Post by ephriam on Dec 4, 2014 8:01:26 GMT -5
I thought everyone might be interested in this unpublished letter, dated November 1807, in which Lieut. Joseph Kimball describes his journey returning the Teton and Yankton delegates to their village on the Missouri River. He promised to write additional details, but I have not been able to find any further correspondence from him.
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I arrived at this Cantonment on the 27th Sept. with my command in perfect health. My voyage has been as successful as I could wish & I flatter myself that I have been able to accomplish the objects of my mission. I arrived in the Soux nation near the river Blanish [White River] on the 19th of August where I left the Soux who I [had] escorted home safe[ly] & apparently pleased with the treatment they had received & professing a friendly disposition to the citizens of the United States. Two thousand Soux had collected on the river to see us but without any hostile motives. They showed no disposition to molest Mr. Prior and Choteau in their voyage but contrary treated them & [the] Mandan Chief in the most friendly manner. During the time we remained with them they kept us continually feasting with them on the flesh of Dogs, [and] they supplied us bountifully with meat for our return. On the 23d of August I parted with Mr. Choteau & Prior at the Teton Village. At that time their prospects were flattering for a prosperous and successful voyage. The Soux had behaved remarkably well & the Rickerees were the only nation that they had to fear. On my return I found Buptian[?] Dorion near the river of Rapid Water [Niobrara]. He informed me that the Yankton Band was encamped five days march from the river. He were going to see them. As I had a need[?] to see this Band I went with him. On the third day after we left the River we arrived at their village which consisted of seventy lodges, forty of which was Tetons a part of the same village I had first seen. I remained with them two days during which time they kept us continually feasting on dogs and professed a friendly disposition towards the Government of the United States & our citizens. They are anxious for traders to go amongst them and promise to trade on just principals. From the present good conduct of the Soux it is to be hoped that they have abandoned their former marauding manner of life & that they will no longer obstruct the navigation of the River.
On the 10th of Sept. I arrived at the Grand Mahar [Omaha] where I found Mr. Morgant of St. Louis. He informed me that he had sent an Interpreter for the Pawnee to come to the River & convey[?] his goods to their village where he was to trade with them. On the 14th the Interpreter arrived with fifty four Pawnee belonging to the Republican Pawnee Village. Mr. Morgant was good enough to permit me to make use of his Interpreter & make such inquiries as I might think proper as[?] there was two chiefs who the Interpreter informed me were men of influence in their nation and who had ever[?] been considered as good Indians by the traders. I first inquired of them if they knew anything of Capt. Pike & his party. They said that last fall in the month of Sept., Capt. Pike & his party arrived at their village, that they remained there a few days & departed & that after Capt. Pike left the Republican village he divided his party & they took opposite directions, that late in the winter when the snow was deep a party of Pawnees saw Capt. Pike & his party on the Prairie, that they appeared to have lost their rod[?] & were traveling towards the sea[?] when they reported he had long since arrived.
I then inquired of them if any Spanish soldiers were at this time here or [had] been in their country. They told me that last fall, about the middle of Sept., a large body of Spanish soldiers arrived at their village, that the prairie was covered with them, that they looked like a flock of blue birds, that there were at least six thousand men, that they remained with them a few days & went away & told them that they should return this present fall after the Corn was hard and build forts & remain in the country. They said the Spaniards had not arrived when they left home but they were certain they would arrive in the course of the fall.
I then told them that their country belonged to the President of the United States, their great father, and if the Spaniards came to their country & built forts, the great father would send his people and drive them off. Those people who go among them and tell that the Spaniards’ King of Spain is their father are liars & that they must not open their ears to such vagabonds. They replied that they knew well that the President of the United States was their great father & that their country belonged to him. What motive the Spaniards had for coming into their country they knew not. If was to trade they were as willing to trade with them as any other people. From the information I have gained from the Pawnee I have but little doubt that Spaniards have during the last fall made an excursion into the village of the Republican Pawnees with an intention to return this present fall & make establishments. Also I am confident that reports have been spread amongst the Indians on the Missouri that the Spaniards have got possession of that whole country, & that the Americans have been driven over the Mississippi. Who those persons are that are engaged in circulating these reports I am not able to inform you. The Soux & Pawnees are the only Indians I saw on the River. The other nations were in [uncertain] hunting Buffalo, but those I saw treated us friendly & appeared to be friendly disposed to the White People. By the next mail I shall have the honor to forward you a detail of every circumstan[ce] relating to the Indians I have had any concern which will give you more satisfactory information of their dispositions towards our government.
Camp Bellfontan [Bellefontaine]
Novr 1st 1807
Genl Wm Clark
Indian Agt.
NB The village of the Republican Pawnees is about one hundred fifty miles from the Missouri & twelve days travel from Santa Fe.
