The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-08-01
EARLY OREGON HISTORY.
rue INDIAN wAn or 1854.

/ ItHb4 VI NouhS hitAlg AlAaN VI ~ et.Nt
near Oregon City, all aiming for the
gold mines in California, at or near
Yreka, where had for time been
mining. We madc our outfit and set
out ON the 18th, and had each day the
usual pleasant days ride and at night a
pleasant camp, with plenty Of grass for
our ponies, and good spring or branch
water 20 drink and plenty to eat. Our
trip was pleasant, and nothing occurred
to disturb cur journey until we arrived
at Rogue River There wo learned
that Major kearney, Of the U. s. Ar.
my, who had preceded Us sasna days on.
his way TO California land who had
employed that splendid emily pioneer,
Jesse Applegate, to pilot him through
new route to the Rogue River Val
ley), had had a sharp fight with the
hostile Indians Of that valley, who hard.
ly allowed any whites to pass through
their country without giving them all
the trouble and doing thom all the harm
they could; and that 1t. Stewart had
been killed Il was acquainted with 1t.
Stewart and esteemed him for bis cour-
age and good conduct upon many bat
tlc.fields in Mexico). 1t was near dark
when we heard OF the fight, and here
had intended to camp, but the news
changed my plan, and we hurried for
ward in the direction where we sup
posed Kearney would be in camp. Our
party were very tired, and we halted
after making distance Of twelve miles
after dark; VIC placed out a sentinel to
be..relieved at proper times, and slept
until daybreak; then We mounted and
very soon reached Kearney's camp |;
found him mp and preparing for a for
ward r:ovement in search Of the Indi.
ans, who bad taken the mountains TO
avoid another fight with a man they
found could not be trifled with. On
riding up the Major stepped forward,
took me kindly by the hand and asked
me to dismount and take breakfast with
him. "And you WILL" he said, Ego
with me and aid in hunting out aud
Furnishing these bad Indians. They
have killed our brave Stewart and they
must be punished" Every well, Ma.
jor," said I, I'VE viii sct as your
scouts; ! made acquaintance with these
Indians last summer, and / think We
can find them. We arc good at track
ing, and you see they have taken all
their women and children with them
and win have 10 make something Of a
trail. My opinion is we can find them
before nightfall; for however much they
may travel on the hills and mountains,
as night approaches they will come
down and camp on some one Of the
many creeks or branches, and we will
be with them before they get TO sleep.
The Indians, as we knew, crossed the
river and were making for the noun.
sains lying north and in the direction
Of The South Umpqua. An ready, the
bugle called to mount; then forward,
and we went down Rogue River to d
ford some miles below-my party il
front here in this wild, unsettled, sav
age country. As rode along looked
back upon the squadron led by Kear
ney with pride and feelings that man
seldom experiences in a lifetime, ant
although now very old still feel the
thrill that | experienced upon that oc
cesion. Moving along in fine orde
and in plain view was as brave a squad
: ron Of mounted men as has ever beel
, mustered into the service of the Unite
!, States. They had distinguished them
!: selves in every battle ON Scett's line
{ from Vera Cruz to the taking of th
9 city of Mexico, led by Major Kearney
as brave a man as ever drew sabre, an
who had lost an arm at one Of the gate
:. Of the city while leading charge upoi
body of Lancers, that bravely mad
: their escape under the enemies gum
This brave and fearless man, Gen. Phi
Kearney, fell at the End battle Of Blu
!. Run, on the 29th day of septembe
1862, on the same day and at the san
time that our gallant and beloved Isai
= I. Stevens fell. Two braver men nev'
r fell on any battlefield
D Well, we moved on down the riv,
io for some miles, and finding a ford eros
le ed to the other side. Hero you mu
n allow me to relate an incident whic
of resulted to our advantage, SO far I
IL lunch is concerned, and that, too, wit
out OBTAINING the command. Amor
our scouts were two of the Baily's,
: Lane county. just before reaching Il
ford (which was quite deep, almo
a. swimming we saw in the brush not f
distant small deer, standing qui
n still; the younger Baily, who was n
~ quite seven feet high, jumped off
n N horse and with his rifle to his should
d leaned forward, fired, and down car
= tha dear r. xv.,a 4hromn m a hoy