Travels in the Interior of North America Part 13

[142] The Foxes call this ornament kateuikunn. I have given a figure of it, in the Plate of utensils and arms.--MAXIMILIAN.

_Comment by Ed._ See Plate 81, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.

[143] See Plate 36, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.

Watapinat, a Fox Indian, is cited as being here portrayed. This drawing could not, however, be engraved; and so another Musquake (Fox) Indian, Waka.s.sa.s.se was pictured.--MAXIMILIAN (in German edition).

[144] These small sh.e.l.l cylinders are known to be cut out of the sh.e.l.ls of the _Venus mercenaria_, and strung on threads; they are arranged blue and white alternately. All the northern and eastern nations, in the neighbourhood of the great lakes, and even the tribes on the Lower Missouri, use this ornament, but not those on the Upper Missouri. On this subject see Blumenbach, Handbuch der Naturgeschichte, 12 ed., p. 359, 385.--MAXIMILIAN.

[145] An iron battle-axe, made by the whites, which has a pipe bowl at the back, the handle being bored through, to serve as tube to the pipe.--MAXIMILIAN.

[146] This instrument is the only weapon of the Indians which has lost something of its original character, since the merchants have had them manufactured with a steel point, as an article of trade with the Indians. A specimen of the original form is found in Pennant's "Arctic Zoology," Plate VI., the middle figure.--MAXIMILIAN.

[147] See Plate 81, figure 4, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.

[148] See the same Plate, figure 3.--ED.

[149] In 1816, in order to control the neighboring territory, Fort Armstrong was erected on Rock Island. For many years Thomas Forsyth was Indian agent to the Sauk and Fox tribe at this place, and by many it was thought that had he not been removed the Black Hawk War might have been prevented. Felix St. Vrain, his successor, was slain at the outset of that uprising (1832). At the time of Maximilian's journey, W. S. Davenport was agent at Fort Armstrong.

This treaty referred to was made in 1804 at St. Louis, by Governor William H. Harrison. It was not ratified, however, until January, 1805. It was the inciting cause of the Black Hawk War. See Thwaites, _op. cit._ in note 127, _ante_, pp. 116-126.--ED.

[150] For this reference see note 104, _ante_, p. 201.--ED.

[151] See Thwaites, "Early Lead Mining on the Mississippi," in _How George Rogers Clark won the Northwest_, pp. 299-332.--ED.

[152] Portions of this collection are still in possession of Clark's descendants; see Thwaites, "Newly Discovered Records of Lewis and Clark," in _Scribner's Magazine_, x.x.xv, pp. 685-700.--ED.

[153] The "Warrior," built at Pittsburg in 1832, was rated at 110 tons. It was used during the Black Hawk War to convey federal supplies, and took effective part in the battle of Bad Axe, by which Black Hawk's band was nearly annihilated. See J. H. Fonda's "Reminiscences," in _Wisconsin Historical Collections_, v, pp.

261-264.--ED.

[154] General Henry Atkinson was born in North Carolina in 1782. In 1808 he entered the regular army as captain, mounting through various grades to that of brigadier-general (1821). He was connected with the Yellowstone expeditions of 1819 and 1825, but perhaps his most important service was as leader of the federal troops in the Black Hawk War, wherein he was called "White Beaver" by the Indians. At its close he took command of Jefferson Barracks, where he died in 1842.--ED.

[155] See Townsend's _Narrative_, in our volume xxi, p. 123, note 3, for a brief sketch of Black Hawk. His portrait was painted by Catlin at Jefferson Barracks, and again by R. M. Sully at Fortress Monroe.

The latter canvas is in the museum of the Wisconsin Historical Society.--ED.

[156] Winnebago Prophet, more commonly known as White Cloud (a translation of his Indian name Wabokies.h.i.+ek), was the "medicine man"

of Black Hawk's revolt. He was Winnebago on his mother's side, and had a village on Rock River, forty miles above Rock Island--the present Prophetstown, Illinois. After the war he was captured, and shared Black Hawk's imprisonment, dying among the Winnebago about 1841. His portrait was painted by Catlin at Jefferson Barracks, and again at Fortress Monroe by R. M. Sully--the latter, in the museum of the Wisconsin Historical Society, portrays a cunning, rather low type of face, stronger and more subtle than that of Black Hawk.--ED.

[157] For Captain Stewart, see Townsend's _Narrative_, in our volume xxi, p. 197, note 42.--ED.

[158] For the building and first voyages of the "Yellowstone" see our volume xxi, p. 46, note 26 (Wyeth).--ED.

[159] For the Mackinac Company see Ross's _Oregon Settlers_, our volume vii, pp. 34, 35--ED.

[160] See Was.h.i.+ngton Irving's Astoria.--MAXIMILIAN.

[161] Astor's company had originally been organized in 1808. After absorbing the Mackinac Company it was until 1816 known as the South West Company, when a re-organization occurred, resulting in the American Fur Company. See Chittenden, _Fur-Trade_, i, pp. 309-311. The Columbia River enterprise is narrated in our volumes vi and vii.--ED.

[162] The Missouri Fur Company was organized (1808) soon after the return of the Lewis and Clark expedition, with Clark, a brother of Lewis, and several well-known merchants of Illinois and St. Louis as members. Its chief trader, later the president, was Manuel Lisa. After his death in 1820 the fortunes of the company declined.

By the French Company Maximilian intends a firm composed of Papin, Cerre, and Picotte, which in 1830 sold out to the American Fur Company. Its career was but about three years long.--ED.

