Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-03-24

kisoH has rejoiuel. by a communication addressed
10 you through tue columns OF the Tribune OF the
/ 10th Of February, wherein he rather lamey con
cedes the question TO my rank as a first Lieu
tenant. but seems determined to pluck some of the
/ feathers from my plume b. proving posifirsly that
+ Kirkpatrick commanded lie detachment from Fort
Defiance TO Fort Hamilton, and negatively, that
did not kill Indian at the crossing of the Peka-
tOnica asserted by me, and that in fulfilling his
post me cannot permit the impression TO 90 down
10 posterity, that Gen Dodge and his comrades in
arms did upon that occasion and in two instances,
Turk the rear and permit Il. Bracken to form
and encounter the enemy single handed and alone"
But few minutes before the express arrived
with the intelligence of the murder returned TO
Fort Defiance from an expedition 10 the Rock and
Illinois rivers where nad accomp panied Gen. Dodge
as volunteer in Gentrys company of mounted
men. My horse and arms being ready, | vas soon
IN the saddle on my way TO Fort Hamilton accom-
panied By one man. | then heard of no dissatis-
faction about the command, nor was there any!
all in the fort were too much horror stricken with
the distressing intelligence just received to be en-
gagged IN squabtle about petty command in a
night march In my absence the command of the
party devolyed on 1t. D. NJ Parkson, and subze-
quent events shown by MS attempt to supercede
me who outraukej HIM. that he had too much am
billion TO permit Hoard had he held five times the
rank he did. 10 reduce him 10 the ranks and place
private soldier in command over him.
The officers Of GeEtry's company were Messrs
Bequette Porter and Henry Dodge, it is not pre-
tended that either OF those officers We're at the Fort
that evening, nor was there solitary raan of Gen
try's command there nor could there have been
Gentry with his company in full force acconpa-
MED zen. Dodge to Rock river, and that dav sep
arated from him and his company at Gratiots
grove they taking the route by Kendles and the
forks Of the Pelatgnica to Mineral Point the head
quarters o! his company.--R II Kirkpatrick was
al the time private in that company not having
been elected Major until some two weeks after the
battle Of the Pel;atofica; and maugre the certif-
cate OF Hoard and assertion of Parkison lie scas
"o. nor had he Lesa at Fort Deiancs That day that sp
'iing or hat nisttt!g
/ make this statement on the recollection OF
those, whose memories are more to be relied
on than Hoards or Parkison's and their truthful
ness far more so. particularly lady who was in
the fort al The time, Who shortly after the war be-
came the wife Of Major Kirkpatrick. To corrob-
crate this fact will stale that both Parkison and
Hoard admit there we're but eleven men left the
fort that evening after some trouble and enquiry
have asceTained the names of all but one fthose
men. They were Sweet d. NJ Parkison Peter
Parkison, Fi'ch, Mcconnell, Vanwagoner. Law
head, AlcGsaT. Black, Price. Leech, making ten
Of the party, the name Of the other I cannot rec
oiiect or ascertain but he was a young man from
Tennessee, who mad been pursuing certain Peter
Howard 70 The wesi,and found him in the command
lug officer at FoTt Defiance. Of his name is nee
! essary for the truth OF history Capt Hoard can
supply you wiihit) And any other man mount
ed or dismouured Of any other company that
marched with the detachment that night as stated
/ by Hoard. were all dressed in brckrqna"!
I The next morning when the detachment was
paraded preparatory 10 sterling for Spatford field
I it was reinforced By some SIX or seven men from
Fort Hamilton. Daniel NJ Parkison who had
/ been colonel in Illinois, who was my senior in
years but junior in rank, claimed the command of
Inc detachment on the plea, that he had come nth
and commanded The p1rfy on the march from Fort De,
faace the night Jetore!tt This attempt to super
cede me was promptly resisted, and hence the diff
/ 6cuty between US
4 X II. Kirkpatrick who was one of the rein
forcemenr that had Joined as at Fort Hamilton was
then IN the ranks The day previous he had lelthis
company (Gcnrrys) at Gratiots grove and came
by the way Of Wolf creek to Fort Hamilton He
was at my suggestion appointed to conduct the
pN-r4
and not till then dlf he command the detachment or
anyPa,1 ofu!!!!
. Even at this late day, if search were made, am
Of the opinion that the bones of seventeen Indians
could be yet found bleaching on the battle ground
and between it and where the Indians crossed the
Pekatonca, among them the b7nes OF the Indian
killed at tie spot where hey crossed. The shout
sent toriA was that's my hair, a cant expires.
sion then IN vogue TO denote "a scalp
None but one possessing the most morbid feel
ings towards me- could read my account of the
Battle, so honorable TO their commander and all
engaged in II and G,aw tie inference from any one
sentence it contains that she General and my com.
rades were lurking in the rear while I was in
front battling the enemy single handed
Although Mr.. Parlisog processes To have no IN
kind feelings toward me orintentionally TO misrep-
resent me. vet, man with half an eye can see
what kind OF feeling he entertans toward me in al
most every paragraph of his communications
From the day that Indignantly spurned the at
tempt Of his father 10 supercede me in a command
TO which was legally entitled by my rank, he has
had no particular friendship for me- and it may be-
that little OF the old leayen has worked upon him
10 seek this controversy and Feed fat the ancient
gruase he bears me" This was perhaps one Of
the influences operating upon him. but there is an.
other and perhaps stronger Rumor says that
Mr. PaFkison has aspirations 70 an appointment
Of enc o. the Land offices a Mineral Point or the
marshalship Of the State could he therefore make
me an assaI.aut OF Gen. Dodge by becoming the
defender OF tult gentleman he iancies he shows his
devotion 10 him ard would thereby secure his pat
ronage and influence in procuring one OF those Of
" E-aC r. - u,