"American Progress" by John Gast (circa 1872) - the natives are fleeing, and Columbia's even stringing the telegraph wire
Plans are being made to complete a transcontinental telegraph line, but for now the Pony Express still runs. Apparently the Indians in Northern California didn’t get the memo on Manifest Destiny.
From The New-York Times May 6, 1861:
LATER FROM THE PACIFIC.; Arrival of the Overland Express …An Indian Battle.
FORT KEARNEY, Saturday, May 4.
The Pony Express passed here this morning, with the following summary of news:
SAN FRANCISCO, Wednesday, April 24. …
Accounts of Indian disturbances in Humboldt and other northern counties are again becoming frequent, and there seems to be an organized effort making to kill off troublesome savages.
"Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way" by Emanuel Leutze 1861
The Humboldt Times of the 20th says that on Sunday April 14th, Lieut. COLLINS, with twenty-three men, attacked a ranche of Indians, and in a brief but brisk fight killed twenty and wounded three others.
Next morning an attack was made by Lieut. COLLINS on a large village, when five Indians were killed and three badly wounded. The number of warriors in this ranchero was estimated at nearly 150, but they fled after the first charge, leaving the troops in possession.
The Cresent City Herald in commenting upon Indian troubles, says: From a feeling now so generally prevalent among the inhabitants of that section of Humboldt Bay, we apprehend, that but few, if any, Indians will be left in consequence of late and present difficulties. They are an intolerable nuisance in any community, and should be kept strictly upon the reservations allotted to them.
Governor John G. Downey
As an evidence of further hostile movements the Humboldt Times states that 30 volunteers for which Gen. JOHNSON made a requisition on Gov. DOWNEY, to be enrolled for a term of three years to act as guides, were mustered into the service of the United States, Wednesday, April 15, at Humboldt. They are first rate for the service, being experienced mountaineers. Families are living within the district of the counties Infested by the hostile Indians. The campaign is now assuming a shape which must result in good.
Capt. C.S. LOVELL, commanding Forts Humboldt and Gaston, and Camp Bragg, have already, or soon will take the field with twenty volunteers, which will constitute rather a formidable force.
Lieut. COLLINS, with a detachment of regulars, is now in the vicinity of Van Dusen Fork, a tributary of Eel River.
Lieut. DILLON, from Camp Bragg, is probably before this time on the South Fork of Eel River, with a detachment of troops.
Before many days, a detachment of troops from Capt. UNDERWOOD’s command at Fort Gaston, will be in the vicinity of Upper Red Wood Creek and Upper Mad River. Ten of the volunteers will leave Fort Humboldt to join Capt. UNDERWOOD’s command, on Monday. Others will join Lieut. COLLINS, and if it is found necessary, ten of them will be sent to Lieut. GILLON.
You can read a report by Lieutenant Joseph B. Collins on his May and June 1861 operations against the Indians at Simmons Games.
Wikipedia has an article about Manifest Destiny.
Fort Bragg is still a city in California. It was established specifically to control the native-American population. It was named after Braxton Bragg, who I’m pretty sure is still commanding the troops in Pensacola 150 years ago today.
It is said at Telegraph-History that the actual work of joining the California and Eastern U.S. telegraph wires began on May 27, 1861. The work would be completed in October. The Pony Express would become obsolete. The next image is definitely not in northern California, but it seems to relate to today’s article.
Man from the Pony Express, on horseback, fleeing from Indians, on Indian burial grounds. (LOC - LC-USZC4-2458; Bufford's Print Publishing House, Boston ca. 1860s)
This next image would probably more timely a couple months from now.
Pony Rider and his replacement (LOC - LC-USZ62-127508)
