Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/170



CHAPTER VII.

ELECTION OF ARMY OFFICERS BY THE LEGISLATURE APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF A PEACE COMMISSION ITS OBJECT THE SALE OF FIREARMS TO THE INDIANS PROHIBITED ATTITUDE OF THE SETTLERS TOAVARDS THE INDIANS FEELING TO WARDS THE HUDSON S BAY COMPANY COMPLAINT AGAINST OUDEN ATTITUDE OF THE DALLES INDIANS FORT GILLIAM FIRST SKIRMISH WITH THE ENEMY CON DITION OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT COLONEL GILLIAM S HOSTILITY TO THE FUR COMPANY

LETTER OF JAMES DOUGLAS REPLY OF GOVERNOR ABERNETHY DEPARTURE FOR THE SEAT OF WAR GENERAL ORDERS THE COMMISSARY-GENERAL AND PEACE COMMISSIONER AT FORT GILLIAM ARRIVAL AT THE DALLES GILLIAM DISPLEASED

ORDERS THE ARMY FORWARD THE CAYUSES ATTACK, AND OPPOSE THE CROSSING OF THE UMATILLA ARRIVAL AT WAIILATPU AVOIDANCE OF THE INDIANS BY THE COMMANDER DEPARTUPvE OF MEEK S PARTY FOR WASHINGTON A COUNCIL HELD WITH THE INDIANS BATTLE OF THE TOUCHET DEATH OF GILLIAM PROMOTION OF LEE TO THE COMMAND or THE ARMY.

IT is time now to turn to the military operations of the Oregon government. Among the doings of the legislature which referred to its attitude towards the Cayuses, after authorizing the governor to raise a regiment of volunteers, was the election hy that body of regimental officers, which resulted in making Cornelius Gilliam, colonel-command ant; James Waters, lieutenant-colonel; H. A G. Lee, major, and Joel Palmer, commissary-general. On the same day, December fourteenth, and before the letter of Bishop Blan- chet had been written, recommending to the governor this identical course (which bad first been suggested by the Nez Percés), a resolution was passed "that a delegation of three persons be appointed by this house to proceed imme diately to Walla Walla, and hold a council with the chiefs and principal men of the various tribes on the Columbia, to prevent, if possible, the coalition with the Cay use tribe in the present difficulties." The appointment of these com missioners was, however, left to the governor, who named Joel Palmer, Robert Newell, and Major H. A. G. Lee, than whom no more competent men for this duty could have been selected among the Americans, and much was hoped from their sagacious handling of the Indian intelligence.