How did they navigate?

[Robert Braun]

Readings of mobile units like Stephenson's ranger company from Galena and Dodge's Michigan Mounted Volunteers indicates an amazing ability to accurately navigae throughout northwestern Illinois and the southwestern Michigan Territory.

This had to be no easy feat. With so few established roads and only some worn Indian trails, it begs the question as to how these militia companies could navigate...and do so accurately.

Any thoughts as to how Stephenson, Dodge, and others were able to do it?

r.

[Gene]

I wondered the same thing as I was walking the Wisconsin Heights battlefield, (and other battlefields for that matter). My guess is they must have utilized multiple resources, including: indian guides, terrain references, celestial navigation and some map useage, though maps back then must have been pretty crude.

[Robert Braun]

I think your'e on to something, Gene. Both Black Hawk and Henry/Dodge used Winnebago guides on the march from the Rock River Rapids area and on throught to Wisconsin Heights.

But how did Dodge, or whomever, navigate from Wisconsin Heights to Mound Fort two days after the battle? Their guides had left them when the battle ended...

[Pete Shrake]

A survey of available maps in the collections of the State historical Society of Wisconsin might give a clue as to how many and what quality of maps were available at the time. I also know that maps were sometimes available from local experts. For example, in my research into the Red Bird War I found a copy of a hand drawn map of southern Wisconsin dated 1827 drawn by Joseph Street, Indian Agent at Prairie du Chien.

I also know that a semi detailed map of Wisconsin was made in around 1829. I came across it several years ago in relation to research on the Menominee Treaty of 1831. A section of "Farmers Map" as it was called was copied for comissioners then at work with the Menominee in 1830. A portion of this map was reproduced as a poster by the SHSW wich gave it the date of 1829.

There was also the now well know Chandlers map of the lead region. Now, it is safe to state that Chandlers map is to general to be of much use, but it illustrates the point that there were map makers roaming the area at least 5 years prior to the Black Hawk War.

I feel safe in stating that there were probably several maps, not a lot but several, that were made by government officials most notably Indian Agents and the U.S. Army which had a continuous presence in Wisconsin since 1816.

It is possible that Dodge and other militia leaders were aware of these maps and had the capability of making copies of them. This coupled with the general knowledge they, or individuals in thier commands, might have had would have enabled leaders to navigate the territitory with reasonable accuracy.

Pete

[Gene]

Another thought: Depending on how well the area was settled, they could have gotten information from local white inhabitants.

When my G,G,G Grand-dad left Prarie Du Chein, he owed the government a horse. I often wondered how he got home...must have been one long trek, not to mention getting lost along the way.

[Larry Koschkee]

Several good points have already been made giving an indication that the Military were not just wandering around in the wilderness, with or without Indian guides. With the exception of the territory north of the Wisconsin River, the BHW campaign was conducted in relative open country that was dominated by prairie, oak openings and savannah landscape.  Landmarks could be seen for considerable distances.

Extensive regional map making was already under way prior to the BHW. Major Stephen Long's 1817 and 1823 expeditions through parts of southern Wisconsin resulted in a 1824 map that identified many of the major topographic features on and south of the Wisconsin/Fox riverways.

James Doty (the team leader in surveying and laying out the Military Road between forts Crawford and Howard) moved from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay in 1823.  Each year until 1830 his judgeship had required that a court session be held in May at Prairie du Chien and June at Green Bay.  He made this circuit by canoe and overland and began sketching maps of the region as early as 1825.  In 1829 he went from Green Bay to Mineral Point to hold court and sketched the route he traversed.

A friend of Doty, Ebenezer Brigham of Blue Mounds had traveled widely in the southwestern portion of the Territory and had driven a wagon from the mounds to Fort Winnebago over a route that was later followed by the Military Road Survey.

Lucius Lyon, another acquaintance and important land surveyor in the Territory had started surveying many locations in the southwest in 1828.  In 1831 he started laying out township lines from a "point of beginning" in Grant County.

Chandlers 1829 has already been mentioned.

Jefferson Davis, while stationed in Fort Winnebago,  wrote a detailed letter to quartermaster General Thomas S Jessup in 1831 describing the various routes to Green Bay, Prairie du Chien, Galena and Chicago.

In May of 1832 Lieutentant Alexander J. Center was on topographical detail based out of Ft Winnebago for construction of a road from the Illinois border to intersect near Blue Mounds with another road connecting Prairie du Chien with Green Bay.  Due to Black Hawk's activity this work was delayed for a time.

Most of this cartographic information of diverse quality most certainly would have been available to the military leaders of the time.

Robert Braun has queried the navigation abilities of Dodge from Wisconsin Heights to Mounds Fort with out the use of Indian Guides.  There are many theories one could address.

Dodge's route to the Wisconsin Heights battlefield would have crossed the well known Indian Trail or Portage Trace that originated at Brunet's Ferry (Bridgeport) on the Wisconsin River, continued east along what was to become known as Military Ridge, past Blue Mounds, just north of Lake Mendota and northeast on to the Portage.  He would have had the option to retrace his route to hit this trail.

A second option, if known, was to move southwest along the Wisconsin River a short distance out on to the prairie (Mazomanie Prairie) to strike the ancient, well known Indian trail that crossed the Wisconsin River at a place called High Banks (Shot Tower and Helena region) that went east to intersect with the Portage Trace.  By following this trail across the prairie west, first crossing the Black Earth Creek, then on to the Blue Mound Creek, south to the Mounds.

Larry

[Robert Braun]

Great post, Larry!

This is fascinating to me, as Dodge seems to be everywhere in the Lead Region at various points during the conflict, yet I never read about him using map or compass.

It just seems like he knows his way around, which for a raw and generally unsettled region, seems amazingly confident!

r.

[Gene]

One thing I did notice during my trip up to Elizabeth last weekend, was the fact that I could look out in the distance and pick out very distinctive land / terrain features, this area also has some very good high ground that a person could use  periodically during their movement to judge distances and location.

[Robert Braun]

Gene, I agree with you. The mounds are very distinctive features. This coupled with Larry's comments has answered my questions!

Thanks to all!  Bob.