Boscobel City (part 1 of 3)

Boscobel City

to strike the River Jefreon at a disfcince of thirty miles from its mouth, and down the said Jefreon to the Mississippi ; thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin River, and up the same to a point which shall be thirty-six miles in a direct line from the mouth of said river ; thence by a direct line to a point where the Fox River (a branch of the Illinois) leaves the small lake called Sakaegan ; thence down the Fox River to the Illinois River, and down the same to the Mississippi."

The consideration for this cession of lands by the Indians was an immediate delivery of goods to the value of $2,234.50, and a yearly annuity of $1,000, $600 of which was intended for the Sacs and $400 for the Foxes, to be paid in goods valued at the first cost.

This treaty, although discredited by Black Hawk, was signed by Pashepaho, who was generally considered the head chief of the Sac Nation, and its provisions must have been considered binding by the tribes generally as the annuities therein mentioned were regularly paid and received. Afterward, in the year 1815, separate confirmatory treaties were made with the Sacs and Foxes, as is shown by the following : "By the treaty of Portage des Souix, made by William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Aguste Ghoteau, Commissioners, etc., and the kings, chiefs and warriors of the Fox tribe or nation, dated September 14, 1813, the said Fox tribe -

"Do hereby assent to, recognize, reestablish and confirm the treaty of St. Louis, which was concluded on the 3d day of November, 1804, to the full extent of their interest in the same, as well as all other contracts and agreements between the parties ; and the United States promise to fulfill all the stipulations contained in the said treaty in favor of the said Fox tribe or nation.

'' By the treaty of Portage des Souix made by the above-named commissioners, and the chiefs and warriors of that portion of the Sac Nation of Indians, now residing on the Missouri River, dated September 13, 1815, the chiefs and warriors -

" For themselves and that portion of the Sacs which they represent, do hereby assent to the treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis on the 3d day of November, 1804 : and they, moreover, promise to do all in their power to re-establish and enforce the same."

The signers of this treaty also promised to give no aid whatever to the " Sacs of Rock River " until peace should be established between that band and the United States.

But by a later treaty, executed at St. Louis May 13, 1816, the " Sacs of Rock River and adjacent C9untry," agreed to, "hereby unconditionally assent to, recognize, re-establish and con- 6rm the treaty between the United States of America and the united tribes of Sacs and Foxes, which was concluded at St. Louis on the 3d of November, 1804, as well as all other contracts and agreements heretofore made between the Sac tribe or nation and the United States." This treaty was signed by twenty-two chiefs and head men, among others. Black Hawk. This treaty he afterward claimed he never understood, and so did not know what he was signing. The Indians, comprising the following of this chief, continued to claim proprietary rights in the lands on the east of the Mississippi until the disastrous result of the war, in 1832, effectually put this question beyond dispute. The Government- had previously made treaties with other tribes who laid claim to the same territory, and the " Indian troubles " were thenceforth a story of the past.

those representatives of the paternal government founded and fostered by Louis -S.1V, m his possessions in the New World, none were more assiduous in their endeavors to Ififi*^ *« resources of the New France than Jean Baptiste Talon, Intendant of Canada from 1od5 to 1672. In 1670, under his ordvs, an expedition was fitted out to search for copper T'^t °?..^'*''6 Superior, and to formally take possession of the whole of this interior country tor the King of France. This expedition was under the command of Daumont de St. Lussen, and among those who accompanied him was Louis Joliet, a name imperishable so long as the great westt n land, of which he was afterward the discoverer, shall continue to bear its teeming °" ions. t. Lusson set out on his voyage of exploration accompanied by a small partv besides

Joliet, with Nicholas Perrot, a voyageur, who spoke Algonquin fluently, as interpreter. By arrangement, St. Lusson remained at Manitoulin Islands through the winter, while Perrot made a tour of the diiFerent tribes to invite them to a general conference at the Sault Ste. Marie in the fjllowing spring. Perrot, having first sent messages to the northern tribes, went to Green Bay for the purpose of obtaining the presence of the nations residing upon its borders to the proposed meeting.

St. Lusson, accompanied by his men (fifteen in number), appeared at the Sault over a month in advance of the time appointed. When all the tribes had assembled, the Frenchman prepared to execute the mission with which he was charged. A large cross of wood was prepared, and in the presence of the assembled savages, it was planted in the ground. A post of cedar was then planted beside it attached to which was a metal-plate engraved with the royal arms. Then St. Lussen made proclamation : " In the name of the most high, mighty, and redoubtable moaarch, Louis XIV, of that name, most Christian King of France and Navarre, I take possession of this place Sainte Marie du Sault, as also of Lakes Huron and Superior, the Island of Manitoulin and all countries, rivers, lakes and streams, contiguous and adjacent thereto; both those which have been discovered, and those which may be discovered hereafter, in all their length and breadth, bounded on the one side by the seas of the North and of the West, and on the other by the South Sea, declaring to the nations thereof, that from this time forth they are vassals of His Majesty, bound to obey his laws and follow his customs ; promising them on his part all succor and protection against the incursions and invasions of their enemies ; declaring to all other potentates, princes, sovereigns, states and republics - to them and their subjects - that they cannot and are not to seize or settle upon any parts of the aforesaid countries, save only under the good pleasure of His Most Christian Majesty, and of him who will govern in his behalf; and this on pain of incurring his resentment and the efforts of his arms." So far as words alone could «fFect it, thus passed the whole Northwest, including the territory of the present State of Wisconsin, under the dominion of France. She had discovered and, to a certain extent, explored it, a rude commerce with its barbarous inhabitants, and, through her missionaries, proclaimed the Christian doctrine to their heathen ears. But none of her agents, traders or missionaries, had so far reached that great river of which so many marvels were being constantly related.

Upon the return of the expedition to Quebec, it was determined to explore this mysterious stream. The choice fell upon tfoliet. Said the Governor on the 2d of November, 1672 : " It has been judged expedient to send Sieur Joliet to the Maskoutiens (Mascoutins), to discover the south sea and the great river they call the Mississippi, which is supposed to discharge itself into the Sea of California." Continuing, the official adds: " He is a man of great experience in these sorts of discoveries, and has already been almost at the great river, the mouth of which he promises to see."

Joliet passed up the lakes, and, on the 17th of May, 1673, accompanied by Father James Marquette and five others, started from the Missi9n of St. Ignatius, north of Machinaw Island, in the present county of Mackinaw, Mich, with two bark canoes, on a trip which was destined to open the beauties of the Father of Waters to the gaze of civilized man. AH information possible was obtained from the Indian tribes regarding this great unknown stream before starting, and then with light hearts the explorers paddled away to the west and up Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River. The first Indian nation met by Joliet was the Menomonees. He was warned by them not to venture so far into the interior on account of the bands of savage warriors inhabiting that country and who spared no strangers, accompanied by marvelous tales ot the numerous monsters and demons who made the " great river " their haunt, and adding as a final argument that the heat was so excessive in those countries as to infallibly cause death to all who ventured into that section. Nothing daunted by the hideous prospect presented, Joliet to persevere, and proceeded on up the Fox River to the portage.

This river was found quite pleasant at its mouth, having a gentle current. The wild oats along the bank had gathered along the shores numerous flocks of bustards, ducks, teal and oth^ birds. As the party advanced up the river, it was found to be more difiBcult of ascent, owing not onlv to the currents but to the sharp rocks which projected above the troubled waters on every side and cut their canoes. By using great care and precaution, the rapids were .passed in safety and soon afterward the party reached the nation of the Mascoutins. In their village were also gathered two other tribes, the Miamis and Kickapoos. The Miamis were very civil in their deportment. Two long ear-locks, which was a distinctive feature of their costume, added somewhat to their appearance. They had the name of being a warlike tribe, and seldom went. out on war parties in vain. They were found to be very docile and ready to listen quietly to what was said to them. The Mascoutins and Kickapoos were more rude in their manner. Bark for cabins was found to be rare in this village, the Indians using rushes, which served them as walls and roof, but, as might be expected, were no protection against rain when it fell, as it frequently did, in torrents. Their advantage was that cabins built of these rushes could easily be taken to pieces, rolled up and transported wherever the owner wished.

