History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, Part 72

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. cn; Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical
Number of Pages: 754

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Upon arriving there, the first object that presented itself was the headless body of the unfortunate Spafford, who, having been killed at the first fire of the Indians, was found near the point of attack. Except where shot and the decapitation, there were no mutilations of the body. The missing head was found on the bank of the river, some hundred yards from the body, shorn of its locks, which were of a fine and glossy appearance. The bodies of Searls, McIlwaine and John Bull, were found upon the opposite bank of the river, most shockingly mangled and muti- lated. The body of Spencer, who was supposed to be killed, could nowhere be found. The bodies were gathered together and buried in one common grave

While these solemn obsequies were being performed. a force was constantly reconnoitering the surrounding country in search of the yet unfound body of Spencer, and to see that there were no Indians lurking in the vicinity to take them by surprise. At night, a return was made to Fort Hamilton, where Capt. Gentry was found with a portion of his company, and he assumed cominand of the entire force.

After some refreshments, a council was held, at which it was determined to pursue the Indians on the following morning in the event that Gen. Dodge failed to arrive by 8 o'clock. The night passed without any unusual occurrence, and the following morning, just as the com- pany was about to start, in pursuance of arrangements agreed upon, Gen. Dodge arrived, accom- panied by John Messersmith, Jr., and Thomas Jenkins.

It seems that, upon receiving the express at Dodgeville, Gen. Dodge, with his companions, had started for Fort Ilamilton, by way of the Blue Mounds, where fresh horses and men, a por-

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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.

tion of Gentry's command, were stationed, and, leaving orders for them to proceed at once to Fort Hamilton, continued his trip thither by way of Fretwell's Diggings, arriving at the Fort as stated. A short time previous to his arrival he had left the main road and taken a by-way for the purpose of shortening the distance. On coming into the main road again, he met a Ger- man named Apple (who, as will be seen further on, became fruit for the Indians), who had a good horse, which Capt. Gentry that morning designed impressing into the service, but was dissuaded therefrom by Apple, who promised to accompany the expedition if he was allowed to return to his cabin for some blankets. This was supposed by many to be an excuse to enable the suppos- edly timid Teuton to escape going himself or letting his horse. However, he had proceeded but a short distance after leaving Gen. Dodge, when he fell into an ambuscade and was literally shot to pieces. It appeared, subsequently, that the Indians had first waylaid the path by which Gen. Dodge approached the fort, passing through quite a thick point of woods, but, in the morn- ing, seeing some men from the fort pass up to the field for grain by way of the main road, which kept round more on the open ground, they changed their position to that point. Thus, had Gen. Dodge arrived an hour earlier, or had he kept around the main road, he would undoubtedly have fallen a victim instead of the unfortunate German.

Almost at the same moment that Col. Dodge dismounted at the fort, the horse of Apple came running up near Capt. Gentry's command, who were some distance from the fort. Capt. Gentry directed Peter Parkinson, Jr., then a mere boy, to run and bring Apple's horse to him, which he did. Upon seeing the horse with a bullet-hole through his ear, another through the top of his neck, and the saddle bloody, and recollecting the report of guns a few moments before, there could be no mistake as to what had taken place-all men present called out at once that Apple was killed. Instantly wild excitement and disorder ensued, and but for the stern, determined will of Capt. Gentry, aided by Maj. Kirkpatrick, Lieut. Bracken and Col. D. M. Parkinson, instead of the successful pursuit and repulse of the Indians which followed, defeat and failure to the settlers would have been the consequences.

When it was ascertained that Apple was unquestionably killed, quite a number of men, of excitable and enthusiastic temperament, mounted their horses without orders, and were upon the act of rushing indiscriminately after the Indians. Capt. Gentry sprang to their front and ordered them, in the most peremptory manner, as their Captain, to halt, reminding them of Stillman's defeat having been brought about, perhaps, by similar movements and insubordina- tions, and concluding with a declaration that he would shoot the first man who attempted to advance until ordered to do so by Col. Dodge, who would be there in a few moments.

Upon his arrival, Col. Dodge ordered the men to mount and form in line, when he ad- dressed them substantially to the following effect : "Fellow-soldiers ! We shall immediately fol- low the Indians, whose hands are now reeking with the blood of one of our neighbors, whom they have just slain. We must overtake them if possible. Their numbers are unknown, but, numerous as they may be, I shall charge them, sword in hand, and, if there are any among you who think you cannot do this, you will fall back now, as I want none with me except those upon whom I can rely with the utmost confidence in any and every emergency."

