The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-11-21
Communicated for the .Minnesota Pioneer,]
Sketch of the Life and Explorations Of
Gen. Il. NJ. Pike.
NUMBE n.


the ST. Peters and ebcamped on the north
east end Of the island opposite its mouth.
Here he prepared to hold n council with
the Sioux for the purchase of sites whereon
to erect military posts, and to enieavor to
arrest the further prosecution OF the war
hetween them and the Chippewas.
On the 2SJ, with the sails OF bis boat, he
built a hover on the beach, in winch TO
meet the chiefs.
Having completed his council house, at
tended by some traders, he opened the conn-
Gil at noon of that duy, urging the Sioux to
make peace with the Chippewas, and OF
grant him, for the use OF their "Great Fath-
er ;" about IOO, 600 acies of land. Three
chiefs, lie Fiis de Pincho,c, lie Petit Cor
beau, and L. Original Leve, addressed him
in reply, giving him the land, but not sat
isfactory answer with respect to peace with
the Chippewas.. They promised him
safe return from the north, and any Chippe-
wa chiefs he might bring with him, on hts
return from that tribe for the purpose Of
negotiating peace. He then made them
presents to the amount Of about $500. and
allowed the traders to furnish them with
liquor, which, added to what he gave them
h,inself, amounted, he says, "to sirty gal
Ions" The chiefs, at first, refused To sign
the grant, alleging that it was not necessa-
ry, and tina, their word Of honor should be
taken without making their mark.
He finally succeeded in pursuading them
to sign the treaty grant, by making them
understand that their marks were necessary
for him, and not for them.
On The 25th, he lost his flag; and was at
loss to conjecture what had become Of it.
Surprising il to have been stolen by the
Indians, he sent for Original Lere, and hy
Furnishing one Of his own men, whose busi-
ness il was to guard the flag, and by mani
Testing an excited state offeeling before lhs
chief, he convinced him how great he con-
sidered the loss of the symbol of his great
Fa,her's authority. The flag had been
broken loose from the staff by the wind, or
in some other way had become detached,
anI falling overheard, floated down the riv-
er. The Indians. however, saw it before
it tloa,ed very far away; brought it ashore
and spread it out to dry.
On the Gath he was awakened out of his
sleep by the head-ehIef, lie Petit Cor6enu,
who visited him, to ascertain whether any
thing had befallen his party. The Chief
supposed, from seeing the flag in the river,
that all had been killed or tha, some great
disaster had befaIien the party.
The following is the Treaty alluded to:
"At conference held between the Unit
ell States of America and the Sioux nation
of Indians: Lieut., u. M. Pike Of the army
of the United States. and the chiefs and The
warriors OF said tribe, which when ratified
and approved of by the proper authority,
shall! be binding on both parties.
.4rticie !. That the Sioux nation gram!
un,o the United States, for the purpose Of
establishment of military posts, nine miles
square at the mouth Of the ST Croix*, also
from below the confluence Of the Mississip-
pi and St. Peters up :he Mississippi to in
clude the falls Of ST. Anthony, extending
nine miles on each side Of the river, that the
Sioux nation grants to the United States the
full sovereignty and power over said dis
trict forever
Hrt. ?. That in consideration Of the a
boye grants, the United States shall pay
(filled up by the Senate with two thousand
doildrs.)
.frt. 8 The United States promise, on
their part, to permit the Sioux to pass and
repass, hunt, or make other use ofthe said
districts as they have fornIeriy done without
any other exception than those specified
in article first.
| In testimony whereof we, the undersign-
eli, nave ucItOItO SCI Out cCuto,
at the mouth Of the river St. Peters, on the
23d day of September, 1905.
u. VI. PIKE, Ist. Lieut.. and agent at the
the above conference. LIS.
WAY AGO * ENAGEE.
He proceeded to the Falls of ST. Antho-
ny, where his flag was brought to him by
the Indians. t "
Making the portage Of the Falls, he pro-
ceeded in his his boats up the Mississippi;
and on the sixteenth of October he encoun-
tered snow-storu, in which, owing 10
the increased severity Of the cold, bis
men and himself came near perishing. He
was pushing on and straining every nerve
10 reach the river de Corbeau, or Crow
Wing, the highest point that had as yeI
been made by the traders in their canoes
where he intended to winter; but the advanc.
ed state Of the season.and disabled condition
Of his men determined him OH erecting 9
block house for the protection Of his mer
and stores at the place where he then was
on the west hank Of the Mississippi, a shor
distance below the mouth Of Pine creek.
Timber, and game of all kinds, were a.
bundant around him, and large pine trees
suitable "for peroques,' reared their lofty
tTuGkS OIL euucT LdftI I1S Was ttuS Sc
kcured agains, the dangers of starvation; bu
an accident to one Of his boats came nea
,lrpriving him of the means he had provid
ed for killing game. Ga the 2S,h Of Octo
her, one Of his canoes, containing bis. am
munition and baggage, and WHICH he ha'
left in charge Of one of his men, received IS.
lscird- -shock'' and sunk, To preserve hi
powder was of the utmost necessity, and b.
attempted to dry il by spreading il on blank
cts and building large fires around il.
He first attempted to dry some powder il
pots; il blew up, while two or three of hi
men and tent barely escaped destruction.
By carefully drying it on blankets, witt
the fire At proper distance, ne succeede'
in saving"5 tiozen cartridges out Of 30."-
BY the 9Ist Of Oct. he had completely sur
rounded his block house with pickets; AM
laid up good supply Of elk, deer and buffa
10 meat, besides variety Of smaller game
Here he remained until the tenth Of Decem
ber, hunting ut times; at others endeavor
ing tcs lcroase the comforts Of his men
and making preparations for his departur
to the north. a1E.t
With four sleds, on which were his fous
pork, and other provisions, and to each Q
which two men were geared abreast, wit
one peroque, containing his books, annnu
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