History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 37

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

228

INDIAN WARS.

nel at one end, which served as a chimney. There was no house or settlement within ten or twelve miles or more of it. There I found Captain J. K. Lamerick in com- mand of a company of volunteers. It seems he had been sent there by General Lane after the fight at Battle creek, on account of the murder of some Indians there, of which he and others gave me the following account:

Bates and some others had induced a small party of peaceable Indians who be- longed in that vicinity to enter into an engagement to remain at peace with the whites during the war which was going on at some distance from them, and by way of ratifi- cation to this treaty, invited them to partake of a feast in an unoccupied log house just across the road from the ' Bates House;' and while they were partaking, unarmed, of this proffered hospitality, the door was suddenly fastened upon them, and they were deliberately shot down through the cracks between the logs by their treacherous hosts. Near by, and probably a quarter of a mile this side of the creek, I was shown a large, round hole into which the bodies of these murdered Indians had been unceremoniously tumbled. I did not see them, for they were covered with fresh earth."

Some miners from Sailor Diggings attacked a rancheria on Illinois river or Deer creek, as the accounts go, and killed two of the seven male Indians present. The others hastily seized their bows and arrows, and began a lively resistance. Two white men were hit, which so discouraged the others that they ran away. The act of aggres- sion was severely denounced by other people, and the term "desperado" was applied to the perpetrators. Agent Culver was sent for to investigate matters, but it is not known that the guilty parties were ever brought to justice; indeed, there is a certain presumption that they were not.

An incident bearing somewhat upon this question is worthy of mention, though it occurred somewhat outside of the region supposed to be covered by the Lane treaty. On January 28, 1854, a small party of armed men from the Randolph mines, in Coos county, went to a rancheria, attacked the Indians and killed fifteen, as far as is known, without provocation. Two squaws were shot dead, one with her babe in her arms. The next day the miners passed a law providing that whosoever should sell or give any gun, rifle or pistol to Indians, should for the first offense receive thirty-nine lashes, and for the second offense should suffer death. Meeting considerable adverse criticism for their attack upon the helpless and unarmed creatures at the rancheria, these men next proceeded to hold a meeting and pass resolutions, one maintaining that the Indians at the time were on the eve of an outbreak, and another congratulating themselves on their bravery! The whole absurd proceedings are contained in a letter written by one of the assailants to the Oregon Statesman of contemporary date, and in the report of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 1854, within which may be found letters from F. M. Smith, agent at Port Orford, and G. H. Abbott, leader of the attacking force of miners.

It does not require the thorough investigation to which the records of these events have been subjected by the writer, to determine conclusively that while the whites as a class were content with the treaty and obedient to its provisos, there was a considerable minority who lost no opportunity to manifest their contempt of the instrument and their disregard of its obligations. Nor were the Indians idle. As soon as the report of the killings at Grave creek, at Applegate and other places, had been bruited abroad, and the natives had become convinced that they were individually in as much danger

Digitized by Google

- -

---- -

-- - -

219

INDIAN WARS.

as before the treaty, they began reprisals. They committed atrocities that were not exceeded in bloodthirstiness by those at whom they were aimed. A few days after the battle of Evans' creek Thomas Frizzell and Mungo were murdered by Indians on Rogue river, below Vannoy's. It seems that Frizzell owned a ferry in that locality, which he was constrained to leave at the commencement of hostilities. He joined Owens' company, of which he was chosen first lieutenant. On the day mentioned, he went home to examine into the condition of things, being accompanied by Mungo, a private of his company. On returning they arrived within two miles of Vannoy's, when they were fired on by concealed Indians, and Frizzell was instantly killed. Mungo, wounded, took refuge in a thicket and with his rifle kept the enemy at bay for hours until a relief party came to his aid. He was carried to Vannoy's, but died on arriving there. These men were said to have been killed in retaliation for the massacre of the Indians at Bates' house, but this assertion, of course, does not admit of proof. The same day (August twenty-eighth), the savages burned the house of Raymond, at Jump- off-Joe creek, as well as two others in the vicinity.

These disturbances were chiefly confined to Josephine county and the western part of Jackson county ; or to speak more specifically, to the Grave creek, Applegate creek, Illinois river and Althouse creek country.

