History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 50

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 50
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 50

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lient. Gardenier, Boisley, myself and seven men, returned to the pineries to bring down the rafts. We found on our arrival, that the men had worked well, and had got out a large

*Dr. William Beaumont, a native of Maryland, entered the army as a surgeon's mate in 1812, promoted to surgeon, resigned and retired from the service Dec. 21, 1839. He was the author of an interesting work relating to experiments on the gastrie juice.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

quantity of square timber, with any amount of shingles, and the flat-hoat was put together and nearly finished. Two rafts were soon formed of the timber, and I was put in command of one, and Lieut. Gardenier took the other. My raft was the largest, but it drew less water, and, therefore, all the provisions for the men of both rafts were placed on it, except a barrel of whis- ky. Melvin was left with some of the men, to bring down the shingles in the flat-boat as soon as it was launched.

The rafts were run out of the Menomonee down into Chippewa river smooth enough. One night I made fast to the shore, just above the head of Boeuf slough, on the Chippewa, and was waiting for the other raft. It presently appeared in sight and I noticed that something unusual was going on, for the raft floated rail- fence fashion, first against one shore and then against the other, bumping along as though it was intoxicated, perhaps that whisky barrel leaked. I cried out to Gardenier to either make fast above me, or pull for the point opposite the slough. Ile heard me, and tried to make ' the opposite shore, but owing to the strong eur- rent or some mismanagement, the raft was sneked into the slough, without touching, and was carried down some distance, and struck on a small tow-head or island. I thought it best to wait until morning before going to them, and quietly ate my supper which Boiseley had pre- pared. The principle dish of this meal, was a hedgehog that I had shot. It was cooked by throwing it into the fire whole, and after being `perfectly roasted, taken out and all the quills and hair scraped off, and the entrails taken out. After it had undergone this process, it looked as nice as any roasted pig I ever saw, and with proper seasoning, it tasted better.

In the morning, I put some food in Boisley's canoe, and went down to the raft. The men were gład to get the grub, for they had had nothing to eat but whisky, all night and. you may believe they were not in the best working order. I saw how matters stood, and suggested

that the raft be "broke," and towed out of the slough piece-meal. Gardenier didn't approve of the plan, for he said such a large stream of wa- ter must have an outlet somewhere, and he would follow it, and take his risk of getting through to the Mississippi river.

At the entrance of this slough, the Chippe- wa river forms an elbow, the acute angle of which is the mouth of the slough. This slough was indeed a pretty stream of water, wide and deep, with fine banks, and had I not learned bot- ter, I would probably have made the same error that the lieutenant did. I told him, that when we drove oxen through the frozen bot- toms, I found out where the slough spread out into a wide marsh, and following it up to the Chippewa, we often came to large piles of drift-wood, that would certainly stop the raft.

It was decided, however, that the raft should go down the slough, and orders were given to swing her off the island, and bidding me good- bye, they were swept dowu the stream. I went along down the the Chippewa into Lake Pepin, without seeing anything of Gardenier's party, and feeling anxious about them, for they had been absent four days without provisions. I got into the canoe with Boisley, and taking our guns and something to eat, started to find them. I knew very near where the raft would bring up, so putting into a slough that has its rise in big marsh, we paddled the little canoe through the water at a good rate, until unfortunately we run on a sunken log and were upset. Boisley siezed the guns and carried them ashore, but all our food and ammunition was damaged or lost. I turned the canoe right side up, and getting in, we continued up the slough, came to the marsh, and, as I expected, found the raft jammed against a pile of drift wood in the slough, some distance above. The raft was deserted by every- thing except the whisky barrel, and that was empty. Bosley said the men had been gone from the raft at least two days, and knowing that they would head off my raft, somewhere below, we did not try to find them, but started

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to return to our party. We had gone back some distance, when, passing close to a small island covered with willows, a band of young Sioux braves jumped up and give a war-whoop. The Indians told us to come to them, and even waded towards us, but preferring to keep our guns, blankets, and canoe, in our own possession, we paddled away through the islands, and soon got out of their reach.

