REPORT OF THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE *
INDIANS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THIS STATE

Wm. C. Kibbe

MESSAGE

State of California, Executive Department

Sacramento, January 18th, 1860.

To the Honorable the Assembly of the State of California:

I herewith transmit, fQr the consideration of your Honorable Body,
'the report of Adjutant-General Kibbe, with other documents, relating to the

..late expedition commanded by him, in suppressing Indian hostilities in Tehama,
,iand adjoining counties, the aggregate expenses of which, according to the

,,,report, amount to the sum of sixty-nine thousand four hundred and sixty-eight
tdollars and forty-three cents.

While I admit the necessity which led to this expedition, and freely
,acknowledge the eminent services rendered by the officers and men composing
:the command, the expenses, so large in amount, would seem to demand a rigid
secrutiny.

If it be intended to pay these expenses by direct appropriation of

ney, a few such will bankrupt the State Treasury. I recommend that the whole
bject be referred to a committee, with power to send for persons and papers,
th a view to a thorough investigation.

We now have a full treasury, and are enabled to pay all immediate de-
nds upon it in cash. If -these appropriations are continued, according to

e precedent established at the last session of the Legislature, instead of

ing able to reduce taxation, as recommended by one of my immediate predecessors,
will have to fall back on the old script basis, which proved so ruinous to
e interests of the State.

Expenses of this nature are legally chargeable to the General Govern-
nt, and it would seem advisable to issue bonds as evidence of indebtedness
ainst the State, instead of a direct appropriation of money.

John G. Downey,

Governor

blished separately by Chas. T. Botts, State Printer, Sacramento, 1860,

lp -10.

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REPORT

Office Quartermaster and Adjutant-General

Sacramento, California, January 16, 1860.

To His Excellency,

John G. Downey,

Governor of California:

Sir;-- I have the honor to report that in obedience to the orders of one of your
Excellency's immediate predecessors, issued on the second of August, A.D. 1859,
I proceeded to Tehama County, and on the sixteenth of the same month, organized

a company of volunteers, with which I at once took the field in pursuit of those
Indians, whose frequent hostilities had given rise to the necessity for such an
expedition.  Their depredations were chiefly confined to the white population of

that tract of country extending from Butte Creek on the south, to the head of Pitt
River on the north, embracing an extent of more than one hundred square miles,

with rugged and lofty mountains, precipitous defiles, hidden valleys, and secure
fastnesses intervening, to which they retreated for security, after having made

a sudden and successful foray; driving off the stock, destroying the improvements,
and not unfrequently murdering in cold blood the defenseless inhabitants of

that sparsely settled region.   Indeed, in the tract of country designated, these
Indians have recently had almost exclusive occupancy and control, numbering, as
they did, from fifteen hundred to two thousand souls in their collected tribes

or bands; they became insolent, because they believed themselves formidable, and
capable of defending their strongholds against whatever force might be sent

against them. This self-confidence was inspired by the inaccessible nature of

the country which they inhabited, the great success which had heretofore attended

their frequent depredations; the facility with which they always eluded the search]
of the regular troops and small parties of volunteer citizens; the latter hastily
collected together from the surrounding population for mutual defense and pro-

tection, and whose limited supply of arms, munitions, and provisions, rendered it

impossible for them to pursue and properly chastise an enemy as powerful as he was"
watchful and ingenious.   On the contrary, the Indians were well armed - after

their peculiar style of warfare - seemed to be amply supplied with provisions -

had a correct topographical knowledge of the country, and were exceedingly expert

in the exchange of telegraphic signals, by which, communication was kept up betweedi
distant portions of the same tribe; the approach and number of an invading foe
discovered; the direction of their march indicated, and such important facts

ascertained as to enable them to make good their escape; and thus for a long perioQ
of time to avoid that severe punishment which their numerous outrages had richly

merited. During the last four years, between thirty and forty persons were killed
by these Indians.   They had set fire to, and consumed, entire fields of grain and
grass, besides pillaging, and afterwards burning, the houses and cabins of the
settlers.

