THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 479 



The plan designed to be pursued and the only one that can succeed is to send 

 runners to the different bands, explaining the friendly intentions of our Government 

 and to invite them to a meeting. For this purpose several Camanchee and Pawnee 

 prisoners have been purchased from the Osages, who may be of great service in bring- 

 iug about a friendly interview. 



I ardently hope that this plan may succeed, for I am anticipating great fatigue and 

 privation in the endeavor to see these wild tribes together, that I may be enabled to 

 lay before the world a just estimate of their manners and customs. 



I hope that my suggestions may not be truly prophetic, but I am constrained to 

 say that I doubt very much whether we shall see anything more of them than their 

 traOs and the sites of their deserted villages. 



Several companies have already started from this place, and the remaining ones 

 will be on their march in a day or two. General Leavenworth will accompany them 

 two hundred miles, to the mouth of False Washita, and I shall be attached to his 

 staff. Incidents which may occur I shall record. Adieu. 



Note. — In the mean time, as it may be long before I can write again, I send yon some account of the 

 Osages, whom I have been visiting and painting during the two months I have been staying here. 



(See Kos. 29-45.) 



MR. CATLIN'S letters TO MR. GREGORY. 



On this journey, in 1834, Mr. Oatliu wrote several letters to Hon. 

 Dudley S. Gregory, of Jersey City, his brother-in-law. Extra,cts from 

 two are given : 



Fort Gibson, June 19, 1834. 



I start this morning with the dragoons for the Pawnee country, but God only knows 



where that is. I am in good health, and hope to see you all in the course of the fall. 

 « * # 



I have no time to write, for we are on the march, and the bugle is echoing through 

 the hUls. 



GEO. CATLIN. 

 To Hon. Dudley S. Gregory, «fec.* 



Dragoon Camp, 

 Eighty Miles above mouth o*' False Washita (Red River), 



(About) July 1, 1834.t 

 Dear Sir : I am well, and in the daily expectation of an interesting and instruct- 

 ing meeting with Pawnees and Comanches, after which I shall make the quickest 

 march home again that I can jiossibly make. 



This tour is of a most fatiguing kind, and I trust that it may be sufficiently inter- 

 esting to repay me for the trouble. The public are expecting that I will see these 

 Indians, or I should almost be ready to abandon the expedition and come home. * * * 

 Eight hundred mounted men on these green plains furnishes one of the most pictur- 

 esque scenes I ever saw. * » » 



Yours, ' 



GEO. CATLIN. 

 Hon. DUDIJ5Y S. Gregory. 



RED RIVER, JULY, 1834. 



[Letter from the mouth of False Washita.] 



Under the protection of the United States dragoons I arrived at this place three 

 days since, on my way again in search of the " Far West." How far I may this time 



*Thi8 letter stai-tedfrom Fort Gibson June 25 andreachedNow York August ;5, 1834; ajounioynow 

 (in 1886) mado in throe days. 

 tBeceived Augnst 21, 1834. 



