Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-08-11
From the Missouri Enquirer, Juiy7.
MISSOURI EXPEDITION.

MISSOURI EXPEDITION.
Military Expedition TO The Upper Ms
souri, The sixth regiment of infantry left
Belle Fontaine on Sunday the 4ih instant.
in the steam boats Expedition, Johnson,
and Jefferson, and number of keel boats
and barges, furnished with sails, wheels
and oarJ.
The officers Of the 9th attached to this
expedition, are
Col. Atkinson. 1t. Col. Smelling, Major
Humphreys ,Brevet Major Foster, Captains
Reed, Bliss, Brevet MAJOR Ke'chum, Cap
tains Hamilton, Boardman, Halle, shaer,
Brevet Major Livingston.
Lieutenants We'more, Stamford, Clark,
Wilcox, Ellison, Keller, Bedel, M'livain,
Brown, Mansfield, Palmer, Durand-Sur-
geon Mower-Surgeon's Mate Nichol.
The officers of the rifle who have preced-
ed the sixth infantry upon the same expe-
diton are
Col. Chambers, 1t. Col. Morgan, Adjt.
Pentland, Quarter Master Palmer, Cap
tains Martin, Magee, Riley, Gray.
Ltutenants Fields, Kavanaugh, ScoH,
Shannon, Keith.
Col. Atkinson commands the expedition.
Gen. Jesup accompanies it, to forward
all the operations which depend upon TIC
quarter master generals department.
Capt. T. F. Smith, of the rife, goes up
as assistant adjutant general.
Lieut.. Talcott. Of the engineers.
Major O'Falon, US. agent to the IN
dams on the Missouri, had preceded in the
Western Engineer, but it is understood
that his duties are equally connected with
the success of both expeditions.
X multitude OF paragraphs in different
newspapers, have assigned TO Col. James
Johnson, of Kentucky, place OF un|ie-
fined and vague Importance in this expedl-
ton. He in fact goes out with il, and we
have taken some pains to ascertain The eX-
act nature of his functions We learn that
he has conracled with the government to
transport troops, provisions, and munitions
of war; that be has chosen steam boats tor
the transport vessels; md that the terms
of the contract are sufficiently advantage
Gus to have induced any other citizen to
have done the same without drawing upon
his patriotic fund.
No doubt is entertained upon the capacl-
ty of the expedition to reach the Councl!
Bluffs in the month OF August. The whole
will winter there, and will erect perma-
men, work, to be garrisoned by the 9Th
On the opening of the spring, the Rife will
proceed to the Mandan villages.
Some doubt is entertained upon the sue
cess of two of the steam boats; but 1t IS be-
lieved that measures have been taken to
prevent the loss from having any effect up
on the progress of the expedition
Thus the public have at length the sails
faction to see fairly embarked this interest
ing expedition, on the success OF which
depends the accomplishment OF such nigh
t objects for the American peop!e-'he
transfer Of the fur trade from The EngHsh
to the Americans-lhe extinction OF British
influence among American lndIans--and
the opening of IA direct intercourse win IN
dia by the Columbia AM Missouri rivers.
The officers attached TO the expedition
are Young men of the growth otthe last war,
distinguished for their professional charac-
ter all genlemany department, ana ami
mated with all the zeal for the success OF
the enterprise which the interest OF the
country, and the honor OF the admlnls'fa-
ton which planned it, could require at
their hands.
The mamie Of Yellow Stone has teen al
tached 70 this expedition, perhaps without
much prspriety. The Council Butts and
the Mandan Villages are the only points IN
dicated for military establishments. The
former are but $50 miles above st. LOUIS,
the latter 600. They are both liz what IS
called the Upper Missouri. This G'stnc-
ton takes place from the mouth OF the RI
YER Platte. The Missouri from thence un-
dergoes a sensible change. lis course IS
more directly from the north, less ohstruct-
| ed with sa7cyers, and every way better a.
dapted TO navigation. The face OF the
country also undergoes change. Wood
| land is moae seldom seen; vast and level
plains. covered with grass, stretch before