Tulare County
History
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California - History by Eugene L. Menefee and Fred A. Dodge - Historic Record Company - Los Angeles, California, 1913
CHAPTER II
INDIAN WAR OF '56
In the growth of the settlement Indians materially aided. They were docile, friendly, willing to work and were employed in taking care of stock and in farm and household work. And yet in 1856 the settlers had trouble with them of so serious a nature as to develop into what has been called the "Indian War."
For an account of this we are principally indebted to Stephen Barton, writing in 1874, when the principal actors in the drama were still alive and he had every opportunity to obtain an accurate version of the matter. Additional facts secured through the researches of George W. Stewart in 1884, are linked in with the narrative which we present here.
In the spring of this year there came a rumor that a large band of cattle on Tule river had been stolen by Indians and driven off. Without investigation hurried preparations for war were at once begun. Scores of young bloods were ready to spring to the service of their country at once. Now, the Indians were generally employed by the settlers in farm work of all kinds, in the care of stock and as household servants, and were proving themselves honest and trustworthy. Therefore, a few of the settlers conceived the idea of hearing both sides of the story and inquired of the Indians what they knew of the stealing, and were soon astonished to find that as a matter of fact, no cattle had been stolen. The Indians said a young man by the name of Packwood had married an Indian girl and that according to their custom her tribe had assembled for a feast. Packwood contributed a yearling calf taken from his father's herd. Thus dwindled to almost nothing the rumor that five hundred cattle had been stolen.
Nathan Dillon, Wiley Watson, Mr. Kenney and several others, feeling that it was an outrage to drive the Indians to the wall on so slight a pretext, undertook to remonstrate. These men were among the most high-minded and substantial citizens of the county, but their arguments proved without avail. The tribe camped a mile below Visalia were ordered to surrender their arrows and to move their camp up to the western edge of the town. A party of mounted men went to the camp of the Yokos, near Exeter, and with yells and shots dispersed the Indians there, who fled, terror-stricken, to the swamps. A band of ruffians met one Indian on the road near Outside Creek and killed him without provocation.
A crowd of lawless men in Visalia conceived the idea of besieging a camp of about forty unarmed and friendly Indians of all ages and sexes, about two miles east of town, and of putting them to death by night. D. B. James and a few others, hearing of this diabolical scheme, brought the Indians into town where they could receive the protection of those averse to the shedding of innocent blood.
Meantime, the tocsin of war continued to sound. Settlers and miners from distant parts gathered and a military organization was effected under the command of Captain Demasters. These preparations frightened the Indians and they fled to join their companions on Tule river. The command of Demasters, numbering fifty or sixty men, started in pursuit and the same day a party of nine mounted men followed the trail of a band of sixty Tejon Indians, who were traveling southward in the direction of the White river. Captain Demasters' company, after reaching Tule river, continued up the north fork several miles, where columns of smoke pointed out to them the location of the camp. They found the Indians occupying a strong position, which, to their surprise, was well fortified. The location was admirably chosen, and the defences would have done credit to an experienced military engineer. A line of breastworks from two to four feet high, composed of boulders and brush, extended a distance of eighty rods along the face of a hill at the head of a little cove, or plain. Immediately in the front of the position the ground was rough and broken, but to reach it it was necessary to traverse the open plain mentioned, exposed to a fire from behind the fortification. At either end, and in the rear of the defences, was a dense thicket of chaparral extremely difficult to penetrate. The position was defended by a force numbering in the neighborhood of seven hundred warriors.
Demasters, confident of the superiority of his men, small as their numbers were, ordered an attack. To protect themselves against the arrows of the Indians while attempting a breach of this enclosure, a portion of the troops had uniformed themselves in a sort of petticoat made of cluck, padded inside with cotton. The petticoat brigade marched boldly to the fray, but their shields proved more vulnerable than anticipated and the whites made a precipitate retreat to a point about a mile distant to await re-enforcements.
