The Hot Creeks - (early December 1872) - History - http://maxpages.com/modocwar/Hot_Creeks

. . . the Hot Creek Modocs, numbering about 45 including children, squaws, able-bodied men and old grandfather greybeards, live about 30 Miles from Linkville at the South West end of Tule Lake and about 50 miles from Major Jackson's headquarters on Lost River, which was the only military force in the field for the protection of the settlers. Capt. Fairchild, who is a large land and stock owner and on whose lands this band of Modocs were born, thinking discretion the better part of valor and knowing that this band of Modocs had refused to join Captain Jack for fear he would get them into a fight with the soldiers--and they said they did not want to fight and were willing to go to the reservation--under this state of facts we sent for to General Canby and Green for authority to effect the removal of this band of Indians to the Reservation, who were quite as anxious to go as we were to have them go, because their presence here endangered the lives of the white settlers, as the Indians were liable to raids from rash inconsiderate men whose acts for the protection of their friends, though ever so well intended, would have consigned the families here to the same fate as the settlers on Lost River and Tule Lake, as the military forces in the field at Lost River fifty miles away were not sufficiently strong at that time to furnish a force to recover the bodies of the citizens who had been murdered in their immediate vicinity, let alone giving us any assistance in case of an attack. Any attack on the Hot Creeks by a small force at that time (situated as they were only 15 miles from Captain Jack's whole force) would have resulted in another massacre of the settlers.

Alexander McKay (3 December 1872)

[The Hot Creeks Prepare to Go]

. . . Messrs. Fairchild, Beswick and Dorris have gathered together all the Indians who were camped in this neighborhood numbering as follows:--about 15 "bucks" and 30 women and children, and will take them to the Reservation to-morrow. The [hostile] Indians set fire to and burned the house and haystack of Charles Monroe. There is considerable excitement among some of the settlers, but we do not need any help.

Respectfully yours,
ALEX. McKAY.

P.S. I may add the Indians who go from here to the Reservation, to-morrow, go by their own request, and were not with Jack at Lost River.

John Green (4 December 1872)

[Reply to Fairchild et al]

Messrs. J. A. Fairchild, P. A. Dorris, and Samuel Colver:--Gentlemen:--Your note of yesterday directed to Major Jackson has just been referred to me by him for action. In reply I would state that if you bring the forty Indians referred to to Major Jackson's camp at the mouth of Lost river, they will be protected to the Yainax agency.

In regard to Captain Jack and his band, I would say that if those men who committed the murders after the fight are surrendered, they will all be received and protected. What occurred during the fight I consider warfare, and they will not be held responsible; but not so do I regard the actions of those who murdered peaceable citizens after the fight was over; they must be brought to justice. I am, however, glad to find there are citizens in that country willing to assist and rightly advise such Indians as are willing to surrender and obey the orders of the government.

The request regarding the Indians you wish to keep (Shack Nasty Jim and Frank) is acceded to so far as I am concerned.

I understand that Mr. Dyar, Indian Agent (sub.), has left for Linkville, and perhaps your section of country, and of course whatever he does will be acquiesced in by the military, but I hope that he also will insist that the Modocs shall be surrendered. I wish you would inform Captain Jack that he need expect no mercy if he does not surrender now, as there are troops on their way to his country, and more coming.

Sam Colver (4 December 1872)

[Final Preparation]

MR. WM. IRWIN. Dear Sir: In order to quiet the solicitude of the citizens of Yreka as to the safety of their friends on Cottonwood and Lower Klamath, I am happy to inform you that through the hearty co-operation and prompt action of John A. Fairchild and P. A. Dorris, we have been able to secure the peaceable surrender of the Hot Creek band of Modocs, and shall start for the Reservation in about two hours; we are trying to procure an interview with Capt. Jack's band, to induce them to come in and go to the Reservation on the same terms as those already in our charge. No later news from the scene of war than our last dispatch.

Alexander McKay (5 December 1872)

[The Party Sets Out]

GENTS: Yesterday, p.m., Messrs. Fairchild, Davis, Ball, and Culver, of Oregon, started from this place with the Indians who have lived here and in this vicinity, some forty-five in number, for the reservation of Fort Klamath. When the party reached Bob Whittle's, on Link River . . .

Shacknasty Jim (7 July 1873)

[Stopped at the River]

All of us Hot Creeks wanted to go on to the reservation, and we started on our way to it; but when we got to Whittle's Ferry, about fifty miles from the reservation, we were met by a lot of drunken settlers who told us they would murder every one of us if we crossed the river.

