blotted out as quickly in Oregon as in New York, and soon there was but one party that amounted to anything—the union party. By reason of lack of sympathy with the people at this juncture, Governor Whiteaker was requested to resign.
The first despatches transmitted across the continent entirely by telegraph shocked the whole Pacific coast with the message that at the battle of Ball's Bluff, on the 21st of October, 1861, fell Oregon's republican senator, E. D. Baker.[1] The seat in the senate left vacant by Baker was filled by the appointment by Governor Whiteaker of Benjamin Stark, one of the original owners of the Portland land claim. Information was forwarded to Washington of the disloyal sentiments of the appointee, and for two months the senate hesitated to admit him; but he was finally, in February 1862, permitted to take the oath of office by a vote of twenty-six to nineteen, Senator Nesmith voting for his admission. But the matter was not
- ↑ When war was declared Baker raised a regiment in Penn. His remains were deposited in Lone Mountain cemetery, San Francisco, and a monument erected to his memory.
Reynolds, and Alvord, besides Baker and Stevens, who had received a military education, but were not in the army. Captain Hazen, who was formerly stationed at Fort Yamhill, was placed in command of a volunteer infantry regiment at Cleveland, Ohio, in the beginning of the war. Lieutenant Lorraine, who was stationed at Fort Umpqua, was assigned to a new regiment in the field, and was wounded at Bull Run. Captain W. L. Dall of the steamship Columbia was appointed a lieutenant commanding in the U. S. navy. Roswell C. Lampson of Yamhill county, son of an immigrant of 1845, the first naval cadet from Oregon, and who graduated about this time, served in the war, and was promoted to the command of a vessel for gallant conduct at Fort Fisher. At the close of the war he resigned, returned to Oregon, and became clerk of the U. S. courts. Portland Oregonian, April 5, 1865; Portland Standard, April 27, 1877. James W. Lingenfelter, a native of Fonda, N. Y., but residing in Jacksonville, Oregon, was made captain of a volunteer company, and killed near Fortress Monroe, Oct. 8, 1861. John L. Boon, son of J. D. Boon, state treasurer, and a student at the Weslyan university, Delaware, Ohio, served in an Ohio regiment, being in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, in the division under General Lew Wallace. The major of the 68th Ohio was a former resident of Oregon, named Snooks, of the immigration of 1844. George Williams, son of Elijah Williams of Salem, was appointed 2d lieut of the 4th inf., and was in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, losing a foot in the last named. Frank W. Thompson of Linn county was colonel of the 3d Va. volunteers in 1863, and subsequently promoted. Henry Butler of Oakland, Oregon, was a member of the 86th Ill. volunteers; and Charles Harker of Oregon was a lieut in the union army. Many more would have been in the service but for the apprehensions entertained of the designs of disunionists on the Pacific coast.
