Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-06-04
HER0S OF THE
ROGUE RIVER WAR
Men and Women Who Distinguished
Themselves In Indian Fights
In Pioneer Days.
(By Francis NJ. Tibbetts in
the Oregonian.)

Charles Johnson was one of the
first, II not the first, hero Of the
Rogue River war. lie gave his life
in saving three companions, and
was one ~ them; therefore | know
what a hero Charles Johnson was.
He held at bay 30 Indians while
and another were helping away
wounded companion. johnson and
started In the war together and
fought side by side until he fell, but
many times later In other fights
wished ! had had Johnson and his
trysty gun with me.
1t was in October 1855, and / was
a young man and ready for almost
any adventure, when with Johnson
and Frank Stone we left Oakland,
Douglas county, for Jacksonville.
The OK wagons had been loaded with
supplies and provisions for the
mines 1t was a bright, crisp fall
morning when we started out, and
as we called the oxen to move on
none of us dreamed we were to see
the bloodshed that we did before our
trip was finished
When we reached the south end
of the big canyon (the old Dan
Levens placc) and pitched our camp
we were paid call by the late Judge
M, F. Deady, who aroused us all and
fired my adventurous spirit by tell
ing us the Indians had gone on the
warpath. Judge Deadly told us what
few details had reached him Of the
outbreak Riders had come in with
reports that the reds were massacr-
Ing everyone between the big canyon
and Jacksonville and burning the
homes of the settlers. He urged
US to return through the canyon, say
ing It was the only safe way for rs
to avoid the Indians
The next morning, October 10, af-
ter council, We decided TO push on.
We went three miles to Smith s
place on Cow creek Here we found
number of miners and settlers who
had been driven out. Putting our
cattle into pasture and our wagon
into the corral, we continued to Red
land, about three miles above where
the town OF Glendale stands. Here
We formed a military company; the
first In the Rogue River war. In 1t
were 2S men, who elected Major
Jacob Rhlnearson captain, and the
next morning we started to battle.
The First Fight.
Word had reached us by miner
who had escaped that two miners on
Grave Creek had been attacked. Af-
ter n hard ride Of ! s minutes we en-
countcred band of Chief Llmpy's
warriors and here occurred the first
battle Of the war. After short
fight, in which one of the Indians
was killed aud we had captured 10
ponies, the reds withdrew and we
continued TO the mine.
Upon our arrival there we found
the two men dead in their dlggings,
and buried them IN the grave they
had themselves prepared. While en-
gagged in this sad duty, the Indians
were harasslng us and Il was necess-
airy TO beat them back while part of
the men performed the last rites for
the dead
Our company returned to the
Hardness place, ON Grave Creek,
whore the settlers had congrcgatod
and fortified for protection. We re-
maincd thore two days. marching
south to Widow Nldays place. near
Jump-oil-joc CrCvE. now Merlin
We hoard hero that the mdaus had /
made raid ON the mines at the .
mouth oj tbo Calico CJcob this ucws !
being brought hy % oourlpr who had |
man0god 90 sot Juuneh 4 detail +.
of % men was Wut to Ihur rdlof .
looyIng lumpou.Io. ot o. o'oo,, .
ON the uIght OF October lg. / was
I'm this detail