Dane County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 2 of those read), 1880 (part 3 of 5)

In the latter part of May, Col. Henry Dodge assembled a company of fifty mounted volunteers commanded by James H. Gentry and John H. Rountree and proceeded with them to the head of the Four Lakes, where, on the 25th of the month, he held a talk with the Winnebagoes, desiring to know their intentions as to the Sacs, whether or not they would aid, counsel or harbor them in the Four Lakes region ; if they would, it would be considered as a declaration of war on their part ; informing them' that the Sacs had lied to them and given them bad counsel, and that, if they were unfaithful to the treaties, they must expect to share the fate of the Sacs. To all which the Winnebagoes made fair promises, and agreed to remain at peace.

But a much more effective "talk" with the Winnebagoes was held afterward by John H. Kinzie, Indian Agent at Fort Winnebago, at the same place. These Indians promised to use their utmost endeavors to preserve peace and good order among their own young men. They informed the agent that the Winnebago bands on the Rock River, with the exception of Win-no-sheek's, were all determined to remain friendly, and keep aloof from the Sacs ; to that end, they were abandoning their villages and corn-fields and moving north, that their Great Father (the President) might not feel dissatisfied with them. With regard to Win-no-sheek and his people, they said they were unable to give information.

About the 1st of June, Capt. Sherman who then commanded at Mound Fort, fearing an attack from the Indians, sent word of his apprehensions to Col. Dodge, who immediately collected from the several posts, of which there were twelve or more in the mining districts, some two hundred mounted men. They proceeded to Mound Fort on the 3d of June, on which day the two Misses Hall, who had been captured by the Sacs at the massacre on Fox River, were delivered up by the Winnebagoes.

On the 6th of June, W. G. Aubrey, an inmate of Brigham's family, was killed by the Sacs while getting water at the spring near the dwelling-house ; this was about a mile and a half north of the fort, but in sight of it. It has since been ascertained that the Sacs had been piloted to this place by certain Winnebagoes. Suspicion ever attached to this treacherous people.

On the 21st of June, some Indians were discovered in the vicinity of Mound Fort, and Lieut. George Force and Emerson Green, whose family was in the fort, mounted their horses and rode out to reconnoiter. In a short time, they fell into an ambush of the Sacs, about two miles in front, and immediately in view of the fort. The unfortunate men were plainly seen endeavoring to escape to the fort, but they were soon surrounded and killed by the savages, who mutilated the bodies in a most horrible manner. Lieut. Force had a heavy gold watch, by which the hours of standing guard were regulated ; at the time he was killed, it was in his pocket, and was taken - his body being chopped in pieces and scattered about the prairie, bhortly after, Wallace Rowan coming up to the body of a savage on the prairie, over which the prairie fire had passed, consuming the Indian's pack and clothing, the watch of Force was found in the ashes. Rowan kept the watch over ten years before finally parting with it.

" Blue Mound Fort, June 2, 1832. - Extract of a letter sent Gen. Dodge : Wakonka says there are two young prisoners with the Sauks. By the authority vested in fl. Beouchard (by H. Gratiot), two Indians, White Ox and brother, were sent on express to the Four Lakes Indians

" [Same date]. - A letter was brought by two Frenchmen, St. Paul and [another] to H. Gratiot on public service, supposed to be from Gen. Atkinson. He [Gratiot] having left, I opened it and found there were two women prisoners with the Sauks.

" June 5, 1832. - White Ox and brother and Wakonka returned ; the two first named had been to the lake [Koshkonong], and informed me that the Winnebagoes had bought the girls at Koshkonong and then left their captors. The Sauks then followed them and surrounded them. Our army was at Koshkonong Lake, not far behind, and they were afraid they would be killed by the Sauks. The Sauks were in two columns, marching in direction for this country, 400 in number.

" June 5, 1832. - Gen. Dodge promised at this time (May 27) to communicate to us every four days by express any and every particular relating to the state of the country in general ; to assist us with a mounted force ; promised us arms, ammunition and provisions, without delay.

" June 16. - Notwithstanding all promises, our teams returned from Mineral Point without arms or ammunition, for want of Gen. Dodge's order.

" June 21. - Emerson Green and George Force both killed and scalped. Force horribly mangled ; his head cut off; a gold watch taken - a sum of money and two horses.

" The General [Dodge] has not performed agreeable to promise ; seems to neglect us ; appears to bear malice against us for no cause ; our situation is a delicate one. I expect an attack from the Indians ; we cannot stand a siege. (My near relatives live in Angelica, Allegany Co., N. Y. To be given to Bradley Sherman or J. W. Sherman)."

For a month after the killing of Force and Green, nothing Worthy of especial mention occurred at the Blue Mound Fort. The arrival there in July of a part of Gen. Posey's Brigade put an end to all fears from attacks by the Indians.

It will be remembered that the retreat of Black Hawk up the Rock River and the pursuit of him by the Americans, led finally to the discovery of his trail just as he had left that stream for the Wisconsin. The retreat and pursuit, after leaving what is now Jefferson County, being continued toward the Four Lakes, brought both parties, of course, at once into the present Dane County. What occurred until the Indians and Americans finally left the county is best told by one who participated in the march and battle which ensued :

" July 19, 1832. - This day we had, for about twelve miles, the worst kind of road. To look at it it appeared impossible to march an army through it. Thickets and swamps of the worst kind we had to go through, but the men had something now to stimulate them. They saw the Sac trail fresh before them, and a prospect of bringing our campaign to an end. There was no murmuring, no excuses made, none-getting on the sick report. If we came to a swamp that our horses were not able to carry us through, we dismounted, turned. our horses before us and stepped in ourselves, sometimes up to our arm-pits in mud and water. In this way we marched with great celerity. In the evening of this day, it commenced thundering, lightning and raining tremendously. We stopped not but pushed on. The trail appeared to be still getting fresher and the ground better, which still encouraged us to overcome every difiiculty found in the way. It continued raining until dark, and, indeed, until after dark. We now saw the want of our tents in the morning, a great number of us having left this necessary article behind, in order to favor our horses. The rain ceased before day, and it turned cold and chilly. In the morning, we arose early, at the well-known sound of the bugle, and prepared, in a very short time, our rude breakfast, dried our clothes a little, and by 7 o'clock, were on the march at a quick pace.

" On this day, some of our scouts took an Indian as a prisoner. On examination, he was found to be a Winnebago. He stated that Black Hawk was but a little distance ahead of us, andthathehadseeusomeofhispartynot more than two miles ahead. Butitwasa bad pieceof conduct, on our part, that this Indian was not kept as a prisoner of war, but was set at liberty and let go, no doubt, that he might inform the Sacs of our pursuit.

" We halted, and the order of battle was formed, as we expected we would overtake them this evening. The order was as follows: Gen. Dodge and Maj. Ewing were to bring on the battle. Maj. Ewing was placed in the center, with his spy battalion, Capt. Gentry and Capt. Clark's companies on our right ; and Capt. Camp and Capt. Parkinson on our left. Our own battalion (Maj. Swing's), was reduced to two companies (as Capt. Wells and his company had been left at Fort Dixon) ; Capt. Lindsey, of our own battalion, was placed on the right, and Capt. Huston's company on the left ; Col. Fry and his regiment on the right ; and Col. Jones with his regiment on the left; and Col. Collins in the center. In this order, we marched in quick time, with all possible speed, in hope that we would overtake the. enemy on that evening. We were close to the Four Lakes, and we wished to come up with them before they could reach that place, as it was known to be a stronghold for the Indians ; but the day was not long enough to accomplish this desirable object. We reached the first of the Four Lakes [Monona] about sundown. Gen. Henry here called a halt, and consulted with Poquet [Peter Pauquette], our pilot, as to the country we were approaching. Poquet, who was well acquainted with this country, told him he could not get through it after night ; that we had to march close to the margin of the lake for some distance, as the underwood stood so thick, one man could ,not see another ten steps. Gen Henry concluded to encamp here until the break of day. Gen. Dodge sent Capt. Dixon on ahead with a few men, to see if they could make any discovery of the enemy, who returned in a very short time, and stated they had seen the enemy's rear guard about one mile and a half distant.

" Gen. Henry gave strict orders for every man to tie up his horse, so as to be ready to start as soon as it was daylight. The order was strictly obeyed, and after we took our frugal supper, all retired to rest except those who had to mount guard ; for we had marched a great way that day, and many were still wet by the rain that fell the preceding night ; but, being very much fatigued, we were all soon lost in sleep, except those on guard.

" July 21, at the break of day, the bugle sounded, and all were soon up, and in a few minutes had breakfast ready, and after taking a little food, we mounted our horses and again commenced the pursuit.

" We soon found that the pilot had told us no lie; for we found the country that the enemy was leading us into to be worse, if possible, than what he told us. We could turn neither to the right nor left, but was compelled to follow the trail the Indians had made, and that, too, for a great distance at the edge of the water of the lake.

