Winona County, Minnesota - Aboriginal History, 1883

Aboriginal History

A HISTORY of the first settlement of Winona county, and especially that of the city of Winona, requires that some notice be given to the Indian tribes that have occupied the territory in which it lies, and of that adjacent, and also that some notice be given to the early efforts of missionaries and explorers to christianize and render the savages obedient to the wants of commerce and of French or English ascendanc3^ The fur trade was the most important element in the early explorations and settlement of the Northwest, as commerce generally has been in the civilization of the world.

The limited space allowed for this subject admits of but slight mention of the authorities drawn upon, but it is imperative that the aid afforded by the researches of the Smithsonian Institute, of Eev. Edward Duffield Neil, and of Judge George Gale, be acknowledged.

Absolutely nothing is known of the origin of the Indians ; neither the mound-builders, nor the more modern tribes ; and the naturalist is led to ponder over the suggestion ascribed to Voltaire, "that possibly, in America, while God was creating different species of flies, he created various species of men."

Be that as it may, their differentiations in languages and customs, forming different tribes from more original stocks, or sources, have been noticed by writers upon ethnology ; but aside from the knowledge aflbrded by their various languages and traditions all is doubt and mystery. Their traditions, even, are so blended with superstitions and romances that the most critical judgment is required in giving credit to any portion of them ; the more especially to times and distances that extend beyond the Indian's present capacity to realize. The territory between the lakes and the Missis- sippi river seems to have been peculiurly fitted by its topograpliy and natural productions for a grand nursery of savage tribes ; and there are evidences still remaining in the languages and traditions of the aboriginal inhabitants of this territory, and in the remains of ancient tumuli, stone and copper implements, to warrant this belief. It is probable, as claimed by tradition, that some tribe of Algonquin origin was in possession of this vast territory, and were - dispossessed by confederated Sioux, whom tradition says came from the New Mexican frontier. The Chippewa names for different localities, now corrupted, but familiar to us, warrants this belief, if it does not establish the fact. The Sauks and Min-o-min-ees, both of Chip])ewa origin, say they were the original owners of the whole territory, but they shed no light upon the origin of the moundbuilders. Those people may have been drawn to this territory from the far south in search of copper, which to them, probably, was as the gold of California to modern adventurers, and been expelled again by wars, or have voluntarily abandoned their industrious mode of life to become engrafted into the new nations that were springing up around them. Such industrious people would naturally become the prey of more warlike tribes, and the more especially so because of their cranial development, indicating a lack of aggressive character. In support of the claim to have been the oldest of modern tribes to occupy the territory, the Chippewa race mention the names given by tlieii* ancestors to prominent localities. For exami)le, Michigan, a word of Chippewa origin, is derived from Miche-gah-ge-gan, meaning the lake country, or "skye bound waters."" Wisconsin is from Gy-osh-kon-sing, the name of its principal river, and means the place of little gulls. Chicago is from Gah-che-gahgong, a place of skunks. Milwaukee is from Mim-wa-ke, meaning hazel-brush land, equivalent to good land, as upon good land only will this shrub grow. The astringent bark was used as a medicinal remedy, and hence the shrub was known as the good shrub by the Indians.

Galena was known as Ush-ke-co-man-o-day, the lead town ; Prairie-du-Chien as Ke-go-shook-ah-note, meaning where the fish rest, as in winter they are still known to do. St. Anthony's Falls was calhnl Ke-che-ka-be-gong, a great waterfall ; the Mississippi as Mielie-see bee, or Miche-gah-see bee, meaning the great or endless river, or, more literally, the river that runs everywhere ; and Lake Superior was known as Ke-che-gun-me., or "the great deep." Only a few Chippewa names have been given, and those simply to show the famiharity of the Chippewas with characteristics of the various localities named by them and now so familiar to us. It may be added that St. Paul, or its site, was known as Ish-ke-bug-ge, or new leaf, because of the early budding out of the foliage below St. Anthony's. It has been a custom of Indian tiibes, as with other primitive peoples, to name persons and tribes from peculiarities, from resemblances and from localities.

This rule has been followed in naming the separate tribes of the great Algonquin, Iroquois and Dah-ko-tah nations, as well as of those of the Pawnee, Shosh-o-me, Kewis, Yu-mah and Apachee or Atha-pas-can nations. For many years the records of the early Spanish and French explorers were hidden from the researches of modern investigators, but those of Marco-de Nica and of Coronado, have come out at last from their mouldy recesses, and documents that had lain in the archives of France for long years have been copied and published to aid the modern historian. In these records of the early explorers, errors in writing and on maps have been made ; but they are of considerable value to modern research, because of the light they shed upon the explorations of their authors, and upon some Indian traditions concerning them.

