was most favorably im-
pressed. Eventually,
Kamiakin became weal-
thy enough to support
five wives, each of a dif-
ferent tribe, which an-
gered Yakima relatives
but also established him
as a political force be-
yond tribal borders.
Moreover, despite an in-
crease of white migration
following the Mexican-
American War of 1846–
1848, Kamiakin strongly
advised neutrality toward
their new neighbors dur-
ing the Cayuse War of
1847–1850. If given a
choice, Kamiakin in-
evitably advocated peace.
The discovery of gold
in the Pacific Northwest
proved a disastrous cata-
lyst for change. White miners and explorers
flooded onto prime Indian land without per-
mission, which engendered resentment and
not a few murders. Indian alarm increased fol-
lowing Capt. George B. McClellan’s 1853 sur-
vey of a new railroad through Naches Pass,
which would result in even greater migration.
Slowly, an antiwhite confederation began coa-
lescing around the strong personality of
Kamiakin. In 1855, the governor of the newly
created Washington Territory, Isaac I.
Stevens, initiated the Walla Walla Council for
the purpose of acquiring prime Indian land
through purchase. In exchange the natives
were promised new homes elsewhere and an-
nuities from the government. Many chiefs
eventually signed on to the scheme, although
Kamiakin declared he would never sell his
land. However, several tribes pressured him
to do likewise, although the chief reputedly
bit his lip so hard while signing the treaty that
it bled. This agreement stipulated a two- to
three-year period for tribal relocation, but to
the Indian’s surprise Stevens declared their
lands open for settlement
after only 12 days! Kami-
akin and other dissatis-
fied chiefs tried desper-
ately to have the treaty
negated, without success.
This sense of betrayal led
to the murder of several
miners by Yakima braves,
as well as the death of In-
dian Agent A. J. Bolon.
When Governor Stevens
then began a general mo-
bilization of the militia in
retaliation, Kamiakin re-
alized that war had be-
come inevitable.
Kamiakin, by dint of
astute diplomacy and his
own tribal reputation,
emerged as the principal
war chief of the so-called
Yakima War. He could
draw upon the man-
power of several previously disunited tribes,
including Palouses, Shahaptians, Cayuses,
and various Salish-speaking peoples, who
were now unified through their hatred of
whites. They mustered around 2,000 war-
riors from as far away as southern Alaska.
With such an imposing force, the Indians
easily brushed aside several militia forces
and rampaged through frontier settlements.
On October 6, 1856, Kamiakin also roughly
handled a detachment of regular soldiers
under Maj. Granville Haller, who was forced
to retreat back to Fort Dalles. Success only
emboldened the Indians, and at one point
they attacked the town of Seattle, which was
saved only by the landing of sailors and
marines! The situation had grown so unpre-
dictable that the government directed vet-
eran army officer Gen. John E. Wool to su-
pervise affairs.
Wool’s strategy was to establish strong
points throughout Yakima territory and then
sweep between them with strong columns of
infantry and artillery. The Indians continuedKAMIAKIN
Kamiakin
Washington State Historical Society