VJnW> atnia I'C'* THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE GUT OF John & Mary Prescott THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA: EAELIEST FRENCH EXPLORATIONS PRESENT TIME. BY EDWARD DUFFIELD NEILL, SECnr.TARY OF THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. " NEC FALSA DICERE, NEC VEKA KETICEKE." PIIILADELPniA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT k CO, 1858. A 1-^9 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year ]858, by ED\YARD DUFFIELD NEILL, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MEARS ft BTJSENBERT, STERECTTPERS. TO ANNA EARL RAMSEY, MY WIFE'S FRIEND, THE NAME OF WHOSE HUSBAND, AS IHE |irst §0lj£rn,or, MUST ALWAYS BE IDENTIFIED WITH THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA, f bis SSlorh IS INSCRIBED. PEEFACE. Nine years ago, the writer "wished to obtain some information in relation to Minnesota, but could find no reliable history. Even the devout astronomer and geologist, Nicollet, was misled by the fable of Baron La Hontan, more wonderful than any Munchausen story, and inclined to the belief that the Long river, on which that writer said he travelled in a canoe in winter, was really a stream of Minnesota. The most costly Atlas ever j^ublished in America, which adorns libraries and is a work of reference used by our public men, in the description of this portion of the Union, is full of errors. As the historian of a government exploring expedi- tion, informed the world, that " with the most active vigilance, it was impossible to subsist upon the grain" raised in the vicinity of Chicago, so the editor of the geographical descrip- tions accompanying the work to which we have alluded, with the same incorrectness, states that the summers of Minnesota arc too brief for agricultural success. The design of this History, is first, to show where Minnesota is, its characteristics and adaptations for a dense and robust (5) vi PREFACE. population, and then consider the past and present dwellers on the soil. In addition to the knowledge obtained from a residence of many years, during the houi-s not occupied by professional duties, the works of Charlevoix, La Harpe, Hennepin, the Jesuit Relations, French Official Documents, and the atlases of De risle, Robert, Buache, Vaugondy, Moll, and others, besides separate charts, have been examined. The result is presented in the following pages. Much assistance has been derived from the Documents per- taining to the Colonial History of New York, the Documentary History of Wisconsin, and kindred works. For information concerning the aborigines of Minnesota, I am indebted to frequent conversations with the Reverend Messrs. Pond, Riggs, and Williamson, whose years of toil for the welfare of the Dahkotah Nation, need no comment. It has been necessary in many places to sift the statements of mere tourists and letter-writers, but the endeavour has been always to bear in mind the essential of the historian, neither to state false things nor suppress the truth ; " Nee falsa dicere, nee vera reticere." CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY. Physical characteristics, Pag e xxvii Minnesota well watered. XXXV Boundaries of the state, xxvii Cascades of Pigeon river, xxxvi Climate of Minnesota, xxviii Falls of Kettle river, . xxxvi Eulogy on climate by Maury, xxviii Vermillion Falls, xxxvi Report of Minnesota and Minne-ha-ha, xxxvii Pacific Railroad, . sxix Falls of St. Anthony, xxxviii Temperature of Minnesota, xxix Early French maps, . xli Table illustrative of tempe- De risle's maps, xlii rature, .... sxx Jefi"cry's map, 1762, . xliii Annual temperature equal Pronunciation of certain to Central New York, , xxxi Indian names, xliv Table showing mean fall o Census of Minnesota, 1857 xlv rain and melted snow at Rev. Albert Barnes' de various places, xxxii scription of Minnesota Less snow than on the At- scenery, . xlvi lantic border. xxxiii Meaning of the word Min Table showing mean force nesota, . xlvii of wind in winter for se- Dahkotah used in place o f veral years, . xxxiv Sioux, . xlvii CHAPTER I. Dahkotahs, a distinct group. Language difficult, . Mille Lac region, . Dahkotah, its signification. Origin of term Sioux, Divisions of the Dahkotahs, M'dewakantonwans, . 49 Yanktons, .... 52 . 49 Tectwawns, .... 52 . 50 Assineboines, 52 . 50 Revolt of the Assineboines, . 53 . 51 Religious characteristics, 54 . 51 No idea of a Supreme Being, . 54 . 52 Oauktayhee, .... (7) 55 viii CONTENTS. Ilayokah, 56 Poem on Thunder Bird, . . 59 Takushkankan, 57 Sun -worship, . . 60 Wahkeenyan, 58 Offerings to stones, . 60 Thunder Nest, . 58 CHAPTER II. Dahkotahs priestridden, . 01 Sacred men, . .61 Sacred or medicine dance. 62 Initiation as a sacred man. 62 Ceremonies, . 63 Sacred song, . 64 Medicine sack, 64 Dahkotah doctors, . 65 Vapour bath, , 65 Hennepin steamed, 65 Medicine man, signification, 66 Cause of disease, . 66 Manner of calling a doctor. 67 Mode of medical practice. 67 Fondness for war, . . 68 Vows of a young warrior. 68 The return of a war party, 69 Scalp, its preparation. . 69 Scalp dance, . . 69 Feathers, signs of prowess. . 69 Maternal affection, . Lament over an infant, . Mode of obtaining wives. Custom of son-in-law. Penalty for adultery, The woodpecker charm, . Love of dress. Games, plum stones, Ball play, Ball play at Oak Grove, Dog dance. Fish dance. Cormorant dance, . Secret clubs, . Crow Feather in Cap Club, Strong Heart Club, Uncleanness, . Dog meat, a delicacy. Irregular mode of life, . CHAPTER IIL Dahkotah women, . 82 Hardships of women. 82 Husbands cruel. 83 Disposition to be suicides. 84 Disguised girl, 84 Chiefs, no authority. 85 Absence of law. 85 Names of months, . 86 Moon eaten by mice, 87 Looking-glass, 87 Peculiar views. 87 Belief in relation to future. 87 Burial ceremonies, . 88 Death song, . 89 Schiller's poem. Translations of Bulwer and Herschell, . Legends, Eagle-Eye and Scarlet Dove, Anpetusapa, . Weenonah, Hogan-wanke-kin, St. Croi: River, Language of Dahkotahs, Hennepin collecting a vocabu lary Riggs's Lexicon, Dahkotah Alphabet, CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. Source of St. Lawrence iu Min- nesota, .... 99 Cartier discovers the mouth, . 99 Champlain in Huron country, 99 Nicolet, in Wisconsin, . . 100 Le Jeune's mention of Dahko- tahs, 101 Jogues and Raymbault at Sault St. Marie, . . . .101 Traders west of Lake Superior, 102 Garreau and Dreuilletes, . 102 Puritan Eliot, . . .102 Two traders visit Dahkotahs, . 103 Their description, . . . 103 Grosellier, . . . .103 Murder of Garreau, . . 104 Ren6 Menard, . . . 104 His farewell letter, . . 104 Arrival in Lake Superior, . 105 Ilurons at La Pointe, . 106 Guerin, Menai-d's companion, 106 Menard lost, . . . .107 AUouez succeeds Menard, . 107 Arrives at La Pointe, . . 108 Grand Council, . . .108 Allouez meets Dahkotahs, . 109 First mention of the " Mes- sipi," .... 110 Description of Dahkotahs, . 110 Marquette succeeds Allouez, . Ill His opinion of the Dahkotahs, 111 Number of Dahkotah villages, 112 La Pointe Mission abandoned, 113 Dahkotahs killed at Sault St. Marie, . . . .113 Ojibways intermarry with Dah- kotahs, .... 113 CHAPTER V. Fur trade, .... 115 Fascination of the business . 115 Licenses granted to old oflBcers, 115 Clerks 115 Voyageurs, .... 116 Careless and hardy class. 116 Fondness for the frontier. 117 Complaints against coureurs des bois, .... 117 Meaning of the expression, . 117 Number of annual licenses, . 118 Profits of the trade, 119 Nicholas Pcrrot, 119 Perrot a Canadian, Visits tribes of Lake Michigan Council at Sault St. Marie, French take possession of North-west, Trading post at head of Lake Superior, ... Du Luth visits Minnesota, Intcndant of Canada dis pleased, Mille Lac called Lake Buade Per rot's account attracts La Salle, .... 119 120 120 121 121 122 122 122 123 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. La Salle at Kingston, 124 Ridicule of the Indians, . 133 Louis Hennepin, 124 First infant baptism in Minne- His early life. 124 nesota, .... 134 Not a Jesuit, .... 125 Arrival of distant Indians, 134 Embarks for Canada, 125 Hope of a Northern Pacific route, 135 At the Falls of Niagara, 126 Hennepin's falsehoods, . 135 A-'isits Albany, 126 List of editions of his travels, 136 La Salle launches the Griffin, . 127 Calliere's opinion of Hennepin, 137 He builds Fort Crevecoeur, 127 Louis XIV. orders his arrest, . 137 Sends Hennepin to Upper 3Iis- Hennepin in Italy, 137 sissippi, .... 127 DuLuth, discoverer of Mille Lac, 138 Hennepin seized by the Dahko- Du Luth in France, 138 tahs, 128 Du Luth at Mackinavr, . 138 Indians astonished at prayer- Perrot near the mouth of Wis- book, 129 consin, .... 138 First mention of a Dahkotah Droll strategy of Dahkotahs, . 139 ■word, 129 Miamies bring lead. 1.39 Hennepin at Lake Pepin, 130 Du Luth and Perrot obtain Old mode of kindling fire, 130 allies for Iroquois war, 139 Indians land near St. Paul, . 131 Louis XIV. censures Du Luth 140 Journey to Mille Lac, 131 Du Luth at a post above De- Hennepin's robe, . 131 troit, 140 Sweating cabin. 132 Du Luth and Tonty at Detroit, 141 Astonishment at mariner's Du Luth captures Englishmen, 141 compass, .... 132 Du Luth in New York, . 141 The mystery of an iron pot, . 132 Afflicted with gout, 142 Amazement at writing, . 133 Notice of his death. 142 CHAPTER VIL Formal occupation of Minne- sota First official document, . Boisguillot at the "Wisconsin, Mantantons, .... First French post in Minnesota, Frontenac's opposition to Je- suits, Perrot visits Montreal, . Grand feast of Frontenac, Frontenac sings the war song, 147 143 Long-expected furs. 147 143 Le Sueur at La Pointe, . 148 144 Second post in Minnesota, 148 144 First Dahkotah in Montreal, . 143 145 Ojibway chief from La Pointe, 148 His speech, .... 149 145 Dahkotah's speech. 149 146 Dahkotah woman in Montreal, 150 146 Dahkotah chief dies, 151 CONTENTS. Le Sueur goes to France, . 151 Perrot about to be burned, . 151 Le Sueur's mining project, . 152 Louis XIV. revokes his license, 153 Le Sueur's second visit to France, .... 153 CHAPTER VIIL D'lberville Governor of Loui- siana, 154 Relative of Le Sueur, . 154 Le Sueur arrives with miners, 154 Ascends the Mississippi, 154 Marest's letter to Le Sueur, 154 Le Sueur meets Dahkotah war- riors, .... 155 At the mines near Galena, 155 Canadians attacked by Wis cousin Indians, . 156 Le Sueur at mouth of Wiscon sin, 156 War party returning from L Minnesota, . 157 Le Sueur at Chippeway river 158 Lake Pepin, . 159 Cannon river. . 159 La Place, a deserter, killed bj Dahkotahs, 160 Denis, Canadian voyageur. . 160 St. Croix river named after a Frenchman, 161 River St. Pierre entered, 161 Blue Earth river, . . 162 Post established. . 162 Dahkotahs desire a post neai Mendota, 162 Dahkotahs described, 163 Fort L'lluillicr finished, 164 Dahkotahs sue for favour, Canoes filled with blue earth, Mautantons visit the post, M'dewakantons at Mille Lac, Assineboines, loways and Ottoes moving west, .... Dahkotahs mourn the death o Tioscat§, Le Sueur makes presents, Cultivation of the earth pro- posed, Mantantons give a feast, M'dewakantons at the post, Catalogue of Dahkotah vil lages, Le Sueur returns to Gulf of Mexico, Acccorapanies D'Iberville to France, ... D'Iberville's manuscript, State of the tribes, Census of Indians, Mississip pi valley, Frenchmen should not follow Indians, Canada and Louisiana govern ments. Workmen leave Mahkahto, Le Sueur's death, . 164 165 165 165 166 166 167 168 168 168 169 170 171 171 171 172 173 173 174 175 175 CHAPTER IX. Westward tendency of Dahko- talis, ..... Sauk and Fox hostility to French, .... 176 176 Sauks and Foxes defeated by Dahkotahs and luways, . 176 Language of the Foxes, not Algonquin, . . . 176 CONTENTS. Foxes attack Detroit, . . 177 Their repulse, . . . 177 Defeat near Lake St. Clair, . 178 Louvigny invades the Fox country, .... 178 Foxes break their treaty, . 179 Licenses to traders renewed, . 179 Prediction of English mastery, 179 Captain St. Pierre sent to La Pointe, . . . .180 De Lignery concludes peace with Foxes, . . .180 Peace between Ojibways and Dahkotahs, . . . .181 La Pointe Ojibways at Mon- treal, 181 Foxes again faithless, . . 182 Lake Pepin re-occupied by French 183 Importance of the post urged, 184 DeLignery's expedition against Foxes, . . . .185 Foxes leave their country, . 186 Father Guignae captured. Returns to Lake Pepin, . EstaVjlishment at Lake Ouini- pigon, . . Veranderie discovers Lake Winnipeg, . . . . Alleged pillars of stone, Alton's letter on stone heaps, Stone heaps near Pied Wing, . Dahkotahs attack Veranderie, Extermination of Foxes deter- mined, , . . . Moran, captain of the expedi- tion, . . . . . Moran's strategy, . Final defeat of the Foxes, De Lusignan visits Dahkotahs, Coureurs des bois refuse to re- turn, .... Trading-post burned, St. Pierre at Mackinaw, His character, Escape of Indian prisoners, 186 186 186 187 187 187 188 189 189 189 190 190 191 191 191 191 191 192 CHAPTER X. Canada and English colonies at war, .... 193 French enlist savages, . . 193 Le Due robbed at Lake Supe- rior, 194 La Ronde, officer at La Pointe, 194 Veranderie at Fond du Lac, . 194 Marin at Green Bay, . . 194 List of Upper Indian allies, . 194 St. Pierre in the state of Penn- sylvania, .... 195 Beaujeu and De Lignery at Fort Duquesne, . . . 195 Beaujeu killed while attack- ing Braddock, . . . 195 St. Pierre killed at Lake Cham- plain, 195 Langlade of Wisconsin, at Ti- conderoga, .... loways and Ojibways at Ticon- deroga. List of Upper Indians, . Rogers and Jonathan Carver at Fort George, . Rogers's amusing note, . Ojibways returning, die of small-pox, . French deliver up their posts, English ti'oops at Green Bay, Dahkotahs visit, and make peace, .... Penneshaw a French trader. His influence with Dahkotahs Friendly to the English, 196 197 197 198 198 199 199 199 199 199 200 200 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI. Indians partial to French tra- Prediction of speedy route to ders 201 New York, .... 213 Jonathan Carver's early life, . 202 Carver's Pacific route, . 214 At Fort William Henry, . 202 Supposed origin of Dahkotahs, 214 Visits Mackinaw, . 202 Analogies of language, . 21 r. Arrives at Green Bay, . 202 Carver's death, 215 Carver's description of Prairie Claim of his heirs, . 215 du Chien, .... 203 Marriage of Carver's daughter. 210 Artificial earth works, . 203 Alleged deed given at Cave Lake Pepin 206 near St. Paul, 216 Nehogatawonahs, Mawtaw- Agent of Carver's heirs mur- bauntowahs, Shashweento- dered, ... 216 •wahs, 206 Rev. Samuel Peters purchases Carver's Cave in suburb of St. Carver claim, 217 Paul, 207 Testimony before Senate com- Indian burial place. 207 mittee, .... 217 Minnesota river, 208 General Leavenworth's letter. 218 Falls of St. Anthony in 1766, 208 Indians do not recognise the Mound near St. Paul opened, . 208 grant, .... 218 Exploration of Carver's Cave, 208 Frenchmen cut timber on Chip- Dahkotahs at Carver's Cave, . 210 peway, .... 219 Speech over dead chief, . 211 Report of Senate committee in Versification, by Schiller, 212 1823, 211) Sir Wm. Johnson in relation British government prohibited to Ojibways, 212 grants, .... 220 Rogers makes a treaty with Lord Palmerston finds no pa- Dahkotahs and Ojibways, . 213 pers about the grant, . 221 CHAPTER XIL Dahkotahs formerly at Leech Lake, .... Driven from Sandy Lake, Fight at mouth of Crow Wing, Pillagers, origin of name. Battle of Falls of St. Croix, . Foxes and Dahkotahs defeated, English trader killed by Dah- kotahs, .... Murder near Mendota, . British withdraw their trade, 222 222 222 223 223 224 226 Wapashaw, Determines to visit Quebec, Delivers himself, Winters in Canada, AVapashaw dies an exile, Depeyster commands Mack inaw, .... Wapashaw visits him, Song for Wapashaw, Troop leaves Mackinaw, Langlade at Prairie du Chien, 226 227 227 227 228 228 228 228 229 229 Wapashaw at Prairie du Chien, 1780, .... Speech to the Foxes, Peltries taken by British to Mackinaw, M'dewakantonwans in one band, .... Penneshaw's village, History of North-west Com pany, .... Clerks, .... Pork Eaters, . Winterers, Kay in Minnesota, Kay intoxicated. CONTENTS. Winters at Pine river, . 234 230 Kay stabbed by an Indian, . 235 230 Perrault and Harris at Leech Lake, 236 230 Dubuque at Prairie du Chien, 236 The lead mines of Dubuque, . 236 231 Renville, Grignon, and Dick- 231 son, Perlier falls in love on the St. 236 231 Croix, .... 237 232 North-west Company build at 232 Sandy Lake, 238 232 British do not surrender posts. 238 233 Jay's treaty, .... 239 233 CHAPTER XIIL Indiana organized, Louisiana transferred, . Territory of Upper Louisiana, Territory of Michigan, . First United States officer in Minnesota, .... Pike's expedition, . Pike at Kaposia, J. B. Faribault, sketch of Sketch of Fisher, the trader. Pike's council on island. Articles of treaty, . Pike's speech to Dahkotahs, . Flag lost, .... Portage at Falls of St. An- thony, .... Sergeant breaks a blood-vessel, Pike's block house, Complaints against Dickson, . Dickson visits Pike, Ascent of the Mississippi, Sled falls into the river. Baggage wet. Ignorance and inattention of voyageurs, .... Ojibway encampment 240 Pike's indignation at British 240 flag, 255 241 Tent on fire, .... 256 241 Sandy Lake, .... North-west Company's post at 256 241 Sandy Lake described. 257 241 Arrival from Fond du Lac, 258 242 Leech Lake, .... 259 242 North-west Company's post, . 259 242 American flag hoisted, . 259 2-13 English flag lowered, 260 243 Council with Ojibways, . 260 244 Pike at Red Cedar Lake, 261 248 Shabby actions of Pike's ser- geant, .... 262 248 Peculiar hospitality, 265 249 Arrival at mouth of Minnesota, 266 249 Carver's Cave not found. 267 250 Conference with Little Crow, 268 251 Pike at Red Wing, 269 252 The murderer, Roman Nose, . 270 253 Pike ascends the Barn bluff, . 271 253 Pike visits Wapashaw. . 272 Pike at Prairie du Chien, 273 254 Ball play, .... 274 254 Red Thunder, Yankton chief, 275 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. Traders disregards Pike's in- structions, ... Cameron, principal trader, His grave, Milor, old voyageur. His perilous journey, Indians combine against Uni ted States, ... Nicholas Jarrot, Messengers from Tecumseh, Dickson, his character and in fluence, ... Dickson a British partisan, Mackinaw surprised, Rolette and Langlade present, Kaposia and Wapashaw bands at Fort Meigs, Refuse to eat an American, Americans fortify Prairie du Chien, . . . . Site of Fort Shelby, British attack the fort, . Joseph Rolette, British guide, Americans capitulate, . ' . Americans attacked near Rock Island, .... Fort Shelby called McKay, . Zachary Taylor retreats from 276 Rock Island, 276 Daring of Paul Harpole, 276 One-eyed Sioux, 276 Dickson imprisons him, . 277 British evacuate Prairie du Chien, 278 Sketch of one-eyed Sioux, 278 Dickson at Lake Traverse, 279 Prejudice against Selkirk, O'Fallon's letter, 279 Dickson's character misrepre 280 sented, 280 Ramsay Crooks on Dickson, 280 Wapashaw and Little Crow visit British, 281 Treaty of Portage des Sioux, 282 Astor organizes a fur com- pany, 283 History of Astor's company, . 283 Lockwood trader in Minnesota, 284 Indian trade in 1816, . 284 First grist-mill above Prairie 285 du Chien, . . . . Saw-mill on Black river, 285 Spartan conflict of Ojibways, 285 286 286 286 287 287 288 287 290 290 291 291 292 293 293 293 294 294 298 298 298 CHAPTER XV. Red River difiBculties, Early posts on the northern border, .... Formation of North-west Com- pany, Earl of Selkirk's project, Selkirk's grant described. Pioneers of Selkirk colony, AYinter at Pembina, Colony augmented. The North-west Company op- pose 300 Duncan Cameron, . Selkirk storehouse broken 305 300 open, First Selkirk emigrants Pres- 306 301 byterians, .... 306 301 Colonists driven away, . 307 302 Return to Red river. 308 303 Earl of Selkirk comes to 303 America, .... 308 304 Messenger to Red river robbed. 309 Governor Scmple attacked, 310 305 Massacre of liis party, . 311 CONTENTS. Selkirk settlers again exiled, . 312 Owen Keveny seized, . . 312 Ilis murder, .... 313 His trunks opened and papers read, 313 Earl of Selkirk seizes Fort William 314 John Tanner discovered, . 314 Sketch of Tanner, . . .314 Selkirk's interest in Tanner, . 315 Sufferings at Pembina, 1817, 1818, 315 Grasshopper invasion, . . 31G Complete devastation, . . 316 Mackinaw boats from Prairie du Chien to Pembina, . 317 Selkirk's agent visits Switzer- land 318 Compromise of Hudson Bay and North-west Company, . 318 CHAPTER XVI. United States fortify the North- Chief offers himself as a substi- west, 319 tute for son. 328 Orders to proceed to Mendota, 319 Solemnity of surrender. 329 Crawford county, Wisconsin, Saw-mill in Chippeway valley, 330 organized, .... 320 Columbia Fur Company form- Colonel Leavenworth ascends cd, 330 Mississippi, 320 Names of partners. 330 Primitive mode of living, 320 Mill at Minneapolis, 331 Troops move to Camp Cold- J. R. Brown visits Minne water, .... 321 Tonka 331 Lumber cut on Eum river, 322 Family of Hess murdered. 332 Cass expedition, 322 Rescue of a daughter, . 332 Negro and Indian offspring, . 322 Swiss come to United States, Arrival of Cass at Sandy Lake, 323 from Red river, . 333 At Upper Red Cedar Lake, . 323 First steamboat above Rock This lake the supposed source Island, . . . . 334 of Mississippi, . 323 Passengers on board. 334 Emaciated and suffering voy- Grand illumination, 335 ageur, .... 324 Arrival of steamboat at Men- Buffalo hunt above Elk river. 324 dota 336 Cass at Fort Snelling, . 325 Astonishment of natives. 336 Description of Little Crow, . 326 Reminiscences of Taliaferro, . oo>7 Red AVing and Wapashaw in Origin of name Lake Calhoun 1820 327 and Harriet, 338 Colonel Snelling met by Cass, 327 Flat Mouth at Fort Snelling, . 339 First infant of European pa- Penneshaw's mother kills Ojib- rents, .... 327 way girl, . . . . 340 Wanata hostile, 328 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. Major Long's expedition to Theory of old geographers in Red river, .... 341 relation to what constitutes Arrival at Fort Snelling, 341 the sources of a stream. 300 Renville, interpreter, 342 Beltrami leaves Red Lake, 307 J. Snelling, assistant, 342 Table land of North America, 308 Beltrami, Italian refugee, 342 Beltrami discoverer of northern Arrival at Big Stone Lake, . 342 source of Mississippi, 309 Wanata's appearance and cha- Beautiful description. 370 racter, .... 343 Indian stories unreliable. 371 AVanata's vow to the Sun, 344 Beltrami suggests western Cuttings of the flesh, 344 source of Mississippi, 371 "Wanata feasts Long and party, 340 Leech Lake described, . 372 Dog meat presented, 347 Interview of the Italian with Origin of word Pembina, 348 Pillagers 373 Boundary line at that point Pike makes Leech Lake source fixed, 348 of Mississippi, . 374 Tanner wounded by an Indian, 349 Beltrami's tribute to Pike, 375 Beltrami separates from Major William Morrison's letter, 375 Long, 349 Morrison at Leech Lake, 1802, 375 Returns by way of Red Lake, 350 iMorrison at Lake Itasca, 1804, 370 Beltrami's characteristics, 350 Wintered there in 1811-12, . 370 Beltrami deserted by his guides, 353 Beltrami at Sandy Lake, 377 Awkward attempt at paddling, 354 Government mill, . 378 The difficulties of travel, 355 Beltrami returns to Fort Snel- Indians' astonishment at um- ling, 379 brella, .... 357 Cordial reception, . 380 Ludicrous appearance of Bel- Accuracy of Beltrami's map, . 380 trami, .... 357 Underrated by Long and Keat> Fear of the Dahkotahs, . 358 ing, 380 Beltrami at Red Lake, . 359 Findlay and party killed at Dogs tear his clothing, . 3G0 Lake Pepin, 381 Ojibways mourn the loss of a Degraded state of traders and brave, .... 301 Indians, .... 382 Ilalf-brced hut described. 302 Traders among Dahkotahs, Notice of Red river, 303 1825-20, .... 382 Topography of Red Lake, 304 CHAPTER XVIII. Prairie du Chion treaty of Boundary fixed between Dah- 1825, 383 kotahs and Ojibways, . . 383 CONTENTS. Fond du Lac treaty, 1826, . 384 Commissioners Cass and Mc- Kenney, .... 384 Aged ■woman scalped when a girl, 385 Woman in council, . . 385 Agreement to deliver up mur- derers, .... 386 Cass orders a canoe, . . 386 Building of birch bark canoe, 387 3Iurderers surrender them- selves, .... 387 Severe snow storm, 1825, . 388 Famine, 388 Freshet in Red River valley, . 389 Swiss emigrants home-sick, . 389 Swiss move to vicinity of St. Paul, 390 Swiss, the first farmers in Min- nesota, .... 390 Ojibways at Fort Snelling, 1826, 391 Slaughtered by the Dahkotahs, 391 Ojibway revenge, . . . 392 Dahkotah coward, . . . 393 Ti'oops removed from Prairie- du Chien, . . . .394 Methode and family killed, . 394 Red Bird at Prairie du Chien, 395 Attempts to kill jMrs. Lock- wood, 395 Murders the Gagnier family, . 395 Dahkotahs unruly, . . 390 Winnebagoes attack keel -boats, 390 The father's wail, . . . 397 Fort Crawford put in a state of defence, .... 397 Cass at Buttes des Morts, . 397 Soldiers march from Green Bay, 398 General Atkinson starts for the scene, .... 398 Red Bird described, . . 398 His dress, . . . .399 The surrender, . . . 399 Death in prison, . . . 399 CHAPTER XIX. Prairie du Chien treaty, 1830, Half-breed tract of Lake Pe- pin, Attempt to erect a mill, . Holmes builds a mill on Chip- pewa river, Schoolcraft visits Ojibways in 1831, Snake river chief, . Schoolcraft's expedition of 1832, Associates of Schoolcraft, Child of Rev. S. Hall, first child of pure European stock on Lake Superior, Portage of St. Louis river. Strength of Indian women, . Dahkotah scalp at Cass Lake, 400 Grand scalp dance. 406 Indian burial place, 406 400 Elk or Itasca Lake, 407 400 Lieut. Allen surveys and makes a map, .... 407 401 Allen's canoe upsets. 408 Flat Mouth's lodge at Leech 401 Lake, 408 402 Vaccination of Indians, 409 Beautiful country, . 409 403 Good soil, .... 410 403 Falls of St. Anthony, Schoolcraft talks with Dahko- 410 tahs, 411 404 Haste of Schoolcraft, 411 404 Hostile intentions of Black 404 Hawk, .... Dahkotahs, allies of United 412 405 States, .... 412 CONTENTS. Black Hawk routed by Dodge, Battle of Bad Axe, General Z. Taylor present, Preservation of Indian babe, Black Hawk surrenders, Alleged speech of that chief, First land mail to Fort Snel- ling, .... Traders in Minnesota, 1833-34, Missouri Territory attached to Michigan, . . . . "Wisconsin Territory organized, Iowa organized, George Catlin, the artist, Featherstonliaugh, geologist, . Nicollet, the astronomer. 412 Nicollet's early life, . . 417 413 Arrival in Minnesota, . . 417 413 Pillagers molest Nicollet, . 418 414 Rev. Mr. Boutwell assists him, 418 414 Nicollet visits Itasca Lake, . 418 414 Surveys the sources of Itasca, 418 Explorations beyond School- 415 craft, 419 415 Devotion to science, . . 410 Nicollet's second tour, . . 419 416 J. C. Fremont, his assistant, , 419 410 Valuable map, . . . 420 416 Leech Lake Ojibways kill a 410 trader, . . . .421 416 Sibley's tribute to Nicollet, . 421 417 CHAPTER XX. History of missions, 422 Mode of carrying goods at a Frontispiece of La Hontan's portage, .... 429 travels, .... 422 Mr. Ayer arrives at Yellow Savages no regard for law. 422 Lake, 431 Youth trained to war, 423 Rev. "W. T. Boutwell at Leech Error in the teachings of Mar- Lake 432 quette, .... 423 First mission in Minnesota west Rev. Dr. Morse visits Macki- of Mississippi, 432 naw, 424 E. F. Ely, teacher at Sandy Rev. Mr. Ferry opens mission Lake, 432 school, .... 424 Indian children in missionary's On manual labour principle, . 424 lap 433 "Warren trader at La Pointe, . 425 Indians laugh at missionary, . 434 Introduction of missionaries Number and locality of Leech by him 425 Lake Indians, 435 Rev. Sherman Hall, 425 Fish of the Lake, . 436 Mr. Frederic Ayer, 425 Wild rice, .... 436 Mode of travel through Lake Soil around the lake, 436 Superior, .... 426 Danger of gifts to the Indians, 437 Rev. S. Hall's arrival at La Polygamy common. 43S Pointe, .... 427 Mr. Boutwell married, . 439 Aitkin requests a school at Primitive mode of life, . 440 Sandy Lake, 428 Jesuits did not stay with Dali- Hall's tour to Oakes' trading kotaha, .... 441 post, 428 S. "W. Pond 441 CONTENTS. G. H. Pond, . . . .441 First to labour for the welfare of Dahkotahs, . . . 441 Rev. T. S. Williamson, M. D., 442 Arrives at Fort Snelling, May, 1835, . . . . '. 442 First church and communion in Minnesota, . . . 443 Indian mode of gathering corn, 443 Fondness of Dahkotahs for meat, 444 Rev. J, D. Stevens preaches at Fort Snelling, . . . 445 Indian mourning at Lake Har- riet, 445 Mourners cut their flesh, . 446 Church at Fort Snelling, . 440 Indian school at Lake Harriet, 447 Presbyterian church, Lac qui Parle, 447 Rev. S. R. Riggs joins the mis- sion, 447 CHAPTER XXL Buffaloes unknown in Lower G. H. Pond buries slaughtered Canada, .... 448 Dahkotahs, 455 Rumour in relation to lions' Ojibways chase lumbermen, . 45G skins, 448 First steamboat in the St. Marquette's description of the Croix, .... 45G buffalo, .... 448 Ratification of treaty of 1837, 45G First engraving of the buffalo. 449 Marine mills. 45G Hudson BayCo. buffalo hunters, 449 Dahkotah killed at Lake Har- Carts of the half-breeds. 449 riet, 457 Hunters' camp described, 450 Battles of Rum river and Rules of the camp. 450 Stillwater, .... 457 Great buffalo hunt in Minne- Settlers on Fort Snelling re- sota, 450 serve, .... 458 Last buffalo east of Mississippi, 451 Forcible ejection, . 459 Pemmican, .... 451 Death of Arctic explorer in Dickson's proposed invasion, . 452 Minnesot.a, 460 McLeod and Bottineau's peri- Supposed insanity. 461 lous journey. 452 J. R. Brown makes a claim Swiss missionaries at Red near Stillwater, . 462 Wing, .... 452 St. Croix county, . 463 Methodist mission at Kaposia, 452 Lake Pokeguma, . 463 Treaty of 1837 with Ojibways, 453 Mission at Pokeguma, . 464 Dahkotah treaty of 1837, 453 Pleasing prospect, . 464 Faribault's claim to Pike Little Crow's son killed at Island, .... 453 Falls of St. Croix, 465 Baker, Taylor, and Steele at Battle of Lake Pokeguma, 466 Falls of St. Croix, 453 Daring feat, .... 467 Yisit of Captain Maryatt, 453 Scene after the fight, 468 Small-pox among Dahkotahs, 454 Christian burial, . 468 Ojibway attack below St. Paul, Mr. Ayer visits Red Lake, Governor Doty makes treaties with Dahkotahs, . Stillwater commenced, . Captain Allen's tour to Big Sioux, . . . . Mill at Little Canada, . Drovers lose their way, . Captain Sumner and dragoons visit Red River, I\Iurderer of one of the drovers arrested, . . . . Death of Joseph Renville, Sketch of Renville, One-eyed whiskey-seller. Residence at St. Paul, His shanty called Pig's Eye, . Henry Jackson settles at St. Paul, CONTENTS. xxi 469 Roberts and J. W. Simpson, . 480 470 Little Crow requests a mission- ary, 480 470 Dr. Williamson comes to Ka- 471 posia, .... 480 Procures a teacher for St. Paul, 481 472 Miss H. E. Bishop, 482 472 First school-room in St. Paul, 482 472 First court in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, .... 483 472 Rev. Mr. Boutwell moves near Stillwater, .... 483 473 n. M. Rice selects a new home. 474 for Winnebagoes, 483 474 Winnebago removal, 484 475 Halt at Wapashaw, 484 476 Excitement, .... 485 478 Battle array, 486 Winnebagoes arrive at Watab, 487 479 CHAPTER XXIL Act for Wisconsin to form a constitution, . . . 488 Bill for organization of Minne- sota, 1846, . . . .488 Sioux and Red River of North, proposed boundary, . 488 Wisconsin desires to extend to Rum river, .... 488 Remonstrance of citizens of St. Croix, . . . .489 Wisconsin admitted into the Union, . . . .490 Debate on the name of Minne- sota Territory, . . . 490 Discussion on territorial organ- ization, .... 490 First meeting in St. Paul, . 490 Public meeting at Stillwater, . 490 Catlin's letter to Holcombc, . 491 Catlin resides at Stillwater, . 492 The delegate from Wisconsin resigns, .... H. II. Sibley elected successor, Minnesota Territory created, March 3, 1849, . Boundaries of territory. Sparse settlements, St. Paul in 1849, . Steamer brings news of the ex- istence of Minnesota Terri- tory, Joyful demonstrations, . Goodhue arrives with ]m-oss, . Governor Ramsey and family arrive, .... List of early citizens at the capital, .... First newspaper, . Sketch of Governor Ramsey, . Anna Earl Ramsey, 492 492 492 492 493 494 494 494 494 495 495 495 496 497 CONTENTS. Sketch of Governor Siblej, . Notice of Mrs. Sibley, . Sketch of H. M. Rice, U. S. Senator, .... Notice of Mrs. Rice, Franklin Steele, Notice of Mrs. Steele, . Fish dance at Kaposia, . Proclamation of Governor Ram- sey, organizing the terri- tory, C. K. Smith, .... A. Goodrich, .... D. Cooper, .... B. B. Meeker, J. L. Taylor, .... H. L. Moss, .... Temporary judicial districts, . Major Wood's expedition to Pembina, .... Governor Ramsey commences housekeeping at St. Paul, . H. M. Rice and family remove to St. Paul, Fourth of July at St. Paul, . First census, .... Recognition and death of a young chief, Indian fight in Cheyenne val- ley, Tipsinna or Dahkotah turnip, H. M. Rice transports goods by horse-boats, . First election, A. M. Mitchell, U. S. Marshal, Vote at first election, Nevrspapers, when established. Old printing press, Court at Stillwater, 497 Court at Minneapolis, 498 Court at Mendota, . Temperance reform among 498 Dahkotahs, 500 Session of first legislature, 500 Names, age, and nativity of 501 members, .... 501 Officers of first legislature. Governor Ramsey's message, . Funeral of child of a member 502 of legislature, 502 Counties formed, . 502 Resolution in relation to pipe 502 stone slab 502 Sibley's letter on red pipe 502 stone, 502 History of Pipe Stone Quarry, 503 Nicollet's description of red pipe stone, .... 503 Allusions to pipe stone in Hia- watha, .... 504 Territorial seal described. Captain and Mrs. Eastman, . 504 Poem by Mrs. Eastman, 504 Ramsey and Chambers, com- 504 missioners to treat with In- dians, 505 The project unsuccessful. Organization of Democratic 506 party, 506 Death of David Lambert, Notice of D. Lambert, . 507 Meeting in behalf of public 507 schools, . . . . 507 Names of first school teachers, 507 County elections, . 508 St. Anthony Library Associa- 508 elation, .... 509 509 509 510 511 511 511 512 512 513 513 514 514 515 515 516 516 517 518 518 518 519 519 520 520 520 521 CHAPTER XXIIL Historical Society, . . . 522 Carrier Boys' Address, Jan. First public meeting of His- 1, 1850, . . . . torical Society, . . . 522 Marriage at Fort Snelling, 523 523 Road by land to Prairie du Chien opened, First trial for murder, . Apple river battle, Scalp dance in Stillwater, Captive boy sent back by Gov. Ramsey, .... High water in 1850, " IIole-in-the-Day" scalps near St. Paul, . First Presbyterian church burned, .... Indian council at Fort Snelling, Description of council ground, Speech of Governor Ramsey, . Dahkotah rudeness, Ojibway gallantry, . Ojibways visit St. Paul, . Navigation on Minnesota be- gun, Trip of the Yankee, Steamer at Traverse des Sioux, Passengers on steamer, . Steamer at Blue Earth, . CONTENTS. xxiii Supposed buffaloes, 537 524 Mosquitoes, . . . . 537 525 Ice fails on board the boat, 538 526 Uncomfortable night, 538 526 Return of steamer, . 538 Traverse des Sioux in 1850, . 539 526 Shokpay's village, . 540 527 The ministry needed for the West, 541 527 Election in September, . 542 Sibley and Mitchell candidates. 543 528 Sibley elected delegate to Con- 528 gress, 543 529 Official vote, .... 543 530 Miss Bremer visits St. Paul, . 543 533 Fredrika Bremer's sketch of 533 the capital, 543 534 The Dahkotah Friend pub- lished, .... 544 534 D. A. Robertson, . 544 534 Minnesota Democrat com- 535 menced, .... 544 536 C. J. Ileuniss, editor, 545 537 First Thanksgiving Day, 545 CHAPTER XXIV Legislature of 1851, 546 Age and birth-place of mem- bers of the legislature, 546 Editor stabbed, 547 Bitter party feeling, 547 University of Minnesota, 547 Apportionment bill. 548 Members resign their seats, 548 Sufferings of Ojibways, . 549 Mortality at Sandy Lake, 550 lIulc-in-the-Day addresses le- gislature, . 551 Alleged cannibalism, 552 Debate on school lands at Washington, 553 Remarks of Stevens, of Penn- sylvania, 554 Sibley's reply, Chronicle and Register sus- pended, .... Murder of Andrew Swartz, . Remarkable escape of mur- derers, .... First newspaper beyond the capital, .... Treaties of 1851, . Lea and Ramsey, commission- ers, Rev. Mr. Hopkins drowned, . Thunder Bird dance, Treaty at Traverse des Sioux concluded, .... Provisions of the treaty, Treaty at Mcndota concluded, 555 555 55G 556 556 556 557 558 559 559 560 Provisions of the treaty, Indians as horse purchasers, . Shokpay as it was in 1851, New paper started at St. Paul, CONTENTS. 5G0 J. P. Owens, editor of Minne- 561 sotian, .... 562 562 October election. 563 Second Thanksgiving Day, 563 502 Governor's Proclamation, 563 CHAPTER XXV. Legislature of 1852, Names of members, Occupation of members, Liquor law enacted. Memorial to discontinue " St. Peter's" as a name of Min- nesota river, Superintendent of Public In- struction report. Number of school-houses in Minnesota, Rae, Arctic explorer, in St. Paul, Exploration between Watab and Long Prairie, 564 Birch Bark Fort, . 571 564 Lake Neill, .... 572 564 Special election on liquor 565 law, 572 Vote on liquor law. 572 Claims before ratification of 565 treaties, .... 573 Death of James M. Goodhue, 574 565 Sketch of pioneer editor, 574 Editorial hoax, 576 569 Trial of Yuhazee for murder, . 577 Escort of dragoons, 578 570 Judge Ilayner's decision against liquor law, 579 570 CHAPTER XXVL Legislature of 1853, Officers chosen. Governor Ramsey's last mes- sage, Rapid growth of Minnesota, . Advantages of Minnesota, Hopeful future. Prospective railways, Roman Catholic petitions. Proposed school law. Counties west of Mississippi, . Baldwin School, College of St. Paul, Ojibway and Dahkotah skir- mish at the capital. Burial scaffold at Kaposia, Appointments by President Pierce, .... Governor W. A. Gorman, 580 J. T. Rosser, Secretary, . . 589 580 W. II. Welch, Chief Justice, . 589 Moses Sherburne, Associate, . 589 581 A. G. Chatfield, Associate, . 589 581 Indian villages below St. Paul, 582 1853, 589 583 Villages near Fort Snelling, . 590 584 Alleged fraud of Ramsey and 585 Sibley, . . . .590 586 Presbyterian missionaries 587 among Dahkotahs, . . 590 587 Honourable exculpation of 587 Ramsey by United States Senate, . . . .591 587 Robertson retires from edito- 588 rial duties, . . . .591 David Olmsted, , . .591 588 October election for delegate, . 591 589 Official vote, . . . .591 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXVII. New political coalitions, Legislature of 1854, Governor Gorman's message, . Members of legislature, age and birth-place, . Mission-house at Lac qui Parle burned, .... Minnesota and North-western Railroad incorporated, E, S. Goodrich becomes editor of Pioneer, Great railroad excursion. Names of distinguished visiters. Pursuit of pleasure under diflS- culties, .... Guests at Fort Snelling, Speeches of Fillmore and Ban- croft, 592 Railroad sermon, . 597 592 Railways in a religious view. 599 593 Antidotes to bigotry. 601 Savers of time. 603 593 Extend Christianity, 605 Land grant of Congress, 606 594 Repeal of land grant, 607 Debate on the repeal. 607 594 Rice's letter about the repeal, Minnesota and North-western 610 594 Railroad suit. 610 595 Appeal to United States Su- 595 preme Court, 611 Case dismissed. 611 59G Execution of Yuhazee, . 611 597 Governor's letter to ladies de- clining to pardon Yuhazee, 612 597 CHAPTER XXVII L Legislature of 1855, First bridge over the Missis- sippi, Wire bridge, .... Governor's message. Governor opposes Minnesota and North-western Railroad Company, .... United States Senate refuse to annul charter of Minnesota and North-western Railroad, General illumination, Governor Gorman vetoes an act amending charter of Minnesota and North-west- ern Railroad Company, Act passed by a two-thirds vote, Formation of Republican party. 613 W. R. Marshall nominated delegate to Congress, . 614 613 David Olmsted candidate for 613 Congress, . . 614 613 H. M. Rice elected delegate, . 614 Votes for delegate enumerated, 614 Express arrives at St. Paul 613 with relics of Sir John Franklin, .... 615 Legislature of 1856, 615 613 Railroad discussion. 615 613 Governor Gorman signs a bill giving extension of time to Minnesota and North-west- ern Railway Compan}-, 615 614 His message on the subject, . List of members of Council of 615 614 1856, 617 614 Members of House of Repre- sentatives, 1856, . State organization agitated by J. E. Warren, . Ojibways scalp Dahkotah child at a farm-house. Legislature of 1857, Presiding officers of legislature , Bill removing capital to St. Peter passes the House, Council resolutions of Mr. Bal- combe, .... Rolette, Chairman of Commit- tee of Enrolled Bills, absent, Call of the Council, Sergeant-at-arms ordered to report absent member in his • seat, ' Council remains in session under the call for several days, .... Last night of session proceed- ings under the call dispensed ■with, Committee on Enrolled Bills report, .... Report, Call of the Council again moved. Under the call the session ex- pired, Council adjourned. Massacre at Spirit Lake and Springfield, Inkpadootah, CONTENTS. Indians fire house of settlers. 622 617 The inmates killed, 622 Murder of the Gardners, 622 618 White women captives, . United States troops and vol- 623 618 unteers bury the dead. 623 618 Captive women maltreated, 623 618 Mrs. Thatcher shot, Two Indian youths rescue Mrs. 624 618 Marble, .... Paul and party rescue Miss 624 619 Gardner, .... 625 Killing of Mrs. Noble, . 625 619 Inkpadootah's son shot, . 626 619 Outlaws' retreat beyond the Missouri, .... 626 Enabling act passed by Con- 619 gress, 620 Special session of legislature. 626 Election for delegates to form 619 constitution. Meeting of constitutional con- 636 vention, .... 627 620 Division into two bodies, 627 Compromise, .... 627 620 Constitution adopted by the 620 people, .... 628 021 Meeting of first state legisla- ture, 628 621 Election of United States Sen- 621 ators, Admission of Minnesota into 628 621 the Union, .... 628 621 INTRODUCTORY. The physical characteristics of a laud should be kuowu, to correctly understand the history of its people. In an important sense, when the skies do change, men also change. Grand scenery, leaping waters, and a bracing atmosphere, produce men of different cast from those who dwell where the land is on a dead level, and where the streams are all sluggards. We associate heroes like Tell and Bruce with the mountains of Swit- zerland and the Highlands of Scotland, and not with regions of country where the outline is unbroken, and the horizon appears as a continuation of the earth. Minnesota occupies the elevated plateau of North America; and from its gently sloj^ing plains descend the rivulets that feed the mighty Mississippi, that flows into the Gulf of Mexico; the noble St. Lawrence, emptying its volume into the iVtlantic; and the wind- ing Red River of the North, flowing into Hudson's Bay. It extends from 43" 30' to 49° north latitude, and its boundaries are : on the north, the British Possessions ; (27) xsviii HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. on the south, the state of Iowa; on the east, Lake Su- perior and the state of Wisconsin ; and on the west Red river, Sioux Wood river. Lake Traverse, and Big Stone Lake, and from the latter a due south line to the north- ern boundary of Iowa. The climate of Minnesota has ehcited an eulogy from every observing traveller, and yet erroneous impressions prevail in the public mind. During the summer, the temperature corresponds with that of Philadelphia; and while the thermometer has a high range during the day, the evenings are generally cool and refreshing. Nights, so frequent on the Atlantic border, when the body welters in perspiration, and the individual arises exhausted rather than refreshed by sleep, are unknow^n. Nor is the winter any more trying to the constitution than the summer. The air is dry and bracing, and the skies are by day generally cloudless, and at night are studded with stars. Maury, the author of the Physi- cal Geography of the Sea, and Superintendent of the National Observatory at Washington, has remarked : — " At the small hours of the night, at dewy eve and early morn, I have looked out with wonder, love, and admiration upon the steel-blue sky of Minnesota, set with diamonds, and sparkling with brilliants of purest ray. The stillness of your small hours is sublime. I feel constrained, as I gaze and admire, to hold my breath, lest the eloquent silence of the night should be broken by the reverberations of the sound, from the seemingly solid but airy vault above. " Herschell has said, that in Europe, the astronomer might consider himself highly favoured, if by patiently watching the skies for one year, he shall, durino- that MAURY'S ESTIMATE OF MINNESOTA. xxix period find, all told, one hundred hours suitable for sat- isfactory observations, A telescoj)e mounted here, in this atmosphere, under the skies of Minnesota, would have its powers increased many times over what they would be under canopies of a heaven less brilliant and lovely." Corroborative of these statements are tables whicli appear in the report of the Mmnesota and Pacific Rail- road Company. No region which at present engages the public mind, as a field for settlement, has been so grossly misrepre- sented, in regard to peculiarities of climate, as Minne- sota. Fabulous accounts of its arctic temperature, j)iercing winds, and accompanying snows of enormous depth, embellish the columns of the Eastern press. An examination of this subject, and especially in relation to the snows and winds of winter, as opposed to the operation of lines of railroad, seems necessary to correct existing prejudices ; and fortunately the means are at hand for conducting this examination with an exactness nearly reaching mathematical precision. The data employed are compiled from the " Army Meteorological Register," and " Blodgett's Climatology of the United States," both standard authorities, based upon the sys- tem of meteorological observations which have been conducted by the surgeons of the United States army, and other scientific gentlemen, through a series of upwards of thirty years. In the following table, illustrative of the temperature of Minnesota, St. Paul is inserted in the place of Fort SneUing (six miles distant), where the observations were made : — HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. SPRING. Mean Tempekatuke, 45° 36'. St. Paul, Boston, Massachusetts, . Springfield, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts, Kinderhook, New York, L'tica, New York, . . Cooperstown, New York, Onondaga, New York, Lewiston, New York, . Detroit, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Battle Creek, Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, . . Beloit, Wisconsin, . . Portage City, Wisconsin, No. of Years.i Mean Temperatcre, 70° 36'. No. of Years. 35i 20 2 7 17 9 16 16 18 1.3 3 5i 5 6 16 St. Paul, I 3.5i Lowell, Massachusetts, .... 7 Trenton, New Jersey 5 Middletown, New Jersey, ... 3 Flatbush, Long Island, New York, ' 24 Newburg, New Y'ork, ) 18 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, . Warren, Pennsylvania, . . Iludson, Ohio, Oberlin, Ohio, Chicago, Illinois, .... Beloit, Wisconsin Portage City, Wisconsin, Pembina, M. T. lat. -19° . . 10 3 n 16 7-12th AUTUMN. Mean Tempeeature. 45° 54 St. Paul, Portland, Maine, . . . Burlington, Vermont, . . Montreal, Canada, . . Lake Simcoe, Canada West, Lowville, Lewis County, Now York Plattsburg, New York, . . . Fairfield Academy, New Y'ork, Mexico, Oswego County, New York Cherry Valley, New Y'ork. Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, Smethport, Pennsylvania, Green Bay, Wisconsin, . , Manitowoc, Wisconsin, . Baraboo, Wisconsin, . . No. of Years. WINTER. Mean Temperature, 16° 6'. No of Years. 35i 31 St Paul, . . . . . ?,h\ Houlton, Maine, , 17 6 Hanover, New Hampshire, . . 3 15 Williamstown, Massachusetts, . . 13 1 Montreal, Canada, 15 19 Sault St. Marie, 31 11 19 11 15 2i 3 21 21 1 Taking a map of the United States, and applying to it lines of mean temperature for the seasons and year, passing through the places indicated in the foregoing table, we find that while the winter temperature of St. ^ The column headed " Xo. of years" gives the duration of the observa- tions at each station. TEMPERATURE COMPARED WITH EASTERN STATES. xxsi Paul does not fall below the average of jDlaces on its parallel of latitude, its spring temperature coincides with that of Central Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Southern Michigan, Central New York, and Massachu- setts; its summer with that of Central Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Northern Ohio, Central and Southern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey ; its autumn with that of Central Wisconsin, Northern New York, a small part of Northern Pennsylvania, Northern Vermont, and Southern Maine ; and its entire year with that of Cen- tral Wisconsin, Central New York, Southern New Hampshire, and Southern Maine. Viemng this subject with reference to the extremes of latitude touched by these isothermal lines, Ave disco- ver that St. Paul has a temperature in spring equal to Chicago, which is two and a half degrees of latitude south ; in autumn, equal to Northern New York, one and a half degrees south ; and during the whole year, equal to Central New York, two degrees south. These statements do not admit of the sliirlitest doubt or question, no matter how widely they may diifer from preconceived opinions, for they are founded on facts of experience which have occupied an entire generation in their development. This condition of temperature not only obtains in Minnesota, but it is a Avell established fact, that there extends hundreds of miles to the north-west of her an immense area of fertile and arable soil, possessed of a climate hardly inferior in warmth to her own. The closing chapter of Blodgett's Climatology is an admira- ble treatise on the climate and resources of this vast region. The obstruction opposed by snows to the rapid and xxxu ■ HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. regular passage of trains, is among the chief difficulties of winter operation, and in order to submit in the plain- est and most concise manner possible the magnitude of this obstacle, as found here in comparison -yvith other districts, a table of mean results, compiled from the same sources with the preceding table, is here intro- duced. The results given in the table are all reduced to water, but m order to convert them into equivalents of snow, we have onlj to consider the figures in the columns as representing feet and decimals of a foot. The rule adopted in the " Register," gives ten inches of snow as equivalent to one inch of water, but the pro- portion of twelve to one is believed to be more correct, particularly as regards snows of our latitude. Mean Fall of Rain and Melted Snow at various places for the different sea- sons and the entire year. Also, the Maximum and Minimum Fall during the winter months. DEPTH IX INCHES AND DECIMALS OF AN INCH. SPEING. SUMMER. AUTUMN. WINTER. TEAR. No. PLACES. of Years. Mean. Mean. Mean. Minim. Mean. Maxim. Mean. St. Paul, M. T. . . . 6.61 10.92 5.98 0.35 1.92 3.561 25.43 19 Montreal, Canada . . 11.54 11.18 16.60 7.26 47.28 2 Iloulton, Me. . . . 7.62 11.92 9.95 4.02 7.48 10.00 36.97 9i Eastport, Me. . . . 8.S8 10.05 9.85 8.91 10.61 11.95 39.39 8i rortsmouth, \. U. . . 9.03 9.21 8.95 4.« 8.38 11.08 35.57 13" Hanover, N. U. . . . 9.90 11.40 10.50 9.10 41.00 18 Turlington, A't. . . . 7.41 10.83 9.82 6.02 34.11 20 Cambridge, Mass. . . 10.85 11.17 12.57 9.89 44.48 12 Worcester, Mass. . . 10.89 10.71 13.51 11.85 46.96 13 New York City . . . 11.69 11.64 9.93 4.99 10.39 19.27 43.65 14 Plattsburg, N. Y. . . 8.36 10.03 10.05 2.90 4.95 9.33 33.39 10 Potsdam, N. X. . . . 6.20 10.15 8.38 3.90 28.63 20 Utica, N. Y 9.26 12.83 9.76 8.72 40.57 19 Ptoohoster, N. Y. . . 6.82 8.86 9.38 5.38 30.44 19 Fort Niagara, N. Y^. . 6.87 9.81 8.68 3.23 6.41 9.24 31.77 51 Pittsburgh. Pa. . . . 9.38 9.87 8.23 4.39 7.48 11.97 34.96 18 Hudson, 9.76 8.87 6.16 8.00 32.79 7 Cincinnati, 0. . . . 12.14 13.70 9.90 11.15 46.89 20 Detroit. Mich. . . . 8.51 9.29 7.41 2.84 4.86 6.01 30.07 121 Sault St. Marie, Mich. 5.44 9.97 10.76 2.85 5.18 11.57 31.35 16J Athens, 111 12.20 13.30 9.20 7.10 41.80 10 Muscatine, Iowa . . 11.19 15.08 10.34 6.72 44.33 10 Milwaukee, Wis. . . 6.60 9.70 6.80 4.20 27.20 7 Green Bay, Wis. . . 9.00 14.45 7.84 2.90 3.36 4.80 34.65 1i Portage City, Wis. . . 5.58 11.46 7.63 1.92 2.82 3.84 27.49 9 Beloit, Wis 13.16 18.12 10.44 6.43 48:15 4 1 In the winter of 1849. The next less fall was in the winter of 1837—2.96 inches. LESS SNOW THAN ON THE ATLANTIC BORDER. xxxiii Without going into a detailed review of the contents of the foregoing table, which presents the facts in a light that argument cannot strengthen, it may be weW to inquire what proportion of the winter precipitation is in the form of snow, and in the absence of positive knowledge we may arrive at general conclusions by other means. Since Houlton, Hanover, Plattsburg, Montreal, and Sault St. Marie, coincide in mean winter temperature with St. Paul, we must infer that the j)recipitation at those places assumes the form of snow in the same pro- portion as here. Admitting this, and supposing the entire winter precipitation to be a successive accumula- tion of snows, the resulting depths would be as follows, viz.. Average annual depth at St. Paul, 3 feet; Houl- ton, 7h feet; Hanover, 9 feet; Plattsburg, 5 feet; Mon- treal, 7 feet; Sault St. Marie, Hi feet. Maximum depth, at St. Paul, 3 J feet; Houlton, 10 feet; Platts- burg, 9 J feet; and Sault St. Marie, 11 J feet. It is hardly necessary to add that such immense depths of snow are never known, and it must follow that a great part of the fall at all these localities is dissipated during the higher iluctuations of temperature. This is confirmed by Mr. Blodgett, who estimates the average depth of snow constantly occupying the ground in winter among the elevated and northern districts of New England at two feet, and the experience of the present winter, 1857-8, at St. Paul, is, that, out of a total fall of up- wards of twenty inches of snow, the depth on the ground has at no time exceeded six inches. Although no reliable evidence can be adduced upon this point, it seems entirely safe to assume that the xxxiv HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. average of extreme depths of snow in Minnesota, during the nineteen years through which the observations ex- tend, does not exceed ten inches, and it is certain that the average here falls quite below that in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, or New York, and very far below that in the Eastern States. Table showing the Mean Force of the Wind at Various Places during the Months of January, February, March, and December, in each Year for a Series of Tears} 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 £ a PLACES. g 2.05 Si 2.18 2.00 1.80 a ^ Is 2.41 c ^ 10 e.3 OS o Fort Snelling, M. T., near St. Paul, . . 1.59 1.72 1.63 1.74 1.55 1.87 Fort Trumbull, New| 2.85 3.41 2.98 2.31 2.45 2.16 7 ? 67 Fort Hamilton, New York City, . . . 3.28 3.43 3.18 3.08 3.40 3.14 3.40 3.14 1.90 1.66 10 2.96 Fort Niagara, New York .3.33 3.28 3.30 3.24 2.59 3.54 2.20 2.57 8 3.01 Plattsburg Barracks, Plattsbur", N Y 2.58 1.69 1.48 1.54 2.19 5 1 PO Fort Sullivan, East- port, Maine, . . . 3.29 . . . . 2.31 2..37 2.55 2.63 . . . . 5 2.63 Fort Constitution, Portsmouth, N. H. . 2.44 2.18 2.53 2.70 2.65 5 2.50 Alleghany Arsenal, Pittsburgh, Pa. . . 2.13 1.85 2.08 1.86 2.08 2.29 2.15 2.74 2.31 2.55 10 2.20 Detroit Barracks, De- 9 '\f 2.46 1.72 2.11 2.32 5 ?'>6 Fort Atkinson, Winne- shiek County, Iowa, Fort Leavenworth, ■> RS ?n7 ? *> 48 Kansas, .... 2.30 2.19 1.70 1.99 2.55 1.45 1.61 2.03 2.07 2.30 10 2.09 Average force at all ?63 2.40 2.15 2.17 2.57 2.32 2.30 2.59 2.22 2.30 .... 2 42 ^ In this classification signifies a 4 a brisk breeze, and so on to 10, calm, 1 a barely perceptible breeze, 2 which represents a violent hurricane, a gentle breeze, 3 a moderate breeze, NUMEROUS LAKES.— WATERFALLS. xxxv " It appears that the mean force of the wind at Fort SnelHng for the whole term is less than at any other station, and twenty-five per cent, less than the average of all stations for the whole term, and that the mean force in any year is below the average at all stations for the year, except in 1854, when it slightly exceeds the average." Like the Garden of Eden, the state is encircled by rivers and lakes. There is " water, water everywhere ;" and in view of this characteristic, Nicollet called the country Undine. To naiads and all water spirits it would be a perfect paradise. The surface of the country is dotted with lakes, and in some regions it is impossible to travel five miles without meeting a beautiful expanse of water. Many of these lakes are linked together by small and clear rivulets, while others are isolated. Their configuration is varied and picturesque ; some are large, with precipitous shores, and contain wooded islands, others are approached by gentle grassy slopes. Their bottoms are paved with agates, carnelians, and other beautiful quartz pebbles. Owens, in his Geological Report, says : " Their beds are generally pebbly, or covered with small boulders, which peep out along the shore, and frequently show a rocky line around the entire circumference. Very few of them have mud bot- toms. The water is generally sweet and clear, and north of the water-shed is as cool and refreshing during the heats of summer as the water of springs or wells. All the lakes abound with various species of fish, of a quality and flavour greatly superior to those of the streams of the Middle or Western States. The country also contains a number of ha-ha, as the Dahkotahs call all waterfalls. As the state of New xxxvi HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. York shares with Great Britain the sublimest cataract, so Minnesota has a joint ownership in a picturesque fall. It is about a mile and a half above the mouth of Pigeon river. The perpendicular descent is sixty feet, after which the river chafes its way for many yards. About one mile below the west end of Grand Portage, the old depot of the North-west Company, are the great cascades of Pigeon river. " The scenery at the cas- cades presents the singular combination of wild grandeur and picturesque beauty, with an aspect the most dreary and desolate imaginable. In the distance of four hundred yards, the river falls one hundred and forty- four feet. The fall is in a series of cascades through a narrow gorge, with perj)endicular walls, varjang from forty to one hundred and twenty feet, on both sides of the river."^ The streams in the north-east county of Minnesota nearly all come into Lake Superior with a leap. Half a mile from the lake, the Kawimbash hur- ries through perpendicular walls of stone, seventy-five feet in height, and at last pitches down a height of eighteen or twenty feet. On Kettle river, a tributary of the St. Croix, there are also interesting rapids and falls. The Falls of St. Croix, thirty miles above Stillwater, elicit the admira- tion of the traveller. Between lofty walls of trap rock, the river rushes, "at first with great velocity, forming a succession of whirlpools, until it makes a sudden bend, then glides along placidly, reflecting in its deep waters the dark image of the columnar masses, as they rise towering above each other to the height of a hundred to a hundred and seventy feet." On the VermilHon ^ Owens' Report, p. 409, 4to. THE FALLS OF MINNE-HA-HA. xxxvii river, which is a western tributary of the Mississippi, opposite the St. Croix, there are picturesque falls, about a mile from Hastings. A drive of less than fifteen minutes from Fort Snel- ling, in the direction of St. Anthony, brings the tourist to a waterfall that makes a lifetime impression. " Stars in the silent night Might be enchained, Birds in their passing flight Be long detained, And by this scene entrancing, Angels might roam. Or make their home. Hearing, in waters dancing, 'Mid spray and foam, Minnehaha I" These, within a brief period, have obtained a world- wide reputation, from the fact that " a certain one of our own poets" has given the name of Minne-ha-ha to the wife of Hiawatha. Longfellow, in his vocabulary, says : " Minne-ha-ha — Laughing-water ; a waterfill or a stream running into the Mississipj)i, between Fort Snell- ing and the Falls of St. Anthony." All waterfalls, in the Dahkotah tongue, are called Ha-ha, never Mimie- ha-ha. The "h" has a strong guttural sound, and the word is applied because of the curling or laughing of the waters. The verb I-ha-ha primarily means, to curl ; secondarily to laugh, because of the curling motion of the mouth in laughter. The noise of Ha-ha is called by the Dahkotahs I-ha-ha, because of its resemblance to laughter. A small rivulet, the outlet of Lake Harriet and Cal- houn, gently gliding over the bluff into an amphithea- xxxviii HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. tre, forms this graceful waterfall. It has but little of "the cataract's thunder." Niagara symbolizes the sub- lime ; St. Anthony the picturesque ; Ha-ha the beauti- ful. The fall is about sixty feet, presenting a parabolic curve, which drops, without the least deviation, until it has reached its lower level, when the stream goes on its way rejoicing, curling along in laughing, childish glee at the graceful feat it has performed in bounding over the precipice. Five miles above this embodiment of beauty, are the more pretentious Falls of St. Anthony. This fall was not named by a Jesuit, as Willard says, in her History of the United States, but by Hennepin, a Franciscan of the Recollect Order. He saw it while returning from Mille Lac, in the month of July, 1680, und named it after his patron Saint, Anthony of Padua. In the last edition of his travels, the adventurous father says, " the navigation is interrupted by a fall, which I called St. Anthony of Padua's, in gratitude for the favours done me by the Almighty through the inter- cession of that great saint, whom we had chosen patron and protector of all our enterprises. This fall is forty or fifty feet high, divided in the middle by a rocky island of pyramidal form." As Hennepin was passing the falls, in company with a party of buffalo hunt- ers, he perceived a Dahkotah up in an oak opposite the great fall weeping bitterly, with a well dressed beaver robe, whitened inside, and trimmed with porcu- pine quills, which he was offering as a sacrifice to the falls, which is in itself admirable and frightful. I heard him while shedding copious tears say, as he spoke to the great cataract : " Thou who art a sj)irit, grant that FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY. xxxix our nation may pass here quietly without accident, may kill buffalo in abundance, conquer our enemies, and bring in slaves, some of whom we will put to death before thee ; the Messenecqz [to this day the Dahkotahs call the Fox Indians by this name] have killed our kindred, grant that we may avenge them." The only other European, during the time of the French dominion, whose account of the falls is pre- served, is Charleville. He told Du Pratz, the author of a history of Louisiana, that, with two Canadians and two Indians, in a birch canoe laden with goods, he pro- ceeded as far as the Falls of St. Anthony. This cata- ract he describes as caused hy a flat rock, which forms the bed of the river, and causing a fall of eight or ten feet. It was not far from a century after Hennepin saw the '• curling waters," that it was gazed upon by a British subject. Jonathan Carver, a native of Connec- ticut, and captain of a Provincial troop, w^as the Yankee who first looked on this valuable water-power, and began to make calculations for further settlement. His sketch of the falls in 1766 was the first ever taken, and was well engraved in London. Carver, like Hennepin, speaks of a rocky island dividing the falls, and estimates its width about forty feet, and its length not much more, " and about half way between this island and the eastern shore, is a rock, lying at the very edge of the fall, that appeared to be about five or six feet broad, and thirty or forty long." During the two generations that have elapsed, since this description was penned, some changes have taken place in the appearance of the falls. The small island xl HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. about forty feet broad, which is now some distance in front of the falls, was probably once in its midst. The geological character of the bed of the river is such, that an undermining process is constantly at work. The upper stratum is limestone, with many large crevices, and about fifteen feet in thickness. Beneath is the saccharoid sandstone, which is so soft, that it cannot resist the Avearing of the rapid waters. It is more than probable that in an age long passed, the falls were once in the vicinity of Fort Snelling. In the course of two years they have receded many feet. The numbers of pine logs that pitch over the falls, have increased the reces- sion. As the logs float down they are driven into the fissures, and serve as levers, other logs and the water communicating the power, to wrench the limestone slabs from their localities. In time the falls will recede until they become nothing more than rapids. The fall of water on the west side of the dividing island, is several rods above that on the east side, and the difference is occasioned by the greater volume of water on the former side, causing a more rapid re- cedence. There are two islands of great beauty in the rapids above the falls. The first juts some feet beyond the falls, and contains about fifteen acres. It is now gene- rally known as Hennepin Island, not, as some blunderer says in Harper's Magazine for July, 1853, because the Jesuit father ivas ^^ZacecZ there hy the Indians, but in accordance with the following suggestion, in an address before the Historical Society of Minnesota, on January first, 1850 :— " As a town in the state of Illinois has already taken EARLY FRENCH MAPS. xli the name of Hennepin, which would have been so ap- propriate for the beautiful village of St. Anthony, we take leave of the discoverer of those picturesque falls, which will always render that town equally attractive to the eye of the poet and capitalist, by suggesting that the island which divides the laughing waters, be called Hennepin." When Du Luth left Minnesota, in 1680, one of the Dahkotah chiefs drew on birch bark a map of the Mississippi, and it was agreed that the French should bring goods to the Mississippi, and that the Dahkotahs would come down and traffic with them. Perrot, in carrying into effect this arrangement, appears to have erected the trading establishment, called Fort ^ St. Nicholas, in the vicinity of Prairie du Chien. When forts are spoken of in connection with the French explorations of the North-west, the reader must divest himself of the idea of massive walls of masonry, and turrets and buttresses, and angles with ordnance protruding their muzzles ; — and picture before him a log cabin, surrounded by a few pickets. The early French maps on America, are both curious and instructive. Without their aid it is impossible to trace with certainty the progress of discovery in Minne- sota, and the whole North-wxst. The earliest chart representing Minnesota that has Ijeen examined is that of Coronellis, corrected by Tillemon, published at Paris, 1688. Mille Lac is called Lac Buade, and the map states that it was named by Du Luth. The St. Croix river appears as Magdcline, and Snake river is marked Prophet. The second map that attempts a representation of xlii HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the region now known as Minnesota, is attached to the Utrecht edition of Hennepin's Travels, published in 1698. Lake Pepin is on this marked Lac des Pleurs, and the St. Croix as Riviere du Tombeau, and Mille Lac is the Lake of the Issati. North-east of this lake are placed the Ouadebaton band of Dahkotahs ; and near by the Chongas-kabions, and Songasquitons. A member of the Franciscan priesthood, Hennepin, was very jealous of the influence of the Jesuits, yet he is frequently by loose writers called a Jesuit. To convey the impression that his order were the pioneers in the evangelization of the North-west, he has marked beyond Sauk Rapids, in a region where a white man's footsteps were not seen for years subsequent, a house which is called Mission of the Recollects. The maps on the North-west that were the basis of the French and English charts, for half a century, were prepared by William de I'lsle, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. In his preparation of the chart of Louisiana, he was assisted by the obser- vations of the early explorer of Minnesota, Le Sueur. The map was issued about the year 1700, and as the section of it accompanying another chapter of this work shows,^ attempted to desigTiate the villages of the Sioux of the East and Sioux of the West. It places a coal mine on the Minnesota river, in the neighbourhood of the present town of Carver, and calls Lake St. Croix. Lake Pepin. The fort built by Le Sueur on the island below Hastings, and by Perrot at an earlier period, opposite the Chippeway river, and Fort Huillier on the small tributary of the Mahkahto, are clearly designated. ^ See page 164. T.SDm,^ ar3„,UI, I%il' Seclion of a Map of Canada. SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF PIONEERS. xliii In the map of Canada, by the same author, Minnesota is more fully delineated. Pepin is attached to the lake which now bears the name. Mille Lac is called Buade, after the family name of Frontenac, and also by an Ojibway word Missisacaigan, conveying the idea ex- pressed by the French term Mille Lacs. Rum river is called the Mendeouacanton, after the division of Dahkotahs that dwelt in the valley. Snake river bears its present name, and the mines of lead near Galena and Dubuque are noted. In the year 1750, after Yeranderie's tour by the chain of lakes that form the northern boundary of Minnesota, Philip) Buache^ revised and improved the maps of De I'lsle. The fort at the mouth of Pigeon river, built by Du Luth, appears, and this locality was afterwards occupied by Fort Char- lotte, and was the great depot of the North-west Com- pany. The post on Rainy Lake, and Lake Winnipeg and Lake of the Woods, are also presented for the first time. Previous to the treaty of peace at Paris, in 1763, Tho- mas Jeffer}-s, Geographer to the King of England, pre- pared a map which embodied all of the latest correc- tions, and exhibits the sites of all the French establish- ments in Minnesota.^ So recent has been the removal of the Dahkotahs, there is danger, in reading the history of Minnesota, of supposing that the emigrant will be exposed to the scalping knife of the savage. It is true that there was a massacre by some outlaws on the extreme south- western frontier, not long since ; but this barbarity was condemned by the Indian bands, as much as by Ame- rican citizens. Although the war-whoop has scarcely ' See page 188. * See page 300. xliv HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ceased to resound through the vales, and over the prai- ries, yet, since 1853, the Indian population has receded westward one hundred and fifty miles, and an Indian, when he appears on the site of what was only yesterday his village, is gazed at with curiosity. At Weenonah,^ so lately the residence of Wapashaw,^ there is already an embryo city with three thousand in- habitants, and two newspapers ; at Raymneecha, the re- cent village of the Red Wing band, at the head of Lake Pepin, there is a busy town, the seat of a Methodist University, with comfortable church edifices of brick, and an industrious population. At Shokpay,^ which was one of the largest Dahkotah"* villages, is a thriving county seat, with a population that is rapidly increasing. Near the old mission-house of Traverse des Sioux, is springing up St. Peter, a town of ardent aspirations, which may be the future capital of the state. Notwithstanding the erroneous impressions that have prevailed, that Minnesota was too far north for agricul- tural success, and the emigration to Kansas, Nebraska, and California, its growth has been surprising. In 1849, the population was less than five thousand, in- cluding all of the soldiers of the forts; in 1857, a census that was not fully completed, presented the following figures : — ^ In several places we write ' Shokpay or Shakpay, is now Winona as it is pronounced, because written Shakopee, but we prefer the some are beginning to talk of the old method. town of Wyenonay, a barbarism * Dahkotah is also spelled Dakota, that would shock a Dahkotah. Dacota, Dahcotah, and Dakotah. ^ Wapashaw is used for Wabasha, The accent is emphatic, and on the because more correct and euphonious penult. — See Dahkotah Lexicon, vol. iv. Smithsonian Publications. DESCRIPTION OF FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY, 1848. xlv Houston, 5,264 Winona 8,163 Fillmore,! 6,595 Olmsted, 8,458 Dodge, 3,680 Mower,^ Freeborn, 2,485 Faribault, 689 Waseca, 2,595 Steele 2,598 Blue Earth, 3,628 Wabashaw, 5,115 Goodhue, 6,951 Rice, 6,440 Le Sueur, 3,510 Nicollet, 5,437 Brown, 1,689 Sibley,'' Scott, 5,302 Carver 3,117 Eenville, 245 McLeod 822 Dahkotah, 8,158 Hennepin, 13,064 Ramsey, 12,748 Anokai^ 2,559 Wright, 2,233 Sherburne, 507 Total. Benton, 688 Stearns, 2,840 Meeker, 1,014 Morrison, 751 Manomin,^ Washington, .... 6,182 Chisago, 1,763 Pine, 102 St. Louis 1,559 Isanti, 184 Pierce,^ Cass, 196 Pembina, Crow Wing, 176 Mille Lac,'' Todd, 81 Buchanan, 120 Carlton, 239 Lake, 1,212 Itasca,' Cotton Wood, .... 173 Murray, 81 Nobles 16 Rock, 52 Jackson 50 Martin, 55 Pipe Stone, 24 136,464 In 1848, Minnesota seemed a wilderness to a divine, the Rev. Albert Barnes, of Philadelphia, who visited the country on a tour of pleasure ; and he thus presents his views of a locality, which is now spanned by two bridges, the seat of the State University, and of two towns, the abode of five thousand active inhabitants : — " I visited the Falls of St. Anthony. I know not how other men feel when standing there, nor how men "vvill feel a century hence, when standing there — then, ^ Partial return. ' No returns. xlvi HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. not in the West, but almost in the centre of our great nation. But when I stood there and reflected on the distance between that and the place of my birth and my home ; on the prairies over which I had passed ; and the stream — the ' Father of Rivers' — up which I had sailed some five hundred miles, into a new and un- settled land — where the children of the forest still live and roam — I had views of the greatness of my country, such as I have never had in the crowded capitals and the smiling villages of the East. Far in the distance did they then seem to be ; and there came over the soul the idea of greatness, and vastness, which no figures, no description, had ever conveyed to my mind. To an inexperienced traveller, too, how strange is the appear- ance of all that land i * * * * You ascend the Mississippi amidst scenery unsurpassed in beauty probably in the world. You see the waters making their way along an interval of from two to four miles in width — between bluffs of from one hundred to five hundred feet in height. Now the river makes its way along the eastern range of bluffs, and now the western, and now in the centre, and now it divides itself into numerous channels, forming thou- sands of beautiful islands, covered with long grass, ready for the scythe of the mower. Those bluffs, rounded with taste and skill, such as could be imitated by no art of man, and set out with trees here and there, gracefully arranged like orchards, seem to have been sown with grain to the summit, and are clothed with beautiful green. You look out instinctively for the house and bam ; for flocks and herds ; for men, and women, and children ; but they are not there. A race that is gone seems to have cultivated those fields, -and MINNESOTA, THE SKY-TINTED WATER. xhii then to have silently disappeared — leaving them for the first man that should come from the older parts of our own country, or from foreign lands, to take possession of them. It is only by a process of reflection that you are convinced that it is not so." The state of Minnesota derives its name from the principal tributary of the Mississippi within its bounda- ries. The name is a compound Dahkotah word. This nation call the Missouri, Minneshoshay, muddy water, and this stream Minnesota. The precise signification of Sota is difficult to express. Featherstonhaugh says it means clear, Schoolcraft bluish green, others turbid. Nicollet remarks : — " The adjective Sotali is of difficult translation. The Canadians translated it by a pretty equivalent word brouille, perhaps more properly rendered into English by blear, as for instance Minisotah, blear water. I have entered upon this explanation because the word sotah really means neither clear nor turbid, as some authors have asserted, its true meaning being readily found, in the Sioux expression Ishta-sotah, blear eyed." From the fact that the word signifies neither white nor blue, but the peculiar appearance of the sky on certain days, the Historical Society publications, define Minnesota to mean the shy-tinted water, which is certainly poetic, and according to Gideon II. Pond, one of the Ijest Dahkotah scholars, correct. Throughout the work, we have called the tribe who were the aborigines of Minnesota, Dahkotahs, a name by which they recognise themselves. The term Sioux is a mere nickname given for convenience by the early voyageurs. Minnesota, as a state, ought to have the highest aspi- xlviii HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. rations. The birthplace of many rivers, flowing north, south, east, and west ; with varied scenery, the prairie, the forest, the lofty bluff, the placid lake, and the laughing waterfall; the summit of the central valley of North America; with an atmosphere peculiarly dry and bracing, it must ever be attractive to emigrants from all regions of the world. If the aims of her citizens only correspond with the elevated natural position and ad- vantages, the cattle upon a thousand hills will soon occupy the old pasture-grounds of the elk and bison, and school-houses will crown the eminences but lately adorned with burial scaffolds ; and the State will become the birth-place of not only majestic rivers, but great men. If the perusal of the following pages shall tend to foster a proper State pride, and interest the generation now springing up in the history of their country, the chief end of the work will have been attained. HISTORY or MINNESOTA. CHAPTER I. Minnesota is the "land of the Dahkotahs." Long before their existence was known to civiUzed men, they wandered through the forests, between Lake Superior and the Mississippi, in quest of the bounding deer, and over the prairies beyond in search of the ponderous buffalo. They are an entirely different group from the Algon- quin and Iroquois, who were found by the early settlers of the Atlantic States, on the banks of the Connecticut, Mohawk, and Susquehanna rivers. Their language is much more difficult to comprehend; and, while they have many customs in common with the tribes who once dwelt in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, they have peculiarities which mark them as belonging to a distinct family of the aborigines of America. Winona, Wapashaw, Mendota, Anoka, Kasota, Mah- kahto, and other names designating the towns, hamlets, and streams of Minnesota, are words derived from the Dahkotah vocabulary. ^ Between the head of Lake Superior aiKl'the Missis- 4 (49) 50 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. sippi river, above the Falls of Saint Anthony, is a country of many lakes. So numerous are they, and interlaced by clear and sparkling brooks, to an aeronaut they would appear like a necklace of diamonds, on silver filaments, gracefully thrown upon the bosom of Earth. Surrounded by forests of the sugar maple — the neigh- bouring marshes fertile in the growth of mid rice — the waters abounding in fish — the shores once alive with the beaver, the otter, the bear, and the fox — they were sites just adapted for the residence of an Indian popu- lation. When the Dahkotahs were first noticed by the Euro- pean adventurer, large numbers were occupjdng this region of country, and appropriately called by the voya- geur, " People of the Lakes." ^ And tradition, asserts that here, was the ancient centre of this tribe. Though we have traces of their warring and hunting on the shores of Lake Superior, there is no satisfactory evidence of their residence, east of the Mille Lac region.^ The word Dahkotah, by which they love to be desig- nated, signifies allied or joined together in friendly com- pact, and is equivalent to " E pluribus unum," the motto on the seal of the United States. In the history of the mission at La Pointe, Wisconsin, published nearly two centuries ago, a writer, referring to the Dahkotahs, remarks : — " For sixty leagues from the extremity of the Upper Lake, toward sunset ; and, as it were m the centre of the western nations, they have all united their force hy a general league!' ' Gens du Lac. ^ They have no name for Lake Superior. — G. H. Pond, in " Dahkotah Tawaxitku Kin." THE NAMES SIOUX, AND DAHKOTAH. 51 The Dalikotahs in the earliest documents, and even until the present day, are called Sioux, Scioux, or Soos. The name originated with the early " voyageurs." For centuries the Ojibways of Lake Superior waged war against the Dahkotahs ; and, whenever they spoke of them, called them Nadowaysioux, which signifies ene- mies. The French traders, to avoid exciting the attention of Indians, while conversing in their presence, were accustomed to designate them by names, which would not be recognised. The Dahkotahs were nicknamed Sioux, a word com- posed, of the two last syllables, of the Ojibway word, for foes. Charlevoix, who visited Wisconsin in 1721, in his history of New France says : " The name of Sioux, that we give to these Indians, is entirely of our own making, or rather it is the last two syllables of the name of Nadouessioux, as many nations call them." From an early period, there have been three great divisions of this people, which have been subdivided into smaller bands. The first are called the Isanyati, the Issati of Hennepin, after one of the many lakes at the head waters of the river, marked on modern maps, by the unpoetic name of Rum. It is asserted by Dahkotah missionaries now living, that this name was given to the lake because the stone from which they manufactured the knife (isan) was here obtained. The principal band of the Isanti was the M'dewakanton- wan.' In the journal of Le Sueur, they are spoken of as residing on a lake east of the Mississippi. Tra- ' Pronounced as if written Medday-wawkawn-twawn. 52 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. dition says that it was a day's walk from Isantamde or Knife Lake. On a map prepared in Paris in 1703, Eum River is called the river of the M'dewakantonwans, and the Spirit Lake on which they dwelt, was, without doubt, Mille Lac of modern charts. The second great division is the Ihanktonwajs", com- monly called Yankton. They appear to have occupied the region west of the M'dewakantonwan, and north of the Minnesota river. The geographer De Lisle places their early residence in the vichiity of Traverse des Sioux, extending northward. The last division, the Titonwan, hunted west of the Ihanktons, and all the early maps mark their villages at Lac-qui-parle and Big Stone Lake. Hennepin, in August, 1679, in the vicinity of the Falls of Niagara, met the Senecas returning from war with the Dahkotahs, and with them some captive Tin- tonwans (Teetwawns) . This division is now the most numerous, and comprises about one-half of the whole nation. They have wan- dered to the plains beyond the Missouri, and are the plundering Arabs of America. Whenever they appear m sight of the emigrant train, journeying to the Pacific coast, the hearts of the company are filled with painful apprehensions. North of the Dahkotahs, on Lake of the Woods and the watercourses connecting it with Lake Superior, were the Assiniboine. These were once a portion of the nation. Before the other divisions of the Dahkotahs had traded with the French, they had borne their pel- tries to the English post, Fort Nelson, on Hudson's Bay, and had received in return British manufactures. By DIFFERENT DAHKOTAH BANDS. 53 association with the EngUsh, they learned to look upon the French with distrust, and in time to be hostile towards those who had formed alliances with the French. Le Sueur writes, in relation to their separation from the rest of the nation, in these words : — " The Assinipoils speak Scioux, and are certainly of that nation. It is only a few years since they became enemies. It thus originated : The Christianaux having the use of arms before the Scioux, through the English at Hudson's Bay, they constantly warred upon the Asssinipoils, who were their nearest neighbours. The latter being weak sued for peace, and, to render it more lasting, married the Christianaux women. The other Scioux, who had not made the compact, continued to war, and seeing some Christianaux with the Assinipoils, broke their heads." After this there was alienation. A letter, however, written at Fort Bourbon, on Hudson's Bay, about 1695, remarks : " It is said that the Assini- boins are a nation of the Sioux, which separated from them a long time ago" The Dahkotahs call these alienated tribes Hohays, and make woman the cause of the separation. They are said to have belonged to the Ihanktonwan (Yankton) division of the nation. A quarrel^ tradition asserts, occurred between two families hunting at the time in the vicinity of Lake Traverse. A young man seduced the wife of one of the warriors. The injured husband, in attempting to rescue his wife, was killed in the tent of the seducer. His father and some relatives wanted to secure the corpse. On the road, they Avere met, by some of the friends of the guilty 3'outh, and tbree of their number were killed. The father then turned back 54 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and raised a party of sixty warriors, who waged war against the seducer and his friends, which continued until the whole band were involved, and ended in a revolt upon the part of the aggressor and his friends, who in time became a separate people. In the vallej^s of the Blue Earth, the Des Moines, and the eastern tributaries of the Missouri, within the limits of the territory of Minnesota, there also dwelt in ancient days bands of the loways, Ottoes, Cheyennes, Aricarees, and Omahaws, who sought other hunting-grounds as the Dahkotahs advanced westward. The Dahkotahs, Uke all ignorant and barbarous peo- ple, have but little reflection beyond that necessary to gratify the pleasure of revenge and of the appetite. It would be strange to find heroes among skulking savages, or maidens like " Minnehaha" of the poet, among those whose virtue can be easily jDurchased. While there are exceptions, the general characteristics of the Dahkotahs, and all Indians, are indolence, im- purity, and indifference to the future. The religion of this people is exceedingly indistinct, and with reluctance do they converse on the subject. That a nation so low in the scale of humanity should have preserved the idea of one great spirit, the father of all spirits, the supreme and most perfect of beings, is not to be supposed. To attribute to them more elevated conceptions than those of the cultivated Athe- nians, is perfect absurdity. The Dahkotahs, in their religious belief, are polytheists. The hunter, as he passes over the plains, finds a granite boulder : he stops and prays to it, for it is " Wawhaw)!!' — mysterious or supernatural. At another time, he will pray to his dog ; and at another time, to the sun, moon, or stars. DAHKOTAH WORSHIP AND GODS. 55 In every leaf, in every stone, in every shrub, there is a spirit. It may be said of them, as Cotton Mather said of the Massachusetts Indians, in his Life of EUot : " All the religion they have amounts to thus much : they beUeve that there are many gods, who made and own the several nations of the world. They believe that every remarkable creature has a peculiar god within or about it ; there is with them a sun god or a moon god and the like \ and they cannot conceive but that the fire must be a kind of god, masmuch as a spark of it will soon produce very strange effects. They believe that when any good or ill happens to them, there is the favour or anger of a god expressed in it." The Dahkotahs have greater and minor deities, and they are supposed to multiply as men and animals, and the superior to have power to extermmate the inferior. The Jupiter Maximus of the Dahkotahs is styled Oanktayhee. As the ancient Hebrews avoided speak- ing the name of Jehovah, so they dislike to speak the name of this deity, but call him " Taku-w^akan," or " That which is supernatural." This mighty god mani- fests himself as a large ox. His eyes are as large as the moon. He can haul in his horns and tail, or he can lengthen them, as he pleases. From him proceed in- visible influences. In his extremities reside mighty powers. He is said to have created the earth. Assembling in grand conclave all of the aquatic tribes, he ordered them to bring up dirt from beneath the water, and proclaimed death to the disobedient. The beaver and others for- feited their lives. At last the muskrat went beneath the waters, and, after a long time, appeared at the sur- face nearly exhausted, with some dirt. From this, 56 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Oanktayhee fashioned the earth into a large circular plain. The earth being finished, he took a deity, one of his own offspring, and grinding him to powder, sprinkled it upon the earth, and this produced many worms. The worms were then collected and scattered again. They matured into infants ; and these were then collected and scattered and became full-grown Dahkotahs. The bones of the mastodon, the Dahkotahs think, are those of Oanktayhee, and they preserve them with the greatest care in the medicine bag. It is the belief of the Dahkotahs that the Rev. R. Hopkins, who was drowned at Traverse des Sioux, on July 4th, 1851, was killed by Oanktayhee, who dwells in the waters, because he had preached against him. This deity is supposed to have a dwelling-place beneath the Falls of Saint Anthony. A few years ago, by the sudden breaking up of a gorge of ice, a cabin near Fort Snelling, containing a soldier, was swept off by the flood. The Dahkotahs supposed that this great god was descending the river at the time, and, being hungry, devoured the man. Hay-o-kah {the anti-natural god) . — There are four per- sons in this godhead. The first appears like a tall and slender man with two faces, like the Janus of ancient mythology. Apollo-like, he holds a bow in his hand streaked with red lightning, also a rattle of deer claws. The second is a little old man with a cocked hat and enormous ears, holding a yellow bow. The third, a man with a flute suspended from his neck. TYie fourth is invisible and mysterious, and is the gentle zephyr which bends the grass and causes the ripple of the water. Hayokah is a perfect paradox. He calls bitter sweet, HAYOKAH, AND OTHER DEITIES. 57 and sweet bitter ; he groans when he is full of joy ; he laughs when he is in distress ; he calls black, white, and white, black ; when he wishes to tell the truth he speaks a lie, and when he desires to lie, he speaks the truth ; in winter he goes naked, and in summer he Avraps up in buffalo robes. The little hills on the prairies are called Hay-o-kah-tee, or the house of Hay-o-kah. Those whom he inspires, can make the winds blow and the rain fall, the grass to grow and wither. There is said to exist a clan who especially adore this deity, and at times dance in his honour. At dawn of day they assemble within a teepee, in the centre of which is a fire, over which are suspended kettles. With cone- shaped hats and ear-rings, both made of bark, and loins girded with the same material, they look like incarnate demons. On their hats are zigzag streaks of paint — representations of lightning. The company remain seated and smoking around the fire, until the water ui the kettle begins to boil, which is a signal for the commencement of the dance. The excitement now becomes intense. They jump, shout, and sing around the fire, and at last plunge their hands into the cauldron, seize and eat the boiled meat. Then they throw the scalding water, on each others backs, the sufferers never wincing, but insisting that it is cold. Taku-shkan-shkan. — This deity is supposed to be invisible, yet everywhere present. He is full of revenge, exceedingly wrathful, very deceitful, and a searcher of hearts. His favourite haunts are the four winds, and the granite boulders strewn on the plains of Minnesota. He is never so happy as when he beholds scalps, warm and reeking with blood. The object of that strange ceremony of the Dahko- 58 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. tahs, in which the performer being bound hand and foot with the greatest care, is suddenly unbound by an invi- sible agent, is to obtain an interview with Taku-shkan- shkan. The name of another one of the superior divinities is Wahkeenyan. His teepee is supposed to be on a mound on the top of a high mountain, in the far West. The teepee or tent has four openings, with sentinels clothed in red down. A butterfly is stationed at the east, a bear at the west, a fawn at the south, and a reindeer at the north entrance. He is supposed to be a gigantic bird, the flapping of whose wings makes thunder. He has a bitter enmity against Oanktayhee, and attempts to kill his offspring. The high water a few years ago was supposed to be caused by his shooting through the earth, and allowing the water to flow out. When the lightning strikes their teepees or the ground, they think that Oanktayhee was near the surface of the earth, and that Wahkeenyan, in great rage, fired a hot thunderbolt at him. By him wild rice, is said to have been created, also the spear, and tomahawk. A bird of thunder was once killed, the Indians assert, near Kaposia. Its face resembled the human 'counte- nance. Its nose was hooked like the bill of an eagle. Its wings had four joints, and zigzag like the lightning. About thirty miles from Big Stone Lake, near the head waters of the Minnesota, there are several small lakes bordered with oak-trees. This is the supposed JDirth-place of the Thunder Bird, and is called the Nest of Thunder. The first step the spirit ever took in this world was equal to that of the hero, in the child's story, who wore seven-league boots, being twenty-five miles in length. A rock is pointed out which has a foot-like WAHKEENYAN.— THUNDER BIRD. 59 impression, which they say is his track ; and the hill is called Thunder Tracks. A son of Colonel Snelling, the first commander of the fort of that name, in a poem, which is published in Griswold's collection of American poetry, alludes to the foregoing incidents : — " The moon that night withheld her light. By fits, instead, a lurid glare Illumed the skies ; while mortal eyes Were closed, and voices rose in prayer While the revolving sun Three times his course might run, The dreadful darkness lasted ; And all that time the red man's eye A sleeping spirit might espy. Upon a tree-top cradled high, Whose trunk his breath had blasted. So long he slept, he grew so fast, Beneath his weight the gnarlfed oak Snapped, as the tempest snaps the mast : It fell, and Thunder woke ! The world to its foundation shook. The grizzly bear his prey forsook. The scowling heaven an aspect bore That man had never seen before ; The wolf in terror fled away, And shone at last the light of day. " 'Twas here he stood ; these lakes attest Where first Waw-kee-an's footsteps press'd. About his burning brow a cloud, Black as the raven's wing, he wore ; Thick tempests wrapt him like a shroud, Red lightnings in his hand he bore ; Like two bright suns his eyeballs shone, His voice was like the cannon's tone ; And, where he breathed, the land became, Prairie and wood, one sheet of flame. " Not long upon this mountain height The first and worst of storms abode. 60 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. For, moving iu his fearful might, Abroad the GoD-begotten strode. Afar, on yonder faint blue mound. In the horizon's utmost bound, At the first stride his foot he set ; The jarring world confessed the shock. Stranger ! the track of Thunder yet Remains upon the living rock. " The second step, he gained the sand On far Superior's storm-beat strand : Then with his shout the concave rung. As up to heaven the giant sprung On high, beside his sire to dwell ; But still, of all the spots on earth, He loves the woods that gave him birth. — Such is the tale our fathers tell." After an individual has dreamed in relation to the sun, there are sacred ceremonies. Two persons are the participants, who assume a pecuhar attitude. Almost naked, holding a small whistle in their mouths, they look towards the sun, and dance mth a strange and awkward step. One of their mterpreters remarks, " The nearest and best comparison I can make of them when worshipping, is a frog held up by the middle with its legs half drawn up." During the continuance of the ceremony, which may last two or three days, the parties fast. When a Dahkotah is troubled in spirit, and desires to be delivered from real or imaginary danger, he will select a stone that is round and portable, and, placing it in a spot free from grass and underbrush, he will streak it with red paint, and, offering to it some feathers, he will pray to it for help. The stone, after the ceremony is over, does not appear to be regarded with veneration. If visitors request them, they can be obtained. SACRED MEN INITIATED. 61 CHAPTER 11. In all nations where the masses are unenlightened, their spiritual nature is uncultivated, and they believe whatever a class of men pretending to have authority from the spirit world, may impose upon them. All ignorant communities are superstitious and easily priest- ridden. The early Britons looked upon the Druids, as a supernatural, and wonder-working class, and they fed, and feared them. The Wawkawn, or medicine men, hold the same relation to the Dahkotahs as the Druids to the ancient Britons. They are the most powerful and influential of the tribe. They are looked upon as a species of demi-gods. They assert their origin to be miraculous. At first they are" spiritual existences, encased in a seed of some description of a winged nature, like the thistle. Wafted by the breeze to the dwelling-place of the gods, they are received to intimate communion. After being instructed in rela- tion to the mysteries of the spirit world, they go forth to study the character of all tribes. After deciding upon a residence, they enter the body of some one about to become a mother, and are ushered by her into the world. A great majority of the M'dewakantonwans are medicine men. "When an individual desires to belong to this priest- 62 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. hood, he is initiated by what is termed a ''medicine dance." This dance is said to have been instituted by Oanktayhee, the patron of medicine men. The editor of the "Dahkotah Friend," in a description of this dance, remarks : — " When a member is to be received into this society, it is his duty, to take the hot bath, four days in succes- sion. In the mean time, some of the elders of the society instruct him in the mysteries of the medicine, and Wahmnoo-Aah — shell in the throat. He is also provided with a dish (wojute) and spoon. On the side of the dish is sometimes carved the head of some vora- cious animal, in which resides the spirit of Eeyah (glut^ ton god). This dish is always carried by its owner to the medicine feast, and it is his duty, ordinarily, to eat all which is served up in it. Gray Iron has a dish which was given him at the time of his initiation, on the bottom of which is carved, a bear complete. The candidate is also instructed with what paints, and in what manner, he shall paint himself, which must always be the same, when he appears in the dance. There is supernatural virtue in this paint, and the manner in which it is applied ; and those who have not been fur- nished with a better, by the regular war prophets, wear it into battle, as a life-preserver. The bag contains besides, the claws of animals, with the toanwan of which they can, it is beheved, inflict painful diseases and death on whomsoever, and whenever, they desire. " The candidate being thus duly prepared for initia^ tion, and having made the necessary offerings for the benefit of the institution, on the evening of the day pre- vious to the dance a lodge is prepared, and from ten to twenty of the more substantial members pass the night MEDICINE DANCE AND SONGS. 63 in singing, dancing, and feasting. In the morning, the tent is opened for the dance. After a few appropriate ceremonies preliminary to the grand operation, the can- didate takes his place on a pile of blankets which he has contributed for the occasion, naked, except the breech-cloth and moccasins, duly painted and prepared for the mysterious operation. An elder having been stationed in the rear of the novice, the master of the ceremonies, with his knee and hip joints bent to an angle of about forty-five degrees, advances, with an unsteady, unnatural step, with his bag in his hand, uttering, " Heen, lieen, lieen" with great energy, and raising the bag near a painted spot on the breast of the candidate, gives the discharge, the person stationed in the rear gives him a push forward at the same instant, and as he falls headlong throws the blankets over him. Then, while the dancers gather around him and chant, the master throws off the covering, and, chewing a piece of the bone of the Oanktay^ee, spirts it over him, and he revives, and resumes a sitting posture. All then return to their seats except the master; he approaches, and, making indescribable noises, pats upon the breast of the novice, till the latter, in agonizing throes, heaves up the AVahmnoo-^ah or shell, which falls from his mouth upon the bag which had been previously spread before him for that purpose. Life being now completely restored, and with the mysterious shell in his open hand, the new-made member passes around and exhi- bits it to all the members and to the wondering by- standers, and the ceremonies of initiation are closed. The dance continues, interspersed with shooting each other, rests, smoking, and taking refreshments, till they have jumped to the music of four sets of singers. Be- 6-t HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. sides vocal music, tliey make use of the drum and the gourd-shell rattle. The following chants, which are used in the dance, will best exhibit the character of this mysterious institution of the Oanktay/iee : — " Waduta ohna micage. Waduta ohna micage. Miniyata ite wakan de maqu, Tunkanixdan. " He created it for me enclosed in red down. He created it for me enclosed in red down. He in the water with a mysterious visage gave me this, My grandfather. " Tunkanixdan pejihuta wakan micage, He wicake. Miniyata oicage wakan kin maqu ye, Tunkanixdan ite kin yuwinta wo. Wahutopa yuha ite yuwinto wo. "My grandfather created for me mysterious medicine, That is true. The mysterious being in the water gave it to me. Stretch out your hand before the face of my grandfather, Having a quadruped, stretch out your hand before him." The medicine pouch is the skin of an otter, fox, or similar animal, containing certain articles which are held sacred. A warrior leaving his village to hunt, gave his pouch to a friend of the writer, who had dwelt as a missionary among the Dahkotahs for a score of years. The owner having died, he retained it, and, being at his house one day, it was, at my request, opened. The contents were some dried mud, a dead beetle, a few roots, and a scrap of an old letter, which had probably been picked up about the walls of Fort Snelling. Where the science of medicine is not understood, the PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.— VAPOUR BATH. G5 inhabitants are very superstitious concerning the sick. Those who are prominent in their devotion to the sacred rites of a heathen tribe, generally act as physicians. The Druids of the early Britons performed the duties of doctors, and the conjurers, or medicine men, as they are generally termed, are called to attend the sick Dah- kotahs. This tribe of Indians are well acquainted with the bones of the body ; but no Dr. Hunter has yet risen among them to explain the circulation of the blood, and therefore they have but a single word for nerves, arteries, and veins. When a young man is sick, he is generally well watched; but old persons, and those that have some deformity, are often neglected. To effect a cure, they often practise what is called steaming. They erect a small tent covered with thick buffalo robes, in which they place some hot stones. Stripj)ing the sick person of his blanket, they place him in the tent. Water is then thrown upon the hot stones, which creates considerable vapour. After the patient has been confined in this close tent for some time, and has perspired pro- fusely, they occasionally take him out and plunge him into the waters of an adjacent river or lake. This custom is very ancient. One of the first white men who appear to have resided amongst them, was a Franciscan priest, named Hennepin. He was made their prisoner in the year 1680, while travelling on the Mississippi, above the Wisconsin river. The Dahkotahs took him to their villages on the shores of Rum river, at Mille Lac, where he was quartered in a chief's lodge, whose name was Aquipaguetin. The chief observing that Hennepin was much fiitigued, ordered an oven to be made, which, to use the words of the Franciscan, " he ordered me to enter, stark naked, with four 5 G6 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. savages. The oven was covered with buffalo hides, and in it they placed red-hot flint and other stones. They ordered me to hold my breath as long as I could. As soon as the savages that were 'vyith me let go their breath, which they did with a great force, Aquipaguetin began to sing. The others seconded him ; and laying their hands on my body began to rub, and at the same time cry bitterly. I was near fainting, and forced to leave the oven. At my coming out, I could scarcely take up my cloak. However, they continued to make me sweat thrice a week, which at last restored me to my former vigour." When a Dahkotah is very sick, the friends call in a conjurer or medicine man. Before we proceed, it is proper to explain the meaning of the term " medicine man." Anything that is mysterious or wonderful, the Dahkotahs call " Wawkawn." The early explorers and traders in Minnesota were French, and they always call a doctor "medecin." As the Indian doctors are all dealers in mysteries, the word "medicine" has at last obtained a local signification, meaning anything that is mysterious or unaccountable. A "medicine man" means, then, a doctor who calls to his aid charms and incantations. The medicine men are divided into war prophets, and conjurers or doctors. A Dahkotah, when he is sick, believes that he is pos- sessed by the spirit of some animal, or insect, or enemy. The medicine men, are supposed to have great power of suction in their jaws, by which they can draw out the spirit that afflicts the patient, and thus restore him to health. They are much feared by all the tribe. The doctor is called to see a sick person by sending some one with a present of a horse or blankets, or something as MEDICAL PRACTICE. 