THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 387
intended, this concession to local pride and prejudice kept aglow the fading fire of patriotism, and promoted the recruiting of the southern battalion. There were those of the north who found cause of complaint against Colonel R. L. Williams, and when an election for colonel took place, John Kelsey of the northern battalion was chosen to that office, with W. W. Chapman, lieutenant-colonel. Major Bruce retained his office in the southern battalion, and William II. Latshaw was made major of the northern, vice Martin resigned, to take a civil office.
At no time had military operations ceased, but some companies had immediately reformed and kept the field in detachments, guarding trains and settlements. In the latter part of February, about the time of the uprising on the coast, the Indians had appeared again in the Illinois valley, killing two men and wounding three others, and soon after shot a citizen named Guess, who was ploughing in a field on Deer creek, his Avife and two children being domiciled at the house of Dr. White, some distance away. It was already night when news of the killing of Guess was brought to Captain O Neil, who, with a detachment of his company, was scouting in the vicinity ; but he set out immediately to recover the body of the murdered man, and convey it to his family. A description of that night s ride, and the duty performed by O Neil and his company, dramatically illustrates the lives and characters of the volunteers. It is here condensed from the pen of J. M. Sutton, himself a volunteer, who lived to write of those troublous times, but who has long since passed over to the silent majority:
The trail led through a forest which intensified the darkness. Philip Weaver, who lived in the vicinity, acted as guide, and was careful to report every place where an ambush might be feared, when the captain would ride forward and through the pass with two or three men before allowing the remainder to advance. Ar riving at the most dangerous crossing of a deep ravine, Captain O Neil directed Sergeant Stannis to take four men and go down the gulch to a lower trail, while Corporal Geddes went above to another
