Benton County, Oregon - Chapter 23: First Campaign Against the Indians, 1885

Chapter 23: First Campaign Against the Indians

Murder of Dilley - Other attacks - Arrival of Government Troops - Battle with the Indians - Death of Captain Stewart - His Character - General Lane Arrives - Further Operations - The Indians Chastised - Governor Gaines Makes a Treaty with the Indians - Official Acts - Agent Skinner - More Complaints Against the Indians - Affairs on the Coquille.

About May 15, 1851, a party of three white packers and two supposed friendly Indians camped about thirty miles south of the Rogue river crossing, probably near the site of Phoenix. During the night the two savages arose, and taking the only gun owned by the party shot and killed one Dilley, and then tied, carrying away the mules and packs. The other two whites escaped, and spread the news of the murder. Captain Long, of Portland, then mining near Shasta Butte City (Yreka), raised a company of thirty men to correct the savages, and proceeding north, encountered at some undesignated place a party of them. These they attacked, killing two and capturing four, of whom two were the daughters of the chief. The latter were held as hostages.

Probably in nearly the same locality, and certainly within the Rogue river valley, several other hostile occurrences took place, which are casually mentioned in the public prints of that time. On the first of June, 1851, a band of Indians had attacked twenty-six prospectors, but withdrew, doing no damage. On June second four men were attacked and robbed of their mules and packs while on the way to the mines. On the same day and near by, Nichols' pack-train was robbed of several animals and packs, and one man was hit in the heel by a bullet. Other travelers were beset at about the same time and place, one train losing, it was reported, four men. Says the Statesman: "The provisions stolen by these Indians were left untouched, because a Mr. Turner, of St. Louis, had killed several of them by allowing them to rob him of poisoned provisions (sixteen or seventeen years before)." On June third a party of thirty-two Oregonians under Dr. James McBride, and including also A. M. Richardson, of San Jose, California ; James Barlow and Captain Turpin, of Clackamas county; Jesse Dodson and his son aged fourteen years ; Aaron Payne and Dillard Holman, of Yamhill county ; and Jesse Runnels, Presley Lovelady, and Richard Sparks, of Polk county ; had a severe fight with the Indians near " Green Willow Springs, about twenty miles the other side of Rogue river crossing." At daybreak they were attacked by a party of Rogue River Indians under chief Chucklehead, as he was called by some whites. The assailed party had seventeen guns, the assailants about as many, the most of the latter being armed with bows and arrows. After fighting four and a half hours the Indian leader was killed and the rest retreated. The chief was in the act of aiming an arrow at James Barlow when Richardson shot him. Six or seven Indians were killed, but no hurt was done to the whites, excepting that Barlow was wounded in the

The following correct version of the events that then transpired have been most kindly placed at our disposal by Hon. Jesse Applegate, than whom no higher authority on matters pertaining to the history of Oregon exists:

When the Oregon Rifle Regiment was distanded at Vancouver in the year 1851, Major Philip Kearney was permitted to draft of the rank and file of that corps, into his regiment of dragoons, two companies, one under ihe command of Captain Stewart, a native of South Carolina; the other, under the command of Captain Walker, a native of Missouri. These Companies belonged to the same regiment, and were in all respects, similarly armed and equipped with saber, revolver and carbine. Lieut. R. Williamson of the Corps of Engineers accompanied these troops on their march from Vancouver to Benicia, having in view to make an exploration of the country from Southern Oregon, east of the Sierra Nevada, down the valley of the Pitt river, and as far south as where Reno now stands. Capt. Levi Scott and Jesse Apf>legate, two of the explorers of the Southern Emigrant Route of 1846, were engaged as guides to the expedition. At the cayon of the Umpqua mountain, the Major found several hundred miners, packers, etc., awaiting his arrival to place themselves under his protection as an Indian war was raging in all the country south.

