Captain Sou: Difference between revisions

From Black Rock Desert Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Sou led the Williams Station raid. There was a petition.
No edit summary
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Captain Sou was the chief of a Paiute band near [[Unionville]].<ref>"[https://ia600306.us.archive.org/27/items/prehistoryhistor00smit/prehistoryhistor00smit.pdf Prehistory and history of the Winnemucca District ]," Regina C. Smith, Peggy McGuckian Jones, John R. Roney, Kathyrn E. Pedrick, p. 111-112, BLM, 1983.</ref>
Moguannoga (Mo-guan-no-ga) or Captain Sou (also "Cap Sou" and "Captain Soo") was the chief of a Paiute band near [[Unionville]].<ref>"[https://ia600306.us.archive.org/27/items/prehistoryhistor00smit/prehistoryhistor00smit.pdf Prehistory and history of the Winnemucca District ]," Regina C. Smith, Peggy McGuckian Jones, John R. Roney, Kathyrn E. Pedrick, p. 111-112, BLM, 1983.</ref><ref name=1881Carson>"[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-appeal-pyramid-lake-war-willia/74318223/ Indians and their wars in Nevada,]" The Daily Appeal (Carson City, Nevada), February 13, 1881, p. 1.</ref>
His Indigenous name was Moguannoga.


Captain Sou was the leader of the attack on the [[Williams Station]].<ref>"[https://archive.org/details/historyofnevada00ange/page/151/mode/1up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=Moguannoga  History of Nevada]," Myron Angel, ed. 1881.</ref>
Captain Sou was the leader of 1860 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Station_massacre Williams Station massacre] that started the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Lake_War Pyramid Lake War].<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115199281/the-massacre-at-williams-station/ The Massacre at Williams' Station]," Yerington Times, p. 3, February 19, 1881.</ref><ref>"[https://archive.org/details/historyofnevada00ange/page/151/mode/1up?ref=ol&view=theater&q=Moguannoga  History of Nevada]," Myron Angel, ed. 1881.</ref>


Captain Sou later worked with the Whites in tracking down other Paiutes.  In December 1865, Captain Conrad and [[Captain Sou]]<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114924228/old-cap-susie/ Old Cap Susie dead]," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.</ref> tracked [[Black Rock Tom]] to Fish Creek (present day [[Battle Creek Ranch]]) and in the resulting battle killed forty of Tom's band with only three survivors.<ref name=lewers>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15634938/history-of-nevada-nov-14-1896/ History of Nevada]," Robert Lewers, Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 1, November 14, 1896</ref> See Wheeler's ''Nevada's Black Rock Desert'' for a detailed description of the battle.
In May 1865, it was reported that Cap. Soo and Cap. John met with soldiers and agreed "to a contract for the removal of all friendly Piutes to some point on the Carson River and to the killing of all Piutes or other Indians to be found in this country one week from the date of the contract."<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115198615/indian-hegira/ Indian Hegira]," Gold Hill Daily News, p. 2, Apr 28 1865.</ref>
 
Captain Sou later worked with the Whites in tracking down other Paiutes.  In December 1865, Captain Conrad and Captain Sou<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114924228/old-cap-susie/ Old Cap Susie dead]," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.</ref> tracked [[Black Rock Tom]] to Fish Creek (present day [[Battle Creek Ranch]]) and in the resulting battle killed forty of Tom's band with only three survivors.<ref name=lewers>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15634938/history-of-nevada-nov-14-1896/ History of Nevada]," Robert Lewers, Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 1, November 14, 1896</ref> See Wheeler's ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Nevada_s_Black_Rock_Desert/gBYUBc-O4OgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22captain+sou%22&pg=PA116&printsec=frontcover Nevada's Black Rock Desert]'' for a detailed description of the battle.


Below is the text from ''Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867'':
Below is the text from ''Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867'':


