In 1843 Fremont made a second expedition; this time from the South Pass to the Columbia country.

After he was well on his way, the War Department recalled him; but Mrs.Fremont suppressed the order, in the interest of the expedition, until it was too late to reach him.
Fremont went by the way of Salt Lake, struck the Oregon trail, and finally came to the mission that Dr.Whitman had founded among the Nez-Perces (pierced noses) at Walla Walla.

This mission then consisted of a single adobe house.
The British claimants of the territory, finding that American immigration was increasing, began to bring settlers from the Red River of the North.

A struggle now began to determine which country should possess this vast and most important territory.

When Dr.Whitman learned of the new efforts of the English to settle the country, and the danger of losing Oregon by treaties pending at Washington, he started for St.Louis, by the way of Santa Fe.