Chief Winneshiek - 1827 Antagonist??

[Larry Koschkee]

In several threads on this message board there has been debate on whether or not Col. Henry Dodge's actions during the Winnebago uprising of 1827 could be considered "reckless." The most recent thread was titled "Dodge, Hamilton and Pistols."

Examining certain historic citations recently has lead me to form the opinion that Dodge and his militia did not just move about the mining district in a random show of force. Rather they may have targeted certain factions or a single faction of the Winnebago Tribe.

Lucius H. Langworthy, one of four brothers that figured promiently in the development of the early mining district, delivered a lecture to the Dubuque Literary and Scientific Insititute in 1854. Titled: Dubuque: Its History, Mines, Indian Legends, Etc.

Quote: In July that year, the Winnebago war commenced. Much alarm was spread over the country, and the people erected forts, and block houses, for defence, abandoning all other employments for the time. Col. Henry Dodge led a company of miners, against the Indians, at their town on Rock River. The village however, was found deserted, and they returned, after taking one lad prisoner.

This excerpt has a familiar part regarding the reference to a young prisoner. A son of the Winnebago Chief Winneshiek, Waukonchawkoohaw, or "Coming Thunder," was captured by Col. Henry Dodge and held hostage for two weeks at Galena, Illinois.

Langworthy stated the Indian town was on the Rock River. Could he have been wrong about the location? Chief Winneshiek's village has been well documented to be located on the Pecatonica River near or on the present site of Freeport, Illinois. More importantly Dodge was said to be leading "a company of miners, against the Indians, at their town..."

Questions:

1) Is their evidence known that Dodge had a specific military reason to target a single village?

2) If the village that Langworthy was referring to was in fact Winneshiek's village did Chief Winneshiek and warriors commit hostile acts to justify Dodge's specific attention?

3) Did Dodge and miners see the uprising as an opportunity to harrass and remove some Indians from their village and surrounding area because the land had potential mining opportunities?

It is interesting to note that Dodge moved against a town and found it deserted. Was this a sign of the Indians feeling guility and knew punishment from the militia was forthcoming or was this a routine movement to a fresh village site for fishing or hunting opportunities?

[Robert Braun]

Larry... I have not had an opportunity to consult all my references on your questions. However, by way of continuing the discussion, I would opine:

1. I agree with you that Dodge's movement on either side of the river by his militia companies were indeed planned, and not a random "show of force." I beleive this kvement was done with the approval of General Gains or at least gen. Atkinson, if not on his authority.

2. I have always been under the assumption (don't you HATE assertions that start that way?? ) that Dodge's command moved on either side of the WISCONSIN River, heading generally East.. until the surrender of Red Bird made further movement moot. Per William Salter, The Life of Henry Dodge:

With his mounted volunteers, 130 in number. Gen. Dodge, marched to the Wisconsin river, one detachment going to Prairie du Chien, the other to English Prairie, now Muscoda. They scoured both sides of the river to the Portage, driving the Indians before them, taking one prisoner, a lad of fifteen, who had become separated from his band, and was surrounded. He was son of a chief, Winneshiek, whose name he bore. He refused to surrender, but sat on his horse, with cocked gun in hand. The soldiers were about to shoot him when Gen. Dodge, admiring the intrepidity of the boy, rode up and wrenched his gun from him, and saved him from the death he defied.

Upon reaching the Portage they found that Red Bird and his accomplices in murder had been surrendered to Major Whistler. Decorah, in presence of General Dodge, disclaimed unfriendliness on the part of the Winnebagoes to the United States, and disavowed connection with the murders that had been committed on the Mississippi. Terms of settlement were arranged by Gen. Atkinson, whereupon the volunteers were discharged and returned to their homes.

3. If there is evidence that Chief Winneshek and his people committed overt hostile acts in support of Red Bird, I have not found it. Similarly, I have not found evidence that Dodge and his militia "harrassed" or "removed" Indian people from their villages. What I do know is that reportedly, Dodge saved the son of the chief from being shot by members of his own command.

Regards,

Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

I too am at a disadvantage with out all my references at hand, but want to advance this discussion. I want to insert a quote from the Old Region Historical Society website submitted by Marge Smith that lines up with Langworthy's quote quite well. Ms Smith does not provide annotation, but I am sure she has the documention.

July 14, 1827 - General Henry Dodge, commanding a mounted party of 60 men, leaves to range through the country on Rock River with the intention of visiting the small band at the Ford, the appearance of such a force will induce those Indians at the Ford to remain quiet.