About the twelfth of September, 1853, there occurred a catastrophe of some note several miles below Deer creek bar. Two prospectors, Tedford and Rouse, were attacked by Illinois Indians, peaceable until that time, and both injured very severely. Rouse was cut in the face, and Tedford was shot in the left arm, shattering the bone. The men were alone at the time, but were speedily found by neighboring miners and carried to a place of safety. Tedford's injuries were mortal; he died within a week. This, and some slighter injuries perpetrated the same day on other parties, were the first hostile acts of the Illinois Indians, who until then had shown a tolerably peaceful disposition. This was in the absence of nearly all the fighting portion of the white community, who were with Captain Williams on the Rogue river. On their return a party was made up to pursue certain Indians who had stolen some property from the Hunter brothers, including quite a number of mules. The thieves were followed for three days, over rough mountains, across creeks and through jungles, and at last traced to an Indian village on Illinois river. This was attacked by the pursuers, and several Indians were killed ; but the whites had ultimately to retire, Alex. Watts being slightly wounded in the attack. The regular troops shortly after occupied this village, after killing several of its inhabitants and driving the rest away. On their return to headquarters the Indians followed them, and killed Sergeant Day, wounded Private King, and re-took sixteen stolen animals. Lieutenants Radford and Carter were in charge of the expedition, having been sent by Captain Smith, on the seven- teenth of October, from Fort Lane, and the action took place on the twenty-fourth of the same month. It has always been supposed that the malcontents spoken of were Coast Indians, from the vicinity of Chetco. At any rate they were no triflers, as the whites found to their cost. On the twenty-sixth the miners again assembled, to the number of thirty-five, to make another descent upon the same camp, when the Indians' scouts discovered them and received them with unexpected warmth. William Hunter was wounded by three bullets, not seriously, and the party returned to their respective

Digitized by Google

230

INDIAN WARS.

homes without carrying out their projected annihilation of the hostile camp. Michael Bushey was of the number, and through his exertions a treaty of peace and amity was entered into between the miners and the Indians of that rancheria. The Indians ob- served the treaty faithfully enough, but the whites were not so honorable. It has been mentioned how certain whites from Sailor Diggings attempted to " make good Indians" of seven " bucks" at a certain rancheria, but were driven off ignominiously. These Indians were the survivors of those who slew Sergeant Day, and foiled Bushey and his party. They were now living in quietness on Deer creek, when attacked by the party from Sailor Diggings, who were said to have numbered twenty. Again Bushey, with Alex. Watts, patched up a treaty with them which existed until 1855, when cer- tain events on the lower Klamath river, in which these Indians were implicated, sundered those pleasant relations.

On Applegate creek, September 2, four houses were burned by Indians, and their contents destroyed. At about the same date, or possibly a little later, a pack-train coming from Crescent City was fired upon and the three Mexicans who drove, were wounded, three mules were killed and all the merchandise captured by Indians. This closes the list of outrages perpetrated in that part of the country subsequent to the treaty, and the subject now leads us to consider the state of affairs on Rogue river.

General Lane left for the north on or about October, 1853. But before taking leave of the people of the valley, he made a visit to Tipsu Tyee, hoping in the interests of peace, to induce that much feared warrior to join the Rogue River chieftains in amity to the whites. Tipsu had not made himself felt in the recent hostilities probably for reasons already set forth, but as if still further to signalize his independence of both white and Indian influence, he sent word to Jacksonville that he did not recognize the peace of September 10, and should not by any means subscribe to its terms. As for Sam, Joc, George, Limpy and the rest, they might do as they chose ; he was upon his own land, came upon it first, and should remain upon it. This message presented a new difficulty. It seemed to the people and to the Indian agents alike, that Tipsu Tyee needed to be put down. His outbreak of insolence ought to be punished. But to pun- ish such an Indian as the wily old Tyee was an undertaking of considerable difficulty, and very few were ready to attempt it. The chief staid in his lair, and General Lane, who to great fighting qualities added a heart that was capable of feeling for even the most savage of God's creatures, paid him a visit in the interests of peace and humanity. Accompanied by two men only, he went into the mountains, found the chief, and entered upon an agreement with him by which the rights of the settlers were to be respected and grievances to be settled satisfactorily; and having taken leave of his host, returned safely from a journey which most men regarded as infinitely dangerous.

