Indian War Papers: V. A Mountain Chase [pp. 310-316]

1887.] A Amuntain Ckas~ 211
tiles were transferring their field of opera- firmed old Chief Winnemucca's statement,
tions to the country north of the Blue that the hostiles intend to move northward
Ridge, and north of the highlands just to join the Umatillas." Of course there
described. An official letter was written to were other signs of confederacy, such as
Colonel Wheaton, who commanded that the Umatillas declining to give us scouts;
north country as a district, to give him an and their moving southward in force just at
idea of the situation. My aide-de-camp, the right time.
Lieutenant Wilkinson, was hurried off with To meet this contingency and prevent
this letter and other instructions the 26th our hostiles from forming junction with their
of June, 1878. "Take them through to northern allies, Colonel Grover, ist CavalWalla Walla; make the quickest possible ry, was sent post haste to Walla Walla, to
time. Go to Canon City and take stage report to Colonel Wheaton in order to take
if, on inquiry you find that the shortest command of the 1st Cavalry and such other
route. I want an observing force on the troops as Wheaton could give him; Colonel
Umatilla reservation as soon as possible. Wheaton was instructed to employ intelliThe re}atives of Connoyer's absentees should gent and reliable scouts, to scatter them out,
be detained beyond escape. [Connoyer and to give me the eadiest possible informawas the Umatilla Indian agent.] Indians, tion. In case he, Wheaton, lost communias now appears, may not break loose from cation with me, he was to bring the troops
the Columbia Valley, but Wheaton must be from the vicinity of Fort McDermit by rail
ready. It will not do for me to intermit and by steamer to Wallula. The comthe direct pursuit. The calvary alone [that manders of Wheaton's batalions, were
with me] can chase, and bother, and do now Colonel Grover, Cavalry; Lieutenantwell, but is not strong enough to make the Colonel Meuiam, Infantry; Captain Marv~ctory decisive. I will back Wheaton with cus P. Miller, Artillery.
everything necessary to make him equal to The last words of the communication
the situation." that Lieutenant Wilkinson conveyed to
A few items that Wilkinson bore in his Wheaton were, "The General entrusts all
breast pocket, will be necessary for our in- to your energy and discretion." How often
formation: "The Indian fighting force is these words are used among men, and how
estimated at about seven hundred fighting necessary in all the business affairs of life
men Umatilla re-enforcement is re- they are! One trusts everything vital to
ported variously at from seventy-five to the energy and discretion of ~another. But
three hundred men, who are said to have it is difficult for that other always to underleft their women for the present in Fox Val- stand a delicate situation, and catch fully
ley A letter from the Governor of he inspiration of his chief. To make this
Idaho [dated before the beginning of the conveyance not only of facts but of enthusicontest] states that three of Buffalo Horn 5 asm a surety, is the province of a represenIndians [Bannocks] wish to visit the Mal- tative aid-de-camp. A single telegram
heur agency to recover three of their po- shows just what was to be done. "The
nies, and bespeaks good treatment for them. General thinks it would be wise to have a
This letter is endorsed by Connoyer [In- point of observation on the Umatilla reserdian agent at Umatilla agency] showing in vation, and there station Grover's force.
the endorsement that Buffalo Horn of the It will be necessary to act promptly."
Bannocks and Egan of the Piutes, visited There was one more important dispatch
the Umatilla agency and remained there that Colonel Wheaton was to send to Gentwo or three days. These facts have con- eral McDowell at San Francisco the instant