USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee from its first settlement to the year 1895 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
The legend runs that one band of the attacking force moved down to the river through a portion of the city that is now the Sixth ward, its reserve picket line having been stationed about where the main building of the Schlitz Brewing Com- pany is located. The East siders were on the alert and began shooting poisoned arrows at the advancing enemy. The shots were quickly re- turned. The East siders were appalled at the large number of the enemy, and fell back behind trees and the line of works they had taken the pre- caution to construct. Arrow heads flew from one side of the river to the other like passing swarms of bees, and it is easy to imagine the whoops and yells of the contending bands. The East siders, upon discovering the large force attacking, had sent their swiftest messengers for re-enforce- ments, from both right and left, and the responses from the right and left were prompt and generous; too prompt and generous, as will be seen. With the re-enforcements the East siders plunged into the fight with great vigor and confidence and, with comparative ease, forced the enemy back from the river, which was a signal for glorifying noises, probably not unlike those which the Union army in- dulged in when it captured a line of works ; cheers that lifted men out of gloom and fittted them for further fighting ; or the never-to-be-forgotten yell which the victorious Confederates indulged in. While the supposed-to-be-victorious warriors were rejoicing over the retreat of their foes, they were suddenly startled by the appearance and the war whoops of myriads of Indians sweeping down upon them from right and left. A. large force had stealthily crept up and leaped upon the weak- ened line leading from Leudermann's on the lake to Leudermann's on the river-and captured or killed every occupant of the line. Another force, which apparently was resting on the hill-side from Grand avenue north, swept down with hundreds
of bark canoes, and quickly paddled load after load of warriors to the opposite shore. Armies have thus been transported, not in canoes, but in row boats or pontoon boats, in more modern times. There was an instance in one of the battles below Fredericksburg, Virginia, where a brigade crossed the Rappahannock in boats and charged up a steep bank and captured the enemy's works and many prisoners, thus scoring a victory of great importance; and that battle was a surprise to the enemy, as was this crossing in birch bark canoes, two or three centuries ago. With the line of works from lake to river captured, and the swarm of Indians pressing across the river on the left of the East side army, the commander of the attacking force knew he had gained a great advantage and with very little loss, and also was aware that if his braves would fight as well as they had moved into position, he would win a complete victory. Trusted men on his extreme left, had been given instructions to sweep down upon the enemy with all possible speed. He took command, in person, of the army on his right, and swung it into posi- tion and moved up the hill, covering the ground, as he started out, from Wisconsin to Oneida streets, passing up as far as Jefferson street. Then the right of his wing executed what in modern warfare would be a half wheel. The command passed along the line to move as quietly, but as speedily as possible, and so these thousands of blood-thirsty wild men moved on to battle. The two forces reached the enemy at about the same time and showered arrow heads upon the surprised, shocked, demoralized and soon-defeated East siders in a manner that must have been appalling.
This mystified, indistinct story of a war between the braves of old, outlines that there were no East siders left to tell the story, and that, for years, the victorious army made Milwaukee its home, and only fell back upon the approach and the settlement of the white man. The discovery of numerous battle axes and thousands of arrow heads, along the supposed line of battle, on both sides of the river, may not be convincing proof of the battle, but it may be considered as tolerably good proof. There are, in the homes of many of the older residents of the city, numbers of these battle axes and arrow heads picked up at different times since Solomon Juneau first came here in 1818. Within a year there have been found spe- cimens of battle axes and arrow heads, while foun-
105
LEGENDARY WARFARE AND EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.
dations were being laid for residences and fac- tories. While that battle contributed no name, so far as is known, it has been spoken of for the past seventy-five years as the Indian War, and this might perhaps be a good time to designate it as the Battle of Milwaukee.
