No. 4.

SUMMARY of the movements which will be made by the troops composing the Missouri and Mississippi expeditions, in the course of the ensuing season, and the manner in which it is proposed to employ them.

It is proposed to move the rifle regiment from the Council Bluffs to the Mandan villages, and to erect barracks there, properly defended, for five hundred men.

To remove some of the principal obstructions to the navigation of the Missouri river, such as planters, sawyers, and rafts; this work may be accomplished by the troops on the Missouri, in the course of three winters.

To open a road from Chariton, in Missouri Territory, to the Council Bluffs, and thence to the Mandan villages.

To open a road from the Council Bluffs to the post at the mouth of Saint Peter's, on the Mississippi.

To improve the navigation of the Ouisconsin and Fox rivers, and connect them by a canal, or good road, in order to facilitate the communication between fort Howard, at Green Bay, and Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi; those rivers are navigable for batteaux, within one mile of each other.

B.

Letter from the Secretary of War to the Chairman of the Military

Committee.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR,

SIR: In reply to your letter of the

29th December, 1819.

, requesting to be informed of the expenditures which have been, and which are likely to be, incurred in fitting out and prosecuting the expedition ordered to the mouth of the Yellow Stone, on the Missouri river, and of the objects intended to be accomplished by the expedition, I have the honor to make the following statement:

The enclosed report and estimates from the Quarter Master General, marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, with a statement of the duty performed, and that which is contemplated, exhibits the expense of the expedition up the Missouri, for the last, and the next succeeding three years, with a similar statement in relation to that on the Mississippi. Though the last is not referred to in your letter, yet, as the two movements constitute a part of the same system of measures, I believed that it would not be unacceptable to the committee to receive a statement of the whole of the expenses incurred, or likely to be incurred, in its execution.

The expedition ordered to the mouth of the Yellow Stone, or rather to the Mandan village, (for the military occupation of the former, depending on circumstances, is not yet finally determined on,) is a part of a system of measures, which has for its objects, the protection of our northwestern frontier, and the greater extension of our fur trade. It is on that frontier only that we have much to fear from Indian hostilities. The tribes to the southwest are either so inconsiderable, or so surrounded by white population, and, what is of not less importance, so cut off from intercourse with all foreign nations, that there are reasonable grounds to believe, that we shall, in future, be almost wholly exempt from Indian warfare in that quarter. Very different is the condition of those on our northwestern border. They are open to the influence of a foreign power, and many of the most warlike and powerful tribes, who, by the extension of our settlements, are becoming our near neighbors, are yet very little acquainted with our power. To guard against their hostility, it has been thought proper to increase our forces on that frontier from one to three regiments; and to occupy new posts, better calculated to cut off all intercourse between the Indians residing on our territory, and foreign traders or posts; and to garrison them with a force sufficiently strong to overawe the neighboring tribes. With this view, measures have

been taken to establish strong posts at the Council Bluff and the Mandan village, on the Missouri; at the mouth of the St. Peter's, on the Mississippi; and the falls of St. Mary's, between lakes Superior and Huron. The posts at Green Bay, Chicago, Rock Island, and Prairie du Chien, will still be continued. The posts at the mouth of the St. Peter's, and at the Council Bluff, have already been occupied; and that at the Mandan village will probably be the next summer. The position at the falls of St. Mary's has been reconnoitered, and it is intended to make preparation the next summer to occupy it. The occupation of these posts with an adequate force will, it is believed, by establishing over the various tribes in that quarter the influence of our government, and preventing or diminishing that of others, have the most beneficial effects. The position at the Council Bluff is a very important one, and the post will consequently be rendered strong, and will be occupied by a sufficient garrison. It is about half way between St. Louis and the Mandan village, and is at that point on the Missouri, which approaches the nearest to the post at the mouth of the St. Peter's, with which, in the event of hostilities, it may cooperate. It is besides not more than one hundred and eighty miles in advance of our settlements on the Missouri, and is in the centre of the most powerful tribes, and the most numerous Indian population, west of the Mississippi. It is believed to be the best position on the Missouri, to cover our flourishing settlements in that quarter, and ought, if it were wholly unconnected with other objects, to be established for that purpose alone.