Yreka Union Extra (6 December 1872)

[Argument at the Ferry]

Mr. A. McKay arrived in Yreka about 7 o'clock P.M. Thursday, having left Hot Creek at daylight in the morning. From him we learn the following facts: In pursuance of the project stated in the letters of McKay and Colver, published in yesterday's extra, for taking the Indians at Hot Creek to the Reservation, Messrs. J. A. Fairchild, P. A. Dorris, S. Culver, E. Ball and Nat Beswick, started with them Wednesday afternoon and reached the Klamath, opposite Bob Whittle's, at dusk the same evening. There they were met by some eight or ten men from the Linkville settlement, who were shocked at the idea of these Indians being permitted to proceed peaceably to the Reservation and declared their purpose to attack them. Fairchild and company remonstrated, stating that their word was pledged to protect the Indians, and they felt their own safety and that of their families depended upon their keeping it or dying in the attempt. With this the other party abated somewhat of their purpose to dispute the passage of the Indians. However, before Fairchild and party attempted to cross the Indians over the river, the Indian Agent came down from Linkville.

Alexander McKay (5 December 1872)

[The Hot Creeks Scatter]

. . . the Indian agent met them, and told them that there was a party who would mob them if they undertook to cross the river, and there were also some eight or ten men at Whittle's who opposed the party proceeding. The gentlemen above mentioned then undertook to enter into some arrangement to run the Indians through, and avoid Linkville, but the bucks became frightened and broke, and are now scattered all over the country, except a few who came back with the squaws and children in charge of Mr. Culver. The danger now to be apprehended is from a mob who are at war with all who advocate a policy of peace for their own protection. It is very probable the Indians will make toward Yreka to deliver themselves up to the civil officers, and as they have never been connected with Captain Jack in this sad affair, and really desire peace and a home on the reservation, they ask protection of any white men who may meet them on their way. The agent informed Fairchild that the number of whites killed up to date is fifteen.

Stephen Booth (8 January 1873)

[Linkville Citizens not at Fault]

I was one of a party that went [from Linkville] after the Hot Creek band of Modocs to bring them to the Klamath Reservation. We arrived at Whittle's ferry late in the evening, finding Colver with those Indians at that place. We camped at Small's, near there, that night, intending to take the Indians back with us in the morning; but about midnight, while we were all asleep, the Indians all stampeded, and Sam Colver with them. . . . Colver in his published letter talks about having authority, in writing, from certain military officers to operate among the Hot Creek Indians. . . . And now what did he do under that authority? . . . he stampeded with the Hot Creek Indians, as above stated. . . . I have no means of knowing what the nature of the "authority" he brags about is, but that was the way he acted under it.

Steamboat Frank (7 July 1873)

[Back to Fairchild's]

(Did all of the Hot Creek Indians desire to come on to the Reservation?) Yes; and they were on their way; but when they were stopped at Whittle's Ferry by the settlers, they went back to Fairchild's. I and Jim staid at Fairchild's several days after the rest of the Hot Creeks went to the lava beds.

Robert Bogart (12 December 1872)

[The Hot Creeks Join Captain Jack]

Until last night a large party of Indians, with their families, were encamped at this place. They were the same that Messrs. Fairchild and Dorris attempted last week to take to the reservation . . . The Indians, hearing the threats made against them, broke and ran in every direction, and it was feared that they had gone to join Captain Jack's band; but two days later, to the relief of all, they returned, one by one, to their old quarters at this place. Here they have been, apparently quiet and contented, until last night, when, learning that Fairchild contemplated another attempt to take them to the reservation, they departed. They went out silently, in the middle of the night, taking with them a complete outfit from the stockman's camp. They took several horses, a lot of provisions, and before daylight this morning were doubtless in Captain Jack's camp. . . . [Shacknasty Jim] did permit old "Sheepey" and half a dozen young squaws and children to remain. Old "Sheepey" is upward of eighty. He is the former chief of this section of the tribe, and of course he could not be killed. He was, therefore, left behind with a half dozen young squaws to take care of him. He is only two miles from here, and to-morrow I am going to ride over and interview him on the Indian troubles. I have an idea he will tell me a different tale from anything I have yet heard.

This sudden and unexpected movement of these Indians created widespread alarm. Mr. Fairchild at once sent his family into Yreka, seventy miles distant, and got his vaqueros together, and made the most active preparation for defense. Today, when the Chronicle expedition rode up, the place looked like a fortification. Men strode about with rifles lashed to their backs, revolvers strapped to their hips, and their wild mustangs saddled and bridled and ready for action in case it should become necessary to run. Fairchild, who has hitherto regarded the Modoc demonstration as a mere murderous riot, is now thoroughly alarmed. He regards his own place as in imminent danger, and a glance at the map will convince any one that his fears are well founded. Hot Creek is two miles from the southeastern corner of Little Klamath, and is the nearest ranch now to Captain Jack's band. The military are off in another direction, being north, at the mouth of Lost river. Captain Jack's camp and Fairchild's camp form the base of an obtuse triangle, of which the military camp is the apex. So it will be seen that the troops are no protection whatever.

modocwar@hotmail.com

Visitors: 01469

Page Updated Mon Dec 11, 2000 11:37pm EST