USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 63
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Cut-Thumb's ambition was only increased by this disappointment. Ile dreamed dreams which were predictions of great success, and two days after we had reaped our pelican glories, he blackened his face, gave the war-whoop, and sang his war song. All the braves danced the war-dance around him. Wishing to see all of their folly I accepted the invitation courteously tendered me to join the party. They were now to invade the enemy's country, and glorious success would be the certain result. At day- light the next morning all were astir, and scouts sent in advance; and by 10 o'clock the remain- ing braves were in their canoes and under, way. The warlike Cut-Thumb was standing in his canoe singing of the prowess and glories of the Sioux, and invoking his familiar spirit to be with them and crown their adventure with bountiful success.
Our progress was very slow, and made with studied precaution. When we had proceeded five or six miles we arrived at a place appointed to arrange the general's staff. It was an im- portant appendage to a grand army. It con- sisted of two cooks or messengers; it would, perhaps, be more in military parlance to call them aids-de-camp. A band of music, too, must needs be provided. It consisted of a bass-drum, improvised from an empty nine gallon keg, one head out and a deerskin tightly drawn over it, with a small wooden hammer for a drum stick; a tamborine and two dried gourds, partly filled with pebbles, together with a variety of rattles of minor importance. These made up the band. A little concert was given in the evening to
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test the ability of the performers. This ended the first day's progress of the campaign. Sen- tries being posted, each one wrapped in his blanket, lay down on the soft grass, covered by a deer skin, and bespangled with brilliant stars, to make the most of a short night.
Daylight next morning brought our pickets to camp, when pipes were cleaned out and the first smoke of the new-born day went round. Teeth were taxed to their uttermost to munch the stone-hard dried venison; after which we were, sconts and all, at our respective posts, en route for our anxiously looked for field of battle. The taking of a single scalp would have crowned the whole party with lasting honor, in their estimation. We went forward with muf- fled paddles, carefully serutinizing every noise, the course of every deer or bird, which might indicate an approaching foe; and withal, care- fully weighing the frequent reports, however improbable, of the principal scouts.
About noon we were called to halt, to have a big war dance. On landing, and stepping for- ward a few yards from the canoes, I found my- self in a beautiful patch of prairie land, forming a cireles of forty paces in diameter, as regular as if drawn by a compass. It was enclosed by thick shrubbery, with here and there a tall balsam and other evergreens. Nature had pro- vided a splendid locality, eminently fitted for a social, enjoyable pie-nie, where boys and girls could romp and hide and go seek; dance, eat and grow fat. But it was not to be so hon- ored now. On the contrary, Old Nick himself was to be invoked, and the most beastly cere- mony to be performed I ever witnessed.
After all were landed from their canoes, a party of five or six were dispatched to the bush for a pole, while the others were employed in removing all impediments from within the cir- ele. The bushmen soon returned with a bal- sam pole about forty feet long, denuded of its limbs and bark, except within about four feet of the top, which was left in its natural state. This pole was planted in the center of the am-
phitheatre. Up to this time all conversation was carried on in an under-tone, and all noise avoided as much as possible; but this restric- tion was, I thought, now inconsistently removed, so that all were at full liberty to yell to the ut- most capacity of their lungs, and to smoke to their heart's content without restraint or fear of being smelt by an unseen enemy, and thus betraying their presence.
Gen. Cut-Thumb and his band were seated in the shade, tuning their instruments, and trying their dis-harmony, while the braves were dress- ing and primping for the dance. Finally the big drum gave its warning voice of tum-tum- tum, while the minor rattles joined in the rude chorns. Now the living actors, with deafening yells, frightful threats, and inhuman contor- tions commenced their circuitous jumping dance. A spectator was kindly invited to take a seat out of the way and near the music. Scarcely fifteen minutes had elapsed of this yelling gesticulation fandango, when an inno- cent dog attempted to run across this eonse- erated ground, but was suddenly arrested in his desecrating career by being pierced at mid-cir- ele by half a dozen arrows. His body was in- stantly removed outside the dance ground, ripped open, the pluck taken out and hung on a stake about five feet high, which had been planted near the balsam pole.
