Block House on Siletz
Captain.
a bad state of feelings.
Respectfully, Captain
True copy.
C. C. Augur.
[Enclosed with Augur to MacKall, 16 February 1857 (D148).]
February 4th 1857.
I arrived here at 12 o'clock to day, getting everything through safely. I find the difficulty here to be an affray between the Cook at the Agency and an Indian in which the latter was badly beaten, but is not dead and will recover. It appears that some time ago an order was given to allow no Indians to come into the kitchen, and on the Indian being ordered out on Monday morning they drew their knives, and the one beaten cut at the Cook, who immediately snapped a pistol at him and then beat him over the head until he was left for dead. The Indians thinking him dead, became very much excited drew their knives, and made a rush at the employees who had collected about the agency, but through the influence of some Salmon River Indians no blood was shed, and they were all but four allowed to leave and come up here three of those detained came up next day and the fourth to day. The chief came up to the Block House almost as soon as the white men to report what had occurred. He was detained here as a hostage for the Safety of the four men and through the influence of Mr. Wright sent down and had them released they were all well treated by the Indians.
A very bad state of affairs exists here: there has been no agent here for months and not a man about the agency who could speak Chenook, so that the Indians have had things their own way and have been very saucy. In addition they have only a ration of one pound of beef each day which with the absence of the agent has produced
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I will go down to morrow and have a talk with them they are very much alarmed since they learned that either you or I would come out.
There is a great deal of excitement here and a hundred stories about Indian outbreaks of which nothing serious need be apprehended at present. I will remain here till things get quieter again.
The employees are badly scared and I am afraid will not go back to work without having protection, which I have refused as the command here is small and until I hear from you. I had a call from all the Siletz Indians as soon as I got here, they have been but poorly fed lately as they are afraid of the Coquilles: in fact they have lived mostly on dead cattle.
We have lost nineteen mules and thirteen more are missing. The Sergeant thinks the Bell House has been stolen. I will learn to morrow. I will send the trains in on Friday. It cannot go the waggon Road and I am afraid of the first ford on the Mountain trail. I came near losing Burke at the last crossing of Rock Creek, he and his mule were swept down by the current.
I send in a man with Corporal Boland to arrest him in case of accident.
I will have the mules brought over to morrow and will send in those that are able to go. Those missing I think will be found in the brush. The cattle are doing well.
Your obt Servant
(signed) R.H. Sheridan
2nd Lieut. 2nd Infy.
Capt: 4th: Infy