The party of nine men previously spoken of, on the trail of the Tejon Indians, kept in their saddles all day and night, and about daylight on the following morning, near where the village of Ducor is now situated, came upon the Indian camp. The dogs began barking and one of the Indians, painted and decked with feathers, stepped forward to a little knoll that commanded a view in all directions, to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. John W. Williams, afterwards city marshal of Visalia for several years, directed the man nearest him, who had a rifle, to shoot. The Indian dropped dead, and the Americans charged, firing rapidly at the Indians, who scattered precipitately, leaving five dead. Williams and party then rode back to Tule river to join the force under Demasters. It was the supposition at the time that this party of Tejon Indians had been implicated in cattle stealing in Frazier valley, and had gone on a marauding expedition to White river to massacre the few whites living along the stream; but nothing was heard of them afterwards, and as they had a few women with them, they were probably only returning home to their own tribe.
When the party of whites rejoined the command under Demasters, it was decided to dispatch Williams to Keyesville for assistance. Williams set out immediately, going by way of Lynn's valley, Poso Flat and Greenhorn mountain. At Lynn's valley he changed horses and William Lynn, after whom the valley was named, agreed to accompany him part of the way. During their ride, after dark, through a heavily timbered region, where bears were plentiful, an incident occurred that is worthy of note. After riding a short distance into the forest they heard a noise behind, and turning, saw a large, black animal following them. Williams was mounted on a fractious mustang which became frightened and darted up the steep mountain side, but floundered back into the trail. Soon they reached a small opening and here they determined to try the effect of a shot at the brute, which followed them persistently. Lynn discharged a load of buckshot and the bear fell at the first fire, greatly to their relief.
Sixty miners from Keyesville armed themselves and accompanied Williams back. On the return the "bear" killed by Lynn was found to be a large black mule owned by a settler. It took $90 to square with the mule's owner, but that was the least of it. For a long time afterwards the mere mention of "bear oil" was sufficient to cause either Williams or Lynn to stand treat and before the joke wore out it had cost them in the neighborhood of $500.
When the Keyesville party arrived the entire force, numbering one hundred and forty, was placed under the command of W. G. Poindexter, sheriff of the county, and a second assault made. During this attack two young Americans, Danielson and St. John, were severely wounded and one other, Thomas Falbert, was shot in the thigh. These were the only whites injured. The attack proved futile and Poindexter ordered his command to fall back. A portion returned to Visalia, the remainder remaining encamped nearby awaiting re-enforcements. Of the force which returned to Visalia Stephen Barton says: "Now commenced one of the most disgraceful scenes connected with the history of this valley. Having ingloriously fled from the field of battle, this force now sought a cheap plan of retrieving a reputation for heroism by turning on those citizens who had counseled moderation and fair dealing. The Visalia Indians had been compelled to surrender their arms and camp at the edge of town. The same authority which required this now required that those who opposed the war should, at the peril of their own lives, as well as of the lives of the Indians involved, convey the Indians out of the settlement. Dillon, Watson, Keeney, Judge Baker, the Matthews and several others were the men who now found their lives imperiled by the fury of a lawless mob, for no other reason than that of having used words of moderation during a moment of popular frenzy. Dillon gave $10 and a thousand pounds of flour, the Matthews gave flour, and the other parties named gave in proportion and Jim Bell was hired to take a heavy ox team and haul the poor outcasts to Kings river."
The "soldiers" left in camp occupied themselves in searching out and destroying the caches of provisions which the Indians had made at different points along the foothills. These were found without difficulty, as they were usually placed in the forks of oak trees and covered with thatch.
In a few days a company from Millerton, under command of Ira Stroud, and one from Coarse Gold Gulch under command of John L. Hunt, arrived. From Fort Miller was sent a detachment of twenty-five soldiers under Captain Livingston, bringing with them a small howitzer; and from Fort Tejon half as many mounted cavalry under the command of Alonzo Ridley, an Indian sub-agent. Captain Livingston assumed the chief command of the force which now numbered about four hundred and comprised nearly all the able-bodied men of the valley. After all had reached camp a consultation was held and it was agreed to divide the command into four divisions and attack the Indians at daybreak the following morning, from the front, rear and both flanks. Parties were sent out to view the country so that the several divisions might be guided to their respective positions without confusion, and Captain Livingston with his soldiers and about sixty volunteers ascended an eminence commanding the Indian fortification in order to select the most advantageous position for mounting their howitzer.