In our haste to leave the Indians, we missed our way, and wandered around in the marsh for two days before we reached the Mississippi river, far above our raft. We were hungry, for our provisions gave out two days previous, our guns were wet, and all the powder spoiled, so we could not shoot any game for food. Landing on an island in the river, we hauled the canoe up, and went to sleep without a fire. Next morning the wind blew so, we dared not leave the island. I had been so long without eat- ing, that I did not care if I ever saw food again. I had a hot, bitter sensation in my stomach. Late in the afternoon of that day we saw a ea- noe, with two Indians in it, coming down the western shore. I told Boisley, we must meet that canoe if we wanted to live. Shoving the canoe out, we got in, and by paddling and drift- ing, made the west shore, where we were piek- ed up by the Monomonee chief, Wa-ba-naw, and his squaw. Iasked the chief for food, and told him how long we had been without. IIe landed and made camp and his squaw cooked some hominy. This was given to us in very small quantities at first, and no entreaty or threat could make the Indian increase the dose, until it suited his pleasure. Ile continued to feed us at intervals, little by little, until our appe- tites became ravenous, and then he made us lie down, and we fell asleep. Wa-ba-naw's squaw aroused us at midnight, and set before us a ket- tle of thiek bouillon, made of hominy and meat, and told us to eat. We eat all the soup, went to sleep, and awoke in the morning as well as ever. Old Mrs. Wa-ba-naw called me her son ever after, and I always gave her a present of

sunff, when she came to see me. She lives on the island opposite Prairie du Chien, and she says she has seen twice fifty years, but that falls short of ber real age. She is blind and lives in a wigwam with her gon, who, with another Indian, murdered an old white man, and was pardoned the same year I came to Prairie du Chien. Mother Wa-ba-naw knows many tradi- tions of the country.

Wa-ba-naw went down to the raft with us, from which we had been gone six days. The men were glad to see us safe, and getting the raft into the current, we floated down, keeping a good lookout for any signs of Gardenier's party. Second day after my return to the raft, a signal was discovered on an island below us. It proved to be the missing party. They had been absent eleven days, and had eat nothing but acorns and roots. We treated them accord- ing to Wa-ba-naw's direction, for they were al- most famished, and would have killed them- selves, had they been allowed to eat all their appetites craved. They took the high land after leaving the raft, and traveling ahead of us, made a raft of drift-wood that carried them to the island. The wind broke up their raft, and it was swept away, making them prisoners on the island. There they remained without eat- ing, until we took them off. They had resolved to kill and eat a man named Austin Young, who was resigned to his fate, and had gone down to the river for water, while his comrades loaded a musket and cast lots who should shoot him. ITe filled the kettle with water, and was about to go back, when he saw the raft coming, and told his companions. Our appearance at that time saved his life.

Putting the weakest of the party into a Mack- inaw boat we had picked up, I sent them down to the Prairie with a couple of men. The boat must have got down a long time ahead of the raft, for when we arrived at Point Rock, I met Lieut. Gardenier looking well as ever, and he promised me something handsome if I would not give the particulars in my report, as to how

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the raft was lost. But I knew Taylor hated a liar as bad as he did a drunkard, so when I ar- rived at the fort I stated all the facts just as they were; and it was well I did, for Col. Tay- lor would soon have found out the truth. Be- sides, I secured the respect of Lieut. Gardenier by so doing, for he was an honorable man. His wife sleeps in the officers' grave yard, where the slabs that mark the resting place of those who died at that early day, may now be seen.

I think it was in the year. 1830 that I witnessed a murder in the garrison of Fort Crawford, without being able to prevent it. One Coffin, a provost sergeant, whose duty it was to spy on the men, make arrests and report everything that occurred, was shot by one Beckett, a soldier. The facts of the transaction as I recollect them, are these:

Provost Coffin had discovered the soldier Beckett in the act of leaving the fort through one of the windows, from which a couple of iron bars had been removed. It was one night after tattoo. Coffin was on the watch, and he caught the man just as he got out, and kicked, beat and otherwise injured him, until he was nearly dead, and then had him dragged to the guard-house. The soklier was in a dangerous condition, and the physician had him put in the hospital, where he laid sick a long time. lle asked and received permission to go back to his company as soon as he was able to be up. He had ever been a favorite with his comrades, and they all expressed their joy at his return; but he replied to their kind welcome with a strange quiet in his manner that left an impression of dark foreboding on the minds of his friends. He continued in a state of morbid taciturnity, in spite of efforts made to cheer him.