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Several expeditions, numbering respectively from fifteen to thirty men,
kithough fitted out with an express view to take summary vengence upon these
hespoilers of human life and property, had completely failed in their object;
Bd even at the time when the troops under my command took the field, so bold
ad the Indians become, that they were extending their exploits, rapine, and

prder --even into the immediate neighborhood of the camp of the regular troops--

om whom, they appeared to entertain not the slightest apprehension of arrest
r punishment. Knowing these facts, and having succeeded in collecting to-
ether as brave and effective a company of officers and men as any country
ould produce, most of them experienced mountaineers and Indian hunters, I

ttered at once upon the duty, heretofore found so very difficult, of pene-

sating to the very haunts of the savages, with a view to conquer, and if
ssible, rid the country forever of their presence.

The command was divided into three detachments, under charge, respect-

Wely, of Capt. Byrnes and Lieutenants Bailey and Shull. These separate detach-
ints were directed to approach and enter the Indian country at different poinrts.

plan of moving upon, and attacking, the rancheries of the Indians at night,
rlad learned by experience, was the best and only one calculated to be

tended with happy results. Notwithstanding the great hazard of this mode of

grfare, it was willingly and cheerfully acquiesced in by officers and men, who

.once entered upon the duty assigned them -- penetrating into every river

Flley, creek, canon, and gulch; clambering rugged mountain sides; threading
heir way amid interminable forests of timber; wading through marshes; over

-ollen streams; encountering snows; surmounting jagged rocks - - in fact,
!posing themselves to all kinds of danger and fatigue, with a courage of
4urance which cannot be too highly approved and commended.

It seems almost incredible that a body of ninety men, operating in

.fferent detachments, over so wide a space of broken and difficult country,

ld accomplish so much as those under my command have done, in so short a

Lme. As fast as a particular locaility was cleared of Indians, a detachment

1s left for a limited period, instructed to scout continually, with the view
- discovering and preventing any attempt at return. In every instance the

ject designed by this precautionary measure was effectually secured. From

|me to time small parties of Indians were captured, until the southern portion
f the country operated in contained nQt a warrior to offer resistance.  The
Rtermediate section was next visited, and the Indians occupying it, after

veral severe skirmishes, compelled to flee for safety to the country occupied
y the Pitt River and Hat Creek Indians, with whom they were intimately con-

Fcted, and where they doubtless felt themselves secure from further pursuit.
h the meantime Callahan, McElroy, Wells, and others, had been murdered by
bem.

The Pitt River and Hat Creek country was regarded by the Indians as

pregnable. There was a fastness here from which those who defended it had

ver been driven. Many attempts at dislodgment were made by bands of citizen

bldiers and the regular troops. None of these proved successful. At, or
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near, this point I succeeded, after seven or eight days of hard scouting, in
capturing two Indians. My intention being to obtain an interview with the

principal chief, make known to him the object of the expedition, (which was not
to kill if the Indians would surrender,) to propose the terms of such surrender,

and, if possible, ascertain the motive which actuated him and his people in their,
hostile proceedings.   The desired interview was had, and resulted favorably to my
expectations.  The principal chief promised, with his whole tribe, to meet me the'
next day and proceed at once to one of the reservations. The consequences of a

failure to comply with his promise were fully represented to him, notwithstanding.
which his pledge was broken.

Two nights afterward I attacked the Indian stronghold with forty men,
completely routing those who defended it, killing several of their number and

taking others prisoners; those who escaped were pursued. A number of engagementsJ
subsequently occurred with them, in which a great number were killed and captured'

