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.
871
, tility, but they could not answer for those be¬ low—they spoke for themselves only. They smoked and danced together and parted in ap¬ parent friendship and harmony."
The extent of the frontier and the number of tribes within the agency kept up an almost in¬ cessant excitement as to their affairs, and to keep the government advised of all their move¬ ments, required constant vigilance and the writ¬ ing of numerous letters. Under date of June 13, 1831, Mr. Burnett writes to Gen. Clark: "I have received since the last mail from this place information which I consider entitled to credit, that a war party of Sioux is now being organized among Washaba's band to go against the Chippewas, by a warrior of some note in that band. I have also understood that there are a ^ few Menomonees, relatives of those who were killed by the Chippewas in the fall and winter past, now with the band of Sioux. But I have not been able to learn whether they intend join¬ ing the Sioux in their expedition or not, but think it probable that some of them will do so."
Under date of June 29th he wrote: "I am in¬ formed by Maj. Langham, who arrived here from below a few days since, that the Winne¬ bagoes of the Prophet's village on Rock river, have 'inited with the Sauks and Foxes. The -~ Winnebagoes of the Wisconsin and Upper Mis¬ sissippi are still peaceable. They are most likely waiting to see the first results of the movements below, and intend to act afterwards according to circumstances.
"Until within two or three weeks past, very few of those Indians have visited this place for a length of time, fewer, I am told, than usual at this season of the year. Lately a great many of them have been here, the most of whom came down the Wisconsin and have gone up the Mis¬ sissippi. A great portion of them are old men, women and children. They continue to pass by daily. Many rumors are in circulation as to their present disposition and intention; very few of which are, perhaps, entitled to implicit belief. They have served, however, to give considerable
alarm to many of the inhabitants of the prairie, and many of them begin to think themselves in danger. I have spared no pains to ascertain the disposition of the Winnebagoes here and have found no evidence of a disposition to hos¬ tilities on their part, unless their sending so many of their old men, women and children up the river and purchasing powder in larger quantities than usual for ordinary hunting, should indicate something of the kind.
"I also learned a few days since that the one- eyed Decori had left his village at Prairie La Crosse and gone down to the Sauks and Foxes. This was accidentally communicated tomy in¬ formant by a Winnebago and is probably true. Decori was down about two weeks since and called to see me on his return home. His de¬ portment was as usual; I saw no change. In fact I have not discovered any change in the deportment or appearance of any of them that I have seen. They all appear to be perfectly friendly. None of the traders here think they have any hostile intentions.
'*Col. Morgan left the fort for Rock Island on the morning of the 27th inst., with two compa¬ nies from his post, and two more from Fort Winnebago, under Maj. Twiggs. He had pre¬ viously called in all fatigue parties and put his whole force under a course of training. Much alarm prevails in the mines. The people are arming and preparing for their defense. I do not consider that there is any immediate dan¬ ger either here or in this vicinity. Much, how¬ ever, will doubtless depend on the result below. The Sioux and Menomonees are certainly friendly, and against the Sauks and Foxes, would willingly unite with the whites if per¬ mitted to do so. I have heard nothing since my last of a war party of those Indians against the Chippewas."
In February, 1832, Mr. Burnett was in Ken¬ tucky, when Gen. Street wrote him that "the Menomonees and Sioux are preparing for a re¬ taliatory war against the Sauks and Foxes in the spring.  The Menomonees have made peace