The dance was now resumed, and sickening to relate, that many of the dancers in their rounds, would step up and take a bite ont of this bleeding pluck, which they would either swallow themselves, or transfer it from their teeth to Cut-Thumb's mouth, who, being so am- ply fed with so delicious a repast, soon became so sick that he had to retire from the concert, and the scene changed.
They were to fire at the upper end of the pole, above where the peeled and unpeeled parts met. He whose shot would bring the green branches to the ground would take the first scalp. All this beastly humbug lasted about four hours. Then we again embarked,
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sconts were sent out, and "hush" was the word, which seemed useless after the recent noisy carousal. At dusk our canoes were drawn into the grass skirting the shore, and the whole party, except the out-piekets, were snugly en- sconced in a shrubbery thicket.
I had gotten a sufficient insight into their mode of warfare, and was completely disgusted with their savage performances. We were now about thirty miles from our camp. So next morning I asked Cnt-Thumb for a small canoe, which they could well spare, which he readily turned over to me. The weather was fine, and with a strong, smooth current I made rapid progress, and might have shot several deer that were in the water to escape from the flies and gnats; but it would have been wanton cruelty, as I could not carry them with me. I reached my camp about 4 o'clock, my men rejoicing to see that I had not lost my hair.
On the next day I began packing and pre- paring for my return home, as there was no more prospect of further hunting, and the war party was not expected back for six or eight days. But, to my astonishment, Cut-Thumb and his party hove in sight, singing their tri- umphant song of having been six days on the war path without losing so much as a solitary scalp. In the evening a dance, called a ball, was given in celebration of the proud and happy event. Early the next morning all was bustle; and by 5 o'clock my boats and all were over the portage and below the falls of St. Anthony.
Here I had another proof of the care of a blessed providence over me. I had not noticed my cannon since the ever-to-be-remembered "pelican seare." It had been resting with its twenty-five ball charge, and wishing to notify my men whom I had left at the fort, I extracted the balls, primed it anew, and placed a piece of punk wood, lighted on one side, so that it would not ignite the powder until I had reached a safe distance away. The breeze, however, hastened the punk burning, and the gun went off, bursting and scattering it so that
one fragment only was ever found, and that close to my feet. This happened in the midst of a group of at least 300 souls, and not one hurt. I thought in extracting the balls, some of the paper wadding must have remained in the gun which caused the mishap.
I was well-tired of Indian war humbug, and deer slaughtering. It appeared that Cut- Thumb, in his dreams, pretended to have found out that the little Englishman-We-yo-te-hun, the Meridian Sun-became, in some way, aware of danger ahead, which caused him to take his departure; and the war-party became so im- pressed with this foolish idea, that they hurried- ly jumped into their canoes, and returned to We-yo-te-hun and his big gun. I must do the Sioux the justice to say, that on the whole, they were the most cleanly-had the best regulations as a tribe, though, like most others, governed by superstition-were the swiftest pedestrians-the best bow and arrow men-the most enormous eaters at their feasts, yet coukl abstain longer without food, than any of the numerous tribes I have met.
I at length reached home after four weeks sporting, glad of the change, and happy to rid myself of the many insects which nip so sharp- ly in Indian camps. The remaining summer days of perfect idleness in my isolated situation, were long and tedious, varied only by accom- panying a party of two canoes of hunters in search of buffaloes at the Great Stony Lake, the source of the river St. Peter's. When, on the fourth day, within eight or ten miles of our destination, we could hear the roar of the bulls, like the rumbling of distant thunder; and when within a mile of it, we could see thou- sands of them swimming about in the water. In fact, the whole lake was literally full of huge buffaloes, cooling themselves. The wind being favorable-from, not towards them-we went on quietly until we reached a elump of ten or fifteen acres of timber, where it was our intention to camp. At length my guide drew
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my attention to the bush, which was also full of them.
He was the only hunter with us; I wanted to fire, but he shook his head as a veto on my wishes. Wrapped in a buffalo robe, he got quietly out of the canoe, passed unheeded through the crowd to the edge of the prairie land, about fifty yards, and immediately shot one. At this signal, I was at once in the bush among the host; but they were so frightened, running, jumping and bunting, that I was so confused that I could not take aim at any one in particular, so let fly at the flock, to no pur- pose. Within fifteen minutes, my guide had three fat cows lying at his feet. When I reached the prairie, the whole scene before us was one black, living, undulating, moving mass -tens of thousands of heavy, powerful beasts were fleeing from their, hated enemies. But all had been put under Adam's control. I had not had a fair shot. In due time we returned home.
