iously hoped that something would be done for my people that it might
be avoided. But there was bad management somewhere, or the difficulty
that has taken place would have been avoided.

When it was ascertained that we would not be permitted to go to
Washington, I resolved upon my course, and again tied to recruit some
braves from Keookuk's band, to accompany me, but could not.

Conceiving that the peaceable disposition of Keokuk and his people had
been in a great measure the cause of our having been driven from our
village, I ascribed their present feelings to the same cause, and
immediately went to work to recruit all my own band, and making
preparations to ascend Rock river, I made my encampment on the
Mississippi, where Fort Madison had stood. I requested my people to
rendezvous at that place, sending out soldiers to bring in the warriors,
and stationed my sentinels in a position to prevent any from moving off
until all were ready.

My party having all come in and got ready, we commenced our march up the
Mississippi; our women and children in canoes, carrying such provisions
as we had, camp equipage, &c. My braves and warriors were on horseback,
armed and equipped for defence. The prophet came down and joining us
below Rock river, having called at Rock Island on his way down, to
consult the war chief, agent and trader; who, he said, used many
arguments to dissuade him from going with us, requesting him to come and
meet us and turn us back. They told him also there was a war chief on
his way to Rock Island with a large body of soldiers.

The prophet said he would not listen to this talk, because no war chief
would dare molest us so long as we were at peace. That we had a right
to go where we pleased peaceably, and advised me to say nothing to my
braves and warriors until we encamped that night. We moved onward until
we arrived at the place where General Gaines had made his encampment the
year before, and encamped for the night. The prophet then addressed my
braves and warriors. He told them to "follow us and act like braves,
and we have nothing to fear and much to gain. The American war chief
may come, but will not, nor dare not interfere with us so long as we act
peaceably. We are not yet ready to act otherwise. We must wait until we
ascend Rock river and receive our reinforcements, and we will then be
able to withstand any army."

That night the White Beaver, General Atkinson, with a party of soldiers
passed u