Green County, Wisconsin - Chapter 3: Aborigines of Green County, 1884 (part 3 of 3)

Of the above named individuals, and several others belonging to these brave and generous allies, I brought away with me as correct a likeness as I ever saw drawn. Gratitude towards them was my motive for being at the expense of these beautiful paintings which have gone to London a year since. Like many other expenses I was necessarily put to, I have never received even one cent from the govex'nment towards them, nor have I received one cent, either for my expenses or my services at St. Louis, the lower rapids. Rock Island or Galena. I say this because it has been stated very differently, even on the floor of the House of Representatives. It is not true that all my expenses were paid by the United States; nor is it true that my services have been paid for by the government at all. In saying this, I do it in justice to myself as I would to do justice to any other injured individual, however humble in tlie Nation. I am even yet unpaid, but I never will condescend to beg for my pay at the doors of Congress. I did once expect very different treatment from my country.

Sequel To The Indian Treaties Of 1829

SEQUEL TO THE INDIAN TREATIES OF 1829. [By Caleb Atwater.] On the day we delivered the goods to the Winnebagoes, after the Indians were all seated on the ground in rows, the chiefs on the highest spot in the center, on benches, clothed in the most sumptuous manner; where they could see and be seen to the best advantage; every tribe by itself; the half-breeds in one place; the full whites in another. As I passed through the open spaces between the ranks, my attention was forcibly drawn to a particular spot by a constant snarling, hissing noise of some miserable human being, whom, on approaching her, I ascertained to be an Indian woman, shriveled, haggard and old, though remarkably neat in her person and dress. She appeared to be about sixty years of age, and scolded incessantly. Some of the goods placed before her, as her share of them, she complained of as being too fine; others as being too coarse; some cost too much, while others were quite too cheap, and none of them seemed to please her. Wishing, if possible, to please all of them, and especially the ladies; actuated by the best of motives, I endeavored by every argument in my power to satisfy her, that so far as I could do anything towards it, great care had been taken in the distribution to do justice to every individual. I told her that her great father, the President, had specially ordered me, so far as in me lay, to please all, and to see that no one went home dissatisfied. At that moment she returned upon me a volley of epithets too degrading to be repeated, even though applied to myself, as I fell conscious of not deserving them. Turning around to some females who were politely sitting on the ground behind me, I learned the fault finder icas an old maid (unmarried men at sixty years of age I will call bacheloi's, but ladi<js never), and that the only distinguishingmark of attention she had ever received from any man was a smart blow with a flat hand on her right ear.

As there is no law regulating taste, and sometimes no rational way of accounting for some of its freaks; and as some sights are the aversion of some persons, while the appearance of other objects is equally disagreeable to others; and as I never could endure the ideas conveyed to my mind by a rattlesnake, a heartless politician, an iceberg and a cold hearted woman, I turned away from her in disgust, and never saw her more nor inquired her name, for fear I should remember it. She was the only person who left the treaty ground dissatisfied with the commissioners. To please her it was utterly impossible.

Seated, as I said, upon rising ground, on benches, clad in blankets, either green or red; covered with handsome fur hats, with three beautiful ostrich plumes in each hat; dressed in ruflled calico shirts, leggins and moccasins, all jiew, and faces painted to suit the fancy of each individual, who held in his hand a new rifle, adorned too Avith silver broaches, silver clasps on every arm, and a large medal suspended on each breast; the chiefs, principal warriors and head men, to the number of fortytwo, sat during the two hours after all the goods had been delivered to the Nation.

Every individual of both sexes in the Nation had lying directly before the person on the ground the share of the goods belonging to the individual. Great pains had been taken to give each such, and just so many clothes as would be suitable for the owner to wear during the year to come. The clothes were cut so as to correspond exactly with the size of the owner. The pile of clothes for each pei'son was nearly two feet in thickness, the sight of which entirely overcame with joy our red friends, and they sat during two hours in the most profound silence, not taking off their eyes one moment from the goods, now their own. For the first time during my constant intercourse of several weeks with these interesting sons and daughters of the forest, as I passed repeatedly through their ranks, not an eye ajjpeared to see me, not an ear to hear my heavy tread, not a tongue, as always heretofore, repeated the endearing name of "Oconee Kairake" (the good chief), whic)i their kind partiality had given me on my first landing at Prairie du Chien. Their minds were entirely overcome with joy.

The day being far spent, and, as the loading of the canoes, in which they were about to depart, would necessarily occupy some little time, I informed the chiefs and principal men that the time had arrived when we should pait to meet no more; that the great gun at the fort would soon be fired to do them honor. With one accord they all arose, and shaking me heartily by the hand, many of them shedding tears on the occasion, they one and all invited me to visit them at their respective places of abode. In a shrill tone of voice Nawkaw issued his orders for every individual to arise, take up his or her goods, and repair to the beach of the river near at hand, and there await the signal from the fort for their embarkation.

