Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-09-14
From the Albany Examiner.
BATTLE OF PECATOLICA.

-
AT the Blue Mounds here commences
orr extract from the Examiner the inha-
btants fled TO their strongly fortified fast
ness, upon the first clearly ascertaincd ag
gccssion in their vicinity. This place of
refuge was called the Mound Fort, and is
still standing; it commanded a Wow Of the
country for at least a mile in every drec-
ton, and could not easily be surprised
Here congrcgated about twenty-seven ia
miles, the females Of which were constant
ly IN the greatest distress and terror Of
mind, from fear Of an attack by the Ind-
ans. To allay this feeling, and to show
them that they were in perfect security,
two of the males volunteered to ride over
the prairie and back. They sailed forth
and curyettcd their horses in several d.
rections, until they were about half a mile
distant from the fort, when they were ircd
upon by a party Of Indians, who arose from
among the grass in small ravine along
the margin of which they were passing
One was killed instantly; the other rode
for a small strip Of timber, where he was
met by another party, and likewise lost his
life. A sortie was made from the fort,
visible but too late the Indians had cs-
capped. What added to the horror Of this
tragic occurrence was the fact that they had
families in the fort. They were buried
where they fell. This outrage but added
new fuel to the already excited imagination
Of the settlers.
From certain signs obsorvcd,i it was fully
believed that hostile band Of Indians were
lurking in the vicinity Of Mineral Point,
awaiting a favorable opportunity to COM
pcte their holish purpose Of massacre and
plumber. Bat there were noble and daring
hearts to oppose them. Men who dared to
face danger in every shape. Early one
morning three Of these daring spirits noun
ted their horses to go and alarm the set
tiers, and raise a party to go against the
skulking murdcress. They were at full
gaIop riding over the prairie and just near
ing cope Of wood, through which their
road lay, when one Of tho party remarked
that he knew another path, or trail, few
rods back. that led through ravne around
the wood, which they had better pursue.
They turned their horses, and under his
guidance soon passed the wood, emerging
IN the main path again. Here they met
horseman, coming from the opposite d.
rection, whom they stopt and invited to Join
with them in their contemplated expedition,
which he promised to do at the general
rendezvous. They had separated but few
moments, the single equestrian having pass
cd into the wood, when the sharp report Of
several rifles rang upon the ears Of the
thrco friends, causing them Involuntary
10 halt and cast an anxious gaze toward the
wood. In an instant the horse OF their
late companion came bounding from the
wood without its rider. The fate of the
unfortunate man was read at glance, and
their own narrow escape fully comprehen-
drd With this new cause for haste, they
rode with rcdoublcd speed from place to
place. until they had collected a party Of
aboutthirty.all mounted and heavily armed;
each man carrying two pieces, one slung
on the back and the other carried in the
hand. Several Of these pieces were double
barrels, and many Of the party, in addition
to these weapons, had either pistol or
knife stuck in their belts.
The first movement was to cleo. Il lead
cr. This Office was conferred upon man
who had been IN many a brush with the In
dians before, in other parts Of the country,
and who was Intimately acquainted with
their peculiar mode OF warfare. They then
set out for the wood where, as anticipated,
they found the body Of their murdered
friend, scalped; but no Indians were to be
discovered They consigned the body TO
hastily dug grave, over which they vowed
to avcngo the untimely murLer Of their
friend. The party now set forth in pursuit,
in the direction they supposed the Indians
had taken. They pursued their way until
they came 10 the lesser branch Of the Pee
atoIica river, the banks oC which they care
fully examined for some distance, when
their leader declared that he was satisfied
that they were upon the right trail, and
that they should fnd them at the main
branch Of the river, which be felt confident,
from his knowledge Of the Indian charac-
ter, they would be in no haste 10 cross,
from fnncying themselves in no danger Of
pursuit. The party now put forward
for the main branch Of the river, along
which they sought their prey until late in
the afternoon. At length they came in sight
Of a high bluff, at place where The river
took a turn to the left, distant from them
only few hundred rods, when the leader
ordered a halt and directed them to dis
mount