The view from the village was extremely picturesque, it being perched upon an eminence and surrounded on every side by broad prairies, stretching away as far as the eye could reach, interspersed by thickets or groves of lofty trees. The soil was found to be very good, producing corn in abundance. Plums and grapes also were gathered in abundance by the Indians.

" We knew," wrote Father Marquette, " that there was, three [thirty] leagues from the Mascoutens [Mascoutins] a river entering into the Mississippi ; we knew, too, that the point of oompaas we were to hold to reach it was west-southwest, but the way is so cut up by marshes and little lakes that it is easy to go astray, especially as the river leading to it is so covered with wild oats that you can hardly discover the channel, hence we had great need of our two (Miami) guides, who led us safely to a portage of 2,700 paces [the site now occupied by the city of Portage], and helped us to transport our canoes to enter this river [Wisconsin], after which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country, in the hand of Providence.

'' We now leave the waters which flow to Quebec, a distance of four or five hundred leagues, to follow those which will henceforth lead us into strange lands. Before embarking, we all began together a new devotion to the Blessed Virgin Immaculate, which we practiced every day, addressing her particular prayers to put under her protection both our persons and the success of our voyage. Then after having encouraged one another, we got into our canoes. The river on which we embarked is called the Mesconsing [Wisconsin] ; it is very broad, with a sandy bottom, forming many shallows which render navigation very difficult. It is full of vine-clad islets. On the banks appear fertile lands diversified with wood, prairie and hill. Here you find oaks, walnut, whitewood, and another kind of tree with branches armed with thorns. We saw no small game or fish, but deer and moose in considerable numbers."

Thus they floated down this great tributary of a greater river, while on their left hand lay exposed for the first time to the gaze of civilized man in all its virginal beauty what is now included in the county of Grant. Without doubt, the explorers stopped at several points in pursuit of game or to camp, thus being actually the first white men who set foot in Grant County.

On the 17th of June, to their inexpressible joy, the party entered the Mississippi. After descending the river many miles, Joliet retraced his steps to Green Bay, and thence to Quebec, were to make his report of the wonderful discovery he had made. Marquette remained at the .Bay to recruit his health, which had been seriously tried bv the anxieties of the previous months. J . f

Other Early Visitors

Wot a great while was sufiered to elapse before Joliet and his companions were followed by others. Louis Hennepin, a Recollet friar, and his party, as a detail from La Salle's expedition w the Illinois, reached the portage in 1680, on his way from the Upper Mississippi to the great 'akes, passing up the Wisconsin and down the Fox River to Green Bay. Le Seuer and his party passed down the Wisconsin in 1683, on his way to the Mississippi. The name is spelled by these early explorers Ouisconsin (Wisconsin).

Jonathan Carver came over the same route in 1766, and thus speaks of his voyage : " On the 8th of November (1766), we got our canoes into the Ouisconsin River, which, at this place (the portage), is more than 100 yards wide, and the next day arrived at the great town of the Saukies (Sauks or Sacs). This is the largest and best built Indian town I ever saw. It contains about ninety houses, each large enough to accommodate several families. These are built of hei^n plank, neatly jointed, and covered with bark so compactly as to keep out the most penetrating rains. Before the doors are placed comfortable sheds, in which the inhabitants sit when the weather will permit, and smoke their pipes. The streets are regular and spacious, so that it appears more like a civilized town than the abode of savages. The land near the town is very good. In their plantations, which lie adjacent to their houses, and which are neatly laid out, they raise great quantities of Indian corn, beans, melons, etc., so that this place is esteemed the best market for traders to furnish themselves with provisions of any within 300 miles of it.

" The Saukies can raise about 300 warriors, who are generally employed every summer in making incursions into the territory of the Illinois and Pawnee nations, from whence they return with a great number of slaves. But those people frequently retaliate, and in their turn destroy many of the Saukies, which I judged to be the reason they increased no faster.

" On the 10th of October, we proceeded down the river, and the next day reached the first town of the Ottigaumies (Foxes). This town contained about fifty houses, but we found most of them deserted, on account of an epidemical disorder that had lately raged among them, and carried off more than one-half of the inhabitants. The greater part of those who had survived had retired into the woods to escape the contagion.

''On the 15th, we entered that extensive river, the Mississippi. The Ouisconsin, from the carrying place to the part where it falls into the Mississippi, flows with a smooth, but a strong current ; the water of it is exceedingly clear, and through it you may perceive a fine and sandy bottom, tolerably free from rocks. In it are a few islands, the soil of which appeared to be good, though somewhat woody. The land near the river also seemed to be, in general, excellent, but that at a distance is very full of mountains, where it is said there are many lead mines."

In this last sentence, Carver undoubtedly refers to the section now included in the borders of Grant County, showing, also, that the great mineral wealth had been known to the Indians and French previous to his visit.

Water-Ways

From the time when first the bow of Joliet's canoe clove the virgin waters of the Wisconsin, until the present, that river has been used as a prominent thoroughfare, first for convenience, and, as the country became inhabited by the pushing, daring white man, and succumbed to the advance of modern civilization, commerce claimed it for its own, and the hoarse shout of the "river man," as he pilots his unwieldy lumber raft, now resounds along those banks which formerly gave back the echoes of the wild Canadian boat song, or the thoughtless laugh of the light-hearted traveler. During the last half of the seventeenth century, from Joliet's time forward, and during nearly all of the eighteenth, this river was a broad highway, furnishing the only connection between the Mississippi and the great lakes for the fur-trader, the missionary and the explorer. Small squads of French soldiers occasionally passed down the river, on their way to garrison the Western posts, and, returning, took the same route. Frequently the way would be rendered treacherous and full of danger by the Fox Indians, who dwelt first upon the river of that name, and then upon the Wisconsin. In 1761, the French lost, by the conquest of Canada, their supremacy over those rivers, and, for a time, England took nominal possession of them, and travel was not seriously interrupted until 1827. During the interval the watercourses had passed under the jurisdiction of the United States. In 1814, Col. McKay, of the British Army, came down the Wisconsin with a large force of British and Indians, and captured the post at Prairie du Chien from the United States. In 1819, the Fifth Regiment of United States Infantry used the same broad stream as a means of reaching Prairie du Chien, which had again passed into the possession of the United States. Ebenezer Childs, a well-known Wisconsin pioneer, made the same trip in a bark canoe in 1821. He also conducted the first Durham boat that ever made that journey. In 1826, a fleet of thirty-five boats passed down the river, bearing the Third United States Infantry from Green Bay to St. Louis, and, a year later, Gen. Cass passed over the same route, to ascertain the feeling of the Winnebagoes toward the United States, as hostilities were threatened, which afterward broke out and were promptly squelched. Thus, year after year, the human tide swept back and forth along the northern boundary of this beautiful county, until the advent of post and railroads drew travelers in other directions. Today it is given over to the raftsman and the pleasure seeker.

The Winnebago War

During the early part of 1827, there arose a difficulty with the Winnebago tribe which for the time-being roused the early settlers of Grant County to a high pitch of excitement. The commencement of these troubles arose from the surprise of a party of Chippewas, who were on their way to Fort Snelling by a war-party of Winnebagoes. The attack was made at the mouth of St. Peter's River, and eight of the Chippewas were killed. The commandant of the United States forces at the fort, took four of the ofiiending Winnebagoes prisoners, and turned them over to the exasperated Chippewas, who immediately put them to death. This act of the commandant, showing a lack of judgment, that, under the circumstances of the case, seemed little less than criminal, was greatly resented by " Red Bird," a prominent chief of the Winnebagoes, who owed his name to two birds of that color which he wore on his shoulders, much the same as epulets are worn by military officers.

Another inciting cause to this enmity was the daily encroachments of the miners in the lead region, extending between the Galena and Wisconsin Rivers east of the Mississippi. These infringements upon what the Indians considered their rights were each day becoming worse, and necessarily served to add new fuel to the flame that was already burning in the chieftain's breast. In revenge for the killing of the four Winnebagoes, " Red Bird " led a war party against the Chippewas, but being defeated in his attempt for scalps, he turned his resentment against the whites, whom he viewed not only as usurpers in a country which he claimed as belonging to his tribe, but also as allies of his ancient enemies, the Chippewas.

