History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 69

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 69

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" 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 said, ' 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 thumb and finger and blowing it away) like that'-eyeing the dust as it fell and vanished from his sight-adding, ' I would not take it back ; 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 step- ping 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 comrades of the two captives then left the ground by the way they had come, taking with them Maj. Whistler's advice, and a supply of meat, flour and tobacco.

" We-Kaw, the miserable looking brave, the accomplice of Red Bird, was in all respects the opposite of that unfortunate chief. 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 his form, like the starved wolf, gaunt, hungry and bloodthirsty, his entire presence indicating a spirit wary, cruel and

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

treacherous. The prisoners were committed for safe keeping at Prairie du Chien, to await their trial at 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 for that purpose, con- victed 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 upon the implied condition that they would cede their lands then in the possession of the miners. The Winne- bagoes agreed to this. Mm. Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty made at Prairie du Chien, in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land for herself and her two children, and 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.

Before closing this account of the troubles of 1827, mention must be made of an incident that calls to mind the "noble savage " of Cooper, the traditional rather than the real. Im- mediately after the affair with the boats, the volunteer soldiery at Prarie du Chien seized the old chief of the tribe De-Kaury and four other Indians. He was informed that if Red Bird was not given up in ten days he and his companions were to suffer in their stead. This he devoutly believed. A young Indian was sent as messenger to inform the tribe of the conditions. Several days had elapsed and not anything had been heard from the murderers. The fateful day was drawing near and De-Kaury, being in a bad state of health, asked permission of the officer in command to go to the river where he could indulge in a much prized custom of bathing in order to improve his health. Col. Snelling told him that if he would promise upon his honor as a chieftain not to try and escape, but to come back immediately upon finishing the bath, he might go ; and if he would further promise not to leave town he might have his liberty until the day set for his execution.

De-Kaury, upon this, first thanked the officer for his kind offer, then, raising both hands aloft, promised he would not leave the bounds prescribed, adding that if he had a hundred lives to lose he would rather lose them all than forfeit his word. He was then set at liberty. Friends advised him at once to flee to the woods and make good his escape, but the savage, with the dignity of an ancient Roman, drew himself proudly up and asked his advisers if they thought he prized life above honor. No entreaties could move him. He complacently remained enjoy- ing his freedom until nine days of the ten liad nearly passed, and still nothing had been heard from the murderers ; no alteration could be seen in the face of this savage stoic. The same day Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops from St. Louis, and the order for the execution was countermanded, and the Indians sent to their homes.

The excitement over, everything settled back to the usual ruts, until the country was again awakened by another and more startling outbreak a few years later.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

Mention has been made in an earlier portion of this work, of the different treaties made by the Sacs and Foxes, by which these tribes ceded their lands east of the Mississippi to the United States. "Black Hawk, in His Life," edited in 1833, by J. B. Patterson, claims that these treaties were made without the assent of himself or his band, although he admits "touching the goose- quill " at the treaty made at St. Louis, May 13, 1816, but excuses himself for this implied acquiescence by saying he was not fully aware of the import of the document he was signing. Notwithstanding this cession, Black Hawk continued to occupy the tribal village which was sit- uated on the north side of Rock River, on a point of land between that river and the Missis- sippi. But the constant pressure of the incoming white emigration led to innumerable difficul- ties, Black Hawk himself being at one time severely beaten by three white settlers, upon a charge of having killed some of their hogs-the castigation being so severe that he remained lame for some time afterward. Covert depredations were undoubtedly committed on both sides ; the white standing upon the treaties and endeavoring to shoulder the red man out of the country ;

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

the latter protesting against these treaties, and stubbornly resisting the encroachments of the new-comers. The Sacs and Foxes were also divided into two bands-one headed by Keokuk, recognizing the validity of the treaties, and the other headed by Black Hawk, who was deter- mined not to give up the graves of his fathers and retire across the Mississippi. Thus matters. stood, when, in the fall of 1830, Black Hawk and his band crossed to the western side of the Father of Waters upon their fall hunt, their hunting-grounds being on that side of the river. During their absence, the whites took possession of their village, and, when the band returned in the winter, they found themselves houseless and shelterless, and their homes in the hands of those whom they could consider as no less than usurpers.

The Indians had nothing to do but to return to the western shore. Early in the succeeding spring, however, Black Hawk re-crossed the Mississippi with a band of Sacs, and took pos- session of their bark cabins and cornfields in a menacing manner, but, according to Black Hawk's statement, they did not intend to shed white blood, except in their own defense and the defense of what they considered their homes.

