USA > Wisconsin > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Wisconsin, past and present : including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county [microform] > Part 5
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The rest of the summer was spent by the evicted savages in misery, it was too late to raise another crop of corn and beans and they suffered for the necessaries of life: another difficulty arose : the previous year (1830) a party of Menomonee and Sionx had murdered some of Black Hawk's band and a few weeks after their removal Black Hawk headed a large war party which as- vended the river and in retaliation massacred all but one of a party of twenty-eight Menomonees camped near Fort Crawford. Complaint was made to Gen. Joseph Street, Indian agent at the post who demanded that the murderers be delivered to him for trial, under existing treaty provisions, but as none of the Menomonees who had murdered his people had been given up. Black Hawk declined to accede, thereby rebelling against the authority of the United States.
Neapope, who was second in command in the British band who had gone upon a visit to Malden prior to the eviction. returned in the fall and reported to his chief proffers of aid from the British, the Winnebagoes, Ottawas. Chippewas and Pottawat- omies in regaining their village. White Cloud advised Black Hawk to proceed to the prophet's town the following spring and raise a crop of corn and that by fall the allies would be ready to join the Sac leader in a general movement against the whites in the valley of the Rock: relying upon these promises Black Hawk spent the winter with his band on the deserted site of old Fort
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR
Madison on the west side of the river. On the sixth of April, 1832, Black Hawk with about five hundred warriors, their squaws and children, with all their belongings crossed the Mississippi a little below the month of the Rock and invaded Illinois. The results of the negotiations with the Winnebagoes and other tribes during the winter had not been satisfactory, but White Cloud. the prophet met him and gave him assurance of success and the misguided Sac proceeded confidently on his march, arrived at the prophet's town with four hundred and fifty of his braves, well mounted. while the others, with women, children and equipage. remained with the canoes; the intention being to raise a crop of corn im- mediately above the prophet's town and prepare for war in the fall. Immediately upon crossing the river Black Hawk sent mes- sengers to the Pottawatomies to meet him in council, but this tribe was much divided: Shanbena, a chief of much ability, very friendly to the whites succeeded in persuading a majority of the braves to at least remain neutral; but the hotheads under Big Foot and a despicable half breed British agent. Mike Girty, were fierce for war. Shaubena after quieting his followers set ont immediately on a tour of the settlements in the Illinois and Rock river valleys warning the pioneers of the approaching war, even extending his mission as far as Chicago. Gen. Henry Atkinson. who had arrived at Fort Armstrong early in the spring, with a half company of regulars. to enforce the demand for the delivery of the Sae murderers, learned of the invasion on the 13th of April. and at once notified Governor Reynolds that his own force was too small and that a large force of militia was essential. Governor Reynolds at once issued another fiery proclamation for mounted volunteers. The news spread like wild fire; some settlers fled, never to return ; the majority, however, which did not join the state troops went to the larger settlements where rude stoekade forts were built, the inhabitants forming themselves into garrisons, with officers and some degree of military discipline.
The spring was backward and General Atkinson was greatly hampered in collecting troops, stores, boats and camp equipage ; during his preparations he took occasion to assure himself of the peaceful attitude of the Sacs and Foxes not members of the British band. He also sent two messages to Black Hawk ordering him to at once withdraw to the west bank of the river on the peril of being driven there by force of arms. to both of which the Sac leader sent defiant answers.
The volunteers collected at Beardstown and were organized into four regiments under the command of Col. John Thomas, Col.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
Jacob Fry, Col. Abraham B. Dewitt and Col. Samuel M. Thompson. a scout battalion under Maj. James D. Henry and two "odd" battalions under Majors Thomas James and Thomas Long. The entire force, some sixteen hundred strong. all horsemen except three hundred who had been enlisted as infantry, by mistake, was placed under command of Brig. Gen. Samuel Whiteside, who had some reputation as an Indian fighter. Accompanied by Governor Reynolds the brigade proceeded to Fort Armstrong and the vol- unteers were at once sworn into the United States service by Gen- eral Atkinson: the governor, who remained with his troops was recognized and paid as a major general, while Lient. Robert Anderson (later of Fort Sumter fame) was detailed from the regulars as inspector of the Illinois militia.