After a vigorous pursuit of five weeks this chief sent in eight of his
tribe, who said they had fought long enough, and that they desired to become

reconciled to, and accept, the terms proposed to them.    They came in to the numbe

of four hundred and fifty, and were received in a spirit of kindness. To revert ]
to all the different skirmishes and scouts which took place would occupy too much
space for my present purpose.   Although justice to the gallant volunteers might
seem to demand that this data should be given; suffice it to say, that the enemy

were routed from every position, whether taken to elude their pursuers or for the-
purpose of defense, and were finally compelled unconditionally to surrender. Out
of the whole number of Indians fought about two hundred warriors were killed, and'
twelve hundred taken prisoners.   No children were killed, and but one woman,

during the whole campaign. As an evidence of the intrepid bravery of these India
I would state that on one occasion some fifteen or twenty of their warriors en-
sconced themselves in an almost inaccessible canon among rocks, and dared an

equal number of my command to fight them.    The challenge was at once accepted, a

the engagement commenced.   It continued for upwards of an hour, by which time all.
of the enemy were killed, excepting one, who effected his escape.    Not a man of

the volunteers was killed, and but two wounded. During this fight, as in all the-
others, an interpreter was present, who called upon the Indians to surrender, witM
the understanding that they were to be kindly dealt with; but they refused to
accept the conditions proffered.

It gives me pleasure to be able to report to your Excellency that this war

has been brought to a successful termination.    The tribes of Indians engaged in ii
whose frequent acts of violence and atrocity had rendered them a terror to the

region of country over which they roamed, are completely vanquished and subdued.

A permanent peace I hope has been secured, a peace which was conquered

and which has for its tenure a much more enduring and reliable basis than the mere
forms of treaty stipulations, too often misunderstood by the wily savages, and

when understood, as frequently violated to suit their own designs and convenience`

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Twelve hundred of these Indians were captured, and are at the present time

comfortably provided for at one of the government reservations, where by good

conduct and a moderate degree of industry, it is hoped the blessings of civilized
life may forever be secured to them and their posterity.

There is reason for gratulation, when the immediate benefits resulting
from a conclusion of this war are considered, and its remoter favorable influ-
ences should also be taken into the account. It is a salutary lesson to the
tribes occuping territory contiguous to the scene of action, which they will

not be likely soon to forget. It has taught them the certainty of the punish-
ment which must sooner or later overtake them, for their hostile visitations
upon the persons and property of the whites; the irrevocable nature of the

.destiny which awaits them in their uncivilized condition; how utterly unable

1.they are to cope with the great nation of people who are daily taking possession

of the soil, and converting it from a wilderness into vineyards and fields of
waving grain; the immense superiority of this people in numbers, energy, and

.intelligence; the fatal and unerring precision of their improved implements of
warfare; their sleepless vigilance in pursuit of a foe; their indomitable

bravery in battle; their exalted magnanimity in exempting women and children
from slaughter; in fine, it has taught them, that by laying down their arms

and submitting to the terms proposed by the whites - who must eventually be-
come their conquerors, if not their destroyers - their condition is greatly
improved; and the alternative offered, if not precisely in accordance with

their natural tastes and habits, is at least calculated to secure their confort-
able nourishment and protection, with the superadded probability of elevating
them in the scale of moral and intellectual greatness. I am happy in being

ble to bear testimony to the prompt, skillful, and fearless manner, in which
he officers and men under my command, separately and collectively, discharged
?he dangerous, arduous, and responsible duties devolving upon them. Captain
yrnes was an experienced and accomplished Indian fighter, with courage and

iscretion equal to every emergency. I was particularly fortunate in having

s support at the head of one of the detachments throughout the entire campaign.
.was also ably sustained by.Lieuts. Bailey, Shull, McCarty, and Longley.

tween these highly capable and efficient officers, it would be injustice to
|scriminate. There was no exposure, no peril, which each and all were not

lling cheerfully to encounter - - no service from which they shrank. At all
urs of the day and night, with the brave men under their command, they were
ady either for a march, a skirmish, or a battle, and never, for a single
nstant, did they falter in the hour of trial, whether on a difficult and

ngerous pursuit, fording swollen streams, wading to their waist through snows,
countering chaparrel swamps, overcoming broken declivities, penetrating secret
efiles, struggling among jagged and crumbling rocks, or encountering the enemy
n a hand-to-hand conflict.

These gallant soldiers deserve well of the State.   They volunteered in
er service, not with the hope of pecuniary gain --that idea is forestalled

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by the paltry amount offered for their services---but because a demand was

made upon their patriotism, to which they instantly and cheerfully responded,
forsaking their profitable avocations, and in many instances, their comfort-
able homes, to undertake the trials, hardships, and hazards of an Indian

campaign. Having nobly and satisfactorily performed their duties, and ended
the war in a manner which promises to be of lasting benefit to the State, it

gives me pleasure to commend them to the generous consideration of the present
Legislature.

