Last Battle of Black Hawk War

[Larry Koschkee]

In another thread "Cassville's Picket Station" Mr. Pete Shrake asked the whereabouts of the Cassville battlesite. This would be the last skirmish or battle of the BHW and took place in Grant County, WI. In that thread I cited that on the 4th of August, 1832 Capt. Price and fifteen men from the Cassville fort encountered some Sauk stragglers between Cassville and the Wisconsin River, "killed and took prisoners to the number of twelve."... However this did not answer Pete's question because there were no Menominee Indians involved.

Samuel Druen, a member of Capt. Price's company gave an account of the last battle...

The next time Capt. Price's scouting party went out two men split off the group to retrieve a brass kettle that got left behind during the last skirmish. They did not find it but found a Indian trail and located a place where they had camped. "This was four or five miles northeast of the Old Blake place." The two men returned to the scouting party and persuaded the officers to follow the trail....

"They soon came upon very fresh signs, and held a council to see if they should attack the savages. There were eighteen horses in their party, but they did not make so large a trail as the Indians, so they concluded they would send for help. In three or four days two or three hundred Menominee Indians came to their assistance, but when they got to Blake's place the enemy had gone on. The scouting party followed them. After while they heard the report of a gun. This was between Blake's and Cassville. They hurried up, and came upon a body of Indians, who were soon all killed, taken prisoners, or put to flight."

Col. Samuel C. Stambaugh had brought the Menominee Indians into the BHW fight from Green Bay. Among this group were some members of the famous trader family of Grignon. In "Grignon's Recollections" published in the Wisconsin Historical Collections the last battle is described as follows:

"From Co.. Wm. S. Hamilton we learned, at Prairie du Chien, that a trail of Sauks had been discovered down the river. Fully one half of our party, with Geo. Grignon and Wm. Powell, remained at Prairie du Chien, while Oshkosh, I-om-e-tah, Souligny, Carron, Pe-wau-te-not, with their warriors, proceeded (from Prairie du Chien) by land accompanied by Col. Hamilton. We stopped at Brunet's Ferry, on the Wisconsin, and started early the next morning, and about noon struck the Sauk trail, and pursued it till the sun was about an hour and a half high, when we discovered the smoke of the Indians encamped in a low spot beside a small stream (Rattle Snake Creek) in the prairie.

There were only two men, and a youth about twelve years old, three or four women, and as many more children. We at once surrounded them, and rushed upon them, with orders to take them prisoners; but the Menominees were fierce for a fight and killed the two men and took the others prisoners....

This little affair occurred not far back from the Mississippi, and some ten or fifteen miles north of Cassville; Col. Hamilton participated in it."

Blake's place located on what was known then and now as Blake's Prairie is mentioned as a reference point for the August battle. It was located at the South-east Quarter of Section 17 T.5N. R. 5 W.

I would suggest the last battle took place in the vicinity of the un-incorporated village or cross-roads (on Rattle Snake Creek) called North Andover (Section 16 of Glen Haven Township, WI); which is "between Blake's and Cassville."

1881 History of Grant County, p. 468

1900 History of Grant County pp. 268-269

Wisconsin Historical Collections Vol. III, pp. 293-295

Proceedings of the Wisconsin Historical Society, 1912, p. 165

[pshrake]

Truely first rate research Larrry! Thank you, I think you have solved a long standing question for me!

The role of the Menominee in the Black Hawk War has always intreagued me. I had come upon it some time ago when I was doing research on Samuel Stambaugh and the Menominee treaty of 1831. Later I came across a batch of papers related to the Menominee Campaign in the correspondance of George Boyd the Indian Agent at Green Bay in 1832. In there there is the report of Stambaugh, including, I believe, an account of the action at Cassville.

Unfortunately I do not have the papers with me at the moment, but will dig them up and transcribe Stambaughs account for those who are interested.

The Role of the Menominee in the war is intreagueing, the fact that one tribe would serve on behalf of the U.S. against another tribe.

It seems that the Menominee were using the war to gain revenge against the Sauks who had committed a rather brutal murder of a number of thier tribe in the mid to late 1820's

Now I guess I will have to take a road trip to Cassville this winter before the snow flied and find that spot!

Thanks Larry!!


Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

Pete... I for one would like to see Col. Stambaugh's account to corroborate the research on this thread.

Will look forward to it.

Thanks...

Larry

[Larry Koschkee]

A few additional references to this incident...

Dr. Peter L. Scanlan did some research on the same topic of this thread and published it in his book PRAIRIE DU CHIEN: French-British-American, 1937, publ. Geo Banta Co, Menasha, WI

..."Meanwhile, a few escaped into Grant County and were captured by Col. Samuel C. Stambaugh who, with a few Menominee, pursued them. About eight miles from Cassville, August 10 [9?], he killed two and captured eight. While Stambaugh was bringing his prisoners to Prairie du Chien, some Menominee squaws, remembering the Menominee massacre of the year before, concealed weapons and attempted to kill the prisoners.

