La Crosse County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1881 (part 1 of 16)

Reynolos Historical

AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES; AN EXTENSIVE AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES - THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDU.^TRIEo, MANUFACTORU:>, CHURCHES. SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES: ITS WAR RECORD, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIE.-, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS; THE WHOLE PRECEDED P. .' A HISTORV OF WISrONSIN, STATISTK^S OF THE STATE, AND AN ADSTKACT OF ITS LAW.^^ AND CONSTITUTION AND iiF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UN1TI;D STATES.

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volume the scattert'l frugmcnts of iocil hi-tory and to give as an aid to the coming searcher after historical truth a systematic recital of events in their relations to the labor of creating and developing La Crosse County. The labor bestowed upon this vork has been patiently performed ; it is for the jvublic to determine the degree of success attained.

The elaborate and highly interesting article on the Press, from the pen of Mr. Charles Seymour, is one of the most valuable portions of the book. Therein has a skilled writer drawn a clear-cut analysis of a noted character befire the country, and. although himself a political and busine.ss opponent of the man, Mr. Seymour lias evinced a moral courage that is admirable; he has dared to see and define the good qualities, as well as the mental attributes, of a nature which is worthy of the attention of psychologists. The success of Mark M. T'omeroy must be acknowdedged one of the noted journalistic phenomena of this generation; and the facts recorded in Mr. Seymour's sketch will supply the l.istorian of the war-period with most suggestive and significant data from which to draw conclusions. The La Crosse Driiiorrat was a representative of an element in th" national life which history cannot ignore; and he who writes must turn to La Crosse for a desc:iptir;n of that human instrumentality which wa-^ the startling embodiment of an idea.

In general terms, thanks are expressed to the Clergy, the Press, the Pioneers and the Public, for cordial co-operation in the compihition of this book.

That the History of La Crosse (Jounty as here presented may be satisfactory to ail - a Sentiment, we confess, that is bold, m view of the freedom and diversity of opinion - is the sincere prayer of ii~tnitiun. :;.v..n.l AiliniiihlrHtk Tliir.J Adriufustrati... Fourth Artiuini-tnilio Fiflh Ailniiui-lr.ili..n. Sixth A.liuilLi-tr.itioii Sfveiith All

The first explorers of the valleys of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi and its tributaries, seem not to have noticed, to any considerable extent, the existence within these vast areas oi monuments of an extinct race. Gradually, however, as the tide of emigration broke through the barriers of the Alleghanies and spread in a widely extended flow over what are now the States of the Northwest, these prehistoric vestiges attracted more and more the attention of the curious and the learned, until, at the present time, almost every person is presumed to have some general knowledge, not only of their existence, but of some of their striking peculiarities. Unfortunately, these signs of a long since departed people are fast disappearing by the never ceasing operations of the elements, and the constant encroachments of civilization. The earliest notices of the animal and vegetable kingdom of this region are to be found in its rocks; but Wisconsin's earliest records of men can oniy be traced in here and there a crumbling earth-work, in the fragment of a skeleton, or in a few stone and copper implements - dim and shadowy relics of their handicraft.

The ancient dwellers in these valleys, whose history is lost in the lapse of ages, are designated, usually, as the Mound-Builder? ; not that building mounds was probably their distinctive employment, but that such artificial elevations of the earth are, to a great extent, the only evidences remaining of their actual occupation of the country. .As to the origin of these people, all knowledge must, possibly, continue to rest \\[>on conjecture alone. Nor were the habitations of this race confined to the territory o-f which Wisconsin now forms a part. .\t one time, they must h.ave been located in many ulterior regions. The earth-works, tumuli, or "mounds," as they are generally designated, are usually symmetrically raised and often inclosed in mathematical figures, such as the square, the octagon, and the circle, with long lines of circumvallation. Besides these earth-works, there are pits dug in the solid rock; rubbish heaps formed in the prosecution of mining operations; and a variety of implements and utensils, wrought in copper or stone, or moulded in clay. W hence came the inhabitants who left these evidences to succeening generations .' In other words, who were tiie Mound-Builders.' Did they migrate from the Old World, or is their origin to be sought for elsewhere.' And as to their manners and customs and civilization - what of these things.' Was the race finally swept from the New World to gi\e place to Red men, or was it the one from which the latter descended .' These momentous questions are left for the ethnologist, the archsologist, and the antiquarian of the future to answer - if they can.

Inclosures and mounds of the prehistoric people, it is generally believed, constituted but parts of one system ; the former being, in the main, intended for purposes of defense or religion; the latter, for sacrifice, for temple sites, for burial places, or for observatories. In selecting sites for many of these earth-works, the Mound-Builders appear to have been influenced by motives which prompt civilized men to choose localities for their great marts; hence, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, MiUvaukee and other cities of the West are founded on ruins of pre-e.\istino' structures. River terraces and river bottoms seem to have been the favorite places for these earth-works. In such localities, the natural advantages of the country could be made available with much less trouble than in portions of the country lying at a distance from water-courses. In Wisconsin, therefore, as in other parts, the same general idea of selecting points contiguous to the principal natural thoroughfares is found to have prevailed with the Mound-Builders; for their works are seen in the basin of the Fox river of the Illinois, in that of Rock river and its branches, in the valley of Fox river of Green bay, in that of the Wisconsin, as well as near the waters of the Mississippi.

While a few circumvallations and immense mounds, such as are common to certain other portions of the United Srates, are discoverable in Wisconsin, yet by far the largest number of earthwork-, have one peculiarity not observable, except in a few instances, outside the State. This characteristic is a \ery striking one The fact is revealed that they are imitative in formresembling beasts, reptiles, birds, fish, man. All these, for convenience, are usually classed under tlie general name of "animal mounds," although some arc in the similitude of trees, some of war clubs, others of tobacco pi[)es. Generally, these figures are in groups, though sometimes they are seen alone. For what purpose these earth-works were heaped up - they rise above the surface two, four, and sometimes six feet - -or what particular uses they were intended to subserve, is unknown. It is, however, safe to affirm that they had some significance. A number resemble the bear; a few, the buffalo; others, the raccoon. Lizards, turtles, and even tadpoles, are outlined in the forms of some. The war eagle, and the war club has each its representative. All this, of course, could not have been a mere happening - the work of chance. The sizes of these mounds are as various as their forms. One near Cassville, in Grant county, very complete in its representation of an animal, supposed to be of the elephant species, was found, upon measurement, to have a total length of one hundred and thirty-five feet. Another in Sauk county, quite perfect in its resemblance to the form of a man, was of equal length - a veritable colossus; prone, it is true, and soon to disappear, if it has not already been destroyed, by ravages of a superior civilization.

In portions of Wisconsin, as well as in a few places outside the State, are found earth-works of another kind, but quite as remarkable as the "animal mounds," which, from their supposed use, have been styled "garden beds." Tlu-y are ridges, or beds, about six inches in height and four feet in width, ranged, with niu, h apparent method, in parallel rows, sometimes rectangular in shape, sometimes of various but regular and symmetrical curves, and occupying fields of from ten to a hundred acres.

The Mound-Kuilders have left many relics, besides their earthworks, to attest their presence in Wibconsin in a-es j a^t. Scattered widely are found htone and copjier axes, spear-heads, and arrow-lu'.icls, aKo various other inipleincnt.s - evidently their handiwork. As these articles are frequently discovered many feet beneath the surface, it argues a high antiquity for the artificers-. Whether they h.ul the skill to nir.uld their copper implements is doubtful. Such as plainly show the work of hammering, indicate an art beyond that possessed by the Red men who peopled America upon its first discovery- by Europeans. In a few instances, fragments of human skulls have been found so well preserved as to en.ible a conqjarison to be drawn between the crania of this ancient race and those of modern ones ; the results, however, of these comparisons throw little, if any, light upon "the dark backward and abysm" of mound-building times.

The evidences of an extinct people of superior intelligence is very strikingly exhibited in the ancient copper mines of the Lake Superior region. Here are to be found excavations in the solid rock; heaps of rubble and dirt ; copper utensils fashioned into knives, chisels, and spear and arrow-heads; stone hammers; wooden bowls and shovels; props and levers for raising and -supporting the mass copper; and ladders for ascending and descending the pits. These mines probably worked by people not only inhabiting what is now the State of Wisconsin, but territory farther to the southward. The copper was here obtained, it is believed, which has been found in many places, even as far away as the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico, wrought into various implements and utensils. But there are no traces in Wisconsin of a " copper age " succeeding a " stone age," discernible in any prehistoric relics. They all refer alike to one age - the indefinite past; to one people - the Mound-Builders.

When, as early, it is believed, as 1634, civilized man first set foot upon the territory now included within the boundaries of Wisconsin, he discovered, to his surprise, tliat upon this wide area met and mingled clans of two distinct and wide-spread families - the Algonquins and Sioux. The tribes of the former, moving westward, checked the advance of the latter in their excursions eastward. As yet there had been no representatives of the Huron-Iroquois seen west of Lake Michigan - the members of this great family, at that date dwelling in safety in the extensive regions northward and southward of the Erie and Ontario lakes. .-Vlready had the French secured a foot-hold in the extensive valley of the St. Lawrence ; and, naturally enough, the chain of the Great Lakes led their explorers to the mouth of Green bay, and up that watercourse and its principal tributary. Fox river, to the Wisconsin, an affluent of the Mississipjii. On the right, in ascending this bay, was seen, for the first time, a nation of Indians, lighter in complexion than neighboring tribes, and remarkably well formed, now well known as the Menomonf.es.

