USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 10
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Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this battle, seven of whom were killed, and fourteen wounded. They managed to put six hundred and ninety-three bullets into and through the boat. Two of the crew were killed outright, two mortally, and two slightly wounded. The presence of mind of Mandeville
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undoubtedly saved the rest, as well as the boat. Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, did not reach the mouth of the Bad Axe until midnight. The Indians opened a fire upon her, which was promptly returned; but, owing to the darkness, no injury was done, and the boat passed on safely.
The date of the attack on these keel-boats is stated by Judge J. H. Lockwood to have been June 26. Gen. Smith's " History of Wisconsin " says June 30, on the authority of Judge Doty. It is, however, quite certain, that the murder of the Gagnier family, and the boat-attacks, were on the same day.
Great was the alarm at Prairie du Chien when the boats arrived there. The people left their houses and farms, and crowded into the dilapidated fort. An express was immediately sent to Galena, and another to Fort Snelling, for assistance. A company of upwards of a hundred volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. In a few days, four imperfect companies arrived from Fort Snelling. The consternation of the people of the lead-mines was great, and in all the frontier settlements. This portion of the country then contained, as is supposed, about five thousand inhabitants. A great many of them fled from the country.
CHAPTER XI.
EARLY HISTORY - WINNEBAGO WAR.
Major Whistler's Operations-The Surrender near the Portage - End of the War - Treaty of Peace- An Indian prefers Honor to Life - A Native prizes his Word higher than Life - A Well-merited Reprieve.
ON the 1st of September, 1827, Major William Whistler, with government troops, arrived at the portage; and, while here, an express arrived from Gen. Atkinson, announcing his approach, and directing the former to halt and fortify himself at the port- age, and wait his arrival. The object of the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jefferson barracks, below St. Louis, and of Major Whistler from Fort Howard, on Green Bay, was to cap- ture those who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to any further aggression. At the opening of the council at La Butte des Morts, between the government and the Indians, the Winnebagoes were advised that the secu- rity of their people lay in the surrender of the murderers of the Gagnier family. While Major Whistler was at the portage, he received a call in a mysterious way. An Indian came to his tent, and informed him, that, at about three o'clock the next day, "they will come in." In reply to the question, " Who will come in?" he said, "Red Bird and We-Kau." After making this answer, he retired by the way he came. At three o'clock the same day, another Indian came, and took position in nearly the same place, and in the same way, when, to like questions, he gave like answers; and at sundown a third came, confirm- ing what the two had said, adding that he had, to secure that object, given to the families of the murderers nearly all his property.
Col. McKenney in his "Tour of the Lakes," 1827, who ac- 186
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companied Judge Doty as one of the commissioners to meet the Indians at La Butte des Mort, and who was of Major Whistler's party, referring to this matter, says, -
" There was something heroic in this voluntary surrender. The giving- away of property to the families of the guilty parties had nothing to do with their determination to devote themselves for the good of their people, but only to reconcile those who were about to be bereaved to the dreadful expe- dient. The heroism of the purpose is seen in the fact that the murders com- mitted at Prairie du Chien were not wanton, but in retaliation for wrongs committed on this people by the whites. The parties murdered at the prai- rie were, doubtless, innocent of the wrongs and outrages of which the In- dians complained; but the law of Indian retaliation does not require that he alone who commits a wrong shall suffer for it. One scalp is held due for another, no matter whose head is taken, provided it be torn from the crown of the family, or people who may have made a resort to this law a neces- sity."
About noon of the day following, says the same writer, -
" There were seen descending a mound on the portage a body of In- dians. Some were mounted, and some were on foot. By the aid of a glass, we could discern the direction to be towards our position. They bore no arms, and we were at no loss to understand that the promise made by the three Indians was about to be fulfilled. In the course of half an hour, they had approached within a short distance of the crossing of Fox River, when on a sudden we heard a singing. Those who were familiar with the air said, ' It is a death-song.' When still nearer, some present, who knew him, said, 'It is Red Bird singing his death-song.' The moment a halt was made, preparatory to crossing over, two scalp-yells were heard.