The settlers became alarmed, fearful of that vengeance which their own acts had partly pro- voked, and appealed to Gov. Reynolds, who issued a proclamation, declaring the State invaded by hostile Indians, and called for help from Gen. Gaines, commander of the Western Depart- ment, besides ordering out 700 militia. The campaign ended abruptly by the withdrawal of the Indians to the western shore of the Mississippi, accompanied with a threat from Gen. Gaines to cross the river and pursue the band. Black Hawk was brought to sign another treaty, by which he and his band agreed never to re-cross the great river without permission of the President or Governor of the State. In the face of this treaty, early in the spring of 1832, Black Hawk, accompanied by his band, together with their women and children, again crossed the river. To a close student of the Indian character this is not at all surprising, and, in fact, the red chief- tain, had he only known it, had, in the history of eighteen centuries, numerous and noble authorites for treaty-breaking, and upon slighter pretexts than the recovery of home and lands. His mistake, as mistake it undoubtedly was, lay in his insufficiency of force to back his claims.

Black Hawk himself claims that he was led into this movement by deceptive assurances of assistance from the Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies and his British Father. This assistance did not come, and, having made the cast of the die, the savage chieftain was forced to abide the consequences.

This new inroad created the wildest consternation among the inhabitants of the newly-set- tled portion of the country in dispute. All the district between the Rock, Wisconsin and Mis- sissippi Rivers began vigorous preparations for defense against the savage foe. Block-houses were erected, companies formed, and everything put into the best shape for defense. Within the present limits of Grant County, there were two regularly-constructed block-houses, one at Platteville and one at Cassville. At the former place, a mounted company was formed, of which John H. Roundtree was elected Captain. This company. together with one formed by Capt. Gentry, in the adjoining county, were attached to Col. Dodge's command, and formed his mounted battalion and served all through the war. The second company formed in the county was at Hazel Green, but their service consisted principally in drawing their rations with regu- larity and presenting themselves for muster occasionally, and, as a consequence, the fact that there was a company organized at that point is remembered by only a few. A third company was formed under command of Capt. Price, at Cassville, and did good service in clearing the country between the Grant and Wisconsin Rivers of the "hostiles." This company was com- posed of thirty six men, but having only eighteen horses, half remained to guard the block- house while the other portion scoured the country around.

A call was issued by Gov. Reynolds to the militia, and a force of 1,800 men, under the command of Brig. Gen. Whiteside, was soon in the field. In the meantime, Gen. Atkinson had set out for the seat of war, and had sent several expresses to Black Hawk, ordering him to leave the country. To these the Sac chieftain made reply that he was going to the Prophet's town and the whites might attack if they dared, and continued his retreat up Rock River.

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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.

To add to the complexity of the situation, it was feared that the Winnebagoes would join Black Hawk in his outbreak, which they undoubtedly would have done had the odds not been quite so great. But, although much given to the small pecadillos which mark the bravo-which was the position they occupied among the other tribes-they had too keen and distinct a remem- brance of the swift chastisement following their outbreak five years before, to attempt another rising without heavy odds on their own side. At this time, however, their future action was clouded with uncertainty, which added much to the precariousness of the situation of settlers in the lead region.

At this moment, Col. Dodge stepped to the front, and, by his positition as commander of the militia in this portion of Michigan Territory, and known energy of character, succeeded in organizing the settlers and miners into proper shape for vigorous defense. Several mounted companies, as has been before mentioned, were organized and placed under the command of the gallant Colonel, who, having first written a letter to Gov. Reynolds telling him of the dangers which might result to the northern country should Black Hawk be driven back on them, started for Rock River to get a better insight into the situation.

Black Hawk had, during this time, continued his retreat up that river followed by Maj. Stillman, at the head of a force of about three hundred men. On the 12th of May, he encamped near Sycamore Creek, and, shortly afterward, three Indians were discovered approaching the camp. These men, according to Black Hawk's account, were sent by him "to conduct the whites to his camp, or, if they had encamped, he would come to them," when he hoped to make arrangements by which he would be allowed to descend Rock River again.

From all accounts given of this disgraceful affair, it seems that the whites did not wait to learn of the message brought by these embassadors, although one account seeks to excuse the action of the half-drunken mob, by stating that the Indians bore a red flag, this is put much in doubt by other testimony ; and, in view of what occurred afterward, both here and elsewhere, it is important to remember that so far no white man's blood had been shed by Black Hawk or his band. No sooner had the soldiers in Stillman's command caught sight of the three Sacs, than' with a howl they at once set out in pursuit. The Indians, witnessing the hostile movements of their opponents, turned and endeavored to effect their escape. This two succeeded in doing, but their companion was killed. Black Hawk was informed of the turn of events, and, hastily placing his men in ambush, waited the time when the whites should come within range. This was not long, and the disorderly mob of pursuers, unable to form any organized resistance, at once gave way before the onset, and, what had a few moments before been a victorious pursuit, was changed to an unseemly and disorderly rout. The whites lost eleven killed, and a number wounded, beside having their camp and material fall into the hands of the Indians. Black Hawk, in his account of the affray, sarcastically says: "After pursuing the enemy some dis- tance, I found it useless to follow them, as they rode so fast." Only three Indians were killed. Had it not been for the bravery of Capt. Adams, and a few men under his command, who threw themselves between the terrified whites and the pursuing savages, the loss of the former would have been much larger.