" We had not marched more than five miles before Dr. Philleo came back meeting us, with the scalp of an Indian. He had been on ahead with the front scouts and came on this Indian, who had been left as a rear guard to watch our movements. There were several shots fired at him about the same time, and I suppose all hit him, from the number of bullet-holes that were in him ; but Dr. Philleo scalped him, so he was called Philleo's Indian, which reminds me of the hunters: 'He who draws the first blood is entitled to the skin, and the remainder to the carcass, if there are several in the chase,' which was the case at this time.*

*In the march in pursuit of the Indians, the detachment crossed the Crawfish Biver near Aztalan, and followed the trail until the high ^unds between Lake Monona and Lake Meudota, the capitol grounds, and the site of Madison were reached. In the timber skirting the Tfthani, at a fording place, they overtook the rear guard of the flying foe, where an Indiau was wounded, who crept away and hid himself in the thick willows, where he died. A scouting party of fourteen m«i, one of whom waa Abel Kasdali, was sent forward and preceded the main "°dy about two miles. When they arrived at the point non the site of Madison, an Indian was seen coming up from the water's edge, who aeatea himaelf upon the bank, apparently indifferent to his fate. In a moment after, his body was pierced with bullets, one of which passed in th '|^%*?'?P'^, ^^^ out of the back part of his head. On examination, it was found that he was sitting upon a newly-made grave, probably that of his wife, who had perhaps died of fatigue, hunger and exhaustion, and her disconsolate companion had resolved to await the advancing P t" 1*^ **^®^® *l80. The trail was followed around the southern end of Lake Mendota, passing a little north of what is now the Capitol ith * h "l^ ^^^ '*^® "®'*^ ^^® present University. A few miles brought them to what appeared an admirable position for a battle-field, With natural defenses and places of ambush. It had been chosen by the enemy, and here they had apparently lain the previous night. This place was afterward laid out as the Ciry of the Four Lakes, about three-quarters of a mile north of the present village of Pheasant Branch. - Ep.

" But I am not done with Dr. Philleo yet. I will show you that he is a good soldier, and something of an Indian fighter. The sign now began to get very fresh, and we mended our pace very much. We had not proceeded more than ten or fifteen miles further before our fighting Doctor run foul of two more Indians ; he showed his bravery in assisting to kill them. I suppose he killed one, and Mr. Sample Journey the other ; so there was a scalp for each. But one of those miserable wretches sold his life as dear as possible. He, in the act of falling after he was shot, fired, and shot three balls into a gentleman who was himself in the act of shooting at him. The balls were all small; one went through his thigh, one through his leg, and the other through his foot. I am sorry that I have forgotten the gentleman's name ; he belonged to Gen. Dodge's squadron.

" We now doubled our speed, all were anxious to press forward, and as our horses were nearly worn out, we carried nothing, only what was actually necessary for us to eat ; camp kettles, and many such articles, were thrown away.

" The trail was now. literally, in many places, strewed with Indian trinkets, such as mats, kettles, etc., which plainly told us that they knew we were in pursuit. We, too, saw from the face of the country that we were drawing close to the Wisconsin River, and our object was to them before they 'reached it ; so now we went as fast as our horses were able to carry us. But this was too severe for our poor horses ; they began to give out. But even this did not stop a man. Whenever a horse gave out, the rider would dismount, throw off his saddle and bridle, and pursue on foot, in a run, without a murmur. I think the number of horses left this day was about forty. The rear guard of the enemy began by this time (about 3 o'clock P. M.) to make feint stands ; and as the timber stood thick, we did not know but that the whole army of Black Hawk was forming for action ; in consequence of which, we got down and formed as often as twice, before we found out that their object was to keep us back until they could gain some strong position to fight from. Our front scouts now were determined not to be deceived any more ; but the next they came to, they stopped not for their feigned maneuver, but pursued them to the main body of the enemy. They returned to us in great haste, and informed {jen. Henry that the Indians were forming for action.

" We all dismounted in an instant. The line of battle was then formed in the same order that it had been laid ofi" the preceding day ; Gen. Dodge's corps and Maj. Ewing's spy battalion still in front. The horses were left and every fourth man detailed to hold them ; which gave seven horses to each man to hold.

" We had scarcely time to form on foot, before the Indians raised the war-whoop, screaming and yelling hideously, and rushed forward, meeting us with a heavy charge. Gen. Dodge and Maj. Ewing met them also with a charge which produced a halt on the part of the enemy. Our men then opened a tremendous volley of musketry upon them, and accompanied it with the most terrific yells that ever came from the head of mortals, except from the savages themselves. They could not stand this. They now tried their well-known practice of flanking ; but here they were headed again by the brave Col. Jones and his regiment, 'who were on our left, where he met them in the most fearless manner, and opened a heavy fire upon them. Col. Fry was placed on the extreme right. They tried his line, but were soon repijlsed. Their strong position was on the left, or near the center, where Cols. Jones, Dodge and BVing, kept up a constant fire upon them for something like half an hour.

" The enemy here had a strong position. They had taken shelter in some very high grass, where they could lie down and load, and be entirely out of sight. After fighting them in this position for at least thirty minutes, during which time Col. Jones had his horse shot from under him, and one of his jmen killed and several wounded. Cols. Dodge, Ewing and Jones all requested Gen. Henry to let them charge upon them at the point of the bayonet, which Gen. Henry readily assented to, and gave the order, '- Charge ! " which was obeyed by both men and officers in a most fearless manner. All were intent upon the charge. We had to charge up a lising piece of ground. When we got on the top, we then fired perfectly abreast. They could

Mad Ison

" Their commander, who, it was said, was Napope, was on a white pony, on the top of a mountain in the rear of his Indians'; he certainly had one of the best voices for command I ever heard. He kept up a constant yell, until his men began to retreat, when he was heard no more. Col. Collins was kept, during this engagement, in the rear, as a reserve, and to keep the enemy from flanking and coming in upon us in the rear, which was a very good arrangement of Gen. Henry.

" It was now nearly sundown, and still raining, as it had been all the evening, but so slow that we made shift to keep our guns dry. The enemy retreated toward the river with considerable speed. The ground they were retreating to appeared to be low and swampy, and on the bank of the river there appeared to be a heavy body of timber, which the enemy could reach before we could bring them to another stand. So Gen. Henry concluded not to pursue them any further that night, but remain on the battle ground until next morning, and then he would not be in danger of losing so many of his men, knowing that, in the dark, he would have to lose a number, for the Indians would have the timber to fight from, while we would have to stand in the open prairie.*

''Next morning, July 22, the troops were paraded and put in battle order on foot, except Col. Fry's regiment, and took up the line of march to the river, leaving Col. Collins' regiment to guard the horses and baggage, and take care of the wounded. We marched down to the river, was about one mile and a half off ; but before we reached the bank, we had a very bad swamp to go through, fifty or sixty yards on this side of the timber, which stood very high on the bank of the river. We now saw that Gen. Henry had acted very prudently. If he had attempted to follow them the evening before, he would have lost a great many of his men.

" When we got to the bank, we found they had made their retreat across the river during the night, leaving a great many articles of their trumpery behind. We also saw a good deal of blood, where their wounded had bled. We now returned to the camp, seeing there was no chance to follow them this day across the river.

" We, in this battle, were very fortunate indeed. We had only one man killed and eight wounded ; and we have learned since the battle that we killed sixty-eight of the enemy, and wounded a considerable number, twenty-five of whom, they report, died soon after the battle-t

"We now were nearly out of provisions, and to take up the line of march against them, in the condition our horses were in, told us plainly that we would suffer for something to eat before we could get it.

We buried the brave young man who was killed with the honors of war. It was stated that he had just shot down an Indian, when he received the mortal wound himself. His name was John Short, and he belonged to Capt. Briggs' company, from Randolph County. He had a brother and a brother-in-law in the same company, who witnessed his consignment to his mother earth. The wounded were all well examined and none pronounced mortal. We contmued this day on the battle ground, and prepared litters for the wounded to be carried on. We spent this day in a more cheerful manner then we had done any other day since we had been on the campaign. We felt a little satisfaction for our toils, and thought that we had, no doubt, destroyed a number of the very same monsters that had so lately been imbruing their hands with the blood of our fair sex - rthe helpless mother and unoffending infant.

" We dried our clothes which then had been wet for several days. This day was spent in social chat between men and officers. There were no complaints made ; all had fought bravely ; each man praised his officers, and all praised our General.

" Late in the evening, some of our men, who had been out to see if there were any signs of the enemy still remaining near us, returned, and stated that they saw smoke across th,e

+ B? ° v'n'° ?""}"* ^"^ O" t'"' ^'^^ ^W» <-' ""^ northeast qnarter of Section 24, in what is now the town of Mazomanie Da ne County - En T DincK Hawk nfterward d'clnvod that his loss was only six men. There is no reason why this shoilld be diBhelinycd. - Ed.

