USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 48
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The next day after taking possession of the fort, J. B. Loyer, an old voyageur, was engaged to cross the Mississippi and go back through the country, now the State of Iowa, to inform Col. Snelling, commanding Fort Snelling, of onr situation. For this service Loyer was promised fifty dollars, and furnished with a horse to ride and provisions, and Duncan Gra- ham was engaged to accompany him, for which he was to receive twenty dollars, provisions and a horse to ride; and for these payments, I be- came personally responsible.
Gov. Cass, who had come to Butte des Morts, on the Fox river, to hold a treaty with the Winnebagoes, learning from rumor that there was dissatisfaction among them, started in his canoe, and arrived at Prairie du Chien on the morning of the 4th of July. He ordered the company of militia into the service of the United States, and appointed me quarter-master and commissary, with the request that I would use my own funds for the supply of the depart- ment, and that he would see it refunded; and, furthermore, assumed the debt for ammunition and provisions already advanced, and also the expenses of the express to Fort Snelling, and directed me to issue to the troops a keel-boat load of flour, that I previously receipted for to one of the agents of the contractors for Fort Snelling, who feared to go farther with it.
After these arrangements had been made, Gov. Cass proceeded in his canoe to Galena, and raised a volunteer company under the late Col. Abner Fields as captain, and assigned him to the command of Fort Crawford. Lieut. Mar- tin Thomas, of the United States ordnance de- partment, and then stationed at the arsenal near St. Louis, who happened to be at Galena, came up and mustered the two companies of the militia into the service of the United States;
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and contracted with Phineas Black, of the vil- lage of Louisiana, in Missouri, whom he found at Galena, for a quantity of pork which was sent up by the boat that brought the volunteer company. Gov. Cass proceeded from Galena to St. Louis to confer with Gen. Atkinson, then in command of Jefferson Barracks, and of the western military department. This resulted in Gen. Atkinson's moving up the Mississippi with the disposable force under his command at Jef- ferson Barracks. During this time, Col. Snel- ling came down the Mississippi, with two com- panies of the 5th regiment of United States In- fantry, and assumed the command of Fort Crawford, and soon after discharged the Galena volunteer company, as they could not well be bronght under military discipline. But the Prairte du Chien company was retained in ser- vice until some time in the month of August, for which service, through the fault of some one, they never received any pay.
During this time Gen. Atkinson arrived with the troops from Jefferson Barracks, having on his way up dispatched a volunteer force under Gen. Dodge from Galena, to proceed by land to the Portage of Wisconsin. When Gen. At- kinson, with great difficulty, owing to the low state of the water in the Wisconsin, arrived at the Portage, he met old grey-headed Day-Kau- Ray with his band, who finding himself sur- rounded by the volunteers in the rear, and Gen. Atkinson's force of regulars in front, and a company of volunteers from Green Bay, con- cluded to disclaim any unfriendly feelings to- wards the United States, and disavowed any connection with the murders on the Mississippi. Gen. Atkinson, on these assurances of Day- Kau-Ray, returned, but ordered the occupation of Fort Crawford by two companies of troops. Notwithstanding these murders of our citizens and movements of troops, the wise men at Washington, with abont as much judgment as they generally decide upon Indian affairs, de- cided that this was not an Indian war.
After the people had taken possession of the fort, and before the arrival of Gen. Cass, Indi- ans were seen in the village, and a guard was sent out to take them and bring them to the fort. They made no resistance, but surrendered themselves, and were brought to the guard house. One proved to be the famous Red Bird, who headed the party that murdered Gagnier and Lipeap; another was Wah-wah-peck-ah, the Indian I had met up the Wisconsin river, and whose conduct had so much alarmed me and my men; the other was a young Indian whose name I do not recollect. There being no charge of crime against Wah-wah-peek-ab and the young Indian, after the United States troops were stationed at Fort Crawford, they were dis- charged; and Red Bird was retained in the guard house, where he died before he was tried for the murder of Gagnier and Lipcap.
AN INTERESTING EVENT OF THE WINNEBAGO WAR.
