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69 
These Yanctons appear to be zealously determined to co-operate 
with us, but I have soiiie doubts as to tlie continuanre of their ardor. 
We have been obliged to make a halt here of three days to wait for 
Mr. Pilchcr, and to repair dama.ges sustained from wind and water. 
After so inany disasters. I am happy to inform you that we are yet ef- 
fici«nt, perhaps as much so as when we set out. Our powder was 
miraculonshj preserved; several casks which were under water all 
night were entirely uninjured. I have bori'owed ten rifles of Mr. 
Pi h her, and can have twenty-three more of General Ashley, but 
eight only are necessary to complete. Powder and lead I can obtain 
in ample quantities. If the Aracaras and Mandans unite, I shall 
proceed to the Mandans; and if they keep the Aracaras in their vil- 
lage, shall attack them. We shall do our best to ob'ain a victory. 
The honor of the American arras must be supported at all events. 
But 1 can plainly perceive that our force is not sufficient to inspire 
that degree of awe and respect amongst the Indians which I would 
wish. We make but a small show on a large prairie by the side of 
four or five hundred mounted Indians. If we can obtain a fair fight, 
our superiority will probably be more apparent. 
As I have to write on the ground in a heavy wind, I fear you will 
not be able to read my letter. You will, however, have thegoodness 
to excuse Inaccuracies, and my want of time and means to send you 
a fair copy. 
H. LEAVENWORTH, 
Colonel U, S. J. 
Major O'Fallon, &c. 
I certify the above to be a true copy. 
R. LowNDS, ^, D. C. 
No. 3. 
FoKT Recovery, 
Upper Missouri^ 23rf July, 1823» 
Dear Sir : From the following extract of a letter from Mr. Wil- 
liam Gordon, a young gentleman in the service of the Missouri Fur 
Company, and attached to our Mountaineers, you will see that they 
have been defeated, and the cJiiefs of the expedition, Mr*. Immel and 
Ml". Jones, have both been slain. The extracts from "^Ir. Keemle's 
letters will show the disposition and feelings of the Mandans and 
Grosventres, produced by the late success of the Ricaras against 
General Ashley; and tlie v^hole will, I hope, tend to shew the import- 
ance of Colonel Leavenworth's expedition against the Ricaras. If 
protection to the commerce of the Missouri be the object of our go- 
