The leaders decided to comply.

This is significant: even Toohoolhoolzote, even White Bird, even those who most deeply resented the order, made the decision to attempt the move rather than to resist it directly.

They were trying to avoid war.

They were making an agonizing concession under duress, giving up homelands that their fathers had refused to give up, because the alternative was armed confrontation with the United States Army.

The Wallowa band gathered at the crossing point on the Snake River.