On the 1st of September, 1827, Maj. Wil- liam Whistler, with government troops, arrived at the portage; and, while there, an express arrived from Gen. Atkinson, announcing his ap- proach, and directing him to halt and fortify himself, and await his arrival. The object of the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jef- ferson Barracks, below St. Louis, and of Maj. Whistler, from Fort Howard, at Green Bay, was to capture those who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to any further aggression. The Winnebagoes were advised that the security of their people lay in the surrender of the murderers of the Gagnier family. While Maj. 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 3 o'clock the next day, "they will come in." In reply to the question, "who will come in?" he said, "Red Bird and We Kan." After making this answer, he retired by the way he came. At 3 o'clock the same day another Indian came and took position in nearly
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the same place and in the same way, when to like questions he gave like answers; and at sun- down a third came, confirming what the two had said, adding, that he had, to secure that object, given to the families of the murderers nearly all his property.
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 recon- cile those who were about to be bereaved to the dreadful expedient. The heroism of the pur- pose 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 mur- dered at the prairie were doubtless innocent of the wrongs and outrages of which the Indians 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 dne 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 necessity.
About noon of the day following there were seen descending the mound on the portage a body of Indians. Some were mounted and some were on foot. By the aid of a glass the Americans could discern the direction to be towards their position. They bore no arms, and no one was at a 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 singing was heard. 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 cross- ing over, two scalp yells were heard. The Menomonees and other Indians who had accom- panied the troops were lying carelessly about
the ground, regardless of what was going on; but when the " scalp yells " were uttered, they sprang to their feet as one man, 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 inferred the first.
Barges were sent across to receive and an escort of military to accompany them within the lines. The white flag which had been seen in the distance was borne by Red Bird.
And now the advance of the Indians had reached half up the ascent of the bluff on which was the encampment. In the lead was Car-i- mi-nie, a distinguished chief. Arriving on the level upon which was the encampment of the Americans, an 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 Col MeKenney. The latter told him he was not the big captain. His talk must be made to Maj. Whistler, who would 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.
The military had been previously drawn out in line. The Menomonee and Wabanckie (Oneida) Indians were in groups upon their haunches, on the left flank. On the right was the band of music, a little in advance of the line. In front of the center, about ten paces distant, were the murderers. On their right and left were those who had accompanied them, forming a semi-circle; the magnificent Red Bird and the miserable looking. We-Kau, a little in advance of the center. All eyes were fixed on Red Bird. In height he was about six feet, straight, but without restraint. His proportions were those of most exact symmetry ; and these embraced the entire man from his head to his feet.
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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 substance of what they said was as follows :
They were required to bring in the mar- derers. They had no power over any except two ; the third had gone away ; and these had voluntarily agreed to come in and give them- selves up. As their friends they had come with them. They hoped their white brother 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 con- cluded by asking for a little tobacco and some- thing 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 ad- monished 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 chil- dren 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.
Having heard this, Red Bird stood up; the commanding officer, Maj. Whistler, a few paces in front of the center 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, say- ing, " 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 thumb and finger 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." Ilaving thus spoken, he threw his hands behind him and marched up to Maj. Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was wheeled backward from the center 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, tak- ing with them our advice and a supply of meat, flour and tobacco.
We-Kau, the miserable looking being the ac- complice of 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 wor- thy to be obeyed; the other as if he had been born to be hanged; meager, cold, dirty in his person and dress, crooked in form like the starved wolf; gaunt, hungry and blood thirsty; his entire appearance indicating the presence of a spirit wary, cruel and treacherous. The pris- oners were committed into safe keeping at Prairie du Chien to await their trial in the reg- ular courts of justice for murder.
LAST ACT IN THE WINNEBAGO WAR.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
To all who shall see these presents, Greeting:
WHEREAS, at a court of Oyer and Terminer, held at the village of Prairie du Chien, in the month of Sep- tember, A. D , 1828. Wa-ui-ga, otherwise called the Sun, and Chick-hong-sie, otherwise called Little Beuffe, were convicted of the offense of murder in the second degree, and the said Chick-hong-sic, otherwise called Little Beuffe, was also convicted of another
.
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offense of murder in the second degree: And, whereas, also it appears satisfactorily to me that the clemency of the executive may be extended to the said convicts withont injury to the public:
Now, therefore, 1, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of America, in consideration of the promises, divers other good and sufficient causes obe herennto moving, have granted and do hereby grant to the said Wa-ni-ga, otherwise called the Sun, and to the said Chickh-ong-sic, otherwise called Little Benffe, my full and free pardon for the offenses afore- said,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my
name, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents. Given at the City of Washington this third day of November, A. D., 1828 and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-third.
J. Q. ADAMS. By the President;
H. CLAY, Secretary of State. *
INDIANS UPON THE MISSISSIPPI IN 1825.
(By Schoolcraft.)
