'2*28 aitendix. 



VI. 



Office Indian Agency, 

 Sault Ste. Marie, December 3, 1832. 



Elbert Herring, Esq., 



Office of Indian Affairs, Washington. 



Sir : 



The condition of the Indians, situated in the area of country 



traversed by the St. Croix and Chippewa Rivers, has not essentially 



varied since the date of the report, which I had the honor to address to the 



Department, on the 22nd of September, 183 1 .* I beg leave now to solicit 



your attention to the observations made during my recent visit to the 



bands living northwest of that point in our geography. 



From a very early period, war has existed between the Chippewas 

 and Sioux, and although the condition of independent bands, separated 

 by local position and local interests, has produced internal discord among 

 themselves, they have united as nations, in defending their respective 

 frontiers, and have not hesitated to make inroads, into the hunting 

 grounds of each other, whenever circumstances have favored them. 



The Chippewas assert, that their warfare has been one of self de- 

 fence, and that their inroads have been the inevitable consequence of 

 the determination to maintain their territorial rights. The Sioux com- 

 plain that their hunting grounds have been intruded on, and that they 

 cannot restrain their warriors. Each party lays claim to forbearance 

 and generosity. Neither appears to omit any opportunity of inflicting 

 injury on the other. Every blow is a fresh invitation to aggression. 

 A state of perpetual insecurity and alarm is the consequence. Time 

 has exasperated their feelings. And much of the severity of their 

 present condition, is directly owing to the pertinacity with which the 

 contest has been kept up. 



In this state, the Chippewas, who are particularly the object of this 

 report, were found by our government in 1806, who had, the year be- 

 fore, directed the late General Pike, to visit the Upper Mississippi. 

 Owing to their remote position, little attention was, however, bestowed 

 upon them till the summer of 1820, when the present Secretary of 

 War, who then administered the government of Michigan, conducted an 

 expedition through the country. By his recommendation a military 

 post and agency were established on the avenue of their trade, at the 



- 1 " Vide sequel. 



