A small man of large ambition and keen intelligence, Isaac Stevens cut a wide swathe through the military and political institutions of the 19th century. Although his family was among the earliest settlers of Andover, Massachusetts Bay Colony, playing a prominent role in colonial society, Stevens insisted that "he rose from humble but honest circumstances to win education, forge a career, and emerge as a figure of national prominence."

Education and Early Military Experience
Following his education at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, he secured an appointment to West Point, where he graduated in 1839, first in his class. His skills in mathematics, engineering, surveying, military strategy and politics earned him a commission in the prestigious Corps of Engineers, responsible at that time for the largest public works projects. Stevens earned a reputation for competence and the ability to handle a number of tasks at once, and he gained invaluable experience as a surveyor and engineer.

As an officer in the War with Mexico, he had his first taste of combat and conquest. Returning home with a brevet as major, and convinced of his country's "manifest destiny," Stevens returned to the Corps of Engineers for a time, later joining the newly established U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, destined to map the nations newly won territories.

Stevens' Political Career Begins
His active support of Democrat Franklin Pierce's 1852 candidacy for President launched his own political career. In 1853 Stevens successfully applied to President Pierce for the governorship of the new Washington Territory, which also carried the title of Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Not content with just two jobs, Stevens also lobbied for a position with the proposed transcontinental railroad survey. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis placed him in command of the survey of the northern route.

Stevens' survey expedition left Minnesota in June 1853, charged with documenting the potential route of the railroad, and with the responsibility of recording flora, fauna and Native American tribes. On November 19, 1853, the expedition arrived at Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, eventually producing the most thorough report of four surveys undertaken.

Several days later, the diminutive and disheveled engineer arrived at the Washington Hotel in Olympia, where, according to legend,

a small slight figure, bearded, begrimed, and dressed in rough woolen clothing came to the entrance of Olympia's unpretentious but crowded hotel to inquire about the bustling crowd filling the rude structure. Brushing aside the ragged stranger a celebrant said they were waiting for the governor, but suggested the traveler might find food in the kitchen. After eating his fill, Stevens reappeared to dramatically announce his true identity.

Wasting no time, Governor Stevens quickly organized a territorial government, settled claims by the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company, expended $5,000 for books to fill a territorial library, and petitioned Congress for land on which to build a university. However, it would be his duties as Superintendent of Indian Affairs that would truly define his long-term impact on the future State of Washington.

In June of 1854, leaving acting Governor Charles Mason and the new legislature in charge, Stevens returned to the nation's capital to lobby for money to cover the deficit of the railroad survey expedition, and to secure funding for the Indian treaty councils. His time in the other Washington was well spent and highly profitable to the Territory, as he returned home with much of the survey cost overrun covered, money to build military roads, and funding for the treaty councils.

Stevens immediately plunged into the task of organizing the councils, with the intention of making treaties with the Indians and securing the necessary resources for the railroad and the ever-increasing stream of settlers flowing into the region. His agents had already been visiting the various Indian villages, selecting individuals to represent each tribe. Historian David M. Buerge describes Stevens' whirlwind preparations:

Not only was the timetable reckless; the whole enterprise was organized in profound ignorance of native society, culture, and history. The twenty-thousand-odd aboriginal inhabitants who were assumed to be in rapid decline, were given a brutal choice: they would adapt to white society or they could disappear.

This assessment is rather harsh; Stevens actually took a moderate stance between those who desired political and cultural equality with the Indians and those who preferred their annihilation.

The Medicine Creek Council
On the day after Christmas 1854, Stevens held his first treaty council at Medicine Creek. The Nisqually, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Squaxin and other tribes, informed in advance of the upcoming negotiations, were anticipating fair payment for the land already appropriated by settlers, and a reservation that would sustain their families and future generations.

What the tribes received was several widely separated small reservations combining tribal bands, but allowing for the provision to fish, hunt and gather in their usual accustomed places outside the reservations., along with government-provided schools, blacksmith shops, carpenters, and medical care. The Governor and his team received 2.5 million acres of land in exchange.

Understandably pleased at the positive outcome of the Medicine Creek Treaty, Stevens prematurely speculated that if the whole treaty program transpired as smoothly, all the tribes would soon be on reservations. However, his lack of understanding of native culture led him to make some serious mistakes. He did not understand that Indian leaders had limited powers, nor did he recognize that there would be resistance to grouping traditional enemies onto a single reservation.

