Many young men are willing to enlist and proceed to the seat of
war, but are unable to furnish an outfit ; let their neighbors assist
them, fit them out well, and send them on. As a people we must
assist and carry on the war. I hope sincerely that the government
of the United States will speedily extend its protecting care over us,
but in the meantime we must protect ourselves, and now is the
time. I therefore call on all citizens of this territory to furnish three
hundred men in addition to the number now in the field. Three
new companies will be organized and attached to the regiment com
manded by Colonel H. A. G. Lee ; each company to consist of
eighty-five men, rank and file; the remainder will be distributed
among the companies already organized ; the enlistments to be for
six months, unless sooner discharged by proclamation or relieved
by the troops of the United States. Each man will furnish his own
horse, arms, clothing and blankets. The companies will bring all
the ammunition, percussion caps, and camp equipage they can, for
which they will receive a receipt from the commissary-general.
All citizens willing to enlist will form themselves into detach ments in their several counties and be ready to march to Portland, so as to arrive there on the eighteenth day of April, on which day Colonel Lee will be there to organize the new companies ; after which the line of march will be taken up for Waiilatpu. If a suf ficient number of men to form a foot company appear on the ground, they will be received as one of the above companies.
In witness whereof, I have signed my name and affixed the seal of the territory.
Done at Oregon City, this first day of April, 1848.
A paper in Lee s handwriting, but without signature, seems to have been written to stimulate enlistment, as fol lows:
He asks permission, as one who has as little to defend in Oregon as any one, to make " an appeal to your good sense arid patriotism, in behalf of your own interests, your families, your prosperity, your own personal safety. I should do violence to my own sense of duty, as well as injustice to my country, were I to suppress the conviction which circumstances and facts have forced upon me of our common danger, and of the absolute necessity of an immediate, united, and vigorous action on your part to secure the safety of the settlements by holding the enemy in check abroad, which can only be done by reenforcing and sustaining the troops now in the field. No country ever furnished a volunteer corps of braver, better soldiers than Oregon has done ; but these men feel themselves entitled to, at least, the means of defending the lives and property of you who remain in quiet and ease at home, as long as you have the power to furnish those means. * * * It is confidently believed tha
