Copyright 2000 - 2003 - Janine M. Bork
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Union County, OR AGHP
CHAPTER XLII.
(1850 - 1851.)
Gold in Southern Oregon - Ambushed by Savages - General Phil Kearney - The Settlers' Appeal - Gallantly Answered - The Military Worsted - Heroic Conduct - Death of Captain Stewart - Reinforcements by Volunteers - General Jo Lane at the Front - The Indians Beaten - A Bad Appointment.
DURING the winter of 1850, the mines on Scott river and Yreka, just south of the Siskiyou Mountains, were discovered, and, proving very rich, attracted a large number of miners. In the spring of 1851, after the water had failed on the Yreka flat, the miners started north, in search of new placers. One party of thirty men, under the leadership of Hardy Elliff, now a resident of Douglas county, crossed the mountains by the way of the old Oregon and California trail into the Rogue river valley, followed it down to the present site of Jacksonville, thence south by Sterling and Little Applegate creeks and across the mountains to the Klamath river. After going down the river a short distance, they recrossed the mountains and reached the head of Illinois river, upon which and its tributaries very rich placer mines were discovered; and a large influx of miners followed. Thus the settlement of Josephine county preceded that of Jackson by nearly a year.
In the spring and summer of 1851, three ferries were established on Rogue river to accommodate the increased travel to and from the Willamette valley and California. These were all, or nearly all, on the line of the Applegate road. The names of the daring adventurers who risked their lives in the business were Davis Evans, Charles Perkins and the Jewett brothers. The ferry stations were the only houses or cabins between the Umpqua valley and Yreka.
Early in 1851, I.B. Nichols, who left Iowa for Oregon with the immigration of 1847, but followed the party going down the Humboldt river to california, was engaged in packing from the new seaport of Scottsburg to the Yreka mines. On entering Rogue river valley, he was informed that the Indians, in violation of their treaty with Governor Lane, were openly hostile. He camped with his train at Willow Springs, but a few miles south of Rogue river, taking every precaution against surprise. The subsequent events, as related by Mr. Nichols himself, are as follows:
"Just at daybreak, June 2, 1851, A.B. Jenkins went to the spring near the willows for waters, and was ambushed by the Indians. He was seated dipping water when he was fired upon. His coat was nearly torn off him by buckshot; but only oe hit him in the heel. He ran out of sight; and the Indians, seeing me coming to his rescue, began firing at me. The other men of the party, who were in bed when the firing commenced, hastily rushed to the rescue with their guns. The savages, who were too cowardly to fight in open ground, although there were only six of us, took refuge in the willows, from which we were unable to dislodge them, on account of the density of the thicket. Seeing
two of the Indians mount their horses and ride towards Rogue river, evidently for reinforcements, our party mounted our saddle horses and hastened to Perkins' ferry for assistance. Having secured an addition to our party, we returned to our camp, to find that the Indians had destroyed the outfit, taken all the cargo, and driven off all of the train but four mules." Mr. Nichols went on to Yreka with the pack of Ball & Jacobs, where he purchased a new outfit, and returned to the Willamette for another cargo. On the 3d of June, a party of thirty-two Oregonians, under Dr. James McBride, returning from California, were attacked near Willow Springs. The Indians were repulsed with a loss of seven killed, the Whites having one man wounded in the thigh, and losing four saddle and pack animals, one of them having a pack containing fifteen hundred dollars in gold dust.
In May, 1851, the late General Phil Kearney, then a Brevet Major of the First Dragoons, left Fort Vancouver overland for Benicia barracks in California, with a squadron of that regiment. Upon his arrival at the Umpqua cañon, he was met by a deputation of settlers, miners and packers, who presented him a petition, of which we give a copy, as it contains not only a full statement of the condition of affairs at that time, but a list of all the white men then in that section of the country:
"UMPQUA COUNTY, O.T., 11th June, 1851.
"TO MAJOR KEARNEY, Commanding Detachment U.S. Army,
"Sir: The undersigned, citizens of the United States and residents of Oregon, beg leave respectfully to inform you that the savages in this vicinity and along the southern frontier of this territory are now in a state of actual hostility to the white inhabitants.
"They have recently attacked and robbed several parties, and murdered a number of citizens pursuing their peaceful avocations. Those engaged in mining operations have, by the determined hostility of the natives, been forced to embody themselves in large parties and maintain a military organization for their common safety, which draws heavily on the time of each individual, and greatly diminishes the profits of labor. Besides which, many persons who have formed settlements for agricultural and commercial purposes have been forced to abandon their homes and flee to a place of safety. All of these facts we are, if desired, able to establish by the most positive evidence.
