MA

A I N DI AN S ;

1 85 4 .

S A L EM , OR E
A SQAH E L B US H , T E
 C O R R E S P O N DE N C E

M e b y the Sn ak e R iv er
4 .

T E RR I T O R Y OF O R E G ON ,
E " E C U T I V E OFF I C E ,
Sa le m Dec 1 1 , 1 854
,
. .

To th e H ome of Rep resen ta tiv es of t h e Terri tory of Oregon

res ol ution o f th e 7 th instant , r equesting

the correspondence and in formati o n in my
the massacre o f a portio n o f the las t immi
ti o n , by the Snake Indians , on the 2 0t h o f Augu st last , I have
h on o r t o transmit t h e a cc o mp anying do cu m ents .

GE O L C U R R Y . . .

Ta n ro n x O F ORE G O N ,
g
'
i

E " E C U T I V E OFF I C E ,

Salem 881) t 1 8 1 854

. . .

G EN . JO S E PH L AN E ,

D eleg a te to C on g ress f ro m O reg on

DE A R S i ng I enclo se , herewith , a s l ip "
c ontaining an au th en
F

t1c account o f the massacre o f a immigra tio n to thi s

 4

T h e new s of this distressing occurrence , has occasioned deep fee l

in g in the hearts o f the community A U S force , under the com
. . .

mand o f M aj o r H aller , o f the 4t h in fantry , and one company of

volunteers , co mmanded by N athan {) ln ey , E sq , are now in pursuit .

o f the murderers , having engaged in the e x ped i tion , u pon the recep
"
tion o f the news at the Dalles , with a p romptitude the most grat
i fyin g and commendable I t is very much to b e hoped that it may
.

be in the power o f the authorities to in flict u po n the perpetrato rs o f

this great ou trage , the punish ment they so richly meri t .

You will do me a personal favor and your constituents a great

,

s ervice by callin the at ten tio n o f the Department o f W a r to the

,
g ,
fact o f the necess i ty o f the establishmen t o f a garrison , or mili tary

post , at or near F ort Boise "
W ere i t only kep t u p during the
s ummer and fal l months , wh ile the immi rants are on t h e road , it
g .

w o u ld be o f incalcula b le bene t in ke eping in chec k the propensities

o f the Indians to r obbery and violence .

Indeed I c o nceive it t o be a matter o f th e chiefest i mportanc e that

, ,

o u rgovernment sh o uld give more attention t o this matter o f ro t o r

t ion and de fence , o f the annual emigration towards the P a cidb
. "

If .

i t be not prac t ic abl e t o ao rd protec tion over the entire ro u te , let

.

s uic ie n t forces from t h e posts at the e x tremes o f t he territo r y , be

dir ected t o ma ke summer and fal l e xc u rsions i n to t h e heart o f the
I ndian coun t ry , and in the vicinity o f the i mmigrant routes A re .

there n o t po s t s within the sett lements in thi s and W as hingt o n T ar

,

mito t i c a, the location o f which might be changed , with advant ag e , to

My dear sir, w ith every con d en ce in yo u r spirit and e nergy I ,

l e a ve th is mat t erin yo u r hands ; press it with a ll earnes t ness and

fo rce upo n the department , and i f need b e , u po n Co ngress Th e '
.

d ive s o f our peopl e mus t not b e s a cri ced , w hen it is in the power o f
.t h e g o vernme n t t o a vert it .

Yours always sincere ly , ,

GE O L C U RR Y . .
,

oting G ov ern o r of Oreg o n .

y th e ri otin g G ov e rn o rof O reg o n ,

A P R O CL A M A T I O N
'

W e , h e r a s the S n a k e t rib e o f Indi a n s, o r a portio n o f t h e m,

h a v e . .

c o mmitt e d a m o s t unprec ede n ted o utrage upon a party o f the 1 min .

r B m
s

m d
o

the m o f F o t r h ve bee h t
o

g r a t l o n, 1 n vi c i t y oi s e u n a
m e en a n s o

down ; d efens eles s w o men an d harmless c h i ldren , a ft eren d u rmg cap

t ivity , have been m o st b arb ar o u s ly an d inhumanly tortured t o dea th ;
.
 5

and in order to aid in pro t ecting future immigration and t o se c ure ,

the pe ace o f the frontier settlements i t is deemed advisab le to ch as ,

tise the per pe trators o f this high handed o ffence by a puni sh m ent -

co m mensurate wi t h th e magnitude o f their crime ; and w h ereas i n ,

view the force already in the eld is j udged t o be inadequa t e fo r

, I.

c o mp le te su c c e s s r

I have there fore issued this my proclamatio n calling for t h e en

. ,

rol lmen t , fo r si x months unless sooner dis charg ed o f two compan ie s

, "
,

o f volunteers o f si x ty m e n each to be mounted every volunteer to

q
'
.
, , ,

fu rnish his o w n arms and a m un it io n horse and e uipme nts the com ,
.

pani c s to elect their own o f cers and report to B rigadier G enera l ,

;

N e smith o n or be fore the 2 5t h in stant one c ompany to rende z vou s

,
.

at Salem and the other at O rego n City

,
.

G iven under my hand , at Sale m this i 8th day o f Sept , 1 854 ,

. .

GEO . L . CUR R Y,
eti ng G ove rn or of O reg on .

T E RR I T O R Y O F ORE G O N ,

E " E C U T I V E OFF I C E ,
Sale m Sept 1 9th , 1 854,
. .

I nn e r
" OL N E Y

. My D ea r U p on the receipt o f the in formati o n which y o u

S ir -

were so kind as t o forward to me and which is the rst and all that ,

h a s come to me o fcially I came to the conclusion to call out a force ,

,

and h ave issued a proclamation to that end calling fo r two com pa ,

nies , o f s i x ty men each , one o f which to rende z vous at Oregon City ,

and the other at Salem to e lect their own o fcers I shal l plac e .

the whol e force under the command o f G en N esmith , and give i t a ll .

ossible di s patch I am astonished to n d mysel f so deceived in re

p
.

ation t o the force already in the eld Capt Brent certainly gave . .

m e to understand that there were si x ty U S tr 0 0 ps in motion fo r . .

the s cene o f di ffi culties and tha t your brother s company would
,

probably be aug m ented to the same n umber or thereabout , be fore ,

reaching the poin t fo r acti o n I f I have seemed to hesitate about

.

acting in this matter i t is a lone because I have had nothing until

, ,

n o w , that would seem to j usti fy my doing so .

Very respect fully , your obd t se rv t ,

GE O L . . C U R RY ,
ct in
g G f
ov ern o r o Oreg on .
 T ER R I T O R Y O F ORE G ON ,

E " E C U TI V E O FF I C E ,

Sa le m , Sept 1 9th , . 1 854 .

h
4
.