Being limited in his supplies to what was deemed sufficient for his march, and on that account unprepared to go into an Indian war, and yet desirous to strike a blow it these troublesome enemies, the Major consulted his guides in regard to penetrating the Rogue River country by a route that would bring his command in the rear of the hostiles, and thereby enable him to cut them off f»om their mountain fastnesses to which they usually retired, when pursued by a force strong enough to chastise them. After due consideration, the guides undertook the service, Mr. Nichols, the packer frequently mentioned in this history, being engaged to transport the necessary baggage, the command took up their line of march up the South Umpqua river. It being June of a late spring, the necessity of making ferries wherever a stream of any size was to be crossed, much retarded the march. The Umpqua river itself was crossed about twenty miles south of the canyon. When the usual canoe was dug and the ferry prepared, the guides with a pioneer party, crossed over and took up a southerly fork of the Umpqua, now known as Elk creek, and after making a road about eight miles through its open valley, bivouacked at a spring never seen by white men before. Elk creek forks about ten miles from its mouth, and a trail which seemed to have been much used in former years, led up the mountain between the forks; along this trail a pack-trail was opened, crossing the summit, from whence an extended view of the Rogue river valley may be had with the great Pilot Rock on the Siskiyou in full view at least seventy miles to the southward. The trail descends to the south between the forks of Trail creek, and into the open country of Rogue river valley - the Major's camp being selected on the creek about three miles from its mouth. The troops having effected a crossing the previous evening, were early on the trail in the morning, and overtook the pioneers at the camp on Trail creek about 5 o'clock in the evening, having made a march of about 25 mites. The camp on Trail creek was one of profound silence, noise of no kind was permitted, and to make the march down the valley as noiseless as possible, next morning the troopers were required to strap their sabers to their saddles to prevent their clank from being heard by the enemy. It was at an early hour on the twenty-sixth or twenty-seventh day of June, that the command commenced its march from Trail creek, the guide, Applegate, about 100 yards in advance with orders closely to examine the ground for signs of the enemy; the fighting force came next; Capt. Walker's Company, with the Major in front; Stewart next, the baggage and rear guard following. Not long after reaching the path running near the bank of the river, the guide in front discovered fresh moccasin tracks in a newly thrown up gopher mound, and beyond, the tracks of a single man evidently making his best time along the path. The fact was immediately reported, and the whole command put upon the charge. Notwithstanding this tremendous pace over the smooth valley, the nimble savage was not brought in sight for about three miles, when he was seen for a moment at the edge of the hummock that lined the bank of the river into which he plunged. Capt. Walker was commanded to follow, but before he could effect a crossing, Capt. Stuart swept ahead with the rest of the command, the Indians keeping nearly even pace with it on the opposite bank of the river, hallooing at ever) leap he gave at the top of his voice to give notice to his friends below that the avenger was coming. For about a mile further, this exciting race to save life and to inflict death was kept up, when upon turning a point of brush on the river, a body of Indians, all warriors of about equal numbers, stood in front of the dashing and excited cavalry.

The spot where this memorable fight took place is about ten miles above Table Rock on the right or west bank of Rogue river. A lagoon runs into the river just where it makes a short bend to the west. There is an almost inpenetrable thicket o brush spreading along the ravine, which, tending upwards toward the river leaves only the narrow entry to this peninsula of open ground through which the whites entered, while the river on its side sweeps around this almost Island, with a deep and rapid current, with abrupt and brushy banks. It was a most admirably chosen battle field, and could the Indian runner have succeeded in giving his friends notice only of a few minutes, the daring charge of the Major into this stronghold might have resulted in a terrible tragedy and defeat. But the highest ground in the peninsula being along the bank of the river, it seems the whole body of Indians had rushed there to ascertain what was going on up the river; the charging cavalry had cut them off from the lagoon almost as soon as they were seen; they were not prepared to fight a whirlwind or thunderbolt, and seemed only intent on escape, and by the river was their only chance. But the troubles of the savages were not ended. As the sabers of Capt. Stuart's Company were strapped to their saddles in such a way that they could not get at them, they used their firearms only, but the flying Indians had barely reached the opposite bank of the river, when Capt. Walker was upon them, his troops sword in hand. Here many were slaughtered; the writer of this saw Capt. Walker cut down two of these helpless wretches with his own hand.

