Black Rock Tom: Difference between revisions

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Death of Black Rock Tom.
History of Lassen County
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''Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867'' states:
''Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867'' states:
:"''Remarks on Return of Company K, Second Cavalry, for January, 1866.''- According to instructions from Headquarters District of Nevada, and S.O. No. 31, of December 20, 1865, I left Fort Churchill, Nev., December 21 1865, with nineteen men of compay to execute orders at Dun Glen, Nev.  After four days' march, I arrived at Blake's Station, where the citizens turned over to me a notorious Indian called "Black Rock Tom."  After being put in charge of the guard, he tried to escape and was shot dead by some of the command."<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, p. 186, 1890.</ref>
:"''Remarks on Return of Company K, Second Cavalry, for January, 1866.''- According to instructions from Headquarters District of Nevada, and S.O. No. 31, of December 20, 1865, I left Fort Churchill, Nev., December 21 1865, with nineteen men of compay to execute orders at Dun Glen, Nev.  After four days' march, I arrived at Blake's Station, where the citizens turned over to me a notorious Indian called "Black Rock Tom."  After being put in charge of the guard, he tried to escape and was shot dead by some of the command."<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, p. 186, 1890.</ref>


:"The  Death  of  Black  Rock  Tom"
:"Black  Rock  Tom,  who  was  absent  when  his  band  was  destroyed, went  down  to  the  sink  of  the  Humboldt  and  gave  himself up  to  [[Captain Sou|Captain  Soo]].  "The  Humboldt  Register"  of  December 30th  has  the  following:
:"Black  Rock  Tom  all  Right''
:"Several  messengers  have  come  lately  from  Captain  Soo  to citizens  here,  asking  them  to  come  down  to  the  Big  meadows and  be  put  in  possession  of  the  notorious  cut-throat  known  as 'Black  Rock  Tom.'  Those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  attend to  such  business  were  busy,  and  Tom  remained  on  the  meadows doubtless  each  day  feeling  more  secure.  "When  Captain  Street came  that  way  Tuesday,  Soo  notified  him  of  the  opportunity  to capture  this  leading  marauder.  Street  took  him  in  charge." Some  citizens  then  went  to  Tom  and  told  him  that  the  people were  going  to  take  him  away  from  the  soldiers  and  hang  him, and  that  he  had  better  make  his  escape  if  he  wished  to  live. Street  put  him  in  charge  of  a  squad  of  soldiers  and  gave  them particular  orders  not  to  allow  him  to  escape.  Probably  the soldiers  knew  what  the  citizens  had  told  Tom  and  they  gave  him a  chance  to  get  away.  He  took  the  opportunity  and  the  soldiers shot  and  killed  him.<ref>"[https://archive.org/details/fairfieldspionee01fair/page/378/mode/1up?q=%22Black+Rock+Tom%22 Fairfield's pioneer history of Lassen County, California], p. 378, 1916."</ref>


In 1913, Sam Davis tells a different story:
In 1913, Sam Davis tells a different story:

Revision as of 02:05, 26 December 2022

Black Rock Tom was member of the Smoke Creek Band of Paiutes. In March, 1865, he and others killed George Thayer and Lucius Arcularius at the Smoke Creek Desert.[1]

In November 1865, Lieutenant Osmer tracked Tom to Paiute Creek (present day Paiute Meadows resulting in 55 Paiutes and one soldier killed.[2]

In December 1865, Captain Conrad and Captain Sou[3] tracked Tom to Fish Creek (present day Battle Creek Ranch) and in the resulting battle killed forty of Tom's band with only three survivors.[2] See Wheeler's Nevada's Black Rock Desert for a detailed description of the battle.

Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867 states:

"Remarks on Return of Company K, Second Cavalry, for January, 1866.- According to instructions from Headquarters District of Nevada, and S.O. No. 31, of December 20, 1865, I left Fort Churchill, Nev., December 21 1865, with nineteen men of compay to execute orders at Dun Glen, Nev. After four days' march, I arrived at Blake's Station, where the citizens turned over to me a notorious Indian called "Black Rock Tom." After being put in charge of the guard, he tried to escape and was shot dead by some of the command."[4]
"The Death of Black Rock Tom"
"Black Rock Tom, who was absent when his band was destroyed, went down to the sink of the Humboldt and gave himself up to Captain Soo. "The Humboldt Register" of December 30th has the following:
"Black Rock Tom all Right
"Several messengers have come lately from Captain Soo to citizens here, asking them to come down to the Big meadows and be put in possession of the notorious cut-throat known as 'Black Rock Tom.' Those who have been accustomed to attend to such business were busy, and Tom remained on the meadows doubtless each day feeling more secure. "When Captain Street came that way Tuesday, Soo notified him of the opportunity to capture this leading marauder. Street took him in charge." Some citizens then went to Tom and told him that the people were going to take him away from the soldiers and hang him, and that he had better make his escape if he wished to live. Street put him in charge of a squad of soldiers and gave them particular orders not to allow him to escape. Probably the soldiers knew what the citizens had told Tom and they gave him a chance to get away. He took the opportunity and the soldiers shot and killed him.[5]

In 1913, Sam Davis tells a different story:

"Black Rock Tom, who was absent at the time, went down to the sink of the Humboldt, and delivered himself up as a prisoner to the chief Captain Soo, who turned him over to the soldiers and told him that he had better make his escape if he wished to live. An opportunity was given for the attempt to be made, which he availed himself of, when he was shot and killed."[6]

References

  1. "A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People," Thomas Wren, p. 290, 1904.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "History of Nevada," Robert Lewers, Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 1, November 14, 1896
  3. "Old Cap Susie dead," The Pacific Bee, Sacramento, p. 5, March 1, 1888.
  4. "Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867," California. Adjutant General's Office, p. 186, 1890.
  5. "Fairfield's pioneer history of Lassen County, California, p. 378, 1916."
  6. "The history of Nevada," Davis, Sam P., page 176, 1913.

External links