leaving nearly forty men to guard the animals and the mouth of the cañon. After getting upon the first points, which had to be ascended under a brisk fire from an unseen enemy, I found that the Indians numbered from 500 to 700, had a great many good guns among them, and were in possession among the rocks clear up to the top of the tallest mountains, in places, too, that could scarcely be reached with ladders, and that there was no possible chance of getting to them, for, after pulling and tugging for an hour to get up to a ledge of rocks from which I could see the smoke of their rifles, when I reached it there was no Indian there, but I could see the smoke of his gun from a ledge still higher up, and so, after laboring industriously for two hours, climbing over almost impassable points, I saw that it would be madness and no less than murder to attempt to go any farther; that I could do nothing but get half of my men killed without as much as getting a fair shot at an Indian, and was necessarily compelled to order the men to fall back. In thus reconnoitering and recovering the body of Private Gillespie from the cañon, Colonel Mayfield was killed, and being a large, heavy man, weighing over 200 pounds, the men, after carrying him some 100 yards down the mountain, were compelled to leave his body or get more killed or wounded in bearing it off. After returning to the horses and trying for some time without avail to get the Indians out into the valley, I fell back to Bishop's Creek and camped for the night. April 10, being almost entirely out of provisions, having furnished flour, &c., to the citizens who were entirely out all through the valley, and being near 400 miles from Camp Latham, where I was expected to be by the 28th, I found that I must be retracing my steps and so intimated to the citizens, whereupon the settlers and stock owners waited upon me and claimed the protection of the Government for themselves and property. I explained to them my position; that I had no authority to leave any troops with them, and had no provisions for them to live upon if I had the authority, but that I would go with them to The Fort and there remain until they could get their cattle up and separate them; that those who wished to go to Aurora or Carson Valley could go under escort of Lieutenant Noble and his command and those who wished to go to Visalia or Los Angeles could go with me, which arrangement seemed to be satisfactory. I reached The Fort on the 11th of April and on the 13th moved down the river a few miles to good grass, leaving Lieutenant Noble and command at The Fort. On the 14th all the parties desiring to go south came up and I moved on. I reached Soldiers' Wells, a few miles east of Walker's Pass, on the 20th, nothing interesting occurring on the route except the Indians stealing a few of the citizens' cattle. At this point we parted company, the citizens going in over the pass to Kern River, whilst I started to look out a new road or cut-off. I left the Soldiers' Wells at sunup on the 21st and traveled due south over a sagebrush and grease wood table land some sixteen miles, when I came to the head of a large open cañon running north and south, which I went down six miles and came to water and grass. From this point I still kept down the cañon three miles to its mouth, which came out into an open desert plain. Here I turned to the westward and traveled five miles to the old road, at the point where it starts into Kelso Cañon to go through on to Kern River, thus traveling in one day what it took me over four days to travel in going up by the way of Kern River and Walker's Pass. This new route to Owen's Lake shortens the road from Los Angeles, without doubt, seventy miles, and is much the best road and can be traveled at all seasons of the year. I arrived at Camp Latham on the 28th of April, having been out forty-one days and traveled some 800 miles over, at this season of the year, one of the roughest countries to travel through that there is in California, encountering snow-storms, hail, rain, and windy, freezing weather alternately from the time that I reached Kern River in going up until I passed over, or rather through, the mountains on my return. From all the information that I could get and from what I know of my own knowledge, I am of the opinion that the Owen's River Indians, together with detachments from the Tejon, Tulare, and Mono Indians, and some of the Piutes, have banded together, numbering not far from 800 to 1,000 warriors; that they have 100 or more good guns, and are determined to carry out their threat that no white man should live in the valley. As an earnest of their sincerity in making the threat they have burnt and destroyed every house and improvement of the whites from Walker's Pass through to as far as I went (and that was to the extreme head of Owen's River Valley and within fifty miles of Mono Lake); have killed nine white men that have been found and buried, and, I have no doubt, others that have not yet been found. They have killed at least 1,000 head of cattle, and have been drying the meat and preparing evidently for a long war, and to-day there is not a white soul left living in the valley. The mining interests of that section are too great for the whites to give it up tamely. Some two or three mills have already been erected, and the machinery was on the ground and upon the road for several more; and there are now stopped on Kern River, by reason of these Indian difficulties, perhaps not less than 100 people who were en route for the Coso and other mines in that section, with thousands of dollars' worth of property, all awaiting the action of the Government in