Francis J. Lippitt to Indians in my district since my last dispatch in April last, May 20, 1862

MAJOR:

The following is a summary of my operations against the Indians in my district since my last dispatch in April last:

On the 6th of April Captain Ketcham, with a scouting party of Company A, Third Infantry California Volunteers, found near Yager Creek the rancheria of the Indians that had previously robbed Cooper’s Mills of 2,500 pounds of flour. The Indians had just fled, leaving some 700 pounds of the flour, together with belting from the mills, mill files, baskets, bullets, lead, shot pouches, bullet molds, &e., all which articles were burnt, there being no means of packing them. On the 10th of April a detachment of five men of Company E, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, stationed near Cooper’s Mills, on Yager Creek, re-enforced by four or five citizens, went in pursuit of a band of some forty Indians that had robbed the mills of some 3,300 pounds of flour the night before. After a very difficult march to the northward of ten miles they came upon a rancheria, where they found the flour, which, having no means of packing, they destroyed, together with the lodges and their contents. No Indians were seen as they had all fled on the approach of the party. During a scout of Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers, commenced April 2 by Lieutenant Flynn, three Indians near Trinidad, going toward the mouth of Redwood Creek, where it was reported there was a band of some 200 hostile Indians, were captured by him, to prevent their giving the band notice of his approach. After being fully warned of the consequences of their attempting to escape, they suddenly broke and ran in the same direction they were going when taken. Lieutenant Flynn, who had no one with him but the guide, instantly fired at them with his pistol. One was killed on the spot; the two others escaped, one of them with a bullet through his head.

On the 27th of April Captain Ketcham, of Company A, Third Infantry California Volunteers, returned to Fort Baker from a scout to the southward of Van Dusen’s Fork with twenty-four Indian prisoners, all women and children except two young bucks. In attacking the rancheria four Indians were killed, including a squaw shot by mistake. During the scout Captain Ketcham came upon a rancheria which had been fortified by piles of logs around it, but which the Indians had deserted.

On the same day Lieutenant Staples, with a detachment of the same company, came upon a large band of Indians by surprise (having previously managed to kill their scout or sentinel without giving the alarm), killed 15 of them and took 40 prisoners, three of whom he left behind, being unable to travel. On the 7th of May, instant, Captain Ketcham reported eleven Indians as having come in at Fort Baker, eight bucks and three squaws. He sent out two of them as runners to bring in as many more as possible, assuring them (under my instructions to that effect) of protection. On the 14th of May, instant, Captain Ketcham reported the return of ten men sent out by him as an escort to such Indians as could be found by the runners willing to come in, with 19 bucks, 24 squaws, and 16 children, making the total number of Indian prisoners at Fort Baker 88. These, when they arrive at this post, with the prisoners already here, will make the total number of Indian prisoners about 170. On the 7th of May, instant, Lieutenant Flynn, with a detachment of twenty men of Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers, then on a scout near Mad River, a few miles below Fort Lyon, received a volley from a band of Indians in ambush. None of the men were injured except the citizen guide, who was shot through both thighs. The troops rushed in pursuit into the timber, which was almost impenetrable from the dense undergrowth and chaparral with which all the forests in the country are filled, but were not able to see a single Indian, although they heard guns snapped in every direction around them (the caps having no doubt been spoilt by the then recent rain).

On the 14th of May, instant, on Mad River, near Angel’s ranch, Lieutenant Flynn, then having fifteen men with him, “started at daybreak” (I copy from his report) “and found a ranch of Indians about 7 a. m. They saw me about fifteen minutes before I arrived at their ranch. They crossed the river on their fish dam, and then cut it away, so that I could not follow them over the river. They fought me about one hour. I killed six of them. None of my men received a wound. The Indians retreated up the hill. I then destroyed all their provisions, beds, clothing, &c. All my men behaved admirably throughout the engagement. I found a quantity of powder and gun-caps. There were about 150 Indians in this band, and it was useless for me to follow them with fit teen men. This is the tribe that murdered Mr. Bates, as I found some of his papers in their ranch.” Lieutenant Flynn then returned to Fort Anderson, when Captain Douglas immediately left, with his whole command (Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers) in quest of the band with which Lieutenant Flynn had skirmished. It is not yet known whether he has found them. On the 15th of May, instant, Captain Heffernan, Company K, Second Infantry California Volunteers, commanding at Fort Lyon, returned from a scout in which he had destroyed five rancherias from which the Indians had fled before he arrived, and killed 1 Indian and wounded 2 others, being the only ones seen during the scout. The two wounded escaped, leaving behind a powder-horn, which proved to belong to one of the men murdered by the Indians on Bremen’s ranch last November. These are all the results actually obtained thus far, although the troops have been and are still constantly and actively engaged in scouting in every direction, through deep snows and pathless and almost impenetrable forests, choked with undergrowth and brambles, and over a country consisting entirely of lofty mountain ridges so steep as to render traveling always laborious and often dangerous. Escorts and expresses have been for some time suspended. Nearly all the men of Captain Akey’s company have been called in as witnesses for the prisoners before the courtmartial.

The want of mules has caused the only interruption to active operations. In order that one-half of the effective men of every company may be always in the field, there should be not less than sixteen mules constantly at the disposal of each company. The country is so difficult that the men are compelled to pack their blankets and everything exeept their arms. About twenty-five mules have already been purchased by Regimental Quartermaster Swasey. 1 recommend that he be authorized to buy seventy-five more as soon as practicable. I am convinced it would be a great saving to the Government, and at the same time make our operations more effective, as great delays are constantly occurring in collecting together a sufficient number of hired mules when they are wanted, thus causing a great loss of time. I am cutting a trail from Fort Humboldt direct to the crossing of Yager Creek. By the existing route the distance is twenty-five miles; by the trail, when completed, it will not exceed fifteen, thus reducing the distance from this post to Fort Baker ten miles, besides opening a path through fifteen miles of dense forest hitherto unexplored by white men, but known to be the haunt of many of those Indians who have committed some of the late outrages. Elk Camp is a settlement between Redwood Creek and Klamath River, fifteen miles northwest of Fort Anderson. The Indians have recently made their appearance there and are killing their cattle. The settlers are much alarmed and have sent in for protection, and until it can be afforded have sent their families to Arcata. I have directed Captain Stuart, Second Infantry California Volunteers, commanding at Fort Ter-Waw, to send a detachment there of twenty men with an officer, and also to cut a trail direct to that point from Fort Ter-Waw, thedistancebeing abouttwenty miles. When this is completed it will open a short and sure line of communication between Fort Ter-Waw and the posts to the south of the Klamath, which is urgently needed. Company E, Second Infantry California Volun- ` teers, just arrived, garrison this post. Company A, of same regiment, I am mortified to say, arrived here in a state of entire disorganization, owing solely to the continued drunkenness and misconduct of its commander, Capt. Charles W. Smith, whom I have placed in arrest. Charges against him will go down by this steamer, but his character and habits are such as to render him unfit to remain one day longer in the service, and I recommend that be be immediately discharged from it. I have sent his company to Yager Creek Crossing, under the command of First Lieutenant Flynn, of Company F, Second Infantry Calitornia Volunteers, a very reliable young officer, who is as cool and resolute as he is active and zealous.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,