The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-07-16
RED WING, Wednesday, July l3.

Inefe arc great many new towns in Min
nesota, but this is not one of them. Red Wing
is as old as the Dakota nation. The name Red
Wing dates far back to some old hero of this
great northwestern tribe, who, perhaps, figured
in the Contests with the Chippewas, the Sacs,
and the Winnebegoes, before the landing of the
Pilgrims--one who, had he been told that pale
laced enterprise would, in days to come, tread
the consecrated ground Of his village home,
would have in his soul despised the craven
heart of him who prophesied. But this is not
to our purpose. We came not here to enquire
into the genealogy Of the Red Wing family, or
as to who was the first Red Wing, or when or
how he lived. 1t is enough to state, that one
of those natural attractions of association with
those we like, enticed US, without intention or
forethought, to leave home Monday morning
by the faithful Nominee, and journey down
stream thus far. Why we are here at time
when strict duty requires our presence in the
NinnesOtian Office. it would not be of interest
to explain, even if we knew,-but so it is. and
the most must be made Of it. This is dull,
rainy afternoon, succeeding pleasant Tuesday.
devoted to profitable and pleasurable excur
sions, (which l will speak anon. Chances of
being, 'on hand for boat going up, should she
pass in the night, are rather slim, although
letter can reach you if may not. So with
pencil and blank leaves Of my memorandum
book, hold forth.
Red Wing, as has been remarked is a very
old place. 1t is the site of an old Dakota vii
lage, on the west side of the Mississippi, fifty
five miles below st. Paul, and six miles above
the head of Lake Pepin. The name is familiar
to all who have Travelled in this region since
the days Of Hennepin: and the site one of the
most eligible and practical on the river for
large business town, to say nothing of the beau
ty and grandeur Of the scenery, and the vast
agricultural advantages of the country which
surroundsit. The white man has placed his ad-
vancing step upon the spot, and the red broth
er has retired The old tepees which stood
here one year ago have been burned to ashes,
and in their stead has risen the comfortable
dwelling, the spacious hotel, and the well-adap-
ted business house. So We march on!
We had pleasant trip hither as matter OF
course. Good boat good officers, good fare and
good people aboard. Among the passengers
we recognized Gov. Hampstead, of Iowa, and
his brother from Arkansas, with many other ia
vorites, ladies and gents, whose names, perhaps,
1t might be wrong to print We will not at
tempt it at any hazard, further than to suggest
to the French gentlemen from Galena, that the
next time he visits St. Paul with company, we
hope he will let some of his friends know he is
in town.
Yesterday morning our party made the ne
cessary equipment for a jaunt into the back
country, some for trout fishing and the others
fnr nvrlorins expedition. To tho lotter
branch belonged. Our party was Mr.. McGin-
mis-, Mr.. VIM. Freedom, Mr.. c. l.. Wilies and the
Messrs. Spates, recently from Illinois, and your
humble servant. The fishermen proper were
the historical number, seven, namely: DR.. Will
ley, Messrs. Walker, Lott and Shelley, of st.
Paul, and DR.. Sweeney and Messrs. Bevans and
Meadows of Red Wing. Our direction was up
the valley of the Cannon river, which empties
into the Mississippi some three or four miles
above Red Wing. After passing over some
most excellent farming land, and the finest nat
ural meadows Of red top have ever seen, We
entered the valley of Spring creek, distant five
miles from town. Soon our angling friends
dismounted and entered upon their sports We
left them and pursued our course up the beau
tiful valley Of Spring creek-whch is some half
mile in width-until we reached the bluffs skirt
ing the head of the stream. Ascending these
bluffs. We found ourselves upon broad expanse
OF rolling prairie. stretching westward and
south and north to the Cannon, the course of
which is marked by q broad belt of excellent
timber This prairie every foot of it, is suscep-
tlble OF being made productive The subsoil is !
CLAY, with dark rich sandy loan of twelve or
fifteen inches on the surface. We rode soutb.
west about six miles, to visit one of the natural
curiosities Of the country-a column of white
sandstone which rises from the apex of a mound
nigh amid the luxuriant verdure of the green
prairie. We will take occasion to speak of this
hereafter.
Beyond, half mile, we came to another fine
spring branch, coursing through the yerdant
meadow and by accident hit upon large
spring near its banks-a welcome haltino- nlace
after ride of two or three hours. Upou exam
NATION, 1t was found to contain more pure, cold
water, fresh from the recesses of the earth. than
would have supplied man and beast of the armv
winch Napoleon marched into Russia. So we
concluded it would be no loss to the spring, or
inc country which its outlet watered, if we and
our Jaded horses rested for half hour and re-
,feshed ourselves at the sparkling fountain.
~ was named Willes' Spring in honor of that
ohe OF our party who first discovered it. The |
vicinity is interspersed with oak openings. The
creek is a branch of the Cannon.
But to return. We took circuitous route
over The same character Of excellent prairie
country, and reached our trouting friends at
nVe O'Clock. They had got through fishing an
hour previous and the spoils of their four hours
sport lay piled upon the grass near the wagon
mhree hundred and 6fty-nine fine large trout.