No time was wasted on the battle field. Walker was ordered to continue down the left or east side of the river. The Major with Capt. Stuart's Co. guided by Capt. Scott marched down the right. Applegate, assisted by the packers and four soldiers, was directed to select a suitable place to camp, remove the baggage and wounded to it, and act as a kind of ex-officio until the Major's return. All which was done, the camp being about one mile west. In looking for a suitable camp a canoe was found concealed in the bushes, which was of great value to the command in ferrying the wounded and baggage to the opposite bank of the river the day following. In the fight a sergeant and one private were slightly wounded, and Capt. Stuart mortally. He was in the act of charging an Indian (still on his feet and making resistance) with a clubbed revolver, the chambers of which had been exhausted. The Indian, before receiving the blow of the revolver, shot the Captain just above the pelvis, the arrow severing the connections between the bladder and the kidneys, lodging against the back bone. In the course of the evening a smoke was seen to arise from near the body of the Indian who wounded Stuart. As the place could be approached by means of the lagoon, Applegate, Nichols and some of the packers, cautiously approached the spot where they found seven or eight Indians standing around their dead comrade. The whites from a distance of about 150 yards, took deliberate aim at these unsuspecting mourners and fired at the word three. The whole party of the assailed fell down at ihe report of the rifles. When the whites, after loading their rifles, reached the place, the Indian killed in the morning alone remained on the ground. Some robes, bows and quivers remained, and a bloody trail led to the river, but no scalps. Meantime Capt. Walker continued down the valley on the southeast side, but was forced to leave the vicininy of the river on account of brush and streams, until he reached the west bank of Bear creek, where the to%/n of Phoenix now stands. Here he encamped until joined by the rest of the force next evening.

Major Kearney pressed forward with his force down the northwest side of the river until in the vicinity of Table Rock he found so large an Indian force in his front that he deemed it prudent to take post in a grove of trees which happened to be convenient for that ourpose. It was the opinion of the Major and Capt. Scott that the Indians numbered near 500; were drawn up with considerable skill, cavalry on the wings, infantry in the center, and something like front and rear guards covering them. They made one movement by their right flank, as if to cut off the Major from the stream and apparently to get into his rear, but when promptly met in this movement they desisted, and did not again place themselves in reach of his carbines.

Finding the Indian not disposed to attack, and having no hope of effecting a junction with Capt. Walker in that direction, the Major fell back to his own camp to which the Indians did not presume to follow. Having crossed the river a short distance above our camp, with the assistance of the canoe before named, and providing a horse litter for Capt. Stuart, (the rest of the wounded being able to ride,) we took up the line of march on the trail of Capt. Walker, made the previous day. Near the deep rapid stream of the Little Butte we came upon a large horse trail going up the broad valley of that stream so fresh as to indicate that it was but a few hours old. From explorations since made in that part of the country I think this trail was made by mounted Indians going to the Lake country, east by that favorable pass; for after their display of force to Major Kearney they seem to have scattered in all directions - even small parties were seldom seen. About sundown of that day we reached Capt. Walker's camp where Capt. Stuart died and was burried under a large oak tree until his friends sent for his remains two years after. After being joined by a volunteer force Major Kearney remained a few days longer and assisted with his command in searching for the enemy, but becoming satisfied they had put themselves beyond his reach he continued his

The following has also been furnished by Mr. Applegate, and is inserted here, from a desire to give as near an absolute correct version of every historical event as can be obtained from the memoranda and recollections of the early pioneers :

Page 120. - "The third one" who escaped the Umpqua massacre was not * 4 Richard Laughlin" but Turner, the same who escaped with Smith and Galbraith from the Indian fight on the Colorado. [See page 119.] The same Turner also was afterwards, one of four who escaped of a party massacred by the Rogue river Indians in 1837. [See page 131.] When I came to Oregon in 1843, Turner was living with a squaw on the west side of the Willamette river in what is now Polk county. He was a man of gigantic stature, about seven feet high and must have beenr a Hercules in strength as he was one in symmetry and proportions.

