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THE WAR FEELING IN OREGON.
those rare occasions, as aleady mentioned, on which the company's servants received their small allowance of spirits, describes a grand carouse, ending on shipboard.[1]
The subject of military organization had been neglected in the amended organic law, through a wise forbearance, as its existence was calculated to create suspicion and prevent the perfect fusion of rival elements. The apparently critical aspect of affairs in the spring of 1846, however, induced some public-spirited citizens to call a meeting at the house of David Waldo, in Champoeg County, and organize a company of mounted riflemen.[2] Charles Bennett was made captain. It appears to have been a revival of
- ↑ 'This was holiday with the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, and such ranting and frolicking has perhaps seldom been seen among the sons of men. Some were engaged in gambling, some singing, some running horses, many promenading on the river-shore, and others on the large green prairie above the fort. H. B. M.'s ship of war Modeste was lying at anchor about fifty yards from the shore. The sailors also seemed to be enjoying the holidays—many of them were on shore promenading and casting sheep's-eyes at the fair native damsels as they strolled from wigwam to hut, and from hut to wigwam, intent upon seeking for themselves the greatest amount of enjoyment. At night a party was given on board the ship, and judging from the noise kept up until ten at night, they were a jolly set of fellows. About this time a boat came ashore from the ship with a few landlubbers most gloriously drunk. One of them fell out of the boat and his comrades were barely able to pull him ashore.' Journal, 111.
- ↑ The preamble to this organization reads: 'Whereas, the people of Oregon Territory are situated remote from, and without the protection of, any government, we therefore, as members of a free and enlightened community, wishing to preserve the principles of a free and republican form of government, and being well aware that the body of the people is the only power capable of sustaining such institutions, therefore, we deem it advisable to form ourselves into military bodies, for the purpose of preserving peace and order at home, and preventing aggressions from abroad.' Or. Spectator, June 11, 1846. The officers of the company were: captain, Charles Bennett; 1st lieut., A. A. Robinson; 2d lieut., Isaac Hutchins; 3d lieut., Hiram English; ord. sergeant, Thomas Holt; 2d sergeant, Thomas Howell; 3d sergeant, S. C. Morris; 4th sergeant, William Herring; 1st corporal, P. C. Kaiser; 2d corporal, Robert Walker; 3d corporal, B. Frost; 4th corporal, John Rowe. The privates were 33 in number. This company, when called upon to pursue some supposed horse-thieves, charged upon a peaceable native village, and shot an Indian who was innocent of any offence. It seems an anomaly that men who were able to pen sentiments as lofty as those contained in their preamble were so little to be trusted in the execution of their duty. It is due, however, to Captain Bennett to state that he was not in command; and to the company, to say that all regretted the occurrence which happened rather through a mistake than by design. Kaiser's Emigrant Road, MS., 6, 7; Kaiser's Nar., 12-14.
