USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 65
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Before arriving at Gratiot's Grove, a halt was made to graze the horses. No provisions were visible for the bodily support of the soldiers. They were placed in a quandary for a time, not knowing how to remedy the omission. In the vicinity was Fetter's deserted house, and, while wandering around the premises, one of the men descried a huge, rusty iron kettle. Summoning assistance, the kettle was cleaned out and filled with mustard greens, from which they expected to sup sumptuously. Alas for the hopes of men ! When the mess was boiled, it proved unpalatable and nauseating. Arriving at Gratiot's Grove, Col. Dodge informed the volun- teers that they had covered two hundred miles in five days, thus averaging forty miles a day. May, 1832, was occupied in general skirmishing and guerrilla warfare, which permitted the utilization of Col. Dodge's 200 mounted men. The united strength of the Sacs, Foxes, Win- nebagoes and Pottawatomies, was 600 warriors, a force that could have annihilated the gallant miners had they met in a pitched battle. When the mounted men were dispatched to Ottawa, Black Hawk, who had been reconnoitering the white men's position, realized the serious error committed, and instructed Little Priest to make a descent on Fort Hamilton.
Little Priest and his war party invaded Spafford's farm and killed four out of six men en- trenched in an open corn field. One of the men, named Spencer, effected his escape by concealing himself during the fight. The other fortunate was a Mr. Million, whose fleetness enabled him to outstrip his pursuers, and bring the awful tidings to Fort Hamilton. The information was thence disseminated by couriers among the different forts. On the 15th of June, Apple, a resident of the fort, was found dead within half a mile of the fort, bearing unmistakable signs of a murderous attack by the Indians. The exigency of the occasion demanded immediate and energetic action. A pursuing party was organized. Little Priest attempted evasive tactics, but, being hotly pressed, was compelled to ambush himself where the ground inequalities gave
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him the vantage. The whites charged valiantly in a sweeping fire, that inspired each man to greater action. The position was captured, and every Indian ruthlessly slain, with the same degree of mercy that they had meted out to their white victims. Not a soul escaped to narrate in the wigwam the desperate struggle. About June 20, word was received by Capt. Clark that the fort at Blue Mounds was besieged. To " boot and saddle" was quickly sounded, and all available mounted men were marched to the threatened locality. A halt was made at Porter's Grove, six miles west of Blue Mounds, and on consultation the march was continued through the nught. Nearing the objective point, the mutilated body of Lieut. George Force was found, the remains were carefully collected, and, with a blanket for a shroud, laid in a grave on the open prairie. A parade was held on the ridge, and, in the unanimous opinion of the people of the fort, the Sacs were far the more numerous. The march south was continued to Willow Springs, where they camped were driven for the night. During the night the startling intelligence was received that a large party had appeared from the direction of Pecatonica, and were marching toward Apple River Fort, on the site of the present town of Elizabeth. Capt. Clark instantly ordered the company to saddle, a feat that involved nearly an hour's time, owing to the dense darkness prevailing. They set out upon a forced march, and had proceeded seven miles beyond White Oak Springs, when overtaken by an express messenger, who related the capture of
Apple River Fort.
