Andrew Kirkpatrick & Eliz. Bowen, Adams co. ohio
I would like to exchange with someone in the Kirkpatrick search of, Andrew
Kirkpatrick and Elizabeth Bowen. I have a lot on their son Samuel and
Samuel's children. One puzzle is one of Samuel's possible sons, who defended his party
from Indians on Rock isl. in Pacific Ocean, now named Battle Rock, Oregon in
his honor.
The nine men were headed by Captain J. M. Kirkpatrick, who later wrote: On
the morning of the ninth of June 1851, we were landed on the beach just below
Battle Rock. There were a few Indians in sight who appeared to be friendly
but I could see that they did not like to have us there. We lost no time in
making camp on what was to be called Battle Rock.
The cannon was set up, commanding the narrow passage, the only approach
to their camp on the rock. All other sides were sheer cliffs of rock,
dropping off into deep water a hundred feet or more below. Some writers have
referred to the gun as a four pounder, others as a five pounder. Kirkpatrick,
the leader, wrote:
We put in a two pound sack of powder and on top of that about half an
old cotton shirt and as much bar lead cut into pieces from one to two inches
long as I could hold in my two hands, then a couple of old newspapers on top.
We then primed the gun with some fine rifle powder and trained it so as to
rake the narrow ridge in front of the muzzle and the gun was ready for
business... I stood by the gun holding a piece of tarred rope with one end in
the fire ready, as soon as the Indians crowded on the narrow ridge in front
of the cannon.
When a red shirted fellow in the lead was not more than eight feet from
the muzzle of the gun, I applied the fiery end of the rope to the priming
... at least twelve or thirteen men were killed outright, and such a tumbling
of scared Indians I never saw before or since .... we counted seventeen dead
Indians on the rock and this was the bloody baptism that gave the name
"Battle Rock" to our old camp at Port Orford on the tenth of June 1851.
I have possibly three John Kirkpatrick's in early Oregon but I now
believe I have possibly the right one of the Andrew & Eliz. Bowen Kirkpatrick family.
Jax Zumwalt, Portland, Or.
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Re: Andrew Kirkpatrick & Eliz. Bowen, Adams co. ohio
JUDITH ALEF 4/05/02