CHAPTER VII

. Generals Henry and Dodge march to the Blue Mounds for provision — There meet the other two Brigades — Take up the line of march across the Wisconsin — Again get on the trail of the enemy — Take a Winnebago Indian a prisoner — He gives information that the enemy is four days ahead of us— We take him along — We enter the Mountains — Bad travelling — Lose a number of horses — Overtake the enemy at the mouth of Bad-Axe on the Mississippi — General Engagement — General Henry completely routs the enemy.

We were now out of provisions, and were obliged to abandon further pursuit, and go to the Blue Mounds to procure a supply. Accordingly on the 23d, we got in motion again; not in pursuit of the enemy, but for bread and meat, to satisfy our appetites — as we were now out of every thing to eat. Our wounded this day suffered very much on account of having rough ground to pass over, and some very muddy creeks. When they got to the Blue Mounds, they were very hospitably treated. There was a small fort and citizens plenty, who did not think it the least hardship to wait on those who had been shedding their blood to revenge the wrongs those people had suffered. For the Indians had killed three valuable men within one mile of this place ; and one within view of the citizens who were in it,—a gentleman by the name of Green, of high standing in society, and who had recently emigrated from the east. I have forgotten the names of the other gentlemen, but can say that the citizens spoke in high terms of their worth, and seemed to lament their loss. [Emerson Green and George Force.]
Wakefield 118

Wakefield 119 We here found a part of General Posey's brigade, who had been sent from Fort Hamilton, to assist in guarding this frontier place. An express had been sent by General Atkinson to General Posey, to march as soon as possible to a small town on the Wisconsin river, to Intercept the Indians, should any of them go down the river. So, in the afternoon, General Posey, from Fort Hamilton, passed on his way to Helena; and late in the evening General Atkinson and General Alexander arrived with their brigades; leaving Colonel Sharp,with those who had lost their horses, still at Fort Kushkanong; also Captain Low [Gideon Lowe], with one company of regulars. We here drew three days' provision, 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. Accordingly we got to this place on the 26th, where we found General Posey with his brigade, busily employed in making rafts to cross on. This 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. 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 so 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. 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 Posey who commanded the first brigade, had but about two hundred men; a great number having lost their horses, and some being 'on the sick report. Colonel Ewing's regiment had been sent down to Dixon's, which weakened it very much.


Wakefield 120 The second brigade 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 Henry's brigade was very much reduced, also. 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 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. The army commenced crossing this stream on the 27th, and by twelve o'clock on the 2 8th, we were over, and ready to take up the line of march. Two of our men at this place, 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. Colonel William B. Archer had, on our arrival at this place, taken about twenty men, and gone up the river to our battle ground, to ascertain if they could discover any fresh signs of the Indians returning, or what direction they had gone from that place. They found no new



Wakefield 121 sign of their crossing back. The remains of Mr. Short, who was killed in the battle, had not been interrupted, [sic.] 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 above 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. 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. The regular field officers were Colonel Taylor, Major W. Riley, Major Morgan, and the others not recollected. Captain Johnson, and Thomas C. Brown, (volunteer aids,) Aids-de-Camp of General Atkinson; and Lieutenant Anderson, Brigade Major. The author is sorry that he cannot give the names of the other regular officers, as they were all deserving well of their country. We had not this day marched more than five miles, before we came upon the main Indian 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.


Wakefield 122 It appeared to be making down the river, too, which pleased us still better. We had understood that, north of us, the country was very mountainous, and almost impassable. 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. July 29th. We started this morning very early, and had proceeded but a short distance, before we came upon one of their encampments. We found that they were still killing their horses to eat. They here had killed the willing animal, 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. July 30th. 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 this stream, we found ourselves going back, in the same direction we had come; but after we had crossed, we, not unlike a parcel 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


Wakefield 123 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 make a bridge; 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 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. The Indian that was taken here as a prisoner, said on examination, that the Indians had encamped close by there, and had been gone four days. He stated that they had a number of wounded that were laying on their horses, and that two of them died the night they staid here. We did not get much information from this son of the forest; nevertheless, we concluded to take him with us. He at first wanted to stay ; but, after finding out that we would not injure him, and that there was a tolerable good chance to get plenty to eat, he went cheerfully. There was another

Wakefield 124 old fellow, taken as a prisoner, who was suffered to go away. He went to where the Winnebagoes had a small village. 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 carried 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 Lindsey's keel boats; the same Captain Lindsey who then commanded a company of spies belonging to Major Ewing's battalion; who, after their attack upon the keel boats, made their retreat across these mountains. We found the Sacs were keeping the same trail the Winnebagoes then made. 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 or 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.


Wakefield 125 This was our situation at the time: no one knew, what a country we were now about to approach. 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. 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


Wakefield 126 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 next day, which was July 31st, we were about 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 for a 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 their 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


Wakefield 127 were the first civilized people that ever had entered this tremendous pile of mountains. They are now found out, and I must leave them, for some person more able to describe further than I have done. August 1st. We this day passed a number of dead Indians, who had died in consequence of wounds they had received at the battle near the Wisconsin river. There were five found, it is said, in going the distance of five miles. 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. 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 had encamped at this creek. 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. 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.—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. On this evening we came across the grave of an


Wakefield 128 Indian chief, who was buried in the grandest style of Indian burials; painted, and otherwise decorated, as well as those wretched beings 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 over 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. It was now late in the evening, and we had proceeded but a short distance from here, before some of our front spies, came across an Indian that 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 to the river on that day, and would cross over on the next morning. 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 this day made a tolerable push, having marched until eight o'clock at night before we stopt. We then halted, and formed our encampment: But it was for a short time only. 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

Wakefield 129 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 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.

Wakefield 130 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 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 Johnsonand 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

Wakefield 131 [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. 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 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

Wakefield 132 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 Taylor78 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.79 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. The part of the river they had to wade, took a man

Wakefield 133 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 mortal wound. He belonged to Colonel Fry's regiment. I have been told

Wakefield 134 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. 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. 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 stated, that he was telling us in the Winnebago language, that they had their squaws and children with them, and that they were starving for something to eat, and were not able to fight us ; and that if we would let them pass over the Mississippi, they would do no more mischief. They stated that he spoke this in the Winnebago language, believing that the same Winnebagoes that were with us in the battle, were still there. But here he was mistaken: as soon as the battle was over, the Indians, with our pilot Poquet, all left us ; so there was no one among us, that understood the Winnebago language.


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