He alleged that when approaching the fort that morning, and when within
plain sight, he had seen two hundred red demons charging on the fort. The fire was active and incessant for a time, and then ceased altogether. Despairing of the fate of the garrison, he had hastencd to convey the information to Capt. Clark, whom he had expected to meet at White Oak Springs. Capt. Clark and Lieut. Magoon, after a hasty consultation, concluded to re-en- force White Oak Springs, and to notify the commanders of Fort Gratiot and Fort Funk to maintain a vigilant guard, and forward any fresh intelligence of the aborigines' movements. The mounted company clamored loudly to be brought face to face with Black Hawk and his braves, so as to wreak on them a terrible and sanguinary vengeance. Capt. Clark departed to alarm the habitues of Fort Gratiot of their danger, leaving Lieut. Magoon in charge. That officer caused every man to test his rifle, wipe it out and reload for fresh service. These move- ments were only completed when two men, attached to Funk's Fort, arrived, saying that the Indians were marching on that place, and when last observed were within three miles and still approaching. Supported by eleven volunteers, Lieut. Magoon made all haste toward the Fort, which he reached without adventure. No Indians were in sight, and, on prosecuting inquiry, it was rendered obvious that a foe only existed in the excited imaginations of the Orderly Ser- geant, who, mistaking a scouting party from a neighboring post for Indians, sounded a prema- ture alarm. In the morning, great relief was experienced on learning that Apple River Fort was intact, Capt. Stone having effectually scattered the enemy, who beat a precipitate retreat toward the east. An order was received from Col. Dodge, in the afternoon, directing that a messenger should be dispatched to Kellogg's Grove to inform them there that the trail of a large war party was visible two miles north of his station, and warning them to maintain a strict guard in the absence of volunteers. Capt. Funk and Jacob Duval bore the dispatch to its destination. Maj. Dement, of Kellogg's Grove, sent out scouts in the morning. They quickly returned with a cry of "Indians." General excitement prevailed ; every one in the camp was astir. All semblance of order was lost, and Maj. Dement vainly strove to organize his battalion out of this disturbed rabble. They all sallied forth regardless of order, some on horseback, and others, too eager for the fray to catch their horses, on foot. Unopposed they advanced until Black Hawk and his sterling warriors emerged from cover, uttered their war whoop, and charged on the disorderly mob. The whites retreated in overwhelming disorder, in many instances the infantry being trod under foot by their own cavalry. Maj. Dement exerted him- self to the utmost of his ability to restore a semblance of order, but his praiseworthy efforts were unavailing. The troops fell back on the houses, wherein they sought shelter from the well-directed missiles of Black Hawk's sharpshooters. Maj. Dement, irritated at defeat, remained outside the protecting walls, and angrily strode up and down the path. Not until a well-
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directed bullet from the enemy passed through his hat was Maj. Dement induced to seek shelter at the importunities of his friends. The Indians continued firing on the house until finally, tired of this amusement, they crossed the prairie to the east, and disappeared in the Yellow Creek timber. The damage inflicted by this visitation was the loss of fifty horses, shot dead or crippled.
The following evening, Capt. Clark was handed a dispatch from Col. Dodge, ordering him to proceed to Fort Hamilton, and, after drawing ten days' rations, join the regiment then pre- paring to march on Black Hawk. No rations were visible at Fort Hamilton, and, weary and hungry, the mining regiment had to make the best of its way to headquarters, where no remedy existed for their complaints. A brace of tough plow oxen were killed for their benefit, but this " bull beef" could not be masticated by the strongest man. Capt. James A. Stephenson was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and, the plans of the campaign having been matured, the route of march was taken up. Progress was extremely slow, owing to the numerous marshes which intersected their path having to be bridged to enable the passage of artillery. So tardy was the march that Black Hawk defiantly boasted that " he could go before the white beard (Gen. Atkin- son) and raise corn." Half famished, and driven to the verge of desperation by hunger, the miners petitioned Lieut. Col. Stephenson to permit them to advance to Fort Winnebago to obtain supplies. The request was complied with, under the express stipulation that the mounted com- pany should return by the same route. Alexander and Henry's brigade and Col. Dodge's regi- ment were included in this order. Arriving at the fort, Clark's company enjoyed their first meal for ten days. On proposing to return to the main body, much rebellious discussion was aroused, as the men, one and all, were opposed to the snail-like progress of the regular army, preferring to march to the head-waters of Rock River, in hopes of overtaking and chastising the Indian chief. Col. Dodge, although expressing doubts of their ability to master Black Hawk, freely promised to accompany them. After reflection, Gen. Henry promised to cast his lot with the mining regiment in pursuit of Black Hawk.
