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might be sent fo Baton Rouge, and the four companies of the Ist 
infantry now there detached up the Missouri, to join that part of the 
regiment heretofore ordered thither, and which is presumed to be 
now at St. Louis. 
With great respect, I have, &c. 
E. P. GAINES, 
Major General by BrU commanding, 
Hon. J. C. Caihoun, 
Secretary of TVar. 
No. 1. 
Head Quarters, Right Wing, Western Department, 
St. Louis, Mgust 19th, 1823. 
Sir: I have the honor to enclose, herewith, the copy of a letter from 
Colonel Leavenworth to Major O'Fallon, and the copy of a letter from 
Mr. Pilcher, acting partner of the Missouri Fur Company, to the 
same gentleman, containing extracts of letters from Messrs. Keemle 
and Gordon, traders attached to that firm. These letters give the 
latest information from the expedition under Colonel Leavenworth, 
and the most direct, of the attack of the Blackfoot Indians upon Im- 
mel and Jones. 
Notwithstanding the opinion of Mr. Pilcher, as well as most per- 
sons here, that the Aricara Indians will await in their village the ar- 
rival of the troops under Colonel Leavenworth, and there give battle, 
I cannot bring myself to believe so. They, very early after their at- 
tack on General Ashley's party, made arrangements with the Man- 
dan Indians to take refuge with them; This step shows, certainly, a 
determination on their part to flee before any formidable white force; 
and I, therefore, conclude it will require at least another season to 
chastise them effectually. 
Under the most favorable aspect of affairs on the Upper Missouri, 
I am of opinion it will require an etfcctive disposable force of some six 
or seven hundred regular troops to operate decisively in that quarter, 
and to preserve tranquillity in future. The whole of the first regi- 
ment, added to the sixth, and both being filled to the establishment, 
will, 1 presume, be ample for the object. With these corps, after 
leaving four companies of the sixth at Council Bluffs, sixteen compa- 
nies may move up the Missouri, and effect uny practicable object^ es- 
tablish the first regiment at the Yellow Stone or Mandan, and let the 
six compaHies of the sixth regiment fall back to its present position. 
