Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-12-27
r,ction Of Major wooley, with about 10 meR


to each boat.
The remainder of The troops were disem-
bark, d 10 !. o b, hnd. As we were now with
in twen five miles OF the Afcara villages, we
ehdeavortd. 10 make such arrangements as
10 prevent our enemy from discovering ehr
torce-acc 1rdingil a small party OF Sioux
Warriors were sent considerably IN advance.
Mex. our line OF march was placed Capt.
Riley, with his company Of rfl men, AID Gen.
ASHLEY, with ms Two companies OF Mountain
GERS, rs our principal advance, al short dis
lance from the remaing companies OF the 9th
reg.mcnt-the men of The Missouri Fur Com
pany we're on board Their boats. The remain
der OF our Iid.an, moved on our tanks and in
our rear-whic6 in all, Mr.. Pitcher estimated
ca the 7th August, a, 400 warriors amongst
whom were supposed 10 be 234 fire arms
These estimates are declared TO be made
upon the statements of the Indians, and re- by
actual enuml ration. MIR. Pitcher estimated
hose WI joined us subsequently, at $50 war;
riors; number of arms not known-making
an indian force Of 750 men,
Allow me to say, that up TO this time had
been very well satisfied with Mr. Pitcher i'll
every respect, particularly sub agent. He
had neg,ec cd 40 opportunity to be serNcea-
bic t. the expedition, but had done every
thing in MS power 10 ensure It's success
have understood that II was not intended,
after he defeat Of the party under the late
Messrs. lm..el and Jones was known, to send
the boats Of The Missouri Far COMPANY above
their Fort Recovery. From that point to the
, AecIra villages they could have had 70 other
object, but 10 Cooperate with Us fer the SER
wee of our country, and to acquire Influence
with the Sioux astion. The former object
was highy appreciated by me, and the latter,
| Il II eXls,ed, rs really believe it did, con-
sdered as perfectly UNSTABLE, as they were
engaged IN the fur trade with that nation. Mr..
tlicner had All Interpreter who lad been for
a considerable time, IN the emslovme nj Of the
| Missouri Fun C mpany. and S2ith whom had
| too much reason to be dissatisfied He, no
! iaubJ, did ali in his power 20 increase the in
haence AID import" &C Of that COMPANY, not
! oAl: Al the expense OF other traders, but also
| Al mat Of our eNped ton.
| On The ny,f Of he 8'h we encamped about
! IL 81 IL miles froa. the Apicara villages, and
| moved r@ard again early on the morning ct
lie GA.
Dtlnng he day w continually received the
! most suao5e aud cOhu adictorl accounts from
our Indians. i appeared that there ~ere
| several SIOUX living with the Aricaras, aid
/ @ho hal lntermairjed with them. 'ihey @ere
! sent for II come out and Sc thelr- friends,
VINO were coming, as the SIOUX sad, 10 smoke
and male peace Wit ihe Ar,caI4,s. some
Sal. that The villages were strongly fortified,
and furnished with aches as deep as mans
CHI 3, when standing III them, NJ other times
1t was sad that The Arrears were 50 contid MT
that the SIOUX we're canning 70 maxi peace
with them that hey had taken down all hrir
detehces, and there was nothing 10 defend
them oui thcT dirt lodges. Nothing appear
ed cef-A.n but that the 'ricarss were stil n
tneiF villages. These contradictory stories,
winch were Told by the Sous, had the effect
= create susPicin,s OF tHcir fidelity. = was
ai9o fepofted (aad 'here was 100 ihnch reason
10 "e"efe II Urde) '"ai the sciones ana Nhk-
l1sP"' ("ho "ets com hhed' had de't mt1ei'
Ia caS' we were defeated 10 JON the 'caf"s.
we arrived al small stream called 'tdhd
idFer' distant from the villages SIX or seven
! 'h'ieS, - ABOUT II O'CLOCK; 1t became neces-
safs TO matt Ter our forces to Close up, and TO
| OBTAIN water &c.
rs our greatest apprehension was, that cur
enemies (lhe Arlcaras) would run away from
| u.s. il was thought desirable to advance rapid
y with cur Indian forces, and surrouud their
villages, and prevent tier escaping udil! the
! regular troops, aud our boats, With the ariilo-
y, could come up. Having determined upon
TINS, nothed 1t to MI. Pitcher, an direct
hlln to move on with the Indians and his n
terpre'er. soon discoN cred the india1s
making RAPID movement IL the front ON
horseback, and saw the Interpreter amongst
theln. oupposlnS that Mr.. Plici'er was where
ne should De, az the head OF ms corps took
Lieut. Noei WIN me, and toil1 Z ca them. we
soon overlook tue interpreter lie was di-
rected 10 send back an Indian as a guide Ter
our column. lie did So and Lieut.. Noel went
BACK WIN me Indian to i"form MAYOR ketch-