Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/594



the twinkling of an eye. Besides the outright killing of half the attacking party, the balance of the Indians on the rock were so shocked by the loud explosion that they tumbled off into the ocean or rolled down the sides in deadly terror. This terrific repulse sent the whole band remaining alive or vinmangled back to their camp in wailing. And that night the defenders packed their pockets and knap- sacks with food and set out in the night on foot to reach the white settlements in Umpcjua valley more than a hundred miles distant ; and finally after incred- ible hardships in hiding from the pursuing Indians, wading streams, sleeping on the ground in wet clothing and living on snails and wild berries they all safely reached the houses of white men. The great rock has ever since gone by the name of Battle Rock, a photo of it and a spirited sketch of the battle appears on another page.

lane's second treaty

The first treaty of peace made bj' General Lane with the Rogue River Indians was tolerably respected for a year ; and then desultory fighting with miners and travelers and stealing stock from the farmers was resumed ; so that by 1853 all the tribes of that region were again practically on the war path. The settlers got together as well as they could a small body of volunteers. General Lane brought over fifty men from Umpqua valley where he had settled on a farm, and assumed command of the whole force ; Colonel John Ross, of Jackson county, and Captain Alden, of the regular army, serving under Lane. Old "Jo" — the "Jo" Lane " Jo " Chiefs John and Sam were leaders of the Indians who had collected a large force of warriors and made their headquarters in the rough mountains and heavy timbers on Evans creek, and making a fortified camp of fallen tim- bers on Evans creek, and making a fortified camp of fallen timber with plenty of arms and ammimition made a formidable foe to attack. Nevertheless, on reach- ing the ground Lane charged the breastwork of the Indians, and received a shot in one arm, while Captain Alden received a wound from which he never fully recovered. Several other volunteers were badly wounded and died, and Pleas- ant Armstrong, an old and respected citizen of Yamhill county, was shot dead on the ground. In this fight the Indians and white men were so close together in the charge on the log fort, that they could easily talk back to each other, and the Indians bitterly reproached Lane for the attack, and asked him to come into their camp and arrange another peace. And surprising as it was to all his men, General Lane stopped the battle, and in his wounded condition marched alone into the Indian stronghold Avhere he saw many dead and wounded Indians, showing clearly they had got the worst of the battle. And after a talk with the Chiefs it was agreed that both whites and Indians should all go back to Table Rock and there make a permanent peace. And upon that temporary arrange- ment both sides retired from the Evans creek battlefield and did go back to Table Rock, both parties marching over the same trail — the Indians preceding the white men,

When this outbreak occurred couriers were sent off for aid by the regular U. S. soldiers and volunteers. To this appeal Colonel James W. Nesmith re- sponded with 75 volunteers raised quickly in Polk, Marion and Linn counties: Capt. A. J. Smith marched at once with Company C of the First U. S. Dra-