United States. Army. Washington Territorial Volunteers

The Washington Territorial volunteers were authorized by an Act passed by the Washington Territorial Legislative Assembly January 26, 1855 to organize a militia. With the outbreak of the Native American War east of the Cascades in October 1855, Acting Governor Charles H. Mason called for the raising of Volunteer companies, and those companies comprising the First Regiment of Washington Territory were mustered into service on 14 Oct. 1855 in the Army of the United States. These Volunteer companies were mustered out in December 1855 so when Gov. Isaac Stevens returned in Jan. 1856 from his Treaty with the Native Americans he assumed the responsibility for the Territory of mustering into service one thousand volunteers. These companies formed the Second Regiment of Washington Territory Volunteers, Army of the United States.