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.
Dr. Whitman provides a very lengthy discussion of a bitter confrontation he had with some of the Cayuse.
Did You Know?
Throughout the West immigrants recorded their passing by writing their names (often with axle grease) at unique places like City of Rocks. Camp Rock once contained hundreds of names. But these historic records are fast disappearing.