"We will further state that if you consider the case one justifying you in attempting the fortification and safety of the southern frontier, we pledge ourselves, so long as you may be detained in the performance of this, to us, highly important service, to supply your troops with ammunition and subsistence at prices as low to the government as such articles can be obtained and transported to the seat of your operations.
'Earnestly soliciting a reply, we remain, with the highest respects,
"Your most obedient servants,
"Joseph Knott, W. Patterson, Wm. Harris, A.B. Florence,
Wesley Carroll, John W. Lancaster, J.C. Gouldin, H.P. McGee, W.H. Bolander,
D. Evans, Philander Gilbert, M.M. Foote, Samuel Hoffman, George B. Cullen,
Franklin Kittredge, Daniel Grewell, J.D. Jewett, Jack Powell, Geo. C. Brown,
William Judd, James F. Gazley, W.D. Eakin, Albert H. Hakes, Sam'l McCullum,
David Avery, Charles Perkins, Hearon Noble, Wm. T. Patton, John Sweet,
Samuel Neil, David White, James Williams, N.P. Newton, David G. Boyd, Thomas
N. Aubrey, J.M. Jesse, Gilbert Reynolds, Waldo Jewett, Sewell Johnson,
Edward Griffin, R. Ferrel, John Dickens, John Fullerton, J.W. Corkins,
A. Tyrell, Wm.
Burget, Reuben F. Burget, David Powell, Geo. T. Easterbrook, Leonard J. Powell, James G. McLealner, J.M. Stewart, C.G. Belknap, G.W. Bethards, H.A. Belknap, M.G. St. John, Reuben Dickens, Joseph A. Watt, R.S. Jewett, Wm. Densmore, Wm. N. Wells, Jesse Jawley, Chisholm Griffith, Allen Nixon."
Major Kearney, who was too gallant a soldier to resist such an appeal, immediately undertook to protect the settlers. It is impossible to describe his subsequent campaign more tersely than he has done in his reports to the adjutant-general at Washington, of which the following are copies:
"Hdqrs. Detachment First Dragoons,
"Camp on Branch of Rogue river, June 19, 1851.
"THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U.S. ARMY,
"Sir: I have the honor to report in detail that I left Columbia Barracks, Vancouver, on the 29th ultimo, pursuant to instructions from division headquarters, with the squadron of First Dragoons, late transferred from the Mounted rifles, en route for California.
"The first part of our march was the ordinary routine, passing through a thinly settled, but uncommonly fertile and beautiful country. On nearing the extreme settlements, rumors of Indian hostilities met us. At Knotts, at the entrance of the Umpqua cañon, the truth of these was confirmed beyond a doubt; and I was waited on by a deputation of citizens with a petition requesting the protection of my command.
"A post is required in this vicinity more than at any other point in Oregon. This point is the key to the road to California, and is the best entrance for emigrants to Oregon; and the Rogue river Indians are proverbially the tribe of all others to be dreaded as fierce and treacherous in the extreme. At this moment, not only is the 'road' infested by them, but all the settlements throughout the Umpqua are in danger.
"As, under my orders, it was not in my power to delay more than a limited period, I deemed it advisable to surprise these Indians, if possible. Consequently, having detached my train under Lieutenant Irvine, by the regular road, with as strong a force as I could spare, guided by Messrs. Jesse Applegate and Levi Scott, I penetrated by a new route, placing myself in rear of the presumed situation of the Rogue river villages; and thus I hoped, with even the limited force of sixty-seven men, to break them up before they could combine or disperse. We left Knotts on the 14th instant, following up the South Umpqua, crossed the Divide on the 16th, and reached the Rogue river on the following day.
"Our difficulty was the uncertainty of the distance to, and the situation of, the villages. They were supposed to be from five to ten miles off. My plan was rapidly to sweep both sides of the river; but it was found for miles unfordable and dangerous in swimming from the swiftness of the current and nature of the banks.
"We pushed on at a trot on discovering
a fresh trail; but signals and cries soon convinced us that we had been
discovered and our movements watched. The column took the gallop, trusting
to anticipate the Indian scouts, Captain Walker leading the orders to seize
cañons or passes when he could, and Captain Stewart following in
supporting distance, but destined under my command to act on the right
bank, the provisions and baggage following with a small guard.
