found a company of U. S. dragoons en­
camped under command of Major Phil
Kearney, afterwards a noted general. He
was marching from fort Vancouver on the
Columbia to fort Benicia on San Francis­
co Bay, and had come over from the Ump­
BY WELBOHX BEESOX.
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qua on what is now known as the Elk
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and Trail creek trail. On arriving at
The discovery of rich mines on Scott
Rogue river opposite the mouth of Indian
river in northern California by captain
creek, he was attacked by the Indians, and
Scott and others in the winter of 1851, and
Lieutenant Stewart had received a mortal
a little later of the placers on Yreka Flats
wound. The Major made camp where
by the late Dr. Hearn, caused numliers
Phoenix now is and Stewart there died of
of the hardy pioneers of the Willamette
his wound, and was buried under the oak
valley to leave their homes and hazzard
tree that now serves as a gate post to the
a trip over the Calapooia mountains
gate leading from Colver’s across Bear
through the famous Umpqua canyon, a-
creek. His remains were afterwards tak­
Iong the rocky banks of Rogue river and
make their way over the then almost track­ en up and sent back east at his mother?
less Siskiyou mountains. Among the ad­ request. Majex Kearney named this place.
venturers was an old gentleman who had Camp Stewart, and Bear creek was called
Stewart’s creek for several years after­
been a resident of Lane county five years.
He started with two yoke of oxen and a wards.
Our four young adventurers arrived at
’ , wagon that he had traveled across the
plains from Iowa with in 1S46. He had the camp just as the major had performed
the last rites of burial to his young oflicer
with him his two sons, George and Charles,
also three or four young men that he had and wishing to avenge his death, called
known in Iowa. They made their way for volunteers from among the traveling
gold seekers, as there were several others
through all thedi.Tculties; s-«mt times all
united to lift the wagon over the imm n<e besides our particular four. (’harles be­
rocks in the canyon and to push the wag­ ing the only one of the four that was armed
on to aid the weary cattle over the steep vountecred, the major furnishing him n
rough mountain. When they arrived at government mule to ride. Just at dusk
Yreka they were disappointed for as yet in the early days of June, 1851, the little
but a small portion of the afterwards im­ company of dragoons, accompanied by
mense diggings was known; but hearing of perhaps a dozen volunteer gold seekers,
a fine prospect on Illinois river, a tribu­ crossed Bear creek near the present ford
tary of Rogue river, they started back < ver and. traveling all night, came to Rogue
the Siskiyous. When they arr vk ! on river at Indian creek, the scene of the at­
Rogue river, near where Granis ?a.-s n< w tack a sh< rt time before; but no Indian-
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is, they met a numlier of prospect« rs r< - could l>e found. The troops crossed th«1
turning from the Illinois river, with dis­ river and followed down skirting the
couraging news. Here they I.eld a council brush. When they came to the place
and it was decided that theold gentleman where lower Table Rock approaches the
and his son Gj>r ge should return home, river, making a very narrow passage be­
while (’harles and his three companions tween the rock and river, on what is now
should take the only pony, with blankets, known as the Billy Wilson donation
provisions and tools that they could pack claim, suddenly a shower of arrows came
whizzing among the company slightly
and again return to the Yreka diggings.
The four young men, three of whom arc wounding several. A retreat to open
now prosperous and rcs|>ecte<l citizens of ground was ordered ami after »• consulta­
our community, toiler! their weary way tion, it was decided to make charge on f<K»t
up Rogue river and Bear creek to the which was cont ary to the idea of Indian
warfare entertained by our (’harles, wh”
place where Phoenix is now located.
There, much to their surprise, they had had some exjierience in the Nez Perce
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER IN
THE EARLY HISTORY OE
ROGUE RIVER VALLEY.
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