The record-union., 1892-08-15
SURPRISE VALLEY.
Where General Sherman's Friend
Surveyed Back in '49.
The warlike Pits and Piutes-Battle
of the Internal Cavern-Old
Winnemucca's Son.
[Correspondence Of de REcoRD-UNIoS.l


for a railroad through the mountains
The plan was to follow up to the head
waters of the Feather River, and there
lind pass over the Sierras. 1t seems
that he went to the headwaters at Big
Meadows, them proceeded by way Of
Eagle Lake and Madalene Plains through
the Pit River country to the head OF
Goose Lake, then across tho mountains
to the east, and was moving south down
the next valley north of Surprise, when
he was killed by arrows fired by
party of Indians in ambush. The valley
and the range of mountains to the east
have borne his name since that time. He
was a West Point graduate, from Lima,
n. Y, and is highly spoken of IN General
Sherman's Memoirs as capable and
competent engineer officer. Strange to
say, General Sherman thought that Goose
Lake was the headwaters OF the Feather,
instead of emptying into the Pit, as IL
did until recently.
Settlements were begun in the vicinity
of Fort Bidwell, at the head of Surprise
Valley, in 1854. Stock was a great tempt
alton to the Indians, especially as some
of the first settlers brought in some very
fine large American horses. 1t was quite
common to build a stable joining the
AOuS6, Will dIl open NluOON W
the room where the head of the fasaily
slept with his gun.
Mr.. Cressler used to sleep in the loft of
the log stable near his house. Mr.. Peter
son managed to fire the guns that his
wife loaded rapidly enough to drive of
band that came one night to get his stock
by stealth, if possible, by murder if
necessary. His neighbor received
wound, supposed at the time to be
mortal.
One day band of about 100 Indians
came down to Cedarville through the
canyon leading to Alturas. They were
in war-paint and nervous. They filed
the little log store and demanded of Mr.
Cressler ammunition. Upon being as
sured Chere was none they loaded up with
crackers and cheese and hurried Oft
toward Pit River. About an hour after
ward Colonel Crook followed with about
an equal number of soldiers. They over
took the Indians in some caves on the
South Fork or the Pit River, and there
followed the
BATTLE OF THE INTERNAL CAvERNs,
In which four soldiers and about
twice as many Indians were killed.
Soldiers were shot when they entered
the caves to drive out the Indians, and
the latter when they came down for
water.
A band of about 800 Piutes, under Chief
Valleys. They prefer living near their
Old homes to going either to the klamath
or Pyramid Lake reservations Mr.
Peterson pointed out several that had
worked for him regularly from tw elve
10 eighteen years, but said that, like the
rest, they were absent during the Ban
mack war III 1873.
Beside the men at work in the hay
1lelds, and the squaws who help at wash
ing, house-cleanlng,e ETC., there are about 100
Indians, great ana small, TO be seen about
Fort BidweIl every day.
CONFERENCE WITH REPRESENTATIVE
INDIANS.
Among these is Lee Winnemucca. son
of the old Chief of the Piutes of the same
name. Prince Winnemucca is travel
ing man, who informs us that he has
visited most of the Indian camps on the
Pacific Coast and many Of its great cities.
He prefers this life to exercising the
functions of his office with his tribe in
Central Nevada, because there is no
salary attached to the position He in
forms me that he is still fancy free, which
may be interesting information to some
lady readers contemplating trip to
Europe. His portly form dispels all
suspicion OF descent from a physically
etfeJe monarchy.
lie concurs with George" a man of
local influence, in the opinion that the late
proposition OF the Interior Department
10 establish an Indian school at this post
would have been good thing for the
tribe. They are both much opposed to
going to a reservation. George is yerv
emphatic in his approval of the plan,
sometimes discussed, of removing the
military. He says that one of the settlers,
who wants to sell forage, told him that he
would give him work in the hay field at
81 day if he would only help him in his
plans TO keep the soldiers here. Now
they only get 81 90, and he wants the
soldiers 10 go away.
1t seems to be the opinion of part of
the citizens, and most OF the officers, that
the Indian question is so far settled that
1t is no longer necessary to garrison the
fort. Other citizens affirm that Captain
Bailey made report of this nature to
the War Department. iii 1878, recommends
ing the discontinuance of the post, as the
Indians were all peaceable and the cues
ton settled. In three weeks he had to
follow his own Indians Off to the Ban
mack war.
George and Winnemucca told me of
the Messiah mission leading to the Pine
Ridge trouble. George told how he had
heard it preached in Mason Valley, New.
and with expressive gesture showed how
the white people were all going to he'll
when the Messiah came.
Winnemucca expressed an emphatic
disbelief in the theory, and George family
1nOI1D-
son says that George told him that he
knew the Messiah had returned, because
man told him so who had seen him,
Citizens who desire
THE POST MAINTAINED
Point to this disposition and the mast
record OF the IndlauS-to the fact that
not one has yet learned to read or write.
that no one has accumulated properly
beyond horses and a garden for his own
use; that this Is central location for
many tribes who are not more ciyilized
and that 1t Is SO tar distant from other
military stations ana from lines OF trans
portation that no force could be brought
here IN reasonable time in case of trou Bile.
Officers in favor of maintaining tbepost
have cited these facts, and also the excel
lent equipment of the post, its healthy
climate, low cost OF living, gardens,
parade and target grounds, as well as tim
Der land and water supply. Again, it is
an excellent place to buy and train
cavalry horses, and TO drill men and
horses IL the craft of the nountaineer
which Is principally called in play when
restraining hostile bands of Indians.
Some officers have gone so tar as to
recommend that the garrison be increased
from one company to Jour. with a view TO
drill III held work and camp life in the
mountains.
The post was built for two companies.
and is now garrisoned by one The
original oIncers' quarters were of logs,
and some OF them are still available. To-
gether with barracks and stables for one
company, they are now vacant.
Indians, young and old, are ALWAYS
about town doing nothing. Ii the regIlia-
tionS of the War and Interior Depart-
ments can bearranged to permit the ex-
pertinent, the Government could try an
Indian school at very little extra cost for
10 T,la,,t 70 hpuir1 with