Republican Compiler, Gettysburg , PA , April 16, 1828; submitted by Nancy Piper

Extract of a Letter from an Officer of the United States Army stationed at Fort Snelling, Prairie du Chien, Upper Mississippi, to his friend in this place – dated February 8, 1828

Dear Sir
Our winter has been unusually severe so far: the Thermometer has been twenty-seven degrees below zero! We have had very good sleighing since the 20th of November last and expect to have it until April. The snow is at this time between four and five feet deep.
I think, from all appearances, there is not the least doubt, but we will have some trouble with the Indians in the Spring. Several of the Winnebago’s are now in confinement at Prairie du Chien for murders committed during the last summer. Should they be executed in the spring (and I have no doubt they will,) the others will unquestionably commence hostilities. Last summer, four Sioux were given up by their own nation to the Chippewa and were taken a few hundred yards from the Fort and there shot down in the presence of myself and a number of officers. The Chippewa then drank their blood, washed themselves with it and walked off quite cool and deliberately to their lodges. – Carlisle Gazette.

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