Notes to reader:
The following transcriptions have tried to maintain
the original spelling,capitalization and punctuation of the original
letters. In his letters Dr. Whitman often used "+" for "and" and
"+c" for "etc." Comments by the transcriber are enclosed in square
brackets, [].
"Islands" refers to the Sandwich Islands
(Hawaii), where the American Board had established missions. Any
mention of Fort Walla Walla or the place "Walla Walla"
refers to the Hudson's Bay Company post at the confluence of the
Walla Walla and Columbia rivers. The US Army's Fort Walla Walla
did not exist until after the deaths of the Whitmans.
To open a separate window containing a Who's
Who list Click Here.
List of Selected 1835 Correspondence
November 7, 1835: Dr. Whitman to
Reverend David Greene
Dr. Whitman: details the discussions he and Reverend
Parker had with the Flatheads and Nez Perce; explains Reverend Parker's
decision to continue heading westward and Dr. Whitman's decision
to return to the east; and describes his health during the exploring
trip.
December 28, 1835: Dr. Whitman
to Reverend David Greene
Dr. Whitman: discusses his plans for the coming
year; describes the attitude of the fur traders towards missionary
work; and describes the influence of the traders upon the Native
Americans.
RETURN:
Marcus Whitman Correspondence by Year
November 7, 1835
Comments:
From Dr. Whitman St. Louis, Mo., to Reverend David
Greene, Boston.
Original letter begins below:
St Louis, Mo, Nov. 7 1835
Rev D Green
Dear Sir
I arived at this City the 4th instant on my return
from the Rocky Mountains I left Mr Parker or rather he left me upon
Gren River a branch of the Colorado of the west in the Mountains.
Upon our arival at this place; the general rendesvous
for the hunters + trapers of Mountains. We found most of the traders
+ trapers of the mountains; together with band of about two thousand
Shosonise Snake Indians and about forty Lodges of Flatheads and Napersas.
We had an interview with the Chiefs of the later Tribes and found
them remarkably well disposed and excedingly anxious to receive instruction.
We asertained from them and from Capt Stewart and many other individuals
that our Methodist brethren the Lees +c did not go to the Flatheads
but that they had located themselves among the Chinooks on the Multinoma.
Capt Stewart is an English Gentleman who has been betwen two and three
years beyonnd the Mountains, is well informed and appears well disposed
toward our object. He traveled in company with the Lees to Vancover
+ wintered there last winter Brother Parker and myself thougth the
Flatheads + Napersas were very important and interesting tribes for
Missionary labour. After our first interview with them, I said to
Brother Parker if we had another associate I should be anxious to
return home and mak preparations and return with others to thesse
Tribes next spring if the Board should approve of it
He imediately proposed that I should return and
that he would go alone to Columbia. I did not think it practic [Blurred
spot] for him to go alone at first but upon obtaing the assistance
of the chiefs + the promis of an escort to Walawalla and a Frenchman
to assist him with his traveling + in some measure to interperet for
him I concented to return. He can travel with the traders of the northwest
furr Co. from Walawalla which is a post near the junction of Lewis
+ Clarks river to Vancover at or near the month of the Multinoma in
the vicinity of which, He will find an establishment of Capt Wiet
from Boston + the Lees. He expects to arive at Vancover about this
time and designs to winter there + return through the Flathead and
Napersa country to the general rendesvous in the mountains nex summer
where if the board send out Missionary this next spring they will
meet him and go on with the same escort that accompanys him. And he
will return next Autum. The Flatheads and Napersas hav obtained some
notions of religion from the traders + travelers in their country
which seems to be a mixture of Catholick ceremonys Protistantism and
common morality. They say they have always been unhapy cinse the have
become informed of the religion of the whites they do not understand
it. It has only reached their ears they wish it to affect their most
vital parts.
They are very much inclined to follow any advise
given them by the whites and are ready to adop any thing that is taught
them as religion. I design to go directly from here to Rushville N.
