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 Rogue River Indian War 1853 See also 1853 Jackson County News, and don't miss the diary of America Rollins Butler and Stephen Palmer Blake's account.
One of the first events which led to the settlement of Coos Bay
and which caused Mr. [Henry Hewitt] Baldwin to become a pioneer of Coos
County, was the wreck of the government transport Captain Lincoln
on January 3, 1852, north of the Coos Bay bar. The former soldier and
pioneer tells some interesting facts regarding the incident. He was a
member of Troop C, First U.S. Dragoons. The boat, with 35 troopers and
stores aboard, was bound for Port Orford, then a military post, to
protect the place against the Indians. It had sailed from a California
port, and the storm had carried it past Port Orford.
When the transport was wrecked the men made their way to shore and found scores of Indians, who at first were not inclined to greet the castaways, but who afterward made friends and furnished the soldiers and sailors flesh and fish for which was exchanged hardtack and old clothing and uniforms. Most of the cargo was saved and stored on an improvised warehouse built where the Coos Bay lifesaving station is now located, and the sails of the wrecked and beached vessel were used to make a little village of tents. In a few weeks the party was visited by several men from the Umpqua who had heard of their condition. Among these were Patrick Flanagan and James Flanagan, who had also been shipwrecked and who afterward became prominent in the development of the country. In telling of the incidents following the wreck and the establishment of the camp, Mr. Baldwin says: "Our horses had been sent to Port Orford on a steamer, thrown overboard and allowed to swim ashore, so we were without mounts. We made efforts to signal the steamer Columbia which passed, but without success. We had the government stores on hand and there was nothing to do but get word in some way to headquarters at San Francisco. Port Orford was the nearest place from which mail could be sent out. I was one of six men with an officer who formed a 'forlorn hope' to make the trip over the mountains and through the woods to Port Orford. We did not know what savages we would encounter and we had no guide, but we started out. "It was a terrible trip, and for five days in the woods we were without food. Nearly exhausted, we reached Port Orford and sent word to San Francisco. The mails were slow, and it was not until three months later that a relief boat came. She was the Nassau, commanded by Captain Johnson and a boat of 105 tons, piloted by Captain Nagle of the wrecked transport Captain Lincoln, who had sounded the bar. She was the first white man's boat to enter Coos Bay. This was on May 3, 1852. "Our little 'forlorn hope' band, after sending its message to headquarters, had remained three days at Port Orford and then returned to Coos Bay to join the rest of the troop. When the last of the government stores had been loaded on the Nassau the whole troop marched down to Port Orford. where we established ourselves and built barracks. "Word came by way of Roseburg that Indian troubles had broken out in the Rogue River Valley, and it was necessary for us to abandon Port Orford and go to save Jacksonville from the Indians. It was the first time that white men had ever crossed those mountains, and our guide was the celebrated Indian Eneas, who joined the whites to avenge himself upon the red men, and who afterwards was hanged by the white people as a traitor. Let me say a word for Eneas. He never would have turned against his chosen allies had it not been that he was forced to do so by the cruel treatment and brutality of the volunteers to which he was subjected. "Our campaign into Jackson County was successful. The settlers had all fled from their ranches and had gathered in Jacksonville for safety. We saved the town. General Lane was the federal governor of the territory, and he was at the head of a body of volunteers encamped near Jacksonville. These volunteers were not of much use as Indian fighters compared to the regulars, and General Lane was glad to see us arrive. We established Fort Lane in the sight of Table Rock in Jackson County and had more or less fighting with the Indians. We captured and hanged the Indian murderers and finally brought the war of '52 and '53 to a close when General Lane and Captain Smith signed a treaty with the Indian leaders." Henry Hewitt Baldwin, quoted in "Men and Women Who Were Makers of Oregon History," Oregon Journal, Portland, March 21, 1909, page 54 It is said there is a white woman among the Indians near Jacksonville, who has been a prisoner since '51. A party of 25 men some days since started to rescue her. They captured an old squaw instead, and on refusing to deliver her up, the Indians threatened to kill all the party--whereupon six of the Indians were shot down, and several others wounded. Another party has gone out to rescue the woman if possible. Sacramento Daily Union, June 13, 1853, page 3 MORE TROUBLE WITH THE SHASTA INDIANS.--The Shasta Courier of Saturday is informed by a correspondent at Jacksonville that much excitement still exists in that vicinity against the Indians. There has been lately, he says, much interest manifested by the citizens of Jacksonville relative to the white woman supposed to be a prisoner among the Indians. It is believe that she has been detained among them since 1851. A party of 25 men some days since started out with the intention of recovering her if possible. They arrived at the Indian camp on Butte Creek, some 40 miles from Jacksonville, and on demanding the woman were shown an old squaw. The party then removed to the opposite side of the creek and camped for the night. On the morning following they were visited by eight or ten Indians, who were informed that unless they delivered up the woman at once they would be killed. At this the Indians became frightened and attempted to make their escape, when six or them were shot down and the others wounded. The party then returned to Rogue River for provisions. Some fifteen of them have again gone on the search, determined to risk their lives to rescue her from her horrible situation. These are the words of the writer. Whether there was sufficient in the conduct of the Indians who visited the camp to justify the shooting of the six who were slain, judging from this statement, we leave the reader to determine. Daily Alta California, San Francisco, June 14, 1853, page 2 No captive white woman was ever recovered, or even confirmed. This vague rumor circulated for years. An Indian called Old Taylor, brother to Joe and Sam of Rogue River Valley, was hung lately for assisting in the murder of several white men. "From the Interior," Sacramento Daily Union, June 27, 1853, page 2 INDIAN DIFFICULTIES ON ROGUE RIVER.--A correspondent of the Statesman, writing from Rogue's River, under date of June 18, says the Indians on Grave Creek are on the watch for whites along the trails. There is no danger for parties of three and four strong to pass, but for one alone, there is. Old Taylor, the chief, and two others were hung a few days since. Yesterday another marched up to the rope. There is a party of whites forty strong, under Capt. Bates, in hot pursuit of the villains. The Grave Creek Indians must die. Taylor and party killed seven whites last winter, and then reported them drowned in Rogue River during the storm, for which a portion of his tribe have paid the popular penalty. One white was slightly wounded. The rumor of white women being near Table Rock in charge of Indians is generally believed--though nothing of importance has been elicited to place the matter beyond doubt. The party of whites who went out to ascertain who and where they were, came back without them and without any information, other than that concerning their own acts. They killed six Indians when out. New York Herald, August 25, 1853, page 2 Pioneer Times.
EXTRACTS FROM THE PETITION OF B. F. DOWELL AND OTHERS ASKING PAY FOR THE DEPREDATIONS OF INDIANS.
Many years ago the Supreme Court of the United States decided the
Indians only had a possessory title to the lands occupied by them.
Johnson vs. McIntosh 8 Wheaton 514. But still the Indians in Oregon were promised pay in blankets and agricultural implements, and these rash promises led to trouble and dissatisfaction. On the 7th of Dec. 1847, Governor George Abernethy, in his annual message to the Oregon Provisional legislature, says: "Our relation with the Indians becomes every year more embarrassing. They see the white man occupying their land, rapidly filling up the country, and they put in a claim for pay. They have been told that a chief would come out from the United States and treat with them for their lands; they have been told this so often that they begin to doubt the truth of it; at all events, they say he will not come until we are all dead, and then what good will blankets do us? We want something now." The government was so slow the Indians demanded pay from the settlers and traders, so it was prudent for them to pay the Indians. In the spring of 1852, John Long bought the right to trade and keep a ferry on Rogue River of Chief Taylor and an Indian wife for $50; in the fall of 1852 James A. Vannoy bought this place of Long, and it has been known as Vannoy's Ferry ever since. Wm. Brisbom and B. F. Dowell bought the right to mine and trade on Rogue River and Grave Creek, within the dominions of the country claimed by Chief Taylor and his band, for the consideration of a hundred pounds of flour and ten pounds of tobacco for the chief, and two bolts of calico for his wife and tribe. These three men never had any trouble with the Indians. But seven miners settled on Rogue River near the mouth of Galice Creek without buying of the Indians, and all seven were murdered by Taylor and his band in December, 1852. No white man in the camp escaped to tell the particulars, and the guilt of the Indians depended on circumstances and their own confessions. Chief Taylor and his band early in the spring of [1853] came to Vannoy's Ferry to trade, and some of them had more gold than was usual, and had on the clothes of the missing miners. They were questioned by the citizens and miners in the vicinity, and their stories were very contradictory. Some of them bitterly denied the murder, and contended the men were all washed away and drowned. Others said they were killed and threw them into the river. The writer of this article was well acquainted with Wm. Grundage, one of the miners. He knew Grundage in the summer of 1852, in Polk County where he [Dowell] was teaching school. One of the Indians had on Grundage's clothes, and the writer of this article saw some of them afterwards at Vannoy's Ferry. Three of the Indians confessed the murder, and excused it on the ground that the miners refused to pay them for their land. In 1852 there were no civil courts established in Jackson County except what was called an [alcalde's] or miner's court, which adopted the common law of the United States as to property, and the Mexican law as to life and death. So these Indians were tried by a miner's jury of twelve men. They were all found guilty, including Chief Taylor, and hung. The first grave ever dug in Jacksonville was for a white man that was shot down by a gambler, and the next grave was for his murderer, who was convicted by a miner's jury, before W. W. Fowler, "alcalde," and hung on a warrant of the "alcalde." White men and Indians were all liable to the same punishment. It was by high miner's court from which no appeal would lie; it was quick and beneficial. It is not more than probable if these miners had, like Brisbom, Long and Dowell, paid the Indians for their privilege of mining there would have been no one murdered; or, if the United States had bought this land of the Indians before the miners and farmers were allowed to settle in the country, would not Taylor and his band been friendly with the whites! Or if the United States had promptly ratified and fulfilled the Table Rock Treaty, your petitioner's property would not have been destroyed in 1855-6. "Pioneer Times," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 21, 1886, page 2 An Indian called old Taylor, of Rogue River Valley, was hung lately for assisting in the murder of several white men. "From Sacramento," Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, July 27, 1853, page 3 From Yreka--Fight with the
Indians.
We learn from the Mountain
Herald of
the 30th ult. that the party that started from Yreka on the 20th ult.,
for the purpose of recovering stock stolen by the Indians, overhauled
the thieves in a large and beautiful valley watered either by McCloud's
or Pitt's river, about one hundred miles from Yreka. When the party
first discovered the Indians they were trying the speed of their newly
acquired property. The whites attacked them just at daylight, each man
picking an Indian with his rifle, and then pitching into them
promiscuously with their revolvers. About twenty or twenty-five were
killed, only five of the band having escaped. The following are the
names of the gentlemen composing the pursuing party, viz: Wm. Brown,
Hiram Millett, John Campbell, James Mettlen, John Gephard, Henry
Pierce, William White, William G. Hall, John Neilson and Zachariah
Gibbs.
Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 9, 1853, page 2 More Indian Depredations--Two
Whites Murdered and One Wounded.
The Herald says:
Mr. Lackey, who arrived in this place on Wednesday last, informs us
that two white men were murdered by the lower Rogue River Indians,
about four miles on this side of the Canyon. It appears that they
attacked the house, leaving the dead bodies to be consumed by the
flames. The Indians then proceeded to Mr. Evans' trading post at the
mouth of Grave [sic]
Creek, on Rogue River, attacked and drove the
gentleman in charge of the same away, after wounding him, and
destroying the whole property.
We understand that some excitement prevailed about the affair at Jacksonville and throughout that country, and that measures are being taken to chastise these savages. Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 9, 1853, page 2 The Mountain Herald of the 30th ult. has reached us through Adams & Co.'s Express. . . . Two white men were murdered by the Lower Rogue River Indians. They first shot the men, then set fire to the house and left their bodies to be consumed by the flames. "Siskiyou," Sacramento Daily Union, August 9, 1853, page 2 Late arrivals from Jacksonville, Oregon, bring in intelligence of great disturbances by the Indians. It is said that the Rogue Rivers, Klamaths (of the upper county) and Shastas are combined. A number of the whites have been killed and wounded, among whom are several of my own acquaintances. Mr. Thomas Wills is said to be mortally wounded, Mr. Dunn was shot in the shoulder and wrist, Mr. Rhodes Noland was killed besides a number of others. Mr. J. Lewis had six mules killed, besides a number of others. The citizens of Southern Oregon, so uniformly taking sides with the poor persecuted Indians, have now an opportunity, in the kindness of their hearts, to render a peace offering to different tribes. Some of the Sons of America, believing that the blood of freemen called from the ground for vengeance, took their peace offerings in their hands and went to meet the savages. One of the first votaries offered upon the altar was Sam, one of the chiefs of the Rogue Rivers, and brother to Joe, the head chief. He had fortified Table Rock, and with his band awaited the attack. The next onslaught was to have been made upon Joe and his warriors. Should the citizens of that lovely country allow it the war will be terminated before the next spring. J.S.W., "Northern California," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 19, 1853, page 2 Indian Massacre--Further from the
North.
The purser of the steamer Thomas
Hunt, arrived
yesterday from Crescent City, gives us the following additional
intelligence and confirmation of the late Indian outrages in the North:
The Indians and whites have had an engagement in Rogue River Valley, near Jacksonville, and after fighting for over three hours the whites were compelled to retreat. Both parties suffered much loss. Amongst those that were taken prisoners was Asa Colburn, of Jacksonville, who was butchered in a most horrible manner, his legs being cut off, his entrails taken out, and his body shockingly mutilated. Reinforcements from all quarters have been sent to the aid of the whites. A company of some thirty left Crescent City on Sunday, the 21st inst., and the citizens are forming another to leave as soon as possible. Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 28, 1853, page 2 Within the last fortnight, difficulties of a serious nature have been fomented between the whites and the Indians of Rogue River Valley. The Indians of this territory appear to be capable of some organization and strategy, and, on the two occasions of the surprise of an advanced party in Elk Valley, and of the late engagement near Jacksonville, have repulsed the whites with considerable loss. Any alliance which they might effect with the Klamath and Shasta tribes would render them really formidable, in view of the evidences of their exasperation and our ignorance of their interior country and force. About three or four hundred whites are already in the field, are constantly receiving reinforcements from the settlements, and appear to be actuated by the most excited sentiments of revenge, on account of the ruthless massacres and depredations of these Indians. With the particular facts that have originally called out this expedition of war we are not acquainted, and we should be mortified to have any proof of the surmise which we have heard, that its origin is a mere speculative and heartless attempt to repeat those politico-Indian wars which have been a burden to our treasury, and a disgrace to the literal humanity of our government. But, apart from any particular facts, we are well convinced that wars must be the continued moral relation between the white and the Indian, and that this is but the succession of the evidence of the incorrigible antipathy of the two races. Occasions of war, we admit, are most frequently taken by the whites without justification and by virtue of their own violence, while the Indians are sometimes the party to be exclusively blamed. The nomadic habits and idle necessities of the aborigines not unfrequently induce them to the outrages of our frontier, while the settler, with a base and cowardly sense of their unprotection, and in the malice of antipathy, often gives them cause for revenge and reprisal. We sincerely trust that the present hostilities are not of that class where a few particular troubles, that would doubtless have soon subsided, or certainly would have been avenged with more discrimination and quietness, have been made occasions of warlike expeditions. We are, however, persuaded that the generality of the Indian depredations do not justify that indiscriminate and excessive punishment which attains no other end than the gratification of passion, and tends eventually to multiply and enlarge our Indian troubles. The present difficulties in the North were considered so exigent that Gen. Hitchcock, we learn, has seen proper, without any official information of the state of affairs, but from the reports in the newspapers, and from having seen in a letter from Crescent City, published yesterday, notice of official dispatches having been forwarded to him, requiring assistance, to order sixty men from the Benicia Barracks to be held in readiness to embark for Fort Reading and reinforce the command at that post. These are all the available men at present to be had from the U.S. troops in this territory, though if troubles should continue, other posts will doubtless contribute a few men each to the force in the field. The above detachment will take with them all the arms to be spared, and about two hundred extra rounds of ammunition. They will be conveyed to the seat of difficulty in a day or two. We cannot suppress a suspicion that, although there may be an inception of a serious war on the Rogue River, that the accounts from the North are to be received with some grains of allowance. Some of the Indians of that region, whom we know to be the most abjectly spiritless and cowardly of the human form, are represented to be uniting in coalitions which we know they do not dare even to contemplate. It can easily be imagined that the situation of affairs is naturally liable to the exaggeration of fear and misconception. Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 29, 1853, page 2 I write this in great haste. Everything and everybody is in great excitement about Indian war. The Indians of this Valley have turned against the whites. They have killed two men and have wounded five or six since last Friday evening. The whites turned out yesterday and killed some six or seven Indians besides hanging three here in town. They have raised a company this morning and gone out but have not returned yet but will this evening. Andy and Frank went.… Old Man Lawson is here in the room at present. He thinks of going to California as soon as the Indian difficulty is settled. He is well and looks hearty. We are doing as well as we can expect. Business is picking up a little and we think we will get good profit on what provisions we have got, and our mules are in good order and will sell well so I think we will be home this winter.… We can't do much at packing till this Indian affair is settled for it is dangerous to be on the road in small companies. Letter by John R. Tice, Jacksonville, August 7, 1853, quoted by J. F. Santee, ed., "Letters of John R. Tice," Oregon Historical Quarterly, March 1936, page 33 Letter from Rogue River Valley
We
published a day or two ago an
account of the outbreak of the Indians in Rogue River Valley, derived
from an extra of the Mountain
Herald dated the 7th inst. We find in the Shasta Courier additional
particulars of the outbreak from a second extra of the Herald, dated at
5 o'clock a.m. of the 9th inst. The following petition was brought by
Mr. Wilson, who resides near Willow Springs:Three More Persons Killed--March of the U.S. Soldiers and Volunteers to the Valley. Fort
Wagner, Aug. 8, 5 p.m.
The citizens of Rogue River Valley ask the citizens of Yreka, in the
name of humanity, to assist in subjugating the Indians of this valley,
who are daily and nightly murdering our citizens and killing our stock.
Between 400 and 500 Indians are in the vicinity of Table Rock. The
citizens are not sufficient in numbers to guard the different points at
which the families have collected, and go to fight them. We are poorly
armed, and ask your assistance in men and arms.Three men, Messrs. Dunn, Griffin and Overbeck, were killed on the 7th, near Willow Springs, besides Messrs. Nolan and Wills, whose deaths had been previously reported. [Patrick Dunn, B. B. Griffin and Dr. A. B. Overbeck survived.] On the 8th, at 2 o'clock, the Indians had attacked two houses--Mr. Miller's and Mr. Stone's. Mr. Wilson had not heard the consequences when he left. All the inhabitants were gathering together at Wagner's and were about building a block fort for protection. Most of the families in the neighborhood were at Wagner's, Hoxie's and McCall's, ten miles south of Jacksonville. The main body of the Indians were encamped at and about Table Rock. Their chief had sworn to have the valley back or die in the attempt. A company consisting of about 15 U.S. soldiers from Fort Jones, and twenty or thirty volunteers from Yreka and Greenhorn, well supplied with arms and ammunition, left Yreka on the 8th for the scene of action, and another company of much greater numbers was to have left on the 9th. The whole country was in a state of excitement. The people have gathered together at various points for protection. The Herald says: "Let this be our last difficulty with the Indians in this part of the country. They have commenced the work of their own accord, and without just cause. Let our motto be extermination, and death to all opposition, white men or Indians." Herald of Freedom, Wilmington, Ohio, September 23, 1853, page 2 Exciting News from the
North!--Outbreak of the Indians!!
We are indebted to Cram, Rogers & Co., and Rhodes and Lusk for
an extra from the Mountain
Herald office,
dated the 7th inst., from which we gather the painful intelligence that
the Indians of Rogue River Valley have declared open warfare against
the white inhabitants. Already a number of whites have met with a cruel
and bloody death at their hands. Among the number are a young man by
the name of Edwards, Thos. Wills and R. Nolan. Two gentlemen by the
name of Davis and Griffin, in endeavoring to recover property stolen by
the Indians, received serious arrow wounds. Several men are missing at
different places--whether killed or not is unknown. Business in the
valley has ceased. The miners and farmers are collecting together at
different points in the valley for protection. The Herald says:--
"It is believed beyond a doubt that the Rogue River, Cow Creek, Grave Creek, Applegate Creek, Umpqua, Shasta and Klamath Indians, and probably the Pit Rivers, and also the Indians about the Klamath and other lakes have united and declared an open and general war against the whites." The Herald is informed by Mr. Ish and Mr. Davis, from Rogue River Valley, who came to solicit aid from the commandant at Fort Jones that a battle had just come off near the Mountain House. They killed, they supposed, five or six Indians. Mr. Carter had his arm fractured by a rifle ball, and also received an arrow wound in the shoulder. Mr. Dunn was wounded in the shoulder by an arrow. Still Later.
We are indebted to Cram, Rogers
& Co. for a second extra from the Herald office, of
Aug. 9th, and which confirms previous reports.Messrs. Dunn, Griffin, Wills, Overbeck and Nolan were killed on the 7th, near Willow Springs. [Patrick Dunn, B. B. Griffin and Dr. A. B. Overbeck survived. They weren't all wounded near Willow Springs.] On the 8th the Indians attacked the houses of Mr. Miller and Mr. Stone, with what effect was not known. Most of the families in the neighborhood were at Wagner's, Hoxie's and McCall's, ten miles this side of Jackson[ville]. The main body of Indians are encamped about Table Rock, and the old chief says he will fight till he dies, or have the valley back again. A company consisting of fifteen soldiers from Fort Jones and twenty or thirty volunteers left Yreka on the 8th for the scene of disturbance. Another large company of volunteers were to have left the same place on the 9th. Mr. Steele was authorized to hire all the horses and mules that could be procured, at $4 per day, to be paid by the general government. Universal consternation prevails throughout Rogue River Valley. The Herald says: "Extermination is no longer even a question of time--the time has already arrived, the work has been commenced, and let the first white man who says treaty or peace be regarded as a traitor and a coward." "Let our motto be extermination! and death to all opposition, white men or Indians." To which we heartily say amen. The following letter was handed to us by Mr. Raines of Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express: Yreka,
Aug. 9th, 1853.
GENTLEMEN:--The news from Rogue River Valley
is of a fearful nature.
Already some ten or twelve whites have been killed by the Indians. Our
next news from that quarter is looked for with much dread, and we shall
not be surprised to hear of Jacksonville being burned, and many of her
citizens murdered.The country is all in arms, and families are flying to town for protection. There is great lack of firearms and animals. In
haste,
P.S. Let the
messengers come with good company.CRAM, ROGERS & CO. C.,
R. & Co.
We have received, through Adams & Co.'s Express, another extra from the office of the Yreka Herald, dated August 9th, detailing further murders by the Indians. Mr. Wilson arrived, bringing a petition from citizens of Rogue River Valley, calling upon the people of Yreka for aid. Mr. Wilson says five men, Messrs. Dunn, Griffin, Wills, Overbeck and Noland, were killed on the 7th, near Willow Springs. [Patrick Dunn, B. B. Griffin and Dr. A. B. Overbeck survived.] Mr. Noland was shot dead while eating breakfast. Yesterday at 2 o'clock the Indians had attacked two houses, Mr. Miller's and Mr. Stone's. Mr. Wilson had not heard the consequences when he left. . . . The main body of the Indians are encamped at and about Table Rock. Many mules, horses and stock of all descriptions have been killed about Jacksonville and Willow Springs. Mr. Wilson got 11 revolvers, navy size, and ammunition, and left this morning at 4 o'clock; he says that he has two mules at every station on the road for changes, and will reach home in five hours. He met the company that left here yesterday evening, on the other side of the Klamath; they will not stop until they reach the scene of action. The company consists of about 15 soldiers from Fort Jones and twenty or thirty volunteers from this place and Greenhorn, with a good supply of muskets, ammunition &c. Another large company of volunteers will leave this place today. Esquire Steele has an order to hire all the horses and mules he can procure, for which will be paid $4 per day by Uncle Sam. The Herald concludes its article as follows: It behooves every person to be on their guard throughout the valley. We do not know what moment they will commence here. No person should travel alone without being well armed. We learn from Messrs. Morton and Garland, who arrived here from Shasta Butte this morning at half past two o'clock, that last night they saw the signal fires of the Indians high upon the side of the Butte, which is no doubt their signals to the Pit Rivers and Modocs to join them and commence in this valley. "Siskiyou," Sacramento Daily Union, August 15, 1853, page 3 The Rogue River Indians have commenced war upon the whites. The Mountain Herald says: "It is believed beyond a doubt that the Rogue River, Cow Creek, Grave Creek, Applegate Creek, Umpqua, Shasta and Klamath Indians, and probably the Pit Rivers and also the Indians about the Klamath and other lakes, have united and declared an open and general war against the whites." The Indians have killed ten or twelve whites. Among them are Thos. Wills, R. Nolan and Messrs. Overbeck, Dunn, Griffin and Edwards. [Patrick Dunn, B. B. Griffin and Dr. A. B. Overbeck survived.] These were killed on the 7th inst. near Willow Springs. The Indians attacked the houses of Messrs. Miller and Stone on the 8th, but the result was not known. The old chief declares that he will fight to the death for the valley. Twenty or thirty volunteers and fifteen soldiers left Yreka on the 8th, for the valley. The Herald and the Courier both demand a war of extermination, "death to all opposition, white men or Indians." "Shasta News," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 15, 1853, page 2 Indian Depredations.--The Jacksonville (Oregon) correspondent of the Yreka Herald, writing on the 28th ult., says: "The Indians on Applegate Creek are exceedingly troublesome; they are constantly stealing stock from the settlers, as well as from those on Cottonwood." Nevada Journal, Nevada City, California, August 19, 1853, page 2 The Indian outbreaks in the Rogue River Valley, in the north, are becoming serious and threatening. It is not improbable that general hostilities will be the consequence in that part of the state and the southern part of Oregon. The existing troubles, like those that have arisen from time to time in other sections of the state, most probably had their origin in the outrages which some of the more reckless and unprincipled of the white population take so much pleasure in inflicting upon the weak and defenseless, whether civilized or savage. The peaceable and industrious citizens have now to bear the vindictive hostility of the savages, who recognize no distinction between friend and foe among the "pale faces." We fear that a bloody and protracted war will ensue, the frontier citizens defending their lives and their homes, while the unprincipled wretches who kindled the flame are in safety in the less exposed districts. The parties who made such a handsome speculation by the El Dorado and Mariposa wars a few years since, and who came so near making a similar speculation on the pretended war in the south, are on the alert to make something out of the Rogue River troubles. Arrangements are in process of formation for the creation of a debt to be assumed by the state to the amount of between one million and fifteen hundred thousand dollars, of which, of course, the projectors will receive about three-fourths. But as there is a reality in the hostilities, and some actual fighting to be done, the speculators will be a little chary of embarking in the enterprise. In the meantime, Gen. Hitchcock is taking measures for rendering all the protection to the northern frontier that the disposable force under his command will allow. "From California," The Commercial, Buffalo, New York, September 27, 1853, page 2 Indian Hostilities at Rogue River.
Hon. J. R. Hardin and Dr. Rose Killed! DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY! INDIANS WELL SUPPLIED. The Whites Unprepared!!
From Mr.
Ettlinger, formerly of this place, who arrived four days from
Jacksonville, we learn that several tribes of Indians have
united--determined to exterminate the whites. Some 15 or 20 men had
been killed--principally waylaid, and shot--among which we lament to
learn were our friends Hon. John R. Hardin and Dr. Rose. They were both
killed at the same time--having been waylaid in the evening. Our
informant was but a short distance from them when they were shot. Dr.
Rose was killed instantly--Hardin was shot through the groins, and
lived twelve hours after. Thos. Wills, a merchant at Jacksonville, was
killed. The greatest alarm prevailed--families were moving into
Jacksonville for safety, and the Indians were burning and otherwise
destroying all they could find.
More Whites Killed by the Indians
in Rogue River Valley!The Indians are well supplied with arms--the whites having unguardedly sold them a large supply of arms and ammunition, and are short of supplies. The Rogue River, Smith River, Klamath, Shasta and Snake Indians have all combined--and have been threatening for some time--though nothing serious was at the time thought. The Indians are strongly fortified at Table Rock, with a force of 300 warriors, and have a year's supply of provisions. Mr. Ettlinger procured one field piece, and some 150 stand of arms, at Fort Vancouver. Capt. Lamerick has a company of 50 men in the field, and Capt. Ben Wright, who chastised the Indians last fall in California, was expected in with a company from Yreka. The whites are now determined to exterminate the Indians in that vicinity, and they shoot all that they see. Judge McF. Patton, formerly of Salem, was shot at by the Indians--one ball went through his hat, one through his coat, and another grazed his nose. He was not hurt. Nothing was being done in the mines. Mr. Ettlinger called on Gen. Lane in the night--and in less than an hour the "Marion of the Mexican War" was on his way to the scene of trouble. He thought he would be able to raise a company to go with him. He is capable of doing Oregon good service, and his services are given for her good. Mr. Curry, Acting Governor, acted very promptly in the matter, by making requisitions for munitions of war on Fort Vancouver. P.S.--Since the above was set in type a rumor has reached us that Judge Skinner has been killed by the Indians. [He was not.] Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, August 27, 1853, page 2 A General Outbreak!
Again it is our painful duty to record the cold-blooded murder of our
fellow citizens in Rogue River Valley. On Thursday last a young man by
the name of Edwards was brutally murdered within three miles of the
Indian agency. After the red assassins had shot him, they mutilated his
body in a horrible manner with an ax. On Friday night, Mr. Thomas
Wills, a highly respected merchant of Jacksonville, while returning
from Mr. Wagoner's ranch, half a mile north of the town, was shot by an
Indian from behind a tree, about ten yards from the road. Mr. Wills'
wound is considered mortal. The sudden manner in which the Indians
pounced upon him did not allow him time for defense. On the same
evening, Mr. Davis' house, about two miles from town, was robbed of a
gun &c. Mr. Davis and Mr.
Griffin, his neighbor, attempted to recover the stolen property from
the rancheria. Mr. Griffin was shot through the point of the shoulder,
and Mr. Davis through the thigh, both arrow wounds. They burned several
haystacks the same day, and several men were shot at different places
throughout the valley.
Several men are missing at different places--not known whether they are killed or not. On Saturday morning, August 6.--Mr. R. Noland, a miner, being about one mile from Jacksonville, was shot through the body and killed by some Indians who crept up near his cabin in the bushes. Several other whites were in the cabin at the same time. Business in the valley has ceased. The miners are farmers are collecting together at different points in the valley for protection. It is believed beyond a doubt that Rogue River, Cow Creek, Grave Creek, Applegate Creek, Umpqua, Shasta and Klamath Indians, and probably the Pit Rivers and also the Indians about the Klamath and other lakes, have united and declared an open and general war against the whites. We are indebted for the above information to Mr. Ish and Mr. Davis, who arrived here this morning. They bring a petition to the officer in command at Fort Jones in Scott Valley, signed by a majority of the most respectable citizens of Rogue River Valley, for such aid, either in troops or arms, as can be procured. We understand there are but few troops at the fort, but that they will be able to procure arms and ammunition. As our informants came up the valley they learned that a battle had just come off near the Mountain House. They killed, they supposed, five or six Indians. Mr. Carter had his arm fractured by a rifle ball, and also received an arrow wound in the shoulder. Mr. Dunn was wounded in the shoulder by an arrow. Now that general Indian hostilities have commenced, we hope that the government will render such aid as will enable the citizens of the North to carry on a war of extermination until the last redskin of these tribes has been killed. Then, and not till then, is our lives and property safe. Extermination is no longer even a question of time--the time has already arrived, and work commenced, and let the first white man who says treaty or peace be regarded as a traitor and coward.--Yreka Herald, August 7, 1853. Oregon Statesman, Oregon City, August 30, 1853, page 2 Threatened Indian War.
Nevada Journal, Nevada
City, California, August 19, 1853, page
2
The following is from an extra from the Mountain Herald office:
Again it is our painful duty to record the cold-blooded murder of our fellow citizens in Rogue River Valley. On Thursday last a young man by the name of Edwards was brutally murdered within 3 miles of the Indian agency, and horribly mutilated. On Friday, Mr. Thomas Miller [Wills], a respectable merchant in Jacksonville, was shot within a mile of town by an Indian from behind a tree, and mortally wounded. On the same evening Mr. Davis and Mr. Griffin were shot but not killed, and several hay stacks were burned by the savages. Several white men were shot at different places in the valley, and some have been missed. It is not known whether they have [been] killed. On Saturday 6th inst. Mr. R. Nolan, a miner, was killed in his cabin. Business has ceased in the valley, and the inhabitants are preparing for battle. The Rogue River, Cow Creek, Grave Creek, Applegate Creek, Umpqua, Shasta, Klamath and Pit River Indians are united and form a formidable force. United States troops have been sent for to Fort Jones, Scott Valley, but none can be spared. Arms and ammunition will be furnished. Since the above was written a skirmish came off near the Mountain House. Six Indians were killed, and Messrs. Dunn and Carter of the whites hurt. By the arrival of the brig Fawn, Capt. Barrett, last evening, four days from Umpqua River, we learn that warriors of the Rogue, Klamath and Galice Creek tribes of Indians have united and declared war against the whites, killed a number of persons, and burnt the grain and haystacks and several houses in the Rogue River Valley. Jacksonville has been set on fire twice [not true]; but is well guarded now, however. All the families and miners have assembled there, and are preparing for the contest. Two companies of volunteers have started from Umpqua Valley, commanded by Gen. Joseph Lane, the Marion of the Mexican War. Some hard fighting is expected.--Com. Adv. Nevada Journal, Nevada City, California, August 19, 1853, page 2 Indian War
in Rogue River
Threatened Extermination of the Whites in that Quarter-- Several Hundred Indians in Arms--John R. Hardin, Dr. Rose and Several Others Killed-- Dwellings Burned, Stock Killed, and Property Destroyed.
Mr. S. Ettlinger arrived in this place Friday night, four days from
Jacksonville, bringing accounts of the general uprising of the Indians
of that quarter with the avowed determination to exterminate the whites
and regain possession of the country. Several persons have been killed,
and others wounded, many dwellings burned, a large quantity of stock
killed, and other property destroyed. Among the persons killed are John
R. Hardin, last year Representative from Jackson County, and Dr. Rose,
generally known to the citizens of this valley. Mr. Ettlinger was
formerly engaged in business in Portland, and is well known to
the
people of this part of Oregon as an entirely reliable gentleman.
He was sent through for aid and has now gone to Fort Vancouver for arms and ammunition. He expects to be here today with two field pieces and such small arms and ammunition as he can procure. He brings letters from Capt. Alden, of Fort Jones, Scotts Valley, now commanding the volunteer forces in Rogue River, Gen. Lane, and others. From Mr. Ettlinger we obtain the following full particulars: On the 8th inst., Mr. Edwards was murdered in his cabin, four miles from Jacksonville, by the Indians, and this act was followed by general demonstrations of hostility. On the 12th, a small party of men, commanded by Capt. Griffin, were attacked on Applegate Creek by 200 or 300 Indians lying in ambush. After endeavoring for a short time to maintain the unequal contest, Capt. Griffin and his party retreated, with the loss of one man killed and two wounded. They fired upon the Indians in their hiding places, but were unable to see whether with effect or not. A dispatch was immediately sent to Capt. Alden, commanding at Fort Jones, Scotts Valley, for aid. He hastened to their relief with ten men (U.S. troops), 50 stand of arms, and 600 rounds of cartridges. A considerable number of volunteers have been raised, and placed under the command of Capt. Alden. They are at present encamped near Willow Springs. The miners who can raise arms and ammunition have gone out hunting Indians. Capt. Lamerick, distinguished in former difficulties, has a company of 10 men. The Indians are well armed, and have plenty of ammunition. They have long been trading with the miners and emigrants for rifles, muskets, pistols, powder, lead &c. Some 300 or 400 of them are at Table Rock, where young Stuart was killed two years since. They have good natural fortification there, and besides have dug a ditch and constructed a wall of earth and rock. They are headed by "Sam," "Joe" and "Jim," who declare they will fight there till the last Indian is dead, if they are not victorious. Arms and ammunition are wanted to drive them from this place, and to scour the whole country. The people there now demand an extermination of the hostile Indians, and are resolved not to stop short of it. Indians are shot down wherever they are found. Martin Angel, late of Oregon City, shot one from his door the day Mr. E. left. He says he saw not less than ten or twelve bodies of Indians lying by the side of the road leading from Jacksonville north. The Indians keep themselves secreted as much as possible, and are never seen in large parties. They lie in ambush, and issue out to attack and murder small parties of whites, burn undefended dwellings, kill stock, destroy crops and other property. It is said the Klamath, Snake, Shasta, Rogue River and Smith River Indians have united for the avowed purpose of exterminating the whites. The whites stand greatly in need of arms and ammunition. Many of their muskets are required to defend dwellings and families. As soon as a dwelling is left unprotected it is burned and its inmates, if any, murdered. Ten houses were burned between Jacksonville and the Fort [Dardanelles], a distance of ten miles, the night before Mr. Ettlinger left. Many of the families have moved in to Jacksonville. From 15 to 20 whites had been killed and wounded when Mr. E. left. Mr. Thomas Wills, of the firm of Wills, Kyle & Co., merchants of Jacksonville, was shot just in the edge of the town. A miner by the name of Noland was killed. These, with Jno. R. Hardin and Dr. Rose, are the only names of the killed we can learn. Hardin and Rose were killed as follows: They belonged to a company of volunteers which had been camped at Willow Springs; towards evening about a dozen of them started for the Fort. Hardin, Rose and one other man were riding by themselves, while T'Vault and the rest of the party had taken another road. About a mile from the Fort, the three were fired on by Indians in ambush, and Rose instantly killed and Hardin shot through the hips with a rifle ball. The third man was not wounded. Hardin kept his horse until the rest of the party, who heard the crack of the rifles, come up, and lived 11 hours, suffering the most intense agony. No Indians were seen by him. The party come in for help, and returning found Dr. Rose's body stripped, his throat cut in two places, one eye gouged out and his person horribly disfigured. He had about 600 dollars, which with his horse was stolen. Mr. Ettlinger and others went to the camp for assistance the night Hardin and Rose were killed. He says the timber for eight or nine miles was fired along the road, so that it was as light as day. The Indians were secreted behind the burning timber, and occasionally discharged a shower of arrows at them, but hit no one. Mr. Ettlinger has an order from Capt. Alden for two field pieces, and such small arms and ammunition as can be spared from Fort Vancouver. He says they have men enough, but want arms. Mining is entirely suspended. A white man named Brown fired on one of "Jim's" Indians (supposed to be a son of that chief), whom he found upon the road alone, and scalped him. The Indian underwent the operation of scalping without flinching or exhibiting signs of life, and was left for dead. But Brown had not got out of sight with his scalp before Mr. Indian jumped up and traveled, having been stunned or playing possum--it was supposed the latter. T. McF. Patton, late of Salem, was hit in the hat and lapel of his coat, by balls, but not hurt. Three white men were arrested on Applegate Creek and brought into headquarters charged with furnishing the Indians arms and ammunition for the purpose of attack upon the whites. Three men living with squaws were also brought in charged with furnishing the Indians arms and ammunition. They were to be tried soon after Mr. Ettlinger left. Upon being informed of the difficulties by Mr. E., Gen. Lane instantly resolved to go, and in five minutes was making preparation. He raised a company of about 50 men, and is probably now in Rogue River. James Clugage came as far as Umpqua with Mr. E. for the purpose of getting the Klickitat Indians to go out and fight the others. It was not decided whether they would go or not. Mr. E. left the Calapooia Mountains Friday morning, and rode one horse to Salem, a distance of 80 miles, arriving here a little after 5 o'clock the same day. He complains that the people along the road would not furnish him a fresh horse. The following letter was addressed to acting Gov. Curry: Headquarters,
Commissioners' Office,
To his excellency,
the Governor of Oregon:Jacksonville, Aug. 14, 1853. At a meeting of the board of commissioners, I am instructed to inform you that war exists between us and the Indians of this valley, who are (as we are informed) in league with the Indians of Klamath Lake, Snake River and Shasta Indians, for the purpose, as they affirm, of the extermination of the whites of the Rogue River Valley. They have already killed and wounded several of our citizens, killed our cattle and destroyed our dwellings. Capt. B. R. Alden, of the 4th U.S. Infantry, from Fort Jones, Scotts Valley, with a small detachment is here by request. Enrolled two companies of volunteers, and in obedience to the wish of our citizens he takes the command. And now a considerable division is encamped on Applegate Creek, where we daily expect an engagement. Another division to reconnoiter and hold in check a large party of the Indians in a camp near Table Rock, with a small party to protect our town. We would request your excellency to procure from Fort Vancouver one small howitzer, together with some small arms, and enroll a sufficient detachment of men to guard them through. These requisitions we hope you will send at once to Capt. B. R. Alden, who is in command with 200 volunteers. With the greatest respect, yours, GEORGE DARR, Sec., Board of Commissioners. EDWARD SHEIL, President. On the back of the letter was the following: "I would consider it very requisite that a howitzer with ammunition, fifty muskets and some 3000 rounds of ammunition be sent to the valley. "B. R. ALDEN, "Capt. 4th Infantry." By Mr. Ettlinger we receive the following note from Gen. Lane: Winchester, Aug. 17,
1853.
Oregon
Statesman, Salem, August 23, 1853, page 2
Dear Bush:--At
1 o'clock this morning I received by express per Mt. Ettlinger a letter
from Rogue River, confirming the news which recently reached us of war
with the Indians in that vicinity, of a more serious character than any
heretofore with the tribes of that quarter. Dr. Rose, Jno. R. Hardin
and several others have been killed, and a large amount of property
destroyed.
It is believed that the Klamath, Shasta and Rogue River tribes have united, determined to destroy the settlements, Jacksonville and all. They are, it seems, well armed, having purchased many good rifles from the miners; they have also a good supply of ammunition, consequently they are formidable. The whites on the contrary are scarce of arms and ammunition. I shall be off for the scene of troubles in a few minutes. In great haste, your ob't. serv't. JO LANE. Latest from the Seat of War
Table Rock Abandoned by the Indians; Pursuit of Them by a Large Party of Whites, and Probable Battle.
A Mr. Romaine arrived here Friday evening, eight days from
Jacksonville. He states that the Indians were still engaged in active
hostilities, murdering citizens, burning dwellings and destroying
property. But two houses are standing between Jacksonville and Rogue
River--T'Vault's and one other, the last of which was approached by the
Indians the night before he passed. But its inmates were too well
armed, and they made no assault.
He says about three days before he left the chief "Sam" came out into the valley with his men, from Table Rock, and challenged the whites to give him battle. A considerable party under Capt. Alden was out from camp to meet him, but he was not on hand, according to agreement. Table Rock had been entirely abandoned, not an Indian being found there. Their trail showed that a large force had been collected there. Capt. Alden was of opinion that it was useless to follow them, and prepared to return to camp. A Mr. Goodall thought otherwise, and was anxious to give them a chase. He said he would pursue them if 25 men would join him; some 60 stepped out of the ranks, from which he selected 25, and immediately started out upon the trail. A few miles out they came up with the Indians, and were suddenly surrounded by 600 or 800 of them. The whites took refuge in a patch of timber and bushes, around which were the Indians in open field, but beyond the reach of rifle shot. Capt. Goodall's party having the advantage of the cover afforded by the timber and brush, the Indians were afraid to attack them, but kept them surrounded, with the intention, as was supposed, of starving them out. Two of the party of whites made their way through the Indian lines without being observed and came into Jacksonville for reinforcements, and the day before Mr. Romaine left, Capt. Alden, with 250 volunteers, went in pursuit of the Indians, and [it] was supposed an engagement took place. A white man who has a squaw wife, and lived among the Indians, says he has seen the chief "Sam" parade 100 men armed with first-class rifles and Colt's revolvers. Mr. R. discredits the report of Skinner's and O'Reilly's death, as he heard nothing of it at Jacksonville. Oregon Statesman, Salem, August 30, 1853, page 2 Jacksonville,
Aug. 6, 1853.
Friend Bush:--I
presume some intelligence from the south at the present time would be
read with interest. You have already chronicled the outrages lately
committed south of the canyon, but those which have been committed
within the past few days have no parallel in the history of Oregon (in
the southern portion at least). On Thursday night, at a late hour, Dr.
A. B. Overbeck, coroner of this county, was called upon to hold an
inquest over the body of Richard Edwards, who was found dead at his
own door, about five miles from this place. A jury of twelve men was
duly summoned and upon investigation found that he had been shot near
the center of the spine, and that his head was nearly severed in twain
with an ax, also an attempt was made to cut his throat with a dull
knife.
The verdict of the jury was that he came to death by violence, and that violence was used by Indians. Resolutions were then passed expressing their feeling towards the outrage, and calling for a meeting of the citizens of the valley at the "Robinson House," the proceedings of which accompanies this communication. Upon looking around a yoke of cattle were discovered dead in the vicinity, belonging to Mr. Miller. On the same day the house of Wm. Kahler was entered and rifled of its contents. On the following morning, the cabin of Mr. Davis was broken open and robbed, and in the evening of the same day, Burrel B. Griffin (our senior county commissioner) and Mr. Davis were fired upon by the Indians and wounded with arrows. The former in the shoulder and the latter in the thigh. About 9 o'clock in the night of the same day a report of a gun was heard and the cry of murder accompanying. Several of our citizens armed themselves and ran to the rescue. Upon arriving at the spot, Thomas J. Wills, merchant of this place, was found shot through the lower part of the body with an ounce ball. Mr. Wills had been out in the country and was returning when attacked and wounded. A guard was chosen and stationed around the town and since that time has been guarded well. On Saturday, Mr. Rhodes Noland was shot dead in his cabin door within a mile of town. The citizens who had been previously preparing for a skirmish, upon receiving intelligence of his murder, immediately started out and in a short time returned with a captive "siwash tyee" ["Indian chief"], who was mustered to an oak tree and there "strung up." During the day three others were hung beside the tyee. On Sunday morning at a very early hour, intelligence was received from the upper end of the valley that the settlers had had a skirmish with the Indians and that Andrew B. Carter (formerly of Salem) and Patrick Dunn had been wounded. The former had his right arm broken below the elbow, and the latter was maimed in the left shoulder. This news created greater excitement still, and skirmishing parties started out in all directions. Having a desire to visit my friends, Carter and Dunn, and to make arrangements to have them brought to town for surgical treatment, I started out with the party that intended to skirmish that portion of the valley. By some means or other Dr. A. B. Overbeck and myself became separated from the main party and continued traveling by ourselves until we arrived at the residence of Mr. Carter. As soon as possible we started on our return, and after traveling until within a mile and a half of town without meeting any opposition, we came to an open prairie, and when least expecting an attack were fired upon by three Indians concealed in the grass, within fifty feet of the roadside. The first shot fired by the red devils grazed my "smeller" about one-eighth of an inch below my "peepers." I felt the sting as well as the shock, and placing my hand on that very prominent feature of my phiz, and finding it actually thar, I thought a "miss was as good as a mile," and "a fool for luck the world over." After firing a random shot we made for town at no snail's gait, and in a short time was hailed by the guard and allowed to pass. After examining my person, I found that one of the balls had passed through my hat crown within half an inch of my head, and the third remaining ball had passed through the lapel of my flannel overshirt. This convinced me more and more of the old saying "that luck was everything." I can now speak of my escape rather lightly, but I will frankly confess that I considered it rather scary times, and times when it was absolutely necessary to make myself scarce, provided he considered his scalp worth saving. Now, in regard to the justification of the settlers in killing these Indians wherever they may be found, I will say but one word. There are some who have some doubts as to whether the Rogue River Indians have committed any of the depredations already mentioned. Tyee "Sam" and his Bro. "Joe" have fortified themselves back of Table Rock, and collected upwards of three hundred Indians. Indians have been pursued directly to the camp of these tyees, in the rear of Table Rock, and if they will harbor Indians, who have been through the valley murdering and plundering everything in their course, they must suffer the consequences. If we do not make a clean sweep of them and exterminate every one capable of bearing arms, we will be molested every summer until either the whites or "siwashes" are conquered. They have commenced hostilities--have been preparing for an attack for the last six weeks and are bound to murder every white settler in the valley, provided they can. Some say a treaty had better be made! Well, I am in for a treaty too, but I propose making a treaty with them by means of powder and ball, and I am confident that this is the opinion of almost every citizen in Rogue River Valley. The families throughout the valley have all been collected, and a great many came to town. Those families on lower Rogue River have congregated at Fort Dardanelles (Wm. T'Vault's), also at N. C. Dean's, Willow Springs, at Martin Angel's and Jacob Wagner's. Each of these places are well guarded. A petition was drawn up and signed by over a hundred citizens, requesting Capt. William Alden, commander of Fort Jones, in Scotts Valley, California, to furnish such arms and ammunition as could be spared. This petition was forwarded to Capt. Alden, by a special express, and the prayer of that petition has been granted, and the presence of Capt. Alden himself, together with twelve regulars. Our express carriers (Messrs. Ish and Davis) report that over a hundred citizens of Yreka and vicinity, well mounted and armed, volunteered and may be expected this evening. This reinforcement will help us considerable. A company has been duly organized and following officers duly elected and commissioned in accordance with the resolution passed at the mass meeting. John E. Ross, Esq., was unanimously elected commander of all the forces: Company A.--Benj. Armstrong, Capt.; John F. Miller, 1st Lieutenant; B. B. Griffin, 2nd Lieutenant; A. George, 3rd Lieutenant; T. McF. Patton, Orderly Sergeant; C. S. Drew, Quartermaster. Other companies have been duly organized and will proceed at once to stir "Injuns up," and "memaloose ["kill"] him." I will inform you, or cause it to be done by every opportunity. Yours in haste. T. McF. Patton. Oregon Statesman, Salem, August 30, 1853, page 2 The Indian War.
A CORRESPONDENT of the State Journal, writing from Crescent City under date of Aug. 23rd, says:
"I received your letter this morning, having just arrived from the interior, and hasten to answer. "Business is rather dull at present, on account of the Indian difficulties, which look at the present time rather gloomy, and no prospect of being much improved. Our party were obliged to stay in Jacksonville some eight days, not thinking it safe to start without a large party; and while there were 'trained' somewhat to military duty, although not particularly partial to Indian fighting, still I was willing to do duty, and did so while there. "We left Rogue River Valley yesterday week, and there have been but two persons through since. They come no farther than Althouse, but yesterday we received news from them. The morning our party left, they were to attack the main body of the Indians in a large common near the Table Rock. They made the attack, and have made three more since, and the whites have been defeated every time, with a loss of 16 men killed and as many more wounded. We sent a company of 40 men from this place, well armed, under the command of Wm. Terry, with about all the ammunition in the place. There is a great deficiency of arms and ammunition. The Indians in fact are better armed than the whites. The Indians on Smith River are also up and prepared to fight. We had two or three arrows fired at our train while coming down. A train has just arrived from Althouse, but brings no later news." Placerville Herald, September 3, 1853, page 2 Indian Massacres in Rogue River
Valley--
A War of Extermination Begun.
The following dispatch from the office
of the Mountain Herald,
Downieville, was received among our Sacramento
exchanges by Adams & Co. last evening:
To Mr. J. Rogers, of Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express, we are indebted for the following letter from our friend C. S. Drew, which we publish for the benefit of our readers: On the evening of the 11th inst., Dr. William R. Rose and John R. Hardin, while on their way to Dr. Ambrose's, from Capt. Alden's encampment on Stewart Creek [Bear Creek], were waylaid by the Indians, and the former instantly killed and the latter dangerously, if not mortally, wounded. Dr. Rose was horribly mutilated, being found the next morning with his eyes dug out and nose cut off. The Indians captured his rifle, revolver and clothing, together with six hundred dollars in cash. On the same day George Anderson was badly wounded on upper Applegate in a skirmish with about thirty Indians. The company were under command of Lt. B. B. Griffin. On the 12th Lt. Griffin made an attack upon the Indians on lower Applegate but was compelled to retreat, with the loss of one man (Frank Garrett) and himself shot in the leg. In the afternoon a reinforcement was sent from Capt. Alden's command, and at two o'clock this morning, upon receipt of the news of Lt. Griffin's defeat, another detachment was sent, and at this present moment a portion of the Humbug volunteers are mounted, awaiting orders to march to the scene of battle. The Indian chief John, on lower Applegate, says that he is backed by the Shasta tribe, and it is known that a large number of the Klamaths are also with him, together with a certain Dr. Osmond, professing to be a white man. He is known to have furnished the Indians with ammunition since hostilities have commenced. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Col. Alden, and the Yreka volunteers under Capt. J. P. Goodall, and to the Humbug volunteers under Capt. Rhodes, for their promptness and perseverance in this emergency. We make the following extracts from a letter received by Mr. F. Rogers, from R. Dugan, Esq., dated Jacksonville, Aug. 13th: "There is now over 300 men mustered into the service under the command of Capt. Alden of the U.S.A., who is appointed colonel commanding, assisted by Col. John Ross. The captains are J. K. Lamerick, Mr. Miller and Capt. Goodall from Yreka. Capt. S. Drew is quartermaster; commissioners on military affairs are Dr. Ed Sheil, Geo. Dart, Mr. Davis and myself. "The Indians have burned down the houses of Mr. Patrick, Capt. Jones, and also that of Mr. Anderson, together with his hay and oats. Night before last they burned Mr. Griffin's house and some haystacks; they also shot some of Mr. Griffin's fine American horses. Mr. Bruce had four of his mules shot. There is a great deal of stock killed and driven off. "It is reported that Griffin was attacked by 150 Indians. It is believed that there is white men engaged with them. Griffin took two white men prisoners, and several more are suspected. "Citizens are arming in all directions to march against the Indians and scatter them or exterminate them wherever they can be found." Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 21, 1853, page 2 Jacksonville,
Oregon, August 20th, 1853
To the Adjt.
Genl. of the Army, Washington, D.C.Sir: I have to report that on the 7th inst. I recd. at Fort Jones, Scotts Valley, a petition from the principal inhabitants of Rogue River Valley, Oregon, representing that an Indian war had broken out in the valley--several houses burnt, and six citizens shot by the Indians--that the whole valley was in alarm--that the Rogue River and other tribes had combined, numbering over 200 warriors. This petition declared that there were more than fifty citizens in the valley without arms and urged me to furnish a supply of muskets and soldiers. The next day I enrolled for the war a company of 80 mounted volunteers in Yreka and with 9 men and 30 muskets of my company reached Jacksonville the 9th, where I enrolled three companies of mounted volunteers, number 120 men. Perceiving that the petition did not exaggerate the dangerous state of affairs, I took command of the volunteers and prepared to attack a large body of Indians posted near Table Rock. This movement was frustrated by a report of the approach of the enemy into the valley. The troops scattered to protect their homes. When gathered to make the 2nd attack, the enemy had left their position. A scouting party of 20 met some sixty Applegate Indians the 12th and were obliged to return. When reinforcements arrived, these Indians had retreated. On the 17th a scouting party of 25 men met the main body of the Rogue River Indians on Evans Creek, 15 miles from Table Rock. They stood their ground for three hours, when reinforcements arrived to their rescue. This scouting party had three men wounded and five killed and lost 20 mules. The loss of the Indians is supposed to be six killed. This affair resulted only in the rescue of the scouting party. The enemy does not now appear in the valley and unfortunately have retired to the mountains. Many men are quitting the valley. Fifty men with arms left the valley yesterday. Many of the volunteers have also gone to their homes. Under these circumstances I have sent to Columbia Bks. for a howitzer and fifty muskets. The Board of Military Commissioners have called on the the Governor of Oregon for the enrollment of 100 Klickitat Indians. The road leading here might easily be waylaid by a band of Indians to cut off supplies. I have communicated with the Governor of Oregon and with Headquarters, Pac. Div., Cal., through Col. G. Wright, 4th Infy. comdg. North Dis., Cal. I
am sir very respectfully
Jack
Sutton, Indian Wars of
the Rogue River, 1969, pages 84-85Yr. obt. servt. B. R. Alden Capt. 4th Infy. Commanding An Indian Battle Fought!
To Mr. G. C. Lusk, the prompt and indefatigable express rider for Adams
& Co., we are indebted for the Yreka Herald, of
Saturday (20th inst.), which he obtained from the express office of
Cram, Rogers & Co. at Shasta. Mr. Lusk brought us the Herald at
4 o'clock this morning. We have only space for the subjoined letter
from Mr. Tyler, in which the particulars of the first earnest battle of
the campaign are given with graphic effect. This affair is but the number one of a
long series which will have to be recorded hereafter. The whites are
determined on a war of extermination:
From Rogue River.
Both expresses, Messrs. Cram, Rogers & Co.'s and Rhodes
&
Lusk's, arrived simultaneously yesterday evening, both bringing us
letters from the seat of war. The following mournful news we extract
from a letter from our fellow citizen. Geo. W. Tyler, who was in the
battle:Another Battle with the Indians!--Five Men Killed, and Five Wounded!! Jacksonville,
Aug. 18th.
Editors Herald:--I
have sad news to communicate to you and the citizens of Yreka. Last
Tuesday noon, a party of 22 men from Capt. Goodall's company started
under Lt. Ely
to hunt up Sam's
tribe of Indians. We traveled about 12 miles on Tuesday and camped in
Elk Valley, on Evans Creek. Yesterday morning we started up the creek,
and had not proceeded more than two or three miles when we came on Sam
and all of his tribe, about 150 warriors! Not being strong enough to
attack them, we retreated and at the same time sent an express back to
Capt. Goodall to send forward the rest of his command. We then camped
in the best place we could find, convenient to water, and at five
minutes before eleven the Indians commenced an attack upon us, taking
us by surprise, our guard not discovering them until they made the
attack.Two of our men were shot dead the first fire, and two more wounded! Finding the place we occupied too warm, we retreated to a point of timber 200 yards in our rear. We reached the point in safety, leaving our horses, saddles and baggage behind. The Indians then renewed their attack with great fury, but they soon found that they were a little too near and retreated to a respectful distance. They continued shooting at us until about 12 M. [noon], when they all retreated and held a consultation. Previous to this time they had not entirely surrounded us, but as soon as the consultation was ended--which lasted about 20 minutes--they commenced with greater fury than ever and surrounded us entirely. About 100 of the Indians had rifles. The battle lasted with unabated fury until ten minutes past 2 o'clock p.m., making three hours and fifteen minutes! I should judge that there were at least one thousand shots fired at us during the engagement. It was one of the most terrible battles ever fought with Indians in this northern country. Five of our men were killed dead on the field and three badly, though not dangerously, and two slightly, wounded. Those killed are as follows: Isham P. Keith, of our city; a German by the name of L. Stockling; Albert Douglass, from Ohio; J. C. Coleman, from Jacksonville; and Francis Perry, from St. Louis, Mo. They were all buried today, with the honors of war. Those badly wounded are: Lt. Ely, shot through the hand; James Carroll, shot through the thigh; and a man known by the name of Greasy John, of Hamburg, shot through the hip. Two others were slightly wounded. There were six Indians killed and several wounded. We are now encamped near the battle ground, waiting for provisions and animals to follow the enemy. P.S.--The arrival of John D. Cosby, with six or eight men, in advance of the rest caused the Indians to retreat, which saved our lives. We could not have held our position a half hour longer, and I must say if ever any party of men were glad to see their friends, it was us poor devils at that moment. Yours, G. W. TYLER. Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, August 26, 1853, page 2 Further from the War in Rogue
River Valley.
Rhodes & Lusk's and Cram, Rogers
& Co.'s
express messengers arrived in town on Wednesday evening, bringing a
week's later intelligence from the seat of war. We append the following
portion of a letter written us on the 18th from the scene of
difficulties:--Another Battle!--Five More Men Killed. "On Tuesday last, 22 men from Capt. Goodall's company started under command of Lt. Ely, as a scouting party. They encountered Sam's tribe in Elk Valley, on Evans Creek. Sam had about 100 warriors, nearly all mounted, and armed with rifles. Lt. Ely seeing his inferior force retreated, at the same time sending an express to Col. Alden's command for a reinforcement of men. From the first position taken by Lt. Ely they were obliged to fall back some 200 yards, leaving their horses, baggage, and everything but their arms behind. The Indians continued a hot fire upon them for over three hours and a quarter, and succeeded in completely surrounding them. But for the timely arrival of J. D. Cosby's men, there would not have been a man left! The whites lost two men on the first fire, and had two more wounded. In all there were five men killed dead on the field, and three badly, though not mortally, wounded. Those killed were Isham P. Keath, the only son of a very highly esteemed lady in Yreka; a German named L. Stockberg; Albert Douglass, from Ohio; J. C. Coleman; and Francis Perry. from St. Louis, Mo. Those wounded are Lt. Ely, shot through the hand; James Carroll, shot through the thigh; and a man by the nickname of 'Greasy John,' shot through the hip. "Sam, the Indian chief, thinks he is sufficiently strong to clear the whites out of the valley. He mounted the best horse taken from the whites, and was commanding his men like a Tecumseh. Col. Alden intends to divide the command, and make an attack soon. "When I get a hour or so, I will write the particulars of the whole war." The Herald has the following paragraphs relative to two gentlemen engaged in the fight:-- "We learn that Isham Keath, just before he fell, shot an Indian dead at a distance of two hundred yards. "We understand that our townsman, G. W. Tyler, is one of those that are wounded, and that he fought like a tiger." We are indebted to Adams & Co. for the following paragraphs from a private letter of a subsequent date to the above. "The whole force of our army is now on the Indian trail, and it is supposed they will have a severe battle in a few days. "A treaty is about being concluded between the citizens of Yreka and the Indians in this valley. There will be no danger traveling hereafter between this place and Shasta. "A portion of the Shasta tribe have come into camp in Rogue River and given up their arms." Shasta Courier, Shasta City, California, August 27, 1853, page 2 Battle with the Indians in Rogue
River Valley--Five Men Killed.