Previous to this, a murder had been committed by the Winnebagoes, near Prairie du Chien, by which several persons of the family of a Mr. Methode had been slain. This and other ominous signs showed that a spirit of enmity had been stirred up between the Indians and the whites, and for the first time since the war of 1812, a speck, presaging a war cloud of the most formidable proportions, was visible to the aff"righted gaze of the whites.

On the 28th day of June, 1827, Red Bird, We-Kaw and three of their companions entered the house of Register Gagnier, about three miles from Prairie du Chien, where they remained several hours. At last, when Mr. Gagnier stood unsuspecting any danger. Red Bird took dehberate aim and shot him dead on his own hearthstone. A person in the building by the name of Sip Cap, who was in the employ of Mr. Gagnier, was killed at the same time by We-Kaw. Madame Gagnier, seeing the assault turned to flee, with her babe of eighteen months in her arms. As she was about to leap through the window, the babe was torn from her arms by the fiendish We-Kaw, stabbed, scalped and thrown violently on the floor as dead.

ihe murderer then attacked the woman, but gave way when she snatched up a gun and presented it at his breast. She then efiected her escape. Her eldest son, a lad of ten years, also succeeded in eluding the red fiends, and they both arrived in Prairie du Chien about the same time. The alarm was given, and a body of settlers promptly assembled and marched out to the scene of the murder, but the perpetrators had fled, leaving the mangled form of the infant oehind. Strange as it may seem, the little one was still alive, and more than that, afterward recovered.

Red Bird and his companions at once 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 at the mouth of Bad Ax River. They received the murderers with joy, and evinced a hearty appreciation of their exploit.

A keg of liquor which they happened to have was brought out, and as the alcohol arose to their brains, they boasted long and loud over what they had done, and what they intended to do. This revel continued for two days. On the third day, the whisky having given out, the dissipation came to an end. They were, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, working off the last fumes in the scalp-dance, when they discovered keel-boats coming down the river. The boats had passed up a few days before loaded with provisions for Fort Snelling, and were now in charge of Mr. Lindsay. Supposing from their examination of the crafts while on their way up that no arms were aboard, the savages determined at once to capture the boats and massacre the crews.

The boats came on, unsuspecting attack, until nearly, opposite the encampment of the Dakotas some distance up the stream. These Indians hailed them with insults and reproaches, but offered no violence, and the whites supposed all danger over. Just here a heavy wind began to sweep up the river with such violence that it took all the strength of the crews to force their crafts down the river against it.

By the time the first boat was near the village of Red Bird's party, the crew were quite ready to stop and rest. One or two Frenchmen who were aboard, seeing signs of hostility from the Indians on the bank, advised their companions not to make a landing. The majority of the crew were Americans, and, like the generality of their countrymen, held the Indian in considerable contempt, and their contempt was only equaled by their ignorance of Indian character. They therefore urged the boat toward the camp with all the force of the long sweeps. There were sixteen men on deck, the boat itself being like all keel-boats, built somewhat on the model of the Brie and Middlesex canal-boats.

The men were rallying their French companions on their fears, and the boat was within thirty yards of shore and nearing it as fast as the strong arms on board could effect the junction, when suddenly the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing war-whoop, and a volley of rifle balls rained upon the deck. Happily the nerves of the Winnebagoes were yet unstrung from the effects of their late debauch, and, as a consequence, their aim was not so steady as it would have otherwise been. One man only fell from their fire. He was a negro named Peter. His 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 in the bottom of the boat, they escaped injury, save one who was more exposed, and was shot through the heart. Encouraged by the non-resistance of the boatmen, the Winnebagoes rushed for their canoes, intending to board. The whites, having recovered from their first panic, seized their arms, and the boarders were met with a well-aimed discharge, that laid two of the Indians dead and wounded another. The attack was continued until night, when one of the boatmen named Mandeville, who had assumed command, jumped into the water followed by four of his companions, and, by their united exertions, the craft was set afloat and drifted down stream.

Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this attack, seven of whom were killed and fourteen wounded. They managed, however, to put 693 bullets into different parts of the boat, some even passing through it. Two of the crew were killed outright, two mortally and two slightly wounded. The daring and presence of mind of Mandeville no doubt saved the rest as well as the boat.

Mr. Lindsay's boat - the rear one - did not reach the Indian encampment until midnight. The Indians opened fire on it and the fire was returned, but, owing to the darkness, no injury was done and the boat escaped in safety.

The arrival of the boats at Prairie du Chien caused a panic. The people thereabouts crowded into the dilapidated fort, leaving farms and houses to the mercies of the dreaded Indians.

An express was immediately sent to Galena and another to Fort Snelling for assistance. A company of nearly a hundred volunteers soon arrived from Gralena, and the fears of the settlers were much assuaged. A few days later relief also arrived from Fort Snelling. The consternation and alarm felt throughout the lead mines and outlying settlements was fully as great as that felt at Prairie du Chien. Everybody crowded to the block-houses that were hastily constructed, and, for a time, work of all kinds was at a standstill. Many, in fact, were so terrified at the wild stories afloat that they left the country.

Troops were at once ordered to the seat of war from Fort Howard and St. Louis. The former were under the command of Maj. Whistler, who, on the 1st of September, arrived at " the portage." While here, an express arrived from Gen. Atkinson, commanding the detachment coming up from St. Louis, directing Maj. Whistler to halt and fortify himself at the portage, and await his arrival. The object of these joint expeditions was to capture the " hostiles " and intimidate the remainder of the tribe in such a manner that no further depredations would be committed. The Winnebagoes had previously been advised that their safety lay in the surrender of the Gagnier murderers. While Maj. Whistler was awaiting the arrival of the other troops at the portage, he received a mysterious call. An Indian came unceremoniously to his tent and informed the officer that about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the next day " they will come in." In reply to the question " Who will come in ? " he answered, " Red Bird and We-Kaw." After making this answer, he retired by the way he came. At 3 o'clock on the same day, a second Indian made his appearance in the same silent manner, made a similar announcement, and answered the question, as to who would come in in the same manner as the first. At sundown a third came, and confirmed what the other two had stated, adding that he had given nearly all his property to the families of the murderers to secure this object.

The pathetic and the heroic were both combined in this voluntary submission, and the preliminary arrangements. That the prisoners were aware that they were probably going to their death, is shown in their endeavor to first secure something for their families previous to giving themselves up. It was the relinquishment of two lives to satisfy the demands of the law upon the whole tribe. The act rises to the level of the heroic, in the fact that the murders committed at Prairie du Chien were, according to the Indian law, if not justifiable, at least permissible, on the ground of the complicity of the whites in the murder of the four Winnebago prisoners. Certainly, the victims of this savage vengeance were in no ways associated in that act, but, belonging to the same tribe of " pale-faces," under the savage law, the act was in accordance- with justice.

The grand finale of this impressive scene is thus described by an eye witness : " About noon of the day following the announcement, there was seen descending a mound on the portage a body of Indians. Some were mounted and some were on foot. By the aid of a glass they were made out to be coming toward Maj. Whistler's camp. They bore no arms, and Whistler was at a loss to understand that the promise made by the three Indians was about to be fulfilled. In the course of half an hour they had approached within a short distance of the crossing of Fox River, when, on a sudden, was heard singing. Those who were familiar with the air said It is the death song. When still nearer, those who knew him said it is Red Bird singing his death song. The moment a halt was made preparatory to passing over, two scalp yells were given.

" The Menomonees and other Indians who had accompanied us were lying carelessly about the ground regardless of what was going on ; but when the scalp yells were heard they sprang a« one man to their feet, seized their rifles and were ready for battle. They were at no loss to Icnow what these yells were, but they had not heard them with sufficient accuracy to determine whether they indicated scalps to be taken or given, but, doubtless, inferred the first.

