The last of the Indian wars of the Pacific Northwest was fought barely three-quarters of a century ago. People still living have childhood recollections of those perilous days. Those wars have been adequately recorded, either separately or geographically by States as well as in the general histories. However, no one has heretofore compiled the story of all of them into a single history.
The period from the early 1840’s to 1879 was filled with danger and death from the warring tribes and is replete with the struggles incident to the settlement of new territory. Blame for hostilities did not always rest with the Indians.
These struggles brought out the best and the worst traits in men, white and Indian alike. Their history is sometimes poignant, sometimes tragic, and occasionally humorous. The author hopes that his factual story will prove to be interesting reading as well as helpful to those seeking an authentic record.
An appendix is supplied which explains the ethnology of the various tribes, their customs and characteristics. The reader may find it helpful to review the appendix before starting to absorb the text of the history itself.
Ray Hoard Glassley. Portland, Oregon, 1953
Pacific Northwest Indian Wars TOC
- The Cayuse War of 1848
- Events between the Cayuse and the Rogue River War
- The Rogue River Wars of the ’50s
- Violent Battles
- Incidents – Coincidental and Following
- Bloody 1855
- The Last Months of Conflict
- The Yakima War, 1855-56
- The Coeur d’Alene War, 1857
- The Modoc War, 1873
- The War in the Lava Beds
- The Next Three Months
- The Commissioners go to the Tent
- Modoc Background for the Murders
- Some Incidents Preceding the Trial
- The Trial
- The Execution
- The Nez Perce War, 1877
- The Great Trek
- The Battle of the Big Horn
- The Bannock War, 1878
- The Sheepeater War of 1879