Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/598

 lly keep and

maintain oui* good faith with them. AVe never once, on any occasion, lied to them, and as you know, when the great Indian war of 1855-6 broke out, and you were again on the field fighting them, poor old Jo was dead, and you, or some other commander, at old Sam's request, sent him and his people to Grand Round Reservation.

"Old John and Adam, and all others except Jo's and Sam's people fought you hard, but the Rogues, proper, never forgot the impression we made upon them in the great Council of September 10, 1853. It was a grand and successful Council, the Rogue Rivers proper, fought us no more ; they did not forget their promises to us.

"Very trul.y your friend and obedient servant,

"Joseph Lane."

CHIEF John's last battle

Notwithstanding the second treaty made by Lane, the treaty of 1853, the Rogue Rivers were all again on the war path killing and robbing the settlers in 1855 and 1856. The widely scattered settlements of the mountainous region of Southern Oregon could not be successfully defended by any reasonable force of white men, because they could not live and fight and travel through the mountains as the Indian could. Chief John was the leader and hero of this last Indian Avar, and an Indian better cpialified for guerilla warfare could not have been found. It is impossible to record in this work all the battles, routs, murders and toilsome marches of a dozen separated commands of volunteers and regulars endeavoring to keep the Indians so continually on the move from one hiding place to another that they would be exhausted, surrender and go on the then provided Indian Reservation. By this strenuoiis effort nearly all the old men, women and children of the Indian tribes were gathered up, but the able- bodied warriors still roved about the country murdering and robbing wherever there was an opportunity. The Indians had made the jimction of the Illinois and Rogue river streams their headquarters; for while this location was diffi- cult of access by regular United States soldiers and their equipment, it was an ideal point for the Indians to convene at and run away from if attacked, furnishing three water-level valleys in three different directions as line of ac- cess or escape. To this point Lieutenant Colonel Buchanan in command of the United States regailara, directed his efforts in hopes of convening there all the warring chiefs for the purpose of inducing them to go on the Indian Reser- vations in Benton or Yamhill counties. Word was sent out in all directions inviting the outstanding warriors to meet Buchanan at Big Meadows near the mouth of the Illinois river. Chief John accepted the invitation and came May 21, 1856, with all his men, and Chief George, Limpy and other minor chiefs. John was invited into the white soldiers' camp for a talk, and assured of pro- tection. He came and had a long talk with Colonel Buchanan, and which was finally ended by John's speech to Buchanan, saying: "You are a great chief; so am I. This is my country. I was in it when those large trees were very small, not higher than my head. My heart is sick with fighting ; but I want to live in my country. If the white people are willing I will go back to Deer creek and live among them as I used to do. They can visit mj^ camp, and I will