Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1887)
X l - S VOL. XIX. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. ARMY OFFICERS IN OREQON. Something About Those Who Were Hera in Early Days-- aon. Phil Karney and Oen. Wool. ,, , i. V- (Written for the Sunday Ortiranlun ) Not until 181!) win Oregon occupied permanently by tlio military. Oti tlio 2d of March of tbnt year, Joseph Lnnc, tlio first governor of tlio nowly organized Territory, arrived at Orogon City, ac companied by Joseph Mock and George W. Hawkins, hccoihI linutcnant of the mounted rifles, who commanded tbo military escort of Gen. Lano in bis join" ncy to nssumo his gubornalional duties. Tho licutcnnnt, liko tbo general, was n North Carlinian by birth. Ho had on torod tbo regular army from West Point, in 1812, in tho infantry. Ho acquired tbo rank of first lioutcnant in 185:!, but was dismissed from sorvico in tho samo year. Tbo routo followed by Gen. Lano and bis escort lay through New Mexico, Ari zona, and Southern California, and con sumed six months timo in tbo passage Tlio escort was small, and was mado less by dosortions and tho death of two men, until tlroo enlisted nion only were left. At Sap 1'rnncisco tho party took passage, on t ja first sailing biig, Joan notlo, Jamcf ' W. Ncsmith being also a passongcr, I lid arriving at tho mouth of tbo Columl a, trnusfoned to small boats and sailed, or wero rowed up to Oregon City, and Gon. Lano atsumod tbo gov ornorsbip just two days beforo tho expi ration of tho administration of Prcsi dent Polk, by whom ho had been ap pointed. Fall. Kearney, Next upon tho sceuo came tbo cheva lier sans pour, Phil Kearnoy, tho dash iug soldier, who loved war as men loved fpnio. Ho was tho Custor of his genu tion, tho Cbovalicr llayard of American history. lTp from tho fiolds of Mexico ho rode, Hushed with tho triumphs of two wars, and fooling himself, vhilo yet in tlio vigor of young manhood, a veter an in tho Hteru occupation of slaughter. For Phil. Kearney, raised in aflluonce, bad early devoted himself to tho study of tho military art, and at tho ago of twenty-two, bad acquired a second lieu tenancy in tho regiment commanded by his relative, Gon. Stephen W. Kearnoy, and so distinguished himself by his pro ficiency in military exerciees that he wus selected by tho government to pro ceed to Franco and examine and roport upon tlio tactics of tho French cavalry, tho exponents of tho best system then in vogue. To Franco ho went, and en rolling himself among tho pupils of tho Saumur ecolo militaire, spent tho time with profit until tbo breaking out of tbo war in Algiers which offered him op portunities for tbo acquisition of tho knowledge bo sought in actual lighting. Ho enlisted as a private in tho Chas seurs (VAfriquc. a celebrated mounted organization, and taking part in tho activo campaigns carried on by Marshal Dtige.iud, won tho admiration of the wholo army by his daring exploits. Tho cross of tbo Legion of Honor wos con ferred upon him, and his name was mentioned in many bulletin. Loaving the French service, ho returned to America, and re-entering the I'nitod States ami', lecnine nid-de-cimp in suc cession to Generals Macomb and Scott, and in IS lit, was promoted to the cap taincy of u company in tho regiment of Mounted rifles, which company he pro vided with horses and equipmont from bis own purso, and led them to Mexico. For gallantry at Contreras and Cherau busoo he was breveted major, and in a tier" charge at the San Antonio gate of the City of Mexico, his left arm was shot away by a cannon ball. After the war his regiment was sent to California and Oregon, and for a time Captain Kearney was stationed at -.-HififfafSf V SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1887. Fort Vancouver. In 1851, bo led a de tachment consisting of two companies of troops ovcrlund to California, fighting a battle witli the Indians on tho way, and in October of that year ho resigned from tho army and wont abroad to pur sue his military studios. In 1S59, bolng in Paris, ho offered his eorvicca to tho Fronch government which was engaged in the war with Austria, and was made aid to Gonornl Maurice, and conducted himself with such bravery ns to win for tlio second timo tho cros of tbo Legion of Honor. When tho rebels fired on Sumter, in 1801, Phil. Kearney hurried homo and offered his services to Presi dent Lincoln. They wero gratefully ac cepted, for his reputation as u master of tho art of war was not inferior to that of any soldier in tho western homisphors. In May 1801, bo reccoived his commis sion as brigadior-gonornl of volunteers, and entering upon activo scrviro with tlio troops in