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Dedication, Pictures and Illustrations
Black Hawk by George Catlin (1796-1872) on the front cover is reproduced through the courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 20560; on loan from the National Museum of American Art.
Catlin painted this 29" x 24" oil on canvas portrait of Black Hawk when Black Hawk was imprisoned at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, ten miles south of St. Louis, during the winter of 1832-1833, following the Black Hawk war.
Catlin remembered the situation as follows:
"When I painted Black Hawk he was dressed in a plain suit of buckskin, with strings of wampum in his ears and around his neck. He held his medicine-bag, which was the skin of a black hawk from which he had taken his name, and the tail of which made him a fan, which he was almost constantly using."
The Family Magazine of July 20, 1833, quoted a New York Mirror newspaper story as follows: "Recently, while a painter of some celebrity (Catlin) was, with the permission of the commanding officer, engaged in painting the likenesses of the principal chiefs who were confined at Jefferson barracks, he proposed to Black Hawk, that he should be represented with a spear, as being more emblematical of his recent pursuits. ‘No!’ said the Black Hawk, apparently indignant at the proposal, ‘no spear for me! I have forever done with spears!’"
When Catlin's wild west show went bankrupt in Europe, he lost possession of his Gallery unique containing more than 500 paintings of Indians which he had personally painted from life. To make up for the loss, Catlin made copies of his paintings, either from sketches in his notebooks or from memory. The painting here, however, is the original for which Black Hawk himself posed.
Here's how it was saved:
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Among Catlin's creditors was Joseph Harrison, owner of the Harrison Boiler Works in Philadelphia, "largest builders of locomotives in the world". Harrison had just completed building and outfitting the railroad from St. Petersburg to Moscow. With $40,000 he stood off Catlin's other creditors in the bankruptcy, then crated and shipped the Gallery unique back to Philadelphia, where it was stored on the grounds of the Harrison Boiler Works.In May, 1879 (fourteen years after the Smithsonian fire which destroyed most of Charles Bird King's Indian portraits), Mrs. Joseph Harrison, widow of Catlin's creditor, turned over the Gallery unique to the Smithsonian Institution, as an heirloom for the nation. During the thirty years it was stored on the grounds of the Harrison Boiler Works, there had been a number of fires. In each fire it had been smoked, or doused by the fire companies trying to save it. The costumes, robes, teepees, and other things vulnerable to such care were ruined. Yet 80 percent of the 507 paintings listed in Catlin's catalog for his opening in London were saved ... including this famous painting.
Schlacht von Bad Axe(Battle of Bad Axe), a Henry Lewis (1819-1904) drawing lithographed by Arnz & Co. of Dusseldorf, Germany, first appeared in Das Illustrierte Mississippithal in 1857. Lewis's imagination provided Black Hawk's fleeing people with a raft and canoes, which they never had.
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Ma-ca-tah-mich-e-ka-kaik. Black Hawk. Oil on paper. "Sketch from life by J. [James] R. Lambdin 1834". According to one-time owner Norman E. Clarke, "The painting was sold at Christies in New York on 11-17-78 as item no. 38". The search for the painting has now stalled at that point. The picture here is reproduced through the courtesy of William Miles, Acting Director of the Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Lambdin was director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1845 to 1864.
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to
GEORGE CATLIN
(1796-1872)
far beyond the advancing frontier
to capture the final glory
of the American Indian
in extraordinary words and paintings
before it disappeared forever.
Letters and Notes
on the North American Indians,
keeps this great heritage alive
for present and future generations.
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George Catlin by William Fisk, courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.; gift of Miss May C. Kinney, Ernest C. Kinney and Bradford Wickes.
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Captain Henry Smith, Company C, 6th Infantry Regiment, United States Army
Colonel Zachary Taylor, Commander of U. S. Army Units, Army of the Frontier
Lewis Cass, Secretary of War
Brigadier General Henry Atkinson, Commander of the Right Wing of the Western Deparment of the U. S. Army
Henry Gratiot, U. S. Sub-Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs
Illinois Governor John Reynolds
Colonel Henry Dodge, Commander of the Iowa County (Michigan Territory) Militia
Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander, Commander of the Second Brigade, Illinois Militia
This map is based upon a similar map in the Summer, 1957, issue of the Wisconsin Magazine of History, p. 277.
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Major General Alexander Macomb, Commanding General of the Army
Joseph M. Street, U. S. Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs, Prairie du Chien
Captain Gustavus Loomis, (in later years). Commander of Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien
John J. Abercrombie, 1st Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army
Brigadier General Henry Atkinson, Commander of the Right Wing of the Western Department of the U. S. Army
Ebenezer Brigham in later years
2d Lt. Albert Sidney Johnston, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, and Atkinson's Aide de Camp
Brigadier General Hugh Brady, Commander of the 1st Division, Army of the Frontier
Private John H. Fonda in a Civil War pose
William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs
2d Lt. Philip St. George Cooke, Acting Adjutant, 6th Infantry Detachment, United States Army
Blackhawk and Winnebago Trail Marker
Makataimeshekiakiak [Black Sparrow Hawk], Number 1 Warrior, "British Band", Sauk and Fox Tribes. [Editor's Note: This is the Alfred Hoffy lithograph referred to on the inside back cover. This picture and the back cover picture were reversed by mistake.]
Head of Battle Isle Marker, Highway 35, Victory, Wisconsin
John Kinzie, U. S. Sub-Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs at Fort Winnebago
Wabokeshiek [White Cloud], The Prophet, Adviser to Black Hawk
Captain William S. Harney, Commander of Company K, 1st Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army
Captain Joseph Dickson, Commander of Spy Company, Michigan Territory Mounted Militia
Black Hawk's Outpost Marker, Victory, Wisconsin
Colonel Jacob Fry, Commander of the 2d Regiment, Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
Colonel James Collins, Commander of the 4th Regiment, Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
Colonel James M. Blackburn, Commander of the 1st Regiment, Second Brigade, Illinois Militia
Major William Lee D. Ewing, Commander of Spy Battalion, Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
Colonel Gabriel Jones, Commander of the 3d Regiment, Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
Battle Bluff, Highway 35, Between De Soto and Victory, Wisconsin
Black Hawk War Military Organization Chart
Map of the Battle of Bad Axe. Dotted line, from the lower right, show the trail of Black Hawk's band, also followed by James D. Henry's Third Brigade, and, in order to the north, the lines of march of Henry Dodge's command, the United States Army Infantry Regular, Alexander Posey's First Brigade, and Milton K. Alexander's Second Brigade of Illinois Militia. This map is from the records of the Office of the Adjutant General in the National Archives.
Battle Bluff, Battle Hollow, , Highway 35, Victory, Wisconsin
Captain Richard Barnes Mason, 1st Infantry Regiment Grenadier Company A
Lt. Charles Bracken, Adjutant and Dodge's Aide de Camp, Michigan Territory Mounted Militia
Joseph M. Street: Report of Prisoners and Casualties [Prairie du Chien, August 2, 1832]. A schedule of Indians taken and brough to Genl. Joseph M. Street Indian Agent at Prairie due Chien, by the Winnebagoes & Menominees and scalps taken by the said Winenbagoes & Menominees between the 29th July and day of August 1832, of Sacs & Foxes. Some are taken almost any night. "Jos. M. Street U. S Ind Agent"
Private H. S. Townsend, Michigan territory Militia
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Captain Nathan Boone, U. S. Army RangersBattle of Bad Axe Historical Marker, Highway 35, South of Bad Axe River, Victory, Wisconsin
Bad Axe Battle Grounds. This landscape by Samuel M. Brookes and Thomas H. Stevenson is owned by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Brigadier General Alexander Posey
Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander
2d Lt. Philip St. George Cooke
Surgeon's Mate John Allen Wakefield
Makataimeshekiakiak [Black Hawk]
Thayer ponders how to stage the 1972 "Black Hawk" pageant with Rock River flooding the stockade replica.
Looks how ferocious Thayer gets when he gives a speech ... and this speech was about the importance of love!
Thayer takes a break under his map of Black Hawk's trail through Wisconsin in the Summer of 1832.
Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiah or Black Hawk, a Saukie Brave, based upon an 1837 oil portrait by Charles Bird King, was done on stone by A. H. [Alfred Hoffy], lithographed by J. T. Bowen, and published by Frederick W. Greenough at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The lithography was published in the History of the Indian Tribes of North America...by Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall (1842), Volume II, opposite page 29.
The original oil portrait, painted by King during Black Hawk's second visit to Washington, was part of the War Department's famous gallery of Indian portraits. A fire at the Smithsonian Institution on January 24, 1865, destroyed most of that magnificent collection, including the portrait of Black Hawk.
A copy in oil by an unknown artist, owned by the Peabody Museum of Salem, Massachusetts, appeared on the cover of Hunting A Shadow: The Search for Black Hawk in this Black Hawk War Eye-Witness Series.
A highly similar lithograph of the same destroyed painting, shown on page 144 of this book, was published by J. T. Bowen in the 1848 edition of McKenney and Hall's Story of the Indian Tribes of North America.
Copies of these most famous pictures of Black Hawk were provided by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin from its Iconographic Collections.
"Our braves, but few in number, finding that the enemy paid no regard 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 their children on their backs. A number of them were drowned, and some shot before they could reach the opposite shore."
— Black Sparrow Hawk
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Acknowledgments
Of Diane H. Blumenthal, Researcher, Catalog of American Portraits, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
Of Susan Embree, Photo Sales, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
Of Monroe H. Fabian, Associate Curator, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
Of Mary Homeier, Photo Collection, Iowa State Historical Department, Division of Historical Museum and Archives, Des Moines, Iowa.
Of William H. (Bill) Howe, Editor, Courier Press, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
Of Helmut Knies, Hoard Museum, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Of Robert B. Matchette, Navy and Old Army Branch, Military Archives Division, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D. C.
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Of Phyllis E. McLaughlin, Researcher, Des Moines, Iowa.
Of Mary Michals, Curator of Prints and Photographs, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Of William Miles, Acting Director, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Of Bob Mullen, Free-Lance Writer and Photographer, Eastman, Wisconsin.
Of Dr. Amy Peterson, Director of Governmental Documents and of the Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Of Halsey Rinehart, Black Hawk war enthusiast, Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Of Janette Saquet, Anthropology Librarian, John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
Of Patricia Gottschall Schuknecht, Lodi, Wisconsin, who found and provided data on the death of Albert Skinner.
Of Robert G. Stewart, Curato, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.
Of Howie Stiff, artist, Fort Atkinson, who did all keyline paste-ups for this book.
Of Nancy K. Thayer, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, my best friend and bride.
Of Ellen M. Whitney, Compiler and Editor of the Black Hawk War Papers of the Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Of Myrna Williamson, Reference Assistant, Iconographic Collections, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Of Ione Winkelman, Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, who set all of the type for this book.
Of the staffs of the following institutions, for innumerable courtesies: Fort Atkinson (Wisconsin) Historical Society and Hoard Museum, Illinois State
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Historical Library (Springfield), The National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Insitution (Washington, D. C.), National Archives and Records Service (Washington, D. C.), Tulane University Library (New Orleans), and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Area Research Center.xxv
Preface
Introduction.
"If we are to fight, we are too few;
If we are to die, we are too many."
— Indian Lament
In a dark period of American history, when even the Superintendent of Indian Affairs himself (William Clark of Lewis & Clark fame) said all Indians should be exterminated, it comes as no surprise that the idea is father to the deed.
The Indian Removal Act was approved by the Congress of the United States on May 28, 1830, "to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi."
The removal of Black Hawk from his native village of Saukenuk (at today's Rock Island, Illinois) to land in Iowa was accomplished in 1831 in accordance with national intent and public policy. But the women couldn't dig up the Iowa prairie sod to plant their corn. "Let's go home again", they said to Black Hawk.
April 5, 1832 the Sparrow Hawk crossed the Mississippi River with his people for the purpose of planting corn and living with Wabokeshiek the Prophet at
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Prophetstown, Illinois, some 40 miles up Rock river from the Mississippi.The settlers on the frontiers of Illinois were panicked by this so-called hostile invasion. Ottawa-Pottawatomie chief Shabbona did his Paul Revere imitation, warning the frontier settlers to flee: "Black Hawk is coming! Black Hawk is coming!"
On May 5, 1832, the Secretary of War Lewis Cass wrote to Illinois Governor John Reynolds, "The President [Andrew Jackson] is satisfied that the safety of the frontiers requires the most rigorous and decisive measures. The spirit of disaffection exhibited by this Band, will spread among the other Indians, and produce the most serious consequences, unless it is promptly met & repressed. The disregard which this Party has shewn to the arrangements made last year, proves the little dependence to be placed upon their promises. Under these circumstances the President has directed that Genl. [Henry] Atkinson be instructed to compel these Indians to recross the Mississippi river."
President Jackson later changed his mind: He decided that Black Hawk should not only be removed again to the west side of the Mississippi river, but that he should also be punished for having crossed the Mississippi river in the wrong direction, and without permission from the President of the United States or the Governor of Illinois.
Major General Alexander Macomb, Commanding General of the Army, gave Atkinson his orders:
"Head Quarters of the Army Washington 22 May 1832"
"Sir: It is understood that Black Hawk, and his associates, finding that the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes are unwilling to join them in their contemplated hostilities, have determined to surrender the murderers of the Menomenees, and to retreat across the Mississippi.
"The character of Black Hawk is such that no confidence can be placed in what he may promise, nor is there any security for his better conduct in future. It is therefore the Presidents order that Black Hawk be
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demanded of his associates, with other hostiges, and if his band continue embodied or refuse to deliver him up with the hostiges required, that you attack and disperse them, taking if possible, Black Hawk, with a sufficient number of prisoners."It is firmly believed that unless energetic measures are taken at this time with Black Hawk and his band, the same outrages on the frontiers of Illinois will be repeated annually to the great annoyance and disquiet of the frontier settlements, attended with endless expense to the United States.
"I have the honor to be respectfully Sir Your obedient servant
"Al: Macomb Major General
"Brt. Brigadier General Henry Atkinson Comg. on the Upper Mississippi."
Black Hawk War Trilogy.
The day-by-day story of Atkinson's attempt (within the boundaries of today's Wisconsin) to carry out these orders is told in the eye-witness trilogy of the Black Hawk war, as follows:
Hunting A Shadow: The Search for Black Hawk reports the futile search for Black Hawk and other events experienced in today's Rock and Jefferson counties both by the mounted volunteers of the Illinois militia (including Abraham Lincoln) and by the regular U. S. Army detachments from the 1st, 5th, and 6th Infantry Regiments (under Colonel Zachary Taylor) in that hot, wet summer of 1832
The Battle of Wisconsin Heights details the discovery of Black Hawk's trail and other evens experienced in today's Columbia, Dane, Dodge and Jefferson counties by the Third Brigade of the Illinois mounted militia volunteers under General James D. Henry and by the Michigan
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Territory (Wisconsin) mounted militia volunteers under Colonel Henry Dodge. They "disobey" the orders of the commanding General, Henry Atkinson, and so "win" the encounter with Black Hawk and his starving band of Indians.Massacre at Bad Axe concludes the trilogy of Atkinson's military and other action in today's Dane, Iowa, Sauk, Crawford, Vernon and Grant counties of Wisconsin against the Sauk and Fox and Kickapoo Indians. It details the Indians' futile flight for freedom and describes the final destruction of Black Hawk's band in the tragic encounter which took place on August 1 and 2, 1832, at the Mississippi river just below the mouth of the Bad Axe river and just opposite the mouth of the upper Iowa river.
The name of the town there today? Victory! Victory, Wisconsin.
Yes, the Black Hawk war of 1832 gave a local habitation and a name to several Wisconsin towns and cities, such as Fort Atkinson, Black Hawk, Soldiers Grove, Retreat, and Victory.
Purpose and Structure
My purpose in developing the Black Hawk War EyeWitness Series was (1) to locate as many primary source references to the Black Hawk war as possible, (2) to group these individual pieces of information by subject matter, and then (3) to place them in the proper chronological sequence to create for the first time ever a definitive and coherent narrative of the events of the war.
Massacre at Bad Axe tells the story of the final military encounter in the Black Hawk war in the exact words of actual participants. That is why this book is printed almost entirely in quotation marks.
In fact, when I said to a friend, "There's scarcely a word of my own in the entire book", he replied, "Good!"
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If there is no closing quotation mark at the end of a paragraph, that simply means that the quotation continues on into subsequent paragraphs until the quotation is closed by quotation marks and the superscript is added, directing you to the source.
The tiny superscript numbers throughout the text refer to notes at the end of the book which give the source of each eye-witness quotation. I grouped these sources in one place (at the end and out of the way) because I felt that the casual reader is more interested in what happened than in who said so.
On the other hand, I have used footnotes throughout the body of the text to provide substantive information that either clarifies or enriches the story.
This book you see, was written by eye-witnesses to history. I have simply compiled all of their material (that I could find) and fit it together in chronological order from July 25 to August 6, 1832.
I have put into the text each and every reference I was able to find on each and every pertinent subject. Because of these multiple references to the same event, you get the benefit of many points of view. This provides a richer picture of what actually happened than if I had given you only one flat statement about each event, or — worse — if I had told the story in my own words rather than (as I have) in the words of those who were actually there and participated in the action.
Each chapter in the book covers one day of military action in the Black Hawk war, and each day's activities are divided into two segments:
(1) Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk by land across the untracked wilderness of the Ocooch mountains (between today's Gotham and Soldiers Grove) to the Mississippi river. These segments are prefaced by weather reports from Fort Winnebago at today's Portage, Wisconsin.
(2) Mississippi River Action, directed out of Prairie du Chien, action on the water whose two-fold purpose was to prevent Black Hawk's crossing back into Iowa unpunished, and to capture the refugees from the July 21 battle of Wisconsin Heights who were attempting to escape down the
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Ouisconsin river in hastily-made canoes. These segments are prefaced by weather reports from Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk and the Mississippi River Action merge into one action with the dramatic arrival of the steam boat "Warrior" at the scene of the massacre at Bad Axe on August 2, 1832.
Weather Reports
A weather report, including three temperature readings, heads each segment of each chapter in this book.
The reports prefacing the chapter segments entitled "Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk" were kept daily by the United States Army Hospital Department at Fort Winnebago, Portage, Wisconsin. The bound "Diary of the Weather" is today in the Manuscript Archives of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison, and is filed as follows: "Wis, MSS, 3 CL, Fort Winnebago".
The reports prefacing the chapter segments entitled "Mississippi River Action" were kept daily by the United States Army Hospital Department at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The microfilm copy in the Manuscript Archives of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison was made from records in the United States National Archives in 1949. The microfilm copy of the weather diary kept at Fort Crawford is filed as follows: "Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin — Fort Crawford. Microfilm 112, U. S. Weather Bureau, Post Surgeon Reports to Surgeon General, Fort Crawford 1820-1849".
Because these remarks explain the sources of the weather reports, I have not given them superscript numbers (to refer to their source) in the text.
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Readin' and Writin'
Some early settlers on the frontier weren't the world's greatest spellers. That's why one of the more difficult tasks I had in editing this book was to make sure that I mispelled words correctly so they matched the spelling in the original source. Even so, the reference to the "untied states", for example, is still perfectly understandable.
But I have taken two liberties with original source material.
First, I separated much original material into individual action units so I could place each word, phrase, clause, sentence, or paragraph in the correct chronological position. Because of this editorial technique, several somewhat extended eye-witness reports of the massacre of Bad Axe were chewed up into small snippets, and the full flavor of the original was lost. For this reason I have published these reports as complete units at the end of this book. Although several reports appear in the main text as complete units, I have printed them again in full so the Appendix contains all known eye-witness accounts of extended length. Indeed, the reports of Cooke, Wakefield, and Black Hawk are taken from their respective published books, detailed in the Bibliography.
The second liberty I have taken with original material (for clarity and easier reading) was to create paragraphs now and then where they may not have existed in the original.
Jig Saw Puzzle
Creating these books is like locating and fitting together the scattered pieces of a giant jig-saw puzzle. Although some pieces of this historical event are still missing (perhaps in Illinois attics?) and others may be destroyed and lost forever, enough pieces have been found and do fit together to give us a glimpse into our past and to help us recapture a part of our lost heritage.
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Material long since buried continues to come to light. More will appear in the future, especially as this book is read by those who have Black Hawk war letters and papers in their possession. Indeed, if you have pertinent information about any detail of the Black Hawk war, please send a photocopy of it to the Fort Atkinson Historical Society, 407 Merchants Avenue, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538, for inclusion in any subsequent revision of this book.
Availability
The books in this Black Hawk War Eye-Witness Series are published privately as a labor of love and are not, therefore, readily available in most commercial outlets.
To obtain your copy of this or other volumes in this series, simply contact the Fort Atkinson Historical Society, 407 Merchants Avenue, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538.
The Lessons of History
If we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past whenever we ignore the lessons of history, then what can we learn from a study of the Black Hawk war of 1832?
I've been wondering about that.
There is nothing noble about the Black Hawk war. It reveals to the world the discouraging depth of white man's savagery underneath his thin veneer of civilization.
In the Black Hawk war, the motivation of the "savages" strikes us as the more civilized. Black Hawk said, "Rock River was a beautiful country. I loved my towns, my cornfields, and the home of my people. I fought for it." Black Hawk's charisma stems from this deep-felt patriotism, which we admire so much today.
Such nobility seems lacking in the motivation of the
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white man. He felt it was his Manifest Destiny to move ever-westward with the frontier to assume control of the North American continent, wresting it from the red man who happened to come across the land bridge between Russia and Alaska to inhabit it first.The tragedy of the Black Hawk war, or any war, suggests that if we do not learn to love one another pretty soon, we may not survive as a human race.
The Black Hawk war suggests that we have to learn to build bridges of love instead of walls of hate. The poet Robert Frost said as much long before the Berlin Wall: "Something there is that does not love a wall, that wants it down...."
The Black Hawk war suggests that contempt for an alien culture can be the most suicidal of sick emotions. Yes, Virginia, we must even learn to love the unlovables.
Crawford Beecher Thayer
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
August 27, 1983
Introduction
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Captain Henry Smith, Company C, 6th Infantry Regiment, United States Army.
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"Indian Campaign of 1832", an Account of the Black Hawk War by an Officer
Gentlemen: — It would give me pleasure to comply with your request on the subject of the recent Indian hostilities, were I not perfectly sensible of my incapacity to interest you and your readers. As it is, flattered by your solicitation, and acknowledging the obligation to contribute my mite to your valuable work, authentically, I undertake the task.
"To begin then, with the beginnings" — The Sauks and Foxes forming one nation of Indians, occupying until 1831, more or less of the country on both banks of the Mississippi for about one hundred and fifty miles above and below Rock Island [Illinois], have always manifested as a people, hostile feelings toward the people of the United States. During the war [of 1812] with Great Britain, they were active allies of
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the English; repeatedly and — as they boast — always successfully engaged against us. Several detachments of our army and militia, one under command of Col. Z. [Zachary] Taylor, now [1833] of the First Infantry, were previous to 1815, defeated by this warlike people.By treaty [in 1804] duly signed and ratified, the Sauks and Foxes, previous to 1831, conveyed this portion of their country east of the Mississippi to the United States, and our settlers advanced to the shores of Rock River, the Indians so far acknowledging the treaty as to cross the Mississippi, where the majority of them, if not all, took up their residence for a time.
In the spring of 1831 Maj. Gen. [Edmund Pendleton] Gaines, commanding the Western Department [of the U. S. Army], learned by express that the Indians, in great numbers, had recrossed the river, commenced a system of aggressions on the whites, and by threats, and in some instances of violence, had driven off many families, and bade fair to break up the settlements along the frontier of Illinois. The general [Gaines] promptly moved with such troops as he could find disposable — the Sixth, and a small portion of the Third Infantry — to the scene of difficulty. Here he found the tone of the Indians so high, and their deportment so insufferably insolent, that apprehending the necessity of an immediate resort to blows, he called on the governor of Illinois [John Reynolds] for an auxiliary force of mounted militia, and made preparations to enforce the
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demand he had already made of the Indians, to evacuate the ceded territory. After much delay and unusual display of reckless audacity on the part of the Indians,Within four months after signing this treaty, a numerous war party of this very band ascended the Mississippi, landed on the east bank, and within the limits of the American village of Prairie du Chien, attacked a body of Menominees [on July 31, 1831] — a nation distinguished for their unalterable friendship for the United States — and murdered, it is believed, twenty-eight persons. It was for the purpose of demanding and obtaining the leaders of this outrage on our flag, that Brig.-Gen. [Henry] Atkinson was ordered with his regiment, the Sixth, to ascend the Mississippi in the spring of 1832, and the circumstances have shown that the secretary of war [Lewis Cass], with the acuteness of judgment for which he is distinguished, aided by a thorough knowledge of the Indian character, clearly foresaw the result to which the disposition of the Indians would lead, yet very few others anticipated any occurrences more bloody than those of the proceeding year.
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On the 8th of April, 1832, the force under Gen. Atkinson, six companies
The general here received correct and undoubted information of their numbers and condition. Different traders and others had carefully counted them, and reported the number of efficient warriors to be about six hundred and fifty, consisting of Black Hawk's "British Band," the friends of the war party who had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien, and about one hundred and twenty Kickapoos; they were subsequently joined on the Rock River by the Prophet's [Wabokeshiek's] band.
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fifty of this force were mounted, and it is but justice to say they were very efficient cavalry on hardy and generally well-trained horses — they never came into contact with our militia, both mounted, that the Indians did not come off victors, whatever might be their inferiority in numbers.Under their intention of holding the country, they had brought with them their families and movables of every description.
Gen. Atkinson immediately summoned such of the chiefs of the Sauks and Foxes as had not participated in the movement, at the head of whom was Pashepawko, Wapello and Keokuk; demanded of them such of the murderers as were in their power, and warned them of the consequences which would result on their joining or aiding the invading band. The murderers (three, being all within the control of these chiefs) were promptly surrendered, and the general was assured of the fidelity of the chiefs to the government of the United States. The conference was concluded by an order from the general for the friendly Indians to return to their home, west of the Mississippi, and remain there.
Two messengers, a friendly Sauk chief, the son of Tayemah, and a half-breed whose father was a Frenchman and mother a Sauk woman, were dispatched to the Black Hawk by Gen. Atkinson, not only officially ordering him and his people, in the name of the president [Andrew Jackson], to return, but individually advising him of the consequences of his persisting in his present enterprise. The demand for the surrender of the murderers was also made. Up to this time, it appeared to have been the general belief of the officers of the army, as it certainly was with the writer of this narrative, that the Indians — almost always "more sinned against than sinning" — would under the forbearing, dignified and determined course pursued by the general, be brought to a sense of their conduct and situation, and induced to comply with the demands of the government. But we were soon undeceived; the messengers returned greatly alarmed, after having been abused and insulted, and compelled to escape at the risk of their lives. They brought, from the Indians the most insolent and bullying replies to the general's message, generally, in effect, ridiculing his
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demands, and challenging the Americans to come against them.About this time Henry Gratiot, Esq., the sub-agent for the Winnebagoes of the mining country [in northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin], obeying the impulse of his duty, intrepidly proceeded to Black Hawk's camp, near the Prophet's village [on April 24, 1832], for the purpose of holding a council with the chiefs, to ascertain their object, and to warn them to return. The Indians not only refused to hear him, but tore down his flag, raised the British flag, and took Mr. Gratiot prisoner. There is little doubt that his fate would have been sealed but for the interposition of the Winnebagoes, who purchased him of the Sauks, and restored him to liberty. We also learned that the Sauks and Foxes had been instigated to their present course by Wawbekashick, the Prophet, a half Winnebago and half Sauk, and possessing much influence with both nations from his assumption of the sacred character, from his talents, his inveterate hostility to the Americans, and his cold-blooded cruelty.
Gen. [Henry] Atkinson, an officer possessing all the requisites for command, military skill, undaunted courage and perseverance, together with a knowledge of the Indian character, now commenced vigorous preparations for a campaign. He ordered such troops as could with safety be called from the posts of Prairie du Chien and Fort Leavenworth to reinforce him; and was, in consequence, joined at Rock Island by four companies of the First Infantry, and subsequently at Dixon's Ferry, by two more companies of the Sixth Regiment from Fort Leavenworth.
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means for their transportation, a work of exceeding difficulty, under all circumstances — and lastly he notified the governor of Illinois, [John] Reynolds, that the Indians had ascended Rock River in a hostile at[t]itude. The general also took measures to secure the neutrality of the surrounding Indian nations; or, should he deem it proper, their assistance. These preparations detained the troops at Rock Island about three weeks, during much of which period the weather was unusually cold and raining, and our tents quite unfit for service, and useless as a shelter.About the 9th day of May provisions and boats having been collected, a force of nearly eighteen hundred militia arrived, fifteen hundred of whom were mounted, who had been ordered by Gov. Reynolds to report themselves to, and receive orders from the commanding officer of the regular troops [of the U.S. Army Infantry]. Our force moved up Rock River — the regular troops were then under the immediate command of Col. [Zachary] Taylor, First Infantry, and the mounted militia, under Brig.-Gen [Samuel] Whiteside. Gov. Reynolds also accompanied his force in person. The mounted men were ordered to proceed to the Prophet's village, about thirty or forty miles by land, and sixty or seventy by water; while the regular force was charged with the severe and unpleasant duty of dragging up the river our provisions and stores in boats, one keel of ninety tons, and one of thirty, and five or six Mackinaw boats. It is unnecessary to describe this duty better than to say, that the weather was cold, and that for many days the troops, so employed, had not a dry thread on them, compelled to wade against a rapid stream, dragging or lifting the boats along from day-break until night. On our arrival at the Prophet's village [on May 14, 1832], it was found that the mounted militia had advanced to Dixon's Ferry. About thirty miles below the last named point, an express informed our command of the defeat of a battalion of the militia under Maj. [Isaiah] Stillman, and the troops were hastened forward with all possible dispatch. At Dixon's Ferry, about one hundred and twenty miles from the mouth of Rock River, we learned the particulars of his defeat [on May 14].
xlviii
Maj. Stillman, commanding a volunteer battalion of Illinois militia, at his own solicitation, had been dispatched by Gov. Reynolds to endeavor to ascertain the position of the Indians. Deceived by some individuals who assured him that they had reconnoitered the country for forty-five miles above Whiteside's camp, and that there were no Indians within that distance, Stillman encamped an hour before sunset, twenty-five miles from Dixon's, in a well-chosen position, on a stream since called Stillman's Run. Very soon after pitching tents, and after unsaddling, some Indians were discovered on the open prairie, a mile or two distant. The camp entirely filled a small open wood, which was on every side surrounded by open and clear prairie slightly undulating. The strongest fortress could hardly have been more effectively defended than the camp in question, where a hundred men ought to have repulsed ten times their number of an attacking force. On the discovery of the Indians, only two or three in number, the militia sallied out, as all agree, in great confusion, some with saddles and some without, and pursued and captured these Indians, when some one called out that three or four others were in sight; on which another pusuit occurred in still greater disorder. The last Indians were overtaken, and, it is said, two of them killed unresistingly and without provocation. Very soon others were discovered advancing. Their numbers appeared, no doubt, much greater than they really were in the dusk of the evening, and a panic seized the whites, Sauve qui peut
xlix
difficult to account for this, as well as other similar affairs between the whites and Indians, save by attributing it to a want of discipline, and of material confidence in themselves.It may be well to add the fact, that Stillman's corps had never been for an instant under Gen. [Henry] Atkinson's orders, they having joined Gov. [John] Reynolds at Dixon's, by a march through the country.
The army immediately advanced up Rock River to Stillman's Run, having left the defeated corps to guard the sick, wounded and provisions at the depot at Dixon's. At Stillman's Run, Gen. Atkinson was overtaken by an express with the intelligence that the corps left to guard the depot had determined to abandon their charge and return home. He also ascertained that the enemy had moved rapidly up Sycamore Creek,
The first intelligence received of the run-away troops by Gen. Atkinson, was that they had proceeded across the country to the Illinois River, and disbanded themselves or had been discharged. This was said to have been brought about from some cause connected with the local politics of the State.
The general with his staff immediately proceeded across the country to the Illinois River, and by much exertion succeeded in inducing a few companies of mounted men
Within a few hours after the general's departure, intelligence arrived at Dixon's by express, that the enemy had made attacks at different points, eighty or ninety miles apart, and committed butcheries, with all the accustomed errors of Indian warfare. The report of a few mounted men
li
of the disbanded militia, who arrived, induced the serious apprehension that the general had been cut off in his journey across the country. Fortunately our fears proved without foundation. Among the sufferers, the fate of no one created more sympathy than that of Felix St. Vrain, Indian agent for the Foxes and Sauks, who had accompanied the army to Dixon's Ferry, where he had obtained leave to return, and secure his family at Rock Island. On his way to Galena, with seven men, they were attacked [on May 24] by a large party of Indians under command of [Wabokieshiek] the Prophet, and Mr. St. Vrain and three others most barbarously murdered, the others making their escape.By exertions almost incredible, Gen. Atkinson succeeded in less than three weeks in calling out a new militia mounted force, for it was already found that the war could not be successfully prosecuted against a well-mounted enemy by infantry alone, and in organizing it anew, and in procuring provisions for a new movement.
In the meantime, however, two companies of regular troops and a company of militia had been dispatched to Kellogg's Grove,
About this time also, Col. [Henry] Dodge, now [in 1833] colonel of the U.S. Dragoons, with a party of twenty-eight
lii
mounted men, learned that several murders had been committed in the neighborhood of Fort Hamilton, and pursued the murderers. Dodge and his party overtook the enemy, who they found to be a party of fifteen in number, and after a sharp conflict,On the 28th of June, the army again advanced on the enemy. Our force consisted of upwards of four hundred regular infantry, and [Brigadier General James D.] Henry's [Third] brigade of one thousand mounted militia. Brig.-Gen. [Hugh] Brady, U.S. A., who had in the meantime joined the army, and by advice of Gen. Atkinson, assumed the immediate command of the [First] division of regulars and militia, was left to guard the depot at Dixon's Ferry, and [Alexander] Posey's [First] and [Milton K.] Alexander's [Second] brigades detached and disposed so as to protect the settlements.
On the 3rd of July,
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difficult, wading through swamps and morasses, our provisions and baggage on pack-horses, frequently damaged, and the former of course falling short by the horses sinking in the swamps.Every exertion was made to procure guides, but in vain. Such Winnebagoes or Pottawatomies as joined us or could be taken, were either ignorant or treacherous. On the 6th of July, we reached a deep and muddy stream called most inaptly White Water,
Under these vexations and disappointments, we had the satisfaction of knowing that our enemy was completely beseiged — cut off from all their resources. Gen. [Henry] Atkinson knew that they must soon be driven by famine to give us battle, or to retreat from their present position, where he had little doubt of overtaking them. He, therefore, took such measures as to prevent their escape. To enable a company to guard our provisions and sick, when we should again advance, a stockade was erected,
Here we learned by dispatches from Maj.-Gen. [Winfield] Scott to our commander, of the arrival of that officer with his troops at Chicago, and that the Asiatic cholera was raging among them. This was the first
lv
intimation any individual of our command had received of the existence of this disease on this continent. We also received other disagreeable and mortifying intelligence through the public prints, and from other sources — the censure conveyed in insinuations and innuendoes by certain prints; the information from private letters, and perhaps the tone of official dispatches, all gave us too clearly to understand, that thus far for our toil, exposure, and exertions, we had received nothing but censure — how unjustly, every individual of the army knew and felt.On the arrival of the provisions, a new guide — an Indian chief [White Crow] — offered to conduct the army to the enemy's camp; his services were gladly accepted, and the army once more advanced through swamps in the direction of the foe. When again within a few hours march of them, the night set in with the most tremendous storm of rain, wind, thunder and lightning that I ever witnessed. Before morning [on July 20] an officer overtook us with information from Gen. Henry, that the enemy had retreated, crossing the Rock River, and that the mounted corps of Henry and Dodge having fallen on the fresh trail of the retreating Indian army, had taken the trail in pursuit, after dispatching the express to Gen. Atkinson. Instantly we commenced our retrograde movement again, and that evening arrived at Fort Koshkonong; and the next day passed around Lake Koshkonong, and forded Rock River below the lake.
Our marches were forced and severe. One day we marched it is believed, nearly twenty miles, a very hot one, without water. Before the arrival of the army at the Wisconsin, it was met by an express with information that Henry and Dodge had come up with, and attacked the rear of the enemy near the [Wisconsin] river, and defeated them [on July 21 in the battle of Wisconsin Heights
Rafts were forthwith constructed at the Wisconsin [river], and the army crossed at a small village called Helena, on the 27th of July; and within
lvii
two hours afterwards we struck the trail of the enemy. Their trail gave evidence that their numbers must be considerable. Their order of march was in three parallel columns. Over the dry prairie, the route of each column was worn from two to six inches in the earth; where the ground was marshy, their trail appeared like ordinary traveled road, wanting only the tracks of wheels.From this time until we reached the Mississippi River, we continued without deviation to follow the trail of the enemy, having no other guide, and led — doubtless with a view of baffling the army — over such country as, I venture to say, has seldom been marched over — at one moment ascending hills, which appeared almost perpendicular, through the thickest forests; then plunging through morasses; fording to our necks creeks and rivers; passing defiles, where one hundred resolute men might have defeated ten thousand, whatever might be their courage or capacity; next clambering up and down mountains perfectly bald, without so much as a bush to sustain a man. It was in this march that our infantry regained their confidence in their own powers — lacking the power of rapid locomotion to make a dash against an enemy — which had been somewhat impaired early in the campaign. They now far out-marched the horsemen, nearly all of whose horses were broken down.
The Indians were under the impression that it was impossible for us to follow them; and to that error we probably owe our ultimate good fortune in overtaking them, or, at least, in bringing them into action on grounds of equality. We, each day, made two of their day's marches, passing one or two of their camps. We frequently passed their dead, who, exhausted by wounds or fatigue, had expired and fallen from their horses.
On the 1st of August, we passed the bodies of eleven, and a little time before sunset, learned from a prisoner, that the enemy were but a few miles in
lviii
advance of us. Up to this time, not a man of the army knew where we were, save that we were north of the Wisconsin, and on the enemey's track. We marched until after dark, hastily encamped, slept two or three hours, when the reveille beat, and we were again on the march before daybreak.On the 2nd of August, at a little after sunrise, we discovered the curtain of mist hanging over the Mississippi, and the scouts in advance, a detachment of Dodge's corps, announced the vicinity of the enemy. We were halted for an instant, our knapsacks and baggage thrown off and our pack-horses left. We then advanced rapidly into the timbered land, and the occasional shots in advance confirmed the reports of the scouts. This firing was from a select rear guard of the enemy, about seventy in number.
Our order of battle was promptly arranged under the personal supervision of Gen. Atkinson, the center composed of the regular troops, about three hundred and eighty in number, and Dodge's corps, perhaps about one hundred and fifty. The right, [composed] of the remains of Posey's and Alexander's militia brigades, probably in all about two hundred and fifty men; the left, [composed] of Henry's brigade, in numbers not far from four hundred men — which brigade was, throughout the campaign, a most excellent body of militia, and well commanded. The army advanced by heads of companies over two or three miles. At length, after descending a bluff, almost perpendicular, we entered a bottom thickly and heavily wooded, with much underbrush and fallen timber, and overgrown with rank weeds and grass, plunged through a bayou of stagnant water, the men as usual holding up their guns and cartridge boxes, and in a few minutes heard the yells of the enemy, closed with him, and the action commenced.
As I have already been more prolix than I intended, I refer the reader to the official account of the battle. Suffice it to say, that quarters were in no instance asked or granted. The official reports give
lix
the number of killed of the enemy at one hundred and fifty, though doubtless many more were killed in the [Mississippi] river and elsewhere, whose bodies were never seen afterwards. Our loss was but twenty-seven. This disparity was doubtless owing to the rapid charge made by our troops, on the enemy, giving them time to deliver but one confused fire. About one hundred and fifty horses were taken or killed. The Black Hawk, the Prophet, and some other chiefs escaped from the action; but were subsequently brought in by the Winnebagoes, and the friendly Sauks, and delivered to the commanding general. After the action, a body of one hundred Sioux warriors presented themselves, and asked leave to pursue on the trail of such of the enemy as had escaped. This was granted, and the Sioux, after two days' pursuit, overtook and killed fifty or sixty, mostly, it is feared, women and children.The afternoon previous to the action, the steamboat Warrior, on her return from the Sioux villages above, with some twenty or thirty U.S. soldiers, discovered the Indian army on the bank of the Mississippi, engaged in constructing rafts and other means of crossing the river, exactly where Gen. Atkinson subsequently attacked them.
The enemy for some time endeavored to decoy the steamboat to the shore, assuring those on board that they were Winnebagoes, a friendly tribe. A sharp skirmish was finally the result, in which several of the Indians — different reports say from seven to twenty-three in number — were killed, and one soldier wounded. The boat then repaired to Prairie du Chien, and arrived again opportunely at the close of the action the following day.
The troops moved down the river to Prairie du Chien, where they were met by Maj.-Gen. Scott, who, with his staff, had left the brigade at Chicago, prostrated by an enemy far more terrible than the savages — the cholera; and was hastening to take part in the campaign. The wounded were left at this place, and the army descended to Rock
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Island, where we arrived in fine health and spirits on the 9th of August.Indeed, it is astonishing how perfectly healthy the troops had been during much and great exposure to the ordinary causes of sickness. Up to this time not a death from disease had occurred during the campaign among the regular troops. They had borne, without the slightest murmur, their fatigues and privations, and scarcely an occasion for the most trifling punishment had been given, from the time the army took the field. It has never been the fortune of the writer, during a service of twenty years, to witness for length of time the conduct of any command so perfectly exemplary.
We were soon doomed to experience a sad reverse. About the 20th of August, the troops from Chicago arrived under the command of Col. [Abraham] Eustis, and were encamped about four miles from the command of Gen. Atkinson. Poor fellows! we listened with sincere condolence to the tale of their wretched sufferings from disease; few of us imagining that we should call on them, so soon, to reciprocate our sympathy.
About the 26th of August, a case of cholera exhibited itself; this was followed by several others, and the ravages of this appalling disease then became truly dreadful. The troops were camped in wretched tents in close order of encampment, and for several days of continued cold rain the pestilence raged. Every man could hear the groan and screams of every other individual as often as a case occurred, which added greatly to the horrors of the scene. The brave men who had encountered dangers and hardships in every shape, now met an enemy which made the stoutest heart quail. During a very few days four officers and upwards of fifty rank and file, out of about three hundred infantry, became its victims. The Rangers also encamped near them, suffered severely. It is but rendering justice to Maj.-Gen. Scott to say, that his conduct at Rock Island during this period of horrors was worthy of the hero of Chippewa Niagara, and Fort George — by his example, exciting confidence and courage, fearlessly exposing himself to disease and death in its most terrible form, in his attentions
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alike to the officer and private soldier; while he enforced with the most vigilant care the strictest sanitary regulations. At length the troops were moved across the Mississippi, not out of sight of their late camp, and the pestilence ceased.The Indians sued for peace, a treaty was made at Rock Island by which the whole country east of the Mississippi called the "mining district," and a large tract on the west bank, probably in the whole about 8,000,000 acres, was ceded to the United States; and all the surviving chiefs of any note who had been in arms against us, were to remain as hostages during the pleasure of the president.
And thus ended the Sauk war. About the 28th of September the troops were ordered to their respective stations.
The fear of being insufferably prolix, has induced the writer to confine himself to a general account of the campaign, leaving minutiae to some future opportunity.
1
Massacre at Bad Axe
Wednesday, July 25, 1832
2
"I shall move this morning with my whole force to a point on the Ouisconsin sixteen miles below where we shall endeavour to cross the [river] by Rafts...."
— Brigadier General Henry Atkinson
3
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 73°
2 P.M. — 79°
9 P.M. — 65°
Brigadier General Henry Atkinson reported the situation of the Black Hawk war to Major General Alexander Macomb, Commanding General of the Army in Washington, and to Major General Winfield Scott, Commander of the Eastern Department, U.S. Army, who had been sent to assume command of the war from Atkinson, but who got delayed at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, by the plague of Asiatic cholera which nearly wiped out his troops:
"Genl Atkinson — To Genl Macomb [and Gen. Scott]
"Head Quarters Division of the North West Army
"Blue Mounds, 25th. July 1832
"Sir, I have the honor to report to you that [Brigadier] General [James D.] Henry with his [Third] Brigade [of Illinois militia volunteers] accompanied by Genl [Henry] Dodge with a
4
Battalion of Michigan [Territory] volunteers, who were as I informed you by letter on the 21st. Inst. detached in pursuit of the enemy, succeeded by forced marches in coming up with him on the banks of the Ouisconsin opposite to this place on the evening of the 21st Inst: and immediately made an attack upon him which resulted in his defeat with a loss of Thirty five men Killed and it is presumed a much larger number wounded, as he was seen during the action bearing them off — our loss amounts to: but one man Killed [Thomas Jefferson Short] & seven wounded night coming on our Troops were called back and the enemey saved from entire destruction, and he passed over to an Island where he had [been], and was in the act, of sending Women and Children. Henry and Dodge remained on the ground the succeeding day & night and part of the next day but were unable to renew the attack in consequence of the entire absence [of] boats, canoes, or the means of constructing rafts to: cross to the Island. They fell back to this place [Blue Mounds Fort] on the evening of the 23rd. for a supply of Provisions, where I Joined them last evening with the regular [U.S. Army Infantry] Troops and part of [Brigadier General Milton K.] Alexander's [Second] Brigade [of Illinois militia volunteers] after a forced march of three days from [Fort] Cosconong"I shall move this morning with my whole force to a point on the Ouisconsin sixteen miles below where we shall endeavour to cross the [river] by Rafts or some other means and if possible overtake the enemy and subdue him, although we are worn down with fatigue and privation. He must be much crippled, and is suffering for subsistanc.
6
"the troops under Henry & Dodge behaved with the greatest gallantry, resisting a charge of the enemy's Cavalry, and in turn charged him at every point with the greatest promptness and success to which may be attributed the very small loss they sustained."(Signed) H Atkinson Brigr. Genl U.S. Army"
General Atkinson also wrote to William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in St. Louis:
Blue Mounds 25. July 1982
"My dear General. After being baffled for several days by the enemy in the great swamps above Cosconong Lake he suddenly he suddenly debauched from the swamp & made his way for the Ouisconsin. Henry & Dodge with eight hundred picked men were sent upon his trail in pursuit who after making forced marches came up with him on the banks of the Ouisconsin on the evening of the 21[s]t. inst opposite to this place & immediately attacked & defeated him with the loss of thirty five men Killed & it is presumed a very large number wounded, night coming on our Troops were recalled & the enemy saved from entire distruction and he was enabled to cross over to an Island where he had [been] & was removing his women & children. Henry & Dodge remained on the ground till the 23rd without having it in their power to renew the attack in consequence of the entire absence of boats, canoes or the means of making rafts to cross them to the island. He returned to this place on the ev[en]ing of the ev[en]ing of the 23rd for provisions & I joined them last ev[en]ing with the regular troops & part of Alexanders Brigade after three days forced march from Cosconong. I shall move this morning with my whole force to the Ouisconsin & endeavor to cross it by rafts & if possible overtake & subdue the enemy. He must be much crippled, disheartened & suffering for
7
subsistence. We are all broken down with fatigue & privation."Yours with great regard & esteem
"H. Atkinson
"Gnl. Wm. Clark
"St. Louis"
Before the troops marched for Helena, several personnel changes were made.
The four men who were wounded in the battle of Wisconsin Heights from Colonel Gabriel Jones's Third Regiment of Brigadier General James D. Henry's Third Brigade of Illinois militia volunteers were left at the Blue Mounds, as follows:
From Captain James Burns's Company, Privates Meredith S. McMillion and James Thompson were "Discharged On the 25 of July being Wounded on July 21 in the Battle on the Wisanse [Wisconsin]".
From Captain William Adair's Company, Private Joseph Wells received his "Discha[r]ge July 25th. at Blue Mound being wounded on Surgns. [Surgeon's] Certificate".
From Captain Jacob Feaman's Company, Private Armstead Jones was "Wounded on the 21st of July and Absent on the 25th with leave".
Also left behind were the four men from Colonel Henry Dodge's Battalion of Michigan Territory militia volunteers who were wounded in the July 21 battle near the Wisconsin river.
The Galenian newspaper reported in its Wednesday, August 1, 1832, edition that "The men who were wounded in the late battle, have all arrived safely at the General Hospital in Galena, and are doing well. Their names are Armistead Jones, Meredith A. McMillan, James Thompson, John McNair, Isham Harden, Enoch Neavill, Robert M. Magee and Joseph Wells. The name of the man killed in the engagement was Thomas Jefferson Short, of Randolph county."
8
One personnel change was made in Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander's Second Brigade of Illinois militia volunteers. In Colonel James M. Blackburn's First Regiment, 2nd. Lieut Isaac Lewis "Resigned 25th. July 1832"
Most of the personnel changes occurred in Brigadier General James D. Henry's Third Brigade of Illinois militia volunteers.
In Colonel Jacob Fry's Second Regiment, Private James H. Ralston was "Detached [from Captain Earl Peirce's Company] to act as Adjadent of the 2d Regt. on the 6th. day of July & continued to act as such till 25th. July"
The greatest number of personnel changes occurred in the Third Regiment of Colonel Gabriel Jones. On Jones's staff, "C N Halsted [Christopher N. Halstead was] Appointed Qr Master on the 21st. June & Resigned on the 25th July."
In Captain Josiah S. Brigg's Company, Private Alexander Campbell "July 25th furnished Wm. Harper Substitute. [Harper was] Transferred to Capt. Allen F. Lindsey's Company. By Gen. Order July 25"
In Captain James Burns's Company, 2d Lt Cyrus Sawyers was "Furlowd July 25th and lost his horse"
9
The following members of Captain James Burns's Company were "Absent with leave 25th of July"
Captain Jacob Feaman "Resigned on the 25th of July"
From Captain James Thompson's Company, Private James Steele was "Absent, on furlough since July 25 at Blue mounds"
"We here drew three days' provisions, and on the twenty-fifth we took up the line of march for Helena, on the Wisconsin river, where we intended to cross, again to take up the pursuit against the enemy [Black Hawk's ‘British’ band of about 1200 old men, women, children and including about 500 warriors]."
"...we Remained at the blue mounds till the 25th and then set off for Helleny...having been Joined by Gen. [Henry] Atkinson at the Blue mounds and the Rema[i]ns of [Alexander] Posey and [Milton K.] Allexanders Brig. [of Illinois militia volunteers]"
10
25th July Marched with the whole force of [U.S. Army Infantry] regulars and volunteer troops except Genl [Henry] Dodges battalion [of Michigan Territory mounted militia volunteers] which was at Dodgeville & Poseys [First] brigade which was on the march for the Ouisconsin, having
"Marched on the 25th with the regular troops and Henry's and Alexander's Brigades for a point on the Ouisconsin sixteen miles distant"
Lieutenant Robert Anderson
Second Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke wrote, "Between Rock and Wisconsin Rivers we marched amid the most beautiful scenery I had ever beheld; a varying succession of prairie and forest; of hill, vale, and mound, so various in form, abrupt yet smooth and green, that it might be imagined the sudden petrification of an ocean storm. Again, the soft face of gentle slopes, with groves and trees in the semblance of parks and orchards, and little prairie fields, presented the picturesque and peacefull appearance of a highly cultivated district, whence the dwellings of man alone had unaccountably disappeared.
