USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 11
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" I can better illustrate this early mode of travel by giving an account of a party of pleasure undertaken and accomplished by myself. In May, 1830, being obliged to go on the annual circuit to Prairie du Chien, to at- tend court, I concluded to make it a matter of pleasure, as well as business. I accordingly obtained a good-sized and substantial north-west bark canoe (about five fathoms, or thirty feet, in length, and five feet wide in the centre), a good tent, or 'marquee,' together with mattresses, blankets, bedding, mess-basket, and all things required as an outfit on such expeditions. The party consisted of my wife, self, two small children, two young ladies as companions, and a servant-girl; my crew, of four Canadians (experienced men, and good singers) and two Menomonee Indians as bow and steers men. The canoe was propelled both by oars and paddles. We ascended the Fox River to Fort Winnebago, and descended the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, and thence up the latter, four miles, to Prairie du Chien. The voyage occu- pied eight or nine days in going, and about the same length of time in re- turning, during which the ladies camped out every night save two. They did all the cooking and household work. The former was no small item; for with appetites sharpened by pure air and exercise, and with abundance of fresh venison, with fowl and fish to satisfy them, the quantity of viands consumed by the party would have astonished modern epicures, and, perhaps, shocked the delicate tastes of city belles. We frequently encamped early in the afternoon, - at some spot which attracted our attention from its natural beauty or romantic appearance, - and strolled along the bank of the stream, plucking beautiful wild flowers, which abounded; or, clambering up some high bluff or commanding headland, obtained a view of the surrounding country, and traced the meandering stream through its high banks, far in the distance. It was in the merry month of May, when the forest was clothed in its deepest verdure, the hills and prairies redolent with flowers, and the woods tenanted by melodious songsters. It was truly a trip of pleasure and enjoyment. Many trips for pleasure have been undertaken, where parties may have experienced the refinements and accommodations, and enjoyed the luxuries, to be found in the present day in old and long- settled countries; but I believe few, if any, realize more true delight and satisfaction than did this party of pleasure in a bark canoe."
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PIONEERS OF WISCONSIN.
WE might further illustrate the manner of life and living of the settlers who were here in the pioneer days, at these two early outposts of Wisconsin ; but what has been written, it is believed, will suffice. As time passed along, many changes took place. Other men and their families came in, and became a part and parcel of the community, introducing new ideas, and bringing with them the customs and habits of the places from which they removed. The title acquired by the government, by treaties with the Indians, and these lands being surveyed and brought into market, and offered at a mere nominal price, increased the number of settlers from the Eastern and other States. By energy and perseverance, they surmounted all obstacles, and by their courage and firmness ; and to them is owing the develop- ment of the country, the opening the way for the introduction of civilization, education, and the arts and sciences ; and to them should be awarded the merit of having largely contributed, by their talents and labor, to the formation and organization of the Territory, now State, of Wisconsin. Less than fifty years ago, the whole State of Wisconsin, except Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, was a wilderness, with here and there a set- tler, and those in the lead-region in the south-western part. It seems almost incredible to think, or in any way realize, what has since taken place, as it seems almost like enchantment. The narratives of the early settlers of Wisconsin, that have been published in the Collections of the State Historical Society and in the newspapers, where details are frequently given, and incidents related at the pioneer meetings held in the various portions of the State, all show what difficulties and hardships
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these settlers had to pass through, before they could live with any tolerable degree of comfort. Hon. C. M. Baker, in his address at the old settlers' meeting of Walworth County, 1869, says, --
"I have spoken of the men who first settled old Walworth; but what, old comrades in this life-battle in the wilderness that was, - what of our com- panions, the women ?
" Most of them had been delicately reared, and were accustomed to the luxuries and refinements of cultivated society; and most, or all, had good homes, with the necessaries and conveniences of life in abundance, and were surrounded by kind friends and dear relatives. To these they had been bred; to all these they were strongly attached. But these ties were sundered, these homes were left behind, when, after the last trunk was packed, and the last farewell was sadly uttered, they set their faces west- ward for a new life and a new home, they knew not whither ; but they knew it must be among strangers. They shared with us the toils of the journey, the weary miles of sunshine and storm, as we journeyed on and onward. They partook with us of the coarse fare and rude accommodations of the wagon and wayside, the canal-boat and the steamer, the log-tavern, and the bivouac under the open heavens, - all this they encountered without mur- muring, and cheerfully.
