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

haused BY diving across the river his clothes sat
uTated with water, that, at one bound he should
Spring from the slippery shore TO the top ofa per
pendicular bank fully twelve feet high; yet from
his foot print. it was evident lie did so. Gaining
the bank unharmed amidst shower of balls, he
continued his flight, pursued by the Indians, who,
after hot chase of about FIVE miles, gave up the
pursuit.
| 1t appeared that Spencer WIS pursued by two
Indians, one of whom vas mounted on the horse
with which they had been ploughing their corn,
and was far in advance Of the other. Having his
gun which he had snatched up in the flight, he
turned and shot the mounted Indian, which ena-
bled him 70 escape by secreting himself in thick
Ct On the day Of the battle he ventured to ap-
proach the fort and saw from a distance that it
was surrounded by Indians They were friendly
Sioux and Menomonees. who had Joined as that
day after the battle and who were yelling and
owing over the scaIps we had taken. SUP
posing these Indians to be foes who had captured
the fo-t and murdered all within it, he was horror
struck and fed some six or seven miles 10 house
where there were some provisions and secreted
himself under a hog pen, where he was found some
ten days afterwards Within year be became
derauged and wandered off none knew whittier.
Having performed the melancholy duty OF bu
ryng the dead, we returned to the fort where we
found Captain Gentry, and Lieutenants Bequette
and Porter with few men. At a council held
that evening, 1t agreed that if the General did
not arrive at the fort by o'clock the next morn
ing, the officers and men that were present would
lei / 81, ,r,l, +l,a IrIf
On receiving the express at Dodgeville the Gen
eraI accompanied by Thomas Jenkins and John
Messersmith Jr, started for Fort Hamilton by the
way of the Blue Mounds, where company Of
men were stationed, whose horses were fresh
and fit for service. Leaving orders for them to
follow, he continued on his route by the way of
Fretwell's diggings; having outridden Jenkins and
ATessersmith he was approaching the tort alone
Just after sunrise On arriving at Hamilton's farm
about one mile from the fort, he left the Wagon
road and turned into pathway, which shortened
the distance. On regaining the road, he met Ap-
pie (yyho proposed to accompany US on our scout
and was going to his cabin near by, TO procure
blanket for the expedtion) after making few
inquiries of him. the General continued on 10 the
fort Apple had not proceeded more than one
hundred yards from where he net the General
when he fell into an ambuscade and was literally
shot to pieces. Itafterwards appeard that, the In
dians had first ambushed the pathway. but seeing
our men on the prairie south OF the road, looking
for their horses, and that the travelling the
Wagon road, they removed to it. Had the Gencr
al arrived half an hour earlier by the pathway, or
kept roundby the wagon road, he must have been
the victim Of the an5ascade instead Of Apple.
Almost simultaneously vgiJn the General, ths
horse of Apple reached the Fort with the saddle
bloody and bullet hole through his car All
were ready! The order was given to mount, and
in less than ten minutes we were formed in line
near the dead body Of the murdered man.
The Indians in their retreat appeared to disperse
/ in every direction through a thicket which lay
north OF the road, ard which was composed Of a
/ thick growth Of vines and bushes principally
prickly ash Through this we advanced in line, uu-
4 til very intelligent dog, owned by r. II. kirk
patrick, struck the trail on the extreme left. We
then advanced in single file. following the traIthe
I lett in front, until we reached the open timber.
I Here the trail was well defined, and the pursuit
was then pellmell, the General taking the lead
+ The trail struck the prairie on a branch running
/ East from William Burretts, and continued down
IT, crossing and recrossng it two or three times.
One our advancing INTO the thicket was the extreme
right hand man of the party. As the left discOv-
cred the Iral and advanced along IT, | was there
. by thrown DO the rear. On emerging from the
/ inc .et INTO the open woods being well mounted
on fleet and sure footed horse. l gave him the
spur freely until came in sight of the Indians
with the General close in their rear, and not more
4 than five men with him. AT the same time I
overlook youth aged about eighteen, named
Samuel Black. who lived in my family lie said
that his mare, fine active animal had fallen with
him on the smooth prairie, and thai 1t was a sign
he would be killed IN the coming battle ] sug-
gested as the cause that she had stepped into a
badger hole he saIu she hao uoj aor he had ex-
arnIued the ground l then advised him TO 90
/ back, as there was enough Of US 10 whip the In
dams without him he said II viii die frstI The
omen proved too true. He fell mortally wound
/ ed at the first fire we received on entering the
thicket. ! make this depression, that you may
pav Just tribute to me memory OF one Of the
bravest youths that ever fell in battle.
/ The Indians recrossed the branch at point
where it turned abruptly to the north and ascend
4 ed the hill The General and those with him
crossed after them, and bore TO the right towards
some timber. as if to cut them off from it Seeing
! this movement halted, ard was at the same time
Joined by Fitch Higginbottom and Devoe. said
I to them. that movement of the General VIII turn
the Indians TO the left; if you viii follow me- we
will get the first scalp. They agreed 10 do So
Turning up hollow 10 the left, we ascended 1t
/ 10 the ridge over looking the east Peketonica
/ turning then to the right and looking down hol-
low parallel to thai we had ascended, my surmise
proved to be correct. There were the Indians
approaching US. They were moving at what
might be called common time. Their chief a
gray headed warrior was walking backward, and
appeared to be earnestly addressing his young
men. After observing them for tew moments,
we fired. bat l think without effect. 9ly com
rades after dischargng their guns Tetreated down