Dear Sir,

                    I received your favor of the 5th ult. a few days ago and I only regret
that I have nothing interesting to communicate in reply to it.  Everything had
moved on in as quiet and monotonous a manner as in your old and sober town. 
About 3 months ago, there was a flare up between some of the Indians, who had
gone from this side of the river, and the white settlers in Wisconsin territory. 

        We had to send an officer, and a detachment of 30 men to capture some of the
Indians and keep the others in order.  This detachment has been since the 1st of
Jany. in temporary occupation of Fort Crawford and so instead of having at least
two companies at this Post, we have had to garrison two posts with one.  This has
made the guard and fatigue duty of the men here rather arduous for they have
cuts and hauled the wood for the garrison.  My audience on the Sabbath has of
course been so much reduced since they left.  Another company of Dragoons has
been ordered to Fort Crawford and I expect our own men will return to this
post in a few days.  While they have been absent there has been one provoking
desertion, a sergeant by the name of Gallmade, who had reentered for a 2nd term
of six or seven years service.  He had borrowed all the money he could from his
comrades, some of $300 and as he was considered trustworthy, he had been left
in charge of a small guard over some captured Indians and entrusted with nearly
 $200 of public money for the officer to whom he was to report; but he decamped
 with the whole.  I am sorry to say he hailed from your state of steady habits and
 was a relative somewhat distant however of the Ex-Senator & Ex-Governor T. 
There will be black sheep etc.  I regret also to say that another of that detachment
 was unhappily killed by the bursting of a fowling piece the breech pin striking
him in the forehead and causing death in two days after the causality.  The
weather here has been very moderate much of the time since I wrote last.  The
 last half of February, and first half of March was as mild as it usually is at the
same season at Washington.  I have seen more snow or rain fall there in a single
day than I have witnessed here since I came.  We have not had a day’s sleighing
 the past winter.  The only thing like a snow storm was on the 22nd ult. and then
 it blew such a gale that it could not remain but anywhere; but might be 3 feet
deep on the lee side of a ridge and bare to windward.  When the weather was
 most severe, for several weeks the ground was entirely bare and cracked open
 in fissures nearly an inch wide at the top.   Was this owning to the frost or the
nature of the soil?  The farmers out here have not seen the like before; the ground
being usually, during the coldest weather for several months in secession, covered
 from 1 to 3 feet deep with snow.  It is feared that the winter wheat is frozen in the
 ground.  If so it will be a hard case for some of the poor farmers out here.  You
spoke of exciting incidents.  We are too much out of the way to have any.  I find
 however that Congress have just passed an appropriation of some thousands to
 defray the expense of a treaty with the Winnebago’s to try and induce them to
 leave the “Neutral Ground” and a delegation of the tribe are to go to see their
great Father at Washington early next month.  And as there are to be several
interpreters and other attendants appointed at $5 a day for the services I presume
some the folks of Sodom and G. are ready to go, and see what of pickings can be
 got out of the appropriation or the treaty if it is concluded.  If it is made & ratified
 the Indians will have to be attended by troops in their removal and this Post may
 be broken up, or transferred to the country where the Indians are to be located
“these buildings would be then sold for a song and from there character and the
healthiness of the site would do well for a high school or small college as the
country was filled up.” What do you think sir of the idea? Professor of Ethics and
Adjunct Professor of Languages in Iowa College would be an imposing title.  I
concur with you in the opinion that 49th parallel would do for our northern
boundary of Oregon without a compromise of anything else.  And I believe there
need not be a war to get it.  Prudence and firmness will secure it to us.  Present
my respects to all the ladies, and others of your household & your pastor. 

                                Yours Respty.,

                                                                                                                    Jared S. Elliott

                         Genl. Ely. A. Elliot