The different companies (Lamerick's, Miller's, Owens', Goodall's, Rhodes', Wil- liams', Terry's and Fowler's) were mustered out, with the exception of Miller's, during the early days of September, soon after the close of disturbances, and sent home. Peo- ple were now returning to their customary occupations, generally well pleased with the result of the war and hoping that no more "unpleasantness" might supervene, as considerabl force of regular troops had arrived, and Colonel Wright, with four com- panies from Benicia and Fort Reading, was daily expected. Captain Alden, convales- cent, set out for Fort Jones, about the time that the military authorities resolved upon

Digitized by Google

231

INDIAN WARS.

founding a permanent fortified camp near Table Rock. The Indians were safely domi- ciled near that locality, their reservation extending north and west of those prominent and celebrated land marks. Their position was a good one and to their liking. Camas and ip-a roots grew there in profusion; salmon in their season swarmed in the river, game of all kinds was abundant in the neighboring mountains. Besides, it was in the land of their nativity; and though nominally confined to the narrow limits of a com- paratively small tract, they were not perceptibly worse off than before. Opposite their home, the new military post reared its imposing front. Appropriately named Fort Lane, it was commodiously and even handsomely built, and in a manner well adapted to the uses of such a post. A stockade enclosed quite a spacious area in which was a parade ground, together with barracks for private soldiers, houses for officers, an armory, hospital, and other necessary buildings, all built of logs. It continued to be the head- quarters of the military forces in this region for three years; at the end of the last Indian war being abandoned. A quarter of a century has seen the old fort fall into ruins, and to-day scarcely a vestige of what was once a lively encampment remains. The officers and men who guarded its wooden ramparts are scattered and many of them have found a soldier's grave. Some of them died fighting for the flag that waved above the old fort; others forsaking that flag, espoused the "Lost Cause" and were lost with it.

Very soon after the construction of the military post was resolved upon, a circun ?- stance occurred which ranks as one of the most important, and at the same time singu- lar, that we have to narrate. This was the murder of James C. Kyle, on the sixth of October, 1853, by Indians from the Table Rock reservation. This sad affair took place within two miles of Fort Lane, at a time when the settlers were congratulating themselves that Indian difficulties were at an end. Kyle was a merchant of Jackson- ville, partner of Wills whose untimely and cruel death has been recorded. A rigid examination and investigation of the homicide proved that it was committed by indi- viduals from the reservation, and the chiefs were called upon to surrender the criminals in compliance with the terms of the treaty. They did so; and two Indians, George and Tom, were handed over to the proper authorities, as the murderers of Kyle, while Indian Thompson, tilicum of the same tribe, who has been previously mentioned, was surrendered as the murderer of Edwards. Like Thompson, the other two suspects were tried before Judge McFadden of the United States circuit court, at Jacksonville, in February, 1854. They were found guilty, and hanged two days later.

At the close of the Evans' creek campaign, General Lane, with commendable humanity and sagacity, remembering the helpless condition of the incoming migra- tion of the season, dispatched a force of mounted men, being Miller's company, well armed and provisioned, to operate against the Indians in the region where such sicken- ing butcheries were perpetrated the year before, and where Ben Wright and Captain Ross had done such good service in aweing the savages and teaching them lessons of the white man's vengeance. Captain Miller proceeded thence with his men and throughout the season did excellent service in scouting, fighting those Indians who showed signs of hostility, and in piloting trains to their destination. They left Jack- sonville September twelfth, and returning at the close of their campaign, were dis- charged from service on the second of November. Their total term of service was about three months. The only casualties happening to them while on the cmigrant

Digitized by Google

232

INDIAN WARS.

trail was the wounding of Private William Duke by Indians at Goose lake, October fourth, and of Private Watt, at another time and place. Captain Miller's command on this expedition consisted of 115 men.