67 valuable. The messenger sometimes carries a bell, and rings aromid the lodge until the conjurer makes his appearance ; at other times he bears to the doctor's lodge a lighted pipe, and presenting it to him, places his hands on his head and moans. '• The person sent to call on the doctor, strips himself for running, retaining only his breech cloth, and carry- ing a bell. He enters the lodge, and without further ceremony, strikes the doctor with his foot, jingles his bell, and suddenly issuing from the lodge, runs with all his might for the sick man's lodge, with the doctor at his heels. If the latter overtakes and kicks him before he reaches the lodge, he does not proceed any further, but returns home. Another person is then despatched, and it is not until one is sent who is too swift for him, that the doctor's services can be secured." The doctor having entered the tent, ^vithout touching the patient, begins to strip himself, leaving nothing upon his body but the breech cloth, and moccasins. Having obtained a sacred rattle, which is nothing more than a dried gourd, filled with a few kernels of corn, or beads, he begins to shake and sing in unearthly monotones. He now gets upon his knees, and, to use a vulgarism, " crawls on all fours," up to his patient. After a few moments we see him rise again retching violently, and picking up a bowl of water thrusts his face therein, and Ijegins to make a gurgling noise. Into this bowl he professes to expectorate the spirit which has incited the disease. The doctor having decided what animal has possessed his patient, he has an image of the animal made out of bark, and placed outside near the tent door in a vessel of water. Mr. Prescott, United States Interpreter of the Dahkotahs, in a communication upon this subject C8 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. says : " The animal made of JDark is to be shot. Two or three Indians are in waiting, standing near the bowl, with loaded guns, ready to shoot when the conjurer gives the signal. To be sure that the conjuring shall have the desired effect, a woman must stand astride the bowl, when the men fire into it, with her dress raised as high as the knees. The men are instructed how to act by the conjurer; and as soon as he makes his ap- pearance out of doors, they all fire into the bowl, and blow the little bark animal to f)ieces. The woman steps aside, and the juggler makes a jump at the bowl on his hands and knees, and commences blubbering in the water. While this is going on, the woman has to jump on the juggler's back, and stand there a moment; then she gets off, and as soon as he has finished his incantations, the woman takes him by the hair of his head, and pulls him back into the lodge. If there are any fragments found of the animal that has been shot, they are buried. If this does not cure, a similar cere- mony is performed, but some other kind of animal is shaped out." Among the earliest songs, to which a Dahkotah child listens, are those of war. As soon as he begins to totter about, he carries as a plaything, a miniature bow, and arrow. The first thing he is taught, as great and truly noble, is taking a scalp, and he pants to perform an act, which is so manly. At the age of sixteen, he is often on the war path. When a boy is of the proper age to go to war, he is presented with weapons, or he makes a war club. He then consecrates certain parts of animals, which he vows, not to eat. After he has killed an enemy, he is at liberty, to eat of any one of those portions of an animal, from which he agreed to abstain. If he kills CRUELTY TO FOES. 69 another person, the prohibition is taken off from another part, until finally he has emancipated himself from his oath, by his bravery. Before young men go out on a war party, they endeavour to propitiate the patron deity by a feast. Durmg the hours of night, they celebrate the " armour feast," which is distmguished by drumming, singing, and agonizing shrieks. The war prophets or priests, by the narrating of pre- tended dreams, or by inspiring oratory, incite the tribe against an enemy. If a party are successful in securing scalps, they paint themselves black, and return home in mad triumph. As they approach their village, those who are there run forth to greet them, and strip them of their clothes, and supply them wdtli others. The scalp is very carefully prepared for exhibition, being painted red, and stretched upon a hoop, which is fastened to a pole. If the scalp is from a man, it is decked with an eagle's feather, if from a w^oman, with a comb. At a scalp dance, which we once attended at Kaposia, the braves stood on one side of the circle, drumming and rattling, and shouting a monotonous song, reminding one of a song of chimney sweeps of a city. The women, standing opposite to the men, advanced and retreated from the men, squeaking in an unearthly man- ner, a sort of chorus. This is the chief dance, in which the women, engage. If a scalp is taken in summer, they dance until the falling of the leaves ; if in winter, until the leaves begin to appear. When the scalp is freshly painted, as it is four times, it is a great occasion. After their mad orgies, have ceased, they burn or ])ury it. An eagle's feather, with a red spot, in the head of some of those Indians walking through our settlements, is a badge that the possessor has killed a foe. If the feather is 70 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. notched and bordered with red, or clipped and topped with red, it signifies that a throat has been cut. The red hand on a blanket, shows that the man has been wounded by an enemy ; but the black hand, that he has killed his enemy. The Dahkotahs, like other savages in war, show no sympathy for sex, infancy, or old age. At Pokeguma, the Kaposia band scalped two little girls that attended the mission school ; buried a tomahawk in their brains ; severed the hands from the bodies ; and then set them up in the sand. Mr. Riggs narrates an inci- dent of some of the upper bands of Dahkotahs, pursuing a weak Ojibway mother. To save her life she swam a stream. Half naked she reached the opposite bank, and dropped down, too much exhausted to attempt to pro- ceed. With the delight of demons just let loose from hell, her pursuers came over, stabbed and scalped her. Prematurely, ushering her unborn babe into existence, they dashed its brains out, upon the ground. Returning with a poor, sick mother's scalp, they came home as " conquering heroes come," and were received with pride and honour. Such is savage warfare, and the savage idea of what constitutes true glory. But, notwithstanding their horrid mode of warfare, they are not destitute of affection for their own offspring or friends. The Dahkotahs assert that a mother is with her absent children whenever they think of her, and that she feels a pain in her breast (or heart) whenever anything of moment happens to them. When a child dies, like Rachel, they refuse to be comforted. The following paraphrase of the lament of a bereaved Indian mother, prepared for the " Dakota Friend," is full of poetry : " Me clioonkshee! Me clioonhshee ! (my daughter, my daughter,) alas ! alas ! My hope, my comfort has departed, my A MOTHER'S WAIL OVER HER INFANT. 71 heart is very sad. My joy is turned into sorrow, and my song into wailing. Shall I never behold thy sunny smile ? Shall I never more hear the music of thy voice ? The Great Spirit has entered my lodge in anger, and taken thee from me, my first born and only child. I am comfortless and must wail out my grief. The pale faces repress their sorrow, but we children of nature must give vent to ours or die. Me choonkshee ! me choonkshee ! " The Hght of my eyes is extinguished ; all, all is dark. I have cast from me all comfortable clothing, and robed myself in comfortless skins, for no clothing, no fire, can warm thee, my daughter. Unwashed and uncombed, I will mourn for thee, whose long locks I can never more braid ; and whose cheeks I can never again tinge with Vermillion. I will cut ofi" my dishevelled hair, for my grief is great, me choonkshee ! me choonkshee ! How can I survive thee ? How can I be happy, and you a homeless wanderer to the spirit land ? How can I eat if you are hungry ? I will go to the grave with food for your spirit. Your bowl and spoon are placed in your coffin for use on the journe3\ The feast for your playmates has been made at the place of interment. Knowest thou of their presence ? Me choonkshee ! me choonkshee ! " When spring returns, the choicest of ducks shall be your portion. Sugar and berries also shall be placed near your grave. Neither grass nor flowers shall be allowed to grow thereon. Affection for thee will keep the little mound desolate, like the heart from which thou art torn. My daughter, I come, I come. I bring you parched corn. Oh, how long will you sleep ? The wintry winds wail your requiem. The cold earth is 72 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. your bed, and the colder snow thy covering. I would that they were mine. I will lie down by thy side. I will sleep once more with you. If no one discovers me, I shall soon be as cold as thou art, and together we will sleep that long, long sleep from which I cannot wake thee. Me choonkshee ! me choonkshee !" A Dahkotah obtains his wives (for they are polyga- mists) not by courtship, but by a practice as old as the book of Genesis, that of purchase. A young man, when he wants a wife, announces the fact, and begs his friends to give him an outfit. He then proceeds to the parents and makes a purchase. The ancestors of some of the first families of Virginia, purchased their wives from the London company, for one hundred and twenty or fifty pounds of tobacco, at three shilHngs a pound, but a Dahkotah pays a higher price for the article, and takes more. Usually they pay a horse, or four or five guns, or six or eight blankets, a value equal to thirty or forty dollars. The chief of the Kaposia band has three wives, who are sisters. His second wife he purchased of her father while he was drunk, and she but ten years of age. It is said that a friend throws a blanket over the bride and bears her to the lodge of the purchaser. Though a son- in-law lives near the parents of his wife, he never names or talks to them, and never looks his wife's mother in the face. He thinks it is respectful to act in this manner. He occujDies a large lodge, while his wife's parents frequently live in a small one, in the rear, whom he supplies with game until he has a family of his own. Should the parents accidentally meet him, they hide their faces. If the mother starts for the THE WOODPECKER CHARM.— DRESS. 73 daughter's lodge and perceives her husband mside, she does not enter. If a woman proves faithless to her husband, she is frequentlj' shot or has her nose cut off. This latter practice was noticed by Le Sueur, in 1700. There is much system in relation to the place in which each should sit in a Dahkotah lodge. The ^vife always occu- pies a place next to the entrance on the right. The seat of honour, to which a white man is generally pointed, is directly opposite to the door of the lodge. Like the rest of mankind, they are by no means insensible to flattery. When one thinks that he cannot obtain a horse, or some other article that he wishes, by a simple request, he will take a number of wood- peckers' heads, and sing over them in the presence of the individual he hopes to influence, recounting the honourable deeds of the man to whom he gives the birds' heads. This process acts like a charm, and is often successful. A Parisian dandy is known the world over, but he is not to be compared with a Dahkotah fop. An Indian young man passes hours in attiring himself That green streak of paint upon the cheek ; those yellow circles around the eyes, and those spots upon the forehead, have cost him much trouble and frequent gaziugs into his mirror, which he always keeps with him. That head-dress, which appears to hang so carelessly, is all designed. None knows better than he how to attitudi- nize and play the stoic or majestic. No moustachioed clerk, with curling locks, and kid gloves, and cambric handkercliief, and patent-leather boots, and glossy hat, is half so conscious as he who struts past us with his streaming blanket and ornamented and uncovered head, 74 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. holding a pipe or a gun in the place of a cane, and wearing moccasins in the place of boots. The rain upon his nicely decorated head and face, causes as much of a flutter as it does when it falls upon the hat of the nice young man who smokes his cigar and pro- menades in Broadway. When the Dahkotahs are not busy with war, or the chase, or the feasts and dances of their religion, time hangs heavily, and they either sleep or resort to some game to keep up an excitement. One of their games is like " Hunt the SUpper ;" a bullet or plum-stone is placed by one party in one of four moccasins or mittens, and sought for by the opposite. There is also the play of "plum-stones." At this game much is often lost and won. Eight plum-stones are marked with certain devices. This game is played by young men and females. If, after shaking in a bowl, stones bearing certain devices turn up, the game is won. The favourite and most exciting game of the Dahko- tahs is ball playmg. It appears to be nothing more than a game which was often plaj'ed by the ^vriter in school- boy days, and which was called " shinny ." A smooth place is chosen on the prairie or frozen river or lake. Each player has a stick three or four feet long and crooked at the lower end, with deer strings tied across forming a sort of a pocket. The ball is made of a rounded knot of wood, or clay covered with hide, and is supposed to possess supernatural qualities. Stakes are set at a distance of a quarter or half mile, as bounds. Two parties are then formed, and the ball being thrown up in the centre, the contest is for one party to carry the ball from the other beyond one of the bounds. Two or three hundred men are sometimes engaged at once. On FOOT RACING.— DOG AND FISH DANCES. 75 a summer's day, to see them rushing to and fro, painted in divers colors, with no article of apparel, with feathers m their heads, bells around their wrists, and fox and wolf tails dangling behind, is a wild and noisy spectacle. The eye-witnesses among the Indians become more interested in the success of one or the other of the par- ties than any crowd at a horse race, and frequently stake their last piece of property on the issue of the game. On the 13th of July, 1852, the last great ball-play in the vicinity of Saint Paul took place. The ground selected was Oak Grove, in Hennepin county, and the parties were, Shokpay's band, against the Good Road, Sky Man, and Gray Iron bands. The game lasted several days ; about two hundred and fifty were parti- cipants, encompassed by a cloud of witnesses. About two thousand dollars' worth of property was won by Shokpay's band the first day. The second day they were the losers. On the third day Shokpay lost the first game, and the stake was renewed. Shokpay lost again; but while a new stake was being made up, a dispute arose between the parties concerning some of the property which had been won from Shokpay's band, but which they kept back. They broke up in a row, as they usually do. Gray Iron's band leaving the ground first, ostensibly for the reason above named, but really because Shokpay's band had just been reinforced by the arrival of «, company from Little Crow's band. During the play four or five thousand dollars' worth of goods changed hands. Like the ancient Greeks, they also practise foot racing. Before proceeding to other topics, it is well to give a brief account of the dog dance and the fish dance. The 76 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. first is seldom performed, and is said to be peculiar to this nation. A dog being thrown into the midst of the crowd of dancers, is speedily " tomahawked" by one of the sacred men. The liver is then extracted and cut into slices, after which it is hung upon a pole. Now the dancers hop around, their mouths apparently water- ing with the desire for a bite. After a time some one dances up to the pole and takes a mouthful of the raw liver. He is then succeeded by others, until the whole is devoured. If another dog is thrown into the circle, the same process is repeated. " Not long smce a Dahkotah chief was sick, and the gods signified to him that if he would make a raw fish feast, he would live till young cranes' wings are grown. So he must make the feast or die. Fifteen or twenty others, who, like himself, were inspired by the cormorant, joined with him in the ceremonies of the feast, of which the chief was master. " After one or two days spent in ' vapour baths' and ' armour feasts,' a tent is prepared, openmg towards the east. The railing extending from the tent is composed of bushes. Within the enclosure each of those who are to participate in the feast has a bush set, in which is his nest. Early in the morning, on the day of the feast, the master informs two others where the fish are to be taken, and sends them forth to spear and bring them in, designating the kind and number to be taken. On this occasion two pike, each about one foot in length, were taken, and after having been painted wdth vermil- lion and ornamented with red down about the mouth and along the back, were laid on some branches in the enclosure, entire, as they were taken from the water. Near the fish were placed birch-bark dishes filled with CORMORANT DANCE. 77 sweetened water. Their implements of war were sol- emnly exhibited in the tent, and the dancers, w^ho were naked, except the belt, breech-cloth, and moccasins, and fantastically painted and adorned with down, red and white, being in readiness, the singers, of whom there are four ranks, commenced to sing, each rank in its turn. The singing was accompanied with the drum and rattle. " The cormorant dancers danced to the music, having a little season of rest as each rank of singers ended their chant, until the fourth rank struck the drum and made the welkm ring with their wild notes ; then, like starving beasts, they tore off pieces of the fish, scales, bones, entrails, and all, with their teeth, and swallowed it, at the same time drinking their sweetened water, till both the pike were consumed, except the heads and fins and large bones, the latter of which were deposited in the nests. Thus the feast ended, and the chief will of course live till the young cranes can fly. At the close of the ceremony, whatever of clothing is worn on the occasion is offered in sacrifice to the gods." Sufficient has been said to show that the Dahkotahs are Odd Felloivs; but not the half has been told. Among the Ojibways there are totems, or family sym- bols, of the name of some ancestor, which is honoured as much as the coat of arms among the nobility of Eu- rope. If a man dies, his totem is marked upon his grave post with as much formality as the heraldic design of an English nobleman. It was this custom among the Algonquin Indians, that led the unscrupu- lous La Hontan to publish engravings of the fabulous coats of arms of the various savage nations of the north- west. That of the " Outchipoues" (Ojibways) is an eagle perched upon a rock, devouring the brain of an 78 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. owl. That of the Sioux, or Dahkotahs, is a squirrel perched upon a citron or pumpkin, and gnawing its rind. While the Dahkotahs do not appear to have totems or family designs, like the Ojibways, yet, from time unmemorial, secret clans, with secret signs, have existed among them. It is impossible to force any member of these clans to divulge any of their proceed- ings. Culbertson, who visited the Dahkotahs of the Missouri, at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, was struck with this peculiarity. His remarks, for the entire accuracy of which we do not vouch, are as fol- lows : — " The Sioux nation has no general council, but each tribe and band determines its own affairs. These bands have some ties of interest analogous to the ties of our secret societies. The ' Crow-Feather-in-Cap' band are pledged to protect each others' wives, and to refrain from violating them. If the wife of one of their num- ber is stolen by another of their number, she is returned, the band either paying the thief for returning the stolen property, or forcmg him to do it, whether he will or not. * =^= * * * The 'Strong-Heart' band is pledged to protect each other in their horses. Should a ' Strong-Heart' from a distance steal some horses, and they be claimed by a brother ' Strong-Heart,' his fellows Vv^ould tell him that he must give them up, or they would give the robbed man some of their own horses, regarding it as the greatest disgrace to themselves to allow him to go away on foot. And thus I suppose that all these bands have some common object that unites them together, and here we have the origin of this system of banding. In the absence of law, it takes the place of our system of justice." WANT OF CLEANLINESS. 79 The heathen, in their manner of life, are essentially the same all over the world. They are all given up to uncleanness. As you walk through a small village, in a Christian land, 3'ou notice many appearances of thrift and neatness. The day-labourer has his lot fenced, and his rude cabin white-washed. The widow, dependent upon her own exertions, and alone in the world, finds pleasure in training the honeysuckle or the morning- glory to peep in at her windows. The poor seamstress, though obliged to lodge in some upper room, has a few flower-pots upon her window-sill, and perhaps a canary bird hung in a cage outside. But in an Indian village all is filtli and litter. There are no fences around their bark huts. White-washing is a lost art if it was ever known. Worn-out moccasins, tattered blankets, old breech-cloths, and pieces' of leggins are strewn in con- fusion all over the ground. Water, except in very warm weather, seldom touches their bodies, and the pores of their skins become filled with grease and the paint with which they daub themselves. Neither Monday, or any other day, is kno^vn as washing-day. Their cooking utensils are incrusted with dirt, and used for a variety of purposes. A few years ago, a band of Indians, with their dogs, ponies, women, and children, came on board of a steamboat on the Upper Mississippi, on which the writer was travelling. Their evening meal, consisting of beans and wild meat, was prepared on the lower deck, beneath the windows of the ladies' cabin. After they had used their fingers in the place of forks, and consumed the food which they had cooked in a dirty iron pan, one of the mothers, removing the blanket from one of her children, stood it up in the same pan, and then, dipping some water out of the river, began to 80 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. wash it from head to foot. The rest of the band looked on Avith Indian composure, and seemed to think that an iron stew-pan was just as good for washing babes as for cooking beans. Where there is so much dirt, of course vermin must abound. They are not much dis- tressed by the presence of those insects which are so nauseating to the civihzed man. Being without shame, a common sight, of a summer's eve, is a woman or child with her head in another's lap, who is kindly killing the fleas and other vermin that are burrowing in the long, matted, and uncombed hair. The Dahkotahs have no regular time for eating. Dependent, as they are, upon hunting and fishing for subsistence, they vacillate from the proximity of star- vation to gluttony. It is considered uncourteous to refuse an invitation to a feast, and a single man will sometimes attend six or seven in a day, and eat intem- perately. Before they came m contact with the whites, they subsisted upon venison, buffalo, and dog meat. The latter animal has always been considered a deli- cacy by these epicures. In illustration of these remarks, I transcribe an extract from a journal of a missionary, who visited Lake Traverse in April, 1839 : — " Last evening, at dark, our Indians chiefly returned, having eaten to the full of buffalo and dog meat. I asked one how many times they were feasted. He said, ' Six, and if it had not become dark so soon, we should have been called three or four times more.' * * * This morning, 'Burning-Earth' (chief of the Sissetonwan Dahkotahs), came again to our encampment, and re- moving we accompanied him to his village at the south- western end of the lake. * * * In the afternoon, I visited the chief; found him just about to leave for IRREGULAR MODE OF LIFE. 81 a dog feast to which he had been called. When he had received some papers of medicine I had for him, he left, saying, ' The Sioux love dog meat as well as white people do pork.' " In this connection, it should be stated that the Dah- kotalis have no regular hours of retiring. Enter a New England village after nine o'clock, and all is still. Walk through Philadelphia after the State House clock has struck eleven, and everybody and thing, hacks, hack- men, and those on foot, appear to be hastening to rest; the lamp ui the store, the entry and parlour, is extin- guished, and lights begin to flicker in the chambers and in the garrets, and soon all are quiet, except rogues and disorderly persons, and those who watch ; and you can hear the clock tick in the entry, and the Avatchman's slow step as he walks up and down the street. But there is nothing like this in an Indian village. They sleep whenever inclination prompts ; some by day and some by night. If you were to enter a Dahkotah village, at midnight, you might, perhaps, see some few huddled round the fire of a teepee, listening to the tale of an old warrior, who has often engaged in bloodj- conflict with their ancient and present enemies, the Ojibways; or you might hear the unearthly chanting of some medicine man, endeavouring to exorcise some spirit from a sick man ; or see some lounging about, whiffing out of their sacred red stone pipes, the smoke of kinnikinnick, a species of willow bark ; or some of the young men sneaking around a lodge, and waiting for the lodge-fire to cease to flicker before they perpetrate some deed of sin ; or you might hear a low, wild drunnning, and then a group of men, all naked, with the exception of a 82 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. girdle round the loins, daubed Avitli vermillion and other paints, all excited, and engaged in some of their grotesque dances ; or a portion may be firing their guns into the air, being alarmed by some imaginary evil, and supposuig that an enemy is lurking around. CHAPTER III. Dahkotah females deserve the sympathy of every tender heart. From early childhood they lead " worse than a dog's life." Like the Gibeonites of old, they are the hewers of wood, and the drawers of water for the camp. On a winter's day, a Dahkotah mother is often obliged to travel five or eight or ten miles with the lodge, camp-kettle, axe, child, and small dogs upon her back. Arrivmg late in the afternoon at the appointed camping-ground, she clears off the snow from the spot upon which she is to erect the teepee. She then, from the nearest marsh or grove, cuts down some poles about ten feet in length. With these she forms a frame work for the tent. Unstrapping her pack, she unfolds the tent-cover, which is seven or eight buffalo skins stitched together, and brings the bottom part to the base of the frame. She now obtains a long jDole, and fastening it to the skia covering, she raises it. The ends are drawn around the frame until they meet, and the edges of the covering are secured by wooden skewers or tent pins. The poles are then spread out on the ground, so as to make as large a circle inside as she desires. Then she. THE HARDSHIPS OF DAHKOTAH FEMALES. 83 or her children, proceed to draw the skms down so as to make them fit tightly. An opening is left where the poles meet at the top, to allow the smoke to escape. The fire is built upon the ground in the centre of the lodge. Buffalo skins are placed around, and from seven to fifteen lodge there through a winter's night, with fiir more comfort than a child of luxury upon a bed of down. Water is to be drawn and Avood cut for the night. The camp-kettle is suspended, and preparations made for the evening meal. If her lord and master has not b}' this time arrived from the day's hunt, she is busied in mending up moccasins. Such is a scene which has been enacted by hundreds of females this verj^ winter in Minnesota. How few of the gentle sex properly ap- preciate the everlasting obligations they are under to the Son of Mary, after the flesh, who was the first that taught the true sphere and the true mission of woman ! The Dahkotah wife is subject to all of the whims of her husband, and woe unto her when he is in bad humour ! As a consequence, the females of this nation are not possessed of very happy faces, and frequently resort to suicide to put an end to earthly troubles. Uncultivated, and made to do the labour of beasts, when they are desperate, they act more like infuriated brutes than creatures of reason. Some years ago a lodge was pitched at the mouth of the St. Croix. The wife, fear- ing her husband would demand the whiskey keg, when he came from hunting, hid it. Upon his return, she refused to tell him where it was, and he flogged her. In her rage, she went oft' and hinig herself. At Oak Grove, a little girl, the pet of her grandmother, was whipped by her father. The old woman, sympathizing with tlie child, flew into a passion i\m\ went off. At 84 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. last, the screaining of the grandchild was heard, for she had discovered her ^" grandma' " hanging by a portage collar from a burial scaffold. An assistant female teacher in the mission school, being attracted by the noise, went and cut the " old granny" down before life had fled. On another occasion, at the same place, a son-in-law refused to give his mother some whiskey, and in a rage she went on to the burial scaffold, tied the portage strap around her neck, and was about to jump off, when Mr. Pond came up to her and cut the strap. Still she did not relinquish her intention of suicide. At last, he climbed on to the scaffold and told her he would stay there as long as she. Other females from the village then came out, and succeeded in persuading her to live a little while longer. In this connexion, an incident may be told, which, for romantic interest, can- not be surpassed. The girl, since the occurrence, which we substantially narrate as we find it in the " Pioneer," without being responsible for every particular, be- came a pupil in the Rev. Mr. Hancock's mission school at Remnica or Red Wing Village. In the spring of 1850, a young girl, fourteen years of age, shot another girl with whom she was quarrelling. The deceased was a daughter of a sullen man by the name of Black Whistle. The affrighted girl, after she fired the gun, fled to the trader's house, and was by him aided to make her escape down to Wapashaw's village. While stopjDing at Red Wing's village, some hundred miles from the place where the deed was committed, the incensed father overtook her. His first plan was to carry her home and sacrifice her at his daughter's burial scaffold; but, through the influence of some of the whites, he changed his plan, and resolved to make her THE DISGUISED GIRL.— WANT OF LAW. 85 liis slave or his wife. For some time she endured what to her was a Kviiig death, but on one night she suddenly disappeared. Not many days after, there appeared at Good Koad's village, a young Indian boy, stating that he was a Sisseton, and had just arrived from the plains. He was well received, no one dreaming that he was the Indian maid. While in this disguise, she went out one day to spear fish, when her husband and eneni}', the revengeful father of the girl she had shot, met her, and inquired for her, and avowed his intention to kill her. She very coolly assented to the justice of what he said, and left. At last, her real sex being suspected, she came down to Little Crow or Kaposia village. Here she passed herself off as a Winnebago orphan, which disguise succeeded for a time. But soon she was sus- pected, and was again obliged to seek safety in flight, and at last took up her residence at Red Wing's village, though for a long time no one knew what had become of her. It is an erroneous idea that chiefs have any authority. Popularity is the source of power, and they resort to measures which vie with those of the modern dema- gogue, to gain the ear of the people. They never express an opinion on any important point, until they have canvassed the band over which they preside, and their opinions are always those of the majorit}^ The Dahkotahs suffer much for want of law. The individual who desires to improve his condition is not only laughed at, but maltreated. Moreover, if he ac- quires any property, there is no law which secures it to him, and it is liable to be taken away at anj^ time by any ill-disposed person. Until this state of things is altered by the interposition of the United States govern- 86 IIISTORV OF MINNESOTA. meut, or the interposition of Providence in some unfore- seen way, there is little hope of elevating this tribe. Their missionary will be forced to look upon this degra- dation, and say, in view thereof, " My whole head is sick, my whole heart faint." The sujDerstitions and peculiarities of the Dahkotahs are so various that we can but barely glance at them. They count years by winters, and compute distances by the number of nights passed upon a journey; their months are computed by moons, and are as follows : — 1. Wi-TERi, January ; the hard moon. 2. WiCATA-wi, February ; the raccoon moon. 3. ISTAWiCATAZAN-wi, March; the sore-eye moon. 4. Magaokadi-wi, April; the moon in which the geese lay eggs : also called Wokada-wi ; and, sometimes, Watopapi-wi, the moon when the streams are again navigable. 5. WoJUPi-wi, May ; the plantmg moon. 6. Wajustecasa-wi, June; the moon when the straw- berries are red. 7. Canpasapa-wi, and Wasunpa-wi, July ; the moon when the choke-cherries are ripe, and when the geese shed their feathers. 8. Wasuton-wi, August; the harvest moon. 9. Psixhnaketu-wi, Septemher ; the moon when rice is laid up to dry. 10. Wi-WAJUPi, October; the drying rice moon; some- times written Wazupi-wi. 11. Takiyura-wi, November; the deer-rutting moon. 12. Tahecapsun-wi, December ; the moon when the deer shed their horns. They believe that the moon is made of something as good as green-cheese. The popular notion is that when RELIGIOUS RITES AND SUPERSTITIONS. 87 the moon is full, a great number of very small mice commence nibbling until tliej have eaten it up. A new moon then begins to grow until it is full, then it is devoured. Though almost every Dahkotah young man has his pocket mirror, a maid does not look at a looking-glass, for it is " wakan" or sacred. Almost everything that the man owns is wakan or sacred, but nothing that the woman possesses is so esteemed. If one has a toothache, it is supposed to be caused by a woodpecker concealed within, or the gnawing of a worm. Coughs are occa- sioned by the sacred men operating through the medium of the down of the goose, or the hair of the buffalo. It is considered a sin to cut a stick that has once been placed on the fire, or to prick a piece of meat with an awl or needle. It is wrong for a woman to smoke through a black j)ipe-stem, and for a man to wear a woman's moccasins. It is also sinful to throw gun- powder on the fire. This tribe of Indians believe that an individual has several souls. Le Sueur said that they thought that thej' had three souls, but the sacred men say that a Dahkotah has four souls. At death one of these re- mains with or near the body ; one in a bundle contain- ing some of the clothes and hair of the deceased, which the relatives preserve until they have an opportunity to throw them into the enemy's country; one goes into the spirit land ; and one passes into the body of a child or some animal. They have a fear of the future, but no fixed belief in relation to the nature of future punishment. They are generally taciturn on such topics. The more simple- minded believe that a happy land exists across a lake 88 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. of boiling water, and that an old woman sits on the shore holding a long narrow pole, that stretches across the water to the earth. Warriors who can show marks of wounds on their flesh, can walk the pole with security; also infants, whose blue veins are a passport as good as war marks. Others slip into the boiling water. Their theology makes no difference between the con- dition of the thief and liar and the correct and good man. Those who commit suicide are thought to be unhappy. They believe that a woman who commits suicide will have to drag through another world that from which she hung herself in this, and that she will often break down the corn in another land by the pole or tree which dangles at her feet, and for this Vvdll be severely beaten by the inhabitants of the spirit land. When any one dies, the nearest friend is very anxious to go and kill an enemy. A father lost a child while the treaty of 1851 was pending at Mendota, and he longed to go and kill an Ojibway. As soon as an indi- vidual dies, the corpse is wrapped in its best clothes. Some one acquainted with the deceased then harangues the spirit on the virtues of the departed ; and the friends sit around with their faces smeared with a black pig- ment, the signs of mourning. Their lamentations are very loud, and they cut their thighs and legs Avith their finger nails or pieces of stone, to give free ^ent, as it would appear, to their grief The corpse is not buried, but placed in a box upon a scaffold some eight or ten feet from the ground. Hung around the scaffold are such things as would please the spirit if it was still in the flesh — such as the scalp of an enemy or pots of food. After the corpse has been exposed for some SCHILLER'S POEM.— BULWER, HERSCHELL. 89 months, and the bones only remain, the}- are buried in a heap, and protected from the wolves by stakes. On the bluff, above the dilapidated cave which forms the eastern limit of Saint Paul, there is an ancient burial place. Here the Dahkotahs formerly brought their dead, and performed solemn services. Carver, in his Travels, publishes the alleged speech over the remains of a Dahkotah brave — the reading of which so attracted the attention of the great German poet, Schiller, that he composed a poem called the " Song of a Nadowessee Chief" Goethe considered it one of his best, " and wished he had made a dozen such." Sir John Herschell and Sir E. L. Bulwer have each attempted a translation, both of which seem to convey the spirit of the original. SIR E. L. BULWER S. Sec on his mat — as if of yore, All life-like sits he here! With that same aspect which he wore When light to him was dear. But where the riglit hand's strength ? and where The breath that loved to breathe, To the Great Spirit aloft iu air, The peace-pipe's lusty wreath f And where the hawk-like eye, nlas! That wont the deer pursue, Along the waves of rippling grass, Or fields that shone with dew ? Are these the limber, bounding feet That swept the winter's snows? What stateliest stag so fast and fleet? Their speed outstripped the roe's I These arms, that then the steady bow Could supple from its pride, How stark and helpless hang they now Adown the stiGTuned side! SIR JOHN HERSCHELL S, See, where upon the mat, he sits Erect, before his door, With just the same majestic air That once iu life he wore. But where is fled his strength of limb, The whirlwind of his breath, To the Great Spirit, when he sent The peace-pipe's mounting wreath? Where are those falcon eyes, whitli late Along the plain could tr!u;e. Along the grass's dewy wave. The reindeer's printed pace? Those legs, which once, with niafchless speed, Flew through the drift«d snow, Surpus.sed the stag's unwearied cour.se. Outran the mountain roe? Those arms, once used with might and main, The stubborn bow to twang? See. see, their ner»'es nn- sl.irk at last, All motionless they hung. 90 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. SIR E. L. BULfl^ER S. Yet woal to him — at peace he stays Where never fall the snows; Where o'er the meadows springs the maize That mortal never sows. ■Where birds .are blithe on every brake — Where forests teem with deer— Wliere glide the fi<;h through every lake — One chase from year to year I With spirits now he feasts above; All left us — to revere The deeds we honour with our love, The dust we bury here. Here bring the last gift! loud and shrill Wail, death dirge for the brave! What pleased him most in life may still Give pleasure in the grave. We lay the axe beneath his head He swung when strength was strong — The bear on which his banquets fed — The way from earth is long! And here, new sharped, place the knife That severed from the clay, From which the axe had spoiled the life, The conquered scalp away ! The paints that deck the dead bestow — Yes, place them in his hand — That red the kingly shade may glow Amid the spirit-land. SIR JOUX HERSCnEI-L S. 'Tis well with him, for he is gone Where snow no more is found, Where the gay thorn's perpetual bloom Decks all the field around; Where wild birds sing from every spray, Where deer come sweeping by. Where fish from every lake, afford A plentiful supply. With .<;pirits now he feasts above, And leaves us here alone, To celebrate his valiant deeds, And round his grave to moan. Sound the death-song, bring forth the gifts, The last gifts of the dead,— Let all which yet may yield him joy Within his gr.ive be laid. The hatchet place beneath his head, Still red with hostile blood ; And add, because the way is long, The bear's fat limbs for food. The scalpingknife beside him lay. With paints of gorgeous dye, That in the land of souls his form May shine triumphantly. The legends of the Dahkotahs are numerous, and while many are puerile, a few are beautiful. Eagle-Eye, the son of a great war prophet, who lived more than one hundred years ago, was distinguished for bravery. Fleet, athletic, symmetrical, a bitter foe and warm friend, he was a model Dahkotah. In the ardour of his youth, his affections were given to one who was also attractive, named Scarlet Dove. A few moons after she had become an inmate of his lodge, they descended the Mississippi, with a hunting party, and proceeded east of Lake Pepin. SCARLET DOVE.— ANPETUSAPA. 91 One day, while Eagle-Eye was hid behind some bushes, watching for deer, the arrow of a comrade found its way through the covert, into his heart. With only time to lisp the name Scarlet Dove, he expired. For a few days the widow mourned and cut her flesh, and then, with the silence of woe, wrapping her beloved in skins, she placed him on a temporary burial scaffold, and sat beneath. When the hunting party moved, she carried on her own back the dead body of Eagle-Eye. At every en- campment she laid the body up in the manner already mentioned, and sat down to watch it and mourn. When she had reached the Minnesota river, a dis- tance of more than a hundred miles. Scarlet Dove brought forks and poles from the woods, and erected a permanent scaffold on that beautiful hill opposite the site of Fort Snelling, in the rear of the httle town of Mendota, which is known by the name of Pilot Knob. Having adjusted the remains of the unfortunate object of her love upon this elevation, with the strap by which she had carried her precious burden. Scarlet Dove hung herself to the scaffold and died. Her highest hope was to meet the beloved spirit of her Eagle-Eye, in the world of spirits.^ Many years before the eye of the white man gazed on the beautiful landscape around the Falls of Saint Anthony, a scene was enacted there of which this is the melancholy story : — Anpetusapa was the first love of a Dahkotah hunter. For a period they dwelt in happiness, and she proved herself a true wife. * For this legend we are indebted to Rev. G. II. Pond. 92 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. " "With knife of bone she carved her food, Fuel, with axe of stone procured — Could fire extract, from flint or wood ; To rudest savage life inured. "In kettle frail of birchen bark, She boiled her food with heated stones ; The slippery fish from coverts dark She drew with hooked bones." But her heart was at length clouded. The husband, in accordance with the custom of his nation, introduced a second wife "vvithin the teepee, and the first wife's eyes began to grow sad, and her form from day to day drooped. Her chief joy was to clasp the Httle boy, vvdio was the embodiment of hopes and happiness fled for ever. Faithful and unmurmuring, she followed her husband on his hunts. One day the band encamped on the picturesque shores near the Falls of Saint Anthony. With tearless eye, and nerved by despair, the first wife, Avitli her little son, walked to the rapid waters. Enter- ing a canoe, she pushed into the swift current, and the chantinfi; of her death diro:e arrested the attention of her husband and the camp in time to see the canoe on the bank, and plunge into t^ie dashing waves. The Dahkotahs say, that in the mist of the morning, the spirit of an Indian wife, with a child clinging around her neck, is seen darting in a canoe through the spray, and that the sound of her death-song is heard moaning in the winds, and in the roar of the waters. On the eastern shore of Lake Pepin, about twelve miles from its mouth, there stands a blufi" which attracts attention by its boldness. It is about four hundred and fifty feet in height, the last hundred of which is a bald, precipitous crag. It is seen at a distance of miles ; and MAIDEN'S ROCK OF THE DAHKOTAHS. 93 as the steamer approaches, the emergence of passengers to the upper deck, and the pomting of the finger of the captain, or some one familiar with the country, evinces that it is an interesting locaUty — it is the Maiden's Rock of the Dahkotahs. The first version of the story, in connection with this bluff, differs from those more modern, but is preferable. In the days of the great chief Wapashaw, there lived at the village of Keoxa, which stood on the site of the town which now bears her name, a maiden with a lov- ing soul. She was the first-born daughter, and, as is always the case in a Dahkotah family, she bore the name of Weenonah. A young hunter of the same band, was never happier than when he played the flute in her hearing. Having thus signified his affection, it was with the whole heart reciprocated. The youth begged from his friends all that he could, and went to her parents, as is the custom, to purchase her for his wife, but his proposals were rejected. A warrior, who had often been on the war path, whose head-dress plainh^ told the number of scalps he had wrenched from Ojibway heads, had also been to the parents, and they thought that she would be more honoured as an inmate of his teepee. Weenonah, however, could not forget her first love ; and, though he had Ijeen forced away, his absence strengthened her affections. Neither the attentions of the warrior, nor the threats of parents, nor the persua- sions of friends, could make her consent to marry simply for position. One day the band came to Lake Pepin to fish or hunt. The dark green foliage, the velvet sward, the beautiful expanse of water, the shady nooks, made it a 94 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. place to utter the breathings of love. The warrior sought her once more, and begged her to accede to her parents' wish, and become his wife, but she refused with decision. While the party w^ere feasting, Weenonah clambered to the lofty bluff, and then told to those wdio were below, how crushed she had been by the absence of the young hunter, and the cruelty of her friends. Then chanting a wild death-song, before the fleetest runner could reach the height, she dashed herself down, and that form of beauty was in a moment a mass of broken limbs and bruised flesh. The Dahkotah, as he passes the rock, feels that the spot is Wawkawn. The Dahkotahs call the St. Croix river, Hogan- wanke-kin. The legend is that in the distant past, two Dahkotah warriors were travelling on the shores of Lake St. Croix, one of whom was under a vow to one of his gods not to eat any flesh which had touched water. Gnawed by hunger, the two perceived, as they supposed, a raccoon, and pursued it to a hollow tree. On looking in, the one who could not eat flesh that had touched water, saw that the animal was a fish and not a quadruped. Turning to his companion, he agreed to throw it to the ground if he was not urged to eat. Hunger, however, was imperious, and forced him to break his vow and partake of the broiled fish. After the meal, thirst usurped the place of hunger. He called for water to cool his parched tongue, until the streng'th of his companion failed, and he was then told to lie down by the lake and drink till his thirst was quenched. Complying with the advice, he drank and drank, till at last he cried to his friend, " come and LANGUAGE AND LEXICON. 95 look at me." The sight caused the knees of his comrade to smite together with fear, for he was fast turning to a fish. At length, he stretched himself across the Lake, and formed what is called Pike Bar. This, tradition says, is the origin of the sand-bar in the Lake, which is so conspicuous at low stage of water. Having full faith in the legend, to this day they call the river, which is part of the boundary' between Wis- consin and Minnesota, " the place where the fish LIES." (Hogan-w^anke-kin.) The Dahkotahs, from the Minnesota to the plains l)e3'ond the Missouri, speak essentially the same lan- guage. Though difficult to acquire, it is allied to that of the Ottoes, Winnebagoes, To ways, and Omahaws.' After ten years' close study by an observing mis- sionary, he was obliged to confess that he had not mastered it, which admission forms quite a contrast to the vaunting statement of Jonathan Carver, who wintered in Minnesota in 1767. He remarks: "To render my stay as comfortable as possible, I first endea- voured to learn their language. This I soon did, to make myself perfectly intelligible." Hennepin made the first eftbrt to collect a vocabulary of the language, while he was a captive on Eum river, or Mille Lacs. His description of the attempt is very quaint : " Hunger pressed me to commence the forma- tion of a vocabulary of their language, learned from ' The ancient Arkansas seem to (Minne ska) or White Water." liave belonged to the Dahkotah Again : " They place the hand upon family. A letter puLlished in Kip's tlie mouth, which is a sign of admi- Jesuit Mission, written by a mis- ration among them." Ouakan tague sionary at the mouth of the Arkan- they cry out, " it is the Great Spirit." sas, in October, 1727, speaks of " a They said probably, Wakan de, This river which the Indians call Ni ska is wonderful. 96 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the prattle of their children. When once I had learned the word Taketchiabein, which means ' IIow call you this ?' I began to be soon able to talk of such things as are most familiar. For want of an interpreter this difficulty was hard to surmount at first. For example, if I had a desire to know what to run was in their tongue, I was forced to increase my speed, and actually run from one end of the lodge to the other, until they -understood what I meant and had told me the word, which I presently set down in my Dictionary." The first printed vocabulary is that appended to Carver's Travels, which is exceedingly incorrect, though it contains many Dahkotah words. The Smithsonian Institution have published, under the patronage of the Historical Society of Minnesota, a quarto Grammar and Dictionary of this language, which will be gazed upon with interest by the " wise men of the East" long after the Dahkotah dialect has ceased to be spoken. This work is the fruit of eighteen years of anxious toil among this people, and is the combined work of the members of the Dahkotah Presbytery, edited by the Kev. S. R. Riggs, of Lac qui Parle ; and should be pre- served in the library of every professional man and lover of letters in Minnesota. The vocabulary is, of course, meagre, compared with that of the civilized European ; for living, as they have until of late, far away from any but those of like habits and modes of thought, they are defective in many words which have their place in the dictionary of a Christian people. Accustomed to cut poles from a forest and spread buffalo skins thereon, under which they pass the night, and then decamp early the next day in quest of game or the scalp of an enemy, they have no word which DAHKOTAH ALPHABET. 97 expresses the comfortable idea of our noble Saxon word " home." Still, in the language of a missionary, " it is in some of its aspects to be regarded as a noble lan- guage, fully adequate to all the felt wants of a nation, and capable of being enlarged, cultivated, and enriched, by the introduction of foreign stores of thought. Nothing can be found anywhere more full and flexible than the Dahkotah verb. The affixes, and reduplications, and pronouns, and prepositions, all come in to make it of such a stately pile of thought as is to my knowledge found nowhere else. A single paradigm presents more than a thousand variations." THE DAHKOTAH ALPHABET. NAME NAME. A ah, sounds as a in far. o, sounds as o in go. B be, " h in but. P pe, " p in pea. C che, " ch in cheat. Q qe, indescribable. D de, " d in deed. R re, high guttural. E a, " a in say. S se, sounds as s in sea. G ge, low guttural. T te, " t in tea. H he, sounds as h in he. U oo, " oo in noon. I e, " e in see. "W we, " lo in we. J je, " si in hosier. X she, " sh in sheet. K ke, " k in key. Y ye, " y in yeast. M me, " TO in me. Z ze, " z in zeta. N ne, " n in neat. The vowels represent each but one sound. G repre- sents a low guttural or gurgling sound. B, represents a rough hawking sound, higher than that of g. Besides their simple sounds, c, h, p, s, t, and x, have each a close compound sound, which cannot be learned except from a living teacher. They are printed in italics when they represent these sounds, except k, which is never italicised for this purpose ; Ijut q is used instead of it. The last- 7 98 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. named letter might as well, perhaps, be expunged from the Dalikotah alphabet, and k held responsible for the perfonnance of this service. When n follows a vowel at the end of a syllable, except in contracted words, with very fcAv exceptions, it is not full, but sounds like n in tinkle, ankle. It was intended that the Dahkotah orthography should be strictly phonetic, and it fails but little of bemg so. To learn the names of the letters is to learn to read it, and no English scholar need spend more than a few hours, or even a few moments, in learning to read the Dahko- tah language.* 1 G. H. Pond, in " Tawaxitku Kin." CARTIER.— CHAMPLAIN. 99 CHAPTER IV. More than three centuries ago, an enterprising naval officer, Jacques Cartier, discovered the mouth of the great river of North America, that empties into the Atlantic, and whose extreme head waters are in the interior of Minnesota, within an hour's walk of a tribu- tary of the Mississij)pi. Having erected, in the vicinity of Quebec, a rude fort, in 1541, more than a half century before the settlement of Jamestown, in Virginia, from that time the river Saint Lawrence became known to the bold mariners of France, and there was an increasing desire to explore its sources. In the year 1608, Champlain selected the site in the vicinity of Cartier's post as the future capital of New France. Burning to plant a colony in the New World, lie, with great assiduit}', explored the country. In 1609 he ascended a tributary of the Saint Lawrence, till he came to the beautiful lake in New York, which, to this day, bears his name. After several visits to France, in 1615 he is found, v/ith unabated zeal, accompanying a band of savages to their distant hunting-grounds, and discovering the waters of Lake Huron. 100 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Before the emigrants of the " May Flower" trod on New England soil, and while Massachusetts was an unknown countrj^ to the geographers of Europe, he had gained an inkling of the Mediterranean of America, Lake Superior, In a map accompanying the journal of his dis- coveries;, this lake appears as " Grand Lac," and a great river is marked flowing from the lake toward the south, intended to represent the Mississippi, as described by the Indians, who, from the earliest period, had been accustomed, b}^ slight portages, to pass from the waters of Lake Superior into those of the " grand" river which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. About the time that Champlain returned from his expedition to the Huron count rj^, there arrived in Canada a youth from France of more than ordinar}' promise, who, by his aptness in the acquisition of the Indian dialects, became interpreter and commissary of the colony. Determined to press beyond others, he, in 1639, arrived at the lake of the Winnebagoes, ui the present state of Wisconsin, which had been described by Cham- plain, though erroneously located on the map accom- panying his narrative. While in this region he concluded a friendly alliance with the Indians in the valley of the Fox river. Paul le Jeune, in a letter to his superior, Vimont, written in the month of September, 1640, alludes to Nicolet, and is also the first writer who makes distuict mention of the Dahkotahs. Speaking of the tribes on Lake Michigan, the father remarks : — " Still further on, dwell the Ouinipegou (Winnebago), a sedentary people and very numerous. Some French- men call them the ' Nation of Stinkers,' because the TRADERS PIONEERS FOR THE PRIESTS. 101 Algonquin word Ouinipeg signifies stinking water. They thus designate the water of the sea, and these people call themselves Ouinipegou, because they come from the shores of a sea, of which we have no knowledge, and therefore we must not call them the nation of • Stinkers,' but the nation of the sea. " In the neighbourhood of this nation are the Nadou- essi (Dahkotahs), and the Assinipouars ( Assiniboines) . * =^ ='' * * I will say, by the way, that the Sieur Nicolet, interpreter of the Algonquin and Huron lan- guages for ' Messieurs de la Nouvelle France,' has given me the names of these nations, whom he has visited, for the most part, in their own countries." Two 3'ears elapse, and, in 1641, Jogues and Raym- bault, of the " Society of Jesus," after a journe}' of seventeen days, in frail barks, over tempestuous waters, arrive at the barrier of rocks at the entrance of Lake Superior ; and then, at Sault St. Marie, met the Potto- wattomies flying from the Dahkotahs, and were told that the latter lived to the west of the Falls, about eighteen days' journey, the first nine across the lake, the other up a river which leads inland, referring, pro- bably, to the stream which interlocks with the head waters of the river Saint Croix. "We would not detract from the zeal of the man of God, but it is a fact that those in the service of mam- mon have ever outrun those in the service of Chrif^t. The " insacra fames auri," the unholy thirst for gold, has always made the trader the pioneer of the mis- sionary in savage lands. In a communication made as early as 1G54, it was stated that it was only nine days' journey from the Lake of the Winnebago (Green Ba^) to the sea that 102 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. separates America from China; and, that, if a person could be found who would send thirty Frenchmen into that country, they w^ould obtain the finest peltries and amass wealth. This year two adventurous Frenchmen went to seek their fortunes in the region west of Lake Michigan; and, in August, 1656, with a flotilla of canoes, laden with treasures, and two hundred and fifty Ojibways, they arrived at Quebec, and interested "voyageurs" with a recital of their hair-breadth escapes — merchants wdth their packs of valuable furs, and ecclesiastics with narrations of the miserable condition of immortal souls, and of the numerous villages of the " Nadouesiouack" (Dahkotahs) and other tribes. Thirty young Frenchmen, excited by the reports, equipped themselves to trade with the lodges in the distant wilderness ; and, two Fathers, Leonard Garreau and Gabriel Dreuilletes, were summoned by their Supe- rior to return with the brigade, and were rejoiced to find themselves chosen to be the first to carry the name of Jesus Christ into a country alike replete with tribu- lation, darkness, and death. The latter missionary had been a visiter to the house of the Puritan minister, Eliot, in the vicinity of Boston, and they had frequently taken sweet counsel together in relation to the amelioration of the condition of the abo- rigines. This expedition failed to reach its destination, owing to a murderous attack of the Iroquois, in which Gar- reau was killed, and the Ojibways so alarmed that they refused to receive the surviving " black robe." In the year 1659 two traders travelled extensively among the distant tribes. Six! days' journey south-west GROSELLIER'S JOURNEY TO HUDSON' BAY, BY LAND. 103 of La Pointe, now Bai'field, Wisconsin, they found vil- lages of Hiirons, who, retreating across rocky ridges, over deep streams, wide lakes, and dense thickets, had reached the shores of the Mississippi, and found a shelter among the Dahkotahs from the fierce onslaught of the Iroquois. In the vicinity of the Hurons they saw Dah- kotah settlements, " in five of which were counted all of five thousand men." They noticed women with the tips of their noses cut off, and heads partly scalped, and were informed that this was the penalty inflicted upon adulteresses. They also heard of " another warlike nation who, with their bows and arrows, have rendered themselves as formidable to the upper Algonquins as the Iroquois have to the lower. They bear the name of Poualak (Assine- boine), that is to say, the warriors." Continues the rela- tion : — " As wood is scarce and very small with them, nature has taught them to burn stones in place of it, and to cover their wigwams with skins. Some of the most industrious among them have built mud cabins nearly in the same manner that swallows build their nests ; nor would they sleep less sweetly beneath these skins, or under this clay, than the great ones of earth beneath their golden canopies, was it not for the fear of the Iroquois, who come here in search of them from a distance of five or six hundred leagues." On the early French maps of Lake Superior, a tribu- tary from Minnesota is called the River Grosellier.^ It * Grosellier was a native of Tou- Quebec. Returning by Lake Supe- raine, and married Helen, daughter rior, he offered to carry French ships of Abraham Martin, King's Pilot, to Hudson's Bay. Rejected by the who has left his name to the cele- court, he crossed over to England, brated plains of Abraham, near vrherc his offers were accepted. With 104 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. appears to have been named after a French pilot who, about this time, roamed uito the Assiniboine country, in the region of Lake Winnepeg, and was conducted by them to the shores of Hudson's Bay. During the summer of 1660 the traders of the far West returned to Quebec with sixty canoes, manned by Algonquins, and laden with fox, beaver, and Ijuffalo skins. The narrative of these men increased the existing enthu- siasm of the Jesuits, and the Superior at Quebec had a zeal wdiich " caused him to wish that he might be an angel of glad tidings to the far nations; and, at the expense of a thousand lives, to go and search in the depths of the forest the lost sheep for whose welfare he had crossed the sea." The murder of Garreau, four years before, did not intimidate, but his blood increased the courage of the church, and Eene Menard was the one selected to be the cross-bearer to the barbarians in the regions round about Lake Superior. His hair whitened by age, his mind ripened by long experience, and acquainted with the peculiarities of Lidian character, he seemed the man for the mission. The night before he started, the eyes of the venerable priest were not closed. He thought much of his friends, and, knowing that he was about to go into a land of barbarians, two hours after midnight he penned a letter, Raddisson, another Frenchmen, he ' My Reverend Father— The Peace piloted an English vessel, command- of Christ be with you : ed by Captain Gillam, a Yankee, to I write to you 'probably the last the River Nemiscau, on the east side word, which I hope will be the seal of James Bay, where Fort Rupert of our friendship until eternity, was built. See O'Callaghan's note. Love whom the Lord Jesus did not vol. ix. p. 797, Paris Doc. : Col. His- disdain to love, though the greatest tory of New York. of sinners, for he loves whom he MENARD AT LAKE SUPERIOR. 105 touching in its simplicity, and which will be embalmed in the literature of the future dwellers on the shores of Lake Superior. Earl}' on the morning of the 28th of August, 1660, he, m company with eight Frenchmen, departed with the Ottawa convoy from " Three Rivers." After much ridicule from the wild companions of his voyage, he arrived at a bay on Lake Superior, on the 15th of October, St. Theresa's day, on which account he so designated the sheet of water. During the following winter the}' remained at this point. Their supply of provisions being exhausted, they nearly starved. '• At times they scraped up a mess of the ' tripe de roche,' which slightly thickened their water, foaming upon it a kind of foam or slime, similar to that of snails, and which served rather to nourish their imagination than their bodies :" at other times they loads with his cross. Let your have been a little surprised, not be- friendship, my good fathei-, be use- ing able to provide ourselves with ful to me by the desirable fruits of vestments and other things ; but he your daily sacrifice. In three or who feeds the little birds and clothes four months, you may remember me the lilies of the fields, will take care at the memento for the dead, on ac- of his servants ; and though it should count of my old age, my weak con- happen we should die with want, we stitution, and the hardships I lay would esteem ourselves happy. I under amongst these tribes. Never- am loaded with afi'airs. What I can thclcss, I am in peace, for I have do is to recommend our journey to not been led to this mission by any your daily sacrifices, and to embrace temporal motive, but I think it was you with the same sentiments of by the voice of God. I was afraid, heart, as I hope to do in eternity, by not coming here, to resist the My reverend father, yoar most grace of God. Paternal i-emorse would humble and affectionate servant in have tormented mb, had I not come Jesus Christ, when I had the opportunity. We E. Menard. From the Three Rivers, this 'i 27th August, 2 o'clock [■ after midnight, 1060. J 106 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. subsisted on pounded fish-bones and acorns. When the vernal breezes began to blow, ducks, geese, and mid pigeons made their appearance, and their bodies strengthened. The refugee Hurons, at La Pointe, hearing that a " black gown" was on the shores of the lake, invited him to visit them. Menard appointed three young Frenchmen to act as pioneers, and reconnoitre the country and make presents. On their journey their canoe was stolen, and after many difficulties they returned. Their report was discouraging, but did not deter the aged enthusiast. His last written sentences, penned in July, 1661, are : — " I hear every day four populous nations spoken of, that are distant from here about two or three hundred leagues. I expect to die on my way to them ; but as I am so far advanced, and in health, I shall do all that is possible to reach them. The route, most of the way, lies across swamps, through which it is necessary to feel your way in passing, and to be in danger every moment of sinking too deep to extricate yourself; provisions which can only be obtained by carrying them with you, and the mosquitoes, whose numbers are frightful, are the three great obstacles which render it difficult for me to obtain a companion." Some Hurons having come to treat with the Ojibways, agreed to act as guides. Selecting John Guerin, a faith- ful man, as his companion, he started, with some dried fish and smoked meat for provisions. The Indians, full of caprice, soon moved off, and left the priest and his friend in an unknown country. Bruised in limb, and faint in body, on the 10th of August, Menard, while DISAPPEARANCE OF MENARD. 107 following his companion, lost himself by mistaking the trail. The agony of Guerin is great when he looks behind and beholds not the aged traveller. He calls at the top of his voice, but he only hears the echo. He fires his gun repeatedly, to lead him to the right path ; at last he wanders to a Huron village, and, by gestures and tears, and the promise of reward, induced a youth to go in search. He soon returned, weary; and from that day there have been no traces of his body. A century ago, the report was current in Canada, that, some years after his disappearance, his robe and prayer book were found in a Dahkotah lodge, and were looked upon as " wawkawn" or supernatural. In the summer of 1663 the mournful intelligence of the loss of Menard reached Quebec, and one was soon found to be his successor — Father Claude Allouez, who anxiously awaited the means of conveyance to his scene of labour. In the year 1665 a hundred- canoes, laden with Indians and peltries, arrived at Montreal from Lake Superior. A Frenchman, who accompanied them, reported that the Outaouaks (Ojibways) were attacked on one side by the Iroquois, and on the other by the Nadouessioux (Dahkotahs), a warlike people, who carry on cruel wars with nations still more distant. Allouez rejoiced at the sight of the frail barks, and greeted the besmeared savages as if they were visitants from a better land. In a letter -vvritten at the time, his full heart thus speaks : " At last it has pleased God to send us the angels of the Upper Algonquins to conduct us to their country." On the 8 til of August, 1665, with six Frenchmen 108 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and four Imndred savages, returning from their trading expedition, he embarked. Having made a portage at Sault St. Marier, on the 2d of September their birch canoes ghded on the waters of Lake Superior. On the 1st of October they arrived at the Chegoimegon, a beautiful bay (Bayfield, Wisconsin), where were two large villages, one of which was occupied by the Hurons, who had been driven from the Dahkotah country under the following circumstances : — Having claimed superiority, on account of the pos- session of fire-arms, they taunted the Dahkotahs, who had received them when they were outcasts and flying from the Iroquois, on account of their simplicity. At last, provoked beyond endurance, they decoyed a num- ber of Hurons into a wild rice marsh, and killed many with their primitive, but not to be despised, stone-tipped arrows, and drove the remnant to Chegoimegon. The second village was com]30sed of several bands of Ojibways, whose ancestors had, a long time before, lived east of Lake Michigan, but had been driven westward by the Iroquois. This point was a centre of trade for many nations. Even the Illinois came here to fish and exchange com- modities. Allouez, when he landed at La Pointe, as the French named the place, in consequence of a tongue-like pro- jection of land, found a scene of great confusion. In the language of Bancroft, " It was at a moment when the young warriors were bent on a strife with the war- like Sioux. A grand council of ten or twelve neigh- l^ourins: nations was held to wrest the hatchet from the hands of the rash braves, and Allouez was admitted to an audience before the vast assembly. In the name of ALLOUEZ AT LA POINTE. 109 Louis XIV. and his viceroy, lie commanded peace, and offered commerce and alliance against the Iroquois — the soldiers of France would smooth the path between the Chippewas and Quebec — would brush the pirate canoes from the rivers — would leave to the Five Nations no choice, but between tranquillity and destruction. On the shore of the bay to which the abundant fisheries at- tracted crowds, a chapel soon rose, and the mission of the Holy Spirit was founded. There admiring throngs, who had never seen an European, came to gaze on the white man, and on the pictures which he displayed of the realms of hell, and of the last judgment. There a choir of Chippewas were taught to chant the pater and the ave. * * * * The Sacs and Foxes travelled on foot from their country-, which abounded in deer, beaver, and buffalo. The Illinois also, a hospitable race, unaccustomed to canoes, having no Aveapon but the bow and arrow, came to rehearse their sorrows. * * ♦ * ::: ♦ * Curloslty was roused by their tale of the noble river on which they dwelt, and which flowed toward the south. Then, too, at the very extre- mity of the lake, the missionary met the wild and impassioned Sioux, who dwelt to the west of Lake Superior, in a land of prairies, with wild rice for food, and skins of beasts instead of bark for roofs to their cabins, on the bank of the great river, of which Allouez reported the name to be Messipi." While on an excursion to Lake Alempigon (Saint Anne), he met, at Fond du Lac, in Minnesota, some Dahkotah warriors ; and, in describing them, he is the first to give the name of the great river of which the Indians had told so many wonderful stories. 110 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. In the relations of the mission of the Holy Spirit, the following remarks are made of the Dahkotahs : — " This is a tribe that dwells to the west of this (Fond du Lac), toward the great river called Messipi. They are forty or fifty leagues from here, in a country of prairies, abounding in all kinds of game. They have fields in which they do not sow Indian corn, but only tobacco. Providence has provided them with a species of marsh rice, which, toward the end of summer, they go to collect in certain small lakes that are covered with it. They know how to prepare it so well that it is quite agreeable to the taste and nutritive. They pre- sented me with some when I was at the extremity of Lake Tracy (Superior), where I saw them. They do not use the gun, but only the bow and arrow, which they use with great dexterity. Their cabins are not covered with bark, but with deerskins well dried, and stitched together so well that the cold does not enter. These people are, above all other, savage and warlike. In our presence they seemed abashed, and were motion- less as statues. They speak a language entirely unkno"\vn to us, and the savages about here do not understand them." After two years passed among the Algonquins at La Pointe and vicinity, AUouez was convinced that his mission would not prosper, unless he had some assist- ance. He determined to go in person to Quebec, and implore labourers for the field. Arriving there on the 3d day of August, 1667, he worked night and day ; and, after two days, the bow of his canoe was again turned towards the far West. His party consisted at first of Father Louis Nicholas, and another Jesuit, with four labourers; but, when they came to the canoes, the MARQUETTE'S DESCRIPTION OF DAHKOTAHS. Ill whimsical savages only allowed Allouez, Nicholas, and one of their men, to enter. But, notwithstanding the help obtained, the savage hearts could not be subdued ; and, " weary of their obstinate unbelief," he resolved to leave La Pointe. On the 13th of September, 1669, the renowned Marquette took his place ; and, writing to his Superior, describes the Dahkotahs in these words : — " The Nadouessi are the Iroquois of this country, be- yond La Pointe, but less faithless, and never attack till attacked. " They lie south-west of the mission of the Holy Spirit, and we have not yet visited them, having con- fined ourselves to the conversion of the Ottawas. " Their language is entirely different from the Huron and Algonquin; they have many villages, but are wddely scattered; they have very extraordinary cus- toms ; they principally use the calumet ; they do not speak at great feasts, and when a stranger arrives give him to eat of a w^ooden fork, as we would a child. " All the lake tribes make war on them, but with small success. They have false oats (wild rice), use little canoes, and keep their word strictly. I sent them a present by an interpreter, to tell them to recog- nise the Frenchman everywhere, and not to kill him or the Indians in his company ; that the black gown wishes to pass to the country of the Assinipouars (Assineboines), and to that of the Kilistinaux (Cnistineaux) ; that he was already with the Outagamis (Foxes), and that I was going this fall to the Illinois, to whom they should leave a free passage. " They agreed ; but as for my present waited till all came from the chase, promising to come to La Pointe 112 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. in the fall, to hold a council with the Illinois and speak with me. Would that all these nations loved God as they feared the French." The relations of the Jesuits for 1670-71, allude to the Dahkotahs, and their attack on the Hurons and Ojibways of La Pointe : — " There are certain people, called Nadouessi, dreaded by their neighbours, and although they only use the bow and arrow, they use it with so much skill and so much dexterity that, in a moment, they fill the air. In the Parthian mode, they turn their, heads in flight, and discharge their arrows so rapidly, that they are no less to be feared in their retreat than in their attack. " They dwell on the shores of, and around the great river, Messipi, of which we shall speak. They number no less than fifteen populous towns, and yet they know not how to cultivate the earth by seeding it, contenting themselves with a species of marsh rye, which we call wild oats. " For sixty leagues, from the extremity of the upper lakes towards sunset, and, as it were, in the centre of the western nations, they have all united their force, by a general league, which has been made against them, as against a common enemy. " They speak a peculiar language, entirely distinct from that of the Algonquins and Hurons, whom they generally surpass in generosity, since they often content themselves with the glory of having obtained the vic- tory, and freely release the prisoners they have taken in battle. " Our Outaouacs and Hurons, of the Point of the Holy Ghost, had, to the present time, kept up a kind LA POINTE MISSION ABANDONED.— OJIBW AYS DIVIDED. 113 of peace with them, but affairs having become embroiled during last winter, and some murders having been com- mitted on both sides, our savages had reason to appre- hend that the storm would soon burst upon them, and judged that it was safer for them to leave the place, which in fact they did in the spring." La Pointe being abandoned, the nearest French set- tlement is Sault St. Marie, at the foot of the lake. In the year 1674 a party of Dahkotahs arrived there to make an alliance with the French, having been defeated in recent engagements with their foes. They visited the mission-house of Father Dreuilletes, Avhere some of their nation were under religious instruction; and a council of the neighbouring tribes was called to delibe- rate on the proposed peace. A Cree Indian insulted a Dahkotah chief by brandishing his knife in his face. Fired at the indignity, he drew his own stone knife from his belt, and shouted the war cry. A fierce con- flict now took place, in which the ten Dahkotah envoys were scalped and the mission-house burned. The Saulteurs^ or Ojibways divided into two bands, not far from this period. One remained at the Falls of Saint Mary, and subsisted on the delicious white fish, the other retired towards the extremity of Lake Supe- rior, and settled at two places, making an alliance with the Dahkotahs, who were anxious for French goods, which they strengthened b}' intermarriages. The Dah- kotahs, who had their villages near the Mississippi, ' Name applied because they lived called them Pauotig-oueicuhak, In- at Sault St. Marie. The Dahkotahs habitants of the Falls, or Pahoui- call them Ila-ha-twawns, Dweller at tingdachirini, Men of the Shallow the Falls. The Algonquin tribes Cataract. 8 114 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. about the forty-sixth degree of latitude, shared their country with their new allies. During the winter, the Ojibways hunted, and in the spring they returned to the shores of Lake Superior. While in the land of the Dahkotahs, they took care not to assist them in their wars, lest they should be embroiled wdth surrounding nations.^ ^ Perrot in La Potherie. THE FUR TRADE. 115 CHAPTER V. The trade in furs has produced a class of men of marked peculiarities. Under the French dominion, military officers, and the descendants of a decayed nobility, were licensed, by authority, to trade in a particular district. These men were well educated, poUshed in their manners, and fond of control. Living in a savage land, surrounded by a few dependents, they acted as monarchs of all they surveyed. The freedom from the restraints of civilized life, and the adulation received from the barbarians, who are so easily im- pressed by tinsel and glare, had a wonderful fascina- tion, so that a " lodge in some vast wilderness" became preferable to the drawing-rooms of ancient France, and the gay assemblies of Quebec. These licensed officers did not harass themselves with the minutiaB of the Indian trade. In their employ were a few clerks, chiefly natives of Canada, who had re- ceived the rudiments of an education. Upon these devolved the task of conducting European articles of merchandise, to the tribes on the various watercourses that radiated from the centre of trade, with whom they wintered, and then returned in the spring or summer with the peltries that had been obtained in exchange for powder, lead, rum, and tobacco. 116 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Under each clerk were a few men of no cultivation, the children of poverty or shame, who from their earhest youth had led a roving life, and who acted as canoe men, hewers of wood, and drawers of water. Mercurial in temperament, and with no sense of responsibility, they were a "jolly set" of fellows, in their habits approximating to the savage, rather than the European. The labours of the day finished, they danced around the camp-fire to the sound of the viol, or they purchased the virtue of some Lidian maiden, and engaged in debauch as disgusting as that of sailors sojourning in the isles of the South Sea, or " Worn with the long day's march, and the chase Of the deer, and the bison, Stretched themselves on the ground and slept Where the quivering fire-light Flashed on their swarthy cheeks, and their Forms wrapped up in their blankets."^ Inured to toil, they arose in the morning " when it was yet dark," and pushing the prow of their light canoes into the water, swiftly they glided away " hke the shade of a cloud on the prairie," and did not break fast until the sun had been above the horizon for several hours. Halting for a short period they partook of their coarse fare, and sang their rude songs; then re-embarking, they pursued their course to the land of the beaver and the buffalo, until the " shades of night began to fall." From early youth accustomed to descend rapids, and ascend lofty bluffs with heavy burdens, they guided ^ Evangeline. HABITS OF THE VOYAGEURS. 117 their canoes, and carried their packs through places that would have been impassable to any but the " cou- reurs des bois."^ When old age relaxed their sinewy joints, they returned to Mackinaw, or some other entrepot, and with an Indian woman obtained, after the manner of the country, to mend their moccasins and hoe their gardens, passed the remainder of life in whiffing the pipe and recounting hair-breadth escapes. The " bois brule"^ offsprmg naturally became enam- oured with the rover's life, a retrospect of which infused fire into the dim eyes of the old man, and as soon as employment could be obtained they left the homestead to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. The voyageur seldom remains in a settled country. As civilization advances he feels cramped and uncom- fortable, and follows the Indian in his retreat. On the confines of Minnesota are many of this class, whose fathers, a generation ago, dwelt at La Pointe, Green Bay, or Prairie du Chien. Before France had taken formal possession of the region of the Lakes, hundreds of "coureurs des bois" had ventured into the distant North- West. The absence of so many from regular pursuits, was supposed to be disastrous to the interests of the colony, and measures were taken by the French government to compel them to return, which resulted in only partial success. Du Chesneau, Intendant of Canada, was worried by the lawlessness of the rovers, and writes to the Minister of Marine^ and Colonies of France : — ' So called because they wandered wood," applied to half-breeds be- through the -woods, to obtain peltries cause of their dark complexions, from the savages. ^ Nov. 10, 1G79, Paris Documents, * This term, meaning "burnt 11. Col. IHst. N. Y. vol. ix. p. 133. 118 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. " Be pleased to bear in mind, my lord, that there was a general complaint, the year previous to my arrival in this country, that the great quantity of people who went to trade for peltries to the Indian country, ruined the colony, because those who alone could improve it, being young and strong for work, abandoned their wives and children, the cultivation of lands, and rear- ing of cattle ; that they became dissipated ; that their absence gave rise to licentiousness among their wives, as has often been the case, and is still of daily occur- rence; that they accustomed themselves to a loafing and vagabond life, which it was beyond their power to quit ; that they derived little benefit from their labours, because they were induced to waste in drunkenness and fine clothes the little they earned, which was very trifling, those who gave them licenses having the larger part, besides the price of the goods, which they sold them very dear, and that the Indians would no longer bring them peltries in such abundance to sell to the honest people, if so great a number of young men went in search of them to those very barbarians, who despised us on account of the great cupidity we manifested." At one period, three-fourths of the revenue of Canada w^as derived from the fur trade. Only twenty-five licenses were granted each year; and when a " poor gentleman" or " old officer" did not wish to go West, he disposed of his permit, w^hich w^as valued at six hundred crowns, to the merchants of Quebec or Montreal. Each license allowed the pos- sessor to send two canoes into the Indian country. Six " voyageurs" were employed for the canoes, and were furnished with goods valued at one thousand crowns, with an addition of fifteen per cent. The losses and PROFITS OF FUR TRADE.— PERROT. 119 risk were great, but when a venture was successful the profits were enormous. The two canoes sometimes brought to Montreal beautiful furs valued at eight thousand cro"\vns. The merchants received from the "coureurs des bois" six hundred crowns for the license, one thousand for the goods, and forty per cent, on the balance of sales ; the residue was divided among the "coureurs," giving to each five or six hundred crowns, which was disposed of as quickly, and much in the same way, as mariners dis- charged from a ship of war spend their wages. During the latter part of the seventeenth century, the name of Nicholas Perrot was familiar, not only to the men of business, and officers of government at Montreal and Quebec, but around the council fires of the Hurons, Ottawas, Otchagras, Ojibways, Pottawota- mies, Miamies, and Dahkotahs. A native of Canada, accustomed from childhood to the excitement and in- cidents of border life, he was to a certain extent pre- pared for the wild scenes witnessed in after days. If the name of Joliet is worthy of preservation, the citizens of the North- West ought not to be willing to let the name of that man die, who was the first of whom we have any account that erected a trading post on the upper Mississippi. Perrot was a man of good family, and in his youth applied himself to study, and, being for a time in the service of the Jesuits, became familiar with the customs and languages of most of the tribes upon the borders of our lakes. Some years before La Salle had launched the " Griffin" on Lake Erie, and commenced his career of discovery, Perrot, at the request of the authorities in Canada, who 120 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. looked upon him as a man of great tact, visited the various nations of the North- West, and invited them to a grand council at Sault St. Marie, for the purpose of making a treaty with France. Of mercurial tempera- ment, he performed the journey with great speed, going as far south as Chicago, the site of the present city. On the 3d of September, 1670, Talon, the Intendant of Canada, ordered Sieur de St. Lusson to proceed to the "countries of the Outaouais, Nez Perces, Illinois, and other nations discovered" near Lake Superior or the Fresh Sea, and search for mines, particularly cop- per. He was also delegated to take possession of all the countries through which he passed, planting the cross and the arms of France. In May, 1671, there was seen at the Falls of St. Mary, what has been of late, a frequent occurrence. Here was the first convocation of civilized men, with the aborigines of the North- West, for the formation of a compact, for the purposes of trade and mutual assist- ance.^ It was not only the custom but policy of the court of France to make a great display upon such an occa- sion. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that we should see the ecclesiastic and mihtary officers, sur- rounded "with all of the j)omp and circumstance" peculiar to their profession in that age of extravagance in externals. AUouez, the first ecclesiastic who saw the Dahkotahs ^ The Europeans present, besides a soldier of the castle of Quebec ; De Lusson and Parrot, were the Je- Dennis Masse ; Chavigny ; Chevriot- suits, Andre, Dreuilletes, Allouez, tiere ; Lagillier ; Mayser6 ; Dupuis ; and Dablon ; also Joliet, the ex- Bidaud Joniel ; Portcet ; Du Prat : plorer of the Mississippi ; Mogras, A^ital Oriol ; Guillaume. of Three Rivers, Canada ; Touppine, • TAKING POSSESSION OF THE NORTH-WEST. 121 face to face, and the founder of the mission among the Ojibways at La Point e, opened council by detaihng to the painted, grotesque assemblage, enveloped in the robes of the beaver and buffalo, the great power of his monarch who lived beyond the seas. Two holes were then dug, in one of which was planted a cedar column, and in the other a cross of the same material. After this the European portion of the assemblage chanted the h}Tnn which was so often heard in the olden time from Lake Superior to Lake Pont- chartrain : — "Vexilla regis prodeunt Fulget crucis mysterium, Qua vita mortem pertulit, Et morte, vitam pertulit." The arms of France, probably engraved on leaden plates, were then attached to both column and cross, and again the whole company sang together the " Exau- diat," of the Roman Catholic service, the same as the 20th Psalm, of the King James' version of the Bible. The delegates from the different tribes having signified their approval of what Perrot had interpreted of the speech of the French Envoy, St. Lusson, there was a grand discharge of musketry, and the chanting of the noble " Te Deum Laudamus." After this alliance was concluded, Perrot, in a spirit of enterprise, opened the trade with some of the more remote tribes. The first trading posts on Lake Superior, beyond Sault St. Marie, were built of pine logs, by Daniel Greysolon du Luth, a native of Lyons, at Kamanisti- goya, the entrance of Pigeon river, Minnesota. On the 122 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 1st of September, 1678, lie left Quebec, to explore the country of the Dcahkotahs and xissinebomes. The next year, on the 2d of July, he caused the king's arms to be planted " in the great village of the Nadouessioux (Dahkotahs), called Kathio, where no Frenchman had ever been, also at Songaskicons, and Houetbatons,^ one hundred and twenty leagues distant from the former." On the 15th of September, he met the Assineboines and other nations, at the head of Lake Superior, for the purpose of settling their difficulties with the Dahkotahs, and was successful. On this tour he \asited Mille Lac, which he called Lake Buade, the family name of Frontenac, governor of Canada.^ Du Chesneau, the intendant of Canada, appears to have been hostile to Du Luth, and wrote to Seignelay, Minister of the Colonies, that he and Governor Fronte- nac were in correspondence, and enriching themselves by the fur trade. He also intimated that the governor clandestinely encouraged Du Luth to sell his peltries to the English. From the tone of the correspondence, Du Chesneau was excitable and prejudiced.^ ^ The Chongasketons and Ouade- vernor, having returned this year, batons of the early French maps, and I being advised that he had The former were the same as the traded in two days, one hundred and Sissetoans. fifty beaver robes in a single village ^ Coronellis' map, corrected by of this tribe, amounting in all to Tillemon, published at Paris, 1688. nearly nine hundred beavers, which ^ " The man named La Taupine, is a matter of public notoriety, and a famous ' coureur de bois,' who that he left with Du Luth, two men, set out in the month of September whom he had with him, considered of last year, 1678, to go to the Ou- myself bound to have him arrested tawacs, with goods, and who has and to question him, but having pre- always been interested with the go- sented a license frop the governor DU LUTH'S UNCLE. 123 He attempted to imprison several of Du Luth's friends, among others his uncle, named Patron, who was a mer- chant, and his agent for the sale of furs. The account that Perrot gave of his explorations be- yond Lake Michigan, attracted the attention of La Salle, and induced him to project those enterprises which have given distinction to his name. permitting him and his comrades, Lamonde, and Dupuy, to repair to the Outawac nation to execute his secret orders, I had him set at li- berty. Immediately on his going out, Sieur Prevost, Town-Mayor of Quebec, came at the head of some soldiers, to force the prison, -with written orders in these terms from the governor : — " ' Count de Frontenac, Councillor of the King in his Council, Governor and LieutenantrGeneral of His Ma- jesty in New France : "Sieur Prevost, Mayor of Quebec, is ordered, in case the Intendant ar- rest Pierre Moreau, alias La Tau- pine, whom we have sent to Quebec, as bearer of despatches, upon pre- text of his having been in the bush, to set him forthwith at liberty, and employ every means for this purpose at his peril. Done at Montreal, 5th September, 1679. Frontenac' " 124 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER VI. The same autumn that Du Luth left Montreal for the region west of Lake Superior, La Salle was at Fort Frontenac, the modern Kingston, busily engaged in maturing his plans for an occupation of the iSIississippi valley. During the winter and the followmg spring his employees were occupied in building a vessel to navi- gate the lakes. Among those who were to accompany him on the voyage was Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan priest, of the Recollect order. The first European to explore the Mississippi above the mouth of the Wisconsin; the first to name and describe the Falls of Saint Anthony ; the first to pre- sent an engraving of the Falls of Niagara to the literary world ; the Minnesotian will desire to know something of the antecedents and subsequent life of this indi\ddual. The account of Hennepin's early hfe is chiefly ob- tained from the mtroduction to the Amsterdam edition of his book of travels. He was born in Ath, an inland town of the Netherlands. From boyhood he longed to visit foreign countries, and it is not to be wondered at that he assumed the ]Driestly office, for next to the army, it was the road, in that age, to distinction. For several years he led quite a wandering life. A member HENNEPIN'S FONDNESS OF ADVENTURE. 125 of the Recollect branch of the Franciscans, at one time he is on a begging expedition to some of the towns on the sea coast. In a few months he occupies the post of chaplain at an hospital, where he shrives the dying and administers extreme unction. From the quiet of the hos- pital he proceeds to the camp, and is present at the battle of Seneffe, which occurred in the year 1674. His w^hole mind, from the time that he became a priest, appears to have been on " things seen and tem- poral," rather than on those that are "unseen and eternal." While on duty at some of the ports on the Straits of Dover, he exhibited the characteristic of an ancient Athenian more than that of a professed successor of the Apostles. He sought out the society of strangers '• who spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." With perfect nonchalance he confesses that notwithstanding the nauseating fumes of tobacco, he used to slip behind the doors of sailors' taverns, and spend days, without regard to the loss of his meals, listening to the adventures and hair-breadth escapes of the mariners in lands beyond the sea. In the year 1676 he received a welcome order from his Superior, requiring him to embark for Canada. Un- accustomed to the world, and arbitrary in his disposi- tion, he rendered the cabin of the ship in which he sailed anything but heavenly. As in modern days, the passengers in a vessel to the new world were composed of heterogeneous materials. There were young women going out in search for brothers or husbands, ecclesias- tics, and those engaged in the then new, but profitable, commerce in furs. One of his fellow passengers was the talented and enterjirising, though unfortunate, La Salle, with whom he afterwards associated. If he is to be 126 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. credited, his intercourse with La Salle was not very pleasant on ship-board. The young women, tired of being cooped up in the narrow accommodations of the ship, when the evening was fair sought the deck, and engaged in the rude dances of the French peasantry of that age. Hennepin, feeling that it was improper, began to assume the air of the priest, and forbade the sport. La Salle, feeling that his interference was un- called for, called him a pedant, and took the side of the girls, and during the voyage there were stormy discus- sions. Good humour appears to have been restored when they left the ship, for Hennepin would otherwise have not been the companion of La Salle in his great Western journey. Sojourning for a short period at Quebec, the adven- ture-loving Franciscan is permitted to go to a mission station on or near the site of the present town of Kings- ton, Canada West. Here there was much to gratify his love of novelty, and he passed considerable time in rambling among the Lroquois of New York, even penetrating as far eastward as the Dutch Fort Orange, now the city of Albany. In 1678 he returned to Quebec, and was ordered to join the expedition of Robert La Salle. On the 6 th of December Father Hennepin and a por- tion of the exploring party had entered the Niagara river. In the vicinity of the Falls, the winter was passed, and while the artisans were preparing a ship above the Falls, to navigate the great lakes, the Eecol- lect wiled away the hours in studying the manners and THE SHIP GRIFFIN.— HENNEPIN. 127 customs of the Seneca Indians, and in admiring the sublimest handiwork of God on the globe. On the 7th of August, 1679, the ship being com- pletely rigged, unfurled its sails to the breezes of Lake Erie. The vessel was named the " Griffin," in honour of the arms of Frontenac, Governor of Canada, the first ship of European construction that had ever ploughed the waters of the great inland seas of North America. After encountering a violent and dangerous storm on one of the lakes, during which they had given up all hopes of escaping shipwreck, on the 27th of the month, they were safely moored in the harbour of " Missili- raackinack." From thence the party proceeded to Green Bay, where they left the ship, procured canoes, and continued along the coast of Lake Michigan. By the middle of January, 1680, La Salle had conducted his expedition to the Illuiois river, and on an eminence near Lake Peoria, he commenced, with much heaviness of heart, the erection of a fort, which he called Creve- coeur, on account of the many disappointments he had experienced. La Salle, in the month of February, selected Henne- pin and two traders for the arduous and dangerous undertaking of exploring the unkno^vn regions of the upper Mississippi. Daring and ambitious of distinction as a discoverer, he was not averse to such a commission, though per- haps he may have shrunk from the undertaking at so inclement a season as the last of February is, in this portion of North America. On the 29th of February, 1680, with two vo^^ageurs, named Picard du Gay and Michael Ako, Henncpui em- barked in a canoe on the voyage of discovery. 128 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. The venerable Ribourde, a member of a Burgundian family of high rank, and a fellow Franciscan, came down to the river bank to see him off, and, in bidding him farewell, told him to acquit himself like a man, and be of good courage. His words were, " Viriliter age et confortetur cor tuum." The canoe was loaded with about one hundred and fifty dollars' worth of merchandise for the purpose of trade with the Indians, and in addition La Salle pre- sented to Hennepin ten knives, twelve awls or bodkms, a parcel of tobacco, a package of needles, and a pound or two of white or black beads. The movements of Hennepin, during the month of March, are not very clearly related. He appears to have been detained at the junction of the Illinois mth the Mississippi by the floating ice, until near the mid- dle of that month. He then commenced the ascent of the river for the first time by civilized man, though Marquette had, seven years before, descended fmm the Wisconsin. Surrounded by hostile and unknown natives, they cautiously proceeded. On the 11th of April, 1680, thirty-three bark canoes, containing a Dahkotah war party against the Illinois and Miami nations, hove in sight, and commenced discharging their arrows at the canoe of the Frenchmen. Perceiving the calumet of peace, they ceased theu' hostile demonstrations and ap- proached. The first night that Hennepin and his com- panions passed with the Dahkotah party w^as one of anxiety. The next morning, a chief named Narrhetoba asked for the peace calumet, filled it with willow bark. and all smoked. It was then simified that the white o" men were to return with them to their villages. FRANCISCAN'S ATTEMPT TO PRAY. 129 In his narrative the Franciscan remarks : — " I found it difficult to say m}' office before these Indians. Many seeing me . move my Hps, said in a fierce tone, ' Ouak- anche.' Michael, all out of countenance, told me, that if I continued to say my breviary, we should all three be killed, and the Picard begged me at least to jiYiiy apart, so as not to provoke them. I followed the latter's advice, but the more I concealed myself, the more I had the Indians at my heels, for when I entered the wood, the}' thought I was going to hide some goods under ground, so that I knew not on what side to turn to pray, for they never let me out of sight. This obliged me to beg pardon of my canoe-men, assuring them I could not dispense Avitli saying my office. By the word ' Ouakanche,' the Indians meant that the book I was reading was a spirit, but by their gesture they nevertheless showed a kind of aversion, so that to accustom them to it, I chanted the Litany of the Blessed Virgin in the canoe, with my book opened. They thought that the l^reviary was a sjDirit which taught me to sing for their diversion, for these people are naturally fond of singing." This is the first mention of a Dahkotah word in a European book. The savages were annoyed rather than enraged, at seeing the white man reading a book, and exclaimed " Wakan-de !" this is wonderful or super- natural. The war party was composed of several bands of the M'dewakantonwan Dahkotahs, and there was a diversity of opinion in relation to the disposition that should l)e made of the wliit<3 men. The relatives of those who had been killed by the Miamis, were in favour of taking their scalps, but others were anxious 130 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. to retain the favour of the French, and open a trading intercourse. Perceiving one of the canoe-men shoot a wild turkey, they called the gun Manza Ouackange — iron that has understanding ; more correctly, Maza Wakande, this is the supernatural metal. Aquipaguatin, one of the head men, resorted to the following device to obtain merchandise. Says the Father, "this wily savage had the bones of some dis- tinguished relative, which he preserved wdth great care in some skins dressed and adorned with several rows of black and red porcupine quills. From time to time he assembled his men to give it a smoke, and made us come several days, to cover the bones with goods, and by a present wipe away the tears he had shed for him, and for his own son killed by the Miamis. To apjjease this captious man, we threw on the bones several fathoms of tobacco, axes, knives, beads, and some black and white wampum bracelets. * * * * '"•' * * We slept at the point of the Lake of Tears,^ which we so called from the tears wdiich this chief shed all night long, or by one of his sons whom he caused to weep when he grew tired." The next day, after four or five leagues' sail, a chief came, and telling them to leave their canoes, he pulled up three piles of grass for seats. Then taking a piece of cedar, full of little holes, he placed a stick into one, which he revolved between the palms of his hands, until he kindled a fire, and informed the Frenchmen that they would be at Mille Lac in six days. On the nineteenth day after their captivity, they arrived in the ^ Lake Pepin. HENNEPIN NEAR ST. PAUL.