Wisconsin Historical Collections, Volume V (1868)

              the wotebago war of 1827 by col thomas l mckenney at four o'clock on the afternoon of september 1st 1827 we arrived at the portage of wisconsin and encamped on a high bluff which overlooks the country for a great distance to the south and west we had not finished the business of encamp ing before seven winnebago warriors came along on their way from green isle to the four lakes fully armed and equipped it was a direction in which we did not desire any of that sort of force to go the enemy being at the four lakes in great numbers major whistler gave orders to disarm and detain them they were told they should be well fed and treated well whilst they behaved themselves they ap peared to feel deeply when their arms were taken from them ; nor did they appear to like the strength and appearance of the military an express arrived from general atkinson an nouncing his approach and directing major whistler to halt and fortify himself at the portage and wait his arrival as the capture of the enemy could be made with his additional force with more ease and less sacrifice of life the object of the joint expedition of g-eneral atkinson from jefferson barracks below st louis and of major whistler from ft howard on green bay was as has been intimated to capture those who had committed the murders at prairie du ohien and put a stop to any further aggressions of the sort the winnebagoes it will be remembered had been advised * william whistlek entered the army from the northwestern territory as a second lieutenant in june 1801 ; made first lieutenant in 1807 ; distinguished himself in the battle of maguago 9th aug 1812 ; promoted to captain in dec 1812 ; major in 1826 : lieutenant colonel in 1834 and colonel in 1845 he died at an advanced age near cin cinnati dec 21 1863 after sixty-two years continuous and faithful services rendered his country l c d 178