There is an amply authenticated story of an- other Indian battle. In this second battle the commander-in-chief, on one side, was Solomon Juneau, and on the other side a drunken Indian, backed by a dozen other drunken Indians. Jun- eau's force consisted of two hired men, armed with flint-lock muskets, and a friendly Indian who had been at work for him, with the women folks of the Juneau family, as a reserve. The attacking Indians were new comers from Chicago, where they had laid in a store of fire water. It is evident that they were descendants of the Indians who had won the Battle of Milwaukee, just described. Before making the attack, they sent one of their number, less drunk than his fellows, to Juneau with the story that their fathers had bought that part of the country with their blood, and that they proposed to keep it. Juneau would not be harmed if he would pack up and leave that night. Commander-in-Chief Juneau notified the palaverer that he had come to stay and that the fight might as well begin one time as another. In- stead of shaking hands with the Indian who had come in to have a talk with the white man, Mr. Juneau gave the child of the forest a lift with his foot that sent him flying through the door. Ten minutes later, the drunken Indians began yelling as only drunken Indians can yell-and there are plenty of people now living in Milwaukee who have heard them, particularly those who lived within five or ten miles of Sheboygan, along in the forties when hundreds of Indians would come to the "Mouth"-as the Evergreen city was then called- imbibe all the whiskey they could obtain, and dis- turb the population at the Falls and in other directions, all night long, with their bacchanalian howling. With drawn hatchets this drunken Indian army staggered towards Juneau's little band, and approached within four or five rods of the white men, when Juneau commanded them to halt and pointed to the guns in the hands of the hired men and the friendly Indian. For a minute they did stop, and then advanced again. One of the hired men was directed to shoot the leader in the legs. The aim was good, and the Indian
brave, with his legs nicely peppered with fine cut slugs, bounded into the air, fell down, was seized by his brethren and carried out of range. That ended Indian battle number two. The next morning the Indians were sober, begged Juneau's pardon and pledged lasting friendship. That was the most serious difficulty Milwaukee's pioneer experienced with the Indians. No man in Wis- consin was so much thought of by the Indians of all the tribes which inhabited the territory, as Solomon Juneau.
The experience of Mr. Juneau with those drunken Indians led to a semi-military under- standing between the people who located here prior to 1835 or 1836. Whenever a settler came he was informed, by one or more who had pre- ceded him, that he would be expected, in case of danger from the Indians, to report with such arms as he might possess, at a certain point and be ready to obey such orders as might be given him by a man chosen, when they assembled, to com- mand them. There is nothing recorded, and nothing so far as can be learned, ever occurred to call together this semi-military organization, a fact which speaks well for the peaceable disposi- tion of the thousands of Indians in Wisconsin, who could, had they been disposed, have made short work of Milwaukee's early settlers.
Fifty years ago, the 21st of last September-in 1844-steps were taken to organize a military com- pany. The writer has been unable to find records that speak of an earlier effort to form a regular military company, or to find an early settler who recalls an effort of that character, pre- vious to 1844. This organization resulted from agitation through the Sentinel, and David M. Keeler, one of the editors of the paper, was the first captain. One of the sergeants was Paul Juneau, and one of the corporals was Matthew Keenan, the latter still living-1895 -and a much respected citizen. The company, for some months, held its meetings in the Sentinel office. It made but small pretensions, appeared in public only a few times and was not long lived. Other efforts were made and were similarly successful or unsuccessful. Sev- cral companies, made up almost wholly of Germans, who had been soldiers before coming to this country, were organized and had brief ex- istences, participating, on one or two occasions, in celebrations of Washington's Birthday anniversary
106
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE.
