m m m '.::/:.. I I vm m m University of California Berkeley YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA COLLECTION OF WILLIAM ROBERTSON COE OFFICIAL, REPORT or ra OWYHEE RECONNOISSANCE, MADE BT Lieut, Colonel C. S, Drew, 1st Oregon Cavalry, IN THE SUMMER OF 1864, PtMCAVT TO THE ORDERS OP BRIGADIER GENERAL GEORGE WRIGHT, COMMANDING DEPARTMENT OP THE PACIFIC. JACKSONVILLE, OREGON. OfcEGON SENTINEL PRIXTXVQ OFFICE. 1865.* Official Report of tt)e (Dajuhee OJ*pcMtion. COLONEL DREWS REPORT. JACKSONVILLE, Oregon, > January 12th 1865. j . SIR : I have the honor to submit the following report of the expedition under my com- inand, the orders authorizing it being as follows : HEAD QUARTERS DEPARTMENT or THE ) PACIFIC, San Francisco, California > March 18th, 1864. } Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Drew, Pint Ore- gon Cavalry, Camp Baker, Oregon. SIR : In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, making certain recommendations relative to the movement of troops from Fort Klamath, the General commanding the Department directs me to say that i wishes you to take all your men back to Fort Kla- math as soon as the route is practicable, there tearing a sufficient number of men at that past to safely guard the public proper- ty and protrct it from any Indian attack. You .will go with a detachment acreiw the country to the Owyhe*. After the coaplo- tlon of tht recoonoUsanes, y will rettra to Port Klamath. reporting in writing to this office. Such additional transportation M may be altdultly necttiary will be hired. Very Respectfully your Obedient Servant, [Signed] R. C. DRUM. Assietaat Adjutant General . The greatest difficulty aider which I la- bored before starting oat wai in obtaining the requisite means of transportation. Tbt character of the country to be explored was believed to be each as would reader pack mules indiipentible, and there were DO trains of these ID this region of country to be hired on government account. The Columbia river and "Northern Mites** had been, and still were, the point of attraction for the owners of all that means of trans- portation which had been formerly employ* ed in this vicinity, and trains from remote regions were hasteoii; to the same lucra- tive field of operations. The trains fiaally procured were purchased ii soeh nnmbtn and at such times and places as conld b* fouid . here and in Califoroia^iQABj */ tbato^ COLONKL DRF.VT * Valuable Utmi mulct, and U.r purchase madr ! then b cwusMWrably rrdurvil. aad It Uin* aolely lor Ibis service, the parcbaser* having j conid*red d.iubtfal whether tbe euoatrj oo use for them when tbe service should be i beyond would readily admit of tktir p***- coded. The wage* aud Bubsistence of I age; bat having Wl Fort Klamath with tbe necessary Dumber of packerc except j the malet txce*iTely lomded eoroe of one, only i included iu the hire of the i tbcm with four hnadred and twenty-five trains; as men experienced in this business i pound*, track- they could not be* diapeoae<] could not be obtained here at tbe rate of j with; and beyond that point we were too pay allowed by the xovernuunt. S.xiy far into tbe hostile Indian country to ren five to Seventy-five dollars p*r mouth, in ' dT it safe to do so wiibent sending back ooio, and subsistence, were the rates paid, j an escort, wbieh I could not spare, aud these are tbe usual rates of the country ' The detachment which bad been station- for good packers. For cooks, forty dollars ed at Jacksonville during tbe winter, in per month, coin, was the lowest rate paid, charge of the animals belonging at Fort this aUo tbe uaual wagea for that kind of Klaroath. and tbe puck trains left that ervicr, point on the 26th of May. crossed tbe Ca*- My command consisted at firjt of fory- ! cade mouatains on the 28th, several milm even enlisted men of company "C," 1st Ore ! of the rouie over their nummit having beta gon cavalry, noder Gaptuio \Vm. Kelly previously opened under my direction, bat subsequently reduced to tbirty-u ne en- ' through depth of more than nine feet of listed men Acting Assistant Surgeon G. , snow, and arrived at Ft>rt Kiamath oo the W. Grecr, eight Qnartermaster's employ. ! 30h. ee, including guide, blacksmith, teamster* I Indian affair* in tbe vicinity of Fort two Indian ecouts and twelve packers . Kiamath having assumed a rather threat* wbeee pay is mentioned as being inclu- ; ening anpect. on accooat of luHiao difficul- ded in tbe hire of tbe trains. j ties further northward, the prrwnoe of the The enlisted men were armed with rfiVs: whole command was neceMurj until the In- sabres and Colt's revolvers, and employees diann should manifest some assurance tlmt with rifles. Tbe employees, and tbe puck- : they would teuiain peaceable. Meanwhile. ers hired with tbe trains, performed guard duty at uigbl throughout the reeonuoin- saBct. Tbe means of transportation uned were, to save expense, tbe pack trains were em- ployed in the transportation of supplies from the public storehouse in Jacksonville, ami a change a If -c ted in tbe contract for one six mule team, and one four mule team tbe hire of the mule* so that payment there- Made up with public animals, all that . for ohnuld be made per pound instead of a could be spared from Fort Klnroath, Jeav- ' p-r diem allowance for each animal cm- ing there only sufficient for a p**t team ploy. <). one hired team of four animal*, ttnd eighty Our prermratiorifl being oompMe. and u hired pack mulep. It hud in-, i, tny in- Indinn initttem comparativHy saff. Captain tention to send the wa?rt Kflly left Furt Kiamath with the com. Kiamath en our arrival at tbe Sierra NV- mand op tin* 2ftth of Juno, imtcredin^ vada mountains, as our anplu would tuu.tt *.o WilliamaoB* river, aud tbe fol- bWYIIKK KXPKDITIOV. lowing dy to Spragne's Uiver Vallry, ; is about three feet, aid this only for about where I joined him on (he 1st day of July, ten yards. From this ledge th water lulls GIXKRAL DESCRIPTION OF THB COUNTRY about two fet into a deep eddf below. ALONG THE fiouTR. The soil immediately along the river is a The main topographic.-. 1 features of the dark sandy loam, bat changes to a light country between Fort Klamath and the ' granite, or volcanic ash, a? we approach Owyhee region may be considered in two FectioQg, possessing similar cuaracteristice the uplands and mountains on either side. The country between Fort Klamath and in some respects, but in others entirely dis- j the ford of Williamson's river is covered tinct from each other. | with a fine forest of yellow and sugar pine First Sectiw Between Fort Klamatb j with DOW und then a white or red fir, and and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Dis- occasionally a good sized cedar, Cotton- tance OQ hundred and forty miles. To ! wood, or rather aspen, is frequent around the new pass one hundred and thirteen ' the glades and along the smaller stream?, miles. General direction fast, southeast. J There are also small forests and thickets Commencing at Fort Klamath, the di- j of a species of pine having as yet no popu- rection of the route is a little^ east o j k*r na? and are seemingly peculiar to the south for a distance of four and a bal- j Cascade Mountains. Fort Klamatb is miles to a point on the east bunk of the ' built in a beautiful grove of them, and marsh which bounds the north end of Big i they cover the summit of the Cascade Klamath Lake, and nearly oppr>uite the Mountains along the northern base of northern extremity of the Lake itself. Mount M'Laughlin where the road crosses From this point the road crosses, by an | between Fort Klamath and Jacksonville. easy ascent and descent, the ridge which i They are probably of the species denomin- form the eastern rim of the Klamath basin | ated Pinu* Contarda. or valley, in a direction nearly east, and j From Williamson's river we passed east- thence continues in a northerly course to a ford of Williamson's river. Williamson's river takes its rise in Klnm. ath marsh or as the Indians claim, in Klanath Lake proper and running in a southerly course about thirty miles empties ! Thence along the north bank of Sprtgne's into the east side of Big Klamatb Lake j river over an undulating country, and a ward over a succession of low gravelly hills, and intervening glades, to Spragne's river, reaching it at a poiat about six miles above its intersection with Williamson's river, of which it is the main tributary. sixteen miles south of Fort Klamath. I 1 is a considerable river at the ford prob ably one hundred yards wide. It is some- what alkaline, and rendered more unpalata- ble from having Us source in swamps and tule marshes. The crossing is over a ledge considerable spur of the mountains extend- ing down from the northward, aronnd the point of which the river makes its way through a somewhat deep rocky canon. From the summit of this spar Wonnt Shasta, Mt. M'Laughlin, Union, Scott's of volcanic sandstone extending entirely i and Diamond Peaks, with many other across the river and into the banks on j snow topped peaks and buttes of the Oas- either side.' The greatest depth of water j cade range, and not yet named, are offered COTXtXKL DRKvT'8 at oue view, tod preseut a grand appear- ance. Descending this spur by a fair grade we enter Sprague'y river valley. The road to this poiut, except the first four and a half miles from Fort Klamath, passes over what may very properly be called a hilly country ; but presenting no obstacles whatever to pack anitnuls or loaded wagons. The. country passed over ia abundantly rivers the mountains. Oulcroppiogs of lava aud other volcanic products are gentral, but there are many tracts of laud that offer eli- gible farm sites aod could be easily cultiva- ted. The climate Is similar to that of Port Klamath, but the soil is quick aod vegeta- tion matures early. Wild flax grows here BO abundantly that in many places it presents the appearance watered by rivers mentioned, and by springs, affords good grazing and is beavi- 1 of tolerable fair cultivation, and produces iy timbered. ! a fine strong fibre. The stalk seems to Leaving the point of our entrance into spring from i ts root and continues to grow Rprague's river valley, we continued up ! until checked by the frosts of autumn. In the river four miles and crossed it over , this way it seems probable that the old root another sandstone ford like that of Wil- ; retains substance enough during the winter liamson's river. The river here is about to Mod oat new shoots in the spring, thirty yards wide, having AU average depth The most prominent mountain peaks in of about eighteen inches, and a gentle cur- j or around this valley, are Wildrick's Buttes rent It is slightly alkaline, bat abounds I a spur of the Lost river range rising by with mountain and salmon troui. and all j a gradual ascent from the south side of the other varieties of fish that are conuirm to valley, near the western extremity, and di- tbe Klamath Lakes. Sprague's river valley ts about forty miles long, and from two to fifteen miles wide. Its general direction is from south- east to northwest. The banks of the river, and of the numerous streams putting into it on either side are fringed with willows and cotton wood, aad the entire valley .is skirted with a continuous forest of yllow pine, extending back to the summit of the mountains by which it is bounded. It pos- all