Vernon County, Wisconsin - Chapter 26: Miscellaneous, 1884 (part 3 of 3)

Gen. Atkinson now thought that he had taken just retribution for the blood these Indians had spilt on our frontiers, and saw that it would be useless to cross the river in pursuit of those wretched beings, for they were now scattered and hid in the swamps, so that it was an impossible thing to take many of them. He finally came to the conclusion to drop down to Prairie du Chien and have a talk with the Winnebagoes, for it was now manifest that they had been allies to the Sacs and Foxes, for the prisoners that we took in this action put all doubts to rest on this score. We had a long time believed that they were acting treacherously and Gen. Atkinson now thought that it was time to bring them to an account for their conduct. He accordingly on the second day after the battle, which was the 4th of August, took up the line of march for Prairie du Chien, but before Gen. Atkinson left the battle ground he provisioned a number of Sioux and some Winnebagoes and sent them in search of Black Hawk to see if they could not capture him, and bring him in as a prisoner, which the Sioux appeared to be anxious to do as the Sacs and they had been at variance along time and they saw that there was no chance of taking revenge for the many injuries the Sacs had done them. Gen. Atkinson and the infantry went down on the steamboat Warrior and reached Prairie De Chien the same day we started. 'I'he mounted men, baggage and all went down by land and reached Prairie du Chien the next day, which was the olh of August. On entering the settlement of F'rairie du Chien we witnessed a very novel scene. The Monomonee Indians were rejoicing at the defeat of the Sacs and Foxes, and were expressing it by music and dancing. They had obtained several scalps, amongst which were some of the squaws, which they always gave to their squaws. They had given their squaws several of them and were making music for them to dance around tliem. It was, as near as I could observe, in the following way: The men all stood in a row with gourds in their hands, shaking them in a very regular order, while one old fellow was beating on the head a kind of drum, which is generally a deer skin stretched over a hollow gum, sawed to the length of our drums. They never use but one stick and that very slow. The squa\fs were all paraded in front of the men, facing them, and the squaws, who were related to those whom the Sacs and Foxes killed in 1831, held scalps of the Sacs and Foxes squaws, on long poles and stood in tLe center between the two lines, shaking them while the other squaws and the men danced around them, apparently trying to keep time with the rattling of the gourds and the sound of the drum and all at the same time singing the song usually sung by all Nations of Indians, consisting only of a few simple words that I have already repeated; but they rise and fall very singularly and always beat time to the song with their feet; when the song gets to the highest pitch they jump up very high and sometimes stamp with iheir feet. They generally bend forward toward each other, sometimes with their noses so close as to touch. The squaws appeared to exert all the power they were master of in shaking the scalps, and using their feet at the same time with the drummer and the gourd shaker, and from their countenances they appeared to be perfectly happy.

Gen. Atkinson, on the second day after we arrived at Prairie du Chien, had the principal chiefs of the Winnebagoes, and a few of the Menomonees, at Gen. Street's, the Indian agetit at Prairie du Chien, and had a talk with them. He told them that they had given him reason to think they were not true to him, as he had caught them in many lies, which they tried to deny. lie then accused Winneshiek of aiding the Sacs, and inquired of him where his two sons were. The answer of Winneshiek vvas, that he did not know where they were. Gen. Atkinson then asked him if they were pot with Black Hawk. His answer was that one had been with him, but he did not know where he was then. Gen. Atkinson then ordered him to be put in prison until his sons could be produced. He then had a talk with the Menomonees, who had never been at war with the United States. They professed all the friendship in the world for our government; and stated that they had never done us any harm, and did not tell lies, and that if they wanted to do any harm now that they would not know how. This was a little Menomonee chief, whose name I do not recollect. Gen. Atkinson talked very friendly to him and advised him to pursue the same friendly course towards the United States, and they would be well treated. When this chief was done, he made a request of Gen. Atkinson, whom he termed father, to give each of his young men a pair of shoes, and stated that their feet were worn out with walking. He then went on to explain that when he said shoes he meant horses, and stated that his young men had been promised a horse apiece, and had not got them. Gen. Atkinson promised that they should have them, or that he would see to it, I do not recollect which. On the next day, about 11 o'clock, Winneshiek's sons were brought in, both badly wounded, which went to confirm that he and his sons were allies to the Sacs and Foxes. They had been wounded in the battle on the Mississippi. They were put in confinement August Tth.

