The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 60

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 60

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During that summer I opened a farm in Caledonia, where Thomas Prescott now hves; it was the third farm put in cultivation in that township. In the fall of that year, John Baptiste Dubay improved a farm on the bluff, a little north of G. Geyman. In 1840, Thomas Riley improved a farm, or made a claim, where John Corridon lives ; Thomas Robertson, one in Cale- donia in 1840-41, on the bank of the Wisconsin .River, which Wardrop owns now. In 1841,

Henry Lewis made a claim where Patrick Skerritt now lives.

In 1840, the troops came to Portage to remove the Winnebago Indians, a part of the Eighth Regiment of infantry under command of Col. Worth, and a part of the Fifth Regiment of infantry

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

under Gen. Brooke, with Gen. Atkinson as commander in chief. There were three interpreters employed by the Government, Antoine Grignon, Pierre Meneg and myself. Meneg was sent after Yellow Thunder and Black Wolf's son, inviting them to Portage to get provisions ; but instead of that, as soon as they arrived they were put into the guardhouse, with ball and chain, which hurt the feelings of the Indians very much, as they had done no harm to the Government. The General had understood that they were. going to revolt, refusing to emigrate, according to treaty stipulations ; but as soon as Gov. Dodge came here, they were released. They all promised faithfully to be at Portage, ready for removal, in three days, and they were all there the second day.

There were two large boats, in which to take down such of the Indians as had no canoes. Antoine Grignon and Pierre Meneg went down with the boats. I was kept here by the order of Gen. Atkinson, at the suggestion of Gen Brady, to assist the dragoons commanded by Capt. Sumner* and Lieuts. McCratet and Steelet. We went down to Rock River, to look for Mas-i-ma-ni-ka-ka ; from there we went to Madison, and thence to Fox River. We picked up 250 Indians, men, women and children, and we took them down to Prairie du Chien. Before we got there, at the head of the Kickapoo River, we came to three Indian wigwams. The Captain directed me to order the Indians to break up their camp and come along with him. Two old women, sisters of Black Wolf, and another one came up, throwing themselves on their knees, crying and beseeching Capt. Sumner to kill them ; that they were old, and would rather die and be buried with their fathers, mothers and children, than be taken away, and that they were ready to receive their death-blows. Capt. Sumner had pity on them and permitted them to stay where they were, and left three young Indians to hunt for them.

A little further on, we came to the camp of Ke ji-que-we-ka and others, when they were told by the Captain, through me, to break up their camp and put their things in the wagon and come along. After they had thus deposited their little property, they started south from where we were. The Captain bade me to ask them where they were going. They said they were going to bid good-bye to their fathers, mothers and children. The Captain directed me to go with them and watch them, and we found them on their knees, kissing the ground and crying very loud, where their relatives were buried. This touched the Captain's feel- ings, and he exclaimed, "Good God! What harm could those poor Indians do among the rocks ?"

I was employed by the Indian Department as interpreter at the time of the removal of the Indians from the portage to Turkey River, after the payment was made. It was late in the fall. I wintered at Prairie du Chien ; and, in the spring of 1841, came back to Cale- donia to improve my land.

In 1842, James Wilson came with his family, and brought with him Thomas Roberts and family. Wilson made a claim in Caledonia, opposite Dekorra.

In 1844, Capt. Sumner came here again, with the dragoons, and sent for me to help him in hunting in the woods after Dandy, the Winnebago chief. We found him at the head of the Baraboo, and the Captain made him ride on horseback, and fastened his legs with ox-chains under the horse's belly, when he demanded to be conducted to Gov. Dodge. This

* Edwin V. Sumner was born in Boston, Mass., in January, 1796, spending his early life io mercantile establishments, and entering the army as a Second Lieutenant in 1819. Became First Lieutenant in 1823, and served in the Black Hawk war. He was promoted to a captaincy of dragoons in 1833, and a Major in 1846. He led the famous cavalry charge at Cerro Gordo, in April, 1847, in which he was wounded, and was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel ; and distinguished himself at Contreras, Churubusco and Molino del Rey, in the latter, commanding the whole cavalry force, and holding 5,000 Mexican Jancers in check, for which he was brevetted Colonel. He was subsequently made Lieutenant Colonel of Dragoons, Military Governor of New Mexico. and, in 1857, led a successful expedition against the Cheyenne», whom he defeated at Solomon's Fork of Kansas River. He was made first a Brigadier General, and then a Major General of Volunteera, and a Brevet Major Gen- eral in the regular army in May, 1862. Hle commanded the left wing of the army at the siege of Yorktown; was in all the battles of the Peu- insula, and twice wounded. He was again wounded at Antietam ; and at Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, he commanded the right grand division of the army. He died at Syracuse, N. Y., March 21, 1863. L. C. D.

