that they would not give up the murderers, and it was only by taking them by surprise and having them completely surrounded that we suc ceeded in taking the criminals without great loss on both sides. All of which is most respectfully submitted. WM. WALLACE, Capt. Company A, First Nevada Vol. Infty., Comdg. Expedition. Maj. CHARLES MCDERMIT, Commanding Sub-District of Nevada. APRIL 5-18, 1865.-Expedition from Camp Bidwell to Antelope Creek, Cal. Report of Capt. James C. Doughty, Second California Cavalry. CAMP BIDWELL, CAL., April 24, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report to the general commanding the District of California that on the 5th instant I left this camp with thirtyfive men of Company I, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, en route for Pine, Deer, Mill, and Antelope Creeks for the purpose of arresting the Indians that have been committing depredations in the vicinity of those creeks. After arriving at Deer Creek I sent a detachment of fifteen men under the command of a sergeant to scout in the neighborhood of Deer and Mill Creeks, employing Mr. Hi Good (a citizen) as a guide to accompany them. At the same time I continued on to Antelope Creek with ten men, leaving ten men on Deer Creek to be sent to either party if required, and to guard the horses for the first-named party at Antelope Creek. I employed Mr. William Morgan (a citizen) as a guide to go with me on the mountains near Antelope and Dry Creeks and north of Mill Creek, some thirty-five miles north of this post. After remaining in that section, scouting the country over night and day up to the 15th_instant, when I received notice of the assassination of Lieutenant Levergood, at this post, I returned to this camp, leaving the men as I had distributed them, with a sergeant in command of each detachment, until the 18th instant, when I called them in. While I was out I found a great many signs of Indians, which convinced me that the Indians were in that section gathering food of different kinds; but the country being very mountainous and covered with underbrush I was not able to see them; at the same time they could observe every move that I made from their hiding places. I traveled several nights trying to find them by their fires without success, except once they were discovered about 8 o'clock at night by the guide and one man, who immediately returned to the detachment and gave the information, but before they got the Indians surrounded they had evacuated their position. On the 15th one of the detachment secured a horse that the Indians had left in the hurried flight and brought the same to camp, which was turned over to the quartermaster. I have no doubt but the animal was stolen from some of the settlers in that neighborhood. Becoming convinced that the Indians had scattered in different directions, I deemed it necessary to order the men to camp until the Indians would collect together, when I would send a detachment out after them again. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. DOUGHTY, Captain, Second California Cavalry, Commanding Post. Lieut. E. D. WAITE, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., District of California, Sacramento, Cal. MAY 3-JUNE 15, 1865.—Expeditions from Fort Churchill to Carson Lake and Truckee and Humboldt Rivers, Nev. Reports of Lieut. Col. Charles McDermit, Second California Cavalry, commanding Sub-District of Nevada. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF NEVADA, Fort Churchill, May 9, 1865. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding that settlers at Carson Lake and also on Truckee River requested me to send troops to those localities, informing me that they anticipated trouble with the Indians. On the morning of the 3d of May I left this post for Carson Lake, taking with me First Lieut. D. Vanderhoof, Company C, Nevada Infantry, Second Lieut. D. H. Pine, Nevada Infantry, and detachment Company E, Nevada Cavalry, consisting of fifteen men, with six days' supplies; arrived in camp at Cottonwood Station, on the overland road, at 3 p. m., having marched twenty-six miles. 4th, left camp at 4.40 a. m.; arrived at Taylor's ranch, on the Carson River, near the lake, at 9.30 a. m., that being the place previously designated by me to meet the whites and Indians. 5th, a large number of Indians and some twenty settlers met me at Mr. Taylor's house. In conversation with the Indians I soon learned that the excitement was caused by the peaceable Indians from the Humboldt coming to the Carson Lake to avoid trouble, and the Indians living in the vicinity, not knowing the cause of so many coming in, supposed that a general war of extermination was about to commence, and to confirm them in this belief some reckless white men had told them that I was coming with soldiers to kill them all. They had commenced sending away their squaws and children and burning their wigwams. The white settlers seeing these movements on the part of the Indians in turn became alarmed, and dispatched a messenger to me in great haste; but through my interpreter, Richard A. Washington, I soon learned the facts in the case, and they assured me of their great desire for peace with the whites. I talked with the whites and Indians about three hours, assuring them that I would protect the good and at the same time punish the bad of either party. At 5 p. m. I left with the command for Saint Clair Station; arrived there at 6.15 p. m., where we camped during the night, having marched five miles. 