USA > Louisiana > The province and the states, a history of the province of Louisiana under France and Spain, and of the territories and states of the United States formed therefrom, Vol. I > Part 34
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While they were at "Prairie des Chiens," they witnessed a game of ball between the Indians, which was thus described by Lieu -. tenant Pike: "This afternoon they had a great game of the cross on the prairie between the Sioux on the one side and the Puants and Reynards on the other. The ball is made of some hard sub- stance and covered with leather, the cross sticks are round and net work, with handles of three feet long. The parties being ready, and bets agreed upon ( sometimes to the amount of some thousand dollars), the goals are set up on the prairie at the dis- tance of half a mile. The ball is thrown up in the middle, and each party strives to drive it to the opposite goal ; and when either party gains the first rubber, which is driving it quick around the post, the ball is again taken to the center, the ground changed and the contest renewed; and this is continued until one side gains four times, which decides the bet. It is an interesting sight to see two or three hundred naked savages contending on the plain who shall bear off the palm of victory ; as he who drives the ball round the goal is much shouted at by his companions. It some- times happens that one catches the ball in his racket, and depend- ing on his speed, endeavors to carry it to the goal, and when he finds himself too closely pursued, he hurls it with great force and dexterity to an amazing distance, where there are other flankers of both parties ready to receive it. It seldom touches the ground, but is sometimes kept in the air for hours before either party can gain the victory. In the game which I witnessed, the Sioux were victorious, more, I believe, from the superiority of their skill in throwing the ball, than by their swiftness, for I thought the Puants and Reynards the swiftest runners."
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No. XVI.
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The objects of this expedition, which were to establish peace between the Indian tribes of the Upper Mississippi, to regulate trade with the Indians, to confirm the authority of the United States, to discover more accurately the sources of the Mississippi, to select suitable sites for the construction of military and trading posts, and to shake off the hold of the Spanish, French and Eng- lish upon the savage nations, had thus been accomplished so far as it was possible to be done. As a whole, the results justified the confidence reposed in (then ) Lieutenant Pike, and warranted his promotion and his selection for duties of a similar nature . farther to the west. His expedition to the sources of the Mis- sissippi is one of the most interesting and memorable made in the Louisiana Purchase in early times.
Under the orders of the War Department, Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, with a force consisting of two lieutenants, one surgeon, one sergeant, two corporals, sixteen privates and one interpreter, set out in two boats from Belle Fountaine near St. Louis, on July 15, 1806, for the purpose of "exploring the internal parts of Loui- siana." Accompanying him were chiefs and other members of the Osages and the Pawnees, through which nations it was intended the expedition should pass. Many were women and children who were returning to their nations from captivity among the Potta- wattomies, having been freed by the United States government. Late on the 16th, the expedition reached St. Charles, where Vas- quez, the interpreter, was arrested under a writ of attachment for debt, by Manuel Lisa, one of the leading agents of the Mis- souri Fur Company. This occasioned a delay, but he was finally released. La Charette was reached on the 21st, and there they found waiting them Lieut. James B. Wilkinson, son of Gen. James Wilkinson, Dr. John H. Robinson, and another interpreter, all of whom had gone on before. Almost from the start it was neces- sary for them to kill game for their subsistence, and the hunters who accompanied the expedition were kept constantly in the woods. On the 244th they killed three deer, one bear and three turkeys. The next day they reached the mouth of Gasconade river, and on the 28th arrived at the mouthi of Osage river, near which a trading post had been established for many years. The Indians of the party had become tired of the slow and tedious advance of the boats, and spent their time on the banks, marching along under the command of Te-to-ba-si, or Big Soldier. Scarcely
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a day passed that did not add to their subsistence deer and other wild animals ; on one day they killed as high as nine deer. Wan- ton cervicide was forbidden by Lieutenant Pike.
