History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

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*Col. Dodge appears to have miscalculated the strength of the enemy, as sut sequent research shows beyond a doubt that the war party numbered seventeen lo the memoirs of Edward Bemchard, we find the following: " After the battle, eleven Indians were found dead on the ground, two more, who were wounded, got up the river bank, and were tracked and finally scalped by the Winnebagoes. Col. Hamilton, some time after, found the body of another, after the prairie fire had passed over him; and later in the succeeding winter, a French trapper. found in n swamp, three more, beneath brushwood, under which they hod crawled when wounded. The whole number thu- accounted for. of the Sanks who fell In this fight, was seventeen. At a subsequent period, when at Rock Island, after the termination of the war, Beouchard understood from some of the Sauks, that Black Hawk had often spoken of n band of seventeen of bls braves, of whom he had never received Hoy intelligence, and he knew not what had become of them.

Juschle Bennett

DODGEVILLE .

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

Alexander and the officers of his brigade issued a peremptory refusal to change the original plans. The brigade as re-organized comprised Col. James W. Stephenson and his Galena com- pany, and Gen. Henry's brigade. They were subsequently joined by Capt. Craig and a com- pany of Galena miners. With Paugnette and a contingent of Indian guides, the expedition numbered 700 men. The line of march was taken up on July 15, in the direction of the enemy. On the third day, they arrived at a deserted Indian village, designated as the resting-place of the enemy. Silence reigned supreme, and an investigation showed that the former occupants had departed several days previously. An express messenger was dispatched to notify Gen. Atkinson of the discovery. Proceeding down the river for a few miles, the express struck a fresh trail leading toward the Wisconsin River, when he immediately returned and reported. With a tangible trail to pursue, the chase was resumed in the morning and continued until evening, when the troops arrived at a narrow strip of land beyond the Third Lake. The tongue or spit of land was covered with a dense growth of brush, which rendered a passage inadvisable without preliminary exploration ; accordingly the company of scouts under Capt. Joe Dixon, were instructed to advance and reconnoiter. At the conclusion of the examination, it was deemed too late to effect a crossing, and the expedition bivouacked on the shores of the lake. The march was resumed on the ensuing morning. A solitary Indian, ill and infirm with disease, was overtaken near Third Lake, and, his condition being unknown to the pursuers, was instantly shot and killed by Capt. Fred Dickson, of Capt. Joseph Dixon's company. An- other disabled Indian was shot by Dr. Phillis. In falling, the dying Indian took aim and discharged his gun. wounding a member of Capt. Clark's company. The cohunn from

the time of departure from Rock River, was led by Col. W. L. D. Ewing's battalion of Henry's brigade, preceded by Dixon's scouts. Dodge's command chafed and fumed at the tardy advance, as they feared that the foe would be enabled to gain the protecting shades of the islands on the Wisconsin River, if not overtaken by forced marches. With a determina- tion to close on the enemy, Gen. Dodge was unanimously importuned to lead the van. To ac- complish this movement, the company defiled to the right and left of Ewing's battalions. Stimu- lated by the eagerness of the miners, the forward corps increased their pace and maintained a central position. In this order they advanced rapidly, halting on one or two occasions to form in line of battle when the enemy appeared in front, until, arriving at the Wisconsin bottom ; the horse guard was told off and the men dismounted. Scarcely had this movement been effected, before Capt. Dixon and his scouts appeared galloping over a ridge in full flight from a vastly preponderating body of Indians. The columns immediately advanced, Ewing's battalion forming the center, to the top of the ridge, where they formed into line by wheeling to the right. A single discharge demoralized the Indians, who retreated precipitately to an adjacent hill or ridge. This position they occupied until the appearance of Gen. Henry with Collins', Jones' and Fry's regiments. During this delay, which was about an hour, the enemy were engaged in coneen- trating their forces and sustaining a continual fire. When the line of battle was forined, Dodge's command, including Ewing's battalion, formed the right wing. Fry's regiment was ordered to oc upy a position on the right, to prevent the Indians from performing a successful flank move- tent. Obviously surmising that this was a movement designed to cut off his women and papooses, the Indian chief from his elevated post of observation, issued orders to beat a retreat. The whites meanwhile advanced across on open country unmolested, and captured the deserted camp. suffering only the loss of one inan wounded.

