Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-06

~ 'oi1o"6 's'set, touh one Off.
persons who composed Gen. A.bl.w
party, to bis friend in this Dist
gives minute account of the epcon.
ter Of that party with the Ricares Ind;
ans, and disclosss the views which ,b'
white Hunters and Trad,rs them,.l,.
take Of the causes and consequene,, y;
1t: nat Int
Fort kiawd, I 0 miles 6elo,p tie
Big Bend Of tie lR,sso0ri, jane l7M, 1922 (
We arrived on the SOth of Nav ,,
good spirits and without any accid.n,
OF consequence, opposite the Rie,,..
towns, where we cast anchor in ,heen,
rent. The village is situated on n.
south side of the river, on q GENT. ,i..
about So feet above he river. Th,'s
are two divided by a ravine, their fo,m
circular; the houses are bull. Of uns
and sticks partly under ground, and
very capacious; four or five, and s.m.
times more families, live in each !oS,s
In both villages there are probably ION
warriors; they are tolerably we'll srue5
and possess some skill in the mauss.
ment of fire arms; about two ,hiri,
are armed with fusees, the rest witt
bows and arrows. In front of the town
at low water, a sand bar makes il, an.
pearauce, and ezteods for about three
hundred yards into the river ;throush
which, about fifty wards from the rive,
runs a slough. waist deep. Ishculd
have remarked that the town is well
picketted and intrenched In cops..
quence of some difficulty that occurred
bou. one HUNDRED and twenty mile.
below, between this tribe OF Indians
and Hempstead's traders. IN which sf.
fair two indians were killed, we ddn
like to trust then by landing as usual
on the beach, until we ascer AIMED tho
light in which they viewed us. Accor.
DINGHY. Ashley went ashore in the skif.
and was met on the beach by two the
principal chiefs, (Little Soldier and
Grey Eyes)--.iter conference he 10.
vi,ed them on board. the former 70.
fused, the latter accompanied him
Ashley made him some pI esents, and
informed him that he had nothing to Do
with the company that had injured hin
that he was not, and ought not, to BE-
held. accountao lie tor the actions Of eve.
~ white man on the river-tfat tks,
Great Father would inquire into The
circumstances, and justice would 30
done him and his nation-(this ,hirl's
son WAS one ofthose that was killed.
to this he individually expressed his "a.
tisfaction, but said, before any ,hipI
could'be done, 1t would be necessary to
hold council, and advised US to t.
main where we were until The resul.
would be communicated 10 us; in h,
evening we we, c informed that they had
concluded TO remain on friendly term,
with us. Old Grey Eyes again visited
! u; after some con. ersatIon, Ashley m
for. med him Of his intention to proceed
with abou; forEy men by land, il a .uh
cient no mi Der oil horses could bs proou
red; he es, pressed mis- Willingness |.
trad with hi,r 10" them, no requested
AS ley topltch bis tent on the 2racn u
the morning; he DID -. We purchased
auout 10 horses and 25,l buffal, robes
suddenly the trade was Groken off II
the evening by one Of the bief.. h
wishing to trade for lire arms End an
muultlon, the squaws preferrlng trim
ke's; that evening received intorms
ton OF their Intention to attack psa
night; remsined under arms all nIsh =.
remained all next day al ahchor, on &C
couni Of severe head winds. which a
night increased to such a degree as Il
drive US mo shore Oae of the friend
ly Ind, aps Informed US Of their men
ton to attack u, before our departure
It they did not, mignt calculate On heI
attacking us when separa ed; he ADV,
ed Ashley 10 swim the horses that Dlgh
across the river, bul having tina a.
seen several indians on the op, cs1
SIDE. we deemed It more prudenr not II
follow his advice. bout midnight W
were alarmed by the information tha
Ore of our men wa. killed ~ the vi
lage our guards were d little wh'I
before alarmed by the appearance OF
large body of Indians at he foot OF III
hill, rammlng their guns and pic kin
their ilInls; at this time three Indian
had, undiscovered, got on boa I'd A n
ley's boat, and went to the cabIh; a
they opened The door he aw, Ike: discov
ering them to DO Indians, he pr seute
his pistol, and hey Instantly disappear
ed; their intention, no doubt, was tt
kill Ashley and rush upon the boats
had they done 30 they might have sut
ceeded, owing to the violence OF tn
wind; providentIalIy, fear restrain
them. A friendly Indian infor med u
he would bring US the body of the MAR
that was killed, il we would let hiG
ave horse. This wa bout da v hr,a