George L. Curry

“ Having a personal knowledge of these Indians, and knowing their deadly hostility and natural propensity to rob, plunder, and murder the whites, it is truly gratifying to know that the whole of this year’s immigration for southern Oregon and northern California have passed through the Pi-ute and Modoc countries without a single immigrant being killed by these Indians, and comparatively with but little loss of property. ”

“ Their zeal in the cause of humanity, the devoted patriotism with which they rallied to protect the defenceless, the promptitude, correctness, and ability exercised in the discharge of their several duties, the cheerfulness with which they shared their scanty subsistence with the needy, and their untiring efforts to facilitate the journey of those who, from unforeseen events, required special attention, merits the warmest approbation of the general government, and higher encomiums of praise than is in the power of my feeble pen to bestow. ”

“ But a calm, dispassionate investigation of the subject, and an unbiased perusal of a compiled history of the various massacres of unoffending citizens, with all their attendant circumstances, that have occurred during the few years past, cannot fail to convince those who entertain such views of the error into which they have fallen, and to satisfy the federal government that unless active and rigorous measures are taken to prevent it a general war is inevitable. The sooner justice is meted out to the aggressor the less will be the cost, and the smaller the number of lives sacrificed. ”

“ The treacherous conduct of the Indian has at all times, and on all occasions, since the organization of the first American settlements in this Territory, been such as is calculated to deprive them of the sympathy of every true man having the cause of humanity at heart, and to convince the most peaceable of the necessity of their subjugation. The history of the country since the landing of the Pilgrims to the present time proves them wholly unworthy of confidence, and consequent subjects of governmental policy. ”

“ From the Humboldt river, across the Sierra Nevada mountains, to Goose lake, where it was our good fortune to meet the first detachment of Captain Jesse Walker’s company of Oregon mounted volunteers, under command of Lieutenant Westfeldt, we were in constant expectation of an Indian attack. We saw an abundance of Indian “sign” every day, and it was evident that the Indians were collecting together along our route and making for “Bloody Point,” between Clear lake and Lost river, where, in 1852 and at other times, they had killed scores of emigrants and destroyed a large amount of property. ”

“ In conducting this war of self-preservation, the people of Oregon have labored under numerous and almost insurmountable embarrassments; nevertheless, every obstacle has been overcome and important victories have crowned the movements of our citizen soldiery everywhere. ”

“ My dear sir, with every confidence in your spirit and energy, I leave this matter in your hands; press it with all earnestness and force upon the department, and if need be upon Congress. The lives of our people must not be sacrificed when it is in the power of the government to avert it. ”

“ We arrived on Scott’s river in the last of February of that year. Upon our arrival on the upper waters of Scott’s river, the Indians, who had heard of General Lane through the Oregon Indians, learning that the general was leader of the company, came into camp and expressed a wish that all hostilities between them and the whites should cease, and that General Lane should be “Ti-ee,” or chief, over both parties. Up to this time during our journey, which had been protracted to eighteen days, we had been under the necessity of standing guard, both over animals and camp, day and night. ”

“ The adoption of the latter policy, though tinctured strongly with anti-progressive Americanism, would throw the citizens of Oregon and vicinity upon their own resources; the effect of which would be the adoption by her citizens of a mode of warfare inconsistent perhaps, in some instances, with the articles of war governing nations, yet altogether more effectual. The tactics of armies are but shackles and fetters in the prosecution of an Indian war. “Fire must be fought with fire;” and the soldier, to be successful, must, in a great measure, adopt the mode of warfare pursued by the savage. ”

“ The Indians were naked and lived an indolent life; game, fish, and roots, upon which they subsisted, being then very abundant and easily obtained. As a consequence of the inattention of the miners to their horses and mules, they frequently strayed off a long distance, and when wanted could not be found by their owners; and but for the influence of General Lane much irritation and difficulty would have grown out of that source, which would have involved us in a fatal Indian war. ”

“ The absence of any provision whatever in the organic law of Territory, which can be so construed as to meet our wants in the present emergency, requires that a generous confidence be reposed in the general government. ”

“ It may be truly said that the spring and summer months to the pioneers of the west is what the depot and magazine is to a military force. It not only enables them to procure the common necessaries of life, but also furnishes them the means actually necessary for the prosecution of their journey on the road to wealth and happiness. ”

“ During my acquaintance with the affairs of this country I have noticed that as soon as warm weather sets in many of the young warriors of the different tribes would disappear, and upon inquiry of the old men would receive information that they were sick or dead, but cold weather would invariably bring most of them back again; that soon after their disappearance in the spring horses and cattle would disappear from time to time, and the Indians that remained in sight would commence accumulating property quite fast, which they would represent as having been stolen from the Modocs. ”

“ We adopted this course: travelled much in the night through unfrequented paths, as led by the young Indians, whom we christened “Tom” and “Jack.” In crossing the Siskiyou mountains we met a Rogue River Indian with his bow strung and arrow set, and three more in his teeth for immediate use, his quiver well filled, and surrounded him before he discovered us. Our guides talked with him a short time, and then informed me that the Indians we were after had gone to Sam’s band, and that this Indian was going over to induce their people and the Scott Rivers to join Typsie and Sam against the whites. ”

“ I am aware of the many embarrassments under which you will labor if it should be considered necessary to raise such a command without a single dollar to defray expenses; you will be compelled to rely upon the liberality and patriotism of our fellow-citizens, who in turn will be compelled to rely upon the justness of the general government for their compensation. ”

