USA > Minnesota > Dahkotah land and Dahkotah life [microform] : with the history of the fur traders of the extreme northwest during the French and British dominions > Part 11
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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. In 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 Lak Superior.
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VERANDERIE'S TOUR TOWARDS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 187 -
> Veranderie, a French officer, was, at this early date, commissioned to open a northern route to the Pacific.
Proceeding westward 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, which 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.1
1 Stone heaps are seen on the prai- mit. I left the path after crossing 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 :-
Dean Sir: Your letter of the third instant, relating to the stone heaps near Red Wing, was duly received.
I am happy to comply with your request, hoping that it may lead to an accurate survey of these mounds.
In 1848 I first heard of stone heaps on the hill-tops, back of Red Wing. But business, and the natural suapi- cion, of the Indian,/prevented me from exploring. The treaty of Men-
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 why and when it had been dota emboldened me to visit the done, were questions not so easily decided. For solving these I re-
hills, and try to find the stone heaps. Accordingly, late last autumn, I. solved to seek internal evidence. started on foot and alone from Red 'Prompted by the spirit of a first Wing, following the path marked P. explorer, I soon ascended the heap; on the map, which I herewith trans- and the coldness of the day, and the
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188
HISTORY OF MINNESOT.I.
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 with the Indi- ans, and he was obliged to return.
The Dahkotahs were 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 , now started eastward to visit a coni- lift, or roll them, and soon reached cal appearing hill, distant about à mile and a half. I easily descended the hill, but to cross the plain and a foot further, I pulled the post out ; . ascend another hill, " hic 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 "Tam O'Shanter's" bonnet. In these heaps I found the bones n stick about two feet from the top of the heap. After descending about and about the same place found a shank bone, about five inches long. The post was red cedar half decayed, i. 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 which I left with you. I discovered each about half-way down the heaps.
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- worthy of particular notice at pre-
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, hare
been the thrones and playgrounds of fairies. But I must stick to facts. I
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 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. AITON. Kaposia, Jan. 17, 1852.
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FINAL ATTACK ON THE FOXES.
189
governor of Canada, under date of May tenth, 1737, says :-
" As respects the Scioux, according to what the com- mandant1 and missionaryª 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 Veranderie."
:
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 they 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,
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190
HISTORY 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 besiegers 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 onrsmen 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 were engaged in a game, and slew nearly the whole settlement.'
During the winter of 1745-6, De Lusignan visited
.. 1 .In the North-West a collection Recollections. Vol. iii., Wis. His. of traders' canoes is called a brigade. Soc. Col.
" Snelling's North-West, Grignon'
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191
LUSIGNAN VISITS THE DAHKOTAHS.
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 remained with them they made peace with the Ojibways of La Pointe, with whom they had been at war for some time. 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, in 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
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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."
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INDIAN ENLISTMENT .- FRENCH WAR.
193
CHAPTER X.
CANADA was now fairly involved in the war with 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 enlist 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
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194
13 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.1 :
On the twenty-third of 'August, 1747, Philip Le Duc arrived at Mackinaw from Lake Superior, stating that he had been robbed of his goods at Kamanistigoya,2 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 Duc'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 Sea3-Fond du Lac, Minnesota. .
For several years there was constant dissatisfaction among the Indians, but under the influence of Sieur Marin, who was in command at Green Bay in. 1753, tranquillity was in a measure restored.
. 2
" 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 Detroit.
" 80 Algonkins and Nepis- sings.
14 Sauteurs.
.July 31, 16 Folles Avoines for war. 14.Kiskakons
22, 38 Ottawas of Detroit.
" . ". 4 Scioux, to ask for a" .. 17 Sauteurs
commandant. " 24 Hurons.
Aug. 2, 50 Pottowattamies for war.
15 Puans
" Pigeon river, part of northern boundary of Minnesota.
r " 10 Illinois
6, 50 Ottawas of Mackinaw.
' Carver's map calls it West Bay.
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195
BRADDOCK'S. DEFEAT .- ST. PIERRE'S DEATH.
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 in 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.1
On the ninth of July, 1755, Beaujeu and De Lignery, who had pursued so unsuccessfully the Foxes, in the valley of the Wisconsin, in 1728, were at Fort Duquesne, and marched out of the fort with 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.".
1 St. Pierre's reply pas manly and , dignified. See Pennsylvania Colo- Dial Records, v. 715. " Johnson.
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
Other officers who had been stationed on the borders of Minnesota, also distinguished themselves during the French war. The Marquis Montcalm, in camp at Ticon- deroga, on the twenty-seventh, of July, 1757, 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 off 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 like a warrior. He was unwilling to amuse · himself making prisoners; he 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 1 and . Hertel de Chantly. They remained in ambush all day
1 This officer has relatives in Wis- his life is in Grignon's Recollections, consin, and an interesting sketch of Wis. Hist. Soc. Collections, rol, iii.
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197
IOWAYS AT TICONDEROGA.
and night yesterday; at break of day the English 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 Indians from the tribes of the North-west,? and the Ioways appeared for the first time in the east.
It is an interesting fact that the English officers who
1 'INDIANS OF THE UPPER COUNTRY.
OFFICERS.
Tetes de Boule
3
Outaouais Kiskakons 94
Sinagos- 35
of the Forks .. 70
Herbin.
of Mignogan . 10 Abbe Matayet.
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of Detroit 30
of Saginau
54
Sauteurs of Chagoamigon
33 La Plante.
" of Beaver 23 De Lorimer.
of Coasekimagen
14. Chesne, Interpreter. 5
of the Carp
50
Poutouatamis of St. Joseph
" of Detroit . 18
62 Folles Avoines of Orignal of the Chat 67
Miamis 15
Puans of the Bay 48 De Tailly, Interpreter.
Foxes
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Quillas
10
Sacs
33.
Loups .
5
De Langlade.
Florimont.
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Sulpitian.
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37
of Cabibonke
.70
Ayeouais (Ioways) 10
Marin, Langus .. Reaume, Interpreter.
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
198
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 Hakes, 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. -
A)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 fifteerf beeves, on the horns of one of which he left a laconic and amusing note, addressed to the commander of the post.1 .
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
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199
ENGLISH AT GREEN BAY .- DAHKOTAH EMBASSY.
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 Rogers 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 they 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 Albany, 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 Indiens, 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 with him a
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200
HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
pipe from them, with a request that traders might. be sent to them.1
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1 Extracts from the journal of Lt. behaving well, which he did, better Gorell, an English officer at Green than any Canadian I ever knew. * Bay, Wis. His. Coll. vol. i. * * * With regard to traders, I told "On March 1, 1763, twelve war- 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 (Ioway) 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
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