" Barges were sent across to receive the Indians, and an escort of military to accompany them within Whistler's lines. The white flag which had been seen in the distance was borne by Red Bird.

'-A-id now the advance of the Indians had reached half way up the ascent of the bluff" on which was Whistler's encampment. In the lead was Kar-ray-mau-nee, a distinguished chiol.

Arriving on the level on which was the encampment of the Americans, and order being called Karray-mau-nee spoke, saying, ' They are here. Like braves they have come in; treat them as braves ; do not put them in irons.' This address was made to Col. McKenney. The latter told the chief ho was not the big captain. His talk must be to Maj. Whistler, who would do what was right. Mr. Marsh, the sub-agent, being there, an advance was made to him, and the hope expressed that the Indians might be turned over into his hands.

" The military had been previously drawn out into line. The Menomonee and Wabanackie (Oneida) Indians were in groups upon their haunches upon the left flank. On the right was the band of music a little in advance of the line. In front of the center, about ten paces distant, were the murderers. On the right and left were those who had accompanied them forming a semi-circle, the magnificent Red Bird and the miserable-looking We-kaw a little in advance of the center. All eyes were fixed on Red Bird. In height, he is about six feet, straight, but with an easy air, devoid of restraint. His proportions are those of most exact symmetry ; and these embraced the entire man from his head to his feet.

" He and We-kaw were told to sit down. At this moment the band struck up Pleyel's hymn. Everything was still. Red Bird turned his eyes toward the band. The music havinof ceased, he took up his pouch, and taking from it kinnikiunic and tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his hand Indian fashion ; then, rubbing the two together, filled the bowl of his calumet, struck fire on a bit of punk with his flint and steel, lighted and smoked it. All sat except the speaker. The substance of what they said was as follows :

" They were required to bring in the murderers. They had no power over any except two ; the third had gone away ; these had voluntarily agreed to come in and 'give themselves up. As their friends, they had come with them. They hoped their white brothers would accept the horses, of which there were perhaps twenty, the meaning of which was to take them in commutation of the lives of their two friends. They asked kind treatment for them, and earnestly 'besought that they might not be put in irons, and concluded by asking for a little tobacco and something to eat.

" They were answered, and told in substance that they had done well thus to come in. By having done so, they had turned away our guns and saved their people. They were admonished against placing themselves in a like situation in the future, and were advised, when they were , aggrieved, not to resort to violence, but to go to their agent, who would inform the Great Father of their complaints, and he would redress their grievances ; that their friends would be treated kindly, and tried by the same laws by which their Great Father's white children were tried ; that for the present Red Bird and We-kaw should not be put in irons ; that they should all hare something to eat and tobacco to smoke.

" Having heard this. Red Bird stood up ; the commanding oflBcer, Maj. Whistler, a few paces in front of the center of the line, facing him. After a moment's pause, and a quick survey of the troops, he said, ' I am ready ! ' then advancing a step or two he paused, saying, ' I not wish to be put in irons ; let me be free ; I have given away my life - it is gone (stooping and taking some dust between his thumb and finger and blowing it away) like that ' - eyeing the dust as it fell and vanished from his sight - adding, ' I would not take it back ; it is gone I ' Having thus spoken he threw his hands behind him and marched up to Maj. Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was wheeled backward from the center of the line, when, the Major stepping aside, Red Bird and We-Kaw marched through the line, in charge of a file of men, to a tent provided for them in the rear, where a guard was set over them. The comrades of the two captives then left the ground by the way they had come, taking with them Maj. Whistlers advice, and a supply of meat, flour and tobacco.

" We-Kaw, the miserable looking brave, the accomplice of Red Bird, was in all respects the opposite of that unfortunate chief. Never were two persons so totally unlike. The one seemed a prince, and as if born to command and worthy to be obeyed ; the other as if he had been horn to be hanged - meager, cold, dirty in his person and dress, crooked in his form, like the starved wolf, gaunt, hungry and bloodthirsty, his entire presence indicating a spirit wary, cruel and treacherous. The prisoners were committed for safe keeping at Prairie du Chien, to await their trial at the regular courts of justice for murder.

-'The next spring, Red Bird, We-Kaw and another Winnebago prisoner were tried at Prairie du Chien, before Judge J. D. Doty, who went from Green Bay for that purpose, convicted and sentenced to death. Red Bird died in prison. A deputation of the tribe went to Washington to solicit the pardon of the others. President Adams granted it upon the implied condition that they would cede their lands then in the possession of the miners. THe Winnebagoes agreed to this. Mm. Gagnier was compensated for the loss of her husband and the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty made at Prairie du Chien, in 1829, provision was made for two sections of land for herself and her two children, and the Government agreed to pay her the sum of $50 per annum for fifteen years, to be deducted from the annuity of the Winnebago Indians.

Before closing this account of the troubles of 1827, mention must be made of an incident thiit calls to mind the "noble savage" of Cooper, the traditional rather than the real. Immediately after the affair with the boats, the volunteer soldiery at Prarie du Chien seized the old chief of the tribe De-Kaury and four other Indians. He was informed that if Red Bird was not given up in ten days he and his companions were to suffer in their stead. This he devoutly believed. A young Indian was sent as messenger to inform the tribe of the conditions. Several days had elapsed and not anything had been heard from the murderers. The fateful day was drawing near and De-Kaury, being in a bad state of health, asked permission of the officer in command to go to the river where he could indulge in a much-prized custom of bathing in order to improve his health. Col. Snelling told him that if he would promise upon his honor as a chieftain not to try and escape, but to come back immediately upon finishing the bath, he might go ; and if he would further promise not to leave town he might have his liberty until the day set for his execution.

De-Kaury, upon this, first thanked the ofllcer for his kind offer, then, raising both hands alnft, promised he would not leave the bounds prescribed, adding that if he had a hundred lives to lose he would rather lose them all than forfeit his word. He was then set at liberty. Friends advised him at once to flee to the woods and make good his escape, but the savage, with the dignity of an ancient Roman, drew himself proudly up and asked his advisers if they thought he prized life above honor. No entreaties could move him. He complacently remained enjoying his freedom until nine days of the ten had nearly passed, and still nothing had been heard from the murderers ; no alteration could be seen in the face of this savage stoic. The same day Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops from St. Louis, and the order for the execution was countermanded, and the Indians sent to their homes.

The excitement over, everything settled back to the usual ruts, until the country was again awakened by another and more startling outbreak a few years later.

The Black Hawk War

Mention has been made in an earlier portion of this work, of the different treaties made by the Sacs and Foxes, by which these tribes ceded their lands east of the Mississippi to the United States. "Black Hawk, in His Life," edited in 1833, by J. B. Patterson, claims that these treaties were made without the assent of himself or his band, although he admits " touching the goose- <|uil] " at the treaty made at St. Louis, May 13, 1816, but excuses himself for this implied iUiquiescence by saying he was not fully aware of the import of the document he was signing. this cession. Black Hawk continued to occupy the tribal village which was situated on the north side of Rock River, on a point of land between that river and the Mississippi. But the constant pressure of the incoming white emigration led to innumerable difiBcul- '®^' -"^lack Hawk himself being at one time severely beaten by three white settlers, upon a charge 01 having killed some of their hogs - the castigation being so severe that he remained lame for some time afterward. Covert depredations were undoubtedly committed on both sides ; the White standing upon the treaties and endeavoring to shoulder the red man out of the country ; the latter protesting against these treaties, and stubbornly resisting the encroachments of th© new-comers. The Sacs and Foxes were also divided into two bands - one headed by Keokuk recognizing the validity of the treaties, and the other headed by Black Hawk, who was determined not to give up the graves of his fathers and retire across the Mississippi. Thus matters stood, when, in the fall of 1830, Black Hawk and his band crossed to the western side of the Father of Waters upon their fall hunt, their hunting-grounds being on that side of the river. During their absence, the whites took possession of their village, and, when the band returned in the winter, they found themselves houseless and shelterless, and their homes in the hands of those whom they could consider as no less than usurpers.