It having been ascertained that the supply of provisions was not sufficient to enable the men to continue the pursuit across the Wisconsin, and being incumbered with a number of wounded, it was thought circumspect to remove to the Blue Mounds, which could plainly be seen from an eminence near the battle-ground. On arriving there, Dodge's command, including Stephen- son's company. were ordered to their respective posts, with orders to rendezvous at Helena, on the Wisconsin River, as soon as Gen. Atkinson should arrive there with the regular forces.

On re-assembling at Helena, the miners were joined by Gen. Atkinson, who ordered the march to be resumed. Together they followed the trail of the retreating Sacs and Foxes, which

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

was discovered under the bluffs south of the Wisconsin River, until they arrived at the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Bad Axe. On the route, a number of dead bodies were found, many in a state of putrefaction ; these had doubtless died of wounds received at the battle of Wisconsin Heights, and from debility produced by siekness and starvation. The march was therefore rendered distressingly offensive, both to the senses of smelling and of sight.

On the evening of the 1st of August, signs of the enemy were discovered, and some strag- glers killed. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 2d, the line of march was taken up; Col. Dodge's miners forming the advanee, supported by the regular troops under Col. Zachary Taylor. The battle of the Bad Axe was inaugurated about sunrise by a skirmish between Capt. Dixon's spies and a band of warriors, in which one of his men was severely wounded. Later in the day, after the troops had formed in line of battle, and had advanced to the top of the bluff over- looking the Mississippi, Dixon again engaged the enemy in the river bottom. Guided by the sound of his guns, the regulars and Dodge's volunteers marched directly down the bluff to his support. When they arrived on the ground, they found Dixon seriously wounded. Gen. Heury, who had followed the Indian trail down the ravine, was on the ground, supporting the company of spies. From the point at which Dixon was wounded, the enemy were followed down the river some distance, when the entire military strength attacked them. The encounter was a brave and noble stand on the part of the Indians to withstand the combined forces ; and, as the result shows, they did some effectual execution in the ranks of their pale-face foes ere their over- whelming numbers and superior skill caused them to retreat. In the regular army, there were seventeen killed, whose names are unknown. Among the miners, who sank to a last rest in de- fense of their hearths, were Capt. Joseph Dixon, Sergt. George Willard, Privates Smith, Hood, Lowry, Skinner and Payson. In Henry's brigade, there were but five men killed and wounded. In the pursuit from the Wisconsin River, it was evident that the Indians were suffering terrible tortures from the pangs of famine and illness. Their principal ineans of subsistence were roots, bark of trees and horse-flesh. When the heat of the pursuit temporarily relaxed, the vanquished braves would avail themselves of the momentary respite to slaughter and dismember one of their scrawny ponies. The flesh, hide and entrails were devoured with a voracity begotten of deadly hunger, and the only relic left to mark the feast was the hair of the tail and mane. While flee- ing from the pursuers in their rear, they sought eseape aeross the Mississippi. They were en- countered by the steamboat Warrior, having on board Lieut. Kingsbury and a detachment of United States troops, with two pieces of artillery. On the succeeding day, Gen. Atkinson, his staff, and nearly all the regular troops, embarked for transportation to Fort Crawford. Prior to the departure of the troops, Wabasha, the renowned Indian chieftain, with a number of Sioux warriors, reported himself to Gen. Atkinson. He was accorded permission to pursue the enemy into their own country. Thus, the little remnant of Black Hawk's bloodthirsty band who escaped the shot and shell of the soldiers, lived only to be extirpated with the scalping- knife and tomahawk, in the remorseless grasp of their hereditary foe.

GRIGNON'S RECOLLECTIONS.

" I will close my reminiscences of olden times by giving an account of Col. Samuel C. Stam- baugh's expedition against the Saes and Foxes. Col. Stambaugh had previously been the Me- nomonee Indian Agent, but had been superseded by Col. Boyd, who had been directed to raise a party of the Menomonees to serve against the hostile Indians. Col. Boyd gave the command of the expedition to Stambaugh. The Menomonees rendezvoused at Green Bay, early in July, 1832. There were over three hundred, all Indians, except the officers, about nine in number. Osh-kosh, Souligny, Iom-e-tah, Grizzly Bear, old Po-e-go-nah, Wau-nau-ko, Pe-mau-te-not, Osh-ka-he-na-nieu, La Mott, Caran, and, indeed, all the principal men of the Menomonees, were of the party. Alexander Irwin was Commissary and Quartermaster. The Indians were arranged into two companies ; I commanded one, having my son, Charles A. Grignon, and my nephew, Rob- ert Grignon, for Lieutenants. George Johnson, of Green Bay, was chosen to the command of the other company, with William Powell and James Boyd for Lieutenants. With a few pack-horses,

