Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-09-24
NEWS OF EARLY DAYS
Brief Review OF the Indian War
of 1857.

Oregon and Washington is taken from
a copy of the "Oregon and Washing
ton Almanac, of 1857, which is in
the possession of the family of John
p. Walker, Esq, the we'll known
pioneer of the upper Bear Greek val
ley.-Ashland Tribune.
Both Oregon and Washington terri
tories have, during the past IL
months, been the theatre of serious
Indian disturbances. Our commercial
intercourse has been interrupted, our
agricultural pursuits retarded, the
resources of the country left under
veloped, and our internal improve
ments neglected-through causes the
most lamentable that could befall
any country in its infancy -an Ind
war. Early in the month of October,
1856, A. J. Bolan, an Indian agent
among the Yakima tribe Of Indians,
was brutally murdered whilst on his
return from an official visit to the
tribes over which he had jurisdiction
Anterior to this sad occurrence,
Mattice, citizen Of Washington ter
ritory, was robbed and murdered
whilst ON his return from Colville
mines. These repeated outrages
reused the authorities of both terri
tories to sense of the impending
danger which was to be apprehended
from general combination Of all the
Indian tribes located in either terri
tory, and their fears were fully con.
frmed upon receiving the news of the
repulse of Major Haller, who, togeth-
er with his command Of FIVE officers
and one hundred and two United
States troops-sent 10 the Yakima
county for the purpose Of arrestinp
the murderers Of Mattice, Bolon, and
others, were obliged to retreat to the
Dalles. with loss Of five men killed
and 10 wounded
At this crisis requisition upon
Governor Curry, was made by
Major Raines, for volunteers to sup
port the regular forces in the subjuga-
tion of the Indians. The alacrity
with which the citizen soldiery re.
sponded TO the call of the executive,
plainly illustrates the sense OF immi-
nent danger which pervaded through
out the entire community, for in less
than 1a Nrnns Iu s..s, 80 IL.
proclamation, regiment Of mounted
men-armed. equipped and supplied
were on the extreme northern from.
tier, advancing 20 meet the enemy.
Whilst every eye was turned
to ward the north, the blaze of many
homestead gave warning Of murder
and hostility at the south. Imme.
ditaely more volunteers were called |
into action, and second time
prompt response was given to the
call Of tho executive, as It was evi. |
dent to every settler in both terri- |
tories that unless decisive blow was
struck, in order 10 impress fear upon
the hearts OF the savage foe, no home
stead would be secure from rapine
and pillage,
Almost simultaneously with the
murder Of Bolan, north, Mrs. Wago.
ner and 6hild, Messrs Harris, Hamil. |
ton, Shelton, Jones and wife, together
with six other persons, were murdered |
in the vicinity Of Rogue river val. |
ley.
Messrs. Lupton and Shepherd were
killed shortly afterward in an en-.
'gagement with the indians near the |
mouth of Butte creek. War with all |
its horrors, now ragged on every border
of both territories. On the morn ing of |
December sth, 1855, the volunteers of |
the north, under commnd of Liouten-
ant-Colonel Kelly, were attacked |
by about four hundred Indians, with
whom during four successive days,
they had a sanguinary battle. During
this engagement there were five killed
and ii wounded. The killed were
Captain Chas. BENEFIT, Go. r,
Lieutenant Burrows, Co. II, ST.
Van Hagerman, Go. |, H. Kolso Co. 4,
ana II. Grow, Co II. During this
engagement, the celebrated Indian
chief, Peo.pon-mox. mox was killed
while attempting to escape from a
guard placed over him by Lieutenant
Colonel Kelly. While the volunteers
on the northeastern and southern Dor
ders OF Oregon, were thus gallantly
engaging the enemy, news was re-
oeiyod from Washington territory of
the murder OF Lieut. McAllister, and
Mr. Connell by the Indians in the
Vicinity of White river aud also Of
the death Of Col Moses, Lieut.
Slaughter j. Miles, all Of whom fell
fighting for the protection of theit
country. A general panic now cnsued
throughout the country stockndes
were erected block houses were built
ana every Implement Of hushandry
and mechanics wero laid aside for the
rifle and the bowie knifo. Emboldcn
ed by their supposed success, the In
dins of Puget's sound attacked Seattle
on the morning OF Jan. Goth. This
engagement lasted through tue entire
day the killed, ON the part Of the
whites, being Milton Holgatc, and
Christian White, and Of the Indians
about 20.
Early ON the morning of Feb 2ad
the indians in the vicinity of Port
Oxford, led by supposed friendly
Indian named Enos formerly one of
Col Fremont guides, foil upon and
massacred ten persons, and burned
nearly every dwelling in the settle.
ments from Rogue river 10 Port Or
fora among the killed was Cant Ben
Wright then recently appointed
Indian Agent in that district