Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-29
PRIMITIVE GUNNER7.
COLONEL HAMILTON,S EARLY.DAY
HORSESHOE CANNON.
An Interesting "Reminiscences of the
War With the Sacs and Fox
Indian Tribes.

=
Major General Schuyler Hamilton, OF
New York, responding to i. De Forest at
this city, says of Colonel w. S. Hamilton,
who is buried here, that at the breaking
out of the Sacs and Fox war, in the North
west, Colonel Hamilton was mining for
lead IN Wisconsin. His place was called
Hamilton's Diggings. With the rising OF
the Indians the terror-stricken inhabitants
OF the neighborhood scarcely knew how to
escape from the tomahawk and scalping-
knife of these very numerous warriors, and
who were renowned for their skill in war
and their fierceness in battle. At this
iuncture the training of Colonel Hamilton
at West Point stood him in good service,
and he proceeded to rally the people and
prepare for vigorous defense of the Sec
ton. He caused large stockade to be
constructed of logs, with two ek-houses
on corners diagonally opposed. The Sec
ond story of each house was set on dag
onally to the square of the lower story
thus giving to the sides of the block-h houses
eight outlooks. The buildings were COW
cred with green hides to protect them from
the fire arrows of the Indians, by which
they usually cast flaming matter upon
buildings. The stockade was thoroughly
loopholed for musketry, but the Colonel
had no artillery.
The great Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
made light artillery by wrapping green
hides about copper tubes. When the hides
shrunk they fitted the tubes as tightly as
the rawhide does the saddletree, and thus
was made a gun both light and efficient.
Probably Colonel Hamilton did not know
this, for, says the General, :" did not learn
it until years after had left West Point y
the Colonel did not, therefore, probably
have information concerning it from what
he learned there. But he was man of in
finite resource. and he proved equal to the
occasion. He took bars of horseshoe iron
and secured them on a suitable wooden core
then putting the whole into mold he cast
about the device molten lead, and thus pro-
duced quite effective guns, especially after
the oreeches had been reinforced with
straps OF horse shoe iron. All the inhab-
ltants OF the vicinity were invited to come
into the fort, the men bringing their wives
families, live stock and household plum
der gladly TO this shelter And here
successful stand was made against the saw
ages, all of which is a matter of record in
the history of the Indian wars of the W est,
and OF which few in this day have a true
realization as to all their fierceness and
terror. Prior to this BODYBUILDING, Gov
ernor Dodge of Wisconsin had had words
with Colonel Hamilton in the heat of po-
litical contention.
Hamilton was Wing, ano Dodge a
Democrat. The former having dashed the
latter with his tongue, literally sharper
than sword, Governor Dodge challenged
Colonel Hamilton to mortal combat The
Colonel accepted, and nominated coffee
and rifles" but deferred the meeting until
the Indian war should be over. When
peace was proclaimed, Colonel Hamilton
informed Governor Dodge that he was at
his service, but the latter wrote in reply
that he could never draw bead on man
who had shown so much public spirit
and gallantry, and he requested leave to
withdraw the challenge, and begged that
they might be friends. They did become
friends, and ever after each spoke nobly
and kindly of the other. Governor Dodge
told the story of this matter to General
Schuyler Hamilton, when Governor Dodge
and Governor Doty were Commissioners to
treat with the Winnebagoes, at Fort Atchi-
son, Iowa, on the Zezig- me shun-ne-gar,
OF Turkey river, in about 1923.
General Hamilton says the modest mon
ument he proposes will be made in New
York and shipped here. 1t will be of the
modern style, which is low and massive,
with base 3x3 feet Is inches thick, and a
shaft 2x2 feet and 3 feet inches in hight
The pyramidal top rising one foot, with a
three-inch plinth. On one side he pro-
poses to have cut cross, on the other to
have fitted the bronze medallion of the
lllustrlous patriot, Alexander Hamilton
This medallion has already been cast and
the General pronounces it fine" The
General returns his thanks to Mr. De For
est, and the friends in Sacramento who
have moved in the matter of putting a
suitable stone over the grave of one of the
dead of his family. He tenders his thanks
TO the City Trustees for the plot, and only
regrets that he is not able to expend more
money upon it.
A meeting was held yesterday by num-
Der of citizens to provide asubstructure for
the monumental stone that the Hamilton
family propose to erect in the City Gene
terry. ii. Weinstock was called to the chair.
Mayor Gregory stated that the remains of
Colonel Hamilton were yesterday removed
TO the new tract to a central plat Is by IS
feet, allotted by the city. II was resolved
that as Californians. those present and all
who choose TO unite, would provide the
foundation Tor the monument and for the
AeCePlion anu sekllDg up OF the stone.
Architect w. III. Hamilton believed that
mound of rubble-granite pieces broken
in the quarry, would be appropriate to be
surmounted by the monument, and the
idea was generally indorsed Secretary OF
State Hendricks. w. H. Hamilton and c.
II. Cummings were appointed committee
to solicit the granite from the Prison Com
missioners in charge OF the States granite
quarries.
Mayor Gregory, Rev. J. F. Won Herrlich
and ]. a. Woodson were appointed COM
mittee TO consider the advisability of hav-
ing lecture on the life and character OF
Hamilton. 10 raise heneeded funds for the
foundation and the facing of the monu-
nent. The Chairman was instructed while
en- route TO Earope to stop in New York
and call upon and consult members of the
Hamilton family relative to the character
of the monument proposed. and to consult
with General Schuyler Hamilton concern
ing his communications,i o Mr.. De Forest in
reference TO the monument.
Rev. Mr.. Massey, Dr. G. L. Simmons
Mr.. De Forest G. +. Grunsky, Mayor
Gregory and others made remarks upon
the subject in hand, and the meeting then
adjourned subject to the call of its COM
miltees.