Having reached the mouth of the Osage river, they commenced the ascent of that stream, and on August 8, arrived at the Nian- gua, or as Pike called it, the Yunger river, and on the same day passed Old Man's Rapids. On the 12th they passed Vermillion and Grand rivers, and two days later arrived at the Park, where there were several white traders in the employ of the Chouteaus of St. Louis. While here Pike was informed that a war party of the Little Osages had gone against the Kansas, and that a war party of the Great Osages had gone to attack the whites located on the Arkansas river. On the 18th, the advance expedition under Lieutenant Wilkinson arrived so near the Osage villages that the friends of the Indians returning from captivity came out to meet them. This meeting is thus described by Pike and Wilkin- son : "Wives throwing themselves into the arms of their hus- bands, parents embracing their children and children their parents, brothers and sisters meeting, one from captivity, the others from the towns -- they at the same time returning thanks to God for having brought them once more together ; in short the tout ensem- ble was such as to make polished society blush, when compared with those savages, in whom the passions of the mind, either joy, grief, fear, anger, or revenge, have their full scope; why can we not correct the baneful passions without weakening the good ? Sans Oreille ( Big Soldier, or Te-to-ba-si, or Without Ears), made them a speech in which he remarked, 'Osage, you now see your wives, your brothers, your daughters, your sons, redeemed from captivity. Who did this? Was it the Spaniard? No. The French? No. Had either of those people been governors of the country, your relatives might have rotted in captivity, and you never would have seen them; but the Americans stretched forth their hands, and they are returned to you. What can you do for all this goodness? Nothing; all your lives would not suffice to repay their goodness.' This man ('Te-to-ba-si) had children in captivity, not one of whom were we able to obtain for him."
The main expedition reached Prairie Hills on August 13th, and passed Sac river above Osceola the 16th. The next day they reached a spot where the Spanish had erected a fort which they called Carondelet, and had fortified it and placed several swivels high enough to command the surroundings. Here about ten families resided, mostly of French origin. Having reached the forks on the 18th, they passed up the left branch, and the next
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day, with the assistance of the Indians, who came out with forty or fifty horses, they carried their baggage across, to the vicinity of the Osage villages and near the trading establishment of Lisa. While here Pike inquired particularly into the proceedings of the traders, as had been enjoined upon him by General Wilkinson, and learned that many abuses existed, which he ordered corrected. Among them was the disrespect shown the American government by Lisa and the Chouteaus, who had not yet become reconciled to the change in their nationality. Neither had they taken out the licenses and passports required by the government. The Indians were informed of the change in governments, and pres- ents were made them on behalf of the United States. The expe- dition was met by practically the whole of each village, and as all the men were very thirsty, they were given a "stiff drink" each. The old medals of the Spaniards and the French were taken up and new ones, representing America, were given in their places. The Indians were informed that the traders had no power to make or unmake chiefs. White Hair, or Ca-ha-ga- ton-ga, and Tutt-a-sug-gy, the Wind, the former of the Great Osages and the latter of the Little Osages, both head chiefs, were very friendly to Captain Pike. At least they professed to be, but when it came to supplying the expedition with horses, it was very difficult to procure them except at an extravagant price. Pike wondered at this fact, when they had seven or eight hundred horses, professed such undying friendship for the whites, and yet at first would part with only abont ten horses. One of the objects of the expedition was to take along several of the highest chiefs of the Osages to meet the Pawnees for the purpose of assisting in establishing permanent peace between the two nations, but the leading chiefs evaded the request, and several of the under chiefs who started afterward deserted and returned to their villages.
The villages of the Great and the Little Osages were about six miles apart. While here they learned that a war party of Paw- nees had recently attacked an expedition of Americans on the Arkansas river, had killed two and wounded two, and had killed an Osage warrior, who was with them. The camp of the Pike expedition among the Osages was called Independence. A big council was held the 22d, with the two villages together, on which occasion Pike delivered a long and carefully prepared "talk" or speech, pointing out to the Indians what was necessary for them to do to retain the good will of the United States and avoid hav- ing an army sent against them for their forcible subjection. It is clear that Pike did not use good judgment at this council,
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because he delivered the presents of the government before he made his demands for horses and for chiefs to accompany the expedition to the country of the Pawnees. Had he reversed this course, it is probable he would have obtained all he asked for at the outset.
