CHAPTER IV.
Troubles in Wright's Sub-Agency—The Coquille Guards—Their Operations in Coquille District—Letter of Captain Packwood to Governor Curry—Poland's Gold Beach Company—The Massacre of February Twenty-third—Killing of Wright and Poland—Long Siege of Those who Escaped—Loss of a Party of Rescuers from Port Orford—Fears of a Famine—Timely Arrival of Regular Troops Under Colonel Buchanan—Organization of Minute Men—Abbott's Company Attacked—Indifference of the Regular Troops to their Sufferings—Petition of Jackson County to General Wool—His Attitude Towards the Civil Authorities—Re-organization of the Second Regiment—Extract from the Writings of J. M. Sutton—Extracts from Reports of Captains O'Neil, Bushey, Buoy, George, Sheffield, Wallen, Creighton, Harris, and Colonel Kelsey—Attack on The Meadows—The Indians Dislodged—Plans of the United States Officers for Peace—A Fight and a Council—John Determined to Continue Hostilities—Smith Attacked Near The Meadows—The Battle and Relief—Movements of Volunteers—Surrender of the Indians—They are Taken to the Coast Reservation—Discomfort and Discontent—Military Establishment—Final Close of Indian Wars in Southwestern Oregon—Present Condition of the Indians.
At the breaking out of war in the interior, Ben Wright, in charge of the several bands below Coos bay, hastened to make them acquainted with the order issued by Superintendent Palmer, with whom they had made treaties, that in order to prevent suspicions concerning their intentions, and consequent collisions with white men, they must remain upon their reservations and avoid every appearance of collusion with the Rogue-river bands. To those roving Indians from the interior whom he found on the coast he gave admonition, and ordered them back to their own reserve; otherwise to submit to arrest. They complied, although insolently, and the tribes in his sub-agency promised obedience and friendship. But on arriving at the mouth of the Coquille he found the settlers alarmed by appearances among these Indians. On conferring with them, however, they professed friendship, and ascribed their restlessness to the discovery of a camp of Rogue-river women and children in their vicinity, and to knowing that
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