HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

Monsieur de Lery, chief engineer of Canada, makes that cruel
act of the French at Detroit the cause of the future wars of the
Foxes; the beginning of the battle for the golden fleece, in
which the war whoop of the Foxes was heard around the world,
and Franee was involved in a half eentury of war with the
mighty Outagamis. He says, "Thus perished the Foxes whom
the Monsieur de la Mothe had brought to Detroit. As soon as
the Mascoutin and Kickapoo learned of this deed they sent many
war parties into the field to all the routes of travel. They caused
all the other nations to take to flight. This went on until Mon-
sieur de Louvigny besieged them in their fort in 1716. It does
not seem from previous history that the Outagamis were ever
friendly to the French, except intermittently as a matter of ex-
pediency, and it is quite impossible to say when the enmity was
begun, though possibly it was close to 1670, when the first traders
cheated them.
Sieur de Vaudreuil, the Governor, and Sieur Begon, the In-
tendant, the official heads of the dual government of Canada, in
their report to the "Ministere des Colonies" at Paris, November
15, 1713, wished to send Sieur der Louvigny that spring to bring
about peace or 'have the war with the Foxes continued," but
feared their authority to do so. They now sought authority to
proceed against the Foxes, for as "the common enemies of all
the nations of the upper country it is absolutely necessary to
take all possible measures to destroy them," as they had recently
killed at Detroit three Frenchmen and five Hurons. The Hurons
had sent to Quebec to ask for help to fight the Foxes and threat-
ened to ask English aid unless help was forthcoming. The people
at Detroit were said to be obliged to remain under cover of the
fort, fearing to go out. They reported the Foxes had killed one
L. Espine, a Frenchman, at Green Bay, and unless the Foxes were
humbled the French would have the contempt of all the tribes.
For the enterprise against the Foxes it was recommended that
licenses be granted to the French to trade in the lake country, to
agree to join the war against the Foxes, and to assemble at
Mackinac for that purpose. Also to furnish before departing
fifty pounds powder and 100 pounds of bullets so the war would
be carried on "without expense to his majesty."  The soldiers to
indemnify themselves by trading the merchandise they carry
with them as soon as the war with the Foxes is ended. To in-
crease the number of French in the party it was recommended to
grant amnesty to the 100 coureurs des bois who had assembled to

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