the natural requisites for a good stock range, its low lands being covered with a fair growth of marsh grasses, while its uplands afford a bountiful supply of the more nutritious bunch-grass with an occa- sional spot of wild timothy. The eeil here ift a dark sandy loam, grow- ing lighter and lonewbat gravelly towards viding near the summit into two beautifully rounded peaks of about equal height and like form. These bnttes form the principal land mark to the westward upon entering the upper portion of the valley from the direction of Goose Lake, They are cover- ed with a good growth of yellow pines, and at a distance seem to be disconnected with any mountain range. Bear, antelope, and deer, are abundant in this region, but as they are mueb bunt- ed by the Indians, they are wild and diffi- cult to approach. The southeastern por- tion of the valley is a favorite range for a species of the deer known as the "mule tail** so called from the near resemblance of tbtir latter appendage to that f a mule after it has been trimmed in tae approved Ken- tuck j fashion preparatory to its wearer ba> OWtflfcfc K ing pat iito the market. The wagon route from Yreka, Califor- nia, to Gaflon City, Oregon, or to Ft. BoiM bj waj of the Malheur, croraea Sprague's rirer valley near its center and about fifty miles from Ft. Klamatb. It was on this route that Richardson's and other trains, en route to the northern mines, were attack- ed, Jane sixth, by Indians of the Snake chief Pauline's band, forcing them back across Spragae's river. The Indians occupying and claiming Spragne's river valley, are a small band of Klamatbs, having among them a few of the Snake tribe, who border them on the north and east, and having a Snake-KIamath Moshun-kosk-kit for their chief. They are physically superior to any of the In- dians about the border of the Klamath Lakes, and possess more manhood. They seldom beg and are not known to have ever extorted, or otherwise mistreated any citizens passing through their country They claim as the boundary of their coun- try the summit ef the mountains which surround Spragae's river Valley, the Lost river range being the line beween them and the Modocs whose country lies immediate- ly to the southward and extending down to the vicinity of Pitt river. They seem well enough disposed towards a continuance of peace with the United States, bvt in the event of a general Indian war they would doubtless prove more dangerous and troublesome than any of the other Indians of that region. It was just previous to our arrival among them that the hostile Snake chief Pailine tried to induce them, with the Klamath's generally to join in the murderous operations he was then conduct ing, and the subject had evidently been warnlj discussed ; but the chief remained steadfast fur peace, and kiscouustb pre- vailed. This state of affairs however did net salt .the inclinations *f some who were present with the command, whose desire and aim was to return at once to Fort Klamath, and the attack upon Richardson and others, made entirely beyond the limits of these Spragne's river Indians was never theless charged directly upon them for the purpose of creating a difficulty tbtt would necessitate the abandonment of the recon- noissance to quiet. No evidence could be adduced against them/ on tnef contrary all the evidence that could be obtained was decidedly in their favor, as they had prof- fered kindly offices to Richardson and hie party when they were retreating from Pa- line back across Sprague's river. To overcome any suspicion hewever that might honestly ixist against these Indiana, or that might afterwards arise from the same circumstances, I took with me the guide, John E. Ross, Mr. Brown and Mr, Taylor, two other employees connected with the command, Mr. Gabb of the State Geological survey of California, and Mr. Richardson, and proceeded to the carapi of the Indians to inspect and investigate more fully than had been done through their visit to us. We gave no warning of our intentions, or approach, and though inspec- ting and scrutinizing the actions of the In- dians and everything about their camps an closely as possible, we found nothing what- ever indicating that they were in the at- tack upen Richardson, or that they had any- thing whatever to do with it, or, that they were co-operating with or aiding hostile Indians in any manner whatsoever. Mr. Richardson did not identify any of the* Indians ai baying been amoBg those wh* COtxttfcL attacked him, nor could LJ discover any vestige or sign of the pro[er ty be then l.wt; nod further he urged that thi'.-e Indian* should not be in any way held accouutuble for what transpired beyond their limits on the 24th of June. We returned to camp satisfied of the innocence of those Ind arts As to the matters charged, acd on the fol- owing raoraiflg t made such Changes in the command, and respecting the adminis- tration of affairs at fort Klanmth as would prevent the creating of Indian diffi cutties, and the consequent failure of the reconnaissance. Passing out of Sprague's river valley in a southeasterly direction we crossed the Goose Lake Mountains through a wide and smooth gap, and by an easy grade, and entered a small fine valley situated to the westward of the northern extremity of the valley around the upper portion of Goose Lake, but having an outlet into it some distance down its western border. This little valley is about fifteen miles long, having a general direction from north to south, and has an extreme width o! about eight miles. It has a southern ex posure and a fertile soil. Its surrounding! on the north, east, and west, are timber covered mean tains, while a low range o grass-covered hills bound it on the south ward, separating it from the basin o Goose Lake. It is well watered by severa mountain streams, and by springs, fringec with willow, and in some places with the eottonwood, and is covered with a luxuri ant growth of grass. Its soil excels thai of Sprague's river valley in its genera adaptation to agricultural purposes. A considerable creek puts into this vulle; Dear its southern extremity, from anothe valley of about the eama size, gituatcc about twelve miles to the westward, iff ather north of west, in what is known as the Modoc country. From a point on the east side of tbfe ttle valley into which We had entered, aod about twelve miles from its bead, we diver- ged to the eaotward, and passing over some ow grassy hills and along the bank of ft small mountain stream running in a south- easterly direction, we descended into Goose Lake basin by a very easy grade, through remarkably smooth depression in its stern rim. From this pass to the bead of GOOM Lake, the first four miles was across a sage desert that extends southward down Uie western border of the lake as fur as the eye can see. From this desert to the bead of Goose Lake the surface of the country is undola. ting, though from* any considerable distance it has the appearance of being entirely level. The uplands are generally covered with a luxuriant growth of bunch grass, but in many places the outcroppings of lava ren- ders them unfit for other than graziog pur- poses. For these however they excel any portion of the country yet passed over. The lowlands along the numerous little streams, all putting in from the northward and converging towards the head of the lake, but generally sinking before they reach it, are extremely fertile, and well adapted for cultivation. A small portion of them, bordering immediately on the lake, are somewhat alkaline, but produce in many places an excellent growtk of rye* grass, and other vegetation incident to a moderate alkali region. The valley is beautifully studded with large willows and some cottoowood that OWYFIKE EXPEDITION. fringe its streams, and timber of good quality is abundant and et^y of access around its northern extremity aud down along its eastern border. The main portion of the valley, from its northern extremity down to the lake, is about twenty miles in length, and from the Sierra Nevada Mountains which bound it on the east to its western rim, the distance is nearly the same. In this area is con- tained the most valuable agricultural luuds of the Goose Luke basin. Along the eastern shore oT the lake tnw ever, there is considerable good grazing country, with an occasional tract of good farming land, covered with luxuriant wild clover in additioa to all the wild grasses common to the fertile portion i of the country. Numerous creeks and springs of good water put into the east side of the lake from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Timber is also abundant along the bas3 of the Sierras, up their ravines, and in many places up their sides to the summit. lo the way of game, antelope and deer are quite plenty, and "old bruin" is met occa- sionally. Sandhill cranes, ducks of every variety, curlew, and all other fowls incident to California, are abundant throughout this region, and along the streams in the upper portion of the valley we saw numerous 44 signs " of otter. The lake is emphatically alkaline, but abounding with fi-th near its main inlets. Its surface is beautifully dotted everywhere with flocks of swan, resembling, through mirage, so many fleets under sail. Mirage exists here to about the same ex- tent that it does in and around Sae Jose valley California. Near the bead of the Lke there are sev- eral hot springs one of them at the Junc- tion of our route with that from Red Bluff, California, to Boise, via the Malhear, we found sufficiently hot to boil meat, the In- dians having evidently used it for that pur- pose. The water is clear, but impregnated with some unpalatable substance which forms a reddish incrustation around its rim and along either aide of the streams which flows from it. The emission of steam from these springs is constant, resembling at a distance of cue to ten miles, small clouds of dust for which it may be easily mistaken. The route from Red Bluff, California, via Ft. Crook, to the Boise region, passes between the Sierras and Goose Lake. It was on this route and but a short dis- tance north of Goose 'Lake valley that the Indians attacked Tower & Go's train, in July, killing two men and capturing three hundred head of cattle. Other depredations of like character were evidently committed there during the summer. Captain Warner, Topographical Engineer, passed up on the west side of Goose Lake, in his exploration of 1849, but no traces of his route are now visable. Among the Snakes, Modoc, npper Pitt River, Klamath and Piute Indians, Goose Lake valley, or that portion of it which lies to the northward of the Lake, is neu- tral ground; neither tribe claiming it es- pecially, but each using it at will for bant- ing and fishing, and gathering the wild rye for winter food. Curing our stay in this valley there oc- curred one of those incidents, that are un- fortunately too common on oar frontier. ' and often end in the iojur? or murder of DRAW'S innocent and unoffending citizens: Ou the 17th of July, our two Indian scout* being up ID the Sierras, found a party of twenty white mm there, who had left the Owyht-e mines some weeks previous to prospect some of the bead waters of the Mulhcor, but for some reason had failed to reach any portion of that stream, and were DOW trying to find their way into Surprise Valley. Our scouts informed