Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shepherd, Captain, HBC Governor John to Labouchere, Henry 7 February 1856, CO 305:7, no. 1227, 238.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (8), Other documents (3).
Shepherd writes to Labouchere after receiving Merivale’s letter referencing “the hostilities now prevailing in Oregon between the Indian tribes and the American residents of that District.” Shepherd thanks “the Committee for this communication” and discusses the letters enclosed.
The minutes agree that the matters mentioned in the enclosed documents are serious
and detailed.
Enclosed are two draft letters: the first from Merivale to Colonel Mundy, the second from Ball to Shepherd. The next eight documents are extracts regarding the murder of a Government Agent;
descriptions of the so-called “Yakima Wars,” the ongoing conflict between American
Settlers and the First Nations in Puget Sound, and the buildup to an attack on Fort Walla Walla.
Shepherd to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
7th February 1856
Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's
letter of the 4th Instant, addressed to the late Governor of the
Hudson's Bay Company, transmitting, by your directions, copy of a
Despatch from the Governor of Vancouver's Island, in reference to the
hostilities now prevailing in Oregon between the Indian tribes and the American residents of that District, and have to
return you the thanks
of the Committee for this communication.
In the recent interview which I had the honour to have with you, I
mentioned that the Hudson's Bay
Bay Company had received information
relative to this subject from their Agents in Oregon, and I now beg to
enclose Extracts of various letters transmitted to them in reference
thereto.
Bay Company had received information
relative to this subject from their Agents in Oregon, and I now beg to
enclose Extracts of various letters transmitted to them in reference
thereto.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
These enclosures report more in detail than the Governor has already done the state of affairs in the American Territory.
These enclosures report more in detail than the Governor has already done the state of affairs in the American Territory.
ABd
9 Feby
Thank for communication?
HM
F 9
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Secretary to the Admiralty, Immediate, 23
February 1856, forwarding copies of the enclosures and requesting the
Lords Commissioners to "give immediate directions for stationing a Ship
of War off Vancouver's Island with orders to the Naval Officer
Commanding on the Station to keep the ship there so long as any cause
for alarm shall continue."
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Colonel Mundy, War Department, Immediate, 13
February 1856, same text as to Admiralty.
Minutes by CO staff
This draft is prepared on an instruction from Mr Labouchere.
The enclosures, which have been circulated before, are retained
to be copied.
Cancelled. Vide annexed letter to the Admiralty.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Ball to Shepherd, 8 March 1856, transmitting copy of a letter
from the Admiralty stating they had called the attention of the Commander in Chief
of the Pacific to the defenceless position of Vancouver Island.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1. Extract, Dugald Mactavish to W.G. Smith, Secretary, Hudson's
Bay Company, dated Vancouver, Washington Territory, 10 October 1853,
stating that the "Yakima" men had reportedly murdered a Government Agent and some
other men, and troops from the Dalles and Steilacoom had been dispatched as a result.
2. Extract, Mactavish to Smith, 23 October 1855, reporting the
forced retreat of US troops under Major Haller following a skirmish
with Indigenous forces in which one-fifth of the US troops perished; a volunteer
force of 1000 men had arrived in the Dalles from Oregon.
3. Extract, Mactavish to Smith, 7 November 1855, reporting that James Sinclair, in charge of Fort Walla Walla, had fled with most of his
men men to the Cascades but were planning to return to the fort with a
force of volunteesr being dispatched to that vicinity; other volunteers
had been killed on the Duwamish River, some forty miles north of
Nisqually and troops from Steilacoom had been sent there.
4. Extract, Mactavish to Smith, 24 November 1855, enclosing copies of letters from Sinclair, 18 and 21 November and George Taylor, 14 November, regarding events at Fort Walla Walla, and reporting "as it now seems likely that the Indians have, ere this, taken every
thing, and may
probably destroy the Establishment."
4.2 Sinclair to Mactavish, 18 November 1855, reporting that an Indigenous force of "from 800 to 1000" men was encamped within
a mile of Fort Walla
Walla, commanding the approaches to the fort, and enclosing Goerge Taylor,
Sinclair's employee who had remained behind at the fort, to Sinclair, 14
November 1855.
4.3 Sinclair to Mactavish, 21 November 1855, reporting from Fort Kelly, Umatilla River, Oregon, where the volunteer force was awaiting reinforcements before attempting to retake
Fort Walla Walla from the
Indians, and describing the efforts being made to drive the fort's cattle
and horses to Fort Colvile.
4.1 Nathan Olney, "Indian Agent" at Walla Walla, to James Sinclair, 13
October 1855, stating that war with the Indigenous forces now seemed unavoidable
and ordering him to leave Fort Walla Walla without delay.