had not yet declared themselves, and among whom were
the missionaries Walker and Eells, but who probably
would not dare to remain there after the news of the battle
should reach the Indians in their vicinity.
Colonel Gilliam was fully convinced of the gravity of the situation, and held a council of his officers on the eight eenth, at which there was not perfect unanimity of opinion, a part believing it necessary to raise another regiment, and (mother part that only men enough to hold the forts in the Indian country were required. In any case provisions were indispensable, and it was decided to proceed with half the force to The Dalles to escort a supply train to Fort Waters, Gilliam himself to accompany it to confer with Governor Abernethy on the existing condition of affairs, the peace commission having been an acknowledged failure.
Agreeably to this plan, the companies of Maxon and McKay, with their officers and others, left Waiilatpu on the twentieth of March with a wagon train. At the springs beyond the Umatilla, where they encamped for the night, as the colonel was drawing a rope from a wagon with which to tether his horse, it caught upon the trigger of a gun lying on the bottom of the wagon, discharging it, the contents entering his body and causing instant dearth. The expedition hastened forward to The Dalles, and from there Major Lee and Captain McKay, who was retiring from the service on account of his health, conducted the remains to the Wallamet valley, and at the same time conveyed a report by Captain Maxon of the recent battle, and the condition of the army for the information of Adjutant- General Lovejoy and Governor Abernethy.
The death of Colonel Gilliam, while it was regretted throughout Oregon, tended to remove some causes of dis satisfaction in the army which was divided in its alle giance to its commander. By some he was accused of too great impetuosity, too little regard for military discipline,