The Chippewa name for Lake Winnepec is Win-ne-ba-go-shishing, the meaning of which is a place of dirty water. The name Win-ne-ba-go was interpreted to mean '' stinking water, " and the Indians of the tribe were called by the early French explorers the "Stinkards," under the impression that they had come from a place of stinking water. Lake Winnebago, in Wisconsin, was supposed to be that locality, but it may be observed here that the water of that lake is not, or was not, before the advent of the white people, impure.

Another reason given for the name was, that they had come from the Western sea or ocean, imagined by .the first French explorers to exist in the region of the Mississippi river ; and as the Algonquin name Winnebagoec, for salt and stinking water, was the same, except in accent, their name was supposed by some to designate a people from the Western ocean. The traditions and legends still existing among the Winnebagoes render it probable that they once inhabited the territory adjacent to lake Win-ne-ba-go-shish-ing (modernly called Winnepec), and probably long anterior to the occupancy by the Sioux of the Mille-Lac country, as while acknowl- edging tlioir relationship to the Dah-ko-tah nation, they claim a more ancient lineage. Lieut. Pike refers to the statement of an old Chipj»ewa that the Sioux once occupied Leach Lake; and Winnebago shishing, <)r the ',' Dirty Water lake, " is but twenty-five miles distant from Leach Lake.

The Winnebagoes call themselves Ho-chunk-o-rah, meaning "the deep voiced people." The Dah-ko-tahs call them Ho-tau-kah, full or large voiced people, because of their sonorous voices being cons]>i('uously prominent in their dance and war songs. Many words in Winnebago and Sioux are very similar. Wah-tah is the Sioux word for canoe; watch-er-ah, the Winnebago. Shoon-kah is the Sioux word for dog; shoon-ker-ah, is the AVinnebago name. No-pah is nine in Sioux ; Nope is the same numeral in Winnebago.

Numerous other examples might be given of resemblances in their respective languages, but these will suffice. The Chip})ewa language is wondeifully artistic in construction and rich in suggestions; hence we find many of their words accepted by other tribes as classic. Manito-ba, God^s land, suggests the idea of a God-given country or Indian paradise. Superior in intellectual capacity to most other tribes, their names seem to have been accepted by others as something better than their own. It is believed by the writer that in this way, probably, the Chippewa name, W^innebago. was given and accepted by the Ho-chunck-o-rah.

The Northeastern Sioux claimed to have owned the Mille Lac country from time immemorial. It seems quite probable that before the " hmg war," and during some long era of peace, the Winnebagoes may have inhabited the shores of Lake Winnepec, perhaps while the Sioux were at Leech lake. The Kneesteneau, or (Jhippewas, would have been their neighbors, and from them the Winnebago may have acquired some of the tastes and habits that have so marked his character.

As is still customary with bordering tribes, intermarriages were no doubt of frequent occurrence, and in this way, it is conceivable, that the Dah-ko-tah progenitors of the Winnebagoes may have established themselves among some Chippewa tribes, and their offspring have been led to accept flag-mat wigwams, deer, fish and water-fowl in lieu of skin tents and buffalo meat. The Sioux language even differs in each band. Prol)ably, soon after the Spanish conquest of Mexico, many of the red rovers of the ])lains, as their traditions tell, left for more northern climes. The inviting prairies of Minnesota, with their countless herds of buffalo and elk, would for a time, at least, content the warlike Sioux, who, provided with* some of the "big dogs" (horses) of the Spaniards, could roam at will over these boujidless, beautiful plains. It seems also likely that reports of the more than savage cruelty of the Spaniard had gone out, with accounts of the destructive nature of his "deadly thunder"; and if so, a common dread would have kept a superstitious people at peace.

Friendly alliances would most naturally have sprung up among border tribes, and in but a few generations old tribes would have been multiplied into new ones, as appears to have been done during some long era of peace. It is true tliat the problem may be as readily solved by supposing a state of civil war to have existed, but in that case there still must have been lohg eras of peace, or the race would have become extinct. Be that as it may, the forests of Minnesota and Wisconsin limited the range of the buffalo in these states, and in doing this determined the character of the native inhabitants.

The Sioux soon asserted his savage sway over the whole prairie region west of the Mississippi river, and drove into the forests of Wisconsin his less formidable neighbors. In after years, by combined attacks with firearms, lie was driven back by those he had dispossessed of their patrimony, and was c(mtent to plant himself upon the western shore of his watery barrier ; keeping as neuti-al ground, for a time, a strip of territory along the east side of the Mississippi.

This region remained neutral but for a short time only, for w^ Hnd by the accounts of the earliest Fj-ench explorers that the Dakotah and Algonquin nations were in an almost constant state of warfare when first visited by them, and during the whole time of the French occupation of the territory.

