Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/216

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you see the present condition of the soldiers now in the field, a part of them three hundred miles from their homes and families, in the heart of an enemy s country, without a mouthful of bread, many of them almost naked, and the whole of them without the powder and lead to defend their own lives against the attack of hostile forces within fifty miles of them, you would rise up to a man and render such assistance as is in your power to furnish them the absolute necessaries of life, more than which they do not ask without which they must return to the settlements. Let this truth tell upon the good sense of every man we must conquer the enemy in their own country or fight them in our midst. Although many of the tribes profess friendship and refrain from hostilities while the seat of war is kept in their midst, where they have much to lose, that friendship will only last while it serves their own interest, the very principle which will prompt them to join the enemy the moment there is the least hope of victory on their side for then it would be as necessary for them to be friends to the enemy as it now is to be friends to us. Whenever, therefore, the seat of war is moved to the settlements where we have all to lose and they to gain, we will have ten times their present numbers to contend with."

The combined effort of the regimental officers, the gov ernor, and the ladies, had the effect to arouse the people to fresh activity. Meetings were held in several counties, and about two hundred and fifty men enlisted. Polk and Clackamas raised one company, J. W. Nesmith, captain; Linn, one company, William P. Pugh, captain; Yamhill and Tualatin, one company, William J. Martin, captain. Clatsop county sent a few volunteers. The means to equip was raised by subscription. 2

Popular as was the war, it was a difficult matter putting another battalion in the field. The commissariat had at no time been maintained without great exertion on the part of its officers, and often great sacrifices on the part of the people. The commissary-general s sworn and bonded

- The muster rolls do not always show where credit is due. H. J. Peterson of Linn raised a company, which proceeded to Portland, in April^ where it was probably ab sorbed by the reorganization of the battalion. Granville H. Baber raised a company also, in Linn. As first organized, he was captain ; Jeremiah Driggs, first lieutenant ; J. M. McConnell and Isaac Thompson, sergeants. The men from Clatsop were 8. B. Hall, D. H. Kinder, John Richey, R. W. Morrison, and N. H. Everman : Oregon Spectator, May 4, 1848.