Hennepin and Duluth
By Brother Anthony Baker, OSB

After nineteen days traveling by canoe, they finally began a portage over land.  Before beginning this portage, the Sioux broke Hennepin’s canoe to pieces for fear that it may be used by others.  The three men were also given to three different families at this time as some way to give these families new sons to replace the ones that were killed by the Miami’s who they were chasing.  The walk was a forced march in which they moved quickly.  This was hard on Hennepin and after five days when they arrived at Lake Mille Lacs, Hennepin was rather ill.  Aquipaguetin and his family adopted Hennepin by rubbing him down and wrapping him in a buffalo blanket.  Since Hennepin was so weak from his forced march, Aquipaguetin prepared a sweat lodge which Hennepin used more than once and through this regained his strength. [i]

After three months among the Sioux,  Aquipaguetin wanted Hennepin, as an adopted son, to go south with them to hunt buffalo.  However, Hennepin indicated that he needed to go south to see if De la Salle had sent any supplies.  After traveling four days, the Sioux allowed Hennepin and Auguelle to continue on.  Accault remained behind with the Sioux.  It was on this journey that Hennepin came across Saint Anthony Falls , which he named after Saint Anthony of Padua .[ii] 

Hennepin and Auguelle thought they were free as they continued down the Mississippi .  However, after a few days Aquipaguetin caught up with them.  The rest of the Sioux tribe arrived A few days later.  The Sioux were not quite done with their hunt, so Hennepin and Auguelle rejoined the Sioux and there hunt.  As the hunting party returnid to Lake Mille Lacs, Daniel Greyselon Sieur du Luth and his party met them.[iii]

Daniel Greyselon Sieur du Luth was born in St. Germainen-Laye in 1636.  His family was connected to nobility loosely through his father’s side and his grandfather was a wealthy merchant.  Sieur du Luth went to Canada in 1672 because in Canada , it seemed to him life was exciting with new discoveries.  He was a soldier and was part of King Louis XIV elite guard.  After a few years in Canada he was recalled to France and fought at the battle of Seneffe in 1676.   After this battle he began to hear stories from those who were exploring the western lands.  Sieur du Luth was eager to explore these lands and, without permission in 1678 took seven men with him and explored the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi River Valley .[iv]  


[i] Source(s): “A Description of Louisiana” by Father Hennepin translated by John Gilmore Shea, which can be found in the “March of America Facsimile Series” volume 30, page 219-228 During the 19 days up the Mississippi, Hennepin came across several rivers and one large lake which he called the “Lake of Tears”,  He gave this lake its name because chief Aquipaguetin would not stop crying over the loss of his son by the Miami’s who they were chancing when they met Hennepin.  This lake today is called Lake Pepin .

[ii] Source(s): “A Description of Louisiana” by Father Hennepin translated by John Gilmore Shea, which can be found in the “March of America Facsimile Series” volume 30, page 200 and page 242-243.  During the three months Hennepin was with the Sioux, he began to learn their language as well as a dictionary.  He also had a compass, which fascinated the Sioux.  He also baptized a small child with Auguelle as the witness.  Some Assinibons’s arrived while he was there, and he learned about the extensive western plains which meant that there was no quick way to get to the western sea, the pacific.  Pages 229-236.

[iii] Source(s): “A Description of Louisiana” by Father Hennepin translated by John Gilmore Shea, which can be found in the “March of America Facsimile Series” volume 30, page 200 and page 253.  The foot note on this page reads regarding Hennepin’s claim that they met “one hundred and twenty leagues from distant from the country of the Indian who had taken us, [Lake Mille Lacs”.  The foot note that is attached to this reads, “This would make him meet de L’hut’s party some where below the Illinois … …De L’hut himself says eighty leagues below the St. Croix , that is about the mouth of the Black River .”  Thus, where Hennepin and Sieur du Luth really met is unknown.  However, once the groups came together, they quickly went back to Lake Mille Lacs.

[iv] Source: Blegen, Theodore C., “The Land Lies Open” Pages 36-38.  The explores Sieur du Luth was listening to included Joliet and Marquette.  Also Count Frantenac on part of King Louis XVI wanted to explore the western territories and claim them for France . 

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