In fifteen minutes they were all seated on the sands by the river's edge, where they all sat in breathless silence awaiting the signal, which was soon given. As soon as that was given each chief came forward, shook me again cordially by the hand, accompanied by the warmest protestations of friendship. In a few moments more they were off, covering a considerable surface with their canoes, each one of

The Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottaraattamies had received their goods in the same manner as the Winnebagoes; had been treated precisely in the same way, and three guns, one for each Nation, had given them signal to depart, and they had parted with me in the same kind and affectionate manner.

After the departure of the above named Indians, we had the Sauks and Foxes still with us, with whom we had orders to hold a council to ascertain from them "if they would sell their mineral lands, situated west of the Mississippi? - and if they would sell them, upon what terms?"

Gen. M'Neil, who was in command as a military officer in this section of country, addressed these tribes and was answered by Keokuk on the part of the Sauks, and by Morgan for the Foxes. I regret that the injunction of secrecy rests on these speeches in the United States Senate; otherwise I should take great pleasure in laying them before the reader. Keokuk, in particular, made one of the best speeches lever heard, and it was admired as such by several members of the Senate. Keokuk, on the part of these Indians, complained to us of certain white men who had settled on the Indian lands along the Mississippi in order to supply persons navigating the river with necessaries, such as poultry, milk, butter, eggs, and above all, cordwood for the steamboats. He complained that the United States had cultivated lands as a garden for the garrison at Prairie du Chien - had erected a mill without leave, on Indian land - and had not fulfilled former treaties with them.

Making them liberal presents, we naturally deferred the whole subject in discussion for the consideration of the government of the United States to act on it; and I take pleasure in saying the government has, since that time, done its duty to these sons of the forest.

After arranging all matters with them as well as we could, which occupied several days, they were dismissed in a very friendly manner, as all other Indians had been already; and they iran.ediately descended the river for their homes.

Though I neither am, nor ever pretended to be a military man, yet I venture a few remarks on some of the military establishments in the northwest.

The fort on Rock Island is commanded by hills on both sides of it, and could not stand an hour against an enemy with cannon posted on the heights.

Why this fort was placed here where it is, no man of sense can tell, if the Britijsh were to be the attacking enemy. If this work was intended to protect this frontier against Indians it is in so dilapidated a state that by crossing on the island above the fort, or gliding along in their canoes utider the western side of the island, which forms the outside of the fort, thelndiauf^ could in any dark )iight make themselves masters of the garrison in fifteen mijuites. Whenever they please they can collect at this point in ten days 4,000 warriors, to contend with 400 soldiers. There is no regular mail connecting this post with the United States, and war might be declared for three months, in some seasons of tlie year, without the garrison's knowing it.

There is a postoffice established here, and in summer the officers sometimes go to Galena for their papers and letters, 100 miles above them - and sometimes they go to Springfield, in the Sangamo countrj^, a distance of seventy miles perhaps, for their letters. The officers must go themselves, as the soldiers, if permitted to go, would desert the service. Cut off from all the world, that is, the civilized world, during six months of the year, the officers and soldiers lead a life as dull as need be. The officers who have families have established a school for their children, which is doing very well.

Ascending the Mississippi, 200 miles or more above Rock Island, we arrive at Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien. This post like that at Rock Island, stands near the Mississippi on its eastern shore, and is entirely and completely commanded by the hills on each side of the river. It enjoys, too, a situation so low that nearly every summer, during the dog days, its site is under water from six to ten feet in depth, from the overflowing of the river.

This work is in so dilapidated a state that I presume it is now abandoned for another site somewhat more elevated but nearer the high hill that will forever command it, just east of it. Major Garland pointed out to me the spot where he supposed a new fort would be erected.

There is a propriety in placing a military post somewhere, at or near the mouth of the Wisconsin, in order to form a line of posts situated on Green bay, where there is a fort - and in the interior, at the spot where Fort Winnebago is ; but what consideration could have induced the i,fovernraent to place a garrison at St. Peters, 500 miles and more beyond a single white settlement - unconnected, too, with any other post in the very heart of the Indian country, I am unable to determine. If this post was intended to strengthen this frontier, it certainly weakens it to the amount of the force stationed there added to an amount of force enough to succor and defend it. If the object was to station a garrison where an intercourse with the Indians, for the pifrposes of trade, was sought, Lake Pepin, far below it, is the place where it should have been located. As it is, it so happens often that the officers and others who pass and repass between Prairie du Chien and St. Peters are taken prisoners on the route by the Indians. Unless some one wished to get a good governmental job by getting this post established, then I cannot account for this strange location, and I am equally at a loss to account for the continuance of this worse than useless establishment where it is,

