The principal rivers in Crawford county are

BAD AXE, which heads about forty miles from Prairie du Chien, and runs into the Mississippi. This stream is rendered memorable by the fact that the last, and decisive battle with Black Hawk and his band, took place at its mouth, on the 2d day of August, 1832.

BALL RIVER is another tributary of the Mississippi, a few miles below Black river, at a beautiful prairie called “Prairie du Crosse," which was once much frequented by the Indians for the purpose of playing at a favorite game with a ball-hence the name Ball river. The Indian name is

Wazioju.

BLACK RIVER (Sappah of the Indians) is an important tributary of the Mississippi, entering between Ball and Chippewa rivers. It is about two hundred yards wide at the mouth, and maintains this width for fifty miles, to the "falls." At these falls, there is a descent of twenty-two feet in a distance of about one hundred yards, affording water power at which about three millions of feet of lumber are annually made; and being at the head of navigation, is supposed to be an important place. Improvements were begun here in 1840.

KICKAPOO RIVER is a branch of the Wisconsin, which runs for some distance nearly parallel with the Mississippi, and enters the Wisconsin in range four west. About its sources forests of pine are found.

TREMPALEAU RIVER, a branch of the Mississippi that enters near Mount Trempaleau or the "Montagne qui treupe dans l'eau" (Soaking Mountain) of the French. This re

markable bluff is about five hundred feet high, affording a beautiful and extensive view of the Mississippi and the surrounding country. A very fine engraving of this mountain and the tranquil scenery around it was made a few years since to accompany the "New York Mirror."

CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

This county was established in 1845, from the western and northern parts of Crawford, and is bounded as follows: begin on the Mississippi at the mouth of Buffalo river, thence up Buffalo river to its source, thence along the dividing ridge between the waters of Black and Chippewa rivers to the head of Black river, thence east to the line of Portage county, thence north to the State line of Michigan, thence westwardly to the Forks of the Montreal river, thence up the West Fork to the point nearest to the Lac Courtorielle, thence by the canoe route to Long Lake, thence down the Red Cedar river to the mouth of the Meadow Fork, thence to the Lower Forks of the Porcupine river, thence down that river and the Mississippi to the place of beginning. In superficial extent, this county is estimated at about nine thousand square miles. It embraces the basin of the Chippewa river, one of the largest tributaries of the Mississippi in Wisconsin. Its population is estimated at eight hundred.

The Chippewa river (Ojibwa, of the Indians) runs entirely across the Territory, having its rise in the State of Michigan, near the sources of the Wisconsin, Montreal, &c., and running into the Mississippi near the foot of Lake Pepin. It is about five hundred yards wide at its mouth. There are six rapids on the Chippewa. The principal one called the "Falls," is about seventy-five miles above the mouth, and has a descent of twenty-four feet in the distance of half a mile. A very large amount of pine lumber is annually sent down this river. Towards the sources of this stream and its branches there are many fine lakes, some of which have received names and are known by them. The principal are Lac Courtorielle, Lac Chetac, Lac de Flambeau, Tomahawk Lake, Red Cedar Lake, Rice Lake, &c., &c. The Red Cedar Fork is the main branch of this river, entering from the west about thirty-six miles above its mouth About sixty miles below Rice Lake, on this river,

according to Schoolcraft, commences a series of rapids over horizontal layers of sandstone rocks, which extend, with short intervals, down the river twenty-four miles. The remainder of the distance (about fifty miles) to the junction, is characterized by deep water, with a strong current; and at the junction is commanding and elevated, affording a fine view of a noble expanse of waters. The Eau Gallais is another branch of the Chippewa, entering from the west, eighteen miles above the mouth, on which mills have been built.

PORCUPINE RIVER enters Lake Pepin near the middle.

SAINT CROIX COUNTY.

This county was reduced very materially in size by setting off from it, in 1845, the county of La Pointe. It is bounded by the following line :-begin on Lake Pepin at the mouth of the Porcupine river, running up that river to the First Forks, thence to the mouth of the Meadow Fork of Red Cedar river, thence up that river to Long Lake, thence by the nearest canoe route to Lac Courtorielle, thence to Yellow lake, thence to the mouth of Muddy river, thence down the Mississippi to the place of beginning. Area about eleven thousand square miles.

