Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-11-27

| arrived IN town on lueSuay from TIL
: Council Bluffs. The troops were IN tint
health, we'll sheltered and protected io
the winter, and the Indians tranquil.
Enquirer
Major Vose and Lieut.. Downie of thu
5th Infantry, from the Falls Of st. An
tbony, arrived in town few days ago.
They left the Falls on the 25th ultimo
and came down by water. They were
in general good health, and the Indians
of the Upper Mississippi much pleased
with the establishment of the militar,
post in their neighborhood.-I6id.
The following official letter explains
transaction in regard to which some
mlsstatements have appeared--we car
add, that at a council held near Camp
Missouri in October last, at which the
principal chiefs and warriors of the
Pawnee nation attended, the articles
stolen were restored, the most friendly
disposition manifested, and assurances
given that the plunderers should receive
corporal punishment.-Hid.
"Kansas Town, fork of the Kansas and }
Blue Water river, Aug. "a, 1879.
"SIR-You already know of my in
tention of proceeding with the scientific
gentlemen employed by the government,
from Fort Usage to the Council Bluffs
crossing the rivers Kansas and La Platte
at the Kansas and Pawnee towns. have
now to inform you, that after having ex-
perienced the most friendly treatment
from the Kansas nation, we left them yes
tcrday in the afternoon, accompanied by
three OF the natives to guide us on our
first days journey. We encamped
about eight miles from the vilage-in
the dusk of the evening | discovered,
rushing over the prairie towards US, a
party of 100 or 1870 Iadian warriors. -
The Kansas, aware that they were their
enemies the Pawnees, fed Immediately
in the greatest dismay. Trusting to our
flag for security, / advanced to meet
them, and was greeted with the usual
salutation offriendship; they soon how
ever crowded round our camp in tu-
multuous manner, and it Required all nay
efforts to prevent their plundering our
baggage-in this was only partially
successful, and in wrestling an article
from one of them, he cooked his gun at
me, and gestures of hostility were made
use of by the others. No personal in
suit however was offered, but eventually
they stole all our horses, a number of
small articles belonging to the party,
and cut down our tent. When remind
you that my party thus surrounded con-
sisted of but 6 soldiers, you will readily
understand the necessity l was under of
avoiding hostility, however grating it
might be to my feelings to be pIundcred
with impunity. l was restrained also
from firing into them, in consideration of
the valuable lives that would be thus
risked, and by the expectation that be-
fore they left US, order and the authority
of the chiefs would be restored, and that
they would return the articles they had
stolen. Had l any suspicion previous
to their approach, that they would have
violated the sanctity of our flag, could
have adopted such measures as would
have protected our property.
| have no idea that this has been a
measure of premeditated hostility on the
part of the Pawnees. The war parties OF
that nation are remarkably large, fero-
cious, and ungovernable, and outrages
committed by them are frequently dis
avowed by the nation, and taking into
consideration that they found us so near
their enemy IN their company, consider
it fortunate that no blood has been shed
80 little do | apprehend that the ma
ton is hostile, that if l could obtain
transportation | would proceed to their
towns. l have not however the means
of purchasing horses and am also anx-
ious that the restoration of our property
should be made under such imposing
circumstances as will convince these
savages, that the flag of the United
States protects its bearers in every situa-
ton. send an Indian with this letter to
request that the steam boat may be stop
ped at the Isle aur Vaches. / will
have to travel slow; two of the party
are very much indisposed, and all of US
are worn down and exhausted.
l have TIL honor % be,
Colonel, your obedient servant,
THOMAS BfDDLE,
Major U. S. .Artiiiery.