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Treaty of Butte des Morts--Rencontre of an Indian with grizzly
bears--Agency site at Elmwood--Its picturesque and sylvan
character--Legislative council of the Territory--Character of its
parties, as hang-back and toe-the-marks--Critical
Reviews--Christmas.
1827. August 11th.--The treaty of Butte des Morts was
signed this day. It completes the system of Indian boundaries, which
was commenced by the treaty of Prairie du Chien, on the 19th of
August, 1825, and continued by the treaty of Fond du Lac of the 5th
of August, 1826. These three conferences, which may, from their
having been concluded in the month of August of the respective
years, be called the Augustic treaties, embody a new course
and policy for keeping the tribes in peace, and are founded on the
most enlarged consideration of the aboriginal right of fee simple to
the soil. They have been held exclusively at the charges and
expenses of the United States, and contain no cession of territory.
As soon as it was signed I embarked for Green Bay, on a gloomy,
drizzling day, and pursued my way to Michilimackinac and the Sault,
without a moment's loss of time. I found the place still active, and
filled with the summer visiting parties of Indians from the Lake
Superior, the Upper Mississippi, and even from Pembina and the
plains of Red River of the North.
Among the latter I observed a small and lithe Indian called
Annamikens, or Little Thunder, also called Joseph, whose face had
been terribly lacerated in a contest on the plains west of Pembina,
with grizzly bears. The wounds were now closed, but the
disfiguration was permanent. He told me the following story of the
affair:--
The Sioux, Chippewas, Assinaboines, Crees, and Mandans, called by
him in general Miggaudiwag, which means fighters, were at variance.
About 400 half-breeds and 100 Chippewas went out from Pembina to
make peace, and hunt the buffalo.
On the fourth day's march they reached the open plains, and met a
large body of Assinaboines and Crees encamped. Their camp was fixed
on eligible ground, and the lodges extended across the plain.
Annamikens and his followers encamped with them. After they had
encamped, they observed every hour during the night that fresh
arrivals of Assinaboines and Crees took place. On the third day of
their encampment he was sent for to Cuthbert Grant's tent, where he
found a large circle of Indians formed, and all things in readiness
for a council of the three nations, Assinaboines, Chippewas, and
Crees. Grant was the trader of the Pembina metifs, and had followed
them out. In the centre of the ring, buffalo robes were spread, and
he with others was given a seat there. The object of this council
was to decide upon a plan to attack a body of 200 Sioux lodges,
which had been discovered at half a day's ride on horseback distant.
The principal chiefs, &c., were agreed as to the propriety of an
attack. He was asked to unite with them. He said he felt not only
for the chiefs and young men, but also for the women and children,
hereby expressing his dissent. Two of the principal chiefs stood up,
each holding a pipe. He was then asked to take one of the pipes and
hand it to the bravest man, giving him the power to elect the war
chief. He gave it to one he knew to be brave.
This chief had no sooner received it than he presented it to
Francis, his brother, to hand it round, thereby hoping that he would
not refuse to smoke the war-pipe when handed by his brother. He took
the pipe in both hands and smoked, then handed it to his brother,
who also smoked it, and handed it to a chief who stood next to him,
and it went round. He said, however, after smoking, "I do not
consent to go to war, I am against it." After some talk the council
broke up, it beginning to be late. At night he heard that some
movement was on foot. He went to the quarter of the camp indicated,
and used his influence against the plan. He had scarcely reached his
tent when other reports of a like nature were brought from various
parts of the camp, and he was most of the night busied in
controverting the war spirit.
In the morning he made a descent through the camp, speaking openly
against the meditated attack on the Sioux, and concluded by saying
that for himself and the metifs, he had one thing to say, that they
wished to preserve peace with all, and they should join and fight
for the nation first attacked, and against whoever might raise a
war-club. About 100 Crees, however, were determined to go, and in
about four hours the whole camp was broken up and dispersed. He
broke up his camp rather in anger, mounted his horse, put his family
in the cart, and set out for home. Many followed him. Francis, not
seeing his brother go, also set out, and many followed him, a
greater number in fact than had followed Joseph. At night the
hunters from each party met, and they found the two parties had
traveled the same distance. On hearing this Francis sent a despatch
in the morning to his brother, but they found he had departed, and,
the country being a grassy plain, they could not exactly tell their
course.
Meantime Joseph and his party had reached a point of woods, being
the first woods seen since leaving Pembina, at about nine o'clock in
the morning. Here they encamped at this early hour. He caught two
wild geese, and told his wife to cook them. His followers all
dispersed to hunt buffalo, as they were plenty about. He then put a
new flint in his gun, and stripped himself all but his breech-cloth,
and went out to explore the route he should pass on the next day.
