Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-02-15
Letter from the Secretary Of Var to the
Chairman Of the Military Committee.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
29h December, 1919.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
29M December, 1919.
SIR---In reply to your letter of recent
date, requesting to be informed of the
expenditures which have been, and which
are likely 10 be, incurred in fitting out and
prosecuting the expedition ordered to
the mouth of the Yellow Stone, ON the
Missouri river, and Of the objects intend
ed to be accomplished by the expedition,
have the honor to make the following
statement:
The enclosed report and statements
from the Quarter Master-General, mark
ed Nos. /, ., 5; 4, with statement of the
duty performed, and that which is con-
templated, exhibit the expense of the
expedition up the Missouri, forthe last,
and next succeeding three Yeas, with a
similar statement in relation 70 that on
the Mississippi. Though the asst is moi
referred to in your letter, yet as the two
movements constitute part of he same
system of measures, | believed that it
would not be unacceptable to the COM
| mittee to receive statement of the
| whole the expenses incurred, or likely
to be incurred, in its execution.
The expedition ordered to the mouth
of the Yellow Stone, or rather to the
Mandan village, for the military occu-
patton of the former, depending on cir
cumstances, is not yet finally determined
on is part of system Of measures,
which has for its objects the protection
of our northwestern frontier, and the
greater extension of our fur trade. 1t is
OH that frontier only that we have much
to fear from Indian hostilitcs. The
tribes to the southwest are either so in
considerable, or. SO surrounded by white
population, and, what is of not less inn
portancc, so cut off with intercourse
from all foreign nations, that there are
reasonable grounds to believe, that we
shall, in future, be almost wholly exempt
from Indian warfare in that quarter.
Very different is the condition of those
on our northwestern border. They are
open to the influence of foreign power,
and many OF the most warlike and pow
erful tribes, who, by the extension Of
our settlements, are becoming our near
neighbors, are yet very little acquainted
with our power. To guard against
their hostility, it has been thought proper
to increase our forces on that frontier
from one to three regiments; and to oc-
cupy new posts, better calculated to cut
off all intercourse between the Indians
residing on our territory, and foreign
traders or posts; and to garrison them
with force sufficiently Strong to overawe
the neighboring tribes. With this viow,
measures have been taken 70 establish
strong posts at the Council Bluff and
the Mandan village, on the Missouri;
at the mouth of the St. Peters, on the
Mississippi; and the falls of ST. Mary's,
between lakes Superior and Huron.
The posts at Green Bay, Chicago, Rock
Island, and the Prairie du CHEN, will
still be continued. The posts at the
mouth of the St. Peters and at the
Council Bluff, have already been occu-
pied; and that at the Mandan village
will probably be, the next summer.
The position at the falls of St. Mary's
has been reconnoitred, and it is intended
to make preparation the next summer
to occupy it. The occupation of these
posts with an adequate force, will, it is
believed, by establishing over the vari-
Gus tribes in that quarter the influence
of our government, and preventing or d.
minishing that Of others, have the most
beneficial effects. The position at the
Council Bluff is very important one,
and the post will consequently be rem
dered strong, and will be occupied by
sufficient garrison. 1t is about half way
between St. Louis and the Mandan viii
lage, and is at that point on the Missouri,
which approaches the nearestt to the post
at the mouth of the St. Peters, with
which, in the event of hostilities, it may
cooperate. 1t is besides not more than
one hundred and eightymiles in advance
is in the centre of the most powerful
tribes, and the most numerous Indian
population, west of the Mississippi.
1 is believed to be the best position on
the Missouri, to cover our Furnishing
settlements in that quarter, and ought, if
it were wholly unconnected with other
objects, to be established for that pur-
pose alone. N
The position at the Mandan village
has been selected for military post, on
account of the many advantages which it
is supposed to possess. At that point,
the Missouri approaches nearest to the
! =.