Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/379



THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 361

good citizens will see the necessity of cheerfully acquiescing in and strictly conforming to the laws of our country.

JAMES BRUCE, Major. Commanding Southern Battalion Oregon Mounted Volunteers.

The mustering of only four companies left a consider able portion of the country without defense, which being duty represented to the governor, he paid a visit to the south, accompanied by Adjutant-General Barnum, about the last of November; but the inspection only resulted in the consolidation of the northern and southern battalions into one regiment, to be known as the second regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers. 19 Here again occurred an amount of friction dangerous to the efficiency of the ser vice through the election of regimental officers. The command was given to Captain Williams, and the lieuten ant-colonelcy to William J. Martin, major of the northern battalion, who, in the estimation of many, was entitled to be colonel. In all these matters the volunteers took a lively interest.

The northern battalion, now a part of the second regi ment of Oregon mounted volunteers, was officered by companies as follows : Company A of Lane county, Joseph Bailey, captain; Daniel W. Keith, first lieutenant; Cyre- nus Mulkey, second lieutenant. Company B, Lane county, Laban Buoy, captain; A. W. Patterson, first lieutenant; P. C.Noland, second lieutenant. Company C of Linn county, Jonathan Keeney, captain; A. W. Stannard, first lieuten ant; Joseph Yates, second lieutenant. Company D of Douglas county, Samuel Gordon, captain; S. B. Hadley, first lieutenant; T. Prather, second lieutenant. Company E of Umpqua county, W. W. Chapman, captain; Z. Dim- mick, first lieutenant ; J. M. Merrick, second lieutenant. 20

19 This consolidation took place on the petition of William J. Martin, major north ern battalion ; Edgar B. Stone, surgeon ; J. W. Dre\v. Aaron Rose, J. W. Smith, L. L. Bradbury, S. F. Chadwick, P. F. Castleman, assistant quartermaster, and 8. B. Had ley, first lieutenant company D, "and many others."

20 On the thirtieth of December Lieutenant Mulkey resigned, and Charles W. Me- Clure was elected in his place. Lieutenant A. W. Patterson was transferred to the medical department, and L. Poindexter elected in his place : Oregon journals, house, 1856-6, ap. 145.