34 T. W. DAVENPORT. Not deeming his answer sufficiently explicit, I wrote again on the 4th of the month, to which he responded on the 7th as follows: La Grande, Oregon, October 7, 1898. T. W. Davenport, Salem, Oregon. Dear Friend: Kesponsive to yours of the 4th inst., I will say that my memory presents only fragments of the transaction about which you enquire. I can recall but one Indian, a light built, slim armed, bony fingered young fellow, whose name I do not recall. Of the incident of his escape, or of the escape of any Indians from ithe guard, I have not the slightest recollection. Neither do I recall who acted as interpreter, but presume there was one. I recollect very clearly that the Indian made a talk, narrating "the scrap," and that I objected to his making any statement until informed that he was not required to incriminate himself. This was overruled and the quizzing went on. I made several ineffectual attempts to confine the examina- tion to something like ordinary lines in courts, but the whole proceed- ing was farcical. It may seem strange that I remembered so little, but the fact is, I was trying to know just as little as possible of what took place in the garrison. Steinberger was running things with a high hand, and the Oregon cavalry officers were afraid of him. He had already browbeaten Colonel Cornelius out of the service and he was after my scalp. The guard house was full of soldiers, sometimes of citizens and often of Indians. I made one effort to arrest the outrages but was reported for dismissal for insubordination. With the exception of Dr. What- kins, I had no man at the garrison to stand by me. I had to play a lone hand and in playing it I had to shut my eyes and shun knowing many things. I never went to the post, or regimental headquarters except on official business. Many of the officers seemed to shun my company for fear of compromising their standing with the ruling potentate. Thus isolated, I knew very little of what was going on outside of my own duties and did not want to know. Captain Apper- son or Lieutenant Kapus will doubtless be able to assist you, as Kapus was St'einberger's Adjutant and Apperson had nothing to hinder him from knowing what was going on. Very respectfully, GEO. B. CUKEEY. p s. And not pertinent to your enquiry, I will say that as a se- quence of my controversy at Walla Walla, I had the pleasure of caus- ing Colonel Steinberger's muster out of the service, summarily, and I relieved him of the command of Fort Walla Walla. Later on I relieved Colonel Maury of the command of thie district and in a few days
