Freeborn County, Minnesota - Jonathan Carver, the Fillst Bkitisu Traveler at Falls of Saint Anthony, 1882

Jonathan Carver, the Fillst Bkitisu Traveler at Falls of Saint Anthony

Carver's Early Life. - In the Battle near Lake George. - Arrives at Mackinaw. - 01(1 Fort at Green Bay. - WinneUgo Village. - Description of Prairie du Cliicu. Earthworks on Banks of Lake Peiiin. - Sioux Bands Described. - Cave and Burial Place in Suburbs of St. Paul. - The Falls of Saint Anthony. - Burial Rites of tLe Sioux. - Sjieech of a Sioux Chief. - Schiller's Poem ol the Death Soug. - Sir John Herschel's Translation. - Sir K. Buhver Lytton's Version. --- Correspondence of Sir William Johnson. - Carver's Project lor Oiieuinga Route to the Pacific. - Supposed Origin of the Sioux. - Carver's Claim to I-inds Exatniucd. - Alleged Deed. - Testiniony of Rev. Samuel Peters. - Communication from Gen. Leavenworth. ---Report of U. S. Setiate Committee.

Jonatliaii Carver was a native of Connecticut His grandfatlier, "Williaia Carverj was a native of AVigan, Lancashire, England, and a captain in King William's army during the campaign in Ireland, and for meritorious services received an appointment as an oilicer of the colony of Connecticut.

His father was a justice of the peace the new world, and in 1732, the subject of this sketch was born. At the early age of fifteen he was called to mourn the death of his father. He then commenced the study of medicine, but his roving disposition could not l)ear the confines of a doctor's office, and feeling, perhaps, that his genius woidd be cramped by pestle and mortar, at the ago of eighteen he purchased an ensign's commission m one of the regiments raised during the French war. He was of medium stature, and of strong mind and quick perceptions.

In llie year 1757, he was captain mider Colonel Williiuns in the battle near Lake George, where Samt Pierre was killed, and narrowly escaped with his life.

After the peace of 1763, between France and England was declared, Carver conceived the project of exploring the Northwest. Leaving Boston in the month of June, 1766, he arrived at Mackinaw, then the most distant British iiost, in the month of August. Having obtained a credit on some French and English traders from Major Rogers, the ofllcer in command, he started with them on the third day of Seiiteiiiher. Pursuing the iMoal route to Cireen Bay, they arrived tliere on the eighteenth.

Tlie Frencli fort at that time was standing, though much decayed. It was, some years previous to his arrival, garrisoned for a short time by an officer and thirty English soldiers, but they having been captured by the Menominees, it abandoned.

In company with the trailers, he left Green Bay on tlie twentietli. and ascending Fox river, arrived on the tweiity-fifth at an island at the east end of Lake Winnebago, containing about fifty acres.

Here he found a 'Winnebago village of fifty houses. He asserts tliat a woman was in authority. In the month of October the party was at the portage of the "Wisconsin, and descending that stream, they arrived, on tlie ninth at a town of the Sauks. While here he visited some lead mines about fifteen miles distant. An abundance of lead was also seen in the village, that had been brought from the mines.

On the tenth they arrived at the first village of the " Ottigaumies" [Foxes] about five miles before the AVisconsin joins the ^lississippi, he perceived the remnants of another village, and learned that it had lieen deserted about thirty years before, and tluit the inhabitants soon after their removal, built a town on the Mississipjii. near the mouth of the " Ouisconsin," at a i>lace called by the French La Prairie les Chiens, which signified the Dog Plains. It was a large town, and contained about three hundred families. The houses were built after the Indian manner, and pleasantly situated on a dry rich soil.

He saw here ni;iny houses of a good size and shape. This town was the great mart where all the aiijacent tribes, and where those who inliabit the most remote branches of the Mississippi, annually assemble about the latter end of May, bringing with them their furs to dispose of to the traders. But it is not always that they conclude their sale here. This was determined by a gen eral council of the chiefs, who consulted whether it would be more conducive to their interest to seU their goods at this place, or to carry them on to Louisiana or Macliinaw.

At a small stream called Yellow River, opposite Prairie du Chien, the traders who had thus far accompanied Carver took up their residence for the winter.

From this point he proceeded in a canoe, with a Canadian voyageur and a Mohawk Indian as companions. Just before reaching Lake Pepin, while his attendants were one day preparing dinner, he walked out and was struck with the peculiar appearance of the surface of the country, and thought it was the site of some vast artificial earth-work. It is a fact worthy of remembrance, that lie was the first to call the atteution of the civilized world to the existence of ancient monuments m the Mississippi valley. We give his own description :

" On the first of November I reached Lake Pepin, a few miles below which I landed, and, whilst the servants were preparing my dinner, I ascended the bank to view the country. I had not proceeded far before I came to a fine, level, open plain, on which I perceived, at a little distance, a partial elevation that had the appearance of entrenchment. On a nearer inspection I had greater reason to suppose that it had really been intended for this many centuries ago. Notwithstanding it was now covered with grass, I could plainly see that it had once been a breastwork of about four feet in height, extending the best part of a mile, and sutfieiently capacious to cover five thousand men. Its form was somewhat circular and its flanks reached to the river.

" Tliough much defaced by time, every angle was distinguishable, and appeared as regular and fashioned with as much miUtary skill as if planned by Vauban himself. The ditch was not visible, but I thought, on examining more curiously, that I could perceive there certainly had been one. From its situation, also, I am convinced that it must have been designed for that purpose. It fronted the country, and the rear was covered by the river, nor was there any rising ground for a considerable way that commanded it; a few straggling lakes were alone to be seen near it. In many places small tracks were worn across it by the feet of the elks or deer, and from the depth of the bed of earth by which it was covered, I was able to draw certain conclusions of its great antiquity. I examined all the angles, and every part with great attention, and liave often blamed myself since, for not encamping on the spot, and drawing an exact plan of it. To show that this description is not the offspring of a heated imagination, or the chimerical tale of a mistaken traveler, I find, on inquiry suice my return, that Mons. St. Pierre, and several traders have at different times, taken notice of similar appearances, upon which they liave formed the same conjectures, but without examining them so minutely as I did. How a work of this kind could exist in a country that has hitherto (according to the generally received opinion) been the seat of war to untutored Indians alone, whose whole stock of military knowledge has only, till withm two centuries, amomited to drawing the bow, and whose only breastwork even at present is the thicket, I know not. I have given as exact an account as possible of this singular appearance, and leave to future explorers of those distant regions, to discover whether it is a production of nature or art. Perhaps the hints I liave here given migtit lead to a more perfect mvestigation of It, and give us very different ideas of the ancient state of realms that we at present believe to have been, from the earliest period, only tlie habitations of savages."

Lake Pepin excited his admiration, as it has that of every traveler since his day, and here he remarks : " I observed the ruins of a French factory, where it is said Captain St. Pierre resided, and carried on a very great trade with the Naudowessies, before the reduction of Canada."

Carver's first acquaintance with the Dahkotahs commenced near the river St. Croix. It would seem that the erection of trading posts on Lake Pepin had enticed them from their old residence on Rum river and MUle Lacs.

He says : " Near the river St. Croix reside bands of the Naudowessie Indians, called the River Bands. This nation is composed at present of eleven bands. They were originally twelve, but the Assinipoils, some years ago, revolting and separating themselves from the others, there remain at this time eleven. Those I met here are termed the River Bands, because they chiefly dwell near the banks of this river; the other eight are generally distinguished by the .

Explorers And Pioneers Of Minnesota

title of >"adowessies of the Plains, and inhabit a country more to the westward. The names of the former are Nehogatawonahs, the Mawtawbauntowahs, and Sliashweentowahs.

Arriving at what is now a suburb of the capital of Minnesota, he continues: "About thirteen miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, at which I arrived the tenth day after I left Lake Pepin, is a rcmarl<able cave, of an amazinj.; dei)tli. The Indians term it Wakon-teebe [Wakan-tipil. The entrance into it is about ten feet wide, the height of it five feet. The arcli witliin is fifteen feet high and about thirty feet broad: tlie bottom consists of fine, clear sand. Aliout thirty feet from the entrance begins a lake, the water of wliicli is transparent, and extends to an unsearchable distance, for the darkness of the cave preents all attempts to accpiire a knowledge of it.] I threw a small pebble towards the nterior part of it with my utmost strength. I could hear that it fell into the water, and, notwithstanding it was of a small size, it caused an astonishing and terrible noise, that reverberated through all those gloomy regions. I f(iund in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics, which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the wall, which was composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife; a stone everywhere to be found near the Mississippi.

" At a little distance from this dreary cavern, is the burying-place of several bands of the Naudowessie Indians. Tho\igh these people have no fixed residence, being in tents, and seldom but a few months in one spot, yet they always bring the bones of the dead to this place.

