Respectfully yours,
E. Steele.

Other letters were written by Judge Steele to the Indians.  One which was taken to Mrs. Body to read for them advised them not to go to Klamath, but to “remain on their Yreka farm,” as he termed the Tule Lake and Lost river country, and told them they had as good a right to the lands as any one.  He further told them to go to the settlers and compel them to give them written certificates of good character to show to the agents of the government, which they did, the settlers fearing to refuse.  Shortly after this, Mr. T. B. Odeneal, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, attempted to have a conference with Jack, who flatly refused, saying he was tired of talking; he wanted no white man to tell him what to do; that his friends and counselors at Yreka had told them to stay where they were.

Under these circumstances the settlers became alarmed and made the Superintendent promise that they should be notified before any attempt to use force was made.  How that promise was carried out will appear later on.  Early in November, after repeated attempts to induce the Indians under Jack to go peaceably back to the reservation, Superintendent Odeneal determined to turn the matter over to the military.  The Commissioner of Indian Affairs directed him to put the Indians back, peaceably if he could, by force if he must.  He then referred the whole matter to Major Jackson, then in command at Fort Klamath, who had at his disposal thirty-six men of Company B, First cavalry, and proceeded with his command to Linkville, where he was met by Captain I. D. Applegate, at that time connected with the Indian department and stationed at the Yainax reservation.  Captain Jackson was warned by Applegate of the desperate character of the Indians, but informed him the force was sufficient in his opinion if proper precautions were taken.  In the meantime Mr. Odeneal had sent his messenger, O. A. Brown, to notify the settlers.  Instead he proceeded to the Bybee ranch, carefully concealing from all the proposed movements of the troops under Jackson.  Afterwards when reproached by Mrs. Schira, whose husband, father and brothers had been murdered, he gave the heartless answer that he “was not paid to run after the settlers.”  After realizing the full extent of his conduct—­conduct that could not be defended any other way—­Brown attempted to cast the odium upon his superior, Mr. Odeneal.  However, the latter had a copy of his letter of instructions, hence Brown lapsed into sullen silence.

Major Jackson started for the Indian encampment on Lost river on the 28th of November, leaving Linkville, now Klamath Falls, after dark.  He was accompanied by Captain Applegate, and he had supplied his men with twenty rounds of ammunition.  Before reaching the encampment he halted his men, saddle girths were tightened, overcoats tied behind saddles and carbines loaded.  It was then nearly daylight and proceeding with caution he reached the encampment just at daylight.  It was understood that the command was to be divided so as to strike the camp on two sides, thus commanding the river bank and the brush back of the camp at one and the same time.  Instead of this, Captain Jackson galloped his troop in between the river and the camp and dismounted, his men forming a line with horses in the rear.