Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-12
THE RICAREE INDIAN FICIT

The following Letter, Gom one offhe pe,sons who
composed Gu. Ashleys parry, to his friend in this
SiNiCt, gives It minute account of the pnroun,ar ar
lh't party with the Rcaree Indians and ,;scIoso.
the views which the while Hunters and Traders
'"N"'V"es ''Ne 9I me causes and consequences or :
Fort kiJior ten mites bsiotc me
-, Bi% BsAd q Uit Missouri lime II. 1923
we arrived on the 31h MAY la good spirfs and
Wiihopt ANY aUcIdeui OF consequence oppus,te the
TI'tS owns Where we cast anchor IN The current
LAG village Is siGaled ON the south side OF the river
ca gentle use abUW 80 feet above the river There
are TWO, divided by rlvne, their toru circular The
houses are built Of aud and sticks Dar,i, un,Jer
S'o"nts and very capacious four or FIVE and some
unles more amlIes, live ia each lodge In both VII
i'soS mere hre prohhbly seven hundred warriors A.:
"ey are 'o'efNhy well armed and possess some 81 III
III we infringement 81 IRE arms ; about Two thirds
are armed VITA insees, the test with bows and ar
rows Ia tout OF the town, lO,V water u sand bar
"i''es rs appearance, and extends fo about three
iuHdred yards ,nO the RIVER through which slut
my yards from The river, runs slough waist Ceen
should nave remarked lhai the Gown Is well NICK
sueu h"d inrenched, IN consequence Of some diff
Suiy U'tl occurred about hundred and t,yentv
miles below, between this tribe Of Indians and Hem,
sleau traders, which affair Two Indians ,verro
H'led we did nos ike 10 trust them 10y landing as ~
"ual Oh I've beach, uuti We asceraiued ihe light am
"E'c" 'ney Htw"u Us Accordingly, Ashley went
ashore ~ Tie skf, aud met on he beach Inv f,yo
~ the principal chiefs, (Liuie Soldier and Gre,
G}e-)-iiter conference he invited Them on bn,r.
the iorDeC refused, the later aceon,,n,.J 49,,
ashley made HIN sumo PRESENTS, aud informed hin,
maj lie mad nothing do with The company tl,at had
NJ. fIuf I'm
heid accountable Tor the actions Of every while man
on the rIveT--ihat heir Great Father would luou,rc
ihto the Circumstances, aud justice would be done
hIn4 aud his n1tiOn--iihis ciei. SON was mo nr H.
ha' was kiiiedl-- this he individually expressed
liis Satisfaction, 6i SAID before any fhng could be-
uoht, u wouid be necessary 10 hold a council, aud
aN'stu os '" remain where we until the sui
"otN We con- uuh'ch'ed 40 MS IN Tie evening ,yr
were informed that they had concluded 10 remain ar,
friendly terms w'h Us. Oh Grey Eyes agarn visited
Us diteI some conversations Ashley informed hin, of
nls ut IA n Il ,.,tl.
lHpd; II suite cut nUuiber of horse, cnuLi iie n,
cured ne expressed his Willingness IN trade with
MN Tor ihemj AMI requested Ashley 10 pitch h~ tent
on TIE beach 10 tie mO.nng be- did So We uur-
chased about - horses and $50 iul ilcr rolc. s,l
DENY tie trade WIS broken OF the evening l,y enc
OF the chiefs he wishing trade for fte arms .J
ammunition, ihe sqsaws prcirTr'ug trnEets; th A
evening "eIece'Vcd Information of .her intention in
attack us ~ night rcnitned under arms alI uiot-
iem''Ne1 'i next dry At anchor, Hccnnnt OF "a We
ny severe head wind, which al iiyat ior,,.,s.I Ia
fueh degree as 10 drive as into shore One OF the
tHcady Indians niOrme, Us ni brir ul.uti,u d., ST.
tack Ms before departure d Ihry J.d mo-, a..
mSRi calculate "n iheir attacking us,' hen separated
ne ADVISED Ashley 40 SWIM II" hQr>cs tat ui.i,t a. ,~
nc river5 bat having that dag seen several l,o,n-
on The opposite side, q seHl. ~ IN q, . Y, o,t ~ 81.
10 iolO" Us advice. About !ht wc were ai,,r-
30 Toy iia Information h,f ONE ol our nol ,vIs kiueI
iu the rHi1gc our guard we.el ii.t. whit. Dr. fore
alarmed by he apps iriuce of l,ias bod. of Indiin.
al he loot OF ihe ht Running th.it -.ri. asd rica
rag ihoi UWts Hr ibis jiuir thff fI4us b,, ana
discovered, got ou b3trl i.. .onf .ati ,,..,t II,
the Cabin as tncy opened ua door l,e aaukc. Dis
c"ttnuE 'hrm TO- be iud.'i, be presented MS pistol
aud t'hy INSTANTLY li,Wr arsd; their intention, ul
doubt was 10 800, ~. Hes and rush upon on. pI,t- :
had iHey dono sp fHeF might nave succeeded ,wina
70 The violence pl No vuI oroyids nttllt fear te.
traiDed ihem. iIeHJy luditu informed rs he
would briug HE body ofthp n tu tiia was k,iIr
we wonh e' him have horse, (i= WIS about ta,
break and ihe ~Iud had uIlrd &. rr were men 1s
10 derIrs having como l. Toe conclusion pr Womb be-
bes Tor fe men aud ..-'s 600 keep w,ti, OBJ. In,I-
i9r couple of dys tne mon refused ~ anil f,e
beach aud horse was given tl- Indian a.ilDy ,i
last couseniedt0 lct him have one. BE returned
wnhpof uie b9rsc ue1r cuOpEu 10 tell IT'S the Indian.
had pm ort h.s eyes, cut 30 MS head and otherwise
maHgied I.i hodY. lhet Immediately commence
firing upon ue Use men Dn tIr beach were M .y,, r,
on font OF he hoats their horses forming ~ ,re,s
work So severe Wts ihe ire that go n few minutes
all the horses were euler Killed or wou.,lrd. and
maut Of the men Ashley ordered lhe holis 10 v,iQ.
anchor and nuke iot the beach We we're distant
itom DE beach about thiry yards tlc tousmcn
could not be- made % touch an oars Inc large boil
w which wdsi attempted o., hut her Stern ground.
ing H became Impossible 10 throw 5or 90; boH ~ 90
were manned, bui they bad not tdvmcrd = rod lfou
the boat before those 20 The oars were shot dawn
huding il lost those the bach ATTEMPTED 10 swim
toshe Dgas some who cOld not. ,eii sive INTO iha
hands ni re ludans urtuy WHO attempted tn qy 90
wtr.g b Che viO nre VI ire current. div beo
The boa.s t1d drowacd. W. lost in 80 foriieen rf
q .1f Twelve wounded. IS. r1n~aoI d, ,yf 100