USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 8
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He addressed them as children whom the great French father would treat kindly; but he required on their part implicit obedience. He was now going to build a fort to keep the road open between the lakes and rivers, and woe be to those who should break the peace. He then proceeded in a more conciliatory tone, showing them the advantages to be derived from a peaceful intercourse with the French, who would prove benefactors to them in the event of their meriting it.
He next gave them presents, winding up the business of the day with a feast and entertain- ment in the evening, in which he paid them the most polite attention, all of which gave them a high opinion of the new Father.
The fort was then built, and garrisoned by a body of soldiers; when Frontenac returned to Quebec, and for the first time in its history, New France held the control of the head of the St. Lawrence.
La Salle, who had made extensive explora- tions and had rendered great service to the country, went to France and petitioned for a patent of nobility, which he received from the King; and also a grant in seigniory of Fort Frontenac, which he covenanted to garrison at his own expense, and to form a colony around it. He returned and took possession, and the commerce between the posts of Green Bay and Michilimackinac with Quebec was now by way of the lakes.
With Fort Frontenac `as a base, La Salle began to push forward his enterprise for obtain- ing possession of the mouth of the Mississippi. The next step in advance was to build a palis- aded trading post at the mouth of the Niagara. While this was in process of erection, La Salle commenced the building of a vessel on the Upper Niagara for the navigation of the Upper Lakes. She was finished under the greatest difficulties and obstacles, the hostilities of the Indians not the least, and in due time she was launched and called the Griffin. It must be remem- bered that her cordage, anchors and equip- ment had to be carried long distances overland. It required four men to carry the anchor around Niagara Falls.
On the seventh of August, 1679, the Griffin weighed anchor, and with a good breeze filling her canvas, sailed out of the river, and for the first time, the keel of a sail vessel plowed the waters of Lake Erie. They sailed up the lake and entered the Detroit River, and for the first time the site of the future metropolis of Michi- gan met the eye of civilized man. They were enraptured with the lovely and fertile country, in which they landed and supplied their com- missariat plentifully with game, of which they found an abundance, killing, among other animals, several bears.
On Lake Huron they encountered a severe gale, which they weathered, and in due time reached Point St. Ignace, near Michili- mackinac.
The arrival was a great event to the inhabi- tants of this remote post. The Griffin fired her cannon, and, as its echoes reverberated through the forests, the Indians yelled their astonishment and delight. The little craft swing- ing gracefully at anchor was soon surrounded by a swarm of canoes, with wondering and admiring inmates. The little chapel of St. Ignace and its mission houses surrounded with palisades on the near shore; the Huron village adjacent; the dark back ground of the forest; the blue waters of the lake and the little vessel at anchor, formed a picture and theme to inspire the pencil of an artist. Here was the metropolis of the early Northwest, and the beginnings of that commerce which has since grown into such vast proportions. The Griffin set sail for Green Bay, where a large quantity of furs had been collected; with those she was laden and started for Niagara, with orders to return to the Illinois. La Salle then, with fourteen men, in four canoes, which were laden with a forge, tools and merchandise, among other things, started for the mouth of the St. Joseph River, at the head of Lake Michigan.
They were overtaken with a severe gale, and, with the greatest difficulty, managed to make the mouth of a little inlet, where they found shelter. Here they were obliged to remain five days, when, the storm having sub- sided, they re-embarked. In a few days they again encountered heavy weather, and were obliged to run ashore, where they passed two days in a drenching rain. Setting forth once more, they reached a Pottawattamie village; a heavy surf was rolling on the beach, and came near swamping the canoes. Father Gabriel, sixty-four years of age, was unable to resist the undertow, when Hennepin took him on his lusty shoulders, and carried him through the breakers, the old friar laughing heartily as Hennepin staggered under his load. La
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1679.
Salle, being distrustful of the Indians, at once posted his men in readiness for action, and, being sorely in need of food, sent three men to the village. In the mean time a number of warriors approached, LaSalle presenting the peace pipe, when friendly negotiations fol- lowed, which resulted in the exchange of goods for corn and venison.
