No. 2. Report of Lieut. Col. James N. Olney, Second California Infantry. HDQRS. NORTHERN DIVISION, HUMBOLDT MIL. DIST., LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to inclose for the information of the colonel commanding copies of the official reports of scouts made by the detachments under command of Captain Theller* and Lieutenant Noyes, in pursuance of Special Orders, No. 3, issued from these headquarters on the 5th instant; also official report of a scout by a detachment under Sergeant Collins, of Company F, per order of Captain Douglas, who was in command of this post during my absence with Lieutenant Morton's detachment. These several reports will, I trust, serve to convince the colonel commanding that the various parties zealously and perseveringly endeavored to accomplish the object of the movement, and that it was principally owing to the all but inaccessible nature of the region traversed that caused the plan to fail of success. From the information I had gathered in various ways, I was firm in the belief that the detachment I accompanied would encounter the band either at the source of Prosper Creek or at the heads of the Three Creeks, and in order to give no notice of our approach I moved in the most cautious manner, principally by night, avoiding all trails and overcoming obstacles in the way of frightfully steep ascents and descents, and all but impervious thickets and forests, presenting difficulties to progress of which no pen can give a just idea. Thoroughly examining the supposed localities of the ranches, we discovered but one which seemed to have recently been occupied. This was situated near the banks of a small branch and in the midst of the brush. After a most careful scouting we could discover no traces of which course the Indians took in leaving this ranch. The report of Lieutenant Morton gives all further particulars of the party I accompanied. Captain Theller was equally unsuccessful, and after vainly waiting a considerable time the arrival at the rendezvous of Lieutenant Noyes, our two detachments (our provisions and animals nearly exhausted) returned by different routes to this post, carefully searching, but without success, for Indian signs. At the post I received the most unwelcome intelligence of the disaster that had befallen the party under Lieutenant Noyes. His report and that of the party who afterward proceeded to the scene of the attack serves to give a correct idea of the perilous position of the detachment and the utter impossibility of forcing the Indians from their strong intrenchments, short of sacrificing the greater portion of the command in the attempt to scale the height on which the enemy was posted. I say uselessly, because if some few had succeeded in reaching the summit the nature of the ground upon the other side was such that the savages could have at once eluded pursuit in the dense brush of the ravine. There was no possible way of turning the position, and nothing was left but to retire to the timber a few hundred yards distant, which was done coolly, the men turning and firing whenever a glimpse of the Indians could be caught, Lieutenant Noyes being the last to enter the cover. These facts I gathered at different times from several men of the detachment, and after a thorough investigation of the whole matter I have the pleasure of reporting to the colonel commanding that, however mortifying the result, I am entirely convinced that no censure can be attached to the lieutenant *Not found. commanding, but that he behaved in a cool, judicious manner through- First Lieut. and Adjt. Second California Vol. Infty., No. 3. Report of Lieut. William H. Noyes, Second California Infantry. HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, Fort Gaston, Cal., September 11, 1862. SIR: In accordance with orders issued at this post on the 4th of September, 1862, I proceeded to Camp Anderson on the 5th instant with a detachment of seventeen men from Company F, Second California Volunteer Infantry, accompanied by a guide, taking two men from Camp Anderson, making my party to consist of 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, 16 privates, 1 guide, 1 packer, and an Indian boy, or in total 22. I started at 3.30 p. m. for the head of Redwood Creek, taking the trail to Pardee's, at which place I arrived at sundown, took lunch, and continued our march by moonlight. About four miles from Pardee's discovered Indian sign, and encamped with the intention of making a more thorough investigation by daylight. On the morning of the 7th examined the trail and found the signs two or three days old, and three old camp-fires where the Indians had been roasting beef, killed a few days previous, the carcass of which was discovered by my party some miles back on the trail. Finding no Indians in the vicinity, resumed our march, and after marching fifteen or eighteen miles over an exceedingly rough and mountainous country, my command suffering much from the excessive heat, encamped on a small creek, called by some Rocky Creek, about five miles from where the old Weaver trail crosses the head of Redwood Creek. During the day's march discovered several old ranches and some fresh Indian tracks, apparently of squaws and children going down the ridge. Started my detachment at daylight and commenced to ascend the exceedingly steep mountain spur over ground covered with a thick growth of fern and filled with holes, making it very difficult for the men and animals to ascend. After marching up the hill for the space of an hour, and arriving to within 300 yards of the summit of the ridge, the men and animals being completely exhausted, and the pack train some 200 yards to our left, the Indians opened upon us with a heavy volley of musketry, killing the mule on which I was riding, the mule of the packer, and two of the packmules, and wounding Sergeant Connell in the foot. The Indians were intrenched behind a natural barricade of rocks situated on the very summit of and at different intervals along the entire ridge. From the