USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 48
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" On the 21st of May, 1832, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, as Mr. Pettigrew's and our (Mr. HIall's) family were assembled at the house of William Davis, in In lian Creek settle- ment, in La Salle County, Ill., a party of Indians, about seventy in number, were seen crossing Mr. Davis' fence, about eight or ten paces from the house. As they approached, Mr. Pettigrew attempted to shut the door, but was shot down in doing so. The savages then rushed in and massacred every one present, except my sister and myself. The persons massacred were Mr. Pettigrew, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Pettigrew, Mrs. Hall (my mother) and Miss Davis, a young lady of about fifteen-and six children, four of them boys and two of them girls. These were in the house. Mr. Davis, Mr. Hall (my father), William Norris and Henry George were massacred without; fifteen in all. The time occupied in the massacre was less, probably, than ten minutes. When the Indians entered, my sister and myself were sitting near the door sewing. I got imme- diately upon the bed and stood there during the massacre. The confusion was such-the terror inspired by the firing of guns in the house, and the shrieks of the wounded and dying so great -that I have no recollections in what manner they were killed.
" As soon as the massacre was over, three Indians seized and dragged me from the bed with- out much violence, and led me into the yard. I was then taken by two of them about half-way across the creek-fifty paces or more, perhaps, distant. Thence I was led back into the yard in front of the house, where I saw my sister for the first time since our separation.
"We were then taken by four Indians-two having hold of each-and hurried off' on foot, in a northern direction, as fast as we could run, for about two miles through timber bordering upon the creek, when we came to a place where the Indians had left their horses previous to the attack. We were then placed, without constraint, upon two of their poorest animals, each of which was led by an Indian, and proceeded as fast as our horses could travel in a direction, as 1 supposed, toward the camp, accompanied by about thirty warriors. We continned traveling in this manner until about midnight, when we halted to rest our horses, the Indians exhibiting all the while symptoms of great uneasiness, arising apparently from their apprehension of being pursned. After resting for about two hours, we started again on the same horses as before, and traveled at a brisk gait the residue of the night and all next day until about noon, when we halted, and the Indians, having scalded some beans and roasted some acorns, desired us to eat. We ate some of the beans and tasted of the acorns, not from any disposition we had to eat, but to avoid giving offense to our captors. We remained in this place for one or two hours. The Indians, after having finished their scanty meal, busied themselves in dressing the scalps they had taken, stretching them upon small hoops. Among them I recognized, by the color of the hair, my own mother's ! It produced a kind of faintness or blindness, and I fell into a swoon, from which I was awakened shortly thereafter .by a summons to set out upon our journey. We traveled on in the same way, but more leisurely than before, until almost night, when the horse I rode gave out, and I was seated behind an Indian who rode a fine horse belonging to Mr. Henderson, taken from the settlement in which we were captured. In this manner, we continued on until about 9
Patrick Rogan
WATERTOWN
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
o'clock at night, when we reached a camp, having traveled, as I suppose, about ninety miles in twenty-eight hours.
" The Sac camp was on the bank of a small creek, surrounded by low, marshy ground, scattered over with small, burr-oak trees. On our arrival, several squaws came to our assistance, took us from our horses and conducted us into the camp, prepared a place for us to sit down, and presented us some parched corn, some meal and maple sugar mixed, and desired us to eat. We did so, more through fear than hunger, and, at their request, threw a small parcel (about a tablespoonful) into the fire, as did also the squaws, and the Indians that accompanied us. There was much apparent rejoicing on our arrival. About 10 o'clock, we were invited by the squaws to lie down, which we did, and enjoyed a kind of confused or disordered slumber, which lasted until after sunrise. The next morning, soon after we arose, our fears of massacre and torture began to abate. We were presented with some boiled beans and sugar for breakfast, and ate a little, having, though almost exhausted, as yet no appetite for food. About 10 o'clock, the camp broke up, and we all moved about five miles across the creek, and encamped again on an elevated spot, covered with timber, near a small creek. We traveled each upon a separate horse, heavily laden with provisions, blankets, kettles and other furniture required in an Indian camp. We arrived at our new encampment a little before sundown. Here a white pole was stuck in the ground, and the scalps taken when we were captured hung up as trophies. About fifty warriors assembled in the center and commenced a dance, in which a few of the squaws participated. They danced around this pole to the music of a drum and gourds, so prepared as to make a rattling noise. I was invited frequently by the squaws to join in the dance, but refused.