An incident of the campaign will serve to illustrate some of the difficulties the miners had to submit to. Prior to marching up the Rock River country, two barrels of flour were served out to each company. By design or oversight the two barrels served to Clark's corps were musty and sour. Col. Dodge refused to replace them with flour of palatable quality. On being acquainted with the refusal, Lieut. Magoon selected a file of his best men, and, marching to the staff quarters, deliberately bore off the precious goods. This peremptory course, becoming known to the officers of the staff, caused some comment, but, beyond a feeble demur, no action was taken. Having thus secured rations, the line of march was taken up. On the second day, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, it began to rain, and maintained a constant downpour until midnight. Tents were unknown luxuries to these hardy pioneers, who camped down in the grass with saddles for pillows and the weeping heavens for covering. As might have been expected, in the morning the men arose, dripping wet, and resumed their ordinary duties. In course of time, the miners arrived at the rapids near Whitewater, below Horicon Lake, and, after crossing to the east side, a halt was called. During that halt, Lieut. Magoon became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. The place where the troops halted was in an open grove of sugar-trees, with a thick undergrowth of red raspberry bushes. In riding along the border of this patch, the Lieutenant came to an opening, where he could see a dwarfish Indian slowly walking around a very tall, lean white man. As the Lieutenant halted to observe the ludicrous appearance of the pair, the white man noticed the actions of the Indian, and remarked to his visitor, "I wonder what the little Indian wants ?" Lieut. Magoon replied, "I suppose he is taking your altitude ; see how he cocks up his eye as he goes round." Further conversation led to an exchange of names, the future President of the United States giving his cognomen as " Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, Ill." Referring to this informal introduction, Lieut. Magoon says: "They met frequently after the war, and often spoke of our first acquaintance, and of the little Indian cocking up one eye at him."
From this grove they marched up Rock River a few miles, then recrossed and bivouacked for the night. Shortly after, an express arrived in camp from Gen. Atkinson, reporting that
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Black Hawk's trail had been discovered below where we first crossed Rock River. The track was retraced, and the pursuit became exciting. On all sides in the vicinity of the trail, the Indians had dug spikenard, which vouched for their being famine stricken. Subsequent devel- opments rendered safe the conjecture that no white army could have been kept banded together under a similar train of adverse circumstances. After several days of close pursuit, the scouts reported, at about 6 o'clock in the evening, that the enemy's rear was in view, a short distance in front. The soldiers were in a timber thicket on the north side of Second Lake, northeast of Madison, on the margin of a creek, the banks of which were thick set with brush. It was resolved to camp for the night and devote the whole of the ensuing day to routing and demoral- izing Black Hawk's forces. The camp was early astir, breakfast was gulped hurriedly, and accouterments donned so as to be prepared at a moment's notice. The morning wore away with- out any command being issued, and the impatience of the men manifested itself in murmuring at the protracted delay. At 9 o'clock, orders were issued to mount. The order of march was Ewing's battalion in the lead, the mounted miners, and then Gen. Henry's regiment. They crossed the creek, and were marching over the present site of Madison, when a gunshot was heard on the banks of the lake, to the left. In a few minutes the shot was explained by the appearance of the regimental surgeon bearing in his hand a trophy in the shape of a fresh Indian scalp, reeking with blood. He had surprised the Indian trying to draw a bead on some ducks, and had popped him on the spot. Seeing the Indian fall, he rushed from cover, and, gaining pos- session of his tomahawk and scalping-knife, began to rend the scalp from the head. The pain partially revived the victim, who muttered some words in his native guttural, which elicited from the surgeon the following : "If you don't like being scalped with a dull knife, why didn't you keep a better one ?" He then dispatched the Indian and returned to camp.
The army continued the march on the trail which followed around the south side of the upper lake. They had camped on the southwest side of the lake, and their cold camp-fires showed they had several hours' move of the soldiers. Hitherto the march had been conducted at a walking pace, and now it was altered to a quick trot. After passing over a distance of four miles, a solitary Indian was discovered ahead on the trail. Col. Dodge ordered ten men from Capt. Clark's detachment to advance and kill him. With cocked rifles, the detail advanced. Learning of their presence and his prospective fate, the Indian stoically retreated to a tree, where he steadied his rifle, and, after taking deliberate aim, fired. Clark's men replied with a volley, which they followed up with a bayonet charge. The Indian seized the nearest bayonet in his naked hands and attempted to wrest it from the soldier, who, by a pow- erful effort threw the Indian, face down, on the ground. With great agility he recovered his position, and again seizing the bayonet. He was forced to release his grasp, and the weapon descended with such force as to penetrate through the body and pin it to the ground. The hapless Indian struggled to release himself, but the brutal volunteer sprang on the body, and, with merciless ferocity, extracted the bayonet and inflicted seven additional thrusts through the body. A parcel enveloped in the folds of an antiquated blanket composed a portion of the Indian's equipment, but no man had the temerity to investigate the contents, fearing contagion or vermin. In the next fall, a hunter named Rowan visited the scene, and, prompted by curi- osity, opened the package, which displayed to his astonished gaze the gold watch owned by Lieut. Force at the time of his death at Blue Mounds. The Indian's rifle had been charged with six rifle-balls, the entire number lodging in the thigh of a soldier named Isam Hardin. Two hours subsequently a view was had of thirty mounted Indians, about eighty rods to the left. One of Henry's regiments was detached to follow them, while the main body continued on the trail. This troop of mounted Indians were making in a southerly direction, while the others were continuing due west. Fearing a decoy, Henry's regiment was re-called, and the whole army descended into a valley opening toward the Wisconsin River. The march was con- tinued cautiously, the scouts maintaining a lead of thirty rods. As the army defiled down the valley, the width increased and the bank on the right dwindled in proportions until equalized with the surrounding surface. At this natural outlet, the alarm was communicated from the scouts, who shouted, "Here they come, thick as bees."