At one period in their journey, they were, for some days, nearly famished for want of food, Father Gabriel fainting from exhaustion; but when they reached the vicinity of the present site of Waukegan, they found game in abund- ance, and, with their guns, obtained a plenti- ful supply of venison and bear meat. Here they encountered a party of Outagamies, who kept hidden from them, and, when discovered, pretended to have mistaken them for Iroquois; but, on recognizing them, professed friendship. They, however, during the night, stole a coat and some other things, and La Salle, knowing that he must adopt bold measures or greater aggressions would be made, posted his men in position, and sallying forth, seized a young warrior and brought him to the French camp. He then sought an Outagamie chief, and told him that unless the stolen goods were restored or compensation made he would kill the Indian prisoner. The Outagamic party numbered a hundred and twenty; the French fourteen. The Outagamies, in a body, now stealthily approached the French for the purpose of res- cuing their companion, a portion keeping in the shelter of the trees. The French, how- ever, were resolute, which the Indians perceiv- ing, offered to parley. A conference ensued, which resulted in full compensation being made for the stolen goods, and an additional remu- neration in the form of a gift of beaver skins.
Re-embarking, they passed around the head of the lake and reached St. Joseph's River in safety. Here he resolved to wait for the arrival of the Griffin, that was to bring a reinforcement of men and stores. In the mean time he built a fort at the mouth of the river. Week after week passed, but the Griffiin did not appear. At last he abandoned all hope of her return. As she was never afterward heard of, it was supposed that she foundered in a gale on Lake Huron.
In December, La Salle and his party, embarking in their canoes, ascended the St. Joseph's River as far as the present site of South Bend. Here was the portage to the licad of the Kankakee. Carrying their canoes across this portage, they descended the Kankakee to its junction with the Illinois. At last they arrived at a large Indian town, in which Hennepin counted four hundred and
sixty lodges. The inhabitants were all absent. Pushing forward they entered Peoria Lake, which they crossed, and again followed the river. They soon came to a place where each bank of the river was occupied with wig- wams. La Salle now had the eight canoes placed in line abreast of each other, and the men, seizing their guns, were soon borne by the current opposite the Indian encampment. The inhabitants, surprised at their sudden appearance, yelled and snatched up their weapons; while La Salle and his little band of intrepid followers jumped ashore, ready for the alternative of peace or war. The Indians, recovering from their panic, sent forward two chiefs with the peace pipe. The offering of friendship was accepted, and they were then hospitably entertained. £ La Salle then told them his purpose of building a fort and trading post in their country. His proposition scemed to be well received, but that night an enemy appeared in the camp- a Mascoutin chief- who warned them against the plans of La Salle; that he was in Icauge with the Iroquois, and, with them, intended to destroy the Illi- nois. Having aroused their suspicions by his harrangue, he left the camp. La Salle importuned the Illinois to send for him that he might refute the stories, but in vain. To add to his discomfiture, six of his men deserted; they were nowhere to be found. He imme- diately mustered the balance of his force, and in the strongest terms, denounced the coward- ice of those who had deserted him in his peril; adding that if any more were afraid to proceed on the voyage to the Mississippi, he would give them leave to return in the spring to Canada; and that he should now go into win- ter quarters.
In the middle of January he selected a site for a fort, a little below the present site of Peoria. Here he erected some small buildings and enclosed them with a palisade. His forge tools and goods, which had been transported to this distant point, were now in requisition.
The Griffin, as a means of transportation from Fort Niagara to the St. Joseph river, was one of the main stays of his enterprise, and the painful conviction that she was lost now preyed upon his hopes. At this point he intended to build another vessel, in which to descend the Mississippi ; and her equipments were to be brought to St. Joseph's in the Griffin; her loss, therefore, seemed to threaten the ruin of his enterprise.
