Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/203



TffE CAYUSE WAR. 185

the Americans, while just enough of them lingered behind to pick up the news about camp and act as go-betweens. Still the influence of the superintendent was such that on the eighth the Nez Percé chiefs were encouraged to go to the Cayuse camp, then twenty-five miles distant, to en deavor to persuade the nation to give up the murderers, the army to follow on the next day, two of the commis sioners accompanying it. It had advanced but three miles from Waiilatpu when it was met by chief Sticcas, who had in charge several hundred dollars worth of cattle, prop erty, and money belonging to the mission and murdered immigrants, which the Cayuses had given up in the hope of thus creating a favorable sentiment in their behalf.

A proposition was made by Sticcas for a council, Gilliam objecting on the ground that it was an artifice to gain time; but it was finally agreed to, and the troops en camped for the purpose. In the talk with Sticcas it was made known that the Cayuses refused to surrender Taui- towe or Tamsucky. The first, indeed, had never been ac cused, but Tamsucky was undoubtedly guilty, and by thus classing them together the murderers sought to retain more influence on their side. In this council Colonel Gilliam offered to accept Joe Lewis in place of five of the murder ers, but no agreement was arrived at, neither the other commissioners nor the Cayuses being pleased to consent. 15 Still a certain amount of success had attended their efforts. The Nez Percés were made friendly neutrals and the Cay uses were divided, so that ultimately they might have come to the terms proposed.

On the eleventh the army made a fresh start, unen cumbered by a peace commission, Palmer, Lee, and Newell, with McKay, who was ill, and others, leaving for the Wallamet, those remaining in the Cayuse country numbering only two hundred and sixty-eight men and officers. The departing half dozen remained one night at

-"" Seeing such a move," says, Newell, "I concluded to be ofl ."