Respected Brother
with congratulation and a heart overflowed with joy to think that I can write to you from a place incompassed within the bounds of civilation I arrived at this place about a week since after a long and fatiguing journey of about seventy days after which my mind has become more tranquil. Directly after my arrival at this place I hastened to see genl Ashly to receive some tidings from you but to my sad disappointment, there was none this was rather a strange circumstance as I had wrote to you last July was a year also to Dr Lukens at the same time At that time I received yours & his letters of the 23rd & 24th of January 1827 both much interesting and very entertaining in my leisure moments since my arrival for the want of language I am scarcely able to converse with any one of talents which occasion verry disagreeable feelings.
now to affairs more interesting My adventures and escapes for the last year in the mountains far exceede all the remainder part of my stay in the mountains as I had risked every thing to make or die in the attempt in this fortune froune though preservation smiled through the Indians on one part and the hard winter of the other has been my sad ruin and have lost not less than one thousand dollars the first snow fell on the third of September when it snowed for three days without intermission the snow remained on the ground upwards of knee deep and I think must have felt fully waist deep this had not the least effect on any kind of vegetation as it appears addapted to the climate the winter remained gentle untill the first of December when the power vengence was poured out on us the N. E. winds and more particularly South accompanied with a continued snow untill the first of march when it somewhat abated the snow remained upwards of four feet deep on the level the sweet lake was bridged over on the 8 of may for twenty days in succession the great spirrit the sun refused to visit us the like has been known by the oldest livers which I suppose is not less than one hundred or upwards the horses which the winter did not destroy the early vissits of the Blackfeet swept away with from twelve to fifteen scalps of our hunters A party of about one hundred Black feet mounted attacted thrty odd of our hunters with their familys this engagement lasted for upwards of three hours when a couple of our men mounted two of their swiftest horses dashed through the ranks of the horrid tribe where the balls flew like hail and arrived with express at our camp in less than one hour A distance of more than sixteen miles in this we had one man killed & two wounded one child lost. that of the enemy six or eight killed and wounded I shall now discontinue any further particulars as it is growing late In a few days I shall leave this place in steam boat for New Orleans where I shall remain during the winter and spring if successful any thing like to my expectations I shall return but you may rest assured if I am by no means successful you may dispense of ever seeing me there, though contentment I possess not West of the Alleghany I find this place somewhat sickly though for my part never enjoyed better health my weight is one hundred and eight nine pounds five pounds more than ever before I have A small capital which I flatter myself will do pretty good bussiness I shall furthermore dispense of giving you so minute particulars and beg leave to be excused for the past though I feel somewhat delicate in writing lean it should not be exceptable if not Remember my best respects to all my friends particularly your wife, who from the little acquaintance I respects on the highest terms
Remain your most affectionat Brother
Direct your letters to New Orleans where I shall remain until New
years wheras it is necessary for you to write in haste previous to
leaving that place I shall inform you where I go and my business
Since writing this letter I have received your and Weirs letters
which alters the case amazing those letters wher mislaid. To
morrow I embark