John Ordway: August 3, 1804
The two captains held a council with the Oto (Zottous) Indians, appointing six chiefs under American authority and presenting them with medals and gifts. The chiefs received the items gratefully, expressed satisfaction at being free from other powers, gave thoughtful speeches, smoked and drank with the party, then parted on good terms. The trader Joseph Barter, who had fetched the Indians, had left their camp a day earlier and not yet returned. The expedition set out around 3 PM, rounded a large sandbar, and camped on the south side. Mosquitoes were severe. Council Bluff was noted as a promising site for a trading post given the nearby Oto, Pawnee, and Omaha nations.
ing the two Captains held a Counsel With the Zottous Indians
& made 6 Chiefs under the american government, they all Reed
their medel & other presents With Great kindness & thankfulness
they all appeared to be Glad that they had Got freed from all
other powers &. C. they made some verry sensable Speeches
Smoked and drank with us. Shook hands and parted. Jo8
Barter the man who went for those Indians Set out from their
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 105
camp a day before them & has not returned.1 we Set out about
3 oClock P. M. proceeded on Rounpl a large Sand bar & camped
on the S. S. the Musquetoes verry bad. Some place near
Council Bluff is arround the most proper place for a trading
house as their are there three or four nations, the ottas Ponies &
Mahar2 &. C.
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The two Captains held a Council with the Otoe Indians and made 6 Chiefs under the American government. They all received their medals and other presents with great kindness and thankfulness. They all appeared to be glad that they had gotten freed from all other powers, etc. They made some very sensible speeches, smoked and drank with us, shook hands, and parted. Joseph Barter, the man who went for those Indians, set out from their camp a day before them and has not returned.
We set out about 3 o'clock P.M., proceeded on around a large sand bar, and camped on the S. S. The mosquitoes were very bad. Some place near Council Bluff is around the most proper place for a trading house, as there are three or four nations there: the Otoes, Poncas, and Omahas (Mahar), etc.
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