Bloomington Feb  6, 1858


Geo Winter Esq
Lafayette


     Dear Winter, I received your letter by the last mail and
regret to learn that you have been exposed to so many vexatious
occurrences.  Some money may perhaps yet come to light &
to hand as there is no calculating what route it my have
taken.  I remitted some money a few days before Christmas
and it is only a little more than a week since I got
tidings of it.  I have not remitted to you, but will do
so, if you desire it, by mail.  Had it been a larger
sum it might be sent by express. I will do as you
wish in regard to our old friends the Pottawattamies [Potawatomis]
there were some men among them, whose memory should
not be allowed to rot.  There was Sin a ga waw [Sinagawa] or
“the Squirrel” who inspired me with a profound admiration
and whose character was indeed worthy or respect.  He
gave our friend Col Pepper an annihilating  reply to
the speech which the Col made to the tribe.  He was
indeed one of natures noblemen, and a most effect
-tive orator.  In regard to Father Petit, whom I knew
well, and esteemed highly, I was aware that he was
dead, but never heard that he was killed by and IN
-dian nor any one else.  I always understood that
he died from cold, fatigue and exposure, soon after
his arrival upon Osage River.  It was a terrible march
and a vast deal of suffering and loss of life resulted
from want of water.  I had never imagined before
that such debility could have been produced simply
by thirst.  On our march to Camp Sandusky in Illinois
I came very near fainting and falling off my horse
on the prairie, for several minutes I was totally blind.
Petit was a man of delicate frame, and evidently pre-
disposed to pulmonary disease, and when so many
stout athletic men, were falling around, it was not
surprising that he should be seriously and perhaps fatally
injured, his death gave me no surprise therefore, for it
was a natural consequence.  I think  John Dowling of
Washington City is acquainted with all the circumstances
& that I heard of Petit’s death from him.  If any Indian