Joined: Nov 2002 Gender: Male Posts: 800 Location: McHenry Illinois
Pecatonica « Thread Started on Feb 6, 2005, 10:02am »
Horse Shoe Bend, East Pecatonica River "Battle of the Pecatonica Jume 16, 1832
From the Life of Henry Dodge
At the Fort all was wild excitement. Many were for rushing pell-mell after the Indians. Instantly Col. Dodge with stentorian voice ordered the men to "saddle up." He said: "Fellow-soldiers--We shall immediately follow" the Indians, and overtake them if possible. We know not their number. If any of you cannot charge them sword in hand, fall back now, as I want none with me but those on whom I can rely in any emergency." None fell back. Twenty-nine mounted men joined Col. Dodge in the pursuit. They passed the scalped and mangled body of Apple, butchered in a shocking manner. Says Col. Dodge in his report to Gen. Atkinson, bitten two days afterward from Ft. Union: The Indians had not more than thirty minutes start. They retreated through thicket of undergrowth, almost impassable for horsemen; they scattered to prevent our trailing them. Finding we had open prairie around the thicket, I despatched part of my men to look for the trail of the Indians in the open. ground. In running our horses about two miles, we saw them about half a mile ahead, trotting along at their ease; they were making for the low ground, where it would be difficult for us to pursue them on horseback. Two of the small streams had such steep banks as to oblige us to dismount, and jump our horses down the banks, and force our way over the best way we could. This delay again gave the Indians the start, but my horses being good, and men eager in the pursuit, I gained on them rapidly. They were directing their course to a bend of the Pecatonica, covered with a deep swamp, which they readied before I could cross that stream, owing to the steepness of the banks, and the depth of the water. After crossing the Pecatonica, in the open ground I dismounted my command, linked my horses, left four men in charge of them, and sent four men in different directions to watch the movements of the Indians, if they should attempt to swim the Pecatonica; the men were placed on high points that would give a view of the enemy, should they attempt to retreat. I formed my men on foot at open order, and at trailed arms, and we proceeded through the swamps to some timber and undergrowth, where I expected to find the enemy. When I found their trail, I knew they were close at hand; they had got close to the edge of the lake, where the bank was about six feet high, which was a complete breastwork for them. They commenced the fire, when three of my men fell, two dangerously wounded, one severely but not dangerously. I instantly ordered a charge on them made by eighteen men, which was promptly obeyed. The Indians being under the bank, our guns were brought within ten or fifteen feet of them before we could fire on them. Their party consisted of thirteen men. Eleven were killed on the spot, and the remaining two were killed in crossing the lake, so that they were left without one to carry the news to their friends.
BLOODY LAKE - BOOK REVIEW « Reply #2 on Feb 13, 2005, 10:57am »
Happy to oblige, Gene...
Robert Braun, Secretary of the Old Lead Region Historical Society has released a book Bloody Lake, The Battle of Pecatonica, June 16, 1832 - A Battle of the Black Hawk War.
I am in very unfamiliar territory here as I do not profess to be a book critic, rather my intent here is to express my admiration of this literary work.
Upon turning to the first page and reading Phalanx Press is proud to introduce its "Battles and Bastions' series of pocket sized books on the Black Hawk War of 1832!, I immediately envisioned trivial literature works called dime or penny novels. Short stories with a consistient theme of good guys, villains and happy endings. The vision quickly vanished as I delved into the pages of some pre-Wisconsin Territory history.
The focus of the book is the battle or skirmish between a war party of Indian warriors with demonstrated allegiance to the renowned Sauk leader, Black Hawk and a company of Michigan Territory militia commanded by Col. Henry Dodge that took place on a horse shoe shaped bend on the Pecatonica River. The sound of musket fire on the bank of this river reverberated throughout the duration of the Black Hawk War, forever changing the way of life of the proud tribes touched by the actions of Black Hawk's Band.
