The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-07-02
LHE FIRST OREGON CAVALRY.
An Account Of the Services Rendered by
this Band OF Volunteers from the
Willamette Valley During
the Indian War
or 1s6H~6.
BY A VOLUNTEER.

OuA1uS buo WluboI VI 1CUO. 4 en-
listed in the first Oregon Cavalry witt
a number of Linn county boys anC
was sent to Vancouver, W. T. W.
were stationed there until the first o.
May, when we were ordered out in,
to the Indian country to try to civil
ize those two old Snake chieftains
Winnamucca and Wea-ah-we-wah
There were detachments from Compa,
MES A. B. D. E., numbering in all
about 100 men. We had been in
garrison so long that the men were
delighted with the idea Of travelling,
especially ON those comfortable steam.
ers between Portland and The Dalles
The morning of our embarkation was
beautifuland pleasant, as ever dawned
upon the Willamette Valley, and We
stepped aboard the Emma Hducdrd
with light hearts and smiling faces;
yet / think if we had known more Of
the hardships Of an Indian campaign
we would have felt very differently.
However, we knew nothing of the
future and as we glided away over
Columbia's smooth and unrippled
waters, we stationed ourselves in
groups about the deck, and talked Of
home and friends, and the 'tgirls we
left behind u.s." discussed the
probabilities Of our being killed and
left upon the field Of battle, for the
coyotes to devour, or what was still
worse if we were to be hacked to
ces blythe treacherous Snakes, and
our hair hung upon pole for the
red skins TO rejoice over, and shake
through their teeth in boastful tri-
umph These were questions freely
discussed by one and all. We had a
very pleasant time, and those of us
who were not IN the habit of using
intoxicating drinks Jared better than
those that did, for many of them, by
the time we arrived at the point where
the Columbia scenery is the most
magnificent, were either too drunk
to see it, or were ordered below.
We arrived at the Dalles about
dusk and were marched to the
garrison. After unsaddling our hors-
es. we awaited the quartermaster's
presence to assign quarters for our
poor, tired steeds; but not making
his appearance as soon as was agree
able, the orderly concluded to
mount his horse bare back and pro-
ceed to his Office and hurry him up
One of the boys assisted him to
mount, but the Orderly being a little
too light-headed to stay there fell of
upon the opposite side, and in fall
ing, the horse kicked him in the
stomach with such force ms to fatally
iniure him. He diEd the next day at
2 o'clock, and on the following day
his remains were placed ON board the
steamer and sent to Vancouver. Thus
after one days time he returned, not
as he came-but q corpse, and all
from the effects of rum. Thus died
Sergeant Durfey, Company D., first
Oregon Cavalry. Those Of my com
rades who may see this article will
remember the gloom which this sad
event cast upon each one of us. The
first day of our journey terminating
so sadly, what might the rest be. 1t
was q solemn warning to many Of us,
which we never forgot while in the
service, and l hope we never may.
We remained at the DaIles about a
week, and then, uder the command
of Lieut.. Hobert, now Captain in the
regular army, with Silas Pepoon, and
James Curry, we started for the In
dian country by the way Of Fort
Boise, where we arrived about the
first of June. After resting here
about week, we again took up our
line Of march for the scene Of Indian
hostilities. We arrived at, and es-
tablished Camp Lyon, near the west
ern boundary line Of Idaho about the
middle Of june. This was our head
quarters, and from there we secuted
the country in every, direction, and
were some times near two hundred
miles from our headquarters. The
latter part Of June we were ordered
in pursuit Of thieying band Of In
dians that had stolen some horses
from Silver City, Idaho. We tracked
them for eight days, and the ninth
day about noon we came upon the
objects of our search on the Malheul
River near where the Malheur Indian
Agency is now located. We had a
Jolly time chasing them over the rocks
and sage brush, but did not capture
any that day; the next day we rested
in camp, but while we were resting
those wary old rogues, We.ah-we-wah
and Winnemucca were reinforced
with about two hundred Of then
braves, and that night they surround
ed, and about daylight opened irt
on us while we were all asleep bui
the guard. II is impossible for me tC
describe the CONSERVATION and disor
der which followed. The command
ing officer, who but few evenings
before had boasted that with hi
thirty Linn and Marion county boy
he could whip five hundred Indians
now ierked his shoulder straps Of
for fear they might want to see hin
first. And / think about that tim'
he changed his mind and would have
concluded two hundred as a sufficient
number to pit his thirty men against
But it was too late for q change o.
that kind now, had to fight Just what
were there. 80 the boys sailed in like
heroes and after half hours hart
: fighting and few rounds Of grap'
: and cannister, the tune was turned
and we took charge Of the war whooI
and ran it from that to the end o
the battle. It was running hghi
from that time and we we're unable
to ascertain thes number but hav'
! learned since that we succeeded IL