Page 177 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

CHILDS' RECOLLECTTONS.
woman, but 001. WHISTLER would not permit it, so I had to
discharge my female warrior very much against my will. We
all went up Fox River in boats and canoes; I was placed in
the advance boat, to loolr out ahead for breakers. Our pro-
gress was slow, but we at length arrived at the Portage, with
our scalps all safe on our heads.
We encamped on the ground where Fort Winnebago was
built in the following year, 1828; the Winnebagoes were
encamped on the Wisconsin, where Portage City is now located
and were several hundred strong. We had several rumors that
they were determined not to surrender thc murderers, but to
give us battle. We had been there but a few days when we
heard that General ATKINSON was on his way to join us,
ascending the Wisconsin in boats, The Winnebagoes heard
the news of ATPINSON'S approach the day before we did; we
discovered a great stir in the Winneba.go camp, shouting,
hallooing and dancing, and we soon after discovered a party of
thirty warriors leave their camp and advanced towards oure.
Col. WHISTLER ordered the whole detachment under arms. I
was the officer of the guard; he ordered me to take the guard,
and go down to the river, and ascertain what the Winnebagoes
wanted. They soon arrived, singing and shouting the dcath-
song. I crossed the river with my guard and an interpreter.
They informed me that they had come to deliver up the mur-
derers; I received them, recrossed the river, tvhen they showed
me the three murderers, and said that those were the guilty
ones. The principal one was called the EED-BIRD, IIe was
dressed in fine style, having on a suit made of neatly dressed
buffalo skins, perfectly white, and as soft as a kid-glove; and
on each shoulder, to supply the place of an epaulette, was
fastened a preserved red bird-hence the name of this noted
chief, RED BIRD. The other two India~ls were well dressed.
While I was engaged in putting up a guard-tent, we heard
the roar of cannon from Gcn. ATKIXSON'S detachment, and
soon after Gen. DODGE arrived with a large company of
mounted volunteers from the Lead Mines. The Indian pris-