Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-25

Il became necessary fnt them 70 ronfine
their operations last Fall to the Yellow
Stone and its tributary waters, and winter
a! the mouth OF the Big Horn The par
ty originally consisted OF 43 persons, in.
Guiding themselves and Messrs Gordon
and KesnIe, two young gentlemen at
tached to the expedition, and to whom ]
am much indebted for their activity in
bringing of the remainder of the party
and securing the property which had been
lett on the Yellow Stone al the time the
expedition moved to the three forks early
in the spring. The party had been redu-
ced to thirty; part OF The men having de-
serted their wintering post at the Big
Horn, with these they penetrated the coun-
try. as mentioned in Mr. Gordon's letter.
am happy to say their defeat is not to be
attributed to negligence, mistaken conf
dence of their own ability, or oil the good
will of the Indians. Three hours more
would have t ken them to the Crow ma
ton, where they would have been perfect
Iy secure. this tribe being at war with the
BlsckioOt and much attached to The whites
But the Biackfeet had marked their rou'e.
they knew The country aud advantages OF
the position selected by them tor the at
tack; there they intercepted them and
waited Their arrival-nothiDg but defeat
could be expected under such circumstan-
ces, and il is wonderful how any should es
cape from such an overwhelming force
when attacked in such an uDtayorable po'
sitioD-many circumstances Justify the
pinions expressed 10 MIR. Gordon's letter,
which will hereafter relate, time will not
allow me to do so al present.
Mr.. Keemle arrived al the MandanseIn
a short time after Mr. Gordon letl HIM on
the Yellow Stone, and in letter TO me
under dale OF 10Th of the present month,
he expresses himself as follows Permit
me, sir, here to remark, that the present
affair with the Rickarees is the subject OF
daily conversation with the GIos ventres
and Msndans; and am OF opinion from
many remarks made by the principal men
of both nations that much OF The future
welfare and interest OF persons eaeag1d IN
the business of the Missouri depends upon
The course of conduct pursued towards that
band OF savage villains 10 another letter
from him of the ll;b inst he gives me the
following n.ormalion:-' A council was
beld by the Mandans on the 10th inst. IN
which they have determined TO send for
the RIcksrees to enter their village, in or
der to project them las they say IRON the
whites A similar proposition was made
to the Gro. venIres by the former nation,
but they shut their ears against it,
The Arjcka rees opeOed IRE upon the
men who came express with those letters.
and continued it Till they had got beyond
their reach, though they Old not succeed
in hurting either of them. From these CIR
cumstsnces you may suppose ina, Inc 'u'
ture conduct and disposition nt all those
upper tribes, even the Sioux, depends
much on the steps taken in relation 10 the
Aricarees
There are many opinions respecting The
course the Aricarees will take--my own
impressions are, thai they will not aban'
don their villages, hui f" III await the arr
val of the expedition and give w bai'lr,:
many things induce belief that they will
not attempt TO gu to the Mandans for pro.
teciion--about twelve days will decide It
The expedition left this place early this
morning. am, dear SIT, &c
JOSHUA PITCHER.
Major B O'F4llon,
u S. Indian Agent.