Timeline of Genocide Incidents in the Greater Mendocino Region

CONTENT WARNING: Many of the primary sources linked on this timeline contain racist language or sentiment and graphic accounts of settler-colonial violence against indigenous people.

Appx.* Date Number killed

 

 Location Source Source files
II January, 1847 4 – 5 Between the Russian River and Clear Lake Babe to Harrison, March 17, 1847, NARA, RG393, M210 Reel 2; Harrison to Dupont, March 17, 1847, RG393, M210, Reel 2
II 1849 1 Sonoma Campbell to Brown, June 1, 1851, NARA, RG75 M234, reel 32:C672:4
II August 3(?), 1849 1 At or near Sonoma Vallejo to Gov., August 4, 1849 in Archives of California, 63:93 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0103a.pdf
I Between December 25 and 28, 1849 3 Cyrus Ranch, north of Calistoga (Junction of 128 and 29), Napa County Wright, Early Upper Napa Valley, 9-10 (formerly 21) http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0009a.jpg
III Between December 25 and 28, 1849 35 3 Miles South of Calistoga, Napa County Nash in Barrett, “Material Aspects of Pomo Culture,” 408-413
I Early February, 1850 2 Yountville Area, Napa County Yount, Chronicles of the West, 221 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0015a.jpg
II Before March 1, 1850 2 Beasley’s Ranch Correspondent, March 2, 1850 in DAC, March 11, 1850, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0116a.jpg
III February 27, 1850 3 – 15 “at and about the ranch of Henry Fowler and William Hargrave” BENNETT in Cal. 1850, People v. Smith, et al., 1 Cal. 9, 1850 WL; Correspondent, March 2, 1850 in DAC, March 11, 1850, 2; Yount, George C. Yount and His Chronicle of the West, 221 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0670.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0670a.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0670c.png
III Early 1850 11 Calistoga, Napa County Menefee, Historical and Descriptive Sketch Book, 23 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0672a.jpg
III Early 1850 20 Sonoma? Campbell to the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, June 1, 1850 in Heizer, Destruction of California Indians, 187 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0673a.png
III Before March 5, 1850 10 Six miles above Harbins’ Mills, Napa County J.W.B., March 4, 1850 in DAC, March 16, 1850, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0671.pdf
I On or after May 19, 1850 10 On Russian River, several hours ride north of Feliz’s Ranch Altschule, “Exploring the Coast Range,” 322. Note: this may be a report of the Cokadjal Massacre and not a separate massacre. http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0020a.pdf
III May 19, 1850 75 – ~150 Cokadjal, south of Ukiah on the Russian River Lyon to Canby, May 22, 1850, S. Exec. Doc. 1, Part 2, 31st Cong., 2nd Sess., 1850, serial 587, 81-83; Barrett, “Material Aspects of Pomo Culture,” 412; Barrett, “Ethno-Geography of the Pomo,” 176 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0684a.pdf
I After May 19, 1850 2 Shanel on Feliz’s Ranch Elliot in Kaplan, et al., Sheemi Ke Janu, 80
I Before May 22, 1850 5 “many” Between Feliz’s Ranch and Sonoma Barrett “Material Aspects of Pomo Culture,” 412
I Summer of 1850 1 Somewhere “near Cape Mendocino.” Revere, Album, 1870, 29-47 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0023a.pdf
II Before October 31, 1853 3 Near Healdsburg Sonoma Bulletin in SDU, October 31, 1853, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0252a.pdf
II Late 1853 1 Bodega Helper, Land of Gold, 259-260 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0254a.pdf
III May 15, 1854 1 – 40 Round Valley Asbill and Shawley, Last of the West, 18; Palmer, History of Mendocino, 459; Yuki elder in Palmer, “Yuki,” 46-47 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0785b.jpg
II Between September 5 and September 21, 1854 3 Russian River region Dougherty in LAS, September 21, 1854, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0283a.jpg
II Before August 9, 1855 1 Mendocino Region Robt White to Col. T.J. Henley, August 9, 1855, NARA, RG 75, M234, 34:667
III Before April 4, 1856 11 “on the borders of Mendocino County” San Francisco Herald, April 4, 1856, 2
III On or about October 8, 1856 55 Clinton Valley, Mendocino County Peilsticker in Butte Record, October 18, 1856, 2, reprinted in SDU, October 15, 1856, 2
II September 8, 1857 3 Fort Ross Petaluma Journal summarized in DAC, September 19, 1857, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0364.pdf
II Late 1857 1 “The Country in the rear of the Mendocino Reservation” Henley to Denver, Coms, December 1, 1857, NARA, RG75 M234, Reel 35:1442
III Early 1858 14 Near Round Valley Eberle deposition, February 22, 1860, MMR, 35; Shannon deposition, February 28, 1860, MMR, 72 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0846a.jpg