"Gen. Henry had been of the opinion through the day that -if the Indians did ever intend fighting any more, they would attack us that night, and this report went to confirm him in his belief more fully. That night he had a larger guard than usual. He made use of another excellent precaution. He had fires made in advance of our lines, at least forty yards, and had them .kept burning all night. Orders were given for every man to sleep upon his arms ; so that he could be ready for action at the shortest notice, should an alarm be given. We had scarcely got to sleep when we were alarmed by the running of our horses ; we had to parade, as usual to keep them from killing us. Men and ofiicers now fully expected that it was the enemy who frightened them. Orders were now given, for no man to sleep that night, but for every man to stand to his arms, and be ready to receive the enemy. We all now expected to have hard fighting, and were prepared for the worst. There was not a man who shrunk from his duty. All punctually obeyed the orders of his ofiicers, and made every preparation to receive the enemy, should he come.

"About one hour and a half before day, on the same mountain from which the Indian chief had given his orders on the evening of the battle, we heard an Indian voice, in loud, shrill tones, as though he was talking to his men, and giving them orders.

" Gen. Henry had his men all paraded in order of battle, in front of the tents, and the fires roused up. After all were paraded. Gen. Henry addressed his men 'in the most beautiful manner I ever heard man speak on such an occasion. I am sorry I cannot give the precise words, but I will attempt an outline of them. The Indian was still yelling in the most loud and terrific manner. Gen. Henry commenced : ' My brave soldiers, now is the critical and trying moment ; hear your enemy on the same mountain from which you drove them only on the evening before last, giving orders for a charge upon you. There is no doubt but that they have mustered all their strength at this time. Now, let every mother's son be at his post. Yes, my brave soldiers, you have stemmed the torrent of every opposition - you have stopped not for rivers, swamps, and, one might say, almost impenetrable forests ; suffered through the beating storm of night, amidst the sharpest peals" of thunder, and when the heavens appeared a plane of lightning. My brave boys, hear their yells ; let them not daunt you ; remember the glory you won the evening before last ; be not now the tarnishers of this reputation that you are so justly entitled to ; remember that you are fighting a set of demons who have lately been taking the lives of your helpless and unoffending neighbors. Stand firm, my brave Suckers, until you can see the whites of their eyes before you discharge your muskets, and then meet them with a charge as you have before done, and that, too, with great success.'

" The Indian all this time was talking as though he was addressing his men, and appeared to approach nearer. Every oflBcer then on the ground was at his post, and had his particular station assigned to him and the ground he was to occupy during the action. In this order we stood until daylight. Just before day, the Indian quit talking. When it was just light enough to discover a man a short distance, the brave' and fearless Bwing took his battalion of spies, and, mounted on horseback, we were soon at the top of the mountain to see who it was that had serenaded us so long at that late hour of the night. We found only the sign of a few horse tracks that appeared as though they had been made that night. ' We marched in quick time around every part of the mountain, and found no one. We took a circuitous route back to camp, but found no one on the way. What it was that made this Indian act so was now a mystery that no one could solve. But before the reader gets through the history of this war, he will find out the cause. I cannot inform him now, as it does not come in its proper place.

" It will be recollected that Dr. Merryman and Adjt. Woodbridge were both started as express bearers by Gens. Henry and Dodge, as soon as the Winnebagoes informed them that the Indians were at the Cranberry Lake, and had to return on account of Little Thunder (who was their pilot) getting frightened. The day after that, late in the evening, they started again, still in company with the same pilot. They now left the Sac trail, and this child of the forest was less afraid ; so, knowing the country well, he took them on that night, amidst the storm, to

Gen. Atkinson's camp, or Fort Kushkanong [Koshkonong], where Gen. Atkinson was, with his infantry and those of our volunteers who had lost their horses at Fort Winnebago. The next day, Adjts.Woodbridge and Merry man [the Doctor himself was an Adjutant], still with the same pilot, started back to Gen. Henry, with an express from Gen. Atkinson. They got to Gen. Henry during the action (July 21), but there was no time then for reading expresses, nor did those two men think of delivering expresses at that time, but immediately went to fighting. So those gentlemen performed a double duty, and deserve well of their country for the important services they rendered.

" Now for the expresses. Gen. Atkinson directed Gen. Henry to pursue on the trail of Black Hawk until he could overtake him and to defeat or capture him, also stating that he would start himself, with the infantry and Gen. Alexander's brigade; and that the rest of the volunteers who were with him under Lieut. Col. Sharp, would be left to guard the Fort; and that they would go by way of the Blue Mounds, and directed us, if we got out of provisions, to go to that place for a supply.

" We were now out of provisions, and were obliged to abandon further pursuit, and go to the Blue Mounds to procure a supply. Accordingly, on the 23d, we got in motion again ; not in pursuit of the enemy, but for bread and meat, to satisfy our appetites, as we were now out of everything to eat.

" Our wounded this day suffered very much on account of having rough ground to pass over, and some very muddy creeks. When they got to the Blue Mounds, they were very hospitably treated. There was a small fort, and citizens plenty, who did not think it the least hardship to wait on those who had been shedding their blood to avenge the wrongs those people had suffered. For the Indians had killed three valuable men within one mile of this place, and one within view of the citizens who were in it - a gentleman by the name of Green, of high standing in society, and who had recently emigrated from the East. I have forgotten the names of the other gentlemen, but can say that the citizens spoke in high terms of their worth and seemed to lament their loss.

" We here found a part of Gen. Posey's brigade, who had been sent from Fort Hamilton to assist in guarding this frontier place. An express had been sent by Gen. Atkinson to Gen. Posey to march as soon as possible to a small town on the Wisconsin River, to intercept the Indians, should any of them go down the river. So, in the afternoon. Gen. Posey, from Fort Hamilton, passed on his way to Helena, and late in the evening Gen. Atkinson and Gen. Alexander arrived with their brigades, leaving Col. Sharp, with those who had lost their horses, still at Fort Kushkanong, also Capt. Low, with one company of regulars.

" We here drew three days' provision, and, on the 25th, we took up the line of march for Helena, on the Wisconsin River, where we intended to cross, again to take up the pursuit of the enemy."

What followeafter the pursuit was again commenced until the close of the war has already been briefly related in the outline history of the State.

From the fort [Winnebago], there were traveled roads leading to the Mississippi at Prairie du Cbien (or Fort Crawford), at the mouth of Fever River, near Galena, and at other points. After two days' rest, we took the route [from the portage] for Galena by way of the " Blue Mounds." At the distance of about fifteen miles in a southwesterly direction, the traveler discovers that he has imperceptibly attained an elevation commanding the timbered valley of the Wisconsin, and from which the stockade and white houses of the garrison are distinctly visible. On the east and northeast the Baribou [Baraboo] hills rise out of the fiat woodland and stretch away northwardly toward Lake Superior. He stands upon an eminence of 500 feet, sloping gently down on all sides, covered with waving grass. On the east and -south, as far as the eye caa distinguish, he perceives a succession of similar hills, their rounded summits ranging irregularly around, not a tree, nor a stone, nor any fixed object to be seen in the whole prospect. In the spacious valleys that intervene, millions of small flowers mingle their bright colors with the green of the meadows, chastening and ruralizing the scene. An excitable person would exclaim at the sublimity of such a prospect, having the grandeur of a mountain without its loftiness, and the command of the sea without its monotony. A painter would pass from the grand outlines and dwell with delight upon the beauty of its details.

It was through such a country, varied by a few small lakes, that we spent this day. We started up plenty of grouse, and frequently saw the deer quietly feeding on the hillsides, secure from our rifles in the distance. The sight of a prairie wolf was not an uncommon thing. This animal difiers materially from the common wolf, being less in size, of a gray color, and wanting in speed. . It feeds upon the mice and small animals of the low prairie, seldom assaulting the farmyard. He is less ferocious than the fox-tailed wolf, and may be soon overtaken with a iieet horse. Their uniform practice, in regard to us, after running away at a moderate step a couple of hundred yards, was to face about and examine the company. There were no Indians along the route. The Winnebagoes, following their established customs, had abandoned their allies after their defeat at the " Bad Axe " about four weeks previous, and were in pursuit of the fugi- . tives [Sacs], who had made off northwardly during the engagement, toward the Sioux country,

At night, we slept upon the ground occupied by a war-party of the Menomonees a fortnight previous, on the banks of a clear, little brook. The transparency of running water in the prairie districts is a matter of general surprise; The war-party had left a good supply of odd fire-brands and chunks, for the purposes of our cookery and evening comfort. They had beaten down the grass, making a smooth place for our blankets, upon which were deposited our bodies, after the Indian fashion.

This tribe, though not in a war-like mood, had become impatient of the delay attending the subjugation and punishment of their late murderous and ancient foes, the Sauks. They had collected their warriors at the agency, three miles up the Fox River from Fort Howard, anxious to avenge themselves. Ool. Stambaugh, the agent, had at length promised them if the war was not ended by a certain date,- that they might march under his direction to the Wisconsin and take part in the work of our troops. Their progress en route was about twenty miles a day, marching in single file, which, of course, left a distinct trail upon the ground. Our own men made twenty-seven miles a day on foot over the same country. About sundown, the Indian soldiers would collect themselves at a convenient spot, generally near a thicket, and always near water. They build fires, and set up a row of posts or crotches in front, and lay poles from one to tha other as a protection against the enemy. After the evening meal, they frequently hold a dance about the leading chief, accompanied by a due proportion of songs and threats against the foe. Then all compose themselves in perfect security about the fires, intrusting the guardianship of the camp to the watchfulness of their little dogs. Sentinels were sometimes persuaded to take post a few yards in advance, but they also betook themselves to their blankets, and slept till daylight.

