478 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



doubt but that they will do credit to themselves and an honor to their country, bo 

 far as honors can be gained and laurels can be plucked from their wild stems in a 

 savage country. 



THE OBJECT OP THE CAMPAIGN. 



The object of this summer's campaign seems to be to cultivate an acquaintance 

 with the Pawnees and Camanchees. These are two extensive tribes of roaming In- 

 dians, who, from their extreme ignorance of us, have not yet recognized the United 

 States in treaty, and have struck frequent blows on our frontiers and plundered 

 our traders who are traversing their country. For this I cannot so much blame 

 them, for the Spaniards are gradually advancing upon them on one side and the 

 Americans on the other, and fast destroying the furs and game of their country, 

 which God gave them as their only wealth and means of subsistence. This move- 

 ment of the dragoons seems to be one of the most humane in its views, and I heartily 

 hope that it may prove so in the event, as well for our own sakes as for that of the 

 Indian. I can see no reason why we should march upon them with an invading 

 army carrying with it the spirit of chastisement. The object of Government un- 

 doubtedly is to effect a friendly meeting with them, that they may see and resi>ect 

 us, and to establish something like a system of mutual rights with them. To pene- 

 trate their country with the other view, that of chastising them, even with five times 

 the number that are now going, would be entirely futile and perhaps disastrous in 

 the extreme. It is a pretty thing (and perhaps an easy one in the estimation of the 

 world) for an army of mounted men to be gaily prancing over the boundless green 

 fields of the West, and it is so for a little distance, but it would be well that the 

 world should be apprised of some of the actual difficulties that oppose themselves 

 to the success of such a campaign, that they may not censure too severely in case 

 this command should fail to accomplish the objects for which they were organized. 



THE ROUTE PROPOSED— ITS DIFFICUTIES. 



In the first place, from the great difficulty of organizing and equipping, the.-e 

 troops are starting too late in the season for their summer's canxpaign by two months. 

 The journey which they have to perform is a very long one, and although the first 

 part of it will be picturesque and pleasing, the after part of it will be tiresome and 

 fatiguing in the extreme. As they advance to the West the grass (and consequently 

 the game) will be gradually diminishing, and water in many parts of the country 

 not to be found. 



As the troops will be obliged to subsist themselves a great part of the way, it will 

 be extremely difficult to do it under such circumstances and at the same time hold 

 themselves in readiness, with half-famished horses and men nearly exhausted, to 

 contend with a numerous enemy who are at home, on the ground on which tbey 

 were born, with horses fresh and ready for action. It is not probable, however, that 

 the Indians will venture to take advantage of such circumstances ; but I am inclined 

 to think that the expedition will be more likely to fail from another source ; it is my 

 opinion that the appearance of so large a military force in their country will alarm 

 the Indians to that degree that they will fly with their families to their hiding-places 

 amongst those barren deserts, which they themselves can reach only by great fatigue 

 and extreme privation and to which our half-exhausted troops cannot possibly fol- 

 low them. From these haunts their warriors would advance and annoy the regi- 

 ment as much as they could by striking at their hunting parties and cutting off their 

 supplies. To attempt to pursue them if they cannot be called to a council would 

 be as useless as to follow the wind, for our troops in such a case are in a country 

 where they are obliged to subsist themselves, and the Indians being on fresh horses, 

 with a supply of provisions, would easily drive all the buffaloes ahead of them, and 

 endeavor, as far as possible, to decoy our troops into the barren parts of the country 

 where they could not find moans of subsistence. 