On the ninth of May a start was made. Whiteside, with the mounted troops, following Black Hawk's trail up the east bank of the Rock. General Atkinson followed in boats with cannon. provi- sions and the bulk of the baggage. With him were 300 volunteer and 400 regular infantry, the latter gathered from Forts Craw- ford and Leavenworth and under the command of Col. Zachary Taylor. afterwards president of the United States. The tray- eling was bad for both divisions: heavy rains had made the river turbulent. the men frequently wading breast deep for hours together pushing the Mackinaw boats against the rapid currents and lifting them over the rapids: while along the trail through the swamps baggage wagons were often mired and the cavalry were obliged to do rough service in hauling freight through and over the black muck and tangled roots.
Whiteside arrived at the prophet's town, finding it deserted. with a fresh trail up the river, so he pushed on rapidly as pos- sible to Dixon's, arriving there May 12. Here he found two inde- pendent battalions. 340 men all told. under Majors Isiah Stillman and David Bailey : these troops were not of the regular levy, but were well supplied with provisions and ammunition in which Whiteside was deficient, and being impatient and anxious to do something brilliant, they obtained Whiteside's permission to go forward as a scouting party and set out on the morning of the 13th nuder Stillman, arriving late in the afternoon of the 14th three miles south of the mouth of Sycamore creek, where they went into camp in a strong position. being in a grove surrounded by clear prairie, and under ordinary conditions of warfare could have repulsed ten times their number.
Black Hawk stayed a week at the Prophet's town, holding fruit- less councils with the wily and vacillating Winnebagoes: learning
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR
positively that he had been deceived, he pushed on to keep his engagement for a conneil at Syeamore creek with the Pottawato- mies, faint at heart though vaguely hoping for better things from this tribe. He went into camp with his principal men in a large grove near the mouth of Sveamore creek, met the chiefs of the tribe and found that through the influence of Shanbena it was impossible for him to gain the support of more than about one hundred of the hot-headed element. Black Hawk stated in after years that he had at this time resolved to return at once to the west of the Mississippi should he be again summoned to do so by General Atkinson and never more disturb the peace of the white settlements. As a parting courtesy to his guests. however, he was making arrangements to give them a dog feast on the evening of May 14 when the summons came in a manner little anticipated by him.
The white-hating faction of the Pottawatomies were camped on the Kishwaukee river seven miles north of Black Hawk and with them the majority of his own party : Black Hawk says in his autobiography. that not more than forty of his braves were with him upon the council ground; towards evening, in the midst of his feast preparations, he was informed that a party of white. horsemen were going into camp three miles down the rock: it was Stillman's force, but the chief thought it was a small party headed by Atkinson, being unaware of the size of the force placed in the field against him, and sent three of his young men with white flags to parley with them and convey his offer to meet White Beaver (Atkinson) in council. The rangers, who regarded the expedition as a big frolic, were engaged in preparing their camp when the truce bearers appeared on the prairie a mile away. A mob of troopers rushed out at them. some with saddles and some without. and ran the visitors into camp amidst a hubbub of vells and imprecations. Black Hawk had sent five other braves to fol- low the flagmen at a safe distance and watch developments. This second party was sighted by about twenty horsemen and were said to have been partially intoxicated, hot chase was given to the spies and two of them were killed. the other three galloped back to their grove and reported to their chief that not only two of their num- ber. but the three flag bearers as well had been ernelly slain ; this flagrant disregard of the rules of war cansed the blood of the old Sae to boil with indignation, tearing to shreds a flag of trnce which he had himself been preparing to carry to the white camp. he fiercely harangued his thirty-five braves and bade them avenge . the blood of their brethren at any risk.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
The neutral Pottawatomies at once withdrew to their village while Black Hawk and his Saes, securely mounted, sallied forth to meet the enemy. The entire white force was soon seen rushing towards them pell mell, in a confused mass. The Saes withdrew behind a fringe of bushes, their leader hurriediy bade them to stand firm ; on catching sight of this grim array the whites paused, but before they had a chance to turn, Black Hawk sounded the war whoop and the savages dashed forward and fired. The Sac chiel tells us that he thought the charge was suicidal when he ordered it. but enraged by the treachery of the whites he and all with him were ready to die to secure revenge. On the first fire of the Indians the whites fled in great consternation, without firing a shot. pursued by this little band of savages until nightfall ended the chase. But nightfall did not end the rout; the volunteers. haunted by fear dashed through their own impregnable camp. leaving everything behind them, plunged madly through creeks and swamps till they reached Dixon's, twenty-five miles away. where they straggled in for the next twenty-four hours: many did not stop there, but continued until they reached their own homes, fifty or more miles farther on. and reported that Black Ilawk with two thousand bloodthirsty warriors was sweeping northern Illinois with destruction. The white loss in all this ill- starred scrimmage was eleven killed, while the Indians lost two spies and one of the flag bearers. the others escaping. The flight of Stillman's corps was wholly inexcusable : Stillman undoubtedly tried to rally his men. but the lack of discipline and experience. coupled with a lack of confidence, wrought havoc. It was a treach- erous thing to treat the bearers of flags of trice as they did. some- thing which even savages rarely disregard, and but for this wanton act the Black Hawk War would have been a bloodless demonstra- tion. Unfortunately for our own good name, this violation of the rules of war was repeated more than once during this war.