The wild fowl season came, and I practiced on them until the ice shut them off, and they disappeared; then followed a few days of musk- rat hunting, when winter shut me in. Not a book or paper of any kind to begnile and shorten the tedium of the season; a little trapping, and one snow-shoe trip of sixty miles to visit my nearest neighbor; then making oars and paddles to wear off the winter. Finally the Indian hunters came in, trade was soon over; my lit- tle half-breed took off my little boy and girl to her friends, and I never saw her again. My boat was repaired, and about the 20th of March, 1814, I left the river St. Peter's, with full intent to return to the trade, not, of course, knowing what a kind Providence had in store for me.
Arriving at Prairie du Chien, I, as usual, deposited such articles as I would require for the next winter's trade; and after feasting eight or ten days at my friend, Mons. Brisbois', on
thickened milk and sugar, I started for Macki- naw. It being early in the season, and hard work for the men to stem the strong current of the Ouisconsin river, I permitted them to go on leisurely, stopping along the, sand banks to collect turtles' eggs, which were excellent eating, and to kill rattle-snakes, some of which were very beautiful to behold-at a respectful distance-being about four feet long, with skin of a bright golden color, interspersed with ebony black heart-shaped spots.
But the eating of turtle's eggs was, after a few days, bronght to a sudden termination. These eggs are somewhat less in size than a pigcon's. My cook brought me, as usual, a dozen for breakfast. On opening the first one, I observed something coiled in it, like a black hair; but how a hair could get inside of an egg, I could not make out. So I summoned the men to examine the phenomenon. They at once called out, "a snake." I was not aware till then that turtles' and rattlesnakes' eggs were quite similar, and that they both made their deposits in the sand, for the warmth of the sun to hatch ; nor did I know how many young snakes I may have eaten. We had col- lected of the mixed kinds, and eaten at least a peck a day for the last five days, and I now re- gretted the discovery, for they were very good. But our stomachs revolted against them for fur- ther indulgence.
I spent a few days at Green Bay, with my friend, John Lawe. In short, I so daw- dled away my time that nearly all the traders had arrived, and I did not reach Mackinaw un- til about the 10th of June. I made a splendid return: 330 buffalo robes, and ten packs of bea- ver and other furs and peltries. For the robes I was offered, by the commanding of- ficer of the fort, ten dollars each; but I had re- ceived a circular from my equipper in Montreal, Touissant Portier, advising me not to sell be- fore his arrival, as he would give the highest market price.
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The garrison at Mackinaw was commanded by Lieut. Col. Robert McDouall,* of the Glen- garies, with detachments of the Royal veterans, the 81st and Newfoundland regiments, and a sergeant's command of the royal artillery. Be- ing a poor Indian trader, it was, of course, not my business to seek acquaintance with such great men as army officers. However, before the end of a week after my arrival, I was roused up one morning by a gentleman, who informed me that two men in a little bark canoe had just arrived express from Prairie du Chien, with the information that three boat loads of Ameri- can soldiers had arrived there and were building a fort at that place.
I jumped up, exclaiming, "We must go and take the fort." I dressed, and, on reaching the street, I found all astir, and alive to my views. I said: "All those who are willing to go, give me your names." By sun-down I had more than eighty volunteers, all traders' clerks and engages, save one, who had large interests at stake on the Mississippi. It is true our enter- prise appeared unwise, and very doubtful of success, for our private means were too limited for a big job of this kind. We had no stores of any description for such an undertaking-no boats, provisions, arms nor ammunition.
When Col. McDonall, in the course of the the day, became aware of my success, he was much pleased, and offered me any military stores he could spare from his scanty stock. This good news inspired our ambition. I was made a captain, mounted a red coat, mustered a couple of epaulettes and an old rusty sword, with a red coek feather adorning my round hat. I was once a captain of pompous dimensions, and lucky it was was for Napoleon and his hosts that they were beyond the reach of Anderson's Mississippi Volunteers.
