FORT WINNEBAGO
Major and Mrs. Twiggs, and a few of the younger officers (for nearly
all of the older ones were absent), with our brother Robert, or, as he
is called throughout all the Indian tribes, "Bob," gave us a cordial
welcome--how cordial those alone can know who have come, like us, to
a remote, isolated home in the wilderness. The Major insisted on our
taking possession at once of vacant quarters in the fort, instead of at
"the Agency," as had been proposed.
"No--we must be under the same roof with them. Mrs. Twiggs had been
without a companion of her own sex for more than four months, and would
certainly not hear of a separation now. But we must be their guests
until the arrival of the boats containing our furniture," which, under
the care of our old acquaintance, Hamilton Arndt, was making its way
slowly up from Green Bay.
A dinner had been prepared for us. This is one of the advantages of the
zig-zag approach by the Fox River--travellers never take their friends
by surprise--and when the whole circle sat down to the hospitable
board, we were indeed a merry company.
After dinner Mrs. Twiggs showed me the quarters assigned to us, on the
opposite side of the spacious hall. They consisted of two large rooms
on each of the three floors or stories of the building. On the ground
floor the front room was vacant. The one in the rear was to be the
sleeping apartment, as was evident from a huge, unwieldy bedstead,
of proportions amply sufficient to have accommodated Og, the King of
Bashan, with Mrs. Og and the children into the bargain. We could not
repress our laughter, but the bedstead was nothing to another structure
which occupied a second corner of the apartment.
This edifice had been built under the immediate superintendence of
one of our young lieutenants, and it was plain to be seen that upon
it both he and the soldiers who fabricated it had exhausted all their
architectural skill. The timbers of which it was composed had been
grooved and carved; the pillars that supported the front swelled in and
out in a most fanciful manner; the doors were not only panelled, but
radiated in a way to excite the admiration of all unsophisticated eyes.
A similar piece of workmanship had been erected in each set of quarters
to supply the deficiency of closets, an inconvenience which had never
occurred, until too late, to the bachelors who planned them. The three
apartments of which each structure was composed, were unquestionably
designed for clothes-press, store-room, and china-closet; such, at
least, were the uses to which Mrs. Twiggs had appropriated the one
assigned to her. There was this slight difficulty, that in the latter
the shelves were too close to admit of setting in even a gravy-boat,
but they made up in number what was wanting in space. We christened the
whole affair, in honor of its projector, a "Davis;" thus placing the
first laurel on the brow of one who was afterwards to signalize himself
at Buena Vista, and in the Cabinet of his country.[42]
The bold promontory on which Fort Winnebago was built looked down upon
the extended prairie and the Fox River on one side, and on the other
stretched away into the thickly wooded ridge that led off to Belle
Fontaine and Lake Puckaway.
In front lay an extent of meadow, across which was the Portage road, of
about two miles in length, leading between the Fox and the Wisconsin
rivers. Teams of oxen and a driver were kept at the Agency by the
Government, to transport the canoes of the Indians across this place,
which at many seasons was wet, miry, and almost impassable.[43]
The woods were now brilliant with the many tints of autumn, and the
scene around was further enlivened by groups of Indians, in all
directions, and their lodges, which were scattered here and there, in
the vicinity of the Agency buildings. On the low grounds might be seen
the white tents of the traders, already prepared to furnish winter
supplies to the Indians, in exchange for the annuity money they were
about to receive.
A great concourse had been for many days assembling in anticipation
of the payment, which was expected to take place as soon as
Shaw-nee-aw-kee should arrive with the silver.
Preparatory to this event, the great chief of the nation, Four-Legs,
whose village we had passed at the entrance to Winnebago Lake, had
thought proper to take a little carouse, as is too apt to be the
custom when the savages come into the neighborhood of a sutler's
establishment. In the present instance, the facilities for a season of
intoxication had been augmented by the presence on the ground of some
traders, too regardless of the very stringent laws prohibiting the sale
of liquor to the Indians.
Poor Four-Legs could not stand this full tide of prosperity. Unchecked
by the presence of his "father," the agent, he carried his indulgence
to such excess that he fell a victim in the course of a few days. His
funeral had been celebrated with unusual pomp the day before our
arrival, and great was my disappointment at finding myself too late to
witness all the ceremonies.
His body, according to their custom, having been wrapped in a blanket,
and placed in a rude coffin, along with his guns, tomahawk, pipes, and
a quantity of tobacco, had been carried to the most elevated point of
the hill opposite the fort, followed by an immense procession of his
people, whooping, beating their drums, howling, and making altogether
what is emphatically termed a "_pow-wow_."
