History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources, Part 3

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co.
Number of Pages: 1176

USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Before reaching their village, which had been again divided during their absence, they dressed themselves in their finest apparel, and marching in Indian file at the head of his devoted companions, the chief entered his village with red cap and flag conspicuously displayed.

The chief was hailed, after Indian custom as Wah-pa-ha-sha, or "Red Cap," which, by abbreviation soon became Wa-pa-sha.

Wapasha's successful return and denunciation of the cowardly desertion by his comrades, created another division, which was made permanent by his leaving " Red Wing's " band and removing to the present site of Minnesota City, known to the Wah-pa-sha band as O-ton-we, "the village," probably because of its having been a very ancient dwelling and burial place of Indians.

There, at Gilmore and Burn's valleys, they had their cornfields and summer residences. The band also had a village near Trempea- leau mountain and at Root river. At times, when not occupied with field work, they assembled upon the site of Winona (known as

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

Keoxa) and La Crosse, held their sun and other religious dances, played their games of "La Crosse," or wept over the remains of their dead. Nostrils and sight both reminded them of this sacred duty, as the dead of their band were placed upon scaffolds, and left to fester and bleach in the open air until whitened by time. The bones and burial garments were buried in some secluded spot, or placed under stones in some ancient ossuary. This custom was soon abandoned, and in later years their dead were at once buried. Wa-pa-sha was very proud of his success with the English, and during one of his visits to Mackanaw, stipulated that when visiting English forts, the British commanders should salute him and his staff with solid shot, aimed a little high.

For much of the foregoing tradition, and very much more of like character, the writer is indebted to Thomas Le Blanc, born in 1824, son of Louis Provosal, or Louis Provencalle, an old French trader, whose post was at or near the site of Pennesha's, on the Minnesota river, at Traverse des Sioux, and where, for a time, in ancient days, some of Wa-pa-sha's people were encamped. Thomas was related to Wah-pa-sha, to the Grignons and to Faribault, and was well versed in Indiau and French traditions. He spoke French, English and Dah-ko-tah about equally well, and during the four months employed by the writer he was found singularly intelligent and truthful.

The first Wah-pah-sha was grandfather to the one removed from his Winona village by treaty in 1851-3. His memory is still held in great reverence by his descendants and the whole Sioux nation. His deeds of prowess and of benevolence are still preserved in tra- ditions and songs that are sung by medicine-men or priests to the young of the tribe; and even the Winnebago members of the Wah-pa-sha family have learned to sing them.

As a specimen of these rude verses, compelled into rhyme, the following song is given :

SONG OF THE DAH-KO-TAHS.

Wah-pa-sha! Wah-pa-sha ! good and great brave,

You rode into battle, made enemies slaves ;

Your war-chief was strong in spirit and frame, And many the scalps he hung on his chain.

Your " Red Cap" was known in the East and the West ;

You honored the English, and hoped to be blessed ; You clothed your red children in scarlet and blue ; You ever were kind, devoted and true.

1142762

AMONG THE INDIANS.

The skins of your Te-pee were brought from the plains;

Your moccasins dressed with ('hippewa brains,*

Your war-whoop saluted by British real shot,t

Gave peacefullest token they harmed you not.

Then rest thee, brave chieftain, our night has come on,

The light has departed from all thou hadst won ;

Thy people lie scattered on hillside and plain ;

Thy corn-fields, thy prairie, we cannot regain.

Notwithstanding the esteem in which his memory is now held, during his lifetime Wah-pa-sha became the subject of dissensions in his tribe, and leaving the cares of chieftainship principally to his son, he roamed at will with a small band of devoted followers of his own tribe, and a few Win-ne-bagoes, one of whom had married his sister Winona, and whose daughter Winona, called the sister of the last Wah-pa-sha (though but a cousin), played so important a part in the removal of the Winnebagoes in 1848. Old Wah-pa- sha finally died at a favorite winter encampment on Root river, and was taken to Prairie du Chien for burial. When news reached the Mississippi, in 1780, that Col. George R. Clark, of Virginia, was in possession of Illinois, and was likely to take possession of Prairie du Chien, a lieutenant of militia, twenty Canadians and thirty-six Fox and Dah-ko-tah Indians were sent with nine bark canoes to secure the furs collected at that post. Wah-pa-sha was in command of the Indians.

