Francis J. Lippitt to James P. Major, August 4, 1862

MAJOR:

Minor’s is on the north side of Redwood Creek, on the trail from Arcata to Fort Gaston. Descending the river toward the ocean from Minor’s to Fort Anderson, Captain Douglas’ post, it is one mile; thence to Whitney’s ranch four miles; thence to Albee’s, four miles, and thence to Elk Camp, seven miles. Neil’s and Williams’ are between Albee’s and Elk Camp. Some time since a detachment of twenty men was sent from Fort Gaston to Elk Camp, where it relieved a detachment of Captain Stuart’s company ordered to Smith’s River. Eight of these were detached to Albee’s, where they erected a stockade defense. At Whitney’s ranch, four miles above Albee’s, on the 28th of July, Mr. Whitney had with him two hired men, an Indian boy and Corporal Kennedy and two men of Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers, whom Captain Douglas had been obliged to leave behind, they having given out from fatigue during a scout. Oneof the hired men having been fired at by an Indian early in the forenoon, he was sent down to Albee’s to report the fact. After he left a large band of Indians suddenly surrounded the settlement, killed Mitchell, the other hired man, and Private Campbell, of Company F, and mortally wounded Mr. Whitney himself, who died the next morning. The Indians took from Whitney and Mitchell their two guns and a revolver. Corporal Kennedy, with Private Lee and the Indian boy, bravely held the house (on which fifty bullet holes were afterward counted), continuing to return the Indians’ fire till their departure, which was sudden, being caused, apparently, by the approach of Captain Douglas with a detachment, not, however, till they had burnt the barn, which was near the house. What loss was sustained by the Indians is not known, as they always carry away their dead and wounded when practicable. Mr,

Whitney told Captain Douglas before he died that there were 300 of them, all well armed, and Corporal Kennedy’s and Private Lee’s statements are to the same effect, but the number is probably much exaggerated. Captain Douglas had arrived that forenoon at Albee’s, four miles below, with a detachment of twenty men that was with him on a scout. The men were much fatigued, having just completed a long and hard march through bogs and streams. On arriving Captain Douglas, being informed of the appearance of the Indians at Whitney’s, immediately double-quicked his detachment to that place, the last part of the route on the run. The Indians had retired before his arrival, taking a direction that would lead them to Albee’s. The captain therefore immediately sent back Lieutenaut Noyes with ten men to Albee’s to re-enforce that small post. His remaining ten men were too much exhausted to pursue the Indians. The next day Privates Osgood and Robey, of Captain Akey’s company, two of our express riders, were fired upon by Indians in ambush about two miles below Albee’s. They received some fifteen shots in all. At the first fire Osgood was shot through the body and Robey’s horse was wounded, but not seriously. Robey exchanged fire with an Indian close to him, but without injury to either. They managed to get through to Albee’s, thence to Fort Anderson, where Osgood now is. He is expected to recover. The next day a band of about forty Indians attacked Neil’s ranch, on Redwood Creek, between Albee’s and Elk Camp, wounding a man named Miller, then living there with a squaw wife, and killing his squaw and child, Miller making good his escape. They also burnt Williams’ place adjoining. On the first report coming in of these outrages I sent orders to the nearest posts to re-enforce Captain Douglas and cooperate with him as he might require, of which the captain was notified. He has availed himself of these orders, and is actively and zealously engaged in the pursuit of the Indians, and in affording such protection as he can to the settlements on Redwood Creek. Last year a party of white Indian killers attacked an Indian ranch. The Indians defended themselves. In the fight an Indian called Bob, whose brother had just been shot dead, killed one of the white assailants named Parker. This Bob was one of the Indians who have come in voluntarily and surrendered themselves, relying on my promise of protection. Parker’s friends have obtained a warrant against him for murder, and the sheriff has been here to execute it. I refused to give him up on the ground of his being a prisoner of war.

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