After the interment of the body a stake was planted at its head, on
which was painted in vermilion a series of hieroglyphics, descriptive
of the great deeds and events of his life. The whole was then
surrounded with pickets of the trunks of the tamarack trees, and hither
the friends would come for many successive days to renew the expression
of their grief, and to throw over the grave tobacco and other offerings
to the Great Spirit.
It was a consolation to find that, although delayed, we were yet in
time to furnish a quantity of white cotton for a flag to wave over
the grave, and also to pay a considerable bill at the sutler's, for
the different articles that had been found necessary for the funeral
parade--it being a duty expected of their father to bury the dead
suitably.
The funeral observances in honor of the chief had not yet ceased.
Throughout the day, and all that night, the sound of instruments,
mingled with doleful lamentations, and with the discordant whoops and
yells of those in a partial state of intoxication, filled the air, and
disturbed our repose. To these were added occasionally the plaintive
sounds of the Indian flute, upon which the young savage plays when he
is in love. Grief and whiskey had made their hearts tender, and the
woods resounded to their melancholy strains.
Early the following morning, before I left my room, I was startled
by the sounds of lamentation and woe proceeding from the adjoining
apartment. On entering it, I found several squaws seated on the floor,
with downcast looks expressive of condolence and sympathy, while
in their midst sat a little ugly woman, in tattered garments, with
blackened face and dishevelled hair, sobbing and wailing bitterly.
Not doubting they were the family of the deceased chief, I was quite
troubled at my inability to express, otherwise than by gestures, my
participation in their sorrows.
Unacquainted as I was with their customs, I took it for granted from
their wretched appearance that poverty and destitution formed one of
the sources of their affliction. One of the party, at least, seemed
in the very depths of misery. "Can it be possible," said I to myself,
"that this poor creature has only these scanty rags to cover her?"
Stepping back to my own room, I brought out a pretty calico wrapper,
which I presented to the little dirty, blackened object. She took it,
and commenced a fresh series of sobbing and sighing. I made signs to
her to put it on, opening it and explaining to her how it was to be
worn, and recommending to her, by gestures, to lose no time in making
herself more comfortable.
At this, the other women burst into a laugh.
"Very mal-à-propos," thought I, "and somewhat unfeeling." At that
moment my husband entering, explained to me that the chief mourner was
Madame Four-Legs, the widow; that she had undoubtedly a comfortable
wardrobe at home, but that it was part of the etiquette of mourning
to go for a season with neglected persons and blackened faces. All
this was told me in the intervals of shaking hands, and offering and
receiving condolences in the most uncouth, guttural language I had ever
heard. Their "father" at length dismissed them, with a promise of some
presents to help dry up their tears. It must not be inferred that the
grief of the poor little widow was not sincere. On the contrary, she
was greatly attached to her husband, and had had great influence not
only with him but with the nation at large. She was a Fox woman, and
spoke the Chippewa, which is the court language among all the tribes,
so that she was often called upon to act as interpreter, and had, in
fact, been in the habit of accompanying her husband, and assisting
him by her counsels upon all occasions. She was a person of great
shrewdness and judgment, and as I afterwards experienced, of strong and
tenacious affections.
After breakfast I received a visit from the principal chiefs, who had
put on their best of apparel and paint, to receive their new "mother."
There was Naw-kaw, or Kar-ray-mau-nee, "the Walking Rain," now
the principal chief of the nation, a stalwart Indian, with a
broad, pleasant countenance, the great peculiarity of which was an
immense under lip, hanging nearly to his chin. There was the old
Day-kau-ray,[44] the most noble, dignified, and venerable of his own,
or indeed of any other, tribe. His fine Roman countenance, rendered
still more striking by his bald head, with one solitary tuft of long
silvery hair neatly tied and falling back on his shoulders; his
perfectly neat, appropriate dress, almost without ornament, and his
courteous demeanor, never laid aside, under any circumstances, all
combined to give him the highest place in the consideration of all who
knew him. It will hereafter be seen that his traits of character were
not less grand and striking, than were his personal appearance and
deportment.
There was Black-Wolf, whose lowering, surly face was well described
by his name. The fierce expression of his countenance was greatly
heightened by the masses of heavy black hair hanging round it, quite
contrary to the usual fashion among the Winnebagoes. They, for the most
part, remove a portion of their hair, the remainder of which is drawn
to the back of the head, clubbed and ornamented with beads, ribbons,
cock's feathers, or, if they are so entitled, an eagle's feather for
every scalp taken from an enemy.
