Vernon County, Wisconsin - Chapter 5: The Winnebago War, 1884

Chapter 5: The Winnebago War

During the winter of 1825-6, there were confined ill the guard house of Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, because of some alleged dishonest act, two Winnebago Indians. In October, 1826, the fort was abandoned and the garrison removed to Fort Snelling. The commandant took with him the two Winnebagoes. During the spring of 1827, the reports about the two Indians, around Prairie du Chien, was to the effect that they had been killed. It was soon apparent that a spirit of enmity between the tribe and the settlers in southwestern Wisconsin was effectually stirred up. In addition to this, were the daily encroachments of miners in the lead region; for these miners had, by this time, overrun the mining country from Galena to the Wisconsin river. Finally the difficulties led to an open rupture.

Murder Of Gagnier And Lipcap

On the 28th of June, 1827, two Winnebago Indians, Red Bird and We-Kavv and three ol' their companions, entered the house of Rigeste Gagnier, about two miles fiom Prairie du Chien, where they remained several hours. At last, when Mr. Gagnier least expected it, Red Bird leveled his gun and shot him dead on his hearthstone. A person in tiie building by the name of Lipcap, who was a hired man, was slain at the same time by We-Kaw. Madame Gagnier turned to fly with her infant of eighteen months. As she was about to leap through the window, the child was torn from her arms by We-Kaw, stabbed, scalped and thrown violently on the floor as dead. The murderer then attacked the woman, but gave way when she snatched up a gun that was leaning against the wall, and presented it to his breast. She then effected her escape. Her eldest son, a lad of ten years, also shunned the murderers, and they both arrived in the village at the same time. The alarm was soon given; but, when the avengers of blood arrived at Gagnier's house, they found in it nothing living but his mangled infant. It was carried to the village, and, incredible as it may seem, it recovered.

A Winnrbago Debauch

Red Bird and his companions immediately proceeded from the scene of their crime to the rendezvous of their band. During their absence, thirty-seven of the warriors who acknowledged the authority of Red Bird, had assembled with their wives and children, near the mouth of the Bad Ax river in what is now Vernon county. They received the murderers with joy and loud approbations of their exploit. A keg of liquor which they had secured was set abroach, and the Indians began to drink and as their spirits rose, to boast of what they had already done and intended to do. They continued their revel for two days, but on the third the source of their excitement gave out - their liquor was gone. They were, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, dissipating the last fumes of their exciteiaeiit in the scalp-dance, when they descried one of the keel-boats, which had a few days before passed up the river with provisions for the troops at Fort Snelling, on her return, in charge of Mr. Lindsay. Forthwith, a proposal to take her and massacre the crew was made and carried by acclamation. They counted on doing this without risk, for they had examined her on her way up and supposed there were no arms on board. But in this they were mistaken as the sequel shows.

First Battle Of Bad Ax

There were indications of hostilities on the part of the Sioux on the upper Mississippi, and the boats when they left Fort Snelling had been supplied with arms. In descending the river they expected an attack at Wabashaw, wliere the Sioux were dancing the war dance, and hailed their approach with insults and menaces, but did not offer to attack the boats, or obstruct their passage. The whites now supposed the danger over, and, a strong wind at that moment beginning to blow up stream, the boats parted company. So strong was the wind that all the force of the sweeps could scarcely stem it; and by the time the foremost boat was near the encampment, at the mouth of the Bad Ax, the crew were very willing to stop and rest. One or two Frenchmen, or half-breeds, who were on board observed hostile appearances on shore, and advised the rest to keep the middle of the stream with the boat, but their counsel was disregarded. They urged the boat directly toward the camp with all the force of the sweeiis. There were sixteen men on deck.

The men were rallying their French cotnpanions on their apprehensions, as the boat approached the shore; but when within thirty yards of the bank, suddenly the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing tones of the war-whoop, and a volley of riile balls rained upon the deck. Happily, the Winnebagoes had not yet recovered from the effects of their debauch, and their arms were not steady. One man only fell. He was a little negro named Peter, llis leg was dreadfully shattered, and he afterward died of the wound. A second volley soon came from the shore; but, as the'men were lying at the bottom of the boat, they all escaped but one, who was shot through the heart. Encouraged by the non-resistance, the Winnebagoes rushed to their canoes with intent to board. The boatmen having recovered from their first panic, seized their guns and the savages were received with a severe discharge. In one canoe two savages were killed with the same bullet and several wounded. The attack was continued until night, when one of the party named Mandeviile, who had assumed command, sprang into the water, followed by four others, who succeeded in setting the boat afloat, and then went down the stream.

Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this attack, which may be called the first "Battle of Bad Ax;" the second being fought just below this point, five years after, between the Americans and Indians of another tribe, of whicli an account will be given in the next chapter. Of the Winnebagoes seven were killed and fourteen wounded. They managed to put 693 shots into and through the boat. Two of the crew were killed outright, and four wounded - two mortally. The presence of mind of Mandeville undoubtedly saved the rest, as well as the boat. Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, did not reach the mouth of the Bad Ax until midnight. The Indians opened fire upon her, which was promptly returned. Owing to the darkness no injury was done to the boat, and she passed safely on. Considering the few that were engaged in the attack on the first boat and in its defense, the contest was indeed a spirited and sanguinary one.

Great Alarm Upon The Border History Of Vernon Cottnty

their houses and farms and crowded into the dilapidated fort. An express was immediately sent to Galena, and another to Fort Snelling, for assistance. A company of upwards of a luindred volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. In a few days four imperfect companies arrived from Fort Snelling. The consternation of the people of the lead mines was great, and in all the frontier settlements. This portion of the country then contained, as is suppo.sed, about 5,000 inhabitants - that is south of the Wisconsin river and at Prairie du Cliien, and extending into Illinois. A great many of these fied from their homes.

Arrival Of Government Troops

On the 1st of September, 1S27, Maj. William Whistler, with government troops arrived at the portage ( now Portage, Columbia Co., Wis.), and while there an express arrived from Gen. H. Atkinson, announcing his ap[>roacli, and directing him to halt and fortify himself and wait -his arrival. The object of the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jeft'erson Barracks below St. Louis, and of JVIaj. Whistler from Fort Howard, at Green Bay, was to capture those who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to any further aggression. And this march of the two into the Winnebago country from opposite directions was well calculated to over-awe the disaffected among the Winnebagoes. These Indians -'ere soon advised that the security of their people lay in the surrender of the murdereis of the Gagnier family. Accoidingly, Red Bird and AVe-Kaw were surrendered up to Maj. Whistler, at the portage and the Winnebago war was ended. The two Indians were taken to Prairie du Chien for safe-keeping, to await their trial in the regular courts of justice for murder.

Trial And Conviction Of The Murderers

The next spring (1828), Red Bird, We-Kaw and another Winnebago prisoner were tried at Prairie du Chien, before Judge James Duane Doty, who went from Green Bay there for that purpose. Thoy were found guilty and sentenced to death. Red Bird died in prison. A deputation of the tribe went to Washington to solicit from the President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, a pardon for the others. President Adams granted it on the implied condition that the tribe would cede the lands then tlie possession of the miners, in the lead region, to the general government. The Winnebagoes agreed to this. Madame Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty with the Winnebagoes held at Prairie du Chien, in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land to her and her two children. The United States agreed to pay her the sum of $50 per annum for fifteen years to be deducted from the annuity of the Winnebagoes.

In closing this account of the "Winnebago War" we give an anecdote, which places the Winnebago character in an amiable light. The militia of Prairie du Chien, immediately after the affair of the boats at the mouth of the Bad Ax river, seized an old Winnebago chief named Dekauray and four other Indians. The chief was informed that if Red Bird was not given up within a certain time he and the others were to die in his place. This Dekauray steadfastly believed. A messenger, a young Indian, was sent to inform the tribe of the state of affairs, and several days had elapsed and no information was received of the murderers. The dreadful day was near at hand, and Dekauray being in bad health, asked permission of the officer to go to the river and indulge in his long-accustomed habit of bathing in order to improve his physical condition, upon which Col. Snelling told him if he would promise on the honor of a chief that he would not leave town, he mlglit have his liberty and enjoy all his priviliges until the day appointed for his execution. Accordingly, he first gave his hand to the colonel, thanking him for his friendly offer, then raised lioth hands aloft, and, in the most solemn adjii- ration, promised that he would not leave the bounds prescribed, and said if he had a liundred lives, he would sooner lose them all than forfeit his word. He was then set at liberty. He was advised to flee to the wilderness ami make his escape. "Do you think," said he, "I prize life above lionor?" He then complacently remained until nine days of the ten wliich lie had to live had passed, and still nothing was heard of the murderers or of their being apprehended. No alteration could be seen in tlie countenance of the chief. It so happened tiiat on that day Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troojis from Jefferson Barracks, and the order for the execution was countermanded and the Indians permitted to return to their homes.