Letters from Jas. N. Olney

Daley's Ferry Post was located at Daley's Ferry crossing of the Mad River nearly three miles from the town of Arcata in Humboldt County. On June 6, 1862 the ferry had been attacked by Native Americans: Headquarters Humboldt Military District, Fort Humboldt, June 8, 1862. Major: I have the honor to report that on the 6th instant, at 4 p. m., the house or hotel at Daley's Ferry, on Mad River, about five miles from Arcata, and on the most constantly traveled trail, was attacked by a band of Indians, some fifty or sixty in number, all well armed with rifles and shotguns. There were but two soldiers stationed there, as the owner deemed it hardly necessary to have any guard so near to town, and on a public highway. The Indians opened the attack by a volley from the brush. Private Bacon was wounded in the groin at the first fire, but he and his comrade, Private Wyatt, rushed to the house and commenced firing from the windows. Daley also ran to the house, but leaving his family behind, he seized his rifle and fled to his boat in the river.