The water-courses afforded ready access to the greater part of the region between the lakes and " Great river," and the dense forests concealed the approach of the wily foes. While the " battleground " presented opportunities for a surprise, it was no less serviceable for those who waited in ambush. Many a war party of both nations have been cut off by a successful ambush, and their people left to mourn and plot new schemes of vengeance.

Thf Winnebagoos, according to their traditions, suffered from tlie incursions of both nations ; and at the time of the first visit of the French at Green Bay thej were found there and on Fox river, living in amity with the rice-eaters, or Min-o-min-nee, and other tribes of Algonquin origin, though known to be closely related to the almost universal enemy, the Sioux. During the summer months the Indians on Fox river appeared sedentary in their habits, living in bark houses and cultivating Indian corn and other products of Indian agriculture, or gathering the wild potatoes and wild rice that served them for their winter stores of vegetable food. During seasons of scarcity from frosts, or fi-om disaster, edible nuts and acorns were secured against times of want ; and if famine came upon them in their extremity, they supported life by feeding upon trie inner bark of the slippery elm, linden and white pine. Those were happy times for the peaceful tribes, and of sorrow for those in enmity with one another.

The Minominnees, Pottawattamies and the Foxes occupied the water-courses tributary to Green Bay, while the Winnebagoes and the kindred tribes of lowas, Missouris, Osages, Kansas, Quajjaws, Ottoes, Ponkas and Mandans, possessed the country south and west, bordering upon the territory of the Sauks, the Illanois and the Sioux. This territory seems to have been visited by the French as early as 1634, and in 1660 Father Rene Menard went on a mission to Lake Superior, where the furs of that region and of Green Bay had ah'eady begun to attract adventurous Frenchmen.

Poor zealous Menard, the first missionary, never returned to civilization ; he was lost in the wilds of a Black river forest, separated in a swamp from his faithful follower and assistant Guerin, and all that was ever known of his fate was inferred from the agony of his com])anion and the priestly robe and prayer-book of the aged prelate found years aftei-ward in a Da-ko-tah lodge.

Aborigestal History

Lake Superior, where he established himself for a time at a place called by the French La Pointe, because of its jutting out into tlie beautiful bay of Bayfield. Here at once was erected the mission of the Holy Spirit, and the good offices of the priest tendered to the untutored and savage tribes of that vast wilderness. The peaceful mission of Allouez was soon known among the warring tribes, and Sauks and Foxes, Illani and other distant tribes, sent messengers of peace or curiosity to the "Black Gown," and he was admitted to their counsels. In turn, "their tales of the noble river on which they dwelt," and which flowed to the south, "interested Allouez, and he became desirous of exploring the territory of his proselytes." Then, too, at the very extremity of the lake, the missionary met the wild and impassioned Sioux, who dwelt to the west of Lake Superior, in a land of prairie, with wild rice for food, and skins of beasts instead of bark for roofs to their cabins, on the bank of the Great river, of which Allouez reported the name to be Mississippi. To Father Allouez belongs the honor of liaving first given this name to the world. In speaking of the Da-ko-tahs, he says : "These people are, above all others, savage and warlike. * * * They speak a language entirely unknown to us, and the savages about here do not understand them."

In 1669 the zealous Marquette succeeded to the mission established by Allouez, and his writings give a somewhat florid account of Sioux character. He says: "The Nadawessi (the Chippewa name of the Sioux), are the Iroquois of this country beyond La Pointe, but less faithless, and never attack until attacked. Their language is entirely difierent from the Huron and Algonquin ; they have many villages, but are widely scattered ; they have very extraordinary customs. * * * AH the lake tribes make war upon them, but with small success. They have false oats (wild rice), use little canoes, and keep their word strictly.

At that time the Dah-ko-tahs used knives, spears and arrowheads made of stone. About that time, one band of Dah-ko-tahs were allied to a baud of Chippewas by intermarriage and commercial relations, and for a time were living in fi-iendly relations with a band of Huron s, who had fled from the Iroquois of New York. Lfostilities breaking out between these people and the Sioux, they joined the people of their tribe at La Pointe.

to Neil's History of Minnesota, Perrot inspired the enterprise of La Salle, who sent Louis Hennepin to explore the Mississip})i. Hennepin was first to explore the river above the mcnith of the Wisconsin, the first to name and describe the falls of St. Anthony, the first to present an engravinc; of the Falls of Niagara, and it may be added, the first to translate the Winnebago name of Trempealeau Mountain into French. The Winnebagoes call that peculiar mountain Haj-me-ah-chaw, which is well rendered in French as the Soaking Mountain, as it stands isolated from its fellow peaks entirely surrounded by water.

Afler reaching the Illinois river, La Salle, in 1680, sent Hennepin on his voyage of discovery, with but two voyageur assistants. After reaching the mouth of the Illinois river he commenced the hazardous ascent of the " Grreat river," traversed before only by -Joliette and Marciuette, when they descended from the Wisconsin. Hennepin encountered war-parties of Dah-ko-tahs, and was taken a prisoner by them up the Mississippi to St. Paul, to St. Anthony's Falls, and to Mille Lac. While in the land of the Sioux he met Du Luth, who had come across from Lake Superior.