The GALENA GAZETTE credited Capt. Elu Price of the Cassville volunteers with capturing these Indians, but he evidently had no hand in the capture or he would have said so in the report he sent from Cassville to Gen. Scott August 14. In this he asked that he and his men be mustered out. He said that he had met the Menominee under Stambaugh who had killed two men and taken eight prissoners, all women except one boy, 17."

Scanlan's resources were the GALENA GAZETTE, August [?], 1832 and Adjutant General Office, Washington, DC "Letters"... letter of Stambaugh dated at Cassville, August 11, 1832 and letter of Price dated at Cassville, August 14, 1832.

[pshrake]

I am embarrased to admit, I never thought of looking into Scanaln's book. It has been quite helpful in my research on Red Bird, and Scanlan's research in general helped me find the site of the Gagnier homestead but I never though about looking at it for info on Cassville.

A interesting possible resource everyone might be interested in looking at is Scanaln's research notes in the Area Research Center in the U.W. Plattville library. They are an extension of the State Historical Society and as such have a nice collection of original material relating to south western Wisconsin. Scanlan's papers there take up 11 boxes of material and include such things like the transcription of papers of Nicholas Boilvin the longtime Indian Agent at Prairie du Chien who largely corresponded in french. Platteville is not that far away from me so I have had the oportunity to go there semi regularly. I guess I will have to go there again soon and see what Scanlans papers have on Cassville.

Thanks again Larry!


I am still digging amongst my papers for Stambaughts report, I will post it ASAP

[Robert Braun]

I ran across the account in Butterfield's History of Iowa County and could not place the date of the encounter... until now. He wrote:

Fully one half of our party, with George Grignon and William Powell, remained at Prairie du Chein, while Oshkosh, Iometah, Souligny, Carau, and Pemautenot, with their warriors, proceeded by land, accompanied by Col Hamilton. We stopped at Bennett's Ferry, on the Wisconsin River, and started early the next morning, and, about noon, struck the Sauk trail. We pursued it until the sun was about an hour and a half high, when we discovered the smoke of the Indians encamped on a low spot beside a stream, on the prairie. There were only two men and a youth about 12 years old, three or four women, and as many children. We at once surrounded them and rushed upon them, with orders to take them prisoner, but the Menomomee were fierce for a fight, and killed the two men, and took the rest prisoner. They fired a volley at the two Sauks, and when they fell, they were riddled with bullets by those coming up, who wished to chare in the honor (?) [punctuation original]of having participated in the fight. In the melee one of the children was wounded and died the next the day. Lieut. Robert Grignon was badley wounded in the side with buckshot, which, coursing around the back, lodged. He thought he was shot by the Indian lad, but I think it quite as likely to have been some of our own party, firing, as they were in every direction. This little affair occured not far back from the Mississippi, some ten or twelve miles north of Cassville. Col. Hamilton participated in it.

We camped on the battleground that night, and the next day went to Cassville, carrying Robert Grignon on a litter, and thence to Prairie du Chein he was conveyed in a canoe, while we returned by land. We delivered the prisoners at Prairie du Chein; we had to leave Robert Grignon there, as the shot could not be extracted and he was not able to return until autumn. We commenced our return home in three days, and nothing happened on our march worthy of note.

Unfortunately, no mention of Captain Glendower M. Price or his men. Grignon seems to place the issue of the firing on the Menomonee... although the wounding of Lieutenant Grignon with buckshot may suggest otherwise.

[pshrake]

Last Tuesday I was again in Stevens Point and was able to relocate, what is basically, the official record of the Menominee Indians in the Black Hawk War. It is a series of reports, correspondance, and conversation notes, made to and collected by George Boyd, the Indian Agent at Green Bay. Several parts of these documents were reprinted in the Wisconsin Historical Collections under the title "George Boyd Papers." Hovever, significant pieces of the collection were left out including the report of Col. Samuel C. Stambaugh, the commander of the Menominee battalion.

Below is taken directly from Stambaugh's report made to Boyd, and is dated August 18, 1832. I have transcribed it directly from the original handwritten report, as found on microfilm. Stambaugh has a somewhat peculiar sense of style. Any errors made, should a comparrison be made with the original, are mine.


TEXT
Pete Shrake

[pshrake]

Ok We will try this again, here is Stambaugh's report....


"At 11 o’clock A.M. of the day of the 18th inst, we struck the trail of the Sacs. We made three of their encampments within a few hours, every one exhibiting signs of habitation more fresh than the last gave new life to the movement of the Menominies. The Officers could scarcely keep pace with them, on horseback. At 6 o’clock in the evening our spies who had kept a short distance in advance returned and reported that the enemy were about encamping for the night in a deep ravine at a distance of about half a mile in our front.

