Historic Fort Steilacoom 4

Chief Leschi (from page 3) as one people of Washington and admit the wrongs of the past. “Like the eagle from above, we can see the landscape of our heritage in sharp focus. We can see the injustice Vol. 25, No. 1 Fort Steilacoom, Washington Spring, 2008 done to Leschi and the Nisqually. We can see the pain caused by the multiple trials, the lingering appeals, and the obscene pressure to hang Chief Leschi’s Name is Cleared this man. by Cecelia Svinth Carpenter “Like the soaring eagle, we can now see the truth. We have wiped It has now been 150 years since away the pain of death, and we have Chief Leschi was hanged for the death wiped them away with the clear of A. Benton Moses during the Indian vision of history. We know the truth. The cast of reenactors for Mrs. Casey’s Tea presented in February 2008. War of 1855-1856. The controversy Can we not do the simple justice of of accusations surrounding the trial declaring the truth? applause went up from the 300 plus ington State History Museum’s de- of Leschi were reported in the “Truth “...We cannot bring Leschi back to members of various Indian tribes velopment of curriculum to present Teller” as revisited in the last two life. We cannot restore him to his who had sat attentively during the the story of the Nisqually chief. issues of our Fort Steilacoom news- lands. It is that simple now after all long discourse. Chief Leschi had Information is available in the book letter. The final chapter to Leschi’s these years—we must give Leschi finally been exonerated after 146 Leschi, Last Chief of the Nisquallies story was resolved in 2004 when a back his good name.... years. by Cecelia Svinth Carpenter, which Historical Court of Inquiry and Justice, “Let your verdict free the spirit of The work of the Exoneration Com- may be obtained from: reviewed the evidence and exonerated the eagle so that it may rest in mittee is not over yet. The task [email protected]. Leschi. peace.” ahead is to request the Washington Information is also available at State Legislature to create a law to www.washingtonhistoryonline.org. The following article is a statement At the end of this testimony the require the state’s history books to Go to the topic “Leschi, Justice In by the eminent Indian historian and panel met in private to discuss the be corrected and to present the story Our Time. writer Cecelia Svinth Carpenter with case. When they reconvened they of Chief Leschi correctly. We hope additional comments from the 2004 declared that Chief Leschi should Other references: Senate resolution and Biennial Report that we have raised the conscience Photo by Orville H. Stout never have been charged with murder of the public toward that aim. Senate Joint Memorial 8054 S-4704.1 as edited by Carol Neufeld Stout. because he acted as a lawful combat- Memorial to Chief Leschi of the Nisquallies placed in the Oakbrook mall on Editor’s note: Washington State Minority and Justice ant during a time of war. In declar- Commission Biennial Report 2003- or years the people of the Steilacoom Boulevard near where Leschi was hanged in 1858. ing this, they cleared the name of Efforts to spread the news of 2004, pp. 34, 37, 38. Nisqually Indian Tribe have Chief Leschi. A joyous roar and Leschi’s exoneration include Wash- FF lived under the shadowy cloud Melissa Parr, who continued to meet to vacate the conviction of Chief that their Chief Leschi was hanged with the Nisqually tribal attorney. Leschi. Karen Haas presents “Westward Ho” on June 1, 2008 at 2 p.m. in Quarters 2. for his part in the Indian War of One such meeting was with the Pierce The text of the memorial, first 1855-1856. They cried out at the County Executive, John Landenberg. read on February 11, 2004, states: injustice of his being put to death for It was suggested that we should go Historic Fort Steilacoom “We, your Memorialists, the Senate Non-Profit Org. a crime in the time of war and for to the Washington State Legislature P.O. Box 88447 and House of Representatives of the U.S. Postage which he was innocent. and obtain a resolution clearing the Steilacoom, WA 98388 State of Washington, in legislative PAID In 2003 a group of interested people chief’s name, then to the Washing- Tacoma, WA session assembled, respectfully rep- Permit No. 660 met in Olympia to see what could be ton Supreme Court for vindication. resent and petition as follows: done to clear the Chief’s name. They This we did. understood that Leschi was innocent In March of 2004 the Washington “WHEREAS, Chief Leschi was a of the charges brought before the State Legislature, both the House of Nisqually Indian leader at the time territorial court in 1857. As a com- Representatives and the State Senate, the Treaty of Medicine Creek was batant in the time of war, he should