Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/612

 encountered some of them as he was on his way to Bernard's with the horses of Fairchild's company, and Applegate was sent to guard the settlements.

The time for which the Jacksonville volunteers enlisted having expired, they were now anxious to return to their homes and business, which had been hastily left at the call of their fellow-citizens. Applegate, too, fearing the effect of the late defeat on the reservation Modocs, wished to return to camp Yainax. In consideration of these circumstances, Wheaton sent a despatch to Portland, by way of Yreka, asking Canby for three hundred foot-troops and four mortars, and suggesting that the governor of California should be called upon to send militia to guard that portion of his state open to incursions from the Modocs. Canby immediately responded by ordering two companies of artillery and two of infantry to the seat of war, and as the inhabitants of Surprise Valley apprehended an uprising of the Shoshones on account of the Modoc excitement, a company of cavalry was sent to their defence, making the number of troops in the Modoc region six hundred, exclusive of the garrisons at the several posts in the district of the lakes. But even with these, the country being in part inadequately guarded, the general sent a recommendation to army headquarters at Washington, that conditional authority should be given him to call upon the governors of Oregon and California for two companies of volunteers from each state.

On the 23d the encampment at Van Bremer's was broken up, the troops and stores removed to Lost River ford, and a permanent camp established, where preparations were carried on for attacking Jack in his stronghold, when two mortar-boats should have been constructed, by which his position could be shelled from the lake side—a plan which, if it had been put in execution, would have ended the war.

But now again outside interference with the Modoc