THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 397
to go and are gone, while the residue yet remain, and it is likely that difficulties may yet arise.
Although I have not accomplished with my command as much yet as I could have desired, you will nevertheless see from my re port that I have by no means been idle. It would have been my pride, if circumstances had afforded me the opportunity, of render ing greater service to my country, but I must remain content with the conviction that I have done the best I could considering the cir cumstances which have attended niy command. I must say, in conclusion, that it has been my aim to induce as much discipline in my ranks as my ability afforded; and it is with pleasure that I can speak in terms of high commendation both of the officers and privates of my command. My company consists of forty -five men, rank and file.
According to Captain W. A. Wilkinson s report for April, and a part of May, he was employed during most of this time in escort duty between Camp Vannoy, Fort Leland, Camp Hayes, and Camp Wagoner, and in the spy service; also in escorting government pack trains from Crescent City mountain to Camp Yannoy. Captain James Barnes spy company were in the field performing their dangerous duty from the twenty-sixth of February to the close of the campaign.
Thus every company of from thirty-five to sixty men constituted a detached and often an independent com mand, which, while obeying orders in a general way, was forced to take the responsibility of conducting the war, wherever the enemy were found, upon its own best judgment, often for weeks at a time.
On the eleventh of April, Colonel Kelsey joined a de tachment of Captain Robertson s company, and with Barnes spy company and a detachment from Captain Wallen s company, set out from Fort Leland, down Grave creek, in search of the enemy, taking four days pro visions, packed on mules. The following is a part of Kelsey s report:
I accompanied the command in person. Camped that evening about five miles below here (Fort Leland). Next morning took the line of march over the creek, and camped on the night of the