This easy victory elated Black Hawk and gave him a poor opinion of the valor of the opposing forces: almost wholly destitute of provisions and ammunition, the capture of Stillman's stores was a rich prize. He recognized that war was inevitable and sent scouts to watch the enemy while he hurriedly withdrew the women and children to the head waters of Rock river in Michigan terri- tory (now Wisconsin). to which he was guided by friendly Winne- bagoes. Here he recruited parties of Winnebagoes and Pottawat- omies and descended into northern Illinois, prepared for border ยท warfare.
Stillnan's defeat inaugurated a reign of terror in the terri-
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR
tory between the Illinois and Wisconsin rivers; the name of Black Hawk became coupled the country over with stories of savage enn- ning and ernelty, his name serving as a household bugaboo. Shau- bena again sounded the alarm and settlers again left their fields and hurried to the forts.
Whiteside, on May 15th, the day of the battle, with one thou- sand four hundred men, proceeded to the scene and buried the dead. On the 19th Atkinson and the entire army moved up the Rock river, leaving Stillman's corps at Dixon to care for the wounded and guard supplies. They added to their record of infamy by deserting their post and going home. Atkinson hastily returned : Whiteside being left to follow Black Hawk; his men grew weary of soldiering, declaring that the Indians were in the unexplored and impenetrable swamps to the north, which were in Michigan territory, and farther. that they could not be compelled to serve out of the state; after two or three days of fruitless skirmishing, upon approaching the state line, a consultation of officers was held at which it was determined to abandon the search, the troops were marched back to Ottawa, where they were mus- tered out on the 27th and 28th of May. On their way to Ottawa the militiamen stopped at the Davis farm on Indian creek, where a terrible massacre of whites had occurred a few days before and saw the mutilated corpses of fifteen men, women and children. This revolting spectacle, instead of nerving the troops to renewed action in defense of their homes, appears to have still further dis- heartened them.
And so the first campaign of the war ended as it had begun, with an exhibition of cowardice on the part of the Illinois militia.
THE CLOSING CAMPAIGN.
Governor Reynolds was active and at once arranged for a levy of "at least two thousand" men to serve through the war to ren- dezvous at Beardstown June 10; the general government ordered 1,000 regulars under General Winfield Scott to proceed from the seaboard to the seat of war, future operations against the enemy to be under the command of General Scott. At General Atkin- son's earnest appeal, 300 mounted rangers under Col. Henry Frye agreed to remain in the field to protect the northern line of Illinois settlements until the new levy could be mobilized.
Black Hawk divided his force into war parties, himself leading the largest, about two hundred, assisted by small parties of Winne- bagoes and about one hundred Pottawatomies under Mike Girty,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
descended the Rock river from Lake Koshkonong and during the irregular warfare which now broke out in northern Illinois and what is now southern Wisconsin, some two hundred whites and nearly as many Indians lost their lives, the panie among settlers was wide-spread and great suffering ensued. Many incidents of this border warfare are of historic interest. and have been the cause of much discussion, but owing to the vast amount of such newspaper disenssion and documentary collections, only an inci- dent or two will be alluded to here.