Gen. Scott and suite arrived this morning in the steamboat Warrior, and assumed the command of the whole army, to which station he had been appointed some time previous, but was unable to come on sooner, in consequence of cholera breaking out in his army. He came past several posts and discharged the men wherever he found them.

Gen. Scott concluded to discharge the army (or the mounted volunteers) that were then in the field, and demanded Black Hawk, of Keokuk, as both men and horses were nearly worn out with fatigue. Accordingly, on the 8th day August, we left the tented fields and took up our line of March to Dixon's, on Rock river, the place appointed for us to be discharged at (or mustered out of the service of the United States). All now were eager to press forward. We had turned our faces toward our respective homes, and not ithstanding that we, as well as our horses, were nearly worn out with the fatiguing inarches, through the swamps and over the mountains, yet all were cheerful, and every heart seemed to leap for joy, at the thought of being free from the toils and hardships of a soldier, to return again to the embraces of a wife and children, or a father and mother, brothers and sisters, and to mingle, once more, in the walks and society of the fair sex, which appears to be a sovereign balm to man in all his afflictions.

On this day, just at night, we met about 300 Menomonee Indians in company of an American officer from Green Bay, coming to join in pursuit of the Sac and Fox Indians. We happened to meet them in a prairie. The officer advanced and met us, or we certainly would have fired upon them. When we came up to them they appeared almost to lament that they had not got in before we had the last battle, in order that they could have had an opportunity of assisting us in the work of death to our common enemy. For they are, as I have already stated, great enemies to the Menomonee Indians. When they left us they seemed to press forward with more vigor, as it was their object to pursue the balance of the Sacs and Foxes, who had made their escape.

On the next day we began to reach the settlements in the mining country. This was again a solemn scene. The farms had mostly been sown in grain of some kind or other. Those that were in small grain were full ripe for the sickle ; but behold ! the husbandman was not there to enjoy the benefits of his former labor by thrusting in the scythe and sickle and gathering in his grain ; which was fast going to destruction. All appeared to be solitary, and truly presented a state of mourning. But as we advanced a little further into the more thickly settled parts we would occasionally see the smoke just beginning to make its appearance from the tops of the chimneys ; as some of the inhabitants thought that it would be as well to risk dying by the tomahawk and scalping knife as to lose their grain and die by famine ; and others had received information that we had slain in battle their troublesome enemy, who had driven them from their homes and had slain many of their neighbors. W^henever we approached a house theie is no telling the joy it would give to the desolate man who had lately emerged from some fort, and had left his wife and children still in it while he ventured to his home to save something for them to subsist upon.

I must confess that it filled my heart with gratitude and joy to think that I had been instrumental, with many others, in delivering my country of those 'merciless savages, and restoring those people again to their peaceful homes and firesides, there to enjoy in safety the sweets of a retired life ; for a fort is to a husbandman what jail is to a prisoner. The inhabitants of this district of country had been shut up in forts for the last three months, through fear of becoming a prey to Indian barbarity.

Nothing very interesting occurred on our march to Dixons. Lieut. Anderson, of the United States army, met us at this point, and by the 17tli of August mustered us all out of the service of the United States. We sheathed our swords and buried our tomahawks and each man again became his own commander and shaped his own course towards his home, to enjoy the social society of his relatives and friends, in the pursuit of their different avocations in life.

Capture Op Black Hawk. And The Prophet

After the Battle of Bad Ax when Black Hawk's band was totally defeated. Brevet Brigadier-General H. Atkinson, of the United States Army, and Joseph M. Street, agent for the Winnebagoes at Prairie du Cliien, told the principal chiefs of that Nation, that if they would bring in the Black Hawk and the Prophet, it would be well for them, and that the government of the United States would hold them in future as friends and treat them kindly, and that they would not, by so doing, be considered any longer the friends of the hosti'e Sacs and Foxes.