This nation is of Algonquin stock, but their dialect differed so much from the surrounding tribes of the same family, it having strange guttural sounds and accents, as well as peculiar inflections of verbs and other parts of speech, tiiat, for a long time, they were supposed to have a distinct language. Their traditions point to an emigration from the East at some remote period. When first visited by the French missionaries, these Indians subsisted largely upon wild rice, from wluch they took their name. The harvest time of this grain was in the month of September. It grew spontaneously in little streams with slimy bottoms, and in marshy places. Tiie harvesters went in their canoes across these watery fields, shaking the ears right and left as they advanced, the grain falling easily, if ripe, into the bark receptacle beneath. To clear it from chaff and strip it of a pellicle inclosing it, they put it to dry on a wooden lattice above a small fire, which was kept up for several da)-s. When the rice was well dried, it was placed in a skin of the form of a bag, which was then forced into a hole, itiade on puTpose, itj tlw ground. They then tread it out so long and so well, that the grain being freed from the chaff, was easily winnowed. After this, it was [)uundcd to meal, or left uni)0unded, and boiled in water seasoned with grease. It thus became a very palatable diet. It must not he inferred that this was the only food of the Menomonees; they were ade[)ts in fishing, and hunted with skill the game which abounded in the forests.

grounds upon, or adjacent to, tiie Menomonee river. Finally, after the lapse of a century and a: quarter, down to 1760, when the French yielded to the English all claims to the country, the territory of the Menomonees had sliifted somewhat to the westward and southward, and their principal village \vas found at the iiead of Green bay, while a smaller one was still in existence at the mouth of their favorite stream. So slight, however, had been this change, that the country of no other of tiie surrounding tribes had been encroached upon by the movement.

Tn 1634, the Menomonees probably took part in a treaty with a representative of the French, «-ho had thus early ventured so far into the wilds of the lake regions. More than a score of years elapsed before the tribe was agam visited by white men, - that is to say, there are no authentic accounts of earlier visitations. In 1600, Father Rene Menard had penetrated the Lake- Superior country as far, at least, as Kewenaw, in what is now the northern part of Michigan, whence some of his French companions probab'y passed down the Menomonee river to the waters of Green bay the following year; but no record of the Indians, through whose territory they passed, was made by these voyagers. Ten years more - 1670 - brouglit to the .Menomonees (who doubtless h.id already been visited by French fur-traders) F"ather Claudius Allouez, to win them to Christianity. He had previously founded a mission upon the bay of Chegoimegon, now Chaquamegon, or Ashland ba\ , an arm of Lake Su[ierior, within the present State of Wisconsin, in charge of which, at that date, was Father James Marquette. Proceeding from tlie " Sault" on the third of November, Alloue/, early in December, 1669, reached the mouth of Green bay, where, on the third, in an Indian village of Sacs, Pottawattamies, Fo.xes and Winnebagoes, contain ing about six hundred souls, he celebrated the holy mass for the first time upon this new field of his labors,. - eight Frenchmen, traders with the Indians, whom the missionary found there upon his arrival, taking part in the devotions. His first Christian work with the .Menomonees was performed in May of the ne.xt year. Alloue?: found tliis tribe a feeble one, almost exterminated by war. He spent but little time with them, embarking, on the twentieth of that month, after a visit to some Pottawattamies and Winnebagoes, ''with a Frenchman and a savage to go to Sainte Mary of the. Sault." His place was filled by Father Louis .Vndre, who, not long after, erected a cabin upon the Menomonee river, which, with one at a village where his predecessor had already raised the st.-indard of the cross, was soon burned by the savages; but the missionary, living almost constantly in his canoe, continued for some time to labor with the Menomonees and surroundinir tribes. The efforts of Andre were rewarded with some conversions among the former; for Marquette, who visited them in 1673, found many good Christians among them.

The record of ninety years of French domination in Wisconsin - beginning in June, 1671, and ending in October, 1761 - brings to light but litilc ui' interest so f.ir as the Menomonees are concerned. Gradually they e\teniled their intercourse with the white fur traders. Gradually and with few interrujnions (one in 1728, and one in 1747 of a serious character) they were drawn under the banner of France, joining with that government in its wars with the Iroquois* in its contests, in 1712, 1729, 1730, and 1751, witii the Fo.xes ; and. subsequentlv, in its conflicts witii the English.

The French post, at what is now C.reen R.iy, r.nr.vn county, Wisconsin, was, aloni^ with the residue of the western forts, s'.irrendercd tn t!ic British in 176J, although actual possession of the former was not taken until the Fall of the next year. The land on whicii the fort stood was cL.imed by the Menomonees. Here, at that d.itr, was their upper and princi;KiI villa. -c, the i'lvcr one being at the mouth of the .Men muMue nvcr. These Indians soon liocame reconciled ti) the English occupation of their territory, notwithstanding the machinations of French traders who endeavored to prejudice them ag.iinst the new comers. The Menomonees, at this time. were very much reduced, having, but a short time iirevious, lost three hundred of their warriors

-bv t'le small po^, and most of tneir chiefs in the late war in which they had been engaged by the then French commander there, against the English. They were glad to substitute English for French traders as they could purchase supplies of them at one half the price they had previously -naid II was not long before the sincerity of the Menomonees was put to the test. Pontiac s War of 1 763 broke out, and the post of Mackinaw was captured. The garrison, however, at Green b,v was not only not attacked by the savages, but, escorted by the Menomonees and other tribes, <:rossed Lake Michigan in safetv to the village of L'Arbre Croche ; thence making their way to Montreal The Menomonees continued tiieir friendship to the English, joining with them ^c^ainst the Colonies during the RevoUitmn, and fighting on the same side during the war of

When in July, 1S16, an American force arrived at Green bay to take possession of the countrv the Menomonees were found m their village near by, very peaceably inclmed. The -commarlder of the troops asked permission of their chief to build a fort. '" .My Brother!" was -the response, " how can we oppose your locating a council-fire among us ? \ ou are too strong us Even if we wanted to oppose you we have scarcely got powder and ball to make the attempt One favor we ask is, that our French brothers shall not be disturbed. You can choose any place you please for your fort, and we shall not object." No trouble had been anticipated -from the Menomonees, and the expectations of the government of the United States m that rec-ard were fully realized. What added much to the friendship now springing up between the Menomonees and the Americans was the fact that the ne.xt year - 1S17 - the annual contribution, ^vhich for manv years had been made by the British, consisting of a shirt, leggins, breech-clout and blanket for each member or the tribe, and for each family a copper kettle, knives, axes, guns ammunition, was withheld by them.

It was found by the Americans, upon their occupation of the Menomonee territory, that someofthe women' of that tribe were married to traders and boatmen who had settled at t',e head of the bay, there being no white women in that region. Many of these were Canadians of French extraction; hence the anxiety that they should be well treated, which was expressed by the Menomonees upon the arrival of the American force. At this period there was a considerable trade carried on with these Indians at Prairie du Chien, as many of them frequently wintered on the Mississippi. The first regular treaty with this tribe was " made and concluded" on the thirtieth day of March, 1S17, "by and between William Clark, Ninian Edwards, and Au-uste Chouteau, commissioners on the part and behalf of the United States of America, of the one^art," and the chiefs and warriors, deputed by the Menomonees, of the other part. By the terms of this compact all injuries were to be forgiven and forgotten ; perpetual peace established; lands, heretofore ceded to other governments, confirmed to the United States ; all prisoners to be delivered up ; and the tribe placed under the protection of the United States, " and of no other nation, power, or ^overeign, whatsoever." The Menomonees were now fully and fairly, and for the first time, entitled to be known as " American Indians," in contradistinction to the term which had been so long used as descriptive of their former allegiance - " British Indians."

The territory of th^e Menomonees, when the tribe was taken fully under the wins; of the General Government, had become greatly extended. It was bounded on the north by the dividing rid<^e between the waters llowing into Lake Superior and those flowing south into Cireen bay and the°Mississippi; on the e.ist, by L.tke Michigan; on the south, by the Milwaukee river, and on the west by the Mississippi and Black rivers. This was their territory; though they were pr.^. - tically restricted to the occupation of the western shore of Lake Michigan, lying between tl.c mouth of Green bay on the north and the Milwaukee river on the south, and to a somewhat indefinite area west! Their general claim as l.Ue as iS.'S, was north to the Chip east to Green bay and Lake Michigan ; south to the Milwaukee river, and west to Black river. And what is most surprising is that the feeble tribe of 1761 had now, in less than three quarters of a century, become a powerful nation, numbering between three and four thousand.

The Menomonee territory, as late as 1S31, still preserved its large proportions. Its eastern division was bounded by the Milwaukee river, the shore of Lake Michigan, Green bay, Fo.x river, and Winnebago lake; its western division, by the ^V'iscon3in and Chippewa rivers on the west; Fox river on the south ; Green bay on the east, and the high lands whence flow the streams into Lake Superior, on the north. This year, however, it was shorn of a valuable and large part by the tribe ceding to the United States all the eastern division, estimated at two and one half million acres. The following year, the Menomonees aided the General Government in the Black Hawk war.

That the Menomonees might, as much as possible, be weaned from t'.ieir wandering habits, their permanent home was designated to be a large tract lying north of Fo.x river and east of Wolf river. Their territory farllier west, was reserved for their hunting grounds until such time as the General Government should desire to purchase it. In 1S3C, another portion, amounting to (our million acres, lying between Green bay on the east and Wolf river on the west, -was disposed of to the United States, besides a strip three miles in width from near the portage north, on each side of the Wisconsin river and forty-eight miles long - still leaving them in peaceable possession of a country about one hundred and twenty miles long, and about eighty />road.

