ndrew Dominique Pambrun, son of a French trader and his Cree wife, in his book, Sixty Years on the Frontier in the Pacific Northwest, wrote about traveling with Governor Stevens to the Walla Walla Council while employed as a translator (Pambrun was a signer of the Walla Walla Treaty):

I was fortunate while travelling alone, not to meet with any of the predatory raiders. A few days before I reached the French and Volunteer camp in Walla Walla, a party out looking for stock were pursued and driven into camp. The man was killed and the horses taken, soon after I left Fort Henrietta, and on my return to the latter place Donald McKay and his party were attacked. This, I think was the same party I scared out of the timber on Wild Horse, and probably the same who drove the herders into camp in Walla Walla. The other party as a large one, headed by a son of Pup-pu-mux-mux.

While in camp Maj. Cornoyer ordered a change of camp, we moved some distance and made a log corral, on the outskirts of a dense underbrush and cottonwood, the position was a very bad one for defense and I made comments to that effect, which caused considerable controversy in camp. The only recommendation was good grass and water, for the Indians could have taken the brush, unseen or the bluff immediately back and peppered us at will. A night or two after, while standing at a camp fire, suddenly we heard a yell on the bluff, followed by a shower of bullets. This incident convinced the sages on military affairs, that the place was untenable, and a decampment followed. We moved to the Catholic Mission (St. Rose Mission, ed.) and finding the fence intact, we concluded to sow some wheat about one acre a piece, intending if we returned there in time to harvest it, to save it for seed but when we returned there was no wheat, the Indians having destroyed it.

On the way to the Dalles, I was very kindly treated by the Col. and his command. Cows calving on the way, made my progress very slow, and he invariably sent some of his men back to assist me. Reaching the Dalles I moved to Eight Mile Creek, where I put in a garden, and sent for my family, then at Vancouver.

I had hardly made a comfortable camp for my family, when I received a message from Governor I.I. Stevens requesting me to join him at the Dalles, to serve as Secretary, Interpreter and guide, at a salary of five dollars per day in Gold Coin. It was a godsend to me and I obeyed with alacrity, and the destiny was Walla Walla. As every thing had preceded us, Governor Stevens, the expressman Pierson and myself left the Dallas one afternoon, while two pack animals and traveled until sundown, having ridden thirty miles. Next morning I noticed that the Governor was suffering from some malady. I relaxed our gait, telling him that we could reach the Walla Walla Valley about the time the ox teams would get there. If therefore galloping or trotting hurted him we would travel at a brisk walk. Do as you please, he said, you are the guide. He was afflicted with hernia and could not therefore stand the jar and therefore had to stop frequently to adjust his truss, but I never heard a word of complaint, quite contrary, he was always cheerful.

We reached Walla Walla, where Col. Shaw and sixty volunteers were stationed. An ox train of forty wagons had also preceded us with supplies and had reached camp without encountering any Indians. Col. Shaw had however made raid into Grande Ronde and killed a good many Indians. According to Indian statement these were principally old infirm men and squaws. All the able bodied men being out fishing or hunting in the mountains. In this fight, Shawn came away with only one man slightly wounded. But the Indians soon returned the compliment. As our pack train was nearing, where Milton now stands, they were attacked by a squad of Indians, being after Sundown they unpacked, the packs answering for ramparts, till it got dark, when they concluded to abandon all, and leave on foot, and reached camp with the report that the Indians, had blind till they got away. It appears that Chief Homlie, recently dead, had in retaliation for Shaw's raid, selected twelve of his best men, ten Walla Wallas and two Cayouses, and made the raid in turn and meeting with the pack train late in the afternoon at once attacked it with the above result.

The Volunteers (escort) and packers, left their animals tied to the pack as before stated. In the mean time the Indians had crawled up to within a few yards of the pack and saw the whole proceeding, and as soon as deserted, took possession and immediately packed up and made for the mountains. We had hoped, that but Chief was too smart who tapped one of the kegs, and gave his men a drink and threatened if any of them took any more, he would destroy it all. When therefore the next morning the Volunteers overtook them they were prepared to receive them, whom they repulsed two or three times.