The Indians unexpectedly made a vigorous attack on this party, precipitating the engagement. Livingston ordered a charge and with his officers, led the men in. They forced their way through the brush, at the same time firing upon the Indians, who became demoralized and fled from their strong position into the mountains where they had left their women and children. The Americans continued the pursuit for several days but, failing to discover another camp or any large body of Indians, retired to the valley. Several dead braves were found inside the fortification and there was evidence of many having been borne off through the brush. This was the last real engagement and the loss to the Indians in killed and wounded from the first breaking out of hostilities was estimated at about one hundred.
Although the whites posted detachments to prevent the Indians from returning to the valley, several parties of mounted Indians succeeded in reaching the plains at night and killed or drove off quite a number of cattle. They also burned a few houses in the foothills, and all but one along the Tule river and Deer creek, thirteen in number, the owners having deserted them for the time being. These raids continued for several weeks, until William Campbell, the sub-agent at Kings river, sought the Indians out in the mountains and found them willing to come to terms. The war had lasted six weeks, when the Indians returned to the valley and they have remained friendly from that time to the present day, although a little more than a decade later, a few murders committed on Tule river caused the government to send troops from San Francisco and force the Indians of that section onto a reservation set apart for them.
George Stewart says: "Thus ended the Tule river war of 1856; a war that might have been prevented had there been an honest desire on the part of the white settlers to do so, and one that brought little glory to those who participated therein. The responsibility cannot now be fixed where it properly belongs. Possibly the Indians were to blame. Certainly the whites were not blameless, and it is too seldom, indeed, that they have been in the many struggles with the aboriginal inhabitants of this continent."
The period between 1854 and the beginning of the Civil war was chiefly remarkable for the discovery of gold and the mining excitement and boom following, and for the Indian war of 1856.
D. B. and Brigham James made the first discovery of the precious metal in 1853 at Kern river. A stampede followed in which several thousand miners participated. Nearly all returned disappointed. However, other discoveries at White river, Keyesville, Owens river, in the Slate range and in the Coso district caused other mining booms so that for some seven or eight years there was a large population of miners, and the supplying of their wants became an important feature of business.
Two trails were cut across the Sierra Nevada mountains over which pack trains carrying supplies were sent. A wagon road was also constructed from Visalia through Keyesville to Lone Pine and Fort Independence.
As early as 1858 there were three quartz mills in operation in the Kern river district. These, by the way, had a greater value according to the assessor's figures than all the taxable real estate in the county. A few years later several other stamp mills were constructed to mill the ore of the Coso and Owens river districts and the freighting of supplies became a business of great magnitude.
Unfortunately, while rich strikes were found in all these localities, it appeared that the gold generally was found either in pockets or in leads that "pinched out," and no permanent wealth producing camps resulted.
INDIAN TROUBLES IN OWENS RIVER DISTRICT
The war of 1856, with its final engagement at Battle mountain, settled completely all trouble with Indians in Tulare county proper, or that portion lying on this side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. For many years, however, sporadic trouble in the Owens river valley caused much uneasiness to our people. At times these assumed such magnitude that several troops of regular cavalry were employed to subject the fighting red men.
Nearly every Visalian of prominence was at this time interested in either the Coso or Owens river mines. Valuable cargo trains were at all times on the road and the menace to these as well as to the lives of smaller prospecting parties at times assumed serious proportions. These troubles culminated in 1862 and 1863. It is impossible to obtain sufficient data to give a connected account of the different uprisings, but the dangerous character of the warfare and the difficulties in the way of providing protection to settlers and miners may be judged by the following:
In the spring of 1862, Visalians sent a party with stores of arms and ammunition to render assistance and gather information. Warren Wassen reported in part as follows: "Being unable on my arrival at Amora to obtain provisions or transportation for the company organized there to receive the arms sent in my charge, I was compelled to leave them and proceed, accompanied by Lieutenant Noble and his command of fifty mounted men. We arrived at the upper crossing of Owens river on the evening of April 6. On the next morning we met with Colonel G. Evans with Lieutenants French and Oliver; Captain Wynne of his command having been left with seven men to. garrison the stone fort forty miles below. These were under Colonel Mayfield of Visalia.
