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Show APPENDIX TO PART I. and appeared much di5appointed when I .told hin~ I had no. instructions to that elf ct, he said he had promtsed to chs:over. m:nes, &c. which no person knew but himself, but, as I eoncc1ve hun much of a hypocrite , and possessing great gasconi.sm, I am happy he was not chosen for 111y voyc~ge. They brought w1th them three pero~ues of Indians, who lightened n1y barge and assisted me up th~ Rapids. They expressed great regret at the news of two t~en havmg bce.n killed on the river below t which I believe to be a fact, as I have tt from various channels), and was very appt·ehensive they would be censured by out· goyernment as the author, which fro~n every en· quiry, they conceive not to be the case, and seem to ascribe the murder to the Kick..tpoos, and strongly requested I would hear what they had to say on the subject: this, with an. idea that this ~lace would be a central position for a trading establishment, for the Sac.s, Hey nards, Iowa~ of the de Moyen, the Sioux fr~m the bead of s<ud river and Paunte of the riviere de Roche, has mduced me to halt part of the day to-morrow. I should say mor~ ~·~lative to ~essrs. Ewjn~;s and Houire, only that they propose v1sllmg yo~ with t~e Indians who descend (as I understand by your reque5t) m about ->.0 days, when your penetration will give you le wu.t ensemble o[ tbcll' characters. I have taken the liberty of inclosij1g a letter to \-Irs. Pike to your care. My compliments to lieutenant Wilkinson, and .the tender of my hi~hest respects for your lady, with the best w1shes for your health and prosperity, I am, general, Your obedient servant, (Sibned) z. M. PIKE. G me ral ~Vilkinsorr. [No.2.] Prairie de Cllim, Seftt. s, 1805. f>EAR GENERAL, 1 urrivcd ncre the day b fore yest rday, and found my inter-preter gone i11 th employ of l\11·. Dick~on. I then e~1dcavor~d tQ gain infor\llation rel •• ti ve to crossing the fa Us ; and am1dst the 1gno- APPENDIX TO PART I. 3 ranee of the Canadians, and all the contradiction in the world, I have learned it is impossible to carry my lat·ge barge round the shoot, I have therefore hired two S chenectady barges, in which I shall embark the day after to-morrow, with some expectation and hope of seeing the head of the Mississippi and the town of Saint Louis yet this winter. I have chosen three places fot· military establishments; the first on a hill about 4·0 miles aborc the river <le Moyen rapids, on the vV. side of the rivet·, in about 4· l 0 2 ' N. latitude. The channel of the rivet· runs on that shore; the hill in fron t is auout GO feet perpendicular, nearly level on the top. 400 yards in the rear i~ a small prai rie fit for gardening, and over on the E. side of the river you have an elegant view on an immense pt·airie, as far as the eye can extend, now allCl then interrupted by clumps of trees, and to crown nil, immediutely under the hill is a limestone spring-, sufficient for the consumption of a regiment. The landing is good and holcl, and at the point of the hill a road could be made fot· a wagg-on in half a day. This place I conceive to be the best to answer the general's instructions relative to the in termediate post between Prairie de Chien and St. Louis; but if its being on the \V. bank is a m~ttet·ial objection, about 30 miles above the second Sac village at the third yellow bank on the E. side, is a commanding place, on a prair·ie, and most elegantly situated, but is scarce of timber, and no water but th at of the Mississippi. \Vhcn thinking on the post to be established at the ( >uiscousing-, I did not look at the general's instructions. I thet·elore piched on a spot on the top of the hill on the \Y. side of the Missis-sippi, which is feet l1i g-h, level on the top, and completely cornmands both rivers, the l\1i%issippi being only one half mile wide and the Ouiscou · in ~ about 900 prds ''hen ft.rll. 'J here is plenty of timlJer in the rea t·, and n -tpring at no great dtstance on the hill. If this position is to have in view the annoy· ance of any I·:uropean power who might ue inclucccl to attack it with cannon, it hus infinitely the preference to a position called the P ttit Gri~; on the Oui-;cousing, which 1 visited and m arl~ed the next day 'l:his latter position i-; three mites up the Ouiscoming on a p1·airie hill, on the \V. side, whcrr we should be obli g-ed to get our timber f.r om the other side of the river, and 0\.11" water out of it·' there is !Ikc~visc a small channel which runs on the opposite side, navigable ln lugh water, which could not be commanded by the guns of the fot·t, and a hill about three quarters of a mile, in the rear from which it could be cannonaded. These two positions l have mar·ked llv blazing trrrc:, &c. A Mr. Fi!;bcr of thi'l place, will direct ::uw |