"A party of Indians being observed in a hammock, Captain Walker dismounted and cleared it, the Indians escaping by the river. Captain Stewart was ordered to cover this movement. Shortly after this period, Captain Walker most gallantly pushed across the river in defiance of all obstacles, and some Indians opposite, fortunately without accident. I then overtook and joined Captain Steart's half squadron just in time to see it, in a brisk skirmish, charge and destroy a party of the enemy, who fought desperately, - a charge brilliant in itself, but costly to us, as it resulted in the death of its most distinguished leader who feel mortally wounded whilst leading his men. Two others were badly wounded. The train had now to be waited for, and the camp of the wounded established.
"This occasioned a delay of some three-quarters of an hour, and left me but seventeen disposable men, with whom, accompanied by Lieutenant Williamson of the Topographical Engineers, whom I assigned to line duty, I pushed n again rapidly, hoping at least to make a diversion for Captain Walker. After passing on some miles, a smoke at a distance, which proved to be a signal fire, led me to suppose that Captain Walker had destroyed some villages.
"I consequently disposed my men so as to intercept the fugitives. this brought me unexpectedly on a powerful war party of two hundred and fifty or three hundred Indians. Fortunately, an isolated clump of trees gave me a strong position and concealed my numbers. I maintained this position as long as I dared, without being cut off from my camp and retired without loss.
"The next day, fearing for Lieutenant Irvine's and Captain Walker's detachments, especially from our previous ignorance of a strong war party, and greatly hampered by hospital litters, I crossed to the left bank to avoid an action amidst the ravines and passes.
"The 19th June, Captain Walker and Lieutenant Irvine joined me, from a camp at the foot of the Siskiyou Mountains. I inclose Captain Walker's report of his movements.
"My position is such as to leave the enemy in doubt as to my future moves; and they are likely to remain deceived. In the meanwhile, I have sent Messrs. Applegate and Scott, with an address to the citizens in the several adjoining mining districts, calling on them to turn out in force, in which case our dragoons will do their duty in the main attack; and the volunteer companies will cut the Indians off from their villages, or pursue them to the mountains. I trust in this manner to afford relief from the Indian attacks until a post can be permanently established, which I now recommend as necessary. The post would in a short time be of little expense, as the Rogue river bottoms are very fertile.
"In detailing those operations, I must mention that Messrs. Levi Scott, Jesse Applegate and W.G. T'Vault, gentlemen of high standing as pioneers in Oregon, have rendered me as much service, by their courage and coolness before the enemy, as by their knowledge as guides in this new region.
"I have the honor again to report the satisfactory conduct of every man of my detachment, and of the gallant and efficient manner in which I have been supported by Captain Walker and Lieutenant Williamson. Brevet Captain Stewart's brilliant career raises him beyond the commendation of the individual commander. It can only be uttered by the united voice of the Army of Mexico.
"I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"P. KEARNEY,
"Bvt. Major, First Dragoons."
Captain Walker's report is as follows:
"Camp First Dragoon Detachment,
"Rogue River Plains, O.T., June 22, 1851:
"LIEUTENANT C.E. IRVINE,
"Adjutant First Dragoon Detachment,
"Sir: I have the honor to communicate for the information of Brevet Major First Dragoons, Commanding, that, agreeably to his orders, I crossed the Rogue river on the morning of the 17th instant, with detachment Company E, First Dragoons, at a point about twenty miles north of this pace, Major Kearney, with detachment Company A, under the late Brevet Captain Stewart, remaining on the right bank, the object being to sweep down both banks of the river and to chastise or destroy any bands of hostile Indians that might be encountered, and for me to act in concert with the command on the opposite shore as far as circumstances would allow. At the same time, each party was thought to be of sufficient strength to be successful against any force of hostile Indians that might be encountered, and also that the two companies would form a junction with each other at some point below, which in our ignorance of hte country could not be designated.
"In obeying these instructions, I pursued the course of the stream some tenor twelve miles, encountering and partly destroying several bands of hostile Indians. Before proceeding further down, I considered it important to gain, if possible, information of Major Kearney's position and route. For this purpose, I dispatched a non-commissioned officer with four men to return on my trail and ascertain, if possible, where Major Kearney then was, and to receive his orders. after several hours; absence, the party returned without bringing any information relative to Major Kearney's command, although the non-commissioned officer reported that he had gone almost to the point of our crossing in the morning, and was prevented from going to that point by encountering a large band of hostile Indians, which he supposed had been driven across by Major Kearney's command passing down on the opposite shore.
"At the point I had then reached, the river formed a semicircle, my line of march being on the outer circumference, while the company under Major Kearney, by taking the chord of the arc, would arrive much sooner than I could at the point below, where a large force of hostile Indians were said to be assembled.