On the evening of June 14th a party of eleven Sacs killed five white men at Spafford's farm in what is now LaFayette county. Wisconsin, Col. Henry Dodge, with twenty-nine men. followed and the next day overtook the savages in a neighboring swamp. A battle ensued lasting but a short time, the eleven Indians were killed and scalped, the whites losing three killed and one wounded. No incident in the entire war has been so thoroughly discussed and quarreled over as this bloody skirmish.
On June 24th Black Hawk's own party made a desperate attack on Apple River fort. fourteen miles east of Galena, Ill .. which sustained a heavy siege for upwards of an hour, the little garrison displaying remarkable vigor, the women and girls mould- ing bullets, loading guns and generally proving themselves bor- der heroines. The red men retired with small loss, setting fire to neighboring cabins and fields. The next day the same war party attacked Major Dement's spy battallion at Kellogg's grove, six- teen miles to the east ; the Indians were routed upon General Posey bringing reinforcements. losing about fifteen killed while the whites lost but five.
The people of what is now the lead mining district of sonth- western Wisconsin became alarmed for fear that the troops cen- tered on Rock river would drive the enemy across the Ilinois border upon them; the news of Black Hawk's invasion in May had reached them and preparations for defense were at once begin ; Col. Henry Dodge, one of the pioneers of the lead region. held a commission as chief of the Michigan militia west of Lake Michigan, and assumed direction of the military operations north of the Illinois line. With a company of twenty-seven hastily equipped rangers he made a trip to Dixon to reconnoiter the conn- try and to solicit aid from Governor Reynolds, in which he was not snecessful, and returned to the mines bearing the news of Still- man's defeat. After arranging to recruit three additional com- panies he went with fifty men to White Crow's Winnebago vil- lage, at the head of Fourth lake some four miles northwest of the
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR
site of Madison, for the purpose of holding couneil with a view to keeping them quiet during the present erisis; he received pro- fuse assurances of their fidelity to the American cause, but he seems to have placed small reliance upon their sincerity.
Upon returning Dodge started for headquarters at Fort Union with 200 mounted rangers, gathered from the mines and fields, a free and easy set of dare devils having an intense hatred of the Indian race: they were disciplined to some extent, but in their march through the country paid' but little attention to regulations. On the 3d of June they arrived at Blue Mounds just in time to receive the Hall girls brought in by White Crow. Crow's manner being offensive. Dodge had him and his compan- ions put into the guard house as hostages for the good behavior of the Fourth lake band. Dodge being joined by a small party of Illinois rangers under Capt. J. W. Stephenson, proceeded to Ottawa to confer with General Atkinson. After remaining a few days, the rangers returned to the lead mines to complete the defenses there.
In less than three weeks after Stillman's defeat. Reynolds and Atkinson had recruited 3,200 troops, divided into three brigades, under Generals Alexander Posey, M. K. Alexander and James D. Henry, and in addition were Fry's rangers, half of whom con- tinued their service to protect the settlements and stores on Rock river. With these, Dodge's Michigan rangers and the regular infantry the entire army numbered about 4,000 effective men.
An advance party of Posey's brigade was sent out to disperse Black Hawk's war party and it was this force which had the skirmish at Kellogg's grove, previously alluded to. Meantime Alexander and Henry's brigades arrived at Dixon's. When news came of the Indian defeat at Kellogg's. Alexander was dispatched in haste to Plum river to intercept the enemy's crossing the Mis- sissippi at that point; Atkinson, with Henry's and the regulars, remained at Dixon to await developments, and on learning that Black Hawk's main camp was still at Lake Koshkonong, pushed on up the Rock with 400 regulars and 2,100 volunteers, being joined by a party of seventy-five friendly Pottawattomies, who seemed eager to join in the scrimmage.
On June 30th the army crossed the Illinois- Wisconsin boundary about a mile east of the site of Beloit. Sac signs were fresh, for Black Hawk, after his defeat at Kellogg's. had fled directly to his stronghold, and Atkinson's men were following a warm trail. Camps were invariably made in the timber with breastworks to protect against night attacks, the rear guard of the savages prowl-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
ing around in the dark and being frequently fired on by sentries.
On July 2d the army arrived at Lake Koshkonong, found hastily deserted Indian camps ; scouts made a tour of the lake, but found nothing of importance except a few stragglers. A few captured Winnebagoes gave vague testimony and one of them was shot and scalped for his impertinence. Fruitless scouting continued for several days.
