CHAPTER XL

THE FRUITLESS PEACE COUNCIL

Governor Stevens, assured of support by Colonel Wright, revokes call for additional volunteers--Council with Klikitats--Refuses to receive Indian murderers on reservation--Pushes forward to Walla Walla--Indians take pack-train--Steptoe arrives with four companies--Indians assemble--Manifest hostility--Steptoe moves off--Volunteers start for Dalles--Steptoe refuses guard--Governor Stevens recalls volunteers--Hostile and threatening Indians--Steptoe refusing support, Governor Stevens moves to his camp-- Disaffected chiefs demand that treaties be abrogated, whites leave the country--Governor Stevens demands submission--Terminates council--Starts for Dalles--Attacked on march--The fight--Moves back to Steptoe's camp--Indians attack it--Repulsed--Blockhouse built--One company left--Both commands march to Dalles--Steptoe's change of views--Demand on Colonel Wright to deliver up Sound murderers, who gives order--Cleverly evaded--Colonel Wright marches to Walla Walla--Counsels with hostile chiefs--Yields to their demands--Whites ordered out of the country--Shameful betrayal of duty--Governor Stevens's indignant letters to the War and Indian departments--Pernicious influence of missionaries and Hudson Bay Company--Governor Stevens's views finally adopted--Steptoe's defeat--Wright defeats hostiles--Summary executions--Fate of Ow-hi and Qualchen 206