All right, Looking Glass, you are one of the chiefs! I have no wife, no children to be placed fronting the danger that I feel coming to us. Whatever the gains, whatever the loss, it is yours. 
– Five Wounds (Páaqatos ’ewyíin) Nez Perce warrior 

On August 6, Colonel Gibbon, commanding the 7th Infantry and the volunteer army, crossed the hills south of Rye Creek. The crude wagon “road” was so slow and difficult that they had to make a “dry camp” before reaching the summit. They crossed into Ross Hole the next day, making camp just a few miles below the spot where the Nez Perce had camped two nights before. Here, near the confluence of Waugh and Camp Creeks, Captain Humble and many of the volunteers returned home, fulfilling their obligation to accompany the soldiers as far as Ross Hole. Thirty-four settler volunteers, enticed by Colonel Gibbon’s offer of captured Nez Perce horses, continued the chase. 

Now some have accused us of going out just to steal the horses; that gives the wrong impression, as we did not think of that until the general made us the offer. He told us that we could have all the horses except enough to mount his command, if we could whip the Indians. 
– Tom Sherrill, settler