Cayuse War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cayuse War |
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| Part of the American Indian Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Cayuse | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Cornelius Gilliam Henry A. G. Lee James Waters |
Chief Five Crows War Eagle |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 500 militia | |||||||
The Cayuse War was a conflict that happened in the Northwestern United States. It lasted from 1847 to 1855. The war was fought between the Cayuse people and American settlers, supported by the U.S. Government.
One main reason for the war was the arrival of many new settlers. These settlers also brought diseases that harmed the Native American tribes. The war began in 1847 with an event called the Whitman massacre. This happened at the Whitman Mission near what is now Walla Walla, Washington. Fourteen people were killed there.
For several years, the Provisional Government of Oregon and later the United States Army fought against Native Americans east of the Cascade Mountains. This war was one of the first in a series of conflicts between Native Americans and settlers in the region. These events eventually led to talks between the U.S. and tribes of the Columbia Plateau. These talks created several Indian reservations.
Contents
Why the War Started
In 1836, two missionaries, Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman, started the Whitman Mission. It was built among the Cayuse Native Americans at Waiilatpu. This site is about six miles west of modern-day Walla Walla, Washington.
Besides sharing their religion, the Whitmans also set up schools and mills. They taught the Cayuse about crop irrigation. Their work grew slowly at first. In 1842, Marcus Whitman got more support for the mission. The next year, he returned with about a thousand settlers moving to Oregon Country.
Growing Tensions
The sudden arrival of many American settlers caused problems between the Native Americans and the newcomers. This was often due to cultural differences and a lack of understanding. For example, the Cayuse believed that plowing the ground was disrespectful to the Earth's spirit. The settlers, who were farmers, did not agree with this idea.
The Cayuse also expected payment from wagon trains that crossed their land. These settlers often ate the wild foods that the tribes relied on. However, the settlers did not understand this custom. They often chased away the Cayuse men who came to ask for payment. The settlers thought these men were just "beggars."
The Whitman Massacre
The new settlers also brought diseases with them. In 1847, a measles sickness spread and killed half of the Cayuse people. The Cayuse suspected that Marcus Whitman, who was a doctor and religious leader, was responsible for these deaths. They thought he caused the sickness to make room for more settlers.
Because of this, Cayuse tribesmen attacked the mission on November 30, 1847. Fourteen settlers were killed, including Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Most of the buildings at Waiilatpu were destroyed. Today, this site is a National Historic Site. After the attack, 53 women and children were held captive for several weeks. They were later released.
This event became known as the Whitman massacre. It was the direct cause of the Cayuse War.
The Fighting Begins
After the massacre, the Provisional Legislature of Oregon and Governor George Abernethy called for quick action. They allowed volunteers to form groups to fight the Cayuse Tribe if needed. A group of fifty volunteers was quickly formed. They were sent to The Dalles under the command of Henry A. G. Lee.
This group was called the Oregon Rifles. They formed on December 8, 1847. They then went to Fort Vancouver on December 10. There, they bought supplies from the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The HBC would not give credit to the government. So, the soldiers promised to pay for the supplies themselves, hoping the government would pay them back later. The group's job was to protect the Wascopam Mission at The Dalles. They also aimed to stop any enemy forces from reaching the Willamette Valley. The governor also sent a peace group, which included Joel Palmer, Lee, and Robert Newell.
Militia Actions
The Oregon Rifles marched to The Dalles and arrived on December 21. There, they chased away a group of Native Americans. However, the Native Americans managed to steal 300 cattle. The troops then built a fort there. They named it Fort Lee after their commander. This small fort was also called Fort Wascopam.
In January 1848, a larger force of over 500 militiamen marched against the Cayuse. Colonel Cornelius Gilliam led them. These troops arrived at Fort Lee in February. With this larger force, the militia moved east toward the Whitman Mission. By March 4, they reached the mission after a fight at Sand Hollows.
After reaching the mission, Colonel Gilliam started back to The Dalles with a small group. He planned to get supplies for the settlement and then report to the governor in Oregon City. But on the way, Gilliam was accidentally killed in camp. Lee was then made a Colonel. However, he resigned as colonel when he returned to the front. He stayed as an officer after learning the troops had chosen Lieutenant-Colonel James Waters as their new leader.
Continued Conflict
Later, the United States Army supported these militia forces. Some Cayuse initially refused to make peace. They raided isolated settlements. Other Cayuse, who were friendly to the settlers, tried to work with the peace group. The militia forces were eager to fight. They sometimes provoked both friendly and unfriendly Native Americans.
Many Cayuse resisted, but they could not effectively fight against the settlers' weapons. They were forced to hide in the Blue Mountains.
In 1850, the tribe handed over five members to be held responsible for the deaths at the Whitman Mission. These five Cayuse men were Tilaukaikt, Tomahas, Klokamas, Isaiachalkis, and Kimasumpkin. They were held accountable on June 3, 1850. This group is known as the Cayuse Five.
Kimasumpkin's final statement was:
I was up the river at the time of the massacre. I did not arrive until the next day. I was riding on horseback. A white woman came running from the house. She held out her hands and told me not to kill her. I put my hand upon her hand and told her not to be afraid. There were many Native Americans all around. She, with the other women and children, went to Walla Walla to Mr. Ogden's. I was not there during the killings. I was not involved in it at all. I am innocent. It hurts me to talk about dying for nothing. Our chief told me to come and tell everything about it. Those who committed the killings are dead. The priest says I must die tomorrow. If they kill me, I am innocent. My Young Chief told me I was to come here to tell what I know about the killers. I did not come as one of the killers, for I am innocent. I never told anyone that I was guilty. This is the last time I may speak.
Even after this, the conflict did not fully end. Small fights continued for another five years. The Cayuse were finally defeated in 1855.
What Happened After
After their defeat, the Cayuse people were much smaller in number. In 1855, they gave up most of their tribal lands. They kept the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation with the Umatilla and Walla Walla peoples.
The war had big effects on the region for a long time. The Cayuse War put a lot of stress on the new government in Oregon. When the war ended, the large debt was handled with difficulty. But it was eventually paid back through talks.
What changed greatly was the government itself. The Cayuse War clearly showed that the United States government was becoming more present. When the war ended, the temporary government stopped existing. A new, stronger, and more lasting government took its place. This new government was better able to negotiate with the Native Americans. The United States government tried to make treaties with many tribes in the Pacific Northwest. But first, they sought to hold people accountable for the Whitman massacre.
In March, the military brought five Cayuse men to the capital of Oregon Country. They were held responsible for the events at the mission. This was the first time such a serious action was taken after a legal process in the new territory. People had mixed feelings about this for many years.
See also
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In Spanish: Guerra Cayuse para niños