The author seems to take on the unique role of a reporter embedded with militia, conducting interviews and compiling journalistic news of a single event involving compelling human drama on the frontier. Another remarkable feature in the book is the restraint exhibited by the author in not sprinkling his personal opinions throughout or inserting subtle pathways leading to conclusion. I have read pages and pages of copyrighted and non-copyrighted material from the author and can attest to the author's skill in making persuasive arguments. He has put that skill aside to encourage the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Particularly noteworthy subject material for me was the effort by the author to sort through the varying accounts of the number of individuals on both sides of the skirmish and compiles a respectable list of militia names present at the battle site. This list of names is a valuable resource for genealogical purposes.
There is plenty of annotation of material in the book for those of us who are sticklers for such things.
The "pocket sized book" is a refreshing delivery of history, concise and to the point. History the way I like it... with out a la mode.
The author has announced that this book is part of a series of publications discussing the citizen forts of the Michigan Territory (Western Wisconsin), and two battles in the waning moments of the Black Hawk War.
War Clouds on the Wisconsin, The Battle of Wisconsin Heights
Forting Up, Wisconsin's Militia Forts Of The Black Hawk, 1832
River Of Tears; The Battle of the Mississippi (Bad Axe)
Joined: Nov 2002 Gender: Male Posts: 800 Location: McHenry Illinois
Re: Pecatonica « Reply #3 on Feb 27, 2005, 3:33pm »
Thanks for that review. Perhaps if there had been some real embedded reporters with Dodge, Stillman, Atkinson, Posey and Alexander, we would know the truth.
BLoody Lake Book « Reply #4 on May 16, 2005, 3:50pm »
As an FYI to BHWS Board participants and readers...
There are only about a dozen copies of the Bloody Lake book left. Please contact me soonest to reserve your copy!
You can email me off board at braunwis@ticon.net Cost is $9.95 plus $3.50 shipping.
As a special service to BHWS participants attending the 2005 Fort Atkinson Rendezvous, I can have some copies available at the event, and you save the shipping! Let me know if I should reserve some copies for you...
For some reenactors, role-playing comes to take on a ritual significance.
Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 407 Location: Milwuakee, WI
Re: Pecatonica « Reply #6 on Jun 12, 2005, 9:27pm »
Is it true that after some of the British Band that made it across the Miss. in the Battle of Bloody Axe that the Nakota (Souix, it should be noted that "Souix" is Crow for enemy) attacked some of the surviors?
Is it true that after some of the British Band that made it across the Miss. in the Battle of Bloody Axe that the Nakota (Souix, it should be noted that "Souix" is Crow for enemy) attacked some of the surviors?
The American authorities busily engaged members from several tribes anxious to settle old scores with the Sauk. Among them was a company of Memomonie from the Green Bay area, and another company of mixed tribes led for a time by Captain "Billy" Hamilton.
At Prairie du Chien, Captain Loomis chartered the steamboat Warrior and directed Lieutenant James W. Kinsbury to take charge of a detachment of fifteen soldiers and five volunteers, a six pounder cannon and ammunition, and steam north on the Mississippi to the village of the Sioux chief Wa-ba-shaw. The goal is to enlist the influential Wa-ba-shaw to bring warriors south on the west side of the Mississippi to prevent the escape of Black Hawk's followers should they cross the river. Indeed, and escape north of PDC would put BH's refugees on land claimed by Wa-Ba-shaw and his people.
The so-called "Battle of the Bad Ax" took place several miles south of the confluence of the Bad Ax and Mississippi Rivers. Accordingly, the particpants labeled the August 2 action as the "Battle of the Mississippi." Modern authors are enamored with the "Bad Ax" name and the visceral response in engenders, particularly in relationship to the bloody fighting that took place on August 2. The "Bad Ax" identifier is not in my mind, an accurate place name for the battle (and yes... I am guilty of occasionally using the "Bad Ax" moniker myself.)
To return to your question, Wa-ba-sha was more than willing to patrol the western bank of the Mississippi River, as the Americans had requested. A handful of survivors from the August 2 fight made it to the western shore. There, Wa-ba-ahaw and his warriors pitched in, and about thirty scalps were taken. Some accounts indicate these were scalps of mostly women and children.
Well if you do a reprint let me know, I would like a signed copy. I wanted to buy one on the first print, but the twins were (and still are) killing the bank account! Not to mention the cost of gas YIKES!
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