Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/218

212 These conditions could not long exist without producing open war between the two races; they culminated in what is known as the "Battle of Rogue River," which was fought on June 23, 1851, in which the Indians were severely punished.

A temporary pacification ensued. Treaties were entered into, only to be subsequently rejected by the senate. Hostilities were resumed in the succeeding year. A battle was fought in the Coquille River, resulting in the defeat of the Indians. Peace was again temporarily restored. Hostilities were again resumed, and culminated in what is known as the Rogue River war.

The Indian depredations and outrages committed in the spring of 1853 so exasperated the people of southern Oregon that a small company of volunteers, under Captain Isaac Hill, who had obtained arms and ammunition from Captain Alden, then in command at Fort Jones, California, attacked a body of Indians near Ashland, killing six. The remaining Indians fled, but speedily returned to that vicinity with reinforcements, and wrought bloody destruction upon a company of emigrants.

A messenger was dispatched to Governor Curry, who at once requested Major Rains, then in command at Fort Vancouver, to furnish a howitzer, rifles, and ammunition. The request was promptly granted. Lieut. A. V. Kautz and six artillerymen, taking with them a howitzer, started for the seat of war. An escort was deemed necessary. The Governor called for volunteers. A company was soon raised, and James W. Nesmith was commissioned its captain.

He marched to Albany and there awaited the arrival of Lieutenant Kautz. This occurred shortly afterward, and the whole party proceeded southward, but did not reach the seat of war until the troops, volunteers and regulars, under command of General Lane and Captain Alden,