A
correspondent of the Mountain
Herald,
writing from Jacksonville on the 18th August, gives an account of the
recent battle in the Rogue River Valley, between the whites and the
Indians, in which five of our citizens were killed and five seriously
wounded. On the 16th August a party of twenty-two men from Captain
Goodall's company set out under Lieutenant Ely to hunt up the Indians
under the command of the chief called Sam. On the 17th they proceeded
up Elk Valley, on Evans Creek, and had gone only a few miles when they
met Sam and all his tribe, amounting to one hundred and
fifty fighting
men. Not being strong enough to make the attack, Lieutenant Ely's party
retreated, and sent an express back to Captain Goodall to hasten up
with the rest of his company. They then camped in the best place they
could find, convenient to water, not anticipating any attack, but the
Indians made an attack upon them at about 11 o'clock at night [sic],
taking them by surprise. Two of Lieutenant Ely's party were shot dead
at the first fire, and two more seriously wounded. The whites than
retreated some two hundred yards to a point of timber, leaving their
horses, saddles and baggage behind. The Indians renewed the attack with
great fury, but meeting with a warm reception, retreated to a
respectful distance. They continued shooting until about 12 o'clock,
when they retired and held a consultation. After this consultation,
which lasted some twenty minutes, they renewed the attack with
increased fury, and entirely surrounded the whites. The battle lasted
until ten minutes after 2 p.m., when the arrival of John D. Crosby with
six or eight men, in advance of the others, caused the Indians to
retreat, and undoubtedly saved the lives of the whole party. They could
not have held out, it is said, half an hour longer. About one hundred
of the Indians had rifles. It was one of the fiercest battles ever
fought with the Indians in that section of country. Five of the whites
were shot dead on the field, and three badly though not
seriously
wounded, and two less seriously wounded. The names of those killed are
Isham P. Keath, a German named Stocktirz [Stockling?],
Albert Douglas from Ohio, J. Coleman from Jacksonville, and Francis
Perry from St. Louis, Mo. They were all buried the next day with the
honors of war. Those badly wounded are Lieut. Ely, shot through the
hand; James Carroll, shot through the thigh; a man known by the name of
Greasy John, of Hamburg, shot through the hip. Two others were less
seriously wounded. There were six Indians killed and several wounded.
The whites, after the battle, encamped near the battle ground, waiting
for provisions and animals to follow the enemy.The Herald has a long article upon the subject, in which it is urged that the most speedy and energetic measures should be taken to suppress this revolt of the Indians. The opinion is expected that extermination is the only efficient remedy, and that a large majority of the inhabitants of the valley are to favor of that measure. All business is suspended to that part of the country--mining, farming, trading and packing. We expect soon to hear of the result of the expedition against the Indians headed by Capt. Goodall. We cannot think the Indians will be allowed to massacre the citizens of our state as they did in old times the inhabitants of the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and of the Bloody Ground of Kentucky. The people of the neighboring country will doubtless march to their assistance; and if that should not be sufficient, the state ought to organize a company, or a regiment if necessary, to protect our frontier. New York Herald, September 26, 1853, page 1 [In response to Montgomery's account, above] "I enlisted in Capt. J. K. Lamerick's company in 1853, and some of my company was in the battle at the Meadows, and no one got shot with an arrow, for I knew them all. There was five--Schutz, J. Albin, J. Carroll, Lieutenant Ely, all that got wounded, and I knew A. C. Colburn that got killed. He was the only one that had a breech-loading Sharps rifle, and the Indian give that up saying: 'Oke, Oke, calaben hiase copit wake, closh halo, poo!'" ["This gun stopped working; good for nothing!" Gall's list of casualties corresponds with T'Vault's August 26, 1853 letter to the Oregon Statesman, above. Placing Montgomery's wounding on Evans Creek was probably Lockley's reporting error.] C. C. Gall, "Injun Girls Were Not Peaches," Gold Hill News, July 3, 1915, page 1
The [Yreka] Mountain
Herald, of August 26, says:
Families have been driven from their homes, and compelled to fortify themselves in numbers for protection. The farmers have been forced to leave the harvest field for the security of life. The flourishing crops that gave the greatest assurance of an abundant harvest now present a houseless scene of devastation. It must cause the utter ruin of numerous families, since many of them are emigrants of last year, who came with limited means, and who have expended all they had in order to raise a crop for the support of their families through the coming winter. Their situation is now deplorable. Their crops are destroyed, their stock killed or driven off, and in many instances they are without the means to purchase bread. Still, after all this privation and distress, there are persons who are in favor of making treaties with the Indians--to pay them muleloads of beads, blankets, guns and ammunition, for murdering our fellow men and destroying our property. JACKSONVILLE, August 18.--Last Tuesday noon, a party of 22 men from Captain Goodall's company started under Lieutenant Ely to hunt up Sam's tribe of Indians. They started up the creek, and had not proceeded more than two miles when they came on Sam and all his tribe, about 150 warriors. Not being strong enough to attack them, they retreated and at the same time sent an express back to Captain Goodall to send forward the rest of his company. At five minutes before eleven the Indians commenced an attack upon them, taking them by surprise, not being discovered until they made the attack. Two men were shot dead the first fire, and two more wounded. Finding the place too warm, they retreated to a point of timber 200 yards in their rear. The point was reached in safety, leaving their horses, saddles and baggage behind. The Indians then renewed their attack with great fury, but they soon found that they were a little too near and retreated to a respectful distance. The battle lasted with unabated fury until ten minutes past 2 o'clock p.m., making three hours and fifteen minutes. A young man was brutally murdered by the Indians within three miles of the Indian agent's house, and two others shot in attempting to recover some stolen property. AUGUST 7.--A miner was waylaid and shot. A battle was fought on the same day, near the Mountain House, in which several whites were killed. The greatest excitement prevails, and all business in the valley had ceased. FORT WAGNER, August 8.--The Indians are swarming in this vicinity, to the probably amount of 500. The settlers are erecting fortifications, but are almost destitute of arms and ammunition. On the 8th the Indians attacked two houses, Mr. Miller's and Mr. Stone's. The main body of Indians are encamped about the Table Rock. The old chief (Sam) says he will fight until he dies, or have the valley back again. Capt. Alden, of Fort Jones, in this valley, left with fifteen soldiers for the scene of action. Two companies of soldiers from Yreka, Greenhorn, Humbug and Scott Valley have left for Rogue River Valley, with a good supply of muskets and ammunition. "Latest Intelligence," Washington Sentinel, Washington, D.C., September 28, 1853, page 3 Jacksonville,
August 25th
1853
Friend Jacob--I am sorry to inform you that almost all kinds of business has been suspended in our town and mining district in consequence of the Indians committing depredations throughout our beautiful valley. Already they have killed some of our best citizens. The miners have all stopped their labor and gone out to fight--already they have had several battles in which the Indians have proved victorious--there was a messenger sent in this evening from the army who states they had another battle--there was 10 Indians killed and 30 wounded. The whites lost 3 men killed and 8 wounded. Among the killed was Capt. Armstrong of Yamhill; the other two men are from Yreka, but I have not learned their names--the messenger, Mr. Angel, does not know their names. Col. B. R. Alden is said to be mortally wounded, the ball entering his neck and come out under his arm--Gen. Joe Lane was also wounded in the shoulder slightly. The battle lasted four hours, at the end of which time Chief Sam proposed an armistice, which was granted and both armies agree to meet at Table Rock tomorrow to have a wawa. The Indians numbered 250 men and the whites 96. The battle came off at the head of Evans Creek in a canyon, about 55 miles from here. The whites surprised them, Gen. Lane and Col. Alden were wounded while making a charge. It is generally supposed here that it is the intention of the whites to make a treaty with the Indians, on account of their agreeing to meet them at Table Rock; but for myself I have no such idea; and I think there is some other object in mind, as the people of this country would not submit to it for a moment. Three Spaniards were shot this morning 8 miles from here, near Applegate Creek. One miner was shot and the cargo carried off by the Indians. The Spaniards were on their way from Crescent City with a pack train. Robt. L. Williams arrived here yesterday from Althouse Creek for the purpose of getting a commission to raise a company of rangers, which was granted him. Capt. Terry arrived last night from Crescent City with a part of his company, the balance being behind with their provisions, ammunition, etc. This company numbers 30 men, well armed and mounted. I can't say when or where this will terminate, yet I presume all the business houses will have to close up as it is taking all their supplies for government. Already there is any amount of U.S. scrip, two to one if it don't break all the men in the valley. I expect to have to leave this place--what I may go at or go to I can't say. I wish you to write to me as soon as possible. I received a letter from my brother the last mail--he merely stated that they are all well. I have had no news from Pollsberry yet. Let me know how things are in your town. I wrote this in haste--therefore you must excuse it and oblige-- Yours,
J. N. Callahan The Indian War.
A war between the whites and Indians is now raging on the borders of
California and Oregon. Both parties seem determined to make it a war of
extermination. Through the Yreka Herald
of
the 20th, it appears that the whites have a force of 250 men encamped
on the 15th, six miles northeast of Jacksonville, a town in the Rogue
River Valley in Oregon. It consists of the following companies: Capt.
Goodall, 90 men; Capt. Miller, 70; Capt. Lamerick, 40; Capt. Elliff,
25; and Capt. Rhodes, 30. These men are all volunteers and belong to
both California and Oregon. The chief in command, as we gather from the
Yreka Herald, is
Capt. Alden, of the U.S. Army, who is appointed colonel commanding,
assisted by Col. John Ross.
The plan of operations is to harass the Indians incessantly and compel them to call in their small parties in order to concentrate. This will, to some extent, check the murderous depredations which have heretofore been carried on by these parties, and when the Indians become concentrated it will be in the power of Capt. Alden to attack them at his leisure and at advantage. Another very wise precaution has been adopted--placing the women and children in secure and well-guarded places, thus relieving the troops from the embarrassing duty of defending single and isolated families, and permitting all the men to remain in one body instead of being constantly engaged in detached service. In another part of this paper [below] is given the particulars of one battle, in which five gallant fellows perished. Another, and a severe one, may be looked for daily. From the spirit which animates the whites, it need not be expected that they will treat their enemies with any show of mercy. Every Indian, wherever met, will be destroyed, and no propositions of peace will receive any attention. It is a matter of much regret--though it seems to be an authenticated fact--that several Americans are leagued with the Indians. They are renegade scoundrels, who are actuated by the hope of plunder; perhaps, by a worse passion--revenge! Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, August 26, 1853, page 2 The howitzer from Fort Vancouver, accompanied by Lieutenant Kautz and six men, arrived here Friday evening, en route for Rogue River. It is a brass twelve-pounder, and calculated for the throwing of shell. They have also grape and cannister. Oregon Statesman, Salem, August 30, 1853, page 2 From Oregon.
INDIAN INSURRECTION IN ROGUE RIVER VALLEY.
The San Francisco papers of the 30th furnish the following important
intelligence from Rogue River Valley, in Oregon. It is extracted from
the Portland Commercial
of the 25th ult.:
Late on Saturday evening last Mr. Ettlinger arrived here direct from Jacksonville, bringing a dispatch announcing that a general outbreak had taken place among the Indian tribes in the vicinity of Rogue River. It appears that for some time past the various tribes in the vicinity of the above-named river have made great complaints and become generally dissatisfied at the number of Bostons who were congregating on their former hunting grounds, and this dissatisfaction has sprung into a burning desire to exterminate the whites from the region of Rogue River Valley and regain their former footing, and reserve that entire valley for their own use. In order the more effectually to carry out these designs, several tribes have joined, among which are the Klamath, Rogue River, Smith River, Shasta, and it is supposed that a large portion of the Snakes had also agreed to cooperate with them. A portion of each of those tribes, to the number of about three hundred, have established their headquarters and stronghold at a point called Table Rock, said to be one of the most impregnable fortresses in the territory, and about eight miles distant from Jacksonville. If, therefore, any engagement should take place, we may presume that this fortress will be the scene of action. At the time Mr. E. left Jacksonville nearly twenty persons had been butchered by the Indians. Among them are Dr. Rose, J. R. Hardin, Mr. Wills, Mr. Noland and Mr. Smith, and the Indians had burned upwards of a dozen dwellings. Heretofore the Snake and Rogue River Indians have never amalgamated for the purpose of acting against the whites, and if the report is true that they now have joined, it is a certain evidence that they have determined to carry on hostilities on an extensive scale, and the only effectual mode of putting a stop to their depredations is to apply a desperate remedy and teach them a similar lesson like unto that which the Cayuses have heretofore been taught by the old settlers in this valley. Like many other tribes, the Rogue River Indians derive their name from their propensity for stealing, and their well-known predatory talents have acquired for them the unenviable title of Rogues. We learn from the gentleman who brought the news that the Indians, during the past few weeks, killed no less than twenty miners and settlers, and that great excitement exists in Jacksonville, in consequence of the citizens not having ammunition enough to warrant them in commencing hostilities. Immediately on the first symptoms of a disturbance an express was dispatched to Crescent City to procure aid and ammunition, but unfortunately there was but a small amount of the latter on hand, but that was freely given. Upon the return of the messenger from Crescent City, a dispatch was immediately sent to the Acting Governor, G. L. Curry, praying that 100 stand of arms and 4,000 round of ball cartridges be sent to the relief of the citizens. The steamer Engle was then chartered and proceeded to Vancouver, where, through the kindness and exertion of Mr. T. J. Eckerson, the keeper of ordnance and stores, the required supplies were obtained and were landed at Oregon City on last Sunday evening. On Monday they were placed on board the Fenix, and forwarded to their destination. We learn that Gen. Lane, at the head of seventy-five volunteers, proceeded to the scene of action immediately upon leaving of the outbreak, and great praise is due to the citizens of the surrounding country for the prompt manner in which they responded to the call of their fellow citizens in Rogue River Valley. The foregoing is all we can learn upon the subject up to the present, and our readers may rest assured that we shall keep them "posted up" in all circumstances attendant upon this outbreak, which will prove disastrous to both the whites and Indians, as it will tend to stop the trade of one party, and will stop the breath of many of those engaged with the other. P.S.--Since the above was in type we learn that the Indians have added to the aggression by brutally murdering Judge Skinner, Indian agent in that district. [He was not. Skinner was replaced by Samuel H. Culver--not Sam Colver--in May 1853. Culver was dispatched to the Rogue River Valley in August 1853.] Times-Picayune, New Orleans, September 27, 1853, page 2 Indian Outbreak!
Oregon
Spectator, Oregon City, August 26, 1853, page 2
On Saturday last the Superintendent of Indian Affairs received a
dispatch from the acting Governor, Geo. L. Curry, to the effect that 60
stand of arms, and 4,500 rounds of cartridges to accompany them, were
required immediately to quell the Indian disturbances at Rogue River;
that an outbreak had occurred a few days previous to the departure of
the express, and that two persons had been killed--J. R. Hardin and Dr.
Rose; several others were pretty badly wounded.
The cause of the difficulty we are unable to state, but there appears to be a deeply hostile spirit manifested by the Indians, and when the express left there was no abatement of feeling on their part. It has spread great consternation throughout the entire settlement of Rogue River Valley. We fear, too, the end is not yet. In the absence of the Superintendent, Mr. E. Geary, the clerk, came to this city post haste, on Saturday, and chartered the Eagle to go to Vancouver, with a view of carrying out the Governor's requisition. On Sunday evening the arms and ammunition arrived here, and on this (Monday) morning they were placed on board the mail steamer to be forwarded to the Governor at Salem; from thence they will be dispatched forthwith to Rogue River. We learned this morning (Aug. 22nd) that Gen. Lane had repaired to the scene of hostilities with a company of volunteers. We hope he may be able to reach there before much blood has been shed. We shall endeavor to give the earliest report of his operations, etc. N.B. Sergt. T. J. Eckerson, in charge at Columbia Barracks, responded very promptly to the call of the Governor, and placed at the disposal of the Superintendent the number required. ----
FURTHER PARTICULARS.--In
addition to the above, we have been informed by the Superintendent that
a number were
killed (rumor says some six or eight persons) previous to the death of
those already mentioned. Their death occurred in this wise. There was a
meeting held at Jacksonville, to adopt measures of defense, and as the
party was returning to Squire T'Vault's, where the women of the
neighborhood had been collected and guarded, the party were divided in
sentiment as to the best road to return by. The near road lay through a
grove. Squire T'Vault suggested that it would be best to go around the
grove, that possibly the Indians might be lying there in ambush; this
plan was entered into by all the party, save J. R. Hardin and Dr. Rose,
who continued their march through the grove. They had gone but a short
time before the report of guns was heard. Upon repairing to the spot,
Hardin was found shot through both hips, the ball having passed through
the lower part of the body. He survived but a few hours. Dr. Rose was
shot also through the body, his throat cut from ear to ear, and his
eyes torn from their sockets. He had several hundred dollars on him;
they took that, and stripped his body of every vestige of clothing and
dreadfully mutilated his carcass, after which they fled with their
ill-gotten booty to the woods and made safe their retreat.A party of volunteers, amounting to some two hundred persons, had assembled near Table Rock, and elected Maj. Alden their commander. They expected to be attacked every day for several days before the express left. The Indians have become very desperate. They have destroyed a good deal of stock, and some ten houses, with their entire contents, have been plundered and set on fire. Women and children have abandoned their homes, and their all has been at the mercy of the Indians. The distress is very great, and the confusion general. ----
STILL LATER.--On
Tuesday night additional rumors were set afloat as to new murders
having been committed. One was to the effect that A. A. Skinner and Mr.
Riley, of Salem, were killed by the Indians. We give but little
credence to the report from the fact that no express has arrived from
the seat of hostilities since that of Saturday last. Hence we discredit
the report.We believe, however, that several of the neighboring tribes have banded together and made a common cause of opposition to the whites. We fear that all the facts are not reported relative to the original difficulties--that there is something behind. We shall wait for a more full development of the facts before we give any more of the rumors. It has been stated, too, that the Snake Indians were [allied] with the Rogue River tribes. This news we discredit entirely. We have endeavored to sift out all the facts as well as we could, and have given them above, not as reliable, but for what they are worth. In guesswork one man's ideas are about as good as another. The Indians in the vicinity [of Oregon City], although unchangeably peaceable, are much excited by the sad tidings. They are horrified and awe-stricken, but there is nothing of revenge in their nature, or ill feeling towards the whites, consequently there are no fears entertained here as to their forming a conjunction with those who are inimical. It may operate to the disadvantage of the immigrants, and cause depredations to be committed with impunity on those wending their way hither. It is possible that this is only a beginning. We shall avoid forming hasty conclusions, and end our speculations with this. J. R. Hardin:--"Over forty-seven years ago, my father, together with a companion, were murdered by Indians at a spot near where the Braden mine is located. Together with his companion he was buried where now stands the orchard in the old Dardanelles place, just across the river from Gold Hill. This week I received a notice from the present owner of this place to come down there and remove his remains, which I suppose I will have to do, though how I am going to identify them from the remains of his companion is a question too deep for me. I would like to have his remains buried in a regular cemetery and the grave properly cared for--but, well, you can see how matters stand. My father was the first representative from Jackson County to the legislature of this state, and at the time of his death he was being prominently mentioned as a candidate for congressman from Oregon. He was a lawyer by profession and stood high with the bar of the state." "City Happenings," Medford Mail, March 22, 1901, page 7 The Indian Insurrection in Rogue River Valley-- Consternation Among the Inhabitants! Late on Saturday evening last, Mr. Ettlinger arrived here direct from Jacksonville, bringing a dispatch announcing that a general outbreak had taken place among the Indian tribes in the vicinity of Rogue River. It appears that for some time past the various tribes in the vicinity of the above-named river have made great complaints, and become generally dissatisfied with the number of Bostons who were congregating on their former hunting grounds, and this dissatisfaction has sprung into a burning desire to exterminate the whites from the region of Rogue River Valley and regain their former footing and reserve that entire valley for their own use. In order the more effectually to carry out these designs, several tribes have joined, among which are the Klamath, Rogue River, Smith River and Shasta, and it is supposed that a large portion of the Snakes had also agreed to cooperate with them. A portion of each of those tribes, to the number of about three hundred, have established their headquarters and stronghold at a point called Table Rock, said to be one of the most impregnable fortresses in the territory, and about eight miles distant from Jacksonville. If, therefore, any engagement should take place, we may presume that this fortress will be the scene of action. [The battle of Table Rock, so called, was actually fought several miles away on Evans Creek.] At the time Mr. E. left Jacksonville, nearly twenty persons had been butchered by the Indians. Among them are Dr. Rose, J. R. Hardin, Mr. Wills, Mr. Nolan, and Mr. Smith, and the Indians had burned upwards of a dozen dwellings. Heretofore the Snake and Rogue River Indians have never amalgamated for the purpose of acting against the whites, and if the report is true that they now have joined, it is a certain evidence that they have determined to carry on hostilities on an extensive scale, and the only effectual mode of putting a stop to their depredations is to apply a desperate remedy and teach them a similar lesson like unto that which the Cayuses have heretofore been taught by the old settlers in this valley. Like many other tribes, the Rogue River Indians derive their name from their propensity for stealing, and their well-known predatory talents have acquired for them the unenviable title of Rogues. We learn from the gentleman who brought the news that the Indians, during the past few weeks, killed no less than 20 miners and settlers, and that great excitement exists around and in Jacksonville, in consequence of the citizens not having ammunition enough to warrant them in commencing hostilities. Immediately on the first symptoms of a disturbance, an express was dispatched to Crescent City to procure aid and ammunition, but unfortunately there was but a small amount of the latter on hand, but that was freely given. Upon the return of the messenger from Crescent City, a dispatch was immediately sent to the Acting Governor, G. L. Curry, praying that one hundred stand of arms and 4,000 rounds of ball cartridge be sent to the relief of the citizens. The steamer Eagle was then chartered and proceeded to Vancouver, where, through the kindness and exertion of Mr. T. J. Eckerson, the keeper of ordnance and stores, the required supplies were obtained and were landed at Oregon City on last Sunday evening. On Monday they were placed on board the Fenix and forwarded to their destination. We learn that General Lane, at the head of seventy-five volunteers, proceeded to the scene of action immediately upon learning of the outbreak, and great praise is due to the citizens of the surrounding country for the prompt manner in which they responded to the call of their fellow citizens in Rogue River Valley. The foregoing is all we can learn upon this subject up to the present, and our readers may rest assured that we shall keep them "posted up" in all circumstances attendant upon this outbreak, which will prove disastrous to both the whites and Indians, as it will tend to stop the trade of one party and will stop the breath of many of those engaged with the other. SECOND DISPATCH.--Since the above was in type we learn that the Indians have added to the aggressions by brutally murdering Judge Skinner, Indian agent in that district. [Judge Alonzo A. Skinner was not murdered, nor, to my knowledge, even present. Skinner was replaced by Samuel H. Culver--not Sam Colver--in May 1853. Culver was dispatched to the Rogue River Valley in August 1853.] Daily Alta California, San Francisco, August 30, 1853, page 2 (From
the San Francisco
Herald.)
THE CALIFORNIA NEWS. A General Indian War on the Frontiers--Great Excitement-- Terrible Massacres--A Call for Volunteers.
It would appear, from the news in regard to the Indian difficulties on
Rogue River, that the war has begun in earnest. Great excitement
naturally exists in that quarter, and the
war will probably be one of extermination, or resulting in the
expulsion of the Indians from the valleys east of the mountains. It
is folly to talk about sympathy for the savage under such
circumstances. The hardy settlers have long enough asked, but asked in
vain, for protection from the inroads of the barbarians, and worse than
nothing has been done by the general government in responding to their
appeals. A crisis has arrived, however, which must settle the question
whether the white or the red man must in future hold exclusive sway in
that quarter.
The Mountain Herald of August 26th says:-- The families have been driven from their homes and compelled to fortify themselves in numbers for protection. The farmers have been forced to leave the harvest field for the security of life. The flourishing crops that gave the greatest assurance of an abundant harvest now present a houseless scene of devastation. It must cause the utter ruin of numerous families, since many of them are emigrants of last year, who came with limited means, and who have expended all they had in order to raise a crop for the support of their families through the coming winter. Their situation is now deplorable. Their crops are destroyed, their stock killed or driven off, and in many instances they are without the means to purchase bread. Still, after all this privation and distress, there are persons who are in favor of making treaties with the Indians--to pay them muleloads of beads, blankets, guns and ammunition, for murdering our fellow men and destroying our property. It would be a most consummate folly to treat with them now, after sustaining such a loss of life and destruction of property, without any provocation or aggression on the part of the whites. We have every confidence in all of our citizens who left here, and they will avenge these outrages and never quit the field while the color of an Indian is seen. *
* *
A battle came off on
the 7th, near the Mountain House, in which Messrs. Davis, Overbeck and
a number of others were killed and one or two wounded. It is supposed
that four or five Indians were killed.Believe me, the Applegate, Cow, Grave Creek, Rogue River, Umpqua, Klamath, Shasta and Pit River Indians have united and declared an open and general war against the whites. On the 8th of August, a messenger from Rogue River Valley arrived with a petition signed by many persons residing near Willow Springs: Fort
Wagner, Aug. 8, 1853
The
citizens of
Rogue River Valley ask the citizens of Yreka city and vicinity, in the
name of humanity, to assist in subjugating the Indians of this valley,
who are daily and nightly murdering our citizens and killing our stock.Between four and five hundred Indians are in the vicinity of Table Rock. The citizens are not sufficient in number to guard the different points at which the families have collected, and go out to fight them. We are poorly armed, and ask your assistance in men, arms and ammunition. On the 8th, the Indians attacked two houses, Mr. Miller's and Mr. Stone's. Most of the families are at Wagner's ranch, ten miles this side of Jacksonville, and are about erecting a block fort for protection. The main body of Indians are encamped at or about Table Rock. Many mules, horses and stock of all descriptions have been killed about Jacksonville and Willow Springs. The old chief (Sam) says he will fight until he dies, or have the valley back again. He told his brother, who is a peace chief, that he would kill him if he did not help to exterminate the whites from Rogue River Valley. [Apparently the quotation ends here.] Capt. Alden, of Fort Jones, in this valley, left with fifteen soldiers for the scene of action. Esquire Steele, of this place, has an order to hire all the horses and mules he can procure, for which he will pay $4 per day, by Uncle Sam. Two large companies of volunteers from Yreka, Greenhorn, Humbug and Scott Valley have left for Rogue River Valley with a good supply of muskets and ammunition. A large number of Shasta Indians were encamped near my hacienda last week, and Esq. Steele was about to make a demand from the chief for all their arms and ammunition, but a white Indian, Ned Wicks, who has a squaw for a wife, informed them, and they vamoosed before the next morning for Shasta Valley. There, on their arrival, they made an attempt to capture George W. Herd, of Scott Valley, while herding his stock, before he could get to Mr. Leonard's ranch, but they did not succeed. A messenger was sent to Yreka, and a party of men came out immediately to the ranch, some six miles, and made an attempt to capture the Indians, but they were hid in ambush, and one shot Mr. Millet through the breast. This party of Indians succeeded in getting away, except one old tar-headed squaw who was shot and scalped. Now that general hostilities have commenced, I hope that the government will render such aid as will enable the citizens of the north to carry on a war of extermination until the last redskin of these tribes have been killed. Then, and not until then, are our lives and property safe against these grass-eating desperadoes. Daily Courier, Louisville, Kentucky, September 30, 1853, page 2 The steamer Thomas Hunt arrived on Saturday, from Crescent City. The news brought by the Hunt confirms that already received as to the warlike character of the Rogue River and other Indians. The Indians and whites have had an engagement in Rogue River Valley, near Jacksonville, and after fighting for over three hours the whites were compelled to retreat. Both parties suffered much loss. Amongst those that were taken prisoners was Asa Colburn, of Jacksonville, who was butchered in a most horrible manner, his legs being cut off, his entrails taken out, and his body shockingly mutilated. Reinforcements from all quarters are being sent to the aid of the whites. A company of some thirty left Crescent City on Sunday, the 21st inst., and the citizens are forming another to leave as soon as possible.--Sun. Sacramento Daily Union, August 30, 1853, page 2 The Indian outbreaks in the Rogue River Valley, in the north, are becoming serious and threatening. It is not improbable that general hostilities will be the consequence in that part of the state and the southern part of Oregon. The existing troubles, like those that have arisen from time to time in other sections of the state, most probably had their origin in the outrages which some of the more reckless and unprincipled of the white population take so much pleasure in inflicting upon the weak and defenseless. whether civilized or savage. The peaceful and industrious citizens have now to bear the vindictive hostility of the savages, who recognize no distinction between friend and foe among the "pale faces." We fear that a bloody and protracted war will ensue, the frontier citizens defending their lives and their homes, while the unprincipled wretches who kindled the flame are in safety in the less exposed districts. The parties who made such a handsome speculation by the El Dorado and Mariposa wars a few years since, and who came so near making a similar speculation on the pretended war in the south, are on the alert to make something out of the Rogue River troubles. Arrangements are in process of formation for the creation of a debt to be assumed by the state to the amount of between one million and fifteen hundred thousand dollars, of which of course the projectors will receive about three fourths. But as there is a reality in the hostilities, and some actual lighting to be done, the speculators will be a little chary about embarking in the enterprise. In the meantime. Gen. Hitchcock is taking measures for rendering all the protection to the northern frontier that the disposable force under his command will allow. "Summary of News," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, September 1, 1853, page 1 THE INDIANS.--The Commanding General of the Pacific Division has ordered a force of sixty U.S. troops to Fort Reading to be employed under the direction of Col. Wright against the Rogue River Indians. The latest accounts from the north represent the Indians in all the region along the line between California and Oregon as hostile to the white settlers and united in their efforts to annihilate them. Mr. James McMahon, a citizen of Klamath County, and who represented that county in the last Legislature, has made a call in San Francisco for sixty volunteers, each to be armed, if possible, with a rifle and a Colt's revolver, to accompany him to the seat of war. He says that the Indians have now concentrated their forces, and are determined to expel the whites from that portion of the country. Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, September 1, 1853, page 2 The Indian War.
A war between the whites and Indians is now raging on the borders of
California and Oregon. Both parties seem determined to make it a war of
extermination. Through the Yreka Herald
of
the 20th, it appears that the whites have a force of 250 men encamped
on the 15th, six miles northeast of Jacksonville, a town in the Rogue
River Valley, in Oregon. It consists of the following companies: Capt.
Goodall, 90 men; Capt. Miller, 70; Capt. Lamerick, 40; Capt. Elliff,
25; and Capt. Rhodes, 30. These men are all volunteers and belong to
both California and Oregon. The chief in command, as we gather from the
Yreka Herald, is
Capt. Alden, of the U.S. army, who is appointed colonel commanding,
assisted by Col. John Ross.
The plan of operations is to harass the Indians incessantly and compel them to call in their small parties in order to concentrate. This will, to some extent, check the murderous depredations which have heretofore been carried on by these parties, and when the Indians become concentrated it will be in the power of Capt. Alden to attack them at his leisure and at advantage. Another very wise precaution has been adopted, placing the women and children in secure and well-guarded places, thus relieving the troops from the embarrassing duty of defending single and isolated families and permitting all the men to remain in one body instead of being constantly engaged in detached service. In another part of this paper is given the particulars of one battle, in which five gallant fellows perished. Another, and a severe one, may be looked for daily. From the spirit which animates the whites, it need not be expected that they will treat their enemies with any show of mercy. Every Indian, wherever met, will be destroyed, and no propositions of peace will receive any attention. It is a matter of much regret--though it seems to be an authenticated fact--that several Americans are leagued with the Indians. They are renegade scoundrels, who are actuated by the hope of plunder, perhaps by a worse passion--revenge! Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, September 1, 1853, page 2 (From
the Yreka Herald.)
The
following letter we received by Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express
from Mr. Dugan.ANOTHER BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS Jacksonville,
Aug. 25, 1853.
Another battle was fought with the Indians yesterday. There were 10
Indians killed, and 30 wounded. The whites had lost three men killed
and 8 wounded. Among the killed was Capt. Armstrong of Yamhill; the
other two men are from Yreka, but I have not learned their names; the
messenger, Mr. Angel,
does not know their names. Col. B. R. Alden is said to be mortally
wounded; the ball entered his neck and came out under his arm. Gen.
Lane was also wounded in the shoulder slightly. The battle lasted four
hours, at the end of which time Chief
Sam proposed an armistice which was granted, and both armies agreed to
meet at Table Rock tomorrow and have a wawa.The Indians numbered 250 men, and the whites 96. The battle came off at the head of Evans Creek, in a canyon, about 55 miles from here; the whites surprised them. Gen. Lane and Col. Alden were wounded while making a charge. It is generally supposed here that it is the intention of the whites to make a treaty with the Indians on account of their agreeing to meet them at Table Rock, but for myself I have no such idea, and I think there is some other object in view, as the people of this country would not submit to it for a moment. Three Spaniards were shot this morning 8 miles from here, near Applegate Creek. One mule was shot and cargo carried off by the Indians; the Spaniards were on their way in from Crescent City with a pack train. Robert L. Williams arrived here yesterday from Althouse Creek for the purpose of getting a commission to raise a company of rangers, which was granted him. Capt. W. J. Terry arrived last night from Crescent City with a part of his company, the balance being behind with their provisions, ammunition &c. His company numbers 30 men, well armed and mounted. Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, September 2, 1853, page 2 FROM OREGON.--The steamer Columbia arrived Aug. 29th from Portland, Oregon, bringing dates to the 25th ult. The news from the seat of war is no later than previously published by us, but the accounts show that great excitement existed throughout Oregon, in reference to the outrages that had been committed. A rumor was prevalent that Judge Skinner, the Indian agent, had been murdered by the Indians, but some of the papers doubt the authenticity of the report. It is estimated that twenty of the miners and settlers have been killed in all. [The noncombatant white body count was eight or nine.] The country around Jacksonville was reported to be thronged with the savage enemy. Acting Governor G. L. Curry had responded to the call for arms and ammunition, and had forwarded to Crescent City one hundred stand of arms, and four thousand rounds of ball cartridges. Gen. Lane had raised a party of seventy-five men, and was on his way to Rogue River. The Pacific, San Francisco, September 2, 1853, page 2 One Man Shot Dead and
Five Wounded.
The following items we gather from a letter received from Mr. Dugan, by
Mr. F. Rogers, of Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express, and from Dr.
Sulte
of this city, who visited the wounded persons mentioned below:It appears that Capt. Smith, Mr. John Gibbs and others a short time ago had a fight with the Indians, when Dunn and some others were wounded. They killed 4 or 5 Indians and took 7 or 8 of them prisoners, and kept them under guard for the purpose of inducing the remainder of the tribe to come in, and were under the impression that they were good Indians. On the 21st the Indians crawled in upon them, charged on the guard, and rescued the prisoners. They then burned some haystacks. John Gibbs, of the Mountain House, was standing guard at the time, and had his arm fractured by a rifle ball and [was] shot in the groin. Mr. Carroll of Yreka was one of the other men wounded. An emigrant who had just come across the plains, by the name of [Hugh] Smith, while lying under his wagon asleep, was shot dead with ten rifle balls. Another emigrant who had just arrived with his wife and several children from some place near Burlington, Iowa, was shot. He died on Tuesday last. At the time he was shot the Indians had seized his wife, and he was trying to rescue her. She escaped unhurt. Mr. Gibbs received two wounds, one breaking his left arm and one ball passing through his groin. Dr. Shulte thinks he will not recover. One man had his thigh broken by a rifle ball, and another wounded in the thigh by a ball; another wounded by arrows, the names of whom we have been unable to learn. None of the Indians were killed or wounded. They drove off one American mare and shot two oxen and one mule belonging to the ranch. We have just received news from Captain Smith, who is on his way in from Port Orford with a company of forty dragoons. They came in on the new road east of the canyon. They fell in with a party of Indians at the canyon near Table Rock--had a fight with them--killed ten Indians, but lost one man. General Joe Lane arrived last Saturday night, at headquarters, with fifteen men to participate in the existing war with the Indians. Col. Alden prevailed on him to take command of the forces, which he has done, and marched in pursuit of the Indians at 5 o'clock this morning. The people here have great confidence in the General's knowledge of Indian fighting. We look for sixty or seventy Klickitat Indians and half-breeds in from Oregon in a few days, who have been anxious to come here to fight these Indians for a long time. A white man was killed on Applegate night before last by another white man who was standing guard. The guard heard him in the bushes and hailed him three times--the only answer he made was "nika" ["me"]. He was shot dead. The following items reached Yreka too late for publication in the Herald--and were reported verbally, in Shasta, by Mr. J. A. Horsley, express messenger of Messrs. Cram, Rogers & Co. While the battle was still raging, Chief Sam advanced to the front and bid them cease firing, that he wished to speak with Gen. Lane. The firing instantly ceased, and Gen. Lane met Sam half way. After some conversation, a meeting, or as they call it in their lingo, a wawa, was agreed upon for Sunday following. The Indians occupied the ground between the whites and the river, which rendered it impossible for the latter to obtain water. As soon as the firing and the war cry ceased, the squaws seized their baskets, ran to the river and carried water to the Americans. This is a circumstance worthy of note, an act of charitableness worthy to be copied by more enlightened races. Gen. Lane, with a party of 8 or 10 men, visited the Indian encampment on Sunday. They found 250 able-bodied warriors--150 sick and disabled--111 rifle and 86 pistols, Colts, Allen's and single barrel. The Indians say that some time since the whites ceded to them one half of the valley, on condition of their releasing all claim to the remaining half--that the whites are now settling the whole valley, without remunerating them--that if the Americans will pay them for their lands, they will surrender their arms and allow to be retained out of the money a sufficient amount to pay all damages they have done to private property. A final wawa was fixed for Wednesday, the 31st. There are those, and they are numerous too, who hold up both hands for extermination, and will listen to nothing else. But to exterminate them would take time, perhaps years, and would lead to a thousand petty broils and skirmishes, and much bloodshed. It would turn the "plowshare and pruning hook," the spade, the pick and the crowbar to implements of war, shut up the avenues of trade, stagnate all branches of business, cause much privation and suffering, and finally depopulate that portion of the country. To exterminate them would be next to impossible. The Indian, in his mountain fastnesses, is a wily and powerful foe. He knows every bush and brake, every rock and crevice, every trail and decoy--where to flee, where to hide, where to attack--and like following a will-o-the-wisp, his adversary, before he is aware, is lost in the fog. To exterminate them would border on cruelty. One act of wrong does not make another wrong right. One act of cruelty does not make another act of cruelty an act of humanity--because two or three savages are cruel enough to murder two or three white men, it might be some justification, but it is no good reason why we should rise in arms and exterminate the whole of the race, who feel they have some rights left, who are taught from infancy to believe they have an inheritance in land, and that the Great Spirit will teach them craft and nerve their arms for its defense. Then let us treat with them. A treaty may bind them only for a time--a year, or perhaps a few months only--but it will serve its time--"a half loaf is better than no bread" and a year, or even a few months of peace, tranquility and prosperity are more valuable to the people of northern California and Oregon than a battlefield covered all over with the dead bodies of Indians. Let us treat with them for their lands and arms and retain a sufficiency to meet all demands against them on account of damage done to private property. Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, September 3, 1853, page 2 The second through fourth paragraphs were quoted by the Janesville Gazette in their October 22 issue, crediting them to the Yreka Mountain Herald. Rogue River Matters.
There are wars and rumors of wars from this quarter, but as far as we
have been able to judge, there is considerably more of the latter than
of the former. Pretty nearly all the latest accounts are of a doubtful
character. The whole truth might be summed up in a few lines; possibly
the following guess at the facts may come as near the truth as that
which is given out as authentic.In all, there have been some ten or twelve white persons killed, including those we mentioned last week. The number of Indians killed may be double that of the whites. The whites have been attacked generally in small numbers, and in most instances unexpectedly and from concealed places. No regular battle has yet taken place, but mutual feelings of hostility exist on both sides. The people of Yreka and other adjacent localities sympathize with the white settlers, and have volunteered effective aid in the way of munitions of war and men to use them. While on the other hand the Indians in the vicinity of Jacksonville have the cooperation of their neighboring tribes, and the probability is that every avenue of communication is waylaid, and the supplies for that quarter measurably cut off. If the quantity on hand is very limited, we fear the distress may be augmented very much from this cause. Ammunition and arms are both scarce with the whites. The Indians are well armed and have plenty of ammunition. It will be seen by our Althouse correspondence that Judge Skinner was among the living up to the 17th August. Various other reports have been in circulation relative to the death of others. One report was to the effect that Gen. Lane had been killed, which grew, probably, out of the fact that his party were attacked at the mouth of the Canyon and two of the men killed. This much--from what we can learn--is true. He was attacked at the Canyon on the 18th, with the result as stated above. Persons with families have been, and are still, in a critical situation, in many instances driven from their homes badly frightened, and crowded together--a great deal too thick for comfort--into small houses, and even then suffering the worst kind of dread. Under such circumstances their fate is certainly to be deplored. The Indians are revengeful, though they seem bent upon plunder more than the shedding of blood, but the whites are highly exasperated, and are determined, they say, to exterminate the race. This resolution may prove somewhat difficult to carry out. The hidden retreats of the Indians are too numerous and difficult for the whites to rout them, and it is useless for a small party to attempt to dislodge them from their lurking places. A general disposition appears to pervade the minds of the whites to kill all the Indians they come across. The extinction of the entire races in that region is the almost unanimous sentiment. Matters have arrived at such a degree of desperation on the part of the whites as was never before witnessed in Oregon. Upon this subject we quote the following from the correspondence of the Alta California, dated at Crescent City, Aug. 14th: "Late arrivals from Jacksonville, Oregon, bring in intelligence of great disturbances by the Indians. It is said that the Rogue Rivers, Klamaths (of the upper county) and Shastas are combined. A number of the whites have been killed and wounded, among whom are several of my own acquaintances. Mr. Thomas Wills is said to be mortally wounded; Mr. Dunn was shot in the shoulder and wrist; Mr. Rhodes Noland was killed, besides a number of others. Mr. J. Lewis had six mules killed, besides a number of others. The citizens of Southern Oregon, so uniformly taking sides with the poor persecuted Indians, have now an opportunity, in the kindness of their hearts, to render a peace offering to different tribes. Some of the Sons of America, believing that the blood of freemen called from the ground for vengeance, took their peace offerings in their hands and went to meet the savages. One of the first votaries offered upon the altar was Sam, one of the chiefs of the Rogue Rivers, and brother to Joe, the head chief. He had fortified Table Rock, and with his band awaited the attack. The next onslaught was to have been made upon Joe and his warriors. Should the citizens of that lovely country allow it, the war will be terminated before the next spring. "This morning our eighteen-pounder, vomiting forth its volumes of fire and smoke, denoted the arrival of one of your pretty vessels from San Francisco. Before the reverberations from our rocks and shores had subsided, once more was the iron throat greeting in thunder tones the appearance of our steamer, the Hunt." "J.S.W."
Oregon
Spectator, Oregon City, September 2, 1853, page
2 As
it may be of some interest to you to learn what is being done there,
and what effect the disturbances in Rogue River have had in that part
of the country, I would say that as respects the reports about the
Indians having banded together to the extent that has been represented,
it is not true, as far as that phase is concerned. The miners continued
at work without any interruption from the cause named.
True, some alarm has been spread through that portion of the country, and some concern is manifested by the fate of those residing in Rogue River Valley because of the outbreaks there by the Indians, who, we have been informed, have annoyed the isolated settlers, killed some and destroyed some property, and driven off a number of stock. But the extent of the depredations is a good deal magnified. Some families have left their houses, and with their stock have gone to the Umpqua Valley; others have moved to Jacksonville. A large company had arrived a few days previous to the 17th, from Yreka, at Jacksonville, to protect that place. I met Gen. Lane on the 18th August. He was to have passed through the Canyon on that day. Subsequently, on my road down here, I learned that in attempting to go through that day he was repulsed by the Indians with the loss of two men. This was the rumor. "From the Mines," Oregon Spectator, Oregon City, September 2, 1853, page 2 Further from the Indian War.
We are indebted to Cram, Rogers & Co., and Rhodes &
Lusk, for the Mountain
Herald of 27th Aug., containing the latest advices from
the seat of war.
On the 21st inst., a party of Indians surprised a party of whites who had in their possession some seven or eight prisoners, and killed one man, besides wounding two mortally and three seriously. Mr. Gibbs, of the Mountain House, is mortally wounded. Mr. Carroll, of Yreka, is one of the gentlemen wounded. Also an emigrant who had just arrived with his family from Burlington, Iowa, was shot while sleeping under his wagon; he has since died. Another emigrant by the name of Smith, while lying under his wagon asleep, was shot dead with ten rifle balls. Three other men were wounded severely. None of the Indians were killed. Gen. Joe Lane arrived at headquarters on the 20th with fifteen men. Col. Alden had prevailed on him to take command of the forces and march in pursuit of the Indians. We gather this information from a correspondence of the Herald. Shasta
Courier,
Shasta, California, September 3, 1853, page 3
Still Later.
We are informed by Mr. Horsley, Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express
messenger, that John D. Colden, messenger from Col. Alden, arrived in
Yreka just before he left, bearing the intelligence that Col. Alden was
yet alive, although in an extremely critical condition. He was shot
with a half-ounce ball while stooping behind a log just in the act of
firing at an Indian. The ball entered his neck near the jugular vein
and came out just below the arm on the opposite side of his body,
inflicting a ghastly wound of sufficient size to enable a man to thrust
two fingers into it. Just about the time he fell the old chief Sam
stepped out and proposed a parley with the "Big Boston," when another
gentleman was sent to him in place of the Colonel. The result of this
talk was that some dozen of the whites were permitted to enter the
Indian camp, where they observed the dead bodies of twelve Indians
piled up ready to be burned. The Indians asked to make a treaty, and
the whites had agreed to meet at Table Rock in a few days and talk over
the matter. The probability was that on that day either a treaty would
be formed or a general battle fought.
Some of Sam's Indians packed Col. Alden some sixty miles from the battle ground, and within twelve miles of Jacksonville, where he now lies. Shasta
Courier,
Shasta, California, September 3, 1853, page 3 Jacksonville is about
thirty-five miles by trail from the battle site.
We are informed by Mr. Horsley, of Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express, that two companies of infantry from Benicia left Shasta City for Rogue River Valley on Monday last--one of which, Lt. Bates' company, is detained near the Tower House, on account of the sickness of several of the soldiers. The other company, under the command of Col. Wright, he passed at the foot of the Trinity Mountain on the south side. They will probably arrive at Fort Jones on Sunday next, where it is thought they will recruit a few days and then proceed to Rogue River Valley. Mountain Herald, Yreka, September 17, 1853, page 2 MOVEMENTS AMONG THE TROOPS.--Col. Wright, who passed through this place some weeks since, in command of a battalion of infantry, on his way to the seat of Indian difficulties in Rogue River Valley, returned to this place on Wednesday last. Col. Wright and command did not have an opportunity of participating in any of the skirmishes which took place before the ratification of the late treaty. He had, however, an opportunity of seeing the principal chiefs, and from his observations, is of the opinion that no more difficulties will occur this fall or winter with the Indians. For the more perfect security of the settlers in that quarter, a post was established in the vicinity of Table Rock, in Rogue River Valley. There will, therefore, be a sufficient number of troops in the North this winter to meet any emergency. The health of the troops is uniformly good. Col. Wright is of the opinion that nearly all the immigrants have arrived who intend coming in.on the Yreka trail this year, and that the removal of the troops will consequently be productive of no evil consequences. The encampment of Lieut. Bates, in the vicinity of Tower's House, has been broken up, and he passed through this place on Wednesday last, on his way to Fort Reading. Shasta Courier, Shasta City, California, October 8, 1853, page 2 Further Items from Oregon.
MATTERS SOUTH.--The
Indian difficulties have ceased, and matters have again resumed their
usual course. Four companies of U.S. infantry have been
retained in the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, to prevent further
aggression on the part of either whites or Indians, for it appears a
few of the latter are inclined to be bloodthirsty. "Joe,” the
head chief of the Rogue River Indians, has delivered up his son to
General Lane, as a hostage of the good conduct of his people and the
observance of the treaty. The General carries the lad with him to
Washington, and will bring him back on his return. He is about 16 years
of age and of a sprightly, intelligent appearance, and seems to know
that he ranks above the “vulgar crowd” of the
“red men.”--Portland Com.THE COST OF THE WAR, AND THE COST OF EXTERMINATION.--The expense of the recent Indian difficulties south, as estimated by the board of commissioners appointed .by the people there, amounts to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The expense was full seven thousand dollars per day. Supplies for the men had to be purchased there, and at the most enormous rates. Experienced Indian fighters estimate that it would take two years to exterminate those Indians. The enormous amount of money necessary for the work can be calculated, but the loss of valuable lives cannot be. Gen. Lane says the only way to fight them is to go prepared to lose men and rush upon them in their hiding places, and shoot them from behind logs, rocks, and trees. In doing this the loss of lives is inevitable.--Ibid. San Joaquin Republican, Stockton, California, October 29, 1853, page 2 Crossing another height of land, you pass from Scott's into the Shasta Valley, which is of greater extent, but not nearly as fertile as the former. In this valley is situated the flourishing town of Yreka, which is one of the most considerable mining towns of Northern California, and the diggings hereabout are quite rich, but are not much worked at this season, on account of the weather. Here, too, the greatest excitement prevails in regard to the Indians, although no outbreak has as yet taken place, and, owing to the small number of Indians (not more than thirty or forty), there probably will be none. A company of mounted men, however, are constantly engaged in scouring the country adjacent, and another had been dispatched to the aid of the Rogue River settlements, where the danger is really great. In fact, not long after leaving the Yreka [sic], on my way there, I met a couple of men riding furiously, from whom I learned that a house had been attacked the same morning, and five or six men killed or severely wounded, and they were on the way to seek medical assistance for them. Not long after leaving them, I came to the base of the Siskiyou Mountains, which are the boundary between California and Oregon, and crossing which you find yourself in the Rogue River country, and in the midst of the hostile Indians. I halted a day here, in hopes of finding some companionship across the mountains, but as none came, I took my way across on foot and alone. It is a lonely place enough, for about twelve miles without any houses, and many places where the Indians, securely ambushed, might destroy almost any number without even being seen. I experienced no molestation, however, and made my way into the valley of the Rogue River at the expense of only a slight trepidation when the bushes were moved by some wild animals, as I invaded their domains. A little way down the valley was the house which had been attacked. The attack was made at daybreak, according to the usual practice of the Indians. Two emigrant wagons were encamped by the river. The men, three in number, were asleep under the wagons, and all were killed, or so badly wounded that they did not long survive. [One of them was apparently a Hugh Smith.] The women and children in the wagons were not hurt, although the tops of the wagons were riddled with balls and arrows. Certainly it was a hard fate, after escaping all the danger of their long travel, so to perish on the soil they had come far to seek. As the people here were shorthanded and naturally much alarmed, I stopped with them a few days and assisted them to keep guard, but the Indians offering no further molestation, I continued on to Jacksonville, distant five or six hundred miles from San Francisco, and which is the last of the mining towns, although the mining region extends to the north considerably further--in truth, it is not at all certain as yet where it stops. Jacksonville is the depot of the Rogue River Valley, in which there are rich mining claims, as well as great agricultural resources, and bids fair to become a place of considerable importance. The camp where the troops, numbering some three thousand [sic], who were engaged in the war, was about ten miles from Jacksonville, under command of Gen. Lane, and I walked down there one day and stopped overnight, to see how the "boys" got on. I remained here all night, and had a fine time of it, with the canopy of heaven for a covering, but the hardy miner-soldiers made but little account of it, and the bright sun of the morning soon put all to rights. There had been an engagement a day or two before, in which the whites, engaging at a great disadvantage, were rather worsted. Capt. Alden, United States army, was very badly wounded in this engagement, by a wound in the neck, and Gen. Wool [sic] was wounded slightly in the arm. The Indians are very well armed, and have shown a good deal of shrewdness in carrying on the war, but they have committed many barbarities, and from the spirit which is aroused, they can hardly fail to receive a summary chastisement. Finding the war in status quo, on account of a proposed treaty with the Indians, and mining pursuits altogether interrupted, as well as all others, I resolved to push across Oregon to Portland, and thence again to San Francisco. Traveling in that direction was considered extremely dangerous, and I received many warnings to the effect that I could hardly cross it unharmed, but, as I had made up my mind to cross at all events, I set out composedly enough from Jacksonville on foot, alone and unarmed, as I had come already some two hundred miles. Parties of men whom I met, armed to the teeth, evinced great astonishment on meeting me, and one southerly gentleman assured me, with a confidential air, "that it wasn't a good idee." However, I "calculated" as, being a Yankee, I had a right to do [it], that with a less party than twenty or thirty men I was full as safe in this way as to travel mounted and armed in parties of from two to five, as more men have been cut off so than in any other way--the arms and horses being great temptations for attacking, and the number too small for effective defense. At any rate I passed through the dreaded section of about sixty miles without molestation, although there are certainly a good many places, which, with the aid of the many stories told you of Indian murders, were strongly adapted to put one's nerves to the test. Letter of September 21, 1853, New York Herald, November 9, 1853, page 6 Canyonville,
Douglas Co.,
Dear
Bush:--The company under
Major Alvord and Capt. Applegate are just passing through the Canyon.
This is the third company that has gone to the seat of war from this
vicinity, viz., Gen. Lane's of 18 men (by Table Rock Road), Capt.
Martin's of 10 men, via Canyon, and Capt. Applegate's of 20 men. There
are now in the field from 350 to 400 men. I have just heard of an
engagement which Gen. Lane had with the Indians a few days since near
Table Rock. The Indians number about 300 and the whites 200. The
Indians were defeated but with what loss the rumors differ. No lives
lost upon the part of the whites; a few were slightly wounded. About 6
or 8 days since a company of 21 men from Yreka were surprised upon
Evans Creek by the Indians, and lost 5 men in killed and 4 wounded, 18
animals and many revolvers and other arms. On the 24th a company which
has been stationed at Bates' on Grave Creek surprised a party of
Indians in the mountains and killed 6 of their number. These are all
the reliable rumors that I have time to relate at present. The
particulars of the different engagements I will give you as soon as I
can obtain reliable information.Aug. 26th, 1853. There are a thousand rumors afloat, the majority of which are unfounded. The Indians did not attack nor burn Jacksonville. Nor did Gen. Lane shoot or hang any friendly Indians in South Umpqua Valley as has been maliciously reported. There are no two opinions alike in regard to the duration of the war. I think that the Indians will divide into small parties and fight whenever a good opportunity presents until they are exterminated. Timon.
Oregon Statesman, Salem,
September 6, 1853, page 2Latest from the Indian War.
Severe Battles of Several Hours Duration--Nine Men Killed-- Nine Wounded, Two Dangerously--Gen. Lane and Col. Alden Among the Wounded--Pleasant Armstrong, of Yamhill County Shot Through the Heart--Armistice Agreed Upon--Letters from Gens. Palmer and Lane, Esq., T'Vault and Capt. Nesmith.
A messenger, dispatched by Capt. Nesmith, arrived here Friday night,
bringing important news from Rogue River. Two severe engagements have
taken place between the Indians and the whites, in which nine of the
latter were killed, and nine wounded--some of them dangerously. Among
the wounded are Gen. Lane and Col. Alden, U.S. Army. Among the killed
we notice the name of Capt. Armstrong, of Yamhill County. A full
account of the battles, and the subsequent action of parties, will be
found in the letters which we publish below:
Yoncalla,
August 31st, 1853.
Oregon Statesman, Salem,
September 6, 1853, page 2
Dear
Bush:--Enclosed find a letter to your address and one to me from
General Lane, which you are at liberty to publish if you deem it proper
to do so. Mr. Nicholas brought the express to this place where he met
Agent Culver, and after depositing letters in the post office returned
this morning. I arrived here at 12, and have taken the letters from the
post office, and send by Mr. Jacobs as messenger.
Capt. Nesmith with a part of his command are encamped for the night awaiting the arrival of Lieut. Kautz with field piece. Lieut. Grover has been ordered to proceed without delay to Jacksonville with ammunition. I shall start in half an hour and endeavor to reach Table Rock by the expiration of the seven days mentioned in Gen. Lane's letter. In haste, yours, JOEL PALMER, Superintendent. ----
Mountain Camp, Aug.
25, 1853.
Gen. Joel Palmer, Super't. Ind. Affairs
Sir:--Yesterday myself and the men under my command had a fight of four hours with the Rogue River Indians, in the most dense forest in this part of the country. Our loss was three killed and four wounded. Those dead are Capt. Armstrong of your county, a Mr. ---- and Francis Bradley. Those wounded are Col. Alden, dangerously, Charles Abbe, do., and Wm. Fisher, badly, Thos. Hays, shot through the arm, and myself, shot through the shoulder. There were 8 Indians killed and about 20 wounded. In the afternoon a proposition came from the enemy for a parley, which was granted, they being in such a position that they could not be dislodged without the loss of a great many men. Today we have arranged terms with them, and have agreed to meet them at Table Rock in seven days from today, to make a general treaty, and your presence is imperatively required as soon as possible. You must not delay one moment in coming, as it is perfectly safe traveling now, and I wish you to bring a sub-agent to remain here, as the presence of an agent is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of friendly relations with the Indians. I will remain here until you arrive. Your ob't. servant, JOSEPH LANE. ----
Mountain Camp, Aug.
26, 1853.
Mr. Bush--Dear Sir:--I have to inform
you of the
melancholy news which at this time pervades the entire settlements of
Rogue River; that is
war with all its horrors, between
the whites and the combined Indian tribes of Southern Oregon and
Northern California. You have, no doubt, ere this been informed of the
Indian depredations up to the murder of Dr. Rose and John R. Hardin.
Since that time many of the first men of our country have fallen either
by assassination or in open battle. Time and opportunity will not
permit me to enter into detail of the many smaller depredations
committed by these savages--suffice it to say that for craftiness and
bravery, they are equal to the Florida Indians, and their mode of war
very similar, using the canyons in the mountains instead of the Florida
hammocks.Sam, the great war chief, with Joe, the civil chief, and Jim, a chief of smaller grade, took a position five or six miles north of Table Rock, in a canyon of dense brush. There they reported that they intended to give battle to our forces under the command of Col. John Ross and Capt. Alden, of the U.S.A. About the 15th August, the forces proceeded to the Indian camp to give them battle, sending an independent detachment under Capt. H. Elliff in their rear to bring on the attack while the main force was to charge them in front. But when they arrived, the Indians were nowhere to be found, having moved their camp several days before. 1st. Lieut. Ely of Capt. Goodall's company, from Yreka, was sent in search of the Indian camp, and the main force returned to headquarters on Stuart's Creek, for the purpose of obtaining supplies to pursue the Indians into the mountains. On the morning of the 17th Lieut. Ely, with 22 men, discovered the Indian camp, some 10 miles north of their former camp, upon the right-hand creek called Evans Creek. We immediately fell back some two or three miles to an open prairie interspersed with small washed gullies and branches of willows and sent two men as an express to headquarters, remaining with 20 men to await the arrival of a sufficient force to attack the Indians; the Indians in the meantime, availing themselves of the advantages of the gullies and brush, crawled up and commenced an attack at a distance of a few yards, say 20 or 30, killing two men at their first fire and causing the small force to make a precipitate retreat to a ridge covered with pine trees, a distance of 250 yards, when they took a position covered in the rear by elevated ground and prairie in front. The Indians flanked and very near if not quite surrounded them. The men were brave and most valiantly sustained their position for three hours and fifteen minutes, when J. D. Carly, Esq., of Yreka, arrived with five other men, in advance of the main force. The Indians, seeing this new arrival, immediately took to flight, carrying off 18 horses and mules with their caparisons together with blankets and camp equipage. The loss on our side was, killed, J. Shane, P. Keath [Isham P. Keith?], Frank Perry, A. Douglass, A. C. Colburn, and L. Lockting [Stocktirz?]. Wounded--1st Lieut. Ely, shot through the wrist, John Albin, James Carroll, and Zebulon Schutz, all slightly. The entire forces in the field again returned to headquarters on Stuart's Creek, to complete their supplies. On the morning of the 21st inst., Gen. Jo Lane arrived at headquarters and joined the army under the command of brevet Col. Alden and Col. Ross, and on Monday morning by sunrise the whole force was en route, the battalion under Col. Ross, consisting of Capts. Miller and Lamerick's company, going down Rogue River and then up Evans Creek till they found the trail of Sam and Joe, or until they met with the battalion of Col. Alden, consisting of the companies of Capts. Goodall and Rhodes, which marched in the direction of the battleground of Lieut. Ely. The orders were that which attachment found the main Indian trail was to pursue it, and the other follow on when they came up, if they did not meet before finding the trail. Gen. Lane and myself joined Col. Alden's command, and late in the evening we found that the Indian trail had taken to the mountains in a north direction from Evans Creek. Tuesday morning we made an early start, pursued the trail all day, passing over the most difficult mountains, as they were barely "passable, not practicable" to pass. Tuesday night we tied our animals to brush with grass, and Wednesday morning was in early march on the Indian trail, ascending a high mountain. Passing along the summit four or five miles, we heard the Indians a short distance ahead in a ravine, at a distance of about six hundred yards. The order was instantly given to dismount, and Col. Alden, with Capt. Goodall and about thirty of his company, proceeded down the Indian trail to attack them in front. Capt. Rhodes, with some fifteen or twenty men, was sent down a ridge to the left, to attack them on the left and prevent an escape down the canyon. In a few minutes the Indians fired on Col. Alden when within some 30 yards of the camp, and the battle commenced, raging with much fury. Col. Alden was badly wounded the first fire, also Pleasant Armstrong, of Yamhill, was shot through the breast, exclaiming as he fell--"a dead center shot." The battle continued raging with great fury, the yells of the Indians, the howling of dogs and the sharp continuous crack of the rifles lasted about one hour, when our pack train arrived and furnishing ten men more, Gen. Lane at the head of those ten, followed down the trail to the battleground, and with brave determination, ordered a charge, leading himself. When he arrived near the camp he received a wound through the right arm. The battle continued for about four hours, and the Indians called for quarter, or a parley. When finding that Gen. Lane was there, they insisted on his coming into their camp. The old hero, although pretty badly wounded, and suffering much, immediately went into the Indian camp (or fortifications, for it was represented to be a stronger place to charge than "Chapultepec") and had a talk with Sam, Joe and Jim. An armistice was agreed upon for a short time. We buried our dead, and in a short time Col. Ross with his command arrived, and a general treaty was talked of, and an armistice with Joe and Sam was agreed upon for seven days, at which time they were to meet Gen. Lane and give up their rifles. Our loss in battle was three killed on the ground--Pleasant Armstrong, F. Bradley, one name not known. Wounded, Col. Alden, Gen. Lane, ---- Hays and two names not known. The Indians say 12 killed dead, and 20 wounded--most all mortally. Much talk of a continuous war, and many are anxious for peace. If there is not peace Rogue River will be the grave and resting place of many a brave and good man. The best men generally are the first to fall, and the most clamorous for extermination are not the most interested, yet many good men go for a war of extermination. On the 25th, I am informed that the Indians attacked Wm. Dunn's house, in the south part of the valley, killed three men, wounded two or three, robbed the house, burnt the hay and grain. On the same day they attacked a pack train, killed 2 men, wounded 2, and captured 2 animals and cargo. This was on Applegate Creek. I will have to give you more anon. W. G.
T'VAULT.
----
Camp at Applegate's,
To His Excellency G.