" And when, late in autumn or early spring, it may be, in the cold storm, or driving mists and chilly winds that cut to the bone, they took their de- parture from Chicago or Milwaukee, the last outposts of civilization over those low, lonely prairies which surrounded the one, or through the gloomy forests which enveloped the other, over dismal roads beset with ruts or stumps, without sign of cultivation or human habitation, - then it was that the hour of bitter trial came to their hearts; then it was, that, amid their loneliness and utter heart-desolation, the dear homes and kindred they had left, rose up before them, and, through their tears, they looked down upon the little ones who clung to them. But not a murmur, not a word of regret or repining, escaped them. The feelings, too deep for utterance, which swelled within them, were smothered in their bosoms. When we, at last (some later, some earlier), had found a place where to make a home in these pleasant groves and prairies, -pleasant to us men; for here there were herds of bounding deer, and flocks of wild fowl, the wolf and the sand-hill crane, and game, large and small, to give us sport. The lakes and streams abounded in fish, and we could take them at our will. The country was all open, and free to roam over as one great park. There was excitement for us in all this, suited to our rougher natures and coarser tastes. We could roam and fish or hunt as we pleased, amid the freshness and beauties of Nature. But how was it for our wives ? From all these bright, and, to us, fascinating scenes and pastimes, they were excluded. They were shut up with the children in log-cabins, - when they were fortunate enough to get them, - rude huts, without floors often, and, not unfrequently, without doors
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or windows, while the cold, bleak winds of March and December whistled through them. Frequently they were covered with shakes fastened on with poles, between which the stars at night looked down upon the faithful mother and her sleeping infants. Here, in one small room, filled, perhaps, with smoke; without furniture, except a little of the rudest kind, -rough slab stools, an equally rough table, and a bedstead, if any, made of poles fastened into the house; without kitchen-utensils, save, perchance, a kettle, a skillet, and a frying-pan ; destitute of crockery, and with a little tinware, - they were called upon to do, unaided, the duties of a housewife. With these conveniences and these surroundings, they took upon them for weeks and months, and even for years, the burden of their households in a con- tinued struggle with hinderances and perplexities. These were the heroic women to whom our hearts did homage ; and I should fail in my duty at this time, if, in the roll-call of worthy and honorable names, they should not be remembered."
In writing the above, Judge Baker spoke from actual expe- rience. He knew well the privations of the early settlers and their families, and could sympathize with them in their early experiences of pioneer life. The experience of the settler in Walworth County, however, was no worse, and in some respects better, than those who lived farther in the interior of the State. Some of these pioneers have passed away: many are still living, and are enjoying, in the evening of their days, wealth, and the comforts obtained by honorable toil and industry. Their conduct and action as public servants will bear the scru- tiny of posterity, and they will lose nothing in comparison with legislators or rulers of the few past years. May those who suc- ceed them in either capacity follow their example, and prove as true to the interests of the State as did the old settlers in their time ! and may the present and future legislatures, by their acts, retrieve the character and credit of the country from the odium brought upon it by reckless and inconsiderate legislation !
CHAPTER XIV.I
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
The Sauks and Foxes - British Interference -Black Hawk and his Wrongs - Battle of Stillman's Run - Battle of the Pecatonica - Battle of Wisconsin Heights - The Battle of Bad Axe -Capture of Black Hawk, &c.
THE acquisition of territory has always been a fruitful source of trouble. In ancient as well as in modern times, the stronger have generally overpowered the weaker nations, appropriated to their own use the territory of the latter, and resorted to arms in defence of their enlarged dominions.
