96 C 2 3 
buffalo robes, with a message that he could not possibly do morCj 
and begging that we would have pity on them, I sent him word that 
1 would wot attack them; that it was not their property that we 
wanted; to make his people feel safe, and conduct themselves well, 
and they should not be hurt. 
Early on the morning of the 13th, we found the Ricaras had left 
their towns during tlie night. 
Major Ketchum, with his company, and company E, commanded 
by Lieut. Bradley and Lieut. Morris, with one six pounder, were 
ordered to take possession of the towns, and to suffer not the least 
article to be taken away, or the towns to be injured. A message was 
sent to call back the Indians, if possible, and lo induce them to take 
possession of their towns, but they could not be found. It was evi- 
dent that our artillery had been served with very great effect. The 
towns had been completely riddled. We found thirty-one new^ graves, 
and we found that several old ones had been opened, and the surface 
set thick with prickly pears to conceal the new dirt. We know that 
ten men, who were killed by the Sioux in the skirmish on the ninth, 
were buried in five graves; and we know also, that more than one 
was buried in several of the other graves. From the best evidence 
which we could collect, it is supposed that more than fifty of their 
people were killed, and a great uumber wounded. Our messengers 
retuincd on the evening of the 14th, without having been able to find 
theRicaias. 
On the morning of the 15th, we placed the mother of the late chief 
" Grey Eyes" (an aged and infirm woman, whom they^Kul left in 
their flight,) in one of the principal lodges of the lower village, gave 
Iier plenty of provisions and water, and left her in the quiet posses- 
sion df the towns and the property left by the Indians, except some 
corn, which had been taken for the subsistence of the men. At about 
ten o'clock on the morning of the 15th, the troops were embarked to 
descend the river, and our guard withdrawn, and every soul removed 
from the villages, except the woman before mentioned. All the boats 
were got under way nearly at the same time. 
Before we were out of sight of the towns, we had the mortification 
to discover them to be on fire. 
Theie is no doubt but they have been consumed to ashes. Nor is 
there any doubt but that they were set on fire by one M'Donald, a 
partner, and one Gordon, a clerk of the Missouri Fur Company. 
If the nation has been deprived of the advantages which might 
have resulted from the magnanimity of her troops towards a fallen 
and an humbled enemy, it is chargeable to that company, or to those 
individuals, who set those towns on fire. Had not this been done, there 
is nt) room to doubt but that the Ricara Indians would in future have 
behaved as well towards our countrymen as any other Indians on 
the river. It is now my deliberate opinion that those Indians will 
be excited to further hostilities if in the power of the Missouri Fur 
Company to effect it. It is understood that the company have with- 
drawn their trade from above the Sioux country. Not so with Messrs. 