# McDouall was a scotchman, entered the British army in 1796, became a lieutenant the following year, a captain in 1804, a major, June 24th, 1813; a lieutenant colonel, July 29th, 1813; a colonel in 1830; and a major general in 1841. He suc- cessfully defended Fort Mackinaw, Aug. 4, 1814, when attacked by Col. Croghan and Maj. Holmes. He died at Stranrawer, Scotland, Nov. 15th, 1848.
I was an entire stranger to the commandant, and it would not have been soldier-like in him to have entrusted valuable military stores to a man without credentials. So the command of the expedition was placed nominally under a volunteer officer from lower Canada, Lieut. Col. Mckay. Well, the island of Mackinaw was, in fact, under blockade, and in daily expectation of a formidable attack. It would, therefore, have been unwise in the commandant to have grant- ed us very many supplies from his limited stores; but knowing the vast importance of se- curing the services of the northwestern tribes, and witnessing also the devoted enthusiasm of a jolly band of Canadian voyageurs, embodied in so short a time-and that, too, by an old vol- unteer of the Revolutionary War, in defense of their country, inspired him with confidence in us, and we were joyfully mustered into service as a part of his command.
Col. MeDouall assigned three gun-boats for our nse-open vessels which had been con- structed at Not-ta-wa-saw-gun the winter before; one having a platform near the prow for a gun. A brass three-pounder, and such other stores as he could prudently spare, also one artillery man for a bombardier, and a worn out soldier from the veteran battalion. Finally we were ready, and started about the 20th of June, 1814, on our expedition against Prairie du Chien, with many a cheer and hearty wish for our success. We made all haste to get out of the reach of the expected enemies' fleet from below. At Green Bay some of the Menomonee tribe volunteered, and following us in their canoes, joined us at Winnebago lake. In fact, when we reached Prairie du Chien, about the 20th of July,* we had a host of followers of all Nations, ages and sexes.
We reached there about noon, and pitched our camp at a convenient place; and I went immediately with a flag of truce, demanding their surrender. This they refused to do. I noticed that they had built houses, and fenced
*It was Sunday, July 17th.
.
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them in with strong oak piekets, ten feet high, with two substantial block-houses, with chevaux de-frise, and two gun-boats at anchor near by. On my return to camp, we opened fire on the fort, but to little effect upon their earthed-oak pickets. Their six-pound shot, because of their bad powder, did not reach our camp. Mean- while, under shelter of the village buildings, the Indians kept up a constant firing at the fort, cutting down their flag, and wounding two of their men through the port-holes. Two of our Indians were also wounded, but slightly. Thus ended the first day.
The next morning we re-opened our fire upon the fort. Our shots hit them, but they did not return the fire. So I ordered the bombardier to run his gun up and attack the gun-boats. Only one returned the fire, the other being empty. They gave shot for shot merrily. At length my gunner cried out: "For God's sake, come and help me!" I ran to him and found all his men had left him, and I said, "what can I do?" "Take the trail of the gun, please, and enable me to lay it," he replied. The next shot from the boat rolled in between the wheels of our gun, being a three pound shot, having taken aim, saying: "Will you return us this ball, sir?" "Yes," we replied; and loading our gun with it shot it off, and with it cut off their gunner's two legs. This shut them up; they eut cable, and I ran to camp, ordering our gun-boats ready to follow and capture their vessel, as it had all their valuable stores on board.
But our commander, Col. MeKay, rose from his snooze, came along rubbing his eyes, peremp- torily ordering me to desist. One word from me would have caused mutiny. The American boat turned a point about a mile below, and landed to stop leakage and prevent their sink- ing.
Our cannon shot were now nearly all gone. So I got a quantity of lead from the village, and with a couple of brick made a mould, and cast a number of three-pound leaden balls. Mean- while the Indians were bringing in balls which
the Americans had by their short shots seat- tered about the prairie without effect. Our stores of provisions were getting low, our am- munition exhausted, but the fort and its con- tents we came to take, and must have them.
