Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 30 August 1864, CO 60:19, no. 9648, 52.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Seymour reports on his expedition to assist two parties locate Tŝilhqot'in who participated
in a
recent Indian insurrectionfrom
the sea to the Upper Fraser.He forwards an excerpt from the Government Gazette which reports on the events surrounding Lhatŝ’aŝʔin, Telloot and Tapitt's surrender. The Colonial Office minutes their general approval of Seymour’s actions.
No. 25
30th August 1864
Sir,
On my return to New Westminster after an absence of nine
weeks, I find so great an accumulation of work that I am unable
by this Mail to give you full particulars respecting the recent
Indian insurrection, and the means taken for its suppression.
2. The Chilicotens who massacred Mr Waddington's road party
atBute
Bute Inlet, as mentioned in my despatch No 7 of the 20th
of May, marched into the interior, were joined by other members
of the tribe, and succeeded in murdering or expelling every
white person from the sea to the Upper Fraser.
Bute Inlet, as mentioned in my despatch No 7 of the 20th
of May, marched into the interior, were joined by other members
of the tribe, and succeeded in murdering or expelling every
white person from the sea to the Upper Fraser.
3. The country in the hands of the insurgents might be described
as about three hundred miles from East to West by one hundred
and fifty North and South. It was inevitable that steps should
be taken for the assertion of our authority, and two parties of
Volunteers were started for the interior. The one, under Mr
Cox, aPolice
Police Magistrate of Cariboo, from Alexandria. The other,
under Mr Brew, Police Magistrate of New Westminster, from Bella
Coola at the head of Bentinck Arm. This latter force I accompanied.
Police Magistrate of Cariboo, from Alexandria. The other,
under Mr Brew, Police Magistrate of New Westminster, from Bella
Coola at the head of Bentinck Arm. This latter force I accompanied.
4. These two small bodies had to make their way to Benshee
Lake in the heart of the Country. Mr Cox's party of sixty men
would then be one hundred and twelve miles from Alexandria,
the base of his operations, and Mr Brew's band of forty, two
hundred and fifty miles from Bella Coola, from whence only he
could draw his supplies.
5. It
5. It is hardly necessary for me to say that the communications
with the civilized portions of the Colony were closed to these
parties as soon as they were in the hostile country, or at least
could only be kept up by detaching a large proportion of either
force. Thus isolated in the bush our fate became a matter of
speculation throughout the Colony and the most painful rumours
circulated.
6. The two forces met at Benshee on the 6th of July and on
the following day Mr Cox's party was sent by me down towards
the Bute Inlet Mountains. They travelled over aCountry
Country, presenting
every natural difficulty, for a fortnight, pursuing the trails of
the Indians and occasionally exchanging shots with them. Mr
McLean, the second in command, fell a victim to his excess of zeal.
Country, presenting
every natural difficulty, for a fortnight, pursuing the trails of
the Indians and occasionally exchanging shots with them. Mr
McLean, the second in command, fell a victim to his excess of zeal.
7. In the mean time the head quarters of Mr Brew's party,
with which I remained, occupied the important post at Benshee
where all the Indian trails converge. We were then but ten in
number, having despatched a party in pursuit of the natives and
another to escort a provision train. The force was so
disproportionate to the value of the position we held, that it
was with satisfaction we saw the return of the flying party of
twenty-five men who had left us in the preceding week, after the natives.
8. The supply of provisions with us began to run extremely
low, as the provision train did not arrive, yet perfect discipline
prevailed in Camp, and no murmurs were heard respecting the smallness of
the rations of such supplies as remained, or the total absence of many
things usually considered almost indispensable to existence.
9. By means which I shall describe another time, ,
one of the principal Chiefs of the Chilicoten people, who
had refrained fromjoining
joining the hostile movements of the tribe,
was induced to present himself to me, and after many days
negotiation, promised to accompany the attack, in full force,
which we determined to make on the Indians in the direction
in which Mr McLean was killed.
joining the hostile movements of the tribe,
was induced to present himself to me, and after many days
negotiation, promised to accompany the attack, in full force,
which we determined to make on the Indians in the direction
in which Mr McLean was killed.
10. The details of the arrangements we made before my indispensable
return to the other duties of my office I shall state in another
despatch. I enclose an extract from the official Gazette showing
the success which has already attended them.
11. It appears to me creditable in the extreme to these two
small bodies of white men, that theyshould
should thus have scoured
the vast territory of the Chilicotens so well as to remain
victors in a contest in which famine fought on both sides. I
do not however venture yet to predict that the victory will be
absolutely complete.
should thus have scoured
the vast territory of the Chilicotens so well as to remain
victors in a contest in which famine fought on both sides. I
do not however venture yet to predict that the victory will be
absolutely complete.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Though complete success has not yet resulted from Govr Seymour's proceedings to catch the murderers of the road making party Mr Cardwell will perhaps think that enough has already been accomplished to entitle Gov. Seymour, & all concerned with him, to commendation.
Though complete success has not yet resulted from Govr Seymour's proceedings to catch the murderers of the road making party Mr Cardwell will perhaps think that enough has already been accomplished to entitle Gov. Seymour, & all concerned with him, to commendation.
It is a great satisfaction to learn that the life of only
one man of the Expedition has been lost.
ABd
20 Oct
Mr Cardwell
It will be for you to decide what topics should be embraced in the answer. The following occur to me for consideration.
It will be for you to decide what topics should be embraced in the answer. The following occur to me for consideration.
We might say that you think it highly creditable to
the Europeans engaged in these operations that they should
have traversed so vast a
Territory in search of the
offending Indians with the loss of only one life, and with
a perfect maintenance of discipline and content in the
midst of the privations to which they were unavoidably
exposed. Express a sense of the zeal for the public
service and spirit of personal gallantry which led the Governor
to share the hardships and dangers of one of these expeditions.
Territory in search of the
offending Indians with the loss of only one life, and with
a perfect maintenance of discipline and content in the
midst of the privations to which they were unavoidably
exposed. Express a sense of the zeal for the public
service and spirit of personal gallantry which led the Governor
to share the hardships and dangers of one of these expeditions.
It is satisfactory to see that these vigorous measures
have been attended with so much success, and express a
hope that the ulterior results will be such as to produce
a good impression on the minds of the Indians, and to
contribute to the future safety of Europeans travelling
or working in remote parts of the Colony.
TFE
27 Octr
Mr Blackwood
See Mr Cardwell's separate minute. Draft to be framed accordingly, in the terms of that minute.
See Mr Cardwell's separate minute. Draft to be framed accordingly, in the terms of that minute.
TFE
28/10
my great satisfaction that he has safely returned to the
duties of his Govt & that so much discipline & good order
was maintd & so little loss of life incurred. Hope
that in the result security will be re-established &
friendly relations with the Indians presently not disturbed.
EC
28
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract,
Government Gazette, 27 August 1864, reporting on the events surrounding Lhatŝ’aŝʔin, Telloot and Tapitt's surrender.