All the officers in the Indian country, who have been there ten years, ought instantly to be relieved by others. Lieut-Col. Z. Taylor has been in the Indian country constantly with his family, about twenty years. Hei'e he and bis lady, who were bred in the most polished and refined society, have been compelled to rear, as well as they could, a worthy and most interesting family of children. Col. Taylor commnnds Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien. . Dr. Beaumont and his amiable and accomplished lady ; Major Garland and his, belonging to this garrison, are doing the same. It is an interesting sight to see such persons, located as they are, in a fort, on the very verge of civilized life, educating a family of young children. The situation of delicate females, belonging to some of the best families in the Nation, reared in tenderness, amidst all the luxuries and refinements of polished society, now living in a fort, calls for our sympathy and admiration of their foi'titude, which enables them to bear with all the ills, and overcome all the difficulties attendant on their mode of living. When I was very unwell, from exposure, miserable water, and the worst of cookery, and worn down too by fatigue of body and mental suffering, I always found sympathy, food that I could eat, and smiles and kindness which touched my heart, in the families I have named, nor can I ever forget the females belonging to the families of Mr. Rolette and of Judge Lockwood, at Prairie du Chien. Without their kindness towards me, I must have perished. I do not deny my fondness for woman, because 1 know that in cases of distress and suffering, her sympathy and cheering voice infuses into man new life, new vigor, and new fortitude, and he marches onward with redoubled energy, to climb over every alps that is placed in his way. Living as these ladies do, amidst dangers, in an Indian country, they are familiarized with them, and their animating voice is worth an army of men. I never can forget them, nor their families while I lire. Would jbhe gDTGrnracnt heal* "ij fcpble roice, such afH« cers would not be compelled, with their families, to spend all their days, in an Indian country, while others who have known no suffering in the service, are attending levees and gallanting about the ladies at Washington City.

At each of the militarj- posts, the officers have established a library and a reading room at their own expense. Their books consist of useful works, connected with their pursuits. History, geography, mathematics, chemistry and scientific books, are in the library, and the officers and their families are-well read in them all. Though they may be uninformed as to the passing events, at the very moment they occur, yet at unequal periods, their regular files of all the best newspapers published in the United States, are received and read with care. The National Intelligencer^ National Gazette, all the literary periodicals, worth reading, are carefully perused.

The younger officers were all educated at West Point Academy, and whenever I met one of them, I always found a gentleman, and man of science, brave, active, vigorous, energetic, high minded, honorable, strictly honest and correct in all his deportment. He claimed all that belonged to him, and not one title more, of any one. These officers, belonging to the first families in the Nation, educated in the very best manner, are induced by their selfrespect, to conduct themselves in the very best manner on all occasions. They fear nothing but disgrace, originating in their own bad conduct, and they scrupulously avoid it ever)nvhere and at all times As officers, as gentlemen and as men, I feel proud of them as my countrymen.

I pray them to accept this testimony in their favor, as a small payment towards a large sum justly due to them for their good conduct in every part of the Union where I have had the pleasure of mooting with them. My only regret is, that this honest, heartfelt approbation of them is all I have it in my jAiwdr to bfestt^ upon persons so worthy. Those who are in actual service on the Indian frontier, deserve more pay than they receive, in a country where everything is so extravagantly dear. Congress ought to remember these worthy men, and make future provision for them, and to Congress I submit their case. While those who shine in every fashionable circle at Washington, under the eye of Congress, are well paid for their services, it is to be hoped that others, who undergo nothing but hardships, will not be forgotten, as I know they will not be by the Senate. Having completed all our business of a public nature, so far as we could at this place, about the middle of August, as near as I now remember we concluded to give our friends here a ball on the evening preceding our leaving them. It was attended by all the respectable part of the people in the garrison and in the village. It was a most interesting scene. Within the council house, where the civilized people were assembled, might be seen persons of both sexes, as polished and as refined in their manners, as well bred, and educated as well, too, as any person in the United States ; and at the same moment might be seen on the outside of the house, at the doors and windows, looking on and occasionally dancing by themselves, by way of experiment, or to show what they could do as dancers in the open air, as motley a group of creatures, (I can scarcely call them human beings) as the world ever beheld. They are a race peculiar to those parts of the upper Mississippi, where settlements were originally made by the French, soon after the conquest of Canada by the English, under Gen. Wolf. They are of a mixed breed, and probably more mixed than any other human beings in the world ; each one consisting of Negro, Indian, French, English, American, Scotch, Irish and Spanish blood ; and I should rather suspect some of them to be a little touched with the prairie wolf. They may fairly claim the vices and faults of each and all the above named Nations and animals, without even one redeeming virtue.

The officers and their families from Fort Crawford, and the best families in the Prairie, were all very happy, and we parted with them all in friendship, and retired to rest at about midnight.