Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-23

central point of commerce established
somewhere else on the lakes.
Hundreds of arrow-heads were
found and there were spears (the fav-
ored weapon of the Kickapoo). axes,
war clubs, tomahawks, and, in fact
almost every instrument of war known
to the aboriginal tribes. Adjoining
the fence of the golf grounds and di-
rectly south was found an indian
mound from which were dug out par
TALLY cremated skeletons, a French
breastplate made of German silver,
numerous other metallic devices, and
flint-locks and old medals. From the
nature of the relics there is no doubt
that many of them belonged to the
Sac and Fox Indians. Others were
those used only by the Kickapoos and
Mascoutens of the Illinois co1federa-
ton. And then there is also the
style of battle ak or war club en-
ployed in battle exclusively by the
Chippewas and Menominees.
This discovery makes clear the dis
appearance of the detachment of the
Sac and Fox Indians that were not
killed at the battle of Plano. This lat
ter was the engagement that many err
roneously believe to have taken place
at Starved Rock. The great army Of
Sac and Fox came down from Wiscon-
sin over the Green Bay trail. They at
tackled the French fort at Detroit and
were repulsed by Du Poison, who CALI
ed to his aid the PottawatolLies and
Miamis and other friendly tribes. Pro-
ceeding on southwestward, the Sac and
Fox encountered the Ottawa Indians,
and by them were driven to the Mis-
sissippi river. Here they opposed the
fierce Sioux and by them were driven
| eastward again. The tribe settled in
the Fox river valley, about so miles
west of Chicago. In time they recuper-
; ated from their repeated defeats, aud
started out once more to get ven
geance on the French and Indians
who were in peaceful possession of the
| fertile valley of the Illinois. They adj
vanced in two divisions, intending to
| surprise the enemy. They came upon
! the French and Indians Unexpectedly,
| however, and were separated. One de-
| tachment was driven from the Illinois
river up the Fox river to where Plano
now is. There all of this division
| were killed. The other detachment
was the main part of the army Des-
pc ate over their recent adversities,
| they rallied every young Indian that
could bend a bow and made an adj
vance on the combined forces of the
French and the four tribes of Indians.
They were under the leadership Cf
! PemOussa, chief of the Fox Shortly
after starting out they were joined
by another band of Sac and Fox, fresh
from Wisconsin, and Pemoussa was
made the leader of the entire army
At the advance of the great army
of the Sac and Fox, the French and
Indian forces retreated from Fort
Miami and made a stand on the site
where the Glenview golf grounds are
now located. They had little time to
fortify themselves when the entire
army, united, bore down upon them.
They fought until every man was
dead. PemOussa himself was killed.
Every indication seems to point to
this battle as one of the most impor-
tant of Indian days. The Kickapoo
and Mascouten Indians are known to
have been in this vicinity in those
days. These two tribes were always
allied. They belonged to what is
known as our Illini confederation. It
is probable that the present golf
grounds was the site of an Indian vii
lage, and that the battle took place at
the village. There is but slight men
ton of the early French Fort Miami
and its origin is unknown. 1t was
probably one OF the La Sale forts.