Francis J. Lippitt to Second. California Vol. Infantry, Comdg. Humboldt Mil. Dist, April 1, 1862

Fort Humboldt, April 1, 1862.

MAJOR:

On the evening of the 25th of March an express arrived from Areata reporting that the settlement at Angel’s ranch, a place about twelve miles from Arcata, had been attacked on the 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th ultimo by Indians, the settlers shot or driven away, their stock killed, and their houses and improvements burnt to the eround. I immediately ordered Captain Akey’s, Captain Douglas”, and Captain Heffernan’s commands to concentrate at Angels ranch, but in order that the three commands might arrive there at the same time, without

which there was no chance of driving the Indians in, Captain Akey was directed not to leave till the 27th. The next evening (the 26th) another express arrived with the news that the long-settled and valuable ranch known as Bates’, seven or eight miles from Arcata, on the principal thoroughfare to Fort Gaston, and the entire country to the north and east, had been attacked that same day by a band of thirty Indians, who killed Bates, fired a shower of bullets after the women and children, who had scattered into the woods on seeing their approach, destroyed his stock, and then burnt his house and outbuildings to the ground. As Bates’ was on the direct route from this post to Angel’s ranch, and as, from the information received, these Indians had moved in that direction, there was no reason for any change in the dispositions already taken, by which the troops were to concentrate at Angel’s ranch at the earliest possible moment. The next morning (the 27th) I accompanied Captain Akey’s detachment from this post to the scene of the outrages at Angel’s ranch, passing by Bates’. Captains Akey’s and Heffernan’s commands arrived there at the precise moment designated. Captain Douglas arrived there an hour afterward, having been delayed by following up an Indian trail for some distance, but which he finally lost. After their arrival the three commands went on a scout in the neighboring woods, crossing them in different directions. But in the meantime a violent snow-storm had covered up all tracks that might have existed, and they returned to camp without having found any Indians or any Indian sign.

On the 30th I returned with Captain Akey’s command to this post, directing the two other companies to proceed to their posts by circuitous routes and to follow up any Indian trails they might find. This they have done, but without success. At or near Angel’s ranch, at Patrick’s, and at Zehender’s the Indians obtained, in all, five guns, at Bates’ seven, some of which were very superior fire-arms. I have sent instructions to Captain Johns, at Fort Gaston, to inform me at once, by express, of any positive indications of the Hoopa Indians preparing to take part in these hostilities, and if the case, in his opinion, should urgently require it, to telegraph directly to your headquarters, by Weaverville, as this would save a delay of four days. I have also prepared a dispatch to Captain Stuart, at Fort Ter-Waw, to keep a strict watch upon the Klamath Indians and to report to me at once any hostile indications on their part. His dispatch I have not yet sent, asitis reported to be very doubtful whether an express can get through by land, owing to the state of the trail, and the steamer being daily expected here, by which I can send it more surely and ata trifling expense. If the Hoopa Indians should rise they will, no doubt, carry with them the Klamath Indians, their close allies. These tribes are said to be but one degree below our Eastern Indians in warlike qualities, but a very small proportion of them are believed to have fire-arms. What their numbers may be it is impossible to say, estimates vary so much. Captain Johns supposes that the Indians in Hoopa Valley and its immediate neighborhood could turn out 800 warriors in forty-eight hours. Of course, if these Indians should rise I should require large re-enforcements. It would be well to send a few artillery soldiers with them to handle the two mountain howitzers, one of which is at this post, the other at Fort Gaston. Night before last the Indians burnt Cooper’s flour mills, near Hydesville. They bad pillaged them the week before, and had previously killed two of the Cooper brothers. As Hydesville is a small, scattered village, remote from military protection, with, no

doubt, a considerable quantity of ammunition kept for sale in its stores aud other inviting booty, I should not be surprised to hear of its being attacked by the Indians at any time. Captain Akey leaves to-morrow morning with his company to go in that direction. If the Klamath and Hoopa Indians remain quiet, and if the other Indians now making war upon us, after their fashion, should not band together in large numbers (which they have seldom or never done), three more companies will be probably all I shall need; but as I believe this number to be indispensable to guard the inhabitants against more extensive eruptions and massacres, which there is now some reason to fear, as well as to secure the troops against any chance of repulse, I have the honor to request that a re enforcement to this extent may be sent as early as practicable. One of the three companies now asked for is needed to furnish escorts and guard the communications between this post, Captain Douglas’, on Redwood Creek, and Fort Gaston, this being, moreover, the only route of travel and trade between the bay aud the northern mines, as also to Weaverville, since the direct trail to that place has bcen abandoned from fear of the Indians. Another company will be needed at Fort Humboldt as a garrison and to furnish the strong guards that will be necessary for the security of the Indian prisoners, as Captain Akey’s company will be constantly engaged in scouting. A third company would be posted near Hydesville for the protection of that place and of the settlements around it, as well as of the communications with Mendocino and the southern country. If a fourth company should be sent it would be very useful as a reserve, to be encamped, say, near Arcata, from which place it could readily be thrown to any point where more force might be needed; but if it is intended to obtain, by the operations against the Indians, any decisive results, a much larger re-enforcement would be necessary. To show this, it need only be observed that the region of country over which the present hostilities extend consists of some 2,000 square miles, threefourths of which are covered with dense forests of timber and chaparral, almost impenetrable to white men, but excellent hiding places for the Indians, and that no great number of them can be expected to be found but by simultaneous scouting in numerous, though small, detachments over a large extent of country. Of the seven companies now in this district only four are available for operations in this county, for Captain Moore’s, at Fort Bragg, cannot be taken away from Mendocino, Captain Johns’, at Fort Gaston, is too small (forty-five men) to spare any for the field, besides being needed at Hoopa Valley, and Captain Stuart’s, at Fort Ter-Waw, besides being inaccessible to us for the want of a practicable route, cannot safely be called away from that post so long as the intentions of the Klamath Indians remain in doubt. It being amatter of the greatest importance, I may beexcused for again repeating my assurence that if the Indians now to be captured are sent to any reservation in this part of the State they will be sure to return again immediately to their present haunts, and the whole work will have to be done over again. Would it be possible to obtain, by telegraph to M ashington, authority from the Indian Bnreau to send them to the Tejon Reservation? On being ordered on the recent expedition, Captain Akey reported that he was short of ammunition; that he had sent his requisition for 10,000 carbine cartridges last January to department headquarters (as he believes), but that it had not been answered. As the infantry cartridges do not fit the carbines, I was compelled to order the purchase of some gunpowder to enable him to have some made up

before his departure. I respectfully request that a supply may be forwarded to him without delay.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. R. C. Drum, U.S. Army,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Pacific.

P. S.—If any other companies of volunteers are sent here it is very

important that I should be furnished with an official list, showing the

relative rank of the officers, including those already in the district,

especially of the company commanders.