NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY-LOSS OF ESCORT. 
105 
circumstances of the case, as far as they were then known to him, I shall only mention the 
additional reasons which, at present, render an escort so necessary. 
My whole party, including Lieutenant Crook, myself, and the scientific corps, consists of 28 
men, of which 10 are Mexican packers, and perfectly unreliable in case of an attack. Many of 
the party are unarmed. I think there are only five rifles in the whole command. I have 
about 120 animals, to herd which would fully occupy all the men in case of attack. I have 
with me all the notes of the whole survey, so that, if my party were cut off, the whole 
expedition would have been useless. According to the latest accounts, the Indians are very 
hostile, and are in the field in so large a force as to have cut off all communication with Jack¬ 
sonville, and to have murdered 22 families. I enclose a copy of a despatch,* the original of 
which is in my possession, which shows the state of affairs on the road. As we have to make 
a second survey in the Sierra Nevada before winter, I am forced to advance at once with my small 
unprotected party, although it is the very general opinion that we may not reach Jacksonville 
without an escort. The time which would be required for me to see you in person would create 
so great a delay as to probably prevent the second survey in the Sierra Nevada, particularly 
as my animals are in so jaded a condition that I shall necessarily move slowly. I shall, 
therefore, start to-day for Fort Reading, and if you should decide to modify your previous 
instructions and restore the escort, a man will he at Vancouver, ready to ride express to inform 
me of the fact. Please direct to me at Vancouver, and the man will bring me your letter. 
I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
HENRY L. ABBOT, 
Lieut. U. S. Topographical Engineers. 
Major Gf. J. Rains, 
Mh Infantry , U. S. A , commanding Columbia river and Puget sound District. 
I next went to Portland, and had an interview with Gov. George L. Curry, of Oregon 
Territory, to whom I feel under great obligations. He issued a general order, directing any 
volunteer officer to supply me with an escort, if practicable; and used his influence to aid me 
in every possible way. I feel that the success of the expedition is, in a great measure, due 
to his kind assistance. 
I then returned to our camp at Oregon City, and, after discharging two men at their own 
request, completed the preparations for our return to Fort Reading. 
* Extract from an extra of the Oregon Statesman, 
“Corvallis, Sunday , October 14. 
“ At noon, to-day, Mr. S. B. Hadley arrived at this place, express messenger, bearing a petition to Governor Curry for five 
hundred volunteers to repel the hostilities of the Shasta and Rogue river Indians, who are represented to be in a state of war 
towards the whites. The petition is signed by about 150 of the citizens of Umpqua valley. Among the names we recognize 
a number of prominent settlers there. The petition represents that some twenty or thirty families have been murdered ! and 
dwellings burned; and that an attack upon the Umpqua settlements is feared. The houses burned and families murdered, thus 
far, were between Grave creek and Rogue river. 
* $ * -x- * * e * * w * 
All communication with Jacksonville was cut off, and we hear nothing from the citizens there. It is conjectured, however, that 
the town is fortified. The mail carrier was shot at and driven back. The families between Grave creek and the canon have 
been brought into Umpqua, for safety. There is no communication beyond the canon now. 
“ Mr. Hadley says that Judge Deady, who had been holding court in Jackson county, with Mr. Drew, deputy marshal, confirm 
the intelligence, and say that from the mountains they could see the burning dwellings south of them.’’ 
14 X 