“ I feel it my duty to observe that Indian depredation upon life and property has also been committed the present season upon the other two immigrant trails conducting into this valley, and respectfully submit whether the melancholy occurrences that have befallen the immigration of the present year do not demonstrate the absolute necessity of the establishment of a military post at some point near Fort Boisé, were it only to be kept up during the clement seasons of the year. ”

“ Treaties, in many instances, have proved disadvantageous to the welfare of the communities in the vicinity of which they have been effected, and the country at large derived little or no benefit from them, except in cases where a thorough subjugation has occurred. Treaties effected under any other circumstances ought not to be relied upon, inasmuch as they are of no validity with the Indian, and they secure to the enemy the privilege of striking the first and oftentimes the fatal blow. ”

“ But I beg to assure you that the greatest care will be exercised, and the most rigid economy practised, in the contracting of liabilities. So long as the people of Oregon are left to protect themselves, to punish Indian depredations, and repel Indian hostilities, the expenses incident thereto ought cheerfully to be paid by Congress, as I have no doubt but that they will be. ”

“ The prospects of living on amicable terms with the numerous and formidable tribes of Indians infesting our frontier borders, in fact, occupying the whole extent of country from the British possessions in the north to Mexico in the south, and from beyond the Rocky mountains on the east to the Pacific ocean on the west, is certainly anything but flattering. ”

“ Government had been so backward in the settlement of these war claims, as also in the protection against the Indian aggressions, and the constant demands upon us for means which could not with safety to the community be refused, had taxed our energies to the utmost, and in fact many men in good business standing had been entirely ruined by these drains, even at the prices allowed, which prices, in a country where everything is abundant and easily obtained, seem enormous. ”

“ With the exception of the few volunteers with it, the detachment is composed of men unacquainted with equestrian exercises, altogether unsuited to the service in which they are engaged, as are the entire forces of Forts Vancouver and Dalles, unadapted to efficient operations against Indians, consisting, as they do, of artillery and infantry detachments; troops of a character more proper to protect a commercial seaboard than an extensive Indian frontier.
If furnished with the requisite munitions of war the people of Oregon are competent to protect themselves from Indian aggression ”

“ Sam then informed Judge Skinner that before he would talk the white men must go and stack their arms at some fifty paces back, indicating the place. Judge Skinner immediately, and without any consultations, ordered the whites so to do. Captain Lamerick, being under his jurisdiction, felt under obligations, and did cause his men to comply with the order. I refused and remonstrated, that unless the Indians should do likewise with their guns, (they being as fully armed as we were,) we would all be massacred without being able to make a show of defence. ”

“ Shortly after it became necessary to send out further supplies, inasmuch as many of the immigrants were destitute and had to be subsisted, thereby making the consumption greater than contemplated, and many of the weak trains were yet behind on their way in, and to withdraw the troops would have been certain death to them. The people of Rogue river had stood as much tax as they could; application was then made to the traders of Yreka and Scott’s valley for assistance. ”

“ A few small boats were much needed for the company to attack the enemy successfully. On the 4th of September the Indians, being entirely out of provisions, were compelled to beg for quarters, which were granted them upon their faithfully promising to be friendly and never to kill or rob another white person. These Indians have always been more hostile than any others on this road, but they seem now to desire to live on friendly terms with the whites, and by a small force being stationed in the vicinity of Goose lake I think they can be easily controlled. ”

“ Through the vigilance of Captain Walker, however, who had made such a disposition of his command as to render the greatest possible protection to the entire immigration, by merging as many small trains into one as found convenient, and providing them strong escorts through the hostile country, the Indians were kept completely at bay, and the whole immigration passed through without loss of life, and with only a comparative small loss of stock or other property. ”

“ The principal towns in these valleys are Jacksonville, in Oregon, and Yreka, in California. These towns are noted for their rapid increase in population, the frequent changes and fluctuations in their markets, rich gold mines, frequent Indian wars, and high prices; but it will be seen by the following prices that the government has not been asked to pay as high prices to prosecute these wars as individuals have frequently paid in time of peace for the necessaries of life, while pursuing their common avocations. Yreka was settled in 1851, and Jacksonville in 1852. ”

“ The most humane cannot but acknowledge that it is time for vigorous action, and that sickly sentimentality should cease. “Lo! the poor Indian,” is the exclamation of our modern philanthropists and love-sick novel writers. “Lo! the defenceless men, women, and children, who have fallen victims and suffered even more than death itself at their hands,” is the immediate response of the surviving witnesses of the inhuman butcheries perpetrated by this God-accursed race. ”

“ General Lane commanded the respect of the whites and had won the confidence and affection of the Indians, and at a word from him old Tolo would send out his young men to look up any lost animals desired, upon brining the which in and delivery to him, he would award to the Indians a shirt, pair of pants, or drawers, or some little trinket, according to the value of the animal and the trouble in finding. ”

“ From the first settlement of Shasta and Rogue River valleys to the time of the removal of the Indians to the Coast reservations in 1856, the roads and trails leading to and through these valleys have been considered more or less dangerous, and many transportation animals that would have been employed on these trails, owing to the hostility of the Indians, have been kept employed on other roads and trails where the Indians were considered less dangerous. ”

“ The price of flour in Yreka, in 1851, varied from sixteen cents to a dollar per pound, and sugar, coffee, and salt, from forty cents to a dollar and twenty-five cents per pound. Since the settlement of Jacksonville prices have generally been higher in Yreka than in Jacksonville; and for the last five years these affiants have been merchandising or trading in the latter place, and the following are some of the prices which they, or some of them, have, at different times, sold bacon, flour, sugar, coffee, and salt, and the price of beef is the price they have paid for their own use. ”