"On a nearer approach to the Wisconsin River there was more wildness and sublimity; we marched along lofty and narrow ridges and beheld everywhere broken and jagged peaks — dark and profound abysses (bearing evident traces of volcanic action) — vast rocks disjointed and scattered; —
11
all seemingly in the confusion of some great catastrophe. But amid this sterile grandeur, we caught glimpses of green and sunny landscape, which seemed warm and brightened by the effects of contrast."Descending as we approach the river, we followed a remarkable prairie valley, straight, level, with steep green sides or banks, presenting an extraordinary uniformity for five or six miles. Again, very near the river, we saw many isolated sugar-loaf hills, towering several hundred feet in the air; covered with grass; dotted with pines, and showing in places their rocky structure. Their summits commanded noble views; the bright and swift river winding among the rugged mountains; and beyond, far away, its wide savannas and noble forests; all, in this wild and scarce explored region, filled our minds with the exciting ideas of discovery of a new country, which, in its summer dress, seemed to greet our approach with smiles.
"Such is the scenery of the valley of the Wisconsin, from which it was our ungracious errand to drive the original possessors, who, like spectres haunting the scenes of their nativity and warm attachment, were destined to atone in blood for their only fault or misfortune, that they loved not wisely but too well."
"Marched 16 miles and encamped on a large creek"
"encamped near Helena"
12
Wednesday, July 25, 1832
"I dispatched the Sub-Agent of Ind. Affs. Mr. Burnett in a canoe up the Mississippi, to bring in the Winnebagoes and their canoes to the Agency at Prairie du Chien."
— Joseph M. Street, U. S. Agent,
Winnebago Indian Affairs
13
(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 66°
2 P.M. — 80°
9 P.M. — 72°
"The [steamboat] Enterprise, with two companies of Regulars,
"He [Captain James B. Estes] arrived at Prairie du Chien on the 23d [actually the 25th], at noon, having
14
traveled about ninety miles [from the Wisconsin Heights battle field]. Colonel [Captain Gustavus] Loomis was [in the absence of Colonel Zachary Taylor, who was with Atkinson] in command at the fort [Crawford].""I [Loomis] received General Dodges letter of the 22d. Inst. on the 25th by Captain Estes..."
"Camp Ouisconsin July 22d. 1832.
"Capt. G. Loomis.
"Sir/ We met the enemy yesterday near the Wisconsin River and opposite the old Sack village, after a close pursuit for near 100 miles. Our loss was one man killed and eight wounded; from the scalps taken by the Winnebagoes as well those taken by the Whites and Indians carried from the field of Battle we must have killed about 40 of them; the number of wounded is not known, we can only judge from the number killed that many were wounded; from their crippled situation I think we must overtake them unless they descend the Ouisconsin by water. If you could place a field piece immediately on the Wisconsin, that would command the river, you might prevent their escape by water. General Atkinson will arrive at the Blue Mound on the 24th with the Regulars and a Brigade of mounted men. I will cross the Ouisconsin to morrow, and should the enemy retreat by land he will probably attempt crossing some 20 miles above Prairie du Chien. In that event the mounted men would want some Boats for the transportation of their arms ammunition and provisions. If you could procure for us some Mackinaw Boats in that event as well as some provision supplies, it would greatly facilitate our views. I will refer you to Captain James B. Estes for particulars.
15
"Excuse great haste.
"I am Sir, with great respect your your obedient servant
"(signed) H Dodge Comdg Michigan mounted volunteers.
"To/ Capt G. Loomis Comdg Officer Fort Crawford"
"The Menominies who are here, go to Morrow Morning East and North of this as a look out for the Sacs & foxes, so that I [Loomis] do not see how they can well pass here without being discovered."
"The Menominies say they the S & F [Black Hawk's band of Sacs and Foxes] will go to the Chippeways, — that there is nothing to stop them unless you [Dodge and the troops with Atkinson] overtake them."
General Joseph M. Street, U.S. Indian Agent for the Winnebago Agency at Prairie du Chien, reported, "The moment we heard of the battle, of Genl. Dodge [at Wisconsin Heights on July 21] and that some [of Black Hawk's people] were escaping by the Wiskonsin I collected the Winnebagoes & the Monominees & sent them out to guard the River, and take all they could prisoners & bring them to me. They obeyed immediately...."
"...soon after the receipt of Genl: Dodge's letter of 22d. July ...Some Winnebagoes came down the Mississippi, up which they had gone but a few days before, avowedly to be out of the Way of the War, and encamped below this Fort [Crawford] on the Prairie. This circumstance increased my [Loomis's] suspicions of their honesty. I requested Genl Street their Agent to order them above the Fort, which he did. They obeyed and encamped on the Slough about ./3 of a mile above the Fort that evening.
17
"I [Loomis] then ordered the A. A. Qr. Mr.
"The same day (25th July) with the aid of Capt. Loomis I [Street] dispatched the Sub-Agent of Ind. Affs. Mr. [Thomas] Burnett in a canoe up the Mississippi, to bring in the Winnebagoes and their canoes to the Agency at Prairie du Chien."
"U.S. Ind. Agency at Prairie du chien 25 July 1832.
"Mr. T. P. Burnette [Thomas P. Burnett] Sub. Agent Ind. affs [affairs]
"Sir, You will proceed up the Missi. to the Winnebeagoe about 25 or 35 miles above this place, and inform them of the fact of Gl. Dodge's Battle & the crossing of the Sacs to the N. of the Wiskonsin, and that their Chiefs Carramana & Decorri are here, and that I want all the Winnebeagoes to come down with you immediately, and that it is also the wish of their chiefs that they come with you. One object is to get the Winnebeagoes out of the way with their canoes to prevent thei[r] crossing the sacs over the River. Send on word to the upper villages that the sacs have crossed the Wiskonsin if you can.
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"And should the Winnebeagoes hesitate tell them that if they do not come I will not pay the annuity to any who refuse to come. The time is now near, and they will loose [lose] their money.
"Hasten back as soon as possible.
"Respectfull yours &c. Jos. M. Street Ind. Agt. [Indian agent]"
"Capt. Loomis furnished a Boat & hands, and an old discharged non-commissioned officer in which Boat I sent Mr. Burnett the sub-agent of Ind. affairs to bring down from the Mississippi all the Indians and their canoes on the 25th. day of July...."
"I [Street] know not what orders the old man bore; but presume he could have little opperation upon the Indians. Mr. Burnett went for the express purpose of bringing down the Indians and their canoes."
"Genl: Street has sent an Express to the Scioux giving them the information of the hostile Indians having crossed the Ouisconsin and wishing them to keep a good look out that they do not cross the Missi. near them."
"I [Loomis] have a picket of 8 men at the Ferry."
"I [Loomis] have also sent a light Canoe well manned up^ the Ouisconsin as a look out & to destroy all Canoes they may find up the river and also to give information to the parties at the Ferry
"That afternoon accompanied by Capt. [James] Estes I [Loomis] examined the Ouisconsin River at the Ferry as to the practicability of a piece of Artillery preventing the enemy's descent of it."
"After Capt: Estes arrival, & while he was with me looking if any suitable place could be fixed upon near the ferry of the Ousiconsin for a piece of Artillery to be posted the Steam Boat Enterprize arrived with Two Companies of the 4th. Inft. [Infantry] on board."
19
burning with ardor to find the enemy and who promptly and cheerfully performed the duties assigned them.""On my [Loomis's] return I found the Steam Boat Enterprize at the landing with two Comps of the 4th. Regt of Infty, from Baton Rouge under command of Lt. [Samuel] Torrence
I immediately decided to charter the S. Boat and send her up the Mississippi to support those previously sent [Burnett and others] in the light Canoe and to endeavor to show a force ready to compel obedience.
"I then ordered Lt. Torrence to detach an Officer and 25 Men destined for the mouth of the Ouisconsin
"An officer went up in the S. Boat; but could of course only operate on those [Indians] who were immediately on the River. My [Street's] message was to all...."
Captain Gustavus Loomis reported the situation at Prairie du Chien to Brigadier General Henry Atkinson by replying to Henry Dodge's letter:
"Fort Crawford, /M.T./ [Michigan Territory] July 25, 1832.
"Sir/ I recd. your letter of the 22d Inst: by Capt: Estes; from your Camp on the Ouisconsin giving me information of your action with the Indians and of their having crossed the Ouisconsin.
20
"After Capt: Estes arrival, & while he was with me looking if any suitable place could be fixed upon near the ferry of the Ouisconsin for a piece of Artillery to be posted the Steam Boat Enterprize arrived with Two Companies of the 4th. Infty. on board.
"I have a picket of 8 Men at the Ferry. I send a large Flat, one 6 pdr. [six-pounder cannon] & 25 Men to the mouth of the Ouisconsin to be anchored in the middle of the River. I send the S. B. [Steam Boat] and the remainder of the 4th. Infty. up the Mississippi to order down the the Winnebagoes and to bring down all their Canoes or break them to pieces. I have also sent a light Canoe well manned up the Ouisconsin as a look out & to destroy all Canoes they may find up the river and also to give information to the parties at the Ferry and at the mouth of the river.
"Upon the return of the Boat from above I shall keep her employed from this [place], to Cassville or a little below & perhaps above this as circumstances may warrant, until I hear from you again or Genl. Atkinson.
"The Menominies who are here, go to Morrow Morning East and North of this as a look out for the Sacs & Foxes [of Black Hawk's band], so that I do not see how they can well pass here without being discovered.
"I shall do all I can to prevent any of them doing it and so far as I can will give you information.
"I can furnish you provisions for some days if you need.
"I shall endeavour to keep up a communication by land with Cassville so that they shall not pass without our soon seeing their trails.
"I shall put on board the Steam Boat about 30 Men and a Six Pr. [pounder cannon] That will give
22
me about 20 Men to reinforce this Garrison [Fort Crawford]."I have called for the Militia of the Prairie but I have some doubt if I get any, not even enough to form a Guard at the ferry.
"Genl: Street has sent an Express to the Scioux giving them the information of the hostile Indians having crossed the Ouisconsin and wishing them to keep a good look out that they do not cross the Missi. near them.
"The Menominies say they the S & F. will go to the Chippeways, — that there is nothing to stop them unless you overtake them.
"Very Respectfully Your. Mo. obt. Servt. [Your most obedient Servant]
"G: Loomis Cap. 1t Infy. Commanding.
"Genl. H. Dodge. Commanding Mich: [Territory] Mounted Volunteers."
"The S. Boat Enterprise coming up from Galena that evening, was by Capt. Loomis dispatched on the same business [as Burnett's] up the Mississippi."
Lieutenant John J. Abercrombie reported to Captain Loomis, "Pursuant to your [Loomis's] instructions I ascended the Mississippi on the evening of the 25th. July in the Steam Boat Enterprize with a detachment of the 4th. regt Infty under the command of Lt. [Samuel] Torrence...."
Thomas Burnett later reported to General Street, "In obedience to your [Street's] order of the 25th: inst: I set out from this place in a Bark Canoe, late last evening [July 25], to visit the Winnebagoes, supposed to be encamped 25 or 30 miles above Prairie du chien, on the Mississippi."
"The Sioux Chief, L' Arc ... left this [place] on the evening of the 25th: inst:...."
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Thursday, July 26, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"...I deemed it advisable to divest myself of all baggage, and select a body of the most efficient men and horses for a final pursuit...."
— Brigadier General Henry Atkinson
25
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 70°
2 P.M. — 87°
9 P.M. — 72°
"Threw a Bridge across the creek in the morning of the 26th and marched 3 miles to Helena."
"The next day the whole army marched to resume the pursuit and across the Wisconsin...."
"26th July Marched to the Ouisconsin where preparations had been made the day previously by Col. E [Enoch C.] March Qr Mr [Quarter Master] General for the Passage of the river"
26
[of Illinois militia volunteers] busily employed in making rafts to cross on."This [Helena] once bid fair to be a prosperous place; there were some tolerable good pine buildings that had been put up; the logs had been hewed, and of course were very light."
"The point of greatest interest in the north part of the county [Iowa county], from 1828 to 1840, was what is usually termed Old Helena, which was located on Section 29, in what is now the town of Wyoming, ...the first village in the county was planted here in 1828, the intention then being to build a place at that point which would rival Galena, as by that means the greater water thoroughfare of Wisconsin could be utilized advantageously for the shipping of lead, and also for transporting all needful supplies into the country. In 1829, a large hewed-log house was erected by three Mor[r]ison brothers, who also broke a few acres of land. In 1830, this house was purchased by George Medary, who moved there with his family and opened a sort of hotel, and also did (or rather attempted to do) legal business. Soon after him, William [Emerson] Green, who was afterward killed by the Indians, came here with his wife and erected a comfortable
27
log house, and preempted the land where the shot-tower"So this deserted village was pulled down, and converted into rafts for the army to cross the river on.
"The river at this place is nearly as wide as the Mississippi; but not near as deep. There is a great number of Islands and sand bars in it, which will always prevent it from being good for steam boat navigation."
"The Wisconsin is a large, rapid and majestic river but full of sand-bars which renders navigation extremely difficult and impossible for a large craft. It is remarkable for the abundance of islands with which it is studded and many of them finely timbered. There are comparatively few places where a person can see clear across the river, and it is said that there are fifteen hundred islands from the Portage to the mouth which is a distance of about 180 miles."
"We now once more had all the Generals together, but not all the men; there had been a great falling off in all the brigades.
"General [Alexander] Posey who commanded the first brigade, had but about two hundred men; a great number having lost their horses, and some being on sick report. Colonel [John] Ewing's [Second] regiment had been sent down to Dixon's [on July 10], which weakened it [Posey's Brigade] very much."
28
In Colonel Samuel Leech's 3rd Regiment of Posey's First Brigade, Trumpeter Adonajah G. Grimes was replaced:"Major Hungate substituted in Donajah G. Grimes' room, on the 26th July 1832 [in Captain Arden Biggerstaff's Company], and [is] to receive the full wages in room of sd [said] Adonajah G. Grimes."
The second brigade [of Milton K. Alexander] was nearly in the same condition; a great many being on foot, and some on the sick report. There were but about three hundred and fifty in this brigade.
"General [James D.] Henry's [Third] brigade was very much reduced, also."
In Colonel Jacob Fry's 2d Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, Private William Paisely was "Discharged 26th. July at Hellena"
In Colonel Gabriel Jones's 3rd Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, 4th Sergeant Joseph H. Orr was "appointed Quarter Master Sergeant on the 26 July"
"So the whole three brigades were not stronger than one of them was at first setting out in the campaign. There was now more dissatisfaction prevailing than I [John Wakefield] observed during the whole campaign. The general cry with all, appeared to be, that we would never again see an Indian — that they had been gone so long ahead of us, we would never be able to overtake them; and the men generally had become tired of hunting trails; and now we had to hunt this trail up again. So there was nothing to stimulate the men, because all were of the opinion that the Indians were then near the Mississippi; as the distance was said not to be more than eighty miles; and as no one of us had ever been across, we had no idea of what kind of country we would have to pass through."
"We [Henry's troops] thought it nothing more than Justice that we should be allowed to Rest a while [after their
29
battle of Wisconsin Heights on July 21] and let the others take some active part in the war for they had hitherto done nothing while we had been on force marches some petitions were presented to Gen Atkinson Representing to him the condition of our horses and Requesting permision to stay a few days at some place and Rest our Horses but he could not venture an attack without Henrys Brigade""The enemy after the Battle of the Ouisconsin having crossed that river and entered the wilderness on the opposite side, I [General Henry Atkinson] deemed it advisable to divest myself of all baggage, and select a body of the most efficient men and horses for a final pursuit — Accordingly all the volunteers whose horses were unfit for the march were Bent back to Fort Hamilton where there was a depot of provisions, and a detachment of regular troops with the sick and baggage left at Helena."
Atkinson issued an order to that effect:
"Head Qrs 1st. Army Corps North West. Army
"Ouisconsin River at Helena 26th July 1832
"Order No. 64
"All the U.S. Infy for duty at this place except forty men including the Sick, One hundred & fifty mounted men of Brig Genl. Posey's Brigade of Ill. mounted Volunteers, four hundred of Brig Genl. Alexanders, four hundred of Brig. Genl. Henrys & the mounted Michigan [Territory] Volunteers under the command of Genl. Dodge, will be in readiness to cross the Ouisconsin river at sun rise tomorrow, well supplied with ammunition & provided with provisions for eight days (including the rations on hand) which will be drawn this evening
"The remainder of the Ill. mounted volunteers not required for active service, will be encamped for two days at this place, under the command of the Senior Officer of their respective Corps, who may be left with them at the
30
expiration of that time unless they should receive other orders, they will be marched to Fort Hamilton2....The Quarter Masters Dept. will furnish transportation for the sick & provisions. All the baggage Waggons
"By order of Brig. Genl. Atkinson
(Signed) Albt S. Johnston A. D. Camp & A. A. A. Genl."
"Colonel William B. Archer [General Alexander's Aide de Camp] had, on our arrival at this place, taken about twenty men, and gone up the river to our battle ground [at Wisconsin Heights], to ascertain if they would discover any fresh signs of the Indians returning, or what direction they had gone from that place. They found no new sign of their crossing back. The remains of Mr. [Thomas Jefferson] Short, who was killed in the battle, had not been interrupted, which plainly showed, that they had not been back since we had left there; for if they had they would have dug up the corpse for the purpose of taking his scalp off; as they prize a scalp
31
any thing else in their warfare; and one that is so fortunate as to get a scalp, feels as proud as if he had killed a white man and lost the scalp."Colonel Archer spent one day in searching for the main trail but was not able to get upon it. The friendly Indians, who were sent with him as pilots, as usual, seemed to act cowardly. So he returned to the main army, and was ready to take up the line of march with us."
The army "encamped at night at Helena, on the left bank [facing downstream] of the river."
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Thursday, July 26, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"Lieut. Abercrombie told them that he would wait there until sunset for them to get ready, and if they did not start by that time, he would take all their Canoes and bring them down with the Steam Boat."
— Thomas P. Bumett, Sub-Agent,
Winnebago Indian Affairs
33
(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, north west wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 72°
2 P.M. — 80°
9 P.M. — 70°
The steam boat Enterprise moved up the Mississippi river. Just before dawn it came across the encampment of Thomas P. Burnett, Sub-Agent of Winnebago Indian Affairs, "...and by taking Mr. Burnett aboard, greatly expedited my [General Street's] efforts to collect in the Winnebagoes, and prevent the hostile Indians [of Black Hawk's band] from getting over the Mississippi in the Indian canoes."
When Burnett returned to Prairie du Chien at 9 o'clock at night, he wrote his report about the day's activities:
"U. S. Indian Agency at Prairie du chien 26th:
July 1832
"Genl. Joseph M. Street U. S. Indian Agent:
"Sir, In obedience to your order of the 25th: inst: I set out from this place in a Bark Canoe, late last evening, to visit the Winnebagoes, supposed to be encamped 25 or 30 miles above Prairie du chien on the Mississippi.
34
"This morning before day the Steam Boat Enterprise with a military com[m]and came by my encampment & took myself and the crew on board.
"Upon arriving at the place where the Winnebagoes were encamped a short time since, we found that the camp had been deserted for several days.
"From information derived from some Indians at a lodge a few miles below, to which we returned, I learned that the main body of the Winnebagoes which I wished to see had removed some distance up the River.
"We continued on up a considerable distance, passing several lodges at different points, until we came to the principal camp on the East side of the River, about 60 miles (as I suppose) above Prairie du chien.
"I communicated your message to all the Indians which I saw on the way, and they readily promised an implicit obedience to your requisition.
"At the principal camp I found Washington Decari, with a considerable part of the Winnebagoes from the Wisconsin and Kickapoo Rivers. Immediately upon arriving, I made the communication which I was instructed to make to them, and directed them to get ready as soon as possible to leave their encampment for the Agency.
"They manifested an entire willingness to come, but said that some of their party was out hunting and would be in this evening, and that they wished to wait their return that all might come on together. They promised verry positively, that at whatever time the hunters
35
should arrive they would set out, and that they would certainly be here and see you tomorrow by the middle of the afternoon."After some conversation upon the subject of their starting this evening and their still objecting to do so until the hunters should arrive, Lieut: [John J.] Abercrombie told them that he would wait there until sunset for them to get ready, and if they did not start by that time, he would take all their Canoes and bring them down with the Steam Boat.
"We waited some time probably two hours for them to get ready, when they concluded to start & let the hunters come on after them.
"After seeing all the Canoes move off we started out on our return and arrived at Prairie du chien about 9 Oclock this evening.
"The Indians which I saw will be all here tomorrow before 12 Oclock. They all manifested a perfect willingness to comply with every thing you required of them, and offered no other delay than a short time to collect their whole body to proceed together to the Agency.
"The Winnebagoes had not heard of Genl. Dodges Battle with the Sacs & Foxes on the Wisconsin. When I communicated to them the intelligence, they seemed to be well pleased with the information, and highly gratified at the defeat of the hostile Indians.
"Verry respectfully Your obt. Servt. T. P. Burnett Sub-Agt: Ind: Affrs: [Sub-Agent of Indians Affairs]
John J. Abercrombie, Adjutant of the 1st Infantry troops remaining at Fort Crawford, adds several details about the day's activities in his report to Captain Gustavus Loomis:
36
"Fort Crawford. M. T. [Michigan Territory] 1832"Sir/ Pursuant to your instructions I assended the Mississippi on the evening of the 25th. July in the Steam Boat Enterprize with a detachment of the 4th. Regt Infty under the command of Lt. [Samuel] Torrence and arrived early in the day succeeding at the position occupied by the Winnebagoes a few days previous and when I first made them a visit; they had however abandoned it.
"We decended three or four Miles to a lodge of Winnebagoes, took a board one or two of them to conduct us to the principle encampment which was about 25 or 30 Miles above on the East side of the River and consisted of the Caramonies [,] De Carry's [,]
"I then requested the old chief De Carry [Washington Decorah] to send an Express to Wenosheck who was then with his band a little
37
[Burnett] (who accompanied me) a liberal compensation would be allowed him. After having made these arrangements I was under the impression nothing more was necessary than to make immediate preperations for returning. I was however disappointed — they again assembled and after deliberating some time concluded they could not come with us, in consequence of a number of their men being out some Miles on a hunt: — They further more declined sending the express to"I think there must have been in all (counting the Women and children) about Two hundred &
38
forty or fifty, between thirty five or forty Canoes; which I have no doubt would have been sufficient to have cr[o]ssed the hostile Indians in a few hours; and from the degree of reluctance with which they complied with what we demanded of them I beleive firmly they would not have hesitated to have done."Respectfully Yr. obt. Servt. J. J. Abercrombie, Adjt. 1st Inf
"Capt. G. Loomis Commdg Fort Crawford."
40
Friday, July 27, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"…the passage of the river was not completed to day from the difficulty of getting the baggage over"
— Lt. Albert Sidney Johnston,
Atkinson's Aide de Camp
41
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 68°
2 P.M. — 75°
9 P.M. — 72°
"27th. Gen [Henry] Dodge joined to-day also [Alexander] Posey with part of his [First] brigade [of Illinois militia volunteers]."
"Here [at Helena] a delay of a day or two occurred; arising from the extreme difficulties encountered by the commissariat of so large a force in an uncultivated country; and one very deficient in the means of transportation; and the only calculations that could be made as to the next operations were, that they would be in an almost impassable wilderness!"
Lieutenant Albert Sidney Johnston, Atkinson's Aide de Camp, wrote a letter
"27th July. Many of the horses having failed from
42
fatigue, Gen Atkinson selected about [illegible] of the best mounted volunteers to cross the ouisconsin & pursue the enemy in conjunction with the regular troops, the remainder of the several volunteer corps were ordered to Fort Hamilton Gens Henry Posey Alexander & Dodge commanded the volunteers which they had selected from their several commands for this duty. Col. [Zachary] Taylor 1st Inf commanded the regular troops; 400 infantry....""The army commenced crossing the Ouisconsin on the 27th by swiming their horses and carrying their Bagage across on rafts..."
"On the morning of the 27th the volunteers including Dodge, who had joined, began to cross the river...."
While the troops were struggling to cross the Ouisconsin river on rafts, Atkinson reported his situation to General Winfield Scott. Scott, in Chicago at Fort Dearborn, was still prevented from taking over command of the Black Hawk war from Atkinson by the devastating plague of Asiatic cholera.
"Head Qurs. division of the North Western Army On Ouisconsin river, Helena, July 27th. 1832
"General. I arrived here yesterday from the Blue Mounds and we are now in the act of crossing this river with a select body of men consisting of regulars & volunteers amounting to thirteen hundred. The tardiness and difficulty of crossing on rafts will detain us all of tomorrow and will give the enemy five days the start of us, a most unfortunate circumstance, but unavoidable. The trail of the enemy leads up the country between this river and the Mississippi. He intends making his way to the Chippaways, or crossing the Mississippi — probably the latter. He appears to be in a distressed situation for subsistence & to facilitate his movement has thrown away kittles, skins &c. — comforts to an Indian — and he must be much crippled in his recent conflict with the volunteers. I am in hopes
44
notwithstanding our delay to be enabled to overtake him, if he does not cross the Mississippi in six days. This excursion before us must end our active operations for some time, as all the Horses, of the volunteers, as well as pack and officers horses are worn down."It would be well that you should cross over to the Mississippi as early as practicable, as in the event of our not closing the War in the pending exertion an organization of a new force must take place.
"I send this letter by Mr. [Billy] Caldwell, a chief of the Pottiwattime nation, and Waponce a War chief. I commend them to your notice as worthy of confidence. To the former I refer you for any information relative to his trible [tribe] you may wish to acquire. He is a gentleman of education and intelligence.
"General Dodge is with me in command of the Michigan [Territory] Volunteers. He has accepted the appointment of Commandant of the Corps of Rangers.
"With great respect. Sir, I have the honor to be Your Mo ob Svt.
"H. Atkinson B. Gn. US. army.
"P. S. will you order [Colonel Samuel T.] Matthews [1st] Regt. of volunteers stationed at Ottoway, Illinois river to be discharged they are not, I think, longer wanted there.
"Maj. Genl. Scott, Comg. North Western Army Chicago."
Atkinson also sent an express to Captain Gustavus Loomis, commander of Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien:
46
"Genl: Atkinson — To — Captn Loomis,
"Head Qrs. Division of the North Westn Army,
"(Helena) on Ouisconsin River July 27th, 1832
"Sir, I send down Cut-Nose
"The regulars came up yesterday and we are now crossing the river to fall on the enemy's Trail, with a hope of overtaking him. His course leads north and his intention supposed to be to reach the Chippways, or cross the Mississippi some forty miles above Prairie du chien. You can be in no danger, crippled and disheartened as he must be. Yet be vigilant.
"I expect to be at the Prairie soon with the Troops. I am too much engaged to write to both you & Genl Street, shew him this letter as addressed to you both.
"(Signed) H. Atkinson Brigr Genl U.S. Army"
47
General Henry Dodge received the July 25th letter of Captain Loomis by the "Politeness of Mr. Parish"
Dodge delivered the letter to Atkinson, who then added a postscript to his letter to Loomis:
"Since writing the within, Genl Dodge has handed me your letter of the 25th. Inst: I wish some of the Menominies & Sioux could be thrown ahead of the Sacs, as I fear they have such a start of us we shall not be able to overtake them.
"Continue your operations till I hear again from you.
"(Signed) H Atkinson Brigr Genl U.S. Army"
Dodge also shared the contents of Loomis's letter with Addison Philleo, editor of The Galenian, who sent a dispatch back to his newspaper:
"Camp on the Wisconsin
"July 27, 1832
"DEAR SIR: — An express has just arrived from Prairie due Chien, by which we learn that every effort is making there to prevent the escape of the Sacs across the Mississippi, should that be their intention. It is highly probable, however, that the hostile Indians intend pushing on to the Chippeway country.
48
"Gen. Atkinson is now at this place with the whole army, and is preparing to commence a march to-morrow in pursuit of the enemy. He is determined never to give up the chase till the Indians are conquered.
"None but those who try the experiment, can tell the difficulties, incident to a pursuit of Indians through an unknown country like this. It is impossible to take more than 8 or 10 days rations on horses, and it may frequently happen that when we get within a day's march of the enemy, that our provisions give out, and we are compelled to go a long distance to replenish. It, no doubt, appears that our army moves too tardily, but the reason, to all who know from actual experience, is very obvious. We cannot go on a long tour, like the enemy we chase, and depend on fish, deer and roots to satiate our hunger, but must take with us all necessary supplies.
"I hope, in a few days, to be able to tell you a good story about our war & give you a lecture on Indian killing.
"Whenever the war assume as [assumes a] less dangerous aspect to the prosperity of our distressed country, I shall return to my editorial chair, and exchange my sword and short gun for a goose quill."
Atkinson also replied to a letter from Colonel Samuel T. Matthews, commander of the First Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, which had been detached for service at Ottawa on June 21:
"Genl Atkinson — To — Col Matthews
"Ouisconsin River Helena, July 27th. 1832
"Sir, I have received your letter of the 19th Inst: by express today. The Men of you[r] Regiment are mistaken as to the period of their services, they are, no doubt bound to serve ninety days from the time they were mustered into
49
service, and should they go off sooner they would forfeit their pay, and be liable to prosection. I have however requested Genl Scott by letter to day, to order your Regiment to be discharged."We have driven the enemy before us from his position on Rock river through the swamps and across this river. We brought him to action on the evening of the 21st Inst [Instant] on the banks of this river, defeated him with a loss of 35 Men Killed and many wounded, losing but one man Killed and seven wounded on our part we shall follow him up Tomorrow
"(Signed) H. Atkinson. Brigr Genl: U.S. Army"
Before continuing the pursuit, Atkinson took time to congratulate the victorious troops of the Battle of Wisconsin Heights:
"Head Qrs 1st Army Corps, North. West Army
"Ouisconsin river at Helena July 27th 1832
"Order No. 65
"The Comdg. General takes great pleasure in announcing to the army the result of the action between the Volunteer troops under Genls. Henry & Dodge, and the enemy on the evening of the 21st inst. after a force march of ...Miles these brave troops came up with the enemy on the bank of the Ouisconsin and immediately attacked & dispersed him with a loss of thirty five killed & many wounded incurring on their own part a loss of only one man killed & Seven wounded.
"Night coming on our Troops were recalled & the enemy saved from entire destruction, & enabled to throw himself across the river, some bark canoes having been provided for his transportation
50
"Both Officers & men are reported to have behaved with such determined bravery that no individual distinction could justly be made. Hence the thanks of the Comdg. Genl are due to all, which he offers with much gratification
"The enemy is yet in the country & further effort is necessary to chastise & subdue him. The Troops are now under marching orders for this purpose, and the Comdg Genl. looks to every officer & Man to do his duty with promptitude & cheerfulness, and in this expectation he is convinced he will not be disappointed
"By order of Brig. Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) Alb. S. Johnston A. D. Camp & A. A. A. Genl."
Meanwhile, General Posey's boisterous troops were at it again:
"Head Qrs 1st. Army Corps, North West. Army
"Ouisconsin River at Helena 27th July 1832
"Spl. [Special] Order No. 40.
"Mr. Robert Creighton a citizen of Helena [and a private in Captain John Sherman's Blue Mound Company] having complained that a detachment of Genl. Poseys Brigade of Ill. mounted Volunteers, has destroyed his crops consisting often acres of Oats four acres of Corn, one half acre of Wheat, & three quarters of an acre of potatoes Mr. [Ebenezer] Brigham of the Blue Mounds, & Mr. John Dixon are appointed by the Comdg. Genl. to ascertain the amount of loss sustained by Mr. Creighton, from the depredations said to have been committed by said troops.
"By order of Brig Genl Atkinson
"(Signed) Alb. S. Johnston A D C. & A.A. Genl." [Aide de Camp and Assistant Adjutant General]
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During the day, several personnel changes were made:
On the staff of Colonel Samuel Adams's 2d Regiment of Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander's Second Brigade Lieutenant Colonel John W. Barlow had a "Horse Lost & [was] Furloughed 27 July"
"Head Qrs 1st Army Corps, North Westn. Army
"Ouisconsin river at Helena 27th. July 1832
"Spl. [Special] Order No 41
"Doctor Flanagan will remain at this place in the exercise of his professional duties till further Orders
"By order of Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) Albt. S. Johnston A. D. C. & A. A. A. Genl."
From Colonel James Collins's 4th Regiment of Brigadier General James D. Henry's Third Brigade, Captain Jesse Claywell was "Furlowed 27th July at Wisconsin riv[er]"
In Major William Lee D. Ewing's Spy Battalion of Henry's Third Brigade, 1st Lieutenant John Watwood of Captain Samuel Houston's Company was "Left at Helena on the 27th July Lost horse on the 23d"
Atkinson declined the services of Captain Alexander M. Jenkins's odd Company of un-brigaded troops in the pursuit of Black Hawk:
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"The Company [of Captain Jenkins] Marched by Order of Cll. [Colonel Enoch C.] March to the Wisconsin while Col. Atkinson with the main Army lay at Helena, and while there tendered Our Services to him to pursue after the Indians, But was ordered By him to return to fort Hamilton Guard the provisions as [we?] had been Ordered to by Cll. [Colonel Reuben C.] Holmes"
"27th. Having nothing but light rafts, the troops were not all crossed over to-day."
"...the rafts that had been provided were so small and limeted in number, only a part got over...."
"...the passage of the river was not completed to day from the difficulty of getting the baggage over"
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Friday, July 27, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"I ordered Lt. Torrence to ascend the Mississippi as far as Prairie Le Cross and order down the Winnebago Chief Win-o-sheck and his band."
— Captain Gustavus Loomis,
Commander of Fort Crawford
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south west wind
Thermometer: 7 A. M. — 73°
2 P. M. — 81°
9 P. M. — 71°
"On the 27th. July I [Captain Gustavus Loomis, commander of Fort Crawford] ordered Lt. [Samuel] Torrence to ascend the Mississippi as far as Prairie Le Cross and order down the Winnebago Chief Win-o-sheck and his band. He was again accompanied by the Sub. Ind. Agent [Thomas P. Burnett] and an Interpreter furnished by Genl. Street."
"U. S. Ind. Agency Prairie du chien July 27, 1832
"Mr. T. P. Burnett
"Sir, You will procceed with Waughkon Decorri to Praire La Cross, and such other points as you may deem important, and tell the Winnebeagoes I wish to see them at the Agen[c]y. I wish Winnocheck certainly to come. Much must be left to your own Judgment in this case. The object is to get what information you can in relation to the Sacs & Foxes & to with draw all the Winneabeagoes from the upper Mississippi,
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and with them the means of passing the Rive[r]."If you can extend the news to the Sioux.
"Respe[c]tfully Jos. M. Street U. S. Ind Agt."
The Enterprise "again went up higher on the 27th, with Mr. Burnett and Waugh-kon De Corri, a Winnebago chief of influence, who I [Street] sent to aid Mr. B. in bringing off the Indians. The necessity of convincing the Winnebagoes of the importance of bringing off all their people and canoes, induced me to adopt this course, as from the nature of the case these Indians could not be forced into this measure. Those who were on the main S. Boat Channels of the river could be taken; but their principal residence is on slues, that no S. Boat can approach."
Lieutenant Robert C. Buchanan of the Baton Rouge regulars accompanied the expedition. "...I have the honor to report: That in pursuance of S. [Special] order No. 22 dated July 27th. 1832 from this Post [Fort Crawford], the Battalion of the 4th Inf. under his [Lieutenant Torrence's] command, proceeded up the Mississippi up to the mouth of Black River."
The canoe crew (which Captain Loomis had sent up the Wisconsin river on July 25 to destroy Indian canoes that might assist Black Hawk) returned at night:
"My express boat up the Ouisconsin say that near the English Prairie
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"Near English Prairie he; [Brisbois] saw a large trail of horses crossing the Ouisconsin — he thinks they were Indians as he did not see any tracks with Shoes, they crossed from the South to the North side."
General Street adds a few details: "A Citizen of the Prairie [Brisbois] with 5 or 6 men in a canoe, passed up the Wisconsin within sight of English Prairie (60 miles from P du Chien) & got home last Night [July 27]. He saw no hostile or other Indians untill he came in sight of English Prairie. He there saw 9 canoes of Indians that he took for Socs & Foxes, crossing from the South to the North of the Wisconsin. They were in canoes of Elm bark newly striped [stripped] from the trees & were painted red. finding they were discovered they made a rapid retreat and saw no more of them. About 50 miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin — they say [saw] a trail cross the sand from the south to the North about 7 days old, bu[t] could not say whether Indians or whites."
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Saturday, July 28, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"...the whole army found themselves safely over and took up their march in the afternoon with an expectation of having to go into the Chippeway country and the probability was that we would have to eat our horses...."
— 2d Lieutenant James J. Justice,
Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
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(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A. M. — 80°
2 P. M. — 87°
9 P. M. — 70°
"Two of our men at this place [Helena], whilst fishing, found a dead Indian, which no doubt had been killed at our battle on the Wisconsin; as I have no doubt the Indians threw many of their dead into the river during the night after the battle; and many that were wounded and died on that night; in order to keep us from scalping them; as those superstitious beings think it the greatest disgrace for one of their nation to lose his scalp."
"Head Qrs. 1st. Army Corps, North. Westn Army
"Ouisconsin river at Helena 28th July 1832
"Spl. [Special] Order No. 42
"Lieut. Searight 6th Infy. is designated to remain at this place in command of a detachment of forty U.S. Infy. including Sick
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"The preservation and safe keeping of the public supplies is entrusted to the care of Lt. Searight who will put the houses in the best condition for defence of which they are capable
"Bt [Brevet] 2d Lieut [George Washington] McClure will perform the duties of Asst. Corny. [Assistant Commisary] of Subsistence
"By order of Brig Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) A. S. Johnston A. D. Camp & A. A. A. Genl. [Aide de Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant General]"
In Colonel Jacob Fry's 2nd Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, Private Thomas Gray was "Discharged at Helena July 28th 1832"
In Colonel James Collins's 4th Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, Private Jacob Lane had a "Horse missing & [was] left under the command of Col Smith at Helena on 28th July...."
"all those [in Alexander's Second Brigade] who were sick & afoot Deficient horses &c. were to return to Fort Hamilton under the command of Major [William] McHenry the deficient marched 1 mile and encamped for the night"
"Black Hawk fled before White Beaver [Atkinson], on his way to the Bad Ax. Two men from our [Winnebago Indian] camp [near Portage] went as guides to White Beaver, on this chase. They were Nahreechsecochkeshica (Lame Ankle) and Mahheenibabka (Double Knife). These were the only guides that White Beaver had."
"28th. The entire passage of the troops was affected [effected] this morning"
"Rafts were forthwith constructed at the Wisconsin, and he army crossed at a small village called Helena, on the 27th [and 28th] of July...."
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"July 29 [actually July 28] 400 men required out of the 2nd. Brigade to cross the Ouisconsin and pursue the Indians"
"...on the next morning [July 28] the regular troops and the residue of the volunteers passed across, and our line of march was taken up with a force now reduced to 400 regulars and 900 volunteers...."
"The army commenced crossing this stream on the 27th, and by twelve o'clock on the 28th, we were over, and ready to take up the line of march."
"July 28th. We this day, at 12 o'clock, again got in motion, with General Atkinson at our head
"The brigades of Posey, Alexander and Henry, were all now together; and about four hundred and fifty regulars under the command of General Brady.
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Lieutenant [Robert] Anderson, Brigade Major [and Assistant Inspector General]. The author [John Wakefield] is sorry that he cannot give the names of the other regular officers"...I [General Atkinson] crossed the Ouisconsin on the 27th and 28th ulto, with a select body of Troops, consisting of the regular Troops under Col [Zachary] Taylor, four hundred in number, part of Henry's Posey's and Alexanders Brigades and Dodge's Battalion of mounted volunteers amounting in all to thirteen hundred Men...."
"The whole army under Gen. Atkinson, embracing the brigades commanded by Gen's Henry, Posey and Alexander; and a squadron under command of Gen. Dodge, all crossed over to the north side of the Wisconsin at Helena, on the 28th and 29th [actually 27th and 28th] ultimo."
"We crossed the river, followed it up, and struck Indian trail."
"28th July the troops having all passed the river, moved up the ouisconsin; having advanced 3 or 4 miles the trail of the enemy was discovered, hearing in the direction of the ocooch Mountains."
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"…and on the 28th the whole army found themselves safely over and took up their march in the afternoon with an expectation of having to go into the Chippeway country and the probability was that we would have to eat our horses but after going a few miles up the River we came on the trail which bore a south course""They took up a line of march in a northerly direction, in order to intersect the Indian trail. At the distance of about five miles the great trail was discovered, leading in a direction N. of W. towards the Mississippi, and supposed to be about four days old."
"...within two hours afterwards we struck the trail of the enemy. Their trail gave evidence that their numbers must be considerable. Their order of march was in three parallel columns. Over the dry prairie, the route of each column was worn from two to six inches in the earth; where the ground was marshy, their trail appeared like ordinary traveled roads, wanting only the tracks of the wheels."
"July 28 Marched across the Ouisconsin in persuit of the Indian trail found it about 5 mills [miles] up the river, the whoop was then given and we put off at a brisk march"
"We had not this day marched more than five miles, before we came upon the main Indians trail. We had started up the river in order to get on it, opposite to where we had the battle, or near that place; as we were of opinion they would make up the river, rather than down. But here we were greatly disappointed. We got upon the trail much sooner than we expected, and found that we could follow it without any difficulty.
"It appeared to be making down the river, too, which pleased up still better. We had understood that, north of us, the country was very mountainous, and almost impassable."
"A post was established at Helena; and the army crossed July 28th, and marched in a northern direction, in the expectation, doubtless, of soon falling upon traces of the retreating enemy. If so, they were soon realized; for we were still in the low grounds of the river, when, being in the van, I
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[Philip St. George Cooke] witnessed the discovery of the trail, which led to a singular and amusing little scene — suddenly I saw Colonel D. [Dodge], — who was riding in advance with the General, — draw his sword and spur forward with great animation, riding hither thither — gazing on the ground, and uttering unintelligible exclamations — the General, though evidently quite ignorant of the inspiring cause of this eccentric proceeding, in a kind of blind sympathy, galloped after the Colonel, following him quite closely in his course, which became a series of circles narrowing down to a point, where, sure enough, was the plain fresh trail of the whole tribe. Imagine a pointer circling in search of the hole of a ground-squirrel with a young one following, nose to tail, in an attempt at imitation, and then imagine them metamorphosed into horses, and on their backs, — of one, a portly and grave Colonel sword in hand — and of the other, a dignified and still more portly General!""Gen. Atkinson seeing the direction of the enemy, knew well that it would require all diligence and expedition to overtake them before they would cross the Mississippi, and hence commenced from that time a forced march; leaving all baggage wagons, and every thing else which was calculated to retard the pursuit."
"The column here turned to the left, following the new course, which led down the prairie bottom of the river.
"We had now a good laugh on one of the General's staff (a fine fellow and a great favorite he was!) who, absorbed in geological researches, or in search of the picturesque, had ridden far in advance, and continuing the course which we had first taken, passed without knowing it, so large a trail (which we were seeking); and was then to be seen a mile or two off, on the summit of one of the singular conical hills of this country."
"my self [?] and J [John] F Richardson [Captain of a Spy Company in General Alexander's Second Brigade] took a walk up on top of one of the high places where we had handsome view of the country & river to a great distance
"The Indians had followed the Wisconsin down to a point nine miles below Helena."
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"we turned our course with the trail and marched some miles down the margin of the ouisconsin and passed some huge piles of sand which was subject to be moved by the wind we continued down this sandy Prairie for several miles till we come to a hollow which Run in from the north up which the trail went we turned up the Hollow and encamped in a small prairie interspersed with low scruby oak timber near a small creek or Ravine that afforded plenty of water for our horses and our selves"
"The columns were turned to the left & pursued on the trail 10 or 12 miles and encamped"
"the same kind of ancient fortifications were observed at this gap of the hills, as we had noticed on Rock river"
"We followed the trail until a late hour this evening. Nothing of importance occurred this night. All now were once more satisfied, that we had again got on the trail, without having to hunt for it, as we heretofore had done. There was now a hope once more, of falling in with the enemy, — all murmuring again ceased. The great object then was, with all, to push ahead, for fear the enemy might cross the Mississippi before we could overtake them."
"Soon after the skirmish on Wisconsin bluffs, Gen. Atkinson came up, and the entire army crossed the river at Pine Bend, (Helena), and took the trail on the opposite side, and followed it seven or eight miles, in the direction of Prairie Du Chien. When it was discovered that the Indians were making for the Mississippi, Gen. Atkinson sent me [John Fonda] with little Boiseley to carry a dispatch
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Fonda and Boiseley had first teamed up years earlier to run the mail from Green Bay to Chicago. Fonda reminisced,"...being socially inclined, I chose a companion to go on the tramp with me. He was a Canadian named Boiseley, and as he was a comrade with me for many years and figured in many incidents on the Mississippi, I will give a brief description of his person and appearance.
"Boiseley was short, thick-set, had long arms with big hands of tremendous grasp attached, and on the whole he was a little giant in strength. His head was small and covered with coarse, black hair, and his eyes were small black, and as piercing as rattle-snake's. There was nothing prepossessing in his person, in fact many would think him repulsive; yet this was the person I chose to go with me. He had been with me on one or two hunts, and remarking in him a spirit that was capable of enduring much fatigue, a sort of intimacy had sprung up between us, and that prompted me to select him. Having neither parents nor friends — that I ever heard of — he readily consented to go anywhere with me, I directed him to exchange his dress — rags would be the best term — for a comfortable out-fit, obtained at my expense, and had the satisfaction of seeing him transformed into a comparatively respectable looking man. He was accoutered in a style similar to myself. He sported a long Indian gun, and always carried a large knife, pistol and hatchet in his belt, and bullet-pouch and powder horn hung under his arm. To the horn were tied by sinew thongs several charms, which he believed possessed some mysterious power that preserved him from harm. Aside from this tinge of superstition I found Boiseley was naturally intelligent and true as steel. During the many long jaunts we had together, there was only one thing about him I couldn't become reconciled to, and that was this: we would start early in the day, each carrying a pack of equal weight, and after tramping all day he would go to work and make camp, and prepare any game we had shot, without showing any evidence of fatigue; while I, a man of twice his size and apparent physical strength, would be tired, as not to care whether I ate at all.
On the trip to Fort Crawford, "Boiseley and I traveled day and night, and arrived at the Fort without seeing Indian. Black Hawk and his people, with the army in pursuit, had turned northward, intending to for the Kickapoo high up."
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Saturday, July 28, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"it was discovered by two Winnebeagoes hunting by torchlight, that the hostile Indians were escaping down the Wiskonsin in small parties in elm bark canoes"
— Joseph M. Street, U. S. Agent,
Winnebago Indian Affairs
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 72°
2 P.M. — 84°
9 P.M. — 70°
Captain Gustavus Loomis reported the situation on the Mississippi river to General Henry Atkinson:
"Fort Crawford / MT / [Michigan Territory] / July 28, 1832.
"Sir/ I recieved General [Henry] Dodges letter of 22d. Inst. on the 25th. by Captain [James B.] Estes, which I answered on the same day, a copy is enclosed, which gives information of the course which I have pursued. The Steam Boat is again up the river with about 40 of the 4th Infy. and a Six Pounder, to order down the Winnebagoes, who are on Black River. There is a good road from near Pine River of the to Black River of the Mississippi, which enters the Mississippi about 90 miles above this [place, Prairie du Chien].
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"My express boat up the Ouisconsin say that near the English Prairie,
"Near English Prairie he; (Brisbois) saw a large trail of horses crossing the Ouisconsin — he thinks they were Indians as he did not see any tracks with Shoes, they crossed from the South to the North side.
"I am desirous of communicating with the army — that I may not unnecessarily keep the Steam Boat employed.
"I send a report of the Provisions on hands a this Post.
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10 — or 15,000 rations more for Extra supply to Indians."I would request advise how to dispose of the 4th. Infty — Whether to send them above or below or to report at Head Qrs. & where: — Whether it will be advisable to keep the Steam Boat in the service with a Six Pr. [Pounder cannon] or not — Whether I shall keep a guard Boat at the mouth of the Ouisconsin.
General Joseph M. Street, the Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs, also reported to General Atkinson:
"U.S. Ind. Agency at Prairie du Chien. 28. July 1832.
"Br. Genl. H. Atkinson
"Sir, I have little Indian news to communicate — the Winnebeagoes remain quiet. There are about 280 or 300 now leying [lying] in front of the Agen[c]y within 200 yards where I can observe them. Mr. Burnette [Thomas P. Burnett] (Sub Agent) went up last night in the S. B. Enterprise to Prairie Le Cross & Black River to learn if possible if the Sacs & Foxes took that direction, and to secure all the Winnebeagoe canoes & bring down the Winniebagoes. The chief Waugh-Kon Decorri & a party of 6 or 7 Inds went with them. They will return tomorrow I think the Winnebeagoes under my agency will remain firmly our fri[e]nds.
"Respectfully yours, &c. Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agent."
"If the Indians have re-crossed to the South of the Ouisconsin are they not likely to cross the Mississippi below Platt and Grand [Grant] Rivers.
"I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your. mo. obt. Servt.
G: Loomis Cap. 1t Infy comm'g
"Genl: H. Atkinson Commanding."
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"Mr. [John] Marsh and my eldest son [Thomas P. Street who wanted to see his uncle, Brigadier General Alexander Posey] left here [Prairie du Chien] on the 28th. inst. Express" with dispatches to you [Atkinson], going up on the South side of the Wiskonsin."
Captain [Gustavus] Loomis's letter today to Colonal James M. Strode of Galena was extracted in the August 1 issue of The Galenian:
"JULY 30. — We have been favored with a copy of a letter from Captain LOOMIS, commanding officer at Fort Crawford, M.T. [Michigan Territory] to Col. [James M.I STRODE, [commander of the troops] of this place [Galena] dated July 28, from which we make the following extract:
"‘I have required the Winnebagoes above this [place, Prairie du Chien], on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, to come down to the Prairie with their canoes, that the hostile Indians may not have them to assist them in crossing — and have stationed a Flat, and a Mackinac boat, with a six-pounder, and 25 men at the mouth of the Wisconsin.’
"By the same letter we learn that Capt. Loomis, kept the steam boat Enterprise coasting above and below Prairie du Chien, a few days, to prevent the Indians crossing the river. — We think the course Capt. L. has pursued is strictly correct and highly laudable, as some fears were entertained that the Indians might cross the Mississippi, and protract the war for months."