" Ten miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, the river St. Pierre, called by the natives Wada paw Meuesotor, falls into the Mississippi from the west. It is not mentioned by Father Hennepin, though a large, fair river. This omission, I consider, must have proceeded from a small island [Pike's] that is situated exactly in its enti-ance."

curling watere. The chief, on reaching the eminence some distance below Cheever's, began to invoke his gods, and offer oblatious to the spirit in the waters.

" In the middle of the Falls stands a smjill island, aljout forty }\(t broad and somcwlial longer, on wliich grow a few cragged hemlock and spruce trees, and about half way between this island and the eastern shore is a rock, lying ai the very edge of the Falls, in an oblique position that appeared to he about five or six feet broad, and thirty or forty long. At a little distance below the Falls stands a small island of about an acre and a lialt, on which grow a great number of oak trees."

From this description, it would appear that the little island, now some distance below the Falls, was once in the very midst, and shows that a constant recession has been going on, and that in ages long past they were not far from the Minnesota river.

" The country around them is extremely beautiful. It is not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye finds no reUef , but composed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer are covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed witli little groves that give a pleasing variety to the prospect. On the whole, when the Falls are included, which may be seen at a distance of four miles, a more pleasing and picturesque ^iew, I believe, caimot be foimd throughout the universe."

On the twenty-fifth of November, he had returned to the place opposite the Minnesota, where he had left his canoe, -and this stream as yet not being obstructed with ice, he commenced its ascent, with the colors of Great Britain flying at the stem of his canoe. There is no doubt that he entered this river, but how far he exjilorcd it camiot be ascertauied. He speaks of the Kapids near Sliakopay, and asserts that he went as far as two hundred miles beyond Jlendota. He remarks:

Sioux Burial Oration Versified By Schiller

After speaking of the upper bands of the Dahkotahs and their alUes, he adds that he " left the habitations of the hospitable Indians the latter end of AprU, 1767, but did not part from them for several days, as I was accompanied on my journey by near three himdred of them to the mouth of the river St. Pierre. At this season these bands annually go to the great cave (Dayton's Bluff) before mentioned.

"Wlien he arrived at the great cave, and the Indians had deposited the remains of their deceased friends in the burial-place that stands adjacent to it, they held their great council to which he was admitted.

"\Mien the Xaudowessies brought their dead for iaterment to the great cave (St. Paul), I attempted to get an insight into the remaming burial rites, but whether it was on account of the stench which arose from so many dead bodies, or whether they chose to keep this part of their custom secret from me, I could not discover. I foimd, however, that they considered my curiosity as ill-timed, and therefore I withdrew. * *

One formality among the Ifaudowessies in mourning for the dead is very different from any mode I observed in the other nations through which I passed. The men, to show how great their sorrow is, pierce the fiesh of their arms above the elbows with arrows, and the womt n cut and gash their legs with broken flints till the blood flows very plentifully. * *

After the breath is departed, the body is dressed in the same attire it usually wore, his face is pamted, and he Is seated in an erect postiu-e on a mat or skin, placed in the middle of the hut, with his weapons by his side. Ills relatives seated around, each in turn harangues the deceased; and if he has been a great warrior, recounts liis heroic actions, nearly to the following purport, which in the Indian language is extremely poetical aud pleasing

" You still sit among us, brother, yoiu' person retains its usual resemlilance, and continues similar to oitts, without any visible deficiency, except it has lost the power of action! But whither is that breath flown, which a few hours ago sent up smoke to the Great Spirit? Why are those lips silent, that lately delivered to us expressions and pleasing language? Why are those feet motionless, that a few hours ago were fleeter than the deer on yonder mountains? Why useless hang those arms, that could climb the tallest tree or draw the toughest bow? Alas, every part of that frame which we lately beheld with admirat ion and wonder has now become as inanimate as it was three hundred years ago! We will not, however, bemoan thee as if thou wast forever lost to us, or that thy name would be buried in oblivion; thy soul yet lives in the great comitry of spirits, with those of thy nation that have gone before thee; and though we are left behhid to perpetuate thy fame, we will one day join thee.

" Actuated by the respect we bore thee whilst living, we now come to tender thee the last act of kindness in our power; that thy body might not lie neglected on the plain, and become a prey to the beasts of the field or fowls of the air, and we will take care to lay it with those of thy predecessors that have gone before thee; hoping at the same time that thy spuit wdll feed with their spirits, and be ready to receive ours when we shall also arrive at the great coimtry of souls."

For this speech Carver is pruicipally indebted to his imagination, but it is well conceived, and suggested one of Schiller's poems, which Gcethe considered one of his best, and wished he had made a dozen such."

Sir E. Lytton Bulwerthe distinguished novelist, and Sir John Herschel the eminent astronomer, have each given a translation of Schiller's Song of the Nadowessee Chief."

Explobebs And Fioneebs Of Minnesota Sik John Hkuschel'S Translation

It appears from other sources that Carver's visit to the Dahkotahs was of some effect in bruiging about fiieiidly intercourse between them and the commander of the English force at Mackinaw.

Carveb'S Project Fob A Route To The Pacific

The earliest mention of the Dahkotahs, in any public British documents that we know of, is in the correspondence between Sir "William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Colony of New York, and General Gage, in command of 11 le forces.

On the eleventh of September, less than six months after Carver's speech at Dayton's Bluff, and the departure of a number of chiefs to the English fort at Mackinaw, Johnson writes to General Gage: "Though I wrote to you some days ago, yet I would not mind saying something again on the score of the vast expenses incurred, and, as I understand, still incurring at Michilimackinac, chiefly on pretense of making a peace between the Sioux and Chippeweighs, with which I think we have very little to do, in good policy or otherwise."

Sir William Johnson, in a letter to Lord Hillsborough, one of his Majesty's ministers, dated August seventeenth, 1768, again refers to the subject :

"]SIuch greater part of those who go a trading are men of such circumstances and disposition as to venture their persons everywhere for extravagant gains, yet the consequences to the public aie not to be slighted, as we may be led into a general quarrel through their means. The Indians in the part adjacent to Michillmackinac have been treated with at a very great expense for some time previous.

"Major Kodgers brings a considerable charge against the former for mediating a peace between some tribes of the Sioux and some of the Chippeweighs, which, had it been attended with success, would only have been interesting to a very few French, and others that had goods in that part of the Indian country, but the contrary has happened, and they are now more violent, and war against one another."

Though a wilderness of over one thousand miles intervened between the Falls of St. Anthony and the white settlements of the English, Carver was fully impressed with the idea that the State now organized under the name of Minnesota, on account of its beauty and fertility, would attract settlers.

Speakmg of the advantages of the counti-y, he says that the future population will be "able to convey their produce to the seaports vsdth great facility, the current of the river from its source to its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico being extremely favorable for doing this in small craft. Ihis might also in time be facilitated by canal.-- or shorter cuts, and a communication opened by water vnth New York by way of the Lakes."

The subject of this sketch was also confident that a route would be discovered by way of the Minnesota river, which would open a passage to China and the English settlements in the East Indies."

Carver having returned to England, interested Whitworth, a member of parUament, in the northern route. Had not the American Revolution commenced, they proposed to have built a fort at Lake Pepin, to have proceeded up the Minnesota imtil they found, as they supposed they could, a branch of the Missouri, and from thence, journeying over the summit of lands until they came to a river which they called Oregon, they expected to descend to the Pacific.

Carver, in common with other travelers, had his theory in relation to the origin of the Dahkotahs. He supposed that they came from Asia. He remarks: "But this might have been at different times and from various parts - from Tartary, China, Japan, for the inhabitants of these places resemble each other. * * *

"It is very evident that some of the names and customs of the American Indians resemble those of the Tartars, and I make no doubt but that in some future era, and this not far distant, it will be reduced to certainty that during some of the wars between the Tartars and Chinese a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven from their native country, and took refuge in some of the isles before mentioned, and from thence found their way into America. * » *

"Many words are used both by the Chinese and the Indians which have a resemblance to each other, not only in their sound, but in their signification. The Chinese call a slave Shungo; and the Noudowessie Indians, whose language, from their little intercom'se with the Europeans, is least corrupted, term a dog Shimgush [Shoankah.J The former denominate one species of their tea Shoushong; the latter call their tobacco Shousas-sau fChanshasha.] Many other of the words used by the Indians contain the syllables che, chaw, and chu, after the dialect of the Chinese."

Explobers And Pioneers Of Minnesota

The comparison of languages has become a rich source of liistorical Imovvledge, yet many of the analogies traced are fanciftil. The remarlj of Humbolt in " Cosmos" is worthy of remembrance. "As tlie structure of American idioms appears remarkably strange to nations speaking the modern languages of Western Europe, and who readily suffer themselves to be led away by some accidental analogies of sound, theologians have generally believed that they could trace an affinity with the Ileljrew, Spanish colonists with the Basque and the English, or French settlers with Gaelic, Erse, or the Bas Breton. I one day met on the coast of Peru, a Spanish naval officer and an English whaling captain, the fontjcr of whom declared that he had heard Basque spoken at Tahiti; the other, Gaelic or Erse at the Sandmch Islands."

