in detachments to guard important points on the lower Sound, particularly the Snohomish River, the usual route of the hostile Yakimas on their expeditions to the Sound country.

146. Death of Lieutenant Slaughter. On the 5th of December Lieutenant Slaughter with his command occupied the site of the present town of Auburnonce named Slaughter. They were attacked by the Indians, and Slaughter and two of his men were killed. Lieutenant Slaughter was a gallant officer, and had rendered valuable services in the defense of the settlers. Soon after this the troops were withdrawn from the field to the forts and block houses, and the campaign of 1855 was ended.

147. Stevens' Return From the Blackfoot Country. When Governor Stevens heard of the Indian outbreak he was in the Blackfoot country. He immediately started on his return to Olympia, where he arrived on the 19th of January, 1856, having passed directly through the country of the hostile Indians with but a small guard.

EVENTS OF 1856.

WEST OF THE CASCADES.

148. Organization of the Washington Volunteers. When Governor Stevens reached Olympia he issued a proclamation calling for volunteers. Soon a force was organized and divided into three battalions, called

respectively the Northern, Central, and Southern battalions, each under the command of a major.

149. Plan of the Campaign. The plan of the campaign was to guard the line of the Snohomish with Central battalion

the Northern battalion; to move the at once into the midst of the Indian country; to operate with the Southern battalion east of the Cascades. Roads and block houses were to be built to protect the settlers near their homes. During the war 36 block houses were built by the volunteers, three forts and one block house by the regulars, and 23 stockades and block houses by the settlers. As Governor Stevens expressed it in his report to the Secretary of War, "The war will be emphatically a war of block houses."

150. Attack on Seattle. After the troops had been withdrawn from the field in December, 1855, the Indians formed a plan to attack the settlers at Seattle. The Yakima chief, Owhi, joined his force of Yakimas and Klickitats with those of Coquilton. Seattle was but a hamlet then. The available force for its defense was about 150 men belonging to the war vessel Decatur. The hills upon which the city is built were then covered with timber and dense underbrush, affording concealment for the hostile Indians. On the morning of January the 25th, 1856, the town was attacked by more than a thousand savages. The settlers forewarned, escaped to the block-house, with the exception of two, who were killed. Two houses were burned and several plundered. All day and into

On the morning of

the night the battle continued. the 26th it was found that the Indians had given up the contest. The war vessel Decatur saved the settlers. The noted chief, Leschi, was the leader of the Sound Indians in this attack.

151. Second Battle of Connell's Prairie. On the 19th of January the Central battalion moved from Yelm Prairie and established a post at Camp Montgomery, and on the 10th of March fought the decisive. second battle of Connell's Prairie. The Indians were completely routed and put to flight, having lost about thirty killed and many more wounded. This battle completely destroyed the combination of the tribes on the west of the Cascades.

152. Incursions of the Northern Indians. The northern Indians, taking advantage of the disturbed state of affairs on the Sound, caused by the Indian war, found opportunity to make raids into the settlements along. the shore of Puget Sound. These raiders belonged to the Longa Hydah, Stickene, and Shineshean tribes, who in large canoes capable of carrying seventy-five people each, would appear on the Sound at an unexpected moment and kill and rob the settlers with impunity.

Captain Swart

153. The Battle of Port Gamble. wout, commander of the U. S. steamer Massachusetts, being informed that the northern Indians were committing depredations near Steilacoom, proceeded to Henderson's Bay, where the marauders had been, but gone from there to Port Gamble. Here he found them encamped in large force. After several unavailing attempts to induce the Indians to quit the Sound under promise not to return, Captain Swartwout attacked the savages and completely defeated them with a loss of 27 killed and 21 wounded. closed the war on Puget Sound.

EVENTS OF 1856.

EAST OF THE CASCADES.

This action

154. The Attack on the Cascades. On the morning of March 26th, 1856, the settlers at the Cascades of the Columbia were attacked by the Yakima and Klickitat

Indians. Two days and nights the settlers were besieged, when they were relieved by troops from the Dalles under Colonel Wright.

155. Colonel Wright's Expedition Into the Yakima Country. After repulsing the Indians at the Cascades, Colonel Wright returned to the Dalles and thence marched to the Yakima Valley. On the 8th of May he met the Indians near the Natchess River. Here he remained several weeks endeavoring to hold a council with Kamiakin, but was not successful. The Indians. moved away and Colonel Wright returned to the Dalles, having accomplished nothing and leaving the hostile Indians determined as ever to wage war against the settlers. Colonel Wright learned afterward better how to deal with Indians, as we shall see in his campaign of 1857 in eastern Washington.

156. Colonel Shaw's Expedition Over the Cascades. The war had closed on the Sound, and Governor Stevens determined to march a force over the Cascades according to his original plan and subdue the hostile Indians in eastern Washington. Colonel Shaw was made commander of the expedition. With a force of 175 men of the Central and Southern battalions and a pack train of 27 men and 109 pack animals he started from Camp Montgomery on the 12th of June. On the 22d of June a force of 175 men under captains Goff and Williams, with a train of 45 wagons, marched from the Dalles up the Columbia to join Shaw. These two forces were joined on the 9th of July on Mill Creek in the Walla Walla Valley, except