Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 20, 1880

The White Settlements in the Northwest at the Close of the War of 1 812 - The Americans first take Possession - First American Vessel at Green Bay - The Settlement of the Northwest by the Americans Virtually Commenced with the Working of the Lead Mines - The Winnebago CKnbreak in 1827,

FTER the close of the war, 1816, the only white settlements in the North- ^ west, at this period, were those of K#'? Y Detroit, Mackinaw, old Michilimack- I inac, La Pointe, Green Bay, Prairie du Chien, Chicago, Kaskaskia and Vincennes, with two or three trading posts on the Mississippi.

The population of these consisted principal!)' of French and half breeds; the few Americans w ere generally connected with the American Fur Company, at its agencies, or with the military forces, in occupation of the forts.

American troops. In Ant^ust, if^iG, tlio first vessels flying the American flag arrived at Green Bay, laden with troops and supplies. The troops were under the command of Colonel John Miller, who immediatel>-, on, his arrival, visited Tomah, the chief of the Menominecs, and asked him to consent to the erection of a fort; when Tomali replied :

My brother! how can we oppose your locating a council fire among us? You are too strongfor us. Even if we wantedto opposeyou, we Jiave scarcely got powder and shot enough to make tlie attempt. One favor we ask is that our French brothers shall not be disturbed, or in any way molested. You can choose any place you please for your fort, and wc shall not object. "

The colonel thanked Tomah and his people for their friendly compliance, and presented them with some flour and pork. Some of the Indians then requested Tomah to ask their new father for a little broth to use with the pork and flour. This was also gi\'en in small quantities.

A stockade fort was then built, about four miles above the mouth of the river, and garrisoned. Fort Howard was afterward erected, in 1820, on the site of the cit)' now bearing its name.

For many j'ears the Indians had worked the lead mines, unknown to the whites. At last, the rich treasures were discovered by the latter, and the most glowing accounts were given of the Fevre River Mines, (Galena) which were discovered and worked b^- an Indian called Old Buck.

The Government having determined to lease the mines, sent a detachment of troops to accompany a number of miners employed by Colonel Johnson to work them. The men belonging to the mining compan\-, and the troops arrived at Fevre River in July, 1822. The Sacs and Foxes were then in occupation of the lead region in northern Illinois. They ha\-ing driven off the Kaskaskias, had been for a long time in possession of the Fevre River and Rock River country. They must have possessed themselves of this tract shortly after their expulsion from the Fox Valley, for the distinguished chief. Black Hawk, was born on Rock Island, the site of one of their principal villages. At the time of the arrival of the miners, they had been the occupants of this beautiful country for at least two or three generations; and having been routed by the French from the Fox River valley, and after their rcmo\al to the Lou er Wisconsin fought by the Siou.x, the\' felt \ er_\' jealous of any intrusion on their new domain. They, therefore, determined to resist the landing of these miners, w hom they regarded as the pioneers of a migration of whites, who would dispossess them of their homes. The sequel pro\ed that their fears were ni.it unfounded.

When the troops arrived, the Indians were awed b)' their formidable appearance, and. abandoning their opposition, concluded to make a \irtue of necessity by allowing the whites to w ork the mines with them.

In the course of a few years a large settlement sprung up in the lead region. In 1823 there were twent)'-four persons, exclusive of the Indians; of these, there were about five hundred who worked the mines with the whites, or rather, the squaws did. The squaws were considered the most industrious and successful miners. In some places they had made drifts forty or fift)' feet deep.

"While Colonel Johnson's men were sinking their holes or shafts, in some instances, the squaws W(nild drift under them and take out all the mineral ore they could find. When the men got down into the drift made by the women, the latter would have a hearty laugh at the white men's expense. "

The miners and first settlers in the lead regions were generall)- from Cincinnati, Kentucky and Missouri, from which places the\' came in keel boats, or barges and canoes. Their supplies were brought from those places, and their lead shipi)ed to Cincinnati and St. Louis.

By the year 1S26 the miners had extended their diggings to what is now known as the Southwestern part of this State, which was then Winnebago territory, the Winnebagoes being the neighbors ot the Sauks and Foxes, with whom they were on amicable terms.

.A miner, in prosjiecting on what is now the site of Hazel Green, commenced- sinking a shaft; when at the tlepth of four feet, he found block mineral. In one day he took out of the hole seventeen thousand pounds of the mineral , a feat that has not been equalled bj- one man since.

By the year 1S27 the lead mines had become famous, and a belief in their great wealth created an intense excitement in various parts of the Union, and immigration began to flow in. At this period occurred what is known as the Winnebago outbreak.

In 1825 a grand council was held at Prairie du Chien by (jovernors Cass and Clark, at which was assembled a large number of the. tribes of the Northwest. It had for its chief purpose the establishment of friendl)- relations between the several Indian nations, as their belligerent feelings towards each other kept the country in disturbance and endangered the safety of the whites.