— iMILLE LAC. 131 vicinity of Saint Paul, not far, it is probable, from the marshy ground on which the Kaposia band once lived, and now called " Pig's Eye." The journal remarks, " Having arrived, on the nine- teenth day of our navigation, five leagues below St. Anthony's Falls, these Lidians landed us in a bay, broke our canoe to pieces, and secreted their own in the reeds." They then followed the trail to Mille Lac, sixty leagues distant. As they approached their villages, the various bands began to show their sjooils. The tobacco was highly prized, and led to some contention. The chaUce of the Father, which glistened in the sun, they were afraid to touch, supposing it was " wakan."^ After five days' walk they reached the Issati (D ways, they should have regular trade, and a " black robe" reside in their country. The Ojibways, after the treaty, came do^vn to Mon- treal, and were thus addressed by Longeuil,^ the gover- nor : — " I am rejoiced, my children of the Sauteurs, at the peace which Monsieur De Linctot has procured for you with the Sioux, your neighbours, and also on account of the prisoners you have restored to them. I desire him, in the letter which I now give you, my son Cabina, for him, that he maintain this peace, and support the happy reunion which now appears to exist between the Sioux and you. I hope he will succeed in it, if you are attentive to his words, and if you follow the lights which he will show you. " My heart is sad on account of the blows which the Foxes of Green Bay have given you, of which you have just spoken, and of which the commandant has written in his letter. It appears to me that Heaven has revenged you for your losses, since it has given you the flesh of a young Fox to eat. You have done well to listen to the words of your commandant to keep quiet, and respect the words of your Father. " It would not have been good to embroil the whole land in order to revenge a blow struck by people with- ' The Baron Longcuil, was Charles Le Moync, a native of Canada. He died in 1729. 182 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. out sense or reason, who have no authority m their own ^-illages. "• I invite you by this tobacco, my children, to remain in tranquillity in your lodges, awaiting the news of what shall be decided in the council at the bay (Green Bay), by the commandant of Mackinaw. "■ There is coming from France a new Father, who will not fail to inform you, as soon as he shall be able to take measures and stop the bad affair which the Foxes wish to cause in future. " And to convince you, my children, of the interest I take in your loss, here are two blankets, two shirts, and two pairs of leggings, to cover the bodies of those of your children who have been killed, and to stop the blood which has been spilled upon your mats. I add to this, four shirts to staunch the wounds of those who have been hurt in this miserable affray, with a package of tobacco to comfort the minds of your young men, and also to cause them to think hereafter of good things, and wholly to forget bad ones. " This is what I exhort 3'ou all, my children, while waiting for news from your new Father, and also to be always attentive to the words of the French command- ant, who now smokes his pipe in security among you." The Foxes again proved faithless, having received belts from the English, and determined to attack the French. The authorities at Quebec now determined to send a regular army into their country. Their prepara- tions were kept secret; for, says Beauhamois, "they already had an assurance of a passage into the country of the Sioux of the Prairies, their allies, in subh a man- ner, that if they had known of our design of making war, it would have been easy to have withdrawn in FREXCII RE ESTABLISHED AT LAKE PEPIN'. 183 that direction, before we could block up the wa}- and attack them in their town^." To hem in the Fox nation as much as possible, Fort Perrot, or a site a few miles above, on the shores of Lake Pepin, was re-occupied.^ Shortly after the arrival of the French, the Indians moved off, and joined the Dahkotahs of the Plains, in a war with the Omahaws. The governor of Canada felt that the occupancy of this post was of vital importance. In a despatch to the French government he .eloquently urges his views : — " The interests of religion, of the service, and of the colony are involved in the maintenance of this establish- ment, which has been the more necessary as there is no doubt but the Foxes, when routed, would have found an asylum among the Scioux, had not the French been set- tled tliere, and the docility and submission manifested by the Foxes cannot be attributed to any cause except the attention entertained by the Scioux for the French, and the offers which the former made the latter, of which the Foxes were fully cognisant. " It is necessary to retain the Scioux in these favour- able dispositions, in order to keep the Foxes in check, J" The furt the French built among Col. D. vol. ix., p. lOlG. The fort the Scioux on the border of Lake seems to be higher up than Perrot's, Pepin, appears to be badly situated and was built by Laperriere. Pike on account of the freshets. But the in his journal appears to have this Indians assure that the waters rose fort in view, when he says : "Just higher in 1727 than it ever did before; below the (point of sand) Ft. de and this is credible, inasmuch as it Sable, the French, under Frontenac, did not reach the fort this year. * * who had driven the Renards from * * * As the waters might possibly the Wisconsin, and chased them up rise as high as 1727, this fort could the Mississippi river, built a stockade be removed foifr or five arpcnts from on this lake (Pepin), as a barrier the shore without prejudice to the against the savages. It became a views entertained in building it on noted factory for the Sioux." its present site. Paris Doc. N. Y. 184 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and counteract the measures they might adopt to gain over the Scioux, who will invariably reject their propo- sitions so long as the French remain in the country, and their trading post shall continue there. But, despite all*' these advantages and the importance of j)reserving that establishment, M. de 'Beauharnois cannot take any steps until he has news of the French who asked his permission this summer to go up there with a canoe load of goods, and until assured that those who wintered there have not dismantled the fort, and that the Scioux continue in the same sentiments. Besides, it does not seem very easy in the present conjuncture, to maintain that post, unless there be a solid peace with the Foxes ; on the other hand, the greatest portion of the traders, who applied in 1727 for the establishment of that post, have withdrawn, and will not send thither any more, as the rupture with the Foxes, through whose country it is necessary to pass in order to reach the Scioux in canoe, has led them to abandon the idea. But the one and the other case might be remedied. The Foxes will, in all probability, come or send next year to sue for peace ; therefore, if it be granted to them on advanta- geous conditions, there need be no apprehension when going to the Scioux, and another company could be formed, less numerous than the first, through whom, or some responsible merchants able to afford the outfits, a new treaty could be made whereby these difficulties would be soon obviated. One only trouble remains, and that is, to send a commandmg and sub-officer, and some soldiers up there, which are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of good order at that post; the mission- aries would not go there without a commandant. This article, which regards the service, and the expense of DE LIGXERVS EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FOXES. 185 which must be on his majesty's account, obhges them to apply for orders. They will, as far as lies in their power, induce the traders to meet that expense, which will possibly amount to 1000 livres or 1500 livres a year for the commandant, and in pro23ortion for the officer under him ; but, as in the beginning of an establishment the expenses exceed the profits, it is improbable that any company of merchants will assume the outlay, and in this case they demand orders on this point, as well as his majesty's opinion as to the necessity of preserving so useful a post, and a nation which has already afforded proofs of its fidelity and attachment. " These orders could be sent them by way of lie Ro3'ale, or b}' the first merchantmen that will sail for Quebec. The time required to receive intelligence of the occurrences in the Scioux country, will admit of their waiting for these orders before doing anj^thing." On the fifth of June, 1728, an army of four hundred Frenchmen and eight or nine hundred savages, em- barked at Montreal, on an expedition to destroy the Fox nation and their allies, the Sauks. De Ligiiery^ was the head of the expedition — a man like Braddock at Fort Duquesne, who moved his army with precision and pomp, as if the savages were accustomed to fight in platoons, and observe the laws of war, recognised by all civilized nations. On the seventeenth of August, in the dead of night, the army arrived at the post at the mouth of Fox river. Before dawn the French crossed over to the Sauk vil- lage, but all had escaped with the exception of four. Ascending the stream on the twenty-fourth, they came ' Taught by experience, he afterwards became an able oflBcor in the French war. 186 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. to a Winnebago village which was also deserted. Pass- ing over the Little Fox Lake, on the twenty-fifth, they entered a small river leading to marshy ground, on the borders of which there was a large Fox village. Here again was another disappointment, for the swift-footed savages had gone many miles on their trail long before the army came in sight. Orders were then given to advance upon the last stronghold of the enemy, near the portage of the Wis- consin, and on their arrival they found all as still as the desert. On the return of the army from this fruit- less expedition, the Lidian villages on the line of march were devastated, and the fort at Green Bay abandoned. The Foxes, having abandoned everything, retired to the country of the loways and Dahkotahs, and probably at this time they pitched their tents and hunted in the valley of the Sauk river in Minnesota. During the year of this badly managed expedition, Father Guignas visited the Dahkotahs, and would have remained there if there had not been hostility between the Foxes and French. While travelling to the Illinois country he fell into the hands of the Kickapoos and Mascoutens, allies of the Foxes, in the month of October. He was saved from being burned to death by an aged man adopting him as a son. For five months he was in captivity. Li the year 1736, while St. Pierre was the commander at Lake Pepin, Father Guignas was also there, and thought that the Dahkotahs were very friendly. About the period of the revival of the post on Lake Pepin, an establishment was built on Lake Ouinipigon, west of Lake Superior. VERANDERIE'S TOUR TOWARDS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 187 Veranclerie, a French officer, was, at this early date, commissioned to open a northern route to the Pacific. Proceeding Avestward from the Grand Portage of Lake Superior, he followed the chain of lakes which form the boundary line of Minnesota and British America, to Lake Winnipeg. Ascending the Assiniboine, he struck out on the plains, and for several days journeyed towards the Rocky Mountains. Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who saw him in Canada, says that he found on the prairies of Rupert's Land, pillars of stone. At one place, nine hundred leagues from Montreal, he discovered a stone with characters inscribed, Avhich the learned at Paris, where it was sent, supposed were Tartarean ; but probably it was a pictograph set up by some passing war or hunting party. ^ ^ Stone heaps are seen on the prai- ries of Minnesota. Having written to a gentleman some years ago, to in- quire of the Dahkotahs " what mean ye by these stones ?" I received an interesting reply : — Dear Sir: Your letter of the third instant, relating to the stone heaps near Red Wing, Ava.s duly received. I am happy to comply with your request, hoping that it may lead to an accurate sui'vey of these mounds. In 1848 I first heard of stone heaps on the hill-tops, back of Red Wing. But business, and the natural suspi- cion of the Indian, prevented me from exploring. The treaty of Men- dota emboldened me to visit the hills, and try to find the stone heaps. Accordingly, late last autumn, I started on foot and alone from Red Wing, following the path marked P. on the map, which I herewith trans- mit. I left the path after crossing the second stream, and turning to the left, I ascended the first hill that I reached. This is about a mile distant from the path that leads from Fort Snelling to Lake Pepin. Here, on the brow of the hill, which was about two hundred feet high, was a heap of stones. It is about twelve feet in diameter and six in height. The perfect confusion of the stones and yet the entireness of the heap, and the denuded rocks all around, convinced me that the heap had been formed from stones lying around, picked up by the hand of man. But ^l}hy and when it had been done, were questions not so easily decided. For solving these I re- solved to seek internal evidence. Prompted by the spirit of a first explorer, I soon ascended the heap ; and the coldness of the day, and tho 18S HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. He established some six commercial posts on the line of his route, some of which are in existence to this day, and bear the same names. His journey was ended by difficulties Avith the Indi- ans, and he was obliged to return. The Dahkotahs Avere suspected of having molested this expedition. The king of France, writing to the proximity of my gun, tended to sup- press my dread of rattlesnakes. The stones were such that I could lift, or roll them, and soon reached a stick about two feet from the top of the heap. After descending about a foot further, I pulled the post out ; and about the same place found a shank bone, about five inches long. The post was red cedar half decayed, 7. e. one side, and rotted to a point in the ground ; hence I could not tell whether it grew there or not. The bone is similar to the two which you have. I left it and the post on the heap, hoping that some one better skilled in osteology might visit the heap. The stones of the heap are magnesian limestone, which forms the upper stratum of the hills about Red Wing. Much pleased, I started over the hill top, and was soon greeted by an- other silent monument of art. This heap is marked B. on the map. It is similar to the first which is marked A., only it is larger, and was so co- vered with a vine, that I had no suc- cess in opening it. From this point there is a fine view southward. The valleys and hills are delightful. Such hills and vales, such cairns and bushy glens, would, in my father's land.have been the thrones and playgrounds of fairies. But I must stick to facts. I now started eastward to visit a coni- cal appearing hill, distant about a mile and a half. I easily descended the hill, but to cross the plain and ascend another hill, " hie labor est." But I was amply repaid. The hill proved to be a ridge with several stone heaps on the summit. Near one heap there is a beautiful little tree with a top like "TamO'Shanter's" bonnet. In these heaps I found the bones which I left with you. I discovered each about half-way down the heaps. I then descended northward about two "hundred feet, crossed a valley, passed some earth mounds, and as- cended another hill, and there found several more stone heaps similar to the others. In them I found no bones, nor did I see anything else worthy of particular notice at pre- sent. If these facts should, in any mea- sure, help to preserve correct infor- mation concerning any part of this new country, I shall be amply re- warded for writing. Your obedient servant, J. F. AiTOX. Kaposia, Jan. 17, 1852. Drejse'e jur les Mcwoire^ tie M^.'Dt'/7s/e Profejseur a /'Acadfhue Jioj/al/" c/ej' tfcir/weJ" . Par /yu/i/i/tf BirarAe. / / 5fl Drawn fro/n lAe ffrufinal 6y /f . Or/rtj/ii/ Sa-e^/iy . FINAL ATTACK ON THE FOXES. 189 governor of Canada, under date of May tenth, 1737, sajs : — '' As respects the Scioux, according to what the com- mandant^ and missionary^ have written to Sieur de Beauharnois, relative to the disposition of these Indians, nothing appears to be wanting on that point. But their delay in coming down to Montreal since the time they promised to do so, must render their sentiments some- what suspected, and nothing but facts can determine whether their fidelity can be absolutely relied on. But what must still further increase the uneasiness to be entertained in their regard, is the attack on the convoy of M. de la Yeranderie." The Foxes having killed some Frenchmen in the Illinois country, in 1741, the governor of Canada, Mar- quis de Beauharnois, assembled at his house, some of the most experienced officers in the Indian service, the Baron de Longeuil, La Corne, De Lignery, and others, and it was unanimously agreed, that the welfare of the French demanded the complete extermination of the Foxes, and that the movements against them should be conducted with the greatest caution. Louis XV. was glad to hear of the determination of the governor of Canada, but he was afraid that it would not be conducted with sufficient secrecy. He, with great discernment, remarks, " If the}' foresee their inability to resist, they will have adopted the policy of retreating to the Scioux of the Prairies, from which point they will cause more disorder, in the colony, than if they had been allowed to remain quiet in their village." The officer in charge of the incursion, was Moran,' * Saint Pierre. * Guignas. ' Probably Sieur Marin, of the French Documents. 190 HISTORi' OF MINNESOTA. who once had charge of the post St. Nicholas near the mouth of the Wisconsin, on the Mississippi. His strategy was not unlike that of the hesiegers of ancient Troy. At that time the Fox tribe lived at the Little Butte des Morts, on the Fox river of Wisconsin. When- ever a trader's canoe hove in sight, they lighted a torch upon the bank, which was a signal for Frenchmen to land, and pay for the privilege of using the stream. Moran having placed his men in canoes, with their guns primed, had each canoe covered with canvas, as if he was bringing into the country an outfit of mer- chandise, and desired to protect it from storms. When near Little Butte des Morts the party was divided, a portion proceeding by land to the rear of the Fox vil- lage, and the remainder moving up the stream. The oarsmen having paddled the canoes within view of the Foxes, they, according to custom, planted the torch, supposing it was a trader's " brigade."^ Curiosity brought men, women, and children to the river's bank, and as they gazed, the canoes were suddenly uncovered, and the discharge of a swivel, and volleys of musketry, were the presents received. Before they could recover from their consternation, they received " a fire in the rear" from the land party, and many were killed. The remnant retreated to the Wisconsin, twenty-one miles from Prairie du Chien, where, the next season Moran and his troops, on snow shoes, sur- prised them while they w^ere engaged in a game, and slew nearly the whole settlement.^ During the winter of 1745-6, De Lusignan visited ' In the North-West a collection Recollections. A^'ol. iii., Wis. His. of traders' canoes is called a brigade. Soc. Col. ^ Snclling's North-West, Grignon's LUSIGNAN VISITS THE DAHKOTAHS. 191 the Dahkotahs, ordered by government to hunt up the "coureurs des bois," and withdraw them from the country. They started to return with him, but learn- ing that they would be arrested at Mackinaw, for viola- tion of law, they ran away. While at the villages of the Dahkotahs of the lakes and plains, the chiefs brought to this officer nineteen of their young men, bound with cords, who had killed three Frenchmen at the Illinois. While he remamed with them they made peace with the Ojibways of La Pointe, with whom they had been at war for some tune. On his return, four chiefs accompanied him to Montreal, to solicit pardon for their young braves. The lessees of the trading post lost many of their peltries that winter, m consequence of a fire. English influence produced increasing dissatisfaction among the Indians that were beyond Mackinaw. Not only were voyageurs robbed and maltreated at Sault St. Marie, and other points on Lake Superior, but even the commandant at Mackinaw was exposed to insolence, and there was no security anywhere. The Marquis de Beauharnois determined to send St. Pierre to the scene of disorder. In the language of a document of the day, he was " a very good officer, much esteemed among all the nations of those parts — none more loved and feared." On his arrival, the savages were so cross, that he advised that no Frenchman should come to trade. By promptness and boldness, he secured the Indians who had murdered some Frenchmen, and obtained the respect of the tribes. While the three murderers were being conveyed in a canoe down the St. Lawrence to Quebec, in charge of a 192 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. sergeant and seven soldiers, the savages, with character- istic cunning, though manacled, succeeded in killing or drowning the guard. Cutting their irons with an axe, they sought the woods, and escaped to their own country. " Thus," writes Galassoniere, in 1748, to Count Mau- repas, " was lost in a great measure the fruit of Sieur St. Pierre's good management, and of all the fatigue I endured to get the nations who surrendered these rascals to listen to reason." INDIAN ENLISTMENT.— FRENCH WAR. 193 CHAPTER X. Canada was now fairly involved in the war mth New York and the New England colonies. The Home Governments were anxious lookers on, for momentous issues depended upon the failure or success of either party. The French knew that they must enhst the Upper Indians on their side, or lose Detroit, Mackinaw, and indeed all the keys of the valley of the Mississippi, and the region of the lakes. They, therefore, sent officers with presents to Mackinaw, to induce the tribes of the far West to unite with them in expelling the English. It was impossible to form regiments of the North American savages, as the French of modern days have done in Algeria, or as the British with the Sepoys. Indians can never be made to move in platoons. From youth they have marched in single file, and have only answered to the call of their inclinations, and over them their chiefs have not the slightest authority. To their capricious natures enlistment for a fixed time is repugnant. At the same time, under the guidance of colonial officers who humoured them in their whims, they frequently rendered efficient service. They were conversant with the recesses of the forest, and walked through the tangled wilderness with the same ease that 13 194 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the French military officers promenaded the gardens of Paris. They discovered the trail of men with the instinct that their dogs scented the tracks of wild beasts. Adroit in an attack, they would also, amid a shower of musket balls, feel for the scalp of an enemy. With such allies it is no wonder that New England mothers and delicate maidens turned pale when they heard that the French were coming.^ On the twenty-third of August, 1747, Philip Le Due arrived at Mackinaw from Lake Superior, stating that he had been robbed of his goods at Kamanistigoya,^ and that the Ojibways of the lake were favourably disposed toward the English. The Dahkotahs were also becom- ing unruly in the absence of French officers. In the few weeks after Le Due's robbery, St. Pierre left Montreal to become commandant at Mackinaw, and Vercheres was appointed for the post at Green Bay. On the twenty-first of June of the next year. La Ronde started for La Pointe, and La Veranderie for West Sea' — ^Fond du Lac, Minnesota. For several years there was constant dissatisfaction among the Indians, but under the influence of Sieur Marin, Avho was in command at Green Bay in 1753, tranquillity was in a measure restored. 1 The following are some of the Aug. 6, 40 Ottawas of the Fork, arrivals in a few weeks at Montreal, " 10, 65 Mississagues. in 1746. July 23—31 Ottawas of " " 80 Algonkins and Nepis- Detroit. sings. •July 31, 16 Folles Avoines for war. " " 14 Sauteurs. "" " 14Kiskakons " " " 22, 38 Ottawas of Detroit. " " 4 Scioux, to ask for a " " 17 Sauteurs commandant. " " 24 Hurons. Aug. 2, 50 Pottowattamiesforwar. " " 14 Poutewatamis. " " 15 Puans " " ^ Pigeon river, part of northern " '* 10 Illinois " " boundary of Minnesota. " 6, 50 Ottawas of Mackinaw. ' Carver's map calls it West Bay. BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT.— ST. PIERRE'S DEATH. 195 As the war between England and France, in America became desperate, the officers of the north-western posts were called into action, and stationed nearer the enemy. Legardeur de St. Pierre, whose name it is thought was formerly attached to the river from which the state of Minnesota derives its name, was m command of a rude post in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1753, and to him Washington, then just entering upon manhood, bore a letter from Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia.' On the ninth of July, 1755, Beaujeu and De Lignery, who had pursued so unsuccessfully the Foxes, in the valley of the Wisconsm, in 1728, were at Fort Duquesne, and marched out of the fort Math soldiers, Canadians, and Indians, to seek an ambush, but about noon, before reaching the desired spot, they met the enemy under Braddock, who discharged a galling fire from their artil- lery, by which Beaujeu was killed. The sequel, which led to the memorable defeat of Braddock, is familiar to all who have read the life of Washington. Under Baron Dieskaw, St. Pierre commanded the Indians, in September, 1755, during the campaign on Lake Champlain, where he fell gallantly fighting the English, as did his commander. The Reverend Claude Cocquard, alluding to the French defeat, in a letter to his brother, remarks : — " We lost, on that occasion, a brave officer, M. de St. Pierre, and had his advice, as well as that of several other Canadian officers been followed, Jonckson^ was irretrievably destroyed, and we should have been spared the trouble we have had this year." ' St. Pierre's reply was manly and dignified. See Pennsylvania Cokt- nial Records, v. 715. ' JohnsoD. 196 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Other officers who had been stationed on the borders of Mmnesota, also distmguished themselves during the French war. The Marquis Montcalm, in camp at Ticon- deroga, on the twenty-seventh of July, 1 757, writes to Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada. " Lieutenant Marin, of the Colonial troops, who has exhibited a rare audacity, did not consider himself bound to halt, although his detachment of about four hundred men was reduced to about two hundred, the balance having been sent back on account of inability to follow. He carried oflf a patrol of ten men, and swept away an ordinary guard of fifty, like a wafer; went up to the enemy's camp, under Fort Lydius (Edward), where he was exposed to a severe fire, and retreated hke a warrior. He was unwilUng to amuse himself making prisoners ; lie brought in only one, and thirty-two scalps, and must have killed many men of the enemy, in the midst of whose ranks it was neither wise nor prudent to go in search of scalps. The Indians generally all behaved well. ****** The Outaouais, who arrived with me, and whom I designed to go on a scouting party towards the lake, had conceived a pro- ject of administering a corrective to the English barges. * * * * On the day before yesterday, your brother formed a detachment to accompany them. I arrived at his camp on the evening of the same day. Lieutenant de Corbiere, of Colonial troops, was returning in conse- quence of a misunderstanding, and as I knew the zeal and intelligence of that officer, I made him set out with a new instruction to rejoin Messrs. de Langlade ^ and Hertel de Chantly. They remained in ambush all day ^ This officer has relatives in Wis- his life is in Grignon's Recollections, consin, and an interesting sketch of Wis. Hist. Soc. Collections, vol. iii. lOWAYS AT TICOXDEROGA. 197 and night yesterday; at break of day the EngUsh appeared on Lake St. Sacrament (Champlain), to the number of twenty-two barges, under the command of Sieur Parker. The whoops of our Indians impressed them with such terror that they made but feeble resist- ance, and only two barges escaped." After De Corbiere's victory on Lake Champlain, a large French army was collected at Ticonderoga, with which there were many Lidians from the tribes of the North-west,^ and the loways appeared for the first time in the east. It is an interesting fact that the EngUsh officers who ' INDIANS OF THE UPPER COUNTRY. OFFICERS. Tetes de Boule 3 Outaouais Kiskakons 94 De Langlade. " Sinagos 35 Florimont. " of the Forks 70 Herbin. " ofMignogan 10 Abbe Matavet. " of Beaver Island 44 Sulpitian. of Detroit 30 " of Saginau 54 Sauteurs of Chagoamigon 33 La Plante. " of Beaver 23 De Lorimer. " of Coasekimagen 14 Chesne, Interpreter. of the Carp 37 " ofCabibonkfe 50 Poutouatamie of St. Joseph 70 of Detroit 18 FoUes Avoines of Orignal 62 of the Chat 67 Miamis 15 Puans of the Bay 48 De Tailly, Interpreter. Ayeouais (loways) 10 Foxes 20 Marin, Langus. Ouillas 10 Reauuie, Interpreter. Sacs 33 Loups 5 198 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. were in frequent engagements with St. Pierre, Lusignan, Marin, Langlade, and others, became the pioneers of the British, a few years afterwards, in the occupation of the outposts on the Lakes, and in the exploration of Minne- sota. Rogers, the celebrated captain of rangers, subse- quently commander of Mackinaw, and Jonathan Carver, the first British explorer of Minnesota, were both on duty at Lake Champlain — ^the latter narrowly escaping at the battle of Fort George. On Christmas eve, 1757, Rogers approached Fort Ticonderoga, to fire the out^houses, but was prevented by discharge of the cannons of the French. He contented himself with killing fifteen beeves, on the horns of one of which he left a laconic and amusing note, addressed to the commander of the post.^ On the thirteenth of March, 1758, Durantaye, for- merly at Mackinaw, had a skirmish with Rogers. Both had been trained on the frontier, and they met "as Greek met Greek." The conflict was fierce, and the French victorious. The Indian allies, finding a scalp of a chief underneath an officer's jacket, were furious, and took one hundred and fourteen scalps in return. When the French returned, they supposed that Captain Rogers was among the killed. At Quebec, when Montcalm and Wolfe fell, there were Ojibways present, assisting the French. The Indians, returning from the expeditions against ^ " I am obliged to you, Sir, for the my compliments to the Marquis du repose you have allowed me to take ; Montcalm. Rogers, Commandant 1 thank you for the fresh meat you Independent Companies." have sent me, I request you to present ENGLISH AT GREEN BAY.— DAHKOTAII EMBASSY. 199 the English were attacked with small-pox, and many died at Mackinaw. On the eighth of September, 1760, the French de- livered up all their posts in Canada. A few days after the capitulation at Montreal, Major Kogers was sent with English troops, to garrison the posts of the distant North-west. On the eighth of September, 1761, a year after the surrender. Captain Belfour, of the eightieth regiment of the British army, left Detroit, with a detachment, to take possession of the French forts at Mackinaw and Green Bay. Twenty-five soldiers were left at Macki- naw, in command of Lieutenant Leslie, and the rest sailed to Green Bay, where ihey arrived on the twelfth of October. The fort had been abandoned for several years, and was in a dilapidated condition. In charge of it, there was left a lieutenant, a corporal, and fifteen soldiers. Two English traders arrived at the same time — McKay from Albaii}", and Goddard from Mon- treal. On the first of March, 1763, twelve Dahkotah war- riors arrived at the fort, and proffered the friendship of the nation. They told the English officer, with warmth, that if the Ojibways, or other Indians, wished to obstruct the passage of the traders coming up, to send them a belt, and they would come and cut them off", as all Indians were their slaves or dogs. They then produced a letter written by Penneshaw, a French trader, who had been permitted, the year before, to go to their country. On the nineteenth of June, Penneshaw re- turned from his trading expedition among the Dahko- tahs. By his influence the nation was favourably affected toward the English. He brought ^vith him a 200 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. pipe from them, with a request that traders might be sent to them/ ^ Extracts from the journal of Lt. Gorell, an English officer at Green Bay, Wis. His. Coll. vol. i. " On March 1, 1763, twelve vrar- riors of the Sous came here. It is certainly the greatest nation of Indians ever yet found. Not above two thousand of them were ever armed with fire-arms, the rest de- pending entirely on bows and arrows, which they use with more skill than any other Indian nation in America. They can shoot the wildest and largest beasts in the woods at seventy or one hundred yards distant. They are remarkable for their dancing, and the other nations take the fashions from them. * * * * This nation is always at war with the Chippewas, those who destroyed Mishamakinak. They told me with warmth that if ever the Chippewas or any other Indians wished to ob- struct the passage of the traders coming up, to send them word, and they would come and cut them off from the face of the earth, as all Indians were their slaves or dogs. I told them I was glad to see them, and hoped to have a lasting peace with them. They then gave me a letter wrote in French, and two belts of wampum from their king, in which he expressed great joy on hearing of there being English at his post. The letter was written by a French tra- der, whom I had allowed to go among them last fall, with a promise of his behaving well, which he did, better than any Canadian I ever knew. * * * * With regard to traders, I told them I would not allow any to go amongst them, as I then understood they lay out of the government of Canada, but made no doubt they would have traders from the Missis- sippi in the spring. They went away extremely well pleased. 'June 14th, 1763, the traders came down from the Sack country, and confirmed the news of Landsing and his son being killed by the French. There came with the traders some Puans and four young men, with one chief of the Avoy (loway) nation to de- mand traders.' * * * * "On the nineteenth, a deputation of Winnebagoes, Sacs, Foxes, and Me- nominees arrived with a Frenchman named Pennensha. This Pennen- sha is the same man who wrote the letter the Sous brought with them in French, and at the same time held council with that great nation in favour of the English, by which he much promoted the interest of the latter, as appeared by the behaviour of the Sous. He brought with him a pipe from the Sous, desiring that as the road is now clear, they would by no means allow the Chippewas to obstruct it, or give the English any disturbance, or prevent the traders from coming up to them. If they did so they would send all their warriors and cut them off." NO ENGLISH POSTS BEYOND MACKINAW. 201 CHAPTER XL Though the treaty of 1763, made at Versailles, be- tween France and England, ceded all the territory comprised within the limits of Wisconsin and Minne- sota to the latter power, the EngUsh did not for a long time obtain a foothold. The French traders having purchased wives from the Indian tribes, they managed to preserve a feelmg of friendship towards their king, long after the trading posts at Green Bay and Sault St. Marie had been dis- continued. The price paid for peltries by those engaged in the fur trade at New Orleans, was also higher than that which the British could afford to give, so that the Indians sought for French goods in exchange for their skins. Finding it useless to compete with the French of the lower Mississippi, the English government established no posts of trade or defence beyond Mackinaw. The country west of Lake Michigan appears to have been trodden by but few British subjects, previous to him who forms the subject of tlie present chapter, and whose name has become somewliat famous in consequence of his heirs having laid claim to the site of St. Paul, and many miles adjacent. 202 HISTORY OF iMINNESOTA. Jonathan Carver was a native of Connecticut. It has been asserted that he was a lineal descendant of John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth colony ; but the only definite information that the writer can obtain concerning his ancestry is, that his grandfather, William Carver, was a native of Wigan, Lancashire, England, and a caj)tain in King Wilham's army during the cam- paign in Ireland, and for meritorious services received an appointment as an officer of the colony of Connecticut, His father was a justice of the peace in the new world, and in 1732, at Stillwater, or Canterbury, Connecticut, the subject of this sketch was born. At the early age of fifteen he was called to mourn the death of his father. He then commenced the study of medicine, but his roving disposition could not bear the confines of a doctor's ofiice, and feeling, perhaps, that his genius would be cramped by pestle and mortar, at the age of eighteen he purchased an ensign's commission in one of the regiments Connecticut raised during the French war. He was of medium stature, and of strong mind and quick perceptions. In the year 1757, he was present at the massacre of Fort William Henry, and narrowly escaped with his life. After the peace of 1763, between France and Eng- land, was declared. Carver conceived the j)roject of ex- ploring the North-west. Leaving Boston in the month of June, 1766, he arrived at Mackinaw, then the most distant British post, in the month of August. Having obtained a credit on some French and English traders from Major Rogers, the officer in command, he started with them on the third day of September. Pursuing the usual route to Green Bay, they arrived there on the eighteenth. CARVER'S DESCRIPTION OF PRAIRIE DU CIIIEN. 203 The French fort at that time was standing, though much decayed. It was, some years previous to his arrival, garrisoned for a short time by an officer and thirty English soldiers, but they having been captured by the Menominees, it was abandoned. In company with the traders he left Green Bay on the twentieth, and ascending Fox river, arrived on the twenty-fifth at an island at the east end of Lake Win- nebago, containing about fifty acres. Here he found a Winnebago village of fifty houses. He asserts that a woman was in authority. In the month of October the party was at the portage of the Wisconsin, and descending that stream, they arrived, on the ninth, at a town of the Sauks. While here he visited some lead mines about fifteen miles distant. An abundance of lead was also seen in the village, that had been brought from the mines. On the tenth they arrived at the first village of the " Ottigaumies" (Foxes), and about five miles before the Wisconsin joins the Mississippi, he perceived the rem- nants of another village, and learned that it had been deserted about thirty years before, and that the inhabit- ants, soon after their removal, built a town on the Mis- sissippi, near the mouth of the " Ouisconsin," at a place called by the French La Prairie les Chiens, which signified the Dog Plains. It was a large town, and contained about three hundred families. The houses were built after the Indian manner, and pleasantly situated on a dry rich soil. He saw here many horses of a good size and shape. This town was the great mart where all the adjacent tril)es, and where those who inhabit the most remote branches of the Mississippi, annually assemble about 204 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the latter end of May, bringing with them their furs to dispose of to the traders. But it is not always that they conclude their sale here. This was determined by a general council of the chiefs, who consulted whether it would be more conducive to their interest to sell their goods at this place, or to carry them on to Louisiana or Mackinaw. At a small stream called Yellow river, opposite Prairie du Chien, the traders who had thus far accompanied Carver took up their residence for the winter. From this point he proceeded in a canoe, with a Canadian voyageur and a Mohawk Indian, as com- panions. Just before reaching Lake Pepin, while his attend- ants were one day preparing dinner, he walked out and was struck mth the peculiar appearance of the surface of the country, and thought it was the site of some vast artificial earth- work. It is a fact, worthy of remembrance, that he was the first to call the attention of the civilized world to the existence of ancient monuments in the Mississippi valley. We give his own description : — " On the first of November I reached Lake Pepin, a few miles below which I landed, and, whilst the ser- vants were preparing my dinner, I ascended the bank to view the country. I had not proceeded far before I came to a fine, level, open plain, on which I perceived, at a little distance, a partial elevation, that had the appearance of entrenchment. On a nearer inspection, I had greater reason to suppose that it had really been intended for this many centuries ago. Notwithstanding it was now covered with grass, I could plainly see that it had once been a breast-work of about four feet in SUPPOSED EARTH WORKS NEAR LAKE PEPIN. 205 height, extending the best part of a mile, and sufficiently capacious to cover five thousand men. Its form was somewhat circular, and its flanks reached to the river. " Though much defaced by time, every angle was distinguishable, and appeared as regular and fashioned Avitli as much military skill as if planned by Vauban himself The ditch was not visible ; but I thought, on examining more curiously, that I could perceive there certainly had been one. From its situation, also, I am convinced that it must have been designed for that purpose. It fronted the country, and the rear was covered by the river, nor was there any rising ground for a considerable way that commanded it ; a few straggling lakes were alone to be seen near it. In many places small tracks were worn across it by the feet of the elks or deer, and from the depth of the bed of earth, by which it was covered, I was able to draw certain conclusions of its great antiquity. I examined all the angles, and every part with great attention, and have often blamed myself since, for not encamping on the spot, and drawing an exact plan of it. To show that this description is not the offspring of a heated imagination, or the chimerical tale of a mistaken travel- ler, I find, on inquiry, since my return, that Mons. St. Pierre and several traders have, at difierent times, taken notice of similar appearances, upon which they have formed the same conjectures, but without exa- mining them so minutely as I did. How a work of this kind could exist in a country that has hitherto (according to the generall}^ received opinion) been the seat of war to untutored Indians alone, whose whole stock of military knowledge has only, till within two centuries, amounted to drawing the bow, and whose 206 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. only breastwork, even at present, is the thicket, I know not. I have given as exact an account as possible of this singular appearance, and leave to future explorers, of those distant regions, to discover whether it is a pro- duction of nature or art. Perhaps the hints I have here given, might lead to a more perfect investigation of it, and give us very different ideas of the ancient state of realms, that we at present believe to have been, from the earliest period, only the habitations of savages." Lake Pepin excited his admiration, as it has that of every traveller since his day, and here he remarks : "I observed the ruins of a French factory, where it is said Captain St. Pierre resided, and carried on a very great trade with the Naudowessies, before the reduction of Canada." Carver's first acquaintance with the Dahkotahs com- menced near the river St. Croix. It would seem that the erection of trading posts on Lake Pepin had enticed them from their old residence on Rum river and Mille Lac. He says : " Near the river St. Croix, reside bands of the Naudowessie Indians, called the River Bands. This nation is composed at present of eleven bands. They were originally twelve, but the Assinipoils, some years ago, revolting and separating themselves from the others, there remain only at this time eleven. Those I met here are termed the River Bands, because they chiefly dwell near the banks of this river ; the other eight are generally distinguished by the title of Naudowessies of the Plains, and inhabit a country more to the westward. The name of the former are Nehogatawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and Shashweentowahs. CAVE AND BURIAL PLACE NEAR ST. PAUL. 207 Arriving at what is now a suburb of the capital of Minnesota, he continues, "about thirteen miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left Lake PeiDin, is a remarkable cave of an amazing depth. The Indians term it Wakon-teebe (Wa- kan-tipi) . The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet. Tha arch within is near fifteen feet high, and about thirty feet broad ; the bottom consists of fine clear sand. About thirty feet from the entrance, begins a lake, the water of which is transparent, and ex- tends to an unsearchable distance, for the darkness of the cave prevents all attempts to acquire a knowledge of it. I threw a small pebble towards the interior part of it with my utmost strength ; I could hear that it fell into the water, and, notwithstanding it was of a small size, it caused an astonishing and terrible noise, that reverbe- rated through all those gloomy regions. I found in this cave many Indian hierogliy-phics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the wall, which was composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife ; a stone every- where to be found near the Mississippi. " At a little distance from this dreary cavern, is the burying-place of several bands of the Naudowessie Indians. Though these people have no fixed residence, being in tents, and seldom but a few months in one spot, yet they always bring the bones of the dead to this place.' ' The cave has been materially and the atmosphere. Years ago the altered by nearly a century's work top fell in, but on the side walls, not of those effective tools, frost, water, covered by debris, pictographs gray 208 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. '• Ten miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, the river St. Pierre, called by the natives Wadapaw Menesotor, falls into the Mississippi from the west. It is not men- tioned by Father Hennepin, though a large, fair river. This omission, I consider, must have proceeded from a small island (Faribault's) , that is situated exactly in its entrance." When he reached the Minnesota river, the ice became so troublesome that he left his canoe in the neighbour- hood of what is now the ferry, and walked to St. Anthony, in company with a young Winnebago chief, who had never seen the curling waters. The chief, on reaching the eminence some distance below Cheever's, began to invoke his gods, and offer oblations to the spirit in the waters. " In the middle of the Falls stands a small island, about forty feet broad, and somewhat longer, on which grow a few cragged hemlock and spruce trees, and about half way between this island and the eastern shore, is a rock, l3^ing at the very edge of the Falls, in an oblique position, that appeared to be about five or six feet broad, and thirty or forty long. At a little distance below the with age, are visible. In 1807, the It is now walled up and used as a present mouth of the cave was so root-house by the owner of the land, covered up, that Major Long, to use On the bluff above are numerous a vulgarism, was obliged to " creep mounds. Under the supervision of on all fours" to enter. In 1820, it the writer, one eighteen feet high and seems to have been closed, as School- two hundred and sixty feet in cir- craft describes another cave three cumference at the base, was opened miles above, as Carver's. Feathers- to the depth of three or four feet. tonhaugh made the same mistake. Fragments of skull, which crumbled In 1837 Nicollet the astronomer on exposure, and perfect shells of and his assistants, worked many human teeth, the interior entirely hours and entered the little cavity decayed, were found, that remained. FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY IN 17G6. 209 Falls, stands a small island of about an acre and a half, on which grow a great number of oak trees." From this description, it would apj)ear that the little island, now some distance in front of the Falls, was once in the very midst, and shows that a constant recession has been going on, and that in ages long past, they were not far from the Minnesota river. A century hence, if the wearing of the last five years is any criterion, the Falls will be above the town of St. Anthony. No description is more glowing than Carver's, of the country adjacent : — " The country around them is extremely beautiful. It is not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye finds no relief, but composed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer are covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed with little groves that give a pleasing variety to the prospect. On the whole, when the Falls are included, which may be seen at the distance of four miles, a more pleasing and picturesque view I believe cannot be found throughout the universe." He arrived at the Falls on the seventeenth of Novem- ber, 1766, and appears to have ascended as far as Elk river. On the twenty-fifth of November, he had returned to the place opposite the Minnesota, where he had left his canoe, and this stream as yet not being obstructed with ice, he commenced its ascent, with the colours of Great Britain Hying at the stern of his canoe. There is no doubt that he entered this river, but how far he explored it cannot be ascertained. He speaks of the Rapids near Shokopay, and asserts that he went as fiir as two hundred miles beyond Mendota. He remarks : — " On the seventh of December, I arrived at the utmost 14 4 210 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. extent of my travels towards the West, where I met a large party of the Naudowessie Indians, among whom I resided some months." After speaking of the upper bands of the Dahkotahs and their allies, he adds that he " left the habitations of the hosf)itable Indians the latter end of April, 1767, but did not part from them for several days, as I was accompanied on my journey by near three hundred of them to the mouth of the river St. Pierre. At this season these bands annually go to the great cave (Day- ton's Bluff), before mentioned." When he arrived at the great cave, and the Indians had deposited the remains of their deceased friends in the burial-place that stands adjacent to it, they held their great council, to which he was admitted. When the Naudowessies brought their dead for inter- ment to the great cave (St. Paul), I attempted to get an insight into the remaming burial rites, but whether it was on account of the stench which arose from so many bodies, or whether they chose to keep this ipart of their custom secret from me, I could not discover. I found, however, that they considered my curiosity as ill-timed, and therefore I withdrew. * * * One formality among the Naudowessies in mourning for the dead, is very different from any mode I observed in the other nations through which I passed. The men, to show how great their sorrow is, pierce the flesh of their arms above the elbows with arrows, and the women cut and gash their legs with sharp broken flints till the blood flows very plentifully. * * ***** After the breath is departed, the body is dressed in the same attire it usually wore, his face is painted, and he is seated in an erect posture on a mat or skin, placed ALLEGED BURLIL SPEECH AT ST. PAUL. 211 in the middle of the hut, with his weapons by his side. His relatives seated around, each harangues in turn the deceased ; and, if he has been a great warrior, recounts his heroic actions nearly to the following purport, which in the Indian language is extremely poetical and pleas- ing :— " You still sit among us, brother, your person retains its usual resemblance, and continues similar to ours, without any visible deficiency, except it has lost the power of action ! But whither is that breath flown, which a few hours ago sent up smoke to the Great Spirit ? Why are those lips silent that lately delivered to us expressions and pleasing language ? Why are those feet motionless that a short time ago were fleeter than the deer on yonder mountains ? Why useless hang those arms that could climb the tallest tree, or draw the toughest bow ? Alas ! every part of that frame which we lately beheld with admiration and wonder, is now become as inanimate as it- was three hundred years ago ! We will not, however, bemoan thee as if thou wast for ever lost to us, or that thy name would be buried in oblivion — thy soul yet lives in the great country of Spirits with those of thy nation that have gone before thee; and, though we are left behind to perpetuate thy fame, we shall one day join thee. " Actuated by the respect we bore thee whilst living, we now come to tender thee the last act of kindness in our power; that thy body might not lie neglected on the plain and become a prey to the beasts of the field or fowls of the air, we will take care to lay it with those of thy predecessors who have gone before thee ; hoping at the same time that thy sjDirit will feed with their 212 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. spirits and be ready to receive ours when we shall also arrive at the great country of souls." For this speech Carver is principally indebted to his imagination, but it is well conceived, and suggested one of Schiller's poems. ^ It appears from other sources that Carver's visit to the Dahkotahs was of some effect in bringing about friendly intercourse between them and the commander of the English force at Mackinaw. The earliest mention of the Dahkotahs, in any public British documents that we know of, is in the correspond- ence between Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Colony of New York, and General Gage, in command of the forces. On the eleventh of September, less than six months after Carver's speech at Dayton's Bluff, and the de- parture of a number of chiefs to the English fort at Mackinaw, Johnson writes to General Gage : — " Though I wrote to you some days ago, yet I would not mind saying something again on the score of the vast expenses incurred, and, as I understand, still incurring at Michi- limackinac, chiefly on pretence of making a peace between the Sioux and Chippeweighs, with which I think we have very little to do, in good policy or other- wise." Sir William Johnson, in a letter to Lord Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's ministers, dated August seventeenth, 1768, again refers to the subject: — '' Much greater part of those who go a trading are men of such circumstances and disposition as to venture their persons everywhere for extravagant gains, yet the ^ For translations of Schiller, see Chapter III. p. 89. PROPOSED PACIFIC ROAD. 213 consequences to the public are not to be slighted, as we may be led into a general quarrel through their means. The Indians in the part adjacent to Michilimackinac have been treated with at a very great expense for some time previous. " Major Kodgers brings a considerable charge against the former for mediatmg a peace between some tribes of the Sioux and some of the Chippeweighs, which, had it been attended with success, would only have been interesting to a very few French, and others, that had goods in that part of the Indian country, but the con- trary has happened, and they are now more violent, and war against one another." Though a wilderness of over one thousand miles inter- vened between the Falls of St. Anthony and the Avhite settlements of the English, he was fully impressed with the idea that the state now organized under the name of Minnesota, on account of its beauty and fertility, would attract settlers. Speaking of the advantages of the country, he says that the future population will be " able to convey their produce to the seaports with great facility, the current of the river from its source to its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico, being extremely favourable for doing this in small craft. This migJit also in time he facilitated hy canals or shorter cuts, and a commimiccdion opened hy water with Neiv York, hy way of the Lakes'' The subject of this sketch was also confident that a route could be discovered by way of the Minnesota river, which '' would open a passage for conveying intelligence to China, and the English settlements in the East Indies." Carver, having returned to England, interested Whit- 214 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. worth, a member of Parliament, in the Northern route. Had not the American Revolution commenced, they proposed to have built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have proceeded up the Minnesota, until they found, as they supposed they could, a branch of the Missouri, and from thence journeying over the summit of lands, until they came to a river which they called Oregon, they expected to descend to the Pacific. Carver, in common with other travellers, had his theory in relation to the origin of the Dahkotahs. He supposed that they came from Asia. He remarks, " But this might have been at different times and from various parts — from Tartary, China, Japan, for the inlia- ])itants of these places resemble each other. * * * * " It is very evident that some of the names and cus- toms of the American Indians resemble those of the Tartars, and I, make no doubt but that in some future era, and this not very distant, it will be reduced to certainty that during some of the wars between the Tartars and the Chinese, a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven from their native country, and took refuge in some of the isles before mentioned, and from thence found their way into Ame- Ii-«rtrt '^ •1' '** '1^ *t» 't^ " Many words are used both by the Chinese and In- dians which have a resemblance to each other, not only in their sound but in their signification. The Chinese call a slave Shungo; and the Naudowessie Indians, whose language, from their little intercourse with the Europeans, is least corrupted, term a dog Shungush (Shoankah). The former denominate our species of their tea Shoushong ; the latter call their tobacco Shous- as-sau (Chanshasha) . Many other of the words used EXAMINATION OF THE CARVER CLAIM. 215 by the Indians contain the syllables die, chaw, and cliu, after the dialect of the Chinese." The comparison of languages has become a rich source of historical know- ledge, yet very many of the analogies traced are fanciful. The remark of Humboldt in " Cosmos" is worthy of re- membrance : — " As the structure of American idioms appears remarkably strange to nations speaking the modern languages of Western Europe, and who readily- suffer themselves to be led away by some accidental analogies of sound, theologians have generally be- lieved that they could trace an affinity with the Hebrew, Spanish colonists with the Basque and the English, or French settlers with Gaelic, Erse, or the Bas Breton. I one day met on the coast of Peru, a Sj3anish naval officer and an English whaling captain, the former of whom declared that he had heard Basque spoken at Tahiti; the other, Gaelic or Erse at the Sandwich Islands.'" Carver became very poor while in England, and was a clerk in a lottery office. He died in 1780, and left a widow, two sons, and five daughters, in New England, and also a child by another wife that he had married in Great Britain. After his death a claim was urged for the land upon which the capital of Minnesota now stands, and for many miles adjacent. As there are still many persons who believe that they have some right through certain deeds purporting to be from the heirs of Carver, it is a matter worthy of an investigation. Carver says nothing in his book of travels in relation to a grant from the Dahkotahs, but after he was buried, it was asserted that there was a deed belonging to him in existence, conveying valuable lands, and that said 216 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. deed was executed at the cave now in the eastern suburbs of Samt Paul.^ The orighial deed was never exhibited by the assignees of the heirs. By his English wife Carver had one child, a daughter Martha, who was cared for by Sir Richard and Lady Pearson. In time she eloped and married a sailor. A mercantile firm in London, thinking that money could be made, induced the newly married couple, the day after the wedding, to convey the grant to them, with the understanding that they were to have a tenth of the profits. The merchants despatched an agent by the name of Clarke to go to the Dahkotahs, and obtain a new deed ; but on his way he was murdered in the State of New York. ^ Deed purporting to have been given at the cave in the bluff BELOW St. Paul. " To -JonathaQ Carver, a Chief under the most mighty and potent George the Third King of the Eng- lish, and other nations, the fame of whose warriors has reached our ears, and has now been fully told us by our good brother Jonathan, aforesaid, whom we rejoice to have come among us, and bring us good news from his country. "We, Chiefs of the Naudowessies, who have hereunto set our seals, do by these presents, for ourselves and heirs forever, in return for the aid and other good services done by the said Jonathan to ourselves and allies, give, grant, and convey to him, the said Jonathan, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the whole of a certain tract of territory of land, bounded as follows, viz : from the Falls of St. Anthony, running on east bank of the Mississippi, nearly south-east, as far as Lake Pepin, where the Chippewa joins the Mississippi, and from thence eastward, five days tra- vel accounting twenty English miles per day, and from thence again to the Falls of St. Anthony, on a direct straight line. We do for ourselves, heirs, and assigns, forever give unto the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns, with all the trees, rocks, and rivers therein, reserving the sole liberty of hunting and fishing on laad not planted or improved by the said Jonathan, his heirs and .assigns, to which we have affixed our respec- tive seals. " At the Great Cave, May 1st, 1767." " Signed, Hawnopawjatin. Otohtongoomlisheaw. CARVER'S CLAIM BEFORE CONGRESS. 217 In the year 1794, the heirs of Carver's American wife, in consideration of fifty thousand pounds sterling, conveyed their interest in the Carver grant to Edward Houghton of Vermont. In the year 1806, Samuel Peters,^ who had been a tory and an Episcopal minister during the Revolutionary war, alleges, in a petition to Congress, that he had also purchased of the heirs of Carver their rights to the grant. Before the Senate Committee, the same year, he testified as follows : — "In the year 1774, I arrived there (London), and met Captain Carver. In 1775, Carver had a hearing before the king, praying his majesty's approval of a deed of land dated May first, 1767, and sold and granted to him by the Naudowissies. The result was his majesty approved of the exertions and bravery of Captain Carver among the Indian nations, near the Falls of St. Anthony, in the Mississij^pi, gave to said Carver 1373?. 13s. 8c?. sterling, and ordered a frigate to be prepared, and a transport ship to carry one hundred and fifty men, under command of Captain Carver, with four others as a committee, to sail next June to New Orleans, and then to ascend the Mississippi to take possession of said territory conveyed to Captain Carver, but the battle of Bunker Hill prevented."^ In 1821, General Leavenworth, having made inqui- ries of the Dahkotahs, in relation to the alleged claim, addressed the following to the connnissioner of the land office : — * Said to have been the author of the great-grandson of Governor John a fictitious work called " Connecticut Carver, the first Chief Magistrate of Blue Laws." Plymouth Colony. ^ Peters also testified that he was 218 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. " Sir : — Agreeabh' to your request, I have the honour to inform you what I have understood from the Indians of the Sioux Nation, as well as some facts within ni}' o^vn knowledge, as to what is commonly termed Car- ver's Grant. The grant purports to be made by the chiefs of the Sioux of the Plains, and one of the chiefs uses the sign of a serpent, and the other a turtle, pur- porting that their names are derived from those animals. " The land lies on the east side of the Mississippi. The Indians do not recognise or acknowledge the grant to be valid, and they among others assign the follow- ing reasons : — " 1. The Sioux of the Plains never owned a foot of land on the east side of the Mississippi. The Sioux Nation is divided into two grand divisions, viz : The Sioux of the Lake, or perhaps more literally Sioux of the Eiver, and Sioux of the Plain. The former subsists by hunting and fishing, and usually move from place to place by water, in canoes, during the summer season, and travel on the ice in the ^vinter, when not on their hunting excursions. The latter subsist entirely by hunting, and have no canoes, nor do they know but little about the use of them. They reside in the large prairies west of the Mississippi, and follow the buffalo, upon which they entirely subsist ; these are called Sioux of the Plain, and never owned land east of the Mis- sissippi. " 2. The Indians say they have no knowledge of any such chiefs, as those who have signed the grant to Carver, either amongst the Sioux of the River, or Sioux of the Plain. They say that if Captain Carver did ever obtain a deed or grant, it was signed by some foolish young men who were not chiefs, and who were not LEAVENWORTH'S LETTER ON THE GRANT. 219 authorized to make a grant. Among the Sioux of the River there are no such names. " 3. They say the Indians iiever received anything for the land, and they have no intention to part with it, without a consideration. From my knowledge of the Indians, I am induced to think they would not make so considerable a grant, and have it go into full effect, without receiving a substantial consideration. " 4. They hav^e, and ever have had, the possession of the land, and intend to keep it. I know that they are very particular in making every person Avho wishes to cut timber on that tract, obtain their permission to do so, and to obtain payment for it. In the month of May last, some Frenchmen brought a large raft of red cedar timber out of the Chippewa river, which timber was cut on the tract before mentioned. The Indians at one of the villages on the Mississippi, where the prin- cipal chief resided, compelled the Frenchmen to land the raft, and would not permit them to pass until they had received pay for the timber ; and the Frenchmen were compelled to leave their raft with the Indians until they went to Prairie du Chien, and obtained the necessary articles, and made the payment required." On the twenty-third of January, 1823, the Committee of Public Lands made a report on the claim to the Senate, which, to every disinterested person, is entirely satisfactory. After stating the facts of the petition, the report continues : — " The Rev. Samuel Peters, in his petition, further states that Lefei, the present Emperor of the Sioux and Naudowessies, and Red Wing, a Sachem, the heirs and successors of the two grand chiefs who signed the said deed to Captain Carver, have given satisfactory and 220 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. positive proof, that they allowed their ancestors' deed to be genuine, good, and valid, and that Captain Carver's heirs and assigns are the owners of said territory, and may occupy it free of all molestation. " The committee have examined and considered the claims thus exliibited by the petitioners, and remark that the original deed is not produced, nor any compe- tent legal evidence offered, of its execution ; nor is there any proof that the persons, whom it is alleged made the deed, were the chiefs of said tribe, nor that (if chiefs) they had authority to grant and give away the land belonging to their tribe. The paper annexed to the petition, as a copy of said deed, has no subscribing wit- nesses ; and it would seem impossible at this remote period, to ascertain the important fact, that the persons who signed the deed comprehended and understood the meaning and effect of their act. " The want of proof as to these facts, would interpose in the w^ay of the claimants insuperable difficulties. But, in the opinion of the committee, the claim is not such as the United States are under any obligation .to allow, even if the deed were proved in legal form. " The British government, before the time when the alleged deed bears date, had deemed it prudent and necessary, for the preservation of peace with the Indian tribes under their sovereignty, protection, and dominion, to prevent British subjects from purchasing lands from the Indians ; and this rale of policy was made known and enforced by the proclamation of the king of Great Britain, of seventh October, 1763, which contains an express prohibition. " Captain Carver, aware of the law, and knowing that such a contract could not vest the legal title in him, EEPORT OF SENATE COMMITTEE. 221 applied to the British government to ratify and confirm the Indian grant, and though it was comj^etent for that government then to confirm the grant, and vest the title of said land in him, yet, from some cause, that govern- ment did not think proper to do it. '- The territory has since become the property of the United States, and an Indian grant, not good against the British government, would appear to be not binding upon the United States government. " What benefit the British government derived from the services of Caf)tain Carver, by his travels and resi- dence among the Indians, that government alone could determine, and alone could judge what remuneration those services deserved. " One fact appears from the declaration of Mr. Peters, in his statement in writing, among the papers exhibited, namely, that the British government did give Captain Carver the sum of one thousand three hundred and seventy-five pounds six shillings and eight pence ster- ling,^ To the United States, however, Captain Carver rendered no services which could be assumed as any equitable ground for the support of the petitioners' claim. " The committee being of opinion that the United States are not bound, in law or equity, to confirm the said alleged Indian grant, recommend the adoption of the following resolution : — " ' Resolved, that the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted." ' ^ Lord Palmerston stated in 1839, papers, showing any ratification of that no trace could Ijo found in the the Carver grant, records of the British office of state 222 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XII. Sustained by French influence and fire-arms, the Ojibways began to advance mto the Dahkotah country. Carver found the two nations at war in 1766, and was told that they had been fighting forty years. Pike, when at Leech Lake, in 1806, met an aged Ojibway chief, called " Sweet," who said that the Dahkotahs lived there when he was a young man. Ojibway tradition says that about one hundred and twenty-five years ago, a large war party was raised to march against a Dahkotah village at Sandy Lake ; the leader's name was Biauswah, grandfather of a well kno^vn chief of that name at Sand}^ Lake. Some years after Sandy Lake had been taken by this chief, sixty Ojibways descended the Mississippi. On their return, at the confluence of the Crow Wing and Mississippi, they saw traces of a large Dahkotah party that had ascended to their village, and probably killed their wives and children. Digging holes in the ground they concealed themselves, and awaited the descent of their enemies. The Dahkotahs soon came floating do"\vn, singing songs of triumph and beating the drum, with scalps dangling from poles. The Dahkotahs were five times as many as the Ojibways, but when the latter ORIGIN OF THE NAME PILLAGER. 223 beheld the reeking scalps of their relatives they were nerved to fight with desperation. The battle soon com- menced, and when arms and ammunition failed, they dug holes near to each other and fought with stones. The bravest fought hand to hand with knives and clubs. The conflict lasted three days, till the Dahkotahs at last retreated. The marks of this battle are still thought to be "sasible. The band of Ojibways, li^'hlg at Leech Lake, have long borne the name of '" Pillagers," from the fact that, while encamped at a small creek on the Mississippi, ten miles from Crow Wing river, they robbed a trader of his goods. Ver}- near the period that France ceded Canada to England, the last conflict of the Foxes and Ojibways took place at the Falls of the St. Croix. The account which the Ojibways give of this battle is, that a famous war chief of Lake Superior, whose name was Waub-o-jeeg, or White Fisher, sent his war club and wampum of war to call the scattered bands of the Ojibway tribes, to collect a war party to march against the Dahkotah villages on the St. Croix and Mississippi. Warriors from St. Marie, Keweenaw, Wis- consin, and Grand Portage joined his party, and with three hundred warriors, Waub-o-jeeg started from La Pointe to march into the enemy's country. He had sent his war club to the village of Sandy Lake, and they had sent tobacco in return, with answer that on a certain day, sixty men from that section of the Ojibway tribe would meet him at the confluence of Snake river with the St. Croix. On reaching this point on the day designated, and the Sandy Lake party not having arrived as agreed upon, Waub-o-jeeg, not confident in 22^ HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the strength of his numbers, continued down the St. Croix. They arrived at the Falls of St. Croix early in the morning, and, while preparing to take their bark canoes over the portage, or carrying place, scouts were sent in advance to reconnoitre. They soon returned with the information that they had discovered a large party of Foxes and Dahkotahs landing at the other end of the portage. The Ojibways instantly prepared for battle, and the scouts of the enemy having discovered them, the hostile parties met as if by mutual appointment, in the middle of the portage. The Foxes, after seeing the compara- tively small number of the Ojibways, and over confident in their own ' superior numbers and prowess, requested the Dahkotahs not to join in the fight, but to sit by and see how quickly they could rout the Ojibways. This request was granted. The fight between the contend- ing warriors, is said to have been fiercely contested, and embellished with many daring acts of personal valour. About noon the Foxes commenced yielding ground, and at last were forced to flee in confusion. They would probably have been driven into the river and killed to a man, had not their allies the Dahkotahs, who had been quietly smoking their pipes and calmly viewing the fight from a distance, at this juncture, yelled their war whoop, and rushed to the rescue of their discomfited friends. The Ojibways resisted their new enemies manfully, and it was not until their ammunition had entirely failed that they in turn showed their backs in flight. Few would have returned to their lodges to tell the sad tale of defeat, and death of brave men, had not the party of sixty warriors from Sandy Lake, who were to DEFEAT OF FOXES AT FALLS OF ST. CROIX. 225 have joined them at the mouth of Snake river, arrived at this opportune moment, and landed at the head of the portage. Eager for the fight and fresh on the field, this band withstood the onset of the Dahkotahs and Foxes, till their retreating friends could rally again to the battle. The Dahkotahs and Foxes in turn fled, and it is said that the slaughter in their ranks Avas great. Many were driven over the rocks into the boiling flood below; ; and every crevice in the cliffs contained a dead or wounded enemy. From this time the Foxes retired to the south, and for ever gave up the war mth their victorious enemies. Tradition says that, while the Enghsh had possession of what is now Minnesota, and while they occupied a trading post near the confluence of the waters of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, the M'de-wa-kan-ton- wan Dahkotahs sent the " bundle of tobacco" to their friends, the Wa-rpe-ton-wan, Si-si-ton-wan, and I-han- kton-wan bands, who joined them in an expedition against the Ojibways of Lake Superior. Notwithstand- ing the great strength of the party, they found and scalped only a single family of their enemies. Soon after their return to their own country, a quar- rel arose between a M'dewakantonwan named Ixkatape (Toy) and their trader. The Indian name of the trader was Pagonta, Mallard Duck. The result of the quarrel was, that one day as the unsuspecting Englishman sat quietly smoking his Indian pipe in his rude hut near Mendota, he was shot dead. At this time some of the bands of the Dahkotahs had learned to depend very much upon the trade for the means by which they subsisted themselves. At an 16 226 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. earlier period it would have been to them a matter of trifling importance whether a white man wintered with them or not. In consequence of the murder, the trade was tempo- rarily withdrawn. This was at that time a severe measure, and reduced these bands to sufferings which they could not well endure. They had no ammunition, no traps, no blankets. For the whole long dreary winter, they were the sport of cold and famine. That was one of the severest winters that the M'dewakantonwans ever experienced, and they had not even a pipe of tobacco to smoke over their unprecedented misery. They hardly survived. On the opening of spring, after much deliberation, it was determined that the brave and head men of the band should take the murderer, and throw themselves at the feet of their English Fathers in Canada. Accord- ingly, a party of about one hundred of their best men and women left Mendota early in the season, and de- scended the Mississippi in their canoes to the mouth of the Wisconsin. From thence they paddled up the Wisconsin, and down the Fox river to Green Bay. By this time, however, more than half their number had meanly enough deserted them. While they were en- camped at Green Bay, all but six, a part of Avhom were females, gave up the enterprise, and disgracefully re- turned, bringing the prisoner with them. The courage, the bone and sinew of the M'dewakantonwan band might have been found in that httle remnant of six men and women. Wapashaw, the grandfather of the present chief who bears that name, was the man of that truly heroic little WAPASHAW AT MONTREAL. 227 half-dozen. With strong hearts, and proud perseverance, they toiled on till they reached Quebec. Wapashaw, placing himself at the head of the little deserted band, far from home and friends, assumed the guilt of the cowardly murderer, and nobly gave him- self up into the hands of justice for the rehef of his suffering people. After they had given him a few blows with the stem of the pipe through which Pagonta was smoking when he was killed, the English heard Wapashaw with that noble generosity which he merited. He represented the Dahkotahs as hving in seven bands, and received a like number of chiefs' medals; one of which was hung about his own neck, and the remaining six were to be given, one to each of the chief men of the other bands. It would be highly gratif;ydng to know who were the persons who received those six chiefs' medals; but, although not more than one century, at the longest, has passed, since Wapashaw's visit to Canada, it cannot now be certainly ascertained to which divisions of the Dahkotah tribe they belonged ; it seems most probable, however, that the following were the seven divisions to which Wapashaw referred, viz. : — M'de-warkan-ton-wan, Wa-rpe-kute, Wa-rpe-ton-wan, Si-si-ton-wan, I-han-kton- wan, I-han-k ton-wan-nan, and Ti-ton-wan. The names of this little band of braves are all lost but that of Wapashaw. They wintered in Canada, and all had the small-pox. By such means Wapashaw re- opened the door of trade, and became richly entitled to the appellation of the Benefactor of the Dahkotah tribe. Tradition has preserved the name of no greater nor better man than Wapashaw. 228 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Wapashaw did not, however, end his days in peace. The vile spirit of the fratricidal Cain sjDrung up among his brothers, and he was driven into exile by their mur- derous envy. To their everlasting shame be it recorded, that he died far away from the M'dewakantonwan vil- lage, on the Hoka river. It is said that the father of Wakute was his physician, who attended on him in his last illness. The Dahkotahs will never forget the name of Wapashaw.^ During the war of the Revolution, De Peyster was the British officer in command at Mackinaw. Having made an alliance with Wapashaw, the chief desired that, on his annual visit, he should be received ^\T.th more distinction than the chiefs of other nations. This respect was to be exhibited by firuig the cannon charged with ball, in the place of blank cartridge, on his arrival, so that his young warriors might be accustomed to fire- arms of large calibre. On the sixth of July, 1779, a number of Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Ojibways were on a visit to the fort, when Wapashaw appeared; and great was their astonishment when they beheld balls discharged from the cannons of the fort flying over the canoes, and the Dahkotah braves lifting their paddles as if to strike them, and crying out, " Taya ! taj'a !" De Peyster, who was fond of rhyming, composed a rude song, suggested by the scene, which is copied as a curiosity : — " Ilail to the chief I who his buffalo's back straddles, When in his own country, far, far, from this fort ; Whose brave young canoe-men, here hold up their paddles. In hopes, that the whizzing balls, may give them sport. 1 G. H. Pond. EXPEDITION TO PRAIRIE DU CHIEN IN 1780, 229 Ilail to great "Wapashaw ! He comes, beat drums, the Scioux chief comes. " They now strain their nerves till the canoe runs bounding, As swift as the Solen goose skims o'er the wave, While on the Lake's border, a guard is surrounding A space, where to land the Scioux so brave. Hail ! to great Wapashaw ! Soldiers ! your triggers draw ! Guard ! wave the colours, and give him the drum. Choctaw and Chickasaw, Whoop for great Wapashaw ; Raise the portcullis, the King's friend is come.^ When the news reached Mackinaw that Colonel George R. Clark, in command of Virginia troops, was taking possession of the Wabash and Mississippi settle- ments, and establishing the jurisdiction of Virginia, the EngUsh traders became uneasy lest the Americans should advance to the far North-west. As a precau- tionary measure they formed themselves into a mihtia company, of which John McNamara was captain, and a trader by the name of J. Long lieutenant. In the month of June, 1780, the intelhgence was received from the Mississippi that the traders had depo- sited their furs at the Indian settlement of Prairie du Chien, and had left them in charge of Langlade, the king s interpreter ; and also that the Americans were in great force in the Illinois country. By request of the commanding officer at Mackinaw, Long went to Prairie du Chien, with twenty Canadians, ' These uncouth lines are from a he seems to have been popular with volume of miscellanies published by the traders. When he was ordered De Peyster, at Dumfries, Scotland, in to another post, they presented him 1812, in the possession of lion. L. C. with a silver punch bowl, gilt inside, Draper, Secretary of the Wisconsin holding a gallon and a half, and a Historical Society. De Peyster's wife silver ladle, as a mark of regard, accompanied him to Mackinaw, and 230 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and thirty-six Fox and Dahkotah Indians, in nine large birch canoes. One day, while camping on the Wisconsin river, they discovered a small log hut, in which was a trader, with his arms cut off, lying on his back, who had been mur- dered by the Indians. The next day the expedition arrived at the " Forks of the Mississippi," where two hundred Fox Indians, on horseback, armed with spears, bows, and arrows, awaited them. Among the Dahkotah Indians of the party was Wapashaw, by whose order the birch canoes were brought to the shore. Upon landing the Foxes greeted Wapashaw and his party, and invited them to a feast of dog, bear, and beaver meat. After the feast a council was called, when the chief of the Foxes addressed Wapashaw to this effect : — " Brothers, we are happy to see you ; we have no bad heart against you. Although we are not the same nation by language, our hearts are the same. We are all Indians, and are happy to hear that our Great Father has pity on us, and sends us wherewithal to cover us, and enable us to hunt." To which Wapashaw replied : — " It is true, my children, our Great Father, has sent me this way to take the skins and furs that are in the Dog's Field (Prairie du Chien), under Captain Lang- lade's charge, lest the Great Knives (Americans) should plunder them. I am come with the white men to give you wherewithal to cover you, and ammunition to hunt." Arriving at Prairie du Chien, the peltries were found in a log-house, guarded by Captain Langlade and some Indians. After resting a short period, the canoes were FORMATION OF NORTH-WEST COMPANY. 231 filled with three hundred packs of the best skins, and the balance burned to keep them from the Americans, who a few days afterwards arrived for the purpose of attacking the post. At this period the M'dewakantonwan Dahkotahs had retired from the region of Mille Lac, and were residing at Penneshaw's^ post, on the Minnesota, a few miles above its mouth. After the disturbance of commerce, incident to the cession of Canada, had ceased, the trade in furs began to revive. In the year 1766, traders left Mackinaw, and proceeded as far as Kamanistigoya, thirty miles east of Grand Portage. Thomas Curry shortly after ventured as far as the valley of the Saskatchewan, and his success in obtaining furs induced a Mr. James Fin- lay to establish a post in the same valley, as high as the forty-eighth and a half degree of latitude. The Hudson Bay Company were uneasy at this en- croachment of private enterprise upon the territory, and endeavoured to counteract it, though without success. About the year 1780, two establishments on the Assiniboine river were destroj'ed by the Indians, and a plot laid to extirpate the traders, but that " noisome pestilence," the small pox, breaking out among the tribes, their attention was diverted. During the winter of 1783-4, there was a partnership formed by a number of traders, which was called the North-west Company. There were at first but sixteen shares, and the management of the whole was entrusted to the brothers Frobishcr and McTavish, at Montreal. A few that were dissatisfied, formed an opposition * The same infliviiliial called Penneshon and Pinchon. 232 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. company, one of the members of which was the explorer and author Alexander Mackenzie. After a keen rivalry, this company was merged with the North-west in 1787, and the number of shares was increased to twenty. From that time the fur trade of the north-west was systematized. The agents at Montreal received the goods from England, and two of them went every year to the Grand Portage of Lake Superior, to receive packs and ship the furs for Europe. In 1798, the company was re-organized, new partners admitted, and the shares increased to forty-six. The magnitude of the operations of the company sur- prise us. At the close of the last century, they em- ployed fifty clerks, seventy-one interpreters, eleven hundred and twenty canoe-men. Five clerks, eighteen guides, and three hundred and fifty canoe-men were employed between the head of Lake Superior and Mon- treal. The others were in Minnesota, and the country above. The canoe-men were known as " Pork Eaters," or "• Goers and Comers," and " Winterers," the latter so called because they entered the interior and passed the winter in traffic with the Indians, received double wages, and were hired from one to three years. The clerks were a kind of apprentices, and received a salary of one hundred pounds, with their board and clothing, with the prospect of being taken into partnership, if they proved good business men. The guides and interpreters were paid in goods. In July the " Winterers" began to assemble at Grand Portage to settle their accounts and receive new outfits, and at times more than one thousand were congregated. The mode of living at the Portage was truly baronial. The proprietors, clerks, guides, and interpreters all ate in TRADERS AT SANDY LAKE AND PINE RIVER. 233 one large hall, at different tables, and, the labours of the day over, the fiddlers were brought in and there was a merry time. The trader in his lonely outpost, con- sidered the reunions at Lake Superior halcyon days, and was buoyed up by anticipating the annual visit. The love of adventure has often led educated young men "into the woods," as well as "before the mast." Sailor life and Indian trade, unless there is strong reli- gious principle, are apt to render one " earthly, sensual and devilish." There have been scenes enacted in Min- nesota which will never be known till the judgment day, for ignorance of which we should be grateful. The history of one trader at an outpost, is substan- tially the history of all. In the year 1784, Alexander Kay visited Montreal to obtain an outfit for the purpose of trading at Fon du Lac, Leech Lake, and vicinity in Minnesota. A young man, educated at the College of Quebec, named Perrault, became his clerk. They arrived at La Pointe on the first of November. On the little lake at the entrance of the St. Louis river, they found the quarters of Default, a clerk of the North-west Company. Kay while here was mad, in consequence of intoxica- tion, and with obstinacy pushed up the St. Louis river, with only a bag of flour, a keg of butter, and of sugar, while his party consisted of his squaw mistress, Perrault, and fourteen employees. At the portage of the river he met his partner, Mr. Harris, also without food, except some salt meat. The men now remonstrated with Kay about proceed- ing inland, with no provision for the winter ; but draw- 234 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ing a pistol, he threatened to shoot those that did not follow. Taking Mr. Harris, an Indian named Big Marten, and seven men, he pushed on in advance, and the next day sent back word that he had gone on to Pine River,^ and desiring his clerk to winter at the Savanne portage if possible. After eleven days' hard toil amid ice and snow, sub- sisting on the pods of the wild rose, and the sap of trees, Perrault and the men reached the point designated. For a time they lived there on a few roots and fish, but about Christmas, hunger compelled them to seek their employer at Pine River. Weak in body, they passed through Sandy Lake, descended the river, and at last arrived at Kay's post at Pine River. After he was recruited, Perrault was despatched to the Savanne portage, where, with his men, he built a log hut. Toward the close of February, Brechet, Big Marten, and other Ojibway Indians, brought in meat. Mr. Kay shortly after visited his clerk, and told the troubles he had with the Indians, who exceedmgly hated him. In April Kay and Perrault visited Sandy Lake, where Bras Casse, or Broken Arm, or Bo-koon-ik, was the Ojibway chief On the second of May, Kay went out to meet his partner Harris coming from Pine River. During his absence, Katawabada,^ and Mongozid, and other Indians, came and demanded rum. After much entreaty Perrault gave them a little. Soon Harris, Kay, and Pinot arrived, all intoxicated. The Indians were ripe for mischief An Indian, named Le Cousin ^ Pine River is a tributary of the possible to reach Leech Lake by this Mississippi, about a daj^'s journey stream. in a canoe from Sandy Lake. It is ^ Katawabada or Parted Teeth, died at Sandy Lake 1828. KAY WOUNDED IN A DRUNKEN REVEL. 235 by the Frencli, came to Kay's tent, and asked for rum, Kay told him " No," and pushed him out; the Indian then drew a concealed knife, and stabbed him in the neck. Kay, picking up a carving knife, chased him, but before he could reach his lodge, the passage was blocked up by Indians. The assailant's mother, approachmg Kay, said, " Eng- lishman ! do you come to kill me ?" and, while implor- ing for her son, with savage cruelty stabbed him in the side. Le Petit Mort, a friend of the wounded trader, took up liis quarrel, and sallying forth, seized Cul Blanc, an Ojibway, by the scalp lock, and, drawing his head back, he plunged a knife into his breast, exclaiming " Die, thou dog!" The Indian women, becoming alarmed at this bac- chanal, went into the lodges and emptied out all the rum they could find. On the fifth of May, Kay's wound was better, and sending for Harris and Perrault to come to his tent, he said : — " Gentlemen, you see my situation ; I have dctcnnined to leave you at all hazards, to set out for Mackinaw, with seven men, accompanied by the Bras Cass^ and wife. Assort the remainder of the goods, ascend to Leech Lake, and wait there for the return of the Pil- lagers, who are out on the prairies. Complete the inland trade." Kay, then taking hold of Perrault's hand, Harris having retired, said : — " My dear friend ! you understand the language of the Ojibways, Mr. Harris would go out with me, but he must accompany you. He is a good trader, but he 236 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. has, like myself and others, a strong passion for drink- ing, which takes away his judgment." In the afternoon Kay left, in a litter, for Mackinaw. Perrault and Harris proceeded to Leech Lake, where they had a successful trade with the Pillagers. Keturning to the Savannah river, they found J. Reaume there, and a Mr. Piquet. The former had wintered at the fort of Red Lake, at its entrance into Red River. They all proceeded by way of the Fond du Lac to Mackinaw, where they arrived on the twenty-fourth of May, and found Kay in much pain. The latter soon after this started for Montreal, but his wound suppurated on the journey, and he died at the Lake of the Two Moun- tains, August twenty-eighth, 1785.^ About the period of this occurrence, Prairie du Chien made its transition, from a temporary encampment of Indians and their traders, to a hamlet. Among the first settlers were Giard, Antaya, and Dubuque. In the year 1780, the wife of Peosta, a Fox warrior, discovered a large vein of lead, in Iowa, on the west bank of the Mississippi. At a council held at Prairie du Chien, in 1788, Julien Dubuque obtained permission to work the lead mines, on and near the site of the city that bears his name, and the bluff, on which is the little stone house that covers his remains. Towards the close of the last century we find Dick- son, Renville, Grignon, and others, trading with the Ojibways and Dahkotahs of Minnesota. In the employ- ^ " History, condition, and pros- Mr. Schoolcraft says that Harris pects of the Indian Tribes of the was a native of Albany, and was United States," vol. iii. alive in 1830. JUDGE PERLIER, TRADER IX MINNESOTA. 237 ment of the latter, at his trading-house on the river St. Croix, was James Perher, a youth, who in the next century became one of the most useful citizens of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was a native of Montreal, and arrived at Green Bay in 1791. Two years after he was employed by an old trader, Pierre Grignon, to act as clerk, at his trading post on the St. Croix. While there he found, with a band of Menomonees, an inte- resting girl, the daughter of a woman that had been abandoned by a French trader, with whom he fell in love, and married. In the year 1797, in company with Dickson, he wintered near Sauk Rapids. When Pike visited the country he was still engaged in trading above the Falls of St. Anthony, and he gave this young officer much information, which he deemed valua- ble. Returning to Wisconsin he acted as chief justice of Brown county, for a period of sixteen years, and died in 1839, much respected. While Perlier was wintering on the St. Croix, a broken-down merchant of Montreal, who had married a lady of wealth in that city, a pompous and ignorant man, full of eccentricity, by the name of Charles Reaume, was his companion. To the early settlers of Green Bay he was known as Judge Reaume. While on the St. Croix the following anecdote is related of him : — " One day he invited Perlier and other traders in the vicinity to dine with him. The guests had arrived, and the venison, cooked in bears' oil and maple sugar was prepared, when Amable Chevalier, a half-breed, told Reaume that there were not plates enough on the table, as there was none for him. ' Yes, there are enough,' said Reaume, sternly; when the half-breed tore from 238 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Reaume's head his red cap, and spreading it upon the table, filled it with the hashed venison. Reaume, in retaliation, seizing a handful of meat, threw it into the half-breed's face. Becoming much excited, it was neces- sary for the guests to part the belligerents."^ In the year 1794, the North-west Company built an establishment at Sandy Lake, with bastions, and ajDcr- tures in the angles for musketry. It was enclosed with pickets a foot square and thirteen feet in height. There were three gates, which were always closed after the Indians had received liquor. " The stockade enclosed two rows of buildings, containing the provision store, workshop, warehouse, room for clerks, and accommodar tion for the men. On the west and south-west angles of the fort were four acres of ground, enclosed with pickets, and devoted to the culture of the potato." The British posts were not immediately surrendered after the treaty of 1783 between Great Britain and America, and led to some ill-feeling upon the part of the United States. When Baron Steuben was sent by Washington, in 1784, to Detroit, to take possession of the fort, the British commandant informed him that he had no authority to deliver up the post, as it was on Indian territory. By the presence of British officials among the Indian tribes, a hostile feeling was main- tained towards the citizens of the United States, which led to the wars with the Indians toward the close of the last century. In the treaty effected by Mr. Jay, Great Britain agreed to withdraw her troops from all posts and places within the boundary lines assigned by the treaty of ^ Wisconsin Historical Society Collections, vol. iii. NORTH-WEST CO. ESTABLISH POSTS IN MINNESOTA. 239 peace to the United States, on or before the first day of June, 1796. The treaty also provided that all British settlers and traders might remain for one year, and enjoy all their former privileges Avithout being com- pelled to be citizens of the United States. Taking advantage of this clause, the North-west Company, through the Fond du Lac department, dotted every suitable place in Minnesota with trading posts. They not only encircled the lakes, but did not pay duties nor apply for licenses. At these posts the British flag was hoisted; and they frequently created civil chiefs among the Indians, to whom they presented the colours and medals of his Britannic majesty. 240 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XIII. On the seventh of May, 1800, the North-west terri- tory, which included all of the western country east of the Mississippi, was divided. The portion not desig- nated as Ohio was organized as the Territory of Indiana. On the twentieth of December, 1803, the province of Louisiana, of which that portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi was a part, was officially delivered up by the French, who had just obtained it from the Spaniards, according to treaty stipulations. To the transfer of Louisiana by France, after twenty days' possession, Spain at first objected; but in 1804 withdrew all opposition. President Jefferson now deemed it an object of para- mount importance for the United States to explore the country so recently acquired, and make the acquaint- ance of the tribes residing therein ; and steps were taken for an expedition to the upper Mississippi. Early in March, 1804, Captain Stoddard, of the United States army, arrived at St. Louis, the agent of the French Republic, to receive from the Spanish authorities the possession of the country, which he immediately transferred to the United States. ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORIES. 241 As the old settlers, on the tenth of March, saw the ancient flag of Spain displaced by that of the United States, the tears coursed down their cheeks. On the twentieth of the same month the territory of upper Louisiana was constituted, comprising the present states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and a large portion of Minnesota, On the eleventh of January, 1805, the territory of Michigan was organized. The first American officer who visited Minnesota, on business of a public nature, was one who was an ornament to his profession, and in energy and endu- rance a true representative of the citizens of the United States. We refer to the gallant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who afterwards fell in battle at York, Upper Canada, and whose loss was justly mourned by the whole nation. When a young lieutenant, he was ordered by General Wilkinson to visit the region now known as Minnesota, and expel the British trader^ who were found violating the laws of the United States, and form alliances with the Indians. With only a few common soldiers, he was obliged to do the work of several men. At times he would precede his party for miles to reconnoitre, and then he would do the duty of hunter. During the day he would perform the part of sur- veyor, geologist, and astronomer, and at night, though hungry and fatigued, his lofty enthusiasm kept him awake until he copied the notes, and plotted the courses of the day. On the fourth of September, 1805, Pike arrived at Prairie du Chien, from St. Louis, and was politely ■ 16 242 HISTORY OF xMINNESOTA. treated by the traders, Fisher/ Frazer,^ and Woods, who were there at that time. On the eighth, in two batteaux, mth Joseph Renville and Pierre Rosseau as interpreters, he continued his ascent of the river. On the twelfth he was at the Prairie La Crosse, so ■ called from the Indian game of ball, where he noticed some earth works, and holes that had been dug by the Dahkotahs to screen their wives and children during battle. At this place, Mr. Frazer, of Prairie du Chien, overtook him. Amid terrific thunder claps, forked lightning, and torrents of rain, he reached, on the seventeenth. Point de Sable, on Lake Pepin, where he took shelter, and remained the rest of the day. He here found a trader by the name of Cameron, and his son, also a young man, John Rudsdell. The next day he, in company with Cameron, came to Canoe river, where he found a small band under Red Wing, the second war chief of the Dahkotahs. On the twenty-first he breakfasted at the village of the Kaposia band, which was on the site just below Saint Paul, now known as Pig's Eye. The same day he passed the encampment of a trader, J. B. Faribault,^ ^ Fisher was a trader at Prarie du ' "Jean Baptist Faribault is the Chien until 1815. He then went to the last survivor of the old traders. He Red River of the North in the service is now more than eighty years of age, of the Hudson Bay Company. From and resides at Faribault, in Rice 1824 to '26, he was at Lake Traverse, county, with his sons. He is a the source of the Minnesota. One nativeof Canada, and removed to this of his daughters is the mother of country, in 1798, fifty-seven years Joseph Rolette of Pembina, by a ago. He enjoyed considerable ad- former husband, and she is now vantages of education in early youth. ♦ married to H. L. Dousman, Esq. His career in this region has been ^ The father of Jack Frazer of marked with more of adverse fortune Mendota? than usually occurs, even in the SALUTE FROM LITTLE CROW. 243 which was three miles below Mendota. Arriving at the confluence of the Minnesota and the Mississippi, he pitched his camp on the north-east jDoint of the isUmd. The next day was Sunday, and Little Crow, of the Kaposia village, arrived with one hundred and fifty warriors, ascending the hill which is now covered by Fort Snelhng, they saluted him Avith balls according to their custom. During the day he went up to the Dah- kotah village, just above Mendota, to visit Mr. Cameron. On Monday he held a council with the Dahkotahs, and obtained a grant of land for the use of the United States.