Wisconsin Historical Collections, Volume VII (1876)

              264 state historical society largely made up of game there was venison bear meat and por cupine a dozen varieties of the feathered tribes from the waters as geese and ducks ; and of fishes an almost endless list headed by that king of all the fish tribe the sturgeon nor did the guests fail to bring the best of sauce to the colonel's entertainment — ex cellent appetites and good nature joined to the good cheer made this rousing christmas dinner one long to be remembered this happy company rose from the table at six o^clock and dancing commenced soon after the revelry lasted to the u small hours,'7 but all retired in good order heartily blessing the kind generosity of colonel mcneil thus did this big-hearted man of war delight to transform this out-post of the western wild hitherto in its winters especially a place of desolation solitude ennui and almost despair to one of unalloyed happiness animated life and real pleasure thus passed a winter of true enjoyment both to the soldiers and citizens of green bay in 1824 under the tutelage of the princely colonel mcneil but the gaieties had to be suspended the spring opened when the commanding officer again called out the men and the officers for extra duty the inspector general was looked for in the open ing of navigation and colonel mcneil was not the soldier to be caught in dishabille by that officer every nook and corner of the old cantonment was searched into all rubbish carted off or con signed to the flames everything thoroughly renovated and re paired and the whole cantonment even to the barns and out houses faithfully served with two coats of whitewash then the men were as thoroughly cleaned up and put through every day for two months the necessary drills marching etc not a little complaint from both officers and men was heard at all this rigid preparation ; but the propriety of all was seen and acknowl edged when general wool made his appearance in may reviewed the troops inspected the post throughout and then openly on parade in presence of the whole command gave his unqualified commendation as one of the best ordered garrisons he had in spected for many years colonel mcneil was relieved of this command by general brady in course of this spring and left green bay amid most sincere heartfelt regrets of officers men and citizens the same year he