" The Menomonees and other Indians who had accompanied us were lying carelessly about the ground, regardless of what was going on; but, when the ' scalp-yells' were uttered, they sprang as one man to their feet, seized their rifles, and were ready for battle. They were at no loss to know what these 'yells' were; but they had not heard with sufficient accuracy to decide whether they indicated scalps to be taken or given, but doubtless in- ferred the first.
"Barges were sent across to receive, and an escort of military to accom- pany them within our lines. The white flag which we had seen in the dis- tance was borne by Red Bird.
" And now the advance of the Indians had reached half up the ascent of the bluff on which was our encampment. In the lead was Car-i-mi-nie, a distinguished chief. Arriving on the level upon which was our encamp- ment, and order being called, Car-i-mi-nie spoke, saying, 'They are here. Like braves they have come in; treat them as braves; do not put them in irons.' This address was made to me. I told him I was not the big cap- tain. His talk must be made to Major Whistler, who would, I had no doubt,
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do what was right. Mr. Marsh, the sub-agent, being there, an advance was made to him, and a hope expressed that the prisoners might be turned over to him."
For the remainder of the incidents connected with this sur- render Mr. McKenney quotes from a letter addressed by him to Hon. James Barbour, secretary of war : -
" The military had been previously drawn out in a line. The Menomo- nee and Wabanackie (Oneida) Indians were in groups, upon their haunches, on our left flank. 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 mur- derers. On their right and left were those who had accompanied them, forming a semicircle; the magnificent Red Bird and the miserable-looking We-Kau a little in advance of the centre. All eyes were fixed on the Red Bird, as well they might be; for, of all the Indians I ever saw, he is, without exception, the most perfect in form, face, and gesture. In height he is about six feet, straight, but without restraint. His proportions are those of most exact symmetry; and these embrace the entire man, from his head to his feet. During my attempted analysis of this face, I could not but ask myself, Can this man be a murderer?
" He and We-Kau were told to sit down. At this moment the band struck up Pleyel's Hymn. Every thing was still. Red Bird turned his eyes toward the band. The music having ceased, he took up his pouch, and, taking from it kinnikinnic and tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his hand, after the Indian fashion; then, rubbing the two together, filled the bowl of his calumet, struck fire on a bit of punk with his flint and steel, lighted, and smoked it. All sat, except the speaker. The subject of what they said was as follows : -
"We were required to bring in the murderers. They had no power over any, except two : the third had gone away; and these had voluntarily agreed to come in, and give themselves up. As their friends, they had come with them. They hoped their white brothers would agree to accept the horses, of which there were, perhaps, twenty; the meaning of which was, to take them in commutation for the lives of their two friends. They asked kind treatment for them, and earnestly besought that they might not be put in irons, and concluded by asking for a little tobacco, and something to eat.
" They were answered, and told in substance that they had done well thus to come in. By having done so, they had turned away our guns, and saved their people. They were admonished against placing themselves in a like situation in the future, and advised, when they were aggrieved, not to resort to violence, but to go to their agent, who would inform the Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress their grievances ; that their friends should be treated kindly, and tried by the same laws by which their Great Father's white children were tried ; that, for the present, Red Bird and We-Kau should not be put in irons ; that they should all have something to eat, and tobacco to smoke.
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"Having heard this, Red Bird stood up; the commanding officer, Major Whistler, a few paces in front of the centre of the line, facing him. After a moment's pause, and a quick survey of the troops, he spoke, saying, 'I am ready.' Then, advancing a step or two, he paused, saying, 'I do not wish to be put in irons. Let me be free. I have given away my life: it is gone ' [stooping, and taking some dust between his finger and thumb, and blowing it away], ' like that,' eying the dust as it fell and vanished from his sight, adding, ' I would not take it back : it is gone.' Having thus spoken, he threw his hands behind him, and marched up to Major Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was wheeled backwards from the centre of the line, when, the major stepping aside, Red Bird and We-Kau marched through the line, in charge of a file of men, to a tent provided for them in the rear, where a guard was set over them. The comrades of the two captives then left the ground by the way they had come, taking with them our advice, and a supply of meat, flour, and tobacco.
