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He was on the British side in 1812-15,
and in 1832 refused to assist the Americans against the Sauks. When
invited by the whites to join them, the matter was discussed with the
chiefs and braves. "Win-o-she-kaw was opposed to the measure, and
declined having anything to do with it. He said the Sauks had twice that
season presented the red wampum to the Winnebagoes at Portage, and that
they had as often washed it white and handed it back to them; further,
that he did not like that red thing; that he was afraid of it.
Waudgh-ha-ta-kau [evidently the One-eyed Decorah] took the wampum, and
said that he with all the young men of the village would go; that they
were anxious to engage in the expedition and would be ready to accompany
us on our return."41
A short while after this it was found that Winneshiek and
Wau-mar-nar-sar had gone up the river with part of the band to hunt and
dry meat.
His mother was a sister of Wabokieshiek (White Cloud), the
half-Sauk, half-Winnebago Prophet, who assisted Black Hawk. Little
Winneshiek says, "For this relationship he fought in a number of battles
under Black Hawk in the war of 1832." Thomas Clay, an aged Winnebago,
heard Winneshiek tell this from time to time at death-wakes, where the
brave men, or warriors, were supposed to tell the truth. Clay's
statement42
is as follows:
"Winneshiek was a nephew of a Sauk and Fox Indian
called White Cloud [Wabokieshiek], that is why Winneshiek was an aid to
the Sauk and Fox Indians during Black Hawk's war. Winneshiek was taking,
or guiding, the Fox Indians into the Winnebago country, or to the
village, and as they were crossing the Mississippi river somewhere near
where Prairie du Chien now stands, a steamboat came up the river and
anchored in the middle of the stream. Then some one called out from the
boat arid asked if Black Hawk was there among them. 'Yes,' was the
answer from the Indians. `Will he surrender or not?' was the next
question from the boat. Then Winneshiek spoke up, and said: 'Uncles
(meaning the Fox Indians, as that was what he always called them), tie a
white cloth to a pole and I will go and surrender.' So they made a white
flag for him, but as he was about to get into the stream to swim to the
boat, the Fox people said: 'Perhaps after all you had better not go,'
and saying thus, they held him; and the soldiers in the boat could see
that he was being held. Then Winneshiek said: 'Uncles, I meant to do
this that you might live, but the result shall be your fault.' Just then
the question came again from the boat, 'Will you surrender?' The answer
from the Indians was 'No! we will not surrender,' and no sooner was it
said than the soldiers fired upon them, and even at the first volley
many of the Indians were killed. Then Winneshiek said: 'Uncles, thus far
only, am I able to be with you, as I shall leave you here;' and saving
thus, he and his real uncles went up the bank of the river and there
watched the fight. When night came upon them, he took his Fox uncles
back to the Winnebago village with him. When they arrived at the
village, Winneshiek's mother met him, crying: "Oh! my son, because you
have aided Black Hawk in the war, they have taken your father to the
fort as a prisoner.' When the soldiers learned that Winneshiek was back
at his own village they came after him and released his father.
Winneshiek was questioned very severely, but he was angered instead of
frightened, and he would not even speak, and for four days he would not
eat the food that was given him. Then one of the officers said to his
fellow officers: `You must be very severe in questioning Winneshiek. I
will question him myself, to-day.' So the officer went to him and as he
entered he called Winneshiek by name, greeting him and shaking hands
with him, he said: 'Winneshiek, I understand that some officers have
questioned you; but that you were angered and would not even speak to
them, and I told them that they must have acted very ungentlemanly
towards you to cause you to act as you did.' Winneshiek said: 'Yes, that
is the way they have acted.' `That is what I thought,' said the officer,
and continued. 'Winneshiek, I am going to talk with you with good
words,' and Winneshiek assented; so the officer said: 'Winneshiek, as
you have been spoken to roughly, which caused you to not eat for four
days, and as I am going to speak to you with good words, therefore I
desire that you should eat before we talk and I will have cooked for you
a very nice dog that I own myself, and at noon, after you have had your
noon meal, then we shall talk.' Then the officer got some Indians that
were about the fort to cook the dog for him in the way they usually cook
them for themselves. So when it was thus served to Winneshiek and he had
partaken of it; then he and the officer talked. The officer was very
much pleased that Winneshiek talked with him in a good spirit. Then he
said: 'Winneshiek, I am going to ask you a question and I would like to
have you tell me the truth ;' Winneshiek assented. The officer asked:
`Were you with the Foxes in the war?' Winneshiek said: `Yes,' and the
officer asked again: `Did you take part?' Winneshiek said: 'As you have
asked me for the truth, I will tell it to you,-yes, I took part.' Then
the officer said 'Winneshiek, I thank you because I asked you for the
truth and you gave it to me.' Then the officer did not question him any more, but left. Winneshiek was kept in prison one year for being an aid
to Black Hawk."
41 Wisconsin Historical Collections, 2,-257, 266.
42 As given by Mr. Oliver Lamere.
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