Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-10-21

jury.
The General and the principal part Of our men
having come up by the time The Indians had fair
| ly crossed the creek, running fight took place
the enemy on one side of the ..reek and we on the
other until they reached the thicet in the bend OF
the creek Having effected crossing at the Old
Indian Ford, which is near William Mil, and
marching thence up the stream, we formed on the
open ground to the northeast OF the thicket, so
as to hem the enemyin the bend ofthe creek. Par
ties were then thrown out on the hills to give the
alarm, if the Indians should attempt to escape
from the thicket, when we entered it. The men
were then told OF in sections of seven, number
our remaining on horse back and holding the
horses of the rest OF the section, whose brides
were linked together When dismounted and
formed in front Of the horses, our numbers were
twenty-one men including tie General. They
were Gen. Henry Dodge, Commanding Lieuten-
ants Charles Bracken. PaschaI Bequette and -
Porter: Surgeon Allen Hill; PTivates, Peter Par
kison, Dominack NJ Grand Samuel Black, Thomas
II. Price Levin Leach, r. Il. kirkpatrick, Asa
Duncan, William earns, J ohm Hood, Thomas J en-
kins, John Messersmith Jr., Samuel Patrick Nor
ris Wells, Rankin and Yanwaggoner.
We were then ordered TO renew our fnts, re-
prime our guns unbatton our shirt collars and
tighten our belts. All being ready, the General
then addressed us He said, Within that thicket
the foe, whose hands are yet reeking with the
blood of our murdered friend That it was his
intention to enter it; in doing so, some of us must
fall that it might be his fate, but that his mind
was made up to whip the enemy or die in the at
tempt. Hany feared to follow him, he wanted
them to fall back then, and rot when they en-
countered the Indians" The word was then Civ
en- to advance, and in that little band, none were
found who did not fear dishonor more than death!
None taltered or wavered, as with a GOODNESS be-
coming veterans they followed tne footsteps of
their gallant leader resolved with nim 10 conquer
or die
After advancing some distance into the thicker
the trail of the enemy was found Here the de-
tachment was joined by D. NJ Parkison who was
on horseback. The centre was ordered to keep on
the trail We then continued our advance slowly
but firmly towards our hidden foe. The Indi-
ans had selected a most advantageous position fc r
defence had we fought them at long shot. 1t was
the bank Of pond, once the bed of the Creek
On the edge of the bank was natural breast work
nearly three feet high, formed by one of those
tumuH so numerous on our p-airies. Under this
they awaited our approach When they fred on
us. our position represented two sides of trian-
Gle, they forming the base and we the hypo,he-
muse Although we were close upon them. so
dense was the thickct that we could not see the
smoke OF their guns. The General. who was on
the right Of the centre and in front of the line. ex
claimed " mere are the indians He was an
swered from the left, This wayr The order
was then promptly given. Charge in, boys
damn them; charge inl~ My position was on
the extreme right In the charge we obiqued
considerably TO the left. When I got tothe pond,
I found no enemy before me; at the same mo
meuJ, heard the General, who was a little to my
left say, There's an Indian. kilIhim!" I turned
towards him, and heard a shot. As I came up,
he said. There. bv Cod I've killed him u7vseIfl,
This was the Indian Commander. Passing on ta
-be Ief. I mounted the natural embankneDt. and
found rnyseIf in the midst of the Indians Afer
discharging NV gun. | turned the breech and
struck at a warrior | saw living under the bank
before me: but seeing another very industriousIv
swapping at me. / fell back and reloaded As
soon as my gun was charged, | advanced with the
brave bat unfortunate Wells on my left, and Wm
earns, Of Dodgeviue, on my right On coming
up. hand to hand with the Indians, Wells fell
mortaly wounded. earns first shot. and then
bayoneted the warrior that killed Wells, and put
another in condition to take his scalp. At the
same time the only surviving Indian attempted
10 save himself by flight He plunged into the
pond and was shot as he got out Of the water OF
the opposite side
Thus ended the battle the enemy were exter
miuatedl Not one was left to tell Black Hawk
his Chief and warriors, how " Old Hairy Face,
(the Indian name for the General) and his warri
ors fought. Our trophies we're seventeen scalps
Our loss was three nnen,-BlacI Wells and Morris
mor,aly ard Thomas jenkins, severely wounded
The annals Of border warfare furnish no par
allel to this battle Never before was an entire
war party exteTmInated with SO small loss on