them of our whereabouip, profiered to guide them to our camp, and tbe service was accepted. The scouts also brought with them three of tbe principal Snake In- dians of that region, whom they wore anx- ious we should see. There Indians cume into camp on foot and unarmed, baring left tbeir horses and their arms, if they had any, some distance back in charge prob- ably of some of their comrades. Some of tbe party of white men paw the borses af- ter tbe Indians hud left them, but seeing DO Indians, they setmed to have made up their minds that an Indian bos DO rights that a white man is bound to respect, and, consequently, that these horses were legiti- mate plunder. Both parties remained near our camp orer night, and next morning, under pretext of going o1t for a hunt, four of tbe white men preceded tbe Indians on the route back to tbe horses, waylaid it and fired upon the Indians upon their ap- proachbut seem to have done no damage. Tbe white men got possession of two of tbe horses, but lb> Indians having either reach- ed their guns or being joined by those who were armed, a skirmish ensued, resulting in the instant killing of one of tbe white men named Burton, and tbe dispersion of bis three comrades in as many different di- rections. Barton was shot with A rifle, di- rectly throngb the bead, and from the froot, after bavin* mounted one ol the Indian's horse*. When his body wan found, the horse, nnd another of which poeseraion was gaimd at the same time, was yet standing by it; one of (him so badly shot, however, tlmt it died a few days afterwards. Bur- ton was doubtlessly bullied into this affair early in the morning by the three men that went with him, as it appears that upon their suggesting to him their plans, and in- | viting him to join them, he ol first declined I having anything to do with the affair; but I upon their taunting him with the term "Indian sympathizer," and applying] to him other terms equally objectionable to fron- tiersmen generally, be consented to join thorn, remarking as be did BO that be was tbe last of four partners who bad not been killed by the Indians, and it made little difference what should become of him. The Indians here, however, be did not charge with having ever committed any offence against him. or anybody else; nor did be or his comrades claim the horse* as tbeir property, or as even not belonging to the Indians. Upon tbe very first intimation of tbe design of these men to waylay the Indiana wben I should send them from camp, I or- dered a detachment in pursuit, to prevent any outrage upon tbe Indians that might be intended, and to bring back tbe wbite men. But it was too late to benefit even the aggressors; for upon the arrival of tbe detachment at tbe place of difficulty, Bur- ton was already killed, and neither of bis comrades or any of the Indiana were any- where to be seeu. The detachment return- ed, bringing in the body of Burton and tbe two horses, and finding on tbe way back one of the other three comrades, in sound condition, and evidently somewhat wiser for OWYtlEE EXPEDITIOK. that morning's experience. The other two go Valley, so-called from a night attack came in subsequently with another detach- having once been made by the Indians up- ment, sent by another route to reenforce on a party of immigrants while they were the first, as there was no way to ascertain ! celebrating the opportune arrival of friends the strength of the Indians, or the attitude; with imich-necdfd supplies from California, we should assume toward* them, except ! and as is too often the case had neglected by actual observation. The Indians seem- j to guard their camp. This little valley, or ed to have comprehended, however, that | glad*, is about five miles in length by two the troops were in no way responsible for the outrage that had been perpetrated, and they made no hostile demonstrations miles in width, and affords excellent graz- ing and good water. From this point to the summit of the whatever towards us. Subsequently these ! P a58 lne ascent is very abrupt,. reqn'nng Indians were represented in a treaty council I dou ble teams to wagoas moderately loaded, held with the Klamaths by Mr. Hunting- and then the journey is slow and tiresome. ton, Superintendent of Indian affairs for A !ittle ]abor however, and a change in Oregon, and expressed a willingness to go j the location of the lower portion of the upon the Ktamath Reservation, when the ' roa(1 > to a s P r of t!i e mountain about a treaty should be ratified. niile to the northward, would reader the The details here related, as to the origin grade comparatively easy. and maturity of the designs to gain forci- ble possession of the Indian's horses, were subsequently given to us by one of the From the summit of this piss we ob- tained a splendid and extensive panoramic view of the Sierra Nevada mountain*, main party of white men, not in sympathy ! along the range both north and south of with the offenders, but somewhat at fault ! us, while direcily beneath us, stretched in not advising us of their intentions. i along their eastern base, farther to the Leaving the Goose Lake valley at n ; southward than the eye could reach, lay point twenty one miles down the east side of the lake, where we were joined by sever- al heavy trains from Ilnmbnldt conntv, Surprise Valley, of which so many fulsome accounts have been published during the past two y?ars. To the eastward of this and other portions of 'California, including ' valley, however, was presented the m ;lan- several families, all moving towards the re- j cholly spectacle of successive ranges of gion of Roie, we again diverged to the ! high table land?., covered with black vol- eastward, forming a junction three miles canic rock, destitute of water, no timber out with the old Southern Oregon Emi- except juniper growing in occasional patch- grant Road, which passes aronnd the , es on the most inaccessible spots, with very south end of Goose Lake, and thence west- little grass, in fact almost entirely with-it ward into either Shasta or Rogue River any vegetation except the sage, which is valleys, and entered the lower portion of a beautiful glade, putting down fiom a point about a mile and a half from the summit of the old Emigrant Pass over the Sierras. This glado is known as Famlnn- everywhere present on the great desert of which this region forms a part. From the summit of this pa** down Into Surprise Valley the route is preeipiton, but migVt be much improved by a little 1ft grading and change of location. Surprise Valley is a long, narrow s'rip of land, stretched along the eastern foot- hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and eloping down into alkaline lakes, and the sand and sage desert that forms iis eastern boundary. These foot hills, and the lower portions of the spurs are generally covered with a bountiful growth of bunch-grass, while between many of them, and some times extending out around them towards the drenry waste to the eastward, are small tracts of excellent tillage laud, cover- ed with grass, rua'ies, nnd spots of clover and wild pea vine. It is well watered by springs and streams puttirtgdown from the Sierras, but these usually sink on reaching the level of the lakes, and the age fields Into which they flow. Timber, pinp. is abundant ftlon? the Sierras ami of fair quality. Game cf a) kinds common to California, seems to be plenty. The general direction of th* valley i from north to south, inclining considerably to the eastward as we approach its south ern extremity. It is about eight mile? wide where we crossed it, just north of the old Southern Emigrant route, and pass, and near its northern extremity, and it seem: hardly probable that it is much if an) wider anywhere else. It was asserted tha fully seventy land claims were located here previous to our visit to it, though of th claimants it was said that not more than about forty were then present in the valley Some of these are without doubt bona fiJ ( lettlcrs. Dreamy visiois of eligible town si ten, and valuable timber claims fo supplying the so called Pueblo mines with lumber, and an unfounded claim to the dis- covery of the valley, has bad much to d with the flattering accounts that btve ben >ubli*hed concerning it, and have been the nvans of drawing to it the greater portion of is present population. All the population of this valley ii in* dangerous proximity to the ever hostile la- jians who infest the whole of the surround- ing country, and by whom it is liable to be molested at any moment. The old Southern Oregon Emigrant road by way of the IJurabolt, crosses this valley, and has been used more or less by the overland immigration to Southern Oreguo and Northern California, since 1845. In 1845. Hon. Jesse Applepat*, who was thoroughly mdentifled with the inter* ests of Oregon during her entire territorial pupilage, os he has continued to be since she has advanced to the sovereignty of a State, passed from the Willamette valley through those of Umpqua and R'igne Riv- er, thence accross the Cascade and Sierra ranges of mountains, as the Southern Emi- grant road is located, and onward to the vicinity of Fort Hall ; returning by the same route with a portion of the overland immigration of that, to the immigration, most fatal year. The credit therefore for the exploration of the Sou t hero Oregon Emigrant road, and the discovery of the pass over the Sierras, as well as that across the Cascade Mountains near the head of R >gue River valley, is due to him, and as u consequence, the credit for the discovery of what is now Surprise valley. It appears from the best data lit band that Captain Warner, U. S. A., was killed Jo Surprise valley, September 9th 1849, at a point about twelve miles south of the old Emigrant pass. The Lukes of Surprise valley three ia number arc to strongly alkaline as to ft* OWYHRK flXPKMTTOV. It ntterly unfit for any nae whatever. The ! tipper, or the m>st northern of the three,! Was about eight miles long and three m les : wide when we passed it, but its depth was j Hot more than about four feet. This! and the next one south of it are known to have been dry several times since their original discovery* and their beds covered With an incrustation of alkali. From this pass of the Sierras, the old Emigrant route crosses Surprise valley di- agonally, diverging far to the southward, find the region through which it passes be- ing somewhat familiar to a eon.vde rable portion of the people of California and Oregon, it was decided that our course should be as near along the forty second parallel of north latitirle. a? the nature of the country would admit of our passage with wagoos. Several of the heavy teamsAllen's train that had traveled nnder the protect- ion of the Command from Spra gun's river, decided to keep along the old route via Black Rock Canon and the Hurnboldt, thence northward to the Owyliea mines ; their ownera not liking to venture again into an unexplored region, more fsp-.