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0846b.jpg
II Before August 19, 1858 3 “near Nome Cult Valley” SDU, August 16, 1858, 2; DAC, August 19, 1858, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0399.pdf
III Before December 4, 1858 23 Two incidents in Round Valley Tehama Gazette, December 4, 1858 in SDU, December 7, 1858, 3 and DAC, December 8, 1858, 1; Shanon deposition, February 28, 1860, IWP, F3753:462
II January 1, 1859 3 Lawson’s, Round Valley Lawson deposition, February 27, 1860 in MMR, 69 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0412a.jpg
III January 1, 1859 40 Round Valley Smith, January 18, 1859 in DAC, January 20, 1859, 1, reprinted in SDU, January 22, 1859, 4 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0864.pdf
III Winter of 1858-1859 150 – 170 Round Valley Region Browne, “Coast Rangers of California,” 312; Smith, January 18, 1859 in DAC, January 20, 1859, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0868.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0868a.pdf
III May 1, 1858 to May 1, 1859 600 Summary of Round Valley Killings Johnson in Tassin, “Chronicles of Camp Wright, Part I,” 27 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0881a.pdf
II January 2, 1859 1 – 2 Bowen’s, Round Valley Lawson deposition, February 27, 1860 in MMR, 69 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0413a.jpg
III January 2, 1859 10 – 12 Round Valley Reservation Lawson deposition, February 27, 1860 in MMR, 69 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0865a.jpg
III February 1, 1859 14 “near the head of the Russian River Valley” Hutchings’ California Magazine, February 1859, 382 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0873a.pdf
II Before February 16, 1859 1 “at the Mendocino Reservation” HT in Red Bluff Beacon, February 16, 1859, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0416.pdf
III The three weeks prior to April 15, 1859 300 – 400 Summary of Round Valley Killings Round Valley informant in Petaluma Journal in DAC, April 16, 1859, 1, Nevada Democrat, April 20, 1859, 2, and HT, April 23, 1859, 3.
II Before April 1, 1859 2 Near Round Valley Storms in DAC, April 2, 1859, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0417.pdf
II April or May, 1859 1 Round Valley Dillon deposition, February 27, 1860 in MMR, 58 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0419a.jpg
III From July, 1858 through February 28, 1860 300 – 400 Round Valley Killings Summary Shanon deposition, February 28, 1860, IWP, F3753:467
III August 10, 1859 16 “near Round Valley” Shasta Herald, August 27, 1859, 3
III July 11-August 21, 1859 64+ Summary of Round Valley region killings by Jarboe’s men Johnson to Mackall, August 21, 1859, IWP, F3753:378
III August 18, 1859 11 Eel River, near Round Valley Johnson to Mackall, August 21, 1859, IWP, F3753:378; Johnson to Mackall, August 21, 1859 in DAC, January 31, 1860, 1
III September 6, 1859-January 24, 1860 “283 Warriors” Jarboe’s Summary of Mendocino Expedition Jarboe to Downey, February 18, 1860, IWP, F3753:432
III December, 1859 20 Between Round and Long Valleys Frazier Deposition, February 22, 1860, IWP, 3753:436
III Before December 12, 1859 17 Round Valley Region Storms in Tehama Gazette in DAC, December 12, 1859, 1 and SDU, December 12, 1859, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0904.pdf
III December 13, 1859 ~30 “near Round Valley” “A member of Jarboe’s company” in Santa Rosa Democrat, December 20, 1859 in DAC, January 1, 1860, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0906.pdf
III December 19, 1859 32 Long Valley or nearby in Mendocino County White in Sonoma County Journal, January 20, 1860, 2, reprinted in DEB, January 21, 1860, 2 and HT, February 4, 1860, 4
III Late December, 1859 30 Round Valley “A writer to the Santa Rosa Democrat,” summarized in Weekly Humboldt Times, January 21, 1860, 2
II Between “the fall of” 1856 and February 27, 1860 1 Round Valley or vicinity Lawson deposition, February 27, 1860 in MMR, 68 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0309a.jpg
III Before February, 1860 38 Between Round Valley and Long Valley Frazier deposition in Baumgardner, Killing for Land in Early California, 116 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0916a.pdf
III Before February, 1860 17 Round Valley & Environs Hildreth deposition, February 24, 1860, IWP, F3753:443
II Before May 16, 1860 1 Round Valley(?) Dillon to Mackall, May 16, 1860 in Heizer, Destruction of California Indians, 296 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0452a.png
II Before May 16, 1860 1 Round Valley(?) Dillon to Mackall, May 16, 1860 in Heizer, Destruction of California Indians, 296 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0453a.png
II On or before August 6, 1860 1 In or near Potter Valley Letter in Petaluma Journal in SDU, August 22, 1860, 3 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0461.pdf
II October 20, 1860 2 Long Valley DAC, October 24, 1860, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0467.pdf
III November 14, 1859 – January 22, 1860 400+ Summary of Mendocino Expedition DAC, January 22, 1860, 1 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0914.pdf
III Before January 18, 1861 18 Round Valley Reservation Witt in Mendocino Herald, January 18, 1861 in DEB, January 26, 1861, 1 and HT, February 9, 1861, 2
III June 4, 1861 16 “about opposite Bell Springs” WOR 1:50:1, 19-21 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0949a.pdf
II June 15, 1861 2 South Fork of Eel River region Martin to Lovell, June 27, 1861, WOR 1:50:1, 19-21 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0480a.pdf
II Before July 5, 1861 1 Round Valley Red Bluff Beacon, July 5, 1861 in SDU, July 8, 1861, 4 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0486.pdf
III After October 11, 1861 ~100 – 240 Horse Canyon, North of Round Valley, 3 miles northwest of Nome Cult Farm Storms, October 15, 1861 in DEB, October 23, 1861, 3, reprinted in SDU, October 25, 1861, 3; Short summarized by Clark in Marysville Appeal, October 22, 1861, 2; Short summarized in SDU, October 23, 1861, 1; Red Bluff Beacon, October 24, 1861, 2; San Francisco Mirror in HT, November 16, 1861, 3; Tassin “Chronicles of Camp Wright, Part II,” 180; Potter, “Reminiscences of the early history of northern California and the Indian troubles,” 13 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0960.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0960f.pdf
III A few days after October 11, 1861 ~40 Horse Canyon, North of Round Valley, 3 miles northwest of Nome Cult Farm Red Bluff Beacon, October 24, 1861, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0961.pdf
II 1862 3 Round Valley Carranco and Beard, Genocide and Vendetta, 117 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0517a.jpg
II Late July, 1862 4 – 5 Round Valley Reservation Hanson to Dole, August 18, 1862 in USOIA, Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1862, 320 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0522a.jpg
III August 1, 1862 22 – 45 Near Upper Station, Northwestern Round Valley Reservation Mendocino Herald, August 8, 1862, 2 reprinted in SDU, August 14, 1862, 2 and DEB, August 18, 1862, 2; Hanson to Dole, August 18, 1862 in USOIA, Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1862, 320; Hanson to Dole, October 10, 1862 in USOIA, Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1862, 311; Short testimony, December 18, 1862 in MLRV, 8; Hanson to Dole, June 17, 1863 in USOIA, Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1863, 93; Potter, “Reminiscences of the early history of northern California and the Indian troubles,” 15-16 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0981.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0981b.jpg