"''Remarks on Return of Company B, Second Cavalry, for November 1865.''-
:"''Remarks on Return of Company B, Second Cavalry, for November 1865.''- In accordance with P.O. No. 35 dated November 12, 1865, First Lieutenant R. A. Osmer, Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, and sixty enlisted men of Company B. Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, proceeded to the Black Rock Mountains on November 13, 1865, taking with them one mountain howitzer.  At Willow Creek Station, thirty-five miles from this post (Dun Glen, Nev.), seven enlisted men, who are on detached service, joined company; also two citizens, and ten Indian warriors under command of Captain "Sou" (friendly Piute). On Friday, at daybreak, attacked the Indian camp five miles from Black Rock Mountains, and one hundred ad five miles northwest of this post.  Killed about one hundred and twenty Indians in all; of these about eighty were bucks, but the Indian allies could not be restrained from a general slaughter, neither could a squaw be distinguished from a buck in the general fight and but one Indian is supposed to have escaped.  Captured a quantity of ammunition, several guns, five Indian ponies, and destroyed a large lot of provisions.  These were the same Indians who killed and robbed the teamster two weeks ago, as some of his load was found in camp, The loss was private David W. O'Connell, killed and Sergeant Lansdon and private Moon, wounded; also one horse was wounded, but will recover.  Four privates deserted the day of departure from this post.  Detachment returned to this post at 6 o'clock A.M. November 20, 1865.  Distance traveled, two hundred and fifty miles."<ref>"[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Records_of_California_Men_in_the_War_of/RTEOAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=captain%20sou Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867]," California. Adjutant General's Office, pp 185-186, 1890.</ref>
In accordance with P.O. No. 35 dated November 12, 1865, First Lieutenant R. A. Osmer, Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, and sixty enlisted men of Company B. Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, proceeded to the Black Rock Mountains on November 13, 1865, taking with them one mountain howitzer.  At Willow Creek Station, thirty-five miles from this post (Dun Glen, Nev.), seven enlisted men, who are on detached service, joined company; also two citizens, and ten Indian warriors under command of Captain "Sou" (friendly Piute). On Friday, at daybreak, attacked the Indian camp five miles from Black Rock Mountains, and one hundred ad five miles northwest of this post.  Killed about one hundred and twenty Indians in all; of these about eighty were bucks, but the Indian allies could not be restrained from a general slaughter, neither could a squaw be distinguished from a buck in the general fight and but one Indian is supposed to have escaped.  Captured a quantity of ammunition, several guns, five Indian ponies, and destroyed a large lot of provisions.  These were the same Indians who killed and robbed the teamster two weeks ago, as some of his load was found in camp, The loss was private David W. O'Connell, killed and Sergeant Lansdon and private Moon, wounded; also one horse was wounded, but will recover.  Four privates deserted the day of departure from this post.  Detachment returned to this post at 6 o'clock A.M. November 20, 1865.  Distance traveled, two hundred and fifty miles."<ref>"[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Records_of_California_Men_in_the_War_of/RTEOAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=captain%20sou Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867]," California. Adjutant General's Office, pp 185-186, 1890.</ref>
 
On [https://pershingcounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=winnemucca&t=42339,42341&i=t&d=01011865-12271867&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_humboldt_register_usa_nevada_unionville_18660505_english_2&df=11&dt=20&cid=3097 May 5, 1867 (p. 2)], the [[Humboldt Register]] published a citizen's petition that declared that Old Winnemucca was a traitor to his tribe and that Captain Sou would be known as the New Winnemucca.<ref name=Canfield>"[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sarah_Winnemucca_of_the_Northern_Paiutes/Pk1Q77UXQQ0C?hl=en&gbpv=0 Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes],"Gae Whitney Canfield, p. 48, 1983.</ref> Old Winnemucca did not deserve this reputation as he had attempted to preserve the peace, except during the Pyramid Lake War.<ref name=Canfield/>
 
Some sources state that Captain Sou was wounded and never fully recovered from the 1866 battle.  His wife Susie, died in 1888.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114924228/old-cap-susie/ Old Cap Susie dead]," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.</ref>
 
Thompson and West (1881) state that Captain Sou was killed by his brother:
:Moguan-no-ga was chief at the Humboldt Meadows; and was known to the whites as Captain Soo. He was for war, and was shot by his brother Bob, a few years later, receiving a wound that eventually resulted in his death. He was in command of the expedition whose acts precipitated the war, by the killing of the Williams brothers, and the burning of their station. Before his death, however, he became a strong friend of the whites, and rendered valuable assistance in breaking up the bands that kept up hostilities in Humboldt County for several years after the outbreak. His friendship for the whites was the cause of his death. He had been leading a company of soldiers into the Black Rock country, where they had killed a number of Pah-Utes. When he came back a cousin of his, named Captain Jobn, wanted him to resign because of what he had done; and expressed a determination of becoming the chief himself. Soo’s brother Bob proposed to settle the matter by shooting both of them, and the one not killed, being the genuine medicine man, ought of course to be chief. He accordingly “turned loose” on his brother first, and proved him to be “no good medicine;” but before he was ready for Jobn, that worthy “blazed away,” and fetched the would-be arbitrator to “grass.” Bob eventually recovered; but, said our informant, “he beep sorry bime-by, ’cause he think he kill um both, and get to be chief himself.”<ref>"[https://archive.org/details/historyofnevada00ange/page/150/mode/1up?q=%22Captain+Soo%22  History of Nevada,"] Angel, Myron, ed., 1881.  Captain Soo is mentioned a view times in this source.</ref>
 
Davis (1913) is substantially the same:


