9i ' [ 2 3 
of cold weather. They can, moreover, attend better to every prepa- 
ration for the expedition at the Bluffs, than at Belle Fontaine, where 
the evils of gro|^-shops, desertions, &c. &c. will lessen the efficiency 
of the troops, and retard every measure of preparation. 
With the greatest respect, 
I have the honor to be, 
E. P. GAINES, 
Maj. Gen. by brevet, Commanding, 
Honorable John C. Calhoun, 
Secretary of TVar, 
A true Copy. 
Ch. J. NouRSE, Adjt. Gen. Acting, 
No. 1. 
Head Quarters, 6th Regiment, 
Fort Atkinson^ August 30, 182S. 
Sir: I have the honor to inform you, that the troops who lately 
visited the Ricara towns, returned to this post on the 27th instant. 
We arrived before the Ricara towns on the 9th of the present 
month. The Sioux Indians who were with us, were met by the Ri- 
caras a short distance from their towns, and a skirmish took place 
between them. The Ricaras maintained their ground, or rather 
drove the Sioux back, until the regular troops, and General Ashley's 
men, arrived, and formed their line. The Ricaras were then imme- 
diately driven into their town. The Sioux were so much scattered 
in front of the troops, that the latter were unable to deliver their 
fire without killing some of the Sioux, and therefore did not fire. 
Our boats arrived subsequently, during the evening of the 9th, and 
our artillery was disembarked. On the morning of the 10th, Capt. 
Riley, with a company of riflemen, and Lieut. Bradley, with a com- 
pany of infantry, were ordered to take possession of a hill above the 
upper village. They immediately took a position there, within one 
hundred steps from the town, and in a position which screened them 
from the fire of the enemy from the towns. At the same moment, 
Liwut. Morris, with one six pounder and a five and a half inch brass 
howitzer, commenced an attack on the lower town. Sergeant 
Perkins, with one six pounder, was sent to report to Mr. Vanden- 
burgh, of the Missouri Fur Company. This six pounder was placed 
above the upper village. A brisk fire was continued upon the 
towns until three o'clock in the afternoon. The Sioux were, in 
