File:1866 03 17 Another Gallant Fight Humboldt Reg.jpg

Summary

Pieced together text from the Humboldt Register, March 17, 1866 "Another Gallant Fight with Indians". Scanned from an image taken at the Humboldt County Recorder's Office. Below is the OCR'd text:

Another Gallant Fight with Indians.
The common pest of our frontiers had been
stealing cattle and horses in Surprise Valley, and
had wounded a citizen who narrowly escaped |.
them; and after his escape they took vengeance ’
for the loss of a scalp by burning his house
driving off his stock. This and other such cases
were reported to Major Smith, commanding at |
Smoke creek. Fort Bidwell had not a sufficieut |
number of men to make a successful Sian = of |
the depredators: so Maj. Smith started on the 24 |
ult., from Smoke Creek—his force consisting of |
Lieut. Robinson and 36 enlisted men of Company |
D, 2d Cav., Cal. Vols. . | ——

2d, made Tuledad Snrings—40 ‘qallas, :

Bd, 1 “7 Bear's) Ranch—25/  # Vf Y
‘4th, ‘Milk ~-Ranch—25_ Feet
bth Fort Bidwell—30 ‘ a

Rain fell unceasingly during this 4 days’ m 2s
paring the 6th and 7th, the command revista at |
Fort Bidwell, resting the horeen and on —
shod. “4

On the &th,Jeft Fort Bidwell--32 men of Oo. ~ |
and 9 of Co. F, 2d Cav., Cal. Vols. marched to |
camp No. 1—15 miles. The command was joined |
that day by Maj. Mellen and Capt. Starr, with 10
men of Co. F, same reg’t. On the 9th, marched
to camp No. 2—20 miles. On the 10th, marched 4 |
miles, and remained till dark, to prevent discovery
by the Indians, as a large valley had to be crossed.
At dark of the 10th, resumed the march; and at 5
a.m. of the 11th, halted at camp No. 3. —
the 11th, 12th, and 13th, remained in. Sep nes
ing scoutsinevery direction. Scout fre
fond, :& fra trail. On the Mth, resumed Peay:

found a trail. On the 14th, resumed the aioli
Made camp No. 4—20 miles. During the day
scouts recovered 4 horses, abandoned by the mee
ans as unable to endure the brisk travel. —
On the I5th started at 7a. m., keeping scouts in’
advance. At9%a.m., scouts reported Indians at
the mouth of Rock Cafion. Passed over the table
land, so as to have open grenpe and a : aaee
fight. >, , aw

| When within a mile of the Indies; “Maj. Smith |
divided his command, giving Capt. pillar
men, the left, Maj. Mellen and Lieut. Robinson,
with 21 soldiers and 19 citizens (of Surprise Val-
ley), the center, and sending 6 citizens to th

| extreme right, to hold the mouth of the cafion—
leaving a guard in camp with the pack animals.

At half-past 9 the order was given to’ oliavge:!

Right merrily the men obeyed. | The Indians stood

up bravely, fighting sullenly to the last—aski sy

| quarter; but the charge was _ irresistible.
| boys rode through the Indian ranks, seatt

: shooting down everything that wore paint. At
length the Indians sought shelter under & bluff =

rocks. Then the men dismounted, and marched |
up the bluff under fire, and brought every one of |
the enemy to the sod who would expose his carcass |
tofire. | POLIS

It. was a noble fight. AL fought brilliantly. |
Maj. Smith, and his officers and men, deserve the
thanks of humanity, and some: recognition of this |
signal service from their superiors in command.
We are glad to learn that the Major has been
ordered to command the post in Queen’s” river.
Valley. The Major was obliged, however, to
leave the ground without the satisfaction of e:
terminating the whole band. A great many wore
left alive in the rocks, so situated as to pour. down |
a heavy fire without exposing. themselves. — sao ox!

At half-past 3 the recall, was. sounded, a |
severe fight of 7 hours. Result of. tl
up thus: Loss of the enemy, 80, warriors :

squaws. The latter were dressed the same as the |
bucks, and were fighting—and _ had to e killed to.
-gacertain theirsex. Recovered 60 horses— rst
others a valuable horse belonging to. a laden
Surprise Valley. Captured 9 squaws owddee ahi
dren, afterwards turned loose. Destaanedeannns
-tuns dried beef. - oye OT FHF
Loss on our side, Private Chasles hectlee Co. |
D, killed; Maj. Smith and Privates. Resler, Rhu-
man, Grimshaw, and Belts, of Co. D, and Privates
Smith and Mills, of Co. F, wounded. Private |
Austin was buried on the 25th.