and go to him. He
said our friend, the trader at Peoria, was collecting the Pottawattomies
and would be there before us. I communicated this information to my
braves, and a party of two hundred warriors were soon collected and
ready to depart. I paid a visit to the lodge of an old friend, who had
been the comrade of my youth, and had been in many war parties with me,
but was now crippled and no longer able to travel. He had a son that
I had adopted as my own, and who had hunted with me the two winters
preceding. I wished my old friend to let him go with me. He objected,
saying he could not get his support if he did attend me, and that I,
who had always provided for him since his misfortune, would be gone,
therefore he could not spare him as he had no other dependence. I
offered to leave my son in his stead but he refused to give his consent.
He said that he did not like the war, as he had been down the river and
had been well treated by the Americans and could not fight against them.
He had promised to winter near a white settler above Salt river,
and must take his son with him. We parted and I soon concluded my
arrangements and started with my party for Green Bay. On our arrival
there we found a large encampment; were well received by Colonel Dixon
and the war chiefs who were with him. He gave us plenty of provisions,
tobacco and pipes, saying that he would hold a council with us the next
day. In the encampment I found a great number of Kickapoos, Ottawas and
Winnebagoes. I visited all their camps and found them in high spirits.
They had all received new guns, ammunition and a variety of clothing.

In the evening a messenger came to visit Colonel Dixon. I went to his
tent, in which them were two other war chiefs and an interpreter. He
received me with a hearty shake of the hand; presented me to the other
chiefs, who treated me cordially, expressing themselves as being much.
Pleased to meet me. After I was seated Colonel Dixon said: "General
Black Hawk, I sent for you to explain to you what we are going to do and
give you the reasons for our coming here. Our friend, La Gutrie, informs
us in the letter you brought from him, of what has lately taken place.
You will now have to hold us fast by the hand. Your English Father has
found out that the Americans want to take your country from you and has
sent me and my braves to drive them back to their own country. He has,
likewise, sent a large quantity of arms and ammunition,