On July 4 Alexander's brigade arrived, and on the sixth Posey reported with Dodge's squadron. On June 28th, while Dodge was at Fort Hamilton, Posey arrived with orders from Atkinson to join forces and proceed to the main army on the Koshkonong. Dodge now had about three hundred men, including a party of twenty Menomonies, and eight or ten white and half-breed scouts under Col. William S. Hamilton, son of the famous Alexander. Proceeding by the way of Four Lakes, White Crow and a party of thirty Winnebagoes offered to guide Posey and Dodge to Black Hawk's camp. After advancing through almost impenetrable swamps for several days, a messenger arrived from General Atkinson with orders to join the main body on Bark river, as the enemy was believed to be in that vicinity. This order provoked Dodge. but proved to be singularly opportune. Black Hawk's camp ocenpied a position excellent for defense at the summit of a steep declivity on the cast bank of the Rock, where the river was difficult of passage. White Crow's solicitude as a guide was undoubtedly caused by his desire to lead the troops into a trap. where they would be badly whipped if not annihilated.
While White Crow, with treachery had been endeavoring to entrap the left wing of the army, other Winnebago had informed Atkinson that Black Hawk was encamped on an island in the Whitewater river, a few miles to the east. In consequence there was a useless wild goose chase through the broad morasses and treacherous sink holes of that region. Because of this false infor- mation, Atkinson sent the messenger to Posey just in time to save that force, though he did not then know it.
The army, as finally formed. was Alexander's brigade and Dodge's squadron left wing, on west side of Rock: regulars under Taylor and Henry's brigade were right wing, commanded by Atkinson in person, and marched on the east bank : Posey's brigade. also on the west bank was the center.
On July 10th Henry's and Alexander's brigades and Dodge's squadron were sent to Fort Winnebago, eighty miles to the north- west for much needed provisions; the Second regiment of Posey's brigade was sent to Dixon; with the rest of the troops Posey was
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THE BLACK HAWK WAR
ordered to Fort Hamilton to guard the mining country; Atkinson himself fell baek to Lake Koshkonong and built a fort a few miles up the Bark river on the eastern limit of what is now the city of Fort Atkinson.
Arriving at Fort Winnebago, the troops found a number of Winnebago. all full of advice : and also a famous half breed scout. Pierre Paquette. He informed Henry and Dodge of the true loca- tion of Black Hawk's stronghold with information as to its char- acter, and with twelve Winnebago was engaged to guide the troops to it. While at the fort a stampede of the horses occurred and something like fifty were lost. Henry and Dodge determined to return by way of Hustisford rapids and there engage Black Hawk if possible. Alexander's men refused to go on this perilous expe- dition and the General weakly vielded to their demand to obey Atkinson's order and return to camp. Henry was made of differ- ent stuff and refused to return, and the same day started with twelve days' rations with their guides. The ranks had been thinned by one cause and another so that in Henry's brigade there were now but 600 effective men and Dodge had about 150.
On July 18th the troops found the Winnebago village at which Black Hawk had been quartered, but the enemy had fled: the Winnebago insisted that Black Hawk was then at Cranberry lake, a half day's march up the river, and the white commanders resolved to proceed the following day. At 2:00 p. m. of the day of arrival Adjutants Merriam of Henry's and Woodbridge of Dodge's started south to carry the information to Atkinson's camp thirty-five miles down the river. Little Thunder, a Winnebago chief. accompanied them as guide. When about twenty miles out, halfway between the present sites of Watertown and Jeffer- son, they suddenly struck a broad trail leading west. Little Thunder became greatly excited but could not make the officers understand him, so he turned his horse and dashed back to Henry's camp, the officers being obliged to follow, and there Little Thunder informed his people that the trail of Black Hawk in his flight to the Mississippi had been discovered and to warn them that further dissembling was useless.
The news was received with joy by the troops, sinking spirits revived, all incumbranees were left behind, and on the following morning the chase was begun; the Chicago and Northwestern rail- way between Jefferson Junction and Madison follows very closely Black Hawk's trail from Roek river to Four lakes; it was a tough country, the men getting into sink holes : the temperature following a rainstorm, fell, making progress difficult, but straggling Winne-
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