Battle of Evans Creek

Battle of Evans Creek
	Part of the Indian Wars;; preliminary conflict of Rogue River Wars
Date	August 24, 1853
Location	West Branch Evans Creek; (present day Shady Cove, Oregon)
Result	U.S. victory; Tututni seek peace treaty
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Lane; Bradford R. Alden	Apserkahar "Chief Jo", Toquahear "Chief Sam", Anachaara "Chief Jim"
Units involved
Oregon Territory militia; Rhodes' company; ; Goodall's company; ; 4th U.S. Infantry; 10-man detachment;	200 Tututni (Rogue River Indians) warriors
Casualties and losses
3 killed; 5 wounded (one mortally)	8 killed; 20 wounded (7 mortally)

The Battle of Evans Creek took place in Southwest Oregon in 1853. The U.S. victory brought about a short-lived peace in the Rogue River Valley.

Nomadic bands of Rogue River Indians had been raiding settlements in Southwest Oregon causing settlers to retaliate occasionally targeting innocent tribes. When several tribes grew tired of the retaliations they joined together under Apserkahar (nicknamed "Chief Jo"). Captain Bradford R. Alden brought a small detachment of 10 soldiers of the 4th U.S. Infantry from Fort Jones, California.^[3] Along the way Alden collected volunteers from Yreka, California and further volunteers from Oregon Territory. Before Alden could mount an effective offensive, Chief Toquahear ("Chief Sam") forced a small detachment of California volunteers to retreat and inflicting 8 casualties. In Jacksonville, Oregon Alden met up with two more companies of Oregon volunteers under General Joseph Lane. Lane then assumed command of the expedition.

Lane divided the force into two battalions under Colonel John E. Ross and Alden, now using a ceremonious title of "Colonel".^[4] Lane would accompany Aldon's battalion (composed of two Oregon companies under Jacob Rhodes and James P. Goodall) toward Table Rock to rendezvous with Colonel Ross at a designated point on Evans Creek.^[5]

^ Cite error: The named reference Michno p.20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Egan Station newsletter
^ Michno, Gregory (2003). Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0-87842-468-9. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
^ Cullum's Register
^ Lane's Report

[Michno_p.20-1] Cite error: The named reference Michno p.20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] Egan Station newsletter

[Michno2003-3] Michno, Gregory (2003). Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0-87842-468-9. Retrieved January 13, 2014.

[4] Cullum's Register

[5] Lane's Report

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