It was provoking, when they came in a few days later, to the council, to see them riding our pack mules and wearing the clothes intended for the poor and almost nude volunteers. Under the circumstances we hid our chagrin under smiles. The Indians no doubt knew also that the smiles did not emenate from the heart, and they smiled in turn with apparent satisfaction.

Next came in Homlie, chief of the Walla Wallas, who as soon as I explained our mission, at once agreed on making peace, saying, "I am not whipped but I pity the old and crippled, who on crutches cannot get out of the way. I sometimes thought of drowning them all and keep on fighting. I am glad you have come my friend, and I promise never more to hurt a white man, but be the true friend." He kept his word.

In celebration of the prospect of peace, the Nez Perces had a dance, being night most of our boys went to look on, I did not go, as I was too busy writing when the Governor came, and stated that the Cayouses were coming in, and desired that I should immediately order the boys to come in. Among the spectators I found Doctor Burns, who had been scared into semi lunacy in a previous engagement with the Indians on the Sound. He met in with the Dalles Chief seemingly an old acquaintance. All arguments and threats were of no avail, he was determined to accompany of the Chief to his camp. I was at a loss what to do. I was needed in camp and I dare not let him go alone, finally having notified the Governor through a messenger, I determined to follow him. We reached the Indian camp, which caused quite a stir among the Cayouses, several of whom demanded to know what the white dogs were doing in the camp, etc. The Doctor unsuspicious, and to whom I dare not expose the situation because that would (mean) certain death, was sitting placidly smoking the Chief's calamet, appeared to be deaf and blind, came to take observations with arms concealed under their blankets. I frequently suggested to the Doctor, that it was time for us to go. Oh! I must have a piece of that venison was his invariable reply. I was vexed beyond expression but I dare not express my sentiments, because it was sure death if I excited him. It was therefore best to be patient, and allow him to remain in his ignorance. Finally he got through eating the beef, venison as he supposed and consented to go, he got on behind the Chief, and I got behind another Indian. The Chief and the Doctor took the lead, and had gone but a short distance when they were entangled in rope, which had been stretched for the purpose, and we were instantly surrounded. The most fierce and persistent, was a Cayouse named Ta-kin, in escourt, and cutting the rope, I rode up and presented my pistol to his head, saying you bad dog, if you say another word or move I will kill you, he was permitted him to go. He might have recognized me and knew that I would execute my threat. Stakotla, the Doctor's friend, challenged the Cayouses to fight on the following morning, saying, "You are cowards and you want to kill these two white men, because they are alone in my camp. You hired me and my men to fight for you. You promised me gold and silver and cows and horses, from the first to the last you lied, and now I have more ammunition than you have, and I challenge you to fight me tomorrow," and ordering his men to keep their arms in readiness rode off and I followed.

We reached camp without further casualties, I went and put up my papers, was some time in doing so, and it was day break when to my surprise, I heard loud talking in Doctor's tent, I went to learn the cause and opening the net, found the Doctor seated on one side, and the Chief on the other, of a can of alcohol. I took possession of the can and ordered the Indian away. The conduct was sufficient grounds for doubting the Doctor's sanity.

Our camp being situated among brush and the conduct of the Indians not being as amicable as we would desire, we concluded to move nearer to Col. Steptoe, who was camped some distance above on Mill Creek. While the teams and Volunteers took the main road, we the Governor, Wm. Craig, Lawyer the Nez Perces Chief, Doctor Burns and myself, took a trail so as to watch the movements warriors came in sight making a fine show, accoutered in all the Indian war paraphernalia (sic), riding abreast and covering perhaps three hundred yards. We was repeatedly halted by the Governor. He would gaze at the approaching Indians, and make another attempt to escape, when we reached the teams, we saw no more of the Doctor.

When the Indians came within a few hundred yards, the Governor ordered me to go and meet them and learn their intentions. I had a hair rope for a bridle, which came off, and my horse stampeded, and went through the Indian ranks and suddenly turning again went through. Not knowing my predicament, they construed it as an act of bravedo. On reaching the teams, my horse stopped and I was glad to get off and requested George Montoure to go in my stead.