In this emergency, he determined to get the hull of his proposed vessel well under way, and when she was on the stocks to start for Fort Frontenac, at the head of the St. Law-
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1679-80.]
rence, and travel directly across the country to that point, for the purpose of obtaining his necessary supplies. In a few weeks the hull of a vessel, of forty tons burden, was nearly constructed; and, on the second of March, with a trusty Indian guide that he had brought with him from Canada, and four Frenchmen, he started on his perilous voyage for his distant goal, Fort Frontenac.
At places the progress of their canoes was intercepted by sheets of floating ice, through which they made their way with the greatest difficulty. Reaching the Des Plaines, they found the river so blockaded with ice that they abandoned their canoes, and started across the country for Lake Michigan. They must now furnish their own subsistence with their guns. The prairie was a mire of slushy snow and wet ground, over which they traveled with almost superhuman effort. The marshes were filled with water, and the soft prairie soil was like a saturated sponge. They at last reached Lake Michigan, and, traveling on the shore, arrived at the fort they had formerly built at mouth of the St. Joseph. From this point they struck directly across the country in the direction of Detroit River. They now found an abundance of game, deer, bears and tur- keys, which furnished the camp-fire with most savory viands; but this territory was infested with war-parties of tribes hostile to each other. and, one night, while sitting around their camp-fire, they were aroused by the war- whoop of a party surrounding them. Seizing their guns and seeking the shelter of protect- ing trees, they awaited the attack; but the prowlers, seeing their readiness for a valorous resistance, withdrew, and left in peace.
On reaching Detroit River, they made a raft and crossed over to the peninsula, the former country of the Hurons, over which they trav- eled to a point on Lake Erie, where they made a canoe and proceeded to Niagara. Here La Salle met some of his men that he had left to hold that position, and from them learned that he had not only lost the Griffin, but that a ship, from France, laden with a valuable cargo for him, was wrecked at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. Leaving Niagara, he soon reached his base, Fort Frontenac, after a journey of more than a thousand miles.
For sixty-four days he had endured hard- ships and perils that would put to the severest test the courage and fortitude of the bravest; and now his goal was reached, only to find his enterprise surrounded by difficulties which would seem insurmountable to any one but this indomitable and unconquerable hero.
When he left his post on the Illinois River,
he placed Tonty in charge. He was a man after La Salle's own heart; trustworthy and brave in the highest degree, and a man of education and executive capacity. At Fort Frontenac, La Salle received a letter, brought to him by messengers from Tonty, informing him, that, after his departure, most of the men deserted, carrying off the goods that were available to them, and destroying much of the rest; also destroying the fort and throwing the powder that the magazine contained into the river. The vessel was still safe on the stocks, and the forge and tools were preserved.
Tonty, and the few faithful ones who remained with him, now took up their abode in the great village of the Illinois, which was situated near "Starve Rock," on the Illinois River. To this place he had conveyed the forge and tools, with what goods had been pre- served.
Under these disheartening circumstances, that would have crushed almost any one else, La Salle renewed his efforts for a vigorous prosecution of his enterprise. His credit was threatened with ruin and his friends hopeless; but his courage and confidence never failed him, and now he would rebuild his shattered enterprise. He rested his hopes on his efficient and faithful lieutenant, Tonty, who was still spared him. They would hold the point they had gained on the Illinois, build and equip the vessel and secure the possession of the mouth of the Mississippi.
In August, 1680, he once more embarked for the Illinois, taking with him ship-carpenters, laborers and voyageurs ( courriers des bois), twenty-five men in all, with supplies, goods, and the material for rigging and fitting out his vessel. After the long journey they arrived at the site of the great town of the Illinois; but here a sight met them to blanch their cheeks with terror. The plain which had been formerly covered with Indian Lodges, and populous with human life, was now a scene of blackened desolation. On the charred skele- tons of the wigwams were stuck human skulls. The. planting-grounds were laid waste and havoc reigned supreme.
The Iroquois had again taken the war-path .. They had long enjoyed a profitable trade with the Dutch and English traders; fur-bearing animals were scarce in their country, and they must have recourse to the resources of the distant West; and here the French were cutting them off. Their cupidity and ambition was aroused, and they resolved to invade the terri- tory of the Illinois, and either destroy them, as they had the Hurons, or make them tribu-
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
[1680.
tary to them; and so become the factors in the exchange of their furs with the Dutch.
