Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/403



THE EOGUE RIVER WARS 385

comprised, with one dead and one other wounded, the total loss of men in a three days fight. The Indian loss was twelve killed, and several wounded. The bravery displayed by both sides was very great, the Indians having to advance in the face of a fortified foe, and the volunteers having to defend themselves against six times their numbers.

The indifference of Buchanan to the fatigues and suffer ings of Abbott s party was a subject long dwelt on by the settlers whom they were hastening to relieve, and who resented the cold blooded manner in which the army officer reproved the volunteers for " meddling with things they did not understand." He might, they thought, have shown some kindness, even while obeying General Wool s order "not to recognize the volunteers in the field." He was to show these un martial men how to conduct an Indian war. We shall see presently how he did it.

The intermission of aggressive operations during the interval between the order disbanding the two battalions and the recruiting of the regiment, afforded much en couragement to the enemy. The citizens of Jackson county seeing that the business of the country was being ruined, many persons having removed to the Wallamet in consequence of the Indian troubles, and all merchantable property being unsafe, whether in transit from Crescent City, or in warehouses after arrival; also that volunteering proceeded slowly, petitioned General Wool to v send a suf ficient body of United States troops to southern Oregon to protect the people, or end the war.

Ever since Wool had assumed command of the Pacific department he had behaved with a degree of hauteur towards civil authorities which had gained him the dislike of every governor, and had occasioned some complaints to the secretary of war, who had administered to him reproof very irritating to his arbitrary nature. He was too good a soldier, however, not to obey when commanded, and