On this declaration, the one-eyed chief, called the Decori, and Cheater took some of their men with them and went in pursuit of these Sacs chiefs, in order, if possible, to take them prisoners and bring them and deliver them up to the Indian agent at Prairie du Cliien. On the27tli of August, these two Winnebago chiefs returned, bringing with them the Black Hawk and the Prophet, the principal movers and instigators of the war. The interview with them at Prairie du Chien, I have been told, was a very interesting scene. I will give the reader the substance of their talk with Indian Agent Street and Col. Zachary Taylor, which will go to show how vigilant and with what perseverence these Winnebago chiefs acted to take these prisoners. They were upwards of twenty days gone, after they left Prairie du Chien, before they returned with them.

When they arrived. Black Hawk desired to speak to Indian Agent Street. The amount of what he said was, that he was not the originator of the war; that he was going where he would meet Keokuk, and then he would tell the truth; that he would then tell all about this war which had caused so much trouble; that there were chiefs and braves of his Nation who were the cause of the continuance of the war; that he did not want to hold any council with him; that when he got where Keokuk was he would tell the whole of the origin of the difficulties and of those who committed "it; that he wanted to surrender long ago, but others refused; that he wanted to surrender to the steamboat Warrior, and tried to do so until the second fire; that he then ran and went up the river and never returned to the battle ground; that his determination then was to escape if he could; that he did not intend to surrender after that, but that when the Winnehagoes came upon him, he gave up; and that he would tell all about the disturbance when he got to Rock Island.

'-My father, I now stand before you. When we parted I told you we would return soon; but I could not come any sooner. We had to go a great distance (to the Dale, Dells, on the Wisconsin river above the portage); you see we have done what you sent us to do. These are the two you told us to get (pointing to Black Hawk and the Prophet). We always do what you tell us to do, because we know it is for our good. My father, you told us to get these men, and it would be the cause of much good to the Winnehagoes. We have brought them, but it has been very hard for us to do it. That one - Macatamish Kakacky - was a great way off. You told us to bring them alive; we have done so. If you had told us to bring their heads alone, we would have done so; and it would have been less difficult for us to do, than what we have done. My father, we deliver these men into your hands; we would not deliver them even to our brother, the chief of the warriors, but to you, because we know you and believe you are our friend. We want you to keep them safe. If they are to be hurt, we do not wish to see it; wait until we are gone before it is done. My father, many little birds have been flying about our ears of late, and we thought they whispered to us that there was evil intended for us; but now we hope the evils birds will let our ears alone.

"My father, we know you are our friend, because you take our part; this is the reason we do what you tell us to do. My father, you say you love your red children; we think we love you as much or more than you love us. My father, we have been promised a great deal if we would take these men, that it would do much good for our people; we now hope to see what will be done for us. My father, we have come in haste, and are tired and hungry; we now put these men in your hands. We have done all you told us to do."

"My children I you have done well. I told you to bring these men to me, and you have done so. I am pleased at what you have done. It will tend to your good ; and, for this reason, I am well iileascd. I assured the great chief of the warriors that, if these men were in your country, you would find them and bring them to me ; that I believed you would do what I directed you to do. Now I can say much for your good. I will go down to Rock Island with the prisoners ; and I wish you who have brought these men especially to go with me, and such other chiefs and warriors as you may select. My children I the great chief of the warriors, when he left this place, directed me to deliver these and all other prisoners to the chief of the warriors. Col. Taylor, who is by my side.

"Some of the Winnebagoes on the south side of the Wisconsin river have befriended the Sacs, and some of the Indians of my agency have given them aid ; this was wrong and displeased the great chief of the warriors and your great father, the President, and was calculated to do much harm. My children I yoi'r great father, the President, at Washington, has sent a great war chief from the far east - Gen. Scott - with a fresh army of soldiers, who is now at Rock Island.

