AlM'l.NPIX. 171 



troops into the country. This demand, I afterward learned from 

 the Indians at Rice Lake, ami from i lotfvenatioa with General 

 8 at at Prairie du Chien, had not been made, either bJF 



himself or by the commanding officer; and the report had proba- 

 bly arisen from ;i conversation held by a subaltern officer in com- 

 mand of | wood or timber-party near the mouth of the Chippt wa 

 Ki\t r, with Mime Chippewaa who were casually met. It- < S 

 however, w < re tti alarm them, and to lead them to di <on- 



ciliation with tlie Menomonu -. I r- .piested them to h>se no time 

 in sending tobacco to the Menomonies, and adjusting this defer- 

 ence. Mozojeed observed that the murder of the Menomonie had 

 been committed by t person n<>n compos, and he deplored the 

 folly of it, and disclaimed all agency in it for himself and his 

 band. The murderer, I believe, belonged to his band ; he desired 

 a reconciliation. He also said the measures adopted at Yellow 

 River, to bring about a firm peace with the JSioux, had his fullest 

 approbation, and that nothing on his part should be wanting to 

 promote a result in every \u w bo wisi and so advantageous to 

 the Indians. In this sentiment, Wabezhais and Odabossa, who 

 made distinct speeches, also concurred. They conlirmed their 

 words by pipes, and all the assembly made an audible assent. I 

 invested Mozojeed with a flag and a medal, that he might exert 

 the influence he has acquired among the Indians beneficially for 

 them and for us, and that his hands might thus be officially 

 strengthened to accomplish the work of pacification. I then dis- 

 tributed presents to the chiefs, warriors, women, and children, in 

 the order of their being seated, and immediately embarked, leaving 

 them under a lively and enlivened sense of the good-will and friend- 

 ship of the American government, on this first official visit to 

 them, and with a sincere disposition, so far as could be judged, to 

 act in obedience to its expressed and known wishes. 



The Indians at Torch Lake being dispersed, ami my message 

 to them not baying been delivered, front this uncertainty of their 

 location, I should have found reasons lor not proceeding in that 

 direction, independent of the actual and known difficulties of the 

 route at that time. I was -:ill apprehensive that my appearance had 

 not l V, naba, and lost no 



time in proceeding to las \ ill age on the Red Cedar fork. We 



36 