In this connection of praise, the Surgeon of my command, Dr. A. W.

Taliaferro, deserves to be especially noticed.   Under all circumstances, and
at all times, requiring the exercise of his skill, he was found to be more
than equal to the delicate and responsible duties of his profession. His

efforts were in every case, attended with eminent success, which is, perhaps,
the highest compliment that could be paid to his acknowledged scientific tal-
ents and attainments.

The expedition was singularly fortunate in its exemption from casu-
alities. Not a single life was lost, and the wounded all recovered.

The Commissary Department was under the management of S. D. Johnson,
who was found to be a very efficient officer, and who, by the practice of a

rigid economy, kept down the expenses of that branch of the expedition, to the
lowest possible figure, besides rendering valuable and effective service in
the field.

The expenses of the expedition will be found to be exceedingly moder-
ate, when all the circumstances are considered and compared with similar

expeditions, heretofore called out on this coast, extremely low.    They are

therefore submitted to your Excellency and the Legislature, in the full belief
that they will prove entirely satisfactory.

Every article of supply purchased, however, was procured with the un-
derstanding that the State-would promptly pay the bills, which fact, it is
hoped your Excellency will not fail to make known, with a view of having a
sufficient appropriation passed for their liquidation.

The aggregate expenses of the expedition, exclusive of the pay of men,
is fifty-eight thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars, from which, is
to be deducted, for clothing and articles stopped against the pay of the men,
the sum of eight thousand nine hundred and eight-nine dollars and fifty-seven
cents, which leaves forty-nine thousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars
and forty-three cents ($49,468.43) as the total expense incurred, exclusive
of the pay of the men. The amount of-their pay, using the schedule adopted
by the act making the appropriation for the expedition in Humboldt and

Klamath counties, A.D. 1858-9, called into service under similar auspices,

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ld amount in round numbers to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and leave
the total expense of the expedition the sum of sixty-nine thousand four
ndred and sixty-eight dollars and forty-three cents ($69,468.43).

It will be ascertained upon consulting the vouchers on file in my

fice, and should be borne in mind, that nearly one-fourth of this whole amount
expenses was incurred in the subsistence and transportation of Indian prison-
8 captured by the comand.   These prisoners numbered over twelve hundred, and
re transported a distance of from two hundred and fifty to seven hundred

es, the cost of which was fourteen thousand and thirty dollars and forty-five
ts.

This campaign has been accomplished in the brief period of four months,
ch, when the smallness of the force employed, the wide and difficult

ure of the countrv explored, and the success attending the expedition are

sidered, must be regarded as a result which none but accomplished mountain-
s and brave soldiers could accomplish.

The region traversed, is probably the roughest and most difficult for
ite man to traverse of any on the Pacific coast, and affords the best and
atest number of hiding places for the Indians. It is not only mountainous,

ed, precipitous, and broken, but is also interspersed with hundreds of
leys and lakes, in which head the numerous! streams emptying into the

ramento River, from Butte Creek to Pitt River. These valleys produce the

est qualities of grass, sufficient to sustain., annually, at least one hundred
usand head of stock, and will, I predict, be rapidly settled by our enter-
sing citizens.

Some twenty-five families of this year's immigration, have already taken
claims in these valleys. And this is the country which has been hitherto

st exclusively occupied by Indians, through which runs the great thoroughfare

the Sacramento Valley, to the extreme north, and over which millions of

lars worth of merchandize is annually transported; from a statement of which
ts the importance, utility, and necessity, of the expedition can, I trust,
readily comprehended by citizens of all portions of the State.

It affords me pleasure to state, also, that the citizens, generally,
iding near the field of operations have co-operated with the expedition.

Respectfully submitted.

I have the honor to be,

Your ob't servant,

WM. C. KIBBE,

Q.M. and Adj. Gen., State of Cal., Comd'g Expeditio

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