In this, no more fitting example can be found than that which is afforded by the United States in its intercourse with the aboriginal tribes whose hunting-grounds and burial-places were within its boundaries ; and when the victims have mustered courage and numbers sufficient to assert their rights, and endeavored to maintain them, the entire strength of the con- federacy, as well as that of the border States, has generally been brought into requisition, and the audacity of the savages has been visited with the severest penalties.
Among those tribes with whom the Federal Government has been in trouble are the Sauks and Foxes, - powerful nations, whose homes were then on the banks of the Mississippi, in the present States of Wisconsin and Illinois, - with some portions of whom, on the 3d of November, 1804, a treaty was signed at St. Louis, ceding to the United States a large district of their territory. These negotiators had not visited St. Louis for such a purpose, however; and the act of cession was promptly
1 This chapter, written by Henry B. Dawson of the New York Historical Society, is taken from a work entitled "Battles of the United States by Sea and Land," by permission of the author.
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repudiated by the greater part of both nations. For many years, a series of troubles, based on the rival claims of the parties, occurred between the government and the nations ; and these troubles increased with the influx of settlers into that portion of the mighty West at a later date. Taking advantage of this disaffection, Tecumseh, and the agents of the British Government, at an early day prompted them to move, with other nations of the West, for the redress of the grievances under which they lived ; and a series of " wars " occurred, of which the reader has been informed in preceding chapters of this volume.
The troubles which this state of affairs produced grew more and more serious until 1831, when, in accordance with subsequent treaty stipulations, all, including Black Hawk, removed from Illinois, and settled on the western bank of the Mississippi. During that year, however, with his band of warriors and his family, he appears to have returned to his former home, and caused much annoyance to the settlers, although he showed no disposition to resort to hostilities. After a display of the military forces of the State under Gen. Duncan, and of the United States under Gen. Gaines, the troubles were settled by another treaty ; and Black Hawk and his party returned to their new homes west of the Mississippi.
Notwithstanding the apparent settlement of the troubles in 1831, the emissaries of the British Government in Canada appear to have continued the agitation of the treaty question among the Indians ; and in the spring of 1832, encouraged by their promises, Black Hawk prepared for another visit to his former home in Illinois. Still he assumed no warlike attitude ; but with his band of warriors on horseback, and their families and property in canoes, they crossed the Mississippi at the Yellow Bank, on the 6th of April, and moved slowly towards Rock River. It is difficult to conceive how such a cavalcade could have been considered an Indian invasion, especially since the squaws and children never accompanied war-parties on their excursions ; yet the people of Illinois considered it in that light, and treated their visitors as enemies. The governor called for volunteers to repel the invaders. Gen. Atkinson, then on his way up the river with six companies of the Sixth infantry,
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to demand some murderers from the Sauks, joined in the cru- sade ; three companies of the First infantry were ordered from Fort Crawford ; the militia of North-western Illinois and of Michigan were ordered to be held in readiness for active duty ; the co-operation of the Dakotas and Menomonees, hereditary enemies of the Sauks, was solicited by the Federal authori- ties ; and stores and supplies were ordered from St. Louis to be in readiness for the campaign. In the mean time the Indians pursued their way quietly but steadily, interfering with none, and without inflicting any injury on the settlers. To the messengers who were sent after them, they replied, they would not go back, as they were acting peaceably; and when the messages became more urgent, threatening to drive them back, they were informed, if Gen. Atkinson " wished to fight," he could " come on," as they were determined never to be driven, and, equally so, " not to make the first attack."
While the cavalcade, under Black Hawk, was thus pursuing its way up the Rock River, Gov. Reynolds and Gen. Whitesides, with about eighteen hundred volunteers, were mustered into the service of the United States, when Gen. Atkinson detached them in pursuit of the Indians ; while, with his regulars and the stores, he followed in boats in the rear, but at too great a distance to afford any support to the former. On the 12th of May, this detachment, eager for action, reached Dixon's Ferry, where it was joined by Major Stillman with two hundred and seventy-five men from the northern counties. The major, con- sidering the command an independent one, declined to join Gen. Whitesides's brigade ; and on the next day he solicited from the governor, as commander-in-chief, an order to go out on a scout. In accordance with that request, with Major Bailey, he received orders to march to the Old Man's Creek, and to ascertain, if possible, the movements of the Indians ; and the two battalions, after wading through unusually muddy roads, encamped in company, but independent of each other, some eight or ten miles from the ferry. On the following morning (May 14), the two battalions were temporarily placed in com- mand of Major Stillman ; and under his orders they continued the pursuit until sunset, when they encamped in front of a small creek known as the Kish-wau-kee (since then known as
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Stillman's Run), in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek, and about thirty miles above Dixon.