Du Luth obtained the release of Hennepin, and gave him much information of value. Du Luth seems to have been the real discoverer of Minnesota.

Owing to the war inaugurated against the English by Denon- %alle, in 1687, most of the French left the Mississippi, and concentrated for defense under Du Luth at Green Bay.

In 16.88 Perrot returned to his trading-post below Lake Pepin, and the year following, by proclamation, claimed the country for France. In the year 1695 Le Seur built the second post established in Minnesota, on an island not far from Red Wing.

During this 3x\ar Le Seur took with him to Canada the first Dah-ko-tah known to have visited that country. The Indian's name was Tee-os-kah-tay. He unfortunately sickened and died in Montreal.

Le Seur hoped to open the mines known to be on the Mississippi, and went to France for a license. The license to work them was obtained, but Le Seur was captured by the English and taken to England, but was finally i-eleased. After overcoming great and renewed opposition, and making one more trip to France, he, in 1700, commenced his search for copper, which was said to be abundant on the upj^r Mississippi.

Some time in August of this year he entered Fever or Galena river, whose banks were known to the Indians to contain lead, but Le Seur was the first to mention the existence of those lead mines. After many incidents of interest, Le Seur reached the Blue Earth river, and established himself in a fort about one mile below the mineral deposits, from which the Dah-ko-tahs obtained their paint for personal adornment. In 1701 Le Seur took to the French post, on the Gulf of Mexico a large quantity of this mineral, and soon thereafter sailed for France.

At this time, according to Le Seur's journal, there were seven villages of the Sioux on the east side of the Mississippi, and nine on the west.

The Wah-pa-sha band was anciently known as the Ona-i)e-ton or falling leaf band, and their village of Ke-ox-ah was upon the prairie now occupied by the city of Winona. Keoxa is difficult of translation, but it may be rendered as "The Homestead," because in the springtime there was here a family reunion to honor the dead and invoke their blessings upon the band.

The site of Winona was known to the French as La Prairie Aux- Ailes (pronounced O'Zell) or the Wing's prairie, presumably because of its having been occupied by members of Red Wing's band. The Americans called it Wah-pa-sha's prairie.

Under the impression that it drew from Canada its most enterprising colonists, the French government for some years discouraged French settlements among the Indians west of Mackanaw ; but very soon the policy of the English in estranging the Foxes and other tribes from the French, compelled a renewal of the licenses that had been canceled by the French authorities.

4l^he Foxes had made an unsuccessful attempt upon the French fort at Detroit (known as Wah-way-oo-tay-nong, or the Wy-an-dotte fort), and smarting under defeat they made an alliance with their old enemies the Dah-ko-tahs. This alliance and the enmity of the Foxes made it unsafe for the French to visit the Mississippi by way of Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and for some , years the Sauks and Foxes scalped the French traders,, and waged war against their Indian allies. The Foxes were finally overcome by the French in 1714, and, capitulating, they gave six hostages as security for a peaceful treaty to be agreed upon in Montreal. Pemoussa, their greatest warrior, and others sent as hostages, died there of smallpox. One who had recovered with the loss of an eye was sent to

The Chick-a-saws in the south and Dah-ko-tahs in the north made the country exceedingly dangerous to the French. They now became assured that the English were undermining their influence with the Indians, for in a dispatch written about 1726 it is stated that the English "entertain constantly the idea of becoming 7nasters of North America.''' Licenses to traders were once more abundantly issued, and the prohibition against the sale of liquors that had been 'established by the influence of the pious missionaries was removed. In 1718 Capt. St. Pierre was sent with a small force to reoccujiy La Pointe, now Bayfleld. The Indians there and at Kee-wee-naw had threatened war against the Foxes. During this year peace was established at Green Bay with the Sauks and Foxes and Winnebagoes, who had taken part against the French. An endeavor was now made to detach the Dah-ko-tahs from friendly alliances with the Foxes, and to secure a treaty of peace between the Chippewas and Dah-ko-tahs, with a promise of renewed trade with them if they remained at peace. To accomplish this purpose, two Frenchmen were sent to the Dah-ko-tahs, but it would appear were not entirely successful, and wintered among the Menominee and Winnebago Indians on Black river. In order to obtain a strategic point it was resolved by the French to build a fort in the Sioux country. On June 16, 1727, the expedition left Montreal, accompanied by missionaries and traders, and on September 17 of the same year reached their destination on Lake Pepin. A stockade was soon built on the north side near Maiden Rock that inclosed buildings for troops, missionaries and traders. The fort was named "Beauharnois," in honor of the governor of Canada, and the mission named " St. Michae^phe Archangel. '' The commander of this fort was De la Perriere Boucher, noted for his savage brutality and bigotry. This fort was overflowed in 1728 and its site abandoned. According to Sioux tradition, tlie prairie on which Winona is now situated was also overflowed at that time. During this j'ear a large force of French and Indians left Canada with the intention of destroying the Sauks and Foxes. On August 17 they arrived at the mouth of Fox river. Before the dawn of day an attempt was inade to surprise the Sauk village, but they escaped, leaving only four of their people to reward the French for their midnight vigils. A few days later the French ascended the rapid stream to a Winnebago village, but it also was deserted; still pursuing their search, on the twenty-fifth they came to a large Fox village, but that too was abandoned. Orders were now given to advance the command to the grand portage of the Wisconsin river; but thig move was as fruitless as those which had preceded it, and the expedition returned to Green Bay without results. The Foxes retired to Iowa, and, establishing still closer relations with the lowas and Sioux, were allotted hunting-grounds to which have been attached some of their names. The Kick-ah-poos and Masco-tens were allies of the Foxes and their conge7iers^ the Sauks, and took part with them against the French.

