History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 51

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 51

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).

"Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America, in the Yeara 1766, 1767 and 1768," by Jonathan Carver, pp. 46-49.

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In addition to this, were the daily encroachments of miners in the lead region ; for the latter had, at this time, overrun the mining country from Galena to the Wisconsin River. Finally, the difficulties led to an open rupture.

On the 28th of June, 1827, Red Bird, We-Kaw, and three of their companions, entered the house of Rijeste Gagnier, about two miles from Prairie du Chien, where they remained sev- eral hours. At last, when Mr. Gagnier was least expecting it, Red Bird leveled his gun and shot him dead on his hearthstone. A person in the building, by the name of Lipcap, who was a hired man, was slain at the same time by We-Kaw. Madame Gagnier turned to fly with her infant of eighteen months. As she was about to leap through the window, the child was torn from her arms by We-Kaw, stabbed, scalped and thrown violently on the floor as dead.

The murderer then attacked the woman, but gave way when she snatched up a gun that was leaning against the wall, and presented it to his breast. She then effected her escape. Her eld- est son, a lad of ten years, also shunned the murderers; and they both arrived in the village at the same time. The alarm was soon given; but, when the avengers of blood arrived at Gagnier's house, they found in it nothing living but his mangled infant. It was carried to the village, and, incredible as it may seem, it recovered.

Red Bird and his companions immediately proceeded from the scene of their crime to the ren- dezvous of their band. During their absence, thirty-seven of the warriors who acknowledged the authority of Red Bird, had assembled, with their wives and children, near the mouth of the Bad Axe River. They received the murderers with joy, and loud approbation of their exploit. A keg of liquor which they had secured was set abroach ; and the red men began to drink, and, as their spirits rose, to boast of what they had already done and intended to do. Two days did they continue to revel ; and on the third the source of their excitement gave out. They were, at about 4 in the afternoon, dissipating the last fumes of their excitement in the scalp-dance, when they descried one of the keel-boats, which had a few days before passed up the river with provisions for the troops at Fort Snelling, on her return, in charge of Mr. Lindsay. Forthwith, a proposal to take her and massacre the crew, was made, and carried by acclamation. They counted on doing this without risk ; for they had examined her on the way up and supposed there were no arms on board.

Mr. Lindsay's boats had descended the river as far as the village of Wabashaw, where they expected an attack. The Dakotas on shore were dancing the war-dance, and hailed their approach with insults and menaces, but did not, however, offer to obstruct their passage. The whites now supposed the danger over ; and, a strong wind at that moment beginning to blow up stream, the boats parted company. So strong was the wind, that all the force of the sweeps could scarcely stem it ; and, by the time the foremost boat was near the encampment, at the mouth of the Bad Axe River, the crew were very willing to stop and rest. One or two French- men, or half-breeds, who were on board, observed hostile appearances on shore, and advised the rest to keep the middle of the stream ; but their counsel was disregarded. Most of the crew were Americans, who, as usual with our countrymen, combined a profound ignorance of Indian char- acter with a thorough contempt for Indian prowess. They urged the boat directly toward the camp with all the force of the sweeps. There were sixteen men on deck. It may be well to observe here, that this, like all keel-boats used in the Mississippi Valley, was built almost exactly on the model of the Erie & Middlesex Canal boats.

The men were rallying their French companions on their apprehensions, and the boat (named Oliver H. Perry) was within thirty yards of the shore, when suddenly the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing tones of the war-whoop, and a volley of rifle-balls rained upon the deck. Happily, the Winnebagoes had not yet recovered from the effects of their debauch, and their arms were not steady. One man only fell from their fire. He was a little negro, named Peter. His leg was dreadfully shattered, and he afterward died of the wound. A second volley soon came from the shore; but, as the men were lying at the bottom of the boat, they all escaped but one, who was shot through the heart. Encouraged by the non-resistance, the Winnebagoes rushed to their canoes, with intent to board. The whites, having recovered

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from their first panic, seized their arms, and the boarders were received with a very severe dis- charge. In one canoe, two savages were killed with the same bullet, and several were wounded. The attack was continued until night, when one of the party, named Mandeville, who had assumed command, sprang into the water, followed by four others, who succeeded in setting the boat afloat, and then went down the stream.

Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this battle, seven of whom were killed and fourteen wounded. They managed to put 693 bullets into and through the boat. Two of the crew were killed outright, two mortally and two slightly wounded. The presence of mind of Mandeville undoubtedly saved the rest, as well as the boat. Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, did not reach the mouth of the Bad Axe until midnight. The Indians opened fire upon her, which was promptly returned, but, owing to the darkness, no injury was done, and the boat passed on safely.

Great was the alarm at Prairie du Chien when the boats arrived there. The people left their houses and farms, and crowded into the dilapidated fort. An express was immediately sent to Galena, and another to Fort Snelling, for assistance. A company of upward of a hun- dred volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. In a few days, four imperfect companies arrived from Fort Snelling. The consternation of the people of the lead mines was great, and in all the frontier settlements. This portion of the country then contained, as is supposed, about five thousand inhabitants. A great many of them fled from the country.

On the 1st of September, 1827, Maj. William Whistler, with Government troops, arrived at the portage ; and, while there, an express arrived from Gen. Atkinson, announcing his approach, and directing him to halt and fortify himself and wait his arrival. The object of the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jefferson Barracks, below St. Louis, and of Maj. Whistler, from Fort Howard, at Green Bay, was, to capture those who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to any further aggression. The Winnebagoes were advised that the security of their people lay in the surrender of the murderers of the Gagnier family. While Maj. Whistler was at the portage, he received a call in a mysterious way. An Indian came to his tent, and informed him that, at about 3 o'clock the next day, " they will come in." In reply to the question, " Who will come in ?" he said, " Red Bird and We-Kau." After making this answer, he retired by the way he came. At 3 o'clock the same day, another Indian came, and took position in nearly the same place and in the same way, when, to like questions he gave like answers; and at sundown a third came, confirming what the two had said, adding that he had, to secure that object, given to the families of the murderers nearly all his property.

There was something heroic in this voluntary surrender. The giving-away of property to the families of the guilty parties had nothing to do with their determination to devote them- selves for the good of their people, but only to reconcile those who were about to be bereaved to the dreadful expedient. The heroism of the purpose is seen in the fact that the murders com- mitted at Prairie du Chien were not wanton, but in retaliation for wrongs committed on this people by the whites. The parties murdered at the prairie were doubtless innocent of the wrongs and outrages of which the Indians complained; but the law of Indian retaliation does not require that he alone who commits a wrong shall suffer for it. One scalp is held due for another, no matter whose head is taken, provided it be torn from the crown of the family or people who may have made a resort to this law a necessity.

About noon of the day following, there were seen descending a mound on the portage a body of Indians. Some were mounted and some were on foot. By the aid of a glass the Ameri- cans could discern the direction to be toward their position. They bore no arms, and no one was. at a loss to understand that the promise made by the three Indians was about to be fulfilled. In the couse of half an hour they had approached within a short distance of the crossing of Fox River, when on a sudden singing was heard. Those who were familiar with the air said, " It is a death song." When still nearer, some present who knew him said, "It is Red Bird

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singing his death-song." The moment a halt was made, preparatory to crossing over, two scalp-yells were heard.

The Menomonees and other Indians who had accompanied the troops were lying carelessly about the ground, regardless of what was going on ; but when the " scalp-yells " were uttered, they sprang as one man to their feet, seized their rifles, and were ready for battle. They were at no loss to know what these "yells " were; but they had not heard with sufficient accuracy to decide whether they indicated scalps to be taken or given, but doubtless inferred the first.

Barges were sent across to receive, and an escort of military to accompany, them within the

lines. The white flag which had been seen in the distance was borne by Red Bird.

And now the advance of the Indians had reached half up the ascent of the bluff on which was the encampment. In the lead was Car-i-mi-nie, a distinguished chief. Arriving on the level upon which was the encampment of the Americans, and order being called, Car-i-mi-nie spoke, saying, " They are here. Like braves they have come in; treat them as braves; do not put them in irons." This address was made to Col. McKenney. The latter told him he was not the big captain. His talk must be made to Maj. Whistler, who would do what was right. Mr. Marsh, the sub-agent, being there, an advance was made to him, and a hope expressed that the prisoners might be turned over to him.

