In connection with these letters dealing with the mission at Waiilatpu and the immigration of 1843, we wish to include two of much interest, not hitherto published, both dealing with Doctor Whitman. These are letters of much later date than the preceding, though pertaining to the times of the mission.
The first of these is by Perrin Whitman to W. H. Gray. Perrin Whitman lived many years at Lewiston and was well known in all that region.
Letter from Perrin Whitman to W. H. Gray:
Lapwai Station, October 11, 1880.
About the 20th of April, 1843, I left Rushville, Yates County, N. Y., with Dr. Marcus Whitman (my uncle) for Oregon. I distinctly remember of his telling his mother and friends that his visit with them would be necessarily short, as he had on his way east from Oregon, notified all who were desirous of emigrating to Oregon to rendezvous at Westport and Independence, Mo., and that he would pilot them with their wagons across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River. The immigration, consisting of about one hundred and twenty wagons, left the Missouri line about the last of May and reached Waiilatpu (Walla Walla Valley) about the 5th of the following September.
The doctor piloted them the whole distance, as he had promised to do. Gen. J. C. Fremont (at that time a lieutenant) arrived at Waiilatpu with his Government train across the plains a few weeks after the arrival of our immigration.
Doctor Whitman's trip east in the winter of 1842 and '43 was for the double purpose of bringing the immigration across the plains, also prevent, if possible, the trading off of this northwest coast to the British Government. I learned from him that the Mission Board censured him in strong terms for having left his missionary duty and engaged in another so foreign from the one they had sent him to perform. While crossing the plains I repeatedly heard the doctor express himself as being very anxious to succeed in opening a wagon road across the continent to the Columbia River, and thereby stay, if not entirely prevent, the trade of this northwest coast, then pending between the United States and the British Government.
In after years the doctor with much pride and satisfaction reverted to his success in bringing the immigration across the plains and thought it one of the means of saving Oregon to his Government. I remained with him continuously till August, 1847, when he sent me to The Dalles. He was murdered the following November.
The above statement is correct and true, so help me God.
P. B. Whitman.