MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1074

California [illegible] [illegible] Yreka, Cal. April 18 '64

One [illegible] red. to [Supervisor?] [illegible] management of the [illegible] Indian Reservation and the character of Henry Stergon

Office Ind Affairs Yreka April 18th 1864

Hon., [illegible] P Dole Sir Herewith please find affadavit of James Eddy, also a statement of [citizens?] of Round Valley, which are respectfully submitted, by order of the [illegible]

Very Respectfully, Your [illegible]

[L. B.?] Steele Clerk of Supt. Steel [illegible] Cal.

Mendocinco County State of California

James [F?] Eddy being [illegible] [illegible]: I am employed on the Round Valley Reservation. I know Henry Stergon of Butte County having acted in the capacity of Special Indian Agent in said county under [illegible] superintendent for the period of one year ending October 1868. His reputation is exceedingly bad being associated with those who rob Chinese miners. I have frequently heard him called a petty thief and charged with living in [rancheras?] with Indians. While removing the Indians of Butte County to the Reservation he made application to me to recover a squaw with whom he had been living, which I refused. He followed the train on the first days march remaining about the camp over night. I saw him next of the 7th of October 1863, at the camp of about seventy five Indians on the summit of the Mountains the Indians

then in charge of some persons sent our by Captain Douglas. The next day he came into Round Valley. Some three weeks afterwards I was camped near the Mountain House with the government pack train on my return to the Reservation from Tehama with a load of provisions when I was woke before daylight by [illegible] from the Reservation, who stated he was in pursuit of a part of Indians that were running away; and that from the tracks of the horses on the trail he was satisfied there was white men with them. We descended upon the Mountain House and found there this man (Henry Stergon) and with him the squaw with whom he had lived and her mother. I immediately arrested him and took charge of the squaws. Unfortunately, I was obliged to release him to pursue a large part of Indians that were in [illegible] on their way back to Butte County. I placed the squaws in charge of a Mr. Hall until I returned, who [recreant?] to the trust

delivered them to Stergon again. I have not seen them since. I went through Butte County with Capt. Augustus W. Starr and fifteen cavalry, and recovered twenty of the Indians that had run away. I was told by one Wells that he had offered a reward to Stergon to bring back two Indians that had formerly lived with him. We found the identical Indians in the possession of Wells at Yankee Hall. I was told that one man furnished Stergon with money another with a horse for the purpose of running off Indians from the Reservation for them. From my knowledge of the character of Henry Stergon I would not believe him on oath. I have never had any business transaction nor personal difficulty with him whatever. Furthermore [deponent?] sayeth not. James [F.?] Eddy [Sworn?] and [illegible] before me this 21st day of Febry AD 1864 [illegible]