Meanwhile the steam boat Enterprise had reached the mouth of Black River. "When Mr. B. [Burnett] arrived at their upper villages many were out in the land hunting, and after the delivery of my [Street's] message, and duly impressing them with the importance of a speedy compliance with my requisition — the Indians promised to send for the hunters, and come in, the moment they arrived, which could not they said, exceed six days. — In all the measure adopted for the bringing down the Winnebagoes and their canoes from the Mississippi to prevent the Sacs and Foxes from using them to cross the Mississippi, I [Street] cheerfully acknowledge the efficient aid of Capt. Loomis, as far as his influence extended."
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After the Enterprise returned in mid-afternoon, Burnett wrote his report:
"U.S. Indian Agency at Prairie du chien 28th:
July 1832
"Genl. Joseph M. Street U.S. Indian Agent:
"Sir; In obedience to your order of the 27th; inst. I went on board the Steam Boat Enterprise last evening for the purpose of ascending the Mississippi to visit the Winnebago villages at Prairie La Crosse River. We arrived early this morning at the entrance of the lower mouth of Black River, and found the Winnebagoes encamped on the shore between that and Prairie La crosse River. I took Wa-Kon Decari & went on shore immediately to see the Indians. I found the one eye Dcari [Decorah] Tcha-tarnar & the Little Thunder at the lodges & upon enqu[i]ry I was informed that the whole Band had left the village some time since — that Winnoshik and Wau-mar-nar-sar with about fifte[e]n men & their families had been gone near a month, to hunt and dry meat about fifty miles up Prairie La Crosse and Black Rivers, and that the rest of the Band were all present at the Camp. I told them that you wished to see them all at this place [Prairie du Chien] as soon as they could possibly get here — that the Americans under Genl. Dodge, had defeated the Sacs & Foxes on the Wisconsin and after killing a great many had driven them across the River — that the defeated Indians were endeavoring to make their escape to the Mississippi for the Purpose of crossing over and regaining their own country; and that it was probable they would attempt to reach that point that they might get the Winnebago Canoes to cross them over the Mississippi] River and that they [the Winnebagoes] must get away from that place before the S & F [Sauk and Fox Indians] should arrive. They said that they would come down immediately upon the return of the absent
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party — that they were afraid of the Sacs, and did not wish to leave a small part of their Band behind who were too few to resist if they should meet them. I then told them to send two of their best young men on horseback to bring in the hunting party. They verry promptly complied with this requisition and in a verry short time the young men were mounted and on their march. I charged the Express to carry to the absent Indians, the message I had delivered there and to tell Winnoshik specially that his presence was required at the Agency."the chiefs present told me that they though[t] they would be all here, certainly in six days and probably sooner. I told them that it was of great importance to them to come as soon as possible and bring with them all the Canoes on the River — that if the Sacs should come to that point, they [the Winnebagoes] were not strong enough to prevent them [the Sacs] from taking their Canoes (if they did not kill them) and crossing over — that should they effect their passage to the west side of the of the River at any point above this place within their country, they would be suspected for assisting them, and if it should be ascertained that they had done so they would loose [lose] their annuities and be treated as allies of the Sacs & Foxes. They promised to start for this place immediately upon the return of the absent party, and to bring all the Canoes with them. From the anxiety manifested upon the subject, I think they will be here in three or four days at farthest, though they said it might be six. I have no hesitation in saying that they will conic as soon as it is possible for them all to do so.
"The Sioux Chief, L'Arc, who left this [place, Prairie du Chien] on the evening of the [2]5th: inst:, passed Black River this morning before our arrival, and will reach his people with the news, (which he received here,) today. After effecting
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every practicable measure with the Winnebagoes, we left them at 10 oclock A.M. for this place which we reached a few minutes after 3 P.M."Lieutenant Samuel Torrence, ranking officer of the two U.S. Army Companies from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ordered Lieutenant Robert Buchanan to submit to Captain Loomis the official military report of their trip:
"Fort Crawford M. T. [Michigan Territory] July 28th. 1832.
"Sir/ In obedience to an order from Lt. Torrence to me I have the honor to report: That in pursuance of S. [Special] order No. 22 dated July 27th. 1832 from this Post, the Battalion of the 4th Inf. under his command, proceeded up the Mississippi up to the mouth of Black River. Upon our arrival there I was directed by Lieut. Torrence to proceed in company with the Sub Agent [Burnett] of the Winnabagoes, an Interpreter, and two Indians, to Winoshek's encampment, with instructions to order him and his band down to Prairie du Chien.
"When we reached the village we found that Winosheck was absent. The Sub Agent proceeded to hold a talk with the chief called One eyed Decorry or something like it.
"After some time I found that the Sub Agent was not making much progress in the execution of his orders, inasmuch as he appeared more disposed to persuade than to order them down.
"I immediately directed the Interpreter to enquire where Winoshek was, which the Sub Agent had neglected to do. The Chief told me that Winnoshek and another chief called (I think) Wakau, were out hunting among the hills.
"I asked how long it would take to hear from them and if he could not send an express after them to inform them that they were wanted below.
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"He replied that it would require three days to hear from them, but that he could send an express immediately. He had previously stated to the Sub Agent, that it would take them 7 or 8 days to hear from Winosheck and get down to the Prairie, and the Agent seemed willing to allow them that length of time.
"I directed the chief to send off his express immediately. He did so, and they started before we left the ground. I then told him that he Winoshek and all of the band must come down forthwith to the Prairie. That they had no choice in the affair, and that if they delayed, they should be treated as friends of the Sacs and Foxes, and punished accordingly. I also enquired the shortest possible time that they required to get to the Prairie in. As soon as I told him this the Chief promised to be at the Prairie in three days or four days at the farthest. I granted him that time and returned to the Steam Boat. The Battn. [Battalion] then returned to Fort Crawford.
"I have the honor to be Sir Yr. obt. Servt.
"Robt. C. Buchanan Lt. 4th. Inf Adjt. Battn.
"To/ Capt G. Loomis 1st. Inf comdg. Fort Crawford."
General Street wrote a status report to his superior:
"24 [actually 28] July 1832
"Genl. Wm. Clark Supt Ind Affrs [Superintendent of Indian Affairs] St Louis
"Sir Genl Dodge has again come in contact with the Socs & Foxes and given a good acct of them. He came upon the main body about half an hour after five oclock in the evening of the 21st. inst: near the Soc Prairie on the Wisconsin, engaged, defeated, & pursued the Indians untill 7
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oclock, when he drew off on acct. of the darkness of the night; 42 Indians were killed, with the loss of one white man killed & 8 wounded."Genl Dodge came upon the trail of the Indians, as he passed south East from the Portage going towards the Wisconsin [the Indian trail going] in a Northern direction. He immediately pursued the trail, and after following it about 100 miles, he came upon the Indians in a line drawn up for Battle, having selected his ground. Night was approaching and Genl Dodge had march 40 miles that day, but he resolved to give battle immediately. After a moments examination, Genl. Dodge with a detachment of mounted men, under cover of a ravine turned the enemies flank & at a concerted signal from the flanking party, charged him with his remaining forces in Front. The enemy broke & gave way immediately & fled in great confusion, carrying off many wounded from the ground The retreat led through a bottom of high grass loaded with wet, (having rained hard nearly 6 hours) which with the closing in of night rendered it prudent to draw off the pursuit. It is believed that two hours more of day light would have enabled Genl Dodge to have completely cut up the Enemy. Genl Dodge encamped near the field, and moved in search of the enemy early on the 22nd, in going about 1 mile he came upon the camp, which had been deserted the previous night, he pursued the trail to the Wisconsin about 40 miles west of the portage, where the whole body of the hostile Inds: had crossed to the North bank of the Wisconsin.
"When the messenger left on the 24th Genl. Dodge was concerting measures to cross the Wisconsin in pursuit having despatched Express to Genl Atkinson Fort Hamilton, & this place.
"Since which time we have not been able to
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learn any thing about the Indians or Genl Dodge or the rest of the Army."A Citizen of the Prairie [Joseph Brisbois] with 5 or 6 men in a canoe, passed up the Wisconsin within sight of English Prairie (60 miles from P du Chien) & got home last night. He saw no hostile or other Indians untill he came in sight of English Prairie. He there saw 9 canoes of Indians that he took for Soc & Foxes, crossing from the South to the North of the Wisconsin. They were in canoes of Elm bark newly striped [stripped] from the trees & were painted red. finding they were discovered they made a rapid retreat and saw no more of them. About 50 miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin — they say [saw] a trail cross the sand from the south to the North about 7 days old, bu[t] could not say whether Indians or whites.
"Capt Loomis has had the S Boat Enterprise ru[n]ning up & down the river from Cassville to Bla[ck] river for 2 or 3 days, with a cannon in the bow. [He] also has a 12 pounder
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office to say so to the Government. Because suspicion has arisen as to some Winnebagoes and these have been confounded with the Winnebagoes south of the Wisconsin"While I am finishing this hasty sketch, (not expecting until 15 minutes ago that the boat would go for 2 days) a Frenchman reports that he heard the cannon at the mouth of the Wisconsin and then a rapid discharge of small arms, & saw the smoke rise I dont believe it (by and by) as the Canadians are very scarry, & given to false reports. However had I command here, I should send the Steam B now just ready to put off, to see. it is only 3 miles."
"On the return of the S. Boat to the Prairie on the evening
"The Winnebeagoes have behaved admirably. [On July 28] it was discovered by two Winnebeagoes hunting by torchlight, that the hostile Indians were escaping down the Wiskonsin in small parties in elm bark canoes."
"The Ferry Guard, the same night [July 28] fired upon some Canoes passing...."
"Their Canoes are all made of Elm bark and very frail and clumsy."
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Sunday, July 29, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"The trails of the enemy were pursued with activity this day, we passed several of the Sac encampments, they are hard pressed for provisions, they are forced to kill their horses for sustinence...."
— Lt. Albert Sidney Johnston,
Atkinson's Aide de Camp
85
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
Clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 72°
2 P.M. — 77°
9 P.M. — 66°
"July 29th. We started this morning very early, and had proceeded but a short distance, before we came upon one of their [Black Hawk's] encampments. We found that they were still killing their horses to eat. They here had killed the willing animals, that had carried them, no doubt for miles, and through many dangers. We now discovered that the enemy was about four days ahead of us, and were still flying from us with all speed."
"now followed a march over a country which we found to Present almost insuperable difficulties to the passage of an army; a march which was perhaps as trying to the perseverance and endurance of the troops, as some we read as remarkable before and during the Revolutionary War, though doubtless, surpassed in these respects by some performed by that ‘Hannibal of the West,’ General George Rogers Clarke. It was through a district said to have been unexplored by whites; and certainly remarkable for a combination of juxtaposition of the primitive, alluvious, and other formations, almost unheard of in geology. It lies between the Wisconsin, Pine, and Kickapoo Rivers; and was
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said to have been entered by Black Hawk in the belief that the army could not follow him; if so, he paid dearly for his mistake."All but provisions and baggage of the first necessity being left with every wheeled carriage, and taking, as it were, a temporary farewell of the sun and his cheerful light we forced our way into the bramble and thicket of this gloomy forest. We followed the narrow trails made by the Indians through undergrowth which could only be passed by patient and painful effort. The first day we forded Pine River,
"the 29th we took up the line of march early and moved on in a northern direction a few miles and come to a creek over which we was under the necessity of throwing a kind of a temporary Bridge which detained us for some time we however got across as soon as possible and pushed on and passed one of the Indian encampments and then wound about thro the Hills which savage wildes had at some former time experienced a considerable Hurricane the effects of which was a considerable detriment to our march and must have been much greater to the Indians who had broke their way thro before us we still pursued the trail and crossed an other most desperate place of mud and water and went on a mile or two further and passed another encampment (thus it appeared that we traveled much faster than the Indians) and then entered one of the most dreadful pieces of of Land that I saw in all that north country"
"July 30th. [actually July 29]. We this morning quickened our pace, and marched as fast as the nature of the case would admit of; but we soon found that the game that we were in chase of, had taken a track to the north; and our troubles seemed to be returning on us. We discovered they were making up a bad swampy stream, apparently in order to find a crossing place. Before we succeeded in crossing
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stream we found ourselves going back, in the same direction we had come; but after we had crossed, we, not unlike a reel of hounds after a fox, had to take another track to the south We now found that we were leaving the Wisconsin river and were getting into a miserable country. We had proceeded but a few miles, before we came to another stream, that appeared to be worse than any we had yet met with. We here had to make a retrograde movement, and go up a short distance, and which we soon did. As soon as we crossed, we measured our course back to the trail, the general direction of which we now found, to be west by northwest; but found that we were likely to get into a dreadful country. That however mattered naught; we were on the trail of the enemy, and had, as we then thought, gone through the worst country in the known world. We had not the most distant thought that we would see another half as bad as that we had passed through. The idea that we would soon get into a more level, and better travelling country, encouraged us to push on, and surmount for awhile, every difficulty that might come in our way."We went on, that day, with considerable celerity, until about one o'clock, at which time some of our front scouts caught an Indian, who, upon examination, turned out to be a Winnebago. We here stopped and let our horses graze, while the Indian was undergoing an examination.
"Captain [James] Craig, from Galena, with a very respectable company from the county of Jo Daviess, came up and joined General Dodge's squadron, which added very much to the strength of it.
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would not injure him, and that there was a tolerable good chance to get plenty to eat, he went cheerfully. There was another old fellow, taken as prisoner, who was suffered to go away. He went to where the Winnebagoes had a small village.""29th The trails of the enemy were pursued with activity this day, we passed several of the Sac encampments, they are hard pressed for provisions, they are forced to kill their horses for subsistence, the country is rough & mountainous with a rich soil, dense heavy forests cover the whole country which affords no grass."
"July 28 [actually July 29] — Marched all day through morasses & swamps, thick woods & over mountains & streams. Made about fifteen miles, still on the Indian trail, having passed two of their camps."
"29 This day marched 3 miles b[e]yond Black
"we...encamped on the side of a mountain that was so barren, that it had no vegitation on it fit for a horse to eat."
"we encamped this night on a high hill, our horses were tied up with out feed"
"Three more of the children of these wild and dreary looking mountains came to us, after we had stopped to encamp. They came with a sort of white flag, which they earned on a stick. Mr. Chiler Armstrong, a gentleman belonging to General Dodge's corps, was the only one that could talk with them in their language. The Indians were examined respecting the country, but could not tell us any thing about it. They stated that they never knew of any person to cross these mountains but once; that was in the year 1827, when the Winnebagoes attacked Captain [Allen F.] Lindsey's keel boats; the same Captain Lindsey who then commanded a company of spies belonging to Major [William Lee D.] Ewing's battalion; who, after their attack upon the keell boats, made their retreat across these mountains. We found the Sacs were keeping the same trail the Winnebagoes then made.
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"We had just entered those mountains; and as an all-wise Providence had so directed it, no one knew how bad they were; for if they had known the difficulty of crossing, and the distance across, them — and besides, that there was nothing for our horses to eat, but weeds — neither officers men, would have undertaken to go through them.
"But an all-wise Creator has ordained it, that man is not to know one day, that which he has to undergo on the next; for if he did, he would be a miserable, unhappy being; but as it is with man, he is kept in blindness as to his pilgrimage through life. But hope steps in, and tells him his path will be smoother by-and-by; so hope keeps the creature in good spirits, which causes him to pursue more diligently — still thinking things will change for the better, and the rough path through life will become smooth, and then his toils will be over.
"This was our situation at the time: no one knew, what a country we were now about to approach."
"Mr. [John] Marsh and my [Joseph Street's] eldest son [Thomas] left here [Prairie du Chien] on the 28th inst. Express with dispatches to you [Atkinson], going up on the South side of the Wiskonsin."
When they arrived at Helena the following evening, they each wrote a letter to Joseph M. Street, Agent of Winnebago Indian Affairs.
"Marsh in his letter from Helena on the 29.
Thomas Street wrote of going on to see his uncle, Brigadier General Alexander Posey.
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Sunday, July 29, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"..at about half past two Oclock this morning, several canoes filled with Indians attempted to pass our position..... I am confident however, that they were nearly all killed or disabled, for after the second fire, the canoes drifted, sideways and unmanaged down the stream."
— 2d Lieutenant Joseph Ritner,
4th Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army
93
(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 70°
2 P.M. — 80°
9 P.M. — 70°
"Five Canoes were abandoned Saturday night [on the Wisconsin river] so soon as the Ferry-Guard
"The Detachment of the 4th. under Lt. Ritner, stationed at the south of the Ouisconsin with a 6 Pr. [Pounder cannon] in a Flat boat and one Mackinac — Killed some of the enemy in his attempt to pass his command on Saturday night the 28th. July[actually after midnight, therefore Sunday]."
Ritner reported the action to Captain Gustavus Loomis:
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"Mouth of Ouisconsin river, 29th. July. 1832.
"Sir; I have the honor to inform you, that at about half past two Oclock this morning, several canoes filled with Indians attempted to pass our position. Some of the men say that the canoes were four in number. I saw but three myself. The Indians appeared to be all, naked and painted warriors.
"The morning was dark, and they were close upon us, before we saw them. At the first fire, they were within a few feet of our boat, and attempting apparently to turn the bows of their canoes towards us. Three of them tumbled into the river from the canoe nearest us, at the first fire. After that, the effect could not be observed with certainty, on account of the darkness, flashes, and smoke. I am confident however, that they were nearly all killed or disabled, for after the second fire, the canoes drifted, sideways and unmanaged down the stream.
"From their crippled movements, I was certain of intercepting, and capturing them, at the mouth of the north pass of the river, to the head of which, I saw that they were drifting. For this purpose I stopped the firing. But the heaviness of the only boat which we had, and the sand bars, on which she several times grounded, in the dark, detained us several minutes. We pursued them about four miles down the Mississippi river, but could not find them.
"Very respectfully. Your Obedient Servant,
"J. [ Joseph] Ritner, Bvt. 2nd. Lieut. 4th.Regt Inf. Comdg. at Mouth of Ouisconsin.
"Capt. G. Loomis, Comdg. Fort Crawford."
"The Ferry Guard...in the morning killed one Indian on the Island in front of the Ferry house."
"A Gun on a flatb[oat] and 25 men in a Mackinac Boat had previously been stationed in the mouth on the Wiskonsin, and fired on the canoes, yet some escaped."
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"On the morning of the 29th: of July, the Winnebagoes informed me [Indian Agent Joseph M. Street], that the Sacs & Foxes were escaping down the Wisconsin, and asked leave to go in pursuit of some who an Indian had seen below the mouth of the Wisconsin. I gave them leave, and that evening they brought in two men."
"I [Street] then sent out a party ofWinnebeagoes below the mouth of the Wiskonsin on the Mississippi, after those that had got by, and they brought in 2 young-men of the Sacs & Foxes nearly starved, who were delivered over to [Captain Gustavus Loomis] the Commd'g officer of Fort Crawford."
"The Winnebagoes took two Fox Indians who had passed out of the Ouisconsin. They have delivered them over to me [Captain Loomis]."
"The Winnebago Chief who bro't in the two Fox prisoners says, they said, the Foxes were coming down the Ouisconsin & that the Sack would endeavor to cross the Mississippi above this place, [Prairie du Chien], say 20-to-60 Miles."
"Two Menominies arrived last night [July 29] from Green Bay, report, that, the Troops crossed the Ouisconsin at Helena, and that, as they [the] Menominies were coming down a little below the crossing of the Troops discovered Canoes and Indians whom they took to be Winnebagoes; but soon discovered they were hostile by their language, they moved away across the river to endeavor to get passt them & discovered the river covered with the same kind of Canoes: — They said, that, they would be down by last evening [July 29] but it produced nothing more than above reported."
"My name is Mauchhewemahnigo (Walking Cloud). I was born on the Wisconsin River [about 1815].
"During the Black Hawk War, my father had his lodge near La Crosse. I did not go to the war; I was too young [at age 17]. But my brother did. His name was Seeorouspinka.
"General Dodge sent a messenger down to Prairie du Chien, and said he wanted the Winnebagoes to go into the war and help the Great Father [Andrew Jackson] punish the Sacs.
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"Our people, who were named in this call, did not to go to war. But the messenger, after we had all arrived in Prarie du Chien, picked out Winnebago Black Hawk (my father), and my brother, and they went up the Wisconsin River with a party of white soldiers and officers from Fort Crawford. They met a number of Sacs coming down on a raft made of canoes tied together. The Winnebagoes and the whites killed most of the Sacs in this party. The Winnebago Black Hawk was the guide of this expedition."
Lieutenant Reuben Holmes, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, was in Galena.
"On my [Holmes's] arrival at Galena from Dixon's ferry (on the 25th.[of July] ultimo) I learned that the hostile Indians had effected a passage of the Ouisconsin river and their probably intention was either to cross the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien or make their escape to the Chippewa Country. The above information immediately determined me to ship provisions on the first Steam Boat for some point on the Mississippi within reach of the advancing army."
Holmes wrote to Atkinson's Aide de camp, Albert S. Johnston:
"Galena. July 29th. 1832
"Sir Your letter of the 27th of July
"I shall start this morning for Fort Crawford with some provisions to place in depot there if the movements of the Indians should bring the troops in that region, if not, I shall
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return them to this depot unless I leave some of them to supply in part the quantity already drawn from that place."I shall be gone only two days. Lt. [John R.B.] Fardinier has the provisions ready to turn over to Lt. Crosman for transportation to Helena & Col. [Hugh] McGill will take charge of them — to the point of delivery.
"I have to request that I may be kept informed of the wants of the army as constantly as possible, including probabilities and that every change of movement may be promptly made known to me as I have already met with considerable embarassment in consequence of my ignorance on that Subject.
"Very Respectfully Your. Mo. obt. Servt. R. Holmes A. C. S. [Assistant Commissary of Subsistence]
"Lt. A. S. Johnston a.d.c a.a.a. Genl [aide de camp, acting assistant adjutant General]
Operating Army
| Stors Sent | |
| 120. | Barrels flour |
| 7000. | pound Bacon |
| 40. | Barrels pork |
| 4. | Barrels vinegar |
| 8. | Box soap |
| 3. |
do [ditto] candles" |
Holmes sent this letter along with Hugh McGill's wagon train to Helena.
"The arrival of the Steam Boat Warrior enabled me to start for Prairie du Chien on the 29th. Ult., where I [Holmes] expected to recieve some information of the movements of the army by which I could govern my future operations for the subsistence of the army."
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Monday, July 30, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"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 in the battle of Wisconsin Heights...."
— Lieutenant Charles Bracken
Dodge's Aide de Camp
99
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
Clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 66°
2 P.M. — 77°
9 P.M. — 62°
"30 Marched 15 miles to day over the Alps or Pyrinies mountains decidedly the most hilly country I have seen heavy timber, rich land and some of the loftiest trees I ever saw I saw some white walnut trees on the very tops of the mountains which would be a difficult matter for our best marksmen to kill a sqirrel to the top"
"July 30th. We started early this morning, thinking that we would soon come to some good range for our horses, as we had encamped on the side of a mountain that was so barren, that it had no vegetation on it fit for a horse to eat. But to our extreme disappointment, we continued going from mountain to mountain; and in the place of getting better grazing, we found it getting worse. About twelve o'clock we were obliged to stop and refresh our horses, by letting them graze on weeds, and browse on such few things as they could get. The horses were not choice now, as to what they took hold of; they were extremely hungry, and soon filled their stomachs with whatever they could catch on the sides of the mountains; which were principally weeds, and a kind of a vine which grew close to the ground.
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"General Atkinson had succeeded in getting a waggon on thus far; but here it was found impossible to take it any further. The waggon contained his own private stores; but here all had to be left that could not be packed on horse-back. A number of articles were packed on horses, that I never saw before: All medical stores, such as boxes and kegs were lashed on the pack-horses, and carried over those almost impenetrable mountains.
"We now saw ourselves enveloped in a mass of the tallest and steepest mountains we had ever seen, and no one to tell us how long it would be before we would get through them.
"But the whole army was in good health, and in fine spirits. We were not like Bonaparte, when he crossed the Alps — we lost none of our men in heaps of snow, nor did any die with hunger.
"General Atkinson had been famous from the commencement of the campaign, for providing plenty of provisions. We had our horses well packed with this necessary article. We also had a number of good beeves along; so we had no fear of starving.
"On this day we began to find the trail strewed with the dead bodies of Indians, who had died with the wounds they had received in the battle near the Wisconsin river."
"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 all accounts, prevailed among the Indians who accompanied the fortunes of Black Hawk; the march was
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therefore rendered distressingly offensive, both to the senses of smelling and of seeing.""We frequently passed their dead, who, exhausted by wounds or fatigue, had expired and fallen from their horses."
"..the Indian trail...was down the valley, and was rendered quite offensive by the stench of numerous dead bodies of the enemy, who had no doubt died in consequence of their wounds received in the battle of Wisconsin."
"The trail of the Inds. from the Wiskonsin to the Misss. was indicative of their wretched situation — it was evidently the trail of a routed & fleeing enemy. Dead, wounded, and deying [dying] men & children were left on the road."
"...the appearance...of the dead bodies found on their trail, induces the opinion that they & their horses were in a very enfeebled condition."
"On our march across the country and during and after the action I [Lieutenant Robert Anderson] witnessed scenes of distress and misery exceeding any I ever expected to see in our happy land. Dead bodies males & females strewed along the road — left unburied exposed — poor — emaciated beings — some dead from wounds reed. [received] in the engagement on the Ouisconsin — others by disease. The elms — the linns along their routes were barked to give them food Scattered along the route lay vestiges of [horses] tired out by travel — and killed to give life & sustenance to their master."
"In the pursuit from the Wisconsin to the Bad Axe, it was evident that the Indians were greatly distressed by starvation and sickness; numbers of dead warriors, women and children were found along their trail. Their principal subsistence seemed to be roots and the bark of trees; where they killed a horse for food, there was no vestage of the animal left but the hair."
"30th We continued our route today on the trail of the Indians, the country bears the same character as that we Passed over yesterday
"The march continued with unabated industry today on the trail of the Indians. Character of the country continues
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the same as yesterday — the general course of the trail is north West...""July 29 [Actually July 30] — Gaining on the enemy — their trail & signs grow fresher. A terrible day's march — only about eighteen miles. Many horses gave out."
"From this time until we reached the Mississippi river [on August 2], we continued without deviation to follow the trail of the enemy, having no other guide, and led — doubtless with a view of baffling the army — over such a country as I venture to say, has seldom been marched over — at one moment ascending hills, which appeared almost perpendicular, through the thickest forests; then plunging through morasses; fording to our necks in creeks and rivers; passing defiles, where one hundred resolute men might have defeated ten thousand, whatever might be their courage or capacity; next clambering up and down mountains, perfectly bald, without so much as a bush to sustain a man. It was in this march that our infantry regained their confidence in their own powers — lacking the power of rapid locomotion to make a dash against an enemy — which had been somewhat impaired early in the campaign. They now far out-marched the horsemen, nearly all of whose horses were broken down.
"The Indians were under the impression, that it was impossible for us to follow them; and to that error, we probably owe our ultimate good fortune in overtaking them, or, at least, in bringing them into action on grounds of equality. We, each day, made two of their day's marches, passing one or two of their camps."
"we still kept moving on expecting every mile to get through the thicket but was Still penetrating deeper and deeper into the Recesses of a savage wild of High Hills and low swamps overgrown with heavy timber and and with so much small under wood that in many places it would have been impossible to have seen at thirty feet distance and a night we took up camp where there was nothing for our horses but weeds and the leaves of the small trees which cut down for the purpose of feeding the horses some turn their horses loos others kept them tied up all the time
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[James Justice] kept mine tied that night as I was very unwell being Just takeing the Measles""...we encamped this evening ["after dark"
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Monday, July 30, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"I reported myself to Captain Loomis and was directed to go up the river in the boat. I assisted to get a six pounder from the Fort on to the Warrior, which cannon was managed by five other persons and myself...."
— John H. Fonda, Expressman,
Michigan Territory Militia
105
(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, north wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 62°
2 P.M. — 75°
9 P.M. — 64°
"Last evening or early this morning they [the Winnebagoes] took two young children at or near the Ferry on the Ouisconsin. Since sunrise one of the Guard there killed an Indian on the Island just above the Ferry and reports that there were many fresh tracks of Women & children on the Island."
Captain Gustavus Loomis "ordered up the Guard from the Mouth of the Ouisconsin to the ferry. I expect they [Black Hawk's people] land on the South Side of the Ouisconsin and endeavor to get below. They are much in want of Provisions."
"I [Loomis] could not get any body to go on Express...."
Captain Loomis began a letter to Brigadier General Henry Atkinson:
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"Fort Crawford, M.T. [Michigan Territory] July 30, 1832
"Sir/ Since my letter of July 28, There have been two attempts made to pass the Ouisconsin, by the hostile Sacs & Foxes, or rather the Foxes.
"The Winnebagoes took two Fox Indians who had passed out of the Ouisconsin. They have been delivered over to me.
"Last evening or this morning they took two young children at or near the Ferry on the Ouisconsin. Since sunrise one of the Guard there killed an Indian on the Island just above the Ferry and reports that there were many fresh tracks of Women & children on the Island.
"Five Canoes were abandoned Saturday night so soon as the Ferry-Guard fired upon them while descending. Three it appears got by and were fired upon by the Guard at the Mouth of the River. Lieut: [Joseph] Ritner who then commanded at the Mouth of the Ouisconsin thinks that he must have wounded or killed nearly all who were in the Canoes. Their Canoes are all made of Elm bark and very frail and clumsy.
"I have just ordered up the Guard from the Mouth of the Ouisconsin to the ferry. I expect they [Black Hawk's people] land on the South Side of the Ouisconsin and endeavor to get below. They are much in want of provisions.
"I judge that those are non effective men, Women and Children, who are endeavoring to steal by.
"The Winnebago Chief who bro't in the two Fox prisoners says, they said, the Foxes were coming down the Ouisconsin & that the Sacks would endeavor to cross the Mississippi above this, say 20-to-60 Miles.
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"Two Menominies arrived last night from Green Bay, report, that, the Troops crossed the Ouisconsin at Helena, and that, as they [the] Menominies were coming down a little below the crossing of the Troops discovered Canoes and Indians whom they took to be Winnebagoes; but soon discovered they were hostile by their language, they moved away across the river to endeavor to get passt them & discovered the river covered with the same kind of Canoes: — They said, that, they would be down by last evening, but it produced nothing more than above reported."The arrival from Helena of Cut-Nose with two other Menominees with Atkinson's letter of July 27 may have interrupted Loomis's letter-writing. Atkinson's message was this, "I wish some of the Menomonies & Sioux could be thrown ahead of the Sacs, as I fear they have such a start of us we shall not be able to overtake them."
Indian Agent Street reacted promptly and "sent a Half Sioux interpreter to whom I gave a written talk to be deld. [delivered] to the Sioux — putting them on their guard against the Sacs & Foxes, and informing them of their approach."
"The [friendly] Winnebagoes [from La Crosse] were made prisoners,
John H. Fonda described the arrival of the steam boat:
"It was on the 1st day of August
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just off the mouth of the Wisconsin. We hastened on, and reached the Fort as the steamer Warrior made the Government landing.""THE WARRIOR. This beautiful and highly finished Steam-tow-boat", the newest steam boat on the Mississippi was described by "Alexis" in the July 4, 1832, issue of The Galenian: "MR. EDITOR: — I have just been on board of the steam boat Warrior, and am highly delighted that our western waters have gained such an acquisition. She has a splendid barge attached to the larboard side which has two cabins, the gentlemen's in front thirty-two feet and a half long with sixteen births [berths]. The keel of the barge is 105 feet long; that of the boat bearing the boiler 111 [feet long]. The boat is elegantly fitted up, and the accomodations excellent. The boat is commanded by Capt. Throchmorton [Joseph Throckmorton], & owned [in partnership with Throckmorton]
Lieutenant Reuben Holmes arrived on board the Warrior from Galena with provisions. "On my arrival at that place [Prairie du Chien] I was unable to gain any definite information of the main body of the indians or of the pursuing army...."
"On the 30th. the Steam Board Warrior arrivedd with Provisions. I [Captain Loomis] ordered the Qr. Mr. [Quarter Master]
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Village"I [steamboat Captain Joseph Throckmorton] arrived at this place [Prairie du Chien] on monday last, (July 30th) and despatched with the Warrior alone, to Wapeshaws village, one hundred and twenty miles above, to inform them of the approach of the Sacs, and to order down all the friendly Indians to this place."
"I [John H. Fonda] reported myself to Captain [Gustavus] Loomis [commander of Fort Crawford in the absence of Colonel Zachary Taylor], and was directed to go up the river in the boat. I assisted to get a six pounder from the Fort on to the Warrior, which cannon was managed by five other persons and myself....
"The cannon was placed on the forward part of the boat, without a defence of any kind; and I have the names of the five persons
"The United States' officers were Lieut's [Reuben] Holmes and [James W.] Kingsbury; the former left this place [Galena] in the boat with provisions for the army, and the latter was placed on board in charge of the men by Capt. Loomis, at Fort Crawford."
"...Capt Loomis of the 1st Infy. placed fifteen men under the command of Lieut Kingsbury on board the boat, furnished it with a six pounder, ammunition, &c. and directed him to proceed up the [Mississippi] river, to council
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with the Sieux, inform them of the expected movements of the Indians (sauks) and to renew the order previously given for the Winnebagoes to assemble with their Canoes at Prairie du Chien without delay.""Accordingly, this boat (aboard of which was Captain [James B.] Estes) went up the river...."
"I [Joseph M. Street, Winnebago Indian Agent] sent Half Sioux interpreter to whom I gave a written talk to be deld. [delivered] to the Sioux — putting them on their guard against the Sacs & Foxes, and informing them of their approach. This went — in the S.B. [Steam Boat] Warrior which was sent zip to Prairie le Cross [La Crosse, Wisconsin] and Black River, with provisions and Colo. [Lieutenant Reuben] Holmes aboard."
"There were 15 soldiers and six volunteers, Messrs. [William] Hempstead, [Asa Edgerton] Hough and [James G.] Soulard, passengers, besides the crew on the boat...."
"The boat steamed up stream, with all on board anxious to get a pop at the Indians."
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Tuesday, July 31, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"...we were about in the center of those majestic mountains. It most certainly was a grand and majestic sight. They were very lofty, and generally covered with the largest kind of timber, with a thick undergrowth. This was truly a lonely and disheartening place. "
Surgeon's Mate John Wakefiled,
Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
113
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 67°
2 P.M. — 76°
9 P.M. — 64°
"The country through which the enemy's trail led our army between the Wisconsin bluffs and the Kickapoo river, was one continued series of mountains. No sooner had they reached the summit of one high and almost perpendicular hill than they had to descend on the other side equally steep to the base of another. Nothing but a deep ravine, with muddy banks, separated these mountains. The wood, both upon the top of the highest mountains, & at the bottom of the deepest hollows, was of the heaviest growth. The under bushes were chiefly thorn and prickly ash. This is a short description of the route, and shews the difficulties of the pursuit. Notwithstanding all this, our army gained on the enemy daily as appeared from the enemy's encampments. The tedious march thus continued was met by our brave troops without a murmur; and as the Indian signs appeared more recent, the officers and men appeared more anxious to push on.
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"Afterwards for several days we toiled over a seemingly endless succession of lofty hills, so precipitous that it was frequently necessary to use the hands to assist the feet. After ascending such a hill, perhaps three hundred feet in height we would find ourselves on the verge of an equally abrupt descent; then a valley from a quarter to a half mile wide to the foot of the next hill; but in the valley we invariably found a bog, and a miry creek; half the army as pioneers would then, with axe, hatchet, and spade, labor at causeway and bridge; over which horses and mules struggled making desperate but not always effectual efforts to extricate themselves.
"At night our encampments, or places of rest, were on all manner of ground, and in every shape
"I [Philip St. George Cooke] have not mentioned the flankers; — so necessary when the column was lengthened out, as if in a forty-mile defile; — their obstacles, which the instinct of the Indian avoided in making the trail, I will not enlarge upon.
"What a situation — to which there seemed no end — for an army! How differently considered by the General and the subordinates who could laugh at personal difficulties and dangers; and who, if life even were endangered, were involved in no harassing responsibility, threatening reputation and honor!
"How unenviable is rank and power thus (in our Indian wars) continually struggling against obstacles and the oppressive sense of responsibility! The exalted
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consciousness of well-used power, warming and ennobling the mind is denied him; or is overpowered and depressed by a struggle against the disheartening difficulties, which he knows his government and his fellow-citizens will not, and cannot appreciate. Even the pomp and circumstances of arms, — flattering to the minor feelings, — are denied him. To this picture there is no brighter side. Fame, glory, are not accorded to the conqueror of Indians! How substantial then, should be the government rewards of so much labor and suffering, in the cause solely and exclusively of the country! A leader of an army in a fair field of battle with a civilized foe exalted by the hope of glory — which, like a bright spirit of the air, seems to beckon on! — by a happy effect, or a happier accident, occurring amid the confusion of battle, and beneath the smoke (which, oh! how often, obscures and veils forever the deciding stroke of some inferior), achieves a victory, and becomes famous."But Black Hawk and his band! Unhappy tribe! Flying from their foes, did the warriors witness with stoic apathy their wives and little ones famished, exhausted, diseased, and left to die on the roadside! Every earthly tie severed — all humanizing feelings, attachments, and sympathies, outraged, embittered, destroyed; — every hope and passion merged in revenge; — why did not a desire to end a wretched existence in a glorious death, halt the red warrior on the hilltop? Appealing to the avenging spirit of his tribe, why did he not on his NATIVE hill-tops, make the acceptable offerings to liberty, of blood and of life?
"Is this wretched love of the most wretched existence implanted in the human heart, an evidence of Unchangeable Omnipotent Will? Not so: — for the more elevated by faith, patriotism, love of glory, and the most ennobling sentiments of our most tutored and exalted state, then the less does this selfish influence control us.
"But my subjects — do these fancies and fine words belong to that? Alas, I know not: — when memory of that unhappy flight was recalled; — when I saw again all the evidences of suffering and starvation; — the corpses, not of warrior only, but of poor women, — lying as they fell by the trodden path, — how could I confine my thoughts, or their expression, to unmoved description?
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"Why did not the Indian chief leave a chosen body in these fastnesses, where natural obstacles could well-nigh defeat the progress of an army? That he had scouts that marked our progress, can scarcely be doubted; but why he did not avail himself of their information that we had, or act upon the strong probability that we would, venture among these morasses, dense thickets, and precipitous defiles, and oppose to us some small force, seems inexplicable: — at the Wisconsin [Heights battle on July 21] he had covered well his passage; and when we overtook him on the Mississippi [on August 2], we were met by a small body of keen warriors, who accomplished much with a similar object. Here a small force could have retarded pursuit at every step; could have compelled us to condense our march, and continually make deployments on ground almost impracticable for any manner of military manoeuvre, and where the horses of the volunteers would have proved a great embarrassment; endless coverts must have kept us in constant ignorance or uneasiness, as to the movement of his force; an ambuscade might have been formed every mile. It may have been that he had calculated, with supposed certainty, our inability to overtake him east of the Mississippi; a want of provisions may have been an obstacle; may have rendered it impracticable to leave a large force; — though he certainly had many horses (some of which were eaten); and a dozen good men could have affected the purpose.
"An ill-judged confidence of security is the stumbling-block of warfare. But there was certainly a great deficiency of natural abilities for war continually manifested by the Sacs. There has been many an Indian warrior — unless they have been greatly overrated in our histories — who could with their means and opportunities in this campaign, have made us pay dearly for every success. (Though doubtless had the regulars been opposed to them at the passage of the Wisconsin, a fatal blow would, have been struck.)
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captured the horses of the volunteers; — would have taken or destroyed provision trains guarded by these gallant knights of the whip; — and finally, would have brought to this pass, a force sufficient to have fully covered a retreat of their families and all their baggage, far beyond the Mississippi River; if not to have inflicted a severe check to our arms. Very incapable would I have pronounced that captain of our army, who with a hundred men, could not have repeatedly thrown our army into great confusion, and have disputed for weeks the passage of these fifty miles.""On the next day, which was July 31st, we were about in the center of those majestic mountains. It most certainly was a grand and majestic sight. They were very lofty and generally covered with the largest kind of timber, with a thick undergrowth. This was truly a lonely and disheartening place. The matin song of the red bird nightingale and sparrow were all that could be heard, and the only inhabitants of those grand and majestic looking mountains.
"There are places, where we at once are at home with nature — where she seems to take us to her bosom, with all the fondness of a mother, although in a strange land. But not so here: There was nothing to entice the traveller to make a stop, except a view of the height and grandeur of those piles of earth, which do not seem to look as though they ever can be inhabited by any civilized people in the world.
"There is not the smallest kind of bottom between those mountains. We generally found good water at the foot of them; but scarcely ever enough to have afforded ground fora small garden, So it appears that this country was formed by the great I-AM, for some purpose that the children of men have not yet found out.
"It cannot be for those unhappy children of the forest, for they are disposed to reside where they can make then living by the chase. But here was no game for them to chase; no lakes or streams for them to paddle their canoes in, or fish to angle for. We were the first civilized people that ever had entered this tremendous pile of mountains. They are no found out, and I must leave them, for some person more a to describe further than I have done."
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31 Marched 15 miles good land, principal symc [sumac?] Ironwood and the A[s]pen as hilly as ever saw several Indians dead had leave our baggage wagon in the woods crossed many little streams names not known by and of the army"
"Still gaining on the Indians; passed some of their dead unburied."
"31st July After a hard days march we encamped within 6 miles of the Kickapoo river"
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Tuesday, July 31, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"I have just started out old Carramana with a small party and a white flag, with directions to proclaim an amnesty to the fugitives, and take the surrender of all the Sacs & Foxes, who will give themselves up peaceably."
— Joseph M. Street, U. S. Agent
Winnebago Indian Affairs
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, north northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 60°
2 P.M. — 80°
9 P.M. — 65°
"The Winnebagoes have just bro't in 7 to 9 more prisoners, [three] squaws & [four] children...."
"I [Captain Gustavus Loomis] have requested [Winnebago Indian Agent] Genl. [Joseph M.] Street to tell the Winnebagoes to go out with flags and endeavor to Persuade them all [Black Hawk's people escaping down the Wisconsin river] to come in and surrender themselves."
General Street "started out old Carramana with a small party and a white flag, with directions to proclaim amnesty to the fugitives, and take the surrender of all the Sacs & Foxes, who will give themselves up peaceably. They are starving — I have sent bread to them...."
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along to assure the fugetives of security and good treatment as prisoners, until the pleasure of the President [Andrew Jackson] is known.""...55 Inds. [Indians] came down from Prairie le Cross, and say that Winochick and the hunters with him have not returned. They left word with two or three Inds. who remained, to tell them that it was my wish that they come down to the Agency immediately."
Captain Loomis, commander of Fort Crawford completed his letter to General Atkinson:
"July 31. 9 ock.
"The Winnebagoes have just bro't in 7 to 9 more prisoners, squaws & children, among them apart Menominie Squaw who says that the whole of the Women and Children are coming down the Ouisconsin
"I have requested Genl. Street to tell the Winnebagoes to go out with flags and endeavor to persuade them all to come in and surrender themselves.
"I have great hopes that they will do so. I think the possession of the Women and Children will give you a great hold upon the band of B. Hawk. Genl. Street was also of the opinion that we had better take them prisoners.
"I deem it very important that you should know that Black Hawk is releived from his women and children — for he will be able to fly the more rapidly. I could not get any body to go on Express yesterday and now am obliged to pay an exhorbitant price for they think that there is great risk of life.
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"The S.B. Warrior now up the Miss: is to go as far as Wa-ba-shaw and get the Scioux to watch the Shores of the river that the men (Hos. [Hostile] Indians) do not cross with impunity — the boat has a 6 Pr. [pounder cannon] on board, Lt. [Reuben] Holmes is also on on board and has provisions with him. Wi-ni-shec has not come in with his band. I fear he is too friendly with the S. & Foxes.
"Genl. Street wishes me to say he is too busy to write.
"I tried but could not get a man to go to Galena nor hire a Canoe. I wished to inform Col. [James M.] Strode and get him to send some Mounted Men to guard the Ouisconsin &c. and prevent their passing around the ferry by land.
"My whole Guard & 6 Pr. are now at the Ferry: I found that the Musketry of the Guard at the Ferry stopped nearly all from passing and rendered the 6 Pr. useless below.
"The Winnebago Chief Caramonie has gone out with a part of his band, 2 Frenchmen & a Sac Squaw goes along to assure the fugetives of security and good treatment as prisoners, until the pleasure of the President is known.
"I have the honor to be very Respectfully, Yr. mo. obt. Servt.
"G: Loomis Cap. 1t. Infy. Commg. [Captain, 1st Infantry, Commanding]
"Brigdr. Genl. H. Atkinson U.S. Army."
At five o'clock, General Street "got a large party of Winnebagoes started to the Ferry on the Wiskonsin."
"Two Menominees who came from Genl. Atkinsons camp while at Helena, got here [at] night, coming down the North bank of the Wiskonsin. They report there is a great many Sacs & Foxes coming down the Wiskonsin. They saw the River about 20 or 30 miles above this place and it was
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covered with small Elmbark Canoes. Two Canoes of men landed near them above & below the Menominees shot two of them & they fell — the Menominees then ran and quit the River."General Street took time to write to General Atkinson:
"US. Ind. Agen[c]y at Prairie du Chien 31 July 1832.
"Br. Genl H. Atkinson
"Sir, Mr. [John] Marsh and my eldest son [Thomas] left here on the 28th. inst. Express with dispatches to you, going up on the South side of the Wiskonsin. Your Express by the cut nose Menomine was recd. yesterday.
"When the Sacs & Foxes crossed the Wiskonsin & fled N. E. the old-men Women & Children were left in the Islands of the River & are now endeavouring to escape in Elm-bark Canoes by the Wiskonsin. For four days past many have been seen attempting to get off, and 15 or twenty it is supposeed have been killed in the night by the guard who are stationed to block up the River, and prevent their escape. The Winnebeagoes under my permission have been out night and day ever since they were discovered and have brought in and delivered up to me 17 prisoners — 2 men and 15 Women and Children. They have only, intentionally killed one mam. He refused to surrender raised his gun & the Winniebeagoes shot him. The two men I delivered ower to Capt. Loomis and they are in the Fort. The women & children are with their captors the Winniebeagoes, and I wish them to remain in their hands untill you arrive; but apprehend Capt. L. [Loomis] will force them out, from what he remarked today. Aney harsh measures with these Inds. would be unjust and impolitic, as their course has been friendly, and they now go immediately in any direction I send them and obey every wish I express to them. Of course I speak of the Winnebeagoes of my Agency
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"I have just started out old Carramana with a small party and a white flag, with directions to proclaim an amnesty to the fugitives, and take the surrender of all the Sacs & Foxes, who will give themselves up peaceably. They are starving — I have sent bread to them, that surrender and they are to be delivered to me. The men will be immediately given over to Capt. Loomis. Those who are now with the Winnebeagoes were almost dying with starvation, and are mere shadows, with a few rags scarcely sufficient to hide their nakedness. I gave them all clothes and gave the Women & Children to the Winnebeagoes.
"A prisoner, (part menominee she says) informs that there was 68 Warriors killed in the Battle of the 21st. inst. with Genl. Dodge. And that as soon as the Women saw the Indians were beaten, they got into the Islands and made bark canoes and fled down the Rive[r]. The Able Men went off up the Wiskonsin on the Horses. They have no women with them.
"One of the men says. Black H. intends to cross the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien, and the Keo Kuck is to meet him
"In haste, Respectfully Your Mo. Obt. St. Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agent.
"N.B. Two Menomines arrived just now; but on close examination I find theire story untrue. Th[ey] left the army on the 27. with the Cut nose, he says. JMS.
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"I have this moment — (5 oClock afternoon) got a large party of Winnebeagoes started to the Ferry on the Wiskonsin. JMS."
This evening, General Street "recd. letters from Mr. [John] Marsh and my son [Thomas] who went express with dispatches to Genl. Atkinson, dated on the south bank of the Wiskonsin about 80 miles above the mouth at Helena July 29th."
"Marsh in his letter from Helena of the 29. says ‘It is supposed here Wenoshick is guiding the Sacs’."
Thomas P. Street wrote as follows:
"Helena, 29 July 1832
"Dr. father,
"This evening we arrived at this place safely, without making any discoveries, there is no indication whatever of Indians having passed to the West of the Miss: or any distance South of the Wisconsin.
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"We learn at this place that the Troops say 1500 left here yesterday in persuit of the Inds. North of the Wisconsin, & that they discovered their trail passing down the North Bank of the River for Several miles, the last news left them full march down the River.
"The Supposition is that they will attempt to cross the Miss. at P. [Prairie] La Cross or Black River or make for the Chippewa country. There is however, a remote probability that the Inds. may be passing down the Wisconsin River, with a view to trouble the army by passing from side to side as circumstances would suggest & finally pass to the West of the Miss. South of the Wisconsin. This is all matter of conjecture, however.
"That the Inds. [Indians of Black Hawk's band] have no idea of troubling the Prairie [du Chien] we feel certain, their force are too weak to permit it. However it might not be amiss to be prepared The army have rations for 5 days from this date, & will not I understand get any more at this place. They will probably get provisions next on the Miss. I have a desire to go on & see Genl Posey, & as there is no danger, it is probably as well Genl P. has gone on with the army his Brigade is much diminished in order to Garrison the small Forts through the Mines, he is said to be in excellent health.
"Please have my store attended to Particularly, & see that business be not disarranged, accounts wrong &c. &c. Mr. Burnett will give it what attention he can I know.
"Please present my respects to all I shall come home soon, & endeavor to get Uncle A
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[Alexander Posey] to come to the Prairie [de Chien] however we shall be quite nigh you on [the] North of the Wisconsin."I am ever your affec. Son
"in haste
"Thos. P. Street"
Meanwhile, "The Warrior S. B. [Steam Boat] went as high as Wabashas Village and notifieed him & he sta[r]ted down with 150 Sioux. The Sioux started before the S. B... "
"Just above where Lansing, is, we [on the Warrior] picked up a soldier, who had been discharged from Port Snelling and was coming down [the Mississippi] river in a canoe. He had come down the west channel, on the [present-day] Minnesota side opposite Bad Axe [river], and fortunately for him, he did not meet the [Sac and Pox] Indians."
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Wednesday, August 1, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"And here it must be confessed, that all were in profound ignorance of our whereabout; as individuals, we were certainly all ‘lost;’ and perhaps none knew the distance or direction of the Mississippi; but as an army, we were in high spirit, and only wished to find the Indians whose trail we were on."
— 2d Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke,
6th Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army
131
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 63°
2 P.M. — 82°
9 P.M. — 66°
"Next morning we early commenced what promised to be a forced march; our course lay over high prairies, with but little timber in view, but they were broken by deep and abrupt, though grassy valleys; and in these ran streams and springs, bold, transparent, and of almost icy coldness; beautiful brooks abounding with trout, which we could see everywhere darting about in frolicsome security."