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

and each man a supply of provisions, we started from Green Bay. We proceeded to the Great Butte des Morts, and there crossed over. Went to Portage, and, the next day, renewed our march, and the first night camped on Sugar Creek, some half-dozen miles from Blue Mounds; the see- ond night at Fort Dodge; then to English Prairie ; then.ce, with one other camping, we reached Prairie du Chien, before reaching which, Grizzly Bear, his son and three others, descending the Wisconsin in a canoe, discovered a Sauk girl on an island alone. The Grizzly Bear's son went and took her, and found her half-starved. She was about ten years old, and, on the return of the party, Col. Stambaugh took her to Green Bay and placed her in the Indian, Mis- sion School ; and the next year, when Black Hawk reached Green Bay on his way home, he took her with him.

"From Col. William S. Hamilton, we learned at Prairie du Chien, that a trail of Sauks had been discovered down the river. Fully one-half of our party, with George Grignon and William Powell, remained at Prairie du Chien, while Oshkosh, Iometah, Souligny, Carau and Pemautenot, with their warriors, proceeded by land, accompanied by Col. Hamilton. We stopped at Bennett's Ferry, on the Wisconsin River, and started early the next morning, and, about noon, struck the Sauk trail. We pursued it until the sun was about an hour and a half high, when we discovered the smoke of the Indians, encamped in a low spot beside a small streain, on the prairie. There were only two men and a youth about twelve years old, three or four women, and as many children. We at once surrounded them and rushed upon them, with orders to take them prisoners ; but the Menomonees were fierce for a fight, and killed the two men, and took the others prisoners. They fired a volley at the two Sauks, and, when they fell, they were riddled with bullets by those coming up, who wished to share in the honor ( ? ) of having participated in the fight. In the melee, one of the children was wounded, and died the next day. Lieut. Robert Grignon was badly wounded in the side with buckshot, which, coursing around the back, lodged. He thought he was shot by the Indian lad, but I think it quite as likely to have been by some of our own party, firing, as they were, in every direction. This little affair occurred not far back from the Mississippi, and some ten or twelve miles north of Cassville. Col. Hamilton participated in it.

" We camped on the battle ground that night, and the next day went to Cassville, carrying Robert Grignon on a litter, and thence to Prairie du Chien he was conveyed in a canoe, while we returned by land. We delivered the prisoners at Prairie du Chien ; we had to leave Robert Grignon there, as the shot could not be extracted, and he was not able to return until the autumn. We commenced our return home in three days, and nothing happened on our march worthy of note. All our surviving party have received bounty land warrants, which the Me- nomonees have generally sold ; and Robert Grignon, in consequence of his wound, receives a pension."

CHAPTER 1V.

MINERAL DISCOVERIES AND LIMITATIONS-INDIAN TREATIES AND ABUSES-FIRST MINERS AND

EARLY DEPRIVATIONS-LIFE IN THE DIGGINGS-FIRST LAND DISTRICTS-CLAIM RESTRICTIONS AND FIRST ENTRIES-PROJECTED RAILROADS AND CANALS-HARD MONEY WEALTH-FIRST ROADS AND HIGHWAYS-CHRONICLES OF THE CHOLERA, '49 AND '50-THE SECOND VISITATION, '51-LAND SWINDLING SCHESTES.

MINERAL DISCOVERIES AND LIMITATIONS.

The discovery of lead mines in this county date back to the earliest settlement of the South- west. Early voyagers, who explored the Territory in the eighteenth century, found the decaved remnants of rude log furnaces, which it is surmised were constructed and operated by the Win- nebago Indians. Where the first actual mining was done is buried in oblivion, but the history of the old Irish diggings demonstrates, beyond cavil, that mineral was there raised long before the first pale-face mustered sufficient temerity to cross the dividing ridge, the rubicon that ontlined the reserves of the Winnebago Indians. The dividing ridge is a prominent elevation of the prairie land, extending from east to west, and passing within a range of two and one-half miles from the village of Shullsburg. This natural line of demarkation was generally known by the miners to be the limit of territory where they could mine; that further to the north being reserved exclusively to the Indians. An infraction of this rule was seldom at- tempted, as there was danger of its resulting in death.