On May 5, 1867, the ''Humboldt Register'' published a citizen's petition that declared that Old Winnemucca was a traitor to his tribe and that Captain Sou would be known as the New Winnemucca.<ref name=Canfield>"[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sarah_Winnemucca_of_the_Northern_Paiutes/Pk1Q77UXQQ0C?hl=en&gbpv=0 Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes],"Gae Whitney Canfield, p. 48, 1983.</ref> Old Winnemucca did not deserve this reputation as he had attempted to preserve the peace, except during the Pyramid Lake War.<ref name=Canfield/>
:Mo-guan-no-ga  was  chief  at  the  Humboldt  Meadows,  and  was  known  to  the whites  as  Captain  Soo.  He  was  for  war,  and  was  shot  by  his  brother Bob  a  few  years  later, receiving  a  wound  that  eventually  resulted  in  his death.  He  was  in  command  of  the  expedition  whose  acts  precipitated  the war, by  the killing  of  the  Williams  brothers  and  the  burning  of  their station.  Before  his  death,  however,  he  became  a  strong  friend  of  the whites  and  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  breaking  up  the  bands  that kept  up  hostilities  in  Humboldt County  for  several  years  after  the  outbreak. His  friendship  for  the  whites  was  the  cause  of  his  death.  He had  been  leading  a  company  of  soldiers  into  the  Black  Rock  country, where  they  had  killed  a  number  of  Pah-Utes.  When  he  came  back  a cousin  of  his,  named  Captain  John,  wanted  him  to  resign  because  of what  he  had  done,  and  expressed  a determination  of  becoming  the  chief himself.  Soo's brother  Bob  proposed  to  settle  the  matter  by  shooting both  of  them  and  the  one  not  killed,  being  the  genuine  medicine  man, ought,  of  course,  to be  chief.  He  accordingly  "turned  loose"  on  his brother  first  and proved  him  to  be  "no  good  medicine,"  but  before  he was  ready  for  John,  that worthy  "blazed  away"  and  fetched  the  would-be arbitrator  to  "grass."  Bob  eventually  recovered,  but,  said  our  informant, "He  heep  sorry  bime-by,  'cause  he  think  he  kill  um  both,  and  get  to  be chief  himself."<ref>"[https://archive.org/details/historyofnevada01davirich/page/46/mode/1up?q=%22captain+soo%22  The history of Nevada]," Davis, Sam P., pp 48-49, 1913.</ref><ref name=1881Carson/>


Captain Sou was wounded and never fully recovered from the 1866 battle.  His wife Susie, died in 1888.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114924228/old-cap-susie/ Old Cap Susie dead]," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.</ref>
An 1881 newspaper article recounts how the medicine man who unsuccessfully treated Captain Sou was killed.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115197387/murder-of-a-medicine-man/ Murder of a "Medicine Man"]," The Silver State, Winnemucca, p. 3, January 21, 1881.</ref>


=References=
=References=

Latest revision as of 11:47, 31 July 2023

Moguannoga (Mo-guan-no-ga) or Captain Sou (also "Cap Sou" and "Captain Soo") was the chief of a Paiute band near Unionville.[1][2]

Captain Sou was the leader of 1860 Williams Station massacre that started the Pyramid Lake War.[3][4]

In May 1865, it was reported that Cap. Soo and Cap. John met with soldiers and agreed "to a contract for the removal of all friendly Piutes to some point on the Carson River and to the killing of all Piutes or other Indians to be found in this country one week from the date of the contract."[5]

Captain Sou later worked with the Whites in tracking down other Paiutes. In December 1865, Captain Conrad and Captain Sou[6] tracked Black Rock Tom to Fish Creek (present day Battle Creek Ranch) and in the resulting battle killed forty of Tom's band with only three survivors.[7] See Wheeler's Nevada's Black Rock Desert for a detailed description of the battle.

Below is the text from Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867:

"Remarks on Return of Company B, Second Cavalry, for November 1865.- In accordance with P.O. No. 35 dated November 12, 1865, First Lieutenant R. A. Osmer, Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, and sixty enlisted men of Company B. Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, proceeded to the Black Rock Mountains on November 13, 1865, taking with them one mountain howitzer. At Willow Creek Station, thirty-five miles from this post (Dun Glen, Nev.), seven enlisted men, who are on detached service, joined company; also two citizens, and ten Indian warriors under command of Captain "Sou" (friendly Piute). On Friday, at daybreak, attacked the Indian camp five miles from Black Rock Mountains, and one hundred ad five miles northwest of this post. Killed about one hundred and twenty Indians in all; of these about eighty were bucks, but the Indian allies could not be restrained from a general slaughter, neither could a squaw be distinguished from a buck in the general fight and but one Indian is supposed to have escaped. Captured a quantity of ammunition, several guns, five Indian ponies, and destroyed a large lot of provisions. These were the same Indians who killed and robbed the teamster two weeks ago, as some of his load was found in camp, The loss was private David W. O'Connell, killed and Sergeant Lansdon and private Moon, wounded; also one horse was wounded, but will recover. Four privates deserted the day of departure from this post. Detachment returned to this post at 6 o'clock A.M. November 20, 1865. Distance traveled, two hundred and fifty miles."[8]

