blame to the patriot who died in the discharge of his
duty, the legislature of 1849 passed a resolution declaring
that it entertained "the utmost confidence in the integrity
of the said Colonel Gilliam, and that the stores receipted
for by him to the commissary department, and the pro
ceeds of the said sale of horses, were by him faithfully and
properly applied to the public service." It was also
further resolved : " That the heirs of the estate of Cornelius
Gilliam, deceased, be and they are hereby discharged
from all responsibility to the Oregon government for the
military stores distributed to the army, and horses sold by
his order for the benefit of the Oregon government . And
tfyat the commissary-general is hereby authorized to
transfer the said military stores and horses to the credit
of their proper accounts." 2
The death of Gilliam left Lieutenant-Colonel Waters in command, and here again there arose discontent because Governor Abernethy appointed Major Lee to the command, leaving Waters in the second place. His action was both applauded and blamed. As a rule, the favorites of the governor were not those of the western people, who now formed the bulk of the population ; but the letters from the army on the promotion of Lee were generally con gratulatory. 29
- > Oregon Archives, MS. 2014.
2r *H. A. G. Lee was a Virginian, a descendant of Richard Lee, founder of the Old Dominion family of that name. He was about thirty-one years of age, well educated and conscientious, having been trained for the profession of theology. But not being very strong in his belief in the inspiration of the bible he occupied himself with travel, and in 1843 came to Oregon, spending his first winter at Waiilatpu. After the Cayuse war he went to the California gold mines, and was successful. He brought a stock of goods to Oregon City, and entered into a partnership with S. W. Moss, a daughter of whom he married in 1850. He died a few years later while on a voyage to New York.
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