Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/391



THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 373

ity, and by agreement between the agent and themselves, they carried out their design, as shown in the following compact :

FORT KITCHEN, Coos County, O. T., November 6, 1855. Articles of agreement made and entered into between David Hall, local Indian agent for the Coquille district, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned persons, to wit : Wo, the under signed, do hereby agree to serve and obey all orders given us by David Hall, local Indian agent for the Coquille Indians, for the pur pose of promoting and maintaining peace between the Indians in his charge and the settlers, or citizens of the United States in this valley; also, to prevent other Indians now at war with the United States from joining and forcing the Indians in this district into a war with the United States; and to serve until such times as peace may be declared, unless relieved or discharged, and to receive for such service such pay and emoluments as the United States may think fit to give us. ( Then follow nineteen names, and the affidavit of the agent.)

I certify, on honor, that believing the public tranquility required the measures I have adopted, I have contracted with and engaged the above-named men to assist me in promoting and maintaining the peace as above specified.

DAVID HALL,

Local Indian Agent, Coquille District, Coos County, O. T. Witnesses: H. W. SANFOBD,

ELIJAH MOUTS, J. P.,

Coos County, Coquille Precinct, O. T.

The same day on which the agreement was signed a site was selected on the Coquille river for the erection of a fortification, which was named Fort Kitchen, and which in a few days was so nearly picketed that it could be de fended by half a dozen men. Captain Packwood then, with less than a third of the little force, made a scout up the south fork of the river on the twelfth of November to look after the property of several settlers who were absent from their places. They found that a house had been robbed of a large amount of flour, and thereupon Hall sent an express to Port Orford to notify sub-Indian agent Ben Wright of the absence of the Indians from the reser vation, of the robbery, and other matters connected there with, and asking him to come to Coquille to