The act of freeing the captive Osages among the Pottawat- tomies and sending them to their homes by Captain Pike, was a step taken by the government to convince the savages of the well- wishes of the United States and to gain in return the good will of the Indians. The immediate correction of the many abuses of the traders was another step in the same direction. Preliminary proceedings were taken also to establish military posts in the country of the Osages, so that the interests of the United States and the safety of the traders and the few settlers might be con- served. A careful report on the fauna, flora, topography, etc., was also required. At the council the rights of the Indians and of the United States were severally set forth, and the importance to the savages of permanent peace with the government purposely dwelt upon. The next step was to secure peaceable relations between the Osages and their savage neighbors.
Having sold his batteaux. obtained horses enough to carry his baggage, and engaged a number of sub-chiefs to go to the coun- try of the Pawnees, the expedition, on the Ist of September, pre- pared to leave. There were now fifteen loaded horses, two lieutenants, one doctor, two sergeants, one corporal, fifteen pri- vates, two interpreters, three Pawnees returning from captivity, and four sub-chiefs of the Great Osages, one being Shen-ga- was-sa, or Beautiful Bird. After having started, it was learned by Captain Pike that Mr. Chouteau of St. Louis had just arrived among the Osages, whereupon he returned, because he desired . particularly to have a serious talk with that well known and some- what famous individual. The many abuses of which the Indians and the government agents complained were pointed out to him and their correction demanded to which Mr. Chouteau acquiesced, apparently without any expectation of complying therewith, because Pike soon afterward learned that after he had gone Chou- teau told the Indians that the Americans were "bad men," and that in a short time the country would again pass to Spain, as a war was then in prospect. When an account of this outrageous course was sent to General Wilkinson at St. Louis, he informed Mr. Chouteau that a repetition of such statements would be fol- lowed by expulsion from the Indian country, and directed him to correct his unfriendly condin t at once.
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The transfer of Louisiana Province to the United States meant the carly invasion of all that territory by American settlers, whom both the French and the Spanish residents and traders had been taught to detest and avoid. 'The old regime of commercial seclu- sion, it was realized, must give way to the energetic and progres- sive customs of the American settlers. This meant the decadence of French and Spanish prestige and power among the savages. Thus it was that the Americans at first met with rebuffs, not only from the white residents, but from the Indians who were yet under the influences of the French and the Spanish. Pike early realized this state of affairs, and did all he could to correct it. But it required several years before the savages fully admitted the authority of the United States.
After the expedition had been out a few days, several of the Osages who had agreed to go to the Pawnee villages announced that they "had been dreaming," which meant that they had changed their minds about accompanying Pike any farther. September 5, all but two went back. The next day, the company arrived in the vicinity of what is now Xenia and Harding, Kan., and passed over the divide separating the Osage valley from the Neosho valley. On September 10, they reached the divide between the Neosho and the Verdigris valleys, and on the 11th camped on the latter stream not far from what is now the town of Bazar, Chase county. Every day they killed enough game for their subsistence. The hunters began to bring in cabrie, or ante- lopes. The beautiful prairies, covered with wild flowers and wild game, kindled the warmest praises of Captain Pike. From the top of a hill, he writes, on September 12, he saw at one view on the beflowered plain below buffalo, elk, deer, antelope and panther. On this day five buffaloes were killed, almost the first. This was the Kaws ( Kansas) hunting ground, and the animals began to appear almost without numbers. Pike gave strict injunctions to kill no more than was needed, but no limits were placed on the needs, and the camp was feasted on buffalo hump, tongue, tenderloin, and marrow, with variations of elk, deer, cabrie and wild fowl. On the 14th all day long they jour- neyed through an unending herd of buffaloes, which simply opened ranks to let the intruders pass, and then closed again as if nothing had happened. The report of guns seemed new to the animals, showing that the Indians had not yet secured those weapons. Pike asserted that one hunter could support two Inin- dred men with his rifle. Ile forbade unnecessary killing "not because of a scarcity of ammunition, but as I conceived the laws
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of morality forbid it also." In looking over his report, one is astonished at the quantity of game killed, however. From three to ten animals were slaughtered every day without a thought that a fewer number might have answered just as well. Only the choicest portions of the animals were eaten: the remainder was left to the wolves and panthers.
