by Canby were slowly collecting, embarrassed by the difficulty of moving in midwinter. Gillem proceeded to Yreka, where he was met by Major Throckmorton from San Francisco, with his infantry command, and together the^^ pushed forward to Van Brimmer's through a heavy snowstorm, the troops having marched all the way from Redding. A company had been ordered from Camp Gaston, which was compelled to march fifteen daj'S in severe weather before arriving at Yreka. The transportation of supplies was even more difficult than moving troops, though it went steadily on.
On the 3d and 4th of February the Oregon volunteer regulars mustered out. There were at this time 200 men at Wheaton's camp on Lost river, and 100 at Bernard's new camp at Applegate's on Clear lake, while Perry's company was divided between Dorris', Fairchild's and Small's places for their protection. The artillery and other troops were still en route; but there were men enough in the immediate vicinity of the Modoc stronghold to prevent any very open demonstrations on their part had it been their intention to make them. On the 4th of February Gillem took up his headquarters at Van Brimmer's, as being nearer the telegraph station of Yreka, soon after establishing a tri- weekly line of couriers to and from that place. While these preparations were making for war, the commissioners who were to bnng about a peace were also on their way to the front.
When the people most interested in all these proceedings learned that an effort was to be made to coax the Modocs to accept peace and the reservation of their choice instead of punishing them, there was a general feeling of indignation, and the grand jury of Jackson county on the 14th of February indicted eight of Jack's band as being guilty of the slaughter of the 29th and 30th of November on the evidence of Mrs Brotherton and her son who identified them. This step was taken in order to forestall the possible