" We-Kau, the miserable-looking being, the accomplice of the Red Bird, was in all things the opposite of that unfortunate brave. Never were two persons so totally unlike. The one seemed a prince, and as if born to command, and worthy to be obeyed ; the other, as if he had been born to be hanged, - meagre, cold, dirty in his person and dress, crooked in form, like the starved wolf, gaunt, hungy, and bloodthirsty; his entire ap- pearance indicating the presence of a spirit wary, cruel, and treacherous. The prisoners were committed into safe keeping at Prairie du Chien, to await their trial in the regular courts of justice for murder."
In the course of the year, the people of the lead-mines in- creased in numbers and in strength, and encroached upon the Winnebago lands. The Winnebagoes complained in vain. The next spring the murderers of Methode and the other Indian prisoners were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. A deputation of the tribe went to Washington to solicit their pardon. President Adams granted it on the implied condition . that the tribe would cede the lands then in the possession of the miners. The Winnebagoes have kept their word, and Madame Gagnier has been compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty held at Prairie du Chien in 1829, provision was made for two sec- tions of land to Madame Gagnier and her two children; and the government agreed to pay her the sum of fifty dollars per annum for fifteen years, to be deducted from the annuity to the Winnebago Indians.
Red Bird died in prison ; and We-Kau died of the small-pox at the prairie, in 1836. In closing this account of the troubles
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at Prairie du Chien, we give an anecdote which places the Winnebago character in a more amiable light than any before related. The militia of Prairie du Chien, immediately after the affair of the boats, seized the old chief, De-kau-ray, and four other Indians ; and he was informed, that, if Red Bird should not be given up within a certain time, he and the others were to die in his place. This he steadfastly believed. A messenger, a young Indian, was sent to inform the tribe of the state of affairs ; and several days had elapsed, and no information was received of the murderers. The dreadful day was near at hand ; and De-kau-ray, being in bad state of health, asked permission of the officer to go to the river to indulge in his long-accustomed habit of bathing in order to improve his health; upon which Col. Snelling told him, if he would promise, on the honor of a chief, that he would not leave town, he might have his lib- erty, and enjoy all his privileges, until the day appointed for his execution. Accordingly, he first gave his hand to the colonel, thanking him for his friendly offer, then raised both hands aloft, and in the most solemn adjuration promised that he would not leave the bounds prescribed ; and said, if he had a hundred lives, he would sooner lose them all than forfeit his word. He was then set at liberty. He was advised to flee to the wilderness, and make his escape. "But no!" said he: "do you think I prize life above honor ?" He then complacently remained until nine days of the ten which he had to live had elapsed, and still nothing was heard promising the apprehension of the murderers. His immediate death became apparent; but no alteration could be seen in the countenance of the chief. It so happened, that, on that day, Gen. Atkinson arrived, with his. troops, from Jefferson barracks ; and the order for the execution was countermanded, and the Indians permitted to return to their homes. "There can be no doubt," says Judge Doty, " that the murder referred to was intended by the Winnebagoes as the first act of hostility in the commencement of a war upon the whites."
It is an error that many writers have fallen into, in saying that some of the Indians implicated in this tragedy were exe- cuted. This is not so : no one was executed.
This outbreak was generally termed the " Winnebago War,"
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in contra-distinction to the Black Hawk war of 1832. This first outbreak was soon quieted. The restoration of tranquil- lity brought with it, as before remarked, an influx of miners and settlers in the lead-region; and an impulse was quickly given to a great portion of Western Wisconsin, which afforded every promise of future prosperity. The lake-shore and the interior of the Territory did not, as yet, in any considerable degree, receive the benefits of industrial immigration.