In 1736 St. Pierre was in command at Lake Pepin and regarded the Sioux as friendly, but they still remained objects of suspicion to the French Canadian government, as some of them had attacked an expedition under Yeranderie, undertaken at that early period to open a route to the Pacific.

In 1741 the Foxes killed some Frenchmen in the territory of the Illinois, and this so aroused the authorities in Canada that they determined, if possible, to overthrow and completely subdue the Foxes. The officer selected for this purpose was the Sieur Moran or Marin, who had once been in command at Fort St. Nicholas near Prairie du Chien. With the cunning of a savage, Marin placed his men in canoes under cover, as if they were merchandise, and when ordered by the Foxes opposite or near the Butte des Morts to land and pay the usual tribute exacted from all traders passing their village, lie opened fire upon the assembled multitude and killed indiscriminately men, women and children. Marin had anticipated the Foxes' consternation and flight, and before reaching the village had sent a detachment of his force to cut them off. There was great slaughter and but a remnant of the village escaped. These people were again surprised by Marin and his forces on snowshoes in their winter encampment on the Wisconsin, and were utterly destroyed.

The Dah-ko-tahs had during this period been at war with the Chippewas, but in 1746 were induced by the French to make peace. Many of the French voyageurs, and in some few instances French officers even, had taken wives, after the Indian method of marriage, from among the Dah-ko-tahs and other tribes, and by this means their influence was still great among their Indian followers. Yet, English influence had commenced its work, and soon after this period French power seems to have begun to wane. The French, however, still continued to make a struggle for existence, if not supremacy.

The t'hippewas of Lake Superior showed a dis))osition to aid the Englisli, and committed a robbery at the Sault St. Marie ; " even the commanchmt at Mackanaw was exposed to insolence." St. Pierre was sent to the scene of disorder. His judgment and courage was undoubted. St. Pierre seized three murderers and advised that no French traders should come among the Chippewas. While the Indians, secured by the boldness of St. Pierre, were on their way to Quebec under a guard of eight French soldiers, by great cunning and daring they managed to kill or drown their guard, and though manacled at the time, they escaped, severing their irons with an axe-. "Thus was lost in a great measure the fruit of Sieur St. Pierre's good management, "as wrote Galassoniere in 1741>.

Affairs continued in a disturbed state, and Canada finally became involved in the war with New York and the New England colonies. In the West, affairs were for some time in doubt, but the influence of the Sieur Marin became most powerful, and in 1753 he was able to restore tranquillity between the French, and Indian chiefs assembled at Green Bay.

Chaptek Iii Among The Indians

As the war between the colonies became more desperate, the French officers of experience and distinction were called from the AVest to aid the Eastern struggle. Legardeur de St. Pierre in 1755 fell in the battle upon Lake Champlain, and Marin, Langlade, and others from the West, distinguished themselves as heroes. After the fall of Quebec the Indians of the Northwest readily transferred their allegiance to the British. In 1761 the English took possession of Green Bay, and trade was once more opened with the Indians. A French trader named Penneshaw was sent b^^ the English into the country fo the Dah-ko-tahs, and in March, 1763, twelve Dahkotah warriors arrived at Green Bay, and offered the English the friendship of their nation. They told the English commandant that if any Indians obstructed the passage of traders to their country, to send them a belt of Wampum as a sign, and "they would come and cut them off, as all Indians were their slaves or dogs." After this talk they produced a letter from Penneshaw, explaining the object of their visit.

In June Penneshaw himself arrived with most welcome news from the land of the Dah-ko-tahs, bringing with him for the commander ot the post a pipe of peace, and a request that English traders be sent to trade with the Sioux ot the Mississippi.