It was now early in September, 1832, and everything conspired to nerve the system and animate the senses. The sky had not shown a cloud for many days ; the air was cooled. by an ever moving breeze ; countless fiowers shone in purple and gold about us, and wherever we chose to move, the ground was firm and smooth as a turnpike. A new and unmingled pleasure diff"used itself through the company, of which even the animals seemed to partake.

The path wound around the northern shores of the Four Lakes, from which Gen. Dodge,* with a band of mounted militia of the mining district, had lately driven the remnant of Black Hawk's force.

On the second day, we passed the foot of the Blue Mound. It is a high hill of regular ascent, overlooking the country, and serves as a beacon to the traveler thirty miles distant. At night, we slept in a block-house in the mining district. Within sight of the station, a newly made grave lay at the roadside in the midst of a solitary prairie. The person over whom it was raised, had ventured too far from the house, and approached a thicket of bushes. Suddenly a band of concealed Indians sprang upon him, with the fatal whoop on their tongues ; his scalp, heart, and most of his flesh were soon stripped from the body, and a savage dance performed about the remains.

The country is still prairie, with scattering tufts of inferior timber. The huts of the miners had been deserted on account of the diflSculties now terniinated, and the business of making lead was about to re-commence.

Occasionally, a farm might be seen running out from an island of timber, and supplied with comfortable buildings. But most of the improvements were of a temporary nature, consisting of a lead furnace and the cabins adjacent. The process of reducing lead ore is very simple and rapid. The furnace is a face wall, about two feet thick, located upon a gentle slope of the ground, with an arch or passage through the center ; on each side of the arched opening, and in the rear or up-hill side, two wing walls run out transversely to the face wall, between which the wood is laid. The ore is placed upon it, and a continual fire kept up. The lead gradually separates, from the dross, and runs into a cavity in front of the arch.

Early French -Residents

After the Black Ha^k war, and when Dane County began to receive a something of a population from abroad, there were found within its present limits a number of Canadian Frenchmen, either domesticated among the Indians, or trading with them. Their names were Michel St. Cyr, Joseph Pelkie, Phillip Covalie, Oliver Emell* and one Lavec. But none of these can be considered as settlers of Dane County. They soon disappeared as civilization advanced into "the Four Lakes region."

Michel St. Qyr resided at a point a little north of the mouth of Pheasant Branch, on the north side of Lake Mendota, in what is now the town of Madison, where the "City of the Four Lakes " was afterward located and platted. Here he traded with the Indians, his stock consistmg mostly of whisky and tobacco. The whisky was at first dealt out to his Indian customers in full strength, and pretty liberal quantities, until they became considerably oblivious, when the liquor was diluted, and finally, as they became still more intoxicated, water was freely substituted, and, as St. Cyr said, answered every purpose. But this trade was not suflScient for a livelihood, and St. Cyr cultivated about eight acres of ground, surrounded with a rude fence, raising corn, oats, potatoes and a few vegetables.

His cabin was a small affair, about twelve feet square, with a dirt floor ; and almost adjoining it was a stable of about the same dimensions. With a Winnebago woman for his wife, and two sons and two daughters, all young, he entertained the very few travelers that passed through the country. A. F. Pratt and companion stopped there in February, 1837. They had served up to them a kind of pot-pie which relished very well ; and, after finishing their meal, and inquinng what kind of meat they had eaten, they were informed that it was muskrat. Indeed, muskrats, and occasionally pheasants, seemed to form the principal articles for his table; and bt. Oyr would pleasantly observe, that the Englishmen, meaning white people generally, " would just as soon eat pheasant as rat, when all were cooked up together."

St. Cyr was a Canadian half-breed, born about 1806 ; had always lived on the frontier and among the Indians, and could speak English quite well, though he was entirely illiterate. He was a man of ordinary size, about pne hundred and fifty pounds weight ; with a thin visage, aark complexion, black hair and eyes, a quick step, and a ready, active man generally, in both ooay and mind. He was amiable and kind to all, and scorned' a dishonest man or a liar. He cfaTed * influence over that portion of the Winnebagoes with whom he was assospdled Mab?»T-ED."''' ^'"'^'"'"' " spelled, frequently Armel ; but there are notices extant with his lame signed to them

St. Cyr claimed that he had made some arrangement with J. D.. Doty to enter for him the land where he lived ; if so, the arrangement failed of its object. The lands which he had cultivated were bought without his knowledge, for, in fact, he took no interest in anything except trading with the Indians. W. B. Slaughter entered the tract in 1835. and conveyed an undivided half-interest to Doty, December 20, in that year, with a view of having a town laid out there, &,nd eventually securing the location of the Territorial Capital at that point. Doty employed John Bannister, a surveyor of Green Bay, who subsequently removed to Fond du Lac and died there, to lay out on the land " the City of the Four Lakes." The certificate of the plat bears date July 7, 1836. Subsequently to purchasing an interest in Slaughter's tract. Doty, with Gov. Mason, of Michigan, entered the tract embracing the present locality of Madison, which was probably regarded in a more favorable light than the Slaughter location. At the time of the eventful session of the Belmont Legislature, when the location of the capital of the Territory was decided upon, Slaughter was absent in the South to spend the winter, and no one was present with tempting oilers of corner lots in his behalf, and Madison was the successful competitor for the interesting prize at stake. So much for " the City of the Four Lakes " and its unhappy fate.

To compensate St. Cyr for his trifling improvements. Slaughter gave him some $200, and about the 1st of July, 1838, he removed first to Minnesota and soon after to the Winnebago reservation in Iowa, where he died about 1864.

Joseph Pelkie was domesticated with the Winnebagoes. He was employed in the erection of the first house occupied in Madison. He remained in and around the place for some time. Once he was shot, but not killed, by Berry Haney, and, when last heard of, he was still carrying the ball in his back. The dispute was about a land claim. Pelkie was an expert hunter and fisherman. He was once summoned as a juryman in Judge Irvin's court, in Madison, but, on malting his appearance to take the oath, the Judge challenged him with - " Go home, you dirty Frenchman, and wash yourself, and put on some clean clothes, and then come back and take the oath." Court adjourned, to give him time to obey the order. Nothing is known of the earlier or later history of " Old Pelkie," He was married to a Winnebago woman and had a family, and, when the question came up as to his right to receive a stipulated sum from the General Government, he conceived it necessary to be re-married under civilized authority ; so Simeon Mills, as Justice of the Peace, performed the ceremony in the autumn of 1838.

Philip Covalle was a fisherman, hunter and trapper. He was the only white man found on the present site of Madison when it was first visited by A A. Bird, in the spring of 1837. Covalle was a Canadian of French extraction, and a fair type of the early voyageurs and adventurers who penetrated the wilds of the Northwest in search of furs, and whose natural affinities made them at home among the wild men of the forest. Born and bred among the half-civilized border-men, he pressed back into the wilderness as the tide of civilization rolled on its Western course, occupying the ground so reluctantly relinquished by the red men and their ready associates, the trappers and traders, whose occupation followed in the train of the receding Indians ; and, with the fading forests, disappeared entirely from the regions which but a few years before were known to the world only as the hunting grounds from which came the rich furs so universally admired in civilized life.

Covalle was the descendant of a Hudson Bay trapper, and followed the movements of his family, and for many years thereafter was in the employ of a fur company as a trapper, spending years in the wilds north of the Saint Mary's River, returning to the trading establishments only at stated seasons to bring in his furs and obtain supplies. Nothing pleased him more than the opportunity of recounting his adventures and "hair-breadth escapes" among the men of the wilderness in which he has spent so much of his early life. Tired of this wild life, he left the employ of the Hudson Bay Company and commenced operations for himself, trapping along the streams emptying into Green Bay, falling back as civilization advanced - giving up his cabin to villages, and his trapping resorts to lumbermen. Following up the Fox River, he kept in advance of the settlements, gathering in the little game that lingered along the line, until he was forced to abandon the vicinity of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and find hunting grounds away from the business routes of white men. Taking his Indian woman and his small family of halfbreed children, with his ever-present companion, "Alex, the fisherboy," he came across the country to the chain of lakes, then in the undisturbed possession of the Indians, and built a cabin at the outlet of Lake Mendota. Here he was found by the men who came to lay the foundation of the capitol of the Territory, and here he remained until, tired of his surroundings, and longing for the quiet of the wilderness, he, with his little family, left, to join his old associates who had been transferred to the wilds west of the Mississippi.