In the mean time, Black Hawk had learned that the promised assistance of the British would not be available ; and he began to relent. At the same time, intelligence of the approach of the two battalions under Majors Stillman and Bailey reached him ; and he "immediately started three young men with a flag," to meet them, and conduct them to his camp, that a council might be held, and that he might descend Rock River again, probably with the design of returning to the western bank of the Mississippi. Five others were soon after- wards detached after the former messengers, as a party of ob- servation. The first party, it is said, reached Major Stillman's encampment in safety, and were taken prisoners, notwithstand- ing their flag; and when the second party came in sight, also with a flag, with their guns held horizontally over their heads, and knocking the priming out as a signal of peace, they were pursued, and two of them were killed. On the arrival at Black Hawk's camp of the three messengers who had escaped, all ideas of flags and truces ended. Blood had been shed by the whites while the victims were extending assurances of peace ; and those who, before, had merely travelled over the soil of Illinois, without committing any offence, were instantly changed into active and determined enemies.
At this time, Black Hawk had only about forty men with him, the greater part of his party being ten miles distant ; and with this small force he started back to meet the assailants. There is no evidence whatever that the chief had either desired to engage in hostilities, or expected the whites would do so; and it is equally clear, that, in this invasion, the first act of aggression was committed by those among whom the Indians moved. What wonder, then, need there be, when his flag had been disregarded, and its bearers seized as prisoners, when his messengers of peace, subsequently despatched, had been shot down, or pursued with that intent, that Black Hawk, with the forty who were with him, should turn on his pursuers, sound the war-whoop, and sell their lives as dearly as possible ? He did so; and he did that only which any one, unless the veriest poltroon, would have done under the same circumstances.
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Rushing upon the cowardly pursuers of the peaceful embassy with his handful of braves, and sending the shrill war-whoop into their ranks in advance of his rifle-balls, or tomahawks, the indignant Black Hawk accomplished in a few minutes what had been considered the work of a host: he scattered them in every direction, and filled their minds with the greatest alarm. A few minutes afterwards, the main body of Major Stillman's command also came in sight, having followed in pursuit of the fugitive embassy; when the chief concealed his forty braves among "some brushes," and in concealment awaited its approach, shrewdly intending to have the first fire, -knowing its effect on militia, -"when it approached close enough." As Major Stillman halted on the prairie before he came within gun- shot distance of the ambuscade, it is probable he had discovered the Indians; but the latter did not wait for a development of his plans, or for his fire. Giving another of their terrible yells, the chief and his little party rushed from their hiding-places, and charged on the irregular mass of mounted men; and that also - unnerved by the injustice of the cause in which it was engaged, and magnifying every Indian warrior tenfold -also turned and fled in the greatest confusion. The Indians, of course, pursued; but, although twenty-five of his braves con- tinued it, the chief found it useless to follow, as they rode so fast ; and, after returning to his encampment, he "lighted his pipe, and sat down to thank the Great Spirit for what he had done."
On the following day, incited by the terrible stories of the fugitives, as they reached Dixon after a flight of fifty miles, Gov. Reynolds issued a proclamation calling for an additional force of two thousand mounted volunteers ; and, throughout the entire West, the exaggerated stories of Major Stillman and his followers, enlarged in the proclamation of Gov. Rey- nolds, and increased in horrible incidents in every subsequent version, were creating the greatest alarm.
