Iowa County, Wisconsin - Chapter 18, 1881 (part 17 of 17)

Col. Dodge, in a cool tone, ordered his forces to "dismount and form line." The order was executed in a trice. The next coinniund was, " Advance to the top of tliat eminence.' From the elevated range a good view could be obtained. Here the scouts were retreating down the valley, vigorously applying whip and spurs, to escape a score of Indians in pursuit. Capt. Clark opened column to admit the pass-age of the scouts, and then, forming line, presented a solid front to the foe, which had approached within six rods. A volley was fired, and one Indian bit the dust. The Galena company, with a well-directed fire, demoralized the enemy, who fled in dismay to a safe position behind a ridge forty rods distant. Col. Dodge ordered his men not to expose themselves or to expend a single shot witliout a sure target. The only wounded was Capt. Parkinson, Second Lieutenant, who received a bullet in the thigh. An inspection of arms followed, when the rifles were cleaned and priming renewed. Col. Dodge then ordered tlie charge, and the force advanced with eager rapidity, without encountering any obstacles. On arriving at the brow of the bluff", they were saluted by a volley, which passed over their heads. On the return fire six Indians fell, and the remainder retreated at the top of their speed. In the meantime, another party of Indians had outflanked Capt. Clark, who. by a welldirected charge, coupled with the skillful maneuvering of his company, averted a disaster and routed his opponents. They fled for a swamp of tall grass cane, which aff"orded them suitable shelter and covered their retreat to the opposite bank, where they emergod and disappeared in the woods. Owing to the late hour, it was deemed advisable to postpone the chase and recuperate for the night in camp. When another day was heralded in, the enemy had disappeare<l. having, during the night, beat a hasty retreat across the Wisconsin River, without removing their lodges. A short journey brought into sight Black Hawk's camp on the west side of the Wisconsin River, .about half a mile off". His camp was much larger than the camp of the military, and in the struggle of the preceding day the whites must have been greatly outnumbered. It was then decided to return to Blue ^tounds. To facilitate the transportation of the three wounded soldiers - Isam Ilardin. Robert McGee and Enoch Xevill - litters were prepared from the materials of a tent presented by Maj. W. L. D. Ewing to Capt. Clark's company. The loss was one killed and eight wounded. The return journey to Blue Mounds was tedious, owing to general ignorance of the topography of the country. To gain a rest rendered necessary by a month of incessant toil, day and night, the miners removed to White Oak Springs. Here the first information of the battle of Bad Axe, which occurred August 22, was received. This pleasant news was rapidly succeeded by an invitation for an Indian treaty at Rock Island, where a general peace was concluded. Tiie war being terminated, the diff'erent military divisions were (lischargeil, with the exception of Capt. Clark's and Capt. Gentry's companies, which were held in reserve. When the treaty of Rock Island was concluded, the miners were notified of their discharge from the Federal service, the Government having no further need for their services. By an infamous arrangement of the commanding officer of the forces, Col. Dodge, the two mining companies known respectively as Capt. Clark's and Capt. Gentry's men, were forced to assume the expenses of tlicir own corps during the campaign. The sum of over §4,000 was accordingly ilcducted from the pay of the men by the Paymaster, acting under orders from Col. Dodge. Having been involved in war for five months, ending in the Fall of 1832, Lieut. Magoon returned to commercial life, as, during his absence, his financial affairs had suffered. To add to his misfortunes, Robert Graham, his heaviest creditor, succumbed to the cholera, and the estate reverted to an administrator, who was inflexible in his demands. The years 1833, 1834 and 1835 were highly profitable, and successful to such a degree that he speedily regained his iodcpendent rank in finance.