Covalle, though illiterate, was a companionable, good-natured man, interesting in the long stories he used to tell of the happy life he led in the country before it was taken possession of by the white man. He tried hard to accustom himself to the usages of civilized life, but it was unnatural to him, and the attempt only made more apparent the force of early habits. Learning that white men married, he brought his Indian woman before a Justice of the Peace, that his own marriage might be solemnized in the presence of his children, a proceeding which was important to them only as it conformed to the customs of white men. He would send to Dr. A. Lull, the village physician, to treat complaints that would be thought nothing of in his former solitary life, simply because white men employed the doctor ; and many a joke came back to the settlement, of Covalle's efiForts to bring his half-breed family under treatment ; and ludicrous enough were the attempts of the family to adapt some article of clothing, the gift of white people, to their native costume of buckskin and blanket. The " first families " of Madison (those who are left) remember the curiosity with which Madame Covalle and her children looked in upon them through the windows of their houses, refusing to enter the dwellings, and with what interets they would gather at the doors to witness the proceedings of meetings on Sunday.

Oliver M-mell'wa.s a trader with the Indians in 1832, having his headquarters on the site of the present city of Madison. He liad his goods in a temporary Indian-built hut, and he seems to have done a large business, as, in the year above mentioned, no less than 500 Indians were encamped between where the State House now stands and the shore of Lake Monona, who came here for the purpose of trading with him. He lived on Lake Waubesa, on the west side, and had a Winnebago woman for a wife, with a family of children ; but was re-married according to civilized usages, in the autumn of 1838, by Simeon Mills, Justice of the Peace. He left the county to join the Indians.

Lavee, like Pelkie, assisted in the erection of the first house occupied in Madison. He had a squaw wife, whose brother was stabbed and killed on the beach of Lake Monona. The murderer was also an Indian. As this happened after the settlement of Madison had commenced, considerable excitement ensued, but nothing was done in the matter. It was only one Indian killing another.

Histoey Of Dane Counts

United States Land Stjeveys - Dates of Surveys and Notes of Stjeveyobs - Dane County Inclttded in Theee Land Districts - Census of 1836 - Ye Ancient Pioneers- Eably Government of the Dane County Kegion - Forming- and Naming the County - Visits to Dane County in 1837.

United States Land Surveys

The first surveys by the General Government, of lands in Wisconsin, were made south of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers. The northern boundary line of the State of Illinois, fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel of 42° 30' north latitude, became, properly enough, the base line of these surveys. A principal north-and-south line (known as the Fourth Meridian) was run, extending from the base line to Lake Superior, at right angles with the last-mentioned line. The Fourth Meridian is west of the territory of Dane County, running on the east boundary of what is now the county of Grant, and on the west boundary of La Fayette and Iowa Counties, and thence onward due north, a distance west of the west line of Dane County of thirty miles, striking Lake Superior a short distance west of the mouth of Montreal River.

Parallel lines to the Fourth Meridian were run every six miles on the east and west sides of it. The intervening six miles bet"ween these lines are called ranges. Range 1 east is the first six miles of territory east of the Fourth Meridian ; Range 2 east is the second six miles, and so on to Lake Michigan - Dane County lying in Ranges, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 east.

Parallel lines north of the base line (the north boundary line of the State of Illinois) 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, the first tier being known as Townships 1 north, the gecond tier as Townships 2 north, and so on. As the most southern boundary of Dane County is distant from the base line twenty-four miles, or four townships, of course the first or most southern tier of townships in the county is numbered five north ; and, as there are five tiers, they are numbered consecutively, Townships 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 north.

Dane County, then, lies in Townships 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 north, of Ranges 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 east, except that the northwest part of Township 9, in Range 6 east, and the northwest corner of Township 9, Range 7 east, are a part of Sauk County. After this territory was surveyed into townships, the latter were subdivided into sections and quarter-sections.

Each town in Dane County contains exactly a surveyed township of land of the United States survey, except such as are hereinafter mentioned.

The town of Albion is organized of Township 5, Range 12 east ; the town of Berry, of Township 8, Range 7 east ; town of Blooming Grove, of Township 7, Range 10 east, except so much as is included in the city of Madison ; Black Earth, of the south half of Township 8, Range 6 east ; Blue Mound^, of Township 6, Range 6 east ; Bristol, of Township 9, Range 11 east; Burke, of Township 8, Range 10 east; Christiana, of Township 6, Range 12 east; Cottage Grove, of Township 7, Range 11 east ; Cross Plains, of Township 7, Range 7 east; Dane, of Township 9, Range 8 east ; Deerfield, of Township 7, Range 12 east ; Dunkirk, of Township 5, Range 11 east; Dunn, of Township 6, Range 10 east; Fitchburg, of Township 6, Range 9 east : Madison, of Township 7, Range 9 east, except so mu6h as is included in the city of Madison; Mazomanie, of the north half of Township 8, and all of Township 9, lying south of the Wisconsin River, all in Range 6 east ; Medina, of Township 8, Range 12 east ; Middleton, of Township 7, Range 8 east ; Montrose, of Township 5, Range 8 east ; Oregon, of Township 5, Range 9 east ; Perry, of Township 5, Range 6 east ; Primrose, of Township 5, Range 7 east ; Pleasant Springs, of Township 6, Range 11 east ; Roxbury, of Township 9, Range 7 east, except a small fraction northwest of the Wisconsin, in Sauk County ; Rutland, of Township 5, Range 10 east ; Springdale, of Township 6, Range 7 east ; Springfield, of Township 8, Range 8 east ; Sun Prairie, of Township 8, Range 11 east ; Vermont, of Township 7, Range 6 east ; Verona, of Township 6, Range 8 east ; Vienna, of Township 9, Range 9 east ; Westport, of Township 8, Range 9 east, except so much as is covered by a portion of Lake Mendota, which is in fact a portion of the city of Madison ; Windsor, of Township 9, Range 10 east, and York, of Township 9, Range 12 east.

The number of acres in each of the townships included within the limits of Dane County are, according to the survey of the United States, as follows - excluding meandered lakes and streams, and including the city of Madison :

Dates Of Surveys And Notes Of Surveyors

The township lines in Dane County were run by John MuUett, assisted in some cases by John Brink, in the years 1881, 1832 and 1833 - mostly in the latter year. The section lines were run in the years 1832, 1833, 1834 and 1885, by J. W. Stephenson, Lorin Miller, John Mullett and Orson Lyon. The first surveying was done by John Mullett, who ran the township lines of Township 6, Range 7 east (town of Springdale), in the latter part of 1831. The last surveying was done by Lorin Miller, who ran the section lines east of Sugar River, in Township 5, Range 8 east (Montrose), in the second quarter of the year 1835. Robert T. Lytle, one of the Surveyors General, on the 21st of September of that year, declared the survey finished of all that is now Dane County, besides much other territory, south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers.

From the field-notes of the surveyors and the Government plats, many items of interest are obtained. These sources furnish the following facts :

Township 6 north, of Range 6 east {Blue Mounds). - This township was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, beginning the survey February 24, 1883, and ending the following March. He was assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker; C. H. Stowell, H. M. Draper and John Brink, Chainmen.

Township 7 north, of Range 6 east ( Vermont). - This township was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, in the first quarter of 1833, assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker-; C. H. Stowell, H. M. Draper and John Brink, Chainmen.

Township 8 north, of Range 6 east {Black Earth and south half of Mazomanie). - This township was surveyed in the first quarter of 1833, by the same parties who surveyed the lastmentioned townships, 6 and 7 north, of Range 6 east.

Township 9 north, of Range 6 east {north half of Mazomanie). - The survey of this township into sections was begun January 15, 1833, and finished on the 18th of the same month, by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, assisted by the same marker and chainmea as before mentioned.

Township 6 north, of Range 7 east {Spring dale). - The northeast half of Section 1, being so much of the section as lies to the northeast of Sugar Creek, was the first land surveyed in this township, this was done by Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor in the second quarter of 1833, assisted by Russell Baldwin and Noah Phelps, Chainmen, and Richard Reese, Marker. The residue of the township was surveyed by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker, and C. H. Stowell, H. M. Draper and John Brink, Chainmen, during the quarter of the year.

Township 7 north, of Range 7 east {Cross Plains). - The survey of this township into sections was begun March 12, 1833, and finished on the 18th of the same month (excepting so much as lay south of the military road), by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, assisted by the parties last mentioned. That portion lying in the southeast corner of the township, consisting of Section 36 and portions of Sections 35, 34, and 25, were not surveyed until December, 1834, when the lines were run by Orson Lyon, Deputy Surveyor.

Township 8 north, of Range 7 east {Berry). - This township was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, assisted by the same men who aided him in the survey of the township last mentioned, who began his labor February 15, 1835, and finished the same on the 23d of the same month.

Township 9 north, of Range 7 east {Roxhury). - All of this township, except the small fraction lying west of the Wisconsin River, was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, with the same assistants before mentioned, who began his labor January 29, 1833, ending Fel)ruary 6, thereafter. Alv;n Burt surveyed the fraction now lying in Sauk County, in 1842 ; it contains only 37 acres and a fraction.