These occurrences complete the history of Indian difficulties for the year, and together constitute the natural termination of what is known as the "War of 1853." There is a short note to be appended relating to the indebtedness which grew out of the war. This was assumed by the United States; and however, the people of South- ern Oregon might grumble-and grumble they did-at the attitude of the govern- ment and its army toward the settlers and the Indians, there was no grumbling heard concerning the assumption of the debt by the government, nor at the way in which that debt was paid. The muster-rolls and accounts of all the eight companies and General Lane's staff (the General refused to accept compensation for himself), were made out and adjusted by Captain Goodall, as inspecting and mustering officer, acting under orders from General Lane, at the close of the war; and these papers were forwarded to Captain Alden at Washington, and being presented to congress were promptly acted upon at the instance of that officer and General Lane, in his capacity as delegate to congress from Oregon Territory. Major Alvord, paymaster of the United States army, under orders from the secretary of war, paid off the volunteers, in coin, at Jacksonville and Yreka, in June and July, 1855. The commissary and quartermaster accounts were at the same time sent in draft to Governor Curry, and by him disbursed to the proper creditors. The total cost to the United States was about $285,000.

CHAPTER XXVII.

EVENTS OF 1854.

A Year of Comparative Peace-Tipsu Tyee-His Career-The Cave Fight- Death of Tipsu-The Cotton- wood War -- Walker's Expedition - His Muster-roll -- Fight at Warner Rock- Return to Jacksonville -- Murder of Phillips.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-four was a year of peace for most of the Rogue River tribe, safely gathered on their reservation. The military force at Fort Lane kept in awe such roving vagabond savages as desired or might be led to commit outrages, and also such whites as, not having the fear of the law before their eyes, might seek to interfere with the natives. This latter class, numerous in most frontier countries, was doubly troublesome in Southern Oregon. There were grasping, avaricious men who seemed to begrudge the poor savages the very air they breathed. The reservation, some would say, is too good for them; it ought to be thrown open to settlement by whites. This class, too, were dissatisfied with the annuity that was promised the

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

A. G. Walling, Lith. Portland, Or.

CITY RESIDENCE OF JOHN M. OSBURN. Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon.

233

INDIAN WARS.

Indians. Nothing in our government's Indian policy commended itself to such men, unless it was the policy of referring the least of the Indians' faults to the stern arbit- rament of bullets, while permitting white men to ride rough-shod over them, regard- less of right or justice.

Tipsu Tyee, however, did not join his brother chiefs in their friendly attitude toward the whites, but on the contrary entered systematically upon a career of stealthy warfare which was manifested in attacks on quite a number of parties on and near the Siskiyou mountains. He effectually terrorized a tract of country reaching from Ash- land to beyond the Klamath, and during many months made unexpected descents upon white settlements, or robbed towns, with almost entire impunity. The first notable outrage was the affair near Ashland on August 17, 1853. The visit of General Lane to Tipsu's headquarters would appear to have been abortive, for at various times we find the chief active against the whites. The principal affair of the season was the fight near Cottonwood, resulting in the death of Hiram Hulen, John Clark, John Oldfield, and Wesley Mayden, who were killed in January, 1854, on the road between Jacksonville and Yreka, by Shasta Indians. This affair had a curious origin. A num- ber of "squaw men" were living along the Klamath and about Cottonwood in the winter of 1853-4, and the women of two of these-Tom Ward and Bill Chance- deserted them and returned to their kindred, who were members of Tyee Bill's band of Shastas, dwelling in a large cave on the north bank of the Klamath, some twenty miles above Cottonwood. The squaw men proceeded after them, but on reaching the cave were ordered to leave. They immediately went to Cottonwood and falsely reported that a large number of stolen horses were in the possession of these Indians, when a company of men was raised to go and recover the animals. They went, and a fight ensuing, the four above mentioned were killed, and the rest driven away. The indig- nation in Cottonwood was great; the deceased were well known citizens, and the people were not aware how they had been duped by the squaw men. Notice of the difficulty was sent to Captain Judah, commanding at Fort Jones, and he came up with a detach- ment of troops. A company of volunteers was raised at Cottonwood, commanded by R. C. Geiger, with James Lemmon as lieutenant. Their first act was to bury the bodies of Hulen and his friends, who served to start the new cemetery at Cottonwood, and were all buried in one grave. The regulars and volunteers went then to the cave, and laid siege to it, until Captain Geiger was killed by a bullet in his brain, from incau- tiously exposing himself. This happened on the twenty-sixth of January. On the same day Captain Smith arrived from Fort Lane with a detachment of regulars, and a mountain howitzer, and being the senior military officer, took command of the forces. He advanced to the vicinity of the cave and opened fire upon the mouth of it with his howitzer, but ineffectually except as to endangering the volunteers who were sta- tioned near the Indians' den. An old trapper, Robinson by name, now arrived and told Captain Smith the origin of the difficulty. The officer suspended the bombard- ment and went to the cave accompanied by two men only, and conversed with Tyee Bill, who confirmed tbe trapper's story. Words, it was said, had no power to describe the officer's indignation. Exasperated at the idea of a military force belonging to the United States being engaged in a dispute concerning the possession of squaws, he took his departure with his command in great anger. The inhabitants of Cottonwood 31

