Militia Casualties at Wisconsin Heights

[Mike Thorson]

Militia Casualties at Wisconsin Heights, Saturday July 21, 1832

Killed in Action
Private Thomas Jefferson Short
Captain Josiah Brigg's Company, Col. Gabriel Jones' Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers
Shot through the head



Wounded in Action
Orderly Sergeant John McNair
Captain Daniel Parkinson's Company, Michigan Mounted Volunteers
Shot in the thigh

Private Isam Hardin
Captain Benjamin W. Clark's Company, Michigan Mounted Volunteers
Wounded in the thigh July 21, near the south end of Lake Mendota

Private Enoch Neaville
Captain Benjamin W. Clark's Company, Michigan Mounted Volunteers

Private Robert McGee
Captain Benjamin W. Clark's Company, Michigan Mounted Volunteers

Private Joseph Wells
Captain William Adair's Company, Col. Gabriel Jones' Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers

Private Meredith S. McMillion
Captain James Burn's Company, Col. Gabriel Jones' Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers

Private James Thompson
Captain James Burn's Company, Col. Gabriel Jones' Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers

Private Armstead Jones
Captain Jacob Feaman's Company, Col. Gabriel Jones' Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers
----------------------------------------------
Col. Gabriel Jones
Commanding Third Regiment, Illinois Mounted Volunteers
Had his horse shot out from under him.

[Todd Price]

I have recently been doing some research about the Black Hawk War, using primarily Mr. Allan Eckert's "Twilight of Empire", I have found a glaring statistic for which I don't seem able to find an adequate explanation. Why were the casualties at Wisconsin Heights so decidedly one sided? Mr. Eckert gives the figure of Sacs killed as being in excess of thirty, whereas the militia suffered only one death. Has it ever been sufficiently discussed as to the reason for this disparity? The way I understand from my reading, it seems the Sacs took up a defensive posture in the hills rising above the Wisconsin River and were attacked by the militia. I'm not a military expert by any means but almost always it seems that the attackers suffer more casualties than defenders. This is just one of my thoughts on the Black Hawk War, and I would appreciate any information on this question.

Thank you,
Todd Price

[Robert Braun]

Todd said:

I have recently been doing some research about the Black Hawk War, using primarily Mr. Allan Eckert's "Twilight of Empire", I have found a glaring statistic for which I don't seem able to find an adequate explanation. Why were the casualties at Wisconsin Heights so decidedly one sided? Mr. Eckert gives the figure of Sacs killed as being in excess of thirty, whereas the militia suffered only one death. Has it ever been sufficiently discussed as to the reason for this disparity? The way I understand from my reading, it seems the Sacs took up a defensive posture in the hills rising above the Wisconsin River and were attacked by the militia. I'm not a military expert by any means but almost always it seems that the attackers suffer more casualties than defenders. This is just one of my thoughts on the Black Hawk War, and I would appreciate any information on this question. Thank you.

Speaking personally, I would not use Mr. Eckhart's work as either a reference or a source for the Black Hawk War. While unquestionably a fast paced interesting read, there is too much "made up" stuff in his Twighlight of Empire for one to use it as a competent resource.

That being said, there are a number of factors that may explain the casualty "disparity." Among the reasons are a.) more American militia concentrated at specific points on the battlefield, directing more fire at specific Indian resistance; b.) American tactics that emphasized volley firing, which suggests that more rounds might have hit the intended target(s) c.) The militia had more firearms than did the Sauk/Fox/Kickapoo; d.) American muskets employed buck and ball ammunition-- one .63 cal. ball and three .31 cal. buckshot; e.) many (but not all) Indians were aiming up-hill against the Americans on "Militia Hill;" the tendancy when aiming up hill is to aim too high; f.) limitied Sauk/Fox/Kickapoo ammunition may have meant less shots fired, compared to those of the Americans; g.) wet weather and high humidity affected the gunpowder.

Some or many of these factors may have been at play at Wisconsin Heights. An open question, of course, is the marksmanship of the respective protangonists.

Bob Braun
Moderator.

[Larry Koschkee]

In response to the casualty disparity question, I would like to add to Mr. Braun's excellent list of factors.

Paramount in my list would be the human drama present at the brink of the Wisconsin River. The warriors that were part of the rear guard of the main body were not just fighting for their individual existence but for their immediate families as well. Oh you say, the militia were doing the same. I would agree to that but the intense survival factor would have been greater amongst the Indians on that specific day. After all the families of the militia were on the home front, safe and sound.

I would further submit that knowing your loved ones were just over the hill fleeing for their lives would cause one to take risks that would not be ordinarily considered.

I doubt there were the same amount of warriors present at the Wisconsin River that originally crossed the Mississippi River in April. Many were lost in the various skirmishes prior to this battle. Countless numbers may have been lost to desertion, accidents, snake bites and disease. Therefore, the remaining warriors made do with the numbers at hand, thus exposing themselves excessively to enemy fire.

In addition, the warrior count in the rear guard would not have been their full strength at any rate. I am confident many warriors were out ahead of the main body and perhaps flanking up and down the river bank. Also, because of the poor condition of the general population many were assisting the weak and infirm and providing the labor to build makeshift canoes to cross the river.

Many of the warriors were probably weakened physically and this could affect their aim and ability to move about with agility in a running gun battle.

Larry K

[Todd Price]

Gentlemen,
I appreciate the responses, this type of information is exactly the reason I decided to join this discussion board when I found it. I would like to know which sources are best recommended by you for researching the Black Hawk War and surrounding events. Also, if you know of any, I would like to know if there are any online resources with which to research primary sources such as documents and reports from those involved in the events. As a postscript, I apologize for not have signed my previous message, in my haste to ask questions I failed to read the portion requesting a signature on all posts.

Thank you,
Todd Price

[Robert Braun]

Todd said:

Gentlemen,
I appreciate the responses, this type of information is exactly the reason I decided to join this discussion board when I found it. I would like to know which sources are best recommended by you for researching the Black Hawk War and surrounding events. Also, if you know of any, I would like to know if there are any online resources with which to research primary sources such as documents and reports from those involved in the events. As a postscript, I apologize for not have signed my previous message, in my haste to ask questions I failed to read the portion requesting a signature on all posts.

Thank you,
Todd Price

First off, my continued thanks to Larry for offering additional perspective, balance, and "reality" to the discussion.

Second, I would offer to Mr. Price that he examine Crawford Thayer's Battle of Wisconsin Heights, which offers a very good collection of original first-person "eyewitness" accounts pertinent to this specific battle. This book may be obtained through this source www.hoardmuseum.org/gshop_books.htm One caution-- Crawford Thayer gives you the "whole cow" when it comes to information. ;)Synthesis, analysis and perspective might be better sought elsewhere.

Finally, I would direct him to the Ellen Whitney's The Black Hawk War trilogy. This three volume set is perennially cited by writers, investigators, and researchers doing serious research into the Black Hawk War. Most larger libraries offer this set; and occasionally the volumes are seen for sale in the second-hand book market.

Cordially,

Bob Braun.