R. F. Maury, August 19, 1864

Fort Boisé, Idaho Ter., August 19, 1864. SIR: As indicated in letter of 19th July, I left this post on the next day, relinquishing temporarily the command to Captain Seidenstriker, and joined Lieutenant Funk in camp some six miles from Boonville (Owyhee mines). Moved next day to the immediate vicinity of Boonville, and on ascertaining that the party of citizens referred to in letter of 19th had left some six or seven days previously for the Indian camp, from which the first party had been repulsed with the loss of Jordan, a prominent resident of Boonville, distant only forty miles, I determined to lay over the next day with hopes of learning by express directly from them, and to learn by inquiry, if possible, something of the country and obtain the services of some one who had been through it. Failing in both instances, and acting upon the conclusion that the Indians had left the camp referred to and had scattered, proceeding most probably west, I resumed the march on the 24th, going down Jordan Creek, west from Boonville some twelve miles. Here the detachment sent with Captain Currey’s supplies joined us. Leaving it and pursuing a southwest course, with the calculation of passing the camp where Jordan was killed some forty or fifty miles to the west, and expecting to strike the Owyhee River 100 miles above the mouth of Jordan Creek and 175 or 200 from its mouth, then to turn east if I failed to discover the Indians or their sign, and search the waters of Middle River (Bruneau); thence north to Ruby City or Boonville. Previous to dispatching the force from the post I had requested, through the citizens who made the representations upon which I acted in outfitting the expedition, that they would not make any demonstrations against the Indian camp until a force sufficient to destroy them could be concentrated; that to get them to fight in considerable force was very desirable; that a premature movement might render the efforts of the military, as well as citizens, valueless; that I would take force and material sufficient, I thought, to beat any party of Indians that could possibly be in that part of the country, however strong their position might be naturally. We continued the march at the rate of ten to fifteen miles per day, examining particularly with scouts the canons of the streams that flow to the west (our right), and the mountains that divide the waters that run directly to Snake River and the Owyhee (our left). The cavalry performing this duty traveled daily from twenty-five to thirty miles, the country being generally well watered and grass abundant, though terribly rocky and cut up with immense canons. These running across our course generally, and frequently at the points first touched, impassable for footmen even, gave us much trouble. No Indian trails, old or new, being discovered, showed that the country ahead was rough, if not impracticable; but thinking that when they did move from fear they could not find a more suitable country for defense, I preserved the course first determined upon as closely as possible, keeping up the examination of the country on either side. After making some seyenty-five miles old signs became quite common, and on the evening of the 30th a scouting party discovered fresh signs on a mountain thickly covered with cedar. (The Owyhee here bends east almost to the foot of the mountains, the foot-hills and narrow strip of table-land bordering the river being cut every mile or two by cafions, some of which we found utterly impassable.) The party proved to be small, and were camped nearly on the summit of the mountain. The camp was deserted with their meals on the fire, leaving also behind the usual appendages of Indian camps—dogs and skins.

The next morning the scouting party to the right discovered the same Indians, six men and—women, in their flight from the party on the left. I ursuit was made immediately, necessarily on foot, but the Indians sueceeded in outfooting the party from one to another of the many canons that enter the main Owyhee here. Thorough search was made of all, but we failed to discover them. Not having any animals with them made it more difficult to trace them. The effort being abandoned, anë feeling satisfied that they were not (on account of the absence of animals and evidences of the sign in the vicinity) any portion of the main party of which we hoped to discover a sign, we continued our course, though to keep it we were compelled to make a detour north of east some fifteen miles in order to pass these cafions. On again obtaining our course we struck in the evening the return trail of the citizens. Two or three miles to the east we found also their outward trail. From indications in this vicinity I concluded that they had overtaken the Indians and dispersed them. Heavy showers of rain having fallen since their attack prevented any discovery of signs indicating the route by which the Indians escaped, though I concluded on reasonable grounds that they had gone to the Humboldt or Queen’s River Mountains, and having reached a pointas far south as expected to go, and from thenature of the force with me, mostly infantry, and from all the attendant circumstances, that it would require several weeks with a force capable of moving more rapidly than that with me to discover their hiding place, I determined, with much disappointment, to move east to determine if possible whether any part of the original band had gone to the waters that flow directly to Snake River, thence north to Boonville, thinking perhaps some might yet be concealed in the mountains. From this camp, distant about 100 miles south of the mouth of Jordan Creek, the Snow Mountains (Steen’s) were plainly visible to the northwest, the Queen’s River to the west, the Humboldt to the southwest, and the Goose Creek ` to the south. To the east the mountains break into high table-land, covered with volcanic rock and sage brush, with good grass in frequent places. Our camp was near, I think, the forty-second paraliel of latitude, the country in every direction presenting the same general character. Here was the only crossing of the Owyhee accessible to animals that we had found, and in one instance only besides that, a foot-trail to the river, the bed of which, when seen from the tops of the immense walls that inclose it, looks like a small brook. We reached this camp Augyst 2, and reconnoitered sufficiently to determine the condition of affairs. I marched east on the 3d, crossing, asusual, many terrific canons. A great many old Indian trails and camps were seen, but none presented any evidence of use for the last ten or twelve months. Most of the trails—all, in fact, that were well defined—coming from the south and east and centering toward the crossing of the Owyhee referred to. In all the camps were evidences of much stock having been butchered. On this day (the 3d) we marched some eighteen miles, keeping up, as usual, vigilant scouting, without any discoveries more than those referred to above.

