THE HEROES OF BATTLE ROCK, OR, THE MINERS' REWARD

First edition. Printed wrappers. 21pp. The sub-title, as it appears on the front panel: "A Short Story of Thrilling Interest. How a Small Canon Done Its Work. Port Orford, Oregon, The Scene of the Great Tragedy. A Desperate Encounter of Nine White Men With Three Hundred Indians. Miraculous Escape After Untold Hardships. Historically True. Savages Subdued and Rich Gold Mines Discovered." An important historical account, J. M. Kirkpatrick, a companion of Kit Carson, Joe Meek and other noted plainsmen, here tells the story of the Expedition to Port Orford in 1851. The expedition was an early American settler and mining venture along the southern Oregon coast, aimed to establish a foothold at Port Orford as a supply point and potential town site to support mining activity in the interior of southwestern Oregon and northern California. When the expedition arrived, tensions quickly escalated with local Native tribes, leading quickly to violent confrontations. The small gold-seeking party was ambushed by the Siwash and Rogue River Indians near Elk River and withstood numerous savage attacks. One of the most notable incidents occurred when a group of settlers was attacked and retreated to a large rocky promontory overlooking the coast . later known as Battle Rock . where they successfully defended themselves. The remarkable details are told here.…