Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-12-07
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From the Wisconsin Argus

FROM Jlt " lSCOUslu argus
WISCONSIN TWENTY YEARSAGO.
EGr[y Hags.-I1dian disttsrJanceg-5f-g per
H'anen. tosite settler ,githin tie hn1iis # Lane
C0uafy-Biue hounds Forf-2aclge a.assq-
cres-Eangk lgqr-l0cati0r Of 1fadtson, &C.,
&c.
The Incidents of the early settlement Of our
State, however unimportant in . national point
Of view, are worthy OF being treasured up Tor
the remembrance Of posterIty. But few IF
J those hardy and daring men who came into
the country many years in advance Of the
present population, now remain among US,
and the little circle is rapidly contracting. Il
belongs to this generation and our time TO col
lect together the personal history. experience,
and adventures of these worthy and veteran
pioneers, ard preserve It as a very essential
and interesting part Of our local annals.
One Of these earliest corners to the south
western part Of the State, was EBzaEzER
BRIGHAss, If Blue Mounds, the Oldest and TN
doubtedly tle first permanent settler within
the present limits of Dane County-a man Of
rare mcdesly, uRsuIlied reputation, possessing
4 strong and retentiye memory, and who Is
really living history of the " life and tines
Of the very first white settlers. We have
never been able to induce him to write ont
sketch OF these early times; but having got
H4bl lA>b DN lIlt DNklDI-nOlC q le" Q2VS since,
We took the occasion to jot down some items,
which We serve up in cur own way, III con
nectlou VITA other matters, trusting that more
complete details viii be obtained, Of whi-h he
has large fund, and that the reader will bear
IN mind the admonition he gave Us, uot to
make him she hero of the tale.
Mr. Brigham journeyed from W ore ester,
Mass, to st. Louis in 1918. The Upper
Mississippi countrywa then almost unknown.
Beyond the narrative of Pixies Expedition,
aud the somewhat vague reports Of hunters,
boatmen, and few lead diggers about Du-
buque, The public possessed no reliable infor-
nation, and felt little if any interest It was
regarded q q wild region filled with hostile
savages, aHd very few were willing to trust
themselves. among them. In 1922 Mr.. b.,
followed q the river on horseback, to the
present site Of Galena; the place then con-
sisted Of one log cabin, and second one com
menced, watch he assisted In Completing
Shortly after, he returned to Springfield, the
present capital of Illinois, and settled there.
the young city then containing four or five
cabins IL y he again returned TO the lead
region for the purpose of embarling In the
business. With 4 small party he pitched ais
tent on what Is now called the Block House
Branch Of he Platte river. about four miles
south Of the present village Of Plateville, for
the purpose Of prospecting. From this voint
the party GeTeated in some haste to Galena. +
owing to TIE commencement Of bostihties bv
the Indians.
As the particulars of this outbreak aye not I
generally kslown, we digress little to give (
few Of the leading facts.
Gen. Gags had made an appointment T. meet +
the NInnehagces at Butte de Mort. On the
day fixed f5r the council, not an Indian ap- +
Peared. Alarmed at this, and other hostile
signs he rapidly descended the river 20 Prai-
re de Chen, where the people had all taken
shelter n tie garrison, and where he heard Of
an attack en- Government boat which had
been up the river with supplies for tie garri-
son at II. Peters, 4 short time Previous
fastening Immediately TO Galena, b. notified
the citizens OF their danger, and advised them
to bU,id blcck-houses for their protection.
The boat alluded to. had already reached +
Galena. AMI as the fight shows some Of the
perils Of river navigation during those early
days, We gave the particulars in brief. In de-
scending, she boats had TO pass narrow
place between an island and the main shore.
The Indians, several hundred in number. had
stationed themselves on both $ IS. and had
also prepared canoes to board, If necessary.
J he forward beat was suffered e pass unno-
listed; bqy when the second came within
reach, II received discharge fr-n the whole :