" The first dance was had in the morning, after our arrival in camp. The same was repeated daily while we continued among them. Soon after we arose, on the first morning after our arrival, some warriors came to our lodge, and took us out, and gave me a red flag, and placed something in the hands of my sister, which I do not recollect, and made us march around through the encampment, passing each wigwam. Then they led us to the center of the spot they had cleared off to prepare for the dance, near where the white pole was stuck up; then, placing a blanket upon the earth, and after painting our faces red and black, ordered us to lie down with our faces toward the ground. They then danced around us with war-clubs, tomahawks and spears. Before its conclusion, we were taken away by two squaws, who, we under- stood, were the wives of Black Hawk. In the evening, as soon as the dance was over, we were presented with a supper, consisting of coffee, fried cakes, boiled corn and fried venison, with fried leeks, of which we ate more freely than before. We continued with them for four days longer, during which we fared in a similar manner, until the two last days, when we got out of flour. When our flour was exhausted, we had coffee, meat and pounded corn made into soup. On being delivered over to the squaws above mentioned, we were separated from each other, but permitted to visit every day, and remain for about two hours without interruption. These squaws eneamped near each other, and we were considered as their children, and treated as such. Our encampments were removed five or six miles each day, and my sister and myself were always permitted to ride at such removals. Our fare was usually better than that of others in our wigwam. Our fears of massacre had now subsided, being received and adopted into the family of a chief. We were not required to perform any labor, but were closely watched to prevent our escape.
" On the fifth day after our arrival at the Sac camp, we were told that we must go with some Winnebago chiefs who had come for us. At that time, the Sac encampment was on a con- siderable stream [Rock River], the outlet, as I supposed, of a lake [Koshkonong]. There were a number of lakes within its vicinity. The squaws with whom we lived were apparently distressed at the idea of our leaving them. The Winnebagoes endeavored to make us under- stand that they were about to take us to the white people. This, however, we did not believe; but, on the contrary, supposed they intended to take ns entirely away from our country, friends and homes.
B
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" We left the Sac encampment with four Winnebagoes the same evening, and traveled about fifteen miles, each of us riding on horseback behind a Winnebago chief; the latter expressing frequently their fears of pursuit by the Sacs, who exhibited great uneasiness at our departure-the prophet having eut two locks of hair from my head and one from my sisters, just before we left them.
"We reached the Winnebago encampment a little after dark, and were kindly received. It was more comfortable than any we had seen, and we slept sounder and better than before. We rose early next morning; the Indians, however, had been up some time. We ate breakfast before sunrise, and started in canoes up the river. There were, I believe, eight in company. We continued on our course until nearly sundown, when we landed and encamped on the bank of the river. There were present about a hundred Winnebago warriors. During the next day, four Sae Indians arrived in camp, dressed in white men's clothes, and desired to talk with us. We were told, however, by the Winnebago chiefs, that we must shut our ears and turn away from them, which we did.
" The ' Blind' [White Crow] and his son left our encampment during the night, and returned early in the morning. Immediately afterward they came to us, and the . Blind' asked if we thought the whites would hang them if they took us to the fort. We gave them to under- stand that they would not. They next inquired if we thought the white people would give them anything for taking us to them. We gave them to understand that they would. The . Blind ' then collected his horses, and with the Whirling Thunder and about twenty of the Winneba- goes we crossed the river and pursued our journey, my sister and myself each on a separate horse. We encamped about dark; rose early next morning, and, after a hasty meal of pork and potatoes (the first we had seen since our captivity), of which we ate heartily, we traveled on until we reached the fort-the Blue Mounds, Wisconsin Territory. Before our arrival thither, we had become satisfied that our protectors were taking us to our friends, and that we had formerly done them injustice. About three miles from the fort we stopped, and the Indians cooked some venison ; after which they took a white handkerchief which I had, and, tying it to a long pole. three Indians proceeded with it to the fort. About a quarter of a mile thence we were met by a Frenchman [Edward Beouchard]. The Indians formed a ring. and the Frenchman rode into it and held a talk with our protectors. The latter expressed an unwilling- ness to give us up until they could see Mr. Gratiot, the Indian agent. Being informed by the Frenchman we should be well treated. and that they should see us daily until Mr. Gratiot's arrival, they delivered us into the Frenchman's care.
