Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/467

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LT. Z.M. PIKE AT LEECH LAKE.
457

III.

OJIBWAYS UNDER UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

Lt. Z.M. Pike of the United States Army landed on the island, at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, on the 21st of September, 1805, and found that all the young warriors of the two Sioux villages in the vicinity had marched against the Ojibways to take revenge for an attack that had been made upon them in that vicinity, by which ten of their tribe had been killed. On Monday the 23d, he held a council with the Sioux, who agreed to make peace with their old foes.

LT. Z.M. PIKE AT LEECH LAKE.

On the 16th of February, 1806, as the first representative of the United States who had visited them, he held a council with the Ojibways at Leech Lake, and in his opening speech said: "I was chosen to ascend the Mississippi to bear to his red children the words of their father, and the Great Spirit has opened the eyes and ears of all the nations to listen to my words. The Sauks and Reynards are planting corn and raising cattle. The Winnebagoes continue peaceable as usual, and even the Sioux have laid by the hatchet at my request. Yes, my brothers, the Sioux who have so long and obstinately warred against the Chippeways, have agreed to lay by the hatchet, smoke the calumet, and again become your brothers. Brothers! you behold the pipe of Wabasha as a proof of what I say. The Little Corbeau, Fils de Pinchon, and L'Aile Rouge, had marched two hundred and fifty warriors to revenge the blood of their women and children, slain last year at the St. Peters. I sent a runner after them, stopped their march, and met them in council at the mouth of the St.