Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/762

Rh was their purpose to kill as many as possible. Yet in Indian battles, except where there is a surprise and a massacre, few are killed, for the Indian fights from behind a tree, and his white antagonist usually adopts the same tactics. Gilliam's troops extended their lines until they embraced in an almost complete circle the wagons and cattle, advancing and fighting, using every caution to avoid an ambush. The cannon was twice discharged, but owing to the scattered positions of the enemy, proved of little use, and the rifle became the sole dependence. The army continued to march and fight until sunset, when the natives withdrew and the volunteers encamped beside the road without wood or water, having had at last a chance to do something besides waiting and quarrelling among themselves or complaining of their commander. The loss on the side of the Americans was five wounded, one dangerously; while the Cayuses had eight killed, including a chief called Great Eagle and a medicine-man, and one severely wounded—the popular chief Five Crows, whose arm was shattered by a ball from the .rifle of Lieutenant Charles McKay of the French company. Newell, in remarking upon events of the day, says that the murderers were eager for battle, and that it was easy to distinguish between them and those who had no personal interest in the fight, and would have avoided it if possible. Divided among themselves, and in consternation at the outcome of the battle, the fighting next day was cautious and ineffectual.

For two days the men were without water, and with little to eat, harassed continually by the enemy keeping on a parallel line of march. Some of the Cayuses approached near* enough to intimate their desire to hold a council with the commissioners, but they were told that no interruption could be allowed the movements of the army until water was found. On the nio-ht of the 25th the volunteers encamped on the