Carver became very poor while in England, and was a clerk in a lottery-office. He died in . 1780, and left a widow, two sons, and five daughters, in Xew England, and also a child by another wife that he had married in (ireat Britain

After his death a claim was urged for the land upon which the capital of IMinnesota now stands' and for many miles adjacent. As there are still many persons who believe that they have some right through certain deeds purporting to be from tlie lieirs of Carver, it is a matter worthy of an investigation.

Carver says nothing in his book of travels in relation to a grant from the Dahkotahs, but after he was buried, it was asserted that there was a deed belonging to him m existence, conveying valuable lands, and that said deed was executed at the cave now in the eastern suburbs of Saint Paul.

Deed Purporting To Have Been Given At The Cave In The Bluff Below St. Paul

" To Jonathan Carver, c chief under the most mighty and potent George the Third, King of the English and other nations, the fame of whose warriors has reached our ears, and has now been fully told us by our g(Jod brother Jonathan, aforesaid, whom we rejoice to have come among us, and bring us good news from his country.

" We, chiefs of the Naudowessies, who have hereunto set our seals, do by these presents, for ourselves and heirs forever, in return for the aid and other good services done by the said Jonatlian to ourselves and allies, give grant and convey to him, the said Jonathan, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the whole of a certain tract or territory of land, bounded as follows, viz: from the Falls of St. Anthony, numing on the east bank of the Jlississippi, nearly southeast, as far as Lake Pepin, wiiere the Chippewa joins the Mississippi, and from thence eastward five days travel, accomiting twenty EngUsh miles per day; and from thence again to the Falls of St. Anthony, on a direct straight line. AVe do for om-selves, heirs, and assigns, forever give inito the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns, with all the trees, rocks, ami rivers therein, reserving the sole liberty of hunting and fishing on land not jjlanted or improved by the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns, to which we have affixed our respective seals.

The original deed was never exhibited by the assignees of the heirs. By his English wife Carver had one child, a daughter Martha, who was cared for by Sir Richard and Lady Pearson. In time she eloped and married a sailor. A mercantile firm in London, thinking that money could be made, induced the newly married couple, the day after the wedding, to convey the grant to them, w'ith the miderstandiug that they were to have a tenth of the profits.

The merchants despatched an agent by the name of Clarke to go to the I)ahkotahs. and obtain a new deed; but on his way he was murdered in the state of New York.

In the year 1794, the heirs of Carver's American wife, in consideration of fifty thousand pounds sterling, conveyed their interest in the Carver grant to Edward Houghton of Vermont. In the year 1806, Samuel Peters, who had been a toiy and an Episcopal minister dui'ing the Revolutionary war, alleges, in a petition to Congress, that he had also purchased of the heirs of Carver their rights to tlie grant.

"In the year 1774, I arrived there (London), and met Captain Carver. In 1775, Carver had a hearing before the king, prayhig his majesty's approval of a deed of land dated May first, 1767, and sold and granted to him by the Naudowissies. The result was his majesty approved of the exertions and bravery of Captain Carver among the Indian nations, near the Falls of St. ^Vnthony, in the Mississippi, gave to said Carver 1371L 13.s. 8(?. sterling, and ordered a frigate to be prepared, and a transport ship to carry one hundred and fifty men, under command of Captain Carver, with four others as a committee, to sail the next June to New Orleans, and then to ascend the Mississippi, to take possession of said territory conveyed to Captain Carver ; but the battle of Bunker Hill prevented."

In 1821, General Leavenworth, having made inquiries of the Dahkotahs, m relation to the alleged claim, addressed the following to the commissioner of the land office :

" Sir: - Agreeably to your request, I have the honour to inform you what I have understood from the Indians of the Sioux Nation, as well Jis some facts within my own knowledge, as to what Is commonly termed Carver's Grant. The grant purports to be made by the chiefs of the Sioux of the Flams, and one of the chiefs uses the sign of a serpent, and the other of a turtle, purporting that their names are derived from those animals.

"The land lies on the east side of the Mississippi. The Indians do not recognize or acknowl edge the grant to be valid, and they among others assign the followuig reasons:

"1. The Sioux of the Plains never owned a foot of land on the east side of the Mississippi. The Sioux Nation is divided into two grand divisions, viz: The Sioux of the Lake; or perhaps more literally Sioux of the River, and Sioux of the Plain. The former subsists by hunting and fishing, and usually move from place to place by water, in canoes, during the summer season, and travel on the ice in the winter, when not on their huntmg excursions. The latter subsist entirely by huntmg, and have no canoes, nor do they know but little about the use of them. They reside in the large prairies west of the Mississippi, and follow the buffalo, ui)on which they entirely subsist; these are called Sioux of the Plain, and never owned land east of the Mississippi.

" 2. The Indians say they have no knowledge of any such chiefs as those who have signed the grant to Carver, either amongst the Sioux of the

River or the Sioux of the Plain. They say that if Captam Carver did ever obtain a deed or grant, it was signed by some foolish yomig men who were not chiefs and who were not authorized to make a grant. Among the Sioux of the River there are no such names.

" 3. They say the Indians never received anything for the land, and they have no intention to part with it witliout a consideration. From my knowledge of the Indians, I am induced to think they would not make so considerable a grant, and have it to go into full effect without receiving a substantial consideration.

'- 4. They have, and ever have had, the possession of the land, and intend to keep it. I know that they are very particular in making every person who wishes to cut timber on that tract obtain their permission to do so, and to obtain payment for it. In the month of May last, some Frenchmen brought a large raft of red cedar timber out of the Chippewa River, which timber was cut on the tract before mentioned. The Indians at one of the villages on the Mississippi, where the principal chief resided, compelled the Frenchmen to land the raft, and would not permit them to pass until they had received pay for the timber, and the Frenchmen were compelled to leave their raft with the Indians until they went to Prairie du Chien, and obtained the necessary articles, and made the payment required."

On the twenty-third of January, 1823, the Committee of Public Lands made a report on the claim to the Senate, which, to every disintere.sted person, is entirely satisfactory. After stating the facts of the petition, the report continues:

" The Rev. Samuel Peters, in his petition, fiu-- ther states that Lefei, the present Emperor of the Sioux and Naudowessies, and Red Wing, a sachem, the heirs and successors of the two grand chiefs who signed the said deed to Captam Carver, have given satisfactory and positive proof that they allowed their ancestors' deed to be genuine, good, and valid, and that Captain Carver's heirs and assigns are the owners of said territory, and may occupy it free of all molestation.

The committee have examined and considered the claims thus exhibited by the petitioners, and remark that the original deed is not produced, nor any competent legal evidence offered of its execution ; nor is there any proof that the persons, who it is alleged made the deed, were the chiefs of said tribe, nor that (if chiefs) they had authority to grant and give away the laud belonging to their tribe. The paper annexed to the petition, as a copy of said deed, has no subscribing witnesses ; and it would seem impossil)le, at this remote period, to ascertain the important fact, that tlie persons who signed the deed comprehended and imderstooA the meaning and effect of their act.

" The want of proof as to these facts, would interpose in the way of the claimants insuperable difficulties. But, in the opinion of the committee, the claim is not such as the United States are under any obligation to allow, even if the deed were proved in legal form.

" The British government, before the time when the alleged deed bears date, had deemed it prudent and necessary for the preservation of peace with the Indian tribes under their sovereignty, protection and dominion, to prevent British subjects from purchasing lands from the Indians, and this rule of policy was made known and enforced by the proclamation of the king of Great Britam, of seventh October, 1763, which contains an express prohibition.

" Captain Carver, aware of the law, and knowuig that such a contract could not vest the legal title in him, applied to the British govenunent to ratify and confirm the Indian grant, and, though it was competent for that government then to confirm the grant, and vest the title of said laud

" The territory has since become the property of the United States, and an Indian grant not good against the British goverumeut, would appear to be not binding unon the United States government.

" What benefit the British government derived from the ser\ices of Captain Carver, by his travels and residence among the Indians, that government alone could determine, and alone could judge what remuneration those services desened.

" One fact appears from the declaration of Mr. Peters, in his statement in writing, among the papers exhibited, namely, that the British government did give Captain Carver the sum of one thousand three hundred and seventy-five pounds six shillings and eight pence sterling. To the United States, liowever. Captain Carver rendered no services wliich could be assumed as any equitable ground for the support of the petitioners' claim. .

" The committee being of opinion that the United States are nfit bound in law and equity to confirm the said alleged Indian grant, recommend the adoption of the resolution:

Lord Palmerston stated in 1839, that no trace could be foimd in the records of the British oflice of state papers, showing any ratification of the Carver grant.