One day while acting quarter-master's ser- geant, I was going out with a file of men to see to butchering some cattle, when an officer named Green hailed me and said the pay-mas- ler was at the quarter-master's department, and I had better go there soon, if I wanted my pay. I then had all the money I needed, and

not being afraid to trust Uncle Sam, I went on with the men. When I got back I went into the quarter-master's office to make my report, and found the pay-master gone. The only per- sons present, was Coffin, who had a little desk in the office, at which he was writing, and the soldier Beckett, who had come in and was standing with his musket near the stove. I noticed something strange in Beckett's appear- anee, and, knowing his disposition, it instantly occurred to me, that he intended to shoot Cof- fin, who stood with his back towards us.

Without speaking, I walked towards Beckett, hoping to approach near enough to snatch the musket; when designing my purpose, he warned me off, and quickly shot Coflin-a cart- ridge of three buck-shot and a ball passed through him, and he fell dead without a groan.

Beckett was arrested, and confined in the guard-house. He was ironed with great care- his hands and feet confined with irons, an iron collar around his neck, with a bar connected, extending through the shackles of his hands and feet. He laid in a stone cell, on the floor made of square timber eighteen inches thick, to which he was confined by a band of iron pass- ing over his body and fastened firmly on either side. A guard was placed over him, but with all this precaution he managed to escape.

He gotaway as far as Cassville, and went to work in the mines somewhere south of that place, and was found by Capt. Billy Harris,* who was down there hunting for deserters. He was carried to Mineral Point, tried by the civil authorities, convicted, brought back here, and hung like a dog. The sheriff who sent his soul into eternity, barely escaped on a fleet horse with his life, for the soldiers were enraged at the indignities shown to their unfortunate com- rade, and tried to kill him.

THE SECOND FORT CRAWFORD.

The building of the second Fort Crawford was commenced in 1829, occupied by the gar-

*Capt. Win. L. Harris, a native of Virginia, was a cadet in 1819; brevet second lieutenant, 1824; first lieutenant, 1830; served in the Black Hawk War: assistant commissary of subsistence. 1833; dismissed, October, 1836. and died in Illi- nois, in February, 1837.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

rison in 1831, and completed in 1832. It was located upon the main land below the village as then existing, upon the site of several ancient mounds, already referred to, now occupied by a convent. It was constructed of stone, quadran- gular in shape. The north and south sides were officers' quarters, each 35x242 feet. The east and west sides were each filled by two build- ings, 175 feet long, separated by a sally-port. These four faces embraced in all an inclosure of about 250x400 feet and consisted of an elevated basement and one story above. They were de- signed to accomodate a regiment. The com- mandant's residence and headquarters and the hospital were upon the outside.

A recent writer says:

"Owing to the high waters of '21, '26 and'28, it was decided by Col. Zachary Taylor to erect a new fort on higher ground. The cite chosen was Pike's IFill, a high, projecting bluff, three miles below, on the Iowa side, because of its commanding both the Wisconsin and Mississ- ippi rivers, but after two years successive fail- ure to build a road that could not be affected by the disastrous floods of the region, it was aban- doned, and a position on the main land, which is abont forty feet higher than the island, was selected. and in 1832 new Fort Crawford was completed and occupied."

"The north quarter of the new fort," says Mr. Fonda, "was completed in the summer of 1830. The powder magazine, at the southeast corner of the fort, was built the same year. It took four men ten months (the way we worked for government) to build it. The walls are of roek, three feet thick, and each rock matched into another, like flooring, and cemented to- getlier.

"In building the fort, we disturbed an Indian mound. It was a common burying place of the Indians, and we took ont cart-loads of bones.

"Col. Zachary Taylor (afterward President of the United States) was in command of the last Fort Crawford from its first occupation until in

the fall of 1836, when he was succeeded by Gen. Brooks, who was followed by Gen. Wilson in 1843, and he by Col. Davenport in 1845."

NOTABLE EVENTS.

[1832.]

The cholera raged terribly among the troops in the year of 1832. 100 soldiers died at Fort Crawford in two weeks. They were buried on the prairie south of the old Dagoon stable. Only four citizens died of the cholera, and these in one house.

[1833.]

