I called a council, and proposed to them that 150 of their young men should accompany me to the Dalles. Without hesitation they agreed to go. Whilst in council, making the arrangements for our movement, news came that a force of gallant Oregon volunteers, four hundred strong, had met the Indians in the Walla-Walla valley, and after four days hard fighting, having a number of officers and men killed and wounded, had completely routed the enemy, driving them across Snake river, and towards the Nez Percés country.

The next day I pushed forward, accompanied by 69 Nez Percés well armed, and reached Walla-Walla without encountering any hostile Indians. They had all been driven across Snake river below us, by the Oregon troops.

It is now proper to inquire what would have been the condition of my party had not the Oregon troops pushed vigorously into the field, and gallantly defeated the enemy.

The country between the Blue mountains and the Columbia was overrun with Indians, numbering 1,000 to 1,200 warriors, including the force at Priest's rapids, under Kam-ai-a-kun, who had sworn to cut us off-it was completely blocked up.

One effect of the campaign of the regulars and volunteers in the Yakima country, under Brigadier General Raines, was to drive Kamai-a-kun and his people upon our side of the Columbia river, and thus endangering our movement from the Spokane to the Nez Percés country.

Thus we had been hemmed in by a body of hostile Indians, through whom we could only have forced our way with extreme difficulty, and at great loss of life. We might all have been sacrificed in the attempt. For the opening the way to my party I am solely indebted to the Oregon volunteers.

Pee-u-pee-mox-mox, the celebrated Walla-Walla chief, entertains an extreme hostility toward myself and party, owing to imaginary wrongs he supposed had been inflicted upon him in the treaty concluded with the Cayuses and Walla-Wallas last June, and had been known to threaten repeatedly that I should never reach the Dalles. He was the first to commence hostilities, by plundering Fort WallaWalla, and destroying a large amount of property belonging to the United States Indian Department.

This chief was taken prisoner by the Oregon volunteers, while endeavoring to lead them into an ambush. During the heat of the first day's battle, he and four other prisoners attempted to escape by ferociously attacking the guard, and were at once shot down.

At Walla-Walla I found some twenty-five settlers, the remainder having fled to the Dalles for protection. With these were 100 friendly Indians.

Special Indian agent, B. F. Shaw, colonel in the Washington Territory militia, was on the ground, and I at once organized the district, placed him in command, and directed him, if necessary, to fortify, but at all events to maintain his ground, should the Oregon troops be disbanded before another force could take the field.

The Nez Percés auxiliaries were disbanded and returned home.

Thus we had reached a place of safety, unaided, excepting by the fortunate movements of the Oregon troops. Not a single man had been pushed forward to meet us, although it was well known we should cross the mountains about a certain time, and arrive at Walla-Walla about the time we did.

Why was this? Arrangements had been made with Major Raines, by acting Governor Mason, to push forward a force under Coloncĺ Shaw, to meet me at the Spokane about the time of my arrival there. A company had been enlisted, organized, and marched to Fort Vancouver, to obtain equipments, rations and transportation, which Major Raines had promised both Governor Mason and Col. Shaw should be promptly furnished them. Some little delay ensued, and in the meantime Major General Wool arrived, who immediately declined. equipping the company, as promised by Major Raines, and stated that he could not in any manner recognize volunteers, or furnish them equipments or transportation, and declining to supply their place with regular troops, when at Vancouver alone were some 350 men.

When remonstrated with by Captain William M'Kay, in command of the company raised to push forward to my assistance, when informed of the object for which this company was enlisted, and that if it was not pushed forward at once, or if some other force were not sent, Governor Stevens and his party would be in the most imminent danger, the general replied that in his opinion the danger was greatly exaggerated; that probably Governor Stevens would be able to protect himself, but that if he could not, then Governor Stevens could obtain an escort from General Harney.

What a reply was this? A moiety of the Indians now in arms had defeated a detachment of 100 United States regulars.

