CHAPTER XV.
FURTHER INDIAN WARS.
1855–1856.
Indian Affairs in Southern Oregon—The Rogue River People—Extermination Advocated—Militia Companies—Surprises and Skirmishes—Reservation and Friendly Indians Protected by the U. S. Government against Miners and Settlers—More Fighting—Volunteers and Regulars—Battle of Grave Creek—Formation of the Northern and Southern Battalions—Affair at the Meadows—Ranging by the Volunteers—The Ben Wright Massacre.
Before midsummer, 1855, war was again brewing in southern Oregon, the Applegate Creek and Illinois Valley branches of the Rogue River nation being the immediate cause. On one pretence or another, the former spent much of their time off the reservation, and in June made a descent on a mining camp, killing several men and capturing considerable property; while the murder of a white man on Indian Creek was charged to the latter, of whom a party of volunteers went in pursuit.
On the 17th of June a company styling themselves the Independent Hangers, H. B. Hayes, captain, organized at Wait's mills in Jackson county, reporting to Colonel Ross for his recognition,[1] this being
- ↑ The original copy of the application is contained in the first volume of Dowell's Oregon Indian Wars, MS., 1–3. This is a valuable compilation of original documents and letters pertaining to the wars of 1855–6 in southern Oregon, and furnishes conclusive proof of the invidious course of the Salem clique toward that portion of the territory. Dowell has taken much pains to secure and preserve these fragments of history, and in doing so has vindicated his section, from which otherwise the blame of certain alleged illegal acts might never have been removed. Then there are his Indian Wars;
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