account of all that I had seen and done. I explained to my
people the manner in which the British and Americans fought. Instead of
stealing upon each other and taking every advantage to kill the enemy
and save their own people as we do, which, with us is considered
good policy in a war chief, they march out in open daylight and fight
regardless of the number of warriors they may lose. After the battle
is over they retire to feast and drink wine as if nothing had happened.
After which they make a statement in writing of what they have done,
each party claiming the victory, and neither giving an account of half
the number that have been killed on their own side They all fought like
braves, but would not do to lead a party with us. Our maxim is: "Kill
the enemy and save our own men." Those chiefs will do to paddle a canoe
but not to steer it. The Americans shot better than the British, but
their soldiers were not so well clothed, nor so well provided for.

The village chief informed me that after I started with my braves and
the parties who followed, the nation was reduced to a small party of
fighting men; that they would have been unable to defend themselves if
the Americans had attacked them. That all the children and old men and
women belonging to the warriors who had joined the British were left
with them to provide for. A council had been called which agreed that
Quashquame, the Lance, and other chiefs, with the old men, women and
children, and such others as chose to accompany them, should descend the
Mississippi to St. Louis, and place themselves under the American chief
stationed there. They accordingly went down to St. Louis, were received
as the friendly band of our nation, were sent up the Missouri and
provided for, while their friends were assisting the British!

Keokuk was then introduced to me as the war chief of the braves then in
the village. I inquired how he had become chief? They said that a large
armed force was seen by their spies going toward Peoria. Fears were
entertained that they would come up and attack the village and a council
had been called to decide as to the best course to be adopted, which
concluded upon leaving the village and going to the west side of the
Mississippi to get out of the way. Keokuk, during the sitting of the
council, had been standing at the door of the lodge, not being allowed
to enter, as he had never killed an enemy, where he remained until old
Wacome came out. He then