" We repaired immediately to the fort, where the ladies of the garrison (who in the mean time had assembled) received us with the utmost tenderness. We were thereupon attired once more in the costume of our own country, and next day started for Galena. On reaching a little fort at White Oak Springs, we were met by our eldest brother, who, together with a younger one, was at work in a field near the house when we were captured, and when the mas- saere began fled, and arrived in safety at Dixon's Ferry. On leaving Galena, we went on board the steamboat Winnebago for St. Louis, which placo we reached in five days, and were kindly received by its citizens and hospitably entertained by Gov. Clark. Previous to our leaving Galena, we had received an affectionate letter from Rev. Mr. Horn, of Morgan County, Ill .. inviting us to make his house our future home. We accepted the invitation, and left St. Louis in the steamboat Caroline for Beardstown, on the Illinois River, where we arrived on the third day thereafter. On landing, we were kindly received by the citizens, and, in a few hours, reached the residence of Mr. Horn, five miles distant, in the latter part of July, 1832, when our troubles ended."
The tent-poles, ashes and brands of the Indian camp-fires, where the two captives were given over to the Winnebagoes by the Sac Indians, were plainly discernible when the first set- tlers located in the vicinity.
Gen. Atkinson having arrived at the mouth of the Pecatonica, in pursuit of the savages, and hearing that Black Hawk was further up Rock River, determined to follow him, with the
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intention of deciding the war by a general battle, if possible. Black Hawk, judging of his intentions from the report of his spies, broke up his camp, near what is now Janesville, and retreated still farther up the stream to the foot of Lake Koshkonong, where, on the west side of the river, in what is now the town of Milton, Rock County, he again formed a camp. Here he remained some time, when he again removed, this time to an island in the lake, still known as Black Hawk's Island. It is in the southeast corner of the town of Sumner in Jefferson County. He afterward made his way farther up the valley.
The march of Gen. Atkinson in pursuit of Black Hawk through what is now Rock County, and his arrival at Lake Koshkonong, in the present county of Jefferson, where he found the Sac chief had eluded him, is best related by one who was present :
". The 30th of June, 1832, we passed through the Turtle village [now the city of Beloit], which is a considerable Winnebago town, but it was deserted. We marched on about a mile, and encamped on the open prairie near enough to Rock River to get water from it. We here saw very fresh signs of the Sac Indians, where they had been apparently fishing on that day. Gen. Atkinson believed we were close to them and apprehended an attack that night. The sentinels fired several times and we were as often paraded and prepared to receive the enemy, but they never came, though from the accounts given by the sentinels to the officers of the day, there was no doubt that Indians had been prowling about the camp.
" July 1 .- We had not marched but two or three miles before an Indian was seen across Rock River at some distance off, on a very high prairie, which, no doubt, was a spy, and likely was one that had been prowling about our encampment the night before. We proceeded a few miles further, and came to the place where the Indians, who had taken the two Misses Hall prisoners, had stayed for several days [near the present city of Janesville]. It was a strong position, where they could have withistood a very powerful force. We afterward discovered they always encamped in such places. We had not marched but a few miles from this place before one of our front scouts came back meeting the army in great haste, and stated that they had dis- covered a fresh trail of Indians, where they had just gone along in front of us. Maj. Ewing, who was in front of the main army some distance, immediately formed his men in line of battle, and marched in that order in advance of the main army, about three-quarters of a mile. We had a very thick wood to march through, where the undergrowth stood very high and thick ; the signs looked very fresh, and we expected every step to be fired upon from the thickets. We marched in this order about two miles, not stopping for the unevenness of the ground or anything else, but keeping in line of battle all the time, until we found the Indians had scattered, then we resumed our common line of march, which was in three divisions. Soon after we had formed into three divisions, the friendly Indians that were with us raised an alarm, by seven or eight of them shooting at a deer, some little in advance of the army. The whole army here formed for action, but it was soon ascertained that these children of the forest had been at what their whole race seems to have been born for-shooting at the beasts of the forest.
