The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-30
Cur Rogue River Correspondence.
CAMP AT OAK FLAT, NEAR THE JUNCTION OF
ILLINOIS AND RMarE RIYKRs 0. 7

CAMP At OAK FLAT, NEAR JUNCTION OF
ILLINOIS AND RoGrE RIVERS o.
Rogue River Cdm,atgn-Chasino anu Whipping Isiians-
The Indians Solicit Peace the Basis of the -Four Posns-
Their Bdrtarous Treatment Jy The Miners and Sqaa2ers-
Aspect Of the Coumtry-Gold Ese,yuhere Abundant
Since last wrote you from the Columbia river I had
70 leave that happy land where the people, uncursed by
the necessity Of labor have nshing do but compete
with each other for the spoils We started for the Gia
river got far San Francisco baywere there turned
backcame up the coast to Crescent Ctymarched thence
along the " rock bound ocean shorc, to the mouth Of
Rogue rver-had skrmish first day we got thcre-a re
crut shot the corporal Of the guard and killed hm-a
few days afterwards we went up the rivcr-wcre
gagged in q small fight, when several killed and
amongst Others the head devil Of the enemy wound
-(one Enos Canadian Indian, who has helped to slim
uate this war; promising these Indians aid from King
Georges men) Is it rather coincidence that the
Indians all immense Territories should have be-
come SO hostile at the same time that the English and
French going % make us behave ourselvess After
this engaged in " scouting and escorting
from fort ford, up and down the coast the Chcct
river, at which place We surprised large force-70
sc-of the enemy, and with forty chased them
three miles, killing their best chief and others
About ton days since our chief broke camp at the
mouth Of Rogue rver and started for this part Of the
wilderness. II took days 10 cut our way owe
mountains and through thickets, thirty miles, to hi
camp. On our way just before we got here, we met
friendly delegation from the enemy Said delegation was
bareicoted, red shrcd savage, whom found sitting
on his hams OIL mountain alongside Of the Indian we
had sent 20 meet him. On the day before yesterday We
came down steep mountain and found the other party
which had been sent up the north side Of the river
ana after crossing the stream in boat to them
all Camped this the largest piece Of fiat land have
seen in the country; It is almost a mile long.
Last night all the officers were called to meet the Indian
chiefs who came in 70 wawa De, talk Old Joshua's
bandthe Yucas Chetcoes and footoonys--were repro
sened Terms were dictated and accepted the basis
Of the four points, viz
l. Indians to give up and come In.
2 To go on a reserve
g. proposed by the enemy)-Not to have their hands
ued-i. e., not to be put in confinement.
q. That when on reserve white squa.tcrs and miners
are not to be allowed TO kill the or take the women
Note.Ihis fourth point proposed BY them and promised
Our military CHIEF may be authorized to promise it. but
am SINE has no right or power to keep the promise
Ihe fourth point caused much 'swawa" especially that
part Of in relation to squaws Squaws are opposed 70
the fourth point.
We have had more OF the chiefs In 10 day. and NAV
hear something from tho upper Indians-the hard
fighting FELLOWSHIP morrow. These h., have had so
many of their women ami children Killed In time of
peace, that they say II safer for them continue tho
war; and have no doubt they will do 80, simply be-
earse they cannot give themselves up 20 on reser
vaon o. the barren mountain without danger OF tarva
tcn INC government agents refuse To feed them
These Indians riet the reservation last year. in good
faiih; and being hungered sent party, principally
women and children, on the the river fish
but the volunteers were laying In wait for theA and
killed twenty three eighteen Of which party were wo.
and children This have from United States ON.
Ger who went out TO protect the Indiaus He sail
1.-The volunteers ran as soon us they the regulars
'ning" This looks like very nhuman system, but it
as true as that there Is God in heaven.
These lEaais do not want 10 tight the regulars; they
want vs. to protect them from the inhumanity of miners
a,.t sqnatfers but we are powerless Last week an ex
mer. came to our Colonel. stating that of the
people of the village of Fort Oxford had takes Co.
ic Indian from the reserve, and there had held mock
rai tcu him for an alleged murder, said to have been
committed two years since a squatter, (the white,
ard Indians were then shooting each other being at
war; they sentenced the Indian be hanged next day
nra did hang him hour and half; and am told that
y mt being thcn dead they took him down killed
BIN Now have lived pretty rough life, have helped
and witnessed the shooting of white and hanging OF
dns, with no other law TO justify il than that Of self
preservation; but though have shared in some such
Een, disgust at the imbecility Of our government
when am compelled To witness hear Of daily the cold
oiooded calculating murders and outragcs practsed
weak race by our ffontersmen.
how for few words descriptive Of this country over
which have been travelling for the last three month";
IL IL one chaotic confused wilderness of noun ans
mong which small streams wind away down at the
lott ms Of deep kenyons or troaghs, between steep
mountain sides.
Standing on tie top of one Of these pcaks-wheu one
6an Get theIe-nauIht but rocks and other pcaks are
seem stretching acr ugly heads to the Clouds and each
cDe trying to look more Irregular aud orbiding than
nelshtor and generally succeeding in the effort but oh
me quantities Of quartz veins" the fred clay" the
'aoose Slate aud TIC other signs of gold which bruso
our siDs aud tear yenr trowsers you travel and
which we "struck" on every mountain and in every
suich We, of course, carry supplies mules aud
IN most places they cannot travel. We have hal
with part train OF from f40 to $50 animals Tor
lie H.. two weeks AM thirty forty packers VINO
tend the. trains all declared that they bound to
ptosp' t. ths new gold region the Indian
are moved ont Of IT. Copper, toe, in huge masses AMI
signs OF svcrs also The streams ftvc plenty
q fish IN salmon trout, b. and good many elh
nd deer an s lett IN the bills here and there on the
treGms We find SINAI! bottom OF grass fat where
he lnfiaps have she'r vll3~cs they travel lnoS, |
ways III their cai ocs, All live on fish, 'canas" aai
corns, or such orr ro'ts an berries grow spona
ou iy They have lct some Of the wrlts and
thu vices and Gis,c~ v Oh" whites which, with their
natural impJoydercc, and tbe destruction OF root
hey feed on by The setter hogs Ia drove Of whj viii
IL troy the cL " tltttcels whole tribe Of Ia iss
viii Inevitably kiti the fssians of in CIV y,s,r;
yer u our nalfeet oeftiny would not iissa OK
gliding the aita of freedom md the 'banner o. Chrr
sA!yO with HE whisRoy bottle IN one hand the ne
y VIC oder, tar,uh these regions q Me heatAoa, \
W. g4e aieHr vilc. =
~ my neSt letter - you hope 10 be abb to give you
04nt ~ our toay, and ~ 3 OF this
IN, with few reflections on The ~ trn ~ care Sc.
rvded Ter q isN and the ICY and dutcs o. eler IN
" army !.A Irer.3eH 10 care AMI itta coun8rt of
IL men, au9 which cUuriyes that the officer
ont irto DE 6eG, aad the he dos live
ort al home the more pay he gets, ana the more ia.