"This day we saw several Indians dead by the road side"
"August 1st. We this day passed a number of dead Indians, who had died in consequence of wounds they had received at the battle [on July 21] near the Wisconsin river. There were five found, it is said, in going the distance of five miles."
We saw several corpses — in every-day dress — lying by the trail in the open prairie; and where pack-horses had fallen exhausted, they had been slaughtered; and nothing but the hoofs and the paunch were left. It was clear that the Indians had suffered from hunger; but could not have
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famished, while they retained horses — as they did — to take off much baggage.""On the 1st of August, we passed the bodies of eleven…"
"Followed them four days, found many dead. All we found dead had been wounded. We had no baggage; no cannon. Had rifles."
"We had now been three days in those mountains, and our horses had lived on weeds, except those that became debilitated and were left behind; for a great number had become so, and left to starve in this dreary waste."
"And here it must be confessed, that all were in profound ignorance of our whereabout; as individuals, we were certainly all ‘lost;’ and perhaps none knew the distance or direction of the Mississippi; but as an army, we were in high spirit, and only wished to find the Indians whose trail we were on."
"It was stated that the General, for the four days during which we contended against these dangerous obstacles, with the whole Sac force but a few miles in our front, was in a state of great anxiety and apprehension for the result; and was anything but desirous of an opportunity of striking them on this ground."
"Thus we marched on till about noon on the 1st day of august when we came to Bad ox [Kickapoo] River..."
"We emerged on the 31st [actually August 1] from these gloomy forests into the gladsome light of the sun, in an open pine grove
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probabilities favored the belief that we would engage him on the prairies- and in a fair field and open daylight, settle with him the long account.""1st Augt Marched 5 miles to Kickapoo river, this is a pretty stream, and just before we got to it we came in to a very large grove of white pine, nooned it...."
"About twelve o'clock this day, we came to a small river, which was called Kickapoo. We here found that the country was about to change. A short distance before we got to this stream we came to a beautiful body of pine timber, which was tall and large."
"we — crossed into a prairie which was a source of great Joy to see something for our horses to eat for they had had nothing then from the morning of the 29th of July"
"We here for the first time in three days, had an opportunity of turning our horses out to graze. Accordingly we let them graze for about an hour, which they made good use of, and during which we took a cold check."
"When we got out of the timber we were at Soldiers Grove. Nice stream; pine trees. Stayed there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Filled our horses, saddled and started."
"we halted a short time in the pra[i]rie and then went on again...."
"About one o'clock we started, at a faster gait than usual. We found from the face of the country, that we were not a great way from the Mississippi. The country was still hilly, but the hills of a small size, and almost barren; so we could get along with more speed. It gave the men new spirits. We now saw that our horses would not have to starve, as we had begun to think it probable that they would."
"1st August 1832. Passed the Kickapoo today at a allow ford, here commences a prairie country, with bartering groves of oak, quite as rough as that we had Passed over...."
"Aug. 1 — Crossed Kickapoo river, a beautiful stream, & once more saw the sun on a prairie."
"...& then marched a force march over the hills and dales. Sawmany beautiful and excellent springs of the best kind of water."
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"As soon as we crossed this stream, we found the mountains were covered with prairie grass. We here found the Indian trail was getting fresher. They [Black Hawk's Indians] had encamped at this creek."
"The march to-day was very long & fatiguing for the infantry and equally so for the mounted men, their horses being much exhausted."
"At sunset we arrived on the ground which they had that morning abandoned; the fires still smoked. Here I [Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke] saw a dead warrior, who had been placed in a sitting position, with his back to a tree; he had been painted red as if going to war; and — his arms folded — he seemed to bid us grim defiance even in death. Few might look on unmoved — none could ever forget that dead warrior
"On this evening we came across the grave of an Indian chief, who was buried in the grandest style of Indian burials; painted, and otherwise decorated, as well as those wretchced being were able to do. He was placed on the ground, with his head resting against the root of a tree, logs were placed around him, and covered with bark; and on top of which green bushes were laid; so intended, that we might pass by without discovering the grave. He was examined, and found to have been shot."
"On the evening of the first of August, signs of the enemy were discovered, and some stragglers were killed."
"Troops encamped after dark. They had just passed one of the enemies [enemy's] camps where the fire was still burning. An old Ind. warrior, unable to get further was captured here. It was learnt From him [the following is crossed out] Gen A learnt [end crossed out portion] that the Indians would attempt to cross the Mississippi which was but a few miles before us."
"It was now late in the evening, and we had proceeded but a short distance from here [the dead warrior's gravel before some of our front spies, came across an Indian that
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had been left behind from some cause or other. The spies interrogated him about Black Hawk and his band. He stated that they would get the river on that day, and would cross over on the next morning.""On the fourth [fifth] night of our march from Helena, and at an encampment of the enemy, was discovered an old a Indian by our spies, who informed them that the main body of the enemy had, on that day, gone to the Mississippi, & intended to cross on the next morning, Aug. 2d."
"...little before sun set, [we] learned from a prisoner, that the enemy were but a few miles in advance of us. Up to this time, not a man of the army knew where we were, save that we were north of the Wisconsin, and on the enemy's track."
"The old sinner then plead for quarters; but that being no time to be plagued with the charge of prisoners, they had to leave the unhappy wretch behind, which appeared to be a hard case. But no doubt, he had been at the massacre of a number of our own citizens, and deserved to die for the crimes which he had perpetrated, in taking the lives of harmless and unoffending women and children."
"...we struck bluffs and stopped. It is reported there was an Indian found there. Yes, an old man that could not rise; could talk English. Dickson talked with him. He was friendly; told where was water. The query was what was best to do; leave him to starve or kill him. We decided it better to kill him. Shot him.
Lieutenant Cooke wrote, "We learned that the magnanimous volunteers, being in advance and having discovered an old Indian in this camp, had protracted some information from him, and then coolly put him to death."
The horses being nearly broken down, and the men early exhausted from fatigue, Gen. Atkinson ordered a halt few hours, (it being after 8 o'clock,) with a determination to start at 2 o'clock for the Mississippi, about 10 miles distant."
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"We this day made a tolerable push, having marched until eight o'clock at night before we stopt. We then halted and formed our encampement:
"this was a long days march for the Infantry as also for the mounted men whose horses were much exhausted...."
"This march did indeed turn out to be a long and weary one of full twenty-five miles."
"we...traveled till some time after dark and took up camp in the prairie where it was difficult to get wood sufficient to cook a bite of supper"
"Encamped after dark, having passed eleven dead unburied of the enemy."
"We were now all tired and hungry: and something to eat was indispensably necessary. We had a long way to go after water, and the worst kind of a precipice to go down and up to procure it. All was now a bustle for a while to prepare something to sustain nature, and to do it in time to get a little rest, before we would have to march."
"the troops encamped after dark — the appearance of the trail indicated the proximity of the enemy, they were supposed to be at the Mississippi, which was conjectured to be within a short march."
"He [Atkinson] here sent off an express to Prairie du Chein for a Steam Boat which he expected was there to cooperate with him in the morning opposite to the encampment. "
General Atkinson had his aide notify the commander of Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien of his wishes:
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"Liut Johnston A D Camp To Capt Loomis
"Head Qrs: 1st Army Corps North Westn Army Camp.
One day's march. Northwest of Kickapoo river 1st August/1832
"Sir, The Commanding General directs me to inform you that we are encamped near the camp occupied by the enemy last night, and the Troops under his command will march against him at 2 O.C. Tomorrow morning. The General expects to overtake the enemy early in the day tomorrow on the bank of the Mississippi.
"They have been hard pressed by the Troops their route from the Ouisconsin is strewn with dead generally from wounds received in the battle of the Ouisconsin, and they suffer much for provisions — they subsist entirely on Horse flesh.
"The General directs that the moment you receive this note, you will lose no time in sending a Steam boat up the River opposite this point-put on board 60 Barrells of Flour & 30 Barrells of Pork, a six pounder with a sufficient quantity of fixed ammunition & 5000 rounds of Muskett Cartridges."
(Signed) Albt. S. Johnston. Aid-de-Camp & A A A Genl"
"The night before the battle of Bad Axe, when about four miles from the Mississippi, [William] Deviese with another man named [John] Marsh, went on an express to Prairie du Chien"
"At the Bad Axe, I [Joseph H. Dickson] discovered, the evening before the battle, the trail of Black Hawk with a Party of about forty Indians, who had left the main trail, and gone up the river; which I reported to the commanding General."
Black Hawk said, "During our stay in the thicket, a party of whites came close by us, but passed on without discovering us!"
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"Gen. A. determined to move in the morning as early as practicable and accordingly gave orders for the troops to be under arms at 2 o'clock."
"An army which in summer encamps at the going down of the sun, eats dinner and supper together about 10 o'clock at night; at 11, on this occasion, we received orders to march at 2 o'clock in the morning."
"General Atkinson gave orders for all to confine their horses, and be ready to march by two o'clock in pursuit of the enemy,"
"The commanders of the several corps were directed to hold them in readiness to march at 2 oclock on the following morning — This order was not communicated to the brigades of Genls Alexander & Henry before their horses were turned out to graise [graze]."
"About nine o'clock, the noise began to die away, so that, by ten o'clock, all was lost in sleep, but the sentinel who was at his post."
"We marched until after dark, hastily encamped, slept two or three hours, when the reveille beat, and we were again on the march before day-break."
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Wednesday, August 1, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"After the boat left us, I told my people to cross [the Mississippi River}, 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."
— Black Sparrow Hawk, "British Band",
Sauk and Fox Indian Tribe
141
(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
foggy, northwest wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 59°
2 P.M. — 61°
9 P.M. — 63°
"The Sacs & Foxes [of Black Hawk's band] arrived [at the mouth of Bad Axe river] after the Winnebeagoes had started from Praire Ie Cross
"The Winnebeagoes wd. [would] not land but hurried down to me [Joseph Street, Agent of Winnebago Indian Affairs] as I had sent them word by Mr. [Thomas P.] Burnett a few days previous."
"...The Sacs & Foxes hailed the Winebagoes and directed them to land. They refused and hastened down to this place [Prairie du Chien] to inform me [Street], bringing off all their Canoes."
"As the last party [of Winnebago Indians] were putting off the hostile Inds. [Indians, of Black Hawk's band] spoke to them, when they were some distance from land. They refused to retu[r]n and hasted down to inform me [Street].
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"The Sacs & Foxes by this maneuvr [of having all Winnebago canoes delivered to Prairie du Chien] were cut off from any means of crossing [the Mississippi] except on rafts, and two or 3 old canoes which were scarcely able to float empty, x x x A few escaped, ..on small rafts, that coul[d] carry but one man."
Pama-ho — a Sac chief — 50 years old, said, "When they [Black Hawk's band] got to the Mississippi, BH. [Black Hawk] held a council and said, ‘let us get up the river among the Winnebagoes’. A great many would not listen to him, and plunged into the river to get across and come down to keo-kuk's villages. Just at this time the Steam boat came up, and Black Hawk hastened to hoist the white flag."
"The Warrior S. B. [Steam Boat] went as high as Wabashas Village
"On our way down we [on the Warrior] met one of the Sioux band, who informed us that the Indians, our enemies, were on Bad Axe river, to the number of four hundred
"When the Steam boat ‘Warrior’ first passed up Black Hawk and the Sacs had just reached the Mississippi."
"The Steamer Warrior, by the direction of Capt [Gustavus] Loomis had ascended the river with a small detachment of the 4th U. States Infantry under the command of Lieut. [James W.] Kingsbury, accompanied by
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Lieuts [Reuben] Holmes and [Samuel] Torrence"Lieut Kingsbury had executed the duties required of him by Capt. Loomis's order & the boat was within about 45 miles of Prairie du Chien on her return when about 4 oclock P.M. on the 1st. of August we came suddenly upon the hostile camp on the left bank of the river."
"The Boat was fortunate enough to reach the place where the Sacs had just arrived, and commenced felling trees to effect their escape across the Mississippi."
"...they [Black Hawk's band] were encountered on the Mississippi River by the steam-boat Warrior, on board of which were a number of United States soldiers, under Lieutenant Kingsbury, with two pieces of artillery
"...the steamboat Warrior, on her return from the Sioux villages above, with some twenty or thirty U.S. soldiers, discovered the Indian army on the bank of the Mississippi, engaged in constructing rafts and other means of crossing the river...."
"Lt. Kingsbury in descending the Missi. had an action with the hostile Sacs & Foxes who were on the bank of the Missi. endeavoring to construct rafts to facilitate their crossing."
"We came in sight of the Indians south of the Bad Axe River; they were collected together on a bench of the land close to the Mississippi, and were making efforts to get their women across."
"...on the evening before [the massacre at Bad Axe], she [the Warrior] had been there [at the battle site] for the
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express purpose of preventing the Indians [of Black Hawk's band] from crossing [the Mississippi], until the main army might get up with them.""The boat was immediately rounded to, the anchor dropped and the Indians hailed to know who they were."
Black Hawk said, "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."
Ana-kose-kuk, a Kickapoo woman 40 years old, reported, "Black Hawk on seeing the Steam Boat sent for the white flag, and appeared very anxious to go to the Steam boat to shake hands — he said ‘I take pity on the women and children,’ and said ‘I will shake hands with the Americans and save you.’ "
Kish-kas-shoi. a 1/2 Fox woman — 1/2 Sac was standing near Black-Hawk. She said that "B.H. [Black Hawk] said to the women ‘run and get me the white flag. I will go on board that boat,’ He told the men to put down their guns, and the women got behind the trees."
"When the steam boat came up BH [Black Hawk] put on his fine dress and hoisted a white flag — saying he was going to surrender."
Black Hawk said, "I 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...."
"Black Hawk despairing of effecting an escape, hoisted the white flag, and made signs to our people [on the Warrior] to approach for a parley".
"Black Hawk hoisted a white flag, and said he was going on board the steam boat to give himself up."
"Soon as he got the flag, he hoisted it, and said I want some women to go with me, and I am taking pity on my young men...."
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"Black Hawk called out, before the fire from the boat — ‘I am Black Hawk — and I wish to come and shake hands with you — ’ waiving [waving] his hands to correspond — telling the women, "dont run — I will save you and the children by going on board and giving myself up."
"...he then hollowed to the boat — ‘bring me one of your canoes. I want to come on board your boat.’ He repeated this several times...."
"Wee-sheet — a Sac chief 35 years old….was with the Sacs on the bank of the Mppi [Mississippi], the evening before the big battle [of August 2] when the steam boat came to them." Wee-sheet said, "There was a man on board the steam boat who spoke Winnebago, and he was answered by a nephew of the Prophet
"The man on board the boat said — is there any chief there, or is Black Hawk there?
"...and was answered ‘yes.’ Black H and Ma-ka-tau-a-quat (Black Cloud)
"The people on the boat asked whether we were Sacs or Winnebagoes; I [Black Hawk] told a Winnebago [Winneshiek's son] to tell them we were Sacs, and wanted to give ourselves up!
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"The interpreter [on the Warrior] informed us [on board] that they said they were Winnebagoes, they, themselves, immediately raised two white flags and, by signs & calls, endeavoured to induce us to land the boat."
"The enemy for some time endeavored to decoy the steamboat to the shore, assuring those on board they they were Winnebagoes, a friendly tribe."
"The Interpreter, besides being much frightened apparently, did not, as since understood, truly state the replies of the Indians."
Captain Throckmorton said "As we neared them, they raised a white flag, and endeavored to decoy us; but we were a little too old for them; for instead of landing, we ordered them to send a boat on board, which they declined."
"Suspicious of their appearance & intentions we directed them if they were Winnebagoes to send two of their men on board, this they did not do, although they several times pretended to be in the act of so doing, continually, at the same time, making signs for us to land. A line of unarmed men stood upon the bank apparently to cover the movements of some in the rear who could be seen preparing their guns & selecting trees to cover them."
"About 150 showed themselves without arms on the banks, whilst many others in their rear were observed running back and forth, and preparing their arms for use."
"Finding their only object was to gain time and at last assured they were the hostile Sauks by a woman on board who knew their language, fearing also that they could scatter so as to injure the efficacy of our fire, the order was given for a general discharge upon them commencing with the 6. pr. [6 pounder cannon]."
Black Hawk said, "A Winnebago on the boat called to us to run and hide, that the whites were going to shoot!
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"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."
"Lieutenant Kingsbury, who commanded, stated that they hoisted a white flag, but would not send aboard the steam boat. He told them if they did not do it, he would fire upon them; but they still refused, and appeared to be making preparation for action; so, accordingly, he fired his six pounder, and likewise opened a fire of musquetry upon them, when they commenced a heavy fire upon the boat."
"Pama-ho — a Sac chief — 50 yeard old" said, "Just as we were going with the white flag on board the boat, they fired upon us."
"...on [the Warrior's] returning [from Wabasha's village] a party of Sacs was discovered and fired upon, a smart skirmish ensued."
"the firing then commenced from the boat, which was returned by my braves, and continued for some time."
"The battle commenced with a discharge from the six pounder, which instantaneously returned by the Indians from above & below, along the shore, when the boat was anchored. It commenced a few minutes before 4 o'clock, P.M. and ended a little after 6."
"The fire was returned [actually started] from a six-pounder, placed in the bows or forecastle of the boat, and after two or three shots the Indians ceased firing, and fled into the woods."
General Street reported, "The S.B. [Steam Boat] Warrior was attact by the hostile Sacs & Foxes, about 36 miles by water and 25 by land above this place [Prairie du Chien] at 7 oClock in the Ev[en]ing...."
Throckmorton explained, "After about fifteen minutes delay, giving them time to remove a few of their women and children, we let slip a six-pounder, loaded with canister, followed by a severe fire of musketry; and if ever you saw straight blankets, you would have seen them there."
"...and the boat fired twice. At this B.H. [Black Hawk] said to his women ‘go and hide’, and to his young men to fire too."
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"Ma-kauk, a Fox but always with the Sacs" said "...when the steam boat fired — they were all crazy in confusion...."
"the Indians raised a white flag and endeavored to induce the boat to approach the east shore, and succeeded in bringing her close enough to pour a shower of balls into her. The cannon sent a shower of cannister amongst the Indians which was repeated three times, each time mowing a swath clean through them."
"The boat rounded to at each fire run[n]ing in near the shore for greater effect."
"The Boat fired 9 or 10 times
"After discharging the gun three times,
"After the two first fires from the canon and musketry, the whites were compelled to watch for the smoke of the enemy's guns to give their fire, as the Indians had completely concealed themselves behind the trees and logs, which grew, and were found on the place."
Black Hawk said, "Very few of my people were hurt after the first fire, having succeeded in getting behind old logs and trees, which shielded them from the enemy's fire.
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"The Winnebago [interpreter], on the steam boat, must either have misunderstood what was told, or did not tell it to the [steam boat] captain [Joseph Throckmorton] correctly; because I am confident that 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 sueing for quarters."
Lieutenant Holmes reported, "Their [Black Hawk's] fire was almost instantaneous with ours from above & below the boat. An arrangement had been made between Lt. Kingsbury & myself that he should conduct the field piece & that I should superintend the men & direct the movements of the boat."
"Although Lt. Kingsbury had been placed in command of the boat by Capt. Loomis every thing done during the engagement was done by concert & consultation between him & myself [Lieutenant Reuben Holmes], including Capt Throgmorton [Throckmorton] also when any movement of the boat was made or contemplated."
"I [Throckmorton] fought them at anchor most of the time and we were all very much exposed. I have a ball which came in close by where I was standing, and passed through the bulkhead of the wheel room."
"A sharp skirmish was finally the result, in which several of the Indians — different reports say from seven to twenty-three in number — were killed, and one soldier wounded."
"It was ascertained by a prisoner after the battle that 23 or 25 were killed, wounded not known."
The Galenian reported, "We understood that the coolness and gallantry of all on board, (the interpreter excepted,) reflected credit upon them. It was with difficulty that Captain Throckmorton could call his crew to the management of the boat when needed, so anxious, from highest to lowest, were they to have a hand in the business. The Indians fired very badly — their fire lasted long enough to average 13 cartridges, and but one white man was wounded, and only about 50 balls hit the boat."
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This little fight cost them twenty-three killed, and of course a great many wounded. We never lost a man, and had but one man wounded, (shot through the leg.)"
"One man was wounded slightly in the leg."
"Our loss amounted to one man only, a discharged soldier of the 1st. Regt., wounded in the knee and the loss of the Indians was uncertain. I [Reuben Holmes] saw five fall and we supposed we had killed from eight to ten."
"The soldier we picked up, helped to man the gun, and during the engagement, he was wounded in the knee by a rifle-ball."
"The men, including Capt. Throgmorton [Throckmorton] & his crew, the passengers & all on board but the interpreter behaved with the utmost coolness & intrepidity."
"These checked their retreat across the river until towards night, when the boat was compelled to fall back to Prairie du Chien for a supply of fuel."
"This little fight delayed the Indians in their crossing very considerably, and, but for the want of wood, would have entirely prevented it until the coming up of the main army."
"The battle now became general, and lasted for some time, as the boat was anchored. All were at their posts, and would have, it is stated, continued at this place until the main army got up, if they had not been out of wood. So she had to drop down, in order to lay in wood; but it is stated, she killed five in this action and, I suppose, wounded a number; but the number I do not think has been ascertained; but Lieutenant Kingsbury and all the other officers deserve great credit for the bravery and industry they made use of, in trying to prevent the Indians from crossing until the army could come up with them; they dropped down that night as low as Prairie du Chien, and took in wood...."
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"We were engaged a little over two hours with them & for want of wood (having but five or six sticks remaining) we were compelled to drop down to obtain it."
"A continual firing of small arms was kept up between the persons on board the boat and the Indians ashore, until the fire-wood gave out, when we were obliged to put back to Prairie du Chien to wood-up — for there were no wood-yards on the Mississippi as now [1867]."
"The party in the boat continued there until sunset, when their wood having failed, they were obliged to return to Prairie du Chien for supplies."
"We fought them for about an hour or more until our wood began fail...."
"The Boat then came down being short of wood...."
"...and night coming on, we left and went on to the prairie."
"When we left them it was the intention to have returned in seven hours (the time the Capt. said it would take to get wood & return)...."
Black Hawk said, "After the boat left us, I told my people to cross [the Mississippi River], 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."
"as soon as the steam boat went off...[Pama-ho], Plunged into the river and swam across — he does not know what has become of BH or the Prophet."
"A few escaped the night before the action [of August 2] on small rafts, that coul[d] carry but one man."
Ana-kose-kuk. Kickapoo woman 40 years old said, "Black Hawk and the Prophet came to the Mississippi with the Sacs — they were missed on the night of the 1st. August immediately after the battle with the Steam Boat. She did not see either of them next day."
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E-kish-kuk — a Kickapoo — 21 years old — said, "B Hawk started off with the Prophet the night of the battle of the steam boat, and he has not seen either since."
"After this fight, Black Hawk took the trail back as he and the Prophet took up the Mississippi."
"Cho-ke-pa-che-pa-ho [Little Stabbing Chief] has gone with B Hawk."
Na-me-sa A Sac. Sister to Pa-c he-to-wart a head warrior fthe Sacs — 25 year old...said, "After the battle of the steam hnat at night Black-Hawk, the Prophet — the little Stabbing chief [named] Cho-ke-pa-che-pa-ho, and Keo-ka-qua
Kee-po-a-qua. — Sac — the wife of Black Hawk's principal friend said, "Black Hawk and the Prophet went off on the night of the 1st. of August, after the battle of the Steam Boat, and before the battle of the 2d. August, (next day) — she heard her husband, who was killed on the 2d. August, say, that Black Hawk and the Prophet had gone off. They both took off their families with them. She has not heard of any of their family being seen since that night."
Wee-sheet said, "Black Hawk went off the evening of the fight with the steam boat. He said to the chiefs — I shall go to the head waters of the Wisconsin and hide myself in the marshes and thick woods.
"None of us liked the Prophet and Black Hawk leaving us as they did. We said ‘now they have brought us to ruin and lost us our women and children, they have run to save their own lives.’ "
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Meanwhile back in Prairie du Chien, Joseph M. Street started writing a letter to William Clark:
"US Ind. Agency at Prairie du Chien August 1[-2], 1832.
"Genl. Wm. Clark Sup. of Ind. Affs. at St. Louis
"Sir, Last evening I recd. letters from Mr. Marsh and my son who went express with dispatches to Genl. Atkinson, dated on the south bank of the Wiskonsin about 80 miles above the mouth at Helena July 29th. The whole army say 1500 strong, had crossed at that point the day before and moved in a Northern direction, on the trail of the Indians about six miles. The persuit would be continued the next day the army having drawn provisions for 5 days, and expected to draw next on the shores of the Mississippi. The Indian trail is reported to lead off in a Northern direction up a small River called at its mouth Petit Roach, or little Rock 40 miles below the portage. The Express went up the South side of the Wiskonsin but discovered no trail leading from the Wiskonsin towards the Mississippi.
"I now think the Sacs & Foxes have made for the Mississippi some where above Prairie du Chien. Or have attempted to escape into the Chippewas Countrey crossing Black River high up.
"I have got nearly all the Winnebeagoes of my Agency here & encamped in front of the Ageny and within 100 yar[d]s, compleatly under my eye. Winnoshik, with a small part of his band & apart of the Prairie le Cross band were not at the Village when I sent Mr. Burnett up in the Enterprise to bring them all down. They said these had gone out to Black River to hunt Deer. Since, (yesterday evening 55 Inds. came down from Prairie le Cross, and say that Winochick and the hunters with him have not returned. They left word with two or three Inds. who
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remained to tell them it was my wish that they come down to the Agency immediately. Winonchick is an old man — has a sac Wife and I consider his absence rather suspicious, as to his own personal good faith, and his sons and immediate family. It cannot tho' extend to more than 5 or 6 men. Yet his knowledge of the country will enable him to render the Sacs & Foxes essential services and us a corresponding injury. Besides his remaining with the canoes of his family will enable them to cross the Mississippi. I sent a Half Sioux interpreter to whom I gave a written talk to be deld. to the Sioux — putting them on their guard against the Sacs & Foxes, and informing them of their approach. This went the day before yesterday in the S.B. Warrior, which was sent up to Prairie le Cross and Black River, with provisions and Colo. Holmes aboard. Marsh in his letter from Helena of the 29. says, ‘It is supposed here Wenoshick is guiding the Sacs.’"With the exception of this Indian Winnoshick, I am confident of the good faith of all the Winnebeagoes in my Ageny. Of his connection with the Sacs & Foxes by marriage, and my suspicions of the effect it might produce you have previously been informed by my letters. One object of Mr. Burnetts trip was to bring him down to me, but to hunt him in the woods was hopeless.
"An Express started this morning to Genl. Atkinsons army going upon the North side of the Wiskonsin. The rout taken is about N.E. from this Place so as to strike the trail & turn after it. The man is accompanied by 2 persons and is an sufficint woodsman & Speaks, Chippewas, Menominee & Sioux — and most of the Winnebeagoes on the upper Mississippi speak Sioux.
"The Winnebeagoes have behaved admirably. Three or four days past it was
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discovered by two Winnebeagoes hunting by torchlight, that the hostile Indians were escaping down the Wiskonsin in small parties in elm bark canoes. A Gun on a flatb and 25 men in a Mackinac Boat had previously been stationed in the mouth of the Wiskonsin, and fired on the canoes, yet some escaped. I then sent out a party of Winnebeagoes below the mouth of the Wiskonsin on the Mississippi, after those that had got by, and they brought in 2 young-men of the Sacs & Foxes nearly starved, who were delivered over to the Commd'g. officer of Fort Crawford. They have since been out evry day and night on the Wiskonsin near the Ferry, and have brought in twelve more prisoners, consisting of women boys and small children, and taken one scalp of a youngman who raised his gun to fire. The prisoners are the most miserable looking poor creatures you can imagine. Wasted, to mere skeletons, clothed in rags scarcely sufficnt to hide their nakedness. Some of the children look as if they had starved so long they could not be restored."The Winnebeagoes brought them directly to me, and asked me to cover them. I could not resist their importunity and my own feelings, and have clothed all they brought in, and must depend on the Government to approve this expenditure. I had no choice, for I could not wait for instructions.
"Last night I sent out 90 Winniebeagoes to guard the Wiskonsin 6 or 8 miles above the mouth, who have not yet come in. The commanding officer at Fort Crawford speaks of seizing the women & children prisoners of the Winnebeagoes but I hope he will not do any thing untill Genl. Atkinson can arrive. This measure would be a hazardous one, and calculated to produce unhappy results, extensively.
"The Menominees are also out but have done nothing yet.
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"Two Menomineavho came from Genl. Atkinsons camp while it Helena, got here last night, coming down the North bank of the Wiskonsin. They report that there is a great many Sacs & Foxes comingdown the Wiskonsin. They saw the River about 20 or 30 miles above this place and it was covered with small Elmbark Canoes. Two Canoes of men landed near them above & below the Menominees shot two of them & they fell — the Menominees then ran and quit the River."
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Thursday, August 2, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"When the Indians were driven to the Banks of the Mississippi, some hundreds of men, women and children plunged into the river, and hoped by diving, &c. to escape the bullets of our guns; very few, however, escaped our sharp-shooters."
— Dr. Addison Philleo, Editor
The Galenian newspaper,
Michigan Territory Militia
163
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 76°
2 P.M. — 82°
9 P.M. — 68°
"Perhaps to the uninitiated no battle was ever intelligibly described; and perhaps none such ever gathered from a description, aided by drawings, a clear and full idea of the manoeuvres and main incidents of a battle; — the geatest difficulty is to preserve the unities of time; but in fact, it is beyond the power of genius — whose main attribute is expression — to express that which was never fully formed in idea.
"Let us consider the obstacles in the way of the commanding general, who must generally have much the best opportunity of seeing or conceiving all the acts and scenes of these great tragedies.
"First, the extent of the lines — of the field of battle;
"second, intervening woods and hills, which must almost always conceal much that occurs;
"third, the smoke, the dust, and the distance;
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"As to those officers who are more engaged in the fighting, it is next to impossible that they can have even a general idea of proceedings beyond their immediate sphere.
"fourth, the simultaneous occurrence of distant and unconnected events, confused and complicated in their action;
"fifth, the impossibility of conveying an idea of the shape of the ground:
"and then there are many difficulties in making his description (report) of what he has seen or conceived; — a disinclination to tell the whole truth, which, in matters unimportant in the result, might be disagreeable to himself or others; details might render his narrative inelegant, or might establish a connection between unpleasant causes and agreeable effects. How many actions are decided by the original acts of subordinates! It is a merit in all commanders of corps to improve sudden opportunities or openings, which, it may be, there is not a possibility of the chief commander's seeing.
"The General arranges and directs the first blows: but amid the noise, the smoke, the dust
— the thunder of cannon —
— the deafening rattle of small arms — the rushing of squadrons — the thousand commands,
all uttered as loudly as possible; —
in a word, the darkness and confusion of the combat,
generals,
colonels,
captains,
and sometimes lieutenants,
sergeants,
and even privates
themselves,
all more or less
act a part of their own: —
the soldier in battle,
is something more
than a mere machine.
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"General [Henry] Atkinson directed the commanders of Brigades to hold their troops in readiness to march at 2 oclk tomorrow morning [August 2], this order was not communicated to the brigades of Generals [James D.J Henry & [Milton K.] Alexander before their horses were turned out to graise [graze] and they could not therefore get in readiness to move before it was light enough to distinguish their horses, this will sufficiently explain an apparent tardiness in the movement of these two brigades at an early hour on the following day."
"The troops were ordered to encamp and repose until 2 O.C. in the Morning and then take up the line of March. The signal to assemble was given about this hour..."
"After three or four hours of rest, we were roused on the 2d of August...."
"At the precise hour, the bugles sounded, and in a short time all were ready to march."
"Followed line of march made at Wisconsin river. [Henry] Dodge, regulars, Henry, [Alexander H.] Posey and Alexander in the rear."
"Gen. Dodge's squadron was honored with being placed in front, the Infantry followed next, Gen. Henry's brigade next, Alexander's next, and Gen. Posey's formed the rear guard, x x x In this order the march commenced."
"General Atkinson, this morning, had the army laid off and arranged in the following manner: General Dodge, with his squadron was placed in front — the Infantry next — the second brigade next, under the command of General Alexander — the first brigade next, under the command of General Posey — the third brigade next, under the command of General Henry. In this order the march commenced."
"2d Augt 1832 At 2 oclock this morning the troops turned out & having made hasty preparation were on the route of the enemy before Sunrise except Henry's and Alexanders brigades for reasons before mentioned."
"Posey Alexander and Henry were not yet in the saddle in consequence of their horses being turned out at night
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before [illegible] the order to move out at 2.""...and at Dawn I [Atkinson] marched, with the regular Troops under Col [Zachary] Taylor and Dodge's Battalion leaving Posey's, Alexanders, and Henry's Brigades to follow as they were not yet ready to Mount. Their horses having been turned out before the order to march was received by them. — "
"The commanding Genl. having ordered a march at an early hour on the 2nd Instant the most of the troops under my [General Alexander's] command collected their horses and advanced with rapidity. Captains Greere [Abner Greer] and [John F.] Richardson being somewhat in the rear having orders to come up immediately and join; the march being so rapid they with their commands were not able to join at the time...."
"At the appointed hour the bugle sounded: all were soon up, and made preparations for a march at quick step; moving on to complete the work of death upon those unfortunate children of the forest."
"Gen. Dodge called for, and as soon received, 20 volunteer spies to go ahead of the whole army."
"Gen. Dodge instructed his spies to reconnoitre the enemy & occupy his attention...."
"At two o'clock, on the morning of the 2d, the line of march was taken up, Colonel Dodge's command forming the advance, supported by the regular troops, under Colonel Zachary Taylor."
"2 Augt. The Reg. troops and Dodges Bat. [Battalion] moved at day light upon the trail."
"We started at sunrise with 20 spies ahead. First 3 or 4 miles on trail, spies struck rear guard of the enemy, which bore northward."
"About one hour after sunrise a small body of spies under the command of Capt Dixon [Joseph H. Dickson] thrown in advance from Dodge's battalion brought information that the enemy were drawn up in position on the route & near at hand. "/we had previous notice of our
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proximity to the Mississippi from having seen the fog over it, distant probably 5 or 6 miles]""About sunrise, Captain Dickson, who commanded the spy company [of Dodge's Michigan Territory militia], reported by one of his men, that he was up with the enemy, and asked for orders."
The other troops "marched at dawn of day. The order for the early march had been received by the [Illinois militia] volunteers after they had turned out their horses: this explanation was made of the circumstances that they did not march this morning for an hour or more after the mounted spies and infantry."
"The horses was accordingly gathered as soon as possible and we set off...."
"We had not proceeded more than four or five miles, before there was a herald sent back, informing us that the front spies had come in sight of the enemy's rear guard. The intelligence was soon conveyed to General Atkinson, and then to all the commanders of the different brigades. The celerity of the march was then doubled...."
"We then put spurs to our horses and persued with all possible speed When we got within 5 miles of the Mississippi our horses were like to give out. We jumped off pulled off our saddles & baggage stripped off our coats and commenced running with all speed to the Missi. where the general battle commenced."
"They had not, however, gone more than 5 miles before one of our spies came back, announcing their having come in sight of the enemy's picket guard."
"Soon we saw a staff-officer gallop past towards the rear, and heard him report that the enemy was drawn up in the open woods in front to receive us."
"He [the messenger] went back, and the intelligence was quickly conveyed to Gen. Atkinson, then to all the commanders of the brigades, and the celerity of the march was instantly increased."
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"Colonel Dodge sent orders to attack them instantly and at the same time moved up rapidly with his command. He was immediately supported by Colonel Taylor, with the regulars, and the line was then formed, and advanced about a mile to the banks [actually to the bluffs] of the Mississippi, near the mouth of Bad Axe River."
"On the Morning of that day so soon as it was ascertained Spies in advance were engaged, the Brigade [of U.S. Army Infantry] under his [Taylor's] command (consisting of four Companies of the first and one of the fifth under the immediate command of Maj. [John] Bliss, and Eight Companies of the Sixth Regiment
"At 6 in the morning saw the fog hanging over the Mississippi, & at the same time our scouts reported the
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enemy. [The U.S. Army regulars] Instantly formed line of battle & advanced for four miles; our skirmishers constantly engaged in front.""...we...soon began to see The for [fog] Rising off of the Mississippi we then Knew that we would soon overtake the Indians if they had not crossed the River"
"The sun found us marching over very high prairie hills in view of a vast extent of country; there was a mighty valley, and the forests of its lower level indicated the great [Mississippi] river. Soon we saw a long and devious bank of fog rising white as snow in the sunshine, and evidently marking its course. A bright rosy summer morn shone over this scene of beauty and repose — as quiet and as peaceful as if man had never been there: at the creation, there could not have been less indication of his presence, save the measured tread of an armed band, speeding on to awaken the echoes which had slumbered from eternity, to the sounds of confusion, strife, and bloodshed."
"After a march of some three or four miles, Dodges scouts fell in with a party of Indians passing up the highlands on the river, an action commenced in which several Inds. were Killed."
"...my [Joseph H. Dickson's Spy] company encountered and engaged a company of Indians at a place near to where I had the evening before discovered the trail of Black Hawk and his party."
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"...and it was but a short time before the firing of the front spies commenced, about half a mile in front of the main army."
"On the morning of the 2nd inst. our advanced guards commenced the action about 6 o-clock on falling in with an advanced party of the hostile Indians near the banks of the Missi. about 35 miles above this place [Prairie du Chien]"
"In a few minutes more the firing commenced about 500 yards ahead of the front of the army, between our spies and the Indian picket guard."
"On the 2d of August, at a little after sun rise, we discovered the curtain of mist hanging over the Mississippi and the scouts in advance, a detachment of Dodge's corps, announced the vicinity of the enemy. We [the U.S. Army regulars] were halted for an instant, our knap-sacks and baggage thrown off and our pack-horses left."
"...immediately the men were ordered to leave their knapsacks, with the baggage, under a small guard; and the infantry were formed in one line in extended order, and again advanced."
"In the mean time, Captain Dickson, who was in front with his spies, seemed, from the firing, to be actively engaged with the enemy."
"Our order of battle was promptly arranged under the personal supervision of Gen. Atkinson, the center composed of the regular troops, about three hundred and eighty in number, and Dodge's corps, perhaps about one hundred and fifty. The right, of the remains of Posey's and Alexander's militia brigades, probably in all two hundred and fifty men; the left, of Henry's brigade, in numbers not far from four hundred men — which brigade was, throughout the campaign, a most excellent body of militia and well commanded. The army advanced by heads of companies over two or three miles."
"In the Mean time the Troops then with me [Atkinson] were formed in order of battle — The regulars in extended order with three companies held in reserve. Dodges Battallion was formed on their left. The whole advanced to the front expecting to meet the enemy in a wood before us.
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"...in the mean time, Gen Dodges battalion was drawn up in line and a report made to the Commanding General. The regulars, General Posey's Alexander Henry's Mounted Volunteers were ordered forward, the regulars being immediately in rear of Dodges battalion moved forward and formed in extended order on his right. Dodge battalion having dismounted was also formed in extended order, the whole advanced in this order for some minutes before Genl Poseys command came up."
"We then advanced rapidly into the timbered land, and the occasional shots in advance confirmed the reports of the scouts. This firing was from a select rear guard of the enemy, about seventy in number."
"Early in the morning, the spies under Capt. Jo. Dickson had a skirmish with the Indians, in which he had one of his men severely wounded."
"..the Spies under Capt. Dixon [Dickson] advanced as ordered & succeeded in killing 8 Indians while they retired through the woods...."
"Marched very early and when we got about 3 miles the spies saw 15 or 20 Indians fired on them and killed several only one white man wounded. We then put spurs to our horses and pursued with all possible speed"
"After marching about three miles, the advance of Dodge's Battallion came up with a small party of the enemy, attacked and killed eight of them, and dispersed the residue."
"A fight ensued; a heavy fire kept up.
"We left our horses. Spies and Indian outposts were on horses. We hurried to protect spies, who had orders to fight Indians till we came up. Dodge knew Dickson would do it. The fight was between 20 spies and 90 Indians, estimated from 60 to 90. "
"The Indians were driven by our spies from hill to hill, and kept up a tolerably brisk firing from every situation commanding the ground over which our Spies had to march; but being charged upon and routed from their hiding places they sought safety by retreating to the main body on the
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bank of the river and join in one general effort to defend themselves there or died on the ground.""The Indians retreated toward the Mississippi, but kept up a retreating fire upon our front spies for some time until General Dodge, who commanded, began to kill them very fast. The Indians then retreated more rapidly, and sought refuge in their main army, which was lying on the bank of the Mississippi, where they had joined in a body to defend themselves, and sell their lives as dear as possible; for they now found that they could not get away from us, and the only chance for them, was, to fight until they died."
"During the battle that ensued, my [Dickson's] command killed fourteen Indians, and after a short time, say an hour's engagement, General Dodge with his force, and General Atkinson with his regular army, arrived at that place
"we passed on and soon came on the Indin Rear guard which our spies soon Routed and Killed 14 the others fled to the main Boddy"
"Posey's Command soon came up and was formed on the right of the regulars. Shortly after Alexander's arrived
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and was formed on the right of Posey, a position at the time considered of great importance as it would intercept the enemy in an attempt to pass up the river.""Posey soon came up and was ordered to form on the right of the Regulars, & Alexander immediately afterwards & was formed on the right of Posey, with orders to throw his right flank on the river. Before this could be affected [effected], this party of Indians, consisting of some 40 or 50 escaped by the right & got off."
"The troops by this time in advancing had been drawn considerably to the right of the trail in following the movements of the retiring enemy. The General apprehending this to be a feint to divert him from his purpose & gain time, ordered Gen Henry to pursue the trail on, to the river & at the same time ordered General Alexander to move down a deep ravine to the river, the center passed down a steep declevity & ravine."
"Not finding the enemy posted as anticipated, I [Atkinson] detached Capt Dixon [Dickson] with a few of Dodge's Spies to the left to gain information and at the same time sent one of my staff [Colonel Enoch C. March] to hasten the March of Henry."
"soon after another [Robert Anderson] was despatched with orders to him [General Henry] to march upon the enemy's Trail with One of the Regiments of his Brigade, and to hold the remainder in reserve."
"Finding that the main body of the Indians had not been found, Gen. A. [Atkinson] directed Gen. Dodge to send on a light party to the left (which was conducted by Capt Dickson) at the same moment Gen. A. despatched Col. March and Lt. Anderson (two of his staff) in succession to order Henry to pursue the trail lying a [little to?] the left."
"General Atkinson called for one regiment from General Henry's brigade, to cover his rear. General H. dispatched Colonel [Jacob] Fry with his [2d] regiment.
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"Colonel [James] Collins formed [his 4th Regiment] on the right of Colonel [Gabriel] Jones [and his 3d Regiment] and Major [William Lee D.] Ewing [and his Spy Company] when all were dismounted and marched on foot in the main trail, down the bluff into the bottom.
"Here it is worthy of remark, that Colonel E. [Enoch] C. March, who was the volunteer Aid
"Genls Henry [and] Alexanders promptly obeyed the order to advance & came up in good time to take the position assigned to them by the Commanding General. General Posey was posted on the right of the regulars & General Alexander on his right,"
"Lest some might escape by retreating up or down the river, Gen. Atkinson very judiciously ordered Gen. Alexander and Gen. Posey to form the right wing of the army, and march down to the river above the Indian encampment on the bank, and then move down."
"General Atkinson stationed Generals Posey and Alexander, up the river, on the extreme right, in order to prevent the Indians from making their escape in that direction; which appeared to be one of those hard cases, for the men had marched a great way, through swamps, over mountains, and through the worst kind of forests: — had suffered much with fatigue — and many other hardships which a person necessarily has to undergo in a campaign; and that, too, they had done without a murmur, in order that they might have it in their power to assist in expelling from their country, those wretched children of the forest."
"Orders were sent to the right for Posey & Alexander to march to the scene of action except Col. [Willis] Hargraves Light Bat. [Battalion] to cover the rear, and what little baggage there was and the horses."
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Alexander Posey reported, "...from my position in the order of march; being ordered to take the right of the infantry, It was executed with promptness by Cols Hargrave and [Samuel] Leach, that in ascending & turning a very steep hill, Hargrave [with his 1st Regiment] was thrown farther to the right than anticipated, Leach having turned the Hill near the infantry decended to the bank of the Mississippi [with his 3d Regiment]...."
"Col Hargrave when about to descend the precipicce to join Leach was ordered to take post at a pass in the Hill which he did with promptness — but such was the eagerness of both officers & men to participate in the immediate conflict it was with difficulty they could be restrained from throwing themselves forward."
General Milton K. Alexander reported, "...I received orders direct from yourself [Atkinson] to advance and form a line in the extreme right to the river, that position being considered the most likely pass that the enemy would attempt to retreat and escape. I formed an extended line as ordered having Captain McCowen's [John McCown's] company of the Spy Bat. (Major McHenry having remained at the Wisconsin river in consequence of indisposition) Colonels [James M.] Blackburn [1st Regiment], [Samuel] Adams [2d Regiment] and [Hosea] Pierce [3d Regiment] with their respective commands at a distance of two miles or upwards from the main battle ground and I advanced with extended line down the river...."
"In taking possession of these only accessible approaches to the plain below or rather swamp, the right & left were necessarily two miles or more apart."
"Gen Henry in pursuing the trail it being a more easy descent was brought in contact with the position of the enemy sooner than either of the other corps..."
"General Henry had this morning been put in the rear, but he did not remain there long. Major Ewing who commanded the spy battalion [of General Henry's Third Brigade], sent his Adjutant [William Bradford] back to General Henry, informing him that he was on the main trail.
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Major Ewing, at the same time, formed his men in order of battle, and awaited the arrival of the brigade, which marched up in quick time. When they came up, General Henry had his men formed as soon as possible for action; he placed Colonel Jones and Major Ewing in front.""Finding the enemy to be in force in that direction, his [Henry's] whole Brigade was ordered on that point, the Order was promptly executed by the Brigade, having in its advance a small body of spies under Dixon [Dickson] who commenced the action, seconded simultaneously by Hen[r]y."
"The order was promptly obeyed and the head of [the following is crossed out] the head of the colum column on marching, the Bat, [end of crossed portion] column reaching the bottom it came into action with the enemy who had just been discovered by Capt. Dixon [Dickson] and [the following is crossed out] followed [end of crossed portion] fired up."
"We here had to charge for some considerable distance, over the worst kind of ground; the logs, and weeds being in some places as high as a man's head. All this did not stop us; General Henry, with his Aids, Majors [Nelson H.] Johnston and [Murray] McConnel, in front, and the brave Colonel March leading the van."
"...when we came upon the enemy, they were fixing their bark canoes to cross the river. Some of them had crossed; others had just launched their canoes; and some had not got them made; but I [John Wakefield] suppose all were busy in making the necessary arrangements to cross and get out of our way.
"But the Ruler of the Universe, He who takes vengeance on the guilty, did not design those guilty wretches to escape His vengeance for the horrid deeds they had done, which were of the most appalling nature. He here took just retribution for the many innocent lives those cruel savages had taken on our northern frontiers."
"...he [General Henry] reached the plane [plain] in advance of the center and attacked the enemy...."
"The main body of the enemy had gone down the river, after they had entered on the River Bottom. I [Dickson]
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pursued with my command, passing General Henry's brigade formed on the Mississippi Bottom; I crossed the slough, and engaged a squad of Indians, who were making preparations to cross the River; after which we were fired upon, and I returned the fire of several bands or ssquads of Indians, before the army arrived. I and several of my men were wounded before the other troops came up.""Our [Dickson's] spies got to the river and fired. Only Rittenhouse was left standing. Indians had shot down the rest."
"A little Indian boy concealed in the driftwood jumped from his hiding place and ran for his life. Dixon [Dickson] ordered Rittenhouse to shoot the child.
"The brave soldier raise his gun but lowered it saying ‘Captain, I cant shoot a child’!
"Dixon [Dickson] thereupon cursed him and said ‘nits breed lice’, and again ordered him to kill the boy.
"He again raised his gun but dropped it and said ‘I tell you Captain I can't shoot that child’.
"Just then a big Dutchman
"Presently another jumped from the driftwood and the Dutchman took aim and blew the top of his head off."
"During the battle, a Sac mother took her infant child, and fastening it to a large piece of cottonwood bark, consigned it to the treacherous waves [!] rather than to
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captivity. The current carried the child near the bank, when [Big Tooth John] House cooly loaded his rifle, and taking deliberate aim, shot the babe dead. Being reproached for his hardened cruelty, he grimly replied, ‘Kill the nits, and you'll have no lice ’ ""Then 14 Indians rode off up the river. Dickson sent 8 spies to watch them. With 10 men Dickson continued the chase, depending on the army for support.
"He [Captain Joseph Dickson] was wounded in the ankle.
"It was said that he shot a squaw who fell on her knees before him begging for her life."
"Gen Henry first came upon them & commenced a heavy fire which was returned by the enemy. The enemy being routed from their first hiding places, sought others."
"The enemy was driven across several sluices down the river bottom, which was covered with fallen Timber, underwood and high grass."
"Captains Gruer [Greer] and [John F.] Richardson, from General Alexander's brigade, with their companies, and a few scattering gentlemen from General Dodge's corps, were also up; who all joined General Henry and fought bravely."
"Captain [James H.] Gentry from General Dodge's corps, was by this time also up, and opened a heavy fire. He fell into the lines of Colonel Jones and Major Ewing.
"Captains Greere [Greer] and Richardson were more fortunate [than the rest of Alexander's Brigade, who missed the main action], they passed on from the encampment with their commands direct to the enemy; Captain Greere and his company fell in with Genl. Henry and in accordance with Genl. Henry's directions formed on the left of Major [William Lee D.] Ewing's Spy Bat. [Battalion] and remained in that Position and advancing until the battle terminated."
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"We pursued on, until Colonel Jones [with his 3d Regiment] and Major Ewing [with his Spy Battalion] commenced a fire on the main body of the enemy; at which time General Henry sent back an officer to bring up Colonel Fry with his regiment.""Colonel Fry obeyed the call of his General, and was soon there with his [2d] regiment, who shrank not from their duty. They all joined in the work of death — for death it was We were by this time fast getting rid of those demons in human shape."
"Colonel Collins was by this time in the heat of the action with his [4th] regiment."
"...while ‘Capt. Dixon [Dickson], with a few of Dodge's spies.’ were looking for the Indians, the line of regulars — who were in the utmost impatience — were halted in the open woods near the edge of the bluff,
"Later in the day, after the regular troops and Dodge's volunteers had formed in line and advanced nearly to the top of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Dickson again attacked the enemy on the river bottom. Directed by the sound of his guns, the regulars and Dodge's volunteers marched directly down the bluff to his support."