Y. where you can direct your letters to me. I will forward as soon
as posible a full account of our Tour There are many things that could
be better understood in person than by writing You will signify your
pleasure as to my coming to Boston
My health was not good for the first part of the
journey But it became very good in the mountains My journey has been
one in which I have much cause for Gratitude to Almighty God for his
merciful care and for the kindnes we received from the Traders
Yours in Christian affection
Marcus Whitman
Return to List of 1835 Letters
December 28, 1835
Comments:
From Dr. Marcus Whitman, Cohocton, N.Y. to Reverend
David Greene, Boston.
The original document starts below:
Cohocton Dec 28th 1835
Rev. D Green,
Dear Sir
In answer to yours of 8th Dec I would say that I
think all the questions are substantially answered by my communication
already forwarded to you We should expect to take pack animals suffecentt
to carry evry absolutely necessary article of cooking utencial, furniture
and clothing. We should go as far as the black hills with a waggon.
Capt Wiet of Boston or Charlestown now trading on the Columbia river
was to send a vessel from the Columbia River to Boston in Oct last.
He is connected with some house in Boston of whome information could
be obtained as to a future voyage. I understand the vessell is to
return Soon after her arival to the Columbia. Whenever she should
return all heavy articles of agricultere furniture +c could be sent
by her to the mouth of the Multinoma River and from there be taken
up the columbia to Wallawalla. The Northwest Furr Company have two
vessells arrive and depart at Vancouver from England each year They
have entencive stocks of goods at Vancouver which are said to be sold
at the London retail prices. I think we can safely rely upon them
for such supplys as we need. The N. F. Co. have a mill at Vancouver
and the Co. and setlers rais a large supply of grain. The only point
upon which Mr Parker and myself felt axious was the disposition of
the N F Company toward the establishment of a mission among the Napiersas.
Doct McLockland the principal trader at Vancouver and general superintendant
for the other posts is represented by Capt Steward as leading family
worship at his post and as being friendly to education and at least
to religious forms. He was expecting an Episcopalian Minister for
his post and a [Catholick] Priest for the companys men We thought
it best to rely upon the company for their cooperation and in the
mean time Mr Parker will have visited them and assertained all that
will necessary upon this point. It will be usefull for you to obtain
a letter from the Secretary of War directed to the Governor general
at Vancouver and the Traders of the Northwest Furr Company desiring
their assistance and cooperation and a similar one to the American
Agents Traders +c I do not know how far it would be wise or safe to
communicate facts upon the subject of the introduction of ardent spirit
among the Indians or to sugest to the Secretary of War the remedy.
All the presant regulation upon this point are disregarded or evaded
and I fear all further regulations will be equally ineffectuall. No
regulation however wise will avail unless the Agents refuse to relicence
such Traders as sell Ardent spirit to the Indians and remove them
from the Indian Country This measure which is wholly within the power
of Government would to a great extent remove the evill. Let the Agents
be instructed and held responsible for the accomplishment of this
object and let the Traders be required to show by the certificates
of ther clerks and assistants that they have not violated the conditions
of their licenc previous to receiving a new one The Northwest Furr
Company have a distillery at Vancouver and the American Furr Traders
have one at the mouth of the Yellowstone River. You are aware of the
delecacy of this subject to one who is liable to be exposed to opposition
of Trader This power of Traders among the Indians cannot be easily
conceived. A man with goods is a great Father with the Indians With
such means he can instegate the Indian to any deed of violence without
fear of being personally implicated. And in evry trder as it were
by necessity we find an enimy for it is the interest of Traders to
keep the Indians unsettled. I was told by a man formerly a partner
in this trade that our object would always be regarded as opposed
to their interest. Yet we found profesed friends among all the Traders
and received many favours and evry facility we could expect. direct
to Rushville, N. Y.
Yours truely
Marcus Whitman
Return to List of 1835 Letters
| 