Township 5 north, of Range 8 east {Montrose). - So much of this township as lies east of Sugar Creek, was surveyed into sections by Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor, who commenced his work (assisted by Russell Baldwin and Noah Phelps, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Marker,) January 19, 1834, and completed the same on the 22d of the same month. In his field-notes, he says : " The east part of this fraction [that is, the east part of the present town of Montrose] is very hilly, but of good quality of soil ; heavily, not densely timbered, with black, white, and yellow oak. As you approach the Sugar Creek, the land becomes more level, iVith less timber. The First [Lake Kegonsa] and Fourth Lake [Mendot^.] trails unite at and cross the Sugar Creek at the ' Fish Trap Ford,' which is directly north of Sugar Creek Springs, or Dogharty's." This survey was canceled, ahd the same was re-surveyed by Orson Lyon, in 1834, but the latter wrote no description of the fractional part of the township, thus re-surveyed by hira. West of Sugar Creek was surveyed into sections by J. W. Stephenson in the last quarter of 1832.

Township 6 north, of Range 8 east { Verona). - This township was surveyed into sections by Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor, who commenced his work (assisted by Russell Baldwin and Harvey Booth, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Marker), December 15, 1833, and completedit on the 22d of the same month. Mr. Miller, in his field-notes, says : " This is agood township of land, and timbered with burr, white, and yellow oak, and some hickory. It is watered by Sugar Creek and its tributaries. The water is of the best quality. There are no bad marshes. The timber is low and not valuable."

Township 7 north, of Range 8 east {Middleton). - This township was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker, and C. H. Stowell, H.

M. Draper and John Brink, Chainmen ; but. the southeast half of the survey was canceled and re-surveyed by Orson Lyon, in December, 1834 ; that is, all southeast of the military road was thus re-surveyed. Mr. Lyon, in his field-notes, has these " General Remarks :" " The southwest part of Fractional Township 7 north, of Range 8 /ast, is hilly and second-rate land. The northeast part is rolling and second-rate. It is timbered with burr, white and black oak, with an undergrowth of grass. Near the west side of the township, there is about three square miles of prairie. There is also a small portion of the southeast part of the township dry, rich prairie and first-rate land, with a growth of grass."

Township 8 north, of Range 8 east {Springfield). - This township was surveyed into sections by John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, with the assistants last mentioned ; commenced his labor March 19, 1833, and finished the same on the 24th of the same month.

Township 9 north, of Range 8 east {Dane). - John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, with the same assistants before mentioned, surveyed this township into sections, in the first quarter of 18B3.

Township 5 north. Range 9 east {Oregon). - This township was surveyed into sections by Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor, assisted by Russell Baldwin and Joshua Hathaway, Jr., Chainmen, and Richard Reese, Marker. Mr. Miller began his labors September 23, 1833, and ended on the 30th of the same month. In his notes, he says : " The last half of this town is good second-rate rolling land, and the whole town timbered with burr, white and yellow oak. The west half, except the marsh, is hilly and rather broken. There is little or no water upon the upland'. It has a bad marsh on the west side, with a stream passing through it."

Totvmhip 6 north, Range 9 east {Fitchburg). - Lorin Miller surveyed this township into sections, assisted by Russell Baldwin and Harvey Booth, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Axman. Mr. Miller commenced his survey December 7, 1833, and completed the same on the 14th of the month, when he wrote: " This is a good township of land, mostly gently rolling, with a good soil ; is not well watered ; otherwise holds out many inducements to the farmer. It has some springs and streams on the east side. On this township we saw many deer and prairie wolves."

Township 7 north, of Range 9 east {Madison). - Orson Lyon surveyed this township in December, 1834. In his field-notes, he says : " The township is rolling and second-rate land, timbered with burr, white and black oak. It has an undergrowth of oak and grass. The bank of the Third Lake is high, dry and rich land, except a part of the southwest side of the lake, in Section 25, which is low and marshy, also the southeast and west side of a pond [Lake Wingra], in Sections 26, 27 and 28. The bank of the Fourth Lake is, with few exceptions, high, dry ground, timbered with black, white and burr oak. In Section 1, there is a perpendicular bluff of rocks about sixty feet high. There is, in the northwest part of Section 1, a fine grove of sugar-trees, containing about two hundred acres of ground. The lakes are shallow, and well supplied with a variety of fish."

On Section 6, on the southeast side of the military road, Mr. Lyon sketches a house with a field adjacent. It is on the northwest shore of the lake, which he numbers "Fourth " Lake, now Lake Mendota. This incipient settlement is noted by the surveyor as " Mitchell's." On the east side of Fourth Lake, in Section 1, the "perpendicular blufi"" he speaks of, is McBride's Point C' Maple Bluff"). The grove is called " Sugar Grove " by Mr. Lyon. There isan Indian trail leading from Mitchell's around the west end of " Fourth Lake," in a southeast direction along the west end of " Third Lake," thence onward in an easterly direction along the south side of the last-mentioned lake.

Township 8 north. Range 9 east {Westport). - All west of the military road in this townsnip - that is to say, the two west tiers of sections nearly - was surveyed by John Mullett, in the ^oond quarter of 1833. He was assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker, and G. H. Stowell, John AT\ ^^^ ^' ^' -''^'"'*P^'"' Chainmen. The residue of the township was surveyed in November and December, 1834, by Orson Lyon, assisted by Harrison Fleshor and John Straight, Chainmen, and Madison Young, Marker. Mr. Lyon says : " The north part of Fractional Township « north, of Range 9 east, is high, rolling and hilly prairie, and first-rate land. The south and east part of the township, with the exception of the marshes, is rolling and second-rate land timbered with black, burr and white oak, with an undergrowth of grass. The marshes are level' second or third rate, with a growth of ^rass. The bank of the lake (the north side of Lake Mendota) is rolling first and second rare land, timbered with black oak, white oak, sugar-tree and linn. The southwest part of Section 27, and the southeast part of Section 28, is low marshy ground and third rate."

Township 9 north, of Range 9 east ( Vienna). - The west half of this township, or so much of it as lay west of the military road, was surveyed into sections by John MuUett, Dep,uty Surveyor, who began his work April 11, 1833, and ended the next day. He was assisted by Mahlon Blaker, Marker, C. H. Stowell, H. M. Draper and John Brink, Chainmen. The east half of this township, or so much as lay east of the military road, was surveyed by Orson Lyon, Deputy Surveyor, in November, 1834. Of the tract surveyed by him, Mr. Lyon says : " The fractional township (east half of what is now the town of Vienna) is nearly three-fourths high, dry and rich prairie, with a growth of grass and weeds. The remaining is fourth rate, and thinly timbered with burr and white oak, having an undergrowth of oak and grass. Near the corner of Sections 13 and 24, on the east side of the sections, there is a circular mound fifteen chains in diameter at the base, and about 120 feet high. In the middle of the township, the land is hilly and broken from the south part of Section 12 to the southwest part of Section 21, from a half to three-fourths of a mile in width, the remaining part rolling and nearly all first-rate land."

Township 5 north, of Range 10 east {Rutland). - This township was surveyed by Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor, into sections, assisted by Russell Baldwin and John Hathaway, Jr., Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Marker. The survey was commenced October 2, and completed October 9, 1833. Mr. Miller says: "This township is composed mostly of fine rolling land, well timbered, though not densely, with burr, white and yellow oak. A deep creek [Bad Fish] rises near the northwest corner, meanders across diagonally and leaves at the southwest corner, which with its tributary forms a stream of some importance, but is without sufficient fall for machinery. Its bottom is wide and marshy."

Toionship 6 north, of Range 10 east [Dunn). - This township was surveyed by Lorin Mil- ^ ler, Deputy Surveyor, who commenced his survey December 3, 1833, and completed the same March 2, 1834. He was assisted by Russell Baldwin and Harvey Booth, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Marker. Mr. Miller says: "This is a good township of land, and is watered with First and Second Lakes and two ponds, with Catfish Creek and a number of small streams, and has few marshes. Its waters abound with different kinds of fish, such as cat-fish, pike, black bass and rock bass. Geese and ducks are found in abundance. The land is rolling, and has many artificial mounds in different parts of the township. Between Sections 34 and 35 is a natural mound. In turning north at thirty chains you come to the foot of a circular ridge, the baae of which is fourteen chains, including the diameter of the circle. In the middle of this hollow is a beautiful natural mound, twenty-five feet in height, and beautifully sloping at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and entirely detached from said ridge. On the top of this mound (or nearly so) is a burr oak tree fourteen inches in diameter, and in exact line of the survey."

Township 7 north, of Range 10 east {Blooming Grove). - This township was surveyed in May and June, 1834, by Orson Lyon, Deputy Surveyor, who says: " The township is thinly timbered with burr and white and black oak. The north half is first and second rate, and gently rolling, except the marshes and swamps. The north part of the lower lake [Waubesa] is bounded by large marshes each side ; the water is shallow a considerable distance from the shore, and is well supplied with a variety of fish. The shore of the north or upper lake [Monona] is high and dry, good soil, and the lake is from two to four miles across, the water clear and shallow. No mineral of any description is known to exist within said township."

, Township 8 north, of Range 10 east {Burke). - Orson Lyon, Deputy Surveyor, surveyed this township into sections in September and October, 1834. He was assisted by Harrison Flesher and John Straight, Chainmen, and Madison Young, Marker. " This township," say» Mr. Lyon, " is high, dry, rolling land, except the marsh in the west part of the township, which is low, wet land, and of little or no value. The prairie is first-rate soil, the woodland second rate, timber rather scrubby burr, black and white oak. The southeast part of the township is hilly and broken. On the west half of thfe northwest quarter of Section 24, there is a natural circular mound, about 20 chains in diameter at the base and 100 feet high. At thirty-seven chains and sixty links east of tl)£ corner to Sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, there is a natural mound 3 chains in diameter at the base and 25 feet high. No mineral is known to exist within said township."