They passed on the 15th a large unoccupied encampment of the Kansas Indians, and on this day observed in the distance the buffaloes running, which indicated the presence either of Indians or white men. On this day they camped near what is now Tampa, Marion county. Two days later they reached the Smoky hill branch of the Kansas river, and after this game began to grow scarcer. September 21st, Pike learned that the only remaining Osage Indians with him were preparing to take horses and depart from the expedition, fearing, no doubt, the consequences of their meeting the Kansas, with whom they were at war; but when taken to task by Pike and called cowards, they boastingly deter- mined then to remain at all hazards. Pike writes, "Thus were we obliged to keep ourselves on our guard against our own com- panions and fellow-travelers, men of a nation highly favored by the United States, but whom I believe to be a faithless set of poltroons, incapable of a great or generous action ; among them, indeed, there may be some exceptions." Probably among the exceptions was the Indian woman who had informed Captain Pike of the intended desertion of her own people, one of whom .was her husband. Or was this because she was not to be taken with them?
Some days previous to this event, Doctor Robinson and a Paw- nee hunter had been sent on in advance, so as not to surprise the Pawnee village, but to prepare them for the visit of the American expedition. On the 22d a Pawnee messenger arrived with the intelligence that the Doctor and several chiefs and a band of war- riors had come out to meet them, but had passed them far to the north. It was afterward learned that the Osage guides with the expedition, fearing an attack from the Pawnees or the Kansas, had purposely led the expedition much too far to the south and west in order to avoid the enemy as long as possible. The mes- senger told Pike that the Tetous (or letans, or Comanches ), had recently killed six of the Kansas and Pawnces and had stolen many of their horses. He also stated that a large body of Span- ish cavalry, numbering several hundreds, had lately been to the Pawnee villages for the purpose of gaining the friendship of that tribe. This was somewhat startling news, and set Captain Pil:c
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to thinking of the consequence should such an army meet his com- paratively small force. There could be no reasonable doubt that the Spaniards had no right thus to invade the probable territory of the United States unless war was already in progress. Of course Pike was aware of the strained relations on the Texas bor- der between the United States and Spain and knew that the boundary had not been established. He realized as a consequence that the invasion of the country by the Spaniards might mean that war had already commenced, and that his own capture might be the result of a meeting between the above-mentioned Spanish force and his own. From this time forward, therefore, he was not without concern at all times regarding what might happen should his little command incet a considerable body of the Span- ish troopers.
As the command continued to advance they met members of the Pawnee tribe-several on the 23d and more on the 24th-all of whom were well mounted and well supplied with Spanish mules, horses, bridles and blankets. Some were clothed in Span- ish garments, while others not so well favored had on nothing except the usual breech cloth ; indeed some had on nothing but a buffalo robe. On the 25th Pike crossed the Spanish trail, and knew from the tracks that there were several hundred of them. Finally, when he arrived within three miles of the Republican Pawnee villages, he was asked to wait until the tribe was ready to receive him fittingly. He was now on the Republican branch of the Kansas river, near the present boundary between Kansas and Nebraska, having just crossed the Great Saline, the Little Saline and Solomon's Fork. All having seated themselves in the open, a large body of Pawnee warriors advanced toward them, all splendidly mounted and armed as if for actual war ; indeed the reception had all the realistic features of an attack. Several hun- dred of them came toward the Americans at full speed, circling out on each side as if to flank the visitors, all brandishing their arms and yelling at the top of their voices. This was a custom- ary ceremony of all the Indian tribes, when wishing to impress visitors with their strength and prowess. In fact they outdid themselves on this occasion, in order to impress the Osages who were present as well as the Americans. Finally, all drew rein, and the chiefs, White Wolf, or Char-ac-ter-ish, and Rich Man, or Is-ka-tap-pe, advanced and extended their hands, after which all mingled in friendship. The pipe of peace was passed and all blew up clouds of smoke, while they were thinking of how to outwit each other.