Chaptek Xii

"raffjiB Posts at the beginuing of Nineteenth Century. - Sandy Lake Fort. - Lteun Lake Fort. - Williftm Morrison, before Schoolcraft at Ita.sca Lake. - Division of Northwest Territory.- Organization of Indiana, Michigan and Upper Louisiana. - Notices of Wooc!, Frazer, Fisher, Cameron, Faribault. - Early Trade.-*. - Pike's Council at Mouth of Minnesota River. - Grant for Mihtary Posts. - encampment at Falls of St. Anthony. - Block House near Swan River. - Visit to Sandy and Leech Lakes. - British Flag Shot at and Lowered. - TbompBon, Topographer of Northwest Company. - Pike at Dickson's Trading Post. - Returns to Mendota. - Fails to find Carver's Cave. - Conference with Little Crow. - Cameron sells Liquor to Indians.

At the beginning of the present century, the region now known as Minnesota, contained no white men, except a few engaged in the f lu- trade. In the treaty effected by Hon. Jolni Jay, Great Britain agreed to witlidraw her troops from all posts and places within certain boimdary lines, on or before the first of June, 1796, but all British settlers and traders might remain for one year, and enjoy all their former privileges, without being obliged to be citizens of the United States of America.

In the year ISOO, the trading posts of Mimiesota were chiefly held by the 2^orthwest Company, and their chief traders resided at Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, and Fon du Lac, on St. Louis River. In the year 1794, this company built a stockade one hundred feet square, on the southeast end of Sandy Lake. There were bastions pierced for small arms, in the southeast and in the northwest corner. The pickets which surroiuided the post were thirteen feet high. On the north side there was a gate ten by nine feet ; on the west side, one six by five feet, and on the east side a third gate six by five feet. Travelers entering the main gate, saw on the left a one story building twenty feet square, the residence of the superintendent, and on the left of tlie east gate, a building twentyfive by fifteen, the quarters of the voyagenis. Entering the western gate, on the left was a stone house, twenty by thirty feet, and a house twenty by forty feet, used as a store, and a workshop, and a residence for clerks. On the south shore of Leech Lake there was another establishment, I little larger. The stockade was one hundred and fifty feet square. The main building was sixty by twenty-five feet, and one and a half story in height, where resided the Director of the fur trade of the Fond du Lac department of the Northwest Company. In the centre was a small store, twelve and a half feet square, and near the main gate was flagstaff fifty feet in height, from which used to float the flag of Great Britain.

William ilorrison was, in 1802, the trader at Leech Lake, and in 1804 he was at Elk Lake, the source of the Mississippi, thirty-two years afterwards named by Schoolcraft, Lake Itasca.

The entire force of the Northwest Company, west of Lake Superior, in 1805, consisted of three accountants, nineteen clerks, two interpreters, eighty-five canoe men, and with them were twenty-nine Indian or half-breed women, and about fifty cliildren.

On the seventh of May, 1800, the Northwest Territory, which included all of the western country east of the Mississippi, was divided. The portion not designated as Ohio, was organized as the Territory of Indiana.

On the twentieth of December, 1803, the province of Louisiana, of which that portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi was a part, was officially delivered up by the French, who had just obtained it from the Spaniards, according to treaty stipulations.

President Jefferson now deemed it an object of paramount importance for the United States to explore the country so recently acquired, and make the acquaintance of the tribes residing therein ; and steps were taken for an expedition to the upper Mississiiapi.

As tlie old settlers, on the tenth of March, saw the ancient flag of Spain displaced by that of the United States, the tears coursed down their cheeks.

On the twentieth of the same month, the territory of Upper Louisiana was constituted, comprising the present states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and a large portion of Minnesota.

The first American officer who visited ]SIinnesota, on business of a public nature, was one who was an ornament to his profession, and in energy and endurance a true representative of the citizens of the United States. We refer to the gallant Zefculon Montgomery Pike, a native of New Jersey, wl)o afterwards fell in battle at York, Upper Canada, and whose loss was justly mourned by the whole nation.

When a young lieutenant, he was ordered l)y General Wilkinson to visit the region now known as Minnesota, and expel the British traders who were found violating the laws of the United States, and form alliances with the Indians. With only a few common soldiers, he was obliged to do the work of several men. At times he would precede his party for miles to reconnoitre, and then he would do the duty of hunter.

During the day he would perform the part of surveyor, geologist, and astronomer, and at night, though hungry and fatigued, his lofty enthusiasm kept him awake until he copied the notes, and ])lotted the courses of the day.

On the 4th day of September, 180.5, Pike arrived at Prairii^ <ln Chien, from St. Louis, and was politely treal(Ml by three traders, all born underthe llagof the United States. One was named Wood, another Prazer, a native of Vermont, who, when a young man l)ecame a clerk of one ]51akely, of Montreal, and thus became a fur trader. Tlie third was Henry Fisher, a captain of the Militia, and Justice of the Peace, whose wife was a daughter of Goutier de Verville. I'^isher was said to have been a nephew of Presdent Monroe, and later in life traded at the sources of the Minnesota. One of his daughters was the mother of Joseph Polette, Jr., a member of the early Minnesota Legislative assemblies. On the eighth of the month Lieutenant Pike left Trairie du Chien, in two batteaux, with Sergeant Henry Kennerman, Corporals William E. Mack and Samuel Bradley, and ten privates.

At La Crosse, Frazer, of Prairie du Chien, overtook him, and at Sandy point of Lake Pepin he found a trader, a Scotchman by the name of Murdoch Cameron, with his son, and a young man named John Rndsdell. On the twontyfirst he breakfasted with the Kaposia band of Sioux, who then dwelt at the marsli below Dayton's Bluff, a few miles below St. Paul. The same day he passed three miles from Jlendota the encampment of J. B. Faribaidt, a tiader and native of Lower Canada, then about thirty years of age, in which vicinity he contiiuied for more than fifty years. He married Pelagie the daughter of Francis Kinnie by an Indian woman, and his eldest son, Alexander, born soon after Pike's visit, was the founder of the town of Faribault.

Arriving at the confluence of the Minnesota and the Mississippi Rivers, Pike and his soldiers eneamjted on the Northeast point of the island which still bears his name. The next day was Sunday, and he visited Cameron, at his trading post on the Minnesota Iliver, a short distance above Mendota.

On Monday, the 23d of September, at noon, lie held a Council with th(! Sioux, under a covering made by suspending sails, and gave an admirable talk, a portion of wliich was as follows :

" Brothers, I am happy to meet you here, at this council fire which your father has sent me to kindle, and to take you by the hands, as our children. We having but lately aciiiiired from the Spjinish, the extensive territory of Louisiana, our general has thoiight proper to send out a number of his warriors to visitall his red children ; to tell them his will, and to hear what request they may have to make of their father. I am happy the choice fell on me to come this road, as I find my brothers, the Sioux, ready to listen to my words.

" IJrothers, it is the wish of our government to establish military jiosts on the Upper Mississippi, at such places as might be thought expedient. I have, therefore, examined the country, and have jiitched on the mouth of the river St. Croix, this place, uiiil the i alls of St. Anthony ; I therefore wish you to grant to the United States, nine miles square, at St. Croix, and at tliis place, from a league below the confluence of the St. Peter's and lilississippi, to a league above St. Anthony, extending thrte leagues on each side of the river ; and as we are a people who are accustomed to have all our acts written down, in order to have tliem handed to our children, I have drawn up a form of an agreement, which we will I)oth sign, in the presence of the traders now present. After we know the terms, we will fill it up, and have it read and interpreted to you.

" Brothers, those posts are intended as a benefit to you. The old chiefs now present must see that their situation improves by a communication with the whites. It is the intention of the Umted States to establish at those posts factories, in which the Indians may procure all their things at a cheaper and better rate than they do now, or than your traders can afford to sell them to you, r.s they aie single men, who come from far in small boats; but your fathers are many and strong, and will come with a strong arm, in large boats. There will also be i iiiefs here, who can attend to the wants of then- brothers, without their sending or going all the way to St. Louis, and will see the tiarlers that go up your rivers, and know that they are good me- * * * *

"Brothers, I now present you . ;i some of yo;ir father's tobacco, and some other trilling thmgs, as a memorandum of my good will, and before my departure I give you some liquor to clear your throats."

The traders, Cameron and Frazer, sat with Pike. Ilis interpreter was Pierre llosseau. Among the Chiefs present were Le Petit Corbeau (Little Crow), and Way-ago Enagee, and L"Orignal Leve or Rising Moose. It was with difficulty that the cliiefg signed the following agi-eement; not that they objected to the language, but because they thought their word should be taken, mthout any mark ; but Pike overcame their objection , by saying that he wished them to sign it on his account.

