with Prairie du Chien, by a canoe sent once a fortnight.  The murder of St. Vrain, the events on the Rock River with the Illinois militia, and the movements on foot to chastise the hostile Sauks and Foxes, were among the latest items of intelligence.  But nothing was known of the actual position of the Black Hawk and his followers.  My determinations, therefore, as to the route to be pursued, in returning home, were made in entire ignorance of the fact, that at that time, the Black Hawk had been driven before Gens.  Atkinson and Dodge to the banks of the Mississippi, at the mouth of the Badaxe River—­where he completely intercepted all communication between the posts of St. Peter’s and Prairie du Chien.

25th.  I held a council with the Sioux at the Agency Buildings; at which the tribe disclaimed, by their speakers, having any connection with the Sauk and Fox league, or having permitted any of their warriors to join in it.  They professed a readiness to furnish warriors to aid the government in suppressing it.

On returning to my tent, I sat down and wrote to the editor of a Western paper, as follows:—­

ST. PETERS, July 25th, 1882.

SIR:—­I arrived at this place yesterday, from an expedition through the Chippewa country on the sources of the Mississippi, accompanied by a detachment of troops under Lieut.  Allen of the 5th Infantry.  I have traced this river to its actual source.  On reaching the point to which it had been formerly explored, I found the water in a favorable state for ascending; and I availed myself of this circumstance to carry into effect the desire of visiting its actual source, a point which has continued to be problematical in our geography.  Pike placed it at Leech Lake in 1806.  Gov.  Cass carried it much further north, and left it at Upper Red Cedar Lake in 1820.  But it was then ascertained that its sources were considerably north and west of that lake, which is in lat. 47 deg. 25’.  I encamped the expedition, the troops and heavy baggage, at this lake, and proceeded up the river in five small birch canoes, capable of containing one man and his bed, in addition to the Indian and Canadian who conducted it.  The Mississippi expands into several lakes, the largest of which is called Lac Traverse.  A few miles above this occurs the junction of its south-west and north-west branch.  The former I called the Plantagenet, and ascended it through La Salle, Marquette, and Assawa Lakes to a small creek at the foot of the Hauteur des Terres.  From this point a portage was made over difficult ascents, and through defiles for about six miles, when we reached the banks of Itasca Lake, the source of the other and longer branch.  To this point we transported our canoes and baggage.  It is a most beautiful and clear lake, about seven miles long, and lying somewhat in the shape of a y.  I found an island in it, upon which I landed and encamped, and, after causing some trees to be felled, hoisted the United States flag.  I left this flag flying, and returned down the Itascan branch to my starting point.