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

ueFStoou anu spoke SlouX. nave Oul
little knowledge of the Sioux tongue,
but can understand some words, and
understood Campbell to tell the africa
ras that the heart OF the big chief mean
ing Mr.. Pilcher) was bad, very bad
meaning that Mr.. Pitcher was very much
dispeased; and in fact the Indian did
not stand in need OF Campbell's intorma-
ton to know ihis-it was apparent from
his looks and actions. Campbell con-
tinually kept his thumb on the cock of
his rifle. He also snatched pipe-toma-
hawk from one of the Indians, and threw
i. to The rear. This, together with the
circumstance oil coming to the body OF
one of the Aricaras, who had been killed
E, by the Sioux, and mos. shoe kmgly man
| gled and stuck iull OF arrows, (5eing the
same over which the Sioux played
- white hear" an The osh) N'sd elso ~
IHg our men standing by their arms they
became alarmed and Stopped. endea-
yored 10 convince them that they should
not be hurt If they would go with us, but
all was in vain. They said that Camp
| bell bad loid them that il was our lnten-
| tlon to get Them INTO our possession and
then kill them. From their apparent
fear and trembling have no doub; bu,
that they believed tit became impos-
s.ble 10 maze them advance. They SAID
they would come to US early in the NOR
ning; and they threw dowa the buffalo
robes and turned back. told The inter-
prefer TO tell them to take up the robes
and carry them back to their villages {;
II they would not do as they had agreed
10 do, to take back the robes, aud there
would be no peace, and we should be as
we were before we smoked; but they
won Id not take the re hes. told the IN
terpreter to lei them go and come along
Campbell cooked his rife, and said,
I" Colonel, will xiii one of them lei
lows" posi,l, ely forbid him from fir
ing upon them; they were unarmed, and
had also placed themselves under our
protection, and had come out of their
village UNDER promise OF safety. Camp
bell soon repeated what he had before
said. again in loud voice, in fact as
loud as could well speak, firmly iol bid
him, and ordered him moi to fire.
A, that moment Mr.. Pitcher, as have
since been informed, was telling Doctor
Gale that he would not be surprised t.
see those Indians seize the Colonel ant
drag him away TO their villages. The
Doctor accordingly fred his pistol a
them, and Mr.. Pitcher ordered Canp
bell to hre---ia did Ere, as did also Mr.
Fanderburgh these shots were ali free
in quick succession, and were as quick y
returned by the Indians. We parted il
hurry. The shots Of the Indians for.
'unateiy did no injury; one ball touchec
Mr.. Pitcher, but understood that II did
him no material injury. The Indians re-
inlned to their villages, and we to oui
camp. Nothing further was done until
he mex, day. 1t was now ascerlained
hat the Sioux had all gone away, and
hat they had taken off six mules, be.
longing 10 the quarter-master's depart
nent, and also six or seven OF Gen. Ash
iry's horses. The conduct oi thnse In.
iIans had been so strange and unaccoDD-
able, that The general opinion amongsl
he officers appeared 10 be, that they had
come 10 an understanding with the Arr
caras, and that they Intended to make a
lnint attack upJh MS during the might.
We took our measures accordingly. w
partially entfenched ourselves on thf
edge oil the river bank --oilr position was
hen strong one. | will forbear to Eiakc
any comments as to the unpleasant man
er in which our negotiations were bro
ken off have stated he facts, and the,
speak for themselves.
On the morning of the lth, | saw tn,
first chief, called Little Soldier, coming
from the villages, and sent my interpre
ter to meet him. In short time after
wards, saw Mr.. Pitchers interpreter
(CampbelD coming up the bank, from
Mr.. Pitchers boat, and run, with his rifle
in his hand, towards the Little Soldier.
AS | had been informed tina, Campbell
had boosted of firing upon the Indians
and breaking the treaty, hailed him, and
ordered him to stop; he appear ed inclin-
ed not to obey me. | therefore ordered
one Of my sentines to fire upon him if he
did not return. He then came back, aud
was placed under guard, where he con-
tinued until we left the place. then
met the Little Soldier; he inquired OF
me what the white people intended by
firing upon them SO soon after smoking
and making peace. / told him that il
had been done contrary to my orders, He
said that his people were very much
alarmed at the circumstance, and be-
lieved that what they had heard as to our