" We here camped by a small lake [Storr's] this night, and had to drink the water, which was very bad, but it was all that could be found. Here a very bad accident happened. One of the sentinels, mistaking another that was on post, with a blanket wrapped around him, for an Indian, shot him just below the groin, in the thick of the thigh. At first, the wound was thought mortal. I understood, before I left the army, that the man was nearly well. Here Gen. Atkin- son had, on this night, breastworks thrown up, which was easily done. as we were encamped in thick, heavy timber. This was a precaution which went to show that he set a great deal by the lives of his men, and by no means was any mark of cowardice : for generalship consists more in good management than anything else.
"July 2 .- We started this morning at the usual time, but went only a few miles before Maj. Ewing, who was still in front with his battalion, espied a very fresh trail, making off at about a left angle. He dispatched ten men from the battalion, in company with Capt. George Walker and a few Indians, to pursue it and see, if possible, where it went to. He moved on in front of his battalion a short distance further, when we came on the main Sac trail of Black
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Hawk's whole army, which appeared to be about two days old. Capt. Early, who commanded a volunteer independent company, and had got in advance this morning, called a halt; so did Maj. Ewing with his battalion. Then Maj. Ewing sent back one of his staff officers for the main army to call a halt for a few minutes. He, with Maj. Anderson, of the infantry, Capt. Early and Jonathan H. Pugh, went a little in advance, when Maj. Anderson, with a telescope, took a view across the lake, as we had now got to Lake Koshkonong. [The army entered what is now Jefferson County, very nearly where, in going north, its south line is crossed by the Chicago & North-Western Railway. The trail, after leaving the southeast quarter of Section 35, in Township 5 north, of Range 13 east, ran nearly due north to the southeast corner of Section 26, in the same township and range. where the army reached the lake, in what is now the town of Koshkonong.] They then discovered three Indians apparently in their canoes. Maj. Ewing went himself and informed Gen. Atkinson what discovery was made, and requested Gen. Atkin- son to let him take his battalion round through a narrow defile that was between two of those lakes, where we supposed the Indians were. By this time, our scouts, who had taken the trail that led off' on our left, returned, bringing with them five white men's scalps. They followed the Indian trail until it took them to a large Indian encampment that they had left a few days before. They reached it: the scalps were sticking up against some of their wigwams; some of them were identified, but I do not recollect the names of any, except one, which was said to be an old gentleman of the name of Hall. Maj. Ewing then marched his battalion about a mile, where the pass on the side of the lake appeared so narrow, that he dismounted his men and had the horses all tied, and a few men left to guard them. The rest of us marched on foot about one mile through a narrow defile on the [east] bank of Koshkonong Lake. This was considered a dangerous procedure, but Maj. Ewing, who was in front with Maj. Anderson, would have been first in danger. We now found that we were getting too far in advance of our horses ; so Maj. Ewing sent a part of the men back for them.
When we mounted our horses, we were joined by Capt. Early and his independent corps. We then marched some distance around the [Koshko- nong] lake, and went in between two of them, in a narrow defile until we found another deserted encampment. We now saw clearly that the Indians were gone from the Koshkonong Lake ; so, the next thing to be done was to find in which direction they had steered their course."
