Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 6: Baron La Hontan's, 1882 (part 2 of 2)

But their delay in coining down to Montreal since the time they have promised to do so, must render their sentiments somewhat suspected, and nothing but facts can determine whether theix fidelity can be absolutely relied on. But what must still further increase the uneasiness to be entertained in their regard is the attack on the convoy of M. de Verandrie, especially if this officer has adoi)ted the course he had infornied the Marquis de Beauhamois he should take to have revenge therefor."

The particulars of the attack alluded to will be found in the next chapter. Soon after this the Foxes again became troublesome, and the post on Lake Tepin was for a time abandoned by the French. A dispatch in 1741 uses this language : " The Marquis de Beauhamois' opinion respecting the war against the Foxes, has been the more readily approved by the Baron de Longeuil, Messieurs De la Chassaigne, La Come, de Lignery, LaNoue, and Duplessis-Fabert, whom he had assembled at his house, as it appears from all the letters that the Count has writi for several years, that he has nothing so much at heart as the destruction of that Indian nation, which can not be prevailed on by the presents and the good treatment of the French, to live in peace, notwithstanding all its promises.

" Besides, it is notorious that the Foxes have a secret understanding with the Iroquois, to secure a retreat among the latter, in case they be obliged to abandon their villages. They have one already secured among the Sioux of the prairies, with whom they are allied; so that, should they be advised beforehand of the design of the French to wage war against them, it would be easy for them to retire to the one or the other before their passage could be intersected or themselves attacked in their villages."

In the summer of 1743, a deputation of the Sioux came down to Quebec, to ask that trade might be resumed. Three years after this, four Sioux chiefs came to Quebec, and asked that a commandant might be sent to Fort Beauhamois ; which was not granted.

During the winter of 1745-6, De Lusignan visited the Sioux country, ordered by the government to hunt up the "coureurs des bois," and withdraw them from the country. They started to return with him, but learning that they would be arrested at Mackinaw, for violation of law, they ran away. While at the villages of the Sioux of the lakes and plains, the chiefs brought to this oflacer nineteen of their young men, bound with cords, who had killed three Frenchmen, at the Illinois. While he remained with them, they made peace with the Ojibways of La Pointe, with whom they had been at war for some time. On his retum, four chiefs accompanied him to Montreal, to solicit pardon for their young braves.

Reminiscences of St. Pierre's residence at Lake Pepin w^ere long preserved. Carver, in 1 766, "observed the ruins of a French factory, where, it is said. Captain St. Pierre resided, and carried on a great trade with the Nadouessies before the reduction of Canada."

Pike, in 1805, wrote in his journal: " Just below Pt. Le Sable, the French, who had driven the llenards [Foxes] from Wisconsin, and chased them up the Mississippi, built a stockade on this lake, as a barrier against the savages. It became a noted factory for the Sioux."