S. G. Whipple to First Battalion Mountaineers, California Vols, January 29, 1864

COLONEL:

By letter to department headquarters of date January 21 I informed the commanding general of rumored hostilities on Salmon River, Klamath County. Capt. G. W. Ousley, Company B, First Battalion Mountaineers, California Volunteers, who was dispatched to that section with detachment of twenty men, returned last evening, and from his official report I gather the following facts: On the 15th instant a band of about thirty Indians, mostly Hoopas, made a descent upon a miners’ camp on.Pony Creek, a tributary of New River. The miners, nine in number, made their escape to South Salmon, but a winter’s supply of provisions for the miners, four rifles, two watches, and some money fell into the hands of the Indians. In this connection i remark that these miners returned to or remained on New River, against the remonstrances of the officers of this post. Captain Ousley informs me that four of the miners had squaws living with them. From Pony Creek the Indians crossed over to South Salmon, but by another route from that taken by the miners, and on the 16th killed 2 white men and 2 Chinamen, also wounded 2 Chinamen near the mouth of Plummer Creek. They obtained some gold dust from the Chinamen and robbed a store near by of some $250 worth of goods and about $350 in dust. This store was owned by a Mr. Dumphreys. During the evening of the same day the Indians went down the stream about eight miles to Dumphreys’ lower store and helped themselves to about $300 worth of shelf goods and one revolver. Here the savages divided among themselves (now numbering twenty-two) the gold dust, amounting to about $2,000. The citizens gathered at the forks a few miles below during the night, and early the next morning were attacked by the Indians, and the fight was kept up several hours, in which 3 white men were killed and 2 wounded, also a Chinaman wounded. Of the Indians 1 was killed and 2 wounded, 1 of which it has since been ascertained died of his wounds. At this place the Indians obtained two rifles and two pistols. The citizens were but few in number and poorly armed.

The next day other citizens arrived from North Salmon and a party was sent in pursuit, and came upon the camp of the enemy in the dark before they expected to, and the Indians all escaped, being obliged to leave nearly all their merchandise, two rifles, and a double-barreled shotgun. After this the pursuing party saw no more of the Indians, as they scattered in every direction. From this post Captain Ousley proceeded diri ctly to the South Salmon and returned via New River, where he found several hundred pounds of provisions the Indians had left, which was cached by the captain. A few miles farther down the stream were found caches made by the Indians of their plunder, which were destroyed. The party of thirty men which I sent out to intercept the Indians were not successful in discovering any. This raid on Pony Creek was nothing but what was expected if a few miners would persist in remaining for the winter on any of the branches of New River. The region is so completely isolated and difficult of approach for troops that it would be impossible to afford assistance or protection to the miners, except a force was stationed there. The people on Salmon River have felé themselves comparatively safe from attack, the more probably because they have heretofore escaped and from the distance than from their ability to resist. The citizens here are now on their guard and able to protect themselves for the present.

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