NARRATIVE,* 41 



willingness to go, as additional guides. Seven engages and a 

 cook, were added to this liunber, making, with Lieut. J. Allen, 

 (who declared he could pngfa his men no farther, Doet. Douglass 

 Houghton, the Reverend Win. T. Boutwell, Mr. George 

 Johnston, and myself,) sixteen pers on s. These, with their trav- 

 elling beds, were distributed among five canoes, with provisions 

 for ten days, a tent and poles, oil cloth, mess basket, tea-ket- 

 tle, flag and stall", a medicine chest, some instruments, an herba- 

 rium, fowling pieces, and a few r Indian presents. The detach- 

 ment of infantry was left in their encampment on the island, 

 under the command of their non-commissioned officer. The re- 

 mainder of the party, with the baggage and travelling equipment, 

 was placed in charge of Mr. Le Default, a clerk of one of the 

 upper posts of trade, who was attached to the expedition from 

 Fond du Lac, and obligingly undertook the acquisition of cer- 

 tain points of information, during the contemplated absence. 



While these arrangements were in process, a mixed group of 

 men, women, and children, from the Indian village, thronged 

 our encampment. Among them I observed the widow of a 

 Chippewa warrior, who had been killed some three or four 

 weeks previous, in the foray of the Leech Lake war party, in 

 the Sioux country. She was accompanied by her children and 

 appeared dejected. I asked one of the Indians the place of her 

 residence. He replied, here ; that her husband had been a 

 brave warrior, and went, on the call of the Leech Lake chief, 

 with a number of volunteers, to join the party. I asked him, 

 of what number the party consisted ? He replied, about one 

 hundred. Who had led them ? The Goulle Platte. Where 

 they had met the enemy ? South of the head of Leaf river. 

 What had been the result of the action ! They were victo- 

 rious, having taken three scalps on the field, and lost but one, 

 being the husband of the widow referred to. The action had 

 however, been at long shot-, with frequent changes of position, 

 and the enemy had finally fled to a village for reinforcement. 

 The Chippewas took this opportunity to retreat, and, after con- 







