Oregon and Washington Volunteers/5
[Colonel J. E. Ross’ call for one company of mounted volunteers, dated August 5, 1854.][edit]
Jacksonville, O. T., August 5, 1854.
Whereas, having received orders from his excellency John W. Davis, Governor of Oregon Territory, dated Salem, July 17, 1854, authorizing me to call into service any number of volunteers I may deem necessary for the protection of the immigration on the southern route to Oregon; and the Pi-ute, Modoc, and a part of the Shasta tribes of Indians having never entered into a treaty of peace with the whites, but, on the contrary, have plundered, robbed, and murdered a part of every immigration that has passed through the country which they inhabit, a large immigration being now on their way to southern Oregon; and recently the Indians on this route having stolen four horses at the head of Stewart’s creek and waylaid the road leading from here to Yreka, murdering Daniel Gage and taking his loaded pack train; and having killed another citizen in the immediate neighborhood and in the vicinity of the immigrant trail, and the regular army stationed at Fort Lane and Fort Jones being too small to send a force to protect the immigration, being wholly inadequate to prevent the Indians from committing depredations on the settlements: therefore, I deem it absolutely necessary, from my personal knowledge of the many depredations heretofore committed on this southern route, to call into service one company of mounted volunteers, to consist of seventy or seventy-five men rank and file, for the protection of the immigration on the southern Oregon immigrant trail. As soon as seventy men have enrolled for this service they will elect from their number one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, and the captain will appoint the sergeants and corporals, or cause them to be elected by the company, at his discretion. As far as practicable, each officer and private will mount, arm, and equip himself. The quartermaster general, C. S. Drew, will mount, arm, and equip those who are unable to provide for themselves. The company will remain in service for three months, or until the entire immigration has passed through the country of the hostiles, unless they are relieved by United States troops; in which event they will immediately repair to headquarters, and be discharged from the service.
JOHN E. ROSS,
Colonel Commanding, Ninth Regiment Oregon Militia.