D ear Sir B y my h a sty note o f thi s morning you are already ,

apprised t hat a proc lamatio n h a s been i ssued fo r two companies o f

m ounted volunt eers fo r the pur po se o f t h e chastisement o f t h e I n
,
"
dians who p erpetrat ed the recent mass acre n ear F ort Boise .

E ach company will b e enrolled fo r six mon ths unless sooner dis ,

charged and will consist o f si x ty men rank and le to ta k e t h e

, , ,

eld with the utmos t dispatch G en N esmith will have comman d

. .

o f the entire volunteer force and will be directed to draw upon you
,

for the necessary subsi stence .

You will accordingly be pleased to take such s teps as will i n sure

against any failure o f the necessary supplies that will be required t o
keep the command in active operations .

I n your transactions in behal f o f government you will rig idly ,

study economy m aking your contracts on fair and equitable terms

,

only Inculca t e the same upon the minds o f all who may be enga
.

ged in your department in order that Congres s and the general gov
,

er n men t may approve our acts to whom we have to look , fo r the

,

means to de fray the necessary and p roper e x penses o f our under

taking .

Very respec t fully your obd t sc rv t "

, ,

GE O . L . C UR R Y ,
ctln g G overn o r of O reg on .

T E RR I T O R Y O F O RE G O N ,
E " E C U T I V E OFF I C E ,

Sa lem , Sep t 2 0 th , . 1 854 .

G EN . JO S E P H L AN E,

Deleg at e in Co n g ress f o r O reg o n "

D EA R SI R
Since my letter to you o f the morning o f the 1 8t h
-

inst , I have received in formation o f an Of cial character , that the

.

force already in the eld is quite inadequate fo r the apprehensio n

o r punishment o f the perpetrators o f the unprecedented outrage if

the vicinity o f F ort Boise I have there fore i s sued a pro cla ma t iol
.

r
?
calling fo r an additional force Of two c omp ani es o f mounted v o lun
teers I hope to h ave this rein forcement; in m otion for t h e theater of
.

action by the 2 5th ins t .

 Other acts o f violence have been co mmitted by the Indians on th e
othe r tra ils into thi s T erri tory A company o f volunteers by order
.

o f G ov Davis m a de an e xcursion on the south r

.
, oute , to meet the
immigration and protect it from apprehended da n ger A small d e .

t a c h m en t o f this command was attacked by a large body o f Indian s

( in ambush on both sides o f the road ) near the sink o f L os t river .

On the middle or new route coming in as y o u remember , from M al

, ,

heur int o Lane c o unty , a M r T urner s party was attacked and o n e

.

man was killedyoung Stewart Of Corvallis I cannot but deplor e

,

.
,

the necessity that demands the en forcement o f measures involving

such an e x pendi ture o f money B u t I b e g to assure you that the
.

greatest care wil l be e x ercised and the mos t rigid economy pra c ,

t is e d , in the contrac ting o f li a bilities S O l ong as the pe ople o f .

to protect themselves to punis h Indian depre d a
Indian hostilities th e e x penses incident theret o '

ought c to b e paid b y Con gre s s , as I have no doubt b u t that

they wil l be .

In ha ste , y ou rs , a lway s sin c erel

GEO CU R RY, . .

cttn g G overn o r of O reg on .

E xtrac t

SE P TE M B E R 2 0 th , 1 854 .

J ohn M c Cra k e n ap pointed an d c ommissioned A ssistant Q uarte r

M aster G en eral
.

G eo K Shiel , ap pointed and c o mmissioned A dj utant , and Victo r

'
. .

T re vitt appointed and commiss ioned Q uarter M aste r and C om missary

o f the fo rce s cal l ed int o s ervice by pr o clama ti o n , against the Sna ke

Indi an s .

T E RR I TO RY ORE G O N ,
OF

E " E C U T I V E OF F I C E ,
Salem , Sep t 20 m, .

M M M C C A R V E R , C o m ry Gen l
. .

.
,

Se
l
Dea r Salr Y o u wil l lose n o time in sen din g an expre ss to V an
-

c ouv er , an d the Dall e s, to ascerta in what am o unt of arms , am mun i

t i o n , c amp e quipage , provisions and other e u pli e s c o uld be obtained
at th e se po st s, toge the rwith wh at fac ilitie s t ey wi ll afford fo rtrans

r
-
 8

port a t o n i T he
u bsta nce o f our in forma t ion yo u
s
mit to me without d ela y P er haps at Vancouver a
.

. might
be obtained o f what the Dalles could furnish .

Very respect fully , your obd t

serv

t,
GE O . L
C UR RY, .

et in g G o vern or of O reg on .

T E RR I T O R Y OF OR E G ON ,
E " E C U T I V E OFF I C E ,
Salem , Sep t 2 0 th , 1 854
. .

C O L J O H N M C C R A R E N , rs t
. .
Q u a rte rm as ter Gen l

.
, d c .

D ea r S ir I n order to facilitate the O perations o f thi s o f ce , in

the mat t er of sending a v o lunteer force to act agains t th e Indi ans ,
"
who perpetrated the recent massacre near F ort Boise , you wil l
"
pro ceed wi th all dispatch to F o rt Vancouver , with a view to as
certain what assis ta nce can be obtained at that post , or F ort Dalles ,
in the W ay Of munitions o f war , cam p equipage , and other su ppiie s
pertainin g t o your department also , what facili ties , i f any , c o uld be
a fforded fo r transportation

Y ou will e x hibit this letter t o C O1 B onnevil le , in command a t .

Vanc o uver, and , if necessary , to the heads o f the respective depar t

ments there , as best to obtain the in fo rmation you desire , and more
particu larly the chances o f a compliance on their part , to a requi si
tion fr o m this o fce , forsupplies , and aid o f the characte r ab o ve in
d ica t e d . V ery respect fully , y o urs , & c , .

GEO .
L . C UR R Y,

M OL AL L A G A R DE N ,
Sep t . 2 2d , 1 854,

GE O L C UR R Y ,
. . G overn or of O reg on Territo ry

D ea r Sir I s end y ou by the b e arer the t w o c ommu nicati o n s I

h ave thi s moment received by e x press sent by me t o F ort V a nc o u ver,
in answer to my l etters o f enqu i ry as to what assistance co u ld b e i
rel ied upon by the Q uarter M aster and C om miss ary s d e parturen t of

t hat l ce
pa , in a id o f the f o r ce s n ow ra isin g in t h e W i lla me t v alic
y,

unde r t h e G o ver

nors pr o cl am ati on Y ou wil l pr ec eive fr
. om t hei r
 9

c an b e relied on in that

I am very re spec tfully , your o b d t serv t ,

,

M M M C CARV E R . .
,

C o m ry , G en Oreg on Territo ry
l

. .

