108 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
arrangements and brought an escort of eighteen soldiers, under Lieutenant Macfeely, 4th infantry. 
His party now consisted of himself, Lieutenant Arnold, 3d artillery, Lieutenant Macfeely, Mr. 
D. L. Arnold, Mr. D. S. Hoyt, eighteen soldiers, twenty-three packers, three herders, two 
cooks, and one guide, in all fifty-two; having everything completed, he started from the Dalles 
July 18, but from the necessity of breaking in wild animals only travelled nineteen miles in 
the first three days. After crossing Des Chutes river he entered the dry sandy plain, (where 
the thermometer rose as high as 106? in the shade,) pursuing the emigrant road parallel to the 
south side of the Columbia, and from seven to ten miles distant. At the Umatilla he was met 
by a deputation of Cayuse braves, sent by the chief to ascertain his object in passing through 
their country, they having been told that he was coming to make war upon them and take 
away their horses. He assured them that such was not his object; that he was sent by the 
great chief at Washington on a mission of peace to all the Indians, and invited their chief to 
his camp to smoke the pipe of peace. He did so, promised to be friendly, and said he was 
glad that their hearts were good. He started with a wagon, which, however, broke down on 
the third day, and another which he then bought of an emigrant broke down before reaching 
Walla-Walla. The excessive heat and laborious travelling, through sand hills for many miles, 
caused some animals to give out, and two were drowned in swimming the Walla-Walla river. 
On the 27th the party arrived at Fort Walla-Walla, 120 miles from the Dalles; finding there 
that the route direct to Bitter Root valley, by way of the Koos-koos-kia, was very difficult, he 
determined to adopt the more circuitous one by way of Pend d'Oreille lake. 
He engaged Antoine Plante as guide, a half-breed, who lived with the Spokanes near the 
prairie intermediate between them and Cœur d’ Alenes. 
On July 30 they left Walla-Walla, going for twenty-five miles up the beautiful valley of that 
name; the chief of the Walla-Wallas, Pu-pu-mux-mux, sent a warrior to him from his camp, 
45 miles distant, to ask when he wished to cross Snake river. The long march, without water 
for twenty-five miles, between the Walla-Walla river and the Snake, was made in the night, and 
arriving opposite the mouth of Peluse river, a brancli of the Snake, he met a delegation of fifty 
Peluse and Nez Percés warriors, who came in full costume and with great formality to have a 
great war talk. After a smoke, the chief made inquiries as to his objects in going through their 
territory with so many horses and so much merchandise. Lieutenant Saxton explained that he 
had been sent by the President to meet the chief of the white men, who was on his way there 
from Fort Benton; and that he, himself, was going there to see the Blackfeet, and to advise 
peace; that he had presents for them from the President, and would also pay them well for any 
assistance given to the expedition. A young Indian made an eloquent speech to the others in 
reply, in which he said that his father was once chief of all this region; he had extended the 
hand of friendship to the first white man who was seen in the country, and that they must 
follow this example. They seemed satisfied with the presents, and were much astonished at 
the rapid shooting shown them with Sharpe's and Colt's rifles, which made a very favorable 
impression in regard to their means of defence. 
On the 2d of August he crossed the Snake, the loads being ferried over in canoes; two of the 
animals were drowned while swimming across. The Indians carried everything over safely, 
and were well pleased with the presents made them in return, bringing him corn and potatoes, 
and promising to kill a fat ox for them when Governor Stevens should arrive. Although 
they said that a Spaniard had been along, a few days before, telling them that American soldiers 
were coming to cut them all off, he satisfied them of the peaceful nature of his journey. 
