves - recuperated and in Camp Advance. There our confidence in you was - perfected, and our esteem became affection. When it was announced - that your distinguished military services had brought you higher and - greener laurels, we were glad and proud; but sorrow, deep and - profound, pervaded our ranks when it was made known that your - services were demanded in another sphere, and that we must separate. - The exclamation of "Tak' us wi' ye!" which greeted you upon that - day's parade was heartfelt and sincere, and your intervention in our - behalf has enabled us to preserve our connection, if not as close, - not the less fondly. That your valuable and beneficent life may long - be spared to the service and to mankind, and that the blessing of - God may rest upon you and upon your family, is the sincere prayer of - the non-commissioned officers and privates of the - - SEVENTY-NINTH, HIGHLAND GUARD. - - - GENERAL STEVENS'S RESPONSE. - - FELLOW-SOLDIERS OF THE HIGHLAND GUARD,--I have no words to express - my gratitude for this unexpected and unmerited mark of your - confidence and affection. We came together not only at a critical - period of your own history as a regiment, but at a critical period - of our beloved country's history, when its armies had been stricken - down, and dismay and discouragement spread over the length and - breadth of the land. It was the time for the true and the strong to - come to the work, and by a firm stand in our country's cause again - to cause hope and faith to spring up in the hearts of men. You - recollect we moved from our camp of "Hope" on the beautiful heights - in the rear of Washington to the camp of the "Advance" across the - Potomac. Then I spoke to you words of encouragement, and together, - in the glorious light of day, we won back our colors. We had soon - become acquainted. As your colonel, I ever found you brave and true. - The pathos of your address, its living expressions, touch me. When I - was ordered South, and rode through your ranks to say farewell, and - saw the tear glisten in every manly eye, and heard the words, "Tak' - us wi' ye!" from every lip, I thought we could not part; so, on - reaching Annapolis, I said to our late able and respected commander, - General Sherman, "Send for the Highlanders; they want to come, and - you can depend upon them." Here you have come, and here you are - to-day. Have you not always done well? Who ever finds the - Highlanders behind? I know not which feeling of my heart is stronger - in regard to you,--my pride or my affection. Your firm step, your - manly countenances, cold steel for your enemies, and the open hand - and heart for your friend,--such are you, beloved comrades. In the - late sad, glorious fight where were you? Laggards, or seeking the - front on the double-quick to succor your friends, the 8th Michigan, - led on by your gallant lieutenant-colonel there, David Morrison? You - gained that front and parapet, and some of your noblest and your - best there found a soldier's grave. It was indeed a sad but glorious - field. Not a laggard, not a fugitive,--all the regiment in - line,--all by their colors and in order of battle, but many dead and - wounded men. I am profoundly affected by the circumstance that you - have seized such an occasion to show your regard for me. Yes, - beloved comrades, we are ready to expose and, if need be, to lay - down our lives for our country. We will keep steadfastly to the work - till this sad, terrible war is ended, and peace smiles again upon - the land. My friends, I shall endeavor to be deserving of your - magnificent testimonial of respect and affection. I accept it, not - as my right, but as your free gift. I accept it most gratefully. God - willing, that sword shall ever be borne by me in defense of my - country's rights, and in the cause of God and humanity. The spurs, - too, from my friends of the drum corps,--the boys who scour the - battlefield and bring off the dead and wounded men,--I will wear in - memory of your mission, and perhaps some day they may urge the fleet - steed to your relief and assistance. Friends, the thistle of your - native land has stung our enemies, and been an omen of hope to our - friends. It has been planted here, and glorious properties has it - shown in this palmetto soil. In conclusion, permit me again to - express my deep gratitude for these marks of your affection and - esteem. - -The sword was an exceedingly handsome one. The blade was richly inlaid -with gold, representing a Highlander bearing the American flag, an -ancient Scottish soldier, and many Scottish and patriotic devices and -mottoes. The hilt represented the Goddess of Liberty; the guard was -formed of the thistle, the emblem of Scotland, and was studded with a -large topaz surrounded by thirteen diamonds. The hilt and scabbard were -heavily gilded, and the latter terminated in a tiger's head. There was -also a plain steel scabbard bronzed, a general's yellow sash, and a -red-and-gold belt. The spurs were also richly gilded, the shank and -rowel representing the thistle, and were the gift of the drummer-boys. - - JAMES ISLAND, June 26, 1862. - - MY DEAREST WIFE,--General Wright called down at my quarters last - evening and took a look at my sword. He thought it a very splendid - thing, and advises me to send it home as soon as possible. I hope - those beautiful testimonials will reach you speedily and safely. I - want my friends to see them. The sword is the most beautiful I ever - saw. - - I have already sent you my reply to the address. It is thought here - to be very appropriate. It was wholly unstudied, as I had not the - least idea of what the address would be. - - Hazard has worked very hard of late. Did I write you that his - conduct on the battlefield was witnessed by the rebels with great - admiration? So say the rebel officers whom my officers met under a - recent flag of truce. These officers say a great many shots were - fired directly at him. Every one in the division knows the officer - they refer to, from the description of the officer and his horse, to - be Hazard. The boy did most nobly, and every one speaks in the - highest terms of his conduct on the field of battle. Was not his - life wonderfully preserved? My own staff is considered a very - excellent one. Cottrell was not killed, but was wounded, and a - prisoner in the hands of the enemy. Lyons is getting on well with - his wound. Lyman Arnold is dead. I particularly interested his - brigade commander, Colonel Williams, and the surgeon, in his case, - and I cannot doubt that every attention was paid to him. - -Daniel Lyman Arnold, who has already been mentioned as a member of the -Northern Pacific Railroad exploration, with his brother, General Richard -Arnold, was a cousin of Mrs. Stevens. He was a private in the 3d Rhode -Island, and was mortally wounded in the battle, where he had shown great -bravery. General Stevens, with his son, visited the dying man soon after -the battle, and did all in his power to make him comfortable. - - June 30. I wrote you three days ago that General Hunter had given - orders to evacuate this place. It is a large operation. The cavalry - were got on board yesterday and last night, and started this morning - for Hilton Head. We expect the transports back to-morrow, when - General Williams's division will be embarked. My own division will - be embarked last. - - Raymond Rodgers came here to-day from the squadron at Hilton Head. - He talked considerably about the 16th. He assured me that my conduct - and management on that day is universally commended. Indeed, I have - good reason to believe that here in this department, both with the - army and navy, it has very much increased my military reputation. No - one but Benham calls in question my perfect fidelity to my orders, - and that the course I actually pursued alone gave, under his orders, - the least promise of success. I moved with exceeding rapidity, - without stopping to fire, and pushed in everything without reserve. - The statement of the enemy shows how near the work came to falling - into our hands. I know I could have seized that work with but little - loss of life, and on that very day, had the entire management been - mine. - - My own course with him after the battle was stern and determined. I - _compelled_ him to modify his report so as to do my division full - justice. I warned him that the entire responsibility of bringing on - that fight was his, that I had opposed it, and that I should take no - part of the responsibility. He wilted and quailed under my eye and - speech. He made a second attempt to falsify the truth with me, and I - made him quail again, and this was in the presence of witnesses. - - There has been a real comfort and satisfaction in serving under - Wright, which I have not had for a long time. He has shown very - sound judgment in all his arrangements since he has been in command. - Williams, who commands the second division, is a very agreeable and - sensible man, and is highly esteemed throughout the command. - -On Benham's arrest General Wright succeeded to the command as next in -rank, and field-works to protect the camps were commenced, and -considerable work done upon them, when General Hunter wisely decided to -withdraw from James Island. General Stevens brought off the last of the -troops on July 4. He was first ordered to Beaufort with his division, -except the 7th Connecticut and Rockwell's battery, which were detached -and landed at Hilton Head; but scarcely had they reached Beaufort -when--including the 50th Pennsylvania, which rejoined the command--they -were brought back to Hilton Head and debarked July 5, then reembarked -July 9, and sent back to Beaufort; then, without leaving the transports, -they were dropped four miles down the Beaufort River, and landed on -Smith's plantation, where the whole division was to be encamped. In the -absence of wharves, all the baggage had to be put ashore in small boats. -By great exertions this was accomplished, and the tents were up before -dark, when orders were received to reembark immediately and proceed to -Hilton Head, there to take ocean steamers for Virginia. After a brief -rest the harassed and wornout soldiers toiled the balance of the night, -reembarking the camp equipage, baggage, and supplies. The troops were -transferred to ocean steamers at Hilton Head on July 10 and 11, and on -the 12th were borne away northward, rejoiced to leave a command marked -by incompetence and disaster, and to rest after the useless toil to -which they had been subjected. - -The point on Beaufort River where General Stevens's division landed is -of especial interest as the site of the first European settlement in the -United States, made by Jean Ribaut and a party of French Huguenots in -1562, just three centuries before; and the walls of a small fort, -constructed by him of coquina, a very hard and durable concrete of -oyster-shells, were visible on the shore of and partly in the river, -which had considerably undermined them. - - STEAMER VANDERBILT, July 14, 1862. - - MY DEAR WIFE,--We left Hilton Head at eight o'clock, yesterday - morning. I was utterly worn out, and was very glad to go to bed. I - slept twenty hours the first twenty-four I was on board, and to-day - I have been very well rested. - - It is supposed our destination will be McClellan's army. McClellan - has unquestionably met with a very serious check. Indeed, it is - nothing less than a disaster. His loss in men and material of war - must have been immense. The plan of campaign of the Potomac (army) - has been a monstrous folly, and disaster is its legitimate fruit. - The army should never have been divided, and the route should not - have been by Fortress Monroe. I doubt whether any adequate plan will - be hit upon to make the most of the present condition of things. I - am afraid the Confederates will by a rapid countermarch fall upon - Pope with overwhelming force. I think, so far as I can gather the - facts, that Pope should be largely reinforced, and that he should - wage the campaign. It has also occurred to me that the wisest plan - would be to withdraw McClellan from his present position, send - him to the Potomac, unite him with Pope, and commence anew. But it - is useless to speculate. We shall reach Fortress Monroe to-morrow, - where we will receive additional orders. - - [Illustration: CAMP OF GENERAL STEVENS'S DIVISION AT NEWPORT NEWS] - -The transfer to Virginia was the very movement that General Stevens -recommended to the President in a letter dated July 8, in which he -wrote:-- - - "In the district formerly commanded by Sherman are some twenty-three - regiments. Eleven of these regiments are ample for the purpose I - have mentioned. This will leave a full division of twelve regiments - to reinforce our columns at points where the enemy is fighting with - the energy of despair, and where its timely aid may bring to our - arms the crowning victory of the war. - - "I earnestly desire this war to be prosecuted to a signal and speedy - success. This department can well afford to wait. It is not the - proper base for operations. We are, moreover, much too small for an - advance, and much too large for simply holding the points we now - occupy. Let us simply hold these points. The crisis of the war is in - Virginia. There throw your troops. There signally defeat and destroy - the enemy. You strike Charleston and Savannah by striking Richmond. - - "Send us, therefore, and send twelve of our regiments to Virginia. - Let us have the satisfaction of sharing there the dangers, the - privations, and the sacrifices of our companions in arms. Let us - feel that we are doing good service for our country, that we are - really helping in the gravest contest of the war." - -After a smooth and pleasant voyage the command reached Fortress Monroe -on the 16th, debarked at Newport News, and went into camp on the level -plain overlooking the broad expanse of water where James River enters -Hampton Roads. General Burnside had just arrived here with eight -thousand troops from North Carolina, and the ninth corps was organized -from the two commands, General Stevens's division forming the first and -the North Carolina troops the second and third divisions under Generals -Jesse L. Reno and John G. Parke respectively, General Burnside -commanding the corps. - -General Cullum, Halleck's chief of staff, was at Fortress Monroe when -General Stevens arrived there, and had a long and confidential talk with -his former brother officer and old friend in regard to the military -situation. It is noteworthy that the very movements he mentioned as best -in his letter to his wife were precisely the ones adopted immediately -afterwards, viz., the withdrawal of McClellan and reinforcement of Pope. -Halleck, whose voice was then controlling in military councils in -Washington, was undoubtedly led to adopt, or strengthened in his own -ideas by, the views of his former classmate and rival, whose ability and -sound military judgment he fully appreciated. - - NEWPORT NEWS, August 2, 1862. - - MY DEAR WIFE,--I send by this mail sketches with brief letters to - each of the girls. We go on board ship to-morrow. I am now satisfied - there will be marked improvement in the general management of army - matters. Probably the moves now being made will take the country - somewhat by surprise, but they are wise and absolutely necessary. - Before this reaches you our destination will be known, but I am not - at liberty to speak of it. Reno sets off about sundown this evening, - Parke will be off to-morrow, and myself the next day. - - [Illustration: HEADQUARTERS, NEWPORT NEWS] - - - - - CHAPTER LV - - POPE'S CAMPAIGN - - -The military authorities having decided to throw Burnside's troops up -the Rappahannock to reinforce Pope, General Stevens sailed from Newport -News on August 4, debarked at Acquia Creek on the 6th, and reached -Fredericksburg the same day. Here two light batteries were added to the -division, E, of the 2d United States artillery, under Lieutenant S.N. -Benjamin, with four 20-pounder rifled Parrotts and the 8th Massachusetts -battery, a new organization recently from home, enlisted for six months -only. The division was divided into three brigades, the 8th Michigan and -50th Pennsylvania, under Colonel B. C. Christ, constituting the first -brigade; the Roundheads and 46th New York, under Colonel Leasure, the -second; and the Highlanders and 28th Massachusetts, under Colonel -Addison Farnsworth, the third. Colonel Farnsworth was appointed colonel -of the Highlanders by the governor of New York, and joined his regiment -at Beaufort, but was absent on leave during the James Island campaign, -at the close of which he returned to it. Lieutenant H.G. Heffron was -appointed aide in place of Lieutenant Lyons. - -Starting from Fredericksburg on the 13th, Generals Stevens's and Reno's -divisions, eight thousand strong, the latter as ranking officer in -command, stripped of all baggage except shelter tents, marched up the -north bank of the Rappahannock, passing Bealton Station on the -Alexandria and Orange Court House Railroad, crossed the river at -Rappahannock Station, and joined Pope at Culpeper Court House on the -15th. General Stevens bivouacked three miles in front of that point, and -on the following day was thrown forward to guard Raccoon Ford, on the -Rapidan River, which he held with a strong detachment, placing his -division a mile and a half back in support. - -Pope's bombastic orders, and his invitation to forage on the enemy, -greatly increased straggling and relaxed discipline among his troops. -General Stevens ordered roll-calls at every halt, and at the end of -every day's march; reports of stragglers made daily, and prompt and -severe punishment inflicted upon such delinquents and upon plunderers, -and sternly stopped the evil in its inception. The 46th New York, a -German regiment, where even the commands at drill were given in German, -loaded some of its supply-wagons with lager beer on leaving -Fredericksburg, leaving behind a good part of their rations, having some -vague notion of living off the country. General Stevens at once had all -the lager thrown into the road, and the wagons sent back for the -abandoned rations. The indignation of Colonel Rosa and his officers rose -to such a pitch over this summary loss of their beloved beverage that -they tendered their resignations in a body, with a grandiloquent letter -from the colonel. But General Stevens emphatically assured them that -they must remain and do their duty as soldiers during the campaign, and -took no further notice of their insubordinate and unsoldierly action. - - [Illustration: VIRGINIA--POTOMAC TO RAPIDAN RIVER] - -On the 9th, only a week before the arrival of the two divisions of -the ninth corps, the severe fight of Cedar Mountain occurred between -Banks's corps and Jackson. The latter, although victor on the field by -force of numbers, was so badly crippled that he withdrew behind the -Rapidan the second day after the battle. Pope, on receiving these -reinforcements, advanced to the line of that river, and General Stevens -held his extreme left, a cavalry picket only watching Germanna Ford, the -next below Raccoon. The army, officially known as the Army of Virginia, -consisted of the corps of McDowell, Banks, and Sigel, and numbered forty -thousand effective. The ninth corps troops added eight thousand more, -and heavy reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac were on their way, -so that, if Pope could only hold his ground a few days, both armies -would be united in his advanced Position. - -But Lee, safely leaving McClellan, with his great army, on the Peninsula -to his inaction, swiftly gathered his army opposite Pope, and, crossing -the river, advanced one wing under Jackson to strike him on the left and -rear, and the other, under Longstreet, to attack him in front. Pope -gained timely notice of this move by a lucky cavalry reconnoissance, and -withdrew to the Rappahannock just in time to escape it. During the 17th, -18th, and 19th General Stevens kept his officers busily engaged in what -he termed "looking up the country," that is, in tracing out all the -roads and by-roads, and studying the topography, defensive positions, -and approaches. He always attached great importance to a thorough -knowledge of the ground, and seized every opportunity to gain it. -Ordered, on the afternoon of the 19th, to move back his train -immediately, and his troops at two in the morning, by way of Stevensburg -and Barnett's Ford on the Rappahannock, General Stevens started off the -train at once, and at nine in the evening drew out his division three -miles on the designated road, which runs parallel to the river for a -considerable distance, and halted. By this movement he placed his whole -force in position to defend the ford till the last moment, and all -danger of being cut off by the sudden advance of the enemy was -obviated. The column resumed the march in retreat at two A.M., reached -Stevensburg at daylight, where it was detained an hour by General Reno's -train, that officer with his division having already fallen back, and -after a march of twenty-six miles crossed the Rappahannock at Barnett's -Ford, and went into bivouac at four P.M. That day the whole of Pope's -army fell back and took up the line of the Rappahannock, the ninth corps -on the left. - -At dusk on the evening of the 21st, leaving four companies of infantry -and four light guns of the 8th Massachusetts battery at the ford, and -two companies at another ford a few miles higher up, General Stevens -marched eight miles up the river to Kelly's Ford, arriving at midnight, -and a day after General Reno. - -The next day he recrossed the river with two brigades in support of a -cavalry reconnoissance by General Buford. Deploying the third -brigade,--the Highlanders and 28th Massachusetts,--he drove back a -considerable force of the enemy for more than a mile in a sharp action, -and, after accomplishing all that was expected or desired, withdrew to -the left bank. - -On the 2d both divisions continued moving up the river ten miles to -Rappahannock Station, two regiments from each being left to guard -Kelly's Ford. Here were found the troops of McDowell and Banks. Sigel -was farther up the river, and his artillery was heard thundering in the -distance all day. Banks moved after him late in the afternoon. Both -armies were now moving up the Rappahannock, but on opposite sides. Lee, -foiled in his bold onslaught by the timely retreat of his antagonist, -and finding him strongly posted behind the river, was now pushing his -columns up the right bank, seeking to cross it or to outflank and turn -Pope's right, and Pope was carefully following his movement to head him -off. - -On the 23d General Stevens continued the march up the river, followed by -Reno's division. Banks's troops and Sigel's train were soon overtaken, -blocking up the road; the march was continually interrupted and delayed -by them, and after struggling forward over the muddy and slippery roads, -pelted by a heavy, drenching rainstorm, until after midnight, having -marched only four miles in eighteen hours, the tired and bedraggled -troops were allowed to rest, or rather halt, by the roadside until -morning. During the day the troops left at the lower fords rejoined the -division, having been relieved by General Reynolds's division, the first -to arrive from the Army of the Potomac. On overtaking Banks's corps, -General Stevens had a talk with that officer, who was quite lame from a -recent fall, and looked thin and careworn. His troops had been sadly cut -up at Cedar Mountain, and his regiments, with their scanty numbers, -seemed reduced almost to the size of companies. All day Sigel's guns -were thundering up the river as though a pitched battle were raging, -but, as afterwards appeared, he was wasting ammunition on skirmishers -and single horsemen beyond the stream, while his enormous and -ill-regulated wagon-train was keeping back the rest of the army. - -The march was resumed on the 24th, and Sulphur Springs reached late in -the afternoon. General Stevens, riding at the head of his column, was -here met by General Sigel, who requested him to take one of his (General -Stevens's) brigades and a battery, and destroy the bridge across the -river at this point, which the enemy's sharpshooters were making very -hot. Astonished at such a request, a virtual acknowledgment of his own -and his troops' inefficiency, General Stevens nevertheless promptly set -to work to comply with it, when the bridge was found to be in flames, -having been fired by some of Sigel's men. - -On this day's march, as the division was halting for a noon rest, and -the soldiers were reclining on the ground in groups, or making their -cups of coffee over little fires of fence rails, a party of rebel -cavalry with a section of artillery appeared on a cross-road a mile -distant and near the river, and a lively shower of shells suddenly fell -over and among the resting troops. At this Lieutenant Benjamin very -coolly and deliberately unlimbered and sighted one of his 20-pounders; -the shell flew straight to the mark, fairly striking the annoying piece, -and the enemy beat a hasty retreat at this single shot. - -The following morning, the 25th, General Stevens continued marching up -the river, and, on reaching Waterloo Bridge, was ordered to countermarch -and proceed to Warrenton. Arrived here, passing McDowell's corps -bivouacked along the road, the division rested some hours, then marched -for Warrenton Junction, and halted at midnight at a place known as -Eastern View, several miles from the Junction, to which it moved the -next day, the 26th. - -Meantime the reinforcements were arriving from the Army of the Potomac. -Reynolds's division, 6000 strong, coming by way of Acquia Creek and the -Rappahannock, joined on the 23d and was attached to McDowell's corps. By -the same route two divisions of the fifth corps, under General Fitz John -Porter, reached Bealton on the 26th and the Junction the next day. They -numbered 9000 effective, and were commanded by Generals George W. Morell -and George Sykes respectively. On the 25th Generals Kearny's and -Hooker's divisions of the third corps, under General Samuel P. -Heintzelman, numbering 10,000 effective, were brought out on the -railroad from Alexandria to the same place, Warrenton Junction. With -these reinforcements, deducting losses and straggling, Pope's strength -was raised to 60,000. Lee's army numbered,--Longstreet, 30,000; -Jackson, 22,000; Stuart's cavalry, 3000; total, 55,000.[19] - -On the 22d Lee attempted a crossing near Sulphur Springs, and threw a -heavy force of Jackson's troops across the river; but the storm, and the -sudden rise of the stream making the fords impassable, induced him to -withdraw. Thus baffled in his design of crossing at Sulphur Springs, and -finding that point and Waterloo Bridge, four miles above, held in force -by the Union troops, and well knowing that Pope's strength was -increasing daily by reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac, Lee now -determined to push Jackson completely around the right of the Union -army, turning it by a circuitous but rapid march, and throw him on the -railroad in its rear, its sole line of supply, and to follow up the -movement with the other wing under Longstreet. Accordingly, on the 24th -Jackson moved back from the river to Jefferson, his troops being -relieved by Longstreet's; on the 25th marched by Amissville and Orleans -to Salem; and on the 26th continued his march through Thoroughfare Gap -and Gainesville to Bristoe Station, on the ill-fated line of -communications, which he struck at dark, capturing some prisoners and -two trains loaded with supplies. Bristoe is only eight miles north of -Warrenton Junction, about which so many Union troops were grouped; and -Jackson, by his bold move, had thrown himself fairly upon the back of -Pope's army. Without delay he dispatched a small force that night to -Manassas Junction, five miles down the railroad, and eight guns, three -hundred prisoners, and an immense quantity of stores fell into his -hands. Next morning, leaving Ewell to hold back the Union forces, he -moved the other divisions to Manassas, where they spent the day -outfitting themselves from the captured stores. - - [Illustration: Positions, nine P.M., August 26, 1862.] - -When this blow fell, Pope had his troops well in hand: McDowell and -Sigel's corps grouped about Warrenton; the four divisions of Stevens, -Reno, Kearny and Hooker near Warrenton Junction; while Porter at Bealton -and Banks at Fayetteville were within an easy march of the Junction. -Pope, having made up his mind that the enemy would fall upon his right, -was loath to believe that he had gotten into his rear in heavy force, -but he embarked a regiment on a train of cars and sent it down the road -towards Bristoe that night to find out. This reconnoissance reported the -enemy in force; but even yet Pope was not convinced, still clinging to -his opinion that his right, the line from Warrenton to Gainesville, was -most exposed to Lee's attack. Therefore, instead of throwing upon -Bristoe, at daylight the next morning, the overwhelming force he had at -hand near the Junction, he sent only Hooker's division down the railroad -to brush away the supposed raiding party, moved the other three -(Stevens, Reno, and Kearny) to Greenwich, and ordered McDowell and Sigel -to Gainesville; the former to take command of both corps, for he was not -satisfied with Sigel's dilatoriness in marching and obeying orders. - - [Illustration: Positions of Troops, Sunset, August 27, 1862.] - -Hooker encountered Ewell in front of Bristoe, and, in a sharp action in -the afternoon, pushed him across Broad Run, from which, after destroying -the bridge, he retreated unmolested to Manassas. As the result of -Hooker's fight, Pope now knew that Jackson with his whole corps was at -Bristoe that very morning, and had just marched--his rear division was -even then marching--down the railroad to Manassas. He supposed that -Longstreet was far to the westward, beyond supporting distance to -Jackson. Confident that the great flanker was at last within his power, -he issued vigorous orders for the morrow's movements, designed to throw -his whole army upon him at Manassas and crush him. To this end he -ordered Hooker to push down the railroad towards Manassas; Porter to -hasten from Warrenton Junction to support Hooker, starting at one in the -morning; Kearny to Bristoe; and Stevens and Reno directly on -Manassas,--the three to move at daylight; McDowell to advance his whole -force from Gainesville also on Manassas, with Sigel resting his right on -the Manassas Gap Railroad, and McDowell's divisions following in echelon -extended on his left, so that this great force would sweep a wide scope -of country,--practically the whole region between the Manassas Gap -Railroad and the Warrenton pike,--and would intercept Jackson's retreat -by that thoroughfare. This plan was well plotted to overwhelm the wolf -at Manassas, if the wolf would only wait there until the toils closed -around him. A day, or even half a day, would suffice. But Jackson was -not the man to wait anywhere long enough to give his adversary the -initiative. That night and early the next morning he moved to the field -of Bull Run, and took up a position admirable for defense, and from -which with equal facility he could attack any force moving along the -pike, or fall back westward by good roads to meet Longstreet, now -rapidly approaching. - -It is a high, undulating country west of Bull Run upon which on June 21, -1861, and August 28, 29, and 30, 1862, were fought the battles of Bull -Run, Gainesville, and second Bull Run, or, as known to the Confederates, -Bull Run, Groveton, and Manassas. Long, broad ridges stretch across the -country, sloping down in successive rolls of ground to wide hollows. -Open fields cover two thirds of the surface of hill and dale, -alternating with tracts of woods, which clothe the remaining third. -These are of oak and other deciduous trees, and are tolerably open and -free from underbrush. - -The Alexandria and Warrenton pike, running nearly west (west 15 deg. -south), bisects the field, and was the most important line of -communication upon it. Crossing Bull Run by a stone bridge, the pike -follows up the valley of a tributary, Young's Branch, gently and -gradually ascending for two miles, and then passes over several ridges -and high ground on to Gainesville, five miles farther. Young's Branch -has worn a deep and narrow