"The Reg. [Regulars] and Dodge were ordered from the heights immediately to the point of action."
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"The Brigade [of U.S. Army Infantry regulars] were then ordered to advance in double quick time down a precipice so steep that the men were compelled to use their hands and Guns to aid them in their descent...."
"With this order the whole force descended the almost perpendicular bluff and came into a low valley, heavily timbered, with a large growth of under brush, weeds and grass. Sloughs deep ravines, old logs, &c. were so plentiful to afford every facility for the enemy to make a strong defence."
"When we [U.S. Army Infantry regulars] were at last ordered to advance, we threw ourselves down the high bluff which was not quite perpendicular; and in the act of descending I [Lt. Philip St. George Cooke] saw the Indians below, scampering through the woods, and occasionally firing."
"...at the bottom [of the precipice] a defile presented itself, so narrow, that it was necessary to advance by a flank, which was promptly done, and in this manner they continued to move crossing several slough's up to their waist in mud and water until they joined the Volunteers, who had a few minutes before commenced the action."
"At length, after descending a bluff, almost perpendicular, we entered a bottom thickly and heavily wooded, with much underbrush and fallen timber, and overgrown with rank weeds and grass, plunged through a bayou of stagnant water, the men as usual holding up their guns and cartridge boxes, and in a few minutes heard the yells of the enemy, closed with them, and the action commenced."
"About half an hour after the battle commenced, Colonel [Zachary] Taylor with the infantry, and General Dodge with his squadron, got on the ground, and joined in the battle with us. They had been thrown on the extreme right, by following the rear guard of the enemy. Those men are both brave officers, and would have gloried in being in front of the battle; but it appears that this was intended by the God of battles for our much beloved [James D.] Henry,
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who here displayed the part of a General indeed. He was placed in the rear in the morning, and was first in battle This may appear strange to the reader, but it was nevertheless the truth.""At 9 in the morning [the U.S. Army regulars] closed with the enemy in a thick wood on the bank of the Mississippi...."
"Our troops rushed with ardour to the scene action...."
"the army approached the margin of the River where they formed and marched out by heads of companys untill they Reached where the Indians were the Battle then commenced and lasted three hours and a quarter the Indians fought desperately untill they were forced to plunge into the River many were Killed in the water some was fortunate enough to reach the shore"
"When they arrived on the ground, they found Dickson severely wounded, and Gen. Henry, who with his brigade had followed the Indian trail down a ravine to our left that led to the river, was on the ground supporting Dickson."
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"The spies [of Dickson's Company] killed 19 Indians before we [Dodge's troops] got to the river. We used flint lock muskets and ounce balls, and 3 buck shot.
"We rushed past them and did not stop to see their injuries for we were after Indians. They went 3/4 of a mile below here [Battle Island]."
"From the point at which Dickson was wounded, the enemy was followed down the river some distance, when both the [U.S. Army Infantry] regular troops and Dodge's command [of Michigan Territory mounted volunteers] were engaged with them...."
"Gen. Henry formed the left wing and marched in the main trail of the enemy. The U.S. Infantry and Gen. Dodge's squadron of the mining
"...the regulars and dodges [& part of Poseys]
"Captain Richardson advanced with Genl. Henry and the regular troops [when they finally arrived] and formed on the right of Genl. Henry and on the left and some in advance of the Regular troops. Some scattering men from different companies in my [Alexander's] Brigade advanced (being some in the rear of myself in consequence of not having found their horses early) direct to the scene of action and Participating in the fight."
"General Dodge's squadron and the U.S. troops soon came into action, and with Gen. Henry's men, rushed into the strong defiles of the enemy, killed all in their way, except a few who succeeded in swimming a slough of the Mississippi 150 yards wide."
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"Abadiah Rittenhouse, a spy, had a ball through his whiskers and one through the rim of his hat. He was dazed and wild after that. A squaw with a child on her back was near him. He said, ‘See me kill that d—n squaw.’ He killed the squaw and the bullet broke the child's arm.
"When we came up the child was gnawing a horse bone."
"I [Philip St. George Cooke] saw a wounded infant wailing over the dry dugs of a slaughtered mother."
"During the fight on the mainland, an Indian woman was killed; she had a young child at the breast, and the deadly bullet had passed through and shattered the arm of the infant and penetrated the left breast of the mother.
"When they were found after the battle, the woman was lying dead, over the child, whose head protruded under the mother's arm.
"Dr. Addison Philleo, of Galena, surgeon of the volunteers, amputated the child's arm, on the ground; during the operation a biscuit was given to the infant, which it ate, apparently unconcerned, and insensible to pain."
"On the fields of action was seen a little child with its arm broken by the ball that robbed its mother of her life — the child alive its mother lying bleeding dead at its feet. Such are the scenes of the battle field. When to their misery is added the suffering of our Inhabitants on the Frontier — the imagination may readily pourtray a picture replete with misery and suffering."
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The Galenian newspaper for August 29, 1832, reported the event as follows:
"A scene at the battle of Bad Axe. — When our troops charged the enemy in their defiles near the bank of the Mississippi, men, women and children were seen mixed together in such manner as to render it difficult to kill one, and save the other.
"A young squaw of about 19 years, stood in the grass at a short distance from our line, holding her little girl in her arms, about 4 years old. While thus standing apparently unconcerned, a ball struck the right arm of the child above the elbow & shattering the bone, passed into the breast of its young mother which instantly felled her to the ground. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground also. During the whole battle this babe was heard to groan and call for relief, but none had time to afford it.
"When however, the Indians had retreated from that spot, & the battle had nearly subsided, Lt. [Robert] Anderson, of the U.S. Army, went to the spot and took from underthe dead mother her wounded daughter, & brought it to the place we had selected for dressing wounds, and placed it there for surgical aid.
"It was soon ascertained that its arm must come off, and the operation was performed without drawing a tear or a shriek. The child was eating a piece of hard biscuit during the operation.
"It was brought to Prairie du Chien, and we learn that it has nearly recovered.
"This was one among the many scenes calculated to draw forth a sympathetic tear for human misery."
"The regular Troops, and Dodge at the head of his Stallion soon came up and joined in the action followed by part of Posey's Troops, when the enemy was driven still further through the bottom to several small willow Islands successively where much execution was done."
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"With Henry's men we killed in three-fourths of a mile, 82 Indians. We lost three men. Indians were thick there. We pursued. They shot to[o] high. We found bullets thirty feet high in trees.
"We lost one man, Haines, shot through the back, but he lived. We followed the spies. We got ahead of the regulars. We supported our spies. Atkinson sent Dodge an order to stop. We obeyed. Dodge was roaring mad."
There were three willow bars out there, I [H.S. Townsend] cannot find them now [in 1898]. There Dodge stopped and waited for regulars. Thirty yards ahead was another pond of water.
"The regulars came; we were on the run. Ran half a mile. An order came to hold on, and not break ranks. Dodge said, ‘Tell Atkinson I'll not obey his order.’ We cheered and rushed on. We had old men with us. It was a tremendous hot day."
"Three squaws were shot on that race: they were naked."
"We heard a man talking loud and plain on the bluff. It was Black Hawk
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"We fired at the smoke we saw.
"The main body of the enemy being in the bottom and adjoining small islands, Alexander was ordered to move with his [Second] Brigade to the point of action, but from the distance of his position he came up to[o] late to participate in the combat, except two companies of his Brigade [Greer's and Richardson's] that had previously joined the [Third] Brigade under Brigadier General [James D.] Henry."
"I [Alexander] advanced with extended line down the river and over the high hills towards the scene of action but owing to the distance we were placed therefrom we only reached the battle ground as the fireing ceased."
"During this time, the Brigades of Gens. Alexander and Posey, were marching down the river when they fell in with another part of the enemy's army, and killed and routed all that opposed them."
Troops from Posey's First Brigade captured 11 prisoners. "Capt [Berryman G.] Wells & [James N.] Clark of [Colonel Samuel] Leach [3d] regt captured 4 Indian youths, & Capt [Harrison] Wilson of [Colonel Willis] Hargrave [1st] regt captured 3 Squaws & four youths"
"Those not killed got into the river. Henry's men were below on island and killed those who flated down."
"When the Indians were driven to the Banks of the Mississippi, some hundreds of men, women and children Plunged into the river, and hoped by diving, &c. to escape the bullets of our guns; very few, however, escaped our sharpshooters."
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"...during the fight the river was full of Indian ponies with women and children clinging to them. Lindsay [Captain Allen F. Lindsey of the Third Brigade Spy Battalion] saw six persons hanging on one pony. Many children were supposed to have been drowned."
"It was enough to make the heart of the most hardened being on earth to ache."
"When we came upon the squaws and children, they raised a scream and cry loud enough to affect the stoutest man upon earth. If they had shown themselves, they would have come off much better, but fear prevented them; and in their retreat, trying to hide from us, many of them were killed; but contrary to the wish of every man, as neither officer nor private intended to have spilt the blood of those squaws and children. But such was their fate; some of them were killed, but not intentionally by any man; as all were men of too much sense of honor and feeling to have killed any but those who were able to harm us. We all well knew the squaws and children could do us no harm; and could not help what the old Black Hawk and the other chiefs did."
"The loss of the squaws and children gives great cause of regret but, fighting with an enemy who concealed themselves in the high grass and behind logs and the banks
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of the ravines and river — whose positions were designated by the flash and report of their guns individual safety required that our fire should be directed to every point where an Indian appeared. When the fact is known, that the women urged their warriors to an opposition to the U. States telling them, ‘that the warriors had become women and were no longer men’ — and when to this, is added the fact, that some of our men were wounded by the squaws — we may think it less to be regretted than under other circumstances — 39 women and children & 1 man were taken Prisoners on the battle field.""...many of them Men Women & children fled to the river & endeavored to escape by swimming in this situation our troops arrived on the bank and threw in a heavy fire which killed great numbers, unfortunately some women & children which was much deplored by the soldiers...."
"During the engagement we killed some of the squaws through mistake. It was a great misfortune to those miserable squaws and children, that they did not carry into execution [the plan]
"Then the Indians, charged upon with the bayonet, fell back upon their main force. The battle now became general; the Indians fought with desperate valor, but were furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, cutting many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest to the river.
"The river where they attempted to cross, was full of islands. A number of them succeeded in reaching one o those islands, and had taken shelter behind old logs and willows, where they kept up a constant fire upon us during the engagement."
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"Those who escaped from being drowned took refuge on an island."
"The Inds. were pushed litterally into the Mississippi, the current of which was at one time perceptibly tinged with the blood of the Indians who were shot on its margin & in the stream. Many passed a small Slue into an Island, where they made a stand for a while, only prolonging the action a few hours as few of them escaped."
"They were afterwards driven from their strong positions near the foot of an island by the repeated charges of our troops."
"After crossing on logs, and wading several sloughs, with a general discharge of firearms in our front, a halt [of the U.S. Army Infantry regulars] was ordered, and a very difficult change in the order of the column commenced; for what purpose heaven does not know.
"During this strange delay, a staff-officer of this column — finding his words or advice had no good effect — went on, accompanied only by a bugler; following a path which soon led him to the river bank, he there found two mounted officers of high rank, of whom he inquired where the enemy was?
"He was told in an island opposite, and was further informed, that the water was fordable....
"this office immediately ordered the bugler to sound Relieve skirmishers; hoping thereby to attract the brigade of regulars:
"and soon after he saw it marching past 200 paces from the river; he moved toward it, and with much difficulty made himself heard by its commander, to whom he gave his information, after a slight pause, he was told ‘it was too late now’ (he was afraid of another countermarch), but was advised to take in the reserve which followed. And on he went due south."
At that moment the heaviest firing was from an Island in front of the Volunteers and on their left."
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"Zachary Taylor at last came [with the U.S. Army infantry regulars]; made a speech and ordered us to charge."
"Colonel Taylor ordered an officer and a part of his infantry to cross over to the island, and rout the enemy from this position...."
"The staff-officer succeeded in securing the reserve — three companies led by a major [William Davenport] — whom he conducted to the bank, and jumped in; and, though a tall man found himself breast deep: the battalion threw themselves in after him, and waded to the island...."
"The part of the river they had to wade, took a man up to his arm-pits; but even this appeared to be no obstacle in their way. The enemy were there, doing mischief by annoying us, and they had to be routed or killed. The latter was most desirable, and was nearly done, there being but few who made their escape from the place."
"The first [U.S. Army] Infty under Maj. [John] Bliss and two Companies of the 6th. Infty composing the reserve under Maj. [William] Davenport were ordered to drive the Enemy from that Island which duty was most handsomely performed in conjunction with Genl: [Henry] Dodge's command and some of Genl: [James D.] Hen[r]y's [Third] Brigade who cross'd a slough thirty Yards in width up to their waists in mud and water for that purpose.
"There were a number of gentlemen belonging to the militia, who crossed also into this island, and assisted in driving the enemy from his hiding place. Mr. William Bradford, Adjutant of Major [William Lee D.] Ewing's spy battalion, and many other brave and fearless men from the militia, crossed."
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"The remainer of the 6th. Inf: under the command of Col. [Daniel] Baker assisted by Maj. [Bennet] Riley with equal promptness and decision occupied the position assigned to them to the left and killed every Indian that presented himself on land, or who endeavored to seek safety by swiming the river.
"...it being the nature of an Indian to sell his life as dear as possible, they did so here. They killed five of the regulars, before they could drive them from their strong hold that they had got into; and then, it had to be done by a charge, which those men were not afraid to do."
"The two Companies of the 6th. Inf: under the command of Maj. Davenport in their charge on the Island lost five privates killed, three of whom were of ‘A’ Company and two of ‘K’ and two wounded: In the same charge ‘F’ Company of the fifth Regt had two men wounded."
"...we lost five killed, and several wounded; — the best set-off possible to the claim which the militia were inclined to make, that (in consequence of our [the regulars'] long halt) they had done all the fighting. The [regular U.S.] army just then was not popular."
"Was heavy fighting there. Squaws came to us holding up their arms. We pushed them back and killed none of them. We killed everything that didn't surrender."
"A soldier named Rittenhouse, a spy, related his experience with an Indian in the driftwood at Battle Island. The Indian had wounded several soldiers and Rittenhouse
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climbed a tree to get a view of the warrior who shot at him inflicting a wound on the scalp. The spy saw the Indian in the act of reloading his rifle and shot him.""On an acre of ground on this island [Battle Island], ponies were tied all over it and goods and old Indians were placed there. We passed by and did not molest them."
Private Townsend said, "We have been accused of inhumanity to those Indians. It is false as hell, we never did it."
But Lieutenant Cooke did find occasion to interrupt one molestation: "In this island," he wrote, "I rescued a little red Leila, whom I found in very uncomfortable circumstances. I felt some rising symptoms of romance: but the fire, mud, and water, or rather I believe her complexion, soon cooled them, and I sent her by a safe hand to the rear.
"I was as much interested in a keen lad of a soldier (of the 6th), whom I had known of old, and had seen jump in upon a wolf at bay, when its eyes shone like balls of fire; he had now picked up a glaring Indian sash, and put it on; and behaving very gallantly, was probably mistaken for a captain, and was shot through."
"And now, above the incessant roar of small arms, we hear booming over the waters, the discharge of artillery; and lo! the steamer Warrior came dashing on! It was a complete surprise, and had a very fine effect; we had not dreamed of a steamboat, wandering so long through unexplored swamps and forests, where nothing so bright as the idea of steam had ever entered; nor had the party on the boat the slightest expectation of finding the army here."
"Towards the close of the action the steam Boat Warrior came up, Throgmorton [Joseph Throckmorton] Master.
Captain James B. Estes of Dodge's Michigan Territory militia was on board the Warrior, so his estimate of its time of arrival may be the most accurate. Estes said, "Our boat, (the Warrior, Captain Throckmorton,) arrived on the 2d of August, about ten o'clock in the morning; the firing had already begun."
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John A. Wakefield, Surgeon's Mate of the Third Brigade Spy Battalion said, "...they dropped down that night as low as prairie du Chien, and took in wood, and returned to the scene of action the next day, by twelve o'clock, a distance of forty miles or upwards."
Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, commanding the U. S. Army Infantry regulars had yet another time for the Warrior's arrival; "Soon after the battle closed, (about two o'clock) the Steam Boat Warrior arrived from Prairie Du chien...."
"Soon after the battle was over, the steam boat Warrior arrived."
"when they [on the Warrior] got back to their old play place, the boys that they had been sporting with the day before, were no more. We had killed and wounded a great many of these wretched wanderers, that have no home in the world, but are like the wild beasts more than man — wandering from forest to forest, and not making any improvement in the natural mind. All their study is, how to proceed in the chase, or take scalps in time of war. But although they are a miserable race of people, and live a wretched life, they are much frightened when they see death stare them in the face; which was the case at this time."
"Battle Island is a long narrow strip of land perhaps half a mile in length lying between the bluffs on the Wisconsin shore and the main channel. At the head of this island is a narrow curve in the channel where many of the Indians crossed."
John Fonda was aboard the Warrior. He said, "Before we rounded the island, and got within sight of the battle-ground, we could hear the report of musketry, and then it was that I heard Throckmorton say: ‘Dodge is giving them h-ll!’
"And he guessed right, for as we reached the scene of action, the wild volunteers under Gen. Dodge were engaged in a fierce conflict with the Indians. The Indians were driven down to the river edge; some of them under shelter of the bank, were firing at the volunteers, who had command of the
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bluffs. The Suckers and Hoosiers,Throckmorton said, "The next morning before we could get them back again, on account of a heavy fog, they had the whole army upon them. We found them at it, walked in, and took a hand ourselves. The first shot from the Warrior laid out three."
"The boat, on its return next morning, was fired into again and the fire returned until the army was discovered on the land where the Indians had been the night before."
"When she came near to where we were, she commenced raking the Island with a six pounder. We in return fired a salute, thinking she was apprised of our battle, and that she was firing as a salute; but the truth was, she had the first fight with the enemy herself [on August 1], and was then raking the Island with her six pounder, not knowing but the enemy were still there."
"A captain went to the shore some distance below and waved a flag, when he was saluted with a discharge of grape, which covered him with a shower of limbs and leaves."
"There are two islands in the Mississippi near the mouth of the Bad Axe [river]; our troops had driven many of the Indians on these islands, and the steamboat opened a fire with the six-pounder upon them."
"From the main eastern shore of the Mississippi to the islands, is about one hundred and fifty yards; the small island lies nearest to the shore, and is above the large one. It appeared that the Indians had only one canoe with them, and they had to swim across the slough; many of them were drowned...."
"The Steam Boat ‘Warrior,’ came up from Prairie du Chien in the time of the action, and as she passed the Island recd. a heavy fire from ths Inds. Sustaining little damage. She turned upon them and poured a shower of grape from a six pounder into the head of the Island & those who were on the hills say that the Horses and Men fell like grass before the scythe."
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"The firing was very severe on the boat from both of the islands and the shore also, when it had arrived at the head of the large island. The pilot's house being above the upper deck, was much exposed, and several balls had passed near it; the steersman, somewhat alarmed, left the wheel, and instantly afterwards a shot passed through both sides of the house, in the direction where he had been standing; for a few minutes Captain Estes took the wheel, but the pilot soon resumed his place...."
"The pilot was fired at many times, but escaped unharmed, though the pilot-house was riddled with balls."
"The troops and [Menomonie] Indians on board the Warrior, kept up a brisk fire on the Indians ashore, who fought with a desperation that surpassed everything I [John Fonda] ever saw, during an Indian fight, and I have seen more than one. The Indians were between two fires; on the bluffs above them were Dickson and his rangers, and Dodge leading on his men, who needed no urging; while we kept steaming back and forth on the river, running down those who attempted to cross, and shooting at the Indians on shore."
"The Indians' shots would hit the water or patter against the boat, but occasionally a rifle-ball sent with more force, would whistle through both sides.
"Some of the Indians, naked to the breech-cloth, slid down into the water, where they laid, with only their mouths and nostrils above the surface; but by running the boat closer in to the east shore, our Monomonees were enabled to make the water too hot for them. One after another, they jumped up, and were shot down in attempting to gain cover on the bank above.
"One warrior, more brave than the others, or perhaps more accustomed to the smell of gun powder, kept his position in the water until the balls fell around him like hail, when he also concluded to pugh-a shee,
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creep the bank. But, he never reached the top, for Throckmorton had his eye on him, and drawing up his heavy rifle he sent a bullet through the ribs of the Indian, who sprung into the air with an ugh! and fell dead.""One incident occurred during the battle that came under my observation, which I must not omit to relate. An old Indian brave and his five sons, all of whom I had seen on the Prairie and knew, had taken a stand behind a prostrate log, in a little ravine mid-way up the bluff; from whence they fired on the regulars with deadly aim. The old man loaded the guns as fast as his sons discharged them, and at each shot a man fell. They knew they could not expect quarter, and they sold their lives as dear as possible; making the best show of fight, and held their ground the firmest of any of the Indians. But, they could never withstand the men under Dodge, for as the volunteers poured over the bluff, they each shot a man, and in return, each of the braves was shot down and scalped by the wild volunteers, who out with their knives and cutting two parallel gashes down their backs, would strip the skin from the quivering flesh, to make razor straps of. In this manner I saw the old brave and his five sons treated, and afterwards had a piece of their hide."
"a great advantage was derived from the presence of the Boat on this ocasion as it retarded the enemy in crossing the river."
"as soon as the enemy were slain or dislodged from the willow bars, the regular Troops under Col [Zachary] Taylor, and a company or two of volunteers were thrown on board the Steam boat Warrior that had just arrived."
"The reg. [regular U.S. Army Infantry] troops and 2 or 3 companies of Volunteers were put on board of her and some Mackinaw boats that she had in tow and thrown upon the islands where it was supposed some of the enemy might have taken refuge."
The Warrior "Having passed the large island, our troops were discovered on the mainland, and two small boats were sent by Captain Throckmorton to the shore to bring them over to the islands."
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"Captain [James B.] Estes [of Dodge's Michigan Territory militia volunteers] went ashore with the first boats to bring the troops over the slough."
"At 3 o'clock, after breaking our fast with some crackers and butter, which we [Cooke and others] found aboard, the steamer was crowded with troops, and we steamed among the many island, which result here from the mouths of two rivers — the Ioway being opposite; — and how well had Black Hawk chosen his point of crossing, being destitute of transports...."
"After the Indians had been completely routed on the east side, we carried Col. Taylor and his force across the river, to islands opposite, which we raked with grape and round shot."
"After dispensing grape and cannister right and left very impartially into the islands, we landed on the largest, and scoured it completely in extended order."
"In the boats that first brought the regulars to the large island, were Colonel Zachary Taylor, Major [John] Bliss, Captains [William S.] Harney and [Henry] Smith, and other officers; Captain [James B.] Estes were also along with them, having gone in the boats to bring them over. Colonel Taylor was the first who got ashore."
"...although the Brigade had not taken refreshment since two ock in the morning they were thrown into two of the adjoining Islands, which the[y] effectualy scowered, the 6th. [Infantry] under Col. [Daniel] Baker killing several Indians, who endeavored to secret themselves by climbing trees &c."
"The boats made a few trips, and landed Colonel Zachary Taylor and his whole command, about one hundred and fifty men, on the large island. Here a severe fight took place, and all the Indians found on this island were killed, except one who swam across the slough, and got on shore, on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, and escaped; two Indians were killed in the top of a tree."
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"Large numbers [of hostile Indians] had evidently just left it; but we found only two men, whom the cannonade had driven into the branches of large trees. Instantly without orders, the volunteers commenced firing, and a hundred guns were discharged at them; I [Cooke] saw them drop from limb to limb, clinging — poor fellows — like squirrels; or like the Indian in the ‘Last of the Mohicans.’"
The Menominees said, "it can't be helped. One of our men saw it — and we know it was an accident."
"Very unfortunately one Menominee was killed in the action by a white-man by mistake."
"A fine young Menominee, who was by my [Cooke's] side, ran forward, tomahawk upraised, to obtain the Indian honor of first striking the dead — I lost sight of him; — a few minutes after I saw him stretched upon the earth; — he had been shot in the back by a militia friend! It was hard to realize; a moment before he was all life and animation, burning with hope and ambition; now, there he lay with face to heaven, with no wound visible, — a noble form, and smiling countenance — and but a clod of the earth!"
" ‘As-kai-ah’ — or ‘Ska-ah’ was killed at the battle ground on the 2nd. Aug. Whilst on the Island with a party of regulars & a few volunteers, two Saacs were shot from a tree. As-Kai-ah. sprang forward, to scalp them & was shot by one of the volunteers, who probably took him to be a Saac."
"During the fight, and about the close, General Atkinson came on board the steamboat, and remained there until the close of the battle."
"Taylor and his men charged through the islands to the right and left, but they only took a few prisoners; mostly women and children. I [John H. Fonda] landed with the troops, and was moving along the shore to the north, when a
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little Indian boy, with one of his arms shot most off, came out of the bushes and made signs for something to eat. He seemed perfectly indifferent to pain, and only sensible of hunger, for when I carried the little naked fellow aboard, some one gave him a piece of hard bread, and he stood and ate it, with the wounded arm dangling by the torn flesh; and so he remained until the arm was taken off.""Upon the small island, several Indians were also killed; and here, Captain Estes discovered an Indian sack with something red hanging out of it; when this was taken out, it proved to be a British flag, entirely new, and never soiled. Major [Captain Richard Barnes] Mason of the United States Army, was with Captain Estes when the flag was found; it was passed from hand to hand among the troops; what became of it afterward is not ascertained."
Steamboat Captain Throckmorton later wrote to his brother, "I tell you what, Sam, there is no fun in fighting Indians, particularly at this season, when the grass is so very bright. Every man, and even my cabin-boy, fought well. We had sixteen regulars, five rifle men, and twenty of ourselves. Mr. How, of Platt, Mr. James G. Soulard, and one of the Rolettes, were with us and fought well."
"In this battle the whites lost 39 men killed and wounded."
"The battle lasted upwards of three hours. About 50 of the enemy's women and children were taken prisoners, and many, by accident in the battle, were killed."
The loss on the side of the enemy, never can be exactly ascertained, but according to the best computation, they must have lost in killed, upwards of 150. Our loss in killed and wounded was 27."
"...after a sharp firing and charge we completely defeated them, killing over 150 and losing ourselves but twenty-seven."
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"One woman we took on board and cared for. Another woman crawled under the bank and buried herself in the sand. The first one told where the other was, after she saw we would not kill her, and we got her from the bank."
"We took about fifty prisoners, principally women and children. They during the engagement, had concealed themselves in the high weeds and grass, and amongst old logs and brush, which lay very thick in the bottom, and some had buried themselves in the mud and sand in the bank of the river, just leaving enough of their heads out to breathe the breath of life. The soldiers drew them out, and brought them to what was then called headquarters, the place where the officers were principally assembled, and where the Surgeons and Surgeon's mates were busily engaged in dressing and examining the wounded."
"Surgeons operated on them. Men stood it manfully. No ether used then."
"It was singular, but 'tis true, the [U.S. Army Infantry] regular brigade had been unaccompanied by an army surgeon, since the opening of the campaign; a citizen physician [Dr. Addison Philleo of Galena] alone attended us; fortunately, in the Warrior, came up Surgeon B.,
"It is to be hoped, that the women and children fell by random shots; but it is certain that a frontiersman is not particular, when his blood is up, and a redskin in his power."
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"As soon as the battle was over, all the wounded were collected to one place, and, those of our enemy, were examined, and there wounds dressed; there was no difference between our men and the enemy. The different Surgeons did their best for both. They were no longer able to do us any harm, but were in our power; and begging for mercy, and we acted like a civilized people, although it was with the worst kind of enemies, and one thay had done so much mischief, and had taken away so many lives of our fellow citizens."
"...Govr Dodge observed a Young Chief [Young Winneshiek
"The prisoners we took seemed to lament their ever having raised arms against the United States, and appeared to blame the Black Hawk and the [Winnebago] Prophet [Wabokieshiek], for the miserable condition that their tribe was then in; but at the same time, appeared to rejoice that they were prisoners of war, which plainly showed that they had some faith in our humanity, and that they would exchange the life they then were living, for any other. They appeared to manifest every token of honesty in their examination.
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They stated that Black Hawk had stolen off up the river, at the commencement of the battle, with some few of his warriors, and a few squaws and children. I think the number of warriors was ten, and thirty-five women and children or in other words, four lodges, which is the Indian phrase as they do not know how to count by numbers."Private Townsend's reaction was that "Black Hawk was a mean man and a coward. He brought on the war. He would have it. It did come off. He knew his men was liable to be killed. Should have stayed with them. He pretended to go to the Winnebagoes, but they were with him and aided him all they could."
"of the fate of the Black-Hawk we are not able to gain any positive accounts. I [Joseph Street] rather apprehend he has escaped and is yet living."
Joseph Rolette, a passenger on the Warrior, said, "...Bl'k Hawk has made his escape with about 20 Indians. It is supposed he crossed the river Wednesday evening after the Steam Boat left for Wood."
"After the Indians were all collected together, that we had taken prisoners, they were examined respecting many things; and among others what it was that the Indian Chief was saying when he talked so long on the mountain at the Wisconsin
"They were examined respecting the first battle we had with them on the Wisconsin, and they stated that we kill
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sixty-eight on the field of action; and that twenty-five had died since with their wounds; making in all ninety-three that we are certain we killed in that battle [of Wisconsin Heights], besides a number more, that there is no doubt still lingered and died with their wounds."Putting together what were killed in the two battles, and all the little skirmishes, we must have destroyed upwards of four hundred of these unhappy and miserable beings, which was occasioned, no doubt, by the superstitious ideas which were instilled into their minds by the Prophet."
"It can never be ascertained how many were killed in this battle; but from the best calculation that could be made, I [John Wakefield] suppose we killed about one hundred and fifty; and I think it altogether probable, that as many more were drowned in attempting to cross the river."
Lieutenant Albert Sidney Johnston, Atkinson's Aide de Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant General, wrote in the journal of the war, "they were now completely overthrown & beaten with the loss of one hundred & fifty killed 40 women & children taken prisoners and their baggage & about one hundred horses killed & captured with a loss on our part of 5 regulars killed & 4 wounded 6 of Dodges battalion wounded 6 of Henrys wounded one mortally & one of Poseys brigade,
Lieutenant Cooke wrote, Our total loss was five killed, and eighteen wounded, including two officers; that of the Indians was reported ‘about one hundred and fifty men killed’ — forty women and children, seventy horses, &c. &c., captured."
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"We then commenced hunting up the squaws and children and occasionally would sho[o]t an Indian I am glad to say there were but few squaws and children killed. We suppose to have killed 150 Indians & 50 taken prisoners 27 of our men wounded & killed."
"Took seventy or eighty prisoners. Encamped on the battleground."
"The Sac band was broken up, root and branch; with their horses, very much of their baggage was lost; their valuable copper kettles; their knapsacks or ‘kits’ of private effects; even their sacred war-gourds, containing the teeth of the drum-head fish, were left on the ground; a volunteer found $500 in specie in a bundle; taken probably from Stillman's men, in the saddle-bag retreat."
"We were then ordered to return and hunt our horses. We did so and marched to the bluf near the battle ground and encamped for the night very much fatiegued, wet muddy & hungry"
"Thus was the great Gen. Black hawk and his British Band
Casualties among Atkinson's troops in the battle near Bad Axe river were 13 killed (including Ska-ah, the Menominee Indian killed by friendly fire) and 13 wounded.
All five U.S. Army Infantry soldiers were killed while crossing the slough to attack the Indians on the willow bar in the river. Moving slowly through the water up to their arm pits, they were sitting ducks for the Indian marksmen.
In Lieutenant John Nichols's Company A of the 6th Regiment, Privates Robert Armatage, John Brewade, and Thomas Calhoun were killed.
Five privates were killed during the battle in Colonel Henry Dodge's Michigan Territory militia volunteers:
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William B. Dean"I spoke of a member of the Skinner family falling in the battle of Bad Ax, in the Black Hawk war. Young Albert Skinner was a scout under Colonel Davenport
"At the close of the day at Bad Ax, Davenport, with the Scout by his side, with rifles at a ready, was moving in advance with great caution, when two Indians rose in front of them. There were two reports. The Scout and one Indian fell. The Indian that fired disappeared, the other one never
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fired, the ball from the rifle of the brave young scout going through his heart, thus saving the life of Davenport, but himself falling mortally wounded. Davenport felt keenly the sacrifice. He stripped the Macinac blanket from the dead Indian and wrapped it around young Skinner, never leaving him until carried aboard the ‘Warrior’ with the rest of the wounded, going down the river to Prairie du Chein the same night. Skinner died the next morning."The two fatalities in Brigadier General James D Henry's Third Brigade were 2d Lieutenant Samuel Bowman,
Lieutenant Charles Bracken, Adjutant General and Aide de Camp to Henry Dodge wrote, "...that they had the severest encounter with the enemy is apparent from the number of men they had killed and wounded, which on the part of the regular troops amounted to seventeen, and on that of Dodge's to seven more, to wit: Captain Joseph Dickson, Sergeant George Willard, privates Smith, Hood, Lowery, Skinner and Payne; of these, Smith, Hood and Lowery died of their wounds.
"In Henry's brigade there were but five men killed and wounded.
"On the part of the enemy, I [Charles Bracken] saw but one dead squaw and one warrior; there were, however, a large number of squaws and children taken prisoners."
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The wounded, who were sent down to the hospital on the Warrior included Privates James Norton and James Lewis of Company A, 6th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army.
Wounded volunteers included one man from Brigadier General Alexander Posey's First Brigade: Private Lockhart Stallings of Captain John Onstott's Company of Colonel Samuel Leach's 3d Regiment.
Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander also had but one man wounded in his Second Brigade, a man not technically enlisted:
"Aaron Payne, a gentleman who has had a brother killed this season by the Sac Indians)
Brigadier General James D. Henry sent seven wounded soldiers down on the Warrior from his Third Brigade:
Second Lieutenant Samuel Bowman
First Sergeant William C. Murphy
Private John White of Captain Josiah S. Briggs's Company of Jones's 3d Regiment was wounded
Private Andrew McCormack
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Private Joseph R. Young from Captain Jesse Claywell's Company of Colonel James Collins's 4th Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade was also wounded and put on board the Warrior.
From Dodge's Spy Company, which brought on the engagement, Captain Joseph Dickson and Sergeant George Willard were put on board to go to the hospital at Prairie du Chien.
"After the battle was over, I [Captain Joseph Dickson, wounded in the ankle] was taken with others on board of a steamer, which came along soon after, to Prairie DeChien, where I was properly cared for, and my wounds received suitable attention."
"...the Steam Boat Warrior...had been sent down to Fort Crawford with the wounded, on the night of the 2nd."
"Genl. A. [Atkinson] took and sent down about 30 or 40 prisoners, mostly women & children."
"The army lost eight or nine killed, and seventeen wounded, whom we brought down. One died on deck last night. We brought down thirty-six prisoners, women and children."
"Three of the wounded died next day, among whom was Lieutenant [Samuel] Bowman.
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"As the boat descended the River after the action the surface was spotted with Indians & horses & accoutrements borne down by the current."
"The Warrior carried down to the Prairie, after the fight, the regular troops, wounded men and prisoners; among the latter was an old Sauk Indian, who attempted to destroy himself, by pounding his own head with a rock, much to the amusement of the soldiers."
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Thursday, August 2, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"After the battle was all over, and the wounded attended to, the prisoners and the wounded of both parties, were put on board of the steamboat Warrior, and taken down to Prairie du Chien...."
— Surgeon's Mate John Wakefield,
Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south west wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 66°
2 P.M. — 71°
9 P.M. — 58°
"For want of Wood the S. Boat [Warrior] was obliged to come to Prairie du Chien [on the evening of August 1]. I [Captain Gustavus Loomis, acting Commander of Fort Crawford] increased the Guard on board the S. Boat and sent her back under the command of the same officer [Lt. James W. Kingsbury]."
"The Boat then came down being short of wood, and returned about 3 oClock this morning with a few Monomines aboard & a small reinforcement."
"When we left them [Black Hawk's people] it was the intention to have returned in seven hours (the time the Capt. [Joseph Throckmorton] said it would take to get wood & return) but the fog detained us about 3 hours...."
Joseph M. Street, U.S. Indian Agent for the Winnebagoes, missed all of this midnight activity because his residence was four or five miles away.
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"7 OClock — in the morning — The menominees have just come in — with 8 Scalps of men, and nine prisoners, women an children. My Winnebeagoes are this moment retu[r]ned with 4 [?] prisoners, and no scalps. They were compelled to fire on the Canoes (6 in number) in deep water, as they would not surrender. The Canoes were full, and they only saved four. One of the Women is the sister of Keokuck.
"I shall endeavour to save the women & children if I can, and shall be gratified to know as early as possible what the Government think of this course; and to receive your instructions as to clothing the prisoners.
"I am now convinced, the effective Ind. force is gone by land North, and the Women & Children &c. are attempting to escape.
"Respectfully your mo. obt. St. Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agent
"N.B. A prisoner says the Blk Hawk lost 68 Warriors in the battle.
The prisoners, who had attempted to escape down the Wisconsin river after the July 21 battle of Wisconsin Heights, were interrogated at Prairie du Chien, as reported in The Galenian newspaper of August 8, 1832:
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"KE-O-KUCK's sister, who was among the Sacs and Foxes, has been taken prisoner. It will be seen by her examination the course the Indians intend to take. She says: —
"Ten days since she left Black Hawk's army. That Black Hawk said if he got whipped he would cross the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien — but she don't know where — can't remember places.
"All she knows since they parted is, that all who are coming down the Wisconsin came to meet the Winnebagoes and get them to come with them, (the Sacs and Foxes,) to surrender themselves up to the whites.
"Black Hawk, she believes, was to cross between Racoon river and Prairie le Cross — (18 miles apart.)
"Sisha-ar-ka-pee, or the Big Lake, a Fox, her husband, was killed, she thinks, last night when she was captured. — [He was a] Brave.
"Had five children. — The Winnebagoes have one of her children a prisoner — the Menomonees three — and one missing.
"They were to go down the Mississippi to Wa-pese-per-ne-kaw, and to go up it, and Black Hawk was to cross above Prairie du Chien and go by Red Cedar [river], and meet them there 18 miles above the head of the Rock River Rapids.
"6 or 7 wigwams are yet behind coming down — 6 men among them.
"She believes many have passed before any person here knew it.
"Many canoes turned over and sank before they came here — they were so bad, and many children were drowned.
"Not many men attempted to come down the Wisconsin. All that had good horses went on with Black Hawk, the Sacs, Foxes and Kickapoos — and some women who had good horses went.
"Black Hawk lost 200 warriors before Dodge's battle [at Wisconsin Heights]; & in the different skirmishes with the whites.
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"After the battle (Dodge's) the men carried the children over from slough to slough on horses — & the last slough which was deep — they put the mats, skins, &c. together and made a raft, put the children on and pushed it over swimming.
"Black Hawk after the battle, told all who had no good horses, and the women and children to go down the Wisconsin, and he would meet them at Wa-pese-per-ne-kaw crossing above Prairie du Chien, and going by Red Cedar — and Keo-o-kuck would meet them there."
The acting editor of The Galenian [John B. Patterson] added an editorial comment to the news story:
"The prospects of a speedy termination of the war are flattering. Gen. Atkinson is at the head of a mounted army of about 1600 [actually 1300] strong — pursuing the enemy by forced marches. We may calculate upon hearing news from them in a day or two."
After the steam boat Warrior had returned to Prairie du Chien for wood on the night of August 1, Captain Gustavus Loomis, Commander of Fort Crawford, started a letter to Colonel James McGowan Strode, Commander of the 27th Regiment of Illinois militia at Galena. He informed him "that a skirmish had taken place on the Mississippi about 40 miles above the Prairie, between the steamboat Warrior and the hostile Sacs and Foxes."
"Aug. I — The Winnebagoes who had been out as Spies, brought in three fresh Sac or Fox scalps to-day, to Fort Crawford."
He also enclosed a copy of the interrogation of "Keokuk's sister" and now concluded his letter as follows:
"Aug. 2
"Our operations on the Ouisconsin have resulted in about 34 prisoners, and 50 killed, chiefly women and children.
"You will see by the examination of Ke-o-kuck's Sister, that they expect to descend the Mississippi.
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"I would request you to station a guard on some point where the Mississippi can be guarded to make prisoners — I think many have gone by out of the Wisconsin in the fogs which are very thick at night.
"If the sb. Winnebago is at Galena, I should think it very advisable to charter her and send her up — if you can put on board her about 25 or 30 men, it would be advisable.
"If the Sacs and Foxes are prevented from crossing the Mississippi above, I do not see any other route for them than to come down near this place, and either cross the Wisconsin or the Mississippi here, and two boats would very much facilitate the interruption of their crossing, and the transportation of the army under Gen. Atkinson."
Extracts from an August 2 letter from Captain Loomis appeared in the Sangamo Journal:
"Last evening the steamboat Warrior returned from up the river. Lieut. Kingsbury, who commanded the guard, reports that about 40 miles up the Mississippi River they saw the Sacs and Foxes to a very large number — he presumes their whole force of effective men — on the bank of the river. They hoisted a white flat — but would not send a canoe aboard the steamboat. He told them if they did not do so, he would fire upon the, and did so. He supposes there were five at least of the killed. They were seen to fall by some of the gentlemen on board the steamboat. They appeared much alarmed by the 6 pounder. Lt. K. saw some but not many horses. The boat was obliged to come down for wood. — Lt. K. had gone to the sioux at Prairie Auxiles to notify them that the Sacs and Foxes were expected to cross into their country — to say to them that they had again been defeated and closely pursued by the army —
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that we did not want them to fight, but to stop their crossing until the army could come up with them. — 150 Sioux started down the river almost immediately and passed the steamboat while she was scraping her boilers a little above Wabashaw's Prairie. They must have heard the firing of the six pounder, and a half Winnebago was sent by Lt. Kingsbury, to Wabashaw to let him know the Sacs and Foxes had arrived upon the Mississippi"I [Loomis] expect General Atkinson and his combined army, 1600 men strong, will be upon the Mississippi today. The steamboat Warrior was sent back with an additional guard, and two Mackinac boats to interrupt their crossing — support the Sioux and communicate with General Atkinson."
Captain Loomis "also wrote to the Comdg Officer at Rock Island [Brevet Major Thomas Jones Beall] and recommended that Keokuck be ordered down to Rock Island with his band as it was said that he was to meet and succor B. H.'s band near the Cidars [Red Cedar river]."
"Col. Crossman [Lieutenant George H. Crosman] immediately on the arrival of the Express [at Galena on August 3], despatched an Express to Fort Armstrong, (Rock Island,) to have Ke-o-kuck taken, and removed to that Fort, there to remain, or be considered as an ally of Black Hawk, and an enemy to our country, and treated accordingly."
Joshua Pilcher, Agent of Indian Affairs for the Sauk and Fox Indians, however, felt that the whole idea was ridiculous: "Major Beall," he wrote to Atkinson, "rece[i]veda letter from Capt. Lo[o]mis the day before yesterday [August 4], accompanied by the examination of an Old Squaw calling herself Ke O kuck's sister, and developeing the arrangement entered into between him and Black Hawk — and Capt. L. advises Majr. Beall to ‘send up and order Ke o kuck down to Rock Island’ &c &c &c. Ke o kuck arrived here [at Rock Island] last evening [August 5] from his village, some sixty or seventy miles below this plase; having just return'd from an excursion on the head waters of the Nich na ba tona
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[Nishnabotna] Non dow wa [Nodaway] & River Au Boyer [Boyer river, all rising in western Iowa]; the country to which I advised him to go when he left his village in June last. It appears, that there is no such person as the sister alluded to. (this however neither makes him better or worse) and it would seem, from his implicit obedience to my advise and instructions; that he has failed in his agreement with Black Hawk. Ke o kucks name, has been the fountain of absurd reports, to record which would have employ'd half a dozen clerks, and all of the most unfavorable character of course — and at the same time he, has been constantly manifesting his fidelity in every possible shape: — admit, that this is more the result of policy than friendship; but still, it does not alter the fact. It appears horeover, that he is considered by every one at a distance; as the only man on the west side of the river, who has any Sac.s & Foxes under his controll; when in fact, there are not more than one fourth of the Indians on that side who are attached to his party. But certainly he has immense influence among the whole."Having learned the news, Joseph M. Street wrote a second letter today to his superior, William Clark:
"U.S. Ind. Ageny at Prairie du Chien August 2d. 1832. 12 O'Clock noon.
"Genl. Wm. Clark. Sup. In. Affs. St. Louis
"Sir, the Hostile Sacs & Foxes were at 6 oClock last night on the Mississippi 25 miles above this place by land and a good road & no water obstruction. We now feel more like receiving a visit than ever before & are preparing for it. Is it not strange that no troops have been thrown down the south side of the Wiskonsin to cross at the Ferry
"The S. B. Warrior was attact by the hostile Sacs & Foxes, about 36 miles by water & 25 by land above this place at 7 oClock in the Ev[en]ing yesterday. The Boat fired 9 or 10 times with a 6 pounder and made several discharges of small arms. The officer who commanded thinks that
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there was several Indians killed. He saw some fall at each fire."The Boat rounded to at each fire riming in near the shore for greater effect.
"All the Winnebagoes from above are now here. The Sacs & Foxes arrived [at the Mississippi] after the Winnebagoes had started from Prairie le Cross & they saw them & spoke to them about 36 miles above Praie du Chien.
"The Winnebagoes wd. not land but hurried down to me as I had sent them word by Mr. Burnett a few days previous.
"The Warrior S.B. went as high as Wabashas Village
"I cover you a schedule of the prisoners taken by the Inds. of those Sacs & Foxes who are on the Wiskonsin up to this memnt and the Scalps.
"An Express is starting to Galena and I can write no more.
"In extrem haste Resptfly yours Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agt."
"The Winnebeagoes lost one fine warrior [on August 2] near the mouth of the Wiskonsin. The White Pawnee — He was with an other Winnebeagoe on the trail of two Sacs, who had passed round the guard in the mouth of the Wiskonsin,
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and crossed on a small raft to the West bank of the Mississippi. The Winnebeagoes landed & persued the trail, a short distance when the Sacs sprang up from concealment fired & shot one of the Winnebeagoes dead. The other fled to his canoe & escaped. Both Sacs Escaped.""The Menominees have not lost a man — but the Winnebeagoes had a fine Warrior shot by a Sac [on August 2].
"Two Sacs had passed round the Guard in the Wiskonsin by land made a small raft below the mouth of the Wiskonsin and crossed to the West of the Mississippi. Two Winnebeagoes followed after them found the raft and took their trail. The Sacs turned on them unexpectedly in the bushes and shot one Winnebeagoe dead the other escaped to his canoe & got off with the news. The Winnebeagoes go to bury him this morning [August 3] & pursue the Sac."
"The night before the battle of Bad Axe, when about four miles from the Mississippi, [William] Deviese with another man named [John] Marsh, went on an express to Prairie du Chien. In the morning [of August 2] they were somewhat alarmed by fresh trails in the dew, made probably by deer, but reached Prairie du Chien late that night."
"I [Captain Loomis] recd. the letter of your [Atkinson's] Aid De Camp [Albert Sidney Johnston] of the 1st. Augt. by Mr. [John] Marsh [who was accompanied on express by William Deviese] about ten minutes before the return of the Steam Boat...with some sick & Wounded &c."
The letter said, in part, "The General directs that the moment you receive this note, you will lose no time in sending a Steam Boat up the River opposite this point — put on board 60 Barrells of Flour & 30 Barrells of Pork, a six pounder with a sufficient quantity of fixed ammunition & 5000 rounds of Muskett Cartridges."
"After the battle was all over, and the wounded attended to, the prisoners and the wounded of both parties, were put on board of the steamboat Warrior, and taken down to Prairie du Chien, where the wounded were taken to the hospital, and the prisoners put in confinement."
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"3 or 4 Ind. men were discovered & killed. After which the Boat returned to the main shore, the troops disembarked and the wounded taken on board & conveyed to Prairie du Chein and placed in hospital."
"Dodge had sixteen wounded, and none killed, though Capt. Bowman, one of the wounded, died on the trip down. The boat also carried down the wounded Indians."
When Lieutenant James W. Kingsbury returned from his command of the steamboat Warrior, he was delegated to follow up on Atkinson's order, just delivered: "I [Captain Loomis] ordered the Qr. Mr. [Quarter Master] here to charter another Steam Boat at Galena to come to this place & bring Eight Mackinac Boats."
"Capt. Loomis sent the steamboat ‘Warrior’ up the river [again]. Deviese left his horse and went up on the boat, reaching the battle-ground early next morning."
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Friday, August 3, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"The Indian raised up, waved his hand and said, ‘White man, white man, have mercy on me’."
Michigan Territory Volunteers
243
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 74°
2 P.M. — 82°
9 P.M. — 73°
"After the Battle of the 2nd Inst. I [General Henry Atkinson] considered the enemy so much cut up and disheartened that I deemed it proper to suspend further operations against him."
"The Battle ground was occupied by us the succeeding day after the affair of the 2d. to ascertain the route of the remnant of the enemy, and to wait the return of the Steam Boat warrior which had been sent down to Fort Crawford with the wounded, on the night of the 2nd."
"...bodies were found next day below the islands."
In Colonel Samuel Leech's 3rd Regiment of Henry's Third Brigade, Private J. M. Ritchy of Captain Ardin Biggerstaffs Company "Lost his horse being stolen or strayed from him at or near the Mississippi river where he was pursuing the Horstile Indians He was ordered to dismount by the Commanding officer to fire on the Indians and has never since been able to get him on [?] making nessary serch Value $100."
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Atkinson took time to congratulate his troops:
"Head Qrs 1st Army Corps North West Army
"Bank of the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien August 3d 1832.
"Order No. 66
"The victory achieved by the Volunteer and regular Troops over the enemy yesterday on this ground affords the Comdg. General, an opportunity of expressing his approbation of their brave conduct. The whole of the Troops participated in the honour of the combat — some of the corps were however more fortunate than others in being thrown from their position in order of Battle more immediately in conflict with the enemy. These were Henry's Brigade Dodges Battalion, the regular troops Leech's Regt of Posey's Brigade and the Spy Battalion of Alexander's Brigade.
"In order that individual merit and the conduct of the corps may be properly represented to the Dept of War, and the General Commanding the North Western Army, the Commanding General of this division directs that commanding Officers of Brigades and independent Corps, make to him written reports of the conduct and operation of their respective commands in the action.
"By order of Brig Genl Atkinson
"(signed) Albt. S. Johnston A. De Camp & A. A. Genl [Aide de Camp and Assistant Adjutant General]"
"On the 3d one hundred & fifty men under Colonels [James M.] Blackburn & [William B.] Archer crossed the river, searching the islands & bottoms for fugitives but found none."