A law passed in 1845 to organize this county distinct from Crawford, provided the people should by a vote decide in favor of the measure; but no vote having been taken as required by law, the county remains attached to Crawford. The population of this region, in 1840, was eight hundred and nine; and in 1842, it was estimated at twelve hundred-the settlements being so remote and so little known that it was found impracticable to make an exact enumeration. It is now, after the separation of La Pointe county, supposed to contain about fifteen hundred inhabitants.

The principal settlements are at La Pointe, on Lake Superior, and on the St. Croix river.

The census of 1840 shows that there were then 58

horses, 434 neat cattle, 6 sheep, 187 swine, 7 stores and groceries, 3 saw-mills, and 9 cabinet makers in this county; and the products of the preceding year were 74 bushels of wheat; 79 of barley, 258 of oats, 606 of corn, 8,014 of potatoes, 447 tons of hay, 17,997 pounds of maple sugar, 4,282 barrels of fish, 1,500 gallons of fish oil, and four thousand three hundred dollars worth of skins and furs.

Much of this county will remain as it is at present, an uninviting region, but there are portions of it, especially along the Mississippi, and its branches, that may be cultivated to advantage; and its forests of pine, and perhaps mines of copper, may in some degree compensate for its deficiencies otherwise.

Many of the rivers, lakes, &c., in this portion of the Territory, have received different names by the persons who have visited or described them, and hence there is some confusion in relation to these names. Those that appear to

be pretty well established are as follows:

ST. CROIX RIVER, an important tributary of the Mississippi, a few miles above Lake Pepin, and fifty miles below the Falls of St. Anthony. Its length is about two hundred miles. It originates in Upper St. Croix lake, a beautiful sheet of clear, deep water, twelve miles long from north to south, and from one to three miles broad, with a small island near the south end. From this lake there is a portage of two miles, over a dry pine ridge, to the head of the Bois Brule river of Lake Superior. The branches of the St. Croix connect, by short portages, with the Chippewa, the Ishkodewabo (or Rum), and the Mauvaise rivers. the Falls of the St. Croix, greenstone rock is found. Mills have been erected here, and some other improvements commenced. The quantity of pine lumber manufactured on the St. Croix is estimated at five millions of feet annually. Above the Falls the river is full of rapids and falls; the descent from the portage at its source to the mouth being two hundred and twenty-seven feet, as ascertained by Mr Nicollet.

At

The St. Croix is about one hundred yards wide, at its mouth, which is opposite an island in the Mississippi; and on the right bank at the mouth, there is a perpendicular ledge of sandstone about ten feet high. A few hundred yards above the mouth commences the Lower St. Clair lake, which extends thirty-six miles, with a breadth of about three or four miles.

RUM RIVER (Ishkode-wabo, or Missisagaregon, of the Indians) is the most important tributary of the Mississippi river in Wisconsin, above St. Croix, entering fourteen miles above the Falls of St. Anthony. It is sixty yards wide at its mouth, and navigable for canoes about one hundred and fifty miles. It rises near the St. Louis river of Lake Superior, and passes through Spirit lake, a sheet of water twelve miles long and four wide, containing several islands. The water is transparent, and like most of the Lakes in Wisconsin, abounds in fish. The Mille Lac forms the source of a considerable branch of Rum river, by which the navigation is connected, by a portage of one mile, with the Upper Mississippi. This lake, or rather group of lakes, is about twenty miles in diameter.

SAINT FRANCIS RIVER (Wicha-niva, of the Indians) enters a short distance above Rum river. It runs nearly parallel with the Mississippi, and hence it has been called the Parallel river; and as it has one of its sources in Leaf lake, it has also been called Leaf river. It is navigable for canoes about one hundred miles. It was named by Hennepin, who saw it in 1680.

The minor streams in this county tributary to the Mississippi are Nokays, Pekushino, Pidewabie or Little Rock river, Peterah, Ottonway or Raccoon, Clear Water and Porcupine. Those tributary to the St. Croix are, Willow, Greenstone, Altauwa, Nemokago, Red Cedar Creek, Reed Creek, Snake river, Wigobimis, Kettle, Shell, and Yellow rivers.

The lakes that have received names may be enumerated