sending out troops and establishing a post in the valley for their protection. Again, the Owen's River Valley is the great thoroughfare and only route, except to go around by Placerville, through which the growing trade and travel of this southern country must pass in and to the Esmeralda and Washoe districts, and upon which the people of Esmeralda are almost entirely dependent for their beef and other fresh meats. In consideration of these facts and in compliance with my instructions, I would most respectfully urge the necessity of a military post being established in the valley, and recommend Big Pine Creek as the most eligible location. Big Pine Creek is a large, bold stream of water making out of the eastern slope of the Sierras and emptying into Owen's River on its western bank, furnishing fine water-power for machinery and running through one of the finest bodies of land that there is in the valley, where tons upon tons of hay could be cut in its season. Again, it is situated about the center of the valley, or rather is about midway between Walker's Pass and Esmeralda, and is adjacent to good stone and timber for building purposes. In conclusion I beg leave to say that the officers and men, both of the detachment from Fort Churchill and of the escort from Camp Latham, behaved with great coolness and bravery under fire, and bore the hardships of the trip, living on fresh beef alone as they did a portion of the time without a murmur, showing at all times a willingness to obey orders and do whatever was required to be done, either night or day, even to acting as mules and assisting in hauling the wagons when the wornout, condemned mules (all I could get for the trip) could not. That is worthy of all praise. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. S. EVANS, Lieutenant-Colonel Second Cavalry California Volunteers. 4 R R-VOL L, PT I MARCH 22-AUGUST 31, 1862.-Operations in the Humboldt Military District, Cal. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Apr. 4, 1862.-Affair at Table Bluff, Cal. May 6, 1862. Skirmish near Fort Anderson, Cal. 8, 1862. Skirmish near Arcata, Cal. 26, 1862.-Skirmishes on the Eel River and near Fort Baker, Cal. 7, 1862. Skirmish at Croghan's Ranch, Cal. 14, 1862.-Skirmish at Angel's Ranch on the Mad River, Cal. 31, 1862.-Skirmish on the Eel River, near Van Dusen's Creek, Cal. June 6-7, 1862.-Skirmishes at Daley's Ferry and on the Mad River, near Arcata, Cal. 7, 1862.-Skirmish in the Mattole Valley, Cal. July Aug. 8, 1862. Skirmish at Fawn Prairie, near Liscombe's Hill, Cal. 11, 1862.-Skirmish on the Mad River, Cal. 2, 1862.-Attack on Cutterback's House on Van Dusen's Creek, Cal. 29, 1862.-Skirmish near Albee's Ranch, Cal. 30, 1862.-Affair at Miller's Ranch, near Elk Camp, Cal. 6, 1862.—Skirmish near Fort Gaston, Cal. 21, 1862.—Skirmish at Light Prairie, near Arcata, Cal. 23, 1862.--Affair on Little River, Cal. REPORTS. No. 1.-Col. Francis J. Lippitt, Second California Infantry, commanding the Hum boldt District. No. 2.-Lieut. Col. James N. Olney, Second California Infantry. No. 1. Reports of Col. Francis J. Lippitt, Second California Infantry, commanding the Humboldt District. HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, Fort Humboldt, April 1, 1862. MAJOR: On the evening of the 25th of March an express arrived from Arcata reporting that the settlement at Angel's ranch, a place about twelve miles from Arcata, had been attacked on the 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th ultimo by Indians, the settlers shot or driven away, their stock killed, and their houses and improvements burnt to the ground. I immediately ordered Captain Akey's, Captain Douglas', and Captain Heffernan's commands to concentrate at Angel's ranch, but in order that the three commands might arrive there at the same time, without which there was no chance of driving the Indians in, Captain Akey was directed not to leave till the 27th. The next evening (the 26th) another express arrived with the news that the long-settled and valuable ranch known as Bates', seven or eight miles from Arcata, on the principal thoroughfare to Fort Gaston, and the entire country to the north and east, had been attacked that same day by a band of thirty Indians, who killed Bates, fired a shower of bullets after the women and children, who had scattered into the woods on seeing their approach, destroyed his stock, and then burnt his house and outbuildings to the ground. As Bates' was on the direct route from this post to Angel's ranch, and as, from the information received, these Indians had moved in that direction, there was no reason for any change in the dispositions already taken, by which the troops were to concentrate at Angel's ranch at the earliest possible moment. The next morning (the 27th) I accompanied Captain Akey's detachment from this post to the scene of the outrages at Angel's ranch, passing by Bates'. Captains Akey's and Heffernan's commands arrived there at the precise moment designated. Captain Douglas arrived there an hour afterward, having been delayed by following up an Indian trail for some distance, but which he finally lost. After their arrival the three commands went on a scout in the neighboring woods, crossing them in different directions. But in the meantime a violent snow-storm had covered up all tracks that might have existed, and they returned to camp without having found any Indians or any Indian sign. On the 30th I returned with Captain Akey's command to this post, directing the two other companies to proceed to their posts by circuitous routes and to follow up any Indian trails they might find. This they have done, but without success. At or near