The Indians had nothing to do but to return to the western shore. Early in the succeeding spring, however, Black Hawk re-crossed the Mississippi with a band of Sacs, and took possession of their bark cabins and cornfields in a menacing manner, but, according to Black Hawk's statement, they did not intend to shed white blood, except in their own defense and the defense of what they considered their homes.

The settlers became alarmed, fearful of that vengeance which their own acts had partly provoked, and appealed to Gov. Reynolds, who issued a proclamation, declaring the State invaded by hostile Indians, and called for help from Gen. Gaines, commander of the Western Department, besides ordering out 700 militia. The campaign ended abruptly by the withdrawal of the Indians to the western shore of the Mississippi, accompanied with a threat from Gen. Gaines to cross the river and pursue the band. Black Hawk was brought to sign another treaty, by which he and his band agreed never to re- cross the great river without permission of the President or Governor of the State. In the face of this treaty, early in the spring of 1832, Black Hawk, accompanied by his band, together with their women and children, again crossed the river. To a close student of the Indian character this is not at all surprising, and, in fact, the red chieftain, had he only known it, had, in the history of eighteen centuries, numerous and noble authorites for treaty-breaking, and upon slighter pretexts than the recovery of home and lands. His mistake, as mistake it undoubtedly was, lay in his insuflBciency of force to back his claims.

Black Hawk himself claims that he was led into this movement by deceptive assurances of assistance from the Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies and his British Father. This assistance did not come, and, having made the cast of the die, the savage chieftain was forced to abide the consequences.

This new inroad created the wildest consternation among the inhabitants of the newly-settled portion of the country in dispute. All the district between the Rock, Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers began vigorous preparations for defense against the savage foe. Block-houses were erected, companies formed, and everything put into the best shape for defense. Within the present limits of Grant County, there were two regularly-constructed block-houses, one at Platteville and one at Cassville. At the former place, a mounted company was formed, of which John H. Roundtree was elected Captain. This company, together with one formed by Capt. Gentry, in the adjoining county, were attached to Col. Dodge's command, and formed his mounted battalion and served all through the war. The second company formed in the county was at Hazel Green, but their service consisted principally in drawing their rations with regularity and presenting themselves for muster occasionally, and, as a consequence, the fact that there was a company organized at that point is remembered by only a few. A third company was formed under command of Capt. Price, at Cassville, and did good service in clearing the country between the Grant and Wisconsin Rivers of the " hostiles." This company was composed of thirty- six men, but having only eighteen horses, half remained to guard the blockhouse while the other portion scoured the country around.

A call was issued by Gov. Reynolds to the militia, and a force of 1,800 men, under the command of Brig. Gen. Whiteside, was soon in the field. In the meantime. Gen. Atkinson had set out for the seat of war, and had sent several expresses to Black Hawk, ordering him to leave the country. To these the Sac chieftain made reply that he was going to the Prophet s town and the whites might attack if they dared, and continued his retreat up Rock River.

To add to the complexity of the situation, it was feared that the Winnebagoes would join Black Hawk in his outbreak, which they undoubtedly would have done had the odds not been 3uite so great. But, although much given to the small pecadillos which mark the bravo - which was the position they occupied among the other tribes - they had too keen and distinct a remembrance of the swift chastisement following their outbreak five years before, to attempt another rising without heavy odds on their own side. At this time, however, their future action was clouded with uncertainty, which added much to the precariousness of the situation of settlers in the lead region.

At this moment. Col. Dodge stepped to the front, and, by his positition as commander of the militia in this portion of Michigan Territory, and known energy of character, succeeded in organizing the settlers and miners into proper shape for vigorous defense. Several mounted companies, as has been before mentioned, were organized and placed under the command of the gallant Colonel, who, having first written a letter to Gov. Reynolds telling him of the dangers which might result to the northern country should Black Hawk be driven back on them, started for Rock River to get a better insight into the situation.

Black Hawk had, during this time, continued his retreat up that river followed by Maj. Stillman, at the head of a force of about three hundred men. On the 12th of May, he encamped near Sycamore Creek, and, shortly afterward, three Indians were discovered approaching the camp. These men, according to Black Hawk's account, were sent by him " to conduct the whites to his camp, or, if they had encamped, he would come to them," when he hoped to make arrangements by which he would be allowed to descend Rock River again.

From all accounts given of this disgraceful affair, it seems that the whites did not wait to learn of the message brought by these embassadors, although one account seeks to excuse the action of the half-drunken mob, by stating that the Indians bore a red flag, this is put much in doubt by other testimony; and, in view of what occurred afterward, both here and elsewhere, it is important to remember that so far no white man's blood had been shed by Black Hawk or his band. No sooner had the soldiers in Stillman's command caught sight of the three Sacs, than with a howl they at once set out in pursuit. The Indians, witnessing the hostile movements of their opponents, turned and endeavored to eifect their escape. This two succeeded in doing, but their companion was killed. Black Hawk was informed of the turn of events, and, hastily placing his men in ambush, waited the time when the whites should come within range. This was not long, and the disorderly mob of pursuers, unable to form any organized resistance, at once gave way before the onset, and, what had a few moments before been a victorious pursuit, was changed to an unseemly and disorderly rout. The whites lost eleven killed, and a number wounded, beside having their camp and material fall into the hands of the Indians. Black Hawk, in his account of the affray, sarcastically says : " After pursuing the enemy some distance, I found it useless to follow them, as they rode so fast." Only three Indians were killed. Had it not been for the bravery of Gapt. Adams, and a few men under his command, who threw themselves between the terrified whites and the pursuing savages, the loss of the former would have been much larger.

Upon receiving the news of Stillman's disastrous rout, Gov. Reynolds sent an express to Col. Dodge informing him of the fact, and-the danger to be apprehended throughout the mineral country, and that officer at once notified the settlers and miners directing them to at once repair to the block houses, and place themselves in a position to resist attacks.

After the affair at Stillman's Run - as it was afterward known - Black Hawk had continued nis retreat unmolested up Rock River, sending out, in the meantime, small predatory bands in every direction. These bands, in the interval succeeding the disbanding of the volunteers shortly after Stillman's defeat, and the enlistment of new men, had created a panic throughout the mineral region and along the Rock River, they having scoured the country between that nver and the Mississippi most effectually. On the 22d of May, a party of about seventy Indians, fw I who bad been badly whipped by a settler named Hall, attacked the latter at his home on the Indian Creek, where he had just returned with his neighbors, Davis and

Pettigrew, and massacred fifteen persons, only three escaping, two being the daughters of Mr. Hall, who were taken into captivity, and a young lad who escaped to Ottawa and gave the alarm. The two girls were taken to Black Hawk's camp at Koshkonong, where they were turned over by that chief to the Winnebagoes, who returned them to their friends, receiving therefor a reward of $2,000, which had been offered by Gen. Atkinson.

Numerous other murders were committed by these roving bands, Durley, a mail con" tractor, being killed near Buffalo Grove on the 21st of May, and, two days later, another party of whites were attacked near the same place, and four, Felix St. Vrain, agent for the Sacs and Foxes at Rock Island ; Aaron Hawley, Fowler and Hale were killed. On the 6th of June, James Aubrey was killed at Blue Mounds, while going to a spring for water, he being at the time not more than a mile and a half away from the fort.

Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, had again placed a force of 2,000 volunteers in the field. Capt. Adam Gentry, with a company from a regiment which had been formed of those volunteers who had been recently disbanded, while on a scout over the country between Rock River and Galena, was attacked in camp near Burr Oak Grove by a small party of four Indians, whom he pursued and killed. While returning to Camp, he was again attacked by a large force of Indians. Gen. Whiteside, formerly in command of all the volunteer forces, was now a private in Capt. Gentry's Company. As the men broke and fled under the sudden onslaught, Whiteside sprang from his horse, and, " drawing a bead " on the chief as he came charging down, pulled the trigger, and with a loud yell the savage dropped from his saddle. This loss disconcerted the Indians, and gave the command time to rally. The savages showed no signs of continuing the attack ; but, securing the body of their leader, slowly retreated. Whiteside, upon being asked afterward why he risked his life in so open a manner, sturdily replied, that " He had never run from an Indian yet, and never would."