In 1827, the hitherto sacred soil was invaded by a host of adventurers, who concluded terms whereby the Winnebagoes. in consideration of a certain sum of money, granted them the coveted privilege of mining. These private treaties were not respected by the United States Government, which resented the intrusion of the whites and. unsolicited, interfered between the Indians to eject the settlers. This action was precipitated by information of rich lodes which were affording a magnificent vield of ore. In May, 1828, the miners were visited by Thomas MeKnight, Assistant Superintendent of Lead Mines, with directions from his superior offi- cer, Lieut. Martin Thomas, of the United States Army, stationed at St. Louis, ordering all miners to retire west of the ridge which separates the waters flowing into the Mississippi from those of the Pecatonica or Rock River. A few days thereafter, Mr. Marsh, sub-Indian Agent, arrived in the mines, from Prairie du Chien, with orders from Gen. Street, agent of the Winnebagoes. directing the miners to retire to the lands ceded to the Government. They were offered the option of paying a percentage on the mineral raised, which, if acceded to, the miners were to have their claims ratified. The injustice of this was so palpable that a great outcry was raised by the miners ; they claimed, with an assumption of equity, that the United States was not empowered to interfere with the Indians, or to exact any lead rent other than that to be paid to the Winnebagoes. Despite the manifest want of principle, the Government enforced the demand with a contingent of soldiers, who threatened to dispossess the miners should they not concede the rents. Indignant at this ruthless and high-handed proceeding, numbers of the settlers packed their " kits " and voluntarily abandoned their diggings, sooner than submit to any unjust enact- tions. The Indian Agents were entertained by Henry Dodge, in the best manner the country afforded. On being apprised of their mission, he informed them, in a determined tone, that. having negotiated a treaty with the Indians, by which they allowed him to remain, on condition that he paid a rent equivalent to that demanded by the Government, he would not leave the ter- ritory unless driven off by a superior physical force. He also agreed to exert his influence, which was known to be great, to preserve peace along the frontier. Mr. Marsh readily admitted

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the justice of the claim, and reposing an unlimited confidence in the good faith of Gen. Dodge, who predicted the early purchase of the disputed country, they withdrew. The threat that a body of regular soldiers would be marched against the miners was never carried into exeeu- tion.

INDIAN TREATIES AND ABUSES.

By the treaty of 1829, executed at Prairie du Chien, the Indian title was extinguished to all land south and east of the Wisconsin River. By the treaty of 1837, with the Winnebagoes, ratified by Congress the following year, the Indians sold all their lands east of the Missis- sippi. This treaty was conducted at Washington by Yellow Thunder and two other junior chiefs. Satterlee Clark accompanied them as interpreter. It is asserted that these chiefs were inveigled into signing a treaty which stipulated that they should remain in possession of the ceded land for eight months, whereas the Indians were informed and led to believe that they were treating for an occupation of eight years. Even when affixing their marks to the treaty, they firmly protested against the act, and asseverated their want of authority to cede the lands of their tribe. When the terms of the treaty were subsequently expounded, the Indians were moved with righteous indignation, and refused to leave their homes and the graves of their ancestors. Yellow Thunder deelared he would never go, and on a plea of insubordination was confined in Fort Winnebago. IIe soon after recovered his liberty, and visiting the Land Office at Mineral Point, entered forty acres of land in his own behalf on the west side of the Wiscon- sin, about eight miles above Portage. At the Land Office, he inquired if Indians were debarred from entering land. The reply was to the contrary, so Yellow Thunder, the head chief of the Winnebagoes, secured a homestead, declaring that he was going to be a white man.

