Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/142

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
140
HISTORY OF OREGON

the river for seven miles, then crossed over and continued toward Sardine Creek, a short distance away. The troops hastily mounted their horses and pursued the hositles, overtaking them on the opposite side of the river. Instead of halting and offering battle, the Indians hastily scattered in all directions, even deserting their squaws and children, who fell into the hands of the soldiers. The remainder could not be overtaken, and their pursuit was not continued. There were thirty among those captured, who were delivered to General Lane as Major Kearney had no place to retain them. These were conveyed to a point near where Grants Pass is now located, and placed in custody of Governor Gaines, who had gone that far south. 1 his was July 7. 1851. With these captives in his possession the Governor induced about eleven of the more prominent Indians, with one hundred others of the tribe, to come in from the field, surrender and make peace.

More Atrocities. About June 1, 1853, a party of white men from Jacksonville, aroused by the massacre of seven white people near Grave Creek the winter before, caught a sub-chief named Taylor and two other Indians who were believed to have been the murderers, and hanged them; and going to the Indians encamped at Table Rock, they fired into their village, killing six. These acts impelled the Indians to engage in numerous horrid atrocities. There being no military companies in that part of Oregon, volunteer white companies were enrolled and Captain Alden's Company of regulars of Fort Jones in California were called in aid with arms and ammunition. Aid en was also given chief command of the volunteers. Governor Curry was appealed to and sent a volunteer company under Captain Nesmith and Fort Vancouver sent Lieutenant Kautz with six artillerymen and a howitzer. Captain Goodall also came with eighty volunteers from the Umpqua. The enemy were found on F.vans Creek and a fight took place, with killed and wounded on both sides; and then an armistice