^ His speech will always be mteresting, as the perilous life of an Indian trader. Shortly after the close of the war with Great Britain he was robbed by the Winnebagoes at Prarie du Chien, of a large stock of goods, for which he never received any remu- neration. Some years subsequently he fixed his residence upon Pike's Island, near Fort St. Anthony (now Snelling), and had barely established himself in his vocation of trader when he was forced by the mandate of the commandant of the fort to abandon his buildings, and to betake himself, with his movable property, to the bottom land on the east side of the Mississippi, where he erected new tenements. The following spring, the water, which was unusually high, carried oflF his houses and live stock, he and his family escaping in boats, by means of which he was fortunately enabled to save his goods and furs from destruction. Still not discouraged, he built a house at the point now known as Mendota, where he resided many years, except during the winter months, when he assumed charge of his trading post at Little Rapids, on the Minnesota river." — Sibley's Address. ^ Whereas, at a conference held be- tween the United States of America, and the Sioux Nation of Indians, Lieutenant Z. M. Pike, of the army of the United States, and the chiefs and the warriors of said tribe, have agreed to the following articles, which, when ratified and approved of by the proper authority, shall be binding on both parties : Art. 1. That the Sioux Nation grant unto the United States, for the purpose of establishment of military posts, nine miles square, at the mouth of the St. Croix, also from below the confluence of the Missis- sippi and St. Peters, up the Missis- sippi to include the Falls of St. Anthony, extending nine miles on each side of the river, that the Sioux Nation grants to the United States 244 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. first expression of the views of the United States to the Dahkotahs : — " Brothers — I am happy to meet you here at this council fire, which your father has sent me to kindle, and to take you by the hands as our children. We having but lately acquired from the Spanish the exten- sive territory of Louisiana, our general has thought proper to send out a number of his warriors to visit all his red children; to tell them his will, and to hear what request they may have to make of their father. I am happy the choice has fell on me to come this road, as I find my brothers, the Sioux, ready to listen to my words. '' Brothers — It is the wish of our Government to esta- blish military posts on the Upper Mississippi, at such places as might be thought expedient. I have, there- fore, examined the country, and have pitched on the mouth of the river St. Croix, this place, and the Falls of St. Anthony, I therefore wish you to grant to the United States, nine miles square, at St. Croix, and at this place, from a league below the confluence of the St. Peters and Mississippi, to a league above St. Anthony, the full sovereignty and power over undersigned, have hereunto set our said district forever. hands and seals, at the mouth of the Art. 2. That, in consideration of river St. Peters, on the 23d day of the above grants, the United States September, 1805. shall pay (filled up by the Senate Z. M. Pike. [l. s.] with 2,000 dollars). 1st Lieut, and agent at the above Art. 3. The United States pro- conference, miss, on their part, to permit the his Sioux to pass and re-pass, hunt, or Le Petit Corbeau. M [l. s.] make other use of the said districts mark as they have formerly done, without his any other exception than those Way Ago Enagee, >< [l. s.J specified in article first. mark In testimony whereof, we, the PIKE'S SPEECH AT MOUTH OF MINNESOTA. 245 extending three leagues on each side of the river ; and as we are a people who are accustomed to have all our acts Avritten down, in order to have them handed to our children, I have drawn up a form of an agreement, which we will both sign in the presence of the traders now present. After we know the terms, we will fill it up, and have it read and interpreted to you. " Brothers — Those posts are intended as a benefit to jou. The old chiefs now present must see that their situation improves by a communication with the whites. It is the mtention of the United States to establish at those posts factories, in which the Indians may procure all their things at a cheaper and better rate than they do now, or than your traders can afford to sell them to you, as they are single men, who come far in small boats. But your fathers are many and strong, and will come with a strong arm, in large boats. There will also be chiefs here, who can attend to the wants of their brothers, without their sending or going all the way to St. Louis, and will see the traders that go up your rivers, and know that they are good men. " Brothers — Another object your father has at heart, is to endeavour to make peace between you and the Chippeways. You have now been a long time at war, and when will you stop ? If neither side will lay down the hatchet, your paths will always be red with Ijlood ; but if you will consent to make peace, and suffer your father to bury the hatchet between you, I will endea- vour to bring down some of the Chippeway chiefs with me to St. Louis, where the good work can be completed, under the auspices of your mutual father. I am much pleased to see that the young warriors have halted here to hear my words this day ; and as I know it is hard 246 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. for a warrior to be struck and not strike again, I will send (by the first Chippeway I meet) word to their chiefs : — That if they have not yet felt your tomahawk, it is not because you have no legs, nor the hearts of men, but because you have listened to the voice of your father. " Brothers — If the chiefs do not listen to the voice of theii* father, and continue to commit murders on you and our traders, they will call down the vengeance of the Americans ; for they are not like a blind man walk- ing into the fire. They were once at war with us, and joined to all the Northern Indians, were defeated at Roche de Boeuf, and were obliged to sue for peace — that peace we granted them. They know we are not children, but, like all wise people, are slow to shed blood. " Brothers — Your old men probably know, that about thirty years ago we were subject to, and governed by the king of the English ; but he, not treating us like children, we would no longer acknowledge him as father — and after ten years war, in which he lost one hundred thousand men, he acknowledged us a free and inde- pendent nation. They know that not many years since, we received Detroit, Michilimackinac, and all the posts on the lakes, from the English, and now but the other day, Louisiana from the Spanish ; so that we put one foot on the sea at the east, and the other on the sea at the west ; and, if once children, are now men ; yet, I think the traders who come from Canada are bad birds amongst the Chippeways, and instigate them to make war on their red brothers, the Sioux, in order to prevent our traders from going high up the Mississippi. PIKE'S SPEECH AT MOUTH OF MINNESOTA. 247 This I shall inquire into, and, if so, warn those persons of their ill conduct. " Brothers — Mr. Choteau was sent by your father to the Osage Nation, with one of his young chiefs. He sailed some days before me, and had not time to pro- cure the medals which I am told he promised to send up, but they will be procured. " Brothers — I wish you to have some of your head chiefs to be ready to go down with me in the spring. From the head of the St. Pierre, also, such other chiefs as you may think proper, to the number of four or five. When I pass here, on my way, I will send you Avord at what time you will meet me at the Prairie des Chiens. " Brothers — I expect that you will give orders to all your 3'oung warriors to respect my Jlag and protection which I may extend to the Chippeway chiefs who ma}- come down with me in the spring ; for was a dog to run to my lodge for safety, his enemy must walk over me to hurt him. '' Brothers — Here is a flag, which I wish to send to Gens de Feuilles, to show them they are not forgotten by their father. I wish the comrade of their chief to take it on himself to deliver it with my words. " Brothers — I am told that hitherto the traders have made a practice of selling rum to you. All of you, in your right senses, must know that it is injurious; and occasions quarrels and murders amongst yourselves. For this reason, your father has thought proper to pro- hibit the traders from selling you any rum. Therefore, I hope my brothers, the chiefs, when they know of a trader to sell an Indian rum, Avill prevent that Indian from paying his credit. This will break up the perni- 248 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. cioiis' practice, and oblige your father. But I hope you will not encourage your young men to treat our traders ill from this circumstance, or from a hope of the indul- gence formerly experienced ; but make your complaints to persons in this country, who "will be authorized to do you justice. "Brothers — I now present you with some of your father's tobacco, and some other trifling things, as a memorandum of my good will, and before my departure I will give you some liquor to clear your throats." On the morning after the council it was discovered that the flag, which had been hoisted from his boat, was gone. Calling the guard he had one whipped for his negligence. The next day, before he was out of his bed. Little Crow came bustling up from his village, flag in hand, which had been found floating down the river, and he supposed that the whites had all been killed. On Friday, the twent3'-sixth of September, he had transported all of his goods to a post above the Falls of St. Anthony, and then occupied a few leisure hours in writing to his general, and to his wife, who he thought might not see him return from the land of savages. All the next day and Sunday the soldiers were hard at work dragging the barge over the portage, and when night came they were so fatigued that they could not cook their suppers, and went to sleep. On Monday- he encamped on what is now known as Hennepin Island. Opposite the mouth of Crow river, on the fourth of October, a bark canoe, cut to pieces with tomahawks, and paddles broken, was seen, which appeared as if there had been a fight between Ojibways and Dahko- tahs. The next day he passed fortifications, and found BLOCK-HOUSE NEAR SWAN RIVER. 249 five litters in which wounded had been carried, at a place, where five years before there had been fought a severe battle. On the sixteenth of October, when they awoke in the morning, they were astonished to find that snow had fallen during the night. Pike desired, if possible, to reach Crow Wing, the highest point ever made by traders in their bark canoes, that day, but after the soldiers had worked four hours their limbs were be- numbed by the cold. Going ashore they built a fire, and found the boats were leaking. The sergeant, remarkable for strength, by over exertion burst a blood-vessel, and a corporal also gave evidence of internal injuries. In view of the unforeseen difficulties, he determined to leave the large boats, and a portion of the men. By the last day of the month a block-house was erected near Swan river, and in his journal' he writes : — " October thirty-first, Thursday. — Enclosed my little work completely with pickets. Hauled up m}- two boats and turned them over on each side of the gate- ways ; by which means a defence was made to the river, and had it not been for various political reasons, I would have laughed at the attack of eight hundred or a thousand savages, if all my party were within. For, except accidents, it would only have afforded amuse- ment, the Indians having no idea of taking a place by storm. Found myself powerfully attacked with the ^ The journal and letters of Pike Since his day Major Long, Fre- convcy so correct an idea of the con- mont, Allen, Pope, Marcy, Stans- dition of Minnesota, at the com- bury, and other military officers, by mencement of this century, that we their published journals have made have thought it advisable to give known the region west of the Missis- many extracts. sippi. 250 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. fantastics of the brain, called ennui, at the mention of which I had hitherto scoffed; but my books being packed up, I was like a person entranced, and could easily conceive why so many persons who have been confined to remote places, acquired the habit of drink- ing to excess, and many other vicious practices, which have been adopted merely to pass time. " November twenty-ninth, Friday. — A Sioux (the son of a warrior called the Killeur Rouge, of the Gens des Feuilles) and a Fols Avoin came to the post. He said that having struck our trail below, and finding some to be shoe tracks, he conceived it to be the esta- blishment of some traders, took it, and came to the post. He informed me that Mr. Dickson had told the Sioux *that they might now hunt where they pleased, as I had gone ahead and would cause the Chippeways, wher- ever I met them, to treat them with friendshij:* ; that I had barred up the mouth of the St. Peter's, so that no liquor could ascend that river ; but that, if they came on the Mississippi, they should have what liquor they wanted ; also, that I was on the river and had a great deal of merchandise to give them in presents.' This information of Mr. Dickson to the Indians, seemed to have self-interest and envy for its motives ; for, by the idea of having prevented liquor from going up to St. Peter's, he gave the Indians to understand that it was a regulation of my own, and not a law of the United States ; and by assuring them he would sell to them on the Mississippi, he drew all the Indians from the traders on the St. Peter's, who had adhered to the restriction of not selling liquor, and should any of them be killed, the blame would all lie on me, as he had (without autho- rity) assured them they might hunt in security. I took DICKSON VISITS PIKE. 251 care to give the young chief a full explanation of my ideas on the above. He remained all night. Killed two deer. " December third, Tuesday. — Mr. Dickson, with one engagee and a young Indian, arrived at the fort. I re- ceived him with every poHteness in my power, and after a serious conversation with him on the subject of the information given me on the twenty-ninth ultimo, was induced to believe it, in part, incorrect. He assured me that no liquor was sold by hun, nor by any houses under his direction. He gave me much useful information relative to my fiiture route, which gave me great encour- agement as to the certainty of my accomplishing the object of ni}- voyage, to the fullest extent. He seemed to be a gentleman of general commercial knowledge, and possessing much geographical information of the Western country', of open, frank, manners. He gave me many assurances of his good wishes for the prosperity of my undertaking. " December sixth, Friday. — I despatched my men down to bring up the other peroque vriih a strong sled, on which it was intended to put the canoe about one- third, and to let the end drag on the ice. Three families of the Fols Avoins arrived and encamped near the fort : also, one Sioux, who pretended to have been sent to me, from the Gens des Feuilles, to inform me that the Yanctongs and Sussitongs (two bands of Sioux from the head of the St. Peter's and the Missouri, and the most savage of them) had commenced the war dance, and would depart in a few days, in which case he conceived it would be ad\'isable for the Fols Avoins to keep close under my protection ; that making a stroke on the Chippeways would tend to injure the grand object of 252 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. my voyage, &c., &c. Some reasons induced me to be- lieve he was a self-created envoy; however, I offered to pay him, or any other young Sioux, who would go to those bands and carry my word. He promised to make known my wishes upon his return. My men returned in the evening without my canoe, having been so unfor- tunate as to split her in carrying her over the rough hilly ice in the ripples below. So many disappoint- ments almost wearied out my patience ; but, notwith- standing, I intend to embark by land and water in a few days. "December ninth, Monday. — Prepaj^ed to embark. Expecting the Sioux, I had two large kettles of soup made for them. Had a shooting-match with four prizes. The Sioux did not arrive, and we eat the soup ourselves. Crossed the river and encamped above the rapids. Wind changed, and it grew cold. " December tenth, Tuesday. — After arranging our sleds ^ and peroque commenced our march. The sleds on the prairie, and the peroque towed by three men. Found it extremel}' difficult to get along, the snow being melted off the prairie in spots. The men who had the canoe were obliged to wade and drag her over the rocks in many places. Shot the only deer I saw. It fell three times, and after made its escape. This was a great disappointment, for ujDon the game we took now we depended for our subsistence. This evening disclosed to my men the real danger they had to encounter. Dis- tance five miles. " December fourteenth, Saturday. — We departed from ^ Sleds were such as are frequently -weight, in which two men were seen about farmers' yards, calculated geared abreast, to hold two barrels, or four hundred SLED FALLS INTO THE RIVER.— BAGGAGE WET. 253 our encampment at the usual hour, but had not ad- vanced one mile when the foremost sled, Avhich hap- pened unfortunately to carry my baggage and ammuni- tion, fell into the river. We were all in the river up to our middles in recovering the things. Halted and made a fire. Came on to where the river was frozen over. Stopped and encamped on the west shore in a pine wood. Upon examining my things, found all my baggage wet, and some of my books materially injured; but a still greater injury was that all of my cartridges, and four pounds of double battle Sussex powder for my own use, was destroyed. Fortunately my kegs of pow- der were preserved dry, and some bottles of common glazed powder, which were so tightly corked as not to admit water. Had this not been the case, my voyage must necessarily have been terminated, for we could not have subsisted without ammunition. During the time of our misfortune, two Fols Avoin Indians came to us, one of whom was at my stockade, on the twenty-ninth ultimo, in company with the Sioux. I signified to them by signs the place of our intended encampment, and invited them to come and encamjD with us. They left me, and both arrived at my camp in the evening, hav- ing each a deer which they presented me. I gave them my canoe to keep until spring; and, in the morning, at parting, made them a small present. Sat up until three o'clock, A.M., dr}dng and assorting my ammunition and baggage. Killed two deer. Distance four miles. '•' December twenty-first, Saturday. — Bradley and my- self went on ahead and overtook my interpreter, who had left camp very early in hopes that he would be able to see the river De Corbeau, where he had twice wintered. He was immediately opposite to a large 254 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. island, which he sujDposed to have great resemblance to an island opposite the mouth of the above river; but finally he concluded it was not the island, and returned to camp. But this was actually the river, as we disco- vered when we got to the head of the island from which we could see the river's entrance. This fact exposes the ignorance and inattention of the French and traders; and, with the exception of a few intelligent men, what little confidence is to be placed on their information. We ascended the Mississippi about five miles above the confluence ; found it frozen ; but in many places, not more than one hundred yards over; mild and still. Indeed all the appearance of a small river of a low country. Keturned and found my party, having broke sleds, had only made good three miles, while I had marched thirty-five. " December thirty-first, Tuesday. — Passed Pine river about eleven o'clock. At its mouth there was a Chip- peway's encampment of fifteen lodges; this had been occupied in the summer, but is now vacant. By the significations of their marks we understood that they had marched a party of fifty warriors against the Sioux ; and had killed four men and four women, which were represented by images carved out of pine or cedar. The four men painted and put in the ground to the middle, leaving above ground those parts which are generally concealed; by their sides were four painted poles, sharpened at the end to represent the women. Near this were poles with deer skins, plumes, and silk hand- kerchiefs. Also a circular hoop of cedar with something attached representing a scalp. Near each lodge they had holes dug in the ground, and boughs ready to cover ■ INDIGNATION AT SIGHT OF BRITISH FLAG. 255 them, as a retreat for their Avomen and children if attacked by the Sioux. "January second, 1806, Thursday. — Fine ^Yarnl day. Discovered fresh sign of Indians. Just as we Avere en- camping at night, ni}^ sentinel informed us that some Indians were coming full speed upon our trail or track. I ordered my men to stand by their guns carefully. They were immediately at my camp, and saluted the flag by a discharge of three pieces ; when four Chippeways, one Englishman and a Frenchman of the North-west Com- pany presented themselves. They informed us that some women having discovered our trail gave the alarm, and not knowing but it was their enemies, they had departed to make a discovery. They had heard of us and revered our flag. Mr. Grant, the Englishman, had only arrived the day before from Lake De Sable ; from which he marched in one day and a half I presented the Indians -with half a deer, which they received thank- fully, for they had discovered our fires some days ago, and, believing it to be the Sioux, they dared not leave their camp. They returned, but Mr. Grant remained all night. "January third, Friday. — My party marched earty, but I returned with Mr. Grant to his establishment on the Red Cedar Lake, having one corporal with me. When we came in sight of his house, I observed the flag of Great Britain flying. I fdt indignant, and cannot say what my feelings looidd have excited me to, had he not informed me that it heJonged to the Indians. This was not much more agreeable to me. " January fourth, Saturday. — "We made twenty-eight points in the river; broad, good bottom, and of the usual timber. In the night I was awakened by the cry 256 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. of the sentinel, calling repeatedly to the men ; at length he vociferated, " will you let the lieutenant be burnt to death ?" This immediately aroused me ; at first I seized ray arms, but, looking round, I saAv my tents in flames. The men flew to my assistance and we tore them down, but not until they were entirely ruined. This, with the loss of my leggins, moccasins, and socks, which I had hung up to dry, was no trivial misfortune, in such a country, and on such a voyage. But I had reason to thank God that the powder, three small casks of which I had in my tent, did not take fire ; if it had, I must certainly have lost all my baggage, if not my life. January eighth, Wednesday. — Conceiving I was at no great distance from Sandy Lake, I left my sleds, and with Corporal Bradley, took my departure for that place, intending to send him back the same evening. We walked on very briskly until near night, when we met a young Indian, one . of those who had visited my camp near Red Cedar Lake. I endeavoured to explain to him, that it was my wish to go to Lake De Sable that evening. He returned with me until we came to a trail that led across the woods ; this he signified was a near course. I went this course with him, and shortly after found myself at a Chippeway encampment, to which I believe the friendly savage had enticed me with an expectation that I would tarry all night, knowing that it was too late for us to make the lake in good season. But, upon our refusing to stay, he put us in the right road. We arrived at the place where the track left the Mississippi at dusk, when we traversed about two leagues of a wilderness, without any very great difficulty, and at length struck the shore of Lake De Sable, over a branch of which our course lay. The SANDY LAKE POST.— HORSES FROM RED RIVER. 257 snow having covered the trail made by the Frenchmen, who had passed before with the rackets, I was fearful of losing ourselves on the lake ; the consequence of which can only be conceived by those who have been exposed on a lake or naked plain, a dreary night of January, in latitude 47° and the thermometer below 0. Thinking that we could observe the bank of the other shore, we kept a straight course, and some time after discovered Hghts, and on our arrival were not a little surprised to find a large stockade. The gate being opened, we entered and proceeded to the quarters of Mr. Grant, where we were treated with the utmost hospitality. "January ninth, Thursday. — Marched the corporal early, in order that our men should receive assurance of our safety and success. He carried with him a small keg of spirits, a present from Mr. Grant. The estab- lishment of this place was formed twelve years since, by the North-west Company, and was formerly under the charge of a Mr. Charles Brusky. It has attained at present such regularity, as to permit the superintend- ent to live tolerably comfortable. They have horses they procured from Red River, of the Indians j raise plenty of Irish potatoes, catch pike, suckers, pickerel, and white fish in abundance. They have also beaver, deer, and moose ; but the provision they chiefly depend upon is Avild oats, of which they jDurchase great quanti- ties from the savages, giving at the rate of about one dollar and a half per bushel. But flour, pork, and salt, arc almost interdicted to persons not principals in the trade. Flour sells at half a dollar; salt a dollar; pork eighty cents ; sugar half a dollar ; and tea four dollars 17 258 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. fifty cents per pound. The sugar is obtained from the Indians, and is made from the maple tree, "January nineteenth, Sunday. — Two men of the North-west Company arrived from the Fond du Lac Superior with letters; one of which was from their estabUshment, in Athapuscow, and had been since last May on the route. While at this post I eat roasted beavers, dressed in every respect as a pig is usually dressed with us ; it was excellent. I could not discern the least taste of Des Bois. I also eat boiled moose's head, which when well boiled, I consider equal to the tail of the beaver; in taste and substance they are much alike. "January twentieth, Monday. — The men with the sleds took their departure about two o'clock. Shortly after I followed them. We encamped at the portage between the Mississippi and Leech Lake river. Snow fell in the night. "January twenty-fifth, Saturday. — Travelled almost all day through the lands, and found them much better than usual. Boley lost the Sioux pipe stem, which I carried along for the purpose of making peace with the Chippeways ; I sent him back for it ; he did not return until eleven o'clock at night. It was very warm, thaw- ing all day. Distance forty-four points. "January twenty-sixth, Sunday. — I left my party in order to proceed to a house (or lodge) of Mr. Grant's, on the Mississippi, where he was to tarry until I overtook him. Took with me my Indian, Boley, and some trifling provisions; the Indian and myself marched so fast, that we left Boley on the route, about eight miles from the lodge. Met Mr. Grant's men on their return to Lake De Sable, having evacuated the house this morning, and BRITISH FLAG SHOT AT, AND BROUGHT DOWN. 259 Mr. Grant having marched for Leech Lake. The Lidiau and I arrived before sundown. Passed the night very uncomfortably, having nothing to eat, not much wood, nor any blankets. The Indian slept sound. I cursed his insensibihty, being obliged to content myself over a few coals all night. Boley did not arrive. Li the night the Indian mentioned something about his son. "February first, Saturday. — Left our camp pretty earl}^ Passed a continued train of prairie, and arrived at Lake La Sang Sue,^ at half-past two o'clock. I will not attempt to describe my feelings, on the accomplish- ment of my voyage, for this is the main source of the Mississippi. The Lake Winipie branch is navigable from thence to Bed Cedar Lake, for the distance of five leagues, which is the extremity of the navigation. Crossed the lake twelve miles to the establishment of the North-west Company, where we arrived about three o'clock ; found all the gates locked, but upon knocking were admitted, and received with marked attention and hospitality by Mr. Hugh McGillis. Had a good dish of coffee, biscuit, butter, and cheese for supper. " February second, Sunday. — Remained all day within doors. In the evening sent an invitation to Mr. Ander- son, Avho was an agent of Dickson, and also for some young Indians at his house, to come over and breakfast in the morning, " February seventh, Friday. — Remained within doors, my limbs being still very much swelled. Addressed a letter to Mr. McGillis on the subject of the North-west Company trade in this quarter. " Feljruary tenth, Monday. — Hoisted the American flag in the fort. The English yacht still flying at the * Leech Lake. 2G0 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. top of the flagstaff, I directed the Indians and my rifle- men to shoot at it, who soon broke the iron pin to which it was fastened, and brought it to the ground. Reading Shenstone. " February sixteenth, Sunday. — Held a council with the chiefs and warriors at this place^ and of Red Lake ; but it required much patience, coolness, and manage- ment to obtain the objects I desired, viz. That they should make peace with the Sioux; deUver up their medals and flags ; and that some of their chiefs should follow me to St. Louis. As a proof of their agreeing to the peace, I directed that they should smoke out of the Wabasha's pij^e which lay on the table ; they all smoked, from the head chief to the youngest soldier ; they generally delivered up their flags with a good grace ; except the Flat Mouth, who said he had left both at his camp, three days' march, and promised to deliver them up to Mr. McGillis, to be forwarded. With respect to their returning with me, the old Sweet thought it most proper to return to the Lidians of the Red Lake, Red River, and Rainy Lake River. The Flat Mouth said it was necessary for him to restrain his young war- riors. The other chiefs did not think themselves of consequence sufficient to offer any reason for not fol- lowing me to St. Louis, a journey of between two and three thousand miles through hostile tribes of Indians. I then told them, 'that I was sorry to find that the hearts of the Sauteurs of this quarter were so weak, that the other nations would say : what, are there no soldiers at Leech, Red, and Rainy Lakes, who had the hearts to carry the calumet of their chief to their father?' This had the desired effect. The Bucks and ^ Leech Lake. RED LAKE.— McGILLIS, TRADER. 261 Beaux, two of the most celebrated young warriors, rose and offered themselves to me for the embassy; they were accepted, adopted as my children, and I installed their father. Their example animated the others, and it would have been no difficult matter to have taken a company; two, however, were sufficient. I determined that it should be my care, never to make them regret the noble confidence placed in me ; for I would have protected their hves with my own. The Beaux is brother to the Flat Mouth. Gave my new soldiers a dance, and a small dram. They attempted to get more liquor, but a firm and peremptory denial convinced them I was not to be trifled with. "February eighteenth, Tuesday. — We marched for Red Cedar Lake about 11 o'clock, with a guide provided for me by Mr. McGillis ; were all provided with snow shoes ; marched off amidst the acclamations and shouts of the Indians, who generally had remained to see us take our departure. Mr. Anderson promised to come on with letters; he arrived about twelve o'clock, and remained all night. He concluded to go down with me to see Mr. Dickson. " February twenty-fifth, Tuesday. — We marched, and arrived at Cedar Lake before noon; found Mr. Grant and De Breche (chief of Sandy Lake) at the house. This gave me much pleasure, for I conceive Mr. Grant to be a gentleman of as much candour as any with whom 1 had made an acquaintance in this quarter; and the chief (De Breche) is reputed to be a man of better information than any of the Sauteurs. "March third, Monday. — Marched early; passed our Christmas encampment at sunrise. I was ahead of my party in my cariole. Soon afterwards, I observed smoke 262 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. on the west shore. I hallooed, and some Indians ap- peared upon the hank. I waited until my interpreter came up ; we then went to the camp. They proved to he a party of Chippeways, who had left the encamp- ment the same day we left it. They presented me with some roast meat, which I gave my sleigh dogs. They then left their camp and accompanied us down the river. "We passed our encampment of the twenty- fourth December, at nine o'clock; of the twenty-third, at ten o'clock, and of the twenty-second, at eleven o'clock ; here the Indians crossed on to the west shore ; arrived at the encampment of the twenty-first Decem- ber, at twelve o'clock, where we had a barrel of flour. I here found Corporal Meek, and another man from the post, from whom I heard that the men were all well. They confirmed the account of a Sioux having fired on a sentinel, and added, that the sentinel had first made him drunk, and then turned him out of the tent, upon which he fired on the sentinel and ran off, but promised to deliver himself up in the spring. The corporal in- formed me that the sergeant had used all the elegant hams and saddles of venison which I had preserved to present to the commander-in-chief, and other friends ; that he had made away with all the whiskey, includ- ing a keg I had for my own use, having pubhcly sold it to the men, and a barrel of pork; that he had broken open my trunk and sold some things out of it, traded with the Indians, gave them liquor, and this, too, con- trary to my most pointed and particular directions. Thus, after I had used, in going up the river" with my party, the strictest economy, living upon two pounds of frozen venison a day, in order that we might have pro- vision to carry us down in the spring, this fellow was MEAN CONDUCT OF PIKE'S SERGEANT. 263 squandering away the flour, pork, and liquor during the winter, and while we were starving with hunger and cold. I had saved all our corn, bacon, and the meat of six deer, and left it at Sandy Lake with some tents, my mess boxes, salt, and tobacco, all of which we were obliged to sacrifice by not returning the same route we went, and we consoled ourselves at this loss by the flat- tering idea that we should find at our little post a hand- some stock preserved; how mortifying the disappoint- ment ! We raised our barrel of flour and came down to the mouth of a little river on the east which we had passed on the twenty-first December. The ice covered with water. " March fifth, Wednesday. — Passed all the encamp- ments between Pine Creek and the post, at which we arrived about ten o'clock. I sent a man on ahead to prevent the salute I had before ordered by letter ; this I did from the idea that the Sioux chiefs would accom- ]3any me. Found all well. Confined my sergeant. About one o'clock, Mr. Dickson arrived with the Kil- leur Rouge, his son, and two other Sioux men, with two women, who had come up to be introduced to the Sauteurs they expected to find with me. Received a letter from Reinville. " March fifteenth, Saturday. — This was the day fixed upon by Mr. Grant and the Chippeway warriors for their arrival at my fort ; and I was all day anxiously expect- ing them, for I knew that should they not accompany me down, the peace partially efiected between them and the Sioux would not be on a permanent footing ; and upon this I take them to be neither so brave nor gener- ous as the Sioux, who, in all their transactions, appear to be candid and l^rave, whereas, the Chippewiiys are 261 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. suspicious, consequently treacherous, and, of course, cowards. " March seventeenth, Monday. — Left the fort with my interpreter and Roy, in order to visit Thomas, the Fols Avoin chief, who was encamped, with six lodges of his nation, about twenty miles beloAv us, on a little river which empties into the Mississippi, on the west side, a little above Clear river. On our way down, killed one goose, wounded another, and a deer that the dogs had driven into an air hole ; hung our game on the trees. Arrived at the creek, took out on it ; as- cended three or four miles on one bank, and descended on the other. Killed another goose. Struck the Mis- sissippi below . Encamped at our encampment of the of October, when we ascended the river. Ate our goose for supper. It snowed all day, and at night a very severe storm arose. It may be imagined that we spent a very disagreeable night, without shelter, and but one blanket each. " March eighteenth, Tuesday. — We marched, deter- mined to find the lodges. Met an Indian, whose track we pursued, through almost impenetrable woods, for about two and a half miles, to the camps. Here there was one of the finest sugar camps I almost ever saw, the whole of the timber being sugar tree. We were conducted to the chief's lodge, who received us in the patriarchal style. He pulled off" my leggins and mocca- sins, put me in the best place in his lodge, and offered me dry clothes. He then presented us with syrup of the maple to drink, then asked whether I preferred eating beaver, swan, elk, or deer ; upon my giving the preference to the first, a large kettle was filled by his wife, of which soup was made ; this being thickened with NO CHASTITY AMONG SAVAGES. 265 flour, we had what I then thought a dehcious repast. After we had refreshed ourselves, he asked whether we would visit his people at the other lodges, which we did ; and m each were presented with something to eat ; by some with a bowl of sugar, by others, with a beaver's tail. After making this tour, we returned to the chief's lodge, and found a berth provided for each of us, of good soft bear skins, nicely spread, and on mine there was a large feather pillow. I must not here omit to mention an anecdote which serves to characterize more particularly their manners. This, in the eyes of the contracted moralist, would deform my hospitable host into a monster of libertinism ; but, by a liberal mind, would be considered as arismg from the hearty genero- sity of the wild savage. In the course of the day, ob- serving a ring on one of my fingers, he inquired if it was gold ; he was told it was the gift of one with whom I should be happy to be at that time. He seemed to think seriously, and at night told my interpreter, ' that perhaps his father (as they all called me) felt much grieved for the want of a woman ; if so, he could furnish him with one.' He was answered, that with us, each man had Ijut one wife, and that I considered it strictly my duty to remain faithful to her. This he thought strange (he himself having three), and replied that 'he knew some Americans at his nation who had half a dozen wives during the winter.' The interpreter o]> served that they were men without character, but that all our great men had each but one wife. The chief acquiesced, but said he liked better to have as many as he pleased. This conversation passing without any appeal to me, as the interpreter knew my mind on those occasions, and answered immediately, it did not 266 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. appear as an immediate refusal of the woman. Con- tinued snowing very hard all day. Slept very warm. " April eleventh, Friday. — Although it snowed very hard, we brought over both boats, and descended the river to the island at the entrance of the St. Peter's. I sent to the chiefs and informed them I had something to communicate to them. The Fils de Pinchow immediately waited on me, and informed me that he would provide a place for the purpose. About sundown I was sent for and introduced into the council-house, where I found a great many chiefs of the Sussitongs, Gens des Feuilles, and the Gens du Lac. The Yanctongs had not yet come down. They were all waiting for my arrival. There were about one hundred lodges, or six hundred people; we were saluted on our crossing the river with ball as usual. The council-house was two large lodges, capable of con- taining three hundred men. In the upper were forty chiefs, and as many pipes set against the poles, along side of which I had the Sauteurs' pipes arranged. I then informed them in short detail, of my transactions with the Sauteurs ; but my interpreters were not capable of making themselves understood. I was therefore obliged to omit mentioning every particular relative to the rascal who fired on my sentinel, and of the scoundrel who broke the Fols Avoins' canoes, and threatened my life; the interpreters however informed them that I wanted some of their principal chiefs to go to St. Louis; and that those who thought proper might descend to the prairie, where we would give them more explicit information. They all smoked out of the Sauteurs' pipes, excepting three, who were painted black, and were some of those who lost their relations last winter. I invited the Fils FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR CARVER'S CAVE. 267 de Pinchow/ and the son of the Killeur Rouge, to come over and sup with me ; when Mr. Dickson and myself endeavoured to explain what I intended to have said to them, could I have made myself understood; that at the prairie we would have all things explained ; that I was desirous of making a better report of them than Captain Lewis could do from their treatment of him. The former of those savages was the person who remained around my post all last whiter, and treated my men so well ; they endeavoured to excuse their people. '' April twelfth, Saturday. — Embarked early. Al- though my interpreter had been frequently up the river, he could not tell me where the cave (spoken of by Car^^er) could be found ; we carefully sought for it, but in vain. At the Indian village, a few miles below St. Peter's, we were about to pass a few lodges, but on receiving a very particular invitation to come on shore, we landed, and were received in a lodge kindly ; they presented us sugar. I gave the proprietor a dram, and was about to depart when he demanded a kettle of liquor ; on being refused, and after I had left the shore, he told me, that he did not hke the arrangements, and that he would go to war this summer. I directed the interpreter to tell him, that if I returned to the St. Peter's with the troops, I would settle that aJBfair with him. On our arrival at the St. Croix, I found the Petit Corbcau with his people, and Messrs. Frazer and Wood. We had a conference, when the Petit Corbeau made many apologies for the misconduct of his people; he represented to us the different manners in which the young warriors had been inducing him to go to war ; * Probably the son of the French trader Penneshaw. 268 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. that he had been much bhamed for dismissing his party last fall ; but that he was determined to adhere as far as lay in his power to our instructions ; that he thought it most prudent to remain here and restrain the warriors. He then presented me with a beaver robe and pipe, and his message to the general. That he was determined to preserve peace, and make the road clear ; also a remem- brance of his promised medal. I made a reply, calculated to confirm him in his good intentions, and assured him that he should not be the less remembered by his father, although not present. I was informed that, notwith- standing the instruction of his license, and my particular request, Murdoch Cameron had taken liquor and sold it to the Indians on the river St. Peter's, and that his partner below had been equally imprudent. I pledged myself to prosecute them according to law; for they have been the occasion of great confusion, and of much injury to the other traders. This day met a canoe of Mr. Dickson's loaded with provisions, under the charge of Mr. Anderson, brother of the Mr. Anderson at Leech Lake. He politely offered me any provision he had on board (for which Mr. Dickson had given me an order), but not now being in want, I did not accept of any. This day, for the first time, I observed the trees beginning to bud, and indeed the climate seemed to have changed very materially since we passed the Falls of St. Anthony. "April thirteenth, Sunday. — We embarked after breakfast. Messrs. Frazer and Wood accompanied me. Wind strong ahead. They out-rowed us ; the first boat or canoe we met with on the voyage able to do it, but then they were double manned and light. Arrived at the band of the Aile Rouge at two o'clock, where we were saluted as usual. We had a council, when he PIKE SPENDS A DAY AT RED WING. 269 spoke with more detestation of the rascals at the mouth of the St. Peter's, than any man I had yet heard. He assured me, speaking of the fellow who had fired on my sentinel and threatened to kill me, that if I thought it re- quisite, he should be killed ; but that, as there were many chiefs above with whom he wished to speak, he hoped I would remain one day, when all the Sioux would be do\vT3, and I might have the command of a thousand men of them, that I would probably think it no honour; but that the British used to flatter them they were proud of having them for soldiers. I replied in general terms, and assured him it was not for the conduct of two or three rascals that I meant to pass over all the good treatment I had received from the Sioux nation ; but that in general council I would explain myself That as to the scoundrel who fired at my sentinel, had I been at home the Sioux nation would never have been troubled with him, for I would have killed him on the spot. But that my young men did not do it, appre- hensive that I would be displeased. I then gave him the news of the Sauteurs, that as to remaining one day, it would be of no service ; that I was much pressed to arrive below; as my general expected me, my duty called me, and that the state of my provision demanded the utmost expedition ; that I would be happy to oblige him, but that my men must eat. He replied that Lake Pepin being yet shut with ice, if I went on and en- camped on the ice, it would not get me provision. That he would send out all his young men the next day ; and that if the other ])ands did not arrive, he would depart the day after with me. In short, after much talk, I agreed to remain one day, knowing that the lake was 270 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. closed, and that we could proceed only nine miles if we went; this appeared to give general satisfaction. " I was invited to different feasts, and entertained at one by a person whose father was enacted a chief by the Spaniards. At this feast I saw a man (called by the French the Roman Nose, and by the Indians the Wind that Walks) who was formerly the second chief of the Sioux, but being the cause of the death of one of the traders, seven years since, he voluntarily relinquished the dignity, and has frequently requested to be given up to the whites. But he was now determmed to go to St. Louis and deliver himself up where he said they might put him to death. His long repentance, the great confidence of the nation in him, would perhaps protect him from a punishment which the crime merited. But as the crime was committed long before the United States assumed its authority, and as no law of theirs could affect it, unless it was ex post facto, and had a retrospective effect, I conceived it would certainly be dispunishable now. I did not think proper, however, to inform him so. I here received a letter from Mr. Rollet, partner of Mr. Cameron, with a present of some brandy, coffee, and sugar. I hesitated about receiving those articles from the partner of the man I intended to prosecute; their amount being trifling, however, I accepted of them, offering him pay. I assured him that the prosecution arose from a sense of duty, and not from any personal prejudice. My canoe did not come up in consequence of the head wind. Sent out two men in a canoe to set fishing lines ; the canoe overset, and had it not been for the timely assistance of the savages, who carried them into their lodges, undressed them, and treated them with the greatest humanity and ATTEMPT TO TAIvE PIKE'S LIFE. 271 kindness, tliey must inevitably have perished. At this place I was informed, that the rascal spoken of as hav- ing threatened my Hfe, had actually cocked his gun to shoot me from behind the hills, but was prevented by the others. "April fourteenth, Monday. — Was invited to a feast by the Roman Nose. His conversation was interesting, and shall be detailed hereafter. The other Indians not yet arrived. Messrs. Wood, Frazer, and myself, ascended a high hill called the Barn, from which we had a view of Lake Pepin ; the valley through which the Missis- sippi by numerous channels wound itself to the St. Croix ; the Cannon river, and the lofty hills on each side. "April fifteenth, Tuesday. — Arose ver}^ early and embarked about sunrise, much to the astonishment of the Indians, who were entirely prepared for the council when they heard I had put off; however, after some conversation with Mr. Frazer, they acknowledged that it was agreeably to what I had said, that I would sail early, and that they could not blame me. I was very positive in my word, for I found it by far the best way to treat the Indians. The Aile Rouge had a beaver robe and pipe prepared to present, but was obliged for the present to retain it. Passed through Lake Pepin with my barges; the canoe being obliged to lay by, did not come on. Stopped at a prairie on the right bank descending, about nine miles below Lake Pepin. Went out to view some hills which had the appearance of the old fortifications spoken of; but I will speak more fully of them hereafter. In these hollows I discovered a flock of elk, took out fifteen men, but we were not able to kill any. Mr. Frazer came up and passed on about 272 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. two miles. We encamped together. Neither Mr. Wood's nor my canoe arrived. Snowed considerably. "April sixteenth, Wednesday. — Mr. Frazer's canoes and my boats sailed about one hour by sun. We waited some time expecting Mr. Wood's barges and my canoe, but hearing a gun fired first just above our encamp- ment, we were induced to make sail. Passed the Aile Prairie, also La Montagne qui Trompe a L'eau, the prairie De Cross, and encamped on the west shore, a few hundred yards below, where I had encamped on the day of September, in ascending. Killed a goose flymg. Shot at some pigeons at our camp, and was answered from behind an island with two guns ; we re- turned them, and were replied to by two more. This day the trees appeared in bloom. Snow might still be seen on the sides of the hills. Distance seventy-five miles. " April seventeenth, Thursday. — Put ofi" pretty early and arrived at Wabasha's band at eleven o'clock, where I detained all day for him; but he alone of all the hunters remained out all night. Left some powder and tobacco for him. The Sioux presented me with a kettle of boiled meat and a deer. I here received information that the Puants had killed some white men below. Mr. Wood's and my canoe arrived. " April eighteenth, Friday. — Departed from our en- campment very early. Stopped to breakfast at the Painted Rock. Arrived at the Prairie Des Chiens at two o'clock ; and were received by crowds on the bank. Took up my quarters at Mr. Fisher's. My men received a present of one barrel of pork from Mr. Campbell, a bag of biscuit, twenty loaves of bread, and some meat GREAT BALL PLAY AT PRAIRIE DU CHIEN. 273 from Mr. Fisher. A Mr. Jearreau,^ from Cahokia, is here, who embarks to-morrow for St. Louis. I wrote to General Wilkinson by him. I was called on by a num- ber of chiefs, Reynards, Sioux of the Des Moyan. The Winnebagoes were here intending, as I was informed, to deliver some of the murderers to me. Received a great deal of news from the States and Europe, both civil and military. "April nineteenth, Saturday. — Dined at Mr. Camp- bell's in company with Messrs. Wilmot, Blakely, Wood, Rollet, Fisher, Frazer, and Jearveau. Six canoes arrived from the upper part of the St. Peter's with the Yanctong chiefs from the head of that river. Their appearance was indeed savage, much more so than any nation I have yet seen. Prepared my boat for sail. Gave notice to the Puants that I had business to do with them the next day. A band of the Gens du Lac arrived. Took into my pay as interpreter Mr. Y. Rein- ville. " April twentieth, Sunday. — Held a council with the Puant chiefs, and demanded of them the murderers of their nation ; they required till to-morrow to consider on it ; this afternoon the^' had a great game of the cross on the prairie, between the Sioux on the one side, and the Puants and Reynards on the other. The ball is made of some hard substance and covered with leather, the cross sticks are round and net-work, with handles of three feet long. The parties being ready, and bets agreed upon (sometimes to the amount of some thou- sand dollars), the goals are set up on the prairie at the distance of half a mile. The ball is thrown up in the middle, and each party strives to drive it to the opposite ' Or Jarrot. 18 274 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. goal; and when either party gains the first rubber, which is driving it quick round the post, the ball is again taken to the centre, the ground changed, and the contest renewed ; and this is continued until one side gains four times, which decides the bet. It is an inter- esting sight to see two or three hundred naked savages contending on the plain who shall bear off the palm of victory; he who drives the ball round the goal is much shouted at by his companions. It sometimes hap- pens that one catches the ball in his racket, and depend- ing on his speed endeavours to carry it to the goal, and when he finds himself too closely pursued, he hurls it with great force and dexterity to an amazing distance, where there are always flankers of both parties ready to receive it ; it seldom touches the ground, but is some- times kept in the air for hours before either party can gain the victory. In the game I witnessed, the Sioux were victorious, more I believe from the superiority of their skill in throwing the ball, than by their s^viftness, for I thought the Puants and Reynards the swiftest runners. I made a written demand of the magistrates to take deposition concerning the late murders. Had a private conversation with Wabasha. " April twenty-fifth, Monday. — Was sent for by La Feuille, and had a long and interesting conversation with him, in which he spoke of the general jealousy of his nation towards their chiefs ; and that although he knew it might occasion some of the Sioux displeasure, he did not hesitate to declare that he looked on the Nez Corbeau as the man of most sense in their nation ; and that he believed it would be generally acceptable if he was reinstated in his rank. Uj)on my return I was sent for by the Red Thunder, chief of the Yanctongs, the RED THUNDER'S (YANKTON CHIEF) SPEECH. 275 most savage band of tlie Sioux. He was prepared with the most elegant pipes and robes I ever saw ; and shortly he declared, that '■ That white blood had never been shed in the village of the Yanctongs, even when rum was permitted ; that Mr. Murdoch Cameron arrived at his village last autumn ; that he invited him to eat, gave him corn as a bird ; that he (Cameron) informed him of the prohibition of rum, and was the only person who afterwards sold it in the village.' After this I had a council with the Puants. Spent the evening with Mr. Wilmot, one of the best informed and most gentle- manly men in the place. " April twenty-second, Tuesda}'. — Held a council with the Sioux and Puants, the latter of whom delivered up their medals and Hags. Prepared to depart to-morrow." 276 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XIV. The traders of the North-west Company, though they treated Lieutenant Pike with the respect due his commission, and extended to him their hospitality, did not approve of the policy that the United States govern- ment were intending to inaugurate. They were well aware if the system of estabhshing central deputs of trade, with goods furnished by the government at low rates, was successful, that " their occupation was gone." Influence was consequently employed to prevent the tribes from patronizing the United States factories, and cultivating friendly inter- course with the Americans. Pike had scarcely disappeared from the waters of the Mississippi, before Dickson, Kolette, and Cameron dis- regarded the regulations which had been estabhshed. At the commencement of the century Cameron was the principal British trader on the Upper Minnesota, and the spot where he was buried in 1811, is known among voyageurs as " Cameron's Grave." He was a shrewd and daring Scotchman. One of his employees was an old Canadian, familiarly called Milor, who has recently died at Mendota. He related a circumstance which occurred while in the service of Cameron, which well exhibits the hard- SUFFERINGS OF CAMERON'S YOYAGEURS. 2t t ships to which the engagees of the fur trade are often exposed. While at one of the outposts of Cameron, on a tribu- tary of the JNIinnesota, the winter suddenly set in, and it was impossible to use the canoe. Hoping that there Avould be a thaw, he and his companions waited from day to day, until their provisions w^ere exhausted. The weather remaining cold, their only alternative was to place their packs of furs beneath the upturned canoe, and seek the shelter of the woods, in the hope that Cameron would send relief. With their last meal in their pockets, they com- menced their journey through the deep snow. Meeting with no game, when they encamped on the evening of the second day, they were compelled by hunger to eat of the bark of a tree. During the third day two of the party began to fail in strength, and to beg the others to stop and show that they were losing their judgment. Milor gave no heed to their entreaties, but pushing ahead came at dusk to a place sheltered from the piercing wind, and there found an Indian frozen to death beside the remnants of a small fire. Milor now shouted to his fellow voyageurs, and told them that to stop was to secure a similar fate. Frightened by the scene, they quickened their pace, until late at night. Milor and another succeeded in catching two muskrats, and, building up a good fire, they feasted on one of the rats, and rested till the break of day. Making a breakfast on the remaining rat, the party resumed their march, Milor encouraging them by saying that they would soon come to a place where there was an abundance of muskrats, and that as soon as they had 278 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. laid in a supply of them, they would strike for Traverse des Sioux, when they would be sure to hear of Cameron and obtain food. For several days they found but one muskrat ; but on the morning of the eighth day, after they had been marching an hour, Milor, looking attentively in a south- east direction, declared that he saw smoke, and that there must be a fire. This, for a time, had the exhila- rating effect of wine ; but after two or three hours the sign disappeared, and they began to despond ; when the thought came to Milor that if there was a party coming to their relief, they would be on the lookout also. In less than half an hour he had ascended a bluff, and descried a thick column of smoke, about three miles distant. Waving his cap to his companions, and shout- ing for joy, he hurried in that direction, and found a party who had come to their aid. Two men were there, each with a pack of pork and biscuit, which had been despatched from Traverse des Sioux, while Cameron and three others were expecting to start wdth an addi- tional supply. When the fatigued party came into camp, they literally danced for joy. Feathers tonhaugh, who relates the storj^, remarks : " This incident is very much to the credit of Cameron, who made so resolute an attempt to relieve his poor engagees, when the chances of success were so few." As early as the year 1807, it was evident that under some secret influence the Indian tribes of the North- west were combining with hostile intentions towards the United States. In the year 1809, a trader by the name of Nicholas Jarrot, who frequently visited Prairie du Chien, made an affidavit at Saint Louis, that the British traders at that place were furnishing the Indians DICKSON— HIS CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE. 279 with guns for hostile purposes. Messengers from the Prophet, brother of Tecumseh, painted bhick, were sent among the Ojibways, and ui solemn council they told the astonished natives that the Prophet who sent them had been told hy one of the great spirits that it was the will of the gods that Indians should live independent of the whites, and return to primitive usages. The flint and steel were to be discarded ; and fire obtained as of old, hy the friction of two sticks. To those who believed the message, blessings were promised. They also claimed that the Prophet could resuscitate the dead. The late William Warren asserts that a dead child was taken from Lake Ottawa to Keweena, on Lake Superior, for the purpose of having it brought to life by the Pro- phet ; but putrefaction having taken place, the project was abandoned. At this period, a red-haired Scotchman, of strong intellect, good family, and ardent attachment to the crown of England, was at the head of the Indian trade in Minnesota. Pike, who visited him in 1806, at one of his trading posts near Sauk Rapids, describes *him as " a gentleman of general commercial knowledge, and of open, frank manners." Governor Edwards of Illinois, writing to the secretary of war, says : " The opinion of Dickson, the celebrated British trader, is, that, in the event of a war with Great Britain, all the Indians will be opposed to us, and he hoj^es to engage them in hos- tility by making peace between the Sioux and Chippe- ways, and in having them to declare war against us." A source of influence among the Dahkotahs of Minne- sota was the fact that he had married a sister of Red Thunder, one of their bravest chiefs, and that the 280 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. • British government had appointed him agent and super- intendent of the western tribes. On the first of May, 1812, two Indians were appre- hended at Chicago, who Avere on their way to meet Dickson at Green Bay. They had taken the precaution to put their letters in their moccasins, and bury them in the ground, and were allowed to proceed. A Mr. Frazer, of Prairie du Chien, who was present at the portage of the Wisconsin, when the Indians deli- vered the letters, stated that Dickson was informed that the British flag would soon be flying on the American garrison at Mackinaw. About this time, Cadotte, Deace, and John Askin were at Fond du Lac, Minnesota, collecting Ojibway warriors. At Green Bay, Black Hawk was formally created commander-in-chief of the Indian forces, by Dickson presenting him with a medal and certificate, a British flag of silk. The garrison at Mackinaw was composed of fifty-seven soldiers, with a lieutenant in command. Before Lieu- tenant Hanks was aware that war had been proclaimed by the United States, he was surprised by a force of British soldiers and Indians landing from a ship that belonged to the North-west Company, and numerous batteaux and birch canoes. With the British army were traders who had long been familiar with the tribes of Wisconsin and Minnesota, Askin, Langlade, Michael Cadotte, and Joseph Rolette. The American officer, perceiving the overwhelming force of the enemy, which consisted of forty regulars of the royal veteran batta- lion, two hundred and sixty Canadians, with their bour- geois or employees, and several hundred Dahkotah, Ojib- way, Winnebago, and Menomonee Indians, capitulated without firing a single gun on July the seventeenth, 1812. INVITATION TO EAT AN AMERICAN. 281 An American gentleman, who had been made pris- oner, writes from Detroit on August sixth, to the Sec- retary of War : — " The persons who commanded the Indians are Eobert Dickson, Indian trader, and John Askin, Jr., Indian agent, and son. The latter two were painted and dressed after the manner of the Indians. Those who com- manded the Canadians are John Johnson, Crawford, Pothier, Armitinger, La Croix, Rolette, Franks, Living- ston and other traders, some of whom were lately con- cerned in smuggling British goods into the Indian country, and, in conjunction with others, have been using their utmost efforts, several months before the declaration of war, to excite the Indians to take up arms. The least resistance from the fort would have been attended with the destruction of all the persons who fell into the hands of the British, as I have been assured by some of the British traders." The next year Dickson, Renville, and other Minne- sota traders, are present with the Kaposia, Wapashaw, and other bands of Dahkotahs, at the siege of Fort Meigs. While Renville was seated one afternoon with Wapsr shaw, and the then chief of the Kaposia band, a deputar tion came to invite them to meet the other allied Indians, with which the chiefs complied. Frazer, an old trader in Minnesota, came and told Renville that the Indians were about to eat an Ame- rican. On repairing to the spot, the flesh was found carved up, and apportioned in dishes, one for each nation present. The bravest man of each tribe was urged to step forward and partake of the heart and 282 HISTORY OF xMINNESOTA. head, and only one warrior of a tribe was allowed to partake of these rarities. Among those assembled there was a nephew of the Kaposia chief, known among the traders as the Grand Chasseur, who was pressed by a Winnebago to partake of the human flesh. In a moment his uncle told him to leave the feast, and, arising, made a speech creditable to his humanity : — " My friends," said he, " we came here not to eat Americans, but to wage war against them; that will suffice for us ; and could we do that if left to our own forces ? We are poor and destitute, while they possess the means of sujDplying themselves with all that they require ; we ought not therefore to do such things.'" Wapashaw then spoke in these words, " We thought that you, who live near to white men, were wiser and more refined than we are who live at a distance ; but it must indeed be otherwise if you do such deeds." Col. Dickson, sending for the Winnebago, who origi- nated the disgusting feast, asked what impelled him to such a course. To which the savage replied, that it was better for him to kill the American and eat him, than it was for the Americans to bum his house, ravish and murder his wife and daughters. The citizens of the United States, in the valley of the Mississippi, now began to feel uneasy ; and in the Mis- souri Gazette of July thirty-first, 1813, published at St. Louis, there is a plea by the editor, for the defence of Prairie du Chien : — " Last winter," he says, " we endeavoured to turn the attention of the government toward Prairie du Chien, a position which we ought to occupy by establishing a military post at the village, or on the Ouisconsm. For FIRST AMERICAN FORT AT PRAIRIE DU CIIIEN. 283 several months we have not been able to procure any other than Indian information from the prairie, the enemy having cut off all communication ; but we are persuaded that permanent subsistence can be obtained for one thousand regular troops in the upper lake coun- try. At Prairie du Chien there are about fifty families, most of whom are engaged in agriculture. Their com- mon field is four miles long by half a mile in breadth. Besides this field they have three separate farms, and twelve horse-mills to manufacture their produce." In February, 1814, the Americans captured St. Jo- seph's, in Lake Huron, not far from Saiilt St. Marie, and Mr. Bailly and five others connected with the Mackinaw Company were taken prisoners. On the first of May, 1814, Governor Clark, with two hundred men, left St. Louis, to build a fort at the junc- tion of the Wisconsin and Mississippi. Twenty days before he arrived at Pi-airie du Chien, Dickson had started for Mackinaw with a band of Dahkotahs and Winnebagoes. The place was left in command of Captain Deace and the Mackinaw Fencibles. The Dahkotahs refusing to co-operate, when the Americans made their appearance they fled. The Americans took possession of the old Mackinaw house, in which they found nine or ten trunks of papers belonging to Dick- son. From one they took the following extract : — " Arrived, from below, a few Winnebagoes with scalps. Gave them tobacco, six pounds powder, and six pounds ball." A fort was immediately commenced on the site of the residence of 11. L. Dousman, which was composed of two block-houses in the angles, and another on the bank of the river, with a subterranean communication. In 284 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. honour of the governor of Kentucky it was named '' Shelby." The fort was in charge of Lieutenant Perkins, and sixty rank and file, and two gun-boats, each of which carried a six-pounder ; and several howitzers were com- manded by Captains Yeiser, SulUvan, and Aid-de-camp Kennerly. The traders at Mackinaw, learning that the Ameri- cans had built a fort at the Prairie, and knowing that as long as they held possession they would be cut ofi" from the trade with the Dahkotahs, they immediately raised an expedition to capture the garrison. The captain was an old trader by the name of McKay, and under him was a sergeant of artillery, with a brass six-pounder, and three or four volunteer companies of Canadian voyageurs, commanded by traders and officered by their clerks, all dressed in red coats, with a number of Indians. The Americans had scarcely completed their rude fortification, before the British force, guided by Joseph Rolette, Sr., descended in canoes to a point on the Wis- consin, several miles from the Prairie, to which they marched in battle array. McKay sent a flag demand- ing a surrender; Lieutenant Perkins rephed that he would defend it to the last. At three o'clock, on the afternoon of July seventeenth, the British and Indians attacked the gun-boat of Captain Yeiser ; the Indians firing from behind the houses and pickets. The boat moved up toward the head of the village, discharging volleys, which were quickly an- swered by the British, The enemy now crossed the river, and commenced an attack from the opposite side, AMERICANS RETREAT FROM PRAIRIE DU CHIEN. 285 which caused Captain Yeiser to run his boat through the enemy's lines to a point a few miles below. Lieutenant Perkins, in the meantime, fought bravely in the fort for three days and nights. Provisions, am- munition, and water, began to fail, and the enemy were approaching the pickets by mining. He therefore wisely' surrendered, capitulating that they were to retain their private property, and not to serve until duly exchanged. After placing them on parol, the British commander escorted them to the gun-boat "Governor Clark," in which they had arrived only a month before, and sent them down the river. In their descent they were followed by a party of the blood-thirsty savages in canoes, who did not turn back until they reached Rock Island. About the time of the capture, a detachment of troops were on their way from St. Louis, under the command of a Lieut. Campbell, to strengthen the garrison. Ar- riving at Rock Island, he held a conference with Black Hawk at his village. A few moments after his depar- ture, runners, by way of Rock River, brought the news to the Sauk village that the Americans had been de- feated at Prairie du Chien. Immediately they started in pursuit of Campbell's party, which they overtook at a small island near the Illinois shore, about three miles above their village. A fierce encounter took place, in which the Americans were worsted. The officer was wounded, several men were killed, and one of their boats captured, so that it became necessary to retreat to St. Louis. Fort Shel- by, after the capture, was called Fort McKay. After the attack of Black Hawk on Campbell, the commander of Fort McKay erected a battery, with two twelve- 286 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. pounders and six painted wooden guns, near Rock Island, on the east side of the river. Late in August, 1814, Major Zachary Taylor, the late president of the United States, proceeded in some gun-boats to punish the Indians who had attacked Campbell ; but on his arrival he was astonished to find the British there with a large force of Indians. It was a bright, beautiful morning in September when the engagement began, and the first cannon ball fired from the British battery passed through one of Taylor's gun- boats, commanded by Captain Hempstead. Taylor, like Campbell, soon had his boats disabled, and was obliged to drop down the stream about three miles to repair, and attend to the wounded. During the conflict it became necessary for some one to carry a cable from a disabled boat which was drifting towards the Indians to one commanded by CajDtain Whiteside. A youth of twenty-three, named Paul Harpole, per- formed the undertaking successfully, but having done this, he lingered and fired fourteen guns which were handed him at the enemy, when he himself was shot. His body, floating down the stream, was seized by yell- ing savages and cut into many pieces. In the engage- ment eleven Americans were badly wounded. Among those who came in Captain Yeiser's gun-boat to St. Louis, after the surrender of Prairie du Chien, was a friendly "one-eyed Sioux," who had behaved gallantly when the boat was attacked by British artil- lery. In the fall of the same year, this one-eyed Sioux, with another of the same nation, ascended the Missouri under the protection of the distinguished trader, Manual Lisa, as far as the Au Jacques river, and from thence he struck across the country, enlisting the Sioux in DICKSON AND THE "ONE-EYED SIOUX." 287 favour of the United States, and at length arrived at Prairie du Chien. On his arrival, Dickson accosted him, and inquired from whence he came, and what was his business ; at the same time rudely snatching his bundle from his shoulders, and searching for letters. The " one-eyed warrior" told him that he was from St. Louis, and that he had promised the white chiefs there that he would go to Prairie du Chien, and that he had kept his promise. Dickson then placed him in confinement in Fort Mc- Kay, as the garrison was called by the British, and ordered him to divulge what information he possessed, or he would put him to death. But the faithful fellow said he would impart nothing, and that he was ready for death if he wished to kill him. Finding that con- finement had no effect, Dickson at last liberated him. He then left, and visited the bands of Sioux on the Upper Mississippi, with which he passed the winter. When he returned in the spring, Dickson had gone to Mackinaw, and Captain Bulger was in command of the fort. While there, on May twenty-third, 1815, the British evacuated the fort, the news of peace having arrived. As they retired, they fired the fort with the American colours flying; and the brave Sioux, exposing himself to the flames, rushed in and bore off" the American flag and an American medal. This one-eyed Sioux, if Dr. Foster of Hastings is correct, is still living. In an article published in the Minnesota Democrat, May, 1854, he speaks of the sign- ers of the treaty between Pike, on the part of the Uni- ted States, and the Dahkohtahs, and says : — " I have omitted till the last, mention of Le Orig- 288 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. nal Lev6, who, next to Little Crow, appears to have been the most prominent individual present. Pike calls him ' my friend,' and seems to have made him some marked presents — indeed, the Indian relationship and tie of comradeship was probably adopted between them. Pike says he 'was a war chief, and that he gave him my [his] father's tomahawk,' though what he means by that, passes my comprehension. In the table of Indian chiefs, in the appendix to Pike's Journal, he is set down as belonging to the Meday wokant'wans ; his Indian name is given as Tahamie, his French as L'Orignal Leve, and his English as the ' Rising Moose,' which is stated to be literally translated. "I believe this war chief to be identical with the aged Indian, with whom most of the old settlers are familiar by the name of Tah-mah-haw, whose character- istics are one eye, and his always wearing a stove-pipe hat. He is remarkable among the Sioux — and it is his greatest pride and boast, that he is the only American in his tribe. This is explained by the fact, that in the war with Great Britain in 1812, when the rest of the Sioux sided with the British, and when Little Crow, with Joseph Renville, led on a war party to join the British army against us, he refused to participate on that side, and joined the Americans at St. Louis, where he was employed by General Clarke, in the American service. " He has now in his possession, and carefully keeps a commission from General Clarke, dated in 1814, as a chief of the Sioux; the commission says of the Red Wing band of Indians — which was originally part of Wabashaw's band. "K he is the same person as L'Orignal Leve, then FOSTER'S ACCOUNT OF TAMAHAW. 289 Pike and his Indian comrade fought in th6 same ranks, and the friendship the latter imbibed at Pike's visit for the Americans, stood the test of time and vicissitudes. " He deserves on this account to receive from the go- vernment authorities, special and marked attention. "Joseph Mojou, an old Canadian of Point Prescott, told me that Tamahaw was called by the voyageurs, the 'Old Priest,' because he was a great talker on all occasions. In Sioux, taimcamda means to talk earnestly ; to vociferate ; and this bears some resemblance to his Indian name as at present pronounced. "My friend Mr. Hatch informs me, when he traded with the Winnebagoes and with the Sioux of Wabashaw band, he knew him, and has seen his commission from General Clarke. The Winnebagoes, who wxre ac- quainted with him, translated his name to mean the pike fish, and therefore called him Nazeekali — though tah-mah-lmy and not tah-mah-liaw, is the word for 'pike' in the Dakotah tongue. " It may be thought more pains are taken to elucidate this personal history of an old Indian, than the subject warrants. But when we reflect that this old Indian was the contemporary, if not personal friend of Pike; that he and one other Sioux were of all his tribe who sided with the Americans in the war of I8I2; there is an interest justly attached to his identity and history, which deserves more than ordinary attention. The other Sioux who, like Tamahaw, joined the Americans in 1812, was Hay-pee-dan, who belonged to Wakootay's band. He is now deceased." As late as 1817, Colonel Dickson was living in Min- nesota, at Lake Traverse, and the Indian agent at Prairie du Chien suspected that he was alienating the 19 290 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Dalikotahs frOin the United States, and in company with Lord Selkirk, striving to secure their trade, as the fol- lowing extract from his letter of February sixteenth, 1818, to the governor of Illmois will show: — " What do you suppose, sir, has been the result of the passage through my agency of this British nobleman ?^ Two entire bands, and part of a third, all Sioux, have deserted us and joined Dickson, who has distributed to' them large quantities of Indian presents, together with flags, medals, etc. Knowing this, what must have been my feelings on hearuig that his lordship had met with a favourable reception at St. Louis. The newspapers announcing his arrival, and general Scottish appearance, all tend to discompose me; believing as I do, that he is plotting vnih his friend Dickson our destruction — sharpening the savage scalping knife, and colonizing a tract of country, so remote as that of the Red River, for the purpose, no doubt, of monopolizing the fur and peltry trade of this river, the Missouri and their waters ; a trade of the first importance to our Western States and Territories. A courier who had arrived a few days since, confirms the belief that Dickson is endeavouring to undo what I have done, and secure to the British government the affections of the Sioux, and subject the North-west Company to his lordship. ***** Dickson, as I have before observed, is situated near the head of the St. Peter s, to which place he transports his goods from Selkirk's Red River establishment, in carts made for the purpose. The trip is performed in five days, sometimes less. He is directed to build a fort on the highest land between Lac du Traverse and Red ^ Earl of Selkirk. The agent's fears were entirely groundless. DICKSON'S TRUE CHARACTER. 291 River, which he supposes will be the established line be- tween the two countries. This fort will be defended by twenty men, with two small pieces of artillery." It is said that after this, Dickson was arrested be- tween the Minnesota and St. Croix, and carried to St. Louis. Dickson, though an active partisan, is beheved to have been a humane man. The American papers were naturally prejudiced against him, and all the cruelties of the savages were charged upon him. Says one editor at that day : '• How will the English government, and their agent, Robert Dickson, a native of Scotland, appear when it is announced to the world, that he employed a Sauk warrior to assassinate Governor Clarke at Prairie du Chien ? The governor's timely shifting of his sword alarmed and deterred from the commission of the act." There appears to have been no real foundation for any such impression. On the contrary, when Black Hawk expressed a desire to attack the defenceless settlements on the Mississippi, Dickson remonstrated, saying " that he had been a trader on the Mississippi many years ; had always been kindly treated ; and could not consent to send brave men to murder women and children. That there was no soldiers there to fight, but where he was going to send the Indians there were a number of soldiers, and if they defeated them, the Mississippi country should be given up to them."^ ' Ramsay Crooks of New York Lakes to the Missouri, and from the city, in a letter to Hon. H. M, Rice, Wabash to the boundary between October IG, 1857, writes. the United States and Great Britain. " I first went to Mackinaw in Dickson's connection as a trader 1805, as a clerk to Robert Dickson with the Indians was almost -entire- & Co., who were then engapjed in the ly with the Scioux, (Dahcotahs) of trade with the Indians from the St. Peters, (Minnesota) ***** 292 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Ill 1815, Wapashaw and Little Crow, of the Kaposia band, visited the British post at Drummond's Island in Lake Huron, at the request of the commanding officer, who desired to thank them in the name of his majesty, for the services the Dahkotahs had rendered during the war. After his remark, she pointed to a few presents on the floor, which called forth the following speeches : — " My Father," said Wapashaw, " what is this I see before me ? A few knives and blankets ! Is this all you promised at the beginning of the war ? Where are those promises you made at Michilimackinac, and sent to our villages on the Mississippi? You told us you would never let fall the hatchet until the Americans were driven beyond the mountains ; that our British Father would never make peace without consulting his red children. Has that come to pass ? We never knew of this peace. We are told it was made by our Great Father beyond the water, without the knowledge of his war chiefs; that it is your duty to obey his orders. What is this to us ? Will these paltry presents pay for the men we have lost both in the battle and in the war? Will they soothe the feelings of our friends ? Will they make good your promises to us ? For myself I am an old man. I have lived long and always found the means of subsistence, and I can do so still !" The Little Crow, w^iose residence at that time was just below St. Paul, on the east side of the river, was more indignant. With vehemence he said, " After we have fought for you, endured many hardships, lost some I was proud to call Robert Dickson ferocity of the Indians on the fron- my friend, and I shall ever cherish tier, in the war of 1812, although he his memory as a man who exerted was branded as the worst of savages, himself in restraining the natural at the very time." FORMATION OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 293 of our people, and awakened the vengeance of our power- ful neighbours, you make a peace for yourselves, and leave us to obtain such terms as we can ! You no longer need our services, and offer these goods as a compensar tion for having deserted us. But no ! we will not take them; we hold them and yourselves in equal contempt!"' So saying, he spurned the presents with his foot, and walked away. On the nineteenth of July, at Portage des Sioux, a treaty was concluded between the Dahko- tahs of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and the Yankton division, and the United States, in which it was stipu- lated that there should be perpetual peace between them, and that all previous acts of hostility should be mutually forgiven and forgotten. After the fame of the North-west Company was esta- blished, another association of traders was formed, called the Mackinaw Company. In 1809 Astor organized the American Fur Company, and after two ^ears bought out the Mackinaw Company, and created a new com- pany distinguished as the South-west. During the winter of 1815-16 Congress enacted a law, that no foreigner should engage in the Indian trade who did not become a citizen. Astor, after this, established a company with a former title, the American Fur Com- pany. The Indian trade of the North-west was so completely in the hands of British subjects, that it was discovered that the trade could not be carried on without their aid, and the Secretary of the Treasury issued a circular, allowing the Indian agents to license interpreters and voyageurs, who might be employed by the American traders. Under tlie new arrangements, American citizens began 294 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. to identify themselves with the fur trade of Minnesota. As early as 1816 the late Judge Lockwood of Prairie du Chien, in the capacity of clerk, took charge of a trading post, near the sources of the Minnesota. His remarks, in relation to the Indian trade, which are given in his personal reminiscences,^ show an intimate acquaintance with the trader's life : — " Tradition says that many years since, when there were many wintering traders in both the Upper and Lower Mississippi, it was the custom of every trader visiting Prairie du Chien, to have in store a keg of eight or nine gallons of good 'vvine for convivial purposes when they should again meet in the spring, on which occasions they would have great dinner parties, and, as is the English custom, drink largely. But, when I came into the country, there were but few of the old traders remaining, and the storing of wine at Prairie du Chien had become almost obsolete, although the traders were then well supplied with wine, and that of the best kind, of which they made very free use. It was then thought that a clerk in charge of an outfit must have his keg of wine ; but, after the American Fur Company got fairly initiated into the trade, they abolished the custom of furnishing their clerks with this luxury at the expense of the outfit. As I have already said, the Indian trade of the Mississippi and Missouri and their tributaries was carried on from Mackinaw as the grand depot of the trade of the North-west. " The traders and their clerks were then the aristo- cracy of the country ; and, to a Yankee at first sight, presented a singular state of society. To see gentle- ^ Wis. His. Soc. Collections, vol. ii. VOYAGEURS' FOOD, DRESS, SALARY. 295 men selecting wives of the nut^b^o\^^l natives, and raising children of mixed blood, the traders and clerks living in as much luxury as the resources of the country would admit, and the engagees or boatmen living upon soup made of hulled corn with barely tallow enough to season it, devoid of salt, unless they purchased it them- selves at a high price — all this to an American was a novel mode of living, and appeared to be hard fare ; but to a person acquainted with the habits of life of the Canadian peasantry, it would not look so much out of the way, as they live mostly on pea soup, seasoned with a piece of pork boiled down to grease ; seldom eating pork except in the form of grease that seasons their soup. With this soup, and a piece of coarse bread, their meals were made; hence the change from pea soup to corn is not so great, or the fare much worse than that which they had been accustomed to, as the corn is more substantial than peas, not being so flatu- lent. These men engaged in Canada generally for five years for Mackinaw and its dependencies, transferable like cattle to any one who wanted them, at generally about five hundred livres a year, or, in our currency, about eighty-three dollars and thirty-three cents ; fur- nished with a yearly equipment or outfit of two cotton shirts, one three point or triangular blanket, a portage collar, and one pair of beef shoes ; being obliged, in the Indian country, to purchase their moccasins, tobacco, pipes, and other necessaries, at the price the trader saw fit to charge for them. Generally, at the end of five years, these poor voyageurs were in debt from fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars, and could not leave the country until they had paid their indebtedness; and the policy of the traders Avas to keep as many of them in 296 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the country as they could ; and to this end they allowed and encouraged their engagees to get in debt during the five years, which of necessity required them to remain. " These new hands were by the old voyageurs called in derision, mangeurs de lard — porltrcaters — as on leaving Montreal, and on the route to Mackinaw, they were fed on pork, hard bread, and pea soup, while the old voya- geurs in the Indian country ate corn soup, and such other food as could conveniently be procured.^ These mangeurs de lard were brought at considerable expense and trouble from Montreal and other parts of Canada, frequently deserting after they had received some ad- vance in money and their equipment. Hence it was the object of the traders to keej) as many of the old voyageurs in the country as they could, and they gene- rally permitted the mangeurs de lard to get largely in debt, as they could not leave the country and get back into Canada, except by the return boats or canoes which brought the goods, and they would not take them back if they were in debt anywhere in the country, which could be easily ascertained from the traders at Macki- naw. But if a man was prudent enough to save his wages, he could obtain passage, as he was no longer wanted in the country. " The engagements of the men at Montreal were made in the strongest language ; they bound themselves not to leave the duties assigTied them by their employers or assigns either by day or night, under the penalty of for- feiting their wages ; to take charge of, and safely keep, the property put into their trust, and to give notice of any portending evil against their employers, or their ^ The experienced voyageurs are ing to Snelling's -nork on the North- called hivernans or ivinierers, accord- -west. CHARACTER OF EARLY TRADERS. 297 interests, that should come to their knowledge. It was the practice of the traders, when anything was stolen from the goods during the voyage, whether on the boat or on shore, to charge the boat's crew with a good round price for it ; and, if an^'thing not indispensable was ac- cidentally left on shore at the encampment, they did not return for it, but charged it to the crew, as it was understood to be their duty, not the employer's, to see that everything was on board the boat. These people in the Indian country became inured to great hardships and privations, and prided themselves upon the distance they could travel per da}^, and the small quantity of pro- visions they could subsist on while travelling, and the number of days they could go without food. They are very easily governed by a person who understands something of their nature and disposition, but their burgeois or employer must be what they consider a gentleman, or superior to themselves, as they never feel much respect for a man who has, from an engagee, risen to the rank of a clerk. " The traders in this country, at the time I came into it, were a singular compound ; they were honest so far as they gave their word of honour to be relied upon ; and, in their business transactions between themselves, seldom gave or took notes for balances or assumptions. It rarel}' happened that one of them was found who did not fulfil his promises ; but when trading in the In- dian country, any advantage that could be taken of each other in a transaction was not only considered lawful — such as trading each other's credit — but an in- dication of tact and cleverness in business. Two traders ha\'ing spent the winter in the same neighbourhood, and tluis taken everv advantajre thev could of each 298 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. other, would meet in the spring at Prairie du Chien, and amicably settle all difficulties over a glass of wine." After the war -with Great Britain, enterprise made a few attempts to develope the resources of the Upper Mississippi. In 1818 the first grist-mill was built at Fisher's Coulee, four miles above Prairie du Chien. The next year the first saw-mill in the country was erected at the Falls of Black river, which was soon burned by the Indians. While the Ojibways and Dahkotahs now acknow- ledged the authority of the United States, they still continued their destructive warfare upon each other. Toward the close of the year 1818 one of their terrible conflicts took place, between Lac Traverse and the head waters of the Mississippi. During the summer a Yank- ton chief, called by the French the Grand, held a coun- cil with some Ojibways, and smoked the pipe of peace. When the latter were returning home, some of the Dahkotahs sneaked after them, scalped a few, and took a woman prisoner. When the receipt of the intelligence reached Leech Lake, thirteen young warriors, whose leader was Black Dog, started for the Dahkotah land, having vowed that they would not return until they had avenged the insult. For four weeks they travelled without meeting any of their foes; but at length, on the Pomme de Terre river, on a very foggy morning, they thought a buffalo herd was in sight, which proved to be a large Dahkotah camp. Some of the latter, who were on horseback, saw them, and gave the alarm. The Ojibways, finding that they were discovered, and that their enemies were nume- rous, sent one of their number to their homes east of the Mississippi, to announce their probable death. The SPARTAN BRAVERY. 299 twelve who remained now began to dig holes in the ground, and prepare for the conflict, from which they could not hope to escape. Soon they were surrounded by the Dahkotahs ; but as they drew nigh many were mortally wounded by the Spartan band. The leader of the Dahkotah party, exasperated by their continual loss, gave orders for a general onset, when the whole Ojibway party were tomahawked in their holes. The thirteenth returned home, and related the circumstances; and though their friends mourned their death, they delighted in then* bravery. 300 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER X /. While citizens of the United States and Great Bri- tain, speaking the same language, and having many common associations, were engaged in war near the southern Umits of Minnesota, a disgraceful strife was beginning between the employees of the Hudson Bay and North-west Companies, on the northern border. The channel of trade, west of Lake Superior, followed the line of the Algonquin settlements, and entered the interior chiefly by way of Pigeon river, and the chain of lakes that separates the British possessions from Minnesota. Veranderie, the French officer, as we have seen in a previous chapter, was the first that pushed his way to- ward the Rocky Mountains, and is said to have built a fort at the junction of the Assineboine and Red River. As soon as 1762 maps designate Fort la Reine at the confluence, and here at an early period coureurs des bois, from the French establishment at Mackinaw, used to trade with the Omahaws and Assineboines. On the east side of Lake Winnipeg, before the cession of Canada to the English, there was a French post called Mau re- pas. On the Lake of the Woods there was Fort St. Charles, and in the lake was an island, near the south- Id Si ^?5 Mt' ft/uu*^'- Ojf, FSDiLtJi^J^UL MJ MASSACRE IN LAKE OF THE WOODS. 301 eastern extremity, called Massacre Island, from tlie fol- lowing circumstance : — About the year 1750, a birch canoe with eight French- men, left the post on the shores of the Lake of the Woods, and had proceeded to this island, which is not far from the mouth of the river which leads to Rainy Lake. It was quite early when they arrived, and there was not a breeze perceptible. Kindling a fire to cook their repast, the smoke rose like a lofty column, and attracted a war party of the Dahkotahs, who, landing on the opposite side of the isle, surprised the French and massacred them. At the junction of Rainy Lake river with the lake, there was Fort St. Pierre, and at the grand portage of Lake Superior there was the trad- ing establishment of Kamanistigoya. This region of country was claimed by the Hudson Bay Company, under a charter granted to them by Charles II. on May second, 1670; but during the eighteenth century they did not establish posts in the region bordering on Min- nesota. Before the American Revolution, private traders, who obtained their outfits at Mackinaw, gained possession of the trade, and, after the consolidation of several com- panies with the North-west Company of Montreal in 1783, there was a larger business transacted with the Indians who lived in this region so abundant in furs. At the commencement of the nineteenth century, the Earl of Selkirk, a wealthy, kind-hearted, but visionary nobleman of Scotland, wrote several tracts, urging the importance of colonizing British emigrants in these dis- tant British possessions, and thus check the disposition to settle in the United States. In the year 1811, he 302 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. obtained a grant of land from the Hudson Bay Com- pany, described as follows : — " Beginning on the western shore of Lake Winipie, at a point in 52° 30' north latitude, and thence running due west to the Lake Winipigashish, otherwise called Little Winipie, thence in a southerly direction, through the said lake, so as to strike its western shore in lati- tude 52°, thence due west to the place where the par- allel 52° intersects the western branch of Red river, otherwise called Assiniboine river, thence due south from that point of intersection, to the height of land which separates the waters running into Hudson's Bay from those of the Missouri and Missisippi rivers, thence in an easterly direction along the height of land to the source of the river Winipie, meaning by such last-named river the principal branch of the waters which unite in the Lake Saginagas, thence along the main stream of those waters, and the middle of the several lakes through which they pass, to the mouth of the Winipie river, and thence in a northerly direction through the middle of Lake Winipie, to the place of beginning, which territory is called Ossiniboia" or Assiniboia. Previous to this time the only inhabitants besides the Indians, were Canadians, who, by long intercourse with savages, had learned all their vices, and imitated none of their admirable traits. Unwilling to return to the restraints of well-ordered society, from which they had fled in youth, they were fond of " Vast And sudden deeds of violence, Adventures wild, and wonders of the moment. SUFFERINGS OF HIGHLANDERS. 303 They were proud of the title " Gens Libres/' the free people. The offspring of their intercourse with Indian females was numerous. The "bois brules" were athletic, ex- pert hunters, good boatmen, fine horsemen, and able to speak the native language of both father and mother. Their chief delight and mode of subsistence was in fishing and snaring the buffalo. In the autumn of 1812, a small advance party of colonists proceeded to a point in latitude 50° north near the confluence of the Assineboine, on the banks of the Red river, whose head waters after heavy rains inter- lock with those of the Minnesota river, and commenced the erection of houses and preparations for the expected colonists. But their work was soon stopped b}' a party of men of the North-west Company, attired in Indian costume, ordering them to desist. The affrighted emi- grants were persuaded to take refuge at Pembina, Min- nesota, by a company of men that they thought were savages. The latter agreed to carry the children, but the men and women were obliged to walk. The exac- tions of the guides were cruel. One Highlander had to relinquish a gun that had been carried by his father at the battle of Culloden, and which was prized next to the family Bible, and a shrinking woman had to part with the marriage ring which had been placed upon her finger in the bloom of her youth, by a devoted lover in the Highlands. For the sake of creating alarm, the guides would run off with the babes and children, and the distracted mothers refused to be comforted, because their children were not to be seen any more, as they supposed.^ ^ " Red River Settlement, by Alexander Ross. London, 1856." 304 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. This sport, more worthy of bears than of men, so shocked the nervous system of the more dehcate that they never recovered, and found an early and cold grave. At Pembina the more hardy lived during the winter in tents, and in the spring returned to the colony to resume their labours. Returning in the spring to the site of the colony, they in the sweat of their brow cultivated the soil, but the fowls of the air anticipated the harvest, and the winter of 1813-14 was again passed at Pembina.^ Their success in the chase was however limited, and when they returned to their settlement in the spring they were in appearance half starved, and all tattered and torn. By the month of September, 1815, the number of settlers was about two hundred, and the colony was called Kildonan, after the old parish in Scotland in which many were born. With increased numbers all things seemed auspicious. Houses were built, a mill was erected, imported cattle and sheep began to graze on the undulating plains. The Highlander was pleased when he discovered that " Here no stony ground provokes the wrath of the farmer. Smoothly the ploughshare runs through the soil, as a keel through the •water. Here, too, numberless herds run wild, and unclaimed in the prairies ; Here, too, lands may be had for the asking, and forests of timber With a few blows of the axe, are hewn and framed into houses." ^ This word is pronounced as if name of a red berry that grows in written Pembinuaw, and is a con- the vicinity, traction of an Ojibway word, the CAMERON PRODUCES DISCONTENT. 305 The employees of the North-west Company were however exceedingly restive under the march of im- provement, and the proprietors of the company sus- pected that it was a ruse of their powerful rival, the Hudson Bay Company, to oust them from the lucrative posts they were occupying. As early as 1813 the clerks and engagees of the Mon- treal traders endeavoured to excite the suspicions of the Indians, but without success. At a meeting of the partners of the North-west Company, held at Fort William, at the head of Lake Superior, in the summer of 1814, Duncan Cameron and Alexander McDonell were appointed to concert mea- sures to stop the progTcss of the colony.^ About the last of August, they arrived at the North- west Company's post, about a half mile from the Kil- donan settlement, at the forks of the Red and Assine- boine rivers. Cameron, during the winter and spring of 1815, with great art obtained the confidence of the Highlanders. Pie spoke their native Gaelic tongue, extended hospi- tality to their families, and insinuated rather than evinced direct hostility to the plans of Selkirk. To give the air of authority, he wore a suit of regimentals that belonged to a disbanded corps of voyageurs, and in his communications, subscribed himself " D. Cameron, Captain Voyageur Corps, Commanding Officer, Red * Alexander McDonell, in a letter ties against the enemy in Red river. * written to a friend at Montreal, from * * * * Nothing but the complete one of the portages west of Lake downfall of the colony will satisfy Superior, says, " You see myself and some by fair or foul means. So here our mutual friend Mr. Cameron, so is at them with all my heart and far on our way to commence hostili- energy." 