"Your great father has sent him and the governor of Illinois to hold a council with the Indians at Rock Island ; he has sent a speech to you ; and he wishes the chiefs and warriors of the Winnebagoes to meet him in council on the 10th of September next. I wish you to be ready to go along with me to Rock Island.

"My children I I am well pleased that yen have taken Black Hawk and the Prophet and so many others, because it willenable me to say much for you to thegreat chief of the warriors and your great father, the President. I shall now deliver these two men. Black Hawk and the Prophet, to the chief of the warriors

"The great chief of the warriors told me to take the prisoners when you should bring them and send them to Rock Island to him. I will take them and keep them safe, but use them well, and will send them by you and Mr. Street when you go down to the council, which will be in a few days. Your friend, Mr. Street, advised you to get ready and go down soon, and so do. I tell you again, I will take the prisoners and keep them safe, but will do them no harm. I will deliver them to the great chief of the warriors, and he will do with them in such manner as he may be ordered by your great father, the President."

"My father ! I am young and don't know how to make speeches. This is the second time I ever spoke to you before the people. My father ! I am no chief. I am no orator, but I have been allowed to speak to you. My fatherl If I shall not speak as well as others, still you must listen to me.

present, and they know it ; and I now appeal to the Great Spirit, our Grand Mother, for the truth of what I sa}. My father ! I am no chief, but what I have done is for the benefit of my own Nation, and, I hope, for the good that lias been promised us. My father ! that one, Waboki-shick, is my relation. If he is to be hurt I do not wish to see it. My father ! soldiers sometimes stick the ends of their guns (btiyonets) into the back of Indian prisoners when they are going about in the hands of the guard. I hope this will not be done to these men."

Death Of Black Hawk

Black Hawk was sent as a prisoner from Prairie du Chieii to Jefferson Barracks, under charge of Lieut Jefferson Davis - then in the United States army at Prairie du Chien, and thirty years later Presivient of the Confederate States. Black Hawk was kept a close prisoner until April, 1833, when he was taken to Washington, together with some of his family and the Prophet. After an interview with President Jackson, and being emphatically told by him that the government would compel the red men to be at peace, they were sent as prisoners to Fortress Monroe, for "levying war," as Davis was," thirty-two years later, for the same offense. On June 4, 1833, by order of the President, Black Hawk and his fellow prisoners were liberated and sent home, under officers appointed to conduct them through the principal cities of the Union, in order to impress them with a proper sense of the power of the whites and of the hopelessness of any conflict on the part of the Indians with the government of the United States. Black Hawk ever : fter remained quiet. He died Oct. 3, 1838, and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi, in the State of Iowa, near the head of the Des Moines rapids, where the village of Montrose is located.

The Indian trade carried on for the Mississippi and Missouri and their tributaries was from Mackinaw. Until 1816 goods came mostly from Montreal in bateaux or canoes, mostly by the Mackinaw or its successor, the Southwest Company, or by some private traders. But early in 1815 Mr. Astor purchased out the interest of the Southwest Company at Mackinaw and its dependences, and in August of that year Ramsey Crooks, as already mentioned, went to Mackinaw as agent for Mr. Astor to comptlle the arrangements. In the spring of 1816 the goods of the American Far Company were imported to New York, and thence by way of the lakes to Mackinaw. During that spring several Montreal traders arriving at Mackinaw with Indian goods, probably not aware of the law of Congress prohibiting British subjects from trading within the American territories, now took advantage of the order of the secretary of the treasury, and sent their goods into the Indian country, under the nominal direction of a hired American clerk, to whom the goods were invoiced and who took the license in his name, and gave proper bonds with security to the traders who owned them, who went along ostensibly as interpreters, until the boat passed all the American forts and agencies, when they assumed the ownership, and proceeded as usual in their business - these clerks' bonds were considered as a mere formality to evade the law, and were worth so much brown paper, and nomore.

In the spring of 1817 the American Fur Company brought a large number of American clerks from Montreal and the United States, some of whom made good Indian traders and are yet in the country, but nearly one-half of them were found not qualified for the business, and in the following spring many of them were discharged from Mackinaw, which was then the grand depot of the Indian trade.