FO RT V A N CO U V ER W
,
T ,
. .

Sep t 2l st , 1 854
. .

-
Y our two n o t es o f the l gth o f Sep t have been received . .

e th e honor to state that all the available mean s

department are now in use for the volun teer
now in the eld , or Will be shortly required
'

I would state in addition , for your in form ation , that a repo rt o f

'

the d i c u l t ie s above has been m ade to the C ommanding General o f

this Department , and h is orders on thi s subject are hourly e xpected .

In the mean time , everythi n g has b een done by the commanding

he dee m ed necessary and pro per under the
also say that everything has been done by
fo r supplyi n g the troops that the me ans at

ob d

,
I sir , very respect fully , your most t se rv t,
T H OS L . . B REN T ,
C ap t a n d ss t

Q r M as t r
f
. . . .

F o n r V A N CO U V
. ER , W T . .
,

Sep t . 2 13 i , 1 854 .

To
et te r o f th e1 ,
d ,

C ol .

any
 a
furn ished with provisio n s the re is , an
Dalles , which the c m m an d ing
there is com on the eme rgency de ands .

a m, sir , very res pectfully , your obd t s erv t

,

JN O WI T H E RS , .

2 d L ieu t 4maft , ct g ss t Go m y S u b
.

.

.

As sr Q . A RTE R M A S TE R S
U

OF F I C E ,
6
Salem , O reg on , Sep t . 2 2d , 1 854 .

H is E xc ellen cy , G E O . L . C U RR Y "

Dea r S ir In obedience to your instructions , da ted Sept 2 0 th , .

to proceed to F ort V ancouver , and endeavor to obtain munitions of

w ar ,
& c ,
&
. c , I have.t h e h o nor to report that in an i n terview
with L ieut C ol B onneville , commander o f the post , I was in form ed
. .

tha t he dee med i t nec essary t o decline co operating with you in t hi s

-

m a tter , fo r; the following reasons , v iz

T hat a detachment of seventy men o f hi s command , h a d been sent
to F ort Dalles , which was deemed by the commander o f that post , a
su fci ent additional force , in the present eme r e n cy .

T hat the depredations h a d been committe fa r from the set tle

ments , and the immigr a tion of the present year had already pas sed
that point there was n o probability o f a repetition of them 3 whic h
obviated the necessity of a force b ein g placed immediately in t h e
eld .

T h a t he w a s Of the opinio n that winter O peration s in that regio n ,

were i mpra cticable that the government troops would be in the el d
e arly in the Spring , and use every me an s possible , to secure an d
punish the o ffenders .

T hat G en Wool , comm ander o f the P aci c Division , was hourly

.

e xp ected 3 the whole matter w ould be laid be fore him on his arri val ,

L

an d o u r E xcellency immediately advi s e d of his action thereon .

T at upon the eve o f t h e arrival o f h is superior o f cer , he sho u ld

n o t feel ustied in furn ishing the supplies asked for , e s pe c i a l
j ty as
he dou b ted the n ece ssity o f the movement in the present state o f ,

a s 3 that i f greater force was deemed n ecessary , he had no do ub t

a ir

G en Wo ol would order two companies of dragoons from F ort L ane ,

.

upo n t his service .

All o f which is respe ct fu ll s u b m

you r ob
 11

T E R R I T O R Y OF O R E G O N ,
E" E CU TIV E OF F I C E ,
Salem , Sep t 2 2d , 1 854 . .

J W N E S M I T H , B rig a d ier Ge n era l,

. .

E M B A R N U M , dj u ta n t G en era l,
. .

J O H N M C C R A C K E N , ss t Q u a rt erM

a s ter G en eral,
G en tlem en B e fore putti n g in motion any por ti o n of th e e xpedition
which I desire to have undertaken towards a chastisement o f the I n
d ian s who perpetrated the massacre near F ort B oise , I fee l it my
duty to propound to you the subjoined questions ; to which y ou wil l
have the kindness to return promptly , a written answer .

I s a winter campaig n practicable against thes e Indians ?

W ou ld the re b e time to strike an e ffective blow be for e win j
In view of the U . M ilitary departmen t de clini ng to fu rn is
s u b s i s tence , muni tion s o f war , & c , towards tting out the e xpedi
.

ti on , i s it probable that the people at large could supply thes e w ants

in time to get th em i n to the interio rb e ore winter
f ?

Y our obedie n t servant ,

G E O L CU R R Y, . .

etin g G overn or of O reg on .

SA L E M ,
O . T .
,
SE P T . 2 2d , 1 854 .

To H is E xcellen cy G E O . L . C U RR Y , eting G overn or of O reg on

SIR -
reply to the interrogations contained in your note o f thi s
In
mor n ing , req u esting a written O pinion on the subject o f the contem
plated campaign agains t the Snake Indians ; I have to state , that
however desirable it may be to punish the perpetrators o f the recent
mas sa c re o f our p eople , I do not consider it pra cticable to aecom
p l is h that ob ect by making a winter c a m ai r
j p x, wit h the limited r e

s ources a t the command o f the gover n m ent g /r y opinion in t h e mat te r

.

i s based upon my knowledge of the countr y occupied by the Sn ake ,

tr i be , and my e xperience in Indian war fare together with such relia ,

ble information as I have b een able to derive from M essrs C r a igie .

an d J ohnso n w h o have resided

,
at F ort B oise fo r many years I . .

un derst and that these Indians , who have fo r the l as t fe w y ea rs ma ni

fes ted a decid e dly hos tile attitude towards the emigration , a re pre
d at ory tribes , occupying the cou ntry from the G rand R oh de to the
"

vic inity o f F ort H all a dis tance of some four hundred miles a n d
, ,

th a t their country e xtends far to the north and south of the emigr an t
tr a il ; an d th a t th ose tri b es are divided into small h an d s sc attered
 12

ver di ffere n t portions o f this imme n se re ion ; that th ey a re posse ss

ed of bu t li ttle st o ck or property o f any B
o
ind , which would e m b a ra ss
theirspee dy mo qe n t s their principle reliance fo r su b sistence b e
,

ing u pe n the sh ob tained fro m the C g lu mb ia river duri n g the sum "

5
mer months , which are dried and ca ch e d away for winter us es .