L. Curry, Gov. of
Oregon.August 31st, 1853. Dear sir:--I arrived here this evening, and am now waiting for Lieut. Kautz to come up with the howitzer and ammunition. Owing to a heavy rain which fell last night and this morning, the roads are so slippery over the mountain that travel is difficult. I found that the detention would be so great in escorting the Lieut. and party that I concluded to send a party with the pack trains, loaded with ammunition in advance, and accordingly dispatched Lieut. Grover with 20 men yesterday morning. They will proceed with dispatch to Jacksonville. I have 40 volunteers with me. From the tenor of Gen. Lane's letter to Gen. Palmer I am inclined to think that the difficulties will be settled before we can arrive at the seat of war with the howitzer and ammunition. In that event I shall order back the most of my company, and proceed myself with a few men sufficient to get the munitions through. Present indications would not warrant the sending of a larger force to the scene of war. I will write again from Winchester or the Kenyon. In haste, very truly yours, J. W. NESMITH Capt. Comm'd'g. detachment volunteers. P.S. At the request of Gen. Palmer I send Mr. Goff express. J.W.N. A correspondent of the Commercial, writing from Jacksonville, Sept. 29, says: "The war is supposed to be over--a treaty of peace has been made with the Indians, but it is difficult to surmise how long it will last. The Indians, in fair fighting, have had the advantage, and have astonished all by their bravery and skill. The Indians of this valley are cunning and dauntless--a rifle in their hands is a most formidable weapon, and they fear not to use it whenever circumstances require it. Many of the citizens are dissatisfied with .Gen. Lane for having made a treaty so soon with the enemy, but the less rowdy and sanguinary portion of the community are highly pleased with it, and are anxious to exert their influence to have all the conditions of it faithfully fulfilled. Gen. Lane has acted a noble part. Like all brave men, his valor is tempered with clemency and moderation, and his name is so respected even among the hostile tribes, that I believe, except in actual fight, he may travel unmolested through their country alone, and without arms." Indiana Free Democrat, Indianapolis, December 15, 1853, page 3 From the South.
THE INDIAN HOSTILITIES.
Through Messrs.
Burget and Rhinehart, who have just arrived from the seat of war, we
are in possession of the following information. They left Jacksonville
on Sunday, August 21st, at 12 o'clock.
They report that there had been some 12 or 15 white men killed, and some 8 or 10 wounded. There were about 100 Rogue River Indians well armed. They had abandoned their position at Table Rock--and had retired some fifteen miles from that point to Evans Creek, at which point they had a battle with the whites which lasted over three hours, in which five whites were killed and five wounded. The Indians left the ground. Gen. Lane arrived at Jacksonville with 25 men on Saturday evening, the 20th of August, without any opposition in passing the Kanyon. He immediately proceeded to Capt. Alden's encampment near Table Rock. Judge Skinner had not been killed at the time our informants left--so the thousand rumors of his being killed is as false as those about Gen. Lane being killed. It was the general opinion that the Indians would be soon exterminated. There were supposed to be about three hundred hostile Indians. There was but few Indians near Jacksonville, and they were lurking among the hills. They think that the war will be terminated soon. The general cry is extermination to the Indians. They met the volunteer company under Capt. Nesmith in charge of the munitions of war about fifteen miles the other side of Marysville, on Monday last. There was no scarcity of provisions at Jacksonville. Maj. Mosher had been shot through the knee by the accidental discharge of his pistol. P.S.--Mr. Backus from Marysville informs us that he saw the mail carrier from Jacksonville on Tuesday night. He reports that Gen. Lane with 100 men gave the Indians a fight, but their ammunition giving out, they retired to Jacksonville with the loss of one man. Capt. Nesmith's company was near the Kanyon with the supplies. The Indians he reports in good heart, and it is thought that a fair field fight could be got out of them. Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, September 3, 1853, page 2 Later from the Indian War!
GEN. LANE WOUNDED IN THE SHOULDER. CAPT. ALDEN DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED!! INDIANS BEATEN IN TWO BATTLES! PROSPECT OF A PEACE!! Correspondence of the Oregon Weekly Times. Jacksonville,
Aug. 26
Friend
Waterman:--I take advantage of a private express to send you a hasty
account of the Indian difficulties in this valley, which were much more
serious than I anticipated when I wrote you last. The rising of the
Indians was general, and it was intended, no doubt, to make a
simultaneous attack upon the inhabitants of this and the surrounding
valleys, and massacre them all before they could prepare for their
defense. The murders of Edwards on the 4th, Wills on the 5th, and Nolan
on the 6th, in the immediate vicinity of this place, together with the
fact that all the Indians left the town after the first murder was
committed, aroused the people to a sense of their danger. A dispatch
was immediately sent to Fort Jones in Scotts Valley for arms, of which
there was a great deficiency, many having been sold no doubt to the
Indians, who were found to be well armed and supplied with ammunition.
The commanding officer (Capt. Alden, 4th U.S. Infantry) immediately
came with ten soldiers, all that were able for duty, and thirty stand
of arms. He proceeded at once to appoint a commission of Indian affairs
for southern Oregon. The commissioners are L. A. Davis, George Dart,
Richard Dugan and Dr. Ed Sheil. He then proceeded to muster into
service the volunteers. They were composed of Capt. Miller's company of
Oregon volunteers--80 men, Capt. Goodall's company of Yreka
volunteers--90 men, Capt. Lamerick's company of this place--40 men,
Capt. Elliff's--25 men, and Capt. Rhodes' company from Humbug--30 men,
under command of Col. John Ross of this place.
The commissioners at once entered upon the discharge of their duty. Charles S. Drew was appointed quartermaster, and measures [were] promptly taken for a vigorous prosecution of the war. On the 11th Lt. Griffin of Capt. Miller's company, with 25 men attacked a body of Indians on the east fork of Applegate Creek, and forced them to retreat. The whites had one man (Geo. Anderson) severely wounded. In the evening of the same day, John R. Hardin and Dr. W. R. Rose were shot as they were riding along the road in the Rogue River Valley. Rose was instantly killed, and Hardin died a few days after. The next day Lt. Griffin went down Applegate Creek to look for the Indians, and fell into an ambuscade and was forced to retreat with the loss of one man (Frank Garrett) killed, and Lt. Griffin wounded in the leg. Reinforcements having arrived, the Indians were pursued on the following day but had made their escape. The troops then returned to their headquarters about nine miles from here in the Rogue River Valley, from which place they were sent out in small parties towards and beyond Rogue River. It was supposed that the Indians were divided into small parties, and news of their depredations reached us from all quarters daily. The farmers were compelled to come into town for security, or collect a number in one house which they turned into a fort, and keep constantly on their guard, leaving their crops, the fruit of their whole year's labor, at the mercy of the Indians. A large amount of grain and many houses have been burned, and stock killed or driven away. The damage done by them cannot be less than a hundred thousand dollars. The miners have been compelled to quit work, and many of them were without means to support themselves beyond a short time. After the troops were withdrawn from Applegate the Indians surprised a camp of the miners, and fired one volley and ran. They killed two men (John N. Davis and Asa Prickett) and wounded one other, not dangerously. On the 17th, Lt. Ely of Capt. Goodall's company, with 20 men, came upon the Indians, about 150 in number, on Evans Creek on the north side of Rogue River; the Indians surrounded them, but they fought nobly for more than three hours, until the arrival of reinforcements forced the Indians to retire. They lost five men killed and three wounded; the killed were Isham P. Keith, Albert Douglass of Ohio, Asa Colburn, Frank Perry and L. Stockling. The Indians retired and the troops were compelled to return to headquarters for provisions. On the evening of the 20th, Gen. Lane arrived at headquarters with 18 men. The news reached him at his farm on the Umpqua at 12 o'clock at night. With his usual promptness he was in the saddle at daylight, and with what men he could collect on the moment he hastened to the scene of action. At the request of Capt. Alden the General assumed the command, and on the 22nd at two o'clock a.m. the whole force started to the mountains in pursuit of the Indians. At daylight on the 22nd the Indians attacked a house on the road to Yreka, killed three men and wounded three. Two of the killed were immigrants who had crossed the plains this year, whose names I could not learn, the other was [John] Gibbs, who kept the Mountain House. On yesterday the Indians fired into a Mexican mule train coming from Crescent City, on Applegate, wounded three men slightly and killed two mules. Today we have just heard from Gen. Lane. He came upon the main body of the Indians, about 250 in number, under the command of the chiefs Joe, Sam and Jim, far up in the mountains, where they thought themselves safe from pursuit. They surprised the Indians and fought for two or three hours until they cried for a talk; they ceased firing and the Indians agreed to give up their arms and all the captured property and cease hostilities. A truce was agreed to, and the Indians are to come to Table Rock in six days and conclude a treaty of peace. If this is done the war is at an end. There are men here who are not satisfied with the result, but insist upon extermination. I think however that this would be more difficult than anticipated, and that all will coincide in the good policy of a treaty that secures the immediate safety of the valley. The whites lost three men killed, [Pleasant] Armstrong of Yamhill, Frank Bradley and [John] Scarborough of Yreka, and five wounded. Gen. Lane was shot through the right arm just below the shoulder joint, a severe but not a dangerous wound. Capt. Alden is dangerously wounded, a bullet entering on the side of his neck and passing out below his shoulder blade. The Indians had 12 killed and about 30 wounded in the last fight, and eight killed, 12 wounded, on Evans Creek. I hope in my next to be able to assure you that the war is finally disposed of and labor resumed. My wound is nearly well, and I shall be able to walk without crutches in a few days. Yours truly,
P.S.--Capt. Owens has just come in and
reports
having killed six Indians and wounded two more, without loss on his
part. M.L. F. MOSHER. Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, September 10, 1853, page 2 From the North.
Shasta
Courier,
Shasta, California, September 10, 1853, page
3
We are indebted to "Rhodes & Lusk" for the Herald of the 3rd
inst. It contains no later news of any great importance from the seat
of war in Rogue River Valley.
Lieut. Tho. Frazelle and James Mungo, a half-breed, were shot dead by the Indians near Long's Ferry on the 27th ult. A correspondent of the Herald, writing from Jacksonville on the 29th, says: Col. B. R. Alden, and some of the other men wounded in the last battle, reached town yesterday. The Colonel is doing well and in fine spirits, and I am happy to learn that his wound is not considered dangerous. Gen. Lane and the other wounded soldiers are also doing well. We understand that the company of Klickitat Indians, expected for some days, had arrived at Jacksonville, and announced themselves ready to fight the Rogues. The citizens of Yreka and Shasta Valley have entered into a treaty with the Shasta tribes, by which all the differences between the two parties have been amicably adjusted. The articulations of the treaty, according to the Herald, are substantially as follows: The Indians are to give up all their firearms and ammunition; return the stock stolen from Mr. Price's farm, and to pay for the mule killed at the above place. They are to have the privilege of remaining in this, or of removing to Scott Valley during the excitement in the Rogue River country, and when those of the tribe who are fighting against the whites in Rogue River Valley shall return, they are to be given up to the whites, who shall treat them as the merits of the case may seem to deserve. When the Indians shall have complied with the above stipulations, the horses taken from them during the skirmish on Shasta River are to be returned, or an equivalent of the same. Still Later from Rogue River.
A slip from the Mountain
Herald informs
us that the Yreka volunteers have returned from fighting the Rogue
River Indians, having effected a treaty with them, and that they are
giving up their guns and ammunition.Jacksonville, Sept.
12, 1853.
EDITORS HERALD:
Knowing that everything appertaining
to the Indian difficulties in this quarter must interest your readers,
I thought in the absence of other employment, before leaving myself, I
would drop you a few lines for old acquaintance' sake.Well, at last the treaty is made, and the Indians are to be paid $60,000 for the land on this side of Rogue River, and $15,000 of the same is to be withheld and appropriated as an indemnification for some of the citizens of the valley. This treaty, as you are probably aware, has in its present form been pending some four or five days, and as your readers know the particulars of this so-called Rogue River war as well as your humble servant, I shall not attempt to revive the past, for it is neither pleasing nor flattering. A treaty has been made; and that it was absolutely necessary under existing circumstances no one will attempt to deny. But the general policy pursued previous to its final consummation is very unsatisfactory, and almost universally condemned. After the last battle, in which Gen. Lane and Capt. Alden were wounded, the Indians were allowed an armistice of seven days, at the end of which time they were to come in and made peace. If they did not do so, they were threatened with the most dreadful consequences. Instead of their coming in at the time appointed, it was the twenty-second or third day before a sufficient number of them could be prevailed on to come in. But they have come at last, and have agreed to remain on the other side of the river, except when permitted to cross by the Indian agent, who is to reside with them. Tipsy's band is still at large, and have thus far refused all overtures. They are still committing their depredations with impunity. As yet but few guns have been brought in, and some $200 in money. They have made no stipulations, however, for the surrender of any prisoners, and common justice cannot otherwise be satisfied for the murder of some of our most valuable citizens! Five hundred men lay idle and inactive for twelve or fourteen days after the armistice had expired; and it was for this reason that the volunteers of your own city, as also the Humbug and Crescent City companies, became dissatisfied and asked or demanded their discharge. They came to act, and not tamely to wait the convenience of a parcel of savages who had repeatedly violated their word, broken their treaties, murdered our citizens and stolen or destroyed our property as fast as their devilish ingenuity could devise; and let those who wish to vindicate the Indian character, and more particularly the conduct of the Rogue River Indians and their confederates, do so as much as they please, and find all the extenuation they can; but they should not close their eyes to the fact that the Indians have been for several months preparing for the fatal demonstration they have made. Capt. Terry and company asked for and received their discharge before the ratification of the treaty. They left in high dudgeon, declaring their unanimous disapprobation of everything. The hospital is still crowded with the sick and wounded. Through the streets may be seen men carrying their arms in splints and bandages; while others seem to be materially assisted in locomotion by the use of crutches. Two deaths in private families, from consumption, have transpired with an interval of only two days. To say that the town is dull, money scarce and business nearly stagnant, is only to convey a feeble idea of its general appearance. Merchants, farmers, mechanics and miners have no better employment as yet than to contest the point as to who have suffered the most by the Rogue River war. In a day or two I leave for the coast, and hope to be with you again in the course of three or four weeks, and enjoy the rights and privileges of a Yreka citizen. Truly
yours, C.
Supplement to the Mountain
Herald, Yreka, September 17, 1853From the Seat of War.
From Mr. Avery of Marysville, we learn later news from the Indian
difficulties. He had seen and conversed with Mr. Foster, who arrived
from there in seven days. The chiefs, Sam and Joe, were disposed to
make peace, but nothing definite had been concluded upon when he left.
The Superintendent, Gen. Palmer, was there and also Gen. Lane. Joe has
always been favorable to a peace.
The tribe of Indians on Lower Rogue River, led by their chief, Taylor, are yet hostile--and there are circumstances existing at present which precludes a prospect of any immediate treaty with them. They had recently fallen upon a party of whites and killed three of them. Capt. Alden it was thought would recover from his wound--though he was not yet out of danger. Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, September 17, 1853, page 2 To Wells, Fargo & Co. we are indebted for an early delivery of the Mountain Herald. From it we take the following matters of news. TREATY.--PROBABLE CONCLUSION OF PEACE WITH THE ROGUE RIVER INDIANS.--To Mr. Joseph Rogers, of the Express, we are indebted for the following information from Rogue River, up to Wednesday last, the 6th inst. On Sunday last the chiefs Joe, Sam and Jim, agreed that their respective tribes should give up all their arms and ammunition, with the exception of a few guns, which were to be retained for hunting purposes--to remove out of the valley, to sell their lands to government, and pay all damages done the whites out of the proceeds thereof; and to give over to the whites the Indians of their respective tribes who committed depredations before the war. The whites, on their part, agreed to conclude the treaty of peace as soon as the stipulations on the part of the Indians were complied with. Up to the time our informant left, but few arms had been brought in. The chiefs, then at the headquarters, said that they had no control over the Applegates and old Tipsy's tribe, and consequently could not be answerable for their conduct. It was thought that the Applegate Indians would treat. Daily Evening Herald, Marysville, California, September 17, 1853, page 2 On the 1st inst., the ladies of Yreka presented.through their captains, Goodall and Rhodes, two elegantly wrought flags to the Yreka and Humbug companies of mounted volunteers. The presentation was made by Gen. Lane at Camp Alden. This was a most worthy and appropriate tribute to the gallantry of those brave volunteers. "None but the brave deserve the fair.'' Marysville Daily Herald, Marysville, California, September 19, 1853, page 2 Headquarters
Camp Alden,
September 5, 1853. General Order.
Capt.
Goodall, of the Yreka
Volunteers, and Capt. Rhodes, of the Humbug Volunteers, will march
their respective commands to Yreka today, where they will muster them
out of the service of the United States.In taking leave of these troops,the General commanding takes occasion to testify his admiration of their courage and general good conduct while in the service.
JOS. LANE, Gen. Commanding.
Oregon
Weekly Times, Portland,
October 15, 1853, page 2The Oregonian speaks thus of the Rogue River war, not having received the news of its termination: "If, however, it should turn out that our surmisings are incorrect, and that the many reports which have been in circulation are not exaggerated, it is easy to foretell the end of this war. The whole Indian race in Southern Oregon will be exterminated. Indeed, this seems to be the only alternative left. Self-styled philanthropists at a distance may prate about the cruelty and wickedness of such a course, but were they in the situation of our citizens--subjected to the ruthless band of savages--they too, would be in favor of exterminating the race. Treaty stipulations amount to nothing with these Indians; their most solemn pledges are disregarded whenever the opportunity to plunder presents itself. Therefore, one course only is left to the whites, and that course will inevitably be adopted. We shall endeavor to keep our readers well posted up with the acts, connected with the war as it progresses." Extermination of the Grave Creek
Indians.
"Messrs. Adams and McCormick, who arrived here a day or two since, gave
us the following information relative to the Grave Creek Indians. They
state that two weeks last Wednesday four Indians were got into Mr. Bates'
house, but as yet the women and three others had not yet come
in. The
whites waited till the rest of the Indians came up. Mr. Owens was
there with a guard to protect the United States mail. When the other
Indians
came in Mr. J. H. McCormick was ordered to take charge of the armed
white men, four in number, outside. It was ordered that no firing be
done till near enough to make sure shots. The chief and three others
were in Bates' house, in charge of Mr. Charles Adams. Mr. McCormick's
attack was to be the signal for Adams inside. When the outside signal
was given Adams shot a noted Indian named John. Mr. Thos. Frazelle
shot at the chief, wounding him. The chief sprang at him with a shovel,
aiming at his head, but was warded off, giving a dangerous wound in the
hand. The chief then gathered in and threw him, when Adams put two
balls through him and he expired. Capt. Owens came in, when an Indian
sprang upon and threw him. While down Mr. Adams put two balls through
him and he expired. In the melee Owens received two balls through his
hat.The question then arose whether the squaws and children should be put to death. Through Messrs. Adams and McCormick's exertions they were unharmed. The only one left of the male race of this tribe is a young lad some eight or ten years old, a very bright and intelligent boy, whom they brought to this place with them.--Oregonian. "From Oregon," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, September 19, 1853, page 2 LATER FROM THE SCENE OF INDIAN DISTURBANCES AT THE NORTH! The Mountain Herald of the 10th informs us that on the 24th ult. Messrs. Johnson & Wilson, packers, were attacked by the Indians at a camp on the Redwood Mountain, Trinity trail, some 20 miles from Humboldt Bay. Mr. J. was killed, and Mr. Wilson severely wounded by arrow shots. The ladies of Yreka have presented a beautiful banner to the Yreka and Humbug volunteers. Gen. Joe Lane presented it on behalf of the ladies, accompanied with appropriate remarks. On Wednesday last the Indians destroyed a house, haystack and other property, four miles from Jacksonville, near Griffith's [Griffin's?] ranch, belonging to a Mr. Moserett, a Frenchman. The whites went out, on the day appointed, to meet the Indians and conclude the treaty. But three wild Indians made their appearance who said that the following day was the one appointed--that the whites had made a mistake of one day. So says report--nothing official is yet received from headquarters. Two companies (Capts. Owens' and Terry's) were sent, on Wednesday evening, to Applegate Creek. It is rumored that Capt. Bob Williams and his rangers had a fight with the Applegate Indians a few days since, and killed about twenty, with a loss of but one man wounded. Sacramento Daily Union, September 19, 1853, page 2 News from the War.
Below will be
found an extract from a letter from Gen. Lane to Gov. Curry, under date
of Sept. 5, 1853. It will be seen that a conference with the Indians
had taken place, and that Gen. Lane was confident that a treaty of
peace would be concluded.
From Mr. J. A. Barrett, who left Jacksonville on the 7th, two days later, we learn that the various tribes of Indians were coming in for the purpose of treating, and that a large number of them had collected. Taylor's band, up to that time, had refused to come in in consequence of the exhibition of bad faith which had been shown them by some whites, referred to in another column [below]. They said they were afraid to come in, believing it was but a second device to get them together for the purpose of slaughter. Mr. Burnett informs us that it was understood that the conditions upon which Gen. Lane was willing to assent to a treaty were that the Indians should give up their arms, all stolen property, and all murderers among them, and consent as soon as practicable to leave the valley; and also to pay the expenses of the war from any annuities which should hereafter be given them by the U.S. government. Gen. Lane was fast recovering from the effects of his wound, though we notice that he is still compelled to employ an amanuensis. Subjoined is the extract referred to: "I shall not attempt to give you a detailed account of all the incidents of the war, as you will have heard them from reliable sources before this will reach you. The 'talk' has been commenced, and I have no doubt of a treaty being made which will ensure a permanent peace with the main body of the Indians, who are subject to the chiefs Joe, Sam and Jim. No further action is therefore necessary on your part. Gen. Palmer and Mr. Culver arrived yesterday. With many thanks for your kind assistance, "I am yours respectfully, "JOSEPH LANE." LATER.--Terms of Treaty Agreed Upon.--T. McF. Patton, of Jacksonville, arrived here Saturday evening. He left on the 11th. He reports that a treaty had been agreed upon, but not formally entered into, in consequence of which Gen. Lane had dismissed most of the volunteers under his command. He states that the Indians did not give up their arms; that they were to be paid $50,000 for their lands, from which sum was to be deducted $15,000 to pay for property destroyed. From a letter from S. H. Culver, Indian agent, we learn that it was expected that the Indians would sell off their lands but a small tract upon which they were to be located, and an agent situated among them in which way it was thought further difficulty could be prevented. If the Indians adhered to their agreement, it is probable that a treaty has ere this been entered into. But if they did not it is possible that hostilities have already been renewed. LATER YET.--Capt. Nesmith's company has been disbanded, and some of them arrived here on Monday. A treaty has been concluded. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 20, 1853, page 2 Ft.
Reading Cal.
Dear Freeman,Cottonwood P. Office Septr. 7, 1853. The newspapers of this region contain an announcement that Capt. Alden is mortally wounded in an encounter with Indians about 200 miles north of this [the battle was about 70 miles from Cottonwood], and as I fear this false intelligence may reach his wife by the next steamer I write you to give you the facts in the case. We have received here a letter from his subaltern Lieut. Collins stating that his wound is not dangerous. So he has only been inflicted with glory instead of death, a difference which I hope you will communicate to his family as speedily as possible, as it may save them much anguish. Please to mention also to Mrs. Alden that the daguerreotype sent out by Mr. Trowbridge has been sent to the Capt. and is no doubt in his hands now. I brought it in my trunk from San Francisco and put it in charge of Dr. Sorrel, who left here for Fort Jones a week since; it will reach its destination very opportunely. I have never seen Mrs. Alden, but I have frequently heard of her, and I never was more tempted to break a seal than when I had her daguerreotype in my charge. Tell her that instead of regretting the circumstance, she has cause for congratulation as it may be the means of her seeing the Captain much sooner than under other circumstances. 60 men from Benicia arrived here yesterday on their way north to the region of the difficulties. There may be no necessity for them, but they will probably continue their march until the matter is certain. I am very busy and only write to relieve Mrs. Alden and the Captain's other friends. With
many kind feelings & wishes for you & yours
Lt. Col. W. G. FreemanI am very truly Your friend & classmate Morris Schiller Washington D.C. Bradford Ripley Alden papers, MS 29, California Historical Society BAD FAITH.--We regret to learn that a number of "Taylor's" Indians were collected together by a party of whites in Rogue River Valley a short time since, under professions of friendship and pretense of making a treaty, and while engaged in eating a roasted ox, which had been prepared for them, were, by preconcert, fired upon by the whites, and eighteen killed. The remainder, but two in number, succeeded in effecting an escape. Six or eight of the Grave Creek Indians, we are also informed, were enticed into a house under professions of friendship by some whites, induced to give up their arms, and, thus rendered defenseless, tied and deliberately shot. Such instances of bad faith and barbarity should be left to the savages, and we are sorry to hear that any of our people have been engaged in them. We hope the reports are but correct, and that the facts will show, at least, some mitigating circumstances. If they shall prove to be true, however, we do not believe the people south will justify such conduct, or should, in a body, be held responsible for it. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 20, 1853, page 2 For
the Oregon Spectator.
The Statesman, speaking
of the bad faith of the volunteers under Bob Williams, says that when
Joe informed Gen. Lane that the treaty had been violated, the General
said "that the act was committed by some irresponsible bad men, and
that the white people were not accountable for it."
A correspondence of the Mountain Herald published in the same number of the Statesman uses the following language: "It is the General's intention to go out again in a day or two to hold another talk with him (Tipsey) and to take Capt. R. L. Williams' company of thirty rifles with him, in which case if necessary Capt. Bob will give a good account of himself, for there are no better mountain men than his company, which is the only one now in service." Consistent, very! What could induce Gen. Lane to take such irresponsible bad men with him to a "talk"? Who violated faith? the subaltern who fired upon the Indians or the commander who denied his accountability for the act? INQUIRER.
Oregon Spectator, Oregon
City, October 20, 1853, page 2
MORE INDIAN NEWS.--A gentleman just in from Rogue River Valley informs us that since the agreement to cease hostilities for seven days, a party of Indians murdered eight white men at or near Long's ferry, and killed forty head of stock. He also informs us that if the Indians come together at Table Rock, the whites will make a treaty of peace with them that will be lasting. Oregonian, Portland, September 10, 1853, page 2 From Rogue River.
Oregon Spectator, Oregon
City, September 23, 1853, page 2
The Indian war is still unsettled. The Indians failed to make good
their promises, and the end, we may predict, is not yet. The fighting
boys are glad of it. They have tasted blood, and they want more. They
are for hunting them down without further parley. So they are bound to
have some more fun, as
they deem it.
A circumstance has occurred there lately that is very reprehensible; it is barbarous and unchristian, to say the least, and cannot fail to become a fruitful and never-ending source of revenge on the part of the Indian: It appears that under the guise of friendship and a pretended wish to make a treaty the whites made a feast, and while the Indians were partaking of a roasted ox they were fired upon and 18 of their number killed, two only making their escape. These were known as Taylor's Indians. Some eight or ten of the Grave Creek tribe, says report, met with a similar fate. Having been invited into a house with like pretended friendly professions, they were bound and brutally shot. We are in hopes that these reports are not true--that they are like many others that have reached us. Such a course, bad as the Indians may be, cannot fail to meet with merited execration wherever these reports may be heard. LATER.--From the Statesman we extract the following-- "I shall not attempt to give you a detailed account of all the incidents of the war, as you will have heard them from reliable sources before this will reach you. The 'talk' has been commenced, and I have no doubt of a treaty being made which will ensure a permanent peace with the main body of the Indians, who are subject to the chiefs Joe, Sam and Jim. * * * "LATER YET.--Capt. Nesmith's company has been disbanded, and some of them arrived here on Monday. A treaty has been concluded." The Indian War.
The Mountain
Herald,
of September 17, delivered to us by Messrs. Cram, Rogers & Co.,
contains several interesting letters concerning the Indian
difficulties
in the north.Captain Bob Williams, with his company of Rifle Rangers, has lately been doing some good service in the Applegate country. .On the 7th inst., they came upon a fresh trail of the Applegate Indians, and soon succeeded in capturing a chief known by the sobriquet of "Jim Taylor." They could not, however, get the Indians into a position to attack them advantageously. Jim Taylor confessed to a participation in many of the daring outrages which have been lately committed in that vicinity, and he was accordingly executed. On the 12th instant, at about 4 o'clock p.m., Captain Williams came upon a large party of Indians in ambush. The men immediately spread out as skirmishers, and commenced firing upon them. The battle lasted about three hours, until nightfall, during which time one American, Thomas Phillips. from Chester Co., Pa., was killed by a ball passing through his groin. It is estimated that about twelve Indians were killed. Fighting has ceased in the vicinity of Jacksonville. A correspondent from that place, under date of Sept. 12, says: "At last the treaty is made, and the Indians are to be paid $60,000 for the land on this side of Rogue River, and $15,000 is to be withheld and appropriated as an indemnification to some of the citizens of this valley. This treaty, as you are probably aware, has in its present form been pending some lour or five days." The same writer says that the general policy adopted and pursued with the Indians previous to the final consummation of the treaty is not satisfactory, and has been generally condemned. Tipsu's band are still at large, and has thus far rejected all overtures. His men are still committing their depredations with impunity. Capt. Terry and his company asked and obtained their discharge before the ratification of the treaty. When they left they unanimously expressed their disapprobation of the policy pursued. Money is scarce and business is stagnant in Jacksonville. Two deaths occurred of consumption within an interval of two days. Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, September 24, 1853, page 2 LATER FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.--By the Yreka Herald of the 17th, we have the details of the expedition sent out to fight the Indians on Rogue River. Jim Taylor, a notorious chief, was captured early in the fight, and executed by a detail of six men, on the 9th inst. "On the 13th, about 4 p.m., the battle commenced, the Indians firing from the bush. Our men spread out as skirmishers, taking refuge behind trees, &c. After a pretty hot fire of thirty minutes, one of our men named Thomas Phillips fell, mortally wounded, being shot through the groin. Capt. Williams attempted to outflank them with a party of ten men. but did not succeed from the density of the thicket and the danger of being shot by his own men if he attempted to charge [the] thicket. The firing gradually ceased on the part of the enemy at about an hour of sunset, but our men remained at their posts, firing at intervals where an Indian was seen, until dark, when the enemy ceased firing entirely. The captain called us from our posts, placing pickets a considerable distance from our 'caballada' of horses, to consult whether to charge them at daylight, or march for the fort to obtain provisions. The latter was thought best, as the enemy had undoubtedly moved on, from the fact of a cessation of firing. "Our wounded comrade being dead, we conveyed his body to the fort, and there buried him with the honors of war. Thos. Phillips was a native of Chester County, Pa., Bennett Square Township. "The loss of the Indians, as near as could be ascertained, was twelve killed and wounded, probably much more, as the men are excellent shots and behaved with great coolness and decision." The Jacksonville correspondent of the Herald, writing under date of 12th inst., says: "Well, at last the treaty is made, and the Indians are to be paid $60,000 for the land on this side of Rogue River, and $15,000 of the same is to be withheld and appropriated as an indemnification to some of the citizens of this valley. This treaty, as you are probably aware, has in its present form been pending some four or five days, and as your readers know the particulars of this so-called Rogue River war as well as your humble servant, I shall not attempt to revive the past, for it is neither pleasant nor flattering. "A treaty has been made, and that it was absolutely necessary under existing circumstances no one will attempt to deny. But the general policy pursued previous to its final consummation is very unsatisfactory, and almost universally condemned. "After the last battle, in which Gen. Lane and Capt. Alden were wounded, the Indians were allowed an armistice of several days, at the end of which time they were to come in and make peace. If they did not do so, they were threatened with the most dreadful consequences. Instead of their coming in at the time appointed, it was on the 22nd or 23rd day before a sufficient number of them could be prevailed on to come in. But they have come at last, and have agreed to remain on the other side of the river, except when permitted to cross by the Indian agent, who is to reside with them. Tipsy's band is still at large and have thus far refused all overtures. They are still committing their depredations with impunity. "As yet but a few guns have been brought in, and some $200 in money. They have made no stipulations, however, for the surrender of any prisoners, and common justice cannot otherwise be satisfied for the murder of some of our most valuable citizens! Five hundred men lay idle and inactive for twelve or fourteen days after the armistice had expired, and it was for this reason that the volunteers of your own city, as also the Humbug and Crescent City companies, became dissatisfied and asked or demanded their discharge. . . . "Capt. Terry and company asked for and received their discharge before the ratification of the treaty. They left in high dudgeon [and] declared their unanimous disapprobation of everything. "The hospital is still crowded with the sick and wounded. Through the streets may be seen men carrying their arms in splints and bandages, while others seem to be materially assisted in locomotion by the use of crutches. "Two deaths in private families, from consumption, have transpired with an interval of only two days. "To say that the town is dull, money scarce, and business nearly stagnant, is only to convey a feeble idea of its general appearance. Merchants, farmers, mechanics and miners have no better employment as yet than to contest the point as to who have suffered the most by the Rogue River war. In a day or two I leave for the coast, and hope to be with you again in the course of three or four weeks and enjoy the rights and privileges of a Yreka citizen." Sacramento Daily Union, September 26, 1853, page 1 U.S. TROOPS.--The troops under command of Col. Wright have arrived at Fort Jones. They were too late to participate in the Rogue River war. Sacramento Daily Union, September 26, 1853, page 2 KANYON,
Aug. 30
EDITOR
OREGONIAN:
Your readers no doubt would like to be informed of the true state of
the war in Southern Oregon, and I propose to give you an account of it.
At this place we are hourly treated with a new dish of rumors, and we
hardly know what to believe. But that the inhabitants of Southern
Oregon and Northern California are in the midst of an Indian war is a
truth beyond question. The white settlers so far have manifested a cool
determination to protect their lives and property from being sacrificed
to the Indians, and have willingly left their homes and business to do
battle against a common enemy. They are determined to put a quietus to
the depredations which have been made from time to time during the past
two years by the savage race. Thus far the effect of the war has been
disastrous to the Indians; in every skirmish with the whites they have
received the worst of it.News has just been received of a general battle between the volunteers under command of Capt. Alden, U.S.A., and a large number of the Indians under the command of a war chief called "Sam." After four hours hard fighting the Indians asked for a parley, which was granted them. It is said that Capt. Alden was severely wounded in the early part of the engagement. Gen. Lane arrived on the ground during the conflict with a small party and engaged in the battle. He is reported to have received a slight wound in the arm. About five or six whites were killed, and the Indians lost many more--they acknowledge that twelve of their number have been killed and some twenty-five wounded. The howitzer and other munitions sent from Vancouver will probably arrive too late to be of much service. Captain Nesmith and party are close by, on their way to the seat of war. Whether this war will make as many heroes as that with Mexico is a case of quien sabe. Thus far all have shown themselves brave and ready to encounter hardships; nor have the rank and file manifested less courage than those in command. But I suppose the leaders will bear off all the laurels in this as in all other wars. Whether the parley granted to the Indians will have a beneficial result, I seriously doubt. I believe that it was bad policy to give them an hour's respite by which they could further their plans and prolong the struggle. We expect soon to hear of a treaty of peace being negotiated by those who assume the power to make treaties with the Indians, but be assured that the whites in Rogue River Valley will pay but little attention to any treaty stipulations which may be entered into by those in authority with the Indians. Treaties made and broken are too fresh in their minds. The Indians cannot live in the same neighborhood with the whites for a long time, if ever again. I will endeavor to keep you posted up with the news, as it will reach me on my way to the seat of war. Yours,
in great haste,
B.
Weekly Oregonian, Portland,
September 10, 1853, page 2HEADQUARTERS
PACIFIC DIVISION,
SIR:
I have the
honor to report that since my communication of the 31st ultimo on the
subject of Indian hostilities on Rogue River, on the dividing line
between California and Oregon, there has been a fight with the Indians
by volunteers, under the conduct of Governor Lane, in which Captain
Alden of the 4th infantry participated, with about a dozen men of his
company; and I regret to say that Captain Alden was badly wounded,
gallantly leading a charge against the Indians, as subsequently
reported by Major Alvord of the 4th infantry, from whose report of
August the 29th, the battle having occurred on the 24th of August, I am
happy to learn that Captain Alden's wound is not considered dangerous.San Francisco, September 15, 1853. It is now understood and relied upon, though I am in want of official reports to this effect, that the difficulties on Rogue River have been brought to an end by the submission of the Indians and the surrender of their arms, under some treaty, the precise terms of which have not transpired. In view of the increased and constantly increasing extension of white settlements on the trail from the Willamette to the Sacramento River, crossing Rogue River, I deem it important that a post be established on or near that river, and near the trail; and for this purpose I respectfully request that two companies of infantry--or three would be preferable--may be added to the troops nominally in this division. I hope that I may soon hear that recruits are on the way to fill up the companies already here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E.
A. HITCHCOCK,
Lieut. Col. L. THOMAS,Col. 2nd Infantry, B.B. Gen. Commanding. Ass't. Adj't. Gen., Headquarters of the Army. Ex. Doc. 76, 34th Congress, 3rd session, 1857, pages 80-81 LATEST FROM THE
ROGUE RIVER COUNTRY!
A BATTLE WITH THE APPLEGATE INDIANS!!
We are indebted to Mr. Mendenhall, Orderly Sergeant to Captain Bob
Williams' company, for the following particulars of the late fight. We
received the same on Thursday evening last, per Cram, Rogers &
Co.'s Express. Bob's company are picked men, and not surpassed by any
in the United States for that kind of service.
[Correspondence
of the Herald.]
Jacksonville,
Sept. 14, 1853.
Messrs. Editors:
Having just returned from an expedition that set out to fight the
Indians on Applegate, commanded by Capt. Bob Williams, Rifle Rangers,
on Sept. 4th, I have thought proper to give you the details of
the
expedition.Arriving on Applegate, we proceeded to obtain information relative to the whereabouts of the Indians. We scouted on the different creeks and tributaries emptying on the west side of Applegate, and on the morning of the 7th struck their trail and fresh signs crossing Applegate twelve or fourteen miles below the fort, at the junction of [the] Jacksonville trail with Applegate. At noon we came upon the Indians, but they were so far up the mountainside, among brush, that it was impossible to attack them with success. However, in maneuvering and dispatching small parties in different directions, to keep concealed, we succeeded in capturing a prisoner in the evening who proved to be a chief, "Jim Taylor," notorious as a leader in many murders and depredations committed against our fellow citizens. The Indians were careful to keep on the mountainsides, and on the morning of the 8th, finding it impracticable to drive the enemy from their position with success, we concluded to take our prisoner to Halstead's ferry to obtain conclusive evidence of his implication in various murders &c. perpetrated in that vicinity. On his trial he pointedly admitted his guilt, whereon he was executed by a detail of six men on Sept. 9th. On the 10th, having heard of the Indians stealing four horses from a party of immigrants, we set out on a scout in search of them, but discovering no sign, we marched for Applegate, determined, if we could find or see the Indians, to attack them at all hazards. On the 13th, our pack mules with the remainder of our men from Long's arrived, having the remnant of our provisions (about one meal's rations). We then set out for the fort to replenish our rations and follow up the pursuit. However, having previously heard of a body of Indians a few miles above, in the brush, we concluded to drive them out of their position, as we marched on our way. THE FIGHT.--About 3½ or 4 p.m. yesterday, [the] 13th, we came upon them--they firing upon us, concealed in the brush (probably an ambush). Our men spread out as skirmishers, taking refuge behind trees &c. After a pretty hot fire of thirty minutes one of our men, named Thomas Phillips, fell mortally wounded, being shot through the groin. Capt. Williams attempted to outflank them with a party of ten men, but did not succeed, from the density of the thicket and the danger of being shot by his own men if he attempted to charge the thicket. The firing gradually ceased on the part of the enemy at about an hour of sunset, but our men remained at their posts, firing at intervals where an Indian was seen until dark, when the enemy ceased firing entirely. The captain called us from our posts, placing pickets a considerable distance from our "caballada" of horses, to consult whether to charge them at daylight or march for the fort to obtain provisions--the latter was thought best, as the enemy had undoubtedly moved off from the fact of a cessation of firing. Our wounded comrade being dead, we conveyed his body to the fort and there buried him with honors of war. Thos. Phillips was a native of Chester County, Pa., Rennett Square township. The loss of the Indians, as near as could be ascertained, was twelve killed and wounded--probably much more, as the men are excellent shots and behaved with great coolness and decision. Yours
truly,
Supplement to the Mountain
Herald, Yreka, September 17, 1853WM. S. MENDENHALL. Jacksonville, Sept.
12, 1853.
EDITORS HERALD:
Knowing that everything appertaining to the Indian difficulties in this
quarter must interest your readers, I thought in the absence of other
employment, before leaving myself, I would drop you a few lines for old
acquaintance sake.Well, at last the treaty is made, and the Indians are to be paid $60,000 for the land on this side of Rogue River, and $15,000 of the same is to be withheld and appropriated as an indemnification for some of the citizens of the valley. This treaty, as you are probably aware, has in its present form been pending some four or five days, and as your readers know the particulars of this so-called Rogue River war as well as your humble servant, I shall not attempt to revive the past, for it is neither pleasing nor flattering. A treaty has been made; and that it was absolutely necessary under existing circumstances no one will attempt to deny. But the general policy pursued previous to its final consummation is very unsatisfactory, and almost universally condemned. After the last battle, in which Gen. Lane and Capt. Alden were wounded, the Indians were allowed an armistice of seven days, at the end of which time they were to come in and made peace. If they did not do so, they were threatened with the most dreadful consequences. Instead of their coming in at the time appointed, it was the twenty-second or third day before a sufficient number of them could be prevailed on to come in. But they have come at last, and have agreed to remain on the other side of the river, except when permitted to cross by the Indian agent, who is to reside with them. Tipsy's band is still at large, and have thus far refused all overtures. They are still committing their depredations with impunity. As yet but few guns have been brought in, and some $200 in money. They have made no stipulations, however, for the surrender of any prisoners, and common justice cannot otherwise be satisfied for the murder of some of our most valuable citizens! Five hundred men lay idle and inactive for twelve or fourteen days after the armistice had expired; and it was for this reason that the volunteers of your own city, as also the Humbug and Crescent City companies, became dissatisfied and asked or demanded their discharge. They came to act, and not tamely to wait the convenience of a parcel of savages who had repeatedly violated their word, broken their treaties, murdered our citizens and stolen or destroyed our property as fast as their devilish ingenuity could devise; and let those who wish to vindicate the Indian character, and more particularly the conduct of the Rogue River Indians and their confederates, do so as much as they please, and find all the extenuation they can; but they should not close their eyes to the fact that the Indians have been for several months preparing for the fatal demonstration they have made. Capt. Terry and company asked for and received their discharge before the ratification of the treaty. They left in high dudgeon, declaring their unanimous disapprobation of everything. The hospital is still crowded with the sick and wounded. Through the streets may be seen men carrying their arms in splints and bandages; while others seem to be materially assisted in locomotion by the use of crutches. Two deaths in private families, from consumption, have transpired with an interval of only two days. To say that the town is dull, money scarce and business nearly stagnant, is only to convey a feeble idea of its general appearance. Merchants, farmers, mechanics and miners have no better employment as yet than to contest the point as to who have suffered the most by the Rogue River war. In a day or two I leave for the coast, and hope to be with you again in the course of three or four weeks, and enjoy the rights and privileges of a Yreka citizen. Truly
yours, C.
Supplement to the Mountain
Herald, Yreka, September 17, 1853
In the Weekly Alta
California, of
the 3rd inst., we find an article headed "Indian Difficulties in the
North," in which the editor expresses fears and casts insinuations as
to the causes of the war with the Rogue River Indians, together with
such remarks on Indian difficulties in general as would lead others who
are equally ignorant with himself as to the true causes of our present
difficulties with the Indians, to the belief, not only that the whites
were culpable, but that our difficulties are exaggerated: that the
Indians have been generally wronged by the whites, and are a poor,
cowardly, cringing and abused people, and "that its origin is a mere
speculative and heartless attempt to repeat those politico-Indian wars
which have been a burden to our treasury and a disgrace to the literal
humanity of our government."
Persons living in cities, & knowing nothing of the reality of a border life--who have formed their opinions of such affairs from the writings of would-be philanthropists, who, like themselves, have been pampered in a thickly inhabited country--or perhaps taken an excursion of a few weeks, or months at most, into what they will paint as a "wilderness among the aborigines," are too apt to express sentiments of censure and injustice as regards the hardy and honest pioneer, who is willing to improve that portion of the public domain which is lying dormant, and built up for himself and his posterity a home, by long years of toil, endurance of hardships, and exposure to the savages. The history of the intercourse of the Indians and whites in this part of the country abounds in instances of toleration on the part of the whites, until "forbearance had ceased to be a virtue." It were a crime longer to behold the mangled bodies of our associates and the ruin of their property, and not lend a helping hand to stay the evil and avenge the death of our brethren. As regards the "burdening of the treasury," we have never received but a very small sum in payment for the expenses of Indian wars, not equal to one-fourth the cost of the same, and never one cent as indemnification for the private losses of many of our citizens, amounting frequently to the earnings of several years' intense hardships and deprivations. We would suggest to the editor to look around about him, amongst those who are living in his own city, and see if he cannot find other sources of "burden upon the treasury"--men who are neither benefiting their God, their country, mankind or themselves--who receive fat salaries and squander the public funds--and let the honest pioneer, who is building up a country which will not only benefit himself, but add to the business and wealth of the great seaports of the Pacific, rest, at least from an undeserved censure. True philanthropy and a proper patriotic and brotherly feeling would rather suggest sympathy with our own countrymen than fears, doubts and unjust insinuations against them. Mountain Herald, Yreka, September 17, 1853, page 2 Wells, Fargo & Co. were a little ahead in the delivery of a Yreka Herald this morning. From it we extract the following interesting correspondence from Rogue River country: Jacksonville,
Sept. 14, 1853.
Messrs. Editors:
Having just returned from an expedition that set out to fight the
Indians on Applegate, commanded by Capt. Bob Williams, Rifle Rangers,
on Sept. 4th, I have thought proper to give you the details of
the
expedition.Arriving on Applegate, we proceeded to obtain information relative to the whereabouts of the Indians. We scouted on different creeks and tributaries emptying on the west side of Applegate, and on the morning of the 7th struck their trail and fresh signs crossing Applegate twelve or fourteen miles below the fort, at the junction of [the] Jacksonville trail with Applegate. At noon we came upon the Indians, but they were so far up the mountainside, among brush, that it was impossible to attack them with success. However, in maneuvering and dispatching small parties in different directions to keep concealed, we succeeded in capturing a prisoner in the evening who proved to be a chief, "Jim Taylor," notorious as a leader in many murders and depredations committed against our fellow citizens. The Indians were careful to keep on the mountainsides, and on the morning of the 8th, finding it impracticable to drive the enemy from their position with success, we concluded to take our prisoner to Halstead's ferry to obtain conclusive evidence of his implication in various murders &c. perpetrated in that vicinity. On his trial he pointedly admitted his guilt, whereon he was executed by a detail of six men on Sept. 9th. THE FIGHT.--About 3½ or 4 p.m. yesterday, [the] 13th, we came upon them--they firing upon us, concealed in the brush (probably an ambush). Our men spread out as skirmishers, taking refuge behind trees &c. After a pretty hot fire of thirty minutes one of our men, named Thomas Phillips, fell mortally wounded, being shot through the groin. Capt. Williams attempted to outflank them with a party of ten men, but did not succeed, from the density of the thicket and the danger of being shot by his own men if he attempted to charge the thicket. The firing gradually ceased on the part of the enemy at about an hour of sunset, but our men remained at their posts, firing at intervals where an Indian was seen until dark, when the enemy ceased firing entirely. The captain called us from our posts, placing pickets a considerable distance from our "caballada" of horses, to consult whether to charge them at daylight or march for the fort to obtain provisions--the latter was thought best, as the enemy had undoubtedly moved off from the fact of a cessation of firing. Our wounded comrade being dead, we conveyed his body to the fort and there buried him with honors of war. Thos. Phillips was a native of Chester Co. Pa., Rennett Square township. The loss of the Indians, as near as could be ascertained, was twelve killed and wounded--probably much more, as the men are excellent shots and behaved with great coolness and decision. Yours
truly,
Daily Evening Herald, Marysville,
California, September 23, 1853, page 2WM. S. MENDENHALL. Affairs in the South.
In other columns of this issue of the Statesman will
be found an extended account of transactions in Rogue River, subsequent
to former advices, including one of the treaties in full, and an
explicit synopsis of the other.
From what we have been able to gather from Capt. Nesmith and his company of volunteers, who have returned to this place, it appears that the public have been under some misapprehension in relation to the true condition of things in that region, and that so far from any general combination or well-organized plans on the part of the Indians to exterminate the whites, or drive them from the country, appearances are quite to the contrary. If they have entertained such purpose they have not exhibited the usual art of the savage in their operations. The condition of the Indians of Rogue River is anomalous; they have suddenly found themselves surrounded by a white population largely exceeding their own in numbers, engaged in the acquisition of gold, with which the country abounds. Some of the whites, to say the least, are imprudent and reckless men, who expected passive submission from the Indians, under any treatment, while the latter have never had any correct idea of the practice and policy of our government in relation to their race, and consequently have regarded all the whites in their country as lawless intruders, endeavoring to despoil them of their property and rights in an irregular manner. With such impressions it is but natural the even slight provocations should have driven the Indians to retaliatory acts and indiscriminate hostilities. The immediate cause of the recent outbreak does not appear to be well understood. The Indians allege that the principal reason was the abduction of one of their women by a Mexican by the name of Debusha, who threatened violence to the chief "Jim," because he sought to reclaim her, and that they commenced burning houses without discrimination, by way of retort. One act of aggression brought on another, until the two races found themselves in arms. Thus existed things when Capt. Alden and Gen. Lane arrived at the scene of difficulties, and with praiseworthy patriotism exerted themselves to defend the country and chastise the Indians, and in prosecution of their purpose followed them into the mountains and fought the battle of the 24th, in which both of those officers, together with several others, were severely wounded and three of their party killed. One of the wounded men has since died. The Indian loss was eight killed, and fifteen wounded, seven of whom have since died. It is said that Capt. Alden led on the attack with great gallantry, and had just shot down an Indian as he himself fell badly, as was then supposed mortally, wounded. Gen. Lane, in leading a charge, received a shot through the right arm just below the shoulder, knocking his gun from his hand. After the fight seven bullet holes were found in his coat. The contest lasted three or four hours without either party gaining any advantage from position; neither flank of the enemy could be turned, owing to the natural obstacles presented by fallen timber which extended from the right to the left from their front, affording the most complete protection, and leaving no alternative to the whites but to charge them in front, and in the teeth of a deadly enfilading fire of large-bored rifles and yagers from the right and left. The Indians finally called to the whites and inquired who their "tyee" was, and upon being told that it was "Jo Lane," asked for a parley, requesting Lane to come into their camp and talk; which he finally did, at the urgent solicitation of all his men; but protesting all the while that he would rather fight than talk, as he had not come for that purpose. The result of this talk was an agreement upon the terms of the treaty which has since been made. The proposition for a treaty was submitted to all the men present, and unanimously accepted; the terms of the treaty were likewise submitted to them, and sanctioned without dissent. Since that time Gen. Palmer and Mr. Culver have concluded the treaty and purchased the lands of the Indians. What results will follow remain for time to develop. The most substantial settlers of Rogue River Valley, and those who have the greatest interest at stake, we are assured, manifest satisfaction with the treaty, and express a determination to see that its provisions are faithfully executed; while it is said there is another class who have not participated in the battles, but declare themselves "exterminators," and declare that no treaty shall stand, holding themselves in readiness to shoot down the first Indian they see; that this class are clamorous about the Indians giving up their guns in conformity to the terms agreed upon on the battleground. While the Indians on the contrary evince a disposition to hold on to them, until they have some assurance that they will be safe without them. The "exterminators" attach great odium to Gen. Lane, on account of the treaty, some of the trifling portion of them denouncing him as a coward and old granny, but these have been careful to keep themselves beyond the range of the Indian rifles. Judging from the results of the war so far, we are forced to conclude that this matter of "extermination" is easier talked of than executed. In the only two battles that have been fought, the loss on each side has been nearly equal. The Indians are no longer armed with "sharp sticks," but on the contrary have the best rifles in the country, and are active and expert in the use of them, and, taking the battles fought as a criterion, we may calculate, in prosecuting the war, on losing nearly as many lives as the Indians do, and those of our best men, an exchange we should not consider desirable, while peace can be obtained and perpetuated upon honorable terms. We understand that in addition to the men who were engaged in the two battles referred to, several companies have been constantly in pursuit of Indians in different directions. These companies are composed of brave and experienced mountaineers, good Indian fighters, and generally well officered; but their success in finding and killing Indians presents another argument against the clamor for extermination. We learn that Capts. Miller and Lamerick (of whose conduct all speak in the highest terms of praise), and other officers, with good companies, have been constantly in the saddle since the commencement of the war, but have failed to find the enemy and consequently have killed none. Capt. Owen, with a company, succeeded in decoying five Indians into Bates' house, on Grave Creek, under the pretense of having a talk, and, after disarming and tying, shot them. This act, together with the killing of a defenseless Indian at the "rancherie" on Grave Creek, are believed to be all accomplished by that company during the war. Capt. Williams, who commanded a company of about thirty men, and has been vigilant in search of the enemy during the war, succeeded in decoying "Jim," the young chief of what is known as "Taylor's Indians," into his camp near Applegate Creek, after the treaty had been agreed upon, and tied him to a tree and shot him. This act of Capt. Williams came very near breaking up the treaty, as an Indian runner arrived on the treaty ground on Monday morning, and detailed the outrage to his tribe in the presence of the seven unarmed whites, who came on the ground for the purpose of making the treaty. The Indians complained of it as an act of bad faith, and said they might retaliate by butchering the seven white men then in their power, but were too honorable to kill unarmed men who had come voluntarily into their camp. If the "exterminators" are to continue the war they cannot safely calculate upon any such successes as those of Capts. Owen and Williams, as the Indians will hereafter probably object to being disarmed or tied. After a careful examination of the facts, we are satisfied that the general provisions of the treaty are good, and we are told that the Indians manifest a determination to abide by it. If so, it remains for the whites in Rogue River Valley to determine between the observance of the treaty, or the renewal of the war. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 27, 1853, page 2 Incidents of the War.
When Capt. Alden was shot in the battle of the 24th, he fell senseless
and was supposed to be dead. While he lay upon the ground the Indians
attempted to approach him, probably with the intention of mutilating
his body, but the few regulars he had with him protected him and kept
them off; one of the soldiers, a sturdy son of Erin, exclaiming to his
comrades, "Boys, don't let the bloody redskins have his scalp."
After the armistice was agreed upon the whites and Indians turned their horses loose in a band, and camped together the two succeeding nights upon the battleground, each party having confidence in the other. The Indians, as soon as the firing ceased, carried out water to our wounded men, and furnished a party to assist in conveying the litters with our wounded for 25 miles, through the mountains. This appears to be a new feature in Indian warfare. Our dead were buried with the honors of war, and when the platoons commenced discharging their rifles over the grave of their fallen comrades, the Indians supposed the armistice broken, and sprang to their rifles, but were quieted upon its being explained that it was our usual custom. The Indians had news of the approach of the howitzer several days before it reached Rogue River. They said it was a "hyas rifle which required a hat full of powder for a load, and would shoot down a tree." It was an object of great terror to the Indians, and they begged "Jo Lane," as they all call him, not to have it fired! Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 27, 1853, page 2 Jacksonville,
Sept. 13, 1853.
Mr.
Editor:--The attempt of a few persons who were dissatisfied with Gen.
Lane's course in relation to the treaty
to get up an indignation meeting here on last evening, proved an entire
failure, consequently some of our valiant men in talk were disappointed
in not finding an opportunity to let off steam.A drunken loafer who never saw powder burnt rode through our streets yesterday, bawling at the top of his voice, "Ten dollars reward to the ladies of Jacksonville if they will present Jo Lane with a petticoat." All observers pitied the poor creature and regarded him as a hero who had purchased his patriotism for a quarter at the neighborhood doggery. The people are becoming satisfied with the treaty and are returning to their homes. There are some suspicions that the Indians have more credit for house burning than they are entitled to. The Indians say that a "Boston" was in their camp a few nights before the battle and furnished them with ammunition and advised them what course to pursue. They refuse to give his name. It will not be healthy for him if he is found out. Capt. Alden and others who were wounded are fast recovering. Mining business has been entirely suspended, but is beginning to be resumed. Never having seen Gen. Lane, my curiosity prompted me to visit his camp day before yesterday. Having seen generals in the States togged out in epaulets, gold lace, cocked hats and long, shining swords, I expected to find something of the kind at "headquarters." But fancy my surprise on being introduced to a robust, good-looking middle-aged man, with his right arm in a sling, the shirt sleeve slit open and dangling bloody from his shoulder, his nether extremities cased in an old pair of grey breeches that looked as though they were the identical ones worn by Gen. Scott when he was "exposed to the fire in the rear." One end of them was supported by a buckskin strap in the place of a suspender, while one of the legs rested upon the top of the remains of an old boot. His hair so twisted, tangled and matted that it would have frightened the teeth out of a currycomb, and set all tonsorial expectations at defiance, was surmounted by the remains of an old forage cap, which, judging from its appearance, might have been worn at Braddock's defeat. This composed the uniform of the old hero who never surrendered. The "quarters" were in keeping with the garb of the occupant, it being a rough log cabin about 16 feet square with a hole in one side, called a door, and destitute of floor or chimney. In one corner lay a pile of sacks filled with provisions for the troops, in another a stack of guns of all sizes, sorts and caliber, from the old French musket down to the fancy silver-mounted sporting rifle, while in the third sat an old camp kettle, a frying pan, a coffee pot minus a spout, four pack saddles, a dirty shirt, one old shoe, and a moccasin. The fourth corner occupied by a pair of blankets said to be the Genl.'s bed, and on a projecting puncheon just over it lay some articles said to be ammunition for the stomach in the shape of a chunk of raw beef and a wad of dirty dough. In the center of the "quarters" was a space about four feet square for the accommodation of guests. Such being the luxuries of a general's quarters, you may judge something how privates have fared in the war. "SOCKS."
Oregon Statesman, Salem,
September 27, 1853, page 2Headquarters,
Camp Alden,
Dear Bush.--In my last
dispatches I gave you a detailed account of the different engagements
which were had with the Indians up to the time the armistice was
granted. The armistice has been generally respected in this vicinity by
both parties, but the Indians at a distance still continue to commit
depredations.September 2, 1853. Three Mexicans were shot a few days since and a pack mule captured on Applegate Creek. Mongo, a half-breed, and Thos. Prewell, were killed and a third man wounded by the Indians near Long's ferry, on Rogue River, on Sunday last, while upon the same day the house of Mr. Raymond, near Jumpoff Joe, was burnt to the ground, consuming with it a great quantity of flour and groceries. Two other houses in the same neighborhood were also burnt. These outrages were in retaliation for the killing of seven Indians in the house of Mr. Bates, on Grave Creek. A report has just arrived from below that 20 Indians were killed by the whites after they had come in and laid down their arms to treat. Many other rumors are afoot in regard to the acts of the Indians, with which I will not occupy your columns in relating until I ascertain their truth. A few nights ago the people of Jacksonville were greatly alarmed by seeing fires and moving lights quite close to the town. It was supposed that the Indians were about to attack the place and burn it. A strong guard was stationed around the town with orders to fire upon any approaching object. This measure saved the town but--sad to relate--in the morning a white pig was found dead, and a friendly calf seriously wounded, whilst many an unoffending stump gave evidence of the vigilance of the guard and the accuracy of the aim. The sole cause of the consternation was an effort made by parties unknown, to liberate four squaws who were held prisoners in the town. On the following day the squaws were removed to Gen. Lane's headquarters. A deputation arrived yesterday, with two flags, presented from the ladies of Yreka, to the two companies of volunteers formed in their vicinity, viz: Capt. Goodall's, of Yreka, and Capt. Rhodes', of Humbug. The flags are alike and each bears the name of the company to which it was presented. They were wrought by the delicate fingers of the fair lady donors themselves. Dr. Gatliff, of the deputation, delivered the flags to Gen. Lane for presentation. The ceremony of presentation commenced at 2 o'clock, and was conducted throughout by a spirit of intelligence and patriotism well worthy of the occasion, and which is ever found in any assemblage of Americans. The companies above named accompanied by the Crescent City Guards--as a guard of honor--having paraded a short time, were formed in line in front of the General's headquarters. Gen. Lane, accompanied by his staff, and Col. Ross, Major Alvord, U.S.A., and the other officers upon the ground, and the deputation from Yreka, advanced and took a position in the center of the line. The General, receiving one of the flags from Dr. Gatliff, advanced and presented it to Capt. Goodall, in a brief but very appropriate address. He complimented the company upon their gallant conduct in the field, and their good behavior on all occasions. He said that the alacrity and zeal manifested by the company in leaving their homes and rushing to the protection of the women and children of this valley were properly appreciated by the ladies of Yreka, and that present was as well deserved by the recipients as it was honorable to the donors. Capt. Goodall received his colors and replied that the honor conferred was duly appreciated--that gallantry in the field was a soldier's first duty, and was always accompanied by gallantry to the ladies, and that his company would carry their flag untarnished--that the eulogy conferred by the General was in itself a high honor, coming as it did from an old veteran, distinguished in many a well-fought field--that his words should be inscribed upon our hearts, as our own American eagle was upon our banner--that he regretted that sickness and the battlefield had decimated one-third of the company, who, could they be here, would know no greater honor than that conferred upon us this day by our General. On behalf of the company, he returned their heartfelt thanks to the ladies of Yreka. Capt. Goodall's remarks were received with enthusiastic cheers. His delivery was truly eloquent and impressive. The General next proceeded to present the flag to the Humbug volunteers. He complimented them also upon their gallant conduct, and said that braver troops he never led to victory. Mr. Van Wyke, on behalf of Capt. Rhodes and the company, replied, returning thanks for the honor conferred upon them by the ladies of Yreka. The ceremony being concluded, the troops were formed into a hollow square, when Gen. Lane being in the center, proceeded to address the citizens and soldiers upon the events of the war. He commenced by explaining the disposition of the troops and the arrangements made by Capt. Alden, U.S.A., at the time of his arrival at Jacksonville. At the request of Capt. Alden, and by unanimous consent, he undertook the command in chief. Organizing two battalions, he appointed Capt. Alden in the command of one, and at the same time requested him to act as his adjutant general, which the Capt. complied with, and continued to act in this double capacity until, seriously wounded, he was borne from the field of battle. The General here paid a glowing tribute of admiration to the character and services of Capt. Alden. He said: "His heroic conduct, his unflinching devotion, his ready expedients, and animating presence upon the field of battle, and his untiring zeal and unwearied exertions forming out of the plastic material before him a respectable army, are worthy of the highest admiration, and will be cherished in the grateful remembrance of the people as well as of the soldiers who participated in his toil." The General next proceeded to narrate the prominent events of the campaign. He spoke with much feeling of his interview with the chiefs upon the battleground. When he was seen within their breastworks every lip pronounced his name--Jo Lane, Jo Lane--and every swarthy cheek was bathed in tears. The wounded ceased their groaning and the wild Indian of the mountains slunk behind a bush or log in fear and awe. He appeared to them as a savior--in him alone could they confide--only Jo Lane could they trust. Old Joe (tyee) advanced to meet him and tell his story of the war. He said his tribe did not commence the war, on the contrary, when they refused to join the Shastas in their war with the whites, they notified the settlers of their danger; that the murders were commenced by the Shastas; that it was not until the whites had shot or hung 14 of his tribe, many of whom were pet servants of the town, who were guilty of no offense, did he consent to the war. He said that he was not able to fight with the whites; that he desired peace and would consent to any terms to obtain it. After consulting with his entire force the General told Old Joe that the whites were disposed to give them peace if they would comply with their conditions. An armistice of eight days was the result of the conference, at the expiration of which time both parties were to meet at Table Rock. Now, said the General, this is the day upon which we were to meet, but a message from the Indians informs us that on account of their wounded they cannot arrive until tomorrow. The General next proceeded to remark upon the threats many were making to kill the Indians, whether a treaty was made or not. He hoped none would be so base as to put that threat into execution. If the Indian would not agree to the strictest terms--give up the murderers, and their arms, &c.--then he would give them war--war to the knife, and that to the hilt; but until these negotiations were finished he implored everyone within the reach of his words to have sufficient respect for himself, his country and his race to restrain him from any act of treachery. The General concluded by thanking the companies of volunteers from Umpqua and Douglas counties for the promptness with which they came to the aid of the people of this valley. Major Alvord, being introduced by the General, made a few appropriate remarks, but as I fear I have already trespassed too much upon your space I must defer his speech, together with many other interesting matters, until my next. Yours, Timon. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 27, 1853, page 2 Capt. Alden, U.S.A., has been removed to Ft. Jones. His general health is restored. One arm, however, seems paralyzed, and fears are felt that it will be useless for life. Col. Wright, who passed through this place about three weeks since with his command, is stationed at Table Rock. The establishment of a new fort at that point is in contemplation. Health generally prevails among the troops. Gen. Lane intends visiting Yreka before he returns to his home in Oregon. In his general order disbanding the Yreka and Humbug volunteers, under the command of Capts. Goodall and Rhodes, General Lane took occasion "to testify his admiration of their courage and gallantry in battle, and their energy and general good conduct while in the service." "From Yreka," Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, October 1, 1853, page 2 We received by Adams & Co. the Siskiyou Mountain Herald of the 24th ult., in which we find the following items of news: TREATY OF PEACE WITH THE INDIANS.--A proclamation of "the Board of Commissioners of Military Affairs for Southern Oregon and Northern California," is published in the Herald. It gives a history of the Indian troubles from the commencement, and official information of the conclusion of a treaty of peace on the 8th Sept. It says: "On the 4th Gen. Lane, with his officers, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Indian agent met at the place appointed, near Table Rock, to have a talk with the Indians, but owing to some mistake in regard to time, but few of the Indians were at the place of meeting, consequently further time was allowed them--and on the 8th September Gen. Lane concluded a treaty of peace with chiefs Sam, Joe and Jim, of the Rogue River tribes of Indians, and on the 10th Gen. Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, made a treaty for the purchase of a vast tract of their lands, some forty or fifty square miles--both of which meet the hearty approval of those most interested in the valley. On the 13th, Captain Robt. L. Williams had a skirmish with the Indians on Applegate--a tribe that has not yet entered into a treaty. Captain Williams lost one man killed, Thomas Phillips, of Pa. The Indians lost eight killed and several wounded. The volunteers engaged in the late war deserve the praise and gratitude of all who have an interest in Southern Oregon and Northern California for their coolness, bravery and gentlemanly conduct. They have shown themselves worthy of the name of Americans. Now that war is concluded and permanent peace established, may they live long to enjoy its blessings. Our grateful thanks are due Gen. Lane for his assistance in bringing this war to a speedy close, and for the deep interest he has taken in the affairs of our citizens from the first intimation of our difficulties, and even now constantly engaged in assisting us in winding up the concern. Also to George L. Curry, acting Governor of Oregon, for his promptness in responding to our call for arms and ammunition. EDWARD
SHEIL, President.