The murder of St. Vrain and his companions was soon afterward bloodily revenged by Col. Dodge at the battle of the Pecatonica, where, with twenty-one men, he, in a hand-tohand fight, killed every Indian in a band of seventeen which had committed this and other murders.

On the 20th of June, a small party of Indians showed themselves a short distance from Mound Fort, and Lieut. Force and a man named Green, who went out to reconnoiter, were surrounded and killed in sight of the fort. Their bodies were afterward buried by Col. Dodge and a company of volunteers, who took the trail of the Indians soon after, but lost the savages, they having scattered.

The only parties killed within the present confines of Grant County, of which there is any record, were two men named John Thompson and James Boxley, who were attacked in a field at Sinsinawa Mound. A companion escaped. The bodies of the two murdered men were shockingly mutilated, Thompson's heart having been taken out, and both scalped. Notice of the attack being given at Galena, Maj. Stephenson, in command at that place, marched m pursuit of the savages. Leaving a few men to bury the dead, the Major with his command followed the trail to the Mississippi, where he found the party had stolen a canoe and escaped across the river.

Through a Pottawatomie Indian, Gen. Atkinson received information that Black Hawk was encamped near the junction of the Whitewater with the Rock River, and immediately marched with a portion of his army to that point; but, on arriving there. Black Hawk was found to have broken camp, and the direction he had taken was so effectually concealed that ior some time it remained unknown.

After the junction of all the forces at Koshkonong, provisions running short. Gen. Atkmson dispatched Gens. Henry, Alexander, Posey and Col. Dodge, with about two hundred and fifty men, to Fort Winnebago for supplies. The provisions obtained. Gens. Posey and Alexander started back, while Gen. Henry and Col. Dodge, with their commands, struck across the country toward Rock River, in hopes of hearing something of Black Hawk.

On arriving at the rapids of that river, they learned that the trail of the retreating Indians had heen discovered, and at once started in pursuit. From the appearance of the trail it was plainly evident that the retreating force was large. A party of fourteen was thrown out ahead of the main body to act as scouts. This party was under the command of Capt. Gentry. On the morning of the 21st of July, as they were working their way across the country, they observed an Indian ahead of them, who turned and fired on them, and was himself slain as he attempted to escape. The main body was but a short distance in advance, and so anxious were the scouts to come up with it that they did not stop to examine the body, but, some weeks afterward, when the prairie had been burned over, the body was searched, and the watch which had been taken from the body of Lieut. Force was discovered. The watch was recognized the more readily that it had been used to regulate the change of sentinels at the Mound Fort.

The incidents of the closing acts in this stirring border drama are thus related by one who participated in the events which followed. " We reached the Four Lakes about sundown [July 20]. Gen. Henry here called a halt, and consulted with our pilot Poquet [Parquette] as to the country we were approaching. Poquet told him we could not get through it after dark ; that we had to march close to the margin of the lake for some distance, as the undergrowth stood so thick one man could not see another ten steps. Gen. Henry concluded to encamp here until the break of day. Gen. Dodge sent Capt. Dickson (serving as Captain in place of Capt. Roundtree, who had been injured) ahead with a few men to see if they could make any discovery of the enemy, who returned in a very short time and stated they had seen the enemy's rear guard about one mile and a half distant.

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

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

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

" We now doubled our speed, all were anxious to press forward, and as our horses were nearly worn out, we carried nothing only just what was actually necessary for us to eat; camp kettles and many such articles were thrown away. The trail was now literally, in many places, strewn with Indian trinkets, such as mats, kettles, etc., which plainly told us that they knew we were in pursuit. We saw too, from the face of the country that we were drawing close to the Wisconsin River, and our object was to overtake them before th.ey reached it, so now we went as fast as our horses were able to carry us. But this was too severe for our poor horses ; they began to give out. But even this did not stop a man. Whenever a horse gave out, the rider would dismount, remove the saddle and bridle and pursue on foot, on a run, without a murmur. I think the number of horses left that day was about forty. The rear guard of the enemy began about this time (3 o'clock P. M.) to make feints of standing, and as the timber stood thick, we did not know but that the whole army was forming for action. In consequence 01 this, we got down and formed as often as twice before we found out that their object was to seep us back until they could gain some strong position to fight from. Our front scouts now were determined not to be deceived any more, but the next stand they came to, they stopped, not for their feigned maneuver, but pursued them to the main body of the enemy. They returned to us in great haste, and informed Gen. Henry that the Indians were forming for action.

" We all dismounted in an instant. The line of battle was then formed in the same order that it had been laid off the preceding day. Gen. Dodge's corps and Maj. Swing's spy battal-

" We had scarcely time to form on foot before the Indians raised the war-whoop, screaming and yelling hideously, and rushed forward, meeting us with a heavy charge. Gen. Dodge and Maj . Ewing met them with a charge also which produced a halt on the part of the enemy. Our men then opened a tremendous volley of musketry upon them, and accompanied it with the most terrific yells that ever came from the head of mortals, except from the savages themselves. They now tried their well known practice of flanking, but here they were headed again by the brave Col. Jones and his regiment, who were on our left, where he met them in the most fearless manner, and opened a heavy fire upon them. Col. Fry was placed upon the extreme right. They tried his line but were soon repulsed. Their strong position was on the left or near the center, where Cols. Jones, Dodge and Ewing kept up a constant fire for ssmething like half an hour.

" The enemy here had a strong position. They had taken shelter in some very high grass where they could lie down and load and be entirely out of sight. After fighting them in this manner for at least thirty minutes, during which time Col. Jones had his horse shot from under him, and one of his men killed and several wounded, Cols. Dodge, Jones and Ewipg all requested Gen. Henry to let them charge upon them at thp point of the bayonet, which Gen. Henry very readily assented to and gave the order to charge ! which was obeyed by both men and oiBcers in a most fearless manner. All were intent upon the charge. We had to charge up a rising piece of ground. When we got on the top, we then fired perfectly abreast. They could not stand this. They had to quit their hiding-place and make good their retreat. When they commenced retreating, we killed a great number.

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

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

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

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

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

"We were now nearly out of provisions, and to take up our line of march against them in the condition our horses were in, told us plainly we would suffer for something to eat before we <!ould get it. We buried the brave young man who was killed, with the honors of war. It was staled that he had just shot down an Indian when he received the mortal wound himself His name was John Short, and he belonged to Capt. Bragg's Company, from Randolph County. He had a brother and a brother-in-law in the same company, who witnessed his consignment to mother earth. The wounded were all well examined, and none pronounced mortal. We continued this day on the battle-ground, and prepared litters for the wounded to be carried on. We spent this day in a more cheerful manner than we had done any other day since we had been on the campaign.' We felt a little satisfaction for our toils, and thought 'that we had, no doubt, destroyed a number of the very same monsters that had so lately been imbruing their hands with the blood of our fair sex - the helpless mother and unoffending infant.

" We dried our clothes, which had then been wet for several days. The day was spent in social chat between men and oflBcers. There were no complaints made, all had fought bravely ; each man praised his officers, and all praised our General. Late in the evening, some of our men, who had been out to see if there were any signs of the enemy still remaining near us, returned and stated that they saw smoke across the river.

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

" At about one hour and a half before day, on the same mountain from which the Indian chief had been giving his orders on the evening of the battle, we heard an Indian voice, in loud, shrill tones, as though he was talking to his men and giving them orders. Gen. Henry had his men all paraded in order of battle in front of the tents, and the fires roused up.

" In this order we stood until daylight. Just before day, the Indian quit talking. When it was just light enough to discover a man a short distance, the brave and fearless Ewing took his battalion of spies and mounted on horseback. We were soon at the top of the mountain, to see who it was that had serenaded us so long at that hour of the night. We found only the Bign of a few horse tracks, that appeared as though they had been made that night. We marched m quick time around the mountain, and found no one. We took a circuitous route back to camp, but found no one on the way. [This mysterious visitant proved afterward to have been a Sac talking in the Winnebago dialect, as it was known that there had been some of that tribe with the troops, and it was hoped that they would act as mediators for the Sacs, who wished to surrender - vide narrative of Lieut. Bracken. - Ed.]