valley through the first ridge, a mile from -the stone bridge, and to the traveler passing up the pike the abutting -ends of the ridge present the appearance of quite steep and high hills. -The first hill on the left, separated from the next by a hollow down -which a dirt road descends, is the Henry Hill, the scene of the -fiercest fighting of the first battle, where Bee and Bartow, the -Southern generals, fell, and where Ricketts and his gallant battery -were all but destroyed and were captured. The next hill is the Chinn -House, termed in some of the reports the Bald Hill. Opposite these, and -on the right or north side of the road, are Buck Hill and Rosefield or -Dogan House. The tops of these hills are not peaked but flat, being -simply the general level of the plateau or ridge. - -Another road scarcely less important crosses the field at right angles -to the pike, nearly on the line of this first ridge, passing between the -Henry and Chinn Hills, and Buck Hill and Rosefield. This is the Manassas -and Sudley road. From Manassas Junction, six miles to the south on the -Alexandria and Orange Court House Railroad, it runs in a northerly -direction to and over the plateau on the south part of the field, -descends by the lateral hollow to Young's Branch, where it crosses the -pike, and, climbing up the end of the ridge on the north, continues in -the same general direction over two miles to Sudley Ford across Bull -Run. - -Another road from the south crosses the pike at a point two and a half -miles beyond the stone bridge, known as Groveton, and marked by two -houses and some outbuildings. This road, running north, descends down a -hollow from the plateau on the south, crosses the pike at Groveton, -passes across low or flat ground for half a mile, enters a tract of -woods, and extends through them to Sudley Ford. - -One of the most important features of the second battle was a section of -railroad grade about two miles in length, which extended from the Run -near Sudley Church nearly parallel to the Groveton road for a mile and a -half, traversing thickly wooded but level ground with shallow cuts and -low embankments; then, curving westward away from the road and emerging -from the woods into the open, it crossed a hollow on an embankment, -which at one place was ten feet high, and bore away on its course to -Gainesville. - -Standing at Rosefield, the eye of the observer sweeps westward or -frontward over a broad expanse of open country, descending to the lower -ground crossed by the Groveton road, and beyond it, over the rising -slopes and summit of a bare, high ridge two miles and a half distant, a -ridge much higher than the one on which he stands, and the dominating -feature of the landscape. To the right, or northward, open fields extend -nearly a mile, but to the right front is seen the extensive tract of -woods in which is concealed the railroad grade, and which covers the -broad flat between the two ridges. To the left or southward, across the -narrow valley of Young's Branch, appear the steep Henry and Bald hills, -really the verge of the plateau. They are bare of trees. But farther to -the west, the left front, a tract of woods, from two to three hundred -yards back from the pike, clothes the plateau. On the south side the -ground slopes up sharply from the Branch and extends southward in a -broad, high plateau, while on the north side of the pike the ground is -much lower, extending, as already described, to the Groveton road. - -Bull Run bounds the field on the east and northeast, and can be readily -crossed by several fords as well as by the stone bridge. Among them are -Sudley Ford, over three miles above the bridge; Lock's or Red House -Ford, half way between these points; Blackburn's Ford, four miles below; -one a short distance above, and another alongside the bridge. - -It was Thursday, August 28, 1862, that the first rays of the rising sun, -falling athwart the cloudless skies and warm but balmy air of a Southern -summer morning, revealed an animated scene,--throngs of gray-coated, -slouch-hatted men, yet with many a blue-coated one intermingled, -clustering thickly along the Sudley road near the pike, some of them -resting outspread upon the grass, others boiling tin cups of coffee and -roasting ears of field-corn over tiny fires of fence rails; long lines -of stacked muskets with bayonets glittering in the sun; guns and wagons -blocking the roads, while their teams of horses and mules were drinking -from the little rivulet, or munching their feed from the wagon-boxes. -Travel-stained, gaunt, and unkempt were these men, but their alert -bearing, and ready joke and laugh, told of unbroken strength and -confidence. They were Jackson's old division, now commanded by General -William B. Taliaferro. Among them was the brigade that a twelvemonth -before won on yonder hill the proud sobriquet of "Stonewall." In high -glee and spirits, they recounted and gloated over the incidents of the -previous day, how, marching swiftly clear around the flank of the Union -army, they struck the railroad in rear and almost in midst of its -extended columns, capturing guns, men, and immense stores of military -supplies at Manassas Junction; how, after loading themselves with all -they could carry and burning the rest, they left the Junction at -midnight, and after a short march were now regaling themselves with -captured Yankee rations upon the scene of the first Yankee defeat. - -Soon the command, "Fall in," is passed along, and, resuming the arms and -packs, the dusty column continues its march. One brigade, under Colonel -Bradley T. Johnson, moves up the pike to Groveton, where it takes post -with pickets well out towards Gainesville and the road leading -southward; while the remainder of the division streams along the Sudley -road nearly to Sudley Church, where, turning to the left and crossing -the railroad grade, it again comes to a halt in the woods beyond it. -Scarcely had these troops cleared the road when another motley column -came crossing Bull Run by the pike and swinging up it at a rapid gait, -and they, too, followed the others down the Sudley road and into the -woods across the railroad. These were General Richard S. Ewell's -division of Jackson's corps, which left the Junction at daylight, -crossed Bull Run by Blackburn's Ford, marched up the left or east bank -across the fields, and recrossed by the stone bridge. And still another -column, General A.P. Hill's light division of the same corps, came -marching up from Centreville an hour later, following Ewell up the pike -and along the Sudley road, and also disappeared in the woods beyond the -railroad. Thus, soon after noon, Jackson had his whole corps of 20,000 -effective men united, and hidden in the woods behind the railroad with -his train parked at Sudley, one brigade advanced to Groveton watching -the roads west and south, and General J. E.B. Stuart with his cavalry -guarding Bull Run bridge and fords and the Sudley road half way to -Manassas. - -Now, leaving Jackson's "foot-cavalry," as his men delighted to call -themselves, resting under the oaks, the narration of the movements of -the Union army is continued, in order clearly to understand the bloody -and fruitless battles then impending. - -Pope's right wing, as it may be termed, moved on the 28th as ordered; -reached Manassas about noon, only to find the smoking ruins of Jackson's -destructive visit; continued towards Centreville, and bivouacked for the -night,--Kearny at that point, Stevens, Reno, and Hooker near Blackburn's -Ford. Porter came up to Bristoe. Truly a sluggish advance, but Pope was -placing his chief reliance upon his left wing, under McDowell, which he -expected to sweep up from Gainesville and head off Jackson on the west -and north, while he assailed him on the south with his right. - -The complete and ignominious fiasco which McDowell and Sigel contrived -to make of this movement is one of the strangest and most discreditable -episodes of this unhappy campaign. The previous day (27th) Sigel had not -moved his whole corps to Gainesville as ordered, but only the head of -his column, the main body of which was stretched back along the pike -towards Warrenton. The divisions of Reynolds, King, and Ricketts, of -McDowell's corps, in the order named, extended the column in rear of -Sigel still farther. Moreover, the road was incumbered by Sigel's train -of two hundred wagons, which he kept with the troops, although ordered -to send them to Catlett's Station, on the Alexandria and Orange Court -House Railroad, where all the trains were to assemble under guard of -Banks. Although ordered to move at daylight on Manassas, resting his -right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, and to be supported by McDowell's -corps in echelon on his left, Sigel made a late start, and at 7.30 was -halting at Gainesville, his troops building fires to cook breakfast and -blocking up the road, and finally, claiming that his orders were to rest -his right flank on the Alexandria and Orange Court House Railroad, -sheered off to the right after passing Gainesville, keeping on the right -of the Manassas Gap Railroad, upon the left of which his orders -explicitly directed him to advance, and in the afternoon reached the -vicinity of the Junction. From this point, after a start for Centreville -and countermarch, he moved down the Sudley road to the pike, which the -head of his column reached at dark. But he still held on to his train. - -Reynolds, although greatly impeded by Sigel's troops and wagons, forced -his way past them, passed Gainesville, and moved down the pike towards -Groveton, in order to gain his required position upon Sigel's left. -Approaching Groveton about ten A.M., he flushed Jackson's advanced -brigade,--Bradley Johnson's,--and deployed and pushed forward his -leading brigade, under General George G. Meade. But Johnson drew back -into the woods on the west, concealing his troops; and Reynolds supposed -that the enemy was a mere scouting party, and sheered off in turn from -the pike to the right in order to follow Sigel as ordered. After a -laborious march across country on the left of the Manassas Gap Railroad, -he came out in sight of Manassas, and thence, moving by the Sudley Road, -he reached the vicinity of the pike and bivouacked near the Chinn House, -still on the left of Sigel. Thus these commands spent the whole day in -laboriously marching clear around the circle from a point just west of -Groveton to a point on the same pike a mile east of it, marching fifteen -miles to gain two! - -General Buford, with his cavalry, by a bold reconnoissance developed -Longstreet's column at Salem on the 27th. McDowell, therefore, wisely -modified the order to move his whole force on Manassas by directing his -rear division under Ricketts, starting at one A.M., to move across from -New Baltimore to Haymarket, thence to Thoroughfare Gap, and hold -Longstreet in check. Ricketts was greatly delayed by the wagons and -troops blocking the road ahead of him, but reached the vicinity of the -Gap at three P.M. to find the enemy already in possession of it. But -deploying in position, and opening with artillery, he maintained a -resolute stand, holding him in check until dark, when he retreated to -Gainesville. - -King, next to Reynolds in the column, was so long delayed that he was -five hours later in reaching the point near Groveton, where the former -caught a glimpse of Bradley Johnson's brigade. He was ordered to march -down the pike to Centreville. The leading brigade under Hatch had passed -this point, and the next brigade under Gibbon had just reached it, when -his column was subjected to artillery fire from batteries which suddenly -appeared north of the road. Deploying and advancing to drive them off, -Gibbon came face to face with extended lines of infantry advancing upon -him in battle order, and one of the most stubborn fights of the war took -place. - -It was Jackson who, after lurking in his wooded lair all the afternoon, -watching the heavy masses of Union troops passing down the pike, and -successively sheering off near Groveton and marching away in the -direction of Manassas, now pushed forward the divisions of Ewell and -Taliaferro and attacked King's column. The field was a high, level, open -plain, without any cover except a small patch of woods and an orchard -and some farm buildings. Reports Taliaferro:-- - - "Here one of the most terrific conflicts that can be conceived of - occurred. Our troops held the farmhouse and one edge of the orchard, - while the enemy held the orchard and inclosure next the turnpike. - For two hours and a half, without an instant's cessation of the most - deadly discharges of musketry, roundshot, and shell, both lines - stood unmoved, neither advancing and neither broken or yielding, - until at last, about nine o'clock at night, the enemy slowly and - sullenly fell back, and yielded the field to our victorious troops." - -This fierce conflict was sustained by Gibbon's brigade of four -regiments, two regiments of Doubleday's brigade, and Campbell's battery, -alone and without help from the remainder of King's division. General -Gibbon, after an hour and a half of this terrible struggle, finding -himself far outnumbered and outflanked on the left, ordered his line to -fall back, which was done in good order. His pickets occupied the ground -and collected the wounded. The enemy seems to have also drawn back to -care for the wounded and reorganize, for Jackson's report contains this -significant statement: "The next morning (29th) I found he had abandoned -the ground occupied as the battlefield the evening before." - -It is incontestable that Gibbon's small force--six regiments and one -battery--thus gloriously sustained the attack of five brigades of -infantry and three batteries of artillery under Jackson's own direction. -The loss was about eight hundred on each side. Ewell and Taliaferro were -both severely wounded, the former losing a leg. During the battle -General Reynolds rode to the field from his bivouac, and aided Gibbon in -calling for support. - -General Ricketts reached Gainesville with his division just as the fight -was over, having retreated from holding Longstreet in check. Thus at -nine o'clock that night, Thursday, August 28, Ricketts and King held the -pike from Gainesville to Groveton. Reynolds was in touch with King, -being a short distance east of Groveton, Sigel next to him; while Pope's -right wing was in the positions already stated, the ninth and -Heintzelman's corps between Blackburn's Ford and Centreville, Porter -east of, Banks at Bristoe. - -Thus Pope's army was well positioned for a determined attack upon -Jackson the first thing the next morning by McDowell and Sigel, with the -right coming up early to support. Such an attack should have beaten -Jackson, if he accepted battle, but he could readily decline an unequal -struggle by drawing back to Haymarket and uniting with Longstreet's -columns. And it is clear that Pope's only chance of "bagging" or beating -Jackson was lost on the 28th by the dilatory, disconnected, and -purposeless marches of McDowell's wing. - - [Illustration: Conclusion of Gibbon's Fight. - -Positions, nine P.M., August 28, 1862; excepting Jackson's, which is -that occupied by him during the 28th, 29th, and 30th.] - -But whatever advantage might have been gained from Gibbon's stanch fight -was speedily thrown away by King's decision to abandon the ground, and -that, too, after assuring General Ricketts, as that officer states, that -he would hold on. At midnight he retreated to Manassas, and General -Ricketts retreated to Bristoe. Both marched away from the enemy, and by -daylight their troops, exhausted and discouraged by being marched day -and night and made to shun the enemy, were strung out along the dusty -roads ten miles from where they were needed, while Lee's right wing was -swiftly marching to join Jackson, which nothing could now prevent. -Something may be said in palliation of this retreat. The enemy held the -ground in front of King, and might be expected to renew the battle in -the morning. The advance of Longstreet was through the Gap and in -contact with Ricketts, and only five miles distant, the afternoon -before. It was to be expected that the Confederate leader would lose no -time in pushing on to join Jackson, and he might move up during the -night, and fall upon the two Union divisions with his whole -force--thirty thousand men--at daylight. "No superior general officer -was in the vicinity with the requisite knowledge and authority to order -up troops," etc., says Gibbon. - -But why they did not retreat down the pike, where were Reynolds and -Sigel close at hand, and by which King was ordered to move, is indeed -incomprehensible. - -The chief responsibility for the series of blunders which rendered -abortive the movements of the left wing clearly rests upon McDowell, its -commander. His was the nerveless command that failed to make Sigel march -when and whither ordered; his the sluggish movements that left his -troops strung along the pike nearly to Warrenton, instead of -concentrating them about Gainesville on the 27th; his the mistaken -judgment that kept him from hastening in person that night to -Gainesville, the key-point to his whole movement, and, worse yet, that -led him to gallop off to consult with Pope the next day instead of -remaining with his command, keeping his divisions in hand, and pushing -them vigorously eastward along the railroad and the pike until he -developed Jackson's position. But McDowell was constantly conferred -with and depended upon by Pope, and had too much upon his mind the task -of manoeuvring the whole army. - -During the day (28th) Pope was in a state of great uncertainty as to -Jackson's movements, but late at night, learning of Gibbon's battle, he -concluded that Jackson, while retreating up the pike, had been headed -off and stopped by McDowell's troops, and his hopes revived. He issued -his orders accordingly,--Kearny to move at one o'clock at night, even if -he carries no more than two thousand men, and to advance up the -turnpike; Hooker to march at three A.M., even if he shall have to do so -with only half his men; the ninth corps, also, all up the pike; Sigel -and Reynolds are to attack at earliest dawn; Porter to hasten forward to -Centreville. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [19] John C. Ropes, _Army under Pope_, pp. 193-199, gives Pope - 71,000; Lee, 54,268. General Longstreet, _Manassas to - Appomattox_, gives Pope 54,500; Lee, 53,000. Colonel William - Allen, _Army of Northern Virginia_, puts "Lee's strength at - 47,000 to 55,000; say over 50,000." - - - - - CHAPTER LVI - - THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN - - -Early in the morning of Friday, the 28th, Jackson moved back behind the -railroad grade, extended his lines, and took up his defensive position, -extending from near Sudley Church along and in rear of the railroad to -the high ground north of the pike, opposite to, or just north of, the -battle-ground of the previous evening, curving his right to present a -somewhat convex front towards the pike. Ewell's division, now under -General A.R. Lawton, held the right, Hill's the left, and Jackson's, -under General William E. Starke, the centre; Hill and Starke were in the -woods. A battery was placed on the high ground in front of the right, -and between it and the pike, and two regiments of infantry, 13th and -35th Virginia, were thrown across the pike into the woods on the south -side of it. Other batteries were planted on the high "stony ridge" in -rear of the main line. Secure in this position he calmly awaits events, -knowing that a few hours will bring Longstreet on his right. - - [Illustration: SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN, AUGUST 29, 1862, AT NOON - Except attacks on right, 4 to 5.30 P.M., as indicated] - -Sigel's troops are now pushing forward from the vicinity of Henry and -Chinn hills. Schurz's division, with Milroy's independent brigade on its -left, advances to the right across the pike, and, wheeling to the left, -crosses the Sudley road and enters the woods which cover and screen -Jackson's left and centre, with sharp fighting pushes back his -skirmishers, seizes part of the railroad, and develops the enemy's -position there. On the left of the pike Schenck's division advances, -with its right on the pike and Reynolds's division on its left. -Schenck's batteries take position on the ridges on each side of the pike -near Groveton, and keep up a long-range cannonade with the enemy's guns -on the high ridge in front; while the infantry slowly works forward, -unopposed except by artillery fire, to that point. Reynolds also moves -forward, swinging to the right, and driving back the two Virginia -regiments, until he reaches the pike half a mile or more beyond -Groveton, where Gibbon's battle began, and there finds the Union dead -and wounded abandoned when King fell back the previous night. His line -is formed along the road, facing north, and a short advance over the -high ground will throw him on Jackson's extreme right. One of Schenck's -brigades, Stahel's, is on his right; the other, McLean's, is in rear, or -south of Stahel, and in the woods. It is now about ten A.M. It has taken -four hours for Schurz to develop the enemy's left and centre, and for -Schenck and Reynolds to advance a mile and a half over an easy country -and push back a handful of skirmishers; and they have not yet located -Jackson's right, although they have gained a good position from which to -attack it. Their movement diverged from that of Schurz, and opened an -interval in the line between Milroy and Stahel. The ground between them, -indeed, was the open country on the right of the pike, commanded by -their batteries, and the forward movement northward of the troops of -Reynolds would soon have closed the gap. But Milroy was calling on Sigel -for support, and for troops to fill the gap on his left. Schurz was also -asking aid, and to meet their calls Stahel was hastily moved by the -right flank across the fields towards Milroy. - -Reynolds was not informed of this movement, but, discovering that the -troops on his right had disappeared, and supposing that the whole of -Schenck's division had moved away, and observing a force of the enemy -approaching his left, which was entirely in air, he immediately swung -his division back, recrossed the Groveton road, and, finding McLean's -brigade in the woods, took position on its left with his line refused -somewhat. It was Longstreet's leading division under Hood just reaching -the field that Reynolds observed, and it was probably well for him that -he moved back so promptly. - -Now the troops of the right wing are reaching the field. First Kearny, -who moves across country north of the pike with Poe's brigade pushing -back the enemy's cavalry and skirmishers along Bull Run, and comes up -against Jackson's extreme left, and on the right of Schurz. Then -Stevens's division marches up the pike to the crossing of the Sudley -road, where Sigel is receiving Schurz's and Milroy's cries for aid, and -listening to the thunder of his guns shelling the batteries of the -enemy, with the fervid imagination of a war correspondent. Sigel, with -the consent of Reno, as he claims, immediately scatters this fine -division, sending one brigade to Schurz, another to Milroy, and the -third, with Benjamin's battery, E, of the 2d artillery, up the pike to -Schenck. Reno's division, which next arrived, was dissipated in like -manner, Nagle's brigade being sent to support Schurz, while the other -with the artillery was placed in reserve on the ridge in rear of the -Sudley road. Hooker's division on its arrival was also divided, Grover's -brigade being sent to support Schurz; and afterwards Carr's brigade was -put on the front line, relieving part of Schurz's force, and was in turn -relieved by Hooker's remaining brigade, under General Nelson Taylor. - -It was not an uncommon thing during the war, as many an officer knows -from dear-bought experience, for commanders of troops in action to -beseech support, usually claiming that they were out of ammunition, or -their flanks were being turned, and, when the reinforcements reached -them, to put the new-comers into the front line and withdraw their own -troops to the rear. This was what Sigel did with the divisions of the -right wing as they reached the field. Thus these fine troops, second to -none in condition, discipline, and _morale_, which, led by their own -generals and thrown in mass upon the enemy, would have struck a mighty -blow, were frittered away over the field, simply relieving other troops, -and adding but little to the extent or strength of the battle line. -Schurz, ever mightier with the pen than the sword, evinced a marvelous -capacity to absorb reinforcements. And Sigel, having demonstrated his -talents as a strategist and a marcher the previous day, now proved his -ability on the battlefield by so scattering the seventeen thousand -troops of the right wing as to deprive them of their own able and tried -commanders, and reduce them to the least possible weight upon the -fighting line. - -His division being thus scattered, General Stevens led up the pike the -brigade which was to reinforce Schenck. This consisted of only a -regiment and a half,--the 100th Pennsylvania and five companies of the -46th New York, the other five companies being detached to guard -trains,--and Benjamin's battery of four 20-pounder rifled Parrotts. -Approaching Groveton, two batteries on the right of the road, on the low -ridge overlooking the hamlet, were exchanging shell-fire at long range -with the enemy's batteries on the high ridge a mile in front. Save this, -no enemy was visible in that vicinity. The little column was moving -without skirmishers in front, for it was said that our troops held the -ground beyond Groveton, the battery first, followed by the infantry in -marching column of fours. The general and staff had reached the -cross-road, the battery was descending the slope in the road, which here -ran in quite a cut gullied out by rains and wear, when an extended line -of gray-coated skirmishers emerged over the crest of the opposite -ridge, two hundred yards distant, and, catching sight of the group of -horsemen and the battery, quickly began firing upon them. It was -impossible to turn the guns either to right or left out of the sunken -road in which they were imprisoned; but Benjamin coolly led his battery -thirty yards forward to where the banks were lower, the skirmishers -coming nearer and their fire sharper every minute, then turned the -leading team short to the left; the drivers plied the whip, the horses -leaped up the steep bank, and with a sudden pull jerked the gun out of -the cut. And piece after piece followed to the same point, and was -extricated in like manner, and then, remounting the ridge, whirled into -battery on the left of the road and opened fire. While Benjamin was thus -extricating his guns, five companies of the 100th Pennsylvania dashed -forward at double-quick, deploying as skirmishers across the cross-road, -drove the enemy's skirmishers back behind their ridge, and held their -ground until withdrawn four hours later. The two half regiments were -placed in line on the reverse slope of the ridge in rear and to the left -of the guns. A short distance on the left were the woods, and in the -edge rested the right of McLean's brigade. - -It was the skirmishers of Hood's division that so nearly caught -Benjamin's guns. They were pushed out to feel and locate the Union -position promptly after Reynolds drew back. Longstreet's wing was fast -arriving, and by noon four of his divisions were in position,--Hood -across the pike, Kemper on his right, Jones still farther on their -right, extending to the Manassas Gap Railroad, Evans's independent -brigade in support of Hood, and Wilcox's division also supporting him on -his left and rear. Two batteries of the Washington artillery took post -on the high ridge with Jackson's guns and added their fire. - -With these additional batteries the artillery firing waxed heavier, and -soon twenty hostile guns were hurling a storm of missiles upon the Union -artillery at Groveton. After an hour's firing Schenck's batteries on the -right of the road, Dilger and Wiedrich, went to the rear, out of -ammunition, and for three long hours Benjamin was left to sustain -unaided this storm of shot and shell. But Benjamin could plant his -heavy, long-range shells with wonderful accuracy. He concentrated his -fire on one battery, and ere long a caisson was seen to blow up on the -distant ridge, and it ceased firing. Again and again he would -concentrate on a battery and silence it, but only to have the others -redouble their fire, and when he turned on them the first would reopen. -At length two of his guns were disabled, and nearly half his men were -killed or wounded. - -Now, at two P.M., Schenck concluded that he "was too far out," because -Reynolds had refused his line on the left, and he could get no fresh -artillery to continue the duel on the pike. Sigel says that he sent him -an order to retire, but that Schenck anticipated it, so the discredit of -the move belongs to both of them. By order of General Schenck, General -Stevens drew in his skirmishers and moved back down the pike, placing -Benjamin's two guns on an eminence of the Chinn Hill, and his two -regiments on the right of the road in advance of the Rosefield House. -Schenck and Reynolds moved back abreast to the western slope of the -Chinn Hill. - -Thus, in this sequence of withdrawals, it will be seen that after -Schenck and Reynolds had gotten in position to strike Jackson's right, -although too late to do so without danger of Longstreet's advance -falling upon their flank, Schenck sent off Stahel's brigade at Milroy's -calls. Reynolds then moved back, because Schenck had retired and left -him unsupported, as he supposed, and also because his left was -threatened by Longstreet's advance; and Schenck in turn moved back -because Reynolds had withdrawn, although the latter had only refused his -line, which, situated in open ground with the enemy in force in his -front, was the right thing for him to do. - -Our guns at Groveton could see along and flank the front of the Union -line on the right as far as the railroad, and their thunder encouraged -the troops on that wing, and deterred the enemy from aggressive -movements which would subject them to an enfilade fire of artillery. The -position was in truth a key-point, not only commanding the lower ground -to the right, but also affording good ground upon which to receive an -attack, or from which to advance, and, moreover, it covered the roads -southward, by which Porter's troops, as will be seen presently, were -expected to join the army. - -The drawing back of our guns and troops from Groveton was the signal for -Jackson's lines to push forward more aggressively. Milroy was roughly -handled and forced back. It was General Stevens's third brigade, under -Colonel Addison Farnsworth, that was sent to support Schurz, and was -posted on the front line along the railroad, next to Schimmelfennig's -brigade. Part of this brigade, on Farnsworth's left, broke at the -advance of the enemy, and fell back through the woods, but the -Highlanders and Faugh-a-ballaghs stood firm and repulsed the attack. -Soon afterwards the fugitives, having reformed, moved up in line from -the rear, and began firing into the backs of the troops who had stood -their ground, mistaking them for the enemy; but this was speedily -stopped, and they were again placed on the line. - -The experience of the first brigade was equally unsatisfactory. Placed -in the first line, they were left to bear the brunt of the fighting on -Milroy's front, and were finally obliged to fall back by the giving way -of troops on their flanks. - -General Pope arrived on the field about noon, and made his headquarters -in rear of the Sudley road, near Buck Hill. Although he declares in his -report that he refused Sigel's demands for reinforcements, it is clear -beyond doubt that he neither put a stop to the wasteful scattering of -his best troops, nor attempted to unite and bring them together as a -disposable force of weight for offensive movements. All the afternoon he -was expecting Porter's and McDowell's column to fall upon Jackson's -right and rear, for he had worked himself up to the belief that -Longstreet would not be up for another day, and nothing short of -disastrous defeat could shake his dogged belief. - -On receiving news of