Gig Harbor Abandoned Military Reservations Number 23 and 24

Gig Harbor Abandoned Military Reservations Number 23 and 24

Often times when people visit the Harbor History Museum and look at maps or stories of people homesteading on old abandoned military reservation property they become curious about the history of these reservations.  When the Executive Director asked me if I knew the history, I gave my idea but also the short answer:  no!

So I thought I would try to discover their history; who established them, when and why.  Were they established before Washington Territory was separated from the Oregon Territory in 1853?  Were they established before England (Canada) and the US governments reached an agreement on the border at the 49th Parallel between the two countries?

In April 2012 there was a blog on the Harbor History Museum site about Captain William J. Duley, the military officer living in they Gig Harbor community.  The US Government and the acting governor of the Washington Territory had named Duley as supervisor of the military reservations on the eastside of the harbor.  Unfortunately though it did not include any actual history about the reservations themselves.

This meant a lot of research because I know nothing about early American military reservations, or the history of Washington.  I don’t believe they are covered in any great detail in the history books unless you are majoring in military history.  I decided to start where I normally would if there was nothing other than the maps available in the museum.  My first sources were the internet, the Puget Sound Region of the Secretary of State Washington Archives, the Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, and the National Archives.

Let’s start with my email questions to these agencies, and their responses.

As someone who has not studied Washington State history I am hoping you can help me understand the reasons behind the US Army establishing military reservations in the oregon Territory later to be separated into Washington Territory.

Was it in case the dispute between England (Canada) and the US as to where the border was between the two countries; or were the abandoned military reservations in Pierce County those original established by the Hudson Bay Company and the US became owner once the 49th parallel was established as the border?

Or were they established because of the vast number of American (and other settlers) immigrating to the west to find a better life?

Or was it because of the Indian Wars of 1851/55?

I wrote a blog for the Harbor History Museum on the Puget Sound Agricultural Company (PSAC) established by the Hudson Bay Company and in it mentioned their operations at Fort Nisqually and Fort Cowlitz.  http://harborhistorymuseum.blogspot.com/2017/08/hudsons-bay-company.html  

This is why I thought there might be a connection with the US Abandoned Military Reservations.  Although I found a google book excerpt which stated “Reservations were established by Executive Order of September 22, 1866.  These two reservations were relinquished by the War Department by authority of Executive Order October 18, 1904.  When so relinquished the two abandoned military reservations became subject to disposal by the Secretary of Interior under provisions of the act of July 5, 1884 which act made general provisions for the disposal of Abandoned Military Reservations. “  (Reservations were in every state of the Union)

We have many visitors at the museum asking us about the history of the reservations which is why I’m asking you.  We had settlers to Gig Harbor who attempted to settle on the abandoned military reservation on the east side of the harbor and were evicted by the US Army.   Any information you might provided is greatly appreciated.

The Puget Sound Region-Washington Archives responded:  

“I do not know anything about the Military Reservations except that they exist.  Perhaps all the reasons you suggest played some part in the decision.  I suggest you direct your questions to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and perhaps they can direct you to someone in the U.S. military or to a military historian that would know more of the history.“

However there was a link included directing me to a google book “The Enemy Never Came:  The Civil War in the Pacific Northwest” by Scott McArthur.  Fortunately the Peninsula-Gig Harbor Library had the book and it is a great resource.  I recommend it for anyone wanted to know more about the Civil War in the Pacific Northwest.  Amazon also had a copy for sale.  But for the purpose of this blog I am only going to quote the reasons found in Chapter 13, The Threat from the Sea, second paragraph.

“Several theories developed about why fortification was necessary:

1. At a time when both the United States and Great Britain laid claim to the Oregon Country, if the U.S. built forts at the mouth of the Columbia it would help secure the U.S. claim to the Oregon Country.
2. It would keep Great Britain, which ceded title to the lands south of the forty-ninth parallel in 1846, from taking back what became known as the Pacific Northwest.
3. It would guard against a fear that with the U.S. involved in the Civil War in the East, foreign powers might try to invade to seize control of the Oregon Country and its valuable gold deposits.
4. It would guard against invasion by Confederate privateers, who, in fact, never threatened the Oregon-Washington Coast and made themselves felt in the Northern Pacific only after the war ended.
5. The United States had decided it should defend all of its principal harbors.  This decision had marginal military merit after the end of the Civil War and continued until the last of the coastal forts were decommissioned at the  end of World War II.

So it appears my guesses were not too far off.