" We were now out of provisions, and were obliged to abandon further pursuit, and go to the Blue Mounds to procure a supply. Accordingly, on the 23d, we got in motion again, not in pursuit of the enemy, but for bread and meat to satisfy our appetites, as we were now out of everything to eat. Our wounded this day suffered very much, on account of having rough ground to pass over, and some very muddy creeks. When they got to the Blue Mounds, they were very hospitably treated.

, ®^^''® *^''®w t'l'^ee days' rations, and, on the 25th, took up the line of march for Helena, on the Wisconsin River, where we intended to cross, again to take up the pursuit of the enemy."

Gen. Atkinson had, on hearing the news of Black Hawk's whereabouts, broken camp, and marched by way of Blue Mounds to Helena. Here a participator in the closing scenes informs us : " The volunteers, under Col. Dodge, were again assembled, and the whole army crossed the river and followed the trail of the retreating Sacs and Foxes, which was discovered under the bluff north of the river, until they arrived at the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Bad Ax. On the route, a number of dead bodies of Indians were found, many in a state of putrefaction - these had doubtless died of wounds received at the battle of Wisconsin Heights, and from debility produced by sickness and starvation, which, from all accounts, prevailed among the Indians who accompanied Black Hawk. The march was, therefore, rendered distressingly offensive both to the senses of seeing and smelling.

" On the evening of the 1st of August, signs of the enemy were discovered, and some stragglers killed. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 2d, the line of march was taken up, Col. Dodge's command forming the advance, supported by the regular troops, under Col. Zacharv Taylor. About sunrise, Capt. Dickson (of Platteville), who commanded the spy company, reported, by one of his men, that he was up with the enemy, and asked for orders. Col. Dodge sent orders to attack them instantly, and at the same time moved up rapidly with his command. He was immediately supported by Col. Taylor, with the regulars, and the line was then forrned, and advanced about a mile to the banks of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Bad Ax River. In the meantime, Capt. Dickson, who was in front with his spies, seemed, from the firing, to be actively engaged with the enemy. Our troops rushed with ardor to the scene of action ; the battle was soon over, and the fate of Black Hawk and his band determined."

A correspondent of the Galena Grazette, in his account of the battle written at the time, says : " The battle lasted upward of three hours. About fifty of the enemy's women and children were taken prisoners, and many, by accident in the battle, were killed. When the Indians were driven to the bank of the Mississippi, some hundreds of men, women and children, plunged into the river, and hoped, by diving, etc., to escape the bullets of our guns ; very few, however, escaped the bullets of our sharpshooters. The loss on the side of the enemy can never be exactly ascertained, but according to the best comp^^tation, they must have lost in killed, upward of one hundred and fifty ; our loss in killed and wounded was twenty -seven."

The same writer says : " On the 4th of August, a party of fifteen men, from Cassville, under command of Capt. Price, were reconnoitering the country between that place and the Wisconsin, and fell upon a fresh Sac trail, making toward the Mississippi ; they rushed forward with full ' speed of horses, and soon came upon them, killed and took prisoners to the number of twelve." This was the closing encounter of the war.

Black Hawk ever claimed that he was forced into the conflicts described in the foregoing pages, and, as will be seen by his account of the incidents preceding the Stillman defeat, this claim seems to be well grounded in fact, but, in order that the reader may himself judge of Black Hawk's sincerity, his own account, as given in his life, of the closing scenes of the war, is appended :

" During our encampment at the Pour Lakes," says the chieftain in his narrative, " we were hard put to to obtain enough to eat to support nature. Situated in a swampy, marshy country ^hich had been selected in consequence of the great difficulty required to gain access thereto), there was but little game of any sort to be found, and fish were equally scarce. The great distance to any settlement, and the impossibility of bringing supplies therefrom, if any could have been obtained, deterred our young men from making further attempts. We were forced to dig roots and bark trees to obtain something to satisfy hunger and keep us ahve. Several of our old people became so reduced as actually to die with hunger. Finding that the army had commenced moving, and fearing that they might come upon and surround our encampment, I concluded to remove my women and children across the Mississippi that we might return to the Sac nation again. Accordingly, on the next day we commenced moving, with five Wmnebagoes acting as our guides, intending to descend -the Ouisconsin [Wisconsin].

"Napope, with a party of twenty, remained in our rear, to watch for the enemy, while we were proceeding to the Ouisconsin with our women and children. We arrived and had commenced crossing them to an island, when we discovered a large body of the enemy coming toward us. [Gen. Henry's command. - Bd.] We were now compelled to fight or sacrifice our wives and children to the fury of the whites. I met them with fifty warriors (having left the balance to assist our women and children in crossing) about a mile from the river, when an attack immediately commenced. I was mounted on a fine horse, and was pleased to see my warriors 80 brave. I addressed them in a loud voice, telling them to stand their ground, and never yield it to the enemy. At this time, I was on the rise of a hill, where I wished to form my warriors, that we might have some advantage over the whites. But the enemy succeeded in gaining this point, which compelled us to fall back into a deep ravine, from which we continued firing at them, and they at us, until it began to grow dark. My horse had been wounded twice during this engagement, and fearing, from his loss of blood that he would soon give out - and finding that the enemy would not come 'near enough to receive our fire in the dusk of the evening - and knowing that our women and children had had sufficient time to reach the island in the Ouisconsin, I ordered my warriors to return, in difi"erent routes, and meet me at the Ouisconsin, and was astonished to find that the enemy were not disposed to pursue us.

" In this skirmish, with fifty braves I defended and accomplished my passage over the Ouisconsin, with a loss of only six men, though opposed by a host of mounted militia. I would not have fought there but to gain time for my women and children to cross to an island. A warrior will duly appreciate the embarrassments I labored under ; and, whatever may be the sentiments of the white people in relation to this battle, my nation, though fallen, will award to me the reputation of a great brave in conducting it.

" The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained by our party, but I am of the opinion that it was much greater in proportion than mine. [It was much less, as has been shown in previous pages. - ^Ed.] We returned' to the Ouisconsin and crossed over to our people. Here some of my people left me and descended the Ouisconsin, hoping to escape to the west side of the Mississippi that they might return home. I had no objection to their leaving me, as my people were all in a desperate condition, being worn out with traveling and starving from hunger. Our only hope to save ourselves was to get across the Mississippi. But few of this party escaped. Unfortunately for them, a party of soldiers from Prairie du Chien were stationed on the Ouisconsin a short distance from its mouth, who fired upon our distressed people ; some were killed, others drowned, several taken prisoners, and the balance escaped to the woods and perished with hunger. Among the party were a great many women and children.

" Myself and band having no means to descend the Ouisconsin, I started over a rugged country to go to the Mississippi, intending to cross it and go to my nation. Many of our people were compelled to go on foot for want of horses, which, in consequence of their having had nothing to eat for a long time, caused our march to be very slow. At length we arrived at the Mississippi, having lost some of our old men and little children, who perished on the way with hunger.

" We had been here but a little while before we saw a steamboat (the Warrior) coming. I told my braves not to shoot, as I intended going on board so that we might save our women and children. I knew the captain (Throckmorton), and was determined to give myself up to him. 1 then sent for my white flag. While the messenger was gone, I took a small piece of white cotton and put it on a pole, and called to the captain of the boat and told him to send his little canoe on shore and let me come on board. The people on the boat asked whether we were Bacs or Winnebagoes. I told a Winnebago to tell them we were Sacs, and wanted to give ourselves up. A Winnebago on the boat called to us " to run and hide, that the whites were going to shoot." About this time, one of my braves had jumped into the river, bearing a white flag to the boat, when another sprang in after him and brought him to shore. The uring then commenced from the boat, which was returned by my braves, and continued for some time. Very few of my people were hurt, after the first fire, having succeeded in gettingbehind old logs and trees, which shielded them from the enemy's fire.

" The Winnebagoes on the steamboat must have either misunderstood what was told or did not tell it to the captain correctly, because I am confident he would not have fired upon us if he had known my wishes. I have always considered him a good man and too great a brave to fire upon an enemy when suing for quarter.