The American Fur Company, as had been the practice of the Mackinaw and Southwest companies, made their outfits to Lake Superior, to the Mississippi, the head of St. Peters, and the Missouri. The boats -for the Mississippi and Missouri trade passed through the north end of Lake Michigan from Mackinaw, thence through Green bay to the settlement of that name thence up the Fox river to the Little Kaukalin, where they made a portas;e of about threefourtlis of a mile. Augustin Grignon had a trading house at tliis point and kept teams to transport the goods and furs, (the men taking the boats erapt}' up or down the rapids, as the ease might be, for which he charged about twe.nty cents per one hundred pounds. I'he boats then proceeded to Grand Chute, where the men made another portage of the goods or furs, and passed the boat over the Grand Chute empty. Thence they proceeded to the rapids at the lower end of Winnebago lake, where they usually made half loads over the rapids into the lake. Thence they proceeded upward to where the Fox river enters the lake, thence up Fox river through Puckawa lake, and Lac de Boeuf, or Buffalo lake, and some smaller lakes to portage of Wisconsin, where a man by the name of Roy resided, who kept teams and hauled goods, furs and boats across the Portage of one and onefourth miles from the Fox to the Wisconsin river, for which he charged forty cents per one hundred pounds, and ten dollars for each boat. The boats then went down the Wisconsin to its mouth, and thence up the Mississippi about three miles to Prairie du Chien; the traders of the lower Mississi]ppi and Missouri never going down without a short stop at Prairie du Chien, where they generally spent some days in conviviality, dinners, dancing, etc. Tradition says that many years since, when there were many wintering traders in both the upper and lower Mississippi, it was the custom of every trader visiting Prairie du Chien to have in store a keg of eight or nine gallons of good wine for convivial purposes when they should again meet in the spring, on which occasions they would have great dinner parties, and, as is the English custom, drink largely. But in 1816 there were but few of the old traders remaining, and the storing of wine at Prairie du Chien had become almost obsolete, although the traders were then well supplied with wine, and that of the beet kind, of which they made very free use.

It was then thought that a clerk in charge of an outfit must have his keg of wine, but after the American Fur company got fairly initiated into the trade they abolished the custom of furnishing their clerks with this luxury at the expense of the outfit. As has already been said, the Indian trade of the Mississippi and Mis.souri and their tributaries was carried on from Mackinaw as the grand depot of the trade of the northwest.

The traders and their clerks were then the aristocracy of the country; and to a Yankee at first sight, presented a singular state of society. To see gentlemen selecting wives of the nutbrown natives, and raising children of mixed blood, the trader.s and clerks living in as much luxury as the resources of the country would admit, and the engagees or boatmen living upon soup made of hulled corn with barely tallow enough to season it, devoid of salt, unless they purchased it themselves at a high price - all this to an American was a novel mode of living, and appeared to be hard fare; but to a person acquainted with the habits of life of the Canadian peasaTitry, it would not look so much out of the way, as they live mostly on pea soup, seasoned with a piece of pork boiled down to grease; seld<jm eating pork except in the form of grease that seasons their soup. With this soup, and apiece of coarse bread, their meals were made; hence the change from pea soup to corn is not so great, or the fare much worse than that which they had been accustomed, as the corn is more subtantial than peas, not being so flatulent.

These men engaged in Canada generally for five years for Mackinaw and its dependencies, transferable like cattle to any one who wanted them, at generally about .5(10 livres a year, or in our currency, about $83. .3-3; furnished with a yearly equipment or outfit of two cotton shirts, one three point or triangular blanket, a jiortage collar and one pair of beef shoes; being obliged, in the Indian country to purchase their moccasins, tobacco, pipes and other necessaries at the price the trader saw fit to charge for them.

Generally at the end of five years these poor ooyaffeurs were in debt from fifty to 150 dollars and could not leave the country until they had paid their indebtedness; and the policy of the traders was to keep as many of them in the country as they could; and to this end they allowed and encouraged their engagees to get in debt during the five years, which of necessity required them to remain.