They concurred in the proposed boundaries, feeling that they were obliged to do so: but the Sioux were dissatisfied, as their territorj' was greatly abridged. The other tribes complained that they did not receive such presents as the British agents bestowed on them, and were especial!)- indignant at the small allowance of whiskey

To show that the liquor w as not w ithhcld on account of stinginess, the Commissioners had two barrels of it brought on the ground. The Indians were now in great glee; but when the Commissioners stove in the heads of the casks and suffered all the liquor to run to waste on the ground, their disappointment and indignation knew no bounds. 'Tt was a great pity," said old Wakh-pa-koo-tay, speaking of the ever-to-be-remembered event; "there was enough wasted to have kept me drunk all the days of my life. "

The next year a band of Chippewas, on a visit to the American Agency at St. Peters, were treacherously assailed by a band of Sioux, who killed three or four of the former.

In the spring of 1827 a Frenchman bj- the name of Methode went to his sugar camp, two miles from Prairie du Chien, to make sugar; he was accompanied by his wife, a most beautiful woman, and his five children. One ofhis friends went on a visit to his camp, and found that the whole famih' had been murdered by Indians.

A party of militia now went to the nearest Winnebago camp, and found what they supposed to be one of the assassins. Colonel Morgan next caused two Winnebago chiefs to be seized, and informed the tribe that they would not be released until the murderers were delivered up. They were brought in and sent to St. Peters, for safe keeping. While there, a band of Chippewas were encamped on the grounds of the agency. A party of Sioux made a visit to their wigwams, and was friendly received. Just as they took their departure, they suddenly turned, and discharged their pieces at the Chippewas, reclining in their lodge, killing several of the latter. The commandant of the fort immediately sent out a party of a hundred soldiers, which captured some thirty Dacotahs, wliom they brought in. Among these the survivors of the Chippewas recognized two of the assassins, which were delivered up to them. "You must not shoot them under our walls;" said the officer. The Chippewas led theirprisoners a short distance, and one of them struck up his death song. The party halted, when the Dacotahs were told to run for their lives. They were given thirty yards start, when six guns were discharged, and they dropped dead. The chief culprit was afterwards captured and suffered a similar death.

The Dacotahs were now incensed at the whites, and, as the)- and the Winnebagoes were like kindred people, and felt as if they had mutual grie\-ances, the former, therefore, determined to instigate the Winnebagoes to acts of hostilit)- against the common eneni)-.

Red Bird one oftheWinnebago war chiefs, had just returned from an unsuccessful expedition against the Chippewas, and v\'as peculiarly susceptible to the impressions his Dacotah friends desired to make. They succeeded in arousing in him a feeling of revenge. "You have become a by-word and a reproach among our people," said they. "Your kindred have been taken by the Big Knives, and killed, and you dare not avenge their deaths. The Chippewas scofi" at you, and ^le Big Knives laugh at you. "

Red Bird was a noble specimen of an Indian - young and brave, and had heretofore enjoyed a high reputation among the whites for his good qualities. He was one of the last who would be suspected of any treacherous act; but he brooded over the supposed injuries ofhis people, until his nature seemed changed.

The Winnebagoes, too, were in a state of great excitement, caused by the intrusion of the whites upon their territory. A large number of whites were over the prescribed lines, and the aspect of affairs was threatening.

A farmer by the name of Gagnier, with his wife and three children, lived about three miles from Prairiedu Chien. Whither repaired Red Bird with three other Indians. They were hospitably received and entertained, when suddenly they leveled their pieces and shot Gagnier and his man; both dropped dead. Madam Gagnier turned to flee with her infant, when a wretch snatched it from her, stabbed and scalped it, and then threw it on the floor. She seized a gun, and presenting it at the cowardly brute, he jumped aside, when she fled and made her escape to the \illagc. Her eldest son also escaped.

number of warriurs were assembled. A keg of whiskey which they had obtained, tjave zest to the proceedings. For two days they continued their revels, concluding with the scalp dance. They were now ready for a contemplated attack on keel boats which were expected down the river from Fort Snelling. These were in charge of Mr. Lindsley. When they reached the mouth of the Bad Axe, they observed the Indians, and their hostile appearance. The Frenchmen on the boat advised keeping out inthe stream; but the Americans, more ignorant of the Indian character, urged the boat with their sweeps towards the camp; when suddenly the woods echoed with the yell of the war-whoop, and a shower of balls rattled on the sides and deck of the boat. . The first fire disabled one man, and the second volley another. The Winnebagoes now took to their canoes and attempted to board the keel boats, when a severe engagement occurred in which several of the Indians were killed. They were repulsed, but continued their efforts. For three hours a most desperate encounter was kept up. At last, the boat escaped under cover of the darkness of night. Seven Indians were killed, and fourteen wounded; of the whites, two were killed and two piortally wounded.

Bodies of volunteers were now formed, and the frontier assumed an aspect of war. General Atkinson arrived with a regiment and a force of volunteers from Galena. He proceeded to Portage, where Red Bird and his associates voluntarily presented themselves as prisoners, and thus ended the Winnebago outbreak.