The canoes were filled with the best furs, and sent by Capt. Langlade, who had charge of them, out of danger from capture, and a few days afterward the Americans arrived with the intention of attacking the post. During this year, also, a squaw discovered a lead mine near the present site of Dubuque. During 1783-4 the Northwestern Company was organized, but some of the members becoming dissatisfied, an opposition company was formed by Alex- ander Mckenzie and others. After a sharp rivalry for some time the two companies were consolidated.

In 1798 there was a reorganization of the company, new part- ners admitted, and the shares increased. The new management was thoroughly systematized, and their operations made very profit- able.

*The brains of animals are used in dressing deer skins.

+ A stipulation at Mackinaw, required a salute to Wah-pa-sha of solid shot when he visited that fort.

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

In about the year 1785 Julien Dubuque, who had settled at "La Prairie du Chien," and had heard of the discovery by a Fox squaw of a lead vein on the west side of the Mississippi, obtained permission at a council to work those mines, and he established him- self upon the site of the city that bears his name.

Dubuque was the confrere of De Marin, Provosal, Poquette and others who have prominently figured in the fur trade of that period. The principal traders, however, were Dickson, Frazer, Renville and Grignon. James Porlier, an educated French Canadian, was acting as clerk for Grignon, on the St. Croix, at this time, together with the pompous and eccentric Judge Reaume, afterward so noted at Green Bay.

Porlier, while with Dickson at Sauk Rapids, gave Pike useful information during his visit to the upper Mississippi in 1805, and afterward, moving to Green Bay, acted as chief-justice of Brown county for sixteen years. The treaty of 1783 failed to restore good feeling between England and the United States, as the British posts were not at once surrendered, and this fact served to keep the Indians hostile.

The English pretended not to have authority to give up posts on Indian territory. This excuse was set up in the interest of the En- glish fur traders, but it was finally agreed by the treaty effected by Mr. Jay that Great Britain should withdraw her troops by June 1, 1796, from all posts within the boundaries assigned by the treaty, and that British settlers and traders might remain for one year with all their former privileges, without becoming citizens of the United States. The Northwest Company seized upon this opportunity to establish posts all over Minnesota. They paid no duties, raised the British flag in many instances over their posts, and gave chiefs medals with English ensignia upon them. By these means they impressed the savages with the idea that their power still remained supreme, and this impression was a fruitful source of annoyance, and even danger, to Americans, for years afterward. In May, 1800, the Northwestern territory was divided.

In December, 1803, the province of Louisiana was officially delivered by the French to the United States government, and in March, 1804, Capt. Stoddard, U.S.A., as agent of the French govern- ment, received from the Spanish authorities in St. Louis actual possession of this important territory, transferring it very soon there- after to the United States.

AMONG THE INDIANS.

It was now deemed expedient that this valuable territory, so recently purchased, should be fully explored, and the Indians be made to acknowledge the full sovereignty of the Federal govern- ment. Upper Louisiana, including a large part of Minnesota, was organized immediately after the transfer, and on January 11, 1805, Michigan territory was also organized. Gen. Wilkinson, placed in command at St. Louis, finding that the laws of his government were still unrecognized by the English traders in the new territory, in 1805 sent Lient. Zebulon M. Pike to expel the traders and bring some of the prominent Indian chiefs to St. Louis. Pike was cour- teously received and hospitably entertained by the wily Scotch and English traders of that period, but they secretly resolved-to dis- regard and circumvent the policy of the United States government in its proposed management of the Indians.

Pike visited the different tribes along the Mississippi as far up as Sandy and Leech lakes, and made a treaty with the Dah-ko-tahs for sites for forts at the mouth of the St. Croix and Minnesota rivers.

Wintering in the country of the Chippewas, he was enabled to induce them and the Sioux to smoke the pipe of peace, and in the early springtime started with representatives of both nations for St. Louis to conclude articles of friendship and commerce intended for the benefit of these hostile races.

