American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1822, 1822-02-22

more than months duty, and never was absent
one day from my regiment without leave. was
Engaged in,more than thirty field actions,-and be
sides assisted in the siege, storm capture of nine
forts or fortified places, i'll which received three
wounds, one OF which gives me increased pain 10
this day. above is beheOed 10 be from an off,
Ger Of tie Dslawore Regimens.
FVaahingt2n, Fec. 1921.
MY DEAR FRIEND-IIappening to make morn.
ing visit TO the president two or three days ago,
learnt that the Indians now in Washington, would
be there in few minutes for the purpose OF having
Ia talk with their great Father, and was tempted 10
wait and witness spectacle to me so novel and in.
Iteresting. They accordingly soon arrived, and
were shown into the antchamber to the right OF
the drawing room. When ! entered, found the
whole thirteen, that is twelve men and one woman,
seated round the room, and ma jor O'Fallon, the
Ioficer who has charge Of them, with four or FIVE
other gentlemen standing at the fire place. They
were all dressed in blue cloth surtouts, with red
cuffs and capes, blue pantaloons and boots-in short
la complete American costume, except that they
were on their head a sort of corontt bedizened
with red and blue foil, and stuck all round with
feathers Of HE eayest colours. Their faces too
Ewere painted, though in less fantastic style than
usual The squaw sat on sofa near her husband
dressed in scarlet pantaloons and wrappedin green
camblet cloak, without any ornament on her long
black hair They consisted, as was told, of the
lPawnees, Kansas, Ottoes, Mahss and Misssouries
rhe five chiefs were distinguished by two silver
epaulettes, and the two half chiefs by one They
were evidently not easy in their new habilarnents
their coats seemed TO pinch them them about the
shoulders; and now and then they would take of
their uneasy head dresses, and one sought tempo
rary relief by pulling off his boots.
JJDon Major (OFallon sIippestino that thew left
the presents they intended for the president, the
tyoung men we're Immediately dispatched by their
chiefs and the squaw by her husband, for their in
tended tokens Of friendship and good will. They
returned in few minutes with Buffalo skins, pipes
mocasins and feather head dresses. The presiden
entered with the secretary of war, and taking his
seat delivered to them through the interpreters, ar
extempore address, from notes held in his hand
and, as they used TWO distinct languages, it was ne
cessary that every sentence should be twice inter
preted. The president told them he was glad tc
see them--that when he had met them before, he
was too much engaged in receiving his great coun
Gil to shew them the attention he wished-and that
now he had more leisure, he was as pleased 10 see
them in the dress of their white brethren, as he
had been before, IN that of their own country he
ladverted to the visit they had made to our large
towns-to our arsenals, navy yards ard the like, &
/ told them that much as they had seen, il coulc
s,rength--ss the deer and the buffalo they nigh
chance to meet in passing through their forest;
bore small proportion 10 those they did not See
That they had met with few of our warriors, be-
cause they were not wanted at the seat of govern
ment, and because we were at peace with ali the
world-but if we werein state of war all our CT
tizens would take arms into their hands and become
brave warriors. He enjoined them to presery,
peace with one another. and to listen to no voice
which should persuade them to dstrust the friend
ship of the United States. They were told tina
lthey should receive some presents and be conduct
led safely back to their wives and children, by mai
RI OFalon, whose advice they were told to conside
as the advice of their great father, the president
Z and earnestly recommended to pursue.
4 This address was interpreted sentence by sen
tence, and at the end of each first those who spok
= one language, and then those who spoke the other
" gave, invaripbly, sign of assent, which was sor
OF inarticulate sound or grunt. Before the pres
d dent had finished, the judges of the supreme cour
and some others happening 10 call on the lresiden
increased the number of attentive auditors
When the president had finished, major O'Failo
then told them their great father vas ready TO hea
1t what they had TO say, and he encouraged them
t. speak with the same freedom that they would US