He came into a ravine, and discovered three white bears' lairs
fresh, saw several carcasses of buffaloes lying round, more or less
eaten and decayed, and smelt quite a stench from them. One
particularly was fresh killed, and partly eaten by the bears. He
passed on across a brook, and after looking farther returned to the
lairs. On returning to the brook he found several sticks in the way
of his passage for the carts on the following day, which he
commenced removing, having set his gun against a tree. One stick
being larger than the rest, some exertion was necessary to displace
it, and while in the act of doing this he heard a noise of some
animal, and saw at a distance what he took to be a buffalo, as these
animals were plenty, and running in all directions. He then took up
his gun and went on, when the sounds were repeated close behind him,
and looking over his shoulder he saw three white bears in full
pursuit of him.
He turned, cocked his gun, and took deliberate aim at the head of
the foremost, which proved to be the dam, and his gun missed fire.
He re-cocked his piece and again snapped. At this moment the bear
was so near that the muzzle nearly touched it. He knows not exactly
how the bear struck him, but at the next moment his gun flew in one
direction and he was cast about ten feet in another. He lit on his
feet. The bear then raised on her paws and took his head in her
mouth, closing her jaws, not with force, but just sufficient to make
the tusks enter the top of his shoulders. He at this moment, with
the impulse of fear, put up his hands and seized the bear by her
head, and, making a violent exertion, threw her from her balance to
one side; in the act of falling she let go his head.
At this time one of the cubs struck his right leg, being covered
with metasses of their leather, and drew him down upon the
ground, and he fell upon his right side, partly on his right arm.
The right arm, which was extended in falling, was now drawn under
his body by another blow from one of the cubs, and his hand was by
this motion brought into contact with the handle of his knife (a
large couteau used for cutting up buffalo-meat), and this
bringing the knife to his recollection, he drew it, and struck a
back-handed blow into the right side of the dam, whom he still held
by the hair with his left. The knife went in to the hilt. On
withdrawing it, one of the cubs struck his right hand, her nails
piercing right through it in several places. He then let go of the
dam and took the knife in his left hand, and made a pass at the cub,
and struck it about half its length, the knife going into it, it
being very bloody. The stroke was impeded, and the knife partly
slipped. The left arm was then struck by one of the cubs, and the
knife dropped from his grasp. He was now left with his naked hand to
make such resistance as he could. The dam now struck him upon the
abdomen with a force that deprived him for awhile of breath, and
tore it open, so that when he rose his bowels fell upon his knees.
He at first supposed that it was his powder-horn that had fallen
upon his knees, but looking down, saw his entrails. The dam then
repeated her blow, striking him upon the left cheek, the forenail
entering just below the left eye, and tore out the cheek-bone, a
part of the jaw, including three teeth, maimed his tongue, and tore
down the flesh so that it hung upon his left shoulder.
He now fell back exhausted with the loss of blood, and being
conquered, the bears ceased to molest him. But consciousness was not
gone; he heard them walk off. He lay some time. He opened and shut
his hands, and found he had not lost the use of them. He moved his
neck, and found it had its natural motion. He then raised himself up
into a sitting posture, and gathering up some grass, put it first to
his left eye and cheek to wipe off the blood, but found that it
struck the bone. He then passed it to his right cheek, wiped down
the blood, and opening his eye, found he could see clearly. He saw
his gun, powder-horn, and knife scattered about. He then got up,
having bound his wounds.
He had at this time no clothing upon his body but the moccasin upon
his left foot. He took his gun, re-primed it, and while in the act
of priming, heard the peculiar noise this animal utters, and
turning, saw the old bear close upon him. He put the muzzle into her
mouth, and again missed fire. All hope now was lost, and all idea of
resistance. They pawed and tore him at will, he knows not how long.
At one time they seized him by the neck and dragged him some
distance. They then once more left him.
After they left him, he lay some time. He then bethought himself
that possibly he might still be able to rise and return to his camp,
which was not distant. After some exertion and preparation, he got
up, and again took his gun and powder-horn and knife. He picked the
flint, addressing his gun, saying, "that the bears could not kill
it, and that he hoped the gun would have more courage," &c., and
putting it on his shoulder, commenced his way to his camp.
He had not proceeded far when the snorting of the old dam before him
reminded him of his danger. He found his limbs stiff and swollen,
and that he could not bring up the gun to his shoulder to take aim.
He held it before him, and when the dam, still in front, advanced
near him, fired at her head, and the ball entered just behind the
shoulder. She fell dead. He saw the smoke issue from the wound.