"Whereas, at a conference held between the United States of America and the Sioux nation of Indians, Lieutenant Z. M. Pike, of the army of the United States, and the cliiefs and warriors of said trihe. have atrreed to the following articles, which, when ratified and approved of by the proper authority, shall be binding on both parties :

Akt. 1. That the Sioux nation grant xmto the United States, for the purpose of establishment of military posts, nine miles square, at the mouth of the St. Croix, also from below the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peter's, up the Mississippi to include the Falls of St. Anthony, extending nine miles on each side of the river ; that the Sioux Nation grants to the United States the full sovereignty and power over said district forever. Art. 2. That in consideration of the above grants, the United States shall pay [filled up by the Senate with 2,000 dollars].

Art. 3. The United States promise, on their part, to permit the Sioux to pass and repass, hunt, or make other use of the said districts, as they have formerly done, without any other exception than those specified in article first.

In testimony whereof, we, the undersigned, have hereunto set our hands and seals, at the mouth of the liver St. Peter's, on the 23d day of September, 1805.

The following entries from Pike's Journal, descriptive of the region around the city of Minneapolis, seventy-five years a;;o, are worthy of preservation:

^'Skft. 26th, Tliursday. - Embarked at the usual hour, and after much labor in passing through the rapids, arrived at the foot of the Falls about three or four o'clock ; imloaded my boat, and had the principal part of her cargo carried over the portage. With the other boat, however, full loaded, they were not able to get over the last shoot, and encamped aboiit six yards below. I pitched my tent and encamped above the shoot. The rapids mentioned in this day's march, might properly be called a continuation of the Falls of St. Anthony, for they are equally entitled to this appellation, with the Falls of the Pelawaj'e aad

Sept. 27th, Friday. Brought over the residue of my loading this moniing. Two men arrived from Mr. Frazer, on St. Peters, for my dispaU-hes. This business, closing and sealing, appeared like a last adieu to the civilized world. Sent a large packet to the General, and a letter to Mrs. Pike, with a short note to Mr. Frazer. Two young Indians brought my flag across by land, who arrived yesterday, just as we ciime in sight of the Fall. I made them a present for their punctuality and expedition, and the danger they were exposed to from the journey. Carried our boats out of the river, as far as the bottom of the hill.

Sept. 2fHh,iiatui-da>/. - Brought my barge over, and put her Ln the river above the Falls. "Wliile were engaged vrith her three -fourths miles from camp, seven Indians painted black, appeared on the heights. We had left our gims at the camp and were entirely defenceless. It occurred to me that they were the small party of Sioux who were obstinate, and would go to war, when the other part of the bands came in ; these they proved to be ; they were better armed than any I had ever seen ; having guns, liows, arrows, clubs, spears, and some of them even a case of pistols. I w^as at that time gi\ Ing my men a dram ; and giving the cup of liquor to the iirst, he di'ank it off ; but I was more cautious with the remainder. I sent my Interpreter to camp with them, to wait my coming ; w^ishiug to purchase one ol theu- w-ar clubs, it being made of elk horn, and decorated with inlaid work. Tliis and a set of bows and arrows I wished to get as a curiosity. But the liquor I had given him began to operate, he came back for me, but refusing to go till I brought my boat, he returned, and (I suppose being offended) borrowed a canoe and crossed the river. In the afternoon got the other boat near the top of the hill, when the projis gave way, and she slid all the way down to the bottom, but fortunately without injuring any person. It raining very hard, we left her. Killed one goose and a racoon.

Sept. 29th, Sunda!/.-~l killed a reniarka'jly large racoon. Got our large boat over the portage, and put her in the river, at the upper landing; this night the men gave sufficient proof of their fatigue. l)y all tlirowing themselves down to sleep, preferring rest to supper. Tliis day 1 had but fifteen men out of twenty-two ; the others were sick. This voyage could have been performed with great convenience, if we had taken our departure in Jime. But the proper time would be to leave the IlUnois as soon as the ice would permit, when the river would be of a good height.

Sept. 30th, Monday. - hoaded my boat, moved over aTid encamped on the Island. The large Iwats loading Likewise, we went over and put on board. In the mean time, I took a sm-vey of the Falls, Portage, etc. If it be possible to pass the Falls in high water, of which I am doubtful, it must be on the East side, about thirty yards from shore ; as there are three layers of rocks, one below the other. The pitch off of either, is not more than five feet ; but of this I can say more on my ret\mi.

On the tenth of October, the expedition readied some 'arge island below Sauk Rapids, where ui 1797, Porlier and Joseph Renville had wintered. Six days after this, he reached the Rapids m Morrison county, which still bears his name, and he writes : ' - When we arose in the morning, found that snow had fallen during the night, the ground was covered and it continued to snow. This, indeed, was but poor encouragement for attacking the Rapids, in which we were certain to wade to our necks. I was determined, however, if possible to make la riviere de Corbeau, [Crow Wing River], the highest point was made by traders in their bark canoes. We eml)arked, and after four hours work, became so benumbed with cold that our limbs were perfectly useless. We put to shore on the opposite side of the river, about two-thirds of the way up the rapids. Built a large fire ; and then discovered that our boats were nearly half full of water; both having sprung large leaks so as to oblige me to keep three hands bailing. My sergeant (Kennerman) one of the stoutest men I ever knew, broke a blood-vessel and vomited nearly two quarts of blood. One of my corporals (Bradley) also evacuated nearly a pint of blood, when he attempted to void his urine. These unhappy circiunstances, in addition to the inability of four other men whom we were obliged to leave on shore, me, that if I had no regard for my own health and constitution, I should ha\e some for those poor fellows, who were kill- iug themselves to obey my orders. After we 1 lad breakfast and refreshed ourselves, we went down to our boats on the rocks, where I was obliged to leave them. I then informed my men that we would return to the camp and there leave some of the party and oiu- large boats. This information was pleasing, and the attempt to reach the camp soon accomplished. My reasons for this step have partly been already stated. The necessity of unloadmg and refitting my boats, the beauty and convenience of the spot for buildmg huts, the fine pme trees for peroques, and the quantity of game, were additional inducements. We immediately imloaded our boats and secured their cargoes. In the evening I went out upon a small, but beautiful creek, which emptied mto the Falls, for the purpose of selecting puie tiees to make canoes. Saw five deer, and killed one buck weighing one himdi-ed and thirty-seven pounds. By my leaving men at this place, and from the great quantities of game in its vicinity, I was ensured plenty of provision for my return voyage. In the party left behuid was one hunter, to be continually employed, who would keep our stock of salt provisions good. Distance two hundred and thirty-three and a half miles above the Falls of St. Anthony.

Having left his large boats and some sohliers at this point, he proceeded to the vicinity of Swan River where he erected a block house, and on the tliirty-flrst of October he writes: "Enclosed my little work completely with pickets. Hauled up my two boats and turned them over on each side of the gateways; by wliich means a defence was made to the river, and had it not been for various poUtical reasons, I would have laughed at the attack of eight hundred or a thousand savages, if all my party were within. For. except accidents, it would only have afforded amusement, the Indians having no idea of taking a place by storm. Found myself powerfully attacked with the fantastics of the brain, called ennui, at the mention of which I had hitherto scoffed ; but my books being packed up, I was like a person entranced, and could easily conceive why so many persons who have been confined to remote places, acquire the habit of drinking to excess, and many other vicious practices, which have been adopted merely to pass time.

Dm-ing the next month he hunted the buffalo which were then in that vicinity. On the third of December he received a visit from Bobert Dickson, afterwards noted m the history of the country, who was then trading about sixty miles below, on the Mississippi.

On the tenth of December with some sleds he continued his journey northward, and on the last day of the year passed Pine River. On the thud of .January, 1806, he reached the trading post at Red Cedar, now Cass Lake, and was quite indignant at finding the British flag floatmg from the staff. The night after this his tent caught on fire, and he lost some valuable and necessary ck thing. On the evening of the eighth he reached Sandy Lake and was hospitably received by Grant, the trader hi charge. He writes .

" Jan. 9th, r/w«>da2/. - Marched the corporal early, m order that our men should receive assurance of our safety and success. He carried with him a small keg of spirits, a present from Mr. Grant. The establishment of this place was formed twelve years since, by the North-west Company, and was fonnerly imder the charge of a Mr. Charles Brusky. It has attained at present such regularity, as to permit the superintendent to Uve tolerably comfortable. They have horses they procured from Red River, of the Indians; raise plenty of Irish potatoes, catch pike, suckers, pickerel, and white fish in abundance. They have also beaver, deer, and moose; but the provision they chiefly depend upon is wild oats, of which they purchase great quantities from the savages, giving at the rate of about one dollar and a half per bushel. But flour, pork, and salt, are almost interdicted to persons not principals in the trade. Flour sells at half a dollar ; salt a dollar; pork eiglity cents; sugar half a dollar ; and tea four doUars and fifty cents per pound. The sugar is obtained from the IncUans, aud is made from the maple tree."

He remained at Sandy Lake ten days, and on the last day two men of the Northwest Company arrived with letters from Fon du Lac Superior, one of which was from Athapuscow, and had been since May on the route.