Virginia, ho distinguished himself greatly for his skill, and particu larly for his valor. At Yorktown, Wil. llamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill, bo set tbo oxnmplo of a cool and pcrfoot ly fearless soldier, In July, 18(52, ho bo- en mo major-general, and by many was thought to bo in tho way to tho chief Commander of tho army. This great soldier, whoso patriotism was as puro and whoso exnmplo was as inlluontial as his bravery was unques tioned, met tho fato approprirto to huqIi a being: ho was killed in tho battle of Chnntilly on tbo first of September, 1802.' falling lamented by tbo wholo army, whoso admired hero bo was. Lieut. Stuart. Tbo only officer of tlio United States army who fell in tho discharge of bis duty while in Oregon was James Stuart, socond lieutenant of Phil. Kenrnoy's company of Mounted riflos, who was killod by an Indian arrow, at tho fight which took placo botwoon Kearney's company and tho jmtivos, on tho Noetic rivor. 7 Tho most intelligible accounts which can bo procured, run thus: Ordors wero received in June. 1851, by two companion at Fort Vancover to pro ccod overland to lionicia, Cala.. and Cnpt, Kearnoy was put in thoir charge. The routo net being well understood, a guide was procured in the iwrson of W. 9. T'Voult, a well known Oregonian. and tho expedition sot out. It happened that at tins timo tlisturimuces were occurring, in Southorn Oiegon lo twecu the Indians along the Itoguo river and tho few whites all miners who hud arrived in tbo country. The most serious re sults of tho threatened war wore incited by tho prompt action of tho command er, who attacked and dispersed tbo In dian hnrdos without delay. He had nj proached to within ashoit distaneo of Itogue river when a mcsHMigei met him desiring hi aid. Ho found the natives gatheicd upon tho right bank of the river, about fen miles above Teblo Hock, and opposite the mouth of u small etieam which enure. tho river alovo Butto creok. Theio were (wo compan ies of troop, tho one of mounted rifles under Lieut. Stuart, the oilier of infan try under Capt. Walker. Tho latter of ficer ciocd the river with a design of cutting on" the savage ivtnMt, while Stuart and hU men charged np u a raneherio. The conflict wan vciy idioit, the Indium fleeing almo-t immediately. A wounded savage lay upon the ground and as Stuart approached him on foot, revolver in band, the native fixed uu ar row to his 1m)w, discharged it at close range and pierced the ollicer's breast. Tim pursuit of the Indians was kept up for a short time, and at its end, the wounded man was tukon to the halting place of the detachment, which wasthon named, und for several years afterwards was known as the Camp Stuart, He was mortally wounded, but lived a day, and said dying: "It J too bad to . -"'fytq ".' have fought through half tho bnUlea.Qt. tbo Mexican warjo bp killed hcro.by.nii Indian' Ho died on .luno 18, and was buried with military honors in a grave now tlio present sight of Pluenlx, near ly at tho placo whero tbo ditch crosses tho road and not far from Samuel Cul ver's old houso. In Into years his re mains was taken up and removed to tho cast to bo interred besido thoso of bis mother. Ho was a very promising young ofllcor, and Gen. Lane, who also bad a part in suprcssing tho disMub uncos, said of him : "We hnvo lost Cap tain Stuart, ono of tho brayest of the brave. A more gentlemanly man never lived ; a moro daring soldier never foil in baltle." The peoplo of Itoguo river named a creek to bis honor, tho siuno which llow.tig through tho most fertile part of thoir country fall into tho Itiguo not fur from tho placo where he received his death wound. Tho stream is now called Hear creok a sod relapse from tasto and llttness. Should tbo original and highly proH)r natno bo restored, it should bo recollected that the namo is spelled Stuart and not Stewart. aen. John E Wool. John K. Wool was alreadv at tho ago GO years, when in 1851, ho was ordered from tho cast to succeed brevet Drig. (Jen. Kthan A. Hitchcock in the com mand of tho departmont of tho Pacific. Ho was sorved with credit in tlio war of 1812, und had rocoived a brevet for four teen yonrs' service in one subordinate grade. In tho Mexican war ho fought in tho liltlo army of thoIlloGraudo, and distinguished himself nt Huona Vista al most as much ns did thocouiinuudcr-in-cliiof, Z.ichary Taylor. In that famous action ho hud selected the ground to fight on and mado all tho arrangements for the feast of death to which Santa Anna invited himself. He hud brought to tho scono of action a volunteer forco of 3000 men whom ho Intd org.inl.ed in th westorn states, and with whom ho matched to