[Quartermaster General C. S. Drew’s report to Governor Curry, dated December 30, 1854.] , Salem, O. T., December 30, 1854. I have the honor to submit, in obedience to the instructions directed to this office by his excellency John W. Davis; late governor of Oregon, bearing date July 17, 1854, the muster-rolls pertaining to this department, together with the accounts and vouchers relating to the expedition sent upon the southern Oregon immigrant road, under instructions from the same source, and of even date, directed to Colonel John E. Ross, of the 9th regiment Oregon militia, authorizing (if deemed necessary) the enrolment of a mounted volunteer force to suppress Indian hostilities known to exist in that portion of Oregon contiguous to Rogue River valley, and through which the annual overland immigration passes en route to southern Oregon and northern California.
The abstracts and corresponding papers connected therewith relate to army supplies purchased, transportation of the same, issues, sales of captured and other property. Monthly returns of the issues of both subsistence and forage have been made, with the exception of a small amount of subsistence issued to such of the immigration as were destitute of food. The returns for subsistence issued under this head may be seen by referring to the abstract of issues marked “H.”
The whole amount of supplies furnished the expedition have been, in most instances, procured at a less price than were those of the Rogue river war of 1853. The small amount of funds placed at my disposal has enabled me to procure a portion of them at their actual cash value, immediate payments having been made therefor. Owing to the limited amount of means, however, which could be obtained for this purpose, ready payments have only been made when the state of the market has precluded the possibility of procuring the requisite supplies on any other than cash terms.
No effort has been wanting or action left untried by this department that would tend in any degree to further the design for which the command was called into service. To the officers and others connected with the expedition I am under many obligations for the prompt, efficient, and constant aid they have rendered me throughout the entire campaign in the discharge of the duties of this office; the varied and complicated duties of which require strict attention and as intimate acquaintance with all its various branches.
A rigid accountability is in all cases enjoined by the government in execution of vouchers and returns, requiring care and method, and a thorough knowledge on the part of the officers in the discharge of these functions of the duties of the soldier in and out of the field. Without these requisites a perfect system of retrenchment cannot be successfully carried out in the midst ot active operations.
Profiting by the practical knowledge (though limited) of the modus operandi of the quartermaster and commissary departments, gained, however, in the volunteer service only of the preceding years on this coast, I have been enabled in no small degree to curtail the expenses incident to service of this character.
The issue of forage has been exceedingly small, being less than one-third the amount allowed in regular service; and the prices specified in the forage accounts, herewith transmitted, correspond with the present cash value of that commodity in the section of country in which it was absolutely necessary to procure forage for the campaign.
The amount of the quartermaster accounts proper, hospital accounts, and those of miscellaneous expenditures, is altogether less than could be expected, taking into consideration the length and nature of the service rendered. The heavy expenditure connected with the quartermaster’s department in the volunteer service of 1853 (Rogue river war) has to a great extent been avoided. The blacksmithing accounts particularly of that year’s service amounted to a no inconsiderable sum, while such accounts in the present instance furnish but a small item of expense.
The transportation accounts of the expedition form an important item of the sum total of its cost.
The price per diem specified is the least amount for which transportation animals could possibly be procured. Such persons, however as are least acquainted with the country, and the nature of the service required, with all its peculiarities, may deem such prices as being exorbitantly high; but a thorough investigation of the subject, and a familiarity with all its details, cannot fail to banish such erroneous opinions, should any be found to exist.