Th e country inhabited by those tribes being beyond the B lue

mountains , and being a steril e arid r e gion , a d e rd e nothing upo n
'

which a command cou ld subsist during the w inter months , b e sides the
the elevation i s so great that snow falls to s u i c ien t depth durin g ,

ordinary winters to render i t impo ssible to oper a te a gainst those

,

tribes with any prospect o f success when we take into consideration

,

in connec tion with th e se disadvant a ges t h e great rigor o f the climate ,

the co ld be i n g su fciently intens e a s frequen tly to form ice from thre e

to four feet thick , we mus t readily come to the conclusion as to what ,

the e ffect would be upon a body o f hastily raised and illy equipped
v olunteers destitute as they must be o f all t h e supplies and a ppli
,

a n c e s whi ch tend and are n ecessary to render an army e ffec tive in the
,
eld In addition to t h e other serious obstacles calculated to em
.

h ar a ss a winter campaign b eyond the B lue mountains t h e impor ,

tant fact shoul d not be overlooked that be fore a force can reach t h e
,

enemy s c ountry they will b e compelled to p erform a march o f s ix

h undred miles over an uninhabited desert co untry generally destitute ,

o f grass at this s eason o f the year , rendering it certain that when ,

arr i ved at the point o f desti ned operations , w hat animal s should then
b e alive would be entirely insu fcient fo r the arduous and continued
e xertions necessary to overtake an d punish a scattere d and ying
enemy I apprehend that an e xpedition agains t those Indians would
.

be like previous e xpeditions agains t the Indians o f this country , in

which it has been demonstrated that the di fculty consists more in
nding than in the killing
'

I am aware that many p ersons honestly entertain the opinion that

the w inter i s th e most suitable time to undertake campaign s a gainst

the I nd ia ns but with all de ference to such I am compel le d t o say ,

that my own observations have led me to a di fferent conclusi on I t .

i s a fact in no wise disparaging t o white men , that the habits o f th e

,

Indi ans are such , as to enable t hem to subsist on les s food , c arry on
.

war with less means and in a mountain country, keep entirely b e

,

yond t h e re a ch o f the white man .

F rom w h a t in formation I have been ab le to obtain and c onsider . ,

ing all t h e disadvantages under which we must labor , I believe the

season is too fa radvanced to organi z e a fo rce and reach the enemy s ,

country , in time to render any Important service before winte r sets

in T h e contempla ted movements p artake o f the character o f a n
.

o ffensive war , in which case i t i s desirable to ascer tain that our re

s our c es are equal to the emergency , and to devise means to do as

much har m ,
as pr a cticable to the enemy with as little as possi b le I
, ,

to ourselves I admit, that a de fensive w ar admits of no such pru "

.

.d entia l c onside r ations .

I n a ddi tion to the o bst a cles which are nat urally oppos e d to t he
 13

contemplated movement , it w su l d be well to consider the n ecessity

o f the c ase
that the Indians have committed the revolting outr a ge s
c harged , no one denies and tha t there being no settlements or em i
, ,

ra n ts within thei r reac h , i t wou ld appea r th at their power to do

g ,

further mischie f is fo r the p re sent d e stroyed

, , , .

T h e o fcers o f the army , I unders tand h av e forw a rded w h a t re

l

l ie f they dee m n ecessary fo r t h pres ent emergenc y , and declin e

,
e

making a requisition fo r a great e r fo rce , or d o n t ri b u t in g to the sup

port o f those wh o ma y b e called out . T hey being on t h e spot a n d

-

h aving facilities fo r knowing all the facts , entitles thei r j udgment to

respect .
l
T hose Indians being unable to permanently abandon their country ,

o r to subsis t without the benet o f t h e ii s h eries it app e ars to me ,

that the whol e question o f their chas tisement resolves I t s el f into the
q ues tion as to the proper time to u ndertake it with a probabil i ty o f
succes s My O pinio n is , that a c a mpaig n commenced early in the
.

spring and cont i nued through the summer would , in addition to

, ,

protecting the i mmigration accom plish more wi th les s su ffering and

, ,

e xpense , and probab i lity o f de feat , than could possibly result from
a winter cam paign W ithout going into details I am free to e xpres s
.
r
,

it as my O pin i on , that with the present resources o f the terr i tory ,

a n d in the a bs e n ce o f any ready money , i t would be impossible to

concentrate a su f cient quantit y of supplies at any point east o f the

B lue M ou n tains , on w h ich to subsist an e fcient command during the
winter F or these reasons , and others which I have not time , at
.

present to urge , I should most u rh e s it a t in gly a dvise agains t the o r

dering fo rward a volun teer force under e xi sting circumstances , .

Doubtless when the whole quest ion and the re a sons w hich have ,

induced you to countermand your proclamation is properly under ,

stood by the gallant men who ha ve come for w ard , a n d o ffered their
persona l serv i ce with such ala c ritj they w i ll be satised with your ,

decision , an d others will have littl reason to complain e

.

V ery respect fully your obd t s e rv t

,

,

J W N E SM I T H , . .

B rig a d ie r G en era l of M i lil ia . .

L
i
.

To H is E xcelle n cy , G E O L . . C u s hv , cl in g G o vern o r of Oreg o n

S ir
I concur in the a b o V e op nions , as g ven by B rig
i i
. G eneral
N esmith , t o the rs t and secon d i nterrogatories o f your c o mmu n ica
t ion . V ery respect full y yours , ,

E M B AR N UM d
. . .

S A L E M , Sept . 23 d , 1 854 .
 14

B y th e e tin g G ove rno r of O reg on ,

A P R O C L A M AT I O N
"

Whereas a proc l am ati on

,
on t h
w as e 1
m ade
8t h i nstant ,
au t h o ri
z ing the enrollmen t o f t w o compa nies o f volun t eers for the purp o s e ,

o f t he chas t isement o f the I ndi ans w h o perpe t rated the recent mel
a n ch o l
y outrage near F o r
t B oi se and the U S military a u t h or
.i .

t ies having pu t a force in t h e eld which t hey deem su fcient an d

, ,

having decl i ned to c o opera t e w i th the e x pedi t ion , even by furnishing

-

i t wi t h t he necessary muni t ions pf w a r for i ts equipmen t and b e ,

l ieving that t hese essen t ials cannot b e procured , nor subsis t ence and
o t her supplies furnished from th e se tt lemen t s at l arge , in t ime t o
enable t he e x pedi t ion to strike a t e ffec t ive i h l o w be fore w in t er w il l
have se t in , or to ge t a su f cient u a n t ity o f them transporte d t o so
i
remo t e a point in t he in t erior , as h e scene o f the disas t er , to make
t hem available for a w in t er c a m p gn ;
i
This proclama t ion is t h e refo r issued , w h il e ackno w l edgi ng th e
l

gallan t ry o f t hose w h o responded to promptly t o the call t ha t the ,

s aid enrollmen t may be c o un t e ruian d e d w i t h th e h ope that un l es s

,

the mass acre shall have been aven ged by the forces a l ready out , t he
A ssembly , a t the ensuing session , il l take meas ures to warran t th e
undertak in g so soon as win t er shal have passed .

Gi v en under my hand , at S al e m , t h is 2 2 d day o f September , 1 854 .

l G E O L C U R R Y . .
,

M ati n g G o ve r n or
of O reg on .

