he limits of our survey.

It was well known that the Indians had been in the habit, for many
years, of visiting this portion of their country, for the purpose of
getting their supplies of lead; hence the supposition of miners, who
had long been engaged in prospecting for lead-mining, that lead would
be found on this side of the river and in the vicinity of Dubuque. This
caused a great rush to the new fields, of hundreds, who expected to
strike it rich with less labor and expense. All were aware, however,
that under the treaty just made with the Sacs and Foxes by Gen. Scott
and Gov. Reynolds, they had no right to enter upon these lands, and
stood in daily fear of being ordered off by United States troops. But
their numbers steadily increased. At length the long expected order
came. Major Davenport, Indian Agent at Rock Island, was ordered to
go forward, and, with one company of infantry in two Mackinaw boats,
commanded by Lieut. Beach, they landed near the mouth of Fever river
(Galena) about the first of October. The Major came up to Galena with
a letter from Col. George Davenport to the writer, to assist him in the
discharge of his delicate duty. Word was sent to Lieut. Beach not to
proceed up the river until the afternoon of the next day, as the sight
of troops by the miners might make them hard to manage; otherwise, I
assured the Major, he would have no trouble. We proceeded at once to a
point opposite Dubuque, where we found a comfortable stopping place with
the ferryman, and he being a man of considerable influence, I suggested
to him the propriety of going over to Dubuque to send men to all the
mining camps, requesting a meeting the next morning, at nine o'clock,
of all the miners, with the agent, to hear what he had to say, and to
assure them at the same time that his mission was a peaceable one, and
that there should be no objection manifested to disobey the orders of
the Government.

After the departure of our messenger we took a private room to talk over
the programme for the meeting, when we suggested that, on assembling,
the Major should make a little speech explanatory of his visit, in which
he should express sorrow for the hardships it would be to leave their
claims, with the hope that the time was not distant when all might
lawfully return, etc. The Major said he was not a speech-maker, or a
very good talker, but would read the orders sent to him to dispossess
them, and see that they crossed the river.