Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-12-27

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companies OF The h regiment left this
post with three keel boats, laden with
subsistence for the troops, ammunition,
aud TWO SIX pound cannon. The COM
panies were brevet MAJOR Ketchum's,
COMMANDED by Lieut.. J. Bradley-Cap-
tains Armstrong and Rrey, with their
respective light companIes-brevel Ma
Jor Larabee's company, commanded by
Lieut.. n. ]. Cruger, who also did the
duties OF assis'a com rnIssary vi subsis-
tcnce and quarter masier--Capt. Ganus
company, commanded by Lieut.. Wick
liTe--and company, II J commanded by
Lieut.. NJ 1rris, who was also in charge
of the ordnance and ordnance stores Tor
the expedl'ion--Lieut. Thomas Noel,
AdJutant-D )ctor John G ic, Sargeon.
10 the first Ooat was assigned the two
companies commanded by Capt. A M
strong, and Lieut. Cruser. To lhe Sc
coni the wo companies commanded by
Capt. Riiey, AMI Lieut.. Bradley. To
The third boat. the 40 companies COM
manded by Leuts. Wlgkliffe and Morris.
The seniar officer i each boat WIS
placed IN command Of the boat in which
he was embarked. Being in Ill health,
renamed at my quarters until the % /,
when joined my command Ab1u' six
| miles from this place by tani and fifteen
by water
The river being very hieh the nayiga-
ton was exceedingly difficult aud ma
zardous. The cordelle was The onl,
means By which the boats could be pro-
PEELED and to do this, the men were
obiIged 10 be continually in the mud and
water.
The boats were so heavy laden that
it was with some difficulty that all the
men could be embarked even TO cross
The river, notwtbs andinS we had put g
barrels OF pork into the small barge, used
here as ferry boat, aud manned ter
with sergeant and - men. Ial-
snail boat was found very usctui on ma
ny OCCASIONS.
All the men not required 10 navigate
the bpats, were, the flrsi day, placed an
der command o. Lleuts. Bradley ald
Morris, aud marched 5y land. The ri
VOL o)ttO'ito w u 4 ~ tbuNu AiisA
those gentlemen and their mcn were fire.
qucnIly compelled TO SWIM aud wade
through the wafer waist deep.
The expedIuon lnis day, under the di-
rection OF Capt. Armstrong, made 10
miles, and encampcd on the left bank
of the river. On tile 23I, The little boa
filled IN passing some drit, wood, owiae
| 10 the ssreng.n ol toe current. BY the
good mana cement Of the crew, an / the
prompt assistance rendered b, Captain
Riley and Lieutenant Va klife, eyery
ming vas saved.
GA the attn, Mr.. Pitcher overlook os
with two boats, and encamped with U.s.
| Mr.. Pilcher was acting partner OF tile
VI .ssouri Fur Company and mad been
appointed special Sub-lndlan A gent, by
VI alor 0 'Fallon. H. mad akeu On board
MS boats at Fort A kInson d 81 inch
h)witzar and Its equip lals nc
was good enough II transport to tnu
.,oiDl Of our Destination.
On the lst oil July sent back an ex
press with orders Tor NJ iIor K.Ichum t.
Join the expedition as SOM a, praclIca-
Die after his arrival a, Fort Atkinson.
On the Sd Of July, at abpu, 9 o'clock
IN the morning, Lieut.. Wick life bad ,ne
m isfor,une TO lose he boa, which had
oeen committed TO MS charge. The
boats were progressing under Sail, un-
der the right bank OF The river, which
was thicky covered with timber; the
Wind was light, AMI owing to the timber,
very unsteady. Lieut.. WiCkiiffs wished
TO lay Ms boat turther out into the stream,
for the purpose OF obtaining bette'
wind and wolle doing so, the wind
ce ased to blow and his boat fell back upon
large Tree which was under water as
The wind had been blowing against me
current, il had rendered the water SO
rough that the wake Of his tree had no.
been discovered.
TIE consequence was instantly fatal
to the boai-she suuk. and broke mo two
pieces. Every possible cxertion was
made TO save the lives OF the crew-Capt.
Riley promptly put his boat about and
followed The wreck, which was rapidly
drifting down stream, along bend IN
the river, which was full of similar OBJ
structions; but he had the skill and
good fortune to escape them all. lie
twice threw his cordele 10 those on The
wreck, and made it fast, but il was not
sufficiently strong to hold the wreck, and
I'M lately broke. Finding il inpos-
sibe to land the wreck, he sent his best
swimmers on shore to save the public