Trip to Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi .- Large assemblage of tribes,-Their appearance and character .- Sionx, Winnebagoes, Chippe- was, etc .- Striking and extraordinary appear- ance of the Sacs and Foxes, and of the Iowas, Keokuk, Mongazids' speech .- Treaty of limits. Whisky question .- A literary impostor .- Jour- ney through the valleys of the Fox and Wis- consin rivers .- Incidents .- Menomonies .- A big nose .- Wisconsin Portage.
June 23d. 1825. The whole village was alive with the excitement of the surrender of the murderers. The agency office had been crowded with spectators during the examination ; and both white and red men saw in their voluntary delivery iuto the hands of the agent, an evi- dence of the power of the government in watel- ing over and vindicating the lives and interests of its citizens in the wildest wilderness, which was gratifying to all.
To Gitche Iauba, the chief at the bay of Kewywenon, in Lake Superior, who had been instrumental in producing the delivery, 1 pre- sented a silver medal of the first class, with a written speech approbatory of the act, and com- plimentary of himself. In the meantime, my * Copied from the original pardon.
preparations for attending the general convoca- tion of tribes, at Prairie du Chien, were com- pleted. I placed the agency under the charge of Capt. N. S. Clark, 2d Infantry, who had sat- isfactorily and ably performed its duties during my absence at New York. I had selected a delegation of the most influential chiefs to at- tend the contemplated council, and all things being ready, and my canoe-allege in the water, with its flag set. I embarked for the trip ou the 24th. I descended the straits that day, and . having turned Point Detour reached Michili- mackinac the next morning. The party from Detroit had reached that point the same morning, after traversing the Huron coasts for upwards of 300 miles, in a light canoe. Con- gratulations on the success that had attended the demand for the Chippewa murderers,awaited me. Some practical questions, deemed indis- pensable respecting that transaction, required my immediate return to St. Mary's, which was effected on the 27th, and I again embarked at St. Mary's on the 28th, and rejoined the party at Mackinack on the 30th. The distance tray- ersed is about ninety miles, which was four times passed and repassed in six days, a feat that could only have been accomplished in the calms of summer.
We finally left Mackinack for our destination on the Mississippi, on the Ist of July. The convocation to which we were now proceeding, was for the purpose of settling internal dis- putes between the tribes, by fixing the bounda- ries to their respective territories, and thus lay- ing the foundation of a lasting peace on the frontiers. And it marks an era in the policy of our negotiations with the Indians, which is memorable. No such gathering of the tribes had ever before occurred, and its results have have taken away the necessity of any in future, so far as relates to the lines on the Mississippi.
We encountered head winds, and met with some delay in passing through the straits into Lake Michigan, and after escaping an imminent hazard of being blown off into the
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open lake, in a fog, reached Green Bay on the 4th. The journey up the Fox river, and its no- merous portages, was resumed on the 14th, and after having ascending the river to its head, we crossed over the Fox and Wisconsin portage, and descending the latter with safety, reached Prairie du Chien on the 21st, making the whole journey from Mackinack, in twenty-one days.
We found a very large number of various tribes assembled. Not only the village, but the entire banks of the river for miles above and below the town, and the island in the river, was covered with their tents. The Dakotahs, with their high-pointed buffalo skin tents, above the town, and their decorations and implements of flags, feathers, skins and personal "brave- ries," presented the scene of Bedouin encamp- ment.
Wanita, the Yankton chief, had a most mag- nificent robe of the buffalo, curiously worked with dyed porcupine's quills and sweet grass, a kind of war flag, made of eagles' and vultures' large feathers, presented quite a martial air. War clubs and lances presented almost every imag- inable device of paint ; but by far the most elaborate thing was their pipes of red stone, curiously carved, and having flat wooden handles of some four feet in length, ornamented with the scalps of the red-headed woodpecker and male duck, and the tail feathers of birds artifi- cially attached by strings and quill work, so as to hang in the figure of a quadrant. But the most elaborately wrought part of the devices consisted of dyed porcupines' quills, arranged as a kind of aboriginal mosaic.
The Winnebagoes who speak a cognate dia- lect of the Dacotah, were encamped near ; and resembled them in the style of lodges, arts, and geneal decorations.
The Chippewas presented the more usually kuown traits, manners and customs of the great Algonquin family-of whom they are indeed the best representatives. The tall and warlike bands from the sources of the Mississippi- from LaPoint, in Lake Superior-from the val-
leys of the Chippewa and St. Croix rivers, and the Rice lake region of Lac du Flambeau, and of Sault Ste. Marie, were well represented.