On the 4th scouting parties reported the discovery of the camp where Jordan was killed. I moved to it and camped for the day with a view to determine the probable number who had occupied it, as well as to ascertain if possible whether the band had separated and pursued different routes. Scouting parties of the cavalry under Lieutenants White and Hobart were kept busy the balance of the day, while the camp and its vicinity were minutely examined by the infantry, from all of which I concluded that no separation had taken place; that there were in the band from 300 to 400 men, women, and children, the latter undoubtedly largely predominating, with not to exceed twenty-five head of horses and mules. Evidences, however, of the butchery of many of recent dates were found in this as well as the camp occupied previously. The flight from the camp was evidently precipitated, and took place some four or five days after the killing of J ordan. From this camp we marched northeast through the mountains and struck the head of Jordan Creek above Silver City on the Sth. Went into camp near Boonville; determined on account of reports from Camas Prairie and Salmon Falls that I could not, as previously expected, establish a camp in Jordan Creek Valley, the limited number of men under my control not permitting attention to both at the same time, while the settlements on the prairie and the travel by Salmon Falls, on account of their proximity and general disposition of the force of the district, were more directly under my charge. Rested one day in camp near Boonville and resumed the march, intending to go on the Lower Owyhee in the vicinity of the fisheries, thinking that the operations of Captain Currey might have driven some from the Malheur to them. On inspection of the infantry I found them all quite or nearly barefooted, having worn out two pairs of shoes each in twenty-days’ march. With the exception of the camp at Boonville, the command did not sleep two nights in any one camp. I directed the infantry to proceed to Fort Boisé under command of Lieutenant Funk, and proceeded with Lieutenants White and Hobart and twenty-four men of the cavalry to the fisheries, which we reached on the night of the 12th, making a night march to them with the hope of surprising any party that might be there. Reached their old camps quietly, but found that they had not only not been occupied since last February or March, when they left on account of the approach of Major Rinearson with troops, but that not an Indian had visited that part of the river since. We examined the country for several miles up and down the river without the discovery of any sign except that of the last winter. Found a mule which was abandoned by Major Rinearson’s party and two Indian ponies and the fresh sign of two head of cattle. The latter no doubt were abandoned by the Indians in their flight last spring. They were wilder, if possible, than deer, and after spending the best part of a day in ineffectual efforts to capture them returned to camp and left next morning, August 14, for Fort Boisé, which we reached at daylight on morning of 17th, making a night march of thirty-five miles across the desert between Snake River and the Boisé on account of the heat and scarcity of water. We were absent twenty-eight days. No casualties or untoward events of any nature occurred during the trip. The spirit and endurance of officers and men were highly satisfactory and commendable. I have been thus particular, at the risk of being tedious on account of uninteresting details, in order that the general may understand why the expedition failed to accomplish the wished for results—the destruction of the band of Indians, as well as our efforts to deserve better

_Although as I learned after my return to Boonville that the party of citizens returned the evening of the morning upon which I left Jordan Creek, I was not apprised of the information they had acquired or their conclusion as to where the Indians had gone. Members of the party informed me that previous to their overtaking the party which they attacked the band had separated, the one which they followed taking all the stock so far as they could determine, the other party going south. east, traces of which we failed to discover on account of the heavy showers of rain before alluded to. The party killed and scalped according to their own account thirty-five. The scalps were brought in, The number of men killed is stated by different parties from 2 to 7 remainder women and children. Some few men were seen to escape at the first attack which took place about 5 p.m. I could not learn that there was any large number of men. After dark the citizens retired, having lost 2 men killed. The next morning the entire party had disappeared, and pursuit was not attempted. Infants were thrown against rocks and killed. The circumstances of our difficulties with these savages are no doubt very aggravating, but their conduct is no palliation for brutalizing our own race. I conclude that if the general belief as to the number of men belonging to the band, say 125, is correct, which I think is very near correct, and that if the band divided, that the party attacked was composed of the women and children, with only a very few men; also that these Indians are the same which Major Rinearson disturbed last March at the fisheries of the Lower Owyhee; that there was not, except the small party referred to before, any other Indians on the east side of the Owyhee from its mouth to the most southern point reached by us, and that these crossed to the west side, leaving the vicinity of the river. I shall keep the cavalry here busy.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,