"This line of march I supposed he had pursued; and in order to co-operate with the other company in the main attack, which I was now aware would be more serious than I had previously supposed, I pushed forward along the bank of the Rogue river for fifteen miles as rapidly as possible, endeavoring without success, at every point that looked fordable, to recross the river.
"From an elevated point, I now obtained a good view of the country on the opposite side of the river, and saw to my surprise several hundred Indians (mounted and dismounted) on a plain at the base of what is known as Table Mountain. I then became still more desirous of recrossing and forming a junction with the command on the opposite side, wherever they might be, as I knew they were unprepared to encounter so formidable a force as the Indians had here assembled. Crossing here, however, was utterly impossible, as by the junction of several large tributaries the stream was here very deep and of great rapidity of current, assuming more the character of a torrent rushing between high banks of volcanic rock.
"My anxiety to join Major Kearney
was not lessened by remembering that my company was entirely unprovided
with subsistence. To have countermarched twenty-five or thirty miles to
the point where I left Major Kearney in the morning would have
occupied all of the next day; and on arriving there I might not find him, and during which time my company would be without food. Under these circumstances, I determined to endeavor to find the main road leading from Oregon to California, in hope of falling in with Lieutenant Irvine's subsistence train, or with some emigrant or mining party from whom subsistence might be procured.
"I accordingly left the river, and, pursuing in a southeastern direction for about five miles, had the satisfaction of finding the road, and, after traveling about six miles further, encamped for the night, having marched that day over forty miles.
"The next morning, at daylight, I pursued my course, and before going far had the satisfaction of learning from a party of miners that Lieutenant Irvine was in advance of me; and, pushing on rapidly, I overtook him about noon on the 18th. I should have set out to rejoin Major Kearney's command immediately on getting supplies; but, from the exhaustion of both men and horses after two days of rapid marching, and the men without food, I considered it advisable not to set out on my return before the next morning. In the afternoon, however, I received orders from Major Kearney to follow back my route and join him here, with which I complied, joining him at this camp on the 19th instant.
"I am, very respectfully, etc.,
"J.G. Walker,
"Bvt. Capt., Comdg. Det. First Dragoons."
Major Kearney, in his hasty report, neglected to mention that I.B. Nichols, who had just returned with a cargo from the Willamette, and several others, left Knotts with his detachment; while the men who signed the petition for his assistance hastily organized a company under Captain Humphrey, and joined him at the earliest possible moment. General Jo Lane, who returned to Oregon from the Scott river mines early in the spring and had been elected delegate to Congress in place of Hon. sam Thurston, deceased, upon hearing of the proposed campaign, at once organized a company of volunteers and proceeded to the scene of hostilities. The balance of the campaign is best described in Major Kearney's final report:
"Camp Stewart, Saturday, June 29, 1851,
"Branch of Rogue River.
"Sir: I have the honor to continue the report of my late movements against the Rogue river Indians. My desire had been, by assembling a large force of volunteers, to simultaneously occupy the principal passes of the mountains, so that the indians, retiring before our main party, might be intercepted in their retreat to the inner villages, - our difficulty being a want of knowledge of the country and their system of detecting our movements by spies on the most elevated peaks.
"The position of my camp enabled me, while awaiting volunteers, to cover the road, and to afford a safe resting spot to parties from the mines. I recaptured the only packs robbed within miles of me.
"Sunday, the 22d, at noon, Mr. Levi Scott returned from the Rogue river mines, and in the evening Mr. Jesse Applegate, accompanied by Colonel Freanor (of New Orleans), from Chaste (Shasta) plains. The desultory bonds of a mining community caused a comparatively small number to volunteer. Those who did, however, rendered much service, and were extremely active. They amounted, with Captain Humphrey's party (a volunteer force organized at my camp), to nearly one hundred.
"As soon as it became dark, that
same night, by a rapid march, I placed myself again near and above the
point where I expected to find the rendezvous of the Indian war
party. The shortness of the night caused it to be daylight before we could reach it; and our efforts to secure their horses were without avail. The 23d and 24th were spent in breaking up the Indian ranches, and in destroying such war parties as we could meet.
"On the afternoon of the 23d, there was something of a brisk skirmish, in a dense hammock, with a party, which had been first intercepted by Colonel Freanor's spies. This gentlemen deserves to be particularly noticed, for the zealous manner with which he left important interests at the Chaste mines to volunteer in this quarter.
"The night of the 24th, General Lane, who, on learning of the troubles, ahd raised a party and had been acting in the vicinity, joined our camp. As General Lane was present in a private capacity, it was not possible to yield (as I would have desired), as due to his position and distinguished reputation, the command of my detachment; but I had the honor, from that time, of acting in co-operation with him.