"From
the North," Democratic
State Journal, Sacramento, October 4, 1853, page 2George Dart, Secretary. The Indians of California and Oregon are numerous and warlike, but as they were divided into small independent bands, having no general head, and were in a great measure destitute of firearms, their hostilities in previous years were not important. Now, however, that the rapidly extending settlements of those countries are driving the Indians from their accustomed haunts and crowding them into narrower limits, they are forced into combinations both formidable and frequent. Within the past three years their hostilities--the result in many instances of the intrusion and aggressions of the whites--have been almost uninterrupted, and it is officially known that, in Northern California and Southern Oregon alone, within this period, the lives of more than a hundred whites and several hundred Indians have been sacrificed in collisions between the two races. The force in that country is not now, and never has been, sufficient, and, impressed with the idea of its entire inadequacy, the Department some time since ordered a regiment of artillery to the Pacific, and it was designed to send there an additional regiment of infantry, but it was found that the state of the service would not then, nor does it yet, admit of it. The first mail from the Pacific, subsequent to the issuing of this order, brought intelligence of renewed hostilities, in which more than forty lives were lost. By the zeal and activity of General Lane (delegate from Oregon Territory), in command of a volunteer force, aided by the few regular troops that were in the neighborhood, hostilities were suppressed, and the Indians compelled to sue for peace. These operations appear to have been conducted with great energy and judgment, and, in the final conflict, General Lane and Captain Alden (the latter in command of the regular troops) were both severely wounded while gallantly leading a charge against the Indians. There is, however, no assurance that peace can be maintained, unless a force adequate to the control of the Indians is stationed in their midst. It is the intention of the Department that this shall be done, and as soon as possible a considerable additional force will be sent to the Pacific, and one of the brigadier generals of the army ordered there to command. "Report of the Secretary of War," National Intelligencer, Washington, D.C., December 24, 1853, page 6 Abstract of Papers and Memoranda
Relative to the
Expenses of the Rogue River War General Staff and
Volunteer Companies in Service
The estimates for the pay of the volunteers, under existing laws prepared by the Paymaster General and herewith submitted amount to--
The same items according to the rates which Captain Alden agreed to recommend for payment would amount to--
Number of rations furnished in kind or claim of meals furnished
Cost of supplies &c. as per abstracts herewith numbered 1 and 2 $106,718.63 Joseph Lane Papers, Lilly Library. This document is found on the last reel, the undated papers. The following narrative will be reliable as to fact, and will give the world for the first time the true story of those times. It will be seen that the natives were sinned against as well as sinning, and in some instances were the victims of unwarranted outrage and aggression. Mr. [James C.] Tolman was a settler in 1852. When he had been in the valley about two weeks, and had made his settlement at the north end of Oak Grove, three miles east of Jacksonville, emigrants began to arrive over the Applegate route to Southern Oregon. They made haste to take up land claims and prepare for winter. Four men who crossed with him, who had no families, were anxious to take up mining ground, so he went with them to give the benefit of his experience, gained in California from '49 to '51. He selected a high bar on Applegate Creek, five or six miles above the forks of that stream, where they worked through the winter with moderate success. At the forks of Applegate Creek--where Uniontown now is--Elijah, the Indian chief, lived with his band. As Tolman had agreed to furnish these miners with supplies, he had to pass through this Indian camp on each trip to the mines, which was every ten or twelve days through the winter. In February and March a terrible sickness fell on these Indians, and a lamentable howling was kept up by their doctors for several weeks. As time passed they became cross and impatient, and it was not thought safe to go near them. The cause of this sickness was not divulged until the close of the war of 1853, when it was known that this band of Indians had been in the habit of stealing provisions from the cabin of a man named Davis, who lived southeast of Jacksonville. To avenge himself Davis put poison in a sack containing twelve to fifteen pounds of flour and left it exposed in this cabin. They took and ate the flour, and the mysterious illness was the result. ONE
INDIAN'S VENGEANCE.
Making up his mind
that war was an inevitable result of existing circumstances, and
judging by the conduct of these Indians, Tolman took his good brood
mares and mules to California and sold them all there at a fair price,
saving only one for the young man with him to ride, and buying a saddle
mule for his own use. He had enclosed ten acres of land and planted it
in potatoes, corn and oats, leaving a portion for hay that was set
thickly in wild clover. About the first of July he went to Coos Bay
with an expedition and was gone about a month. Soon after returning,
about August 4, 1853, he was summoned on a coroner's jury over a man
named Edwards, who was found murdered at his own cabin door, on Bear
Creek, about seven miles east of Jacksonville. They found Edwards shot
dead, and his face chopped with an [illegible--a
fold obscures two lines of type] concluded it was the work
of Indians, but saw only signs that one was engaged in the deed.The coroner's jury returned with a conviction that the horrors of Indian warfare were in the near future. When he reached home Mr. Tolman was informed that Bill Davis, a neighbor, had borrowed his fine riding mule to pursue some Indians, who had robbed his cabin. An hour later Mr. Tenbrook, a neighbor, came in, much excited, and said that Davis and B. Griffin had followed the Indians up Griffin Creek and the Indians "had cleaned them out," wounding the two men and killing Tolman's fine mule. This induced him to prepare for an emergency, and as he was scarce of ammunition he rode to Jacksonville to procure a supply. The news caused excitement there, and a meeting was called for that evening to discuss the situation. Tolman went home to mold bullets, but he learned that towards evening a shot was fired close to town, on the Yreka trail, and cries for help heard. There was a rush to the rescue, and they found that a Jacksonville merchant named Wills had been shot from his horse by an Indian sheltered behind a tree. The meeting was held "with blood in every eye." So much had occurred that very day that the public mind was wrought up to a fierce excitement. A resolution was adopted, among other matters, to exterminate the Indians--every man was to kill his Indian wherever he could be found. In the excitement of the hour no man recollected the strength of the Indians and how poorly the whites were prepared to enter on an Indian war. EXTERMINATING
THE INDIANS.
Scouting for Indians
began the next day, but people had gradually taken a second, sober
thought over the proposition to exterminate the Indian race. One
unsophisticated man was an exception, for he seemed not to have cooled
off. This Brown understood the resolution to be unanimously carried and
accepted it as law. He supposed men in convention meant what they said,
and coming across a tame Indian who was living with a farmer down the
valley, he "drew a bead" on him and fired. The Indian dropped and with
possum-like forbearance lay quiet while his victor tore his scalp
off--it might be termed Spartan-like by some writers--for the possum
lies still and plays death under the greatest difficulties. When the
victor was gone the Indian also rose and found his way to his friends.
It may be well enough to say here that he recovered to be a wiser if
not a better man.It was soon found that the thing most necessary to be done was to provide for the defense of women and children, to shelter the families during the war that was inevitable. Tolman went to work to provide a safe place of refuge for his own family and some of his neighbors. For this purpose he put up a blockhouse, sixteen feet square on the ground, with loopholes for the riflemen. The families were safely housed in the upper part, which was a projection all round and was nearly twenty feet square. He had a rick of perhaps fifty tons of hay; to guard this he put up a small house not over fifty yards from the blockhouse. So all his premises were well guarded. There were four men there besides himself. Two were miners who were waiting [for] safe travel to get out of the country. The others were Tenbrook and Coffin, whose families were housed above. Mrs. Abel George and children were also there, while her husband was with the volunteers. One night before the blockhouse was up he saw at one time five homes burning down the valley and thought the Indians were making a raid its whole length. Four men watched from the roof of a cabin. One of them slipped off and came where they were sleeping and said in a stage whisper: "Get ready; the grove is full of Indians," meaning a grove of trees nearby. He hurried back to the shed, and all hands in the cabin went to work to prepare for war. The families were stowed aloft. They fixed a place in the corner, covered by a blanket, for Coffin to load (no cartridges in those days), while Tolman should fire, as they only had two guns. The cabin they were in only had one small window. Petrie got sick and lay down on a rude lounge there was [sic]. Then followed an hour of deathly silence, but no Indians came to [that] time. Ball's companions finally learned the fact of his false alarm and explained that he could only have heard cattle in the grove and the sticks breaking under their tread caused him his fright. Afterwards they put out fires in the grove as a precaution. These incidents show how matters are managed in Indian wars. JACKSONVILLE
IN 1853.
Jacksonville was then
a village of 1000 inhabitants who lived in board houses of flimsy
build. The only safe place in town was a cellar. Sometimes those on
guard would get up a false alarm and shoot at stumps or a black hog, in
a dark night. Women and children would then be jammed into the cellar
in a hurry. At first hostilities were scattering, and many natives
preferred peace who were afterwards forced into the war by
circumstances. There was a class of irresponsible Indians, as of
reckless and irresponsible whites, while the majority of each race
would have preferred peace by all means. Reckless whites, who had
nothing to lose, either as to property or family, could perpetrate some
act of cowardly butchery and leave families of settlers to suffer
massacre for their crimes. Then again, and in the case of Gibbs (to be
told), an Indian would rob and murder his best friend at times. If the
best white men and Indians could have managed matters there would have
been no war on Rogue River at any time.When the blockhouse was up Tolman felt safe. He went to Jacksonville, where people remonstrated with him for his recklessness, but he could not appreciate their interest in his behalf. One gentleman (since then resident of Salem) was indignant because he refused to be taken in--to Jacksonville. He said: "Bring your family here or we won't protect you." He thought they would need his assistance as soon as he theirs. There was a fact that explains Tolman's security at a time when others were burned out and robbed. He had never permitted the Indians about his place. Whilst he was kind he was never familiar; all through the troubles he never saw an Indian sign within half a mile of his house. His blockhouse sheltered four families all through the war of 1853. AN
INDIAN WITH A GRIEVANCE.
The immediate cause of
the outbreak of 1853 has only been partially explained. The Indian who
killed Edwards and who shot Wills had a grievance. He laid claim to a
woman who lived with a Frenchman. He went to this man and claimed his
squaw, but met with a rebuff from the man and a friend who was with
him. Then he went to Judge Skinner, who was Indian agent, who explained
to him that he had no military force at hand to enforce claims,
however, just, and could not help him. He condoled with him, but that
did not give him a woman to pack his firewood and do the small chores
about his camp. The irate siwash went away breathing threatenings and
slaughter, but no one put much faith in his threats until they learned
of their fulfillment. One would think he would have haunted the ways of
the Frenchman, the woman and the friend who helped to bluff him. The
woman could have gone with him if it suited her to do so, but would
not. Instead of lying in ambush for the Frenchman and woman, he started
off up Bear Creek, cursing the white race. The first victim was a fat
ox. This he killed and left. The next was Edwards, who set at evening
with his chair leaning against the cabin wall. The next evening he shot
Wills. It was finally proven that this savage killed ten men before the
end of the war, and no Frenchman or squaw was included in his bloody
reprisals. He watched the trails and hid himself in ambush to slay and
kill. Here was an instance where the vices of a white man, not an
American, brought on war and fearful loss of property and life.HAULING
IN THE WOUNDED.
Having about the only
spring wagon in the valley, Tolman undertook to haul the wounded to the
hospital at Jacksonville. Learning of the massacre at the Alberding
ranch, where Indians, who had voluntarily surrendered, rose and
massacred some and wounded a number, and knowing that doctors were
afraid to venture there, he went up to bring down the wounded, among
whom was P. Dunn, his personal friend. Henry Overbeck also went with
his wagon. They found a log house, 20x22 feet square, and the floor
literally covered with blood that had dried hard. The wounded men lay
all over the floor, in the corners and the middle. Several of these
were emigrants that were lately arrived off the plains. They gathered
the wounded; the emigrants did the same with their wagons and started
for Fort Wagner, towards Jacksonville [near Wagner Creek in Talent].
When halfway there they discovered that one of the wounded had died. He
had a wife and two children; they and Overbeck's aunt were in the same
wagon, and their "plunder." Going down a steep place one of the horses
threw himself off the grade. The wagon was upset and its freight of
living, dead and wounded were piled into the gulch and the wagon tongue
broken off. It was a hard task to get everything back in place again.
Each looked for his own, and they were widely scattered. They all the
time expected to be attacked by Indians, but that trouble was saved
them.AN
UNGRATEFUL SAVAGE.
They reached the fort
a little after night, and Mr. Gibbs died before they could get him out.
The only word he uttered was the name of the brute who killed him. This
Indian had
[illegible--a fold
obscures a line of type]
had only recently interfered, at great risk, to protect his life when
white men would have hanged him. This was a case of the grossest
ingratitude. This base scoundrel had betrayed and slain his best
friend. He snatched the gun Gibbs carried out of his hand and shot him
with it, he not having the least suspicion of his intention, while the
Indians at the Alberding rendezvous were rising to massacre those they
[had] surrendered to. The mistake made there was holding the squaws as
hostages. They were allowed to talk to people of their tribes who came
near on the mountain, and thus made arrangements for their rescue and
the massacre of the whites. Indians never assault a place of which they
have no knowledge of the inside and of the character of the defenses.
In his experience with Iowa Sioux Tolman learned something of Indian
character. It taught him to always hold them as strangers, never to
allow them to enter the camp, nor see the inside of his cabin, and he
did not even let them enter his dooryard all the time he had lived in
Rogue River Valley. The consequence was that no Indian tracks were seen
near his premises during the war. After burying the dead, the next day
they took their remaining wounded in to Jacksonville. [For other accounts of the
Alberding affair, see here
and here.]TOLMAN
TRIES TO LEAVE OREGON.
Mr. Tolman only tells of matters that came under his personal
observation, or that were approved and accepted as facts at the time.
Many versions have been published of that war, but not the entire truth
given. He declines to give many interesting incidents because he does
not believe they were perfectly substantiated. Like the war against
slavery, it had to come. The claims of Indians and whites conflicted,
and fiery natures and reckless characters on both sides precipitated
events. The war seemingly closed by treaty, but it had more the
appearance of an armistice for an indefinite time. Being desirous to
commence stock raising, without being interrupted by Indian outbreaks,
he concluded to wind up business and go to California by way of Coos
Bay, and while there to clear up an investment made there for the
interest of two young men. He had two land claims in Rogue River
Valley, for one of which he paid $400 and for the other $500. These he
sold for $5500, and the growing crop of potatoes, hay and oats brought
$2100 more. He left for Coos Bay in the fall of 1853. During the eleven
months he was there only one vessel entered the bay, [and] at a time
when Tolman was not able to leave on her, and not knowing
when another was expected to come in, he returned with his
family
to Rogue River Valley in the fall of 1854. In October he bought the
Alberding ranch, stock, grain and everything the bachelor had for
$8500. Falling in with the prevailing opinion that there would be no
more Indian trouble, he ventured $3000 in cattle and a team to run the
ranch. He put in a large crop that winter and had a profitable harvest.
S.
A. Clarke, "Pioneer
Days," Morning
Oregonian, March 28, 1886, page 2One episode out here against the American flag is worthy of our notice. The flag was threatened with an indignity that would have been one of the unfortunate mistakes of our history--but a tall cliff loomed up against the storm and caught the tempest and hurled it back. Our little army of seven or eight hundred men was drawn up in a hollow square one afternoon at headquarters on the north branch of Rogue River upon a day appointed for the presentation of flags. I was standing then in the ranks there as a soldier in the service of the United States and deeply interested in the proceedings. At the conclusion of a sweep of thrilling martial music an officer stepped out in front of a company, unfolding to the breeze a beautiful flag. Standing beneath its waving stars and stripes he spoke substantially as follows: Fellow Soldiers: --I have the honor, upon this important occasion of presenting to you this magnificent American flag. Upon its proud folds you will behold a beautiful and impressive inscription. Those silken letters were embroidered there by the delicate fingers of lovely women--God bless them! That inscription expresses their sentiments--we shall accept them and make them ours and bravely bear them aloft before the world until there is not a red devil in human form to be found in all this land. These fiends that we have fed at our doors have repaid our kindness with ingratitude, treachery and murder. They have swept out settlements all along the road stretching between Oregon and California, from the Umpqua Canyon to Rock Point, a distance of more than fifty miles. At one fell swoop, in the dead hours of the night, they murdered all these people--men, women and children--and left their homes and property in ashes. [This describes the breakout of October 9, 1855, which took place two years after the events of this reminiscence.] Their blood calls to us from the ground. We mean to avenge this awful, ghastly outrage. Nothing short of the sentiment emblazoned upon this flag will answer the requirements of the case. Our situation here is well calculated to try the hearts of brave men. Here we are with our little army less than a thousand strong--we stand here on the banks of this beautiful river. With its clear waters shaded with beautiful trees it winds its way between the homes of civilized people and the war camps of savages. We are on guard. We send our boys up the river and down the river and they are on the alert night and day to keep these savages from crossing above or below us and falling upon and exterminating the settlements in a single night. We hold the enemy at bay. Like a crouching tiger he is ready to spring past us, to the right or the left of us and bathe his jaws in the blood of his victims, or, else boldly charge us upon the front. There is no flinching. We are ready--let him come! As near as we can be certain by our scouts there are in front of us, just back of this Table Rock--this grand landmark that majestically looks down up on us to-day--there are no less than three thousand painted warriors, thirsting for our blood, armed as well as we are and ready to descend upon us, like an overwhelming avalanche at any hour. [Almost all estimates of the number of warriors places it between 150 and 300.] If the worst comes to the worst we expect no quarter. We shall give none! Read our motto on this flag! It reads Extermination! This is a war of races--a war of extermination. If they can they will exterminate us. If they could they would. But thank God they cannot. The wild man must pass away before the white man. Extermination is the final end and that motto we shall carry upon our banner until this great work is finished! Therefore, brothers in arms, here is your flag. Three or four of these presentations took place, and the presentation speeches, though made by different orators, were all of about the same general style. When these exercises had concluded and the fierce and wild cheering had subsided and all became quiet, I saw some of the officers take hold of Gen. Lane, who had all this time been sitting in a chair towards one corner of the square surrounded by a group of officers and quietly observing the proceedings as they took place before him. They assisted him to his feet, and in a loud, clear and smooth voice he began to address the army. He looked uncommonly tall to me that day, and venerable and commanding. He was pale from the loss of blood, for he had received a severe wound in his shoulder but a few days before, so he had therefore but one arm to wave in emphasis of his impressive remarks. He substantially said: Fellow Soldiers: --First of all we should never forget, under any circumstances or on any occasion, that we are citizens of the United States of America. Whatever public occasion we participate in, whether in the crowded cities or on the borders of civilization or far out among the savages--wherever we may be, first of all we are under obligations as American citizens to maintain the dignity, the justice and honor, the mercy and humanity of the most civilized people on the face of the earth. Much has been said about the American flag. I say that the American flag is the most glorious banner ever unfolded to the light of heaven or gazed upon by the eyes of man. It represents protection. It represents decency. It represents light and knowledge and honor and courage and civilization, and every good and great aspiration of the human soul. It is the badge of our nationality and of the Union. If we make war under the American flag it is for the defense of the rights of man and the protection of our people. This flag knows no race, no tribe, no creed, no particular order of men--it stands for all our people, here and everywhere. Our glorious flag represents no war of races--no extermination of any people! That declaration is against the doctrine of the American flag. We as American citizens cannot accept any such a principle. That is the doctrine of savages, not of civilization. Any man who accepts any such a motto as that does dishonor to the Christian mother that gave him suck! It is with great pain--it is with humiliation and shame that I behold any such inscription emblazoned upon our American flag! It is a mistake--a great mistake. The ladies--God bless the ladies--they have made a mistake. We owe it to them, we owe it to everybody, we owe it to the civilized races and nations of all mankind--we owe it to fellow citizens of the United States of America--we owe it to ourselves, right here and now, to correct this great mistake and most painful blunder. We simply have our duty to do here; but I am proud to know that I address brave men. Behind us are the women and children of these settlements, before us are collected the fierce warriors of all this surrounding country. If they assault us we shall repulse them with great loss. In the meantime reinforcements are on the way, and from hour to hour the Indian's mind is grappling with a greater fact--that his attempt to eradicate the white man is hopeless and futile. In less than fifteen days he will realize it. Then we will reach an understanding with him; he will make a treaty of peace. Stop the effusion of blood and the accumulation of expenses against the government. This secures the happiness and the prosperity of the settlements. This is a success. This is what the people of the nation have a right to expect of us. This we can proudly and gloriously do in the carrying out of those great and humane principles of which the immortal stars and stripes are the imperishable emblem. So my fellow soldiers--companions in arms--we have camped together, we have fought and bled together, now take the advance of as good a friend as you possess on the face of this earth. Take those flags that are marred and spoiled by a grievous mistake--take them quietly and fold them up, lay them silently away and let them be forever forgotten as deeply buried in the bottom of oblivion! We silently bowed our heads. We were deeply touched--subdued. One man had subdued an army! He presented a splendid picture as he stood there surrounded by his officers and men, his iron gray hair drifting about his head in the passing breeze. I thought of the giant oak that lifts itself above the common trees of the forest. I thought of the "--Tall cliff that lifts its awful form / Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm." Always after this circumstance I regarded Gen. Lane as a great man. This was the end of the furor of extermination. The plan of the general was carried out, and according to his request the flags seemed to be forgotten. I never heard a man from that day on mention them. But I had occasion in 1878 to call the circumstances up. It occurred in this wise: During the political campaign of the spring of 1878 the Democrats of Lane County invited Gen. Lane to come and deliver a speech at the court house in Eugene City; I was invited by the Republicans to meet him there. The general made a great speech upon this occasion, occupying some three hours; and, I think, this was the last political speech he ever made. In answer to his strictures on the Republican Party in regard to its national Indian policy I called up this flag affair of 1853. I recalled in his presence this simple speech upon the presentation of the flags of extermination; I also recalled his speech upon that occasion asking him if he would verify my statements. He got up before that great audience and said that every word I had stated was true and that "what the general says I said upon that occasion I said." Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this settles a precedent in regard to the American flag and flags generally in this country, and suggests a proper disposition of those that express an antagonistic principle to that of the American flag. They should not be deceived. If this had been observed there had been no rebel flags to be taken on the field. E. L. Applegate, Fourth of July oration, Ashland Tidings, July 15, 1887, page 1 Headquarters,
Camp Alden,
Dear Bush:--On
Saturday last Old Joe and Sam (tyees), accompanied by the wise woman of
their tribe, arrived at headquarters and held a "wawa" with Gen. Lane,
in which the preliminaries of the treaty were concluded. There were
present at the council Major Alvord and Capt. Smith, U.S.A., Colonel
Ross, Captain Mosher, Capts. Miller, Goodall, Martin, Rhodes and
Applegate. Besides those above named the Indians were represented by
Ben, the heir apparent and son of Old Joe, four young
squaws--hostages--and three warriors.September 7, 1853. The General and others, through Mr. Metcalfe, interpreter, closely interrogated the chiefs as to the cause of their hostility. They replied that they were entirely ignorant of the cause of war. That the first news they heard was that the whites were hanging and shooting every Indian who fell into their hands; that if whites were murdered in the first instance, they were innocent of the crime, and it must have been a party of Shastas who were the guilty party. They said they heard that the whites wished to kill them all, and they then thought that their only recourse was to take up arms and fight. They said that before taking up arms they applied to Skinner for protection, but he told them he was tyee no more; that they were glad Jo Lane was here, that they had known him before, and that he had never lied to them, and therefore they would trust in him and make a treaty in good faith. Not a syllable was elicited implicating either Old Joe or Sam, or any of the Indians under their immediate control, with any of [the] acts which led to the war. On Sunday Gen. Lane, accompanied by several officers, and Capt. Smith's company of U.S. dragoons, visited Joe's camp some six miles distant, for the purpose of concluding the treaty; but as all the warriors were not yet assembled, three days more were allowed Joe, for the purpose of visiting his people and gathering them in, but he was informed that if at the expiration of that time he was not ready to treat hostilities would recommence. Nothing of great importance has transpired since my last. The excitement is fast cooling down, and a desire for peace is gradually succeeding the desire for blood. The whites are suffering severely; their homes are deserted, their stock scattered abroad and entire ruin staring them in the face. They see but one alternative--peace, whilst many of those who have come to their assistance from a distance see another alternative--extermination, and in one instance have inscribed it upon their banner, and were they not restrained by the only man in Oregon who possesses the ability, their acts would be in accordance with their motto. There are some respectable men who advocate extermination, but they will live to repent it. When the excitement shall have passed, I will write you a chapter upon "The Heroes of the War." I will see their acts to the end and should they not receive their due it will not be for the want of candor on the part of Timon. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 27, 1853, page 2 Camp
Alden, Rogue River, O.T.
Sir:--I have the honor to report to you
of my
safe arrival at this camp today, with the greater part of the
ammunition and the gun, and take great pleasure in acknowledging the
obligation I am under for the assistance you have afforded me through
Capt. Nesmith and his company, without which it would have been utterly
impossible for me to have gone through in the comparatively short time
that I did, and had I been left entirely to my own limited resources, I
do not think that I could have got through at all. The Captain was
necessarily much detained by his instructions to remain with the gun,
and the detention was increased by the bad weather. Had it not have
rained, we would have reached our destination in ten days from Salem.
It was an arduous task to get the carriages along, and frequently
required the twelve mules and all the men that could get round to get
one of the wagons up the hills. The men did exceeding good service, and
for four days were constantly at the wheel. In the Canyon, they were
for the greater part of two days in mud and water, and quite a number
of the men were afterwards taken sick in consequence of the exposure
thus incurred. Captain Nesmith himself was foremost at the wheel, and
his example did much toward contenting the men with their hardships,
and everything toward getting the gun through. Nothing has occurred
since we started requiring the use of the gun here, except perhaps the
moral effect of its presence upon the Indians, in which Gen. Lane seems
to have great confidence, and he has expressed himself exceedingly well
pleased with its arrival. With many thanks for your kindness and
renewed acknowledgment of my obligations, I remain with great respect,Sept. 9th, 1853. Your obedient
servant,
To Hon. George L. Curry,AUGUST V. KAUTZ, 2nd Lt., 4th Infantry Acting Governor, O.T., Salem, O.T. Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 27, 1853, page 1 LETTER FROM FORT JONES.
"Fort Jones, Cal.,
Sept. 19th, 1853.
"I avail myself of the express passing
this morning to write you a few lines. We left Benicia on the 29th
ult., with so little notice that I had no time to write you, and of
course have heard nothing from you, but have on your account looked
occasionally at the prices current for the price of flour, and in
finding the price coming down, have wondered whether you had got rid of
your stock at the high rates or were still holding on for higher rates.
The amount of wheat raised in California this year no doubt sensibly
diminishes the demand for importations. Even up here on the Oregon
line, I find some dependence placed on home productions, and another
year's growth will nearly furnish this country, without depending upon
San Francisco. At present, however, this region and nearly all remote
points are as yet poorly supplied, and as purchases must soon be made,
I would not be surprised to see the article of flour take another rise,
though this must no doubt depend upon the supply. You have no doubt
heard more or less of the Indian troubles, on account of which we came
here. There have been several fights, in only one of which were any
government troops, and that was the one in which Capt. Alden received
his wound. It seems he had joined and taken command of about 200
volunteers to make war upon the Indians upon Rogue River and the Chief Sam, who held
himself in readiness for a fight, and in attacking him he was so
situated that it was desirable to make a charge upon his party and
dislodge them before being able to fight them upon fair terms. The
charge was ordered, and Alden and Gen. Lane headed it, and were
followed by only six men, all of whom (with one exception, I believe)
were U.S. soldiers of Alden's company, eight of whom he had taken with
him from this post, being all that were then well enough to go. These
eight who made the charge were soon overpowered and driven back, Alden
receiving a serious wound. He is getting well, and we have just learned
is on his way to this post on a litter. A treaty has been made with
Sam, and we are here waiting further intelligence upon the necessity of
going on to Rogue River. Several other little fights have taken place
between the Indians and volunteers, in which the Indians came off best,
and some movements of this sort are still going on at a number of
points above here, and have grown out of some thefts committed, or
alleged to have been committed, by the Indians. Whether we are to
inquire into these matters and attempt to punish guilty Indians, or
tribes not actually hostile, depends upon the high functionaries who
are supposed to possess a wisdom corresponding to their position and
responsibilities, but a display of which I fear we are to look for in
vain. Col. Wright, of the 4th Infantry, is our immediate commander, and
will direct our movements. We reached here day before yesterday. If we
do not go on further, it is probable we shall return before long and
again take station at Benicia.Yours
truly,
N. LYON.
Daily
Alta California, San Francisco, October 1, 1853, page
1Capt. Alden, of the U.S.A., who was severely wounded by the Indians on Rogue River, is in a fair way to recover. FROM ROGUE RIVER--INDIAN TREATY.--The latest accounts from Jacksonville state that the miners had resumed work, and were making $8 and $10 per day. A treaty with the Indians had been concluded, and no further difficulties were apprehended. Capt. Nesmith's company was disbanded. "Thirteen Days Later from Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, October 4, 1853, page 4 THE ROGUE RIVER COUNTRY.--The Mountain Herald, of the 1st inst., in an article on the treaty lately perfected with the Indians in the Rogue River country, says: "The Rogue River war, for the present, at least, is over--the hatchet has been buried--peace has been concluded, and the inhabitants of the valley have returned to their peaceful homes, once more to resume their respective industrial avocations. But we fear, from a knowledge of the character of the Indians of this part of the country, that peace will be of but short duration. These Indians cannot, nor will they, observe a treaty, until they are more severely flogged. They are yet saucy, and this and their thieving propensities, together with the natural animosity which always has existed, and which has been soured by the recent war, will not let them rest quiet one year. All experience has taught us that the whites and Indians in this quarter cannot live harmoniously together. Indians will steal, and no white man will have his property stolen with impunity. "The last breakout was a premeditated affair with them--an attack upon the whites which they had been preparing for months before, and one in which they were all combined and agreed; and, in our humble estimation, they do not intend to give up but a very small portion of their guns and ammunition, according to promise. They have been very tardy in fulfilling their promises so far, at least. "As to the promises of an Indian, they are but empty words--the best of them will not tell the truth when an untruth will answer their purpose better. As one instance of this, old Joe tells Gen. Lane that old Tipsy had persuaded his men into this war, &c. Old Tipsy tells Gen. Lane that he never has done the whites any harm, but is in the mountains armed for his own protection--when every man who knows anything of the affair knows that they were combined, and that they had a mutual understanding." Sacramento Daily Union, October 6, 1853, page 3 Gen. Lane's Report.
Jacksonville, Sept.
20, 1853.
George L.
Curry, Governor of Oregon, Sir:--I have the honor herewith to enclose a
copy of a communication to Gen. Hitchcock, Commanding Military
Department, Pacific Coast, detailing operations of forces under my
command in the late difficulties with the Rogue River Indians.
I am, sir, with great respect, Your ob't. serv't., JOSEPH LANE. Headquarters, Camp
Alden,
Gen. Hitchcock, Military Dept.Rogue River, Oregon, Sept. 16, '53. San Francisco, California. Sir:--On the 17th of August, I received information at my residence in Umpqua Valley that the Rogue River Indians, assisted by the Klamaths, Shastas, the bands living on Applegate and Grave creeks, had united and attacked the settlements in Rogue River Valley, near Jacksonville--that a number of persons had been killed, a large amount of stock killed or driven off, and houses and grain burned; and that companies were being formed for the defense of the settlements, and for the purpose of a general war upon the Indians. I promptly notified the citizens of the neighborhood, and advised with Maj. Alvord, who was then present engaged in the location of the road from Myrtle Creek to Camp Stuart, and immediately proceeded, accompanied by Capt. Armstrong, Messrs. Clugage, Nichol and some ten others, to the scene of hostilities. On the 21st, I arrived at the headquarters of our forces, on Stuart Creek, where I found Captain Alden, 4th Inf., who had promptly, upon the first information being received by him, at Fort Jones, on Scotts River, repaired to Jacksonville with ten men of his command (all who were fit for duty) and forthwith proceeded to take energetic measures for an active and effective campaign, by appointing four Commissioners of Military Affairs, and mustering into service all the volunteers for whom arms could be procured. His force, on my arrival, consisted of companies under captains Goodall, Miller, Lamerick and Rhodes, commanded by Col. John Ross, the whole under the command of Col. Alden. These troops had been actively engaged in scouring the country in all directions, and had succeeded in driving the main body of the Indians to their strongholds in the mountains; pack trains were being collected in view of an extended pursuit of the Indians, and all other preparations were being made with the utmost dispatch. At the request of Col. Alden and the troops I assumed the command of the forces, and on the 22nd, at 4 o'clock, a.m., left camp for the mountains, having divided the command into two battalions in order better to scour the whole country. One battalion composed of captains Miller's and Lamerick's companies, under the command of Col. Ross, were directed to proceed up Evans Creek (which empties into Rogue River from the north) and continue on, if no traces of the Indians were found, until the two detachments should meet at a point designated, but if the trail was found, to follow it, and bring the Indians to battle. At the head of the other battalion, composed of captains Goodall's and Rhodes' companies, commanded by Col. Alden, I proceeded by the way of Table Rock in the direction of the point designated on Evans Creek. After advancing about fifteen miles beyond Table Rock, I discovered the trail of the Indians, and encamped upon it. I took up the line of march early the next morning, and followed the trail with great difficulty, the Indians having used every precaution to conceal it; the country was exceedingly mountainous and almost impossible for animals, and as the Indians had fired the country behind them, the falling of the burning timber and the heat delayed our progress, while the dense smoke prevented us from ascertaining with certainty the face of the country. About noon we came to the place at which they had encamped a few nights before, by the side of a stream in a dense forest; here they had killed a mule and a horse they had captured in a battle some days previous, and used them for provisions. From this point we had more difficulty in finding their trail, it having been very carefully concealed and the mountains lately fired, but after some delay we again struck it. Late in the evening we came to the main fork of Evans Creek (now called Battle Creek) where we came to a spot at which the Indians had again encamped. Beyond this all trace of the Indians seemed to be lost; and, after searching in vain for the trail until dark, we were forced to encamp. The valley was very narrow and almost entirely covered with an impenetrable thicket of maple vines, leaving scarcely room for the men to lie down on the bank of the creek. The animals were closely tied to the bushes, there being no grass or forage of any kind. The command was ready to move by daylight; a party on foot early discovered the trail, and after cutting out the brush for nearly a quarter of a mile, we succeeded in reaching it with the animals. About a mile farther up we crossed Battle Creek and ascended a high, steep mountain which forms the dividing ridge of the numerous branches running into Rogue River. This part of the country had not been fired. About 9 o'clock, a.m., we arrived at another Indian camp on the ridge, at a spring, very difficult of access, on the side of a mountain. On leaving this camp, we found that the woods had been recently fired, which induced me to believe that the Indians were not far in advance of us. About a half a mile from the spring, as I was riding slowly in front, I heard the crack of a rifle in the direction of the enemy--without halting I proceeded to a point commanding the rapid descent of the trail from the mountain, and halting, could hear persons talking in their camp about four hundred yards distant, in a dense forest thick with underbrush, which entirely obstructed the view. As the troops came up, they were ordered in a low voice to dismount, tie their animals and prepare for battle. Col. Alden, at the head of Captain Goodall's company, was directed to proceed on the trail, and attack the enemy in front, while a portion of Capt. Rhodes' company were directed to follow a ridge running to the left of their trail, and turn their flank. Col. Alden proceeded to engage them in the most gallant manner, his well-directed fire being the first intimation of our approach. It being found impracticable to turn their flank, Capt. Rhodes proceeded at once engaged them on their right. The men were deployed, taking cover behind the trees, and the fight became general. I was delayed a few minutes on the hill for the arrival of the rear guard; these were dismounted, and all except fifteen men I immediately led into action. On arriving on the ground, I found Col. Alden, who had been shot down early in the fight, dangerously wounded, in the arms of his faithful sergeant, and surrounded by a few of his own men. The battle was now raging with great fierceness, our men coolly pouring in their fire, unshaken by the hideous yells and war whoops of the Indians, or by their rapid and more destructive fire. After examining the ground and finding that the enemy were securely posted behind trees and logs and concealed by underbrush, and that it was impossible to reach them except when they carelessly exposed their persons in their anxiety to get a shot at our men, I determined to charge them. I passed the order, led forward in the movement, and within thirty yards of their position received a wound from a rifle ball, which struck my right arm near the shoulder joint, and, passing entirely through, came out near the point of the shoulder. Believing at the time that the shot came from the flank, I immediately ordered our line to be extended to prevent the enemy from turning our flank, and the men again to cover themselves behind trees. This position was held for three or four hours, during which time I talked frequently with the officers and men, and found them cool and determined on conquering the enemy. Finding myself weak from loss of blood, I retired to the rear to have my wounds examined and dressed. While here the Indians cried out to our men, many of whom understood their language, that they wished for a talk; that they desired to fight no longer; that they were frightened and desired peace. Mr. Tyler was dispatched by Capt. Goodall to inform me of the desire of the Indians to cease firing and make peace. By this time, Robert Metcalfe and James Bruce had been sent into their lines to talk, and having informed them that I was in command, they expressed a great desire to see me. Finding that they were much superior in numbers, being about two hundred warriors, well armed with rifles and muskets, well supplied with ammunition, and knowing that they could fight as long as they saw fit and then safely retreat into a country exceedingly difficult of access, and being desirous of examining their position, I concluded to go among them. On entering their lines, I met the principal chief, Joe, and the subordinate chiefs, Sam and Jim, who told me that their hearts were sick of war, and that they would meet me at Table Rock in seven days, when they would give up their arms, make a treaty and place themselves under our protection. The preliminaries having been arranged, the command returned to the place where they had been dismounted--the dead were buried and the wounded cared for. By this time Col. Ross with his battalion arrived, having followed our trail for some distance. This gallant command were anxious to renew the attack upon the Indians, who still remained in their position, but as the negotiations had proceeded so far, I could not consent. That night was spent within four hundred yards of the Indians, and good faith was observed on both sides. At the dawn of day, I discovered that the Indians were moving and sent to stop them until a further talk had been held. Accompanied by Colonel Ross and other officers, I went among them and became satisfied that they would faithfully observe the agreements already made. By the advice of the surgeon, we remained that day and night upon the battle ground, and then returned to Table Rock. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Col. Alden. The country is greatly indebted to him for the rapid organization of the forces, when it was entirely without defense. His gallantry is sufficiently attested by his being dangerously wounded while charging at the head of his command, almost at the enemy's lines. Captains Goodall and Rhodes, with their companies, distinguished themselves from the beginning to the end of the action; for their cool and determined bravery--no troops could have done better. The command of Col. Ross, under Captains Miller and Lamerick, although too late to participate in the action, made a severe march through the mountains and arrived on the ground one day sooner than I expected them--their presence was of great assistance to us. Our loss in the battle was three killed--Pleasant Armstrong, John Scarborough and Isaac Bradley--and five badly wounded--Col. Alden, myself, and privates Chas. C. Abbe (since dead), Henry Flesher and Thomas Hays. The Indians lost eight killed and twenty wounded, seven of whom we know to have since died. Soon after my return from the mountains, Capt. A. J. Smith, 1st Dragoons, arrived at camp with his troop from Port Orford--his arrival was most opportune; his presence during the negotiations for a peace was of great assistance, while his troops served to overawe the Indians. The Governor of the Territory, upon the first information being received by him, promptly ordered out a company under Capt. Nesmith, and sent them as an escort for a large quantity of arms and ammunition which were procured from Ft. Vancouver and purchased elsewhere. Capt. Nesmith arrived after the negotiations had been commenced, but was of great service to me from his intimate knowledge of the Indians and their language. Lieutenant Kautz, 4th Inf., accompanied Capt. Nesmith, and had in charge a twelve-pound howitzer and caisson, which he brought safely into camp, although the road is a very difficult one and seldom traveled by wagons. A treaty of peace has been made with the Indians, and I have no doubt that with proper care it can be strictly maintained. The tribe is a very large one, and to a great extent controls the tribes in this part of the country--a peace with them is a peace with all. This, in my opinion, can only be perfectly secured by the presence of a considerable military force in this valley. I would therefore most earnestly recommend the establishment of a military post in the Rogue River Valley without delay. To Robert Metcalfe, who acted for me as scout and guide, I am indebted for the faithful discharge of his duty. John Cosby, James Bruce and George W. Tyler did good service in the same capacity. On the expedition to the mountains, from the 22nd to the 26th, W. G. T'Vault, Esq., acted as my volunteer aide. At that time, Capt. C. Sims joined the command and handsomely performed the duties of assistant adjutant general until the 29th, when compelled by sickness to resign. Since that time, Captain Mosher, late of the 4th Ohio Vols., has performed the duties of that office. Dr. Ed. Sheil, Geo. Dart, Richard Dugan and L. A. Davis, the commissioners appointed by Col. Alden, were most active in the discharge of their duties, and kept the command supplied with provisions, transportation and other necessaries for carrying on the war. Maj. Chas. S. Drew, assistant quartermaster, with his assistants performed their duties with promptness and accuracy. Dr. E. H. Cleaveland, surgeon general, and his assistants were unremitting in their attention to the sick and wounded. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOSEPH LANE. Oregon Statesman, Salem, October 11, 1853, pages 1-2. Also printed in the Oregon Weekly Times, October 29, 1853, and the San Francisco Placer Times and Transcript, September 30, 1853. As the war of 1853 was coming on, [Major James Bruce] offered his services to Captain Goodall, and bore his part in the marching, skirmishing, hungering and hardships of that desultory campaign. At the close of hostilities, he discovered the peril of entering with but one companion into an armed and excited Indian camp. He performed this intrepid feat at the request of General Lane, who had given the Indians a three days' armistice to come in and conclude a peace, but was annoyed and even perplexed by their failure to do so, and indeed by their entire disappearance. Bruce and R. B. Metcalfe were directed to scout the mountains for the camp of Chief Joseph. After three days' investigation they found him with all his tribe encamped as if for war in a natural fortress. To enter this stronghold and deliver their errand to bring in the Indians was a matter of great delicacy. But descrying the tent of Chief Joseph, which was distinguished by a blue cloth, the spies determined to go to his lodge, relying for safety upon his well-known desire for peace. Before attracting his attention, however, they were seen by the young braves, who assembled in great numbers, running and hooting, and manifestly bent upon spilling the blood of the intruders. Bruce and Metcalfe saw in a moment that their death was imminent; and the Major believes that they must have been slaughtered had not an Indian boy named Sambo suddenly appeared, shouting and averring at the top of his voice that this white man was not to be killed--that he had saved his life and must now be saved. Major Bruce was only too glad to recognize in this youth his Sambo, the Indian formerly the rider of the bell horse on his pack train, whom he had actually saved sometime before at Jacksonville from the hands of the infuriated miners, who were indiscriminately hanging the Indian bell boys then in town. By the shouts and exertions of this faithful Sambo, a diversion was created; and Joseph appeared, by whom the scouts were severely censured for their temerity. Nevertheless they gained time and explained their mission, and at length accomplished their purpose, bringing the chief to General Lane. The Major, however, always thinks with tenderness of the boy Sambo, whose fidelity saved him from a dreadful death. Elwood Evans, History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington, vol. II, Portland 1889, page 228 From
the Mountain Herald.
Jacksonville,
Oregon,
Messrs. Editors:--I have to say that
Gen. Jo Lane has just returned from a trip to the mountains, having
gone out with the guide, Metcalfe, on the 17th, to hold a "talk" with
the Indians, in the direction of the Siskiyou Mountains. He informed me
(and I hasten to give you the information as [illegible]) that he
met Tipsu Tyee, or the bearded chief, and held a talk with him, who
represents himself as entirely friendly to the whites, "that he does
not wish for war--that he has not committed a single depredation--and
that he is afraid of being killed by the whites," which is the reason
he has taken his position in the mountains. He further states that "the
depredations laid to his charge have been committed by Indians not of
his tribe and over whom he has no control." He also states "that when
the Rogue River difficulties broke out an Indian came to him and
informed him of it, and that he remained at or near a white man's
[house] near Cottonwood or Klamath River, and fear of the whites
killing him induced him to leave." Gen. Lane found him and his [illegible]
excessively timid and
afraid of treachery, and it was with the utmost caution
that he allowed Gen. Lane, who had only two men with him, to approach.
The country in the vicinity is very difficult of access.Sept. 19, 1853, 9 o'clock p.m. It is the General's intention to go out again in a day or two to hold another talk with him, and to take Capt. Robert L. Williams' company of thirty rifles with him, in which case, if necessary, Capt. Bob will give a good account of himself, for there are no better mountain men than his company, which is the only one not in service. The muster rolls and other papers of the companies recently engaged in this war are now being made out and arranged for transmission to Washington, the General's desire being to have all such matters settled by the next Congress. Tomorrow the General goes down to the agency to see Joe, the principal, and Sam and Jim, the subordinate chiefs. It is but justice to say that since Gen. Lane assumed command of the forces, on the 21st ult., every exertion has been used by him (even after a severe wound received on the 24th August) to settle these Indian difficulties, which had stopped nearly all the business of the country. Within eleven days after the action of 24th August a treaty was made, which, if adhered to by both parties, will greatly aid the prosperity of the country. Troops kept in the field at an enormous expense to the country, and who were consuming the subsistence of the settlements, were sent home, and all the necessary steps are taken to protect the valley by keeping in the field a small force to awe the Indians, who cannot always be relied on, the country will settle rapidly and our Indian troubles will cease. Capt. A. J. Smith, 1st dragoons, with thirty-five men, is at the agency, and Col. Wright, from Fort Reading, is expected soon to take post in this valley with an infantry force. Col. Alden has so far recovered from his wound that he started from this place for Yreka on the 18th inst., in a carriage accompanied by Doct. [illegible], to whose care and attention the Colonel is perhaps indebted for his life. Lieut. Ely is convalescent from a very painful and severe wound, and but two of the Yreka company are now in the hospital--James Carroll and Henry Flesher, who acted so gallantly in our fights with the Indians.
Yours, &c.,
Oregon
Statesman, Salem, October 11, 1853, page 2J. P. GOODALL. Marshal Nesmith, who commanded the fast b'hoys during the Rogue River war, of whom a correspondent says "were neither cowards nor gentlemen," has returned to the discharge of his civil duty. We have no doubt that Capt. Nesmith and the company under his command would have done good service if Gen. Lane had not agreed upon an armistice with the Indians before their arrival. This company went out to fight, and not to contribute to the political capital of Jo Lane, the "favorite of the Indians." It is therefore not strange that they should become disgusted and return when they saw which way the wind was blowing. Whether the marshal was shot or not we cannot say. If he was, we are quite sure it was neither in the back or the neck. Weekly Oregonian, Portland, October 8, 1853, page 2 SHOT.--Mr. James Kyle was dangerously shot last week by the Indians at Willow Springs, in Rogue River Valley. The murderers are arrested and at Fort Lane in irons. Sacramento Daily Union, October 24, 1853, page 1 Correspondence
of the Oregonian.
SOUTH
UMPQUA, Douglas County, Oct. 10.
FRIEND DRYER:
If you will pardon the intrusion of an humble subscriber for a few
lines, I will endeavor to give you a short history of a treaty and its
incidents, which was entered into by Joe and others of the siwash nation, and
Joe Lane, "the Mary-ann of the Mexican War," and his satellites of this
last
war. During the Indian difficulty in Rogue River Valley, a call was
made on the citizens of this county for volunteers, and Gen. Lane with
a company of eighteen men immediately repaired to the scene of action.
The citizens of Rogue River at that time were under the command of Col.
Alden, and on the arrival of Lane, Alden requested him to take charge
of the forces, which he did; making quite an eloquent harangue to the
soldiers. He stated that he had made two treaties with the same
Indians, that both had been broken, and that now he intended to make a
treaty which should be lasting. He said that anything short of a war of
extermination would never meet with his sanction or approval. This was
his doctrine before he left here, and which he expressed on his way out
to Rogue River.But in a few days, strange to say, a great change came over the mind of that great man! During the battle in which Gen. Lane commanded some of the Indians requested the firing to cease--they wished to have a "talk." After a hasty consultation, it was acceded to by both parties. Firing ceased--talk commenced, and an armistice for seven days was agreed to, with the understanding that at the expiration of that time, the Indians were to come in and give up their arms to the whites, together with all the stolen property; and that all damages done to the whites should be paid for out of money which would be due them after the purchase of their lands by the general government. That arrangement with the Indians at that time was most unfortunate. The whites had decidedly the advantage and the Indians knew it; and notwithstanding that four out of every five of the soldiers were opposed to it, yet Lane says it was the voice of the people! Now let us inquire how it was submitted to the people. When Lane had entered into those preliminaries with the Indians, Ross's command had not yet arrived on the battle-ground; but when they came up the question was proposed whether the arrangement entered into by Lane would be acceded to. Lane made a speech favorable to the propositions of the Indians, and in order to throw any blame that might be attached to the armistice from his own shoulders, he wished a vote to be taken among the soldiers on the question; when, at this same time, his word was pledged to the Indians for the fulfillment of his armistice! The vote was taken, and about twenty out of two hundred and fifty of the soldiers voted in favor of Lane's arrangement--the balance, not wishing to cast reflections on the course pursued by their commander, refused to vote. That was the manner it was submitted to the people!--and it was not surprising that a spirit of insubordination raged in camp (which was the case), and no Indians had come in. But, as luck would have it, an opportunity offered for Lane to smooth over and plaster up this botched affair. Banners were presented to the Yreka and Humbug companies, and Lane made another speech, in which he said that "if they would trust to him, he would make a treaty that all would be satisfied with--the Indians had promised to give up their arms, and he would see that the promise was fulfilled to the letter." As soon as some of the Indians came to headquarters, all the companies that were opposed to the treaty were discharged, or sent off from headquarters. He was afraid of the consequences that might occur in case of a failure of the Indians to comply with the terms. But the treaty has been made, and no arms in the possession of the Indians have been turned over, except one old shotgun! Thus it will be seen that old Joe the siwash has far excelled Joe the Mary-ann and his satellites in diplomacy, and the curses of the people of these valleys rests on them for their ill-timed, injudicious treaty; for if curses and anathemas would sink a man in the lowest depths of degradation and woe, the shrill blast of Gabriel's horn would fail to awake Jo Lane to glory in the final summing up of time. F.
Weekly Oregonian, Portland,
October 29, 1853, page 2Nov. 22nd. John Caywood was buried today, the Greenhorn crowd following in procession; he was much respected--had been out in the recent Rogue River war, and was one of those who carried our late lamented friend, Charles Abbe, over the mountains to Jacksonville, and the one who stayed there, taking care of him, until his death. Since his return, he had started a small pack train, and was going out on his second trip to Crescent City. J. H. Tibbs, "A California '49 Scene in '53," Quincy Whig, Quincy, Illinois, January 23, 1854, page 2 The Indian War.
"When
he was seen within their breastworks every lip
pronounced his name--Jo Lane, Jo Lane--and every swarthy cheek was
bathed in tears. The wounded ceased their groaning and the wild Indian
of the mountains slunk behind a bush or log in fear and awe. He
appeared to them as a savior--in him alone could they confide--only Jo
Lane could they trust. Old Joe (tyee) advanced to meet him and tell his
story of the war. He said his tribe did not commence the war, on the
contrary, when they refused to join the Shastas in their war with the
whites, they notified the settlers of their danger; that the murders
were commenced by the Shastas; that it was not until the whites had
shot or hung 14 of his tribe, many of whom were pet servants of the
town, who were guilty of no offense, did he consent to the war."
The Indian Superintendent, Gen. Palmer, has returned--and in a
conversation we had with him recently we learn that the Indian
difficulties had been peaceably settled by treaty. Taylor's tribe only
remained to be treated with--but owing to the treachery which the
whites had shown them, it was doubtful what the result might be with
them. Gen. Lane had gone to have a talk with them--he has the
confidence of the Indians, and can exert more influence over them than
anyone else. This was shown to be the case in making the treaties with
the other tribes. A correspondent of the Statesman [on
October 27, 1853, page 2] in describing Lane's first interview with the
hostile Indians has the following:
The substantial men are satisfied with the treaty--but a few reckless men evince a determination to shoot every Indian, regardless of the treaty. The Indian Department have not yet received any of the appropriations--and consequently the agents cannot act as ineffectually as they otherwise might. The Indians did not give up all their guns in the treaty--because they feared unscrupulous whites would butcher them. The following is the treaty for their lands: Treaty with Rogue River Indians
for the Sale of Lands.
Oregon Weekly Times, Portland,
October 1, 1853, page 2
ART.
2.--The Rogue
River
tribe of Indians do
hereby cede and relinquish, for the considerations hereinafter
specified,
to the U.S.A., all their right, title, interest and claim to
all the lands lying in that part of the Territory of Oregon, bounded by
lines designated as follows; to wit: Commencing at a point
one mile below the mouth of Applegate Creek, on the south side of Rogue
River; running thence southerly to the high lands dividing the waters
of
Applegate and Althouse Creeks, thence along said
highlands to the summit of the Siskiyou Range of mountains; thence
easterly to Pilot Rock; thence northeasterly to the summit of the
Cascade Range of mountains; thence northerly along the said Cascade
Range to Pitt's
Peak, continuing northeasterly to Rogue River; thence westerly to the
headwaters of Jump-off Joe Creek; thence down said creek to the
intersection of the same with a line due north from the place of
beginning, thence to the place of beginning.
ART. 2.--It is agreed on the part of the U.S.A., that the aforesaid tribe of Indians shall be allowed to occupy, temporarily, that portion of the above-described tract of territory bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing on the north side of Rogue River at the mouth of Evans Creek, thence up said creek to the upper end of a small prairie, bearing in [a] northwesterly direction from Table Mountain or Upper Table Rock, thence through the gap to the south side of the cliff of said mountain, thence in a line to Rogue River, striking the southern base of Lower Table Rock, thence down said river to [the] place of beginning. It being understood that this last described tract of land shall be deemed and considered an Indian reserve until a suitable selection shall be made by the direction of the President of the U.S. for their permanent residence, buildings erected thereon, and provisions made for their removal. ART. 3.--For and in consideration of the cession and relinquishment, contained in Art. 1, the U.S.A. agree to pay to the aforesaid tribe the sum of sixty thousand dollars, fifteen thousand dollars to be retained, according to the stipulations of Art. 4, of a "Treaty of Peace, made and entered into [on] the 8th day of September, between Gen. Joseph Lane, commanding forces of Oregon Territory, and Joe, principal chief of the Rogue River tribe of Indians; Sam, subordinate chief, and Jim, subordinate chief, on the part of the tribes under their jurisdiction,", by the Supt. of Indian Affairs for payment of the property of the whites destroyed by them during the war, the amount of which property destroyed to be estimated by three disinterested commissioners, to be appointed by the Supt. of Indian Affairs. Five thousand dollars to be expended in the purchase of agricultural implements, blankets, clothing and such other goods as may be deemed by the Supt. of Indian Affairs or agent most conducive to the comfort and necessities of said tribe, on or before the first day of September 1854, and for the payment of such permanent improvements as may have been made by land claimants situated on the aforesaid reserve. The remaining forty thousand dollars to be paid in sixteen annual installments of two thousand five hundred dollars each (commencing on or about the 1st day of September 1854), in blankets, clothing, farming utensils, stock and such other articles as may be deemed most conducive to the interests of the said tribe. ART. 4.--It is further agreed that there shall be erected, at the expense of the U.S., three dwelling houses, one for each of the three principal chiefs of the aforesaid tribe, the cost of which shall not exceed five hundred dollars each, the said buildings to be erected as soon after the ratification of this treaty as practicable. And when the tribe may be removed to another reserve, buildings and other improvements shall be made upon such reserve, of equal value to those which they shall relinquish. And upon such removal, in addition to the before mentioned sixty thousand dollars, the U.S. agree to pay the further sum of fifteen thousand dollars in five equal annual installments, commencing at the expiration of the before named installments. [Article 5
omitted in the letter.]
ART.
6.--That
the friendship
which is now
established between the U.S. and the Rogue River tribe of
Indians shall not be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals, it
is
hereby agreed that for injuries done by individuals no private revenge
or retaliation shall take place, but instead therefor complaint shall
be
made to the Indian agent by the injured party. And it shall be the duty
of the chiefs of the said tribe to deliver up the person or persons
against whom the
complaint is made, to the end that he or they may be punished agreeably
to the laws of the U.S. And in like manner if any violation,
robbery or murder shall be committed on any Indian or Indians
belonging to said tribe, the person or persons so offending shall be
tried, and if found guilty shall be punished according to the laws of
the U.S. And it is agreed that the chiefs of said tribe
shall to the uttermost of their power exert themselves to recover
horses
or other property which are or may be stolen or taken from any citizen
or citizens of the U.S. by any individual or individuals of said tribe,
and
the property so recovered shall be forthwith delivered to the Indian
agent or other person authorized to receive the same, that it may be
restored to the proper owner. And the U.S. hereby guarantee to
any Indian or Indians of the said tribe a full indemnification for any
horses or other property which may be stolen from them by any citizen
of the U.S. Providing that the property stolen or taken cannot
be recovered and that sufficient proof is produced that it was actually
stolen or taken by a citizen of the U.S. And the chiefs and
headmen of the said tribe engage, on the requisition or demand of the
President of the U.S., Supt. of Indian Affairs, or
Indian agent, to deliver up any white person or persons resident among
them.ART. 7.--The said tribe of Indians further agree to give safeguard to all persons who may be authorized by the U.S. to pass through their reserve, and to protect in their person and property all agents or other persons sent by the U.S. to reside among them. They further agree not to molest or interrupt any white person passing through their reserve. ART. 8.--This treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the contracting parties as soon as the same shall have been sanctioned by the President of the U.S. by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In testimony whereof the said Joel Palmer and Samuel H. Culver, on the part of the U.S., and the chiefs and headmen of the Rogue River tribe of Indians aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid. Signed in the presence of
J. W. Nesmith )
R. B. Metcalfe ) Interpreters John ) J. D. Mason ) T. T. Tierney ) Secretaries Joseph Lane ) August V. Kautz ) Witnesses
Joel
Palmer, Supt. Ind.
Affrs.
S. H. Culver, Indian Agent
Jo
Aps er-ka har
Sam To qua he-ar Jim Ana-cha-a-rah John Limpy Return of Gen. Lane--Matters
South.
Gen. Lane very unexpectedly returned to this place on Tuesday, and on
Thursday proceeded down the valley on his way to Washington. He will
leave on the first steamer.
