times into such convenient form that they may be read without resort to the numerous sources of information from which they have been derived. If the attractions of rhetoric, or the interest of sensational description are expected to be found, the reader will be disappointed, and even the opinions of the compiler, in respect to the events which are recorded, will be looked for in vain, and are not permitted to affect in any manner the statement of facts presented. The compilation being made so largely from the writings of others, it would be next to impossible, either in the text or by notes, to give the credit which is justly due, and it is hoped that any imputation of plagiarism will be found undeserved in view of this acknowledgment. Very liberal extracts have been made from the history of GENERAL SMITH and entire paragraphs used without alteration or change of a sentence or word. The collections of the State Historical Society have been drawn upon whenever they would aid in promoting the desired object. The graphic description of the surrender of RED BIRD, in the eleventh chapter, is copied bodily from an article on the Winnebago war by COL. THOMAS L. MCKENNEY. Other extracts have been made from other writings, which it is not possible to specify in detail. The compiler wishes to say, in justice to himself, that the compilation now presented is his first attempt at anything of this kind. He is but little practiced in literary composition, and is but too conscious of his inability to give such form to the materials he has been able to obtain, as to make them worthy of publication. The work, however, is now laid before the public, whose favorable consideration of it is invoked, while no complaint will be made of fair criticism founded upon a knowledge of its contents. It has been undertaken for the reasons already stated, and because the author felt a considerable degree of obligation resting upon him to contribute whatever might be in his power, to the preservation of the history of those events with which he was contemporary, and which in a few years will have passed into oblivion. MOSES M. STRONG. TABLE OF CONTENTS. EARLY EXPLORATIONS OF "FLORIDA AND "LOUISIANA"- 1512 TO 1719. Gen. W. R. Smith's history-Juan Ponce de Leon - Diego Miruelo - Narvaez - De Soto - Champlain - Le Caron-Charter of New France - First Jesuit missions - Brebeuf, Daniel & Zallemand — Nicollet, the first to visit Wisconsin - Raymbault and Jogues — De querre Fur-traders in 1654-Drocoux -- Mesnard- -Allouez and his grand inter- tribal Council at Chegoiemegon - Dablon and Marquette - Perot, his visit to Green Bay and Chicago - Mission of St. Francis Xavier established at Green Bay - French take formal possession at St. Mary's - The cross borne by Allouez and Dablon to the Milwaukee and Waukesha rivers - Marquette and Joliet explore the Fox, Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers and return to Green Bay via Chicago - Marquette, his sickness and death-La Salle erects fort at Frontenac, builds the Griffin, anchors at Green Bay, goes to the Illinois, begins to build Fort Crèvecœur, returns to Frontenac, and back to the Illinois-Hennepin, with Accau and Du Gay explores the Upper Mississippi, made prisoners, liberated, visited St. Anthony, meet Du Lhut and his party, all reach Green Bay, Hennepin returns to Europe and dies La Salle goes to Mackinaw and returns to Crèvecœur, descends the Mississippi to its mouth, and takes possession of all the country for France, returns to France, attempts to colonize Louisiana. - War between England and France Peace of Ryswick - Iberville and Chateaumorand - Iberville ascends the Mississippi - -Le Sueur -he explores the St. Peter's river for minerals and winters there - Cadillac takes possession of Detroit - Kaskaskia - Peace of Utrecht - Bois- braint-Fort Chartres, Cahokia and Prairie de Rocher - Artaguette - New Orleans - WARS WITH FOX INDIANS-1712 TO 1746. - The Foxes concentrate their bands on Fox River - De Louvigny's expedition against the - THE LANGLADE FAMILY-1745 TO 1800. Biography no part of history - De Langlade's family-birth of Augustin- and Indian - Fort Du Quesne - Braddock's defeat- - The fight owing to the importunities of Charles - CHAPTER IV. JONATHAN CARVER'S EXPLORATIONS-1766 AND 1767. Treaty of Paris; cession of Louisiana - Captain Jonathan Carver-His birth-His mili- CHAPTER V. PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE NORTHWEST, AND TRANSFER TO BRITISH Digression-Progress of settlement in the Wabash country - - - - Population of Illinois county - Gist's settlement in the Youghiogeny - Washington sent to the Ohio River - Begin- CHAPTER VI. UNDER AMERICAN JURISDICTION-1787 TO 1820. Ordinance of 1787-Slavery at Green Bay - British posts in Northwest not immediately - CHAPTER VII. GREEN BAY-1634 TO 1836. Earliest abodes of civilization - Nicollet-Fur traders - Mesnard- Allouez- Mission of -- - - CHAPTER VIII PRAIRIE DU CHIEN-160 TO 1839. - - - Uncertainty of time of first settlement - Hennepin - Marquet and Joliet First military - |