"This tribe is characterized by frugality, thrift, and industry to an cxtent unequalled by any other tribe of Indians in the North-west. Loyal their neighbors, they are entitled to the fostering General Government. The improvement of the homes which they have voluntarily sclectcd for their future residence will place them in a short time beyond the reach of want, and take from the Government the burden of supplying their wants at an actual expense of $100,000."

It was in May, 1863, that the Winnebagoes gathered at Fort Snelling, roady for their journey. The chicfs are said to have acquicsced in the move as a matter of necessity, for the pro- tection of thcir people," but some of them actually shed to the Government, and peaceable toward care of the taking leare." Colonel Mix, who was in charge of tears on this removal, wrote to Washington, urgently entreating that tents at least might be provided for them on their arrival at their new homes in the wilderness. He also suggests that it is a question whether they onght to be settled so near the hostile Sioux, especially as jnst before leaving Minnesota some of the tribe had "scalped three Sioux Indians, thinking it wonld pro- pitiate them in the kind regards of their Great Father at Wash ington, and, as a consequenee, they would perhaps be permitted to remain in Minnesota."

The removal was accomplished in May and Junc. There were, all told, 1945 of the Winncbagocs. They arrived to find themselves in an almost barren wilderncss—a dry, hard soil, "too strong for ploughs;" so much so, that it was "difficult to get a plough to run a whole day withont breaking." A droaght had parched the grass, so that in many places where the previous year several tons of good hay to an acre had been raised there was not now "pasturage for a horse." The cottonwood timber, all wlich eould be proeured, was "erooked, difficult to handle, full of wind-shakes, rots, etc." The channcl of the Missouri River here was so "changeable," and the banks so low,