-ci.i'ly the dreary, uninviting ona upon wiiich we tad decided to enter. Richardson. Mor- gan and others. in fact all of the Califor* nia trains, including nine families, res-ilved lo remain with the command and under its protection, and profit by its success or *hare its defeat. In one of these trains there were over twenty men, having in the way of arms but seren piece?, riles and revolvers. The whole number of horses, mules and cattle to be guarded and cared for under these circumstances was hardly less thin thirteen hundred, and in addition a conoid erable amount of merchandise. Some of the teams, too, used in the transportation of the>e goods were oxen, which being at best slow to start in the morning, slow to travel, and, C'>ns -quently late to reach camp, made the duty of guarding them during the day doubly laborious, both to met) and horses. SSCOKD PKCTIOX. Between the Sierra Nevada mountain*, at the old Emigrant Puss, and the Owyhee river by wiy of Puebla valley. Distance two hundred and eighty-six aid a half mile** Direction, northward, east, southeast, northeast, north, and again east. Contin- uation of the march to the Owyhee mines, thence to Boise. Passing diagonally across Surprise Val- ley in a northeast direction, we made the ascent out of it by an easy grade, op sev- al narrow banks or steppes, and over suc- cessive ranges of the foot hills of the Sier- ras, presenting alternate patches of frag- mentary lava and slate, we entered by gentle decent, into a very small valley of trough in which is situated a email tale lake. This trough, as it may *proper]y be called, is about five miles in length by two miles in width. Grass along its west- ern limits, towards the Sierras, is abund- ant and of good quality, much of it the nutritious bunch-grass. Putting in from a partially snow topped mountain of the- Sierras, is a small stream of pure cold wa- ter, and several excellent springs burst oot along the foot-hills that form its western limits. The water of the Lake is poor however, owing to the fact that it contains a large amount of decayed vegetable mat- ter, of its own production, and having no regular ouilet. The springs and streams are fringed with willow, and in many places almost hidden bj nrnngea of wild partly. The chief reliance for fuel is the juniper, which w somewhat abundant on the surrounding hills. Onr ronte thence was in a northeasterly direction, down a flat -hot tomed canon. | leading into Warner's valley for the tirst mile and a half, and thence up a lateral ra- vine to the general snmmit level of the ta- ble beyond. Thence varying our coarse more to the eastward, and pussing over fields of lava almost impassible for our wagons, we entered Warner's valley at it? southern extremity. This valley we named for Captain War- ner, U. S. A., who explored it. and who. as we at first supposed, was killed Sept. 9'.h, 1849^in the main canon putting in- to it from the south, the same that hasjint been mentioned. John S. Drum, Eq., of Jacksonville, Oregon, who was connected with Cap*. Lyon's command that went in search of Warner's remains the next year, 1850, locates the point at which some of them were found a few miles south oMhe old Southern Oregon Emi- grant Road, and consequently the fatal tpot mast be in Surprise valley. Warner's Valley is similar to Surprise Valley in point of location, form and gen- eral character. Its direction is from south to north. The Sierras form its western boundary for a distance of about 6fteen wiles from its southern extremity, thence receding to the westward, and leaving a volcanic table to continue its border oorth ward. Springs and stream** are found at conve- nient distances along the base of the Sier. ras, and two or more streams find their way trora the tame source, through doep chasms in the table that continues it* west- trn rim. The soil Is generally alkaline in the strongest sense of the term. There ire however, along the base of the Sierras, and occasionally in the range further northward, small tracts of good land, bearing good craw, mixed in some places with excellent clover and wild pea vine. On the east side of the valley for a distance of fifty miles we found but one considerable spot of good soil. This is nt a point forty milei down from the valley's southern extremity, and covers perhap* an area of about four thousand acres; bearing a luxuriant growth of the common wild grasses mixed in many places with thrifty red clover and wild pea- vine. On this tract there are also several fine springs pressing npward through Jhe surface, and a small stream putting down from Warner's Mountain, und heavily frin- ged with willows. On the east, the valley is bounded like all others along the eastern slope of the Sier- ras, by the same interminable sage desert, which here, as in other places, is heaved up into wide volcanic tables, on which are mounted low hills and isolated battes of the same volcanic formation. Occa- sionally one of these ruittes ris- ing higher than its fellows entitles itself to the more dignified rank of mountain. Such is Warner's mountain, of which men- tion will be again made in another part of this report. Through the center of the valley leneth- wise there are numerous lakes, mud pond.*, water-boles, wells and springs, connect*! by marshes bearing a spcciefof cane, grow- ing in many places fully nine fret high and very dense. None of these lakes or rewr- roirs have any visible nutlet*, and it was very seldom that we saw an inlet. The OWYHEE EXPKDIOV. 13 wells, us they are designated, are seemingly without bottom, and always fall to within three or fuur inches of the surface uroond them, and the water generally quite good. Trie water in these depositories, how- ever, differs in quality and temperature, even when gituaud within a few feet of each other. This is characteristic of the springs also that are on the east side of the valley on higher ground, where th^y fre quently discharge from the summits of lit tie mounds perhaps eight or ten feet across, and from eight to twenty inches higher than the surface of the ground around them. These springs also differ in temper- ature and quality, some of them being tol- erably cool and pure while others are al. most tepid, aed some of them seemingly impregnated with some kind of mineral. In the way of timber, the willow is all that this region affords, except an occa- sional juniper. Game is scarce. We saw a few moun. tain sheep, but always beyond rifle range These and the grey rabbit, with a few sage hens, seemingly constitute the game of this region . Fish a small chub are plentiful in some of the larger Jakes, but are too soft and ill flavored to be worth taking. Captain Warner passed southward along the vrest side of the valley in his explora- tion of 1849, but no trace of his route can be seen. It is probable that one of the lakes here is Fremonts' Christmas Lake of 1843. A bare vestige of an old trail is visible for some eighteen miles south of this lak e along the east side of the valley, but beyond that point it cannot be traced. Warner's mountain is a continuation rom the southward of the eastero riui of this valley ; bat rising majestically to a height that rivals many of the higher por- tions of the famous Sierras. Its valley- side is exceedingly steep, in many places forming solid, perpendicular, and even over- hanging walls of volcanic rock, cut here and there with steep ravines and chasms putting down from the summit. As eve. ning approaches, and the sun is shining, its rocky sides and numerous peaks present a beautiful bronze appearance, of a greenish hue. similar to that which is sometimes found in veins of copper ore. The summit has a general level, extend ing over an area of more than a hundred square miles, and presents all the features of a country by itself ; possessing its little miniature mountains, grass covered vallfys, lakes and rivers of pure water, its little willow, a?pen, and mountain mahogany forests, and its gardens of service berries, In a military point of view, this moon- tain is the Stbastepol of the Snake Indians; producing Fubsistence and forage within, its walls impregnable, and to high too render artillery effective from their base, offering but few approaches to its summit, and these capable of an easy defense from the numer- ous impregnable bastions and watch towers that guard their entrance on either side. Our reconnoissance of this mountain was. from the south along its western base to its northern extremity, where its ascent is directly up from the waters of Christmas Lake, thus blocking onr passage around it in that direction, thence back by the same route to its extreme southern point, there ascending the table upon which it rises we passed along its eastern base to a point opposite that which turned us back. The evidences thus obtained were conclusive that the Indians did not occupy the DQOUD- 14 COLONEL DREWri tain pcrniHiu-ntly, but that, it was one of their atronphoMs in time of war, and a point where negotiations and trading with the Pi utes were carried on at any time ; iti location being on the line between the Piutes and Snake*. The most practical of the passes loading op into the mountain are at its southeast extremity. The one most generally used by the Snake Indians however, is on the opposite side, lending in from the northward, and passing up from a point nearly oppo- site the south end of Christmas Lake ; the trails of the Snakes from the northeast and west converging to it. These trails were well beaten but gave evidence of not being in constant use. Indian "sipn" was plenty from the. time we entered Warner's valley ; but we saw no indications of any unusual force being near, until we reached the north paps up Warner's mountain, 1 he one lost mentioned. Here we found about pixiy new and deser- ted lodges, evidently left not more than three days before, and in and around them fragments of beeves that their occupants hud feasted upon. The tracks of Ameri- can horses, ponies, mules and eat tie, all coming in from the northward, and pass- ing up into the mountain, were numerous and but recently made. The news of the attack by the Snake chief Faulini and his baud cpoi Captain Drake's command near Cufton City in May previous, in which Lieut. Stephen Watson was killed, had reached us before we left Ft.Klamath. The affair by the same Indians with Richardson and others at Sil ver Lake, we also had lull knowledge of. From these facts and the indications here presented, it was evident to us that Puulioi aod bis Indians had fallen back to, | and were occupying this mountain fur safely und the enjoyment of their plunder. This supposiliou hH hven partialy con- Brined by Paulini himself, who suits that he was there ut that time, aod that he pre- pared twice to altuck as ; but that he did oot do o because we kept too closely guar- ded, nod because be was afraid of the '-big I gun'' our twelve-pounder Mountain How- itzer. This te Indian testimony, of course, but the same Indian gives a very accurate description oi our camps and route from the Sierras to auJ around Warner's moan- tain, lie also describes very accurately our order of marching, putting the Howitzer in. position immediately upon oar arrival at camp, picketing and guarding our horses io the daytime, and lying them close und guarding at night, and other de- tails that were enforced during the entire reconuoissance, and which he must have learned as be says he did, by following us from the Sierras down iuto the country of the Plates. We were in the vicinity of the main body of these Indians upwards of twelve days ; anticipating, and prepared for an at- tack from them at any moment. Having a force of only thirty-nine enlisted men, and several families under