One of the yearlings now rose on his hind paws and growled. He
raised his knife (which was in his left hand, upon which the gun
rested on firing), and made a pass at the bear, which the latter
avoided by throwing himself to one side. The third bear now rose up
before him, but at a greater distance than the second, and he made a
pass at him, but found him out of reach. Yet the bear threw himself
to one side, as the former had done.
Having them now on the run, he followed a short distance, but soon
felt very faint. A darkness seemed before his eyes, and he sank
down. In this act the blood gushed from his body. This appeared to
relieve him. After sitting some time, he rose and proceeded
homeward. He saw no more of the two yearling bears. Before reaching
the lodge, he was met by a party who had been seeking him. As he
walked along, he felt something striking the calf of his right leg,
and found it to be a piece of flesh from his thigh behind. There
were six open holes in his body through which air escaped, one in
each side, one in his breast, abdomen, and stomach, besides the torn
cheek. He found, on reaching home, he could not speak, but, after
being bandaged, his utterance revived. On the next day the physician
from the forks of Red River arrived and attended him.
20th. Annamikens resumed his narrative:--
"On the next day, I have said, the doctor arrived, but not having
medicine sufficient to dress all my wounds, he put what he had on
the principal wounds. On the same day my brother and the party who
had separated on the council-ground also arrived. They remained that
and the next day, and on the third day all moved for Pembina. To
carry me they constructed a litter, carried by four persons; but I
found the motion too great to endure. They then formed a bier by
fastening two poles to a horse's sides, and placing such fixtures
upon them, behind the horse, as to permit my being carried. I found
this motion easier to endure. The Chippewas accompanied me, and were
resolved, if I died, to go immediately to war against the Sioux. My
condition was, at this moment, such that they hourly expected my
death. I was prepared for it, and directed that I should be buried
at the spot where I might die. On the third day we reached Pembina.
For nine days I resisted food, feigning that I could not eat, but
wishing to starve myself, as I was so disfigured and injured that I
had no wish to survive, and would have been ashamed to show myself
in such a state. On the ninth day my hunger was so great that I
called for a piece of fish, and swallowed it; in about two hours
after I called for another piece of fish, and also ate it. Six days
after my arrival, Mr. Plavier, and another priest from Red River,
arrived to baptize me. I resisted, saying that if there was no hope
of living I would consent, but not otherwise. After fifteen days, I
was so much recovered that the priest returned, as I had every
appearance of recovery. I would neither permit white nor Indian
doctors to attend me after my arrival; but had myself regularly
washed in cold water, my wounds kept clean, and the bandages
properly attended to. In about one month from the time I could walk;
but it was two years before the wounds were closed."
I requested Dr. Z. Pitcher, the Post surgeon, to examine Annamikens,
with a view to test the narrative, and to determine on the capacity
of the human frame to survive such wounds. He found portions of the
cheek-bones gone, and cicatrices of fearful extent upon that and
other parts of the body, which gave the narrative the appearance of
truthfulness.
On returning from Green Bay, I gave my attention, with renewed
interest, to the means of expediting the completion of the Agency
buildings, and occupying the lot and grounds. I have alluded to the
success of my reference of this subject to the Secretary of War, in
1825. A site was selected on a handsomely elevated bank of the
river, covered with elms, about half a mile east of the fort, where
the foundation of a spacious building and office were laid in the
autumn of 1826, and the frame raised as early in the ensuing spring
as the snow left the ground.
Few sites command a more varied or magnificient view. The broad and
limpid St. Mary, nearly a mile wide, runs in front of the grounds.
The Falls, whose murmuring sound falls pleasantly on the ear, are in
plain view. The wide vista of waters is perpetually filled by canoes
and boats passing across to the opposite settlement on the British
shore. The picturesque Indian costume gives an oriental cast to the
moving panorama. The azure mountains of Lake Superior rise in the
distance. Sailing vessels and steamboats from Detroit, Cleaveland,
and Buffalo, occasionally glide by, and to this wide and magnificent
view, as seen by daylight, by sunset, and by moonlight, the frequent
displays of aurora borealis give an attraction of no ordinary force.
In selecting this spot, I had left standing a large part of the fine
elms, maples, mountain ash, and other native forest trees, and the
building was, in fact, embowered by tall clumps of the richest
foliage. I indulged an early taste in horticulture, and planting
trees to add to the natural attractions of the spot, which, from the
chief trees upon it, was named "Elmwood," and every flowering plant
and fruit that would thrive in the climate, was tried. Part of the
grounds were laid down in grass. Portions of them on the water's
edge that were low and quaggy, were sowed with the redtop, which
will thrive in very moist soil, and gives it firmness. The building
was ample, containing fifteen rooms, including the office, and was
executed, in all respects, in the best modern style.