This is just a guess but, this quote sounds like it may have come from a Galena newspaper.

We know that Governor Lewis Cass, governor of the Michigan Territory called up two militia units. July 4, 1827 Captain thomas McNair @ Prairie du Chien and July 5, 1827 Captain Field @ Galena. But what is peculiar about these two units -- there should have been a third unit headed by General Henry Dodge or some indication that Dodge may have been placed in command of both units. So the big question at this point in time, was there just two units or are we missing information on a third?

It was not until August 26, 1827 that the lead mine companies of Hamilton, McNair and Strode were enrolled in service under Dodge.

There were several Winnebago village locations east of the Mississippi River and south of the Wisconsin River in the Mining District at the time. For some unknown reason to us, Dodge must have thought it neccessary to move against the village on the Rock River. And note -- he did this before Atkinson arrived at Prairie du Chien and proceeded up the Wisconsin River. Dodge may have acted on his own in this regard.

[pshrake]

The fact that Dodge was said to be heading out to the Rock River by the 14th of July with 60 men suggests to me that Dodge was otherwise preoccupied when Fields company was raised.

Cass activated the Prairie du Chien company as he passed through the region. As that the company was raised in the Michigan Territory I would be surprised that anyone from Illinois would have been placed in overall command.

Field's company was also raised at the spur of the moment by Cass as the Governor himself related in a letter written in St. Louis dated July 10, 1827:

"When I arrived at Fever River I found the alarm had extended there. The miners were quitting the mining district and fleeing for mutual protection to the town, near the mouth of the River. There are men enough to defend themselves and the Country, but they are almost destitute of arms. Nor can a supply be obtained for them short of this place.
The first object being the immediate protection of the Prairie, I urged upon the people at Fever River the necessity of sending a reinforcement to that place. One hundred volunteers probably marched that day, and they will place the settlement in comparative safety."

It is interesting to note that Cass makes no mention of Dodge in the entire letter. He also makes no mention of Dodge when he wrote to Indian Agent John Connoly from Galena, appraising him of the situation, on July 5.

On July 4 the Galena Committee of Public Safety wrote M. M. Thomas-Superintendent of U.S. Lead Mines a request for any arms and ammunition he could provide.

When Gen. Atkinson arrived in Galena he deposited 200 stands of arms for use of the settlement. In 1828 William Henry, Chairman of the Committee of Public Safety recieved a letter from the Assistant Quatermaster in St. Louis asking for an accounting for equipment returns including 18 rifles and 50 muskets to Gen Dodge and 60 rifles and 17 muskets to "Gratiot" The fact that at least some in his command were issued federal arms suggests Dodge awaited the arrival of further supplies before leading a larger militia command to the Wisconsin.


So....I believe that only two companies were called into service by Cass in early July, that Dodge was either not immediately present when Field raised his company, or remained to help orchestrate the defense of Galena or he was busy preparing for his foray to the Rock River.

Concerning Chief Winneshiek, I can not say much, other than I have always associated him with the Rock River Band of the Ho-Chunk and that band had refused to support Red Bird. Dodge's move also suggests the residents of the Fever River were not taking any chances with any Ho-Chunk in thier region. Perhaps it was felt that a demonstration aganst any Ho-Chunk band would send a message to the entire tribe. Cass himself was not sure if the murders at Prairie du Chien was the start of a general Indian War on the Upper Mississippi.


Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

Before I comment on Bob and Pete's points put forth here, I would like to insert another source that places Dodge on the frontier with a mounted force of men before General Atkinson arrived and enrolled three militia companies into Federal service.

Daniel M. Parkinson's recollections of the Winnebago War were published in VOL. II, 1856 in Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

With Col. William S. Hamilton, James D. Brents and two others, I arrived at Galena on the 4th of July, 1827, and on the same day arrived also a boat from St. Peter's, which had been attacked by the Indians a short distance above Prairie du Chien, bringing on board one man killed and two men wounded. In the encounter with the Indians they killed two of them.... In this state of alarm, confusion and disorder it was extremely difficult to do anything; almost every man's object was to leave the country, if possible. At length a company of riflemen was raised at Galena, upon the requisition of Gov. Cass of Michigan, who arrived there on the second day after the alam. This company was commanded by Abner Fields, of Vandalia, ILL., as captain and one Smith and William S. Hamilton as lieutenants, and was immediately put in motion for Prairie du Chien, by embarking on board the keel-boat MAID of Fevre river. On our way up the river, I acted as sergeant of the company, and we made several reconnoitering expeditions into the woods near the river, where Indian encampments were indicated by the rising of smoke. In these reconnoissances we run the hazard of some danger, but fortunately all the Indians that we met were friendly disposed, and did not in the least sympathize with those who had made hostile demonstrations.... During our absence, another volunteer company was raised, commanded by Gen. Dodge, who was constantly in the field with his mounted force, keeping in check the approach of the enemy. During his rangings, he took young Win-ne-shiek, son of the Chief Win-ne-shiek, who was detained as a hostage for some time.