"It appeared that during the past winter the Indians had been in the habit of killing cattle, which had led to the killing of some Indians, after which the Indians availed themselves of every opportunity to kill whites.
"The whites finally collected their cattle at a point about thirty miles above the lake, fortified themselves and sent messengers to Visalia and Carson for relief. They were reinforced by a party of eighteen men who left Amora on March 28. About noon on the 6th there was a very brisk engagement in which C. J. Pleasants of
Amora, Mr. Morrison of Visalia and Sheriff Scott of Mono county were killed. The whites took refuge in an irrigating ditch, whence they fired, inflicting some damage. At night, after the moon went down, the Indians ceased firing and the whites retreated, leaving behind seventeen or eighteen of their horses and considerable ammunition and provisions.
"Colonel Evans the next day met this party and persuaded about forty-five of them to return to the pursuit. The remainder retreated to the fort. Our party joined that of Colonel Evans and we camped that night on the battleground of the previous day. The next day, about noon, the Indians were reported located in a canyon. The command was divided into three columns, one under Colonel Evans, one under Lieutenant Noble and the other under Colonel Mayfield. We proceeded up the mountain, facing a terrific snowstorm which prevented our seeing three yards ahead of us. Failing to find Indians, we returned to camp. After dark the Indians were located by their campfires as being in a canyon about a mile north of the one we had ascended, and in the morning a reconnoitering party, under Sergeant Gillispie, was sent out. After advancing some three hundred yards they were fired upon. Gillispie was instantly killed and Corporal Harris severely wounded.
"Lieutenant Noble was sent to take possession of the mountain to the left of the canyon. This position he gained with difficulty, facing a destructive fire and, unable to maintain it without severe loss, was forced to retreat. Colonel Mayfield, who accompanied him, was killed.
"The whole party under Colonel Evans were forced to retreat down the valley, the Indians following. Colonel Evans, being without provisions, was compelled to return to his former post near Los Angeles. Lieutenant Noble accompanied him as far as the fort for the purpose of escorting the citizens in this direction out of the valley with their stock, which numbered about four thousand head of cattle and twenty-five hundred head of sheep.
" There were not over twenty-five Indians engaged in this fight but they were well armed and from the nature of their position could have held it against any odds."
In the following year numerous other outbreaks occurred. Visalia again despatched a wagon-load of arms to protect the Coso mines. In the skirmishes of this season, the whites were generally successful.
In one battle the Indians posted themselves in a ravine near the lake, whence they were dislodged and utterly defeated after an engagement lasting over four hours. Only a small number made their escape. Of these, "Joaquin Jim," a noted chief, succeeded in reaching a rancheria near Visalia where he was killed while trying to escape capture by a detachment of soldiers sent to bring him in.
In July, 1863, the Owens river Indians were as a body thoroughly subdued. Practically the entire tribe, to the number of nine hundred, were marched to the Tejon Indian reservation. They were escorted by one hundred cavalry men under command of Captains McLaughlin, Noble and Ropes.
Minor outbreaks and outrages continued to occur for a few years following, since which time a lasting peace has ensued.
HOSPITAL ROCK
About ten miles above Three Rivers, on the middle fork of the Kaweah river near the present extensive construction works of the Mt. Whitney Power company, stands an enormous rock, undercut in such a way as to form a considerable shelter.
It is covered with the painted sign writing of a prehistoric race and until recent years was the abiding place for a settlement of Indians. The name "Hospital" rock arose through an accident that befell A. Everton in 1873 or 1874. Mr. Everton, in company with George Cahoon, was hunting and trapping in the vicinity and had out several set guns for bear. One morning the finding of fresh blood on the trail indicated a wounded bear and Everton started to return to camp to get dogs. On the way he accidentally sprung one of the set guns, receiving the load in his leg, a nasty wound from which he could scarcely have recovered had it not been for the Indians. These carried him to camp and the squaws nursed him back to health, applying such embrocations of herbs as were suited to the case. As Hospital Rock it has therefore since been known.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.