Colonel Waters. I have great confidence in him, and
doubt not the troops will find him competent to the task
before him. To prevent any discord or rupture in the
regiment, at the request of the officers and men, I have
consented to act as lieutenant- colonel during the approach
ing campaign." Waters had already been sworn in, as
appears from his letter of the fifteenth of May to the
adjutant-general, in which he says, that "on Colonel Lee s
arrival at this post he delivered up his command to me.
- * Colonel Lee, at the request of almost every man
in the regiment, has consented to act as lieutenant-colonel. The prospects are now fair before us, and I trust we will soon be on our way to the valley. I intend to start in pursuit of our enemies in a few days, and doubt not that we will be able to accomplish our end."
Very soon after his return from Waiilatpu in March, Palmer had resigned the superintendency of Indian affairs, as being, jointly with his other duties, too burdensome; and Governor Abernethy when he made Lee colonel, per suaded him to act also os Indian superintendent, a duty for which he was well prepared by acquaintance with its requirements, having assisted both Dr. White and the governor in controlling the interior tribes. The governor s instructions to Lee in this capacity ran as follows:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OREGON CITY, 10th April, 1848. SIB : I would refer you to my instructions to the commissioners and superintendent of Indian affairs under date of third February last. The adjutant-general will furnish you with copies of instruc tions sent to Colonel Gilliam. In addition, I would remark should the murderers be scattered, and you think it unadvisable to follow them, in making a treaty with the tribes keep in view the safety of the immigrants and the people of this valley. The only way in which this can be done wilt be by binding the chiefs to protect them, giving them to understand that if Americans are molested in person or property, that we shall hold them responsible. Impress on their minds the fact that the murderers are few, and their 16 people many. You will get all the information you can respecting the
10 Our people appears to be meant.
