Comments On the Site of La Crosse By Early Explorers
     Who Passed Up Or Down the Mississippi River
                          ROBERT FRIES

           FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN (1640-1706)
    Father Hennepin, a friar of the Recollect order, accompanied La-
Salle on his expedition to the Illinois country (1679-80). When LaSalle
returned to Canada from his post on Lake Peoria, he ordered an ex-
pedition to explore the upper Mississippi. The leaders, Michel Accau
and Antoine Auguel, were accompanied by Father Hennepin. They fol-
lowed the Illinois to its mouth and ascended the Mississippi to the Falls
of St. Anthony, which they were the first white men to see. After many
harrowing experiences in the region of the Mississippi's headwaters,
Hennepin returned to Europe, where he wrote a book on his travels.
Hennepin, Father Louis, A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America.
    Ed. by Reuben Gold Thwaites. Chicago. 1903.
    V. 1, pp. 221-222. "March 1680. Within five-and-twenty Leagues
after [the Wisconsin River's mouth] we met another River coming from
the Eastward, nam'd by the Issati and Nadoussians, 'Chebadeba', that
is, the Black River. I can say very little of it, however, having observ'd
only its Mouth; but I judge from that, that it is not very considerable."
          ZEBULON MONTGOMERY PIKE (1779-1813)
     Pike was the son of an army officer, into whose company he volun-
teered as a cadet when he was fifteen years of age, becoming a first lieu-
tenant six years later. In 1804 he was commissioned by the government
to explore the headwaters of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. He
was the discoverer of the Famous Pike's Peak, Colorado. His death oc-
curred in an attack at York, Toronton, Canada during the War of 1812.
Coues, Elliott, Ed. The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike. N. Y.
     1895.
     V. 1, pp. 271-274. "September 12, 180,5. Came up with Prairie le
 Cross so named from the ball game played on it by the Sioux. This
 prairie is very handsome; it has a small square hill similar to some
 mentioned by Carver. It is bounded in the rear by hills similar to
 [those of] the Prairie Des Chein. The Indians were accustomed to
 scoop holes in the prairie when the enemy approached for protection for
 women and children Their military works are still visible, generally
     After climbing one of the hills overlooking the prairie, he writes:
 "It was altogether a prospect so variegated and romantic that a man
 round and ten feet in diameter, but some are half moons and quite a
 breastwork .. ."
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