Charles J. Latrobe, the English traveler, was at the new fort in 1833. He says:

"Within these few years [the first Fort Crawford] has been superceded by a large spacious range of stone barracks, built on the gentle swell on the opposite side of the bayou. An Indian monnd, round which the new build- ings were constructed, was removed in leveling the square, and forty-eight bodies, some enclosed in wooden or bark coffins, were removed. Fort Crawford, as the new erection is called, is cal- culated to afford quarters to the entire regi- ment, though only a few companies were there at the time of our visit."

[1834.]

Charles Fenno Hoffman, in his "Winter in the West" says: "On the 12th of November, 1834, he arrived at the prairie, and was enter- tained by Col. Z. Taylor at the fort. He re- mained two weeks. The garrison consisted of five companies of the Ist infantry. Says the village is a half mile from the fort, with an- tique looking timber honses, containing an am- phibeous population of royaguers and hunters, half French and half Indian. Visits the mounds and fortifications on the bluffs."

[1836.]

Rev. R. Caddle, of the P. E. Church, came to Prairie du Chien as a missionary in 1836, but was shortly after appointed chaplain at Fort Crawford, where be continued until 1841, when he resigned and entered the missionary service

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

in another part of the territory. While here he organized Trinity Church.

In the fall of this year Col. Z. Taylor, with his regiment, left this fort for Florida, and Gen. Brooke assumed command. As "new lords make new laws" so a little incident con- nected with this change shows how the public money is sometimes disposed of. Gen. Brooke thought the house in which Col. Taylor, with a large family, had lived for many years, was not good enough for him, and he applied to the de- partment of war for a new house. The answer was, "no, can't afford it; repair the old one." To do this the old house was entirely removed, or torn down, except the cellar, and over this a new building was erected, costing $7,000, under the head or repairs. This house, with all the government land, was subsequently sold, being bought by John Lawler, the house remodeled and the grounds improved.

Many humorous anecdotes are related cf Tay- lor and his method of punishing slight offences, while in command of Fort Crawford. The method was styled "wooling," and consisted in taking hold of the man's ears and shaking him. A soldier named Brady made a wager with a comrade that the colonel would not "wool" him. The man greased his ears well and dur- ing parade put himself in the way of punish- ment. Taylor rushed at him, caught him by the ears, but they slipped from his grasp, again and again he attempted to clutch them, but in vain, he couldl no more hold them than he could hold an eel, and he gave up the effort in dis- gust. Brady won his wager, escaped the "wool- ing," but his ruse gained him the guard house.

S. A. Palmer, of Pottsville, l'a., was here in 1836, and relates that there were 300 troops at the fort, four substantial stone buildings, each 200 feet long, forming a square ; a few mean houses, tenanted by a miserable set of French and Indians.

[1837.]

Capt. F. Marryat, the English novelist, came from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago in

June, 1837, and from the latter place to Prairie du Chien with a party bringing provisions for the fort. While here he visited the mounds. Hle remained a week at the fort, which he says is a mere enclosure, intended to repel the at- tacks of Indians, but is large and commodious, and the quarters of the officers are excellent, built of stone, which is not the case at Fort Winnebago or Fort Howard.

[1846.]

This year, 1846, and the suceceding year, Fort Crawford was garrisoned by a company of volunteers under Capt. Wiram Knowlton, the regular troops having gone to Mexico. Con- eerning this occupancy, Mr. Fonda says :

"It was this same year [1846] that the affairs with Mexico came to a head; war was declared, and volunteers were raised throughout the country. Orders were received from the seere- tary of war to raise a company to occupy Fort Crawford during the trouble with Mexico. A company was enlisted under Brevet. Maj. A. S. Ilove .*

"Wiram Knowlton was captain, Charles Bris- bois, first lieutenant; and on the 3d day of September, 1836, I received a second lieutenant's commission from Gov. Henry Dodge. The in- ferior officers were sergts. D. Gary, F. N. Grouchy and E. Warner ; and corporals W. R. Curts, A. Tilow, B. Fox and J. A. Clark ; the whole number of men in the company was seventy-three. The men were a little aristo- eratie, and they all wanted to wear officers's uniform ; but after the one year (which was the term of enlistment) had expired, a new company was mustered by Major Garland, and placed under the command of Capt. Knowlton, who maintained the strietest of military disci- pline. This company was styled the Dodge Guards, and was commanded by the officers of the first company."

