"Dear Sir: -- Your letter of the third instant, relating to the stone heaps near Red Wing, was duly received. I am happy to comply with your request, hoping that it may lead to an accurate survey of these mounds.
In 1848 I first heard of stone heaps, on the hill tops, back from Red Wing. But business, and the natural suspicion of the Indian prevented me from exploring. The treaty of Mendota emboldened me to visit the hills, and try to find the stone heaps. Accordingly, late last autumn, I started on foot and alone from Red Wing, following the path marked P on the map, which i herewith transmit. I left the path after crossing the second stream, and turning to the left, I ascended the first hill that I reached. This is about a mile distant from the path that leads from Fort Snelling to Lake Pepin. There, on the brow of the hill, which was about 200 feet high, was a heap of stones. It is about twelve feet in diameter and six in height. The perfect confusion of the stones, and yet the entireness of the heap, and the denuded rocks all around, convinced me that the heap had been formed from stones lying around, picked up by the hand of man.
But why, and when it had been done were questions not so easily decided. For solving these, I resolved to seek internal evidence. Prompted by the spirit of a first explorer, I soon ascended the heap; and the coldness of the day, and the
proximity of my gun, tended to suppress my dread of rattlesnakes. The stones were such that I could lift, or roll them, and I soon reached a stick about two feet from the top of the heap. After descending about a foot farther I pulled the post out; and about the same place found a shank bone, about five inches long. The post was red cedar, half decayed, i.e. one side, and rotted to a point in the ground; hence I could not tell whether it grew there or not. The bone is similar to the two which you have. I left it and the post on the heap, hoping that some one better skilled in osteology might
visit the heap. The stones of the heap are magnesium limestone, which forms the upper stratum of the hills about Red Wing.
Much pleased, I started south over the hill top, and was soon greeted by another silent monument of art. This heap is marked B on the map. It is similar to the first which is marked A, only it is larger and was so covered with a vine that I had not success in opening it. From this point, there is a fine view southward. The valleys and hills are delightful. Such hills and vales, such cairns and bushy glens, would, in my father's land, have been the thrones and play grounds of fairies. But I must stick to facts. I now started eastward to visit a conical appearing hill, distant about a mile and a half. I easily descended the hill, but to cross the plain and ascend another hill "hic labor est." But I was amply repaid.
The hill proved to be a ridge, with several stone heaps on the summit. Near one heap there is a beautiful little tree, with a top like "Tam O'Shanter's" bonnet.
I then descended northward about 200 feet, crossed a valley, past some earth mounds, and ascended another hill, and there found several more stone heaps similar to the others. In them I found nothing else worthy of particular notice at present.
If these few facts, should, in any measure, help to preserve correct information concerning any part of this new country, I shall be amply rewarded for writing.
Your obedient servant,
J.F. AITON
