USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II, 1848-1888 > Part 53
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537
DISTRICT CHANGES.
he encamped on Honey Creek, fifteen miles north-west of Warner, where he found Darragh, whom he followed the next day up the creek ten miles, finding that it headed in a range of finely timbered mountains trend- ing north and south, with patches of snow on their summits. On the 31st the new camp was located in an open-timbered country, on the eastern boun- dary of California, and received the name of New Warner. It was 500 feet lower than the former camp. On the 1st of August the command re- turned, having discovered some fresh trails leading toward California, and confirming the theory of the source of Indian supplies. At Camp Warner were found Captain Perry and Mckay, who had returned from a scout to the south-east without finding an Indian; while Archie McIntosh, a half-breed Boisé scout, had brought in eleven prisoners, making forty- six killed and captured by the allies within two weeks.
On the 3d of August Crook set out on a recon- noissance to Selvie River and Harney Valley, with the object of locating another winter post, escorted by Lieutenant Stanton, with a detachment of Captain Perry's company, and Archie McIntosh with fifteen scouts. The point selected was at the south end of the Blue Mountains, on the west side, and the camp was named Harney.26
On the 16th of August, by a general order issued from headquarters military division of the Pacific, the district of Boisé was restricted to Fort Boisé. Camp Lyon, Camp Three Forks of the Owyhee, and Camp C. F. Smith were made to constitute the dis trict of Owyhee,27 and placed under the command of General Elliott, 1st cavalry. Fort Klamath and camps Watson, Warner, Logan, and Harney were designated as constituting the district of the lakes, and assigned to the command of Crook, who also had
26 Gen. Orders Dept Columbia, Nov. 26, 1867.
27 A few months later Boise was incorporated in the district of Owyhee.
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THE SHOSHONE WAR.
command of the troops at Camp Bidwell, should he require their services.
Having at last obtained a partial mount for his infantry, Crook set out about September 1st for that part of the country from which he believed the re- enforcements of the Indians to come, with three com- panies of cavalry, one of mounted infantry, and all the Indian allies. It was hoped by marching at night and lying concealed by day to surprise some consid- erable number of the enemy. But it was not until the 9th that Darragh reported finding Indians in the tules about Lake Abert. On proceeding from camp on the east side of Goose Lake two days in a north course, the trail of a party of Indians was discovered, but Crook believed them to be going south, and di- viding his force, sent captains Perry and Harris and the Warm Spring allies north to scout the country between Sprague and Des Chutes rivers, taking in Crooked River and terminating their campaign at Camp Harney in Harney Valley.
At the same time he took a course south-east to Surprise Valley, with the mounted infantry under Madigan, one cavalry company under Parnell, and the Boise scouts under McIntosh. Having found that there were Indians in the mountains east of Goose Lake, but having proof that they had also discovered him, instead of moving at night, as heretofore, he made no attempt to conceal himself, but marched along the road as if going to Fort Crook, and actually did march to within twenty miles of it; but when he came to a place where he was concealed by the moun- tains along the river on the south side, he crossed over and encamped in a timbered cañon.
On the 25th the command was marched in a course south-east, along the base of a spur of the mountains covered with timber. While passing through a ra- vine a small camp of Indians was discovered, who fled, and were not pursued. Coming soon after to a plain trail leading toward the south fork of Pit River,
539
CROOK ON PIT RIVER.
it was followed fifteen miles, and the camp for the night made in a cañon timbered with pine, with good grass and water. Signs of Indians were plenty, but the commander was not hopeful. The horses were beginning to fail with travelling over lava-beds, and at night; the Indians were evidently numerous and watchful; and there was no method of determining at what point they might be expected to appear. Fore- warned in a country like that on the Pit River, the advantages were all on the side of the Indians.
The march on the 26th led the troops over high table-land, eastward along a much used trail, where tracks of horses and Indians were frequent, leading finally to the lava-bluffs overlooking the south branch of Pit River, and through two miles of canon down into the valley. Here the troops turned to the north along the foot of the bluffs, and when near the bend of the river the scouts announced the discovery of Indians in the rocks near by. Crook prepared for battle by ordering Parnell to dismount half his men and form a line to the south of the occupied rocks, while Madigan formed a similar line on the north side, the two uniting on the east in front of the Indian po- sition. McIntosh with his scouts was ordered back to the bluff overlooking the valley, the troops getting into position about one o'clock, and the Indians wait- ing to be attacked in the rocks.
