History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

              HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
U6
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 cor¬ dially by the hand, accompanied by the warm¬ est protestations of friendship. In a few mo¬ ments more they were off, covering a consider¬ able surface with their canoes, each one of which carried its flag of some sort floating in the gentle breeze, which ruffled the surface of the Mississippi.
The Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawatta¬ mies had received their goods in the same man¬ ner as the Winnebagoes; had been treated pre¬ cisely 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 In¬ dians, we had the Sauks and Foxes still with us, with w^hom we had orders to hold a council to ascertain from them "if they would sell their mineral lands, situated west of theMiesissippi?" —and if they would sell them, upon what terms?"
Gen. M'Neil, who was in command as a mili¬ tary 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 I ever 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 per¬ sons navigating the river with necessaries, such as poultry, milk, butter, eggs, and above all, cordwood for the steamboats.    H© 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 form'er treaties with them.
Making them liberal presents, we naturally deferred the whole subject in discussion for the consideration of the government of the Uni¬ ted 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 im¬ mediately descended the river for their homes.
Before leaving this place I wish to make a few lemarks of a general nature.
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 British 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 under the western side of the island, wlhich forms the outside of the fort, the Indians could in any dark night make themselves mas¬ ters of the garrison in fifteen minutes. When¬ ever they please they can collect at this point in ten days 4,000 warriors, to contend with 400 soldiers. There is no regu¬ lar mail connecting this post with the United States and war might be declared for three months, in some seasons of the 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