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！
statue of Liberty Enlightening the World） about three hundred
recruits。 For a time I was the only officer with them； but shortly
before we started for California； Lieutenant Francis H。 Bates； of the
Fourth Infantry； was placed in command。 We embarked for the Pacific
coast in July； 1855； and made the journey without incident via the
Isthmus of Panama； in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks；
above San Francisco。
》From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading； and
on reaching that post； found orders directing me to relieve
Lieutenant John B。 Hoodafterward well known as a distinguished
general in the Confederate service。 Lieutenant Hood was in command
of the personal mounted escort of Lieutenant R。 S。 Williamson； who
was charged with the duty of making such explorations and surveys as
would determine the practicability of connecting； by railroad； the
Sacramento Valley in California with the Columbia River in Oregon
Territory； either through the Willamette Valley； or （if this route
should prove to be impracticable） by the valley of the Des Chutes
River near the foot…slopes of the Cascade chain。 The survey was
being made in accordance with an act of Congress； which provided both
for ascertaining the must practicable and economical route for a
railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean； and for
military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River。
Fort Reading was the starting…point for this exploring expedition；
and there I arrived some four or five days after the party under
Lieutenant Williamson had begun its march。 His personal escort
numbered about sixty mounted men； made up of detachments from
companies of the First Dragoons； under command of Lieutenant Hood；
together with about one hundred men belonging to the Fourth Infantry
arid Third Artillery； commanded by Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson；
the present colonel of the Third United States Artillery。 Lieutenant
George Crooknow major…generalwas the quartermaster and commissary
of subsistence of the expedition。
The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go
on to relieve Lieutenant Hood； as the country to be passed over was
infested by the Pit River Indians； known to be hostile to white
people and especially to small parties。 I was very anxious to
proceed； however； and willing to take the chances； so； consent being
finally obtained； I started with a corporal and two mounted men；
through a wild and uninhabited region； to overtake if possible
Lieutenant Williamson。 Being on horseback； and unencumbered by
luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard bread； coffee
and smoking…tobacco； which were all carried on our riding animals； we
were sanguine of succeeding； for we traversed in one day fully the
distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot。
The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte； where I
determined to spend the night near an isolated cabin； or dugout； that
had been recently constructed by a hardy pioneer。 The wind was
blowing a disagreeable gale； which had begun early in the day。 This
made it desirable to locate our camp under the best cover we could
find； and I spent some little time in looking about for a
satisfactory place； but nothing better offered than a large fallen
tree； which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its lee side
we would be protected from the fury of the storm。 This spot was
therefore fixed upon； and preparation made for spending the night as
comfortably as the circumstances would permit。
After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to
the country ahead； and there found at first only a soldier of
Williamson's party； later the proprietor of the ranch appeared。 The
soldier had been left behind by the surveying party on account of
illness； with instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as
best he could when he recovered。 His condition having greatly
improved； however； since he had been left； he now begged me in
beseeching terms to take him along with my party； which I finally
consented to do； provided that if he became unable to keep up with
me； and I should be obliged to abandon him； the responsibility would
be his； not mine。 This increased my number to five； and was quite a
reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians； but it was
also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill。
During the night； notwithstanding the continuance of the storm； I had
a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we
made our camp； and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey；
fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread。 I skirted around
the base of Lassan's Butte； thence down Hat Creek； all the time
following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party。 About
noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out； and could
go no farther。 As stipulated when I consented to take him along； I
had the right to abandon him； but when it came to the test I could
not make up my mind to do it。 Finding a good place not far off the
trail； one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died；
and we left them there； with a liberal supply of hard bread and
coffee； believing that we would never again see the invalid。 My
reinforcement was already gone； and another man with it。
With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon； when we heard the sound of voices；
and the corporal； thinking we were approaching Lieutenant
Williamson's party； was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction；
that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight。
This I prevented his doing； however； and we continued cautiously and
slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front。 We had not
gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit
River Indians； who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition；
and were following it up； doubtless with evil intent。 Dismounting
from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number
of Indians； discovered it to be about thirty； and then followed on
behind them cautiously； but with little difficulty； as appearances of
speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant
Williamson's party； which made them less on the lookout than usual
for any possible pursuers。 After following the trail until nearly
sundown； I considered it prudent to stop for the night； and drew off
some little distance； where； concealed in a dense growth of timber；
we made our camp。
As I had with me now only two men； I felt somewhat nervous； so I
allowed no fires to be built； and in consequence our supper consisted
of hard bread only。 I passed an anxious night； but beyond our own
solicitude there was nothing to disturb us； the Indians being too
much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims
in the rear； After a hard…bread breakfast we started again on the
trail； and had proceeded but a short distance when； hearing the
voices of the Indians； we at once slackened our speed so as not to
overtake them。
Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an
exceedingly rough lava formationa spur of the lava beds often
described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that
Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface；
leaving in fact； only indistinct traces of its line of march。 By
care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through
without much delay； or discovery by the Indians； and about noon；
owing to the termination of the lava formation； we descended into the
valley of Hat Greek； a little below where it emerges from the second
canon and above its confluence with Pit River。 As soon as we reached
the fertile soil of the valley； we found Williamson's trail well
defined； deeply impressed in the soft loam； and coursing through
wild…flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every
hand。
When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable
speed； and after passing over hill and vale for some distance； the
trail becoming more and more distinct all the time； I suddenly saw in
front of me the Pit River Indians。
This caused a halt； and having hurriedly re…capped our guns and
six…shooters； thus preparing for the worst； I took a look at the band
through my field…glass。 They were a half…mile or more in our front
and numbered about thirty individuals； armed with bows and arrows
only。 Observing us they made friendly demonstrations； but I had not
implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement
of our country； and especially in that wild locality； so after a
〃council of war〃 with the corporal and man； I concluded to advance to
a point about two hundred yards distant from the party； when； rely