Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-01-13

and the rest we had killed. Ths, the
people ut the upper village would not
give up their horses to pay ior the mis-
CHIEF, which the chief Grey Eyes oil the
lower village had done, anG that they
were all OF them SO much alarmed, that
il was very difficult for him TO prevent
them from running away from the villa
yes. He also said thai he had alwa, S
been the friend OF The Americans aud
tina, he had told Gen Ashley the truth,
and gwen him notice that The Indians
would attack him---that7 he had l,st ms
son IN the fight, but he was willing to
forget bin, az the Grey Eyes bad been
killed, who had been the cause oil all the
misc hIei. II it was our intention to
again attack thcm, he hoped that we
would let him remain wi,h us. He
told us where we could post our artillery
to good advantage, and he .oid us corr
rec,ly. He said We must be careful to
fire low, and that our ar lllery would
cut them all TO pieces. and ii would
therefore be unnecessary to give the IN
dams chance to kill even one of our
men.
My officers generally and all iie men
were anxious to charge upon the t0tgns-
| There had been u0ch said as to TO the
feelings OF the Indians-some said tn y
they had not been hunbled--0ther,
that they bad Mr.. Pitcher and all his
party had thrown their whole weight
against the treaty. The troops were
under arms. felt that nay situation
was disagreeabis and unpleasant ono.
1t appeared to NE that my reputation,
and the homer and 5riliaucy 1t the xeo-
duion, required thai should crafty my
troops, and make charge. But | also
thought, that sound policy, and the in
,erest of my country required that
should no'.
| NV command was small--we were
shor q. provisions, and although Lieut.
Morris had found some round shot of
which he did not know when he before
repor ed that he had hut thirteen, YET We
had bui one hundred and wenty round
round shot, and twcnly dive stands oil
grape. II We succeeded ~ our charge,
ALI that vi could expect was to- drive he
Indians from their villages, and perhaps
Kill few more o. them. The remainder
would be LET in the country, IN con!irn-
ed state of hostIli,, 80 every white man.
| W. could not expect 10 overtake them,
nor had we provisions sufficient to enable
US TO pursue them.
| For my own part, felt confident that
the Indians had been sufficient, humbled
fully to convince them ct oar ability 10
punish them for any injury they might
/ do u.s." and thai they would behave we'll
! in future, II We left them undislufbed IN
/ their villages. Gen. Ashiey's 6oat could
then, | had % duubl, proceed without
tnolestation, the mouth OF the yellow
Stone rlVe r, a reeabiy to his wsbes. Tbs
| trade and nav alton OF the river wpuld be
restored, aud p'obsb!y long and expen-
sise Indian war avoided.
also felt satisfied, that the blood OF
our countrymen had been avenged, and
| also felt as unwiilingness to recon-
mence hos.iiities, on account of the arli
cles Of properly.
Gen. Ashley well knew regarded not
! the property was the prluclpge. The
question was, had the indians been suti
GENTLY humbled, and taught to fear ana
respect US
On me lay the responsibility OF deci-
| sion.
The Liuie Soldier has asked us 10
postpone the attack, uRtli the next MORN
ng, that he might in the mean IiFDl
bring ou, his family. On this subject
thought it advisable, under all The cir
cumstauces, to take the opinions OF Mai
| Wooley, Gen. Ashley, and MIR. pilcher
| Major Wooiey's op,uIpn was agaipsl
a postponemen' Gen. Ashley's and Mr.
Pileh hers 10 favor ofii. was determine
ed to postpone the attack, and directed
the troops 10 he dismissed
The Li,tie Soldier was dis missed, and
SEM to his village Mr.. Rose wen, with
hm--I told the Little Soldier to make
one more effort 10 save bis people--that
it was not their property we cared SO
much about, as ii was to have them keep
their word with us, and behave we'll in
/ lulurc.
! Alter little while he came out with
| M Rose, and bros ght few more bdi
Ealo robes. He SAID they had no more,
that they had taken these off their backs,
and could not possibly do more, and
| begged that we would now have pity on
Them.
Mr.. Rose now informed me, that the
Indians We re in great distress, and alarm,
4 IL. I Il k,,t !,