The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-14
INTERESTING FROM OREGON TERRITORY.
Our Fort Lane Correspondence.

Termination Of the Rogue River War-History of
the Campagn-Origm of the Shfe-Charac-
ter Of the Rogue River hadians-Defeats of the
Vhites-Arrvat of General Lane-Banle Of
Eoans' C,eek-Massocre of the "Grave Greeks"
Their H.story-1he Taylor Slaughters-Last
Battle Since the Tleaty-Es Stipwations-1he
Bearded Chlet-Departure of General Lane tor
Washington.
= The Rogue River war having, like all other wars
heretofore come to an end, it becomes the part OF
an impartial historian like myself to transmit to pos
terity true record of the glorious deeds performed
in the short but brilliant campaign so nobly begun.
doubt whether any one has had the generosity to
rive honor TO whom honor Is due; and 1t is to recty
anv partial statement that may have gone abroad Of
he herosms enacted in this valley, that send you
this brief but impartial synopsis
II taxes the ingenuity of the inhabitants Of this
valley to the utmost to assign q cause and com.
mencement to the ssnguinary conflict. Each indi
vidual has his own story Of how and where the war
6rst began; and though all aim to, none succeed in
fixing the com nencement of hostilities upon the In
dams
Last winter seven successful miners down on
Rogue river, near Gallows creek, were murdered by
The Indians it is supposed, and large amount Of
gold dust is thought to have fallen into the hands of
The mWderers. There is no positive proof that the
deed was committed by the Indians; but they were
Immediately charged with it, and the desire to reco-
yer the captured treasure rather than to revenge the
murder, set on foot many desperate expeditions,
composed Of reckless and abandoned men. John
Taylor was the chief of the Taylor Indians in that
vicinity He was caught last spring. tried, and shot.
Rnfo dnok hn ia tn, hav m tho
massacre, and to have implicated quite number of
his own people, and two Of the Grave Greek Indians
Also. The latter, as well as q1ite number of the
former, were brought to DEATH but no outbreak fol-
bowed these troubles.
For some years rumor has existed that white
woman had been captured and her husband killed by
the Indians Of this valley, about seven years ago. and
that she had been kept in bondage by them ever
since, in the mountains, out Of sight Of the whites.
Last summer an Indian came to Jacksonville and
gave fresh impulse to the rumor He stated that
the woman had long persuaded him to 20 and report
her bondage tc the whites, and that he had finally
consented to do so, and if the whites would go with
him he would show them to the Indian camp where
che was prisoner. A party Of eight or ten white
men joined in She expedition, and, guided by the In
dian, after some trouble came upon the Indian camp
in the moul tains where she was said to be kept
prisoner. They positively denied the story Of the
white woman, but admitted similar one with regard
TO foreign squaw captured from half breed Span
iard She was brought, and proved to be a klamath
Indian woman. The white men considered this q
subterfuge, and insisted on having the white woman
given up, or they would kill them all. The Indians
became alarmed and endeavored to make their es.
cape; the white men fired upon them and killed six
Of them No outbreak followed this affair." though it
is said to have had serious influence upon the war;
The following having preceded the outbreak but q
very short tme-one or two days ohly-is most gene
hOstilties. Last summer Spaniard and gambler in
Jacksonville, by the name Of DE Bush ny, bought q
squaw OF JIM one Of the chiefs in this valley. The
squaw was the widow Of Shasta Indian, and had
claimed her as his property De Bushay having fail
ed to comply with The purchase Jim stole her way
from him. De Bushay raised party, and by threats
and arms recaptured her. The Shasta Indians
chile abduction, and were highly incensed. They
went away threatening vengeance on the whites
In short time afterwards Edwards, Gibbs and
Others were killed under circumstances that struck
terror into the hearts of the people of Jacksonville
A perfect stampede followed The inhabitants,
without reflection, concluded that league had been
formed ag ainst them by all the indians in the coun
try; and the war commenced. The whites began
ME campaign by killing all the pet Indians about
tOwn-a term applied to Indians engaged in families
m domestic capacity and necessarily perfectly
innocent OF any part whatever in these murders
They then extended operations against the Indians
employed in families in .he country and any master
who protested against the hanging of his servant
was threatened with a similar fate and thus these
brave men went securing about the country, killing
and hanging these inofensive creatures instead Of
following the real perpetrators into their mountain
haunts little boy, practicing with his bow and
arrow on the plain, was thus disposed OF. An old
man and woman have met with similar Eates. No
matter how peaceaby disposed the Indian might be.
either mr. in
self-defence.
The Rogue River Indian is brave, and will resist
when impos edupon or mistreated, and will endure
no maltreatment submissivcly. These Indians have
never been friendly to the whites from the earliest
travelling by them through this country Up to 1850
scarcely party passed through the valley without
experiencing some depreciation from them. They
have ever been jealous Of the entertainments Of the
white men, and never were a. peace with them until
Gen. Lane concluded q treaty with them in 1850,
which they faithfully adhered to until broken by the
whites. They are noted for their truthfalness Joe,
Sam and Jim are the principal men amongst them.
Until the inconsiderate and base retaliation of the
whites neither these chiefs their people took aay
part in the outbreak OF had they done anything to
driven by these acts to self Defence they Tough. with
desperation, for the whites threatened them with
determination. They went to war with a magma
nimity unknown among savages. 1t is true they
waylad the roads, burnt houses and grain, and car
RED their depredatons almost into the streets Of
jackson vile. But there was no scapng, no killing
Of women and children. The whites were terror
stricken at tie holiness of their acts The fact i'm.
mediately forced itself upon their minds that the
Indians had by an illicit and abandoned trade on the
part OF the whites obtained possession Of nearly all
the arms in the country; the whole country focked
to Jacksonville, and the town was thronged with
nnarmed and helpless men. Expresses were sent off
IN every direction for aid but before it could arrive
much damage had been done, the farms and DWELL
ngs OF Industrious farmers had been laid waste and
many valuable lives we're lost by a war brought on
~ desperate and unprincipled miners, gamblers and
outlaws.
The whites for some time were driven in on every
quarter About the 10th VI August GriHin's party
Of twenty men was d.iven in with the loss of man.
On the 18th Lieutenant Ely lost nine men killed and
wounded, and though reinforced did not think it
prudent to pursue the enemy though they had with
drawn. It was not until the arrival of Gen. Lene
that the whites began to triumph. On the oath he
brought the Indians to terms. OF this fight much
has been said and published that is calculated to cen
vey wrong impression.
A party Of ninety men under Gen. Lane, Capt
Alden, U. g. A., and Capt. Armstrong of Yamhiil,
Hlrnriapd the Indians On the head yatpra If