Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/166

 plegate.

least, will consider you deserving of success." Also, "I have written to Newell on the subject of the Indian war. Perhaps you will see the letter."

The expedition consisted of sixteen men, namely, Levi Scott, captain of the escort, Jesse Applegate, bearer of dis patches, James M. Fields, John Minto, Walter Monteith, Thomas Monteith, James Lemon, William Gilliam, George F. Kibbler, A. E. Robinson, J. M. Scott, William J. J. Scott, Solomon Tetherow, Joseph Waldo, James Campbell, and E. C. Dice. 7

The attempt to carry an express to California in mid winter, was a hazardous one even for a party composed of mountain men, trained to overcome the vicissitudes of travel at all seasons. Scott and Tetherow were men of a large experience, but the others were chiefly young men, new to the frontier, and although brave to meet dangers to which they were accustomed, unfit to encounter the terrors of the wilderness in its most repellant mood.

There were at this date no settlements south of Lane county. The whole country was soaked with rains, except at an elevation great enough to turn the rain to snow. The route to California lay through that region roamed over by the Molallas, Klamaths, Rogue River, and Shasta Indians, making it necessary to stand guard at night to prevent their horses being stolen. But the party refused to regard themselves as "martyrs to their country s cause," and took enjoyment from spying out the land which was to flow with milk and honey for their descendants if not for themselves.

"Around the evening camp-fire," says John Minto, "we listened to the sage utterances of our chief, whose dis courses on political and natural science were a valued en tertainment, varying this with the songs of Tom Moore, sung by Fields and myself, and echoed in the hearts of

"Applegate and Minto give only sixteen names, while the muster roll gives eighteen. Minto says that he went as a substitute for Evans ; and others may have failed after enlisting. John W. Owens, mentioned by Applegate, went with the army to Waiilatpu, and there joined Meek s expedition.