The stronghold was a perpendicular lava-wall, three hundred feet high, and a third of a mile long on the west side of the valley. At the north end was a ridge of bowlders, and at the south end a cañon. In front was a low sharp ridge of lava-blocks, from which there was a gradual slope into the valley. These sev- eral features of the place formed a natural fortification of great strength. But there were yet other features rendering it even more formidable. Running into its south-eastern boundary were two promontories, a hun- dred and fifty feet in length, thirty in height, with perpendicular walls parallel to each other and about
540
THE SHOSHONE WAR.
thirty feet apart, making a scarped moat which could not be passed. At the north end of the eastern promontory the Indians had erected a fort of stone, twenty feet in diameter, breast-high, pierced with loop-holes; and on the western promontory two larger forts of similar construction. Between this fortress and the bluff where the scouts were stationed were huge masses of rocks of every size and contour. The only approach appearing practicable was from the eastern slope, near which was the first fort.
At the word of command Parnell approached the cañon on the south. A volley was fired from the fort, and the Indians fell back under cover, when the assailants by a quick movement gained the shelter of the rocky rim of the ravine; but in reconnoitring immediately afterward they exposed themselves to another volley from the fort, which killed and wounded four men. It was only by siege that the foe could be dislodged. Accordingly Eskridge, who had charge of the horses, herders, and supplies, was ordered to go into camp, and preparations were made for taking care of the wounded, present and pro- spective.
The battle now opened in earnest, and the after- noon was spent in volleys from both sides, accom- panied by the usual sounds of Indian warfare, in which yells the troops indulged as freely as the Ind- ians. A squad of Parnell's men were ordered to the bluff to join the scouts, and help them to pour bullets down into the round forts. The Indians were entirely surrounded, yet such was the nature of the ground that they could not be approached by men in line, and the firing was chiefly confined to sharp-shooting. The range from the bluffs above the fort was about four hundred yards, at an angle of forty-five degrees; and hundreds of shots were sent during the afternoon down among them. From the east fort shots could reach the bluff from long-range guns, and it was neces- sary to keep under cover. All the Indians who could
541
BATTLE OF THE BLUFF.
be seen were clad only in a short skirt, with feathers in their hair. One of them, notwithstanding the cor- don of soldiers, escaped out of the fortress over the rocky ridge and bluff, giving a triumphant whoop as he gained the level ground, and distancing his pur- suers. It was conjectured that he must have gone either for supplies or rëenforcements.
Thus wore away the afternoon. As night ap- proached Crook, who by this time had reconnoitred the position from every side, directed rations to be issued to the pickets stationed around the stronghold to prevent escapes. When darkness fell the scouts left the bluff and crept down among the rocks of the ridge intervening between the bluff and the fortress, getting within a hundred feet of the east fort. The troops also now carefully worked themselves into the shelter of the rocks nearer to the Indians, who evi- dently anticipated their movements and kept their arrows flying in every direction, together with stones, which they threw at random. In the cross-fire kept up in the dark one of Madigan's men was killed by Parnell's company. All night inside the forts there was a sound of rolling about and piling up stones, as if additional breastworks were being constructed. Whenever a volley was fired by the troops in the direction of these noises, a sound of voices was heard reverberating as if in a cavern. During the early part of the night there were frequent flashes of light- ning and heavy peals of thunder. In the mean time no change was apparent in the position of affairs.
At daybreak Parnell and Madigan were directed to bring in their pickets and form under the crest of the ridge facing the east fort, while the scouts were ordered to take position on the opposite side of the ridge, and having first crawled up the slope among the rocks as far as could be done without discovering themselves, at the word of command to storm the fort.28 At sunrise the command Forward! was given.
28 'The general talked to the men like a father; told them at the word
542
THE SHOSHONE WAR.
