Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-16

stances OF the case, 10 ieteh 10 tne SOIL
citations of Ricarecs for peace, especi.
ally asst was understood that our round
shot were nearly expended-corse
quenlly treaty was made with them
copy of which is enclosed.
In restoring to Gen. As'll4g the pro-
perry taken, it was thought that the In
dams did not perform their engagements
on that subject as well as they were
able to do; and they were threatened
with an attack. Their principal chief,
the Little Soldier, came to us and beg
ged permission to withdraw his family
from the village before we attacked it.;
and he gave us the most conclusive eyi.
dence of his friendly disposition towards
us. 1t was now late in the afternoon of
the 18th, the 10th and 18th having been
spent in action and negotiation, and in
terchanging visits, our men freeuented
the towns for the purpose of trading for
moccasins, sc. and the Indians manifest
ing every symptom of having been tho
roughly brought to sense of their in
terest and duty, it was concluded to post
pone the attack until the morning, and
the troops we're dismissed from parade.
1t had been ascertained by me that
the Indians were so much alarmed by
our threatening again to attack them
that they would probably run away and
leave their villages; this, it was thought,
would have an unfavorable effect upon
the Indians, and make them more in
clined to commit depredaticns upon the
traders; and, as the Little Soldier soon
after sent out for general Ashley, a few
more buffalo robes, with message that
he could not possibly do more, and beg
ging that~we would have pity on them,
sent-him word that would not attack
them; that it was not their property that
we wanted, to make his people feel
safe, and conduct themselves well, and
they should not be hurt.
Early on the morning of the 18th, we
found that the Ricarees had all left their
towns during the night
Major Ketchum, with his company,
and company E. commanded bv Lieut.
Bradley, and Lieut.. Morris, with one six
FOUNDER, were ordered to take possess
sion of the towns, and to suffer not the
least article to be taken away, or the
towns to be injured.
A messenger was sent to call back the
indians, if possible, and to induce them
to take possession of their Villages, but
could not be found. 1t was now evil
dent that our artillery had been served
with very great effect. The towns had
been completely riddled. We found 81
new graves, and found that several old
ones had been opened, and the surface
set thick with prickly pears to conceal
the new dirt. We know that the 10 men
who were killed by the Sioux in the
sklrmish on the 9th, were buried in five
graves; and we know also, that more
than one was buried in several of the
other graves. From the best evidence
which we could collect, it Is supposed
that more than SO were killed, and
great number wounded. Our messenger
returned on the evening of the I4th,
without having been able to find the Ri
carees.
7On the morning of the 18th, we placed
the mother of the late chief, Grey Eyes,
IAN aged and infirm woman, whom they
left in their fight in one of the princi-
pal lodges IN the lower village, gave her
plenty of provisions and water, and left
her in the quiet possession of the towns,
and the property left by the Indians, ex-
cept some corn which had been taken
for the subsistence of the men. At
about 10 O'Clock, ON the evening of the
18th, the troops were embarked to de-
scend the river, and our guard with
drawn, and every soul removed from
the villages, except the woman before
All the boats were got I'M
der way nearly at the same time. Be
fore we were out of sight of the towns,
we had the mortifcation to discover
them to be on fire. There is no doubt
but they have been consumed to ashes,
nor is there any doubt but that they were
set on fire by one M'Donald, a partner,
and one Gordon, clerk, of the Missou-
RI Fur Company. Had not this been
DONE there rs no doubt, but that the Ri
caree Indians would, in future, have be-
hayed as well towards our countrymen
as any other Indians on the river. II is
now nay deliberate opinion, that those
Indians will be excited to further hostili-
ties
1t is understood that this Company,
(the Missouri have withdrawn their
trade from above the Sioux country
Not so with Messrs. Ashley and Henry
they have a small number of men
and larnn amount of nrnnortu ~ Tho