The Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and Clark

  XIV

  _BEHIND THE CURTAIN_

  "We must dislodge this American general from his new conquest," saidthe British officers, "or tribe after tribe will be gained over andsubdued. Thus will be destroyed the only barrier which protects thegreat trading establishments of the Northwest and Hudson's Bay.Nothing could then prevent the Americans from gaining the source ofthe Mississippi, gradually extending themselves by the Red River toLake Winnipeg, from whence the descent of Nelson's River to York Fortwould in time be easy."

  Another strong factor in this decision was the dissatisfaction of theBritish traders with the new movement that was deflecting the furtrade down the Mississippi. The French families of Cahokia andKaskaskia sent their furs down to New Orleans, greatly to thedispleasure of their late English rulers, who wanted them to go toCanada, by the St. Louis trail to Detroit.

  "Why should it not continue over the old Detroit trail to Montreal?"they questioned. "Is our fur trade to be cut off by these beggarlyrebels and Spaniards? It belongs to Canada, Canada shall have it!" Soall North America was fought over for the fur trade.

  "I will use my utmost endeavours to send as many Indians as I can toattack the Spanish settlements, early in February," said Pat Sinclair,the British commander at Michilimackinac.

  "I have taken steps to engage the Sioux under their own Chief,Wabasha, a man of uncommon abilities. Wabasha is allowed to be a veryextraordinary Indian and well attached to His Majesty's interest."

  And Wabasha, king of the buffalo plains above the Falls of St.Anthony, _was_ an extraordinary Indian. In old days he fought forPontiac, but after De Peyster brought the Sioux, the proudest of thetribes, to espouse the English cause, every year Wabasha made a visitto his British father at Michilimackinac.

  On such a visit as this he came from Prairie du Chien after hearingthat Hamilton was taken, and was received with songs and cannonading:

  "Hail to great Wabashaw! Cannonier--fire away, Hoist the fort-standard, and beat all the drums; Ottawa and Chippewa, Whoop! for great Wabashaw! He comes--beat drums--the Sioux chief comes.

  "Hail to great Wabashaw! Soldiers your triggers draw, Guard,--wave the colours, and give him the drum! Choctaw and Chickasaw, Whoop for great Wabashaw! Raise the port-cullis!--the King's friend is come."

  By such demonstrations and enormous gifts, the Indians were held tothe British standard.

  It was Wabasha and his brothers, Red Wing and Little Crow, who in 1767gave a deed to Jonathan Carver of all the land around St. Anthony'sFalls, on which now stand the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, butno government confirmation of the deed has ever been discovered.

  "The reduction of St. Louis will be an easy matter, and of the rebelsat Kaskaskia also," continued Sinclair. "All the traders who willsecure the posts on the Spanish side of the Mississippi have mypromise for the exclusive trade of the Missouri."

  The Northwest red men were gathering,--Menomonies, Sacs, Foxes,Winnebagoes,--at the portage of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers,collecting all the corn and canoes in the country, to set out on thetenth of March. Again Sinclair writes, "Seven hundred and fifty menset out down the Mississippi the second of May."

  Another party assembled at Chicago to come by the Illinois,--Indians,British, and traders.

  "Captain Hesse will remain at St. Louis," continued Governor Sinclair."Wabasha will attack Ste. Genevieve and the rebels at Kaskaskia. Twovessels leave here on the second of June to attend Matchekewis, whowill return by the Illinois River with prisoners."

  Very well De Peyster knew Matchekewis, the puissant chief who

  "At foot-ball sport With arms concealed, surprised the fort,"

  at Michilimackinac in Pontiac's war. It was Matchekewis himself whokicked the ball over the pickets, and rushing in with his band fell onthe unprepared ranks of the British garrison. On the reoccupation ofMackinac, Matchekewis had been sent to Quebec and imprisoned, but,released and dismissed with honours and a buffalo barbecue, now he wasleading his Chippewas for the King.

  All this was part of a wider scheme, devised in London, for thesubjugation of the Mississippi.