Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-30
OF THE YELLOW STONE EXPEDITION.


OF THE YELLOW STONE EXPEDITION.
Extract Of letter dated Martin Canton
ment, $50 miles up the Missouri river,
Cd Nov. 1918. from an officer OF the Yell
low Stone River expedition to gem
tleman in St. Louis.
After a very fatiguing and arduous
march Of nearly 90 days, we arrived at
this place few days ago. and took up
our winter quarters on an Island, called
elsie de Vaches" or Cow Island ana
Immediately commenced building our fort,
which is progressing rapidly | think it
the best situation we could find between
this and the mouth of the river.
We have passed through country
which is not surpassed in fertility ofsoi and
water courses by any in the world. Our
boats have been propelled thus far, lex
ceptng little intermediate sailing) by the
Cordel but owing TO the r1pidity Of the
Current, and toe numerous sand-bars, saw
yes, planters and ripp!es, we were not
enabled to make more than nine miles
per day on an average. II is source of
much astonishment to me, that we have
not met with some serious accident /; but
On the contrary, we have experienced
none Of any Importance. Our force con-
sists of about 347 men, including officers.
Col. Chambers having been ordered 10
take command of the 9th military depart
ment, this command devolved on Captain
Martin, who think well qualified TO con.
duct an expedition of this kind. As soon
as the ice breaks in the spring, il is ex-
pected we viii again resume our-s'om and
arduous march for our destination, the
mouth Of Yellow Stone River. II is how
ever, my opinion, we will moi reach it
with Our present force and the unfayorable
prospects attending it. AT least one third
of the mems terms of enlistment will ex-
pire before the march can possibly be- per-.
formed and The remainder are Of such
description as will never answer the pur-
pose. expect in the spring, when the
grass has obtained height sufficient for
their protection, the Indians will begin to
ask US where we are going, and our busi-
ness, for you may rest assured, they will
never fold their arms and tamely submit
to our sending an armed force at a point
SO far in the heart of their country, when
they are backed and constantly urged on
by the British fur companies, on Tie As
synabon and Red rivers. We apprehend
more danger from the Sioux aud Ricarrees'
than any other nation. Ny opinions on
this subject may be groundless-time alone
will determine the fact Inquirer.
From the P,nsb&rg Gazette, Dec. 1G.
DIED, at his residence, near the town Of
Neville, in The state of Ohio, Gen. PRES
LEY NEVILLE, in the SD year OF his age.
Death has laid his icy hand on one more
veteran of the revolution; but although a
mong his victims there haSe~b been some
whose names were more familiar TO the
voice of fame, better or Drawer man has
not yet fallen, than The object ofthis notice.
General Neville was native Of Virginia.
Alters graduating at the university Of Phila-
delphia with distinguished reputation for
Classical attainments, be entered the army
in the year 1875, at lineage Of nineteen, as
an ensign IN company commanded BY
his father, the late general John Neville.
He quickly rose TO the rank Of captain, and