His return through the Willamette was unexpected to himself, expecting to be detained in Rogue River too late to permit him to pass this way, and so advising his friends in the valley. But the arrival of Col. Wright with four companies of U.S. infantry of twenty men each, earlier than was anticipated, induced him to gratify his anxious wish to visit his family and his friends in this part of the Territory. His wound has nearly healed, though he has not yet recovered the use of his arm. In other respects he is in excellent health and spirits. Col. Wright is preparing winter quarters for his men, and will remain in the country for the present. These forces will do much towards preventing aggressions, and preserving peace. Three of the companies are from Benicia, in command of Maj. Patten, the poet and soldier; the other is from Fort Reading, the whole under command of Col. Wright, an experienced and efficient officer. Gen. Lane had with him, and will take to Washington, a sprightly Indian lad of sixteen or seventeen years, an only son of "Joe," the head chief of the Rogue River tribes. He was given to him by his father as a hostage and a guarantee that his people should observe the treaty. He said "as proof that I have confidence in you, and that I intend to observe the treaty in good faith, I give you my only son, who is dearer to me than life, to take with you to the States, and if I violate the treaty you have permission to hang him." He will be brought back by Gen. Lane when he returns, and restored to his people, and his visit to Washington and return among the Indians must have a great moral effect upon them. Before leaving Gen. Lane, accompanied by two men, went into the mountains to have a "talk" with "Tipsy," the chief of the Klamaths, who is supposed to have done much towards inciting the recent hostilities. After much difficulty they found him, among the mountains and in the heart of a dense forest, with forty or fifty warriors of his tribe. They sent a messenger to him, telling him that they had come to hold a "talk" and make peace. He informed them that he would meet them the next day at a place named, and still more strongly guarded against surprise and attack, he fearing that was meditated. After a hard day's ride on the following day they reached the spot designated, and the General and his men approached "Tipsy's" camp. The General asked him if his heart was good, and disposed to peace? He replied that he didn't know, that that depended on their hearts; if their hearts were good, his was good; if theirs were bad, his was bad. The General camped with him during the night, and remained the next day having a talk with him, returning, a day or two after he went back, and a permanent peace was agreed upon. "Tipsy" was very timid, and afraid of being betrayed. Everything was quiet when Gen. Lane left; the people were fast returning to their employments, and the country resuming its wonted business appearance. Oregon Statesman, Salem, October 11, 1853, page 2 MORE BAD FAITH.--A few days before Gen. Lane left, a number of Capt. Williams' men commenced firing upon a party of Joe's Indians, men, women and children, who were fishing in Rogue River. They did not return the fire, but sheltered themselves from it by lying upon the ground behind a shelter they had erected. Some ten or twelve rounds were fired without effect. Joe immediately made his way to Gen. Lane's quarters and complained that the whites had violated the treaty. The General explained to him that the act was committed by some irresponsible, bad men and that the white people were not accountable for it. The presence of Col. Wright's command will be likely to put a stop to such conduct. Oregon Statesman, Salem, October 11, 1853, page 2 Public Meeting in Rogue River.
At a meeting of the citizens of Rogue River Valley, held at the
Robinson House, in Jacksonville, on the 24th September, A.D. 1853, for
the purpose of adopting such measures as to prevent the trafficking of
arms and ammunition with the Indians, the following proceedings were
had:
On motion of C. Sims, Col. John E. Ross was called to the chair, and on motion of Dr. Ambrose, C. Sims was chosen secretary of the meeting. The chairman then proceeded to state the object of the meeting. On motion of Dr. Ambrose, to appoint a committee of three to draft resolutions expressive of the voice of the meeting, Dr. Ambrose, Capt. John K. Lamerick, and C. S. Drew were accordingly appointed. During the absence of the committee, the meeting was addressed by Gen. Lane and Col. T'Vault, in an eloquent and forcible manner. The committee reported the following preamble and resolutions: Whereas, we the citizens of Jackson County view with pleasure and delight the restoration of safety and quietude to our valley; and whereas, we confidently believe that our present security and tranquility are the offspring of the vigilant and energetic action of our citizens and California brethren, and of the happy conclusion of the late treaty with the Indians; therefore, be it resolved by the citizens of Rogue River Valley-- 1. That we the citizens of Jackson Co. view the late treaty made with the Indians of this valley as the only effectual mode of resuming friendly relations between the white settlers and the Indians. 2. That it is our sincere desire that the said treaty should remain permanent, and that the rights of the Indians under that treaty should be faithfully observed and respected by the citizens of this valley. 3. That we look upon any person who would attempt to violate any of the provisions of this treaty as unworthy of the esteem of his fellow man, and undeserving [of] the rights and privileges of citizenship. 4. That we deem the trading of arms, powder or lead or caps to the Indians as highly improper and injurious; and any person who shall be found trading such articles shall be deemed guilty of improper conduct and upon conviction thereof shall be punished with one hundred and fifty lashes, and be made to leave the valley in the space of 24 hours thereafter. 5. That proper steps be taken by the citizens of this valley to form a vigilance committee, whose duty it shall be to carry into execution the punishment mentioned in the 4th resolution, and that the names of said vigilance committee shall never be made public. 6. That we mutually pledge ourselves to sustain the vigilance committee in the performance of their duties. 7. That we tender our heartfelt thanks to Gen. Lane and Capt. B. R. Alden for their valuable services rendered in the late Indian war, and for the deep interest manifested by them for our future welfare and security. 8. That we also tender our thanks to Capts. Lamerick, Miller, Goodall and Rhodes, of Yreka, and Capt. Terry, of Crescent City, and Williams, also Capts. Applegate and Martin, of Umpqua, and Capt. Nesmith of Willamette. 9. That our best feelings are tendered to our citizen, Col. John E. Ross, who so ably conducted his battalion in the late war. On motion of Dr. Sheil, it was ordered that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Oregon Statesman. On motion, the meeting adjourned. JOHN E. ROSS, President. C. Sims, Secretary. Oregon Statesman, Salem, October 11, 1853, page 2 INDIAN HOSTILITIES IN OREGON
HEADQUARTERS CAMP ALDEN
SIR:
On the 17th of August I received information at my residence in Umpqua
Valley that the Rogue River Indians, assisted by the Klamaths, Shastas,
the bands living on Applegate and Grave creeks, had united and attacked
the settlements in Rogue River Valley, near Jacksonville, that a number
of persons had been killed, a large amount of stock killed or driven
off, and houses and grain burned; and that companies were being formed
for the defense of the settlements and for the purpose of a general war
upon the Indians.Rogue River, O.T. I promptly notified the citizens of the neighborhood, and advised with Major Alvord, who was then present, engaged in the location of the road from Myrtle Creek to Camp Stewart, and immediately proceeded, accompanied by Captain Armstrong, Messrs. Clugage, Nichol, and some ten others, to the scene of hostilities. On the 21st I arrived at the headquarters of our forces on Stewart Creek, where I found Capt. Alden, of the 4th Infantry, who had promptly, upon the first information being received by him at Fort Jones on Scott's River, repaired to Jacksonville with ten men of his command, all who were fit for duty, and forthwith proceeded to take energetic measures for an active and effective campaign, by appointing four commissioners of military affairs and mustering into service all the volunteers for whom arms could be procured. His force on my arrival consisted of companies under Captains Goodall, Miller, Lamerick and Rhodes commanded by Col. John Ross, the whole under the command of Col. Alden. These troops had been actively engaged in scouring the country in all directions, and had succeeded in driving the main body of the Indians to their strongholds in the mountains; pack trains were being collected in view of an extended pursuit of the Indians, and all other preparations were being made with the utmost dispatch. At the request of Col. Alden and the troops I assumed the command of the forces, and on the 22nd, at 4 o'clock a.m., left camp for the mountains, having divided the forces into two battalions in order better to scour the whole country. One battalion, composed of Captains Miller and Lamerick's companies, under the command of Col. Ross, were directed to proceed up Evans Creek, which emptied into Rogue River from the north, and continue on, if no traces of the Indians were found, until the two detachments should meet at a point designated; but if the trail was found, to follow it and bring the Indians to battle. At the head of the other battalion, composed of Captains Rhodes and Goodall's companies, commanded by Col. Alden, I proceeded by the way of Table Rock in the direction of the point designated on Evans Creek. After advancing about fifteen miles beyond Table Rock I discovered the trail of the Indians, and encamped upon it. I took up the line of march early next morning, and followed the trail with great difficulty, the Indians having used every precaution to conceal it. The country was exceedingly mountainous and almost impassable for animals, and as the Indians had fired the country behind them, the falling of the burning timber and the heat delayed our progress, while the dense smoke prevented us from ascertaining with certainty the face of the country. About noon we came to the place at which they had encamped a few nights before, by the side of a stream in a dense forest; here they had killed a mule and a horse they had captured in a battle some days previous, and used them for provisions. From this point we had more difficulty in finding the trail, it having been very carefully concealed and the mountains lately fired, but after some delay we again struck it. Late in the evening we came to the main fork of Evans Creek, now called Battle Creek, where we came to a spot at which the Indians had again encamped. Beyond this all trace of the Indians seemed to be lost, and after searching in vain for the trail until dark, we were forced to encamp. The valley was very narrow, and almost entirely covered with an impenetrable thicket of maple vines, leaving scarcely room for the men to lie down on the bank of the creek; the animals were closely tied to the bushes, there being no grass or forage of any kind. The command was ready to move by daylight; a party on foot early discovered the trail, and after cutting out the brush for nearly a quarter of a mile we succeeded in reaching it with the animals. About a mile further up we crossed Battle Creek and ascended a high steep mountain which forms the dividing ridge of the numerous branches running into Rogue River; this part of the country had not been fired. About 9 o'clock a.m. we arrived at another Indian camp on the ridge, at a spring very difficult of access on the side of a mountain. On leaving this camp we found that the woods had been recently fired, which induced me to believe that the Indians were not far in advance of us. About a half a mile from the spring, as I was riding slowly in front, I heard the crack of a rifle in the direction of the enemy; without halting, I proceeded to a point commanding the rapid descent of the trail from the mountain, and halting, could hear persons talking in their camp about four hundred yards distant, in a dense forest thick with underbrush, which entirely obstructed the view. As the troops came up, they were ordered in a low voice to dismount, tie their animals, and prepare for battle. Col. Alden, at the head of Capt. Goodall's company, was directed to proceed on the trail and attack the enemy in front, while a portion of Capt. Rhodes' company were directed to follow a ridge running to the left of their trail, and turn their flank. Col. Alden proceeded to engage them in the most gallant manner, his well-directed fire being the first intimation of our approach. It being found impracticable to turn their flank, Capt. Rhodes proceeded at once to engage them on their right; the men were now deployed, taking cover behind the trees, and the fight became general. I was delayed a few minutes on the hill for the arrival of the rear guard; these were dismounted, and all, except fifteen men, I immediately led into action. On arriving on the ground, I found Col. Alden, who had been shot down early in the fight, dangerously wounded in the arms of his faithful sergeant, and surrounded by a few of his own men. The battle was now raging with great fierceness, our men coolly pouring in their fire, unshaken by the hideous yells and war-whoops of the Indians, or by their rapid and more destructive fire. After examining the ground, and finding that the enemy were securely posted behind trees and logs, and concealed by underbrush, and that it was impossible to reach them except when they carelessly exposed their persons in their anxiety to get a shot at our men, I determined to charge them. I passed the order, led forward in the movement, and within thirty yards of their position received a wound from a rifle ball, which struck my right arm near the shoulder joint, and passing entirely through, came out near the point of the shoulder. Believing at the time that the shot came from the flank, I immediately ordered our line to be extended, to prevent the enemy from turning our flank, and the men again ordered to cover themselves behind trees. This position was held for three or four hours, during which time I talked frequently to the officers and men, and found them cool and determined on conquering the enemy. Finding myself weak from the loss of blood, I retired to the rear to have my wound examined and dressed. While here the Indians cried out to our men, many of whom understood their language, that they wished for a talk, that they desired to fight no longer, that they were frightened and desired peace. Mr. Tyler was dispatched by Capt. Goodall to inform me of the desire of the Indians to cease firing and make peace; by this time Robert Metcalfe and James Bruce had been sent into their lines to talk, and having informed them that I was in command, they expressed a great desire to see me. Finding that they were much superior in numbers, being about two hundred warriors, well armed with rifles and muskets, well supplied with ammunition, and knowing that they could fight as long as they saw fit, and then safely retreat into a country exceedingly difficult of access, and being desirous of examining their position, I concluded to go among them. On entering their lines I met the principal chief Joe, and the subordinate chiefs Sam and Jim, who told me that their hearts were sick of war, and that they would meet me at Table Rock in seven days, where they would give up their arms, make a treaty, and place themselves under our protection. The preliminaries having been arranged, the command returned to the place where they had been dismounted--the dead were buried, and the wounded cared for. By this time Col. Ross with his battalion arrived, having followed our trail for some distance. This gallant command were anxious to renew the attack upon the Indians, who still remained in their position, but as the negotiations had proceeded so far, I could not consent. That night was spent within four hundred yards of the Indians, and good faith was observed on both sides. At the dawn of day I discovered that the Indians were moving, and sent to stop them until a further talk had been held. Accompanied by Col. Ross and other officers, I went among them and became satisfied that they would faithfully observe the agreements already made. By the advice of the surgeon we remained that day and night upon the battle ground, and then returned to Table Rock. Too much praise cannot be awarded Col. Alden; the country is greatly indebted to him for the rapid organization of the forces, when it was entirely without defense; his gallantry is sufficiently attested by his being dangerously wounded, while charging at the head of his command, almost at the enemy's lines. Captains Goodall and Rhodes, with their companions, distinguished themselves from the beginning to the end of the action, for their cool and determined bravery; no troops could have done better. The command of Col. Ross, under Captains Miller and Lamerick, although too late to participate in the action, made a severe march through the mountains, and arrived on the ground one day sooner than I expected them; their presence was of great assistance to us. Our loss in the battle was three killed--Captain Pleasant Armstrong, privates John Scarborough and Isaac Bradley; and five badly wounded--Colonel Alden, myself, and privates Charles C. Abbe (since dead), Henry Flesher, and Thomas Hays. The Indians lost eight killed, and twenty wounded, seven of whom we know to have since died. Soon after my return from the mountains, Capt. A. J. Smith, first dragoons, arrived at camp with his troop from Port Orford. His arrival was most opportune; his presence during the negotiations for a peace was of great assistance, while his troop served to overawe the Indians. The governor of the Territory, upon the first information being received by him, promptly ordered out a company under Captain Nesmith, and sent them as an escort for a large quantity of arms and ammunition which were procured from Fort Vancouver. Captain Nesmith arrived after the negotiations had been commenced, but was of great service to me, from his intimate knowledge of the Indians and their language. Lieut. Kautz, fourth infantry, accompanied Captain Nesmith and had in charge a twelve-pound howitzer and caisson, which he brought safely into camp, although the road is a very difficult one, and seldom traveled by wagons. A commission from the governor, as brigadier general, reached me a few days after I had assumed command, at Col. Alden's request. A treaty of peace has been made with the Indians, and I have no doubt with proper care it can be strictly maintained. The tribe is a very large one, and to a great extent controls the tribes in this part of the country; a peace with them is a peace with all. This, in my opinion, can only be perfectly secured by the presence of a considerable military force in this valley. I would, therefore, most earnestly recommend the establishment of a military post in the Rogue River Valley without delay. To Robert Metcalfe, who acted for me as a scout and guide, I am indebted for the faithful discharge of his duty. John Crosby and James Bruce also did good service in the same capacity. On the expedition to the mountains, from the 22nd to the 26th, W. G. T'Vault acted as my volunteer aide. At that time Capt. C. Lewis joined the command, and handsomely performed the duties of assistant adjutant general until the 29th, when compelled by sickness to resign. Since that time Capt. L. F. Mosher, late of the fourth Ohio volunteers, has performed the duties of that office. Dr. Edward Shiel, George Dart, Richard Dugan and L. A. Davis, the commissioners appointed by Colonel Alden, were most active in the discharge of their duties, and kept the command supplied with provisions, transportation, and other necessaries for carrying on the war. Major Charles S. Drew, assistant quartermaster, with his assistants, performed their duties with promptness and accuracy. Dr. E. H. Cleveland, surgeon general, and his assistants were unremitting in their attention to the sick and wounded. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH LANE
Brigadier General HITCHCOCK.----
YREKA, CALIFORNIA,
SIR:
I regret that I have suffered so much from debility, consequent upon my
wound, that I have been unable to make a detailed report of my
participation in the late military operations in this valley; yet, as
some official communication from me may be of importance in showing the
necessity of furnishing more regular troops for the defense of this
frontier, and also to prove the necessity of the call I made upon the
volunteers, I make an effort today to communicate a brief statement,
which will reach you before the meeting of Congress.October 18, 1853. On the 7th of August last I received at my post, Fort Jones, California, a petition signed by the principal citizens of Jacksonville, Oregon, representing that the settlements in Jackson County were threatened by a combination of several tribes of Indians, numbering about 250 warriors armed with rifles, and well supplied with ammunition; that several white men had been killed, and that the men of the valley were unprovided with arms. They earnestly requested me, therefore, to furnish them with all the men and arms at my disposal for their defense. Of the 22 men of my company present at the post, 11 were on the sick report and unable to march. In a few hours, however, I packed 25 muskets, 5 carbines, and 600 rounds of ammunition on mules, and with all my disposable force, amounting to but 10 men, I marched for the scene of hostilities. Passing through Yreka, California, I learned that the representations made in the petition from Jacksonville were by no means exaggerated; and accordingly I enrolled a volunteer company of 80 men. I reached Jacksonville August 9th, and finding that no disposition had been made for providing subsistence for the volunteers, I recommended to the citizens the appointment of a board of commissioners, composed of gentlemen having the confidence of the community, and who should immediately take measures to provide all necessary supplies. This proposition was acceded to at once; and a board consisting of four gentlemen of the place was appointed by myself, bearing the title of commissioners of military affairs in Rogue River Valley. I informed the board, as I had also apprised the citizens of Yreka, that I had no special authority to raise volunteers, or to pledge the general government for payment of their expenses; but that an appropriation by Congress would be requisite for this purpose, expressing, at the same time, my personal belief and conviction that Congress would not withhold the necessary appropriation. With this understanding, I enrolled two companies of volunteers at Jacksonville, and, on the 11th instant, mustered the companies at Camp Stewart, 7 miles from town. A company of independent volunteers, 20 strong, joined me there; making the whole force, including my own men and the Yreka volunteers, about 200 men. I learned that the Rogue River Indians had taken a strong position near Table Rock, about 10 miles distant from Camp Stewart. Their force was estimated at 250 warriors, 150 of this number being armed with rifles and well supplied with ammunition. I made dispositions at once to attack them that night; when suddenly, at dusk, a man rode into camp at full speed, announcing, in the hearing of all the troops, that the Indians had appeared in force in the valley, that they had just killed two white men, had burnt a house and several hay stacks, and that the families in the north of the valley were in imminent danger of being massacred. At this announcement, 20 men of the independent volunteers, who were already mounted, awaiting orders to march to Table Rock, darted off at full speed in the direction of the burning house, the light of which was distinctly visible at camp. I was compelled to suspend the attack, and to permit the companies raised in the valley to mount and hasten to the defense of their houses and homes. This panic disconcerted the movement, and it was not until the 16th instant that I had force enough present to organize another plan of attack. As I had no officer of the regular army under my command, and was therefore without a quartermaster or commissary sufficiently conversant with the duties of those departments, the burden of that duty fell upon myself. Nevertheless, the necessary issues of subsistence continued daily to overrun the proper allowance. These extra issues were chiefly caused by the frequent detachments necessarily sent from the main body, and the want of familiarity, on the part of the volunteers, with the proper arrangement and usages of a company mess, and the economical use of the ration. On the 16th of August, discovering that the Indians had disappeared from their position near Table Rock, and had fled to the mountains, from whence it was apprehended they would descend in small bands to waylay the pack trains on all the roads leading to the valley, the war at once assumed a new character of imminent danger to the whole of Southern Oregon. Under these circumstances, believing that, from the nature of the service, the safety of the valley would be hazarded if I should retain the command, burdened with all the details of every subordinate department, I did not hesitate to request General Lane to relieve me from the command of the volunteers. Between the 16th and 20th of August I had succeeded in organizing a pack train and commissariat, and had made every preparation to pursue the Indians wherever they were to be found. On the 20th General Lane assumed the command, and on the 22nd marched in pursuit. The general's report of operations from that day has already been forwarded to your office. The thorough knowledge of the country which he displayed, the gallantry and skill which he exhibited in the pursuit and in the engagement, satisfied me perfectly that I had acted for the good of the country in relinquishing the command of the volunteers to him. I hope that I shall be able, by the next mail, to forward a report in detail of all the military operations from the day when I took command until the arrival of General Lane, viz: two skirmishes of Lieut. Griffin's scouting party with a large body of Applegate Indians, the scattering of the troops from the 11th to the 16th, the gallant defense of Lieut. Ely's scouting party of 25 men against a band of 100 Indians, and the prompt movement of Captain Goodall with his company of volunteers, preceded by a small detachment led by Mr. J. D. Cosby and Elijah Heard, to the rescue of Lieut. Ely. I am very respectfully your obedient, B. R. ALDEN
The ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE ARMYCaptain Fourth Infantry Washington, D.C. Message from the President of the United States, 33rd Congress, Ex. Doc. No. 1, 1853, pages 37-43 Mr. James Kyle was shot by the Indians at Willow Springs, in Rogue River Valley, last week. We learn from Mr. Terry, of Rhodes & Lusk's Express, that the two Indians who shot Mr. K. had been given up by Old Joe, and are now at Fort Lane in irons. It is feared that Mr. K.'s wounds will prove fatal.--Mountain Herald. Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, October 22, 1853, page 2
The
Indians in Southern Oregon are again becoming troublesome. Mr. James
Kyle, an estimable citizen of Jackson County, and partner of Thomas
Wills, who was killed in the war, was recently murdered by some Indians
near Willow Springs. Col. Wright immediately demanded the murderers of
the Chief Joe, and they were promptly brought in and delivered up, even
before Mr. Kyle died, he not having been instantly killed. The Indians
will be tried and punished.
This act shows a disposition on the part of Joe, who is the head chief,
to observe the requirements of the treaty.
The government troops established in the Rogue River Valley went out to capture some stock and other stolen property. They surprised the Indians and killed and wounded several. They fled to the mountains. When the troops turned homeward, the Indians followed stealthily and fired upon them, killing two soldiers and wounding three more. The succeeding night they came to the soldiers' camp and stole all their flour and provisions. "From Oregon," Daily Republic, Buffalo, New York, December 28, 1853, page 2 The second paragraph is probably a garbled account of other events. Jacksonville Correspondence.
JACKSONVILLE,
Sept. 25, 1853.
EDITORS
SHASTA COURIER:--I
drop you a line or so from this favored portion of God's earth. The
wars are o'er, and peace restored once more to the land of "gold and
flowers." It is somewhat doubtful, however, whether Mr. Siwash
will attend to the treaty. All the volunteers are discharged, but there
are some regulars yet in the field--sufficient, I think, to keep Mr.
Indian quiet for a while. Gen. Lane has left for home, where he will
only remain for a short time before leaving for Washington. The
expenses of the war will amount to $65,000; perhaps Uncle Sam will foot
the bill, and perhaps not. We hope to have a prosperous state of things
here for the future. Miners have again returned to the scene of their
golden labors--farmers to their peaceful homes, and the young maids and
hopeful bachelors are once more to be seen taking their social walks
and promenades. The immigration is pouring in fast from the plains.
Many intend to settle in Shasta Valley, but most of them are highly
pleased with this portion of Oregon, and intend to go no further.The citizens of this valley feel deeply grateful to their California brethren for their valor and patriotic zeal during the war, and many of the tender sex will no doubt prove to the Yreka b'hoys their affection and lifelong appreciation of their services, by sharing in their joys and sorrows for the mortal race of human nature. The wounded are recovering fast under the skillful attention of Dr. Cleaveland, resident of this town. We have been truly fortunate in the services of able physicians. Col. Alden left here a few days ago, attended by that eminent surgeon, Dr. Gatliff, of Yreka. Yreka may well be proud of such a man. We learn with pleasure that the Yreka volunteers intend to present the gallant Col. a token of their high regard for his valuable services during the war. The pack trains are raising clouds of dust on the road between Crescent City and Jacksonville, and no apprehensions are now entertained about the scarcity of provisions in the mines during the coming winter. Jacksonville is undoubtedly one of the best of mining districts if we had water. In the event of water being brought here from Applegate Creek, it cannot be equaled for profitable mining by California. I noticed the arrival of Mr. Rhodes of Shasta at the Robinson House, and also Dr. L. S. Thompson, the representative from Umpqua County in the Oregon Legislature. There are at present a great many visitors from different parts of Oregon and California at present at this hotel, and no person knows better than the gentlemanly proprietor how to make a traveler happy and comfortable. There are many other fine houses and saloons here, at the head of which I must mention the El Dorado, by Burke, which lays over all the rest of the saloons, north or south, in choice liquors and cigars. I send this by express, as Uncle Sam's mail has not been heard of for some time. X.
Y. M.
Shasta Courier, Shasta,
California, October 8, 1853, page 2INTERESTING FROM OREGON TERRITORY.
Our Fort Lane Correspondence. Fort
Lane (O.T.), Sept. 29, 1853.
Termination
of the Rogue River War--History of the Campaign--Origin of the
Strife--Character of the Rogue River Indians--Defeats of the
Whites--Arrival of General Lane--Battle of Evans Creek--Massacre of the
"Grave Creeks"--Their History--The Taylor Slaughters--Last Battle Since
the Treaty--Its Stipulations--The Bearded Chief--Departure of General
Lane for Washington.
The
Rogue River War having, like all other wars heretofore, come to an end,
it becomes the part of an impartial historian like myself to transmit
to posterity a true record of the glorious deeds performed in the short
but brilliant campaign so nobly begun. I doubt whether anyone has had
the generosity to give honor to whom honor is due, and it is to rectify
any partial statement that may have gone abroad of the heroisms enacted
in this valley that I send you this brief but impartial synopsis.It taxes the ingenuity of the inhabitants of this valley to the utmost to assign a cause and a commencement to the sanguinary conflict. Each individual has his own story of how and where the war first began, and though all aim to, none succeed in fixing the commencement of hostilities upon the Indians. Last winter seven successful miners down on Rogue River, near Galice Creek, were murdered by the Indians, it is supposed, and a large amount of gold dust is thought to have fallen into the hands of the murderers. There is no positive proof that the deed was committed by the Indians, but they were immediately charged with it, and the desire to recover the captured treasure, rather than to revenge the murder, set on foot many desperate expeditions composed of reckless and abandoned men. John [sic] Taylor was the chief of the Taylor Indians in that vicinity. He was caught last spring, tried and shot. Before his death he is said to have confessed to the massacre, and to have implicated quite a number of his own people, and two of the Grave Creek Indians also. The latter, as well as quite a number of the former, were brought to death, but no outbreak followed these troubles. For some years a rumor has existed that a white woman had been captured and her husband killed by the Indians of this valley, about seven years ago, and that she had been kept in bondage by them ever since, in the mountains, out of sight of the whites. Last summer an Indian came to Jacksonville and gave a fresh impulse to the rumor. He stated that the woman had long persuaded him to go and report her bondage to the whites, and that he had finally consented to do so, and if the whites would go with him he would show them to the Indian camp where she was a prisoner. A party of eight or ten white men joined in the expedition, and, guided by the Indian, after some trouble came upon the Indian camp in the mountains where she was said to be kept a prisoner. They positively denied the story of the white woman, but admitted a similar one with regard to a foreign squaw captured from a half-breed Spaniard. She was brought, and proved to be a Klamath Indian woman. The white men considered this a subterfuge, and insisted on having the white woman given up, or they would kill them all. The Indians became alarmed and endeavored to make their escape; the white men fired upon them and killed six of them. No outbreak followed this affair, though it is said to have had a serious influence upon the war. The following having preceded the outbreak but a very short time--one or two days only--is most generally regarded as the immediate commencement of hostilities. Last summer a Spaniard and gambler in Jacksonville, by the name of De Bushay, bought a squaw of Jim, one of the chiefs of this valley. The squaw was the widow of a Shasta Indian, and had returned to her people. Her husband's brother claimed her as his property. De Bushay having failed to comply with the purchase, Jim stole her away from him. De Bushay raised a party, and by threats and arms recaptured her. The Shasta Indians, who had come for her, were witnesses to her forcible abduction, and were highly incensed. They went away threatening vengeance on the whites. In a short time afterwards Edwards, Gibbs and others were killed under circumstances that struck terror into the hearts of the people of Jacksonville. A perfect stampede followed. The inhabitants, without reflection, concluded that a league had been formed against them by all the Indians in the country, and the war commenced. The whites began the campaign by killing all the pet Indians about town--a term applied to Indians engaged in families in a domestic capacity, and necessarily perfectly innocent of any part whatever in these murders. They then extended operations against the Indians employed in families in the country, and any master who protested against the hanging of his servant was threatened with a similar fate, and thus these brave men went scouring about the country, killing and hanging these inoffensive creatures, instead of following the real perpetrators into their mountain haunts. A little boy, practicing with his bow and arrow on the plain, was thus disposed of. An old man and woman have met with similar fates. No matter how peaceably disposed the Indian might be, he was either killed or driven to the mountains in self-defense. The Rogue River Indian is brave, and will resist when imposed upon or mistreated, and will endure no maltreatment submissively. These Indians have never been friendly to the whites, from the earliest traveling by them through this country. Up to 1850 scarcely a party passed through the valley without experiencing some depredation from them. They have ever been jealous of the encroachments of the white men, and never were at peace with them until Gen. Lane concluded a treaty with them in 1850, which they faithfully adhered to until broken by the whites. They are noted for their truthfulness. Joe, Sam and Jim are the principal men amongst them. Until the inconsiderate and base retaliation of the whites, neither these chiefs nor their people took any part in the outbreak, nor had they done anything to justify the mean attack upon their people. But, driven by these acts to self-defense they fought with desperation, for the whites threatened them with extermination. They went to war with a magnanimity unknown among savages. It is true they waylaid the roads, burnt houses and grain, and carried their depredations almost into the streets of Jacksonville. But there was no scalping, no killing of women and children. The whites were terror-stricken at the boldness of their acts. The fact immediately forced itself upon their minds that the Indians had by an illicit and abandoned trade on the part of the whites obtained possession of nearly all the arms in the country; the whole country flocked to Jacksonville, and the town was thronged with unarmed and helpless men. Expresses were sent off to every direction for aid, but before it could arrive much damage had been done, the farms and dwellings of industrious farmers had been laid waste, and many valuable lives were lost by a war brought on by desperate and unprincipled miners, gamblers and outlaws. The whites for some time were driven in on every quarter. About the 15th of August Griffin's party of twenty men was driven in with the loss of a man. On the 17th Lieutenant Ely lost nine men killed and wounded, and though reinforced did not think it prudent to pursue the enemy, though they had withdrawn. It was not until the arrival of Gen. Lane that the whites began to triumph. On the 24th he brought the Indians to terms. Of this fight much has been said and published that is calculated to convey a wrong impression. A party of ninety men under Gen. Lane, Capt. Alden, U.S.A., and Capt. Armstrong of Yamhill surprised the Indians on the headwaters of Evans Creek. The position of the Indians was very strong, at the head of a defile or bayou, behind a belt of fallen timber that extended across the defile. In the early part of the action Gen. Lane ordered a charge, in order to drive the Indians out of the brush. To this order Capt. Alden and his ten regular soldiers, Capt. Armstrong and a few others alone responded. Capt. Armstrong was killed instantly--shot through the right breast. Capt. Alden received a dangerous and remarkable wound; the ball entered the neck, and passing between the jugular vein and windpipe, came out under the right shoulder. Gen. Lane was shot through the right arm, near the shoulder joint. Thus all the officers who led the charge were shot down in the early part of the action, in consequence of not being supported. For three or four hours the firing was kept up from behind the trees, Indian fashion, and finally the Indians proposed to "wawa" (talk). General Lane opposed it, and wished to continue the fight, but the men urged an armistice--a vote was taken, and nearly all decided for a parley. The armistice was barely entered into when Colonel Ross arrived with a reinforcement of one hundred and twenty men. This reinforcement raised the valor of some of the men, and they wished to renew the fight. The General consented, but said that he must send Joe and Sam word to say that the parley was ended. To this they would not consent, and the General then said they must abide by the treaty, and so they did. Twenty minutes after the firing ceased, whites and Indians were mixed up in the same camp in the most admirable confusion. The squaws carried water for the whites, who were suffering from thirst, and the Indians offered to carry in the wounded to where they could be attended. The Indians were to come in in seven days to enter upon a treaty of peace and the sale of their land. But before the treaty could be entered into, other circumstances occurred that deterred the Indians from coming in at the appointed time. If they did not come in, the war was to be renewed. Gen. Lane thought the Indians were excusable in not coming in; some of his men thought otherwise, and were for renewing the war. The reader may form his own opinion from the following facts, unprecedented in the history of American wars: The emigration of '46 was the first that ever passed by the southern route into the Willamette Valley. An account of the origin of this route may be found in Thornton's Notes on Oregon and California. A small party of that emigration encamped on a clear, beautiful little trout stream, about forty miles from where Jacksonville now stands, down Rogue River. Miss Crowley, a member of this party--a young and interesting girl--had, in spite of her frailty and the hardship of emigration, succeeded in getting thus far on her way in search of a home in the Far West. But, a victim to consumption, here, amid the bold hills that are the almost unerring characteristic of this mountainous country, she breathed her last, and under the shade of an oak, not fifty yards from where Bates and Twogood now keep, they buried her, and called the creek that flows nearby Grave Creek. Her remains were dug up by the Indians as soon as her friends left the grave, and though passing strangers buried them again and again, yet they were as often removed, and no one has ever passed by and found the grave closed until the affair I am going to relate closed it up forever. A party of Indians, formerly thirty or forty in number, but since reduced to ten or eleven, have owned and claimed this valley from the time it was first known to the whites, and have, since the naming of the creek, been called the Grave Creek Indians. They were an outcast band, made up of the outlaws of all the other tribes in this country. In early times, when the country was only visited by trappers, they were a great annoyance to the people sent out in that capacity by the Hudson Bay Company. When the emigration took this direction they were a terror to all small parties, killing and stealing the cattle where they feared to attack the men, and this constant war so reduced their numbers that they had but eleven warriors previous to this outbreak. Tyee Bill and another of their party were implicated by the confession of John [sic] Taylor. Bates raised a party of whites, and, guided by his pet Indian--also a Grave Creek--he came upon them in the mountains and succeeded in capturing all of them except Tyee Bill. The implicated Indian was hung, and the others released on condition that Tyee Bill should be given up. His head was brought in soon after. A treaty was then entered into by Bates with these Indians: he was to protect them, and they were to disturb the whites no more. They came and settled near him, and were quietly and peaceably disposed, when a man by the name of Owens infringed upon the treaty by wantonly shooting one of them one day as he was passing, having occasion to discharge his gun. Owens is a miner, but has had sufficient influence among a set of his own stamp to raise a company of thirty men. In the interval between the death of this Indian and the outbreak at Jacksonville, a house on Louse Creek was burnt, and the bodies of its two inhabitants were found in the smoldering ruins. As the Grave Creeks had moved away from Bates, they were charged with this affair, as it occurred only twelve miles from Bates' stand. Either they were not guilty, or to lull suspicion perhaps they returned and encamped near Bates again. Bates and his party, under pledges of friendship and protection, succeeded in taking four of the remaining eight Grave Creeks prisoners. Owens raised his company of thirty men immediately on the alarm at Jacksonville, and came down to Grave Creek on the same day, and soon after Bates had taken these four prisoners. He immediately took the matter into his own hands. He sent his men up, surrounded the Indian camp, and shot the only Indian in it--the other three were out hunting. Their return was patiently awaited, and as they came in with their game upon their backs they were fired upon; one was killed, and the other two ran away, though supposed to be wounded. They uttered the war cry as they escaped, and then communicated the state of affairs to the prisoners in Bates' house. One of them burst his bonds, and, seizing a shovel, attacked the guard, and severely injured a man by the name of Frazelle on the hand. Frazelle finally shot him through the body with a revolver. The other three were shot, tied as they were, among them Bates' pet, who had been in his employ all summer. The six dead Indians were then thrown into the open grave where Miss Crowley was buried, and covered up, and as they were undoubtedly the desecrators of her tomb, it is closed forever, and they have had the satisfaction that is allowed to few--of digging their own graves. A man by the name of Adams, one of the participators, bought a little boy of ten years, for $50, from one of Owens' men, and has taken him into Willamette Valley. The women made their escape that night, and they, as well as the two Indians who escaped, have not been heard of since. This is the story of the Grave Creeks, as I heard it from Bates and Twogood, and others. Whilst I stopped at Bates' a man by the name of Johnson was pointed out to me as the leader in this affair. He was a very unprepossessing person, slovenly dressed in an old hickory shirt and ragged pantaloons, and shoes without socks. His old slouched hat concealed the principal part of his unshaven countenance; either his eyebrows protruded very much, or his cold gray eyes were sunk very deep in his head--I could not tell which. Without passion, without expression in his dark features, he stood with his hands in his pockets and his back braced against the wall, and told his story: News of the outbreak at Jacksonville reached the mines on Illinois River, twenty or thirty miles below Bates', and they immediately "forted up" at Johnson's house, on Rogue River. About thirty white men were collected there, and, directed by Johnson, they convened about twenty-five warriors of the Taylor Indians at their fort, under pretense of making a treaty with them. They gave them plenty to eat, and, to lull suspicion, the whites had concealed their arms under the beds in the fort. When they were all busily eating about the fires between the fort and the river, they fell upon them, and eighteen out of the twenty-five were killed. These are the simple facts, as related by Johnson. He did not enter into particulars. I asked him if they had done damage below, and it appeared that they had not participated in the outbreak at all, but it was feared they would, so they killed them. John Taylor had a son named Jim, who separated himself from his father's people, and had joined the Indians on Applegate Creek, headed by Old Man John. Previous to the conclusion of the treaty Capt. Bob Williams with his company was sent to hunt up the Indians on this creek and bring them to an engagement. Williams is a man very much after Capt. Owens' stamp, but has also the reputation of being a great Indian fighter. As soon as the treaty was concluded General Lane sent an order to Capt. W. to report himself at headquarters. For some reason the order never reached him. A second order was sent, but the bearer was bribed by the opponents of the treaty not to deliver it. Williams continued in the mountains notwithstanding that the treaty was concluded, a fact that he knew, though he may not have known it officially, for he was in daily communication with Halstead's ferry, where the disbanded troops were every day passing with the news. Meanwhile the Indians were making every effort to get on the north side of Rogue River, to General Lane's headquarters, to be present at the treaty. Finally the Indians brought the news that Williams had killed Jim Taylor. Their account made it an infamous affair. Williams had an interpreter and guide, who passed by the sobriquet of Elick, who knows the country and the Indians, and is conversant with their tongue--he is a half-breed. With his assistance they found the Indians, but could not get at them; they were high up on a mountainside, and Williams was in the valley. Elick represented the party as miners, that they come from General Lane with power to treat with them, that they wanted them to come down and do so, so that they could go to work, and they might carry on the war with all other whites if they chose. They offered them plenty to eat, but the Indians were cautious and would not come down; they knew the fate of the Grave Creeks. For many hours they parleyed, but finding they could not be induced to come down, they desired that a part might come, and then they asked that three should come, and finally they entreated that one man might be sent to treat with them. Their entreaties were so earnest and kept up for so long a time that at the length Jim Taylor yielded. He came down and was instantly seized and carried off to Halstead's ferry, where they went through the form of a trial and tried to convict him of some of the injuries done to the whites, but nothing could be proved against him. He was then threatened with death if he did not confess to the part he had taken in the war. He admitted nothing, and was condemned to be shot. They took him into the woods below the ferry and tied a rope about his neck and fastened it to the limb of a tree above his head. Five men were selected who fired upon him, two balls passed through his head and the others entered his back. His body was left dangling to the limb. An old man from the Willamette by the name of Yates was at the ferry, but would not go down to witness the deed, but after they came back he proposed to burying him, but no one would volunteer to assist him until finally two men went with him and dug a grave for the dead Indian, and placing his scalp--which some white man had taken off in the meantime and hung upon the bushes--on his head again, they buried him. Finally Old Man John succeeded in dodging Williams; he got across the river and was present at the signing of the treaty, and received his first payment. He reported all his warriors present but five, though quite a number of his women and children were still about. On the 15th of September Williams returned and reported that he had had a desperate battle on the 13th. He had found the Indians in the bush and attacked them, and after four hours fighting night came on and interrupted the conflict. He had killed and wounded twelve Indians and had but one man killed. The news of the fight reached camp through the whites before the Indians knew it. It was told to John, and he was asked if they were his people; he said no, they could not be his, as they were all present but five, that it must have been Tipsu Tyee's band. On the evening of the 15th John's five men presented themselves to Gov. Lane and told their story. They had been attacked by Williams as they were endeavoring to get across the river on to the reserve, with the women and children. They had but three guns, and with these they kept them at bay until night, when they made their escape. They lost one woman and two children killed. This is the last battle with the Rogue River Indians fought by Capt. Williams. Owing to these contradictory transactions, the treaty was pending about three weeks before it could be concluded. In the meantime, many volunteers had flocked in, eager for the contest. Disappointed with no prospect for a fight, much dissatisfaction was expressed at the state of affairs. Gov. Lane, having full confidence in the good will of the Indians, discharged all the men that had been called into service as fast as possible. He went into the fight in which he was wounded without knowing anything about the cause of the war, or any knowledge of the state of affairs; he took it for granted that the Indians were to blame. When he came to treat the true state of things presented themselves piecemeal, and finally all the facts threw the blame on the whites. That he was much disgusted with their conduct is proven by the way he carried out the treaty, in spite of all opposition. The good people of the valley are much in favor of Lane's measures, but they are in the minority. The majority is made up of miners, gamblers and outlaws that have fled beyond the restraints of the law, and they cry against the treaty because they would lose nothing by its renewal, and they care nothing for the wives and children of the good settlers, who must be the sufferers in the main. These men do not hesitate to threaten to break the treaty whenever an opportunity may offer. Though they dare not openly resist the General's authority, yet he has been detained here, though all operations are at an end, because he fears that the moment his back is turned the war would begin again; he has been waiting the arrival of regular troops that the treaty may be enforced and these vagabonds held in check. According to the conditions of the treaty the Indians are to receive sixty thousand dollars, to be paid in sixteen annual payments, for their land in Rogue River Valley. Fifteen thousand of this, however, is to be retained to reimburse the settlers for the property destroyed. A small reserve has been set aside unto which they have retired, included between Rogue River and Evans Creek, and a line running north from Table Mountain to it, intersecting with Evans Creek. For this reserve they are to receive fifteen thousand dollars when the whites are fit to remove them. During the entire pending of the treaty the Indians have shown a patience and forbearance and a desire for peace that would hardly be expected from them, in consideration of their success and their independent character. The medium of communication was the jargon in common use in Oregon and Washington territories, and consequently explanation was slow and imperfect. All the Indians concerned in the war were present at the treaty, except the Taylor Indians and Tipsu Tyee's band. The former have only been warred upon in the manner related--they have not retaliated. The latter are Shasta Indians, and they were the ones who committed the first depredations. Gen. Lane, having finally concluded this treaty, set out in search of Tipsu Tyee. Confiding in the honesty and truth of these Indians, he set out with only an interpreter and a guide. High up in the mountains, on the head of Applegate Creek, he found them, near the summit of a lofty peak, beyond the reach of white men, living on the manzanita berry. They were in an impenetrable jungle, only thirty warriors in all, with their women. They had but fourteen guns. Tipsu Tyee is superior to any of the chiefs in this valley. He commands his men like a tactician, and they obey him implicitly, and without dissent. He reigns in these mountains like brigand chieftain. He is a small, heavy-set man, with little eyes, piercing and dark, and quite a growth of hair on his chin, from which he takes his name. The General found him disposed to peace. He said he himself had taken no part in the war, but that one of his tribe, a bad man, had persuaded a few of his men away, and they were the ones who committed the first outrages on the whites. As soon as he had learned the state of affairs he had gathered his people together and moved them into the mountains, where he had remained ever since. He promised to deliver up the leader of his party and such property as he had in his possession that had been captured from the whites. He lays no claim to Rogue River Valley and said he would return to Klamath River Valley, where he belongs. The present of a few clothes were offered him, which has concluded the last act of the treaty of peace, and it only requires that the whites adhere to it, and peace will be established and maintained. Col. Wright, with three companies of the Second Infantry, arrived here on the 25th. The evening before his arrival Jim came in and reported that a party of whites, passing down the river the day before, had fired upon his people fishing in the river, and also into their camps at different points--that the bullets had passed through the clothes of some of their people, but no one had been killed. The Indians had formed an ambuscade through which these white men had to pass, and that they would all have been killed, had not Joe got wind of the affair and, mounting a horse, reached the ambuscade before the whites and dispersed his men. On the 26th, Col. Wright, with Capt. Smith's company of First Dragoons, accompanied by Gen. Lane, made an appointment with Joe and his other chiefs and met them at the mouth of Evans Creek to talk the matter over. Col. Wright says that he was much impressed by Joe's bearing and dignity, and, like Gen. Lane, is fully impressed with his integrity. Joe said that he was fully convinced that the white men who had fired into his people were cultus tillicum--good-for-nothing people--and that he had for that reason prohibited the people from firing on them, because it would have been an excuse if they had killed them to renew the war, and he wanted peace. He seemed to comprehend the state of society in that region well. It appears that the outrage was committed by a party of Bob Williams' men, who had been discharged and were going back to Althouse Creek to work. Measures will be taken by the Indian agent to bring them to justice. This outrage decided Col. Wright to establish a fort here. He approved of the point selected by Capt. Smith, and called it Fort Lane, in honor of "distinguished services rendered by Gen. Lane in the recent disturbances." It is situated about three miles west of Table Rock, on a beautiful spot, with sufficient trees, oak and pine, for shade trees, and about half a mile from the river. Its plan will be about eighty yards square, with the buildings on three sides, and the side toward Table Rock and fronting the river open. The buildings will be temporary log cabins. The post is to be commanded by Capt. Smith, and garrisoned by three companies of the First Dragoons and one of the Second Infantry. The troops having arrived, and a prospect of the peace remaining unbroken, Gen. Lane took his departure for home. He expects to be in San Francisco on the 15th, in time for the steamers for the States. He takes with him to Washington one of Joe's sons, named Ben, an interesting boy of fifteen or sixteen. He will create a sensation equal to his own astonishment at the Bostons (Americans). U.S.
New
York Herald, November 14, 1853, page 3 Probably authored by August V. Kautz.Immigrants have been arriving in large numbers at Yreka of late. None of them have yet experienced any difficulty with the Indians on the trail from Humboldt River to that place. Fears, however, are entertained for the safety of the immigrants and traders who have not yet come in, from the fact that the troops that have heretofore been stationed on the trail have been removed to Rogue River Valley. The Herald censures in strong terms the policy adopted by the officer who issued the order of removal. Capt. Alden, U.S.A., has been removed to Fort Jones. His general health is restored. One arm, however, seems paralyzed, and fears are felt that it will be useless for life. Col. Wright, who passed through this place about three weeks since with his command, is stationed at Table Rock. The establishment of a new fort at that point is in contemplation. Health generally prevails among the troops. Gen. Lane intends visiting Yreka before he returns to his home in Oregon. In his general order disbanding the Yreka and Humbug volunteers, under the command of Capts. Goodall and Rhodes, Gen. Lane took occasion "to testify his admiration of their courage and gallantry in battle, and their energy and general good conduct while in the service." "From Yreka," Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, October 1, 1853, page 3 MILITARY OPERATIONS--FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.--The Yreka Herald places us in possession of interesting news from the upper portion of the state. A battalion of the Second Infantry under the command of Major Patten passed through Yreka on the 6th inst., on their return from Rogue River Valley. Three companies of dragoons, under Capt. Smith, together with Capt. Lyon's company from Benicia, remain in Rogue River Valley, and will form the permanent garrison of Fort Lane, a post recently established in the immediate vicinity of Table Rock. Major Patten, with two companies of infantry, will be stationed for the winter in Scotts Valley, at Fort Jones, twenty miles from Yreka. A train of immigrant wagons from the plains entered Rogue River Valley on the 3rd, through the pass immediately below the Siskiyou Mountain. Capt. Miller, with a detachment of volunteers from Jacksonville, accompanied the train, and immediately proceeded to Jacksonville to procure provisions for a large number of immigrants whom unfortunate obstacles had detained on the plains, and who were reported to be in a destitute condition. A correspondence between Capt. Lamerick's Rangers and Gen. Lane is published in the Herald. Gen. Lane has expressed himself in favor of a continuation of the military road from Myrtle Creek to Scottsburg. Sacramento Daily Union, October 15, 1853, page 2 Arrival of Gen. Lane--The Indian
War.
Gen. Lane arrived at Portland on Monday evening last, on his way to
Washington, and was saluted by the firing of cannon. Up to this time,
Friday noon, the steamer has not arrived--and the General has had an
opportunity of paying our city a very good visit. His general health is
good, but he bears evidence of fatigue and hardship experienced in the
Rogue River War. The delay of the steamer has caused him much anxiety,
for fear of not reaching Washington as soon as desirable, as it is
impossible for this steamer to connect with the California steamer for
Panama on the 16th.Gen. Lane informs us that the Indian war was very expensive--having cost government not less [than] $250,000--and that it was for the interest of the whites to have the war terminated and treaties entered into. This to all sensible men will appear apparent when they count the cost--both of men and money. The Indians have killed about man for man in the war, and were anxious to treat. Those who continue to preach extermination (thank God they are few) count without the cost. It would take a war of years to exterminate them, at a cost of millions of money and hundreds of valuable lives. Look, for instance, at the Florida war, which lasted for years, among a handful of Indians, and did not exterminate them at that. Gen. Lane, with two men, visited Tipsy, the chief of the Klamath tribe, before leaving. They found him, after much trouble; and he being very wary, was hard to approach, fearing treachery. Gen. Lane asked him if his heart was good, and disposed to make peace. He said he did not know--it depended what their hearts were. If their hearts were good, his was; if they was for fight he was. The General stayed in his camp overnight, and after a further talk, a few days after a treaty of peace was made. In making the treaty with Joe, of the Rogue River Indians, Joe gave Gen. Lane his son as a hostage, a very active and intelligent boy of about 16. Gen. Lane intended to take him to the States, but finally changed his mind, and will leave him in care of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. After the treaty was made, some reckless whites fired upon some of his tribe while fishing, without effect; but Lane satisfied the chief that they were bad men, and that the whites did not approve of it. Gen. Lane informs us that Col. Wright, with four companies [of] U.S. troops, will take winter quarters in the Rogue River Valley, and it is to be hoped they will preserve the treaties made. That the treaties are satisfactory to the people there every day brings us abundant proof. The wise and efficient course pursued by Gen. Lane has saved government from a very heavy expense, and restored peace and safety to a large portion of our citizens; and the beauty of the thing is--he did it all "without money and without price"--a fact we did not learn from him, but from another and reliable source. Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, October 15, 1853, page 2 FROM YREKA.--The Shasta Courier furnishes us with the following summary of news, for which it was indebted to Cram, Rogers & Co.'s Express. The Herald contains but little news of interest. We extract the following items: A battalion of the 2nd Infantry, under the command of Major Patten, passed through this place on the 1th [sic] inst., on their return from Rogue River Valley. Three companies of dragoons, under Capt. Smith, together with Capt. Lyon's company from Benicia, remain in Rogue River Valley, and will form the permanent garrison of Fort Lane, a post recently established in the immediate vicinity of Table Rock. Major Patten, with two companies of infantry, will be stationed for the winter in Scotts Valley, at Fort Jones, twenty miles from Yreka. Sacramento Daily Union, October 17, 1853, page 2 The Quincy papers state that Chas. Abbe, only son of Mr. John Abbe of that place, was killed in the engagement which took place on the 24th of August last between the party under the command of Gov. Lane and the Rogue River Indians at the head of Evans Creek in the southern part of Oregon Territory. The deceased was a worthy young man and fell by the side of his commander while gallantly charging the enemy. Daily Alton Telegraph, Alton, Illinois, October 25, 1853, page 2 MORE BAD FAITH.--A few days before Gen. Lane left, a number of Capt. Williams' men commenced firing upon a party of Joe's Indians, men, women and children, who were fishing in Rogue River. They did not return the fire, but sheltered themselves from it by lying upon the ground behind a shelter they had erected. Some 10 or 12 rounds were fired without effect. Joe immediately made his way to Gen. Lane's quarters, and complained that the whites had violated the treaty. The General explained to him that the act was committed by some irresponsible, bad men, and that the white people were not accountable for it. The presence of Col. Wright's command will be likely to put a stop to such conduct.--Commercial. New York Daily Tribune, November 30, 1853, page 3 The treaty with the Rogue River Indians has been published. After the formation of the treaty some of the whites, who disliked the treaty and desired with extermination of the red men, fired upon the Indians. The cost of the Rogue River war was about $250,000. "Oregon," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, November 11, 1853, page 1 The Rogue River Indian war, as you long since have known, has been brought to an end. Capt. Sully's company F, of the 2nd Infantry, are the only troop which return to Benicia to pass the winter. The rest are posted at Forts Jones and Lane, not to protect the hardy, valiant, daredevil, double-fisted, bone and sinew pioneer from the attack of Joe's tribe, but rather to prevent the free and enlightened from butchering in cold blood the red man when he resents the vilest impositions of slavery and debauchery that are forced upon him. The poor politician has a hard row to hoe in our community, and as an example General Lane in his late remarks on these troubles while in San Francisco had to deny himself the right of reprehension in toto and only indulge in eulogy on that portion upon whom it might fall with most grace. Certain it is, that his remarks were anything but a full exhibit of the true state of the case, or of all his feelings, if we are to judge by reports of officers of the regular army on the ground with him. "Benicia Correspondence," San Diego Herald, November 12, 1853, page 2 Fight between United States troops and Indians.--A government express arrived at Fort Jones on the 20th ultimo [October 20] direct from Fort Lane, in Rogue River Valley, bearing the intelligence that a company of United States dragoons had a very severe engagement with a party of Indians on Deer Creek, some twenty-five miles from Fort Lane. It seems that the Indians on the trail between Jacksonville and Crescent City have for some weeks past been very troublesome, having killed one man and robbed numerous trains. For the purpose of chastising the depredators and freeing the road from further annoyance, Captain Smith, commander at Fort Lane, sent out Lieutenant Radford with a company of thirty dragoons, who met and attacked the Indians on Deer Creek, and after quite a hard fight forced them to scatter into the mountains. The Indians had ten warriors killed and a greater number wounded. Lieutenant Radford had a sergeant and one private killed, and three privates wounded. The Indians, in their fight, abandoned all of their horses, ammunition, food and, indeed, all else of their worldly possessions. Washington Sentinel, Washington, D.C., December 22, 1853, page 1 Previously printed by the Sacramento Daily Union, November 7, 1853, page 2 In a recent battle with the Rogue River Indians, Gen. Lane was shot through the shoulder. The struggle, being somewhat decisive, induced the savages to sue for peace, which was granted. Gen. Lane received the son of "Joe," a head chief of the Rogue River tribe, as a hostage for the observance of treaty stipulations. It is his intention to take the boy to Washington City with him, as per suggestion of the father. The moral influence of the act, it is presumed, will be highly useful in keeping down future difficulties. "Further News from Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, October 25, 1853, page 3 We learn from Mr. Fargo that everything in the Rogue River country is quiet. The farmers have all got back to their homes, and business generally has been renewed. The miners are at work again. The Indians do not venture into the valley at all, even since the treaty. Mr. F. took an active part in the war; he was one of two persons who shot and hung seven Indians in one day, three of whom they scalped. One of the little roach-headed fellows they scalped played possum during the operation; he bore it without flinching, his arm merely having been broken by a rifle ball. The next day he joined his band in the mountains and is still living. Oregon Spectator, Oregon City, October 29, 1853, page 2 The Rogue River Indian war, as you long since have known, has been brought to an end. Capt. Sully's company F, of the 2nd Infantry, are the only troop which return to Benicia to pass the winter. The rest are posted at Forts Jones and Lane, not to protect the hardy, valiant, daredevil, double-fisted, bone and sinew pioneer from the attack of Joe's tribe, but rather to prevent the free and enlightened from butchering in cold blood the red man, when he resents the vilest impositions of slavery and debauchery that are forced upon him. The poor politician has a hard row to hoe in our community, and as an example General Lane in his late remarks on these troubles while in San Francisco had to deny himself the right of reprehension in toto, and only indulge in eulogy on that portion upon whom it might fall with most grace. Certain it is, that his remarks were anything but a full exhibit of the true state of the case, or of all his feelings, if we are to judge by reports of officers of the regular army on the ground with him. "Benicia Correspondence," letter dated October 31, 1853, San Diego Herald, November 12, 1853, page 2 Capt. Pleasant Armstrong, who was killed by the Indians on Rogue River during the battle between the Indians and the detachment under Gov. Lane, was the son of Mr. John Armstrong, formerly of Knoxville, Tenn., and brother of A. N. Armstrong, Esq., the surveyor of this county. He was one of the "old settlers" in Oregon, having emigrated thither in 1840--thirteen years ago. During his long residence there he has participated in a great many skirmishes with the Indians, hitherto always with success. When he was shot, he turned to a comrade, exclaiming, "A dead center shot," and fell, expiring instantly. Oquawka Spectator, Oquawka, Illinois, November 23, 1853, page 2 The Herald learns that the two Indians who were prisoners at Fort Lane, for killing Mr. Kyle, escaped on the 29th ult. The Indians on Applegate Creek are exceedingly troublesome; they are constantly stealing stock from the settlers, as well as from those on Cottonwood. Messrs. Cram, Rogers & Co. and M. B. Morris have had several fine horses stolen by these "red devils," which have been recovered from them by R. B. Metcalfe, Esq., the well known and popular mountain guide in the late Indian war. A petition is in circulation and being universally signed by the citizens of this county, asking Congress to appoint him Special Indian Agent for Southern Oregon. From his thorough knowledge of the Indian character, and of the country which they inhabit, together with his influence with the several tribes who infest this valley, as well as that of Shasta, he would no doubt make an efficient officer.-Ib. "From Yreka," Shasta Courier, Shasta City, California, December 10, 1853, page 2
Affairs out south are anything but settled. The Indians seem to have
forgotten their pledges to the treaty. Covert attacks are becoming
frequent, and from what we can hear a renewal of the difficulties may
sooner or later be expected. Upon this subject the Mountain Herald holds
the following:
Oregon
Spectator, Oregon City, December 3, 1853, page 2"The Indians in the Illinois Valley have been quite troublesome. Two men were shot on the Illinois River, and one of them, Mr. Tedford, expired, after three or four days' severe suffering. A Mr. Rouse was severely injured by a blow from an ax across the face, but I am informed he has nearly recovered. The Indians burned Miller's house some two weeks since, and made an attempt to burn Rhodes'. They shot some cattle on Peck's ranch and succeeded in driving off 30 or 40 head of cattle and horses from the ranch owned by Mr. Mooney. "Much as we may deplore the fate of the Indians, we are irresistibly impelled to the conclusion that nothing but the white man's arm felt in its power and vengeance will render our property and our lives safe in Northern California and Southern Oregon." STILL LIVING.--Some time ago we announced the death of Judge Alonzo A. Skinner, formerly of this place, but for a number of years past a resident of Oregon. The account stated that he was brutally murdered by the Indians, in the Rogue River difficulty. We are happy to learn that his relations here have received, within the past week, a letter from him, bearing date of 10th of September last, which was mailed on the 16th of the same month, contradicting the report, saying that he had suffered nothing at the hands of the Indians, and that for the coming two year he designed to devote himself to agricultural pursuits. Portage Sentinel, Ravenna, Ohio, December 7, 1853, page 2 The Indians on Applegate Creek are exceedingly troublesome; they are constantly stealing stock from the settlers, as well as from those on Cottonwood. Messrs. Cram, Rogers & Co. and M. B. Morris have had several fine horses stolen by these "red devils," which have been recovered from them by R. B. Metcalfe, Esq., the well-known and popular mountain guide in the late Indian war. A petition is in circulation and being universally signed by the citizens of this county, asking Congress to appoint him Special Indian Agent for Southern Oregon. From his thorough knowledge of the Indian character, and of the country which they inhabit, together with his influence with the several tribes who infest this valley, as well as that of Shasta, he would no doubt make an efficient officer.--Mountain Herald. For
the Oregon Spectator.
News came
to town this evening that the detachment by U.S. Dragoons, ordered out
of [sic]
Capt.
Smith, commander of Ft. Lane, to recover some stolen property--have had
a skirmish with the Indians in the vicinity of Deer Creek, 2 soldiers
killed and five wounded; no Indians killed, or at least not known;
recovered 25 head of cattle and same number of horses and mules, 300
lbs. of powder, half bushel of caps, large quantity of lead &c.
This you can rely upon as true; information was communicated to my
informant by the Indian agent, S. H. Culver, Esq., who was present.Yours,
Jacksonville, O.T., Nov. 29, '53.
P. Oregon Spectator, Oregon
City, December 10, 1853, page 2
Indian Depredations.--The Jacksonville (Oregon) correspondent of the Yreka Herald, writing on the 28th ult., says: "The Indians on Applegate Creek are exceedingly troublesome; they are constantly stealing stock from the settlers, as well as from those on Cottonwood." Nevada Journal, Nevada City, California, December 23, 1853, page 1 INDIANS ABOUT JACKSONVILLE, O.T.--Every movement of the Indians in this whole country, including those on the coast, shows feelings of hostility towards the whites. In the vicinity of Port Orford they are arming themselves with firearms, and if daylight is not made to shine through them between this and spring we may expect trouble of the most serious nature from these enemies of the human family. We can never rest in security until the redskins are treated like the other wild beasts of the forest.--Yreka Herald. Daily Alta California, San Francisco, December 26, 1853, page 2 The militia of Oregon is to be thoroughly organized. "The Indian difficulties in the south last summer and fall (says the Statesman), demonstrated the necessity of some organization of this kind. When hostilities commenced, there were not a hundred guns in Rogue River Valley except what were in the hands of the Indians." "From Oregon," San Joaquin Republican, March 9, 1854, page 2 JACKSONVILLE,
Dec. 31st 1853.
T. J. DRYER,
Esq.--Sir:
I presume many of your readers would be pleased to ascertain the actual
cost of the Rogue River war. The muster rolls, bills, abstracts,
reports, &c. have been prepared and forwarded to the
Department.