our charge, and prop- erty to the value of perhaps one hundred and forty thousand dollars to guard, not including our owu supplies in the estimate, I deemed "discretion the belter part of val- or" and avoided acting upon the offensive, though always choosing grouad for the al- ternative should it be forced upon us. To have attempted the offensive with so small a force, and under the circumstances named, would doubtless have been futile, and prob- ably disusterous ; as it would have involved the ncccftity of dividing our itrcpgth and OVVYHKE EXPEDIOX. thus jeopardizing the safoty of our camp, 1 dians of Warner's mountain were still hor- trains and supplies, while our whole force , ering around us, watching our movements would have been insufficient to attack the and seeking an opportunity to attack us. Indians with any chance of a successful re- tjult. Stein's mountain is visible from Warn- er's, being almost due east, and distant for- ty-seven miles. Another high mountain is also visible to the northward* seemingly is eolated iu its position, and is probably iu Nt-ar this lake, one of the ladies of the trains traveling under our escort, was taken violently ill, taxing the skill of Dr. Greer to relieve her, and requiring the use of the ambulance for her safety and comfort in. continuing her journey. From this point we passed in a south- the vicinity of Harney Lake. Some of the \ east directioo out of the basin or trough mountains around ihe Pueblo District are in which the lake is situated, by a low anc| smooth depression in the rim, and entered upon a seemingly interminable field of the also visible iu a direction a little east it 1 * south. From Warner's mouutaii to Pueblo val- argest and most vigorous sge we had yet ley, ao-called, we passed iu a southerly di- seen. The surface of the country immedi.- rectiou over the most sterile country we ; ately along our route was generally clear had yet seen ; hardly a spot of grass that | o f rock, smooth and quite firm; but the was iu any way beneficial for our animals ! large sage was a severe clog to our wagons, to eat, for a distance ol fifty miles, and no | adding greatly to the labor of our teams, water except a small muddy aikaiiue lake, and the fatigue of the command. Our rendered unpalatable by being the common j lady patient, too, being regarded at the rendezvous ol countless ducks, geese, and ! point of death, and requiring, as all be- all other species of water fowls common to lieved, a halt of several days to save her, the country. By digging holes along its il indeed she could be saved at all, added bank we obtained water that was barely | to the general gloom and intense anxiety of that day's march. To halt whre thera was neither water or grass for miles around was impossible, and added to this was the uncertainty of reaching water, at the best, for a uight and a day to come. Oar Sur- prise Valley guide knew where there had been springs in June previous, at the point endurable for cooking purposes, but not at all palatable to drink. This we named, as ts character suggested, Guano Lake. The Indian trails from the direction of Warner's mountain, and that vicinity, all except one, which leads to the east ward, converge towards the bead of this lake, where they join and form a wide, i to which we were directing our coarse; heavy beaten track, which continues thence j but it was DOW the 14th of August, the southward towards Pyramid Lake, and is | time when springs that are not living foan- doubtlecs the main Indian thoroughfare | tains usually go dry, and our faith that we between fhat region and the Snake country. | should fiud water at this season anywhere Go this trail were fresh tracks of several j on the wide waste on which we were joor- American horses and numerous Indian : neyiog, was hardly greater than the grain ponies; also, of a heavy team mule new- i of mastard spoken of more than eighteen ly shod, rendering it apparent that the In ' !:and:e3 vcari j*a. Iljwevtv, after twc-n 16 COLONEL DRKWg and u Ulf milea >l Ian d inurcliing ( we reached tbe springs which hud betn bo anxiously coveted during the day, and ble field of Mgr, bui by a gradual to Pueblo V alley; pacing down a wide can-in, having in many place* high per- found ourselves -as well as could be ex- , pcndiculur walla 01? either vide, aud enter- peeled under the circumstances," cd a small tributary valley of the Poeblo, Tbe.e springs burst from the* east Ride of; watered by a creek putting in from tbe a high table mountain, having a conical ! northwest, through a deep chasm in tbe peak mounted upon its summit at this ! high table- thai encircles tbe valley, ex- point, which is visible from Warner's ' cept at its southern extremity, atd break- mountain Gfly miles distant. The largest of these springs leaps directly out of the solid rock ol the mouutain's side, well up towards its summit, aud all flow through a grassy ravine wide enough for the passage of wagons, to the desert below, lu com- pliment to our guide we named them "Isaac's Springs." ID addition to good water, there is here an abundance of excellent bunch-gra^s, growing upon the narrow steppes that rise one above another, aud form the mountain's side, and also on the summit of the moun- tain itself. The Indians who had so long and zeal- ously watched aud guarded us. abandoned their post at Guano Lake, not having fol- lowed or preceded us past that point. We were now clearly in the country of the so-called Piutes, all of them claiming to be "Winnamucea's papooses," but over whom that chief exercises no apparent con- trol either for good or evil. The Indians of this region, calling themselves Piutes, are evidently outside bandg of Snakes having no recognized chief, and having their habitation anywhere between War- ner's mountain on the north, the old South- ern Oregon Emigrant road on the south tbe Humboldl on the east, and tbe Sierra Nevada mountains on tbe west. From Isaac's Springs we proceeded in ir*g at its northern sufficient to admit of our entrance. This creek evidently has its source ic some alkaline lake, perhaps in the nauseous Guuno, aud slightly cooled and probably otherwise improved by falling down precipices, and running through sha- dy chasms. Grass along its banks, from where it enters the valley down a dgtancei of about four miles where it sinks, is plen- ty, and for the region is of a very good quality. The surface of the valley is very uneven, but strikingly uniform in its eleva- tions and depressions, resembling the waves of a large lake suddenly stopped after a steady gale. In other words, it seems to have been cat entirely too wide for tbe place it covers, and then to have had its side, first pressed down inside of its volcan- ic walls, leaving the rest to fall in any posi- tion it might. The surface of some of these waves are moist and elastic, yielding readily to a gentle pressure of the foot, and resum- ing their shape when it is taken off. AU of them and they would number by tbe thousand range parallel with the walls on either side, nortu and south ; and as we had to cross them diagonally in entering Pueblo Valley, we were forcibly reminded of the decidedly unpleasant sensati ons we I had felt when voyaging on the Caribbean I Sea after a severe gale. Tbe Indians of this region are not very southerly direction, iu the sume iotermina- numerous, nor are they very by ol white EXPEDITION. 17 men. Tlu-y have hiring places in the cav- more matinees than rea?on, as the woman enw and recesses of the surrounding moun- tains, to which they retired every night while we were in their vicinity, returning is the only party adjudged guilty, and dYuth, often by burning alive, is her portion. to the valley again in The morning, and the ! Virtue is here mentioned as it is gen* males occasionally visiting our camp. One \ erully understood among Christians, and of these calling himself ilumboldt Jim'' j not in the sense in which it is practiced a borrowed name, doubtless could speak ! by the Indians of the western frontier, of some English. He hud a fine Philadelphia | other barbarian??. Among nearly all the In- made riflv, which he was very anxious to ditin tribes of Oregon and northern Cal* Pell a very good indication that he and ifornia, murder, rapine robbery and theft, his comrades did not wish to be considered are virtues of the highest order; and in belligerents, atid treated accordingly. They proportion to the number of instances in kneW nothing whatever of the relative I which these have been practiced, or strict- valwe of gold and silver, one of them, as !y observed, is the Indian exalted in bis we afterwards learned, having given a five ! tribe. With the Piutes, Snakes, Klamaxhs, duliar gold piece lor a dollar ami a quarter j Modocs and Pitt rivtrs, it is virtuous to in silvtr, evidently all the money that any j seise and ravish the women of tribes with of them had, and was greatly delighted j whom they are at war, often among them- with his bargain, having three pieces of j selves, and to retain or pell them and their money instead of one, and each of the! children as slaves. The act? which follow three much larger than the one, be seemed ! the capture of women, under these circutn- to think himself something of a capitalist, ' stances are regarded as the greatest tribal and of much more consequence in his tribe ! insult that can be offered, and the strong- than before his success as a broker. jest mode of declaring war. This custom Though appearing every way friendly with our whole force present they were en- tirely too inquisitive to be agreeable to- wards some of the command that had been sent in advance with two of the cattle train* to afford better watering facilities at Isaac's Springs for those who were in the rear. They are doubtless assassins by nature, but are too cowardly to attack is doubtless the true source of the virtue mentioned as being so severely observed by Piutes, if not of the cases of rare Chris- tian virtue so often boastfully chronicled as being possessed by the dusky maidens of the forest. Among the Klatnaths, chil- dren of slave parents who, it may be thought, stand in the way of the mother's more profitable prostitution, or sale, are any party of armed white men unless by ; killed with as litt'e compunction as we would feel at killing a venomous reptile. surprise. There is one virtue however, that these Indians are said to possess, that the Indi- ans generally of the Pacific Coast do not. They do not prostitute their Fqnaws nor al- low them to turn prostitutes themselves. In Children too, who are not slaves, sell their widowed mothers for any purpose for which they can find a purchaser. Passing around the south end of Pueblo mountain into Putblo valley, we pushing the offense howtver, th-y manifest changed our course up tbe same towards COLONFiL lmK\V rt the northeast, passing along between lbi mountain and a small alkaline lake, and Dear its bead a magnificent hut spring, shaped like a deep cauldron, and boiling up dirtily in its c. nur, passing nlso what arc known as the "1'urblo mint-*," tin-nee bear, log still more to the northward and cross- ing a point of Stein's mountain, entered the t alley of the same name in which was lo- cated Camp Alvnrd, where we met ('apt. Curry, 1st Oregon Cavalry, with his conr mand. Stein's Valley and mountain are The IM--I graimg ui this rep ion Trout Creek, and on Pat-bio mountain. Huuch graps is the chief reliance, bat there are other wild grawes in *jx>U on Trout Creek, some of them affording a sufficient growth fur hay. The willows along the streams, a few col ton Wood trees of very Miull si^i and an occasional mountain mahogany, is all the limber of which this region can boast. The Sierra Nevada mountains, nhout one hundred and fifty miles distant named in honor of Major Stein. U. S. A., j by ant known pass for wagons, affords the who explored them when opening a wagon road into that region from the Warm timber for mechanical purports that has yet been found. Springs, situated not fur from Fort Dulles. The Pueblo mines are in Pueblo moun* Pueblo Yulley as it is culled, is an aika- tain. They appear to be mainly copper ; line sand uud sage plain. Containing u few i though it is claimed by those, who own Elands of grass, and having partially jeiass- ! th^-m that'thcy are rich in silver and gold, covered surroundings : similar in all re- 'I'he population numbers ab(ut thirty men, tpecls to many other portions of the great ' H resident mining claimant, and their em- desert o! which t (onus a part jiut ujnul plnyees. Their situation is un estremdy toils extent. U is about sixiy miKs in j isolated on. nnd ricrpt in the way of their length, having u ^en.