intermarried, as a cause for their continued depredations. A company of six men, under the leadership of John Saxton, who had started from California with a hundred horses, had lost sixty-five of them by the natives after reaching the Klamath River, and had been fired on all day by the Rogue River Indians,[1] with whom it was believed the Molalles were in league. At all events, not more than fifty could be found in the Willamette, and their fleeing before him to the Umpqua was regarded as a sign of guilt.
Another report dated June 21st, addressed to Adjutant-general Lovejoy, states that he had proceeded with his company of independent rangers as far as the Santiam River when he was met by complaints of the thieving practices of the Indians, and had divided his force, taking six men with him, and leaving eight with Lieutenant English, one party to take a course which it was intended should drive the savages to their trail over the Cascade Mountains, and the other to intercept them in their passage. Finding themselves hard pressed and becoming alarmed, they escaped by leaving their plunder and a couple of horses, probably intended as indemnity for past thefts; and being satisfied with this, Captain Scott gave up the pursuit.
On the 7th of July Scott was ordered to proceed to south-eastern Oregon to escort the immigration by the southern route, and was authorized to officiate in his capacity as Indian agent among any tribes on the way. "I have reason," says Lee, "to believe the Cayuses will be along both roads. Impress on the immigrants their danger."[2] With a company of only nineteen men he performed this important duty,[3]
- ↑ Or. Spectator, May 4, 1848.
- ↑ Or. Archives, MS., 169-71.
- ↑ Felix Scott was a native of Monongahela Co., Va. He was at one time lieut.-gov of Mo., after which he came to California from St Charles Co. of that state, and resided for some time with Captain Sutter at Fort Sutter. In 1846 he removed to Oregon, where he soon became known for his high character. He resided in Yamhill Co. until 1849, when he settled permanently in Lane Co., and contributed much to its development. In 1863, wishing to drive a large herd of cattle to the mines of eastern Oregon, and also to trans-