In the mean time every thing was made ready against an attack, but the wily Kamiakan seeing our attitude, cooled down, and wished to shake hands, but I remonstrated, telling the Governor, it would not do at all, as the Indians would be fact there was knowing, that the consequences would be from such indiscretion, the Indians numbering at least five to one of our fighting force. Mr. Craig and others agreed with my views, but the Governor hesitated, he was a man who unwillingly took any suggestion, not emanating from himself, and was also ignorant of Indian character. Treachery is the dominant virtue in his nature, and in time of war, a man is an idiotic fool to place any confidence on Indians, especially when they outnumber you. The Governor could not but see the danger, but was inclined to rely on Indian honor. This band was composed of savages, who (pg. 105)had had very little intercourse with the white man, and their sole aim was to destroy him by any means. There was as much honor in these Indians as there is in a coyote. The Governor had me to say to them, that we were anxious to get to camp, when we got there, we would be very glad to shake hands as we had come to make peace. Lawyer, the Nez Perces chief, when we got to camp, told the Governor and Mr. Craig that I was very wise in refusing to shake hands at the time, that he believed as I did.

Camp once established by the way a poor one, as in short time the Indians took possession of the brush and water in our immediate vicinity and we were at their mercy, but happily Homlie and Stakotla, had given their word for peace and therefore, there was a division among the tribes and consequently delayed hostilities. Unfortunately the officers in Steptoe's camp had a little too much borbon, which kept the Governor half shot, and indifferent to danger and unnecessarily exposed himself. He was naturally a very brave man, but there was no call for such recklessness which disturbed me. I had more to do than I could well accomplish but I was so solicitous for his safety, that I lost a good deal of time in watching him. There was an Indian daily walking within a few steps of our office ( An Arbor ) apparently waiting for an opportunity to do some mischief, and I feared for the Governor's life, for in the event of the Indian taking his life, he would be the envy of the other braves and would be perfectly willing to die. These people had been impressed, by now dead parties I need not name, that Governor Stevens was sole Agent in the past treaties and that I was implicated with him and even, that I had sold their land to him, and Gen. Wool conflicting with the Governor as to the cause of the war etc. confirmed the stores. Governor Stevens' scalp and mine were therefore very desirable, and any sacrifice was only a secondary thought. These facts were related to me after peace was concluded in 1858.

I got worried about the Indian's constant watch and I determined to put a stop to it, so I walked up to him and asked what was wanted, he said, nothing. I told him he lied, that I wanted him to leave and not come bakc, if he did I would kill him, and I saw no more of him, which was a great relief.

For several days, we in vain talked to the Indians, offering terms of peace and concluded finally to abandon the project and return to the Dalles. We had gone but a few miles, when George, an Old Nez Perce came up to me and told me that the Hostiles were coming to attack us. On looking in the direction pointed, I saw them coming in squads of from thirty to fifty coming down the hills, their horses as well as themselves painted and dressed in all the varied colours of the rainbow. The (Pg. 106) scene was picturesque in the highest degree, and the effect in some of our party, was a varied, some gazed with defiance at the approaching conflict, others turned pale with excitement and perhaps some fear, while two or three others were weeping for their families whom they never expected to see in this world. One of these came to me, exclaiming "Oh! What shall I do, what will become of my family?" I told him, he should have stayed with his family, but as he was out, must fight like a man to get back.

I immediately rode up to the Governor, who was some distance in advance and informing him of the coming hostilities. He at once ordered a halt, but I objected remarking there was going to be some hot work, and if any were thought we could reach before we were surrounded. All right lead the way, said he, I did so, and just as we finished making a pen, with the wagons chained together and the animals secured therein, we were surrounded. An Indian rode up at full speed to one of our herders, who was in the rear with the loose animals within ten feet and fired aiming at his head but missed. This was the signal for a general attack but it was at long range and but little harm done.

About seventy-five yards from the wagons, was a thicket of willow and rose bushes, which the Governor wished to held against the Indians and consulted Craig, Higgins ( Wagon Master ) , and some of his lieutenants given charge, but there was certainly something rotten in Denmark and I did not know what. It might have been insubordination on the part of Col. Shaw.