passed resolutions which stated that signed in December 1854; and not have been tried in a court of law Chief Leschi left a legacy in Wash- “WHEREAS, By the terms of the or executed. A pardon was not what ington State history as a courageous Treaty, the Nisqually Indians were they wanted, but a clear vindication leader who sacrificed for his people assigned to a reservation on lands —an exoneration to be exact. and is worthy of honor and respect. far removed from the Nisqually River There emerged from those who Both houses appealed to the Wash- and its fisheries which had sustained gathered a group of three, Cecelia ington State Supreme Court in Joint them for centuries; and Svinth Carpenter, Cynthia Iyall and Memorial 8054 to cleanse its records (Continued on page 3) Historic Fort Steilacoom 23 Spring, 2008

HFSA has a full docket could do the next best thing. That (from page 1) HISTORIC FORT STEILACOOM lined up for everyone again Chief Leschi was to convene “A Historical Court ASSOCIATION this year. Besides keeping of Inquiry and Justice” to hear our “WHEREAS, Chief Leschi met with the fort open once a month case. President...... C. Gideon Pete territorial leaders seeking a reservation each winter and every Sun- On the 10th of December, 2004, a Past President ...... Carol Neufeld Stout with a sufficient land base for the Nis- 1st Vice Pres...... Thomas A. Melberg day all summer long, we also seven member tribunal of judges led qually people, but was refused; and 2nd Vice Pres...... Robert Demorest will be hosting some excit- by Gerry Alexander convened to “WHEREAS, War broke out be- Secretary ...... Joseph W. Lewis ing guests and events at hear four hours of testimony put on tween Indians and territorial forces, Treasurer ...... Kenneth A. Morgan least once a month. This is under the guidance of Nisqually tribal Directors Bill Arends,: Bernard Bateman, and in the course of war, A. Benton where your membership attorney Bill Tobin. Expert witnesses Lawrence Bateman, Steve Dunkelberger, Moses, a soldier in the Washington really pays off! Everything were: Cecelia Svinth Carpenter, Christine Finnigan, Nancy Keller-Scholz, Territorial Militia, was killed during is free for all HFSA mem- Charles Wilkinson, Shanna Stevenson, Walter T. Neary, John McPherson, Laurie the Battle of Connell Prairie; and bers! Our next major event Professor Alexandra Harmon, Captain Sterling “WHEREAS, Chief Leschi was Editor & Publisher ...... Orville H. Stout takes place in June. We all Eugene Ham, Captain Paul Robson, charged with murder in the death of Telephone ...... (253) 756-3928 had such a marvelous time Kent Richards, Cynthia Iyall, Dorian Moses and was tried before a territo- Web Site ...... www.fortsteilacoom.com with Karen Haas portray- Sanchez, Connie McCloud, and Billy rial court. The trial resulted in a hung ing Narcissa Whitman in Frank, Jr. jury after the jurors were instructed March that we have asked John W. Ladenburg, Pierce County President’s Message that killing of a combatant in the her for an encore in June. Executive and one of the attorneys, time of war was not murder; and ello again! Dressed in appropriate travel- made an eloquent plea for Leschi, as H “WHEREAS, The U.S. Army refused ing attire of the period, summarized here: First of all, before to execute Chief Leschi, who was Karen will sing songs and I delve into any- regarded as a prisoner of war, and Leschi “So, the facts are not really in tell some of the stories of thing else, I wish he was hanged only after the Terri- dispute here. The record is clear. the pioneers who traveled “Your Memorialists further pray to personally thank torial Legislature ordered the Supreme Based upon the highly questionable west on the Oregon Trail. that the Washington State School each and every one Court to schedule his execution testimony of only one eye witness, Mark your calendar for June Director’s Association urge school of you who have which took place on February 19, Leschi was convicted and hanged. 1, 2 p.m. in Quarters 2. districts throughout the state to taken the time to 1858; and Based upon the record of the original Gideon Pete. purchase and use Washington History renew your membership in Historic “WHEREAS, The Supreme Court mistrial and the written record of textbooks that accurately and fairly Fort Steilacoom Association for 2008. of the State of Washington has in- the court itself, Leschi is entitled to portray the life, trial, and execution Your Association is made up en- Recent Donations to Karen Haas portrayed Narcissa herent authority to provide justice, absolute immunity under the laws of of Chief Leschi; and tirely of volunteers, not a paid Whitman at the fort in March. Watch no matter how old the case, and has war, recognized by both sides. Fort Steilacoom “Your