King's and Ricketts's retreat from Gainesville and -Groveton, which he did about daylight, General Pope ordered Porter to -march upon Gainesville with his own corps and King's division. "I am -following the enemy down the Warrenton turnpike," he adds. "Be -expeditious, or we will lose much." And later he dispatched a joint -order to McDowell and Porter to the same effect:-- - - "You will please move forward with your joint commands toward - Gainesville.... Heintzelman, Sigel, and Reno are moving on the - Warrenton turnpike, and must now be not far from Gainesville. I - desire that as soon as communication is established between this - force and your own, the whole command shall halt.... One thing must - be had in view, that the troops must occupy a position from which - they can reach Bull Run to-night or by daylight." - -Porter had already passed Manassas on his way to Centreville when he -received the first order, but immediately countermarched to the Junction -and towards Gainesville as ordered, with Morell's division leading, -Sykes's next, then Piatt's brigade, and King following in rear. About -eleven o'clock the head of the column reached Dawkins Branch, an -insignificant brook four and a half miles from Gainesville, and two and -a half miles south of Groveton. Here the enemy was perceived, and -skirmishers were thrown across the creek, supported by Butterfield's -brigade; and Porter was forming to advance on the enemy, when General -McDowell joined him, and showed a dispatch from Buford as follows:-- - - "Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, 9.30 A.M. Seventeen regiments, one - battery, and five hundred cavalry passed through Gainesville three - quarters of an hour ago on the Centreville road." - -The presence of the enemy in front, and clouds of dust rising along the -roads in his rear, corroborated this dispatch. So, too, did the noise of -the artillery combat at Groveton. The two generals rode together through -the woods to the right as far as the Manassas Gap Railroad, but decided -that it was "impracticable" to move northward a mile and a half across -country to effect a junction with the right wing. McDowell then left -Porter, telling him that he would take King's division around by the -Sudley road and put it in between Porter and the right wing. Except for -some slight changes in position of the head of his column, Porter -remained inactive the rest of the day, with his rear stretching back two -and a half miles along the road. What befell King's division, under -McDowell's guidance, will be seen later. Unquestionably, Longstreet was -up and in position in time to resist the attack of McDowell and Porter, -had they made one. And a board of three officers of great reputation and -experience,--Generals Schofield, Terry, and Getty,--after a thorough -examination, has declared that such an attack would have been ill -advised, has applauded Porter's conduct, and pronounced the opinion that -his presence there that day saved the army from disaster. - -Nevertheless, the fact remains that this great column of over twenty -thousand troops was kept out of the ring completely. The orders given -and objects to be gained were perfectly plain and simple. They were, -first, to fall upon the enemy, supposed to be Jackson, and, second, to -effect a junction with the right wing. McDowell and Porter did neither. - -Granting that an attack was ill judged, why was not a brigade brought up -and deployed athwart the railroad, and a regiment pushed through the -woods northward to locate and connect with the force on the pike, whose -artillery was distinctly heard? Traversing only three quarters of a mile -of intervening woods, such a column would have reached open fields, and -come in sight of Reynolds's troops. But, more surprising still, why was -no one sent up the roads which fork both from the road and railroad only -half a mile back of the head of Porter's column, traverse the woods in a -northerly direction, and lead to Groveton? A staff officer sent up this -road would have come in sight of Reynolds's skirmishers in a ride of -only a mile. - -Unable longer to control his impatience, General Pope began about four -P.M. sending peremptory orders to attack, first to one command, then to -another, as he could get hold of them, accompanying the orders with -assurances that the enemy was being driven by some other command, and -that Porter was about to fall, or was falling, on his flank and rear, -and using him up. - -The first victim of this plan of beating a corps in strong position by -attacking it with a brigade at a time was General Cuvier Grover's -brigade, first of Hooker's division, comprising five regiments,--1st, -11th, and 16th Massachusetts, 2d New Hampshire, and 26th -Pennsylvania,--which was already supporting Schurz. With muskets loaded -and bayonets fixed, ordered to close on the enemy, fire one volley, and -charge with the bayonet, they struck him where the railroad emerged from -the woods and crossed the hollow on an embankment, broke the first line, -carried the embankment, swept eighty yards beyond it and broke a second -line, only to be forced back by overpowering numbers, with a loss of -four hundred and eighty-six, for this gallant charge was entirely -unsupported. Reports General Grover:-- - - "We rapidly and firmly pressed upon the embankment, and here - occurred a short, sharp, and obstinate hand-to-hand conflict with - bayonets and clubbed muskets. Many of the enemy were bayoneted in - their tracks, others struck down with the butts of pieces, and - onward pressed our line. In a few yards more it met a terrible fire - from a second line, which in its turn broke. The enemy's third line - now bore down upon our thinned ranks in close order, and swept back - the right centre and a portion of the left. With the gallant 16th - Massachusetts on our left I tried to turn his flank, but the - breaking of our right and centre and the weight of the enemy's lines - caused the necessity of falling back, first to the embankment and - then to our first position, behind which we rallied to our colors." - -One is not surprised to find the following in the report of Colonel -William Blaisdell, 11th Massachusetts:-- - - "I was greatly amazed to find that the regiment had been sent to - engage a force of more than five times its numbers, strongly posted - in thick woods and behind heavy embankments, and not a soldier to - support it in case of disaster." - -Hooker's third brigade, under Colonel Joseph B. Carr, earlier in the day -had relieved part of Schurz's troops, and after, as he reports, fighting -two hours and expending most of his ammunition, was in turn relieved by -the second brigade, under General Nelson Taylor. When Grover was driven -back, Taylor's left regiment was broken by the rush of fugitives; the -enemy poured through the gap, giving an enfilade and reverse fire, and -taking many prisoners, among them General Taylor's aides, Lieutenants -Tremain and Dwight. - - "Finding my line," says Taylor, "completely flanked and turned, and - in danger of being entirely cut off, I gave the order to fall back, - which was done in as good order as could be, situated as we were. - The loss on this occasion was not as large as I had reason to - apprehend, yet it was considerable." - -Scarce had these broken troops emerged from the woods and reformed in -the open ground in rear, when General Reno led up his first brigade, -under Colonel James Nagle, to a second attack on the same position from -which Grover had been repulsed. This consisted of only three -regiments,--48th Pennsylvania, 6th New Hampshire, and 2d Maryland. This -also was a gallant and determined assault. Again the enemy was forced -back from the railroad, but again his rear lines rushed forward, flanked -Nagle on the left, and drove him back with a loss of five hundred and -thirty-one. - -Kearny was holding the right with Robinson's brigade, while Poe's -brigade was guarding his right flank, with his skirmishers extending to -and across Bull Run, and Birney's brigade was supporting both. Now, -after the crash of musketry of Reno's attack had all died away, and his -troops were all out of the woods, Kearny makes his attack. Reinforcing -Robinson with one of Poe's and four of Birney's regiments, and throwing -forward his right, wheeling to the left until his lines are nearly -athwart the railroad, he charges along it to the left, driving the enemy -in great disorder. But his attacking force lacks weight; the charge -comes to a stand. They are assailed by two brigades from Ewell, those of -Lawton and Early, outflanked, overpowered, and are forced back to the -position from which they started; many of them, however, in broken and -disordered crowds, run out of the woods farther to the left, near the -same place where appeared Hooker's and Reno's fugitives so recently. -Eight regiments only out of Kearny's fifteen make this attack. His loss -was about six hundred. Nothing but the timely counter-charge of Lawton -and Early saved Hill. - -The rattle of musketry is still echoing in the forest, and Kearny's -fugitives are pouring out upon the open, when an officer in hot haste -conveys Pope's order to General Stevens to advance into the woods and -attack. The only troops left him are the regiment and a half withdrawn -from Groveton, only seven hundred strong. Without an instant's delay, -the troops take their muskets from the stacks, double-quick across the -open ground, and form line at the edge of the woods. Kearny himself -rides over to the little force just forming, and, at his request, -Captain Stevens stops a moment to write an order or message for him, for -he has but one arm. The scanty line enters and sweeps through the woods, -encounters the enemy now holding the railroad, delivers and receives for -fifteen minutes, which seem hours, a heavy musketry fire, and then, with -the enemy swarming past both flanks, is forced back through the woods to -the open ground, where the men at once halt and reform. Both the -regimental commanders and Colonel Leasure, commanding the brigade, were -severely wounded, and the loss was about two hundred. General Stevens's -horse was shot under him, and also that of his orderly. It was remarked -that when his troops emerged out of the woods, almost the last one was a -short man in a general's uniform, followed by a tall orderly bearing a -saddle on his shoulder. - -With this attack the fighting on the right came to an end for the day. -The possession of the woods along the railroad was relinquished to the -enemy. A strong skirmish line held the edge of, and to the right a good -part of, the timber. The troops were posted in rear in good positions -for the night, the scattered commands being collected. General Stevens's -brigades were gotten together after some search, and the division was -posted in the woods a quarter of a mile to the right and a little to the -rear of the place where Leasure's brigade formed for the attack. The -following incident, which illustrates the evil effects of scattering -commands, is related in the history of the 79th Highlanders by Captain -William T. Lusk, one of the general's aides:-- - - "I was directed to find Farnsworth; was sent by Sigel to Schurz, and - by Schurz to Schimmelfennig. The gallant German, when at last found, - exclaimed, 'Mein Gott! de troops, dey all runned avay, and I guess - your men runned avay, too!' General Stevens was indignant, and used - some pretty strong language, when I carried back this report, and - ordered me to find the missing regiments, and not to return until I - brought them with me. I started, therefore, for the old railroad - embankment. Luckily, I found Farnsworth just on the edge of the - woods. He said he was waiting for orders, but had none since I left - him in the morning." - -But the day was not to close without one more useless slaughter of brave -troops. McDowell brought King's division along the Sudley road nearly to -the pike, by half past four, passing without notice, at Newmarket, the -old Warrenton turnpike, which here forked from the Sudley road and led -to the unoccupied gap between Porter and Reynolds, to the very position -where he told Porter he would put King. Pope first directed the division -over to the right, where his attacks by detachments were being so -disastrously repulsed, and finally, just as it reached the pike, ordered -McDowell to push it up the road in pursuit of the enemy, declaring that -he was in full retreat. McDowell gave the order and the encouragement. -Gibbon's brigade, which had suffered so severely in the fight the -previous night, was placed in support of batteries on the Rosefield -ridge. The other three brigades, under Hatch (King being sick), fired by -the lying promises of success, which were strengthened by the tremendous -outbursts of musketry and roar of guns on the right wing, where they -were told Jackson was being driven, hastened up the road with high -hopes. Near Groveton, about dusk, they deployed,--Hatch's brigade on the -right of the road, Doubleday on the left, Patrick in reserve,--and -pushed on with great confidence. But Longstreet, who all the afternoon -had held his hand, notwithstanding Lee's wish to attack, was at that -very moment advancing Hood's division, supported by Evans's brigade and -Wilcox's division, with Hunton's brigade of Kemper's division on Hood's -right. The opposing forces encountered a short distance in front of -Groveton, but the disparity in numbers was too great for the Union -troops. The fight was furious but brief. Their left was outflanked and -broken, and both brigades were driven back with heavy loss, including -one gun. Patrick in some degree checked the enemy, who pursued -considerably to the rear of Groveton. Night put a stop to the unequal -struggle. - -This ended the fighting of the 29th. The Union arms were outnumbered and -repulsed in every encounter, and lost ground on both wings. Sigel's -dilatory and timid advance consumed the morning hours until, with -Longstreet's arrival, the chance of attacking Jackson's right was lost. -Sigel, too, may be censured for his importunate and unsoldierly demands -for aid which so frittered away the weight of the right wing. But Pope -on his arrival could have rectified this. Pope, and Pope alone, ordered -the hasty and disconnected attacks of the afternoon, wasting the blood -and impairing the _morale_ of his best troops. The four divisions of -Stevens, Reno, Kearny, and Hooker numbered forty-three regiments, 17,000 -effective, as fine troops as ever marched under the stars and stripes, -and as well commanded. Had Pope, disregarding the clamors of Sigel and -Schurz, arrayed these splendid troops in battle order on his right, and -hurled them in one combined attack upon the enemy, pushing into the -fight also Schurz and Milroy and twenty of the guns that were idling in -the centre upon the ridge, Jackson would surely have been driven back -upon Longstreet. The battle would then have raged on the heights beyond -Groveton, the scene of Gibbon's fight; and here Longstreet, with the -advantages of position and greatly superior numbers, might have -retrieved the day, or at least stayed farther Union advance, even though -Schenck and Reynolds attacked his right with their utmost vigor. In such -a battle Porter might possibly have turned the scale; but his troops, -only partly deployed and stretching back along the road for three miles, -were not in hand for prompt aggressive movement. - -All that afternoon Lee was master of the situation. His army was united. -Pope's was divided; over twenty thousand of his troops out of reach and -beyond his control. If Lee had struck with his right wing, Schenck and -Reynolds, who alone confronted it, could not long have resisted the -overpowering numbers, and Pope would have been driven across Bull Run. -Porter could never have prevented the disaster. He could not have thrown -his troops into the fight in time, unready as they were, and especially -if the ground on his right was broken, difficult, and impenetrable, as -he claimed, but mistakenly. It was Longstreet's slow-paced caution that -saved Pope that afternoon. - -On McDowell's arrival on the field Pope learned of Porter's inaction, -and immediately sent him a positive order to attack, which reached him -at too late an hour to be executed. Pope thereupon sent him an order to -march to the battlefield. - -Early in the morning of the next day, the 30th, General Stevens went -over to Pope's headquarters, which were a short distance in the rear, -and there found assembled Pope, McDowell, Heintzelman, Reno, and other -general officers. Pope was confident that the enemy had retreated during -the night, and, greatly to General Stevens's astonishment, some of the -others coincided in that opinion. He, however, strongly expressed the -contrary view, whereupon Pope directed him to push a strong skirmish -line into the woods in his front and try the enemy. Accordingly Captain -John More, of the 79th Highlanders, one of the best and bravest officers -in the division, with one hundred men of his regiment, skirmished into -the woods and attacked the enemy with great spirit; but after half an -hour's sharp firing Captain More was brought out shot through the body, -and a third of his men were killed or wounded. No impression was made on -the enemy. General Early, who commanded a brigade in Ewell's division, -says in his report: "During the course of the morning the skirmishers -from my brigade repulsed a column of the enemy which commenced to -advance." The Highlanders were withdrawn, and the result of their effort -immediately reported to General Pope, but it had no effect upon his -opinionated mind. By his positive assertions of driving the enemy and of -his having retreated, he had imbued McDowell and Heintzelman largely -with his own views. Thus filled with Pope's ideas, and having little -personal observation of the previous day's battle, they hastily rode -along the right wing, and came back and corroborated the mistaken views -of the infatuated commander. One circumstance there was which lent color -to them, and that was that during the night both Jackson and Longstreet -drew back to their main line those troops that, in the eagerness of -combat, had pushed beyond it. Yet there was scarcely a man in all the -Union army, except the army and two corps commanders, who did not -bitterly realize that they had been worsted the day before, and who did -not feel sure that the enemy was still in front, stronger and readier -than ever to renew the battle. - -Ricketts's division reached the field the previous evening. In the -morning two brigades were placed on the extreme right, relieving some of -Kearny's troops, and the other two brigades were left in reserve near -the centre. Apparently no opportunity of dividing and scattering -commands was to be lost. About nine A.M. Porter arrived with his troops, -except Griffin's brigade of Morell's division and Martin's battery, -which by some error had retired to Centreville. The forenoon wore away -without demonstration beyond considerable artillery firing. No -reconnoissance in force was attempted. - -At length at noon Pope issued an order, the most astonishing in its -fatuity ever given on a battlefield:-- - - HEADQUARTERS NEAR GROVETON, August 30, 1862, 12 M. - - SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. --. The following forces will be immediately - thrown forward and in pursuit of the enemy, and press him vigorously - during the whole day. Major-General McDowell is assigned to the - command of the pursuit. - - Major-General Porter's corps will push forward on the Warrenton - turnpike, followed by the divisions of Brigadier-Generals King and - Reynolds. The division of Brigadier-General Ricketts will pursue the - Haymarket road, followed by the corps of Major General Heintzelman. - The necessary cavalry will be assigned to these columns by - Major-General McDowell, to whom regular and frequent reports will be - made. The general headquarters will be somewhere on the Warrenton - turnpike. - - By command of MAJOR-GENERAL POPE, - - GEORGE D. RUGGLES, - _Colonel and Chief of Staff_. - -The enemy he thus ordered pursued were at that moment, as they had been -since noon the previous day, all up, posted in strong position, flushed -with success, confident in themselves, well rested, and not inferior in -numbers. And their skillful leader was only waiting the opportune moment -to launch the mighty thunderbolt of war he so ably wielded. Such was the -situation. But nothing had any effect upon the mind of the infatuated -commander; the bloody repulses of the previous day, the loss of ground -on both wings, the information thrust upon him by McDowell, Porter, -Ricketts, and Reynolds that Longstreet's advance had passed Gainesville -before nine o'clock the previous morning, over twenty-four hours before, -and that his forces had confronted Porter and Reynolds all the afternoon -before,--all, all was disregarded, and Pope, impervious alike to reason -and to facts, without a reconnoissance save the spirited push of the -hundred Highlanders, gave the fatal order fraught with disaster to his -army, and the acme of his own fatuity and incompetence. - -But the officers charged with the execution of the order never attempted -to carry it out according to its terms. With the exception perhaps of -McDowell, they knew too well that it was an order impossible to execute. -Ricketts, already in contact with the hostile line, reported that the -enemy had no intention of retreating, and was ordered to hold his -position. Porter made no effort to "push up the Warrenton turnpike, -followed by the divisions of King and Reynolds." The pursuit feature of -the order was ignored by all, and instead of it a strong column of -attack was organized against Jackson's centre. This was composed of -Porter's troops and King's division, under Porter's command, and was -slowly formed behind the screen of woods in advance of the right centre -of the Union lines. Stevens's division, two brigades of Ricketts's -division, and Kearny held the lines on the right. In rear of Porter and -King, and in rear of the centre, were placed Hooker's, Reno's, and two -brigades of Ricketts's division, and all of Sigel's corps except -McLean's brigade, which held the left, south of the pike, in front of -the Chinn Hill. Reynolds with his small division extended the line on -McLean's left. Extending from Rosefield for a long distance toward the -right, on the crest of the ridge, was planted a long row of -artillery,--forty guns at least,--as near together as they could be -handled, while other batteries were in rear, unable to find a place in -the line. A few batteries occupied positions in advance of this ridge, -and exchanged incessant fire with the enemy's guns across the wide, open -ground. Thus Pope bunched nearly his whole army in the centre, leaving -his right weak, and his left wing a mere handful. - - [Illustration: SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN, SECOND DAY, AUGUST 30, 1862 - Positions at 4 P.M., and successive positions - on left] - -While Porter was slowly forming his column, his skirmishers pushed -forward over the open ground nearly to Groveton. Reynolds, too, advanced -his skirmishers on the left through the skirt of woods near Groveton, -south of the pike, and discovered the enemy's skirmishers extending far -to his left and rear, "evidently masking a column of the enemy formed -for attack on my left flank, when our line should be sufficiently -advanced." So important was this discovery deemed by Reynolds that he -galloped instantly to Pope and reported it. How the information was -received is graphically told by General Ruggles, Pope's chief of staff, -in a letter to General Porter, which the author is permitted to use:-- - - "At two P.M. or thereabouts, Reynolds came dashing up, his horse - covered with foam, threw himself out of the saddle, and said, - 'General Pope, the enemy is turning our left.' General Pope replied, - 'Oh, I guess not!' Reynolds rejoined, 'I have considered this - information of sufficient importance to run the gauntlet of three - rebel battalions to bring it to you in person. I had thought you - would believe _me_.' Thereupon General Pope turned to General John - Buford and said, 'General Buford, take your brigade of cavalry and - go out and see if the enemy _is_ turning our left flank.' Reynolds - then said, 'I go back to my command.'" - -How clearly this incident reveals the infatuated, dogged state of mind -that possessed Pope! - -It is after four P.M. when Porter gives the order to advance. The first -and third brigades of Morell's division in columns, under Butterfield, -are in front, Sykes's regulars are in support. King's division, under -Hatch, advances on the right of Butterfield in a column seven lines -deep, with intervals of fifty yards between the lines. Sweeping through -the woods, they come in sight of the railroad embankment and the wooded -hill beyond it. Instantly the whole side of the hill and edges of the -woods swarm with men before unseen. Says General Warren in his report: -"The effect was not unlike flushing a covey of quails." A terrific -musketry is poured upon the advancing column, while a storm of shell and -shrapnel smite its flank with most deadly fire from the batteries on the -ridge to the left front. With hearty cheers, the advancing troops -desperately charge the embankment and railroad cut on the right of it, -and when repulsed, charge again, and then cling to their ground and open -steady musketry. All in vain. Longstreet throws two more batteries -forward on the ridge, and fatally enfilades the struggling troops. -"Butterfield's troops are torn to pieces," says Sykes. In half an hour -all is over, the repulse is complete, and the shattered troops move -sullenly back, bearing out many wounded. In that short time they have -lost 700 men. - -General Stevens, having formed his divisions in three lines, each a -brigade, moves forward through the woods on the right of Porter's -column, and, without waiting for orders, attacks simultaneously with -him, at once becomes furiously engaged, and suffers heavy loss, -including Colonel Farnsworth, who is severely wounded. General Stevens -maintains this contest until Porter's column is repulsed, when he -withdraws his command to the first ridge in rear of the woods, posting -his lines just behind the crest, with skirmishers holding the edge of -the woods. - -Porter's attack, made nearly at the same point as Grover's, did not -penetrate the enemy's position so deeply. With only 2500 men, the latter -broke two lines and swept eighty yards beyond the embankment, while -Porter with 12,000 men did not carry the embankment. But how different -the conditions under which he attacked,--the enemy in stronger force, -better prepared, and Longstreet's terrible artillery tearing to pieces -the flank of the columns! And is not something due the _morale_ of his -troops, which was almost systematically broken by the blunders and -disasters of this unhappy campaign? With what confidence could King's -division be expected to charge, which, after marching all day Thursday, -sustained the fierce and stubborn fight near Groveton with Jackson's two -divisions, then moved away at midnight, abandoning their wounded and the -field they had so bravely won; then marching all the next day, with -occasional halts, until at dusk they were brought upon the field, and, -deceived with false hopes of success, were dashed against overpowering -masses of the enemy almost on the scene of their recent battle, and only -twelve hours after it, and were broken and driven back with disaster; -and the third day--Saturday--were exposed to shell fire for several -hours, while slowly taking place in the attacking column, knowing full -well that they were about to be hurled against the very centre and -strongest part of the enemy's position, from which every attack of the -previous day had been met with bloody repulse,--"Where even privates -realized," says Colonel Charles W. Roberts, commanding Morell's first -brigade, "that they were going into the jaws of death itself"? Clearly, -this was not such an attack as these troops would have made if in their -normal condition, and with any hopes of success. And their able -commander did not drive it home with the full weight and vigor of one -who, confident of success, puts in the last man and the last effort. -Sykes's division was not brought up to renew the charge upon the -railroad, for Porter, seeing that success was hopeless, wisely used it -to cover the falling back of Butterfield and Hatch. - -The enemy's reports bear abundant witness to the gallantry and severity -of Porter's charge, which shook Jackson so that even he called aloud for -assistance. In his report he says:-- - - "The Federal infantry, about four o'clock in the evening, moved from - under cover in the woods and advanced in several lines, first - engaging the right, but soon extending its attack to the centre and - left. In a few minutes our entire line was engaged in a fierce and - sanguinary struggle. As one line was repulsed, another took its - place and pressed forward, as if determined, by force of numbers and - fury of assault, to drive us from our positions. So impetuous and - well sustained were these onsets as to induce me to send to the - commanding general for reinforcements." - -Says Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, who commanded the second brigade of -Ewell's division:-- - - "Before the railroad cut, the fight was most obstinate. I saw a - Federal flag hold its position for half an hour within ten yards of - the flag of one of the regiments in the cut, and go down six or - eight times; and after the fight one hundred dead were lying within - twenty yards from the cut, some of them within two feet of it. The - men fought until their ammunition was exhausted, and then threw - stones. Lieutenant Lewis Randolph killed one with a stone, and I saw - him after the fight with his skull fractured." - -With Porter's repulse comes Lee's opportunity, the opening for which he -has so coolly waited the better part of two days. Longstreet, -anticipating the order to advance, throws forward his whole wing in one -of those overwhelming attacks for which he became famous. At first there -seems to be almost nothing to oppose the avalanche. Pope has just -ordered Reynolds's division to the right of the pike to aid in -protecting Porter's withdrawal, although more than half the army was -bunched together there in the centre, and Meade's and Seymour's brigades -and Ransom's battery have taken the new position. Colonel G.K. Warren, -of Sykes's division, without waiting for orders, seeing Hazlett's -battery, which was well advanced on the pike, uncovered by Reynolds's -movement, has just hurried his little brigade of two regiments, 5th and -10th New York, over to the left of the road to support the battery, when -the storm bursts upon him. Furiously assailed in front, masses of the -enemy come swarming through the woods on his left and rear, and it is -only by breaking to the rear that any escape capture. His loss is four -hundred and thirty-one, but the few minutes he holds back the enemy -saves the guns. Reynolds's remaining brigade, under Anderson, with three -batteries, in the act of moving to the right as ordered, is suddenly -assailed with fury and forced to turn and fight where it stands, and now -bears the brunt of the onslaught. Under cover of the woods, the enemy -has completely turned the flank of all the Union positions, as Reynolds -had told Pope only an hour before, and now strikes them with heavy -masses of infantry on both front and left. After a gallant resistance -Anderson is forced back, with the loss of four guns of Kerns's battery -and the caissons of Cooper's. McLean, who sees with amazement Reynolds's -division move away, leaving him to hold the hill alone, at once deploys -his brigade, facing westward, and receives the attack. He now changes -front to the left, and in a magnificent charge drives back the flanking -forces of the enemy, but has to offer his right in the movement to the -deadly enfilade fire from his former front, and he, too, bravely -struggling, is borne back over the Chinn Hill. Meantime the generals in -the centre are making frantic efforts to hurry troops over to the left. -General Zealous B. Tower, distinguished for his gallantry in the Mexican -war, one of the ablest officers of the army, leads the two reserve -brigades of Ricketts across the pike and up the Chinn Hill, where McLean -is being overborne; but, before he can