There was _Talk-English_, a remarkably handsome, powerful young Indian,
who received his name in the following manner. He was one of a party of
sixteen Winnebagoes, who had, by invitation accompanied their Agent and
Major Forsyth[45] (or the Chippewa as he was called), on a visit to the
President at Washington, the year previous.
On the journey, the question naturally addressed to them by people not
familiar with Western Indians was,
"Do you talk English?"
The young fellow being very observant, came to his "father." "What do
they mean by this? Everybody says to me, _talk English!_"
The Agent interpreted the words to him. "Ah, very well."
The next place they arrived at was Lockport, in the State of New York.
Jumping off the canal-boat upon the lock, he ran up to the first man he
met, and thrusting forward his face cried out, "Talk Eengeesh?"
"Yes," said the man; "do you talk English?"
"Ya-as."
[Illustration: A TYPICAL GROUP OF WINNEBAGOES.
From photograph in possession of Wisconsin Historical Society.]
From that time forward, he always bore the name of _Talk-English_, and
was registered on the pay-rolls by a title of which he was not a little
proud.
Hoo-wau-ne-kah, "the Little Elk," was another of the distinguished
men of the tribe. He had likewise been at Washington. Henry Clay,
when he visited them, after looking carefully at the countenances and
bearing of all the members of the deputation, had indicated him as the
one possessing the greatest talent; and he was greatly pleased when
informed that he was the principal orator of the nation, and decidedly
superior in abilities to any other individual of the tribe.
Wild-Cat, our Indian Falstaff, in all save the cowardice and falsehood,
I have already mentioned.
Then there was Kau-ray-kaw-saw-kaw, "the White Crow," or Rock River
Indian, who afterwards distinguished himself as the friend of the
whites during the Sauk war. He was called by the French "le Borgne,"
from having lost an eye; and the black silk handkerchief, which he wore
drooping over the left side of his face to disguise the blemish, taken
with his native costume, gave him a very singular appearance.[46]
There was a nephew of the defunct chief Four-Legs, to whom was with
justice given, by both whites and Indians, the appellation of "the
Dandy."[47] When out of mourning his dress was of the most studied and
fanciful character. A shirt (when he condescended to wear any) of the
brightest colors, ornamented with innumerable rows of silver brooches,
set thickly together; never less than two pairs of silver arm-bands;
leggings and moccasins of the most elaborate embroidery in ribbons
and porcupine quills; everything that he could devise in the shape of
ornament hanging to his club of hair behind; a feather fan in one
hand, and a mirror in the other, in which he contemplated himself every
five minutes; these, with the variety and brilliancy of the colors
upon his face, the suitable choice and application of which occupied
no small portion of the hours allotted to his toilet; such made up the
equipment of young Four-Legs.
This devotion to dress and appearance seemed not altogether out of
place in a youthful dandy, but we had likewise an old one of the same
stamp. Pawnee Blanc, or the White Pawnee, if possible surpassed his
younger competitor in attention to his personal attractions.
Upon the present occasion he appeared in all his finery, and went
through the customary salutations with an air of solemn dignity,
then entered, as did the others, into the parlor (for I had received
them in the hall), where they all seated themselves upon the floor.
Fortunately, the room was now bare of furniture, but "alas!" thought I,
"for my pretty carpet, if this is to be the way they pay their respects
to me!" I watched the falling of the ashes from their long pipes, and
the other inconveniences of the use of tobacco, or "kin-ni-kin-nick,"
with absolute dismay.
The visit of the chiefs was succeeded by one from the interpreter and
his wife, with all the Canadian and half-breed women, whose husbands
found employment at the Agency, or at the American Fur Company's
establishment.
By this time my piano had been taken from its case and set up in our
quarters. To our great joy, we found it entirely uninjured. Thanks to
the skill of Nunns and Clark, not a note was out of tune.
The women, to whom it was an entire novelty, were loud in their
exclamations of wonder and delight.
"_Eh-h-h! regardez done! Quelles inventions! Quelles merveilles!_"[M]
[Footnote M: Only look! what inventions! what wonders!]
One, observing the play of my fingers reflected in the nameboard,
called in great exultation to her companions. She had discovered, as
she thought, the hidden machinery by which the sounds were produced,
and was not a little mortified when she was undeceived.