Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-17
From the New York Herald.

part Oh an Impartial historian, ike myself, 10
transmit to posterity true record of the glori-
Gus deeds performed in the short but brilliant
campaign SO nobly begun. doubt whether
any one has had the generosity to give honor
to whom honor is due; and it is to rectify any
partial statement that may have gone abroad,
OF the heroisms enacted in this valley, that
send you this brief but impartial synopsis.
1t taxes the ingenuity OF the inhabitants of
this valley to the utmost to assign cause and
commencement to the sanguinary conflict.
Each individual has his own story of how and
where the war first begun; and though all aim
to, none succeed in fixing the commencement
of hostilities upon the Indians.
Last winter seven successful miners down
on Rogue river, near Gallows creek, were
murdered by the Indians, it is supposed, and a
large amount of gold dust is thought to have
fallen into the hands Of the murderers. There
is no positive proof that the deed was com.
mitted by the Indians; but they we're immedi.
ately charged with it, and the desire to recover
the captured treasure, rather than to revenge
the murder. set on foot many desperate expe-
ditions, 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. Before his death he is
said to have confessed to the massacre, and to
have implicated quite number of his own
people, and two of the Grave Creek Indians
also. The latter, as well as quite number Of
the former, were brought to death; but no out
break followed these troubles.
For some years q rumor has existed that q
white woman had been captured and her hus-
band 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 wo-
man had long persuaded him to go and report
her bondage to 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 she was prisoner. A party
of eight or ten white men Joined in the expedi-
ton, and, guided by the Indian, after some
trouble came upon the Indian camp in the
mountains where she was said to be kept
prisoner They positively denied the story of
the white woman, but admitted q similar one
with regard to foreign squaw captured from
halfbreed Spaniard. She was brought and
proved to be a Klamath Indian woman. The
white men considered this subterfuge, and
insisted on having the white woman given up,
or they would kill them all. The Indians be.
came alarmed and endeavored to make their
escape; 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 very short time-one or two days only
is most generally regarded as the immediate
commencement Of hostilities Last summer q
Spaniard and gambler in Jacksonville, by the
name of De Bushay, bought squaw of Jim,
one of the chiefs in this valley. The squaw
was the widow Of Shasta Indian, and had re-
turned to her people. Her husbands brother
claimed her as his property. De Bushay hav-
ing failed to comply with the purchase, Jim
stole her away from him. De Bushay raised a
party, and by threats and arms recaptured her.
The Shasta Indians, who had come for her,
were witnesses toherforciblea abduction, and were
highly incensed. They went away threatening
vengeance on the whites. In short time after.
wards, 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 against them by all the Indians in the
country; and the war commenced. The whites
began the campaign by killing all the pet In
dams about town-a term applied to Indians
engaged in families in domestic capacity, and
necessarily perfectly innocent of any part what
ever in these murders. They then extended
operations against the Indians employed in
families in the country, and any master who
protested against the hanging Of his servant
was threatened with similar fate; and thus
these brave men went securing about the coun
try, killing and hanging these inofensive crea-
lures, instead Of following the real perpetrators
into their mountain haunts. A little boy, prac
ticing with his bow and arrow on the plain, was
thus disposed Of An old man and woman
have met with similar fates. No matter how
peaceably disposed the Indian might be- he
was either killed or driven to the mountains in
selfdefence. a.a @s.
The Rogue river Indian is brave, and will
resist when imposed upon or mistreated, and
will endure no maltreatment submissively.
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 ex-
periencing some depreciation from them. They
have ever been jealous of the entertainments
of the white men, and never we're at peace
with them until Gen. Lane concluded
treaty with them in 1850, which they faithfully
adhered to until broken by the whites. They
are noted for their truthfulness. Joe, Sam and
Jim are the principal men amongst them. Until
the inconsiderate and base retaliation of the
whites, neither these chiefs nor their people took
any part in the outbreak, nor had they done
anything to Justify the mean attack upon their
people. But driven by these acts to self de-
fence, they fought with desperation, for the
whites threatened them with determination.
They went to war with magnanimity I'm.
known among savages. 1t is true they way.
laid the roads, burnt houses and grain, and
carried their depredations almost intothe streets
of Jacksonville. But there was no scalping,
no killing ofwoman and children. The whites
were terror-stricken at the boldness Of their
acts. The fact Immediately 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
unarmed 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 dwellings of industrious farmers
had been laid waste, and many valuable lives
were lost by a war brought on by desperate |