The order was then given to advance at full speed, but nine fell back, and the volunteers were soon upon the trail, passing the mangled corpse of Apple, which was left in the hands of the men guarding the fort, for interment.

The trail led through an almost impassable thicket of underbrush, tree-tops, prickly ash, grapevines, briers, etc. The Indians were finally dislodged from a thicket near the East Pecatonica, about four miles northeast of the present village of Wiota, on June 16, 1832, at an early hour in the day. Upon the troops making their way to the succeeding prairie, the Indi- ans were to be seen far in advance of the line, which was extended for perhaps half a mile in length, owing to the difficulty experienced in getting through the undergrowth. The pursuit was somewhat promiscuous, every one going it alone, as it were, the advance being formed of Col. Dodge, Col. Parkinson, Capt. Gentry, Lieut. Requette, John Messersmith, Jr., and John Hood.

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HISTORY OF LA FAYETTE COUNTY.

The pursuers had come up pretty well on to the Indians, and were about making an attack upon them, when they crossed a deep creek and reached the main waters of the Pecatonica, which, though much swollen, was passed without difficulty by them. At this point the trail was lost, but soon found and followed, and, after proceeding a distance of about two hundred yards, amid deathlike stillness, their exact whereabouts was announced by a volley of arms, suc- ceeded by the most unearthly yells. Not in the least daunted, the order to " Charge 'em, boys, charge 'em," was promptly obeyed, and, in a remarkably brief period, the Indians were all slain.

In the first fire made by the Indians, three of the troops were wounded, two of them, Samuel Black and Morris, mortally, and Thomas Jenkins, slightly. In the charge up the bank, Wells was mortally wounded, subsequently dying at Fort Hamilton. Like hundreds of the young men of the day, he had come to the lead mines in pursuit of fortune, and located at Mineral Point. When the war broke out he was among the first to take up arms. After re- ceiving his death wound, and, while lying on the battle-ground, with his head on the lap of a com- rade, the surgeon examined him and told him he must die. On hearing this, he expressed a wish to see the General, and, upon Gen. Dodge responding, asked him "if he had behaved like a soldier." To which the response was made, " Yes, Wells, like a brave one." Looking up, he said : "Send that word to my old father," and shortly after expired, as has been stated, at the Fort, as also did Morris.

Samuel Black was removed to Fort Defiance and tenderly nursed by Peter Parkinson, Jr., surviving nine days, in spite of the fact that he was shot through the head back of the ear. On the ninth day, about midnight, and apparently while in the pangs of dissolution, a smile spread over his face, which gradually increased into a hearty laugh. When it subsided, Peter Parkin- son, Jr., who was watching by his bedside, asked the cause, to which he replied that "it made him laugh to hear Gen. Dodge talking about the troops charging the Indians, sword in hand, when there were but two swords in the crowd." With which explanation he sank back and was " gathered in " by the pale master.

He went into the fight certain of death, predicating his belief upon the fact of the horse which he rode having stumbled and fallen upon the prairie, while making the march in pursuit. At that time he spoke of the circumstance, and insisted that he would surely be killed. His comrades told him to go back, but refusing, the omen proved a premonition, indeed. He was from Willow Springs, and a nephew of William Tate.

Thus ended this short but sanguinary conflict, replete with deeds of prowess that have sent their names down to the present clothed with a luster that will increase with years. Among the personal encounters was one Lieut. Bequette had with an Indian, in which the former pre- vailed only with the irreparable fracture of his sword. A young man named Leach fired at an Indian, and, failing to hit the objective point, was rushed upon by the latter, spear in hand. Leach grasped the aboriginal weapon, and in the struggle for its possession the Indian was thrown to the ground and pinned there with the white man's bayonet.

