two Koshkenongs?

[Peter Shrake]

In my research on Red Bird's War I came across a reference to a fort the HoChunk had build at Koshkenong in 1828. There is some evidence in Mark Diedrich's book "HoChunk Chiefs" that indiacte that this fort was built by elements of the Rock River band of that tribe. It was built in reaction to the new influx of miners onto HoChunk territory in the rather tense days following Red Birds death in January of 28 and before the signing of the Treaty of 1828. There was some talk amongst a number of miners of going to attack the site, not only because it posed a potenital threat but because it was rumored that it was a site rich in lead deposits. But nothing came of it.

The story is a great illustration of the tense nature of the Wisconsin Frontier imediately following the Red Bird attacks of 1827.

My question is, were there two Kosh-ke-nongs in Wisconsin? I know of the lake that is now Fort Atkinson, but does anyone know of a reference to a second location of the same name. I ask this because somewhere in my mind I thought I had heard this but have not been able to verify it. The fact that the miners were interested in the site as a possible location for mining operations leads me to think that it could not have been in reference to fort Atkinson which As far As I know is out of any lead production area.

Can any one help?

Pete

[Greg Carter]

I wasn't aware that the tribes in the MT were into erecting fixed fortifications. Interesting query.

GMC

[Peter Shrake]

I found it pretty supprising too.

I came across it in the correspondance of William Clark, Superintendant of Indian Affairs out of St. Louis. In the spring and early summer of 1828 He had been recieving reports from his Indian Agents in the field Joseph Street and William Forsyth about the growing agitation of the HoChunk. He wrote the Secretary of War relaying his concerns about the state of the Wisconsin Frontier and forewarded copies of letters from Street and Forsyth that mention the fort specifically and the response of the miners.

The only other instance I had ever heard of a Indian Fort was in a late 19th century photograph showing the "ruins" of a "Winnebago Fort" I do not know if the both refer to the same thing or not. I also have not been able to determine what happened to the HoChunk Fort at Koshkenong.

Pete