"[August] 3 A company commanded by Major Archer of 130 men with two Macinaw Boats crossed the Mississi and took the trail of what Indians succeeded in crossing the river
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and pursued about 8 miles to Ioway river but could not overtake them. on our way we found a small Indian boy left in the mud. the musquitoes had nearly eaten him up. Major Archer then proposed if 50 men would follow him he would pursue and the ballance return to the army and bring provisions, but the men being entirely worn out would not consent to go so we returned in the evening and reported to Genl Atkinson what we had done and seen &c.""He [Ska-ah] was buried with honors in the same grave with our soldiers.
"About 100 horses and many goods and trinkets were taken — some horses killed."
"Would that a Carlo Vernet could have sketched our Indian pony auctions — the background of this picture, a Mississippi bottom, for such a pencil, would prove a rare and worthy subject: but the student of the human countenance — of passion, of suffering, despair, could possibly never have such an opportunity as in some women prisoners which I [Cooke] saw. I shall never forget the unmitigated expression of despair in a face at the same time in some sense utterly impassible. I verily believe she heard or saw nothing around her; her mind seemed to wander over a past and future, where all was blank or fearful."
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"Head Qrs. 1st Army Corps North Westn. Army
"Bank of the Mississippi near bad axe river 3d Augt. 1832
"Spl. [Special] Order No. 43
"The Comdg. General directs that the commanders of Brigades and independent Corps, will cause all the Horses captured from the enemy to be turned over to Col. E. C. March Qr. Master General as public property
"By order of Brig. Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) A. S. Johnston A D. C. & A. A. A. Genl."
"I [H.S. Townsend] was a soldier in the ranks. I had a brother in this fight, who had a fight with two Indians.
"Dodge in the morning early ordered Captain [Robert C.] Hoard and forty of us to make a report of dead and wounded. Hoard made a report.
"About then dinner was ready; ate in messes.
"After dinner my brother and another soldier went over the field. Started down lower end of this island [Battle Island], where Henry's men had been.
"They saw a full sack sitting on a log in water. My brother stepped on a log and over it saw two Indians. He fired at one and put a hole through him. The other, an old Indian, jumped up and hollered Woh. Hollinger fired at him and took off a finger.
"They kept firing and said he dodged the bullets. He ducked his head under water, threw his legs out and was wounded in the legs.
"They took the sack to camp.
"Atkinson ordered description and said the man was Black Hawk. Twenty men were sent and tracked him by his blood. The Indian raised up, waved his hand and said, ‘White man, white man, have mercy on me.’
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"We did not hurt him; gave him a pint of whiskey; he drank and soon was brave and told us, he and his son put the sack so whites would get it and we could shoot them. After he got sober he told a different story. The old man died."
"We were still at the battle ground, or near it; whilst we lay there, our men were still picking up scattering Indians. They brought in an old chief who was wounded. He was very poor, was between six and seven feet high; what hair was on his head was gray, but that was not much, as the most of it was shaved off, just leaving enough for hand hold to scalp him by; as these superstitious beings think it would be a mark of cowardice to cut off this tuft of hair, which they call their scalp.
"These superstitious beings believe that if they are maimed or disfigured in this world, they will appear in the next in the same form, which is the reason they scarcely ever bury their dead. If he should chance to lose his scalp, they think that it would show in the next world that he had been conquered and scalped by an enemy, which would go to show that he was not a great warrior."
General Alexander Posey was the first to submit his battle report in response to Atkinson's request:
"1st Brigade Ill[inois] mounted volunteers
"East bank of the Mississippi near Bad Axe River, August 3rd, 1832.
"Sir In obedience to your order relating to the conduct & operation of the corps under my command during the combat with the hostile Indians on the 2nd. Inst. I have the honor to state, that from my position in the order of march; being ordered to take the right of the infantry, It was executed with promptness by Cols [Willis] Hargrave & [Samuel] Leach, that in ascending & turning a very steep hill, Hargrave was thrown farther to the right than anticipated. Leach having turned the Hill near the infantry decended to the bank of the Mississippi & joined them in the conflict with intrepidity & coolness;
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several Indians having fallen to his party. One of his men [Private Lockhart Stallings] was severely wounded. Col Hargrave when about to descend the precipicce to join Leach was ordered to take post at a pass in the Hill, which he did with promptness — but such was the eagerness of both officers & men to participate in the immediate conflict it was with difficulty they could be restrained from throwing themselves forward. Capt [Berryman G.] Wells & [James N.] Clark of Leach regt captured 4 Indian youth, & Capt [Harrison] Wilson of Hargrave regt. captured 3 Squaws & four youths"I have the honour &c your obt Sort [Servant] A Posey Brig Genl Comg. Ill M V [Commanding Illinois Mounted Volunteers]
"Genl Atkinson."
"The Boat-returned on the evening of the 3d."
"The steamer Warrior returned to Prairie du Chien, and again came up, before we left the ground of the action; it brought up, among other rarities, a stray dentist from the East; who gathered a rich harvest of teeth taken from the Indian dead; — and doubtless some very fine Eastern personages now rejoice in savage ivories.
"Never was a fine-dressed man so out of place — not to say out of countenance, as another passenger, whom we saw tripping about over our dirty and rugged encampment. It reminded one of the lordly messengers to Harry Percy: for, though few of us smarted with ‘wounds grown cold,’ the ‘outer man’ among us had suffered terribly from brier, brake, and bog.
"‘I say, Fitz, what "critter" is that?’
"‘It's Major_____'s nephew.’
"‘D—n Major _____'s nephew; what business has such a thing here?’ How very ridiculous is a dandy in the Woods!"
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Friday, August 3, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"Very unfortunately one Menominee was killed in the action by a white-man by mistake. I have had council this mo[r]ning with the Menomines, th[e]y say it can't be helped. One of our men saw it — and we know it was an accident."
— Joseph M. Street, U. S. Agent,
Winnebago Indian Affairs
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south west wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 81°
2 P.M. — 90°
9 P.M. — 72°
"The Winnebagoes brought in this morning 3 prisoners and the scalps of three Sac Warriors killed in the Wiskonsin [river, escaping downstream from the July 21 battle of Wisconsin Heights]."
"I [Joseph M. Street, U. S. Indian Agent for the Winnebagoes north of the Wisconsin river] have now 500 Winnebeagoes encamped at this Agency who bring in from 2 to 6 prisoners a day."
Street also held council with the Menominees about the killing of Ska-ah on the island during the battle of Bad Axe:
Menominees: "it can't be helped. One of our men saw it — and we know it was an accident. But as the Sacs & Foxes killed nearly all of that family, and this man is killed, and has a poor lame mother — we hope our Father will have pitty on her, & cover the dead. "
Street "told them, they had behaved well and their great Fatheer wd. remember them, and cover their dead brother."
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Before returning to the battle ground, steamboat Captain Joseph Throckmorton wrote to his brother, Samuel:
"I arrived at this place on monday last, (July 30th) and was dispatched with the Warrior alone, to [Sioux chief] Wapeshaws village,
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Warrior laid out three. I can hardly tell you any thing about it, for I am in great haste, as I am now on my way to the field again. The army lost eight or nine killed, and seventeen wounded, whom we brought down. One [Samuel Bowman] died on deck last night. We brought down thirty-six prisoners, women and children. I tell you what, Sam, there is no fun in fighting Indians, particularly at this season, when the grass is so very bright. Every man, and even my cabin-boy, fought well. We had sixteen regulars, five rifle men, and twenty of ourselves. Mr. How, of Platt, Mr. James G. Soulard, and one of the Rolettes, were with us and fought well."Captain Gustavus Loomis reported the situation at Fort Crawford to General Atkinson:
"Head Qrs. Fort Crawford August 3, 1832.
"Sir — I recd. the letter of your Aid De Camp of the 1st Augt. by Mr. [John] Marsh about ten minutes before the return of the Steam Boat yesterday with some sick & Wounded &c.
"I yesterday sent an Express to Galena informing Col. [James M.] Strode of the escape of many of the Sacs & Fox Women & children — That their object was to go down the Mississippi to a river, (the name I do not now recollect
"I also wrote to the Comdg Officer at Rock Island [Major Thomas Jones Beall] and recommended that Keokuck be ordered down to Rock Island with his band as it was said that he was to meet and succor B.H.'s band near the Cidars.
"I ordered the Qr. Mr. here [Lieutenant James W. Kingsbury] to charter another Steam Boat at Galena to come to this place & bring Eight
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Mackinac Boats. The [steam boat] Winnebago is expected at Galena about this time. I expect her here this Evening or tomorrow Morning. I will send her & the Mackinac Boats up unless I receive orders to the contrary."I have the honor to be Respectfully Yr. obt. Servt.
"G: Loomis Cap. 1t. Infy. Commg. [Captain, 1st Infantry Commanding]
"Brigdr. Genl. H. Atkinson Commanding Nth. West Army."
Agent Joseph M. Street also wrote to Atkinson, putting in another good word for his Indians:
"U.S. Ind. Agen[c]y at Prairie du Chien, 3d Augt. 1832
"Br. Genl. H. Atkinson
"Sir, The S. B. is nearly ready to put off & I have but one moment to devote to writing.
"The Winnebeagoes of my Agency have behaved well & been obedient to every instruction given to them by me. Hearing the Sacs & Foxes had made towards the Wiskonsin I sent & withdrew them all from that River & its vicinity. After I heard, of their crossing the Wiskonsin, I sent Mr. [Thomas P.] Burnett sub-agent, to praire le Cross and Black River & withdrew all who were up the Mississippi — Winoshick & his band & [One-Eyed] Decorri & his band, and now have them all encamped before my door and within 100 yds of the Ageny.
The moment we heard of the battle [of Wisconsin Heights], of Genl. Dodge and that some were escaping by the Wiskonsin I collected the Winnebeagoes & the Menominees & sent them out to guard the River, and take all they could prisoners & bring them to me. They obeyed immediately, and have evry day brought in some prisoners since they first went out.
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"The Winnebeagoes have brought in 24 prisoners of which 3 are Warriors, nine Women & 10 Children. The men are all deld. into the Fort, the rest are with the Winnebeagoes. The Winnebeagoes in the tim have killed & scalped seven men.
"The Menomins have killed & scalped five men, and brought in 12 prisoners, — 1 man 3 Women & 8 Children — two of the Menominee prisoners are wounded and one Winnebeagoe prisonr — one dangerously.
"The Menominees have not lost a man — but the Winnebegoes had a fine Warrior [White Pawnee]
"Two Sacs had passed round the Guard in the Wiskonsin and crossed to the West of the Mississippi. Two Winnebeagoes followed after them found the raft and took their trail. The Sacs turned on them unexpectedly in the bushes and shot one Winniebeagoe dead the other escaped to his canoe & got off with the news. The Winnebeagoes go to bury him this morning & pursue the Sac.
"I shall still retaim the Winnebeagoes untill I hear from you, least [lest] in going up they may be killed by mistake. They tell me they have fine crops, and ask me to write you to save them from destruction. That they are their whole living having been prevented from hunting by the disturbance] and that they must suffer if their crops are distroyed.
"Winnonshick came down with the last party and is here. He says he feel unhappy at being suspected. That he has been a true man.
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"Mr. [John] Marsh also informs me the Indian crops in his rout[e] were excellent.
"In haste Respecctfuly Yours. Jos. M. Street. U. S. Ind. Agent"
Street also reported to his superior, William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs:
"U.S. Ind. Agency at Prairie du Chien 3d. August 1832.
"Genl. Wm. Clark Sup. Ind. affs. at St. Louis
"Sir, The Ind. war is at an end. Yesterday Genl: Atkinson with his main force overtook the hostile Inds. 36 miles above Prairie du Chien on the East bank of the Mississippi, and after a hard faught battle of 6 or 8 hours defeated, and destroyed nearly the whole of them. Genl. Atkinson lost 8 or nine killed, and 30 or 40 wounded. The Inds. were pushed litterally into the Mississippi, the current of which was at one time perceptibly tinged with the blood of the Indians who were shot on its margin & in the stream. Many passed a small Slue into an Island, where they made a stand for a while, only prolonging the action a few hours as few of them escaped.
"The Steam Boat ‘Warrior,’ came up from Prairie du Chien in the time of the action, and as she passed the Island recd. a heavy fire from the Inds. Sustaining little damage. She turned upon them and poured a shower of grape from a 6 pounder into the head of the Island & those who were on the hills says that the Horses and Men fell like grass before the scythe. As the boat descended the River after the action the surface was spotted with Indians & horses & accoutrements borne down by the current.
"It is impossible to saw how many Inds. have been killed, as most of them were shot in the water or drowned in attempting to cross the Mississippi. The action has been decisive, and the
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distruction of the Indians compleat. Genl. Atkinson with his army remains to examine the country on both sides to pick up the fugitives."The trail of the Inds. from the Wiskonsin to the Misss. was indicative of their wretched situation — it was evidently the trail of a routed & fleeing enemy. Dead, wounded, and deying men & children were left on the road.
"Of the fate of the Black-Hawk we are not able to gain any positive accounts. I rather apprehend he has escaped and is yet living.
"Genl. A. took and sent down about 30 or 40 prisoners, mostly women & children.
"In my last [letter of August 2] I gave you a schedule of the prisoners taken and deld. to me by the Winneabeagoes & Menomines. The Winnebeagoes lost one fine warrior yesterday near the mouth of Wiskonsin. The White Pawnee — He was with an other Winnebeagoe on the trail of two Sacs, who had passed round the guard in the mouth of the Wiskonsin, and crossed on a small raft to the West bank of the Mississippi. The Winnebeagoes landed & persued the trail, a short distance when the Sacs sprung up from concealment fired & shot one of the Winnebeagoes dead. The other fled to his canoe & escaped. Both Sacs Escaped.
"The Winnebeagoes brought in this morning 3 prisoners and the scalps of three Sac Warriors killed in the Wiskonsin.
"I have all my Winnebeagoes encamped within 100 yards of the door of the Agency. They have behaved well and I feel highly gratifieed in reporting their good conduct to you, as they had been improperly suspect. I mean the Winnebeagoes of my Agency. And I shall be gratifieed if in your communications to the department that you keep up the distinction & explain it to them. For there is no doubt in my
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mind that the Winnebeagoes south of the Wiskonsin have behaved deceitfully, and been highly injurious to our cause."The moment I heard of Genl. Atkinsons movement on the main force of the Inds. up R. River, I sent a special message to the Indians on the Wiskonsin to come immediately to me or they would be considered enemies & treated as such. They promptly obeyed & came. I addressed them & sent them up the Mississi. to be out of the way of the war — that if the hostile Inds. came on the Wiskonsin they should find no canoes to cross in. The moment I learned they had passed the Wiskonsin, I sent the sub-agent [Thomas P. Burnett] express to Black Rive Prairie le Cross, and all the Villages on the Missi. and directed all the Winnebeagoes to come directly to me. They said some were out hunting — that they wd. send out for them, and all would come in within 6 days, or sooner if their hunters could be notified & bring all their canoes. Part came the next day and the whole within 4 days. As the last party were putting off the hostile Inds. spoke to them, when they were some distance from land. They refused to retun and hasted down to inform me.
"The Sacs & Foxes by this maneuvr were cut off from any means of crossing except on rafts, and two or 3 old canoes which were scarcely able to float empty. And before they could construct rafts the Amy were upon them. A few escaped the night before the action on small rafts, that coul[d] carry but one man.
"I have now 500 Winnebeagoes encamped at this Agency who bring in from 2 to 6 prisoners a day.
"Very unfortunately one Menominee was killed in the action by a white-man by mistake. I have had a council this moning with the Menomines, thy say, it can't be helped. One of our men saw it — and we know it was an accident.
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But as the Sacs & Foxes killed nearly all of that family, and this man is killed, and he has a poor lame mother — we hope our Father will have pitty on her, & cover the dead. I told them, they had behaved well and their great Fatheer wd. remember them, and cover their dead brother."In great haste — Respecctfully your mo. obt. St.
"Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agent."
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Saturday, August 4, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk
"Old Wa-ba-shaw with a band of his warriors and the Menomonees, were sent in pursuit of those of Black Hawk's people who crossed the Mississippi, and very few of the Sauk and Fox Indians ever reached their own country."
— John H. Fonda, Expressman,
Michigan Territory Militia
261
(Fort Winnebago Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 73°
2 P.M. — 83°
9 P.M. — 69°
"Gen. [Henry] Atkinson now thought that he had taken just retribution for the blood these Indians had spilt on our frontiers, and saw that it would be useless to cross the river in pursuit of those wretched beings, for they were now scattered and hid in the swamps, so that it was an impossible thing to take many of them."
"On the morning of the 4th inst. a party of Sioux came to our camp, and begged permission to go on the Sac trail and have a fight with them."
"Now I have the most unpleasant part of my story to tell. After the Indians had crossed the [Mississippi] river, & were almost defenseless, having lost almost all their guns & ammunition in crossing the river, our army put a band of these merciless Sioux on their trail, who, knowing how Perfectly helpless they were, were glad of the opportunity to destroy them."
"After the action, a body of one hundred Sioux warriors presented themselves, and asked leave to pursue on the trail of such of the enemy as had escaped. This was granted...."
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"Old Wa-ba-shaw with a band of his warriors and the Menomonees, were sent in pursuit of those of Black Hawk's people who crossed the Mississippi, and very few of the Sauk and Fox Indians ever reached their own country."
"A short time previous to her [the steam boat Warrior's] departure, the celebrated Sioux chief Wa-ba-shaw, with a number of warriors, reported himself to Gen. Atkinson. He was immediately dispatched in pursuit of the enemy...."
"...before General Atkinson left the battle ground, he provisioned a number of Sioux and some Winnebagoes, and sent them in search of Black Hawk to see if they could not capture him, and bring him in as a prisoner, which the Sioux appeared to be anxious to do, as the Sacs and they had been at variance a long time; and they saw that there was no [now?] chance of taking revenge for the many injuries the Sacs had done them."
Before leaving the battle ground, William B. Archer, aide to Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander, wrote out Alexander's report on the activities of the Second Brigade in the battle of Bad Axe:
"Camp on Mississippi river near the mouth of Bad Axe river
"4th of Augt.
"The commanding Genl. having ordered a march at an early hour on the 2nd Instant the most of the troops under my command collected their horses and advanced with rapidity. Captains Greere [Abner Greer] and [John F.] Richardson being somewhat in the rear having orders to come up immediately and join; the march being so rapid they with their commands were not able to join at the time when I received orders direct from yourself [Atkinson] to advance and form a line on the extreeme right to the river, that position being considered the most likely pass that the enemy would attempt to retreat and escape. I formed an extended line as ordered having Captain McCowen's [John McCown's] company of the Spy Bat. (Major
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McHenry having remained at the Wisconsin river in consequence of indisposition) Colonels [James M.] Blackburn, [Samuel] Adams and [Hosea] Pierce with their respective commands [the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiments] at a distance of two miles or upwards from the main battle ground and I advanced with extended line down the river and over the high hills towards the scene of action but owing to the distance we were placed therefrom we only reached the battle ground as the fireing ceased. Captains Greere and Richardsson were more fortunate, they passed on from the encampment with their commands direct to the enemy; Captain Greere and his company fell in with Genl. Henry and in accordance with Genl. Henry's directions formed on the left of Major [William Lee D.] Ewing's Spy Bat. and remained in that position and advancing until the battle terminated. Captain Richardson advanced with Genl. Henry and the regular troops and formed on the right of Genl. Henry and on the left and some in advance of the Regular troops. Some scattering men from different companies in my brigade advanced (being some in the rear of myself in consequence of not having found their horses early) direct to the scene of action and participated in the fight."I am informed from a source to be relied upon independent of my own officers and men that Captain Greere and Richardson and the officers and men immediately under their commands and the scattering men named discharged their duty well, fought with promptness and bravery not to be surpassed. None were killed and only one man wounded. Aaron Payne, a gentlemen who has had a brother killed this season by the Sac Indians) a resident on the Illinois river attached himself to my Brig. and distinguished himself in the action received a severe wound in the back and shoulder two balls.
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"By order of M. K. Alexander Brig. Genl. 2 Brig Ill. militia volunteers
"W. B. Archer Aid De Camp
"Brig. Genl. Atkinson"
"H [Atkinson] finally came to the conclusion, to drop down to Prairie due Chien, and have a talk with the Winnebagoes; for it was now manifest that they had been allies to the Sacs and Foxes; for the prisoners that we took in this action, put all doubts to rest on this score. We had a long time believed that they were acting treacherously, and General Atkinson now thought that it was time to bring them to account for their conduct. He, accordingly, on the second day after the battle [of Bad Axe on August 2], which was the fourth of August, took up the line of march for Prairie du Chien...."
"Head Qrs 1st. Army Corps, North Westn Army
"Bank of the Mississippi near bad axe River 4th. Augt 1832
"Order No. 67
"The mounted Volunteers will march to day at 12 M. to Prairie du-Chien, with the dismounted & Sick of the several corps of mounted Volunteers.
"The regurlar Troops will be embarked in the Steam Boat boat Warrior for Prairie du-Chien at the same time.
"By order of Brig Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) A. S. Johnston A.D.C. & A.A.A. Genl"
"[August] 4 All those that were afoot were ordered on board the Steam Boat Warrior to Fort Crawford in Prairie Duchin from the battle ground to Ft. Crawford 30 miles"
"the Boat having returned on the evening of the 3d., and having for reasons stated in my [Atkinson's] official report, declined a further pursuit of the enemy, the regular troops
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were embarked on the morning of the 4th and descended the river to Fort Crawford, whilst the volunteers took up their line of march for the same point.""...we continued on till the after noon the next day [August 4] when the Regulars and the sick of the militia went on Board the Steam Boat Warrior and a barge which was lashed to her. I
"On the third or fourth day we embarked, nothing loth, on the Warrior, for Fort Crawford, about sixty miles below. We had several Winnebago Indians on board; one I remember was a bit of a dandy, and had a taste for personal ornaments; he wore, for instance, crooked over his forehead, the finger of a fellow savage, secured round his head by two strips of skin which had once connected it with a hand and arm.
"As we rounded to, at Prairie du Chien, we saw some dead bodies, which had floated sixty miles, when one of these fellows was so eager as to discharge a rifle-ball close by the faces of a row of us standing on the guard; and among others, the General's who exhibited a strong disposition to have him pitched overeboard; the patch struck and blistered an officer's face. And then followed the exhibition of an awful specimen of human nature (if the nature of an old blood-thirty squaw can justly be placed in that category); we saw several canoeloads of these red fiends contend in a race to reach those dead bodies, for the satisfaction of taking the sodden scalps of corpses four [for?] days in water.
"All knowledge being founded on experience and comparison, I believe the Infinite beyond human
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conception; but its nearest approach might be found in the contrast of a fair and refined woman to one of these hags; — one of these beastly excrescences of Nature, which for our sins, to teach the lesson of humility, or for some inscrutable purpose of the Almighty, are suffered in some semblance of humanity, to exhibit on earth the deformity of sin and hell.""General Atkinson and the infantry went down on the steam boat Warrior, and reached Prairie du Chien on the same day we started."
"Gen. Atkinson, accompanied by Generals Dodge and Posey, with the U.S. Infantry, arrived at the Prairie on the evening of the 4th, on board the S. B. Warrior, and will remain until the mounted volunteers arrive."
"Arrived on the Mississippi River near Bad Axe River on the 2nd Augt. 1832 left the 4th & arrived at prairie du chiens same day —"
"we that went down by water landed at Fort Crawford Just before sunset and went to the sick Room"
"After the battle, when Gen. Atkinson met Col. Dodge at Prairie du Chien, he threw his arms around him, and said to him, ‘Dodge, you have saved me; you have dragged me on to victory.’ President Jackson has been impatient with the slowness of military movements, and had sent word to Gen. Atkinson that he must bring the war to an end or he would remove him."
"... after the battle at this place [Bad Axe] was over, Gen. Atkinson met Gen. Henry and Gen. Dodge both at the same time, and taking each of them by the hand, said, with much warmth and feeling: ‘my brave fellows you have forced me on to victory’."
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Saturday, August 4, 1832 — Mississippi River Action
"I divided parties and got them between our fires, as near as I can judge we killed five or six, and took six prisoners; I presume there was not more than two or three got off..."
— Captain Glendower M. Price,
Michigan Territory Militia
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 72°
2 P.M. — 94°
9 P.M. — 82°
"On the 4th. August Lt [James W.] Kingsbury sent me [Captain Gustavus Loomis, commander of Fort Crawford] his letter [about the August 1 encounter between the Warrior and Black Hawk].... I [Loomis] still required a report...."
"The Winnebagoes, at Prairie du Chien, are daily bringing in Sac prisoners and Scalps.
"On the same day, a party of 15 men from Cassville, under command of Capt. [Glendower M.] Price, were reconnoitering the country between that place and the Wisconsin, and fell upon a fresh Sac trail making towards the Mississippi. — They rushed with full speed of horses, and soon came upon, killed and took prisoners to the number of 12."
Captain Price reported, "...the day I last left Prairie du Chien with my Compy. [August 4] after having got about two miles this side of the ferry
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from above the Ouisconsin ferry towards the Mississippi, we immediately followed it, and having traced it about 3 miles we came to their camp in which their fire was still burning. we force marched and in two miles more discovered them: I divided parties and got them between our fires, as near as I can judge we killed five or six, and took six prisoners; I presume there was not more than two or three got off, we would have caught them but it was so near night, and being in a heavy body of timber, and our prisoners to carry I thought it best to retreat...."Meanwhile, Atkinson's troops Were arriving on the steam boat Warrior.
"On arriving at Fort Crawford on the 4th General Street the Indian Agent for the Ouisconsin Winnebagoes was requested to have the chiefs of his agency, who had previously been called in by him, to meet me [Atkinson] in council...."
"Aug. 4 — Embarked in steamboat Warrior for Prairie des Chiens, where we landed & encamped."
"We pitched our tents on the inhospitable sands which here abound, and waited as patiently as we might the progress of events."
General Winfield Scott in Galena explained his situation to Atkinson:
"Head Qrs. North Western Army Galena, Augt. 4, 1832.
"Sir: I arrived here last evening with captains [Patrick Henry] Gait & [Richard] Bache
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that place; but being pretty confident that you were not on this side of the Wisconsin, I wrote, at the same time, to the commanding officer of the Volunteers at Fort Hamilton requesting him"I have learnt, here, that you were expected to reach the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien, in pursuit of the enemy, on the 3d instant, & I have also heard of the affair between the detachment on board of the Steamboat, Warrior, & a part of the enemy, above Prairie du Chien. My anxious wish is to join you or the head most troops engaged in the pursuit of the enemy; but it is doubted here whether he has crossed the Mississippi, in order to retreat downwards towards Keo-o-kuck's band; or whether he will continue his flight in some other direction. The greater probability is, that you have overtaken, beaten & dispersed the main body.
"The Steamboat Winnebago is hourly expected here. If she arrive in twenty four hours I shall hire her & with some fifty or eighty well armed volunteers from this place, proceed, in her, to Fort Crawford examining both banks of the river as we ascend. If she do not arrive in that time I must adopt some other method of proceeding either by water or by land, with the same escort.
"I am much in want of information as to the direction the enemy, if not totally beaten, has taken from the point which the last account represents him to have reached. This information is wanted not only to regulate my personal movement but also that of Colonel
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[Abraham] Eustis who is now in inarch from Chicago with about 400 well men, upon this place, & which force will reach the Mississippi, I do not doubt, in good health & unsuspected of cholera. He probably commenced his march on the 2nd instant, & will arrive here between the 13th & 15th. If I could be assured in two or three days that any considerable portion of the enemy had crossed the Mississippi & had descended in the direction of Ke-o-kuck, I should have time to write to Col. Eustis & direct his march upon Fort Armstrong."I am also expecting that five companies of U.S. Rangers
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With the Rangers & the U.S. Infantry I expect to terminate the war, if it be not, before they come up, finished by you. Accordingly, I have on my way hither, ordered the discharge of all the volunteers stationed on the Illinois & its branches, & at Dixon's Ferry, and shall, I think, send Lieut Crossman [George H. Crosman], in a day or two, to Fort Hamilton to discharge all who are there. The whole country between the Wisconsin & the Illinois is freed from hostile Indians. I have come from Chicago to this place without an escort.
"We arrived here [at Galena] last evening by forced marches, all of us, & our horses, exceedingly fatigued. We, therefore, would prefer to proceed by water & a steam boat. If the Winnebago should not be here tomorrow morning I do not yet know whether I shall take Mackinaw boats or go on to Fort Crawford by land. I cannot, therefore say where a letter from you will find me. The last I received from you was dated the 25th ultimo [last month].
"I remain, Sir, respectfully Ymost Ob. Svt. Winfield Scott
"Brig. Gnl. H. Atkinson U.S.A. Comg &c: &c:"
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Sunday, August 5, 1832 — Atkinson's Pursuit of Black Hawk & Mississippi River Action
"The mounted men, baggage and all went down by land, and reached Prairie du Chien the next day, which was the fifth of August."
— Surgeon's Mate John Wakefield
Third Brigade, Illinois Militia
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, south wind. Shower at eleven ock
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 80°
2 P.M. — 94°
9 P.M. — 82°
"On the morning after our arrival at Fort Crawford I [Brigadier General Henry Atkinson] despatched the Steam Boat Warrior for Fort Armstrong [at Rock Island, Illinois], with instructions through the commanding officer [Major Thomas J. Beall] and the [Sauk and Fox] Indian agent there [Joshua Pilcher], to Keokuck informing him of the results of the affair on the 2d. August, and ordering him to arrest and deliver up all the fugitives of Black Hawk's band that had crossed the Mississippi."
"feeling assured that the remnant of the Tribe would surrender as soon as an opportunity offered and to facilitate the object, I despatched by express an order to Keokock through the Com'g Officer and the Indian Agent at Rock Island, to send to the remnant of the hostile band to come in, give up the remaining leaders among them and submit to such terms as might be dictated."
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"Genl Atkinson to Major Beall
"Head Qrs. 1st. Division, North. West Army
"Prairie du chien, 5th August 1832
"Sir On the morning of the 2nd. Inst we came up with the enemy on the left bank of this River, opposite the mouth of Ioway, attacked and defeated him with great loss on his part & a comparatively small one on ours. The remnant of the sacs succeeded in crossing the river, disheartened & Perishing, they will it is expected, try to get upon the Ioway, or fall down and join Keokock & Wapelto [Wapello] with a view of surrendering themselves up.
"I have to request that you will order Keokock to send a party to the remaining part of Black Hawk's band, and demand that the principal men remaining be surrendered up as hostages and the band itself divided between Keokock's and Wapelto's bands.
"More than 300 of Black Hawk's band have [been] Killed, and we have about 70 Women and children prisoners which I shall Keep to coerce the hostile party to Terms. Should they not comply they will be immediately pursued till they are Killed or subdued
"I expect to fall down to Fort Armstrong with the Troops in five or six days, when I expect to have, through Keokock the determination of Black Hawk's party.
"Let me hear by the return of the Boat relative to the subject of this letter,
"(Signed) H. Atkinson Brigr Genl. U.S. Army"
"we were then on the 5th. ordered to Galena on the same boat.
"Galina is situated on Macaubie or Fever river 7 miles from its mouth, it is the seat of Justice of Jo Davis [Jo Daviess] County and the principal depot of the mines
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contained in 1829 250 houses & 800 Inhabitants. The mail arrives weekly in stages from St. Louis. In 1828 there were 99 arrivals of Steam Boats & 74 Keels at the port of Galena. Macaubie is the Indian name for the river on which Galena stands and when translated into English means small pox or more literally a Fever that blisters and named from the circumstance of several hundred of the natives dieing there of that disease and there being no charac[ter]istic to justify naming it Fever river or bean river as translated from the french."Amt of Lead manufactured in 1825,439,475 lb 1826, 1560,536 lb. in 1827, 6824, 389 in 1828 12957,100 lb. Galena is badly situated, narrow crooked, muddy streets and in all a sickly filthy place."
"John B. Patterson, Editor pro tem of The Galenian, age 26, reported, "The steam boat Warrior returned this evening about 9, from Prairie du Chien, bringing a number of the men belonging to the troops, amongst whom came Dr. [Addison] Philleo the Editor of this paper, to whom we most cheerfully resign the Editorial chair, and take leave of our numerous readers."
Meanwhile, back in Prairie du Chien, Atkinson made arrangement for the return of government supplies:
"Head Qrs. 1st Army Corps, North Westn. Army
"Fort Crawford Prairie du Chien 5th. Augt. 1832
"Spl. [Special] Order No. 44
"1st Lieut [Thompson] Morris 2d. Regt U.S. Infantry will proceed this morning in two
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Macinac boats up the Ouisconsin river to Helena take command of a detachment of U.S. Infy. at that place under command of 2nd Lieut [Joseph D.] Searight 6th. Infy. and return to Fort Crawford with his command and the public property at Helena (in charge of Lieut. Searight) as soon as practicable."By order of Brig Genl. Atkinson
"(Signed) A. S. Johnston A. D. C. & A. A. A. Genl. [Aide de Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant General]"
"When General Atkinson dropped down to Prairie du Chien, after the battle on the Mississippi, he made the following report to Major General [Alexander] Macomb, Commander in Chief at Washington City.
"Head Quarters, 1st A. Corps, N. Western)
"Army, Prairie du Chien, Aug. 5, 1832.)
"SIR — I have the honor to report to you, that I crossed the Wisconsin on the 27th and 28 ult., with a select body of troops, consisting of the regular troops under Col. [Zachary] Taylor, four hundred in number, part of Henry's, Posey's and Alexander's brigades, and Dodge's battalion of mounted volunteers; amounting in all to thirteen hundred men; and immediately fell upon the trail of the enemy, and pursued it by forced marches through a mountainous and difficult country, till the morning of the second instant, when we came up with his main body, on the left bank of the Mississippi, nearly opposite the mouth of the Iowa [river]; which we attacked, defeated, and dispersed, with a loss on his part of about one hundred and fifty men killed, and thirty-nine women and children prisoners. The precise number could not be ascertained, as the greater portion was slain after being forced into the river. Our loss in killed and wounded, which is stated below, is very small in comparison with the lost of the enemy; which may be attributed to
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the enemy's being forced from his positions by a rapid charge at the commencement, and through the engagement. The remnant of the enemy, cut up and disheartened, crossed to the opposite side of the river, and has fled into the interior, with a view it is supposed of joining Keokuck and Wapilo's bands of Sacs and Foxes."The horses of the volunteer troops being exhausted by long marches, and the regular troops without shoes, it was not thought advisable to continue the pursuit. Indeed a stop to the further effusion of blood seemed to be called for, until it might be ascertained if the enemy would not surrender.
"It is ascertained from our prisoners, that the enemy lost in the battle of Ouisconsin, sixty-eight killed, and a very large number wounded. His whole loss does not fall short of three hundred. After the battle of the Ouisconsin, the enemy's women and children, and some who were dismounted, attempted to make their escape by descending that river, but judicious measures being taken here by Captain [Gustavus] Loomis and Gen. [Joseph M.] Street, and
"The day after the battle
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is now my purpose to direct Keokuck to demand a surrender of the remaining principal men of the hostile party; which, from the large number of women and children we hold as prisoners, I have every reason to believe will be complied with. Should it not, they should be pursued and subdued; a step Major General Scott will no doubt take on his arrival."I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the regular and volunteer forces engaged in the last battle, and the fatiguing march that preceded it.
"As soon as the reports of the officers of brigades and corps are handed in, they shall be submitted with further remarks.
"I have the honor to be, with great respect,
"Your obdt. servant,
"H. ATKINSON, Bt. Bgdr. Gen. U. S. A.
"Major Gen. Macomb, Commander in Chief,
"Washington City."
Atkinson also sent a copy of this report to Major General Winfield Scott in Galena.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor's Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Lieutenant Albert S. Miller, wrote out Taylor's report about the massacre at Bad Axe:
"Brigade Hd. Qrs. Prairie Du chien August 5, 1832.
"Lt. Col: Taylor takes pleasure in complying with that clause of Order No 65. which directs Commandants of Brigades to report the conduct and operations of their respective Brigades during the Battle of the 2d. Inst:. On the Morning of that day so soon as it was ascertained that thes
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Spies in advance were engaged, the Brigade under his command (consisting of four Companies of the first and one of the fifth under the immediate command ofMaj. [John] Bliss, and Eight Companies of the Sixth Regiment of Infty under the command of Lt. Col: [Daniel] Baker aided by Maj. [William] Davenport and Bvt Major [Bennet] Riley) formed in open order of Battle and advanced at quick time upon the Enemy for a Mile and upwards; the enemy continuing to retreat before the advance: — The Brigade moved by right of Companies to the left, over ground extremely broken, until they arrived on an eminence in sight of the Mississippi River, when it was discovered that the Enemy had commenced crossing. The Brigade were then ordered to advance in double quick time down a precipice so steep that the men were compelled to use their hands and Guns to aid them in their descent, at the bottom of which a defile presented itself, so narrow, that is was necessary to advance by a flank, which was promptly done, and in this manner they continued to move crossing several slough's up to their waist in mud and water until they joined the Volunteers, who had a few minutes before commenced the action. At that moment the heaviest firing was from an Island in front of the Volunteers and on their left. The first Infty under Major Bliss and two Companies of the 6th Infty composing the reserve under Maj. Davenport were ordered to drive the Enemy from that Island which duty was most handsomely performed in conjunction with Genl: Dodge's command and some of Genl; Hen[r]y's Brigade who cross'd a slough thirty Yards in width up to their waists in mud and water for that purpose."The remainder of the Sixth Regt: under the command of Col. Baker assisted by Maj. Riley with equal promptness and decision occupied the position assigned them to the left and killed
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every Indian that presented himself on land, or who endeavored to seek safety by swiming the river. The two Companies of the 6th Inf: under the command of Maj. Davenport in their charge on the Island lost five privates killed, three of whom were of ‘A’ Company and two of ‘K’ and two wounded: In the same charge ‘F’ Company of the fifth Regt had two men wounded."Soon after the battle closed, (about two o'clock), the Steam Boat Warrior arrived from Prairie Du chien and although the Brigade had not taken refreshment since two ock in the morning they were thrown into two of the adjoining Islands, which the[y] effectualy scowered, the 6th. under Col. Baker killing several Indians, who endeavored to secret themselves by climbing trees &c.
"It is sufficient to say, that, every Officer, Non-Commissioned and private soldier under my command discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction. The only difficulty to be encountered was, to restrain their ardour to close with the Enemy, on this and every other occasion.
"By order of Lt. Col. Taylor.
"Albert S. Miller Lieut. 1. Inf & Actg Assnt. Adjt Genl
Lieutenant Reuben Holmes, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, reported to Atkinson about the gunboat's encounters with Black Hawk:
"Steam Boat Warrior Augst. 5th; 1832
"General Agreeably to your order I have the honor to make a statement of the cause of my leaving Galena and of the events connected with my absence.
"On my arrival at Galena from Dixon's ferry (on the 25th. ultimo) I learned that the hostile Indians had effected a passage of the Ouisconsin
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river and their probable intention was either to cross the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien or make their escape to the Chippewa Country. The above information immediately determined me to ship provisions on the first Steam Boat for some point on the Mississippi within reach of the advancing army. The arrival of the Steam Boat Warrior enabled me to start for Prairie du Chien on the 29th. Ult., where I expected to recieve some intonation of the movements of the army by which I could govern my future operations for the subsistence of the army. On my arrival at that place I was unable to gain any definite information of the main body of the Indians or of the pursuits army — and Capt Loomis of the 1st. Infy. placed fifteen men under the command of Lieut Kingsbury on board the boat, furnished it with a six pounder, ammunition &c. and directed him to proceed up the river, to council with the Sieux, inform them of the expected movements of the indians (Sauks) and to renew the order previously given for the Winnebagoes to assemble with their Canoes at Prairie du Chien without delay. Lieut Kingsbury had executed the duties required of him by Capt. Loomis's order & the boat was within about 45 miles of Prairie du Chien on her return when about 4 oclock P.M. on the 1st. of August we came suddenly upon the hostile camp on the left bank of the river."The boat was immediately rounded to, the anchor dropped and the Indians hailed to know who they were. The Interpreter informed us that they said they were Winnebagoes, they themselves, immediately raised two white flags and, by signs & calls, endeavoured to induce us to land the boat. Suspicious of their appearance & intentions we directed them if they were Winnebagoes to send two of their men on board, this they did not do, although they several times pretended to be in the act of so doing, continually,
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at the same time, making signs for us to land. A line of unarmed men stood upon the bank apparently to cover the movements of some in the rear who could be seen preparing their guns & selecting trees to cover them. Finding their only object was to gain time and at last assured they were the hostile Sauks by a woman on board who knew their language, fearing also that they would scatter so as to injure the efficacy of our fire, the order was given for a general discharge upon them commencing with the 6. pr. Their fire was almost instantaneous with ours from above & below the boat. An arrangement had been made between Lt. Kingsbury & myself that he should conduct the field piece & that I should superintend the men & direct the movements of the boat."We were engaged a little over two hours I with them & for want of wood (having but five or six sticks remaining) we were compelled to drop down to obtain it. The men, including Capt. Throgmorton [Throckmorton] & his crew, the passengers & all on board but the interpreter behaved with the utmost coolness & intrepidity.
"Our loss amounted to one man only, a discharged soldier of the 1st Regt., wounded in the knee and the loss of the Indians was uncertain. I saw five fall and we supposed we had killed from eight to ten. An Indian squaws prisoner however states that 23 were buried in one place, if so more must have been killed as two or three fell it is almost certain on an island below.
"Although Lt. Kingsbury had been placed in command of the boat by Capt. Loomis every thing done during the engagement was done by concert & consultation between him & myself, including Capt Throgmorton also when any movement of the boat was made or contemplated.
"When we left them it was the intention to
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have returned in seven hours (the time the Capt. said it would take to get wood & return) but the fog detained us about 3 hours so that we did not arrive until the action between the army & the Indians had nearly closed. We hope our conduct will meet with your approbation."I have the honor to be very Respy Your Mo obt Sort R. Holmes, A.C.S. [Assistant Commissary of Subsistence]
"Brigd Genl. H. Atkinson Comg North W. Army Fort Crawford"
Joseph M. Street, U.S. Agent of Indians Affairs, once again reviewed the activities of his Winnebagoes:
"U.S. Indian Agency at Prairie du chien August 5th: 1832
"Br. Genl. H. Atkinson:
"Sir; I beg leave to submit the following report in relation to the Winnebagoes of my Agency, who all reside North of the Wisconsin River and West of a North & South line two miles West of the Portage of the Wisconsin. These Indians should not be confounded with with the Winnebagoes South of the Wisconsin, as many of the latter, I have reason to believe, have given essential aid to the hostile Indians, if they have not personally joined them in the War. My Agency extends alone to the Winnebagoes North of the Wisconsin and West of the designated line.
"From the commencement of hostilities with the Sacs & Foxes, I have closely watched the conduct and movements of the Winnebagoes of this Agency, and endeavored to ascertain the current of their feelings.
"Placed immediately under the management of the Agent at this place, the Government has a right to expect of me as their Agent, the closest scrutiny into, and exposition of their conduct in the present situation of this frontier, as well as
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an explanation of the several movements to which they have been subjected"When, from the immediate circumstances You thought it advisable to employ an Indian force, so soon as the Winnebagoes heard that I was engaged in raising the Sioux and Menominees, they came forward and desired to go and drive the Sacs & Foxes out of the Winnebago Country. I accepted their offer and sent them forward. When they returned without doing any thing, I deemed it prudent to tell them, we did not want their help, and explain to them the danger that they would incur by remaining in the country near the seat of War.
"I directed the chiefs to call in all their Indians on the Wisconsin and bring them to the Agency. The Chiefs began to assemble them on the 3d. and by the 7th: of July, all the Indians from the Wisconsin, except 10 or 11 (being of the family of Shoongk-ay-par-kar or Dogs-Head) were at Prairie du Chien,
"After remaining a few days, I explained to them that it would be well to go up the Mississippi, to prevent any suspicions from attaching to any of them; for if it did, I would not pay them their annuity: And that the best evidence we could have of their correctness, would be, to leave the neighborhood of the War, and go up the Mississippi 10 or 15 miles, and remain until the War was over, of which I would inform them. They consented to do so, and went about 12 miles above Prairie du Chien and remained until I recd. news of the hostile Indians having crossed the Wisconsin just below the Portage. I then despatched the Sub-Agent [Thomas Burnett] to direct them to come to the Agency immediately, with all their Canoes; and to proceed as far as Black River, and direct all the Winnebagoes to come in and bring their Canoes. The Villages above remained to call in a large
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party who were in the land hunting and promised to come down in six days. They got in the hunters, and came down the 4th: day after the Sub-Agent gave the word. In passing down near the place where you found and defeated them, the Sacs & Foxes hailed the Winnebagoes and directed them to land. They refused, and hastened down to this place to inform me, bringing off all their Canoes. On their arrival, I encamped them all on the Slue in front of the Agency, drawing up the Canoes on land each night so as to prevent their being taken into the River. The position also placed them under the command of the Guns of Fort Crawford."On the morning of the 29th: of July, the Winnebagoes informed me, that the Sacs & Foxes were escaping down the Wisconsin, and asked leave to go in pursuit of some who an Indian had seen below the mouth of the Wisconsin. I gave them leave, and that evening they brought in two men. They then went day and night in every direction required, and at the request of the Officer commanding Fort Crawford [Gustavus Loomis], I sent out guards to the ferry on the Wisconsin, and other points on the River. They have acted under my directions ever since verry spiritedly, and have brought in 29 prisoners.
"I must say their conduct has been highly commendable as a body, though I am convinced some individuals have been faithless to the Whites, and have given aid to the hostile Indians.
"Win-oa-Shik-kar and his family, have been engaged from the commencement of the difficulties, in giving secret aid to the Sacs & Foxes.
"First, by preventing the Winnebagoes from Joining and remaining with Genl. Atkinson's Army; and secondly by conducting the hostile Indians across the Rock River to the Mississippi.
"Old Win-oa-Shik-kar was engaged in the
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first, to my knowledge, at Prairie du chien, and now I feel convinced, that his oldest son conducted the hostile Indians from Rock River to the Mississippi, and, if not killed, is now leading the remnant."I do not think that the defection of the Winnebagoes extended to but few, if any, beyond this family, which was occasioned by his having a Sac wife.
"The Women and children and some decriped [decrepit] men, are yet in the hands of the Winnebagoes, and 9 in the hands of the Menominees. Three of the Menominee prisoners who were badly wounded in taking, have died.
"Very respectfully Your most obt. Servt. Jos. M. Street U S Ind: Agt.
"N.B. My remarks relate alone to the Winnebagoes North of the Wisconsin. Those South of the Wisconsin belong to two separate Agencies
"Respectfully Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agt."
Robert C. Buchanan wrote a private letter recounting the activities of the U. S. Army 4th Infantry detachment from Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
"Prarie Du Chien August the 5th. 1832.
"We left Baton Rouge on the 10th of July and arrived at St. Louis on the 19th., and not finding
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any news to delay our course, we started on the 20th. at night for Galena. We arrived at Galena on the 24th. and started for this place on the 25th. and landed here at night. We then travelled up and down the river for a day or two, finding and bringing to the Prarie some of the friendly Indians in the vicinity, who although considered as favoring our cause, were nevertheless suspected of being disposed to assist the Sacs and Foxes in crossing the Mississippi. These tribes were the Winnebagoes the Menomines and Sioux. After that, I was stationed for a short time, a day or two, with a flat boat and a keel in the Ouisconsin River for the purpose of preventing the Sacs and Foxes from coming down that River and crossing the Mississippi. The paper will have informed you of Genl. Dodge's fight on the Ouisconsin; he killed 68 and wounded a great many more. The Indians crossed the Ouisconsin and made for the Mississippi, they struck that river 45 miles above Prarie Du Chien. A steam boat with a detachment of an officer (Lt. Kings bury) and 15 men attacked the Indians and fought them about an hour and a half; the boat then dropp'd down to the Prarie for more wood; the detachment was then increased to 30, and Lieuts. Torrence and Ritner were attached to it: this first fight occurred on the 3rd. [actually the 1st] of the present month; the detachment again started for the Indians on the morning of the 4th. [actually the 2nd] but in the mean time General Atkinson had overtaken them and a general battle was fought; there were of the Indians 150 killed and taken prisoners, our army lost 11 killed, and there were 16 wounded, three of whom have since died; one of them was a Lieut: of the Illinois Militia. The killed belonged to the regulars, not one of our officers was hurt. I am not able to give you a detailed account of the battle, inasmuch as I had not the good fortune to be in it. I was at the time looking for Indians on292
the Ouisconsin; one thing is certain, if the Indians had made more resistance they would have been much more severely beaten; as it was, their whole endeavors were directed to crossing the Mississippi; they were said, by an Indian who slept in their camp the night previous to the first fight, to be 400 strong; we have about 70 prisoners; enough, however, as General Atkinson thinks, to compel them to treat on our own terms. The army will leave this place in a few days for Rock Island, there to wait until the murderersRobert Anderson announced the big news to his brother Larz of Louisville, Kentucky:
"Prairie du Chien, 5th. Aug. 1832.
"Dear Brother, The war is over. On the Morning of the 2nd. inst. our advance guards commenced the action about 6 O-clock on falling in with an advanced party of the hostile Indians near the banks of the Missi. about 35 miles above this place. The engagement (if a fight with Indians who are only seen when they raise to fire upon you or to fly is worthy of that term) and pursuit continued ten hours. The Indians were driven across the Missi. or killed. Our loss was 5 regulars killed — 4 wounded — 14 volunteers
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wounded...including one Lieut — the only officer wounded. The conjectures as to the probable loss of the Indians are various. Maney were killed in swimming the river — others in the morasses and high grass — whose bodies have probably not been found. I counted 8 warriors — 7 women & one child — their losses I think exceeds or at least amounts to one hundred. The loss of the squaws and children gives great cause of regret but, fighting with an enemy who concealed themselves in the high grass and behind logs and the banks of the ravines and river — whose positions were designated by the flash and report of their guns individual safety required that our fire should be directed to every point where an Indian appeared. When the fact is known, that the women urged their warriors to an opposition to the U. States telling them, ‘that the warriors had become women and were no longer men’ — and when to this, is added the fact, that, some of our men were wounded by the squaws — we may think it less to be regretted than under other circumstances — 39 women and children & 1 man were Prisoners on the battle field. The number of Prisoners & scalps taken near this Post by our troops and the friendly Indians probably amount to 65 (1/2 prisoners — 1/2 killed). Our friend [Joseph] Ritner did good service at the mouth of the Ouisconsin. He is a fine fellow. Black Hawk and some of his principle [principal] men — have escaped but as their forces are much diminished — it is probable that they will be overtaken by the Sioux who are in pursuit of them. Black Hawk will be brought in dead or alive."Our march across the country and during and after the action I witnessed scenes of distress and misery exceeding any I ever expected to see in our happy land. Dead bodies males & females strewed along the road — left unburied exposed — poor — emaciated beings — some dead from wounds recd. in the engagement on the
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Ouisconsin — others by disease. The elms — the linns along their route were barked to give them food. Scattered along the route lay vestiges of [horses] tired out by travel — and killed to give life & sustenance to their masters. On the fields of action was seen a little child with its arm broken by the ball that robbed its mother of her life — the child alive its mother lying bleeding dead at its feet. Such are the scenes of the battle field. When to their misery is added the suffering of our Inhabitants on the Frontier — the imagination may readily pourtray a picture replete with misery and suffering."My love to all
"Yrs. truly & affectionatly R. Anderson"
"those that had come [from the battle ground to Prairie du Chien] by land did not get there untill the evening of the 4th [actually the 5th]"
"The mounted men, baggage and all went down by land, and reached Prairie du Chien the next day, which was the fifth of August.