+ Thomas McCrate, a native of Maine, was a cadet from 1832 to 1836, when he entered the army aa a Second Lieutenant of dragoons, serving on the frontiere aod at Fort Crawford, in 1840-41, and subsequently on the frontiers, until his health failing bim, when he retired on sick leave, dying at Boston September 18. 1845, at the age of thirty. L. C. D.

* William Steele, of New York, was a cadet from 1836 to 1840, when he joined the army, in the dragoons, aa Second Lieutenant, and, for good conduct io various battles in the Mexican war, was brevetted Captain, and, from 1848 to 1861, waa much engaged on the frontiera, against the Indians. In May, 1861, he resigned and joined the Confederate forces, and survived the war. L. C. D.

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was granted, and he was taken to Mineral Point. Gov. Dodge asked him what he wanted of liim, after having given so much trouble to the Government. He said he wanted to talk with him in eouneil, which request was granted. Then Dandy took a Bible from his bosom, and asked the Governor, through me. if it was a good book. The Governor was surprised to see a Bible in the hands of an Indian, and bade me inquire where he got it. Dandy answered that if the Governor would be so good as to answer his question, he would render an account of all he would like to know. Then the Governor told him that it was a good book-that he could never have a better one in his hand. " Then," said Dandy, " if a man would do all that was in that book, could any more be required of him?" The Governor said no. " Well," said Dandy, " look that book all through, and if you find in it that Dandy ought to be removed by the Government to Turkey River, then I will go right off; but if you do not find it, I will never go there to stay." The Governor gave him an answer that his triek had no effeet. He was then replaced on the horse, chained up again and taken to Prairie du Chien.

The chain had so blistered his legs and feet that it was two or three weeks before he was able to walk. Some time after, an order came from Turkey River to send Dandy there. He had been put in charge of a corporal at Fort Crawford, who was obliged to carry Dandy on his back when he had occasion to be moved. After the order was given to the Corporal to take his prisoner to Turkey River, he procured a buggy and drove it to the fort gate, carried Dandy on his back to the vehicle, and then went back into the fort to get his whip. H thought that the prisoner was not able to run away, as he could not walk. But as soon as the Corporal was out of sight, Dandy jumped from the buggy and took his course toward the bluffs, at a full run. When the Corporal returned, finding his prisoner gone, he went after him, but failed to overtake him. The Corporal swore that if he ever saw Dandy again he would kill him, as he had made him so much trouble in carrying him about from place to place, and then to play him such a bad trick.

That was the last time the military ever went after Dandy ; and the good old chief lived many a year thereafter, to recount his exploits. Like the most of his people, he was a great beggar, and dearly loved the "fire-water " of the whites. He died at Peten Well, near Nece- dah, where he and his family were eneamped, in June, 1870, at about the age of seventy- seven years .*

IV-BY SATTERLEE CLARK.+

To give a proper understanding of the history, not only of Fort Winnebago, but of the persons connected with it, it will be necessary to detail my early recollections, from my arrival in what is now the State of Wisconsin. On the 14th day of April, 1828, I landed at Green Bay, then considered a small French settlement. Fort Howard was then situated near where the passenger depot of the Chicago & North-Western Railway now stands. On the opposite side of the river, where the city of Green Bay is located, there was a wilderness. Three miles above, on the river, was a small group of houses that could hardly be termed a village, but which was, nevertheless, called "Shanty Town." Residing there were several American families, among whom were Daniel Whitney, Henry S. Baird, Robert Irwin, Alexander Irwin, Samuel Irwin, and quite a number of French and half-breeds. The fort contained three com- panies of United States Infantry, and was commanded by then Major, afterward General, Twiggs. The companies were severally commanded by Captain, and his brother, Major, Buell, Capt. Spenee, and Captain, since General, William HIarney.

