The affray between the Foxes and Menomonies turns out thus.  The Foxes had killed a young Menomonie hunter, near the mouth of the Wisconsin, and cut off his head.  The Menomonies had retaliated by killing Foxes.  The Foxes then made a war party against the Menomonies, and went up the Mississippi in search of them.  They did not find them, till their return, when they discovered a Menomonie encampment on the upper part of the Prairie.  They instantly attacked them, and killed seven men, five women, and thirteen children.  The act was perfectly dastardly, for the Menomonies were some domestic lodges of persons living, as non-combatants, under the guns of the fort and the civil institutions of the town.  The Menomonies complained to me.  I told them to go to their Agent, and have a proper statement of the massacre drawn up by him, and transmitted to Washington.

I called on the commanding officer, Captain Loomis, and accepted his invitation to dine.  He introduced me to Mr. Street, the Indian Agent.  At four o’clock in the evening, I embarked for Galena, and, after descending the Mississippi as long as daylight lasted, encamped on a sand bar.  The next morning (15th), we were again in motion before 5 o’clock.  We passed Cassville and Dubuque at successive points, and, entering the river of Galena, reached the town about half-past eight o’clock, in the evening, and encamped on the banks of the river.

On the following day (16th) I dispatched my canoe back to the Wisconsin in charge of Mr. Johnston, accompanied by Dr. D. Houghton, and Mr. Melancthon Woolsey, with directions to meet me at the portage.  I then hired a light wagon to visit the mine country, taking letters from Captain Legate, U.S.A., and Mr. C. Hemstead.  Mr. Bennet, the landlord, went with me to bring back the team.  We left Galena about ten o’clock in the morning (17th), and, passing over an open, rolling country, reached Gratiot’s Grove, at a distance of fifteen miles.  The Messrs. Gratiot received me kindly, and showed me the various ores, and their mode of preparing and smelting them, which are, in all respects, similar to the method pursued in Missouri, with which I was familiar.

Mr. Henry Gratiot was the sub-Indian agent for the Winnebagoes, and was present at the late disturbances at the head of Rock Island.  His band is the Winnebagoes living on Rock River, which is the residence of their prophet.  He says the latter is a half Sauk, and a very shrewd, cunning man.  They are peaceable now, and disclaim all connection with Black Hawk, for war purposes.  Mr. G. assured me that he places no confidence in these declarations, nor in the stability of the Sacs and Foxes.  He deems the latter treacherous, as usual, and related to me several acts of their former villainy—­all in accordance with their late attack and murder of the Menomonies at Prairie du Chien.  This murder was committed by a part of Black Hawk’s band, who had been driven from their villages on the Mississippi below the rapids.  They ascended the river to Dubuque—­from thence the party set out, and fell on the unsuspicious and defenceless Menomonies.