Cayuse War
The Cayuse War, occurring from 1847 to 1850 in southeastern Washington State, was a significant conflict involving the Cayuse and Tenino tribes. It ignited when the Cayuse attacked the Waiilatpu Mission, established by missionary Marcus Whitman, due to resentment over the disruptions and diseases brought by European settlers. Tensions escalated as the mission was located on traditional Cayuse land, fostering further conflict. The war highlighted the Cayuse's fierce reputation; however, they faced military challenges, including defeats in battles against U.S. forces and a lack of support from neighboring tribes. The aftermath of the war had severe consequences for the Cayuse, leading to a substantial loss of their territory, the imposition of legal judgments against them, and a significant decline in their population. Ultimately, the conflict altered the dynamics between Indigenous groups and settlers, setting a precedent for future relations in the region. The war remains a poignant chapter in the history of U.S. expansion and its impact on Native American communities.
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Cayuse War
- DATE: 1847-1850
- PLACE: Southeastern Washington State
- TRIBES AFFECTED: Cayuse, Tenino
- SIGNIFICANCE: The Cayuse War began when the Cayuse attacked a mission because they were angry about the disruption and disease that had come with the Whites; the war gained the Cayuse a reputation as a fierce and warlike Indigenous group
The Waiilatpu Mission was established near Fort Walla Walla in southeastern Washington by a medical doctor, Marcus Whitman. The mission was located on Pasha Creek (called Mill Creek by most European Americans). The land on which the mission was built was actually part of the ancient Cayuse lands, a situation which would later lead to friction between the missionaries and the Cayuse. The Cayuse land was in the center of an area through which many Europeans passed on their way to a number of destinations in the Pacific Northwest, another cause of friction between the two groups.
Whitman’s preachings in the mission were designed to persuade the Cayuse to forsake their traditional ways and adopt his version of “Christian values.” Gradually, the Cayuse became convinced that Whitman was an evil man. To make matters worse, many Cayuse members contracted measles, and some of them blamed Whitman. He returned to his mission during the fall of 1847 after ministering to the sick among the Umatilla. His mission complex was attacked by the Cayuse, and the Whitmans and twelve others were killed.
A retaliatory effort was mounted against the small group of Cayuse and the dissidents, but it was repulsed. On January 28, 1848, a group of Cayuse warriors and some recruited Tenino defeated a volunteer party under the command of Major Henry Lee; although the Cayuse tried to persuade other area Indigenous peoples to join them in the battle, only a few did.
The Cayuse later suffered a defeat during the Sand Hollow battle of 1848, in which Cayuse chief Gray Eagle was killed. A number of other skirmishes ensued during the remainder of 1848 and in 1849. The refusal of other Indigenous nations to join the Cayuse would ultimately lead to their downfall.
In a message to the territorial legislature in 1850, Joseph Lane, the new governor of Oregon Territory, declared that the entire Cayuse Indigenous group would be considered responsible for the deaths of the European Americans in the Whitman mission attack until the guilty parties were turned over to the government for trial. An increasing number of Cayuse and other bands attempted to capture the members of the Cayuse who had attacked the missionaries. Finally, five of the attackers were captured after being pursued by other Cayuse members. They were turned over to the Oregon territorial government for trial. It has been speculated that the accused Cayuse had little understanding of the American legal system that would judge their case. They were provided defense council by the Oregon territorial government. On May 24, 1850, the jury pronounced them guilty as charged, and they were hanged on Monday, June 3, 1850.
The Cayuse War led to a substantial reduction in territory for the Indigenous group. In 1855, the Cayuse were forced to cede most of their Indigenous lands, and they were placed on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation along with the Umatilla and Walla Walla peoples. The population of the Cayuse also decreased. The war also helped to accelerate the process of making Oregon a US territory, set important legal precedents, and damaged long-term relations between Whites and Indigenous Americans in the area.
Bibliography
Alexander, Kathy. “The Cayuse War – Revenge for the Measles.” Legends of America, Feb. 2024, www.legendsofamerica.com/na-cayusewar. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Castillo, Elizabeth. “Exploring the History Behind the Cayuse Five.” OPB, 23 Sept. 2022, www.opb.org/article/2022/09/23/tol-cayuse-five-burial-history-university-of-oregon-exploration. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
"The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation." Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, critfc.org/member-tribes-overview/the-confederated-tribes-of-the-umatilla-indian-reservation/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Lang, William L. “Cayuse Indian War (1847–1850).” The Oregon Encyclopedia, 23 May 2022, www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/cayuse-indian-war-1847-1855. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.