In 183G, Lieut. Magoon opened a large store of dry goods and groceries in the village of White Oak Springs. One mile east of the village, he long operated an ash furnace for smelting slag as well as mineral. His store in MonticcUo and his furnaces thei'e he also operated at a remunerative profit. He sold out his store in White Oak Springs in 1837, closed his ash furnace, near by, in 1840. and closed his store and furnaces in Monticello in 1842. Continued to reside on his large farm in Monticello, which he adorned with extensive improvements till

Lieut. Richard H. Magoon, we here state, was a man of greatest energy and integrity in business ; repeatedly, from 1829 to 1836, rode on horseback from his furnaces in Wisconsin, four hundred miles, to St. Louis, through storm and cold, swimming rivers, the saddle at night his pillow, and often the sky his only covering. His grave is in the cemetery at Darlington. He

Errata

On page 433, the table showing list of names of those who operated in the lead region prior to 1830, should be headed " Those who smelted prior to 1830," not mined. The first line should read: * * amount of rent-lead collected," etc., not lead raised. The table shows only rent-lead collected by the Federal officers, which was but one-tenth of total output. According to these figures, over 30,000,000 pounds of lead was produced ; but those figures are probably not more than one-half of the ore product up to that date. The table was designed to preserve names only, and this error arose from a misunderstanding of the old document which furnished the names of smelters, not "'miners," as given. On page 417 "' Juld 2, 1847," should read "4iily 2, 1827. Lieut. Thomas granted a permit to M. C. White," etc.

Additional To Page 419

In 1845 or 1845, the Government sent an agent to this lead region, who investigated the condition of the mineral lands and reported to Congress, which body authorized the sale of the lands. Meetings of luiners and settlers were held throughout the mineral country, and the rights of miners were adjusted by arbitrators appointed at such meetings. Public bidders were appointed, also, who were empowered to bid off the mineral lands at the sale, June 1, 1847, and who afterward deeded the tracts to each party who had been designated by the arbitrators as the rightful claimant. No opposition was permitted to the bidders, who oftered only regular Government price.

The evening of the day previous to the arrival of Stillman and his men at Ottawa, the Indian massacre occurred on Imlian Creek, about fourteen miles distant from that place. It lias been stated that all the whites present at the time of the massacre, except the two Misses Hall, taken prisoners, were killed. This statement is not correct. The first intelligence received at Ottawa of that event was brought in by a young man, a brother of the Misses Hall, who was present at the commencement of the attack, and who arrived at Ottawa about midnight ; but his mind was so much confused by the fright that he was unable to give any connected statement of the fects until the next day. From his statement, it appears that the wagons containing the furniture and effects of the families were not yet unladen when the Indians made the attack. In the morning of the same day on which the occurrence transpired, the three

Col. Dodge, in a cool tone, ordered his forces to "dismount and form line." The order was executed in a trice. The next commund was, " Advance to the top of that eminence.' From the elevated range a jjood view could be obtained. Here the scouts were retreating; down the valley, vigorously applying whip and spurs, to escape a score of Indians in pursuit. Capt. Clark opened column to admit the passage of the scouts, and then, forming line, presented a solid front to the foe, which had approached within six rods. A volley was fired, and one turned to commercial life, as, during his absence, his financial affairs had suffered. To add to his misfortunes, Robert Graham, his heaviest creditor, succumbed to the cholera, and the estate reverted to an administrator, who was inflexible in his demands. The years 1833, 1834 and 1835 were higlily profitable, and successful to such a degree that he speedily regained his independent rank in finance.

In 183G, Lieut. Magoon opened a large store of dry goods and groceries in the village of White Oak Springs. One mile east of the village, he long operated an ash furnace for smelting slag as well as mineral. His store in Monticello and his furnaces there he also operated at a remunerative profit. He sold out his store in White Oak Sprin!:;s in 1837, closed his ash furnace, near by, in 1840, and closed his store and furnaces in Monticello in 1842. Continued to reside on his large farm in Monticello, which he adorned with extensive improvements till

Lieut. Richard H. Magoon, we here state, was a man of greatest energy and integrity in business ; repeatedly, from 1829 to 1836, rode on horseback from his furnaces in Wisconsin, four hundred miles, to St. Louis, throilgh storm and cold, swimming rivers, the saddle at night his pillow, and often the sky his only covering. His grave is in the cemetery at Darlington. He had his faults, but, looking back upon his forty-seven years all crowded with business in the mines, he could have made the honest boast, that, although cast amid the license of a new country, he never visited a gaming-table, never deserted a needy friend, never liked a negro, intensely despised the lazy, invincibly kept his word of honor-bright, and his contracts to others always at par with gold.