The actual cost (exclusive of the pay to the soldiers) is as follows:
This amount has been advanced by the citizens of Rogue River Valley, and it is earnestly hoped that Congress will authorize the speedy payment of all expenses. Yours
in haste,
Weekly Oregonian, Portland,
January 21, 1854, page 2T. Mc.F. Patton. Siskiyou
County, California
Dear Brother,February the 7, 1854 I take this opportunity to inform Father and Mother that I am sound and hearty as an Indian. As I am getting very anxious to hear from home, I write the second time without answer. . . . Times is very dull, duller than I ever saw it in this country before. Miners has been laying idle for seven months, spending what they made [last season] for the want of water. Last summer I done very well a-mining; two of us made six hundred dollars a week regular. When the Rogue River War broke out, we sold out for fourteen hundred dollars, and I off to the wars. And that is what played thunder and broke up the hen's nest. Rogue River is about sixty-five miles from here across the Siskiyou Mountains, and the country on this side of the mountains is claimed by the Shasta tribe, a much smaller tribe. The citizens of Rogue River Valley called on us for help, while our Indians of this place left the country, excepting a few old squaws. We raised a company of Humbug volunteers under Capt. Rhodes and Lieutenant Charles Blair, well-armed with rifles and Colt's revolvers and horses and mules to ride and each man a pair of blankets to sleep under. We started for [the] Rogue River Wars, every man anxious to kill the first Indian. Well, we got to Jacksonville, Rogue River Valley, where the Indians was just a-plain thunder charging through the valley, burning houses, barns and wheat stacks and hay stacks, while some families was forting up, others running for Jacksonville. It would put you in mind of a thundering big hurricane much, with thunder and lightning from the houses' own fire and a flash of blaze running through the prairies. And thousands of cattle and horses running before that made a perfect hurricane. I haven't got time to give you any particulars of the war excepting in the last fight, which wasn't quite so hard as some skirmishes we had, that is, [the] bullets didn't fly quite so hard. Capt. Alden, captain of the dragoons, as he wasn't experienced in Indian fighting, after General Lane came in from Oregon gave him charge of one battalion and Colonel Ross the other. Then we started out, all volunteers that had good horses, for a great many had given out from hard traveling and starvation. We started on the direction of old Joe and Sam's tribe, which amounted to about seventy-five men in each battalion besides the packers which pack our grub. We took two different routes. We went with General Lane, and whichever struck the trail of the Indians first was to send an express to the other. But luckily we struck the trail first, but so anxious to take them didn't send no express, but traveled on up into the mountains, across creeks, up ravines, following their trail like hellhounds. Every once in a while we would come to a deep gulch growed up full of bushes, where we expected certainly to find them full of Indians. We would all dismount, leave a guard with the horses [and] take it afoot through the bushes and come out on the other side disappointed, with our faces scratched and our clothing torn with briers. Finally night came on, [and] we made our camp on a creek where the Indians had camped about three days before us. We unsaddled our horses, cut them some brush with our butcher knives, for there was no sign of grass in that country, built our fires, roasted some meat and stowed it away as fast as possible, for they was pretty wolfish after traveling all day and bushwhacking. I felt considerably so myself, and I was unlucky enough [to] become officer of the guard that night and came very near breaking my neck. The brush was very thick; one could scarcely walk through in the daytime, let alone that dark night. As I was a little suspicious of Indians that night I got up five or six times and went around to see if the guard was all awake. On one of my rounds I got [on] a big log that fell in my direction and had smashed the bushes down. I walked some hundred feet along that log and about that time my foot struck a knot and away I went, fourteen feet [down and] struck into a hole about six feet and bounced out. I felt whether I was India rubber or not and found I was, then I knew I was all right. Next morning we saddled up our brass, fed horses by daylight and started on our trail, which was getting fresher. We traveled about three miles and came to a well-fortified camp ground. There they [had] killed a mule that they had taken in a fight before this for to eat. We had some trouble to find their trail leading out from this. Finally we struck it, followed it up a steep mountain for about six miles, which was very steep and growed so thick with brush that the Indians cut their road through these bushes in order to pack their litters of wounded men up. We followed over that mountain and up another not quite so large onto a backbone or ridge. We [followed] the ridge about three miles, came to another defensive camp ground. There they had killed an elk, horns and skull were reared up in the trail, looked like some scraggy bush with the bark peeled off. Here the sign was very fresh. We traveled two or three miles further and came to a thick underbrush. here the Indians had got it afire; the whole mountain was in a perfect uproar, underbrush cracking and snapping, trees falling in every direction, which made it very dangerous traveling. However, we worked our way along without anything very exciting until we came to [a] kind of shoulder or an offset where it broke off into a hollow which had a heavy growth [of] pine and fir timber, beside a dry branch that headed up in the hollow that was growed up full of bushes. But when we came to this shoulder or jumpoff we had an Indian boy about thirteen years old; he pointed down in the hollow and says "Hiyou siwash" [many Indians]. From that it appeared as though there was a thousand devils had come in combat with that many bloodhounds mixed up with that many coyotes. The old General [Lane] motioned to the men to be as quick as possible and as still as possible; hitch their horses, examine your guns, put on fresh caps [on your firearms]. We wasn't more than a minute about it when all was ready. The General told me to take ten men, go down on the left. I took ten and started, while he with about fifty started on the right. Some few was left to take care of the pack animals. We charged down onto them at the same time the main party charged up. The first fire from the Indians killed two men, shot one [Pleasant Armstrong] through the breast; he threw his gun and spat, said "That is a center shot," died; the other was shot through the brains. [So began the Battle of Evans Creek--often called the Battle of Table Rock--of August 24, 1853.] We came up within twenty yards, took [to] trees and logs, but the Indians was about one hundred and fifty strong, all well armed, and had a kind of a breastworks of logs, wouldn't give an inch, whilst the chief old Joe roared like a lion, and says in the Chinook tongue, "This is my land, my country, and we are a-going to fight till we die for it; come on, come on." It was nine o'clock when we commenced, and about three when we quit. The Indians wanted to have a talk; after some strong orders they all stop firing. By this time General Lane and Colonel Alden, several more, was packed off wounded. They wanted to talk in the morning. We agreed to, for we was nearly choked for the want of water. The Indians had all the springs there was close by; the Indians had their camp around the spring [and] wouldn't allow us to come up, but if we would lay our guns down we might come up close, and the squaws packed water to us. They went to packing in baskets and kettles until dry. After we got our thirst quenched we gathered our guns and went back to camp or to the pack animals, which was about a quarter of a mile off. We had not been there more than fifteen minutes before here came Colonel Ross with his battalion, come a-rushing as hard as they could come. They had struck our trail and followed on until they heard our guns; then they come a-tearing. But the fun was over, if you could call it fun, for we had agreed to have a talk in the morning. So we went to rigging things in camp order and fixing the wounded as comfortable as possible, which was seven, one mortally wounded had a gash cut with a bullet in his skull, left his brains exposed. General Lane was shot through the arm, didn't hinder him from riding. Morning came [and we] sent the Indians word that we was a-coming to have the talk. General Lane, Colonel Ross, some three or four others with myself left our arms and went into the camp. As they had moved their camp some two hundred yards from their old one, we had to pass right through their battle [field]. Here was a sight to see, the old squaws burning their dead, twelve or fourteen fires, a dead Indian in each one and the old women a-crying, throwing on sticks. We passed on up to the camp. It wasn't a minute until we was completely surrounded by them bloody-looking savages; each man had his gun in his hand and his bow and quiver on his back. Here you could see a fair specimen wild savage warrior wearing his full rig, and that was nothing more than his breech cloth and his rifle, shot patch, butcher knife and quiver full of arrows. We and the three chiefs, Tyee Joe, Tyee Sam, Tyee Jim, curled down on our haunches and had a talk for three hours. Didn't come to any conclusion, but they agreed to come down to Table Rock in Rogue River Valley in eight days, for he said he wanted to have a long talk, that the Indians clear from the Calapooya Mountains, Oregon to Sacramento River had declared war with the whites. So we came back to camp that evening; we fixed our litters out of poles and blankets. Next morning early we started, four men at a litter at a time; five men we had to pack, back the same trail we came, over hills and dales and over a mountain, near six miles to the top. But we worried it through, with our horses nearly starved to death. Made headquarters down on Rogue River. Carried the wounded into the hospital at Jacksonville. Howsomever we laid at headquarters about twelve days. Some of the boys got the chills and fever [malaria]. We finally got our discharges and came back to Yreka and Humbug, and some with the calculation of never going Indian fighting again. Write oftener and more of them; [they] can't come too fast. Direct your letters to Yreka City, Siskiyou County, California. Then I will be more apt to get your letters. Charles
Blair
"An
Ohioan's Role in Oregon History," Oregon Historical Quarterly, September
1965, pages 219-225.
Extensively edited for clarity and searchability. For explanatory
notes and original misspellings, click on the link.THE ROGUE RIVER WAR, exclusive of soldiers' pay, is said to have cost $93,511.25. "Oregon and Yreka," Sierra Citizen, Downieville, California, February 25, 1854, page 3 The militia of Oregon is to be thoroughly organized. "The Indian difficulties in the south last summer and fall (says the Statesman) demonstrated the necessity of some organization of this kind. When hostilities commenced, there were not a hundred guns in Rogue River Valley except what were in the hands of the Indians." San Joaquin Republican, Stockton, California, March 9, 1854, page 2
The next bill
upon the Calendar which came up for consideration in order was House
bill (No. 339) to authorize the Secretary of War to settle and adjust
the expenses of the Rogue River Indian War.
The bill was read in extenso. The Clerk then read the first section. Mr. LANE, of Oregon. Mr. Chairman, the duty devolves upon me, I imagine, to give an explanation of the object of this bill, and of the circumstances which make its passage necessary. If I knew that it would pass without anything being said by me, I would say nothing; and it would gratify me very much. But, for fear that it might not be so, I avail myself of the opportunity to make a brief statement. In the Rogue River Valley there are two great tribes of Indians, the Umpquas and Shastas, all known as the Rogue River Indians. These Indians, for the last twelve months, have been preparing for war. They were enabled to provide themselves with the implements of war, and with everything necessary to commence a deadly hostility, and to make every arrangement necessary for carrying out their purpose, by means of appearing friendly to the whites, in hunting for them, and selling the proceeds of the chase for guns, powder, balls &c. In that vicinity there are rich mines, and many American citizens had rushed in there for the purpose of digging for gold. Many persons from the States who had no intention of becoming citizens of that Territory, and who did not become citizens, went there in search of gold. It is the habit of miners, and it is the habit of American citizens who are in search of gold, to take with them a rifle and other weapons which they regard as necessary for their personal safety and protection. The Indians in that valley, who are a superior race, remarkable for their intelligence, availed themselves of the great number of miners, who purchased of them the game that they could kill, and which was very plenty in that portion of Oregon, to realize a considerable sum of money, which they took care to invest in rifles, pistols, powder, lead and percussion caps, and everything else necessary to commence a war of extermination; in this way all they had received in twelve months past had been invested. At that time the white people in the vicinity, among whom were many families, believed they were as safe as the people of the city in Washington now consider themselves. The massacre commenced the first day by a scattering band of Indians; and Edwards, Wills and Nolen, all of them American citizens, were massacred. Only these three were murdered the first day. This was, however, only a beginning of the execution of a scheme which had been matured for sweeping off every white man, woman and child in that country. This tribe had formed an alliance with other tribes. The Klamath Indians, numbering some five hundred warriors, within seventy-five miles, and Tipsoe Tyee's band, within twenty-five miles, had agreed to join them in the massacre; and, as soon as the war commenced, they were all to rush in, and sweep from the face of the earth every man, woman and child. And, Mr. Chairman, their designs would have been accomplished, but for the prompt and efficient aid of Captain Alden, who is now in this city, crippled for life, in consequence of a wound he received in that war. I say that but for his aid they would have been swept from the country, every man, woman and child. The Indians were well armed; and it is a fact, strange as it may seem, that the white people were mostly without arms. They had no apprehensions from these Indians. They had lived with them for many months in peace. They had sold their arms to the Indians, and believed them to be perfectly harmless in their intentions. When the massacre commenced Captain Alden was one hundred miles off. The intelligence was received, and he, with a company of ten men, his whole available force, immediately started in the night and rushed to the rescue. They succeeded in checking the Indians for the time being. In the meantime two companies of Californians, under Captains Goodall and Rhodes, turned out and joined Captain Alden. All the people, or nearly all in Rogue River Valley, capable of bearing arms, were organized into companies, two under Captains Miller and Lamerick for active service, and one under Captain Fowler, for the protection of the town of Jacksonville. The two companies under Captains Miller and Lamerick were organized into a battalion, and placed under the command of Colonel Ross. I take occasion here to say that too much praise cannot be given to Captain Alden for his prompt organization of these troops, or to the troops themselves for their gallantry and good conduct. Soon after the battle with the Indians, Captain Nesmith, who had been ordered out by the Governor, joined me with a large company of volunteers; also, Captain Smith, with a company of United States dragoons; Captains Martin, Applegate and Terry, each with a small company, promptly repaired to the theater of hostilities. To all these officers, and the men under their command, I take pleasure in saying that great praise is due for their gallant and soldier-like bearing. I also take pleasure in saying that I am indebted to Major Alvord, of the United States Army, for much valuable assistance in negotiating a treaty with the Indians, as well as Superintendent Palmer. Mr. Culver, Indian agent, threw down the shovel, the pick and other mining implements, and rushed to the rescue. By this timely movement the progress of the massacre was checked, and but for it every white inhabitant of that country must have been stricken down. He divided his forces at night, so as to prevent the Indians from coming upon the settlements, and in that way managed to hold them in check. Many skirmishes, however, ensued, and John R. Hardin, Dr. Rose and others were killed. On the morning of the 16th of August, I received notice at my residence, which is one hundred miles north of that point, that the Indians had commenced a general slaughter of the white people of that country. This intelligence was brought to me by Mr. Etlinger and Mr. Nichol, who had ridden the whole distance in a day and night. In a few minutes after its arrival, I was on the road to the Rogue River Valley. I mention these facts to show the committee my knowledge of the transactions there. It is necessary that I should allude to them. On the 15th day of August, Captain Armstrong, a valued and respected citizen of Oregon, passed my house on his way to California, through the Rogue River Valley. Then the rumor was indefinite--that there was trouble in that quarter--but we did not know to what extent. It had been my lot to have been thrown into the company of Captain Armstrong in 1851, during a war with the same Indians. I found him a gallant and valuable gentleman. I mentioned that I was unwilling to see him go in the direction in which he was going without a rifle. He had none with him. "What," he replied, "was the matter?" I told him the rumor had reached me that there was trouble of some kind in the valley; that his life was too valuable to be incautiously trusted there; and that he had better take my rifle. He did so. In the course of that night he met the express going for me, and waited until I overtook him, when we traveled together. We arrived in Rogue River Valley [the] 19th of August. We found Captain Alden, with his usual gallantry and efficiency, in command, and affording protection to our citizens. His force, in my judgment, was sufficient to make a movement against the enemy, which he had already contemplated. A few days before, a portion of his command under Lieutenant Ely had been sent to make a reconnaissance. He fell into an ambuscade, and nearly half his command were killed. The other half would have shared the same fate but for the timely arrival of a reinforcement. Although I came as a volunteer, Captain Alden insisted that I should take the command of the troops. At his urgent request I did so. Sunday afternoon order was given to be ready to move on Monday morning at four o'clock. At the appointed time every foot was in the stirrup. Wednesday morning we overtook the Indians, and brought them to battle. Captain Alden was shot down. Captain Armstrong received a shot at about the same moment, and just had time to say that they had given him a dead center shot. The conflict led to a peace. Notwithstanding the screams, yells and war-whoops of the Indians for four hours, and notwithstanding we had failed to dislodge them, they agreed to make peace. They asked for peace. They wanted to know who commanded the troops. I heard them. I know their language well, having had a good deal to do with them, and knew most of them personally. They called out for me to come in, as they wanted a talk. They were tired of fighting, and desired peace. Well, I had been a little hurt myself, and I said to them and to the command that I would rather fight forty battles than talk about one peace. But after a good deal of time had been lost, and after a great deal of persuasion, I went among them. The preliminaries of a peace were made on the battleground. We camped on the battleground for two nights. The Indians were so well satisfied that there would be a peace that they assisted in removing our wounded men on litters across the country, which, by the by, is the worst country I ever traveled over. Well, a peace was made, and it has been maintained until this time, and I think it always will be maintained, for the government has purchased their lands. A treaty was made with them directly after the war for their territory, and that treaty has been ratified. I have given this history of the war from its commencement to its termination, for the purpose of satisfying the committee that the volunteers who turned out on that occasion ought to be paid for their services. I ask that the Secretary of War may be authorized to pay them. Many lost their lives. The Indians killed nearly as many of us as we killed of them. We only ask that those volunteers who turned out and assisted in putting down an Indian war that would otherwise have lasted for years, and cost the government millions of dollars, and hundreds of lives--and, as it was, did cost us the lives of many valuable citizens--may be paid for their services. The troops were disbanded as soon as it was thought safe to do so. I kept them with me but a few days after the peace was made, and remained near the Indians for several weeks myself for two reasons; one was that I was not very well able to get away from them, and the other was that I knew that by remaining there until the hot blood had somewhat cooled I could prevent a renewal of hostilities between the Indians and the whites. We only ask that the volunteers shall be paid for the time which they actually served, and the necessary expenses of subsistence, ammunition, forage and so forth. The accounts were all carefully kept. Captain Alden had appointed quartermasters and commissaries, and the accounts were as accurate and correct as I have ever seen them in the Army. I hope this explanation will satisfy the committee that the bill ought to pass. Mr. WASHBURN, of Maine. I should like to ask the gentleman from Oregon a question. Will the gentleman state about how much the expenditures will amount to? Mr. LANE. My opinion is that they will amount to about $150,000; perhaps a little over or a little under. I cannot, however, say exactly. Mr. WASHBURN. The language of the bill is rather wide. It provides for appropriating money for the expenditures for all necessary and proper supplies. Now, would it not be well enough to have some limitation as to the full amount? Mr. LANE. I am very willing to say that it shall not exceed $175,000, if the committee desire that there shall be a restriction. But I have confidence in the Secretary of War. I have confidence in his ability, integrity and honesty, and in his capacity to judge from the papers what allowances are reasonable. He will allow nothing wrong, and we ask nothing but what is right. Let me say here that, so far as I was concerned, I settled my accounts on the spot. I went out as a volunteer, but I received while there a commission as brigadier general from the acting Governor of the Territory. As soon as I could ride down from the portion of the country where the war took place, I returned the commission with a note on it that I charged nothing for my services; that I would not receive anything for them then, or at any future time, nor will I. But that was not the case with others. Many persons left their business and hurried to the rescue of the people there, when the Indians were about to tomahawk men, women and children; and this would have been done, had it not been for the noble conduct of Captain Alden and those brave men who volunteered in their defense. All I ask is that these men shall be paid, and that the actual and necessary expenses of the war shall also be paid. I hope no further explanations will be necessary. "Thirty-Third Congress," Daily Globe, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1854, page 4 I suppose ------ has kept you pretty well posted up as to the movements of the dragoons for the last year and a half, but nevertheless perhaps a short account of our "doings" in that line may not be unacceptable. You know when I was at Benicia last spring the company was at St. Louis. Well, on the 12th of July we were ordered to take up a position on the emigrant trail in order to protect the emigrants from the Indians. A company of infantry from Oregon was ordered to Fort Jones to relieve us, and on the 12th we started. After leaving Scotts Valley our route was through the most barren and desolate country I have ever seen--nothing but bald, naked mountains and barren, sandy plains with no vegetation but stunted cedars and sage bushes. The whole desolate scene reminded me forcibly of the scriptural description of the "land of Idumea" and of the curse pronounced by Isaiah on "Bozrah," "from generation to generation it shall be waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever--but the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it; and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion and the stone of emptiness." The greater part of the country through which we passed was covered with lava. In some places there were great streams resembling the bed of a river which had suddenly congealed. We found springs surrounded with grass sufficient for our horses about every 20 miles, at which places we encamped. Another feature of the country is the numerous lakes abounding with waterfowl of all kinds. Many of the lakes are, however, salt, from the great quantities of alkaline ingredients contained in the soil--in fact so abundant are they that the whole country for miles is sometimes encrusted with a white coating. We saw a great many deer and antelope every day, and the sage cock we saw here for the first time. This bird is found, I believe, only west of the Rocky Mountains, and not far west of the Sierra Nevada. It is a species of the grouse and in all its habits resembles the "prairie chicken" so abundant with you. It is about twice as large as your grouse--of a speckled black and white plumage--is found in coveys, and in its flight and general appearance resembles the prairie grouse very much. It is a glorious game bird, and when we first met with them they were so tame that they would hardly fly from under the horses' feet. We shot a great many of them and liked their flesh very much, although many of the emigrants would not eat them, fancying that they tasted bitter from the wild sage upon which they feed. After marching east for six or eight days we arrived at the point intended for our permanent camp. The place chosen was in the vicinity of a large lake with plenty of very cold delicious springs around, and grass sufficient to graze our horses all summer. Here we pitched our tents and prepared to make ourselves as comfortable as possible whilst spending a dull monotonous summer. The reason of our being sent here was that the year previous several emigrant trains had been attacked by the Indians in this region and several persons killed. A volunteer force had spent the summer here and by their atrocities towards the Indians did not assist much in fostering a good feeling between the Indians and whites. One of their acts is the following--They invited the Indians in to make a treaty, promising them food whilst at the camp. The whites had cattle killed for them and impregnated the meat with strychnine, intending to poison those who had come to make the treaty. An Oregon Indian who was with the whites, it seems, was less of the savage than his white brethren [and] informed the Indians of what was going on, and they refused to take the meat. The whites then watched their opportunity and fell upon the Indians whilst sitting around the council fire, and cruelly butchered them. This when they had been invited to make a treaty--so it goes. Quite a number of emigrants passed our camp during the summer, to all of whom we furnished escorts through the dangerous places. The emigrants were from all parts of the western and northwestern states, a very great majority from Iowa. They were not in a destitute condition as they have been in some years, although they would beg for flour, coffee, &c. from us. A great portion of those which came in on our trail were farmers with their families, cattle, &c., intending to settle in Rogue River Valley, Oregon. We remained at our camp until Sept. 23, when we received orders to repair to Jacksonville, in Rogue River Valley, where an Indian war had been raging all summer. We arrived in the valley Oct. 1st, and found Capt. Smith's company of dragoons, from Port Orford, there. A treaty had been concluded with the Indians some time before, and orders awaiting us to join forces with Capt. Smith and build quarters at a point on Rogue River for the winter. This we finished in November, and the place is now known as Fort Lane The Rogue River war, of which you perhaps have seen some account in the papers, originated, as almost all Indian troubles do, from the most wanton outrages committed by the whites, some of which in their fiendish villainy cannot be exceeded by any atrocities ever committed by the Spaniards or the early aborigines of the country--but it would be a waste of time to attempt to particularize; you know as well as I what the character of our frontier settlers generally is. The people, however, managed to make a good thing out of the war, as some of the bills presented to "Uncle Sam" will testify. What do you think of one company of volunteer cavalry using 18 tons of hay in one night? and one company of 50 men eating $1500 worth of beets in the same time? Yet such are some of [the] bills for expenses during the war. Rogue River Valley is a fertile and beautiful valley, about 50 miles long, and ranging in width from 4 to 10 or 12 miles. Rogue River crosses one end of the valley. It is a rapid stream nearly as wide as the St. Peters, although in general not so deep. The Indians live principally along the banks of the river, in villages. It would be a great treat to such a fisherman as yourself to see the salmon in this stream. Soon after our arrival last fall, there was a run of them, and I never saw such a sight in my life. The whole river was alive with huge salmon of 20 to 30 lbs. weight, jumping and floundering about--every little creek of a foot in depth was full of them, and the whole garrison were on the banks throwing them out with their hands. The Indians spear large quantities of them, which they smoke and lay up for winter. The salmon are not so good in the fall as in the spring, although those we ate last fall were very good. They run up all the little streams and gullies as far as they can, and then when the water recedes they die. Along some of the dry beds of these mountain streams thousands of them may be seen decaying in the sun. Our residence at Fort Lane last winter was much better than had been our stay at Ft. Jones during the previous one. Our houses were better and we were generally better prepared, besides there was very little snow, although the weather at times was very cold, the thermometer sometimes getting as low as 8 and 10 degrees below zero. We got the mail from California, every week, by an express which ran to Jacksonville, some 8 miles from this post. Still the place is very far removed from the world and is very dull and wearisome, and I must acknowledge that I was not sorry to receive an order to repair to Benicia early in the spring. This was a piece of good luck, as agreeable as unexpected. I had applied for a leave of absence for two months for the purpose of visiting my wife--but to be stationed here was more than I had hope for. I am delighted with the change, for Benicia, besides being the pleasantest post in California, is almost the only one where I can have ------ with me. As to her going over the mountains, swimming rivers &c., in order to get to most of the posts I have been at, it is simply impossible. Of the three companies of dragoons, nearly every man was discharged at Fort Lane, and when I arrived at Benicia, I found I had to begin with a company of recruits with but one old soldier among them; however, I hope they will soon become fit for service. I think I never saw such men as those we discharged. They were the finest soldiers I have ever seen, and as campaigners they could not be excelled. Put them anywhere in the country, and give them but an ax and they would soon be comfortable. I am afraid it will be long before we get such men again. Gen. Wool has paid a visit to Benicia since I have been here. I do not know what are his intentions in regard to my company, but I hope and think it will be stationed here for some time. The General is anxious to send some topographical engineers to Utah, in which case I should not be surprised if my company was sent as an escort. 2 companies of the 3rd Artillery will be here by the next steamer and one company will be stationed here--we expect Gardiner out with them. The town of Benicia has retrograded very much since the Legislature has removed to Sacramento--town lots are at a discount, and a state of stagnation seems to reign in the place. Indeed, California is not the busy country it was a year ago. Wages are down--prices are down--and thousands are out of employment. At San Francisco, the merchants are broken down by the immense shipments forced on them from home. At length the enormous rents have succumbed to the general pressure, and men no longer enjoy the income of a million from an investment of fifty thousand. One thing has been shown conclusively this last year--that is--that the prosperity of California is dependent on her mines alone. The last winter there was very little water, and in consequence the mines failed--there was a shortness in the gold crop, and we see every business and interest in California affected by it. There is a general dullness and stagnation throughout the state. It is also nonsense to talk about the agricultural wealth of California. There is very little of her soil capable of cultivation, and that little not of particular fertility. The facts are that the wealth is in her mines, and when they fail the progress and prosperity of the state will stop with them--yet thus far they seem inexhaustible, and it is to he hoped they will remain so. C.
"Letter
from California," Burlington
Weekly Telegraph, Burlington, Iowa, June 2, 1854, page 1
The author is
likely Lt. Thomas F. Castor, Company A, 1st Dragoons.Treasury
Department
SirThird Auditor's Office February 23rd 1855 The Treasurer of the United States will remit to you the sum of $2238.60, being the amount of your claim for beef furnished the Oregon & California Battalion of Volunteers for the Rogue River Indian War in Southern Oregon on the 7th Septr. 1853 received at this office from the 2nd Auditor on the 9th Augt. 1854, the same having been acted on by the Accounting Officer of the Treasury and all and in full under the decision of the Secretary of War of January 2nd 1855. For the above amount of $2238.60, when it shall have come to hand, you will please forward your receipt to this office. I
am respectfully
John E. Ross Esq.Your obt. servt. Robt. J. Atkinson Third Auditor Present Ernest E. Mingus private collection Wounded
Genl. Joseph Lane, comdg., in affair on Evans Creek Aug. 24
Capt. B. R. Alden, mortally, in same affair--died in Europe 1855. [Alden died in 1870 in Rhode Island.] [illegible] B. B. Griffin, Miller's Co., in affair on Applegate Creek Aug. 10. Lt. Simeon Ely, Goodall's Co., in affair on Battle Creek Aug. 17. Privates, Miller's
Co.
George W. Anderson, disabled for life,
in affair of Lt. Griffin on Applegate Creek Aug. 10.William Duke, Joseph Watt, in affair on Southern Oregon Emigrant Road October 4. Goodall's Co.
Zebulon Sheets, John Alban, S. S. Ramsey
by being thrown from his horse, James Carroll, disabled for life in
affair Lieut. Ely on Battle Creek Aug. 17.Charles C. Abby, mortally, in affair on Evans Creek Aug. 24, died Sept. 2. Henry Flesher in affair on Evans Creek Aug. 24. Rhodes' Co.
Thos. Hays, in affair on Evans Creek
Aug. 24.Lamerick's Co.
John R. Hardin, mortally, when Rose was
killed, Aug. 11, died 14.John W. Hillman, disabled for life by accidental discharge of a gun Aug. 19. Isaac Adams by accidental discharge of a gun Aug. 18. Oregon Indian Wars vol. 3, B. F. Dowell papers, University of Oregon Special Collections Ax 031 ATTENTION! VOLUNTEERS OF '53,
IN THE ROGUE RIVER WAR. D.
M. KENNEY, Attorney
at Law, Jacksonville, O.T., having formed a copartnership with JOHN S.
EDWARDS, Esq., Attorney at Law, at Washington City, D.C., for the
prosecution of claims against the general government, for this section
of country, is prepared to attend to the collection of back pay of
volunteers, extra pay, pensions or land warrants, under the Bounty
Act--back pay of those who served in hospitals, and all other kinds of
business with the government at Washington.
Mr. Edwards' universally admitted ability, known energy and promptness in the discharge of business committed to his care, is a sufficient guarantee to claimants to place their business in the hands of the firm. D.
M. KENNEY, Jacksonville,
Charges moderate.JOHN S. EDWARDS, Washington, D.C. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 24, 1856 AN INCIDENT.--The first year this town was laid out (1853) there was a call for a company of volunteers to serve against the Indians in the southern part of Oregon. Crescent City with her usual promptness responded to the call at once, and among the first to volunteer was S. G. Whipple. The command of the company was at once tendered him, but with characteristic modesty he declined it, preferring to do his duty as a simple private. Such men are good ones to put in office; the majority of our politicians think no place high enough for them. Crescent City Herald, October 8, 1856, page 2 An Indian Campaign.
CHAPTER I.
During the summer of 1853, the Indian tribes along the Siskiyou
Mountains and the Rogue River in Oregon became excessively annoying to
both settlers and miners. They had succeeded in procuring such a supply
of firearms as made them bold and, probably exasperated by various
outrages perpetrated by the thoughtless miners, finally broke out in
open rebellion. Whole settlements were laid in ruins, the citizens
burned in their own houses or making their escape from the flames only
to be scalped by the remorseless foe. [No
Southern Oregon towns were ever burned or even attacked by the Indians,
and in 1853 no one was burned alive and no known whites scalped.]
Miners were driven from their labors, and a general panic pervaded in
the whole territory. Assistance was called for and readily supplied by
the northern portion of California and from the Willamette Valley, and
a company of cavalry in the regular service was also sent to the scene
of conflict. [Captain
Alden with around a dozen dragoons arrived, but no cavalry.]
A large number of inhabitants about Jacksonville volunteered to assist
in (as they said) wiping out the redskins. Yreka, Klamath Lake and
other towns in the vicinity [there
were no white inhabitants east of the Cascades in Southern Oregon in
1853]
furnished recruits, and the assembled motley soldiery were under the
immediate command of Gen. Joseph Lane, then a representative in
Congress from that Territory. There very soon assembled about six
hundred of the hardiest of the hardy pioneers and miners, and there was
a large prospect of a big Indian hunt and lots of fun. But it was
discovered at length that all the ammunition in the vicinity was
inadequate for a half day's battle. Arms & ammunition were
accordingly ordered up from Fort Vancouver. Lieut. Kautz and a half
score of regulars were dispatched with these articles and after leaving
Salem were escorted by about eighty volunteers under the command of
Capt. J. W. Nesmith, now U.S. Senator from Oregon. A more laughable
collection of humans never marched out in battle array. Horses of all
sizes and colors, halt, lame and blind, ridden by men in every
conceivable style of dress, from the fig leaf of Adam to the beau monde of
Broadway and armed with guns and pistols of every pattern extant. There
were idlers who went for the pay, boys who went for the excitement,
loafers who went for the glory, and timid persons who thought there was
no danger and that they would have a history thereafter to relate and a
few who decided to maintain law and order and punish the faithless
Indians.
Capt. Nesmith had seen similar service upon former occasions, and was not disposed to attach any more importance to the event than naturally belonged there, and after getting fairly started on the journey made a spirited address to his command in which he laid down the duty that was before them. "First of all, boys," said he, "you are about to march through a wild, unsettled country filled with hostile Indians. If you see one, don't wait for orders, but shoot him and don't waste ammunition. Second, we shall pass, at different points of the route, stations where the traveler can find shelter and food, and at all of these places I am grieved to learn that whiskey is kept and sold to the miners and perhaps to the Indians also. After having subdued the Indians, our next duty must be to those rumholes. If we should have a battle and our ranks should be decimated, the survivors will have the more to do. But as for leaving this country without accomplishing our mission, we must not, we will not. We must save this country from the sin of intemperance. The most effective plan for us to pursue will be to drink every drop of ardent spirit in the country. Boys, I will do my share, and I hope you will do your duty." At this burst of patriotism, the command shouted, and every man avowed himself ready for the enterprise. There was much of the way no other road than a path used by pack trains in carrying the supplies for the mines from the seaboard to the mines, and our progress was necessarily very slow, and the labor of dragging the six-pounder brass howitzer and its caisson was laborious, especially after reaching the Umpqua Mountains, and the first flush of the undertaking wore off long before getting beyond the bounds of the settled country. There were very many who would gladly have escaped from the balance of the job but for their pride, while others became more and more fascinated with this wild adventure as it began to grow irksome to others. The ludicrous appearance of the party did not become less striking but went from bad to worse in geometrical progression until every dullard in the command laughed, not only at his own figure, but at the appearance of everybody else. The buckskin pants, then very generally worn, were assuming such shape as accident gave them in their series of wettings and dryings to which almost every day exposed them. Some that were at first too long for the tallest man in the party were now too short for the shortest, so that there was a universal appearance of the whole company's having made a raid on some boy's clothing emporium and cleaned it out. But the uniform was not the most amusing part of this adventure, as those will discover who read the subsequent chapter of this veritable history. East Saginaw Courier, Michigan, March 16, 1864, page 1 An Indian Campaign.
The march from Fort Vancouver to Jacksonville traversed the most
beautiful portion of Oregon and displayed scenery of landscapes that
the pen of Scott
or the pencil of Landseer
never could have fitly described or portrayed. The scenery of the Alps
may be more awe-inspiring; Switzerland may show glaciers full of wonder
and terror, but no land from its every outlook shows such complete
beauty of landscape as Oregon. The pencil of the painter never traced
such magic lines of graceful sweep, such sublime aerial prospect, such
broad prairies and lofty mountains, such broad and rapid streams and
such deep groves, over which hangs the silent beauty of dreamland. How
few, even in these days of travel and enterprise, understand the extent
and fertility of the states beyond the Rocky Mountains, and what eyes
of wonder they open upon the relater of travels in those distant states.CHAPTER II. Fort Vancouver stands upon the north bank of the Columbia River, five miles above the mouth of the Willamette, and is nothing more than an old trading post established by the Hudson Bay Fur Company soon after their headquarters were established at Astoria. Starting from this point we passed up the Willamette River past Portland, Oregon City and the beautiful falls--a miniature resemblance of the Niagara--and as far as Champoeg were disembarked from our steamboat and began our journey overland. At this point the broad tableland known as French Prairie comes down to the riverbank in a bold bluff and sweeps away toward the south for many miles, and spreads itself from the Willamette River to the Cascade Mountains in one unbroken field of green. Here the first farmers in Oregon began their labors, and being unable to obtain white housekeepers consoled themselves with the best article of squaws to be secured, and in consequence this settlement is comprised almost entirely of half-breeds. Approaching the southern boundary of this prairie we fall into a narrow belt of woodland, which is the only boundary dividing it from the great valley of the Willamette. This valley extends from Salem to the Umpqua Mountains, and from the Coast Range to the Cascade, including many hundred square miles of the most fertile lands, with little belts of timber along the streams that here and there meander through the broad expanse of meadows. Standing at any point upon this open country you see the ever-snowcapped peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson and the Twin Sisters glistening in the sunshine and overhung by clouds of mist, or cold and bleak standing out against the dark horizon like specters of terror and destruction. Great gulfs and chasms yawn in their rocky sides, and now and then Mr. Jefferson lights up the dark night with fitful gleams from its seething crater and vomits out great streams of red-hot lava that leave their blackened track upon the snowfields like huge rivers of ink. [Mt. Jefferson has not erupted for over a thousand years.] The southern boundary of this valley is the Umpqua Range of mountains which run parallel with the river of the same name, and though having no towering peaks are very rocky and precipitous. The only passage over them was made by gradual ascents until we reached a great elevation, and then the descent was rapid, winding along between the river and the mountains where in many places the only footing for man or beast was a path of only a few inches' breadth made by great effort in the side of the rocks. Above towered the mountains, and below rushed the rapid river. One of our mules, swerving slightly from this narrow way, lost his footing and went over the declivity with a wild scream. We waited but an instant to know his fate, for falling with his load sheer into the deep stream he sank from our sight without a struggle. For nearly a mile we followed this wild and dangerous way, seemingly suspended in the air by a thread which a single word would sever and plunge us over the precipice beyond the reach of human hands, then reached the level country beyond called the Umpqua Valley and extending to the highlands along the Rogue River. This valley presents the primest grazing country we have ever seen, and is rapidly settling up. Here Gen. Jo Lane has made his home upon a broad tract of land which labor will soon make as fine a farm as the sun shines upon. Here upon the last declivity of the mountains at the ford of the river we met the first Indian we had seen while on our march. Upon his head he wore the horns and head of a deer for a cap, and was rigged out in the most distressing guise we have ever seen. We tried to learn from him whether prowling bands of savages were about the country, whether any battle had been fought, what tribe he belonged to, and where he lived, but his only reply was "nika [illegible]," "I do not know." [illegible] his too innocent reliance upon our favor awoke in the minds of some of the party apprehensions of an ambush or a surprise, and an adventure was the result, which being the first thought [to have] occurred upon the march we reserve for our next chapter. East Saginaw Courier, Michigan, March 23, 1864, page 1 An Indian Campaign.
Our first camp in the Umpqua Valley was beautifully located on the
south bank of the river upon a broad stretch of prairie dotted here and
there by abrupt bluffs, crowned with a heavy growth of timber. Just at
the foot of one of those hill forests lay our camp, and spread over the
ground with no protection or covering save a blanket these rough
pioneers and adventurers lay in as much ease and enjoyment as if in a
palace, and upon the best of beds. Our frugal evening meal was
scarcely
over when darkness almost impenetrable closed around us and rain began
to fall in torrents. Well habituated to all such annoyances, the larger
portion of the company were soon soundly sleeping indifferent to rain,
Indian wars or other trifles. But two of the party had imagined
something terrible about to happen, and their fears drove sleep from
their eyes and sense from their heads. They lay only a few feet away
from Captain Nesmith, and when they supposed him sleeping indulged in
sundry strictures upon his carelessness in conducting a force of so
much importance and so little strength through an enemy's country. Both
were lieutenants, elected by vote of the volunteers before leaving
Salem, and both felt the responsibility of their stations. Darus was
the more valiant of the two, but Jones was not much his inferior, and
after having fully canvassed the carelessness of allowing the whole
company to go to sleep without a single sentry on duty, their fears
went back to the Indian we had seen in the morning in such outlandish
guise. From the Indian they came rapidly to the hard night and
favorable opportunity, and as they turned the subject over in their
minds their apprehensions almost became realities, and they pictured
the whole neighborhood in ruins, the inhabitants and our little band
all slaughtered, and the triumphant savages dancing over our scalpless
heads, while our little "locks of hair" ornamented the belts of our
sanguinary foes. To such wild extremes did their vagaries run that they
soon sat up and began peering out into the bleak night with the evident
expectation of discovering a lurking foe somewhere in the vicinity. The
wooded hill standing out against the sky, like a huge mountain, became
a special object of attention and was selected by them as the point
from which the attack would surely come. Talking made them thirsty, and
they relieved that by frequent applications administered internally
from a pocket flask, reported to contain whiskey. Their fears or the
whiskey at last raised their imaginary terrors to such a pitch that
they proposed to set out and make the circuit of the camp to see that
all was quiet. Jones proposed that they should first drink, and then as
a dutiful soldier he proposed to wake the captain and inform him of the
danger likely to befall his command. Darus overruled this counsel, and
proposed to drink and set out upon their own responsibility, which they
accordingly done. It had now been raising in torrents for two hours,
and every hollow in the earth was full of water, into which these
vigilant sentinels splashed headlong. After a long circuit, they came
back to the wooded hill and dived into its hidden terrors fearlessly.
The clouds began to brighten up, and objects could be distinguished at
short distances. This circumstance was another terror to our heroes, as
great as the darkness had been before. Here they were, outside of camp,
without the knowledge of anyone, and if in returning by misfortune they
should awake some light sleeper and he should in the darkness mistake
them for foes, a murder would surely follow.CHAPTER III. He proposed to drink and then hail the camp, to prevent accidents, but fearing the ridicule of the whole command, they concluded to effect their return stealthily. They at last succeeded in getting into camp without any accident and sat down on a log somewhat broken and decayed to arrange a plan for presenting this matter of sleeping without sentry to the captain. They occasionally got over a knotty point in their discussion by appeal to the flask, and by the time that was empty [they] had become so tolerably happy that they did not care whether they were surprised by Indians or not. They still retained their seats on the old log, and were valiant in their determinations, when Darus started up wildly, flung his arms frantically about him and shouted at the top of his Stentor lungs, "Snakes in the camp, boys! Snakes." There was confusion in the camp. Some, who had been witnesses to their actions from the first, roared with laughter; others screamed to know what was the matter, and others swore at this heedless interruption of their rainy dreams. Capt. Nesmith was the first to address the valiant Darus, which he did in these words: "Lieut., the censures you have heaped upon my head are of no consequence. The imaginary foes you have conjured up are not ferocious. The whiskey you have drunk is vile stuff, or it would not have affected you so severely. The arousing of this camp from slumber is of no consequence--none of these offenses are worthy of mention--but for a lieutenant in the dead of night to attack a rotten log and turn the pismires out into this rain is damnable, and I advise you to shake them out of your breeches legs and go to bed." Everybody shouted, and Lieutenant Pismire is still hailed by his friends with "Snakes in the camp, boys! Snakes." He looks ferocious when thus accosted, but he is not disposed to be quarrelsome. East Saginaw Courier, Michigan, March 30, 1864, page 1 An Indian Campaign.
The Umpqua Valley, as we have already
said, abounds
in broad, rolling prairies, intersected in every direction with ridges
and islands of timber, with beautiful streams of pure spring water
meandering in all directions and adding a beauty to the landscape and
an untold value to these unequaled ranges of pasture land. In years to
come, when that state shall no longer be considered the last point this
side of sundown, when farmers shall have settled down to their proper
work, that portion lying between the Umpqua River and the range of high
and rugged hills that separate it from Rogue River Valley will be the
finest dairy country beyond the Rocky Mountains. It was until as late
as 1862 the grazing field of vast herds of wild cattle, but the lasso
of the Mexican and rifle of the miner soon diminished the number and
finally drove away the last hoof in [to?]
the now rapidly settling boundaries of Idaho. In crossing these lands
we met with no adventures of importance, and our only life was the song
and jest of the thoughtless, or the careful performance of our
captain's first injunction relative to the reckless retailers of bad
whiskey that here and there had erected their earthly tenements away
from neighbors and away from civilization. To them the Ho! mula! of the
train driver and the tinkle of the leader's bell was a bit of music and
a sure indication that their station was about to be patronized, and in
those days loaded trains were going down, or empty ones returning,
almost daily. But the effect of our appearance upon the owners of these
"dens" in the wilderness was anything but inspiring, and the result of
a call was the cleaning out of the entire stock of provisions and
drink, and however much they might beg and entreat or swear and
threaten, the same fate awaited them all. These little episodes alone
served to awaken laughter and arouse us from monotony until we came to
the base of the mountains that form the northern boundary of the Rogue
River Valley and where we again had a slight adventure.CHAPTER IV. The only means of crossing this range is secured by taking up the bed of a stream that has its source exactly at the summit, and within a few feet of where another stream forms and makes it way down the opposite declivity. This stream at times is full and turbulent, and for many days places an effectual barrier upon travel; at others its bed is almost dry. Fortunately the latter was the case when we passed up its rocky and uneven way. Its course is tortuous in the extreme, and the rocks on either side are precipitous and wild. It fell to the fortune of our valiant Lieut. Pismire to have command of the rear guard. As we ascended this canyon several of the boys in the advance deemed this a proper place for an ambush, and the Lieutenant a proper person to capture and scalp. They accordingly secreted themselves in the thick, hanging brushwood that grew everywhere in abundance and waited the approach of the little party that brought up the rear. On they came, wholly unconscious of a lurking foe, until of a sudden up sprang the ambuscade, fired a pistol or two, shouted wildly, and made a dash for the brave lieutenant. He only fancied a surprise, and proposing to make his lines of retreat perfect wheeled his horse and fled down that precipitous way as fast as the conditions of the road would permit, but not fast enough to elude one of the assailers, who, bounding over a point of rocks, struck the stream below him and commanded him to halt! So frightened was the poor dupe that he mistook the man for an Indian and proposed not only to surrender, but to pay ransom for his life in the property of his clothing, his arms and his horse. The conditions were accepted and possession given before he so far became sensible enough to see the joke, and he was obliged for the balance of the day to plod his way on foot, up and down mountains and through mud, his captor refusing to restore the price of his ransom without securing his scalp. His tormentor pursued him with such restless mockery that he at last reported the matter to Captain Nesmith, and he at once removed the Lieutenant from the command of the rear guard and detailed him to ride forward, select a place for a camping ground and clear it of snakes, and cautioned him to be also on the alert for an ambuscade. The lieutenant still wears his hair, but his captor claims it under mortgage and does at times declare forfeiture, but always is persuaded to allow his victim to escape the penalty, but whether one's scalp under such circumstances is worth the wearing is a question never decided by the courts, and as we are not a witness, and not under oath, and if we were could not testify to the facts, we submit it without further argument to the man, begging him to remember that He who fights and
runs away
East
Saginaw Courier, Michigan, April 6, 1864, page 1May live to fight another day An Indian Campaign.
The first day of our march in the Rogue
River Valley
was signalized by a word of caution from our captain, assuring us that
we were now in the country of the enemy and ought to be on our guard
against surprises and ambuscades. The appearance of an Indian in the
morning, lurking about our rear, added to the tremor occasioned by the
Captain's caution, and later in the day we came upon the charred
remains of three houses, and nearby the mangled bodies of two men and
three women were visible.CHAPTER V. We committed their "dust to dust" and advanced very cautiously to our camping ground. The night closed around us dark as Egypt, and as rainy as at any time during the flood. Our sentinels were posted, our fires quenched and silence, the most unbroken, reigned over us, when the sudden "Halt! Who comes there?" of the watchful sentinel, and the discharge of his musket a moment later disturbed the sleeping camp, and such shouting, bustling and running and falling down and getting up again in the black darkness were never before heard since Babel. The sentinel shouted "Indians! Indians!" and the camp responded "Indians! Indians!" Attempts were made to light torches, but the matches were all wet, and that was abandoned. At last there was a lull in the hubbub, and Captain Nesmith commanded silence. As soon as there was an opportunity to make himself understood he hailed the sentinel who gave the alarm and inquired what he had seen or heard. The reply came short and decided. "A d----d Indian creeping in to steal the horses and mules, and I have shot him dead." Upon examination the latter part of the story proved entirely true, for spread out on the ground lay a poor half-starved wolf of the coyote species dead as a herring. There was a general shout at the discovery; everybody drank to the success of the sentry and went to grass again and were soon asleep. About midnight Lieutenant Pismire, as officer of the guard, went out on a round of exploration, and in the darkness strayed beyond our lines, and on attempting to get back again was hailed by the sentry, and being somewhat thick in the tongue, was taken for an Indian trying to speak English, and was at once fired at. He shouted "Murder! Murder! Murder!" and rolled upon the grass in the last agonies of a dying man. The corporal of the guard rushed out and with the aid of the sentinel brought him in, while the sentinel who fired the fatal shot prayed for forgiveness and professed the deepest contrition and remorse. After a deal of puffing and blowing a light was raised among the embers of the evening fire, torches were lighted and the Lieutenant carefully examined to discover his hurt. He begged to be left alone, to die and not be put to pain by being moved, and at every movement he screamed in agony. After a careful examination it was discovered that the Lieutenant's wound was only fear; not a scratch could be discovered, and when informed that he was uninjured he declared that he felt the blood trickling down his back. On examination it proved that he lay in a small stream of water, and it was only upon the solemn assertion of the Captain that he could be induced to believe that he was not a dead man. He at last ended himself up and went to the guard room, and to his whiskey, in anger and grief. It was daylight before silence was again restored, and many days before the question was forgotten to be propounded whenever the Lieutenant was in sight. "How are the wounded?" On the following day it being our fortune to be thrown forward as scout we discovered a specimen of frontier coolness that was amusing and characteristic. After a long and tedious ride over rough and uneven ground and through dense forests, we came down to the Rogue River, a broad, deep stream, at a point where the ferry crosses, and where the solitary house of the ferryman was the only white man's house we had seen in this valley that the Indians had not burned to ashes. As we came in sight of the ferry, we observed the ferryman making a series of dodges from tree to tree, and heard the sound of a rifle at no great distance. Almost at the same instant the ferryman raised his rifle and fired. He then raised himself very deliberately from his cover and, walking down to the river, began to bathe his face and head. So intent was he on this occupation that he did not discover our approach until we asked him what was the matter. He looked up, his face all covered with blood, and after staring at us a moment, said: "Stranger, nothing is the matter with me; only a d----d redskin has clipped my ear a trifle, but if ever he does it again it will be after I am dug under and am food for worms. Just now he lies yonder with his headpiece cut clean open and his scalplock spoke for." It was indeed true, and as our new acquaintance was disposed to be hospitable we tied up our horse to a peck of corn and went in and smiled. East Saginaw Courier, Michigan, April 13, 1864, page 1 An Indian Campaign.