20 306 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. River." The fair promises he made unsettled the minds of the colonists, and seduced many to leave the spot. As soon as the free Canadians and half-breeds learned that their employers were not favourable to the colony, they grew insolent. One of the disaffected Selkirkers, by the name of George Campbell, one Sunday, immedi- ately after a sermon had been read in accordance with a venerable Scotch custom^ to the assembled settlement, rose and read an order issued by Cameron, and directed to the temporary superintendent of the colony, demand- ing the surrender of their brass field-pieces. On Monday morning, the governor's house being guarded, the employees of the North-west Company went to the store-house, broke it open, and carried off to their post, field-pieces, swivel, and a small howitzer; in all amounting to nine. This was a signal for the desertion of the disaffected Selkirkers, who repaired to the quarters of the North-west Company. In the spring of 1815, McKenzie and Morrison, of the North-west Company at Sandy Lake, Minnesota, told the chief Kawtawabetay, that they would give him and his people all the goods or merchandise and rum they ' The first emigrants were all the governor-in-chief of the country, Presbyterians. Their expected min- as well as by the governor of the ister having been delayed, a worthy colony. These men with their fol- and pious elder, James Sutherland, lowers gladly heard him expound "was appointed to marry and bap- the Scriptures. * * * * Of all men, tize, from which functions he was clergymen or others, that ever en- never released by the arrival of the tered this country, none stood higher (jrdained minister, in consequence in the estimation of the settlers, both (jf the difiBculties in which the colony for sterling piety, and Christian con- was placed. * * * On his arrival duct, than Mr. Sutherland." — Red at York Factory, the right hand of River Settlement, p. 31. fellowship was held out to him by THE MARCH OF THE EXILES. 307 had at Leech Lake, Sandy Lake, and Fort William, if they would declare war against the settlers on Red river.' On the morning of Sunday, June the eleventh, a party of North-west employees, armed with loaded muskets, stationed themselves in a grove near the governor's house, and commenced an attack, wounding four in- mates, one of whom died. After this unprovoked assault, they demanded Miles McDonell, the governor, who was delivered, and subsequently carried to Mon- treal. This step did not at all satisfy the traders of the North-west Company, but as soon as the governor was carried off toward Canada by Duncan Cameron, his partner, Alexander McDonell, commenced new aggres- sions, such as seizing the horses, driving off the cattle, and pillaging the farms of the colonists. Opposite the settlement he erected a battery, upon which he mounted two of the Selkirk field-pieces, and established a camp of about fifty or sixty of the Canadian servants, clerks, and bois brules. Dispirited by constant annoyance, the broken-hearted settlers sent word to the head of the North-west Com- pany, that they would leave their farms and homes in a few days. About this time, toward the latter part of the pleasant month of June, two Ojibway chiefs arrived with forty braves, and strange as it may seem, they offered to escort the persecuted colonists with their pro- perty to Lake Winnipeg. Guarded by the grim children of the forest from the assault of their foes, they, like the Acadian peasants in Evangeline, were " friendless, hopeless, homeless." ' Earl of Selkirk's statement. 308 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. " Driving in ponderous wains, their household goods to the sea-shore, Pausing, and looking back to gaze once more on their dwellings, Ere they were shut from sight, by the winding road, and the woodland ; Close at their sides, their children ran, and urged on the oxen. While in their little hands they clasped some fragments of playthings." After they had embarked in the boats, "sheeted smoke with flashes of flame intermingled," announced that the mill and their houses were fired by the torch of the incendiary. When the fugitives from persecution had been some- time at the northern extremity of Lake Winnipeg, Colin Robertson, of the Hudson Bay Company, arrived, and offered to lead them back to the settlement from which they had been expelled. Accepting his proposal, they returned, and were soon augmented by a party of emigrants just arrived from the Highlands of Scotland. During the winter of 1810, a majority remained at the mouth of the Pembina river, in Minnesota, for the purpose of hunting the buffalo. But early in the spring they returned to the Kildonan settlement. In the spring of 1816, Duncan Cameron, who had returned, was arrested by Colin Robertson, and taken towards the coast of Hudson's Bay, for the purpose of being sent to England for trial. The Earl of Selkirk, hearing of the distressed condi- tion of his colony, mailed for America, and on his arrival at New York, in the fall of 1815, heard that they had been bribed or compelled to leave the settlement. Proceeding to Montreal, he found some of the settlers who had been under the influence of the North-west Company, in great poverty. While here he gained the information that a remnant of the colony had returned and re-established themselves, and immediately sent an express to announce his arrival and determination to be SELKIRK SENDS AN ARMED FORCE. 309 with them in the spring. These glad tidings were sent bj Laguimoniere, who, in the depths of winter, had tra- velled on foot from the Red River, by way of Red Lake and Fond du Lac, Minnesota, to bring the intelligence to Montreal that the colony had reoccupied their settlement. The messenger never reached his destination Avith the kind words of Selkirk. In the night he was way-laid near Fond du Lac, brutally beaten, and robbed of his canoe and despatches. At a council held by the super- intendent of Indian aifairs, at Drununond's Island, on the twenty-second of July, 181G, an Ojibway chief of Sandy Lake, Minnesota, stated that Grant, one of the North-west Company, offered him two kegs of rum, and two carrots of tobacco, if he Avould send some of his young men in search of some persons taking despatches to Red River, and pillage the letters and papers. Shortly after this, the chief testified that Laguimoniere was brought in by a negro and a party of Ottawas. Failing to obtain military aid from the British autho- rities in Canada, Selkirk made an engagement with four officers and eighty privates, of the discharged Meuron regiment, twenty of the De Watteville, and a few of the Glengary Fencibles, which had served in the late war with the United States, to accompany him to Red River. They were to receive monthly wages for navi- gating the boats to Red River, to have lands assigned them, and a free passage if they wished to return. When he reached Sault St. Marie, he received the intelligence that the colony had again been destroyed. In the spring of 1816, Semple, a mild, amiable, but not altogether judicious man, the chief governor of the factories and territories of the Hudson Bay Company, arrived at Red River. In the month of April he sent 310 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. a Mr, Pambrun to a trading post on a neighbouring river, and as he was returning with five boats, a quan- tity of furs, and six hundred bags of pemmican, he was attacked, on the twelfth of May, by an armed party of the adherents of the North-west Company, and cap- tured. This act was m retaUation for the attack made by Robertson on their post, at the junction of the Red and Assineboine rivers, during the previous autumn. On the eighteenth of June a portion of this party left Fort Qui Appele, under the guidance of Cuthbert Grant, Lacerte, Frazer, Hoole, and Thomas McKay, and went toward Red River. Information had been brought by friendly Indians and others, that an attack was intended, and an almost constant watch was kept up night and day, to discover the approach of any of the parties of the enemy. About five o'clock in the afternoon, on the nineteenth of June, a man in the watch-house of the fort of the Selkirkers, called out to Governor Semple that horsemen were approaching. The governor, per- ceiving with a spy-glass sixty or seventy men, ordered twenty men to accompany him, and meet them. After Semple had proceeded half a mile, some of the settlers were met moving toward the fort, saying that a party was coming with cannon. One of the governor's party was requested to go back and obtain a field-piece from the fort. As the messenger was returning with the cannon. Governor Semple was surrounded. The hostile party first sent forward the reckless son of a Montreal tavern-keef)er, to inquire what the governor was about. Semple inquired what his party wanted? Boucher insultingly asked, " Why did you, rascal ! destroy our fort?" The governor, laying hold of his horse's bridle, said, " Scoundrel ! do you talk thus to me ?" Instantly GOVERNOR SEMPLE KILLED. 311 Boucher sprang from his horse, and the firing com- menced. Semple was soon wounded, and called to his men to take care of themselves ; but they gathered in a knot around their bleeding leader, and while they collected, the North-west party fired a volley, by which the greater part were instantly killed. The remnant called for mercy, but in vain; all were massacred but four or five. Among those who were spared, was John Pritchard. Li his narration he remarks, that "the knife, axe, or ball put an end to the existence of the wounded, and on the bodies of the dead were practised all those horrible barbarities, which characterize the in- human heart of the savage. The amiable and mild Mr. Semple, with broken thigh, lying on his side, supporting his head upon his hand, said to Grant, the leader of the attacking party, ' I am not mortally wounded, and if you could get me conveyed to the fort, I think I should live.' Grant promised he would do so, and immediately left him in the care of a Canadian, who afterwards told, that an Indian of their party came up and shot Mr. Sem- ple in the breast. I entreated Grant to procure me the watch or even the seals of Mr. Semple, for transmitting them to his friends, but I did not succeed. Our force amounted to twenty-eight persons, of whom twenty-one were killed." The Indian who killed the kind-hearted Semple was an Ojibway of Minnesota. Schoolcraft, in 1832, says, he saw, at Leech Lake, Majegabowi, the man who had killed Governor Semple, after he fell wounded from his horse. The morning after the massacre. Grant and Bourassa, with sixteen or seventeen others, insisted upon the abandonment of Fort Douglas, and the settlement. 312 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Two days afterwards the settlers, to the number of two hundred, including women and children, were compelled to embark in boats, to be conveyed to the searcoast. On the second day's voyage they were met by Noi:man McLeod, a partner of the North-west Company, with nine or ten canoes, and a batteau with two pieces of artillery, formerly belonging to the Selkirk settlement, and a hundred armed men. As his party perceived the settlers they raised the warwhoop, and McLeod inquired whether Robertson or Semple was in the boats. In- formed of the death of the governor, they broke open his trunks, and took his papers. On his way to Red River, McLeod held a council with the Ojibways at Rainy Lake, and persuaded the Round Lake Chief and some fifteen or twenty others to join his party. Among those who accompanied Mc- Leod in the capacity of clerk was Charles de Reinhard, once a sergeant in the De Meuron regiment. He was sent to a station of the company, at " Bas de la riviere Winipic." In August some deserters from the employ of Owen Keveny, a Hudson Bay trader, arrived there. They told McLeod that they had been badly treated, and he deputed Reinhard to act as constable and seize seize Keveny. Six bois brules accompanied him, and he soon re- turned with the trader, who was then placed in a canoe with three half-breed voyageurs, and consigned to Fort William on Lake Superior. On their way they were met by a partner of the North-west Company, avIio re- moved the half-breeds and substituted two Canadians and an Indian, who was to act as guide. The canoe was again met by traders of the company, who ordered them back. The two Canadians, on their return, quar- THE MURDER OF KEYENY. 313 reled with the Indian who left them, and losing their way, they landed Keveny on a small island and de- serted him. Mr. McLellan now started in search of the missing party, and first found the Indian and two Canadians, and at last Keveny, who was with an encampment of Indians. McLellan apprehended him, and purchasing a canoe placed him alone in company with Reinhard, a bois brule, and an Indian. He then told Reinhard to put Keveny to death at the first favourable spot. A short distance above a deep gorge of granite through which the Winnipeg river rushes, the traveller used to pass a cross, which marked the spot where Keveny's life was taken. It seems, from the confession of Reinhard, that he had desired to go on shore for a few moments, and when he was returning to the canoe, the half-breed took aim and shot him through the neck. As he fell against the canoe, Reinhard, seeing that he wished to speak, drew his sword, and twice plunging it in his back, soon rendered him speechless. Joining their employer McLellan, they detailed the circumstances, and a distribution of his bloody clothes and other efiects took place. McLellan, opening the writing desk of the murdered man, spent the night in reading and burning his letters and jDapers. Reinhard, after a protracted trial in Canada, was convicted and executed. During the trial stress was laid upon the question, whether the scene of the murder was in the province of Upper Canada. After much testimony from the best geographers in the country, it was decided that the limits of Canada did not extend to that point. Previous to the intelligence of the death of Governor 314 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Semple, the Earl of Selkirk had made arrangements to visit his colony by way of Fond du Lac, the St. Louis river, and Red Lake of Minnesota ; but he now changed his mind, and proceeded with his force to Fort William, the chief trading post of the North-west Company on Lake Superior; and apprehending the principal part- ners, warrants of commitment were issued, and they were forwarded to the attorney-general of Upper Ca- nada. While Selkirk was engaged at Fort William, a party of emigrants in charge of Miles McDonnel, governor, and Captain D'Orsomen, went forward to reinforce the colony. At Rainy Lake they obtained the guidance of a man who had all the characteristics of an Lidian, and yet had a bearing which suggested a different origin. By his efficiency and temperate habits, he secured the respect of liis employers, and on the Earl of Selkirk's arrival at Red river, his attention was called to him, and in his welfare he became deeply interested. By repeated conversations with him, memories of a differ- ent kind of existence were aroused, and the light of other days began to brighten. Though he had forgot- ten his father's name, he furnished sufficient data for Selkirk to proceed with a search for his relatives. Visiting the United States in 1817, he published a cir- cular in the papers of the Western States, which led to the identification of the man. It appeared from his own statement, and those of his friends, that his name was John Tanner, the son of a minister of the gospel, who, about the year 1790, lived on the Ohio river, near the Miami. Shortly after his residence there a band of roving Indians passed near the house, and found John Tanner, then a little boy, JOHN TANNER CARRIED OFF BY INDIANS. 315 filling his hat with walnuts which he had picked from a tree. Seizing him, the}' kept him quiet by threats, and fled. The party was led by an Ottawa Indian, whose wife had lost a son. To compensate for his death, the mother begged her husband to capture one about the same age. To accomplish this was the object of the Indian's visit to the white settlements, and great was the joy of the wife, when he brought her the desired gift. Adopted into the tribe. Tanner grew up as an Indian, and became expert with the gun, and noted for bravery. In time the band with which he was con- nected wandered into the Red River country. Declin- ing the position of chief which was offered to him, he was esteemed by all of his companions. After Lord Sel- kirk found his relatives he visited them, but soon returned to the Indian country. Xhe harvest of 1817 was luxuriant ; the seed that had been sown proved good seed, bearing forty and sixty fold, but so little had been sown that it agam became neces- sary for the settlers to pass the winter in hunting. From Pembina they proceeded into the open prairies of North-western Minnesota, to join a camp of Indian and half-breed hunters. Unprovided with snow shoes, the road was truly a " via dolorosa." Without a par- ticle of food remauiing, the half-starved colonists at last reached the long-sought camp. The night of their arrival was Christmas eve of 1817, and the Indians and mixed bloods were touched by their haggard faces, and shared with them their own scanty fiire. The buffalo this winter was very scarce, and the Scotch dragged through it, a set of mere camp slaves. With the mild rays of the spring of 1818, hope re- 316 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. vived, and once more they trudged back to their settle- ment. They worked with pleasant anticipations as they beheld first the blade, then the ear develope ; but, one afternoon, just as the harvest was ripe, and they were about to put in the sickle, "behold, the Lord formed grasshoppers, in the beginnmg of the shoot- ing up of the latter growth," ^ and their joy was turned to mourning. The air was filled with these insects; "the earth did quake before them, like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, or Hke the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble," was the sound of their movements. When the next morn- ing arose, it was " a day of darkness and of gloominess ; a day of clouds and thick darkness," and strong men were bowed down ; and, like the Hebrew captives, by the waters of Babylon, they lifted up their voices and wept. The next year the calamity was worse. " They were produced in masses, two, three, and four inches in depth. The water was infected by them. Along the river they were to be found in heaps like sea-weed, and might be shovelled with a spade. Every vegetable substance was either eaten up, or stripped to the bare stalk ; the leaves of the bushes, and the bark of the trees, shared the same fate ; and the grain vanished as fast as it appeared above ground. Even fires, if kindled out of doors, were immediately extinguished by them." ^ The old Highlander understood, as he never had before, the imagery of the prophet, which he had often read in his well-thumbed Bible, for truly " the land was as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a ^ Amos, chap, vii., verse 2. Joel, chap. ii. ^ Ross. GRASSHOPPER INVASION. 317 desolate wilderness, nothing did escape them." They ran upon the wall ; they climbed up on the houses ; they entered in at the windows like a thief. With the whole head sick, and the whole heart faint, the bra-vvny Scotchmen sought once more the plains of Minnesota, and became sons of Nimrod, chasing the deer and the buffalo. But, when they reflected upon the mfluence of this " vagabond" life upon their child- ren, they were impelled by their consciences to make one more attempt to establish a home for their wives and little ones. During the winter of 1819-20, a deputation of their number, mounted on snow shoes, passed through the then wilderness of Minnesota, and came to Prairie du Chien, a journey of a thousand miles, to purchase wheat for seed. In 1820, on the fifteenth day of April, three Macki- naw boats, manned with six hands each, laden with two liundred bushels of wheat, one hundred bushels of oats, and thirty bushels of peas, under the charge of Messrs. Graham and Laidlaw, left Prairie du Chien for Selkirk's colony, on the Red River of the North. Detained by ice at Lake Pepin, they planted the May pole thereon. On the third of May, the boats passed through the lake. The voyage was continued up the Minnesota to Big Stone Lake, from which a portage was made into Lake Tra- verse, a mile and a half distant, the boats being placed on wooden rollers. Then descending the Sioux Wood river to the Red river, the party arrived at Pembina in safety, with their charge, on the third day of June. Pembina was, at that time, as now, a small hamlet, the rival companies of the North-west and of Hudson's Bay having each a trading post, at the confluence of the 318 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA, stream with the Red river, but on opposite sides. The crop at Selkirk's colony having entirely failed the pre- vious year, the grain was much needed for seed the en- suing season. The trip performed in these boats is worthy of mention, as it is the only instance of heavy articles being transjDorted the entire distance from Prairie du Chien to the Red River settlement, with the excep- tion of the portage between Big Stone and Traverse Lakes by water. Charles St. Antoine, who was one of the crew, is now a citizen of Dahkotah county, and is one of the few survivors of that eventful voyage. The party returned across the plains on foot as far as Big Stone Lake, from which point they descended to Prairie du Chien in canoes.^ The cost of this expedition was about six thousand dollars, and was borne by Lord Selkirk. In 1820, Captain R. May, a citizen of Berne, in the British service, was commissioned by Selkirk to visit Switzerland, and engage persons to repair to his colony. After years of bloodshed, heart burnings, fruitless liti- gations, and vast expense, the strife was concluded by compromise. In the year 1821, the two companies, in the language of the articles of settlement, finding " that the competition in the said trade had been found for some years, then past, to be productive of great inconvenience and loss, not only to the said company and association, but to the said trade in general, and also of great injury to the native Indians, and of other persons his Majesty's subjects," they did enter into an agreement for putting an end to competition, and carrying on the trade to- gether. ^ Sibley's Historical Society Address. UNITED STATES TROOPS STATIONED IN MINNESOTA. 319 CHAPTER XVI. The rumour that Lord Selkirk was founding a colony on the borders of the United States, and that the Hud- son Bay Company had posts within the region of country comprised within the boundaries of Minnesota, did not fail to reach the authorities at Washington. Under the administration of Mr. Monroe, the head of the war department was the intellectual and dis- tinguished John C. Calhoun. At that period he was deeply interested in developing the resources of every section of the Union. During his term of office, the efficiency of the army was increased ; the condition of the aborigines noted, and the power of the United States felt in remote regions where it had not been acknowledged. On the tenth of February, 1819, an order was issued from the war department, concentrating the Fifth Regi- ment of Infantry at Detroit, with a view to transporta- tion by way of Fox and Wisconsin rivers to Prairie du Chien. After garrisoning that post and Rock Island, the remainder were to proceed to the mouth of the Minnesota, then designated the Saint Peter s, to esta- blish a post at which the head-quarters of the regiment were to be located. About the time of this order, the 320 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. portion of Illinois territory not included within the state of that name, was attached to Michigan, of which Lewis Cass was governor. In the spring of 1819, the county of Crawford was organized, which included a large portion of Minnesota. Colonel Leavenworth, with the troops on their way to build the new post at the junction of the Minnesota, brought blank commissions for county officers to be filled up by the inhabitants. With difficulty officers were obtained. Johnson, United States factor, was made Chief Justice of the County Court, and his asso- ciates were Michael Brisbois and Francis Bouthillier j Wilfred Owens was appointed Judge of Probate ; John S. Findley, Clerk of the Court, and Thomas McNair, Sheriff. Colonel Leavenworth, having attended to his duties at the Prairie, ascended the Mississippi with his soldiers in keel-boats. The water was so low at that period, that for weeks they "dragged their slow length along," not reaching Mendota until September, the contem- plated site for temporary barracks, the remains of which are visible above the present village of Mendota, on the south side of the river. The officers with their wives lived in the boats until rude huts and pickets were erected. Before the quarters were completed, the rigour of winter was felt, and the removal from the open boats to the log cabms, plastered with clay, was con- sidered a privilege. Though the first winter was ex- tremely cold, the garrison remained cheerful, and the officers maintained pleasant social intercourse.^ During ^ Mrs. Ellet, in a sketch of the wife " Huts had also to be built, though of the first commissary of this post, in the rudest manner, to serve as a says : shelter during the winter, from the CANTONMENT AT MENDOTA. 321 the winter, that dreadful disease, scurvy, appeared among the troops, and raged so extensively, that for a few days military duty was suspended. It is said that "so sudden was the attack, that soldiers apparently in good health when they retired at night, were found dead in the morning. One man who was relieved from his tour of sentinel duty, and stretched himself u23on a bench, when he was called four hours after to resume his duties, was found lifeless.'" The colonel at this time displayed his humanity, and, with a few friends, spent several days searching the country for antiscorbutics. In the month of May, 1820, they entered into summer encampment at a spring not far from the old Baker trading house. The camp was named Cold Water. On the tenth of September the corner stone of Fort Snel- ling was laid. The winter of 1820-21 found them again at the cantonment on the south side of the river ; the present fort not being sufficiently advanced for occupation by the troops. The first pine lumber ever rigours of a severe climate. After was no protection for the inmates, living with her family in the boat but the baby in the cradle was for a month, itwas ahighlyapprecia- pushed under the bed for safety, ted luxury for Mrs. Clark to find Notwithstanding these discomforts herself at home in a log hut, plastered and perils, the inconveniences they with clay, and chinked for her re- had to encounter, and their isolated ception. It was December before situation, the little party of emi- thcy got into winter quarters, and grants were not without the social the fierce winds of that exposed enjoyments ; they were nearly all region, with terrific storms now and young married persons, cheerful, then, were enough to make them and fond of gayety, and had their keep within doors as much as possi- dancing assemblages once a fort- ble. Once in a violent tempest, the night." roof of their dwelling was raised by ^ Sibley's Address before Minne the wind, and partially slid ofi"; there sota Historical Society. 21 322 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. cut Oil Rum River was by soldiers for tlie use of the for- tifications. On the eighteenth of November, 1819, Governor Cass addressed a communication to Mr. Calhoun, secretary of war, proposing an exploration of the territory recently attached to Michigan, for the purpose of becom- ing better acquainted with the Indian tribes, and its mineral and agricultural resources. The suggestions were approved, and on the morning of July fifth, 1820, the expedition, on the forty-third da}^ of their journey by the lakes from Detroit, entered the St. Louis river of Minnesota. The expedition consisted of Governor Cass, Dr. Wolcott, Indian agent at Chicago and surgeon, Captain Douglass, military engineer, H. R. Schoolcraft, mineralogist. Lieutenant Mackay, James Doty, Esq., secretary, Major Forsyth, private secretary to the governor, C. C. Trowbridge, topographer, besides the voyageurs, soldiers, and Indians, amounting in all to about forty persons. Three miles above the mouth of the St. Louis they came to an Ojibway village of fourteen lodges. Among the residents were the children of an African, by the name of Bungo, the servant of a British officer who once commanded at Mackinaw. Their hair was curled and skin glossy, and their features altogether African. A short distance above there was the abandoned esta- blishment of the old North-west Company. On the evening of the first day's ascent of the stream, the expedition lodged at the American Fur Company's houses, twenty-four miles from the lake. The establish- ment consisted of a range of log buildings, enclosing three sides of a square, open towards the river, and contained the warehouse, canoe and boat yard, and GENERAL CASS AT SANDY LAKE. 323 dwelling-house of the resident clerk. The company had also three horses, two oxen, three cows, and four bulls at this post. On the fifteenth of the month they arrived at Sandy Lake, and were received at the post of the American Company, in the temporary absence of the trader Morrison, by two of his clerks. They occupied the establishment of the old North-west Company, which was built in 1794, and has been described in a previous chapter. On the appearance of the exploring party, in accordance with custom, the Sandy Lake Ojibways saluted them with a discharge of fire-arms loaded with balls. The population of the Indian village at that time was one hundred and twenty, and their principal men were Broken Arm and De Breche. On the sixteenth a council was held, and Governor Cass proposed that they should send a deputation of their best men to the mouth of the Minnesota, and con- clude a peace wdth the Dahkotahs, to which they cheer- fully consented. The next day the officers of the expe- dition, with nineteen voyageurs and Indians, and pro- visions for twelve days, left the post with a view to exploration of the Upper Mississippi. On the nine- teenth, the atmosphere in the region of Pokeguma Rapids was so cold that the canoes in the morning were coated with a scale of ice. On the twenty-first of July they reached Upper Red Cedar Lake, which they considered the true source of the Mississippi, and named Cass Lake. On the n(^rth shore of the lake was a village of sixty Ojibways, of whom Wiscoup, or the Sweet, was the chief Here were found two employees of the Fur Zli HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Company, one of whom, during the previous winter, having been caught in a snow storm, had his feet frozen so badly that they had sloughed off. For a time his Indian wife felt an interest in his sad condition, and supported him by catching fish ; but at last he became a weariness to her, and she deserted. For months, as he was unable to walk, he had subsisted upon the coarse weeds about his hut. The expedition discovered him seated on a mat of rushes, in a cabin of bark, with the stumps of his legs wrapped in deer skins. With long beard, sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, and bones ready to protrude through the skin, he was more to be pitied than Job. In the w^ords of the patriarch, his "flesh w^as clothed with worms and clods of dust; his skin was broken and loathsome ; by night he was full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day." The sympathies of the whole party were aroused, and Governor Cass took means to make him comfortable, and have him trans- ported to the Fur Company's post at Sandy Lake. The next day they commenced the descent of the river, and returned to Sandy Lake on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth. On the twenty-fifth, with a delega- tion of Ojibways, they entered the canoes once more, and steered towards the fort at the mouth of the Min- nesota. The twenty-eighth was passed in hunting buf- falo, between Elk river and the Little Falls. Having spent several hours in hunting, they descended the river untU three o'clock, when they landed again to hunt at the site of a recent Dahkotah encampment. In the centre of the deserted camp, on a long pole, was a letter of birch bark, addressed to the Ojibways, in which they were informed that a peace party, at the solicita- CASS AT FORT SNELLING.— RAPID VEGETATION. 325 tion of the commander of the fort, had proceeded to that spot, but not finding any of their nation, had re- turned. On the afternoon of the thirtieth, they reached the garrison at " Camp Cold Water," near the present St. Louis House, near Fort Snelling, and Governor Cass was received with the customary national salute. They found here a busy scene : officers and their men were all occupied. In addition to building the fort, ninety acres of ground were under cultivation, and the soil proved very fertile. Green peas had been ready for the table on the fifteenth of June ; the corn was ripe on the fifteenth of July, and the wheat was now ripe for the harvest. On the first of August, at the winter barracks on the south side of the Minnesota, which were then being occupied by Taliaferro as an Indian agency, a council was held with the Dahkotahs and Ojibways. Go- vernor Cass, Colonel Leavenworth, and other officers represented the United States. Shokpay and other chiefs spoke for the Dahkotahs, and Babasikumsiba for the Ojibwa}s. Though the Dahkotahs agreed to a ces- sation of hostilities against the Ojibways, they were very indifferent, and some of the chiefs and braves re- fused to smoke the pipe of peace. On the second of August, the party continued their descent of the Mississippi, and visited the cave near the upper limits of the city of Saint Paul, which they were erroneously told was "Carver's Cave."' Four miles be- low, at a point now called Pig's Eye, they found the village of Little Crow. "Here," says Schoolcraft, in his narrative of the expedition, is a " Sioux (Dahkotah) ^ Carver's cuve, is iu the luwer suburb. 326 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. band of twelve lodges, and consisting of about two hun- dred souls, who plant com on the adjoining plain, and cultiA'ate the cucumber and pumpkin. They sallied from their lodges on seeing us approach, and manifested the utmost satisfaction in our landing. Le Petit Cor- beau was among the first to greet us. He is a man be- low the common size, but brawny and well proportioned ; and although rising of fifty years of age, retains the looks and vigour of forty. There is a great deal of fire in his eyes, which are black and piercing. His nose is prominent and has the aquiUne curve, his forehead fall- ing a little from the facial angle, and his whole counte- nance animated, and expressive of a shrewd mind. We were conducted into his cabin, which is spacious, being about sixty feet in length mid thirty in width, built in a permanent manner of logs, and covered with bark. Being seated, he addressed Governor Cass in a speech of some length, in which he expressed his satisfaction in seeing him there, and said that in his extensive journey, he must have experienced a good man}^ hard- ships and difficulties, and seen a great deal of the In- dian way of living. He said he was glad that the go- vernor had not, like many other officers and agents of the United States, who had lately visited those regions, passed by without calling. He acquiesced in the treaty which had lately been concluded with the Chippeways, and was happy that a stop had been put to the effusion of human blood. He then adverted to a recent attack of a party of Fox Indians upon some of their people towards the sources of the river Minnesota, in which nine men had been killed. He considered it a dastardly act, and said that if that little tribe should continue to haunt their territories in a hostile manner, they would SNELLING ARRIVES.— WANATA ARRESTED. 327 at length drive him into anger, and compel him to do a thing he did not wish." The next day they arrived at the village of Rem- nichah, or Red Wing. Tatankimani, or the Walking Buffalo, one of the signers of the treaty of friendship at Portage des Sioux, in 1815, was the principal man, and about sixty years of age. One of his granddaughters married a Mr. Crawford, who was a prominent British trader durmg the war of 1812. On the afternoon of the fourth, they stopped a few minutes at Wapashaw village, the site of the town of Winona ; and on the evening of the fifth, their canoes grated on the pebbly banks of the village of Prairie du Chien. At this point Colonel Snelling was met on his way to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth of the command of the troops at Camp Cold Water, opposite Mendota. His wife, a few days after her arrival at the post, gave birth to the first infant of white parents in Minnesota, which, after a brief existence of thirteen months, departed to a better land. The dilapidated monument which marks the remains of the "little one," is still visible in the grave-3'ard of the fort. Beside Mrs. Snelling, the wife of the Commissary, and of Cap- tain Gooding, were in the garrison, the first American ladies that ever wintered in Minnesota. Shortly after Colonel Snelling assumed command of the garrison, the Dahkotahs appeared unfriendly. A large body of warriors under the leadership of the cele- brated Yankton Wanata, hovered around the barracks for some time, and at last the chief presented himself at the gates, ostensibly desiring to have a friendly talk with the commander. The gates were opened, and suf- ficient information having been obtained to warrant the 328 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. suspicion that they meditated an attack, he and his companions were seized, and marched to the council hall under a guard of glittering bayonets. In the council chamber his treachery was fully exposed, and he was deprived of his badges and medals which he had received from the British, and they were destroyed in his presence. In their mortification, the Indians Avitli the chief gashed their flesh with knives. By this decided step, Wanata was impressed with the folly of opposing the United States troops, and from that time showed himself friendly to all American ofiicers with whom he was brought in contact. Not far from this period two soldiers were shot by a party of Sissetoan Dahkotahs, near Council Bluffs, on the Missouri. The United States authorities, to compel the surrender of the murderers, notified the Sissetoan bands, that no traders should visit them till the guilty ones were delivered. Deprived of blankets, powder, and tobacco, they held a council, at Big Stone Lake, to determine what should be done, and listened to the arguments of a trader named Colin Campbell. Mahzah Khotah, and another of the band, announced themselves as the guilty ones, and expressed a willingness to deliver themselves to the soldiers, at the mouth of the Minnesota. The aged' father of the latter then offered himself as a substitute, which was agreeable to the council. The next day Mahzah Khotah, and the old man, started for the gar- rison, accompanied by friends and relatives. On the twelfth of November, 1820, when about a mile distant, the party halted, smoked, and the death dirge was chanted. Blackening their faces, and gashing their arms, as a token of grief, they formed a proces- A FATHER'S ATONEMENT FOR HIS SON. 529 sion, and marched to the centre of the soldier's parade ground. First came a Sissetoan, bearing a British flag, and then one of the murderers and the aged chief, who had become an atonement for his only son. Their arms were secured by ropes of buffalo hair, and large siDlinters of oak were thrust through the flesh, above the elbows, to mdicate their contempt of death. As they approached, singing death-songs, a company of soldiers was drawn up, and Colonel Snelling came out to meet them. A fire was then kindled, and the British flag burned, after which the medal of the murderer was given up, and then both surrendered themselves. The old chief was detamed as a hostage, and the murderer sent to St. Louis, for trial.^ Placed in a boat, he was rowed by ^ The following letter addressed to the secretary of war, contains most of the facts narrated. " Cantonment St. Petee's, November 13, 1820. " Sir — when I had tho honour to address you on the tenth, from the disposition then manifested by the Sussitongs, I had no hope of obtain- ing the surrender of the murderers of our people on the Missouri, but contrary to my expectation, one of the murderers, and an old chief self- devoted in the place of his son, were voluntarily brought in and delivered up yesterday. " The ceremony of delivery was conducted with much solemnity. A procession was fornjcd at some dis- tance from the garrison, and marched to'the centre of our parade. It was preceded by a Sussitong bearing the British flag ; the murderer and de- voted chief followed with their arms pinioned, and large splinters of wood thrust through them above the el- bows, to indicate as I understood their contempt of pain and death. The relatives and friends followed, and on their way joined them in singing their de^th-song. When they ar- rived in front of the guard the British flag was laid on a fire, pre- pared for the occasion, and consumed ; the murderer gave up his medal, and both the prisoners were surrendered. The old chief I have detained as a hostage, the murderer I have sent to St. Lewis, under a proper guard, for trial, presuming it is a course you will approve. " I am much indebted to Mr. Colin Campbell, tho interpreter, for his great exertions in bringing this affair to a speedy issue. The delivery of the murderer is to be solely attri- buted to his influence over the Sussi- tongs." 330 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. soldiers to the place of destination, but no witness appearing against him, he was discharged, and while returning, is said to have been killed by a frontiersman, in Missouri. In 1822 a man by the name of Perkins, of Kentucky, obtained permission of Taliaferro, the agent for the Dah- kotahs, to build a saw-mill in the Chippeway valley. His partners were Lockwood and Rolette, of Prairie du Chien. For the privilege of cutting timber they agreed to pay Wapashaw's band, who claimed the country, one thousand dollars annually, in goods. The spot selected for the mill, was on a small stream running into the Menomonee, about twenty miles from its mouth. After the coalition of the two great British Fur Com- panies, some of those who had been in their service, Renville, Jeffries, McKenzie, and others, in company with a few American traders, formed a new company called the Columbia, whose central establishment was at Lake Traverse. They were licensed by the proper authorities', to trade with the Indians south of the British boundary line. The only rival in the trade, was the American Fur Company.^ They also had a trading-post on the Minnesota, about a mile above Fort Snelling. ^ One of their number furnished of furs formerly obtained in this to the historian of Long's expedition, region, the following statementof the amount Beaver , Bear, Buffalo, Martin, Otter . Fisher , Elk. . No. of packs. 10 . 20 . 400 . 10 . 10 . 25 . 40 . of each pack. Value of pack. 100 lbs. weight . ^400 . . 12 skins . . 75 . . 10 skins . . . 40 . . 100 lbs. . . . . 300 . . 100 lbs. . . . . 600 . . . 450 . . 16 skins . . . 80 . . 14000 1500 16,000 3000 6000 11,250 3200 FIRST MILL IN MINNESOTA. 331 It was during this year, the fort being sufficiently completed for occupancy, that the first mill in Minnesota was erected. It was built under the supervision of officers of the fort, on the site of Minneapolis, and was guarded by a sergeant and a few privates. Joseph R. Brown, now a well known public-spirited citizen, at this time a soldier in the army, in company with a son of Colonel Snellmg, and one or two others, explored the rivulet that supplies the cascade of Minne Ha-Ha, as far as Lake Minne Tonka. The settlers at the Selkirk colony were, as has been seen, reduced to great straits. Owing to their fratricidal strife agriculture had been neglected, and at one time they were forced to live upon salt and lettuce. Among others at Pembina was a trader by the name of Hess, who, finding provisions scarce, determined to go and join a party who had gone out on a buffiilo hunt. He commenced his journey with two daughters and two other settlers. As he had married an Ojibway woman, he travelled through the Dahkotah country with the greatest precaution, knowing the hereditary feud that existed between the nation of his mother's children and Name. Mynx, . Mu.skrat, Lynx, . Swan, . Rabbit, Wolverine, Cowskins, Wolves, Moose, . Fox, . . No. of packs. . 10 . . 40 . . 20 . . 2 . . 4 . 1 . . 20 . . 10 . . 10 . . 5 . No. of skins. 500 skins 60 skins 400 skins 400 skins 16 skins Value of pack. $200 . 200 . 280 . 60 . 80 40 80 260 ToUl.. $2000 8000 5600 120 32 75 1600 400 800 1300 637 $64,877 332 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the Dahkotahs. On the sixth day of the journey he left his companions to chase some buffaloes that were ill sight. He did not return for some time, but after a long ride across the prairie he saw the primitive cart in which his family had travelled, and hoped to find them and recount his success in the hunt. On his aj)proach he found one of his companions scalped, and deprived of both his feet. A few steps beyond, lay one of his beloved daughters with a knife lodged in her heart. He then discovered the lifeless form of his other fellow- traveller, but could not find his second daughter. Horrified and helpless he returned to Pembina, after travelUng three days and three nights on foot, without a morsel of food. Reciting his melancholy story, the settlers were seized with a panic, and not one would accompany him to the scene of slaughter and bury the dead. Obtaining an intimation that one daughter yet lived, a captive in a Yankton lodge, with the energy of despair he started for the camp, determined to rescue her or to die in the attempt. After a long tramp he descried the cone-shaped teepee, and before he reached the spot a Yankton accosted him and asked whether he was a friend or foe. Hess, nerved to the highest physical courage, said, " You know me as your foe ; you know me by the name of Standing Bull ; you know you have killed one of my daughters and taken the other prisoner." The Dahkotah was impressed by his fearlessness, and extended his hand, and, taking hun to the camp, all complimented him. Finding his daughter, he was cheered to learn that she had been treated with kind- ness. Her owner was at first unwilling to release her, but at last consented for a certain ransom. HESS'S DAUGHTER RANSOMED. 333 Seeking the neighbouring trading posts of the Cohimbia Fur Company, the traders sympathized with him, and furnished him the necessary amount of goods on a long credit, and bearing the merchandise to the camp, the Dahkotah, true to his word, delivered the daughter ; but now the maiden had Ijecome attached to those ^^dth whom she had been dwelling, and reluctantly left their lodges. On the appearance of spring in the year 1823, a num- ber of emigrants who had been induced by the prospec- tus of the Earl of Selkirk's agent to leave their mountain homes in Switzerland, and settle in the valley of the Red river, determined to seek the United States. After a long journey from Pembina, by way of Lake Traverse, they reached what is now Fort Snelling, in a state of great destitution, and were there aided by the officers of the garrison.^ ' " In 1823, news was brought by the traders that two white children were with a party of Sioux on the St. Peter's. It appeared from what they could learn, that a family from Red river — Selkirk's settlement — had been on their way to the fort, when a war party of Sioux met them, murdered the parents and an infant, and made the boys prisoners. Col. Snelling sent an officer with a party of soldiers to rescue the children. After some delay in the ransom, they were finally brought. An old squaw, who had the youngest, was very unwilling to give him up, and indeed the child did not wish to leave her. The oldest, about eight years old, said his name was John Tully, and his brother, five years old, Abra- ham. Ilis mother had an infant, but he saw the Indians dash its brains out against a tree, then killed his father and mother. Because he cried they took him by his hair, and cut a small piece from his head, which was a running sore when he was retaken. Col. Snelling took John into his family, Major Clark the other, but he was afterwards sent to an orphan asylum in New York. The eldest died of lockjaw, occasioned by a cut in the ankle while using an axe. Ilis death-bed conversion was afi'ecting and remark- able. One day, after he had been ill several weeks, he said, ' Mrs. Snel- ling, I have been a very wicked boy ; I once tried to poison my father be- cause he said he would whip me. I 334 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. It was during this year that it was demonstrated that it was practicable to navigate the Mississippi from St. Louis to the junction of the Minnesota river. Pre- viously it had been supposed that the rapids at Rock Island would prove an insurmountable barrier. On the second of May, according to a printed announce- ment, the Virginia, a steamer one hundred and eighteen feet in length and twenty-two in width, drawing six feet of water, left her moorings at the St. Louis levee destined for Fort Snelling. Among the passengers were Major Taliaferro, the agent of the Dahkotahs ; Beltrami, an Italian Count, once a judge of the Royal Court, then a political refu- gee ;^ Great Eagle, a Sauk chief, returning to his stole a ring from you which you valued much, and sold it to a soldier, and then I told you a lie about it. I have given you a great deal of trouble. I have been very vricked. I am going to die the day after to- morrow, and don't know where I shall go. Oh, pray for me.' "His benefactress answered, ' John, God will forgive you, if you repent ; but you must pray too, for yourself. God is more willing to hear than we are to pray. Christ died to save just such a sinner as you are, and you must call upon that Saviour to save you.' All his sins appeared to rise before him as he confessed them, and he seemed to feel that he was too great a sinner to hope for pardon. Mrs. Snelling read to him, and in- structed him. He never had re- ceived any religious instruction, ex- cept in the Sunday school taught by Mrs. Clark and herself, and being accustomed to say his prayers with her children, and always be present when she read the church service on Sundays. The next morning after the above conversation, when she asked him how he had rested during the night, he said, ' I prayed very often in the night ; I shall die to- morrow, and I know not what shall become of me.' For several hours he remained tranquil, with his eyes closed, but would answer whenever spoken to ; then suddenly he ex- claimed, 'Glory! glory!' His friend said, 'John, what do you mean by that word ?' ' Oh ! Mrs. Snelling, I feel so good — I feel so good ! Oh I I cannot tell you how good I feel.' " — Mrs. Snelling's Reminiscences in "Pioneer Women of the West." ^ " An Italian gentleman came on the boat, who professed to be travel- ling for the purpose of writing a book, and brought letters of introduction from Mrs. Snelling's friends in St. Louis. The colonel FIRST STEAMBOAT ON UPPER MISSISSIPPI. 335 village from, a conference with Governor Clark ; and a family from Kentucky, with their children, guns, chests, cats, dogs, and chickens, emigrating to Galena, w^liich was then the extreme frontier. At Dubuque, the In- dians held possession of their mines, and watched all who visited them with a jealous eye. After the steamer had passed the mouth of the Tjpper Iowa, a grand illumination greeted the appearance of the " great fire canoe," as it glided along the confines of Mimiesota. An eye-witness writes: "It was per- fectly dark, and we were at the mouth of the river loway, when we saw at a great distance all the com- bined images of the infernal regions in full perfection. I was on the point of exclaiming with Michael Angelo, ' How terrible ! but yet how beautiful !' invited him to his house to remain as long as he pleased, and he was with them several months. He could not speak English, but spoke French fluently, and seemed much pleased when he found his fair hostess could speak the language, she having learned it when a child at St. Louis. A French school was the first she ever attended, and she thus early acquired a perfectly cor- rect pronunciation. She lamented on one occasion to Mr. Beltrami, that her teacher had received his discharge, and was about leaving, and he politely offered his services in that capacity. She was then translating the life of Caesar in an abridged furm, and from the emotion betrayed by the fureigner at a por- tion of the reading, it was concluded he had been banished from the Pope's dominions at Rome, and that the lesson reminded him of his mis- fortunes. The passport he showed, gave him the title of ' Le Chevalier Count Beltrami.' "When at the fort he was busy in collecting Indian curiosities. One day he brought a Sioux chief into Mrs. Snelling's room, who had on his neck a necklace of bears' claws highly polished, saying, ' I cannot tempt this chief to part with his necklace ; pray see what you can do with him, he will not refuse you.' ' He wears it,' answered the ladj-, as a trophy of his prowess, and a badge of honour ; however, I will try.' After some time, Wanata said, ' On one condition I will consent : if you will cut off your hair, braid it, and let it take the place of mine, you may have the necklace.' All laugh- ed heartily at the contrivance to get rid of further importunity." — Mrs. Snelling's Reminiscences in " Pio- neer Wotnen of the West." 336 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. '•'The venerable trees of these eternal forests were on fire, Avhich had communicated to the grass and brushwood, and these had been borne by a violent north- west wind to the adjacent plains and valleys. The flames towering above the tops of the hills where the wind raged with most violence, gave them the appear- ance of volcanoes at the moment of their most terrific eruptions ; and the fire, winding in its descent through places covered with grass, exhibited an exact resem- blance to the undulating lava of Etna or Vesuvius. Almost all night we travelled by the light of this su- perb torch." The arrival of the Virginia at Mendota, is an era in the history of the Dahkotah nation, and will probably he transmitted to their posterity as long as they exist as a people. They say that some of their sacred men, the night before, dreamed of seeing some monster of the waters, which frightened them very much. As the boat neared the shore, men, women, and children beheld with silent astonishment, supposing that it was somte enormous water spirit coughing, puff- ing out hot breath, and splashing water in every direc- tion. When it touched the landing their fears prevailed, and they retreated some distance, but when the blowing off of steam commenced they were completely unnerved : mothers forgetting their children, with streaming hair, sought hiding-places ; chiefs, renouncing their stoicism, scampered away like affrighted animals. The peace agreement between the Ojibways and Dahkotahs, made through the influence of Governor Cass, was of brief duration, the latter being the first to violate the provisions. TALIAFERRO, UNITED STATES AGENT FOR DAHKOTAHS. 337 On the fourth of June, Taliaferro,^ the Indian agent among the Dahkotahs, took advantage of the presence of a large number of Ojibways to renew the agreement for the cessation of hostilities. The council hall of the agent was a large room of logs, in which waved con- spicuously the flag of the United States, surrounded by * Mr. Taliaferro was the first Indian agent in Minnesota, and what is re- markable, he held the office for twenty-one years. Having left the country in 1840, he visited it in 1856, and contributed the annexed reminis- cences to the Pioneer and Democrat newspaper, published at St. Paul : — "It may not be deemed out of place at this period in the rapid and un- precedented growth of cities, towns, hamlets, and population in Minne- sota, to refer to, and present date in reference to some of the historical i-eminiscences of the past. " There were two expeditions or- ganized — that for the ' Yellow Stone,' in 1818, under Colonel Atkinson, and the second in 1819, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Leavenworth, of the Fifth Infantry, to the Falls of St. Anthony, which latter expedition cantoned at the entry of the river St. Peter's, and their first monthly report was dated September thirtieth, 1819. The object of these military move- ments during the administration of President Monroe, was to open the country to the fur trade, and extend protection to our hitherto defenceless frontiers, north and west. Your hum- ble writer was selected by the presi- dent from the army, on the twenty- seventh of Marcli, 1S19, and appoint- ed the pioneer Agent for Indian Af- 22 fairs for the North-west, and estab- lished his agency near the Minnesota, and continued his arduous, delicate, and responsible duties under several successive administrations of the Ge- neral Government, down to the year 1840, when — though appointed for the sixth term — he declined longer ser- vice, from a rapid decline in health. " In the summer of the year 1820, Colonel Snelling relieved Lieutenant- Colonel Leavenworth from the com- mand of what was then called ' Fort St. Anthony,' though not a stone had been set for the permanent work. This was left for the action of the gallant Snelling, who, as acting As- sistant Quartermaster, set all hands at work, and laid the corner stone of Fort Snelling on the tenth day of September, 1820, with due ceremo- nies, in presence of the civil and military officers of the post and several citizens. It is known that in 1805, Pike procured from the Sioux (the chief, ' Little Crow' being present) a cession of nine by eighteen miles, wintered his men below the Sauk Rapids, and returned to St. Louis in the spring of 1806. In excavating the foundation of the circular battery in rear of the com- manding officer's quarters, at the foot of a small oak tree, a workman found a black bottle, and upon being 338 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. British colours and medals that had been delivered up from time to time by Indian chiefs. Among the Dahkotah chiefs present were Wapashaw, Little Crow, and Penneshaw ; of the Ojibways there were Kendoiiswa, Moshomene, and Pasheskonoepe. After mutual accusations and excuses concerning the placed in the hands of Colonel Snelling it was found to contain a synopsis of the grant made to the United States by the Indians. " To recount all those thrilling inci- dents, which occurred in the course of the first twenty-one years on this then remote frontier, would fill a vol- ume from our seventeen manuscript journals, in the hands of a ready wri- ter. We would remark upon the ever memorable days the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth of May, 1827, when the Sioux, shortly after night- fall, fired into the lodges of a party of Chippewas encamped below, and in front of the Agency, killing and wounding some eight or nine — and for this unprovoked attack we caused the offenders to be forthwith given up for this outrage, and insult to our flag and neutrality — and four Sioux were shot, within two hundred paces from the spot on which we now pen this sketch of facts. " We thought nothing of taking a crew of brave Medawakantons, with Mr. Alexander Farribault as a com- panion, and passing down to Du- buque, and rescuing a Yankton Sioux prisoner the Sacs and Foxes had captured in 1823, — performing this act of humanity in a few days ; evad- ing the vigilance of a party of the Sac braves despatched to intercept and cut us off. It was a dangerous effort, but we determined to risk our lives to save that of a human being, and we landed safely at St. Peter's, and in due season, despatched her off safely to her friends and family on the Des Moines. " Some are curious to learn how certain locations received designated names. Minnehaha was first indi- cated as the Little Falls, then as Brown's Falls, in honour of Major General Brown. Lake Calhoun for the distinguished Secretary at the head of the War Department, and other smaller lakes, Harriet, Eliza. Abigail, Lucy, &c., after the ladies of the civil and military officers of the post. " The first measured distance from Fort Snelling to Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien), was measured in FebriULry, 1822, by Quartermaster Sergeant Heckle, with a perambula- tor on a wheel, which reported the distance by a sharp crackling every few hundred yards ; it was invented by this good old German soldier. The distance was 204 miles. " Could we write without the use of the personal pronoun, a more con- nected history of former years might be noted ; but in conclusion, it is due the Sioux of your territory to record one fact as to them, and that is, from "FLAT MOUTH" AT FORT SNELLING. 339 infraction of the previous treaty, the Dahkotahs lighted the calumet, they having been the first to infringe upon the agreement of 1820. After smoking, and passing the pipe of peace to the Ojibways, who passed through the same formalities, they all shook hands as a pledge of renewed amity. The morning after the council. Flat Mouth, the dis- tinguished Ojibway chief, arrived, who had left his lodge vowing that he would never be at peace with the Dah- kotahs. As he stepped from his canoe, Penneshaw held out his hand, but was repulsed with scorn. The Dah- kotah warrior immediately gave the alarm, and in a moment runners were on their way to the neighbour- ing villages to raise a war party. On the sixth of June, the Dahkotahs had assembled, stripped for a fight, and surrounded the Ojibways. The latter, expecting the worst, concealed their women and children behind the old barracks which had been used by the troops while the fort was being erected. At the solicitation of the agent and commander of the fort, the Dahkotahs desisted from an attack and retired. On the seventh, the Ojibways left for their homes; but, in a few hours, while they were making a portage at St. Anthony, they were again apj)roached by the the commencement of our agency to twenty-fourth of June, the ' widow's its close, our frontier pioneers were son' was Irving's Rip Van Winkle ; never even molested in their homes, after a nap of fifteen years, we awoke nor did they shed one drop of Amer- in the midst of fast times. We ican blood ; while the Chippewas, truly felt bewildered when we found Winnebagoes, and Sacs and Foxes, all the haunts and resting-places of were in the yearly habit of the most the once noble sons of the forest, revolting and foul murders on all covered by cities, towns, and hamlets, who unfortunately fell in their war We asked but few questions, being path. to our mind received as a strange " "We were in St. Paul on the animal, if nothing worse.'' 340 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Dalikotalis, who would have attacked them, if a detach- ment of troops had not arrived from the fort. A rumour reaching Penneshaw's village that he had been killed at the falls, his mother seized an Ojibway maiden, who had been a captive from infancy, and, with a tomahawk, cut her in two. Upon the return of the son in safety he was much gratified at ^ what he con- sidered the prowess of his parent. LONG'S EXPLORATION OF MINNESOTA RIVER. 341 CHAPTER XVII. The interesting information procured by the expedi- tion of Lewis and Clarke to the tributaries of the Mis- souri and Rocky Mountains, and that of Governor Cass through the north-eastern district of Minnesota, induced the United States government to send an expedition to explore the Minnesota river, and the country situated on the northern boundary of the United States between the Red river of Hudson's Bay, and Lake Superior. The command of the expedition was intrusted to Major Stephen H. Long, and the scientific corps attached were Thomas Say, zoologist and antiquary, William H. Keating, mineralogist and geologist, Samuel Sey- mour, landscape painter and designer. Late at night, on the second of July, 1823, they arrived at Mendota opposite the fort, and slept in the open air. On the morning of the third, Colonel Snelling and the five companies of the 5th Infantry, within the fort, were much surprised by the appearance of the exploring party ; and, on the afternoon of the ninth of July, they commenced the exploration of the valley of the Min- nesota. Joseph Renville, a bois brul^, after whom one of the counties of the state is named, acted as interpreter and 342 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. guide; and Joseph, a son of Colonel Snelling, was assistant interpreter, and Beltrami, the Italian refugee, was permitted to accompany the party. To make the examination as accurate as possible, a portion proceeded by land, and a portion in canoes. On the first evening the river detachment encamped near Oanoska, the vil- lage known as Black Dog's. The next morning they breakfasted at Penneshaw's. At dinner time they were at Shokpay, called by the French Prairie des Frangais ; this, as well as the other villages, was tenantless, the inhabitants being absent on a hunt. On the fourteenth, at Traverse des Sioux, the land and river detachments met, and after a reduction of the number of soldiers they united and proceeded by land, having in possession twenty-one horses. They travelled on the south side of the Minnesota, and at the moiith of the Mahkahto passed the residence of the Sissetoan band, one of whose number, in 1820, had been sent to St. Louis to be tried for murdering a white man. On the twenty-second they arrived at Big Stone Lake, which is considered the source of the Minnesota. Fol- lowing up the bed of a dried-up stream, they found Lake Traverse, three miles distant. Here they were impressed by beholding within sight the sources of two vast streams, the one discharging its waters in Hudson's Bay, the other in the Gulf of Mexico. At Big Stone Lake, for the first time since leaving the fort, they dis- covered a large party of Dahkotahs, and, by invitation, the expedition visited their lodges at the lower end of the lake. Upon an island in the lake this band culti- vated corn. After being feasted, the party proceeded in the afternoon to a trading post of the American Fur Company, in charge of Mr. Moore, where presents of WAHNAHTAH'S APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER. 343 tobacco were distributed. The traders of the Columbia Fur Company, at Lake Traverse, received the party with a salute, and exhibited the most hospitable dis- position. Keating, the historian of the expedition, remarks : — " The principal interest which we experienced in the neighbourhood of Lake Travers, was from an acquaint- ance with Wanotan,^ the most distinguished chief of the Yanktoanan tribe, which, as we were informed, is sub- divided into six bands. He is one of the greatest men of the Dahkotah nation, and although but twenty-eight years of age, he has already acquired great renown as a warrior. At the early age of eighteen, he exhibited much valour in the war against the Americans, and was wounded several times. He was then inexperi- enced and served under his father, who was chief of his tribe, and bore a mortal enmity to the Americans. Wanotan has since learned to form a better estimate of our nation. He is aware that it is the interest of his people to remain at peace with us, and would, probably, in case of another war between the United States and England, take part with the former. Those who know him well, commend his sagacit}^ and judgment, as well as his valour. He is a tall man, being upwards of six feet high; his countenance would be esteemed hand- some in any country; his features being regular and well shaped. There is an intelligence that beams thn)ugh his eye, which is not the usual concomitant of Indian features. His manners are dignified and re- served ; his attitudes are graceful and easy, though they appear to be somewhat studied. When speaking of the ^ This chief's name is spelled Wahnahtah, Wanata, Wanotan. 344 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Dalikotalis, we purposely postponed mentioning the fre- quent vows which they make, and their strict adherence to them, because, one of the best evidences which we have collected on this point, connects itself with the character of Wanotan, and may give a favourable idea of his extreme fortitude in enduring pain. In the sum- mer of 1822, he undertook a journey, from which, ap- prehending much danger on the part of the Chippewas, he made a vow to the vSun, that, if he returned safe, he would abstain from all food or drink, for the space of four successive days and nights, and that he would dis- tribute among his people all the property which he p6s- sessed, including all his lodges, horses, dogs, etc. On his return, which happened without accident, he celebrated the dance of the Sun; this consisted in making three cuts through his skin, one on his breast, and one on each of his arms. The skin was cut in the manner of a loop, so as to permit a rope to pass under the strip of skin and flesh which was thus di^dded from the body. The ropes being passed through, their ends were secured to a tall vertical pole, planted at about forty yards from his lodge. He then began to dance round this pole, at the commencement of his fast, frequently swinging him- self in the air, so as to be supported merely by the cords which were secured to the strips of skin cut off from his arms and breast. He continued this exercise with few intermissions, during the whole of his fast, until the fourth day about ten o'clock, A. M., when the strip of skin from his breast gave way. Notwithstanding which, he interrupted not his dance, although supported merely by his arms. At noon the strip from his left arm snapped off. His uncle then thought that he had suf- fered enough ; he drew his knife and cut off the skin WAHNAHTAH'S SUN DANCE. 345 from his right arm, upon which Wanotan fell to the ground and swooned. The heat at the time was ex- treme. He was left exposed in that state to the sun until night, when his friends brought him some pro- visions. After the ceremony was over, he distributed to them the whole of his property, among which were five fine horses, and he and his two squaws left his lodge, abandoning every article of their furniture. '• As we appeared upon the brow of the hill which commands the company's fort, a salute was fired from a number of Indian tents which were pitched in the vi- cinity, from the largest of which the American colours were flying. And as soon as we had dismounted from our horses, we received an invitation to a feast which Wanotan had prepared for us. The gentlemen of the company informed us that as soon as the Indians had heard of our contemplated visit, they had commenced their preparations for a festival, and that they had killed three of their dogs. We repaired to a sort of pavilion which they had erected by the union of several large s«kin lodges. Fine buffalo robes were spread all around, and the air was perfumed hy the odour of sweet scent- ing grass which had been burned in it. On entering the lodge we saw the chief seated near the further end of it, and one of his principal men pointed out to us the place which was destined for our accommodation : it was at the upper end of the lodge; the Indians who were in it taking no further notice of us. These con- sisted of the chief, his son, a lad about eight years old, and eight or ten of the principal warriors. The chief's dress presented a mixture of the European and abori- ginal costume ; he wore moccasins and leggings of splen- did scarlet cloth, a blue breech-cloth, a fine shirt of 316 niSTORY OF MINNESOTA. printed muslin, over this a frock coat of fine blue cloth with scarlet facings, somewhat similar to the undress uniform coat of a Prussian officer ; tliis was buttoned and secured round his waist by a belt. Upon his head he wore a blue cloth cap, made like a German fatigue cap. A very handsome Mackinaw blanket, slightly ornar mented with paint, was thrown over his person. His son, whose features strongly favoured those of his father, wore a dress somewhat similar, except that his coat was party- coloured, one half being made of blue, and the other half of scarlet cloth. He wore a round hat, with a plated silver band, and a large cockade. From his neck were suspended several silver medals, doubtless presents to his father. This lad appeared to be a great favourite of Wanotan's, who seems to mdulge him more than is customary for the Indians to do. As soon as we had taken our seats, the chief passed his pipe round, and while we were engaged in smoking, two of the In- dians arose and uncovered the large kettles which were standing over the fire, they emptied their contents into a dozen of wooden dishes which were placed all round the lodge. These consisted of bufialo meat boiled with tepsin, also the same vegetable boiled without the meat, in bufialo grease, and finally, the much esteemed dog meat, all which were dressed without salt. In compli- ance with the established usage of travellers to taste of everything, we all partook of the latter with a mixed feeling of curiosity and reluctance. Could we have divested ourselves entirely of the prejudices of educa- tion, we should doubtless have unhesitatingly acknow- ledged this to be among the best meat that we had ever eaten. It was remarkably fat, was sweet and palatable. It had none of that dry, stringy character, which we MAJOR LONG RELISHES DOG MEAT. 347 had expected, to find in it, and it was entirely destitute of the strong taste which we had apprehended that it possessed. It was not an unusual appetite, or the want of good meat to compare with it, which led us to form this favourable opinion of the dog, for we had, on the same dish, the best meat which our prairies afford ; but so strongly rooted are the prejudices of education, that, though we all unaffectedly admitted the excellence of this food, yet few of us could be induced to eat much of it. We were warned by our trading friends that the bones of this animal are treated with great respect by the Dahkotahs ; we therefore took great care to replace them in the dishes; and we are informed that, after such a feast is concluded, the bones are carefully col- lected, the flesh scraped off from them, and that, after being washed, they are buried in the ground, partly, as it is said, to testify to the dog species, that in feasting upon one of their number, no disrespect was meant to the species itself; and partly also from a belief that the bones of the animal will rise and reproduce another one. The meat of this animal, as we saw it, was thought to resemble that of the finest Welsh mutton, except that it was of a much darker colour. Having so far overcome our repugnance as to taste of it, we no longer wonder that the dog should be considered a dainty dish by those in whom education has not created a prejudice against this flesh. In China it is said that fattened pups are frequently sold in the market place ; and it appears that the invitation to a feast of dog meat is the greatest distinction that can be offered to a stranger by any of the Indian nations east of the Rocky Mountains." On the morning of the fifth of August, the expedi- 348 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. tion arrived at Pembina, a coiTuption of Anepeminan, an Ojibway word/ and were kindly received by Mr. Nolen. This had been the upper settlement of the Selkirk colony, and the Hudson Bay Company had maintained a post here until a few months before the vii^iit of Major Long. Observations made by their own astronomers, Ted to the supposition that it was within the American boundary line. At the time of the ex- ploration, there were about three hundred and fifty half- breeds residing in fifty or sixty log huts. The next day after the arrival of the expedition, the buffalo hunters returned from the chase. " The proces- sion consisted of one hundred and fifteen carts, each loaded with about eight hundred pounds of the finest buffalo meat ; there were three hundred persons includ- ing the women." The number of horses was about two hundred. Twenty hunters mounted on their best steeds rode in abreast, firing a salute as they passed the Ame- rican camp. Major Long and his party remained several days, de- termining the boundary line of the United States. "A flag-staff* was planted, which after a series of observations, made during four days, was determined to be in latitude 48° 59' 573", north. The distance to the boundary line was measured off", and an oak post fixed on it, bearing on the north side the letters G. B., and on the south side those of U. S." On the eighth of August the United States flag was hoisted on the staff", a national salute fired, and a pro- clamation made in the presence of all the inhabitants, that all the country on the Red river, above that point, ^ Pronounced as if written Pembin- known to botanists as Viburnim naw. Anepeminan, is a red berry, oxycoccos. JOHN TANNER SHOT. 349 was within the territory of the United States. As far as practicable the expedition commenced their return, along the northern boundary Une of what is now Min- nesota. At Kainy Lake they found John Tanner, of whom mention has been made in another chapter, and the father of that erratic bois brule James Tanner, so well known to the older residents of Minnesota, severely wounded, and in a tent attended by two half-breed daughters. An Indian had shot him, and the ball had passed through the right arm and breast. At his re- quest he was transferred to the camp of the expedition. The evening preceding the departure from Rainy Lake, his daughters went over to the Hudson Bay trading- post, to visit an old half-breed woman ; but the}' never returned. All efforts to find them were unavailing, and the father, who was taking them to Mackinaw, to attend a mission school, seemed much distressed. After travel- Img a few miles with the party, the pain from his wounds was so great, that it was necessary to leave him in the care of one of the employees of the trading-post. It is a little remarkable that Tanner should also have disap- peared as mysteriously as his daughters.* At Pembina, Joseph Snelling left the expedition and returned to the fort, his services as mterpreter not being needed beyond that point. Beltrami, the Italian, who had become obnoxious, also detached himself, and conceived the bold project of striking for the most northern jDoint of the Mississippi river. With a " bois ]jrul6," a mule, dog train, and two * It is said that, on the day Mr. and Tanner disappeared. If rightly Schoolcraft's brother was found informed, he had not long before killed at Sault St. Marie, the log threatened Mr. Schoolcraft, cabin of Tanner was burned down, 350 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Ojibways who were going to Red Lake to raise a war party to avenge the death of a companion who had been murdered by the Dahkotahs, he commenced his adven- turous journey. On the fifth day they arrived at Thief river, so called, it is said, from a Dahkotah who for years lurked in the marshes, robbing and scalping his foes as they would pass alone. At this point the half-breed returned with the mule and train to Pembina ; and the Italian, finding no trading post here as anticipated, was obliged to pro- ceed with the two Ojibways. There is much egotism and gasconade in the writings of Beltrami, but it cannot be denied that the Italian w'as the first to make known to the world the most northern source of the Mississippi, and the region around Red Lake. As the work written by this foreigner is little known, and not accessible to the general reader, large extracts will be given from his letters to a lady whom he addresses as the Countess : — " I had been informed at Pembenar that a number of Bois-hruiUs had proceeded to this confluence in order to erect huts for their winter-hunting establishment, and that some one of them would certainly be able to accom- pany me, and act as my interpreter, as far as Red Lake ; and, if I desired it, still farther; but we found none there. The Cypowais had driven them away, as we were informed by one of the latter, and they were gone to establish themselves about a hundred miles lower down. On the other hand, my interpreter from Pem- benar could not possibly continue with me : besides his having to conduct back the mule, other powerful reasons operated to prevent him, I was therefore compelled to BELTRAMI VISITS RED LAKE. 351 decide ; and I delivered myself over to the care of my two Indians. " We had not again proceeded up the river more than two miles before they stopped, and presented an offering of dry provisions and tobacco to Mlciliki, the Manitou of AVaters. This was a stake painted red. and fixed under a kind of sacellum, like those of anti- quity, and the ceremony is by no means modern. They were, for this once, more generous towards their deities than Indians in such circumstances generally are : the reason is, that their offering was at my expense. " The frequent rapids which we had met with in the course of five or six miles, and which had compelled us to walk continually in the water, and over pointed and cutting rocks, in order to preserve our canoe from injury, had very much fatigued us, and our aj^petite also induced us to make a halt : we accordingly did so, and, after eating my repast, I went to sleep beneath a tree, recommending myself to the care of Providence. " I was awakened by discharges of fire-arms, and, on starting up, perceived five or six Indians on the oppo- site bank of the river, apparently desirous to cross it. On seeing me they seemed struck mth astonishment and terror, and fled with precipitation ; one of our In- dians was wounded. Those who had fired at them were Sioux. I was already known among the Indians of that nation as the Tonka-Wasci-cio-honsca, or the Great Chief from a far country ; and my tall stature and noble horse had rendered me the more remarked by them, as these are two things of which they are extreme admirers. When they again saw me on this spot, they concluded that the whole expedition was there, and fled with all haste for fear of being recog- 352 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. nised. This was the idea that first presented itself to my mind, and I instantly acted upon it. We jumped immediately into our canoe ; I performed to the best of my power the labours of the wounded Indian, who had his left arm shot completely through, and his right shoulder grazed. The ball, however, had not touched the bone of the arm, and the wound in the shoulder had injured only the integuments. The juice of some boiled roots was applied as the healmg balsam ; the down of a swan-skin, which I had purchased at Pem- benar, was substituted for Imt, my handkerchief served for a bandage, and the bark of a tree called owigohinigy, or white wood, answered the purpose of securing the arm in a sling. We kept on our course till evening, and saw nothing more of them. " My intrepid champions saw nothing but Sioux. The slightest sound from wind or water, the shadow of a tree or of a rock, everything was the Sioux. I disco- vered that they were plotting against me, for they care- fully avoided my looks. I had not the slightest doubt that they meant to leave me on the spot, and deter- mined therefore to make them re-embark, it being more easy to guard them in the canoe. About midnight we stopped. I had but little to fear, being left without my canoe, for I was already well aware that their intention must be to continue their course by land, by a route which would conduct them in two or three days to Red Lake ; whereas, were they to proceed by the river they would require more than six. However, I considered that no precaution ought to be neglected by me; I therefore drew the canoe to land, and fastened it to a tree by a cord, one end of which I tied to my leg, and then laid myself down by the side of them in such a BELTRAMI DESERTED BY INDIAN GUIDES. 353 manner that tliey could not rise, even if I should be able to sleep, without waking me. These precautions, and my musket and my sword between my legs, ready for immediate use, kept them quiet the whole night. " On the following morning they embarked without difficulty. But this was only with a view of reaching a certain point, whence the route by land was shorter. I might have used violence against them if I had <;hosen, for certainly I had no fear of them ; I had even taken the precaution of putting water into their musket barrels : Ijut I should only have exasperated their nation, in a territory where it was now absolute and despotic, and where I could expect no assistance but from my own energies and the care of Providence ; I therefore suffered them quietly to go off. They intimated to me, what I was before well aware of, that they were going to leave me. They invited me to follow them, and to leave the canoe, provisions, and baggage, concealed in the brush- wood. I deliberated with myself on the subject for a moment : I considered that the river was my best and surest way, that I was in possession of a canoe, provi- sions, a musket, a sword, and ammunition ; whereas, by accepting their invitation, I should be following barba- rians who had the cowardice to abandon a stranger, con- fided to their guardianship at Pembenar by their most intimate friends, one who had treated them as brothers, saved them from the hands of the enemy, healed their wounds, and assisted them kindly with all his means. I should, with wretches of this description, be exposing myself in inextricable forests, in the midst of swamps and lakes, and abandoning to the mercy of a thousand accidents, my baggage, my provisions, and materials for the presents, which are indispensable passports through 23 354 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. a savage country. My determination, therefore, was soon fixed : after having vainly endeavoured to make them comprehend that both Manitous and men would punish such atrocity, I commanded them by words and signs peremptorily to be gone. " I imagine, my dear Countess, that you will feel the frightfulness of my situation at this critical moment more strongly than I can express it. I really can scarcely help shuddering, as well as yourself, whenever I think of it. Fortunately, I was not at the time over- powered and confounded. Woe be to us, if in exigen- cies like this, despair takes possessioij of our minds. In that ca.se all is completely over with us !*>*-* " The solitude I now experienced, which romance- writers would not have found so pleasant and delightful as that which they have been pleased to exhibit in their fictions, impressed me at first Avith ideas the most dread- ful. I must, said I to myself, leave this place some way or other ; and I jumped into my canoe and began row- ing. But I was totally unacquainted with the almost magical art by which a single person guides a canoe, and particularly a canoe formed of bark, the lightness of which is overpowered by the current, and the con- duct of wdiich requires extreme dexterity. Frequently, instead of proceeding up the river, I descended ; a cir- cumstance which by no means shortened my voyage. Renewed efforts made me lose my equilibrium, the canoe upset, and admitted a considerable quantity of water. My whole cargo was whetted, I leaped into the water, drew the canoe on land, and laid it to drain with the keel upwards. I then loaded it again, taking care to place the wetted part of my effects uppermost, to be dried by the sun. I then resumed my route. BELTRAMI'S EMBARRASSMENTS. 355 " You sympathize with the embarrassment in which you conceive I must have been involved, with all my difficulties and want of means for continuing my course. I bore all, however, Avith great philosoph}-, and with a resignation which I beheve you will readily admit is not very natural to me. I could scarcely heljD inces- santly smiling. I threw myself into the water up to my waist, and commenced a promenade of a rather un- usual kind, drawing the canoe after me with a thong from a buffalo's hide, which I had fastened to the prow. The first day of my expedition, the fifteenth of the month, was employed in this manner, and I did not stop till the evening. ****** " The weather on the second day of my progress was very disagreeable. A storm which commenced before mid-day continued till night. Notwithstandmg this, however, I did not relax an instant but to take my food. I saw the hand of providence in the physical and moral vigour which supported me during this dreadful conflict. In the evening I had no access to a more com- fortalile hearth than on the preceding one. My bear skin and my coverlid, which constituted the whole of my bed, were completely soaked ; and, what was worse, the mould began to affect my provisions. I was almost tempted to think that it was all over with my pro- menades, and that I began to travel, and that not very comfortably. "On the morning of the seventeenth of August, the sun's beams gilded the awful solitude by which I was surrounded, and I eagerly availed myself of their in- fluence. I laid out my provisions, baggage, gun, and sword, and stretched myself also at full length under his rays. The powder, which liad fortunately been SoG HISTORY OF ISIINNESOTA. closely confined in tin canisters, was tlie only thing that escaped the water. " Necessity makes man industrious, and the necessity I was now under to become so, was great indeed, as otherwise it was impossible for me to continue my pro- gress. The river ])ecame narrower and deeper the farther I ascended it, as is the case with all rivers origi- nating in lakes. It was thus absolutely indispensable for me to learn how to guide the canoe with the oar. I set myself, therefore, to study this art in good earnest ; and in the afternoon, when I struck my tent, I exerted myself first to pass several deep gulfs, and afterwards to traverse short stages or distances of the river ; but the fatigue I endured was extreme, and I preferred re- turning to my drag-rope whenever the river permitted my walking in it. As appearances seemed to threaten rain, I covered my effects with my umbrella, stuck into the bottom of my canoe. It was singular enough to see them conveyed thus in the stately style and manner of China, Avhile I was myself condemned to travel in that of a galley slave ; nor could I help reflecting on those unfortunate victims of despotism which the resto- ration has condemned to drag the vessels on the Dan- uIdc. As it was of consequence for me to avail myself of everything that could promote cheerfulness and keep up my spirits, I could not help smiling, which I am sure, my dear Countess, 3'ou would yourself have done, at the sight of my grotesque convoy. * * * " The morning of the eighteenth awakened me to my active duties, and I proceeded in my course ; and before mid-day fell in with two canoes of Indians. Being alone in a canoe of their nation, with three muskets (for those of my two Indians were in my possession), I INDIANS' ASTONISHMENT AT UMBRELLA. 357 might naturally have been apprehensive of exciting their most dangerous suspicions. But, heaven be praised, I entertained no apprehension whatever. I called to them with confidence, while they, struck with wonder at so extraordinary an object, halted on the opjDosite bank of the river. What astonished them most was my superbly conveyed baggage. They could form no idea of what that great red sTcbi (my umbrella) could possibly be, nor of what was placed beneath it; and, observing me walking in the water, they perhaps ima- gined me to be their MlciWd. ***** " I made them comprehend w^hat had occurred to me, and that I wanted one of them to accompany me as far as Red Lake. At first they started immense difficul- ties ; but a w^oman was captivated by the beauty of my handkerchief, which was hanging from my pocket ; a lad was fiiscinated with the one I had about my neck, and an old man muffled up in a miserable ragged rug, which through its immmerable holes displayed nearly one-half of his person, had already cast his rapacious glance on mine ; pretending to search for something in my portmanteau, a bit of calico which casually came to hand excited the full gaze of one of the young girls ; and my provisions, which they had already tasted, strongly stimulated their gormandizing ajipetite : I satis- fied the whole of them, and the old man decided to accept my proposal. He took the helm of my vessel, and we set off. " This assistance extricated me from a situation whicli certainly was by no moans pleasant, and it was so much the more valuable, as it Avould have been impossible for me to proceed alone, because the river was constantly increasing in depth. Notwithstanding this, however, 358 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. my mind was in a state of incessant agitation as I 2:>ro- ceeded, and I perceived its attention completely occu- pied about something which it left behind it with regret. It was no difficult matter for me to detect this secret. My mind was, in fact, adverting to the four days of its solitude and independence. I, at that moment, fully comprehended why the Indians consider themselves happier than cultivated nations, and far superior to them. " It is difficult to meet with a rower as strong as my patriarchal companion, and we advanced at a rapid rate, without stopping, till the evening. Our table was fur- nished Avith a couple of ducks : I had fire to make a roast, and I shot them accordingly. Though my bed was -without a coverlid (the cunning old fellow having left in his own canoe the one which I had given him), yet wrapping myself, like the Indians, in the skin I wore about me, I lay down to rest very comfortaljly. In the course of the night I was Avaked by my caution- ary cord ; and, at first, I imagined that my pilot was also going to desert me, but it turned out to be occa^ sioned by some large animal who had taken a fancy to my provisions. I gently seized my gun, which I always keep at my side, and in an instant brought him down. " My Indian, confounded by the report of fire-arms, thought he had been attacked by the Sioux, about whom, not improbably, he had been dreaming, and im- mediately betook himself to flight. I called out to him, I ran towards him to convince him of his error and restore his confidence, but the forest and darkness con- cealed him from my view, and thus in a moment my solitude and mdependence were renewed. However, I ARKIVAL AT RED LAKE. 359 could still have smiled at the adventure, if such an expression of feeling had been at all seasonable. " I waited for him in vain for the remainder of the night. Two discharges of the gun, however, which I fired off immediately, one after the other (considered by them as a signal of friendship), brought him back to his quarters with the dawn of day. " We searched for the animal I had fired at, which it seems retained strength sufiicient to drag itself to a few paces distance among the brushwood, to which traces of blood guided us ; it proved to be a wolf. My com- panion refused to strip tlie animal of its skin, a superb one, viewing it at the same time with an air of respect, and murmuring within himself some words, the mean- ing of which will probably surprise you. In fact, the wolf was his Man'dou. He expressed to it the sincerity of his regret for what had happened, and informed it that he was not the person who had destroyed it. " On the 1 9th, my Mentor wanted to play me the trick of handing me over to the charge of another Indian Avliom he fell in with ; but I gave him a frown, and he went on with me. We again made a good day's progress, to which I contributed by rowing to the best of my abilit}'. '' Night arrived without his pausing in his exertions. He gave me to understand that it was indispensable for him to reach the destined place without delay, and appeared excessively eager to rejoin his canoes. " Much fatigued, and shivering under a cold moist air, with which the night-dews in this country pierce to the very bones, I lay down under my bear skin to sleep. A distant sound awoke me, and I found myself alone in my canoe, in the midst of rushes. On turning my head. 360 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. I observed three or four torches approaching me. My imagination had at first transported me to the enchanted land of fairies, and I was in motionless expectation of receiving a visit from their ladyships, or of being ad- dressed, like Telemachiis, by the nymphs. They proved, however, to be female Indians, who came to convey my effects, and to guide me to their hut. My Charon, who from purgatory had conducted me to Hell, had applied to them for this j^^^^T^se, and then hastened his return to his family, who Avere waiting for him where he first met with me. I was now at Red Lake, at the marshy SjDot whence the river springs, and about a mile from an Indian encampment. " I was conducted to a hut covered with the bark of trees, like those which I have already described to you as belonging to the Cypowais, but on a larger scale. I there found fourteen Indians, male and female, nineteen dogs, and a wolf. The latter was the first to do the honours of the house ; however, as he was fastened, he could not attack me so effectively as he was evidently desirous of doing, and merely tore my pantaloons, which were, indeed, the only pair I had still serviceable. This wolf was one of their household gods. " The first two of the Indians that my eyes glanced on were my former treacherous companions : I appeared not to observe them. I desired the women to hang up my provisions to the posts which supported the roof, to preserve them from the voracity of the dogs ; and, not ha^dng any power to help myself, I lay down in the corner assigned to me in this intolerably filthy stable. When I got up again, you will easily beHeve that I did not rise alone : thus I incurred an addition of wounds and inflictions on a body which the pointed flints and INDIAN MOURNING. 361 cutting shells of the river, and the boughs of trees, thorns, brambles, and mosquitoes, had previously con- verted into a Job. " On the morning of the twentieth, I desired to be conducted to a bois brule, for whom I had brought a letter from Pembenar. I was told that he resided at a distance, and that the waters of the lake were in a state of great agitation. I could not even obtain the favour of having him sent for, for this happened to be the day when it was the bounden duty of all the members of the hut to devote themselves to 3-elling, eating, drink- ing, and dancing, in commemoration of the Indian killed at the river Caj^enne. I quitted the place, and offered the only handkerchief that I had remaining to the first Indian whom I met, and he immediately w^ent off with my letter. " The funeral ceremony presented nothing more extra- ordinary than what we have already seen, excepting the pillaging of my provisions m honour of the hero of the fete ; and the convulsions of the father and mother composed to quietude by the blowings and exorcisms of the priests, and the wounds inflicted on the arms and legs, the contortions, yellings, and bowlings of his rela- tives. ******* " A party of the relatives and friends was gone on an expedition for discovering whether the Sioux had left no remains whatever on the spot wdiere the tragedy had been acted, while my old friend the pilot, as herald- at-arms, had proceeded to rouse the vengeance and im- plore the succour of some Cypowais Jumpers, who were scattered in various spots aljout the forests. The doc- trine of these Indians is strikingly singular : it is per- haps held by them only, of all mankind. For tliey 362 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. seem to recognise rather the immortaHty of the body than of the soul. " My bois brule had now arrived. He was one of the numerous progeny scattered over the country by the vice and immoraUty of the fur traders. He is the son of a Canadian and a female Indian of the tribe of the C3rpowais. * * * * * "My bois brule resides about twelve miles distant from this encampment to the south of the lake. The wind was too high for a canoe made of bark, and the lake too violently agitated ; we were compelled, there- fore, to disembark, and passed the night under an im- mense plane tree. This plane is, perhaps, the Colossus of the whole vegetable kingdom. The Indians adore it as a Manitou; the ancients would have done the same; and though I am myself a modern, I admire it as one of the most prodigious and most beautiful productions of nature. " We arrived at his hut on the morning of the twenty- first. Misery might be said to be personified in his family, and in all by which he was surrounded ; a wife (the daughter of a father she has never seen) nourishing an infant at her breast, but nearly destitute of nourish- ment herself, and five naked and famine-struck children, constituted the whole of his property. The uncertain fishery of the lake, and a small quantity of maize, in its green and immature state, furnish the whole means of their subsistence. They are neither civilized nor savage, possessmg the resources of neither state, but every inconvenience and defect of both. The worst part of the case is, that this bois brule has a great deal of natural talent, which serves only to render him more dangerous. He has been taught both to read and write, RED RIVER OF RED LAKE. 363 and has obtained that species of education which just serves to strengthen the innate evil propensities of the man, when unaccompanied by that moral training which is their proper curb and correction : in fact, the obliquity of his character has quite ruined him in the opinion of the traders who have successively employed him ; and his crimes obliged him to abscond from Pem- benar, Avhere I was informed that I ought to be more on my guard agamst him than against the Indians themselves. I mention all these circumstances to 3"ou, my dear Countess, because, with the truest and noblest friendship, you are desirous of participating, as it were, in every description of danger incurred by me, and in order that those of our mutual friends who may be inclined to engage in the field of adventure like myself, may learn how to meet and overcome the various ene- mies they may have to encounter. ♦ * * '' But we will now return to the Red river, from which we have somewhat, though not unnaturall}'^, digressed, and which we have surveyed hitherto rather through the imagination than the senses. " It presents no other extraordinary feature than the very frequent winding of its course, in which perhaps it is scarcely exceeded by the Meander itself It waters a country uniformly level, and the rapids which we liave seen do not lower its level but by the height of its l)anks. After Robber's river, as you ascend, no other river flows into it. This is more particularly to be noticed, because the English Hudson's Bay Company, according to their theories, have created on their map other Red rivers, with many more tributary streams flowing into it than this has. " At the distance of about forty miles from the lake, 304 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. its banks are lined with impenetrable forests; above, the view is agreeably varied by smiling meadows and handsome shrubbery. On flowing from the lake it passes among rushes and wild rice. It is an error of geographers, founded on the vague information of In- dians, that it derives its source from this lake ; indeed, a lake which is formed by five or six rivers which flow into it can never be considered as itself the source of any smgle river. We shall soon have occasion to look farther for this source. " The lake, by means of a strait, is divided into two ports, one to the north-east and the other to the south-west. Let us proceed to make the circuit of the last, which is certainly the most interesting. " It receives on the western side the river Broachers [Kinoucjeo-sibi) , and that of the Great Rock [KisciOr cinabed-sihl) ; to the south, the river KahasinUague-sibi, or Gravel river, near which the hut of my Bois-hruU guide is situated ; that of Kiogohague-sibi, or Gold-fish river ; and that of Madaoanalcan-sibi, or Great Portage river ; on the south-east. Cormorant river ( Cacahisciou- sibi). A large tongue of land on the E. N. E. forms a peninsula about four miles in length, and of varying breadth, ending in a point towards the west. At a little distance, towards the north, there is another en- campment of Indians, consisting of about three hundred persons, the chief of whom is the Grand Carabou [Kisci- Adihe). The strait is situated to the N. N. E., and there is a small island in the midst of its waters dividing them into two. To the north we find another tongue of land, which serves also to separate the two lakes, and reaches as far as the strait, commencing at the spot whence, as we have seen. Red river, or (more pro- NUMEROUS LAKES. 