4S 'S/ .. ,- go r a' PI AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CENTRAL OREGON EMBRACING WASCO, SHERMAN, GILLIAM, WHEELER, CROOK, LAKE AND KLAMATH COUNTIES STATE OF OREGON WESTERN HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY PUBLISHERS SPOKANE, WASH. 190.(5 - WFC!PF? Pk ' ?I-'Qua2 JIACWN COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM M11TOOD. ONON 97501 m I , - _- I I - Noq4 70 HISTORY OF CENTRAL OREGON. Wool with some of the officers who echoed his Wool know that the distance from Fort Benton to the opinions, the regulars, in short, on one side, and supposed position of General Harney was greater than Governor Stevens, supported by the volunteers the distance from Fort Benton to The Dalles, and that and the nearly united people of the Territory on to obtain aid. from him would require not less than the other, was peculiarly acrimonious. We in- six months, and that an express to reach him must sert the following extract from the report by pass through the entire breadth of the Sioux? Such Governor Stevens to the secretary of war: ignorance shows great incapacity and is inexcusable. Mr. Secretary, Major General Wool, commanding When remonstrated with by Captain William Mc- the Pacific division, neglected and refused to send a Kay, in command of the company, to push forward to force to the relief of myself and party when known to my assistance, when informed of the object for which be in imminent danger, and believed by those who the company was enlisted, and that if it was not pushed were less capable of judging, to be coming on to cer- forward at once, or some other force was not sent, tain death, and this when he had at his command an Governor Stevens and his party would be in the most efficient force of regular troops. He refused to sanc- imminent danger, the general replied that in his opinion tion the agreement made between Governor Mason the danger was greatly exaggerated; that probably and Major Raines for troops to be sent to my as- Governor Stevens would be able to protect himself, sistance, and ordered them to disband. It was re- but if he could not, then Governor Stevens could ob- served for the Oregon troops to rescue us. tain an escort from General Harney. The only demonstration made by Major Raines What reply was that! A moiety of the Indians resulted in showing his utter incapacity to command now in arms had defeated a detachment of one hundred in the field. As has heretofore been said, his expedi- United States regulars. Major Raines had placed on tion against the Yakimas effected nothing but driv- record his opinion that an insufficient force would be ing the Indians into the very country through which defeated by these Indians, and my party was supposed I must pass to reach the settlements. to number no more than twenty-five men. Yet Major I therefore prefer charges against General Wool. General Wool very cooly says, "Governor Stevens I accuse him of utter and signal incapacity, of crim- can take care of himself." So, too, in the remark that inal neglect of my safety. I ask for an investigation I could obtain aid from General Harney. Did General into the matter and for his removal from command, CHAPTER VIII INDIAN WARS OF THE 'FIFTIES-CONTINUED. It was in the spring of 1850 that the first that he had come to talk with them and, if possi- cloud arose foreshadowing the Rogue River war. ble, effect a treaty. Two chiefs, accompanied by That season a party of miners who had collected about seventy-five warriors, responded. A cir- a considerate sum in gold dust in the California cle was formed and Lane and the chiefs placed placers, were returning home. Reaching the themselves in its center. But previous to the Rogue river, they were encamped, at Rock Point. opening of the conference a second band of war- Here they were attacked by Indians and plundered riors, as large as the first, and fully armed with of everything of value, including the bags of gold bows and arrows, made their appearance and be- dust. It was to settle with these "rogues" that gan descending the neighboring hill upon the General Joseph Lane set out in May, (or June), camp. Quatley was ordered by Lane to come to visit south Oregon. The party comprised inside the circle and stand, with two or three fifteen white men and the same number of Klick- Indians, beside the head Rogue River chief. itats under their chief, Quatley, the determined Then the new-comers, apparently hostiles-were enemy of the Rogue river Indians. Quatley was commanded to lay down their arms and be not asked to fight, but to assist in the making of seated. The council proceeded. To them was a treaty. explained the occasion of this visit; they were Arriving at Rogue river, Lane's party en- reminded of their uniform conduct toward the camped, and he sent word to the principal chiefs white men; of their murders and robberies, and HISTORY OF CENTRAL OREGON. 