Soon after the appearance of Gov. Reynolds' order calling for troops, a force of nearly two thousand men had been assembled near the mouth of Rock River. Included in this force was a regiment of about four hundred men under Col. Stillman. Between Stillman's force and the band of Black Hawk was fought the first battle of the Sauk war, which affair resulted most disastrously to the whites. Three or four days after the battle, Stillman and his men came into Ottawa, 111., and a more sorry looking set could not have been found. From the various, and, in some instances, conflicting accounts, gathered from the men, it appears the following are about the facts with regard to the battle of the " Sycamores."

About the middle of the afternoon, on the day of the battle, the regiment had halted for the purpose of encamping for the night. Nearly all the horses had been picketed out, turned loose or otherwise disposed of. The men were lazily engaged about camp, some gathering wood, pitching tents, etc., and others drinking whisky, of which they had an abundance in camp, and to save time they knocked in the heads of the barrels containing it. But, suddenly, a great commotion arose ! Three Indians had made their appearance on the open prairie a short distance in advance. The cry was now raised, " Every man draw his rations of Sauks." Then the rush commenced ; the first man to mount his horse and give chase was the best fellow ; pell-mell was the order of march. This order, or rather disorder, continued for some distance, probably two or three miles. Two of the Indians were overtaken on the prairie and killed. At length, the rear of the army reached the Sycamore, a small stream on the outskirts of a grove of timber. Here they met the van in the same disgraceful order, in full retreat, and the whole body of Indians in hot pursuit. The whole direction of things had suddenly changed ; these men, who a few moments before were so anxious to pursue an enemy, were now more anxious to escape. Amid this confusion, Capt. Adams, with a company from Peoria, succeeded in crossing the creek, and took a position between the fugitives and the Indians. This position they held for some time against the whole force of the enemy, and no doubt saved the lives of many. This, however, was not accomplished without severe loss. Capt. Adams and about one-fourth of his men were left dead on the field.

There was no longer any uncertainty. The Indians separated their force into small bands, and numerous reports of sudden attacks and massacres, some true and others false, came in from various surrounding points.

The evening of the day previous to the arrival of Stillman and his men at Ottawa, the Indian massacre occurred on Indian Creek, about fourteen miles distant from that place. It has been stated that all the whites present at the time of the massacre, except the two Misses Hall, taken prisoners, were killed. This statement is not correct. The first intelligence received at Ottawa of that event was brought in by a young man, a brother of the Misses Hall, who was present at the commencement of the attack, and who arrived at Ottawa about midnight ; but his mind was so much confused by the fright that he was unable to give any connected statement of the facts until the next day. From his statement, it appears that the wagons containing the furniture and eff'ects of the families were not yet unladen when the Indians made the attack. In the morning of the same day on which the occurrence transpired, the three families of Hall, Pettigrew and Davis, had, upon warning received from Sbabbona, a Pottawotamie chief, that " The Sauks were coming," fled to Ottawa, the nearest settlement. Davis was not at home at the time ; but when he reached there a short time after the families bad left, he followed them to Ottawa, where he arrived about the same time thev reached that place. He at once declared his determination to take his family back home; and most unfortunately, and against the unanimous admonition of all the inliabitants, prevailed upon Hall and Pettigrew to accompany him with their families; and they had only just arrived at Davis' house late in the afternoon, when the Indians came upon them. At the moment of attack, Davis and young Hall were in the blacksmith shop. Davis was fi.xing his gun, and. at the same time, had the barrel of the gun separate from the stock. When the alarm was given, he rushed out of the shop with the gun-barrel in his hands, and was immediately surroundeil by the Indians. Young Hall ran to the creek, a few yards distant, jumped down the bank, and, taking the downward course of the stream, reached Ottawa the same night. The Misses Hall afterward said that Davis killed six Indians before he was finally overcome.

In the afternoon of the day following this massacre, a company of men from Ottawa, accompanied by some of Stillman's command, went to the scene of the murder, and the accounts they gave on their return of the appearance in and around the house was horrible in the extreme. Even little infants were literally cut to pieces ; and this, too, was done in the immediate presence, and, doubtless, with the sanction of Black Hawk himself