A Mr. Anderson, in the employ of Robert Dick-son, was residing at the west end of the lake. While here he hoisted the American flag in the fort. The English yacht still flying at tlie top of the flagstaff, he directed the Indians and his soldiers to shoot at it. They soon broke the iron pin to wliich it was fastened, and it fell to the ground. lie was informed by a venerable old Ojibw'ay chief, called Sweet, that the Sioux dwelt there when he was a youth. On the tenth of February, at ten o'clock, he left Leecli I>ake with Corponil ISradley, the trader McGillis and two of his men, and at sunset arrived at Hed Cedar, now Cass Lake. At this place, in 1798, Tliompson, employed by the Northwest Company for three years, in topograjHucal surveys, made some observations. He believed that a line from the Lake of the Woods would touch the sources of the ^lississippi. Pike, at this point, was very kindly treated by a Canadian named IJoy, and liis Ojibway squaw. On his return home, he reached Clear Kiver on the seventh of April, where he foimd his canoe and men, and at night \\as at ( Jrand Uapids, Dickson's trading post. He talked until four o'clock the next morning with tliis person and another trader named Porlier. lie forbade while there, the traders (Jreignor [Grignon] and La Jemiesse, to sell any more liquor to Indians, who had become very drunken and unruly. On the tenth he again readied the Falls of Saint Anthony. He writes in his journal as follows :

Aphtt. nth, Fridn;/. - Although it snowed very hard \\e brought over both V)oats, and descended the river to the island at the entrance of the St. Peter's. I sent to the chiefs and informed them I had something to communicate to them. The Fils de Pincho innnediately waited on me, and informed me that he would i)rovide a place for the purpose. About sundown I was sent for and introduced into the council-house, where I found a great many chiefs of the Sussitongs, (iens de Feuilles, and the (iens du Lac. The Yanctongs had not yet come down. They were all awaiting for my arrival. There were about one hundred lodges, or six hundred people; we were saluted on our crossing the river with ball as usual. The council-house was two large lodges, capable of containing three hundred men. In the upper were forty chiefs, and as many pipes set against the poles, alongside of wliich I had the Santeur's pipes arranged. I then infcjrmed them in short detail, of my transactions with tin; Santeurs; but my interpreters were not capable of making themselves tniderstood. I was therefore obliged to omit mentioning every particular relative to the rascal who fired on my sentinel, and of the scoundrel who broke the Fols Avoins' canoes, and threatened my life; the interpreters, however, in- formed them that I wanted some of their principal chiefs to go to St. Louis; and that those who thought proper might descend to the prairie, wliere we would give them more explicit in - < r mation. They all smoked out of the Santeur's pipe, excepting three, who were painted black, and were some of those who lost their relations last winter. I invited the Fils de Pinchow, and the son of tlie Killeur Eouge, to come over and sup with me; when Mr. Dickson and myself endeavored to explain what I intended to have said to them, could I have made myself understood; that at the prairie wc would have all things explained; that I was desirous of making a better report of them than Captain Lewis could do from their treatment of him. The former of those savages was the jierson who remained around my post all last winter, and treated m.\' men so well; they endeavored to excuse their people.

"Apuil 12th, Saturday. - Embarked early. Although my interiireter liad been frecpiently u)) the river, he could not tell me wliere the cave (spoken of by Carver) could be fomid ; we carefully sought for it, but in vain. At the Indian village, a few miles below St. Peter's, we were about to pass a few lodges, but on receiving a very particular invitation to come on shore, we landed, and were received in a lodge kindly; they presented us sugar. I gave the proprietor a dram, and was about to depart when he demanded a kettle of liquor; on being refused, and after I had left the shore, he told me he did not like the arrangements, and that he would go to war this suiiiiiicr. I directed the interpreter to tell liiinthalif 1 returned to St. Peter's with the troops, 1 would settle that affair with him. On our arrival at tlie St. Croix, I found the Pettit Corbeau w ilh his people, and Messrs. Frazer and Wood, ^\'e had a conference, when the Pettit Corbeau made many apologies for the misconduct of his people; he i-epreseiited to us the different manners in -which tlie young warriors liad been inducing him to go to war; that he had been much blamed for dismissing his party last fall; but that he was determined to adhere as far as lay in his power to our instructions; that he thouglit it most prudent to remain here and restrain the warriors. lie then presented me with a l)eaver robe and pipe, and his message to the general. That he was determined to preserve peace, and make the road clear; also a remembrance of his promised medal. I made a reply, calculated to confirm him in his good intentions, and assured him that he should not be the less remembered by his father, although not present. I was informed that, notwithstanding the instruction of his license, and my particular request, Murdoch Cameron had taken liquor and sold it to the Indians on the river St. Peter's, and that his partner below had been equally imprudent. I pledged myself to prosecute them according to law; for they have been the occasion of great confusion, and of much injury to the other traders. This day met a canoe of Mr. Dickson's loaded with provisions, under the charge of Mr. Anderson, brother of the Mr. Anderson at Leech Lake. He politely offered me any provision he had on board (for which Mr. Dickson had given me an order), but not now being in want, I did not accept of any. This day, for the first time, I observed the trees beginning to bud, and indeed the climate seemed to have changed very materially since we passed the Falls of St. Anthony."

The strife of political parties growmg out of the French Eevoliition, and the declaration of war against Great Britain in the year 1812, postponed the military occupation of the Upper Mississippi by the United States of America, for several years.

Dickson and other tra'lors liostilf, - American slockado at Prairie tlu Chi^n - Fort Shelby siuTcnders to Lt. Col. William McKay - I,>yal tra«l«rs l*rovencaUc and Faribault - Rising Moose or Ono-eyed Sioux - Capt. Bulger evacuates Port McKay - ^Intellii'aiifO of Peace.

Notwithstanding tlie professions of f riendsliip made to Pike, in tlie second war with Great Britain, Dickson and others were found bearmg arms agahist tlie Republic.

A year after Pike left Praiiie du Wiien, it was evident, that under some secret influence, the Indian tril les were combining agauist tlie United States. In the year 1809, Nicholas Jarrot declared that the British traders were f urnishmg the savages with guns for hostile pui-poses. On the first of Ma)', 1H12, two Indians were apprehended at Chicago, who were on theu- way to meet Dickson at Green Bay. They had taken the precaution to hide letters in their moccasms, and bury them in the ground, and were allowed to proceed after a brief detention. Frazer, of Prairie du Cliien, who had been with Pike at the Council at the mouth of the Minnesota River, was at the portage of the A\'isconsiu when the Indians deUvered these letters, which stated that the British flag would soon be flying again at Mackinaw. At Green Bay, the celebrated warrior. Black Hawk, was placed in charge of the Indians \\\\o were to aid the British. The American troops at ilackinaw were obUged, on the seventeenth of July, 1812, to capitulate without firing a single gun. One who was made prisoner, writes from Detroit to the Secretary of War :

" The persons who commanded the Indians are Robert Dickson, Indian trader, and John Askin, Jr., Indian agent, and his son. The latter two were painted and dressed after the manner of the Indians. Those who commanded tliu Canadians are John Johnson, Crawford, Pothier, Annitinger, La Croix, Rolette, Franks, Livingston, and Dther traders, some of whom were lately concerned in smuggUng British goods into the

Indian eoimtry, and, in conjunction with others, have been using their utmost efforts, several months before the declaration of war, to excite the Indians to take up arms. The least resistance from the fort would have been attended with the destruction of all the persons who fell hito the hands of the British, as I have been assured by some of the British traders,"

On the first of May, 1814, Governor Clark, wiX\\ two luuidred men, left St. Louis, to build a fort at the junction of the 'Wisconsin and ilississippi. Twenty days before he arrived at Prairie du Chien, Dickson had started for Mackinaw with a band of Dahkotalis and 'Winnebagoes. The place was left in command of Captain Deace and the Mackinaw Fencibles. The Dahkotahs refusing to co-operate, when the Americans made their appearance they fled. The Americans took possession of the old ilackinaw house, in which they foimd nine or ten trunks of papers belonging to Dickson. From one they took the following extract :

A fort was immediately commenced on the site of the old residence of the late H. L. Dousman, which was composed of two block-houses in the angles, and another on the bank of tlie river, with a subterranean communication. In honor of the governor of Kentucky it was named " Shelby."

The fort was in charge of Lieutenant Perkuis, and sixty rank and file, and two gunboats, each of which carried a six-pounder; and several howitzers were cummaiided by Captains Yeiser, Sullivan, and Aid-de-camp Kennerly.

The traders at Mackinaw, learning that the Americans had built a fort at the Prairie, and knowing that as long as they held possession i\w\ would be cut oil from the trade with the

Loyalty Of Faribavlt And The One-Eyed Sioux

Tlie captain was an old trader by the name of McKay, and imder him was a sergeant of artillery, with a brass six-poimder, and tlu-ee or four volunteer companies of Canadian voyageurs, officered by Captains Griguon, Rolette and Anderson, Lieutenants Brisbois and Duncan Graham, all dressed in red coats, with a niunber of Indians.

