362 Expedition to the 



party, who concluded by inviting the chief to partake of a 

 feast, to be given on the following day, for the purpose of 

 dispelling his grief for the loss of his brother, in the late 

 contest with the Indians of the Rocky Mountains. 



This severe battle was fought by ninety -three Pawnee 

 Loup warriors, against a large body of Ietans, Arrapahoes, 

 and Kiawas. 



The party was led by the most distinguished brave of the 

 village, and half brother of the JMetifF chief, but of unmixed 

 blood, and a principal supporter of the influence of that chief. 

 The party, who were all on foot, were on their way to cap- 

 ture horses, but they were badly armed for a contest, and 

 had but twelve guns amongst them. They were proceeding 

 cautiously along in the prairies between the head waters of 

 the Arkansa and the Rio del Norte, when one party of their 

 runners, or discoverers, came in with information that a great 

 body of the enemy were ahead and had not seen them, anoth- 

 er party of runners soon came in with the same information. 

 The whole now halted to wait for night to capture horses, 

 and busied themselves in preparing their ropes and halters, 

 and in putting themselves in the best order in case of attack. 

 One of the party ascended a small eminence, and perceiv- 

 ed three of the enemy mounted and coming on in full career ; 

 presently more appeared, and soon after they began to show 

 themselves in every quarter. It was now evident to tht par- 

 ty that the enemy were the first discoverers, and that they 

 were now necessitated to contend against a vastly superior 

 force, better armed than themselves, and possessing also the 

 advantage of being all mounted on good horses. It was ob- 

 vious also that there was no hope for them, but in the dis- 

 play of desperate valour. Their first wish had been to gain 

 a creek at some distance in the rear, which was margined 

 with small timber, but as their enemy now completely sur- 

 rounded them, this was impossible. The battle commenced 

 about ten o'clock A. 1VI. and soon raged with great fury. 



