Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-23
DOMESTIC.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

''N'" niIdlI-b HuuTesseu 10 lOI. StaubauGn. now in this
city, the Secretary 10 the Board of Commissioners for set.
Ting Indian boundaries west of the Mississippi. In con.
versation with our old friend, we have been furnished with
several particulars explanatory OF the general situation of
Indian affairs.
Col. Choureau, the writer OF this letter, lea respectable
and wealthy trader, occupying several trading posts in the
new Indian territory. His trading house at :. Western
Creek agency" whence he writes, is four miles from Fort
Gl6son' on the verdigris river. The long intercourse of
col. I. with The tribes OF that region, has made him
familiar with their temper and habits; and he possesses
more influence over the Indians generally, within the new
Territory, than any other individual in it,. He is not one
oil those who give exaggerated accounts Of Indian depre-
dauons, for the purpose of subscribing their own interests:
and the greatest reliance can be placed on his iudqmen,
and opinions.
Moses, or Captain Smith, who is represented as leading
the Cherokee war party, in a comfortable cabin,
within three miles OF Fort Gibson, and is what is called a
ctosiEed Indian. He is shrewd, determined and active
warrior, and esteemed among the Cherokees as one of their
best Captains. If Smith and Captain Dutch. who Also .
sides in the same part OF the Cherokee country west. unite
their warriors, there doubtless will be =. BLOODY war;
Dutch is looked upon as the most sagacious and daring
war Captain in the Cherokee nation west Of the Missi.Eppi.
They are both in the prime of lfe-aihIetic powerful and
fine looking men. Dutch may be known, by a slight de-
sctiption among a thousand warriors, by his remarkable
The War Eagl','' leading the osages against tho
pawnees' is a giant in size and proves. lie is the pin-
cipal war chief III the Gage nation, and when he takes up
The tomahawk and places himself at the>inead of his war
riors, there will be no boys play. The Osages are entire
y In a savage state, in war and in the chase. They are
the largest and finest looking Indians in the State. Cler-
mont, whose brother led the war party, who brought in
the Pawnee prisoners, is the first HE Of the Os.ge nation
The Pawnecs are "a rowing tribe, connected with tho
Camanchees, and have no fixed place of residence-they
follow the Bufaloe, vnd appear in large bsnIs sn,no,;mncs
IN Texas. and sometimes in the United States. They al
ways tight on the open prairies, and on horseback, will,
the how and arrow. Their horses are very fleet, and well
trained to their mode Of iehIing, which is by riding PAST
me enemy. and throwing themselves from the back of the
horse, holding themselves by fle heel, discharginr their
arrows under his neck, thus keeping their persons com.
pletely shelletedby the body ofthe horse, who carries his
riier beyond the fire of the enemy in performing the cir.
Gle which brings him again in advance with his own
porty.
The Cananchee Indians fight in the same way, and IL
gives them a decided advantage over tribes who fight on
foot. They cannot be brought 10 action in the woods
attack. FP'"' 10
The "Saline," spoken of by Col C. is on the Neosb,
or Grand river, fifty miles above Fort Gibson and "Uuion
Mission, is a large missionary establishment immediately
on the road. and about midway between those points on
The west side of the river. This road passes entirely
through a prairie country PennsyluU,ian
Extract Of a letter from Col. n. p. ChOuteau, to Col.
Sfom6duSh, dated,
WEsrERN CREEK AaENcY,1
"The Cherokee and Usage Chiefs were, as YOU know
by their treaty stipulaiions, to have met at Fort Gibson
on the first of this month, for the purpose of anicablv adj.
Justing the disputes and difficulties occurring between
!nese Tribes the Ist year: The osages were prevented by
nigh water reaching this place before the 9Th inst, and
my brother, The Usage Agent, had sent an express from
the Saline upon his arrival there, to Capt. Yashon, Chero-
kee Agent, appriziDg him OF his coming with a party of
OOs'ses' ana eXplaltsng INC cause OF his detention. Tho
Usage. arrived at Fort Gibson, and remained four DAYS.
,Eeir nS.rIaE a al,sa.ss
l-neI. -L~rJ through the agemse Cberokees, athougn,
onOlc oSdges TO meet them at the timGade a regular cav
treaty. lied in their
After waiting several days without receiving anv
teihgeocea as TO Tic intention OF the Cherokees, the Ossees.
becoming uneasy, expressed a strong wish 10 return homo
and, they were dismissed by Gov. Stokes and their
agent. The day after the Osages left the garrison. Cap,,
Vaslop arrived; and desired hat the Osarcs should he
sent tor, II reIurn-but the request was not granted.
was net present at this conference. and cannot Tell nj
precisely what passed-but have, understood thai the Che
rokees at first expressed much dissatisfaction. After some
explanation, however, they became reconciIcd. and agreed
10 meet the Osages at some other time. McanwbiIe. a
party OF the CherOkees, then on the Buy0ugyd. il appsora
were preparing 10 20 10 war against the O.ages Cantain
' ashoD was informed at nigst OF this movement by Ma
lor Jolly, the principal Chief Of the Ci,erokees-and he
immediately made il known 10 Col. Arbuck1e, Gov. Stokes.
aud my brother, the Usage Agent. who took Immediate
measures 10 prevent the war party commencing hosdGies
men Interference, IL appears, however, has been ineneo-
thdl, as have Just understood from some Creek Indians.
that TIE war party, headed by Moses Smith, have Killed
Union Mission. VIZ
Gov. Stokes aud my brother, who are now \, u.e
Creek agency, will Immediately consult with Col Ar
buckle on this subject. My opinion t., that if the officers
oi government, having charge Of Indian affairs here, take
lls'anl ann strong measures 10 bring the Cherokees 10 an.
swer for this act, the Osages may be kept ouiet-if thew
90 not depend upon II, there ,oiH be n Hoody trnr. We
nav' understood that Smith and his party, went fret 10 the
oaIlne' 9ut hnd'ng no Osages, they returned in this diree-
,ion' "ho met a young Usage about 10 years Of age, who
hal been trading at this place and was on his way home
u was he that they killed and scslpcd.
ne creeks will remain perfectly neutral i'm This ouar.
re- but l am afraid, from existing feelings, that ali the
KEGS.
"ihe Usage war party, headed Ivy one Of CYay1,onrs
ofothers, who went out against the Pdgneea. have return.
cd %i.appears that they have killed at least one hundred
a'o JVty persons, principally women and children--they
nave brought 10 hve prisoners, and three hundred horses.
The Pawnees men, II appears, we're, at this lime, formed
into a war party, directing their steps against the ossgs