T E RR I TOR Y O R E G ON ,
OF

E" E C U TIV E OF F I C E ,
Salem , Sep t 2 2 , 1 854 . .

M . M . C A R V ER , C o m m issa ry Gene ra l, E
ye .

Dea r S i r -
have received to d ay i n format i on o f an o fc i al char
I
acter in substance o f c lin a t io n eu t he part o f the m ilitary r e r e
p
s en t a t iv e s o f the U . t V ancouver , to c o operate w i th , or a i d me
-

in any manner in tting out an e x edition to puni sh the prepet ra t o rs

o f the recent massacre nea g F or t ois e .

B es i de this I l earn that th e r e i s a much l arger force a lready or d e r

'

ed out by C o l B onneville t h an I had supposed s ufc i ent , at l east

. ,

to strike a dec i sive blow Without this c o operat i on I nd 1t nex t

.

to i mpossib l e to get th e e x pedition i n the eld in a cond i ti on ,

nation to be su fcient in a winter cam p aign
.

f
0

You W ill there fore im m e d ia tely u p on the rece i p t o th i s co u nter

 15

In your po w er the prev i ous action o f your

,
.

I n struct i on t o you un der the circumstances

Terr i t ory that y o u can in the rescinding o f

V ery res p ect fu lly you r ob

t se rv

t,
GE O L
C U R RY ,
. .

ettng Govern or of Oreg o n .

T ERR IT O R Y O F O RE G ON ,
E " E C U T I V E O FF I C E ,
Sale m , Sep t 22 , 1 854 . .

COL . W . A . C A S ON , O reg o n City

Dear Sir U pon the rece i pt o f th i s , you i ll take steps to stay

w
any further enro l lmen t o f vo l un t eers for t he e x pedi t ion to t he Snak e
'

country I nd so many obstac l es in t he w ay o f t he s ucces s fu l a o

.

co mplis h m e n t o f t he object o f the u ndertaking , that necessi t y , not

c h oice , obliges me to give it u p for the presen t A re fusal on the
.

p art o f the mi l itary at V anco uver , to c o operate w i th me in any

,
-

w ay , to w ards pu t ting the e x pedi t ion i n the eld in an e e c t u al man ~

'

n or ,
is a mos t impor t ant obstacle ,
as the munitions o f w a r cannot
b e ob t ained in our midst un t i l i t wou l d be too l ate to strike an e ffe c
,

tive blow be fore t he s et t ing in o f w inter I could not think o f put

. ,

a force i n the i nter i or , to remain during the w in t e r ,

w it h ou t .

i n a ll res p ec ts, i n a condit i on and s i tuat i on p roper under th e

V ery res p ectful ly , your obd t

s erv

t.
G EO C U RR Y
. L . .

etin g G overn or of O reg on .

C O M M I S S A RY S O F F I C E

,

O RE G ON C I T Y , 0 T ,
"
. .

Sep t 24th , 1 854 . .

S i m I rece i ve d y o u r commun i cation o f the 2 2d instant ,

e that i n consequence o f t he re fusa l o f the U n i t ed S t ate s

to c o opera t e wi t h you
-
 16

w as compat i ble w i t h t he interes t s ef R

coun t er m and the

t me n t o f O regon
F or t una t e l y for t he in t ere s t s o f the t erri t ory ,

Of t h e t w o communications by me ,( an d w hich
w arded fo r your inspec t ion on t he 2 2 d instan t ) one from t he a c t i ng ,

C o m m issary ,
and t he o ther fro m t he ac t ing quar t ermas t er a t F or t
V an couver declining to furnish assis t ance and t he das h o f cold
, ,

w a t er t hro w n upon your very laudable undertaking , t hrough them ,

by the commanding o fcer a t t ha t place I had an t i cipa t ed a reac t io n
,

o n your par t and so arra n ged t h e cond i tions o f mos t o f my con t rac t s
,

as t o put i t in my po w er to complete or annul t h em on the rs t o f t he

ensuing w eek so as t o be in t ime t o mee t t he im media t e demands o n
,

this depar t men t , should t ha t no t occur . I had , ho w ever ascer t ained ,

that s ul cie n t supplies for the subsis t ence o f t he t w o companies

called in t o service by you , could have been furnished in t i me , a n d
t o l erably fair terms , by ac t ive opera tions t hrough t he commissary
depar t men t o f O regon Territory I had ho w ever purchas ed w i t h
.
, ,

ou t condition one hundre d head o f sheep o f Dr Tolmie , a t si x dol

, ,
.

l ars per h ead This co n t rac t he declines t o rescind , w i t ho u t paying

.

him one hundred do llars damage This I declined believ i ng t ha t

.
,

t hey could be sold t o t he butcher here for nearly the amoun t paid ,
'

as t hey are al l fa t w e t hers On e o f the m I have already slaugh t ered

.

for t he use o f this depar tmen t I had also purchased on t he s am e

.
,

condi t ions , one horse bridle and saddle for n i ne ty ve dol l ars , and
, ,
-

t hir t y bushe l o f oa t s , de l ivered at one doll a r per bushe l ; hired four

men to mak e contrac t s for supplies , and t he same number o f horses
one o f the men is ye t absen t on that business though I ha v e t ake n ,

m easures to have him re called This , w i t h con t ingent e x penses ia

-
.

curred by me , is al l tha t has not been res cinded , unless M r Si fers , .

now ou t , has made contrac t s t hat wi l l require my assis t ance in coun ~

t erm a n d in g .

I w i l l a t a proper t i me m ake out and for w ard y o u a detail ed a c

count o f all the liabilities o f the Terri t ory by t his Departmen t W i t h .

regard to countermanding t he cal l for addi t ional forces from t h e ci t i ~

z ens o f O regon T e r rit o ry , I w i ll no t e x press an opinion , as t he re s pon

s ib ilit
y does not res t upon me
. B u t I cannot dives t myse l f o f the

genera l Opinion t hat prevails in this communi ty o f t he en t ire in co m ,

~

t n c y o f t he fragmen t s o f companies o f U nited S t a t es I n fantry n o w

p e e

s t a t ioned on t he P acic coa st , and par t icularly in O regon Territory ,

to d o jus tice t o the inju ries an d ins u lt s n o w o ffered to humanity in gen
era l , and t o t his communi ty in par ticular These inhuman bu t ch .

eries w ere made upon our citi z ens , and in our Terr i tory , upo n persons
who have chosen t h eir homes amo ngs t us , and the pro t ec tion f our o

m uni cipa l regula t ions , as w ell as t h at o f t he F edera l Governmen t .