Sattllo and oH'octed a junc tion wjth Taylor. Liko many anothor bravo officer, Wool became fossilised from long service, and old ago deprived him of line faculties which had distinguished his cut Her years. Ho was a sort of an old-maidish old gentleman, whoso character wits ill suitod to the requirement of the service on tho Pacillo coast. Wool was not a West Pointer. After long service ho was made brigadier-general in 1811. and in 1817 roveived tho biovet of major-gen eral for "gallant and meritorious" scr viro at Huona Vista. He commanded tho departmont of the Pacific from 1851 to 185G, during uu interesting period in tlio History of tho coast. In 1802 ho be came a full major-general, more on ac count of bis loyalty to the Union than for any servico ho was uble to render during tho war, und was retired in IBM. Ho died in lSG'J, aged 61 years. Gen. Wool was a victim of sentiment. His feeling wero early aroused by tbo tales of white mon, oppressing of the Indians which wero rife among humanitarian circles in the east, and in the letter in which ho notified tho secretary of war, old Jeff Davis, of his arrival in Sn Francisco, ho uses in reference to the natives tho following expression "An increao of forco to guard against diffi culties with tho Indians in Cnlifomia, I'tidi, Oregon and Washington is intlls- pensible. We have now about 1000 troops, who diminish daily by desertions and discharge. Thoy are distributed over an immense territory in small com mando, and the number is wholly inad equate to give protection to either whites or Indians. The difficulties with the latter are frequently produced by the cupidity of the whites. The most of tho difficulties with tho Indians bavo been tbo result of outrages caused by white men who bavo no regaid for law or justice. I will do all I can to prevent the continuance of these outrages." Oen. Wool's wertious were chiefly given for tho year 1851 to suppress tho filibustering enterprises which woro rifo in San Francisco. AVnlkcr, tho "Groy eyed man of dosting" of whom Joaquin Miller sings, wus in tho early part of tho year fighting Mexicans in Lower Call ifornia: Count llaottssctto do lioulbon, nnotber haro brained fanatic, was in California, endeavoring with tho collus ion of tlio French and Mexican consuls and a good many Americans in high official station, to raiso an ''army" to tako Sonora and Siunloa. To check mate their unlawful designs Gon. Wool excrcisod tho whole powor of his depart ment and summarily put an end to such unlawful designs for a timo at least. In consoquonce, Walker's expedition was a failuro from lack of rcinfoiccments, and tho leader roturncd to California, to set out rather later, on his last and fatal wild-gooso chaso to found a gororumont in Contrnl America, Tlio dctestible JofT Davis was at that timo secretary of wnr, nnd at onmity with Wool. His spito manifested itself mainly in opposition to tlio general's or ders and opinions, and formed ono of tho worst annoyances to which the gen eral had to submit. HomeIts Mlibty Influence. CitosTOS, Ogn,, Aug. (I, 1887. F.ilitor Willametto Farmer: A few evenings ago I was conversing with initio ladies of and about home. "Home, sweet home, Tbcro is no placo liko homo " Vow, I ask, what is homo? Is homo a mere placo "to stay" a mere sholtor from tho storms, pelting rains and blast winds? Home we think something moro. Yes, homo, n real home, is ono of tho noblest plucos on earth. Let us tako a retrospective view of homo away bank "in tbo states." Thero is tho prairie smooth, rolling, cnani alcd with green ; thoro is tho hill south of the houso, just abovo conies girgling, cool, sparkling, tho rill from tbo spring, tho water runs through pipos in tlio houso and into the kitchen, thence to tho barn, at the barn four fields comes together and four big troughs of water, one each for the fiolds ; tho houso faces a much traveled road; a lino gale ojHms at the road and lets you into a woll gravelled carriage way curving a half moon, presenting new aspects to the portico in front of our "little cottage," thence another half moon brings around to the gato yon entered. Tho poplars, locusts, and various fruit trees adorn the front yard of blue gross, tlio ; the ver anda, nevcr-to-bo forgotten the arbor clothed with vines and loaded with grapos; the poach orchard, oh! that old peach orchard whero wo ate peaches anil romped round witli the girls and boys! thoso glorious days1 and aro they gone Gone forever, save in memory. Wo enter tho veranda, k sweet JK.T fume of flowers and rare plants greet our oyo and delighted our ulfactorios. Wo pass on to tho piazza, wo tlio mar bled columiih and drapory' J-ook in