The same season, 1828, the First Infantry was ordered to the portage to build a fort, to be ealled Fort Winnebago. They were relieved at Fort Howard by four companies of the Fifth

* J. T. Kingston furnishes this date of Dandy's death and his age, derived from his band of Winnelmgoos. "Peten Well," adds Mr. Kingston, "is an isolated rocky penk, 250 feet above the surface of the river, immediately on the west bank of the Wisconsin, and situated on Section 9, Town 18 north. Range 4 east." Owen, in his Geological Report, says : " It is the most elevated of all the isolated peaks measured on this part of the Wisconsin, being 255 feet above the river. Its east face is nearly perpendicular; on the west side is a very steep slope, 160 feet above the surface of the plain, thickly strewn with immense blocka of sandstone. The north side is woru into several subordinate peaks, but little interior in height to the main mass, being about 200 feet above a creek that flows near their base."

#The foot-notes to Mr. Clark's reminiscence, marked " L. C. D.," are from the able pen of Dr. Lyman C. Draper .- ED. L. C. D.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

United States Infantry, under command of Col. William Lawrence. Previous to 1827 (the year of " the Winnebago war," under Red Bird, a Winnebago chief), the Indians had been in the habit of levying tolls on the goods of the American Fur Company, and others who were obliged to unload to cross the portage. At the earnest solicitation of John Jacob Astor, who was then . the head of the American Fur Company, the Government concluded to erect a fort for their protection.

Maj. Twiggs then left for the portage, where he erected temporary barracks of tamarack logs, in which to winter his command, and detailed a party to go up the Wisconsin and procure pine timber with which to erect a permanent fort. Another party was detailed to quarry stone at what was called "Stone Quarry Hill." With the first rise of water in the spring of 1829. the timber and logs were floated down to the portage, were hauled by teams to the fort, where all the lumber was sawed by hand with whip-saws with which to build the entire fort. The brick necessary for the chimneys, fire-places, etc., were burned just opposite the narrows, on the Wisconsin River, a short distance above.

Of the officers stationed at Fort Winnebago from 1828 till the 5th of July, 1831, only two survive, to wit, Gen. William Harney and Lient. Jefferson Davis. Harney, at that time, was a Captain, and Davis was his subaltern. Both were considered among the best officers in the service. I think it is conceded that, for frontier service, Capt. Harney had no superior any- where. There was no better disciplinarian, and no more indulgent officer to his men when their behavior was good. It has been said of him by persons in civil life that he was cruel to his men ; but this was not true. He was, however, a terror to evil-doers, whether soldiers or citizens. To give an idea of the man, he was over six feet in height, well proportioned, and exceedingly active and strong. I will relate an anecdote or two, which will give a more correct idea of his character.

Gen. Harney once took offense at an Indian, and determined to cowhide him ; but was per- suaded to give him "a chance for his life." He had him taken half a mile above the Govern- ment wash-houses, on the bank of the river ; gave him 100 yards the start, with the agreement that, if the Indian passed the wash-houses before he was caught, he should go free for that time. Peter Pauquette gave the word, and away they went. Harney gained on him so rapidly that he seemed sure to overtake him. There was a spot about 200 yards from the wash-house that only froze over in very cold weather, and opened again during the day. The night before was very cold, and this point had frozen over about half an inch thick. When they reached this point, Harney was just ready to put his hand on him, when the Indian, being quite light, crossed the thin ice safely. Not so, however, with the Captain ; he carried too many pounds, and down he went. He came to the surface at once, and called to a sentinel to shoot the Indian. The sentinel fired well and the ball struck the ice half a mile from the Indian. All the officers were on the bank witnessing the race and of course were convulsed with laughter.

On another occasion it was necessary to punish the champion pugilist of the fort, a very large man named Hewitt. The man said to the Captain : " If you were an enlisted man, or I was a captain, you could not treat me in that way." Harney took him out behind the barracks, told him to consider himself a captain, and do his best. Hewitt pitched at the Captain furiously, when the Captain knocked him down. This was repeated about a dozen times when he said, " Cap- tain, I have been captain long enough to suit me, I would now like to be reduced to the ranks."

