Office Superintendent Indian Affairs
Dayton O. T. July 14th 1855.
Sir,
Enclosed are six letters to this office of different dates, from Agent Geo H Ambrose exhibiting a view of the leading events in his district from the first of January to the 11th of June last.
The perusal of these communications will show the frequent occurance of events in that region calculated to disturb the public quiet and endanger the personal safety both of whites and Indians, and the necessity of the constant exercise of prudence and vigilance on the part of the officer in the Indian service in order to prevent actual war.
The Rogue River embraced in the Treaty of the 10th September 1853, manifest uniform good feeling and are gratified with the interest for their welfare shown by the Government, especially with the agricultural improvements, and I doubt not but that if the other bands could be with drawn from the neighborhood of the mines where misunderstandings embroiling the whites and Indians, constantly arise, and where the slightest offence, or mere suspicion, often excites the fury of reckless and unprincipled men, but little reason would exist for apprehending hostile
manifestitations on the part of the savages.
It will be seen that the agent has been impelled to adopt this course as the means of preserving the country from another Indian war, and that nearly all the Indians are now collected upon the Reservation: This measure which has been prepared upon us as the only means of preventing great calamities has somewhat embarassed our operations, as impossible for the Indians thus suddenly crowded together to find the means of subsistance, and without aid from the Government they would be driven to the alternatives of predatory acts or starvation. Sound policy and humanity therefore demand that the exigency be met. I have consequently purchased two tons of flour which will be sent to the reservation without delay, and placed in the hands of Agent Ambrose one thousand dollars for the purchase of additional necessary supplies, as set forth in my instructions to that officer, of which a copy is transmitted to your office. Mr Ambrose has promised a more detailed report of the late disturbances in his district which upon its reception will be immediately transmitted to you.
It is believed that these measures have prevented impending war, which besides the blood of our citizens and the loss of private property would have lead to [...]