W e ha v e a right to claim pro t ec t ion from the Genera l Govern

ment ; but t he la w s o f God as w e ll a s t hose o f nature forbids t h at
, ,
.

we shoul d s tand idly ga zing upon such scenes o f horror w i t h our hand s
i n fetters w i t h a consc i ousnes s at th e same time of the u tter in c a pa cr
'

'
 ty o r in t h e eld t o b ring it t o a s pe ed y a nd s a t is
i n a bil ity of th ose ..

facto ryl t ermin a t io n T here is a fear ful res pon sibil i ty in th e

.
.

of th i s e x pe d it io n, t hat rests so m e w here ; my ear ne s t d esir e is

no t fa ll upon t he he ad o f On e ,w h e has giv en so m any pr oofs o f

S ir; -
I~
I h ono r to
th e state , 2 0 th u lt imp,

'

111

ban ne d t o , d ea th .

w a s, in sub s tanc om
pan
y h a d
w hi le engag ed in drivi ng t hei r teams
{ .
,
h armed an d
d anger l l i f
,
T h e re c eipt s uch ne w s a t Fort
pf '
cau
ch arge of t hat post to despatc h a smal l
'
 18

cam p e qu i page an d a ll , req ui s i te s for the o ut t

e d i tion a t F ort Da ll es , i t my ho pe that th rough
wou l d b e e nab l ed to faci l ita t e the undertak in g , so th at
t h e fo r c e cou l d ha v e gone forw ard w i t h al l pos sib l e des pa tch , an d ,

a ccomp li shed e ffec t i ve serv i ce b e fore the se t t in in o f win t er

g .

I regre t to s t ate , however , that t h e ch i e f in c om m an d , at V an co u

ver dec l ined the c o O p e ration I ha d s o certainly e x pecte d even to
q
d -

, ,
t h e su pp ly ing the m unitions o f w a ressentia l to the e ui pment
e xped it io n a ll e d in , amon other reasons tha t i t was t an emer
g g g n o
w
,

g enc
y that warran t ed such an enter p r i se t hat t he force a lr e a

was though t to be quite adequate for the occasion , & c & c .

, .

N O doubt the s u p p l ies necessary subsi s ten ce , am m unition , mean s
o f transportati on , & c , cou l d have be en o b ta i ned , in t i me , from th e
.

sett l ements a t large , though not soon enough , I was apprehens iv e , t o

ge t t he e x pedi t ion in a n e fcient condi t ion , a cross the B l ue M oun
,

t a i n s be fore the period wo ul d ha v e e l a p s e d beyond which , t rave l ove r

t h es e m ountains wou l d be e x t remely ha za rdous , i f not u tter l y im
p racticab l e U nder these c i rcumstances , I w a s constra i ned to aban
.

don t he undertak i ng and the enrol l ment w hich h ad bee n re s nde d

, ,

to i n t he most ga ll ant m anner , was countermande d on t h e 2 8 in st , .

b y proclama t ion .

I fee l i t my duty to o b ser v e th at I ndian de p redat i on U pon li fe an d

p roperty , has also be en Committed t he presen t season u pon t h e
, ,

o t he rt w o i mmigrant trai l s conduc t ing into this v a l ley , and respec t - I

ful ly to su b m i t whether th e mela n ch o lly oc currence s tha t have b e "

fa ll en the i m m igration o f the p res ent y ear , d o not demonstrate t h e
-

a b so l ute necessi t y o f the estab li sh m ent of a mil i tary p ost at som e

,

point near F ort B ois e , w ere i t on l y to be ke p t up during t h e e lem en t

s easons o f the
y ear I
. f this i s j udged to be u nadvisab l e , i t wou ld

b e w ell to have det achments from the posts at t he northern an d

so u the rn e xt remes of the terri t ory , make e x cursion i nto t he i n t eri or ,
a l ong the i mm igrant road , as far as F ort H a ll , at l eas t , wh i le t h e
i mmigrants are en ro ute w h ich wou l d have a most sa l utar e ffect
e ck the i r y
,

u p on the I n d ians , and a v er reat tendency to ch is osi

yg p
t i on to acts o f V i olence and depredat i on .

I t is very sincere l y to b e regre tted , th at th e t ree 3 at F orts V an

co u vera nd Da ll es i ns t ead o f t he i nact i ve li fe they ave been accus
,

to w e d to , had not made such e x cursions the presen t year w hich i t

q
,

i s u i te prob ab le w ould have sa v ed us from t he appal l i n g ca l a m ity

w h i ch h as s o shocked ou
c e i n t op e r a t ions agains t Indian c on s i s t i n , as they d o o f arti llery
s
g
an d infantry
d et ac m n
o f a c h aracter more prop er to
h e ts troo p s
,

p rote ct a co mm ercial sea board , than an e x tensive Ind ia n frontier

q
-

I f furnished with the re uisite munitions o f war , the peo p le o f

Ore on are com pe t ent t o p rotec t thems elves from Indian aggres s ion
no rg
,
0 they Wish the general government to maintain militar p t
y o s s
Wi th i n thei rs ettlements , rather than on the fro ntier , or in the inte
.

rior o f t h e I ndian co untry , Where such e stab lishments a re eminently

n ee ded , and Where incalculable be ne t Would be sure to r e su l t fro m
t h e moral e ifec t alone o f their e x istence

I have the honor to enclose herewith , c opies o f th e p roc lamation s

al luded t o , an d s u ch c o rreSpo n d en c e as pro perly per t a in to this com

. ctin g Govern or of O regon .

T E R R I T OR Y O F O RE GO N ,
E " E C U TI V E O FF I C E ,
Sa le m, S ep t 2 5th , 1 854
. .

M . M . M C C A R vE R , C am ry
Gen
l .
,
8; c .
,
I

Si r
th is Op portunity t o tender y ou my
-
I t ake
t h e very pr o mpt assis t ance you have rendered me in t h ,

o f yo u r of cial dut ies Y o u Will permi t me to say that the prompt

.

n es s , ener gy and z eal displayed by you , in o u r endeavor to t

g e a n
e f cient force in the eld , t o chastise the per pe t rators o f the m as

s a cre near F ort Boise redound highl y to your cr e dit , and i t a or

,
ds
me pleasure t o sta te , that it was from no Wa nt o f ac t ion and ardent
co Operation o n your p art , a t l east , that the s aid exp edi t ion failed to
-

b e or nized .

I n u e course o f t ime , you wi ll p lea s e m a ke a re p o rt o f yo u r oi

cia l transa c tions t o this o f ce , t o b e p resented , With other o f c i al
ma t te rp e rt ain in g t o the s u bjec t , t o the Ass emb ly , a t it s ens uing
ses s ion , i f de s ired
 to t he same b ar b ari
t he n f eers that all
mand at the Dalles

and men yet ,

re maini ng a t V ancou ver , stood ready upon the rst intimation o f ,

neces sity from M ajor R aines to proceed to the e x posed region Col ,
. .

