[E. D. Knight, Colonel Lander's Wagon Road Expedition, Alta California, June 21, 1860]

  

COLONEL LANDER'S U. S. WAGON ROAD EXPEDITION.

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HONEY LAKE VALLEY, June 14, 1860.

            My Dear Alta : Since writing my last letter, we have forced our way through snow-drifts, across mountains, removed fallen timber, and waded marshes and on the afternoon of the 12th inst., reached this place.

The Indians.

            The residents who remain in the valley, (for the majority of them have fled through fear of an attack from the Indians,) came out to meet us, and welcomed us warmly. They are perfectly panic-stricken. All farming and business operations have been suspended, and the overland immigration on its arrival at this point will fail to meet the usual supply for their cattle and themselves. The Indians have already made a descent upon the valley, burning several houses and running off a lot of stock.

What they want of Lander.

            The Governor of the Territory, Isaac Roop, and Captains Weatherlow and Bird, together with a number of the principal citizens, have waited upon the Colonel and earnestly besought him to use his men and arms in their defence — he has not told us yet what his ultimate plan of operation will be, but I am under the impression that he will accede to their wishes.

Another Surprise.

            Last night news came into camp that a party consisting of Mr. Jackson and the Graham brothers, and eight others, who were out on a prospecting trip to Black Rock, had been surprised by some 300 Indians, near Wall Springs, beyond Smoky Cañon, and were compelled to run, leaving their wagons and provisions as booty for the Indians. The scene of the above surprise is but 70 miles from our camp, and is directly upon the line of our route to the field of our labors on the wagon road. Col. Lander has told us frankly of the danger before us, and stated that he would ask no man to go with him against his will. As for himself, he would neither turn back, as Noble did in Minnesota, nor abandon the expedition, as Capt. Mullen did in Washington Territory, but should press on in the discharge of his duty. When he called upon the party for volunteers, thirty-eight out of the forty-seven men stepped promptly forward to go. It is hardly probable, however, that the Colonel will take more than 25 of his men, leaving the others in charge of the train. I learn that the citizens of the Valley have agreed to raise two companies, of 25 men each, one from the lower end of the Valley, under Capt. Bird, and the other from this place, under Capt. Weatherlow, who will place themselves under command of Col. L. We shall be ready to start on Sunday or Monday next, and pack animals across the mountains. Through the kindness of the Governor's Secretary I am enabled to send you copies of the official letters which have passed between Col. Lander and Gov. Roop, on the subject of Indian hostilities.

Letter from Gov. Roop.

SUSANVILLE, Nevada Territory, June 13, 1860.

            COL. F. W. LANDER, Supt. U.S. Overland Wagon Road — Sir : Your well known public character, prudence and courage, leads me to regard your arrival in this unprotected part of Nevada Territory at the present time as providential.

            Reliable testimony has just reached me that the hostile Indians under Winnemucka, from Pyramid Lake, are in force, one day's march from these settlements, and that they are in a starving condition. On taking possession of the wagon of the party attacked, they were teen to eat the raw flour with which it was loaded. You have too much experience in these matters not to know that this large force of Indians will make an attack upon us to procure our beef cattle for food. As provisional Governor of Nevada Territory, I therefore call upon you, as one having the interests of the frontier citizen at heart, and as an officer of the General Government, to aid us in our extremity.

            We have no means of transportation ; are poorly armed, and can spare but a few individuals from the defence of our families ; but if you will take the command, I am confident that we can raise fifty men who will join your train, and with your aid prevent the hostile force from approaching. We have already two small companies organised. I only make this demand in view of the alarming circumstances of the case, and because my application to the Military Department has been disregarded.

            Hoping for an immediate reply, I am Sir,

                        With great respect,

                                    Your obedient servant,

ISAAC ROOP.

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Col. Lander's Reply.

IN CAMP, NEAR SUSANVILLE, )

Nevada Territory, )

June 14th, 1860. )

To His Excellency Gov. ISAAC ROOP :

            Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th inst. It appears that the hostile Indians occupy a commanding position upon the line of my work, and cannot be approached to advantage by the usual route of travel. As my instructions cannot be successfully carried out until the Indians are dislodged, I do not object to connecting such a number of men as I feel justified in detaching from the train, with the force raised by your citizens, and moving against them. I have no authority to do more, or to expose the public property in my charge to the chance of destruction, by turning this, which is especially a civil, into a military expedition. As to taking command of your forces, I should rather prefer a distinct organisation, but will accede to a wish of a majority of the volunteers when expressed. I would advise moving with packs, with a very light equipment, and the drying of a few hundred pounds of beef for subsistence.

            It appears to me that as the object of ordering the regular forces into this Territory was to protect the exposed settlements, that a proper application made by you, to the commanding officer of the troops, at Truckee Meadows, will cause them at once to come to your assistance.

            Should such an application be made, I should be pleased to cooperate with the troops, and waive all etiquette of command in favor of the officer leading them.

            I am, sirs, very respectfully, your obt. svt.

F. W. LANDER.

Movements of the Colonel.

            Since the arrival, at Sacramento, of Major Dodge, Indian Agent to these tribes, Col. Lander is greatly averse to taking any steps until after consultation with him. He thinks the best mode of closing this war will be to find, by study of the mountain trails, where the women and children and the old men of the Pah-Utes are concealed in the valleys, and if practicable, capture them and bring them into the settlements. He believes this might be accomplished with an effective command, and good management, and a long and costly war be thus prevented.

            The difficulty is in the fact that then is no appropriation under which they could be fed when captured.

            I am afraid the Colonel has had little faith in Congress stopping their interminable talk upon the negro question long enough to pass one. These prisoners once held as hostages, the hostiles would soon come to terms.

            I may note here the great reliance in Col. Lander, which is entertained by all the old employés of the expedition : — "The Col. will fix it" — "It will be all right, you bet," &c., being the cry when his voice is heard in an emergency. We are, however, under very strict discipline, and I only account for this popularity by the peculiar kindness of this gentleman to even the humblest man in the command. One poor fellow, a half-breed Snake Indian, known as Shoshonee Alex., who has been badly injured by a wagon passing over his leg — a man who has accompanied him for several years — begged hard to be allowed to join our little party against the Indians.

            "Why, Alex.," said the Colonel, with a laugh, "you are at the post of honor. You must remain and head the forlorn hope, when Winnemucka makes his camp on the settlements across the mountains. I can't take all the good men along."

            Alex was grinning for an hour afterwards.

            You must excuse my gossip, but it may interest your city readers, who will learn by such little incidents how our explorers make their successes, and men are induced to follow their fortunes under privations and exposures, for which the mere stipend of a Government train is no compensation. If not knocked on the head or my bald pate scalped, I will keep you informed as to coming events, which at this time rather darkly "cast their shadows before."

            Yours truly, etc.,

KNIGHT.