and the Fourth of July. There were two com- panies, the Washington Guards and the Ger- man Riflemen, each having a membership of less than fifty, in existence July 4, 1847, and they took a prominent part in the celebration of that day. There was organized, for that celebration, what was known as the Mounted Artillery Company, which had charge of the iron gun that had been presented to the city. That year Lieutenant Wright, of the regular army, was in Milwaukee re- cruiting soldiers for the Mexican war. He appeared in the procession with fifty of his recruits. This military display extended its exhibitions to a dress parade on the grounds where the John Plankinton residence now stands. A year later there was a battalion formed in the city under command of Lieutenant-Colonel George. There were three companies, " The German Riflemen," Captain Millar, "The Washington Guards," Lieutenant Geisberg, and the "Milwaukee Dragoons," com- manded by Lieutenant Gruenhagen. Three-fourths of the members of the battalion were Germans, and nearly all of them had seen service in the old country. The address to the militia was made that year by Harlow S. Orton, then a young law- yer recently arrived in the city, now-1895-chief justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. The military laws of Wisconsin, at that time, provided for many brigadier and major-generals. Among the major-generals who participated in the day's celebration was the late Dr. E. B. Wolcott, and among the brigadier-generals, the late Judge Levi Hubbell. A year later there had been added to the Milwaukee battalion another company, known as the "Milwaukee City Guards." They were re-enforced, at the celebration of July 4, 1849, by the "Chicago Flying Artillery " and the "Chi- cago Light Hussars." They made what, at that time, was regarded as a very imposing street parade. The next Fourth of July, 1850, the Mil- waukee battalion visited Chicago and participated in a parade. Between 1850 and 1855 there was a season of comparatively little interest in military affairs. In 1855 the military spirit revived and the first company made up wholly of native born Americans was organized, and given the name of the " Milwaukee Light Guard." The organization of this company seemed to breathe life into the companies that had participated in various public demonstrations before, and, on the Fourth of July, there was a military display in which five
companies took part, and it was second only to the display of 1849 among the military demon- strations witnessed in Milwaukee up to that time. Major-General S. B. Grant reviewed the military on that occasion. There had been talk of organizing such a company as the "Mil- waukee Light Guard " ever since 1851, and the agitation grew out of a riot which took place in the city at that time. An ex-Catholic priest-who claimed then to be a Methodist-spoke in the Methodist Church on Spring street, located at that time opposite the site of the present Plankinton hotel. His subject was the Catholic religion. He made a most bitter and vicious attack upon his former church. His language brought loud pro- testations from Catholics present, who demanded that he stop speaking, which he declined to do. A riot followed, resulting in the more or less serious injury of a considerable number of persons. The ex-Catholic priest sought safety by placing him- self in charge of the civil authorities. That riot demonstrated that Milwaukee needed a military force. A public meeting was called and the sub- ject of organizing a strong company was discussed, but the right leaders could not be found and the agitation in favor of the project died out. Three years later another attempt was made to organize, and what was known as the "National Guards" appeared. This company lived only a few months and was succeeded by the " Milwaukee Guards," made up wholly of foreign born citizens. In June of 1854, the "City Guards," a company of fifty men, was organized. That same year, two other companies, including an artillery company, were formed. The spring of 1855 witnessed a deter- mined effort to organize a permanent company, and make it notably popular and strong. Among those who entered into the enterprise were Henry A. Starr who, during the war, became colonel of the Twentieth Wisconsin, Hiram Bond, Orin M. Buttles, L. J. McCracken, Sumner Johnson and J. H. Butler. Particular stress was put upon the fact that the new organization was to be a strictly American company. It was believed that the late John Nazro was the first man to sign the petition for this company. Fifty signatures were secured, and a meeting to organize was called, but less than half of the signers were present. Other meetings were called until a sufficient number finally attended to warrant the closing steps being taken. After a long and heated discussion "Continentals"
107
LEGENDARY WARFARE AND EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.
was the name which the company decided to adopt. During the time that elapsed between the adjournment of that meeting and the opening of the next, there was much quiet talk against that name and at the next meeting it was dropped, and the "Milwaukee Light Guard"-a name and a company that, became famous in a dozen states- was chosen. It will be interesting to read a list of the names of the men who became members of that, the most successful military organization, in all respects, the city ever had. They are as fol- lows:
Ayres, A. G.
Ilill, Horatio
Archmoody, Hiram .
Hawley, Cyrus
Austin, R. N.
Johnson, James
Bloodgood, Francis
Johnson, S. R.
Burnell, J. H.
Johnson, Thomas
Belden, D. M.
Kellogg, Jas. B.
Buttles, C. A.
Kimball, G. H.
Burr,
King, Rufus
Buttles, O. M.
Lake, LaFayette
Boynton, A. L.
Luxton, L. D.
Babcock, Simeon
Maton, A. T.
Butler, J. II.
Martin, E. H.
Bingham, G. B.
Maxwell, William
Bond, H. R.
Miles, Fred. B.
Chandler, Robert
Millan, D. G.
Colgate, H. C.
McCracken, L. J.
Clark, F. D.
Norris, W. E.
Clark, W. L.
Nute, Benjamin
Campbell, John
Newbre, Menzo
Courtenay, H.
Palmer, H. C.
Duvall, C. E.
Post, D. T.
Dunlop, C. W.
Rugee, John
Daggett, T. H.