Upon the "Aile Rouge," or "Red Wing," hearing of a secret attempt to shoot Lieut. Pike by a young Sioux, he spoke with vehemence against the character of some encamped at the mouth of the Minnesota river, and offered to bring the would-be assassin to Pike for punishment. Pike found at the Red Wing village an old chief known as Roman Nose, and who had been the second chief of lis tribe, desirous of giving himself up for some instrumentality in the death of a trader. The Indian name of the chief was not given, but it was said he had been deposed in consequence of the murder of the trader. Pike thought it impolitic to tell the penitent chief that the matter was beyond his jurisdiction.

On his way down the river Pike speaks of Winona prairie by its French name of "Aile" or "Wing" prairie, and of Wah-pa- shas encampment below La Crosse, probably at mouth of Root river. He also gives Wah-pa-sha his French name of La Feuille, "The Leaf." La Crosse he calls De Cross, but when speaking of the game played at Prairie du Chien by Sioux, Fox and Winnebago

3×

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

contestants, he calls that "a great game of the cross," showing clearly that he did not know the French origin of the name. While at Prairie du Chien, Wah-pa-sha sent for Lieut. Pike, "and had a long and interesting conversation with him, in which he spoke of the general jealonsy of his nation toward their chiefs," and wished the "Nez Corbeau," as the French called the "Roman Nose," reinstated in his rank as "the man of most sense in his nation." This conversation shows another noble trait in the character of Wah- pa-sha.

Before leaving Prairie du Chien for St. Louis, Pike established regulations for the government of the Indian trade, but his disap- pearance from " La Prairie" was the signal for Cameron, Rolette, Dickson and their subordinates to disregard them. Cameron and Dickson were both bold Scotch traders, who seem to have disre- garded all regulations and laws, except those of hospitality and humanity. Cameron died in 1811, and was buried on the Minnesota river. Dickson lived to take an active part in the war of 1812, and have few but his ill deeds spoken of in history.

CHAPTER IV.

TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS.

IN 1807 it was becoming evident that the various Indian tribes in the Northwest were forming a hostile league against the United States government. In 1809, a Nicholas Jarrot made affidavit that English traders were supplying Indians for hostile purposes. Indian runners and envoys from the "Prophet" were visiting the Chippewas, while Dickson, who was the principal trader in Minne- sota, held the Indians along the waters of the Mississippi subject to his will.

Gov. Edwards, of Illinois, reported to the secretary of war that "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 hopes to engage, them in hostility by making peace between the Sioux and Chippeways, and in having them declare war against us." A principal cause of the great influence of Dick. son was his alliance by marriage with the noted Dah-ko-tah chief .. Red Thunder," whose sister he had taken as his wife.

TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS.

In May, 1812, two Indian couriers were arrested in Chicago, supposed to have letters for Dickson. The Indians had anticipated arrest, or else, for greater security, had buried their letters until they should resume their journey, and nothing being found upon their persons they were released. A Mr. Frazer was present when the letters were finally delivered to Dickson, who was then at "the Portage " in Wisconsin, and said the letters conveyed the intelli- gence that the British flag would soon be flying upon the fort at Mackanaw.

During this period, Cadotte, Deace and others were collecting the Chippewas of northeastern Minnesota on Lake Superior, and at Green Bay. Black Hawk was given command of the Indian forces to be assembled. Dickson gave him a certificate of authority, a medal and a British flag. Before it was known that war had been declared, the American commandant at Mackanaw was surprised by the land- ing of British troops and traders, and a demand for the surrender of the garrison.

With the British army came well known traders, prepared with goods to trade under the British flag.

An American, taken prisoner at the time, wrote to the Secretary of War: " The persons who commanded the Indians are Robert Dickson, Indian trader ; John Askin, Jr., Indian agent, and his son," both of whom were painted and dressed in savage costume. Neill says :. "The next year (1813) Dickson, Renville, and other fur traders, are present with the Kaposia. Wah-pa-sha, and other bands of Dah-ko-tahs, at the siege of Fort Meigs."

