The Col. Henry Dodge expedition of 1835 set out from Fort Leavenworth to council with the Plains tribes along the Platte River valley and those along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Dodge had a squadron of 125 First United States Dragoons at his disposal.

Through the early weeks of June, Dodge held council with Otto, Omaha and Pawnee chiefs, negotiating successfully even with the troublesome Pawnees.

When he marched westward from the village of the Grand Pawnees on June 24, 1835, it was with the assurance that the Pawnees would throw their weapons behind them and make peace with all their neighbors.

The expedition reached Grand Island on June 29. Col. Dodge’s official journal was authored by his adjutant, Lt. Gaines P. Kingsbury, who noted that, “Grand Island is about 60 miles long, and, in many places, two or three miles wide. It is covered with timber, consisting of oak, mulberry and cottonwood, and hides the opposite bank of the river entirely from our view.”

West of Grand Island, the shallow river spread to a width of 1 to 1 1/2 miles wide, flowing rapidly. The line of march led the dragoons over “short and thick” grasslands anchored in soil “principally composed of dry, yellow sand.”

Fifty miles beyond Grand Island, interpreter and guide Capt. John Gantt left the expedition to bring Arikara leaders to council. Gantt, a former soldier, came west in 1830 to trade with the Indians. While in federal service, he had served at several frontier posts. He participated in defeating the Arikara in the 1823 Arikara War, deemed the first Plains Indian war.

Despite his earlier clash with the Arikara, Gantt had formed a respectful relationship with a people described by most as “treacherous.” Gantt was escorted by Arikara chief, The Star. Star had joined the expedition a couple of days before. If anyone could persuade the apprehensive Arikara to council for peace, it was Capt. Gantt with Star at his side.

The expedition reached the confluence of the North and South branches of the Platte River (present-day North Platte, Neb.) on July 3. Dodge wrote in his journal, “From the top of the highest hills we had an extensive view of the country for many miles. In front we saw the two forks of the Platte, gliding gently along through their separate valleys, until they met and mingled with the broad stream itself; beyond this high ridge of hills, forming a dark outline along the horizon, gave a fine background to the picture.” A large circle of buffalo skulls facing inward adorned one of those hills to produce good medicine for bringing the buffalo to this point from every direction for next year’s hunt.

Dodge marched the expedition along the South Platte River for 25 miles, making camp in the vicinity of presentday Superior, Neb. That evening, July 4, 1835, they saw a large herd of buffalo. “The first we have seen.”

The chiefs and principal Arikara warriors arrived during the day of July 5. While many descriptions of the Arikara speak of their dirty, unkempt condition, those descriptions may have been influenced by their treacherous nature. Instead, Lt. Kingsbury recognized them to be the best-looking of the tribes they had yet encountered. Dressed in “a more gay and fantastic manner in buffalo skins, either of a white or yellowish color, and ornamented with different colored beads.” Their shirts were trimmed along the sides and around the neck with long coarse hair dyed in several colors. Their leggings and moccasins were also beautifully embroidered with beads.

War with the United States and with the Sioux had left them “wandering about like the Arabs of the desert,” without a land to call their own. Being a lost tribe of the plains had forced them into a cunning life, “killing and robbing almost everyone they meet.”

In council, Col. Dodge appealed to the Arikara desire for a homeland with an offer to set aside “a small country” for them.

Dodge insisted that they must abandon their treacherous ways.

“It is the wish of your great father that you bury the hatchet of war with your numerous enemies ... You have a choice between good and evil. I hope you will choose the good and avoid the evil. Your fate as a nation depends upon your choice.”

The idea that Indians did not recognize ownership of land is not strictly true. Chief Bloody Hand expressed the misery of being homeless.

“I have always been as if I was dead ... I am traveling all over this country and am cutting the trees of my brothers; I don’t know if they are satisfied or not, but we have no land of our own. I am traveling on their land and killing their buffalo... I am very poor and would like to get a piece of land that I might live with my brothers.”

Two Bulls and Star also spoke with intense gratitude at the prospect of living in peace on land of their own. In the stillness and solitude of nature on the vast extended prairie, Lt. Kingsbury acknowledged the very special moment he was granted to witness.

“The Indians were seated around in a circle, with their pipes in their hands, listening with the most profound attention to every word that was uttered. They appeared like prodigal children returning once more to their father’s home. The whole scene was one of the most grand and impressive I have ever witnessed, and such a one as the pencil of the painter or the imagination of the poet would delight to portray.”

How fortunate to have Lt. Kingsbury’s impressions preserved as witness to a time and culture that once existed, but is no more, on The Way West.

(Next time — On to the Rockies!)

“The Cowboy” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS 67444, (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@ kans.com.