Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-21

v
desire, and they would be discharged with the
amount due to them for the time they served.
To their honor be il said, there was but one
among them who had the face to come forward
and avail himself Of the permission. asked
him some few questions, in order 10 expose him
TO the ridicule Of the men, and let him TO-
The day afier our departure, he engaged him
sell TO one OF the forts, and set OF with party
to the Upper Missouri. ! did not think that
the situation Of The country justified me 10 TAX
ing our young companions, Messrs Brani and
Benton, along with us. In case Of misfortune
1t would have been thought, at The least, an act
OF great imprudence and therefore, though
reluctantly, determined to leave them. Ran.
dolph had been the life Of the camp and the
'Peti gdroon' was much regretted by the men,
TO whom bis boyant spirits had afforded great
amusement. They all, however, agreed in the
propriety Of leaving him at the fort, because,
as they said, he might cost the lives Of some Of
the men in fight with the Indians
"Jniy 2l.-A portion Of our baggage, with
our field mites and observations, and several in.
sirumenis, were lefi at the fort. One Of the
gentlemen, Mr. Galpin, took charge Of baro-
meter, which he engaged to observe during my
absence; and entrusted to Randolph, by way
Of occupation, the regular winding up Of two
Of my ehronomeiers, which were among the in
strumenis left. Our observations showed that
the chofometer which retained for the contin-
uaiion Of our voyage had preserved lis rate in
most satisfactory manner. As deduced from
it, the longitude OF Fort Laramie is : hours oil
minutes 81 seconds, and from lunar distance, 7
hours oil minutes og seconds-giying for the
adopted longitude l0i degrees Al minutes i3
seconds. Comparing the baromeirical observa-
iions made during our stay here, with those Of
DIR c. Engleman at ST Louis. we 6nd for the
elevation Of the fort above the Gulf Of Mexico,
4 4,470 feet. The winter climate here is re-
marksbIy mild for the latitude but rainy wealth
er is frequent, and the place is celebrated for
winds, Of which the prevailing one is west
An east wind in summer, and south wind in
winter, are said to be always accompanied with
rain.
1--WE were ready to depart; the tents were
struck, the moles geared up, and our horses
saddled, and we walked up to the fort to take
the airrHp-eup with our friends in an excellent
home-brewed preparation. While thus pleas
anily engaged, seated in one Of the little cool
chambers, at the door Of which man had been
stationed to prevent all intrusion from The In
dians, number Of chiefs, several of them pow
erful, fne-looking men forced their way into
the room in spite Of all opposition. Handing
me the following letter. lin French they took
their seats 10 silence:
Translation
"FoRr PLArTE, July I, 1912.
"'Mr Fremont The chiefs, having assem-
bled in council, have Just told me to warn you
not to set out before the party Of yonng men
which is now out shall have returned Further
more, they tell me that they are very sure they
will fire upon you as soon as they meet yuu.-
They are expected back in seven or eight days.
Excuse me for making these observations, but
il seems my duty to warn you OF danger-
Moreover, the chiefs who prohibit your setting
out before the return of the warriors are the
beaiers of this note.
"I am your obedieai servant.
"'JOSEPH BISSoNETTE,
"'By l.. Is. CHARrRAiS
"'Ndmes Of some Of fhe ChiJs-The Outer
Hat, the Breaker Of Arrows, the Black Night,
the Bulls Tall
"Afier reading this. ! mentioned its purport
to my companions and, seeing that all were
fully possessed Of its contents, one Of the In
dians rose up, and having first shaken hands
with me, spoke as follows:
80 You have come among us at bad time
Some Of our people have heen killed, and our
vnnn0 man uha have oona IN The ,noan,o;,a
are eager to avenge the blood Of their relations
which has been shed by the whites. Our young
men are bad, and, if they meet you, they will
believe that you are carrying goods and ammu-
nition to their enemies, and will FIRE upon you.
You have told us that this will make war
We know that our great father has many SOL
diers and big guns, and we are anxious to
have our lives. We love the whites, and
are desirous OF peace. Thinking of all these
things, we have determined 10 keep you here
until our warriors return. We are glad to see
you among US. Our father is rich, and we ex-
pecied that you would have brought presents to
us-horses, guns and blankets. But we aIe
glad to see you. We look upon your coming
as the light which goes before the sun for you
will tell our great father that you have seen Us,
and that we are naked and poor, and have moth
ing TO eat and he will send us all these things.
"He was followed by the others, to the same
effect
"The observations Of the savage appeared
reasonable; but was aware that they had 10
view only the present object of OBTAINING me.
and were unwilling should go further into the
country. In reply, asked 'hem, through the
Of MIR Boudeau, 10 select iva or
three of their number to accompany us until we
sseuld meet their peopIe-they should spread
thelv robes in my tent and eat at my table, aud
on s,u return would give Them presents in re-
ward of their services. They declined, saying
that there were no young men leh in The vii
age. and that they were too old TO travel so
many days on horseback, and preferred now 10
smoke their pipes in the lodge. and let the war
riors go on the war path. BESIDES, they had
no power over the young men, and were afraid
to interfere with them. In my turn address
ed them 'You say that you love the whites
why have you killed so many this springl-