The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-23
Of Affairs in soathsE;


Condition Of Affairs In 6oathex1
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
From the 01egonian, of Dec, Sch, w
extract the following as to the condition
of Indian matters IN Southern Oregon.
g The Ipdians in the Rogue River
and Umpque valley are still committing
their depredati0ns on the defenccless
settlements, pillaging and burning hous-
es and property Of the settlers, aud grow
ing holder by their success, they have
approached nearer the towns. The fol-
lowing letter Eas received on Thursday
by Thomas j. Mccarver, Assistant
Commanding Gen
@ RosEBuRe Con-. oFFIcr. Dec. 4.
DEAR Son; Since you left this place
this morning, information Of ; reliable
character that Mr.. Rice and family
with the exception Of small boy-had
been murdered this morning at daylight
aBoutffteen miles from this place, and
the house set on Ere, the smoke of which
has been seen By several persons now 10
town. The boy reported about one hun
dred Indians in the attacking party.
Great CONSERVATION has been produced
in this place and neigbborhoed.
Adjutant StTatton Of Major Maritime
Battalion, is here aud is now engaged
III making out orders for the remnants
of Captains Baily, Gordon, and Chap
mans Companies now in the neighbOr.
hood, to repair without delay 10 the
scene ofh"stiiities aud we are prepared
to give them q hearty reception at this
place if their object is Commisary and
quartermasteris stores.
l send this by the messenger who
follows Capt Bailey, who left you this
morning We have sent a messenger
to the scene of difficulty. Whenh he re-
turns if necessary, i will dispatch an
other without delay to the Governor.
In the meantime, show this to the differ
ent newspaper editors in the Willamette
Valley. ii. n McCARyER.
Com. General Oregon Militia.
THos. j.. McCARvER.
Assistant GonhsG Gen Oregon Militia.
We are also informed byMr. McCar-
yer, that an express arrived At Rose
burg on the 30th Of NoFembcr, from
Little Meadows, on Rogue river, bring.
ing news that q fight had taken Ilace a
lody vi lWO 1tiC AZ budb UUlktbs Il 0Ib VI
Mai. Martins battalion was engaged in
crossing Rogue river BY meaussofa raft
On placing the third log in the water
they were fred upon from the brush, on
the opposite side, by a superior number,
and not being prepared for fighting were
compelled to lay behind the rocks, or
anything that would shelter them from
the encmy's fire, till night covered their
retreat A Mr.. Lewis, Of. Capt. Kin
ney's company, was killed one Of Capt.
! KtIney's two of Capt. Williams, aud,
one Of Capt. Rice's companies were
wounded ; one other was wounded. but
of whosc company was not learned. It
is not known that any Indians were
killed In this engagement.
During the day, a beef belonging to-
the volunteers was killed, aid at night
the Indians crossed and carried It or
together with a quantity of arms, am.
mufition aud provisions.
Since the above reached us. a letter
has been received from Geu. McCarver,.
who is at Roseburg, which st.t, 8 that
instead of one hundred Indians attack.
number did not exceed twenty or thirty
who were repulsed by the men III. the
house, though not until Nj. Rice was
wounded in the arm, f%racturing the bone
His out, buildings were burned. aud sew.
eral uneuceessfnl attempts made to set
Ere to his house. Up To the date of his
letter, dec. g. Gen. Mc0Arver has re-
ceived reliable information that about
ten houses had been burned IN the vicin-
itY of Roseburg. All, however had
been vacated, or were out buildings
The inhabitants had received %iptelli-
geuce Of the approach ofthe hostile band
from a friendly Indian. and fed, leaving
their houses and property 10 the mercy
of the savages, who burned and dustroy.
cd them.
A small party of volunteers was hast
lily made up at Roseburg on the LIST of
December, wh~ich.-togstIisr with a part
of Capt. Bailey's company. aud the
citizens in the vicinity of the atta,k,
numbering in all thirty DC forty men,
Immediately started in pursuit Of the
Indians. A party under j. p Day,
discovered the camp of the enemy about
sixteen miles from Roseburg, on Oily
| Greek, and attacked them on the morn
ing of the I'd, at daylight, killing two
on the spot, and efectually routing the
band. They captured % head1f horses
all their bed-cloihing. provisions, &c,
and three rifles. Many of the balance
of their guns were lost in swimming the:
creek. Olly one man was wounded in
the l6ght-Assistant Quartermasfer
General Castleman. The wound Is in
the abdomen, and it is thought not to
be dangerous.
Information had been received that
part Of Capt. Gordoi's company which
! ad started through the canon, in COM
pIiance with Mai. MARITIME orders, had
returned to the Cow Greek settlements,
where the Indians were killing the cat
tie, sc. 1t was also said that they, to-
getler with sthe beighboring citizens.
we're fighting with another band of In
dams, b ut 10 or IL o'clock on the
LIST ur December, as they were in hot
pursuit, and persons who had arrived
from the cannon reported much firing in
that direction.
From this it would appear that the
scene of hostilities has changed, and
that while the citizens were preparing
to pursue them in Rogue River Valley,
the enemy havo made their appearance
in the Umpgua, and commenced their
depredations in that quarter.
Adiutant >tratton was to leave for
the Little Meadows on the Sd December.
| Owing to the condition of things In. the
Umpdua, he has countermanded Maj.
NJ 3ao.1ara diroaf;r~ al tba f.-aoa