"... On Wednesday, March 26, at about 8:30 a.m., after the men had gone to their usual work on the bridges of the new railway, mostly on the bridge near Bush's house, the Yakimas came down on us. There was a line of them from Mill Creek above us to the big point at the head of the falls, firing simultaneously on the men; and the first notice we had of them was their bullets and the crack of their guns. Of our men, at the first fire, one was killed and several wounded. ... Our men on seeing the Indians all ran for our store through a shower of bullets, except three who started down stream for the middle block house, distant one and a half miles. [Fort Rains] ...

There was grand confusion in the store at first ... Some of us then commenced getting the guns and rifles, which were ready loaded, from behind the counter ...

The steamer Mary was lying in the mouth of Mill creek, and the wind was blowing hard down stream. When we saw Indians running toward her and heard the shots, we supposed she would be taken; and as she lay just out of our sight, and we saw smoke rising from her, concluded she was burning, but what was our glad surprise after a while to see her put out and run across the river. I will give an account of the attack on her here-after.

The Indians were now pitching into us 'right smart.' They tried to burn us out; threw rocks and firebrands, hot irons, pitch wood --- everything onto the roof that would burn. ...

There were now 40 men, women and childen in the house --- 4 women and 18 men that could fight, and 18 wounded men and childen. The steamer Wasco was on the Oregon side of the river. We saw her steam up and leave for the Dalles. Shortly after the steamer Mary also left. She had to take Atwell's fence rails for wood.

So passed the day, during which the Indians had burned Iman's two houses, your saw-mill and houses, and the lumber yard at the mouth of Mill creek ...   they set fire to your new warehouse on the island, making it light as day around us. ...  They did not attack us at night, but the second morning [March 27] commenced as lively as ever. ...

By this time we looked for the steamer from The Dalles, and were greatly disappointed at her non-arrival. We weathered it out during the day, every man keeping his post, and never relaxing in vigilance. Every moving object, shadow, or suspicious bush on the hill received a shot. The Indians must have thought the house a bombshell. To our ceaseless vigilance I ascribe our safety. Night came again; saw Sheppard's house burn; Bush's house near by was also fired, and kept us in light until about 4 a.m. when darkness returning. ...

The two steamers now having exceeded the length of time we gave them in which to return from the Dalles, we made up our minds for a long siege and until relief came from below. We could not account for it, but supposed the Ninth Regiment had left The Dalles for Walla Walla, and proceeded too far to return. Morning dawned -- the third morning [March 28] -- and, lo, the Mary and the Wasco, blue with soldiers, and towing a flat-boat with dragoon horses, hove in sight. Such a haloo as we gave! As the steamers landed the Indians fired twenty or thirty shots into them, but we could not ascertain with any effect. The soldiers as they got ashore could not be restrained, and plunged into the woods in every direction, while the howitzers sent grape after the now retreating redskins. The soldiers were soon at our store, and we, I think may say, experienced quite a feeling of relief on opening our doors.

During this time we had not heard from below. A company of dragoons under Colonel Steptoe went on down. ... The block house at the Middle Cascades still held out. Allen's house was burned and every other one below, George W. Johnson's, S.M. Hamilton's, F.A. Chenowith's, the wharf-boat at Lower Cascades - all gone up. ...

Next in order comes the attack on the Mary [March 26]. She lay in Mill Creek -- no fires -- wind hard ashore. Jim Thompson, John Woodard, and Jim Hermans were just going up from our store and nearly reached her as they were fired upon. Hermans asked if they had any guns. No. He went up to Iman's house, the rest staying to get the steamer out. Captain Dan Baughman and Thompson were ashore on the upper side of the creek, hauling on lines, when the fire became so hot that they ran for the woods past Iman's house. The fireman, James Lindsey, was shot through the shoulder. The engineer, Buckminster, shot an Indian on the gang plan with his revolver, and little Johnny Chance, Watkins' stepson, climbing up on the hurricane deck, with an old dragoon pistol, killed his Indian. Johnny was shot throught he leg in doing so. ...

Fire was soon under the boiler and steam was raising. ...   After sufficient steam to move was raised, Hardin Chenoweth ran into the pilot house, and lying on the floor, turned the wheel as he was directed from the lower deck. It is almost needless to say that the pilot house was a target for the Indians. After the steamer was backed out and, fairly turned around, he did toot that whistle at them good. Toot! toot! toot! It was music in our ears. The steamer picked up Hermans on the bank above. Imann's family, Sheppard and Vanderpool all got across the river in skiffs, and boarding the Mary, went to The Dalles.

Colonel George Wright and the Ninth Regiment, Second Dragoons, and Third Artillery, had started for Walla Walla and were out five miles, camped. They received news of the attack at 11 o'clock p.m. [first day, March 26], and by daylight were back at The Dalles. Starting down they only reached Wind Mountain that night, as the "Mary's" boilers were in bad order because of a new fireman the day before. They reached us the next morning at 6 a.m. [third day, March 28].

The steamer Belle returned next day, (third of the attack), and brought ammunition for the blockhouse. ...   Steamer Fashion with volunteers from Portland came at the same time. The volunteers remained at the loser Cascades; Sheridan took his command, and with a batteaux loaded with ammunitiion crossed to Bradford's island on the Oregon side, where they found most of the Cascade Indians ...   They were crossing and re-crossing all the time and Sheridan made them prisoners. ... ..."


Source:    L.W. Coe, April 6, 1856, The Cascades Massacre of March 26, 1856, IN: History of Clark County

"... I had it put upon the steamboat Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, and started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. We reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a favorable place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the north bank of the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to bring up any volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have been collected at Vancouver.

The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had backed up into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to such a degree that it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to advance over toward the point occupied by the Indians. On this neck of land the hostiles had taken position, as I soon learned by frequent shots, loud shouting, and much blustering; they, by the most exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, daring me to the contest.

After getting well in hand everything connected with my little command, I advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of underbrush to make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of this underbrush until we reached the open ground leading over the causeway or narrow neck before mentioned, when the enemy opened fire and killed a soldier near my side by a shot which, just grazing the bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, opening an artery and breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The Indians at once made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming quickly to the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now brought into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they lay concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at intervals during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to either side, for both parties held positions which could not be assailed in flank, and only the extreme of rashness in either could prompt a front attack. My left was protected by the back water driven into the slough by the high stage of the river, and my right rested secure on the main stream. Between us was only the narrow neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The position of the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours.

In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by the steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had brought up with me. Examining this I found it would carry about twenty men, and made up my mind that early next morning I would cross the command to the opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and make my way up along the mountain base until I arrived abreast the middle blockhouse, which was still closely besieged, and then at some favorable point recross to the north bank to its relief, endeavoring in this manner to pass around and to the rear of the Indians, whose position confronting me was too strong for a direct attack. This plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be successfully carried out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I not be able to do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me out would miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house would soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk all the chances the plan involved. ..."


Source:    Project Gutenberg website, 2006, "The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan, Volume 1., Part 1, by Sheridan", published 1888, New York