CHAPTER XIII.

THE GOLDEN GATE; AND VICTORY ON THE ROGUE RIVER.

"TAUSEND TEUFLEN! that I should say so, and so like to be near my latter end," ejacuated the Captain; but under his breath, "what will become of us, now they have brought musketry to encounter our archers ?"

SIR WALTER SCOTT's "Legend of Montrose."

IN midsummer, 1851, KEARNY received orders to join his company in California, and sailed for San Francisco in August of that year.

Thither he was not unwilling to proceed, as he wished to look after some very large investments made for him by an agent, but without his knowledge. These turned out very unfortunately, and swallowed up a fortune. Nevertheless, as lucky in his daring specuAations as in his military dashes, he more than retrieved the loss while at the "Golden Gate."

The writer has reason to be well acquainted with all these circumstances, for to him, as to a brother, in preference to all others in the world, PHIL KEARNY came for assistance in difficulties for which he was in no way responsible in honor nor called upon to remedy, except through that high sense of chivalry and regard for his name which always distinguished his actions. Prostrate from typhoid fever and almost powerless, the writer was still happy to be able to accomplish all that was necessary, and this fact is mentioned simply to demonstrate the mutual confidence and affection at crises which existed between his cousin and himself.

It was during this period of KEARNY'S residence in New York that he experienced that attack of varioloid-taken in the discharge of his duty-which was almost as severe as the worst form of smallpox. He was very deeply scarred in consequence of this disease, and through it a complete alteration was wrought in his appearance. Not only were his features affected, but a complete physical change occurred. From this time forward he began to spread and develop into that magnificent figure of a trooper which attracted the atten

tion of every one who saw him as he lay upon the embalming table. From this time, also, that resemblance between the cousins, which had so often attracted notice, terminated, and was no longer remarked.

Major PHILIP KEARNY had scarcely been transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast when he demonstrated the truth of what has so often been claimed for him, that he seemed destined to shine in whatever he undertook. His summer campaign of 1851, against the Rogue River Indians, was one of the most telling blows ever delivered by our army in this harassing warfare. These savages at that period were the most wicked, most warlike, and most difficult to subdue of all the tribes on our Pacific coast. What rendered them more formidable was the fact that they occupied a district which intercepted all intercourse between Oregon and California; scattered along and across the direct road, north and south, on the banks of the Rogue River, which drains a rugged, mountainous wilderness, and flows as a general thing west and perpendicular to the coast, emptying into the Pacific, twenty miles south of Port Orford, and fifty miles north of Crescent City.

Much information in regard to this expedition is derived from Major-General RUFUS INGALLS, Chief Quartermaster for so many campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. At that time he was stationed at Fort Vancouver, on the Washington shore of the Columbia River, where he fitted out Major KEARNY. To use his language, "this handsome campaign opened that country." It has often been commented upon with surprise how KEARNY, one-armed as he was, kept his saddle on all occasions, even when the march lay along mountain tracks most dangerous, and often seemingly impracticable for a soldier on horseback; tracks difficult enough for the sure footed mules. The principal engagement was that of the Table Rock, laid down on the maps as Fort Lane, about midway between Roseburg, north, and Crescent City, south. The former (Roseburg) is the residence of JOE LANE, as he was familiarly styled, then Governor of the Territory, who wrote to KEARNY one of the most flattering letters which can reward an officer who has succeeded in solving a difficult and dangerous problem. He gave him the greatest credit for the ability with which he had planned, and the resolution with which he had executed his operations. The fight at the Table Rock was a complete triumph. It awed the savages, pacified the district, and accomplished the great

object in view, making the route safe between our farthest northwestern territory and California. On this occasion a very gallant officer fell-Captain STEWART, who passed through the whole Mexican war with distinction, unscathed, to die at the hands of a miserable Indian, shot through the body with an arrow by that savage whom he had rushed forward to save from the just fury of our troops. The torture which preceded his decease must have been terrific, as was testified by his reply to Major KEARNY'S question, "STEWART, are you suffering much?" "Suffering! I feel as if a red hot bar of iron was thrust through my bowels."