Bonneville very frankly e x hibited to me t h e correspondence o f Com

missary General M c C a rve r a nd Ass is tant Q u artermaster M c C ra k e n ,
,

in relation to supplies from this post , addressed to Capt T L . . .

post and responded to by that ,

t Capt Brent did not furnish .

,

his own repl y, a copy o f his Col Bonneville s letter to Capt
l
,
.
,
.

t i se t ting fo r t h t h e re a s o ns why supplies called fo r could not b e

,

shed , a copy o f which letter , I h ave the honor to enclose now ,

that there may be no misund e rstan ding in rega rd to t h mat ter

"

.

T his l et ter w ill S how you that the Colonel has not only acted mos t
r m ti b t t h t he has done all t h t a s k d b t h o f
c r in

w
'

u e
p

o
p y , a a as e y e
comma n d a t t h e Dalles who i s supposed to be in re cei pt of the w i
,
n

~
lie st info rmat id n and most reliab le on a ccoun t of his proximi t y t o,
q
, ,
l and c on st a n t l oo m muni c a t io n with t h e Sn ai e river country a n d has
"
.
,

a l so si ni ed his r e adiness t o fur n i sh , if c alie d for; a dditional th ree
g " .

C o l B o n neville fw illi, u pon t h e s ligh t est exig en cy , furnis h y ou wi t h

q
; .

info rm atiun r ii irin g y our c c

s op e ration and , I a m sure , desi r ,
es, as
d e ail t h e e m
r
s e ns at thi s
/
p e s t ,
.
a m ost c ord i al .

necessary measure , as well fo r the protection 0

W
,

i n f j , (
'

p u n shme t c o en d ers i th
'
th i s o b .ect a

sta ndi ng), t he Colo n el forw ards thi s c onnn uni ca

"

itiou in the matter i 1 i i

'

I
s 1
'
. 1 s . .
s i

W ith assu ra nces o f my h igh t re ga nd a n d i a tender of my very z

,
"

poor s e rvi ces ts yuan in capacity in which you may ca ll me , now

-

or h ereafte r; I a m ,w e iy s incer
ely ,

Y our frien d , and o bd t se rv t

,

J O H N A DAI R ,

G E D L C U R R Y , C tig G o v e rn or 0
. . T . . .
 21

T L . .

L n n emllie
, co mm
i ng at Fo rt Va n c ou ver i n reia ti o n
, to a d d it ion al t ro op s ,

H E AD Q UA RT E R S , F O R T V A N C OU V E R ,
S ep tem b e r l t , 1 854 .

C apta in
r Y ours , o f this morni n g , i s just handed me , together
w ith that o f the Commis sary General , M M M c C a rve r I do not . . .

feel , under t h e circumstances , authori z ed to deprive this depot o f its

resources T h e facts Of the recent murders ,
. have been re
por ted t o the M ajor Gener al , commanding the P aci c Department ,
a n d his instr uctions are e x pect e d every moment T h e commanding .

the for ce asked fo r,

o more is nece s sary
o r plans o f Gen e
an d o f course w e are e x pected to b e read y
,

t o c arry t hem o u t t h e momen t they shall be made known to us , re

,

taining all th e p ub li c resources fo rthis object

; .

I am, Cap t , r e spect fully your obd t se rv t

.

,

,

B L E B ON N EV I L L E . . .
,

L t C o l C o m m a n d i ng . . .

T O~C A P T T L B RE N T , rs t Q at a r M U 8
. . . . . . . .

r l '
i i

TE R R I T O R Y O R EG ON
OF ,

E " E C U T I V E O FF I C E,
S alem , 0 6f 1 0t/z, 1 854 . .
v

general circulation hi ,

cer in c harge o f
a s they
s ince the

the 2 0 t h o f Augu st last , '

i on.

to contradict or s u b sta nt i ate these repor ts,

,
wi

ed g
.
I rse
p rom p tly , in accordan c e with the re u i rem en t s
law ?
q of th e

I am , respec tfully , your Ob d t serv t ,

GE O L . . C UR R Y ,

C OR V A L L I S , Oct . 22d , 1 854 .

Dea r Si r T h e en closed copy o f instructions t o N atha n O lney ,

who I have appointed special Indian agent , and assigned h im t o duty

in the south eastern portion o f our territory , will indicate my a ction,
q
-

and serve in part reply to your in u iry I have not received o f cial .

in formation , con rmatory , or disproving the rumors in cir culation ,

charging those in t he service o f the H udson s Bay Company , with

selling arms and ammunition to Indians T h e only evidence I have , .

was br ou ght down by emigrants , and I believe the subst ance o f i t

has b een published in the S tandard "
O ne young man aiirme d
.

t hat he heard the person in charge F ort B oise , assert that he had
3
sold , and would continue to do so , a munition to them , but I b eliev e
this conversation took place before the massacre T h e only instru o .

tions given me , in re ference to this com p any s trading establishments ,

was in a letter from the Commis sioner of Indian A ffairs , re ferrin g

me to the instructions given Gov S tevens , o f W ashington T erri tory ,
.

which you will nd publ i shed in the volume of P resident s M essage ,

with accompanying documents , of last session o f Congress

"
.

Application was made , during the summer , to give orders to p re

ven t them from taking goods into the interior T hi s I conceived , .
,

we had no right to do , as by the treaty o f 1 84 6, they w ere secured

the right to trans port goods throu gh the territory , and I doubt Olir
right to interrogate them as to t h e destination o f their m erchandise ,
b ut if sold in the territory , they would be amenable to our laws .

I have barely time , be fore the mail closes , to say this much M r . .

E R Geary will be at S ale m during the week , and

. .

further It was my intention to have come by way of

.

had a interview , but the rain coming , and m

s tarte (p in advance wi thout b eing properly guarde
ersonal .

Weathe r, i n duced me to follow the direc t route .

I have t h e honor to b e, dear sir , y o ur obd t serv t ,

J OEL P A L M E R ,
To H is E xcelle n cy ,

P . S . I a m now on my way to R 0 e
ta in th e s en t
a s of tha t t ri be , an d th e ow Cr ee k b and , to th e S e n
 23

at e s amendment to th eir t reaties and at t h e Same time , taking

, ou t
their annuity goods I e x pect also to treat with other tribes , in
.
th e
s outhern portion o f our territory , be fore returning .

J . P .

OF F I C E S U P T O F I N D I A N A FF A I R S ,

Da y to n , 0 T S ep t 2 8th , 1 854
. . . .

