Andrew Talcott entered West Point in 1815, from Connecticut, and on graduation (1818), was promoted into the army with the brevet rank of second-lieutenant in the corps of engineers. He resigned his commission in 1836, being then captain, and was engaged until 1860 chiefly on railroad and mining enterprises; he was a member of the Northwest Boundary Commission (1840-43). He died in 1883, aged eighty-six.—Ed.
[39] Meaning "The Thief."—Ed.
[40] Shell Creek is a tributary of the Platte, flowing from the northwest across Platte and Colfax counties.—Ed.
[41] The Arikara; see Bradbury's Travels, in our volume v, note 83.—Ed.
[42] Beaver Creek is a northern tributary of Loup River, which it joins in Nance County.—Ed.
[43] Willow (now Cedar) Creek rises in Garfield County and flows southeast to the Loup; Fullerton, seat of Nance County, is at its mouth. Willows grew on its banks and cedars on the bluffs a little farther from the water; hence both names were applied by the Pawnee.—Ed.
[44] I gladly avail myself of the opportunity of noticing the many attentions which we received from this gentleman. At this time particularly, he rendered us essential services, in which he appeared to take much pleasure.—James.
Comment by Ed. Laforce Pappan (Papin, Papan) was probably the grandson of Joseph Pappan, a Canadian fur-trader who came to St. Louis about 1770, and was for many years a trader among the Pawnee. He died of cholera (1848) while on his way to St. Louis. Emily, his daughter by a Pawnee woman, married Henry, son of Lucien Fontenelle (see preceding volume, note 196).
[45] The Sharitarish of Pike, whom he calls Characterish, was chief of the Republican Pawnee, whom he visited in September, 1806. He also mentions Ishcatappa (Iskatappe). See Coues, Expeditions of Zebulon M. Pike, ii, p. 409. The portrait of the younger Sharitarish is given in McKenney, Indian Tribes of North America (Philadelphia, 1854), i, p. 33. He succeeded Tarrarecawaho as grand chief, but died soon afterwards, aged about thirty.—Ed.
[46] The hauteur here ascribed to Tarrarecawaho is in keeping with the story that he refused an invitation to visit Washington, esteeming the Pawnee the greatest people in the world, and thinking such a visit involved condescension. He sent Sharitarish in his stead.