George B. Currey to First Regiment Oregon Infantry, September 24, 1865

SIR:

I have the honor to make the following report of an engagement between twelve men under my command and 75 or 100 Indians of Harney Lake Valley, which action commenced at 12 m. on September 23, and ended at 7 p. m., same day.

On September 23, 1865, I set out with twelve men from camp on Selvie’s River to scout a few miles down the valley to locate a permanent camp, and search for a place to cut hay. Proceeded down the valley seven miles, when we discovered the fresh trail of two Indians on foot going in the direction of Harney Lake. Following the trail a short distance, the Indians were discovered about one mile distant entering an extensive sage plain. We immediately gave chase, not expecting to overtake them, but soon discovered one of them to be a boy of about nine or ten years old, which impeded their progress, so that we soon found ourselves gaining upon them. After a pursuit of about seven miles, and when within long range of our guns, they were met by two mounted Indians from the opposite side of the sage plain, and were taken up and made good their escape. We had been marching at double quick over the sage plain for seven miles, and consequently the men were very tired. I therefore ordered a rest, placing two sentinels in a conspicuous place. We rested for an hour, and that hour’s delay came near proving fatal to the scouting party. We were now sixteen miles from our camp. A solitary Indian mounted on a fine iron-gray horse now appeared in sight, and riding about at full speed circling around us, then rode off to a distance of half a mile and fired his gun, and sounded the war whoop. Directly we discovered thirteen mounted Indians approaching, and as that was just our number, we had no fears for our own safety. As they came up they encircled us on every side, and firing was at once opened by them and promptly returned. We nowturned toward camp and steered straight for a high mountain point which lay direct between us and our camp, which would make the distance much nearer than to go round. The Indians kept up their firing and howling, and were very soon re-enforced by twenty or thirty horsemen and twenty-five or thirty footmen, who joined in theconflict. Their forces were placed on every side of us, horse and foot mixed up promiscuously, and now firing became very brisk from front, flank, and rear, but the Indians were kept at a distance of from 250 to 500 yards by our long-range guns. We were still moving direct for the mountain, believing that we would be perfectly safe if we could gain the mountain; at least, if it gave us no other advantage, it would be the most direct route to our camp, where we could obtain relief. The firing was brisk on both sides. The bullets were whizzing among us. We were not sufficient in numbers to protect all sides at one time. When within half a mile of the mountain some twenty or twenty-five horsemen fell in ahead of us and ascended the mountain at the very place for which we were striving, and we had the mortification of seeing them take position in the rocks to cut us down if we advanced. At this time I could see but one alternative, and that was to turn direct to the right and travel parallel to the mountain, and make for Selvie’s River, some five miles off. The men were tired, nearly exhausted, their lips parched with thirst, and the whole distance to the river was one level sandy sage plain. As we turned, nearly all the footmen and two-thirds the horsemen pursued along the foot of the mountain to our left. I now placed Corporal Johnson to guard the left flank and Private McPherson to guard the rear, the places from which the most danger came, and the men were then ordered in single file, fifteen paces apart and parallel to the mountain. In this manner we marched to Selvie’s River with a constant shower of bullets falling among us or whistling over our heads. The sage-brush in many places, being of heavy growth, gave the Indians favorable opportunities, and many shots were fired at us from a distance of from 75 to 100 yards, the Indians generally dodging down and avoiding ourshots. Onapproaching theriver, Private Alexander Griffin, of Company H, First Oregon Infantry, was severely wounded in the left hip, but not disabled, As we reached the willows on the river the Indians struck the river above and below us. My men were so tired they could scarcely travel, and nearly choked with thirst. My mouth was so parched that I could scarcely give command. I at once ordered three men through the stream without a moment’s pause to protect our front. Threeothers were faced about to guard the rear, while the remainder took a hasty drink of water and relieved them. Our delay at the stream was not over one and one-half minutes, and at the command “fall in on the east side,” every man was instantly at his post, and we marched at double-quick for about 300 yards from the willows along stream to an open level plain. A few horsemen were in front but the bulk of the Indians had halted along the stream. We now turned up the valley northward in the direction of our camp, firing still kept up briskly by the Indians from the river on our left. Private Smith, of Company F, First Oregon Infantry, was at this time slightly wounded in the left foot. It was now about sundown, and our camp still four miles off—so far that we could not hope for them (the men in camp) to hear our guns. After sundown a mounted Indian with a blazing torch struck out from the river and fired the grass on a line for two miles in length, and crossing at right angles through the prairie before us, and betwixt us and our camp. We still pushed on (heavy firing all the time kept up on both sides), passing through the fire line, and aimed to strike the river three miles or two and a half below camp. The ground was level; no very high grass, and but little sage-brush. We were soon expecting a re-enforcement from camp. We thought we were safe unless some random shot from the willows should strike us, and there was much danger, for whole volleys were occasionally fired at one time, and would strike in the grass or whistle past us. At this time I was stunned by a volley of five or six rifles from a dry gully four or five feet deep directly ahead of us. I looked around expecting to see one-half of my men fall dead, but none were injured. The men were at once ordered into a sink at our left of sufficient depth to hide them.

From this position wehad three or four good shots, not over sixty yards distant, at those who had fired the last volley. This was the last firing on either side. I rested the men a half-hour, and it now being dark (except light from fire which now extended up and down the river for some distance), so that it was impossible for us to move in the direction of camp without placing us directly between the Indians (in the willows along the river), and the blazing fires on the prairies. I could see no other avenue of escape than to double up on our track, which was accordingly done, and we double-quicked it out of our position and soon placed the fires betwixt us and the mass of Indians along the stream. We traveled four or five miles in a course directly opposite from camp and made a large circle to the northward and gained our camp at 2 o’clock on the morning of the 24th, having traveled forty-five miles without food or rest, seven hours of which being under a heavy fire from the Indians, who outnumbered us at least six to one. From the place where the fight began to its termination was about fifteen miles, three-fourths of which was asandysageplain. Theattack upon us was made at about 12 m., and was kept up without any cessation until about 7 p. m., during which time it is certain that fifteen Indians were killed and several horses crippled. Our two wounded men were safely brought in. The men all acquitted themselves creditably. Not an order or command was given but what was instantly obeyed. Corporal Johnson and Private McPherson are entitled to great credit for their valuable services, without which the whole detachment might have been cut off. Our long-range guns and superior marksmen gave us advantages that rendered their superior numbers far less formidable than if we had been armed with common rifles. I am,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,