East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-09-22


timers the organization of that other
cavalry troop in Umatilla county In
the days when protection against
scalp-lifting Indians rather than
AGAINST rabid kaiser demanded n
program of preparedness
1t was in December, 1873. that the
wild Horse Rangers, known official
IL as Company b, Second Regiment
oregon Volunteer State Militia, band
cd themselves together. In the July
preceding had been fought the Battle
of Willow Springs in the southern
part of Umatilla county between a
band of Bannock and Piute Indians,
reinforced by renegades from the
tribes of eastern oregon, and a little
body of volunteers from Pendleton,
Weston, Adams and Pilot Rock.
subsequently the U. S. troops had ar
rived and with the assistance of
friendly Indians OF the Umatilla res
ervation had effectively defeated the
warning bands and brought to an end
the war.
However, there was still unrest
among some of the Indians and the
residents of the Greasewood district.
on the border of the reservation,
Their settlement was a sparse one
and neighbors lived far apart. There
fore, the Wild Horse Rangers were
organized under the command of
Robert e Eastland and with Tol :
as lieutenants. The company, was
officially recognized by the state au-
thorities and equipped with arms
hut Of 10
started but dragged along until things
of peacefulness that it was not con-
sidered necessary. The company
was then disbanded after being or
ganized for nearly two years
The only time the company was
called out was in January of 1879 TO
serve as q guard during the hanging
of White Owl and ouit-it-tumps, two
reservation Indians who had taken
part in the war and who were in the
party that killed a white man. One
part of the company came TO Pen
dleton as a guard and the other did
patrol duty near the reservation in
the event the hanging should result
in any disturbance there.
The members of the company were
for the most part farmers and,
though many have since passed on,
a good number are still alive. The
passage of the recent pension bill for
Indian war veterans may secure some
of them a pension.
Captain Eastland is still alive,
though he has not lived in this coun-
~ for many years He lived in Eu-
gene a good many years and served
several terms as treasurer of Lane
county. Recently he has been max
ing his home with his son, DR.. Her
bert Eastland, at Halfway in Baker
county. Lieutenant Ferguson is
dead Lieutenant BlakIey. who was
subsequently sheriff of Unatilla
county. still lives in PendletOn. He
served in the Battle of Willow
Springs as second lieutenant also, and
six other men who afterwards became
Rangers, also served in that battle.
Among the number were Captain
Eastland and Lieutenant Ferguson.
Among the members of the Wild
Horse Rangers still living in this
county are George Peebler. George
Buzan, L C. Rothrock, J. N. Fergu-
son, ]. H Ferguson, Gideon r.
Brown, Charles Pell, William S. Shaf-
fer and Peter c. Enbysk.
Minutes still Preserved.
Th original minutes of the meet
ings held by the Wild Horse Rang
ers are still preserved. They are in
the possession of w. B. Blakley and
the same book contains the original
muster roll The minutes are all sign
ed by Captain r E Eastland and
Orderly Sergeant NJ H. Thompson.
Mr. Thompson is still alive and only
recently left here for the soldiers
home at Roseburg.
The minutes as kept contain
rather interesting story and some OF
the proceedings are here copied. The
following is the call for the first
That there will be meeting of the
of Greasewood Precincts at
the Elk Horn school house on Satur-
day. Dec. Il. 1877, for the purpose of
a company OF militia for
the protection of our lives. our fam
iIeis and our property. All that feel
in the welfare of our coun-
" and state against an Indian out
break. and are willing to defend the
same are requested to come out to
the meeting. Umatilla Co, Greg,
Dec 5th, 1878.
PROCEEDINGS of First Meeting
Elk Horn school house, Umatilla
County, Greg, Dec. 14th, 1873
Pursuant to notice given, citizens
of Greasewood met for the purpose
Of organizing a company Of militia.
House called TO order on motion or
r. E Eastland. Motion prevailed
that r. K Eastland act as president
of said meeting. Motion made and
carried that NJ. H. Thompson act as
secretary.
Object Of the meeting stated oy
president. and Of the necessity or the
forming of a COM pany for our bet
ter protection against Indians, etc
Motion made that the secretary form
an enlistment paper and proceed TO
enroll for independent company. AT
A. Ngff