Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-10-22
FOUGHT INDIANS IN l848
John Minto Tells OF Rogue River
Indian Wars.

I'll u W VIZ e'Ns>'N-
willie Sentinel, John Mimic says;
ST has occurred to me that in con
noction with your kindly notice of my
being in Rogue river prior to any
white settlement, the Sentinel being
the pioneer paper Of the pioneer por-
tion of Southern Oregon, where the
flercest race contest was fought to a
finish against the most spirited tribe
of the wild race west of the Rocky
Mountains; few words as to why,
with whom and for what was in
your valley in February, 1913, would
not be out Of place.
was one Of detail of rs men of
whom that natures nobleman, Hon.
Jesse Applogate, was guide, and the
other 10 his escort as bearer OF mes
sages from Gov. Abernathy to the act
ing governor of California aud Com
modoro Schubrick, in control Of the
U. $ war ships then on the California
coast. Tho purpose was to get such
assistance from the commandant Of
the u. S. forces then in Californian as
could bo spared us in our war against
tho Cayuses for the Whitman massa.
ere, evoD IL it were no more than q
supply Of ammunition. We followed
the California trail successfully to
some distance above the present site
of Ashland, and on slope Of the
Ashland depot, one of our company
got fine buck antelope from a flock
resting like we'll fed sheep. We were
visited by natives evidently from q
desire to learn, If possible, our pur-
pose in being there at that unusual
season. As an excuse for their visit,
one Of three men showed us n small
buckskin sack filled with pemmican
made from charred grasshoppors,
They took our amusement over their
offer Of trade In good part, showing II
was only pretense.
The story Of our being defeated by
tho snow encountered on the mount
ain near the line Of the Ashland Link
willie road, has been published as
written by Mr.. Applegate and myself.
OF course that Of Applegato is far the
best In literature. IL was written In
answer 10 request Of the late Mrs.
+. +. Victor and published IN the
state History of the early Indian War;
Of Oregon, p p l5l.52 compiled by
Mr. and Mrs. Victor, 20 years after
the event 1t is not an agreeable
business to correct the writing Of tho
dead, and | am 80 far AS | know, th,
last living member of that party Of
10, aud feel IL due 10 the sacred trutl
to say that in that letter to Mrs. Vic
tor, Mr. Applegate, whether from fail
ing memory or desire not TO place
himself as leader Of the party, which
ho was, makes Mr. Fields. borI
gentleman, say: "Bofore joinot
this expedition in tho Willamott,
Valley. fully understood the gravity
of the undertaking. Against the per
formance Of such an undertaking,
weighed my own life as nothing; il
fact, II only ono Of the party shoult
reach tho end Of the journey and th'
rest fell by the way. the object o
tho expedition would Ibe cheaply OBJ
tanned. Tho last high sentiment
were Mr.. Jesse Applegate's own
spoken 10 me at least 30 hours befort
James Fields, sick in mind and. body
told, in the words used 10y Mr. Apple
gate that he would tako his chance
to get to the Willamette settlement
afoot aud alone rather than delay n
Of the snow shoe party another hour
This was spoken as Mr.. Applegat
says, by Fields after he had got int
camp and had his supper after tn
FIRST days effort ON the snow shoes
We were camped where tie Applegat
road to or from Mt Hall left Chem.
| Crock. The snow was six TO seye
feet deep and very light and duff.
We were, we guessed, four miles b.
yond where We had penetrated wit
our horses, from which point we re
treated at the command Of our captain
Levi Scott, to our camp we had lei
that morning
Mr. Applegate, on our arrival. lef
the care Of his horses TO one Of tn
captains sons .and went Off to on
side and sat down ON a log. evidentl