Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-12-23
Battle Of the Peketonica,

FArErrE, Nov. %, 1852.
EDIroas or WIscoSsIS TRIBUNE:
My attention having lately been called TO an
account Of the Battle of the Peketonica, written
by Charles Bracken, and published in your paper,
in which think there are some material mistakes,
and having been requested by number OF persons
to write ms recollection of that affair, and point
out " herein l think Mr.. BTackens recollection
does not serve him correctly; 1 have thought
proper in Justice 10 the dead as well the living,
and also in Justice to the correctness Of History,
for which that account was intended, 10 comply
with the request which has been made. In doing
So do not wish u detract in the slightest degree
from the merit Of any one who acted IN that affair.
was quite young at the time, and it being the
first engagement that 1 was ever IN, every Incl
dent als almost .uleabIy fixed upon my mind
The relation OF the affair, by r. Bracsen, is cor
rect, as rccollectlt until ne says Il being sec
ond ii command. was ordered to the scene Of the
murder with eleven men" Mr.. Bracken might
have been ordered 70 the scene Of the murder, but
he certainly did not 90 in command Of the detach-
rnenr nor in company with them, until within
about four miles this side of Fort Hamilton, (now
WiotaE where he aud Fanwagoner were overtaken
by the detachment. They (Bracken and Van
wagoaer) having left Fort Defiance in advance OF
the detachment. Brackeu appearing to be displea-
sed at some of the movements, mounted his horse
and said 1T is time we were off; all that are 60
ing with me. come on; upon which Eanwagon-
er Joined him and they started off In about half
an hour the detachment were mounted and ready
to march upon which r. H. Kirkpatrick was
chosen the commander for the occasion. The De
tachmeut then proceeded to Fort Hamilton, and
arrived there about twelve o'clock at night Next
morning. Just as the detachment was ready 10
proceed, some difficulty occurred about the COM
mard of the detachment; 1Ir. Bracken claiming
the command by virtue of his Second Lietenant-
ship at Fort Defiance, which was objected to by
/ d. NJ Par r6ison, (Which was the commencement
of the memorable difficulty between these gentle
men-Bracken and ,Parkison.) Maj Kirkpatrick
then declined taking further command of the de-
tachmeut. unless he was rechosen, upon which
an election was gone into and Maj. kirkpatrick
+ (as ne was commoaIy calIed) was unanimously
elected. The company then proceeded to the farm
and found the murdered men as described by Lieu
tenant BEac1en, with the exception of the headless
+ body OF Spaford, which had no wounds upon i
as / recoIlect. The position of the body, wher
found, indicated that he had been running as the
rest Of his comrades, when he was shot. Whether
/ he killed an Indian before he himself was shot,
think no one could eel. Spencer did not cross the
river as stated BY Beacken. Million was the man
who crossed it, at the same place and the same
time that McIlvain and John Bull crossed II, anC
was Immediately pursued by the Indians IN hot
chase-oae OF them on horseback, and so Gloss
was he pursued by ehe Indian on horseback, thai
/ he, Million, was often compelled to swim the
river 10 escape him He swan the river i've times
during yhe chase ana was pursued TO within 1--WE
miles OF .a>. Fort, watch ne reached IN full lope
(usng western phrase and in safety, after hav
+ ing been pursued by FIVE Indians one Of them up
on horse, for ten miles, and having run fifteen
miles without ever breaking the lope, as ne says.
Spencer could not Swim, consequently took down
the river under its bank, till coming to the mouth
OF branch, where he renamed until an Indian
7 Cmounred Ga the horse with which they had been
( plowiuz) caIae upon him. he shot the Indian
off the horse and made bis escape across the river
bottom In-o the woods, in the direction Of the
Fort Ike remainder of the history OF this mar
believe Is correctly given by Lieutenant Bracken
except that be told uPon being found that he hac
killed another Indiaa during his rambIes IN The
woods.
\ The allusiou that Lieutenant Bracken makes tc
the young mar named Black, Is correct4 50 far, a
+ least. as hts having presenrimeni that he shouc
( be killed in tls first engagement. He and vvers
about the 5alle age, (he being one year older,
were friends ard msSsmates He communicate
his fo1ebodlras Of death 70 nc, The night We
marched ron Fort &ehance 10 Fort Hamilton
lie aud having been made the advance guard o.