S ir
. M y l etter o f t h e 25t h instant , in formed you o f your a p
-

p ointment a s S pecia l Agent , fo r the Indian tribes in O regon I n ow .

transmi t you such instruc tions as I deem import ant , to d i rec t y o u

in the discharge o f t h e d uties o f your o f ce ; very much , however ,
i s con ded to your discretion , and your knowledge o f the country ,
and the Indians in habi ting that region , will enable you to act e f
c ie n t l
y .

H ereto fore , tha t p art o f O re gon ly ing east o f the Cascade moun
t a ins , an d south of the 44 t h parallel o f latitude , h a s not be en con
n e c t e d with any p articular district O ur limited knowledge o f thi s
.

e x tensive tract and the hostile character o f its sav a e inhabitan t s

, g ,
e vince d in a lo ng succession o f aggressions on the lives and property

o f o u r citi zens , render it neces sary to station an a gent amo n g them ,

an d i t is there fore assigned you as your district .

T h e d 4tb par allel is supposed to cross S nake R iver at or belo w

F ort Boise , and traverse the Cascade mountains in the vicinity of the
S now Butes , usually known as the T hree S is ters .

Ag t R R T hompson , in charge o f the north e astern distric t,
V .
-

will c o operate with you , in e x isti n g emergencies , but the duties o f

h is own eld , will not permit him to remain long with you .

T h e hostile a tti tude o f the Indians on S na ke river , will , in all

p robability , re uire q
you , if it be practicable ,
to remain ,

winter in that vicinity Y o u will c o operate with the military force

.
during
-
the

no win that country and render every aid in your power , in virtue
,
r o ti c e , to bring the perpet rators o f the late outrages to early
dig n punishment A t the same time , you will S pare no ef
.

save t h o s e I n d ian s who a re known to be w el l a ffected to the

,
whites , from in the retribution provoked by the u e fa

these s avages have , fo r years , rob b ed

immigrants , h a s , doubtless , impressed
we are weak , or indi ffe rent to the wrongs
h a s rende red them more insolent and a u

s fail to b e
sacri ce o f
use all pos
and friend"
 24

ini cted sh ou ld plain ly appea r to be the di ct at e

cu t ,
"

rather than o f revenge I t should n .

that we are a civiliz ed and christian p eople and they ,

W omen and children should if possible , be s aved that

n or

an t .
, ,

they may at the same time be impressed Wi th a sense o f our pow

, ,

er and our humanity W hen the innoc ent and the g u ilty are pun
,
.

ish e d alike , there is n o sti mulus t o good co n duct but the reverse ,
.

Th e season is too fa r advanced to forw a rd you any considerable

a m o u nt o f su plies or I n d ia n g o o d s n r do I suppo s e m an y will b e
p o t

, ,

n eeded ; as your e fforts during t h e winter will be direc ted to t he

, . ,

o f o ffenders the esta b li sh ment o f frie ndly re la

,

n s uch in form a tion co u ntry a nd

g ,
e fa l in direct
T h e soil clima te face o f the co u ntry
, , ,

n umber l ocation and charac t eristi cs of t

,

t heir condition Sour ce s o f subsi st ence

, ,

whit e s will h e rop e r objec ts o f inquiry f I

i
.
,

I t is appre li c d e d th a t the c u pid i ty o f u nprinci pled White perSo n s

'

h as or ni t ri b u t e d f to produce the pres ent state o f a ffairs and y o u Will

q
,

be ca re ful to i n uire into the grou nds o f such su s picion s , 1 if the re b e

any .

R epo rts have reached me th at per sons in t h e s erv ice ebf the H ud
son s Bay Co mpany a t F ort Boise have since the late

, , ,

furnished arms and a mmunition to t h e I n

be arres t s
to t h e pr ope rautho rities I .

gest t h e pr opriety o f closi n g

pos t o f the " B Company . . .

no r do I think i t p
n or to any o ne con
h eret o fo re Such u

securi ty
t s ervice may fro m , ,

from prejudice , in uence the India n s

evid ences are no t wanti n g that s u c h att empts h

VY ro n gs also , in all probability , have been in

by some o f our o w n citi zens , Wh o re ckle ss o f t h e ir ,
'

that o f others , commit a cts that provoke

in you rpower , redress these wro n gs , a nd
I n di an s , fo r the injuries they in ict , such
and circu mstan c es ma y d emand .

I contemplate e nteri n g in to tre at ies

with all t h e Indi ans in Or e gon fo rthe ,

thei rcoloni zation in s u it ab ie districts ,

 25

serve s, an d report fully in regard t o them I t m ay be deemed d d vi

.

sable to locate them in places remote from the white settlement s , an d

the great thoro u gh fares o f immigration Due regard , however , i n
.

all cases must be had in selectin g reserves to the i r c o nve n ience and
, ,

accessibility in view o f transporting their stipulated supplies

,
.

A recen t vi sit to K lamath Lake and in formation derived from In

,

di an s in the vicinity o f T oqua Lake and a stream entering it from

,

the east , induce me to consider that region as a ffording a desirable

location fo r the Indians o f this an d U mpqua valley , in additi o n t o
the native bands I t m ay also afford a su f cient e x tent o f agricu l
.

t u ral land , to warrant the g a thering in the adj acent bands o f the
Diggers living east o f the Klamath country T h e alt i tude o f th e
,
.

re gi on would suggest that the winters might be severe , an d yet the

frail dwellin gs o f the natives indicate a mild climate
,
.

I t is desirable that the greatest number o f bands at all compat i ,

b le i w it h the i r prop er gover n me n t shoul d b e a ssembled on the same

,

reserve that a les s number of agents , farmers , mechanics , teachers ,

,

& c may be required , and thus the e x pense economi sed

.
,
.

B e fore any permanent arran gements are made it i s import ant to ,

ascert ain , accurately , t he number o f m e n , women and children , in

the respective tribes T his will demand your early care , and you
.

w ill , from time to time , in form me o f your progress adding such ,

other in formation as you may j udge use ful N o enumeration o f the .

tribes east o f the country o f the K lamaths , h a s ever been made , and
t h e estimate in my annual rep o rt , a copy o f which i s sent you , may
prove very erroneous .

You will in form me , at the earlies t moment , o f the state o f

a ffair s in your di strict , and set forth the kind an d quantity o f sup
p lies needed to enable you to a gt e f ciently and promptly
, .

A bl ank form o f bond , which you will cause to be lled up and

sign ed , i s herewith enclo s ed , and should there be n o T erritoria l o f
cer authori z ed t o administer the oath o f o f ce at hand , Agent ,

T hompson will administer it . Y ou will then transmit i t to J udge

O lney , fo r his certi cate o f the su f ciency o f the securi ty , with d i
rectio n s to have it forwarded to this o ice .

A copy o f t h e Law s and R egu l ati ons of the Indian B ureau wi ll b e

s ent you J OE L P AL M E R
q
,
.

Sup erin ten d en t f I n d ian a irs .