reach a good position, his men -are falling by scores, he is stricken down with a severe -wound,--disabled for life and his career in the field closed,--and ere -long his brigades are driven back. Colonel Koltes, of Sigel's corps, -leading his brigade to the same position, is killed, and his troops, -too, are forced back. General Schenck, leading reinforcements to McLean, -is wounded. The enemy have driven the last defenders from the Chinn Hill -and plateau, and their exultant lines go sweeping on to complete the -victory. But Reynolds, with Meade's and Seymour's brigades, and Milroy -with his brigade, are now formed in line upon the slope of the Henry -Hill, along or near the Sudley road, and throw back the charging -Confederates with deadly fire, and soon Sykes's regulars, Buchanan's and -Chapman's brigades, and Weed's battery reinforce the hard-pressed and -struggling line, extending it farther to the left and rear. The enemy -cannot break it, but his fire fast thins its ranks, and his flanking -movement and deadly enfilade still continue. At last night is at hand, -and the fury of his attack abates. The defenders, spent with heavy loss -and the hard struggle, now fall back; but General Reno has just led his -second brigade and Graham's battery up the hill, and forms his three -regiments, 21st Massachusetts, 51st Pennsylvania, and 51st New York, -around its crest in a thin line facing both the Chinn Hill and the -woods on the left, with the guns in the intervals between the regiments. -In this position he repulses after dark two attacks of Wilcox's troops, -the last efforts of Longstreet's mighty onslaught. After nine o'clock, -after the fighting had ceased, he quietly retires from the hill and -marches to Centreville. - -In the centre Jackson's right followed up Porter's retreating troops -sharply; but the fire of the numerous guns searching all the open ground -there, and the firm attitude of our troops, kept them at bay. But when -the Chinn Hill was lost, and the enemy's fire from there smote the -troops of Sigel holding the centre near the pike, they were forced to -fall back to the ridge, where they took up a new position behind the -Sudley road. - -As soon as Longstreet's attack was well in progress, all the rebel guns -upon the high ridge were turned upon our right, for they dared not -continue firing upon the left and centre for fear of injuring their own -troops now swarming onward against the Union positions, and the -concentric fire of forty guns now pounded with a perfect hail of shot -and shell the Union troops and batteries on that wing. The men there lay -hugging the ground in rear of the guns, partially sheltered by the low -ridges, while the artillery fired with its utmost rapidity upon the -rebel lines of battle emerging over the distant ridge and advancing down -the slope until lost to view in the woods, or beneath the smoke which -now hung over the lower ground. They swept onward in splendid order, not -in one or two long lines, but regiment after regiment, separately, with -blood-red colors proudly borne aloft and pointed forward, like wave -after wave of ocean after a storm, rolling onward with resistless -majesty and power. From the great battery in our centre belched a mighty -and continuous roar and volume of thunder, and dense clouds of dusky, -sulphurous smoke rolled over the landscape in front; while beyond it, -on the left, but apparently beneath its folds, rose the incessant -clatter and crackle of musketry, with now and again the heavier, sharper -noise of great volleys, telling of the dreadful struggle raging there. -Surely there are no sights and sounds more terrible than those of a -great battle. - -When this scene of pandemonium was at its height, General Stevens -quietly remarked to General Ricketts, as they stood near one of our -batteries watching the fight on the left front: "If we can hold the -right here, the enemy must be repulsed, for General Pope has nearly all -his troops over there, and can certainly repel any attack on his left." - -Soon after this General Reno was standing with General Stevens near the -same point. The battery had ceased firing, for the enemy's infantry were -no longer visible. Suddenly a tall young fellow, in a Union sergeant's -uniform, came running up the slope from the woods two hundred yards in -front, and cried out, "Don't fire on that regiment; it is the 26th New -York. It has been in the woods, and is just coming out. Don't fire! -Don't fire!" All looked, and there, at the edge of the woods, was a line -of troops in blue uniforms just forming. General Reno turned to General -Stevens, as if in doubt; but Captain Stevens, knowing that the enemy's -skirmishers held the edge of the woods ever since ours were drawn in, -impulsively called out to the battery, "Fire! They are rebels! Fire!" -The guns instantly fired upon them, and as quickly they disappeared, -melted, into the woods. The sergeant, too, had disappeared, when we -turned to find him, having made good use of his long legs to rejoin his -companions when his bold ruse failed. - -A little later, when the great struggle on the left was still raging, a -mounted officer came galloping at high speed down to the line and -delivered an order from General Pope to retreat. "General Pope orders -the right wing to fall back at once. The enemy has turned the left, and -if it remains half an hour longer, it will be cut off and captured." -With this, back he raced, faster, if possible, than he came. Very -deliberately and quietly General Stevens gave the necessary orders, -cautioning his colonels against haste or flurry. One by one the guns -ceased firing, and were limbered up and taken to the rear. When the last -one had gone, the infantry rose to their feet, and marched back in usual -marching column. Out of the woods in front the enemy were swarming like -angry bees in clouds of skirmishers, and beginning to push up the slope. -By the time our troops had moved two hundred yards back from the little -ridge or roll of ground they had just left, the enemy came pouring over -it in considerable numbers. But General Stevens had thrown his two rear -regiments in line, and they opened with a well-aimed volley, which -instantly cleared the ridge of the pursuers. The regiments promptly -resumed the retreat, and four hundred yards farther back filed past two -more of General Stevens's regiments, which in like manner stood in line -ready to repel too hot a pursuit. At this moment General Kearny came -from the right at the head of a small force, apparently a regiment, -passing along the rear side of a point of woods which extended to near -where General Stevens's line stood. Just then the enemy began firing out -of this cover. Instantly Kearny fronted his scanty force into line and -dashed it into the woods; but quickly a sharp volley resounded in the -timber, and his men came running out, and continued to the rear, pursued -by the enemy's skirmishers in equal disorder. Upon these the waiting -line poured a deliberate volley, and back they went running into the -woods. The troops, after administering this sharp rebuff, filed off to -the rear unmolested, and moved over a prominent ridge a thousand yards -back, along the crest of which was drawn up in line a part of Ricketts's -division, apparently a brigade. It was now fast growing dark. General -Stevens, knowing that the pike would be crowded with retreating troops, -wished to cross Bull Run somewhere above the bridge, and sent for Major -Elliott, of the Highlanders, who was at the first battle of Bull Run, -and might know of some practicable ford. This proved to be the case; and -after some little delay the division, guided by Major Elliott, crossed -at Locke's or Red House Ford, and moved by a cross-road to the pike, -where, finding the main road jammed full of troops and artillery flowing -past in a dense column, General Stevens bivouacked till morning, when he -moved to Centreville. - -While the division was waiting on the ridge behind Ricketts's troops, -they opened with a sudden volley, as startling as unexpected, in the -darkness. The enemy, pursuing, were advancing up the hill when this -volley stopped them, and, falling back to the foot of the ridge, they -lay there all night. Ricketts's brigade immediately moved off to the -left by a farm road to a ford a short distance above the bridge, where -they crossed. Soon after these troops had filed away in the darkness, -General Stevens sent Lieutenant Heffron, one of his aides, to the crest -which they had just left, telling him to observe, try if he could see or -hear the enemy, and come back and report. After sufficient time had -elapsed for Heffron to have performed the duty, he sent Captain Stevens -on a similar errand, for his column was not quite ready to move; owing -to delay in finding out about the ford, and there was nothing between it -and the enemy. He, too, rode back to the crest, gazed into the darkness, -listened intently, without catching sight or sound, and started to ride -down the front of the ridge to make sure of the enemy's position, when -the reflection that Heffron had probably done that very thing and had -not returned caused him to turn back and rejoin his command, the rear of -which was just moving off. Heffron had ridden down the slope and into -the enemy's line at its foot, and was captured. - -At this time two brigades of Kearny's division, which, being more in -rear than Ricketts's, had moved back before him, were on or in front of -the ridge, only a musket-shot to the left of the enemy lying at its -foot, each force ignorant of the other's presence, and remained there -until ten P.M., when they retreated by the same route as Ricketts. Poe's -brigade, on the extreme right, fell back, and recrossed the run by the -same ford as General Stevens's division, and before it. Thus the troops -of the right wing made good their retreat in perfect order and without -loss, except that of some guns of Ricketts.[20] - -General Pope in his report, after claiming that he repulsed the enemy at -all points, states that he gave the order to withdraw to Centreville -after eight o'clock at night. No doubt he did give such an order at that -time, but he suppresses all mention of the orders he gave to retreat and -fall back long before that time, when he saw his left being turned and -overpowered, and, his presumptuous confidence knocked out of him, -thought more of saving part of his army than of repelling the enemy. And -then it was, about six P.M., that so many troops were hurried off the -field in retreat to Centreville, among them Nagle's brigade, of Reno's -division, two brigades of Hooker's, King's division, and some of Sigel's -troops in the centre, and the whole of the right wing; and then, too, it -was that he dispatched the order to General Banks at Bristoe Station to -destroy the public property and retreat to Centreville. At that time -the head of Franklin's corps of the Army of the Potomac was up to the -stone bridge on its march to reinforce Pope, and might have been used to -maintain his battle. But that commander already had more men on the -field than he was capable of using. Under the leadership of a Sheridan, -a Grant, a Meade, or a Thomas, his gallant army would never have -retreated from the field, and might have inflicted a deadly blow upon -its antagonist. How bravely and even desperately the Union troops fought -is best attested by the Confederate reports, and the nine thousand -Confederate losses in killed and wounded. The Union loss, including that -of the 28th, amounted to fourteen thousand. That at the end of the -battle there was disorder and demoralization among some commands it were -idle to deny, but it has been grossly exaggerated. - - NOTE.--General Pope's reports are very erroneous and misleading; the - histories of the battle, following his statements, scarce less so. - He and they habitually speak of corps when only brigades were - engaged, and give all his dispositions and movements an aspect of - forethought and order the reverse of the fact. It is only by careful - study of the reports of division, brigade, and regimental - commanders, and of the dispatches on the field, that the shifting - struggle can be traced out. _War Records_, vol. xii., Report and - Testimony in Review of Fitz-John Porter Case. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [20] The reports of Jackson and his subordinates indulge in much - exaggeration as to driving the Union forces in their front, but - Longstreet, with more truth, states in his book, p. 189, that - "Jackson failed to pull up even on the left." - - - - - CHAPTER LVII - - THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY - - -Having safely withdrawn his division from the disastrous field, crossing -Bull Run by Red House Ford, General Stevens conducted it to the main -turnpike, now brimful with retreating troops. It was night, too, and -quite dark. Unwilling to plunge his command into the crowded throng, he -halted and allowed them to sleep on their arms by the roadside, while -the dense, dark tide of troops, trains, and artillery flowed past all -night. After daylight he resumed the march by the pike, now clear, and -halted for breakfast in the fields a mile from Centreville. The men were -ravenously hungry, having long since emptied their haversacks; the -supply trains were in the rear, no one knew where, so that a drink of -water and a tightened belt seemed destined to be the only breakfast. But -General Stevens, having observed a small herd of cattle near by -belonging to some commissary, had them driven up and slaughtered; some -wagons loaded with hard bread were also seized, and soon the entire -command were cooking and enjoying a hearty repast of beefsteak and hard -tack. - -General Stevens now received orders from General Pope to act as -rear-guard. Reno's division (that officer being ill and off duty), a -brigade of cavalry, and two batteries were added to his command for that -duty, the most important and responsible in the army at this juncture. -He moved out and took position on Cub Run, two and a half miles in front -of Centreville, throwing out a strong skirmish line beyond the creek, -and disposing his batteries and troops to resist an attack. Contrary to -expectation, the enemy did not press on after his victory, although he -appeared in force, advanced his skirmish line in plain view, and opened -briskly with his artillery, to which ours as briskly replied. The day -was wet, drizzling, and dreary, but at last wore away with nothing more -serious. - -At night General Reynolds and his division relieved General Stevens. He -criticised some of the latter's dispositions, which called out a sharp -rejoinder. He declared that the enemy's skirmishers were too close, and -deployed a regiment to drive them back, but his men, to his intense -chagrin, hung back. Then he said the enemy might attack at any moment. -But General Stevens did not share his apprehensions, and remarked to -him, "I think it most probable that the enemy will move around and -strike us under the ribs." - -After being relieved, the division moved to Centreville, and bivouacked -on the heights half a mile south of the hamlet. The following morning, -Monday, September 1, the officers straightened out their commands and -took account of their losses; rations and ammunition were brought up and -issued; and all hoped for at least one day of much needed rest. Captain -Stevens, by direction of the general, counted the stacks of muskets, and -found the latter to number 2012. Half of the division had fallen in -battle, or on the march, since leaving Fredericksburg a fortnight -before. - -Lieutenant S.N. Benjamin, a very brave and intelligent young officer, -whom General Stevens treated with great kindness and consideration -during the campaign, relates that about noon the general came to his -battery,-- - - "and came where I was sitting. (My crutches had been broken, and I - could not rise without help.) I soon saw that he felt very - blue,--that he felt the defeat very keenly, and feared its effect on - the men. I tried to assure him that his own command felt more - devoted to him than ever, and if possible more faith in his skill - than before. And this was God's truth,--_they did_, and he had - earned it. - - "Still he felt very blue. I asked him if he would write to his wife. - 'Yes; but there is no way to send a letter in. I am anxious to send - word.' 'Well, general, you write, and I will send it by some - Christian or Sanitary man. We have just sent letters, and I will - have a man watch the turnpike until some one will take it.' - - "He seemed much pleased with this. I brought him the envelope, etc., - and he wrote on a book, sitting on the ground. Before he had - finished, the order came to move. He closed it hastily, after giving - some orders, gave it to me, and went to his headquarters. The letter - was given to a gentleman going to Washington with a wounded man." - -It was General Stevens's last letter. - -While the beaten and distracted Union commander was trying to straighten -out his forces huddled about Centreville, uncertain whether to risk -further conflict or to fall back to the defenses of Washington, Lee was -moving his whole army in one column, to fall upon his enemy's line of -retreat and rear. The very day after the battle he advanced Jackson's -wing across Bull Run by Sudley Ford to the Little River turnpike, which -runs straight to Fairfax Court House, and there intersects the -Alexandria and Warrenton pike, eight miles behind Centreville. On this -Monday morning Jackson was marching down the turnpike with Longstreet -and his whole wing following closely in support, thus turning the Union -army at Centreville, and moving to fall upon its only line of retreat; -"to strike it under the ribs," as General Stevens so clearly foresaw. -Pope had taken no steps to anticipate or guard against this fatal flank -movement. He was groping in the dark, utterly at a loss what course to -pursue, and consequently he did nothing until noon, when startling news -forced him to decision and to action. - - [Illustration: Jackson's Flank March to turn Centreville.] - -Such was the situation,--the bulk of the Union forces grouped about -Centreville with their distraught commander, the victorious rebel army, -in one strong column, Jackson at its head, turning their flank and -striking far in their rear,--when, at one P.M., two cavalrymen dashed up -to General Stevens's headquarters. They bore orders to him from General -Pope to march immediately across country, guided by the two troopers, to -the Little River pike, and there take position and hold in check a -column of the enemy reported advancing down that road. - -General Stevens soon had his division under arms, moved across the -fields, and entered the Alexandria pike a short distance east of -Centreville. Here Ferrero's brigade of Reno's division, the other -brigade after its heavy loss on the 29th not being again called upon, -fell in behind and followed. The scanty column moved down the road a -mile and a half, then turned off to the left, and followed a farm road -in a northeasterly direction between the two pikes. As General Stevens -and staff were riding at the head of the column the cavalrymen told how -they had been out foraging that morning to the Little River pike, and -had run into a heavy column of the enemy advancing down it, and had made -all haste to gallop to Pope's headquarters with the news. Thence they -were at once dispatched to General Stevens with the orders already -related, and directed to guide his column to the endangered road. - -This startling news brought him about noon by these cavalrymen was -unquestionably the first intelligence that Pope received of Lee's -thrust. His own orders prove this, for he not only immediately -dispatched General Stevens to seize and hold the Little River pike, but -detached Hooker from his division and sent him to Germantown, a point -just in front of Fairfax Court House, where the two pikes meet, to take -charge of some troops there and post them to resist the threatening -movement, ordered McDowell-- - - "immediately to march rapidly back to Fairfax Court House with your - whole division (corps) and assume command of the two brigades there, - and occupy Germantown with your whole force, so as to cover the - turnpike from this place to Alexandria. Jackson is reported - advancing on Fairfax with 20,000 men,"-- - -and soon afterwards hurried Heintzelman's two divisions down the pike -toward Fairfax. And it was while thus moving that General Kearny -received General Stevens's urgent summons, and opportunely hastened to -the stricken field, as will soon be related. - -After proceeding across country several miles in rather a winding or -crooked course, the column was marching over an elevated tract of open -country, which sloped down in front to a marshy hollow clothed with -small growth, and partially timbered. Beyond the hollow, open fields -appeared again, and beyond them dense pine woods. To the rear the high -ground extended to the main turnpike, half a mile distant, down which -were seen the white covers of the crowded wagons moving in retreat. - -At this moment the little cavalcade at the head of the column was -suddenly surprised by the sight of a rebel skirmish line deployed across -the fields in front and cautiously advancing toward it, and the more -because the Little River pike, as the cavalrymen said, was still some -distance away. The skirmishers were already across the hollow and close -at hand when first seen. - -At the first glance General Stevens realized what that rebel skirmish -line portended. It portended an attack in force upon the turnpike, the -only line of retreat. Full well he knew that the movement must be -arrested, or the line of retreat would be broken, the army cut in two -while widely extended along the road, and a great disaster inflicted. -Instantly he threw forward two companies of the Highlanders, under -Captains W.T. Lusk and Robert Ives, to drive back the enemy's advance -and uncover his movement. Deploying in skirmish order, they ran forward, -exchanging a sharp fire with the opposing line and driving it back, -crossed the hollow, surmounted a graded railroad embankment which -traversed it, and pushed on after the rebel skirmishers into the farther -fields. The embankment was the grade of the same Manassas Gap Railroad -over which, beyond Bull Run, Jackson made his fierce fight. - - [Illustration: BATTLE OF CHANTILLY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1862] - -Captain Stevens, directing the skirmishers, had just ridden on top of -the embankment, when a rebel soldier half way across the field in front, -who was helping off a wounded comrade, withdrew his arm from his -comrade's support, deliberately aimed at the mounted officer, and -fired, and the bullet passed through his hat, inflicting a sharp rap -upon his head. Twenty muskets were instantly fired at the bold rebel in -return, but without effect, and coolly and deliberately he shifted his -piece to his left hand, replaced his right arm around his comrade's -waist, and helped him slowly off in safety. - -While the Highlanders were thus pushing back the enemy, General Stevens, -without halting or retarding the march of his troops an instant, was -forming them as fast as they came up in a column of brigades on the -hither side of the fields beyond the hollow. While thus forming, a -regiment of the enemy advanced in line of battle from the woods more -than half way across the fields, and the Union skirmishers fell back -before it. But Benjamin's guns, having just taken position on the right -of the forming column, opened upon the regiment, and it immediately fell -back and disappeared in the woods. Lusk's company now rejoined its -regiment, but Ives's fell back to the railroad grade, and remained there -during the battle. - -The column was formed in the edge of quite a large open tract, the -farther side of which was closed by the woods. Woods also extended on -the right side all along the open ground. Near the centre of the open -tract, and to the left and front of the column, was a farmhouse, with -outbuildings and orchard, and just beyond it a large field of tall, -waving corn extended to the woods in front, and to woods on the left. -The estate was known as Fruitvale, and belonged to the family of Reid, -but was occupied at this time by a family named Heath. - -A road coming from the main turnpike in rear ran in a northerly course -past the right of the forming column, extended along the right edge of -the open ground, traversed the farther woods, and crossed the Little -River pike at right angles. This has been known since colonial days as -the Ox Road, and the eminence over which it runs, just north of the -crossing, is Ox Hill, from which the Confederates have named the coming -engagement the battle of Ox Hill. In Union reports and histories it is -known as the battle of Chantilly, from the hamlet of that name six miles -westward on the Little River pike. - -The column was soon formed in the following order:-- - - 28th Mass., 79th Highlanders, Col. David Morrison. - 50th Penn., 8th Michigan, Col. Benjamin C. Christ. - 100th Penn., 46th New York, Lieut.-Col. David A. Lecky. - -The formation was nearly completed when General Reno appeared. He had -been sick and off duty the day before. The conference between him and -General Stevens was brief. The latter pointed out the supposed position -of the enemy, in a few strong words showed the necessity of hurling back -his threatened advance, and declared his intention of attack as soon as -his column was formed. General Reno seemed undecided and hesitating. He -seemed not to approve the movement, but he certainly did not disapprove -it in words, nor did he give any orders, nor take command in any way, -and soon turned and rode back. - -General Stevens now dismounted, and directed his staff to dismount, and -sent one of them to each of the leading regiments, with orders to go -forward with it and make every exertion to force the charge home. He -sent Captain Stevens to the Highlanders, and Lieutenant Dearborn, his -aide, to the 28th Massachusetts. - -The column now advanced, Benjamin's guns firing shells into the woods in -front. It descended a long, gentle slope, crossed a slight hollow, and -swept steadily up the easy ascent in three firm, regular lines with the -fixed bayonets glistening above them. Not a sight nor sound betrayed the -presence of the enemy. There was nothing to be seen but the open field, -extending two hundred yards in front and closed by the wall of woods, -with an old zigzag rail fence at its edge. "There is no enemy there," -exclaimed Captain Lusk to Captain Stevens, as they were marching side by -side; "they have fallen back; we shall find nothing there." - -Even as he spoke, the enemy poured a terrific volley from behind the -rail fence. Captain Stevens struck the ground with great force and -suddenness, shot in the arm and hip, and as he struggled to his feet saw -the even battle line of the Highlanders pressing firmly and steadily on. -A few minutes later General Stevens came up on foot, stopped a moment to -ask his son if he was badly hurt, and to order a soldier to help him off -the field, and, unheeding his remonstrances, moved on after the first -line. - -The enemy was smiting the column with a terrible and deadly musketry. -The men were falling fast. General Stevens now ordered Captain Lusk to -hasten to the 50th Pennsylvania, which was hesitating at entering the -cornfield, and to push them forward, for, as the column advanced, the -left struck and extended into this cornfield. - -The troops, under the withering hail of bullets, were now wavering and -almost at a standstill. Five color-bearers of the Highlanders had fallen -in succession, and the colors again fell to the ground. At this crisis -General Stevens pushed to the front, seized the falling colors from the -hands of the wounded bearer, unheeding his cry, "For God's sake, don't -take the colors, general; they'll shoot you if you do!" and calling -aloud upon his old regiment, "Highlanders, my Highlanders, follow your -general!" rushed forward with the uplifted flag. The regiment responded -nobly. They rushed forward, reached the edge of the woods, hurled -themselves with fury upon the fence and the rebel line behind it, and -the enemy broke and fled in disorder. The 28th Massachusetts joined -gallantly in the charge, and the other brigades as gallantly supported -the first. At this moment a sudden and severe thunderstorm, with a -furious gale, burst over the field and the rain fell in torrents, while -the flash of lightning and peals of thunder seemed to rebuke man's -bloody, fratricidal strife. - -General Stevens fell dead in the moment of victory. A bullet entered at -the temple and pierced his brain. He still firmly grasped the flagstaff, -and the colors lay fallen upon his head and shoulders. His noble, brave, -and ardent spirit, freed at last from the petty jealousies of earth, had -flown to its Creator. - - - - - CHAPTER LVIII - - THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY - - -The enemy's troops thus struck and hurled back were Ewell's division of -Jackson's corps. Hays's and Trimble's brigades were behind the fence, -and were supported by Early's and Lawton's brigades in the woods in -their rear. This was the centre division in Jackson's column. The -leading one, under Starke, had already crossed the Ox Road, and the rear -division, under A.P. Hill, was closed up on Ewell's. - -Jackson, judging from the fury of the attack and the numbers of his men -running in disorder out of the woods that he was assailed by a heavy -force, and fearing for his artillery, which had taken position on Ox -Hill, on the north side of the pike, when Ewell's division advanced into -the woods on the south side, at once moved his batteries half a mile -back up the pike to a long ridge, and planted them in position to rally -his troops upon in case of need, while at the same time he hurried -Hill's infantry division forward to maintain the battle. That officer -advanced the brigades of Branch and Brockenbrough (Field's), and -successively threw into the fight those of Gregg, Pander, Thomas, and -Archer, all of which, except the last, became heavily engaged and -suffered severely. General Stevens's division withstood the attack of -these fresh troops stoutly. It had driven back everything in its -immediate front, but the contest now raged over the cornfield on the -left. It was impossible for its scanty numbers long to resist the -pressure of Hill's brigades, successively rushing into the conflict. - -But aid was at hand. - -At the moment of ordering the fatal charge, General Stevens sent -Lieutenant H.G. Belcher, of the 8th Michigan, back to the main turnpike -with instructions to ask support, and to go from commander to commander -until he secured it. Belcher applied to several generals, who declined -to go without orders, until finally he met General Kearny. Scarcely had -he made known his mission to him, and its urgency was startlingly -emphasized by the rapid and fierce musketry of the battle, when Kearny -exclaimed, "By God, I will support Stevens anywhere!" and at once broke -the head of his column off the pike, and struck across the fields to the -sound of the battle. - -It was Birney's brigade that Kearny so promptly brought to the rescue. -They arrived just in time. The 4th Maine, Colonel Elijah Walker, formed -line in rear of the cornfield, considerably to the left of the -farmhouse, and opened on the enemy swarming in the farther edge of the -field. The remaining regiments as they came up, the 101st New York, 3d -Maine, 4th New York, and 1st New York, extended the line to the right as -far as the house, or the right border of the cornfield, and, as General -Birney reports, "held the enemy and sustained unflinchingly the most -murderous fire from a superior force." From this position they made a -gallant advance well into the cornfield, driving back the enemy to the -woods, and then withdrew to their former ground. Captain George E. -Randolph planted his battery of four guns immediately in rear of the -line, and fired over it into the farther side of the cornfield and into -the woods. The 18th New York and 57th Pennsylvania were put in later, -and helped sustain the contest. - -General Stevens's troops maintained their unequal battle until after -Birney's line opened. Jackson reports, "So severe was the fire in front -and flank of Branch's brigade as to produce in it some disorder and -falling back," and other Confederate