Major KEARNY took the greatest pride in the letter which he received from Governor LANE of Oregon in relation to these engagements and their happy results. This letter he exhibited to the writer when next they met with an honest exultation, such as he seldom displayed, as an acknowledgment of his able and brilliant soldiership. This letter, like all the rest of the testimonials which KEARNY received from time to time, is no longer to be found. As soon as the present work was projected, a letter was addressed to Governor LANE in the hope that a copy of it might have been preserved by him. The following is the Governor's reply, but it cannot approach the concise elegance with which he expressed his commendation in the original document:

GENERAL DE PEYSTER:

ROSEBURG, Oregon, April 27th, 1868.

SIR-I regret my inability to furnish you a copy of the letter you mention in yours of the 21st January, but it affords me pleasure to supply, as well as I can from memory, a brief statement of the conduct, in Oregon, of the late General

• NEW YORK, No. 59 EAST 21ST STREET, January 21st, 1868.

Governor JOSEPH LANE, formerly, about 1851, Governor of Oregon:

SIR: The person who addresses you is the cousin, co-heir, and biographer of Major-General PHILIP KEARNY. About the year 1852, or 1853, my counsin, General KEARNY, then Major United States Dragoons, came to my house on the Hudson, having just returned from the Pacific coast and his campaign against the Rogue River Indians, which gave peace to that Territory. He showed me a letter from you, in which he seemed to take great pride. In this you gave him the highest credit for the ability with which he had planned the expedition, and for the vigor and intrepidity with which he had carried it out.

If I recollect aright, you stated in that letter that the chastisement which he had inflicted on those particularly lawless tribes had given peace to the State or Territory of which you were the Executive. What has become of this valuable testimonial, I know not. If you could give me a duplicate of it you would oblige me exceedingly. If you cannot give me a copy, can you not give me a paraphs, or a certificate of equal force, to embody in the General's biography. Your early attention to this will exceedingly oblige me, and assist me to present to the world properly a peculiar phase in the life of my cousin. Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. WATTS DE PEYSTER

KEARNY, the important results of which induced from myself the merited compliment to which you allude.

During the summer of 1851 Major PHIL KEARNY received orders to proceed with two companies of United States Dragoons, Captains STEWART and WALKER, from Oregon to some point in California. En route, he was informed of a recent attack of the Rogue River Indians, in which they succeeded in killing quite a number of miners, and doing other mischief.

These Indians were at that time the most warlike and formidable tribe on the Pacific coast. Never having known defeat, they were exceedingly bold in their depredations upon the miners and settlers, and were the terror of all. Major KEARNY determined, if possible, to give them battle, and finally found them, three hundred braves strong, in the occupation of an excelient position. He ordered an attack, and, after a sharp engagement, succeeded in dislodging them, killing, wounding, and capturing fifty or more. It was here that the lamented, brave, and brilliant STEWART fell. The Indians retreated across Rogue River, and feeling that they had not been sufficiently chastised, the Major concluded to pursue them, and, whilst in the prosecution of this purpose, I joined him. He followed until the Indians made a stand quite favorable to themselves on Evans Creek, about thirty miles distant from the scene of their late disaster. Here he again attacked them, killed and wounded a few, and captured about forty, among the latter a very important prisoner in the person of the Great Chief's favorite wife. By means of this capture, and these successes an advantageous peace was obtained. Being an eyewitness, in part, of KEARNY'S movements and action, I can, with great truth, and do with no less pleasure, bear testimony to his gallantry as a soldier and his ability as an officer. I was then, and still am, sensible of the great good secured to Oregon by his achievements at that particular time.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed)

JOSEPH LANE.

AFTER that gloriously successful campaign against the Rogue River Indians, in which Governor LANE bears such explicit testimony to his enterprise, gallantry, and efficiency, KEARNY was stationed in different parts of California. All his own letters, which were exceedingly able and interesting, have been either lost, mislaid, or destroyed; but the writer has been able to find a series of intimations from the only surviving relative on his mother's side, his aunt, in which his movements are constantly referred to.

In one, written out to Europe on the 7th October, 1851: "I received a letter from Major PHIL this morning, he desires remembrance to you; he is at his quarters in the beautiful Valley of Sonoma (in Northwestern California), well contented with the balmy breezes and the society of some right pleasant officers-is going to take a look at Southern California; expects to receive the acceptance of his resignation about the middle of this month, and then