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Post by Robert Braun on Oct 23, 2003 8:59:50 GMT -5
Reading in the 1888 History of Iowa County, I finally found the too oft-used quotation ascribed to Dodge, that he could "lick all the sore-shinned Regulars at Prairie du Chien." I always wondered where that line came from...
It appears in a reasonably obscure biography on Henry Dodge written by the prolific post-BHW writer and BHW veteran Peter Parkinson, Jr. PPJ wrote with great feeling and obvious personal affection for Dodge. Beyond that, he provided insights into the "man," and what he considered to be Dodge's most profound strength-- his ability to relate to his fellow men, in short to "know" them.
It is quite clear that Dodge won great support from the region's lead diggers in part for his audacity, in part from his charisma, and in no little part because he was one of them and lived like them. Unlike some of the region's smelter operators, Dodge lived simply in a single story cabin with his spouse Christiana and thirteen children.
And... Dodge was personally generous. Never a wealthy man throughout his entire life, Dodge nevertheless followed the "miner's code" and took in travellers or lost souls ranging through the territory, and refused payment for his hospitality. It was Dodge himself who arranged for supplies, munitions, and most importantly food for the forts and settlements of the Michigan Territory during the Black Hawk War, giving bond to providers like John Atchinson of Galena on his word alone. Dodge was also credited with ensuring that his militia volunteers recieved the payment due them from the government (despite the account to the contrary offered by Lieutenant Magoon!)
Dodge's litany of life achievements is both long and impressive. Here is just a sampling: former sheriff, militia captain, militia brigadier general, militia major-general, militia colonel, lead smelter, Major in the U. S. Army, explorer of the Western Frontier, territorial magistrate, territorial governor, United States Senator for multiple terms...and... (dare I say it?)... the principal figure in the defeat of Black Hawk and his band.
Dodge in his lifetime was well-known and universally applauded by American society... a fact PPJ went to lengths to explain in his biography. Even Black Hawk reportedly credited the American success against him in part to the contributions of "Old Hairy Face."
Unfortunately, revisionist history and video products like "The Rush for Grey Gold" have done a good job of relegating "the Old Roman" to the contemptable status of "squatter," "slaver" and "Indian killer"... along with the obligatory single comment on the "sore-shinned Regulars." Using cherry-picked arguements, I suppose one could build a case that our Blessed Lord was wicked for driving out otherwise well-meaning businessmen from the Temple marketplace with a whip of cords!
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Cliff Krainik
Member
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS LIFTED THE TOPKNOTS OF THE LONG KNIVES
Posts: 233
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Post by Cliff Krainik on Oct 24, 2003 10:32:47 GMT -5
Thoroughly enjoyed your assessment of Henry Dodge - I see you have placed him in good company as well.
Can you furnish the complete bibliographic reference for the "reasonably obscure biography on Henry Dodge written by the prolific post-BHW writer and BHW veteran Peter Parkinson, Jr."
Thanks for your posting.
Cliff Krainik
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Oct 26, 2003 21:35:24 GMT -5
No matter what endearing nicknames are given Dodge, resume points listed or enamored dissertation on his life we are still left with the sobering facts of his demeanor and despicable record as a "bully on the block."
I was hoping that someone well informed on the Illinois Militia would have jumped into this thread by this time to defend the favorite son of Illinois, James D. Henry against the statement that Dodge was the principal figure in the defeat of Black Hawk and his band.
Regardless, a debate for a honor and glory winner in the BHW would prove nothing. At the end of the day Black Hawk defeated himself by miscalculations and trust in others.
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Post by Robert Braun on Oct 29, 2003 11:24:41 GMT -5
Cliff... regarding your request for citation:
Peter Parkinson, Jr. "Henry Dodge." History of Iowa County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Hisotrical Society, 1881, pp. 602-609.
Larry... regarding your observations:
We have traded discussion points on your assertion that Dodge was "the bully on the block" in previous threads. I have shown with many examples in various threads that he was regarded by his contemporaries and peers as "Dodge, the 'Old Roman'" not "Dodge the Perfect."