Major Raines had placed on record his opinion, that an insufficient force would be defeated by these Indians, and my party was supposed to number no more than 25 men. Yet Major General Wool very coolly says, Governor Stevens can take care of himself. So, too, in the remark, that I could obtain aid from General Harney. Did General Wool know that the distance from Fort Benton to the supposed position of General Harney was greater than the distance from Fort Benton to the Dalles, and that to obtain aid from him would require not less than six months? and that an express to reach him must pass through the entire breadth of the Sioux country? Such ignorance shows great incapacity, and is inexcusable.

Mr. Secretary, Major General Wool, commanding the Pacific division, neglected and refused to send a force to the relief of myself and party, when known to be in imminent danger, and believed, by those who are best capable of judging, to be coming on to certain death; and this, when he had at his command an efficient force of regular troops. He has refused to sanction the agreement made between Governor Mason and Major Raines for troops to be sent to my assistance, and ordered them to be disbanded. It was reserved for the Oregon volunteers to rescue us.

There has been a breach of faith somewhere. I ask for an investigation into the whole matter.

The only demonstration made by Major Raines resulted in showing

his utter incapacity to command in the field. As has been heretofore said his expedition against the Yakimas effected nothing but driving the Indians into the very country through which I must pass to reach the settlements. I have, therefore, to prefer charges against General Wool. I accuse him of utter and signal incapacity, of criminal neglect of my safety. I ask for an investigation into his conduct and for his removal from command.

After making my arrangements in the Walla-Walla valley, I pushed to Vancouver, coming down the trail, the river being still closed, conferred with Major Raines, and then hastened to Olympia as rapidly as possible, reaching my home on the 19th January. The legislature was still in session. The greatest alarm prevailed throughout the sound. The people were living in block houses. The enemy had gained the advantage, and our regulars and volunteers had retired before them. Reinforcements were coming from the other side of the mountains to the hostile Indians. In obedience to my own convictions of duty, and in response to the sentiments of this entire community, I issued my proclamation calling for six companies of volunteers for the defence of the sound, appointed recruiting officers for the raising of three companies on the Columbia river, to operate east of the Cascades, and after remaining in my office but two days, went down the Sound to visit the friendly Indians, confer with the inhabitants, and make the necessary arrangements for the troops to take the field.

Since my arrival on the Sound, Seattle has been attacked and everything outside of its line of defences burned, except a small place named Alki, on the same bay with Seattle. The whole county of King has been devastated. Rumors of all our places being attacked have reached us daily. The northern Indians have commenced making depredations. They are now meditating to send sixteen war canoes against us. These canoes carry seventy-five men each, and can be urged with great velocity through stormy seas. To meet which danger I have requested Captain Gansevoort, now commanding the naval forces in the Sound, to keep the steamer Active cruising between Fort Townsend, Bellingham bay, and Seattle, and I have advised Governor Douglas, of Vancouver's island, of the fact, and requested him to keep one of the Hudson's bay steamers cruising in the waters of his jurisdiction, and to keep me advised of the movements of the Indians alleged to be hostile.

I have also raised a force of friendly Indians to operate against the hostiles from the line of the Snow-hou-mish. They are already in the field, are supported by all the available strength of the northern battalion of the Washington Territory volunteers, and have struck two decisive blows. The central battalion have moved from this quarter, and are now establishing a depot at Montgomery's. They will on Friday or Saturday move on the Puyallup, and will also be reinforced by friendly Indians.

The most cordial relations exist between myself and Lieutenant Colonel Casey, commanding the Puget Sound district, who appreciates fully the imminence of our danger, and who urges me to push into the field all the volunteers in my power. We shall act in concert throughout.

Since my arrival at the Sound I have revisited the Columbia river, and conferred with Colonel Wright, 9th infantry, in command of the Columbia river district. By letter I have urged both Colonel Wright and Major Rains, previously in command of the district, to dispatch troops to the interior. They are not permitted to do so by the stringent orders of General Wool, and, knowing the necessity of prompt action, I have had no alternative but to call out volunteers.

In Colonel Wright I have entire confidence, and if he was allowed to act according to his own judgment there would be nothing to apprehend. But it seems to be the determination of General Wool to play the part of the dog in the manger, neither to act himself nor to let others act.

