Gilliam, the governor urged Palmer to use all possible despatch to reach the Dalles before the colonel should have moved from that place. The commissioners arrived at Fort Lee on the 10th, accompanied by the commands of McKay and English, with the cannon, which McKay's men transported round the Cascades in a severe snow-storm, which detained both companies at the upper landing all day of the 9th, and also a party of three Hudson's Bay men bearing despatches to Fort Walla Walla.
Colonel Gilliam received a letter from the governor by the hand of Commissioner Palmer, in which he was informed that the commissioners had been ordered to hold a council with the field-officers of the army, on the steps necessary to be taken in order to secure entire unanimity of action. If the colonel thought best to proceed at once to Waiilatpu with the main army, he was to do so, and to select a favorable point for erecting a fort; wood, water, and grass being requisites. In case of the tribes combining and refusing to comply with the demand to give up the murderers, the field was left in the hands of the colonel, who was only cautioned to respect the lives and property of all Indians who were friendly.
This blowing hot and blowing cold, and final leaving of everything in Gilliam's hands, was extremely perplexing to the commissioners, who, if they were to effect the object for which they were delegated, must meet the natives in council before the army was upon them. The council with the field-officers took place on
of families. You should have at least 40 days' rations in advance. Call upon the citizens through the medium of the press, or handbills, or both to come forward and aid us. Now is the time to show their love of country then patriotism, who are friends, and who are foes. There are but two sides, for and against; there can be no half-way place. Writing from Vancouver, on his way up the Columbia he says: 'I have bought a keg of powder and 100 pounds of balls which can be used as well as lead! Secure all the ammuniton you can and forward speedily. Send cannon, ball, and canister. I will make a portage for the cannon at the Cascades, as I go up. There are 40 pounds of good rifle powder at Timmon's, on the Columbia Slough, opposite this fort.' Such was the multiplicity of cares of the chairman of the peace commission, who, while delegated to negotiate for peace, Mas preparing for war. See Or. Archives, MS., 117-18.