Township 9 north, of Range 10 east ( Windsor). - This township was surveyed into sections in November, 1834, by Orson Lyon, He was assisted by the parties mentioned in the last township. Mr. Lyon remarks : " The south and west part of this township is rolling, first and second rate land, thinly timbered with burr, white and black oak, with an undergrowth of oak, hazel and grass. The north and east part is'rich, rolling prairie and first-rate land, with a growth of grass and various kinds of reeds, except a part of Sections 12, 13 and 24, which is thinly timbered with black, burr and white oak, and has an undergrowth of oak, hazel and grass."

Township 6 north, of Range 11 east (Dunkirk). - ^Lorin Miller, Deputy Surveyor, commenced surveying this township into sections on the 12th of October, 1833, and completed his work on the 20th of the same. He was assisted by Eussel Baldwin and Harvey Booth, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Marker. "The aggregate quality of the soil of this township," says Mr. -Miller, "is perhaps a shade better than second rate. It is tolerably well watered by the Catfish [now the Yahara] and four small tributaries, two on either side. A narrow skirt of prairie is divided from -the Catfish by a like skirt of good timber. A good, dry, rolling prairie extends from the northwest quarter of the township far to the north, the soil of which is a dark, sandy loam. The Catfish Creek, or outlet of the Four Lakes, meanders pleasantly through the township, and abounds in fine fish and water- fowl, especially wild geese."

Township 6, north of Range 11 east [Pleasant Springs). - Lorin Miller surveyed this township into sections, assisted by the same parties as last mentioned. He commenced November 24,

1833, and completed March 3 following. Mr. Miller has this note : " This township, though divided by its share of crooked marshes, may be ranked as good second-rate land. The soil is generally a warm, light, sandy loam, which will richly repay the cultivator. It may be said to be well watered by the narrow marshes, in which is running water, in some places contracted into brooks, but mostly expanded over the marsh. The First Lake [Kegonsa] is a beautiful sheet of pure water, abounding in excellent fish and a great variety of water-fowl, which ofier fine inducements to the sportsman. The Catfish Creek, at a moderate expense in deepening the channel, may become (and undoubtedly will) navigable for steamboats from Rock River to this lake, a distance, by its meanders, of about twenty miles. A branch of the Whitewater Creek [the latter now known as the Koshkonong] rises on Section 24, and running north leaves the town on Section 12r The surface of the township is for the most part rolling, timbered with burr, white and yellow oak, rather thinly. A fine old sugar grove is noticed on Section 20. The evident remains of artificial mounds and embankments furnish food for the speculations of the curious."

1834, by Orson Lyon, assisted by Claudius J. Pettibone and John S. Faber, Chainmen, and Madison Young, Axman. Says Mr. Lyon : " The southeast, north and northwest parts of this township are rolling prairie, and first-rate land. From the northeast to the southwest part of the township, there is a line of marshes that lie so flat and low that they cannot be drained so as to be of any consequence. The ridges of dry land between the marshes are thinly timbered with white oak, black oak and burr oak ; poor, second-rate land. The streams are deep and muddy, the currents dull and sluggish. There are no springs except those which rise up in the marshes. Ihis township might be called second rate."

Township 8 north, of Range 11 east [Sun Prairie). In September, 1834, Orson Lyon surveyed this township into sections, assisted by Harrison Fletcher and John Straight, Chainmen, and

Madison Young, Axman. Mr. Lyon says : " The northeast half of this township is rolling and first-rate land, containing about three and a half square miles of prairie ; the remaining part timbered with burr, white and black oak, except the marsh in the southeast and northeast corner of the township. The southwest half, with the exception of the marsh, is rolling and second-rate land, thinly timbered with burr, black and white oak, with an undergrowth of oak and grass. The marshes are level and third rate, and have a growth of grass."

Township 9 north, of Range. 11 east {Bristol). - This township was surveyed by Orson Lyon into sections in October and November, 1834, assisted by the same parties last mentioned. The remarks of Mr. Lyon concerning this township are as follows : " The southwest and northwest part of this township is a rolling prairie and first rate. The east and north part, second rate, and is rather wet; timbered with burr, white and black oak, with an undergrowth of oak grass and weeds. The northeast part of the township is well supplied with water by springs rising near the heads and on the borders of the marshes."

Township 5 north, of Range 12 east {Albion) - Lorin Miller commenced October 22, 1833, to survey this township into sections, he completed his labors on the 1st of November following ; assisted by Russell Baldwin and Harvey Booth, Chainmen, and Richard Rees, Axman. Mr. Miller remarks : " This is a good township, with the exception of its marshes ; soil dark, sandy loam, well timbered with white, burr, and yellow oak and hickory, and is tolerably well watered, though some of its sections are otheFwise. Sections 25 and 36 are bounded on the east by Lake " Kuskonong " [Koshkonong], which is but an expansion of Rock River. This lake abounds in a variety of fish, such as pike, black and rock bass and catfish. Also at this season of the year are seen an innurherable multitude of ducks, wild geese and some swans. It has a stream called Muskrat Creek passing through its center, and another, crossing its northeast corner, called the Whitewater [now Koshkonong], the bottoms of which are marshy and bad."

Township 6 north, of Range W east { Christiana). - Lorin Miller surveyed this township into sections November 16, 1833, and completed the same on the 23d of the same month, assisted by the same party last mentioned. " The larger half of this township " says Mr. Miller, " consists of high, dry, rolling prairie of rich, light, sandy loam, tolerably well watered by the Whitewater [Koshkonong] which crosses the northwest corner of the township and intersects the northeast corner of the same, meanders across the east side and leaves at the southeast corner. The Muskrat Creek rises in marshes on southwest quarter of the same and leaves on Section 32. The several streams are skirted by good oak timber, some hickory and aspen. The mounds (artificial) are worthy the attention of the curious."

Township 7 north, of Range I'B east [Beerfield). - This township was surveyed into sections by Orson Lyon in April and May, 1834. Mr. Lyon says : " This township is thinly timbered with white, burr and black oak, except in the marshes and swamps, which are timbered with tamarack ; the growth in the marshes is flags and grass ; the marshes anjj swamps are nearly connected through the township, and lie so flat and low that the land is of little or no value. The land between the marshes is rolling ; soil, sandy, second and third rate. No mineral, no natural -er artificial curiosities are known to exist within said township."

Township 8 north, of Range 12 east {Medina). - This township was surveyed in June and September, 1834, by Orson Lyon, assisted by Peter M. Hannaman and Immanuel Richey, Chainmen, and Madison Young, Axman. Concerning this township, Mr. Lyon says : " This township is rolling, second and third rate land, timbered with burr, black and white oak, with an undergrowth of oak and grass, except the swamps and marshes, where the growth is tamarack, grass and flags, with low, level, wet and third-rate land."

Township 9, north of Range W, east { York). - Orson Lyon surveyed this township in 1834/ assisted by Harrison Flesher and John Straight, Chainmen, and Madison Young, Axman. The remarks ot Mr. Lyon are as follows : " This township is first and second rate land, timbered with burr and white oak, with an undergrowth of oak and grass, except the southwest corner of the township, which is low, level and marshy ground, and of little or no value. The water m the marshes in many places is impregnated with copperas ; besides the marshes the township is watered by several spring brooks."

By the end of 1833, a large amount of the public land in Wisconsin, south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, had been surveyed ; and, the fact being reported by the Surveyor General, two land districts were erected by an act of Congress, approved June 26, 1834. These districts embraced all the land north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the then Territory of Michigan. The area was then divided by a north-and-aouth line, drawn from the base line to the Wisconsin River, between Ranges 8 and 9. All east of that line was called the Green Bay Land District ; all west, the Wisconsin Land District. A land office of the eastern district was established at Green Bay ; of the western district, at Mineral Point.

In general terms, it may be said that all of the present county of Dane, lying west of a north-and-south line drawn along the western extremity of Lake Mendota, including what are now the towns of Perry, Primrose, Montrose, Blue Mounds, Springdale, Verona, Vermont, Cross Plains, Middleton, Black Earth, Berry, Springfield, Mazomanie, Roxbury and Dane, fell into the Wisconsin Land District ; all east of that line, including the present towns of Oregon, Rutland, Dunkirk, Albion, Fitchburg, Dunn, Pleasant Springs, Christiana, Madison, Blooming Grove, Cottage Grove, Deerfield, Westport, Burke, Sun Prairie, Medina, Vienna, Windsor, Bristol and York, also the city of Madison, fell into the Green Bay Land District.

Public sales of the surveyed lands in the two districts (and all the present territory of Dane County had been surveyed), were held in 1835, at Green Bay and Mineral Point, immediately after which the whole that remained unsold was open to private entry at $1.2.5 an acre.