[163] The Columbia Fur Company was organized after the consolidation of the British companies (1821) had thrown a number of enterprising Scotch and Canadian traders out of employment. Its leading spirits were Kenneth McKenzie, William Laidlaw, and Daniel Lamont. Organized to trade within the boundaries of the United States, it was technically known as Tilton and Company, of New York. The chief outfitting post was built upon Lake Traverse, Minnesota, whence pa.s.sage to the upper Missouri was quickly secured. The operations of this company hara.s.sed the American Fur Company, which in 1827 entered into a combination with the Columbia, thus securing control of the upper Missouri trade. See Chittenden, _Fur-Trade_, i, pp.

323-327.--ED.

[164] For Ramsay Crooks, see our volume v, p. 36, note 3.--ED.

[165] The Rocky Mountain Fur Company--first under General William H.

Ashley, later under the Sublettes, Thomas Fitzpatrick, etc.--absorbed a large proportion of the Western fur-trade in the decade before Maximilian arrived in St. Louis. It was one of their caravans that Captain Stewart urged the prince to accompany. Consult our volume xxi, for the operations of this corporation.--ED.

[166] Mr. Schoolcraft, in his latest journey to Itasca Lake (page 35), gives a short history of the fur trade, which, in many places, has already fallen into entire decay; for instance, on Lake St. Croix (page 141), if the inhabitants of those parts do not take to agriculture, they must emigrate or starve.--MAXIMILIAN.

[167] For the early history of the Hudson's Bay and North West companies see preface to J. Long's _Voyages_, in our volume ii.--ED.

[168] The "Upper Missouri Outfit" branch of the American Fur Company controlled the upper Missouri and its tributaries, from the date of consolidation with the Columbia Company (1827) until the advance of emigration and settlement made fur-trapping unprofitable.--ED.

[169] For Major Benjamin O'Fallon and John Dougherty, see Faux's _Journal_ in our volume xii, p. 49, note 127, and James's _Long's Expedition_, in our volume xiv, p. 126, note 92.--ED.

[170] Pierre Chouteau, jr., son of the elder of that name (for whom see our volume xvi, p. 275, note 127), was born at St. Louis, January 19, 1789; among his family he was known as "Cadet." Early evincing unusual talents as a trader, he entered his father's business at the age of sixteen. The years 1806-08 he spent at the lead mines with Julien Dubuque, and in 1809 made his first fur-trade voyage to the upper Missouri, whose commercial destinies he was so long to control.

In 1813 he formed a partners.h.i.+p on his own account with Bartholomew Berthold, which operated independently until they were bought out by the American Fur Company, for whom Chouteau became local manager.

Later he extended his financial operations to New York, and became one of the moneyed princes of that city, although dying in St. Louis in 1865. His public services were chiefly local, but he served in the state const.i.tutional convention of 1820. He was interested in scientific pursuits, and ready to a.s.sist travellers bound on such errands.

For Kenneth McKenzie see Wyeth's _Oregon_, in our volume xxi, p. 45, note 25. The winter of 1834-35 McKenzie paid a visit to Prince Maximilian in his German home, where he was received with much hospitality and brought news to his host of recent affairs on the Missouri, which the latter reports in the appendix to the German edition of his work, ii, p. 616.--ED.

[171] Especially provisions, coffee, sugar, brandy, candles, fine gunpowder, shot of every kind, colours, paper, some books, &c.--MAXIMILIAN.

[172] For Joshua Pilcher, see our volume xiv, p. 269, note 193.--ED.

[173] Major John F. A. Sanford was a native of Winchester, Virginia.

Upon appointment to an Indian sub-agency, he came west, and (1827-34) lived among the Mandans; later (1837), he was agent at Fort Gibson. He married Emilie Chouteau, daughter of Pierre, jr. Subsequently becoming interested in American Fur Company affairs, he (about 1838) removed to New York as its representative.

Jonathan L. Bean, of Pennsylvania, was government sub-agent (1827-34) for the Sioux.--ED.

[174] Major Benjamin O'Fallon was a nephew of William Clark, and the map of the upper Missouri, which he furnished to Maximilian, was a ma.n.u.script copy of an original map by the hand of the famous explorer.

Inquiry of the reigning prince of Wied-Neuwied elicits the following information: "Major O'Fallon made a present to the prince in the year 1833, at the beginning of his journey of that year, of a copy of this chart, which the prince [Maximilian] during his journey completed and supplied its deficiencies. This copy, a little atlas of thirty-seven leaves, is in the archives here. Upon one leaf, in the handwriting of Prince Max, is the following inscription: 'I received this exact copy of the original by the goodness of the late Indian agent, Major O'Fallon.'" See Thwaites' _Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition_, introduction, concerning Clark's maps and the extant originals.--ED.

CHAPTER X

JOURNEY FROM ST. LOUIS TO THE CANTONMENT OF LEAVENWORTH, OR TO THE BORDERS OF THE SETTLEMENT, FROM THE 10TH TO THE 22ND OF APRIL

Departure from St. Louis--The Engages, or Voyageurs--St.

Charles--Gasconade River--Osage River--Jefferson City--Boonville and Franklin--Arrow Rock--Chariton--Grand River--Battle of the Missouri Indians--Fire Prairie--Dangerous place and situation of the vessel--Fort Osage--The Osages--Liberty--Quicksands--Konzas River--Boundary of the United States--The Konzas Indians--Pilcher's Expeditions--Little Platte River--Dwelling of the Joways--Diamond Island--Cantonment of Leavenworth.

On the 10th of April, at eleven o'clock, all our company having collected, the Yellow Stone left St. Louis; Mr. Pierre Chouteau, and several ladies of his family, accompanied us to St. Charles.[175] Some guns were fired, as a signal, on our departure, on which numbers of the inhabitants a.s.sembled on the sh.o.r.e, among them the Saukies and some half-civilized Kikapoo Indians. Mr. Bodmer made some interesting sketches of the former, of which the plate gives a specimen.[176]