Lemuel Ford, the 1835 Dodge Expedition and Bent’s Old Fort:
from:
March of the First Dragoons to the Rocky Mountains in 1835, The Diaries and Maps of Lemuel Ford: A
Biography of Ford, with a History of the Dragoons, the Expedition, and a Map of the Route.
By Nolie Mumey
Denver: The Eames Brothers Press, 1957.
pp. 37-38:
The mission of the Dragoons was to effect treaties with the Indians and investigate conditions
along the Mexican border, which at that time was the Arkansas River. The force consisted of three companies
of Dragoons, comprising one hundred and twenty men, under the following officers: Captain Lemuel Ford,
Company G; Captain Matthew Duncan, Company C; First Lieutenant Lancaster P. Lupton, Company A; Second
Lieutenant Gaines P. Kingsbury, Acting Adjutant; Second Lieutenant Burdett A. Terrett, Commissary of
Subsistence; Second Lieutenant Enoch Steen, Ordnance Officer; and Assistant Surgeon Benjamin F. Fellowes.
Captain John Gantt, an old Indian trader who was the first hunter to make friends with the Arapahoe Indians,
served as a guide. Benjamin O’Fallon, of Fort Atkinson and St. Louis, known as “Big Fallon,” a mountain man
who had lived over the entire West, accompanied the expedition as an Indian trader, along with a man by the
name of winter [C. F. Winter or William H. Winter]. Several Delawre Indians were attached as hunters. Major
Dougherty, Indian Agent, was to accompany the expedition as far as the Pawnee Village. ...
p. 40:
... The march continued southward along Fountain Creek to its junction with the Arkansas River at the
present site of Pueblo, Colorado.
At this point, the expedition turned eastward, following the Arkansas River, and reaching Bent’s Old Fort
on August 4, 1835, where Colonel Dodge met in council with a large assembly of Cheyenne and Arapahoe
Indians. The Gros Ventre and Blackfeet were represented. ...
p. 73-:
DAY-BY-DAY DIARY
th
Tuesday August 4 35
March S 70 di East about 15 Miles over a flat mudy Bottom mus very tuff & Stickey & clogs around horses
hoofs. had Severe Storm last night Thunder lightning wind & rain encamped on Arkansas Bank.
Wednesday 5
th
August 1835
Marched N 80 East about 15 Miles down the river Arkansas and encamped upon the Bank We discovered
on the opposite side Indians & we hoisted a white Flag & they after Some little parlying the [they] came across
to the Flag with a rush or in a gallop They were Schians twelve in number They were on a war party armed with
Boughs [Bows] & arrows & Spears They remained a Short time & recrossed the river These Indians have a ware
looking appearance mounted. This eving we Saw & killed the only Buffalowe we have seen since we left the
Waters of the Platt
Thursday August 6
th
1835
Marched N 75 East about 20 Miles to Bents Fort a trading house on the Arkansas river here we found one of the
Bents & a Mr S [St. Vrain] Traders with a considerable establishment of goods These were the first White men
we found living in the Indian Country in a March of One Thousand Miles They appear to be much of gentlemen
Col Dodge with his officers were met by them in a very friendly manner & invited to dine with them They are
forted in with a wall made of Clay & appear to be doing a good business with The Indians The Chian Rapahowes
& Grovonts with the Chamanchies trade with them to considerable amount in the course of a year They are
loading fifteen yagons [wagons] principally of Buffalowe Robes for Independence Missouri They Buy those
Robes for about 25 cents worth of goods & sell them at Saint Louis for five & six dollars We encampted below
the Fort about one mile on the Bank of the Arkansas river.
Friday August 7
th
1835
Command remained in camp to day awaiting the arrival of Capt Gant who was sent out five days since for the
Rapahowes Indians The officers dined with Mr. Bent Stvrain called (Savra) where we had a good dinner. here I
saw a white pet Bare confined with a chain
Saturday August 8
th
1835
Command remained in camp fine Clear pleasant Weather for time of year not like it was at Fort Gibson this
time last year
Sunday August 9
th
1835
Command Marched about half a mile down river nearly for a fresh camp & grazing which is of great importance
for men and horses
Monday August 10
th
35
Command remained at same camp Capt Gant arrived with a few Indians of the Rapahowes Chians Black Feet &
Grovonts not more than 12 The command had marched so much further than Capt Gant had told the Indians
that they became dishartened & went back. Our horses took the Stampede ran several mile but we recovered
them all.
Tuesday August 11
th
1835
Remained in same camp Col Dodge & officers Capt Ford Dunkin Liuts Lupton Terret Kingsbury (Liut Steen officer
of the Day) met in Council at Bent’s Fort With the Chief & principal men of the Chians Rapahowes Frovonts of
the Pararie a few of the Black Feet & Pawneys the Pawneys & Shians weere enemies They have now agreed to
be friends The Pawney spoke to them very Independantly Said they had made friends before but so soon as the
Schians could find it convenent they stole their horses & Killed one of their men & had never visited them at
their viliage but the White people had insisted on their not retaliating & he believed the White people were
their friends & he the Pawney wished to do as the white people told him & would try them again, That the road
was now opened by Col Dodge for them to come & see them & he would pledge himself that they Should not be
killed or ill treated nor their horses Stollen Some Presents were then made & the Col enstalled three chiefs
which were selected in the Schian nation. They had murdered their only Chief about one year ago.
Wednesday August 12
th
35
Command Struck their tents & took up the line of March for Fort Levenworth about 1 oclock at the Sounding of
Recall a genl Shout or Whoop pervaded & surrounded the camp for Joy at the Signal for Marching home
appeared to be simultaneous with all in as much as our Business with the Indians for this trip appeared to be
compleated we marched nearly East about 12 Miles & encampted on the Bank of the Arkansas river