* Alexander S. Hove, a Virginian, was a cadet in 1823 ; entered the army as brevet second lieutenant 1827 : Arst lieutenant, 1833 : captain, 1838 : was distinguished in the battles of Palo Alto and Rasaca de la Palma, in the latter of which he lost an arm, and breveted major. He died at Baton Rouge, La , Dec. 9, 1847.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

[1847].

On the 20th of June, 1847, two ejectment suits were tried in the circuit court involving title to farm lots 33 and 34, heretofore held and supposed to be owned by the United States government, and on which Fort Crawford is situated. The suit was brought by Ira B. Brun- son, B. W. Brisbois and Cyrus Woodman, against a tenant of the United States, the gov- ernment taking up the defense. The suits were decided in favor of the plaintiffs.

The following appeared in the Patriot of Angust, 1847:

"IN MEMORY OF LIEUT. CHARLES BRISBOIS, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, AUG. 13, 1847.

"Of congestive chills, at Fort. Crawford, on Friday evening, the 13th inst., Charles Brisbois, first lieutenant of the volunteers, stationed at this post, aged forty-nine years, five months and thirteen days. The disease of which Mr. Brisbois died, was contracted when on a visit to St. Louis, and in the fatal termina- tion, the community has lost one of the most valuable citizens, and society an hon- ored member. He was born and educated in the western country, and from youth to manhood had been engaged in the fur trade, connected with the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Residing in a country where there was no law, he had over acted upon principles of right, and formed a character, which in later years, in his intercourse with men, had won for him the confidence and respect of all. In July, last year, he became second lieutenant of the Dodge Guards, and has since been promoted to first lieutenant, which office he filled at the time of his death. As a soldier, his upright and impar- tial conduct had seenred the confidence of his superiors in rank, and the respect of all under his command ; as a citizen, he was liberal and active ; as a friend, faithful, generous and kind. He has left a wife and family, and a large number of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. His funeral took place on Saturday evening, with military honors, and a large con-

course of people were in attendance, and joined in the solemn ceremony that consigned to their last resting place, the earthly remains of an esteemed friend, a kind husband and father and a worthy citizen."

"At a meeting of the officers of Fort Crawford, Wisconsin Territory, agreeable to previous no- tice : Maj. A. S. Hove, was chosen chairman, Dr. S. S. Beach, secretary. Capt. Wiram Knowl- ton presented the following preamble and reso- Intions, which were unanimously adopted :

" Whereas, We have been, by all-wise Providence, deprived of our estimable friend and officer, first lient. Charles Brisbois, whose loss we feel in common with his bereaved wife, children and friends, to be irreparable to his family, his relatives, his home and country.

"Therefore, resolved, That we will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, in token of our sincere respect to his memory.

"Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his family, who have been deprived by an all- wise Ruler, of a kind and affectionate husband, father and protector, who was an honest, just and upright man, as well as a worthy citizen and officer, who was beloved by all who knew him, and above all suspicion of wrong and an irreparable loss, both to his country, which he had volunteered to serve during the war with Mexico.

[Signed]

A. S. HOVE, Brevet Major, U. S. A. WIRAM KNOWLTON, Capt. Wis. Vol. S. S. BEACH, Acting Ass't Surgeon. J. H. FONDA, 2d Lieut. Wis. Vol."

Concerning Charles Brisbois, Mr. Fonda says: "On the 13th day of August, 1847, first lient. Charles Brisbois, died at his post, from a dis- case contracted while on a visit to St. Louis, and in its fatal termination the community lost one of its most valuable citizens, and society an honorable member. He was born and educated

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

in the western country, and from youth to man- ho d had been engaged in the fur trade con- nected with the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Residing in a country where there was no law, he ever acted upon the principles of right, and formed a character, which in his intercourse with his fellow-man, had won for him the con- fidence and respect of all. As a soldier, his up- right and impartial conduct had secured him the confidence of his superiors in rank, and the respeet of all under his command; as a citizen he was liberal and active; as a friend, faithful, generous and kind. He left a wife and family, and a large number of relatives and friends. We buried him in the old Catholic burying ground, with military honors, and a large con- course of the people were in attendance, and joined in the solemn obsequies that consigned . to the last resting place, the earthly remains of Lieut. Charles Brisbois.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 50

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298