Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-04-29
The Black Hawk war.

| r
Spokane county. Washington, is one
OF the few surviving veterans II the
Black Hawk war. He Is 81 years Of
age but remem bers well the hardships
OF the Wisconsin pioneer. He is a
bother OF one Of Lancaster's respected
tizens, Mr. Andrew Eastman. He
draws a small pension for service as
scout and sharp shooter in the Black
Hawk war and has written an account
0! his experience for the Cheney Press
which through the kindness OF An
drew Eastman we are permitted to
publish. It Is as follows:
Il settled at Hardscrabble, Illinois,
June 10, 1927 The territory Of Wis
c1nsin was afterward set of from IL
linois and ms old home is now better
known as Hazel Green. Wisconsin.
enlisted in the militia for the protec-
ton Of the frontier at the beginning
OF the Indian troubles. The state
troops from Indiana aud Illinois under
Gen Stillman were decoyed on Rock
river about u miles above the rapids.
IS the indians. and completely rout-
81 some were killed
Gen. Dodge organized a regiment
Of about 300 men. was in his regi-
ment under Capt Jane. II Gentry.
| enlisted under Capt Deloss DeIong.
We were sent TO the head Of the troops
to locate the Indians who were muir
derine and robbing the settlers.
Eight Of Us started after body Of IS
or % Indians We overlook them on
the Pecatonica river and in the skirm-
ISL that followed three ~ four were
killed one white mau (Hale) was
killed and two wounded We came
10 the head II the Blue river and fol-
lowed it until within about six miles
Of where il emptie- into the Wiscon-
sin Here undiscovered a small body
OF Indians, six ia number They were
sitting around tbeu campfire ready
To eat supper what little they had
we di,mounted. tied our horses and
rushed III on them by the order Of
Sergeant Thos Stewart They made
no resistance as soon us they saw that
they were surrounded We supposed
that they had become detached from
the main body Our little force Of S
men bad now dwindied down to 8, the
othets refused T. 60 farther as soon
a the Wisconsin bl0tfs were reached.
we took The captive Indians to Fl.
Brigham Gle Mound) the Indians
walking ana one man riding IN front
and two Ia the rear The Indians
were armed with bows and arrows
TheY also had TWO guns which had
apparently been stolen, but noammu-
milton
After StdlwelIs defeat GEN Atkln-
son came on with the regular troops
f3llowed by large supply trains. He
Ind one regiment and marched 50 slow
that the Indians kept far III advance.
G. NJ. Atkinson would not permit the
volunteers who were familiar with
the lay Of the country to 20 ahead Of
the regulars as they ought in order to
make time. Ofcourse the scouts were
in advance aad when they reached the
Four Lakes (Aiadison) they held the
Indians for some time expecting the
troops 70 come and give battle The
troops were too slow however, and
the Indians reached the Wisconsin
river and crossed There was
slough about two mites in width to
cross which made our progress slow
In a skirmish here the Indians defeat
cd the scouts. This skirmish was
the only really interesting time dur
ing the war. We. the scouts, made a
great run in order to save our scalps.
There were 20 81 us aud we almost
run into an ambush We would had
il not been tor our orderly sergeant
He was au old indian fighter and un-
derstood their ways perfectly He
bad also served IL Years on thefrontier
q the regular army His one serious
fault was az uncomfortable appetite
f}r whiskey IL knew from the lay
81 the ground and the way they pen
iutted themselves e be chased that
smetain1 was wrong a council
WI, called and we concluded to back
oul 90 go by this May e' THE hjil, As
soon Is We started back Ne SAW hum
dreds 81 Sayases 0ddcuiy appear and
starr la pursuj, They chased us