Finally, in 1S4S, the Menomonees sold all their lands in Wisconsin to the General Government, preparatory to their movement to a reservation beyond tlie Mississippi cf si.x hundred thousand acres ; but the latter tract was afterv\'ard re-ceded to the United States; for, notwithstanding there were treaty stipulations for the removal of the tribe to that tract, there were cibstacles in the way of their speedy migration, resulting, finally, in their being permitted to remain in Wisconsin. Lands, to the amount of twelve townships, were granted them for their permanent homes, on the upper Wolf river, in what is now Shawano and Oconto counties - a portion, but a very small one, of what was once their extensive possessions. To this reservation they removed in October, 1S52. Thus are the Menomonees, the only one of the original tribes of Wisconsin who, as a whole, have a local habitation within its limits. This tribe refused to join the Sioux in their outbreak in 1S61, and several of their warriors served as volunteers in the United States army during the late civil war.

It is now over two centuries since the civilized world began to gain knowledge of the e.xistence, in the far ^Vest, of a tribe of Indians known as the Wi.vneb.ac.oes - that is, vien of the sea; ])ointing, possibly, to tluir early migration from the shores of the Mexican gulf, or the Pacific. The territory now included within the limits of \\'isconsin, and so much of the State of Michigan as lies north of Green bay. Lake Michigan, tiie Straits of Mackinaw and Lake Huron were, in early times, inhabited by several tribes of the .-Vlgonquin race, forming a barrier to the Dakotas, or Sioux, who had advanced eastward to the Mississippi. But the Winnebagocs, although one of the tribes belonging to the family of the latter, had passed the great river, at some unknown period, and settled upon the head waters of Green hay. Here, this "sea-tribe," as early, it is believed, as 1634, was visited by an agent of Frar.ee and a treaty concluded with them. The tribe .ifierward called themselves Hochungara, or Ochunkoraw, but were styled by the Sioux, Hotanke, or Sturgeon. Nothing more is heard of the Oucnibigout/, or Winnebegouk (as the ^Vinnebagoes A'cre early called by the Jesuit missionaries, and tl.e .\lgonquin tribes, meaning men from the f:tid or salt water, translated by the French, Puants) for the next thirty-fne ve.irs, although ".here is no doubt that the tribe had been visited meanwhile by adventurous Frenrhnien, when on the second of December, 1669, some of that nation were noted at a Sac (Sauk or Saukis) village on Green bay, by Father .MIouez.

The Indian Tribes Of Wisconsin

nnred a ainst the French, who were there trading ; iU-treatmg tnem m deeds and ^^ords, pillagnrandcarrvi" away their merchandise in sp.e of them, and conductmg themselves toward

'1 .0 trade Ind particularly from the soldiers, from whom they pretended to have received Cv^oV; afd in^-rs." It islhus made certain that the arms of France were earned into thP territory of the Winnebagoes over two hundred years ago.

The Fox river of Green bav was found at that date a difficult stream to navigate. Two u n 1-H the river in 16-0 had "three or four leagues of rapids to contend with,

^r^thlvh^d^rwed 'o da 's ^r ev-- from the head of the b.ay, "more difficult than those whentheyhadadNam.ed onea > 3 flints, over which " they had to walk with

:S Z ::7:^^^^: :;: "o -- ILp and so cutUng, that one ha. aU the trouble in t^ t a to 1 old one's self steady against the great rushing of the waters." At the falls they ound

1 Lth^t thTs v"es honored; "never failing, in passing, to make him some sacrifice of obacco '; - -, or^paintings, or other things, to thank him th;U. by his assistance they had in ascend ;"avoided the dangers of the waterfalls which are in this stream ; or else, if they had to ascend to prav him to aid them in this perilous navigation." The devout missionaries caused theTdol " to be lifted up by the strength of arm, and cast into the depths of the nver, to appear no more " to the idolatrous savages. , . ,, -

The mission of St. Francis Xavier, founded in December, 1669, by Allouez, was a roving one among the tribes inhabiting the shores of Green Day and the interior country watered by the Fox Hver and its tributaries, for about two years, when its first mission-house was erected at .hat . now Depere, Brown county. This chapel was soon after destroyed by hre, but was rebuilt

'" ' The Winnebacvoes, by this time, had not only received considerable spiritual instruction from the Tesuit fathers, but had obtained quite an insight into the mysteries of trading and traflick.ng with white men; for, following the footsteps of the missionaries, and sometimes preceding the.n, were the ubiquitous French fur traders. It is impossible to determine precisely what territory was occupied by the Winnebagoes at this early date, farther than that they lived near the head

\7.recr trade with the French upon the St. Lawrence was not carried on by the Winnebagoes to any great extent until the beginning of the eighteenth centur)-. As early as 1679, an^advance party of La Salle had collected a large store of furs at the mouth of Green ba>, doubtless in a traffic with this tribe and others contiguous to the.n; generally, hoNvcver, the surrounding nations sold their peltries to the (^llawas, who disposed of them in turn, to the French The commencement of the eighteenth century found the Winnebagoes firm y m alliance with France, and in peace with the dre.rded Iroquios. In I7i.>, the nation numbered six hundred. They were afterward found to have moved up Fox river locating upon W innebago lake, which stream and lake were their ancient seat, and from which they had been drnen either bv fear or the prowess of more i>owerful tribes of the West or South-.vest. Their intercourse widi the French was gradually extended and generally pe.iceful, though not always so. joining with them, as did the Menomonees, m their wars u.th the Iroquois, and subsequently in their confiicts with the English, which finally ended in 1760.

Green bay, the ^Vinne!>al^oes were fovind to iiuiuher one hundred and tifty warriors only ; their nearest village being at the lower end of \V'inncL)ag(j lake. Tiiey had in all not less than three towns. Their country, at this period, included not only that lake, but all the streams flowing into it, especially Fox river; at'terward extended to tlie Wisconsin and Rock rivers. They readily changed their course of trade - asking now of the commandant at the fort for English traders to be sent among them. In the Indian outbreak under Pontiac in 1763, they joined with the Menomonces and other tribes t.> befriend the British garrison at the head of the bay, assisting in conducting them to a place of safety. They continued their friendship to the English daring the Revolution, by joining with tliem against the colonies, and were active in the Indian war of 1790-4, taking [urt in the attack on Fort Recovery, upon the Maumee, in the present State of Ohio, in 1793. They fought also on the side of the British in the war of 1812-15, aiding, in 1S14, to reduce Prairie du Chien. They were then estimated at 4,500. When, in 1816, the government of the Ignited States ~ent troops to take possession of the Green bay country, by establishing a garrison there, some trouble was anticipated from these Indians, who, at that date, had the reputation of being a bold and warlike tribe. A deputation t"rom the nation came down Fox river and remonstrated with tlie American commandant at what - .s thought to be an intrusion. The^ were desirous of knowing why a fort was to be establisiitd so near them. The reply was that, although the troops were armed for war if necessary, their purpose was peace. Their res[ionse was an old one ; " If your object is [(eace, you have too many men; if war, you have too few." However, the display of a number of cannon which had not yet been mounted, satisfied the Winneliagoes that the .\merican.-> were masters of the"situation, and the deputation gave the garrison no farther trouble. On the 3d of June, 1S16, at St. Louis, the tribe made a treaty of peace and friendshii; witii t!ie General Government; but they continued to levy tribute on all white people who passed up Fox river. English annuities also kept up a bad feeling. At this time, a porti(jn of the tril)e was living upon the Wisconsin river, away from the rest of the nation, which w.is still seated upon the waters flowing into Cireen bay. In 1S20 they had five villages on Winnebago lake and fourteen on Rock river. In 1S25, the claim of the 'Winnebagoes was an extensive one, so far as territory was concerned. Its southeast boundary stretched away from the source of Rock river to within forty miles of its mouth, in Illinois, where they had a village. On the west it extended to the heads of the small streams flowing into the Mississipiii. To the northward, it reached Black river and the upper Wisconsin, in other words, to the Ghippewa territory, but did not extend across Fox river, althou'^h they contended for the whole of W'inneb.igo lake. In 1S29, a large part of their territorv in southwest \Msconsin, lying between Sugar river and the Mississippi, and extending to the Wisconsin river, was sold to the General Government; and, three years later all the residue lyinc south and east of the Wisconsin and the Fox river of Green bay ; the Winnebago prophet havinobefore that date su[iported the Sacs in their hostility. Finally, in the brief language of the treaty lietween this tribe (which had bei ome un>cttlcd and wasteful) and the United States, of the first of November, iS37,"The Winnebago Nation of Indians " ceded to the General Government '- all their lands east of the Mis-,issi[Mii," Xot an acre was reserved. And the Indians agreed that, within eight month-, from tliat tl.ite, they would move west of " the great river." This arrangement, however, was not carried out fully. In 1S42, there were only 756 at Turkey river, low.i, their new home, wiili as many in Wisconsin, and sm.iller bands e' ev. here. .-Ml had become lawless, and roving. Some removed in 134S; while a party to the number of over eight hundred left the State a, late as 1073. The [-re-icn: liome of tlie tribe is in .Nebra:,ka, where they have a reservation north (if and adjacent to the Om.ihas, containing over one hundred thousand acres. However, since their first removal beyond the !Mississip[)i, the)- have several times

\Vhen the territorv, now constituting the northern portion of Wisconsin, became very generallv known to the civili/.ed inh.abitants of the eastern part of the United States, it was found to be occupied by Indians called the Chipi'kwas. Their hunting-grounds extended south from Lake Superior to the heads of the Menomouee, the Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers; also farther eastward and westward. .\t an early day they were engaged in a war with the Sioux - a war indeed, which was long continued. The Ciiippewas, however, persistently maintamed their position - still occupying the same region when the General Government extended its jurisdiction over the whole country south of the Great Lakes and west to the Mississippi.