Tiiese new hands were by the old voyugeurs called in Aerision, mangeurs de lard - pork-eaters as on leaving Montreal, and on tlie route to Mackinaw, ihey were fed on pork, hard bread, and pea-souj), while the old voyageurs in the Indian country ate corn soup, and such othei' food as could convenietly be procured. These mnngexcrs de lard were brought at considerable expense and trouble from Montreal and other parts of Canada, frequency, deserting after they had received some advance in money and their equipment. Hence it was the object of the traders to keep as many of the old voyageurs in the country as they could, and they generally permitted the tnangeurs de lard to get largeijin dibt, as they could not leave the country and get back into Canada, except by the return boats or canoes which brought the goods, and they would not take t' em back if they were in debt anywhere in the coiintiy, wiiich could be easily ascertained from the traders at Mackinaw. JiUt if a man was prudent enough to save his wages, he could obtain j)assage, as he was no longer wanted in the country.

WESTERN WISCONSIN IN lo8(i. vBy S. M. Palmer.) Desirous of visiting Cassville, Prairie du ChicM and that part of the territory bordering on the Mississippi, I accepted a cordial invitation from Col. Daniels, of Cassville, to take a seat in his carriage for that place. It wa-< a delightful morning in September, when, with an agree.ible party, consisting of the colonel, Mr. Latham, of Mineral Point, and a Mr. Payne, of Boston, we bade adieu to the noble, generous people of Mineral Point, and proceeded over a rough, uncultivated, hilly, and tolerably well timbered country, some six or ten miles to a pretty spot called Diamond Grove, near which was the residence of Col. John B. Terry. Here it was proposed to stop, but on approaching the house, it was evident that the family were not at home, and I proposed to pass on, but was overruled by Col. Daniels, who insisted that it was the seat of genuine hospitality, where the latch string was never drawn in - which proved to be the case on that occasion, at least, and the whole party entered the house. And although no member of the family was at home. Col. Daniels, presuming upon his friendship with the proprietor, opened the cupboard, and set out an excellent cold collation, to which was added a bottle of something stronger than milk, on which the party regaled themselves most satisfactorily.

Proceeding across a fine rolling prairie, beautiful as a garden, though almost in a state of nature, with at rare intervals a small agricultural improvement, or a hamlet of miners' huts, we struck the military road, which traverses the dividing ridge extending across the territorj', the western terminus being at Prairie du Chien, along which we continueii through a succession of natural landscapes, the most rich ind gorgeous that can be imagined, until we reached the intersection of the Cassville road ; near which, but a short distance along the last named road, we stopped for the night, at a small log hut, the only building of any description in the vicinity, excepting a small one on a recent improvement, said to have been commenced by Hon. Thomas P. Burnett, near where we diverged from the military road.

We were generously welcomed, and as comfortably entertained as the limited means of our kind host and hostess would admit. The ride from this point to Cassville was through a country of extraordinary beauty, with a soil of unrivaled richness and fertility, though with the exception of a very few small buildings and improvements, untouched by the hand of man.

The people of Cassville, proverbially intelligent, accomplished and enterprising - proud of what they considered the great beauty and immense natural advantages of the location of their tovvn - were all bustle and excitement in view of many grand and important improvements already projected or in progress ; first among which was a magnificent hotel, the foundation for which was already being laid. All classes appeared prosperous, happy and contented, looking forward with confidence to a brilliant future for themselves and their favorite town.

After remaining a short time here, I took passage (kindly accompanied by Capt. Estin, and Mr. Latham) on board the steamboat Adventurer,a very small dilapidated and filthy boat, (for at that time there were comparatively few steamers of any description plying on the Mississippi, above Dubuque), for Prairie dii Chien. This town, located on a beautiful prairie, some four miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin river, would have been fully equal in appearance to any other site on the Mississip])i, but for a slough or bayou which van through it nearly parallel with the river, thus dividing the town, and giving to that portion next to the river, or Old Town, as it was called, the appearance of an island, which was exclusively occupied by the store and warehouse, a large and elegant stone structure, and other buildings of the North American Fur Company, with a few mean huts tenanted by a miserable set of French and Indians. It was here that John Jacob Astor, the New York millionaire, as a member or chief of that mammoth fur company, made, it has been said, a considerable portion of his immense wealth.