The Americans had scarcely completed their rude fortification, before the British force, guided by Joseph Kolette, Sr., descended m canoes to a point on the "Wisconsin, several miles from the Prairie, to which they marched in battle array. McKay sent a flag to the Fort demanding a surrender. Lieutenant Perkins replied that he would defend it to the last.

A fierce encounter took place, in which the Americans were worsted. The officer was wounded, several men were killed and one of their boats captured, so that it became necessary to retreat to St. Louis. Port Shelby after its eaptiu-e, was called Fort McKay.

Among the traders a few remained loyal, especially Provencalle and J. B. Faribault, traders among the Sioux. Faribault was a prisoner among the British at the time Lieut. Col. Wm. McKay was preparing to attack For*" Shelby, and he refused to perform any seiTice, Faribault's wife, who was at Prairie du Chien, not Isnowing that her husband was a prisoner in the hands of the advancing foe, fled with others to the Sioirx village, where is now the city of Winona. Faribault was at length released on parole and returned to his trading post.

nation, he ascended the Missouri under the protection of the distinguished trader, Manual Lisa, as far as the An Jacques or James Eiver, and from thence struck across the country, enlisting the Sioux in favour of the United States, and at length arrived at Prairie du Cliien. On his arrival, Dickson accosted him, and inquured from whence he came, and what was his business ; at the same time rudely snatching his bundle from his shoulder, and searching for letters, The "one-eyed warrior" told him that he was from St. Louis, and that he had promised the white chiefs there that he would go to Prairie du Ghien, and that he had kept his promise

Dickson then placed him in confinement in Fort McKay, as the garrison was called by the British, and ordered him to divulge what information he possessed, or he wo aid put him to death. But the faithful fellow said he would impart nothing, and that he was ready for death if he wished to kill him. Findmg that confinement had no effect, Dickson at last'liberatedhim. He then left, and visited tlie bands of Sioux on the Upper ilississippi, with which he passed the winter. When he returned in the sprmg, Dickson had gone to Mackinaw, and Capt. A. Bulger, of the Eoyal Xew Fouudland Eegiment, was in command of the fort.

On the twenty-third ot May, 1815, Capt. Bulger, wrote from Fort JMcKay to Gov. Clark at St. Louis : " Official intelligence of peace reached me yesterday. I propose evacuatmg the fort, taking with me the gims captured in the fort. * * * * I have not the smallest hesitation in declaring my decided opinion, that the presence of a detachment of British and United States troops at the same time, would be the means of embroiling one party or the other in a fresh rupture with the Indians, which I presiune it is the wish of both governments to avoid."

The next month the " One-Eyed Sioux," with three other Indians and a squaw, visited St. Louis, and he informed Gov. Clark, that the British commander left the cannons in the fort when he evacuated, but in a day or two came back, took the cannons, and fired the fort with the American flag flying, but that he rushed in and saved it fi-om being burned. From this time, the British flag ceased to float in the Valley of the Mississippi.

Explobebs And Pioneebs Of Minnesota Chaptee Xiv

Carver a Grandsons. - Roque, Sioux Intcrpretcr. - Waposhaw's Village and Its Vicinity. - A Sacred Dance. - Indian Villus" Below Da)-ton's Bluff. - Carver's Cave- - Fountain Cave. - Falls of St. Anthony Described, - Site or a Fort.

Major Stephen II. Long, of the Engineer Corps of tlie United States Army, learning that there was little or no danger to be apprehended from the Indians, determined to ascend to the Falls of Saint Anthony, in a six-oared skiff presented to him hy Governor Clark, of Saint Louis. His party consisted of a Mr. Hempstead, a native of New London, Connecticut, whc had been living at Prairie du Chien, seven soldiers, and a halfbreed interpreter, named Iloque. A bark canoe accompanied them, containing Messrs. Gun and King, grandsons of the celebrated traveler, Jonathan Carver.

" When we stopped for breakfast, Mr. Ilempstead and myself ascended a high peak to take a view of the country. It is laio\\'n by the name of the Kettle Hill, having obtained this appellation from the circumstance of its having numerous piles of stone on its top, most of them fragments of the rocky stratifications which constitute the principal part of the hill, but some of them small piles made by the Indians. These at a distance have some similitude of kettle: arranged along upon the ridge and sides of the hill. Prom this, or almost any other eminence in its neighborhood, the beauty and grandeur of the prospect would bailie the skill of the most inge- 'nious pencil to depict, and that of the most accomplished pen to describe. Hills marshaled into a variety of agreeable shapes, some of them towering into lofty peaks, while others present broad summits embellished with contours and slopes in the most pleasing manner ; champaigns and waving valleys; forests, lawns, and parks alternating with each other; the humble Mississippi meandering far below, and occasionally losing itsel' in numberless islands, give variety and beauty to the picture, while rugged cliffs and stupendous precipices here and there present themselves as if to add bolilness and majesty to the scene. In the midst of this beautiful scenery is situated a village of the Sioux Indians, on an extensive lawn called the Aux Aisle I'rairie ; at which we lay by for a short time. On our amval the Indians hoisted two American flags, and we returned the comrliment by discharging our blunderbuss and pistols. They then fired several guns ahead of us by way of a salute, after which we landed and were received with much friendship. The name of their chief is Wauppaushaw, or the Leaf, commonly called by a name of the same import in French, La Feuille, or La Fye, as it is pronounced in English. He is considered one of the most honest and honorable of any of the Indians, and endeavors to inculcate into the minds of his people the sentiments and principles adopted by himself. He was not at home at the time I called, and I had no opportunity of seeuig him. The Indians, as I suppose, with the expectation that I had something to communicate to them, assembled themselves at the place where I lauded and seated themselves upon the grass. I inquired if their chief was at home, and was answered in the negative. I then told them I should be very glad to see him, but as he w".s absent I would call on him again in a few days when I should return. I further told them that cur father, the new President, wished to obtain some more information relative to his red children, and that I was on a tour to acquire any intelligence he might stand in need of. With this they appeared well satisfied, and permitted Mr. Hempstead and myself to go through their village. While I was in the wigwam, one of the subordinate chiefs, whose name was Wazzecoota, or Shooter from the I'ine Tree, vobniteered to accompany me np the river. I accepted of his Bervioes, and he was ready to attend me on the tour in a very short time. When we hove in sight the Indians were engaged in a ceremony called the Be^r Dance; a ceremony which they are in the habit of performing when any young man is desirous of bringing himself into particular notice, and is considered a kind of initiation into the state of manhood. I went on to the ground where they had theii- performances, which were ended sooner than usual on account of our arrival. There was a kind of a flag made of fawn akin dressed with the hair on, suspended on a pole. Upon the flesh side of it were drawn certain rude figures indicative of the dream which it is necessary the young man should have dreamed, before he can be considered a proper candidate for this kind of initiation; with this a pipe was suspended by way of sacrifice. Two arrows were stuck up at the foot of the pole, and frrigments of painted feathers, etc., were strewed about the ground near to it. The.se pertained to the religious rites attending the ceremony, which consists in bewailing and self-mortiflcation, that the Good Spirit may be induced to pity them and succor their undertaking.

"At the distance of two or three hundred yards from the flag, is an excavation which they call the bear's hole, prepared for the occasion. It is about two feet deep, and has two ditches, about one foot deep, leading across it at right angles. The young hero of the farce places himself in this hole, to be hunted by the rest of the young men, all of whom on this occasion are dressed in their best attire and painted in their neatest style. The hunters approach the hole in the direction of one of the ditches, and discharge their guns, which were previously loaded for the purpose with blank cartridges, at the one who acts the part of the bear; whereupon he leaps from his den, having a hoop in each hand, and a wooden lance; the hoops serving as forefeet to aid him in characterizing his part, and his lance to defend him from his assailants. Thus accoutred he dances round the place, exhibiting various feats of activity, while the other Indians pursue him and endeavor to trap him as he attempts to return to his den, to eflfect which he is privileged to use any violence he pleases with impunity against

" This part of the ceremony is performed three times, that the bear may escape from his den and retiirn to it again through three of the avenues communicating with it. On being hunted from the fourth or last avenue, the bear must make his escape through all his pursuers, if possible, and flee to the woods, where he is to remain through the day. This, however, is seldom or never accomplished, as all the young men exert themselves to the utmost in order to trap him. When caught, he must retire to a lodge erected for his reception in the field, where he is to be secluded from all society through the day, except one of his particular friends whom he is allowed to take with him as an attendant. Here he smokes and performs various other rites which superstition has led the Indians to believe are sacred. After this ceremony is ended, the young Indian is considered qualified to act any part as an efficient member of their community. The Indian, who has the good fortune to catch the bear and overcome him when endeavoring to make his escape to the wood, is considered a candidate for preferment, and is, on the first suitable occasion, appointed the leader of a small war party, in order that he may further have an opportunity to test his prowess and perform more essential service in behalf of his nation. It is accordingly expected that he will kill some of their enemies and return with their scalps. I regretted very much that I had missed the opportunity of witnessing this ceremony, which is never performed except when prompted by the particular dreams of one or other of the young men, who is never complimented twice in the same manner on account of his dreams."