By an act of Congress of June 15, 1836, the Milwaukee Land District was erected out of the southern portion of the Green Bay District, including all the land lying between Range 8 east and Lake Michigan, bounded on the south by the Illinois State line and extending north so as to reach to and include the tier of townships numbered 10 north ; also Townships 11 and 12 north, of Ranges 21 and 22 east. Of course, in this new district fell all of the townships now included in Dane County that are in Ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 east, and the present county limits were no longer - any portion of them - in the Green Bay District.

The land office for the new district was located at Milwaukee, where the first public sale of lands, which had been surveyed after the other lands had been offered at Green Bay and Mineral Point, was held. This was in the spring of 1839, but as all the lands in the townships last mentioned had been offered at public sale in Green Bay and Mineral Point, in 1835, of course they were not again put up for sale ; but parties desiring to enter lands in those townships had to go to Milwaukee to purchase of the Government instead of Green Bay, as formerly.

Census Of 1836

The first enumeration of the inhabitants living within what are now the limits of Dan© County was taken in July, 1836, when its territory was a part of Iowa and Milwaukee Counties. It so. happened that three of the families were living in the county last mentioned, but were so near the line (though actually in Milwaukee County) that they were enumerated in Iowa County. In numbering the inhabitants, the names of the heads of families only were noted ; but the males were numbered separately from the females ; thus :

-Resident, in fact, in Iowa County - in that part which afterward became the western half of Dane County. - Ed Kmel" w«nS i? S°*'.°' Milwaukee County - in thnt part which afterward became the eastern half of Dane County. The name "John plained -Sd intended for the Ffenchm.vi whoso r-al name was Oliver Bmell, frequently found written " Armel " as previously ex-

Subsequently, but before Dane was erected into a separate county, Bben Peck and wife came to the Bast Blue Mound, at Brigham's place, while "Wallace Rowan and family moved into what was afterward set off as Columbia County, at Poynette. When, therefore, the capital of Wisconsin Territory was located at Madison - November 28, 1836 - the country now included within the limits of Dane County, contained not less than twenty-nine inhabitants.

Te Ancient Pioneers

Abel Rasdall wa,s a native of Kentucky, born August 15, 1805, in Barron County, son of Robert and Elizabeth Rasdall. He was raised a farmer. When a young man, he went to Missouri and engaged in lead mining, and in 1828 went to Galena and assisted awhile the late James Morrison in his mining operations at Porter's Grove, about nine miles west of Blue Mounds, aind soon engaged in the business of an Indian trader, locating his cabin on the eastern shore of Lake Kegonsa, about a half-mile south of its outlet. He married a Winnebago woman by whom he had three children. She was a real help-meet to him in the Indian trade, but, accompanying him to Fort Winnebago at some Indian payment there, she sickened and died of smallpox, Rasdall alone attending her and burying her remains. He had been vaccinated when young, and did not take the disease. He subsequently married another Winnebago woman ; ,they had no issue, and when her people migrated west, she concluded to go with them - so Rasdall and his Indian wife cut a blanket in two, each taking a part, the Indian mode of divorce. In his trading with the Indians, Rasdall did not, by any means, confine himself to his trading establishment, but would pack several ponies with goods, and would take a tour among the Indian camps and settlements, and dicker off his goods for skins and furs. He obtained his goods at Galena, where he disposed of his furs and peltry. Not only ponies were used for packing a,nd transporting goods, but Indians also. In 1846, he was married to Mary Ann Pitcher, in Madison, by whom he had three sons. Mr. Rasdall died at his home at Token Creek, Dane Co., Wis., June 6, 1857, at the age of nearly 52 years. He will long be remembered as an early settler of the County, his trading adventures around the Four Lakes having commenced as early as 1831.

"Among those [early settlers] recently deceased," wrote one of the pioneers soon after the death of Rasdall, " was Abel Rasdall, who, I believe, was one of the first settlers in the Four Lakes region. His first settlement was at Porter's Grove^ which is situated about nine miles from the Blue Mounds, at which place he had charge of some business in connection with James Morrison. This was in. 1828, and the same year they were joined by Ebenezer Brigham. Mrs. Morrison joined her husband in January, 1829. Henry Dodge preceded them by but one year in the occupancy of this region, having located near his present home in 1827. Mr. Morrison huilt two cabins, in 1828, near the locality now known as Porter's Grove, one of which was designed as a repository of goods. The means of trafiic with the Indians were then very limited, consisting mostly in the exchange of goods of various cheap kinds for furs, of which the Indians had no just knowledge. Their goods consisted mostly of calico, woolen cloth, wampujn and beads. There was nothing like a fixed system of exchange. An article of goods worth one shilling would often readily exchange for the skin of an otter worth , $5. The Indians had no idea of the value of anything, and had no frugal ideas with regard to means of living. They subsisted mostly upon animal food, which generally Consisted of ducks and fish. There was a root used by the Indians which they regarded as a substitute for potatoes, which was found in marshes, growing in a succession of bulbs. Mr. Rasdall said it had. no resemblance to the arrowroot either in root or top. I was quite unable to get a satisfactory impression of what it was. Mr. Rasdall had not seen it for several years. The name gijren it by the Indians was No-ahhow-in. Mr. Rasdall was once cast ashore from Lake Mgpid^ta, and, having no provisions, subsisted upon this root for ten days. This was in 1835, while arranging a trading establishment near Lake Kegonsa. At a prior date, whileon an excursion near the same lake, he saw a bear, and soon after, coming across the wigwams near its outlet, he informed the Indians, who willingly sallied out, being in great want of food, and soon succeeded in capturing it. They readily divided the prey, allowing a liberal share to Rasdall's party, although quite short of food themselves. The Winnebago Indians, at that time, were regarded as friendly. The Sacs and Foxes had been displeased by the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, which led to a visit from Big Thunder to the region of the Four Lakes about that time. The Indians then appeared to be more provident, for in 1831, 1832 and 1833, Rasdall believed that they raised not less than 8,000 bushels of corn at the various fields and villages about the lakes. This was mostly stored in places arranged below ground, inclosed by the trunks of small trees, with which it was covered, and then often covered with earth.

"In the month of June, 1832, was the first assault from the Indians in this region of country. At that time, three men were killed near the rude fort which had been reared at Blue Mounds. The Indians seemed to cherish cruel intentions, as was inferred from their treatment of the bodies of these men, after they were slain, for they were horribly mutilated. These men were Smith, Force and Green ; others have only referred to the names of Force and Green, which has led to the impression that Mr. Smith may not have been killed at that precise time. Mr. Rasdall was one of fourteen men who were sent forward as a scout, when the army was pursuing Black Hawk from Rock River westward, before the battle at Wisconsin Heights. His party encamped about ten miles east of the Catfish [Yahara].

" They left their encampment early in the morning, and preceded the main body about two miles, crossing the Catfish, and reaching the present site of the city of Madison. Here an Indian was seen coming up from the shore of Lake Monona. He seated himself upon the bank, apparently indifferent to his fate. In a moment after, his body was pierced by several balls, one of which passed in at the temple and out at the back part of his head. Mr. Rasdall said the Indian proved to have been seated upon a grave, where he probably seated himself with the heroic intention of ending his days upon the grave of some dear friend or kindred. This, he thought, occurred about 8 o'clock in the morning, possibly earlier. The Indian was seated with his back partly toward the party, and was turning, apparently to look at them, when he received the shot. If the party had more fully appreciated the character of their victim, his life would, most likely, have been saved ; but, so frequent had been the deceptions practiced upon the whites, that it was not deemed safe to trust him, and they were at the time impressed with the idea that he was one of a party lying near in ambush.

" This party, which was commanded by Capt. Gentry, was sent forward in order to reconnoiter, and prevent a surprise by the main body, for they were well assured that the main body of Indians was but a short distance in advance, as was afterward proved, for this was the morning of the memorable 21st of July, near the evening of which was fought the battle of Wisconsin Heights. They hastened forward, passing a little north of what is now the Capitol Park, in Madison, and along Lake Mendota, near the University. When near Pheasant Branch, they saw an Indian in advance of them, who continued for the same distance for a short time, with no apparent definite purpose ; when he suddenly placed himself behind a tree, from which he fired at them. As he had plainly exhibited his intentions, their course was very plain, and he was soon slain by a shot from one of the party. By spreading out to right and left, his place of refuge from them was of little avail, and in an effort to escape he was shot down. So hot was their chase, that no time was appropriated to the examination of his body; but some weeks afterward, and after the prairie had been burned over, on examination of his body, the watch which had been taken from the body of Mr. Force was found among his effects. The watch was the more readily recognized, as it had been used at the fort at Blue Mounds to regulate the service of sentinels. Mr. Rasdall, with his party, hastened onward, after their adventure with the Indian near Pheasant Branch, and was engaged with the army under Gens. Henry and Dodge at the Wisconsin.

" During the battle, Mr. Rasdall said an Indian of noble form stood upon a high ropk, apparently engaged in cheering on his men, when a gun, considerably larger than others, was brought to bear upon him, but without effecting any injury. He soon retreated from his position. This Indian was supposed to have been the old chief, Black Hawk.