The military had been previously drawn out in line. The Menomonee and Wabanackie (Oneida) Indians were in groups, upon their haunches, on the left flank. On the right was the band of music, a little in advance of the line. In front of the center, about ten paces distant, were the murderers. On their right and left were those who had accompanied them, forming a semi-circle ; the magnificent Red Bird and the miserable-looking We-Kaw a little in advance of the center. All eyes were fixed on Red Bird. In height he was about six feet, straight but without restraint. His proportions were those of most exact symmetry ; and these embraced the entire man from his head to his feet.

He and We-Kaw were told to sit down. At this moment, the band struck up Pleyel's Hymn. Everything was still. Red Bird turned his eyes toward the band. The music having ceased, he took up his pouch, and, taking from it kinnikinnic and tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his hand, after the Indian fashion ; then, rubbing the two together, filled the bowl of his calumet, struck fire on a bit of punk with his flint and steel, lighted and smoked it. All sat except the speaker. The substance of what they said was as follows :

They were required to bring in the murderers." They had no power over any except two; the third had gone away ; and these had voluntarily agreed to come in and give themselves up. As their friends, they had come with them. They hoped their white brothers would agree to accept the horses, of which there were perhaps twenty; the meaning of which was, to take them in commutation for the lives of their two friends. They asked kind treatment for them, and earnestly besought that they might not be put in irons, and concluded by asking for a little tobacco and something to eat.

They were answered and told in substance that they had done well thus to come in. By having done so, they had turned away our guns and saved their people. They were admonished against placing themselves in a like situation in the future, and advised, when they were aggrieved, not to resort to violence, but to go to their agent, who would inform the Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress their grievances ; that their friends should be treated kindly, and tried by the same laws by which their Great Father's white children were tried ; that for the present, Red Bird and We-Kaw should not be put in irons ; that they should all have something to eat and tobacco to smoke.

Having heard this, Red Bird stood up; the commanding officer, Maj. Whistler, a few paces in front of the center of the line, facing him. After a moment's pause and a quick sur- vey of the troops, he spoke, saying, " I am ready." Then, advancing a step or two, he paused, saying, "I do not wish to be put in irons. Let me be free. I have given away my life ; it is gone " (stooping and taking some dust between his finger and thumb and blowing it away) "like that," eyeing the dust as it fell and vanished from his sight, adding, "I would not take it back ;

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it is gone." Having thus spoken, he threw his hands behind him and marched up to Maj. Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was wheeled backward from the center of the line, when, the Major stepping aside, Red Bird and We-Kaw marched through the line, in charge of a file of men, to a tent provided for them in the rear, where a guard was set over them. The com- rades of the two captives then left the ground by the way they had come, taking with them our advice and a supply of meat, flour and tobacco.

We-Kaw, the miserable-looking being, the accomplice of the Red Bird, was in all things the opposite of that unfortunate brave. Never were two persons so totally unlike. The one seemed a prince, and as if born to command and worthy to be obeyed; the other, as if he had been born to be hanged-meager, cold, dirty in his person and dress, crooked in form like the starved wolf, gaunt, hungry and bloodthirsty ; his entire appearance indicating the presence of a spirit wary, cruel and treacherous. The prisoners were committed into safe-keeping at Prairie du Chien, to await their trial in the regular courts of justice for murder.

The next spring, Red Bird, We-Kaw and another Winnebago prisoner were tried at Prairie du Chien, before Judge J. D. Doty, who went from Green Bay, by way of the portage, for that purpose, convicted and sentenced to death. Red Bird died in prison. A deputation of the tribe went to Washington to solicit the pardon of the others. President Adams granted it on the im- plied condition that the tribe would cede the lands then in the possession of the miners. The Winnebagoes agreed to this. Mme. Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty held at Prairie du Chien in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land to her and her two children ; the Government agreed to pay her the sum of $50 per annum for fifteen years, to be deducted from the annuity of the Winnebago Indians.