As commander-in-chief of the militia of Washington, and in view of my oath of office, I have taken the responsibility to act. Every energy will be devoted to the work. The Indians now hostile on this side of the mountains will soon, I trust, be struck, and peace be restored to our distracted Sound.

For my full views in reference to operations east of the Cascades, I enclose a copy of a memoir which I have addressed to General Wool, with an extract of a letter to Colonel Wright, modifying my views in certain particulars, in consequence of the lateness of the season and the condition of affairs on the Sound.

I also send a copy of my message to the legislature, and of the message of Governor Mason, when that legislature first assembled. Governor Mason will soon be in Washington, from whom you will be able to gain every information which this office could furnish. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ISAAC I. STEVENS,

Governor and Super't Indian Affairs, W. T.

Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS, CAMP WASHINGTON TERRITORY VOLUNTEERS,

Walla-Walla Valley, W. T., December 23, 1835. SIR: I reached this point, some thirty miles to the eastward of Fort Walla-Walla, on the Columbia, on the 20th instant. We have had extraordinary success in our long march from the waters of the Missouri, and I trust that the conferences with the Indian tribes on my way will have some effect in preventing the tribes now peaceable from becoming hostile.

A very important result has been gained by the operations of the volunteers of Oregon in this valley. The Cayuses, Walla-Wallas, Umatillas, the Tye of Deshute, and a portion of the Palouse Indians, mustering five to six hundred warriors, have been defeated and driven across the Snake river. They are now scattered along the north bank of the Snake from its mouth to the Nez Percés country, and the bulk of them are believed to be in camp in the first wood on the Palouse

river. From the best information I can gain, I am of opinion that not more than five to six hundred Indians participated in the fight; these Indians are in constant communication with the Yakimas, under Kam-i-a-han, and we have reports that he is meditating an attack with their combined forces upon the troops in this valley. These reports I do not credit; I am of opinion that the Indians desire the war to be put off till spring, in the hope that their numbers may be augmented by the Spokanes, Omahanes, Colvilles, Coeur d'Alênes, and the tribes north of the line, and in case of defeat, by having the means of retreat to the north and across the mountains eastward to the buffalo country.

The Coeur d'Alênes, Spokanes, Colvilles and Omahanes number about 2,100 souls, and some 400 to 500 warriors, only a portion armed with guns. The former tribes, numbering about 1,700, I called into council on the Spokane, early this month, and have received from them the most unqualified assurances that they would reject all the overtures of the hostile tribes, and maintain relations of friendship with the government; but they have been very much shaken by the efforts made to invoke them in the war, and if operations are suspended till spring there would be great danger that they would then be met in arms.

The Nez Percés are staunch and entirely reliable. Some seventy of these warriors, well armed, accompanied me from their own country and are now in my camp. I crossed the mountains with twentyfive men, and by accessions from the mines, and citizens who had fled. for protection to the Nez Percés country, and from other sources, we have a force of volunteers, organized in two companies and numbering in all fifty-two men. The volunteers of Oregon in this valley number about four hundred men.

I am of opinion that all the tribes, from the Dalles to the Nez Percés country and from the Blue mountains to the Spokane river, now in arms against the government, have not over twelve hundred adult males, and that they cannot bring into the field more than one thousand effective men. My sources of information are good, and I write with much confidence. The hostile tribes, throwing out bands known to be friendly and in charge of local agents, do not number quite five thousand souls.

On reaching this point, I exceedingly regretted to learn that the Yakima country had been abandoned. In my opinion, it could have been held by two hundred men, and have been supplied by WallaWalla. There is a good road from Walla-Walla to the Yakima mission; the distance is about ninety miles. Little or no snow lays on the ground for more than two thirds the distance, and at the mission. the snow is seldom more than six inches deep.

This whole valley is remarkably favorable for winter operations. Grass and wood are abundant, and there are numerous streams of excellent water. The snow lays on the ground but a short time, and then but a few inches deep, and scarcely interfering with the grazing of animals.

North of the Snake, the Palouse, and its tributaries, the grass is