On the sixteenth he approached the vicinity of where is now the capital of Minnesota, and writes: "Set sail at half past four tliis morning with a favorable breeze. Pased an Indian burying ground on our left, the first that I have seen surrounded by a fence. In the center a pole is erected, at the foot of whic'- religious rites are performed at the burial of an Indian, by the particular friends and relatives of the deceased. Upon the pole a flag is suspended when any person of extraordinary merit, or «ne who is very much beloved, is buried. In the inclosure were two scaffolds erected also, about six feet high and six feet square. Upon one of them were two coflins containing dead bodies. Passed a Sioux village on our right conlaining fourteen cabins. The name of the chief is tlie Petit Corbeau, or Little Raven. The Indians were all absent on a hunting party up tlio Hiver St. Croix, whicli is but a little distance across tlie country from the village. Of this we were very glad, as this band are said to be the most notorious beggars of all the Sioux on tlie Mississippi. One of their cabms is furnished with loop holes, and is situated so near tlie water that the opposite side of the river is within musket-shot range from the building. By tliis means the Petit Corbeau is enabled to exercise a command over the passage of the river and has in some instances compelled traders to land witli their goods, and induced them, probably tlirough fear of offending him, to bestow presents to a considerable amount, before he would suffer them to pass. The cabins are a kind of stockade buildings, and of a better appearance than any Indian dwellings I have before met with.

" Two miles above the village, on the same side of the river, is Carver's Cave, at which we stopped to breakfast. However interesting it may have been, it does not possess that character in a very high degree at present. "\\'e descended it witli lighted candles to its lower extremity. The entrance is very low and about eight feet broad, so that a man in order to enter it must be completely prostrate. Tlie angle of descent within the cave is about 25 deg. The flooring is an inclined plane of quicksand, formed of the rock in wliich the cavern is formed. The distance from its entrance to its inner extremity is twenty-four paces, and the width in the broadest part about nine, and its greatest height about seven feet. In shape it resembles a bakers's oven. Tiie cavern was once probably much more extensive. My mterpreter informed me that, since his remeniliiance, tlie entrance was not less than ten feet high and its lengtli far greater than at present. The rock in which it is formed is a very white sandstone, so friable that the fragments of it will almost crumble to sand when taken into the hand. A few yards below the mouth of the ciwern is a very copious spring of flue water issuing from the bottom of the cliff.

" Five miles above this is the Fountain Cave, on the same side of the river, formed in the same kind of sandstone but of a more pure and line quality. It is far more curious and interesting than the former. The entrance of the cave is a large winding hall about one hundred and fifty feet in length, fifteen feet in width, and from eight to sixteen feet in height, finely arched overhead, and nearly perpendicular. Xext succeeds a narrow passage and dilliciilt of entrancCj which opens into a most beautiful circular room, finely arched above, and about forty feet in diameter. The cavern then contiiuies a meanderuig course, expanding occasionally into small rooms of a circular form. We penetrated about one hundred and fifty yards, till our candles began to fail us, when we retmiied. To beautify and emliellisli the scene, a fine crystal stre:ira Hows through the cavern, and cheers the lonesome dark retreat with its enlivening murmurs. The temperature of the water in the cave was 40 deg., and that of the air 60 deg. Entering this cold retreat from an atmosphere of 89 deg., I thought it not prudent to remain in it long enough to take its several dimensions and meander its courses ; particularly as we had to w ade in water to our knees in many places in order to penetrate as far as we went. The fountam supplies an abundance of water as fine as I ever drank. This cavern I was informed by my interpreter, has been discovered but a few years. That the Indians formerly liraig in its neigliborhood knew nothing of it till witlun six years past. That it is not the same as that described by Carver is evident, not only from this circumstance, but also from the circumstance that instead of a stagnant pool, and only one accessible room of a very different form, this cavern has a brook running through it, and at least four rooms in succession, one after the other. Carver's Cave is fast filling up with sand, so that no water is now found in it, whereas this, from the very nature of the place, must be enlarging as the fountain will carry along with its current all the sand that falls into it from the roof and sides of the cavern."

On the night of the sixteenth, he arrived at tlie Falls of 8aint Anthony and encamped on the east sliore just below the cataract. He writes in '.lis journal :

Descbiption Of Falls Of Saint Anthony

"Tiie place where we encamped last night needed no embellishment to render it romantic in the highest degree. The banks on both sides of the river are about one hundred feet high, decorated with trees and shrubbery of various kinds. The post oak, hickory, walnut, linden, sugar tree, white birch, and the American box ; also various evergreens, such as the pine, cedar, juniper, etc., added their embellishments to the scene. Amongst the shrubery were the prickly ash, plum, and cherry tree, the gooseberry, the black and red raspberry, the chokeberry, grape vine, etc. There were also various kinds of herbage and (lowers, among which were the wild parsley, rue, spikenard, etc., red and white roses, morning glory and various other handsome flowers. A few yards below us was a beautiful cascade of fine spring water, pouring down from a projecting precipice about one hundred feet hight. On our left was the Mississippi hurrying through its channel with great velocity, and about three quarters of a mile above us, in plain view, was the majestic cataract of the Falls of St. Anthony. The murmuring of the cascade, the roaring of the river, and the thunder of the cataract, all contributed to render the scene the most interesting and magnificient of any I ever before witnessed."

"Tlie perpendicular fall of the water at the cataract, was stated by Pike in his journal, as sixteen and a half feet, which I found to be true by actual measurement. To this height, however, four or five feet may be added for the rapid descent which immediately succeeds to the perpendicular fall within a few yards below. Immediately at the cataract the river is divided into two parts by an island which extends considerably above and below the cataract, and is about five hundred yards long. The channel on the right side of the Island is about three times the width of that on the left. The quanity of water passins through them is not, however, in the same proportion, as about oue-tliird part of the whole passes through the left channel. In the broadest channel, just below the cataract, is a small island also, about fifty yards in length and thirty in breadth. Both of these islands contain the same kind of rocky formation as the banks of the river, and are nearly as high. Besides these, there are immediately at the foot of the cataract, two islands of very inconsiderable size, situated in the right channel also. The rapids commence several hundred yards above the cataract and continue about eight miles below. The fall of the water, beginning at the head of the rapids, and extending two hundred and sixtj' rods down tlie river to where the portage road commences, below the cataract is, according to Pike, fiftyeight feet. If this estimate be correct the whole fall from the head to the foot of the rapids, is not probably much less than one hundred feet. But as I had no instrument sutBciently accurate to level, where the view must necessarily be pretty extensive, I took no pains to ascertain the extent of the fall. The mode I adopted to ascertain the height of a cataract, was to suspend a line and plummet from tlie table rock on the south side of the river, which at the same time had very little water passing over it as tlie river was unusually low. The rocky formations at this place were arranged in the following order, from the surface downward. A coarse kind of limestone in thin strata containing considerable silex; a kind of soft friable stone of a greenish color and slaty fracture, probably containing lime, aluminum and silex ; a very beautiful satratificatton of shell limestone, in thin plates, extremely regular in its formation and containing a vast number of shells, all apparently of the same kind. This formation constitutes the Table Rock of the cataract. The next in order is a white or yellowish sandstone, so easily crumbled that it deserves the name of a sandbank rather than that of a rock. It is of various depths, from ten to fifty or seventy-five feet, and is of the sa^ie character with that found at the caves before described. The next in order is a soft friable sandstone, of a greenish color, similar to that resting upon the shell limestone. These stratifications occupied the whole space from the lovv' water mark nearly to the top of the blulfs. On the east, or rather north side of the river, at the Falls, are high grounds, at the distance of half a mile from the ri\'er, considerably more elevated than the bluffs, and of a hilly aspect.

Speaking of the bluff at the confluence Ox Jie Mississippi and Minnesota, he writes: "A military work of considerable magnitude might be constructed on the pomt, and might be rendered suflSciently secure by occupying the commanding height in the rear in a siutable manner, as the latter would control not only the point, but all the neighboring heights, to the fuU extent of a tw'elve pounder's range. The work on the point would be necessary to control the navigation of the two rivers. But without the commandmg work in the rear, would be liable to be greatly annoyed from a height situated directly opposite on the other side of the Mississippi, which is here no more than about two hundred and fifty yards wide. This latter height, however, would not be eligible for a permanent past, on account of the niunerous ridges and ravines situated immediately in its rear."