taking it to Gilliam, that he was fearful he would be killed; but as it was known that he had refused to accept the flag sent to him by the peace commissioners by the hands of his own men, his apology to McBean was regarded as a subterfuge. The same letter conveyed the information that Tamsucky, Joe Lewis, and Tiloukaikt's two sons were on the road to Fort Hall, the latter three intending to join the Mormons at Salt Lake, while Sticcas and Tauitau were gone to the mountains to remain until the war was over. The other Cayuses, the Palouses, and some worthless Nez Percés were congregating to give the volunteers one more battle before abandoning the country and going to hunt buffalo.
Such was the information which the commander of Fort Waters thought of sufficient importance to despatch to the governor.[1] From the Yakima country the news was more encouraging. Some of their chief men visited the Dalles to assure the officer in command of Fort Lee that neither they nor the Spokanes wished to be involved in the war, though the Cayuses had threatened them with the same treatment they gave the Americans if they refused to join in the hostilities. On this representation, that they had resisted entreaties and threats to make them go to war, they hoped to get some ammunition; but were told that until peace was restored no ammunition would be furnished to any Indians; but instead of powder a plough was presented to them, with which they departed apparently satisfied.[2]
Indeed, the quantity of ammunition which the governor was able to send to the Dalles on Maxon's demand was so small that none could have been spared, had there been no other reason for withholding it. But such as it was, he returned immediately with it to Fort Waters, leaving the Dalles on the 8th of April with wagons loaded with flour.