On the opposite side of the bayou, or Ne.w Town, was Fort Crawford, in which were about 300 United States troops. It occupied a high, airy and commanding position on the prairie, and comprised four substantial stone buildings, each some 200 feet long, forming a hollow square, in the center of which was a spacious parade ground. The officers .and ladies of the garrison were exceedingly courteous p.nd agreeable, exerting themselves to render our visit in every respect pleasant and satisfactory. The New Town contained but few dwelling houses, and those of a very ordinary character, the only one of any pretensions, which I recollect, being that occupied by Judge Lockwood.

Returning to Cassville I took passage on board the steamer, Missouri Fulton, and bidding adieu to that delightful territory, in the fond hope of be'ng permitted to visit it again in after years, set out cheerily for my eastern home, at Rock Island, in which stood Fort Armstrong, a handsome and truly formidable fortress. The captain kindly landed to afford the passengers an opportunity of witnessing the formalities of concluding a treaty which was being held between Gov. .Dodge, acting for the United States, and the chiefs of the Sauk and Fox Indians, during which the latter ceded to the government their immensely valuable reservati'in situated on the Iowa river, west of the Mississippi, and nearly opposite to Rock Island, tlie sum stipulated for the jjurchase lieing, as it was then understood, seventy-five oents per acre.*

The acquisition of this domain was considered of great importance to the country ; not so much on account of its intrinsic value, as to get rid of those mischievous tribes of Indians, who up to a period very recent, had kept up a continual warfare with their white neighbors, at the instigation of Black Hawk, who strenuously maintained to the last, that they had been

is substantially corieet. The Saiiks and Fo.xes ceded at this treaty, -100 sections, or 2jB, 000 acres, in consideration of which the sura of $30,000 was to be paid them the foUowinsyear, a nd $10, OiX) a year tor te i yeara thereafter, making altogether $1.30, 000. In addition, the government agreed to pay certain debts due to traders, and other claims, amountinif in the aggregate to $50,39-1.67 ; and still farther provided to pay certain annuities for several half-breed children for their education, etc, the total amountof which cannot be well estimated. This would show the cost of the ceded lands at between seventy and seventy-five cents per acre. It is interesting to notice thjit Rlack Hawk, wlin was present at the treaty, had no oflicial connection with it, having been practically deposed by our government at the close of the Black Hawk War, by the recognition of Keokuk, as head chief. L. c D.

unjustly deprived of the lands and homes inherited from their fathers, and which ended only with the capture of that brave old chief, and the consequent termination of war in August, 1832.

Pending the treaty, some 400 of the Sauk and Fox tribes, old and young, male and female, were encamped on the western bank of the river, opposite the island, who, contrary to the supposed proverbial taciturn and stoical disposition of that people, were engaged in all manner of sports, including horse racing and gambling of every description. The men, many of them, were painted after a variety of grotesque fashions, their heads ornamented and decked out in scarlet cloth or flannel, with a profusion of feathers, beads and other finery. They appeared decidedly happy, and at times were boisterous in their mirth. After the passengers returned to the boat, they were visited, among others, by the co-chiefs, Black Hawk and Keokuk, who exhibited evident signs of pleasure and gratification at being introduced to them, particularly the ladies, toward whom they were decidedly gallant. This treaty was considered, and justly too, a highly important one, settling, as it did, forever, the difliculties and misunderstandings which had so long subsisted with those Indians, who were the original owners and occupiers of all that beautiful country on both sides of the river, for a considerable distance above and below Rock Island, and Gov. Dodge was highly complimented for the skillful and successful manner in which he conducted the negotiations for the final result.

Thus have I hastily and imperfectly jotted down the reminiscences of a brief residence in the territory, nearly a quarter of a century ago; and if, among them all, there shall be found a single fact worthy of preservation as connected with its early history, I shall feel amply recompensed for the little time and labor it has cost me in its preparation.