strength of the volleys and the rapidity of their firing I was satisfied that they trebled my command in numbers, and having the advantage of natural barricades was convinced that I could not dislodge them without the loss of the greater portion of my command. I accordingly ordered the men to gradually fall back into the timber some 500 yards distant, thinking the Indians would follow us, and by that means I might be enabled to save our provisions, the men's blankets, haversacks, and blouses, all of which were packed on the mules. On arriving on the edge of the timber land I deployed my small force and waited to receive the enemy. I found, however, instead of pursuing us, they endeavored to outflank and surround my party with superior numbers. Finding it impossible to secure the two remaining pack-mules with our rations, and having one of the men so badly wounded that I should be compelled to leave him in case I advanced without provisions or clothing, I concluded to fall back on Camp Anderson, keeping strict watch on the Indians, and being constantly prepared to receive them in case they renewed the attack. I arrived at Camp Anderson at 12 midnight after a tedious march of thirty-five miles. On arriving at Camp Anderson I immediately dispatched a messenger with a statement of the affair to headquarters at Fort Gaston. On the morning of the 9th instant my messenger returned with a detachment of twenty-one men from Companies F and I, Second California Volunteer Infantry, under Sergeant Collins, with orders to return and endeavor to find the Indians. Being confined to my bed and unable to walk from overexertion the previous day, I dispatched Sergeant Collins with thirty-seven men on the morning of the 10th, with orders to proceed to Pardee's and send a messenger to Rocky Ridge Camp, some four or five miles distant, and the place appointed for rendezvous by special order of the 4th of September, with a dispatch to Lieutenant-Colonel Olney or Captain Theller, and to await return of messenger for orders, or in case of not meeting either of the abovenamed officers at the rendezvous, to proceed at once to the head of Redwood Creek and scout for the Indians until his five days' rations were nearly exhausted, and then to proceed to Fort Gaston. In the affair above mentioned the men of my command behaved with great coolness, receiving the Indians' fire, and returning it whenever any of them showed themselves over the breast-works. From observations made I have reason to believe that the Indians lost one of their number from the well-directed fire of one of my men. The accompanying rough sketch of the field of action will more fully explain the above account of the engagement.* Being confined to my bed by sickness has prevented my making an earlier report. Respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. NOYES, First Lieut., Second California Vol. Infty., Comdg. Detach. Co. F. Lieut. Col. JAMES N. OLNEY, 2d Cal. Vol. Infty., Comdg. Northern Div., Humboldt Mil. Dist. No. 4. Report of Capt. Charles D. Douglas, Second California Infantry. FORT GASTON, September 10, 1862. SIR: About 8 a m. 9th instant I received a dispatch from Lieutenant Noyes from Fort Anderson informing me that he, the lieutenant, with twenty men Company F, Second Infantry California Volunteers, met the Indians in force near the head of Redwood Creek, and that he was defeated by them with the loss of his mules and rations, the men's blankets, &c. The lieutenant says that there were about seventy-five or eighty Indians in the party. Sergeant Connell is wounded in the foot. The lieutenant was going to Grouse Creek to co-operate with Lieutenant-Colonel Olney, Captain Theller, and Lieutenant Morton. The lieutenant-colonel and the other parties under him left this post two days ago. I have sent a scout after Colonel Olney to inform him of what has taken place on Redwood. I have also sent from this post twenty men and a sergeant to re-enforce Lieutenant Noyes, on head of Redwood. As the lieutenant fell back on Fort Anderson to wait re-enforcement, I directed him to proceed to the point where he had the skir mish and defeat the Indians, as he will have forty men-I believe enough to defeat seventy-five or eighty Indians. I herewith transmit the lieutenant's letter to me, for the better information of the colonel commanding. There are eighty-one enlisted men and four commissioned officers on a scout from this post, leaving only twenty-six enlisted men and one commissioned officer for duty. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. D. DOUGLAS, Captain, Second Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Post. Lieut. WILLIAM F. SWASEY, Regimental Quartermaster, Second Infty. California Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Humboldt Military District. P. S.-It can be seen now that the Indians killed on Little River by the citizens were not the band of armed Indians, nor were those killed on Light Prairie of the armed band. These were the tame band that so much trouble was made about last spring with Lieutenant Flynn. C. D. D. Captain DOUGLAS: [Inclosure.] CAMP ANDERSON, September 8, 1862-12.30 p. m. SIR: The Diggers have cleaned us out and taken our mules and packs and wounded Sergeant Connell. About 6 a. m., as we were going up the hill at the head of Redwood, some four miles from the Weaver trail, and were within 200 yards of the ridge, some seventy-five or eighty Diggers opened a fire upon us from behind a high ledge of rocks, wounding Sergeant Connell in the foot, shooting my mule from under me and two of the pack-mules, and Shepherd's riding mule. The hill being covered with high fern probably saved the lives of half the party. I found I could not drive them from their stronghold, and I ordered the men to fall back into the timber, some 500 yards down the hill, hoping they would come out from their cover. Having gained the timber we took a position, and after remaining some time we discovered they were endeavoring to surround us; and having one man wounded and all our |