365 perly speaking) Bloody river, proceeds. The other lake receives, on the east, Sturgeon river {AmenilMninssihi) , By the channel of this river, and by means of two portages, there is a communication with Rain river, from whence one can easily cotiimunicate with Lake Superior, to the south; and Avitli the waters of Hud- son's Bay, by the Lake of Woods, to the north. The waters w^iich flow into Lake Superior on this side, may be considered as the sources of the river St. Lawrence. " These two lakes are about one hundred and thirty miles in circumference ; and Red river traverses about three hundred from the lake to Pembenar; but in a straight line the whole distance scarcely amounts to one hundred and sixty. "How much has it cost me, my dear Countess, to write you these details ! Perhaps as much as it will you to peruse them ; for, like all w^omen of spirit, j-ou are fond of the brilliant and romantic. But our geo- graphical friends would accuse me of negligence if I forgot them in a country completely unknown to them, and where no white man had previously travelled. * * '• In the course of an excursion which I made to the south-west, I discovered eight small lakes, undistin- guished by names, which all communicate with each other, and of which Gravel river is the outlet. These lakes seem to have been negligently scattered by nature through a territory sometimes gloomy and sometimes gay, varied with hills and dales, and presenting to the eye landscapes the most delightful and enchanting. I resolved to pass a night amidst scenes so uncommonly charming, that I might enjoy as long as possible the exquisite impressions they made upon my mind and senses. I dedicated these lakes to the family to which 366 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. I am united by the most cordial friendship ; and accord- ingly gave them the names of Alexander, Lavinius, Everard, Frederica, Adela, Magdalena, Virginia, and Eleonora. The purity of the waters of these lakes I considered a correct image of that of their minds ; and their union reminded me of the affection by which the members of this happy family are so tenderly connected. "I returned to the encampment of Great Hare, to engage an Indian to attend me, together with my bois brule guide, during the continuance of my excursion, and to purchase the canoe which was the scene of my tragi-comedy on Eed river; for I was desirous of hav- ing it conveyed, if possible, to my rural cottage, and preserve it with my other Indian curiosities as a memo- rial and trophy of my labours in these my transatlantic promenades. ******** " The river of Great Portage is so called by the In- dians because a dreadful storm that occurred on it blew down a vast number of forest trees on its banks, which encumber its channel, and so impede its navigation as to make an extensive or great j^ojiage in order to reach it. The river thus denominated, however, is the true Red, or rather Bloody river. It enters the lake on the south, and goes out, as we have seen, on the north- west. This is the opinion of the Indians themselves, and it is not difficult to find arguments in support of it. " According to the theory of ancient geographers, ihe sources of a river ivhich are most in a right line with its mouth should he considered as its principal sources, and particidarly when they issue from a cardinal point and flow to the one directly ojjposite. This theory appears conformable to nature and reason; and upon this prin- ciple we should proceed in forming the sources of the SOURCES OF RED RIVER. 367 river of Great Portage. By the name Portage, is meant a passage which the Indians make over a tongue of land, from one river or lake to another, carrying with them on their backs their light canoes, their baggage, and cargoes. "I left Red Lake on the morning of the twenty-sixth. The commencement of Portage is between the river so called and Gold-fish river. It is about twelve miles long; and I therefore engaged another Indian, with his horse, to effect it more conveniently. The country is delightful, but at times almost impenetrable. * '•' " On the ensumg day, the twenty-seventh, I dis- charged the supernumerary Indian, with his horse; for, having no provisions but what we could procure by means of our guns, we were already three too many. We crossed the small lake strictly in the direction from north to south; and here we commenced another port- age of four miles. '-^ ''^ ''• '•"' '=' '=' * "At the end of this corvee we found the Great Port- age river. We embarked and proceeded up its current, crossing two lakes which it forms in its course, each about five or six miles in circumference, and containing patches of wild rice — unfortunately for us not yet ripe. We gave these lakes the name oi Manomeny-Kany-aguen, or the Lakes of Wild Rice. " After proceeding upwards of five or six miles, always in a southerly direction, we entered a noble lake, formed like the others by the waters of the river, and which has no other issue than the river's entrance and dis- charge. " Its form is that of a half-moon, and it has a beauti- ful island in the centre of it. Its circumference is about twenty miles. The Indians call it Painjshy- Wha^ 368 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Kany-aguen, or the End of the shaldng Lands ; an ety- mology very correct, as nearly all the region we have traversed from the Lake of Pmes may be almost con- sidered to Hoat upon the waters. '•■" ''' '=' * " I passed on this spot a part of the day of my arrival and the whole of the succeeding night. On the morn- ing of the twenty-eighth, we resumed our navigation of the river, which enters on the south side of the lake. "About six miles higher up we. discovered its sources, which spring out of the ground in the middle of a small prairie, and the little basin into which they bubble up is surrounded by rushes. We approached the spot within fifty paces in our canoe. " But now, my dear Countess, let me request you to step on quickly for a moment, pass the short portage which conducts to the top of the small hill, which over- hangs these sources on the south, and transport your- self to the place where I am now writing. Here, re- posing under the tree, beneath whose shade I am rest- ing at the present moment, you will survey with an eager eye, and with feelings of intense and new delight, the sublime traits of nature ; phenomena which fill the soul with astonishment, and inspire it at the same time with almost heavenly ecstasy ! This is a work which belongs to the Creator of it alone to explain. Yfe can only adore in silence his omnipotent hand. ''' * " We are now on the highest land of North America, if we except the icy and unknown mountains which are lost in the problematical regions of the pole of that part of the world, and in the vague conjectures of vi- sionary mapmakers. Yet all is here plain and level, and the hill is merely an eminence formed, as it were, for an observatory. NORTHERN SOURCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI. oG9 " Casting our eye around us, we perceive the flow of waters — to the south towards the Gulf of Mexico, to the north towards the Frozen Sea, on the east to the Atlantic, and on the west towards the Pacific Ocean. * * * " You have seen the sources of the river which I have ascended to this spot. They are precisely at the foot of the hill, and filtrate in a direct line from the north bank of the lake, on the right of the centre, in descend- ing towards the north. They are the sources of Bloody river. On the other side, towards the south, and equally at the foot of the hill, other sources fonn a beautiful little basin of about eighty feet in circumference. These waters likewise filtrate from the lake, towards its south- western extremity : and these sources are the actual sources of the Mississippi I This lake, therefore, sup- plies the most southern sources of Ked, or, as I shall in future call it (by its truer name). Bloody river; and the most northern sources of the Mississippi — sources till now unknown of both. " This lake is about three miles round. It is formed in the shape of a heart ; and it may be truly said to speak to the very soul. Mine was not slightly moved by it. It was but justice to draw it from the silence in which geography, after so many expeditions, still suf- fered it to remain, and to point it out to the world in all its honourable distinction. I have given it the name of the respectable lady whose life (to use the language of her illustrious friend the Countess of Albany) was one undeviating course of moral rectitude, and whose death was a calamity to all who had the happiness of knowing her; and the recollection of whom is inces- santly connected with veneration and grief by all who can properly appreciate beneficence and virtue. I have 24 370 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. called the lake, accordingly, Lake Julia ; and the sources of the two rivers, the Julian sources of Blood}- river, and the Julian sources of the Mississippi, Avhich, in the Algonquin language, means the Father of Rivers. Oh ! what were the thoughts which passed through my muid at this most happy and brilliant moment of my life ! The shades of Marco Polo, of Columbus, of Americus Vespucius, of the Cabots, of Verazani, of the Zenos, and various others, appeared present, and joyfully assist- ing at this high and solemn ceremony, and congratu- lating themselves on one of their countrymen having, by new and successful researches, brought back to the recollection of the world the inestimable services which they had themselves conferred on it by their own peculiar discoveries, by their talents, achievements, and virtues. ********* ^' I find it impossible to become weary of examining and admiring the least objects of attention furnished by this scene. The majestic river, which embraces a world in its. immense course, and speaks in thunder in its cataracts, is at these its sources nothing but a timid Naiad, stealing cautiously through the rushes and briars which obstruct its progress. The famous Mississippi, whose course is said to be twelve hundred leagues, and which bears navies on its bosom, and steamboats supe- rior in size to frigates, is at its source merely a petty stream of crystalline Avater, concealing itself among reeds and wild rice, which seem to insult over its hum- ble bu-th. ********* " Neither traveller, nor missionary, nor geographer, nor expedition-maker, ever visited this lake. A great many of the stories which find their way into books are invented by the red men, either to deceive the whites, INDUXS DISPOSED TO MISLEAD. 371 or to conceal their own belief or their own weaknesses. * * * The Indians themselves have confessed to me that, when they go down to the traders' settlements, tliej' amuse themselves with gulling their credulity by a number of fables, which afterwards become the oracles of geographers and book-makers. * * * * " On the fourth of September we struck our tents very early, and arrived in the evening at Red Cedar Lake, so called on account of the number of those beau- tiful trees, whose dark green foliage overshadows its islands and banks. * * * * " This lake is the non jjilus ultra of all the discoveries ever made in these regions before my own. No tra- veller, no expedition, no explorer, whether European or American, has gone beyond this point ; and it is at this lake that Mr. Schoolcraft fixed the sources of the Mis- sissippi in 1819. For the more complete celebration of this fortunate discovery, this illustrious epoch, he rebaj)- tized it by the name of Lake Cassina, from the name of Mr. Cass, Governor of Michigan territory, who was at the head of the expedition. Mr. Schoolcraft was the historiographer. * * * * " At the bottom of this last lake, on the west, is found the entrance of a considerable river, which the Indians call Demizimaguamaguensibi, or the river of Lake Tra- verse. It issues from the lake (the second of that name), twenty miles above its mouth, on the north- west. This lake communicates, in the same direction, by a strait of two or three miles in length, with another lake, which the Indians call Moscosaguaiguen, or Bitch' Lake, which receives no tributary stream, and seems to draw its waters from the bosom of the earth. It is here, ^ La Bicbe Lake, or Elk Lake. 372 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. in my opinion, that we shall fix the western sources of the Mississippi.' * * * * " On the night of the seventh I slept at the mouth of Leech river. The lake whence it issues is a new Colchis, where a second Jason found, like the first, a golden fleece ; where Mr. Pike fixed the sources of the Missis- sippi, fourteen years l^efore Mr. Cass fixed them at Red Cedar Lake. This circumstance could not fail of excit- ing my curiosity, and I determined, in consequence, to go and view the scene which had given birth to the con- jectures of the first of my two predecessors. * * '• On the ninth we arrived at Leech Lake {Kaza-gas- guaiguen), at Macuiva, or Bear Island, where we found a considerable band of Cypoivais jjlwiderers, so denomi- nated from their plundering and murdering the first Canadians who pushed their commerce to such a dan- gerous distance. " This band is very numerous and warlike. I found it divided into two factions, one of which is actuated by the spirit of legitimacy, the other by its opposite. The Polceslwnonepe, or Cloudy Weather, a usurper, contests the crown and empire with the chief Esquihusicoge, or Wide Mouth, who possesses them by hereditary right : but as these Indians, beyond all others, require for their head a daring and active man, who can conduct them to victory over the Sioux, by whom they are frequently harassed, instead of an idle and profligate poltroon, always reposing under the shade of his genealogical tree, and destitute of all merit but that allowed him by his flatterers. Cloudy Weather has the majority on his side. The government of the United States acknow- ^ Nine years after this suggestion, Allen and Schoolcraft visited the westem sources of the Mississippi. BELTRAMI AT LEECH LAKE. 373 ledges both: Gloudy Weather, because he declaims in their favour ; and Wide Mouth, in order to detach him from the English, to whom he is friendly ; but princi- pall}', I imagine, from the policy of keeping alive divi- sion in a band powerful in force but precarious in attachment. * * * * " On my arrival among them they were in no little commotion on another subject, involving the two parties in new contention. Cloudy Weather's son-in-law had been killed a few da3's before by the Sioux, and they had at the same time received intelligence of the affair at Cayenne river, and of what had happened to my two Indians on Bloody river. Wide Mouth demanded an immediate war, and was desirous of forming an army, of which he himself never constituted any part. Cloudy Weather, who is not deficient in sense, suspected that this warlike ardour, this extraordinary eagerness and zeal, were assumed with a view to remove him out of the way, and turn his absence to his injury; and there- fore, although the principal person aggrieved, strongly recommended prudence and moderation. * * " I was a s^DCctator of the funeral ceremony performed in honour of the manes of Cloudy Weather s son-in-law, whose body had remained with the Sioux, and was sus- pected to have furnished one of their repasts. What appeared not a little singular, and indeed ludicrous in this funeral comedy, was the contrast exhibited by the terrific lamentations and ^ells of one part of the com- pany, while the others M'cre singing and dancing with all their might. I was scarcely able several times to refrain from laughing; but the ceremony having some resemblance to the usages of the ancients, who also on such occasions paid and employed together Tihicencs 374 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and Prceficoi, my resj)ect for antiquity and antiquaries enabled me to preserve my gravity. At another fune- ral ceremony for a member of the Grand IfecUcine, and at which, as a man of another icorJd, I was permit- ted to attend, the same practice occurred. But, at the feast which took place on that occasion, an allowance was served up for the deceased out of every article of which it consisted, while others were beating, wounding, and torturing themselves, and letting their blood flow both over the dead man and his provisions, thinking jDOssibly that this was the most palatable seasoning for the latter which they could possibly supply. His wife furnished out an entertainment present for him of all her hair and ra";s, with which, toaether with his arms, his provisions, his ornaments, and his mystic medicine bag, he was wrapped up in the skin which had been his last coveruig when alive. He was then tied round with the bark of some particular trees which they use for mak- ing cords, and cords of a very finn texture and hold (the only ones mdeed which they have), and instead of being buried in the earth, was hung up to a large oak. The reason of this was, that as his favourite Manitou was the eagle, his spirit would be enabled more easily from such a situation to fly with him to Paradise. Here again we perceive another trait of antiquity, and a rich relish for our antiquarian amateurs, whom, I think, I must at length have completely satisfied. The oak is also among the Indians the tree consecrated to the eagle, that is to say, to Jupiter. " Mr. Pike, who was at the head of the expedition, despatched by the government of the United States in 1805, to discover the sources of the Mississippi, fixes them at this lake, although the river Leech which flows MORRISON AT ITASCA LAKE IN 1804. - 375 into it on the X.N.W., ascends more than fifty miles higlier up ; and although various other rivers, the courses of which are as jet unknown, equally flow into this lake. But it was in winter ; the cold was excessively severe, and it is no pleasant or easy matter to discover sources through ice. It is impossible to doubt, that, at a differ- ent season of the year, and with a less embarrassing party, Mr. Pike would have pushed his discoveries far- ther. He was a bold and enterprising man ; and his expedition to New Mexico, and his glorious death in the field of honour, merit a place in history. He will always be entitled to the distinction of having been the first who extended his researches so far in regions so wild and repulsive, and that at a time when there ex- isted no fort whatever on the Mississippi." The following letter, written by William Morrison, an old trader, to his brother, Allan Morrison, published in the Annals of the Minnesota Historical Society for 1856, shows that the lakes of the Upper Mississippi were visited early in the present century by those en- gaged in Indian commerce : — " Dear Brother, — In answering your favour of the tenth January, I will pass se^■eral incidents that I pre- sume you are well informed of, and give you the time and circumstances that led me to be the first white man that discovered the source of the great Mis.^issippi river. I left Grand Portage, on the north shore of Lake Superior, now the boundary line between the United States and the British Possessions, in the year 1802, and landed at Leech Lake in September or October, the same year. I wintered on one of the streams of the Crow Wing, near its source. Our Indians were Pilhi- gers. In 1803 and 1804, I went and .wintered at Rice 376 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Lake. I jDassed by Red Cedar Lake, now called Cass Lake, followed up the Mississippi to Cross Lake, and then up the Mississippi again to Elk Lake, now called Itasca Lake, the source of the great river Mississippi. A short distance this side, I made a portage, to get to Rice river, which is called the Portage of the Heights of Land, or the dividing ridge that separates the waters of the Mississippi and those that empty into the Red River of the North ; thence to Hudson's Bay, the port- age is short, I discovered no traces of any white man before me, when I visited Itasca Lake in 1804. And if the late General Pike did not lay it down as such, when he came to Leech Lake, it is because he did not happen to meet me, I was at an outpost that winter. The late General Pike laid down Cass Lake on his map as the head of the Mississippi river. In 1811-12, I went the same route, to winter on Rice river, near the plains. There I overtook a gentleman with an outfit from Mackinac, by the name of Otesse, with whom I parted only at Fond du Lac, he taking the southern route to Mackinac, and I the northern to head-quarters, which had been changed from Grand Portage to Fort William. This will explain to you that I visited Itasca Lake, then called Elk Lake, in 1803-4, and in 1811-12, and five small streams that empty into the lake, that are sliort, and soon lose themselves in the swamps. " By way of explanation, why the late General Pike, then Captain Pike, in 1805, who had orders to stem the Mississippi to its source, and was stopped by the ice a little below Swan river, at the place since called Pike's Rapids, or Pike's Block House, and had to proceed from tloere to Leech Lake on foot. He had to learn there MORRISON'S LETTER ABOUT PIKE. 377 where the source of the Mississippi was. He went to Cass Lake, and could proceed no further. He had been told that I knew the source, but could not see me, I being out at an outpost. This want of information made him commit the error; some persoji, not knowing better, told him there was no river above Cass Lake. Cass Lake receives the waters of Cross Lake, and Cross Lake those of Itasca Lake, and five small streams that empty into Itasca Lake, then called Elk Lake. Those streams I have noted before, no white man can claim the dis- covery of the source of the Mississippi before me, for I was the first that saw and examined its shores." From this digression, let us return to the narrative of Beltrami : — " On the morning of the fourteenth, I landed at the establishment of the South-west Company, near the exit of the Leech river, in hopes of replacing in some mea- sure my Bois bride. But we found only a single person there, left to take care of the place ; and it was quite impossible for him to leave it ; I was therefore obliged to go on with Cloudy Weather only. However, I ob- tained all the instructions that were necessary to enable me to proceed with information as far as Sandy Lake ; and I found myself gradually more intelligible to my new Indian associate. * * ■'' * " On the evening of the seventeenth we arrived at Sandy Lake, on the east, which is about one hundred and twenty miles from the last-mentioned place, about three hundred from Red Lake, and about three hundred also from Leech Lake. * '•• '*=" * " All the maps, whether of former or recent date, even those constructed conformably to expeditions, are exceed- ingly incorrect with respect to the- situation of Sandy 378 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Lake. They place it at the south-east of Lake Leech, though it is nearly at the east ; and this error draws after it others respecting its latitude and longitude. I have observed this mistake by the due application of my com- pass, the result of which corresponds with the opinions of the Indians on the subject, Avho, indeed, are very seldom deceived in their geographical statements. '^'- * " After passing the confluence of the Missay-guani- sibi, or River Brandy, on the east, and that of another river, wdiich is unknown, on the west, I approached that grand and interesting spectacle — the Falls of St. Anthony.^ * * The strength of the current hurried forward our canoe with alarming rajDidity ; and at length I discerned between the trees, and in a pleasant Ijack- ground, the roof of a house, indicating of course civilized habitation. This was the mill for the garrison at the fort. On reaching this place, my mind, still dwelling on all the grand and terrible scenes w^hich had occurred to me in the course of three months, while traversing eternal deserts, among barbarous tribes and unknown regions, was agitated with emotions which I could scarcely describe or discriminate. " The sight of this object, which announced my ap- proach to the residence of cultivated man, produced in me a conflict of opposite feelings. I regretted the inde- pendence of savage life, while at the same time I expe- rienced a thrill of delight at returning within the sj^here of civilized society. " After having cleared the portage, I comj)leted my Lidian toilet for the last time ; that is, I shaved myself without either soap or glass, and with razors which were much like saws. I took my bath in the river, and ^ September thirtieth. BELTRAMI IN TATTERS AT FORT SNELLING. 379 dressed myself as well as I was able, in order to appear at the fort as decently as possible. But I was beset on all sides with dirt and squalidnesss : these perhaps have in fact formed the greatest of my sufferings. My head was covered with the bark of a tree, formed into the shape of a hat and sewed with threads of bark ; and shoes, a coat, and pantaloons, such as are used by Cana- dians in the Indian territories, and formed of oiignal skins sewed together by thread made of the muscles of that animal, completed the grotesque appearance of my person. I am indebted for my new wardrobe to the fair Woascita, who had compassion on the nakedness to which the thorns and brambles of the forest had reduced me. The Indians attach a high value to the skins of the orignal, which is the most beautiful of quadrupeds, the monarch of reindeer, and only very rarely to be met with. ***** " My Indians announced their approach in the cus- tomary manner, that is, by the discharge of guns loaded with ball, and with shouts and chants accompanied by the sound of their harmonious drums. " Melancholy rumours respecting my safetj' had been circulated at the fort, and young Snelling, on his return to it, having expressed the apprehensions he felt on my account when we parted at Pembenar, had thus strengthened the behef in them. These gentlemen in fact supposed me to be dead. " On the arrival of the flotilla all the officers hastened down to inquire about me. They were answered by tlie supposed dead man himself. While replying to their kind questions I divested myself of the skin covering which I had on, in the disguise of an Indian ; a character which my countenance and general appear- 380 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ance greatly contributed to my supporting. I saw in the expression of their physiognomies both a movement of surprise, and sentiments of affection and friendship. The excellent Mr. Tagliawar embraced me in the most cordial manner, and the colonel, his respectable wife, and his children, received me with demonstrations of the most lively joy. I was much moved, and could not help shedding tears of gratitude and attachment. This was the first time since fate began to steep my exist- ence in anguish that I beheld a gleam of those happy moments which, in Italy, friendship always procured for me whenever I returned from my occasional absences. And during the short time that I remained among them I experienced nothing of the constraint, nothing of the cold and formal politeness which Americans in general are accustomed to affect, particularly towards strangers, and which, like a moral rust, tarnishes their natural benevolence and impairs the value of their hospitality." Dr. Norwood, who was the assistant of Dr. Owens, in the United States' Geological Survey of Minnesota, speaking of his route from Cass Lake, says : — " Our route from this place led through Turtle river, and the chain of lakes described by Mr. J. C. Beltrami, in 1823, as the 'Julian sources of the Mississippi.' * * * * * The map sketched by him is a tolerably correct one, and appears to have been the source from which Mr. Nicollet derived his information with regard to the route between Cass and Red Lakes." ^ In the language of Nicollet, the last explorer of the extreme western source of the Mississippi, " I may be mistaken, but it strikes me that American critics have been too disdainful of Mr. Beltrami's book." ^ Owens' Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, pp. 322-3. FINDLAY KILLED AT LAKE PEPIN. 381 In the year 1824, a Mr. Findlay left Prairie du Chien in a canoe, and ascended the Mississippi in company with a Canadian named Barrette, and two others. On their arrival at Lake Pepin, they were met by an Ojib- way war party from Lac du Flambeau. The Canadian thought he recognised in the party an Indian, who, the the previous winter, had come to the place on Black river where he was cutting lumber, and stole his horse. Both Findlay and Barrette had partaken freely of whiskey, and, quarrelling with the Indians, they were all killed, and their goods and provisions stolen. Until the American Fur Company systematized the trade in Minnesota, and Congress took measures to exclude whiskey dealers from the Indians, trade was carried on in a way to make humanity blush. The fol- lowing letter of Colonel Snelling, addressed to the secre- tary of war, exhibits the disgraceful condition of affairs at that time : — " In former letters addressed to the department of war, I have adverted to the mischievous consequences resulting from the introduction of whiskey, and other distilled spirits, into the Indian country. The pretext is, that our traders cannot enter into successful compe- tition with the British traders without it. If the sale of whiskey could be restricted to the vicinity of the British line, the mischief would be comparatively trivial, but, if permitted at all, no limits can be set to it. A series of petty wars and murders, and the introduction of every species of vice and debauchery, by the traders and their engagees, will be the consequence. It be- comes, also, a fruitful source of complaint with those engaged in the same trade from the West. The traders who obtain their supplies from St. Louis, pass Fort Snel- ling, where, in obedience to the orders I have received 382 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. from the president, their boats are searched, and no spirituous liquors are permitted to be taken further. " The traders who are hcensed for the lakes, spread themselves over the whole country between Lake Supe- rior and the Upper Mississippi ; their whiskey attracts a large proportion of the Indians to their trading-houses ; and the Western traders not only have to complain of the loss of custom, but, in many instances, the Indians who have obtained their goods of them, are seduced by whiskey to carry their winter's hunt to others. This has long been one of the tricks of the trade. The traders, who ar^not generally restrained by any moral rules, after they pass the boundary, practise it without scruple, whenever opportunity occurs, and he who has the most whiskey generally carries off the furs. They are so far from being ashamed of the practice, that it affords them subject for conversation by their winter fires. I have myself frequently heard them boast of their exploits in that way. The neighbourhood of the trading-houses where whiskey is sold presents a disgust- ing scene of drunkenness, debauchery, and misery. In my route I passed Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and Mackinac; no language can describe the scenes of vice Avhich there present themselves. Herds of Indians are drawn together by the fascinations of whiskej'', and they exhil^it the most degraded picture of human nature I ever witnessed." ^ ^ Licensed Indian traders among Duncan Campbell. Falls St. Croix. Dahkotahs in 1826 : — John Campbell, Mouth of Chippe- P. Prescott, Leaf River. way. D. Lamont, Mouth of Minnesota. Francis Grandin, Traverse des J. Renville, Lac qui Parle. Sioux. AVm. Dickson, Lac Traverse. Hagan Moores, Lac Traverse. B. F. Baker, Crow Island, Upper Louis Provencalle, Traverse des Mississippi. Sioux. PRAIRIE DU CHIEN TREATY OF 1825. 383 CHAPTER XVIII. For more than a century there had been a westward tendency m the emigration of the Indian nations, and a frequent source of war among the North-western tribes, was the encroachment upon each other's hunting ground. In the hope that good might result from well defined boundary lines, on the nineteenth of August, 1825, by order of the authorities at Washington, Governor Clark, of Missouri, and Cass, of Michigan, convened at Prairie du Chien, a grand Congress of Dahkotahs, Ojib- ways, Sauks, and Foxes, Menomonies, loways, AVinne- bagoes, Pottawottamies, and Ottawas. After some discussion, it was agreed between the Dahkotahs and Ojibways, that the line dividing their respective countries, should commence at the Chippewa river, half a day's march below the falls, and from thence to Red Cedar river just below the falls, and thence to the Standing Cedar, a day's paddle above the head of Lake St. Croix; thence between two lakes called by the Ojibways, "Green Lakes," and the Dah- kotahs, the "Lakes of the Buried Eagles;" and from thence to the Standing Cedar that the Dahkotahs split; thence to Rum river, crossing at Choking Creek, a day's 384 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. march from its mouth ; thence to a point of woods that projects into the prairie a half day's march from the Mississippi ; thence in a straight line to the mouth of the first river above the Sauk ; thence up that river to a small lake at its source; thence to a lake at the head of Prairie river, a tributary of Crow Wing ; thence to the portage of Otter Tail Lake ; thence to the outlet of said lake; thence to the Buffalo river, midway between its source and mouth, and down said river to Red river, and do^vn Red river to the mouth of the Outard creek. The eastern boundary of the Dahkotahs, was to com- mence opposite the loway river, running back to the bluffs, and along the bluffs to Bad Axe river; thence to mouth of Black river; and thence to half a day's march below the falls of the Chippewa. A few months, after the treaty of Prairie du Chien, it was very evident that neither Dahkotah nor Ojibway were willing to be pent up by any boundary lines. As the Ojibways were dispersed over a great extent of country, it was agreed at Prairie du Chien, that the government of the United States should convene them in 1826, at some point on the shores of Lake Superior. The place selected, was Fond du Lac ; and Lewis Cass and T. L. McKenney were the commissioners to assemble the Indians, and conclude the first formal treaty on the soil of Minnesota. On the twenty-eighth of July, the expedition ap- proached in their barges, with flying colours and mar- tial music, the trading post of Fond du Lac ; and for the first time the ears of the Indians of that region were greeted with the tune of "Hail Columbia." On the thirty-first, the commissioner, McKenney, went over to the island opposite the Fur Company's post, to visit an VISIT TO A WOMAN SCALPED WHEN A GIRL. 385 Ojibway woman who had been scalped when a child, under these circumstances : Having accompanied a band of sixty men, women, and children to the vicinity of the falls of the Chippeway river, they were surprised by a Dahkotah war party which rushed down from the bluffs, and fired into their lodges. The woman, who was then only fourteen years of age, ran towards the woods, and was pursued by a Dahkotah brave, who captured and bound her. Just then another Dahkotah approached, and struck her with a war club, scalped her, and was about to cut her throat, when he was shot. In the contest for the child, each warrior had taken off a portion of her scalp, and, while they were wrangling, her father had ap- proached and fired his gun, which killed both. When the shades of night came, he went to the spot where he had last seen his daughter, recovered the pieces of her scalp, and, after some search, foinid her senseless on the snow, about a half mile from the scene of conflict. By proper attention she was restored, and at the time of the treaty of Fond du Lac, she was the mother of ten children, and her skull still bore the marks of violence. On the second of August the council met, and con- tinued several days. Among those who took a seat was an aged Ojibway woman, from Montreal river. She wore around her neck her husband's medal, and, being very poor, in the place of wampum she laid on the com- missioners' table some grass and porcupine quills. In pre- senting them, she said : " I come in the place of my hus- band. He is old and blind, but he yet has a mouth and ears. He can speak and hear. He is very poor. He hopes to receive a present from his fathers." 25 386 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. After the usual feastings and speeches, and exhaust- ing of patience, a treaty was concluded on the fifth day of August, which, with some modifications, was ratified by the United States Senate, on the second day of Feb- ruary of the next year. By an article of the treaty the Ojibways fully dis- claimed all connexion with Great Britain, and acknow- ledged the authority of the United States. At the council there were present deputations from the Min- nesota bands at Fond du Lac, river St. Croix, Rainy Lake, Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, Snake River, and Crow Wing. Supplementary to the treaty was inserted the follow- ing clause. " As the Chippeways who committed the murder upon four American citizens, in June, 1824, upon the shores of Lake Pepin, are not present at this council, but are far m the interior of the country, so that they cannot be apprehended and delivered to the proper authority before next summer ; and as the com- missioners have been specially instructed to demand the surrender of those persons, and to state to the Chippe- way tribe the consequence of suffering such a flagitious outrage to go unpunished, it is agreed that the persons guilty of the aforementioned murder shall be brought in, either to the Sault St. Marie, or Green Bay, as early next summer as practicable." Governor Cass, having determined to return in a bark canoe, contracted with a son of the scalped woman to build one of suitable dimensions, about five feet in width, and thirty-six in length. Immediately a large company of squaws and children commenced the work, for they are the mechanics of every Indian village. Stakes Avere driven into the ground, the desired length of the canoe, CASS ORDERS A BIRCH CANOE. 387 and then rolls of birch bark stripped from the trees unbroken, and stitched together with the roots of the larch, were placed within the enclosure and secured to the stakes. Cross pieces of cedar are now inserted, pro- ducing the desired form, and constituting the ribs or framework. The birch bark properly secured to the frame, the stakes are pulled out of the ground, and the seams covered with resin that the water should not enter. Aft^r some ornamenting of the sides, it was ready for delivery to Mr. Cass. " Thus the birch oanoe was builded, In the valley, by the river, In the bosom of the forest ; And the forest's life was in it, All its mystery, and its magic. All the lightness of the birch tree. All the toughness of the cedar. All the larch's supple sinews ; And it floated on the river, Like a yellow leaf in Autumn, Like a yellow water lily." Not long after the treaty, twenty-nine Ojibways sur- rendered themselves at Sault St. Marie. After an exa- mination, seven were committed for trial, and confined at Mackinaw. At the next term of court, the judge declined trying the prisoners, in consequence of doubts of jurisdiction ; and, during the next winter, they cut their way out of the log jail, and escaped to their dis- tant home. The year of the treaty of Fond du Lac, was another remarkable year to the Selkirk colony, known to this day as the year of the flood. In the month of January, it was rumored at the Selkirk settlement, that the hunters who were on the 388 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. plains of Minnesota in quest of buffalo were starving. The sufferers were from one hundred and fifty to two hundred miles from Pembina, and the only w^ay to carry provisions to them was by dog sleds. The sym- pathy for their welfare was very great; and even the widow contributed a mite to their relief. It appears from a statement made by one who was in the colony at the time, that in the month of Decem- ber, 1825, a snow storm raged with violence for several days, and drove the buffalo out of the hunter's reach. As this was an unexpected contingency, they had no meat as a substitute, and famine stared them in the face. Says an eye-witness :^ " Families here, and families there, despairing of life, huddled themselves together for warmth, and in too many cases, their shelter proved their grave. At first the heat of their bodies melted the snow ; they became wet, and being without food or fuel, the cold soon penetrated, and in several instances froze the whole body into solid ice. Some again were in a state of actual delirium, while others were picked up frozen to death; one woman was found with an infant on her back within a quarter mile of Pembina. This poor creature must have travelled at the least, one hundred and twenty-five miles in three days and nights. Those that were found alive, had devoured their horses, their dogs, raw-hides, leather, and their very shoes. So great were their sufferings, that some died on the road to the colony after being relieved at Pembina. One man with his wife and three children were dug out of the snow where they had been buried for five days and ' Alexander Koss. FLOOD AT RED RIVER SETTLEMENT. 389 nights without food, fire, or light of the sun, and the wife and two of the children recovered." When the spring came, the melting of the winter's snow produced a still greater calamity. On the second day of May, in twenty-four hours, the Red river rose nine feet; and by the fifth, the plains were submerged. A panic now seized every living thing ; dogs howled, cattle lowed, children cried, mothers wept and wrung their hands, and fathers called out to their families to escape to the hills. The water continued to rise until the twenty-first, and houses and barns floated in the rushing waters. On one night a house in flames moved over the waters amid logs and uprooted trees, house- hold furniture, and drowning cattle, reminding one of the day when "the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved." The waters began to abate in June; and such is the surprising quickness with which vegetation matures five degrees of latitude north of St. Paul, that barley, potatoes, and wheat sowed on the twenty-second of June, came to maturity. Misled by the florid representations of one of Lord Selkirk's agents, a number of Swiss arrived in the colony, in 1821. Their occupations had been mechani- cal, chiefly that of clock making, and they were not adapted for the stern work of founding a colony in the interior of the North American continent. From year to year their spirits drooped, and, when the Switzers' song of home was sung, they could not keep back their tears. After the flood, they could no longer remain in the land of their adversity, and they became the pioneers in emigration and agriculture in the state of Minnesota. 390 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. At one time a party of two hundred and forty-three de- parted for the United States, who found homes at dif- ferent points on the banks of the Mississippi. Before the eastern wave of emigration had ascended beyond Prairie du Chien, the Swiss had opened farms on and near St. Paul,^ and should be recognised as the first actual settlers in the country. The same year of the flood at the Red River settle- ment, on the twenty-seventh of May, two or three hun- dred Ojibways had floated down the Mississippi in their canoes, and encamped near a tradmg-house, on the side of the Mississippi opposite the fort, the ruins of which may be seen east of the ferry-road, on the river bottom. ^ Stevens, in an address on the early history of Hennepin county, says : — " Strange as it may appear, the immigrants were from the north, all from the Hudson Bay Territory, from which they had been driven by high water. This colony consisted of Louis Massey, Mr. Perry, Pierrie, Garvas, and others. Most of them are now citizens of different parts of the territory and Wisconsin. They settled near where the St. Louis house now stands, and in the vicinity of Kittson's and Baker's landing. Owing to the arbitrary and tyranni- cal power which then held sway in the territory, they were driven from their homes in 1836 and '37. At that time, and both before and since, the commanding oflBcers at the fort were the lords of the north. They ruled supreme. The citizens in the neighbourhood of the fort were liable at any time to be thrust into the guard-house. While the chief of the fort was the king, the subordinate officers were princes, and persons have been deprived of their liberty and imprisoned by those tyrants for the most trivial wrong or some imaginary offence. Some had their houses torn down ; others were more unfortunate, and had their buildings burnt. To the latter class Mr. Garvas belonged. Mr. Perry was the Abraham of Hennepin county. He resided in front of the slaughter-house, near the landing. He pitched his tent after being driven off of his first home on the bank of the brook be- tween the cave and St. Paul. Here he attended to his numerous flocks and cultivated a field, and I think died below St. Paul, near where the large hotel was burnt a year or two since. He was a Swiss by birth. At one time he owned more cattle than all the rest of the inhabitants of what is now Minnesota, if we ex- cept Mr. Renville." DASTARDLY ATTACK OF DAHKOTAHS. 391 They visited the fort for the purpose of smoking the pipe of peace with the Indian agent, and receiving the presents which were annually distributed by the United States government. Their tent-poles were scarcely planted before their arrival was noised among the Dah- kotah villages in the vicinity. In a few hours men in canoes were seen descending the Minnesota, and furious with excitement they entered the slough, on the shores of which the Ojibways were encamped, and commenced an attack upon the unsus- pecting Ojibways, scalping their women and children in sight of the windows of the officers' quarters, and the soldiers of the garrison. Their butchery completed, they landed under the Avails of the fort, and singing their triumphal songs, proceeded to the undulating prairie just beyond, and danced around the reeking scalps they had taken. As the country was as yet unceded, the United States officers had no proper right of interference. The following autumn the Ojibway chief Flat Mouth, of Sandy Lake, with seven warriors, and women and children, the whole party amounting to twenty-four, arrived at Fort Snelling one morning at day-break. Walking to the gates of the garrison, they asked the protection of Colonel Snelling and Taliaferro, the In- dian agent. They were told, that as long as they re- mained under the United States flag, they were secure, and were ordered to encamp within musket shot of the high stone walls of the fort. During the afternoon a Dahkotah, Toopimkah Zeze, from a village near the first rapids of the Minnesota, with eight others, visited the Ojibway camp. They were cordially received, and a feast of meat, and com, 392 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and sugar, was soon made ready. The wooden platters emjDtied of their contents, they engaged in conversation, and whiffed the peace pipe. About nine o'clock in the evening they rose and de- parted ; but as soon as they were outside, turned and discharged their guns with deadly aim upon their enter- tainers, and ran off with a shout of satisfaction. The report was heard by the sentinel of the fort, and he cried, repeatedly, " Corporal of the guard !" and soon at the gates, were the Ojibways, with their women and the wounded, telling their tale of woe in wild and incoherent language. Among others, was a little girl about seven years old, who was pierced through both thighs with a bullet. Flat Mouth, the chief, reminded Colonel Snelling that he had been attacked while under the protection of the United States flag, and early the next morning. Captain Clark, with one hundred soldiers, proceeded toward Land's End, a trading-post of the Columbia Fur Com- pany, on the Minnesota, a mile above the present resi- dence of Franklin Steele, where the Dahkotahs were supposed to be. The soldiers had just left the large gate of the fort, when a party of Dahkotahs, in battle array, appeared on one of the prairie hills. After some parleying they turned their backs, and being pursued, thirty-two were captured near the trading-post. Colonel Snelling ordered the prisoners to be brought before the Ojibways, and two being pointed out as par- ticipants in the slaughter of the preceding night, they were delivered to the aggrieved party to be dealt with in accordance with their customs. They were led out to the plain in front of the gate of the fort, and when placed nearly without the range of the Ojibway guns, OJIBWAY RETALIATION. 393 they were told to run for their lives. With the rapidity of deer they bounded awa}^ but the Ojibway bullet flew" faster, and after a few steps, they fell gasping on the ground, and were soon lifeless. Then the savage nature displayed itself in all its hideousness. Women and children danced for joy, and placing their fingers in the bullet holes, from which the blood oozed, they licked them with delight. The men tore the scalps from the dead, and seemed to luxuriate in the privilege of plung- ing their knives through the corpses. After the execu- tion, the Ojibways returned to the fort, and Avere met by the colonel. He had prevented all over whom his authority extended from witnessing the scene, and had done his best to confine the excitement to the Indians. The same day a deputation of Dahkotah warriors re- ceived audience, regretting the violence that had been done by their young men, and agreeing to deliver up the ringleaders. At the time appointed, a son of Flat Mouth, with those of the Ojibway party that were not wounded, es- corted by United States troops, marched forth to meet the Dahkotah deputation, on the prairie just beyond the old residence of the Indian agent. AVith much solemnity two more of the guilty were handed over to the assaulted. One was fearless, and with firmness stripped himself of his clothing and ornaments, and distributed them. The other could not face death with composure. He was noted for a hideous hare-lip, and had a bad reputation among his fellows. In tlie sphit of a coward he prayed for life, to the mortification of his tribe. The same opportunity was presented to them as to the first, of running for their lives. At the first fire the coward fell a corpse ; but his brave com- 394 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. paiiion, though Avounded, ran on, and had nearly reached the goal of safety, when a second bullet killed him. The body of the coward now became a common object of loathing for both Dahkotahs and Ojibways. Colonel Snelling told the Ojibways that the bodies must be removed, and then they took the scalped Dah- kotahs, and dragging them by the heels, threw them off the bluff, into the river a hundred and fifty feet beneath. The dreadful scene was now over ; and a detachment of troops was sent with the old chief Flat Mouth, to escort him out of the reach of Dahkotah vengeance. . In the fall of 1826, all the troops at Prairie du Chien had been removed to Fort Snelling, the commander taking with him two Winnebagoes that had been con- fined in Fort Crawford. After the soldiers left the Prairie, the Indians in the vicinity were quite insolent. About this period a bois brule from Red river, named Methode, came to the Prairie to reside. In the month of March, 1827, he went to Painted Rock creek, a few miles above on the Iowa side, accompanied by his family, for the purpose of making maple sugar. He not re- turning as soon as was expected, search was instituted by his friends, when they found him, his children, and his wife with an unborn infant, nearly burned to cin- ders in their camp — the work of hostile savages. At the time of the shooting of the Dahkotahs at Fort Snelling, Red Bird, a distinguished Winnebago chief, whose residence was often on Black river, Wisconsin, was on a war party against the Ojibways, in which he was unsuccessful. In some way the Winnebagoes gained the impression that two of their own number who were confined at Fort Snelling, had been delivered to the RED BIRDS VIOLENCE AT PRAIRIE DU CHIEN. 395 Ojibwavs and scalped ; and from that hour they became hostile to the whites. On the 26th of June, 1827, Red Bird, with two other Indians, entered the dwelling of a trader at Prairie du Chien by the name of Lockwood, who was absent, and loading their guns in the kitchen, proceeded to the bed- room of his wife. On their entrance, she crossed the hall into the store, where she found Duncan Graham, a man of influence with the Indians, who induced them to leave. Thirsting for blood, they proceeded in an easterly direction to a place called McNair's Coulee, where there was an isolated log cabin, in which dwelt a man of mulatto and French extraction, named Gagnier. As Red Bird and his companions entered, Gagnier was sitting on a chest, and near the window ; his wife, of French and Dahkotah extraction, was washing; while on the bed lay an infant sleeping. In the cabin there was also a discharged soldier. Treated with civility, they were asked if they would have something to eat. While the wife was procuring refreshments, she heard the click caused by the cocking of Red Bird's rifle, and in the twinkling of an eye there was a discharge and her husband was dead. One of the other two Indians shot the soldier, and the third, named Wekaw, had his rifle wrested from him by the desperate wife. Unable to cope with three furious savages, she ran to the village and gave the alarm. Returning with a company of armed men, she found her infant with its head scalped, and neck cut, in the bed and still alive. Recovering from these wounds, the daughter still lives, and is now a grandmother. A little while iDefore this murderous assault two keel- boats had passed Prairie du Chien, on their way to Fort 396 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Snelling with provisions. When they reached Wapashaw village, on the site of the present town of Winona, they were ordered to come ashore by the Dahkotahs. Com- pljdng, they found themselves surrounded by Indians, with hostile intentions. The boatmen had no fire-arms, but assuming a bold mien, and a defiant voice, the cap- tain of the keel-boats ordered the savages to leave the decks, which was successful. The boats pushed on, and at Red Wing and Kaposia the Indians showed that they were not friendly, though they did not molest the boats. Before they started on their return from Fort Snelling, the men on board, amounting to thirty-tAvo, were all provided with muskets, and a barrel of ball cartridges. When the descending keel-boats passed Wapashaw, the Dahkotahs were engaged in the war dance, and menaced them but made no attack. Below this point one of the boats moved in advance of the other, and when near the mouth of the Bad Axe the half-breeds on board descried hostile Indians on the banks. As the channel neared the shore the sixteen men on the first boat were greeted with the war whoop, and a vol- ley of rifle balls from the excited Winnebagoes, killing two of the crew. Rushing into their canoes, the Indians made the attempt to board the boat, and two were successful. One of these stationed himself at the bow of the boat, and fired with killing effect on the men below deck. An old sailor of the last war with Great Britain, called Saucy Jack, at last despatched him, and began to rally the fainting spirits on board. During the fight the boat had stuck on a sand-bar. With four companions, amid a shower of balls from the savages, he plunged into the water and pushed off the boat, and thus moved out of reach of the galling shots of the ATTACK ON KEEL-BOATS. 397 Winnebagoes. As they floated down the river during the night, they heard a wail in a canoe behind them, the voice of a father mourning the death of the son, who had scaled the deck, and was now a corpse in pos- session of the white men. The rear boat passed the Bad Axe river late in the night, and escaped an attack. It was the day after the murder of Gagnier and Lip- cap, the soldier, that the first keel-boat arrived at Prairie du Chien, with two of their crew dead, four wounded, and the Indian that had been killed on the boat. The two dead men had been residents of the Prairie, and now the panic was increased. On the morning of the twenty-eighth of June the second keel- boat appeared, and among her passengers was Joseph Snelling, a talented son of the colonel, who wrote a story of deep interest, based on the facts narrated. At a meeting of the citizens it was resolved to repair old Fort Crawford, and Thomas McNair was appointed captain. Dirt was thrown around the bottom logs of the fortification to prevent its being fired, and young Snelling was put in command of one of the block- houses. On the next day a voyageur named Loyer, and the well known trader Duncan Graham, started through the interior, west of the Mississippi, with intelligence of the murders, to Fort Snelling. A company of volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and a few days after four companies of the fifth regiment from Fort Snelling, with Colonel Snelling in command. The citi- zens had seized De-kau-ray, a Winnebago chief, and re- tained him as a hostage. Governor Cass, at the time of these occurrences, was at Butte des Morts, for the purpose of negotiating a treaty, and, proceeding immediately to Jefferson Bar- 398 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. racks, a large body of troops, under General Atkinson, were soon on their way to the scene of excitement. A detachment from Green Bay, under Major Whistler, also moved up to the portage of the Fox and ^yisconsin rivers. The Winnebagoes were not prepared to engage in war with the United States, and it was decided in council that Red Bird and We-Kaw should surrender themselves to Major Whistler. Colonel McKinney describes the scene in this lan- guage : " On the right was the band of music, a little in advance of the line. In front of the centre, about ten paces distant, were the murderers. * * * * All eyes were fixed on Red Bird, and well they might be, for of all the Indians I ever saw, he is, without excep- tion, the most perfect in form, in face, and gesture. In height he is above six feet; straight, but without re- straint. His proportions are of the most exact sym- metry ; his very fingers are models of beauty. I never beheld a face that was so full of all the ennobling, and, at the same time, the most winning expression, " During my attempted analysis of his face, I could not but ask myself, Can this man be a murderer ? Is he the same who shot, scalf)ed, and cut the throat of Gagnier ? There was no ornamenting of the hair after the Indian fashion, but it was cut after the civilized manner. His face was painted ; one side red, the other intermixed with green and white. Around his neck he wore a collar of blue wampum, beautifully mixed with white, which was sewed to a piece of cloth, the width of the wampum being about two inches, — while the claws of the wild-cat, distant from each other about a quarter of an inch, with their points inward, formed the rim of the collar. He was clothed in a Yankton IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH OF RED BIRD. 399 dress, new and beautiful. The material is of dressed elk or deer skin, almost a pure white. ***** Across his breast, in a diagonal position, and bound tight to it, was his war pipe, brightly ornamented with dyed horse-hair, the feathers and bills of birds. In one of his hands he held the white flag, in the other the calumet of peace. There he stood. Not a muscle moved, nor was the expression of his face changed a particle. He and We-Kaw were told to sit down. His motions as he seated himself were no less graceful and captivating, than when he stood or walked. At this moment the band struck up Plejel's Hymn. Every- thing was still. It was a moment of intense interest to all." The ceremony of surrender now took place. The Winnebagoes asked kind treatment of the prisoners, and begged that they might not be ironed. Major Whistler said in reply that he would treat them with considerar tion, and Red Bird standing up said : " I am ready," and was immediately marched off with his accomplice to a tent in the rear and placed under guard. The prisoners ha^ang been handed over to General Atkinson, who had arrived, were conveyed to Prairie du Chien, and delivered to the civil authorities. There they were chained and placed m close confinement, which so chafed the proud spirit of Red Bird, that he soon drooped, and at last died with a broken heart. 400 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XIX. In the year 1830, steps were taken for another con- gress of tribes at Prairie du Chien. A few weeks pre- vious to the convocation, a party of Dahkotahs and Menomonees surprised a band of Foxes, who were eat- ing their dinner on an island in the Mississippi, a short distance below the Wisconsin, and killed eight of their chief men. On this account the Fox tribe refused to be present at the council at Prairie du Chien. The M'dewakantonwan Dahkotahs, in a treaty made on this occasion, bestowed on their relatives of mixed blood that tract about Lake Pepin known as the half-breed tract. ^ During this year another attempt was made to erect a mill on the Chippeway river, Wisconsin. In the month of May, workmen proceeded to the old site on the Menomonee. Three or four Ojibways arrived one night and told them if they did not leave they would kill them. The superintendent (Armstrong) was so much alarmed that he took a canoe and floated down ^ The tract is described ia said Lake Pepin and the Mississippi, treaty as follows: "Beginning at a about thirty-two miles to a point place called the Barn, below and opposite Beef or O'Beuf river, thence near the village of the Red Wing fifteen miles, to the Grand Encamp- Chief, and running back fifteen ment, opposite the river aforesaid." miles, thence in a parallel line with HOLMES BUILDS A SAW-MILL. 401 the river the same evening, and the workmen followed the next day. Li August, one of the proprietors at Prairie du Chien started with other workmen ; among others, a discharged soldier by the name of Holmes,^ under whose supervi- sion the mill was at last constructed ; and, by the sum- mer of the next year, had sawed about one hundred thousand feet of lumber. After the unprovoked attack on the part of the Dah- kotahs, which has been related, a continual border war- fare prevailed between them and the Ojibways until 1831. War parties of the latter, descending the Chip- peway river, constantly lurked around the shores of Lake Pepin, in the hope of obtaining Dahkotah scalps, and endangered the lives of white men ascending or de- scending the Mississippi. During the month of April, 1831, the authorities at Washington instructed H. R. Schoolcraft, Indian agent at Sault St. Marie, to proceed to the Upper Mississippi, and use his influence to make peace between the Dah- kotahs and Ojibways. The expedition was composed of twenty-seven men, beside a few soldiers under Lieu- tenant Clary. Ascending the Mushkeg river, which enters Lake Superior below Bayfield, they passed Lake Kagino, and a chain of small lakes, until they came to the Name- kagon, a tributary of the St. Croix. Descending this stream to Lake Pukwaewa, they found a village of fifty-three persons under Odabossa. At this point the expedition divided, a part going to Ottawa Lake by a direct route, and a portion accompanying Mr. School- This gentleman has since become an active pioneer in Minnesota. 26 402 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. craft down the Namekagon to its junction with the St. Croix, and down that stream to a trading post at Yellow river. On the first of August, Mr. Schoolcraft held a council with the Ojibways at this point. The Indians, through one of their speakers, referred to an attack that had been made the previous year by the Dahkotahs, on a band of Ojibways and bois brules, in which four of their friends had been killed, and that the Ojibways had not been in the habit of crossing the boundary line mentioned in the treaty of Prairie du Chien. At the solicitation of Mr. Schoolcraft, Kabamappa, and Shakoba (the war chief of Snake river), consented to bear wampum and tobacco to the Dahkotah chiefs at Kaposia and Wapashaw village, and invite them to renew the league of friendship. On the fifth of August, the two detachments of the expedition were re-united at Ottawa Lake, w^hen an- other council was held at the trading-post with the Indians. At Lake Chetac, they found the trading-house burned, and village deserted; and while breakfasting on the shores of a little lake below this, eight canoes filled w^ith a returning war party floated into the lake. They were young braves from Ottawa Lake, and had been in pursuit of Dahkotahs near the mill which had recently been erected. On the seventh of August, the expedi- tion arrived at Eice Lake, the residence of a band of warlike Ojibways, much exposed to the Dahkotahs, because they were on the verge of the Dahkotah pos- sessions. The young chief Neenaba claimed that the saw-mills just erected on the Red Cedar branch of the Chippeway NEENABA'S SPEECH. 403 were on their lands, though the Dahkotahs had granted permission, for a certain consideration, to the owners. At the request to drop his war club, he was confused, and would not receive the proffered presents of a medal and flag until he was pressed by his young warriors. On the next day he came, followed by his braves, with the flag on one arm and the war club in the other hand, and stated that while he accepted the one, he did not drop the other. "He had reflected upon the advice sent by the President, and particularly that part of it which counselled them to sit still upon their lands, but while they sat still, they wished also to be certain that their enemies would sit still." After this interview, Mr. Schoolcraft visited the mills on the Red Cedar river, Avhich were then in charge of Mr. Wallace. In 1832, instructions were again issued, ordering Mr. Schoolcraft to visit the tribes toward the sources of the Mississippi. Attached to the expedition, was the late Dr. Douglass Houghton, as botanist, geologist, and sur- geon, and the Rev. W. T. Bout well, now of Washing- ton county, who was appointed by the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, to explore the field, to observe the condition of the Indians, and the practicability of establishing mission stations. The military escort was in command of Lieutenant James Allen. On the afternoon of the twenty-third of June, the Fond du Lac trading-house on the St. Louis river, about twenty miles from the mouth, was reached. This was formerly the head-quarters of the fur trade west of Lake Superior ; but the American Fur Company re- moved their depot to Sandy Lake, because of its more 404 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. central situation. This department of tlie Indian trade, included the posts at Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Rainy Lake, Vermillion Lake, Eed Lake, Pembina, Red Cedar, Leech, and Sandy Lakes. The value of furs from all these posts in 1832, was about twenty-five thousand dollars. On the twenty-first of June, the party were at La Pointe. The chief trader of the place, was the father of the late Mr. Warren, who had thirty or forty acres under cultivation. Among other residents, was the father of his wife, Cadotte, an old French trader, and the Rev. Sherman Hall, now of Sauk Rapids, then a missionary among the Ojibways. His child was said to have been the first child of pure European parents bom on the shores of Lake Superior. On the twenty-fifth of June, the first portage on the St. Louis river was made. The entire length of it is nine miles, and it was necessary to commence carrying the baggage and provisions up a very steep bluif ; while the experienced voyageurs ascended with ease, bearing a bag of flour and a keg of pork, the raw recruits of the expedition had stumbling work. On the twenty-sixth, in the midst of a drenching rain, the men with heavy loads on their backs, waded through mud and water. Some Indian women who were assisting in the portage, carried at once a bag of flour, a trunk, and soldier's knapsack, surmounted by a nursing infant in an Indian cradle.^ About noon of the next day the end of the difficult portage was reached. ^ " When we stopped at night my were disabled, and all of them were men, and even the Canadians, were galled in the back by the kegs in literally fagged out. Two of the such a degree as to make their loads soldiers had snagged their feet, and very painful. It requires an expe- ENDURANCE AND STRENGTH OF SQUAWS. 405 Heavy rains fell on the first and second of July, and in reaching the portage of the Savannah, some lost their moccasins, and some a leg of their pantaloons, and all were covered with mud to their waists, so that they were perfect "sans culottes" when they camped at the end of the carrying place. On the afternoon of July third, reached the trad- ing-post of Mr. Aitkin at Sandy Lake, where they were welcomed by the discharge of muskets, and the hoisting of the American flag. On the ninth, the ex- pedition was at Lake Winnibigoshish, and found a trading-post in the charge of Mr. Belanger, made of logs, with windows of deer skin, surrounded by a little garden, in which were growing tobacco, corn, peas, and potatoes. On the tenth they entered Cass Lake, which Mr. Schoolcraft visited in company with the present secretary of state in 1820. Here were several fine corn fields, which had been cultivated by Indian women. In one of the lodges were three Dahkotah scalps, one of which had been lately taken by the Leech Lake Band. Flat Mouth and one hundred warriors had gone forth to chastise the Dahkotahs for encroaching on his hunt- ing grounds, and meeting a party of the enemy had killed three and wounded others. In the aft'ray a Cass rience of years to habituate men to tomed to it. I saw a small young carrying in this way, and the life Indian woman at the close of the and habits of soldiers by no means day, carry a keg of one thousand fit them fur such labour. I had musket ball cartridges, for a distance four or five Indian women, and as of one mile without resting, and many Indian men carrying for me, most of the distance through swamp and without these I could not have that was frequently over her knees, made half the distance. The Indian and this too, after having carried women carry better than the men, heavy loads all day." — Lt. Allen's being less indolent and more accus- Journal. 406 • HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Lake Ojibway was killed, and when night came there was a grand scalp dance, which an eye-witness has de- scribed : — "Before I had returned to our tent, which is pitched but a few yards from two graves, the greater part of the Indians had here collected, and begun the scalp dance. It was led by three squaws, each bearing in her hand one of the recent scalps. Two or three men sat beating drums and singing, while old and young, male and female, all joined in the song. Occasionally all would become so animated that there would be one general hop, and all at the same time, throwing their heads back, would raise a most horrid yell, clapping the mouth with the hand, to render it, if possible, more terrific. Here were seen little boys and gMs, not six years old, all looking on with the most intense interest, imitating their fathers and mothers, and participating in their brutal joy. Thus early do they learn, by pre- cept and examjDle, to imbibe the spirit of revenge and war, which is fostered in their bosoms, and in after life stimulates them to go and perform some deed of daring and blood, which shall gain for themselves the like ap- plause. "A circumstance which rendered the scene not a little appalling, is, it was performed around the graves of the dead. At the head of those graves hangs an old scalp, some ten feet above the ground, which the winds have almost divested of its ornaments and its hair. The grass and the turf for several yards around, are literally destroyed, and, I presume, by their frequent dancing. One of the scalps I examined. The flesh side had apparently been smoked and rubbed with some material till it was pliant, after which it was painted ALLEN'S FIRST MAP OF ITASCA LAKE. 407 with Vermillion. A piece of wood is turned in the form of a horse-shoe, into which the scalp is sewed, the threads passing round the wood, which keeps it tight. Narrow pieces of cloth and ribands of various colours, attached to the bow, were ornamented with beads and feathers. A small stick, which serves for a handle to shake, it in the air when thej dance, was attached to the top of the bow by a string. While examining it, a lock of hair fell from it, which the Indian gave me, and which I still preserve."^ At two P. M., on July thirteenth, they reached Elk Lake, named Itasca by Mr. Schoolcraft.^ With the ex- ception of traders, no white men had ever traced the MississijDpi so far. The lake is about eight miles in length, and was called Elk by the Ojibways, because of its irregularities, resembling the horns of that ani- mal. Lieutenant Allen, the commander of the miU- tary detachment, who made the first map of this lake, thus speaks : — "From these hills, which were seldom more than two or three hundred feet high, we came suddenly down to the lake, and passed nearly through it to an island near its west end, where we remained one or two hours. We were sure that we had reached the true source of the great river, and a feeling of great satisfaction was manifested by all the party. Mr. Schoolcraft hoisted a flag on a high staff on the island, and left it flying. The lake is about seven miles long, and from one to three broad, but is of an irregular shaj)e, conforming to ^ BoutweU. syllable of the first and the final syl- ' It is asserted that this is a name labia of the last word, Itasca is ob- made up by Mr. Schoolcraft from tained ; but Mrs. Eastman says, two Latin words, Veritas caput. It that it is the name of an Indian is true, that by dropping the first maiden. 408 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the bases of pine hills which, for a great part of its cir- cumference, rise abruptly from its shore. It is deep, cold, and very clear, and seemed to be well stocked with fish. Its shores show some boulders of primitive rock, but no rock in place. The island, the only one of the lake, and which I have called Schoolcraft Island, is one hundred and fifty yards long, fifty yards broad in the highest part, elevated twenty or thirty feet, over- grown with elm, pine, spruce, and wild cherry. There can be no doubt that this is the true source and fountain of the longest and largest branch of the Mississippi." Soon after sunrise, on the next day, the expedition turned the bows of their canoes towards the region of civilization. In a little while the canoes were w^hirling amid splashing rapids, and Allen's capsized. Kegs of pork, loaves of bread, notes of travel, compass, and apparatus, were soon swept out of sight. When the canoe-men are exj)erienced, there is a pleasurable ex- citement attending the descent of such rapids. On the afternoon of this day they passed the Dahko- tah embankments, which are holes in the earth, where a war party lay in wait for Ojibways descending the rapids, to which allusion has been made in a j^revious chapter. At ten o'clock at night Leech Lake was reached. In the morning they were welcomed by a salute from the Indians. The chief of the band was Aishkebuggekozh, or Flat Mouth, whose party suffered the dastardly assault at Fort Snelling in 1827. He occupied a log-cabin, twenty by twenty-five feet, which had been presented to him by a trader. He possessed cups, saucers, knives, and forks of European manufac- ture. At one end of the eatinsr-hall were huno; his flasrs, medals, gun, and scalping knife. Bare-legged and with BOUTWELL'S GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. 409 bare feet, the old chief received his visiters with dignity. He was surrounded by about forty warriors, with stand- ing feathers around their head, and fox tails around their heels. The whole band consisted at that time of over seven hundred men, women and children, and many were vaccinated by Dr. Houghton. On the twenty-second of July, it being Sunday, the party remained at Baker's trading-post, about fifteen miles below the mouth of the Crow Wing, and here they learned from a small newspaper, which here reached them, concerning the Black Hawk difficulties in Wisconsin. At eight, on Monday morning, they arrived at Little Falls. Says the Rev. Mr. Boutw^ell, in his journal : — " At eight we reached the Little Falls. Instead of making a short portage here, as is usual, the water bemg sufficiently high to clear the canoe from stones, we only put into the current and let her drive. The stream is full of small islands, many of which are covered with a beautiful growth of elm, maple, butternut, and w^hite walnut. The country here is prairie, extending as far as the eye can reach, with hei'e and there a clump of oaks, which at a distance looks like some old New England orchard. It is the most vnterestiny and inviting tract of country I have ever seen. If there is anything that can meet the icisJies, and fill the soid of man with gratitude, it is found here. What would require the labour of years, in preparing the land for cultivation in many of the old states, is here all prepared to the hand. As far as the eye can reach, is one continued field of grass and flowers, waving in the passing breeze, exhibit- ing the appearance of a country which has been culti- vated for centuries, but now deserted of its inhabitants. 410 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. The gentle swells, which are seen here and there, give a pleasing variety. The soil is apparently easy of cul- tivation, — a black earth and a mixture of black sand. Nothing can be more picturesque or grand, than the high banks at a distance, rising before you as you de- scend. The islands, in the stream, are most of them alluvial, a soil of the richest quality. " We have marched thirteen hours and a half to-day, at the rate of ten miles per hour, and are encamped this evening in the dominions of the Sioux, though we have as yet seen none. " Embarked at five next morning, and marched till twelve, when we reached the Falls of St, Anthony, nine miles above the mouth of the St. Peter's. Our govern- ment have here a saw-mill and grist-mill on the west bank of the Mississippi, and also have a large farm. The soldiers are here cutting the hay. For beauty, the country around exceeds all that I can say. These falls are an interesting object to look at, but there is nothing about them that fills one with awe, as do the Falls of Niagara. The stream is divided in about its centre by a bluff" of rocks covered with a few trees. The j)erpen- dicular fall is perhaps twenty feet on each side of this bluff", at the foot of which there is a shoot of some ten or fifteen feet more in a descent. " A short portage was made around the falls, when we again embarked in the rapids, and in about an hour reached Fort Snelling. This post is located at the junc- tion of the St, Peter's with the Mississippi, It stands on a high bluff", rising on the north, nearly three hun- dred feet above the water. The walls of the fort, and of most of the buildings, are of stone. The tower com- mands an extensive and beautiful view of the adjacent EXPEDITION ARRIVES AT FORT SNELLING. 411 country, and of the Mississippi and St. Peter's rivers. The officers visited us at our tents, invited us to their quarters, and treated us with much kindness and attention. '' After Mr. Schoolcraft had stated to three or four of the principal Sioux chiefs who had been requested to visit him, the object of his tour, and mentioned the complaints which the Ojibwas brought against them for breaking the treaties of Prairie du Chien and Fond du Lac, Little Crow rose and replied, that he recollected those treaties, when they smoked the pipe, and all agreed to eat and drink out of the same dish. He wished the line to be drawn between them and the Ojibwas ; the sooner it was fixed the better. He alluded to the late war party from Leech Lake, which had killed two of his nephews, and were now dancing around their scalps ; but he did not complain, nor would he go and revenge their death. He denied that the Sioux were in league with the Sacs and Foxes. Black Dog, and the Man- who-floats-on-the-water, also spoke in much the same manner." After the expedition left Fort Snelling Mr. School- craft pushed ahead, and proceeded without the military escort, by way of the St. Croix to Lake Superior. Near, the Falls of St. Croix he met Joseph R. Brown, Avho had been trading at that point, but was now on his way to establish a new post at the mouth of the river. Lieutenant Allen was sorely displeased with the sum- mary manner in which Mr. Schoolcraft left him, and in his pu})lished report gives full expression to his senti- ments. Early in the spring of 1832, the noted Sauk chief. Black Hawk, raised the British flag, and ascended the 412 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Mississippi with hostile intentions against the frontier settlers. General Atkinson, in the latter part of May, sent an express from Dixon, Illinois, to Prairie du Chien, requesting the Indian agent to procure the services of the Dahkotahs as allies of the United States troops. On the thirtieth of May, John Marsh, who had accom- panied the troops to Fort Snelling in 1819, and Burnett, sub-agent at Prairie du Chien, left that place in a canoe paddled by eight men, to secure the aid of the Dahko- tahs. On their way they stopped at the Winnebago village at La Crosse, to inquire if any were willing to join General Atkinson's army on Rock River ; Winnie- shiek opposed the measure, but the young men agreed to accompany them on their return. On the first of June, Marsh and Burnett were at Wapashaw Prairie, and found the Dahkotahs fully pre- pared to go to war against their old enemies. In six days the commissioners returned to the Prairie with eighty Dahkotah and twenty Winnebago warriors. Marsh, the Dahkotah interpreter, and W. S. Hamilton, marched with tlie Dahkotahs toward the Pecatonica, and, arriving there the day of the skirmish between General Dodge and the Sauks and Foxes, they gloated over the corpses of their enemies, and, dancing the scalp dance, cut them to pieces. On the twenty-first of July General Dodge met Black Hawk near an old Sauk village on the Wisconsin and routed him, he retreating north of the Wisconsin, in direction of the Mississippi. As soon as the intelligence of Black Hawk's retreat reached Prairie du Chien, Cap- tain Loomis, now colonel of the 5th regiment United States Infantry, hired the steamboat Enterprise, to pro- ceed to La Crosse, and bring down any Winnebagoes BATTLE OF BAD AXE. 413 that might he there, lest thej should assist Black Hawk in crossing the river. On the thirtieth of July the Win- nebagoes and their canoes were at Fort Crawford. On the first of August, Loomis, one of the officers at Fort Crawford, hired a faster steamboat, called the " Warrior," to ascend the Mississippi. When they came to the mouth of the Bad Axe they discovered Black Hawk's party, who had just arrived with wearied limbs, and diseased and famished bodies. As the steamer approached he told his braves not to shoot, and taking a piece of white cotton placed it on a pole, and signified a desire to come on board ; but about this time there was a discharge from the six-pounder on board of the boat, which was returned by Black Hawk's braves. The steamboat returned that evening to Prairie du Chien, but arrived again the next day, and found that a battle had commenced between the Indians and the regular troops, who had come up to them by land a few hours before. Some of the Indians had fled to the islands of the Mississippi near the Bad Axe, and they were fired at by those on the steamboat. Batteaux were also sent to the main land to receive and transport the troops of Colonel Z. Taylor and Major Bliss to one of the islands, where a severe fight took place, during which every Indian was killed but one, who made his escape by swimming.' During the fight. General Atkinson came on board of the steamer and remained until the close of the battle. After three hours the battle ended, which was a slaugh- ter rather than a victory. A writer, in the nearest newspaper,' four days after, ' Narrative of Captain Este, Black Hawk, and others. ' Galena Gazette. 414 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. says, " When the Indians were driven to the bank of the Mississippi, some hundreds of men, women, and children, plunged into the river, and hoped by diving to escape the bullets of our guns. Very few, however, escaped our sharp-shooters." Among those killed on the Wisconsin shore was a mother. Her infant was feeding on her breast, and the bullet had passed through and broken the arm of the child, and penetrated to the heart of the parent. When discovered, the child was alive ; it survived the wound, which was attended to by one of the surgeons of the volunteer troops. Those Indians that escaped the fire from the main shore and steamboat, were met on the west side of the Mississippi by the scalping knife of the Dahkotahs. Wapashaw, with a party of warriors, had arrived during the fight, and they were ordered to pursue those who should escape. Black Hawk, perceiving that all was lost, in forlorn condition fled to the Winnebago village at La Crosse, where the squaws gave him a dress of white deer skin. He was accompanied by the Winnebago chief, One-eyed Dekorrah, to Prairie du Chien, and deUvered up to the Americans on the morning of August twenty- seventh. Black Hawk, on that occasion, is said to have made the following speech : — " My warriors fell around me ; it began to look dis- mal. I saw my evil day at hand. The sun rose clear on us in the morning, and at night it sunk in a dark cloud, and looked like a ball of fire. This was the last sun that shone on Black Hawk. He is now a prisoner to the white man. But he can stand the torture. He is not afraid of death. He is no coward. Black Hawk BLACK HAWK'S SPEECH. 415 is an Indian ; he has done nothing of which an Indian need to be ashamed. He has fought the battles of his country against the white men, who came year after year to cheat them and take away their lands. You know the cause of our making war — it is kno^vn to all white men — they ought to be ashamed of it. The white men despise the Indians, and drive them from their homes. But the Indians are not deceitful. The white men sj)eak bad of the Indian, and look at him spite- fully. But the Indian does not tell lies. Indians do not steal. Black Hawk is satisfied. He will go to the world of spirits contented. He has done his duty — his Father will meet him and reward him. The white men do not scalp the head, but they do worse, they poison the heart — it is not pure with them. Farewell to my nation ! Farewell to Black Hawk !" During the year of the Black Hawk war, the first regular land mail was carried between Fort Crawford and Fort Snelling. The mail carrier was a soldier of the United States' army, and his journeys were on foot. Leaving Prairie du Chien, he crossed to the Iowa side, and then continued on the western side till he came to Fort Snelling. He occupied fourteen days in going and returning, and carried the mail for a period of twelve months.^ At that time there were no white fiimilies in the country. The entire population, beside the soldiers of the fort, were Indian traders.^ ^ Smith's History of Wisconsin, Louis Proven^alle, Traverse des Tol. i. p. 289. Sioux. ' Licensed Indian Traders in J. B. Faribault, Little Rapids of Minnesota, 1833-1834:— Minnesota. Alexis Bailly, Mendota. Hazen Moores, Lac Traverse. J. R. Brovrn, Oliver's Grove, Joseph Renville, Lac qui Parle. Mouth of the St. Croix. B. F, Baker, Fort Snelling. 41G HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. In the year 1805, Uj)per Louisiana was organized as Missouri Territory ; and, after the state of that name, was, in 1820, admitted into the Union, the territory beyond its northern boundary, comprising Iowa, and all of Minnesota west of the Mississippi river, was without any organized government. In 1834, the inhabitants petitioned Congress to give them a territorial organi- zation, or attach them to Michigan. For the present it was thought better to pursue the latter course. In 1836, the territory of Wisconsin was organized, comprising all of Michigan west of the lake of that name; and, in 1838, Iowa was formed, embracing all of the old Missouri Territory beyond the north line of the state of that name. During the year 1835, an artist of some notoriety, George Catlin, visited Minnesota, and made many sketches which were truthful, and subsequently pub- lished man}' statements which were unreliable. Featherstonhaugh, in company with Professor Mather, under the direction of the United States government, made a slight geological survey of the valley of the Minnesota. After Featherstonhaugh returned to England, his native land, he published a work entitled " Canoe voy- age up the Minnaysotar," which is only remarkable for its J. Renville, Jr., Little Rock. P. Prescott, Traverse des Sioux. James Welles, Little Rapids. Joseph R. Brown, Mouth of Chip- peway. W. A. Aitkin, Fond du Lac. Alfred Aitkin, Sandy Lake. John Aitkin, Prairie Percee. Ambrose Devenport, Gull Lake. Wm. Devenport, Leech Lake. A. Morrison, Mille Lac, George Bonga, Lac Platte. J. H. Fairbanks, Red Cedar Lake. Louis Dufault, Red Lake. Wm. Stitt, Lower Red Cedar Lake. L. M. Warren, La Pointe, Wis. Chas. Wolfborup, Yellow Lake. NICOLLET ARRIVES IN MINNESOTA. 417 vulgarity, and its attack upon the character of gentle- men who did not show him the attention which he thought he should have received. The next year, another foreign gentleman visited the country, who was the antipodes to him whom we have just noticed. His name will always be honoured in the university and colleges of the state ; and his career will incite others to the culture of those exact sciences, which are so useful in their results to the practical man. Jean N. Nicollet,^ Avith letters of introduction, having arrived in Minnesota, on the twenty-sixth of July, 1836, ^ Jean N. Nicollet was born in the year 1790, at Cluses, a small town, capital of Fansignj in Savoie. Ilis parents were poor, and he was con- sequently reduced to the necessity of gaining a subsistence by playing upon the flute and violin, before he had reached the tender age of ten years. He was then apprenticed to a watchmaker, and remained with him until he was eighteen years old, when he removed to Chambry, the capital of Savoie, where he followed his occupation, at the same time prosecuting his studies in mathe- matics, for his proficiency in which science he received a prize. From Chambry he returned to Cluses, and there gave lessons in mathematics, lie himself receiving instruction in Latin and other languages. He continued this course of life for about two years, when he went to Paris and was admitted in the first class of L'Ecole Normale, and soon after- wards he was placed in charge of the mathematical course in the col- lege of " Louis Le Grand." It was in 1818 that Nicollet pub- 27 lished his celebrated letter to M. Outrequin Banquier, "on assurances having for their basis, the probable duration of human life." From 1819 and 1820, may be dated the commencement of his astronomi- cal labours. On the twenty-first of January, 1821, between six and seven in the evening, he discovered a comet in the constellation of Pegasus (seen on the same day and at the same hour by Pons at Marseilles), and from his own observations, and those of the astronomers and the observa- tory, he completed its parabolic elements. Previous to 1825, M. Nicollet re- ceived the decoration of the Legion of Honour, and had also been at- tached as Professor, to the Royal College of " Louis Le Grand." Having been unfortunate in spec- ulations which involved others in pecuniary loss, he came to the United States in 1832 ; poor, but honest. — See sketch in Annals Minnesota Hist. Soc, No. iv. 1853. 418 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. left Fort Snelling with a French trader, named Fron- chet, to explore the sources of the Mississippi. While at the Falls of St. Anthony, the Dahkotahs pilfered some of his provisions, but writing back to the fort for another supply, he ascended the Mississippi, telescope in hand, and with a trustful, child-like spirit, hoped with Sir Isaac Newton, to gather a few pebbles from the great ocean of truth. After reaching Crow Wing river, he entered its mouth, and by way of Gull river and lake, he reached Leech Lake, the abode of the Pillagers. When the savages found that he was nothing but a poor scholar, with neither medals, nor beef, nor flags to present, and constantly peeping through a tube into the heavens, they became very unruly. The Rev. Mr. Boutwell, whose mission house was on the opposite side of the lake, hearing the shouts and drumming of the Lidians, came over as soon as the wind which had been blowing for several days, would allow the passage of his canoe. His arrival was very grateful to Nicollet, who says: "On the fourth day, however, he arrived, and although totally unknown to each other previously, a sympathy of feeling arose, growing out of the precarious circumstances under w^hich we were both placed, and to which he had been much longer exposed than myself. This feeling, from the kind attentions he paid me, soon ripened into affec- tionate gratitude." Leaving Leech Lake with an Indian, Fronchet and Francis Brunet, a Canadian trader of that post, " a man six feet three inches in height, a giant of great strength, and at the same time full of the milk of human kind- ness," he proceeded toward Itasca Lake. With the sex- tant on his back, thrown over like a knapsack, a ba- THE ASTRONOMER IN THE WILDERNESS. 419 rometer and cloak on his left shoulder, a portfolio under his arm, and a basket in hand holding thermometer, chronometer, and compass, he followed his guides over the necessary portages. After the usual trials of an inexperienced tra^'eller, he pitched his tent on School- craft's Island, in Lake Itasca, and proceeded to use his telescope and instruments. Continuing his explorations beyond those of Lieut. Allen and Schoolcraft, he entered on the twenty-ninth of August, a tributary of the west bay of the lake, two or three feet in depth, and from fifteen to twenty feet in width. While the previous explorers had passed but one or txco hours at Itasca Lake, he stayed three days with complete scientific apparatus, and sought the sources of the rivulets that feed the lake. With great appropriateness has his claim been recognised by the people of Minnesota, as the individual Avho completed the exploration of the Mississippi, by giving his name to a county. Returning to Fort Snelling in the beginning of Octo- ber, he occupied a room at the stone agency house, a quarter of a mile beyond the gate, where he passed the time in studying the Dahkotah. The latter portion of the winter Nicollet was a guest of Mr. Sibley, at Men- dota. That gentleman says : — " A portion of the winter following was spent by him at my house, and it is hardly necessary to state that I found in him a most instructive companion. His devo- tion to his studies was intense and unremitting, and I frequently expostulated with him upon his imprudence in thus over-tasking the strength of his delicate frame, but with little effect. When the weather was auspi- cious, telescope in hand, he would spend hours of the 420 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. cold winter nights of our high latitude in astral observor- tions. He continued his labours until the opening of spring called him to encounter the privations and suf- ferings necessarily attendant uj^on a long sojourn in the wilderness. Such w^as the enthusiasm of his nature, that he submitted to all physical inconveniences with- out murmuring, and as of no moment when compared with the magnitude of the enterprise in w^hich he was engaged." Going to Washington, after his tour of 1836-37, he was honoured with a commission from the United States government, and John C. Fremont w^as detailed as his assistant. Ascending the Missouri river in a steamboat, to Fort Pierre, he travelled through the interior of Min- nesota Territory, visiting the Red Pipe Stone Quarry, which he accurately describes, Minne Wakan, or Devil's Lake, and other important localities. The map which he constructed, and the astronomical observations which he made, were invaluable to the country.^ ^ lion. H. II. Sibley, in his notice gentleman, alike entitled him to such of Nicollet, says : — a distinction. But his enemies were " His health was so seriously numerous and influential, and when affected after his return to Washing- his name was presented in accord- ton in 1839, that from that time for- ance with a previous nomination, to ward he was incapacitated from de- fill a vacancy, he was black-balled votinghimself to the accomplishment and rejected. This last blow was of his work as exclusively as he had mortal. True, he strove against the previously done. Still he laboured, incurable melancholy which had but it was with depressed spirits and fastened itself upon him, but his blighted hopes. He had long as- struggles waxed more and more pired to a membership in the Aca- faint, until death put a period to his demy of Sciences of Paris. His long sufferings on the eighteenth Sep- continued devotion and valuable tember, 1844. contributions to the cause of science, " Even when he was aware that and his correct deportment as a his dissolution was near at hand, his NICOLLET'S DEATH.— AITKIN KILLED. 421 The Leech Lake Ojibways this year killed the trader^ in charge of the American Fur Company's post, at that point, and many threatened to drive away the Rev. Mr. Boutwell, and manifested bitter hostility. thoughts reverted back to the days when he roamed along the valley of the Minnesota river. It was my fortune to meet him for the last time in the j^ear 1842 in "Washington City. A short time before his death I re- ceived a kind but mournful letter from him, in which he adverted to the fact that his days were numbered, but at the same time he expressed a hope that he would have strength sufficient to enable him to make his way to our country, that he might yield up his breath and be interred on the banks of his beloved stream. " It would have been gratifying to his friends to know that the soil of the region which had employed so much of his time and scientific I'e- searcb, had received his mortal re- mains into his bosom, but they were denied this melancholy satisfaction. lie sleeps beneath the sod far away, in the vicinity of the capital of the nation, but his name will continue to be cherished in Minnesota as one of its early explorers, and one of its best friends. The astronomer, the geologist, and the christian gentle- man, .Jean N. Nicollet, will long be remembered in connection with the history of the North-west. " Time shall quench full many A people's records, and a hero's acts. Sweep empire after empire into nothing; But even then .shall spare this deed of thine. And hold it up, a problem few dare imitate. And none despise." ' Alfred Aitkin. 422 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XX. The history of missions among the roving tribes of Minnesota and the regions adjacent, must necessarily be a dark and saddening page. They are all bands with- out law. The frontispiece of the first volume of the voyages of Baron La Hontan to the Lakes of the West, pub- lished more than one hundred and fifty years ago, is an engraving of an Indian, attired for war, with a bow in one hand and arrow in the other, a statute book under one foot, and a crown and sceptre beneath the other. Over his head is the appropriate motto " Et leges, et sceptra terit :" On laws and sceptres he tramples. The savages of the north-west, as has been shown, have nothing that corresponds to a civilized government. Their chiefs hold their influence by a trimming and somersaulting which would put the most adroit politi- cian to the blush. Society takes no cognisance of offences, and each man revenges his real or imaginary wrongs. If one is killed, the relative in return goes and kills the person who committed the act. They also hold their propertj^ in common. If, on a hunting expe- dition, a man shoots a deer, he does not claim it as pri- vate property, but it is shared -with all present. If an JESUITS PERMITTED HEATHEN SACRIFICES. 423 industrious person should settle down and cultivate a field of corn and potatoes, custom requires that he should share it with the idler and the passer-hy. The aversion to labour is such that the men ordi- narily feel it an insult to be urged to work. Toil is only becoming to women. In addition to these preju- dices, when not hunting for wild beasts, they, with the ferocity of wild beasts, hunt for the scalps of their wild neighbours. There is scarcely a large plain in Minne- sota that has not been an Aceldama. The youth from his earliest childhood is trained to delight in war. Bancroft, catching the enthusiasm of the narratives of the early Jesuits, depicts, in language which glows, their missions to the North-west ; yet it is erroneous to suppose that they exercised any permanent influence on the Aborigines. Fond of novelty and attention, the untutored children of the forest for a little while were interested in the pictures and vestments and tales of the " black gown," but they at length grew weary. Marquette, while at La Pointe on Lake Superior, made a fatal mistake as a minister of Christianity. Li his narrative he says that he allowed the Ojibways to retain such sacrifices to ima- ginary spirits as he thought were harmless, as if it was possible to serve God and Manitou. After he was driven from the shores of Lake Superior, no further attempt was made to elevate the Aborigines of that region, until the arrival of Protestant missionaries more than a century subsequent. The devout Romanist, Shea, in his interesting history of Catholic missions, speaking of the Dahkotahs remarks that, " Father Menard had projected a Sioux mission ; Marquette, AUouez, Druilletes, all entertained hopes of 424 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. realizing it, and had some intercourse with that nation, but none of them ever succeeded in establishing a mis- sion." After the American Fur Company was formed, the island of Mackinaw became the residence of the principal agent for the North-west. In the month of June of the year 1820, the Rev. Dr. Morse, father of the inventor of the Morseograph,^ visited the spot, and preached the first Protestant ser- mon ever delivered in this portion of the North-west. He became quite interested in the condition of traders and natives; and in consequence of his statements, a Presbyterian Missionary Society in the state of New York, sent a graduate of Union College, the Rev. W. M. Ferry, in 1822, to explore the field. In October, 1823, Avith his wife, he commenced a school, w^hich, before the close of the year, contained twelve Indian children. Mackinaw being easy of access to the Indians of the Upper Lakes, and the Upper Mississippi, the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, who had assumed the expense, determined to make it a central station, at which there should be a large boarding-school, composed of children collected from all the North-west- ern tribes, who were expected to remain long enough to acquire a common school education, and a knowledge of manual labour. Mechanics' shops and gardens were provided for the lads, and the girls were trained for household duties. The school, for many years, succeeded admirably; and gained the confidence of traders and chiefs. At times there were nearly two hundred pupils present, representatives of the Ottawas, Ojibways, Dah- ^ This word is a novelty found at the head of the telegraphic reports of the Philadelphia Public Ledger. HAPPY INFLUENCE OF MACKINAW SCHOOL. 425 kotahSjWinnebagoes, Pottowattamies, Knistenoes, Sauks, Foxes, and Meiiomoiiees. There are those now in Minnesota, surrounded by all the comforts of civiliza- tion, who are indebted to this school for their entire education. After a series of years, the plan was modi- fied, the school Umited to fifty, and smaller stations commenced in the region between Lake Superior and the Mississippi. During the summer of 1830, Mr. Warren, the father of the late bois brule William Warren, came to Macki- naw, with an extra boat, for the purpose of taking a missionary to his post at La Pointe. As there were no ordained ministers that could be spared, the teacher of the boys' school, Mr. Frederic Ayer, now of Belle Prai- rie, with one of the scholars as an interpreter, returned with the trader to La Pointe, for the purpose of explor- ing the field. After surveying the country, Mr. Ayer returned to Mackinaw ; but in August of the next year, in com- pany with a graduate of Dartmouth College, the Rev. Sherman Hall and wife, left with the intention of esta]> lishing a permanent mission among the Ojibways. The brigade with which they travelled consisted of five boats and about seventy persons. The following ex- tracts from the journaP of the first Protestant minister among the Ojibways of the far west, may be perused with interest : — "August fifth, 1831. The manner of travelling on the upper waters of the great lakes, is with open canoes and batteaux. The former are made in the Indian style, the materials of which are the bark of the white birch, and tlie wood of the white cedar. The cedar * Rev. Sherman Hall. 426 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. forms the ribbing, and the bark the part which comes in contact with the water. These are made of various sizes, from ten to thirty feet in length. The largest are sufficiently strong to carry from two to three tons of lading. They are propelled with the paddle ; and when well built and well manned, without lading, will go from eighty to one hundred miles in a day, in calm weather. '' Batteaux are light-made boats, about forty feet in length, and ten or twelve feet wide at the centre, capa- ble of carrying about five tons burden each, and are rowed by six or seven men. They have no deck. Upon articles of lading, with which the boat is filled, is the place for the passengers, who have no other seats than they can form for themselves, out of their travel- ling trunks, boxes, beds, etc. On these they place themselves in any position which necessity may require, or convenience suggest, with very little regard to grace- fulness of position. Such is the vehicle which is to convey us to the place of our destination. In the small compass of this Ijoat we have to find room for eleven persons, including our family and our men, one of whom is an Indian, and four are Frenchmen. " A person travelling in this region, is obliged to sub- mit to many inconveniences. Here the traveller must take his bed, his house, his provisions, and his utensils to cook them with, along with him, or consent to sleejD in the open air on the ground, and to subsist on what the woods and the waters may chance to afford. In short, if he would have anything to make himself com- fortable, he must provide himself with it before he leaves home. There are no New England taverns here, at which the traveller can rest when he is weary, and CAMPING FOR THE NIGHT. 