THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 383
In the meantime, Governor Curry, being taught by the Gold Beach disaster that a few hundred men could not protect so large an extent of territory as southern Oregon from a roving enemy, early in March authorized the organization in exposed localities of companies of minute men, and recognized those already formed as belonging to this branch of the service.
Under this order George II. Abbott was engaged in the recruiting service at Fort Johnson in Chetcoe valley early in March, with the intention of going to the relief of the Bledsoe command at Gold Beach, when he learned that Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan of the regular army had arrived at Crescent City by sea, and was marching up the coast to take charge of the Indian war in southern Oregon.
Abbott s company being only thirty-four strong, he thought it prudent to hold back a little, and even re mained three days in camp six miles north of Chetcoe river to allow Buchanan s force to come up within support- t ing distance. On the sixteenth of March the regulars were only five miles in the rear, and the volunteers started forward towards Pistol river, sixteen miles distant, which was reached about two o clock on the morning of the seven teenth, when preparations were made to attack an Indian village at break of day. The village was found to be abandoned, and was burned. Seeing two or three Indians on the hills half a mile distant herding horses, Abbott made a sortie with thirteen men to gain their attention and capture their horses. But on coming near it was dis covered that instead of two or three, at least fifty Indians were in the immediate vicinity and more arriving with every moment. A hasty retreat to the beach was effected, the Indians following, and a runnrng fire was kept up until within supporting distance of camp, when the In dians were repulsed in a brisk skirmish. A messenger was sent to Colonel Buchanan, while the enemy gradually surrounded the volunteers, who, by sharpshoot