In closing this account of the "Winnebago war," we give an anecdote which places the Winnebago character in an amiable light: The militia of Prairie du Chien, immediately after the affair of the boats, seized the old chief, De-kau-ray, and four other Indians; and he was informed, that, if Red Bird should not be given up within a certain time, he and the others were to die in his place. This he steadfastly believed. A messenger, a young Indian, was sent to inform the tribe of the state of affairs; and several days had elapsed and no information was received of the murderers. The dreadful day was near at hand, and De-kau-ray, being in bad state of health, asked permission of the officer to go to the river and indulge in his long-accus- tomed habit of bathing in order to improve his health ; upon which Col. Snelling told him if he would promise, on the honor of a chief, that he would not leave town, he might have his liberty and enjoy all his privileges until the day appointed for his execution. Accordingly, he first gave his hand to the Colonel, thanking him for his friendly offer, then raised both hands aloft and in the most solemn adjuration promised that he would not leave the bounds prescribed, and said if he had a hundred lives he would sooner lose them all than forfeit his word. He was then set at liberty. He was advised to flee to the wilderness and make his escape. " But no!" said he, " do you think I prize life above honor ?" He then complacently remained until nine days of the ten which he had to live had elapsed, and still nothing was heard promising the ap- preliension of the murderers. No alteration could be seen in the countenance of the chief. It so happened that, on that day, Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops from Jefferson Barracks, and the order for the execution was countermanded and the Indians permitted to return to their homes.

Immediately after the cessation of hostilities, the miners pressed farther to the eastward in the lead region, and, as a consequence, the western limits of what is now Dane County were reached.

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CHAPTER III.

FIRST SETTLER IN DANE COUNTY-DANE COUNTY EXPLORED-INDIAN TRAILS-FIRST ROAD IN THE COUNTY-A GLIMPSE OF THE WILDERNESS-THE BLACK HAWK WAR-THE FOUR LAKE COUNTRY AFTER THE BLACK HAWK WAR-EARLY FRENCH RESIDENTS.

FIRST SETTLER IN DANE COUNTY.

The first permanent American settler in Dane County was Ebenezer Brigham. He was born at Shrewsbury, Worcester Co., Mass., April 28, 1789. In 1818, he came to Olean Point, in the State of New York. The Alleghany River was then the only channel known through Western New York, and that was only navigated by canoes, rafts or skiffs. He came through in a canoe, and at Pittsburgh took a flatboat down the Ohio River. The villages on the river were all small. During the journey down, he saw but one steamboat. On arriving at Shawneetown, he landed and walked through to St. Louis. There was nothing at that place but a small French settlement-not more than three or four brick houses in the town. In 1822, he followed up the Mississippi, on horseback, to Galena, where he found James Johnson, a brother of Richard M. Johnson, who was just opening the mines. Galena then consisted of one log cabin completed, and another under way, which he assisted in finishing. He subsequently returned to Springfield, Ill. In 1827, he started for Wisconsin with an ox team, seeking the lead region again. At that time there was a large emigration to the southwestern part of the Territory, as load ore was abundant and the price remunerative. He remained awhile with a small party on what is now the Block House Branch of the Platte River, about four miles south of the present village of Platteville, in Grant County, for the purpose of prospecting for mineral. From this point the party retreated in haste to Galena, owing to the commencement of hostili- ties by the Winnebago Indians. In the spring of 1828, he removed to Blue Mounds, the most advanced outpost in the mines, into what is now the town of Blue Mounds, Dane County, where, at some abandoned diggings, on Section 7, he soon discovered a valuable body of mineral, as lead ore was then and still is called by the miners in the lead region. The lode discovered by him had previously been worked by Indians and white men. The only source of food supply was from Galena. On his arrival he erected a cabin, the first house, in what is now Dane County, built by a permanent American settler. Its location was on the southwest quarter of the south- west quarter of Section 5, as afterward (in 1833) surveyed by the United States Surveyors. It was east of south of the East Blue Mound, and distant from it nearly half a mile. Soon after he had raised his cabin, he took a trip with two companions to Fort Winnebago, to ascertain whether food could not be more easily obtained at that point. The route taken was north of Lake Mendota, on the line of the military road afterward laid out. He obtained a supply of salt pork, hard bread, powder and some other things, of a sutler, not loading heavily, and on the return struck south, striking the old trail that formerly ran between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, following it up to the hill where the State House in Madison now stands, where he encamped overnight. Intercourse with the Indians had made known to him the existence of the lake region before he started. From the enchanting view of the spot, he predicted that a village would be built there, and probably be the future capital of the Territory. The isolated condition of Mr. Brigham, where he settled, will be apparent from the statement of a few facts: The nearest settler was at what is now Dodgeville. Mineral Point and other mining places where villages have since grown up, had not been discovered. On the southeast, the nearest house was on the Des Plaines River, twelve miles west of Chicago. On the east, Solomon Juneau was his nearest neighbor, at the mouth of the Milwaukee River, and on the northeast, Green Bay was the nearest settlement.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Shortly after locating at the Mounds, Mr. Brigham, in company with William S. Hamilton, Mr. Gratiot and some others, visited Green Bay in order to settle on certain boundarics between the whites and the Indians. The line was fixed upon, and the Indians blazed the trees along this line, notifying the whites not to pass it, a prohibition not at all effectual, as any one would readily conclude.

