In May 2008, my dear friends, Derek and Pat Anderson invited me to partake in an expedition through Smoke Creek/Black Rock Deserts with a goal of High Rock Canyon. One day we spent exploring the Summit Lake area. It should be noted we made a base camp at Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch. Our departure was to be through High Rock Canyon, but due to certain difficulties, that was abandoned. To make a long story, even longer, I did research on Camp McGarry to give the owners at Soldier Meadows additional information to share with future guests.
Camp McGarry was so remote that it relied on the Susanville business community for all of its supplies. The following are excerpts from the Sage Brush newspaper, forerunner to the Lassen Advocate about the coming and goings out in that district. Its lengthy, so if you have no interest, feel free to skip.
2 May 1868 3;1 – We would like to hear from the Quarter Master’s
Department of Camp McGarry. It can’t be possible that it is insolvent or that Publishers are to be defrauded out of their fees for advertising for Government. Six months ago we had notice of the receipt of our bills and received a promise that they should be paid immediately. We have received no further intelligence of them and are somewhat inclined to the belief that we must appeal to Head Quarters for satisfaction.
9 May 1868 3;1 – The Military at Camp McGarry last week, made a forced reconnaissance to within the sight of Susanville. No captures or losses are reported.
9 May 1868 3;1 – Williams, Dodds and young Treasize, who left here on Monday with goods for Summit Lake, we understand are compelled to make the trip alone, Capt. Hall returning with his command after reaching Smoke Creek. The trip is somewhat perilous at this time under the circumstances in which they are compelled to travel. They are armed with Henry Carbines, but have no business to venture 180 miles through an Indian country, upon nearly every square rod of which they are liable to run into an Indian ambuscade.
16 May 1868 2;2 – The scouting party that left Camp McGarry, Nev. Some time since under the command of Lieut. H.L. Street, in pursuit of a band of Indians that was making its way toward Stien mountain with a portion of the stock captured in Winnemucca Valley, succeeded in overhauling the Indians and recapturing most of the stock. The Indians made their escape. Stien mountain is noted as an Indian stronghold, and the scout of Lieut. Street can well be considered an eminent success, as he had but twenty men with him.
13 June 1868 3;1 – Lieut. H.L. Street and wife passed through town on Wednesday of this week en route to San Francisco. Street has a leave of absence from the Post Commander at Camp McGarry, and is out for recreation, after a long years service in the sage brush. We wish you much enjoyment old fellow.
20 June 1868 3;1 – Army Supplies. Camp McGarry, Nev. May 20, 1868. SEALED PROPOSALS IN TRIPLICATE WILL be received at this office until 12 o’clock of the 15th day of July 1868, for furnishing the Quartermaster’s and Subsistence Departments, U.S. Army at this Post with Forage as follows: Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) Pounds good merchantable Barley free from “rust” and “smut”, to be well sacked in good strong sacks. One Hundred and Fifty (150) tons, good Timothy or Upland Hay free from sticks, weeds or wire grass and to be delivered well baled in bales not less than Two Hundred pounds of Hay in each bale for Q.M.’s Department. Seventy Five (75) tons of good Timothy or Upland Hay free from sticks, weeds or wire grass and to be delivered well baled in bales not less than Two Hundred pounds of Hay in each bale for Subsistence Department. . . . .(legal requirements) . . . .Bidders are invited to be present at the opening of the Proposals –Envelopes to be marked: “Proposals for Army Supplies,” and addressed to the undersigned. Greenleaf Cilley, 1st Lt., 1st U.S. Cav.
11 July 1868 3;1 – Wm. H. Dodds left us last week with a small company of haymakers for his hay ranch near Summit Lake, Nev. Soldier Meadows, the name of his of his station, is situated about twelve miles from Camp McGarry and furnishes the best hay cut in this whole northern country. Two hundred and fifty tons were cut last season and the same amount will be gathered upon it this year.
25 July 1868 3;1 – Contracts Let. – W.H. Dodds of Soldier Meadows was the successful bidder for the hay contracts of 225 tons for the garrison at Camp McGarry, Nev. The hay is to be furnished at the extremely low figure of $54 currency, per ton. The same contracts were let last fall at $65 per ton. Mr. E.D. Bowman of this place secured the barley contract. It was let at eleven cents and is a very good bargain, as grain can be bought in this valley by the time it is required to be furnished on the contract at about two cents.
29 August 1868 3;1 – Black Rock. – It may be a little satisfaction to
feet owners in that famous locality to learn that it is wholly abandoned. No living soul treads the streets of Hardin City and the
sound of pick and shovel no more disturbs the stillness of that
desert solitude.
29 August 1868 3;1 – Camp McGarry. The garrison at this place, it is understood will soon be removed. We have seen no order for its
removal, but understand that one has been issued.
29 August 1868 3;1 – Peace Treaties. Gen. Crook has effected treaties with nearly all the hostile bands of Indians that have infested the region of country between here an Idaho. The Steen Mountain band has surrendered itself up; so have also the bands of old Winnemucca and those farther north. The Indians in the vicinity of Surprise Valley have entered into peace compacts and it is expected that a year or two comparative quiet to the settlers will ensue.
3 September 1868 3;1 – Messrs. Bowman & Lockwood have news from below to the effect that their grain contract has been approve at Headquarters in San Francisco. This will furnish market for three
hundred thousand pounds of grain from this valley and make business lively for teamsters during the next two months. We are glad for all parties concerned. This does away with the idea of the abandonment of Camp McGarry for the present season and we hope that when such an idea is again contemplated at Headquarters it will be at such time as will not work so greatly to the injury of contractors. Had the parties proceeded to fill their contracts immediately, at the time they were awarded by the Post officers, and the camp should afterwards have been abandoned, the result would have been ruinous to those who filled contracts in good faith according to the stipulations. On the other hand their approval has been delayed to such a length of time as will force contractors into a vast amount of unnecessary expense, having but about forty or fifty days in which to fill their contracts. Government, like individuals, should be true to its agreements.
26 September 1868 3;1 – Messrs. Bowman & Lockwood are filling the Camp McGarry grain contract to the amount of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds. This all the officers at the post are authorized to receive at present.
10 October 1868 3;1 – Mr. Williams has just returned from Camp
McGarry. He reports everything quiet along the road.
19 December 1868 2;2 – Mr. Frank Drake has contracted with Government to remove the stores from Camp McGarry to Camp C.F. Smith. This will be effected in about one month when that post will be entirely abandoned. It is quite possible that Government has greater need of troops elsewhere than in this section of country, but the border settlers all the way from Pyramid Reservation north to Camp Bidwelll will then be left without protection, save that which they are able to do with their own hands. It seems to us that the commander of the Department cannot fail to see the necessity of a permanent military post somewhere in this section of country. One Company of United States Calvary will render the lives and property of the border settlers comparatively secure, while in their absence they are daily at the mercy of the savages