1% [ 2 ] 
force, when attacked in such an unfav«»i'able positron. Many cirrum- 
stances justify the opinions expressed in Mr. Goidori^s letter, which 
I will hereafter relate; time will not allow me to do so at present. 
Mr. Keemle arrived at the Ma.idans in a shoit time after Mr. Gor- 
don left him on the Yellow Stone, and, in a letter to me, under date of 
the 10th (if the present month, whirh met me at this place, he ex- 
presses himself as follows: '* Permit me, sir, !iere to remaik, that the 
present affair with the Ricaras, is the subjert of dally conversation 
with the Grosventres and M.!.ndans; and lam of opinion, from many 
remarks made by the principal men of both nations, that much of the 
future welfare and interest of the persons ena;aj:^ed in the business of 
the Missouri, depends much upon the course of conduct pursued to- 
wards that band of savage villains." In another letter from him, of 
the 11th instant, conveyed by the same hand, he gives me tl.e follow- 
ing information: "A council was held by the Mandans on the lOth 
instant, in which they have determined to send for the Ricaras to 
enter their village, in order to protect them, as tliey say, from the 
whites. A singular [similar] proposition was made to the Grosven- 
tres by the former nati«n, but they shut their* ears against it.' The 
Aricaras opened a fire on the men who came express with these let- 
ters, and continued it until they had got beyond their reach, though 
they did not succeed in hurting either of them. From these cii'cum- 
stances, you may suppose that the futur-e conduct and dispositiorr of 
all those upper tribes, even tire Sioux, deperrd much on the steps taken 
in relation to the Ar-icaras. There ai'e many opinions respecting the 
course the Aricaras will take. My own impressions are, tiiat they 
will not abandotr their villages, but will await the arr'ival of the ex- 
peditiorr, and give us battle. Many things induce a belief that they 
will not attempt to go to the Maidans for* j)rotection. About twelve 
days will decide it. The exjiedition left this place early this morning. 
The foregoing circrrmstances, together with many other causes, 
will induce me to change the destination of our mourrtain men this 
fall. If time wouldjustif) tlie atfem|)t, 1 would endeavor to push the 
expedition across the mountains to some of the southern branches of 
the Columbia, but the season h too far- advanced. 
I am, dear sir, 6cc. 
JO«HU\ PILCHER, 
Jl, jP. Mmsoun Fur Company. 
Major B. O'Fallon, 
U, S, Sgentfor Indian Jiffairs^ 