here- This is mammaV room, sacred to all us children. How exqtilsitly clean and beautiful ; tbo awnings and draped windows, the curtained bedstead, tho little sewing stand and mamma's cush ioned chair. And lioro is the sitting room, ahl that cvor-lnvutl old room Lots look at it. There is the lino the place, the mantle and tho dock , there is papa's groat arm chair, thero's mam ma's rocking-chair, t hole's tho caudle stand, the library, the lounge, tho little stools, the sofa, the great looking glass. Ob, how neat, comfortable and sweet love and afiVction reigns here. This is home. And then wo glide into the par lor, tho most splendid Persian carpet on tlio floor, tho organ, guitar, and books. Maria is playing, Sarah und .Jim are singing with her, mamma is coming papa is here, they join the throng and then "tho munic aro-o with its soft vol u pi ions swell, making us love home and nil its splendid associations. The gar- NO. 28. don, tho plants, tbo roses, tbo fruits ami flowors. This is home. Who that has long boon from heme, and on returning listens to tho Honest watch, bark, bay deep-mouthed welcome as wo approach near homo; and "know thero is an cyo will mark our coming and look lighter whon wo como." '-Tlin vrttnn nf mrlj tlm Itati nf nliililrnn nnd their earliest words." "Ahl thero is no placo liko homo." Home is tho school of civilization, homo Is tho placo whero vico is abhorcd and virtno adoicd, homo is wboro wo learned our first nnd host lessons, homo trains ns for the long scenes of life ; homo is tlio foundation of order, law nnd progress. Tho millions of homos in America are far moro potent for good than cither church or state. Indeed thero could bo no church norstnto with out home. Tho discipline of homo dis ciplines for all future disciplines. A mind disciplined is prepared for nil tho walks of life Mcucs, first King of Egypt, moro than -1000 years ago, found ho could not discipliuo his peoplo without mar riage, homo and agriculture. And oven to-day '.hero could bo no common law, tin civil code, without marriage homo and agriculture. These Ho at the bot tom of civilization, in all ages, in all countries; among friends and among strangers, on tbo laud ami on tho sea ; in health and in sickness, in every con dition, wherovorwo may be, is felt the immortal intluonco of home; its in lluenco is mighty. To adorn our homes nnd muko them comfortable, lovely and beautiful is the only sure and doop down basis of soci ety. Homes is a means, homo is it teacher, homo is n regulator, homo builds, homo clovatcs. Whilo a splendid homo docs nil thoso splondid things, a bud homo is bell turned loose in shame and hJsory. Henco thou and nocossnrily the im portance of a beautiful home, a beauti ful garden, nnd nboautiful farm. To tho father and mother nro entrust ed tho immonso responsibilities. As tho father nnd tho mother so tho 1101110, tho garden, tho farm and tho family. Show mo a well regulated homo ami all its surroundings, and 1 can predict there, a well regulated family. Well regulated families from well regulated communities, and woll regulatod com munities from well regulated nations. Iteligion, mttrriago, home, tho garden, the farm, and common senso arc nt tho Ujttom of all good; all othors, cvou church and state, flow from these. A. F. Davidson. Medical Value of Lemons. "Whilo you aro giving people simple rules for preserving their health, why don't you tell them about tbo tiso of lemon," an intelligent professional man asked me tho other day. He wont on to say that ho had long been troubled with an inactive liver, whioh gavo him 11 world of pain and trouble, until recent ly be was advised by a friend to tuko a gliii of hot water with the juice of half a lemon Fqtiocrcd into it, but 110 sugar, night and morning and seo what tho ef fect would he. He tried it, and found himself better alino-t immediately. Ilia daily he.iducho. which incdieino hud failed to cure, left him ; bis appetite im proved and be gained xovcial iHiuuds in woiidi' within a few weeks. After uwbilo he omitted the drink, either at night nr in tho morning, and now at timo iloes without either of them. "I urn satisfied from experiment," said he, "that there is no better medicine for persons who are troubled with bilious und liver complaints than the simple remedy I have given, which is far more efficacious than quinine or any other drug, while it is devoid of their injuri ous cniurqucucos. It oxcites the liver, stimulates the digestive organs, and tones up the system generally. It is not tinpleanaut to tako, either, indeed, one soon gets to liking it." Chicago Journal. The llluo Mountain University remain closed this year. will