Office Superintendent Ind. Affrs.
Dayton Oregon Ty Jany 9. 1856
Sir,
Enclosed herewith is a copy of a letter to Major Genl Wool U.S.A. This communication sufficiently explains its object.
In accordance with my request an order was made out directing Capt. Smith commanding at Fort Lane to furnish the number of troops asked for. Hearing objections might be urged against their removal and other obstacles thrown in the way I determined to repair to those districts, and accordingly on the 13th Ultimo set out accompanied by John Flett as Interpreter and Willis Shaw as messenger. The trip to the Umpqua Reservation was performed through one of the severest storms that I have ever experienced in Oregon. We reached that point on the evening of the 17th where I found nearly three hundred Umpquas Calapooias Cow Creeks and Molallalas, now the charge of Theophilus Magruder Esq. who had been appointed by Mr Martin (designated by me as Local Agent who declined the appointment) and whose appointment had been approved by Agent Ambrose. The census for this camp gave 89 men, 133 women, 40 boys, and 37 girls, many of whom were suffering from sickness, probably induced by a change of diet, being confined to flour and fresh beef, and exposure.
[...] were sick, all the chiefs of the bands embraced in the treaty of the 29th Nov 1854, signed this treaty and those two chiefs were willing to remove in the spring or when the streams and roads might be in a favorable state.
On the 22nd or 23rd proceeding to Roseburg, I purchased a few goods to supply the most pressing wants of those Indians.
In the mean time the snow had commenced falling, and on the 24th it was eleven inches deep and the weather exceedingly cold, with a prospect of remaining so for some time.
Mr. Metcalfe had previously been dispatched to Rogue River and on the 22nd returned and joined me at Roseburg. The inclemency of the weather and bad condition of the roads induced Mr Ambrose and Mr Metcalf to recommend the continuance of the Fort Lane Encampment until spring. Mr Metcalf is left in charge of the Umpqua Encampment with instruction (see paper "A") to remove them at the earliest possible moment.
Three men, two women and four children were being taken to the Reservation on the 28th the day on which I set out on my return. These people belonged to the Cow Creek and Looking Glass Prairie Bands, and were of the party in the latter place at the time the first attack was made upon the Indian village at that point by the whites, & who escaped to the mountains.
The head chief of the Molallalas expected to gather
[...] Indians on their removal and render the Agent such assistance as might be required; but whether this order will be observed I am unable to determine as the scanty supply offerrage would hardly warrant their remaining so long in that vicinity.
The excitement among the people of this valley has greatly subsided. The settlers in the immediate vicinity of the contemplated encampment cease to oppose the movement and many urge its propriety and prep its immediant consumation. I feel quite well satisfied that by the time these Indians approach the neighborhood said to be the most hostile, no opposition will be offered to their progress. Should I however find it to be otherwise I will call upon Gen Wool for such a military escort as will awe lawless persons and enable those friendly and peaceable bands to reach in safety, their destined encampment.
In another communication will be transmitted the treaty to which I have already referred. The last clause of Article third, contemplated that in the event the President disapproved of the Coast Reservation as a home for these people, they may after the restoration of peace, be allowed to return to the Umpqua Reservation or elsewhere as may be directed.
The expenses of collecting and subsisting the
Indians at the various encampments in this Superintnedency have long since absorbed all the funds in my hands applicable to such purposes. This class of accounts has thus far been carried under the appropriation for "Adjusting Difficulties and Preventing Outbreak."
The Indians claim and with much reason, that this expenditure ought not to be taken from their annuities, as the necessity for such expenditures was no fault of theirs. I have previously suggested amounts required to enable me to maintain peace with the Tribes in Middle Oregon, along the coast, and on Table Rock Reservation, presuming at that date – Oct 9th – that the Tribes in this and Umpqua Valley would be able to subsist themselves with comparatively little assistance.
But the excitement immediately following, rendering necessary their collection and subsistence, calls for an immediate remittance.
I am of the opinion that a sum of less than fifty thousand dollars to be placed at the disposal of this superintendency to meet the expenditures connected with the removal and subsistence of Indian Tribes and to "Adjust Difficulities and Prevent Outbreaks" already expended and likely to be called for before the close of these disturbances will be required and should they continue long that sum will be insufficient [...]