175th ANNIVERSARY BLACK HAWK WAR COMMEMORATIVE

[Larry Koschkee]

Get all the details from this website:

www.saukprairie.com/

A quick overview here -

Location: Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - Black Hawk Unit at
Wisconsin Heights Battle Ground at the north end of the unit.

Basic directions - Hwy 78 - 6 miles north of Mazomanie or 3 miles south of Sauk City WI

Date: July 21, 2007

Schedule of Events:

1000 am - Commemoration Ceremony

David Gjestson, Host - introductions

Dr. Ellsworth Brown, Director, WI State Historical Society

Kerry A. Trask, Author - BLACK HAWK - The Battle for the Heart of America

David Schweitzer - August Derleth Poetry Reading

Bill Wenzel, Surveyor - Will demonstrate how the first GLO land surveyors first documented the site.

Guided Tours of Battle site:
11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm

Do not bother to bring your horses for the event. I checked that possibility out with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A couple of Amigos and I wanted to charge our mounts up "Militia Ridge," dismount and form a skirmish line just below the hill crest. Alas, the WDNR turned down my request.

You see, the WDNR has this fear that horses will damage the landscape and may cause erosion. I have seen some heavily traveled deer trails on DNR property that really should cause them concern.

PARKING ALERT - parking will fill up fast at the north parking lot. Alternate parking can be found 1/2 mile south on Hwy 78 (next to the Black Hawk Unit sign). Car pool if you can.

Larry Koschkee

[Robert Braun]

We'll be there, Larry. In fact... I understand that several OLRHS members in militia garb will be on hand. Also--Gen. Dodge and two Dodge Children-- Gus and Salina-- will also be present!

Scratch Dr. Brown.. he can't make it.

Bob Birmingham will be there as well. It was Bob that got Dave Gjestson to put the event on. It was also Bob who wanted Sac and Fox Nation participation, which I understand will happen. It was ALSO Bob that refused to allow ANY militia weapons to be present during the ceremony portion of the day-- out of respect and comfort of our native guests. (No word yet on any "respect and comfort" concessions for the militia, though.)

No water at the site (well.. no "potable" water) and one porta-john. Parking will be a major problem...

Best always, Bob.

BTW, as a point of interest, I have OFTEN seen hoof prints along the trails and by-ways of Wisconsin Heights. "Erosion?" Bosh. Why can't they fess up? Either a.) they don't want any liability or b.) they can't be bothered.

Beaurocrats... don't ya love 'em??

[Larry Koschkee]

Glad to hear the OLRHS will be represented at this event.

I for one would like to have the opportunity to interview General Henry Dodge and obtain his account of the various battle positions.

I encourage OLRHS members attending to review Mr. Robert Braun's VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE WISCONSIN HEIGHTS BATTLE FIELD that is found on the OLRHS website. It is excellent, indeed!

In addition, bring your "chacko's" - last year at this time, portions of the battle field was a berry patch. "Black cap" wild berries were plentiful. Who knows... you could be eating berries from bushes fertilized by the remains of horses, Private Short or Black Hawk's followers.