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Col. Dodge, in a cool tone, ordered his forces to "dismount and form line." The order was executed in a trice. The next command was, " Advance to the top of that eminence." From the elevated range a good view could be obtained. Here the scouts were retreating down the valley, vigorously applying whip and spurs, to escape a score of Indians in pursuit. Capt. Clark opened column to admit the passage of the scouts, and then, forming line, presented a solid front to the foe, which had approached within six rods. A volley was fired, and one Indian bit the dust. The Galena company, with a well-directed fire, demoralized the enemy, who fled in dismay to a safe position behind a ridge forty rods distant. Col. Dodge ordered his men not to expose themselves or to expend a single shot without a sure target. The only wounded was Capt. Parkinson, Second Lieutenant, who received a bullet in the thigh. An in- spection of arms followed, when the rifles were cleaned and priming renewed. Col. Dodge then ordered the charge, and the force advanced with eager rapidity, without encountering any obsta- cles. On arriving at the brow of the bluff, they were saluted by a volley, which passed over their heads. On the return fire six Indians fell, and the remainder retreated at the top of their speed. In the meantime, another party of Indians had outflanked Capt. Clark, who, by a well- directed charge, coupled with the skillful maneuvering of his company, averted a disaster and routed his opponents. They fled for a swamp of tall grass cane, which afforded them suitable shelter and covered their retreat to the opposite bank, where they emerged and disappeared in the woods. Owing to the late hour, it was deemed advisable to postpone the chase and recuper- ate for the night in camp. When another day was heralded in, the enemy had disappeared, having, during the night, beat a hasty retreat across the Wisconsin River, without removing their lodges. A short journey brought into sight Black Hawk's camp on the west side of the Wisconsin River, about half a mile off. His camp was much larger than the camp of the mili- tary, and in the struggle of the preceding day the whites must have been greatly outnumbered. It was then decided to return to Blue Mounds. To facilitate the transportation of the three wounded soldiers-Isam Hardin, Robert McGee and Enoch Nevill-litters were prepared from the materials of a tent presented by Maj. W. L. D. Ewing to Capt. Clark's company. The loss was one killed and eight wounded. The return journey to Blue Mounds was tedious, owing to general ignorance of the topography of the country. To gain a rest rendered necessary by a month of incessant toil, day and night, the miners removed to White Oak Springs. Here the first information of the battle of Bad Axe, which occurred August 22, was received. This pleasant news was rapidly succeeded by an invitation for an Indian treaty at Rock Island, where a general peace was concluded. The war being terminated, the different military divisions were discharged, with the exception of Capt. Clark's and Capt. Gentry's companies, which were held in reserve. When the treaty of Rock Island was concluded, the miners were notified of their dis- charge from the Federal service, the Government having no further need for their services. By an infamous arrangement of the commanding officer of the forces, Col. Dodge, the two mining compa- nies known respectively as Capt. Clark's and Capt. Gentry's men, were forced to assume the expenses of their own corps during the campaign. The sum of over $4,000 was accordingly deducted from the pay of the men by the Paymaster, acting under orders from Col. Dodge. Having been involved in war for five months, ending in the Fall of 1832, Lieut. Magoon re- turned to commercial life, as, during his absence, his financial affairs had suffered. To add to his misfortunes, Robert Graham, his heaviest creditor, succumbed to the cholera, and the estate reverted to an administrator, who was inflexible in his demands. The years 1833, 1834 and 1835 were highly profitable, and successful to such a degree that he speedily regained his inde- pendent rank in finance.