-ral conr' Irom north ' r:fl--s, they are wholly unprepared to resift to south, diverging a litiSe to the westward j any attack from the Indians, by whom towards its fouthern txtnniity, ami is ; they are surrounded on nil sides, and of about twelve miles in width. Pueblo j whom they are hourly in danger. Reports mountain foims iu western boundary, and i of Indian deprt-hing mill in operation, uing page for Ihere is a myi-tcry. us the en-t-k sinks f" 1 -'- Their enthusiastic faith in the ira- almost before it nuchrs the K-vri of the men^p riches of these mines and the rihk of plain ; and it seem* uiti-rly impi^silile that li't- and all <.-L-e they posses in developing U could hate ever roniuctitl uiil. any them, clearly entitles tbtra to a rich pecu- other ntn-niii or uo'ly ui wa'.er. ui^') rewuid, much greater thai: it is at OWYlIEIC KXPEDITIOV. 19 fell probable they will ever receive from j mence our return journey. I'tekefing our the source they now expect it. Kuterpri- 1 animals in the/ daytime, ami tying them Res of this character however, it seems nl- 1 close nt night, rendered necessary to pre>> Ways best to encourage to a mod* rate de- j vent raids und stampedes by the Indian*, gree, especially where the encouragement had worn heavily upon them, nnd it had costs but little, as the public is often the j become a question whether all could bfe recipient of substantial benefits that are i gut back to the pot again. Onr rupplies, the result of measures whose originators j too, having become too short for our re- tvere considered visionary when they first i turn trip, in consequence of the escort duty slwped and advocated them. Nothing ! we had performed nnd had not anticipated tends to develope a new country go much before leaving Fort Klarauth, and it was as the bright hope that golden treasures ' necessary to replenish them either from nre hid beneath its surface; and our Put b!o : Gamp Alvord or Fort H^ine. Rumors friends, by dirtt of hard work, und much | of Indian difficulties ahead, too, rendered delving, may nncover something that will j it apparently unsafe for the trains we had enrich themselves und add to the wealth of; brought in safety to this point to continue the worldi j their journey unguarded. Under all these Vicksbnnr mountain Contains mineral, ' circumstances, we determined to change evidently copper* as in the other. | our course to the northward, and intercept In passing out, near the head of this! the route explored westward across the Valley, we discovered what seemed to have i Owyhee by Captain Curry, 1st Oregon been the death-place of a white man. Some i Cavalry, and used in the transportation of of the bones of the feet and hands were ! supplies from Fort Boise to his command, ptill there, and some partially decayed rem- j We arrived at Cump Alvord on the 26th nants of a pair of soldier's drawers. It was ; of August, and encamped on a small moun- the death-bed, probably* of one of Sergeant j tain stream, nbont two miles beyond where rasteele,s party -four in all of Lit uten-! we found all the wild grasses abundant, and nnt Waymire's detachment, 1st Oregon ' of excellent quality, mixed profusely in Cavalry, killed while scouting, in April > many places with clover and small rushes, last, by the Indians of Sieiu's valley and j Stein's valley is another of those im- vifcihity. j menae troughs, or basins, possessing the It had been our intention np to th? tin* MOM general cliaracier tl.at obtains in we reached the Pueblo country, to continue j Warner's and Surprise valleys emphsti- froiri thence in a direction considrabiv | cally alkuline, but dotted with a few fertile souih of east, to the npper poriinn of the j spots, covered with luxuriant grass, elovtr, Owyhee river. This would have extended rushes and wild pea-vine. Its general di- our route through another region of conn- try of which very little is yet kno/?n. Bnt rection is north and south, and at the point where we encamped it is about ten miles our march to this point, however slow, had ' wide; having along its eastern margin a severe upon our animals, and the greater ! dry luke with its bottom entirely without portion of them re-quired rest uud good i vegetation, and in many places so hard as grazing before they would be able to com- ' to leave DO impre^iou of our horses' feet nfter pusinir over it. 1! -yond this, vol- Cnnic tables formes its eastern boundary, extending back eastward to end acros* tbe Owyhee river. Stem's mnuninin bounds it on the west, and *upplies it. at the. point where we were, with streams of pure water putting down from the snow banks depos- ited in the chasms and depressions of its Summit. Springs are plentiful along its Lute in the afternoon of the 30tb of An- ?U8t, the trains were sent in advance about twelve mile*, in order that they migh* prof, it by the coolness or the evening and early morning, and reach Wuter on the following duy by the time at which they usually be- come the most thirsty. 1* be poorer por- tion of one of the large trains remained here, however, to recruit its strength until western border, forming iu many places lit- the quart ermnvter'i train of Capt. Curry's tie rivulets: but neither they or the other Command should return to Fort Hum*, streams extend more then a few hundred when it would Continue on under the pro- yards from the mountain'* base before, they lection of its escort. Fink. During our stay there, these streams j Our full force not being deemed impero- fell back to the mountain by day, and came lively m-c^ary to guard the trains henfo rdnning down into the valley at night, i to the Owyhee mines, and many of onr an- much like the custom of the Indians, and c imnls absolutely requiring rest before set- imiler in this respect to the small streams ting out on onr return journey, a detach- in some of the valleys of California. mi'nt of nineteen enlisted men was detailed This valley is nolrd among Oregon ( to compose the escort; selecting such ani- troopa ns the battle ground of Lieutenant | mala for its use at were in the b*t coudi- Waymire, 1st Oregon Cavalry, in an affair tion. The rest of onr anirftals. including with the Indians, in April last, in which our team*, and nil of onr suppli< R. except that young officer displayed a courageous eight days rations for those who w.-rr td presence of mind, and a military tact, un- continue on, wrre put in chnree of Sen der very adverse circumstances, that would , geant James Moore, with a detachment have done honor to a veteran, and which, also of nineteen men, to be guarded and doubtless, saved the detachment under his cared fur until our return. command, and a presumptive organiKulion of citizens, understood to have been co-op- erating with him, from a total route and great loss. Some of the trains lagging from the last day's march in Pueblo vulley twenty- Acting A&utant Surgeon Greer was di- rected to remain here also, 09 our lady in- valid was yet unable to continue her jour- ney without the benefit of the ambuluncet the team to which won not in sufficient good condition to render it prudent to tukc eight miles, over heavy sand and page, it ftirthon in view of the service it yet hud without water, and the day very w*rm it was necessary to remain here until all could be brouirht up and got in readiness for another hard drive of thirty three miles, over the same character of country, to the head of CroAed Creek, a tributary of the Ow)bee. to perform on onr homeward trip. Several of Captain Curry'i command were also very sick, including Acting As- sistant Surgeon C>>chrune disease oculc dysentory rendering it necessary for I>r- Greer to perform the medical service for | that command tor the timu being, in addi* OWYHEK EXPEDITION, 21 lion to t hut of our own, and lo share with it the medical supplies which the necessi- lies ot the case n quired, Suine ot these it was necewarf to replace from Fort Boise. Parsing across this valley iu an easterly direction, and up through a wide and co- mmodious canon in its eastern rim to the general summit of the country beyond, we continued eastward along the- old route over a continuous sand ttnd sage plain, with a few spots covered with fragments of lava, and two small, dry, bard bottomed, basins, to the laige cluster of springs that are the source of Crooked cretk. These springs, perhaps thiriy in number, are all of them seemingly pure but, differ ing somewhat in their temperature. Many of them are deep round holes shaped like a barrel set iu the ground with its upper bead taken out, the water boiling up with considerable force through their bottoms. All but the largest are thoroughly shaded by. manges of the wild parsley. Between and around these springs there is perhaps two square miles of very good land, covered with a fair growth of grass The usual sage and a little grease-wood is all there is for fuel, In a grave-shaped crevice on the summit of a perpendicular wall of rock that boun ded our camp on the southeast were the remains of a white man who had been dead probably about six months. lie was evidently placed there by comrades, as por tions cf his clothing and his powder horn were.ii the crevice, and at the foot o the wall were the marks of an old camp that gave the appearance of having been sometime occupied. At daybreak on the morning of Septera bur we 1st were visited by a cousklerabl hower, with wind, thunder aud lightning, accompanymonts. too sublime for detcript ion, but giving gome of iti witnesses* rather ridiculous appearance. Crooked creek has a direction consider** bly north of east, and pursues its way as ts name- indicates under great difficulties through deep volcanic chasms that w-idro occasionally sufficient to allow a little iafe- rior grass to grow along the waters edg at the bottom, and finally empties into the Owyhee a few miles below the crossing* The country through which it passes is- covered almost entirely with lava, sand and sage, but the route io sufficiently smooth to admit of the passage of wagons with little difficulty. The read forms a. junction with one of the routes from Hunv boldt, about six miles west of the Owyhee, The descent to the Owybee from t he- west is gradual and smooth, the route pots* ing among detached perpendicular poriioM of what was once a high volcanic tablet- representing now, by a little stretch of the imagination, so many Towers, and grand old castles, delineating the various orders of architecture, and on the wboJe present- ing a sublime and picturesque appearance. The crossing of the Owybee is by a, graveley ford, smooth, and in the summer season, with but a little depth of water. The river here is about sixty yards wkitt and when we crossed it, on the 2d, aed again on the 20th of September, the great- est depth of water on the ford was not tot exceed fourteen inches. It is somewliafc alkaline, similar in tfois respect to Snake river, and has about the same teraperature. Two small scow-shaped boats lying near, aud a brush covered excavation in the riv- er's eastern bank, were the onJy white men's.