427 find supplies for all his wants. Journeys are frequent. In this country, people think those near neighbours who live two hundred or three hundred miles distant. A journey of this length, even in the dead of winter, is no more accounted of here, than a ride from one city to another on the sea-coast of the United States, though he who performs it must take his provision and his snow shoes, and march without a track through the unbroken wilderness. "At night our tent is pitched at some convenient place on the shore. After the tent is raised, a painted cloth is spread within it on the ground. This forms a kind of flooring. On this a carpet of Indian mats, made of a kind of coarse grass or rush, which answers the triple purpose of a carpet, a table, and a bedstead. The bed is composed of several thicknesses of blankets, coverlets, or anything else one may choose to carry for this purpose, with a sufficient quantity of other clothes for covering. Each family of travellers has a willow basket, with a lock and key, sufficiently capacious to hold from one to two bushels, of close texture, which is covered with a swinging lid. This basket answers the purpose of a pantry. This is divided into various de- partments in the inside, for meat, tea, bread, coffije, and dishes. The cooking is done without, in the open air. With such accommodations a journey of several hun- dred miles may be performed with tolerable comfort, though at the expense of some inconveniences. " August thirtieth. After sailing thirty leagues in a day and a half, we arrived at La Pointe, the place of our destination, about noon to-day, all heartily glad to find a resting place, and a shelter from the storm and cold. We were agreeably disappointed on finding the 428 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. place so much more pleasant than we had anticipated. As we approached it, it appeared like a small village. There are several houses, stores, bams, and out-build- ings about the establishment, and forty or fifty acres of land under cultivation. " September first. This evening we cooked our first meal, and united together around the family altar in our new abode. AYe returned thanks to God for his goodness in preserving us and bringing us to this place, as we had prayed, and besought his blessing on our future labours." Mr. Hall immediately established a school for child- ren, and placed it in charge of Mr. Ayer. The next year, at the urgent solicitation of the trader, Mr. Aitkin, Mr. Ayer went to Sandy Lake and opened a school for the children of voyageurs and Indians. The Rev. Mr. Boutwell, a graduate of Dartmouth ; in the summer of 1832, after his tour with H, E. School- craft, became a colleague of Mr. Hall at La Pointe, and took charge of the school. Li the month of September, 1832, the Eev. Sherman Hall made an exploring tour to Lac du Flambeau, in North-western Wisconsin, and reached the trading-post of Charles H. Oakes, at that place, on the twentieth of the month. His journal is instructive : — " September eleventh, 1832. I left La Pointe for Lac du Flambeau, accompanied by one man to carry my provisions and baggage. Our journey was partly by water and partly by land, and much of the way through dense forests of tall and heavy timber. Our road was a small foot-path, which has been formed by those who make this wilderness their highway to the interior. The ground in this great forest is not as level as much of the REV. S. HALL VISITS OAKES' TRADING HOUSE. 429 western country. We crossed no high hills, hut the surface of the country "was continually undulating. The soil appeared to be of excellent quality, and capable of furnishing the means of subsistence for a dense popula- tion, if it should be cleared of its present heavy burden of timber, and suitably tilled. It is not stony, though stones are to be found nearly all the way. The country seems to be well watered with clear transparent streams." Crossing Forty-five Mile Portage, between Montreal river and Portage Lake, at the same time that the gen- tleman engaged in the fur trade at Lac du Flambeau was conveying his goods to that post, Mr. Hall describes the laborious method of transportation, which is neces- sarily resorted to in those uncultivated and almost deso- late regions. "All the goods for this department of the Indian trade, together with a considerable quantity of provi- sions, are carried across this portage on the backs of men. Not a pound of flour, or salt, or butter, or j)ork^ or scarcely any other article of living consumed at the post, except vegetables, a little corn, wild rice, and fish, and a small quantity of wild meat, can be obtained in any other manner. All the tobacco, powder, shot, and balls, used in the trade, and every heavy utensil for household use, and implements for cultivating the ground, which cannot be made by unskilful mechanics on the spot, all the nails and glass for building, and the tools necessary for mechanical purposes, must all find their way through these forests in the same manner. On the other hand, all the furs and peltries collected in the department, many of which are brought some hun- dreds, of miles before they reach Lac du Flambeau, are 430 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. conveyed to market over the same road, and by the same kind of conveyance. " The goods are obtained at Mackinaw, and brought through the lake, till they enter the Montreal river, a distance of five or six hundred miles, in boats rowed by men. At the commencement of the portage, they are put up into packs or bales, convenient for carrying, Avhich, in the language of the country, are teraied pieces. Each piece is allowed to weigh eighty pounds. A barrel of flour is put into two bags, and each is con- sidered a piece. A keg of pork or a keg of gunpowder is considered also a piece, and a bushel and a half of corn. Two of these pieces constitute each man's load. The carrier uses a collar, which is composed of a strap of leather about three inches wide in the middle, to which smaller straps are attached of a sufficient length to tie round the object to be carried. These straps are tied round each end of the piece, which is then swung upon the back, the lower part resting about on the loins, and the collar is brought over the top of the head. The person, when he takes his load, inclines a little forward, so tl^t it rests considerably on the back, and draws but gently on the collar suspended across the head. After the first piece is thus swung on the back, the second is taken up and laid on the top of it, reaching, if it be large, nearly to the top of the head. I was surprised to see with what ease these men, after they had sus- pended the first piece, would raise up the second and place it on the top of it. The party consisted of ten men, and each man had ten pieces, or five loads to carrj'' across the portage. They keep the whole of the goods together ; that is, each one takes one load and marches with it, the distance of one-half or one-third of a mile. REV. MR. BOUTWELL'S MISSION AT LEECH LAKE. 431 and then returns for a second. This they repeat till all their loads are brought up to this point. Each man's pieces are allotted to him at the commencement of the portage, and he keeps the same through. There are in all one hundred and twenty-two poses, or stopping- places, on this portage. The carriers march very rapidly when loaded. About two hundred of these pieces, in goods and provisions, are required for this department annually. When we passed these men, they had been sixteen days on the portage, and had got about two-thirds of the way across it. After they cross this, they have two other portages to make before they reach Lac du Flambeau, one of "svhich is one hundred and fifty or two hundred rods, and the other about three miles in length. " September twenty-third. I reached the trading- post of Mr. Oakes, by whom I was very kindly received, on the twentieth. The village of the Indians is two or three miles distant from his post. This morning three men, having heard that I had arrived, came, as they said, to see me, and to hear what I had to say to them. Two of them were young men, and the other I should judge to be about fift}', of a straight, well proportioned body and limbs, not very tall, a countenance rather dignified, a keen, arch-looking eye, and a carriage that told him to be a man who claimed some title to chief- tainship among his band. I greeted them in a friendly manner, and told them I was glad to see them, and if they would listen, I would tell them something about God and his word." On the fifteenth of September, 1833, Mr. Ayer arrived at Yellow Lake, also in the extreme north-western por- tion of Wisconsin, for the purpose of commencmg a mis- 432 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. sion station. In October of the same year the Rev. W. T. Boutwell proceeded to Leech Lake, and estabhshed the first mission in Minnesota west of the Mississippi. Mr. E. F. Ely^ became a teacher during this year, at the trading-post of Mr. Aitkin, at Sandy Lake, Minnesota ; but the next year opened a school at Fond du Lac, on the St. Louis river. Calvinism is frequently represented, by those who do not embrace its tenets, as a mere abstract system, only anxious to impress upon the race stern theological for- mulas ; but the journals of its missionaries among the savages are alwaj^s eminently cheerful, hopeful, and practical. They came to the untutored Indians of Min- nesota, not with a long-drawn countenance, and severe exterior, but they came singing songs for the little ones, and teaching the men to plough, and the women to sew and knit. The following letter, written in 1833, by Rev. Mr. Boutwell, is full of sunshine from one of the dark places of earth. Leech Lake, the abode of the Pillagers, the most savage of all the bands of Minnesota : — " I arrived at this place October third. Passing for the present in silence the particulars of my voyage, I will proceed directly to give you some account of my reception. When I arrived, the men, with few excep- ^ Letter from Mr. Ely, at Sandy with the outlet of the lake running Lake, September twenty-fifth, 1833. within eighty feet of the house; the " I arrived at this post September Mississippi is about the same dis- uineteenth, and am happily disap- tance on the west ; and their conflu- pointedintheappearanceof the place, ence is about ten rods below. On I occupy a large chamber in Mr. Ait- the twenty-third Mr. Boutwell left kin's house, which is both a school- us for Leech Lake. My school was room and lodging-room, commanding commenced on the same day with an eastern view of Mr. A.'s fields six or eight scholars. To-day I and meadows, and of the lake and have had fifteen." hills covered with pines, together LITTLE CHILDREN ATTRACTED BY SONGS. 433 tions, were making their fall hunts, while their families remained at the lake, and in its vicinity, to gather their corn and make rice. A few lodges were encamped quite near. These I began to visit for the purpose of read- ing, singing, etc., in order to interest the children, and awaken in them a desire for instruction. I told them about the children at Mackinaw, the Sault, and at La Pointe, who could read, write, and sing. To this they would listen attentively, while the mother would often reply, ' My children are poor and ignorant.' To a per- son unaccustomed to Indian manners and Indian wild- ness, it would have been amusing to have seen the little ones, as I approached their lodge, running and scream- ing, more terrified, if possible, than if they had met a bear robbed of her whelps. It was not long, however, before most of them overcame their fears ; and in a few days my dwelling (a lodge which I occupied for three or four weeks) was frequented from morning till eve- ning by an interesting group of boys, all desirous to learn to read and sing. To have seen them hanging, some on one knee, others upon my shoulder, reading and singing, wdiile others, whether from shame or fear I know not, who dared not venture within, were peeping in through the sides of the cottage, or lying flat upon the ground and looking under the bottom, might have provoked a smile, especially to have seen them as they caught a glance of my eye, springing upon their feet and running like so many wild asses' colts. The rain, cold, and snow were alike to them, in which they would come day after day, many of them clad merely with a blanket and a narrow strip of cloth about the loins. " The men at length returned, and an opportunity was presented me for reading to them. The greater 28 434 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. part listeued attentively. . Some would come back and ask me to read more. Others laughed and aimed to make sport, both of me and my book. I heeded as if I understood not. I had been laughed at and called a fool before. Besides, I remembered to have read, ' the servant is not above his master.' The second chief (Riji Osaie), the Elder Brother as he is called, now re- turned. This chief, though nominally second, is really the first in the affections of the band. He is a man who courts neither the favour, nor fears the frown of his fellow, but speaks independently what he thinks. One morning, after breakfasting with us, I said to him, ' I have come to pass the winter with your trader, and I thought I would teach some of the cliildren to read if their parents were pleased.' ' It is a good thing to in- struct the children, and I do not think an Indian in the whole band can be displeased or say a word against it,' replied he. A higher object than this, even this man could not appreciate at present. This was all and even more than I anticipated from him, knowing as I did something of the past history, as well as present dispo- sition of the band. A few days after, as an Indian was leaving with his family for his winter hunt, he came and asked me if I should be pleased to have his little boy, a lad of ten years, remain with me. ' Certainly,' replied I, ' if I had the means of feeding him.' The trader sit- ting by kindly offered to feed the boy, and the father left him in my care, saying, ' If you will teach him to read as the whites do, I should be so glad I do not know what I could do for you.' He is a lad of much promise, enthusiastically fond of his books, and often expresses a strong desire to learn to read English. It is but about six weeks since he first saw a book in his own language ; NOTICE OF LEECH LAKE OJIBWAYS. 435 yet he noAV reads and spells in two syllables, counts one hundred in Indian, and forty in English, repeats and sings several hymns in Indian, and is committing the ten commandments. The like request was made by one or two others, but I had no means of my own of either feeding or sheltering them. " You are now prepared to hear me say from what I have seen, and so far as I am able to judge, the Lord hath opened a door, and apparently preparing the way for you to occupy this field as soon as you can furnish the men and the means. In my opinion the sooner you occupy it the better. The question has often been put to me by the Indians, ' Will you leave in the spring ?' ' Will 3'ou come back again ?' The only reply I could make (but to an Indian of ambiguous interpre- tation), 'the Lord willing, I will return or send some other person.' That there are individuals who would be unwilling to have their children instructed at present, I have no doubt. I am not without hope, however, that by kindness and a judicious course of conduct, their prejudices would soon give waj'. I am equalh' confident also, that there are individuals in the band, and I trust a goodly number, who would be highly pleased to have a kmd and judicious missionary located here. " In relation to their numbers and locality, my jour- nal, now in your possession, may perhaps give you all necessary information. Including the small band on Bear Island, excluded from the estimate, there are at least eight hundred souls belonging to Leech Lake. The Winnipeg and Upper-Red-Cedar Lake bands are distant but a day's march, wLich in this country and by an Indian is not a matter of reckoning. " The means of subsistence which the country afibrds 436 HISTORY OF MIN^'ESOTA. are not inconsiderable. These are fisli, corn, and rice, and they are the almost entire dependence of the traders. Fish is the principal. Not less than thirty thousand were taken this fall for the winter supply of the four houses here. They are called tullibees, the only name save the Indian (Etonibins) that I have ever heard. They will average from one to three pounds as they are taken from the water. The manner of curing them is merely to hang them in the air to freeze — a simple rather than a safe way. The trader with whom I pass the winter has now upon the scaffold about ten thou- sand. For two weeks past the weather has been quite warm, and he fears, as do his neighbours, that we shall not be able to use them. If fish fail, to say the least, we shall all grow poor, if we do not some of us grow hungry. There was comparatively little corn raised the past season by the Indians, perhaps one hundred and fifty bushels. They are now in the habit of exchanging corn and rice Avith their traders for strouds and blankets, which, happily for the Indians, have taken the place of liquor, which is now a prohibited article in the trade. I am credibly informed that the exceptions were rare in which an Indian would not give his last sack of provi- sions for whiskey. Wild rice, an article of much de- pendence among the Indians, nearly failed the past season on account of high water. Hundreds of bushels of this excellent food are often gathered from the small lakes in the vicinity, and from the deep bays of this lake. Nowhere between Lake Superior and the head waters of the Mississippi has the God of providence so bountifull}- provided for the subsistence of man as here. In addition to rice and several species of fish which this lake affords, the soil is also of a rich quality and highly FERTILITY OF SOIL AT LEECH LAKE. 437 susceptible of cultivation. All the English grains, in my opinion, may be cultivated here. At present an Indian's garden consists merel}' of a few square rods in which he plants a little corn and a few squashes. Very few as yet cultivate the potato, probably for want of seed. Fish, instead of bread, is here the staff of hfe. " The traders here have found it impracticable to keep any domestic animal save the dog and cat. For the least offence an Indian here will sooner shoot a horse or cow for revenge than a dog. Still a missionary by the second or third year will be better able to judge than I now can, with how much security he could make the experiment. " If the Indians can be induced by example and other helps (such as seed and preparing the ground), to culti- vate more largely, they would, I have no doubt, furnish provisions for their children in part. If a mission here should furnish the means of feeding, clothing, and in- structing the children, as at Mackinaw, I venture to sa}- there would be no lack of children. But such an esta- blishment is not only impracticable here ; it is such as would ill meet the exigencies of this people. While a mission proffers them aid, they should be made to feel that they must try at least to help themselves. It should be placed on a footing that will instruct them in the principles of political economy. At present there is among them nothing like personal rights, or individual property, any further than traps, guns, and kettles are concerned. They possess all things in common. If an Indian has anything to eat, his neighbours are all allowed to share it with him. While, therefore, a mission extends the hand of charity in the means of instruction, and occa- sionally an article of clothing, and perhaps some aid in 438 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 2^rocuring the means of suhsistence, it should he only to such individuals as will themselves use the means so far as they possess them. This might operate as a stimulus with them to cultivate and fix a value upon corn, rice, etc., at least with such as care to have their children instructed, rather than squander it in feasts and feeding- such as are too indolent to make a garden themselves. It will require much patience, if not a long time, to break up and eradicate habits so inveterate. An Indian cannot eat alone. If he kills a pheasant, his neighbours must come in for a portion, small indeed, but so it is. As it respects furnishing them with seeds and imple- ments of husbandry, this may be done, but only to a certain extent. An Indian would most surel}^ take advantage of your liberality. Every one would come, the last expecting to be served as well, if not better, than the first. The mention of a single fact may throw sufficient light upon this trait in Indian character. While at Sandy Lake, on my way here, I presented a little boy with a shirt. Not half an hour after he had gone out, no less than half a dozen others came for the same favour. But more, I have known boys who had a shirt pull it off and throw it aside, while they would come expecting to get a new one, in case you had made a present to one who had none. They are so jealous, that the utmost precaution must be observed in making a present of the least article to one that you cannot make to another. " So far as my observation extends, polygamy is more common among this band than any other with which I am acquainted. Not only the chiefs, but all the best hunters who are able to clothe, in their miserable man- ner, more than one woman, keep from two to five. One HOUSEKEEPING OF LEECH LAKE MISSIONARY. 439 individual keeps three who are sisters; and this not being sufficient, has a fourth woman." In the year 1834, Mr. Boutwell was married at Fond du Lac, to an interesting and educated Anglojibway Lidy, who died a few years ago. The experiences of married Hfe at Leech Lake, are narrated in his journal pubUshed in the Missionary- Herald, and are probably the hrst housekeeping of a couple married according to the rites of Christianity, beyond the walls of Fort Snelling, in Minnesota. " The clerk very kindly invited me to occupy a part of his quarters, until I could prepare a place to put myself I thought best to decline his offer; and on the thirteenth instant, removed my effects, and commenced housekeeping in a bark lodge. Then, here I was, with- out a quart of corn or Lidian rice to eat myself, or give my man, as I was too late to purchase any of the mere pittance which was to be bought or sold. My nets, under God, were my sole dependence to feed mjself and hired man. I had a barrel and a half of flour, and ninety pounds of pork only before me for the winter. But on the seventeenth of the same month, I sent my fisherman ten miles distant to gather our winter's stock of provisions out of the deep. In the mean time, I must build a house, or winter in an Indian lodge. Rather tlian do worse, I shouldered my axe and led the way. Inning procured a man of the trader to help me ; and in about ten days had my timbers cut and on the ground ready to put up. " On the twelfth of November, I recalled my fisher- man, and found on our scaffold nearly six thousand tulibees (a kind of fish found in the north-western lakes), for our winter supplies. 440 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. " On the second of December, I quit my bark lodge for a mud-walled house; the timbers of which, I not only assisted in cutting, but also carrying on my back, until the rheumatism, to say the least, threatened to double and twist me, and I was obliged to desist. My house, when I began to occupy it, had a door, three windows, and a mud chimney; but neither chair, stool, nor bedstead. A box served for tlie former, and an In- dian mat for the two latter. A rude figure, indeed, my house w^ould make in a New England city, with its deer-skin windows, a floor that had never seen a plane, or a saw, and a mud chimney; but it is, nevertheless, comfortable. " When I arrived, the Indians, as I expected, were mostly off for their fall hunt. As their gardens were nearly destroyed last summer by the worm, and rice again failed, their families were obliged to go to the deer country, ten days' march from us. This circum- stance has tended to remove them, for the time being, from our intercourse and influence. March will bring them back and settle them down around us, at least the major part of them, as they make sugar and cultivate little gardens here and there, where each family chooses. "Among those whom I have seen, is the Elder Bro- ther, the second chief, who expressed his satisfaction that I had returned, and regretted that he was not present at my arrival, while there remained a few men with whom he would have smoked and spoken on the occasion. The first chief, a few days since, sent me word that he would call his young men together in the spring, when he returns from his hunt. Thus far these two men have taken an honourable and decided course, so far as precept can go, and have given assurance that FIRST MISSIONS ESTABLISHED AMONG DAHKOTAHS. 441 this sliould be followed hy practice, in case a permanent missionary was located here. What, however, the spring will decide, when the good, bad, and indifferent all meet together, I do not pretend to foretell. The cause is God's, and he will order all things well." The Jesuits considered the Dahkotalis as the most fierce of all the tribes, and did not venture their lives in their midst, except for a few months by the side of a French officer. It was not till the year 1834, that any formal attempt was made to instruct them in the arts, letters, or in the morality of the Bible. The Rev. Samuel W. Pond, at that time a layman and school teacher in Galena, Illi- nois, hearmg accounts of the Dahkotahs from Red river emigrants, became interested in their welfare, and wrote to his brother Gideon H. Pond, then a young man in their native place in Connecticut, proposing that they should cast their lot with the Dahkotahs, and try to do them good. The proposition was accepted, and in the spring of 1834, provided with neither brass, nor scrip, nor purse, he joined his brother at Galena, and embarking on board of a steamer, they arrived at Fort Snelling in May. They stated their plans to Mr. Taliaferro, the Dah- kotah agent, and were treated with kindness by him and Major Bliss, the commander of the fort. Without aid or encouragement from any missionary society, they proceeded to the east shore of Lake Calhoun, on the banks of which and Lake Harriet, dwelt small bands of Dahkotahs, and with their own hands erected a rude cabin on the site of a building in recent times occupied by Charles Musou. About this period, a native of South Carolina, and 442 HISTORY OF MINxN'ESOTA. graduate of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, the Rev. T. S. Williamson, M. D., who, previous to his ordina- tion, had been a respectable physician in Ohio, was appointed by the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions to visit the Dahkotahs, with the view of ascertaining what could be done to introduce Christ- ian instruction. Having made in(|uiries at Prairie du Chien and Fort Snelling, he reported that the field was favourable. The Presbyterian and Congregational churches, through their joint missionary society, ap- pointed the following persons to labour in Minnesota : Rev. Thomas S. Williamson, M. D., missionary and phy- sician ; Rev. J. D. Stevens, missionary ; Alexander Hug- gens, farmer ; and their wives ; Miss Sarah Poage, and Lucy C. Stevens, teachers ; who were prevented during the year 1834, by the state of navigation, from entering upon their work. During the winter of 1834-35, a pious officer of the army exercised a good influence on his fellow officers, and soldiers under their command. In the absence of a chaplain or ordained minister, he, like General Have- lock of the British army in India, was accustomed not only to drill the soldiers, but to meet them in his own quarters, and " reason with them of righteousness, tem- perance, and judgment to come."^ In the month of May, 1835, Dr. Williamson and mission band arrived at Fort Snelling, and were hospita- bly received by the officers of the garrison, the Indian agent, and Mr. Sibley, then a young man, who had re- ^ The growling Englishman Fea- as he thought sufficiently notice him, therstonhaugh, whose book has and vents his spleen by calling him been noticed, became very much a long, lean, canting, "psalm-singing offended because this officer did not major." FIRST CHURCH AND COMMUNION IN MINNESOTA. 443 cently taken charge of the trading-post at Mendota. On the second Sabbath in June, a Presbyterian church was organized in one of the company rooms of the fort, and the communion was administered for the first time in Minnesota to twenty-two persons of European extraction, composed of officers and soldiers of the army, those engaged in the fur trade, and the mission families. The late Major Ogden, of the army, who died at Fort Riley, here professed his faith in Christianity. Two posts were selected by the missionaries as stations. The Rev. Mr. Stevens and family proceeded to Lake Harriet, in Hennepin county, and erected a house near the property of Eli Pettijohn ; and the Rev. Dr. Wil- liamson and wife, Mr. Huggens, the farmer, and wife, and Miss Poage, proceeded to Lac qui Parle. After a fatiguing journey of seventeen days, without meeting man or beast, they arrived at the lake on the ninth of July, and were Avamily welcomed by the well known trader, Renville, whose name is attached to one of the counties of Minnesota. Immediately after their arrival at the stations, the missionaries began to study the language of the Dahko- tahs, and teach the children what they could. In a letter to the Cincinnati Journal, written in November, 1835, Dr. Williamson describes Dahkotah habits as follows : — " Gathering the corn, as well as whatever else pertains to cultivating the earth, is considered to be the business of the women. They gather it in their blankets, and carry it to the scaffold, on which the}- stand to drive off the birds. Here it is thrown in a heap exposed to the sun, till the husks begin to wilt. These husks are then stripped from the corn, but most of them still left 444 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. attached to the cob. The husks of many ears, still fast to the ear, are then platted together into a long string, by which the corn is suspended over a hole to dry. After hanging for several weeks, exposed to the weather till it is entirely freed from moisture, the corn is threshed off the cobs, and put in bags made of skins of small fibres of lynn bark woven together with the fingers. " The smallest and most unripe ears are prepared in a different way. The husks being entirely torn off, they are boiled. Then the corn is shelled, and dried by being strewed thin where it will be exposed to the direct rays of the sun. When thoroughly dried it is put in bags same as the other. When the corn is sufficiently dried it is put in sacks containmg from one to two bushels each, and put away in what are called caches by the traders. These are made by digging a circular hole about eighteen inches in diameter, perpendicularly one or two feet deep, and then enlarging it in the form of an earth oven till of sufficient size to contain what they have to put into it. They are usually five or six feet in diameter at the bottom, and as much in depth. The bottom and sides are lined with dry grass, on which the sacks of corn are placed. Dry grass is also put on top of the corn till it is filled, except the perpendicular part. This is filled with earth which is stamped down firmly. Com thus laid away keeps dry and good from September till April under ground. " Flesh of every kind is such a rarity with the Dah- kotahs of these parts, that they eat every kind of quad- rupeds and fowls they can obtain. Not only deer, bear, and squirrels, grouse, ducks, and geese, but muskrats, otters, wolves, foxes and badgers, cranes, hawks, and owls. They eat not only what is properly called the WEEPING AND WAILING AT LAKE HARRIET. 445 flesh of these animals, but every part which can be supposed to contain nutriment, — tlie heads, feet, en- trails, and the skins, if they be not valuable as an article of traffic. After picking the flesh off the larger bones, they break them and boil them to get any little oil they may contain to mix with their com. Exclusive of their corn, their food consists in winter chiefly of muskrats, badgers, otters, and raccoons ; in the spring, of fish, and roots which the earth produces spontaneously, with some ducks; in the summer, roots, fish, wild pigeons, and cranes ; in autumn, wild ducks, geese, and muskrats." As there had never been a chaplain at Fort Snelling, the Rev. J. D. Stevens, the missionary at Lake Harriet, preached on Sundays to the Presbyterian church, re- cently organized. Writing on January twenty-seventh, 1836, he says, in relation to his field of labour : — " Yesterday a portion of this band of Indians, who had been some time absent from this village, returned. One of the number (a woman) was informed that a brother of hers had died during her absence. He was not at this village, but with another band, and the in- formation had just reached here. In the evening they set up a most piteous crying, or rather wailing, which continued, with some little cessations, during the night. The sister of the deceased brother would repeat, times without number, words which may be thus translated into English : ' Come, my brother, I shall see you no more for ever.' The night was extremely cold — the thermometer standing from ten to twenty below zero. About sunrise, next morning, preparation was made for performing the ceremony of cutting their flesh, in order to give relief to their grief of mind. The snow was removed from the frozen ground over about as large a 446 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. space as would be required to place a small Indian lodge or wigwam. In the centre a very small fire was kindled up, not to give warmth apparently, but to cause a smoke. The sister of the deceased, who was the chief mourner, came out of her lodge followed by three other women, who repaired to the place prepared. They were all barefooted, and nearly naked. Here they set up a most bitter lamentation and crying, ming- Hng their wailings with the words before mentioned. The princij)al mourner commenced gashing or cutting her ankles and legs up to the knees with a sharp stone, until her legs were covered with gore and flowing blood ; then in like manner her arms, shoulders, and breast. The others cut themselves in the same way, but not so severely. On this poor infatuated woman I presume there were more than a hundred long deep gashes in the flesh. I saw the operation, and the blood instantly fol- lowed the instrument, and flowed down upon the flesh. She appeared frantic ^^ith grief. Through the pain of her wounds, the loss of blood, exhaustion of strength by fasting, loud and long-continued and bitter groans, or the extreme cold upon her almost naked and lacerated body, she soon sunk u}X)n the frozen ground, shaking as with a violent fit of the ague, and writhing in apparent agony. ' Surely,' I exclaimed, as I beheld the bloody scene, ' the tender mercies of the heathen are cruelty !' " The little church at the fort begins to manifest something of a missionary spirit. Their contributions are considerable for so small a number. I hope they will not only be willing to contribute liberally of their substance, but will give themselves, at least some of them, to the missionary work. " The surgeon of the military post, Dr. Jarvis, has G. II. POND.— S. W. POND.— S. R. RIGGS. 447 been very assiduous in his attentions to us in our sick- ness, and has very generously made a donation to our board of twenty-five dollars, being the amount of his medical services in our family. " On the nineteenth instant we commenced a school with six full Indian children, at least so in all their habits, dress, etc. ; not one could speak a word of any language but Sioux. The school has since increased to the number of twenty-five. I am now collecting and arranging words for a dictionary. Mr. Pond is assidu- ously employed in preparing a small spelling-book, which we may forward next mail for printing. " Since the Indians have returned to their village, I have felt it important to spend the Sabbath at the sta- tion generally. I have determined on going to the fort only on one Sabbath in each month. We have not yet been able to collect the Indians together, to give them religious mstructions on the Sabbath, for want of an interpreter." During the year 1836 a Presbyterian church was organized at Lac qui Parle, and the bois brule trader, Renville, became a member, and subsequently^ his Avife, the first pure Dahkotah that ever professed, and the first that ever died in the Christian fliith. During the year 1837 Mr. G. H. Pond offered his ser- vices as farmer and teacher at Lac qui Parle, and Mr. S. W. Pond became a teacher in the mission at Lake Harriet. The mission was also strengthened by the arrival of Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, a graduate of Jeffer- son College, Pennsylvania, and his wife. After remain- ing some time at Lake Harriet, Mr. and Mrs. Riggs went to Lac qui Parle. 448 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XXL Minnesota has ever been a favourite ranging-ground of the buffalo. This animal does not appear to have roamed in what is now called Canada, and, previous to the visit of Perrot to the region of Lake Michigan, but little was known concerning its habits. Two centuries ago, in a description of New York, it is said " traders who come from a great distance make mention of lions skins, which ^\\W. not be bartered because they are used for clothing, being much warmer than others." These supposed lions' skins were evidently buff'alo robes. Joliet and Marquette, descendmg the Mississippi, in 1673, saw these animals; and the latter, in his journal, says : — " We call them wild cattle because they are like our domestic cattle ; they are not longer, but almost as big again, and more corpulent; our men having killed* one, three of us had considerable trouble in moving it. The head is very large, the forehead flat, and a foot and a half broad between the horns, which are exactly like our cattle, except that they are black and much larger. Under the neck there is a kind of large crop hanging down, and on the back a pretty high hump. The whole head, the neck, and part of the shoulders are covered RED RIVER CARTS.— HUNTERS. 449 with a great mane like a horse's ; it is at least a foot long, which renders them hideous, and, falling over their eyes, prevents their seeing before them. The rest of the body is covered with a coarse, curly hair hke the wool of our sheep, but much stronger and thicker. It falls in summer, and the skm is then as soft as velvet. At this time the Indians employ the skins to make beautiful robes, which they paint with various colours." The first engraving of the buffalo is found in the book of travels of Hennepin. In 1677 La Salle was in France, and represented to Colbert, the minister, that he wished to continue discoveries where commerce in the skins and wool of the buffalo might establish a great trade and support powerful colonies. For many years the half-breeds of the Hudson Bay Company have subsisted by hunting the buffalo on the plains of Minnesota, and their encroachments on the territory of the United States have been a just ground of complaint.^ With the commencement of each spring these hunters commence preparations for their campaign, and about the month of June they march forth to the plains. Their carts are truly primitive, having the ajDpearance of being made before the days of Tubal Cain. Not a particle of iron fastens them together. The wheels are without tires, and wooden pegs take the place of iron spikes. Into the shafts an ox is harnessed with gearing made of raw hide, and with this vehicle they travel hundreds of miles. Women and children ^ The following list gives an idea In 1825, there were G80 carts, of the extent of the hunting by " 1830, " " 820 " British half-breeds in Minnesota. " 1835, " " 970 " The number of carts fur the first trip " 1840, " " 1210 " of each year is given : — 29 450 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. accompany the hunters, and, as they wind over the prairies in their gay hunting attire, they appear Uke bold crusaders on a pilgrimage. When they halt for the night, the carts are arranged in the form of a circle, with tlie shafts projecting outward, and within this wooden cordon the tents are pitched at one end, and the animals tethered at the other extremity — when danger is anti- cipated. The camp is under complete organization. At a meeting of the hunters, chiefs are nominated, one of whom acts as chief captain. The rules formed by the council of captains are implicitly obeyed.^ At the hoist- ing of the flag in the morning all hands are " up and doing," and at the lowering of the flag all halt for the night and pitch their tents. The flag, to these modern sons of Ishmael, is what the pillar of cloud was to the camp of the children of Israel. On the fourth of July, 1840, there was a grand buffalo chase near the Cheyenne river in Minnesota. An eye- witness ^ describes the scene : — " At eight o'clock, the whole cavalcade made for the bufialo; first at a slow trot, then at a gallop, and lastly at full speed. Their advance was on a dead level ; the ^ In 1840, the following were some these laws, the offender to have his of the rules of the camp, as deter- saddle and bridle cut up. mined at Pembina : — 6. For the second offence, the coat 1. No bufialo to be run on the to be taken off the offender's back, Sabbath day. and cut up. 2. No party to fork off, lag be- 7. For the third offence, offender hind, or go before, without permis- to be flogged. sion. 8. Any person convicted of theft, 3. No person to run buffalo before even to the value of a sinew, to be the general order. brought to the middle of the camp, 4. Every captain with his men, in and the crier to call out his or her turn to patrol the camp and keep name three times, adding the word guard. " Thief," at each time. 5. For the first trespass against ^ Alexander Ross. BUFFALO HUNT IN 1840. 451 plain having no hollow or shelter of any kind to con- ceal their approach. When within four or five hundred yards, the bulls began to curve their tails and paw the ground, and in a moment more the herd take flight, and the hunters burst in among them and fire. Those who have seen a squadron of horse dash into battle may imagine the scene. The earth seemed to tremble when the horses started; but when the animals fled, it was like the shock of an earthquake. The air was darkened, and rapid firing at last became more faint, as the hunters became more distant." During the day, at least two thousand bufl^aloes must have been killed, for there were brought in to the camp that evening 1375 tongues. The hunters are exceed- ingly expert ; with their mouth full of balls, they load and fire on the gallop. The carts follow out after the hunters and bring in the carcasses, and for several days there is a busy scene in camp. Much of the meat is useless in consequence of the heat of the season; but the skins are dressed, the tongues cured, and pemmican prepared.^ The last buffalo seen below St. Paul east of the Mis- sissippi, was in 1832, in the neighbourhood of Trempe a I'Eau. The history of Minnesota is now beginning to be identified with those who are its citizens, and still in the vigour of life. The duty of the historian is simply to narrate facts ; • Pemmican is a staple to the Sacks of raw hide are then made, hunter and voyageur. It is made by into which the preparation is poured boiling the tallow of the buffalo, and in a fluid state, aiising with it shreds of meat. 452 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and his views concerning living men, and their pubUc acts, are not to be expected. During the year 1836, a Mr. Dickson, styhng himself General of the Indian Liberating Army, with several others, appeared in the Red River settlement, and endeavoured to enlist the settlers in a project to unite all the Indian nations under a common government, of which he was to be the head, with the title of Monte- 7Aima the Second. His officers were dressed in showy uniforms and glittering epaulettes.^ Before they arrived at Red river, the cold weather came, and the leader had his toes frozen off, which crippled him as well as the whole enterprise. The latter part of the following winter, one of the expedition, Martin McLeod, who has since become one of our most active citizens, and whose name is attached to a county, left Red river for the United States, on snow shoes. His two companions, a Polander and an Irishman, both perished in a snow storm near Cheyenne river. He and his guide, Pierre Bottineau,^ were twent}^- six days without seeing a living soul ; and after being- five days without food, ate one of their dogs, and at last reached the trading-post of the Hon. Joseph R. Brown, at Lake Traverse. In the month of February, 1837, missionaries sent out by the Evangelical Society at Lausanne, Switzer- land, arrived and located at Red Wing and Wapashaw villages ; but after a few years of toil, they abandoned the attempt to ameliorate the condition of the Dahko- tah. About the same time a Methodist mission was Martin's Hudson's Bay, Loudon. Now a resident of St. Anthony. IMPORTANT TREATIES IN 1837. 453 commenced at Kaposia, afterwards moved to Red Rock, after a large expenditure, was finally abandoned. The year 1837, forms an era in the history of Min- nesota, as the first steps were then taken for the intro- duction of the woodman's axe, and the splash of the mill-wheel. Governor Dodge, of Wisconsin Territory, convened the Ojibways at Fort Snelling, and made a treaty by which the pine forests of the valley of the St. Croix and its tributaries were ceded to the United States. A deputation of Dahkotahs the same year proceeded to Washington, and in the month of September, con- cluded a treaty by which they ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi, including all of Washington and Ramsey counties, to the United States. J. B. Faribault and Pelagic, his wife, presented a claim to the United States government for the island in front of Fort Snelling, which Pike had purchased. The claim was based upon a grant made by the Dahkotahs in 1820.^ After the treaties with the Indians were concluded, Messrs. Baker, Taylor, and Franklin Steele made a claim, and commenced the improvement of the valuable water-power at the Falls of St. Croix. Among visiters of note this year was the distinguished novelist, Maryatt. Like all mere tourists, he has been ^ Extract from papers presented to bault, and to her heirs for ever, the the secretary of war by Alexis Bailly, island at the mouth of the river St. and S. C. Stambaugh, prosecutors Pierre, being the large island, con- of the claim. Grant confirmed by taining by estimation, three hundred Indians August ninth, 1820: — and twenty acres. ****** " Also we do hereby reserve, give, The said Pelagi Farribault being the grant and convey, to Pelagi Farri- daughter of Fran<;oi8 Kinie, by a bault, wife of John Baptist Farri- woman of our nation." 454 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. betrayed into inaccuracies; and yet it is interesting to note the impression produced by an intelligent mind at that period — when the country was still in possession of savages. The winter of 1837-38 was one of sufiering among the Dahkotahs of the Upper Minnesota. Famine, and the loathsome disease small-pox, made its appearance at Lake Traverse, and produced wailing, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. The disease was communicated by some who had been on a steamboat on the Missouri, and they were swept off by scores. In addition to famine and pestilence, the war whoop was again raised. On the first of August, 1838, a small hunting party left Lac qui Parle, accompanied by Mr. Gideon H. Pond, who was desirous of becoming more thoroughly ac- quainted with Dahkotah modes of life. In the fall of 1837, Hole-in-the-day, a distinguished Ojibway chief, father of the young man who now bears that name, had smoked the calumet with the Dahkotahs, and promised to meet them the next spring, and make them presents for the privilege of hunting on their lands. After travelHng for a few days, the hunting party separated, and a portion proceeded in advance. Three lodges of men, women, and children remained. The afternoon of the day of the division of the party, eleven Ojibways came to the advance lodges. They w^ere re- ceived as friends : two dogs were killed, and they feasted. Hilarity ended, the Dahkotahs lay down to sleep. When all was silent, the guests arose and scalped men, women, children, and infants, nearly the whole camp. Among those who escaped, was a mother. While fleeing, her babe was shot in her arms, and she was wounded. G. H. POND BURIES SLAUGHTERED INDIANS. 455 Hastening behind a tree, she ekided the enemy, and watched them in their fiendish work. After they left the scene, she returned to the lodges, and remained till the dawn of day. Fastening two poles, after the manner of Indians, to a horse, she placed on them a wounded boy, and her scalped little ones, and proceeded in search of the party that had gone ahead. At length finding them, she told her tale of woe. Mr. Pond, in company with an Indian, imme- diately repaired to the scene of carnage, and found several bodies who had passed from the sleep of life to the sleep of death, without opening their eyelids. Hastily digging a grave, the severed limbs, heads, and mangled bodies of eleven Dahkotahs were interred, and covered with a buffalo skin teepee. On the fourteenth of April the survivors returned to Lac qui Parle, and the intelligence caused " wailing and weeping." In the month of August, a war party left Lac qui Parle to retaliate for the April slaughter. Discovering five or six Ojibways, they attempted to scalp them, but all escaped their hands but a woman. About to become a mother, she swam a stream with difficulty, and sank down on the opposite bank exhausted. Her pursuers soon tore her scalp from her head, and then, ripping open her body, dashed the unborn babe to pieces. The Ojibways, at Pokeguma, became very much afraid that the Dahkotahs of the Mississippi would now attack them. Dancing the war dance, they were unfriendly to the mission at their lake ; shooting cattle, and dashing a canoe to pieces. They also threatened to drive the missionaries and all others from the country. Finding some lumbermen, in anticipation of the rati- fication of the treaty of 1837, cutting trees at the mouth 456 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. of Snake river, they pursued them. The men fled down the St. Croix in their canoes, and, at the imminent risk of their lives, floated over the falls, where their canoe sunk, but they were unhurt. A few miles below the falls they were met by the first steamboat that had ever ascended the St. Croix, bring- ing the welcome news of the ratification of the treaty, which had been made at Fort Snelling the year before, and ratified by the Senate on the fifteenth of June, 1838. This lioat brought to the country Orange Walker, Samuel Burkleo, and others who were interested in the Marine Mills in Washington county. After the unprovoked attack of Hole-in-the-Day, be- yond Lac qui Parle, some Dahkotahs met an Ojibway, near the grave-yard, at Fort Snelling, and killed him. The murderers were for a time confined in the guard- house of the fort, but at last set at libertj'. During the month of June, 1839, hundreds of Ojibway s arrived at Fort Snelling, under the erroneous impression that they were to receive their annuities there. While there, the neighbouring Dahkotahs visited them. They drank, they feasted, they danced together. Two sons of the Ojibway, murdered near the grave-yard the year before, took the occasion to go and weep over the burial-place of their father. The thought of their murdered parent excited a desire for revenge ; and, that night secreting themselves near a frequented trail at Lake Harriet, at the next day's dawn the}^ shot and scalped one of that band named " Badger," who was starting to hunt. The friends of the murdered one soon brought him home, wrapped in his blanket. Yeetkadootah, or Red Bird, a near relative, approach- BATTLES OF STILLWATER AND RUM RIVER. 457 ing, removing the ornaments from the corpse, kissed it, and said he would die for it. His voice was now hfted up for war. Raising a party, he crossed the Mississippi at Fort Snelhng, in pursuit of the Ojibways, who had departed for their country the day before. While assembled on the east bank of the Mississippi they bound themselves to kill all. The Ojibways had gone partly by the St. Croix, and partly by the Mississippi, to their villages. Red Bird deter- mined to follow the party that had ascended the Mis- sissippi. The same day warriors from Kaposia, and the other villages in the vicinity of the fort, followed the trail leading through St. Paul, in search of the Ojibways that had gone in that direction. Travelling until night, they found the Ojibways sleeping in the ravine near the penitentiary at Stillwater. Perceiving that there was a white man, an old trader (Mr. Aitkin), in the enemy's camp, they postponed their attack until dawn of the next day, as they did not wish to injure him. At daybreak, the first intelligence of the presence of the Dahkotahs was a volley of musket balls poured from the bluffs into the midst of the Ojibway camj). The Ojibways, fighting bravely, retreated to the shore of the lake, and endeavoured to escape in their canoes ; but, before the conflict was over, forty or fifty of their number were slain. Ten or fifteen Dahkotahs were killed and wounded.^ About the time that the battle of Stillwater ended, Yeetkadootah's party came up to the women and child- ^ The one-legged Indian, known to lost his leg by a wound in this bat- the citizens of St. Paul as Lame Jim, tie. 458 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ren of the Ojibways, who were making a portage on Rum river, while the men were absent hunting deer. With lance, scalping knife, and tomahawk, in a brief period they made bloody work. In their haste to take scalps, it is said they scalped one of their own number. Yeetkadootah, on horseback, approaching a wounded Ojibway, who still held his gun in his hand, was shot through the neck, just as he was alighting to scalp him. It is said that while the Ojibways were at Fort Snel- ling, a young Dahkotah brave had wooed an Ojibway maiden, and was loved in return. In the heat of the battle he found his tomahawk raised to strike a woman, and behold, it proved to be her whom he had loved. She begged to be his captive, but it had been agreed that there should be no quarter. As he could not save her he passed on, and in an instant, one in the rear cleft her skull with the sharp tomahawk. From these two engagements the Dahkotahs brought back ninety- one scalps, and were frantic with glory. In 1836, before the Indian title was extinguished, settlers located on the tract of land on the east side of the Mississippi, between St. Paul and Fort Snelling. By the treaty of September, 1837, made by the Dah- kotahs with the United States, which was ratified by the Senate on the fifteenth of June, 1838, the Indian title to the tract in question ceased. In March, 1838, the commander at Fort Snelling selected this land as a j^art of a military reservation. Consequently, it was withheld from sale. Those who had made claims upon it, were much dissatisfied, and evinced a disposition to resist. Orders were issued from the war department, to the United States Marshal of REMOVAL OF SQUATTERS. 459 Wisconsin, to remove the intruders.^ The greater por- tion of the settlers were Swiss, and after all of their migrations from Switzerland, via Hudson Bay Com- pany's possessions, to the present desirable location, they were loath to depart. The troops were sum- marily called out from the fort on the sixth of May, 1840, and the settlers with undue haste removed, and on the next day the troops destroyed their cabins, to prevent re-occupation. ^ Order for removal of squatters on Military Reserve, Fort Snelling : — '• War Department, Oct. 21, 18.39. " Sir — The interests of the service, and the proper and effective main- tenance of the military post at Fort Snelling, requiring that the intruders on the land recently reserved for military purposes, opposite to that post east of the Mississippi river be removed therefrom, the President of the United States directs that ■when required by the commanding officer of the post you proceed there, and remove them under the provi- sions of the act of March third, 1807, entitled ' An act to prevent settlements heing made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law.' " You will satisfy yourself of the shortest period within which the intruders can make their arrange- ments for removal, and depart from the reservation without serious loss or sacrifice of the propertj-^ which they may have to take witli them, and you will promptly make known to them that it is expected they will not delay beyond that period ; as should they do so, it ■will become your duty to remove them by military force. It is hoped, however, that a resort to such force for this purpose -which by the Act aljove-mentioned the Presi- dent is authorized to employ, -will not be necessary ; but that they will promptly depart, on being informed of the determination of the execu- tive, not to permit them to remain. Should you however be unfortunate- ly obliged to use force in order to ac- complish the object, you are author- ized to call for such as you may deem necessary on the commanding officer at Fort Snelling. In this event you will act with as much forbearance, consideration, and deli- cacy as may bo consistent with the prompt and faithful performance of the duties hereby assigned to you, first fully and mildly explaining the folly of resistance on their part, and your own want of discretion in the matter. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. Pi. Poinsett. Edward James, Esq., United States Marshal for the Territory of Wiskonsan, Peru." 460 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. During the summer of 1840, a tragic and melancholy occurrence took place on the plains of Minnesota. On the sixth of June, Thomas Simpson, the youthful, educated, and adventurous explorer, who had disco- vered and named Victoria Land, in the Arctic Regions, left Fort Garry, in the Red River settlement, to visit England, by way of the traders' route through Minne- sota. He left the settlement with quite a number, but anxious to behold Great Britain, from which he had been absent for years, they travelled too slow, and he moved on in advance with a Canadian, two half-breeds, and a lad, the son of one of the latter. His movements were those of one whose mmd was excited, and in two days he had advanced one hundred miles. He then complained of sickness, and said he would never recover ; and when told that there was a physician at the mission-house of Lac qui Parle, he replied " that he did not wish a doctor." At his urgent solicitation, his guides turned back on the fourteenth of June, and an hour and a half after the setting of the sun, they encamped near Turtle river. While two of the men and the lad were busy in raising the tent, one of them, named Bird, was shot, and instantly died, and on turning around, the others saw Simpson fire at a half- breed, named Legros, father of the boy, and in a few minutes he expired. The boy and sur^dving guide ran off, when Simpson called out that their lives were safe, and that he had shot the others because they intended to murder him on that night, and take the papers on his recent Arctic explorations. Before Legros died, he called his son and kissed him. Bruce, the remaining guide, and lad, that night mounted their horses, and proceeded toward the main camp that INSANITY AND SUICIDE OF THOMAS SIMPSON. 461 they had left a few days before. Relating their strange story, five accompanied them to the scene of the disaster. As they approached the cart the next day, on their re- turn, a shot was fired, as they at first supposed at their party. Drawing nigh with great caution, crawling through the grass on their stomachs, they discovered Mr. Simpson stretched out, with one leg across the other, the butt end of his gun between his legs, the right hand with the glove off directed to the trigger, all the head above the nose blown off, and his night- cap some yards distant with a bullet hole in it, and some of his hair attached. Since Bruce and the son of Legros left the night before, the body of one of the guides had been covered with the tent, and the poles laid on the top, and the body of the other had been covered with a blanket, and a pillow placed beneath the head. From the beaten path it was supposed that he had passed the whole night in walking between these two dead bodies. It was a tragic scene. The moon that night shone brightly. The faithful dog of one of the party remained watching, and Simpson, with his over-tasked mind, gibbered over the corpses, and wrapped them up, filled with some strange fancy. On the fifteenth of June, Simpson, only thirty-two years of age, and his two guides, were wrapped up in the same winding-sheet, the cover of the tent, and de- posited in the same grave. The news of this tragedy did not reach Red river until the party returned from Fort Snelling, in the month of October. A medical gentleman with some men then proceeded to the grave, and disinterring the bodies, made a post mortem exami- nation, which corresponded with the deposition of 462 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Bruce, as given before Mr. Sibley at Mendota in July. His body was conveyed to Red river, and there re-in- terred.^ The Dahkotahs in the neighbourhood of Lakes Harriet and Calhoun, through fear of their enemies, after the troubles of 1839, began to reside on the banks of the Minnesota, near Oak Grove. On the seventeenth of June, 1840, four Ojibways who had secreted themselves about two miles below Mendota, on the Mississippi, killed and scalped a Dahkotah man and woman. Joseph R. Brown, who since 1838 had lived at Chan Wakan, on the west side of Grey Cloud Island, this year made a claim near the upper end of the city of Stillwater, which he called Dahkotah, and was the first to raft lumber down the St. Croix, as well as the first to represent the citizens of the valley in the legislature of Wisconsin. On the second of September, of this year, the Rev. Mr. Riggs, of the Lac qui Parle mission, accompanied by the mission farmer, Mr, Huggens, made a tour to the Missouri, in company with a party of Indians on a buffalo hunt.^ Until the year 1841, the jurisdiction of Crawford county, Wisconsin, extended over the delta of country between the St. Croix and Mississippi. Josej)h R. Brown, having been elected as representative of the ' Alexander Simpson, in " Life who was a justice of the peace, and ajid Travels of T. Simpson," Bentley, examined the eye-witnesses, thinks London, 1845, conveys the impres- he became deranged, and shot his sion that he was murdered by the guides and himself, half-breeds. Ballantyne, in " Hud- ^ An interesting account of this son's Bay," hiis the same opinion, but journey is published in the Mission- Rosa, in " Bed River Settlemeni," ary Herald, Boston, 1841. DESCRIPTION OF LAKE POKEGUMA. 463 count}^, in the territorial legislature of Wisconsin, suc- ceeded in obtaining the passage of an act on November twentieth, 1841, organizing the county of St. Croix, with Dahkotah designated as the county seat. At the time prescribed for holding a court in the new county, it is said that the judge of the district arrived, and to his surprise, found a claim cabin occupied by a Frenchman. Speedily retreating, he never came again, and judicial proceedings for St. Croix county ended for several years. After the Ojibway slaughter of 1839, the missionaries removed from Lake Harriet to the stone building above Fort Snelling, now known as the St. Louis House. Early in the spring of 1841, in a thicket in the vicinity, three Ojibway warriors lay w^atching for scalps. At length Kaibokah, a Dahkotah chief, with his son, and another man, passed. The chief and his son were both shot, and their foe escaped in a canoe to the east bank of the Mississippi. For this act retaliation soon took place. Pokeguma is one of the " Mille Lacs," or thousand beautiful lakes for which Minnesota is remarkable. It is a]jout four or five miles in extent, and a mile or more in width. Its shores are strewn with boulders that in a past geologic age have been brought by some mighty impetus from the icy north. Down to the water's edge grow the tall pines, through which, for many years, the deer have bounded, and the winds sighed mournfully, as they wafted away to distant lands the shriek of many Dahkotah or Ojibway mothers, caused by the slaughter of their children. This lake is situated on Snake river, about twenty miles above the junction i)f that stream with the St. Croix. Though as late as the year 1700, the Dahko- 464 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. tabs resided in this vicinity, for a long period it has been the abode of their enemies, the Ojibways. In the year 1836, missionaries of the American Board of Foreign Missions connected with the Congre- gational and Presbyterian denominations, came to re- side among the Ojibways of Pokeguma, to promote their temporal and spiritual welfare. Their mission-house was built on the east side of the lake ; but the Indian village was on an island not far from the shore. In a few years, several Indian famihes, among others that of the chief, were induced to build log houses around the mission. The missionaries felt, to use the language of one of them, that " the motives of the gospel had no more influence over the Indian, in themselves consid- ered, than over the deer that he follows in the chase." They therefore first encouraged the Indian to work, and always purchased of him his spare provisions. By aiding them in this way, many had become quite industrious. In a letter written in 1837, we find the following : " The young women and girls now make, mend, wash, and iron after our manner. The men have learned to build log houses, drive team, plough, hoe, and handle an American axe with some skill in cutting large trees, the size of which, two years ago, would have afforded them a sufficient reason why they should not meddle with them." On May fifteenth, 1841, two young men had gone, by order of Mr. Russell, now of Sauk Rapids, then In- dian farmer at Pokeguma, to the Falls of St. Croix, after a load of provisions. On the next day, which was Sunday, the news arrived there, that a Dahkotah war party, headed by Little Crow, of the Kaposia band, whose face is so familiar to the older citizens of St. BATTLE OF LAKE POKEGUMA. 465 Paul, was on the way to their village. Immediately they started back on foot to give the alarm to their relatives and friends. They had hardly left the Falls, on their return, be- fore they saw a party of Dahkotahs, stripped and be- daubed with Vermillion, and preparing themselves for war. The sentinel of the enemy had not noticed the approach of the young men. A few yards in front of the Ojibway youth sat two of the sons of Little Crow, behind a log, exulting, no doubt, in anticipation of the scalps in reserve for them at the lake. In the twink- ling of an eye, these two young Ojibways raised their guns, fired, and killed both of the chief's sons. The sentinel, who had by his carelessness allowed them to pass, was a third son. The discharge of the guns re- vealed to him that an enemy was near, and as the Ojil> ways were retreating, he fired, and mortally wounded one of the tw.\ Fiendish was the rage of the Dahkotahs at this disastrous surprise. According to custom, the corpses of the chief's sons were dressed, and then set up with their faces towards the country of their ancient enemies. The wounded Ojibway was horribly mangled by the infuriated party, and his limbs strewn about in every direction. His scalped head was placed in a kettle, and suspended in front of the two Dahkotah corpses, in the belief that it would be gratifjdng to the spirits of the deceased, to see before them the bloody and scalpless head of one of their enemies. Little Crow, disheartened by the loss of his two boys, returned with his party to Kaposia. But other parties were in the field. The Dahkotahs had divided themselves into three bands; and it was the understand- 30 466 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ing that one party was first to attack Pokeguma, and then retire. After the Ojibwa^s supposed that the attack was over, the second party was to commence their fire, and after they had ceased to fight, the third party was to begin to slaughter. The second party proceeded as far as the mouth of Snake river, but, supposing that the Ojibways had dis- covered them, they turned back, and upon their arrival at the Falls of St. Croix, they were still more chagrined, by hearing of the death of the sons of the Kaposia chief. It was not till Friday, the twenty-first of May, that the death of one of the young Ojibways sent by Mr. Russell, to the Falls of St. Croix, Avas known at Poke- guma. The murdered youth was a son of one of those families who had renounced heathenism, and whose parents lived on the lake shore, in one of the log build- ings, by the mission-house. The intelligence alarmed the Ojibways on the island ojDposite the mission, and on Monday, the twenty-fourth, three young men left in a canoe to go to the west shore of the lake, and from thence to Mille Lac, to give intelligence to the Ojibways there, of the skirmish that had already occurred. They took witji them two Indian girls, about twelve years of age, who were pupils of the mission school, for the pur- pose of bringing the canoe back to the island. Just as the three were landmg, twenty or thirty Dahkotah war- riors, with a war whoop emerged from their conceal- ment behind the trees, and fired into the canoe. The young men instantly sprang into the water, which was shallow, returned the fire, and ran into the woods, esca- ping without material injury. The little girls, in their fright, waded into the lake ; BATTLE OF LAKE POKEGUMA. 467 and as in Indian warfare it is as noble to kill an infant as an adult, a delicate woman as a strong man, the Dahkotah braves, with their spears and war clubs, rushed into the water after the children and killed them. Their parents upon the island, heard the death cries of their children ; and for a time the scene was one of the wildest confusion. Some of the Indians around the mission-house jumped into their canoes and gained the island. Others went into some fortified log huts. The attack upon the canoe, it was afterwards learned, was premature. The party upon that side of the lake were ordered not to fire, until the party stationed in the woods near the mission commenced. There were in all one hundred and eleven Dahkotah warriors, and the fight was in the vicinity of the mis- sion-house, and the Ojibways mostly engaged in it were those who had been under religious instruction. The rest were upon the island. During the engagement, an incident occurred, as worthy of note as some of those in Grecian histor}^ The fathers of the murdered girls, burning for re- venge, left the island in a canoe, and drawing it up on the shore, hid behind it, and fired upon the Dahkotahs and killed one. The Dahkotahs advancing upon them, they were obliged to escape. The canoe was now launched. One lay on his back in the bottom ; the other plunged into the water, and, holding the canoe with one hand, and swimming with the other, he towed liis friend out of danger. The Dahkotahs, infuriated at their escape, fired volley after volley at the swimmer, but he escaped the balls by putting his head under water whenever he saw them take aim, and waiting till 468 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. he heard the discharge, when he would look up and breathe. After a fight of two hours, the Dahkotahs retreated with a loss of two men. At the request of the parents, Mr. E. F. Ely, now of Oneota, from whose notes the writer has obtained these facts, being at that time a teaclier at the mission, went across the lake, with two of his friends, to gather the remains of his murdered pupils. He found the corpses on the shore. The heads cut off and scaljDcd, with a tomahawk buried in the brains of each, were set up in the sand near the bodies. The bodies were pierced in the breast, and the right arm of one was taken away. Removing the tomahawks, the bodies were brought back to the island, and in the afternoon were buried in accordance with the simple but solemn rites of the Church of Christ, by members of the mission. It is usual for Indians to leave their murdered on or near the battle-field, with their faces looking towards the enemy's country; and on Wednesday the Ojibways started out in search of the Dahkotahs that had been killed. By following the trail, they soon found the two bodies, and scalped them. One of the heads was also cut off, and brought to the island, to adorn the graves of the little girls. To a North-western savage, such a head-stone at a daughter's grave is more gratifying than one of sculptured Italian marble. Strips of flesh were fastened to the trees. A breast was also taken, and cooked and eaten by the braves to express their hatred to the Dahkotahs. The mother and wife of the young man who had been killed by Little Crow's third son, were each pre- sented with a hand. These women had been accustomed ATTACK BELOW ST. PAUL. 469 to attend preaching at the mission-house, and knew the principles of the Prince of Peace. Though they had, in 1839, lost many relatives by an attack from the Dali- kotahs, on Rum river, they engaged in no savage orgies, but, withdrawing to their wigwam, they placed the hands of their foes upon their knees, gazed in silence, then wrapped them in white muslin and interred them. Such is one of the many similar scenes that have occurred in our own territory within ten years. Governor Ram- sey, the president of the Historical Society, in his address of 1851, well remarked that the region between the Falls of St. Croix and Mille Lac, was a "Gol- gotha" — a place of skulls. The sequel to this story is soon told. The Indians of Pokeguma, after the fight, deserted their village, and went to reside with their countrymen near Lake Supe- rior. In July of the following year, 1842, a war party was formed at Fond du Lac, about forty in number, and pro- ceeded towards the Dahkotah country. When they reached Kettle river they were joined by the Ojibways of St. Croix and Mille Lac, and thus numbered about one hundred warriors. Sneaking, as none but Indians can, they arrived unnoticed at the httle settlement below St. Paul, commonly called " Pig's Eye," which is oppo- site Kaposia, or Little Crow's village. Finding an Indian woman at work in the garden of her husband, a Canadian, by the name of Gamelle, they killed her; also another woman, with her infant, whose head was cut off. The Dahkotahs, on the opposite side, were mostly intoxicated ; and. Hying across in their canoes but half prepared, they were worsted in the encounter. They lost thirteen warriors, and one of their number. 470 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. known as the Dancer, the Ojibways are said to have skinned. The year of the Pokeguma battle, Governor Doty visited the Dahkotahs, and negotiated a treaty with the several bands at Wapashaw, Mendota, and Traverse des Sioux, by which the country west of the Mississippi would have been ceded, but the United States Senate did not ratify it. During the winter of 1842-3, Mr. Ayer visited Red Lake, whose waters flow into the Red River of the North, with the view of ascertaining the practicability of missionary operations there. The chief received the i^roposition with favour, and thus addressed his warriors : — " My braves ! I should be ashamed to suffer one who has come so far to visit us to turn back again. We should not turn him away. We would not treat our trader in this ^vay ; we should run to meet him. My braves ! you have listened to what he said. I believe what he says. Let us try him four years, and if we do not find him true, then we will send him away." On the 17th of April he made a second visit, accom- panied by Mr. Spencer, and Mr. E. F. Ely. The latter two immediately commenced assisting the Indians in their ploughing and in preparations for putting in a crop. The months of February and March, 1843, were exceedingly severe, the thermometer ranging lower than ever before recorded. The snow had fallen to such depths that the snow shoe was not very serviceable, and the waters were so troubled by high winds that it was difficult for the Indians to spear the fish through the holes cut in the ice. The Dahkotahs w^ere brought to the verge of starvation, some bands being reduced to SETTLEMENT OF STILLWATER. 471 the necessity of subsisting on a syrup made of hickory chii:)s, or boiled bitter sweet. The United States government, in view of their peculiar necessities, granted them twenty-five hundred dollars worth of pro- visions, powder, and clothing. During the summer the Rev. Mr. Riggs, on his return from a visit to Ohio, commenced a mission station at Traverse des Sioux. His family and the Rev. Mr. Hopkins and wife proceeded to Lac qui Parle. While drawing to the close of their last day's journey, three young Dahkotahs, who had been on a visit to Ohio, hurried on in advance. Shortly two Indian lads said that, while drinking at a little stream, they had heard the report of fire-arms, and had seen Ojibways. The intelligence was confirmed by the return of one of the three who had gone ahead, who said that he had con- versed with the Ojibways, and had been saved by his white man's dress. In a little while the travellers beheld on an eminence fifteen or twenty Ojibway w^ar- riors, who retreated as they approached. Crossing the Maya-wakan, they found the two corpses of the young Dahkotahs. Taking the wagon cover for a winding- sheet, the missionaries wrapped one of the bodies and proceeded toward Lac qui Parle. The Indians there having gained intelligence of the attack, rushed forth to meet them, and were enraged because the whites bad not pursued the Ojibways. On the tenth of October, 1843, was commenced a settlement which has become the town of Stillwater. The names of the proprietors were John McKusick from j\Iaine, Calvin Leach from Vermont, Elam Greeley Irom Maine, and Elias McKean from Pennsylvania. They immediately commenced the erection of a saw- 472 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. mill, and made improvements which fixed the point as the centre of the lumbering interests of the valley of the St. Croix. On the eleventh of August, 1844, Captain Allen, with fifty United States dragoons, left Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and passed through the south-western portion of Minne- sota; but, the guide having left them soon after they commenced their march, they wandered through the country in great uncertainty. After floundering through marshes, they came, as they supposed, to a tributary of the Minnesota; and, on the tenth of September, about latitude 45°, they found the Big Sioux, and there, for the first time since they started, met a party of Dah- kotahs. B. Gervais, during this year, moved to a point five miles north-east of St. Paul, known as Little Canada, and erected the first mill in Minnesota beyond the mili- tary reservation of Fort Snelling. In the summer of this year, a party of drovers, on their way from the South to Fort Snelling with cattle, lost their way, and were captured and maltreated by the Sissetoan Dahkotahs. As soon as the intelligence reached the fort, troops were despatched in pursuit of the offenders, who were captured, but subsequently escaped. The United States, having learned that the half-breed hunters of Red River settlement were killing thousands of buffalo annually in Minnesota, sent a military expe- dition to the valley of the Red river, under the charge of Captain Sumner of the dragoons. They left Fort Atkinson, Iowa, on the third of June, 1845, and, march- ing through the interior, reached Traverse des Sioux on the twenty-fifth. Proceeding to Lac qui Parle, a council SUMNER ARRESTS MURDERERS OF A DROVER. 473 was held with the Dahkotahs of that vicinity. Although they had difficulty with the half-breeds of the North, in consequence of hunting buffalo in their country, they did not wish the United States to interfere. On the fifth of July, another council was held at Big Stone Lake, but it was unsatisfactory. The next day they marched northward, and, on the eighth, while Captain Sumner was holding an informal council in the saddle, three of the murderers of the drover (Watson) and party, who had escaped the pre- vious autumn from Colonel Wilson's detachment of the First Infantry, boldly walked into council. Immediately they were recognised and arrested. The excitement for a few moments was intense, but Sumner told them that it was useless to talk at that time, as he would be there again in about a month. The prisoners then accom- panied the troops to Minne Wakan ' Lake, about the 48th degree of latitude, which was reached on the eighteenth. In this vicinity they struck the trail of the hunters, and soon met a deputation of them with an interpreter. The next morning Captain Sumner proceeded to their camp, which was composed of one hundred and eighty men. In his interview with them he found them frank and sensible. They told him that tHey had been trained to the hunter's life from childhood, and knew no other occupation, and that the buffalo was their only subsist- ence, and they desired to know whether they would be received as citizens, if they moved within the American lines. The officer told them that he was not authorized to express any opinion on such points, but advised them to write a letter to Washington. * Devil's Lake. 474 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. The expedition returned to Traverse des Sioux on the seventh of August, and was surprised at seeing two fine horses, that belonged to the officers of Captain Allen's company, and some mules, among the Indians. The thieves were arrested and sent down to Fort Snelling. In the spring of 1845, one of Good Road's band of Dahkotahs was killed by Pillagers at Otter Tail Lake. Not long after, a party of Ojibways came to Fort Snel- ling, and to protect them from the exasperated Dahko- tahs, Captain Backus quartered them wdthin the walls. In the month of March, 1846, Joseph Renville, of Lac qui Parle, whose name one of the counties of the State bears, died. Previous to the ratification of the treaty of 1837, he was, perhaps, the most prominent citizen in Minnesota.^ ^ Joseph Renville was of mised descent, and his history forms a link between the past and the present history of JMinnesota. His father was a French trader of much repu- tation. His mother was a Dahkotah, connected with some of the principal men of the Kaposia band. He was born just below the town of St. Paul, about the year 1779, during the war of the American Revolution. At that time, there was probably not a white family residing in the whole of that vast territory that now com- prises Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, excepting offi- cers of the British army. Accustomed to see few European countenances, in sports, habits, and feelings he was a full Dahkotah youth. As often happens, his mo- ther deserted her husband, and went to live with one of her own blood. The father, noticing the activity of his son's mind, took him to Canada before he was ten years of age, and placed him under the tuition of a priest of Rome. His instructor ap- pears to have been both a kind and good man, and from him he received a slight knowledge of the French language, and the elements of the Christian religion. Before he at- tained to manhood, he was brought back to the Dahkotah land, and was called to mourn the death of his father. At that time, there was a British officer by the name of Dickson, who lived in what is now Minnesota, and the head of an English Fur Com- pany. Knowing that young Ren- ville was energetic, he employed him as a " coureur des bois." While ONE-EYED CANADIAN, EARLY SETTLER AT ST. PAUL. 475 The year that the Dahkotahs ceded the land east of the Mississippi, a Canadian Frenchman, by the name of Parant, the ideal of an Indian whiskey-seller, erected a mere stripling, he had guided his canoe from the Falls of Pokeguma to the Falls of St. Anthony, and fol- lowed the trails from Mendota to the Missouri. lie knew by heart the legends of Winona, and Ampato Sa- pawin, and Hogam-wanke-kin. He had distinguished himself as a brave, and also became identified with the Dahkotahs more fully by following in the footsteps of his father and purchasing a wife of that nation. In 1797, he wintered, in company with a Mr. Perlier, near Sauk Ra- pids. The late General Pike was introduced to him at Prairie du Chien, and was conducted by him to the Falls of St. Anthony. This officer was pleased with him, and recommended him for the post of United States Interpreter. In a let- ter to General Wilkinson, written at Mendota, September ninth, 1805, he says : " I beg leave to recommend for that appointment, a Mr. Joseph Renville, who has served as inter- preter for the Sioux last spring at the Illinois, and who has gratuitous- ly and willingly served as my inter- preter in all my conferences with the Sioux. He is a man respected by the Indians, and I believe an honest one." At the breaking out of the last war with Great Britain, Col. Dickson was employed by that government, to hire the warlike tribes of the North-west to fight against the United States. Renville received from him, the appointment and rank of captain in the British army, and with warriors from the Wapashaw, Kaposia, and other bands of Dahko- tahs, marched to the American fron- tier. In 1822 he became a member of the Columbia Fur Company. Shortly after, the American Fur Company of New York, of which John Jacob Astor was one of the directors, not wishing any rivals in the trade, pur- chased their posts, and good-will, and retained the "coureurs des bois." Under this new arrangement, Renville removed to Lac qui Parle, and erected a trading-house, and here he resided until the end of his days. Living as he had done, for more than a half century among the Dahkotahs, over whom he exercised the most unbounded control, it is not surprising that in his advanced age he sometimes exhibited a domi- neering disposition. As long as Min- nesota exists, he should be known as one given to hospitality. He invariably showed himself to be a friend to the Indian, the traveller, and the missionary. Aware of the improvidence of his mother's race, he used his influence towards the raising of grain. lie was instru- mental in having the first seed corn planted on the Upper Minnesota. An Indian never left his house hungry, and they delighted to do him honour. He was a friend to the traveller. His conversation was in- telligent, and he constantly comma- 47G HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. a shanty at what is now the principal steamboat land- ing in St. Paul. Ignorant and overbearing, he loved money more than his soul. Destitute of one eye, and nicated facts that were worthy of re- cord. His post obtained a reputation among explorers, and their hist day's journey to it was generally a quick march, for they felt sure of a warm welcome. His son was the interpreter of Nicollet, that worthy man of science who explored this country in connection with Fremont. This gentlemen, in his report to Congress, pays the following tribute to the father and son : — " I may stop a while to say, that the residence of the Renville family, for a number of years back, has afforded the only retreat to travellers to be found between St. Peter's and the British posts, a distance of seven hundred miles. The liberal and untiring hospitality dispensed by this respectable family, the great influence exercised by it over the Indians of this country in the main- tenance of peace and the protection of travellers, would demand, besides our gratitude, some especial acknow- ledgment of the United States, and also from the Hudson's Bay Com- pany." The only traveller that has ever given any testimony opposed to this is Featherstonhaugh, a dyspeptic and growling Englishman, whose book, published in London in 1847, and styled a ' Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor,' betrays a filthy im- agination. He remarks : — " On reaching the fort, Renville advanced and saluted me, but not cordially. He was a dark, Indian- looking person, showing no white blood, short in his stature, with strong features and coarse black hair. *****! learnt that Renville entertained a company of stout Indians to the number of fifty, in a skin lodge behind his house, of extraordinary dimensions, whom he calls his braves, or soldiers. To these men he confided various trusts, and occasionally sent them to distant points to transact his business. No doubt he was a very intriguing per- son, and uncertain in his attach- ments. Those who knew him inti- mately, supposed him inclined to the British allegiance although he pro- fesses great attachment to the Amer- ican government, a circumstance, however, which did not prevent him from being under the surveillance of the garrison at Fort Snelling." He was also a friend to the Mis- sionary of the Cross. Until the year 1834, no minister of the church, made arrangements to devote his life to the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Dahkotahs. The Rev. T. S. Williamson, M.D., of the Presbytery of Chilicothe, ar- rived at Fort Snelling in 1834 ; then returned to the East, and in 1835 came back with assistant mission- aries. Renville warmly welcomed him, and rendered him invaluable assistance in the establishment of the missions. Upon the arrival of the missionaries at Lac qui Parle, he provided them with a temporary home. He acted as interpreter, he ORIGIN OF THE TERM "PIG'S EYE. 477 the other resembling that of a pig, he was a good repre- sentative of Caliban. In the year 1842, some one writing a letter in his assisted in translating the Scrip- tures, and removed many of the pre- judices of the Indians against the teachers of the white man's religion. His name appears in connection with several Dahkotah books. Dr. Watts' second Catechism for child- ren, published in Boston, in 1837, by Crocker & Brewster, was partly translated by him. In 1839, a volume of extracts from the Old Testament, and a volume containing the Gospel of Mark, was published by Kendell & Henry, Cin- cinnati, the translation of which was given orally by Mr. Renville, and penned by Dr. Williamson. Crocker & Brewster, in 1842, published Dah- kotah Dowanpi Kin, or Dahkotah Hymns, many of which were com- posed by the subject of this sketch. The following tribute to his ability as a translator, appeared in the Mis- sionary Herald of 1846, published at Boston : — " Mr. Renville was a remarkable man, and he was remarkable for the energy with which he pursued such objects as he deemed of primary im- portance. His power of observing and remembering facts, and also words expressive of simple ideas, was extraordinary. Though in his latter years he could read a little, yet in translating he seldom took a book in his hand, choosing to depend on hearing rather than sight, and I have often had occasion to observe, that after hearing a long and unfa- miliar verse read from the Scrip- tures, he would immediately render it from the French into Dahkotah, two languages extremely unlike in their idioms and ideas of the words, and repeat it over two or three words at a time, so as to give full opportu- nity to write it down. He also had a remarkable tact in discovering the aim of a speaker, and conveying the intended impression, when many of the ideas and words were such as had nothing corresponding to them in the minds and language of the addressed. These qualities fitted him for an interpreter, and it was generally admitted he had no equal." It would be improper to conclude this article without some remarks upon the religious character of Ren- ville. Years before there was a clergyman in Minnesota, he took his Indian wife to Prairie du Chien, and was married in accordance with Christian rites by a minister of the Roman Church. Before he became acquainted with missionaries, he sent for a large folio Bible in the French language, and requested those connected with him in the fur trade to procure for him a clerk who could read it. This Bible was pro- bably the first Bible in Minnesota, and in itself valuable for its anti- quity. It was printed at Geneva, in 1588, and had a Latin preface by John Calvin, the great Reformer. The writer, in 1853, requested Dr. Williamson, of the Dahkotah Mis- sion, to procure this same copy for the Historical Society. At his soli- 478 HISTORY OF MINxXESOTA. groggery, for the want of a more euphonious name, designated the place as "Pig's Eye," referring to the pecuUar appearance of the whiskey-seller. The reply citation, one of the sons of the late Mr. Renville, brought it to the Mis- sion House at Lac qui Parle, to be forwarded to St, Paul. Before an opportunity occurred, the Mission House, with all of its contents, was consumed by fire. After the commencement of the mission at Lac qui Parle, his wife •was the first full Dahkotah that join- ed the Church of Christ, of whom we have any record. She was also the first Dahkotah that died in the Christian faith. Before she had ever seen a teacher of the religion of Christ, through the instruction of her husband she had renounced the gods of the Dahkotahs. The following is an extract from a trans- lation of Mr. Renville's account of his wife's death : — " Now, to-day, you seem very much exhausted, and she said ' yes ; this day, now God invites me. I am remembering Jesus Christ who suffered for me, and depending on him alone. To- day I shall stand before God, and will ^sk him for mercy for you, and for all my children, and all my kinsfolk." Afterwards, when all her children and relatives sat round her weeping, she said, " it is holy day, sing and pray." From very early in the morning, she w.as speaking of God, and telling her husband what to do. Thus she died "when the clock struck two." Like Nicodemus, one of the rulers of Israel, he loved to inquire in relation to spiritual things. Of independent mind, he claimed and exercised the right of private judg- ment in matters of faith. In 1841, he was chosen and or- dained a ruling elder, and from that time, till his death, discharged the duties of his ofiice in a manner acceptable and profitable both to the native members of the church and the mission. After a sickness of some days, in March, 1846, his strong frame began to give evidence of speedy decay. He was aware he was soon to take " his chamber in the silent halls of death," but he know " in whom he had believed," and went, " Not like the quarry slave, at eight Scourged to bis dungeon; but sustained and eoothed, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams!" Dr. Williamson thus narrates the death-scene : " The evening before his decease, he asked me what be- came of the soul immediately after death? I reminded him of our Saviour's words to the thief on the cross, and Paul's desire to depart and be with Christ. He said, ' That is sufficient,' and presently added, ' I have great hope I shall be saved through grace.' Next morning (Sun- day) about eight o'clock, I was called to see him. He was so evidently in the agonies of death, I did not think of attempting to do anything for him. After some time, his breathing be- coming easier, he was asked if he FIRST STORE AT ST. PAUL. 479 to the letter was directed in good faith to '•' Pig's Eye," and was received in due time. In 1842, the late Henry Jackson, of Mahkahto, settled at the same spot, and erected the first store on the height just above the lower landing ; and shortly wished to hear a hymn. He replied, ' Yes.' After it was sung he said, ' It is very good.' As he reclined on the bed, I saw a sweet serenity settling on his countenance, and I thought that his severest struggle was probably past, and so it proved. The clock striking ten, he looked at it and intimated that it was time for us to go to church. As we were about to leave, he extended his withered hand. After we left, he spoke some words of exhortation to his family, then prayed, and before noon calmly and quietly yielded up his spirit." Sixty-seven years passed by, before he closed his eyes upon the world. The citizens of Kentucky delight in the memory of Daniel Boone ; let the citizens of Minnesota not forget Joseph Renville, though he was a " bois brul6." His descendants are still living among the Dahkotahs. The son who bore his name, died on February eighth, 1856, in the neighbourhood of the mission at Payutazee. The Rev. S. R. Riggs, in a communica- tion to the St. Paul Daily Times, remarks : — " The deceased was about forty- seven years of age, a son of Joseph Renville, who died at Lac qui Parle Bome years since, and whose memory is identified with the past history of Minnesota. Inheriting from his father many noble and generous qualities, unfortunately for himself and family, the habits of the Indian trade in which the deceased was educated, were not such as enabled him to gain a comfortable livelihood by labour. After the death of his father, he removed with his family to the Mississippi, and resided for some time at Kaposia, with Little Crow's band, many of whom were his mother's relatives. Soon after the cession of this Minnesota country to the United States, he with a younger brother, and cousin of the same family name, removed up to the neighbourhood of Fort Ridgley. When they attended the payment at Yellow Medicine, he was already far gone in the disease which has just terminated his earthly career. Here, in the house of a younger brother, and with other relations, he with his family found a temporary home, and a place to die. Through the kindness of friends and neighbours, they have not wanted. It has been pleasjint to see that former kind- nesses received from the family when his father was a prince in wealth among them, have not been entirely forgotten by the Dahkotahs, but have been returned now to the sou iu his sickness." 480 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. after, Eoberts and Simpson followed, and opened small Indian trading shops. In the year 1846, the site of St. Paul was chiefly occupied by a few shanties, owned by " certain lewd fellows of the baser sort," who sold rum to the soldier and Indian. It was despised by all decent white men, and known to the Dahkotahs by an expres- sion in their tongue, which means, the place where they sell minne-wakan.^ The chief of the Kaposia band in 1846, was shot by his own brother in a drunken revel, but surviving the wound, and apparently alarmed at the deterioratiiDn under the influence of the modem harpies at St. Paul, went to Mr. Bruce, Indian agent, at Fort Snelling, and requested a missionary. The Indian agent in his report to government, says : — " The chief of the Little Crow's band, who reside below this place (Fort Snelling) about nine miles, in the im- mediate neighbourhood of the whiskey dealers, has requested to have a school established at his village. He says they are determined to reform, and for the future, will try to do better. I wTote to Doctor AVilliamson soon after the request was made, desiring him to take charge of the school. He has had charge of the mis- sion school at Lac qui Parle for some years ; is well qualified, and is an excellent jDhysician." In November, 1846, Dr. Williamson came from Lac qui Parle as requested, and became a resident of Ka- posia. While disapproving of their practices, he felt a kindly interest in the whites of Pig's Eye, which place was now beginning to be called, after a little log chapel ^ Supernatural water. ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF CITY OF ST. PAUL. 481 which had been erected by the voyageurs, St. Paul's/ Though a missionary among the Dahkotahs, he was the first to take steps to promote the education of the whites and half-breeds of Minnesota. In the year 1847, he wrote to Ex-Governor Slade, President of the Na- tional Popular Education Society, in relation to the condition of what has subsequently become the capital of the state.^ ' St. Paul was then called St. Paul's, because at that time refer- ence Tvas had to the chapel of St. Paul, the designation of the log church. * The letter of Dr. Williamson gives, probably, the first description of the hamlet of St. Paul as it was in 1847 :— " My present residence is on the utmost verge of civilization, in the north-western part of the United States, within a few miles of the principal village of white men in the territory that we suppose will hear the name of Minnesota, which some would render ' clear water,' though strictly it signifies slightly turbid or whitish water. "The village referred to has grown up within a few years in a romantic situation on a high blufi" of the Mis- sissippi, and has been baptized by the Roman Catholics, by the name of St. Paul. They have erected in it a small chapel, and constitute much the larger portion of the inha- bitants. The Dahkotahs call it Im- ni-ja-ska (white rock), from the colour of the sandstone which forms the blufi" on which the village stands. 31 This village has five stores, as they call them, at all of which intoxicat- ing drinks constitute a part, and I suppose the principal part, of what they sell. I would suppose the vil- lage contains a dozen or twenty fa- milies living near enough to send to school. Since I came to this neigh- bourhood I have had frequent occa- sion to visit the village, and have been grieved to see so many children growing up entirely ignorant of God, and unable to read his Word, with no one to teach themi Unless your Society can send them a teacher, there seems to be little prospect of their having one for several years. A few days since, I went to the place for the purpose of making inquiries in reference to the prospect of a school. I visited seven families, in which there were twenty-three child- ren of proper age to attend school, and was told of five more in which were thirteen more that it is sup- posed might attend, making thirty- six in twelve families. I suppose more than half of the parents of these children are unable to read them- selves, and care but little about hav- ing their children taught. Possibly 482 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. In accordance with liis request, Miss H. E. Bishop came to his mission-house at Kaposia, and, after a short time, was introduced by him to the citizens of St. Paul. The first school-house in Minnesota besides those con- nected with the Indian missions, stood on the site of the First Presbyterian Church, and is thus described by the teacher: — " The school was commenced in a little log hovel, covered with bark, and chinked Avith mud, previously used as a blacksmith shop. It was a room about ten by twelve feet. On three sides of the interior of this humble log cabin, pegs were driven into the logs, upon which boards were laid for seats. Another seat was made by placing one end of a plank between the cracks of the logs, and the other upon a chair. This was for the priest might deter some from at- tending, -who might otherwise be able and willing. " I suppose a good female teacher can do more to promote the cause of education and true religion than a man. The natural politeness of the French (who constitute more than half the population) would cause them to be kind and courteous to a female, even though the priest should seek to cause opposition. I suppose she might have twelve or fifteen scholars to begin with, and if she should have a good talent of winning the aflFections of children (and one who has not should not come), after a few months she would have as many as she could attend to. "One woman told me she had four children she wished to send to school, and that she would give boarding and a room in her house to a good female teacher, for the tuition of her children. " A teacher for this place should love the Saviour, and for his sake should be willing to forego, not only many of the religious privileges and elegances of New England towns, but some of the neatness also. She should be entirely free from preju- dice on account of colour, for among her scholars she might find not only English, French, and Swiss, but Sioux and Chippewas, with some claiming kindred with the African stock. " A teacher coming should bring books with her suflBcient to begin a school, as there is no book-store within three hundred miles." FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE IN WHITE SETTLEMENTS. 483 visiters. A rickety cross-legged table in the centre, and a hen's nest in one corner, completed the furniture."^ St. Croix county, in the year 1847, was detached from Crawford county, Wisconsin, and reorganized for judicial purposes, and Stillwater made the county seat. In the month of June the United States District Court held its session in the store-room of Mr. John McKusick ; Judge Charles Dunn presiding. A large number of lumbermen had been attracted by the pineries in the upper portion of the valley of St. Croix, and Stillwater was looked upon as the centre of the lumbering interest. The Rev. Mr. Boutwell, feeling that he could be more useful, left the Ojibways, and took up his residence near Stillwater, preaching to the lumbermen at the Falls of St. Croix, Marine Mills, Stillwater, and Cottage Grove. In a letter, speaking of Stillwater, he says, " Here is a little village sprung up like a gourd, but whether it is to perish as soon, God only knows." For a long time it had been thought expedient to change the location of the Winnebago Indians, from the neutral ground of Iowa, to a point more remote from white men. By the terms of a treaty, made at Wash- ington in October, 1846, they agreed to recede from their possessions, in Iowa, in the year 1848. Hon. Henry M. Rice had selected for them a new home, and with difficulty obtained it from the Ojibways, between the Sauk and Long Prairie, and Crow Wing rivers. In the spring of 1848 their agent, Mr. J. E. Fletcher, discovered that a large portion of the tribe were desirous of emigrating to the Missouri, and grumbled at the pre- parations to remove northward. The treaty granted » "Floral Sketches," by Miss II. E. Bishop, p. 87. 