The National tribune., 1902-12-25
OREGON INDIAN WAR.
.dyentures Of Pioneer in the Early sos

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: When the
Indian war broke out in the Rogue River
Valley, southern Oregon, in the Fall of
1858, call was sent to northern Cali
fornia, and / Joined a company Of yolun-
teer mounted riflemen from Yreka, Siski-
you County. Our company was command
ed by Capt. Goodall, and numbered over
100 men. Capt. Rhodes's company, from
Humbug Creek, numbered about 40 men,
Including seven Regulars, under Capt.
Alden, Of Fort Jones, Scott Valley. Cal,
we had in all about $50 men. After
about a months race, we tralled the In
dams into the mountains, our guide be-
ing Metcalf big Kentuckian, and cousin
Of Ex-Governor Metcaif, Of that State.
We had followed the trail through the
mountains half day, and were near the
Indian camp before they were aware Of our
approach, their scouts being busy watching
the Oregon volunteers, who were acting in
dependently of our command. We march
ed down the mountain trail single file with
Capt. Alden in front, accompanied by the
Regulars, and Capt. Armstrong, wealthy
citizen of Yamhill County, Ore. and an
old Indian fighter. Following this party
came Capt. Goodall, and next behind him
came the writer. l occupied this position
not because Of any great courage, but from
the fact that l did not realize the danger,
Indian camp was in the woods. On turn
ing a sharp angle in the trail we were in
full view OF the Indians, some hundred
yards in the distance. We were discov-
cred, and the fight was then on.
We pressed forward, until Capt. Asn-
strong suddenly dropped his gun, placed
his hand On his breast, and turning toward
me, said: Il am struck here" He fell
on his right side and was dead. SeIg t
pap1Nor -tnn rx.tth chi lf
sleeves rolled up, had narrow escape.
The bullet perforated the sleeve and just
grazed the skin. l sought shelter behind
small tree, near which Armstrong; head
lay, resting my fhie between his head and
the tree. About three rods to my right,
and little in front, l saw Capt. Alden.
He was behind a large tree. He was
armed with dOuble-barrel shotgun, and
had fired one barrel into the camp, when
he was shot through the lungs. To my
left was young Bradley, Il preachers son,
shot through the head, and few rods to
the rear, behind large tree, was the body
of Scarboro a soldier of the Mexican
War, and one of our best men.
Our men soon fell back to position
some distance in the rear. Perceiving
this, the Indians advanced, and one OF
them stood beside big tree about SO
yards from my position. l fired, and he
UlSdppedFeu. udu 100 LuuCu TtSdtu LUZ
my life to raise up to see what had be-
come of him. l attempted to reload my
gun, but found could not, without expos
ing myself to q fire from the camp, so l
beat hasty retreat, finally getting behind
a small tree so or 60 yards in rear Of the
position had formerly occupied. l now
noticed Mr.. II. Flesher, an old acquain-
lance, standing behind a big tree, and
called him to me, as had lost my ramrOd,
and wanted to get his to load with.
Flesher watched while l was loading. and
seeing redskin rise up from behind log,
shot him. Flesher returned to his former
position. Soon after. he was wounded
and went to the rear. l crawled to his
tree and there found Chas. Abbey, young
lawyer, MORALLY wounded. VIM. Lewis
told me afterwards that the Indian who
had shot Abbey and Flesher from a po-
sition on the flank, sprang up and pointed
his gun at me, while l was going back,
but he QIewis) who had seen him fire
from that place before, Was watching with
his gun resting over q branch of q scrub
oak, and brought the redskin down before
he could pull the trigger.
After leaving the tree, I Joined few
men in q depression some distance in the
rear. We had been there an hour and q
half when we heard noise in Abbey's d.
rection, and on standing up saw him try
ing to rise. I went to his assistance and
brought him to the position occupied by
our party. Soon after Capt. Alden came
| in, severely wounded. We took Capt:
Alden to the Surgeon. There we found
was there slightly wounded. called
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