Pages 148 and 149. - On these pages you notice what has been known as the "Southern Route" to Oregon. The notice is very imperfect and essentially untrue. The fall of 1846, was one of exceptional drought and sterrility west of the Rocky mountains, and immigrants suffered much more for grass and water on the old established routes to Oregon and California than upon the new. It is true the teams of the immigrants were much weakened by breaking a new road through the sage plains of Nevada but the timbered portions of it were opened liefore them by the lal>or and at the expense of the explorers. The loss of wagons and other property at the Umpqua canyon was great, but it was not suffered by the company that led the van and broke the road, but as usual by the loiterers in the rear. As the leading company passed through the canyon in a single day and suffered no loss - so might the rest had they used due diligence, but they were a week behind and the fall rains came on before they had passed this defile, so it was the abundance of water and not its scarcity that caused them loss and suffering. It was not "a few years later " as you state but every year from the time of opening the road in 1846 until 1855 when the fierce hostility of the Modoc's and other Indians along the route closed it) - "this route through Nevada * * * was used by thousands of immigrants entering Northern California and Southern Oregon." The desert that every where surrounds the lower Humboldt is the only one on this route "a level plain of twenty-five miles. There is no lack of grass and water at convenient distances elsewhere.

Steve Meek never saw the canyon in 1843, nor did any other white man before it was explored and opened in 1846. The canyon instead of being a shame and disgrace to iis explorers, is an honor to every one engaged in the arduous undertaking, for though frequently undertaken, in the interim of 38 years, no other route has been found by which a wheeled vehicle has passed between the Umpqua and Rogue river valleys, and consequently staging and all other land intercourse, (except a very little east of the Cascades) between Oregon and California has been carried on through this much abused, though wonderful natural route. As to the motive of the exploring party, it is enough to say it was neither selfish nor precuniary as none of them received or asked a cent from any one who traveled that road. The Oregon legislature authorized Capt. Levi Scott, one of its explorers, further to improve it, and charge toll for its use, (see Acts of 1847); but he only traveled it once and made a few changes.

Jesse Applegate Indian Wars

These events, occurring in rapid sequence, deepened the before general impression of the hostile character of the Rogue Rivers and made it necessary that an armed force should be employed to pacificate the red men. Providentially, it happened at this juncture that Brevet Major P. Kearney, afterwards a celebrated general in the Union army, and killed at the battle of Chantilly, with a detachment of two companies of United States regulars, was on his way from the station at Vancouver to that of Benicia, California, guided by W. G. T'Vault. Approaching closely to the scene of hostilities he was invited to lend his aid in suppressing the savages. About the same time Governor Gaines, of Oregon, disquieted by the reports of Indian outrages, set [out from the seat of government with the design of using his executive authority to form a treaty with the offenders ; and the task was made an easy one by the prompt and energetic action of Major Kearney and General Joseph Lane, who cleared a way for executive diplomacy, whereas, without their help his excellency would most certainly have failed of his laudable object and possibly have lost his scalp besides.

The most intelligible accounts which can be gathered represent that Major Kearney found the main body of the Indians on the right bank of Rogue river, about ten miles above Table Rock and nearly opposite the mouth of a small creek which enters the river from the east, and above Little Butte creek. The troops consisted of two companies ; one of dragoons, commanded by Captain Stewart, the other a rifle company, under Captain Walker. The latter officer crossed the river, probably with the design of cutting off the savages' retreat, while Captain Stewart, dismounting his men, charged upon the Indians who were gathered at a rancheria. The conflict was very short, the Indians fleeing almost immediately. A wounded Indian lay upon the ground, and Captain Stewart approached, revolver in hand, to dispatch him ; but the savage, fixing an arrow to his bow-string, discharged it at close range and pierced the captain's abdomen, the point transfixing one of his kidneys. The fight and pursuit soon ended and the wounded man was taken to the camp of the detachment which spot was named, and subsequently for several years known as Camp Stewart, and is popularly supposed to be the spot where the battle occurred. Jesse Applegate is the authority for fixing the location as above stated. Accounts of the battle proceed to say that the wounded man was mortally injured, but remained sensible to the last. He lived a day, and, before dying said : " It is too bad to have fought through half the battles of the Mexican war to be killed here by an Indian." He was buried with military honors in a grave near the present village of Phoenix, nearly at the place where the ditch crosses the stage road, and where Mr. Culver's house now stands. In later years the remains were exhumed and taken to Washington to be re-interred near those of his mother. General Lane said of the deceased : " We have lost Captain Stewart, one of the bravest of the brave. A more gentlemanly man never lived; a more daring soldier never fell in