6th, took up line of march direct for Truckee River at 5 a. m. Having procured an affidavit that a citizen named Cook had been exulting over the death of President Lincoln, I dispatched Lieutenant Pine with one enlisted man to arrest Cook and deliver him over to the commanding officer at Fort Churchill, which was done. Arrived at Reservation house, on Truckee River, at 1.15 p. m.; distance, twenty-eight miles. 7th, had talk with the Indians, who informed me that the agent had told them lies and otherwise treated them badly, having hired the reserve to white men to keep their stock on it, receiving the money for the same and appropriating it to their [his] own use; and when the Indians would ask the agent for something to help them procure subsistence or clothing, he would tell them that all the money he received had to be turned over to the Indian Department, and if they gave any trouble he would send to Fort Churchill for troops and clean them out. Upon an investigation of the treatment of the Indians by the agent I am really surprised to know that they have borne all these impositions so patiently. Last year $25,000 was appropriated for the purpose of cultivating the Truckee and Walker River reserves. The money has disappeared, and not one pound of anything is being raised on either reserve for the Indians, and the agents are determined to continue their impositions further by herding stock on the reserves and consuming the grass, the seed of which, if permitted to mature, would afford them a great part of their subsistence. I told the Indians to remain peaceable and injure no white man, and now since the war is over our Great Father at Washington would do something for them; and in the meantime if any of the whites abused them not to resent it, but come to me and make their complaints, and I would investigate the matter and punish the guilty party. I also requested the whites to take all their stock off the I talked to the Indians about four hours, and they appeared much pleased with all I told them. 8th, I left camp on Truckee River at 4.30 a. m.; arrived at Fort Churchill at 12.45 p. m., having traveled thirty miles. reserve. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. MCDERMIT, Lieut. Col. Second California Cavalry, Comdg. Sub-Dist. of Nevada. Lieut. E. D. WAITE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Sacramento, Cal. [Indorsement.] BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, Respectfully forwarded to department headquarters, with recommendation that copy be furnished to the Congressional Committee appointed to inquire into Indian affairs on this coast. G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF NEVADA, Camp No. 10, June 9, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding that on the 30th of May I left Fort Churchill in company with Governor H. G. Blasdel, Surg. A. F. Mechem, Lieut. C. C. Warner, and an escort of thirteen cavalry from Company E, First Battalion Nevada Volunteers. On the 2d of the present month we arrived at Austin, Leander County, and on the afternoon of the 3d instant the Governor and myself had a talk with about 100 Indians (all we could collect on so short notice), telling them to come into the settlements and separate from the hostiles, be peaceable, and they would be protected. They appeared quiet and peaceably inclined. On the morning of the 4th, leaving the Governor at Austin, we started for the Humboldt River, traveling mostly due north through a mountainous country with a number of small ranches and dwellings, but mostly deserted on account of the hostile Indians. On the evening of the 4th instant Lieutenant Seamands, of Company B, First Nevada Infantry, with twenty mounted men, an interpreter, nine friendly Indians, and a 12-pounder howitzer from Fort Ruby, joined my escort. On the evening of the 8th instant I struck the river at a point seventy miles north of Unionville. On the morning of the 9th instant I undertook to cross the river, but failed on account of its swollen banks, and deemed it best to move down the river to a bridge eighteen miles distant, where I found Capt. William Wallace, Company A, First Nevada Infantry, with his company of seventy-three men and a 12-pounder howitzer. Lieut. E. D. WAITE, CHAS. MCDERMIT, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Sacramento, Cal. LIBRARY UC DIVERSING HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF NEVADA, Camp No. 15, June 15, 1865. LIEUTENANT: For the information of the general commanding I would respectfully report to district headquarters that I left Camp No. 10, where I made my last report, at 5 a. m. on June 10, 1865; crossed the main Humboldt River and arrived at the Little Humboldt River at 7 a. m. Crossed the stream on a ferry-boat procured by Capt. W. Wallace, Nevada Infantry, at Dun Glen; succeeded in crossing all property, &c., without