The proceedings of the convention were published in leading west coast newspapers, but the project received no encouragement from legislators and interest in the idea waned.

[1][3] In April 1854, Drew was appointed quartermaster general of the territorial militia by Oregon's Democratic governor, John W.

[5] In 1855, Drew was appointed adjutant for the southern Oregon militia volunteer companies under Colonel John E. Ross.

Beginning that summer, the southern Oregon militia was expanded because of the tense relations between Rogue River tribes and local settlers.

[9] Drew served as an officer in the 1st Oregon Cavalry regiment during the American Civil War, after volunteering for service in the United States Army.

Drew selected a site fifteen miles north of Agency Lake and supervised the construction of Fort Klamath during the summer of 1863.

[1] In the summer of 1864, Drew was order to organize and lead an Army expedition to size up the Indian situation in southeastern Oregon and determine if additional outposts were needed to protect immigrants.

His reconnaissance party was made up of 39 enlisted troops, a medical officer, and eight support personnel, including scouts, teamsters, and a blacksmith.

They then traveled northwest, passing around the north end of Cowhead Lake and over broken high desert country into the Warner Valley.

[10][11] Because escort duty had slowed down their pace of travel, Drew had to cancels plans for exploring the Owyhee country to the river's headwaters.

Instead, Drew along with nineteen troops escorted the immigrant wagon train through the Jordon Creek Valley and on to Fort Boise.

On November 21, 1864, Major General Irvin McDowell, commander of the Army's Department of the Pacific, approved Drew's released from active duty as soon as his Owyhee Reconnaissance report was completed.

[14][15][16][17] In May 1869, The Oregon Sentinel reported that Drew was "traveling with a splendid outfit" in the employ of San Francisco businessmen.

[18] The Sacramento Daily Union of February 5, 1876, lists him among the incorporators of a gold and silver mining company in Elko County, Nevada.

[21][22] In addition, Drew named and recorded the location of a number of Oregon geographical features including the Sprague River,[23] Warner Valley,[24] and Beatys Butte.

Drew, 1st Oregon cavalry, in the summer of 1864, Pursuant to the Orders of Brigadier General George Wright, Commanding Department of the Pacific.

It also records the day-to-day details of a major Civil War era military reconnaissance operation in the western United States.

[27] A hardcover version of Drew's report of Indian attacks on settlers in the Oregon Territory was published by Ye Galleon Press of Fairfield, Washington in 1973.