While Renville was seated, one afternoon, with Wah-pa-sha and the then chief of the Kaposia band, a deputation came to invite them to meet the other allied Indians, with which the chief complied. " Frazer, an old trader in Minnesota, told Renville that the Indians were about to eat an American." * * * "The bravest man of

* A each tribe was urged to step forward and partake." *

Winnebago was urging a noted Sioux hunter to partake of the horrid feast, when his unele told him to leave, and addressed the assembled warriors as follows : " My friends, we came here not to eat Ameri- cans, but to wage war against them; that will suffice for us." Trah-pa-sha said : "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 sent for the Winnebago who had arranged the intended

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

feast and demanded his reason for doing so disgusting a deed. His answer sheds no light upon his motive.

The fall of. Mackanaw alarmed the people of the Mississippi valley, and they called loudly for the defense of Prairie-du-Chien.

In May, 1814, Gov. Clark left St. Louis for this purpose, and taking possession of the old Mackinaw House, found a number of trunks full of papers belonging to Dickson, one of which contained this interesting extract : " Arrived from below, a few Winnebagoes with scalps. Gave them tobacco, six pounds of powder and six pounds of ball."

A fort was built by the Americans, and named "Shelby." The Mackanaw traders, hearing of this, organized a force under Mckay, an old trader, and started in canoes to dispossess the Americans.

The British force was guided by Joseph Rolette, Sr., and, land- ing some distance up the Wisconsin river, marched to the village and demanded its surrender.

The fort was unfinished and scarcely defensible, but its com- mander, Lieut. Perkins, replied that he would detend it to the last.

On July 17 the gunboat, under command of Capt. Yeiser, was attacked by the British and Indians. The boat moved to a con- manding position above, but was soon dislodged by the enemy, who crossed to the island, where they availed themselves of the shelter of trees.

The boat was then run a few miles below, but was unable to do much execution. For three days Lieut. Perkins made a brave resistance, but was finally compelled to capitulate, reserving the pri- vate property of his command.

After placing his prisoners on parole, the British victor escorted them to one of the gunboats, upon which they had but about a month before come up, and, crestfallen at their discomfiture, they were sent back down the river, pledged not to bear arms until exchanged.

Some bloodthirsty savages followed them in canoes, but made no victims.

Lieut. Campbell came up from St. Louis about this time with a small force to strengthen the garrison, and, landing at Rock Island, held a conference with Black Hawk at his village near by. Directly after leaving, news came to Black Hawk of the defeat at Prairie-du- Chien. His braves at once started in pursuit of Campbell's com- mand. A severe encounter was incurred, the lieutenant was

TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS.

wounded and some of his men killed. During the fight a boat was captured, and the force was compelled to retreat back to St. Louis.

After the capture of Fort Shelly, it was named by the British Fort McKay.

In August, 1814, Maj. Zachary Taylor was sent up with a force in gunboats to punish the Indians who had attacked Lieut. Campbell, but to his astonishment found the British and Indians in possession of Rock Island.

Fire was opened upon Taylor from a battery, and the first ball fired passed through a gunboat commanded by Capt. Hempstead.

Taylor's boats were all disabled and he was compelled to retreat down the river a short distance for repairs. In that engagement one was killed and eleven wounded. With the Americans who came down to St. Louis after the surrender of Prairie-du-Chien was a "one-eyed Sioux," who had aided in the defense of Capt. Yeiser's gunboat.

During the autumn of 1814, in company with another Sioux of the Kaposia band, he ascended the Missouri to a convenient point above, and, crossing the country, enlisted a number of his people in favor of the Americans.

After these professions of friendship, most likely from Sioux nearest St. Louis, he went down to Prairie-du-Chien. Dickson, upon his arrival, asked his business, and snatched from him a bundle, expecting to find letters.

The Indian told Dickson that he was from St. Louis, and would give no further information.

Dickson confined the Sioux in Fort McKay, and threatened him with death if he did not give information against the Americans. The " one-eyed Sioux " was proof against all threats, and he was finally released.

The stubborn savage soon left for a winter sojourn among the river bands, and returning in the spring of 1815 he soon heard the news of peace having been restored.

As the British evacuated the fort they set it on fire, with the American flag flying as it had been run up, seeing which, the " one- eyed Sioux" rushed into the burning fort and saved the flag. A medal and a commission were given him by Gov. Clark, which he treasured and exhibited upon frequent occasions, while rehearsing his many exploits.

