of the Americans, they would assist, without attempting to hide anything from him. To this they agreed, and allowed the volunteers to drive back to Colonel Waters' camp one hundred and eighteen horses and a number of colts, besides about forty head of cattle.[1]
It was with regard to rejoining the main command that Lee had sent an express; this he was ordered to do without delay. His detachment crossed back to the south side of Snake Kiver in boats made of the skin lodges left behind by the fleeing Cayuses, and returned to camp, where he arrived about the 26th.
It was evident from the results of the spring campaign thus far that there was nothing to be gained by having a regiment in the Indian country. So long as they remained, the guilty Cayuses would keep concealed. There was the trifling satisfaction of confiscating their property; but it sometimes happened that a doubt was raised concerning the real ownership, and incidents occurred of a nature to embroil them with the peaceable Indians. Such an incident was mentioned in one of the official reports, where a company was driving to camp a herd which it was supposed belonged to the Cayuses, when an unknown Indian of dignified bearing forbade them, declaring the property to be his, upon which, without inquiry, he was shot down. Colonel Waters wished to punish the man for firing without orders; but his captain interfered, saying the man had done his duty.[2] Such acts could only lead to a general war.
Satisfied that it was hopeless to expect any real cooperation, even from the Nez Perces, in capturing the fugitives, whom they were known to have entertained up to the time the volunteers were within
- ↑ Report of Capt. Thompson, in Or. Spectator, July 27, 1848.
- ↑ Nichols Ind. Aff., MS., 2. Major Magone, in closing his report of the expedition to Snake River, before mentioned, said: 'I ordered the detachment to return to the regiment, thoroughly convinced that I would have given more general satisfaction by ordering them to wipe from the face of existence these (professedly) friendly Indians.' Or. Spectator, July 27, 1848.