After crossing the Rogue River we at
once came upon
the settlement surrounding the stirring little city of Jacksonville,
which was then so densely inhabited as to make the Indians very timid
of approach, and we accordingly advanced without further fear of
molestation. On arriving at Jacksonville we learned that General Lane's
headquarters were at Table Rock, some twelve miles distant, and as our
entire mission was to supply ammunition and arms for his command we at
once drank a ration of bad whiskey at the expense of the city and
marched out in all the "pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war."CHAPTER VI. At nightfall we fell in with the outposts, and still having a rough and rugged way before us we went to grass in a torrent of rain and six inches of mud, with the blue vault of Heaven over us, beyond our vision, and intense darkness wrapped around us; there we lay, within a few miles of the enemy, without sentry, and almost without a thought of danger, so thoroughly had all the frights of other nights convinced us that our greatest enemy was imagination and coyotes. The morning dragged herself up through the rain in a miserable condition, and after a hasty meal we again got the command, "Column forward!" About noon we found ourselves upon the southern bank of the Rogue River again, while on the opposite rested the command of Gen. Lane and about eight thousand Indians in the most friendly manner conceivable. Some of the wild fellows of our company vented their wrath upon this condition of affairs and vowed to shoot the first Indian caught outside the camp. In fact, an old muleteer, who had suffered not a little from the Indians in his various trips from the mines to the valley for supplies, swore roundly to have full satisfaction for the past, indemnity for the future. Of course there were enough of the wild and reckless in the two camps ready for any undertaking, and on the following night "crazy Bob Wilson," as he was generally called, collected a party of eighteen and started without the knowledge of any officer to make good his threats of vengeance. Being well acquainted with the country and having discovered from scouts about the camp that an Indian chief, known among the whites as Taylor Jim, with about twenty Snake Indians were camped about ten miles away, they went out and under cover of the night surrounded their camp and with the first streak of morning light rushed in upon their unsuspecting foes, and before any ineffectual resistance was made they killed or captured the whole party. The old chief was among the prisoners, and being personally acquainted with Wilson pled for his life, but his captor was relentless as fate. One after the other of the prisoners were set up like turkeys at a shooting match and shot down without the slightest regard to law, human or divine, "Old Bob" crying out at each shot, "Go in, boys! Kill the d----d diggers and make treaty afterward." Old Taylor Jim preserved his stoical indifference, and when he alone was left, raised upon his feet and marched out to the allotted spot with arms folded and steady step, and there awaited his death. The order was given and every man in the party fired, and the old chief fell forward upon his face pierced by eighteen bullets. The party then returned to camp, fully satisfied with the exploit, and as they were warm friends with many of the officers their breach of law was overlooked and charged to the casualties of war. The misfortune which led to this brutal outrage lay solely in the fact that on the day before our arrival General Lane had attacked the enemy, and after a sharp skirmish of two hours duration, in which a large number of Indians were killed, and several whites wounded, the enemy begged for a "talk" and before nightfall a treaty was effected, and the two forces rested side by side upon the prairie that lies between Table Rock and the river. In this skirmish Gen. Lane received a shot through the flesh of his right arm,just below the shoulder, and the gallant Major Alden, that years ago was stationed at Detroit, was shot in a frightful manner. The ball entered just beside the main artery on the left side of the neck, and passed out below the shoulder blade, and yet in a few months afterward we saw him looking as well as ever. Nothing of any further importance resulted, and the several commands scattered to their respective homes and had hardly settled down again to their usual avocation before the depredations of the Indians became as bad as ever. But having once "fought and bled and died and laid under the fence for our country," we abjured Indian campaigns and settled back to the peaceful habits of civil life. East Saginaw Courier, Michigan, April 27, 1864, page 1 A CHARMING SPOT.--There is perhaps no more suitable and better place for camp meetings, picnics, etc. in the country than the one a short distance below Bybee's ferry on Rogue River, about thirteen miles north of Jacksonville. An extensive grove of spreading oaks and maples, furnishing superabundant shade for both man and beast, and a crystal stream of pure, ice-cold mountain water, affording opportunity for both fishing and boating, are among the attractions of this charming place of resort. All summer this arboreal spot has been frequented by picnic and fishing parties, and all speak in the highest terms of praise of it superior attractions. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 18, 1880, page 3 The location of Camp Stuart is uncertain. This sounds like a good spot. On our arrival at Humbug, we found the miners "up in arms," and organizing a company of volunteers to go to Jacksonville, in the Rogue River Valley, Oregon, seventy-five miles north, a courier having brought in word that the Rogue River, Shasta and Klamath Indians had "broke out," and were killing, pillaging, and burning everything before them; and it was believed that the Indians who had just escorted us had killed eight or ten men at the mouth of Humbug a few days before. We afterward learned that William's band of Klamaths joined "Old Sam's" and "John's" band of Rogue River Indians, and fought with them throughout the "Rogue River War" of 1853. I joined Captain Rhodes' company of "Humbug boys," as also did John Scarbrough, one of my former partners; and we proceeded to Jacksonville, as did Captain Goodall's company of "Yreka boys" and seven or eight soldiers from Fort Jones, under Colonel Aldrich (if my memory don't fail me as regards the name). Reaching Jacksonville without adventure, we went into camp near Table Rock on Rogue River. From here, twenty-one men, including Crosbie and myself, John Melvin (Greasy John), "Grizzly," and others, whose names I have forgotten, were sent out as scouts. We were each armed with a "muzzle-loading" rifle, a brace of Colt's "navy" revolvers, and a knife--except Crosbie, who had a patent gun with two cylinders, which he could fire sixteen times without reloading. We crossed the mountain to Evans Creek, twenty miles distant, where we "struck the trails" of Indians. We followed these trails up the creek some miles, until we were satisfied that the Indians had very recently passed up into the mountains. We knew their fighting qualities, Old John's and Sam's bands of "Rogue Rivers" being said to be the bravest Indians and the most stubborn fighters in the Northwest. That the reader may form some idea of their bravery, I will here relate that when one of these renowned chiefs was being taken to the military prison at Alcatraz, near San Francisco, on an ocean steamer, he actually captured the vessel, having no other weapon than a capstan bar; and held the deck for some time before he was overpowered, then as he lay on the deck in irons, he said, grating his teeth, that if he had had one of his warriors to assist him, he would have kept the "hyas kanim" (big canoe). Then many of the brave white men on board wanted to hang him, but the captain told them that an Indian who could do what that one had was too brave a man to suffer such an ignominious death. This is told as a fact, and I have no doubt of its truthfulness. But to my story: we returned down the creek a few miles and being hungry made a stop, to let our horses graze awhile, and to partake of such provisions as we had with us. Some of us picketed our horses and others "hobbled" theirs on the creek bottom, which was covered with luxuriant grass. We then fell to work in our own interest, and after satisfying our appetites, stretched ourselves on the grass under a few pine trees that grew in the bend of the creek, to rest, while our horses fed. The bottom here was three or four hundred yards wide and the creek running through it was fringed on each side with willows and other brush. From the willows to the foot of the hills, or mountain spurs, was level prairie. The foothills were studded with sugar and "bull pine" trees, and were clear of underbrush. The bend in the creek where we rested was in something the shape of a horseshoe, and our shade trees stood near the center of this bend. While resting here, some lying down, others sitting up talking, our horses quietly grazing, none of us suspecting any danger, or that there was an Indian within miles of us, we were suddenly saluted with a volley, and the unearthly yells of hundreds of Indians from the bushes which almost surrounded us. Our horses stampeded and scattered excepting one that was being held by one of the boys. This he immediately mounted, and "struck out," for our camp on Rogue River. The first glance showed us that we must retreat to the foothills; this we did as fast as we could, assisting our wounded along, leaving our dead as they lay. Reaching the timber, we found that seven of our comrades had been killed and that seven more were so badly wounded that they could not stand up after we got them there. The one on the horse we believed--and it was soon proved--had escaped and gone after the rest of the company. Our wounded had retained their arms and ammunition. The Indians first proceeded to mutilate our dead after their most inhuman fashion, cutting, stabbing and gashing, all the while yelling in the most fiendish manner that the mind of man could conceive. Then, after securing our animals, they swung around on to the mountain above us, so as to work down on us from tree to tree. A few well-directed shots had convinced them that it would not be a healthy undertaking to follow us across the bottom. These movements on their part gave us sufficient time to select our fighting-ground. This we made on the first high ground out of gunshot of the bushes along the creek. As good fortune would have it, a log lay across the narrow ridge. Behind this log we laid our wounded, among whom was "Greasy John," severely wounded in the hip. "Grizzly" had fallen and was one of the dead; Crosbie fell by the log with the wounded, being, as I supposed at the time, more dangerously wounded than any of the others. The Indians gave us but a short time to prepare for them. We all realized upon reaching the friendly trees that we must stop here and fight it out, or leave our wounded comrades to the tender mercies of these inhuman fiends, and even then, in all likelihood, be overtaken and killed in detail ourselves. Our only thought was to stand by our comrades, and fight for them and ourselves to the bitter end. Those that were able to fight could command two rifles and four revolvers each, as we could use those of our wounded as well as our own. Some of our wounded comrades could load our revolvers when emptied, as a ball that fitted one, would fit all. Our respite was short. The Indians, armed with guns, bows and arrows--few of them had revolvers at the time--soon came down on us, jumping from tree to tree for cover, all the time firing and making the mountains re-echo their bloodcurdling war-whoop. They seemed determined to "finish us up" there and then, at all hazards. They charged down to within a few yards of our log and trees, but here they met such a withering fire from our Colt revolvers, that those who were able were only too anxious to retreat to a more respectful distance, and for awhile contented themselves with firing on us from trees behind which they had taken cover. On this first charge there were but five of us on our feet--Crosbie lying by the wounded as dead. "Greasy John" and one or two others would from time to time raise on their elbows or to a sitting position, and over their log fire a few well-aimed shots, then sink back faint and exhausted, soon revive, reload, struggle to a position and blaze away until their strength failed. This they repeated during the entire fight. The wounded would load our revolvers and pitch them to us as fast as we emptied them, when we were being pressed by these charges. About this time Crosbie raised to his feet, having got over his "scare" (as he afterwards acknowledged for he had lain unhurt all the time). There he stood, his face flushed, his eyes flashing with daring and his repeating rifle firmly grasped, and as his glance took in the position of the five who were stationed around the wounded, under such cover as was most convenient, and our poor and wounded comrades, who in different positions were either engaged in reloading pistols, or helping one another dress their wounds, using pieces of torn shirts or drawers for bandages; then at the few "good Indians," that had fallen so near our log that their friends dare not attempt to remove them, all this time standing in open view amid the firing, and while friendly voices were calling to him to "take cover," his voice rang out clear as a bell and above all other sounds, as he started up the comical song, "Jordan is a hard road to travel." In all my life, I have heard but few voices that could equal his for power and sweetness, and as he leisurely walked to a tree he sang: "I looked to the
east, and I looked to the west,
Then his gun sprang to
his shoulder, there was a flash, a report, and an Indian's "heel flew
up." Again his joyous voice rang out clear and sweet:And I saw a chariot coming With four bay horses running their best, To tote you to the other side of Jordan." "Haul off your
jacket,
to the accompaniment of cracking rifles and pistols, our defiant
shouts, and the hellish yells of the infuriated Indians; then flash,
bang!--another Indian called for. Then, asRoll up your sleeves, For Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe ;" " Adam and
Eve in the garden of Eden,
Bang!-- Viewing the beauties of nater"-- "The devil stuck
his head
And again the trusty rifle would speak its warning, notifying the
Indians that we had been reinforced by a giant. [The song
parodied was first published in 1853; Hunter may be remembering the
song composed at Hungry
Hill.]Through a gooseberry bush, And I hit 'im a whack with a tater." To try to describe this man, as he jumped from tree to tree, firing, singing, and by turns calling to us to fire "slow and sure," that our friend would soon come back with the rest of the company, would be a difficult undertaking. "Save your bullets, boys," he would say, "till you have a dead thing, then sling 'em in." As the Indians would at intervals attempt, in various ways, to get to us under cover, Crosbie's voice would again ring out: "Haul off your jacket," etc. This song he continued to sing, from time to time, for hours, to the strange accompaniments described. The "chords were jarring," but they beat none at all. Some time after he had come up to the fighting point, and while resting a moment, one of the fingers of his left hand was shot clean off at the second joint. Coming to the tree that I stood behind, he pulled the handkerchief from his neck and one from his pocket, and said, as he looked at the blood spurting from the artery, "Buckeye, tie that up," and again commenced his song, "Jordan is a hard road to travel." Suffice it to say, that for some four or five long, weary hours (long they certainly were to us six surrounded men), we struggled to save ourselves and wounded comrades from these inhuman fiends. It would require a more able pen than an old-timer's to portray the scene. At every respite we would gaze at our wounded, then across the flat at the dead, and wonder how much longer we could hold out; then, at the warning of Crosbie or some other watchful comrade, we would turn to repulse another attack. "Greasy John" would load a revolver, then grit his teeth and say: "I wouldn't care a d--n if they hadn't shot me" (where it will make riding uncomfortable). At last we heard a cheering far above the Indians on the mountain, which assured us that the long looked for help was at hand. The ground was not to the liking of the Indians for a general fight. So they at once decamped being warned by the shouts of our advancing friends or by their own lookouts. In a few moments there came dashing among us some dozen or so old miners who had rode their horses till they fell dead or gave out in climbing the mountain, then outstripping the rest on foot, rushed over and down the mountain, the sweat streaming from every pore. In all my life I never saw a more completely given out lot of men than these, the first to reach us, were on their arrival. They cried, hugged, and patted us on the back by turns. But few words were said until the rest of the command arrived. Then after examining the ground fought over, looking at our dead and caring as best we could for the wounded, came questions from all quarters regarding the fight. All wished to know how the boy "Buckeye" stood fire. I was accorded the praise of having saved the party in the first and most desperate charge. The others saying that I stood uncovered, shooting right and left, apparently as cool as though I was shooting at pigeons. But all agreed that it was Crosbie's cool fighting, cheering words, and above all his joyous song during all the other desperate charges, that saved the devoted few from despair and final destruction. I mention these facts to show how a scare will act on different persons. Crosbie always said, that when we retreated across the flat to the timber and fell by the log, he was frightened to death, and only recovered after the first charge was repulsed, while all agreed that I had fought like a lion at bay, and probably saved the outfit at first. But I myself was proudly conscious (?) that if I fought at all, it was from instinct, and as a scared boy--for I certainly was as badly, and probably worse scared than Crosbie--and had no recollection of helping "Greasy John" across the flat, as they all said I did, nor anything else during the first charge, or until Crosbie raised and commenced his song. The facts in the case are, that I was scared into a man, while Crosbie came out of his scare and coolly fought and sung into one. We afterward learned that our friend who got away had rode as fast as he could to Table Rock and given the alarm, telling our boys that we were all killed, or soon would be, but to hurry to our assistance. This was all-sufficient to call forth their utmost energies, and as soon as a man caught a horse, he galloped away regardless of orders or command, using his own judgment, and straining every nerve to reach us first, regardless of danger; and here a struggle commenced, which lasted for twenty-odd miles, each striving to be the first to the rescue. After all of the company came in, we encamped where we were for the night, putting out our guards. Next morning we took up our march to our former camp on Rogue River, carrying with us our dead and wounded. The dead we buried upon our arrival with the honors of war, our wounded we left in the care of the hospitable citizens of Jacksonville, where nearly all the settlers of the valley had assembled for mutual protection. We remained in camp here for several days, collecting and killing beeves, and "jerking" the meat. This latter is done by cutting beef into thin slices or strips, it is then salted a little and the strips hung on sticks over a slow fire to dry. When thoroughly dried, it was put up in convenient packages for transportation. This required several days, as we thought best to prepare for a long trail, knowing that the Indians would fight only on their chosen ground. While collecting and preparing provisions for the expedition, we amused ourselves by running foot-races, jumping and wrestling. We had a man with us by the name of Lout Price, from Cottonwood, California, who outran everyone that tested his speed, as I had all that had been pitted against me. About this time, General Joseph Lane, accompanied by a Mr. Armstrong, a wealthy gentleman from the Willamette Valley, came to the command. The former took command of the volunteers. It is hardly necessary for me to say that General Lane commanded the Indiana volunteers in the Mexican War, and the Oregon volunteers in 1850, against these same Indians (Rogue Rivers). He was then delegate to congress from Oregon Territory, afterward Senator, on the admission of Oregon, and, finally, a candidate for the Vice Presidency on the ticket with John C. Breckinridge. He was a brave and generous frontiersman, self-made, full of resources, and always equal to an emergency. It is said of him that he saved his command in Mexico with his cigar. His command, being encamped, were surprised by a large force of Mexican cavalry. His cannon were ready loaded with grapeshot, but there was no fire with which ‘to "touch them off." Lane saw that these guns must be used to hold the Mexicans in check till his men could form to repulse the charge, or the whole command would be captured. So, as fast as the guns were trained, General Lane would "touch them off " with his lighted cigar, and in this way he saved his command. General Lane was Oregon's best friend, wielded more influence in Congress than any other man in his day, and it was indeed a "cold day" for the Pacific states and territories when they lost the strength and influence of this noble old veteran. Our officers concluded to send scouts to Evans Creek, to ascertain what route the Indians had taken after our fight. Past experience having taught us that horses were of no use in scouting these mountains, Lout Price was selected to perform this dangerous duty, as he was believed to have more mountain experience, and to be the fleetest of foot of any. (Many thought I could "hold him level" in a long race, but up to this we had never tested our speed, and I guess each of us feared to test the matter.) When I learned that Price had been selected to perform this mission, I requested the privilege of accompanying him, and he gladly seconded my request. After some opposition from older men, my request was granted, for they all knew I was endowed with great endurance. Having received our instructions and provided ourselves with a little of the "jerked" beef, we shook hands with our most intimate acquaintances and were set across the river, when we pushed out, up and over the mountain to the scene of our former battle. Thence slowly and cautiously we made our way up Evans Creek, keeping near to or within the bushes that fringed its banks, using every precaution possible to prevent being ambushed or surprised. We could discern no "sign" indicating that Indians had been there since our fight. Toward evening we found it necessary to cross a bald ridge to another small creek that emptied into the one we had been following up. After a short rest, we started up a long gentle slope to cross this low elevation. Arriving at the summit to our surprise we discovered the Indian lodges not more than three hundred yards distant on the other creek. As we took in this sight we were made aware that the Indians had discovered us, about the same time we saw them! They "raised the yell," and started for us. We didn't think it necessary to stop to "count noses," but whirled, and struck for Evans Creek and the brush at our best pace. Now was the time to test our speed. But we did not think it wise to stop to arrange a wager--rather run for glory, Evans Creek and the brush; knowing that our only hope of safety was in reaching the friendly bushes before the Indians could get within rifle shot. We dropped our pouches of "jerked" beef, and as we only carried our revolvers and knives, we were in "light running order." Then commenced a race to save our hair, and a more equal one of five or six hundred yards was scarcely ever made, as we strained every nerve. We ran side by side, and as I looked at Price, I thought "You are a good one for not leaving me." Price afterward said he thought the same of me--as we approached the brush Price "panted out" to me, "Go up the creek, and hide in the thick underbrush, I'll go downstream. Lay low until dark, then take for the mountains and for camp." It being nearly dark and as I didn't think we would be long separated, I acted on Price's orders, believing we could better elude our pursuers. On getting well into the brush I crawled up the creek a short distance making as little noise as possible, and "cached" myself. I could hear Price crashing down through the brush, making as much noise as would a yoke of stampeded oxen, and at once divined his motive, it was to draw the Indians after him and give me an opportunity to escape, as he had confidence in his own ability to outwit and elude his pursuers. I could hear the Indians yelling on his trail, the sounds growing fainter as they passed from my place of concealment. At dark I could not hear anything of Price, or the Indians, so I worked my way slowly and cautiously across the creek and toward the mountains, creeping and stopping every few feet to listen, at every crack of a twig, or flutter of a disturbed bird. I would grasp my revolver in one hand and with the other feel if my hair was in any way loose. After what seemed to me an interminable time, I came to the edge of the brush, on the opposite side of the creek, then I had to cross a flat some two hundred yards wide to reach the timber at the foot of the mountain. This flat I crossed by crawling in the most cautious manner possible; feeling before me to see that there were no obstructions that might cause me to make sufficient noise to attract the attention of any hostile who might be prowling around, or left near on the watch. Upon gaining the timber and mountain I felt comparatively safe, and if Price had only been with me I should have been as happy as a clam at high tide, but as he was not I must do the best I could. I studied the lay of the mountains, and the course of the creek, being far above where I had ever crossed before. I knew I would have many spurs and gulches to cross, as I dared not venture down Evans Creek for fear of running on to the Indians. So I slowly pursued my lonesome way, striving to keep parallel with the creek, till I reached the place we had before crossed at, or still better find Price, being satisfied he had eluded his pursuers as I had mine. On I went in total darkness for hour after hour. Finally, becoming tired out (as I was continually falling over logs and brush, and getting scratched and bruised), I found a large tree and sat down at its foot to await the rising of the moon, or till daylight. It was dreary and lonely waiting, "but the longest night must come to a close," and this, like all others, at last came to an end. The moon came up toward morning, and shed sufficient light for me to discern my way across the mountains and back to camp, where I arrived about 10 o'clock in the morning, to find the camp in commotion. Price had got in the night before, and, relating our adventures, was severely censured for (as they would have it) "forsaking the boy." He assured them that I would "turn up all hunky"; saying, "he was as 'cool as a cucumber'; and while we were running he could have left me easily, but would not. I left him in the brush near night, and he wouldn't dare cross the mountains, from where he was, it was so dark; but after daylight he will come in, you can bet your lives." He wouldn't tell them that he had left me in order to decoy the Indians after himself, and thus secure my safety. I verily believe they would have hung this brave and generous man if I hadn't put in an appearance during the day. But, upon my appearing on the bank of the river and hailing for a canoe, there went up a glad shout, and I assure you I didn't have to wait long for a boat. Once in camp, I was fed and questioned; and, when I gave my version of our adventure and Price's generous action, all were ready to "shake," and beg his pardon for the naughty things they had said. Afterward, at different times, many of our friends strove to have us pitted against each other in a race, but each of us preferred to let the question rest, and remained of the opinion that the other ran that day to keep up, and was too brave to leave a comrade in peril. The command now being well supplied with "jerked beef," and everything being in readiness, we removed across Rogue River and on to Evans Creek, where we camped that night. Next morning we followed the trails of the Indians, which led us high up into the mountains. These trails we followed for some days, when Bob Metcalfe, Lout Price, and myself, who had been acting as scouts, upon gaining the summit of a high ridge, heard the barking of coyote dogs in the canyon below. This assured us that we had at last brought these wily savages to bay, and closer inspection satisfied us that they had selected their position for a struggle. General Lane was notified, and was soon on the ridge overlooking the canyon. The command coming up, the order was given to dismount, then leaving the horses in care of a guard, General Lane ordered a charge down the mountain, himself leading, swinging his hat and hurrahing for the man who fired the first shot. The Indians had set fire to the dead pitch pine trees and dry brush surrounding their camp, so we had literally to fight in fire and smoke. We reached them in a few moments and there ensued a hand-to-hand struggle which lasted a few minutes. General Lane was wounded in the same arm in which he had before received a Mexican ball. His friend, Mr. Armstrong, was killed (shot through the head). My partner, John Scarbrough, while fighting by my side, was shot through the heart. He fell, then umping to his feet said "I'm killed, write!" then fell dead without a struggle (he had a wife and six children in Indiana). The Colonel in command of the seven or eight "regulars" was shot through the shoulder and several others fell dead or badly wounded. I broke off my gun stock in striking an Indian, but this made it all the more handy while in close quarters. The Indians soon learned that close quarters wouldn't do for them, so they scattered and fought from behind trees in the midst of the smoke and fire. As my gun was broken and the boys were playing on them at long range in Indian fashion, I went back a short distance and found General Lane sitting on a log with his arm undressed and bleeding. As I approached he asked why I was not down with the "boys?" I showed him my gun barrel, and as he knew how it got broken he gave me his shotgun and ammunition saying "break that in the same way if you get the chance." I took it, and our men having formed a skirmish line across the canyon below them and were working up on either side from tree to tree and slowly crowding the enemy from their cover, I advanced up the left side of the canyon till I reached a large sugar pine tree, where I found Tom Hayes (an old soldier of the Mexican War) behind it. He told me he thought we were the farthest up on the left flank so I stopped with him, and was peering into the dense smoke which hovered over the little flat that the Indians occupied. I was able to see but a short distance. Hayes would load his rifle, aim, fire, take a hasty look, and load and fire again. I couldn't see what he was shooting at, finally he remarked that he must have got the sights of his fine target gun moved, and said try my gun and see what ails it. I said that he couldn't see an Indian from where we were. He said "Yes I do! Come on this side of the tree, and look over that big log in front of the big tree," pointing as he spoke. "Watch close and you'll see an Indian come up after he has reloaded, he is shooting at the boys below, and hasn't discovered us." (The continuous firing by whites and Indians, accompanied by their shouts and yells and the barking of the coyote dogs created such a din, that one could scarcely hear the other's voice, much less could you tell by the report what direction a shot was fired from.) I gave Tom my shotgun and taking his rifle closely watched the tree he had pointed out to me. I soon saw something rising from behind the log and close to the tree Tom had pointed out, and as it continued to rise I could see through the smoke that it was an Indian, I waited till he raised his gun to shoot, then taking a quick aim at his shoulder I fired, at the crack of the gun he uttered a fierce yell and jumping high in the air (his gun going off as he went up) he fell over the log toward us alighting on his head and shoulders, someone had made a " good Indian" of that fellow sure. This was too much for Hayes, he sprang out from the tree swinging his hat and shouting at the top of his voice, but he came back faster than he went and with a different cry. The Indians had now discovered our position and a stream of bullets poured at our tree, one of the first passing through Hayes' wrist breaking both bones. Seeing that it was getting too hot for us where we were, and that Hayes had got a "furlough" and was ready for the pension rolls of his country, we beat a hasty retreat to our comrades below. Fighting continued for some hours when the Indians called to Metcalfe (who had a squaw for a wife) for quarter. After a while General Lane instructed Metcalfe to tell them to come into camp on the ridge where our horses were left and he would treat with them, this they did, giving up their arms. There were two or three hundred warriors alive, but scarcely a dozen of them were without wounds of a more or less serious nature received in one or the other of our two skirmishes. We all noted throughout the fighting above all other sounds the shoutings of old Chief John, giving his orders and "medicine cries." We encamped for the night on the ridge, the Indians bringing us water from the canyon. The next morning we buried our dead on the battlefield, then constructed litters on which to carry our wounded out of the mountains. This we did by lashing poles to the sides of horses, one horse in front of the other, then stretching a blanket from one pole to the other between the horses, thus forming a cot or litter, upon which we laid those of our wounded who were not able to ride on horseback. All being ready we took up our line of march over the rough route we had come, much of the way we had to clear a trail of brush and trees with our hatchets to enable the horses carrying the litters to pass, we were several days in reaching Jacksonville where some of our wounded died soon after. The Indians soon came in and made a treaty of peace with General Lane. We were discharged and returned to our several homes and occupations. General Lane afterward secured the passage through Congress of a bill allowing each of the volunteers one dollar per day for the time served, and a 160-acre land-warrant. I gave my land warrant to Mother, when I next saw her. I returned to Humbug and joined my partner, Study, in mining, for some months. George Hunter, Reminiscences of an Old Timer, 1889, pages 62-86 . . . the learned counsel [B. F. Dowell] for claimant, to whose character and "valuable and faithful services" this court has judicially attested in an opinion rendered in the case of John W. Redfield (Ind. Dep., No. 284), has given a deposition which bristles with facts and expressions absolutely incompatible with anything but war and military hostilities. Commencing on page 4 of the record in the case of Elizabeth Ross, administratrix of John E. Ross, deceased (Ind. 25 Dep. No. 1420), which by agreement of counsel is also to be considered as evidence in this case so far as applicable, he testifies as follows:
Question.
State where you were during the Rogue River Indian war of 1853; and
when did it commence and when did it end?
Upon cross-examination the same witness testifies as follows:Answer. When the war first commenced I was on the way between Applegate Creek and Jacksonville, Oregon. A man by the name of Edwards was killed on the 2nd of August, and a man by the name of Noland was killed on either the 3rd or 4th. Between Applegate Creek and Jacksonville on the mountain I met a band of miners going after the murderers of Noland. I went on to town, and that night there was a big meeting of the people, miners and farmers, in the valley. They declared war to exist between the Indians and whites, and on the fifth they commenced killing the Indians all over the valley to drive them out. I always considered that the war commenced on the 5th, though they may put it on the 2nd or 3rd. The last battle was fought on the 24th of August, 1853, and a treaty was made with the Rogue River tribe of Indians on September 10, 1853. (P. 4, claimant's evidence.) Question. Have you anything further to state as to the subject matter of this case at issue? Answer. I can state this: I know Col. Ross had a large band of cattle, and some of them were very fine. How much he lost I do not know except from hearsay. I saw signs of Indians frequently in the valley. I saw some houses that were burned, but I did not see the Indians do it. I saw them fight on the 24th of August, [1853], on Evans Creek. A little while before that I was in what was called Ely's battle on Evans Creek. There were twenty-two of us on behalf of the United States, and the whole band of Indians was in the vicinity. How many were in the battle I do not know, but half of the United States volunteers were killed or wounded. In the other battle there Gen. Lane and Capt. Alden were both wounded. The depredation involved in this proceeding was, as I am informed, committed in August, 1853. (P. 7, claimant's evidence.)
Question. You described in your examination in chief the Indian war of
1853. What do you mean by "Indian war"?
L.
W. Colby, Assistant Attorney General, "Brief and Argument of Counsel
for the Defense," Edward B. Myer, Administrator of the Defense of John
Anderson, Deceased, vs. The United States and the Rogue River Tribe of
Indians No. 964, circa 1891, pages 24-26[Answer.] I mean where there is a large band of Indians fighting. Question. Do you mean that the Rogue River Indian tribe was at war with the white people of Oregon? Answer. I do. Question. In your examination in chief you describe the war of 1855 and 1856. Please state more definitely what yon mean? Answer. I mean the Rogue River Indians, the Shasta Indians; the Seneca [sic] Indians, the Cow Creek Indians, and Grave Creek Indians in Southern Oregon; in Northern Oregon and Southern Washington there were the Walla Walla Indians, the Yakima Indians, the Cayuse Indians, and the Poloosi [Palouse] Indians were all at war. I saw them all fighting. I was in the battle of Walla Walla four days. . . . (P. 8, claimant's evidence.) [B. F. Dowell] was in the quartermaster's department in 1853, when a detachment of soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Ely, was detailed to discover the camp of the Indians. Though not called upon to engage in active hostilities, he volunteered to join the expedition. They found the savages on Evans Creek, and then went down to a place about five miles distant, where wood, water, and grass were easily procurable. The commanding officer, lacking experience, failed to post sentinels around the temporary camp. The result was that the Indians surprised and fired upon the detachment, killing one-fourth of the command and wounding as many more at the first fusillade. All the animals, except one, were captured by the enemy. The beast that escaped was ridden by a man who made for headquarters, distant about thirty-five miles. Meanwhile, the soldiers took to the timber, and from early morning until late in the evening gallantly contended against five hundred ferocious savages. Mr. Dowell was in the thick of the fight, and to this day asserts that it was about the hottest position he was ever placed in during his life. Finally reinforcements arrived, and the Indians were driven back. Julian Hawthorne, The Story of Oregon, vol. II, 1892, pages 217-223 Last of Her Tribe.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville,
May 19, 1893, page 3
Old Jennie, the last of the famous tribe of Rogue Rivers, died here
last Sunday morning after a protracted illness, aged about 65 years.
Old Jennie, it will be remembered, anticipating her death, prepared
with her own hands, in the most costly and elaborate manner, her burial
robe, the material of which is of buckskin handsomely ornamented with
many colored beads, sea shells, Indian money, beautiful transparent
pebbles, etc., the whole weighing nearly 50 pounds. This death closes
the last act in the sad drama of an historic tribe, than which no
braver or more determined ever confronted and fell before the superior
forces of civilization. Old Jennie was laid to rest in her burial robe
Sunday evening.
----
Gen. E. L. Applegate related the following episode in Jennie's career
to the Tidings the
other day, from which paper we clip it: In the Indian war of 1853,
when the white settlers had gathered for safety at the fortification at
Wagner Creek and at Jacksonville while the U.S. troops and volunteers
were camped in front of Table Rock, awaiting the assistance which was
coming from the north and watching the hostile Indians who were
gathered in large numbers north of Rogue River, the danger of a
successful and bloody raid of the Indians upon the soldiers (greatly
their inferior in numbers) was greatly lessened and the possibility of
the treaty soon afterward effected by Gen. Lane was greatly aided by
the efforts of about a dozen Indian women who had made their home for
some time in Jacksonville among the white people. These women were
given comfortable quarters at the encampment of the soldiers, were
supplied with saddle ponies and went every day from the camp of the
soldiers to that of the Indians and labored to dissuade the natives
from their contemplated general assault upon the whites. They argued
that the cause of the Indians could not triumph except for a little
time at most, as the whites were bound to keep coming in increasing
numbers and would soon crush them out with their superior force if the
Indians attempted a war of extermination. They magnified the strength
of the troops and told of the reinforcements arriving and to come, and
finally, General Applegate says, paved the way for the treaty which
gave peace and security to the settlers. Of the dozen Indian women who
rendered this great service to the settlers one was "old Jennie," who
has just closed with her life the last chapter of the history of her
people in this their native land. It is due to her memory that her
services to them, as well as to the white people with whom she
preferred to live, should be recalled and acknowledged at this time.
And it is also due to the people of Jacksonville to state that these
Indian women, who continued to live there after the trouble was ended,
were treated with general respect and consideration, and as they
dropped from the ranks of the living, one by one, their services were
remembered as they were given funeral tributes and civilized burial in
the quiet grounds of the dead.After the memorable battle with the Rogue River Indians, on Evans Creek, Captain [John F.] Miller, together with General Joseph Lane, Colonel Ross, interpreter Metcalfe and other volunteer captains, held a preliminary council with the Indians inside the enemy's lines. The meeting place was on a butte near Evans Creek. The whites were supposed to deposit their arms with a detachment of Indians. Captain Miller, suspicious of Indian treachery, crossed the line with a revolver beneath his coat. At the council lodge the whites were assigned places, and the Indian chiefs were surrounded by their armed warriors. During the progress of the council Chief Limpy, less inclined to peace than the rest, delivered an impassioned appeal to his people against the whites. The effect on the Indians was perceptible, and, knowing Captain Miller was armed, one of his companions whispered to him, "Keep your eye on that d--n scoundrel!" General Lane had, however, taken the precaution to secure a son of Chief Jo as hostage, and the party came safely out of a trap similar to the one into which General Canby and his men were led and butchered by the Modocs 20 [sic] years later. A living picture in Captain Miller's mind is of a scene witnessed on his way to the council lodge. As he crossed the battlefield Indian women were engaged in burning the slain. Captain Miller's attention was attracted by the writhing of Indian bodies on brush-heaps. This he took to be Indians undergoing cremation alive. It was found upon closer investigation, however, that the contortions were due to the heat, and that only dead Indians were being burned. "Captain John F. Miller," Oregonian, Portland, January 25, 1899, page 10 There was no further depredations by the Indians except stealing and killing stock until the spring of 1853 when they killed old man Edwards on Stuart Creek near Phoenix, which act inaugurated what was known as the Rogue River War of 1853. The volunteer forces were commanded by General Joseph Lane and the regular forces by Capt. Alden of the regular army. Co. A. Mounted Rifles was commanded by Capt. John F. Miller, First Lieutenant Burrel Griffin, 2nd Lt. A. George. Co. A took part in nearly all of the fighting that was done so soon as the families could be got to places of safety. The families were collected into small communities and stockades thrown up and guards left to protect them. The families of Judge J. C. Tolman, A. Tenbrook, Dr. Coffin and A. George were forted in a blockhouse near Judge Tolman's for some weeks. There was a number of families forted up at Burrel Griffin's and quite a number went into Jacksonville. As soon as the families were provided for, the campaign commenced in earnest at a fight on Williams Creek. In the early part of the campaign Lieut. Griffin was wounded and was not able for further duty during the war. After a good deal of skirmishing and killing small parties of white men the Indians collected in force near the head of Evans Creek. When they were located by the scouts the main body of the troops marched to the attack under General Joseph Lane. In the fight Gen. Lane and Capt. Alden were wounded, and a number of soldiers. Capt. Armstrong and several soldiers were killed. After fighting about two hours the Indians called for an armistice, which was granted them by General Lane for treaty purposes. The next morning Lieut. George was ordered to take charge of the escort to take Capt. Alden out to the settlement, which was a very difficult undertaking, as the trail through the mountains was so rough and narrow we had to bring him on a litter made of poles and hung between two mules tandem. He suffered fearfully, but that night we got him to Rogue River near Table Rock. Gen. Lane was able to ride out on a horse; the other wounded were brought out by other detachments. In about one week the Indians came in and a treaty was made with them. When all of the volunteers except Com. A under Capt. J. F. Miller were mustered out, there was a large emigration coming into Southern Oregon & Northern California by the way of Goose, Clear, Tule and Klamath lakes, and the Indians on that route were hostile. Company A was ordered onto the plains to relieve a compy. of cavalry that was stationed on Clear Lake for the protection of the emigration. The volunteers made their headquarters at the Natural Bridge on Lost River. Capt. Miller stayed in charge of camp at Lost River and drove the hostiles back from the road, and Lieut. George took a part of the company and patrolled the road for a distance of one hundred and twenty miles on the emigrant route from headquarters. [We] escorted trains where they were not strong enough to protect themselves, supplied the needy with provisions that was furnished by the citizens on Rogue River Valley for that purpose and done the fighting for the weak when necessary, which in one instance that I will mention was no child's play. Those Indians telegraphed by smokes made on high peaks of mountains. Some of us could read their signs and signals. We were near Goose Lake when we saw from their signals that there was a train coming that they intended to attack. We pushed to rescue, traveled all day and night, halted at sunrise in the morning at a spring of water 15 miles east of what is now known as Bloody Lake, which took its name from the events here related. In a little while the scouts reported a train in sight from a high eminence that they had taken as a lookout. The train came up about noon; it was a heavy stock train, very weak handed and poorly armed, which the Indians no doubt had learned. Lieut. George halted the train at this spring as there was no water on the road nigher than 15 miles. It was soon ascertained that some of the families had very little to eat. As we had no supplies but our rations, the men were called into line and asked if they were willing to give their rations to the woman and children and take the chances on what we could select out of the herd that we could eat. They cheerfully gave up their rations (that beef would have made first-class glue without any further preparation). We were satisfied from observing the signals of the Indians that they intended to make an attack at the next camping place, as the location was favorable for a successful raid on a weak train. Lieut. George sent a part of his command to this place in the night with orders to secrete themselves and horses until the emigrants got there. On the arrival of the train in camp the soldiers' horses were turned loose with the emigrant stock to graze. This move blinded the Indians completely as to the strength of the party that they would have to contend with. According to expectation the Indians made an attack that night but were repulsed with considerable loss. None killed on our side. Lieut. George, privates Duke and Watts were wounded. The hostiles were not satisfied with their experience. The night at daylight next morning [they] tried again but were repulsed with no damage to us but some loss to them. It seemed that they had not yet learned that they were fighting volunteers. When the train got ready to move we saw the Indians collecting in force at a point ahead where the hills came down near the lake, which left a narrow pass for the train to go through. It was necessary to teach them [a] lesson and let them know that they had something beside emigrants to fight. We charged them on horseback and drove them into the mountains (hence the name Bloody Lake). In six days we reached Lost River; four days of this time we lived on what we could find among the cattle that had been drove across the plains, an animal that the bones were not protruding. The hide we would call beef, and this without bread, tea or coffee was fat living. Abel George, unpublished, undated manuscript, Oregon Historical Society Research Library Mss. 1192 In 1853 went to Jacksonville mines. You went also. Made a big pile. Wife stole most of it; sued for divorce. Went back to Jacksonville in 1854, made well of it & when I saw the Indian war upon us I just got up & got, not 12 hours too soon to save my scalp. The dust of our little party had scarcely settled when two men was killed near the Willow Springs. A party on Rogue River had old Taylor and another Indian strung up to an oak tree. [Taylor was hanged in July 1853, presumably placing these events during the 1853 Indian war.] Passing on near Grave Creek another buck was swinging to a limb. Indians was flying hither and yon with express ponies, and the only thing that saved our party was our quick passage through that country--passing Grave Creek where a female grave had been exhumed by the Indians, 12 buck Indian heads was left to sight. They was all in this grave feet down inwards, only showing their ghastly heads. It was the Grave Creek boys that done this. Passing on through the Kenion to the Kenion House, then kept by the elder Knott, they had a Wascopam devil that I knew. He was one the devils that wanted to kill Waller and family at the Dalles in 1847. He eyed me closely, but I did not let on that I knew him, nor did I tell Knott that I knew him. Our party was too small to punish him. We told Knott to keep him till he could get more reliable protection and then hang him, that we were running a gantlet and on [a] route more exposed than he was. So we passed on to the next house, only to see another red devil swinging to an oak limb. It took place in this way. The man that kept the station had gone to the Willamette for provisions. The Indian had demanded of the woman his dinner. She gave him his dinner; he then wanted something else. At this juncture a pack team drove up and, learning the state of affairs, swung the Indian up where we saw him and left him. I was sorry for this poor woman. She begged us to stay and protect her, but we left the poor woman & passed on. This is on South Umpqua, and the last we saw of the oak limb medicine. We are through the gantlet and no more of note--got home sometime in October '54. "Essay of John M. Shively Re: Mining Experiences," Oregon Historical Society Research Library Mss 1127, folder 2/1 [A. S. Prout] says that Wm. S. Lewis (called "Sime" in camp), who went from Eerie County, was killed by the Shasta or Rogue Indians in Southern Oregon in 1853, about the same time that Charley Johnson was, of whom I wrote some time ago. Lewis was not a native of Ohio, but came from Lenawee County, Michigan. Henry Buckingham, "About Some North Ohio Folks," Norwalk Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio, June 19, 1894, page 2 The letter is signed "H.B." Buckingham is identified in his letter of January 15, 1887, same paper, page 4. OWENS' RASH ACT
W. N. Saunders of Grants Pass, Or., writes to the Portland Sun of early experiences on Rogue River, as follows:Rogue River Indians and Origin of the Oregon War of '53. WAS HOWLING AND YELLING The Thrilling Story of a Member of the First Volunteer Company in That Contest. I arrived in Oregon in 1852, after a six months' trip across the plains with an ox team. I wintered in Jacksonville that winter, and experienced almost starvation. I saw the last sack of flour sell for $75 in gold dust. I lived on beef alone, without salt, and that had to be boiled until there was no meat on the bones, and drink the soup. This was my diet for six weeks. There were many more in the same condition. That winter was one of the severest we ever experienced in Oregon. Snow fell to the depth of two feet, and remained on the ground for over six weeks. When the snow disappeared the pack teams laden with flour commenced arriving. That was one time I found money of no value. I had nearly $100 in gold dust. Flour declined in price until it got to $50 per 100 pounds. Then we felt happy and could live again. People of the present time are complaining of hard times. They know nothing about it. I left Jacksonville in the spring of 1853 and went down Rogue River with four other boys, and commenced mining on Sanzley's Island, three miles below the mouth of Galice Creek [apparently today's Marks Island]. We purchased a canoe and crossed back and forth to our work from our camp, which was on a bay opposite the island. The Taylor band of Rogue River Indians camped close to the mouth of Galice Creek. They did not appear any way hostile toward us and showed us places where they got good prospects, and seemed to be very anxious we would make money. The cause of all this kindness we found out afterward. "NO GOOD MEN."
One day, when we had been working on the island for nearly three
months, an Indian we named Sambo, who was panning out close to where I
was rocking, jumped up and exclaimed in jargon, which we all
understood, pointing toward the bank of the river on the same side we
had our camp, "Nanitch Owens, wake close Boston man," meaning in
English, "Look at Owens. No good man."Well, sure enough, there was Owens, with a revolver in his hand, beckoning for us to bring the canoe over. Two of the boys took over the canoe for him. When he got on the island, he asked us boys if we would have any objection to him shooting the Indian Sambo. He claimed he stole his pick from where he was mining on Galice Creek. We told him we had objection to his killing the Indian. In the first place the pick he had was not worth 25 cents, and the Indian claimed in the jargon he only "cultus potlatched" it; that is, only borrowed it. We also told Owens such an act would never do, situated, as we were, in the midst of the worst tribe of Indians on the river. Well, says he, by G--d! he will have to carry it home for me. So he marched the Indian before him, with his revolver cocked, up the trail leading to Galice Creek. This Owens was a half gambler and half miner, and was shot at Jacksonville in the winter of '52. He was formerly a mate on a Mississippi steamboat. Owens and his two partners were the only persons mining then on Galice Creek. They lived in an old fort that was built in 1851. We had one of our boys prospecting up Galice Creek a few days before this occurrence, and he got a good coarse gold prospect. When we located on the island it only paid $5 a day, and that was considered poor pay in those days. So we came to the conclusion we would start [i.e., leave] the afternoon of the same day that Owens marched the Indian off. HOWLING AND YELLING.
We hired a couple of Indians to
take our things up in a canoe to the mouth of Galice Creek and we took
it afoot. When
we approached the Indian ranchero we heard the greatest kind of howling
and yelling, and it did not take us long to find out what it all meant.
We had to pass the doors of their wigwams to get to the mouth of Galice
Creek. When we got opposite they came out armed, some few had guns and
the rest bows and arrows. I fancied it was all day with us. I was
standing before an Indian with a bow strung and an arrow with a flint
head on it. I tell you it looked ugly. I did not fancy being shot with
such an ungodly weapon, so I moved opposite a fellow with a horse
pistol, preferring to be dispatched with that. He must have noticed
that I looked scared, and he came up to me and said in jargon,
"Wake quash nika." ["Don't be afraid of me."] That
means, "Don't be afraid, we do not want to kill you or the boys, but we
do want to kill Owens for shooting Sambo." I felt considerably relieved
at this. It appears as soon as the Indian carried the pick home Owens
up and shot him. Well, by this time our canoe arrived with our things
at the mouth of Galice Creek, so we started to get them and pack them
up to the fort.We had not gone more than 100 yards when we met old Chief Taylor, with nine of ten of his band, all armed with the best of rifles. He stopped us and gave us quite a speech in jargon. He reasoned this way: If an Indian had killed a white man, and some Indians had to pass the white man's camp, what would be the result? Would they not kill them? After this talk they all sat down on the bar to have a council whether they would kill us or not. While they were engaged we started down to the canoe. I felt as if I would get that bullet in my back as I walked from them. They came to the conclusion not to kill us, yet as they came to the canoe and volunteered their services to help us pack the things up the creek for us--well, we felt very helpless among those savages--not a shooting-iron in the crowd; only a butcher knife apiece. As we got close to the fort we could see the Indian that was shot, stretched outside the fort, with a couple of squaws attending him. He was shot in the breast, the bullet coming out at his back. The old chief mounted the logs of the fort and commenced climbing over, REVOLVER IN HAND.
Owens was standing inside with his revolver in his hand, cocked. He
ordered old Taylor to go back. Said he: "If you come another foot, I
will blow the top of your ------ head off!" He took the hint and came
back. Owens had one of his partners with him; the other, whose name was
Louis, was up the river at the election, held then at Vannoy's Ferry.
Old Taylor made a proposition to us--if we would give him $40 and a
pair of Hudson Bay blankets, he would say no more about the shooting of
the Indian. It did not take very long to make up the amount required.
After they got the money and blankets, they left and went down to the
ranchero at the mouth of the creek. We made preparations as well as we
could to spend the night. You may be sure we did not enjoy much sleep;
they kept up a shooting and a yelling nearly all the night. At daybreak
two Indians came to the fort, sent by Taylor, demanding $40 more and
Owens' revolver. They claimed they wanted to bury the revolver with the
Indian, as he died during the night. We refused giving any more money
or Owens' revolver; they went back. We advised Owens to leave and
travel up Rogue River on the Galice Creek side; there was no trail on
that side those days. We had to go 25 miles to the town ferry. We
thought by getting rid of him there would be a better chance for us. On
the afternoon of the same day Louis got back from the election. He
nearly killed a horse riding down to tell us to leave, as the upper
river Indians were getting quite hostile.RACE FOR LIFE.
By this time it was getting late in the evening. John Louis came around
and spoke to us boys and told us to walk behind a large rock that was
on the bar, one by one, then to take the trail leading up the river,
and to put in our best licks [i.e., run].
As he said, as soon as they got through they would kill us. Louis was
in the Mexican War and well used to Indians and their ways, was able to
run a very good pace those days and was dressed for it. I wore
moccasins; had a pair of buckskin pants and a check shirt and cap; not
yet 21 years old. Well, we got over one-fourth of a mile the start
before they missed us. Then you should think all the devils in Hades
were let loose. They gave their war whoop and shot at us, but it only
had the effect of making us run faster. They followed us a couple of
miles, all the time giving their war whoop. It was answered by others
on the other side. We had to pass over a trail cut in solid rock along
Hell's Gate, that when we went down three months before we had to hold
on by spurs of rock and roots of trees to keep from tumbling over 100
feet perpendicular to Hell's Gate canyon. We were so scared and running
for our lives, we did not know we passed it. We kept on to Jump-Off Joe
Mountain and there built a fire, then traveled one-half mile further
and lay down to rest. We were almost run to death. Before daybreak we
started again and got to the lower or Press Fulzel ferry before
breakfast. We found Owens there. Now we concluded to fortify the place
and make a stand against the Indians; so we made portholes and gave it
the appearance of a fort. We sent around for reinforcements and got
before night five or six. We mustered 12 all told. We formed the first
volunteer company of the war of '53. We elected a man by the name of
Bates for our captain, and Evans, commonly called Coyote Evans, for our
lieutenant. My partner and myself were supplied with firearms from
Vannoy's Ferry; my weapon was an old saw-handle dueling pistol.CAUGHT CHIEF TAYLOR.
The captain appointed two men to go down Rogue River and have Chief
Taylor to come up to tell him Skinner, the Indian agent, wanted to see
him about Owens. Taylor was camped about four miles below us. Taylor
came up riding a splendid black horse that he bought a short time
before, paying $200 in dust for it. Some of the dust he got from the
poor whites that he murdered. This was the reason of their kindness to
us in prospecting for us, and then intended to treat us in the same
way. When Taylor rode up he sang out in jargon, where is Skinner, the
Indian agent. When he found he was sold [i.e., betrayed],
he wheeled his horse with the intention of leaving, when three of us
seized him. He kept us at bay with a butcher knife quite a time but
finally we got him and bound him, and tied him to a ridgepole in the
house. The braves of the Applegate tribe under Chief George offered
their services to us to capture, if possible, Taylor's gang of
cutthroats. It appears Taylor used to make raids on those weak tribes
and capture women and sell them to the coast Indians, so George wanted
revenge.HANGED TO A TREE.
The next day we concluded to give Chief Taylor his trial. We went
through all the formalities of law, the captain acting as judge.
Witnesses were examined, and proved conclusively that he and his gang
murdered the miners in their tents at night. The judge pronounced
sentence that he be hanged at 6 o'clock at or close to Vannoy's Ferry.
We told the prisoner his sentence, and he only made light of it. Before
6 we led him up, accompanied by the Applegate Indians, to a white oak
tree, put him on a horse, and asked him if he had anything to say. He
confessed the murder, also the killing of a man in 1851, and said it
was his intention to kill us when we would accumulate enough gold dust.
When the rope was adjusted around his neck and on a limb of a tree, an
Indian of the Applegates gave the horse a lick and his neck was broken
instantly.Some of the Applegates came in the next morning with two prisoners, the worst of Taylor's gang. They came to their camp in the night. They were hanged on the same tree with Taylor. After that we scoured the country for two or three weeks, but found no more of them. They left the river and went to the coast, so the Applegates told me. A few weeks after this the Indians on the upper Rogue River broke out. Our company was discharged and I went to Althouse, mining. The Western News, Hamilton, Montana, January 2, 1895, page 6 Pioneer Sketches.
Capt. M. M. Williams died in Lewiston last Friday morning. His life had
been despaired of for two weeks, during which time he suffered
severely, from gangrene resulting from erysipelas in the foot. He was
born on the 5th of February, 1818, on the Atlantic Ocean aboard the
American ship Newark,
of
which his father was master. The early years of his life were spent in
travel. He visited nearly every civilized country on the globe. He was
a millwright and mechanic as well as a practical sailor and worked at
his trade in many countries. We have records of mills built by him in
Spain and in China, in the latter place a five-stamp quartz mill.In 1849 he was on the eastern seacoast when he contracted the prevailing desire to go to California. An opportunity presented itself in a ship that lay at anchor condemned for the reason that it was infected with yellow fever. He secured this from the owner, secured a cargo and sailed for California around the Horn. He arrived in Golden Gate harbor when the gold fever ran highest. Capt. Williams' crew deserted him and soon he deserted the ship and left it anchored in the bay. He was then launched upon the career of a pioneer. He followed the fortunes of the gold camps, devoting his time chiefly to the work of engineering and building mills and machinery of many kinds. Between 1850 and 1862 he followed the trade of millwright and contractor very devotedly and faithfully. He built at last one mill for himself at Kerbyville, Oregon, which was destroyed by fire in 1857. In this fire he lost some valuable papers and among them the title to a Spanish land grant, which loss occasioned a later visit to Spain in a vain effort to repair his loss. In all he built thirty-four flour mills on the Pacific Coast, the one at Lapwai which he built for the government in 1862 being the last. In June 1853 while Capt. Williams was engaged in mining and mechanical work in Southern Oregon the Rogue River Indians became so troublesome that war was declared against them. This tribe was the most murderous, treacherous and at the same time bravest Indians on the Pacific Coast. They are supposed to have committed a thousand murders between the year of 1850 and 1856. [The opposite would be more accurate.] It was in the exciting times when the mines of that country were in their glory and people were reckless of life as well as property. The country was most favorable to Indian depredations; and the bleached bones of the unfortunate were strewn unnamed throughout a vast district. Finally the miners left their shovels and their sluices and began a war of extermination. Capt. Williams distinguished himself at the battle of Evans Creek, where Gen. Lane was wounded. He supported a cavalry charge with his company of infantry under a fearful fire, his men following him encouraged by the confidence he inspired. He was instrumental in effecting a treaty with this fierce tribe and they were placed upon the Table Rock Reservation in charge of Capt., now Gen. A. J. Smith of Washington, D.C., a retired officer. He went back to his work on Applegate Creek. The Indians grew restless again and in 1855 broke out into open warfare. Capt. Williams mustered the first company for this war and was second to report to the Governor for service. Company B of Oregon Volunteers with Capt. M. M. Williams at the head was the most active in the battles of Table Rock, Applegate Creek, Slate Creek, Hungry Hill and Meadows. At the latter place the Indians surrendered and the most powerful tribe on the coast was broken up. They were removed to distant reservations and are now almost extinct. Old John, the chief and general of the tribe, was taken by steamer to California and died at Benicia. He never became reconciled, but was belligerent to the end. On the ocean voyage to the military prison he was released from the shackles. He secured a capstan lever and began vigorous battle with the guard and ship's crew. He was with difficulty overpowered and placed in irons. He said if he had two of his warriors he would capture the "big canoe" and go back to his people. As incidents of this war it may be related that Capt. Williams was twice wounded. While leading a charge at Table Rock in a vain effort to dislodge the Indians he was shot in the leg with an arrow. The shaft was removed but the spear remained in the wound. The surgeon proposed to remove it but the captain protested against any operation that would disable him from participation in active warfare. He carried that arrowhead for thirty years and it was removed in this city ten years ago. [This sounds like a confusion with the experience of the similarly named L. L. Williams, who carried an arrow shaft until it worked its way out eight years later.] On another occasion the captain tried to ride down a warrior who resisted his advance. The native suddenly drew a big knife and made a thrust at the white foe. The captain threw himself over on the side of his horse and the savage cut a deep gash across his leg. While clinging to the side of his horse the captain reached under the horse's neck and cut the Indian down with a big knife. At the battle of the Meadows the volunteers became too eager and they were entrapped by the Indians. They were besieged and cut off from water. The Indians were fortified in a stockade of fallen trees and could not be dislodged. The whites received unexpected reinforcements after they had almost despaired. Between 1857 and 1860 Capt. Williams visited the Nile, Constantinople, Palestine and many other countries of historical interest. In nearly all of these countries he became identified with their industries by directing engineering and architectural enterprises. He introduced improved milling machinery to many different peoples. In 1860 he was at the Dalles and started to Walla Walla and Lapwai. He accidentally fell and broke his leg at the beginning of the journey. He was treated by an army surgeon who reduced the fracture, but the mechanical skill of the patient led him to question the skill of the doctor. In due time he called a fellow mechanic to apply a practical test to the injured member in the way of measurement. The broken leg was an inch too short. The sufferer sent for the surgeon and instructed him to make the broken leg as long as the well one. The learned man of science protested, but to no purpose. The operation of lengthening the wounded leg was directed by the patient. He was placed in a harness and a pulley was attached to his foot. Force was applied by means of these appliances until the limit of measure was reached; and the sufferer never winced under the strain till the bones set in proper position. Capt. Williams related many experiences which illustrate the character of the man. At one time he had been following a squad of Indians and located them at night. An observation revealed the fact that the camp was very strong. In their security they slept soundly. The Captain crawled within their camp and stole their powder magazine and most of their guns and returned to his friends to await results. At the break of day the white men charged the Indians and in the confusion over the loss of their guns and ammunition they were driven into the river and nearly annihilated. Again the Captain was ordered by the officer of the day, John C. Kelsay, to cross Rogue River on a raft with his men under a deadly fire. This order he refused to obey. Another company went upon the raft and only five men returned alive. They were shot down by the Indians in ambush. Since 1863 the subject of this sketch has been an active business man in this city. He was ever scrupulously exact in his dealing, always independent and upright. Though his prejudices were strong he was a constant friend to those who retained his confidence, He was deficient in diplomacy as a tradesman but he was generally successful in his undertakings. He died the possessor of a competency and is mourned by business associates here. He leaves a daughter and a grandson in this city who have been associated with him in business for a year and a half. Lewiston Teller, Lewiston, Idaho, March 18, 1897, page 5 THE OLDEST PIONEER.
Major Patrick, of Augusta, Tells of His Montana Experiences of 1836. Helena Independent.
Maj. J. W. Patrick, of Augusta, who has resided in Montana longer than
any other man now living in the state, is at the Grand Central Hotel.
Mr. Patrick is now almost 90 years old. He came to Montana in 1836 as
one of a party of 20 men sent out from St. Louis on an expedition
organized by a company that afterward developed into the American Fur
Company. The party came up the Missouri River in rowboats, bringing 25
tons of merchandise and outfits. They had five boats, each carrying
five tons of freight and manned by four men.
The party landed at the mouth of the Marias River and established a trading post, where small amounts of merchandise and trinkets were traded to the Indians for large values in furs. Maj. Patrick continued in the fur trading business several years, but in 1849 went to California with the rush to the newly discovered gold fields. After a few years of indifferent success as a prospector and miner, he went north along the coast, and he and his partner [John R. Hardin] opened up a trading store in the Rogue River Valley, where they prospered so that they were worth $75,000 at the time of the uprising of the Rogue River Indians at the beginning of the '60s [sic--their operation was burned in the 1853 war]. When hostilities began their store was burned and all the seven or eight white men in the vicinity, except Maj. Patrick, were killed. He managed to get away, and the gold excitement in this region having begun, he once more turned his footsteps in this direction, reaching here in time to participate actively in the work of the vigilantes. His familiarity with the country between here and the Pacific Coast secured for him, through the influence of an old schoolmate, the position of guide for the party that was sent out under Canfield to select a route for the Northern Pacific railway. That was in 1869, when Jay Cooke was back of the enterprise. With the failure of Cooke the party was recalled, and since then Maj. Patrick has been devoting his attention to mining, ranching, and trading in various ways, from all of which he has managed to make a good living without acquiring much wealth. River Press, Fort Benton, Montana, March 8, 1899, page 5 E.L.A. thus resumed the broken thread at the interrupted slumber: "After the abrupt summons I was up and boots drawn on in a few seconds. I saw a group around a light and when I came up the Major said, 'We've chosen you for a hard service, to carry dispatches to Salem and to the livery stable, where a man will be ready to carry them on night or day; don't draw rein, except to water your nag, until you reach Salem.' One of the best horses was ready, it was the midnight hour, and his last words were, 'Get it there in the shortest time.' We set out on a lope, and, except at the steepest inclines or pitches, maintained the gait the whole way. At the places of changing no delay to mention was allowed; and the last forty miles was ridden in intense pain. I can't now recollect just how many relays were made. The pain I experienced was the worse ever felt except that of the cancer which was cut from the back of this right hand. When I rode up to the livery stable mentioned, a man in dragoon uniform said 'Have you got 'em?' He took the dispatches, got out his horse and was off at a gallop before I dismounted, which was not done until someone helped, for I was too stiff and sore to move. My thighs were swollen until they filled the pantaloons tight, and as soon as they were off I laid down and went to sleep there in the barn! At the prior stations I would dismount and lie down the few minutes to spare in order to let the blood circulate. The dispatches did get to Benicia on time, and troops were hurried to the South Road, who found the trains besieged but no harm yet done. The Wills and Myers, who are so numerous all about Ashland, were with that "South Road" migration, and call that dispatch their salvation! At the first reunion of pioneers of Oregon I was invited to make an address. One of the '53 emigrants by the South Road remarked that 'If on that "Paul Revere" ride you'd once failed of duty, we'd never seen Oregon!' On my return to Cow Creek, which contained no remarkable adventures or episodes, the squadron was still at Levens'. Alvord had sent MacKay to decide upon the propriety of moving down Evans Creek to take the hostiles in the rear; but the scout reported the Indians shrewd enough to maintain a lookout up the creek a long distance. I had. almost forgotten to tell that preparations were rapidly completing in the Willamette to send a battalion with some six-pounder cannon. The commander sent advices that as soon as within hearing he would fire a piece every half hour, and it could be utilized as they saw fit. Our command moved on and camped two and a half miles from Jacksonville. Finally it was resolved to concentrate on the south side of Rogue River, maintaining a sufficient force upon the north bank to protect a signal station on Upper Table Rock, which reported every hour to give notice in case any movement should be made to cross the river. The scouts reported an estimate of three thousand warriors. The lookout on Table Rock with field glass could see clearly to Ashland--twenty-four miles. Many amongst our little 'army'--hardly six hundred--urged instant attack, but cooler counsels deemed it better to await help and delay would dispirit the hostiles, who never go well provisioned. One attack with a moderate column was made and retreated. Nearly every day while awaiting reinforcements from the Willamette, parties of the Indians would attempt crossing. and hence we'd have a skirmish. Once forty dragoons were sent to intercept a body trying to cross two miles above Gold Hill. The Indians were driven with great slaughter, while the dragoons had only some slightly wounded. Three days after, a detachment went down to observe. There I saw several buzzards and a number of dead warriors. Why they had not been carried away I couldn't say, unless their punishment had given a fright and they feared to return. (This surely indicated no great courage or confidence! K.) After that skirmish men were selected from Smith's and Alvord's commands to be led by Lieutenant Williamson toward the South Trail by way of the Siskiyous and Klamath Lakes, to determine movements of Indians and whence they came. As having been over the trail; I was one. We went over the Siskiyous by the 'Commonwealth' return route, and then to and up Klamath River, where we found white men who reported squaws gone to the Lake country, while the bucks were in Sams Valley. We traveled on to portions of Jennie Creek and Dead Indian, where no white man had before trodden, and large gangs of elk, deer and antelope were seen, and hence knew that no man was around to give them any scare. Command was given not to halloo or fire a gun; and hence we would pass those animals not thirty yards away, which only gazed as in wonder! They had evidently never heard rifle shot or smelt powder! Yes, even the otherwise wild elk would gather in a bunch and take a good look! Then the detachment passed by the west slope of Mount Pitt, through a heavy storm with lightning and thunder, and to the gorge of Rogue River, where we forded a ripple and then came upon recently worn paths almost a foot deep; hence concluded that Indian reinforcements were not far away crowding on to 'Sams Valley.' We traveled always with advance and rear guards. Trail Creek enters from the north, while Big Butte empties from the south almost opposite each other, and when near the junctions we halted until the scouts reconnoitered and reported the hostiles trying to cross the river. They had not evidently detected us and perhaps had not learned of the expedition. Soon after, we heard running musketry and saw a body of dragoons which we judged were Smith's retreating to open, smooth ground. Scouts then reported about two hundred Indians, and we pressed on, soon to meet twenty-five saddled Indian ponies, which we seized. Soon after catching the ponies, dead Indians began to appear. Then Captain Williamson said, 'Men, we're near enough to charge'; and we did by the detachment first emptying their firearms and then drawing saber. The hostiles broke into two bodies and retreated by each flank, when we turned and drove them about four miles. Three white soldiers were killed and some wounded. Perhaps sixty Indians were killed and wounded. When we reached headquarters opposite Table Rock news came of a reinforcement of hostiles coming down the river, which we had determined to intercept, which was changed by the savages making diversions to cut off the signal station by the 'approach ridge,' the only avenue, where we skirmished all day, and the action has always been known as 'The Battle of Table Rock'; the former engagement at the mouths of Butte and Trail as 'Trail Creek Fight.' [The Table Rock skirmish is generally forgotten, the name "Battle of Table Rock" is usually assigned to the final battle at the head of Evans Creek.] A few whites were killed and some wounded at Table Rock, while the Indians suffered unusually severely. Men reported that some Indians were driven over a steep precipice and killed, but no such official record was made. Several whites were busy all day carrying water under fire to those holding the Rock. I got a ball; my usual luck. Two or three days after, report came that a body of hostiles was crossing Evans Creek, high up, supposed to aim at getting over the river, and Captain Goodall was sent to intercept and met them where Woodville now stands. The Indians turned their horses loose and made such a stubborn stand that many were killed and wounded, but were driven back with such slaughter that guns were thrown away and found years after by cattlemen and campers. Three of Goodall's men were killed and all were buried between Woodville and the river. A new conception in relation to stopping hostilities and bloodshed now presented itself to Gen. Lane, and that was to send a deputation or guard of soldiers to Jacksonville with some of the captured ponies to invite those Indian girls of whom I spoke, who were in domestic service, to come and be useful as envoys between us and the hostiles. In fact, Lane did not think his forces able to withstand a combined assault of that three thousand who were reported tolerably armed! The girls came dressed out in all their finery, and had the best placed at their service. The 'envoys' were instructed to represent that heavy reinforcements were near, and that if even they should assault and overrun the present army another would soon come and exterminate them; for beyond the sea and mountains were millions of white men. Lane reasoned that such a course could do no harm, while it might accomplish good by a delay which would strengthen us and discourage them by procrastination, which is the almost inevitable consequence to a body on the offensive, especially if unorganized. 'Sir? Why, we made a stockade around the girls and their ponies, of which we had a large number, for Goodall brought in another drove also. The girls were deemed pretty handsome by the 'boys,' but no intrusions were allowed. After debating a few days the girls concluded to risk the mission; and, as the sequel proved, did as requested. The chiefs, for no words were allowed otherwise, were amazed at the report of white uprisings from so far, presuming that they had only the neighboring settlers and miners to encounter! [No other account of the 1853 war mentions any Indian envoys of either sex.] Then they said they must report to their priests, who would consult the Great Spirit. The sacred wigwam was pitched, the 'temenewahs' were donned and a round of incantations set on foot. The envoys returned at night, and every night, for their services as such were required for three or four days, I have forgotten the exact number. During the powwow three new companies came--one from Yreka, one from Crescent City and the other, I've forgotten whence. Immediately after, the forces were drawn up in hollow square for a flag presentation. Four chairs were set in the middle--one of which Lane occupied with his head and shoulders bandaged from the wound he got when the Table Rocks were assaulted. [His shoulder was wounded on Evans Creek.] An officer famous for his eloquence was deputed to make the orations, in which he cited all the Indian atrocities he could name from the earliest to the present and while talking began to unfurl the standards. The first flag contained the word 'Extermination,' made by a woman's hand! He went on until six were produced. When the oration was finished Lane was called. Two officers bent over and assisted him to rise, the wind blowing about his long, gray hair. He began in very solemn style, and the substance of his speech was: 'I have listened with both physical and mental agony! The sentiment of "extermination" cannot be entertained for one moment, for it is not the actuating principle of enlightened nations, and all the world will look to America for the highest standards of humanity. This enunciation savors too much of the impulsive and untutored savage! The American soldier is only a citizen under arms and not a marauding, ravening freebooter. We fight for peace and for that alone. If we adopt that motto we shall disgrace every mother that nourished us at her breast. I feel called upon by every sentiment of humanity to ask you to furl those standards and lay them away forever. The flag of America needs no motto; for its stars and stripes stand for liberty, independence, sovereignty and union!' 'The flags? They did disappear, and this talk, as far as I know, is their only resurrection! On the last day of the powwow, when the envoys were to bring the final answer from the hostile camp, the girls came a-flying and in hysterical tears. This was the message, 'The Great Spirit had not informed us of any reinforcements and we intend soon to make a combined attack.' Squaws told the girls that they were promised enormous booty, and that the braves were clamoring to be led on at once, but that some chiefs did fear reinforcements. Just as the girls finished telling and the 'long roll' ceased, which was about eleven, a deep boom of thunder came from the summits! but no cloud was in sight. Watches were drawn and in exactly thirty minutes came another detonation. Still breathless silence and at the lapse of exactly another thirty minutes the third report! Then all knew it was Jas. W. Nesmith's column with the promised artillery! Hundreds of Indians were in sight also and appeared to be listening. How far could that report be heard? You've heard 'em often? Could it reach us from 'Jump-Off-Joe'? Wind was from westward. It seemed to me that I could feel the jar of the explosion! It meant to us 'grape, canister, balls and shells!' Well, the column was a large part of the night coming in, for they had a long train and were necessarily scattered. It kept us busy finding them camping places and watering their stock, for they'd been on a forced march the last two days. In the morning the 'envoy girls' came over to see the reinforcements and fairly danced with joy, saying, 'All over--no fight!' while General Lane himself said to them, 'God bless you, ladies! You've saved us all!' Men were then ashamed to confess their dependence upon humble Indian girls, but at this late day we can afford to do exact and full justice! When the envoys went again that camp was no more 'hostile'! but sent the dispatch, *'Mesika wawa dirate; yiem t'kope Tyee, "Nesika hyas klahowvum. Hyas tikeh, konaway, isskum. Wake la lee wawa nesikah." (*Jargon partly: You speak truth, tell white chief, "We are very poor. We need all we can get. Pretty soon we will talk.") The result was a treaty in which the natives surrendered all territory but the irregular square bounded on the north by the summits of the Umpquas east of the head of Evans Creek; east, the summits of the Cascades; south, Rogue River; west, Evans Creek, which enters Rogue near present Woodville. But the whole Evans Creek Valley was included. The U.S. would pay them for relinquished territory. The tribes agreed also to observe the formality of delivering up arms, which in their diplomacy meant 'laying down a blanket and placing upon it four broken revolvers and one crippled shotgun'! After that the oldest chief said, 'Wake mamook solleks weght' (We'll never fight any more). Some 'greenhorns' actually expected to see the Indians absolutely lay down every weapon! The surrender, to them, was very humbling, and it meant full submission--a veritable 'bury the hatchet'! The girls were immensely pleased, as if they had done it all! All stayed in Jacksonville, where some married. Two or three died and were buried with much ceremony; and all were highly respected. (On the Fourth of July, 1895, an old lady of the Rogue River tribes said, 'I have lived here in Jacksonville twenty-five years, but was not one of them girls. I knowed 'em, and what didn't die got married to white men.' Her designation was 'Aunt Nancy.' 'Aunt Mary,' now dead, lived in Jacksonville for years, and was the mother of "Lame George"--prominent in the Modoc War, of which more hereafter. K.) [Tyee George was murdered at Camp Baker ten years before the Modoc War.] But I must not close the chapter until I tell you of a horrid episode of that war. Unfortunately a soldier and a girl of that party from Jacksonville happened to lag so far behind that a big turn of the road hid them behind heavy brush, with two volunteers coming unseen not far in the rear, also a-horseback. The soldier called a halt, jumped off quickly and drawing a revolver at the same time said, 'Get down, you are mine.' She gave an agonized scream and it allowed the miscreant no more time before the men behind, hearing, galloped in sight. He mounted briskly and both hurried on, which the volunteers also did, until the whole cavalcade was together and in sight. The volunteers dropped hack, but reported to Gen. Lane all they heard and saw as soon as camp was reached. Lane inquired of the girl, who was readily found, and then afterwards of the soldier who confessed, but urged in extenuation, 'Indians ain't humans--'twarnt nothin'.' A drumhead court-martial was convened, where Smith and Alvord urged 'platooning' with six or twelve muskets but Lane decided upon shaving half head and drumming out. When the squad had with the 'Rogue's March' taken him the required distance and he was bidden to 'git,' he set spurs and made that horse fling dirt! at the same time dodging from side to side, appearing to feel sure that he'd be shot! No, sir; that character was never heard of again." Elisha Lindsay Applegate, quoted in Reese P. Kendall, Pacific Trail Camp-Fires, Chicago 1901, pages 217-228 SOUTHERN OREGON HISTORY.
One week ago today Mr. John Hardin of Medford visited the ranch
recently sold by Geo. R. Hammersley to Cyrus Hoskins, on the other side
of the river from the town of Gold Hill, to exhume the remains of his
father who was buried there in 1853.John Hardin of Medford Visits Gold Hill to Exhume the Remains of His Father. Mr. Hardin, Sr., the late David Birdsey, the late Dan Fisher and a man unknown to the writer were going from the Hardin ranch, now owned by Jas. McDougall, to Fort Dardanelles, which stood on the bank of Kanes Creek on what is now the Hoskins ranch, when they were attacked by Rogue River Indians near the Braden ranch now owned by Dr. C. R. Ray. Both John Hardin and the unknown man were wounded at the first fire of the Indians. Dave Birdsey and Dan Fisher placed the wounded men in front of them on their horses and rode to the Fort, where shortly afterward both died. They were buried near the Fort. J. R. Hardin, Sr., crossed the plains in the year of 1851, and wintered in Salem, Oregon. During the summer of 1852 he came to Rogue River Valley, and took a Donation Land Claim, the property now owned by James McDougal. Mr. Hardin was a lawyer of considerable prominence in Southern Oregon and Northern California. He was the first representative of Jackson County to the legislature. He was a widower, his wife having died in 1848 in Missouri, and in the spring of 1853, he married Miss Amanda E. Gall, a sister of C. C. Gall, of Sams Valley, which happy union was not destined to last long, for in the fall of 1853 Hardin and the unknown man were killed, near the John Swinden farm, as they were returning home to Fort Dardanelles, just across the river from the town of Gold Hill, and were buried on a sand bar, about fifty feet above the bed of the river on the ranch now owned by Mr. Hoskins. Gold Hill News, March 30, 1901, page 5
SOUTHERN OREGON HISTORY.
A Letter from W. S. Gall, of Sams Valley. Editor, Gold Hill News, Dear
Sir: Will you please allow me space in your valuable paper to correct a
few errors concerning the death of my father, John R. Hardin, Sr. I
have in my possession evidence from one who was present, and I herewith
submit his statement for publication.
Yours Respectfully,
JOHN R. HARDIN. SAMS VALLEY, Ore., March 31st.
John R. Hardin, Dear Nephew--I notice in the Gold Hill News that
you were down to exhume the remains of your father and the statement
that John R. Hardin and an unknown man were both wounded by the
Indians. Let me correct the statement. The man who was with your father
was Dr. Rose. He was killed dead the first fire from the Indians.