The names of those engaged in the contest were: Col. Dodge, Lieut. D. M. Parkinson, Lieut. Charles Bracken, Lieut. Bequette, Lieut. Porter, Lieut. Kirkpatrick, Surgeon Allen Hill, with Thomas Jenkins, W. W. Woodbridge, John Messersmith, Jr., Asa Duncan, Benjamin Law- head, Samuel Patrick, William Carnes, John Hood, Levin Leach, Alexander Higginbotham, Samuel Black, Domarick McGraw, Samuel Brents, Peter Parkinson, Jr., Van Waggoner,- Wells, - Morris and Rankin. Capt. Gentry came into the field as the firing ceased, and M. G. Fitch, with another man, were posted as sentinels to watch the retreat of the Indians, should any be attempted. The entire war party was exterminated by this Lacedæmonic band, leaving not one to bear the tidings to their chief and people, that Col. Dodge and his warriors were not in fact of the "soft-shell breed."

The scene is changed to-day, indeed, from what it was, and the arts of peace have been nurtured where once the war-whoop was heard.

" Lur'd by a clime when, hostile arms afar,

Peace rolls luxurious in her dove drawn car,

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Where Freedom first awoke the human mind, And broke the enchantment which enslaved mankind : Behold ! Apollo seeks this liberal plain, And brings the Thespian goddess in his train. Oh ! happy realm to whom are richly given The noblest bounties of indulgent heaven."

There has been some discussion in re the battle of the Pecatonica, but the above, as also what follows of the Black Hawk war, is taken from the account published by Col. D. M. Parkinson, which is conceded to be correct.

On the 18th of June, 1832, the fifth volunteer company was formed in the county, of which D. M. Parkinson was chosen Captain, with Samuel Patrick and Mathew G. Fitch as Lieutenants, and accompanied Gen. Dodge to Blue Mounds, guarding the fort there for several days, returning thence to Fort Defiance to make preparations for an expedition against Black Hawk, who was said to be encamped with his entire force on Lake Koshkonong.

On the 28th of June, 1832, Col. Dodge's command rendezvoused at Fort Hamilton (now Wiota), where they were met by Gen. Posey's brigade, preparatory to commencing an expedi- tion to meet Gen. Atkinson, with the two other divisions of the army. The force encamped the first night at the East Pecatonica. The second night the tents were pitched at Devee's old smelting establishment on Sugar River, where it was joined by Capt. Stephenson's company from Galena. On Rock River, the command was joined by the Winnebago Chief, White Crow, and Col. W. S. Hamilton, with a force which had joined them the day previous, and was desig- nated as the scouting party of the command.

White Crow offered to conduct the entire party to Black Hawk's encampment, which he said was on Rock River, near Lake Koshkonong. Under his guidance, the force advanced for several days, over almost impassable swamps, until within a short distance of the locality as described by White Crow, when they were met by an express from Gen. Atkinson, ordering them to proceed immediately to his encampment on Bark River. Col. Dodge felt somewhat vexed to be thus thwarted in his purpose, and remarked that he was crippled in every move- ment he wished to make, by untimely expresses. In obedience to orders, the forces proceeded to the point indicated. The night previous a volunteer had been killed, and Gen. Atkinson, thinking the enemy near at hand, was desirous of concentrating all his forces, preparatory to a general engagement which he contemplated bringing on the next day.

When Col. Hamilton and his scouts reconnoitered Black Hawk's camp the next morning, it was ascertained that he had decamped with his whole force. It was discovered that he had occupied a most advantageous position for defense, and, from the apparent anxiety of White Crow and his party to lead the forces there, it was with much reason supposed he was acting in concert with Black Hawk, to bring on an engagement at that point with the left wing of the army.

Gen. Henry, Gen. Alexander and Col. Dodge, with their respective commands, were ordered to Fort Winnebago for provisions, and, upon arriving there, it was ascertained through the Winne- bagoes that the Sacs and Foxes were then at Rock River Rapids. A council of war was held, at which it was decided to return to camp by way of the Rapids, and preparations, therefore, were accordingly concluded. Taking a Mr. Paquette as an interpreter and some Winnebagoes as guides, the command set off, and on the third day arrived at the Rapids, but, to their sur- prise, found no Indians there, save some emaciated Winnebagoes, by whom they were informed that the enemy had moved further up the river to the Cranberry Lakes. The force encamped for the night, dispatching, meanwhile, an express to Gen. Atkinson, borne by Adjt. Wood- bridge and others, with a Winnebago for a guide. When they had proceeded about eight or nine miles, they came across one of the main trails of the enemy, plainly indicating their route as pointing toward the west. The troops at once returned and communicated the information, which entirely changed the plan of operations agreed upon: Instead of marching up the river, as was intended, the force marched down it early the next morning, and at a rapid pace. The trails were approached quickly, and found to consist of three-one main center and two flank-