La Salle and his companions camped on this scene of horror, and all night long the wolves, attracted by the remains of the carnage, con- tinued their dismal howling, which resounded far and near.
They descended the river, passing a number of abandoned camps of the Illinois, and also the camps of the invading Iroquois.
At last they reached the site of the fort. The works were demolished, but the vessel was still on the stocks. After a diligent search for Tonty and his companions, in which La Salle failed to obtain any intelligence of his where- abouts, he retraced his steps and in duc course of time reached Fort Miami, at the mouth of the St. Joseph. Here he found his lieutenant, La Forest, and the men he left to occupy the post. They had repaired the fort and were getting out the timber for a new vessel for the lakes. Here he was glad to find a little rest and safety.
It seems that after the destruction of the Illinois villages by the Iroquois, Lieut. Tonty and his companions went to Green Bay, where they found refuge among a band of Potta- wattamies.
La Salle passed the winter at Fort Miami, and notwithstanding the last terrible catas- trophe which seemed enough to shatter his last hope of success, he now conceived a new plan for furthering his scheme. Since the Iroquois threatened all the western tribes, he would now unite with the latter in a common defense, and assume the leadership, establishing a cen- tral point in the Illinois country.
Wisconsin and Western Michigan contained many remnants of tribes, that had fled there from their old homes, on the invasion of the Iroquois; these he would rally around him. Near Fort Miami were a lot of fugitives from the English colonies; to those he first appealed; They gladly embraced the offer. Next came a Shawanoe chief from the Ohio with a hundred and fifty warriors, who promised to join him in the Illinois country. He then with a party set out to the village of the Miamis, at the Kankakee portage. Here he found a band of marauding Iroquois, who had been putting on the air of conquerors, declaring that all the tribes were tributary to them, and expressing contempt for the French. When La Salle unexpectedly appeared with his little armed band, and dared them to speak disparagingly of the French, they looked shamefaced and terrified. The Miamis were astonished at the bravery of the ten Frenchmen, which could quiet a large war-party of Iroquois; and the
latter, when night came, fled with all haste from the place.
Here was an auspicious beginning and it was peculiarly fortunate that there were other Indians in the town from the east; so La Salle called a council of these, and promised them a new home in the west under his protection, where there were the richest planting and hunt- ing grounds, and asked them to aid him in making peace between the Miamis and the Illinois; they promised their concurrence, and he called a council of the Miamis. They met in the lodge of their chief, and La Salle addressed them.
His imposing presence and bold decisive manner had great charms for the Indians. He was, also, well skilled in forest cloquence and understood all the needs and interests of Indian life. He urged them to make peace with the Illinois, and, under the leadership of the French, join in quelling the murderous lro- quois.
The result was all he could have wished; they acceded to all he requested.
While on this journey he learned from a party of Outagamies, whom they met, that Tonty and his companions were at Green Bay; this greatly rejoiced him.
His affairs in Canada now required his pres- ence and thither he repaired. On the way he met Tonty and his friends at Michilimackinac. It was like the meeting of those who had risen from the dead; and here La Salle heard the particulars of the horrors of the Iroquois invasion.
From this point they all embarked for Fort Frontenac, which, after a perilous voyage, they reached in safety.
La Salle's heavy pecuniary losses had involved him deeply in debt, and he was greatly dis- tressed with his embarrassments; but Count Frontenac and other friends came to his rescue and obtained means to appease his ereditors, and for the further prosecution of his enter- prises. In the fall of 1681, he again, with a fleet of canoes and supplies, started for the St. Joseph River, and duly arrived at Fort Miami, where the little band in occupaney were glad to receive him. From here he set out for the Illinois River, in the latter part of Decem- ber, with Tonty, twenty other men and a number of Indians, the whole force numbering fifty-four persons. Asit was winter, the streams were frozen and they dragged their canoes on sledges. Below Peoria they found open waters and launening their canoes, descended the river to the Mississippi, which they followed to its mouth; here La Salle with due ceremony took possession in the King's name.
