Muster Roll - Company H, 1 Regt, OMV, October 1855

April 3, 2018

The original official muster roll that Captain Davis Layton kept in his papers, documenting all 62 other volunteers under his command. This document isn't the original signup sheet where each volunteer put his own signature (that's held at the Oregon Historical Society); this version is the official record of the company kept by the captain. It shows that all but two were settlers from Linn County, Oregon (the other two were from nearby Benton County). It confirms that Supplina was 23 years old, and that H Company was right in the middle of the action in the Battle of Walla Walla and in the keeping of the prisoners -- Pvt. Sam Warfield, an older volunteer who kept the prisoners, is listed in the company. The muster roll also confirms that each soldier supplied his own horse and was officially inducted on Oct 23, 1855 in Portland to serve 'until discharged.' On the roll is listed the Crabtrees, who would later become in-laws of Supplina. Also listed is his buddy, George Washington Miller, who would years later settle in Dayton, WA and write a letter of affidavit on Supplina's behalf when he applied for the Indian War Pension that Congress would eventually authorize near the turn of the 20th century. Miller wrote of Supplina: 'I served in the Company with him and I have known him for 47 years. I was intimately acquainted with him while in the service and whenever the boys wanted a comical speech they always called on Supplina Hamilton to make it and he was always ready to respond. I positively know that he did perform the duties of a private in Company "H" First Regt of Ore. Mtd Vol under Capt. Davis Layton, and we fought side-by-side in the Battle of Walla Walla.' Also listed is Stephen D. Powel, a year younger than Supplina; they came out to Oregon together in 1851 on the 'Powel Wagon Train,' where Stephen, Supplina and a few other young men served as teamsters driving the supply wagons -- what Supplina jokingly called the 'bachelor train.' Supplina would also keep in touch with Abel White, Harry Bateman and others over the years; this experience built life-long bonds. Davis Layton was promoted to Major, and then back in Linn County his neighbors and fellow volunteers elected him Sheriff of the County.

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