Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-11-06
letter from Fort Crawford.
FoR- CRAWFORD, w. T..
Nov. ID, 1S4i.

NOV "a, lcff.
| Mr.. EnrroR:-Sir, you may take some
little interest in the doings of the b'hoys in
these diggins; therefore drop You aiine
relative to them, the Winnebagoes, &c.
Yesterday, Capt. Morgan of the Iowa
mounted volunteers, arrived in this village
with about three hundred Winnebago In
dams, who were Immediately put across
the Mississippi river, on their way to their
own country; they looked gloomy and
down-cast, and with good reason too, for
the prospect before them is any thing but
pleasant one, taken, as they are, from their
fine hunting grounds on the Bad-Axe, and
other streams in that neighborhood, and
placed on boundless prairies, entirely desti-
tute of game, with the privilege of going TO
hunting grounds where their deadly enc
mics, the Sioux, are at this time hunting, is
enough to sadden the spirits of people more
gay, by nature, than the Winnebagoes.-
The dragons look remarkably neat and
well after so fatiguing tramp; they are
at this moment preparing for their return to
Fort Atkinson, with the Indians that crossed
yesterday; their charge will be considerably
increased, as detachment of four men and
one non-commissioned officer from Captain
Knowlton's command, just arrived, bringing
with them some fifty or sixty Indians, who
will be Immediately put across to join those
brought in by Captain Morgan's command,
yesterday.
The Fort at this moment presents a truly
picturesque appearance; groups OF men
scattered here and there over the parade;
dragons, citizens, infantry and Indians,
each in his own peculiar attire; Wagons
loaded with baggage, Indian horses loaded
with camp equipage, each one carrying
the whole of their masters worldly goods,
consisting of kettles, wooden bowls and la
dies, mats for their lodges, pups, children,
&c., all surmounted by the wife of the In
dian, who stands by their side carrying his
rifle (Which the cautious soldier has de-
prived of its lock.) The constant hurry
!
ing here and there of persons on all kinds
of business, the prancing of horses, the rat
Ting of sabres, the cursing of mule drivers,
together with the squalling of Indian chill
dren, all serve to give life and gaiety to
the scene.
The men who came in with the Indians
to-day, say that while one of the men was
out hunting short distance from camp, he
was fired upon by three or four of party
and made a straight wake for camp
there Were only two or three men IN camp,
with a non-commissioned officer, who gave
the Indians a pass for three days, TO bring
in their families.
The Indians that were brought in, were
found on the Kickapoo, thirty or forty
miles from here.
Captain Knowlton, with the remainder
of the command, have gone up the kicka-
poo, but will go over to Muscoday before
they return. There have been more Indians
put over the river already, than were on
this side, below Black River, last year.
Ii is said by those who have opportunities
of knowing, that their hunting grounds are
occupied by the Sioux, and that they (the
winnebagoes) expect to be removed totheir
new country in the spring; these two rea-
sons have induced them to visit this, their
former home, to take farewell look, and
shed a farewell tear over the graves of their
fathers. So mote il be-"
PILLS.