Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-24
For The Wisconsin Herald.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
War.

PRAIRIE DU CHEN June 10, '48.
There is some excitement here, occa-
stoned by the news from above US, relative
to the Indians.
Ccpt. Knowlton came down the river on
Saturday, 18th, from Wabesha Prairie, and
reports that the Winnebagoes have made
stand at that place and on the head of Root
river, and refused to go any further towards
their newly appointed home. He had with
him 90 of his volunteers, and moved eco
Indians from the mouth of Black River to
Wabesha Prairie; and Capt. Morgan with
the dragons, (eaving 1t. Fox and part of
Captain Knowlton's company to guard Fort
Atkinson) bad moved some 1900 Of the In
dians (Winnebagoes) as far as the head of
Root River; the whole tribe being now
within the district they had recently agreed
with Wabesha, a Sioux chief, to purchase,
refused to 60 any further north.
Capt. Eastman with % regulars and 100
Sioux warriors came down from Fort SMELL
ing, to assist in the removal of the Winnie
bagoes. The Sioux warriors came to in
form the Winnebagoes that Wabesha was
not the Sioux nation and had no right or
authority to sell their land: that their great
Father had provided home for them at
Cross Wing,and they must go to it:that they
might travel through the Sioux country, but
could not remain in it.
Capt. Morgan has sent an express back
TO Fort Atkinson for reinforcement, s.
men being all he can possibly get from there,
and Captain Knowlton came down TO get
the balance of his company, say 10 or 10
more. But when all their men are collect
ed they will not make over 100, or 100, un-
der the three Captains; beside the 100 Sioux
warriors.
But the Sioux warriors were like to be
otherwise employed. Five of Captain Nor
gan's horses had strayed or been stolen, and
his men in pursuit of them, found a camp
of Indians southwest of the head of Root
River, of one or two hundred strong, who
could understand neither Sioux nor Winnie
bago, and therefore supposed to he war
party of Sacs and Foxes, on their way to
the Sioux country, and the Sioux warriors
who came down with Capt. Eastman, were
about to 20 in pursuit and give them battle,
by surprise.
At the foot of Lake Pippin, as Captain
Eastman was descending the river, an ex-
press overlook him, reporting that the peo-
pie at the Falls of ST. Croix, finding, or sup
posing they had found the Chippewa Indi-
an who had recently killed the two white
men, "A short distance above those falls, call
ed in Judge Lynch, who decided to hang
him at once, and they did so.
The Chippewa Indians, who understand
the mode of procedure in our courts, in case
an Indian is accused of crime, deemed this
to be illegal, and as the whites had taken
the law into their hands, they (the indians)
considered that they had the same right, and
were collecting their warriors on the ST.
Croix River-one rumor says 500 strong
to take revenge on the whites. And as the
people were alarmed at these prospects,
they had sent to Capt. Eastman at Fort
Smelling for protection, but he having start
cd down the river, the express overlook him
at Lake Pippin.
Capt. Eastman sent back orders to the
garrison, to turn out all the arms and am
lmunition, needed, and for the citizens of
ST. Croix to arm themselves and make the
hest defence they can. At the same time
he sent requisition TO Jefferson Barracks
for 600 men, to be sent up Immediately to
protect the people of ST. Croix, and assist
in removing the Winnebagoes. The Chip
pewa affair was intended to be kept from
the Winnehagoes, lest they should be en-
couraged by it to he more obstinate.
An old trader informs me that about $50
Chippewa warriors live on the St. Croix
river. aud iutermingle with the scattering
numbering parties on that river, and from
my own knowledge of their location,
should think that four or five hundred could
be collected m that river in six or eight
days, if they really set themselves about It.
Those Indians have no provisions of their
own, and il they attempt to war on the
whites, they must depend upon plumber and
spoils-for they are spoils mentor their
subsistence.
There was also a white man taken at ~.
Croix who was sailor, as Judge Lynch
dscided-ii was proven, at least TO his sat