The Wilmingtonian., 1823-10-02
From the Baltimore American.
NORTH WESTERN INDIANS.

From the Baltimore American.
NORTH WESTERN INDIANS.
Conn of a letter from Mr.. j. Pitcher, part
npr of the Missouri Fur Company, &
Major II. UFallon, Indian agent a
Council Bla6s.
Fort Recovery, Upper Missouri, }
July 23d, 1925
Dean SrR.-From the following extracr
of letter from Mr.. Gordon. Young gen
Itle,nan in the service Of the Missouri Fun
Company, and attached to our Mountain
|eers, YOU will see that they have been de-
Heated, and the chiefs Of the expedition
hMr. Immell and Mr.. Jones) have boti
been slain. The extract from Mr. kce
niles letter which shows the disposition
and feelings of the Mandans and Gros'
lventres, produced by the late success ol
the Ricarers against Gen. Ashley and the
whole will, hope, tend to show the i'm
lportance of Col. Leavenworth's eXpedl'
ltion against the Ricarees. II protection
to the commerce of the Missouri be the
object Of our government, this would seem
to be the accepted time; a decisive blow
lis indispensable for the safety OF every
white man on the river above the Coun.
ell BuIls, and even To the troops station
led at that post. But | need not dwell
Inpon this subject: you know too well the
importance of the movement
The following is an extract from MI
lGordon's letter, dated at
Fort Nandenburg. Mandan and I
Gros-ventres Villages, June Is, 1925 )
! DEAN SHIT becomes my unpleasant
duty to inform YOU Of the defeat OF our
party, by the Blackioot Indians, and OF the
dire Consequences Of the same.
After penetrating to the Three Forks n'
the Missouri early in the spring, although
we found that country almost entirely
trapt out by the Indians, we succeeded
by the greatest perseverance, III taking
about - packs of Beaver. On the Oil
of May, having reached the upper 1hreC
Forks of Jefferson river, and finding nt
Beaver in that quarter, We commenced
retrograde march for the Yellow Stone.
On the second day. we fell in with q
party Of ,hirty-eight Blackfoot Indians
They came up boldly and smoked and re
manned with US during that night, maxim:
every profession Of friendship; and in th'
morning. ater making them presents o
such articles as we could spare, they part
ed with us apparently well satisfied hay
ing first invited US to come and ESTABLISH
,at the mouth Of the Maria river, as the,
said they had been informed was our in
Itention. They were in possession of eve
Try information in regard to the boats be-
ing at the month OF the Yellow Stone, and
of their determination to ascend the Mis-.
souri, to the Falls. This information mus
have been derived from the British ira
ders, 'oho hare, most probably, insHgatet
them to Commit this outrage, and by then
no douht from some faithful correspon
dent at st. Louis. We did not suffer our
selves. however, to be lulled into lalst
ideas OF security by their friendly probes
sions, but commenced IA direct and pre-
cpitate retreat from the country, keepin!
out strict guard every night, and using
every possible vigilance at all times. ThI!
party of thirty-eight had returned to thei
Village, which was very close, and recruit
ed, to tn number of between three ant
-four hundred men; these had intercepted
Jus on the yellow Stone where they arriv
ed two days before us-they lay in am
bush for US on the side of a steep hill, thu
base Of which was washed by the rivei
along which we had to pursue the intr
cate windngs of IA Baif,Ioe race among
rocks, trees, &c. by means Of which they
had secreted themselves. At this place
the men were of course much scattered
for considerable distance, as two horses
could not pass abreast. At this unfortu
nate moment, and under circumstances
so disadvantaseous, they rushed upon U,
with their whole force, pouring down from
every quarter, Messrs. lmmill and JOne'
fell early in the engagement. A confc
thus unequal could not long be maintained
The result was the loss of five men xii
led, and four wounded, the entire loss o
all our horses and cquipage. traps. anc
beaver, and every thing. The balance 0
the party succeeded in escaring, by max
ling IA raft and crossing the Yellow Stone
This took place on the 3ist Of May, ju,
below the mountains on the Yellow Stone
Not knowing to what extent the loss 0
the horses, traps, &c. might affect any flu
ture plan ofoperat!ons, | came with all pos
sible expedition to this place to acquain
you with the circumstance. ! left MIR
Il aamIp and fhp Marty near tha m0uth n