Henry A. G. Lee

For other people named Henry Lee, seeHenry Lee (disambiguation).

Henry A. G. Lee
Speakerof theProvisional Legislature of Oregon
In office December 10, 1845 – December 19, 1845
Preceded by	Robert Newell
Succeeded by	Asa Lovejoy
Constituency	Clackamas District
Member of theProvisional Legislature of Oregon
In office June 24, 1845 – December 19, 1845
Constituency	Clackamas District
Captain of theOregon Rifles
Personal details
Born	circa 1818 Virginia
Died	1851 At sea

Henry A. G. Lee(c. 1818 – 1851) was a soldier and politician inOregon Countryin the 1840s. A member of Virginia's Lee family, he was part of theFremont Expeditionand commanded troops during theCayuse Warin what became theOregon Territory.He also was a member of theOregon Provisional Governmentand the second editor of theOregon Spectator.

Early life

Lee was born inVirginia,circa 1818.In 1843, Lee was a part ofJohn C. Frémont's Army expedition through the Western United States, including what is now the state of Oregon.During the expedition he was sent with a note toKit Carsonordering Carson to catch up to the group, and later when the party split into two Lee remained with Fremont before returning to Oregon on September 22.

Oregon Country

Fellow pioneerJohn Mintodescribed Lee as a "natural leader," but contrasted his style with that ofJames Nesmith;Lee, he contended, was less domineering than Nesmith, and attracted young men eager to serve.After settling in Oregon, Lee was elected to theProvisional Legislature of Oregonin 1845.He represented theClackamas Districtand served as Speaker of the body for part of the December session.In 1846, Lee became the second editor of theOregon Spectator,the first newspaper in the region.He replacedWilliam G. T'Vaultand would remain editor for nine issues of the paper beforeGeorge Law Currytook over the position.

Cayuse War

Main article:Cayuse War

On November 29, 1847, theWhitman Missionnear present-dayWalla Walla, Washington,was attacked by members of theCayuse tribein theWhitman Massacre.This led to further violence in the ensuingCayuse Warprosecuted by theProvisional Government of Oregonand later the United States government against the Native Americans in what became theOregon Territoryin 1848. In December 1847 when word of the attack reached theWillamette Valley,the Provisional Government and Gov.George Abernethycalled for volunteers to fight against the Cayuse, with Lee volunteering and being selected as captain of a 50-man unit to be dispatched immediately toThe Dalles.TheOregon Riflesunder the command of Lee formed on December 8, and gathered atFort Vancouveron December 10 where they purchased supplies from theHudson's Bay Company(HBC) post.The HBC would not extend credit to the Provisional Government, so the volunteer soldiers pledged their individual credit in order to purchase supplies with the hope that the government would be able to repay them at a later time.The group was to protect theMethodist Missionthere and prevent any hostile forces from reaching the Willamette Valley.

While preparation were made for war, the Provisional Government also attempted to negotiate with the Cayuse and other tribes.Lee was appointed as one of the peace commissioners, along withJoel PalmerandRobert Newellto seek a truce with the Cayuse and demand they turn over the killers from the massacre at the start of hostilities.Lee and his troops, with John E. Ross and Joseph Magone as lieutenants, then marched off to The Dalles, arriving on December 21.Upon arriving there, Lee led his men against a band of Native Americans and drove them off, but not before they stole 300 head of cattle.There the troops built a stockade and named the postFort Leefor the commander, though the small fortification was also called Fort Wascopam.Lee's forces continued defending theWascopam Missionand settlers until ColonelCornelius Gilliamarrived with a larger force in February 1848, at which point Lee became third in command after Gilliam and Lieutenant-Colonel James Waters.

With a larger force, the militia forces pressed east towards theWhitman Mission,with Lee commanding some troops and carrying out reconnaissance.By March 4 the forces reached the mission after a battle atSand Hollows.After reaching the mission, Gilliam set out for The Dalles with a small force to supply that settlement, before continuing to Oregon City to report to the governor when he was accidentally shot and killed.Lee continued west with Gilliam's body and was promoted to Colonel before returning to the front.Once at the front he discovered that the troops had elected Waters as Colonel, so Lee resigned as colonel and took the role as a subordinate to Waters.

Later life

After leaving the war, Governor Abernethy appointed Lee as superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1848.In 1849, he sought his fortune in the gold mines of theCalifornia Gold Rush.He successfully mined there before returning to Oregon and setting up business inOregon Cityin 1850. That year Lee traveled by ship to New York to acquire inventory for his store, but died ofPanama feveron his return to Oregon in 1851.