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ing trails. The first night the force camped thereon, and were literally drenched with rain, experiencing the greatest difficulty in making a fire with which to cook supper. The second night they camped on the east end of Third Lake; and, previously to their arriving there, the scouts discovered a large force of Indians, who made a feint to attack, but were deterred by the volunteers putting on a bold front, and forming in line of battle, seeing which, the Indians made a precipitous flight into the woods surrounding the lake. That night the scouts discov- ered many Indians, and it appeared the next morning, from information received from Winne- bago Indians, that about one-half the main body of the Sacs and Foxes took post near the crossing of the Catfish, on the eastern confines of the present city of Madison, with the inten- tion of there making the attack, should the volunteers attempt a night pursuit, but, as they did not, the Indians left their ambush about midnight. The next morning, the memorable 21st of July, the forces were upon the trail before sunrise, with every expectation of overtaking them soon. The march in pursuit was consequently rapid. On the banks of the Third Lake, near where the Lake House in Madison now stands, the advance guard killed an Indian, who, the Winnebago Indian above alluded to informed them, was sitting upon the grave of his wife, who had, perhaps, died from fatigue, hunger and exhaustion, and her disconsolate companion had resolved to await the advancing foe and die there also, and he boldly bared his naked breast as a willing target for the balls of the scouts. He but too soon met the death he coveted. This may be thought to have been cruel, but the motto of the pursuers was "no quarter."

In the pursuit the forces passed an encampment on what has since been called Pheasant Branch, at the head of Fourth Lake, where was a freshly made Indian grave, a squaw supposed to have died the night before, and this the place of her sepulture. About five miles from this spot, the scouts killed an Indian who said he was a Winnebago. When in the act of falling, he fired his rifle, wounding one of the volunteers in Capt. Clark's company. From this point the scouts were continually chasing the Indians and being in turn chased by them. Consequently, the march became almost a fight in pursuit of the enemy. Upon one occasion, the forces were thrown into line of battle, but the enemy immediately receded and a running fire was kept up by the scouts and the rear guard of the Indians until the main battle was fought. It was brought about by the chasing of the scouts, who were commanded by Capt. Joseph Dickson, by a large body of the enemy, who had been secreted in the low bottoms of the Wisconsin River. While they were pursuing the scouts up a long slope, the advance portion of the volunteers were rapidly ascending from the opposite side, and, as a consequence, the contending armies met at the top. Here they barely had time to range themselves in line of battle-Cols. Dodge's and William L. D. Ewing's commands forming the front-and had scarcely faced about when the enemy began firing. Orderly Sergt. John McNair, of La Fayette County, was wounded in this onset by a shot in the thigh, but was not conscious of it until the conflict ceased and the enemy had fled. By this time the remainder of Gen. Henry's command except the command of Col. Fry, a part of whom were dragoons, was brought into line of battle in less than ten minutes from the commencement of the engagement. After the line of battle had been fully formed, upon a high eminence and in open ground, considerable firing was kept up by the Indians, who had taken shelter in some underbrush upon the bank of the opposite declivity, by which seven of the vol- unteers were wounded and one killed, the latter being named Short, and belonging to the com- mand of Col. Jones. That officer had his horse shot from under him. Seeing that the volun- teers were suffering more in this firing, perhaps, than the Indians, Gen. Henry ordered a charge, by which the enemy was at once dislodged from its hiding-place, and fled, during the flight twenty being shot and scalped, making in all sixty-eight of the enemy killed in the battle. They were pursued to the bottoms of the Wisconsin, when the volunteers reached the tall grass, which was wet, it having rained nearly the entire afternoon of that day ; and, it being then nearly dark, further pursuit was abandoned.

The volunteers returned to camp, and, immediately succeeding supper, Adjts. Woodbridge and Merriman, who had been sent as an express to Gen. Atkinson's camp, on Bark River, prior to the battle, returned. With them also came Capt. James B. Estes, afterward of Shullsburg,

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and now of Galena, but the Indian guide and Mr. Poquette, the interpreter, left camp imme- diately after the battle.