By treaties with tlie Chippewas at different periods, down to the year 1827, the General Government had recognized them as the owners of about one quarter of what is now the entire State. The same policy was pursued toward this tribe as with neighboring ones, in the purchase of their lands by the United States. Gradually they parted with their extensive possessions, until, in 1S42, the last acre within what is now Wisconsin was disposed of. It was the intention of the General Government to remove the several bands of the Chippewas who had thus ceded their lands to a tract reserved for them beyond the Mississippi; but this determination was afterward changed so as to allow them to remain upon certain reservations within the limits of their oldtime hunting grounds. These reservations they continue to occupy. They are located in Bayfield, .\shland, Chippewa and Lincoln counties. The clans are known, respectively, as the Red -Cliff band, the Bad River band, the Lac Courte Oreille band, and the Lac de Flambeau band.

Of all the tribes inhabiting what is now Wisconsin when its territory was first visited by white men, the S.iCS (Sauks or Saukies) and Foxes (Outagamies) are, in history, the most noted. 'They are of the Algonquin family, and are first mentioned in 1665, by Father Allouez, but as -separate tribes. Afterward, however, because of the identity of their language, and their associations, they were and still are considered as one nation. In December, 1669, Allouez found upon the shores of Green bay a village of Sacs, occupied also by members of other tribes; and in 1670 he visited a village of the same Indians located upon the Fox river of Green bay, at a distance of four leagues from its mouth. Here a device of these Indians for catching fish arrested the attention of the missionary. " From one side of the river to the other," he writes, "they made a barricade, planting great stakes, two fathoms from the water, in such a manner that there is, as it were, a bridge above for the fishes, who by the aid of a little bow-net, easily take sturgeons and all other kinds of fish which this pier stops, although the water does not cease to flow between the stakes." When the Jesuit father first obtained, five years previous, a knowledge of this tribe, they were represented as s.ivage above all others, great in numbers, and without any permanent dwelling place. The Foxes were of two stocks: one calling themselves Outagamies or Fo.xes, whence onr English name ; the other, Mus(]Makink, or men of red clay, the name now used by the tribe. They lived in e.irly times with their kindred the Sacs east of Detroit, and as some say near the St. Lawrence. They were driven west, and settled at Saginaw, a name derived from the Sacs. Thence they were forced by the Iro(]uois to Green bay; but Were compelled to leave that place and settle on Fox river.

-Mlouez, on the twenty-fourth of .Ajjril, 1670, arrived at a vilIaE;e of the Foxes, situated on Wolf river, a northern tributary of tlie Fox. "Tlie nation," lie declares, "is renowned for being numerous ; they have more than four hundred men bearing arms ; the number of women and cliildren is greater, on account of polygamy whiuh exi-ts among them - eacii man having commonly four wives, some of them six, and olliers as high as ten." The missionary tound that tlie Foxes had retreated to those parts to escape the persecutions of the Iroquois, .\llouer. -established among these Indians his mission of St. Mark, rejoicing in the fart that in less than two years he had baptized "sixty children and some adults." The Foxes, at the summons of De la Barre, in 16S4, sent warriors against the Five Nations. They also took part in Denonville's more serious campaign ; but soon after became hostile to the French. As early as 169.3, thev h.id plundered several on their way to trade with the Sioux, alleging that they were carrying arms and ammunition to their ancient enemies - frequently causing them to make portages to the southward in crossing from Lake Michigan to the ^[ississippi. Afterward they became reconciled to the French; but the reconciliation was of short duration. In 17 12, Fort Detroit, then defended by only a handful of men, was attacked by them in conjunction with the Mascoutens and Kickapoos. However, in the end, by calling in friendly Indians, the garrison not only protected themselves but were enabled to act on the offensi\e, destroying the greater part of the besieging force.

The nation continued their ill will to the French. The consequence was that their territory in 1 7 16 had been invaded and they were reduced to sue for peace. But their friendship was not of long continuance. In 17 iS, the Foxes numbered five hundred men and " abounded in women and children." They are spoken of at that date as being very industrious, raising large quantities of Indian corn. In 172S, another e.xpedition was sent against them by the French. Meanwhile the Menomonees had also become hostile; so, too, the Sacs, who were now the allies of the Foxes. 1'he result of the enterprise wa^, an attack -upon and the defeat of a number of Menomonees; the burning of the wigwams of the Winnebagos (after passing the deserted village of the Sacs upon the Fox river), that tribe, also, at this date being hostile ; and the destruction of the fields of the Foxes. They were again attacked in their own country by the French, in 1730, and defeated. In 1734, both the Sacs and Foxes came in conflict with the same foe; but this time the French were not as successful as on previous expeditions. In 1736, the Sacs and Foxes were "connected with the government of Canada; " but it is certain they were far from being friendly to the French.

The conflict between France and Great Britain commencing in 1754, found the Sacs and Foxes allied with the former power, against the English, although not long previous to this time they were the bitter enemies of the French. At the close of tiiat contest so disastrous to the interests of France in Xorth America, these tribes readily gave in their adhesion to the conquerors, asking that English traders might be sent them. The two nations, then about equally divided, numbered, in 1761, about seven hundred warriors. Xeither of the tribes took part in Pontiac's war, but they befriended the English. The Sacs had migrated farther to the westward; but the Foxes - at least a portion of them - still remained upon the waters of the river of Green bay, which perpetuates their name. A few years later, however, and the former were occupants of the upper ; also, to a considerable distance below the portage, where their chief town was located. Further down the same stream was the upper village of the Foxes, while their lower one was situated near its mouth at tlie site of the present city of Prairie du Chien. .\t this date, 1766, the northern portion of what is now Wisconsin, including all that part watered by the streams flowing north into Lake Superior, was the home of the Chippewas. The country around nearly the whole of Green bay was the hunting ground of the Menomonees. The territory of Winnebago lake and Fox river was the seat of the Winnehagoes. The region of the Wisconsin river was tiie dwelling place of the Sacs and Foxes.

During the war of the Revolution, the Sacs and Foxes continued the firm friends of the English. At the commencement of the nineteenth century, only a small part of their territory was included in wiiat is now Wisconsin, and tiiat was in the extreme southwest. In 1S04, they ceded this to the L-nited States; so that they no longer were owners of any lands within tliis State. From that date, therefore, these allied tribes can not be considered as belonging to the

Indian nations of Wisconsin. A striking episode in their subsequent history - the Black Hawk War - comes in, notwithstanding, as a part, incidentally, of the annals of the State.

Deservin- a place m a notice of the Indian tribes of Wisconsin is the nation known as the POTTAWATT .MIES. As earlv as 1639, they were the neighbors of the Winnebagoes upon Green bav They were still upon its southern shore, in two villages, in 1670 ; and ten years suDsequent to 'that date they occupied, at least in one village the same region. At the expiration of the first quarter of the eighteenth century, a part only of the nation were m that vicinity - upon the islands at the mouth of the bav. These islands were then known as the Pottawattamie islands, and considered as the ancient abode of these Indians. Already had a large portion of this tribe emigrated southward, one band resting on the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan, the other near Detroit. One peculiarity of this tribe - at least of such as resided in what is now Wisconsin- was their intimate association with neighboring bands. When, in 1669, a village of the Pottawattamies, located upon the southeast shore of Green bay, was visited by Allouez, he found with them Sacs and Foxes and Winnebagoes. So. also, when, many years subsequent to that date, a band of these Indians were located at Milwaukee, with them were Ottawas and Chippewas. Tliese " united tribes " claimed all the lands of their respective tribes and of other nations, giving tne United States, when possession w.as taken of the western country by the General Government, no little trouble. Finally, bv a treaty, held at Chicago in 1833, their claims, such as they were, to lands along the western shore of Lake Michigan, within the present State of Wisconsin, extending westward to Rock river, were purchased by the United States, with permission to retain possession three years longer of their ceded lands, after which time this " united nation of Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawattamies " began to disappear, and soon were no longer seen m southeastern Wisconsin or in other portions of the State.

Besides the five tribes - Menomonees, Winnebagoes, Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, and Pottawattamies - many others, whole or in part, have, since the territory now constituting the State was fir-^t visited by white men, been occupants of its territory. Of these, some are only known as having once lived in what is now Wisconsin; others - such as the Hurons, Illinois, Kickapoos, Mascouteris, Miamis, Noquets, Ott.awas and Siou.x, are recognized as Indians once dwelling in this region; yet so transitory has been their occupation, or so little is known of their history, that they scarcely can be claimed as belonging to the State.

Commencing in 1S22, and continuing at intervals through some of the following years, was the migration to Wisconsin from the State of New York of the remains or portions of four tribes : the Oneidas, Stockbridges, Munsees and Brothertowns. The Oneidas finally located west of Green Bay, where they still reside. Their reservation contains over 60,000 acres, and lies wholly within the present counties of Brown and Outagamie. The Stockbridges and Munsees, who first located above Green F.ay, on the east side of Fox river, afterward moved to the east side of Winnebago hike. Thev now occupy a reservation joining the southwest township of the Menomenee reservation, in Shawano county, and are fast becoming citizens. The Brothertowns first located on the east side of Fox river, but subsequently moved to the east side of ^\ innebago lake,' where, in 1S39, they broke up their tribal relations and became citizens of Wisconsin territory.