- marks of occupation that were visible, bui f COLON KL DUF.WS there were tradilioimiy rumors that sundry i fur a distance of about twenty miles, gallons of whisky were atclirtl somewhere ' it bears more to the northward, iu the vicinity. It is probable thut fern- over some lng ranges of bills, aod across age and refreshment*, in a small wuy, are ' tt sma l| stream of good water called Sucker offered here during the winter stobou. I creek, nnd forms a junction with the toll The accent from the river to the summit ; road from Booneville to Boise about twelve of its eastern bank is quite sleep, but might miles north of the former place, be made easy with some labor and a p ur personal safety against the Indians, change of location to a ravine. Thence to the few pettier* there are in Jordon creek the lower extremity ol Jordon ('reek valley, | valley, meet and remain together at night, a distance of four mile., the route is again leaving their possessions unguarded, and "d w ith no awurunce only a hope that they will be found undisturbed ii.thc morn- Jordon Creek valley is about thirty miles ! j n? . io length, has a general direction from east j ] the Spring, before our arrival io that to west, aod varies in width from two to | vicinity, a citizens uffair with the Indians four or five miles. It is surrounded by a ' O f that neighborhood hud occurred, io lava plain, covered with the usual sage, ex- , which several citizens, including Mr. JIMP- cept at its eastern extremity where it is don, the discoverer of the Owyhee plucer bounded by high grass- covered hills which mines, and for whom Jordon creek wus seperote it from the higher hills and moun- , named, were killed. Colonel Maury, willi tains in which are situated the celebruled a mall detachment from Ft. Boise, hasten- Owyhcc mines. It seems vciy well adap- ted to grazing, and some portions of it to cultivation. In the eastern portion, nearest i the chastisement of the Indians into their over lava and sand, and through sage some grease wood. e though small, are exceedingly well defined, and their location such as will permit them to be worked much more cheaply than this class of mines generally are. Four or five mills were nearly ready to begin work in the latter part of September, and the buil- ding of others contemplated. It is hardly probable however, that those first in op- eration will save anything like the full amount of silver, until they obtain the re- quisite machinery for reducing th e sulpha rets in which form it mainly exists The mountains in which these mines quartz and placer are situated, are on the thousand feet to just half that sum. Boonevilie, Ruby City, and Silver City, are the marts of commerce for that region. These are situated on Little Jordan Creek, and are only about a mile and a half apart. Boonville and Ruby City are connected by a toll-road. Ruby City is the county seat of the county of Owybee, I. T., and has a post office and ..tri-weekly mail ser- vice through Boonev-ille to and from Boise. It has pony express facilities also from Sacramento, California, by way of Virginia City, and Humboidt, Nevada, by which, in the summer season, it is furnished with California news only six days old. At these points the parties who had trav- eled under our escort, and had produce to dispose of, sold their flour at eighteen to twenty-two and a half cents per pound, in coin; bacon at forty cents, and butter at 75 cents, coin. The cattle trains, after recruiting their strength a few days here, continued their journey to Boise and Idaho City. The country in and around the Owybee mines, affords excellent grazing, mainly the nutritious bunch grass, and sufficient good cold water for sueh purposes also. It not being necessary for the detach- ment to proceed farther as an escort to the trains, it was encamped seven miles west of Boonevilie, where was offered safe and excellent facilities for recruiting the with me strength of our horses.. Taking COLONEL DREWS Hergeunl Crockett, ud Corporal Kiddle, six employee*, ami the requ site number of pack males, I continued on to Fort Boise tor the supplier requisite for our return trip. The special express, with orders from headquarter?, District of California, direct ing our immediate return to Fort Klamaili, reached us ou the 3 desert, to Fort Boiic; arriving there September 9ih. At Fort Boise we met Mr. Tower, of he "Tower House," in Shasta coirnly. Cal- fornia, who had reached Boise by way of (he Ib-d Bluff* urd Malhcnr route, mention- ed in this pint of the report which refers to the resrion of (>oose Lake, and from him we learned that he and bis party wereattackwl by the Indians on a ninety-mile desert, *it- natid 8ou>p di* lance north of Goose Lake Valley. Tower & Co's loss in this affair, were Mr. Dean, one of the firm, and an em- ployee killed, and three hundred cattle. This information accounted for the presence f so much cattle "sign'* in Warner'i val- ley find vicinity, and strengthened our c .n- victions as to the force on Warner's moun- tain, as well as our conjectures as to the reason of its being there. TIOMKWARD JOURNEY. Obtaining at Fort Boise such supplies as we required for our homeward mnrcb, we left that post on the 15th of Sep- tember returning to our camp on Little Jordon creek by the same daily marches, and over the Fame route we bad traveled in going from it, arriving there on the 19lL; thence back in the same manner to our camp in Stein's valley, arriving there on the 22d of September. On the morning of the 24th of Septem- ber, the entire command began its home- ward journey, passing southward out of Stein's valley into that of Pueblo, thence iu a southwesterly course over the Pueblo mountains to Jhe eastern limits of the great desert plain that lies between Stein's and Warner'* Mountains ; the western limits of which we bad traversed to the southward on our outward trip. The object of finding a posf at this point, OVIT the Pueblo mountain's was to reach QWYHKK EXI'KDmOX. 25 Hie great plain just mentioiied, without go- j march. ipg southward around the iwMWtain eas- Along the base of Stein'R mountain, lop- tern andsouthern base,nm] entering the saini^ j n nr d,,wn to the level of the plain, is a plain nl the point where tie left it in goiiiff | strip of good land ; varying in width from nut. Oiir attempt to crews was. made wilk out to (our or five miles, and covered willi some misgivings as to its practicability, and , a luxuriant growth of the va|y>DS wild ut variance with the opinions of those j graws. including a few patches of clover, with whom we conversed upnu the subject. j an d we || watered by streams pultiujr down except those ot Lieut. Bowen. serving; with j f rom ,j u , mountain. Some of these streams Capl Cwrry. The advantage giiinul. if ! arf , beautifully frinjr^d with large willows, our tfForts should b successfu!, wou d bn ; anf j near ,|, e p,> r pea through which they well worth the risk incurred tn obtain M make their dncenl fro Hie mountain are as the distance to Warner V valley would | a f HW t ,ws of coltonwood. The juniper be much le^s tliun by our old route, nd !h" | ininuluros it^ ]f nain on the west sid adaptation of the country to travel, beyond ! ,,f t |, e mountain, where it is unusually large the Pueblo mountain, and the meuns <'f j and abnnd:in'.. subsisting our animals there, could hardly | From n p()int Rhnnf ton n| ; 1ps norlh of be any worse. The t-ffirt howrn-r, was j ^ ^ >vj) ,, re we en!| . n . d th j H p!oin< (mr c-minenlly WCcnafol. Ti.e lish,nc-o acro.-.s ; eom .^ wag ^^ (]ue wegt> wUh W arner'8 the mountain Mnjr ahoiii filiocn mi !<*.* ! Inonnltt j n dir.-cily before u?. The fimt the route, ibou^i somc-wlmt r U gl ^ , ^-3 imirdl froni " t i, i3 point, however, we ntH-p in a few places, i a very go.nl we. | ex p, urw , , im]er preat d fficnltiea. The compelled to return to the camp we entered Pueblo valley, on our outward had left. The following n : ijM, rot/WKt. of the auitnuU ol our lr*iu escaped Iroui i * lava lublr, with ocraAional RttMtth d tUe guard, and were captured by the ! - dians ; but were followed so closely that all bttl five of them were recovered. The next morning, September 29th, as strong a de tacbment*s could be spurtd from camp was sent towards Warner's mountain, with instructions to build signal fires where the first water and gross should be found, and then to frtM back to the command, which us 8um as the signals in it* tui-fuct*. to the foot-hill* of (be S'errui. Tin-nee by a irrndaal astvnl along glade*, and over a It-w points put. ting down . from ihoM mountains ; and thence, by a pmooih und eu- rnpt'y on either side 5 timber, pro**, an<1 water is attiinifafil all the way il. rough, over u tolerable smooth and haid surface, and the route i* entirely free of rock, with about ten miles of the distance cover- < Our g neral course frwm the Ovryhee id with huge sage, broaght us to a ' Mines to this point, was nearly due west, Considerable bulte, on the north aud wces over the mountains aud tables, nnd across the intervening- ba- sins end valleys. Osr success in this par. route, against one huudred aud forty aud a ! ticular is mainly due to the fact that from half miles by the old oue. j the head of Crooked Creek, our route WUA From this point we continued into nlong the summit of two vast water nlk-dn, Werner's Valley by our outward route, one descending northward towards the Co- there leaving it again, und continuing di j lumbia river, nnj the other southward to- tectly ncross the valley, passing thence a wards ihv Sacramento. few miles northward down its western lim- 1 Crooning GOOM Lake Valley nearly due it*, thence ascending its western Tim. by a west, and about twelve miles from thcbcud fair raJ, and coutiuuing westward cvtr of the lakr, we formed another junction OWYHEK KXPKnmOX. 