I contend that a majority of modern writings and video protrayals including the "Rush for Grey Gold" have cherry-picked a few negative features regarding Dodge (and only Dodge) and use these to bolster their pro-Black Hawk stance.
The record does not indicate that Dodge, in his dealings with his contemporaries maintained an intrisically harsh, bullying, or otherwise barbarous nature.
Indeed... quite the opposite. Peter Parkinson, who didn't just know Dodge, but campaigned with him, camped with him, ate meals with him and spoke with him at length on a variety of topics, indicated that Dodge's forte was his ability to size up and "know" men. By all accounts, particularly Parkinson's, this quality was regarded as a strength, not a weakness.
In conclusion, I thouroughly agree with Larry's observation that Black Hawk, led to believe certain things from Ne-a-pope, Wabokeshek, and others, himself made many poor decisions and hence became the chief author of his own demise.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Nov 1, 2003 8:28:42 GMT -5
A good portion of this thread is missing... What happended to the dissertation on "squatter," "slaver," and "Indian killer?"
Was it edited out or was it a mere computer glitch?
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Post by Robert Braun on Nov 1, 2003 12:42:01 GMT -5
I edited the material, as it has been pointed out that I occasionally repeat items previously mentioned in other posts. Upon consideration, it would appear that this was the case here. If a re-post is desired, I would be happy to accomodate. Regards, Bob.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Nov 2, 2003 18:12:57 GMT -5
I for one, would like to see a re-post of your talking point bullets. They were interesting and well done... no matter if the subject was covered elsewhere. You were making a case and your arguements were approriate for the thread.
Bob, I believe it was you that stated there was nothing wrong with going over "plowed ground" from time to time and I agree.
The best to you...
Larry Koschkee
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Post by Mike Thorson on Nov 3, 2003 10:22:01 GMT -5
I for one, would like to see a re-post of your talking point bullets. They were interesting and well done... no matter if the subject was covered elsewhere. You were making a case and your arguements were approriate for the thread. Bob, I believe it was you that stated there was nothing wrong with going over "plowed ground" from time to time and I agree. The best to you... Larry Koschkee I agree - don't worry about "repeating yourself" when making a point relating to the topic. So to reiterate it's ok to repeat yourself. Finally it's fine to make your identical point in different places...... sometimes I think I'm funny.
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Post by Robert Braun on Nov 12, 2003 9:41:04 GMT -5
In daring to "defame" a sacred son of Illinois, in the person of John D. Henry, I present my source from the WHS Collection: "The Dodge-Henry Controversy" by Dr. William T. Hagan.
Dr. Hagan concluded his monograph thusly:
And... just in case casual readers of this thread might thing Dr. Hagan is some whole-cloth Dodge apologist, it is worthy to note that he is a foremost authority and scholar on native Indians, and wrote many books on the subject. He is the author of what may well be THE definative work on the Sauk and Fox, entitled The Sac and Fox Indians and published by the University of Oklahoma Press.
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Post by Robert Braun on Nov 17, 2003 12:23:51 GMT -5
The clear indication from video epics like the "Rush for Grey Gold" is that Henry Dodge was a "slaver," "Squatter," and "indian killer." I have been asked to restore my previous points regarding these assessments, and will attempt to do so in this post.
Dodge the "slaver"-- The Ordnance of the Northwest Territory prohibited slaves and slavery, yet Dodge, and certainly other emigrants to the Lead Region, brought a quantity of Negro slaves with him. Mindful of the moral outrage of slavery, the practice was not only legal, but common and widespread throughout the states and territories, even in the Old Northwest. There is no indication from the record that Dodge mistreated his slaves; indeed his manumition of his remaining slaves predated a majority of his fellow Southerners. As late as the early Twentieth Century, newspapers reported the descendants of some of the slave or former slave families brought by Dodge to what is now land south of present day Dodgeville, still living in the vicinity of Dodge's former homestead. This could mean many things, not the least of which would be an indication of Dodge's treatment of his former slaves in awarding, along with manumition, land for settlement and subsistence.