officers mention the severe flank -fire, showing conclusively that both Stevens's and Birney's smote this -brigade, one in flank, the other in front, under which double fire it -was broken and driven back. "This engagement is regarded by this brigade -as one of our severest," says its commander in his report. After holding -their ground for an hour in the unequal contest, and expending all their -ammunition, General Stevens's troops fell back to the Reid house from -the position they had so gallantly won. The enemy did not advance into -the open ground on the right of the cornfield, and Birney's fight was -continued over it until night ended the contest. - -Ferrero's brigade, of only three regiments, reached the field -immediately after Stevens's division, and was ordered by General Reno to -cover his right. The 51st New York, the leading regiment, moved forward -into the woods some distance on the right of Stevens's column until it -encountered the line of Starke's division, became somewhat engaged, and -retired with a loss of thirteen. The next regiment, the 21st -Massachusetts, was not to escape so easily. Thrown forward on the left -of the 51st New York, and disconnected from it, it advanced for a long -distance in the woods, somewhat disordered by fallen trees, struck the -enemy's line, and unexpectedly received a deadly volley, and nearly one -hundred brave fellows, dead and wounded, lay prostrate at the blow. The -gallant regiment returned the fire as well as it could, but in the -drenching rain many guns became unserviceable, and it fell back from the -woods, the enemy not pursuing. The third regiment, the 51st -Pennsylvania, entered the woods on the right of the 51st New York, but -were not engaged. - -Meantime Starke withdrew his whole division from the woods back to the -Little River pike, and moved to the rear. Whether his line, struck by an -unaccountable panic, fell into disorder, or whether Jackson drew back -the troops for the support of Hill, all of whose brigades were then -going into the fight, is uncertain, but probably the latter. Early moved -to the left and covered the front vacated by Starke, but with a -contracted line, while Trimble's and Lawton's brigades were content to -hold their ground in the woods considerably to the rear of the fence -from which Hays and Trimble had been so roughly driven. - -Longstreet deployed Toombs's and Anderson's brigades of his leading -division (Jones's), and advanced them into the woods in support of -Jackson's troops, but they were not called upon, as night soon closed -the contest. - - "As I rode up and met General Jackson," says Longstreet in his - "Manassas to Appomattox," "I remarked upon the number of his men - going to the rear. - - "'General, your men don't appear to work well to-day?' - - "'No,' he replied, 'but I hope it will prove a victory in the - morning.'" - -As the stricken 21st Massachusetts emerged from the woods, near where -General Stevens formed his column, it was met by General Kearny, who was -searching for troops to cover the right flank of Birney's line. - - "In fierce haste," says General C.F. Walcott, the historian of the - regiment, in a paper on this battle before the Massachusetts - Military Historical Society, "he ordered the regiment to move on the - run to take post on Birney's right, the position of whose line was - indicated only by the flashes of their muskets. Luckily two of our - companies, which had been detached in the woods to cover our flanks, - had escaped the ambuscade into which the others had fallen, and now - joined us with serviceable guns, and the regiment, about two hundred - strong, moved across the open ground towards the cornfield and the - front of Birney's right, deploying a thin skirmish line to cover - our right and front as we advanced. - - "As our skirmishers came up to the rail fence of the cornfield they - were fired on by Thomas's skirmishers, whose brigade, with two of - Pender's regiments, was in the cornfield, and coming from the woods - well on Birney's right. Crossing the line of the fence we soon - halted in the corn, under a dropping fire from the enemy. General - Kearny was following us up closely, and as we came to a halt - fiercely tried to force us forward, saying that we were firing on - our own men, and that there were no rebels near us. We had the proof - in two prisoners--an officer and private of a Georgia - regiment--brought in by our skirmishers, besides the warning cries - of 'Surrender,' coming both from our right and front; but, - unfortunately, Kearny's judgment seemed unable to appreciate the - existence of the peril which his military instinct had caused him to - guard against. Lieutenant Walcott, of the brigade staff, took our - prisoners to him, saying, 'General, if you don't believe there are - rebels in the corn, here are two prisoners from the 49th Georgia, - just taken in our front.' Crying out fiercely, '---- ---- you and - your prisoners!' the general, entirely alone, apparently in - ungovernable rage at our disregard of his peremptory orders to - advance, forced his horse through the deep, sticky mud of the - cornfield past the left of the regiment, passing within a few feet - of where I was standing. I watched him moving in the murky twilight - through the corn, and, when less than twenty yards away, saw his - horse suddenly rear and turn, and half a dozen muskets flash around - him: so died the intrepid soldier, General Philip Kearny! - - "Diverted by our movement from their design upon Birney's brigade, - the enemy surged up against our front and right flank, took what - fire we could give them at a few paces distance (which they returned - with interest), and in the dark, ignorant of our weakness, allowed - us to withdraw from their front without pursuit, and in a few - minutes also drew back themselves from the cornfield to the woods - behind it. Except a few scattering shots on Birney's front, which - soon ceased, the battle of Chantilly was now over." - -Supposing from the non-return of General Kearny that he had fallen or -been captured, General Birney assumed command of his division, and after -the battle was over relieved his hard-fought troops with General Poe's -brigade. Robinson's brigade was posted during the battle on the high -ground near the main turnpike, and was not engaged. The Union troops -held the ground upon which they fought until half past two in the -morning, brought off their wounded, and then retreated to Fairfax Court -House after the last of the troops from Centreville had passed. - -Only sixteen Union regiments, viz., six of Stevens's division, three of -Ferrero's brigade, and seven of Birney's brigade, with six guns, -Benjamin's two 20-pounder rifles, and Randolph's four 12-pounders, -fought this battle against Jackson's whole corps of seventy regiments, -of which at least forty-eight were in the fight. The Union force -numbered 5500 effective, the Confederate at least twice as many. - -In this brief and fierce battle the losses on each side were from 800 to -1000. The following statement is made up from Confederate official -reports and, on the Union side, from regimental histories, for there are -no official reports of Union losses, except four in Poe's brigade, and -from estimates based on all available data, but undoubtedly falls short -of the actual losses. - -How exactly General Stevens grasped the military situation when he -caught sight of the rebel skirmish line, and instantly decided to stay -Jackson's impending advance by an attack that would throw even him on -the defensive, is clearly shown by the Confederate leader's objective, -and the dispositions he had made of his troops to accomplish it. - -Jackson had moved down the pike from Chantilly slowly and carefully, to -give time for Longstreet to close up in support. His troops were well -in hand, the infantry of one division, and probably of all three, -marching in two columns, one on each side of the road, and the artillery -on the road between them. Already he had thrown this solid column, -prepared for battle rather than for the march, athwart the Ox Road, -which led straight across to the coveted line of retreat. Already his -skirmishers, supported by a regiment, had pushed southward half a mile, -and were advancing across country to the other pike, and in another half -mile--in ten minutes more--would come in plain sight of the wagons -moving back upon it. His whole corps was in position,--Ewell's division -(under Lawton) in the centre, Starke on the left, Hill on the right. It -lay wholly in Jackson's will and power, advancing but little over a -mile, to hurl this mighty mass, seventy regiments strong, upon Pope's -only road and his retreating troops and trains. Who that knows Jackson's -career can doubt his will and power to seize the golden opportunity? - -At the very instant of launching the thunderbolt, Jackson learns that -the enemy is advancing upon him, his skirmishers are driven in, his -centre division is hurled headlong from its position, the fugitives pour -out of the woods, he hurries his artillery to the rear, is forced to -throw the whole of his right division into the fight, brigade after -brigade, and to withdraw his left division for his last reserve. The -possibility of striking his enemy is gone. He can only say, "I hope it -will prove a victory to-morrow." - -And the troops that General Stevens led to this desperate and victorious -charge were the same who, but ten weeks since, suffered the slaughter on -James Island, and had just lost half of their number in the bloody -encounters on the plains of Bull Run. Can more be said for the gallantry -and devotion of the soldiers, or the hold upon them of their heroic -leader? - -Had General Stevens remained on the defensive and given time--and time -counted by minutes--for Jackson to advance, disaster were inevitable. -How long could his scanty force of nine regiments, outflanked and -overborne, have resisted the avalanche? True, Kearny was on the pike, -and perhaps others would have joined in the defense, but where was the -army or corps commander to put them in, and order and control battle -against Jackson's onslaught, backed by Longstreet? Pope was at -Centreville; Sumner, with his second corps, north of it; Sigel's, -McDowell's, Franklin's troops scattered from Fairfax to Alexandria and -Washington; Banks retreating down Braddock road,--all scattered and out -of reach. The closest study of the situation strengthens the conviction -that General Stevens that day saved the army and the country from an -appalling disaster. - -General McDowell, hurrying to Fairfax Court House as directed by General -Pope, met Patrick's brigade near that point and posted it behind -Difficult Run, just in front of Germantown,[21] where it was supported -by Ricketts's division. General Stuart, who with his cavalry preceded -Jackson's column down the pike, after passing the Ox Road some two miles -found his advance arrested by these troops, and, after some skirmishing, -moved off northward toward Flint Hill in a fruitless effort to flank the -Union line. Patrick's brigade lost twenty wounded. Neither force took -any part in the battle of Chantilly. - -UNION LOSSES. - - Stevens's division: Staff 2 - First brigade: {100th Pennsylvania 36 - Colonel Daniel Leasure {46th New York 50[A] - Second brigade: {79th Highlanders 40 - Colonel David Morrison {28th Massachusetts 99 - Third brigade: {8th Michigan (7 killed) 50[A] - Colonel B.C. Christ {50th Pennsylvania (7 killed) 50[A] - --- - 327 - - Reno's division: - Ferrero's brigade 21st Massachusetts 130 - 51st New York 13 - 51st Pennsylvania (none) - --- - 143 - - Kearny's division: Staff 1 - Birney's brigade 3d Maine 50 - 4th Maine 64 - 40th New York 163 - 1st New York 40[A] - 38th New York 25[A] - 101st New York 40[A] - 57th Pennsylvania 25[A] - Poe's brigade: Pickets 4 - --- - Total: 16 regiments 412 - --- - 882 - -[A] Estimated. No report in war records or histories. - -CONFEDERATE LOSSES. - - Jackson's corps: - Stark's division 20 regiments 71[B] - Ewell's division: - Lawton's brigade 6 regiments 12 - Early's brigade 7 regiments 32 - Trimble's brigade 5 regiments 21 - Hays's brigade 5 regiments 135 - -- --- - 43 200 - - Hill's division: - Branch's brigade 5 regiments 108 - Pender's brigade 4 regiments 58 - Gregg's brigade 5 regiments 104 - Archer's brigade 5 regiments (not engaged) - Field's (or Brockenbrough's) 4 regiments (no report) 75[B] - Thomas's brigade 4 regiments (loss not reported) 75[B] - -- --- - 27 420 - - Longstreet's corps: - Jones's division 1 - - Total: 70 regiments--48 in action 692 - -[B] Estimated. General Hill reports his loss as 306. It is impossible to -reconcile these small losses with the Confederate reports of the -severity of the fighting. - - NOTE.--The Confederate reports of the battle of Chantilly, or Ox - Hill, show with tolerable clearness their troops engaged, and the - positions and parts taken by them. Early's report definitely locates - Hays's and Trimble's brigades "in line of battle on the right of - Jackson's division, and occupying positions in the edge of a field - beyond a piece of woods through which the Ox Road here runs." This - is unmistakably the very position from which General Stevens's - charge drove the enemy. The loss in Hays's brigade (135) was greater - than that of any other. Early acknowledges that Hays's brigade "fell - back in confusion, passing through these regiments (second line), - followed by the enemy;" that the commander of Trimble's brigade was - killed, and one or two regiments of it were thrown into some - confusion. There are no reports from any officer of Jackson's - (Starke's) division, except the bare mention by one brigade - commander that they met the enemy at Ox Hill, September 1, and - repulsed him; none from Hays's, Trimble's, or Lawton's brigades of - Ewell's division; and none from Field's (Brockenbrough's) brigade of - Hill's division. General Longstreet, in his book _Manassas to - Appomattox_, pp. 193-195, says of this battle: "Two of Hill's - brigades were thrown out to find the enemy, and were soon met by his - advance in search of Jackson, which made a furious attack, driving - back the Confederate brigades in some disorder. Stevens, - appreciating the crisis as momentous, thought it necessary to follow - the opportunity by aggressive battle in order to hold Jackson away - from the Warrenton turnpike. Kearny, always ready to second any - courageous move, joined in the daring battle. At the critical moment - the rain and thunder storm burst with great violence upon the - combatants, the high wind beating the storm in the faces of the - Confederates. So firm was the unexpected battle that part of - Jackson's line yielded to the onslaught. At one moment his artillery - seemed in danger.... As I rode up and met General Jackson, I - remarked upon the number of his men going to the rear:-- - - "'General, your men don't appear to work well to-day.' - - "'No,' he replied, 'but I hope it will prove a victory in the - morning.' - - "As both Federal division commanders fell, the accounts fail to do - justice to their fight. Stevens, in his short career, gave evidence - of courage, judgment, skill, and genius not far below his - illustrious antagonist." - - Immediately after the close of the Civil War, in June, 1865, the - author visited the battlefield of Chantilly. The ground and its - incidents agreed precisely with his recollections. The remains of - the fence at the edge of the woods from which General Stevens hurled - the enemy were plainly visible, many of the rails as well as the - trees showing marks of bullets. From a point near the corner of the - cornfield, extending nearly perpendicularly into the woods for fifty - yards, and facing to the left, were the vestiges of a hastily thrown - up breastwork, or cover, of earth, rails, logs, and branches, which - the Union troops had scraped together after driving back the enemy - in order to meet the attack of Hill's troops on their left. - - In May, 1883, the author, accompanied by the late General Charles F. - Walcott, again visited the field, and by the hospitality of - Lieutenant John N. Ballard, the present owner of the estate, himself - a Confederate soldier, spent the night at the Reid house. Mr. - Ballard exhibited a plan of the estate, made in 1858, accompanying a - former deed, which comprised almost exactly the battlefield, and - kindly permitted a tracing of it to be made. The distance between - the fence where General Stevens fell and the Little River pike was - found by pacing to be about four hundred yards. By this data a - fairly accurate map of the battlefield was obtained. Mr. Charles - Stewart, a very intelligent gentleman, whose house is on the Little - River pike half a mile west of the field, who was at home at the - time of the battle and an eye-witness of the movements of the - Confederate troops, and who went over the field the third day after - the engagement, pointed out to the visitors the localities of - interest in connection with the fight near his house, and - graphically narrated how Jackson hurried his artillery to the rear - at the opening of the battle, and threw it into position half a mile - back on a bare, commanding ridge near the Stewart house. This - account was fully corroborated by Mr. Ballard. A full and - interesting account of this visit, and also an account of the - battle, by General Walcott, is given in volume ii., Military - Historical Society of Massachusetts. - - The author has been aided in preparing his account of the battle by - written statements from Colonel David Morrison, Captain William T. - Lusk, and Captain Robert Armour, of the 79th Highlanders; Lieutenant - Samuel N. Benjamin and Captain George E. Randolph, who commanded the - two batteries engaged; Colonel Elijah Walker, of the 4th Maine, and - Colonel Moses B. Lakeman, of the 3d Maine; and by personal - interviews with these officers and many others, including Lieutenant - H.G. Belcher, who participated in the engagement. - - _War Records_, series 1, vol. xii., "History of 79th Highlanders," - by William Todd; _The One Hundredth Regiment Pennsylvania - Volunteers, Roundheads_; James C. Stevenson, _Michigan in the War_, - _Maine in the War_; Bates's _History of Pennsylvania Volunteers_. - - The only reports of the battle of Chantilly by Union officers who - took part in it are those of General Birney and Captain Randolph, - and they are very brief. There are actually no reports from any - officers of General Stevens's or General Reno's division, owing to - the death of the commanders--Reno fell at South Mountain a few days - later--and the rapid changes in, and movements of, the troops in the - Maryland campaign, which immediately followed. - -FOOTNOTES: - - [21] Statement of Colonel Charles McClure, of Patrick's staff. - - - - - CHAPTER LIX - - FINAL SCENE - - -After the successful charge Colonel Morrison sent an officer to report -that General Stevens had fallen, and that the enemy had been driven -back. General Reno, to whom the report was made, returned orders to bury -General Stevens on the field, and to fall back. The Highlanders -reverently and tenderly bore away the body of their beloved commander -and placed it in an ambulance, from which one of their number, although -wounded, willingly alighted to give room. The remains were taken to -Washington to the house of his dear friend, John L. Hayes, and thence to -Newport, R.I. - -General Reno's apparently unfeeling order excited great indignation -among the Highlanders. - -At the very moment of his heroic death General Stevens was being -considered by the President and his advisers as commander of the armies -in Virginia. Mr. Hayes was assured of the fact by a member of the -cabinet, and it was currently stated in the press. Certain it is that -ignoble personal rivalries and jealousies could not have kept him down -much longer. - -He was appointed and confirmed a major-general, to rank from July 4, -1862. - -He was only forty-four years, five months, and seven days of age when he -fell. - -The stern old Puritan Abolitionist, his aged father, died August 22, -only ten days previous. He frequently declared that he should never see -Isaac again, that he knew his spirit too well, that he would surely be -killed in battle, and it was thought that brooding over this idea -hastened his own death. - -General Stevens was buried in the Island Cemetery in Newport. The -obsequies were attended by Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, and -Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, Professor Bache and officers of the -Coast Survey, the mayor and council of Newport and other dignitaries, -and a large military escort. The city of Newport erected beside his -grave a massive granite obelisk, bearing the following simple and -appropriate inscription, composed by his brother-in-law, the Rev. -Charles T. Brooks: - - IN MEMORY OF - MAJOR-GENERAL ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS, - BORN IN ANDOVER, MASS., - MARCH 25, 1818, - WHO GAVE TO THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY - A QUICK AND COMPREHENSIVE MIND, - A WARM AND GENEROUS HEART, - A FIRM WILL AND A STRONG ARM, - AND WHO FELL WHILE RALLYING HIS COMMAND - WITH THE FLAG OF THE REPUBLIC IN HIS DYING GRASP, - AT THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY, VA., - SEPTEMBER 1, 1862. - - THIS MONUMENT - IS ERECTED AS A TOKEN OF - ADMIRING GRATITUDE - BY THE - CITY OF NEWPORT. - -When the Highlanders were mustered out of service, the flag under whose -folds General Stevens fell was sent to his widow, with the following -letter from the brave Colonel Morrison:-- - - NEW YORK, September 22, 1864. - - Mrs. ISAAC I. STEVENS. - - _Dear Madam_,--I have the honor to transmit to you the colors of the - 79th Highlanders, the same that were in the hand of your late - lamented husband when he received his wound. Since I knew that you - wished to have them in your possession I have watched them with a - jealous eye through many stormy fields. Although but a rag, many a - brave man would have sacrificed his life rather than anything - dishonorable should happen them. From Chantilly to Blue Springs, - wherever they were unfurled, victory has perched upon them, and - when, torn and tattered, we exchanged them for a new set, I have - carried them about with me, and I assure you it gives me great - pleasure in sending them to you, so that you may preserve them as an - heirloom in your family. Serving immediately under General Stevens, - no one had a better opportunity of knowing him than myself. Well may - you feel proud of him! His nobleness of heart, his firm devotion to - his country, his untiring energy, his unflinching bravery, have - endeared him to all those who have served under him. His memory is - engraven on the hearts of every one of his Highlanders, and the few - of us that are left often speak of the many acts of kindness - bestowed on us by "Our General." - - I am, madam, your obedient servant, - - D. MORRISON, - _Late Colonel 79th Highlanders_. - -The legislature of Rhode Island passed resolutions upon the death of -General Stevens, and offered to provide a fit resting-place for his -ashes. The city of Newport, the officers of the Coast Survey, and many -other public bodies paid fitting tribute by resolutions. "When the -intelligence of his death reached Washington Territory, the grief of all -classes was sincere and profound. Nothing could any one recall that was -base or dishonorable, but much that was lofty and manly in the dead -hero. The legislature passed resolutions in his honor, and ordered crape -to be worn."[22] For many years the successive governors and -legislatures regularly paid tribute to his memory. - - He fell--that glowing eye - In sudden night was quenched; - But still the flag he lifted high, - And onward bore to victory, - In his dead hand was clenched. - - He sank--but o'er his head - The drooping ensign fell, - As if its folds it fondly spread - Above the forehead, pale and dead, - Of him who loved it well. - - He sleeps--unlock that clasp! - The hero's work is done! - Another hand that staff shall grasp, - And, if need be, till life's last gasp, - Like him shall bear it on. - - He rests--the true and brave! - And where his relics lie, - In holier beauty long shall wave, - Fit canopy for freeman's grave, - God's starry flag on high. - - He lives--his deeds inspire - New strength for duty's strife: - Now myriads burn with nobler fire - Onward to press--to mount up higher - And win the eternal life.[23] - -FOOTNOTES: - - [22] H.H. Bancroft's _History of Washington_. - - [23] Anonymous, from _Boston Commonwealth_. - - - - -GENERAL STEVENS'S DESCENDANTS. - - -1. HAZARD, born in Newport, R.I., June 9, 1842. - -2. JULIA VIRGINIA, born in Newport, June 27, 1844, died in Bucksport, -Me., December 7, 1845. - -3. SUSAN, born in Bucksport, November 20, 1846; married Richard -Isaac Eskridge, United States Army, in Portland, Oregon, -October 27, 1870. - -4. GERTRUDE MAUDE, born in Bucksport, April 29, 1850. - -5. KATE, born in Washington, D.C., November 17, 1852; married -Edward Wingard Bingham, in Boston, Mass., February 18, 1886. - -GRANDCHILDREN, CHILDREN OF RICHARD ISAAC ESKRIDGE AND -SUSAN STEVENS ESKRIDGE. - -1. MAUD, born at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, August -21, 1871; married Edward Pennington Pearson, United States -Army, at Fort Reno, Oklahoma Territory, April 16, 1898. - -2. RICHARD STEVENS, born at Yuma Depot, Arizona Territory, -October 24, 1872. - -3. HAZARD STEVENS, born at Yuma Depot, February 24, 1874; -died at Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming Territory, October 12, -1874. - -4. VIRGINIA, born at Fort D.A. Russell, March 2, 1875. - -5. OLIVER STEVENS, born in Boston, Mass., October 12, 1876. - -6. MARY PEYTON, born at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, March 28, -1878; married Charles McKinley Saltzman, United States Army, -in Boston, May 9, 1899. - - [Illustration: THE MONUMENT] - - - - -APPENDIX - - -Following are the marginal notes on the - - MAP - -of the Indian Nations and Tribes of the Territory of Washington, and of -the Territory of Nebraska west of the mouth of the Yellowstone. Sent to -the Hon. George W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with -letter of this date. - - ISAAC I. STEVENS, - _Governor and Supt. Indian Affairs_. - -OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, April 30, 1857. - - -_Tabular Statement of the Indians East of the Cascade Mountains, etc._ - - ------------------+-----------+-------+-----------------+----------------- - NAME AND DATE OF |NAMES OF |POPULA-|RESERVATIONS. |TEMPORARY - TREATIES. |TRIBES. |TION. | |ENCAMPMENTS. - ------------------+-----------+-------+----------------+------------------ - Treaty with the |Pisquouse. | 600 |Simcoe and the |About 1500 - Yakima Nation |Yakimas. | 700 |adjoining | of these - concluded at |Pshawm | |country and | tribes are - Walla Walla, | wappam. | 500 |forks of the | encamped in - June, 1855. | | |We-nat-scha-pan,| the vicinity - | | |or Pisquouse | of Simcoe - | | |River. | River. - |Bands on | | |Opposite the - | Columbia.| 1000 | | Dalles, Oregon. - |Klikitats. | 500 | |White Salmon - | | | | River. - |Palouses. | 600 | | - | |-------| | - | | 3900 | | - | |-------| | - | | | | - Walla Walla |Nez Perces.| 3300 |On the Snake | - treaty, | | | and Clearwater | - concluded June, | | | Rivers. | - 1855. | | | | - | | | | - Treaty with the |Flatheads. | 500 |Flathead River. | - Flathead Nation |Upper Pend | | | - concluded | Oreilles.| 700 | | - June, 1855. |Kootenays. | 500 | | - | |-------| | - | | 1700 | | - | |-------| | - | | | | - Tribes with whom |Coeur | 450 | | - no treaties | d'Alenes.| | | - have been |Lower Pend | | | - made. | Oreilles.| 450 | | - |Colvilles. | 500 | | - |Okinakanes.| 600 | | - |Spokanes. | 1100 | | - | |-------| | - | | 3100 | | - ------------------+-----------+-------+----------------+---------------- - - Total number of Indians east of the Cascade Mountains 12,000 - Treaties have been made with 8,900 - Number with whom treaties have not been made 3,100 - Largest number held on temporary reservations 3,000 - - Written on upper central margin in Governor Stevens's handwriting:-- - - Total number of Indians west of the Cascade Mountains 9,712 - Total number of Indians east of the Cascade Mountains 12,000 - Total number of Indians, Territory of Washington 21,712 - Treaties have been made with 17,497 - Treaties remain to be made with 4,215 - - - _Tabular Statement of the Indians West of the Cascade Mountains, - showing Tribes, Population, Parties to the several Treaties, - Reservations provided for in the Treaties, and Temporary - Encampments._ - - ------------------+---------------+-------+------------------+---------------- - NAME AND DATE OF |NAMES OF |POPULA-|RESERVATIONS. |TEMPORARY - TREATIES. |TRIBES. |TION. | |ENCAMPMENTS. - ------------------+---------------+-------+------------------+---------------- - | | | | - Treaty of Medicine|Quaks-na-mish, | } |Klah-che-min |Klah-che-min - Creek, December |Nisqually, | }1200 | Island, | Island. - 26, 1854. |Puy-all-up. | } |Near mouth of | } - | | | Nisqually River. | } Fox Island. - | | |Near mouth of | } - | | | Puy-all-up River.| } - | | | | - Treaty of |Duwamish, | } |Noo-soh-te-um, |Dunginess Point. - Point Elliott, |Suquamish, | } | near Port | Fort Kitsap. - January 22, 1855.|and allied | } 942 | Madison, and | - | tribes. | } | at Muckleshoot. | - | | | | - |Sno-qual-moo, | } |Te-wilt-sch-da, |Skagit Head, on - |Sno-ho-mish, | } | north side | Whitby Island. - |and allied | }1700 | Sno-ho-mish | - | tribes. | } | River. | - | | | | - |Skagits and | } |S.E. end Perry | - | allied | }1300 | (or Fidalgo) | - | tribes. | } | Island. | - | | | | - |Lummi, | } |Chah-choo-sa |Penn's Cove, on - |Nook-Sahk, | }1050 | Island, at mouth | Whitby Island. - |Sa-mish. | } | of Lummi River. | - | |-------| | - | | 4992 | | - | |-------| | - | | | | - Treaty of |Clallams, | 926 | } Head of Hood's | - Point-No-Point, |Skokomish, | 290 | } Canal. | - January 25, 1855.|Chem-a-kum. | 100 | } | - | |-------| | - | | 1316 | | - | |-------| | - | | | | - Treaty of |Ma-kahs. | 596 |Cape Flattery. | - Neah Bay, | | | | - January 31, 1855.| | | | - | | | | - | | |Reservation to be | - Treaty of Olympia.|Quinaiult, | } | selected by the | - |Kwilleyute. | } 493 | President. | - | | |Quinaiult River | - | | | and land set | - | | | apart. | - | | | | - Tribes with whom |Lower | | | - treaties have not| Chehalis. | 217 | | - been made. |Upper | | |S.S. Ford's on - | Chehalis. | 216 | | the Chehalis - | | | | River. - | | | | - |Cowlitz and | | |Near Cowlitz - | Tia-tin-a-pan.| 240 | | Landing. - |Lower | | |Removed to - | Chinooks. | 112 | | White Salmon. - |Upper | | |Vancouver and - | Chinooks. | 330 | | Cascades. - | |-------| | - | | 1115 | | - ------------------+---------------+-------+------------------+--------------- - - Total number of Indians west of Cascade Mountains 9712 - Number with whom treaties have been made 8597 - Number with whom treaties have yet to be made 1115 - Largest number held on temporary reservations 5686 - - All have been assisted during the war. The parties to the treaties - of Neah Bay and Olympia, the Lower Chehalis and Lower Chinooks, have - required but little assistance at the hands of the Department. - - - NOTES OF THE INDIANS OF THE TERRITORY OF NEBRASKA BETWEEN THE ROCKY - MOUNTAINS AND MOUTH OF THE YELLOWSTONE. - -The Blackfoot Nation are in four tribes, viz., Piegans, Bloods, -Blackfeet, Gros Ventres, and number 11,500 souls. - -The map shows the hunting-grounds, secured exclusively to the Blackfeet -in the treaty, at the mouth of the Judith, concluded October 17, 1855; -the hunting-ground common to the Blackfeet and Western Indians, the -Blackfeet and Assiniboines; the western and southern boundaries of the -Assiniboine country; and the western boundary of the Crow country. - -The Western Indians, Flatheads, Pend Oreilles, and a portion of the -Kootenays, generally make two hunts a year east of the Rocky Mountains, -and they depend for their lodges, parfleches, apechinos, and much of -their meat upon these hunts. They get some of their supplies by trade -with the Blackfeet. The Indians of the western tribes, as the Spokanes -and Coeur d'Alenes, "go to buffalo," but not in as large numbers or -with as much regularity as the preceding. - -The Nez Perces generally have a large camp--over one hundred -lodges--either on the common hunting-grounds or in the Crow country. -Their hunters always pass one winter, and sometimes two winters, in -succession, east of the mountains before they return to their own -country. - - - CENSUS OF THE BLACKFOOT NATION. - - Tribes. Number of Lodges. Population. - Piegans. 