"On entering the settlement of Prairie du Chien, we witnessed a very novel scene. The Menominie Indians were rejoicing at the defeat of the Sacs and Foxes, and were expressing it by music and dancing. They had obtained several scalps, amongst which were some of the squaws, which they always give to their squaws. They had given their squaws several of them, and were making music for them to dance around them.
"It was, as near as I could observe, in the following way: The men all stood in a row with gourds in their hands, shaking them in very regular order, while one old fellow was beating on the head of a kind of drum, which is generally a deer skin stretched over a hollow gum, sawed to the length of our drums. They never use but one stick, and that very slow.
"The squaws were all paraded in front of the men, facing them, and the squaws who were related to those whom the Sacs and Foxes killed in 1831, held the scalps of the Sacs and
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Fox squaws on long poles, and stood in the center between the two lines, shaking them, while the other squaws and the men danced around them, apparently trying to keep time with the rattling of the gourds, and the sound of the drum, and all at the same time singing the song usually sung by all nations of Indians, consisting only of a few simple words;... but they rise and fall very singular, and always beat time to the song with their feet; when the song gets to the highest pitch, they jump up very high, and sometimes stamp with their feet. They generally bend forward toward each other, sometimes with their noses so close as to touch. The squaws appeared to exert all the power they were master of, in shaking the scalps, and using their feet at the same time, with the drummer and the gourd-shakers; and, from their countenances, they appeared to be perfectly happy.""My old Colonel [Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Baker, Commander of the 6th Regiment, U.S. Army Infantry] and myself [Second Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke] were destined to another luckless adventure in our little tent on these treacherous sands. A violent storm of wind and rain rose one night, and aroused me by a severe blow on the head from a green ridge pole — and him, by blowing a wet tent in his face by way of counterpane. We thought, it after midnight, and the prospect was blue enough. The Colonel fumbled for his cigars, and swore he would smoke off the rest of the night (the Colonel was a smoker).
"‘It will never do,’ said I.
"‘But it must do; we could never raise a light. Confound that tent pin! William!’
"(William, lucky dog, was at the fort, of course, gambling.)
" ‘But we could find our way to the barge [attached to the Warrior].’
" ‘D—n the barge — not military — we should break our necks or be drowned. I tell you, sir, I shall sit here and smoke till morning.’ (The Colonel was a little Turkish in his philosophy.)
"I left him, not to his fate, but to seek the steamboat barge. After running over a sentinel (I forgot my own
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countersign), and falling down a sandbank, I gained at length the barge cabin, when I found it was only ten o'clock,"I ordered a berth prepared, and returned with a decanter of brandy; meeting with no difficulty in finding the Colonel, who was puffing away at a segar, which blazed like a beacon; my report, and the first fruits of my success, so mollified the old gentleman, that he suffered himself to be conducted to a comfortable bed."
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Monday, August 6, 1832
"Posey's, Alexander's and Henry's Brigades of Volunteer Troops will...be mustered by Lieut Anderson Asst. Inspector Genl. and discharged from the service of the U. States"
— Brigadier General Henry Atkinson
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(Fort Crawford Weather Report)
clear, north east wind
Thermometer: 7 A.M. — 62°
2 P.M. — 79°
9 P.M. — 69°
"Head Qrs. 1st Army Corps, North Westn. Army
"Prairie du Chien 6th. Augt. 1832.
"Order No. 68
"The Ill. mounted Volunteers stationed at Fort Cosconong M. T. will immediately on the receipt of this order be marched to Dixon's Ferry, & remain there till they are mustered out of the service of the U. States
"By order of Brig Genl Atkinson
"(Signed) A.S. Johnston A.D.C. & A.A.A. Genl"
"Head Qrs 1st Army Corps, North Westn. Army
"Prairie-du Chien August 6th. 1832
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"Order No. 69."Posey's, Alexander's, and Henry's Brigades of Volunteer Troops will by easy marches proceed in the morning by way of Dodgeville and Gratiots, to Dixon's Ferry where they will be mustered by Lieut Anderson Asst. Inspector Genl. and discharged from the service of the U. States
"The Brigades will draw three or four days rations at this place and further supplies at Dodgeville & Dixons, & what may be necessary to carry them home at Fort Wilbourne.
"The Comdg. General in parting with the Volunteer Corps who have accompanied him through a long and fatigueing march, over the worst of roads to victory, cannot take leave of them without expressing his approbation of their subordinate and general good conduct, and his admiration of the persevering firmness of spirit & courage, which has enabled them to triumph over every obstacle and deserve the confidence of their country."
"we left the tented fields, and took up our line of march to Dixon's on Rock river, the place appointed for us to be discharged at (or mustered out of the service of the United States.) All now were eager to press forward. We had turned our faces toward our respective homes; and notwithstanding that we as well as our horses, were nearly worn out with the fatiguing marches through the swamps, and over the mountains, yet all were cheerful, and every heart seemed to leap for joy at the thought of being free from the toils and hardships of a soldier, to return again to the embraces of a wife and children, or a father and mother, brothers and sisters, and to mingle once more, in the walks and society of the fair sex — which appears to be a sovereign balm to man in all his afflictions."
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Appendix. Bad Axe Battle Reports.
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Eye-Witness Account by Joseph M. Street.
U. S. Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs, Prairie du Chien.
U.S. Indian Agency at Prairie du chien August 5th: 1832
Br. Genl. H. Atkinson:
Sir; I beg leave to submit the following report in relation to the Winnebagoes of my Agency, who all reside North of the Wisconsin River and West of a North & South line two miles West of the Portage of the Wisconsin. These Indians should not be confounded with with the Winnebagoes South of the Wisconsin, as many of the latter, I have reason to believe, have given essential aid to the hostile Indians, if they have not personally joined them in the War. My Agency extends alone to the Winnebagoes North of the Wisconsin and West of the designated line.
From the commencement of hostilities with the Sacs & Foxes, I have closely watched the conduct and movements of the Winnebagoes of this Agency, and endeavored to ascertain the current of their feelings.
Placed immediately under the management of the Agent at this place, the Government has a right to expect of me as their Agent, the closest scrutiny into, and exposition of their conduct in the present situation of this frontier, as well as an explanation of the several movements to which they have been subjected
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When, from the immediate circumstances You thought it advisable to employ an Indian force, so soon as the Winnebagoes heard that I was engaged in raising the Sioux and Menominees, they came forward and desired to go and drive the Sacs & Foxes out of the Winnebago Country. I accepted their offer and sent them forward. When they returned without doing any thing, I deemed it prudent to tell them, we did not want their help, and explain to them the danger that they would incur by remaining in the country near the seat of War.
I directed the chiefs to call in all their Indians on the Wisconsin and bring them to the Agency. The Chiefs began to assemble them on the 3d. and by the 7th: of July, all the Indians from the Wisconsin, except 10 or 11 (being of the family of Shoogk-ay-par-kar or Dogs-Head) were at Prairie du Chien.
After remaining a few days, I explained to them that it would be well to go up the Mississippi, to prevent any suspicions from attaching to any of them; for if it did, I would not pay them their annuity: And that the best evidence we could have of their correctness, would be, to leave the neighborhood of the War, and go up the Mississippi 10 or 15 miles, and remain until the War was over, of which I would inform them. They consented to do so, and went about 12 miles above Prairie du Chien and remained until I recd. news of the hostile Indians having crossed the Wisconsin just below the Portage. I then despatched the Sub-Agent [Thomas Burnett] to direct them to come to the Agency immediately, with all their Canoes; and to proceed as far as Black River, and direct all the Winnebagoes to come in and bring their Canoes. The Villages above remained to call in a large party who were in the land hunting and promised to come down in six days. They got in the hunters, and came down the 4th: day after the Sub-Agent gave the word. In passing down near the place where you found and defeated them, the Sacs & Foxes hailed the Winnebagoes and directed them to land. They refused, and hastened down to this place to inform me, bringing off all their Canoes. On their arrival, I encamped them all on the Slue in front of the Agency, drawing up the Canoes on land each night so as to prevent
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their being taken into the River. The position also placed them under the command of the Guns of Fort Crawford.On the morning of the 29th: of July, the Winnebagoes informed me, that the Sacs & Foxes were escaping down the Wisconsin, and asked leave to go in pursuit of some who an Indian had seen below the mouth of the Wisconsin. I gave them leave, and that evening they brought in two men. They then went day and night in every direction required, and at the request of the Officer commanding Fort Crawford [Gustavus Loomis], I sent out guards to the ferry on the Wisconsin, and other points on the River. They have acted under my directions ever since verry spiritedly, and have brought in 29 prisoners.
I must say their conduct has been highly commendable as a body, though I am convinced some individuals have been faithless to the Whites, and have given aid to the hostile Indians.
Win-oa-Shik-kar and his family, have been engaged from the commencement of the difficulties, in giving secret aid to the Sacs & Foxes.
First, by preventing the Winnebagoes from joining and remaining with Genl. Atkinson's Army; and secondly by conducting the hostile Indians across the Rock River to the Mississippi.
Old Win-oa-Shik-kar was engaged in the first, to my knowledge, at Prairie du chien, and now I feel convinced, that his oldest son conducted the hostile Indians from Rock River to the Mississippi, and, if not killed, is now leading the remnant.
I do not think that the defection of the Winnebagoes extended to but few, if any, beyond this family, which was occasioned by his having a Sac wife.
The Women and children and some decriped [decrepit] men, are yet in the hands of the Winnebagoes, and 9 in the hands of the Menominees. Three of the Menominee Prisoners who were badly wounded in taking, have died.
Very respectfully Your most obt. Servt. Jos. M. Street U S Ind: Agt.
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N.B. My remarks relate alone to the Winnebagoes North of the Wisconsin. Those South of the Wisconsin belong to two separate Agencies, with which I have no connexion These Indians are frequently blended with those South of the Wisconsin, and made to bear the blame of their misconduct and treachery. I should be gratified that the distinction should be kept up, as I believe I have a weight of influence over the principal men of my Agency, which, if had and exercised in other Agencies, would have prevented the disasters of the present War.
Respectfully Jos. M. Street U.S. Ind. Agt.
312
Eye-Witness Account by Captain Gustavus Loomis.
Commander, Fort Crawford
Fort Crawford, / M. T. / August 8, 1832.
Sir / With regard to the measures pursued by me and the operations of the Troops under my command, commencing on the 25th. July 1832, intended to cooperate with the Army in the field under your command to prevent the escape of the hostile Indians, either across the Mississippi or in their descent of the Ouisconsin.
I have the honor to report. — That soon after the receipt of Genl: Dodge's letter of 22d. July, a copy of which is enclosed marked 1. Some Winnebagoes came down the Mississippi, up which they had gone but a few days before, avowedly to be out of the Way of the War, and encamped below this Fort on the Prairie. This circumstance increased my suspicions of their honesty. I requested Genl: Street their Agent to order them above the Fort, which he did. They obeyed and encamped on the Slough about ./3 of a mile above the Fort that evening. I then ordered the A. A. Qr. Mr. to furnish a light Canoe well manned to send up the Mississippi River to order down the Winnebagoes encamped above last their Canoes should facilitate the crossing of the
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hostile Indians should they arrive on the shores of said River. I requested Genl. Street to send an Interpreter & his Sub-agent which he very readily complied with.That afternoon accompanied by Capt. Estes I examined the Ouisconsin River at the Ferry as to the practicability of a piece of Artillery preventing the enemy's descent of it. On my return I found the Steam Boat Enterprize at the landing with two Comps of the 4th. Regt of Infty, from Baton Rouge under command of Lt. Torrence of said Regiment. I immediately decided to charter the S. Boat and send her up the Mississippi to support those previously sent in the light Canoe and to endeavor to show a force ready to compel obedience.
On the 27th. July I ordered Lt. Torrence to ascend the Mississippi as far as Prairie Le Cross and order down the Winnebago Chief Win-o-sheck and his band. He was again accompanied by the Sub. Ind. Agent and an Interpreter furnished by Genl. Street. The report of this Trip is marked 3.
On the return of the S. Boat to the Prairie on the evening of the 28th., understanding that the S. Boat Warrior would be at the Prairie on the 29th. or 30th., I discharged the Enterprize.
The Detachment of the 4th. under Lt. Ritner, stationed at the mouth of the Ouisconsin with a 6 Pr. in a Flat boat and one Mackinac — Killed some of the enemy in his attempt to pass his command on Saturday night the 28th. July. Lt. Ritner's report is marked 4. The Ferry Guard, the same night fired upon some Canoes passing & in the morning killed one Indian on the Island in front of the Ferry house.
These circumstances convinced me that the enemy was, so far as he could, disencumbering himself of his ineffective men and his Women and children — and pointed out his ultimate object to regain the West bank of the Mississippi.
On the 30th. the Steam Boat Warrior arrived with Provisions. I ordered the Qr. Mr. to charter her and directed Lt. Kingsbury to take command of the detachment sent on board and also a Six Pr., which put on board and to proceed up the Mississippi. If the Winnebago Chief Win-o-shec had
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not started to come down from Black River, to hasten him and to proceed as far as to Wa-ba-shaw's Village and notify the Scioux that the Sacs and Foxes were flying before the Americans and were expected to cross the Mississippi into their Country which we hoped to prevent.Lt. Kingsbury in descending the Missi. had an action with the hostile Sacs & Foxes who were on the bank of the Missi. endeavoring to construct rafts to facilitate their crossing. For want of Wood the S. Boat was obliged to come to Prairie Du chien. I increased the Guard on board the S. Boat and sent her back under command of the same officer.
On the 4th. August Lt. Kingsbury sent me his letter marked 5.1 still required a report which he has sent me this day and is marked 6.
I cannot but speak with high approbation of the Officers and men under my command.
The support which I have received from those of the 1st Infty left here in Garrison when the Detachmt. of three Companies from this Post were cali'd into the field, merits my thanks.
I would also bring to the notice of the General the detachment of the 4th. Regt who arrived from B. Rouge in 15 days, burning with ardor to find the enemy and who promptly and cheerfully performed the duties assigned them.
In the operations detailed above I received prompt support from Genl: Street, in all that relates to the Indian Department.
I have the honor to be Respectfully Your obt. Servt.
G: Loomis Capt. 1t Infy Commg.
Brigdr. Genl. H. Atkinson Commanding, N. W. Army.
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Eye-Witness Account by Lieutenant John J. Abercrombie.
1st Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army
Fort Crawford. / M. T. / [ca. August 8] 1832.
Sir / Pursuant to your instructions I assended the Mississippi on the evening of the 25th. July in the Steam Boat Enterprize with a detachment of the 4th. Regt Infty under the command of Lt. Torrence and arrived early in the day succeeding at the position occupied by the Winnebagoes a few days previous and when I first made them a visit; they had however abandoned it.
We decended three or four Miles to a lodge of Winnebagoes, took a board one or two of them to conduct us to the principle encampment which was about 25 or 30 Miles above on the East side of the River and consisted of the Caramonies De Carry's and some others of distinction. They were assembled to receive us and after having given the latest intelligence of the movements of the hostile Indians and expressed to them the wish of the Commanding Offer, of this Post, that they should accompany the boat to Prairie Du chien, that it was for their own good as well as for their white brethern this measure was adopted: — They replied they would do so.
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I then requested the old chief De Carry to send an Express to Weno-sheck who was then with his band a little above Prairie Le Cross, — he replied if the express would be paid for it, one should be dispatched immediately; he was informed by the Sub Agent (who accompanied me) a liberal compensation would be allowed him. After having made these arrangements I was under the impression nothing more was necessary than to make immediate preperations for returning. I was however disappointed — they again assembled and after deliberating some time concluded they could not come with us, in consequence of a number of their men being out some Miles on a hunt: — They further more declined sending the Express to Prairie Le Cross pretending they could not find any one that was willing to go; — finding they were not disposed to come to any conclusion, or to give me any satisfaction as to the course they intended to adopt; — I told them distinctly to understand, that, I would give them until the setting of the sun to make their arrangements for their departure, & if they were not then ready, every canoe should be taken from them and carried to the Fort at Prairie Du Chien, this brought them to a decision and in less than two hours their encampment was broken up, their Canoes loaded & under way for this place, where with the exception of a few who were permitted to come by land in order to bring their horses, nearly all arrived on the following day. I think there must have been in all (counting the Women and children) about Two hundred & forty or fifty, between thirty five or forty Canoes; which I have no doubt would have been sufficient to have cr[o]ssed the hostile Indians in a few hours; and from the degree of reluctance with which they complied with what we demanded of them I beleive firmly they would not have hesitated to have done.
Respectfully Yr. obt. Servt. J. J. Abercrombie. Adjt. 1st Inf
Capt. G. Loomis Commdg Fort Crawford.
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Eye-Witness Account by Lieutenant Reuben Holmes.
Assistant Commissary of Subsistence.
Steam Boat Warrior Augst. 5th:1832
General Agreeably to your order I have the honor to make a statement of the cause of my leaving Galena and of the events connected with my absence.
On my arrival at Galena from Dixon's ferry (on the 25th. ultimo) I learned that the hostile Indians had effected a passage of the Ouisconsin river and their probable intention was either to cross the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien or make their escape to the Chippewa Country. The above information immediately determined me to ship provisions on the first Steam Boat for some point on the Mississippi within reach of the advancing army. The arrival of the Steam Boat Warrior enabled me to start for Prairie du Chien on the 29th. Ult., where I expected to recieve some information of the movements of the army by which I could govern my future operations for the subsistence of the army. On my arrival at that place I was unable to gain any definite information of the main body of the Indians or of the Pursuing army — and Capt. Loomis of the 1st Infy. placed fifteen men under the command ofLieut Kingsbury on board
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the boat, furnished it with a six pounder, ammunition &c. and directed him to proceed up the river, to council with the Sieux, inform them of the expected movements of the Indians (Sauks) and to renew the order previously given for the Winnebagoes to assemble with their Canoes at Prairie du Chien without delay. Lieut Kingsbury had executed the duties required of him by Capt. Loomis's order & the boat was within about 45 miles of Prairie du Chien on her return when about 4 oclock P.M. on the 1st of August we came suddenly upon the hostile camp on the left bank of the river.The boat was immediately rounded to, the anchor dropped and the Indians hailed to know who they were. The Interpreter informed us that they said they were Winnebagoes, they themselves, immediately raised two white flags and, by signs & calls, endeavoured to induce us to land the boat. Suspicious of their appearance & intentions we directed them if they were Winnebagoes to send two of their men on board, this they did not do, although they several times pretended to he in the act of so doing, continually, at the same time, making signs for us to land. A line of unarmed men stood upon the bank apparently to cover the movements of some in the rear who could be seen preparing their guns & selecting trees to cover them. Finding their only object was to gain time and at last assured they were the hostile Sauks by a woman on board who knew their language, fearing also that they would scatter so as to injure the efficacy of our fire, the order was given for a general discharge upon them commencing with the 6. pr. Their fire was almost instantaneous with ours from above & below the boat. An arrangement had been made between Lt. Kingsbury & myself that he should conduct the field piece & that I should superintend the men & direct the movements of the boat.
We were engaged a little over two hours with them & for want of wood (having but five or six sticks remaining) we were compelled to drop down to obtain it. The men, including Capt. Throgmorton [Throckmorton] & his crew, the passengers & all on board but the interpreter behaved with the utmost coolness & intrepidity.
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Our loss amounted to one man only, a discharged soldier of the 1st Regt., wounded in the knee and the loss of the indians was uncertain. I saw five fall and we supposed we had killed from eight to ten. An indian squaw prisoner however states that 23 were buried in one place, if so more must have been killed as two or three fell it is almost certain on an island below.
Although Lt. Kingsbury had been placed in command of the boat by Capt. Loomis every thing done during the engagement was done by concert & consultation between him & myself, including Capt. Throgmorton also when any movement of the boat was made or contemplated.
When we left them it was the intention to have returned in seven hours (the time the Capt. said it would take to get wood & return) but the fog detained us about 3 hours so that we did not arrive until the action between the army & the Indians had nearly closed. We hope our conduct will meet with your approbation.
I have the honor to be very Respy Your Mo obt Sert R. Holmes, A.C.S. [Assistant Commissary of Subsistence]
Brigd Genl. H. Atkinson Comg. North W. Army Fort Crawford
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Eye-Witness Account by Private John H. Fonda.
Michigan Territory Mounted Militia
It was on the 1st day of August [actually July 30] when Boiseley and I reached the Sugar Loaf, at the south end of the Prairie. As we were taking a look over the Prairie previous to starting for the Fort, we saw the smoke and steam of a boat coming up the river, just off the mouth of the Wisconsin. We hastened on, and reached the Fort as the steamer Warrior made the Government landing. I reported myself to Captain Loomis, and was directed to go up the river in the boat. I assisted to get a six pounder from the Fort on to the Warrior, which cannon was managed by five other persons and myself, and was the only cannon fired at the Indians — if not the only one aboard.
The steam-boat Warrior was commanded by Throckmorton, and Lieut. Kingsbury was aboard with a body of regulars. The cannon was placed on the forward part of the boat, without a defence of any kind; and I have the names of the five persons who assisted to manage it, for they got on at the Prairie when I did.
The boat steamed up stream, with all on board anxious to get a pop at the Indians. Just above where Lansing is, we
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picked up a soldier, who had been discharged from Fort Snelling and was coming down the river in a canoe. He had come down the west channel, on the Minnesota side opposite Bad Axe, and, fortunately for him, he did not meet the Indians. We came in sight of the Indians south of the Bad Axe River; they were collected together on a bench of the land close to the Mississippi, and were making efforts to get their women across.Captain Dickson's scouts had not come up yet, and the Indians raised a white flag and endeavored to induce the boat to approach the east shore, and succeeded in bringing her close enough to pour a shower of balls into her. The cannon sent a shower of canister amongst the Indians, which was repeated three times, each time mowing a swath clean through them. After discharging the gun three times, (there were only three charges of canister-shot aboard,) the Indians retreated to the low ground back from the shore, where, lying on their bellies, they were safe from us.
A continual firing of small arms was kept up between the persons on board the boat and the Indians ashore, until the fire-wood gave out, when we were obliged to put back to Prairie Du Chien to wood-up — for there were no wood-yards on the Mississippi as now. The village was roused to carry wood aboard, and we soon had a sufficient quantity of that article. A lot of Monomonee Indians were also taken on, and then, under a full head of steam, we put back to the scene of the battle.
Before we rounded the island, and got within sight of the battle-ground, we could hear the report of musketry, and then it was that I heard Throckmorton say: "Dodge is giving them h-ll!" And he guessed right, for as we reached the scene of action, the wild volunteers under Gen. Dodge were engaged in a fierce conflict with the Indians. The Indians were driven down to the river edge; some of them under shelter of the bank, were firing at the volunteers, who had command of the bluffs. The Suckers and Hoosiers, as we called them, fought like perfect tigers, and carried everything before them.
The troops and Indians on board the Warrior, kept up a brisk fire on the Indians ashore, who fought with a
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desperation that surpassed everything I ever saw, during an Indian fight, and I have seen more than one. The Indians were between two fires; on the bluffs above them were Dickson and his rangers, and Dodge leading on his men, who needed no urging; while we kept steaming back and forth on the river, running down those who attempted to cross, and shooting at the Indians on shore.The soldier we picked up, helped to man the gun, and during the engagement, he was wounded in the knee by a rifle-ball. The Indians' shots would hit the water or patter against the boat, but occasionally a rifle-ball sent with more force, would whistle through both sides. Some of the Indians, naked to the breech-cloth, slid down into the water, where they laid, with only their mouth and nostrils above the surface; but by running the boat closer in to the east shore, our Monomonees were enabled to make the water too hot for them. One after another, they jumped up, and were shot down in attempting to gain cover on the bank above. One warrior, more brave than the others, or perhaps more accustomed to the smell of gun powder, kept his position in the water until the balls fell around him like hail, when he also concluded to pugh-a shee
One incident occurred during the battle that came under my observation, which I must not omit to relate. An old Indian brave and his five sons, all of whom I had seen on the Prairie and knew, had taken a stand behind a prostrate log, in a little ravine mid-way up the bluff; from whence they fired on the regulars with deadly aim. The old man loaded the guns as fast as his sons discharged them, and at each shot a man fell. They knew they could not expect quarter, and they sold their lives as dear as possible; making the best
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show of fight, and held their ground the firmest of any of the Indians. But, they could never withstand the men under Dodge, for as the volunteers poured over the bluff, they each shot a man, and in return, each of the braves was shot down and scalped by the wild volunteers, who out with their knives and cutting two parallel gashes down their backs, would strip the skin from the quivering flesh, to make razor straps of. In this manner I saw the old brave and his five sons treated, and afterward had a piece of their hide.After the Indians had been completely routed on the east side, we carried Col. Taylor and his force across the river, to islands opposite, which we raked with grape and round shot. Taylor and his men charged through the islands to the right and left, but they only took a few prisoners; mostly women and children. I landed with the troops, and was moving along the shore to the north, when a little Indian boy, with one of his arms shot most off, came out of the bushes and made signs for something to eat. He seemed perfectly indifferent to pain, and only sensible of hunger, for when I carried the little naked fellow aboard, some one gave him a piece of hard bread, and he stood and ate it, with the wounded arm dangling by the torn flesh; and so he remained until the arm was taken off.
Old Wa-ba-shaw with a band of his warriors and the Monomonees, were sent in pursuit of those of Black Hawk's people who crossed the Mississippi, and a very few of the Sauk and Fox Indians ever reached their own country. The Warrior carried down to the Prairie, after the fight, the regular troops, wounded men and prisoners; among the latter was an old Sauk Indian, who attempted to destroy himself, by pounding his own head with a rock, much to the amusement of the soldiers.
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Eye-Witness Account by Captain James B. Estes.
Michigan Territory Militia
Our boat, (the Warrior, Captain Throckmorton,) arrived on the 2d of August, about ten o'clock in the morning; the firing had already begun.
There are two islands in the Mississippi near the mouth of the Bad Axe; our troops had driven many of the Indians on these islands, and the steamboat opened a fire with the six-pounder upon them. Having passed the large island, our troops were discovered on the mainland, and two small boats were sent by Captain Throckmorton to the shore to bring them over to the islands. The boats made a few trips, and landed Colonel Zachary Taylor and his whole command, about one hundred and fifty men, an the large island. Here a severe fight took place, and all the Indians found on this island were killed, except one who swam across the slough, and got on shore, on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, and escaped; two Indians were killed in the top of a tree. Upon the small island, several Indians were also killed; and here, Captain Estes discovered an Indian sack with something red hanging out of it; when this was taken out, it proved to be a British flag, entirely new, and
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never soiled. Major Mason, of the United States Army, was with Captain Estes when the flag was found; it was passed from hand to hand among the troops; what became of it afterward is not ascertained.From the main eastern shore of the Mississippi to the islands, is about one hundred and fifty yards; the small island lies nearest to the shore, and is above the large one. It appeared that the Indians had only one canoe with them, and they had to swim across the slough; many of them were drowned, as their bodies were found next day below the islands. In the boats that first brought the regulars to the large island, were Colonel Zachary Taylor, Major Bliss, Captains Harney and Smith, and other officers; Captain Estes was also along with them, having gone in the boats to bring them over. Colonel Taylor was the first who got ashore. During the fight, and about the close, General Atkinson came on board the steamboat, and remained there until the close of the battle. The firing was very severe on the boat from both of the islands and the shore also, when it had arrived at the head of the large island. The pilot's house being above the upper deck, was much exposed, and several balls had passed near it; the steersman, somewhat alarmed, left the wheel, and instantly afterwards a shot passed through both sides of the house, in the direction where he had been standing; for a few minutes Captain Estes took the wheel, but the pilot soon resumed his place, and Captain Estes went ashore with the first boats to bring the troops over the slough.
During the fight on the mainland, an Indian woman was killed; she had a young child at the breast, and the deadly bullet had passed through and shattered the arm of the infant, and penetrated the left breast of the mother. When they were found after the battle, the woman was lying dead, over the child, whose head protruded under the mother's arm. Dr. Addison Philleo, of Galena, surgeon of the volunteers, amputated the child's arm, on the ground; during the operation, a biscuit was given to the infant, which it ate, apparently unconcerned, and insensible to pain. This child was delivered to the care of an Indian woman, prisoner, and was subsequently taken to Rock Island, and delivered up to the tribe.
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It may readily be supposed, that during the eleven days which had elapsed from the time of crossing the Wisconsin until their arrival on the banks of the Mississippi at Bad Axe, the Indians had most severely suffered from imperious hunger, and incessant fatigue in their hasty retreat; in fact, they were nearly starved, as was universally admitted by their conquerors.
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Eye-Witness Account by Captain Joseph Dickson.
Commander of Spy Company, Michigan Territory Mounted Militia
The Black Hawk war commenced in the month of May, when on the first intelligence of hostilities by the Indians, I joined a mounted company of volunteers raised at Platteville. At the organization, I was elected Orderly Sergeant in John H. Rountree's company; and in that capacity I served one month, when, in consequence of the absence of the Captain, I was chosen to command the company, and thus served about one month. Then, by the order of Colonel Dodge, I took command of a spy company, and continued in that capacity, in front of the army, during the chases to Rock River, Fort Winnebago, and to the Wisconsin Heights; and at the latter place I, with my spy company, commenced the attack on a band of Indians who were kept in the rear of the retreating Indian army, and chased them to the main body of Indians, when we were fired at several times, but without injury, and I returned to the advancing army without loss or injury to my command.
After the battle of the Wisconsin Heights, and the army was supplied with provisions, we again pursued the Indian trail, and I took the lead with my company and followed to
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the Bad Axe River, by command of Gen. Atkinson. At the Bad Axe, I discovered, the evening before the battle, the trail of Black Hawk with a party of about forty Indians, who had left the main trail, and gone up the river; which fact I reported to the commanding General. On the next morning, my company encountered and engaged a company of Indians at a place near to where I had the evening before discovered the trail of Black Hawk and his party. During the battle that ensued, my command killed fourteen Indians, and after a short time, say an hour's engagement, General Dodge with his force, and General Atkinson with his regular army, arrived at the place where I had engaged this party consisting of about forty Indians; and about the time of their arrival, we had killed and dispersed the whole party. The main body of the enemy had gone down the river, after they had entered on the River Bottom. I pursued with my command, passing General Henry's Brigade formed on the Mississippi Bottom; I crossed the Slough, and engaged a squad of Indians, who were making preparations to cross the River; after which we were fired upon, and returned the fire of several bands or squads of Indians, before the army arrived. I and several of my men were wounded before the other troops came up.After the battle was over, I was taken with others on board of a steamer, which came along soon after, to Prairie Du Chien, where I was properly cared for, and my wounds received suitable attention.
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Eye-Witness Account by Adjutant Charles Bracken.
Michigan Territory Militia
Early in the morning, the spies under Capt. Jo. Dickson had a skirmish with the Indians, in which he had one of his men severely wounded. Later in the day, after the regular troops and Dodge's volunteers had formed in line and advanced nearly to the top of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Dickson again attacked the enemy on the river bottom. Directed by the sound of his guns, the regulars and Dodge's volunteers marched directly down the bluff to his support. When they arrived on the ground, they found Dickson severely wounded, and Gen. Henry, who with his brigade had followed the Indian trail down a ravine to our left that led to the river, was on the ground, supporting Dickson. From the point at which Dickson was wounded, the enemy was followed down the river some distance, when both the regular troops and Dodge's command were engaged with them: and that they had the severest encounter with the enemy is apparent from the number of men they had killed and wounded, which on the part of the regular troops amounted to seventeen, and on that of Dodge's to seven more, to wit: Captain Joseph Dickson,
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Sergeant George Willard, privates Smith, Hood, Lowery, Skinner and Payne; of these, Smith, Hood and Lowery died of their wounds. In Henry's brigade there were but five men killed and wounded. On the part of the enemy, I saw but one dead squaw and one warrior; there were, however, a large number of squaws and children taken prisoners.In the pursuit from the Wisconsin to the Bad Axe, it was evident that the Indians were greatly distressed by starvation and sickness; numbers of dead warriors, women and children were found along their trail. Their principal subsistence seemed to be roots and the bark of trees; where they killed a horse for food, there were no vestiges of the animal left but the hair.
The day before they were overtaken by the army, they were encountered on the Mississippi River by the Steamboat Warrior, on board of which were a number of United States soldiers, under Lieutenant Kingsbury, with two pieces of artillery; these checked their retreat across the river until towards night, when the boat was compelled to fall back to Prairie du Chien for a supply of fuel. Having supplied herself, she returned the next day at the close of the battle.
After transporting a detachment of United States soldiers under Co. Z. Taylor, to two large islands in front of the battle ground, where it was supposed there was a number of the enemy, she left next day, carrying General Atkinson, his staff, and nearly all the U. S. troops and wounded down the river to Fort Crawford.
A short time previous to her departure, the celebrated Sioux chief Wa-ba-shaw, with a number of warriors, reported himself to Gen Atkinson. He was immediately dispatched in pursuit of the enemy, and the little remnant of Black Hawk's band of men, women and children who had escaped into their own country from starvation and the bayonets and bullets of the white men, were nearly all exterminated by that chief and his warriors, their hereditary foes.
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Eye-Witness Account by Brigadier General Alexander Posey.
First Brigade, Illinois Militia
East bank of the Mississippi near Bad Axe River, August 3rd, 1832.
Sir In obedience to your order relating to the conduct & operation of the corps under my command during the combat with the hostile Indians on the 2nd. Inst. I have the honor to state, that from my position in the order of march; being ordered to take the right of the infantry, It was executed with promptness by Cols [Willis] Hargrave & [Samuel] Leach, that in ascending & turning a very steep hill, Hargrave was thrown farther to the right than anticipated, Leach having turned the Hill near the infantry decended to the bank of the Mississippi & joined them in the conflict with intrepidity & coolness; several Indians having fallen to his party. One of his men [Private Lockhart Stallings] was severely wounded. Col Hargrave when about to descend the precipicce to join Leach was ordered to take post at a pass in the Hill, which he did with promptness — but such was the eagerness of both officers & men to participate in the immediate conflict it was with difficulty they could be restrained from throwing themselves forward. Capt [Berryman G.] Wells & [James N.] Clark of Leach regt captured 4 Indian youth, & Capt [Harrison] Wilson of Hargrave regt. captured 3 Squaws & four youths
I have the honour &c your obt Sert [Servant] A Posey Brig Genl Comg. Ill M V [Commanding Illinois Mounted Volunteers]
Genl Atkinson.
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Eye-Witness Account by Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander.
Second Brigade, Illinois Militia
Camp on Mississippi river near the mouth of Bad Axe river 4th of Augt.
The commanding Genl. having ordered a march at an early hour on the 2nd Instant the most of the troops under my command collected their horses and advanced with rapidity. Captains Greere [Abner Greer] and [John F.] Richardson being somewhat in the rear having orders to come up immediately and join; the march being so rapid they with their commands were not able to join at the time when I received orders direct from yourself [Atkinson] to advance and form a line on the extreeme right to the river, that position being considered the most likely pass that the enemy would attempt to retreat and escape. I formed an extended line as ordered having Captain McCowen's [John McCown's] company of the Spy Bat. (Major McHenry having remained at the Wisconsin river in consequence of indisposition) Colonels [James M.] Blackburn, [Samuel] Adams and [Hosea] Pierce with their respective commands [the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiments] at a distance of two miles or upwards from the main battle ground and I advanced with
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extended line down the river and over the high hills towards the scene of action but owing to the distance we were placed therefrom we only reached the battle ground as the fireing ceased. Captains Greere and Richardsson were more fortunate, they passed on from the encampment with their commands direct to the enemy; Captain Greere and his company fell in with Genl. Henry and in accordance with Genl. Henry's directions formed on the left of Major [William Lee D.] Ewing's Spy Bat. and remained in that position and advancing until the battle terminated. Captain Richardson advanced with Genl. Henry and the regular troops and formed on the right of Genl. Henry and on the left and some in advance of the Regular troops. Some scattering men from different companies in my brigade advanced (being some in the rear of myself in consequence of not having found their horses early) direct to the scene of action and participated in the fight.I am informed from a source to be relied upon independent of my own officers and men that Captain Greere and Richardson and the officers and men immediately under their commands and the scattering men named discharged their duty well, fought with promptness and bravery not to be surpassed. None were killed and only one man wounded. Aaron Payne, a gentlemen who has had a brother killed this season by the Sac Indians) a resident on the Illinois river attached himself to my Brig. and distinguished himself in the action received a severe wound in the back and shoulder two balls.
By order of M. K. Alexander Brig. Genl. 2 Brig Ill. militia volunteers
W. B. Archer Aid De Camp
Brig. Genl. Atkinson
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Eye-Witness Account by Colonel Zachary Taylor.
U.S. Army Infantry
Brigade Hd. Qrs. Prairie Du chien August 5, 1832.
Lt. Col: Taylor takes pleasure in complying with that clause of Order No. 65. which directs Commandants of Brigades to report the conduct and operations of their respective Brigades during the Battle of the 2d. Inst:. On the Morning of that day so soon as it was ascertained that the Spies in advance were engaged, the Brigade under his command (consisting of four Companies of the first and one of the fifth under the immediate command of Maj. [John] Bliss, and Eight Companies of the Sixth Regiment of Infty under the command ofLt. Col: [Daniel] Baker aided by Maj. [William] Davenport and Bvt Major [Bennet] Riley) formed in open order of Battle and advanced at quick time upon the Enemy for a Mile and upwards; the enemy continuing to retreat before the advance: — The Brigade moved by right of Companies to the left, over ground extremely broken, until they arrived on an eminence in sight of the Mississippi River, when it was discovered that the Enemy had commenced crossing. The Brigade were then ordered to advance in double quick time down a precipice so steep that
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the men were compelled to use their hands and Guns to aid them in their descent, at the bottom of which a defile presented itself, so narrow, that is was necessary to advance by a flank, which was promptly done, and in this manner they continued to move crossing several slough's up to their waist in mud and water until they joined the Volunteers who had a few minutes before commenced the action. At that moment the heaviest firing was from an Island in front of the Volunteers and on their left. The first Infty under Major Bliss and two Companies of the 6th Infty composing the reserve under Maj. Davenport were ordered to drive the Enemy from that Island which duty was most handsomely performed in conjunction with Genl: Dodge's command and some of Genl: Hen[r]y's Brigade who cross'd a slough thirty Yards in width up to their waists in mud and water for that purpose.The remainder of the Sixth Regt: under the command of Col. Baker assisted by Maj. Riley with equal promptness and decision occupied the position assigned them to the left and killed every Indian that presented himself on land, or who endeavored to seek safety by swiming the river. The two Companies of the 6th Inf: under the command of Maj. Davenport in their charge on the Island lost five privates killed, three of whom were of "A" Company and two of "K" and two wounded: In the same charge "F" Company of the fifth Regt had two men wounded.
Soon after the battle closed, (about two o'clock), the Steam Boat Warrior arrived from Prairie Du chien and although the Brigade had not taken refreshment since two ock in the morning they were thrown into two of the adjoining Islands, which the[y] effectualy scowered, the 6th. under Col. Baker killing several Indians, who endeavored to secret themselves by climbing trees &c.
It is sufficient to say, that, every Officer, Non-Commissioned and private soldier under my command discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction. The only difficulty to be encountered was, to restrain their ardour to close with the Enemy, on this and every other occasion.
By order of Lt. Col. Taylor.
Albert S. Miller Lieut. 1. Inf & Actg Assnt. Adjt Genl
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Eye-Witness Account by 2d Lieutenant Albert Sidney Johnston.
Acting Assistant Adjutant General and Aide de Camp to Atkinson
General Atkinson directed the commanders of Brigades to hold their troops in readiness to march at 2 oclk tomorrow morning, this order was not communicated to the brigades of Generals Henry & Alexander before their horses were turned out to graise and they could not therefore get in readiness to move before it was light enough to distinguish their horses, this will sufficiently explain an apparent tardiness in the movement of these two brigades at an early hour on the following day.
2d Augt. 1832 At 2 oclock this morning the troops turned out & having made hasty preparation were on the route of the enemy before Sunrise except Henry's & Alexanders brigades for reasons before mentioned. About one hour after sunrise a small body of spies under the command of Capt Dixon thrown in advance from Dodge's battalion brought information that the enemy were drawn up in position on the route & near at hand /we had previous notice of our Proximity to the Mississippi from having seen the fog over it, distant probably 5 or 6 miles] General Dodge instructed his Spies to reconnoitre the enemy & occupy his attention, the
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Spies advanced as ordered & succeeded in killing 8 indians while they retired through the woods, in the mean time Gen Dodges battalion was drawn up in line and a report made to the Commanding General. The regulars, Generals Posey's Alexander Henrys Mounted Volunteers were ordered forward, the regulars being immediately in rear of Dodges battalion moved forward and formed in extended order on his right. Dodge battalion having dismounted was also formed in extended order, the whole advanced in this order for some minutes before Genl Posey command came up Genls Henry Alexanders promptly obeyed the order to advance & came up in good time to take the position assigned to them by the Commanding General. General Posey was posted on the right of the regulars & General Alexander on his right The troops by this time in advancing had been drawn considerably to the right of the trail in following the movements of the retiring enemy. The General apprehending this to be a feint to divert him from his purpose & gain time, ordered Gen Henry to pursue the trail on, to the river & it the same time ordered General Alexander to move dovn a deep ravine to the river, the center passed down a steep declivity & ravine. In taking possession of these only accessible approaches to the plain below or rather swamp, the right & left were necessarily two miles or more apart. Gen. Henry in pursuing the trail it being a more easy descent was brought in contact with the position of the enemy sooner than either of the other corps, he reached the plane in advance of the center and attacked the enemy, the regulars & Dodges [& part of Poseys] command promptly moved to the support of the left, the enemy retiring & disputing the ground step by step which they had done from the first, many of then Men Women & children fled to the river & endeavored to excape by swimming in this situation, our troops arrived on the bank and threw in a heavy fire which killed great numbers, unfortunately some women & children which was much deplored by the soldiers, the enemy in retiring had taken some strong positions at the foot of an Island which they were driven from by the repeated charges of the regulars & volunteers under Dodge they were now completely overthrown & beaten with the loss of one hundred & fifty killed 40 women & children taken prisoners355
and their baggage & about one hundred horses killed & captured with a loss on our part of 5 regulars killed & 4 wounded 6 of Dodges battalion wounded 6 of Henrys wounded one mortally & one of Poseys brigade, this action was decisive, the remnant of the band fled [?] to the west of the Mississippi and after having suffered almost beyond endurance reached their own country & were given up by Keokuk & other influential friendly Sacs to the whites.357
Eye-Witness Account by Brigadier General Henry Atkinson.
Commanding 1st Corps, North West Army
Genl: Atkinson — To — Genl Scott
Head Qrs. 1st Army Corps, North Westn Army
Fort Crawford Prairie. Du Chien, 9th. Augst. 1832
Sir, I informed you on the 5th. Inst by a short official note, of the action on the Morning of the 2nd Inst: between the Troops under my command and the Sac enemy on the left bank of the Mississippi opposite the mouth of Ioway River.
Having received the reports of the officers commanding Brigades & Corps, I have the honour of reporting more in detail the events of the day.
After having pursued the enemy five days by forced Marches from his passage of the Ouisconsin we found ourselves at Dusk on the evening of the 1st Inst. after a march of 25 Miles, within a few miles of his position.
The Troops were ordered to encamp and repose until 2 O.C. in the morning, and then take up the line of march. The signal to assemble was given about this hour, and at Dawn I marched, with the regular Troops under Col. Taylor and Dodge's Battallion, leaving Posey's Alexander's, and
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Henry's Brigades to follow as they were not yet ready to mount, their horses having been turned out, before the Order to march was received by them. After marching about three Miles, the advance of Dodge's Battallion came up with a small party of the enemy, attacked and Killed eight of them and dispersed the residue. In the meantime the Troops then with me were formed in Order of battle — the regulars in extended order with three companies held in reserve. Dodges Battallion was formed on their left. The whole advanced to the front expecting to meet the enemy in a Wood before us. Posey's command soon came up and was formed on the right of the regulars, shortly after Alexander's arrived and was formed on the right of Posey, a position at the time considered of great importance as it would intercept the enemy in an attempt to pass up the river. Not finding the enemy posted as anticipated, I detached Capt Dixon with a few of Dodge's Spies to the left to gain information and at the same time sent one of my staff to hasten the March of Henry. soon after another was despatched with orders to him to march upon the enemy's Trail with One of the Regiments of his Brigade, and to hold the remainder in reserve, finding the enemy to be in force in that direction, his whole Brigade was ordered on that point, the Order was promptly executed by the Brigade, having in its advance the small body of Spies under Dixon, who commenced the action, seconded simultaneously by Heny. The enemy was driven across several sluices down the river bottom, which was covered with fallen Timber, underwood and high grass. The regular Troops, and Dodge at the head of his Battallion soon came up and joined in the action followed by part of Posey's Troops, when the enemy was driven still further through the bottom to several small willow Islands successively where much execution was done.The main body of the enemy being in the bottom and adjoining small islands, Alexander was ordered to move with his Brigade to the point of action, but from the distance of his position he came up to late to participate in the combat, except two companies of his Brigade that had previously joined the Brigade under Brigadier General Henry.
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The small body of Spies of Dodge's Battallion, and Henry's Brigade from their earlier position shared more largely in the combat, than those who from the distance they had to march consequently came later into the engagement. as soon as the enemy were slain or dislodged from the Willow bars, The regular Troops under Col Taylor, and a company or two of volunteers were thrown on board the Steam boat Warrior that had just arrived, and were landed on two adjacent Islands to scour them of the enemy, assisted by a detachment from Heny's and Dodge's Commands on the river bank some three or four Indians were found and Killed.
Both the regular and volunteer Troops conducted themselves with the greatest zeal, courage and patriotism and are entitled to the highest approbation of their country
To Brigr Genl Henry of the 3rd. Brigade of Ill Volunteers, Genl Dodge of the Michigan Volunteers and Col Taylor of the U.S. Infantry, the greatest praise is due, for the gallant manner they brought their respective corps in, and conducted them through the action. They report a like meed of Praise to the officers under their respective commands.
To General's Posey and Alexander every credit is due for their conduct and exertions, in endeavouring to throw their commands into action, from which by the arrangement of the Order of Battle they were unfortunately precluded except a detachment of each.
I cannot omit without injustice to my Staff consisting of Liuts Johnston, Anderson, Wheelwright, Drane Brooke & Clarke of the Army and Col March of the volunteers, to mention the zeal, promptitude & efficiency they displayed in the discharge of their duty, during the action & the events of the day.
The enemy sustained a loss of one hundred & fifty Men Killed (The precise number could not be ascertained as a large proportion were slain in endeavouring to swim to the Islands.) forty Women and Children were taken prisoners, seventy horses captured &c.
The loss on our part was, of the U States Infy five Privates Killed and four Wounded. Genl Posey's volunteers, 1. private Wounded. Genl Alexander's one private Wounded.
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Genl. Henry's 1. Liutenant and 5 privates Wounded. Genl Dodge's, 1. Captain one Sergeant & four privates Wounded.The Steamer Warrior, by the direction of Capt Loomis had ascended the river with a small detachment of the 4th. U. States Infantry under the command of Liut Kingsbury accompanied by Liuts Holmes and Torrance, on the day previous to the battle to warn the Sioux of the approach of the Sacs; on returning, near the battle ground, a party of Sacs were discovered and fired upon. a smart skirmish ensued. The Indian loss is since reported to be Twenty three Killed. One man was slightly Wounded on board the Steam boat. Liuts Holmes Kingsbery and Torrance as well as Capt Throckmorton the commander of the boat were conspicuous in the affair a great advantage was derived from the presence of the Boat on this ocasion as it retarded the enemy in crossing the river.
I enclose herewith a list of the Officers of the Army who were in action under Col Taylor and a list of the Offices of the Volunteers under Gnls. Henry and Dodge, a list of the Officers of the other Volunteer Corps, will be Transmitted as soon as received which I request may [be] placed on file in the War Office.
(Signed) H. Atknson Brig. Genl U.S. Army
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Eye-Witness Account by 2d Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke.
Adjutant, 6th Infantry Regiment, United States Army.
An army which in summer encamps at the going down of the sun, easts dinner and supper together about 10 o'clock at night; at 11, on this occasion, we received orders to march at 2 o'clock in the morning.
After three or four hours of rest, we were roused on the 2d of August, and marched at dawn of day. The order for the early march had been received by the volunteers after they had turned out their horses: this explanation was made of the circumstance that they did not march this morning for an hour or more after the mounted spies and infantry.
The sun found us marching over very high prairie hills in view of a vast extent of country; there was a mighty valley, and the forests of its lower level indicated the great river. Soon we saw a long and devious bank of fog rising white as snow in the sunshine, and evidently marking its course. A bright rosy summer morn shone over this scene of beauty and repose — as quite and as peaceful as if man had never been there: at the creation, there could not have been less indication of his presence, save the measured tread of an armed band, speeding on to awaken the echoes which had
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slumbered from eternity, to the sounds of confusion, strife and bloodshed.Soon we saw a staff-officer gallop past towards the rear and heard him report that the enemy was drawn up in the open woods in front to receive us; immediately the men were ordered to leave their knapsacks, with the baggage, under a small guard; and the infantry were formed in one line in extended order, and again advanced.
