The Oregon Rangers was the first organized

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

of the white settlers located in the

Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley ( ) is a long valley in Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Willamette River flows the entire length of the valley and is surrounded by mountains on three sides: the Cascade Range to the eas ...

in the contested region of the Oregon Country, later the U.S. state of

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

. First established in 1844, the force was never called out to service by the Provisional Government of Oregon and was soon dissolved. Later a second militia was formed in 1846 with the same name, which lasted only a few months. An early historian of Oregon,

Frances Fuller Victor Frances Auretta Fuller (Barritt) Victor ( pen names: Florence Fane, Dorothy D.) (May 23, 1826 – November 14, 1902) was an American historian and historical novelist. She has been described as "the first Oregon historian to gain regional and nat ...

, gave a negative assessment of the two forces, stating there lacked "any deeds of prowess performed by the rangers..."Victor, Frances Fuller
''The early Indian wars of Oregon.''
Salem, OR: Frank C. Baker, 1894

Cockstock Incident

The Cockstock Incident involved a Wasco named Cockstock was employed on black Winslow Anderson's farm in 1843, with a horse promised as payment.Mcclintock, Thomas C. ''"James Saules, Peter Burnett, and the Oregon Black Exclusion Law of June 1844."'' The Pacific Northwest Quarterly 86, No. 3 (1995), pp. 121-130 Prior to the end of his work however, the horse was sold to another black pioneer, James D. Saules. This angered Cockstock, who took the horse and issued threats to both settlers.Allen, A. J
''Ten years in Oregon.''
Ithaca, NY: Mack, Andrus, & Co. 1848. pp. 230-237 Arriving at Oregon City on 4 March 1844, Cockstock and five Wascos walked around the settlement, showing off their rifles for several hours before crossing the

Willamette River The Willamette River ( ) is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Flowing northward b ...

. The party returned later that day with an interpreter to ask the settlers why they were "pursuing him with hostile intentions" when a crowd rushed on them, some pioneers wanting to "shoot him at any risk". During the skirmish three men died, two being pioneers, with George LeBreton, Recorder of the legislature, killed by Cockstock with a poisoned knife. Cockstock himself was killed by having his skull broken by the barrel of Anderson's rifle. This conflict was part of the motivation for the bill by the Provisional Government excluding blacks from Oregon. The Oregon Rangers were called upon by the Executive Committee "to bring to justice all the Indians engaged in the affair." Due to efforts of Elijah White however, peace with the Wascos was maintained after the payment of "two blankets, a dress, and handkerchief" to Cockstock's widow. The Oregon Rangers was organised on 23 March 1844, in response to the outbreak of violence, with orders to meet at the Oregon Institute. A total of 25 men enlisted in the group including

Webley John Hauxhurst Webley John Hauxhurst Jr. (January 23, 1809 – January 23, 1874) was a pioneer in Oregon Country. He helped build the first grist mill in Oregon, participated in the Willamette Cattle Company, and was a participant at the Champoeg meeting where ...

Lindsay Applegate Lindsay Applegate (September 18, 1808 – November 28, 1892) was an American pioneer known for his participation in blazing the Applegate Trail, an alternative route of the Oregon Trail. The trail was blazed with his brothers Charles and Jesse in ...

, William Henry Gray, and Daniel Waldo. They were at first led by Captain Thomas D. Keizur, who resigned shortly afterward, with Charles H. Bennett taking command.Horner, John B
''Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature.''
Portland: The J.K. Gill Co. 1919 These men were expected to provide their own weapons, and promised $2 daily for active service.Grover, La Fayette
''The Oregon Archives''
Salem: A. Bush, 1853 Despite being "aimed as much at the Hudson's Bay Company as at the Indians", the company in its first iteration never entered combat and was eventually disestablished.

Battle Creek Incident

The organization was revived in May 1846 at Daniel Waldo's farm in the

Waldo Hills The Waldo Hills are a range of hills in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, United States. Encompassing an area of around , the hills are located east of Salem.Corning, Howard M. ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956. The ...

.Clarke, S. A
''Pioneer Days of Oregon History, Volume 2.''
Portland, OR: J.K. Gill Co. 1905 Many of the 45 men who drew up an agreement to create a mounted rifle company were a part of the previous outfit. The agreement read in part: :''"That we, as citizens of said territory, in pursuance of this duty, forthwith organize ourselves into a company of mounted riflemen, and pledge ourselves to abide by such rules, regulations and laws as may be adopted by a majority of the company."'' :''"Resolved, That this company shall be called "The Oregon Rangers.""'' With the creation, they selected the officers of the company as follows: Captain Charles Bennett, First Lieutenant A.A. Robinson, Second Lieutenant Isaac Hutchins, Third Lieutenant Hiram English, orderly sergeant Thomas Holt, second sergeant Thomas Howell, third sergeant S.C. Morris, fourth sergeant William H. Herron, first corporal P.C. Keizer, second corporal Robert Walker, third corporal B. Frost, fourth corporal John Rowe. Many in the group had some military experience, including Bennett and Holt who had been in the

Seminole War The Seminole Wars (also known as the Florida Wars) were three related military conflicts in Florida between the United States and the Seminole, citizens of a Native American nation which formed in the region during the early 1700s. Hostilities ...

as dragoons. In June 1846 a band of Wascos arrived in the Willamette Valley and camped on the

Santiam River The Santiam River is a tributary of the Willamette River, about long, in western Oregon in the United States. Through its two principal tributaries, the North Santiam and the South Santiam rivers, it drains a large area of the Cascade Range a ...

.Whaley, Gray H. ''Oregon and the Collapse of Illahee.'' Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2010. pp. 179-180 The band was probably on a seasonal berry gathering excursion, a traditional movement that "almost certainly dates back hundreds of years." Rumors began to spread among the pioneer settlements accusing these Wascos of thefts, including livestock formerly owned by the

Methodist Mission The Methodist Mission was the Methodist Episcopal Church's 19th-century conversion efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Local Indigenous cultures were introduced to western culture and Christianity. Superintendent Jason Lee was the principal leader fo ...

. An estimated forty Rangers rode about 14 miles to location occupied by the band, under the command of Robinson, near what became known as Battle Creek in

Marion County, Oregon Marion County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 345,920 at the 2020 census, making it the fifth-most populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Salem, which is also the state capital of Oregon. The ...

. A short skirmish ensued with one Ranger collapsing from

heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is a severe form of heat illness. It is a medical emergency. Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of water and electrolytes through sweating. The United States Department of Labor makes the following recommendation, "Heat illness ...

and one Wasco injured by David Daily. The Rangers soon retreated a short distance and then opened fire with their longer range rifles. A parley ensued, with the Wascos upset and angered by the unprovoked attack, and they denied the accusations of their supposed thefts. As there was no evidence to support the settlers' claims, the Rangers offered a horse and some blankets as reparations to the injured native. The poor judgment and action by the Rangers led to ridicule by fellow settlers and the company was disbanded.

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 1844 establishments in Oregon Country Marion County, Oregon Military in Oregon Provisional Government of Oregon 1846 disestablishments in Oregon Country Military units and formations established in 1844