[2] Ross, Joseph Kline, and an Englishman, left the company at Grand Ronde, with the intention of coming on through ahead of them.

Ross traded his clothes to the Indians for provisions for the destitute band, and remained with them until his own train arrived, all coming to Oregon together.

When the Cayuse War broke out, Ross enlisted in the first volunteer company, known as the "Oregon Rifles" with H. A. G. Lee, captain, and Joseph Magone, first lieutenant.

In the fall of 1852, General Ross raised a company of thirty men and went to rescue immigrants who were attacked at Bloody Point on Tule Lake.

After operating a few days in conjunction with Colonel Alden, of the U.S. Army, and having only a few skirmishes with the Indians, General Lane arrived and took command.

[9] The negotiations were held near Lower Table Rock, with Takelma leader Apserkahar ("Chief Joe") and representatives of the Shasta and Dakubetede Indians of the Rogue River Valley.

[8] In 1854, Ross was ordered by the Governor to organize a company and sent them out to protect the immigrants on the southern route, which was done, Captain Walker commanding.

In the fall of 1855, a breakout of the Indians,[clarification needed] not only in his county but in the northern part of the Oregon as well, resulted in a general war.

[8][12] A detailed description of Ross and his regiment at the October 31, 1855 defeat at the Battle of Hungry Hill appeared in the New York Herald.

Ross was appointed Brigadier-General of the First Brigade of the Oregon Militia by Governor La Fayette Grover on December 2, 1872, as the Modoc War began.

[8] Hubert Howe Bancroft, in his Oregon Biographical Sketches, remarked: One whole night I spent with Ross at Jacksonville, writing down his experiences; and when at early dawn my driver summoned me, I resumed my journey under a sickening sensation from the tales of bloody butcheries in which the gallant colonel had so gloriously participated.

History of Southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties, comp.