When, in 1634. the first white man set foot upon any portion of the territory now constitutin.' the 'state of Wisconsin, the whole country was, of course, a wilderness. Its inhabitants, the aboriginal Red men, were thinly but widely scattered over all the country. John Nicolet, a Frenchman, who had been in Canada since 1618, and had spent several years among the

Indians, was the first of civilized men to unlock the mystery of its situation and people. French authorities upon the St. Lawrence sent him as an ambassador to the Winnebagoes, of whom he had heard strange stories. On his outward voyage he vibited the Hurons - allies of the French - a tribe seated upon the eastern side of ihe lake which bears their name, and Nicolet was empowered to negotiate a peace with them. '' When he approached the Winnebago town, he sent some of his Indian attendants to announce his coming, put on a robe of damask, and advanced to meet the expectant crowd with a pistol in each hand. The squaws and children fled, screaming that it was a manito, or spirit, armed with thunder and lightning ; but the chiefs and warriors regaled him with so bountiful a hospitality, that a hundred and twenty beavers were devoured at a single feast." Such was the advent of the daring Frenchman into what is now the State of Wisconsin.

" Upon the borders of C.reen bay," wrote the Jesuit, Paul le Jeune,in 1640, " are the Menomonees; still fartlier on, the \\ innebagocs, a bedentary jieople, and very numerous. Some Frenchmen," he continues, " call them the ' Nation of the Stinkards,' because the Algonquin Winipeg signifies ' stinking water.' Now they thus call the water of the sea; therefore, these people call themselves ' Winnebagoes,' because they came from the shores of a sea of which we have no knowledge; consequently we must not call them the ' Nation of Stinkards,' but the ' Nation of the Sea.' " From these Men of the Sea, Nicolet passed westward, ascended Fox river of Green Bay, until nigh the portage to the Wisconsin, down which stream he could have floated easily to the Mississippi, the "great water" of his guides, which he mistook for the sea. This adventurous Frenchman, when so near re-discovering the river which has given immortality to De Soto, turned his face to the eastward; retraced his steps to Green bay, and finally returned in safety to Quebec. This was the first exploration of what is now Wisconsin - only fourteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims ujion the wild shores of New England.

Wisconsin, for tw enty-four years after its discovery, was let"t to its savage inhabitants. At len<-'th, in 163S, two daring fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior, and wintered there. They probably set foot upon wint is now Wisconsin soil, as they made several trips among the surrounding tribes. They saw, among other things, at six days' journey beyond the lake, toward the southwest, Indians that the Iroquois had dm en from their homes upon the eastern shores of Lake Huron. These Frencliiricn heard of the ferocious Sioux, and of a great river - not the sea, as Nicolet had supposed - on which they dwelt. Tiiis was the Mississippi; and to these traders is the world indebted for a knowledge of its existence; as Le Soto's discovery was never used, and soon became well-nigh, if not entirely, forgotten. From these upper countries, in the Summer of 1660, the two returned to (Quebec, with three hundred Indians in sixty canoes, laden with peltry. Thi-. was, indeed, the dawn - though exceedingly faint - of what is now the commerce of the great Northwest. Nineteen years after llasr.ed a more brilliant light; for, in 1679, the "Griffin," hulen with fur^, left one of the inlands at the mouth of Green bay, on its return - spreading her sails for Ni.igar.i, but never more to be heard of.

Following in the footitejis ol the fur trader-i came tl'.e Jesuit missionaries to Lake Supeiior : one of them. Lather Menard, as early as lOOo, reaciiing its s-iuthern shore as far to the westward, [irobably, a- Kewciiaw, in tlie I'teseiu State of Miel'.igan. Tnerc is no [.ositive evidence, however, that he or his Lrent ii comp.mions, visited any iKjrtiMii ..f what is now Wibconsin; although the next year, 1661, some of his a>^oriates probably passed down the Menomonee river to Green bay. Following Menard e.iine L.itr.er Claude .Mkjae.'. .uriv ing on the first day of t)ctober, i66s, at "Chagowamigong." cr " Chegoimegon," now Ciie(i'a.iinepon, or Ashland Pay. " at the bottom of wn.le the mi->sinn.iry. is -.ituated the gre.it villages of the savages, who there plant their fields of Indian corn, and lead a stationary life." Ne.ir by he erected a small chapelof bark - the first structure erected by civilized man in Wisconsin. At La Pointe, in the present Ashland county, he est.il '.ished the mission of the Holy Ghost.

The next Catholic mission in what is now Wisconsin was that of St. Francis Xavier, founded also by Allouez. Unon the second of December, 1669, he first attended to his priestly devotions upon the waters of Green bay. This mission, for the first two years of its existence, was a migratory one. The surrounding tribes were all visited, including the Pottawattamies, Menomonees, Winnebagoes, and Sacs and Foxes. However, in 167 1, one hundred and five years before the Declaration of Independence, there was erected, at what is now Depere, Brown county, a chapel for the mission of St. Francis Xavier. Thus early did the Jesuit Fathers, in their plain garbs and unarmed, carry the cross to many of the benighted heathen occupying the country circumscribed by Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior, and the "great river" - the Mississippi. French domination in Wisconsin d.ites from the year 1671, the very year in which it seems the indomitable LaSalle, upon his first expedition, passed the mouth of Green bay, but did not enter it. France then took formal possession of the whole of the country of the upper lakes. By this time, the commerce with the western tribes had so attached them to her interests that she determined to extend her power to the utmost limits - vague and indeterminate as they ^.ere - of Canada. An agent - Daumont de St. Lusson - was dispatched to the distant tribes, proposing a congress of Indian nations at the Falls of Ste. Mary, between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. The invitation was extended far and near. The principal chiefs of Wisconsin tribes, gathered by Nicolas Perrot in Green bay, were present at the meeting. Then and there, with due ceremony, it was announced that the great Northwest was placed under the protection of the French government. And why not' She had discovered it - had to a certain extent explored it - had to a limited extent established commerce with it - and her missionaries had proclaimed the faith to the wonderin- savages. But none of her agents - none of the furtraders - none of the miss"onaries - had yet reached the Mississippi, the "great river," concerning which so many marvels had been heard, although it is claimed that, in 1669, it had been seen by the intrepid La Salle. Rut the time for its discovery, or properly re-discovery, was at hand, if, indeed, it can be called, with propriety, a re-discovery, since its existence to the westward was already known to every white man particularly interested in matters appertaining to the Northwest. Now, however, 'for the first time, its upper half was to be, to a certain extent, explored. For 'the first time, a white man was to behold its vast tribute, above the Illinois river, rolling onward toward the Mexican gulf. Who was that man ? His name was Louis Joliet; with him was Father James Marquette.

Born at Quebec, in 1645, educated by the Jesuits, and first resolving to be a priest, then turning fur-tra"der, Joliet had, finally, been sent with an associate to explore the copper mines ot L.ike Superior. -He was a man of close and intelligent observation, and possessed considerable mathematical acquirements. At this time, 1673, he was a merchant, courageous, hardy, enterprising. He was appointed by French authorities at Quebec to " discover " the Mississippi. He passed up the lakes to M.ickinaw, and found at Point St. Ignace. on the north side of the strait. Father James Marquette, who readily agreed to accompany him. Their outfit was very simple: two birch-bark canoes and a supply of smoked meat and Indian corn. They had a company of five men with them, beginning their voyage on the seventeenth of May, 1673. Passing the straits. they coasted the northern shores of Lake Michigan, moved up tireen bay and Fox river to the l.ortage. 'Ihcy crossed to the Wisconsin, down whicli they i^addled their frail canoes, unlii, <.n the- seventeenth of June, they entered - "' discovered " - the Mississippi. So tiie northern, the ra.tern and the western boundary of what is now Wisconsin had been reached at this date : therefore, it may be said that its territory had been explored sufficiently for the forminj; of a pretty correct idea of its c;eneral features as well as of its savage inhabitants. After dropping down the Mississippi many miles, Joliet and Marquette returned to Green bay, where the latter remained to recruit his exhausted strength, while Joliet descended to Quebec, to report his "discoveries" to his superiors.

Then followed the expedition of LaSalle to the west, from the St. Lawrence, when, in 1679, he and Father Louis Hennepin coasted along the western shore of Lake Michigan, frequently landing ; then, the return of Henri de Tonty, one of LaSalle's party down the same coast to Green bay, in 16S0, from the Illinois; the return, also, the same year, of Hennepin, from up the Mississippi, whither he had made his way from the Illinois, across what is now Wisconsin, by the Wisconsin and Fox rivers to Green bay, in company with DuLhut, or DuLuth, who, on his way down the " great river " from Lake Superior, had met the friar ; and then, the voyage, in 1683, from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, by the same route, of LeSueur, and his subsequent establishment at La Pointe, in what is now Ashland county, Wisconsin, followed several years after by a trip up the Mississippi. The act of Daumont de St. Lusson, at the Sault Sainte Mary, in 167 1, in taking possession of the country beyond Lake Michigan, not being regarded as sufficiently definite, Nicolas Perrot, in i6S9,at Green bay, again took possession of that territory, as well as of the valleys of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and extending the dominion of New France over the country on the Upper Mississippi, and "to other places more remote." The voyage of St. Cosme, in 1699, when he and his companions frequently landed on the west coast of Lake Michigan, upon what is now territory of Wisconsin, completed the explorations in the west for the seventeenth century.

