2^0 Expedition to the 



and one in high standing with his people, was appointed to 

 act in his stead, and commissioned to conclude a peace 

 with the Cherokees, according to the wish they had ex- 

 pressed by their messengers. But what was his surprise 

 when, on arriving at the spot, designated as that at which 

 the council was to be held, instead of a few chiefs and old 

 men, as had been represented, he found himself surrounded 

 by the whole armed force of the Cherokees. He was seized 

 ' and put to death on the spot. The design of this act of per- 

 fidy, had been to effect the destruction of Clermont the bra- 

 vest and most powerful of the Osages. The Cherokees then 

 proceeded to the attack of the town, where on account oi the 

 absence of the efficient men they encountered little resis- 

 tance. A scene of outrage and bloodshed ensued, in which the 

 eleven Americans are said to have acted a conspicuous and 

 a shameful part. They fired the village, destroyed the corn 

 and other provisions, of which the Osages had raised a plen- 

 tiful crop, killed and took prisoners between fifty and sixty 

 persons, all old men, women, and children. 



Four of these prisoners, who had been since held in captivi- 

 ty by the Cherokees east of the Mississippi, had been brought 

 to Point Pleasant by a MetifF, called capt Rogers, and a con- 

 sultation was now to be held concerning the manner of resto- 

 ring them to the Osages. 



In the winter of 1817 — 18, some of the leading men of 

 both nations had been summoned to a council at St. Louis, 

 by Gov. Clark, for the purpose of negotiating a peace. By 

 the treaty then made, the Cherokees had agreed to re- 

 linquish the prisoners in question, in consideration of which 

 they were to be allowed the privilege of hunting in the coun- 

 try north of the Arkansa, as high as the Grand river, or Six 

 Bulls, and on the south side as high as they pleased. The 

 stipulated surrender of the prisoners not having been made, 

 a party of Osages, who were liunting on Red rivtr, some 

 time in the ensuing winter fell in with three Cherokee hun- 