Three other treaties with Puget Sound Indians - the Point Elliott Council for tribes east of Admiralty Inlet near Mukilteo, Point No Point Council for tribes' west of the Straits of Juan De Fuca, and the Treaty of Neah Bay at the northern point of the Olympic Peninsula—quickly followed the Treaty of Medicine Creek. Unfortunately, news from the Medicine Creek Council circulated to other tribes, causing the southwest Washington bands to refuse to participate in any treaty council. Stevens promptly turned his attention to eastern Washington, crossing the Cascades to continue negotiations.

The Walla Walla Council
News of the western treaties had quickly passed to the eastern Washington tribes, along with sad tales from the nation's interior and East concerning the plight of the tribes in those regions. The Indians were aware that lands had been ceded, but just compensation and services had not been received from the "Great Father." They were understandably wary of Stevens and the treaty proceedings.

Although the Nez Perce, traditionally friendly to the whites, readily agreed to attend the Walla Walla council, the Yakama, Walla Walla and Cayuse were initially very reluctant to participate. Despite their misgivings, however, the Council formally convened on May 29th, 1855, with thousands of tribal members in attendance.

The chiefs at the Walla Walla Council were firm, business-like negotiators, sure of their strength and confident in their negotiating skills, who, when faced with the inevitable decline of their way of life, sought the best treaty terms possible. Stevens was forced to make compromises, and the Walla Walla treaty was signed by all the tribes present.

Hell Gate Treaty Council
Proceeding further east, into what is now Montana, Stevens met with the Flathead Salish, Pend D'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes. These tribes were under constant attack by the Blackfeet Indians, so Stevens promised that he would procure easement rights from the Blackfeetfor hunting on the plains east of the Rocky Mountains, and that he would stop the pillaging by that tribe.

Once again, Stevens' misunderstanding of tribal culture created discord at the proceedings, and angry words were exchanged before an agreement was finally reached.

The Blackfeet Treaty
Three tribes comprised the Blackfeet Nation - the Blackfeet of the north, the Piegan, and the Blood. These three, sharing a common language, customs, bloodlines and traditional enemies, were collectively the most powerful and feared tribes of the region, and were actively resistant to American explorers and fur traders.

Fifty-nine chiefs attended the Blackfeet Council including delegates form tribes west of the Bitterroot Mountains. Three thousand five hundred Blackfeet, Nez Perce, Flathead Salish, Kootenia, and Pend D'Oreille Indians attended the council, which once again, resulted in the signing of a treaty with the United States.

War Breaks Out
Twelve days after the Walla Walla treaty was signed, the Oregon Weekly Times published an announcement, "By an express provision of the treaty, the country embraced by the cession and not included in the reservation is open to settlement..." This sent streams of settlers and gold seekers east of the Cascades, igniting tempers, and eventually driving the Yakamas to war against the intruders.

While Stevens was still en route from the Blackfeet Council, he learned of warfare in the Territory. Proceeding on through the Bitterroot Mountains, and into the Spokane River Valley, Stevens demanded a council with the Spokane, Couer D'Alene, Colville and Isle de Pierre Indian chiefs.

The Spokane Council
The Spokane Council was unique - of the four councils in the east, only this one failed to produce a treaty. For the first time, Stevens engaged in a true dialog with an Indian leader. Spokan Garry, educated by the Hudson's Bay Company, and representing the Indians with great eloquence, placed Stevens in an uncharacteristic defensive posture. Although no treaty was signed, Stevens counted it a minor victory for having secured the promise from the Spokane that the Yakamas would find no further allies among the eastern tribes.

The Quinault Council
Returning to the west coast, Stevens completed his last formal treaty with Quinault and Quileute tribes on January 25, 1986. Having insured himself a place in history with ten treaties in thirteen months, Stevens turned his attention to advancing his political career. In 1857 he became Washington's delegate to Congress, and in 1859 almost single-handedly obtained the ratification of the treaties he had negotiated.

The Civil War
When the Civil War broke out, he offered his services to the union government and was appointed Colonel of the 79th New York Highlanders. He was commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers in September 1861, and promoted to Major General of Volunteers less than a year later. He met his death fighting gallantly in the battle of Chantilly—the battle in which his son, Hazard, was also wounded—on September 1, 1862.

Richards, Kent D. Isaac I. Stevens: Young Man in a Hurry. Pullman: Washington State University Press, 1993.

Buerge, David M. "Big Little Man: Isaac Stevens (1818-1861)," Washingtonians: A biographical Portrait of the State. Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 1988.

Nicandri, David L. Northwest Chiefs: Gustav Sohon's View of the 1855 Stevens Treaty Councils. Tacoma: Washington State Historical Society, 1986.