Smith, G. M.
Folsom, D. K.
Slow, Daniel
Foote, C. P.
Stone, E. H.
Gillett, S. P.
Storm, P. R.
Hinsdale, W. L.
Starr, H. A.
Hewitt, C. P.
Smith, A. P.
Hyde, R. H.
Stewart, W. W.
Hewitt, R. H.
Spaulding, J. D.
Hurd, E. M.
Townsend, John G.
Holland, M. H.
Waldron, J. B.
Harrison, Chas.
Winslow, A. A.
House, David Wood, J. P.
The name of Rufus King headed the list. He was at that time editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, was a graduate of West Point, had been Adjutant- General of New York under Governor Seward, ยท and was Major-General of Wisconsin Militia. Gen-
eral King was appointed Minister to Rome by President Lincoln, in April, 1861. He was ready to sail when the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was received in New York, whereupon he resigned and was appointed a brigadier-general of volun- teers. He organized what became the Iron Bri- gade, which, at that time, consisted of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin, and the Nineteenth Indiana regiments, and commanded it until the fol- lowing March when he was given command of a division, which he retained until September, 1862, when ill health forced him to leave active service. He was then sent to Rome where he honored the United States with an administration that was without fault. It was through General King that one of the Lincoln assassins, John H. Surratt, was arrested while serving as a member of the Pope's Guard at Rome. Returning from Rome, in 1867, General King made Elizabeth, New Jersey, his home, and was, for a number of years, connected with the New York custom house. He died of pneumonia, October 13, 1876.
Dr. E. B. Wolcott was first elected Captain of the Light Guard, but declined because his busi- ness demanded so much of his time. A committee was appointed to select another captain. They brought in the name of Rufus King, and he was elected. The first lieutenant was Silas Hawley, the second lieutenant, J. P. Wood, the third lieu- tenant, George B. Bingham. The organization and the record made by this company were most opportune, as will be shown in this condensed ref- erence to the Milwaukee Light Guard. The offi- cers were commissioned on the 22nd of August, 1855, and the arms were received at about the same time. The officers and men were united in the determination not to make their appearance in public until after they had become well drilled and could do themselves and their city credit. While the public was wonder ing what had become of the Milwaukee Light Guard, they were making soldiers of themselves. There were frequent and prolonged drills. A con- stitution and by-laws and rules and regulations were prepared with extreme eare. Nothing was forgotten to make the foundation deep, wide and strong. The day of the first parade of the Mil- waukee Light Guard was fixed for November 23, 1855. The Sentinel and Wisconsin, and every other paper in the state, announced the faet days before the event, and when the 23rd arrived there
108
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE.
was in the city a larger number of strangers than had ever before been there, and most of them had come to see the Milwaukee Light Guard on its first parade. Thousands of people stood on the walks and in buildings where they could see the soldiers. The first appearance of the new com- pany was exceedingly favorable; the public ap- plauded without stint. City and state were proud of Captain King and his company. They paraded on the West, the South and the East sides for hours and miles. At two o'clock they stacked arms in front of the American House, where the Plankinton now stands, and were met by a large delegation of leading citizens, who escorted them to the dining hall. Among the decorations was a beautiful stand of colors for the new company. The tables were spread with everything that hun- gry men could desire. An address of welcome was made by the mayor, and it was responded to by Captain King. At the end of the day it was uni- versally voted that Captain King and his Milwau- kee Light Guard had taken Wisconsin. There was no longer any difficulty in securing additions to the honorary list of members, who were chiefly re- lied upon to furnish the sinews of war. From that time until the beginning of the war there were no great celebrations in the state in which the Milwaukee Light Guard did not participate and win honors, and there were more celebrations in those days than there are now. The success of the new company led to the organization of com- panies in other cities and villages throughout the state, and their timely appearance, military life, and the discussions arising from their conduct, had much to do with Wisconsin's prompt and en- thusiastic response to Abraham Lincoln's call for soldiers in 1861. In May, 1856, the Light Guard received a cordial invitation to participate in a military encampment at Chicago, beginning July 1st, and lasting a week. The invitation was ac- cepted, and at a meeting held May 13, 1856, the following additional officers were chosen: Adju- tant, John L. Hathaway; quartermaster, John Nazro; paymaster, John C. Starkweather; sur- geon, Dr. Louis Mcknight. John L. Hathaway became a lieutenant-colonel in the war; John C. Stark weather a brigadier-general; John Nazro was for many years a prominent business man, and Dr. Louis Mcknight has for years been connected with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. The visit to Chicago result-
