Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/245

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BATTLE OF ROGUE RIVER.

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meeting his death. As the captain approached, the savage, though prostrate, let fly an arrow which pierced him through, lodging in the kidneys, of which wound he died the day after the battle.^[1] Captain Peck was also wounded severely, and one of the troops slightly.

The Indians, who were found to be in large numbers, retreated upon their stronghold, and Kearney also fell back to wait for the coming-up of lieutenants Williamson and Irvine with a detachment, and the volunteer companies hastily gathered among the miners.^[2] Camp was made at the mouth of a tributary of Rogue River, entering a few miles below Table Rock, which was named Stuart creek after the dying captain. It was not till the 23d that the Indians were again engaged. A skirmish occurred in the morning, and a four hours' battle in the afternoon of that day. The Indians were stationed in a densely wooded hummock, which gave them the advantage in point of position, while in the matter of arms the

↑ Brackett, in his U. S. Cavalry, calls this officer 'the excellent and beloved Captain James Stuart.' The nature of the wound caused excruciating pain, but his great regret was that after passing unharmed through six hard battles in Mexico he should die in the wilderness at the hands of an Indian. It is doubtful, however, if death on a Mexican battle-field would have brought with it a more lasting renown. Stuart Creek on which he was interred—camp being made over his grave to obliterate it—and the warm place kept for him in the hearts of Oregonians will perpetuate his memory. Cardwell's Emigrant Company, MS., 14; Or. Statesman, July 8, 1851; S. F. Alta, July 16, 1851; State Rights Democrat, Dec. 15th and 22, 1876.
↑ Cardwell relates that his company were returning from Josephine creek—named after a daughter of Kirby who founded Kirbyville—on their way to Yreka, when they met Applegate at the ferry on Rogue River, who suggested that it 'would be proper enough to assist the government troops and Lamerick's volunteers to clean out the Indians in Rogue River Valley.' Thirty men upon this suggestion went to Willow Springs on the 16th, upon the understanding that Kearney would make an attack next day near the mouth of Stuart's creek, when it was thought the Indians would move in this direction, and the volunteers could engage them until the troops came up. 'At daylight the following morning,' says Cardwell, 'we heard the firing commence. It was kept up quite briskly for about fifteen minutes. There was a terrible yelling and crying by the Indians, and howling of dogs during the battle.' Emigrant Company, MS., 12; Crane's Top. Mem., MS., 40. The names of Applegate, Scott, Boone, T'Vault, Armstrong, Blanchard, and Colonel Tranor from California, are mentioned in Lane's correspondence in the Or. Statesman, July 22, 1851, as ready to assist the troops. I suppose this to be James W. Tranor, formerly of the New Orleans press, 'an adventurous pioneer and brilliant newspaper writer,' who was afterward killed by Indians while crossing Pit River. Oakland Transcript, Dec. 7, 1872.

[1] Brackett, in his U. S. Cavalry, calls this officer 'the excellent and beloved Captain James Stuart.' The nature of the wound caused excruciating pain, but his great regret was that after passing unharmed through six hard battles in Mexico he should die in the wilderness at the hands of an Indian. It is doubtful, however, if death on a Mexican battle-field would have brought with it a more lasting renown. Stuart Creek on which he was interred—camp being made over his grave to obliterate it—and the warm place kept for him in the hearts of Oregonians will perpetuate his memory. Cardwell's Emigrant Company, MS., 14; Or. Statesman, July 8, 1851; S. F. Alta, July 16, 1851; State Rights Democrat, Dec. 15th and 22, 1876.

[2] Cardwell relates that his company were returning from Josephine creek—named after a daughter of Kirby who founded Kirbyville—on their way to Yreka, when they met Applegate at the ferry on Rogue River, who suggested that it 'would be proper enough to assist the government troops and Lamerick's volunteers to clean out the Indians in Rogue River Valley.' Thirty men upon this suggestion went to Willow Springs on the 16th, upon the understanding that Kearney would make an attack next day near the mouth of Stuart's creek, when it was thought the Indians would move in this direction, and the volunteers could engage them until the troops came up. 'At daylight the following morning,' says Cardwell, 'we heard the firing commence. It was kept up quite briskly for about fifteen minutes. There was a terrible yelling and crying by the Indians, and howling of dogs during the battle.' Emigrant Company, MS., 12; Crane's Top. Mem., MS., 40. The names of Applegate, Scott, Boone, T'Vault, Armstrong, Blanchard, and Colonel Tranor from California, are mentioned in Lane's correspondence in the Or. Statesman, July 22, 1851, as ready to assist the troops. I suppose this to be James W. Tranor, formerly of the New Orleans press, 'an adventurous pioneer and brilliant newspaper writer,' who was afterward killed by Indians while crossing Pit River. Oakland Transcript, Dec. 7, 1872.

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