1853-55 Modoc Indians continued to harass and massacre emigrants on the South Emigrant Trail.
1856 Ben Wright Massacre.The depredations and massacres of emigrants by the Modoc Indians aroused settlers at Yreka, California to send out a party under Ben Wright’s leadership. Accounts differ as to what actually took place when Wright’s party finally met the Indians on Lost River. Both the white men and the Indians anticipated treachery. Each group planned to exterminate the other. To prevent the gathering of the entire tribe which would result in his party being greatly outnumbered, Wright attacked, killing approximately 80 Indians. This loss broke the power of the tribe but kindled the Modoc hatred for the white people, a hatred which flamed up many times in the years following.
1857-62 Modoc Indians continued to harass and massacre emigrants on the South Emigrant Trail.History does not record the actual number of emigrants killed nor the number of wagon trains destroyed. It has been estimated that at least 300 emigrants and settlers were killed by the Modoc Indians during the years 1846 to 1873.
Oregon became a state in 1859.1863
Fort Klamath established. This fort was built by Captain William Kelly, Co. “C” 1st Oregon Cavalry. It was built on the trail between the Upper Klamath Valley and Jacksonville, Oregon. Fort Klamath remained an army post until 1889 at which time it was abandoned. The paved highway between the present town of Fort Klamath and Annie Spring, in Crater Lake National Park, and west to Medford follows closely the route of the old military road built across the Cascade Range by soldiers stationed at Forth Klamath. Some of the early events in the history of Crater Lake occurred in connection with the building of the military road.1864Treaty between the United States and the Klamath, Modoc, and Snake (Yahooskin band) Indians.
The Klamath Reservation established.Under the terms of this treaty the Modoc Indians, with old Chief Schonchin as their leader, gave up their lands in the Lost River, Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Lake regions, and moved to the reservation in the Upper Klamath Valley. Approximately 160 Modoc Indians under the leadership of Keintpoos (Captain Jack), refused to move to the reservation even though they had agreed to do so in signing the treaty. It was Captain Jack’s band of Modocs that caused the trouble which precipitated the Modoc War. The majority of the Modoc tribe under Old Chief Schonchin remained on the reservation, taking no part in the Modoc War.1865Captain McGregor, Commanding Officer at Fort Klamath, made and unsuccessful attempt to get Captain Jack and his band to the reservation.
1866 Lindsay Applegate, Agent on the reservation, failed in an attempt to get Captain Jack’s band to the reservation.1867Captain Jack’s band of Modocs continue to harass settlers in the Lost River Valley.
J. W. Perit Huntington, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, made an unsuccessful attempt to get Jack’s band to the reservation.
First building erected on the site of Linkville (Klamath Falls, Oregon) by George Nurse and Edgar Overton.
1869 Captain Jack and his band of Modocs moved to the reservation.This move was accomplished following a council between Captain Jack; A. B. Meacham, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon; O. C. Knapp, Agent on the reservation; Ivan D. Applegate, Sub Agent at Yainax; and W. C. McKay. Talk at the council accomplished nothing. When troops suddenly appeared at the meeting place the Indian warriors fled, leaving their women and children behind. Meacham put the women and children in wagons and started for the reservation. “Queen” Mary, Captain Jack’s sister, was permitted to go to Captain Jack to persuade him to move to the reservation. Her efforts were successful. Arriving on the reservation, Jack and his band prepared to make permanent homes at Modoc Point.
1870 Captain Jack and his band left the reservation and returned to their former homes on Lost River.Shortly after Captain Jack and his band started building permanent homes at Modoc Point, the Klamath Indians began to molest them, making it necessary for the band to move to another part of the reservation. Several attempts were made to find a location. The Klamaths continued to harass the band until finally Captain Jack and his followers left the reservation and returned to Lost River. During the summer months that Captain Jack had been on the reservation a number of settlers had taken up land in the Lost River region.
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