THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 377
and expenses, which was forwarded to the executive, who was asked to recognize them as volunteers under his proc lamation of November fifteenth. It was, however, only at a later period, when Pack wood reorganized his company under a proclamation of the executive as the "Coquille Minute Men," that they came to be recognized as belong ing to the volunteer service, their muster roll dating back to November sixth.
This rather lengthy account of the volunteer service in this region is introduced in this place because certain statements were made derogatory to the people of this isolated portion of Oregon, and to such an extent as to influence public opinion to their injury. In a subsequent communication to Governor Curry, speaking on this sub ject, Packwood says:
We had just cause; and should it be urged that there was the military at Port Orford, and consequently no necessity for organiz ing a company, I would only refer to the fact that they remained there after knowing our situation, and would, I believe, have re mained there all the same had all the Indians of southern Oregon been concentrating on us. And the military have never been used in this portion of Oregon for the purpose of averting Indian hostili ties, but only come on the field in treaty-making time, after the exasperated citizens have assembled, conquered, and brought the Indians to terms. There is another thing some persons take upon themselves to do, and that is to decide that a community of people are in no danger from Indian hostilities. The above decision has, I believe, been made in our case. * * * There seems to be an opinion afloat that several white men must lose their lives before Indians are "hostile." I hold to a very different one, and consider the following as hostile acts, especially when a chief and his baud turns out to defend the perpetrators, to wit : breaking open and rob bing houses; stealing ammunition, etc.; stealing blankets and other articles; robbing cornfields; poisoning dogs (invaluable here); ob stinately remaining off the reservation for the. purpose of harboring Indians from the Umpqua, Cow creek, and Rogue river, and to concoct a plan to exterminate the whites on this river. [Then follows a narrative of his own escape from being killed when the Ooquilles were exulting over the tidings of the massacres of white families in Rogue-river valley.] * I found that nothing but
a mild, firm, and energetic course with the Indians here would