For several years after his coming, the savages were plentiful around the Four Lakes ; a large Indian village stood near the mouth of Token Creek ; another stood on the ridge between Lake Waubesa and Lake Monona, and their wigwams were seen at different points along the streams.

Soon after his settlement, he was honored with the appointment of Magistrate from Lewis Cass, Governor of the Territory of Michigan, of which Territory Wisconsin was then a part. He held this commission for four years, and all the duty he performed during that time was to marry one couple. He often related an anecdote of being called upon to go some thirty miles to marry a couple, but, on arriving within a short distance of the place, word had been left there that the fair lady had changed her mind, and he must not come any farther. Mr. Brigham, however, went on and introduced another friend, who succeeded in making a con- tract, and the next spring he was called upon to ratify it; this was the only official act of a four- years' term of Justice of the Peace.

The principal object of his location at the Blue Mound, as before stated, was mining for lead. His first diggings were on the section line between Sections 7 and 18, but his furnace was immediately west of his house. The location of his diggings was a mile and a quarter from his house, in a southwesterly direction. The military road ran east and west, between the house and his mine. Brigham, however, cultivated the soil in a small way, having his fields near his house. One of the "leads " on his land was " proved " before his death to the depth of over seventy-five feet, when the workmen were prevented by water from going deeper. Upward of 4,000,000 pounds were taken from this mine with no other machinery than the common windlass, rope and tub. His lead was hauled to Green Bay, Chicago and Galena. On his first trip to Chicago, there was not a house or wagon-track between that place and Blue Mounds. He was fifteen days in reaching his destination, fording with his oxen and load of lead the Rock and Fox Rivers, and the smaller streams on the route. In this expedition, he was accompanied by a favorite dog, for which he was offered in Chicago a village lot, which was situated where now is the most valuable property in that city. In those days, the whole site of the town could have been purchased for a few hundred dollars.

Brigham, at the organization of the Territorial Government, was elected a member of the Council, and was re-elected, serving nine terms, from 1836 to 1841. When the State Govern- ment was organized, in 1848, he was elected a member of the Assembly. He died at the resi- dence of his niece, Mrs. H. G. Bliss, at Madison, September 14, 1861, aged seventy-two years. He was never married.

It must not be supposed that Brigham was the first white man-the first American-at the Mounds; but, although this was not the fact, yet he was the first permanent settler. Before him, as already explained, the diggings had been worked. William Deviese went there in the spring before Brigham's arrival, where he found two men named Moore, who were trading a little, in whisky at least, and one John Duncan, a very large and powerful man. But on the 12th day of August, Deviese moved to Sugar River diggings, leaving James Hawthorn to continue the work there. So it seems certain, that Brigham, upon his arrival, found miners at work at the Mounds, but none of them made a permanent stay. John B. Skinner had had at one time a furnace there. However, it is certainly known that, at the date of the survey of the lands at. the Mounds, which was in 1833, there was left but one resident in the vicinity, and that one was Ebenezer Brigham.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 51

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304