[2] 
93 
Head Quarters, Western Department, 
September QQdf 1823. 
Sir: By yesterday's mail, I forwarded to the Adjutant General's 
Office, a copy of Colonel Leavenworth's report, of the satisfactory 
result of his expedition against the Ricaras, intending* to transmit 
to you, hy the same conveyance, the original articles of a treaty of 
peace entered into hy Jiim, with that nation; but, I had omitted to 
allow myself time, prior to the departuie of the mail, to prepare or 
obtain copies of the papers which appeai-ed to he proper should ac- 
company the treaty: and 1 have now the honor to enclose them here- 
with, viz: 
No. 1. The report of Colonel Leaven w«irth. 
*No. £. The treaty with the Ricaras. 
No. 3. The order of Colonel Leavenworth, noticing the conduct 
of the officers and men of his command on the exj)edition. 
No= 4. Letter addressed by Colonel Leavenworth to the Ricaras, 
after they had abandoned their villages. 
No. 5. Letter from General Atkinson, dated September 13, 1823. 
I have directed General Atkinson to take measures to ascertain 
the temper and views of the Sioux, and their motives for abandon- 
ing our troops at the time when their presence and aid were most 
wanted,and tokeej) an eye upon Mandans and Ricaras. I have also 
directed him to make his arrangements with a view to the chastise- 
ment of the Blackfoot Indians in the course of the ensuing season: 
A measure which appears to me to be essentially necessary for the 
protection of our citizens engaged in the Indian trade, as well as 
our exploring parties in that quarter. Should this measure be ap- 
proved, I cannot but think it proper, that the 1st regiment of in- 
fantry should take post at Council Bluffs for .he winter. 
Abundant supplies of beef and pork may be driven to that place 
in the month of November next, and there salted and dried, for the 
expedition; and a sufficient quantity of corn may at the same time 
be kiln dried or parched, to supply any deficiency in the article, 
even should the river freeze up befoie the supply now in possession 
of the troops at Belle Fontaine should reach the Bluffs, which is 
doubtful. But, of tliis article, the present year's crop of wheat at the 
Bluffs, is reported to be sufficient for two hundred barrels of flour. 
Hence, the actual deficit to be supplied by corn, raised at the place, 
(of which there is a promising crop) will be inconsiderable. The 
troops being thus enabled to leave the Bluffs at the first approach of 
good weather, after the breaking up of the ice in the spring, will 
have full time to effect the objects of the expedition before the return 
* Since writing this letter, I regret to find, that I have either mislaid, or, in the 
liurry of preparing for the last mail, enclosed the original, in place of » copy of the 
Ricaras treaty, to the Adjutant General's Office, E. P. G. 