In 1836, Lieut. Magoon opened a large store of dry goods and groceries in the village of White Oak Springs. One mile east of the village, he long operated an ash furnace for smelting slag as well as mineral. His store in Monticello and his furnaces there he also operated at a remunerative profit. He sold out his store in White Oak Springs in 1837, closed his ash fur- nace, near by, in 1840, and closed his store and furnaces in Monticello in 1842. Continued to reside on his large farm in Monticello, which he adorned with extensive improvements till
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1853, when he removed to Scales' Mound Township, Jo Daviess County, Ill., where he resided till his death, July 28, 1875, aged seventy-six.
Lieut. Richard H. Magoon, we here state, was a man of greatest energy and integrity in busi- ness ; repeatedly, from 1829 to 1836, rode on horseback from his furnaces in Wisconsin, four hun- dred miles, to St. Louis, through storm and cold, swimming rivers, the saddle at night his pil- low, and often the sky his only covering. His grave is in the cemetery at Darlington. He had his faults, but, looking back upon his forty-seven years all crowded with business in the mines, he could have made the honest boast, that, although cast amid the license of a new coun- try, he never visited a gaming-table, never deserted a needy friend, never liked a negro, intensely despised the lazy, invincibly kept his word of honor-bright, and his contracts to others always at par with gold.
HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.
THE BEGINNING OF SETTLEMENT.
The first settlements perfected by permanent occupation in La Fayette County, were made during the year 1824, and were due to the existence of the lead mines, which have since con- tributed so materially to the accumulation of wealth and increase in values. There had been vis- itors who came into the country prior to that date, but these were made up, as a rule, of transients, adventurers and the like, to whom no place was home, and the pressing experiences of the hour the uncertain lines wherein their lives were cast. The history of their occupation of the terri- tory now comprehended within the limits of La Fayette County, is consequently enshrouded in mystery, which the lapse of almost three-quarters of a century has tended to intensify. This is due in a great measure to the absence of records and the fact that those who came, as also con- temporaries, have all passed away, rendering it impossible to determine with any degree of cer- tainty the name of him who is entitled to the distinguished honor of record as the first who even temporarily sojourned in the lead regions of what was then known as. Michigan Territory. The weight of opinion inclines to the belief that a few straggling soldiers of fortune, with the habits and restless disposition of a Bohemian gypsy, may have strayed into the mines and sought their development. They had been identified, it is said, with the operations undertaken by Dubuque and D'Bois, but, tiring of the monotony and sameness of the scenes about the settlement, made by these French cavaliers, sought with a change of " base " that relief which it brings. We know that Jesse W. Shull, as early as 1818, traversed and explored what is now La Fayette County ; and, in that year, employed by the Hudson Bay Fur Company, trafficked with Indians and some French, then the only inhabitants of the county. Some rude mining had been done, some mineral raised, even before that date; and here and there, he found evidences of where smelting had been done, even long before that early period.
Settlements had grown up in the region adjoining subsequent La Fayette County, at a date anterior to that mentioned herein, notably at Galena and other points, which afterward became the source of supplies to miners, and were built up by the immigration to the mines, and the pat- ronage such immigration attracted. It would seem strange indeed, with the knowledge of the immense deposits of lead and the abundance of game in this region, if its settlement was pro- crastinated beyond that of other points possessing no more fruitful sources of wealth nor advan- tages for settlers. Roving traders and agents of fur companies who operated throughout the Northwest, could hardly have overlooked the value of sites, since fringed with flourishing vil- lages, which have been built up and become the residence of intelligence, enterprise and wealth. They undoubtedly came into the wilderness annually, and, remaining only long enough to exchange their commodities for furs and minerals, returned to their abiding-places without leav- ing any finger-boards to guide the historian in his pursuit of facts. But, thus far, no records of such occupation have been discovered, and the only positive evidence of settlements available after decades have elapsed, is to be found in the statements of those to whom the award is made by universal acclamation. The proof that visitors had ventured into the wilderness prior to the coming of settlers in 1824, is established by the traces of mining which they discovered, cvi-
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