Dodge the "squatter"-- The record clearly suggests that Dodge, along with other lead diggers like the Gratiots, Thomas Parish, Ebenezer Brigham and others, emigrated into Winnebago country to dig mineral. The available record indicates that in Dodge's case, he cut a deal with local Winnebagos, for permission to dig and process lead. This deal involved an exchange of value, much the same as the deal cut by the Gratiots. Yet no historical commentator today calls the Gratiots "squatters!" We are informed that Joseph Street, the Indian Agent from Prairie du Chein, responded to complaints from local Winnebago by visiting Dodge in early February 1828. Street reported his findings in a letter... giving every indication that Dodge intedned to stay. HOWEVER... here the trail gets fuzzy. There are accoutns that indicate Dodge replyed ewith the "sore-shinned Regulars" remark, and another that indicated Dodge's intention to peacibly remove. Clearly, Dodge did not remove on his own. Neither is is clear to me that Dodge actually SAID the "sore-shinned Regulars" remark in a public venue (it is pretty clear he made the remark in private, at least to Peter Parkinson, Jr., or within his hearing.) Finally, the U. S. Government had the ability to remove Dodge at any point over a five year timeline. It did not exercise its authority. Why?
Dodge the "Indian killer-- There seems little doubt from Dodge's elevation to militia commander during the Winnebago War of 1827 that Dodge had a formadible reputation as an Indian fighter-- a reputation Dodge himself did not deny. How he achieved that reputation prior to the Black Hawk War is cloudy. The major indian incident of his past-- the saving of the Miamis people in 1814-- was not well-received by the settlers in Missouri. "...for a long time General Dodge, by his magnanimous conduct on that occasion, was non popular in the Booneslick country." (per History of Missouri by Louis Houck, p. 123. In point of fact, it appears the only indan Dodge killed personally may well have been the principal warrior at the "Battle of Pecatonica," June 16, 1832. If Dodge was such an "indian killer," he would have been a poor choice indeed to send west to broker agreements with the great Indian nations of the western plains in 1833-1835. Such a formidible reputation could easily have worked against him-- as the Comanche alone could have easily wiped out Dodge and his dragoon command in 1834.
In cherry-picking issues that resonate among modern readers, today's authors have done a good job in sullying the reputation of one of the truly fascinating leaders of antebellum America. Instead, a thoughful analysis of the insights presented by persons who knew Dodge-- who worked with him, marched with him, lived with him, and ate at his table-- present a picture of a complex, yet straight-forward personality. A man who "knew men," and could lead them with elan, charisma, and a "follow me and do as I do" nature.
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Post by pshrake on Nov 17, 2003 13:35:44 GMT -5
Bob,
You mention-
"Street reported his findings in a letter... giving every indication that Dodge intedned to stay. HOWEVER... here the trail gets fuzzy. There are accoutns that indicate Dodge replyed ewith the "sore-shinned Regulars" remark, and another that indicated Dodge's intention to peacibly remove. Clearly, Dodge did not remove on his own. Neither is is clear to me that Dodge actually SAID the "sore-shinned Regulars" remark in a public venue (it is pretty clear he made the remark in private, at least to Peter Parkinson, Jr., or within his hearing.) Finally, the U. S. Government had the ability to remove Dodge at any point over a five year timeline. It did not exercise its authority. Why?" -
I still contend that Dodge was a squatter on HoChunk lands. I base this on the principle that a private citizen of the United States did not have the authority to negotiate a seperate deal with any tribe. This was a right reserved solely for the federal government.
This issue of squatting really revolves not around 5 years but rather around two specific years, 1826 and 1827. By 1826, the Army had been downgrading the nearest post, Fort Crawford to the point where the garrison was ultimately removed. This left the garrisons at Fort Armstrong, or Fort Snelling as the only real federal military power in the upper Mississippi River Valley. Both garrisons were either too small or too far away to help in this manner to any real effect.
After 1827, several treaties were negotiated that essentialy made the matter moot. In 1827 General Atkinson imposed a treaty on the leaders of the tribe at the portage where the HoChunk agreed to allow miners onto thier property and promised not to attack or harm them in any way. This promise was again repeated in 1828, in a treaty at Green Bay. In 1829 the federal government successfully acquired all of HoChunk lands south of the Wisconsin and west of what is now Madison.