The men, about forty in number, sprang to their feet and rushed toward the fort. They had not gone twenty paces when a volley from the Indians struck down Lieutenant Madigan, three non-commissioned officers, three privates, and one citizen-eight in all. The remainder of the storming party kept on, crossing a natural moat and gaining the wall, which seemed to present but two accessible points. Up one of these Sergeant Russler, of Company D, 23d infantry, led the way; and up the other, Sergeant Meara and Private Sawyer, of Company H, Ist cavalry, led at different points. Meara was the first to reach a natural para- pet surrounding the east fort on two sides, dashing across which he was crying to his men to come on, when a shot struck him and he fell dead. At the same moment Russler came up, and putting his gun through a loop-hole fired, others following his exam- ple. He was also struck by a shot.
It was expected that the Indians, being forced to abandon the enclosure which was now but a pen in which all might be slaughtered, would be easily shot as they came out, and some of the men disposed themselves so as to interrupt their anticipated flight; but what was the surprise of all to see that as fast as they left the fort they disappeared among the rocks as if they had been lizards. In a short time the soldiers had possession of the east fort, but a moment afterward a volley coming across from the two forts on the west, and scattering shots which appeared to come from the rocks beneath, changed the position of the besiegers into that of the besieged. Several men more were wounded, one more killed, and the situa- tion became critical in the extreme.
But notwithstanding the Indians still had so greatly the advantage, they seemed to have been shaken in their courage by the boldness of the troops in storm-
Forward ! they should rise up quick, go with a yell, and keep yelling, and never think of stopping until they had crossed the ditch, scaled the wall, and broken through the breastworks, and the faster the better.' J. Wassen, in Oregonian, Nov. 12, 1867.
543
ESCAPE OF THE WARRIORS.
ing the east fort, or perhaps they were preparing a surprise. A continuous lull followed the volley from the west forts, which lasted, with scattering shots, until noon, though the men exposed themselves to draw the fire of the enemy and uncover his position. One shot entered a loop-hole and killed the soldier stationed there. Shots from the Indians became fewer during the afternoon, while the troops continued to hold the east fort, and pickets were stationed who kept up a fire wherever any sign of life appeared in the Indian quarter. The west forts, being inaccessible, could not be stormed. There was nothing to do but to watch for the next movement of the Indians, who so far as known were still concealed in their fortifications, where the crying of children and other signs of life could be heard through the day and night of the 27th.
On the morning of the 28th, the suspense having become unbearable, Crook permitted an Indian woman to pass the lines, from whom he received an explana- tion of the mysterious silence of the Indian guns. Not a warrior was left in the forts. By a series of subterranean passages leading to the cañon on the south-west, they had all escaped, and been gone for many hours. An examination of the ground revealed the fact that by the means of fissures and caverns in the sundered beds of lava, communication could be kept up with the country outside, and that finding themselves so strongly besieged they had with Ind- ian mutability of purpose given up its defence, and left behind their women and children to deceive the
troops until they were safely away out of danger. To attempt the examination of these caves would be fool- hardy. A soldier, in descending into one, was shot through the heart, probably by some wounded Indian left in hiding there. The extent and depth of the caverns and fissures would render futile any attempt to drive out the savages by fire or powder. Nothing remained but to return to Camp Warner, which movement was begun on the 30th, and ended on the
544
THE SHOSHONE WAR.
4th of October at the new post in the basin east of Lake Abert.
The result of this long-projected campaign could not be said to be a victory. According to Wassen, it was not claimed by the troops that more than fif- teen Indians were killed at the Pit River fortress, while the loss sustained by the command in the two days' siege was eight killed and twelve wounded.29 That General Crook sacrificed his men in the affair of Pit River in his endeavor to achieve what the public expected of him is evident, notwithstanding the laud- atory and apologetic accounts of the correspondents of the expedition. Had he let his Indian scouts do the fighting in Indian fashion, while he held his troops ready to succor them if overpowered, the result might have been different. One thing, indeed, he was able to prove, that the foe was well supplied with ammu- nition, which must have been obtained by the sale of property stolen in marauding expeditions to the north. Stored among the rocks was a plentiful supply of powder and caps, in sacks, tin cans, and boxes, all quite new, showing recent purchases. The guns found were of the American half-stocked pattern, indicating whence they had been obtained, and no breech-loading guns were found, though some had been previously captured by these Indians.