This [Atkinson's] report shows, that sometimes in military affairs, "the last shall be first;" as witness Henry's brigade: while "Capt. Dixon, with a few of Dodge's spies," were looking for the Indians, the line of regulars — who were in the utmost impatience — were halted in the open woods near the edge of the Taluff, for more than half and hour (it seemed an age): this was the ground where the Indian scouts, or rear guard, had been defeated and slain, as we saw. When we were at last ordered to advance, we threw ourselves down the high bluff, which was not quite perpendicular; and in the act of descending I saw the Indians below, scampering through the woods, and occasionally firing. After crossing on logs, and wading several sloughs, with a general discharge of firearms in our front, a halt was ordered, and a very difficult change in the order of the column commenced; for what purpose heaven does not know. During this strange delay, a staff-officer of this column — finding his words or advice had no good effect — went on, accompanied only by a bugler; following a path which soon led him to the river bank, he there found two mounted officers of high rank, of whom he inquired where the enemy was? He was told in an island opposite, and was further informed, that the water was fordable; this officer immediately ordered the bugler to sound "Relieve skirmishers;" hoping thereby to attract the brigade of regulars: and soon after he saw it marching past 200 paces from the river; he moved toward it, and with much difficulty made himself heard by its commander, to whom he gave his information; after as light pause, he was told "it was too late now" (he was afraid of another countermarch), but was advised to take in the reserve which followed. And on he went due south. The staff-officer succeeded in securing the
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reserve — three companies led by a major — whom he conducted to the bank, and jumped it; and, though a tall man, found himself breast deep: the battalion threw themselves in after him, and waded to the island, where we lost five killed, and several wounded; — the best set-off possible to the claim which the militia were inclined to make, that (in consequence of our long halt) they had done all the fighting. The army just then was not popular.In this island I rescued a little red Leila
I was as much interested in a keen lad of a soldier (of the 6th), whom I had known of old, and had seen jump in upon a wolf at bay, when its eyes shone like balls of fire; he had now picked up a glaring Indian sash, and put it on; and behaving very gallantly, was probably mistaken for a captain, and was shot through. Six or eight weeks after receiving this dangerous wound, he left a comfortable hospital without leave, and joined his regiment six hundred miles off!
And now, above the incessant roar of small arms, we heard booming over the waters, the discharge of artillery; and lo! the steamer Warrior came dashing on! It was a complete surprise, and had a very fine effect; we had not dreamed of a steamboat, wandering so long through unexplored swamps and forests, where nothing so bright as the idea of steam had ever entered; nor had the party on the boat the slightest expectation of finding the army here. A captain went to the shore some distance below and waved a flag, when he was saluted with a discharge of grape, which covered him with a shower of limbs and leaves.
The fog had stopped the boat, or the whole tribe would have been in our hands; and wo had been unto them! I saw a wounded infant wailing over the dry dugs of a slaughtered mother.
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At 3 o'clock, after breaking our fast with some crackers and butter, which we found aboard, the steamer was crowded with troops, and we steamed among the many islands, which result here from the mouths of two rivers — the Ioway being opposite; — and how well had Black Hawk chosen his point of crossing, being destitute of transports. After dispensing grape and cannister right and left very impartially into the islands, we landed on the largest, and scoured it completely in extended order. Large numbers had evidently just left it; but we found only two men, whom the cannonade had driven into the branches of large trees. Instantly without orders, the volunteers commenced firing, and a hundred guns were discharged at them; I saw them drop limb to limb, clinging — poor fellows — like squirrels; or like the Indian in the "Last of the Mohicans." A fine young Menominee, who was by my side, ran forward, tomahawk upraised, to obtain the Indian honor of first striking the dead — I lost sight of him; — a few minutes after I saw him stretched upon the earth; — he had been shot in the back by militia friend! It was hard to realize; a moment before he was all life and animation, burning with hope and ambition; now, there he lay with face to heaven, with no wound visible, — a noble form, and smiling countenance — and but a clod of the earth!
He was buried with honors in the same grave with our soldiers. Our total loss was five killed, and eighteen wounded, including two officers; that of the Indians was reported "about one hundred and fifty men killed" — forty women and children, seventy horses, &c. &c., captured.
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Eye-Witness Account by Surgeon's Mate John Allen Wakefield.
Spy Battalion, Third Brigade Illinois Mounted Militia
General Atkinson gave orders for all to confine their horses, and be ready to march by two o'clock in pursuit of the enemy.
We were now all tired and hungry: and something to eat was indispensably necessary. We had a long way to go after water, and the worst kind of a precipice to go down and up to procure it. All was now a bustle for a while to prepare something to sustain nature, and to do it in time to get a little rest, before we would have to march. About nine o'clock, the noise began to die away, so that, by ten o'clock, all was [were] lost in sleep, but the sentinel who was at his post.
At the appointed hour the bugle sounded: all were soon up, and made preparations for a march at quick step; moving on to complete the work of death upon those unfortunate children of the forest.
General Atkinson, this morning, had the army laid off and arranged in the following manner: General Dodge, with his squadron was placed in front — the Infantry next — the second brigade next, under the command of General Alexander — the first brigade next, under the command of
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General Posey — the third brigade next, under the command of General Henry.In this order the march commenced. We had not proceeded more than four or five miles, before there was a herald sent back, informing us that the front spies had come in sight of the enemy's rear guard. The intelligence was soon conveyed to General Atkinson, and then to all the commanders of the different brigades. The celerity of the march was then doubled, and it was but a short time before the firing of the front spies commenced, about half a mile in front of the main army. The Indians retreated toward the Mississippi, but kept up a retreating fire upon our front spies for some time, until General Dodge, who commanded, began to kill them very fast. The Indians then retreated more rapidly, and sought refuge in their main army, which was lying on the bank of the Mississippi, where they had joined in a body to defend themselves, and sell their lives as dear as possible; for they now found that they could not get away from us, and the only chance for them, was, to fight until they died.
General Henry had this morning been put in the rear, but he did not remain there long. Major Ewing who commanded the spy battalion, sent his Adjutant back to General Henry, informing him that he was on the main trail. Major Ewing, at the same time, formed his men in order of battle, and awaited the arrival of the brigade, which marched up in quick time. When they came up, General Henry had his men formed as soon as possible for action; he placed Colonel Jones and Major Ewing in front. General Atkinson called for one regiment from General Henry's brigade, to cover his rear. General H. dispatched Colonel Fry with his regiment. Colonel Collins formed on the right of Colonel Jones and Major Ewing; when all were dismounted and marched on foot in the main trail, down the bluff into the bottom.
Here it is worthy of remark, that Colonel E. C. March, who was the volunteer Aid to General Atkinson, displayed the part of a good and fearless soldier; likewise Major McConnel. They went ahead and searched out the main trail of the enemy. We here had to charge for some considerable
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distance, over the worst kind of ground; the logs, and weeds being in some places as high as a man's head. All this did not stop us; General Henry, with his Aids, Majors Johnson and McConnel, in front, and the brave Colonel March leading the van.We pursued on, until Colonel Jones and Major Ewing commenced a fire on the main body of the enemy; at which time General Henry sent back an officer to bring up Colonel Fry with his regiment. Colonel Collins was by this time in the heat of the action with his regiment. Captain Gentry from General Dodge's corps, was by this time also up, and opened a heavy fire. He fell into the lines of Colonel Jones and Major Ewing. Captains Gruer and [John P.] Richardson, from General Alexander's brigade, with their companies, and a few scattering gentlemen from General Dodge's corps, were also up; who all joined General Henry, and fought bravely.
Colonel Fry obeyed the call of his General, and was soon there with his regiment, who shrank not from their duty. They all joined in the work of death — for death it was. We were by this time fast getting rid of those demons in human shape.
About half an hour after the battle commenced, Colonel Taylor with the infantry, and General Dodge with his squadron, got on the ground, and joined in the battle with us. They had been thrown on the extreme right, by following the rear guard of the enemy. Those men are both brave officers, and would have gloried in being in front of the battle; but it appears that this was intended by the God of battles for our much beloved Henry, who here displayed the part of a General indeed. He was placed in the rear in the morning, and was first in battle. This may appear strange to the reader, but it was nevertheless the truth.
General Atkinson stationed Generals Posey and Alexander, up the river, on the extreme right, in order to Prevent the Indians from making their escape in that direction; which appeared to be one of those hard cases, for the men had marched a great way, through swamps, over mountains, and through the worst kind of forests; — had suffered much with fatigue — and many other hardships
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which a person necessarily has to undergo in a campaign: and that, too, they had done without a murmur, in order that they might have it in their power to assist in expelling from their country, those wretched children of the forest.The battle lasted about three hours: when we came upon the enemy, they were fixing their bark canoes to cross the river. Some of them had crossed; others had just launched their canoes; and some had not got them made; but I suppose all were busy in making the necessary arrangements to cross and get out of our way.
But the Ruler of the Universe, He who takes vengeance on the guilty, did not design those guilty wretches to escape His vengeance for the horrid deeds they had done, which were of the most appalling nature. He here took just retribution for the many innocent lives those cruel savages had taken on our northern frontiers.
It can never be ascertained how many were killed in this battle; but from the best calculation that could be made, I suppose we killed about one hundred and fifty; and I think it altogether probable, that as many more were drowned in attempting to cross the river. The river where they attempted to cross, was full of islands. A number of them succeeded in reaching one of those islands, and had taken shelter behind old logs and willows, where they kept up a constant fire upon us during the engagement. Colonel Taylor ordered an officer and a part of his infantry to cross over to the island, and rout the enemy from this position; but it being the nature of an Indian to sell his life as dear as possible, they did so here. They killed five of the regulars, before they could drive them from their strong hold that they had got into; and then, it had to be done by a charge, which those men were not afraid to do.
I am sorry, that, I cannot recollect the name of the officer who commanded and took this band of regulars into this island.
There were a number of gentlemen belonging to the militia, who crossed also into this island, and assisted in driving the enemy from this hiding place. Mr. William Bradford, Adjutant of Major Ewing's spy battalion, and many other brave and fearless men from the militia, crossed.
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The part of the river they had to wade, took a man up to his arm-pits; but even this appeared to be no obstacle in their way. The enemy were there, doing mischief by annoying us, and they had to be routed or killed. The latter was most desirable, and was nearly done, there being but few who made their escape from the place.
During the engagement we killed some of the squaws through mistake. It was a great misfortune to those miserable squaws and children, that they did not carry into execution [the plan] they had formed on the morning of the battle — that was, to come and meet us, and surrender themselves prisoners of war. It was a horrid sight to witness little children, wounded and suffering the most excruciating pain, although they were of the savage enemy, and the common enemy of the country.
It was enough to make the heart of the most hardened being on earth to ache.
We took about fifty prisoners, principally women and children. They during the engagement, had concealed themselves in the high weeds and grass, and amongst old logs and brush, which lay very thick in the bottom, and some had buried themselves in the mud and sand in the bank of the river, just leaving enough of their heads out to breathe the breath of life. The soldiers drew them out, and brought them to what was then called head quarters, the place where the officers were principally assembled, and where the Surgeons and Surgeon's mates were busily engaged in dressing and examining the wounded. We lost here in killed and wounded twenty-seven men. Three of the wounded died next day, among whom was Lieutenant [Samuel] Bowman. He had command of the company, the Captain being absent. The loss of this officer was very much lamented by his men and brother officers. He fought bravely until he received the portal wound. He belonged to Colonel Fry's regiment. I have been told that he had a wife and one child to lament his death; but the child can have it to say, when he arrives to the years of maturity, that his father died fighting the battles of his country, and he was proud that he had a father that died in such a cause.
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As soon as the battle was over, all the wounded were collected to one place, and, with those of our enemy, were examined, and their wounds dressed; there was no difference here between our men and our enemy. The different Surgeons did their best for both. They were no longer able to do us any harm, but were in our power, and begging for mercy, and we acted like a civilized people, although it was with the worst kind of enemies, and one that had done so much mischief, and had taken away so many of the lives of our fellow citizens.
Soon after the battle was over, the steam boat Warrior arrived. When she came near to where we were, she commenced raking the Island with a six pounder. We in return fired a salute, thinking she was apprised of our battle, and that she was firing us a salute; but the truth was, she had the first fight with the enemy herself, and was then raking the Island with her six pounder, not knowing but the enemy were still there. When she came up, we then learnt that on the evening before, she had been there for the express purpose of preventing the Indians from crossing, until the main army might get up with them. Lieutenant Kingsbury, who commanded, stated that they hoisted a white flag, but would not send aboard the steam boat. He told them if they did not do it, he would fire upon them; but they still refused, and appeared to be making preparation for action; so, accordingly, he fired his six pounder, and likewise opened a fire of musquetry upon them, when they commenced a heavy fire upon the boat. The battle now became general, and lasted for some time, as the boat was anchored. All were at their posts, and would have, it is stated, continued at this place until the main army got up, if they had not been out of wood. So she had to drop down, in order to lay in wood; but it is stated, she killed five in this action and, I suppose, wounded a number; but the number I do not think has been ascertained; but Lieutenant Kingsbury and all the other officers deserve great credit for the bravery and industry they made use of, in trying to prevent the Indians from crossing until the army could come up with them; they dropped down that night as low as Prairie du Chien, and took in wood, and returned to the scene of action the next day, by twelve o'clock, a distance of forty miles or upwards.
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But when they got back to their old play place, the boys that they had been sporting with the day before, were no more. We had killed and wounded a great many of these wretched wanderers, that have no home in the world, but are like the wild beasts more than man — wandering from forest to forest, and not making any improvement in the natural mind. All their study is, how to proceed in the chase, or take scalps in time of war. But although they are a miserable race of people, and live a wretched life, they are much frightened when they see death stare them in the face; which was the case at this time. When we came upon the squaws and children, they raised a scream and cry loud enough to affect the stoutest man upon earth. If they had shown themselves, they would have come off much better, but fear prevented them; and in their retreat, trying to hide from us, many of them were killed; but contrary to the wish of every man, as neither officer nor private intended to have spilt the blood of those squaws and children. But such was their fate; some of them were killed, but not intentionally by any man; as all were men of too much sense of honor and feeling to have killed any but those who were able to harm us. We all well knew the squaws and children could do us no harm; and could not help what the old Black Hawk and the other chiefs did. The prisoners we took seemed to lament their ever having raised arms against the United States, and appeared to blame the Black Hawk and the Prophet, for the miserable condition that their tribe was then in; but at the same time, appeared to rejoice that they were prisoners of war, which plainly showed that they had some faith in our humanity, and that they would exchange the life they then were living, for any other. They appeared to manifest every token of honesty in their examination. They stated that Black Hawk had stolen off up the river, at the commencement of the battle, with some few of his warriors, and a few squaws and children. I think the number of warriors was ten, and thirty-five women and children, or, in other words, four lodges, which is the Indian phrase as they do not know how to count by numbers. They were examined respecting the first battle we had with them on the Wisconsin, and they stated that we killed sixty-eight on the field of action; and that twenty-five had died since with their wounds; making in all ninety-three376
that we are certain we killed in that battle, besides a number more, that there is no doubt still lingered and died with their wounds. Putting together what were killed in the two battles and all the little skirmishes, we must have destroyed upwards of four hundred of these unhappy and miserable beings, which was occasioned, no doubt, by the superstitious ideas which were instilled into their minds by the Prophet.Gen. Atkinson now thought that he had taken just retribution for the blood these Indians had spilt on our frontiers, and saw that it would be useless to cross the river in pursuit of those wretched beings, for they were now scattered and hid in the swamps, so that it was an impossible thing to take many of them. He finally came to the conclusion, to drop down to Prairie du Chien, and have a talk with the Winnebagoes; for it was now manifest that they had been allies to the Sacs and Foxes; for the prisoners that we took in this action, put all doubts to rest on this score. We had a long time believed that they were acting treacherously, and General Atkinson now thought that it was time to bring them to an account for their conduct. He, accordingly, on the second day after the battle, which was the fourth of August, took up the line of march for Prairie du Chien; but before General Atkinson left the battle ground, he provisioned a number of Sioux and some Winnebagoes, and sent them in search of Black Hawk to see if they could not capture him, and bring him in as a prisoner, which the Sioux appeared to be anxious to do, as the Sacs and they had been at variance a long time; and they saw that there was no chance of taking revenge for the many injuries the Sacs had done them. General Atkinson and the infantry went down on the steam boat Warrior, and reached Prairie du Chien on the same day we started. The mounted men, baggage and all went down by land, and reached Prairie du Chien the next day, which was the fifth of August.
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Eye-Witness Account by Addison Philleo.
Editor of The Galenian
AUG. 6. — Having just returned from the war, we have it in our power to impart some cheering intelligence.
The whole army under Gen. Atkinson, embracing the brigades commanded by Gen's Henry, Posey and Alexander; and squadron under command of Gen. Dodge, all crossed over to the north side of the Wisconsin at Helena, on the 28th and 29th [27th and 28th] ultimo. They took up a line of march in a northerly direction, in order to intersect the Indians trail. At the distance of about five miles the great trail was discovered, leading in a direction N. of W. towards the Mississippi, and supposed to be about four days old.
Gen. Atkinson seeing the direction of the enemy, knew well that it would require all diligence and expedition to overtake them before they would cross the Mississippi, and hence commenced from that time a forced march; leaving all baggage wagons, and everything else which was calculated to retard the pursuit.
The country through which the enemy's trail led our army between the Wisconsin bluffs and the Kickapoo river, was one continued series of mountains. No sooner had they
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reached the summit of one high and almost perpendicular hill than they had to descend on the other side equally steep to the base of another. Nothing but a deep ravine, with muddy banks, separated these mountains. The wood, both upon the top of the highest mountains, & at the bottom of the deepest hollows, was of the heaviest growth. The under bushes were chiefly thorn and prickly ash. This is a short description of the route, and shews the difficulties of the pursuit. Notwithstanding all this, our army gained on the enemy daily as appeared from the enemy's encampments. The tedious march thus continued was met by our brave troops without a murmur; and as the Indian signs appeared more recent, the officers and men appeared more anxious to push on. On the fourth night of our march from Helena, and at an encampment of the enemy, was discovered an old Sac Indian by our spies, who informed them that the main body of the enemy had, on that day, gone to the Mississippi, & intended to cross on the next morning, Aug. 2d. The horses being nearly broken down, and the men nearly exhausted from fatigue, Gen. Atkinson ordered a halt for a few hours, (it being after 8 o'clock,) with a determination to start as 2 o'clock for the Mississippi, about 10 miles distant. At the precise hour, the bugles sounded, and in a short time all were ready to march.Gen. Dodge's squadron was honored with being placed in front, the Infantry followed next, Gen. Henry's brigade next. Gen. Alexander's next, and Gen. Posey's formed the rear guard.
Gen. Dodge called for, and as soon received, 20 volunteer spies to go ahead of the whole army.
In this order the march commenced. They had not, however, gone more than 5 miles before one of our spies came back, announcing their having come in sight of the enemy's picket guard. He went back, and the intelligence was quickly conveyed to Gen. Atkinson, then to all the commanders of the brigades, and the celerity of the march was instantly increased. In a few minutes more the firing commenced about 500 yards ahead of the front of the army, between our spies and the Indian picket guard. The Indians were driven by our spies from hill to hill, and kept up a tolerably brisk
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firing from every situation commanding the ground over which our Spies had to march; but being charged upon and routed from their hiding places they sought safety by retreating to the main body on the bank of the river and join in one general effort to defend themselves there or die on the ground.Lest some might escape by retreating up or down the river, Gen. Atkinson very judiciously ordered Gen. Alexander and Gen. Posey to form the right wing of the army, and march down to the river above the Indian encampment on the bank, and then move down. Gen. Henry formed the left wing and marched in the main trail of the enemy. The U. S. Infantry and Gen. Dodge's squadron of the mining troops marched in the centre.
With this order our whole force descended the almost perpendicular bluff and came into a low valley, heavily timbered, with a large growth of under brush, weeds and grass. Sloughs, deep ravines, old logs, &c. were so plentiful as to afford every facility for the enemy to make a strong defence.
Gen. Henry first came upon them & commenced a heavy fire which was returned by the enemy. The enemy being routed from their first hiding places, sought others. General Dodge's squadron and the U. S. troops soon came into action, and with Gen. Henry's men, rushed into the strong denies of the enemy, killed all in their way, except a few who succeeded in swimming a slough of the Mississippi, 150 yards wide. During this time, the Brigades of Gens. Alexander and Posey, were marching down the river when they fell in with another part of the enemy's army, and killed and routed all that opposed them.
The battle lasted upwards of three hours. About 50 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, &c. to escape the bullets of our guns; very few, however, escaped our sharp-shooters.
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The loss on the side of the enemy, never can be exactly ascertained, but according to the best computation, they must have lost in killed, upwards of 150. Our loss in killed and wounded was 27.
Some had crossed the river before our arrival, and we learned by a prisoner, that Black Hawk, while the battle waxed warm, had stolen off, and gone up the river on this side. If he did, he took nothing with him; for his valuables, many of them, together with certificates of good character, and of his having fought bravely against the United States during the last war, &c. signed by British officers, were found on the battle-ground.
It is the general impression in the army and at this place, that the Sacs would be glad to conclude a peace on almost any terms we might propose.
On the morning of the 4th inst. a party of Sioux came to our camp, and begged permission to go on the Sac trail and have a fight with them. On the same day our whole army started to go down to Prairie du Chien, (about 40 miles) and wait further orders.
Gen. Atkinson, accompanied by Generals Dodge and Posey, with the U. S. Infantry, arrived at the Prairie on the evening of the 4th, on board the S. B. Warrior, and will remain until the mounted volunteers arrive.
The Winnebagoes, at Prairie du Chien, are daily bringing in Sac prisoners and Scalps.
On the same day, a party of 15 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 towards the Mississippi. — They rushed with full speed of horses, and soon came upon, killed and took prisoners to the number of 12.
Gen. SCOTT and staff left here this morning for Prairie du Chien, on the steam boat Warrior, to join Gen. Atkinson.
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Eye-Witness Account of Makataimeshekiakiak [Black Hawk].
"British Band", Sauk & Fox Tribes
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 return 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 steam boat (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. I 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 ashore, and let me come on board. The people on the boat asked whether we were Sacs or Winnebagoes. I told a Winnebago to tell them that we were
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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 firing 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 getting behind old logs and trees, which shielded them from the enemy's fire.The Winnebago, on the steam boat, must either have misunderstood what was told, or did not tell it to the captain correctly; because I am confident that 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 sueing for quarters.
After the boat 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. Next morning, 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 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 little while the whole army arrived. Our braves, but few in number, finding that the enemy paid no regard to age or sex, and seeing that they were murdering helpless women and little children, determined to fight until
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they were killed! As many women as could, commenced swimming the Mississippi, with their children on their backs. A number of them were drowned, and some shot, before they could reach the opposite shore.One of my braves, who gave me this information, piled up some saddles before him, (when the fight commenced,) to shield himself 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, without being perceived, and hid himself under it, 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, to the Winnebago village at Prairie La Cross.
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Bibliography
only of Eye-Witness Sources used in this book. For a more complete bibliography, see Ellen M. Whitney's The Black Hawk War 1831-1832, Volume II, Part III, "Appendices and Index", Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, 1978.
Barret, Mrs. Mason, Collection, Tulane University Library, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Beouchard, Edward D. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume VII (1876). "Edward D. Beouchard's Vindication", pp. 289-296.
[Black Hawk] Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, Black Hawk: An Autobiography. Ed. Donald Jackson. 1st ed., 1833; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1955.
Black Hawk War Collection, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Black Hawk War Collection, Hoard Museum, Fort Atkinson Historical Society, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Boyd, George. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume XII (1892). "Papers of Indian Agent Boyd — 1832", pp. 266-298.
Bracken, Charles. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume II (1856). "Further Strictures on Ford's Black Hawk War", pp. 402-414.
438
Brunson, Alfred. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume II (1856). "Memoir of Thomas Pendleton Burnett", pp. 233-325.
Cooke, Philip St. George. Scenes and Adventures in the Army: or Romance of Military Life. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857.
Decorah, Spoon. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume XIII (1895). "Narrative of Spoon Decorah", pp. 448-462.
DeSoto Chronicle, newspaper, DeSoto, Wisconsin, January 29, 1887; February 5, 1887, and February 12, 1887.
Dickson, Joseph. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume V (1868). "Personal Narrative of the Black Hawk War", pp. 315-317.
Drake, Benjamin. The Life and Adventures of Black Hawk: With Sketches of Keokuk, and the Sac and Fox Indians, and the late Black Hawk War. Cincinnati: George Conclin, 1839.
Fonda, John H. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume V (1868). "Early Wisconsin", pp. 205-284.
Galenian, The, newspaper, Galena, Illinois, July-August, 1832.
History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois. Ed. by William Henry Perrin. Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1883.
History of Hancock County, Illinois. By Thomas Gregg. Chicago: C. C. Chapman, 1880.
Iowa, State Historical Society of. Iowa Historical Record. Volume 6 (1890). Salter, William. "Henry Dodge. II. In the Black Hawk War, 1832", pp. 391-422.
Johnston, Albert Sidney. "April 1-August 2 Johnston Edited Journal". Tulane University Library, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, Mrs. Mason Barret Collection, New Orleans, Louisiana.
....... "June 12-August 16 Johnston Field Journal", Tulane University Library, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, Mrs. Mason Barret Collection, New Orleans, Louisiana.
....... "April 1-August 2 Johnston Public Journal", Tulane
439
University Library, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, Mrs. Mason Barret Collection, New Orleans, Louisiana.
....... "April 1-August 2 Johnston Public Journal", Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Justice, James J. "Journal", Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Lockwood, James H. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume II (1856). "Early Times and Events in Wisconsin", pp. 98-196.
Lodi Valley News newspaper, Lodi, Wisconsin, December 7 and 14, 1895.
March, Cutting. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume XV (1900). "Documents Relating to the Stockbridge Mission", pp. 39-204.
Muldoon, Sylvan J. Alexander Hamilton's Pioneer Son: The Life and Times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton, 1797-1850. Hamsburg, Pa.: Aurand Press, 1930.
National Archives, See United States.
Parkinson, Daniel M. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume II (1856). "Pioneer Life in Wisconsin", pp. 326-364.
Philleo, Dr. Addison, Editor of The Galenian newspaper, Galena, Illinois, August 8, 1832.
Porter, Dr. C. V., articles in the DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, DeSoto, Wisconsin, January 29, February 5 and February 12, 1887, and in the Vernon County Censor newspaper, Viroqua, Wisconsin, August 10, 1898.
Reynolds, John. Reynolds' History of Illinois: My Own Times: Embracing Also the History of My Life, 1855; Chicago Historical Society; Fergus Printing Co.., 1879.
Rogers, Earl M., Editor, Memoirs of Vernon County, Western Historical Association, Madison, Wisconsin, 1907.
Russell, John. Russell Family Papers. Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Salisbury, Albert. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume VI (1872). "Green County Pioneers", pp. 401-415.
440
Shaw, Ninevah. "Shaw's Journal", Shaw Family Papers Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois.
Smith, Henry. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Volume X (1888). "Indian Campaign of 1832" pp. 150-166.
....... Diary, extracts from newspaper article in Notebook 501B. Hoard Museum, Fort Atkinson Historical Society Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
....... The Expedition against the Sauk and Fox Indians. 1832. The Following Narrative of the Expedition against the Sauk and Fox Indians Last Year, Has Been Kindly Furnished to the Military and Naval Magazine by an Officer Who Served in General Atkinson's Brigade. New York: n.p., 1914, reprint.
Smith, William R. The History of Wisconsin. In Three Parts, Historical, Documentary, and Descriptive...Madison, Wis.: Beriah Brown, 1854. (Volumes 1 and 3 only printed.)
....... "Journal of William Randolph Smith", The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume XII, Number 3, March, 1929.
Spencer, John W. The Early Days of Rock Island and Davenport: The Narratives of J. W. Spencer and J. M. D. Burrows, Milo Milton Quaife, Editor, 1872; reprint Chicago: Lakeside Press, R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., 1942.
Steele, James M., article in the Lodi Valley News newspaper, Lodi, Wisconsin, Saturday, December 7 and 14, 1895.
Stevens, Frank Everett. The Black Hawk War. Chicago: F. E. Stevens, 1903.
Street, Joseph M. Street Letterbook, Iowa State Department of History and Archives, Des Moines, Iowa.
Townsend, H. S., speech reported in the Vernon County Censor newspaper, Viroqua, Wisconsin, August 10, 1898.
United States General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Military Archives Division, Old Army Branch, Record Group No. 94, Washington, D. C. 20408.
441
Vernon County Censor newspaper, Viroqua, Wisconsin, August 10, 1898.
Wakefield, John Allen. History of the War between the United States and the Sac and Fox Nations of Indians, Calvin Goudy, 1834.
....... Wakefield's History of the Black Hawk War: A Reprint of the 1st Edition by John A. Wakefield, Esquire, from the Press of Calvin Goudy, Jacksonville, Illinois, 1834. Ed. Frank Everett Stevens. Chicago: Caxton Club, 1908.
"Weather, Diary of the", Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on microfilm in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Manuscript Archives, Madison, Wisconsin.
"Weather, Diary of the", Fort Winnebago, Portage, Wisconsin, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Manuscript Archives, Filed "Wis. MSS 3 CL Fort Winnebago", Madison, Wisconsin.
Whitney, Ellen M. The Black Hawk War 1831-1832. Volume I, "Illinois Volunteers". Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, 1970. Published as Volume XXXV of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.
.......The Black Hawk War 1831-1832. Volume II, "Letters and Papers", Part I, April 30, 1831, through June 23, 1832. Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, 1973. Published as Volume XXXVI of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.
.......The Black Hawk War 1831-1832. Volume II, "Letters and Papers", Part II, June 24, 1832, through October 14, 1834. Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, 1975. Published as Volume XXXVII of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.
.......The Black Hawk War 1831-1832. Volume II, "Letters and Papers", Part III, Appendices and Index. Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, 1978. Published as Volume XXXVIII of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library.
Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume XII, Number 3, March, 1929, and Volume XIV, Number 2, December, 1930., Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin, State Historical Society of. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Volume II (1856)
Bracken, Charles, "Further Strictures on Ford's Black Hawk War", pp. 402-414.
Brunson, Alfred, "Memoir of Thomas Pendleton Burnett", pp. 233-325.
Parkinson. Daniel M., "Pioneer Life in Wisconsin", pp. 326-364.
Parkinson, Peter, Jr., "Strictures upon Ford's Black Hawk War", pp. 393-401.
Volume V (1868)
Dickson, Joseph, "Personal Narrative of the Black Hawk War", pp. 315-317.
Fonda, John H., "Early Wisconsin", pp. 205-284.
Volume VII (1876)
Beouchard, Edward D., "Edward D. Beouchard's Vindication", pp. 289-296.
Volume X (1888)
Smith, Henry, "Indian Campaign of 1832", pp. , 150-166.
Volume XIII (1895)
Decorah, Spoon, "Narrative of Spoon Decorah", pp. 448-462.
Libby, Orin Grant, "Chronicle of the Helena Shot-Tower", pp. 335-374.
Walking Cloud, "Narrative of Walking Cloud", pp. 463-467.
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Profile of the Editor.
(Reprint from The Battle of Wisconsin Heights)
No one in Wisconsin has a firmer grasp on the day-to-day details of the Black Hawk war of 1832 than Crawford B. Thayer of Fort Atkinson.
Black Hawk is commemorated by several markers throughout southern Wisconsin, but the significance of his exploits and his spirit might have been largely lost if not for the efforts of Crawford Thayer.
In fact, Thayer finds the lore of the Black Hawk war so interesting that he took early retirement as advertising manager of the Jamesway Division of Butler Manufacturing Company to write about it.
Thayer describes his series of books as "an eye-witness account" of Black Hawk's flight up Rock river and across Wisconsin to the Mississippi river, where his band of some 1200 men, women, children, including about 500 warriors, was wiped out at the massacre at Bad Axe river.
"Almost every word in these books is by an active participant in the war, an eye-witness," he said. "In fact, if a
476
person was not actually involved, his remarks do not get into my books."Thayer said, "I told a friend that there's scarcely a word of mine in the entire eye-witness series, and he said, 'Good!'."
The Black Hawk war series was born in Thayer's mind in 1971 when he became the first director of the popular Fort Atkinson "Black Hawk" pageant, a post he held during its first five formative years. So intrigued was he by the historical content of the pageant—written by Bill Starke, local history buff—and by the reception of the enthusiastic audiences that Thayer felt impelled to research the Black Hawk war thoroughly and to compile, edit, and publish his own books.
"I began to read everything I could find on the war and never stopped," Thayer said.
That's an understatement, for Thayer made the Black Hawk war a third career.
A native of Haverhill, Massachusetts, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with excellence in English at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he was also honored as recipient of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Graduate Scholarship.
From the University of Iowa at Iowa City, Thayer received a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing. Here he was named to Who's Who Among Students in Universities and Colleges. For three years, he taught at the University, first as Instructor in English, and later, in the School of Journalism.
Thayer received his Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Yale University, where he served as Instructor in English for two years. In New Haven he also served as Director of Public Relations at today's Quinnipiak College.
Thayer came to Wisconsin in 1949 to serve as Director of Publications (and Instructor in English and Journalism) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
His second career began in 1951 when Thayer joined the advertising department of James Mfg. Co., where he served for 30 years before his early retirement.
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"Ever since I first directed the pageant, I have been gathering Black Hawk war data," he said. "I remember the day I filed my first note. It was dated June 3, 1832. Now I have 17 loose-leaf binders crammed full of words by people who were actually in the Black Hawk war," he said.
His quest for primary source material took Thayer to Springfield, Illinois, where he found original orders and letters written by Brigadier General Henry Atkinson...to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin archives in Madison, Wisconsin, where reminiscences of early settlers who fought or suffered in the war are stored...to the National Archives in Washington, D. C., where much valuable information is buried, waiting to be unearthed. Et cetera...et cetera...et cetera.
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"What really made my books possible was Ellen M. Whitney's brilliant editing and publishing of all of the Black Hawk war manuscripts in the archives of the Illinois State Historical Library," Thayer said. In fact, Thayer dedicated his first book to her in appreciation of her outstanding achievement.
"What I've learned from research is that today's trash is tomorrow's treasure," Thayer added.
Thayer's first book, Hunting A Shadow: The Search for Black Hawk (1981), details the Black Hawk war as it moves through today's Rock and Jefferson counties, Wisconsin, during the hot, wet Summer of 1832. It reports events experienced both by the Illinois militia, including 23-year-old Abraham Lincoln, and by the regular U. S. Army Infantry units under then-Colonel Zachary Taylor.
Thayer's second book, The Battle of Wisconsin Heights (1982), follows the movements of the Illinois and Michigan Territory (Wisconsin) mounted militia volunteers through today's Dane and Dodge counties, Wisconsin. Under the commands of James D. Henry and Henry Dodge, they "disobey" the orders of Brigadier General Henry Atkinson and so "win" the encounter with Black Hawk and his starving band.
Thayer's third book, Massacre at Bad Axe (1983), provides an eye-witness account of the pursuit of Black Hawk and his starving people across the Ocooch Mountains to the Mississippi river through today's Sauk, Richland, Vernon, and Crawford counties, Wisconsin. The military and defensive moves of the August 2, 1832, battle on the Mississippi just below Bad Axe river show how an unnecessary massacre decimates Black Hawk's band and brings the four-month-long Black Hawk war to a close...or does it?
Thayer's fourth book, Markers and Monuments of the Black Hawk War....
HOW many books?
"My intention," said Thayer, "is to publish eye-witness
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accounts of the war annually until the series is completed or my career is, whichever comes first."Thayer publishes his own books and is thus able to sell at a price considerably less than a publishing house would have to charge. In fact, by being his own publisher, Thayer is able to sell each book for just about half of what it would cost if published through a commercial source.
"I'm not trying to make money," Thayer said. "As soon as I get my investment back, then I put that same money into the publication of the next book. If any one book should fail to sell out, I'd be dead in the water. I'd have to take up senior citizen golf."
Since he is publishing his books independently, Thayer must do his own publicity for selling them. He has a natural flair for public speaking. His animated speeches and wry sense of humor have made him much in demand as a speaker before school groups, youth and senior citizen groups, church groups, service clubs, historical societies, civic groups, and on radio and television talk shows.
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Thayer is very happy to share his newly found knowledge about the Black Hawk war by word of mouth as well as by the written word. He averages over 52 speeches per year—most, but not all, about the Black Hawk war. He jokes that he can't afford to pay to speak on his favorite subject, but he'll come for travel expenses only, no fee.
Elementary school youngsters are among Thayer's favorite audiences, but one time a group of fourth graders beat him to the punch-line of one of his quips. He had asked them what the message was on the Black Hawk's bumper sticker as he retreated from Illinois into Wisconsin.
"Escape to Wisconsin," they chorused, quoting the well-known tourist bureau slogan.
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Thayer takes a break under his map of Black Hawk's trail through Wisconsin in the Summer of 1832.
nts
Notes
Company G of Captain George C. Hutter, Company D of Captain Jason Rogers, and Company I of Captain Zalmon C. Palmer embarked on the steamboat Enterprise under the immediate command of Captain Zalmon C. Palmer. *
* Whitney, Ellen M., Black Hawk War 1831-1832, Volume 1, "Illinois Volunteers", Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1970, p. 225. Referred to hereafter as BHW.
The Sixth Infantry Regiment units were Lieutenant John Nichols's Company A and 2nd Lieutenant Gustavus Dorr's Light Company B. **
* BHW. Volume II, "Letters and Papers", Part I, April 30, 1831, through June 23, 1832, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1973, p. 343, note 2.
** BHW II:628, note 5.
From July 19 through July 21 in pursuit of Black Hawk through today's Dane county before the battle of Wisconsin Heights.
* BHW I:400, note 1.
Just for the record, four soldiers were furloughed on this day from Fort Cosconong at today's Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where they had been sent on July 15 from Fort Winnebago at today's Portage, Wisconsin. They were all originally in Major William Lee D. Ewing's Spy Battalion of Henry's Third Brigade. They were 4th Sergt David Thornsbeerry and Privates Jesse B. Garrett, William Matthews, and James Taylor. *
*BHW I:423 & 424.
* BHW II:936-937 & BHW II:881, note 1.
* BHW II:898, note 1.
* Gustavus Loomis to Henry Atkinson, August 8, 1832 in BHW II:963.
* Wisconsin, State Historical Society of. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. [Referred to hereafter as WHC.] Volume VII (1876), Beouchard, Edward D., "Edward D. Beouchard's Vindication", p. 294.
* Henry G. Smith Affidavit, BHW II:1261.
* Thomas P. Burnett to Joseph M. Street, July 28, 1832, BHW II:899.
* Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume XIV, No. 2 December, 1930, p. 183.
* Joseph M. Street to Henry Atkinson, July 31, 1832, BHW II:909.
* Gustavus Loomis to Henry Dodge, July 25, 1832, BHW II:880.
* BHW II:873, note 2.
* BHW II:833, note 1.
* Reynolds, John, Reynolds, History of Illinois: My Own Times: Embracing Also the History of My Life, 1855: Chicago: Chicago Historical Society; Fergus Printing Co., 1879, p. 245, quoted by Ellen Whitney in BHW II:628, note 4.
Lieutenant Colonal Daniel Baker, 6th Infantry.
Major John Bliss, 1st Infantry, who relinquished command of Fort Armstrong (at Rock Island, Illinois), to serve in the field.
Major William Davenport, 6th Infantry, who relinquished command of Fort Leavenworth (on the right bank of the Missouri River, about eight miles above and opposite the mouth of the Platte river), to serve in the field.
1st Lieutenant Washington Wheelwright, ordnance officer on Atkinson's staff.
1st Lieutenant Anthony Drane, who was commissioned as Colonel in the Illinois militia by Governor John Reynolds to serve as their Assistant Adjutant General.
2nd Lieutenant Francis J. Brooke, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence on Atkinson's staff.
"Sir. As it may be necessary to draw on this post for provisions I have the honor to report on hand
| 180 | Blls [Barrels] pork |
| 500 | do [ditto] flour |
| 100 | Bush [Bushels] Beans |
| 1300 | Gallons Whiskey |
| 200 | Bush [Bushels} salt |
| 7000 | pounds soap |
| 1340 | Gallons Vinegar |
"The Beef Contractor has from 30 to 40 Head of Beef cattle subject for my order
"With great Respect Yr Obt Servt Jas: W Kingsbury Asst Comsy Subst
"To the/ A A Adjt Genl [Albert Sidney Johnston, with Atkinson]" *
* James W. Kingsbury to Albert S. Johnston, July 28, 1832, BHW II:900.
It was a false report. The first gunfire from the mouth of the Wisconsin river occurred at about 2:30 A.M. on July 29.
* Thomas P. Burnett to Joseph M. Street, July 28, 1832, BHW II:899.
* Dr. C. V. Porter in the DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, January 29, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
* The Galenian newspaper, Volume 1, Number 14, Wednesday, August 1, 1832, Galena, Illinois.
** BHW II, Part I, April 30, 1831, through June 23, 1832, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1973, p. 291, note.
"Wm. I Sterling [a pioneer settler of Richland County] informs me that Black Hawk crossed Pine River in Richalnd Co., just below the natural bridge; Atkinson left two baggage wagons laden with medical stores at Pine River. The medicines consisted principally of whiskey, which Atkinson used to excess. The Winnebagoes afterwards burned these wagons." *
*Dr. C. V. Porter in the DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, January 29, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
*Lockwood, James H., "Early Times and Events in Wisconsin", WHC II:194-195.
* Johnston, Albert Sidney, "April 1-August 2 Johnston Edited Journal", Tulane University Library, Howard Tilton Memorial Library, Mrs. Mason Barret Collection, New Orleans, Louisiana, [Referred to hereafter as Johnston Edited Journal] in Whitney, Ellen M., The Black Hawk War 1831-1832, Volume II, "Letters and Papers", Part II, June 24, 1832, through October 14, 1834, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1975, p. 1319. Referred to hereafter as BHW.
** Ibid.
* "Diary of the Weather", Fort Winnebago, Portage, Wisconsin, in State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Manuscript Archives, Madison, Wisconsin.
"Winnoshiek & his family, who are recently from Rock-River…essentially belong to that band." * "And it should be remembered that Winnoshick, and his family are Rock River Indians, who only removed to my [Street's] agency [from today's Freeport, Illinois] after the Treaty of 1829." **
"Winnochick is an old man — has a sac Wife and I consider his absence rather suspicious, as to his own personal good faith, and his sons and immediate family. It cannot tho' extend to more than 5 or 6 men. Yet his knowledge of the country will enable him to render the Sacs & Foxes essential services and us a corresponding injury. Besides his remaining with the canoes of his family will enable them to cross the Mississippi.
"With the exception of this Indian Winnoshick, I am confident of the good faith of all the Winnebeagoes of my Agen[c]y. Of his connection with the Sacs & Foxes by marriage, and my suspicions of the effect it might produce you have previously been info[r]med by my letters. One object of Mr. Burnetts trip was to bring him down to me, but to hunt him in the woods was hopeless." ***
* Joseph M. Street to Winfield Scott, August 22, 1832, BHW II:1043.
** Joseph M. Street to Henry Atkinson, August 13, 1832, BHW II:998.
*** Joseph M. Street to William Clark, August 1[-2], 1832, BHW II:913.
"That was no doubt done near the pond one mile northeast of Retreat, and 9 miles from Battle Island, where the Sacs encamped",* according to C.V. Porter in 1898.
* Dr. C. V. Porter in Vernon County Censor newspaper, August 10, 1898, Viroqua, Wisconsin.
* Dr. C. V. Porter in DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, January 22, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
* Robert C. Buchanan letter, August 5, 1832, BHW II:937.
* BHW II:898, note 1.
* WHC, Volume V (1868), Fonda, John H., "Early Wisconsin", p. 261.
* Robert Anderson: Memoranda, August 27, 1832, BHW III:1057-1058.
John Kinzie, Sub-Agent for Winnebago Indian Affairs at Fort Winnebago, wrote to Michigan Territory Governor George B. Porter, "Our force would not respect their flag, but commenced firing and killed 23 Inds." *
* John H. Kinzie to George B. Porter, August 9, 1832, BHW II:974.
Joseph M. Street to William Clark, August 2, 1832, BHW II:917.
* Reuben Holmes to Henry Atkinson, August 5, 1832, BHW II:939.
* Minutes of an Examination of Prisoners, August 19, 1832, BHW II:1031.
Johnston Edited Journal, BHW II:1320.
Grenadier Company A, Captain R. B. Mason
Light Infantry Company B, Captain Samuel MacRee
Battalion Company G, Captain Thomas F. Smith
Company K, Captain William S. Harney
5th Infantry Company:
Company F, Lieutenant Alexander Johnston
6th Infantry Companies:
Company A, Lieutenant John Nichols
Light Company B, Captain Clifton Wharton
Company C, Captain Henry Smith (who wrote the "Introduction" to this book)
Company D, Captain Jason Rogers
Company E, Lieutenant Asa Richardson
Company G, Captain George C. Hutter
Company I, Captain Zalmon Palmer (detached)
Company K, Captain Thomas Noel *
* United States General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Military Archives Division, Old Army Branch, Washington, D.C. 20408, August 31, 1832, Muster Rolls for the Companies involved.
"…the Indians outpost, we are told immediately attempted to surrender by exhibiting a white flag, but the whites paid no attention to their entreaties but commenced slaughtering them." *
I have not yet found the original source for the remark quoted here by Dr. C.V. Porter in 1887. In a 1907 book, Memoirs of Vernon County, the idea is perpetuated: "It appears that the savages [referring to the Indians] raised a white flag for the purpose of surrendering, which was either not seen or was not regarded, and the firing on both sides soon became spirited…" ** Because I can find no eye-witness who saw the surrender attempt, I am inclined to believe that it never happened.
* Dr. C. V. Porter in the DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, February 12, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
** Rogers, Earl M., Editor, Memoirs of Vernon County, Western Historical Association, Madison, Wisconsin, 1907.
* Dr. C. V. Porter, DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, February 5, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
* History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois, Edited by William Henry Perrin, Chicago, O. L. Baskin & Co., 1883, p.232.
* Dr. C. V. Porter, Vernon County Censor newspaper, August 10, 1898, Viroqua, Wisconsin.
"This report shows, that sometimes in military affairs, ‘the last shall be first;’ as witness Henry's brigade" *
* Cooke, p. 184.
For instance, "…Wishita, a fine looking man, & a chief of considerable standing, was wounded while crossing the Mississippi, but he, with great exertion, reached the western shore. Here the bank being steep, she [his sister] tried to get him out, but could not succeed, & was obliged to leave him behind her on account of her company, which was already in advance of her.
"She had crossed the river on a pony, carrying her child, about a year old, before her. They hurried on, fearing an attack of our army, or an attack of the Sioux, as they were now in their country." *
* [Spencer, John W.], The Early Days of Rock Island and Davenport: The Narratives of J. W. Spencer and J. M. D. Burrows, Milo Milton Quaife, Editor, 1872; reprint Chicago: Lakeside Press, R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., 1942, p. 73.
"This child was delivered into the care of an Indian woman prisoner, and was subsequently taken to Rock Island, and delivered up to the tribe." *
* Smith, Doc. Hist., p. 232, quoting Charles Bracken.
* Dr. C. V. Porter, DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, February 5, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
"Dodge was a tornado when aroused." *
* Lodi Valley News newspaper, Saturday, December 7, 1895, Lodi, Wisconsin.
* Robert Anderson: Memoranda, August 27, 1832, BHW II:1058.
* Robert Anderson to Larz Anderson, August 5, 1832, BHW II:933.
In 1887, Dr. C.V. Porter, history buff, wrote in the DeSoto (Wisconsin) Chronicle, "Atkinson sounded the call and tried to stop the slaughter of women and children. But Col. Zachary Taylor told the Regulars not to mind it but go ahead." I can imagine Henry Dodge's ignoring an order, but I can't quite believe that an officer in the regular U.S. Army Infantry would do so. In addition, Dr. Porter wrote, "All the aged pioneers with whom I have conversed speak of this so called Battle of Bad Ax as a cruel butchery of women and children." *
* Dr. C. V. Porter, DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, February 5, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
The three regulars killed in Bennet Riley's Company A of the 6th Infantry (now being commanded by 1st Lieutenant John Nichols) were Privates Robert Armatage, John Brewarde, and Thomas Calhoun.*
The two regulars killed in Captain Thomas Noel's Company K of the 6th Infantry were Privates Michael Kinslow and William H. Thompson. The two wounded men may have been Private William Manning, who died at Fort Armstrong on August 29, and Private John Pearce, who died at Fort Armstrong on August 30, 1832. **
* United States General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Military Archives Division, Old Army Branch, Washington D.C. 20408, August 31, 1832, Muster Roll for Company A, 6th Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army.
** Ibid, Company K Roster, August 31, 1832.
* Cooke, p. 186.
* Ibid.
Cooke, p. 187.
"He was buried with honors in the same grave with our soldiers." *
* Ibid.
Joseph Throckmorton to Samuel Throckmorton, August 3, 1832, BHW II:928.
* BHW Volume II, Part I, April 30, 1831, through June 23, 1832, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, 1973, pp. 209-210, note 14.
* [Smith, William Randolph], The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Volume XII, Number 3, March, 1929, " Journal of William Randolph Smith", p. 306.
* Johnston Edited Journal, BHW II:1321.
"WILLIAM B. DEAN. — There is a painful pleasure in announcing the death of the brave. The person here named, was killed in the valiant charge on the Indians in the late battle of the Bad Axe. He was 23 years of age, and belonged ot the company of the gallant Capt. [James H. ] GENTRY, whose name, and whose conduct on the field of battle. Will long be remembered by his companions in arms. He rushed like a lion at the head of his company into the midst of the defiles of the savage enemy, drove them from their hidking place. When his men fell to the ground wounded, he was first to extend his helping hand to remove the unfortunate from danger, to a place of safety. When the battle was over, he came to the spot selected for dressing wounds, &c. and there continued his acts of kindness, by volunteering his aid as attendant. He assisted the surgeon to dress the wounds of his brave men. It gives us pleasure to have an opportunity of expressing our feelings and respect for the man in whom we witness such a combination of good traits of character.
"In this gallant company, and in the midst of battle, fell our much esteemed citizen, Wm. B. Dean." *
* The Galenian newspaper, Volume 1, Number 17, Wednesday, August 29, 1832, Galena, Illinois.
Seven were wounded. One (Bowman) died on the steam boat Warrior that evening on the way down to Prairie du Chien and one (Hutchins) died in the hospital at Prairie du Chien the next day. **
* Henry Atkinson to Winfield Scott, August 9, 1832, BHW II:965.
** BHW II:967, note 5.
* Ibid.
"He [Henry McAuley] relates that story told him of a soldier killed in the fight who [was] buried on the island by two brothers, and at the head of his grave they buried an iron kettle containing quite a sum of silver money. Over the kettle they stuck down a cottonwood slilp which grew to be a large tree. Years after the battle the two men came and dug up the money." *
* Dr. C. V. Porter in DeSoto Chronicle newspaper, February 5, 1887, DeSoto, Wisconsin.
* Muldoon, Sylvan J., Alexander Hamilton's Pioneer Son: The Life and Times of Colonel William Stephen Hamilton, 1797-1850...Harrisburg, Pa.: Aurand Press, 1930, p. 93.
William Randolph Smith recorded his family's first glimpse of Galena in 1833, a year later:
"…and after breakfast we started for Galena, which we reached about three P.M. As we came down the hill in the sight of the town, we concluded it was a sight. A lot of frame buildings strung along under the bluff, covered with mud halfway up. Mother said after ward that she was half sick before, and the sight of Galena made the other half sick." *
* Wisconsin Magazine of History, The, Volume XII, Number 4, June, 1929, "Journal of William Randolph Smith", p. 408.
* BHW II:936, notes.
* Henry Atkinson to Roger Jones, November 19, 1832, BHW II:1204.