In addition to these arrangements for insuring domestic comfort and
official respect, my agency abroad among the tribes was now well
established, to the utmost sources of the Mississippi. The name and
power of "Chimoqemon" (American) among the northern tribes, was no
longer a term of derision, or uncertainty of character. The military
post established at these ancient falls, where the power of France
was first revealed as early as 1652; the numerous journeys I had
made into the interior, often in company with the highest civil and
military functionaries; the presents annually issued; the firm basis
of a commissariat for all visiting and indigent Indians; the
mechanics employed for their benefit; the control exercised over the
fur traders, and the general effects of American opinions and
manners; had placed the agency in the very highest point of view. It
was a frontier agency, in immediate juxtaposition with Canada and
Hudson's Bay, fifteen hundred miles of whose boundary closed upon
them, separated only by the chain of lakes and rivers. Questions of
national policy frequently came up, and tended much to augment the
interest, which grew out of the national intercourse.
I had now attained that position of repose and quiet which were so
congenial to my mind. The influence I exercised; the respect I
enjoyed, both as an officer and as a scientific and literary man:
every circumstance, in fact, that can add to the enjoyment of a man
of moderate desires, seeking to run no political race, was
calculated to insure my happiness. And I was happy. No part of my
life had so completely all the elements of entire contentment, as my
residence at the wild and picturesque homestead of Elmwood. I
removed my family to this spot in October, having now a little
daughter to enlarge my family circle, and take away, in a measure,
the solitariness effected by the loss of my son, William Henry.
I resumed my Indian researches with twofold interest. The public
duties of an agent for Indian affairs, if an industrious man, leave
him a good deal of leisure on his hands, and, in a position so
remote as this, if a man have no inclination for studies or belles
lettres, he must often be puzzled to employ his leisure. I amused
myself by passing from one literary study to another, and this is
ever refreshing to the mind, which tires of one thing. Thus, such
amusements as the Appeal of Pontiac, Rise of the West, and
the Man of Bronze, found place among graver matters. In this
manner, a man without literary society may amuse and instruct
himself.
Nov. 1st. I have been elected a member of the Legislative
Council of the territory--an office not solicited, and which is not
declined. Party spirit has not yet reached and distracted this
territory. So far as I know, political divisions of a general
character, have not entered into society. The chief magistrate is an
eminently conservative man, and by his moderation of tone and
suavity of manners, has been instrumental in keeping political
society in a state of tranquillity. All our parties have been
founded on personal preference. If there has been any more general
principles developed in the legislature, it has been a promptly
debt paying, and a not promptly debt paying party--a
non divorce, and a divorce party. I have been ever of the
former class of thinkers; and shall let my votes tell for the right
and good old way--i.e. pay your debts and keep your wife.
Dec. 22d. My study of the Indian language and history has not
only enlarged my own sources of intellectual gratification, but it
has, without my seeking it, procured me a number of highly
intellectual philosophic correspondents, whose letters operate as an
aliment to further exertion. My natural assiduity is thus
continually stimulated, and I find myself begrudging a single hour,
spent in gossiping hum-drum society--for even here there is
society, or an apology for society.
The editor of the North American Review, inviting me to write
for its pages, says (Sept. 1st): "Your knowledge and experience will
enable you to say much concerning the western country, and its
aboriginal inhabitants, which will be interesting to the community
of readers. You cannot be too full in your facts and reflections on
Indians and Indian character."
Judge H. Chipman, of Detroit, says (Oct. 21st): "If it were just
cause of offence, that men should estimate differently the merits of
opposing candidates, popular elections would be the greatest curse
that could be inflicted upon a people."
Mr. Everett (Hon. E.) says: "I beg leave to unite with Mr. Sparks in
expressing the hope that you will become a contributor to its pages
(North American Review), as often as your leisure, the
seasonableness of topics, and the appearance of works to be noticed,
may admit."
24th. This day brought one of Mr. Johnston's warm-hearted
notes, to take a Christmas dinner with him to-morrow. "I
anticipate," he says, "great pleasure in seeing many dear relatives
about me, on one of the greatest festivals the world has ever
witnessed."
It was the last festival of that kind he ever enjoyed, though
nothing could be further from our imaginations then; for before its
recurrence in 1828, we were called to follow his body to the grave.
This site includes some historical
materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language
of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the
historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in
any way endorse the stereotypes implied.
Personal Memoirs of a Residence of Thirty Years with the
Indian Tribes on the American Frontiers, 1851
Thirty
Years with the Indians
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