So the 5 year window you refer to really did not exist. Within the 2 years that of 1826 and 1827 I would contend that the army was to weak to enforce Dodges removal. Whereas this does not excuse the Army nor the federal government from its responsibilites, neither does it excuse Dodge from wandering into territory he did not belong. Given the heightened tensions of the period I still maintain that it was dangerous for Dodge to move into the HoChunk lands.
Pete Shrake
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Post by Robert Braun on Nov 17, 2003 15:25:41 GMT -5
You make some interesting points here, Pete.
Some questions for your kind consideration...
1. If, say in 1827, a Prairie du Chien fur trader travelling through Winnebago land negotiates a deal for "x" amount of goods in return for "y" amount of furs, are you saying that he does not have the legal power to do this?
2. Where did the soldiers come from that burned out the signers of the "Miner's Pact"-- digging on land west of the Mississippi in present-day Iowa prior to treaties that secured this land?
There seems little doubt but tha the Gratiots did exactly the same thing Dodge did, and much earlier, too. However, noone today claims that the Gratiots were squatters. So apparently did Brigham, Parish, and certainly dozens of others. Noone holds these folks out for derision as Anglo "interlopers." Taken to the next level, Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines "squatter" as "In the United States, one that settles on new land without a title." Since land in the Mineral District could only be mined via license, and no title could be initially obtained, EVERYONE erecting a home in the Mineral District was by Mr. Webster's definition a squatter. These laws apparently did not apply in Indian territory, into which Dodge apparently purchased a right-of way.
If this was, as you have stated, a "dangerous thing" for Dodge to do... it would appear his single action was dwarfed by the activities already going on in the region. Clearly the U. S. Government had an enforcement problem.
I contend that Atkinson appears to have had no problem dispatching troops when the situation warranted. A major potential blow-up with the Winnebago impresses me as a situation worthy of Federal intervention. Mr. Street saw the situation at Dodge's Camp firsthand... why didn't he demand the kind of action that Atkinson's previous, and certainly future, actions proved he could and would do?
As we have discussed elsewhere, it sure looks like the lack of ability or will to enforce a policy means "there is no policy."
Bob.
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Post by Larry Koschkee on Nov 17, 2003 17:42:08 GMT -5
This thread is taking a few twist and turns. I have followed the comments intently and what started as a few notes jotted down are building to pages. To help me understand the position taken on tribual land encroachment by Dodge and others I would present two questions to Mr. Braun... Do you condone the anarchy exhibited by Dodge and others in the 1820s and 1830s? Are we not a nation of laws... then and now?
Larry K.
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Post by Robert Braun on Nov 17, 2003 23:00:45 GMT -5
Hmmm.... I seem to have touched a nerve with this discourse. Dare I say that the major objection to Henry Dodge has apparently emerged? That being: Dodge had the temerity to venture onto Indian land?
I am reminded of the objections raised by Southerners during the American Civil War, when General Benjamin Butler seized property in the guise of slaves and termed them "contraband of war." They complained that such siezures were illegal under Federal law. General Butler replied that such laws did not apply within the confines of a foreign country--- which the Confederacy claimed to be!
Perhaps one of the reasons Dodge ventured to broker his own deal with local Winnebago was because he believed in his own mind that once in Winnebago country he would be outside of Federal jurisdiction... and the oversight of the Army Bureau of Ordnance which governed the digging of lead in the region.
Regards, Bob.
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Cliff Krainik
Member
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS LIFTED THE TOPKNOTS OF THE LONG KNIVES
Posts: 233
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Post by Cliff Krainik on Nov 17, 2003 23:19:02 GMT -5
"The Old Lead Miner Digs Himself in Deeper."
Comparing General Benjamin Butler's thieving seizure of southern property during the Late Unpleasantness with Henry Dodge's occupation of Winnebago Land does not bolster Dodge's position. Butler was known as "Spoons Butler" and "Beast Butler" in New Orleans for good reason.
Best look for another historical example - William Sherman perhaps?
Cliff in Warrenton, Virginia
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