Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-18
From the Missouri Republican.

From the Missouri Republican.
The following is general order from
the head quarters of the Western Mill
tary Department, relative to the late In
dian ourages and the subsequent eXpe-
diton against them under Col. Leave ems
worth.
Head Quarters, Westem Department, Lonis- }
viHe, Ky. Sept. 81, 1925. 5
ORDERS.
The Commanding General takes
pleasure III announcing to the troops OF
his department the handsome and homo
rabIe result of the late expedition under
Col. II. Leavensworth, against the
Ricaras nation of Indians.
These Indians occupying stron., po-
sition on the Missouri river, near 700
miles above the Council Bluffs, with
their three principal villages fortified
and defended by upwards OF 600 war
riors we'll armed with British iusils,"
having in the month of June las, made
an unprovoked and waDlon attack ON the
trading company under Gen. Ashley
in which they killed and wounded %
American citizens, peaceably employed
In an authorized trade; leaving their SUR
yiving associates 900 miles distant from
the inhabited part OF The United States,
destitute OF every prospect OF timely
succor, robbed of the proceeds of a
years peril, labor and enterprise, and
exposed 10 the horrors of famine and ad-
ditionai savage outrage.
Under all these unloward circumstan-
ces, the distinguished Colonel Leavens-
worth, then in command OF Fort Akin
son, on hearing of the disaster of his
Countrymen, without pausing to count
the numbers opposed 10 him, or 10 calcu-
late the varlon, obstacles that so wide a
rang Of dreary wilderness presented,
Immediately embarked for the scene OF
action, wnh the 4lsposable force of the
Oh infantry, consisting of but 22o officers
and men. After a oilsome movement
of as days, against The rapid current OF
the Missouri, he arrived on the 9 III ulti-
mo before the enemy's villages, each OF
which he found To be enclosed with pail
sades and ditcnes. A few days prior to
his ARRIVAL he was joined by G3n. ASHLEY
with the remnant u his party, amounting
to so men, and b, Nj Pitcher with 40
men, OF the 'rading companies, together
with near 500 hundred OF the Sioux, who
prolessed to be friendly. With these
volunteers, aided by his little band Of
81 | (tav
his arrival commenced his operations
against the enemy,-ln approaching the
villages with the Sioux in advance, they
were met by the Rcaras short distance
below their works, where skirmisb
cnsued, in which the enemy maintained
his position and forced me Sioux back,
until the regular troops, aided by Gene
raj Ashley's volunteers, arrived and
formed the line of baltle-wben the RI
caras were Immediately driven into Their
villages. During the evening OF the
9th, the boats arrived and The artillery
was disembarked. On the morning Of
the 10Th, Capt. Riley, with company
acting as rflemeD, and Lieutenant
Bradley with company oil Infantry,
were posted on hill within 100 yards
OF the upper village, where they were
enabled to annoy the enemy without
being exposed to their fire. A the same
moment Lieut.. Morris, with one
FOUNDER and 81 in. howitzer, COM
menced an attack on the lower town.
Sergeant Perkins with six FOUNDER,
was ordered to cooperate with Major
Vandebnrgh, Of The volunteers. This
six FOUNDER was placed against the up
per village. AT 8 o'clock Maj. Ketch.
um was also ordered to the upper vii
lage. These arrangements resulted II
the severe chaslisement of the enemy
who, after having their palisades and
houses literally riddled, and suffering 4
loss which the Col. estimated at fifty