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extremely laborious； exhausting men and horses almost to the point of
relinquishing the struggle； but our desperate situation required that
we should get down into the valley beyond； or run the chance of
perishing on the mountain in a storm which seemed unending。 About
midnight the column reached the valley； very tired and hungry； but
much elated over its escape。 We had spent a day of the most intense
anxiety； especially those who had had the responsibility of keeping
to the right trail； and been charged with the hard work of breaking
the road for the infantry and artillery through such a depth of snow。
Our main difficulties were now over； and in due time we reached the
Dalles； where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it
a wretched failure； indeed； General Rains himself could not think
otherwise； but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his
combinations。 This； of course； led to criminations and
recriminations； which eventuated in charges of incompetency preferred
against him by Captain Edward O。 C。 Ord； of the Third Artillery。
Rains met the charges with counter…charges against Ord； whom he
accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes； when the soldiers in
their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission。 At the time
of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through
camp； started by some wag； no doubt in jest； for Ord； who was
somewhat eccentric in his habits； and had started on the expedition
rather indifferently shod in carpet…slippers； here came out in a
brand…new pair of shoes。 Of course there was no real foundation for
such a report； but Rains was not above small things； as the bringing
of this petty accusation attests。 Neither party was ever tried； for
General John E。 Wool the department commander； had not at command a
sufficient number of officers of appropriate rank to constitute a
court in the case of Rains； and the charges against Ord were very
properly ignored on account of their trifling character。
Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles； my detachment
was sent down to Fort Vancouver； and I remained at that post during
the winter of 1855…'56； till late in March。
CHAPTER V。
AN INDIAN CONFEDERATIONMASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA…
…PLAN TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSEA HAZARDOUS FLANK MOVEMENTA NEW
METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILTEXECUTION OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS。
The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force；
and of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander；
was a great mortification to the officers and men connected with
them； and； taken together； had a marked effect upon the Indian
situation in Oregon and Washington Territories at that particular
era。 Besides； it led to further complications and troubles； for it
had begun to dawn upon the Indians that the whites wanted to come in
and dispossess them of their lands and homes； and the failures of
Haller and Rains fostered the belief with the Indians that they could
successfully resist the pressure of civilization。
Acting under these influences； the Spokanes； Walla Wallas； Umatillas；
and Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles； and all the savage
inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved
in a dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should
possess certain sections of the country； which finally culminated in
the war of 1856。
Partly to meet the situation that was approaching； the Ninth Infantry
had been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory；
and upon its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the
officers' quarters； on the beautiful parade…ground of that post； and
set about preparing for the coming campaign。 The commander； Colonel
George Wright； who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment
upon its organization the previous year； had seen much active duty
since his graduation over thirty years before； serving with credit in
the Florida and Mexican wars。 For the three years previous to his
assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been stationed on the Pacific
coast； and the experience he had there acquired； added to his
excellent soldierly qualities； was of much benefit in the active
campaigns in which； during the following years； he was to
participate。 Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely
close when； nine years after this period； as he was returning to the
scene of his successes； he； in common with many others was drowned by
the wreck of the ill…fated steamer Brother Jonathan。 Colonel Wright
took command of the district in place of Rains； and had been at
Vancouver but a short time before he realized that it would be
necessary to fight the confederated tribes east of the Cascade Range
of mountains； in order to disabuse them of the idea that they were
sufficiently strong to cope with the power of the Government。 He
therefore at once set about the work of organizing and equipping his
troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile Indians；
intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart of
the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River； as the head and
front of the confederation was represented in the person of old
Cammiackan； chief of the Spokanes。
The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat； March 25； 1856； and
landed at the small town called the Dalles； below the mouth of the
Des Chutes River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range； and just
above where the Columbia River enters those mountains。 This
rendezvous was to be the immediate point of departure； and all the
troops composing the expedition were concentrated there。
On the morning of March 26 the movement began； but the column had
only reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas； joined by many young
warriors…free lances from other tribes； made a sudden and unexpected
attack at the Cascades of the Columbia； midway between Vancouver and
the Dalles； killed several citizens； women and children； and took
possession of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins
at the Upper Cascades； and those who sought shelter at the Middle
Cascades in the old military block…house； which had been built some
years before as a place of refuge under just such circumstances。
These points held out； and were not captured； but the landing at the
Lower Cascades fell completely into the hands of the savages。
Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made their way down to
Fort Vancouver； distant about thirty…six miles； which they reached
that night； and communicated the condition of affairs。 As the
necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re…establishment
of communication with the Dalles were apparent； all the force that
could be spared was ordered out； and in consequence I immediately
received directions to go with my detachment of dragoons； numbering
about forty effective men； to the relief of the middle blockhouse；
which reall