Following in t"he footsteps of early explorations, of self sacrificing attempts of the Jesuits to carry the cross to the wild tribes of the We-,t, of the fir^t visits of the lawless coureurs ,k bois, was the milltarv occupation - if such it can be called - of what is now Wisconsin by the French. The ninety years of domination liy France in this region were years of only nominal possession. The record of tliis occupation is made up of fact.-, concerning the Indian policy of the French rulers; their contests with the Sacs and Foxer,; their treaties, at various times, with different tribes ; their interest m, and protection of, the fur trade , and kindred subjects. The Indian tribes were, at most, only the allies of Fran( c. Postb - mere stockades without cannon, more (ox protection to fur-traders than for any other purpose - were erected upon the Mississippi at two points at least, upon what is now territory of Wi^ onsin. On the west bide of Fox river of Green bay, "half a league from ita mouth," was a French ])05t, .as early as 17JI, where resided, besides the commandant and an uncouth bqii.\d of soldiers, a Jesuit missionary; and near by were collected Indians of different tribes. Of course, the omnipresent fur-trader helped to augment the sum-total of it-; occ-.ir.ant-. Th:-, po>t was, not long after, destroyed, but another was established there. When, however, I'r.mcc yielded her inchoate rights in the West to Great Britain - when, in 1761, the hitter took [Hj-,,esiion of t!;e country - tliere was not a French post within what is now Wisconsin. The "fort" near the iiead of G.reen bay, had been vacated for some vears ; it was found "rotten, the stockade read.y to f.-dl, and the houses without cover;" emblematic of the decay - the fist-cruiniiling and ;>eri^hing state - of French supremacy, at that date, in America. Wisconsin, when Fngland'.s control hegan, was little better than a howling wilderness. There was not within the broad limits of what is now the State, a single do/ia f.Jr settler, at the time the I-'rench Government yielded up its possession to the En^li->h ; that is to say, there were none accoriling to the present acceptation of the term "settlor."

The military occupation of Wiscnnsin by the iJritish, after the Seven Year," War, was a brief one. La Bay - as the post at what is imw the city of I'ort H.iw.ird. [irown county, was called - was, on the twelfth of October, 1761. i.iken i>ossession of by English troofis, under Captain Bel four, of the F.igiuieth regiment. Two d.i) > after, lh.it otVuer dep.uted. leaving Lieutenant rUE-TEUUITOUIAL AXXALS OF WISCOX-IN. lames Gorrell, in command, with one sergeant, one corporal and fifteen privates^ There al.o rmainedlt the post a French interpreter and two English traders. The name of the fortmcair^f Chan" -d^o Fort Edu-ard Augustus. This post was abandoned by the commandant on Letventv first of June. 1763, on account of the breaking out of Pontiac's ^^ ar and the capture t Ifon at Maina^- by^t'he savages. The cause of this war was this: The Ind.an tr.bes 1 he danger which the downfall of the French interests in Canada was sure to brtng to them. -rTe band.d together under Ponttac to avert their ruin. The struggle was short but fierce full of "scenes of tragic interest, with marvels of suffering and v.ctssuude of heroism and endurn e but the white man conquered. The moving incidents in th.s bloody drama were enacted the eastward of what is now Wisconsin, coming no nearer than Mackmaw which, as just mentioned, the sava.es captured; but it resulted in the evacuation ot us tcrntory by BnUsn uooprwh; never alter took possession of it, though they continued until r-96 a nominal military rule over it, after Mackinaw was again occupied by them. , r ,1 M

Vn early Fren<;h Canadian trading station at the head of Green bay assumed finally the form'of a p rmanent settlement- the first one in Wiscorasin. To claim, however that any French Canadian is entitled to the honor of being the first permanent white settler is assuming Lr him more than the facts seem to warrant. Th. title of "' The Father and Founder o. U .-

'^°"^";;:r^^Sa:;^s'^-:;::ne of the noted events in this region was the journey of Jonathan Carver who in 1766, passed up Fc. river to the portage, and descended the ^Msconsln to the Miss s;ippi ' He noticed the tumbling-down po,t at what is now Green Bay Brown cottnty "a. a few families living in the fort, and some French =ettlers, who cultivated the land opposite and appeared to live very comfortably. That was the whole extent of improvements ^ wh T'is nowWiscon.in. The organization of the Northwest Fur Company ; the passage o an act by the British Parliament by which the whole Northwest was included in the Province of Qu bee the joining of the Indians in this region with the British, against the Americans, in the Wa of the Revolution; the exploration of the lead region of the Upper Mississippi by ulian ubuoue the passa.^e of the ordinance of 17S7 ; the first settlement of the territory northwest f th7 Ri'v r Ohio; ^nd the Indian war which followed, are all incidents, during British occuprt 01 of more or less interest for the student of Wisconsin history. He will find that, by the reaty 'of 17S3 and of 170., with Great Britain, all the inhabitants residing in this region were to bJ protecte'dly the United States in the full and peaceable possession ot their property . h h ri.'ht to remain in, or to withdraw from it, with their ettects, within one year. AH who did no We vere to be d cined American citizen^, allowed to enjoy all the privileges ot citizenship, . nd : ::d:r the protection of the General Government. He will al,o '-^ that ess ^ w . years was the whole time of actual military occupation of what 1= now \Uscon_.in bs Lii..,i soldiers and that English domination, which should have ended at the close ot the kcvo...- non, was arbitrarily cc^ntinued until the Summer of 1796, when tiie ^^^'^;Y'''l^\'^"-": 'l^ wer^ upon terrirorv circumscribed by Lakes Michigan and .^-apenor and the Mi.si...pi.. rn er, were delivered into the keeping of the United State. Thus the supreu.acy o> Great Britain over the Northwest was, after an actual continuance of th.rty-nve years, at an end

Mthouoh the General Government did not get possession of the region northwest of the On.o. .hrouH,out its full extent, for thirteen years subsequent to its acquirement by the treaty of peace of ,783 with Great Britain, nevertheless, steps were taken, very soon, to obtain concessions from such of the colonies as had declared an ownership in any portion of it. None o the claiman s seemingly, had better rights than Virginia, who, by virtue of conquests, largely her own, of tl Illinois settlements and posts, extended her jurisdiction over that country, erecting into a count> so much of the region northwest of the Ohio, as had heen settled liy Virginians or might afterward be settled by them. But as, previous to her yielding all rights to territory beyond that river, she liad not carried her arms into the region north of tlie Illinois or made settlements upon what is now the soil of Wisconsin, nor included any portion of it within the bounds of an orf^anized county, it follows that her dominion was not actually extended over any part of the area included within the present boundaries of this State; nor did she then claim jurisdiction north of the Illinois river, but on the other hand expressly disclaimed it.

Virginia and all the other claimants finally ceded to the United States their rights, such as they were, beyond the Ohio, except two reservations of limited extent; and the General Government became the undisputed owner of the "Great West," without any internal claims to possession save those of the Indians. .Meanwhile, the United States took measures to extend its jurisdiction over the whole country by the passage of the famous ordinance of 17S7, which established a government over "the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio." But tliis organic law was, of course, nugatory over that portion of the region occupied by the British, until their yielding possession in 1796, when, for the first time, Anglo-American rule commenced, though nominally, in what is now Wisconsin. By the ordinance just mentioned, "the United States, in congress assembled," declared that the territory northwest of the Ohio should, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district , subject, however, to be divided into districts, as future circumstances might, in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient. It was ordained that a governor, secretary and three judges should be appointed for the Territory; a general assembly was also provided for; and it was declared that religion, morality, and knowled'-'e, being necessary to good government and the hapjiiness of mankind, schools and the means of education should forever be encouraged. It was also ordained that there should be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory, "otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." Thus was established the first Magna Charta for the five great States since that tine formed out of "the territory northwest of the River Oliio," and the first rules and regulations for their government.

Under this act of Congress, .Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor of the Northwestern Territory, as it was called, and Samuel H. Parsons, James .M. Varnum, and John Armstrong, judges, - the latter not accepting the office, John Cleves Symmes was appointed in his place. Winthrop Sargeant was ajipointed secretary. At dit'ferent periods, counties were erected to include various jiortions of the Territory. By the governor's proclamation of the 15th of August, 1796, one was formed to include the whole of tlie present area of Northern Ohio, west of jJTIe.ycland ; also, all of what is now the State of Indiana, north of a line drawn from Fort Wayne to the southern part of Lake Michigan;" the whole of the present State ol' Mi-'higan, except its extreme northwest corner on Lake Superior; a small corner in the north- -- i. |>art of what is now Illinois, including Ciiicago; and so much of tiie present State of Wis- . ca-iin as is watered by the streams ilowing into Lake Michigan, which of course included an i-A'tjn.^ire portion, taking in man\- of it.i ca^tern and interior countie:> as now constituted. This vast county was named Wayne. So the I'rw settlers then at the head of Green bay had their local h.ibitations, constructively at least, in '" Wayne county. Northwestern Territory." It was just at tliat date that Great Britain vacated the western posts, and the L'nited States took quiet po.sess on of them. But the we-tern jiurtion of wliat is now Wisconsin, mcluding all its territory w.itered by streams fiowing northward into Lake Superior, and westward and southwestward into the Mis^ibM[)].i, w.is as yet without any county organization ; as the county of St. Clair, including the Illinois country to the southward, reached no f.irther north than the mouth of Little Mackinaw creek, wlicrc it empties into the Kiver Iliinois, in what is now the State of Illinois. The

-M.vv of Pans," which was in force under French domination in Canada, and which by the British Parliament in .774, had been continued in force under English supremacy, was sfll the l^w of the land " west of Lake Michigan, practically at least. r .u t- ^