Upon receiving the news of Stillman's disastrous rout, Gov. Reynolds sent an express to Col. Dodge informing him of the fact, and the danger to be apprehended throughout the mineral country, and that officer at once notified the settlers and miners directing them to at once repair to the block houses, and place themselves in a position to resist attacks.

After the affair at Stillman's Run-as it was afterward known-Black Hawk had continued his retreat unmolested up Rock River, sending out, in the meantime, small predatory bands in every direction. These bands, in the interval succeeding the disbanding of the volunteers shortly after Stillman's defeat, and the enlistment of new men, had created a panic throughout the mineral region and along the Rock River, they having scoured the country between that river and the Mississippi most effectually. On the 22d of May, a party of about seventy Indians, led by a Pottawatomie who had been badly whipped by a settler named Hall, attacked the latter at his home on the Indian Creek, where he had just returned with his neighbors, Davis and

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Pettigrew, and massacred fifteen persons, only three escaping, two being the daughters of Mr. Hall, who were taken into captivity, and a young lad who escaped to Ottawa and gave the alarm. The two girls were taken to Black Hawk's camp at Koshkonong, where they were turned over by that chief to the Winnebagoes, who returned them to their friends, receiving therefor a reward of $2,000, which had been offered by Gen. Atkinson.

Numerous other murders were committed by these roving bands. Durley, a mail con- tractor, being killed near Buffalo Grove on the 21st of May, and, two days later, another party of whites were attacked near the same place, and four, Felix St. Vrain, agent for the Sacs and Foxes at Rock Island ; Aaron Hawley, Fowler and Hale were killed. On the 6th of June, James Aubrey was killed at Blue Mounds, while going to a spring for water, he being at the time not more than a mile and a half away from the fort.

Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, had again placed a force of 2,000 volunteers in the field. Capt. Adam Gentry, with a company from a regiment which had been formed of those volunteers who had been recently disbanded, while on a scout over the country between Rock River and Galena, was attacked in camp near Burr Oak Grove by a small party of four Indians, whom he pursued and killed. While returning to Camp, he was again attacked by a large force of Indians. Gen. Whiteside, formerly in command of all the volunteer forces, was now a private in Capt. Gentry's Company. As the men broke and fled under the sudden onslaught, Whiteside sprang from his horse, and, " drawing a bead " on the chief as he came charging down, pulled the trigger, and with a loud yell the savage dropped from his saddle. This loss disconcerted the Indians, and gave the command time to rally. The savages showed no signs of continuing the attack ; but, securing the body of their leader, slowly retreated. Whiteside, upon being asked afterward why he risked his life in so open a manner, sturdily replied, that "He had never run from an Indian yet, and never would."

The murder of St. Vrain and his companions was soon afterward bloodily revenged by Col. Dodge at the battle of the Pecatonica, where, with twenty-one men, he, in a hand-to- hand fight, killed every Indian in a band of seventeen which had committed this and other murders.

On the 20th of June, a small party of Indians showed themselves a short distance from Mound Fort, and Lieut. Force and a man named Green, who went out to reconnoiter, were sur- rounded and killed in sight of the fort. Their bodies were afterward buried by Col. Dodge and a company of volunteers, who took the trail of the Indians soon after, but lost the savages, they having scattered.

The only parties killed within the present confines of Grant County, of which there is any record, were two men named John Thompson and James Boxley, who were attacked in a field at Sinsinawa Mound. A companion escaped. The bodies of the two murdered men were shockingly mutilated, Thompson's heart having been taken out, and both scalped. Notice of the attack being given at Galena, Maj. Stephenson, in command at that place, marched in pur- suit of the savages. Leaving a few men to bury the dead, the Major with his command followed the trail to the Mississippi, where he found the party had stolen a canoe and escaped across the river.

Through a Pottawatomie Indian, Gen. Atkinson received information that Black Hawk was encamped near the junction of the Whitewater with the Rock River, and immediately marched with a portion of his army to that point; but, on arriving there, Black Hawk was found to have broken camp, and the direction he had taken was so effectually concealed that for some time it remained unknown.

After the junction of all the forces at Koshkonong, provisions running short, Gen. Atkin - son dispatched Gens. Henry, Alexander, Posey and Col. Dodge, with about two hundred and fifty men, to Fort Winnebago for supplies. The provisions obtained, Gens. Posey and Alexan- der started back, while Gen. Henry and Col. Dodge, with their commands, struck across the country toward Rock River, in hopes of hearing something of Black Hawk.