484 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. twenty thousand dollars to the Indians, to pay the ex- penses of their removal to their new location, to be paid after they arrived there. As no one was willing to trust Indians, for large amounts, Mr. Rice, and a few others, were obliged to advance the supplies necessary for the support of the tribe. The difficulty in relation to subsistence being over- come, it was agreed that the tribe should move in two parties, one in canoes and boats up the Mississippi, in charge of Mr. Rice, the other by land, under the direc- tion of Agent Fletcher. When the appointed time came to start, June the sixth, 1848, the Indians dallied, and the agent grew impatient, and, in the hope of hurrying them, had their baggage placed in the wagons, which was as quickly thrown out again by the savages. The agent sent for the troops at Fort Atkinson, and the Indians made ready for battle. The troops remained drawn up in hostile array until dark ; the next day an appeal was made to the stomach of the Winnebagoes, always potent: beef was plentifully distributed, and a calm ensued. The land party now agreed to move, provided they could join the river detachment at Wapashaw Prairie. At WapashaAV they arrived without any trouble, and found Mr. Rice, with his division of the tribe, and the company of volunteers that had accompanied him, wait- ing for their appearance. Almost the entire nation, with the exception of Little Hill, instead of encamping on the river bank, near the whites, sought the land beneath the bluflfs, thus causing a creek and slough to intervene. Pleased with the appearance of the prairie, where the town of Winona now stands, they purchased it of Wapa- WINNEBAGOES DESIRE TO SETTLE AT WINONA. 485 shaw, the Dahkotah chief, and expressed their deter- mination not to move a step further. Wapashaw and his band uniting with them, they made war speeches, prepared for battle, and worked themselves into frenzy. Mr. Rice, perceiving that this was a critical juncture, chartered a steamboat that happened to be there, and it was hurried to Fort Snelling. By request. Captain S. H. Eastman came down with a company of infantry, and a party of Dahkotah s from the Minnesota river, who came to welcome the Winne- bagoes, and say that they w^ould be pleased to have them, in the place of the Ojibways, for their neighbours on the north. The company of volunteers from Crawford county, the United States dragoons from Fort Atkinson, and the infantry from Fort Snelling, and sixty armed teamsters, were now placed under tlie command of Eastman. The Indians, arrayed on the other side of the slough, numbered about twelve hundred. The next day was appointed for a council, between the Winnebagoes and the Dahkotahs of the Minnesota river. The day was one of those beautiful days in June which so charm the resident of Minnesota, and the troops were all drawn out ready for service at a mo- ment's warning ; the teamsters, near the wagons, under Mr. Culver, now of St. Paul, on the right, the infantry in the centre, with two six-pounders charged with grape ; the dragoons on the left. About ten o'clock in the morning, the Indians, chiefly on horseback, painted and decked with all their war ornaments, marched around the head of the slough toward the camp. A mile from the council ground they halted, and sent forward a deputation to ask " Why the array of glitter- 486 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. ing muskets, as they supposed they were coming to council, and not to fight ?" Captain Eastman replied, " that he was prepared for either : if they wished to hold a council, they would not be molested." Permis- sion being granted, they rode around the arranged council ground and returned. In a moment the whole cavalcade, twelve abreast, were in motion toward the United States troops ; and as the terrific war whoop was sounded, the Americans began to think that they might feel the scalping knife. Everything was made ready for the worst : the cannon were loaded, and soldiers stood by with the lighted matches, waiting for the voice of command. While the council was proceeding between the Dah- kotahs and Winnebagoes, an Indian and a soldier met, and were about to fight. Should either party fire, the slaughter would be instantaneous, as both sides knew ; and the excitement for a moment was intense. By the timely interposition of Mr. Rice and others, the Indian and soldier were led away, and the danger passed. During the rest of the day the Indians were in coun- cil, but, sustained by Wapashaw, they still remained firm in their determination not to leave that prairie. Little Hill, and a small band of Winnebagoes, had never sympathized in the revolt ; and at last. Agent Fletcher, taking them on board of a steamboat, carried them up to Fort Snelling, leaving matters at Wapashaw in charge of Mr. Rice. This sudden movement was a great surprise to the disaffected, and by the efibrts of Mr. E. A. Hatch, S. B. Lowry, George Culver and others, they began to waver, and by the time the boat came back seventeen hundred were ready to embark ; the remainder retreat- H. M. RICE ARRESTS WAPASHAW. 487 ing towards the Missouri river or into Wisconsin. Mr. Rice, with a lieutenant and two soldiers, now proceeded to the lodge of Wapashaw, and arresting him, he was sent a prisoner to Fort Snelling. About the first of July, the Winnebagoes began to move again ; but on their route, those who had charge of the Indians were much annoyed by creatures that were destitute of the instincts of manhood, selling liquor to them. As a precaution against further difficulty, orders were given to destroy all the whiskey that w^as discovered on the Une of march. About the first of August they arrived at Watab in their new country, on the west side of the Mississippi, above St. Cloud.* * For the facts concerning the re- George Culver, of St. Paul, and to moval, I am indebted to a manu- conversations with Hon. Henry M. script kindly furnished me by Mr. Rice. 488 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XXII. Three years elapsed from the time that the Territory of Minnesota was proposed in Congress to the final pas- sage of the organic act. On the sixth of August, 1846, an act was passed by Congress authorizing the citizens of Wisconsin Territory to frame a constitution, and form a state government. The act fixed the St. Louis river to the rapids, from thence south to the St. Croix, and thence down that river to its junction with the Mississippi, as the western boundary. On the twenty-third of December, 1846, the delegate from Wisconsin, Morgan L. Martin, introduced a bill in Congress for the organization of a territory of Minne- sota. This bill made its western boundary the Sioux and Red River of the North. On the third of March, 1857, permission was granted to Wisconsin to change her boundary, so that the western limit would proceed due south from the first rapids of the St. Louis river, and fifteen miles east of the most easterly point of Lake St. Croix, thence to the Mississippi. A number in the constitutional convention of Wis- consin were anxious that Rum river should be a part of her western boundary, while citizens of the valley of St. Croix were desirous that the Chippeway river REMONSTRANCE AGAINST PROPOSED BOUNDARY. 489 should be the limit of AVisconsin. The citizens of Wis- consin Territory, in the valley of the St. Croix, and about Fort Snelling, wished to be included in the pro- jected new territory, and on the twenty-eighth of March, 1848, a memorial signed by H. H. Sibley, Henry M. Rice, Franklin Steele, William R. Marshall and others, was presented to Congress, remonstrating against the proposition before the convention to make Rum river a portion of the boundar}^ line of the contemplated state of Wisconsin. The petitioners remark : — " Your memorialists conceive it to be the intention of your honourable bodies so to divide the present terri- tory of Wisconsin as to form two states nearly equal in size as well as other respects. A line drawn due south from Shag^vamigan Bay, on Lake Superior, to the inter- section of the main Chippeway river, and from thence down the middle of said stream to its debouchure into the Mississippi, would seem to your memorialists a very proper and equitable division, which, while it would secure to Wisconsin a portion of the Lake Superior shore, would also afford to Minnesota some countervail- ing advantages. But if the northern line should be changed, as suggested by the convention, Minnesota would not have a single point on the Mississippi below the Falls of St. Anthony, which is the limit of steam- boat navigation. This alone, to the apprehension of your memorialists, would be a good and sufficient reason why the mouth of Rum river should not be the bound- ary, as that stream pours its waters into the Mississippi nearly twenty miles above the Falls. Besides this, the Chippeway and St. Croix valleys are closel}' connected in geographical position with the Upper Mississippi, while they are widely separated from the settled parts 490 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. of Wisconsin, not only by hundreds of miles of mostly waste and barren lands, which must remain uncultivated for ages, but equally so by a diversity of interests and character in the population." On the twenty- ninth of May, 1848, the act to admit Wisconsin changed their boundary line to the present, and as first defined in the enabling act of 1846. After the bill of Mr. Martin was introduced into the House of Representatives in 1846 it was referred to the Com- mittee on Territories, of which Mr. Douglas was chair- man. On the twentieth of January, 1847, he reported in favour of the proposed territory with the name of Itasca. On the seventeenth of February, before the bill passed the House, a discussion arose in relation to the proposed names. Mr. Winthrop of Massachusetts proposed Chippeway as a substitute, alleging that this tribe was the principal in the proposed territory, which was not correct. Mr. J. Thomson of Mississippi dis- liked all Indian names, and hoped that the territory would be called Jackson. Mr. Houston of Delaware thought that there ought to be one territory named after the " Father of his country," and proposed Washington. All of the names proposed were rejected, and the name in the original bill inserted. On the last day of the session, March third, the bill was called up in the Senate and laid on the table. When Wisconsin became a state the query arose whether the old territorial government did not continue in force west of the St. Croix river. The first meeting on the subject of claiming territorial privileges was held in the building at St, Paul, known as Jackson's store, near the corner of Bench and Jackson streets, on the bluff. This meeting was held in July, and a convention PUBLIC MEETING AT STILLWATER. 491 was proposed to consider their position. The first pub- lic meeting ^ was held at Stillwater on August fourth, and Messrs. Steele and Sibley were the only persons present from the west side of the Mississippi. This meeting issued a call for a general convention to take steps to secure an early territorial organization, to assemble on the twenty-sixth of the month at the same place. Sixty-two delegates answered the call, and to the con- vention a letter^ was presented from Mr. Catlin, who ^ Among those present, were W. D. Phillips, J. W. Bass, A. Larpen- teur, J. McBoal, and others from St. Paul. * " Madison, August 22, 1848. Hon. Wm. Holcombe : "Dear Sir: I take the liberty tu write you briefly for the purpose of ascertaining what the citizens of the present Territory of Wisconsin desire in relation to the organization of a territorial government. Congress adjourned on the fourteenth instant, without taking any steps to organize the Territory of Minnesota, or of amending the act of 1836, organizing Wisconsin, so that the present go- vernment could be successfully con- tinued. " I have given Mr. Bowron, by whom I send this, a copy of Mr. Buchanan's opinion, by which he gives it as his opinion that the laws of Wisconsin are in force in your territory ; and if the laws are in force, I think it is equally clear that the oflBcers necessary to carry out those laws are still in oflBce. After the organization of the State of Michigan, but before her admission. Gen. G. W. Jones was elected by the Territory of Michigan (now State of Wisconsin), and was allowed to take his seat. " It is my opinion that if your peo- ple were to elect a delegate this fall, he would be allowed to take his seat in December, and then a government might be fully organized: and unless a delegate is elected and sent on, I do not believe a government will be organized for several years. You are aware of the diflBculty which has prevented the organization of Oregon for two years past ; and the same difficulty will prevent the organization of Minnesota. If Mr. Tweedy were to resign, (and he would if requested), I do not see anything to prevent my issuing a proclamation for an election to fill the vacancy, as the acting governor ; but I should not like to do so unless the people would act under it, and hold the election. " If a delegate was elected by co- lour of law. Congress never would in- quire into the legality of the election. " It is the opinion of almost all this way that the government of the Territory of Wisconsin still conti- nues, although it is nearly inopera- 492 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. claimed to be acting governor, giving his opinion that the Wisconsin territorial organization was still in force. The meeting also appointed Mr. Sibley to visit Wash- ington and represent their views ; but the Hon. John H. Tweedy having resigned his office of delegate to Congress on September eighteenth, 1848, Mr. Catlin, who had made Stillwater a temporary residence, on the ninth of October issued a proclamation ordering a special election at Stillwater on the thirtieth, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation. At this election Henry H. Sibley was elected as delegate of the citizens of the remaining portion of Wisconsin Territory. His credentials were presented to the House of Repre- sentatives, and the committee to whom the matter was referred presented a majority and minority report ; but the resolution introduced by the majority passed, and Mr. Sibley took his seat as a delegate from Wisconsin Territory on the fifteenth of January, 1849. Mr. H. M. Rice, and other gentlemen, visited Wash- ington during the winter, and, uniting with Mr. Sibley, used all their energies to obtain the organization of a new territory. On the third of March, 1849, a bill was passed or- ganizing the Territory of Minnesota,^ whose boundary tive, for want of a court and legisla- " I shall be pleased to hear from ture. you at your earliest convenience. " I write in haste, and have not " Yours very respectfully, time to state further the reasons " John Catlin." which lead me to the conclusion that ^ Boundaries of the Territory of the territorial government is still Minnesota : — in being; but you can confer with "Beginning in the Mississippi Mr. Bowron, who, I believe, is in river, at the point where the line of possession of the views and opinions forty-three degrees and thirty mi- entcrtained here on the subject. nutes of north latitude crosses the TERRITORY OF MINNESOTA CREATED. 493 on the west extended to the Missouri river. At the time of the passage of the bill, organizing the Territory of Minnesota, the region was little more than a wilder- ness. The west bank of the Mississippi, from the Iowa line to Lake Itasca, was unceded by the Indians. At Wapashaw was a trading-post in charge of Alexis Bailly, of whom mention has been made, and here also resided the ancient voyageur, of fourscore years, A. Rocque. At the foot of Lake Pepin was a store-house kept by Mr. F. S. Richards. On the west shore of the lake lived the eccentric "Wells, whose wife was a bois brule — a daughter of the deceased trader, Duncan Grsr ham. The two unfinished buildings of stone, on the beautiful bank opposite the renowned Maiden's Rock, and the surrounding skin lodges of his wife's relatives and friends, presented a rude but picturesque scene. Above the lake was a cluster of bark wigwams, the Dalikotah village of Raymneecha, now Red Wing, at wliich was a Presbyterian mission-house. The next settlement was Kaposia, also an Indian village, and the residence of a Presbyterian missionary, the Rev. T. S. Williamson, M. D, same, thence running due west on United States and Great Britain ; said line, which is the northern thence east and south of east along boundary of the State of Iowa, to the boundary line between the pos- the north-west corner of the said sessions of the United States and State of Iowa, thence southerly along Great Britain, to Lake Superior ; the western boundary of said State thence in a straight line to the north- to the point where said boundary ernmost point of the State of Wis- etrikes the Missouri river, thence up consin in Lake Superior ; thenco the middle of the main channel of along the western boundary line of the Missouri river, to the mouth of said State of Wisconsin, to the Miss- White Earth river, thence up the issippi river ; thence down the main middle of the main channel of the channel of said river to the place of White Earth river to the boundary beginning." line between the possessions of the 494 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. On the east side of the Mississippi, the first settle- ment, at the mouth of the St. Croix, was Point Douglas, then, as now, a small hamlet. At Red Rock, the site of a former Methodist mission station, there were a few farmers. St. Paul was just emerging from a collection of Indian whiskey shops, and birch-roofed cabins of half-breed voyageurs. Here and there a frame tene- ment was erected ; and, under the auspices of the Hon. H. M. Rice, who had obtained an interest in the town, some warehouses were being constructed, and the foun- dations of the American House were laid. In 1849, the population had increased to two hundred and fifty or three hundred inhabitants, for rumours had gone abroad that it might be mentioned in the act, creating the ter- ritory, as the capital. More than a month after the adjournment of Con- gress, just at eve, on the ninth of April, amid terrific peals of thunder and torrents of rain, the weekly steam- packet, the first to force its way through the icy barrier of Lake Pepin, rounded the rocky point, whistling loud and long, as if the bearer of glad tidings. Before she was safely moored to the landing, the shouts of the ex- cited villagers announced that there was a Territory of Minnesota, and that St. Paul was the seat of govern- ment. Every successive steamboat arrival poured out on the landing men big with hope, and anxious to do something to mould the future of the new state. Nine days after the news of the existence of the Ter- ritory of Minnesota was received, there arrived James M. Goodhue with press, types, and printing apparatus. A graduate of Amherst College, and a lawyer by pro- fession, he wielded a sharp pen, and wrote editorials, which, more than anything else, perhaps, induced emi- ALEXANDER RAMSEY, FIRST GOVERNOR. 495 gration. Though a man of some glaring faults, one of the counties properly bears his name. On the twenty- eighth of April, he issued the first number of the " Pioneer." ' On the twenty-seventh of May, Alexander Ramsey, the governor, and family arrived at St. Paul, but, owing to the crowded state of the public-houses, immediately proceeded in the steamer to the establishment of the fur company known as Mendota, at the junction of the Min- nesota and Mississippi, and became the guest of the Hon. H. H. Sibley. For several weeks there resided, at the confluence of these rivers, four individuals who, more than any other men, have been identified with the public interests of Minnesota, and given the state its present character. Their names are attached to the thriving counties of Ramsey, Rice, Sibley, and Steele. " As unto the bow, the cord is, So unto the man is the woman, Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him, yet she follows, Useless each without the other ;" Therefore we venture, fully aware of the extreme delicacy of the undertaking, to attempt a portrait, not only of these citizens, but of those who are their wives, ' By advertisements in its columns, John J. Dewey, as doctor ; Miss Bi- David Lambert, deceased, and Wil- shop as school teacher; and Rev. E. liam D. Phillips, of Washington City, D. Neill, as a resident clergyman ; appear as the only lawyers ; J. W. W. 11. Nobles, and D. C. Taylor, as Bass and Lott Moffett, keepers of blacksmiths; John R. Irvine, as plas- houses of entertainment ; Forbes, tercr ; C. P. Lull, as house builder ; Myrick, Simpson, Fuller & Brother, B. W. Bruneon, surveyor, and David Olmsted, as traders; 496 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. and who must always be considered as among the pro- minent early settlers, Alexander Ramsey is still in the prime of life, and was born near the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Blessed with worthy and industrious parents, he was not trained to habits of idleness. From an early period, he betrayed a fondness for reading, and amid difficulties which would have deterred many, he persevered until he succeeded in entering Lafayette College, at Easton, Pennsylvania. Circumstances were such that he re- mained but a brief period. A correspondent of the Public Ledger, of Philadelphia, under date of April fourth, 1849, thus writes : — " By untiring industry and perseverance, he struggled through the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county. The first public office ever held by him, was that of Secretary of the Harrison Electoral College of 1840. A month afterward, in January, 1841, he was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. Li 1843, he was nominated by the Whig Conference as a candidate for Congress, to repre- sent the district, embracing the counties of Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill. He was elected by a decisive majority; and in Harrisburg, his place of residence, which before had given a Democratic majority, there was a large vote in his favour. His course in Congress was marked rather by a practical business devotion to his duties, than by any effiDrt at oratorical display. He was nominated and re-elected for a second term ; and in 1846, declined in favour of another. He is social and good-humoured, but cool, cautious, shrewd, and perse- vering. He is a man of very large perceptive powers, and of much grasp of intellect ; altogether what might ANNA E. RAMSEY. 407 be termed a man of a good deal of force of cliaracter. He speaks well, not eloquently; but to the point, quite as fluently in German as in English." No longer " In the land of the Dahkotahs, Lives the arrow-maker's daughter, Minnehaha, Laughing Water, Handsomest of all the women ;" Yet the first governor of the territory appears to have received from some one, as good advice as Old Nokorais gave to Hiawatha: — " Bring not here an idle maiden. Bring not here a useless woman, Hands unskilful, feet unwilling. Bring a wife with nimble fingers, Heart and hand that move together, Feet that run on willing errands." His wife is Anna E., the daughter of Hon. Mr. Jenks, of Newtown, a former member of Congress from Bucks county, Pennsyh^ania. At the time of his marriage in 1845, she was eighteen years of age. Accompanying her husband to Minnesota, when it was chiefly occupied by savages, removed from the associations of her child- hood, she with great cheerfulness adapted herself to her new position. Queenly and attractive in appearance, she well fulfilled the duties of a governor's wife. Affa- ble, open-hearted, and well informed, she immediately^ became a favourite, not only with " those in authority," but also with the plain frontiersman. Domestic in her tastes, she is best appreciated by those who know her most intimately. Henry Hastings Sibley was born in Detroit, in 1812. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and one of 498 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the early settlers of Michigan, having been a member of the first Legislative Assembly of the North-west Ter- ritory, which met at Cincinnati. Subsequently he was delegate to Congress, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan. His mother was a native of Rhode Island, who removed with her parents at an early age to Ohio. Educated at the celebrated Moravian School at Bethle- hem, and in the city of Philadelphia, she was refined and accomplished, and trained her children well. When the subject of this sketch was eighteen years of age, he became a clerk of Mr. Stewart, a gentleman of probity and intelligence, who had charge of the depot of the American Fur Company at Mackinaw. In the year 1834, when but twenty-two years of age, Mr. Sibley commenced his residence at Mendota, as clerk of the American Fur Company's establishment. After this company failed in 1842, the inventory was pur- chased by P. Chouteau, Jr., and Co., of St. Louis, and Mr. Sibley continued the business until he became a delegate to Congress in 1848-49, which post he held for several years, and faithfully discharged its duties. After a long delay, he has been declared by the board of canvassers the governor of the state. Mr. Sibley's wife is a native of Pennsylvania, and the sister of Mr. Franklin Steele. Married at an early age, she also gracefully accommodated herself to the novelty of frontier life, although, living immediately op- posite to Fort Snelling, she found some congenial society among the families of the officers. Sprightly in disposi- tion, and devoted to her children, her venerable mother and her husband, her house is a happy home. Henry M. Rice, one of the representatives of the state in the Senate of the United States, is a native of SKETCH OF HENRY M. RICE. 409 Vermont, although his hfe, from youth, has been passed in the ftxr West. With much foresight, and quick in execution, he has always been prominent in develop- ing the resources of the state he represents. The fol- lowing sketch, published a few years ago, gives the views of one of Mr. Rice's friends : — " He settled here when there were no white men in the territory, except Indian traders, missionaries, and soldiers ; and during his long residence, has been noted as the promoter of every enterprise tending to develop the hidden wealth of Minnesota, and attract hither im- migration from other portions of the country. Two years ago, he was elected to Congress by an overwhelm- ing vote ; and then commenced a series of labours on his part which will make him long remembered in the territory as the most efficient of representatives. The pre-emption system he caused to be extended to unsur- veyed lands ; the military reserves opened to actual settlers; land offices to be established; post, routes opened out and offices established ; millions of acres of lands to be purchased from Indians, and thrown open to settlers ; and thousands of dollars to be appropriated to the construction of government roads. Nor was this all : legislation for the benefit of individuals entitled to it, was secured, and no exertion ever spared, in Congress and out of it, at the executive departments or elsewhere, that would benefit the territory. The heavy immigra- tion of the past two years is as strong proof as could be desired that Minnesota is regarded as the chosen spot of the West, either for immigrants seeking to estab- lish themselves, or capitalists desiring investments; and for much of this heavy immigration, we cannot help thinking our territory is indebted to the late delegate; 500 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the beneficial legislation he procured for us, rendered Minnesota indeed a land of promise. " Mr. Rice possesses in a great degree the qualities necessary to make a good delegate. His winning man- ners secure him hosts of friends, and enable him to acquire great influence ; his business habits, industr}^, and perseverance, insure the accomplishment of what- ever he undertakes, while his perfect knowledge of the wants of the territory, prevents his efforts from being misdirected. His political opinions are those of a Na- tional Democrat — coinciding with those of the president and heads of departments, a majority of the Senate, and a respectable and united minority in the House — which will successfully combat a divided majority." In the year 1849 Mr. Rice was married to Miss Matilda Whitall, whose family reside in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia. Youthful, graceful in bearing, and with warm impulses, her houses in Washington and St. Paul have always been an agreeable resort to her hus- band's friends. With a disposition to be identified with whatever will promote the interests of her husband, she proves a valuable wife as well as attentive mother. Franklin Steele is a native of Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, and, when a youth, was advised by Andrew Jackson, late President of the United States, to identify himself with the West. John H. Stevens, Esq., of Glencoe, formerly a clerk of Mr. Steele's, in a lecture before Hennepin County Lyceum, says : — " The day he landed at Fort Snelling, the Indians had concluded a treaty with the whites, by which the St. Croix Falls were ceded to the latter. Mr. Steele went over ; liked the place much, made a claim, hired a large crew of men, put Calvin A. Tuttle, Esq., now of St. Anthony, MR. FRANKLIN STEELE AND WIFE. 501 at their head, and commenced in earnest to build mills. Upon being appointed sutler to the army at Fort Snel- Img, he disposed of the St. Croix property, and became interested on the east side of St. Anthony Falls. He has continued to make this county his home ever since his first arrival m the territory. Mr. Steele has been a good friend to Hennepin, and as most of the citizens came here poor, they never had to ask Mr. Steele a second time for a favour. Fortune has favoured him, and while many a family has reason to be thankful for his generosity and kindness, he has constantly made money." Mrs. Franklin Steele is a native of Maryland, and was a Miss Barney, a relative of the naval officer whose name is associated with the glory of our marine. Com- manding in person, and well educated, she has been much admired in society. About the last of May, 1 849, the Dahkotahs of the Ka- posia band, just below St. Paul, performed one of their peculiar ceremonies. A short distance from their lodges they formed an elliptical enclosure with willow bushes stuck in the ground. In the centre was placed a large buffalo fish on some green fern, and a cat-fish on a bunch of dry grass. A small arbour was placed over the fish. At one end of the enclosure was a teej)ee, in wliich were men singing Hah-yay, Hah-3'ay, Hoh, Hoh, Hob, Hoh-ah. Soon six men and three boys issued with bent bodies and long, dishevelled hair, who moved around the enclosure, keeping their faces as much as possible in the direction of the fishes. Then a tall man, of threescore years, painted entirely black, appeared with a small hoop in each hand, walking " on all fours," and howling like a bear. Entering within the enclosure of 502 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA willow branches, he moved around as if scenting some- thing. While thus occuj)ied, two more made their appearance smeared all over with white clay, one repre- senting a grizzly bear, the other, with a tail suspended from his breech cloth, and body bent, represented a wolf. The other Indians danced and sang for two or three hours, while these men as beasts prowled around the fishes, pawing, snuffing at them, and then retreating. At last one of the bears crept up to one of the fish, and, after much growling, bit off a piece, and went round the ellipse chewing. The other bear then bit the remaining fish. These signals caused all the dancers to follow, and flesh, fins, bones, and entrails were all devoured without being touched by the hands. The sacred men also prayed to the spirits of the fish, and the object of the feast, was supposed to be, to induce a change of weather. On the first of June, Governor Ramsey, by proclama- tion, declared the territory duly organized, with the fol- lowing officers : Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsylvania, Governor; C. K. Smith, of Ohio, Secretary; A. Good- rich, of Tennessee, Chief Justice ; D. Cooper, of Penn- sylvania, and B. B. Meeker, of Kentucky, Associate Judges; Joshua L. Taylor, Marshal; H. L. Moss, At- torney of the United States.^ ^ A Proclamation, hy Alexander Ram- a government was erected over all sey. Governor of the Territory of the country described in said act to Minnesota. be called "The Territory of Minne- TO ALL WHOM IT MAY coxcERN. 8ota ;" and whereas the following Whereas by an act of the Congress named officers have been duly ap- of the United States of America, pointed and commisssioned under entitled ^^ An act to establish the the said act as officers of said govern- TerritorialGovernmentof Minnesota," nient, viz: approved March third, 1849, a true Alexander Ramsey, Governor of copy whereof is hereto annexed, said Territory, and Comraander-in JUDGES GOODRICH, MEEKER, AND COOPER. 503 On the eleventh of June, a second proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into three temporary judi- cial districts. The first comprised the county of St. Croix ; the county of La Pointe, and the region north and west of the Mississippi, and north of the Minnesota, and of a line running due west from the headwaters of the Minnesota to the Missouri river, constituted the second ; and the country west of the Mississippi, and south of the Minnesota, formed the third district. Judge Goodrich was assigned to the first, Meeker to the second, and Cooper to the third. A court was ordered to be held at Stillwater on the second Monday, at the Falls of St. Anthony on the third, and at Mendota on the fourth Monday of August. On the sixth of June, Major Wood left Fort Snelling, charged with the duty of making a military examina- tion of the country in the vicinity of Pembina, in view of establishing a military post there. Captain Pope, of the topographical engineers, accompanied the expedi- tion, and his report, published by Congress, is valuable Chief of the Militia thereof, and tively assumed the duties of their Superintendent of Indian affairs said offices according to law, said therein, territorial government is declared Charles K. Smith, Secretary of to be organized and established, and said territory, all persons are enjoined to obey, Aaron (joudrich, Chief Justice, conform to, and respect the laws and David Cooper and Bradley B. thereof accordingly. Meeker, Associate Justices of the Given under my hand, and the Supreme Court of said territory, and r -i seal of said Territory, this to act as Judges of the District Court first day of June, a. d. 1849, of said territory, and of the Independence of tlie Joshua L. Taylor, Marshal of the United States of America the seventy- United States for said territory, third. Henry L. Moss, Attorney of the By the Governor, Alex. Ramsky. United States for said territory, Chas. K. Smitu, Secretary. And said officers having rcspec- 504 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. in information, concerning the adaptation of the Red Eiver valley for agricultural purposes. Until the twenty-sixth of June, Governor Ramsey and family had been guests of Hon. H. H. Sibley, at Mendota. On the afternoon of that day they arrived at St. Paul, in a birch-bark canoe, and became perma- nent residents at the capital. The mansion first occu- pied as a gubernatorial mansion, is the small frame building, on Third, between Robert and Jackson streets, subsequently known as the New England House. A few days after, the Hon. H. M. Rice and family moved from Mendota to St. Paul, and occupied the house he had erected on St. Anthony street, near the corner of Market. On the first of July, a land office was established at Stillwater, and A. Van Vorhees, after a few weeks, be- came the register. The anniversary of our National Independence, was celebrated in a becoming manner at the capital. The place selected for the address, was a grove that stood on the sites of the City Hall and the Baldwin School Building. In pursuance of a requirement in the organic act, the sheriff of St. Croix was ordered to take a census of all inhabitants.^ ^ The result was as follows : — Names of Places. Males. Females. Total. Stillwater, 455 154 609 Lake St. Croix 129 82 211 Marine Mills, 142 31 173 St. Paul, 540 300 840 Little Canada and St. Anthony, 352 219 571 Crow Wing and Long Prairie, 235 115 350 Osakis Rapids 92 41 133 Falls of St. Crois, 15 1 16 GOVERNOR RAMSEY RECOGNISES A CHIEF. 505 On the seventh of July, a proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into seven council districts, and ordering an election to be held on the first day of August, for one delegate to represent the people in the House of Representatives of the United States, for nine councillors, and eighteen representatives to constitute the Legislative Assembly of Minnesota. Shortly after his arrival. Governor Ramsey recognised a new hereditary chief of the Wahk-pay-koo-tay band of Dahkotahs, named Wa-min-di-yu-ka-pi, by investing him with a sword and a soldier's medal. He was a fine looking youth, and a few weeks after this honour he and seventeen others were slaughtered in broad day- light, by a party of Indians they met near the head- waters of the Des Moines river. The Dahkotahs took four scalps, and the citizens of St. Paul, during the quiet nights of that summer, could hear the noise of the scalp dance at Kaposia. Names of Places. Males. Females. Total. Snake River 58 24 82 La Pointe County, 12 10 22 Crow Wing, 103 71 174 Biw Stone Lake and Lac qui Parle, 33 35 68 Little Rock, 20 15 35 PrairieviUe, 9 13 22 Oak Grove, 14 9 23 Black Dog Village, 7 11 18 Crow Wing, east e>ide, 35 35 70 Mendota 72 50 122 Red Wing Village, 20 13 33 Wabeshaw and Root River, 78 36 114 Fort Snelling, 26 12 38 Soldiers and women and children in forts, . . 267 50 317 Pembina, 295 342 G37 Missouri River 49 37 86 30G7 1713 4G80 506 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. During the latter part of July, a band of Sissetoan Dahkotalis, near Big Stone Lake, proceeded to a buffalo hunt. Unsuccessful, they were obliged to eat their dogs and tipsinna.^ One day they were startled by a horse- man galloping across the plain in the direction of their camp. On his approach, they saw he was a Red Kiver half-breed, who had formerly lived in their country. He had come to tell them that the Ojibways were in the neighbourhood, and contemplated an attack. The Dah- kotahs had just hid their women and children in holes, and covered them with brush-wood, when the enemy came in sight. A few of the bravest Dahkotahs went out to meet the foe, and the fight commenced near a rivulet, in the valley of the Cheyenne. The leader, after fighting bravely, found himself surrounded by the Ojibways, who had concealed themselves in the grass. While in the act of raising his head to draw the stopper from his powder-horn, he was shot through the brain. His little son, not ten years of age, seeing his father fall, rushed to the corpse, and after clasping it, he lay by its side, and fired at the enemy until aid came from ' The Tipsinna, or Dahkotah tur- cnce on the tipsinna. They eat it nip, grows only in the high and dry both raw and cooked. This root prairie. It seeks the high points has lately acquired a European and gravelly hills, where it continues reputation. Mr. Lamare Picot, of to grow in size from year to year, France has, within a few years past, increasing with every summer that introduced it into his native country, passes over it. The root is roundish and the Savans of Paris, it is said, oroval, and of various sizes, according have given it the name of " Picoti- to its age. It has a thick, hard rind, anna." It has been supposed that which the Dahkotah usually remove this dry prairie root might yet take with their teeth. During the months an important place among the of June and July, when the top can vegetables which are cultivated for be easil_Y discovered in the grass, the support of human life ; but this the Indians of the Upper Minnesota expectation will probably end in depend, very much, for their subsist- disappointment. FIRST ELECTION IN MINNESOTA. 507 the Dahkotah camp, and his corpse was cared for by friends. After skirmishing till dusk, the Ojibways re- treated with three killed. The Dahkotahs lost the same number.^ In this month the Hon. H. M. Rice despatched a boat laden with Indian goods from the Falls of St. Anthony to Crow Wing, which was towed by horses after the manner of a canal boat. The election on the first of August, passed off with little excitement, Hon. H. H. Sibley being elected delegate to Congress without opposition.^ David Lam- bert, on what might, perhaps, be termed the old settlers' ticket, was defeated in St. Paul, by James McBoal. The latter, on the night of the election, was honoured with a ride through town on the axle and fore-wheels of an old wagon, which was drawn by his admiring, but somewhat undisciplined friends. J. L. Taylor having declined the office of United States Marshal;^ A. M. Mitchell, of Ohio, a graduate of ' Communication in Minnesota Pioneer, September 19, 1849. ' The vote in St. Paul was : — Delegate to Congress, 11. H. Sibley, 188 Councillors W. 11. Forbes 187 J. IMcBoal, 98 " D. Lambert 91 House of Representatives, . . . B. Brunson, 1C8 .... P. K. Johnson 104 " " .... 11. Jackson 165 " " .... J. J. Dewey, 171 " " . . . . J. R. Brown 84 " . . . . A. G. Fuller, 24 Unsuccessful in Italics. ' The following exhibits the result under the counties into which the of the first census, along with the territory was subsequently divided vote cast for the Delegate to Congress by the first Legislature : — on the first August, 1849, arranged 508 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. West Point, and colonel of a regiment of Ohio volun- teers in Mexico, was appointed, and arrived at the capi- tal early in August. There were three papers published in the territory soon after its organization. The first was the Pioneer,^ issued on April twenty-eighth, 1849, under most dis- couraging circumstances. It was at first the intention of the witty and reckless editor to have called his paper " The Epistle of St. Paul." About the same time there was issued, in Cincinnati, under the auspices of the late Dr. A. Randall, of California, the first number of the Regis- ter. The second number of the paper was printed at St. Paul, in July, and the office was on St. Anthony, between Washington and Market Streets.- About the first of June, James Hughes, now of Hudson, Wisconsin, arrived with a press and materials, and established the Minnesota Chronicle. After an existence of a few weeks these papers were discontinued ; and, in their place, was Co. Seats. Counties. Males. Females. A'ote for Del. St. Paul, . Ramsey, 97(3 564 273 Stillwater, . Washington, 821 291 213 Sauk Rapids, Benton, 249 108 18 Mendota, . Dahkotah, 301 167 75 Wahnatah, 344 182 70 Wabashaw, Wabash aw, 246 84 33 Pembina, . Pembina, 295 342 — Itasca 21 9 — Mankato, — — — 3253 1687 682 1687 Total population, June 30, 1849, . . . 4940 ^ The press used in printing the purchased in Cincinnati in 1836, "Pioneer" is said to have been the and first used in printing the Du- first ever used north of Missouri, and buque Visitor, published by John west of the Mississippi. It was King. SESSIONS OF THE FIRST COURTS. 509 issued the " Chronicle and Register," edited by Nathaniel McLean and John P. Owens. The first courts, pursuant to proclamation of the governor, were held in the month of August. At Still- water, the court was organized on the thirteenth of the month. Judge Goodrich presiding, and Judge Cooper, hy courtesy, sitting on the bench. On the twentieth, the second judicial district held a court. The room used was the old government mill at Minneapolis. The presiding judge was B. B. Meeker; the foreman of the grand jury, Franklin Steele. On the last Monday of the month, the court for the third judicial district was organized in the large stone Avarehouse of the fur com- pany at Mendota. The presiding judge was David Cooper. Governor Ramsey sat on the right, and Judge Goodrich on the left. Hon. H. H. Sibley was the foreman of the grand jury. As some of the jurors could not speak the English language, W. H. Forbes acted as interpreter. The charge of Judge Cooper was lucid, scholarly, and dignified. At the request of the grand jury it was afterwards published. R. G. Murphey, the United States' agent for the Dah- kotahs, used commendable diligence during this year in checking the whiskey traffic, and in inducing the In- dians to renew their temperance pledges. Under the influence of a vile class of Avhiskey sellers that infested the neighbourhood of Avhat is now the capital of Min- nesota, the Dahkotahs, a few years before this, were a nation of drunkards. Men would travel hundreds of miles to the " place where they sell Minne-wakan," as they designated St. Paul, to traffic for a keg of whiskey. The editor of the Dahkotah Friend says : — " Twelve years ago they bade fair soon to die, all to- 510 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. gethor, in one drunken jumble. They must be drunk — they could hardly live if they were not drunk. Many of them seemed as uneasy when sober as a fish does when on land. At some of the villages they were drunk months together. There was no end to it. They would have whiskey. They would give guns, blankets, pork, lard, flour, corn, coffee, sugar, horses, furs, traps, Bnj- thing for whiskey. It was made to drink — it was good — it was wakan. They drank it — they bit off" each other's noses — broke each other's ribs and heads — they knifed each other. They killed one another with guns, knives, hatchets, clubs, fire-brands — they fell into the fire and water, and were burned to death and drowned — they froze to death, and committed suicide so fre- quently that, for a time, the death of an Indian, in some of the ways mentioned, was but little thought of by themselves or others. Some of the earlier settlers of St. Paul and Pig's Eye remember something about these matters. Their eyes saw sights which are not exhibited now-a-days." The reform was commenced through the influence of the missionaries, Mr. Sibley, and Mr. Murj)hey's prede- cessor. On one occasion Agent Murphey met a Sissetoan Dahkotah, a few miles above Mendota, returning home with a supply of '"'fire water." A wagon happening to pass at the time, he secured the fellow, and returned with him in the vehicle toward Fort Snelling; but, in passing a wooded ravine, the Indian, a most active and athletic man, succeeded, by a desperate exertion, in leaping from the wagon, and, dashing into the woods, made his escape. During the summer a steamboat landed in the night at Raymneecha (Red Wing), and a MEETING OF FIRST LEGISLATURE. 511 son of one of the chiefs, told his liither that the band were obtaining whiskey at the boat. The chief was in- dignant, and, awaking the Indian farmer, he went to the landing, and told the crew that he would cut the boat loose unless they immediately removed. On Monday, the third of September, the first Legis- lative Assembly convened in the "Central House," a building which answered the double purpose, of capitol and hotel. On the first floor of the main building was the secretary's office and Representative chamber, and in the second story was the library and Council chamber. As the flag was run up the staff" m front of the house, a number of Indians sat on a rocky bluff" in the vicinity, and gazed at what to them w^as a novel, and perhaps saddening scene; for if the tide of emigration sweeps in from the Pacific as it has from the Atlantic coast, they must diminish. The legislature having organized, elected the follow- ing permanent officers : David Olmsted, President of Council;^ Joseph R. Brown, Secretary; H. A. Lambert, Assistant. In the House of Representatives, Joseph W. Furber was elected Speaker; W. D. Phillips, Clerk; L. B. Wait, Assistant. On Tuesday afternoon, both houses assembled in the 1 Councillora. No. of District. Residence. Age. Plncc of Nativity. James S. Norris, . . 1 . Cottage Grove, . . 38 Maine. Samuel Biirkleo, . 2 Stillwater, .... 45 Delaware. William II. Forbes, . 3 . St. Paul, .... 38 Montreal, C. Jamos McC. Boal, . :) . . . . . 38 Pennsylvania. David B. Loomis, . 4 . ^larinc Mills, . . 32 Connecticut. John Rollins, . . . 5 . Falls of St. Anthony, 41 Maine. David Olmsted, . . 6 . Long Prairie, . . 27 Vermont. AVilliam Sturgcs, . 6 . Elk lliver, .... 28 Up. Canada. Martin McLeod, . . 7 . Lac qui Parle, . . 3G Montreal, C. 512 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. (lining hall of the hotel, and after praj^er was offered hy Rev. E. D. Neill, Governor Ramsey delivered his mes- sage. The message was ably written, and its perusal afforded satisfaction at home and abroad. The members of the first legislature were generally acquainted with each other previous to their election, and there was but little formality manifested in their proceedings. A child of one of the members having died, the House of Representatives^ adjourned to attend the little one's funeral.^ 1 Representatives. No of District. Kesidence. Age. Place of Nativity. Joseph W. Furber, . . 1 . Cottage Grove , . . 36 N, H. James Wells, . . . . 1 . Lake Pepin, . . 46 N. Jersey. M. S. Wilkinson, , . . 2 Stillwater, . . 30 New York. Sylvanus Trask, . . . 2 . (< . , — " Mablon Black, . . . 2 . " . . — Ohio. Benjamin W. Brunson, 3 . St. Paul, . . . 25 Michigan. Henry Jackson, . . . 3 . (( . . 42 Virginia. John J. Dewey, . . . 3 . <( . . — New York. Pajrsons K. Johnson, 3 . (< . . — Vermont. Henry F. Setzer, . . . 4 . Snake River, . . — Missouri. William R. Marshall, , 5 . Falls of St. Ar ithony, 25 William Dugas, . . . 5 . Little Canada, . . 37 L. Canada. Jeremiah Russell, 6 . Crow Wing, . . — L. A. Babcock, . . . 6 . Sauk Rapids, . . 29 Vermont. Thomas A. Holmes, 6 . " . . 44 Pennsylvania Allen Morrison, . . . 6 . Alexis Bailly, . . . 7 . Mendota, . . . 50 Michigan. Gideon H. Pond, . . . 7 . Oak Grove, . . 39 Connecticut. ^Extract from the Journal of the House, October fourth, 1849 : — Mr. Wilkinson offered the follow- ing :— " Whereas, by the sudden and mysterious dispensation of Provi- dence, one of our brother members of this house, has been ])ainfully{'!) bereaved by the death of a beloved member of his family, and feeling a deep sympathy for our worthy brother in his bereavment, therefore Resolved, That when this house adjourn, that it adjourn until to- morrow morning at ten o'clock, and that the members be requested by the speaker to attend the funeral of the daughter of the Hon. B. W. Brunson, at one o'clock." FIRST COUNTIES.— RED PIPE STONE. 513 The first session of the legislature adjourned on the first of November. Among other proceedings of in- terest, was the creation of the following counties: Itasca, Waubashaw, Dahkotah, Wahnahtah, Mahkahto, Pembina, Washington, Ramsey, and Benton. The three latter counties comprised the country that up to that time had been ceded by the Indians on the east side of the Mississippi. Stillwater was declared the county seat of Washington ; St. Paul, of Ramsey; "and the seat of justice of the county of Benton, was to be within one-quarter of a mile of a point on the east side of the Mississippi, directly opposite the mouth of Sauk river." The day of elections after the year 1849, was ap- pointed to be on the first of September. A warm interest was manifested in the common school system, and an able report on the subject was made to the Council by the Hon. M. McLeod, chairman of the committee. A joint resolution was passed, ordering a slab of the red pipe stone to be forwarded to the Washington Monument Association.^ ^ Mr. McLeod submitted the fol- Association, to the effect that a por« lowing communication from the Hon. tion of rock from each state, would Henry 11. Sibley, which be received to be used in the con- On motion of Mr. McLeod, was struction of the monument, has ordered to be read and entered on caused to be procured from the the minutes of the council : — quarry, about two hundred miles distant, a specimen of the Red or Men'dota, Sept. 11, 1849. Pipe stone, which is peculiar to our To Vie Honourable, the Legislative territory, to be proffered for that Council of Minnesota Territory: purpose. Believing it to be meet The undersigned having seen a and proper that Minnesota should notice in the public journals some not be backward in her contribution time since, signed by the general to a work which is intended to per- agent of the Washington Monument petuate the memory of the " Father 33 514 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. The stone for ages lias been used by the Dahkotahs and other tribes for the manufacture of pipes, and is esteemed " wakan." In the State Cabinet of Albany there is a very ancient pipe of this material, which was obtained in the Seneca country, and the tradition is that it was taken fi'om the Dahkotahs. Charlevoix, in his History of New France, speaking of the pipe of peace, says : " It is ordinarily made of a species of red marble, very easily worked, and found beyond the Mississippi among the Aaiouez (loways)." Le Sueur speaks of the Yanktons, as the village of the Dahkotahs at the Red Stone-quarry. It is asserted that in days gone by hostile nations used to assemble at this quarry, and obtain the material for pipes without mo- of his Country," and that the offer- ing should be that of the constituted authorities of the territory, rather than the act of a private individual, I have hereby the honour to present the specimen of rock to your honour- able body, for your acceptance, to be disposed of in such manner as your -wisdom may suggest. The slab is about two and a half feet in length, and a little over one and a half in breadth, and two inches in thickness. In the last particular it does not meet the requirements of the Association ; but, apart from the impracticability of transporting a huge mass of stone, weighing nearly, if not quite, half a ton, if of the di- mensions stated, to so remote a point as Washington City, it is known that the strata of pipe stone rarely, if ever, exceed three inches in thick- ness. In length and breadth, it is believed, the specimen will come up to the standard, and can be so used as to face a solid block of granite or other material, and thus answer the proposed end. In conclusion, I would beg leave to state, that a late geological work of high authority, by Dr. Jackson, designates this formation as Catli- nite, upon the erroneous supposition that Mr. George Catlin was the first white man who had ever visited that region ; whereas, it is notorious that many whites had been there and examined the quarry long before he came to the country. This designa- tion is therefore clearly improper and unjust. The Sioux term fur the stone is Eyanskah, by which, I con- ceive, it should be known and classi- fied. I have the honour to be, Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, H. H, Sibley. RED PIPE STONE QUARRY DESCRIBED. 515 lestation. Whether facts will sustain the tradition may be doubtful. The first canto of the " Song of Hiawatha" gives an impressive picture of the conclave of natives at " the great Red Pipe Stone Quarry."^ Nicollet, in his admirable report, remarks : " This red pipe stone, not more interesting to the Indian than it is to the man of science, by its unique character, de- serves a particular description. In the quarrj' of it which I had opened, the thickness of the bed is one foot and a half, the upper portion of which separates in thin slabs, whilst the lower ones are more compact. As a mineralogical species it may be described as follows : compact; structure, slaty ; receiving a dull polish; having a red streak ; colour, blood red, with dots of a fainter shade of the same colour; fracture, rough; sextile, fat, somewhat greasy ; hardness, not yielding to the nail ; 1 " Down the rivers, o'er the prairies, Came the warriors of the nations, Came the Delawares and Mohawks, Came the Choctaws and Camanches, Came the Shoshonies and Blackfeet, Came the Pawnees and Omahaws, Came the Mandans and Dacotahs, Came the Huron and Ojibways, All the warriors drawn together, By the signal of the Peace-Pipe, To the mountains of the prairie. To the great Red Pipe Stone Quarry. ***** Gitche Manito, the mighty, The creator of the nations, Looked upon them with compassion, With paternal lore and pity ; ***** Spake to them with voice majestic As the sound of far off waters, ***** mjt children! my poor children! Listen to the words of wisdom. Listen to the words of warning. From the lips of the Great Spirit, From the Master of Life, who made you; 1 have given you lands to bunt in, I have given you streams to fish in, I have given you l)ear and bison, I have given you roe and reindeer, I have given you brant and beaver. Filling the marshes full of wild fowl, Filled the rivers full of fishes; Why then are you not contented ? Why then will you hunt each other? I am weary of your quarrels, Weary of your wars and bloods-hed, Weary of your prayers for vengeance. Of your wranglings and dissensions; All your strength is iu your union, All your danger is in discord; Therefore be at peace henceforward. And as brothers live together. Bathe now in the stream before you. Wash the war paint from your faces, Wash the blood stains from your finiters, Bury your war clubs and your weapons. Break the red stone from this qvinrrj-. Mould and make it into peace-pipes. Take the reeds that gniw beside you, Deck them with your brightest feathers, Smoke the calumet together. And a£ brothers live henceforward!" 51G HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. not scratched by selenite, but easily by calcareous spar; specific gravity, 2.90. The acids have no action upon it; before the blow-pipe it is infusible, jt?er se ; but with borax gives a green glass." The committee on seal recommended as a device an Indian family, with lodge and canoe, encamped, a single white man visiting them, and receiving from them the calumet of peace. The report was accepted, and the committee discharged. During the following winter, Governor Ramsey and the delegate to Congress devised at Washington the territorial seal. The design was: Falls of St. Anthony in the distance; an emigrant ploughing the land on the borders of the Indian coun- try, full of hope, and looking forward to the possession of the hunting-grounds beyond. An Indian, amazed at the sight of the plough, and fleeing on horseback towards the setting sun. The motto is, " Quo sursum volo videre," I wish to look be^^ond ; indicative of the disjDOsition of the pio- neer to be constantly pushing into an unsettled coun- try. By mistake of the engraver, the original seal of state reads Quo sursum velo videre ; and for two or three years it puzzled all Latin scholars to translate it for their own comprehension, or that of the "vulgum pecus." The Historical Society, in their publication for the year 1856, had an engraving of the seal with the motto correctly spelled ; and since then the difficulty has been rectified to some extent. The wife of Captain S. Eastman, who was formerly in command of Fort Snelling, a lady of fine literary qualifications, who, with her husband, has done more than any one to illustrate Dahkotah-land and Dahko- EFFORT TO EXTINGUISH INDIAN TITLE. 517 tall-life, prepared a poem on the " Seal of Minnesota," about the time it was designed.^ When the Territory of Minnesota was organized, the Indian title had been extinguished to but a small por- tion of the country. The ceded region was chiefly east of the Mississippi, being bounded on the north by a line extending east from the mouth of the Crow Wing river to the western boundary line of Wisconsin. The lands above were occupied by the Ojibways. It therefore seemed very desirable to make room for the rushing emigration to procure the right of occu- pancy to the lands in possession of the Dahkotahs west 1 Give way, give way, young warrior, Thou and thy steed give way — Rest not, though lingers on the hills The red sun's parting ray. The rocky bluff and prairie land Tlie white man claims them now. The symbols of his course are here, The rifle, axe, and plough. Not thine, the waters bright whose laugh Is ringing in thy ear; Xot thine the otter and the lynx. The wolf and timid deer. The forest tree, the fairy ring, The sacred isle and mound Have passed into another's hands — Another claimant found. Give way, give way, young warrior, Thy father's bones may rest No longer here, where earth has clasped Them, closely to her breast — Here, were thy fieroest battles fought — Here, through the valleys rung The voices of the victors bruve, As they their triumph sun;;. Here, too, with long and braided hair, Thy maidens in the dance Rivalled the wild deer's tleetest step, The wild deer's brightest glance. And here they gathered oft at eve From aged lips to hear How flowed the warrior's heart's best blood, How fell the maiden's tear. Give way, give way, young warrior— Our title would you seek? 'Tis " the rich against the poor, And the strong against the weak." We need thy noble rivers, Thy prairies green and wide, And thy dark and frowning forests That skirt the valley's side. The red man's course ia onward — Nor stayed his footsteps be. Till by his rugged hunting ground Beats the relentless sea ! We claim bis noble heritage, And Minnesota's land Must pass with all its untold wealth To the white man's grasping huud. Give way — I know a thousand ties Most lovingly must cling, I know a gu.sh of sorrow deep Such memories must bring. Thou and thy noble race from earth Must soon bo passed away, As echoes die upon the hills. Or darkness follows day. Yet hear me still, young warrior. Thou and thy steed give way — Rest not, though lingers on the hills The red sun's parting ray. The rocky bluff nnd prairie land The white man cluims them now, The symlxjls of his course are here— The rifle, axe, and plough. 518 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. of the Mississippi, and in the valley of the Minnesota. Governor Ramsey and Ex-Governor Chambers of Iowa were appointed Commissioners to treat with the Dahko- tahs. They repaired to Mendota during the session of the legislature; but in consequence of the absence of many Indians on their fall hunt, and other circum- stances, they did not wholly comply with their instruc- tions. They however made a treaty for the purchase of what is known as the half-breed tract of Lake Pepin. Previous to the session of the legislature, there had been no organization of any political party in the ter- ritory. On the evening of September twenty-fourth, a Democratic caucus was held at the house of H. M. Rice, at St. Paul, on St. Anthony near Market street, and it was determined to call a mass meeting of Democrats. On October twentieth,^ the first party convention assem- bled in the ball-room of the American House. Henry Jackson was Chairman, pro tem., and as permanent officers were chosen James S. Norris, President; John A. Ford, S. Trask, W. Dugas, H. N. Setzer, James Wells, John Rollins, and A. Morrison, Vice-Presidents ; B. W. Lott, A. Larpenteur, H. A. Lambert, and John Morgan, Secretaries. The Minnesota Pioneer was de- ^ " At a Democratic caucus held at in all parts of the territory, to as- the house of Henry M. Rice, on Mon- semble in mass meeting at St. Paul, day evening, September twenty- on Saturday, the twentieth day of fourth, 1849, the undersigned were October, to take measures to secure appointed a committee to call a Mass a permanent and thorough organiza- Meeting of the Democracy of the tion. Territory of Minnesota. W. D. Phillips, 3d Dist. " Believing that the safety and inte- .John Rollins, 5th " grity of our party, and the perma- J. S. Norris, Ist " nent interests of our infant territory, S. Trask, 2d " demand that the party lines be hence- H. N. Setzer, 4th " forth drawn, we extend a cordial in- T. A. Holmes, 6th " " vitation to our Democratic brethren DEATH OF DAVID LAMBERT. 519 clared to be the organ of the party, and from that period there was manifest a different spirit in the conduct of pubUc affairs. On Friday evening, David Lambert, Esq., who had been prominent in the meetings that led to the organization of the territory, under the influence of that mania, which hurries so many of our pubhc men to the grave, jumped from a steamer, on which he was returning from Galena, and was drowned.^ During the session of the legislature, considerable dis- cussion arose in relation to the right of the territory, to expend the twenty thousand dollars appropriated in the organic act for a capitol, at the temporary scat of govern- ment. Joseph R. Brown, desiring information, wrote to the secretary of the treasury, who decided that the money could only be appropriated at the permanent seat of government.^ ^ His friend, the editor of the Pioneer, in his paper of November eighth says : " Mr. Lambert was about thirty years of age, was prosperous in business, and acknowledged to be a man of superior abilities. He had suffered some wounds in his domestic relations, which made him misan- thropic, reckless, and miserable. We should characterize him as a man of very remarkable conversational talent, and when he devoted himself to literary pursuits he was considered a very promising writer. Mr. L. graduated at Washington (Trinity) College, Hartford, Ct. He published a newspaper at Little Rock, Ark., and, afterwards published the Wis- consin Inquirer at Madison." ^ Treascry Department, Oct. 30, 1849. Sir : — Your letter of the eleventh inst., is received, inquiring whether " the twenty thousand dollars appro- priated for the erection of public buildings in Minnesota can be ex- pended previous to the location of the permanent seat of government by a vote of the people ?" It is provided by the thirteenth section of the act to establish the territorial government of Minnesota, approved third of March, 1849, that the Governor and Legislative Assem- bly shall, at such time as they shall see proper, prescribe by law, the manner of locating the permanent seat of government of said territory by a vote of the people. " And the 520 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. On the fourth Monday of November, the elections for the officers of the new counties took place/ In the month of November, the first meeting in rela- tion to the establishment of public schools, was held in the small school-house that stood on St. Anthony street, near the First Presbyterian Church. Previous to this, the English schools, in the white settlements, had chiefly been taught by teachers who had been sent out by the National Society of Popular Education : Misses Bishop and Scofield having taught at St. Paul, Miss A. Hos- ford^ at Stillwater, and Miss Backus at St. Anthony. sum of twenty thousand dollars out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, is hereby appropriated and granted to said Territory of Minnesota, to be applied by the Governor and Legislative Assembly to the erection of suitable public buildings at the seat of go- vernment." In view of the antecedent, and the object of this appropriation, the Department cannot doubt that the public buildings in question, can ^ The vote in Ramsey county was as follows : Register, Sheriff, . only be erected at the permanent seat of government, located as pre- scribed. Of course the reply to your inquiry must be, that nothing can be expended from this appropri- ation until after the location shall be duly made. Very respectfully, Your obedient scrvcant, AV. M. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury. Joseph R. Brown, St. Paul, M. T. Treasurer, Commissioners, Judge of Probate, 2 Mrs. 11. L. Moss. St, Anthony. St. Paul. Total Day, . . . 39 172 211 Phillips, . . 30 69 99 Lull, . . . 17 172 189 Irvine, . . . 33 60 93 Brisette, . . 19 2 21 Simpson, . . G9 240 309 Roberts, . . 57 202 259 Godfrey, . . 19 123 142 Gervais, . 31 167 198 Banfill, . . 37 70 107 Russell, . 54 108 162 Lambert, . . 34 149 183 Lott, . . . 33 93 126 ST. ANTHONY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 521 In the month of December, the St. Anthony Lil^raiy Association, Avhich had been incorporated by the legis- lature, commenced a series of lectures. The intro- ductory was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Neill, and part of it was published, as a supplement, in the annals of the Historical Society for 1850. Among other lecturers, were the Rev. Mr. Gear, Chaplain of Fort Snelling, and Wm. R. Marshall, Esq. The association was the. first institution of the kind, excepting the Historical Society, in Minnesota; and had a small library of valuable standard works. 522 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. CHAPTER XXIIL By the active exertions of the secretary of the terri- tory, C. K. Smith, Esq., the Historical Society of Min- nesota ^ was incorporated at the first session of the legis- ^ The Chronicle and Register of January fifth, 1850, has the following editorial : — " The first public exercises of the Minnesota Historical Society, took place at the Methodist Church, St. Paul, on the first inst., and passed off highly creditably to all concerned. The day was pleasant, and the at- tendance large. At the appointed hour, — the President and both Vice- Presidents of the society being ab- sent; on motion of lion. C. K. Smith, Hon. Chief Justice Goodrich was called to the chair. The same gen- tleman then moved that a committee, consisting of Messrs. Parsons K. Johnson, John A. Wakefield, and B. W. Brunson, be appointed to wait upon the Orator of the day. Rev. Mr. Neill, and inform him that the audience was in waiting to hear his address. " Mr. Neill was shortly conducted to the pulpit ; and after an eloquent and appropriate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Parsons, and music by the band, he proceeded to deliver his discourse upon the early French Missionaries and voyageurs into Minnesota. It was a highly creditable production ; and we hope the society will provide for its puVjlication at an early day. In truthfulness to history — candour and liberality of sentiment — and strength, and beauty of composition, it commended itself to all present. " After some brief remarks by Rev. Mr. Ilobart, upon the objects and ends of history, the ceremonies were concluded with a prayer by that gentleman. The audience dis- persed highly delighted with all that occurred. " The occasion owed much of its interest to the presence of the far- famed ' Sixth Infantry Band,' now stationed at Fort Snelling. They ' discoursed most eloquent music' at appropriate intervals throughout the exercises. We have never heard a band anywhere that appeared more NEWSPAPER CARRIERS' ADDRESS. 523 lature. The opening annual address was delivered in the Methodist church at St. Paul, on the first of Janu- ary, 1850. At this early period the Minnesota Pioneer issued a Carrier's New Year's Address, which was amusing dog- gerel. The reference to the future greatness and igno- ble origin of the capital of Minnesota is as follows : — The cities on this river must be three, The workshop of the nation it shall he. Two that are built and one that is to be. Propelled by this wide stream, you'll see One, is the mart of all the tropics yield ; A thousand factories at St. Anthony : The cane, the orange, and the cotton-field ; And the St. Croix a hundred mills shall diive, .\nd sends her ships abroad and boasts And all its smiling villages shall thrive; Her trade extended to a thousand coasts; But then mr/ town — remember that high bench The other, central for the temperate zone, ^yith cabins scattered over it, of French? Garners the stores that on the plains are grown ; A man named Henry Jackson 's living there, A place where steamboats from all quarters, Also a man — why every one knows L. Robair ; range. Below Fort SnoUing, seven miles or so. To meet and speculate, as 'twere on 'change. And three above the village of Old Crow ? The vord " and" between the vrords Tvas ayes 18, nays 154. " constituted" and "organized" had The Senate must now act in re- heen substituted for the word "or," gard to the repeal of the grant — its but exonerated Gen. Stevens and the non-concurrence will save the grant clerk of the House — and recommend- — but it is impossible for me to now ed that the word " or" be reinstated, give a conjecture of its probable ac- Mr. Letcher's (of Virginia) repeal tion. To-morrow will tell the tale : bill was introduced and carried by the result will be forwarded by tole- a large majority — so the House has graph. Many able lawyers are of repealed the Minnesota land grant, the opinion that Congress has not The testimony taken by the commit- the power to repeal the act. That, tee will be printed — a copy of Avhich however, is a question to be settled I will send you as soon as possible — hereafter. then the people of Minnesota can In haste, respectfully yours, judge for themselves. A motion is H. M. Kice. now before the House to discharge D. Olmsted, Esq. DECISION OF JUDGE WELCH ON RAILROAD TRESPASS. 611 Judge Welch, at a session of the United States District Court, in Goodhue countj-, against the comj)any. The complaint alleged that the company had cut and carried off five hundred trees, the property of the United States, in Goodhue county. On the fourth of November, Chief Justice Welch gave judgment in favour of the railroad company. The case was carried up to the Supreme Court of Minnesota,- on December sixth, which con- firmed the decision of Chief Justice Welch. Chancellor Walworth, and other jurists of New York, furnished written opinions that Congress had no right to repeal the act. The case was then taken to the Supreme Court of the United States.^ On the afternoon of December twenty-seventh, the first public execution in Minnesota, in accordance with the forms of law, took place. Yuhazee, the Dahkotah who had been convicted in November, 1852, for the murder of a German woman, above Shokpay, was the individual. The scaffold was erected on the open space, between the Franklin House and the rear of Mr. J. W. Selby's enclosure. About two o'clock, the prisoner, dressed in a white shroud, left the old log prison, near the court house, and entered a carriage with the officers of the law. Being assisted up the steps that led to the scaffold, he made a few remarks in his own language, and was then executed. A disgraceful rabble sur- rounded the scaffold, and none of the decencies of law were manifested on the occasion. Says an editor, " liquor was openly passed through the crowd, and the last moments of the poor Indian were disturbed by baccha- ^ At the December Term, 1855, continue the case, which motion Supreme Court of the United States, was granted, the attorney-general moved to dis- 612 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. naliaii yells and cries. Remarks too heartless and de- praved, in regard to the deceased, to come from men, were freely bandied. A half-drunken father could be seen holding in his arms a child eager to see well; criddv and senseless Q;irls chatted with their attendants, and old women were seen vying with drunken ruffians for a place near the gallows." Numerous ladies sent in a petition to the governor, asking the pardon of the Indian, to which that officer made an appropriate reply.^ ^ Executive Department, M. T., \ St. Paul, Dec. 28, 1854. J Ladies : — I have the honour to ac- knowledge the receipt of your peti- tion, asking me, as the executive of the territory, to pardon the Indian now under sentence of death, or to commute his punishment to impris- onment for life in the penitentiary. I cannot conceal the sympathy I feel, in common with each of you, on this melancholy subject ; and I find it even more difficult to reject the prayer of those whose hearts are always first in missions of mercy ; those who are always first to imitate the divine character and forgive. Those whose gentle hands smooth the brow of the sick and afflicted. Those who are first to console even in the last hours of trial. And this petition is a high compliment to these many virtues, and even a still higher one to the benevolence of your hearts. " To forget is a vir- tue; but to forgive is divine." But, ladies, I deeply regret, that, in ac- cordance with what I deem to be my duty to the country, and the general peace of society, I cannot consistently grant the prayer of your petition. The murder for which this unfor- tunate child of nature is condemned, was without a shadow of excuse. It was seemingly deliberate, and his victim was of your sex, innocent and defenceless. She was murdered by the side of a poor, but no doubt fond and devoted husband, while in the public highway, wending their course to a new home. If such criminals should be al- lowed to escape the stern demands of the law, others of his savage tribe might be tempted to hope for a like release, and commit a like of- fence ; and the danger of such re- sults would be far greater from In- dians than from civilized man. Every effort that can be has beeu made to save him by the law. An impartial jury of the country gave him a fair trial, and found him guil- ty. And there is no just reason known to stay the execution of the penalty of the law. With sentiments of the highest personal regard, I am, most respectfully. Your ob't serv't, W. A. GORMAX. To Mrs. Julia E. Fillmore, Mrs. An- na E. Ramsey, Mrs. E. R. Hol- liushead, and others. FIRST BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI. 613 CHAPTER XXYIII. The disciigsion concerning the charter of the Min- nesota and North-western Eaih^oad Company did not terminate with the year 1854. The sixth session of the legislature convened on the third of January, 1855. S. B. Olmstead was elected President of the Council, and C. Gardner Speaker of the House. About the last of January, the two houses adjourned one day to attend the exercises occasioned by the open- ing of the first bridge of any kind over the mighty Mississippi ever completed, from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. It is made of wire, and at the time of its opening, the patent for the land on which the west piers were built had not been issued from the Land Office, a striking evidence of the rapidity with which Minnesota is being developed. The governor, in his message to the legislature, took strong ground against the railroad charter, and in the United States House of Representatives a resolution was passed declaring the charter of the Minnesota and North- western Company null. On the twenty-seventh of Fel> ruary, the United States Senate refused to approve of the resolution that had passed the House, annulling the charter of the company. The news that the charter was not annulled caused great rejoicing among the friends of the railroad, and on Saturday night, March 614 HISTORY OF xMINNESOTA. twenty-fourth, there was a general iUumination of the principal stores and residences of the capital. Governor Gorman having vetoed a bill passed by the Minnesota legislature, amending the act incorporating the Minnesota and North-western Railroad Company, it was again passed in the legislature on February twentj'- first, by a two-thirds vote, and became a law. On the twenty-ninth of March, a convention was held at St. Anthony, wdiich led to the formation of the Repub- lican party of Minnesota. This body took measures for the holding of a territorial convention at St. Paul, which convened on the twenty-fifth of July, and William R. Marshall was nominated as delegate to Congress. Shortly after the friends of Mr. Sibley nominated David Olmsted and Henry M. Rice, the former delegate was also a can didal te. ' rhe contest was anin aated. and resulted in the election of Mr. Rice.^ * Vote for Delegate : — Counties. Kice. ilarshall. Olmsted Counties. Rice. Marshall Olmsted Blue Earth, 54 52 12 Nicollet, . . 85 34 39 Brown,* 30 Olmsted,* . 100 Benton, . . 195 52 121 Pierce, . . Carver, . . 37 28 33 Pembina, 46 Cass, . . . 57 Rice, . . . 50 226 48 Chisago, 104 61 11 Renville, Dahkotah, . 153 161 OO 1 ooJ. Ramsey, 735 5W 529 Dodge, . . 48 49 1 Scott, . . 190 125 127 Doty,* . . . 100 Stearns, . . 125 7 42 Davis, . . . Sibley, . . 96 4 1 Fillmore, 185 151 9 Superior,* . 200 Freeborn, . Steele, . . Faribault, . Todd, . . 9 Goodhue, 184 126 1 Wabashaw, 18 103 30 Hennepin, . 358 415 80 Winona, 132 134 57 Houston,* . 115 16 Washington, 292 121 37 Itasca, . . Wright,^ . . 11 63 18 Le Sueur,* . 56 55 19 Mower,* . . . 40 3705 2493 1746 • Incomplete. SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.— LEGISLATURE OF 1S5G. G15 About noon of December twelfth, 1855, a four horse vehicle was seen driving rapidly through St. Paul ; and deep was the interest when it was announced that one of the Arctic exploring part}', Mr. James Stewart, was on his way to Canada with relics of the world-renowned and world-mourned Sir John Franklin. Gathering to- gether the precious fragments found on Montreal island and vicinity, the party had left the region of icebergs on the ninth of August, and after a continued land journe}' from that time had reached St. Paul on that day en route to the Hudson Bay Company's quarters m Canada. The seventh session of the Legislative Assembty was begun on the second of January, 1856, and again the exciting question was the Minnesota and North-western Kailroad Company. John B. Brisbin was elected President of the Council, and Charles Gardiner, Speaker of the House. Governor Gorman, in his annual message, devoted much space to railroad projects, and expressed his oppo- sition to the Minnesota and North-western Railroad. Contrary to what the community had anticipated, on the last night of the session, the governor signed a bill giving an extension of time to the company. With the announcement of the approval, he submitted the follow- ing message : — " I have this day approved and signed an act, entitled ^ An act granting an extension of time to the Minnesota and North-western Railroad Company, and for other purposes.' " This bill is satisfactory so far as the resulting in- terest is concerned, jQi there are not such guards as in 616 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. mj judgment should Ije thrown around so important an mterest as is involved in this company's charter. " I have, from the beginning of this railroad question, earnestly sought the permanent welfare of Minnesota, and in conjunction with many faithful and upright men in public and private life, finally succeeded in procuring two per cent, upon the gross proceeds, receipts, and income of said road. " This percentage, if the road is ever built, is to be applied to the governmental expenses of our future state, and must yield ample means in a few years to relieve our fellow-citizens from all state taxes for state pur- poses, and must be admitted by all as an important event to the tax-payers of our country. "If, on the other hand, said company shall not con- struct the road nor get the land, nothing can be lost to the people. I have yielded other objections, because three several legislatures have passed favourably upon this company's charter and amendments, and I feel that each favourable amendment should not be lost, because others are desirable. Strong professions of am^Dle capa- city to build this road have been made ; we shall now see how far they are to be reahzed ; I confess that my confidence in these professions is still feeble. "The means used to accomplish ends by this com- pany have never met my approval, and I trust never will ; but if they shall fairly and legally get possession of the lands granted by Congress to aid in constructing said road, I trust we shall have no cause to regret having urged the demands of the people for the interest and guards w^e have succeeded in throwing around their corporate powers. Trusting to the calm and consider- ate judgment of my fellow-citizens, and especially to LIST OF LEGISLATORS OF 1856. 617 the members of the legislature, I leave the future to develop its results." ' ^ List of Members of the Seventh Session of the Legislative Assembly of Minnesota. Balcomb, Saint A. D. IJailley, llenry (i. Dooley. Samuel Flandrau, Charles E. Freeborn. William Hanson, D. M. Ludden. .lolin D. Lowry, William D. RoUiu.':, John Ilolette, Joseph Setzer, Henry N. Stone, Lewis Tillotsou, Benj. F. Thompson, C. W. Brisbin, John B., 1 President. / COUNTY. Winona Dabkotah Scott .Nicollet Goodhue Ilonucpiu Chisago Olmsted llamsoy I'embina Washington Benton Fillmoro Houston Kamsey POST-OFFICE. Winona Hastings Louisville Traverse d'Sioux Red Wing Minneapoliii Taylor's Falls llochester St. Anthony Pembina Stillwater Rovalton Ric-hiand Hokah St. Paul AGE coxdi'n. 26 married 27 married 57 married 26 single 30 married 2S married 35 single 34 married 4S married 35 married 31 married 60 widow'r 35 married 30 single 29 married SATIVITV. New York Minnesota Kentucky New York Ohio Maine Massachusetts Pennsylvania Maine Wisconsin Missouri Xew York Ohio Canada Xew York OCCUPATION. Farmer Merchant Farmer Lawyer Farmer Lawj-er Lumberman Farmer Farmer Indian trader Lumherman Farmer Farmer Miller Lawyer HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NAMES. COUNTY. POST-OFFICE. AGE 27 condi'n. NATIVITY. OCCUPATION. Boutillier. C. W. Le Ramsey St. Anthony married Isl'd of Jersey Physician Bradlev, James T. Hennepin Minneapolis 36 married Connecticut Carriage m'kr Buck. "C. F. Winona Winona 28 married New York Lawyer Burdick, R. C. Pembina Pembina 21 single Michigan Indian trader Cleaveland, .Arba Carver Chanhassen 36 married Massachusetts Farmer Covel, Wm. B. Mower Frankfort 25 single New York Surveyor Be La Vergne, A. F. Le Sueur Le Sueur 40 married New York Shoemaker Dunbar, Wm. F. Houston Caledonia 31 married Rhode Island Farmer Farnham, Sumner F. Ramsey St. .\uthony 35 married Maine Lumberman Galbraith, Thos. J. Scott Shakopee 29 married Pennsylvania lyawyer Gere. William B. Fillmore Chatfield 26 single Pennsylvania Farmer Gibb.s 0. C. Dabkotah St. Paul 28 married Vermont Farmer Grant, Charles Pembina St. Joseph 30 married Red River, B.P. Indian trader Hiirteubower, J. II. Olmsted Pleasant Grove 27 married Kentucky F'armer Ilaus, Reuben Ramsey St. Paul 37 married Penn.sylvania Carpenter II.,ll:in.l, J. M. .<5cott Shakopee 24 single Maryland Lawyer llubbell, J. B. Dodge Mantorville 36 married New York Farmer Hull. Samuel. Fillmore Cariniona 47 married Pennsylvania Farmer Hunt, Thomas B. Carver Chaska 24 married Canada Lawyer Me. J. C. Rice Farribault 45 married Vermont Mechanic .lacknian. H. A. Washington Stillwater 36 married Maine Lumberman Johnson, Parsons K. Blue Earth Mankato 39 married Vermont Tailor Kirknian. James Wabashaw Wabashaw 31 married Canada Blacksmith Kuauft, Kerdiuaud Ramsey St. Paul 31 married Prussia Carpenter Lott. B. W. Ramsey St. Paul 27 single New .Jersey Lawyer MrLeod. George A. Nicollet Traverse d'Sioux 35 married Canada Merchant Murphy. M. T. Dabkotah Mendota 24 single Irelantl Farmer Ni.bles, Wm. H. Ramsey St. Paul 37 married New York Miller Norri3, .Tiimes S. Waahington Cottage Grove 40 married Maine Farmer I'ierce. T. W. Hennepin Minneapolis 30 married Pennsylvania Carpenter Stunjis. William Benton Little Falls 38 married Canada Farmer Taylor. Nathan C. D. Chisago Taylor's Falls 45 single N. Hampshire Lumberman Thompson, M. G. Houston Brownsville 26 married New York Lawyer Thorndike. F. Hennepin Elm Creek 39 marriiHl Mainu Farmer \an Vorlies, A. Washington Stillwater CO married Pennsylvania Gunsmith Wilkinson, Koss Ramsey St. Paul 35 married Pennsylvania Farmer Wilson, John \,. Stearns St. Cloud 35 married Maiiii' Architect Gardiuer, Charles, \ Speaker. J Goodhue Westervclt 40 married New York Lawyer 618 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. During the session of 1856, there was some conversa- tion about the division of the territory by an east and west line, and forming a new territory north of the fortj^-sixth degree of latitude, but no definite action was taken. But in the summer the question of a state organization was for the first time formally agitated in a series of earnest articles in the newspaper, from the pen of John E. Warren. This year was comparatively devoid of interest. The citizens of the territory were busily engaged in making claims in newly organized counties, and in enlarging the area of civilization. On the twelfth of June, several Ojibways entered the farm house of Mr. Whallon, who resided in Hennepin county, on the banks of the Minnesota, a mile below the Bloomington ferry. The wife of the farmer, a friend, and three children, besides a little Dahkotah girl, who had been brought up in the mission-house at Ka- posia, and was so changed in manners that her origin was scarcely perceptible, were sitting in the room when the Indians came in. Instantly seizing the little Indian maiden, they threw her out of the door, killed and scalped her, and fled before the men who were near by in the field could reach the house. The procurement of a state organization, and a grant of lands for railroad purj^oses, were the topics of politi- cal interest during the year 1857. The eighth Legislative Assembly convened at the caj)itol on the seventh of January, and J. B. Brisbin was elected President of the Council, and J. W. Furber, Speaker of the House. A bill changing the seat of government to St. Peter, on the Minnesota river, passed the House. LONG SESSION OF COUNCIL. 619 On Saturday, February twenty-eighth, Mr. Balcombe offered the following resolutions : — ^^ Resolved, That the Hon. Joseph Rolette be very respectfully requested to report to the Council, Bill No. sixty-two Council File, entitled 'A Bill for the removal of the Seat of Government for the Territory of Min- nesota,' this day ; and that should said Rolette fail so to do before the adjournment of the Council this day, that the Hon. Mr. Wales, who stands next in the list of said Committee on Enrolled Bills, be respectfully requested to procure another truly enrolled copy of the said bill, and rejDort the same to the Council on Monday next. ^^And he it further Resolved, That the secretary of the Council is very respectfully requested to give said bill, after it has been signed by the Speaker of the House, and President of the Council, to the Hon. Mr. Wales, to deliver to the Governor for his approval." Mr, Setzer, after the reading of the resolutions, moved a call of the Council, and Mr. Rolette was found to be absent. The chair ordered the sergeant-at>arms to report Mr. Rolette in his seat. Mr. Balcombe moved that further proceedings under the call be dispensed with, which did not prevail. From that time until the next Thursday afternoon, March the fifth, a period of one hundred and twenty-three hours, the Council re- mained in their chamber without recess. At that time a motion to adjourn prevailed. On Friday, another motion was made to dispense with the call of the Coun- cil, Avhich did not prevail. On Saturday, the Council met, the president declared the call still pending. At seven and a half p. m., a committee of the House was announced. The chair ruled, that no communication from the House could be received while a call of the G20 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. Council was pending, and the committee withdrew. A motion was again made during the last night of the session, to dispense with all further proceedings under the call, which prevailed, with one vote only in the negative. Mr. Freeborn, from the committee on enrolled bills, made the following report : — " The Committee on Enrolled Bills would respectfully report, that owing to the absence of the chairman of this committee, Bill No. (62) sixty-two. Council File, being a bill for the removal of the seat of government of the Territory of Minnesota, introduced by Mr. Lowry on the sixth of February, 1857, has not been reported by this committee back to the Council. Your com- mittee would further state that the above-named bill might have been reported back to the Council at this time, but that after examining the enrolled copy of said bill, which was delivered to this committee with the engrossed bill, by the secretary of the Council, in pre- sence of the enrolling clerk of the Council, and care- fully comparing the same, we find numerous errors in the enrolled copy — some portions of the engrossed bill being left out of the enrolled copy, and matter being inserted in the enrolled copy which is not in the en- grossed bill. Your committee cannot, therefore, report the said Bill No. 62, C. F., as correctly enrolled, but retain the same in our possession, subject to the order of the Council. " All which is respectfully submitted." Mr. Ludden moved that a committee be appointed to wait on the governor, and inquire if he had any fur- ther communication to make to the Council. Mr. Lowry moved a call of the Council, which was EXCITEMENT ON REMOVAL OF CAPITAL. G21 ordered, and the roll being called, Messrs. Rolette, Thompson, and Tillotson were absent. At twelve o'clock at night the president resumed the chair, and announced that the time limited by law for the continuation of the session of the territorial legis- lature had expired, and he therefore declared the Coun- cil adjourned without day. The excitement on the capital question was intense, and it was a strange scene to see members of the Coun- cil, eating and sleeping in the hall of legislation for days, waiting for the sergeant-at-arms to report an ab- sent member in his seat. During the spring and early summer, the public mind was indignant at an atrocity perpetrated in the extreme south-western frontier of Minnesota, the recital of which causes the blood to curdle, and the mind to revert to the border scenes of the past century, which occurred in the valley of Wyoming. In the north-western corner of Iowa, a few miles from the Minnesota boundary, there is a lake known as Spirit Lake. In the sf)ring of 1856, persons from Eed Wing had visited this place, and determined to lay off a town. In the winter of 1857, there were six or seven log cabins on the borders of the lake. About fifteen or twenty miles north, in Minnesota, there was also a small place called Spring- field. For several years, Inkpadootah, a Wahpaykootay Dahkotah, had been roving with a few outlaws, being driven away from their own peof)le by internal diffi- culties. These Indians were hunting in north-western Iowa, when one was bitten by a white man's dog, which he killed. The whites then proceeded to the Indian camp, and disarmed them, but they soon supplied them- 622 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. selves again. After this, they arrived on Sunday, the eighth of March, at Spirit Lake. They proceeded to a cabin, where only men dwelt, and asked for beef. Understanding, as they assert, that they had permission to kill one of the cattle, they did so, and commenced cutting it up, when one of the white men came out and knocked down the Dahkotah. For this act the settler was shot, and another one coming out of the cabin, he was also killed. Surrounding the house, the Indians now fired the thatched roof, and as the men ran out all were killed, making the whole number eleven. About the same time, the Indians went to the house of a frontiersman, by the name of Gardner, and de- manded food, and all the food in the house was given to them. The son-in-law, and another man, left to go and see if all was right at the neighbouring cabin, but they never came back. Toward night, excited by the blood they had been spilling through the day, they came back again to Mr. Gardner's house, and soon killed him, and despatching his wife, and two daugh- ters, and grandchildren, carried off Abby, the surviv- ing daughter. The next day, they continued their fiendish work, and brought into camp Mrs. Thatcher and Mrs. Noble. That day a man by the name of Markham visited the house of Gardner, and saw the dead bodies. Secreting himself till night, he came to the Springfield settlement in Minnesota, and re- ported what he had seen. Three miles above the Thatcher family on the lake, there lived a Mr. Marble. On Thursday, the twelfth of March, an Indian, who had been on friendly terms with Marble's family, called at his house, and (as near as Mrs. Marble, with her im- perfect knowledge of the language, could make out) SPIRIT LAKE AND SPRINGFIELD MASSACRE. 623 told them that the white people below them on the Lake had been nijjpoed (killed) a day or two previously. This aroused the suspicion of the Marbles, and none the less that the great depth of the snow made it almost impossible to get out and ascertain the truth of the story. The next day (the thirteenth), quite early in the forenoon, four Indians came to Marble's house and were admitted. Their demeanour was so friendly as to disarm all suspicion. They proposed to swap rifles with Marble, and the terms were soon agreed upon. , After the swap, the chief suggested that they should go out on the lake and shoot at a mark. Marble assented. After a few discharges they turned to come in the direction of the house, when the savages allowed Marble to go a few paces ahead, and immediately shot him down. Mrs. Marble, who was looking out of the cabin, saw her husband fall, and immediately ran to him. The Indians seized her and told her that they would not kill her, but would take her with them. They carried her in triumph to the camp, whither they had previously taken three other white women, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Thatcher, and Miss Gardner. Inkpadootah and party now proceeded to Springfield, where they slaughtered the whole settlement, about the twenty-seventh of March. When the United States troops arrived from Fort Ridgely, they buried two bodies, and the volunteers from Iowa buried twenty-nine others. Besides these, others were missing. The outlaws, per- ceiving that the soldiers were in pursuit, made their escape. The four captive women were forced by day to carry heavy burdens through deep snow, and at night-fall they were made to cut wood and set up the tent, and, after dark, to be subject to the indignities that suggested 624 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. themselves to savages. When food began to fail, the white -women subsisted on bones and feathers. Mrs. Thatcher was in poor health in consequence of the recent birth of a child, and she became burdensome. Arriving at the Big Sioux river, the Indians made a l3ridge by felling a tree on each side of the river bank. Mrs. Thatcher attempted to cross, but failed, and, in despair, refused to try again. One of the men took her by the hand, as if to help her, and, when about midway, pushed her into the stream. She swam to the shore, and they pushed her off, and then fired at her as if she was a target, until life was extinct. " In the early spring it was next to impossible to make any considerable efforts for their rescue ; and it was not known what direction the captors had taken. Time passed on. Two military expeditions reached the place where the massacre took place, but did nothing, except to bury the slain. Early in the month of May, two young men from Lac qui Parle, who had been taught by the mission to read and write, and whose mother is a member of our church,^ while on their spring hunt, found themselves in the neighbourhood of Inkpadoota and his party. Having heard that they held some American women in captivity, the two brothers visited the camp, — though this was at some risk of their lives, since Inkpadootah's hand was now against every man, — and found the outlaws, and succeeded in bargain- ing for Mrs. Marble, whom they first took to their mother's tent," and then brought her to a trading-house at Lac qui Parle, when she Avas visited by those con- nected with the mission at Hazelwood, and clothed once more in civilized costume. On her arrival at the hotel at St. Paul, the citizens welcomed her, and presented ' Letter of Dr. Williamson. RESCUE OF WHITE WOMEN FROM CAPTIVITY. 625 her with a thousand dollars. The deske to rescue the two surviving white women now became intense. One night a good Indian, named Paul by the whites, an elder of the mission church, came into the mission- house and said : — '* If the white chief tells me to go, I will go." "• I tell you to go," rephed Mr. Flandrau, then Dahkotah Agent. With two companies he started next day, with-; a wagon and two horses, and valuable presents. After a diligent search the outlaws were found on the James river mth a band of Yanktons. A few days before Mrs. Noble had been murdered, a Yankton, who had lost his legs by disease, had pur- chased the two women. One night Mrs. Noble was ordered to go out, and be subject to the wishes of the party. She refusing to go, a son of Inkpadootah dragged her out by the hair and killed her. The next morning a Dahkotah woman took Miss Gardner, the sole surviv- ing captive, to see the corpse, which had been horribly treated after death. Paul, by his perseverance and large presents, at length redeemed the captive, and she was brought to the mis- sion-house, and from thence she visited St. Paul, and was restored to her sister in Iowa. For some days previous to the first of July it had been reported that one of Inkpadootah's sons was in a camp on the Yellow Medicine river. A message was sent to the agent, Flandrau, who, with a detachment of soldiers from Fort Ridgely, and some Indian guides, soon arrived and surrounded the lodges. The alarm being given, Inkpadootah's son, said to have been the murderer of Mrs. Noble, ran from his lodge followed by his wife. He concealed himself for a short period in the brush by 40 626 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. the water, but was soon ferreted out and shot by United States soldiers. The rest of the outlaws are said to be west of the Missouri, and that they may yet meet the punishment which they so richly deserve for their horrible barbarity, is the wish of every righteous man. On the twenty-third of February, 1857, an act passed the United States Senate, to authorize the people of Minnesota to form a constitution, preparatory to their admission into the Union on an equal footing with the original states. And at the close of the session another act passed, making a grant of land in alternate sections, to aid in the construction of certain railroads in the ter- ritory. Governor Gorman called a special session of the legis- lature, to take into consideration measures that would give efficiency to these acts. The extra session con- vened on April twenty-seventh, and a message was transmitted by Samuel Medarj',^ who had been appointed governor in the place of W. A. Gorman, whose term of office had expired. An act was passed to execute the trust created by Congress ; and the lands, under certain conditions, were given to certain chartered rail- road companies. The extra session adjourned on the twenty-third of May ; and in accordance with the pro- visions of the enabling act of Congress, an election was held on the first Monday in June, for delegates to a con- vention which was to assemble at the capital on the second Monday in July. The election resulted, as was thought, giving a majority of delegates to the Republi- can party. At midnight previous to the day fixed for the meet- ^ lie acted as governor for a few months only. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. 627 ing of the convention, the Republicans proceeded to the capitol, because the enabUng act had not fixed at what hour on the second Monday the convention should assemble, and fearing that the Democratic delegates might anticipate them, and elect the officers of the body. A little before twelve, a. m., on Monday, the secretary of the territory entered the speaker's ros- trum, and began to call the body to order ; and at the same time a delegate, J. W. North, who had in his pos- session a written request from the majority of the dele- gates present, proceeded to do the same thing. The secretary of the territory put a motion to adjourn, and the Democratic members ^^reseut voting in the affirmative, they left the hall. The Republicans, feel- ing that they were in the majority, remained, and in due time organized, and proceeded with the business specified in the enabling act, to form a constitution, and take all necessary steps for the establishment of a state government, in conformity with the Federal Constitu- tion, subject to the approval and ratification of the people of the proposed state. After several days the Democratic Aving also organized in the Senate chamber at the capitol, and, claiming to be the true body, also proceeded to form a constitution. Both parties were remarkably orderly and intelligent, and everything was marked by perfect decorum. After they had been in session some weeks, moderate coun- sels prevailed, and a committee of conference was ap- pointed from each body, which resulted in both adopting the same constitution, on the twenty-ninth of August. According to the provision of the constitution, an election was held for state officers and the adoption of the con- stitution, on the second Tuesday, the thirteenth of Oc- G28 HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. tober. The constitution was adopted by almost a unani- mous vote. It provided that the territorial officers should retain their offices until the state was admitted into the Union, not anticipating the long delay which has been experienced. The first session of the state legislature commenced on the first Wednesday of December, at the capitol, in the city of St. Paul; and during the month elected Henry M. Eice and James Shields as their Representor tives in the United States Senate. On the twenty-ninth of January, 1858, Mr. Douglas submitted a bill to the United States Senate, for the admission of Minnesota into the Union. On the first of February, a discussion arose on the bill, in which Sena- tors Douglas, Wilson, G^\dn, Hale, Mason, Green, Brown, and Crittenden participated. 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