The expedition under Perry, which proceeded north,
29 There is a discrepancy between the military report, which makes the number of killed five, and Wassen's, which makes it eight; but I have fol- lowed the latter, because his account gives the circumstances and names. The list is as follows: Killed: Lieut John Madigan, born in Jersey City, N. J .; sergeants Charles Barchet, born in Germany, formerly of 7th Vt volunteers, Michael Meara, born in Galway, Ireland, 18 years in U. S. A., and Sergeant Russler; privates James Lyons, born in Peace Dale, R. I .; Willoughby Sawyer, born in Canada West; Carl Bross, born in Germany, lived in Newark, N. J .; James Carey, from New Orleans. Wounded: corporals McCann, Fo- garty, Firman; privates Clancy, Fisher, Kingston, McGuire, Embler, Barbes, Shea, Enser; and Lawrence Traynor, civilian. The remains of Lieut Madi- gan were taken one day's march from the battle-field, and buried on the north bank of Pit River, about twenty miles below the junction of the south branch. The privates were buried in the valley of the south branch, half a mile north of the forts. The wounded were conveyed on mule litters to New Camp Warner. Corr. S. F. Bulletin, iu Portland Herald, Dec. 10, 1867; J. Wassen, in Oregonian, Nov. 12, 1867; Hayes' Indian Scraps, v. 141; Gen- eral Order Dept Columbia, no. 32, 1867.
545
CAMPAIGNS AND DEPREDATIONS.
failed to find any enemy. Lieutenant Small, how- ever, with fifty-one men from Fort Klamath and ten Klamath scouts, was more successful, killing twenty-three and capturing fourteen in the vicinity of Silver and Abert lakes, between the 2d and 22d of September. Among the killed were two chiefs who had signed the treaty of 1864, and an influential med- icine-man. Panina having also been killed by citizens while on a foray on the Canon City and Boisé road in April, as will be remembered, there remained but few of the chiefs of renown alive.30
For about two months of the summer of 1867, while Captain Wildy of the 6th cavalry was stationed on Willow Creek in Mormon Basin, to intercept the passage north of raiding parties, the people along the road between John Day and Snake rivers enjoyed an unaccustomed immunity from depredations. But early in September Wildy was ordered to Fort Crook, in California, and other troops withdrawn from the north to strengthen the district of the lakes. Know- ing what would be the effect of this change, the in- habitants of Baker county petitioned Governor Woods for a permanent military post in their midst, but peti- tioned in vain, because the governor was not able to persuade the general government to listen favorably, nor to dictate to the commander of the department of the Columbia what disposition to make of his forces. Wildy's company had hardly time to reach Fort Crook when the dreaded visitations began.31 About the last
30 Oregonian, Nov. 4 and 12, 1867; Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 28, 1867; Yreka Union, Oct. 5, 1867; S. F. Alta, Sept. 28, 1867.
31 The first attack was made Sept. 28th upon J. B. Scott, who with his wife and children was driving along the road between Rye Valley and their home on Burnt River. Scott was killed almost instantly, receiving two fatal wounds at once. The wife, though severely wounded, seized the reins as they fell from the hands of her dead husband, and urging the horses to a run, escaped with her children, but died the following day. This attack was fol- lowed by others in quick succession. Oregonian, Oct. 4, 7, 9, 1867; Umatilla Columbia Press, Oct. 5, 1867. On the morning of the 3d of October a small band of Indians plundered the house of a Mr Howe, a few miles east of Camp Logan, and a detachment of seven men of company F, 8th cavalry, was sent under Lient Pike to pursue them. Pike may have been a valuable officer, HIST. OR., VOL. II. 35
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THE SHOSHONE WAR.
of October General Steele ordered a cavalry company to guard the roads and do picket duty in the Burnt River district.
But depredations were not confined to the Oregon side of Snake River. They were quite as frequent in Boisé and Owyhee districts, where there was no lack of military camps. So frequent were the raids upon the stock-ranges 32 that the farmers declared they must give up their improvements and quit the country unless they were stopped. At length they organized a force in the lower Boisé Valley. Armed with guns furnished by Fort Boisé, and aided by a squad of sol- diers from that post, they scouted the surrounding country thoroughly, retaking some stock and killing two Indians. 33 But while they recovered some of their property, the stage station at the mouth of the Payette River was robbed of all its horses.34 And this was the oft-repeated experience of civil and mili- tary parties. Blood as well as spoils marked the course of the invaders. 35 Stages, and even the Snake River
but he was not experienced in Indian-fighting. He was eagerly pushing for- ward after the guides, who had discovered the camp of the thieves, when he imprudently gave a shout, which sent the savages flying, leaving a rifle, which in their haste was forgotten. Pike very foolishly seized it by the muzzle and struck it on a rock to destroy it, when it exploded, wounding him fatally, which accident arrested the expedition; and a second, under Lieut Kauffman, failed to overtake the mnaranders. Oregonian, Nov. 4, 1867; Gen. Order Head- quarters Dept Columbia, no. 32.
