A farmer's family in the neighborhood of
Prairie du Chien was massacred, and two keel-boats returning down
stream from Fort Snelling were attacked, with some loss of life.
The settlers hastily repaired the old fort and also dispatched
messengers to give the alarm. Galena sent a hundred militiamen; a
battalion came down from Fort Snelling; Governor Cass arrived on
the spot by way of Green Bay; General Atkinson brought up a full
regiment from Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis; and finally
Major Whistler proceeded up the Fox with a portion of the troops
stationed at Fort Howard, on Green Bay.
When all was in readiness, the Winnebagoes were notified that,
unless Red Bird and his principal accomplice, Wekau, were
promptly surrendered, the tribe would be exterminated. The threat
had its intended effect, and the two culprits duly presented
themselves at Whistler's camp on the Fox-Wisconsin portage, in
full savage regalia, and singing their war dirges. Red Bird, who
was an Indian of magnificent physique and lofty bearing, had but
one request to make--that he be not committed to irons--and this
request was granted.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223