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

epon run. 1t appeared, however, from the
snxiet, of Mr.. Pitcher, that the Sioux were
hard pressed. and sent M adj tant Client.
Eagl to order Capt Armstrong to vance
aso WIN his light company but all the troops
being actua;ed by the same generous ardor
there was but little difference in the time of
their arrival. MAJOR ketchum arrived very
soon after Capt. Armstrong, with the remain
der OF the battalion.
We formed our line as follows Gen. Ash
ley, with his two companies on the rIgtlt, and
his right resting on The Missouri river Next,
the five companies of the 9th regiment, COM
manded BY brevet Major keichum, with Capt.
Armstrong; hight company on the right and
Capt Riley's company, acting as rHemen, ON
the left. rhe line was formed very soon, and
the men ordered TO support arms and advance.
They did so. The Sioux were in front as well
rs he Aricaras-we therefore could not de-
liver our fire until we mad passed the Sioux.
hut as soon as the Indians SAW our line advance
ing the Arlcara, broke from Their hiding
places. The Sioux fired upon diem.
The ,ricaras very soon entered their towns /,
we continued to advance until within 3 or 400
yards Of the villages, where ". halted 10 await
the arrival of O II boats and aruilcry. 1t was
said that the Sio IS had killed ten of the AFRICA
ras we saw thr or four with their heads,
arms, ha IDS, fee and leg, cut off; several
Sioux We're bragg NJ about IN great triumph
the hands, ct, ,eS, or arms ot nc SLAM Ari-
caras, by mean, of u long string or cord
While We W re waiting for OH boa ), Capt.
Riley was sent with his company to engage
the enemy, and keep them IN their towns
this he did handsomely the mean time the
Sioux anus q themselves by cutting to pieces
the slam Ar carls, and pla, ing over on OF The
dead bodies, w Iat they called " WMte Bear"
This consisted in placing the skin of ,aat AMI
mai over the shoulders Of a sioux, who walked
upon his hands and knees, and endeavored to
initiate the bear in his motions, ~ walking
ground and smelling of the dead body.
Sometimes he would Cut off small pieces of
fcsh and eat them This ceremony lasted for
some time. The Indians requested us not to
look at the performer, and particularly not to
laugh at him, " as it would injure his medicine,
ii we did 500
Maj. Wooley manifesto great zeal IN bring.
ing forward our boats. He arrived with them
in sufficient season to enable us to dlScmb TX
our artillery before sun down. At this late
hour in the day, ! thought it inadvisanle to
commence The attack with our artillery, as
had no doubt but that il would have he
affect to drive the Indians away under cover
commence the attack early on the morning Of
the tenth.
Capt. Riley and Lieut.. Bradley were order
ed o lake possession Of hill near the upper
village. This was promptly done, and well
done. Capt. Riley took a position with his
comm nd within 100 Yards of the village, but
in such manner As to secure his men from the
fire of the enemy, while al the same tune
We had completely the command of the vii
lage
Major Wooley was .ssigned to ,e general
superintendent OF the artillery and ordnan. e,
AMI TO be assisted by Lieut.. Morris of the Oh
reg ment
The companies of the 9Th, not detached,
were assigned TO the command OF brevet Ma
jor Ketchum.
Gen! >shey's command was again placed
upon II right, resting Ipon he rivers next
to them, Lieut.. Morris, With one six FOUNDER
and FIVE and half inch hoVitzer; and next
the r NAMING companies of the Oh regiment
our Indian allies were very much scattered
in our rear.
Serg't Perkins with another six FOUNDER,
manned by a detail from the h regiment, was
directed to cooperate with Nj Vanderourgh,
and sent against the upper village.
The troops having obtained Retrospective
Norris with his artillery
His first shot killed their celebrated and mis-
chevlous Chief, called Grey Ewes, and the Sc
cond cut away the staff of their m'aicius flag.
Maj Ketchum with his CON nand was order
ed to advance. He did SO Until ordered TO hat.
He was then within three or four hundred
yards Of the lower vage and as the arms Of
the men had been loaded for considerable
time. it was desirable to discharge them-they
Were accordingly directed to fire at an eleva-
ton at the village. then eft this par, of my
command, to visit that at the upper vage-I
found Capt Riley judclously posted, as have
before stated. Mr.. Van,ierbnrgh took several
positions on the hill, by my orders but we
were near the town or village, and so much
elevated above it, that many OF his shots, pass
ed entirely over and lodged in the river. He
was finally sent with the six FOUNDER, down
the hill, upon the same plain AMI level upon
which the upper village stood-From this po-
sition the shots from this piece were more et-
fectual.
IT, be cotc'ulsdin our merit,