At another time, Harney caught a citizen from the lead mines selling whisky to his men. He tied him up to the flag-staff and cowhided him with his own hand.

Neither Harney nor Davis were addicted to those habits that destroyed so many worthy officers, and it in some measure accounts for their being still alive.

In June, 1830, I was appointed sutler at Fort Winnebago, by Gen. Jackson, who was then President. Being under age, I was obliged to farm the privilege out to Oliver Newbury, of Detroit, and as the sutler was required to remain at the post, I was employed by Mr. Newbury as clerk, devoting most of my time to the Indian trade. I arrived at Fort Winnebago on the 21st of July, 1830.

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The most interesting event since my advent into Wisconsin was what is known as the " Black Hawk war," the truthful history of which has never been published, and I think the causes which led to it, and the incidents connected therewith, are known to very few people now living.

In 1831, in violation of a treaty stipulation, the Sauk and Fox Indians, under Black Ilawk and the Prophet, crossed the Mississippi into Illinois. Black Hawk was a Fox Indian, and the Prophet was a Winnebago, who, with a small band, became discontented and left the Winnebagoes and joined the Sauk and Fox tribes, where they had intermarried, and became part of the same tribe. Gen. Atkinson was ordered to remove them. They offered to go back and remain for 60,000 bushels of corn, and as corn was only 5 cents a bushel he gave it to them and they retired.

The following summer, thinking to get 60,000 bushels of corn quite easily, they again crossed the river, and again Gen. Atkinson was ordered to remove them. Instead of buying corn for them, he ordered all the available troops into the field, and the President ordered out the Illinois militia under the command of Gen. Henry and Gen. Alexander, all under the com- mand of Gen. Atkinson. The Indians started up Rock River, pursued by the troops, commit- ting occasional depredations as they went along. After they got into Wisconsin the troops lost track of them, and Gen. Atkinson continued up Rock River to where the village of Fort Atkin- son now stands, where he established his headquarters and built a temporary fort.

In the mean time, Black Hawk, learning from the Winnebagoes who also promised to assist him, that only thirty men remained in Fort Winnebago, determined to burn it and massacre its inmates. They accordingly came and encamped on the Fox River, about four miles above Swan Lake. and about eight miles from the fort. Every possible means that could be devised was adopted to protect the fort, and save the lives of the inhabitants, most of whom were women and children ; but after all had been done that was possible, the commanding officer concluded that without re-enforcements we would be lost, and determined to send to Gen. Atkinson for troops. I was selected for that duty for several reasons; among which was my thorough acquaintance with the country, and another was the probability that the Winnebagoes would not harm me.

Every day some Winnebago would come to me and advise me to go at night and stay in his wigwam, where, he said, I would be safe. At 9 o'clock at night I left the fort, with many a God speed you, armed with a small Ruggles rifle, my dispatches, a tomahawk and bowie-knife. I crossed the Fox River at a shallow point just above where the public stables used to stand, and keeping the Indian trail that led from here to White Crow's village* on Lake Kosh-ko-nong on my right, I traveled rapidly all night, walking up hill, and running down hill, and on a level. I struck the trail several times during the night, but left it immediately, as I feared some Indians might be encamped upon it, whose dogs would discover me before I would discover them. I arrived safely at the fort at half-past 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and delivered my dispatches to Gen. Atkinson, who sent 3,000 men at once to relieve Fort Winnebago. I may add, that Fort Atkinson was constructed of log pickets, with loop-holes for musketry, with block-houses on the southeast and northwest corners, with about an acre of ground within the inclosure.

I slept till 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and then started on my return, following the trail of the mounted militia for twelve miles, when I passed them, and reached the head of a stream that used to be called Rowan's Creek, about twelve miles from the fort, shortly after daylight ; and fearing to go further till night, I crawled into some brush and went to sleep.

As soon as it was quite dark, I left my hiding-place and returned to the fort as near as pos- sible by the route I left it, arriving between 10 and 11 o'clock P. M. I reported that the troops were on the way, and would arrive next evening. We kept close watch all that night, and at 4 o'clock P. M. next day, the troops arrived. It may surprise some of my readers that I should

* Mr. Clark writes that White Crow's village was built in the usual style of lodges, not wigwams, more like houses, covered with white cedar bark ; and contained a population of about twelve hundred souls .- L. C. D.

