Page:A Brief History of South Dakota.djvu/92

86 and Dr. Benjamin O'Fallon, of St. Louis, were appointed special commissioners to visit all of the Indian tribes on the Missouri River, to secure from them trade and intercourse treaties which would be solely for the advantage of the American merchants. The expedition traveled in a fleet of eight keel boats, which in addition to the usual oars, sails, and cordelles, were equipped each with a set of paddle wheels operated by hand power. They were accompanied by four hundred and seventy-six soldiers, with Colonel Leavenworth in command. They reached the Dakota country early in June, and on the 18th held a great council near Chamberlain with the Yanktons, Yanktonais, and some of the Teton bands, and after a grand military exhibition which greatly impressed the Indians, secured a treaty precisely in the terms desired by the government. They went on to Fort Pierre, where they arrived on the 2d of July, and there met several other bands of Tetons and waited several days for the Oglalas and some of the distant bands to come in.

When the 4th of July arrived, the officers determined to give the Indians the benefit of a genuine Fourth of July celebration, and this is the first recorded celebration of the Fourth within South Dakota. Colonel Leavenworth was made officer of the day, cannon were fired at sunrise, there was a flag raising, and General Atkinson and Dr. O'Fallon delivered orations, which were interpreted to the Indians. Lieutenant W. S. Harney, who thirty years later rendered distinguished service upon that very soil, read the Declaration of Independence, which was duly interpreted to the Sioux. At noon the