340 3,150 - Bloods. 290 2,690 - Blackfeet. 290 2,690 - Gros Ventres. 360 2,970 - ---- ------ - 1280 11,500 - - - - - INDEX - - - A Company, dismissed for disobedience, ii. 250-253, 263. - - Abaco Island, Bahamas, i. 101, 102. - - Abernethy, Alexander S., ii. 265, 317. - - Academic Board, West Point, awards first place to Cadet Stevens, i. 59. - - Acajete, i. 140. - - Acapulco, i. 436. - - Achilles, Captain, ii. 169-171, 187. - - Acquia Creek, ii. 425, 430. - - Active, Coast Survey steamer, ii. 185. - - Adams, Fort, at Newport, i. 60, 61. - - Adams, John Quincy, i. 44, 73. - - Adams, Lieutenant, i. 113. - - Adams, Mount, i. 394. - - Adams, Thomas, i. 306; ii. 75, 92, 107, 108, 114. - - Agnew, i. 444. - - Ah-tah-nam, branch of Yakima River, ii. 22, 160. - - Alabama volunteers, i. 114. - - Albany, Me., i. 35, 86. - - Alden, Fort, ii. 184, 234. - - Alden, James, Captain, ii. 185. - - Alexander, Barton S., General, i. 28. - - Alexander, head chief of Pend Oreilles, ii. 77; - at Flathead council, 82-89, 113, 114. - - Alexandria and Orange Court House Railroad, ii. 425. - - Alexandria and Warrenton turnpike, ii. 433, 435. - - Allen, Robert, General, i. 28. - - Allen, William, Colonel, ii. 481. - - Almonte, Mexican general, i. 203. - - Al-pa-wha Creek, ii. 70, 147. - - Alvarado, Mexico, i. 119. - - Alvarez, Mexican general, i. 168, 203. - - Alvord, Benjamin, General, ii. 25, 26, 207. - - Amasoque, i. 141, 153. - - Ambrose, Flathead chief, ii. 85-87. - - Amelia, Lake, i. 304. - - American Fur Co., i. 287, 298, 302, 347; ii. 96, 97. - - American Geographical and Statistical Society of New York, address - before, by Governor Stevens, ii. 284. - - Amissville, Va., ii. 431. - - Amman, Daniel, Captain, ii. 364. - - Ampudia, Mexican general, i. 126. - - Anderson, George T., Colonel, ii. 490. - - Anderson, J. Patten, i. 414; ii. 15. - - Anderson, Peter, i. 462. - - Anderson, Robert, Colonel, ii. 469. - - Andover, Mass., i. 1, 2, 19, 35, 86, 227, 274; ii. 270. - - Andover, Me., i. 5, 6. - - Andrew, John A., Governor, offers regiment to Governor Stevens, - ii. 319, 320, 499. - - Andrews, Colonel, i. 220. - - Annapolis, ii. 340-342. - - Anti-Slavery Society, Isaac Stevens bequeaths it $500, i. 10. - - Appleton, D., & Co., i. 300. - - Archer, J.J. General, ii. 487. - - Armour, Robert, Captain, ii. 497. - - Armstrong, C.H., Captain, ii. 168, 197. - - Armstrong, Captain, killed at Molino del Rey, i. 206. - - Army, reorganization of, efforts to promote, i. 240, 259-263. - - Army of Virginia, ii. 427. - - Arnold, Daniel Lyman, i. 307, 370; - death of, ii. 420. - - Arnold, Lewis G., Lieutenant, i. 60, 77. - - Arnold, Richard, Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 307, 370, - 379, 380, 382; - takes charge of wagon-road, 409, 422; ii. 27, 28. - - Ashepoo River ii. 374, 379-381. - - Ashley River, ii. 380. - - Aspinwall, description of, i. 433, 434; ii. 270. - - Assiniboine Indians, meeting and talk with, i. 342-345, 347; ii. 115. - - Atchison, Camp, on Milk River, i. 354. - - Athsio, Mexican village, i. 148. - - Augusta, Ga., ii. 381. - - Ayotla, village in valley of Mexico, i. 164, 166, 168, 224. - - Ayres, Captain, killed, i. 206. - - Azotea, parapeted roof, i. 181. - - - Bache, Alexander Dallas; Professor, i. 241, 242, 245-247, 250, 253, 254, - 276-279, 281; - remarks on Major Stevens, 284, 367; ii. 273, 319; - letter to, giving - views on military operation, 375, 499. - - Bacon, John D., room-mate, i. 40, 58. - - Bad Lands, i. 350. - - Bahama Banks, i. 102. - - Bahama Islands, i. 101, 102. - - Bailey, P., i. 468. - - Bainbridge, Captain, i. 137. - - Baird, Spencer F., Professor, i. 276, 295, 299; ii. 273. - - Baker, Lieutenant, i. 221. - - Balch, Lafayette, i. 412, 468. - - Bald Hillock Creek, i. 330. - - Bald Hill, ii. 435. - - Baldwin, A.J., ii. 248. - - Ball-in-the-Nose, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Ballard, John N., Lieutenant, ii. 496, 497. - - Baltimore, i. 250. - - Baltimore Democratic Convention, ii. 304, 305. - - Bangor, Me., i. 95. - - Banks, Nathaniel P., ii. 299, 426-429, 432, 475, 494. - - Barker, Stephen, i. 35. - - Barnes, Dr., i. 219. - - Barnes, Ellis, i. 468. - - Barnes, George A., i. 415; ii. 15, 224. - - Barnett's Ford, ii. 427, 428. - - Barnwell Island, ii. 357. - - Barry, William F., General, i. 28. - - Bartlett, W.H.C., Professor, gives characteristics of General Stevens, - i. 41. - - Bartow, General, ii. 435. - - Battery Island, ii. 381, 382. - - Bay Point, ii. 345, 347. - - Bayly, George, i. 260. - - Baynes, Admiral, ii. 291, 292. - - Bealton, Va., ii. 426, 432. - - Beam, George W., Captain, ii. 169, 170. - - Bear Tracks, Flathead chief, ii. 86. - - Bear's Coat, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Bear's Paw Mountains, i. 359-361. - - Beaufort, S.C., ii. 353; - occupied by General Stevens, 355. - - Beaufort River, ii. 355, 358. - - Beauregard, P.G.T., i. 28, 60, 111, 114, 122, 130, 165, 166, 169, 171; - sketch of, 216. - - Beauregard, Fort, ii. 345. - - Beauregard Light Infantry, ii. 392. - - Beaver Creek, i. 376. - - Beaver Lodge Creek, i. 330. - - Bee, General, ii. 435. - - Belcher, H.G., Lieutenant, ii. 370, 411, 488, 497. - - Belen, gate to Mexico, i. 207, 210. - - Belfast, Me., i. 68. - - Belland, i. 306, 312. - - Bell, John, ii. 305. - - Bell's Lake, i. 322. - - Bellingham Bay, i. 412; ii. 184, 267. - - Belt Mountains, i. 361. - - Benham, Henry W., Captain, i. 28, 283, 284; - General, ii. 383, 384, 386, 387, 392; - General Stevens's opinion of, 393, 394, 397, 399, 400, 409-411; - sent North in arrest, i. 415, 420, 421. - - Benjamin, Lieutenant, wounded, i. 211. - - Benjamin, Samuel N., Lieutenant, ii. 413, 425, 430, 449, 451, 478, 479, - 483, 484, 492, 497. - - Benny Haven's restaurant, adjacent to West Point, i. 50. - - Benton, Fort, i. 348; - description of, 362, 375; ii. 94, 95, 120. - - Berry Islands, Bahamas, i. 102. - - Bevard, Professor, French teacher at West Point, i. 34, 39. - - Biddle, Henry J., rival classmate, i. 25, 31, 32, 35-37, 46. - - Big Blackfoot River, i. 385; ii. 93. - - Big Canoe, Pend Oreille chief, ii. 83, 84. - - Big Chestnut, Camp of the, ii. 336-338. - - Big Folly Creek, ii. 390, 391. - - Big Horn River, ii. 108. - - Big Muddy River, i. 352. - - Big Star, Spokane chief, speech, ii. 138, 139. - - Big Top, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Bigelow, D.R., i. 415; ii. 168. - - Biles, James, i. 415. - - Bird, James, ii. 101, 114. - - Bird Island, ii. 382. - - Bird Tail Rock, i. 376; ii. 124. - - Birney, David B., General, ii. 457, 488, 492, 497. - - Bishop, David H., marries Susan B. Stevens, i. 68; - announces her death, 77. - - Bissel, Lieutenant, i. 113. - - Bissel, of Illinois, i. 260. - - Bitter Root Mountains, i. 380-382; ii. 75, 127. - - Bitter Root River, i. 379, 382, 386; ii. 75, 127. - - Bitter Root valley, i. 352, 364-382, 385. - - Blackburn's Ford, ii. 437, 439. - - Blackfeet, description of, i. 348, 351, 352, 368, 370; - talk with, 373, 374; ii. 99; - Governor Stevens's opinion of, 105, 106; - council and treaty, 112-119, 275. - - Blackfoot council, i. 431; ii. 27, 58, 89, 112-119. - - Blackfoot River, i. 377, 379. - - Blackfoot trail, i. 376. - - Black River, ii. 188. - - Blaisdell, William, Colonel, ii. 456. - - Blanchet, Father, i. 412, 443. - - - Blankenship, George, Major, ii. 168, 170, 197. - - Blue Mountains, i. 402, 403; ii. 31. - - Blood Indians, i. 348, 351, 352; ii. 114, 505. - - Blunt, Simon F., Captain, i. 269. - - Bois de Sioux River, i. 322-325. - - Bolon, A.J., i. 416; ii. 26, 61, 67; - murdered by Indians, 121, 157. - - Bonneville, Colonel, i. 405. - - Borup, Dr., i. 313. - - Boston, i. 1, 78, 82, 94-96. - - Boston, steamship, ii. 359, 362. - - Boston Post, i. 271-273. - - Boulieau, Henry, i. 306, 312, 325, 329, 330, 341. - - Boulieau, Paul, i. 306, 314, 325, 329, 330. - - Boutineau, Pierre, i. 306, 310, 325, 329, 341. - - Bowman, wagonmaster, i. 122-124. - - Bow River, ii. 100. - - Box Elder Creek, i. 360. - - Boyce's field battery, ii. 409. - - Braddock Road, ii. 494. - - Bradford, Edward, i. 28. - - Bragg, Braxton, i. 28. - - Branch, L.O.B., General, ii. 487-489, 495, 496. - - Brannon, John M., General, i. 28. - - Bratton, William, Captain, ii. 170. - - Breckinridge, John C. ii. 304. - - Breckinridge, town, i. 320. - - Brickyard Creek, ii. 358. - - Brent, Captain, i. 438. - - Bridges, i. 7. - - Bristoe Station, ii. 431, 433, 439. - - Broad River, ii. 356, 374, 378. - - Broad Run, ii. 438. - - Broadwell, i. 382. - - Brockenbrough, J.M., Colonel, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Broderick, John, ii. 270. - - Brooke, Lloyd, i. 403; ii. 32. - - Brooklyn, visits navy yard, i. 36. - - Brooks, Charles M., i. 94. - - Brooks, Charles T., Rev., i. 67; - solemnizes marriage, i. 77; - poem on death of Julia, 92; ii. 499. - - Brooks, Lieutenant, i. 112. - - Brooks, Quincy A., i. 415; ii. 248. - - Brown, i. 398. - - Brown, B.F., i. 415. - - Browne, J. Ross, ii. 25, 28. - - Buchanan, James, President, ii. 272, 300, 305, 312. - - Buchanan, Robert C., Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 470. - - Buck Hill, ii. 435. - - Bucksport, Me., i. 84, 87-100; - returns to, 233, 249, 265. - - Budd, Captain, ii. 364. - - Buena Vista, village of, valley of Mexico, i. 164. - - Buffalo, countless herds of, i. 328, 329; ii. 105. - - Buffalo chips, i. 331. - - Buford, John, General, ii. 428, 440, 454, 465. - - Bull Bay, ii. 379. - - Bull Run, ii. 434, 437. - - Bull's Head, Blackfoot chief, ii. 101. - - Bumford, i. 403; ii. 32. - - Bunker Hill, battle, i. 4, 5. - - Bunting, Joseph, ii. 241. - - Burke, Captain, killed, i. 184. - - Burns, M.P., Dr., ii. 168. - - Burnside, Ambrose E., General, ii. 320, 423, 424. - - Burr, F.H., i. 306, 339, 340, 345. - - Burntrager, David E., Captain, ii. 169, 170. - - Burt, Representative, i. 257, 261. - - Burwell, Lieutenant, killed, i. 206. - - Bush prairie, i. 412. - - Bush, W.O., i. 412. - - Butler, Benjamin F., ii. 303. - - Butler, Colonel, killed, i. 182. - - Butler, General, i. 107. - - Butler, J.H., classmate, i. 31, 36. - - Butte de Morale, i. 337. - - Butte Micheau, i. 327. - - Butterfield, Daniel, General, ii. 454, 466, 468. - - Byzantium, i. 139. - - - Cadotte's Pass, i. 365, 378; ii. 93, 124. - - Cadwallader, General, i. 150, 172, 173, 179, 205. - - Cain, J., Captain, i. 445; ii. 27, 208, 248, 257. - - Calhoun Guard, ii. 392. - - California, i. 233, 248, 252. - - Callender, Franklin D., i. 40, 41, 58, 116, 171, 172; - wounded, 176, 209. - - Cambridge, Mass., i. 98. - - Cameron, James, Colonel, killed at Bull Run, ii. 321. - - Cameron, Simon, Secretary of War, Governor Stevens tenders sword and - services to, ii. 316, 322. - - Camospelo, Cuyuse chief, ii. 46, 214. - - Campaigns of the Rio Grande and of Mexico, i. 255, 256, 267, 268. - - Campbell, Archibald, ii. 277. - - Campbell, Colonel, i. 125. - - Campbell, Fort, i. 348, 363. - - Campbell, L.M., marries Elizabeth B. Stevens, i. 82, 87; - announces death of wife, 97. - - Campbell's battery, ii. 442. - - Canby, E.R.S., General, classmate, i. 27, 132. - - Canete, actress, i. 224. - - Canning, John, ii. 70. - - Cape Fear River, i. 277. - - Capron, Captain, killed, i. 184. - - Carcowan, Chehalis chief, ii. 7. - - Caribbean Sea, i. 433. - - Carpenter, Stephen D., i. 40, 41, 58. - - Carigan, Sapper, burial of, remarks, i. 136. - - Carr, Joseph B., Colonel, ii. 448, 456. - - Carusi, Jamaica negro innkeeper, i. 434, 435. - - Casa Mata, fort at Molino del Rey, i. 205. - - Cascade Range, i. 288, 394-396; - snow, 408, 409; ii. 159. - - Cascades of the Columbia, 405; - massacre, ii. 190. - - Casey, Silas, Lieutenant-Colonel, i. 208; ii. 172, 176, 185, 186, 188; - Governor Stevens proposes joint movement across Cascades, declined, - 195; - seeks to protect Indian murderers, correspondence with Governor - Stevens, 236-240, 243, 244, 292. - - Cass, Lewis, i. 236; - Secretary of State, Governor Stevens submits memoir to, against - British exactions, ii. 281-283. - - Castine, Me., visits, i. 85. - - Castoff, Miss, boards with, in Newport, i. 60. - - Cathlamet, i. 411. - - Catholic missionaries, not disturbed by hostiles, ii. 132, 255; - Governor Stevens's opinion of, as neutrals, 228, 229. - - Catlett's Station, ii. 439. - - Catlin, Robert, ii. 301. - - Catlin, Seth, i. 411; ii. 317. - - Causten, Camp, ii. 325. - - Caverly, Mr. and Mrs., ii. 371, 374. - - Caversham, England, whence came John Stevens in 1638, i. 2. - - Cavilaer, i. 325. - - Cedar Mountain, battle of, ii. 426. - - Cedar River, ii. 187. - - Celeste, danced as usual, i. 36. - - Centralia, i. 412. - - Centreville, ii. 439, 445, 474, 477-480. - - Cerro Gordo, i. 122, 123; - battle of, 124-128. - - Cha-chu-sa Island, i. 466, 468. - - Chagres River, i. 335. - - Chain Bridge, ii. 327. - - Chalco, Lake, i. 163, 165; - village, 167. - - Chambers, Andrew J., i. 412. - - Chambers, David J., i. 412. - - Chambers prairie, i. 412. - - Chambers, Thomas M., ii. 246. - - Champagne, Baptiste, i. 369, 375. - - Chancellorsville, battle of, i. 83. - - Chantilly, battle of, ii. 482-497. - - Chapman, William, Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 470. - - Chapultepec, i. 163, 204, 205; - battle of, 207-210. - - Charles, Pierre, ii. 169, 187, 257. - - Charleston, campaign planned against, ii. 378-382; - James Island campaign against, 387-394; - battalion, 381, 411, 412; - riflemen, 392. - - Charleston, Democratic Convention at, ii. 304. - - Charlie, Governor Stevens's gray charger, i. 440; ii. 269. - - Chase, Henry M., ii. 169, 200. - - Chasseurs, or 65th New York, ii. 329. - - Chatfield, J.A., Colonel, ii. 395. - - Chehalis Indians, i. 334; ii. 1-9, 187, 257; - council, ii. 1-9; - river, i. 412; ii. 1, 2, 10, 257; - town, i. 441. - - Chemakane Mission, valley, i. 398, 399. - - Chenoweth, F.A., Judge, ii. 244, 249, 289. - - Chicago, i. 302. - - Childs, Colonel, i. 214, 219, 221, 226. - - Chim-a-kum Indians, i. 469-473. - - Chimalpa, i. 168. - - Chinn Hill and House, ii. 435, 470. - - Chinn, Major, ii. 147, 150. - - Chinook Indians, ii. 1-9, 23, 257. - - Chinook jargon, i. 453; ii. 5. - - Chippewa Indians, i. 334; - river, 321. - - Chirouse, Father, i. 403; ii. 37, 148. - - Chisholm's Island, ii. 356. - - Chow-its-hoots, Indian chief, i. 463, 466-468. - - Christian Mirror, newspaper, i. 84. - - Christ, B.C., Colonel, ii. 341, 343, 364, 388, 425, 484. - - Christy's Minstrels, i. 433, 435. - - Church, A.E., Professor, describes traits of General Stevens, i. 41. - - Church Flats, ii. 379-381. - - Churubusco, battle of, i. 180-186, 196-199; - brought on by Lieutenant Stevens, 187, 188. - - Cincinnati, i. 162. - - Citadel Hill or Rock, i. 361; ii. 98. - - Clallam or Sklallam Indians, i. 469. - - Clark County Rangers, ii. 169, 190. - - Clark, Frank, stirs up trouble leading to martial law, i. 242-245. - - Clark, George T., Major, i. 16, 430. - - Clark, in charge of Fort Benton, i. 361. - - Clark, Owen, servant, i. 100, 101; - deserts, 108. - - Clark, sergeant of sappers, i. 136. - - Clarke, Colonel, i. 157, 182, 205, 206. - - Clarke, Nathan G., Colonel, relieves General Wool, ii. 266; - recommends treaties, 285. - - Clark's Fork, ii. 79. - - Clay, Henry, i. 75, 248; - view of, 252. - - Clay-Pipe-Stem-Carrier, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Clendenin, J.V., i. 414. - - Cline, Captain, ii. 391. - - Cloudy Robe, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Coast Survey, accepts charge of office, i. 241; - views of, 243, 244; - reforms, 245-248, 250, 254; - officers present silver service, 284. - - Cobb, Howell, ii. 306. - - Cochichewick, stream in Andover, i. 1; - meadows, 5, 8; - woolen mills, 16, 47. - - Cock, Henry D., i. 455-461. - - Cock, William, Colonel, i. 415; ii. 262-264. - - Cockspur Island, ii. 382. - - Coe, ii. 153. - - Coeur d'Alene Indians, i. 386-388, 390; ii. 16-23; - present conditions, 64-72; - wrestling match, 73, 74, 121, 127, 129, 130, 230, 231. - - Coeur d'Alene Lake, i. 391. - - Coeur d'Alene Mission, i. 389-391; ii. 72, 73, 129. - - Coeur d'Alene Mountains, i. 387. - - Coeur d'Alene Pass, i. 382, 387; ii. 127. - - Coeur d'Alene prairie, i. 391. - - Coeur d'Alene River, i. 391, 392; ii. 72, 75, 131. - - Cogswell, William S., Lieutenant, ii. 343, 363, 366. - - Cold Springs, i. 315. - - Cole Island, ii. 381. - - Cole, Lieutenant, ii. 170. - - Collins, S.M., i. 468. - - Colquitt, P.H., Colonel, ii. 380. - - Columbia River, i. 394, 405, 411, 438; ii. 153, 157, 269. - - Columbus, tomb of, visited, i. 433. - - Colville, i. 297, 393, 394, 396, 397. - - Colville Indians, ii. 22. - - Colville valley settlements, i. 399. - - Combahee River, ii. 376, 378, 379. - - Commencement Bay, i. 459, 462. - - Conception, Fort, at Vera Cruz, i. 110. - - Confidence, ship of John Stevens, i. 2. - - Connecticut volunteers, 6th, i. 395. - See 7th Connecticut, Rockwell's battery. - - Connell's prairie, ii. 155; - battle of, 186. - - Conrad, Charles M., Secretary of War, rebukes political action, - answered, i. 274, 275. - - Constitution, Fort, at Portsmouth, N.H., i. 83. - - Contreras, i. 169, 170; - battle of, 171-179, 181, 192-195. - - Cooper, J.G., Dr., i. 296, 307; ii. 3. - - Cooper's battery, ii. 469. - - Coosaw River, ii. 355, 360, 361. - - Coosawhatchie River, ii. 376, 379. - - Corinth, ii. 380. - - Corliss, George W., ii. 247. - - Cortez, i. 161. - - Cortez, steamship, ii. 317. - - Coster, Corporal, i. 312. - - Coteau de Missouri, i. 338-340, 345. - - Cottrell, Abraham, Lieutenant, ii. 367, 372, 420. - - Coues, Samuel Elliott, i. 83, 257. - - Cowlitz Indians, ii. 1-9, 187, 257, 269. - - Cowlitz Landing, i. 411, 439; ii. 28. - - Cowlitz River, i. 405, 411, 412; - canoeing up, 438; 439; ii. 28, 154, 187, 257. - - Coxie, Patrick, ii. 33. - - Coyoacan, i. 180, 181, 202. - - Cram, A.J., Captain, ii. 276, 277. - - Crane, Colonel, i. 83. - - Craig, Captain, i. 173. - - Craig, William, ii. 18, 33, 62, 67, 91, 92, 108, 109, 115, 117, 129, - 130, 145-150, 168, 201, 203, 209, 220, 223, 230. - - Crees, ii. 215. - - Crockett, ii. 154. - - Cromwell, Oliver, lecture on, i. 76; - view of, 230-232; ii. 333. - - Crook, George, General, ii. 148. - - Crosby, Clanrick, i. 415. - - Crosby, R.H., ii. 27, 32, 67, 72, 168. - - Crow Wing River, i. 316. - - Crown Butte, i. 376; ii. 124. - - Crows, i. 347, 361, 362; ii. 108, 109, 115. - - Cuapa, hacienda of, i. 169. - - Cub Run, ii. 477. - - Culbertson, Alexander, i, 302, 307, 347, 348, 359, 368, 370; ii. 114, - 275, 276. - - Cullum, G.W., General, i. 61, 260, 274, 275; ii. 424. - - Culpeper Court House, ii. 426. - - Cumming, Alfred, ii. 66, 94-96; - arrogates authority, rebuked, 102, 103; - stigmatizes country and Indians, 103, 104, 114, 117-119, 149. - - Cummings, Asa, uncle, i. 12, 84, 85. - - Cummings genealogy, Isaac^1, John^2, Abraham^3, Joseph^4, Thomas^5, - Asa^6, Hannah (mother)^7, i. 12. - - Cummings, Hannah, wife of Isaac, Stevens (mother), i. 7-9; - death, 15. - - Cummings, John, uncle, warm welcome to, i. 86. - - Cunningham, Michael, servant, i. 160. - - Curry, Governor, ii. 284. - - Cushman, Joseph, i. 415. - - Cushman, Orrington, i. 415, 445, 455; ii. 3-5. - - Cuyuses, ii. 16, 20, 21; - at Walla Walla council, 36-64, 121, 144, 148, 150; - take war path, 157, 158, 212; - attack Governor Stevens, 221-223; - turbulent warriors hanged by Colonel Wright, 231. - - Cypress Mountain, i. 359, 368. - - - Dale, Eben, i. 99. - - Dalles, i. 400, 405; ii. 28, 30, 151, 153, 197, 199, 206, 208, 257. - - Dana, N.T.J., General, i. 28. - - Danpher, Matthew, ii. 32. - - Daufuskie Island, ii. 382. - - Davidson, Lieutenant, ii. 222. - - Davies, Professor, i. 44. - - Davis, Camp, i. 308, 310. - - Davis, Jefferson, i. 261, 281, 285; - reports to, 287, 288, 422; - order from, to stop survey, 423; - disparages northern route, 427-430; - answer to, 431; - fault-finding, apologizes, 430; - Governor Stevens reports to, ii. 209, 221-223, 227, 277, 287. - - Davis, Jefferson, revenue cutter, ii. 185. - - Davis, Robert, i. 468. - - Dawkins Branch, ii. 454. - - Dead Colt Hillock line, i. 321. - - Dearborn, Orrin M., Lieutenant, ii. 415, 484. - - Dearborn River, i. 376; ii. 94, 124. - - Decatur, U.S. man of war, ii. 107, 185. - - Deficiency in funds, i. 366, 367, 423. - - De Hart, Lieutenant, i. 112. - - Delacour, Father, i. 325. - - De Lacy, W.W., ii. 168. - - Delaware Jim, ii. 69, 70, 108, 115, 117, 124. - - De Lein, Dr., i. 218. - - Democratic party, i. 260, 280; - nominates Governor Stevens for delegate in Congress, ii. 265; - unanimously renominates him, 289; - doctrines, 302. - - Democratic convention at Vancouver, Governor Stevens withdraws, his - speech, i. 314-316. - - Denig, Mr., i. 345. - - Denny, i. 412. - - Denny, A.A., ii. 251-253, 265. - - De Parris, William S., ii. 70. - - Derby, George H., Lieutenant, ii. 200. - - Des Chutes River, ii. 30, 152. - - Detroit, i. 302. - - Dialectic Society, i. 38, 48, 49, 55, 57. - - Dickinson, Daniel L., ii. 303. - - Difficult Run, ii. 494. - - Dilger, Hubert, Captain, ii. 451. - - Dimick, i. 179. - - Discover, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Dix, John A., ii. 303, 312. - - Dobbins, W., i. 415. - - Dogan house, ii. 435. - - Dominguez, chief of robbers, i. 149. - - Donaldson, J.L., General, i. 27. - - Donation Act, i. 413; ii. 26, 162. - - Donelson, A.J., Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 291, 297, 302, - 307, 345, 350, 351, 364, 368, 370, 371, 378, 379, 382, 384, 400, - 404, 406, 431. - - Donelson, General, ii. 366. - - Donelson, Miss., ii. 284, 371, 373, 374. - - Donohoe, Michael T., Captain, ii. 398. - - Doty, James, i. 306, 308, 331, 371, 375, 422, 452, 458; ii. 26, 31, 47, - 68, 70, 93, 95; - recovers stolen horses, 100, 101, 114, 124, 126, 132, 151, 168, 248; - death of, 268. - - Doubleday, Abner W., General, i. 27. - - Douglass, James, Sir, i. 418, 477; ii. 13, 14, 277, 290-293. - - Douglass, Stephen A., i. 260; ii. 302. - - Downey, William R., ii. 246. - - Doyle, Richard N., ii. 402. - - Drayton, Percival, Captain, ii. 346, 399. - - Drayton, Thomas F., General, ii. 346, 349. - - Drum, i. 210; - killed, 211. - - Dry Creek, ii. 70. - - Dry Tortugas, ii. 325. - - Du Berry, Beekman, Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 291, 298, 306, - 308, 314; - leaves exploration, 217. - - Duncan, Colonel, i. 106, 120, 140, 141, 167, 181, 206, 212, 223. - - Duncan, Johnson K., Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 293, 296, - 307, 394. - - Duncan, of Haverhill, i. 243. - - Dunn, John, ii. 262. - - Dunnells, i. 77. - - Dupont, Samuel F., Commodore, ii. 343; - capture of Port Royal, 346-348, 358, 379, 382. - - Duwhamish Indians, i. 463-469; ii. 161-192, 256. - - Duwhamish River. See White River. - - Dwight, Lieutenant, ii. 457. - - Dyer, Alexander B., i. 27. - - - Eagle-from-the-Light, Nez Perce chief, speech at Walla Walla council, - ii. 48-50; - presents his medicine bear-skin to Governor Stevens, 58; - signs treaty, 63, 92, 107, 202, 214. - - Eagle, Gros Ventre chief, i. 355, 356. - - Earl, Lieutenant-Colonel, i. 114. - - Early, Jubal A., i. 27; ii. 457, 458, 462, 487, 490, 495, 496. - - Eastern View, ii. 430. - - Eaton, Charles H., ii. 170. - - Eaton, Nathan, i. 412. - - Ebey, Isaac N., ii. 170; - murdered by northern Indians, 259. - - Edisto Island, ii. 382, 383. - - Eggers, Albert, ii. 168. - - Eighth infantry, i. 172. - - Eighth Massachusetts battery, ii. 425. - - Eighth Michigan volunteers, ii. 341-343, 359-366, 372, 374, 389; - battle of James Island, 402-415, 425; - battle of Chantilly, 484, 495. - - Elbow Lake, i. 322. - - Eldredge, Edward, i. 412. - - Eells, C., missionary among Spokanes, i. 398; ii. 22. - - Eleventh infantry, i. 170. - - Elk River, ii. 100. - - Ellen, gunboat, ii. 364, 408. - - Ellen, nurse, i. 433. - - Elliott, Point, treaty of, i. 462-469. - - Elliott, Samuel M., Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 322, 324. - - Elliott, William St. George, Major, ii. 359, 364, 377, 474. - - El Pinal, i. 138, 140, 153. - - El Soldado, Mexican village, i. 137. - - Ely, Ralph, Captain, ii. 377, 378. - - Emerson, Ralph Waldo, lectures, i. 81. - - Emigrants, circular letter to, ii. 274. - - Encerro, Santa Anna's hacienda, i. 126, 129. - - En-cha-rae-nae Creek, i. 401. - - En-chush-chesh-she-luxum, Lake, i. 401. - - Endicott, William, i. 16. - - Engineer company, advocates, i. 93; - enlists first man, private Lothrop, 94, 118, 119, 139, 140, 164, 167, - 171. - - English cemetery, City of Mexico, i. 210. - - Ensign, Lewis, ii. 248. - - Ensign, Shirley, i. 415. - - Ernst, Lieutenant, i. 112. - - Eskridge, Richard I., Colonel, U.S.A., married Susan Stevens; their - children, Maud, Richard Stevens, Hazard Stevens, Virginia, Oliver, - Mary Peyton, ii. 502. - - Esquimault Harbor, ii. 291. - - Ethan Allen, Fort, ii. 328. - - Eustis, Henry L., General, i. 27. - - Evans Guards, ii. 392. - - Evans, Elwood, i. 306, 328, 375; ii. 245, 246, 248, 261, 266. - - Evans, John, Dr., i. 287, 296, 302, 307, 351, 364. - - Evans, N.G., General, ii. 381, 411, 412, 450, 460. - - Evelyn, Mr., i. 306. - - Everett, Edward, ii. 302. - - Everett, T.S., i. 106, 308, 311. - - Ewell, Richard S., General, i. 27, 183; ii. 431, 433, 438, 441, 442, - 446, 457, 487. - - Ewen, Camp, ii. 322. - - - Fairhaven, Mass., takes charge of battery, i. 76, 80. - - Falls Church, ii. 330. - - Farnsworth, Addison, Colonel, ii. 425, 452, 459, 466. - - Faugh-a-ballagh, "Clear the way," designation of 28th Massachusetts, - ii. 452. - - Fay, R.C., ii. 256. - - Fayetteville, Va., ii. 432. - - Fenton, William, Colonel, ii. 341, 361, 395, 402, 403. - - Fernandina, Fla., ii. 357, 382. - - Ferrero, Edward, General, ii. 489. - - Fessenden, W.P., Senator, ii. 386. - - Field, Charles W., General, brigade, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Field, H., ii. 208. - - Fifteenth infantry, i. 173. - - Fiftieth Pennsylvania volunteers, ii. 341, 359-366, 388, 389, 421, 425; - battle of Chantilly, 484, 485, 495. - - First artillery, i. 114, 156, 180, 181, 184, 210, 211. - - Fitzhugh, E.C., ii. 158, 205, 253. - - Fitzwater, killed, i. 169. - - Five Crows, Cuyuse chief, ii. 51, 52, 61, 121. - - Flathead Indians, i. 348; - talk with, 381, 382, 384; ii. 16, 22, 23; - manner of ferrying across rivers, 77, 79, 80; - council and treaty, 80-91; - present condition, 91, 92, 99, 107, 114, 115, 125. - - Flathead Lake, i. 382. - - Flathead River, ii. 80, 90. - - Flathead trail, i. 376. - - Flattery, Cape, i. 473, 474, 477. - - Flette, John, ii. 33. - - Flint Hill, Va., ii. 494. - - Floyd, John B., Secretary of War, ii. 287. - - Folsom, Captain, i. 425, 437. - - Forbes, John M., ii. 371. - - Forbes, William H., ii 371. - - Ford, Sidney S., Judge, i. 412, 441-443; ii. 168, 257. - - Ford, Sidney S., Jr., ii. 1, 3, 68, 70, 73, 132, 151, 169, 185, 187, 200, - 255, 256. - - Forts, stockades, and blockhouses built: thirty-five by volunteers, - ii. 234; - twenty-three by settlers, 235; - seven by regulars, 235. - - Forty-sixth New York, ii. 390; - battle of James Island, 402-415, 425, 426, 449, 450, 484, 495. - - Foster, John G., General, i. 112, 119, 131, 172, 178; - wounded, 205, 224; - letter from, 227, 250; - on Coast Survey, 275, 277, 409. - - Foster, Susan, i. 15. - - Fourcier, Louis, ii. 70. - - Fourteen Years' Bill, carried, i. 257-259. - - Fourth infantry, i. 114, 164. - - Fowler, E.S., i. 454, 468. - - Fowler, Professor, phrenologist, i. 60, 265. - - Fowler, William H., Lieutenant, i. 83. - - Fox Island, council at, ii. 192; - reservation, 256. - - Franklin Academy, i. 15. - - Franklin, William B., General, corps, ii. 476, 494. - - Fraser River, ii. 293. - - Fraser, James L., Colonel, ii. 359. - - Fredericksburg, ii. 425. - - Fremont, John C., ii. 270. - - French, Mr., ii. 385. - - French, William H., General, i. 27; - remarks on General Stevens's reconnoissance of the Penon, i. 186. - - Frontera, Mexican general, killed, i. 173. - - Fruitvale farm, battlefield of Chantilly, ii. 483. - - Fry, Dorothy, wife of Captain James, i. 3. - - Fuca, Strait of, i. 473, 477. - - Fuller, Charles A., Captain, ii. 366, 372. - - Fuller, of Maine, i. 260. - - Fuller, W.J.A., ii. 371, 375, 376. - - - Gaines, Major, i. 165. - - Gainesville, Va., ii. 431, 433, 439-441. - - Galena, i. 303. - - Gallicer, first mate bark Prompt, i. 99. - - Gansevoort, G., Captain, ii. 167; - punishes northern Indians, 258, 259. - - Garden's Corners, ii. 357, 365. - - Gardiner, J.W.T., Captain, detailed on exploration, i. 293, 298, 306. - - Gardner, Major, i. 164. - - Gardner, Port, i. 468. - - Garfielde, Selucious, ii. 265, 280, 314, 316. - - Garland, Colonel, i. 139, 140, 142, 169, 205, 206, 211. - - Garnett, Major, ii. 195, 225, 230. - - Garnett, M.R.H., ii. 280. - - Garrison, Mayor of San Francisco, i. 425. - - Garry. See Spokane Garry. - - Gazzoli, Pere, i. 388. - - Genette, Frank, ii. 70. - - George's Island, Boston Harbor, i. 57. - - Georgia, Gulf of, ii. 13. - - Georgia volunteers, 13th, ii. 372, 374, 398; - 47th and 51st, i. 412. - - Germanna Ford, ii. 427. - - Germantown, ii. 481. - - Getty, George W., General, i. 28; ii. 454. - - Gholson, R.D., Governor, ii. 293, 294. - - Gibbon, John, General, ii. 63, 441, 442, 459. - - Gibbs, George, i. 307, 394, 416, 445, 453-457; ii. 3, 5, 245, 246. - - Gibson, A.A., Lieutenant, i. 277. - - Gibson, Edward, ii. 158. - - Giddings, Edward, i. 456. - - Gideonites, ii. 369, 370. - - Giles, Henry, lecturer, i. 93. - - Gilfillan, Charles D., ii. 299. - - Gilmer, Jeremy F., classmate, i. 27, 58, 77, 226, 235. - - Gilmore, Q.A., General, ii. 350, 357, 382. - - Goff, Francis M.P., ii. 169, 171, 187, 197, 200, 201, 210, 214, 222. - - Golden Age, steamship, i. 436; ii. 269. - - Golden Gate, steamship, ii. 269. - - Goldsborough, H.A., i. 415, 445, 453; ii. 245, 246. - - Goliah, chief, i. 463, 466. - - Goodell, J.W., ii. 249. - - Goodell, W.B., i. 412. - - Goose's Neck, i. 376. - - Gosnell, Wesley, ii. 169, 187, 255, 257. - - Goudy, George B., ii. 170. - - Gove, Warren, ii. 168. - - Governor, the, steamship, ii. 345. - - Gracie, Archibald, Lieutenant, ii. 29, 33, 66. - - Grafton, i. 37. - - Graham, Lieutenant, wounded, i. 183. - - Graham, Major, i. 112, 170. - - Graham, William M., i. 302, 307. - - Graham, William M., Captain, ii. 470. - - Grainger, Robert S., General, i. 28. - - Grand Mound prairie, i. 412. - - Grande Ronde, battle at, ii. 201, 202. - - Grant, U.S., General, ii. 303. - - Graves, Frank, Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 395, 402. - - Gray, i. 341. - - Gray's Harbor, ii. 1. - - Great Britain, ii. 12, 13. - - Great Northern Railroad, i. 320, 380, 395. - - Great Pond, North Andover, i. 5, 8; - ducking in, 47. - - Great Republic, ship, ii. 344, 345. - - Great Salt Lake, i. 422. - - Green River, ii. 184, 187. - - Greene, Charles G., i. 273. - - Greene, William B., i. 37, 58. - - Greenwich, ii. 433. - - Gregg, Maxcy, General, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Griffin, Charles, Captain, ii. 329-331, 463. - - Grimball's plantation, ii. 390. - - Grinnell, Joseph & Co., i. 420. - - Gros Ventres, i. 347, 348, 355; - council with, 356-358, 362; ii. 99, 109, 114. - - Grover, Cuvier, Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 293, 298, 306, - 308, 312, 314, 319-321, 345, 351, 355, 359, 364, 370, 372; - winter trip, Fort Benton to Olympia, 422; ii. 448, 455, 456. - - Grover, Lafayette, ii. 296. - - Groveton, ii. 436, 438, 440, 441, 449, 450, 452. - - Guadalupe, Fort, in Puebla, i. 144. - - Guadalupe, Mexico, i. 163, 214. - - Gulf Stream, i. 100. - - Guthrie, Camp, i. 327, 328. - - Guy, i. 329, 338. - - Gwin, William, Senator, i. 269, 437; ii. 298. - - - Hahd-skus, treaty of, on Point-no-Point, i. 469-473. - - Halbert, i. 38. - - Hale, C.H., i. 415. - - Hale, Frank, ii. 70. - - Hale, gunboat, ii. 408. - - Hale, John P., Senator, ii. 320, 386. - - Hal-hal-tlos-sot. See Lawyer. - - Hall, Fort, i. 422. - - Hall, Joseph, ii. 367. - - Hall, J.H., i. 468. - - Halleck, Henry W., General, classmate, rival, i. 26, 27, 31, 35-37, - 58, 71, 72, 75, 80; - letter to, 420; - letter from, 420, 425; ii. 303, 424. - - Haller, Granville O., Major, ii. 28, 29, 121, 157, 158, 207, 294. - - Hamilton, John, Captain, ii. 395, 409. - - Hamilton, Schuyler, General, i. 28. - - Hamlin, i. 243. - - Hammell, Augustus, i. 368, 369. - - Hammond, Dr., i. 436. - - Hampshire, England, i. 1. - - Hampton Roads, ii. 423. - - Hancock, United States warship, ii. 258. - - Hancock, W.S., General, ii. 333. - - Hardcastle, Lieutenant, i. 113. - - Hardee, William J., i. 28, 260. - - Harned, Benjamin, ii. 261. - - Harney, William S., Colonel, i. 125, 126, 153, 167; - General Harney placed in command in Oregon and Washington, ii. 283, - 284, 