" After the boat had left us, I told my people to cross if they could and wished ; that I intended going into the Chippewa country. Some commenced crossing, and such as had determined to follow them remained, only three lodges going with me. N'ext morning (August 2)' at daybreak, a young man overtook me, and said that all my party had determined to cross the Mississippi ; that a number had already got over safe, and that he had heard the white army last night within a few miles of them. I now began to fear that the whites would come up with my people and kill them before they could get across. I had determined to go and join, the Chippewas, but reflecting that by this I could only save mySelf, I concluded to return and die with my people if the Great Spirit would not give us another victory. During our stay in the thicket, a party of whites came close by us, but passed on without discovering us.

" Early in the morning, a party of the whites, being in advance of the army, came upon our people who were attempting to cross the Mississippi. They tried to give themselves up. The whites paid no attention to their entreaties, but commenced slaughtering them. In a littlewhile the whole army arrived. Our braves, but few in number, finding that the enemy paid no^ respect to age or sex, and seeing that they were murdering helpless women and little children, determined to fight until they were killed. As many women as could commenced swimming^ the Mississippi with children on their backs. A number of them were drowned and some shot before reaching the opposite shore.

" One of my braves, who gave me this information, piled some saddles up before him when the fight commenced to shield him from the enemy's fire, and killed three white men ; but, seeing that the whites were coming too close to him, he crawled to the bank of the river and hid himself until the enemy retired. He then came to me and told me what had been done. After hearing this sorrowful news, I started with my little party for the Winnebagovillage at Prairie La Crosse."

Of the justness of the quarrel the reader can judge for himself; but, whatever the decision,, the so-called battle of Bad Ax can only be characterized, according to testimony on both sides, as an indiscriminate massacre. Whatever may have been the provocation, and Black Hawk and his band were by no means blameless, this indiscriminate slaughter of women and children, and refusal of quarter to the starving savages, is one scene in the chapter of early history to which none will look back with any great degree of pride.

The following list will show the elevation of different points in the county. All heights are computed from the level of Lake Michigan, and are just that number of feet above the lake s surface : Wyalusing, 33 feet ; Glen Haven, 28 feet ; Cassville, 30 feet ; North Andover, 260 feet ; Bloomington, 327 feet ; Patch Grove, 498 feet ; Mount Hope, 498 feet ; Little Grant, 250 feet; Beetown, 184 feet; Potosi, 204 feet ; British Hollow, 287 feet; Rockville, 348 feet; Hurricane Grove, 063 feet; Lancaster Court House, 502 feet; Mount Lia, 590 feet; Homer P. 0., 400 feet; Fenniraore, 590 feet; Liberty Ridge, 566 feet ; Annatoii, 271 feet; Eilenboro, 111 feet ; Dickeyville, 356 feet; Jamestown P. 0., 334 fuet; Fair Play P. 0., 220 feet; Smsinawa Academy, 348 feet; Hazel Green, 360 feet; St. Rose, 416 feet; Big Patch, 239 feet; Platteville, 257 feet; Washburn, 263 feet; New California, 411 feet; Montfort, 515 feet; Castle Rock, 269 feet; West Platte Mound, 694 feet ; Muscoda, 109 feet; Boscobel, 89 feet. The Mississippi Bottom, at the southern extremity of Grant County, is 600 feet above the sea. The highest point within Grant County being the top of Sinsinawa Mound.

Weather Report

Among other incidents connected with the history of the county, which live with vivid di tinctness in the memory of old settlers, are several winters noted for their unexceptional severit Among the first spoken of was that of 1836, when the frost king's reign lasted long into Apri teams heavily loaded crossing the Mississippi River as late as the 20th of that month. Th was followed by another in 1843, which, if not quite as severe as its predecessor, was about i long continued. But all these paled before the terrible rigor that marked the ending of 185. and the commencement of 1856. This season was unexceptional in its severity. A heavy fa of snow marked the commencement of king winter's reign, over which formed, in time, a hai crust. This was followed by another storm that in turn melted enough under the limpid rays the sun to form a second crust. Everything outside was buried and frozen up. In many ii stances, corn and fodder that had been left out in the fields, owing to the sudden downward swoc of the icy temperature, was obliged to be left standing in the "stock " until the warm rays of late spring sun released it from its icy fetters. Especially hard did this winter bear upon tl game in the forests, deer were reduced to such extremities that they would enter the outskirts i the villages in droves in order to obtain a morsel of hay from out the farmers' sleighs and we) killed by the score, many being massacred with clubs, so intent were they upon obtaining fooi Corn that had been left in the fields was found in the spring half-eaten where these famin stricken creatures had sought to secure enough to keep them alive. This point marks the deci ilence of this species of game in the county. They never recovered from the great losses su fared by starvation and slaughter made by their four-footed enemies. Of feathered game, quai were nearly entirely killed out, and it was many years before they were found again in muc abundance. The past winter of 1880 and 1881 will long be remembered as one ranking amor the most severe and long-continued of its noted predecessors. Travel was almost entirely in peded, mails blocked, and not until late in the spring was the country released from the embarg of ice and snow.

Platte Rivers, a new industry is rapidly obtaining in the cultivation of the grape, and wine of native manufacture bids fair to take the place of New England hard cider and beer of Bavarian hops.

The earliest settlement is believed to have taken place a brief space of time anterior to the Black Hawk war. Those who came in those days were men of heroic mold, and stood out from the common race of mortals like the inscription over the door of John Knox's residence at Netherbow. Some came into this section before the war -

But all who came and went out from the mines were not failures. Many succeeded in business beyond their most sanguine expectations, and others arose from the humble occupation of miners to fill the most responsible and exalted positions in the land. Many were in affluent circumstances and from the first ranks of society, and came here for the purpose of extending their business and adding to their wealth. In early days, as all are aware, before the cry of war and blood rang out upon the frontier scenes of this yet undeveloped territory, the surveyors surveying in Wisconsin discovered lead on a branch about two miles from the Mississippi River where Potosi is located. The excitement in Galena was then very great for what was called the new discovery, and a party that had got acquainted started at once for^the new El Dorado. Of the party was Sam Druen, as good a fellow as one ever knew, subsequently rich and living at Beetown. Druen's case fully illustrated that a stone lying still will gather moss, and no man is worthier than Sam to have moss all over him of the richest kind.

The Settlement Of The Village

was not delayed beyond the close of the war, when its ravines and uplands were covered with unbroken forests of oak trees, interspersed here and there with groves of the stately elm on the bottoms and along the margin of the streams, spreading out their huge branches, aifording a delicious shade to the sturdy pioneer and his way-worn family. A few sporadic members of the birch, maple, cottonwood and other deciduous trees were found scattered here and there, while upon the summits and steep acclivities of the bluffs were to be seen a few stray wanderers from the perennial tribes, waving their dark green cones above the castellated rocks like the plumes of giant sentinels upon the battlements of Nature's walls. Beneath these solitary shades, and guarded by these lone naiad sentinels of the wood and stream, slept in tumuli and grassy mounds a strange and long-forgotten race of warriors. Here in the gray dawn of the world's existence, long before the light of its present civilization had reached this land, had dwelt a race of Anaks, possessed of a knowledge of the arts and sciences, played their brief part in the drama of human life, then laid them down in their last sleep, slumbering on till the wave of oblivion had passed over them, and blotted from the records of earth every evidence of their existence, save these green mounds and moldering bones beneath. But the Mound-Builders, who, though the earliest settlers, are left quietly reposing in the bosom of mother earth, " to dumb forgetfulness a prey."

Next " in the course of human events " comes the red man of the forest, who is passed by, however, as a thief and a wanderer, and finally came into the country the progenitors of those who are here to-day. In the summer of 1832, days after peace followed in the wake of the victory at Bad Ax, Willis St. John and Isaac Whitaker, the latter accompanied by his wife, the first white woman in Potosi Village or township. Two adventurous pioneersmen made their way hither, and, discovering the mineral cave in Snake Hollow, whence the latter took its name, decided to remain and pursue their way to glory and to fortune.