From and after the fourth day of July, iSoo, ail that part of the territory of the Ln.ted ^tues northwest of the Ohio river, which lay to the westward of a line be^mning upon that vreim opposite to the mouth of Kentucky river and running thence to what is now Fort Recovery in Mercer countv, Ohio ; thence north until it intersected the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was, for the purposes of temporary government constituted a separate territory called Indiana. It included not only the whole of the present State of Illinois and nearly all of what is n-nv Indiana, but more than half of the State of Michigan as now defined, also a considerable part of the present Minnesota, and the^.-l.ole o. what is now ^^ is-

""^The seat of government was established at "Saint Vincennes on the Wabash," nowthe city of Vincennes, Indiana. To this extensive area was added "from and after the admission of Ohio into the Union, all the territory west of that State, and east of the eastern boundary Ime of the Territory of Indiana as originally established; so that now all the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio," was, excepting the State of Ohio, included in Indiana Per ritory On the thirtieth day of Jane, 1S05. so much of Indiana Perntory as lay to the north of a liuedrawn east from the southerly bend or e.xtreme of Lake Michigan to la.e Lne, and east of a line drawn from the same bend through the middle of the first mentioned lake to its northern extremity, and thence due north to the northern boundary of the United States, was for the ' purpose of temporarv Government, constituted a separate Territory called Michigan. Of course no part of the present ^State of Wisconsin was included therein ; but the whole remained in t.ie Territory of Indiana until the second day of March, 1809, when all that part of the last mentioned Territory which lay west of the Wabash river, and a direct line drawn from that stream and " Post Vincennes," due north to the territorial line betweer^ the United States and Can.iaa was by an act approved on the third of February previous, constituted a separate Territory, cal.ed iLLi'xois Meanwhile jurisdiction had been extended by the authorities of Indiana Territory over' the'country lying west of Lake Michigan, to the extent, at least, of appointing a justice of the peace for each of the settlements of Green Pay and Prairie du Chien. .1 of what is i,ow Wisconsin was transferred to the Territory of Illinois, upon the organization of the latter except a small portion lying east of the meridian line drawn through Vincennes, which remained a par. of Indiana Territory. This fraction included nearly the whole area between Green bay and

'"'^^Whef i°n"s,6, Indiana became a State, " the territory of the United States northwest of tlie River Ohio '- contained, besides Ohio and Indiana, the Territories of Illinois and Michigan.only ; so the narrow strip, formerly a part of Indiana Territory, lying east of a hue drawn due nort:- from Vincennes, and we.t of the western boundary line of Michigan Territory, belonged to luu ihcr, and was left wit'iout anv organization. However, upon the admission of Ilhnois into t.,o Union, in iSiS, all '"the territory of the United States, northwest of the River Ohio, lying we^^t '-f Michi-an Territory and north of the States of Indiana and llhno.s, was attached to and maue a part of^Michigan Territory ; by which act the whole of the present State of Wisconsin came under the jurisdiction of the latter. During the existence of the Territory of Illinois, a kind jurisdiction was had over the two settlements in what is now Wisconsin- rather more ideal th ui

In .Sj4, Congress greatly increased the limits of the Territory of Michigan, by adding to ,r. lor judicial purposes, a large extent of country west of the Mississippi- reaching south as far ..s the present boundary line lietween the present States of Iowa and 'Missouri; north, to the territorial line between the United States and Canada; and west, to the Missouri and White Earth rivers. It so continued down to the fourth of July, 1S36.

A retrosperti\-e glance at the history of this region for forty years previous to the last mentioned year, including the tini: which elapsed after the surrender of the western posts, in 1796, by the British, discloses many facts of interest and importance.

The Anglo-Americans, not long after the region of country west of Lake Michigan became a part of Indiana Territory, began now and then to cast an eye, either through the opening of the Great Lakes or the Mississippi, upon its rolling rivers, its outspread prairies, and its dense forests, and to covet the goodly land ; but the settlers at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien were mostly French Canadians at this date, although a few were Americans. The General Government, however, began to take measures preparatory to its occupation, by purchasing, in 1804, a tract in what is now the southwest portion of the State, of the Indians, and by holding the various tribes to a strict account for any murders committed by them on American citizens passing through their territories or trading with them. Comparative peace reigned in the incipient settlements at the head of Green bay and at the mouth of the Wisconsin, which was changed by the breaking out of the war of 1S12, with Great Britain.

The English early succeeded in securing the Wisconsin Indian tribes as their allies in this war; and the taking of Mackinaw by the British in July, 1812, virtually put the latter in possession of what is now the eastern portion of the State. Early in 1S14, the government authorities of the United States caused to be fitted out at St. Louis a large boat, having on board all the men that could be mustered and spared from the lower country, and sent up the Mississippi to protect the upper region and the few settlers therein. The troops landed at Prairie du Chien, and immediately proceeded to fortify. Not long after, Colonel McKay, of the British army, crossing the country by course of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, with over five hundred British and Indians, received the surrender of the whole force. The officers and men were paroled and sent down the river. This was the only battle fought upon Wtsconsin soil during the last war with England. The post at Prairie du Chien was left in command of a captain with two companies from Mackinaw. He remained there until after the peace of 1S15, when the place was evacuated by the British.

When it became generally kno.vn to the Indian tribes in what is now Wisconsin, that the contest between tlie United States and Great Britain was at an end, they generally expressed themselves as ready and willing to make treaties with the General Government - eager, in fact, to establish frienrl!)- relations with the power they had so recent!)- been hostile to. This was, therefore, a favorable mnnieiit for taking actual possession of the country between the Mississippi and Lake Michigan ; and United States troops were suou ordered to occupy tiie two prominent jioints between Green Bay and Prairie du Cliien. At the former place was erected Fort Howard; at the latter Fort Crawford. At Green Bay, half a hundred (or less) French Canadians cultivated the soil; at Prairie du Chien, there were not more than thirty houses, mostly occupied by traders, while on the prairie outside the village, a number of farms were cultivated. Such was Wisconsin v.iien, at the clo^e of tlic last w.ir with Great Britain, it began in earnest to be occupied by .Vnierican^. The latter were i'^^w in number, but in 1S18, they began to feel, now that the country wa^ attached to Michigan Territory and the laws of the United States were extended over them, that they were not altogether beyond the protection of a government of their own, iiotuitlistandi:ig they were surrounded by s-iva^je triljes. Their happiness was increased U[)On the erection, by proclamation of Lewis Cass, governor of the Territory oi Michigan, of three Territorial counties : Michilimackinae, Brown and Crawt'ord. Their establishment dates the twenty-sixth of October, iSiS. The county of Michilimackinac not only included all of the present State of Wisconsin lying north of a line drawn due west from near the head of the Little Noqiict bay, but territory east and west of it, so as to reach from Lake Huron to the Mississip[)i river. Its county seat was established "at the Borough of Michilimackinac." The wliole .irea in Michigan Territory south of the county of Michilimackinac and west of Lake Michigan formed the two counties of IJrown and Crawford: the former to include the area east of a line drawn due north and south through the middle of the portage between the I"o.\ river of Green bav and the Wisconsin ; the latter to include the whole region west of that line. Prairie du Chien was designated as the county seat of Crawford; Green Bay, of Brown county. On the :2d of December, i8j6, a county named Chippewa was formed from the northern portions of Michilimackinac, including the southern shores of Lake Superior throughout its entire length, and extending from the straits leading from that lake into Lake Huron, west to the western boundary line of Michigan Territory, with the county seat " at such point in the vicinity of the Sault de Ste. Marie, as a majority of the county commissioners to be appointed shall designate." Embraced within this county, - its southern boundary being the parallel 46^ 31' north latitude, - was all the territory of the present State of Wisconsin now bordering on Lake Superior.

Immediately upon the erection of Brown and Crawford counties, they were organized, and their offices filled by appointment of the governor. County courts were established, consisting of one chief and two associate justices, either of whom formed a quorum. They were required 10 hold one term of court annually in their respective counties. These county courts had original and exclusive jurisdiction in all civil cases, both in law and equity, where the matter in dispute e.xceeded the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, and did not e.xceed the value of one thousand dollars. T'hey had, however, no juribdiction in ejectment. They had exclusive cognizance of all offenses the punishment whereof was not capital, and the same power to issue remedial and other process, writs of error and mandamus excepted, that the supreme court had at Detroit. Appeals from justices of the peace were made to the county courts.

