Lewis and Clark note the site of the Kansa village and French fort. The former stood in a valley between two high elevations, and the latter was on another elevation a mile in the rear. They found few traces of the village, but there remained the general outline of the fortifications and some ruins of chimneys. It was near this spot that Fort Leavenworth was established, in 1827. See Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, note 37.--ED. [143] For the early history of the Kansa, see Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, note 37.--ED. [144] White Plume became the chief of the tribe, and some fifteen years later was still in power. Catlin, in _North American Indians_ (London, 1866), ii, p. 23, described him as urbane and hospitable, and of portly build.--ED. [145] The surprise of the Indians will hardly be cause for wonder, after reading the following description of the "Western Engineer," which appeared in the St. Louis _Enquirer_, June 19, 1819, ten days after the expedition arrived at that place: "The bow of the vessel exhibits the form of a huge serpent, black and scaly, rising out of the water from under the boat, his head as high as the deck, darted forward, his mouth open, vomiting smoke, and apparently carrying the boat on his back. From under the boat, at its stern issues a stream of foaming water, dashing violently along. All the machinery is hid. . . . The boat is ascending the rapid stream at the rate of three miles an hour. Neither wind nor human hands are seen to help her; and to the eye of ignorance the illusion is complete, that a monster of the deep carries her on his back smoking with fatigue, and lashing the waves with violent exertion." A resident of Franklin, Missouri, thus described the boat and the impression it made upon the savages: "In place of a bowsprit, she has carved a great serpent, and as the steam escapes out of its mouth, it runs out a long tongue, to the perfect horror of all Indians that see her. They say, 'White man bad man, keep a great spirit chained and build fire under it to make it work a boat.'"--ED. [146] Willoughby Morgan, a Virginian, served during the War of 1812-15 as captain and major of infantry. In 1815 he was retained in the rifle regiment as captain, with brevet of major, becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1818. In 1821 he was transferred to the infantry; he became colonel of the 1st Infantry in 1830, and died in 1832. "Lieutenant Fields" is probably Gabriel Field, whose army record is given as follows in the registers: "Born in ——. Appointed from Mo. 2nd Lieut. Rifles, 24 May, 1817; 1st Lieut., 15 April, 1818; transferred to 6th Infantry, 1 June, 1821; resigned 16 April, 1823."--ED.