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Succeeding this event, all were escorted to the Pawnee villages, where the whites were feasted on the best the savages had, which is not making a very strong statement. The whites were plenti- fully supplied with corn, but remained encamped at some distance from the Indians. On September 26, twelve Kansas arrived, and were warmly received by the Pawnees. A big council was called for the 29th, and on that day all the Indians were present, prob- ably because they knew that they were to be given many valuable presents. In reality, the friendship of the Pawnees was one of the principal objects of the expedition, and Pike took extra pre- cautions to impress the savages with the power and good will of the United States. But he encountered an obstacle he had not at first figured on : Namely, the influences of the Spaniards, par- ticularly of their last visit of three or four weeks before. Ile was not without misgivings as to the effect on the four hundred war- riors present of his little force as compared with that of the Spaniards, which numbered nearly four hundred. In the end it transpired that his misgivings were well founded. Having noticed that the Spanish flag was flying over the villages, he inquired why it was permitted in the territory of the United States. He was told that it was because of the recent visit of the Spanish dragoons, the friends of the l'awnees. He asked to have it removed, and dead silence followed. Finally, an old Indian advanced and pulled it down and handed it to Captain Pike, who immediately returned it to him, saying that it was not the act that he condemned, but the outward appearance of hostility to the United States. This act of giving back the Spanish flag was a stroke of excellent policy, which after events fully confirmed; because the Pawnees at once assisted in raising an American flag, and so showed a friendlier attitude. But the act brought sharply to the attention of the observant Pike that the savages might at any moment turn against the Americans ; in fact, it was clear that among the younger savages at least, the large body of Spanish dragoons, with their bright uniforms and glittering arms, was regarded much more highly than his own insignificant force. The act of the Pawnees in rais- ing the flag of the United States greatly pleased the Kansas and the Osage Indians present, because it betokend the friendship of their tribes and those of the Pawnees; and hence would result in the accomplishment of the designs of the expedition.
It soon became apparent to Pike that he had not succeeded in removing the favorable opinion of the savages for the Spanish.
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When, in the course of the council, he intimated his intention of going on west as far as the Spanish country, the Indians were sternly silent and cast down their eyes; and when he reiterated his intentions, he observed that a hostile spirit was manifested in the assembly. In this instance, the usually impassive counte- nances of the savages told only too clearly their thoughts. When the Spanish flag was pulled down, Pike noted that sorrow was plainly manifested on many countenances. He therefore thought quickly of how he might overcome this prejudice in favor of the Spaniards. The occasion was presented when he returned the Spanish flag to the Indians after it had been lowered. Pike merely told the Indians not to raise the Spanish flag during his stay in their village, which request was strictly complied with. His course was fully appreciated by the savages, who raised a great shout of applause. The council was continued several days, and the savages used all the arguments and arts in their power to prevail upon the Americans to go no farther; but as this, of course, could not be accorded, Pike was finally told that the sav- ages would feel called upon to use force to prevent his advance. This finality was reached by the Indians only after all other means had been exhausted by them to induce Captain Pike to return to the states. Char-ac-ter-ish told Pike that the Spanish had proposed to go much farther to the east, but that he had persuaded them not to do so. And now for the same reasons, he would advise the Americans to advance no farther. The chief went to the extent of saying that he had promised the Spanish commander not to permit the Americans to pass beyond his villages.
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