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On arriving at the rapids of that river, they learned that the trail of the retreating Indians had been discovered, and at once started in pursuit. From the appearance of the trail it was plainly evident that the retreating force was large. A party of fourteen was thrown out ahead of the main body to act as scouts. This party was under the command of Capt. Gentry. On the morning of the 21st of July, as they were working their way across the country, they observed an Indian ahead of them, who turned and fired on them, and was himself slain as he attempted to escape. The main body was but a short distance in advance, and so anxious were the scouts to come up with it that they did not stop to examine the body, but, some weeks after- ward, when the prairie had been burned over, the body was searched, and the watch which had been taken from the body of Lieut. Force was discovered. The watch was recognized the more readily that it had been used to regulate the change of sentinels at the Mound Fort.

The incidents of the closing acts in this stirring border drama are thus related by one who participated in the events which followed. "We reached the Four Lakes about sundown [July 20]. Gen. Henry here called a halt, and consulted with our pilot Poquet [Parquette] as to the country we were approaching. Poquet told him we could not get through it after dark ; that we had to march close to the margin of the lake for some distance, as the undergrowth stood so thick one man could not see another ten steps. Gen. Henry concluded to encamp here until the break of day. Gen. Dodge sent Capt. Dickson (serving as Captain in place of Capt. Roundtree, who had been injured) ahead with a few men to see if they could make any discov- ery of the enemy, who returned in a very short time and stated they had seen the enemy's rear guard about one mile and a half distant.

"Gen. Henry gave strict orders for every man to tie up his horse, so as to be ready to start as soon as it was daylight. The order was strictly obeyed, and, after we had taken our frugal supper, all retired to rest except those who had to mount guard, for we had marched a great way that day, and many were still wet by the rain that fell the preceding night. Being very much fatigued, we were soon all asleep except those on guard.

" July 21, at the break of day the bugle sounded, and all were soon up, and in a few minutes had breakfast ready, and after taking a little food we mounted our horses and again commenced the pursuit.

" We soon found that the pilot had told us no lie; for we found the country that the enemy was leading us into to be worse, if possible, than what he told us. We could turn neither to the right nor left, but were compelled to follow the trail the Indians had made, and that, too, for a great distance at the edge of the water of the lake.

" We now doubled our speed, all were anxious to press forward, and as our horses were nearly worn out, we carried nothing only just what was actually necessary for us to eat; camp kettles and many such articles were thrown away. The trail was now literally, in many places, strewn with Indian trinkets, such as mats, kettles, etc., which plainly told us that they knew we were in pursuit. We saw too, from the face of the country that we were drawing close to the Wisconsin River, and our object was to overtake them before they reached it, so now we went as fast as our horses were able to carry us. But this was too severe for our poor horses ; they began to give out. But even this did not stop a man. Whenever a horse gave out, the rider would dismount, remove the saddle and bridle and pursue on foot, on a run, without a murmur. I think the number of horses left that day was about forty. The rear guard of the enemy began about this time (3 o'clock P. M.) to make feints of standing, and as the timber stood thick, we did not know but that the whole army was forming for action. In consequence of this, we got down and formed as often as twice before we found out that their object was to keep us back until they could gain some strong position to fight from. Our front scouts now were determined not to be deceived any more, but the next stand they came to, they stopped, not for their feigned maneuver, but pursued them to the main body of the enemy. They returned to us in great haste, and informed Gen. Henry that the Indians were forming for action.

" We all dismounted in an instant. The line of battle was then formed in the same order that it had been laid off the preceding day. Gen. Dodge's corps and Maj. Ewing's spy battal-

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ion still in front. The horses were left, and every fourth man detailed to hold them, which gave seven horses to each man to hold.

" We had scarcely time to form on foot before the Indians raised the war-whoop, scream- ing and yelling hideously, and rushed forward, meeting us with a heavy charge. Gen. Dodge and Maj. Ewing met them with a charge also which produced a halt on the part of the enemy. Our men then opened a tremendous volley of musketry upon them, and accompanied it with the most terrific yells that ever came from the head of mortals, except from the savages them- selves. They now tried their well known practice of flanking, but here they were headed again by the brave Col. Jones and his regiment, who were on our left, where he met them in the most fearless manner, and opened a heavy fire upon them. Col. Fry was placed upon the extreme right. They tried his line but were soon repulsed. Their strong position was on the left or near the center, where Cols. Jones, Dodge and Ewing kept up a constant fire for something like half an hour.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin, Part 69

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?] Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: [Chicago : Western Historical Co.?]
Number of Pages: 1050