That evening, Will couldn’t help but feel both excitement and trepidation as he wrote in his journal.
May 25, 1864. We leave for Fort Klamath tomorrow. What will this expedition bring? Can I keep up with the older men? Can I fit in with the militia?
Will slept poorly and was not ready when Joel rousted them while it was still dark. “Time to leave. Git your gear together.”
Jonah moaned, but Will dressed silently. The three of them buckled their saddlebags to their saddles and loaded the mules—two mules each for Will and Jonah, and four for Joel.
When the boys struggled to heft the packs onto the mules, Joel laughed. “This ain’t much. Only a hundred pounds or so total. On the expedition, each mule’ll carry four packs, and each pack’ll weigh at least a hundred pounds.” Will swallowed hard, wondering how he would manage to lift so much.
After Joel inspected the ropes securing the packs to the mules’ backs, Will took the leads of his two mules and mounted Shanty. And to think Joel had managed eight mules on the trip from Fort Klamath to Jacksonville.
At Sergeant Geisy’s command, they fell into line with the other mule packers. Most of the packers were men about Joel’s age, though a few were grey-haired. The other packers led either four mules like Joel, or six. Will and Jonah were the only two packers who had only two mules. They plodded along in single file out of Jacksonville, each leading their mules.
It was a four-day trek from Jacksonville to Fort Klamath with the lightly loaded mules. For two days they climbed into the Cascades east of Jacksonville until they reached the path through the divide. On a rest break right past the summit, Will stared at the land ahead of them. Tall pines still covered much of the land, but the ground became noticeably more arid, and sage spotted the open areas. He’d never been east of the Cascades before—already he was in unfamiliar territory.
Then for two more days they descended the hills toward Fort Klamath. Long before the fort came into view, Will saw a large lake surrounded by green marsh. “Lake Klamath,” Joel told him. “Fort is on the eastern side, a few miles to the north.”
The four-day trip to Fort Klamath exhausted Will. He thought he and Jonah had ridden hard on their journey to Jacksonville, but the cavalry mule train was far more demanding. They were fed well, but they had to care not only for their horses but also for the mules. Each evening, the packers unloaded the packs from the mules so the beasts could rest. And each morning they loaded the mules again.
May 29, 1864. Fourth day out from Jacksonville. I can heft the mule packs by myself now. Though Joel says heavier loads will come. Should reach Klamath tomorrow. I hope we get a rest before Lt. Col. Drew arrives.
The expeditionary force arrived at Fort Klamath late in the afternoon of May 30 after a long, hot day descending the eastern foothills of the Cascades. Once out of the mountains, the men and their beasts crossed an open plain leading to the fort. Tall grass covered much of the plain, grass that would likely be cut for hay.
Fort Klamath had only been constructed the year before, Joel told them. “Captain Kelly built it. He and Company C of the First Oregon Cavalry Militia. Just opened last year.”
“I thought you said Drew built the fort.”
Joel snorted. “Drew was the commander, but Kelly led the actual work. I like Kelly. Drew—we’ll have to see.”
As they approached the fort, Will could identify the stables and two large barracks. But smaller structures dotted the grounds as well. “What are all those buildings?” he asked Joel, waving his arm at the fort.
“Well, you see the barracks. And the stables.”
“Yes, but what are all the other buildings?” Will pressed.
“Officer quarters.” Joel pointed at some small houses. “The guardhouse, of course. And the offices, arsenal, hospital, and some storehouses.”
“Why ain’t there a stockade around the fort?” Jonah asked.
“Guess it ain’t been built yet,” Joel said. “Don’t know what Kelly intends next.”
“Why was the fort placed here?” Will asked.
“Protection from Indians,” Joel replied. “A lot of people movin’ to these parts. Some come for gold. Some for land. Some just want to escape the War. But the tribes threaten ’em all.”
“Escape the War?” Will asked. “Are there deserters?” He wondered if Jacob Johnson would head south. He never wanted to face the man again.
Joel nodded. “I seen some.”
They entered the grounds of the fort, unpacked their mules near the storehouses, and turned their horses and mules out to pasture. At least the pastures were fenced, so the fort needed only a minimal guard for the animals.
“We’ll get worked into the guard roster soon enough,” Joel said. “So let’s eat and pick out a campsite.”
Only the cavalry could bunk in the barracks. The civilian teamsters and packers camped in an open field near the fort, setting up their tents and cooking utensils.
Will was thankful not to have guard duty the first night. He clambered into his bedroll with his journal and wrote:
May 30, 1864. Fort Klamath is a rough outpost. Not much to recommend it. I wonder if this is like the forts Mama and Mac encountered on their journey to Oregon.
Chapter 29: A Possible Lead
As the days wore on and Jenny’s health improved, Mac decided he should no longer delay his trip to Eugene to meet with Byron Pengra and the road construction group. He could invest his funds without this meeting, but he wanted a better understanding of the consortium’s plans. Was this the best place to put his money? His finances were still precarious.
On May 31, Mac took the steamboat upstream to Eugene. The trip took most of the day, but he arrived in time for supper at a hotel near the dock. After he ate, Mac sat at his table sipping a cognac. The last time he’d left home was his trip to Portland the day Jacob Johnson attacked his family—how long ago that seemed now, though it was less than two months ago. Their family would never be the same again.
The next morning, Mac met with Pengra and his partners. “We have incorporated our operation as the Oregon Central Military Road Company,” Pengra said, puffing on a cigar. “At this point our investments are minimal, but we will expand soon.”
“Why the delay?” Mac asked.
“We’re pursuing grants from Congress,” Pengra said. “We hope the federal government will deed public lands along the road to our company in compensation for the public good our road will achieve. Then we can sell the land to finance the road construction and compensate our investors.”
“You think the government will award you land?” Mac queried. “Isn’t that premature?”
“Railroads receive grants of this nature. Our road is the first step toward rail development in this portion of Oregon.” Pengra folded his arms across his belly. “If we can obtain alternate sections of public lands along the road’s right of way, same as the railroads are granted, then we will be able to profit from our enterprise.” He leaned toward Mac. “Are you with us?”
Mac considered the matter. Oregon could not grow without better roads. Ultimately, a railroad would be necessary to tie the state to the East. But as Pengra said, a road would have to come before the railroad. He nodded. “I am. What do you need from me?”
“At this point, we want a pledge for one thousand dollars,” Pengra said, as the other men smiled at Mac. “Whether we will need more funds depends on how soon we complete the survey and whether Congress acts expeditiously. Of course, we cannot promise any profit from this enterprise, though we believe future land sales will justify our investments.”
“In other words,” Mac said, raising an eyebrow, “you can’t predict what will happen.”
Pengra shrugged. “We have no control over Congress, though there are several representatives who favor our cause. But there will be no profits until after the road is built and we sell the lands Congress grants us.”
“I’ll invest at this point because I agree Oregon needs better roads,” Mac said. “But I cannot commit to anything more than the thousand dollars you are asking for now. Not until your plans for this enterprise are more certain.”
Pengra nodded. “I understand.”
After the meeting, Mac had a little time before the steamship departed on its downstream trip to Oregon City. The day was warm, and it was a pleasure to wander outside in the commercial area near the dock.