Hardin was wounded the third shot, and the mare he was riding ran with
him out of the way, after which A. J. Kane, Will Ewing, Rara McLean,
James Hawkins and I carried him in a blanket from the Swindon house to
Dardanelles fort. Rose laid where he was killed until midnight before
he could be brought in. He was stripped of all his clothing. He had one
bullet, a half-ounce ball, through the temples. The Indians had cut his
arms and thighs with a knife, and then stuck the knife in both eyes and
stomach. Another misstatement is that David Birdseye and Dan Fisher
were there. Birdseye was in Jacksonville and Fisher was on Applegate.Your father died the third day after he was wounded. Any other knowledge you desire I will willingly give. Yours Truly,
Gold Hill News, April 6, 1901, page 5W. S. GALL. It has been generally supposed that the Apaches were the bravest and most desperate tribe on the continent, but this is not so. The most warlike, bravest Indian tribe known are the Rogue Rivers, who live--or did live--in the Rogue River Valley on the line of the southern boundary of Oregon. Charley Johnson, of the Buckeye camp, who once lived at Cooke's Corners, Huron County, was killed in a fight with this tribe in 1853. He was a brave man and one of the best we had in our company. Henry Buckingham, "Our Indian Brothers," Norwalk Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio, November 11, 1905, page 1
On
the morning of the first Sunday in June, 1853, Major James A. Lupton
and myself, while on our way to Jacksonville via the Table Rock trail,
leading over the mountains from Umpqua Valley, having camped the night
before on Trail Creek, a tributary of Rogue River, rode into an Indian
ambush on the north side of the river, a short distance above
Thompson's Ferry. We had taken a trail leading to the river about two
or three miles above the ferry, instead of the right one leading direct
to it. On entering a clump of willows on the river's bank we found
themselves confronted by a band of about 40 Indians in war paint, armed
in part with guns and pistols, others having bows and arrows, which in
close quarters are more effective weapons in a fight than the guns used
at that time.
Major Lupton, as he was generally called, was not an Army officer, but came to Oregon in 1849 as wagon master for the rifle regiment. He was at this time engaged in the business of packing. We were partners, and a more honorable, upright and energetic man it has never been my fortune to know. He was brave to rashness. He was just ahead of me on the trail, and as he halted I noticed he reached for his pistol in the holster of his saddle. I spurred my horse to his side, and putting my hand on his arm told him not to shoot, immediately addressing the chief, who was standing in front of us but a few paces off, in Chinook, asking him what was the matter, and how far it was to the ferry. This, of course, after saying to him, "How do you do?" To none of these inquiries did he reply, but stood sullen and motionless. Lupton still held his revolver in hand, ready for action, but not raising it, awaiting the outcome of my talk with the chief, who proved to be "Cutface Jack," chief of a wild band of upper Rogue River Indians. Knowing enough of Indians to feel certain that they were lying in wait for a larger party than two persons, and having heard that a raid was contemplated by a company of white men to their country to rescue a white woman who was supposed to be held a prisoner among them, I immediately decided that the proper thing to do was to assume that it was that party, not us, they desired to intercept. I kept close watch of the chief as he proceeded to question me in turn, knowing it was of the utmost importance to understand every word he uttered, as well as to make him understand me, which was a task not easily performed, as neither of us were proficient linguists in the Chinook jargon. He asked who we were, what we wanted, and where we were going. I told him we were from the Willamette Valley, had come across the mountains the day before, and had camped for the night a few miles back, giving him the exact spot, which I divined that he well knew, as I did not think that we could approach so near a party of hostile Indians without their knowledge. He was satisfied with my answers, and immediately came forward and gave me his hand to shake. He did not offer it to the Major, as he regarded me as chief, for I had done the talking. This was well, as the Major told me afterwards that he would have refused it, as he expected at any moment to have use for his right hand in handling his pistol. From a sign made by the chief the warriors all dispersed into the bushes, and we passed on to the ferry without further molestation. My companion, initiated by the occurrence, proposed going back and taking a few shots at them, as he said, just to teach them better than interfere with white men. When we arrived at the ferry, Thompson informed us that "Cutface Jack" and his party were looking for a company of volunteers under Captain Lamerick, who a couple of days before had captured four of their party, and while holding them prisoners as hostages for the release of the supposed white woman, who was believed to be held a prisoner by their tribe, two of them in trying to escape in the night had been shot and killed, the other two escaping to the Indian camp with the news. Cutface Jack had rallied his band of warriors and was on the warpath, and he was trying to intercept Lamerick's party on their return from their trip up the river. Instead of this, he informed us, they had returned to Jacksonville by a more southerly route, and thus had eluded the ambush of Cutface Jack which we fell into. We arranged with Thompson to send a man with some trusty Indians back to move our camp to his ferry, as he had a squaw for a wife, and was on good terms with the Indians. We felt that the camp would be safe under his care. The next day was election day, Jacksonville polling a very large vote. Having cut and stacked a lot of hay and built a cabin across Bear Creek from Jacksonville, about 12 miles distant, in what was conceded to be exclusively Indian country, as no settlers had located across the creek in that vicinity, Lupton had gone on the plains to buy cattle from the immigrants, and after I had completed the preparations he desired me to make, I started on horseback for Marysville, on what was to me most important business, seeing the person who later became the partner of my life. On arriving at Patrick's ranch, some eight or nine miles north of Jacksonville, I found him gathering up his horses to start for the Willamette Valley, as he had just heard that Thomas Wills, a merchant of Jacksonville, had been killed by the Indians [on August 5th], and as he intended going soon after supplies, he thought it prudent to go at once. After feeding my horse and eating dinner we started and made Rock Creek, then Dr. Rose's ranch, at night. Early the following morning we started on, and arriving at Grave Creek found the people "forted up." They urged us to remain, saying that the Indians were uneasy, and had done some stealing, and they feared trouble. We, however, were deaf to their entreaties, and moving rapidly on to the crossing of Cow Creek, some 10 miles distant, we found the cabin on the north bank of the creek burned down and discovered parts of the bodies of two men still burning in the ashes. We pushed on up the creek about four miles and found the people "forted up" as at Grave Creek. We were again urged to stop and remain with them. Making camp and cooking a meal, we seriously considered the situation. Large numbers of Indians were on the hills to the left of our road, yelling and howling like demons and loudly calling out and daring the whites to come up and fight them, generally talking Chinook, but some of them using broken English. We were but a short distance from Hardy Elliff's at the south end of the canyon. Fearing the loss of his horses if we remained, Patrick was anxious to go on. I was equally, perhaps more, anxious than he. We started about sundown. I was mounted on a strong, spirited horse and, taking the bell from the bell mare, put it on him and started ahead. Patrick, mounting his fastest horse, brought up the rear. On seeing us start the Indians started in the same direction we were going, expecting, no doubt, that they would be able to head us off by the time we reached the divide in the canyon, which was about three miles distant from the south end. Many of the Indians were on foot, some were mounted on ponies, but we were confident that we could beat them to the divide, as our path was free from brush and good, while theirs was through the brush. We made as fast time as good, strong horses could carry us, the loose horses following closely after the bell. A Flight for Life.
George E. Cole, "A Pioneer's Recollections," Oregonian, Portland,
February 3, 1901, page 23
On reaching the
summit we felt sure that we had beaten them, but as it was dark in the
timber, were not certain. Going down the steep and tortuous trail to
the bed of the creek, in which now lay our way, we followed it for two
miles. It was walled in by perpendicular bluffs on both sides. The ride
was a rough one, as the creek was filled with boulders, many of them of
considerable size. I called back to Patrick, and he answered, "All
right." At this moment the Indians had arrived at the summit and set up
a hair-lifting yell of rage and disappointment. We lost no time, but
pushed on at full speed, and emerged from the creek. The road there
crosses it 68 times, the crossings being usually made on a walk, and
came out at the north end of the canyon (Canyonville) and warned the
settlers, who until now knew nothing of the outbreak. They hastily
"forted up," and put out a strong guard up the canyon.
Shortly after reaching Marysville, the news came of a general outbreak. The first man through after us brought news of the killing [on August 10] of John R. Hardin, Dr. [William R.] Rose and others. Hardin and Rose we knew well, and had seen them just before, having said goodbye to Hardin at Patrick's ranch, and having stopped with Rose our first night out. Before reaching Roseburg I met James Kyle, a partner of Wills, with his pack train of goods from Scottsburg. Telling him of his partner's death, he at once gave orders to his trainmen where to camp with the train and remain until further orders. He immediately started for Jacksonville, but was shot and killed by an Indian in ambush on Rogue River, about 20 miles before reaching his destination. I borrowed a good rifle of B. R. Riddle and, having supplied myself with ammunition, retraced my steps toward the scene of hostilities, packing one horse lightly and riding another. On arriving at Myrtle Creek, three or four well-armed young men accompanied me. I arrived at Grave Creek the first night the news that an armistice with the Indians had been made reached there. The next day we went on to headquarters at Thompson's Ferry and reported to General Lane, who at the time of our arrival was lying down with his arm in a sling, having received a wound in his right shoulder during the battle at Evans Creek. As there were rumors among the volunteers that some of them were not standing by the armistice they had agreed to with the Indians, General Lane requested me to go among the camps and see what I could learn. Many new companies had arrived since the battle of Evans Creek, and they, having had no part of it, were "spoiling for a fight" and chaffed those who were in the fight for agreeing to an armistice and declaring they would not abide by the agreement. This sentiment seemed to preponderate. I reported to General Lane the information I had gathered up. He called the volunteers together and gave them a strong talk, couched in the plainest English. He told them that the armistice had been agreed to on the part of the volunteers by their united vote, distinctly stating that the had exercised no influence in bringing about the decision, but that he would see that it was carried out in good faith, and that if others deserted him, he knew that his own Douglas County company and the regulars--Captain A. J. Smith, with 14 soldiers--would stand by him, and that all honorable men among all the companies would be found arrayed on his side. General Lane's Iron Will.
There never was a mutinous set of
soldiers so
completely silenced and squelched. The sight of that gray-haired
commander, with one arm in a sling, still painful from the wound of a
bullet, with courage not only sufficient to fight a savage foe, but
also sufficient to meet boldly and resolutely an attempt to sully the
character of his own command, and was an inspiring spectacle.Supposing that my cabin and hay stocks were burned, and the hogs that were left there to feed upon the Indian camas had been killed or run off, as there had been destruction of property all over the valley, I was greatly surprised on being accosted by the little chief near my camp, who informed me that I would find everything safe. Thereupon I rode on to the camp, a distance of about eight miles, and found the Indian's information was correct. I returned to headquarters, and as there were grave doubts whether or not a treaty would be made with the Indians, I asked General Lane's advice. He told me to move the stock. A treaty was made and peace prevailed. Lupton came in from the plains with a lot of stock, and was surprised to find even the arrangements he had left at the camp were not disturbed. Half a dozen pack covers, a hatchet and some nails were taken, but were brought back by order of little Chief John.When locating on the place, I made a treaty with this Indian, paying him for the use of the land from which to cut hay, and for the stock to range, naming specifically that the hogs were to have right to camas and acorns. The hay was hauled to Jacksonville the following summer and sold, as the winter was mild and it was not needed for the stock. Lupton later became sole owner of this property, and after living there two years was killed by the Indians in a battle at the mouth of Butte Creek. He was leading a company of volunteers, and while charging in the brush was pierced through the body by an arrow from an Indian bow. The Indian was lying on his back and sprung his bow with his feet--a very effectual way, as great force can thus be given to the bow to speed the arrow. At the treaty the facts about the white women [that Lamerick was hunting] were ascertained from the Indians, which were as follows: No White Women Captured.
During a war between the Rogue River and
Umpqua
tribes, the latter had captured some prisoners. Among them was a young
squaw, whom the Umpquas sold to one Ben Allen, a white man,
who
was a courier riding between the Hudson Bay posts of Vancouver and
Umpqua. He made her his wife, and took her to Vancouver. While making a
trip through the Rogue River Valley with this squaw and her child, she,
finding herself in her native country, escaped to her people and
remained with them, so that, instead of there being a white woman and
half-breed child, the fact was that it was an Indian woman and a
half-breed child, living among her own people. Several raids had been
projected for the purpose of rescuing a white woman held prisoner among
the Indians, one of whom, it was said, compelled her to become his wife
and slave. Much valorous talk had, from time to time, been indulged in
by the young white braves. Many other myths were explained, and a
better understanding was had between the red and white races. A true
history of the difficulties would disclose the fact that most of them
could have been avoided. The first knowledge Indians obtain of white
men they come in contact with is not calculated to inspire them with
much respect for, or confidence in, the white race. Better people,
bringing families with them, came among them later, but the Indian
judgment is made up, and it is hard to eradicate their first
impressions. They change the statement that "all men are liars" by
inserting the word "white," but further acquaintance causes them to
qualify this view, so as to admit that some white men tell the truth;
and when they find such an one they trust him implicitly, and will take
his word for any amount. In contrast with our management of Indians,
instance the success of the Hudson Bay Company's management.OREGON INDIAN WAR.
Adventures of a Pioneer in the Early '50s
Editor National
Tribune: When
the Indian war broke out in the Rogue River Valley, Southern Oregon, in
the fall of 1853, a call was sent to Northern California, and I joined
a company of volunteer mounted riflemen from Yreka, Siskiyou County.
Our company was commanded by Capt. Goodall, and numbered over 100 men.
Capt. Rhodes' company, from Humbug Creek, numbered about 40 men.
Including seven regulars, under Capt. Alden, of Fort Jones, Scott
Valley, Cal., we had in all about 150 men. After about a month's race,
we trailed the Indians into the mountains, our guide being [Robert B.]
Metcalfe, a big Kentuckian, and cousin of ex-Governor
Metcalfe,
of that state. We had followed the trail through the mountains half a
day, and were near the Indian camp before they were aware of our
approach, their scouts being busy watching the Oregon volunteers, who
were acting independently of our command. We marched down the mountain
trail single file with Capt. Alden in front, accompanied by the
regulars, and Capt. Armstrong, a wealthy citizen of Yamhill County,
Ore., and an old Indian fighter. Following this party came Capt.
Goodall, and next behind him came the writer. I occupied this position
not because of any great courage, but from the fact that I did not
realize the danger, and desired to see the whole show. The Indian camp
was in the woods. On turning a sharp angle in the trail we were in full
view of the Indians, some hundred yards in the distance. We were
discovered, and the fight was then on.
We pressed forward, until Capt. Armstrong suddenly dropped his gun, placed his hand on his breast, and turning toward me, said, "I am struck here." He fell on his right side and was dead. Sergt. Barbor, standing near me, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, had a narrow escape. The bullet perforated the sleeve and just grazed the skin. I sought shelter behind a small tree, near which Armstrong's head lay, resting my rifle between his head and the tree. About three rods to my right, and a little in front, I saw Capt. Alden. He was behind a large tree. He was armed with a double-barrel shotgun, and had fired one barrel into the camp, when he was shot through the lungs. To my left was young Bradley, a preacher's son, shot through the head, and a few rods to the rear, behind a large tree, was the body of Scarboro, a soldier of the Mexican War, and one of our best men. Our men soon fell back to a position some distance in the rear. Perceiving this, the Indians advanced, and one of them stood beside a big tree about 50 yards from my position. I fired, and he disappeared. I had too much regard for my life to raise up to see what had become of him. I attempted to reload my gun, but found I could not, without exposing myself to a fire from the camp, so I beat a hasty retreat, finally getting behind a small tree 50 or 60 yards in rear of the position I had formerly occupied. I now noticed Mr. H. Flesher, an old acquaintance, standing behind a big tree, and called him to me, as I had lost my ramrod and wanted to get his to load with. Flesher watched while I was loading, and seeing a redskin rise up from behind a log, shot him. Flesher returned to his former position. Soon after, he was wounded and went to the rear. I crawled to his tree and there found Chas. Abbe, a young lawyer, mortally wounded. Wm. Lewis told me afterwards that the Indian who had shot Abbe and Flesher from a position on the flank sprang up and pointed his gun at me while I was going back, but he (Lewis), who had seen him fire from that place before, was watching with his gun resting over a branch of a scrub oak, and brought the redskin down before he could pull the trigger. After leaving the tree, I joined a few men in a depression some distance in the rear. We had been there an hour and a half when we heard a noise in Abbe's direction, and on standing up saw him trying to rise. I went to his assistance and brought him to the position occupied by our party. Soon after Capt. Alden came in, severely wounded. We took Capt. Alden to the surgeon. There we found Flesher with a broken arm. Gen. Lane was there, slightly wounded. I called for a handkerchief to make a sling for Flesher's arm. The General took from his neck a black silk handkerchief and handed it to me, at the same time urging me to return to the front. *
* *
Gen. Lane
made a treaty with the Indians on that battlefield, which closed the
fight.That night we camped on the trail a short distance in rear of our advanced position, and the following day returned to the valley. The night was frosty. While walking around the camp, I found Gen. Lane lying on the ground without blankets. He complained of being cold, and also that some of the men had stepped over him, dragging their heavy spurs across his body. I built a slight barrier of sticks beside him to prevent repetition of those accidents, and covered him with my blankets, thinking I could get some horse blankets, but I could find none, as all were in use. That night I lay on the ground, half frozen.--E. Crockett, 1st U.S. Chasseurs and 65th N.Y., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. National Tribune, Washington, D.C., December 25, 1902, page 2 On the morning of the first Sunday in June 1853, Major James A. Lupton and myself, while on our way to Jacksonville, via the Table Rock trail, leading over the mountains from Umpqua Valley, with a drove of hogs which we were taking to the Rogue River Valley to feed on camas, the feed for hogs at that season of the year--we were also looking for a place to cut hay--and having camped the night before on Trail Creek, a tributary of Rogue River, rode into an Indian ambush on the north side of the river, a short distance above Thompson's Ferry [later Bybee Ferry--where Table Rock Road now crosses the Rogue River]. We had taken a trail leading to the river about two or three miles above the ferry, instead of the right one leading direct to it. On entering a clump of willows on the river's bank we found ourselves confronted by a band of about 40 Indians in war paint, armed in part with guns and pistols, others having bows and arrows, which in close quarters are more effective weapons in a fight than the guns used at that time. Major Lupton, as he was generally called, was not an army officer, but came to Oregon in 1849 as wagon master for the rifle regiment. He was at that time engaged in the business of packing. We were partners, and a more honorable, upright and energetic man it has never been my fortune to know. He was brave to rashness. He was just ahead of me on the trail, and as he halted I noticed he reached for his pistol in the holster of his saddle. I spurred my horse to his side, and putting my hand on his arm told him not to shoot, immediately addressing the chief, who was standing in front of us a few paces off, in Chinook, asking him what was the matter, and how far it was to the ferry. This, of course, after saying to him, "How do you do?" To none of these inquiries did he reply, but stood sullen and motionless. Lupton still held his revolver in hand, ready for action, but not raising it, awaiting the outcome of my talk with the chief, who proved to be "Cutface Jack," chief of a wild band of Upper Rogue River Indians. Knowing enough of Indians to feel certain that they were lying in wait for a larger party than two persons, and having heard that a raid was contemplated by a company of white men to their country to rescue a white woman who was supposed to be held a prisoner among them, I immediately decided that the proper thing to do was to assume that it was that party, not us, they desired to intercept. I kept close watch of the chief as he proceeded to question me in turn, knowing it was of the utmost importance to understand every word he uttered, as well as to make him understand me, which was a task not easily performed, as neither of us were proficient linguists in the Chinook jargon. He asked who we were, what we wanted, and where we were going. I told him we were from the Willamette Valley, had come across the mountains the day before and had camped for the night a few miles back, giving him the exact spot, which I divined that he well knew, as I did not think that we could approach so near a party of hostile Indians without their knowledge. He was satisfied with my answers, and immediately came forward and gave me his hand to shake. He did not offer it to the Major, as he regarded me as chief, for I had done the talking. This was well, as the Major told me afterwards that he would have refused it, as he expected at any moment to have use for his right hand in handling his pistol. Upon a sign made by the chief, the warriors all disappeared into the bushes, and we passed on to the ferry without further molestation. My companion, irritated by the occurrence, proposed going back and taking a few shots at them, as he said, just to teach them better than to interfere with white men. When we arrived at the ferry, Thompson informed us that ''Cutface Jack" and his party were looking for a company of volunteers under Captain Lamerick, who a couple of days before had captured four of their party, and while holding them prisoners as hostages for the release of the supposed white woman, who was believed to be held a prisoner by their tribe, two of them in trying to escape in the night had been shot and killed, the other two escaping to the Indian camp with the news. "Cutface Jack" had rallied his band of warriors and was on the warpath, and he was trying to intercept Lamerick's party on their return from their trip up the river. Instead of this, he informed us, they had returned to Jacksonville by a more southerly route, and thus had eluded the ambush of "Cutface Jack" which we fell into. We arranged with Thompson to send a man with some trusty Indians back to move our camp to his ferry. As he had a squaw for a wife and was on good terms with the Indians we felt that the camp would be safe under his care. The next day was election day, Jacksonville polling a very large vote. I had cut and stacked a lot of hay and built a cabin across Bear Creek from Jacksonville, about 12 miles distant, in what was conceded to be exclusively Indian country, as no settlers had located across the creek in that vicinity. Lupton had gone on the plains to buy cattle from the immigrants, and after I had completed the preparations he desired me to make, I started on horseback for Marysville, on what was to me most important business, seeing the person who later became the partner of my life. On arriving at Patrick's ranch, some eight or nine miles north of Jacksonville, I found him gathering up his horses to start for the Willamette Valley, as he had just heard that Thomas Wills, a merchant of Jacksonville, had been killed by the Indians, and as he intended going soon after supplies, he thought it prudent to go at once. After feeding my horse and eating dinner, we started and made Rock Creek, then Dr. Rose's ranch, at night. Early the following morning we started on, and arriving at Grave Creek, found the people "forted up." They urged us to remain, saying that the Indians were uneasy and had done some stealing, and they feared trouble. We, however, were deaf to their entreaties, and moving rapidly on to the crossing of Cow Creek, some 10 miles distant, we found the cabin on the north side of the creek burned down and discovered parts of the bodies of two men still burning in the ashes. We pushed on up the creek about four miles and found the people "forted up" as at Grave Creek. We were again urged to stop and remain with them. Making camp and cooking a meal, we seriously considered the situation. Large numbers of Indians were on the hills to the left of our road, yelling and howling like demons, and loudly calling out and daring the whites to come up and fight them, generally talking Chinook, but some of them using broken English. We were but a short distance from Hardy Elliff's at the south end of the Canyon. Fearing the loss of his horses if we remained, Patrick was anxious to go on. I was equally, perhaps more, anxious than he. We started about sundown. I was mounted on a strong, spirited horse, and, taking the bell from the bell mare, put it on him, and started ahead. Patrick, mounting his fastest horse, brought up the rear. On seeing us start the Indians started in the same direction we were going, expecting, no doubt, that they would be able to head us off by the time we reached the divide in the Canyon, which was about three miles distant from the south end. Many of the Indians were on foot, some were mounted on ponies, but we were confident that we could beat them to the divide, as our path was free from brush and good, while theirs was through the brush. We made as fast time as good, strong horses could carry us, the loose horses following closely after the bell. On reaching the summit we felt sure that we had beaten them, but, as it was dark in the timber, were not certain. Going down the steep and tortuous trail to the bed of the creek, in which now lay our way, we followed it for two miles. It was walled in by perpendicular bluffs on both sides. The ride was a rough one, as the creek was filled with boulders, many of them of considerable size. I called out to Patrick, and he answered, "All right" At this moment the Indians had arrived at the summit and set up a hair-lifting yell of rage and disappointment. We lost no time, but pushed on at full speed and emerged from the creek. The road there crosses it 68 times, the crossings being usually made on a walk, but we slackened not our pace, and came out at the north end of the Canyon (Canyonville) and warned the settlers, who until now knew nothing of the outbreak. They hastily "forted up" and put out a strong guard up the Canyon. Shortly after reaching Marysville, the news came of a general outbreak. The first man through after us brought news of the killing of John R. Hardin, Dr. Rose and others. Hardin and Rose we knew well, and had seen them just before, having said goodbye to Hardin at Patrick's ranch, and having stopped with Rose our first night out. Before reaching Roseburg, I met James Kyle, a partner of Wills, with his pack train of goods from Scottsburg. Learning of his partner's death, he at once gave orders to his train men where to camp with the train and remain until further orders. He immediately started for Jacksonville, but was shot and killed by an Indian in ambush on Rogue River, about 20 miles before reaching his destination. I borrowed a good rifle of B. R. Biddle, and, having supplied myself with ammunition, retraced my steps toward the scene of hostilities, packing one horse lightly and riding another. On arriving at Myrtle Creek, three or four well-armed young men accompanied me. We arrived at Grave Creek the first night the news that an armistice with the Indians had been made reached there. The next day I went on to headquarters at Thompson's Ferry and reported to General Lane, who at the time of my arrival was lying down with his arm in a sling, having received a wound in his right shoulder during the battle at Evans Creek with Indians. As there were rumors among the volunteers that some of them were not standing by the armistice they had agreed to with the Indians, General Lane requested me to go among the camps and see what I could learn. Many new companies had arrived since the battle of Evans Creek, and they, having had no part in it, were "spoiling for a fight" and chaffed those who were in the fight for agreeing to an armistice, and declaring they would not abide by the agreement. This sentiment seemed to predominate. I reported to General Lane the information I had gathered. He called the volunteers together and gave them a strong talk, couched in the plainest English. He told them that the armistice had been agreed to on the part of the volunteers by their united vote, distinctly stating that he had exercised no influence in bringing about the decision, but that he would see that it was carried out in good faith, and that if others deserted him, he knew that his own Douglas County company, and the regulars--Captain A. J. Smith with his dragoons----would stand by him, and that all honest men among all the companies would be found arrayed on his side. There never was a mutinous set of soldiers so completely silenced and squelched. The sight of that gray-haired commander, with one arm in a sling, still painful from the wound of a bullet, with courage not only sufficient to fight a savage foe but also sufficient to meet boldly and resolutely an attempt to sully the character of his own command, was an inspiring spectacle. Supposing that my cabin and haystacks were burned, and the hogs that were left there to feed upon the Indian camas had been killed or run off, as there had been destruction of property all over the valley, I was greatly surprised on being accosted by the little chief near my camp, who informed me that I would find everything safe. Thereupon I rode on to the camp, a distance of about eight miles, and found the Indian's information was correct. I returned to headquarters, and, as there were grave doubts whether or not a treaty would be made with the Indians, I asked General Lane's advice. He told me to move the stock. I thereupon did so. A treaty was made and peace prevailed until 1855, when a general outbreak occurred. . . . [After the signing of the Table Rock Treaty] Lupton came in from the plains with a lot of stock and was surprised to find even the arrangements at the camp were not disturbed. Half a dozen pack covers, half a dozen lash ropes, a hatchet and some nails were taken, but were brought back by order of little Chief John. When locating on the place I made a treaty with this Indian, paying him for the use of the land from which to cut hay and for the stock to range, naming specifically that the hogs were to have right to camas and acorns. The hay was hauled to Jacksonville the following summer and sold; as the winter was mild and it was not needed for the stock. Lupton later became sole owner of this property, and, after living there two years, was killed by the Indians in a battle at the mouth of Butte Creek. He was leading a company of volunteers, and while charging in the brush was pierced through the body by an arrow from an Indian bow. The Indian was lying on his back and sprang his bow with his feet--a very effectual way, as great force can thus be given to the bow to speed the arrow. At the treaty the facts about the white woman were ascertained from the Indians, which were as follows: During a war between the Rogue River and Umpqua tribes the latter had captured some prisoners. Among them was a young squaw, whom the Umpquas sold to one Ben Allen, a white man, who was a courier riding between the Hudson Bay posts of Vancouver and Umpqua. He made her his wife, and took her to Vancouver. While making a trip through the Rogue River Valley with this squaw and her child she, finding herself in her native country, escaped to her people and remained with them, so that, instead of there being a white woman and half-breed child, the fact was that it was an Indian woman and a half-breed child, living among her own people. Several raids had been projected for the purpose of rescuing a white woman, held prisoner among the Indians, one of whom, it was said, compelled her to become his wife and slave. Much valorous talk had, from time to time, been indulged in by the young white braves. Many other myths were explained, and a better understanding was had between the red and white races. A true history of the difficulties would disclose the fact that most of them could have been avoided. The first knowledge Indians obtain of white men with whom they come in contact is not calculated to inspire them with much respect for, or confidence in, the white race. Better people, bringing families with them, came among them later, but the Indian judgment is made up, and it is hard to eradicate their first impressions. They change the statement that "all men are liars" by inserting the word white, but further acquaintance causes them to qualify this view, so as to admit that some white men tell the truth, and when they find such an one they trust him implicitly, and will take his word for any amount. In contrast with our management of Indians, instance the success of the Hudson Bay Company's management. George E. Cole, Early Oregon: Jottings of Personal Recollections of a Pioneer of 1850, 1905, pages 48-65 HISTORIC GROUND
One of the most beautiful places in Southern Oregon at which to enjoy a
summer outing, together with all its concomitants of fish and game, is
at the old salt works on Evans Creek, some twenty miles from this town.The Old "Salt Work" on Evans Creek in Jackson County. (Gold Hill News) Whereby, also, hangs a tale of the early days of Jackson County. It was in the early '60s that William Brown took up a claim thereon and commenced the manufacture of salt from the salt springs. This salt was made through the means of evaporation and was sold to the miners of Josephine and Jackson at prices that would even make a sugar magnate feel ashamed of himself. In 1863 John Sisemore purchased an interest in the property and the present road leading from Sams Valley through Ramsey Canyon was constructed and for several years, until the Indians had been "pacified" (by well-directed bullets or removal to reservations) the business of making salt was a good one. As soon as freighting could be done in safety, the expensiveness of the process and the low grade of the product eliminated this and other salt mines in Southern Oregon from the problem, so that now but a few pieces of the old kettles and vats can be found. Near here occurred on of the unrecorded battles of the Indian Wars of the '50s, when a company of volunteers and regulars jumped the Indians near Table Rock and followed them through to what is know as Battle Creek and there fought them to a standstill. Two soldiers were killed and they were buried in the field. Several years afterwards the relatives of one of them sent a metallic casket in which to encase and remove his remains. The two were buried side by side and there was no means of telling which was which, consequently the searchers hung the casket in a tree and came back for instructions which never came. The casket hung in the tree until a short time ago when a fire swept through the vicinity, burned the tree and destroyed what remained of the casket. The burial place of the two men has been protected, however, by [a] fence built of poles, which has been renewed from time to time as it became dilapidated, by the mountaineers of Southern Oregon who, being acquainted with the story, when in that vicinity make it a point to look up the place and see that the fence is kept up. Col. J. E. Ross was one of the leaders of the whites in this fight, which gave to name of Battle Creek to the stream emptying into Evans Creek at that place, and Battle Ridge to the ridge that runs upward toward the divide from there. Ashland Tidings, May 24, 1909, page 1 In the summer of 1853 the Rogue River Indians swept down upon the straggling settlements in Southern Oregon, murdering the inhabitants, burning homes and carrying away captives. There was a call for volunteers, and Father organized a company or detachment known as "Captain Lindsay Applegate's company of mounted volunteers." Brother Elisha was then twenty-one years of age, I was seventeen, and we both enlisted for the war. The tribe inhabiting the Rogue River Valley was small and has been estimated at eight hundred people; less than half were warriors. This tribe was divided into small bands or tribes under sub-chiefs. Chief John, as he was called by the whites, was head chief of all these tribes, their great war chief. A treaty was made with these Indians in September, 1853, at our encampment, which was between the upper Table Rock and Rogue River. After the treaty had been made Chief John and his son visited our camp. The son was about my age, only a boy. We had many interesting talks together, and I liked and admired the young chief. Jesse A. Applegate, Recollections of My Boyhood, Review Publishing, Roseburg, 1914, page 98 "When I used to go to school, 75 years ago," said Uncle Sammy Burch, when I visited him in his home at Rickreall, in Polk County, recently, "the geographies called all the country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains the 'Great American Desert.' When I was going to school I never expected to cross the 'Great American Desert,' let alone see it developed into a land of orchards, pastures and grain fields." Uncle Sammy Burch was 91 years old on January 13. He crossed the plains in 1847. "My father, Judge Burch, took up a claim on the Rickreall," he said to me. "In 1849, when I was 18, I went to the California gold fields. In 1851 I was mining in Yreka. I put in the summer of 1852 shoveling gravel into a sluice box on Jackson Creek, at Jacksonville, Oregon. In 1853 I went to the beach mines in Coos and Curry counties. I was with General Joe Lane when he was grounded late that summer. The Indians went on the warpath in August and burned the settlers' cabins from Cow Creek southward almost to Jacksonville. General Lane was in the Rogue River Valley at the time and was asked by the settlers to take charge of the volunteers and punish the Indians. Colonel John E. Ross of Jacksonville and Captain Alden, a regular army officer, with their men served under General Lane. "The Indians, led by Old Joe, Sam, John and Limpy, were burning cabins and killing settlers wherever they found them. We moved northward in pursuit and came on them in the Evans Creek country, toward the latter part of August. The Indians had built a log fort on the hillside. Our men charged. General Lane was shot through the arm, Captain Alden was wounded and Captain Pleasant Armstrong of Yamhill county was instantly killed by a bullet through the heart. When the Indians recognized General Joe Lane they called out to him to have his men stop firing and they would also stop, as they wanted to have a peace talk. General Lane ordered us to cease firing, and walked, alone, into the Indian camp, where he agreed with the Indians on an armistice for 10 days, after which a peace talk should be held at Table Rock. "General Lane sent for General Joel Palmer of Dayton, who was Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon. We camped near Table Rock, waiting for the conference to be held. While we were waiting George L. Curry, who was acting governor, sent reinforcements. Major Rains of Fort Vancouver furnished guns and ammunition and Captain J. W. Nesmith raised a force of volunteers in Salem to act as escort for the guns and ammunition. Captain Nesmith, with his volunteers and with a howitzer and the muskets and ammunition, reached our camp on September 8. Captain A. M. Smith of the regular army, with his soldiers, also joined our force on that day." Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, March 13, 1922, page 8 This account of the 1853 war is so generic (though accurate) that I suspect it's mostly Lockley's invention. Fred Lockley was not known for faithfully relaying his interviews. "I put in six years, from about 1852 to 1858, as scout, guide and in the Rogue River Indian war. Captain Alden was in command of Fort Jones, near Jacksonville. When the Indians broke out around Jacksonville and Ashland the settlers sent a petition to Governor Curry, at Salem, asking that guns and ammunition be sent. Lieutenant Kautz, with six soldiers and a party of 40 volunteers under the command of J. W. Nesmith as captain, J. E. Grover first lieutenant and W. K. Beale second lieutenant, started for Southern Oregon at once. About 200 volunteers were enrolled at Jacksonville, Ashland and other points in the Rogue River Valley. Captain Alden was in general command. Eighty of us came from Yreka. I was in Captain Goodall's company. On the 17th of August [in 1853] Lieutenant Ely of our Yreka company ran across the Indians on Evans Creek, about 16 miles from Table Rock. Sam, the Rogue River chief, attacked us and killed two men. After our men had retired the Indians surrounded them and killed four men and wounded four. Fortunately, Captain Goodall, with the rest of our company, came up and the Indians beat it. "General Joe Lane was at Roseburg. With Pleasant Armstrong and James Clugage he started at once for Table Rock. When our company had come to help the Oregon troops the army lieutenants had insisted that we enlist or we couldn't fight the Indians, so we enlisted. When General Joe Lane came he took charge of the fighting. We followed the Indians till we came near them, when General Lane had Captain Goodall with his Yreka company, of which I was a member, attack the Indians in front, while Lieutenant Blair was to attack them from [omission] but found they were well entrenched. Blair couldn't get at the Indians from the left. We had to get behind trees. Colonel Alden was badly wounded early in the fight. General Lane gave the order for us to charge. We started forward toward the Indians, General Lane leading us. I ran forward to be near him, but just as I got there he was shot high up in the arm, near his shoulder, and a bullet went through my sleeve without touching me. The Indians, particularly Joe and Limpy, called out to General Lane, asking him to stop fighting, and saying they didn't want to fight. They said they wanted to 'talk good.' The Indians said they wanted to see Joe Lane and have a 'peace talk.' General Lane had his shoulder bandaged and went to their camp and found a good many of the Indians killed or wounded. Chief Joe and his brothers, Sam and Jim, told General Lane that the Indians were sick of fighting. Pleasant Armstrong, who had come from Roseburg with General Lane, was killed, also several others, in this fight. General Lane arranged with the Indians to hold a council at Table Rock. Our company was discharged after serving 26 days. I was given a land warrant, which I later gave away." Ned Wicks, quoted by Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, November 30, 1926, page 10 Extracts from a Pioneer's Diary
Tells of Rogue Indian Uprising
The Arlington, Mass. Advocate,
of
July 19 last, published portions of the diary of Stephen P.
Blake,
depicting events of the pioneer in Jacksonville, the Applegate section,
and Northern California, which are well remembered by a number of local
pioneers.
The extracts are as follows: Aug. 8, 1853. Applegate Valley, 10 miles west of Jacksonville, Oregon. "Even though the Rogue River Indians were now definitely hostile, it was not certain that the Applegates were, but they were suspicious, evidently, that the whites would treat all Indians as being warlike. There was an old Indian here who had been with the whites for a long time and could speak English. He was called 'Old Grizzly.' He was tall, and as straight as a candle. His hair and his beard--which reached down on his breast--was nearly white. It was decided by the miners at Applegate Valley, notwithstanding some opposition from those who would vote to exterminate, to send 'Old Grizzly,' with the Committee of Four, to inform the Applegates that if they did not come back to their houses they would have to be considered as hostile, and, therefore, enemies. They were to go to them, where they could be found in the mountains, the next day. As it was not safe for any companion and me to go on alone to Jacksonville, we waited to go with a party the following day." Party Leaves Applegate for
Jacksonville
Aug. 9, 1853. "The next morn we started. There were 10 of us--mostly
well armed. We passed on the road dead horses which had been shot by
Indians. Arriving at Jacksonville, we found the town in a state of
alarm. The Indians had all gone to their strongholds in the
mountains--killing, burning and destroying as they went. Many settlers
live in this valley, some with their families. From 15 and 20 miles
away they came to Jacksonville for safety. Some had combined with
neighbors and had fortified their homes, driving palisades."Jacksonville, in the Rogue River Valley, has rolling hills, on the S.W. side, among and on which are rich 'diggings.' A trail from here to Crescent City makes easy communication from San Francisco, by schooners from C.C. There are nearly 1000 mules packing on the trails to C.C. and to Yreka. Volunteers and Troops Sent For
"An express rider was sent off to Yreka for volunteers, and another was
sent to Scott's Valley, to report to Col. Alden, commander of the U.S.
troops who were stationed there. One great trouble was the want of
firearms. There were not enough to arm one-third of the people, and as
it was the dry season, there were but few miners, who were always well
armed, about. Many who had been peacefully living at J. had sold their
arms to the very Indians who were now making war upon them. It was
known that the Indians had the best of rifles, and plenty of powder and
lead. At the time I arrived at J., the hostile Indians were camped some
ten miles north, near Table Rock--so called because of its peculiar
flatness on top. To all appearance it is level, with no timber on it.
It is said that there are but two trails to the top. Everywhere else
the sides are nearly perpendicular for several hundred feet in height.
It is, probably, two miles in length. There is a never-failing spring
on top. A small number there could hold a thousand at bay.Indian Chiefs Were Well Posted
"Their three great chiefs were called 'Sam, Jo and Jim,' as their
Indian names were hard to pronounce by white settlers. These were well
known by Jacksonville residents, as they had mingled freely with the
miners for a long time. They knew that the whites had but few arms, and
they vainly thought that they could rescue their valley from the
intruders. Had they realized how many children Uncle Sam had who could
be called to arms, a good many Indians would have lived who were to
fall by the rifle which was so deadly in the hands of the white man.
The Indians had gone into camp Aug. 8th--committing depredations on the
way.Indian Prisoners Hung
"We two wanted to go to Yreka, but it was not safe to go alone, so we
went to the Robinson House as boarders. There was a young man [probably Thomas J. Wills]
in the house who was wounded. He had a wife in the country. While on
horseback, he was shot in the small of the back, the ball going
completely through him. Three Indians were taken prisoners, shortly
afterward, and they were brought to Jacksonville, and hung without ceremony."A company of volunteers soon arrived from Yreka, and Col. Alden came from Scott's Valley with 9 men and 30 muskets--being all the arms left in camp. Two companies from the U.S. station had gone out to protect immigrants--one from attacks by the Modocs, and another to Port Orford on the coast, about 60 miles north of Crescent City. During the day, more volunteers were coming in. They formed into a company under Capt. G. [James P. Goodall] and mustered upwards of 80 men. Every horse or mule that could be found was taken. The Yreka men came mounted. All stock that could be driven in was corralled. During these few days while at J. I was a spectator, and unarmed. Attempt Treaty with Indians Fails
"The attempt to make a treaty with the Applegate Indians failed. They
had collected together in the mountains and were prepared to fight. A
small party of 22 men under Lieut. E. [Simeon Ely]
was sent out to watch their movements. A day or two after the party had
reached their vicinity, the whites were taken by surprise after they
had dismounted and were cooking their meal. They immediately rushed for
bushes and trees, but they had to retreat for quite a distance before
they could rally. 'Old Grizzly' was killed at the very first of the
firing, and several whites were wounded. They dispatched a messenger to
J. for assistance, as the Indians greatly overpowered the band in
numbers. For 3 hours they fought the Indians after their own manner,
from behind trees, when the noise of the firing brought a scouting
party to their assistance, and the Indians then retreated. The
messenger could not bring help in time, as the company had gone north,
towards Table Rock. The scouting party saved the whites, who reached
Jacksonville at about 3 o'clock in the morning."I saw the wounded brought in. One man [probably "Greasy John" Alban], with a ball in his hip, had the scalp of the Indian who shot him. I took the scalp and looked at it. I had never handled one before. Killing them is bad enough without the scalp." U.S. Troops Collecting at
Jacksonville, Ore.
Jacksonville, Ore., Aug. 11, 1853.
"Another party
now arrived from Yreka and from Humbug Creek, under command of Capt. R.
[Jacob Rhodes].
They went out to headquarters, near Table Rock. The Indians had
abandoned Table Rock, and had gone farther north. The town of
Jacksonville had now become pretty well waked up to a sense of its
danger, as well as to its folly in letting the Indians have their
rifles, powder and lead."Accounts of other skirmishes follow. The Indians were watchful and would attack any stray families fleeing for safety. The whites now sent appeals for aid to Gen. Joe Lane, at Portland, Oregon. [Lane was living in Douglas County.] Mr. Blake Takes Trip to Yreka,
Cal.
Aug. 13, 1853. "A party of 18 men started for Yreka. My companion and I
joined them, as Yreka was our objective point, for mining operations.
We depended mostly upon our number--20 of us--for protection, for not
over half of us were armed. Our road lay through the valley and over
rolling hills, wooded with oak, pine, ash, cedar and other trees. We
passed many deserted houses, many well-cultivated fields of ripe grain,
some partly harvested. All were deserted. After traveling 12 miles we
came to a house, situated well in the open, with no shrubs or trees
near, which was being fortified. Palisades were being driven, and some
seven or eight families comprised the party housed there.Fortified Houses; Eleven Indian
Prisoners
"Nine miles to the next fortified house. Again we passed large farms,
some of them of 80 acres, under cultivation. Everything was left to go
to ruins. Fences were knocked down, and the crops were being destroyed
by stray cattle. Fowl and hogs were about, with no one to take care of
them. Men used to a border life do not thus desert their property
except to save life. Life is more dear than property. We stopped a
while at this fortified house, and found that they had 11 Indian
prisoners there whom they were holding until they could take them to
Jacksonville. This house was not well located for warfare purposes, and
as there were too many bushes and trees near, behind which the foe
could be sheltered from view. In time of peace, however, it was a
beautiful place for a home. There was a wounded man [Patrick Dunn]
there who received a ball in his shoulder when the brush occurred in
which the 11 Indians were captured. I conversed for some time with an
old lady of the family who was bitter against the Indians, and who was
going to scalp the first one she could shoot. She little dreamed of the
tragedy soon to be enacted there! We went on four miles to the Mountain
House, at the foot of Siskiyou Mountain, where we spent the night. We
had traveled 25 miles that day, and they were Oregon miles.Over Siskiyou Mountain
"The next morning we started early, to get over the mtn. before the
heat of the day. The rise is gradual, at first, then up over some
rather steep benches, nearly level at their top, through thick forests
of pine and fir trees--the trail full of bear tracks. Many grouse were
about. In two places before reaching the top, the road is very steep,
and it requires no small amount of 'wind' to get up, without stopping
several times. On our right we saw a high peak, covered with snow, like
a tall watchtower,
to guard the scene, and it looked beautiful. From the top, to the
eastward, was a grand view, far as the eye could reach, as if the earth
were an enormous sea, and the dark mountain its waves. At the foot of
the mountain, on the southeast, we came to a house where there was a
cool spring of water. Further on, in open country, we reached a house
where lived a man with his family. Two young deer here had become so
tame that they would eat out of the hand of the 18-yr.-old daughter of
the family. After crossing the Klamath River at the ferry, we 'came to'
for the night.Whites Live on Deer, Formerly
Indians' Food
"At this house, the folks seemed to live on deer altogether. They used
their skins for clothes, beds, coverings for saddles, and many other
things. I saw piles of them in and about the house. Before the white
men came, these deer were the mainstay of the Indians. After that, the
Indians would bring salmon from the rivers and exchange for beads, etc.
Since the trouble with the Rogue River Indians began, many Indians in
this vicinity had left, even though they were well acquainted,
personally, with most of the whites. The whites, on this S.E. side of
the Siskiyous, had not deserted their homes, although there were
Indians living on Cottonwood Creek and on the Klamath River. It was the
Rogue River Indians they were afraid of.An Indian Spares an Unarmed White
Man
"One man told me that as he was riding along the road, he met an Indian
whom he knew well, and the latter immediately cocked his rifle. The man
prepared to dismount, to talk the better with the Indian, when he was
told to go his way, but that if he put his foot on the ground he would
shoot him. He was very much surprised, for he was unarmed himself, and
he had befriended the Indian many times at his home. The Indian told
him that war was
on between the whites and the Rogue River Indians, and that white men
would kill any Indian,
and that he spared him only because he was unarmed. Quite a fair mental
attitude for an Indian!"Medford Mail Tribune, August 4, 1929, page 10 This must be a memoir derived from a diary. KMED BROADCAST REVIEWS PIONEER
TIMES IN J'VILLE
"The Good Old Days of 1852," when flour sold in Jacksonville for one
dollar a pound, tobacco for one dollar an ounce and salt was priceless,
was interestingly described in one of the recent KMED broadcasts being
brought to listeners every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon
through the courtesy of the merchants of the historic little town.The exorbitant prices described in the story by Joe Wetterer were in effect during the winter of that year when the town was snowbound, and a few of the enterprising merchants crossed the Siskiyous on snow shoes to get supplies. Wild game, however, was plentiful, and many of the miners lived for months on a meat diet. In the year 1853, according to the radio story, a judicial tribunal took the place of the people's court. Disputes rose over water rights to mining ground and to property in general. A mass meeting was called on Jackson Creek and a man by the name of Rogers was appointed alcalde, or judge, with unlimited power. A case in which two miners fell into dispute over a jointly owned mining claim, one denying the other his partner's rights proved his undoing. He decided in favor of the plaintiff. The miner who lost his interests went through the camps explaining the injustice done him. A meeting was called with 1000 people in attendance, most of them miners, and a "superior alcalde" adopted. U. S. Hayden, a highly educated miner, was elected chief justice. He in turn appointed a bailiff, and a jury was drawn. P. P. Prim appeared for the appellant and Orange Jacobs for the respondent. The "pardner" was reinstated. Prim was later elected to the circuit court, which position he held for 8 years, and then became Chief Justice of Oregon. Jacobs went to Washington and was later a delegate to Congress. The manner in which Indians of the vicinity obtained guns and ammunition from the whites was one of the interesting highlights of the radio story. A few of the guns were stolen, others were sold by merchants, and others were traded to the Indians by the miners for a squaw. A number of the squaws ran away and returned to their former red men husbands, who, upon being sought out by the white owner would only re-surrender the squaws upon receiving another gun. Ammunition was made--often from the scraps of lead and tin foil dug by by the Indians from the rubbish heaps of the white settlers. The red men in possession of weapons to compete with the white men began trying their wings by attacking the various settlements. Their first act in 1853 was to kill a farmer on Bear Creek near Phoenix. Two days later an Indian named Thompson was turned over by the Chief at Table Rock to the whites. He was tried before the court, convicted and hanged two days later. Three or four murders followed then, and the whites armed themselves as heavily as possible and stood guard. Miners on the Applegate, Sterling, Foots Creek all came into Jacksonville for protection. A military company was formed in that city, Armstrong appointed captain; J. F. Miller, lieutenant and Charles Drew, quartermaster. Six companies of volunteers were raised and one in the command of Captain Fowler was left to protect Jacksonville. Each man furnished his own horse and equipment. B. F. Dowell had charge of the transportation. Capt. Alden of the military post at Fort Jones who came with the volunteers and regulars. There were no uniforms, but every member of the six companies organized was "an Indian fighter." A band of 300 Indians selected a strong position at Table Rock. In the meantime the whites were sending out detachments to locate the red men and the latter having made bold assertions that they would keep up their attacks until every white man was out of the country. The first engagement was under the command of Captain Miller on Applegate near Williams Creek where an Indian band was followed and where they ambushed the whites who lost two men. They fought there an hour with five Indians killed. The whites were finally forced to retreat, leaving the field to the Indians, the latter outnumbering the former two to one. During August of that year two miners on their way from Willow Springs to Jacksonville were killed and robbed. A messenger was dispatched north asking for help. General Lane heard the news, raised an army of 50 volunteers and proceeded on to Camp Stewart where he found Captain Alden with his regulars and volunteer troop. The command of the troops was offered to Lane, who accepted it and laid out an active campaign. The first attack under Lane took place on Evans Creek, where the Indians were taken unawares. Captain Alden was wounded in this battle, rescued from the Indians who exerted every effort to capture him and moved to the rear while General Lane ordered an advance upon the red men. Upon becoming aware of the presence of General Lane the Indians cried for peace, and the white officer, his coat disguising a wounded arm, walked among the red men. Following this, the two "chiefs" took their troops to the top of Table Rock where a peace parley was held. The Indians handed over their guns to the whites. The peace pipe was smoked. The troops starting for home went into camp at Bybee Ferry, calling it Camp Alden in honor of Major Alden. Medford Mail Tribune, January
5, 1930, page 5 Joseph
E. Wetterer was born in 1875, twenty years and more after these events.
Despite many minor inaccuracies, this oral history is a
remarkable
piece of reportage.
". . . on August 4, 1853--Richard Edwards, who lived five miles from
Jacksonville, was killed by Indians. The next day a public meeting was
held at the Robinson hotel in Jacksonville and a company of volunteers
was formed to punish the Indians. On the day following the killing of
Edwards, Burrel B. Griffin and a man named Davis were both attacked by
the Indians, Mr. Griffin having shot through the shoulder with an arrow
and Mr. Davis in the thigh.
"That same night Thomas J. Wills, a Jacksonville merchant, was shot and killed. The following day Rhodes Nolan was killed as he entered his cabin on Jackson Creek. The citizens in scouting around the outskirts of Jacksonville found an Indian chief, and he was at once hung from the limb of an oak tree. During the day three other Indians were captured and hung. The citizens were very much excited and didn't take time to find out if the Indians captured were guilty. They were guilty of being Indians, and that was enough. "Within a few days, six companies of volunteers were raised, commanded by J. K. Lamerick, John F. Miller, R. L. Williams, E. A. Owens and W. W. Fowler. "S. Ettinger, I. B. Nichols and James Clugage started for Salem and reached the home of General Joseph Lane at 1 o'clock in the morning of August 17, and told him that the Indians were on the warpath. General Lane had just been elected to Congress and was preparing to leave for Washington, but instead he started for the Rogue River Valley, gathering volunteers as he went southward. Meanwhile, Lieutenant B. B. Griffin of Company A and Captain J. F. Miller, with 25 men, had some time prior to this time attacked Chief Elijah, who with his people was camped on Sterling Creek. "The next day they met the Indians under Chief John and in the ensuing skirmish Francis Garnett was killed and Lieutenant B. B. Griffin was shot through the leg. Two of Lieutenant Griffin's sons, William and Joseph, had volunteered for service against the Indians and took part in a number of skirmishes, serving until the hostilities were over." John B. Griffin, quoted by Fred Lockley of the Oregon Journal, Medford Mail Tribune, December 16, 1930, page 8 The late Maj. James Bruce of Corvallis, who was born in Indiana in 1827, went in his late teens to Texas. At Cross Timbers he enlisted in Maj. Johnson's troop of Rangers. Not long after he became a Ranger they were sent out to wipe out a band of 300 hostile Indians. For two years he saw a lot of similar service. In 1850 he crossed the plains by ox team. He mined at Scotts Bar, with W. L. Wade, later owner of the Brick Store, in North Salem. He bought cattle in the Willamette Valley and drove them to the gold diggings, selling them for 50 cents a pound on the hoof. In 1852 he was one of a group of miners to establish Crescent City, Cal. He packed to Port Orford, Or. In 1853 he enlisted in Capt. Goodall's company in the Indian war of that year. General Joseph Lane, Oregon's first territorial governor, was in charge of volunteers. The chief of the hostiles, Chief Joseph, refused to come in for a council, so Governor Lane asked James Bruce and R. B. Metcalfe to locate the hostiles and try to persuade their chief to come to Lane's headquarters for a council. A three-day scout resulted in locating the Indians, in a natural fortress. They spotted Chief Joseph's tent and started for it. A group of young braves ran toward them, determined to get their scalps As the young warriors dashed onward a young Indian in his middle teens ran toward Bruce, shouting to the Indians, "Don't kill the white man. He saved my life. Don't kill him." Hearing the outcry, Chief Joseph came from his tent, and the Indian boy, pointing to Bruce, said: "He hired me to ride the bell mare of his pack train. In Jacksonville, the bad white men were going to kill me, because I was an Indian. They were going to kill all the Indian bell boys in Jacksonville, and he talked to them and said if they did, the Indians would go on the warpath and kill the white ranchers and packers; so they didn't kill the Indian bell boys. He called me Sambo, and he is my friend." Chief Joseph promised to go to see General Lane, and did so at the council of Table Rock. Peace resulted from this council, but the aggressions of the bad whites resulted in the war of 1855-56. In 1854 Bruce took a contract to furnish wild hay for the cavalry horses at Fort Lane, and he gave Chief Joseph a saddle horse in exchange for his protection while cutting wild hay in Sams Valley. "Fred Lockley's Impressions," Oregon Journal, Portland, April 1, 1945, page 20 Writing from Yreka, Calif., October 18, to the adjutant general, Colonel Alden reported in part: "I regret that I have suffered so much from debility, consequent upon my wound, that I have been unable to make a detailed report of my participation in the late military operations. As some official communication from me may be of importance in showing the necessity of furnishing more regular troops of the defense of this frontier, and also to prove the necessity of the call I made upon the volunteers, I made an effort today to communicate a brief statement. "On August 7 last I received at my post, Fort Jones, Calif., a petition from principal citizens of Jacksonville, Ore., representing that the settlers were threatened by a combination of several tribes. They earnestly requested me to furnish them with all the men and arms at my disposal for their defense. "Of the 22 men of my company present, 11 were on sick report and unable to march. I packed 25 muskets, 5 carbines and 600 rounds of ammunition on mules and with all my disposal force, amounting to 11 men, marched for the scene. Passing through Yreka I enrolled 80 volunteers. I enrolled two companies of volunteers at Jacksonville and on the 11th instant mustered the companies at Camp Stuart, seven miles from town. A company of 20 independent volunteers joined me there, making the whole force, including my own men, about 200. "I learned that the Rogue River Indians had taken a strong position near Table Rock, about 10 miles distant from Camp Stuart. Their force was estimated at 250 warriors. I planned to attack them that night when suddenly a man rode into camp at full speed, announcing in the hearing of all the troops that the Indians had appeared in force in the valley, killed two white men and burned a house and several haystacks and that families in the north of the valley were in imminent danger of massacre. "At this announcement, 20 men of the independent volunteers darted off on horseback in the direction of the burning house, light of which was distinctly visible at the camp. I was compelled to suspend the attack and permit the companies raised in the valley to mount and hasten to the defense of the houses and homes. This disconnected the movement and it was not until the 16th instant that I had force enough present to organize another plan of attack." Colonel Alden busied himself with organizing his supplies and believing the valley would be endangered if he continued to carry the burden of the details of all subordinate departments, "did not hesitate to request General Lane to relieve me from the command of the volunteers. On August 20 General Lane assumed the command and on the 22nd marched in pursuit of the Indians." Colonel Alden added that he hoped to be able by next mail to forward a report in detail, including two skirmishes of Lieut. Griffin's scouting party with a large body of Applegate Indians, the scattering of the troops from the 11th to the 16th, the gallant defense of Lieut. Ely's scouting party of 25 men against a band of 100 Indians, and the prompt movement of Captain Goodall with his company of volunteers preceded by a small detachment led by J. D. Cosby and Elijah Heard to the rescue of Lieut. Ely. "Colonel Alden in Report on Rogue Valley Fighting Urges Larger Force," Medford Mail Tribune, September 4, 1947, page 6
On the morn of the
27th of August, two companies under command of General Lane and Col.
Alden, with experienced scouts and guides, were used in all the arts
and
tricks of Indian warfare. They were on the trail of the Indians when at
the top of the high divide they heard a gun fired in the ravine below
them. I do not give this from any account published but from a
particular friend of mine that was there.
Of course, they knew it indicated the presence of Indians, although just out of sight and gunshot. The command was given to dismount. A party was left to guard the horses. They then commenced to descend in two lines so as to surround the Indians. They didn't know where the Indians were, that is, their camp. They had reason to think it was in that ravine. The gun might have been fired in camp by some one of them out hunting. They had not descended far when all doubt was at an end, for they could hear children playing and laughing. There, of course, was the camp, and for that reason they proceeded with all caution. The side of the mountain was steep with no trail and it was difficult to go down without making more or less noise. It was a good place for a camp. A place that could not be surrounded by an enemy while they were awake and in daytime too. The Indians were not surrounded this time but they were completely surprised. They had no idea that the white man would ever follow them there. It was not possible to get up to their camp and take them alive. Might as well attempt to pop it like a hornet's nest and not be stung. The Indians were aware of the whites coming and also that they could get a company of men on the opposite side to surround the camp. They were so surprised that they gave up all idea of retreat. This camp was arranged so they could eat, sleep and fight in it. A small stream of water ran through it and the bushes were very thick around it. On being surprised with the whites coming, a long chilling cry brought them all together. This probably they heard from the chief and then took to the bushes and trees and the most commanding positions. They fired the first gun, but the whites drew the first blood. They killed several of the Indians before they could get their positions. The Chiefs Sam and Jim were there. They kept up a-yelling most of the time, more especially when they saw a white man fall. The chief had a powerful voice. He sat somewhere in a thicket concealed, yet he was where he could see and know all that passed and kept up a constant communication with his men. He told them to stand their ground, not to retreat, for they were surrounded and to retreat would mean death. The white men were behind every tree. General Lane ordered Captain Rhodes to "charge that thicket" and drive those devils out. Captain Rhodes found he had but 13 men with him; the rest were extended down the creek. A small creek ran down in the ravine. To keep the Indians from outflanking them, he told the General he had but 13 men, but if you say "charge," we do so. General Lane told him not to attempt it with so few men. The chief was in that thicket and no doubt the main body of the warriors were with him. He was heard to tell the men about him not to fire until the white man made a charge and had they done so with 13 men, not a soul of them would have escaped. It was regular Indian fighting from behind trees, logs and bushes. The Indians were far more numerous than the whites and determined if need be to die where they were. Those in the bushes the whites could not see, and they were continually firing at the whites whenever they showed themselves. Yet on the other hand an Indian could not show an arm or leg or his head, but he would receive a ball in it instantly. The 13 of Captain Rhodes' company were stationed on a small point where there was a small bend. They were behind trees and logs and most of the time entertained [restrained?] their fire expecting that if the Indians attempted to force a passage out, that would be the place. At times when one of them got a good shot, he did not fail to improve it. My friend was there and when the orders were given to charge, he pulled off his boots and threw them away. They had become slippery and he could not go down the hill with them on. Another of the party saw an Indian nearby who stuck his head from behind a tree. "There is one of the red devils," said he, and he jumped out from his tree to get a good shot, but the Indian had his rifle already up and it was not "who shoots best but who shoots first." He popped the first shot and hit the white man in his left arm. No doubt had he got the first shot he would have killed the Indian. Very often during the fight, Sam's wife who was nearby him made herself heard by all present. She told the Indians to stand their ground, for the whites were determined to kill them off. "Take good aim," she said, "and fight for your wives and children, don't throw away any lead. The white men are not your friends, they have never been your friends, kill them all." In this manner her voice was often heard cheering them on. There were probably 50 shots fired into the thicket where Sam's voice was heard, but none hit him. For three hours the fire was kept up. There were about 70 men there and it was thought the firing would bring up Captain Miller's company, when General Lane attempted to surround them and drive them from their hiding places at all hazards. It was getting long after midday, with clear warm weather, and the men were exposed to the heat without being able to get a drop of water, while the Indian women were all the time carrying water to their warriors. Two of them lost their lives by exposing themselves too much, for nothing alive showed itself without being instantly shot at. After the three hours of fighting the Indians, thinking they were in a "tight place" and seeing the whites were determined to keep them there until they could get their other company up and when there would be no help for them, they ceased fire by orders of Sam, and called for a parley. It was some time before the whites stopped firing. When they did the interpreters asked Sam what he wanted. He said he wanted to talk. The General took an interpreter and went into the bush where the Indians were. He had received a ball through the arm near the shoulder an hour or more before. Sam proposed to make a treaty. He did not want to fight and if the white man were disposed to a treaty, they would meet at Table Rock within seven days. It was agreed that hostility should cease for the present while each party attended to their wounded and buried their dead. In a few minutes they were mixed together, all who had been trying to kill each other. Many of the Indians that Sam called his "wild ones" did not show themselves from their hiding places. The women brought water and gave it to the General and all the men who were very thirsty. The white men had lost but 3 killed and 5 wounded. Both the General and the Colonel [Alden] were wounded, the latter severely. The ball struck in a line on the right side of his neck, below the collar bone and went through him. There were eight dead Indians and 15 or 20 wounded, most of the mortally wounded being in the lead. Some that were present thought that they lost many more, that the whites did not see all of their dead and wounded; however, the number I stated were seen. So after the firing ceased, Captain Miller's company came up. If they had arrived hours sooner, it would have altered the case materially, but it was too late then. The General had given his word that hostilities should cease until the end of the seventh day. Then if they did not agree, it should be war to the death. The Indians brought the wounded [whites] many miles on litters until they could be put on litters carried by mules. The dead were buried there. The company came back and camped on Rogue River about 10 miles from Jacksonville. Most of the men were dissatisfied with the arrangements. They had followed the Indians through the plain and over the mountains night and day; had surprised them, entrapped them and therefore they wanted to carry it on to the last. Some five or six Indians went with the whites to their camp. While we were in Jacksonville, the wounded were brought in. Elizabeth Hurst Ellwood, The Life of Captain Stephen Palmer Blake from his Journals, Genealogy Publishing Service 1995, pages 324-327 Last revised October 22, 2024 |
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