In 1840, troops were sent to Portage to remove the Winnebago Indians. The detachment consisted of a squad of the Eighth Regiment of infantry, under the command of Gen. Worth, and a part of the Fifth Regiment of infantry, commanded by Gen. Brooke, with Gen. Atkinson as commander-in chief. There were three interpreters employed-John T. De la Ronde, Antoine Grignon and Pierre Meneg. The latter was sent in quest of Yellow Thunder and Black Wolf's son, inviting them to the rendezvous to get provisions. As soon as they arrived, they were seized and incarcerated in the guard-house with ball and chain attached to their legs. This measure was adopted on a false understanding that the prisoners were inciting their com- panions to revolt, but as soon as Gov. Dodge came they were released. Two hundred and fifty families were thus removed. The scene of the final parting of these simple children from the sod of their forefathers is thus pathetically described by an eye witness : " Two old women, sis- ters of Black Wolf, and another one came up, throwing themselves on their knees, crying and beseeching Capt. Suinner to kill them ; that they were old and would rather die and be buried with their fathers, mothers and children than be taken away, and they were ready to receive their death-blows. Capt. Sumner had pity on them, and permitted them to stay where they were, and left three young Indians to hunt for them. A little further on, we came to the camp of Ke ji-que-we-ka and others, when they were told to break up their camp, put their things in the wagon and come along. After they had thus deposited their little property, they started south from where we were. The Captain bade me ask them where they were going. They said they were going to bid good-bye to their fathers, mothers and children. The Captain directed me to go with them and watch them. We found them on their knees on the ground, kissing the ground where their relatives were buried and crying very loud. This touched the Captain's feelings, and he exclaimed, "Good God! what harm could these poor Indians do among the rocks !"

In 1844, Capt. Sumner eame again with his dragoons to hunt the woods for Dandy, a delinquent Winnebago chief, who had evaded the officers heretofore. He was found at the head of the Baraboo, and the Captain made him ride on horseback, and fastened his legs together with ox-chains. Resenting this latter indignity, Dandy asked to be brought before Gov. Dodge, at Mineral Point. The request was granted, and, on obtaining the interview. Dandy desired a private council, which was likewise given. Then Dandy took from his bosom

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a Bible, and asked the Governor, through the medium of an interpreter, if that was a good book. Gov. Dodge, astonished at the presence of the Bible in such hands. inquired regarding the ownership, but the old chief dogmatically reiterated his question, with the reservation that after that was answered, he would satisfy all suspicions.

The Governor then told him he could not have had a better book than the one in his hand. " Well," said Dandy, "look that book all through, and if you find that Dandy ought to be removed by the Government to Turkey River, then I will go right off; but if you do not find it. I will never go there to stay. The Governor was not to be entrapped by the wily Indian, whose trick was barren of result. He was then chained up and taken to Prairie du Chien. His legs and feet were all swollen, and lacerated with the action of the chains, and he could not walk or tread the ground for two or three weeks. When he had recovered sufficiently to move around, his re.noval to Turkey River was ordered. In the temporary absence of his escort, Dandy escaped into the woods, where he was allowed to roam at liberty.

FIRST MINERS AND EARLY DEPRIVATIONS.

After the cession of the Indian Territory, the country was rapidly settled by miners attracted thither from all parts of the world. Never before had such a fever of emigration seized the people, who flocked here in unremitting numbers. The leading pioneers were of American birth, a large majority of whom came here from Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana. Sturdy frishmen and miners from the Great Consols, Carn Bray, Batallack, East Whealrose, Dal- ereath and other Cornish mines, as soon as news of the great discoveries of lead and cop- per reached their ears, started in hordes to try their fortunes amid the wilds of the New World. Representatives from almost every rank of life could be found here, from the lofty representa- tive of European capital to the poor white trash of the distant South ; from the collegian and religious recluse to the habitues of the worst social infernales known to civilized life. Men of genius, education and lofty ambition were not few, as evinced by the character of many of the representative men of the State in after years, a majority of whom belonged to the lead regions. They worked, suffered and fought beside the stalwart Englishman, the shrewd Yankee, the chivalrous Southern fire-cater, the impetuous Frenchman, the hardy Scotchman, the humorous Irishman and sober Teuton ; a band of determined adventurers united by their common peril, and the one pervading impulse and pursuit. The price of lead in 1828, reigned at $5 per hundred pounds, but a year later the rate declined to a little less than half of that sum, disap- pointing and ruining the hopes and expectations of some eight or ten thousand explorers who had flocked to the mining regions. The effect of this stampede was especially detrimental to the interests of Dodgeville, as nearly all the miners in that locality shouldered their tools, and, before 1830, the once thriving settlement of twelve to fifteen cabins was reduced to one store. The huts were torn down for fuel, and the prospectors drifted away to more pros- perous centers. Consequent on the diminished price of lead, the population of Iowa County, then embracing what has since constituted four or five counties, dwindled down to only a few hundred inhabitants.

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958