The position at the Mandan village has been selected for a military post, on account of the many advantages which it is supposed to possess. At that point, the Missouri approaches nearest to the establishment of the Hudson Bay Company, on the Red River of the Lakes, near the mouth of the Assinaboin, and at the same point, it takes a direction to the south, which, in the event of hostilities, would render it more difficult, for any force which might be brought against it from the possessions of our northern neighbours, to interrupt its communication with the posts below. It is besides well situated to protect our traders, and to prevent those of the Hudson Bay Company from extending their trade towards the head waters of the Missouri, and along the rocky mountains, within our limits, which tract of country is said to abound more in fur, and of a better quality, than any other portion of this continent. The post at the mouth of the St. Peter's is at the head of navigation on the Mississippi, and, in addition to its commanding position, in relation to the Indians, it possesses great advantages, either to protect our trade, or prevent that of foreigners. The post contemplated at the falls of St. Mary's, will, it is believed, be of very great importance. The position, as has been stated, has been reconnoitered, and it is found that the communication between the two lakes can be commanded from our side, as the channel passes close under the western shore. The post may be established and maintained at very little additional expense. When these posts are all established and occupied, it is believed, with judicious

conduct on the part of our officers, that our northwestern frontier will be rendered much more secure than heretofore, and that the most valuable fur trade in the world will be thrown into our hands.

Trade and presents, accompanied by talks calculated for the purpose, are among the most powerful means to control the action of savages; and so long as they are wielded by a foreign hand, our frontier must ever be exposed to the calamity of Indian warfare. By the treaty of 1794, Great Britain obtained the right of trade and intercourse with the Indians residing on our territory; which gave her nearly a monopoly of the trade with the various tribes of the Lakes, the Mississippi, and Missouri, and a decided control over all of their measures. The effects of this ascendancy over them must be remembered and lamented, so long as the history of the late war shall be perused. The most distressing occurrences, and the greatest disasters of that period, may be distinctly traced to it. This right of intercourse and trade with the Indians, which has proved to us so pernicious, terminated in the war, and was not reserved by the treaty at Ghent; and, in the year 1816, Congress passed a law, which authorised the President to prohibit foreigners from trading with the Indians residing within our limits, and instructions have been given, under the act, to prevent such trade; but it is obvious that the act and instructions to Indian agents can have but little efficacy to remedy the evil. Without a military force, properly distributed, the trade would still be continued, and even if it were prevented, that which is more pernicious would still remain-Indian talks at the British posts, accompanied with a profuse distribution of presents.

This intercourse is the great source of danger to our peace; and, until that is stopped, our frontier cannot be safe. It is estimated that upwards of three thousand Indians, from our side of the lakes, visited Malden and Drummond's Island, the last year; and that, at the latter place alone, presents were distributed to them to the amount of ninety-five thousand dollars. It is desirable that this intercourse should terminate by the act of the British government; and it is believed that it has been continued by its agents in Canada, rather in consequence of the practice before the late war, under the treaty of 1794, than by the direct sanction and authority of that government. Its attention has, however, been called to it, through the proper department; and, as it is wholly inconsistent with the friendly relations between the two countries, it is hoped that it will not be permitted in future. The occupation of the contemplated posts will, in the mean time, put in our hand the power to correct the evil. The posts on the lakes will enable the government, not only to check effectually all trade with foreigners in that quarter, but also to restrain the Indians from passing our limits. On that side, the remedy will be complete. On the Mississippi and the Missouri, the posts at the St. Peter's and Mandan village, are well selected for the same purpose. From the Lake of the Woods, westwardly, the 49th parallel of latitude is the boundary established by the late convention between the United States and the British possessions. The Hudson Bay and