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CHAPTER XII.
PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS.
Early Settlers - Pioneer Agriculture - Mills - Prices and Features of Traffic - Interesting Reminiscences - Sketches of Travel and Adventure.
SOME account of the manner and customs of the early settlers of the Territory will prove interesting. It will be remembered that Green Bay and Prairie du Chien were the only places where the whites cultivated the arts of peace, before the lands in other portions came into possession of the government. At Prairie du Chien the farmers were a thrfity and industrious people, perhaps more so than at Green Bay. They raised a large quantity of small grain, such as wheat, barley, oats, pease, and also some potatoes and onions. Every two or three farmers, says Judge Lockwood, had a horse flouring-mill; the stones being cut from the granite rock found in the country. There they ground their wheat, and sifted the flour by hand. The surplus flour was sold to the Indian traders for goods, or exchanged with the Indians for venison, ducks and geese, or dressed deer-skins, as there was no money in circula- tion in the country. Any purchase made was payable in goods from the traders, or flour from the inhabitants. The manner in which the traders dealt with the farmers was as follows : They let the farmer set his price on any thing he had to sell, without grumbling, or saying any thing about its being high, as it was payable in goods, the trader charging his price for the goods ; so that each party got all he asked, and neither had cause for complaint : but, of course, the trader was not the loser by the transaction. Mr. M. Brisbois related a transaction to Judge Lockwood, which took place between himself and a farmer by the name of Lariviere. This man was ambitious
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to pass with his neighbors for the best farmer in the country, and went to Mr. Brisbois to see what he was paying for flour, which at that time was worth six dollars per hundred pounds. But Mr. Lariviere, desirous of the opportunity of boasting to his neighbors that he had gotten more for his flour than they did, expressed a wish that Mr. Brisbois would pay him more than the market-price for the same; which the former declined to do. "Oh!" said Mr. Lariviere : " you can make it up by charging more for the goods with which you pay me ; " and so they closed the bargain, not to Mr. Brisbois' loss. The prices compared somewhat like this: when flour was worth eight dollars per hundred pounds, hyson or young hyson tea was worth eight dollars per pound; if the flour was worth only six dollars, tea would remain the same price. When the farmer got nine dollars per bushel for onions, and one dollar per dozen for eggs, he paid the above price for tea. The women at the prairie, mostly daughters of the Indian traders, had been raised in the habit of drinking a great deal of tea in the Indian country, where other beverage for children could not be procured; and it thus became, from long habit with them, almost a necessary of life, and they would make any sacrifice to obtain their favorite beverage. When eggs were worth one dollar per dozen, rosin soap was worth one dollar per pound ; and calico that at this date would be sold for ten or fifteen cents per yard was then sold at two dollars per yard, clay pipes at forty cents each, and common tobacco at about two dollars per pound. So much flour was made at Prairie du Chien at this time, that in 1820 Joseph Rolette contracted with the government to supply the two companies at Fort Crawford with it; they preferring the coarse flour of the prairie, which was sweet, to the fine flour transported by keel-boats on the long voyage from Pittsburg, which would be sour on its arrival.
The lands about Prairie du Chien were not purchased from the Indians, and none surveyed, except the private claims on the prairie, for many years after the government took posses- sion of it as a military post. There were not, until 1835, any Americans who emigrated to the prairie for settlement ; and even then, as the country about was not in market, very few came.
CROSSCUP & WEST-SC. PHIL
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It may be remarked, that, of all the foreigners that came to this scetion of the country, the Canadians of French extraction seemed to have the least idea of the privileges of American citizenship. It appeared almost impossible to instil in their minds any thing of the independence of self-government; and this was not entirely confined to the uneducated, but would apply more or less to the partially-educated classes. They did not consider it a privilege to vote for the officers who were to govern them, and considered it only desirable to use the elective franchise in order to gratify some friend who has asked them to vote for himself or his candidate ; and, when so requested, they were too polite to refuse, unless a previous promise had been made to some other.