The establishing of Indian agencies by the General Government; the holding of treaties with some of the Indian tribes; the adjustment of land claims at Green Bay and Prairie du Cliien ; the appointment of jjostmasters at these two points, were all indications of a proper interest being taken by the llnited States in the affairs of the country. But a drawback to this region, was the fact that, in all civil cases of over a thousand dollars, and in criminal cases that were capital, as well as in actions of ejectinent, and in the allowance of writs of error, and mandamus, recourse must be had to the supreme court at Detroit; the latter place being the seat of government of Micl.igan Territory. However, in January, 1S23, an act of congress provided tor a district court, and for the ajjpointment of a judge, for the counties of Brown, Crawford, and Michilimackinac. This court had concurrent jurisdiction, civil and criminal, with the supreme court of tiie Territory, in most cases, subject, however, to have its decisions taken to the latter tribunal by a writ of error. 'I'he law provided for holding one term of court in each year, in each of the counties named in the act ; so, at last, there was to be an administration of justice at home, and the people were to be relieved from all military arbitrations, which frequently had been imposed upon them. James Duane Doty was appointed judge of this court at its organization. A May term cif the court was held in Pr.ilrie du Chien; a June term in lireen Bav; a July term in " the Borough of Michilimackinac," in each year. In I1S24, Henry S. Baird. ol Drown county, was appointed district attorney. Doty held the office of judge until May, 1S3;, uhen he was succeeded by David Irvin. This court continued until 1S36, when it was abrogated by the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin.

western portion of the State; but it was not until tlic year 1S25, and the two following years, that very general attention was attracted to them, whicli eventuated in the settlement of different places in that region, by Americans, who came to dig lor lead ore. This rapid increase of settlers awakened the jealousy of the \\"innebago Indians, at what they deemed an unauthorized intrusion upon tlieir lands, which, with other causes operating unfavorably upon their minds, aroused them in June, i^:^;, to open acts of hostility. Murders became fretpient. Finally, 'the militia of Praiiie du Chicn were called out. On the twenty-ninth of August, Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson, of the United States army, with a strong force of regulars, ascended the Wisconsin river to put an end to any further spread of Winnebago disturbances. He was joined on the first of September, by one hundred and thirty Galena volunteers, mounted, and. under command of General Henry Dodge. 'I'he ^Vinnebagoes were awed into submission. Thus ended the " \Vinnebago War." It was followed by the erection at the portage of Fort Winnebago, by the United States.

After the restoration of tranquillity, the United States proceeded by treaty with the Indians,, to secure the right to occupy the lead regions. This was in iSrS. The r.cxt year, the General Government purchased of the Winnebagoes, Southwestern Wisconsin, which i/ut an end to all trouble on account of mining operations. On the ninth of October, 1S29, a e.unty was formed, by the legislative council of the Territory of Michigan, comprising ail that part of Crawford county lying south of the Wisconsin river. This new county was called Iowa. The county seat was temporarily established at Mineral Point. Following this was a treaty in 1S31, with the Menomonces, for all their lands east of Green bay, Winnebago lake, and the Fo.\ and Milwaukee rivers.

There was now a crisis at hand. The most prominent event to be recorded in the pre-Territorial annals of ^\'iscons;n is known as the Black Hawk W.ir. This conflict of arms between the Sacs and Foxes and the United States arose from a controversy in regard to lands. By a treaty made at Fort Harmar, just across the River Muskingum from Marietta, Ohio, in January, 17S9, the Pottawattamie and Sac tribes of Indians, among others, were received into the friendship of tlie General Goveinincnt, and .1 league of peace and unity established between the contracting parties On the third of Xovember, 1S04, a treaty at St. Louis stipulated that the united Sac and Fo.x trii)es should be received into the friendship of the United States,and also be nlaced under their [jrotection. The>e tribes also agreed to consider themselves under the protection of the General Gi'vernment and of no other power whatsoever. .At this treaty lands were ceded which were circumscribed by a boundary beginning at a point on the Missouri river opposite the mouth of the Gasconade, and running thence in a direct cour^e so as to strike the River Jefferson at the distance of thirty miles from its mouth, and down that stream to the .Mississ'p-ii. It tiien ran up tin- latter river to the mouth of the Wisconsin, and up that stream to a point t]iirty-si\ miles in a direct line fmin its mouth; thence by a straight course to a jjoint where the I'ox river of tiie Illinois leases the small lake then called Sakaegan, and from that point down the Fov to the Illinois, and down tlie latter ti) tlie Mississippi. The consideration for this cession was the ]iayinent of g i.^us to the value of two thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifiv cents, .md ,i yearly annuity of one thousand dollars - >ix hundred to be paid to t!ie Sacs and f'ur hundred to the Fo\e> - to be liquidated in goods valued at first cost. Afterward, Fort Madisiin was erected just ab^ve tlie I)cs .Moines rapids in the Mississippi, on the territorv ceded at t'le l.ist mentioned tre.ity. Then loll )\>ed the war with Great Britain, and the Sacs and l"o\es .,greed to take no part therein. However, a portion afterward joined the I'"n"li5h against the Americans along with other \Vestern tribes. At the restoration of peace the Sacs and Fo.xes held treaties with the United States. 'I'liere was a renewal of the treaty of 1S04.

5>'ich in brief is a general outline of affairs, so far as those two tribes were concerned, down to the close of the last war with England. From this time, to the year 1830, several additional treaties were made with the Sacs and Foxes by the General Government : one in 1822, by which they relin- .juished their right to have the United States establish a trading house or factory at a convenient point at which the Indians could trade and save themselves from the imposition of traders, for which they were paid the sum of one thousand dollars in merchandise. Again, in 1S24, they sold to the General Government all their lands in Missouri, north of Missouri river, for v.-hich tliey received one thousand dollars the same year, and an annuity of one thousand dollars for ten years. In 1S30, they ceded to the United States a strip of land twenty miles wide from the Mississippi to the Des Moines, on the north side of their territory. The time had now come for the two tribes to leave the eastern shore of the Mississippi and retire across the " great water." Keokuk, the Watchful Fo.\, erected his wigwam on the west side of the river, and was followed by a large part of the two tribes, liut a band headed by Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or the ]!lack Sparrow Hawk, commonly called Black Hawk, refused to leave their village near Rock Island. They contended that thev had not sold their town to the United States ; and, upon their return early in 1S31, from a hunt across the Mississippi, finding their village and fields in ])ossesbion of the whites, they determined to repossess their homes at all hazards. This was looked upon, or called, an encroachment by the settlers; so the governor of Illinois took the responsibility of declaring the State invaded, and asked the United States to drive the refractory Indians beyond the Mississippi. The result was, the Indian village was destroyed by Illinois "volunteers. This and the threatened advance across the river by the United States commander, brought Black Hawk and his followers to terms. They sued for peace - agreeing to remain forever on the west side of the Mississippi. But this truce was of short duration.

Early in the Spring of 1S32, Black Hawk having assembled his forces on the Mississippi, in the vicinity of the locality where Fort Madison had stood, crossed that stream and ascended Rock river. This was the signal for war. The governor of Illinois made a call for volunteers; .uid, in a brief space of time, eighteen hundred had assembled at Beardstown, Cass countv. 'I'hey marched for the mouth of Rock river, where a council of war was held by their officers and Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson,' of the regular forces. The Indians were sent word by General Atkinson that they must return and recross the Mississippi, or they would be driven li.ick by force. "If you wish to fight us, come on," was the laconic but defiant reply of the Sac chief. When the attempt was made to compel these Indians to go back across the " great river," a collision occurred between the Illinois militia and Black Hawk's braves, resulting in the dis- (ouifiture of the former witli the loss of eleven men. Soon afterward the volunteers were discharged, and the first camjiaign of Black Hawk's War v.as at an end. This was in Mav, 1832.

In June following, a new force had been raised and put under the command of General .Atkinson, who commenced his march up Rork river. Before this, there had been a general "forting" in the lead region, including the whole country in Southwest Wisconsin, notwithstanding which, a number of settlers had been killed by the savages, mostly in Illinois. Squads of in two or three instances, had encountered the Indians; and in one with entire suc- '"'"^^ - upon the Pe<-atonica, in what is now Lafayette county, ^\'isco^sin - every savage (and ihere were seventeen of them) being killed. The loss of the volunteers was three killed and wounded. Atkinson's march up Rock river was attended with some skirmishing ; when, being ii'l'Tincd that Blai k Hawk and his force were at Lake Ko^hkonoiig. ir. the southwest corner of "ii.it is now JclTLrs(jn county, \Visconsin, he immediately moved thitlier with a portion of his army, where the whole force was ordered to concentrate. But the Sac chief with his people had flown. Colonels Henry Dodge and James I). Henry, with the forces under them, discovered the trail of the savages, leading in the direction of the Wisconsin river. It was evident that the retreating force uas large, and that it liad but recently passed. The pursuing troops hastened their march. On the twenty-first of July, i>i3:?, they arrived at the hills which skirt the left bank of that stream, in what is now Ro.xbury town (township), Dane county. Here was Black PTawk's whole force, including women and children, the aged and infirm, hastening by ever) effort to e-;cape al.^().^s tlie riser. Tut that tlii., might now be effected, it became necessary for that chief to uuke a firm stand, to cover the retreat. The Indians were in tlic bottom lands when the pursuing whites made their appearance upon the heights in their rear. Colonel Dodge occupied the front and sustained the first attack of the Indians. He was soon joined by Henrv with his i'orce, wiien tlie\- obtained a complete \ictory. The action commenced about five o'clock in the afternoon and ended at sunset. Tlie enemy, numbering not less than five hundred, sustained a loss of about sixty killed and a large number uounded. The loss of the Americans was one killed and eight wounded. This conflict has since been known as the battle of AVisconsin Heights.

During the night following the battle, Black Hawk made his escape with his remaining force and people down the Wisconsin river. Tiie women and children made their way down stream in canoes, wliile the warriors marched on foot along the shore. The Indians were pursued in their fliglit, and were finally brought to a stand on the Mississippi river, near the rnouth of the Had .\xe, on the west boundary of what is now \'ernon county, Wisconsin. About two o'clock on the morning of the second of August, the line of march began to the scene of the last conflict in the lUac k Hawk War. Dodge's command formed the advance, supported by regular troops, under Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterward president of the United States. Meanwhile an armed steamboat hid movetl up tlie .Mijsissi[ii)i and lay in front of tlie savages; so they were attacked on all sides by the e.xasj.erated .Americans. The battle lasted about two hours, and was a complete victory for the whites. Black Hawk fled, but was soon after captured. This ended the war.