Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-01-02
From The National Intelligencer.

FRANKLIN, Oct. l8, 1920.
SIR--I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your communications Of the
18th aud 2lst of June. Your instruc-
|tions respecting the occupancy Of Fort
Usage, aud in relation to the complaints
made by the Usage deputation, at WASH
ington, shall be particularly attended to.
left Council Bluffs on the lst inst.
aud came down the Wagon road that
Lieutenant Fields has opened, with bis
command. We overlook him 90 Grand
River, about forty miles above its mouth,
on the 10Th inst. with his Wagon, team,
and party, in good condition. As soon as
/ get his report on opening the road, il
shall be forwarded to you, as shall the
report and Typographical sketch Of Lieut..
4 Talcott, Of the route across TO St. Peters.
1 The road is measured from the Bluffs to
i Charlton; the distance is about two hun
dred and fifty miles The distance across
10 ST. Peters, is estimated ut three HIM
Idred miles, From belief that the Sac
Indians are secretly hostile 10 the whites,
have deferred having the country across
10 Rock Island, and Prairie du Chen,
explored, for the present.
The ague and fever has been prevalent
at the post above, for the last Two months,
but there is every reason 10 believe that it
Twill soon desperately one death has
occurred among the troops, from tie 18th
1 April, 10 the st inst. and that from a case
Iol the typhus.
The new barracks were in state Of
lforaardne on the LIST inst. indeed most
LOT the troops were quartered. The rooms
were put up with round logs, and hewn
down without and within; the whole Of
the infantry, aud one block of the rifle
barracks, are covered with shingles.
Good brick chimneys were made to most
of the rooms and the residue, 90 doubt,
compleied by this time. The barracks
are dry and comfortable, and will proba-
bly, last some fifteen years; plan Of their
construction and of their slefences, shall
be forwarded to you on my arrival at
ISt. Louis.
| Our crops surpass my expectations; of
corn we shall 10 doubt gather more Than
10000 bushels. From the quantity gath
cred and measured, from an acre, which,
| believe, yielded not more than an aver
age, we should count on more than $4,000
bushels. The acre alluded 10 produced
1921 bushels of sheIled corn, but, as it
was not yet quite dry, an allowance for
shrinking of 221 per cent, would still give
lus more than the latter quantity. Our
lpotatoe crop will not be as abundant as
anticipated, nor will the product of tur-
Inips; of the former we shall probably
gather four thousand bushels, and from
four to Eve Thousand Of the latter. Grass
hoppers appeared ia nyriads the last
week in August and stripped the turnips
OF their leaves; they were so we'll grown,
however, as 10 resuscitate measurably,
and will give half CROP II these de-
struclive visitants had made their appear
ance six weeks sooner, we should not
have made one bushe Of corn. They
stripped it, even at the late period, OF
half its leaves. The Pawnee Indians
lost their whole crop by their ravages,
and understand that at the Earl Of Sci.
kinks establishment, on Red River, the
two last crops have been entirely destroy
Jed by them.
/ II we are not again visited by those
insects, there is no doubt but we shall be
able latter gathering the next crop TO sub
lsist ourselves 10 plentiful abundance by
our own labors. We have cut and pre-
served two hundred and fifty tons Of hay,
which will be sufficient for our horses aud
cattle.
/ The Indian tribes on the Missouri
continue friendly towards us. Our op-
portunity Of judging Of their dispositions
has been greater the present season than
at any former period. Ia September
there was assembled, at one time at the
i Bluffs, the chiefs and head men Of the
three bands Of Pawnees, of the Cansas, of
| the Mahas, Of the Puncas of The three
bands of Yanketon Sioux, Of the Teton
Sioux, and Of the Stone Sioux, residing
above the Great Bend all OF whom pro-
iessed TO be. and are no doubt as friendly
as could be wished. II is said that the
Aracaras, who inhabit the country 1850
miles below the Maudans, speak lightly Of
the coming Of the troops and the friend
Ely disposition Of the Mandans is also ques-
toned. In these reports but little conf
dence should be placed. For my own
part, have not the least doubt but the
presence Of 400 troops would be quite
sufficient to overawe them, and make as
favorable an impression as could be de-
/ sired; aud which must hope will be
authorized early in the spring. There
certainly is not the least difficulty, with
proper management, Of carrying the views
lof government into full effect, 10 regard to
opening a friendly intercourse With the
lunner frshae