32 On the night of Oct. 3d, within half a mile of Owyhee City, Joseph F. Colwell, a highly respected citizen, was killed, scalped, and burned. On the following night a raid was made on the cattle in Jordan Valley, within 3 miles of Silver City. Four separate incursions were made into Boisé Valley during the autumn. Owyhee Avalanche, Oct. 5, 1867; Boise Statesman, Oct. 22, Dec. 17, 1867; Boisé Democrat, Dec. 21, 1876.
33 A farmer who belonged to the volunteer company of Boisé Valley stated that one of the Indians killed was branded with a circle and the figures 1845, showing that 22 years before he had been thus punished for offences of a simi- lar kind.
3+ There was a chief known to his own people as Oulux, and to the settlers as Bigfoot, who led many of these raids. He was nearly 7 feet in height, and powerfully built, with a foot 142 inches in length. The track of this Indian could not be mistaken. He was in Crook's first battle in the spring, on the Owyhee, with another chief known as Littlefoot. Yreka Union, Feb. 9, and Nov. 11, 1867. Bigfoot was killed by an assassin, who lay in wait for him, and his murderer promised him to guard from the public the secret of his death, of which he was ashamed.
35 On the 21st of October, in the morning, occurred one of the most painful of the many harrowing incidents of the Shoshone war. Two sergeants, named
547
STEELE RETIRES.
steamer Shoshone, were attacked. Letters and news- papers were found in Indian camps clotted with human gore. The people, sick of such horrors, cried loudly for relief. But at this juncture, when their services were most needed, the Indian allies were inustered out, although General Steele, in making his report, fully acknowledged their value to the service, saying they had done most of the fighting in the late expe- ditions, and proved efficient guides and spies. 36
On the 23d of November Steele relinquished the command of the department of the Columbia,37 which
Nichols and Denoille, left Camp Lyon in a four-horse ambulance to go to Fort Boisé, Denoille having with him his wife, who was in delicate health. Nine miles from camp, while passing through a rocky cañon, they were attacked by Indians in ambush, and Denoille, who was driving, was killed at the first fire. Nichols, not knowing that his comrade was hit, was giving his attention to the Indians, when Denoille fell out of the wagon dead, and the horses becoming frightened ran half a mile at the top of their speed, until one fell and arrested the flight of the others. Nichols now sprang out, followed by Mrs Denoille, whom he urged to conccal herself before the Indians came up; but being bereft of her reason by the shock of the tragedy, she insisted on returning to find her husband; and Nichols, hiding among the rocks, escaped to Carson's farm that evening. When a rescuing party went out from Silver City after Denoille's body, which was stripped and mutilated, nothing could be learned of the fate of his wife. A scouting party was immediately organized at Camp Lyon. At the Owyhee River the troops came upon a camp, from which the inmates fled, leaving only two Indian women. These women declared that Mrs Denville had not been harmed, but was held for ransom. One of them being sent to inquire what ransom would be required, failed to return, when the troops re- treated to camp to refit for a longer expedition. Col Coppinger and Capt. Hunt immediately resumed the pursuit, but the Indians had escaped. About the middle of Dec. a scouting party attacked a camp of twenty savages, kill- ing five and capturing six. Some of Mrs Denoille's clothing was found on one of the captured women, who said that the white captive was taken south to Winnemucca to be held for a high ransom. It was not until in the summer of 1868 that the truth was ascertained, when to a scout named Hicks was pointed out the place of the woman's death, and her bleaching bones. She had been taken half a mile from the road where the attack was made, dragged by the neck to a convenient block of stone, her head laid upon it, and crushed with another stone. The Indian who described the scene, and his part in it, was riddled by the bullets of the company. Boise Statesman, Oct, 24, 26, and Dec. 17, 1867; Owyhee Avalanche, June 13, 1868.
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