National Archives responded:

Thank you for your interest in our records.  Unfortunately, without an extensive amount of research on our staff's part, we are unable to point at any specific records in our collection that answer your many questions.  We cannot do research for patrons and can only spend one hour in locating records related to specific requests.  The background to why these reservations were created and then abandoned would be a large research undertaking.  I would suggest, as a staring point, that you contact the Washington State History Museum and see if they can point you at any secondary sources that would start you on a research path.  Another possibility would be to contact a local Washington State History professor that may have a background in this field.  He/she would be able to suggest some other sources too. 

We have Military Reservation records at our facility; however, they are spread over several Record Groups and Series.  There are also records held at our College Park, MD and Washington, DC facilities.  These are our main offices and would hold headquarter level records and Executive Orders.  For example, here is a series entry from our Online Catalog for records held in Washington, DC: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/300279.  If you find that you might want to do further research using the National Archives' records, I would suggest you search in our Catalog to get a better idea of what kind of records we hold in our various field sites.

My searching on-line found Google has put several documents from the Congressional Records on line however you cannot print them, and sometimes they are very difficult to read.  They are however e-books which can be downloaded.  But I did discover the following information:

iPhone photo of google ebook Congressional Records-Proceedings

iPhone photo of google ebook -Congressional Records-Proceedings

iPhone photo of google ebook - Congressional Proceedings

Reservation on the west side of narrows of Puget Sound, at south side of entrance to Gig Harbor, in Pierce County, embracing the E 1/2 NE 1/4 and E 1/2 SE 1/4 sec 7, the NW 1/4 NW 1/4 S1/2 NW 1/4 SW 1/4 and lots 1,3,4 and 5, sec. 8, T21N, R2E.  Established by Executive Order of September 22, 1866.  Relinquished for disposal under act of July 5, 1884, by authority of Executive order of October 18, 1894.

Reservation on the west side of narrows of Puget Sound, in Pierce County, in Pierce County, embracing lots 3 and 4, SW 1/4 SE 1/4 and SW 1/4 sec. 21, lots 1,2 and 3, W 1/2 NE 1/4 NW 1/4 and NE 1/4 SW 1/4 sec. 28 T21N R2E.  Established by Executive order of September 22, 1866.  Relinquished for disposal under act of July 5, 1884, by authority of Executive order October 18, 1894.  Surveyed.  Area 637.20 acres.  Action suspended on above reservation.

Reservation on the west side of narrows of Puget Sound, south of Point Evans, in Pierce County, and described as S 1/2 and fractional S 1/2 of N 1/2, sec. 32, lot 3 and part lot 2, sec. 33, lots 4, 5, part of lot 3, and NE 1/4 SE 1/4 sec. 31 T21N R2E; lots 1 and 2 sec. 5, and lot 3, sec. 6 T20N R2E.  Established by Executive order of September 22, 1866.  Relinquished for disposal under act of July 5, 1884, by authority of Executive order of October 18, 1894.Survey, but further action necessary to define northern boundary, which crosses subdivisions, so that portions of such subdivisions within reservation may be indicated on the township plat.  Estimated area, 635 acres.  Action suspended as above.

Reservation on the north side of Gig Harbor, at narrows of Puget Sound, in Pierce County, embracing lots 1,2,3 and NW 1/4 NW 1/4 sec. 4; lots 2,3,4,5,6, NE 1/4 and NE 1/4SE 1/4 sec. 5; lot 1, sec. 8 T21N R2E; SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec. 32 and lot 4 and SW 1/4 Sw 1/4 Sec. 33 T22N R2E.  Established by Executive order of June 9, 1868.  Relinquished for disposal, under act of July 5, 1884, by authority of Executive order of October 18, 1894.  Surveyed 633.33 acres.  Action suspended as above.

And then there was the confusing document showing these two sites had been abandoned so to speak before they had even been reserved as potential military reservations:

At Narrows of Puget Sound:

South end of Vashons Island…..President’s order June 9, 1868.  A part of these lands declared reserved were disposed of prior to date of order reserving same, viz., NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 and lot 3 T21N R2E; lot 5 and NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 sec 2 T21N R2E and SW1/4 of SW 1/4 of sec 22N R2E.  All in Tps 21 and 22 N R2E

President’s order June 9, 1868.  A part of these lands declared reserved were disposed prior to date of order reserving same, viz., NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 and lot 3, sec 1, T21N R2E; lot 5 and NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 sec 2 T21N R2E and SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 od Sec 33, T22N R2E

