In 1855, concerned about a potential Indian uprising, American settlers in the Puget Sound area of Washington state formed four companies of soldiers. One of these companies, Eaton’s Rangers, attempted to apprehend Nisqually chief Leschi. Leschi and his brother Quiemuth were peacefully cultivating their wheat fields when the Rangers moved in. Warned of the Rangers’ approach, Leschi and Quiemuth fled their homes. This marked the beginning of the Puget Sound War.
One of the first “battles” of the Puget Sound Indian War was at Connell’s Prairie, a short distance from White River. Here a group of Nisqually and Puyallup warriors under the leadership of Leschi had made camp. Expecting any Americans to approach them from the west, they placed lookouts to the west. However, an express party of seven Americans, coming in from the war against the Yakama east of the Cascade Mountains, blundered into the camp from the east, taking the Indians by surprise. Initially, the Americans viewed the Indians as peaceful as they were unaware of the Puget Sound Indian War. After an initial scuffle in the Indian camp, the Americans fled. After a battle in rough terrain, the four American survivors escaped to Fort Steilacoom.
In response to this skirmish, a combined force of about 100 regulars and militiamen under Lieutenant Slaughter were sent out to pursue Leschi’s band. The Indians, however, took advantage of the natural camouflage of the woods and delivered a torrent of whoops, catcalls, and bullets down on the Americans. The Americans later reported that they had killed 25-30 Natives. In his book The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek: A Tragic Clash Between White and Native America, Richard Kluger calls this “…surely a wishful tally since natives almost always removed their fallen brethren from the battlefield.”
Slaughter’s men continued to chase Leschi’s band, with no idea of what casualties, if any, they were inflicting on the Indians. Another officer, however, reports:
“The Indians are whipped—they will never rally again. Their plan will be to ambush, fire, and then run—my men have proven that they fear no danger—they are ready to fight under any circumstances.”
This was after his force had had 13 men killed in 11 days. Richard Kluger reports:
“The natives remained at large, lithe phantoms, always on the move and impervious to the cold, drenching rainfall and autumn mists that would lift on rare occasions to reveal snow-topped Tahoma (Mount Rainer) looming above the wild landscape like a great guardian spirit of the surrounding tribes.”
In November, the Indians captured 40 of Slaughter’s horses. In December, Slaughter’s men were camped for the night when a single shot rang out and Slaughter fell dead. Three other soldiers were also killed in this brief attack.
The Puget Sound Indian War ended in 1856 with the capture, trial, and execution of Leschi.
More American Indian histories
Indians 301: The Puget Sound War
Indians 101: The 1856 Battle of Seattle
Indians 101: American Indians and the creation of Washington Territory in 1853
Indians 101: Chief Leschi's trial
Indians 201: Sealth (Seattle), Suquamish/Duwamish Leader
Indians 201: The Kickapoo War against Texas
Indians 201: The 1887 Crow uprising
Indians 101: Ilchee, a Powerful Chinook Woman