Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-08-20
From the 3OiA Observation-Disclosures.
DaeOtah Territory. Hen
Correspondence OF the State Journal.


FoRT WADswoRrH, DAcorA TERs,,o,
July 20, 1894
The 10th Wisconsin volunteers bavipgb..
so long stationed at Camp Randall, had :. e0
ed many intimate associations. On,
had become as familiar with you as bon.- lDl1e
words. Those associations, we trns, 0a
not yet lost their interest at homo ave
the slightly overdrawn picture, 1 no,;oa. sf
your paper, of the suferings endured !,
portion Of our command on our trip hitbs,,
am tempted to intrude myself on you,
thence, deeming that a brief descriptior
the locality of the destined goal in the f.,.s
land of the Dacotahs, to which the CONN.,.
of Major Clowney has joined, will not BE- ~
acceptable.
Fort Wadsworth is to be located .,
point between 45e and 4O0 north latitpds
and in longitude 97o west, amid clusta, :,
beautiful lakes, laid down at random on w. W
maps, on the Coteau des Prairies. Awas
from these lakes the country is bare al
broken, the soil poor and rocky, the vegeta-
ton consisting principally of stunted bHfsIo
grass and the treacherous cactus plant r.,
these dry hills, surrounded by grassy, fertila
valleys, and small groves of stately trees
form enchanting pictures, fit scenes for the
inspiration of poet or painter. You, with
your beautiful lakes at Madison, may be able
to form some conception of the scene Fan.
cy cluster of beautiful lakes, such as Lake
Mendoza, of clear, sparkling water, and
| beach of sand and gravel; around the shores
| the landscape dotted with every variety Of
hill, valley, forest and prairie; around tba
margin, capes, promontories and peninsulas
covered with groves; islands rising IN n
oval forms from the centre, covered with
trees and luxuriant shrubbery; then, in the
various windings and turnings in the laby.
rinth, one sees straits, harbors, BAYS and
channels, all in a miniature picture. The
effect of these visions of beauty is onlv
heightened by the uninviting wilderness sur.
rounding.
OF many of these Landscapes, ours is cbos.
: en- one. In beauty think it excels any
have seen, and as defensive position, when
fortified with proper care and guarded by
soldierly vigilance, with a sufficiency of stores
on hand, we think it may bid defiance to the
whole Sioux nation, with their savage con
federates thrown in. We are on a table.
land, nestled among cluster of these gems
of the desert, little peninsula connected
with the main land by strip of but a few
rods wide. Our peninsula extends from
north to south about the distance of a mile
and from east to west not quite half a mile
In the centre of this the grounds are laid out
for the fort. A square, SIC feet deep by 6l0
feet wide, is to be occupied by the various
buildings of the fort, and outside of this.
entertainments and rife-pits are being thrown
up.
The scenery on each side of us is of char
acter previously described. Hills, valleys.
groves and mild placid waters. Groves mar
rowing into thin strips, sometimes in straight
margins, at others crescent shaped, then
widening out into broad belt.
From the point of view occupied by our
company on the east, we behold a picture ex-
ceiling anything we have ever seen. At our
feet, separated by a steep grade, is a large
lake about a quarter of mile distant, strip
of timber extends out into the lake. In this
there is a break about the centre, revealing
another sheet of water beyond; beyond this,
timber and water again: thus continuing
succession of lakes, points, parks, and groves
terminating in hills, in back ground, at "a
misty distance of Is miles.
In the center of our parade ground, or
square to be enclosed by the fort, is circu-
lar mound of proportions so uniform that one
would suppose them to be thrswn up by the
hand of a gardner. On this little mound oc-
CURED the following little incident:
July 29tb, 1864.
I-ha-o-jaw-jaw, chief of the Sissatoes, of
Lac Traverse Sioux, accompanied by body
guard of brawny red men, dressed in gaudy
att;re-some in buckskir hunting shirts, orna-
| mented with fine bead work, some with red
blankets thrown around their bare shoulders
| some with red sashes wound around their
heads, others with antique head dresses, or
namented with feathers and other trinkets
pleasing to the eye of the savage. They rode
into camp in true military style, alighted
from their ponies and were received in the
center of the camp ground by Major ClOwny
Adjutant Priestley and an interpreter. The
Indians, Major, Adjutant and interpreter sat
down on grassy knoll, forming little circle
on the ground. After sitting in grave silence
for few moments, the soldiers meanwhile
being kept at a respectful distance by the
guard, Chief I-ha-o;jaw.jaw arose and ap-
preached the Major, shook him by the hand,
likewise afterward the Adjutant and interpre-
ter. After the chief, each of the warriors,
according to rank, arose successfully and
shook hands with the Major, Adjutant and in
terpreter. The ceremony of shaking hands
being ended, I-ha-o- jaw-jaw again arose, ap-
preached the Major and made a speech as fol-
lows:
ave have never been as well satisfied as
now. Whatever happened below was not the
work of my band. We did not join in the
council to massacre the whites. We are not
responsible for it. Our fear of the conse-
quences of it drove US away. We hear that
our Great Father has permitted those who
did not join in the former massacre, to hold
| their former intercourse with the whites.
This affords the great satisfaction speak Of
We see you now, and it is like seeing our
Great Father. We are much pleased at the
meeting. Our Great Father has very long
| arm, and it has reached US here-we are IN
der its shadow to-day. We can only live
when under the influence of our Great Faith
| ers hand. We look upon ourselves as the
| people of our Great Father. The Indians of
| the Northwest have a difficulty--we are
ready to espouse the cause of the whites To
the Great Father, whose representative you
| are to us, we go for protection and care. We
have been driven from our fields and hunting
| grounds. We could not plant our corn-we
do not know how we are to live through the
| coming winter. We wish this to be made
known to our great father, that we suffer not
| and die not for want of food"
We were not present to hear the reply of
the Major, but understood that I-ha-O.jaw- Jaw
was promised protection and that his state
ment with regard to food should be sent to
the Great Father for consideration
DACOTAH.
| P. S.-The ridiculous picture drawn of our
sufferings from Fort Smelling to Fort Ridgley