Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/151

Rh try? And now there was an Indian war impending, with onty these gentlemen who had been ordered to "stick to their beaver skins" to turn to. There were the merchants of Oregon City, to be sure—a few hundred might be raised among them. And there was the Methodist mission—the governor had not mentioned that—but; well, they could try it!

The first resolution offered after the reading of the documents submitted by the governor, was the following, by J. W. Nesmith: "That the governor is hereby required to raise arms and equip a company of riflemen, not to exceed fifty men, with their captain and subaltern officers, and dispatch them forthwith to occupy the mission station at The Dalles on the Columbia river, and hold possession of the same until reinforcements can arrive at that point, or other means be taken as the government may think advisable," which resolution was adopted. A committee consisting of Nesmith, Rees, and Crawford was appointed to wait upon the governor, which reported the executive s answer, that he would "use his utmost endeavors;" and the house immediately adjourned to attend a public meeting.

It was a day of wrath as well as of sorrow and apprehension. It hardly needed the stirring appeals of J. W. Nesmith, II. A. G. Lee, and Samuel K. Barlow, to encourage volunteering. A company of riflemen was enlisted at once, which was sworn in, and officered the following day.