Angel's ranch, at Patrick's, and at Zehender's the Indians obtained, in all, five guns, at Bates' seven, some of which were very superior fire-arms. I have sent instructions to Captain Johns, at Fort Gaston, to inform me at once, by express, of any positive indications of the Hoopa Indians preparing to take part in these hostilities, and if the case, in his opinion, should urgently require it, to telegraph directly to your headquarters, by Weaverville, as this would save a delay of four days. I have also prepared a dispatch to Captain Stuart, at Fort Ter-Waw, to keep a strict watch upon the Klamath Indians and to report to me at once any hostile indications on their part. His dispatch I have not yet sent, as it is reported to be very doubtful whether an express can get through by land, owing to the state of the trail, and the steamer being daily expected here, by which I can send it more surely and at a trifling expense. If the Hoopa Indians should rise they will, no doubt, carry with them the Klamath Indians, their close allies. These tribes are said to be but one degree below our Eastern Indians in warlike qualities, but a very small proportion of them are believed to have fire-arms. What their numbers may be it is impossible to say, estimates vary so much. Captain Johns supposes that the Indians in Hoopa Valley and its immediate neighborhood could turn out 800 warriors in forty-eight hours. Of course, if these Indians should rise I should require large re-enforcements. It would be well to send a few artillery soldiers with them to handle the two mountain howitzers, one of which is at this post, the other at Fort Gaston. Night before last the Indians burnt Cooper's flour mills, near Hydesville. They had pillaged them the week before, and had previously killed two of the Cooper brothers. As Hydesville is a small, scattered village, remote from military protection, with, no doubt, a considerable quantity of ammunition kept for sale in its stores and other inviting booty, I should not be surprised to hear of its being attacked by the Indians at any time. Captain Akey leaves to-morrow morning with his company to go in that direction. If the Klamath and Hoopa Indians remain quiet, and if the other Indians now making war upon us, after their fashion, should not band together in large numbers (which they have seldom or never done), three more companies will be probably all I shall need; but as I believe this number to be indispensable to guard the inhabitants against more extensive eruptions and massacres, which there is now some reason to fear, as well as to secure the troops against any chance of repulse, I have the honor to request that a re-enforcement to this extent may be sent as early as practicable. One of the three companies now asked for is needed to furnish escorts and guard the communications between this post, Captain Douglas', on Redwood Creek, and Fort Gaston, this being, moreover, the only route of travel and trade between the bay and the northern mines, as also to Weaverville, since the direct trail to that place has been abandoned from fear of the Indians. Another company will be needed at Fort Humboldt as a garrison and to furnish the strong guards that will be necessary for the security of the Indian prisoners, as Captain Akey's company will be constantly engaged in scouting. A third company would be posted near Hydesville for the protection of that place and of the settlements around it, as well as of the communications with Mendocino and the southern country. If a fourth company should be sent it would be very useful as a reserve, to be encamped, say, near Arcata, from which place it could readily be thrown to any point where more force might be needed; but if it is intended to obtain, by the operations against the Indians, any decisive results, a much larger re-enforcement would be necessary. To show this, it need only be observed that the region of country over which the present hostilities extend consists of some 2,000 square miles, threefourths of which are covered with dense forests of timber and chaparral, almost impenetrable to white men, but excellent hiding places for the Indians, and that no great number of them can be expected to be found but by simultaneous scouting in numerous, though small, detachments over a large extent of country. Of the seven companies now in this district only four are available for operations in this county, for Captain Moore's, at Fort Bragg, cannot be taken away from Mendocino, Captain Johns', at Fort Gaston, is too small (forty-five men) to spare any for the field, besides being needed at Hoopa Valley, and Captain Stuart's, at Fort Ter-Waw, besides being inaccessible to us for the want of a practicable route, cannot safely be called away from that post so long as the intentions of the Klamath Indians remain in doubt. It being a matter of the greatest importance, I may be excused for again repeating my assurance that if the Indians now to be captured are sent to any reservation in this part of the State they will be sure to return again immediately to their present haunts, and the whole work will have to be done over again. Would it be possible to obtain, by telegraph to Washington, authority from the Indian Bureau to send them to the Tejon Reservation? On being ordered on the recent expedition, Captain Akey reported that he was short of ammunition; that he had sent his requisition for 10,000 carbine cartridges last January to department headquarters (as he believes), but that it had not been answered. As the infantry cartridges do not fit the carbines, I was compelled to order the purchase of some gunpowder to enable him to have some made up |