Swartwout was commander of the United States naval forces in the
Puget Sound. In
this despatch,
Douglas writes to
Labouchere regarding a communication he received from Swartwout, which reported that
an American citizen had been cruelly murdered by the natives near the town of Seattle.
The murder took place
3 October 1856, and Swartwout was seeking assistance from
Douglas towards arresting the murderers, however
Douglas declined to interfere.
In
another despatch,
Douglas informs
Labouchere of the arrival of Swartwout's ship, the
Massachusetts, in
Puget Sound with 87 First Nations prisoners on board. According to Swartwout's statement, these
people had been
plundering the inhabitants, and spreading alarm among the United States Settlements.
The
Massachusetts had been detached to compel their departure from the territory, however the alleged
offenders refused; they beat off the boat's crew and opened fire on the ship.
Douglas states that
after a desperate contest, with considerable loss of life on both sides, their camp
was taken and burnt, their canoes destroyed, and the savages driven to the woods,
when they agreed to surrender on condition of being left in possession of their arms,
and safely landed on Vancouver's Island.
The purpose of Swartwout's landing in
Puget Sound was, therefore, to carry out the terms of the capitulation.
Douglas objected; he considered it
contrary to the usage of civilized nations
. Swartwout responded with disappointment and irritation, threatening to land his prisoners
with or without permission. To this,
Douglas gave Swartwout two options: transport them to
Washington and hand them over to the civil authorities for trial, or convey them 100 miles North
and discharge them there. Swartwout chose the latter, knowing that he had made the
promise of landing them on
Vancouver Island in exchange for their surrender.