On the same night the silence of camp was disturbed by the loud, shrill voice of an Indian from the summit of one of the highest peaks in that vicinity, haranguing, as was supposed, for an attack upon the volunteers. Although well posted and surrounded with a double guard, the strange phenomenon naturally produced some excitement and was well calculated to test the cool- ness and material of officers and men. It was thought that Black Hawk's entire force was being brought to bear upon the volunteers, in a night attack, the most to be dreaded of all attacks, especially when made by an Indian enemy. The material composing the army proved good, however, no man showed the white feather, and the commanders, in concert with the Indian orator, harangued their men in the most stirring manner. Gen. Henry, in particular, addressed his men in a patriotic strain, reminding them of the discredit already brought upon the " Sucker" arms by the defeat of Stillman, and other similar disasters ; appealing to them in the name of their mothers to vindicate their valor and that of the " Sucker State." In fact, it was often remarked afterward, that he made a great "Sucker " speech, under the impluse of which his men no doubt would have well vindicated, as they had the preceding day, the powers of volunteer arms.

It was afterward ascertained, however, that the Indian chief was making propositions of peace, instead of urging or cheering on his warriors to battle; which, no doubt, would have been acceptable, had the Winnebagoes been in camp. The proposals were said to have been made, that the Sacs and Foxes would surrender themselves at discretion, and only asked protection for the lives of their women and children. But, hearing no response, and supposing the Winne- bagoes were with the volunteers, they concluded their proposals were not to be entertained, and no mercy would be shown them-consequently, every effort was then made to remove as fast as possible out of the country.

The next day, the slain soldier was buried, and litters were improvised for the conveyance of the wounded. Expresses were sent to Gen. Atkinson and Prairie du Chien, after having marched in the morning to the Wisconsin and ascertained that the Indians, during the night, had effected a crossing. The following morning, the whole command moved forward toward the Blue Mounds, where it arrived at night, after one of the most fatiguing days experienced during the war. The difficulty of conveying wounded men on litters, for thirty miles, over almost impassable creeks, through swamps, across hills and through thick woods, by a winding path, was attended with weariness and difficulty of which no one can well conceive.

Here must be related an amusing and withal, at the time, an alarming incident of the day -one which has never been forgotten. Although John McNair's wound was a flesh wound, yet it was so excruciatingly painful that it was only with the greatest difficulty he could be con- veyed in any way. Being the Orderly Sergeant of Col. D. M. Parkinson, and much attached to that gentleman, he particularly requested the Colonel to remain with him, saying the boys would kill him, almost, if he were not along. Desirous to gratify the sufferer, Col. Parkinson placed his company under the command of Lieut. Mathew G. Fitch, and remained constantly with McNair. After having carried him in his arms through several creeks, the Colonel and his charge arrived on top of the East Blue Mound. The litter by this time had become so broken by the horses, between two of which it was swung, having to wind and twist along the narrow and devious path by which the ascent to the mound is made, that it would no longer answer to carry him. Here was a dilemma, the litter was broken up, it was dark, and McNair declaring that he could not ride on horseback, with the company far in advance, with all the provisions and necessary materials for camping. How to extricate themselves from the difficulties which beset them, was a question difficult of solution ; yet it must be done. At length, Col. Parkinson directed the " boys " to bring the horses and fragments of litter to the foot of the mound, while he bore McNair as Anchises did the old Patroclus, on his back, to the encampment.

He accordingly took him up, and, after descending the mound, which was quite steep, was compelled to lay him down. It seems that he either laid him on, or so near, a large yellow rattlesnake as very much to disturb the latter, which set up such a terrible rattling or whizzing

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as to frighten all hands, who fled precipitately. Thus deserted, the poor devil who had been the cause of all this commotion cried out in the most supplicating manner, " Oh, Captain, for God's sake, don't leave me here to be devoured by these snakes," for there were by this time evidently two of them, and from the noise in the stillness of the night, and in the midst of a dense forest, there seemed to be legions of them giving their fearful notes of warning. The Colonel, recovering from his momentary fright, and feeling the necessity of instant action, " pitched in," caught the prospective victim by the heels and dragged him unceremoniously out. of so dangerous a proximity to a ten times more frightful enemy than Black Hawk, and, wonder- ful to relate, the sufferer never uttered a groan. After the panic was over, McNair expressed his willingness to ride horseback or anything else, and, in due time, the company's camp was reached.

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History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, Part 72

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. cn; Western Historical Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical Number of Pages: 754

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. cn; Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical
Number of Pages: 754