Digitized by Google

234

INDIAN WARS.

and of all the surrounding country were displeased with this action, and for years the people and press of the border refused to be placated.

Bill's band remained at the cave but made no hostile demonstration. On the twelfth of May a Shasta named Joe, made a felonious assault on a white woman, but was driven away by the approach of some men. He was pursued and fled to the cave. Lieutenant J. C. Bonnycastle, then in charge of Fort Jones, set out for the cave to com- pel his surrender, but halting on Willow creek, was informed of the attack by Tipsu Tyee on Gage and Clymer's pack-train on Siskiyou mountain wherein David Gage was killed and the mules stolen. The next day Lieutenant Bonnycastle and command set out for the scene of the last outrage, and on arriving they found that the murder had been committed by six Indians, of whom four had departed toward the cave. The detachment immediately followed, and reaching that place, they found that the Indians they were in pursuit of had arrived there, and they were none other than Tipsu Tyee, his son, and son-in-law, and another member of their band. But justice had overtaken the notorious old creature at last, for Bill and his party had fallen upon the four and killed them just before the troops arrived, being incited thereto by a desire to win the friendship of the whites, to whom they knew Tipsu to be a bitter enemy. They scalped the dead chief and sent that ghastly trophy to the office of Judge Roseborough in Yreka where it was seen by that gentleman, as he informed the writer. Lieutenant Bonny- castle and Captain Goodall also saw the scalp, and not feeling perfectly assured of its identity, went to the cave and twice exhumed the body, finding satisfactory evidence that it was the old Tyee and none other. Tipsu, is described by Colonel Ross and others who knew him as a tall and powerful man, wearing a beard or goatee which was tinged with gray. He had high cheek bones and a distinctively Indian appearance, but was a fine looking brave. "He was a quiet, reserved man, who never went among white people, when he could avoid it, but staid almost constantly in the hills. He never begged, but if provisions or other gifts were offered, he would allow his squaws to receive them."

The end of the Cottonwood affair is not yet told. The Shastas in the cave were visited by several individuals, among them Lieutenant Bonnycastle, Judge Steele, Judge Roseborough, special Indian agent; old Tolo chief of the Yreka Shastas and a friend of the whites ; Captain Goodall and others, and persuaded to set out for Fort Jones, where they were to be kept. On arriving at Cottonwood creek on June 24, they were fired upon by a gang of the miners of that vicinity, and Chief Bill was killed, and several others wounded. The whites lost one man, Thomas C. Mckamey. The Indians finally got securely on the Fort Jones reservation. This is the extent of our chronicles concerning the Cave Shastas, and they drift now out of our story.

The remaining incidents of 1854, are connected with the expedition of Captain Jesse Walker to assist the immigrants of that year through the dangerous grounds infested by the Modocs and other hostile tribes who had been punished by the previous expeditions of Captain Ross, Ben Wright and Captain Miller. Under date of July 17, 1854, Governor Davis addressed Colonel John Ross, authorizing him by virtue of his office as colonel in the Oregon militia, to call into service a company of volunteers to protect the immigration and particularly to suppress the Modocs, Piutes, and other disaffected aborigines. Colonel Ross accordingly made proclamation on the third of

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 37

Author: David D. Fagan Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: