100 [2] 
These will convince you that my heart is not bad. Your villages 
are in my possession; come back and take them in peace, and you 
will find every thing as you left them. You shall not be hurt if you 
do not obstruct the road or molest the traders. If yuu do not come 
back, there are some bad men and bad Indians who will burn your 
villages. Come back, and come quickly. Be assured that what I 
say is the truth. 
H. LEAVENWORTH, 
Colonel U. S. Jirmy* 
A true copy: 
ChS. J. NoURSE, 
Mjutant General, tiding. 
No. 5. 
Head Quarters, Right Wing, West. Dep. 
St. Louis, Sept. ISth, 1823. 
General : I have the honor to inform you, that an express reach- 
ed me this morning, from Col. Leavenworth, who returned to Coun- 
cil Bluffs on the 27th ultimo, from his expedition against the Ricara 
Indians. I send to you by express, his report, and the articles of a 
treaty made with the Ricaras. Those papers contain all the official 
information that lias come to hand. 
Althougli the Ricaras have been severely punished, and have sued 
for peace, I am of opinion, that they are decidedly averse to such a 
measure, and will, no doubt, on the first occasion, recommence hostili- 
ties, as their conduct subsequent to the treaty plainly shews. 
The Sioux appear also to be highly displeased, owing, I understand, 
to Col. Leavenworth's not prosecuting hostility against the Ricaras 
till they were all exterminated, which the Sioux expected, (and were, 
possibly, promised,) with possession of the village, scalps, horses,&c. 
They, at any rate, deserted Col. Leavenworth at a critical moment, 
without giving arty reason, and in a bad humor. They may not com- 
mence a war with us, yet such a course is not altogether improbable. 
We must, at least, watch them narrowly. I have no idea that hosti- 
lity will reach our frontier settlements, but I am clearly of opinion 
that the Missouri will be shut against us, from the Ricaras up, and 
possibly by the Sioux, if an imposing military force does not visit 
that country tlie next season. Therefore, I would suggest, that at 
least another regiment should be sent to join the 6th early in the 
spring, with recruits to fill both corps, with a view to detaching six 