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I arrived at this Cantonment on the 27th Sept. with my command in perfect health. My voyage has been as successful as I could wish & I flatter myself that I have been able to accomplish the objects of my mission. I arrived in the Soux nation near the river Blanish [White River] on the 19th of August where I left the Soux who I [had] escorted home safe[ly] & apparently pleased with the treatment they had received & professing a friendly disposition to the citizens of the United States. Two thousand Soux had collected on the river to see us but without any hostile motives. They showed no disposition to molest Mr. Prior and Choteau in their voyage but contrary treated them & [the] Mandan Chief in the most friendly manner. During the time we remained with them they kept us continually feasting with them on the flesh of Dogs, [and] they supplied us bountifully with meat for our return. On the 23d of August I parted with Mr. Choteau & Prior at the Teton Village. At that time their prospects were flattering for a prosperous and successful voyage. The Soux had behaved remarkably well & the Rickerees were the only nation that they had to fear. On my return I found Buptian[?] Dorion near the river of Rapid Water [Niobrara]. He informed me that the Yankton Band was encamped five days march from the river. He were going to see them. As I had a need[?] to see this Band I went with him. On the third day after we left the River we arrived at their village which consisted of seventy lodges, forty of which was Tetons a part of the same village I had first seen. I remained with them two days during which time they kept us continually feasting on dogs and professed a friendly disposition towards the Government of the United States & our citizens. They are anxious for traders to go amongst them and promise to trade on just principals. From the present good conduct of the Soux it is to be hoped that they have abandoned their former marauding manner of life & that they will no longer obstruct the navigation of the River.
On the 10th of Sept. I arrived at the Grand Mahar [Omaha] where I found Mr. Morgant of St. Louis. He informed me that he had sent an Interpreter for the Pawnee to come to the River & convey[?] his goods to their village where he was to trade with them. On the 14th the Interpreter arrived with fifty four Pawnee belonging to the Republican Pawnee Village. Mr. Morgant was good enough to permit me to make use of his Interpreter & make such inquiries as I might think proper as[?] there was two chiefs who the Interpreter informed me were men of influence in their nation and who had ever[?] been considered as good Indians by the traders. I first inquired of them if they knew anything of Capt. Pike & his party. They said that last fall in the month of Sept., Capt. Pike & his party arrived at their village, that they remained there a few days & departed & that after Capt. Pike left the Republican village he divided his party & they took opposite directions, that late in the winter when the snow was deep a party of Pawnees saw Capt. Pike & his party on the Prairie, that they appeared to have lost their rod[?] & were traveling towards the sea[?] when they reported he had long since arrived.
I then inquired of them if any Spanish soldiers were at this time here or [had] been in their country. They told me that last fall, about the middle of Sept., a large body of Spanish soldiers arrived at their village, that the prairie was covered with them, that they looked like a flock of blue birds, that there were at least six thousand men, that they remained with them a few days & went away & told them that they should return this present fall after the Corn was hard and build forts & remain in the country. They said the Spaniards had not arrived when they left home but they were certain they would arrive in the course of the fall.
I then told them that their country belonged to the President of the United States, their great father, and if the Spaniards came to their country & built forts, the great father would send his people and drive them off. Those people who go among them and tell that the Spaniards’ King of Spain is their father are liars & that they must not open their ears to such vagabonds. They replied that they knew well that the President of the United States was their great father & that their country belonged to him. What motive the Spaniards had for coming into their country they knew not. If was to trade they were as willing to trade with them as any other people. From the information I have gained from the Pawnee I have but little doubt that Spaniards have during the last fall made an excursion into the village of the Republican Pawnees with an intention to return this present fall & make establishments. Also I am confident that reports have been spread amongst the Indians on the Missouri that the Spaniards have got possession of that whole country, & that the Americans have been driven over the Mississippi. Who those persons are that are engaged in circulating these reports I am not able to inform you. The Soux & Pawnees are the only Indians I saw on the River. The other nations were in [uncertain] hunting Buffalo, but those I saw treated us friendly & appeared to be friendly disposed to the White People. By the next mail I shall have the honor to forward you a detail of every circumstan[ce] relating to the Indians I have had any concern which will give you more satisfactory information of their dispositions towards our government.
I have the honor
To be very Respectfully
Yr Obdt Servt.
Joseph Kimball Lt.
Regt. Artillerists.
To be very Respectfully
Yr Obdt Servt.
Joseph Kimball Lt.
Regt. Artillerists.
Camp Bellfontan [Bellefontaine]
Novr 1st 1807
Genl Wm Clark
Indian Agt.
NB The village of the Republican Pawnees is about one hundred fifty miles from the Missouri & twelve days travel from Santa Fe.