Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-25
From the Not. lnteHigenesr Of Sept 90.
NORTH WESTERN INDIANS.

Ing view OIL Tue St6te VI 'blbRs w thc 3"
dian country, the nore to be relied upon
because from an official and respectable
source. Ii is the m re interesting at tins
moment, when we are in expectation OF
hearing of battle between Col Leaven-
worth's party and the Indians The last
accounts lett the Colonel within hundred
miles of the Ar,ckarees and II they
should retire before our troops 10 the Man
dams. ss they bad been invited to do, We
hear il WAS the intention OF Col. Leaven'
worth, regardless OF this addition TO their
strength, 10 pursue them even there.
Copy of letter from NJ. }; Pikhsr'
pIrlSer Of ,he Missouri Fur Company,
10 Major B O'Falion, Indian Agent at
Council Bluffs.
Fort Recoy cry, Urner Missouri
July %, 1898.
DEAR SIR-From the following extract
Of letter rom Mr.. Gordon, young gen
,'eman in The service Of the Missouri Fur
Company, and attached TO our mountal-
ueers, YOU will see that they have been
defeated. and thu chiefs Of the expedition,
(Mr Imrpell and Mr.. Junes,) have both
been slain. The extract from keemle's
letter will show The disposition and FEEL
,ngs OF The Manda MS and Gros.ventres,
produced by tie success OF the RIcarees
against Gen. Ashley and the whole will,
hone. lend to show the importance OtCo
lionel Lesvenworth's expedition against
the Ricarees. II protection to the com.
merce of The Missouri he the object os our
,, government, his uld seem to be the
accepted time {; a decisive blow is indis-
pensable tor The safely OF every man on
Inc river above the Council Bluffs. and e..
ven 10 Inc troops stationed at that post.
Rut need not dwell upon this subject ::
you know too well the importance OF the
movement =,
The following is an extract from Mr..
Gordon's letter dated at
Fort Vandenburg, Mandan, and
eros ventres Villages, June %, 1898 }
DEAR SIR-It becomes my uDple asan'
duIy 10 inform YOU OF The defeat OF our
party, by the Bscktoot Indians ana OF
the dire consequt noes of the same
After penetrating to the Three FORKS o.
The Missouri early in tbs Spring althoue n
we found tina. country almost entirely
,rapt out by the Indians, we succeeded,
by the greatest perseverance, 10 taxing a
bout - packs OF Beaver. On the 10th
May having reached the upper Three
Folks OF Jefferson river and hndlng no
Beaver in that quarter, we commenced
re,rogad. march Tor he Yellow Stone.
On the second day we fell in with a
party OF 80 blackioot lniians. They
came Up Boldly. and smoked and remain
ed with US during that nlghb making eve
~ profession OF friendship; and IN the
morning, alter making them presents OF
sucb articles as we could spare they part
ed with US apparently we'll satisfied ha'
wing first invited us 10 come and establish
a, the mouth OF the MIRA river. as they
said they had heen informed was our IN
teDtioD. They were IN possession OF eve
nv information in regard 10 the boats be-
ing al the mouth OF the Yellow Stone,
and of their determination 10 ascend the
Missouri to the Falls. This information
must have been derived from the British
traders who knOe, most probably. 'nst,ga'
ted them to c0mEasi this outrage, ana oy
them no doubt IRON some faithful Cures
pnndent al 81. Louis. We did not sufirr
ourselves, however. 10 be lulled into false
iGeas of security by their lNendly probes.
Sims. bat commenced direct and precI-
p,tate retreat from the country, keeping
out a street guard every night. and using
eyery pns,Ibie vigilance at all times -
I his party OF 38 had returned 10 their VII.
lsge which y as very close, and recruited
TO the number OF between 500 and 4no
mes: these had interceoted US on the yell
low Stone where they arrived two days be
tore us-th.y lay 10 ambush Tor US on Inc
side of a steep hill, the base OF which was
washed by The river along which we hao
TO puraue the Intricate windings OF But
faloe trace among rocks, trees, &c. by
means of which they had secreted them.
selves. At this place the men were OF
course much scattered Tor considereaple
distance, as two horses could not pass a.
breast. At this unfortunate moment, ana
uoder circumstances so dlsadvanlageouS,
thew rushed upon us with their whole
force pouring down from every quarter
Messrs lmmii and Jones tell early IN the
engagement A conflict thus unequal
could not long be maintained The result
was the loss OF FIVE other men killed, tour
wounded the entire loss OF all our horses
and eouipage, traps, and beaver, and eve
~ thing The balance OF the party sue,
ceeded in escaping by making raft and
crossIns the Yellow Some ibis took
place on The 3Ist May, just below the
| mountains on the Yellow Stone. Not
knowing 10 what extent The loss Of the
horses traps, sc. might affect any future
plan Of operation, came with all possible
expedition, TO this place 10 acquain! you
w;,h ,he circumstance | lett Mr. keem-
~ and the parly near the mouth Of Pryor's
Eork making SKIN canoes to bring down
tho falls mint Four of Mr.. Henry's men
have also oeen killed neSr the falls. 1t
appears from Information derived from the
BIsckie+t themseives, that the British
have two trading houses in their country
on tbe American territory ; and from some