accident, and camped on the opposite side of the stream. Remained at this camp during Sunday awaiting the arrival of Captain Wells' command, consisting of his company and detachment Company E, forty-two men. Captain Wells having joined us, we left this camp the morning of June 12; traveled east fourteen miles, camping in Littlefield Valley, where we found good grass and water. Left the latter place (Camp No. 12) with fifty cavalry, Captains Wells and Payne, Asst. Surg. A. F. Mechem, and Lieutenants Littlefield (Nevada Cavalry) Seamands, Warner, and McGowan (Nevada Infantry), Interpreter Butterfield, with four Indian scouts, taking six days' rations in our haversacks, and leaving the balance of the command with all the teams at Camp No. 12; traveled to Camp No. 13, where we arrived at 1.10 p. m., course northeast; traveled through a level sage-brush country without road. Distance to Camp No. 13, twenty-five miles. My object in this expedition was for a reconnoitering tour and to visit the battle-fields of Lieutenant Littlefield and Captain Wells. Left this camp at 10 a. m. and arrived at Camp No. 14, in Valley Wells, having traveled fourteen miles, which camp is situated opposite Fort Redskin, where Lieutenant Littlefield's fight took place May 7, 1865. I visited the cañon and mountain where the Indians were posted, and their riflepits among the rocks which were ingeniously constructed, and capable of containing about 200 Indians. Here we found most excellent grazing ground. Left Camp No. 14 at 8.30 a. m. June 15; traveled northeast; saw upon the route many Indian signs; also where they had grazed their stock about five weeks ago; country level and fine grass all the way. Arrived at the camp (No. 15, twenty-five miles distance) at 3.30 p. m., it being at the foot of the Table Mountain, where Captain Wells had his fight of May 20, 1865. This camp is within twenty-five miles of the headwaters of the Owyhee River, and near the boundary line of the States. I shall reconnoiter this vicinity for the ensuing three days to find the position and strength of the Indians, at the end of which time our supplies and the remainder of the command will be up to this camp. I am determined to pursue them until I catch them or run them out of the State. Have traveled 108 miles without seeing a stick of timber which would measure six inches, and no place suitable to establish a military post. Have also traveled sixty-five miles without a road, but have seen nothing to delay our train of supplies. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES MCDERMIT, Lieutenant-Colonel Second California Cavalry, Commanding. Lieut. E. D. WAITE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Sacramento, Cal. MAY 25-JUNE 15, 1865.-Expedition from Fort Ruby to the Humboldt Valley, Nev., with skirmish (May 29) near Austin, Nev. Report of Lieut. John U. Tolles, First Nevada Infantry. FORT RUBY, NEV., June 22, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report that pursuant to Post Special Order, No. 16, we took up our line of march on the 20th of May, 1865, the com. mand consisting of myself, forty non-commissioned officers and privates, and ten friendly Indians, with one piece of artillery, the whole under the command of Lieut. W. G. Seamands. After marching the distance of about 135 miles by the usual Overland Mail road, we arrived at Camp No. 7, sixteen miles north of Austin, this being the point at which the most of the recent Indian depredations were committed. While here the men purchased sixteen head riding animals, and there being four with the command, made twenty in all. Lieutenant Seamands here divided the command, himself taking the twenty mounted men, the Indians, and the artillery, and marching with LieutenantColonel McDermit, Second California Cavalry, to the recent battle-field of Captain Wells against the Pi-Ute and Bannock Indians. On the 29th ultimo while at this camp a citizen came running down to the camp, informing me that the Indians were up at the foot of the mountains, about two miles distant, running off some of the cattle that were being herded at this place by Mr. Worthington. Lieutenant Seamands being absent at Austin, I immediately started in pursuit with some fifteen men. Upon the summit of a small rise, some 300 yards from camp, I discovered there were three Indians (two of them mounted) with some eight or ten head of cattle, driving them toward a large ravine in the mountains. The Indians being upon the elevated lands, it was impossible to approach them without being discovered, which was the case, and started on the run up the ravine into the mountains toward Grass Valley. It being a very rough place for the Indians to get their horses through, some of the men succeeded in getting near enough to fire a few shots very close to them, as one of them stated afterward, so I was very credibly informed by Mr. Klemp, a citizen of Austin, who told me that he was in Grass Valley when the Indians came into that place, and said the soldiers had shot at them. Mr. Worthington, the owner of the cattle, found where they had just killed two a short time before our arrival. From these facts and other information I believe it is the |