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0981f.pdf
III After March 23, 1863 8 Middle Fork of Eel River WOR, 1:50:1, 195 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0993a.pdf
III After March 23, 1863 18 – 43 Middle Fork of Eel River WOR, 1:50:1, 195 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0994a.pdf
III April 9, 1863 6+ “Williams’ Valley (four miles north of Round Valley)” WOR, 1:50:1, 204 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0996a.pdf
II July, 1863 4 Near Round Valley WOR 1:50:1, 231 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0546a.pdf
II July 20, 1863 2 Round Valley WOR 1:50:1, 231 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0550a.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0550.pdf
III July 21, 1863 5 – 8 Round Valley WOR, 1:50:1, 231; Americus, August 8?, 1863 in DEB, August 14, 1863, 3; Hanson to Dole, August 22, 1863 in USOIA, Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Year 1863, 98 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i1004a.pdf
II December 7, 1864 1 Round Valley Tassin, “Chronicle of Camp Wright, Part II,” 174; Carranco and Beard, Genocide and Vendetta, 117 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0597a.pdf

 

http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0597b.jpg
II August 9, 1865 1 A quarter-mile from Ukiah Correspondent in SDU, August 19, 1865, 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0605.pdf
II ~September 3, 1866 4 Long Valley Rogers, Colusa County, 110
III December, 1867 9 – 10 Long Valley Fairfield, Fairfield’s Pioneer History, 415-416 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i1043a.pdf
I 1868 5 Near Round Valley? Potter, “Reminiscences,” 2 http://nahc.ca.gov/webmaster/atlas/evidence/i0084a.jpg
II 1868 2+ Round Valley Potter, “Reminiscences,” 2
II Before April 1, 1870 1 “about twenty miles from Mendocino” (Raped and died soon thereafter) Yreka Weekly Union, April 1, 1870, 3

 

TOTAL ESTIMATED NUMBER KILLED IN REGION: 2,962-3,505

*Appendix (Appx.) refers to the reference’s location in:

Benjamin Madley, An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2016.

For full bibliographical references please refer to the text or Atlas credits & references

Abbreviations used in timeline:

DAC: Daily Alta Californian newspaper (San Francisco)

DEB: Daily Evening Bulletin newspaper (San Francisco)

HT: Humboldt Times

IWP: California Adjutant General’s Office, Military Department, Adjutant General, Indian War Papers F3753

LAS: Los Angeles Star newspaper

MLRV: Martial Law in Round Valley, Mendocino County, California, The Causes Which Led to that Measure, The Evidence, as Brought out by a Court of Investigation ordered by Brig. Gen. G. Wright, Commanding U.S. Forces on the Pacific (Ukiah City, 1863)

MMR: California Legislature, Majority and Minority Reports of the Special Joint Committee on the Mendocino War  (Sacramento, 1860)

NARA: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

RG75, M234: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, “Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80”

SDU Sacramento Daily Union newspaper

USOIA U.S. Office of Indian Affairs

WOR U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 4 series, 130 volumes. Series 1, volume 50, part 1 [WOR 1:50:1], etc.

 

For full bibliographical references please refer to the text or Atlas credits & references