71 were given to understand emphatically, that white his men, who in their haste left their sabres tied to their people were to be permitted to travel unmolested. saddles, Stuart made a dash for the enemy. They met The Rogue River chief, at the conclusion of him with equal courage. A brief struggle took place Lane's speech. a(ldressetl his l)eol)le in loud in which eleven Indians were killed and several tones: in response they raised the war-cry and wounded Stuart, himself, was matched against a ma(le a threatening display of their arms. Seeing powerful warrior, who had been struck more than this, Lane directed Quatley to hold the head once without meeting his death. As the captain ap- chief. The latter was now a prisoner and Quat- proaclehed the savage, though prostrate, let fly an ar- Iey In dh a knife at his throat. The sullen war- row which pierced him through, lodging in his kid- riors laid down their arms. Upon this prompt neys, of which wound he died the day after the battle. action on the part of Lane the captured chief had Captain Peck was, alo, wounded severely, and one not counted. He then ordered his men to retire of his troop slightly * * * While these events an(l not return for two days. A treaty was con- were in progress, both Gaines nad Lane were oi their cluded and Lane gave the Indians slips of paper way to the scene of action. stating the fact and warning white men to (1o Early on the 25th the command moved back dowvn them no injury. the river to overtake the Indians who had escaped dur- During the gold discoveries of 185o in the ing the night, and crossiig the river seven miles above Klamath valley, there was an hegira of Ore- the ferry found the trail leading tip Sardine creek, gonians thither. Despite General Lane's treaty which being followed brought them tip with the fugi- with Chief Jo, eternal vigilance was required to tives, one of whom was killed, while the others scattered prevent hostile encounters with his tribe as well through the woods like a covey of quail in the grass. as with the Unipqua Valley tribes, south of the Two days were spent in pursuing and taking prison- canyon. A young man named Dilley was treach- ers the women and children. the men escaping. On the erously mturdered, some time in May, by two 27th the army scoured the country from the Ferry to Rogue River Indians. Learing this thirty men Table Rock, retiring in the evening to Camp Stuart, of Shasta formed a company, headed by one when the campaign was considered as closed. Long, marched across the Siskiyou, and coming upon a hand at the crossing of Rogue River, At the first these Indians had been proudly killed a sub-chief and one other Indian, took two defiant. It was the boast of Chief Jo that his warriors and two tlaughters of another chief thousand warriors could keep a thousand arrows prisoners, holding them as hostages for the deliv- in the air continuously. Their pride suffered a erv of the murderers of Dilley. The chief re- fall they were htimbled and humiliated. On the fused to give up the guilty parties. Moreover, he arrival of Gaines at Rogue River he found Kear- threatened to send a strong force to destroy ney gone an(l the Indians scattered. Succeeding Long's command, which remained at the cross- in an attempt to collect them in council, a treaty ing awaiting events. They were not, however, was effected, eleven head men of the Indians molested, but an alarm became general through- agreeing on terms of peace. By this treaty the out the southern valleys. and a petition was for- Indians placed themselves under the jurisdiction warded to Governor Gaines from the settlers in and protection of the United States. They also the limp(qna for permission to recruit a company agreed to restore all the property stolen at any of volunteers to proceed against the Indians. time from white persons. Then their wives and Then the governor took the matter under con- children were given back to them. sideration, but repaired in person to the scene of In Jantiary. i8_56, Governor Stevens returne(l the reporte(l hostilities. to Olympia. On his arrival be found that the June ist ilajor Kearney began a march storm of war was in full blast from cast to west. sotuthward with two skeleton companies of artil- M\lany settlers had been murdered 1w the sound lervnmen, to take charge of government property Indians, aided by the Yakimas.