It is quite clear that Dodge was ranging the frontier before he was placed in command of three militia companies enrolled in federal service under General Atkinson on August 27, 1827.

Under what authority or jurisdiction was this third militia unit raised? Cass appears not to have raised it. Did Atkinson raise it well in advance of his arrival? Does not appear to be the case. Did the "Committee of Safety" raise Dodge's volunteers? Did the Governor of the State of Illinois, Ninan Edwards establish Dodge's unit? I believe historical records indicate Edwards not call out Illinois Militia until July 23, 1827. There is a need for clarification here.

In my humble understanding of what, where and when and by whom does a militia unit get called up, the Governor of a state or territory can raise the militia in addition to federal authorities. ( I am speaking within the context of time of this discussion)

Would the Galena "Committee of Safety" have explicit authority to raise a militia under the rules and regulations set forth in the Militia Act of 1792?

Or --- can we consider the "Committee of Safety" nothing more than a vigilante action?

Other questions to ponder:

It seems peculiar that the Governor of the Michigan Territory, Gov. Lewis Cass, would raise militia volunteers from a pool of individuals located in the State of Illinois, a company with an elected or appointed Captain from Vandalia, IL. Granted... many individuals in Galena at the time had previously fled from their diggings located in Michigan Territory.

[pshrake]

Perhaps in order to understand Dodge's militia company of early July we probably ought to look at another community facing the same crisis at the same time.

Chicago feared an iminent attack from the local Potawatomi whom they suspected were in league with the Ho-Chunk. Shabonna, apparently friendly to the inhabitants of the village went out to determine for himself the feelings of a particular local band of Potawatomi who were acting in a alarming manner.

Gordon S. Hubbard, a local trader, remembered years later:

"On Receiving Shab-o-nee's report, the inhabitants of Chicago were greatly excited; fearing an attack, we assembled for consultation, when I suggested sending to the Wabash for assistance, and tendered my services as messenger."

Hubbard left the little village and raised a militia company from settlements along the Vermillion River. The company rondevoused at Danville and after a miserable march though rainy weather and flooding rivers arrived at Chicago where they were met by a second small company of local Americans and Metis from the immediate surrounding area. All the accounts I have read about this episode strongly indicates that both companies were raisded entirely on local authority.

Consider also two companies raised in the Gratiot, Shullsburg area. According to the 1881 History of Lafayette County a fort was built on the priaire just north of Gratiot's Grove and manned by a company of 80 men under the command of a Capt. Hollingswoth. At Old Shullsburg another fort was built and a company of 30 men under Jessie Shull manned the post. The 1881 history was and still is the only source I have for this information. What month the companies were raised and when the forts were built still remains a mystery. But as far as I can determine these two companies were raised on thier own authority.

So... comparing this with the events at Galena...We know that the Galena Committee of Safety existed, that it requisitioned arms from the superintendant of lead mines on the 4th of July, and that it was orchestrating the defense of the town. So it was definately acting on its own authority. Perhaps, in this atmosphere Dodge, like Hubbard, got the idea of a militia company ranging the countryside, and either on his own authority, or with some form of blessing from the Committee of Safety raised the company and led it out to the HoChunk villages.

The one problem here is documentation. It exists for the Chicago senario, but I have yet to find detailed information on the activities at Galena. William Henry (Chairman of the Galena Committee of Safety) has his papers preserved at the Wisconsin Historical Society. They offer some scant info, and there are the disparate accounts from people like Parkinson but no significant collection of documents has yet surfaced to my knowledge. Perhaps the Illinios Archives has something?


Larry does raise an excellent point concerning Cass and the raising of Field's company. I think Cass certainly overstepped his authority in that regard, and I suspect he was aware of it at the time. In addition to raising a militia company he issued instructions to Indian Agent John Connoly who was clearly under William Clarks jurisdiction. He probalby felt that as the most senior federal official on the scene he was in the best position to make key decisions. He made a complete report of his activities to the Secretary of War after he met with Atkinson and William Clark at St. Louis on the 10th of July.


Pete