These interesting facts taken from Neill's valuable history, relate

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

to Ta-ha-mie, tlie "Rising Moose, " mentioned by Lieut. Pike in his journal.

He was well known to the writer as the "one-eyed" medicine chief, or priest, of the Wah-pa-sha band of Sionx, though he seemed equally at home with other bands and with the Winnebagoes, all of whom reverenced him for his bravery and intelligence. His fre- quent boast of having been the only American Sioux during the war of 1812, made him quite famous among the American settlers of Winona county, while the pretentious cock of his stove-pipe hat and the swing of his mysterious medicine-bag and tomahawk-pipe gave' him character among his Sioux and Winnebago patrons. His serv- ices were in frequent demand; and even now, in 1882, he is spoken of by the older Indians as a great hunter, a great warrior, and a good priest. His more modern name of Tah-my-hay, "the Pike," corrupted into Tom-my-haw by the American settlers, was probably taken by himself as the adopted brother of Lieut. Pike, after an Indian custom. His Winnebago name of Na-zee-kalı, an interpreta- tion of his Sioux name, shows clearly that he was known as " The Pike." In regard to the "Tomahawk," that so mystified Dr. Foster, whose interesting and elaborate article is quoted from by Neill, it appears probable, allowing something to imagination, that the father of Lieut. Pike had a tomahawk, the head and handle of which formed a pipe, and that Lieut. Pike had taken it with him on his mission to the Sioux and Chippewas as a calumet or pipe of peace. That, meeting with and forming a close tie of friendship with Ta-ha-mie, the " Rising Moose," he gave him a memento of his everlasting friendship, in peace or war, by presenting the " pipe tomahawk," in such common use along the Canadian border in early days. The writer's memory was in fault as to the certainty of its being Tah-my-hay who, of all the Sioux, was so expert in the use of the tomahawk, but R. F. Nor- ton, a merchant of Homer, Minnesota, comes to his aid by relating the following incident :

During the early days, said Norton, my brother, the doctor, and myself, were listening to an old dragoon settler's account of his skill and prowess with the sabre. Flourishing a stick, he told how easy it was to defend himself against the assault of lance or bayonet. Tom-my-haw happened to be present, and understanding more than the valorous cavalryman supposed, or, as proved agree- able, asked the white warrior to strike him with his stick. This the dragoon declined to do, but, being urged, he made a demon-

TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS.

stration as if intending to strike, when, with a movement of Tom-my-haw's tomahawk, the stick was caught, and whirled to a safe distance. Norton described the tomahawk as a combined hatchet and pipe.

In his youth, Tom-my-hay was a noted hunter, and after the disruption of the Me-day-wa-kant-wan band, joined Red Wing's subdivision, and afterward that of Wah-pa-sha. He told the writer that during one of his hunts, while following the game into a dense Tamarach thicket, a sharp, dry twig entered one eye and destroyed its sight. The vanity of Tah-my-hay was something remarkable, but his devotion to the Americans was vouched for by his tribe.

After the war had closed, Little Crow and Wah-pa-sha, by request of the British command, made a long journey, in canoes, to Drummond's Island, in Lake Huron.

After lauding their valor, and thanking them in the name of his king, the officer laid some few' presents before them as a reward for their meritorious services. The paltry presents so aroused the indignation of Wali-pa-sha, that he addressed the English officer, as appears in Neill's History of Minnesota, as follows :

" My Father, 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 with- out 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 means of subsistence, and I can do so still !"

Little Crow, with vehemence. said : "After we have fought.for you, endured many hardships, lost some of our people, and awak- ened the vengeance of our powerful neighbors, 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 compen- sation for having deserted us. But no! We will not take them;

HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.

we hold them and yourselves in equal contempt." So saying, he spurned the presents with his foot, and walked away.

The treaty that soon followed at Portage-des-Sioux, won over to the United States the fealty of the Dah-ko-tahs, of Minnesota, and the disgust expressed by "Little Crow" and Wah-pa sha on their return to their people, for a time, at least, rendered any further serions difficulty with them improbable.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources, Part 3

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co. Number of Pages: 1176

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co.
Number of Pages: 1176