Captain Stewart's engagement is supposed to have taken place on June 20 or 27. It happened that at the same time Major Alvord, with Jesse Applegate as guide, was making an examination of the canyon or Cow creek mountain, between the Umpqua and Rogue river regions, to determine a feasible route for a military road. The surveying party, which included several other well known early pioneers as well as a small military escort, was in the neighborhood of Cow creek. At the same time General Lane, who was on his way south, had arrived in the canyon. Here he was met by men who informed him of the occurrences of the preceding days, that a severe fight had taken place, and that the Indians were gathering from every quarter; that they were hy-as solluks, (fighting mad), and that heavy fighting was anticipated. This was news enough to arouse the warlike spirit of the General, and without losing a moment by delay he and his little party pushed for the scene of hostilities, anxious to be the first to strike a blow in the cause of humanity. It was characteristic of the man to make all possible haste to the scene, and accordingly we find him on Rogue river in the shortest possible time, an enthusiastic volunteer, armed with no military or civil authority, but taking, as became the man and the time, a most active and important part in the events of the succeeding days.

In his own words; "On Sunday night, while picketing our animals, an express rider came, who informed us that the Major [Kearney] had set out with his command that evening to make a forced march through the night and attack the enemy at daybreak. Early Monday morning I set out with the hope of falling in with him or with the Indians retreating from him. We made a hard day's ride, but found no one. On Tuesday I proceeded to camp Stewart; but no tidings had been received from the Major. Late in the evening Captain Scott and T'Vault came in with a small party, for supplies and re-inforcements. They reported that the military had fought two skirmishes with the Indians, one early Monday morning, the other late in the afternoon, the Indians having, after wounding Stewart, posted themselves in a dense hummock where they defended themselves for four hours, escaping in the darkness. The Indians suffered severely, and several whites were injured.

" By nine o'clock at night we were on our way, and at two o'clock the next morning we were in the Major's camp. Here I had the pleasure of meeting my friends Applegate [Jesse], Freaner, and others. Early in the morning we set out [soldiers and civilians together], proceeding down the river, and on Thursday morning crossed about seven miles from the ferry. We soon found an Indian trail leading up a large creek, and in a short time overtook and charged upon a party of Indians, killing one. The rest made their escape in dense chaparral. We again pushed rapidly forward and late in the evening attacked another party of Indians, taking twelve women and children and wounding several males who escaped. Here we camped; and next day scoured the country to Rogue river, crossing it at Table mountain and reaching camp at dark.

" The Indians have been completely whipped in every fight. Some fifty of them have been killed, many wounded, 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. The establishing of a garrison in this district will be necessary for the preservation of peace. That done, and a good agent located here, we shall have no more trouble in this quarter. As for our prisoners, the Major was anxious to turn them over to the people of Oregon, to be delivered to the Superin- tendent of Indian affairs ; but no citizens could be found who were willing to take charge of them. Consequently he determined to take them to San Francisco and send them from there to Oregon."

A few days later when the troops and General Lane had reached the diggings near Yreka, the General himself, having determined to return to Oregon, took charge of the prisoners and delivered them to Governor Gaines, at the Rogue river crossing (near Vannoy's). The General closes his account by assigning due credit to different members of the expedition, as Major Kearney, Captain Waiker, of the Rifles; Dr. Williamson, Lieutenant Irvin, Messrs. Applegate, Scott, T'Vault, Armstrong, Blanchard and Boon, Col. Freaner and his volunteers, etc. Quite a number of miners assisted against the Indians, many having come from the newly discovered diggings on Josephine creek to take part. A great rush of men from Yreka and that vicinity had taken place just previous, and many of these, not finding sufficient inducements to remain, were on their way back to California, but stopped at Bear creek and lent their aid to suppress the Indians.

The campaign of June ended by the departure of the regulars, who took up their line of march for California and will be heard of no more in our story. But before the effects of their operations in the Rogue river valley had died away, and while most of the men who inflicted such sudden punishment on the Indians were still near by, Governor Gaines came to the Rogue river crossing and arranged a treaty of peace. The terms of this treaty mainly consist of a promise on the part of the Indians that they would be very good Indians indeed, and not kill or rob any more white men. They would stay on their own ground, which for official purposes was recognized as the north side of the river ; and they would cheerfully obey the commands of whatever individual was sent among them as agent. To this treaty the signatures of eleven chiefs were appended, whose bands were bound thereby to obey its stipulations. But the most troublesome and desperate individuals of the native tribes refused to be thus bound ; and the strong parties known as the Grave creek and Scisco mountain bands, refused to meet the governor or have aught to do with the treaty.