288; - orders Captain Pickett to San Juan, 290; - reinforces him, 291-295. - - Haro, Canal de, ii. 13. - - Harris, Major, i. 83. - - Haskin, Joseph P., Lieutenant, i. 114, 116, 132, 173. - - Hassard, Nicholas, i. 63. - - Hastings, L.B., i. 412. - - Hatch, Rufus, General, ii. 441, 460, 466, 468. - - Hathaway, M.R., ii. 168, 200. - - Hatteras, Cape, storm off, ii. 270. - - Havana, i. 433. - - Haverhill, Mass., i. 1, 35. - - Hawk, Isaac, i. 415. - - Hawley, Joseph R., Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 395, 402, 405, 407, 414. - - Hayes, John L., i. 83, 257; ii. 273, 282, 498. - - Hayes, William, General, i. 28. - - Hays, Fort, i. 185, 234. - - Hays, Gilmore, i. 414; ii. 158, 168-171, 186; - resigns, 189. - - Hays, Harry T., General, ii. 487, 490, 495, 496. - - Hays, Isaac, ii. 170. - - Haymarket, Va., ii. 440. - - Hazard, Benjamin, i. 63-65, 70, 71; - death, 77. - - Hazard, Daniel L., i. 303; ii. 288, 289. - - Hazard, Emily L., i. 65, 94. - - Hazard, Harriet (_nee_ Lyman), i. 65, 91. - - Hazard, Harriet L., i. 67. - - Hazard, Margaret L., i. 63, 64, 67, 79, 81, 87, 96. - - Hazard, Mary W., i. 65, 94, 95, 276. - - Hazard, Mrs., i. 232. - - Hazard, Nancy, i. 87, 91, 95, 96, 268, 269. - - Hazard, Thomas G., i. 91, 266, 267. - - Hazen, Nathan W., i. 19, 20, 22, 48, 71. - - Hazlett, Charles E., Captain, ii. 469. - - Head, J.C., i. 415. - - Heath family, ii. 483. - - Hebert, Paul O., i. 58. - - Heffron, H.G., Lieutenant, ii. 425, 474, 475. - - Heintzelman, Samuel P., General, ii. 430, 462, 463, 481. - - Hell Gate, i. 379; ii. 93, 125. - - Hell Gate River, ii. 93. - - Hell Gate Ronde, i. 379; ii. 92. - - Henness, B.L., Captain, ii. 169, 170, 186, 197. - - Henry Hill, ii. 435, 470. - - Henry, Joseph, Professor, i. 276; ii. 273. - - Henry, Lake, i. 315. - - Herrera, Mexican peace commissioner, i. 203. - - Hewett, C.C., Captain, ii. 170, 245. - - Hicks, Urban E., i. 412. - - Higgins, C.P., i. 306, 422, 444; ii. 31, 48, 68, 70, 77, 108, 109, - 131, 132, 169. - - Higginson, Henry L., Major, ii. 389. - - Hilgard, H.E., Professor, i. 277. - - Hill, A.P., General, ii. 438, 446, 458, 487, 493, 495, 496. - - Hill, D.H., i. 27. - - Hill, Humphrey, ii. 168. - - Hillsborough, N.C., i. 274. - - Hilton Head, ii. 345, 350-352, 382. - - Hitchcock, C.M., Dr., i. 436, 463. - - Hitchcock, E.A., Colonel, i. 150, 257. - - Hodges, Henry C., Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 307. - - Hodgdon, Stephen, i. 412. - - Hoecken, Father, ii. 85, 90. - - Hoffman, Lieutenant, killed, i. 184. - - Holbrook, Andrew J., Lieutenant, ii. 366. - - Holt, Abiel, i. 13. - - Holt, Joseph, ii. 303, 312, 318. - - Hood, John B., General, ii. 448, 450, 460. - - Hood River, ii. 153. - - Hooker, Joseph, General, i. 27, 83; ii. 430, 432-434, 439, 445, 448, - 460, 464, 481. - - Hope, Camp, ii. 325. - - Horn, Cape, i. 300; ii. 153. - - Horse Butte, i. 327. - - Horse Plains, ii. 79. - - Horton, W.H., ii. 266. - - Hough, F.O., i. 462. - - Howard, O.H., Lieutenant, ii. 408. - - Howard, O.O., General, ii. 63. - - Howe, A.W., General, i. 28. - - Howe, Samuel D., Captain, ii. 169, 171, 188. - - How-lish-wam-poo, Cuyuse chief, ii. 148. - - Hoyt, O.S., i. 307. - - Huger, Eustis, ii. 168. - - Hughes, C., ii. 70. - - Hudson Bay Company, i. 281, 285, 297; - Governor Stevens reports on claims, 297; ii. 13; - people not molested by hostile Indians, 132, 225; - Governor Stevens's opinion of, as neutrals, 229; - ex-employees ordered to settlements, imprisoned, tried, 242-249; - claim San Juan, 289; - exactions of, 281, 282. - - Huet, Charles, i. 389. - - Humber, i. 37. - - Humphreys, A.A., Captain, i. 241, 244, 246; ii. 277, 309. - - Hunt, E.B., Lieutenant, i. 277. - - Hunt, H.J., General, classmate, i. 27, 60, 77, 106; - General Stevens's sense of justice, 188, 210, 212; - army reforms, 240, 259; - letter to, 260; - Jefferson Davis and Governor Stevens, 427, 428. - - Hunter, David, General, ii. 383-386, 393, 399, 420, 421. - - Huntington family, i. 412. - - Hunton, Eppa, General, ii. 460. - - Hurd, James K., ii. 168. - - Hurd, Jared S., i. 415; ii. 168. - - Hurd, M., i. 415. - - Hydah Indians, i. 452. - - Hyde, Breed N., Colonel, ii. 329. - - - Indian Affairs, Commissioner of, reports to, ii. 91, 227-230, 271-273. - - Indian councils and treaties: - She-nah-nam, i. 456-462; - Point Elliott, 463-468; - Point-no-Point, 469-473; - Neah Bay, 473-477; - Chehalis, Quinaiult, ii. 1-9; - Walla Walla, 34-65; - Flathead, 81-91; - Blackfoot, 107-119; - Spokane, 133-140; - Nez Perce, 143, 144; - Fox Island, 192; - Klikitat, 208; - second Walla Walla, 210-220; - treaties confirmed, 285. - - Indian policy, Governor Stevens's, i. 448-450, 454, 455. - - Indian tribes. See map, ii. 16; - Appendix, 503-505, and following:-- - East of Rocky Mountains, Assiniboines, in four bands of Blackfeet, - Bloods, Piegans, and Gros Ventres; Chippewas, Crees, Crows, - Sioux, Winnebagoes. - Tribes of Rocky Mountains, Flatheads, Pend Oreilles, Kootenays. - Tribes of Upper Columbia, Nez Perces, Cuyuses, Umatillas, Walla - Wallas, Coeur d'Alenes, Spokanes, Yakimas, Palouses, - Klikitats, Snakes. - Tribes of Puget Sound, Nisquallies, Puyallups, Duwhamish, Snohomish, - Clallams, Chimakums, Skokomish, Makahs. - Tribes of Coast, Quinaiults, Quillehutes, Chehalis, Chinooks, - Cowlitz. - Northern Indians, Hydahs. - - Indian war, causes of, ii. 25, 26, 163. - - Indian war debt, ii. 296; - paid by Congress, 306-308. - - Indiana, 19th regiment volunteers, ii. 329, 330. - - Ingalls, Mary, wife of Joseph, i. 3. - - Ingalls, Rufus, Captain, ii. 296. - - Ingraham, Sampson, i. 269. - - Ip-se-male-e-con or Spotted Eagle, Nez Perce chief, i. 58. - See Spotted Eagle. - - Ireland, David, Captain, ii. 335. - - Irish volunteers, ii. 392. - - Irons, Lieutenant, killed, i. 184. - - Irvin, Colonel, i. 224. - - Irwin, Lieutenant, ii. 362. - - Istacalco, i. 207. - - Ives, Robert, Captain, ii. 482, 483. - - Iztaccihuatl, mountain in Mexico, i. 159. - - - Jack, i. 393. - - Jackson Club, i. 269. - - Jackson, Fort, near Savannah, i. 230. - - Jackson, J.H., Colonel, ii. 395. - - Jackson, John R., i. 411, 440; ii. 170. - - Jackson, Thomas J., General, ii. 426, 427, 431, 434, 438, 441, 446, 452, - 462, 468, 471, 475, 479, 480; - battle of Chantilly, 487-496. - - Jacksonville, Fla., ii. 357. - - Jacques River, i. 330. - - Jalapa, i. 123, 126, 129, 130; - description of, 132, 133. - - James Island, ii. 380-388; - campaign, 390-399; - battle of, 399-415. - - James, Nez Perce chief, ii. 63, 217. - - James or Jacques River, i. 277, 320, 330, 331. - - James River, Va., ii. 423. - - Jameson, Mr., i. 201. - - Jamestown, i. 320. - - Janney, Mrs., i. 226, 264, 265. - - Jefferson, Va., ii. 431. - - Jekelfaluzy, A., i. 306, 317. - - Jennings, i. 38, 48. - - Jessie, Lake, i. 328, 329. - - Jesuit missionaries, ii. 21, 22. - - Juan el Diablo, Don, i. 225. - - Judith River, ii. 98; - Blackfoot council at mouth of, 110-116. - - Julia, steamer, ii. 292. - - Justice, Jefferson, Lieutenant, ii. 415. - - Jocko River, i. 381, 384, 385; ii. 79. - - John, Captain, Nez Perce chief, ii. 129, 152, 201. - - John Day's River, ii. 30. - - John Taylor, Snohomish chief, ii. 169. - - Johnson Bradley, T., General, ii. 438, 440, 468. - - Johnson, Bushrod, i. 27. - - Johnson, Edward, i. 27. - - Johnson, Fort, ii. 387. - - Johnson, John, ii. 70. - - Johnson, Mr., i. 36. - - Johnson, T. Preston, Lieutenant, killed, i. 172, 184. - - Johnson, Walter W., ii. 284. - - Johnson, W.R., Mrs., ii. 284, 371, 373, 374. - - Jones, camp at West Point, i. 36. - - Jones, David R., General, ii. 450, 490. - - Jones, Gabriel, i. 412. - - Jones Island, ii. 382. - - Jones, James, Colonel, ii. 365. - - Jordan, Captain, ii. 206. - - Jordan, Lieutenant, i. 112. - - Joseph, Coeur d'Alene guide, ii. 67. - - Joseph, Nez Perce chief, ii. 58, 63, 202, 217 - - - Kalorama Hill, near Georgetown, D.C., ii. 325. - - Kam-i-ah-kan, head chief of Yakimas, ii. 27, 38; - at Walla Walla council, 40; - speech, 48, 51-53; - signs treaty, 55-57; - chief instigator to war, 61, 64, 121, 157, 211, 218, 223. - - Kane, P.C., Colonel, ii. 395. - - Kearny, Philip, General, i. 155, 170, 183; ii. 430, 434, 439, 445, 448, - 457, 458, 462, 464, 473, 475; - at battle of Chantilly, 488; - death, 490, 491. - - Kelley, Mrs., i. 257. - - Kelly, James K., Colonel, ii. 144, 160. - - Kelly, William, Captain, ii. 169, 190. - - Kemble, George S., Dr., ii. 343. - - Kemper, James L., General, ii. 450, 460. - - Kendall, B.F., i. 306, 311, 312, 317, 325, 332; 375; ii. 245, 246, 248. - - Kendrick, Captain, i. 113, 259. - - Kendrick, David, i. 412. - - Kennedy, H., ii. 95. - - Kerns's battery, ii. 469. - - Kincaid, William M., ii. 246. - - King, Rufus, General, ii. 439, 441-443, 453, 454, 459, 460, 463, 464. - - Kip, Lawrence, ii. 29, 33, 60, 61. - - Kirby, Major, i. 224. - - Kirkham, Ralph W., General, i. 28. - - Kiser, Benjamin, ii. 92, 115, 117. - - Kitchelus, Lake, i. 408. - - Kittson, i. 325. - - Klady, Samuel, i. 462. - - Klah-she-min or Squaxon Island, i. 458. - - Klikitat Prairie, ii. 187. - - Klikitat River, i. 208. - - Klikitats, i. 452; ii. 22, 190, 208, 257. - - Knox, Fort, opposite Bucksport, Me., buys land for, i. 84; - constructs, 85-100, 265; - resumes charge of, 283; - relinquishes, 283; ii. 309. - - Knox, Mr., buys house, i. 272. - - Knoxville, Tenn., i. 35; ii. 413. - - Koh-lat-toose, Palouse chief, ii. 72. - - Koltes, John A., Colonel, ii. 470. - - Koos-koos-kin, or Clearwater River, ii. 18, 141, 145. - - Kootenay Indians, ii. 17, 22, 77, 79, 80. - - Kossuth, Louis, i. 269. - - - La Frambois, i. 306, 329, 338. - - La Hoya, Mexico, i. 137, 156. - - La Vega, Mexican general, i. 129. - - Las Vegas, Mexican village, i. 137, 138, 207. - - Lakeman, Moses B., Colonel, ii. 497. - - Lamar, Fort or Battery, ii. 396; - assault on, 400-416. - - Lamar, T.G., Colonel, ii. 403, 411, 412. - - Ladies' Island, ii. 354. - - Ladd, Alexander, i. 83. - - Ladd, W.S., ii. 266. - - Lambert, John, i. 306. - - Lambert River, i. 318. - - Lancaster, Columbia, i. 411; - elected delegate in Congress, 418, 432; ii. 15. - - Lander, Edward, Judge, i. 414; ii. 169, 171, 188; - arrested and taken off bench, 244; - holds court in Olympia, issues writs, again arrested, held prisoner - to end of war, 247, 248; - fines Governor Stevens $50, 249, 251-253. - - Lander, Frederick W., i. 295, 298, 299, 306, 308, 314, 319, 321, 325, - 326, 330-332, 338, 345, 350, 355, 359, 365, 368-370, 372, 380, - 381, 383, 384; - ordered to examine Nahchess Pass; - fails, 405, 406. - - Lander's Fork, ii. 125. - - Lake George, N.Y., i. 3, 4. - - Lame Bull, Blackfoot chief, ii. 100. - - Lane, Joseph, General, i. 221, 300, 432; ii. 273, 298; - nominated for vice-president, 304; - his chances, 306, 313. - - Lansdale, R.H., Dr., i. 385; ii. 26, 33, 68, 70, 92, 125, 127, 209. - - Lansing, Arthur B., Lieutenant, i. 60. - - Lapwai, ii. 18, 142, 145. - - Lathrop, i. 100, 264. - - Lawrence, Mass., i. 1. - - Lawton, A.R., General, ii. 446, 457, 458, 487, 495, 496. - - Lawton, Robert R., Colonel, i. 106. - - Lawyer, Hal-hal-tlos-sot, head chief of Nez Perces, ii. 18; - at Walla Walla council, 35-64; - moves lodge in Governor Stevens's camp, 47; - speech, 51, 54; - advises Governor Stevens, 56-58, 71, 146, 202, 210, 217, 218. - - Le Bombard, Alexis, guide, i. 337, 338. - - Le Favre, Captain, ii. 343. - - Leake's Virginia battery, ii. 365. - - Lear, Mr., ii. 208. - - Leasure, Daniel, Colonel, ii. 340-342, 359, 364, 395, 402, 406, 425, 458. - - Lecky, David A., Major, ii. 395, 402, 484. - - Lee, John E., i. 233, 269. - - Lee, Robert E., General, i. 109, 111, 114, 117, 121, 122, 130, 139, 141, - 142, 144, 149; - reconnoitres the Penon, 164-166, 169, 170; - at Contreras, 171, 172, 174, 175, 179, 180; - important services, 185; - sketch of, 194 216, 250, 255; ii. 376, 377, 380, 427, 431, 460, 479. - - Legareville, ii. 390, 393, 394. - - Lemere, Joseph, ii. 70. - - Leschi, i. 461; ii. 184, 208, 225, 236, 238; - hanged, 240. - - Lewinsville, Va., reconnoissance, ii. 329-332. - - Lewis and Clark, i. 348, 378, 379. - - Lewis and Clark's Pass, ii. 93. - - Lewis, Mr., i. 307. - - Lewis, Pere, i. 397. - - Lewis River, i. 411. - - Lighthouse Board, i. 271. - - Lightning Lake, i. 316, 318. - - Lilly, William, Captain, ii. 343, 372. - - Lincoln, Abraham, President, nominated, ii. 305; - elected, 306; - Governor Stevens calls upon, 319, 332, 334, 340. - - Lincoln, Lieutenant, i. 114. - - Lindner, Sergeant, i. 322, 330. - - Lispenard, George, ii. 367. - - Little Dog, Blackfoot chief, i. 368; ii. 100, 114. - - Little Muddy River, i. 351. - - Little River turnpike, ii. 479, 481, 497. - - Little Soldier, Gros Ventre chief, i. 355. - - Little White Calf, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Lobos Island, Mexico, i. 105, 106. - - Lock's Ford, ii. 437, 475. - - Logan, John A., General, ii. 304. - - Logan, Private, remarks on death of, i. 276. - - Long Island Sound, i. 78. - - Longstreet, James, i. 27; ii. 413, 427, 431, 434, 440, 448, 450-452, - 454, 460, 462, 466; - his attack, ii. 469-471, 475, 479, 490, 496. - - Looking Glass, war chief of Nez Perces, ii. 54-58, 92, 129, 130; - treachery discovered, 133, 143, 144, 202. - - Loring, George B., i. 16. - - L'Orme, De, Governor, Red River hunters, i. 340, 341. - - Louisburg, i. 3. - - Louisiana volunteers, 4th, ii. 409, 411. - - Lovell, Mansfield, i. 28. - - Low, J.M., i. 412. - - Lowell, Mass., i. 68. - - Low Horn, Piegan chief, i. 374; ii. 99. - - Lugenbeel, Major, ii. 206. - - Lummi Indians, ii. 256. - - Lummi River, i. 468. - - Lupton, Major, ii. 200, 201. - - Lusk, William T., ii. 343, 368, 459, 482, 483, 485, 497. - - Lyman, Daniel, Colonel, i. 65. - - Lyman, Harriet, i. 65. - - Lymans, i. 77. - - Lyon, Nathaniel, General, i. 28. - - Lyons, Benjamin R., Lieutenant, ii. 366, 372, 402, 405, 406; - death of, 415. - - - Maryland volunteers, 2d, ii. 457. - - Macfeely, Robert, Lieutenant, i. 307, 370, 393. - - Madison, Port, i. 468; ii. 256. - - Maginn, i. 389. - - Magruder, John B., Captain, i. 114, 171, 172, 176, 211. - - Maine, i. 3, 5. - - Maine volunteers, i. 209; - 6th regiment, ii. 332; - 3d and 4th, 488, 495. - - Maison du Chien, i. 338. - - Makah Indians, treaty with, i. 473-477. - - Major Tompkins's steamer, i. 413, 462. - - Malinche, mountain in Mexico, i. 159. - - Maloney, Maurice, Captain, ii. 158, 207. - - Manassas Gap Railroad, ii. 434. - - Manassas Junction, ii. 431, 434, 435, 439. - - Mansfield Joseph, K.F., Colonel, i. 230, 237, 255; ii. 285. - - Man-who-goes-on-Horseback, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Maple River, i. 326. - - Marble Ridge Farm, stratagem against Indians, i. 7. - - Marcy, Camp, i. 319. - - Marcy, William L., Secretary of State, i. 285; ii. 250. - - Marias Pass, i. 380, 381, 384. - - Marias River, i. 361, 362, 369, 370. - - Marion Rifles, ii. 392. - - Marsh, Edwin, i. 415. - - Martial law, ii. 240-250, 263. - - Martin, Augustus P., Captain ii. 463. - - Mason, Charles H., i, 414, 456, 461, 462, 464; ii. 123, 158, 159, - 165, 257, 258; - death of, 289. - - Mason, James L., i. 60-64, 66, 67, 77, 81, 105, 106, 108, 111, 113, - 114, 117, 119, 122, 130, 138, 144; - reconnoitres the Penon, 164-167, 169-171, 182, 201; - wounded, 205, 216; - sketch of, 217, 232, 255, 274, 425. - - Mason, Jeremiah, i. 71. - - Massachusetts, U.S. war-ship, ii. 185, 252, 258. - - Massachusetts volunteers, 1st cavalry, ii. 367, 389; - 28th regiment, 390; - 1st, 11th, and 16th, 455, 456; - 21st, 470, 489-491, 495. - - Matthews, Joseph, ii. 367. - - Matthias, Frank, ii. 168. - - Maxon, H.J.G., Major, ii. 168, 171, 186, 187, 197, 242. - - Maynard, D.S., Dr., i. 412, 465, 466; ii. 256. - - Maynard, Mr., i. 45. - - McAlister, James, i. 412, 462. - - McAlister, John W., i. 462. - - McBane, i. 403. - - McCafferty, Green, ii. 3, 151. - - McCaw, S., ii. 246. - - McClary, Fort, at Portland, Me., i. 83. - - McClellan, George B., General, i. 111, 130, 141, 142, 166, 171, 172, - 180; - asks aid, 238, 260, 263, 264; - Governor Stevens applies for, 288; - letter to, 289, 293, 295-297, 299, 307, 394; - his exploration of Cascade passes, 394-400, 404, 406; - ordered to run line to Snoqualmie Pass, 406; - his failure, 407-409; - disparages settlers, 410; - commended by Secretary Jefferson Davis, 429; ii. 325, 328, 332; - keeps back General Stevens's appointment as brigadier-general, 334, - 336; - General Stevens condemns McClellan's management, and foretells - disaster, 339, 340, 427. - - McClelland, Camp, i. 326. - - McClelland, Robert, Secretary of the Interior, i. 286. - - McClure, Charles, Colonel, ii. 494. - - McCorkle, W.A.L., Captain, ii. 170. - - McCown, John P., i. 28. - - McDonald, in charge of Fort Colville, i. 393, 394, 397, 398; ii. 133. - - McDonough or Caamano Island, i. 409. - - McDowell, Irvin C., General, i. 28; ii. 319, 427, 430, 432-434, 439, - 440, 444, 453-455, 459, 462-464, 481, 494. - - McFarland, Aunt, i. 68. - - McField, John, ii. 243. - - McKay, William C., ii. 32, 170. - - McKensie, Captain, i. 113, 208, 213. - - McKensie, Patrick, ii. 33. - - McKenzie, Fort, i. 370. - - McKinstry, Justus, General, i. 28. - - McLaws, Lafayette, i. 28. - - McLean, Nathaniel C., General, ii. 447, 448, 465, 469, 470. - - McLean, William, Lieutenant, ii. 329, 331. - - McLeod, John, ii. 243, 247, 249. - - McMullin, Fayette, Governor, ii. 268. - - McWillie Senator, i. 257. - - Meade, George G., General, ii. 440, 469, 470. - - Meeker, E.M., ii. 246. - - Meiggs, Montgomery C., General, i. 27, 258. - - Menetrey, Father, ii. 89. - - Menoc, i. 306, 311, 312, 329. - - Meredith, Solomon, Colonel, ii. 329. - - Merrill, Captain, killed, i. 206. - - Merrimac River, Mass. i. 1. - - Merton, W.B., lectures in Bucksport, i. 93. - - Metcalf, E., Major, ii. 395. - - Metsic, Indian hunter, i. 98. - - Mexicalcingo, town in valley of Mexico, i. 165, 166. - - Mexican Congress, i. 151. - - Mexican Gulf, i. 102; - norther in, 104. - - Mexican war justified, i. 232, 273; - work on 250, 255, 256; - Ripley's History, 254. - - Mexico, i. 91. - - Mexico, City of, defenses of, i. 154, 163; - capture, 213-215; - condition of, 222. - - Micheau, Butte, i. 327. - - Michelle, head chief of Koo-te-nays, ii. 77; - at Flathead council, 84, 88. - - Michigan. See 8th regiment volunteers. - - Miles, General, ii. 63. - - Milk Creek, scene of Walla Walla council, ii. 31, 218. - - Milk River, i. 353-355, 361, 362. - - Millard, Justin, ii. 168. - - Millard, M.B., ii. 168. - - Miller, Bluford, Captain, ii. 169, 171, 187, 197; - arrests Judge Lander, 248. - - Miller, General, i. 45. - - Miller, W.W., General, ii. 168, 193; - appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs, 307, 313. - - Milroy, Robert H., General, ii. 446, 447, 451, 452, 470. - - Minot, i. 320. - - Minter, J.F., i. 307, 398-400, 406. - - Minton, John R., i. 116. - - Missionaries, Catholic, not disturbed by hostiles, ii. 132, 225; - Governor Stevens's opinion of, as neutrals, 228, 229. - - Mississippi River, i. 288, 302, 303, 308-310, 353. - - Missoula, town, river, valley, i. 379; ii. 93. - - Missouri, Coteau du, i. 338-340, 345. - - Missouri River, i. 297, 302, 345, 362. - - Mitchell, Joseph L., ii. 248. - - Mix, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, ii. 271-275. - - Mixcoac, i. 201, 202. - - Moffett, Joseph F., i. 306, 322. - - Molinard, Professor at West Point, i. 32. - - Molino del Rey, battle of, i. 204-207. - - Monroe, Fortress, i. 60; ii. 343, 423, 424. - - Monroe, guide, i. 385. - - Monroe, Victor, i. 414. - - Monterey, Mexico, i. 107. - - Montezumas, i. 207, 222. - - Montgomery, Camp, ii. 185, 197, 234. - - Monticello, i. 438. - - Montour, Indian agent, ii. 210. - - Mooar, George, cousin, i. 11. - - Moore, McClellan, Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 395, 402. - - Moore, R.S., ii. 246. - - Mora, i. 203. - - Morale, Butte de, i. 337. - - More, John, Captain, ii. 361, 462. - - Morell, George W. General, ii. 430, 453, 466. - - Morgan, Colonel, i. 173, 220. - - Morrison, David, Colonel, ii. 338, 395, 402, 406, 484, 497, 498; - transmits colors to Mrs. Stevens, 499, 500. - - Morrow, J.H., Colonel, ii. 398. - - Moses, Flathead chief, ii. 88, 89. - - Moses, Simpson P., i. 414. - - Mott, G., ii. 285. - - Mouse River, i. 320, 338, 339, 341, 345, 351. - - Mowry, Sylvester, Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 307. - - Muckleshoot Prairie, ii. 186, 192. - - Mukilteo, i. 462. - - Mullan, John, Lieutenant, detailed on exploration, i. 293, 297, 302, 364, - 380-382, 384; - remarkable trips, 422; ii. 275, 296. - - Mullan Pass, i. 380. - - Mullan road, Fort Benton to Walla Walla, i. 431; ii. 276, 285, 296, 307, - 308. - - Murden, E.O., ii. 245. - - Murphy, Daniel, i. 84, 88, 96, 98. - - Muscle Shell River, i. 364, 381; ii. 99. - - - Nagle, James, Colonel, ii. 448, 457. - - Nahchess Pass, i. 395, 446; ii. 158, 187, 195, 197. - - Nahchess River, i. 395, 405, 406. - - Narkarty, Chinook chief, ii. 6. - - National Bridge, Mexico, i. 120, 121. - - National Democratic Party, Governor Stevens chairman of executive - committee, ii. 305, 306. - - National Palace, occupied by General Scott, i. 213. - - Naylor, Captain, i. 222. - - Neah Bay, i. 473, 477. - - Neely, D.A., Lieutenant, ii. 188, 252. - - Nelson, Duwhamish chief, ii. 208, 225. - - Nesmith, James W., Colonel, ii. 140, 160, 256, 267, 271, 272, 279, 288; - elected senator, 313, 317-320, 386. - - Newarkum, ii. 28, 187. - - New Baltimore, ii. 440. - - New Bedford, Mass., i. 76, 79, 82, 83, 98. - - Newell, Robert, ii. 160, 170. - - New Hampshire volunteers, 3d regiment, ii. 395-409; - 2d regiment, 455; - 6th regiment, 457. - - Newmarket, ii. 459. - - New Mexico, i. 233, 252. - - New Orleans, i. 104. - - Newport, R.I., stay at, i. 60, 79, 82, 83, 87, 226, 232, 250, 265, 274; - arrives at, 427; ii. 320; - monument erected to General Stevens by, 499, 502. - - Newport News, Va., i. 423, 425. - - Newton Cut, ii. 392. - - Newton, John, General, i. 27. - - New York city, i. 36, 78, 427; ii. 270, 319. - - New York volunteers, i. 112, 156, 209. - See 79th Highlanders, 65th, ii. 329, 330; - 33d and 49th, 333, 336; - 47th and 48th at action, Port Royal Ferry, 358-366; - Serrell's engineers, 367, 395; - 46th, 390, 393; - 47th, 393-409; - 5th and 10th, 469; - 1st, 4th, 18th, 101st, 488, 495; - 51st, 470, 489, 495. - - Ninth infantry, i. 173, 176-179. - - Nez Perce Indians, i. 385, 390; ii. 16-21; - at Walla Walla council, 34-64; - sign treaty, 62, 63; - present condition, 65, 99-107, 109, 114, 115, 121, 125, 141; - council with, 143, 144; - furnish escort, 145, 147, 150; - at peace council, 210-220; - aid in fighting hostiles, 221-223; - save Steptoe's defeated force, 230. - - Nez Perce reservation, ii. 62. - - Ninth corps, ii. 423, 424, 427, 445. - - Nisqually, Fort, Hudson Bay Company's, i. 412. - - Nisqually Indians, i. 456-462; ii. 12, 161; - new reservation given, 192, 256. - - Nisqually plains, i. 412. - - Nisqually River, i. 412, 456; ii. 186, 187. - - Noble, Mr., ii. 32. - - Nobles, William H., ii. 341, 343. - - Nooksahk, ii. 256. - - Nopalucan, i. 140, 153. - - North Andover, i. 1, 2, 47, 53, 60, 81. - - North Yarmouth, Me., i. 85. - - North Edisto River, ii. 378. - - Northern Indians, i. 452; ii. 12, 154, 161, 188, 257-259, 289, 294. - - Northern Light, steamship, ii. 313. - - Northern Pacific Railroad, i. 381, 395; - Governor Stevens's speeches on, ii. 279; - letter to Vancouver Railroad convention, 297-299; - company incorporated, 265. - - Northern Pacific Railroad Route Exploration, i. 285-380; - preparing reports in Olympia, 421, 422; - address on, in San Francisco, 426, 427; - makes first report, 427, 428; - final report, 431; ii. 286-309. - - Northerner, steamship, ii. 288. - - Noyes, A.M., sapper, i. 130, 136. - - - Oak Point, i. 411. - - Ocean Queen, steamship, ii. 343, 355. - - Offut, Levi and James, i. 415. - - Ogden, Michael, i. 401. - - Ohio regiment, i. 224. - - Oho de Agua, i. 139, 153, 156. - - Oketie, ii. 380. - - Okinakane or Okanogan River, i. 394. - - Old Horse, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Olney, Nathan, ii. 33. - - Olympia, i. 400, 405-412, 414, 415; - appearance of, 441, 442; ii. 154, 259, 261, 313. - - Ord, E.O.C., classmate, i. 26. - - Oregon volunteers, ii. 140; - defeat hostiles in Walla Walla, 144, 147, 160; - operations, 194. - - Orizaba, peak of, i. 132. - - Orleans, Va., ii. 431. - - O'Rourke, P.H., Lieutenant, ii. 398. - - Osgood, Gayton P., appoints to West Point, i. 22, 273. - - Osgood, Isaac, i. 88, 295, 306, 311, 318, 328, 332, 341, 365, 375, 384, - 385, 392, 427. - - Oson, Louis, ii. 70. - - Osoyoos, Lake, i. 394. - - Ostrander, N., Dr., i. 411. - - Ottawa, gunboat, ii. 358, 361. - - Otter Island, ii. 382. - - Owen, Fort, i. 370, 379, 380; ii. 80, 124, 125. - - Owen, John, ii. 127. - - Ow-hi, Yakima chief, ii. 40, 51, 52; - signs treaty, 64, 204; - death of, 205, 218, 231. - - Ox Hill, Va., ii. 484, 487. - - Ox Road, ii. 483, 487. - - - Packwood, William, i. 412; ii. 169, 170. - - Palmer, H., ii. 70; - death of, 126. - - Palmer, Joel, ii. 12, 27, 29, 66. - - Palmetto regiment, i. 182, 209, 211. - - Palouse Indians, ii. 22, 39, 121. - - Palouse River, i. 401, 402; ii. 71, 141. - - Pambrun, A.D., i. 402; ii. 33. - - Panama, city, i. 435, 436. - - Panama fever, i. 436. - - Panama, Isthmus of, i. 427, 431, 433-436; ii. 270. - - Pandosy, Father, ii. 37. - - Panther Hill, i. 354. - - Paredes, Mexican general, i. 203. - - Parke, John G., General, ii. 277, 424. - - Parker, John G., i. 415. - - Paso de Obejas, i. 120. - - Pataha Creek, ii. 70. - - Patterson, General, i. 126, 221. - - Pat-kanim, Snohomish chief, i. 462-465; ii. 156, 169, 184, 187, 254. - - Patrick, Marsena R., General, ii. 460, 494. - - Pay, brevet, i. 237. - - Peabody, A.P., i. 93. - - Peabody, R.V., Captain, ii. 169, 171, 188. - - Peabody, Sarah, wife of Lieutenant James Stevens, i. 3. - - Pearson, Edward Pennington, Colonel U.S.A., ii. 502. - - Pearson, W.H., express rider, ii. 66, 69, 70, 92, 101, 102; - runs gauntlet of hostile tribes with news of outbreak, 120-123, 129, - 132, 152, 209. - - Pease, William C., Captain, ii. 185, 245. - - Pedregal, lava rock, i. 170, 192. - - Pee Dee battalion, ii. 411-412. - - Pee Dee Rifles, ii. 392. - - Peeps, Cuyuse chief, ii. 214. - - Peerless, steamer, ii. 345. - - Peers, Henry A., Captain, ii. 170. - - Pemberton, John C., i. 28; ii. 365, 376, 380-382, 387. - - Pembina, i. 298, 335. - - Pembina carts, train, i. 313, 314. - - Pembina, gunboat, ii. 358. - - Pena y Pena, Mexican statesman, i. 219. - - Pend Oreille Indians, i. 386, 390; ii. 22-77, 79, 80, 92, 99, 109, 114. - - Pend Oreille, Lake, i. 370, 401; ii. 17. - - Pender, W.D., General, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Penn's Cove, ii. 256. - - Pennsylvania volunteers, i. 112, 209; - 47th, ii. 333. - See 50th, 100th or - - Roundheads; - 45th, 50th, 76th, 97th, 100th, 395-409; - 26th, 455; - 48th, 457; - 51st, 470, 489, 495; - 57th, 488, 495. - - Penobscot River, Me., i. 84, 88. - - Penon, i. 163-165; - Lieutenant Stevens's close reconnoissance of, 166, 167, 190. - - Percival, S.W., i. 415; ii. 169. - - Perote, Mexico, i. 138, 153. - - Perry, James H., Colonel, ii. 358, 361, 364. - - Perry, Matthew C., Commodore, i. 257. - - Perry, Oliver Hazard, Commodore, i. 62. - - Peter, Captain Lee's man, murdered, i. 222. - - Peter, John Colville, Spokane chief, speech, ii. 138. - - Peters, John A., lectures in Bucksport, i. 93. - - Pettygrove, F.W., i. 412. - - Phelps, John W., General i. 28. - - Philadelphia, trip to, i. 53. - - Phillips Academy, enters, i. 19. - - Phillips, Wendell, lectures in North Andover, i. 10. - - Piatt, A. Sanders, General, ii. 453. - - Pickett, George E. Captain, occupies San Juan Island, ii. 290-295. - - Piedad, church, village, causeway, Mexico, i. 164, 207. - - Piegan Indians, i. 348, 351; - talk with, 373, 374; ii. 99, 109, 114. - - Piegan's Tear, i. 376. - - Pierce, Edward L., ii. 370, 385. - - Pierce, Franklin, General, i. 156; - arrives at Puebla, 162, 172, 174; - at Churubusco, 181, 182, 202; - advocates election of, 272-274; - elected President, 280, 281; - invites correspondence, 432. - - Pierre's Hole, fight at, ii. 18. - - Pike, Fort, ii. 185, 234. - - Pike Lake, i. 314. - - Pilkington, James, ii. 2. - - Pillow, Gideon, General, i. 125, 150, 153, 157, 164, 167; - battle of Contreras, 171, 174, 175, 178, 179, 201, 202; - of Chapultepec, 207-210, 224. - - Pioneer Company, ii. 169. - - Pisquouse or Wenatche River, i. 395. - - Pitman, Captain, i. 161, 201, 268. - - Plano del Rio, Mexico, i. 121. - - Plante Antoine, i. 385, 392, 393; ii. 131, 210. - - Planter, rebel dispatch boat, ii. 374. - - Plebe, member of youngest class, West Point, i. 48. - - Plumb, W.W., i. 412. - - Plummer, Alfred A., Captain, ii. 170. - - Pocotaligo, ii. 365, 376, 379, 389. - - Pocotaligo River, ii. 376, 378. - - Poe, Orlando M., Lieutenant, ii. 329; - General, 448, 457, 475, 492. - - Poinsett, Camp, at West Point, i. 46. - - Point-no-Point, treaty of, i. 469-473. - - Pond, Judge, i. 88. - - Poor, Ann, second wife to Isaac Stevens, i. 9, 15. - - Pope, John, General, i. 28; ii. 427, 428, 431-433, 439, 445, 453, 455, - 459-465, 469, 473, 475, 476, 479-481, 494. - - Poplar River, i. 352. - - Popocatepetl, mountain in Mexico, i. 159. - - Porcupine River, i. 353. - - Porter, Benjamin F., ii. 356. - - Porter, Fitz John, General, ii. 430, 432, 434, 439, 445, 453-455, 461, - 462-468. - - Port Labadie, Mo. i. 53. - - Portland, Me., takes charge of works at, i. 83, 84, 95. - - Portland, Ore., i. 438; ii. 153, 269. - - Port Royal, ii. 345. - - Port Royal Ferry, ii. 355, 357; - action of, 358-366. - - Port Royal Island, ii. 353. - - Portsmouth, frigate, launch, i. 84. - - Portsmouth, N.H., takes charge of works, i. 83, 86; - speaks for General Pierce, 274. - - Port Townsend, i. 412. - - Posey, Fort, ii. 185, 234. - - Potter, R.B., schooner, i. 454. - - Powell, Jephtha S., Captain, ii. 169, 170, 197. - - Power, J.M., Colonel, ii. 395. - - Prairie of the Knobs, or Blackfoot prairie, i. 378. - - Pratt, Lieutenant, ii. 374. - - Preble, Fort, at Portland, Me., builds barracks at, i. 84, 87. - - Prescott, General, capture of, i. 62. - - Pressley, Major, ii. 396. - - Prompt, bark, sailing to Mexico, i. 99. - - Providence, R.I., i. 65, 81. - - Prudhomme, William, ii. 70. - - Puebla, occupied, i. 143-162, 214, 224. - - Puget Sound, i. 280, 288; - tour of, i. 416, 417; - description of country, ii. 159, 160. - - Puget Sound Agricultural Company, i. 411. - - Puget Sound Rifles, Governor Stevens commissioned captain of, ii. 313. - - Pulaski, Fort, i. 230; ii. 357, 379, 380, 383. - - Pullen, W.H., i. 462. - - Pu-pu-mox-mox, head chief of Walla Wallas, i. 403, 404; ii. 21, 36, 37; - sarcastic speech at council, 45, 46; - signs treaty, 53, 55-63, 121, 130; - threats to take Governor Stevens's scalp, 132; - treachery of, 144; - death of, 148, 158. - - Putnam, at Bunker Hill, i. 5. - - - Putnam, Simon, schoolmaster, Franklin Academy, i. 16. - - Puyallup Indians, i. 456-462; ii. 161, 187, 192. - - Puyallup River, i. 456; ii. 185, 256. - - - Quaitso Indians, ii. 1-9. - - Quaks-na-mish Indians, ii. 256. - - Qualchen, Yakima chief, murders Agent Bolon, ii. 157, 218, 223; - hanged by Colonel Wright, 231. - - Queretaro, i. 214. - - Qui-e-muth, i. 461; ii. 186, 208, 225; - killing of, 240, 241. - - Quijano, Mexican commissioner, i. 202. - - Quillehute Indians, ii. 8. - - Quil-to-mee, Yakima chief, ii. 222. - - Quinaiult Indians, ii. 1-9. - - Quin-quim-moe-so, Spokane chief, speech, ii. 139. - - Quitman, John A., General, i. 119, 136, 137, 141, 153, 157; - advances from Puebla, 164, 167, 168, 202; - Chapultepec, 207-213, 220. - - - Rabbeson, A.B., i. 412; ii. 169, 171, 187. - - Rabbit River, i. 322. - - Raccoon Ford, ii. 426. - - Rainier, i. 438. - - Rains, G.J., Major, i. 405; ii. 28, 29, 140, 158; - expedition to Yakima valley, 160, 207. - - Ramsay, Senator, ii. 266, 298. - - Randolph, George E., Captain, ii. 488, 492, 497. - - Randolph, Julia, i. 67. - - Randolph, Kidder, i. 88. - - Randolph, Lewis, Lieutenant, ii. 468. - - Randolph, Lucy, i. 83. - - Ransom, Dunbar R., Lieutenant, ii. 355, 359, 469. - - Ransom, Trueman B., Colonel, i. 173, 176. - - Rapidan River, ii. 426, 427. - - Rappahannock River, ii. 425, 427, 428, 430. - - Rappahannock station, ii. 427. - - Rattlers, i. 376; ii. 124. - - Ravalli, Pere, i. 389; ii. 22, 72, 210. - - Raymond, N., ii. 33. - - Red House Ford, ii. 437, 474. - - Red River, i. 320. - - Red River hunters from Pembina, i. 333-337. - - Red River hunters from Selkirk settlements, i. 339-341. - - Red River traders, i. 325, 326. - - Red Wolf, Nez Perce chief, ii. 58, 63, 70, 144, 202, 216, 217. - - Red Wolf's ground, ii. 70. - - Red Wolf, Flathead chief, ii. 82, 86. - - Reed, Captain, ii. 404. - - Reed, Battery, ii. 396, 406, 409. - - Regan, a