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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1850s - US Congress Approved Funding to Build a Military RoadCity's pioneers played role in the American Civil War The American Civil War began less than a decade after the first white pio- neer settlers came to the Duwamish River Valley and formed Washington Territory. It may appear the war did not have any serious influence on the residents of this then remote area as most settlers were recovering from the Indian conflicts. Several men who served major roles for both the Union and Confederate Armies had been in Washington Territory. Some of the names that are recognizable are Ulysses Grant, George B. McClellan and George Pickett and all of served military assignments in the territory prior to the War. In the 1850s, U.S. Congress approved funding to build a military road from Fort Vancouver to Fort Bellingham. The army troops worked with local pio- neers to help survey the route that ran along the ridgelines on high ground and away from flooding rivers. An example of the type of route taken is being used today and is still known as Military Road which can be driven in one stretch from as far south as Milton and ending in Tukwila. The original road from Seattle to Fort Steilacoom was completed in 1860, the same year Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Ulysses Grant was assigned in 1852 to Fort Vancouver, Oregon Territory, as quartermaster for the 4th Infantry Regiment. He noted in his journal the Native Americans were "harm- less" and they would be peaceful had their homeland not been homestead- ed by the white settlers. He also com- mented how the Klickitat tribe had been once powerful but was negative- ly impacted by a Smallpox outbreak. Grant resigned his commission from the Army in July 1854 and later ac- cepted the request to return to the Army where he became Commander General of the Union Army with the outbreak of the Civil War. George B. McClellan was a commissioned offi- cer in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1853, he was a participant in the Pacific Railroad Surveys/Northern Corridor from St. Paul to the Puget Sound. He selected Yakima Pass with- out conducting a thorough search and was in opposition to Washington Ter- ritorial Governor, Isaac Stevens. He missed three superior routes which are now used today for the railroads and our major highways. There is a street in Seattle is named for George This painting depicts the typical scene that settlers and military personnel encountered coming to Washington Territory in the mid-1850's. The paint- ing currently on display at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center was cre- ated by Beulah (Maple) Norman (1893- 1992), grandaughter of Jacob Maple. She was born near the site this painting represents." Tukwila Historical Society. McClellan with a small park of the same name on the corner of McClel- lan and Beacon. George Pickett came to Washington Territory in 1856 as commander and supervised the con- struction of Fort Bellingham. He built a frame home that still stands today as the oldest house in Bell- ingham. He married a Haida tribal member, Morning Mist and had a son they named James Tilton Pickett but she died a few months later. "Jimmie" remained in the Bellingham area and died at age 32. In 1859, Pickett was in command of Company D 9th US Infantry that were garrisoned on San Juan Island and with his troops de- fended against the British in what was to become known as the "Pig War." There were volunteer soldiers who served in Washington Territory but did not fight against the Confederacy. They served as local militia at the few posts not abandoned at the beginning of the war. This included many of the Maple and Denny family members who were volunteer militia members. Jacob Maple came back to the area in November 1862 with his young- est son John Wesley and son-in-law, Martin Cavanaugh and most likely brought the younger members of the family based on his opposition to war although he was also against slavery. Another of Jacob's sons, Eli Maple, who arrived in the territory in 1852, also served in the militia command- ed by Arthur Denny. Arthur Denny served on the Illinois State Legisla- ture with Abraham Lincoln but nei- ther Arthur nor his younger brother David left Washington Territory to serve as soldiers in the Civil War but instead were also members of the lo- cal militia. Please join the Tukwila Historical Society at 1 p.m. June 8 for Lorraine McConaghy's free presentation "Ter- ritorial Voices: A Civil War Reader's Theater" at Tukwila Community Cen- ter. This presentation is being made possible by a grant through Humanities Washington. It is hosted by the Tukwi- la Historical Society and the Tukwila Arts Commission. EVENTS Tukwila Historical Society upcoming events • May 16, 2013: Regular monthly membership meeting at 7 p.m. at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Cen- ter, 14475 59th Ave. S. • June 20, 2013: Regular monthly membership meeting at 7 p.m. at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Cen- ter, 14475 59th Ave. S • Aug. 17 and 18: Tukwila Com- munity Garage Sale at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center, 14475 59th Ave. S. All proceeds will be used to support the Tukwila Historical So- ciety. • Sept. 15: Third Annual Silent Auction and Reception to be held at Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Cen- ter to celebrate "grand opening" of Tukwila's "Japanese" Sister City Col- lection. Tickets are $50 per person. Contact Louise Jones -Brown, event chair, at 206-244-4478 (HIST) for ad- ditional information. Tukwila's Story is prepared by Lou- ise Jones -Brown. She is acting director of the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center and treasurer for the Tukwila Historical Society. For hours and ar- rangements for a tour, please call 206/244-HIST or email: tukwilaher- itagectr@tukwilahistory.org. For more information regarding membership in the Tukwila Historical Society or any of our events, call 206/244-HIST or email: tukwilaheritagectr@tukwilahis- tory.org. Tukwila News everyday I Tukwilareporter.com