Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-02

North Wsisvn Indians The follow.
ing letter gives an interesting view Of
he state OF things in the Indian country.
the more to be relied upon because from
an official and respectable source. Its
The more interesting at this moment.
when we are IN expectation of hearing
a battle between Col. I.RAvENwoRrH's
parry and the indians.--.siaf. Int.
Copy ETA letter from Mr.. j. File,ser. parf-
mar 81 iss Missouri Far Companv.
toNsjor B. 0'Falios, Indian .age,u
at Coaaca Biugs.
Fort Recovery, Upper Missouri,
July %, Isas.
Dan SIR : From the following ex4
tract of letter from Mr.. Gordon,
young gentleman in the service of the
Missouri Fur Company, and attached to
our Mountaineers, you viii see tina, they
have been defeated, and the chiefs OF
the expedition, (Mr. Immell and Mr.
Jones' have both been slain. The ex-
tract from DIR. Keemle's letter will show
the disposition and feeling Of the Maui
dams and Gros-ventre., produced by
the late success OF the Ricarees against
Gen. Ashley !; and the whole will, l
hope, tend to show the Importance Of
Colonel Leavenworth's expedition a.
gainst the Ricarees Ii protection to
the commerce of the Missouri be the OBJ
ject of our government, this would seem
to be the excepted time; a decisive
blow is indispensable for the safety of
every white man on the river above the
Council Bluffs, and even to the troops
stationed at that post. But | need not
dwell upon this subject you know too
well the importance Of the move
ments. $3.50 N
The following is an extract from Mr..
Gordon's letter, dated at
Fort VandenbUg, Mandan and
Gros centres Villages, June Is, 1923.
DEAR SIR: II becomes my unplea-
SAINT duty to inform you Of the defeat Of
our party, by the Blackfoot Indians,
and of the dire consequences Of the
same.
After penetrating to the Three Forks
of the Missouri early in the spring, al
though we found that country almost
entirely trapt, out by the Indians, we suc-
ceeded, by the greatest perseverance, in
taking about--packs Of Beaver. On
the 10th of May having reached the up
per Three Forks of Jefferson river, and
finding no Beaver in that quarter, we
commenced d retrograde march for the
Yellow Stone.
On the second day, we fell in with a
party of thirty-cight BIackfoot Indians.
They came up boldly and smoked and
remained with US during that night, ma
king every profession OF friendship and
in the morning, after making them pre-
sents of such articles as we could spare,
they parted with US apparently wen sa-
tisfed having first invited us to come
and establish at the mouth of the Maria
river, as they said they had been infor-
med was our intention. They were in
possession of every information as to our
intention. They were in possession OF
every information in regard to the boats
bengal the mouth OF the Yellowstone, &
of their determination to asceAd the Mis-
souri, to the Falls. This information must
have been derived from the British ira.
dsrs, seic havs most probably, instigated
them TO commit this outrage, and by them |
no doubt some faithful correspondent
at st. Louis. We did not suffer our
selves, however, to be lulled into false |
idea. of security by their friendly profess
sions, but commenced direct and pre-
cipitate retreat from the country, keep |
ing out strict guard every night, and
using every possible vigilance at all
times. This party of thirty eight had
returned to their village, which was very |
close, and recruited to the number OF |
between three and four hundred men |
these had intercepted us on the Yellow
Stone where they arrived two days be-
fore us--they lay in ambush for US on |
the side of a steep hill, the base of which |
was washed by the river along whichwe |
had to pursue the intricate windings of
a Buaaloe trace amongrocks, trees, sc.
by means of which they had secreted
themselves. At this the men were OF
course much scattered for eonsidera-
Bile distance, as two horses could otpass
abreast. At this unfortunate moment,
and under circumstances so disadvan-
tageous, they rushed upon US with their
whole force, pouring down from every
quarter. Messrs. Immill * Jones fell
early in the engagement A conflict thus
UNEQUAL could not long be maintained.
The result was The loss of five other men