A tradition still exists among the Sioux that the elder Wah-pasha, or, as we might say, Wah-pa-sha the First, was one of the twelve Da-ko-tahs who visited Green Bay. Notwithstanding the English had conquered all the vast territory between the lakes and the Mississippi, and had the proffered friendship of the Sioux to strengthen their influence with all the other Indian tribes, the lines of trade between the territory of Louisiana and the newly acquired territory of the English were not closely drawn, and French influence was sufficiently potent to send most of the furs and peltries to their post at New Orleans. The cause of Indian preference for the French may be found in the latter's gaiety of character, and their ability to conform to the circumstances that may surround them. The Canadian voyageurs and. woodmen displayed a fondness for high colored sashes and moccasins that was pleasing to the barbaric tastes of the Indian women, and many of them, joining their fortunes and their honors with those of the French, raised children that were taught to reverence and obey them.

In addition to the influences extended by these ties of blood, the kindness and devotion to their religious faith exhibited by the (Jatholic missionaries won upon the imaginations of the Indians, and many were won over to a profession of their faith. The tribes which came under their influences looked upon the priests as veritable messengers from God, and called them the "good spirits," believing that they were the mediums only of '* good spirits."

The English, in contrast with French management, had a bluft' and arbitrary way of dealing, that, however successful it may have been with eastern tribes, was for a time very distasteful to the Sioux. However, the English learned something in due time by contact with these Indians, and from French politeness ; but some years were required before their success with the Sioux was established.

For some years the trade seems to have been abandoned west of Mackanaw, to the French. In the year 1766 Jonathan Carver, a native of Connecticut, visited the upper Mississippi, and his reports

Carver was a man of keen observation and discernment, and some of his predictions regarding the "new northwest," tliough scoffed at by some at that time, proved almost prophetic. Carver died in England in 1780. Alter his death, a claim was set up to a large tract of land said to have been given him by the Sioux, and since known as the ' ' Carver tract. "

Carver found the Sioux and Chippewas at war when he arrived among them, and was told that "war had existed among them for forty years." Chippewa and Sioux tradition both make the time much longer. It was supposed by the English that the policy of the French traders fostered war between the Sioux and Chi])pe\va nations. Wliether this be true or not, it is certain that French influence continued paraniount in the country for some years, but as the French that remained after the ti-ansfer of the country to the English were inferior in intelligence to those in authority while the French held possession, we are principally dependant upon Indian and mixed blood tradition for what occurred in this vast territory until after the revolution. ,

Tradition tells us that an Englishman, located near the mouth of the Min-ne-so-ta river, was killed while smoking his pipe, by an Indian named Ix-ka-ta-])e. He was of the M'de-wa-kan-ton-wan band of Dah-ko-tahs.

As a result of this unprovoked murder, no other trader would visit this band, which had already been divided by dissensions, and been driven by the Chippewas from territory formerly occupied east of the Mississi})pi.

In earlier times this decision of the traders would have been disregarded, but then it was of vital importance to their well-being if not their existence ; for they had learned to depend ujion guns instead of bows and arrows, and therefore suffered for want of ammunition and other supplies, and were at the mei-cy of their wellarmed enemies. After a grand council it was determined to give up the murderer to English Justice.

Accordingly a large party of Sioux, with their wives and the murderer, started for Quebec. In order to avoid their enemies the Chippewas, they took the usual canoe route by the Wiscoi)sin and

Among The Indians

Fox rivers to Green Bay. While on this journey, the ridicule of other tribes and their own dissensions caused a desertion of over half of their number, and upon their arrival at Green Bay, but six, of whom some were women, persevered in their intention to go on. When about to start, the murderer also disappeared ingloriously. The leader of the little band of six, then called Wa-pa "The Leaf," told his followers that he himself would go as an offering to the British commander, and if required, would give up his life that his people might not be destroyed. On arriving at Quebec, his motive and heroism were both appreciated by the English governor, and the chief was sent back to his prairie home, loaded with abundant supplies of the coveted ammunition and Indian trinkets ; and as evidence of his gratitude demanded a British flag to wave over his territory. A gaudy uniform, which included a red cap, common enough in early days, was- also given "The Leaf," or as Grignon calls him, the "Fallen Leaf," and as he represented the Da^-ko-tas as a nation of seven principal bands, he was given seven medals for tlie respective bands, the one for himself being hung by a tassel cord upon his neck by the English commander at Quebec in person. This noble band of Spartan Sioux wintered in Canada and had sraall-pox, though in a mild form, and when the navigation of the great lakes was fully opened in the spring they safely returned to their tribe.

Before reaching their village, which ha^ been again divided during their absence, they dressed themselves in their finest apparel, and marching in Indian file at the head of his devoted companions, the chief entered his village with red cap and flag conspicuously displayed.

