Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/371



THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 353

regulars, although on account of the illness of Fitzgerald, only a portion of his troops were available.

When Ross arrived at the rendezvous late that night, he found Captain Smith of the first dragoons impatient to attack. Spies from his own and the volunteer force had found the enemy s position to be on a hill difficult of approach, and well fortified. A map had been made for use by the officers, and Smith assumed command of the combined forces. Although it was already half past ten o clock in the evening, orders were issued to march at eleven.

Smith s plan was to plant howitzers on an eminence three-fourths of a mile from that occupied by the Indians, and having divided the companies into three columns, stationed so as to enclose the Indians, to open his battery upon them before he had been discovered. His design was frustrated through some one having set fire to a tree, and after a toilsome night march he was unable to surprise the enemy. On arriving on the edge of a ravine in front of the enemy s position, instead of shelling the Indians in their stronghold, a charge was ordered. The hill on which the Indians were fortified was bald on the south side, by which the troops were approaching, except for a short but tangled undergrowth with which also the ravine they had to cross was filled. On the north of the Indian position there was a heavy forest.

It should be here stated that an unexpected reenforce- ment had arrived during the night, consisting of two companies of a battalion called out by Governor Curry ; their captains being Joseph Bailey and Samuel Gordon. To these two companies was assigned the duty of flanking

bullets. The bell boy had mounted a fast horse, and lying low on his back had not been hit. The Indians captured six mules belonging to Ivens, fifty to Fox and Tem- pleton, and forty-one to me, with the packs, which cost me five thousand and one hundred dollars. We had a number of cases of bullets and several kegs of powder, also nails. The Indians opened one keg, and finding it contained nails, supposed the others were also nail kegs, and left them unopened. Six days after they attacked Althouse on Galice creek, Ivens and Sanders being unable to escape for several days; also the Applegate house, which was guarded by Wylie, French, Haines, and Louton.