Something of an organization had been given to the department of Indian affairs of Oregon, by the creation of a superintendent thereof, who being the governor of the territory, held the former position ex officio. But the administration of this department not proving, for some reason, satisfactory to the authorities at Washington, the two offices were separated, and Doctor Anson Dart was appointed superintendent in 1851, soon after the Rogue river treaty was formed. Judge A. A. Skinner, formerly on the territorial bench, was chosen agent for the Indians of the southern part of the territory, and set about his duties. The judge was a gentleman of the strictest honor and probity, but was singularly unsuccessful in his dealings with the Rogue river bands. Within a short time after his accession to office, the terms of the Gaines treaty being still recognized, a number of white immigrants took up donation claims on the north side of Rogue river, within the region informally set apart for the Indians. Judge Skinner expostulated ; but commands and appeals to the new-comers were alike unheeded ; the settlers remained and the Indians took umbrage at what they considered a breach of faith on the part of the whites. It does not appear that the intruding settlers in all cases maintained a permanent residence upon the land assigned to the Indians, and this cause of complaint seems never to have assumed much magnitude. However that may have been, Judge Skinner was much liked by his wards, and was lamented by them at his departure. He was ever ready to interpose his authority, limited though it was, between the whites and the Indians, and with ampler power might have served to obviate, for a time, the ills of the subsequent year, though not even the ablest of minds could have permanently settled the causes at issue, since they were inevitably bound to terminate in war.

As some pretended to have foreseen the Gaines treaty proved an unmitigated failure. Hardly had the governor set his face toward the valley of the Willamette, than quarrels, misunderstanding, and serious difficulties broke out between the red and white occupants of Rogue river valley and neighboring localities. The one race speedily grew "insolent" and the other began, as usual, reprisals. There were not wanting unprincipled men of both races, whose delight was to stir up war and contention, and ruffianly bands of either color paraded the country and a condition of terrorism prevailed. Among the Indians, it was said, were several white men who had adopted Indian dress and manners, and these, if such existed, as there doubtless did, must have proved among the worst enemies of peace. Much complaint of the Indians began to be rife very soon after the treaty was signed; and the Cow Creek Indians, always a pugnacious tribe, were charged with the commission of several outrages within two months 01 that event. The whites mining at Big Bar and other places on the Rogue river, and industriously prospecting the numerous streams which flow into it, were in constant danger. . Lieutenant Irvin, of the regular army, was kidnapped by two savages (Shastas probably) and a Frenchman, removed to the trackless woods, tied to a tree and subjected to many sorts of personal indignity. He escaped however, injured only in mind, but deeply convinced that the locality was too dangerous for a pleasant existence. This occurred in July. In consequence of this and other occurrences, General Hitchcock, commanding the Pacific Department, dispatched a force of twenty regular troops from Vancouver and Astoria to Port Orford, a newly located place on the coast of Curry county, thirty miles north of the mouth of Rogue river and then supposed to be accessible from the former seat of war near Table Rock. Subsequent explorations have dispelled this idea and proved that the military, so far as their effect upon the malcontents of the upper portion of Rogue river valley was concerned, might as well have been left at Vancouver. However, they were well situated to awe the hostiles who had broken out nearer the coast. Contemporaneously with the events above mentioned had occurred on the coast several incidents of the greatest celebrity. The accounts of two of these, the defense of Battle Rock, at Port Orford, and the memorable T' Vault- Williams exploring expedition, will be found in another part of this work, the space deemed suitable for their proper presentation being too extended for this article. The Indians of the Coquille river being thus found hostile, the detachment, somewhat re-inforeed, proceeded under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Casey, to teach them a lesson. Dividing his small force into two bodies, the commander proceeded to the forks of the Coquille, and near the locality now called Myrtle Point, attacked a band of natives, who retreating from the one detachment fell in with and were beaten by the other. This took place in the autumn of 1851.