The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-04
Hesd Quarter, St. Louis.
October 2gh 1914

mar.
Head QUARTER, St Louis,
October 2SLh 1913
STR--I had the honor IF fxore~sinq 70
you the opinion during the last Summer, that
a movement of troops to disl0dge Is 1, In
dams at the head of Peoria Lake was in
dispensable to guard against that pressure
upon our frontier in autumn which | beljev
ed would take place. Il was with pleasure
found the measure approved. In pursu
ance OF the plan, on the 10Th CT September,
the effective rangers of Missouri and Hi
nois, with aoou; one hundred from indiana.
two hundred and fifty mounted en- fny.
nisned by the Executives CT Missouri & H.
iDoIs, were concentrated at Tower Hill.
east of the Mississippi, thirty niles above
the frontier. In embodying these troops.
the immediate safety Of the frontier was.
steadily kept in view, by moving detach
Tnents in such directions as would enable
them to discover and dislodge any parties
which might be upon our borders. The LIST
regiment commanded By colonel M'NaiE.
was marched on the west side Of the Mis-
slsSiPpi, and crossed just below the rendez.
Vous the ID, commanded by colonel Ste.
phens*a, was marched on the east side Of
the river. crossing the Illinois. few miles
ABOVE ITS mouth ; n detachment Of about
%OO regulars under the command of lent.
colonel Nicholas, of the LIST regiment OF Il
,. infantry, at the same time ascerded the
Illinois N armed boats. It was soon ascer-
tanned upon the arrival Of those several de-
tachmehts, at points a iittlc beyond the
settlements, that the enemy had descend
the Illinois 10 invade the frontier A skjr
mish took place between seine Of col. ste
phens"n's Command and A party Of In
dians the latter were driven. From az.
pearance5 IN the route of the LIST rcgjroent
some parties had crossed TO the west side If
me Missis' 'ppi. upon the approach of thr
troops. l nave no dCrbt of the Indians
having returned to their canoes in the iii
nois, when they found lieut.. col. Nicholas
rapidty ascending the river, and Grd before
MN without injur:rg single citizen Be
leving that the frontier would be safe for
the moment, marched the mounted trooDs
up the Mississippi bottom to Chrsty's
creek passing opposite the en5anpment Of
the Sac nation, who have protested thsrn-
selves friendly, but many Of whom I believe
have taken part IN tie war against US
while others were undecided IT this tire
Mr.. Bolivian, Indian AGENT. was in the
neghborhood, sent by Gov. Clarke 10 cor
duct them 10 the Mssour ri, where thew had
agreed 10 winter However uusettlci their
Ireutrslity might have been before. the die
play OF troops in their vicinity soon cogfrm.
ed It ) they Immediately descended the
-'Aa"S'" 'Pfst ~ vac 'iSabC bC5 DiUuk, from
whence 'hey were sent up the Missouri from
ChrIsty's creek. The army was marched
across the country towards Peoria, and on
The evening of the 2Sh arrived within
few miles of the Old Village. That night
three men we're sent to discover whether the
command Of lieut.. col. Nicholson had arriv
ed. and bearing a letter - that officer. sta
ting my position, and calling Tor such infor
nation IN regard to the enemy as he might
possess. During the night he descended the
Illinois to my eucampment, and reported to
me, that the day before, an attack was
made upon n S command at Peoria, where
he had commenced building fort agreea-
bly, to my orders however, the enemy were
soon dispersed by a we'll directed discharge
Of musquetry, with the aid Of pounder
from two unfinished blockhouses. II was
evident that the asssisu's srlfered in this
attack but to what extent conid no, be as
/ certained. None cf our men we're killed.
and only one wounded
!. On The 2yh, lie mounted troops arrived
at Peoria and 81 soon as provisions could
( be drawn, were marched up the Illinois 70
the villages az tke head Of ths Lske. mich