Post by Larry Koschkee on Aug 19, 2003 16:12:18 GMT -5
Several rivers and landmarks had significant meaning and association with the lead region of the Michigan (Western) Territory. The most common landmarks recorded on maps and journals of early explorers were the Wisconsin, Mississippi and Fever rivers.
As early as 1673 when Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette entered the Mississippi River from the Fox-Wisconsin waterway mining activity was noted.
Major Stephen Long's 1817 and 1823 expeditions to the source of the Mississippi River resulted in additional land marks noted within the lead region. Traveling overland from Chicago to Prairie du Chien the party reached the Rock River on June 14, 1823. William H. Keating, journalist for the expedition wrote: Rock River is termed, in the languages derived from the Algonquin, Sin-se-pe and in the Winnebago, We-ro-sha-na-gra..."
June 15th they came to the Pecatonica River. ...we reached a small stream, designated under the name of Peektanos, a diminutive of Pekktano, a neighboring stream into which it discharges itself a few miles below. The meaning of this last in the Sauk language is muddy, and it is remarkable that the same name has been applied to the Missouri by the Sauks. The current Sauk spelling today is "Pikihtanwi."
The country becomes interspersed with hills, which contribute to vary the scenery; among others which were very distinct we observed two, rising close alongside of each other, forming two twin peaks insulated in the midst of the prairie; the distance between the two being about one and a quarter mile in an east and west direction; they are visible for upwards of thirty miles, and constitute one of the best landmarks we have ever seen. They are called in the Sauk language En-ne-sho-te-no (which means two hills or mountains being composed of en-nes, two, and o-te-no, hills. Our guide informed us that the hill marked on the maps as the the Smoky-hill lay at a long day's march, in a north-easterly course from our noon encampment of the 16th. This hill has received from the Indians the appelation of Mu-cho-wa-ku-nin, from the circumstance of its summit being generally enveloped with a cloud or fog, and, as we were told, not from any tradition of smoke having ever issued from it. To the left a point of highland is in sight, which is said to be at the the mouth of the Moschaoko (always full) a stream that falls into the Mississippi. I would speculate that stream to be present day Platte River.
On the 17th of June our route was diversified by hills and valleys. The Smoky mountain to the east, and Dubuque's to the west, formed distinct objects of vision, while the long ridge, covered with forests, which extended to the left, indicated the course of the "Great River," as the Mississippi has been emphatically called in the Algonquin language.
A badger was this day discovered by the dogs in the prairie, and after they had brought it to bay, the Indian killed it with his tomahawk; it was cooked for dinner, and those who eat of it, found it very good. This was near a small stream, called by the Indians Me-ka-be-a Sepe, or Small-pox river, it is the Riviere de la Fievre, which is said to enter the Mississippi opposite to Dubuque's mines.
Many of you have probably already guessed the present day names of the landmarks.
Pekktano - Pecatonica
En-ne-sho-te-no hills - Platte mounds
Mu-cho-wa-ku-nin - Blue Mounds
Me-ka-be-a Sepe - Fever River
Another significant landmark that was noted in Keating's narrative and also indicated as a mountain icon on the expedition map published in 1824. Ocooch Mountain. My research has shown the term "Ocooch" is a corruption of the Winnebago term Ho-guuch meaning shoot fish. The most likely location of Ocooch Mountain is the present day Baraboo Range in Sauk County, Wisconsin. This remarkable landscape feature was mentioned by Albert Sidney Johnston, 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army after the Battle of Wisconsin Heights.
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, bearing in the direction of the ocooch Mountains.
In less than a days time, a automobile trip will allow one to see these prominent landscape features of the lead region of Wisconsin.
Larry Koschkee
As early as 1673 when Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette entered the Mississippi River from the Fox-Wisconsin waterway mining activity was noted.
Major Stephen Long's 1817 and 1823 expeditions to the source of the Mississippi River resulted in additional land marks noted within the lead region. Traveling overland from Chicago to Prairie du Chien the party reached the Rock River on June 14, 1823. William H. Keating, journalist for the expedition wrote: Rock River is termed, in the languages derived from the Algonquin, Sin-se-pe and in the Winnebago, We-ro-sha-na-gra..."
June 15th they came to the Pecatonica River. ...we reached a small stream, designated under the name of Peektanos, a diminutive of Pekktano, a neighboring stream into which it discharges itself a few miles below. The meaning of this last in the Sauk language is muddy, and it is remarkable that the same name has been applied to the Missouri by the Sauks. The current Sauk spelling today is "Pikihtanwi."
The country becomes interspersed with hills, which contribute to vary the scenery; among others which were very distinct we observed two, rising close alongside of each other, forming two twin peaks insulated in the midst of the prairie; the distance between the two being about one and a quarter mile in an east and west direction; they are visible for upwards of thirty miles, and constitute one of the best landmarks we have ever seen. They are called in the Sauk language En-ne-sho-te-no (which means two hills or mountains being composed of en-nes, two, and o-te-no, hills. Our guide informed us that the hill marked on the maps as the the Smoky-hill lay at a long day's march, in a north-easterly course from our noon encampment of the 16th. This hill has received from the Indians the appelation of Mu-cho-wa-ku-nin, from the circumstance of its summit being generally enveloped with a cloud or fog, and, as we were told, not from any tradition of smoke having ever issued from it. To the left a point of highland is in sight, which is said to be at the the mouth of the Moschaoko (always full) a stream that falls into the Mississippi. I would speculate that stream to be present day Platte River.
On the 17th of June our route was diversified by hills and valleys. The Smoky mountain to the east, and Dubuque's to the west, formed distinct objects of vision, while the long ridge, covered with forests, which extended to the left, indicated the course of the "Great River," as the Mississippi has been emphatically called in the Algonquin language.
A badger was this day discovered by the dogs in the prairie, and after they had brought it to bay, the Indian killed it with his tomahawk; it was cooked for dinner, and those who eat of it, found it very good. This was near a small stream, called by the Indians Me-ka-be-a Sepe, or Small-pox river, it is the Riviere de la Fievre, which is said to enter the Mississippi opposite to Dubuque's mines.
Many of you have probably already guessed the present day names of the landmarks.
Pekktano - Pecatonica
En-ne-sho-te-no hills - Platte mounds
Mu-cho-wa-ku-nin - Blue Mounds
Me-ka-be-a Sepe - Fever River
Another significant landmark that was noted in Keating's narrative and also indicated as a mountain icon on the expedition map published in 1824. Ocooch Mountain. My research has shown the term "Ocooch" is a corruption of the Winnebago term Ho-guuch meaning shoot fish. The most likely location of Ocooch Mountain is the present day Baraboo Range in Sauk County, Wisconsin. This remarkable landscape feature was mentioned by Albert Sidney Johnston, 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Infantry Regiment, U. S. Army after the Battle of Wisconsin Heights.
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, bearing in the direction of the ocooch Mountains.
In less than a days time, a automobile trip will allow one to see these prominent landscape features of the lead region of Wisconsin.
Larry Koschkee