[2] 
79 
On Boabd the Keel Boat Yellow Stone, 
25 miles below the Jiricara Towns, 4th June, 1823. 
Dear Sir : On tbe morning of the 2d inst. I was attacked by the 
Aricara Indians, which terminated with great loss on my part. On 
my arrival there, the SOth of May, I was met very friendly by some 
of the chiefs, who expressed a great wish that I would stop and trade 
with tiiem. Wishing to purchase horses to take a party of men to 
tlve Yeiiovv Stone ^iver, I agreed to comply with their request, and 
proposed that the chiefs of the two towns would meet me that after- 
noon, on the sand beach, when the price of horses should be agreed up- 
on. After a long consultation among themselves, they made their 
appearance at tfie place proposed. I made them a small present, and 
proposed to purchase 40 or 50 horses. They appeared much pleased, 
and expressed much regret that a difference had taken place between 
some of their nation and the Americans, alluding to the fray which 
recently took place with a party of their men and some of the Mis- 
souri Fur Company, which terminated in the loss of two of the Ari- 
caras, one of whom was the son of the principal chief of one of the two 
towns. They, liowever, said, that all the angry feelings occasioned 
by that affray had vanished, and that the)' considered the Americans 
as friends, and would treat them as suchj that the number of horses I 
wanted would be furnished me for the price offered. 
The next morning we commenced trading, which continued until, 
the evening of the 1st inst., when preparations were made for my 
departure early the next morning. My party consisted of ninety 
men, forty of whom were selected to take charge of the horses, and 
cross the country, by land, to the Yellow Stone. They were encamp- 
ed on the bank, within forty yards of the boats. 
About half past 3 o'clock in the morning, 1 was informed that one 
of my men had been killed, and, in all probability, the boat would be 
immediately attacked. The men were all under arms, and so con- 
tinued until sunrise, when the Indians commenced a heavy and well 
directed fire, from a line extending along the picketing of their towns, 
and some broken ground adjoining, about 600 yards in lengtii. 
Their shot were principally directed at the men on the beach, who 
were making use of the liorses as a breast-work. We returned the 
fire^ but, from the advantageous situation of the Indians, done but 
little execution. Finding their fire very destructive, I ordered the 
steersmen to weigh their anchors, and lay to shore for the purpose of 
embarking the men; but, notwithstanding I used every measure in 
my power to have the order executed, I could not effect it. Two 
skiffs, which would carry 30 men, were taken ashore,' but, in Citnse- 
qucnce of a predetermination, on the part of the men on board, not 
to give way to the Indians as long as they could possibly do other- 
wise, they (with the exception of seven or eight) would not make use 
of the skiffs when they had an opportunity of doing so. In about fif- 
teen minutes from the time the firing commenced, the surviving part 
