so that excepting the failure of McBean's answer to reach its destination, no serious interruption of the correspondence occurred. This was the position of affairs when the army reached the Umatilla.
On the 27th the regiment moved to the Columbia, the savages having all disappeared during the night; which movement signified determined war. To those who had asked for a council during the encampment on the Umatilla, it had been answered that they must come to Waiilatpu where the Nez Percés were expected, though in truth nothing was yet known of the disposition of the Nez Percés, which want of information was the principal reason for deferring the meeting with this portion of the Cayuses.
On the evening of the 28th camp was made near Fort Walla Walla. Colonel Gilliam, with Palmer and Newell, spent the night within its walls, taking council with McBean, whose despatches from Vancouver, having reached him at the same time, might be supposed to express the sentiments entertained at headquarters. It was his opinion that with good management a war could be avoided.[1] That the company should so desire was to be expected. Nevertheless two kegs of powder were obtained, to be used if necessary.
Gilliam had an opportunity while at the fort of discussing the question of complicity with the Catholic priests, and appeared to have been satisfied, as nothing further was said in that quarter of the charges against them.[2] He moved six miles up the Walla Walla
- ↑ Newell's Memoranda, MS., 10.
- ↑ There was a letter written by B. Jennings from Fort Lee, more often called Fort Wascopam in the correspondence of the volunteers, stating that Seletza, the Dalles chief, alleged that the priests at Walla Walla had made shields for the Cayuses, from which circumstance the Cayuses flattered themselves they were invulnerable, and intended marching through the country of the Sklos, who are probably a branch of the Yakimas, from the name of one of the Yakima chiefs, Skloom, to punish them for their neutrality, and thence down the north side of the Columbia to the Willamette settlements. The letter was dated February 28th, and addressed to A. E. Wait. The same writer mentioned that, as acting quartermaster, he was daily importuned for ammu-