ed in giving the Milwaukee Light Guard a good reputation in two other states, Illinois and Michigan. There were no soldiers who appeared better or did better service in that encampment than Milwaukee's famous company, and they returned to the city, at the end of the week, filled with new enthusiasm and patriotism. Just before starting to Chicago, Lieutenant-Governor Arthur McArthur, in behalf of Milwaukee ladies, presen- ted to the company a beautiful silk flag. Ser- geant Francis Bloodgood accepted the flag on behalf of the company, making a patriotic address. When the company was a year old, which was the 16th of July, 1856, the event was celebrated by a target shoot at the Layton House, near the Forest Home. Before inarching to that point the guard paraded on Jefferson, Main and Oneida streets of the East side, and on Spring street on the West side. The shooting was re- garded as superior for those days, but would be regarded to-day as exceedingly poor. . Among the prizes offered were a dress coat, a solid silver goblet, and a silver fruit-knife. Brigadier-General V. W. Roth, commissary general of the state, also an honorary member of the Light Guard, presented a beautiful gold watch, which was shot for by the five prize winners. A. A. Winslow won the watch, the judges being A. J. Aikens and W. V. White. The State Fair was held in Milwaukee, the grounds being on Chestnut street, outside of the city limits, that year, and the chief attraction was a military parade, drill and public display by the Light Guard. Hundreds of young men in Wisconsin, who witnessed the marching and drilling by the Light Guard at the State Fair in Milwaukee in, 1856, date their interest in mili- tary affairs from that time, and give the Milwan- kee Light Guard credit for their having enlisted for three years, or during the war five years later. At that public appearance of the Light Guard it had the honor of being reviewed and being inspected by General Thomas Stevens, inspector- general of the state, and, in a speech to the soldiers he paid them a high compliment, and then gave them some needed advice. General Stevens will be remembered as the soldier who instructed the officers of the Second, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsins in sword practice while. they were under waiting orders at Camp Randall, in 1861. He afterward entered the army as lieuten- ant-colonel of the Second Wisconsin Calvary, and
109
LEGENDARY WARFARE AND EARLY MILITARY HISTORY.
upon the promotion of the late Governor C. C. colonel of the Twelfth infantry and likely to be Washburn to the rank of brigadier-general, Stevens became colonel of the regiment. He died a few years after the war. On the 28th of No- vember, 1856, the company, joined by all of the other military and civic societies, and pretty much all of the population of Milwaukee, attended the funeral of Solomon Juneau, his death having occurred November 14, 1856. The procession at this funeral may safely be mentioned as the largest in number and most imposing that ever took place in the city, on the occasion of a funeral. The annual balls of the Light Guard were for years a society event. There were present at the first annual ball, December 29, 1856, representatives from the Chicago Light Guard and several other military companies, the governor of the state, many members of the legislature and the cream of Milwaukee's society. Three hundred tickets were sold at five dollars each, and seven hundred dollars were left, after all expenses were paid, for the treasury.
Probably there never was a military company that got along without internal strifes. The Light Guard was not an exception. The trouble grew out of extra expenses attending the trip to Chicago, already mentioned, and the discussions resulted in the organization of another company, some thirty-five of the parent company going into the new. Harmony was so far restored that the companies were named A and B, of the Mil- waukee Light Guard and the two organizations continued to prosper. Company B had almost as much difficulty in finding the right kind of a captain as the original company experienced. There had recently come to the city a young man, a graduate of West Point, who had resigned his commission. He was hunted up and the captaincy tendered to him. He accepted, and very soon demonstrated his ability to command, educate and discipline his company most admirably. His name was Edwin E. Townsend. He continued captain until the strife between the two companies became so pronounced that the men of his com. pany decided to uniform themselves in a much more expensive manner than the young captain considered wise or proper. However, Captain Townsend did not retire until Company B ranked with Company A as a body of thoroughly drilled soldiers. He entered the United States army, early in the war, won distinction, and is now
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.