The early inhabitants of Green Bay were very much the same as at Prairie du Chien. In 1824 there were but six or eight resident American families; and the families of the officers stationed at Fort Howard, in number about the same. The character of the people was a compound of civilization and primitive simplicity, exhibiting the polite and lively eharac- teristies of the French, and the thoughtlessness and improvi- dence of the aborigines. Possessing the virtues of hospitality, and the warmth of heart unknown to residents of cities, untrammelled by the etiquette and conventional rules of modern " high life," they were ever ready to receive and enter- tain their friends, and more intent upon the enjoyment of the present than to lay up store, or make provision, for the future. With few wants, and contented and happy hearts, they found enjoyment in the merry dance, the sleigh-ride, and the exciting horse-race, and, doubtless, experienced more true happiness and contentment than the plodding, calculating, and money- seeking people of the present day. This was the character of the settlers who occupied this country before the arrival of the Yankees, - a elass now entirely extinct, or lost sight of by the present population ; but it is one which unites the present with the past, and for whom the old settlers entertain feelings of veneration and respect.
Hon. H. S. Baird says, -
" During the early years of my residence here, the social circle, although limited, was by no means insignificant. It was composed of the families
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of the garrison and the Americans, and several of the old settlers. If it was small, it was also united by the ties of friendship and good feeling. Free from the formalities and customs which are observed by the elite of the present day, we met to enjoy ourselves, more like members of one family than as strangers. The young people of that period (and all felt young then) would assemble on a few hours' notice at the house of a neighbor, without form or ceremony. Young ladies were then expected to appear at an early hour in the evening, and not at the usual hour of retiring to rest ; nor were they required to appear in court or fancy dresses. The merry dance followed, and all enjoyed themselves until the early hours in the morning. One custom prevailed universally among all classes, even extending to the Indians, - that of devoting the holidays to festivity and amusement, but especially that of 'calling' on New Year's Day. This custom was confined to no class in particular. All observed it; and many met on that day, who did not again meet until the succeeding year. All then shook hands, and exchanged mutual good wishes. All old animosities were forgotten, all differences settled, and universal peace established. During the winter season, Green Bay was entirely insulated. Cut off from communication with all other parts of the civilized world, her inhabitants were left to their own resources for nearly half a year. The mails were few and far between. Sometimes but once a month, never more than twice, did we receive them ; so that the news when received here was no longer news. The mails were carried on a man's shoulders from Chicago to Green Bay, through the wilderness, a distance of about two hundred and fifty miles, and could not contain a very great quantity of interesting reading-matter. Under such circumstances, it became necessary that we should devise some means to enliven our time, and we did so accordingly; and I look back upon those years as among the most agreeable of my life. The country at that early day was destitute of roads or places of public entertainment. Nothing but the path, or ' Indian trail' traversed the wide expanse of forest and . prairie from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi; and the travel by land was performed on foot or on horseback. But there was then another mode of locomotion, very generally adopted by those who took long journeys, now become obsolete, and which would be laughed at by the present fast-going generation, - that of the Indian or bark canoe. The canoe was used in all cases where comfort and expedition were desired. These may appear strange words, when you reflect that the traveller sat cooped up all day in a space about four feet square, and at night encamped on the bank of the stream, cooked his own supper, and slept upon the ground, with no covering but a tent and blanket, or, oftentimes, nothing but the wide canopy of heaven, having, after a day of toil and labor by his crew, accomplished a journey of thirty or forty miles. But these journeys were not destitute of interest. The voyageur was enlivened by the merry song of his light-hearted and ever-happy Canadian crew, his eye delighted by the constant varying scenery of the country through which he passed, at liberty to select a spot for his encampment, and to stop when fatigued with the day's travel, and,
ยท
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above all, free from care, and from the fearful apprehensions of all modern travellers on railroads and steamboats, - that of being blown up, burned, or drowned.
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