Page 164 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

160 WISCONS~N IIISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

kept liquor, he asked me if I sold any to the soldiers? I
frankly confessed that I had done so, when he told me that I
must not do so any more, and advised me to close up my
business and leave the country, or I would be sent out.
I asked him who would send me out? He said that the com-
manding officer would. Mounting his horse, he still made use
of abusive language. By this time my Zbenezer got up to the
boiling point, when I sprang towards him with the intention of
pulling him off of his horso, and giving him a sound thrashing;
but he was too quick for me, for he put spurs to his horse, and
was soonout of my reach.
The next day a sergeant and file of men made their appear-
ance to apprehend me and convey me to the fort. The ser-
geant was a fine fellow, and I reasoned with him, asserting
that I was a free born Yankee, in my own castle, and should
not go to the fort alive; and added, that I did not wish to have
any trouble with him, and if the commanding officer wished to
see me he had better come where I was. I then treated the
sergeant and his men, and they left me unmolested. The
sergeant afterwards told me that when he reported to the com-
manding officer, the latter flew into a great passion, charging
the sergeant with cowardice, and declaring that he would go
himself and take me dead or alive, and send me out of the
country. I presume, up011 the sober second thought, he con-
cluded it would be the better part of valor to let me alone, for
I never heard anything more about sending me out of tho
country. By way of punishment, he issued an order forbid-
ding me entering the fort-a thing I did not care to do. So
the prohibition amounted to nothing. After that, the soldiers'
wives would come and buy sugar of' me, first carefully depos-
iting a two quart canteen well filled with whiskey in the
bottom of a large tin kettle, and packing the sugar on top, and
smuggle it into the fort. The sentinel would hail them as they
were re-entering the fort to learn what thoy had; when they
would answer sugar, and looking into the pail the sentinel
mould Jet them pass. I remained unmolested for six months,