Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-19
UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

Extract Of letter from Capt r. "A. yUCabe, Commanding
Fort Cragtord Prairie du Ctien, to his brother Ln-
! tingdon, duted20M Jan 1898.
>bort Crawford lies tbs, ~ s.isspp river, in AZ de-
5reos MN. 80 North Latitude, about 600 niles
above St.Louis, and 800 below ST Anthony. The fort is
situated on an extensive plain altogether aluvia known
by The name OF Pt1t71e du Chen, dog meadow which
is about miles in length and from three miles
WIDE The village OF Prairie du Chen is dispersed
The Prairie i'll three different places. The largest is i'm
nedatey joining the garrison, and the thes part
more than tHe miles from it. The inhabitants are
I chiefly French Canadians and Indians. Ofthe latter
the most part squaws and half breeds ntefmarred
with Canadians The river this place is nearly as
large ast tine Susqueanna at arrisburgh very much
cut up with islands. Three miles below this il receives
the sconsn, which IS larger than both branches of the
Juniaa at Col. Fc9'S.-By means of Wisconsin and Fox
river, except carrying place of two miles between
them we have commune ation w it'll reen bay
Detroit Buffalo, and by the great canal with any part
OF the world Seventy five miles below this are the ex-
tensve lead mines, known by the name of De Dukes
MINES They are worked at present by two three
persons OF enterprise. And heard it said few DAYS
since, that two of them who in partnership in the
business here have at this time, twenty thousand dollars
" orth of mineral ready for smelling.
'sOur red neighbours appear be friendly tho many
ourages have been committed in the of the last
summer SIX men were murdered between tins and
Fort ST. Anthony, four of whom were citizens of this
place. the other two deserers from st. Anthony. Two
ofihe citizens married Sioux wornep relations to
Wabasha the principal chief of the Sioux who reside
on the Mississippi 1t remained doubtful for some time
whether this outrage committed by the Sioux or
ChPpewas, (those two tribes having been at war for
upwards of twenty yeais.) But IN order 10 set the
matter in favourable light with the whites Wabasha
made up war party, which he headed, taking as MS
allies lew Wlneoagoes: In ascending the hppawa
river w'ch enters the Mississippi at the foot of lake
Pepn. the advance OF both parties met un.y
pected!y IN turning sharp angle the shore The
heads OF their twenty feet of each
other, when tie hostile parties flew to their arms The
Sioux who in the bow of the foreisast canoe was
| q ire Two tbD. i.,,.,
cd a Like taie. a few minutes decided the victor, in
favor OF Naoasa, who returned with u scalps OF the
enemy, and saved lie scalp OF the man If ms party
who was killed. On this occasion there was much re-
Joic!ng aud not little drunksnneSs.-he victorious
warriors danced teif scalp dance this village for at
least week hs was done TO apPease the srriis Of
those for liom they had taken revenge-Tho Sioux
never bury their people who killed Ia l,a tie.
The out killed IN this skirmish was placed against
tree IN an erec posture wit all his ornaments on with
d war club IN one hand and gun the other he was
lett by the party: eniuired of one of The party who
gave me tins information why they had done so. "Ohn
sad he, ''to make the &hippawas TO shoot at dead
inau,"-whIch, he added, would be great disgrace TO
the hiPpawas Those OF the tribe who committed
the MURDER Ehahit the country bordering on lake u-
pericr.
'.Sone persons from Missouri who had contracted TO
deliver drove OF cattle At the Sekrk settlement on
the Red river VI itso. bay, started with the cattle
some tune las simmer, and after few eks Journey
we're met o. party o! two three hundrd Sioux who
called bi c French Gems la fois which is ia our
language ne pcaPfe 81 The igf. These people have no
settled pilce abode, of but move continually after the
herds OF bGIdo. Those of the west ven to work
killed 10 80 of he cattle TO suppl, themselves with
powder horn, stripped the party of nea!y all their
clothing, took heir horses and then suffered them to
continue their tourney.
Our situation is IN the centre of several powerful
tribes Of Indians Below srd 81. Louis are the
Sacs and Reynards, as they are more COMMONLY
called, the Socks and Foxes. East OF ibis, toward
Lake Michigan are The Winnabag cs.-Nor;hwardly
I<c The
two last, and somewhat mixed with both are tic foLs
Irons or wild rice Indians, who call themselves t2llo.
nGnys, aud west ana SnutAward, are the Sioux, the
! .Nai1meSSes of Carcey.o