The Wilmingtonian., 1823-10-09
HEAD QUARTERS, 9th Regt. !
Fort Atkinson, Aug. 80, 1928. !

Y
Fort Atkinson, Aug. 80, 1928. !
Sir.-I have the honor to inform youl
that the troops who lately visited the Ri
cara towns returned to this post on the
eth instant.
We arrived before the Ricara towns on,
the 9th of the present month. The Sioux
Indians who were with US, were met byl
the Ricaras a short distance from their
towns, and skirmish took place between
them The Rcaras maintained their
ground, or rather drove the Sioux back,
until the regular troops and General Ash
ley's men arrived and formed their line.
The Ricaras were then Immediately driv-
en- into their towns. The Sioux were so
much scattered in front of the troops that
the latter were unable to deliver their fire
without killing some of the Sioux, and
therefore did not fire.
Our boats arrived subsequently during
the evening of the 9th, and our artillery
was disembarked.
On the morning of the 10th, Captain
Riley, with company of R1emen, and
Lieut.. Bradley with company of Infan-
try, were ordered to take possession of a
hill above the upper village. They i'm
medately took position there within one
hundred steps from the towns. At the
same moment, Lit Morris, with one six
FOUNDER. and five and half inch howit-
yer, commenced an attack on the lower
town. Serjeant Perkins, with one six
FOUNDER. WAS ordered to report to Mr.
Fandenburg, of the Missouri Fur Compa-
ny. This six FOUNDER was placed above
the upper village. A brisk fire was con.
tinued upon the towns until O'Clock in
the afternoon. The Sioux were, in the
mean time, busily engaged in gathering
and carrying off the corn of the Ricaras.
At s o'clock Major Ketchum was ase
ordered to the upper village with his com.
pany.
Between and 4 o'clock the six poun.
der and the troops opposed to the upper
village, were withdrawn, and our whole
force concentrated below the lower vii
lage, and the troops ordered to form, fo
the purpose OF collecting corn for thei
own use, as Gen Ashley's men had ther
been destitute of provisions for two days
At this time party of Sioux, and part,
of Ricaras, both on horseback, were dis
covered holding parley on the hill be
yond the upper town. 1t was also disco
yered that the Sioux were going off, thougl
they had given no intimation of their in
tention to do so. The Ricaras sent on
and begged for peace. They said that tn
iifst shot from our cannon had killed tn
celebrated Chief, called "Grey Eyes,
who caused all the mischief,s and that W
had killed great many of their people
and of their horses. They were evident
very much terrified, and completely hum
bled. Being convinced of this, and sur
posing that the government would be be-
ter pleased to have those Indians corrpc
ed than eIterminatpd, and as the Sou!
amounting to about or 800 warriors, ha
left us in a very strange and unaccnunt;
Bile manner, it was thought best, under a
circumstances of the case, to listen to til
solicitations of the Ricaras for peace, e
pecially as it was understood that 0,
round shot were nearly all expended
consequently. a treaty was made with thel
capv of which is enclosed.
In restoring to Gen. Ashley the prcpe
ty taken, it was thought that the India
tsN UNt iEttOftH tiStl engagements wv WI
subject, as we'll as they were able to d
and they were threatened with an attao
The principal chief, the Little Soldi
came TO us. and begged permission to xvi
draw his family from the village bofc
we attacked it, and he gave us the M
conclusive evidence of his friendly disl
siion towards Us. twas now late in t
afternoon Of the foth, the 10th and II
having been spent in action and negot
ton, and intcrchanging visits, our m
freouenting the towns for the purpose
trading for mocassins, &c. and the India
manilesting every symptom of havi
been thoroughly brought TO sense Oft
interest and duty 1t was concluded
pnstrene the attack until morning, and
troops were dismissed from parade.
1t had been ascertaned by me that
Indians were 50 much alarmed by {