Time Line
1801- President Thomas Jefferson speaks of a "rising nation, spread over a wide and fruitful land, traversing all seas...[and] advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of mortal eye"
1803-1805- First military expedition to the Northwest (Lewis & Clark). First military post is established during their stay.
1818- US and Britain agree to make the 49th parallel the boundary between the US and Canada; also both sides agreed to joint occupy the Northwest
1837-Naval Lt. William Slacum recommends to President Martin Van Buren that the 49th parallel should be the minimum boundary
1842-James Polk becomes President and states that "our title to the country of Oregon is clear and unquestionable"
1845- Polk sends all regular troops stationed in the Northwest south to prepare for war with Mexico; only volunteer forces remain to deal with any British and Indian problems
1846- US Congress votes to end joint occupancy in 1 year of the Northwest
US and Britain agree to the 49th parallel as the boundary between the US and Canada
War begins with Mexico
1847- Cayuse War begins the first of many Indian wars in the Northwest; Whitman mission attacked during this time.
1850-Cayuse War ends with the hanging of several murderers of the Whitman mission. Many Indian tribes later regretted not joining in to force the white settlers out of the region.
1852-US Fourth Infantry Regiment arrives for garrison duty in the Northwest
1853- Washington Territory created and Issac Stevens is appointed first Territorial Governor
Father Charles Pandosy warns US Troops of Indian tribes uniting against the Americans to drive them off their land; report was ignored
1855- Gov. Stevens tries to dictate treaties to the various Indians by trying to bully the chiefs into signing
Start of Yakima Wars
1856- US Ninth Infantry arrives in Northwest to reinforce the Fourth Infantry and to make war against the Indians
Col. Edward Steptoe establishes Fort Walla Walla
Battle of Seattle
1858- Lt. John Mullan is ordered to begin construction of a wagon road, beginning near Ft. Walla Wall to Ft. Benton, MO
Col. Edward Steptoe leads a force of about 150 troops and 50 Nez Perce scouts to investigate the death of two miners. Troops are stopped near Rosalia by a large group of hostile Indians
Col. George Wright and Maj. Robert Garnett are assigned to lead troops to punish the Indians and to avenge Steptoe's retreat; Col. Wright leads about 700 men through Eastern Washington and Maj. Garnett leads about 300 men through Central Washington; Col. Steptoe is not permitted to join either expedition
End of Yakima Wars
Gen. William Harney assumes command of the District of Oregon, Department of the Pacific and all US military forces in the Northwest
1859- Dispute over ownership of the San Juan Islands leads to the Pig War
1860- Gen. William Harney is relieved of command of the Department of Oregon and turns it over to Col. George Wright
1861-1865 US Army troops investigates disturbances and disputes between white settlers and Indians in Northeastern Washington
1863-New treaty with the Nez Perce. This causes problems that would lead the the Nez Perce campaign in 1877.
1865- Gen. George Wright drowns on his way to assume command of the new Department of the Columbia
Gen. Edward Canby assumes command of the Department until his death in 1873
1868- US and British governments agree to let the King of Prussia decide who owns the San Juan Islands
1871- King of Prussia publishes his decision and declares the San Juan Islands part of the United States
1874-Gen. Oliver Howard takes command of the Department of the Columbia
1880- Gen. Nelson Miles takes command of the Department of the Columbia
1885- Gen. John Gibbon becomes the last commander of the Department of the Columbia while Washington is still a territory
1889- Washington becomes a state on November 11
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