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At Wisconsin Heights
Orders were at once given to
dismount (leaving enough to hold the horses)
and charge upon the Indians. They had
scarcely time to form into line when they
were met by the yelling Indians and a heavy
volley from their guns.
Dodge and Ewing ordered a charge, and as
they moved forward, returned the fire at
close quarters, with deadly effect. The
Indians then commenced a flank movement, and
by securing a position in the high grass
where they could in a measure conceal
themselves, fought bravely, until Dodge and
Ewing gave orders to charge upon them at the
point of the bayonet. In this engagement
Col. Jones had his horse shot from under
him, and one man killed--but at the word
_"charge,"_ he went forward with his brave
men, and all performed their duty nobly and
fearlessly, and soon dislodged the Indians
from their hiding place and forced them into
a hasty retreat. It being then too late to
pursue them, orders were given to camp on
the battle-ground.
In this engagement Neapope had command, who
was not only brave and fearless, but well
skilled in strategy. Having become well
acquainted with him after the war, he told
the writer that he knew Gen. Dodge
personally, and had met him on the field of
battle, and considered him one of the
bravest men he had ever met, although in
this engagement all the officers showed
great skill and bravery, and thus encouraged
their men to acts of noble daring to a
degree that he had never before witnessed in
common--not regular--soldiers. He said in
this engagement, the command had been
entrusted to him of this small force--about
two hundred--Indians, in order to give Black
Hawk and the remainder of his party, time to
cross the river. He reported his loss at
twenty-eight (28) killed.
The newt morning a portion of the army was
ordered forward to pursue the fleeing enemy,
but on reaching the river, found that they
had taken to the swamps, when it was deemed
prudent to return to camp without attempting
to follow them.
Here the army rested for one day, and made
comfortable provisions to carry the wounded,
after having consigned the remains of John
Short, who had been killed the day before,
to mother Earth, with the honors of war.
In the meantime, Gen. Atkinson arrived with
his regulars and the brigades of Generals
Posey and Alexander; and on the 28th of
July, took up the line of march with Gen.
Atkinson at the head. Their route led
through a mountainous country for several
days, as the Indiana seemed to have selected
the most difficult route they could find in
order to gain time, and reach the river in
advance, and then secure the best possible
positions to defend themselves.
Having learned from an old Indian that had
been left behind, that the enemy was only a
short distance ahead, Gen. Atkinson, on
breaking camp at an early hour in the
morning, gave orders for the march towards
the river, with Gen. Dodge's squadron in
front; Infantry next; Second brigade, under
command of Gen. Alexander, next; Gen.
Posey's brigade next, and Gen. Henry's in
the rear.
After marching a few miles Gen. Dodge's
scouts discovered the rear guard of the
enemy, when an express was sent immediately
to Gen. Atkinson, who ordered troops to
proceed at double quick. In the meantime
Gen. Dodge's command pushed forward and
opened a heavy fire, from which many Indians
were shot down while retreating toward the
Mississippi, where their main body was
stationed. Dodge's squadron being in the
lead, were first to open upon the main army
of the Indians, whilst Gen. Henry's brigade,
that had been placed in the rear in the
morning, came first to his aid. The battle
waged furiously for more than two hours, and
until the last visible Indian warrior was
killed. The Indians had commenced crossing
before the battle opened, and a number took
to their canoes and made good their escape
as the battle progressed. The number killed
was estimated at something over one hundred,
but the Indians afterward reported their
loss at seventy-eight killed and forty-two
wounded. Our loss was seventeen killed and
about the same number wounded.
During the engagement several squaws were
killed accidentally and a number wounded,
including children, who were taken
prisoners. Among the latter, Dr. Philleo
reported a boy with one arm badly broken,
who exhibited a greater degree of stoicism
during the operation of amputation, than he
had ever before witnessed. Being very
hungry, they gave him a piece of bread to
eat, which he ravenously masticated during
the entire operation, apparently manifesting
no pain whatever from the work of the
surgeon.
Many of the Indians who got across the river
in safety were afterwards killed by the
Menomonee. The books presented are for
their historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Autobiography of Black
Hawk or Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiak,
Copyrighted By J. B. Patterson, 1882
Black Hawk Indian WarFree
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