按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
driven them from the road into the timber； where the cruel murders
were committed without provocation； and for no other purpose than the
gratification of the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often
existed on the frontier； and which on more than one occasion has
failed to distinguish friend from foe。 The bodies lay in a
semicircle； and the bits of rope with which the poor wretches had
been strangled to death were still around their necks。 Each piece of
ropethe unwound strand of a heavier piecewas about two feet long；
and encircled the neck of its victim with a single knot； that must
have been drawn tight by the murderers pulling at the ends。 As there
had not been quite enough rope to answer for all； the babe was
strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief； taken； doubtless； from
the neck of its mother。 It was a distressing sight。 A most cruel
outrage had been committed upon unarmed peopleour friends and
alliesin a spirit of aimless revenge。 The perpetrators were
citizens living near the middle block…house； whose wives and children
had been killed a few days before by the hostiles； but who well knew
that these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those
murders。
In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes
in connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day； but
the effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been
effaced from my memory。 Greater and more atrocious massacres have
been committed often by Indians； their savage nature modifies one's
ideas； however； as to the inhumanity of their acts； but when such
wholesale murder as this is done by whites； and the victims not only
innocent； but helpless； no defense can be made for those who
perpetrated the crime； if they claim to be civilized beings。 It is
true the people at the Cascades had suffered much； and that their
wives and children had been murdered before their eyes； but to wreak
vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family； who had walked into their
settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance； was an
unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate。 With as
little delay as possible after the horrible discovery； I returned to
camp； had boxes made； and next day buried the bodies of these hapless
victims of misdirected vengeance。
The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians； in their trial
and execution； had a most salutary effect on the confederation； and
was the entering wedge to its disintegration； and though Colonel
Wright's campaign continued during the summer and into the early
winter； the subjugation of the allied bands became a comparatively
easy matter after the lesson taught the renegades who were captured
at the Cascades。 My detachment did not accompany Colonel Wright； but
remained for some time at the Cascades； and while still there General
Wool came up from San Francisco to take a look into the condition of
things。 From his conversation with me in reference to the affair at
the Cascades； I gathered that he was greatly pleased at the service I
had performed； and I afterward found that his report of my conduct
had so favorably impressed General Scott that that distinguished
officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in general
orders。
General Wool； while personally supervising matters on the Columbia
River； directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the
district； and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was
ordered with my detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande
Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County； Oregon； about twenty…five
miles southwest of Dayton； and to relieve from duty at that point
Lieutenant William B。 Hazenlate brigadier…general and chief signal
officerwho had established a camp there some time before。 I
started for my new station on April 21； and marching by way of
Portland and Oregon City； arrived at Hazen's camp April 25。 The camp
was located in the Coast range of mountains； on the northeast part of
the reservation； to which last had been added a section of country
that was afterward known as the Siletz reservation。 The whole body
of land set aside went under the general name of the 〃Coast
reservation；〃 from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some distance
north of Yaquina Bay； and the intention was to establish within its
bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it。
In furtherance of this idea； and to relieve northern California and
southwestern Oregon from the roaming； restless bands that kept the
people of those sections in a state of constant turmoil； many of the
different tribes； still under control but liable to take part in
warfare； were removed to the reservation； so that they might be away
from the theatre of hostilities。
When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been
placed upon the reservation； and subsequently the Coquille； Klamath；
Modocs； and remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also； the
home of the latter being in the Willamette Valley。 The number all
told amounted to some thousands； scattered over the entire Coast
reservation； but about fifteen hundred were located at the Grande
Ronde under charge of an agent； Mr。 John F。 Miller； a sensible；
practical man； who left the entire police control to the military；
and attended faithfully to the duty of settling the Indians in the
work of cultivating the soil。
As the place was to be occupied permanently； Lieutenant Hazen had
begun； before my arrival； the erection of buildings for the shelter
of his command； and I continued the work of constructing the post as
laid out by him。 In those days the Government did not provide very
liberally for sheltering its soldiers； and officers and men were
frequently forced to eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome
work or go without shelter in most inhospitable regions。 Of course
this post was no exception to the general rule； and as all hands were
occupied in its construction； and I the only officer present； I was
kept busily employed in supervising matters； both as commandant and
quartermaster； until July； when Captain D。 A。 Russell； of the Fourth
Infantry； was ordered to take command； and I was relieved from the
first part of my duties。
About this time my little detachment parted from me； being ordered to
join a company of the First Dragoons； commanded by Captain Robert
Williams； as it passed up the country from California by way of
Yamhill。 I regretted exceedingly to see them go； for their faithful
work and gallant service had endeared every man to me by the
strongest ties。 Since I relieved Lieutenant Hood on Pit River；
nearly a twelvemonth before； they had been my constant companions；
and the zeal with which they had responded to every call I made on
them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that years have not
removed。 When I relieved Hooda dragoon officer of their own
regimentthey did not like the change； and I understood that they
somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one； in
order to try the temper of the new 〃Leftenant；〃 but appreciative and
unremitting care； together with firm and just discipline； soon
quieted all symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice。
The detachment had been made up of details from the different
companies of the regiment in order to give Williamson a mounted
force； and as it was usual； under such circumstances； for every
company commander to shove into the detail he was called upon to
furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals of his
company； I had some difficulty； when first taking command； in
controlling such a medley of recalcitrants； but by forethought for
them and their wants； and a strict watchfulness for their rights and
comfort； I was able in a short time to make them obedient and the
detachment cohesive。 In the past year they had made long and
tiresome marches； forded swift mountain streams； constructed rafts of
logs or bundles of dry reeds to ferry our baggage； swum deep rivers；
marched on foot to save their worn…out and exhausted animals； climbed
mountains； fought Indians； and in all and everything had done the
best they could for the service and their commander。 The disaffected
feeling they entertained when I first assumed command soon wore away；
and in its place came a confidence and respect which it gives me the
greatest pleasure to remember； for small though it was； this was my
first cavalry command。 They little thought； when we were in the
mountains of California and Oregonnor did I myself then dreamthat
but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot again to
command dragoons； this time in numbers so vast as of themselves to
compose almost an army。
Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians
at the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the
Siletz reservation；