[2] 107 
pHiiiADELriiiA, 24th September, 1823. 
Sir : I received, at New York, on my return from a tour to tlie 
North, your communication of the 24th August,Jtogether with a let- 
ter to the Adjutant General of the 1st September, and their several 
enclosures. 
I approve entirely of the measures which you have adopted in re- 
lation to the prosecution of hostilities with the Indians. The posi- 
tion which you occupy gives you a view of tl>e whole ground, and 
enables you to judge better than any other person of the couise ne- 
cessary to be pursued. You are, I know, aware how much this spe- 
cies of warfare is to be deprecated, and will use every ex])edicnt to 
terminate it with as little delay and expense as possible. 
With great respect, 
I am, your obedient servant, 
J AC. BROWN. 
Maj. Gen. Gaines, 
Com. f^Festern. Dcp. 
A true copy. 
ChS. J, NoUE'SE, 
vidj. Gen. Jding. 
Adjutant General's Ofiice, 
JVashington, '[Qth Oct., 1823. 
Sill : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- 
munication of the 2 1st ult., and its enclosures, detailing the opeia- 
tions of Colonel Leavenworth's party against the Riraia Indians. 
These papers have been submitted to tlie Generalin Chief, who di- 
rects me to express to you his high satisfaction with the success of 
the expedition, and his approbation of the conduct of Colonel Lea- 
venworth and his officers, to w hoin he desires you to convey his thanks 
for the zeal and activity which they have displayed upon this oc- 
casion. 
The destruction of the Ricara villages is very much to be regietted, 
as tending to counteract the good effect of the expeditrion, and on ma- 
ny other accounts; but the General is happy to observe, that neitliei* 
the commanding officer, nor any part of the troops |of the United 
States, is liable to censure for that occurrence, as it appears to have 
been the act of the agent of the Missouri Fur Company, who, he is 