Gen. Atkinson having been re-enforced by Gen. Alexander, took up his line of march, arriving at the Burnt Village on the 6th of July. That evening, Gen. Posey's brigade, in com- pany with Col. Dodge's squadron. joined Atkinson. Col. John Ewing and his regiment came within a mile and a half of the main army, and encamped. On the 10th, Gen. Atkinson sent Col. Ewing with his regiment down Rock River to Dixon's; Gen. Posey, with the rest of his brigade, was dispatched to Fort Hamilton; while Col. Henry and his brigade. Gen. Alexander's brigade and Col. Dodge's squadron were sent to Fort Winnebago, now Portage, Columbia County, for provisions. Atkinson dropped down a short distance from the Burnt Village and built a stockade fort, which he called Fort Koshkonong. It was located on the south side of Rock River, in the eastern outskirts of the present village of Fort Atkinson. Alexander returned from Fort Winnebago by the direct route, while Dodge and Henry took a more cast- erly one, striking Rock River at a point where there was a small Winnebago village, now Hus- tisford, Dodge County, which point was reached July 18. Information was here obtained that Black Hawk was at " Cranberry Lake," farther up the river. This was believed to be reliable, and an express was immediately started down the stream to inform Gen. Atkinson of the Sac chief's whereabouts. The express, consisting of Dr. E. II. Merryman, W. W. Woodbridge, with Little Thunder, a Winnebago, came very unexpectedly, at a distance of not more than eight miles from their starting-point, upon the trail of Black Hawk, making his way down the river. The express returned to the army with the news, and the next morning. July 19. the pursuit began. The fugitives, leaving the river near what is now the city of Watertown, were followed to the Third Lake (Monona), across the site where the city of Madison now stands. Meanwhile, Atkinson being informed of the movements of Henry and Dodge, broke up his eamp and fol- lowed on with the main army, leaving Capt. Gideon Low, of the United States Regulars, with
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thirty or forty men, to hold Fort Koshkonong, afterward known as "Fort Atkinson." The two commands, following so close upon the Sac chief, brought on an engagement on the 21st of July upon the Wisconsin River. mention of which-the battle of " Wisconsin Heights "-has already been made in the general history of the State. After the conclusion of the war, Capt. Low abandoned " Fort Atkinson," proceeding with his men to Fort Winnebago.
UNITED STATES SURVEYS AND LAND SALES.
Immediately after the close of the Black Ilawk war, and the acquisition by the United States of the Indian title to all the land west of Lake Michigan, not reserved to the Indians or secured to specified individuals by the terms of the several treaties, a survey was commenced by the General Government. The northern boundary of Illinois, which was fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became properly the base line of the surveys. A principal north and south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was also run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior. This line was west of the territory now included in Jefferson County, running first between what are now the counties of Grant and La Fayette, then con- tinning due north to near the mouth of the Montreal River. Parallel lines to this were run every six miles both on the east and west sides of it. The intervening six miles between these lines are called ranges. Range 1 east, is the first six miles east of the Fourth Meridian; Range 2 east is the second six miles east; and so on to Lake Michigan- Jefferson County lying in Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16 east. Parallel lines north of the base line were run every six miles, which, crossing the ranges at right angles, cut the whole into blocks six miles square, called townships. These are numbered by tiers going north from the base line, as Townships 1 north, Townships 2 north. and so on. As the present territory of Jefferson County begins twenty-four miles north of the base line, and extends twenty-four miles further north, it includes, of course, four tiers of townships, numbered 5, 6, 7 and 8 north. Hence, in speaking of the territory of Jefferson County as surveyed by the General Government, it is said to be in Townships 5, 6, 7 and 8 north, of Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16 east.
By the end of 1833, a large amount of the public land in what is now Southern and Eastern Wisconsin, had been surveyed, and the fact being duly reported by the Surveyor General, Congress, by an act approved June 26, 1834, created two land districts. They embraced all that tract north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and south- east of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the thien Territory of Michigan. It was divided by a north and south line, drawn from the northern boundary of Illinois, between Ranges 8 and 9, to the Wisconsin River. All east of that line was called the Green Bay Land District; all west, the Wisconsin Land District. Within the first-mentioned district was included the whole of the present county of Jefferson. A Land Office for this Eastern District was established at Green Bay, which was duly opened by the Government, and a notice given of a public sale of all the then surveyed public lands lying south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers. In accordance with this announcement, a sale took place at Green Bay in 1835.
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