S4 [2] 
Extract of a letter from General Jshley to Colonel 0^ Fallon, dated at 
Fort Brassauxy July 19, 1823. 
" I remained at, and in the neighborhood of, the mouth of the 
Shyanne river, until Major Henry joined me. We then concluded 
that, sliould troopslbc sent up the river this year to fight the Ricaras, 
that they would not as( end until fall, wlun it would be too late to do 
any thing in our business this year. Accordingly, we concluded to 
drop down to the mouth of the Teton river, and, if possible, purchase 
as many hoiscs as would enable us to fit out the party intended to be 
sent to tlie Columbia. Understanding that the Sioux Indians were 
in the neighborhood, I came here a few days since to get horses from 
them. To my great satisfaction, on my arrival,! was informed of the 
approach of Colonel Leavenworth with two hundred men. He will 
pass this place to-day with his command. 1 leave here this evening 
for n>y camp, which is about one hundred and twenty miles above, 
and will have things ready to join him with eighty men, by the time 
he readies that point. Some of the gentlemen of the Missouri Fur 
Company have joined him with forty men; from four to five hundred 
Sioux Indians are encamped about tv^euty miles above this, waiting 
the Colonel's arrival, and intend co-operating w ith him. Our whole 
force will be about eight hundred men, which will be sufficient to 
destro;^ the greater part of the Ricaras, in a very short time after 
reaching their towns, should they not escape before that time. It is 
said that they have j>ro});)st (I to the Mandans to permit them to move 
up and li\e with them, which it is supj)0sed the Mandans will consent 
to, bu(, if so, very contrary to the wishes of the Grosventres. 
W. H. ASHLEY." 
A true copy. 
Charles J. Nourse, 
Adjutant General, Jlding. 
Head Quarters, Westeen Department, 
near Louisville, Kij. September \st, 1823. 
Sir: Accompanying this you will receive, for the information of 
the General in Chief, the copy of a letter from Col. Leavenworth to 
Major O' Fallon, dated at Fort Recovery, 21st of July, 1823. 
The letter referred to by Col. Leavetnvorth; fi'om Mr. Pilcher, 
was transmitted to the Department of War by the last mail. It con- 
tains a detailed account of the attack, by the Black-foot Indians, on 
tile trading and hunting parties under Messrs. Immel and Jonesj 
and a report that the Mandans had invited the Ricaras to their na- 
tion, T30 miles above the Ricaras, and had promised to protect 