Wapasha's successful return and denunciation of the cowardly desertion by his comrades,* created another division, which was made permanent by his leaving "Red Wing's " band and removing to the present site of Minnesota City, known to the Wah-pa-sha band as 0-ton-we, "the -village,'' probably because of its having been a very ancient dwelling and burial place of Indians.

There, at Gilmore and Burn's valleys, they had th^r cornfields and summer residences. The band also had a village near Trempealeau mountain and at Root river. At times, when not occupied with field work, they assembled upon the site of Winona (known as

Keoxa) and La (^rosse, lield their sun and otlier religious dances, })layed their games of " La Crosse," or we]>t over the remains of their dead. Nostrils and sight both reminded them of this sacred duty, as the dead of tlieir l)and were phiced upon scaffohls, and left to fester and bleach in the open air until whitened by time. The bones and burial garments were buried in some secluded spot, or placed under stones in some ancient ossuary. This custom was soon abandoned, and in later years their dead were at once buried. Wa-pa-sha was very proud of ^lis success with the English, and during one of his visits to Mackanaw, stipulated that when visiting English forts, the British commanders should salute him and his staff with solid shot, alined a little high.

For much of the foregoing tradition, and very much more of like character, the writer is indebted to Thomas Le Blanc, born in 1824, son of Louis Provosal, or Louis Provencalle, an old French trader, whose post was at or near the site of Pennesha's, on tlie Minnesota river, at Traverse des Sioux, and where, for a time, in ancient days, some of Wa-pa-sha's people were encamped. Thomas was related to Wah-pa-sha, to the Grignons and to Faribault, and was well versed in Indian and French traditions. lie spoke French, English and Dah-ko-tah about equally well, and during the four months employed by the writer he was found singularly intelligent and truthful.

The first Wah-pah-sha was grandfather to the one removed from his Winona village by treaty in 1851-3. His memory is still held in great reverence by his descendants and the whole Sioux nation. His deeds of prowess and of benevolence are still preserved in traditions and songs that are sung by medicine-men or priests to the young of the ti'ibe ; and even the Winnebago members of the Wah-pa-sha family have learned to sing them.

Wah-pa-sha ! Wali-pa-slia ! jiood and great brave, You rode into battle, made enemies slaves; Your war-chief was strong in sjnrit and frame, An4 many the s('ali)S he hung on his chain.

Your " lied Caj)" was kudwn in the East and the West ; You honored the English, and hoi)ed to be blessed ; You clothed your red children in scarlet and blue; You ever were kind, devoted and true.

The skins of your Te-pee were brought from the plains ; Your moccasins dressed with C^hippewa brains,* Your war-whoop saluted bj' British real shot,t Gave peacefullest token they harmed you not.

Then rest thee, brave chieftain, our night has come on, The light has departed from all thou hadst won ; Thy people lie scattered on hillside and plain ; Thy corn-lields, thy prairie, we cannot regain.

Notwithstanding the esteem in which his memory is now held, during his lifetime Wah-pa-sha became the subject of dissensions in his tribe, and leaving the cares of chieftainship principally to his son, he roamed at will with a small band of devoted followers of his own tribe, and a few Win-ne-bagoes, one of whom had married his sister Winona, and whose daughter Winona, called the sister of the last Wah-pa-sha (though but a cousin), played so important a part in the removal of the Winnebagoes in 1848. Old Wah-pasha finally died at a favorite winter encampment on Root river, and was taken to Prairie du Chien for burial. When news reached the' Mississippi, in 1780, that Col. George R. Clark, of Virginia, was in possession of Illinois, and was likely to take possession of Prairie du Chien, a lieutenant of militia, twenty Canadians and thirty-six Fox and Dah-ko-tah Indians were sent with nine bark canoes to secure the furs collected at that post. Wah-pa-sha was in command of the Indians.

The canoes were filled with the best furs, and sent by Capt. Langlade, who had chai'ge of them, out of danger from capture, and a few days afterward the Americans arrived with the intention of attacking the post. During this year, also, a squaw discovered a lead mine near the present site of Dubuque. During 1783-4 the Northwestern Companj^ was organized, but some of the members becoming dissatisfied, an opposition company was formed by Alexander McKenzie and others. After a sharp rivalry for some time the two companies were consolidated.

In 1798 there was a reorganization of the company, new partners admitted, and the shares increased. The new management was thoroughly systematized, and their operations made very profitable.

*The brains of animnls are used in dressing deer skins. t A stipulation at Mackinaw, required a salute to Wah-pa-sha of solid shot when he visited that fort.

In about the year 1785 Julien Dubuque, who had settled at "La Prairie du Chien," and had heard of the discovery by a Fox squaw of a lead vein on the west side of the Mississippi, obtained permission at a council to work those mines, and he established himself upon the site of the city that bears his name.