I gave orders for the immediate capture of the party, which were carried into with great alacrity by the officers and warriors. The Menominies prepared themselves for War in there own way, by stripping all their clothes from the body and greasing & painting their skin, with which of course I did not interfere. In speaking with them however on this occasion, I made an earnest & solemn appeal in favor of the women & children who might be found in with the party they were about to attack. As we had ascertained the enemy to be so inferior to ours in numbers, and so poor and helpless in condition, I endeavored to convince the Menominies that the greatest honor would consist in taking them prisoners which could be done with out risk, and which would me most satisfactory to the Comg. General - all the same time I gave them permission to kill any men with army in their hands – but the women and children must be saved under all circumstances. I feel happy in being able to inform you that my orders were strictly obeyed. Two warriors were shot down, who attempted to escape - they both had guns; one very old squaw – two middle aged do- four children & a young fellow about 16 years of age were taken prisoners. There were ten individuals of the party – none escaped. They had three guns with them one of which was a very fine rifle.

I am sorry to inform you that Lieut. R Grignon was accidentally wounded in the shoulder by a fire from our own people, in imprudently running towards the prisoners before the firing as the Sac men had ceased. He was very early the next morning taken to Cassville and no surgical aid being at that place I had him sent up the Mississippi to Prairie du Chien in a canoe where he is now under the care of the surgeon of the garrison and doing well. A buckshot also accidentally struck one of the Sac children about a year old, and wounded it so severely that it died the next morning - no surgical aid could be obtained in time to render any assistance. Capt. Price of Cassville with this company of mounted men came in sight just as the prisoners were brought to me. He had started that morning in pursuit of the same party & had struck and followed our trail for the last two hours. We encamped on this spot for the night, and the next morning marched to Cassville a distance of about eight miles. A salute was fired from the fort erected at this place and we were otherwise received and treated with much attention and hospitality by Capt. Price and the Citizen Soldiers garrisoned at that place, in self defense."


Pete Shrake

[mikefry]

Have you found any records of who the Sauk survivors were and what became of them, or who the members of the troop were involved in the Last Battle of the Blackhawk Wars were?
I'm interested in the Sauk survivors mostly. Can you help me?
Thanks for your good research. It's very enlightening.

[Robert Braun]

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[pshrake]

I have not yet uncovered any records that listed the names of the prisoners taken or the Sauk killed at Cassville. I speculate that given the circumstances a roll of the survivors were not taken down.

I do know that the prisoners were taken by Stambaugh and his command to Prairie du Chien where they were turned over to the Regular army at Fort Crawford.

As to the "troop," I am assuming you refer to the Menominee Indians, In this case there may be some information forthcoming. I have recently found information that indicates that in the Henry Baird Papers in the SHSW there exists a muster roll for the two companies of Menominee warriors who served under Stambaugh. I have not been able to get to Madison since I discovered this, but as soon as I have a list, I can post it here.

Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

The names of the Sauk survivors may be among the prisoner rolls created at Rock Island in August of 1832. These rolls can be researched in Ellen Whitney's The Black Hawk War 1831-1832, Vol II, part II, pp 1059 - 1064.

Samuel C. Stambaugh wrote to General Winfield Scott from Prairie du Chien on August 13, 1832.

Sir, I have to day, delivered into the hands of the Commanding officer of this post, seven Sac prisoners, taken by the Menominee Warriors under my command, on the 10th, inst. near Cassville, and one taken on the Wisconsin, as I have already advised you - for the purpose of having them conveyed to Rock Island by the Steam Boat Warrior, now in Port.

One of the prisoners was a niece of a principal chief of the Sac nation. This is what Stambaugh had to say about it: Enclosed you will receive a paper, purporting to be a Speech or Talk made to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Sac nation, B Govr. Provost, in 1814. I found it in the possession of an old Squaw, (who you will find among the prisoners,) in the morning after I took them. The old woman appeared much distressed when I took it from her. She said she did not know it was a bad paper - that she had received it from her uncle, Me-shen-o-way, a principal chief of the Sac nation, to whom it was given at Quebec, eighteen years ago...

[Cliff Krainik]

Larry,

Can you provide driving / walking directions to the site of the Last Battle of Black Hawk War in Grant County, Wisconsin.

Thanks.

Cliff Krainik

[Larry Koschkee]

Cliff,

I have not been able to determine the exact location of the battle site, only speculation of general vicinity, which I suggested in this thread would be near North Andover, Wisconsin along Rattle Snake Creek.

With the assistance of a General Land Office Survey Map and the 1839 David Dale Owen 1839 Map Of Southwestern Wisconsin Page Blake's homestead site was verified. This northern reference point and Cassville as the southern reference point, Mr. Will Storrs and I plotted various courses and distances to concur with the mileages given in the historical accounts. Topography was researched and explored on the ground during two different day trips in the region.

Our determination was compared with the investigation done by Mr. Jon Angeli, President of Grant County Historical Society, who also places the battle site in the vicinity of North Andover.

Sorry, I can not be more specific.

Larry

[Cliff Krainik]

Larry,

Thank you for the information. You did some great research and field work. I appreciate your efforts.

Cliff