At day light next morning our gun was within 150 yards of the pickets, with a small fire mak- ing an iron shot red hot. When they found them- selves in a fair way to be burnt out, they sur- rendered. We took sixty-five prisoners, several iron guns, a small quantity of pork, flour, etc., together with a quantity of whisky. The casks containing the liquor, I stove in, fearing the Indians might get it. As they were thirsting for the blood of their enemies, and required some tact to keep their hands off from the American prisoners, we could not trust any of them inside the fort. The American empty boat was fitted up, and next morning at day light, the prisoners were on their way to St. Louis, on parole; escorted by one of our lieutenants, ( Brisbois ) for a short distance.
Now began the novel and much needed instruction as to guard-mounting, etc. The bombardier and the old veteran were the only two persons in the whole batch that had any correct knowledge of the science of war. Our commander, an o'd northwestern, boiling inside and roasting outside, for the thermome- ter stood at ninety-eight in the shade, con- stantly eursing and blaspheming all above and below, now took a bark canoe, with four men, and after giving his own name, MeKay, to the fort, and transferring the command to me, took his leave to the joy of all concerned.
I am now, on a smaller scale, a Wellington, commanding all around me. Some of the Indians in this quarter had been induced by exaggerated stories from the enemy, to surrender the Royal George medals which they had received with other tokens of friendship from Gen. Haldimand, Lord Dorchester and other prominent command- ers in the early days of Quebec, for those of the American eagle. However, they soon
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returned to their old flag, with the exception of one Sioux Chief, Hoo-pah En-du-tah, or Red Wing, who was the head of a large band, and a numerous family connection. He was famed, too, as a great prognosticator. After my repeatedly pressing the subject, he came to me one morning ; and after the usual smoke, he took my hand. Then standing up, he addressed me by my Sioux name, saying :
" We-yo-te-hun, or Meridian Sun, I have had another dream. You know all the blood in my heart is English ; but I will not now fight the Big Knives ( Americans ). I have given to you my band, and my children. They, with all the other Indians, are your soldiers, and will fight for you ; but Red Wing will not raise his war- club. I saw the future in my dreams three times." He then took his seat, having evi- dently spoken in opposition to his outward man.
After another smoke, I said: "Will you tell me your reasons for your fixed and strange determination ? "
" Its no use," he said ; "I have told you I will not now fight the Big Knives."
" Very well, " I replied, " but I would like to know the reason for such action."
"I cannot and will not change my thoughts," answered Red Wing.
" Well, tell me why, and I'll say no more."
" You tell me," said the chief, " that the lion on this medal is the most powerful of all animals I have never seen one, but I believe what you say. This lion, like our tiger, sleeps all day ; but the eagle, who is the most power- ful of birds, only sleeps at night; in the day time he flies about everywhere, and sees all on the ground. He will light on a tree over the lion, and they will scold at each other for a while ; but they will finally make up and be friends, and smoke the pipe of peace. The lion will then go home and leave us Indians with our foes. That is the reason for not tak- ing up my war club. Your enemies will believe me when I speak good words to them." And
so things turned out ; we left them to care for themselves.
I had now about 5,000 Indians at my com- mand, and the least expensive troops known, for they fed and clothed themselves. I had now to look around, determine upon the means for defense, and drill the volunteers to the exercise of small arms. I had not the means, nor nnder existing circumstances would it be of any use, beyond guard-mounting, ete. If a foree should be sent against us, it must be by water, and our dependence would rest on our artillery. I, therefore, selected the best men for the purpose. I, myself, at the head, and directing my bombardier to select two iron three-pound field pieces, and placing myself under his command, the drilling began. Our hearts were in the work. The words of com- mand were few, the manœuvering for our pur- pose was simple. Twice a day, and four hours each time, under a broiling sun, was no boy's play. At the end of a week, half of the garri- son were well able to manage the guns, but needed full practice, which I could not allow, as our stores were small. To keep up the ex- citement, we had sham fights twice a week, scampering over the prairie like so many real combatants.
In September, a Sank Indian courier arrived, by a short cut across the country from Rock River, informing me that eleven gun-boats had been seen some distance below that stream, making slow progress up the Mississippi, sup- posed to be designed for the re-capture of Prairie du Chien. I immediately got ready Capt. Graham and six sturdy volunteers, in two large wooden canoes, with a one-pound swivel, and some ammunition for the famous Black Hawk, who, with his warriors, was at the place of rendezvous, at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers. There for about four miles, is a very strong current, the navigable channel is narrow and very serpentine.
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