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST.
1679-80.]
He now returned to Michilimackinac, intend- ing to go to Quebec, but, learning that the Iroquois were about to again invade the Illinois, he determined to go to their protection, as the ravages of the former, if allowed to go unchecked, would be ruinous to his hopes. He had observed the cliff on the river, now called Starve Rock, and this place he selected as a site for a fort Hither he repaired with Tonty and a force of men. The top of this rock is a level surface of about an acre in extent, and is over a hundred feet above the level of the river. Three sides are perpendicular, and it is accessible only from one point. Here on this summit they erected buildings and enclosed them with a palisade, and called it Fort St. Louis.
The Indian village lying near it, that had been depopulated by the Iroquois, was now again teeming with life, the Illinois having returned to their former home; other tribes had also located in the vicinity, and tlieir villages could be seen from the fort, around which they had gathered for protection, like the retainers of a feudal castle.
The aggregate population of the several adjacent Indian villages was about twenty thousand, capable of enrolling four thousand warriors; these, under the management of La Salle, constituted a formidable force, suffi- cient to give him control of the country; and success at last attended his efforts. But now
new difficulties assailed him. His friend, Count Frontenac, was called to France, through the intrigues of rivals in the fur trade, who considered La Salle and Frontenac's enterprise for opening up an outlet at the mouth of the Mississippi, and the establishment of the central post on the Illinois, as a monopoly, endanger- ing the commercial prosperity of the colonies on the St. Lawrence.
La Barre was commissioned as Governor- General of New France. He was surrounded by the enemies of La Salle, and he at once began to thwart the efforts of the latter, by withholding needful men and supplies.
In this direful emergency there was no alter- native other than for La Salle to at once repair to France, and appeal to the King for an enlargement of his authority. He therefore went thither, and ably seconded by Count Frontenac, related to the crown his achieve- ments, and the great advantages which would enure to France through the success of his scheme. His diplomacy was highly successful, and La Salle's lieutenant of Fort Frontenac, who had been ejected and was now in France, was dispatched by the King to Canada, with orders instructing La Barre to at once surren-
der to him the possession of Fort Frontenac and Fort St. Louis. The King also wrote a letter to La Barre, in which he severely repri- manded him for his conduct.
La Salle was now furnished with four vessels, and all the needful supplies for a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi. He embarked with a large number of persons including several families. In due time they entered the Gulf of Mexico, but sailing too far westward missed the mouth of the river. After a fruitless search La Salle determined to land at the Bay now called Matagorda, in Texas, and search for the river by an overland route.
After sounding for a passage over the bar . at the entrance to the bay, one of the vessels got underway. La Salle who had formerly landed with a party of men, was standing on the shore watching her, when one of the men approached him, with the information that a party of Indians had just attacked him and his companions, who were felling trees, and that they had taken several of them prisoners. In this emergency he must act promptly; so taking a few of his men, he proceeded in haste to the Indian camp, a few miles distant, where he found fifty lodges. As he reached the camp he heard the report of a cannon, which paral- yzed the Indians with fear. It was to him a sound ofill-omen ; he turned his eyes in the direc- tion of the vessels. The Aimable was furling sails; she had struck on the reef, and, as she was laden with the principal stores for the colony, he felt overwhelmed with distress at her probable loss. He dashed into the chief's lodge and peremptorily demanded the restora- tion of his men. The frightened Indians, impressed with his fearless manner, at once delivered the prisoners and loaded them with buffalo meat, when they returned to their camp. On their arrival, the Aimable was careened on the reef, and the sea was breaking over her, A lot of gunpowder and flour was safely transported to the shore, but the wind increasing to a gale, broke the vessel up, and her precious freight soon strewed the shore. The Indians came in swarms, intent on pillage; but all night the colonists guarded their injured goods, the sentinels walking their dreary rounds till morning.
On the voyage a hostile feeling had sprung up between La Salle and the naval commander; and the latter, having landed the colonists, now determined to return to France. He set sail, and they were left in an unknown land.
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