Dubuque was the confrere of De Marin, Provosal, Poquette and others who have prominently figured in the fur trade of that period. The princi})al traders, however, were Dickson, Frazer, Renville and Grignon. James Porlier, an educated French Canadian, was acting as clerk for Grignon, on the St. Croix, at this time, together with the pompous and eccentric Judge Reaume, afterward so noted at Green Bay.

Porlier, while with Dickson at Sauk Rapids, gave Pike useful information during his visit to the upper Mississippi in 1805, and afterward, moving to Green Bay, acted as chief-justice of Brown county for sixteen years. The treaty of 1783 failed to restore good feeling between England and the United States, as the British posts were not at once surrendered, and this fact served to keep the Indians hostile.

The English pretended not to have authority to give up posts on Indian territory. This excuse was set up in the interest of the English fur traders, but it was finally agreed by the treaty efiected by Mr. Jay that Great Britain should withdraw her troops by June 1, 1796, from all posts within the boundaries assigned by the treaty, and that British settlers and traders might remain for one year with all their former })rivileges, without becoming citizens of the United States. The Northwest Company seized upon this opportunity to establish posts all over Minnesota. They paid no duties, raised the British flag in many instances over their posts, and gave chiefs medals with English ensignia upon them. By these means they impressed the savages with the idea that their power still remained 6U])reme, and this impression was a fruitful source of annoyance, and even danger, to Americans, for years afterward. In May, 1800, the Northwestern territory was divided.

In December, 1803, the province of Louisiana was officially delivered by the French to the United States government, and in March, 1804, Cai)t. Stoddard, U.S.A., as agent of the French governmetit, received troni the Spanish authorities in St. Louis actual possession of this important territory, transferring it very soon thereafter to the United States,

Among The Inthans

It was now deemed expedient that this valuable territory, so - recently purchased, should be fully explored, and the Indians be made to acknowledge the full sovereignty of the Federal government. Upper Louisiana, including a large part of Minnesota, was organized immediately after the transfer, and on January 11, 1805, Michigan territory was also organized. Gen. Wilkinson, placed in command at St. Louis, finding that the laws of his government were still unrecognized b}^ the English traders in the new territory, in 1805 sent Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike to expel the traders and bring some of the prominent Indian chiefs to St. Louis. Pike was courteously received and hospitably entertained by the wily Scotch and English traders of that period, but they secretly resolved to disregard and circumvent the policy of the United States government in its proposed management of the Indians.

Pike visited the different tribes along the Mississippi as far up as Sandy and Leech lakes, and made a treaty with the Dah-ko-tahs for sites for forts at the mouth of the St. Croix and Minnesota rivers.

Wintering in the country of the Chippewas, he was enabled to induce them and tjie Sioux to smoke the pipe of peace, and in the early springtime started with representatives of both nations for St. Louis to conclude articles of friendship and commerce intended for the benefit of these hostile races.

Upon the "Aile Rouge," or "Red Wing," hearing of a secret attempt to shoot Lieut. Pike by a 3'Oung Sioux, he spoke with vehemence against the character of some encamped at the month of the Minnesota river, and offered to bring the would-be assassin to Pike for punishment. Pike found at the Red Wing village an old chief known as Roman Nose, and who had been the second chief of his tribe, desirous of giving himself up for some instrumentality in the death of a trader. Tlie Indian name of the chief was not given, but it was said he had been deposed in consequence of the murder of tlie trader. Pike thought it impolitic to tell the penitent chief that the matter was beyond his jurisdiction.

On his way down the river Pike speaks of Winona prairie by' its French name of "Aile" or "Wing" prairie, and of Wah-pashas encampment below La Ci'osse, probably at mouth of Root river. He also gives Wah-pa-sha his French name of La Feuille, "The Leaf" La Crosse he calls De Cross, but when speaking of the game played at Prairie du Chien by Sioux, Fox and Winnebago contestancs, lie calls that "a great game of the cross," showing clearly that he did not know the French origin of the name. While at Prairie dii ('hien, Wah-pa-sha sent for Lieut. Pike, "and had a long and interesting conversation with him, in which he spoke of the general jealousy of his nation toward their chiefs," and wished the Corbeau," as the French called the "Roman Nose," reinstated in his rank as "the man of most sense in his nation." This conversation shows another noble trait in the character of Wahpa-sha.

Before leaving Prairie du Chien for St. Louis, Pike established regulations for the government of the Indian trade, but his disappearance from "La Prairie" was the signal for Cameron, Rolette, Dickson and their subordinates to disregard them. Cameron and Dickson were both bold Scotch traders, who seem to have disregarded all regulations and laws, except those of hospitality and humanity. Cameron died in 1811, and was buried on the Minnesota river. Dickson lived to take an active part in the war of 1812, and have few but his ill deeds spoken of in history.