troops were better furnished. In these battles the savages again suffered severely, and on the other side several were wounded but none killed.

While these events were in progress both Gaines and Lane were on their way to the scene of action. The governor s position was not an enviable one. Scarcely were the riflemen beyond the Willamette when he was forced to write the president representing the imprudence of withdrawing the troops at this time, no provision having been made by the legislature for or ganizing the militia of the territory, or for meeting in any way the emergency evidently arising. 39 The re ply which in due time he received was that the rifle regiment had been withdrawn, first because its services were needed on the frontier of Mexico and Texas, and secondly because the Oregon delegate had as sured the department that its presence in Oregon was not needed. In answer to the governor s suggestion that a post should be established in southern Oregon, the secretary gave it as his opinion that the com manding officer in California should order a recon- noissance in that part of the country, with a view to selecting a proper site for such a post without loss of time. But with regard to troops, there were none that could be sent to Oregon; nor could they, if put en route at that time, it being already September, reach there in time to meet the emergency. The secretary therefore suggested that companies of militia might be organized, which could be mustered into ser vice for short periods, and used in conjunction with the regular troops in the pursuit of Indians, or as the exigencies of the service demanded.

Meanwhile Gaines, deprived entirely of military sup port, endeavored to raise a volunteer company at Yon- calla to escort him over the dangerous portion of the route to Rogue River; but most of the men of Ump- qua, having either gone to the mines or to reenforce

39 32d Cony., 1st Sess., II . Ex. Doc. 2, pt. i. 145; Or. Spectator, Aug. 12,