On May 5, 1867 (p. 2), the Humboldt Register published a citizen's petition that declared that Old Winnemucca was a traitor to his tribe and that Captain Sou would be known as the New Winnemucca.[9] Old Winnemucca did not deserve this reputation as he had attempted to preserve the peace, except during the Pyramid Lake War.[9]

Some sources state that Captain Sou was wounded and never fully recovered from the 1866 battle. His wife Susie, died in 1888.[10]

Thompson and West (1881) state that Captain Sou was killed by his brother:

Moguan-no-ga was chief at the Humboldt Meadows; and was known to the whites as Captain Soo. He was for war, and was shot by his brother Bob, a few years later, receiving a wound that eventually resulted in his death. He was in command of the expedition whose acts precipitated the war, by the killing of the Williams brothers, and the burning of their station. Before his death, however, he became a strong friend of the whites, and rendered valuable assistance in breaking up the bands that kept up hostilities in Humboldt County for several years after the outbreak. His friendship for the whites was the cause of his death. He had been leading a company of soldiers into the Black Rock country, where they had killed a number of Pah-Utes. When he came back a cousin of his, named Captain Jobn, wanted him to resign because of what he had done; and expressed a determination of becoming the chief himself. Soo’s brother Bob proposed to settle the matter by shooting both of them, and the one not killed, being the genuine medicine man, ought of course to be chief. He accordingly “turned loose” on his brother first, and proved him to be “no good medicine;” but before he was ready for Jobn, that worthy “blazed away,” and fetched the would-be arbitrator to “grass.” Bob eventually recovered; but, said our informant, “he beep sorry bime-by, ’cause he think he kill um both, and get to be chief himself.”[11]

Davis (1913) is substantially the same:

Mo-guan-no-ga was chief at the Humboldt Meadows, and was known to the whites as Captain Soo. He was for war, and was shot by his brother Bob a few years later, receiving a wound that eventually resulted in his death. He was in command of the expedition whose acts precipitated the war, by the killing of the Williams brothers and the burning of their station. Before his death, however, he became a strong friend of the whites and rendered valuable assistance in breaking up the bands that kept up hostilities in Humboldt County for several years after the outbreak. His friendship for the whites was the cause of his death. He had been leading a company of soldiers into the Black Rock country, where they had killed a number of Pah-Utes. When he came back a cousin of his, named Captain John, wanted him to resign because of what he had done, and expressed a determination of becoming the chief himself. Soo's brother Bob proposed to settle the matter by shooting both of them and the one not killed, being the genuine medicine man, ought, of course, to be chief. He accordingly "turned loose" on his brother first and proved him to be "no good medicine," but before he was ready for John, that worthy "blazed away" and fetched the would-be arbitrator to "grass." Bob eventually recovered, but, said our informant, "He heep sorry bime-by, 'cause he think he kill um both, and get to be chief himself."[12][2]

An 1881 newspaper article recounts how the medicine man who unsuccessfully treated Captain Sou was killed.[13]

References

  1. "Prehistory and history of the Winnemucca District ," Regina C. Smith, Peggy McGuckian Jones, John R. Roney, Kathyrn E. Pedrick, p. 111-112, BLM, 1983.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Indians and their wars in Nevada," The Daily Appeal (Carson City, Nevada), February 13, 1881, p. 1.
  3. "The Massacre at Williams' Station," Yerington Times, p. 3, February 19, 1881.
  4. "History of Nevada," Myron Angel, ed. 1881.
  5. "Indian Hegira," Gold Hill Daily News, p. 2, Apr 28 1865.
  6. "Old Cap Susie dead," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.
  7. "History of Nevada," Robert Lewers, Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 1, November 14, 1896
  8. "Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867," California. Adjutant General's Office, pp 185-186, 1890.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes,"Gae Whitney Canfield, p. 48, 1983.
  10. "Old Cap Susie dead," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.
  11. "History of Nevada," Angel, Myron, ed., 1881. Captain Soo is mentioned a view times in this source.
  12. "The history of Nevada," Davis, Sam P., pp 48-49, 1913.
  13. "Murder of a "Medicine Man"," The Silver State, Winnemucca, p. 3, January 21, 1881.