At daylight we again saddled up and began a search for the command.  We had eaten nothing since 2 o’clock on the previous morning and began to feel keenly the effects of hunger.  All that day we wandered through the mountains, returning to our hiding place in the willows of the night before.  At daylight I wrote a note and left it at the Stewart ranch and then determined to reach John Day Valley.  Food we must have, and we knew we could find something there.  Striking a course through the mountains we reached the Cummins ranch at 4 o’clock that day.  We had now been without food for 62 hours, and from that day to this I could never bear to see anything hungry—­man or beast.  Here we found Gen. Brown with most of his command enjoying their ease.  Some kind ladies at the house, learning our condition, quickly set us some food, mostly soups and articles of light diet.

In explanation of his remarkable course, Gen. Brown declared he was misled by the John Day volunteers, while they in turn laid the blame on Gen. Brown.  I was furious over the whole shameful affair and took no pains to conceal my disgust.  Capt.  Humphrey told me that he knew they were going in the wrong direction, and told Brown so, but the latter said Lieut.  Angel was acting as guide and that they would follow him, and on the head of that officer the blame finally rested.

This incident and others led next day to the enforced resignation of Lieutenant Angel and the election of George Chamberlain as his successor.

From the Cummins ranch we went to Canyon City for supplies, and from there to Bear Valley, on the mountain to the west, and on the road leading to Camp Harney.  After resting our horses for a day, Gen. Brown and I, with a small escort, went to Camp Harney hoping to get some news, and while awaiting the return of Chamberlain.  At Camp Harney a small force of regulars was posted and some thirty or forty families had gathered there for protection.  Many of the women and children had escaped from their homes, scantily dressed, and had been unable to procure any clothing during the lapse of more than a month.  It was a sad sight, especially those who had lost husbands, sons and brothers.

The day after our arrival, two ladies, the wives of Major Downing and Major McGregor, sent for me.  The latter had two or three children besides her mother.  Their husbands were with Howard’s column and they were anxious to reach Canyon City and go from there to Walla Walla.  Would I escort them to Canyon City?  I said certainly, I would do so, as I would go within a few miles of that place on my return to camp.  Lieut.  Bonsteil of the regulars spoke up and said he would provide them with an escort at any time.  But Mrs. McGregor told him plainly that she would not go with the soldiers that if they got into trouble the soldiers would run away—­but the volunteers would stay with them.  The Lieutenant suggested that “it was a fine recommendation for the United States Army.”