R. C. Drum to Captain Douglas, April 7, 1862

MAJOR:

The post of Captain Douglas (Second Infantry California Volunteers) is on the right bank of Redwood Creek, a mile or less below Minor’s, and close to the trail which is the great thoroughfare from the bay to the north and east. For several miles around the mountain ridge instead (as is usual) of approaching close to the stream and then shelving abruptly down its deep side, shaggy with firs, here draws back its crest to considerable distance, and comes stretching gradually downward to the river side in rather gentle slopes of open pasture land. A small creek skirted with timber falls into the river just above Minor’s. Yesterday morning at 5 o’clock a pack train was attacked by six Indians on the open ground a mile from the post. The packers immediately fled, uninjured, so far as is known. The firing being heard at the post, Captain Douglas promptly and silently got lis command under arms. He had but a few men in camp, some thirty being out on a scout with Lieutenant Flynn, and eleven being detached to Liscombe’s Hill by my orders. Sending five men under Lieutenant Johnson to scour the timber skirting the creek near Minor’s, and taking seven men along with him, he made directly for the train, guided by two of the packers who had fled toward his post, and whom he met on the way. On arriving he found the Indians had been pillaging it, and were then burning up what they could not carry away. Owing to the fog and to the feebleness of the daylight, he came upon them unawares. At the volley they received, one of the six fell dead and two were wounded. They fled at once, closely pursued, but one of them turned and fired at Captain Douglas, piercing with the ball a glove which the captain held in his hand. Captain Douglas replied with his revolver, and the Indian fell wounded, but was finally able to get away with the rest. Lieutenant Johnson saw about twenty Indians. Sergeant Hoalton (Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers), who brought the captain’s dispatch, reports that Lieutenant Johnson’s party received some fifteen or twenty shots in the timber, but that none of our men were hurt. It is not improbable that this band was intended to attack Minor’s, which was close by. If so, that place was saved by Captain Douglas’ presence of mind. At 8 a. m., when his dispatch was written, the captain was about to leave in pursuit, but could not go very far, having to leave a guard for his camp and for Minor’s. Being anxious to follow uy this band at once, he sent to me for twenty or thirty men. Captain Akey Laving left on a fifteen days’ scout with all the men that can be spaced from this post, I have

` none to send him. The Indian that was killed had with him a U.S. minie rifle and plenty of balls. He was recognized as a Hoopa Indian by Captain Douglas’ hospital steward (Brown), who had been stationed for along time at Fort Gaston. I have directed Brown’s affidavit to be taken and sent to me forthwith. No steamer having arrived, I have this morning sent my dispatch to Fort Ter-Waw by a special messenger, who expects to deliver it in three days.

On the 4th instant, at Table Bluff (a point in the bay within sight of this post), three or four Indians attacked the house of a settler, who escaped with his family though fired at, and plundered it. The same day Painter’s ranch, a mile and a half off the trail, between Arcata and Fort Lyon, was attacked and burnt by a band of Indians in full view of our pack train, then on its way to Fort Lyon with an escort of two or three soldiers. On the arrival of the train Captain Heffernan immediately sent a detachment thither, of twenty-one men, under Lieutenant Hubbard, which has not yet been heard from.

April 8,1 p.m. News has just arrived that our train with supplies for Captain Heffernan’s post was this morning attacked by Indians about eight miles from Arcata. The packers were fired upon, and eight or ten of the mules are believed to be cut off. In my letter of the Ist instant I spoke of only three companies as being indispensable. It is now my duty to state that in my opinion as many more ought to be sent with the least possible delay as can well be spared. It is evident that escorts must be everywhere considerably strengthened, and detach. ments sent to guard, so far as possible, every exposed settlement. Acting Commissary of Subsistence Swasey reports that he has no supplies on hand for any additional force. There is no ammunition on hand beyond what is needed by the companies to which it has been issued. The great want is transportation. This want has caused all our delays so far (coupled with the state of the routes), and the more troops we have here the more it will be felt. No other conveyance than by mules is possible in this country. The rates of hiring them will increase in compound proportion to the increase of our need of them. Forty mules are urgently needed at the three new posts to transport the supplies of the scouting parties. Great delays will be caused as heretofore by seeking up owners of mules, making contracts with them, and then bringing the mules in to the point where needed. Celerity will be the first requisite in these operations against the Indians. I would suggest whether it would not be as economical to purchase at once a sufficient number, even if they have to be sold after the war is over at a sacrifice.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,