they hold off as they had done, and leave us here to hold their country with our guns?"[1]
This was not a question easy of answer, in view of the fact that to attempt to deliver up the murderers, one of whom, Tiloukaikt, was still in the Palouse country, would involve them in a war among themselves; while to refuse to make the attempt would bring them into hostilities with the justly incensed Americans. These hard and unavoidable conditions caused Peupeumoxmox and Tauitau to humble themselves before the superintendent, and to promise more than they were able to perform had their dispositions in reality been more favorable toward it.
On arriving at Fort Waters, Lee, finding the discipline good and the men satisfied with their commander, immediately offered to resign his rank to Waters, whose right it was; and their resignations being sent to the governor, the regiment at once elected Waters colonel and Lee lieutenant-colonel; the whole transaction being conducted with entire unanimity and friendliness.[2] Preparations were begun soon afterward for invading the Nez Percé country, where it was believed the refuge of the guilty Cayuses would be found; and on the morning of the 17th of May the regiment, now numbering about four hundred and fifty, marched out from the fort, leaving only a small force to garrison the post. That night the army encamped on the Coppei; and on the following morning Lee was detached, with Captain Thompson and one hundred and twenty-one men, with orders to proceed to the crossing of the Snake River at Red Wolf's camp, to cut off if possible the retreat of the fugitives to the mountains, while Waters would cross with the main force at the mouth of the Palouse River, and prevent their escape to the Columbia.