Memorialists further pray position in the bunch! The dozen or for her Oregon Trail program on exercised that authority by granting “The only fair and just result is that the injustice that occurred in so souls who make up our Board of Beth Julian, continuing in the June 1, 2008, at 2 p.m. Takuji Yamashita posthumous admis- that this Historical Court correct 1858 with the trial and execution of Directors not only put in literally tradition of her mother, Ellen sion to the Washington Sate Bar the history of this State and declare Chief Leschi be recognized and the hundreds of volunteer hours each Freckleton, has given a number of Association; and Chief Leschi exonerated.... August Valentine Kautz commitment to a legal system under month, but also scour the local items for use at the fort. Recent “WHEREAS, Like Takuji Yama- “It is said that after Leschi was Biography of a Civil War General which a fair trial is the right of antique shops looking for great donations include: six carved Victorian shita, Chief Leschi was the victim of killed, a solitary bald eagle was often by Lawrence G. Kautz everyone regardless of race or creed “finds” to add to the displays in Fort chairs, a melodeon, a framed photo discrimination—in his case, the ulti- seen circling Leschi’s original home. be reaffirmed. Steilacoom’s three furnished quarters. of the John Bradley barn, which was Kautz was the quartermaster at mate discrimination of being executed As it circled, the eagle would scream “BE IT RESOLVED, That copies We also appreciate the many display used as a blockhouse during the Fort Steilacoom before the Civil because he was non-Caucasian; and a single cry, and then disappear into of this Memorial be immediately items given by our members. 1855-56 Indian War, an Underwood War called him eastward. After “WHEREAS, Chief Leschi left a a tall fir. transmitted to the Honorable Chief We have had the good fortune this & Underwood stereoscope, and a the war he retired to Seattle. His legacy in Washington State history “It might be that the eagle repre- Justice of the Supreme Court of past year to be visited by several hob-nail white glass chandelier. descendants still live in this area. as a courageous leader whose sacri- sented the land itself, searching for Washington, Bobbe Bridges, Tom professional curators from the “big Lou Dunkin and her husband This detailed biography follows fice for his people is worthy of honor Leschi. Maybe that eagle represented Chambers, Mary Fairhurst, Faith city” museums, and they have all Lyle have also given many artifacts. his early experiences in the North- and respect; and the family of Leschi, searching for Ireland, Charles Johnson, Barbara been simply dumbfounded at all that Most recently Lou presented an west as well as his military career. “WHEREAS, There was at that their kin. Perhaps the eagle was Madsen, Susan Owens, and Richard we have done and continue to do. early Victorian chair to the museum. It will soon be available at a time and continues to be a public Leschi himself, cruelly separated from Sanders; and to the Washington Again, I want to say a BIG THANK John McPherson has given an special discounted price of $43 (a outcry over the wrongful conviction his land and family. School Director’s Association; and to YOU to all of you. You are the ones army blanket. Lawrence Bateman savings of $16.84 off retail) to and execution of Chief Leschi; “Today, another solitary eagle slowly the Nisqually Indian Tribe.” who have helped to make it all and Joe Lewis have donated history paid-up Fort Steilacoom Associa- “NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memo- circles that sacred land. It too cries a possible. When the economy slows books. All three are members of the tion members. Send your check rialists respectfully pray that the In meeting with Gerry Alexander, lonely simple cry. down, as it has recently, museums Fort Steilacoom Board of Directors. now to Historic Fort Steilacoom Supreme Court of the State of Wash- the honorable Chief Justice of the “This cry is not for Leschi, but for all too often fall way behind the Thank you to these members and Association, P.O. Box 88447, ington use its inherent power of Supreme Court of the State of Wash- us the living.... doctors and dentists in getting “paid.” to the many others who have given Steilacoom, WA 98388. Call Carol providing justice to vacate the con- ington, our committee learned that “This cry demands to know when Thank you once more for your con- so generously to Fort Steilacoom in Neufeld Stout at (253) 582-5838 viction of Chief Leschi and depublish the court could not do what the we will have the courage to stand up tinued support. the past. for details. the record in his case; and State Legislature had suggested, but (Continued on next page)