Conservative.
low whore the state line of Missouri ( as
lately run by the state commissioners )
strikes the Missouri rivor. Accompany
ing this report , is a sketch of the coun
try opposite to Table creek and of the
state line , for a few miles before reach
ing the Missouri river.
If this site is approved of by the secre
tary of war , the undersigned recom
mend , that a reserve for military pur
poses be made of the laud , in the state
opposite to it , and as marked by dotted
lines on the map.
The undersigned , from a careful ex
amination of the country , are prepared
to state , that there is no place , on the
Missouri river , between the mouth oi
Platte and Table creek , that will answer
for a military post , except the one which
they recommend ; they are strongly in
favor of the post being below the Platte
for many reasons ; amongst which may
be mentioned , that troops from such s
point being nearer , can more readily af
ford protection , when needed , to the
frontier inhabitants of the state ; thai
the Pawnees of the Platte , the most war
like and powerful nation in that section ,
can much more easily bo reached by c
route below , than by one above thai
river ; and that as with the exception oi
about fifty miles next to Wisconsin ter
ritory , there is a moss of Indians settled
along the whole of the northern and
western boundary of the state of Mis
souri ; this site which has been selected
being by laud about 120 miles from Forl
Leavemvorth , is , at least , sufficiently
remote.
In fulfillment of part of the duty Ac-
volved upon the undersigned , they have
most respectfully but strongly to urge ,
for the more effectual protection of this
portion of the frontier country , that the
post of Fort Leavemvorth be strength
ened as early as practicable , to the ex
tent at least , of what was , last summei
contemplated by the present secretary oi
war , so as to include six companies oi
dragoons and four of infantry ; and they
consider four companies of dragoons and
four of infantry an amply sufficient garrison
risen for Table creek.
The undersigned examined the coun
try above the Platte , as far as Bellevue ,
a distance of about ten miles , and were
pleased with a site one-half a mile be
low that place.
Near Mr. Fonfou's house ( an Indian
trader ) is a table land , about 400 yards
from the river , which possesses many
requisites for a military post.
The undersigned cannot omit this op
portunity of most strongly urging upon
the honorable secretary of war , the im
mediate making of the military road ,
from Fort Leavemvorth to at least the
top of the hill south of the Kansas river ,
as marked out by the survey of last fall ,
a distance of about twenty-four miles ;
their duties have frequently led them
over that route , and they have invari
ably found it worse than any other part
of the frontier , and at times , when de-
siring to bo expeditious , they have found
it almost impassable. With much re
spect , Your most Obedt. Servts. ,
( Signed ) S. W. KEARNEY ,
Col. First dragoons Comsr.
NATHAN BOONE ,
Captain First Dragoons.
Major T. Cross ,
A. Qr. Mr. Gonl. , U. S. Army ,
Washington , D. C.
8.
Adjutant General's Office , )
WASHINGTON , D. O. , March 6 , 1846. }
Special Orders , No. 17 :
2. A now military post will be es
tablished on the Missouri river , near the
mouth of Table creek , as soon as the
season for operations will permit. The
site will bo selected by Colonel Kearney ,
of the First dragoons.
By command of Major General Scott.
R. JONES , Adjt. Genl.
4.
A. G. O. , WASHINGTON , March 0 , 1846.
General : The secretary of war hav
ing decided to establish a now post on
the Missouri river , near the mouth of
Table creek , I respectfully enclose here
with "Special Orders" No. 17 , directing
the same , with my letter of instructions
of this date to Colonel Kearney , First
dragoons , on whom it devolves to make
the selection of the site , and to give the
necessary instructions for establishing
the post.
Colonel Kearney will confer with you
on the subject , and as the work is to be
built mainly by the troops , it may be
necessary to order a company to the
Little Platte as early as the season will
permit.
This company should bo drawn from
Fort Leavonworth.
I am , Sir , &c. ,
R. JONES ,
Adjutant-General.
Brigadier-General G. M. Brooke ,
Commanding Third Department ,
St. Louis , Mo.
5.
A. G. O. , WASHINGTON , March 6 , 1846.
Colonel : You will see by "Special
Orders" No. 17 , of this date , herewith
sent , the selection of the site of the now
post to be established on the Missouri
river , near the mouth of Table creek ,
devolves on youwhich duty the general-
in-chief directs you will outer upon
without unnecessary delay. From your
intimate knowledge of the country , and
approximate stations , when with the
headquarters of your regiment , the gon-
eral-in-chief deems it to
- - proper charge
you with the instructions necessary for
the immediate establishment of the post ,
the character and description of the pro
per defences , quarters , barracks , &c. ,
and it is left for you to determine , on
consulting with Brevet Brigadier-Gen
eral Brooke , whether the garrison shall
consist of dragoons or infantry , or of
one , or two companies.
The quarters and defences , with respect -
spect to quality and durability , must de
pend in some degree upon the length of
time it may bo necessary to maintain
this now position ; and from your per
sonal acqiiaintanco with our Indian re
lations in that quarter , &c. , your opin
ion will have considerable weight in de
termining whether the work should bo
regarded as temporary , or one of a more
permanent character.
It is expected that the greatest econ
omy will bo observed in procuring the
materials for the new work , as well as
in its construction , which , as far as prac
ticable , will be accomplished by the la
bor of the troops.
The quartermaster's department , will ,
on proper requisitions furnish the neces
sary materials , tools , etc.
You will see that a sufficient area bo
reserved arounel the post for all military
purposes , and a sufficient quantity of
land be laid aside to supply fuel for the
garrison.
You will please to confer with Brig
adier-General Brooke , the commander
of the department , upon the subject of
your instructions , before your depar
ture from St. Louis.
I am , Sir , &c. ,
R. JONES ,
Adjutant-General.
Colonel S. W. Kearney ,
First dragoons ,
St. Louis , Mo.
6.
Headquarters First Regt. dragoons , )
ST. Louis , Mo. , March 16 , 1846. {
Sir : I have this day received yours
of the 6th instant , enclosing Special
Order No. 17 , of that date , the second
paragraph of which directs the estab
lishment of a new military post on the
Missouri river , near the mouth of
Table creek the site to be selected by
myself the letter enters upon the de
tail of it.
In September , 1886 , Captain Boone
and myself were , by instructions from
the war department , appointed commis
sioners to carry out the objects of the
law of July 2 , 1886 , and on April 25 ,
1888 , after having made a recouuaisauco
of the country near the mouth of the
Nebraska or Platte river , we reported
to the acting quartermaster-general ( as
then instructed ) in favor of establishing
a military post near the mouth of Table
creek my opinion of the advantages of
that site remains unchanged. I enclose
herewith a copy of that report.
In your letter to mo you state , "It is
left for you ( me ) to determine , on con
sulting with Brigadier-General Brooke ,
whether the garrison shall consist of
dragoons or infantry , or of one or two
companies ; " and in reference to this I
would remark that as the post is to be
established near the northwest corner of
the state of Missouri in the Otoo coun-
