ot to strike a blow; and
in order to get permission from White Beaver to return and re-cross the
Mississippi, I sent a flag of peace to the American war chief, who was
reported to be close by with his army, expecting that he would convene
a council and listen to what we had to say. But this chief, instead
of pursuing that honorable and chivalric course, such as I have always
practiced, shot down our flag-bearer and thus forced us into war
with less than five hundred warriors to contend against three or four
thousand soldiers.

The supplies that Neapope and the prophet told us about, and the
reinforcements we were to have, were never more heard of, and it is
but justice to our British Father to say were never promised, his chief
being sent word in lieu of the lies that were brought to me, "for us to
remain at peace as we could accomplish nothing but our own ruin by going
to war."

What was now to be done? It was worse than folly to turn back and meet
an enemy where the odds were so much against us and thereby sacrifice
ourselves, our wives and children to the fury of an enemy who had
murdered some of our brave and unarmed warriors when they were on a
mission to sue for peace.

Having returned to our encampment, and found that all our young men
had come in, I sent out spies to watch the movements of the army, and
commenced moving up Kishwacokee with the balance of my people. I did not
know where to go to find a place of safety for my women and children,
but expected to find a good harbor about the head of Rock river. I
concluded to go there, and thought my best route would be to go
round the head of Kishwacokee, so that the Americans would have some
difficulty if they attempted to follow us.

On arriving at the head of Kishwacokee, I was met by a party of
Winnebagoes, who seemed to rejoice at our success. They said they had
come to offer their services, and were anxious to join in. I asked them
if they knew where there was a safe place for our women and children.
They told us that they would send two old men with us to guide us to a
good safe place.

I arranged war parties to send out in different directions, before I
proceeded further. The Winnebagoes went alone. The war parties having
all been fitted out and started, we commenced moving to the Four Lakes,
the place where our guides were to conduct us. We had not gone far
before six Winnebagoes came in with one scalp. They said they had killed
a man at a grove, on