Tom Hill has been blamed by some historians as inducing the Whitman massacre , as he was according to them " ... the bitter enemy of the white man 's religion and everything else related to whites . " In particular , William Marshall declared that Hill was " constantly striving to stir up the Indians against all the whites " during his time among the Nimíipuu . Marshall concluded that " ... it is doubtful is any other one influence was a potent as Tom Hill in ... bringing on the Whitman massacre . " This assessment has been questioned by later historians , with more focus given to the simmering cultural clashes between the Indigenous and the Missionaries along with the spread of infectious diseases on the Columbian Plateau . Francis Haines in particular stated that while his teachings " undoubtedly helped cause the Whitman massacre ... he had no part in plotting the attack . " During 1846 , Tom Hill joined a small party of Sahaptins destined for New Helvetia . Two years prior , Walla Walla noble Piupiumaksmaks visited the settlement , though his son died in a confrontation there . Piupiumaksmaks wished to return to the area to reaffirm positive relations with John Sutter . Hill and the group entered Alta California during the tumultuous Mexican – American War , the Conquest of California then just beginning . John C. Frémont called for volunteers to join in the California Battalion , with several Walla Wallas serving as scouts . Hill enlisted into a white company , his salary being $ 25 monthly . The military company was headed south towards Monterey when several hundred Mexican forces were encountered at Battle of Natividad . Hill was a part of a small scouting party that encountered the enemy forces , having to fight them unaided for four hours . After some time exchanging slavos from afar , Tom reportedly called out to the Mexicans that " You come here , me kill you . You ca n't fight better than one woman . " His insult angered several Mexicans , charging on horseback . The ensuing skirmish was later described in 1879 : The strife was soon over , for as soon as the Spaniard made the first pass , Tom paried the thrust and struck the Spaniard in the forehead with his tomahawk , which brought him to the ground , where he deliberately tore off his scalp . During the remainder of the battle the Spaniards kept at long range , not caring to come within close quarters with Haze and his Indians . At the end of the battle that evening , the Americans feared that they were surrounded by Mexican forces . Hill volunteered to slip past the enemies and travel to Monterrey where Frémont was located . A small Mexican group became alerted to him however and began to pursue him . Hill " ... with the most extraordinary dexterity and bravery " , killed four of his pursuers with his tomahawk . He managed to reach Frémont 's camp the next day . Hill was given command over the Native scouts in Monterrey and continued to march south with the main army . Several attempts were made by Hill to engage Californio scouts , but no engagements occurred . For his service P. B. Reading gave Hill a silver tomahawk , and three months pay
Whitman massacre
Whitman massacre
Tom Hill (scout)