The cognate tribe of the Menomonees, and Pottawottamies and Ottowas from Lake Michi- gan, assimilated and mingled with the Chippe- was. Some of the Iroquois of Green Bay were present.
But no tribes attracted as intense a degree of interest as the Iowas, and the Sacs and Foxes- tribes of radically diverse languages, yet united in a league against the Sioux. These - tribes were encamped on the island, or opposite coast. They came to the treaty ground, armed and dressed as a war party. They were all armed with spears, clubs, guns and knives. Many of the warriors had a long tuft of red horse hair tied at their elbows, and bore a necklace of grizzly bears' claws. Their head dress con- sisted of red-dyed horsehair, tied in such man- ner to the scalp lock as to present the shape of the decoration of a Roman helmet, The rest of the head was completely shaved and painted. A long iron-shod lance was carried in the hand. A species of baldric supported part of their arms. The azian, moccasin and leggins consti- tuted a part of their dress. "They were, indeed, nearly nude and painted. Often the print of a hand in white clay, marked the back or shoulders. They bore flags of feathers. They beat drums. They uttered yells at definite points. They landed in compact ranks. They looked the very spirit of de- fiance. Their leader stood as a prince, ma- jestic and frowning. The wild, native pride of man, in the savage state, flushed by success in war, and confident in the strength of his arm, was never so fully depicted to my eyes, and the forest tribes of the continent may be challenged to have ever presented a spectacle of bold dar- ing, and martial prowess, equal to their landing.
Their martial bearing, their high tone, and whole behavior during their stay in and out of council, was impressive, and demonstrated, in an eminent degree, to what a high pitch of
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physical and moral courage, bravery and success in war may lead a savage people. Keokuk, who led them, stood with his war lanee, high crest of feathers, and daring eye ; like another Coriolanus, and when he spoke in council, and at the same time shook his lance at his enemies, the Sioux, it was evident that he wanted but an opportunity to make their blood flow like water. Wapelo, and other chiefs backed him, and the whole array, with their shaved heads and high erest of red horse hair, told the spee- tator plainly, that each of these men held his life in his hand, and was ready to spring to the work of slaughter at the cry of their chief.
Gen. William Clark from St. Louis, was asso- ciated with Gen. Cass in this negotiation. The great objeet was to lay the foundation of a permanent peace by establishing boundaries. Day after day was assigned to this, the agents laboring with the chiefs, and making themselves familiar with Indian bark maps and drawings. The thing pleased the Indians. They clearly saw that it was a benevolent effort for their good, and showed a hearty mind to work in the attainment of the object. The United States asked for no cession. Many glowing harangues were made by the chiefs, which gave scope to their peculiar oratory, which is well worth the preserving. Mongazid, of Fond du Lac, Lake Su- perior, said : "When I heard the voice of my Great Father coming up the Mississippi valley calling me to this treaty, it seemed as a murmuring wind ; I got up from my mat where I sat musing, and hastened to obey it. My pathway has been clear and bright. Truly it is a pleasant sky above our heads this day. There is not a cloud to darken it. I hear noth- ing but pleasant words. The raven is not wait- ing for his prey. I hear no eagle cry, come let us go. The feast is ready-the Indian has killed his brother."
When nearly a whole month had been con- sumed in these negotiations, a treaty of limits was signed, which will long be remembered in the Indian reminiscences. This was on the 19th
of August 1825, vide Indian Treaties p. 371. It was a pleasing sight to see the explorer of the Columbia, in 1806, and the writer of the proclamation of the army that invaded Canada in 1812, uniting in a task boding so much good to the tribes whose passions and trespasses on each others lands kept them perpetually at war.
'Tis war alone that gluts the Indian's mind, As eating meats, inflames the tiger kind. -Iute.
At the elose of the treaty, an experiment was made on the moral sense of the Indians, with regard to intoxicating liquors, which was evidently of too refined a character for their just appreciation. It had been said by the tribes that the true reason for the commission- ers of the United States government speaking against the use of ardent spirits by the Indians, and refusing to give them, was not a sense of its bad effects, so mueb, as the fear of the ex- pense. To show them that the government was above such a petty principle, the commissioner had a long row of tin eamp kettles, holding sev- eral gallons each, placed on the grass, from one end of the council house to the other, and then, after some suitable remarks, each kettle was spilled out in their presence. The thing was evidently ill relished by the Indians. They loved the whisky better than the joke.
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