Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-08
Fryns Tie Richmond Enquirer.
uYE xvs rN THE WEST.

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Ter from DR.. VIM. Henry Hening 9
this city, now Regimental Surseon g
lthe Detachment OF troops commanded Q,
IcoL Hitler, Of the Srd reg't, 70 his Ia
liner, w. w. Henning, Esq. q illis CITY
which csutains some interesting Illlor-
laatioD relative to the Western Interests
if the u. S.--the other observations are
Iiudicious-and we take much pleasure
ii submitting them % eur readers, the
letter, foo. encloses the Speechof a CHIEF
Iof the Winebagoe tribe Of Indians mark,
led with that peculiar vein Of Thought and
depression, which distinguishes the long
talk Of the Indians.
Camp on Fox River, Green Bay,
Angus, goth, 1916.
| e Il, 4 letter which / addressed you
Ipreyious to nv leaving Mackinaw, you
were informed Of the route which ] pro-
baby would pursue. inteturRipg to Vir-
Isinia. These articipations seem thus
| far realized. In conformity to my ex
Irectations, early in July, the detachment
|of RiRemen stationed at Mackinaw. re-
Ice;yed orders to repafe to Green Bay,
land there establish Fort with all con-
Iyenient expeditions to look down all
Expected opposition, from the Indians res
si,iiue in this country. We sailed from
IMackinaw GA the Goth ofjuly last, with
1.-The schooners Washington, Wayne, Mink
land sloop Amelia-having on board
ICol. Miller, Of the Sd Regt. Col. Cham
Ibers, Of the Riae, Major Gratiot. OF the
Engineers, a detachment OF Artillery uIl-
der Captain Pierce, and four companies
Iof the Sd Infantry, amounting 10 the
whole to 500 men. We entered tue
Inoutl, Of the River ON the 18th of August
and, contrary to expectations, received
from the French inhabitants and indians,
la very friendly and fattering reception.
Whether these professions were sincere,
Isr proceeded from their fears, time Will
determine. After looking for some days
Ifor a proper scite, the Engineers has A.
InalIy fixed on the position, where the
| old French Fort IL. Bay J formerly stood,
Ift will be a stockade with strong pickets
Ia bastion at each angle, with piece OF
ARTILLERY on each, amply sufficient to
lbeat oE any Indian force that can be
drought. against it. The garrison will
lconsist of two companies of Riaemen and
1.-Two companies of infantry, all under the
lcommand Of Col. Chambers.--Some ac-
Icount Of this very delightful country may
lproyc not very uainteresting. When the
French first established themselves here
ithey found the contrast beteen il and
lMackinaw very striking--for, on leaving
1.-The latter place, vegetation was scarce
Ily apparent ; whereas, or arriving at the
i,ay, they found the woods and fields
icloathed In the most luxuriant yerdure.
lat that time, the country was inhabited
Iby two tribes of Indians, the Winneba.
Igoas, called by the French " Puons," OF
lstiuking) and the Manolnenids, (called
ii Faulsayoins," for eaters of wild rice J
THE Winnebagoes, proved most trouble
isome. the French and Man0meBies turn
led their arms against them, and having
lkilleda number. drove them to the Win
lnebago Lake and the Rack River
lwhete they have ever since resided, The
Isoil on both sides Of the river, is very
lime. and the fine wheat fields and gar.
!deas givei it every appearance ola rici
land fertile counSry. The River abounds
Iwitk fsh,particularl "a species Of sturgeon
(which exceeds that Of James River, in the
lrichness and delicacy Of its Hayour, and
lin the spring and fall, myriads Of water
Ifewl, attracted by the wild rise, dar.
ilken the air. This plant springs up in
water six or seven feet deep, SO thick,
las in many places to impede the prog es.
lef boats and canoes. The Indians cal
lit Ma no men, and living almost entire
lily on it--they have received from the
French the appellation of Faulsavoins, OF
wild Raie Eaters. When the head.
'Ibecome ripe, they pass through il in thei
eanOes, and bending them over, strik,
Them with small! sticks, and in a yer,
lshort time, nearly fill their canoes Will
1.-THE grain. This, when cleaned, be
,lcomes an excellent ar.icle Of diet, scarce
4 inferior to the rice Of the south. Eve
Try thing at present bears Peaceablc as
lpect, but how long this state OF thing
will continue, is very uncertain. With
|eut great deal eff circumspection oil
1.-THE part OF the Indian Department, ane
ia chain of posts properly garrisoned,
ihaYe little hesitation in saying, that eul
frontiers once again, will witness the hor
'lrors Of savage warfare. The Winneba
soes, il is manifest, are decidedly OPP
posed TO our making any establishment
I'm this country, as are also a part of thu