In The Official History of the Washington National Guard, Vol. 1, Heritage of the Washington Territorial Militia we learn that, on page 32, paragraph 2 of the Organic Act which established the Washington Territory that we became the first territory where the Governor was given the right to establish the militia without waiting for either Congress or the President to authorize its formation.  As a military man, one of Issac Stevens first acts presented to the Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory included the organization of the militia.  Unfortunately whereas the code of laws, school system with military training in the higher schools were enacted, the formation of the militia was not.

iPhone photo of cover to WA National Guard Pamphlet

This was most unfortunate because suddenly the population of Washington Territory had no military defense when the Indian Wars broke out.  Stevens wrote D. C. for arms and ammunition for defensive purposes but was turned down flat.  Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, refused on the grounds that there was no militia in Washington Territory to receive the arms.  Finally on January 26, 1855, the Legislative Assembly approved the act to organize the militia, a year after Stevens first request.

I also found on the internet a google ebook entitled Congressional Records, Proceeding and Debate, Vol 43, Part 1 which spoke about the hearings in Congress between Francis Wellington Cushman, a Tacoma Congressman At-Large (term: 3/4/1899-3/3/1909) and Mr. Stevens, Texas Representative.  They were discussing the abandoned military reservations in Mr. Cushman’s backyard, 6 miles west of his home in Tacoma, WA..  Those abandoned military reservations were Gig Harbor Numbered 23 and 24 and are located on the east side of the harbor waters in Gig Harbor, Pierce County.  

Cushman explained to the legislative committee that “if the military reservation land had been abandoned before 1864, they (the lands) became part of the public domain —then Congress passed an Act approved July 5, 1884 which provided that although abandoned the lands remained government land with restrictions.  As a result when abandoned in 1894 they did not become subject to the general Homestead Act.” 

Cushman was arguing on behalf of his constituents who were unaware the lands they squatted on and built their homes and farms was government land. They were actually living on the lands, having spent considerable money and time and effort improving the land.

Mr. Cushman, speaking about his Act No. 15859  which would amend Act. No. 342 and how it would benefit some settlers who had squatted 2 to 6 years previously on the abandoned military reservation lands.    Cushman’s Act would allow these families to purchase 20 acres at $2.50 cost per acre and require the families to continue to live on the land for 5 years.    

Unfortunately Cushman died (July 6, 1909) before the final version of the Act of Congress was passed on July 3, 1916 (39 Stat., 342).  Circular No. 662 giving the instructions for the disposal of the lands in the abandoned military reservations #23 and 24 in Gig Harbor.  

Paragraph 1 granted the E 1/2 of NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 Sec. 32, Tp. 21 N, R 2 E, to School District No. 71, of Pierce County, WA upon payment of $2.5/acre.

iPhone photo of Certificate of full payment for School District #71, Pierce County land

iPhone phone of BLM Land Patent Details including School District #71

iPhone phone of BLM Land Patent Details including School District #71

Paragraphs  2 - 4 included much of Cushman’s amendment and allowed the squatters (claimants) to file an application to purchased 20 acres of said lands that they had occupied on January 1, 1910 for purchase of securing a home.  However the price was not given in the instructions other than referring to the appraised value.  Said claimants could not apply for said lands under the Homestead Act.  If said claimant did not file a purchase application within one year, said lands would be disposed of at public auction.

Bottom line, I suppose could be that “Reservations were established by Executive Order of September 22, 1866.  These two specific reservations were relinquished by the War Department by authority of Executive Order October 18, 1904.  When so relinquished the two abandoned military reservations became subject to disposal by the Secretary of the Interior under the provisions of the Act of July 5, 1884 which Act made general provisions for the disposal of abandoned military reservations/

Observations:

• WA Territory extended to parts of Idaho and Montana in 1853; in 1859 all of Idaho and part of Nebraska; and by 1861-1863 became the portion we know today as WA State
• WA Territorial Governor in 1866 - Wm. Pickering (1862-1866) and Geo. E. Cole (1866-1867)
• US President 1866 - Andrew Johnson; 1884 - Chester A. Arthur; 1904 - Theodore Roosevelt
• This blog is the result of two weeks research so anyone having a longer period to devote to the research of subject matter can easily add to the history.

Notes:

• Harbor History Museum Research Room
• Google Congressional Records - Proceedings and Debate online
• Puget Sound Region WA Archives
• The Enemy Never Came, The Civil War in the Pacific Northwest by Scott McArthur, 2012, Page 151-152, Chapter 13
• National Archives at Seattle
• Wikipedia -
• Francis W. Cushman biography 
• Territory of Washington
• American Presidents
• WA government Territory Governors
• US Department of the Interior, BLM General Land Office Records

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