[This estimate of the population of the White Crow's village is probably too large .- ED. ]

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travel so rapidly, and the mounted troops should be so long on the road ; but, you must recollect, the marshes were very wet at that time, that the whole country was a wilderness, and that when I jumped into a stream and waded through or walked across the marsh, the troops had to build bridges and causeways.

The war would have been ended within two days if the militia had been in condition to fol- low the Indians; but the horses needed rest and food, rations had to be issued to the men, and many of them were without a change of underclothing, and it was absolutely necessary to wait at least one day at the fort.

The second night the horses took fright (probably at some Winnebago Indians), and there was a regular stampede. Probably some of my readers may not thoroughly comprehend a stampede ; and it may be proper to describe it, if possible, though only an eye-witness can properly appre- ciate how terrible it is. Some horse, or may be a few horses get frightened and start to run ; the entire drove may see nothing to alarm them, but, presuming there is danger, they fall into line, and once fairly under way nothing can stop them.

Those in front cannot stop without being run over, and those in the rear run to keep up. On this occasion, several hundred horses started with a noise like thunder, running so close together that when one was so unfortunate as to face a tree he was either killed or so badly injured as to be unable to proceed, and was run over by the whole drove; so, if a horse was unable to keep up, he was knocked down and killed ; between the bank of the Wisconsin and the point of land between there and the fort, thirty-seven horses were found dead. They took the trail they came on and ran to the prairie, a distance of about sixteen miles ; over sixty horses were killed, and it was late next day before those recovered were brought back .*

This, of course, occasioned another delay, and it was not till the fifth day, that they lef the fort in pursuit of the Indians.

The enemy, in the mean time, went to the Four Lakes, where, as I learned later, they were advised to cross the Wisconsin and the Mississippi as soon as possible.

A few reliable Winnebagoes, under Peter Pauquette and myself, were secured for scouts.

We had no difficulty in following their trail, and gained upon them rapidly, overtaking them on the bank of the Wisconsin, about twenty-five miles below, where the battle of the Wisconsin was fought.

That battle made many heroes, and so it should.

About one hundred and twenty half-starved Indians defended the pass against nearly three thousand whites, while the remainder of the Indians in plain sight were crossing the Wisconsin with the women and children, and, as soon as these were safe, the Indians broke and ran. Then came the struggle for scalps. Every man who could run started down the hill at his top speed, my Indian scouts and myself far ahead of the militia, and I was about thirty feet ahead of all. Just as I commenced raising the hill on the other side of the valley, Pauquette passed me on horseback, and, as he went by, I caught his horse by the tail and held on till we reached the top of the hill, where we found four dead Indians. Pauquette took one scalp, I took one, and the Indian scouts took the other two.

The Indians lost four killed all told, and the whites one. This ended the battle of the Wis- consin. about which so much has been written.

The Indians traveled as rapidly as possible to the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Bad Axe River. I went home. Shortly after, Capt. Alexander Johnson was ordered to take command of the regular troops, and endeavor to intercept the Indians and prevent their crossing the Mississippi.

A steamboat was sent up the river from Fort Crawford, commanded by Jefferson Davis. He drove the Indians back, and they were all killed or taken prisoners except Black Hawk and the Prophet and their families, who crossed the river before the steamboat arrived.

* In Wakefield's "History of the Sauk and Fox War," published at Jacksonville, Ill., in 1834, the following account ie given of this stampede-the writer then serving with the Illinois troops : "Our horses were given to fright and running in a most fearful manner; and the army was constantly in danger of suffering great demege by their taking those frights. No one can tell what a horrid sight it is to see 2,000 horses coming at full speed toward an encampment in the dead hour of night. This night-at Fort Winnebago-they got more scared than common. There were about three hundred on this night, thet ran about thirty miles before they stopped, and that, too, through the worst kind of swamps. This circumstance cansed us to stay here two days, trying to recover our horses ; but all could not be found ; our road heok the way we hed come was hunted for upward of fifty miles, and still a great number of them was missing." L. C. D.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 60

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104