sapper, i. 136. - - Reid family, ii. 483. - - Remenyi, A. i. 306, 317. - - Reno, Jesse L., General, i. 172; ii. 424, 425, 427, 428, 433, 434, 439, - 448, 457, 462, 464, 470, 472, 477, 484, 489, 497, 498. - - Republic, The, newspaper, i. 272. - - Republican party, doctrine, ii. 302. - - Revolution, i. 62. - - Reynolds, Captain, i. 209. - - Reynolds, John F., General, ii. 430, 439, 440, 442, 445, 447, 448, 451, - 452, 455, 463, 465, 466, 469, 470, 478. - - Reynolds, William H., ii. 367. - - Rhode Island, battle of, i. 62; - legislature, ii. 319; - resolutions on death of General Stevens, 500. - - Rhode Island volunteers, 3d H.A., ii. 395, 409. - - Rhoeder, Henry, i. 413. - - Ribaut, Jean, ii. 422. - - Ricard, Father, i. 412, 443; - his warning, ii. 29. - - Rice, Alexander H., ii. 320. - - Rice, Henry M., Senator, ii. 298, 321, 386. - - Richards, Captain, ii. 169, 170, 187, 197, 200. - - Richmond, ii. 380. - - Ricketts, James B., General, classmate, i. 26; ii. 435, 439, 442, 443, - 463, 464, 472, 474. - - Rifles, i. 210. - - Riley, Colonel, i. 125, 137, 157; - battle of Contreras, 172-174, 179, 181. - - Riley, C.W., Captain, ii. 169, 171. - - Rio del Plano, Mexico, i. 123, 124. - - Rio Frio, Mexico, i. 138, 155, 164, 224. - - Ripley, Roswell S., Major, History of Mexican war, i. 254, 255; - General, ii. 381. - - Risden, Joel, ii. 265. - - River of the Lakes, i. 341, 345. - - Roberts, Charles W., ii. 467. - - Robertson, William, ii. 372. - - Robie, A.H., ii. 68, 70, 98, 124, 132, 152, 168, 200, 202, 210, 257. - - Robinson, Captain, ii. 329. - - Robinson, John C., General, ii. 457, 492. - - Robinson, R.S., ii. 168. - - Rochambeau, i. 62. - - Roche, M., ii. 114. - - Rockwell, Alfred P., Captain, ii. 367, 389, 395, 406, 410, 421. - - Rocky Mountains, i. 364; - proclamation on crossing the summit, 377, 378; - a broad plateau, ii. 93. - - Rodgers, C.P.R., Captain, ii. 358, 360, 420. - - Ropes, John C., ii. 437. - - - Rosa, Rudolph, Colonel, ii. 395, 402, 426. - - Rosario Strait, ii. 13. - - Rose Island, recommends fortifying, i. 69. - - Rosecrans, William S., General, i. 27. - - Rosefield, ii. 435. - - Rotten Belly, Crow chief, i. 368, 369. - - Rotten Belly Rocks, i. 369. - - Roulet, i. 325. - - Roundheads, or 100th Penn. volunteers, ii. 341, 343, 359-366, 391; - battle of James Island, 402-415, 425, 449, 450; - battle of Chantilly, 484, 495. - - Ruddell, Stephen D., i. 412. - - Ruggles, George D., Colonel, ii. 463, 465. - - Ruff, Charles F., General, i. 27. - - Rum River, i. 309. - - Rummell, Corporal, i. 329, 338, 345. - - Running Fisher, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356, 359, 361. - - Rush, Richard C., i. 277. - - Rusk of Texas, i. 260. - - Russell, David A., Captain, ii. 210. - - Ruth, B.F., ii. 168. - - Rutledge, William, i. 412. - - - Sacrificio, island, Mexico, i. 109. - - Sahaptin. See Nez Perce Indians. - - Salem, Mass., i. 35. - - Salem, Va., ii. 431, 440. - - Salisbury, i. 1. - - Salish or Selish, race of Indians, ii. 23, 79. - - Saltillo, Mexico, i. 107. - - Saltzman, Charles McKinley, U.S.A., ii. 502. - - St. Anthony, i. 308. - - St. Augustine, Florida, ii. 382. - - St. Helena Island, ii. 354. - - St. Louis, i. 297, 302. - - St. Mary, village, ii. 80. - - St. Paul, i. 298, 303, 304, 346. - - St. Regis de Borgia River, ii. 75. - - Samish Indians, ii. 256. - - San Angel, i. 169, 179-181, 202. - - San Antonio, i. 138, 169, 170, 174, 180, 182. - - San Augustin, i. 168-171, 174, 185, 202. - - San Cosme, causeway, garita (gate), i. 164, 210, 211; - Lieutenant Stevens wounded, 218, 219. - - San Francisco, i. 422; - visits, 425, 436; ii. 269. - - San Geronimo, i. 173, 174. - - San Juan de Ulloa, castle at Vera Cruz, i. 110. - - San Juan Island controversy begins, ii. 12, 277, 285; - threatens war, 290-295. - - San Juan River, i. 120. - - San Luis Potosi, i. 108. - - San Miguel, hacienda, i. 141. - - San Martin, i. 162, 224. - - Sanders, Captain, i. 106, 112. - - Santa Anna, i. 108, 126; - renounces authority, his career, 145, 146, 173, 179, 202, 203, - 214, 219. - - Santa Annaced, hacienda, i. 139. - - Sante Fe, i. 119. - - Santiago, Fort at Vera Cruz, i. 110. - - Sargent, Horace Binney, Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 367, 395. - - Sargent, L.M., Captain, ii. 402. - - Saskatchewan River, ii. 100. - - Satsop, ii. 1-9. - - Saugus, Mass., i. 82. - - Sauk or Osakis River, i. 308-310, 315. - - Sauk Rapids, i. 309. - - Saunders bottom, i. 441. - - Saunders, Daniel, i. 16. - - Saunders, Fort, at Knoxville, ii. 413. - - Saunders, S.S., i. 412. - - Savage, New England Genealogies, i. 1. - - Savannah, Ga., ordered to, i. 229, 230, 233; ii. 379, 381, 382. - - Savannah River, ii. 357. - - Saviour, drawing of, i. 44. - - Saxton, Rufus, Lieutenant, detailed on survey, i. 293, 296, 297, 307, - 369-371; ii. 389, 390. - - Scalp dance, view and description, i. 59, 60. - - Scammell, Fort, at Portsmouth, N.H., i. 83. - - Scammon, S. Parker, General, i. 28. - - Scattering Creek, i. 380. - - Schenck, Robert C., General, ii. 446, 447, 451, 452, 470. - - Schimmelfennig, General, ii. 452, 459. - - Schlat-lal, Spokane chief, speech, ii. 138. - - Schofield, John M., General, ii. 454. - - Schrotter, E., ii. 246. - - Schurz, Carl, General, ii. 446-449, 452. - - Schuyler, Fort, i. 238, 239. - - Scott, Martin, Colonel, i. 111; - killed, 206. - - Scott, Winfield, General, i. 105, 108, 109, 118, 127, 128; - arrives at Puebla, 144, 156; - estimate of, 162; - advances from Puebla, 164, 168, 170; - battle of Contreras, 174; - able, confident bearing, 175, 179, 180, 194; - addresses troops, 184, 202-204; - Chapultepec, 207, 213, 214, 219, 221, 250; - takes offense, 255, 256, 272-275; - compromises San Juan trouble, 194, 295, 319. - - Scotum, Nez Perce chief, ii. 144. - - Scranton, John H., Captain, i. 413, 468; ii. 292. - - Scull Creek, ii. 347. - - Seabrook, ii. 357-359, 364. - - Sea Islands of South Carolina, ii. 353. - - Sears, Alfred F., Captain, ii. 367, 402, 406. - - Seattle, i. 412; - proper railroad terminus, 417; - Indians attack, ii. 166, 167. - - Seattle, Chief, ii. 463-468. - - Sebastian, Senator, ii. 272. - - Secessionville, ii. 396. - - Second artillery, i. 112, 113, 182. - - Second infantry, ii. 173, 181. - - Second Vermont, ii. 329. - - Se-cule-eel-qua Creek, i. 400. - - Sedgewick, John, General, i. 28. - - Seely, F.W., i. 444. - - Seneca, gunboat, ii. 364. - - Serrell, E.W., Colonel, ii. 395. - - Serrell's engineer regiment, ii. 367, 395. - - Settlers, American pioneers, character of, i. 410, 413, 414; - murdered by Indians, ii. 158. - - Seventh Connecticut, ii. 394; - battle of James Island, 403-415, 421. - - Seventy-Ninth Highlanders, New York volunteers, ii. 320; - character of the men, 321; - heavy losses at Bull Run, mutiny, 322-327, 329, 330; - colors returned 332, 335, 336; - scene when General Stevens bade farewell, 338, 340, 342, 343, 348; - action at Port Royal Ferry, 358-366, 388, 389, 391; - battle of James Island, 402-415; - present sword to General Stevens 416-419, 425, 428, 452, 459; - battle of Chantilly, 482, 485, 495. - - Seward, Fort, ii. 382. - - Seymour, Truman, General, ii 469, 470. - - Shackleford, Lieutenant, i. 112. - - Shaler, Alexander, Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 329. - - Shaw, B.F., Colonel, i. 415, 453; ii. 1, 3, 5, 148, 151, 168, 171; - marches across Cascades to Walla Walla, i. 197; - battle of Grande Ronde 201-203, 211, 212, 221; - arrests Judge Lander, 244. - - Shazer, George i. 462. - - Shead, Oliver, Captain, ii. 169, 171. - - She-nah-nam or Medicine Creek, i. 456. - - Shepard, George, lectures in Bucksport, i. 93. - - Sherburne, Miss, marriage to Lieutenant Whipple, i. 84. - - Sheridan, P.H., General, ii. 190, 303. - - Sherman, Thomas W., General, i. 28; ii. 338, 340, 341, 346, 349, - 350, 357, 358, 368, 369, 376, 383. - - Sherman, William T., General, i. 28; ii. 303, 385. - - Sheyenne River, i. 315, 327, 332. - - Shields, James, General, i. 125, 129, 154, 166, 181, 182, 220, 221; - senator, 248, 258; - gratifying letter from, 268, 271; ii. 266. - - Shoalwater Bay, i. 411. - - Shoshone or Snake Indians, i. 346. - - Shroder, Mrs., i. 67. - - Sibley, i. 166, 178, 176. - - Sigel, Franz, General, ii. 427-429, 432-434, 439, 440, 442, 445-449, - 465, 494. - - Simcoe River, branch of Yakima, ii. 63. - - Simmons, M.T., Colonel, i. 415, 445, 453, 464; ii. 1, 3, 4, 123, - 159, 184, 204, 256. - - Simpson, George, Sir, Governor Hudson Bay Company, i. 291, 296. - - Simpson, William, i. 306, 308, 384; ii. 70. - - Sioux Indians, i. 333. - - Sitting Squaw, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356, 359. - - Sixth infantry, i. 182. - - Skagit Head, ii. 256. - - Skloom, Yakima chief, ii. 40, 55, 64. - - Sko-ko-mish Indians, i. 469-473. - - Sko-ko-mish River, i. 473. - - Skookumchuck Creek, i. 412, 441; ii. 10, 11, 28. - - Slah-yot-see, Palouse chief, ii. 72. - - Slaughter, W.A., Lieutenant, i. 456, 462; ii. 154, 158; - killed by Indians, 159, 207. - - Slaughter, Fort, i. 185, 235. - - Slawntehus or Chimakane Creek and valley, i. 399. - - Small, Robert, ii. 374. - - Smalley, Daniel, Captain, ii. 169-171, 187. - - Smalley, E.V., ii. 284, 297. - - Smith, Alexander (Sandy), ii. 243. - - Smith, Andrew J., General, i. 28; ii. 296. - - Smith, C.F., Lieutenant-Colonel, i. 120, 169. - - Smith, E.W., Captain, i. 113. - - Smith, Frederick A., Captain, i. 235. - - Smith, General, i. 156; - battle of Contreras, 172-175, 179, 202; - Chapultepec, 208-210. - - Smith, Gustavus W., i. 28, 94, 112, 130, 144; - sketch of, 217, 260, 262, 264. - - Smith, Henry, ii. 243. - - Smith, Henry L., i. 58, 64, 71, 72, 264. - - Smith, J.A., lectures in Bucksport, i. 93. - - Smith, John L., Major, i. 117, 119, 121-123, 149, 150, 155, 166, - 169-171, 185, 220, 221, 283. - - Smith, J.S., ii. 263. - - Smith, Larkin, i. 181. - - Smith, William F., General, ii. 328, 329, 332, 335. - - Smith's plantation, ii. 421. - - Snake Indians, ii. 29, 99, 107, 115, 148. - - Snake River, i. 402; ii. 71. - - Snelling, Fort, i. 304. - - Snohomish, Spokane chief, speech, ii. 138. - - Snohomish Indians, i. 463-468; ii. 156, 169, 256. - - Snohomish River, i. 407, 409; ii. 171, 172, 184, 187. - - Snoqualmie Pass, i. 394, 396, 406; ii. 187. - - Snoqualmie River, ii. 172. - - Snow, in mountains, i. 408; - question solved, 422. - - Sohon Gustave, ii. 68, 70, 93, 95, 115. - - Southampton, England, i. 2. - - South Carolina volunteers, i. 209; - 12th and 14th regiments, ii. 365; - 1st, 24th, and 25th regiments, 409; - 1st artillery, 1st, 9th, and 22d regiments, 411. - - Spalding, H.H., ii. 17-19. - - Speaking Owl, ii. 218, 217. - - Spokane, Garry, i. 391-393, 399, 400, 422; ii. 39, 133, 135; - speeches, 136, 139, 140. - - Spokane House, i. 391, 392, 399. - - Spokane Indians, i. 390-392, 399; ii. 16-22; - present condition, 64, 121, 131; - council with, 133-140; - defeat Steptoe, 230; - defeated by Wright, 231. - - Spokane Invincibles, ii. 132, 141, 151, 169. - - Spokane River, i. 399; ii. 141. - - Spotted Eagle, Nez Perce chief, ii. 40, 41, 58, 68, 92, 129, 130, - 150, 151, 169, 201, 219, 220. - - Sprague, William, Governor, offers regiment to Governor Stevens, - ii. 319, 320, 499. - - Springfield, Mass., i. 78. - - Springfield Republican, ii. 320. - - Square Hill, i. 361. - - Squaxon Indians, i. 456; ii. 187, 257. - - Squaxon Island or Klah-she-min, i. 456; ii. 257. - - Stacy, John A.C., i. 61. - - Stahel, General, ii. 447. - - Stahi, Nisqually chief, ii. 208, 225. - - Stanberry, Captain, i. 83. - - Stanley, J.M., i. 296, 306, 308, 359, 368, 370, 373, 375, 378, 385, - 392, 397, 403, 405. - - Stanley, Lake, i. 318. - - Stannard, George J., Lieutenant-Colonel, ii. 329. - - Stanton, Edwin M., ii. 303, 312. - - Stanton, of Tennessee, i. 260. - - Starke, William E., General, ii. 446, 487, 489, 490, 495, 496. - - Steachus, Cuyuse chief, ii. 50, 53, 57, 148, 150. - - Stebbins, second mate bark Prompt, i. 99. - - Steele, Richard, Lieutenant, i. 123, 124. - - Steilacoom, Fort, i. 296, 297, 412; ii. 156, 159, 267. - - Stellam, head chief Coeur d'Alenes, ii. 129; - speech, 137, 138. - - Stephens, Alexander H., ii. 306. - - Steptoe, E.J., battery, i. 141. - - Steptoe, E.J. Colonel, defeat by Spokanes, ii. 185, 206; - at peace council, 210-221; - Indians attack his camp, 222; - marches back to Dalles, 223, 225, 226; - defeated by Spokanes, 230, 283. - - Stevensburg, ii. 427, 428. - - Stevens Cantonment, ii. 80. - - Stevens Guards, ii. 132, 151, 169. - - Stevens hat, ii. 268. - - Stevens, Abiel, captured by Indians, i. 3. - - Stevens, Asa, Captain, died in Lake George campaign, i. 3. - - Stevens, Benjamin, Jr., i. 2. - - Stevens, Charles A., cousin, i. 33, 98, 99. - - Stevens, Dolly, i. 4. - - Stevens, Eliza, aunt, death of, i. 45. - - Stevens, Eliza, cousin, i. 91. - - Stevens, Elizabeth Barker, sister, i. 11; - letters to, 35, 45; - visits Belfast, 51, 67, 68; - goes to Nashville, 73; - marries L.M. Campbell, 82-87; - death, 97. - - Stevens, Ephraim, recompensed for loss by Indians, i. 3. - - Stevens, Fort, ii. 185, 235. - - Stevens, George Watson, i. 265, 266, 269, 295; - breaking mules, 304-306, 319; - scenes at Fort Benton, 365, 366, 441; - death of, ii. 10, 11. - - Stevens, Gertrude Maude, i. 249; - lost on Isthmus, 436; - Panama fever, 437; ii. 502. - - Stevens, Hannah, i. 4. - - Stevens, Hannah Peabody, sister, i. 11, 22, 29, 30, 35, 51, 56, 66, 67; - death, 73. - - Stevens, Hazard, i. 81, 82, 456-462; ii. 27, 56, 70, 98, 99, 110, 152, - 153, 193, 260, 262, 266, 300, 313; - calls on President Lincoln, 334; - appointed adjutant, 79th Highlanders, 335, 337; - appointed captain and assistant adjutant-general, 338, 352, 366, - 383, 389-391, 398; - at battle of James Island, 407, 419, 420, 458, 472, 474, 478, 482-485, - 502. - - Stevens, Henry H., cousin, i. 47, 77, 98. - - Stevens, Isaac, father, i. 4; - settles in Maine, crippled by falling tree, 6; - marries Hannah Cummings, i. 7; - settles in Andover, 8; - characteristics, 9, 10; - children, 11; - wife's ancestry, 12; - letters to, 31, 39, 40, 44, 46, 52-56; - visits West Point at son's graduation, 59; - letters, 69, 74, 78-81, 85, 89, 92, 117, 228, 249; ii. 270; - death of, 498, 499. - - Stevens, Isaac Ingalls. See Table of Contents; - descendants, ii. 502. - - Stevens, James, captain in Louisburg expedition, i. 3. - - Stevens, James, Lieutenant, died in Lake George campaign, i. 3. - - Stevens, James, Revolutionary soldier, diary of siege of Boston, - i. 5, 6. - - Stevens, James, settles in Maine, i. 5, 6. - - Stevens, Jeremy, i. 4. - - Stevens, John, died in Louisburg expedition, i. 5. - - Stevens, John, founder of Andover, i. 1, 2. - - Stevens, Jonathan, grandfather, fights at Bunker Hill, i. 4; - characteristics, 5, 8, 15. - - Stevens, Jonathan, settles in Maine, i. 5, 6. - - Stevens, Joseph, deacon, i. 3. - - Stevens, Julia Virginia, daughter, born, i. 87; - died, Mr. Brooks's tribute, 92; ii. 502. - - Stevens, Kate, daughter, born, i. 277; - lost on Isthmus, 436; ii. 371, 502. - - Stevens, Margaret L. (_nee_ Hazard), wife, i. 63, 64, 67, 79, 81, 87; - letters to, 97-99; - voyage to Mexico, 109-115; - Vera Cruz, 115-117; - battle of Cerro Gordo, i. 127, 128; - Jalapa, description of, 132-135; - Puebla, description of, 158-162; - account of campaign in valley, including Churubusco, 189-202; - arrives at New Orleans, 225; - Washington, 226; - views and ideals, 251-254, 265-267; - canoeing up Cowlitz, 439, 440; - impressions of Olympia, 442-444; - visits Whitby Island, ii. 154, 155, 187, 248, 249, 260, 313, 371; - letters to, 373, 374, 479, 500. - - Stevens, Mary Jane, sister, i. 11, 35, 51, 67, 68, 81, 82, 85-87; - death, 162. - - Stevens, Moses, uncle, i. 4, 51. - - Stevens, Nathan, councillor, first male child born in Andover, i. 2. - - Stevens, Nathaniel, uncle, i. 4, 16, 81, 92. - - Stevens, Oliver, brother, i. 11, 46, 47, 51, 54-56, 67, 73, 74, 77, 81, - 82, 85, 87, 92, 97, 229, 230, 236, 242, 243. - - Stevens, Oliver, uncle, i. 4. - - Stevens, Primus, faithful servant to Benjamin, Jr., i. 2. - - Stevens, Sarah, i. 4. - - Stevens, Sarah Ann, sister, i. 11, 22, 35, 51, 67, 81, 85; - death, 86. - - Stevens, Susan, daughter, i. 95, 257; ii. 502. - - Stevens, Susan Bragg, sister, i. 11; - letters to, 34, 35, 45; - attending school, Andover, 51; - goes to Missouri, 52, 67; - marries David H. Bishop, 68; - death, 77. - - Stevens, Susanna (_nee_ Bragg), wife of Jonathan, grandmother, i. 4, 13; - death, 68. - - Stevens, William, uncle, i. 4; - suggests West Point, 22; - letter to, emotions on entering West Point, 24, 29, 33, 35-39, 58, - 66, 69, 81. - - Stevens, William O., cousin, i. 91. - - Stevensville, ii. 80. - - Stewart, Charles, ii. 497. - - Stock, Whitley, Des Chutes chief, ii. 212. - - Stone, C.P., General, ii. 312, 319. - - Stono River, ii. 378, 387, 390. - - Strahan, Captain, ii. 401, 408, 410. - - Strobel, Max, i. 306, 326. - - Strong, William, Judge, i. 411; ii. 160, 170. - - Stuart, A.B., ii. 10. - - Stuart, J.E.B., General, ii. 331, 431, 438, 494. - - Suckley, George, Dr., i. 296, 306, 308, 312, 314, 315, 317-319, 345, - 375, 382, 422. - - Sudley Church, ii. 438. - - Sudley Ford, ii. 435. - - Sullivan, Bridget, nurse, i. 269. - - Sulphur Springs, ii. 429, 431. - - Sumner, Edwin V., General, i. 122; ii. 494. - - Sumter Guards, ii. 392. - - Sun River, i. 375, 376; ii. 94, 124. - - Suydam, Mr., ii. 385. - - Swan, James G., account of Chehalis council, ii. 1-9, 25; - Governor Stevens's secretary, 275, 284, 294. - - Swan, John M., i. 415. - - Swan, Mr., i. 458. - - Swartwout, Captain, i. 113, 206. - - Swartwout, Samuel, Captain, ii. 185, 187. - - Sweet Grass Hill, i. 360. - - Swindal, C.W., Captain, ii. 169, 171, 186. - - Sykes, George, General, i. 27; ii. 430, 453, 466, 468, 470. - - Sylvester, Edmund, i. 414. - - - Tacoma, i. 459. - - Tacubaya, village near City of Mexico, i. 164; - occupied, 200, 202, 210, 219. - - Tafft, Henry S., Lieutenant, ii. 343, 363, 366, 408. - - Talcott, General, i. 257. - - Taliaferro, William B., General, ii. 437, 441, 442. - - Talisman, paper, edits, i. 57, 58. - - Talome River, Mexico, i. 120. - - Tampico, Mexico, i. 105, 106, 108. - - Taplin, Charles, i. 302. - - Tappan, William H., i. 416; ii. 1, 3, 67, 91, 92, 107-109, 132. - - Tatnall, Commodore, ii. 346. - - Taylor, Battery, i. 164, 180, 181. - - Taylor claim, ii. 262. - - Taylor, Colonel, ii. 338. - - Taylor, Nelson, General, ii. 448, 456, 457. - - Taylor, William, ii. 14, 15. - - Taylor, Zachary, General, i. 91, 107, 108; - view of, 236, 244. - - Tepe Ahualco, Mexico, i. 139. - - Terry, Alfred H., General, ii. 454. - - Teton River, i. 362, 368, 375; ii. 94, 120. - - Texas, i. 91; - bill, 252. - - Texcuco, lake in valley of Mexico, i. 164. - - Texmaluca, village in valley of Mexico, i. 169. - - Thayer, Colonel, i. 57, 237. - - Third artillery, Battery E., ii. 395. - - Third infantry, i. 156, 176, 181. - - Third Vermont, ii. 329, 330. - - Thom, George, General, classmate, i. 27. - - Thomas, Edward L., General, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Thomas, George H., General, i. 28. - - Thompson, Jacob, Secretary of Interior, ii. 272, 274, 306. - - Thompson, R.R., ii. 32, 33. - - Thompson River, ii. 293. - - Thornton, Captain, i. 164; - killed, 169. - - Thoroughfare Gap, ii. 431, 440. - - Three Bears, Blackfoot chief, i. 368. - - Three Buttes or Sweet Grass Hills, i. 360. - - Three Feathers, Nez Perce chief, ii. 129, 130, 144. - - Til-coos-tay, Flathead chief, ii. 86. - - Tilden, Bryant P., i. 58, 72, 132. - - Tilton, Fort, i. 184. - - Tilton, James, Major, i. 445; ii. 123, 159, 168, 176, 193, 248. - - Timothy, Nez Perce chief, ii. 39, 57, 63, 70, 217. - - Tinkham, Abiel W., assistant at Fort Knox, i. 88, 233, 268, 295, 298, - 306, 308, 314, 319, 321, 322, 326, 330-334, 341, 342, 370, 381, - 383-385; - ordered to examine Snoqualmie Pass, 406; - his successful trip, 408, 422, 427. - - Tin-tin-meet-see, ii. 148. - - Tlascala, i. 144. - - Tleyuk, Chehalis chief, ii. 7, 8. - - Tlinkits, northern Indians, i. 452. - - Todd, John B.S., General, i. 28. - - Tolmie, William Frazer, Dr., i. 412. - - Toombs, R., General, ii. 494. - - Totten, Joseph G., General, i. 60-62, 89-91, 94, 98, 105, 109, 114, - 119, 226, 227, 235, 237, 239, 256; - letter to, resigning, 282; - reply, 283; ii. 273, 317, 318. - - Touchet River, i. 402; ii. 218. - - Tower, Zealous B., General, i. 28; - draws character of General Stevens, 43, 58, 105, 108, 111, 119, 121, - 122, 130, 139, 142, 144, 166, 167, 169, 170, 179, 185; - sketch of, 217, 237; ii. 470. - - Townsend, A., ii. 257. - - Townsend, E.D., General, his advice, i. 26, 28. - - Townsend, Port, i. 473, 477. - - Train, Charles R., ii. 320. - - Train guard, ii. 169. - - Trapier, Lieutenant, i. 105. - - Traveler, steam tug, ii. 266. - - Traveler's Rest Creek, i. 379. - - Tremain, Lieutenant, ii. 457. - - Trimble, Isaac R., General, ii. 487, 495, 496. - - Tripler, Dr. i. 124. - - Trist, Nicholas, i. 200, 208. - - Tulalip Reservation, i. 468. - - Tulancingo, i. 168. - - Tulifiny River, ii. 376. - - Tumwater, i. 441. - - Twelfth infantry, i. 173, 179. - - Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, ii. 390, 391; - battle of James Island, 402-415, 425, 428, 452, 484, 485, 495. - - Twiggs, General, i. 12; - battle of Cerro Gordo, 125, 126; - reaches Puebla, 144, 155; - advances, 162, 164; - battle of Contreras, 170-172, 175-182, 202; - Chapultepec, 208-210. - - Twiggs, Major, i. 209. - - Tybee Island, ii. 382. - - Tyerall, E.R., i. 462. - - - Umatilla Indians, ii. 16, 21; - at Walla Walla council, 36-64, 121, 158, 212. - - Umatilla River, ii. 30. - - Umatilla treaty, ii. 63. - - Ume-how-lish, war chief of Cuyuses, captured, ii. 147, 152, 262. - - Union, Fort, i. 295, 297, 320, 345, 346; - description of, 347, 351. - - Union, preservation of, ii. 301, 302. - - Union, steamship, ii. 345. - - Union Light Infantry, ii. 392. - - Updyke, Isabella, i. 88. - - Upshur, J.H., Lieutenant, ii. 365. - - Utah Bill, i. 252. - - - Valencia, Mexican general, i. 179, 203. - - Van Bokkelen, J.J.H., ii. 168-171, 187. - - Vancouver, fort and town on Columbia River, i. 297, 394, 400, 405, 406, - 411; ii. 12, 153, 156, 159, 206, 208, 288. - - Vancouver Island, i. 417, 418; ii. 13. - - Vanderbilt, Cornelius, ii. 343. - - Vanderbilt, steamship, ii. 342, 344, 345. - - Van Dorn, Earl, i. 27. - - Van Ogle, William, ii. 265. - - Van Vliet, Stewart, General, i. 27. - - Vaughan, A.J., ii. 114. - - Venta Nueva, i. 224. - - Vera Cruz, Mexico, i. 106-108, 110; - siege of, 111-115; - leaves, 119-221. - - Vermont, 2d and 3d volunteers, ii. 329-331. - - Vernon, i. 63. - - Victor, Flathead chief, i. 383-385; ii. 77-80; - at Flathead council, i. 80-92. - - Victoria, B.C., i. 417, 418, 477; ii. 292. - - Viele, Egbert L., General, ii. 341, 357, 382. - - Vienna, ii. 330. - - Vigara, Mexico, i. 119. - - Villamil, Mexican commissioner, i. 202. - - Vireyes, i. 139. - - Virginia, Army of, ii. 427. - - Virginia, 13th regiment, ii. 331; - 1st cavalry, 332; - 13th and 35th, 446, 447. - - Vogdes, Israel, General, i. 25, 27. - - Voltigeurs, i. 208. - - - Wabash, Commodore Dupont's flagship, ii. 344. - - Wadmalaw River, ii. 378. - - Walcott, Charles F., General, ii. 490, 496, 497. - - Walcott, Lieutenant, ii. 491. - - Walker, Elijah, Colonel, ii. 488, 497. - - Walker, E., missionary among Spokanes, i. 398; ii. 22. - - Walker, Fort, ii. 345. - - Walker, Henry, ii. 392. - - Walker, R.M., i. 315; ii. 168, 248. - - Walker Donation Claim purchased, i. 421; ii. 265. - - Walla Walla, old fort, i. 296, 297, 402, 403; - plundered by Indians, ii. 158. - - Walla Walla River and valley, i. 393, 400, 403; ii. 31, 147, 149, 209. - - Walla Walla Indians, ii. 16, 21; - at Walla Walla council, 35-64, 121, 157, 158. - - Walla Walla council, ii. 27, 31-65. - - Wallace, William H., ii. 170, 245, 266, 289. - - Wallamet Indians, ii. 23. - - Wanton, Gideon, Governor, i. 65. - - Wanton, John G., i. 65. - - Wanton, Mary, "Charming Polly," i. 65. - - Warbass, Edward D., ii. 169, 187. - - Warbass, N.G., Dr., i. 439; ii. 168. - - Ward, Ira, i. 415. - - Warfield, L.A., Captain, ii. 343. - - Warren, Dr., treats rupture, i. 18. - - Warren, G.K., Colonel, ii. 466, 469. - - Warrenton, ii. 430, 432. - - Warrenton Junction, ii. 430-432. - - Washington, Camp, near Vera Cruz, i. 115. - - Washington, Camp, south of Spokane River, 399, 400. - - Washington, George, General, i. 62. - - Washington, George, i. 412. - - Washington, Territory of, formed, i. 280; - appointed governor of, 282; - sparse settlements in, 411-414; - Governor Stevens's messages to legislature, 418, 419, 445, 447; - ii. 162-164, 262; - resolution that governor visit Washington, i. 424; - of censure, ii. 263-264. - - Washington Artillery, ii. 450. - - Washington City, visits, i. 75, 89, 226, 237; - life in, 242-292, 302; - spends summer of 1854 at, 427-434; ii. 271, 295, 319. - - Washington Lake, ii. 188. - - Washington Mounted Rifles, ii. 169, 197. - - Washington territorial library, purchased, i. 300. - - Washington volunteers, called out by Governor Mason, disbanded by Wool, - ii. 149, 158, 160, 168-171, 189; - mustered out on Sound, 192; - all disbanded, character and services, 232-235. - - Waterloo Bridge, ii. 430. - - Watson, Colonel, i. 221. - - Watson, Major, ii. 366. - - Webster, Daniel, i. 75, 248, 249. - - Weed, Stephen H., Captain, ii. 470. - - Weed, Charles E., ii. 168, 248. - - Wee-lap-to-leek, chief of Tigh Indians, ii. 214. - - Wellman, Captain, bark Prompt, i. 99, 108. - - Welsh, Thomas, Colonel, ii. 395. - - Wenass River, ii. 197. - - Wenatche River, i. 395; ii. 64. - - West, Mr., ii. 329. - - West Point, i. 22, 83; - course at, 24-59; - revisits, 78. - - Whig party, i. 260. - - Whipple, A.W., General, i. 27, 83, 84. - - Whitby Island, ii. 154, 184, 258. - - White, sapper, death of, i. 346. - - White, William, Captain, ii. 169, 171, 187. - - White Antelope, Gros Ventre squaw, ii. 355. - - White Bear, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - White Bear Lake, i. 312, 318. - - White Eagle, Gros Ventre chief, i. 355. - - White Earth River, i. 345. - - White Man's Horse, Blackfoot chief, i. 352. - - White River or Duwhamish, ii. 159, 187, 188. - - White Salmon River, ii. 257. - - White Tail Deer, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - White Wood Lakes, i. 338. - - Whitman, Marcus, missionary among Cuyuses, i. 403; ii. 21. - - Whitney, L., Major, i. 114. - - Whitworth, George F., Rev., i. 415; ii. 260. - - Wiedrich, Captain, ii. 451. - - Wilbur, agent of Yakimas, ii. 64. - - Wilcox, C.M., General, ii. 450, 460, 471. - - Wild Rice River, i. 324. - - Wilkie, Governor, Red River hunters, i. 334, 335. - - Wilkinson, Morton S., Senator, ii. 299. - - Willard, G.K., Dr., i. 415; ii. 168. - - William I., Emperor of Germany, awards San Juan Archipelago to United - States, ii. 294. - - Williams, Hezekiah, i. 229. - - Williams, James, Captain, ii. 169, 170, 200. - - Williams, Robert, General, ii. 382, 394, 395, 399, 400; - at battle of James Island, 408-411. - - Williams, Seth, General, i. 27. - - Wilmington Island, ii. 372. - - Wilmington, N.C., i. 272, 277. - - Wilson, Henry, Senator, ii. 319, 385. - - Wilson, James H., Lieutenant, ii. 372. - - Wilson Point, ii. 184. - - Winders, Captain, i. 211. - - Winfield Scott, steamship, ii. 313. - - Winnebago Indians, i. 309. - - Winthrop, Theodore, ii. 64. - - Wi-ti-my-hoy-she, Palouse Indian chief, i. 402. - - Wolf's Lodge prairie, i. 390; ii. 131. - - Wolf Talker, Gros Ventre chief, i. 356. - - Wolf that Climbs, Blackfoot chief, i. 368. - - Woodbury, Charles Levi, i. 274. - - Woodbury, D.P., General, i. 27, 226. - - Woodward, H.R., i. 415. - - Wool, John E., General, rebuked, i. 437; ii. 33, 148, 149, 153, 156, - 160, 161; - memoir sent to, 173, 174; - reply, 175, 176; - demand to disband volunteers, 177; - Governor Stevens's caustic reply, 177-184, 196, 207, 224; - orders settlers kept out of upper country, 225, 226; - relieved by General Clark, 266, 276. - - Worth, William S., General, i. 105-107, 115, 119, 120, 126, 129, 130, - 138, 139, 141; - occupies Puebla, 143; - advance from Puebla, 164, 167-169, 171, 174, 175, 180; - at Churubusco, 181, 202; - battle of Molino del Rey, 205, 206; - battle of Chapultepec, 208, 213. - - Wren Charles, ii. 243, 247, 249. - - Wright, George, Major, i. 205; - Colonel, ii. 64, 147, 173, 190, 191; - abortive campaign against Yakima, 194-199; - Governor Stevens's letter to, 199, 202, 203; - quasi-peace with Yakimas, 204; - puts Ow-hi and Quelchen to death, 205-208; - gives order to give up Indian murderers, its evasion, 224, 225; - punishes the Yakimas and Spokanes, 230, 231, 274, 283; - recommends treaties, 285. - - Wright, H.G., General, i. 27; ii. 341, 357, 380, 382, 383, 387, 388, - 394, 395, 399, 400, 408-411, 421. - - Wyncoop, Colonel, i. 156. - - - Xochimilco, lake in valley of Mexico, i. 163, 165. - - Xochimilco, village, i. 168, 171. - - - Yale College, solves problem from, i. 20. - - Yantis, Benjamin F., Judge, ii. 132, 169, 249. - - Yellowstone, i. 337, 345, 347; ii. 107, 108. - - Yelm prairie, ii. 185. - - Yakima Indians, ii. 16, 22; - at Walla Walla council, 40-64; - present condition, 64, 121, 140; - begin war, 157; - defeat Major Haller, 158, 160, 186; - massacre at Cascades, 190, 197, 221-223, 257, 273, 274. - - Yakima River, ii. 63, 197. - - Yakima treaty, ii. 63, 64. - - Yakima valley, i. 394. - - Yesler, H.L., i. 412; ii. 251, 256. - - Young's Branch, ii. 435. - - Young Chief, head chief of Cuyuses at Walla Walla council, ii. 38, 42, - 44, 51; - assents to treaty, 53, 61, 121. - - - Zacatecas, Mexico, i. 151. - - - The Riverside Press - _Electrotyped and printed by H.O. Houghton & Co._ - _Cambridge, Mass, U.S.A._ - - - - - * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Some compound words (e.g., 'wagon-master') appeared both with and -without a hyphen. They are given as printed. Where a word is hyphenated -on a line break, the hyphen is retained if the preponderance of other -appearances indicate it was intended. Index entries tend not to -hyphenate words that are unhyphenated in the text. All variants -were retained. - -Illlustrations cannot be reproduced here, but the approximate position -of each is indicated as: [Illustration: <caption>]. - -Footnotes are repositioned at the end of each chapter. They have been -re-numbered consecutively. - -The total for the second table on p. 381 appears incorrectly as 16,988. -The figures, as printed, add to 17,009. - -On p. 401, the word 'premptorily', apparently an error for -'peremptorily' appears in a quoted passage, and is merely noted here. - -Neither of the versions of 'Quinault' in the table on p. 504 agrees -with the modern spelling. To be consistent, the second instance was -changed to agree with the first, 'Quinaiult'. - -Index - -There were several errors discovered in the index, which refers to -both volumes. On occasion, the volume numbers 'i' or 'ii' are missing -or incorrect. These errata are included in the table below. - -While these errors are corrected, no systematic attempt -was made to check all entries. - -The entry for 'Daufuskie Island' was misprinted as 'Danfuskie', and -attributed to the wrong page (p. 282 rather than p. 382). It should -have followed the entry for 'Danpher', just below it. - -Minor punctuation lapses were silently corrected. - -The following minor issues, most likely printer's errors, are noted, and -were corrected. - - p. 85 Governor Stevens[;/:] Corrected. - - p. 94 vicin[i]ty Added. - - p. 95 luxur[i]ant Added. - - p. 268 meeting[s] Added. - - p. 318 well known in Congress.["] Removed. - - p. 349 stren[u]ously Removed. - - p. 368 Serr[i/e]ll's Corrected. - - p. 371 discipl[in]ing Added. - - p. 381 Brigad[i]er-General Ripley Added. - - p. 401 premptorily _sic._ - - p. 432 Junct[i]on Added. - - p. 450 b[r]ack Removed. - - p. 504 Quin[ia/ai]ult Transposed. - - p. 507 Anderson, George T., Colonel, i[i]. 490. Added. - - p. 510 river, [i.] 412; Added. - - p. 512 Da[n/u]fuskie Corrected and - repositioned. - - p. 513 Flattery, Cape, [i.] 473, 474, 477. Added. - - p. 514 Gosnell, Wesley, ii. 169, 187, 255, 2[2/5]7 Corrected. - - p. 516 James River, Va., [ii.] 423. Added. - - p. 525 Seventy-Ninth Highlanders, New York volunteers, - [i]i. 320, Added. - - action at Port Royal Ferry, 3[6/5]8-366 Corrected. - - p. 526 Stevens, Eliza, cousin, [i]. 91. Added. - Stevens, George Watson, [i.] 265, 266, 269, 295; Added. - - p. 528 Townsend, E.D., General, his advice, [i.] 26, 28. Added. - - p. 529 Virginia, 13th regiment, ii. 3[2/3]1; Corrected. - 1st cavalry, [3]32; Added. - Washington, Camp, south of Spokane River, - [i.] 399, 400. Added. - Wellman, Captain, bark Prompt, [i.] 99, 108. Added. - - p. 530 Xochimilco, village, [i.] 168, 171. 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