Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/77

EARLY SOUTHERN OREGON 65 It is true that preceding this hostile act, some murderous hostiles had attacked the Harris home, killing him, and then were driven off by the heroic defense of Mrs. Harris. Other offenses were instigated by the more hostile Indians who com- plained at the delay in the observance by the Government of the treaty obligations which was represented as an evidence of treachery and bad faith toward the Treaty Indians, and 1 soon conflicts followed at many places. Mounted volunteer troops were called into action. The Governor issued a proclamation ordering out nine different companies. The battle of Hungry Hill had before been fought with unsatisfactory results. The troops were later met by the hostiles at the Meadows where a severe engagement followed, in which one white was killed and five wounded, with but one Indian wounded. In the midst of this excitement, however, the greater body of the Treaty Indians were kept under guard and were re- moved to the reservation. The last and most eventful year of the war came in 1856 at the Big Meadows on Rogue River near where the hostiles had forted up for a final test. Gen. Lamerick, Col. Kelsay, Col. W. W. Chapman and Major Bruce, were active in command of the volunteers. The battle began but was maintained by the vol- unteers with so little energy and daring that the casualties were small on both sides. It was really a draw. The Whites went into camp and the Indians withdrew. The Government was discouraged 1 with these ineffectual at- tempts to overcome the hostilities, and resolved upon a more determined and decisive prosecution of the war. Regular troops were ordered up from California, in addition to those already in the country. The Indians observing these prep- arations, assembled in their natural fortifications in the moun- tain fastnesses, for defense, along the Rogue river. The mili- tary plan entered upon was for the California troops to move up the Coast and ascend the river, and for those on the upper river to descend 1 and there to concentrate, and between them to crush the hostiles on their own ground. These movements had their influence upon the hostiles, who being communi-