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 The Rogue Valley is a valley region in southwestern Oregon in the United States. Located along the middle Rogue River and its tributaries in Josephine and Jackson counties, the valley forms the cultural and economic heart of Southern Oregon nea ...

Battle

Nomadic bands of

Rogue River Indians Rogue River Indians are a conglomeration of many tribal groups in the Rogue River Valley area, belonging to three language families: Athabascan, Takelma and Shastan. Groups The principal tribes grouped under the name Rogue River Indians were: * ...

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 Fort Jones is a city in the Scott Valley area of Siskiyou County, California, United States. Like many of the communities that surround Mount Shasta, it lies in the southern tip of the Cascadia bioregion. Its population is 695 as of the 2020 ce ...

. Along the way Alden collected volunteers from

Yreka, California Yreka ( ) is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States, near the Shasta River; the city has an area of about , most of it land. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,807, reflecting a meager increase fro ...

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 Joseph "Joe" Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He was a state legislator representing Evansville, Indiana, and then served in the Mexican–American War, becoming a general. President James K. P ...

. 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". Lane would accompany Aldon's battalion (composed of two Oregon companies under Jacob Rhodes and James P. Goodall) toward

Table Rock Table Rock may refer to: Canada * Table Rock, Niagara Falls, a former rock formation ** Table Rock Welcome Centre, a retail center near the site of Table Rock, Niagara Falls United States * Table Rock (Ada County, Idaho), a hill near Boise, Idah ...

to rendezvous with Colonel Ross at a designated point on Evans Creek. Four days into the expedition, Alden's battalion encountered the warriors' camp. Alden proceeded dismounted with Goodall's company while Rhodes' company made a flanking maneuver to the left. The warriors were well supplied and their camp sufficiently guarded with log breastworks. Goodall's company skirmished through thick forest while Lane personally brought reserves forward. When he arrived on the field Lane found Alden severely wounded and continued the attack himself. The soldiers came as close as 30 yards to the warriors camp when Lane too was wounded. The battle lines held for another 3 hours until a message was delivered that the Natives wanted to cease fire and make peace.Lane's Report
/ref> Even though Lane's other battalion arrived on the field, Colonel Ross was urged not to renew the fighting. Lane concealed his wounded shoulder and entered the warriors' camp and spoke with Chief Jo. He was surprised to see the warriors well armed and supplied but was informed the chiefs were tired of war. The chiefs agreed to meet again several days later at Table Rock where they signed the Treaty of Table Rock.

References

{{reflist Evans Creek Evans Creek Evans Creek Evans Creek