On the day after the battle, after burying the two Indians, belonging to the second party, who had been shot, and one of the first party, who had shared the same fate, Black Hawk vis- ited the deserted camp of Major Stillman's party, and found "arms, ammunition, and provisions, all of which, especially the
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latter, he was in want of;" the empty whiskey-kegs which he found there creating the greatest surprise, as he had understood that all the pale faces belonged to the temperance societies.
In this action (" the battle at Stillman's Run," May 14, 1832), and in the pursuit which followed it, the Indians lost none. The volunteers lost Major Perkins, Capt. Adams, and nine men, and, perhaps, twenty horses killed; and five men were wounded. On the morning of the 15th, Gen. Whitesides, with his brigade of volunteers (fifteen hundred in number), moved forward to the battle-ground, on Stillman's Run, and buried the dead; when he, too, without venturing beyond the bounds of acknowledged safety, returned to Dixon. The troops, in the mean time, having become " dissatisfied, wished to be discharged from the service." On the 17th, Gen. Atkinson reached Dixon's Ferry, with his regulars and a supply of provisions ; and on the 19th, with the entire army, twenty- four hundred in number, he also advanced up the Rock River, towards the scene of the late battle. The disaffec- tion of the volunteers continued, however, and on the 27th and 28th of May, they were disbanded and discharged at Ottawa, by Gov. Reynolds, leaving the defence of the fron- tiers with the regular troops, and with a small body of citizens, who volunteered, temporarily, for that purpose.
In the mean time, the Indians were waging war in accord- ance with their usages. The settlements were visited and destroyed; the settlers and their families were butchered, or carried away captive; and, as has been said elsewhere, "the Indians had now shown themselves to be a courageous, active, and enterprising enemy." They had scattered their war-parties over all the North, - from Chicago to Galena, and from the Illi- nois River into the Territory of Wisconsin: they occupied every grove, waylaid every road, hung around every settlement, and attacked every party of white men that attempted to pene- trate the country.
Among those who temporarily volunteered to defend the frontiers on the discharge of the troops at Ottawa, was Adam M. Snyder, to whom was assigned the command of a company. In the night of the 17th of June, while he was encamped near Burr Oak Grove, thirty-five miles east from Galena, he
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was fired on by the Indians; and on the following morning (June 18) he went in pursuit of them. After a spirited chase, he overtook them (four in number) ; and after a warm engage- ment, and a vigorous charge, he succeeded in killing all of them, with the loss of one of his own command. It appears, however, that later in the day, while Capt. Snyder's company was returning to its encampment, the action was renewed by a large body of Indians (seventy or eighty, it is said) ; two "gentlemen " of Capt. Snyder's command being killed, and one wounded, at the first fire. The suddenness of the attack, and the loss which the company experienced, filled it with alarm; and many of the men, terror-stricken, commeneed a retreat. The captain, with great presence of mind, halted, and endeav- ored to form them for action; but so completely were they overcome with fear, that it was only after Gen. Whitesides - who was acting as a private in the company-had threatened to shoot the first man who attempted to run away, that any thing like order could be restored.
At length they formed; and taking to the trees, as the Indians had done before them, the action was carried on with great warmth, until the fall of the leader of the Indians dispirited them, and they retired. Besides the loss referred to (one killed), the Indians appear to have sustained no loss in this affair ; while the whites, besides the two "gentlemen " who were killed, are said to have had one wounded. Capt. Synder im- mediately marched to headquarters (Fort Wilbourne) ; and as the levy under Gov. Reynolds's "proclamation " had assembled, and was ready for duty, the temporary force of volunteers, of which Capt. Snyder's company was part, was disbanded.
While these proceedings of the temporary volunteer force in the vicinity of Kellogg's Grove were adding to the interests of the struggle, on the 14th of June, a party of men were attacked in a cornfield near the mouth of Spafford's Creek, and five were killed. Information of the affair was immediately conveyed to Fort Defiance, when Capt. Hoard despatched an express to Col. Henry Dodge at Dodgeville, with the intelligence; while, at the same time, Lieut. Charles Bracken, the second officer of the garrison, was despatched to the scene of the massacre with eleven men, -all for whom horses could be obtained. Stopping
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