Oregon and Washington Volunteers/21

[Verified statement of D. R. Calhoon, relative to the necessity of the service rendered by Captain Jesse Walker’s company of mounted volunteers, dated November 13, 1857.]
 Statement of D. B. Calhoon.  I came over the plains the second time in the summer of 1854, and came to Yreka, California, by way of the southern Oregon and northern California emigrant route, passing through the country of the Pi-ute, Modoc, and Klamath lake tribes of Indians. I emigrated that year, with my family, from Winchester, Iowa, and came to this place as a captain or foreman of a small train consisting of about fourteen persons, with about sixty head of stock.

We saw no indications of hostile Indians on our trip until we arrived in the vicinity of “Gravelly Ford,” on the Humboldt river. Just before arriving at this point large numbers of Indians began to show themselves, armed and painted, and exhibiting other signs of hostile intentions, such as the war dance, &c., always resorted to by them in time of war.

From the time we left Fort Hall it was our invariable custom to guard at night, and even with this precaution the Indians succeeded in stealing from me a fine American mare.

Shortly after the Indians had made their first hostile demonstrations, and after we had arrived at the Humboldt, two Indians were discovered by the guard crawling over the bank of the river where we had camped for the night, and were making directly towards our tents. The guard fired upon them, but unfortunately, it being dark, they made their escape, probably unhurt.

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.

Upon meeting Lieutenant Westfeldt, we were immediately furnished by that officer with an escort to Captain Walker’s headquarters, on Clear lake. Here we staid over night, and next morning, with an escort of ten men, under Lieutenant Miller, we proceeded on our journey, passing “Bloody Point” unmolested, and arrived at Lost river just before dark. Here, however, we soon discovered a large body of Indians across the river and immediately opposite our camp. Judging from the number we saw, and other indications, that they were too numerous for our small party to cope with successfully, in case of an attack, which it was evident they were preparing to make, Lieutenant Miller despatched a messenger to Captain Walker for a reinforcement which arrived at our camp some time before daylight next morning.

On the arrival of additional troops the Indians left the ground they had occupied during the night, and we were left to pursue our journey without further molestation. Our escort remained with us until our arrival at Klamath lake, where it left and returned, as we were then past all danger from Indians.

It was at Lost river that the party of thirteen men from Yreka, referred to in Captain Walker’s report, were attacked a few days before and compelled to retreat; and I have no hesitancy in saying that the timely arrival of Captain Walker and command in the hostile Indian country saved our property from destruction, and no doubt our lives.

In 1852, when the emigration was excessively large, and consequently much better able to protect itself against the Indians than was the emigration of 1854, very many were killed by the Pi-utes and Modocs along the same part of the route over which we were so fortunate as to receive armed protection.

In 1853 the emigration by this route was much less than that of the previous year; but it was amply protected by the order of General Lane, then commanding in the Rogue River Indian war, and consequently was saved any very material loss. A detachment of United States dragoons were also on duty in 1853, but no United States force was there in 1854.

It is also due to truth to say that many of the emigration of 1854 were wholly destitute of subsistence at the crossing of the Sierra Nevadas, nearly or quite three hundred miles from any settlement, and none had provisions that they could possibly spare. No traders were on the route to furnish the destitute with supplies; and had not aid in this particular been rendered by Captain Walker, much suffering from hunger, and in many instances starvation itself, must have been the result.

From a thorough knowledge of the Indian character, particularly of the region of country alluded to, I do not hesitate to affirm that an armed force is absolutely necessary for the protection of every emigration passing that way.

I furthermore add, that I have no claims nor interest in any claim or claims against the government of the United States, arising from the service of Captain Walker’s company thus rendered, nor have I any interest whatever, in a pecuniary point of view, in such service being paid; but I make this statement freely and voluntarily, as an act of justice to those who so generously performed service or furnished necessary supplies on that occasion.  D. R. CALHOON.  Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 13th day of November, A. D. 1857.  G. W. PIERSON, Justice of the Peace.  County of Siskiyou,

I, F. A. Rogers, clerk of the county court in and for said county and State aforesaid, hereby certify that G. W. Pierson, before whom the foregoing statement was subscribed and sworn to, and whose genuine signature is thereto affixed, was, at the time of signing the same, a justice of the peace in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths and to take the acknowledgment of deeds, and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such.

I further certify that for the past six years I have been personally acquainted with D. R. Calhoon, the person who subscribed the foregoing statement, and know him to be of good moral character, and that full credit should be given to his statement.

Given under my hand and the seal of said court, this thirteenth day of November, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.  F. A. ROGERS, Clerk of the County Court of Siskiyou County. 