2T \vith our oat ward route, and f.mi.d that we The safe conduct of a com* dorable body had made another paving in distance of of CM Hz -us, pome of whom hud bern attack- forty two mill's, with a much better route ed by the Indians and forced to seek its than the old one in every particular. | protection, to a secure destination, through At this junction we had the satisfaction t hostile Indian country, and preventing to find that the overland immigration to | i\w barbarous destruction of life, and the southern Oregon by way of the 11-imbolU. I '* of ft lar ^ amount of property that bad taken our outward route at the Erni j must bave occurred, hud it not been order- prant Pass or^r the Sierras, and passed j t(1 > or ollj ** r service similar to it. into Jacksonville via Fort Rlamath. Tlie opening of a route from Northern From Goose Lake Valley, we continued ! California, Su:hern and Middle Oregon, along our old route to Forth Klumatb. j to lhe Owyhee and Boise regions, that ia where we arrived on the 18ih of October. fu!I y two luil "*' v d miles shorter, and afibrd- The time occupied in making tlie tri,j ! S ' e^ r natural requisites for travel , from IJ.iise to Fort Klamath, was thirty- j such as good grass and water, and at more four days. The number -of days on which | convenient distances, than any other route we traveled w.is twenty-three, which is ' J*l explored* or that il seems posjiblt can tootit the tim^ n quired to pass either way ! b* found. over the route, uow that it is implored | It has opened a line for direct commnni- aod osarked. ' cat ' on between Fort Klnmalh, Fort Boise | and Fort Hail. an. I shortened the old Southern Oregon Emigrant lloud several hundred miles. Some of tlw public benefits which have akeady acci tied by reason of this recoa uo'ntsance are:. The exploration of the country between Fort Klamath and It is due to the m^n who accompanied Owyhee region, of which comparatively ' KIP, both civil and enlisted, that I should nothing has heretofore 'been known. acknowledge my indebtedness to them, in It contributed, materially towards the j a great degree, for the success of there* continuance of peaceful relations towards cunnoi.ssautv. Sergeant Jum(:S Moore, citizen*, on .ifc'e part' of Indians whom the comnmndiug the detachment after the 6th of chief Paulirii had invited to join July, acquitted himself throughout in a manner truly commendable, and worthy of a higher rank. Sergeant Garrett Crock- et, acting, while hia health permitted, in the linn of a staff officer, and Sergeant A. fcim, and whose co operation he confidently expected, and who abandoned his usual haunts when he found he could not obtain it. The discovery of many of the haunts, strongholds, and hilling places of the most j M. Bwiiy, who succeeded him in that ca- 1 dangerous portions of the Snake and Pi- ! pacity, were also correct and zealous in the ^j nte Indians, that will be useful to the pub- ! performance ofjheir duties, though many lie, and beneficial to the wi-vicc in future j to which they were assigned were special, operations. and dangerous to execute. Boiu deserve rOLONKL !>l-cittl commendation nUo, and lu'-y merit promotion. Sergeant Geiny always p-r formed his doty cheerfully and soldier like. port, the upper purl ion ol Gm*j Luke Valley in neutral ground. a between tlie Snake, Piute, Upper Pill River, Modoo, and proved a nvwt faithful non-rominis and Klamnth Indians; but the country in- pioned officer. The Anne remark applies ' f^ted by each of th<*c tribes re|ecii\ely, to Corporals \V. R. Marquis*. Jume* \V. borders directly upon it, and ulcn u a Marquiss, William Dunlup, II. C. SIo- whole, form its entire boundary. Its *or- curob, and Abner Riddle ; and to private j rounding, are such as will admit of the Voloey Colvig, Acting Commissary Ser I rapid movement of troops in any direction geant. Corporal \V. R. Maupii.-s hud I that might be n quired. A post once es- vpecial charge of the 12-ponnder Mi northward from the two principal points Mtisfactory manner in the discharge of in California Red B'uff and Yieka and that duly also. The uniform cheerfulness others respectively from Jacksonville, in and alacrity with which the men, and all ' Southern Oregon, nnd Kugeue City, in who were in any way connected vrith thej Middle Oregon, Reodinc's rome irom old comm<\nd, performed their duties, ad. led greatly to the pleasure and interest of the trip. The several trains also, who travel- ed under our escort, cnnforind cheerfully to all regulations imposed on t'ieir account both as to the order of truvt-i. and their disposition at camp an exception to the gcueral rule in all such cases. In the conclusion of this report, I would most respectfully suggest that a pennunen* post established in Goose Luke Valley. near its northern extremity, where there are all the natural requmites for its muin- tainance on an economical scale, wonlri he of vast ben'-fit to th frontier settlements. Fort Boise, the new route from Fort nnd the Owyhee, nnd the old Southern Oregon Emigrant raute, would converge to. and radiate directly from it, ami woold thus render any portion of the surround- ing country readily accessible to irooj*, and to the public. The distance from, and to, principal points, would be as follows : From Fort Klnnuith, one hundreid and ten mile* ; from Jacksonville cw Fort K'.umath, two l,undr*d From Yreka, portion of route to be opened, two hundred and thirty milea. From Fort Crook. oe hundred and twenty miles, or upwards. extending from R^d Bluff, California, to j From Red Bluff, route cnn be explored. Kogene City, in Middle Oregon, a diMancc' probably not to excettl two hundred and of three hundred and eighty-two miles, and fifty miles. including in the range, Shasta City. \Vr verville, Yieka, Jacksonville and Rose- burg, and would doubtless hasten the pe- From Eugeie City, route to be explor- ed, probably about two hundred ami nix- ty miles. riod when military protection any where Route thence to Surprise Valley, forty- along this frontier can be happily di.rlon of them are required to be used, can be very readily observed. There is no point between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Owyhee Mines, along the route we explored, that affurdi timber, either fw building, or for fuel. Some point near Harney Lake would be the next best location, so far as the natural requisites for a post are concerned ; but the necessity for a post there- is not so great as at the point suggested. The route just explored will be adopted early next Spring by the- travel from North- ern California and Southern Oregon, to and from the Owyhee and Boise region?, and at best, troops at Goose Lake, War- ner's Valley. Steiu's Valley, and near Jor- dan Creek Valley, will be required during the whole of next Summer. From these poirits the route can be effectually guarded and a wide range of country traversed in every direction, the Indians prevented from gathering their usual supplies for the next wiutcr, and thus driven to more remote re- gions, or forced to a' surrender. Distance from Fort Klainatli to Fort DATE STAIOXS. Inlernietl ale dii- .Iwtanoe-H. ' $ \\ r REMARK*. 18C4. Juue 28. WiHimn*n'* Hirer, 9 , 29, S prague's River, 17 2C Ri-cM news of Indian attack mt U:cbardju A otlieis, Silver L. July 3. Sprajfiii''* River Valley. 1) 37 4, Moore's Cn^k, 8 4". 8, Spruguc'jj Ri-.er, south fork, 12 37 Opt Kelly returned to F->rt Klamaih, R.clmrd*ou &, otbcr trains joined. 10, E. branch of Sprajriu-'a R, 10 f,7 Round jrrove of pinen. 13. Valley, Surprise Valley, 9 C 134 140 W.fide, X. of old S. O.K. road. 26. Cow Head Luke, 12 152 Sent la*t expms to Ft. Klamulli 29, C.w Hrftd Luke 2d, 3 155 Good spring water, good graw. 31. Willow Sprine*. 8 1G3 Fair Aug. 1. Warner's Vallej. 20 183 K. side near southern extremity. 3. Warner's Vulley 21, 9 102 Springs on eadt side of small lake 5. Warner's Valley 3*1, 17 209 (/lover Camp. 6, 44 24 233 Out 12 miles and return. 8. Warner's Valley 4th, ia 246 S. extremity of Warner's Mt'n. 9. Crockett'* Spring, 12 258 S.base Warner's Ml , to eastwitrd - 10, Lone Pine*. 4 Jf)'2 S. E. extremity, Warner's Ml'u. " 13, Guano Lnke, 23 285 Bad water, poor grass. " 14. Isaac'8 Springs, 28 313 Good water and eras*. " 17. 1'iute Camp, M 337 Strong bold of Piut Indians 19. Pn*blo Valley, 22 .r.9 Cafton of Pueblo Mountain. 20 Pueblo, 5 3f,i City Site, no buildings. 21 Trout Creek, 11 :{;:, Good water and gruw. 25 Horse Creek, 28 403 Line bet w'u Pueblo & Stein* Ills. " 26 Stein's Valley, 10 413 Camp Alvord. 31, Sept. 1 Head of Crooked Creek, Crooked Creek. 33 14 4'46 460 Large cluster of fine springs Canon, grass scarce. 2 Jordan Creek Valley, 17 477 Western extremity. 3 Jordan Creek Valley 2J, 22 499 Good grass, water in pool*. 4 Little Jordan Creik, 20 .Mil Seven miles W. of Boonville, 7 Knnnel'* Creek, 12 581 Five miles X. of Boonviil 8 Snake Rirer, 2.V.V6 Thirty miles N*. of Boon*.>. 9 Fort HOIK. -61 Thirty miles N". of Soake Hirer. * Distance from Boise to Fort Klamath. 1864. I Sept. 14. Snake River, 301 15, Runnel's Creek, 25 55' " 16, Little Jordan Greek, 12 67 18, 19, Jordan Creek Valley^ Jordan Crek Valley ,2d,~ 20 22 87 109 n ^^~ 20. Crooked Creek; 17 126 / *^* 21. Head Crooked Creek, 14 140 22. Camp Alvord, 33 173 24. Head of Put-bio Valley, 12 185 25. Pueblo Mountain, / 11 196 Western foot hills. 2G, _J3tein's Mountain, / Jfi 212 West base Weather smoky. 30. Beaty's Springs, "27 239 t. 1. Crockett's Spring, 19 258 i 2, Warner's Valltv, 16274 East side, old camp No. 21. 4, Warner's Valley, 2d 10 284 West side on Honey Creek. 5, Head of Honey Creek. 15299 Eastern foot-hills of Sierras. 6, Sierra Nevada Mountains. 15314 New Pass, East side. 8, Sierra Nevada Mountains, 6|320 " West 9, Goose Lake Valley, 11 331 Near northern extremity. 11, Drew's Valley, 15 346 12, Goose Lake Mountains, 12 358 Summit glade. 13, Sprapne's River, 16 374 South fork. 14, S prague's River 2d, f2 386 15, 17, Sprague's River 3d, Klamath Valley, 19 22 405 427 Gabb's Spring. 18. Fort Klamath. 4.|431 Distance from Jacksonville to Fort Klamath via Creeks and Mt McLaughlin. Butt* Station. tntornu'diate dis- tances in miles. Total .from Jack- sonville. RtMlKU, . .... Stuarfs Creek, Little Butte Creek, Obcnchain's Big Butte Creek, Rancharia Prairie, Twin Lakes, Four Mile Lake, Cold Spring, Point of Rocks, Cherry Creek, Fort Klamatb. 12 7 8 9 C 4 3 4 17 12 t ]8 25 33 42 48 52 55 59 76 88 Rogue River Valley. Bridge. Public House. ^gj) Bridge. m Good grazing. Summit mountains west side. ^V Summit mountains east side. Base of mountains east side. West side of Big Klamath Lake. West side of Big Klamath Lake. > - , Four and a half miles north Big Klamath Laic* Distance from Jacksonville to Fort Klatnath, fta the head of Rogue River Valley [Ol'd Emigrant Trail.] Pbueuix, Atbland. Soda Spring. ,i H 15 25 Route Calilonila Sla** Companf . Route California Stage Compaaj. Head Stuart's Creek. Klamath Rifer, 55 60 Old Emigrant Ford. Link River. 18 7ft Trail foot of Big Klamath Lak*. Fort Klam*th. 40 118 Tril--s.lonff mnt side of Klauiath.Lake. '< Distancg from Jacksonville to Fort Klamath, via Heflly Post Office. Toll House. Cole Mountain House. Henley Post Office, Fort Klanaatb. 7 8 98 26 S3 48 172 Route California Stage Company. It It 44 44 44 U Via Trail. ' . _ Distance from Jacksonville to Fort fclamath ria Rogue River and John Day Wagon Road, to Summit Cascade Mountains. By bee's Ferry, 10 Rogue Riv\ Ramy's, 8 18 Tcail Creek 5 23 15I*Cree1t ft jg Flounce Rock, 9 37 . J*-Fork Rogue River, . 8 1$ Bridga. Union Creek, 11 56 Canon Creek, 8 64 Beaver Meadows, 7 71 Spring Canon, 4 75 Diamond Springfl, Sum rait Cascade Mts., Fort Klamath. 4 5 20 79 84 104 Route open to ihU point Unexplored. Distance estimated. Respectfully submitted, Acting Assistant Adjutant Head Quarlerf, District Co/f/ormta, Storamtnto . C. 8. DREW. Lieut Colonel, 1st Omroc Commaodiog Expedition. \