Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 6:
Linctot
-As transcribed from page 56
In
1731 the Foxes, being temporarly subdued, another expedition to build a
Sioux post was placed in charge of Rene Godefroy, sieur de Linctot.
With him went his son, Louis Rene, Augustin Langlade, and his brother,
Joseph Jolliet, grandson of the explorer; one Campeau, a skilled
blacksmith, brother of the one at Detroit, and Father Michel Guignas,
chaplain of the expedition.
They arrived on the Mississippi in the autumn of 1731, and, according
to the official report, built "a fort On the Mississippy at a Place
called the Mountain * * * (a Montagne qui trempe dans l'Eau) * * *"19
The winter did not pass without events. During the deep snows food
became so scarce that Linctot was obliged to send his voyageurs and
traders to winter in the camps of the Indians. One of the voyageurs,
named Dorval, had a thrilling experience with refugee Foxes, fleeing
from an attack of mission Iroquois and Detroit Huron. Later some of the
same fugitives came to Linctot to beg for their lives. The Sioux began
coming in large numbers when they learned of Linctot's presence, and a
camp of Winnebago wintered near by.
The succeeding years were replete with danger and difficulty for the
officers and traders of the little Sioux post. Although the Foxes had
been defeated and large numbers of them had been destroyed, desperate
remnants remained scattered over the western country, and attacking
parties of mission Indians and others allied with the French made
frequent excursions to harass the wretched fugitives. The Sioux
promised protection to the French, but their situation among the fierce
belligerents was almost that of prisoners. In April, 1735, one of the
Jesuits wrote from Quebec: "We are Much afraid that father Guignas has
been taken and burned by a tribe of savages called the renards."20
The anxiety in Canada over his fate was allayed, however, the same
summer, when Linctot finally arrived in the colony, bringing an immense
quantity of beaver skins and other peltry.21
He reported that he had left Father Guignas with but six men at the
little fort in the Sioux country, and asked for himself that he be
relieved from command.22
Resources
for the above information:
19 - Ibid., 151, 168, 169.
20 - Thwaites, Jesuit Relations (Cleveland, 1900), LXVIII, 255.
21 - Wis. Hist. Colls., XVII, 230.
22 - Thwaites, Jesuit Relations, LXVII, 281; Margry, Decouv. et Etabl., VI, 572, 573; Wis. Hist. Colls., XVII, 274, note.
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