"Accompanying General Lane with part of my dragoons (Captain Walker, Captain Humphreys and Colonel Freanor scouring the country at opposite points), we forded Rogue river from the left bank, at a point about ten miles above the ferry; and following up a creek, over a country hitherto unexplored, we spent the next three days in making a circuit around the stronghold near Table Rock. We returned to Camp Stewart ( our permanent camp) on the evening of the 27th instant.
"Whilst on this detour, General Lane's party succeeded in capturing hte family of the head chief.
"The occupations of the citizens are such, that in thus spiritedly turning out, they have done everything that could be expected. I declined assuming any direct command over them, although they have cheerfully acted on such points as I assigned to them. Governor Lane, of course, would have been chosen to that command had they acted in one body.
"We have taken many prisoners from among the women and children, - above thirty. They will prove useful in effecting a treaty, or holding the Indians in check. It was impossible to spare the men, as they combat with desperation to the last, meeting any advances with treachery. In these late affairs, there have been a number of wounded, but none seriously.
"The volunteers broke up on the 28th instant. This morning, the 29th, I will resume my march to California. The lateness of the rainy season, the temporary nature of my outfit for the detachment, this late delay of more than a fortnight's operations, which counts from my leaving Knotts, on the South Umpqua, imperatively demand that I lose no time (according to division orders) in organizing the Dragoons in California with the Rifle transfers, those present with us and those who went by sea; and I consequently must content myself with these rapid operations, which, as the enemy has been dispersed and many severe blows inflicted on him by the loss of life, capture of families and destruction of property, have had all and more success than I could have hoped. Still a post is instantly demanded to maintain quiet; nor have I any faith in a treaty with these people.
"Whilst again recounting the efficiency of Brevet Captain Walker and Lieutenant Williamson, it gives me pleasure to state that Lieutenant Irvine, who has commanded detachment Company A, has proved himself as valuable a line officer as he has been indefatigable as acting Quartermaster and Commissary.
"Assistant Surgeon Edgar has
been untiring in the discharge of his duties to the sick and wounded. I
am, sir, very respectfully, etc.
"P. KEARNEY,
"Brevet Major First Dragoons, Comdg."
General Lane, in writing of the campaign says: "The Indians have been completely whipped in every fight. Some fifty of them have been killed, and thirty taken prisoners. Major Kearney has been in the saddle for more than ten days, scouring the country and pouncing upon the Indians wherever they could be found. Never has an Indian country been invaded with better success, nor at a better time." (As the name of the gallant officer who was killed in this campaign has been differently spelled in the reports, it is proper to say that his name was James Stuart, not Stewart.)
General Lane accompanied Major Kearney and his detachment, on his route to San Francisco, as far as the Shasta mines, where he had some business matters to attend to. As General Lane would return to Oregon in a few days, Major Kearney took advantage of the opportunity to get rid of his troublesome prisoners, by turning them over to the general, and taking his receipt therefor, of which the following is a copy:
"I have this day received of
Major P. Kearney, U.S. Army, by Captain Walker, thirty-one prisoners (women
and children) taken from the Indians living on Rogue river, Oregon, which
I am to deliver to Governor Gaines of said territory, or to the superintendent
of Indian affairs.
"JOSEPH LANE.
"Shasta Mines, Cal.,
July 3, 1851"
In a few days after, General
Lane returned to the Willamette valley, taking the prisoners with him.
These he delivered safely to Governor Gaines, whom he met at the crossing
of Rogue river, who was at that point for the purpose of making a treaty
with the Indians. After the delivery of the prisoners, Governor Gaines
made a treaty with the Rogue river Indians, which, while indefinite in
its terms, would have been sufficient to control the recently punished
tribes had he appointed the right man as Indian agent. Judge Alonzo A.
Skinner, to whom this position was assigned, was probably the most unqualified
person for the place that could have been found in the whole territory.
He had arrived in the country from the East only the year before, was entirely
ignorant of the character of the Indians placed in his charge, and, although
a man of strict honor and integrity, was the most amiable of men, with
no force of character whatever. The Rogue river Indians, who were a nation
of warriors and only respected a fighting man, soon discovered the agent
was a king log, and treated him accordingly. In justice to Judge Skinner,
it should be stated that he labored under the disadvantage of having no
troops under his control, while Dr. Anson Dart, then Indian superintendent
of the territory seemed to ignore the existence of these warlike tribes.
The result of this mismanagement will be seen later.