Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-03
WON BY WHITE TROOPS
Battlefield Where Chief Black
Hawk Was Routed in Bat
tie Marked.

miles southeast of Sank City, now
contains a monument that marks
the spot where Black Hawks band
was overtaken and attacked by
white troops.
The shaft is of gray stone and
attracts much attention. At its
base is a concrete bowl contain
ing water for thirsty animals and
birds. It's inscription can be read
from the county highway. 1t
reads: Wisconsin Heights battle
field. Near this site the Sac
chieftan, Black Hawk, and his
band were overtaken by Wisconsin
and Illinois troops, July 81, 1882.
Erected by the John Bell chapter,
D. A. r., Madison, Sept. 3, 1928"
The spot has long been associat-
ed with stirring anecdotes of ear
ly Wisconsin history. A. L. Tay-
lor, the oldest pioneer of the Wis
consin Heights neighborhood,
gave the State Historical society
facts regarding the site of the
battle.
"A strange man came to our
house many years ago, and told
my father that he was one of
the white troopers who fought
against Black Hawk" said Mr..
Taylor. II was then a small boy,
but my father and this strange
man took me with them to visit
the field. The soldier showed US
where the troopers horses had
been held by every tenth trooper
while the others charged the In
dians with bayonets. He showed
us where the Sac braves broke
ranks and ram"
l. Joseph Fasbender, brother of
the man who owns the land on
which the monument stands, re-
calls many stories about the en-
counter. His grandfather, Adolf
Fasbender, settled ON land nearby
in 1916, when many local people
still knew details of the battle.
Until about 1880 AN old toll
road circled the marsh that
stretched from the heights to the
river" said Mr.. Fasbender. 1T
passed close to where this monu-
ment now stands. Although the
charge to travel it was, as | re-
call, about Is cents from here to
Mazamanie, people had to- use it.
Otherwise they would have been
forced to push through the, brush
on the hills. To go across the
marsh with a team was almost i'm
possible. The site of this battle
was easily kept in mind by the
little creek just north of the low
hill where Black Hawk stood"
During the dedication of the
monument Mrs. C. A. Harper, re-
gent of John Bell chapter, pre-
sided. In introducing DIR. Louise
P. Kellogg of the State Historical
library, Madison, she expressed the
thanks of her organization for
Miss Kellogg's untiring efforts to
have suitable monument erect
ed ON this historic field. Miss Kel-
logg then told the people assem-
bled about the marker how Black
Hawk happened to reach this re-
mote spot.
Although Black Hawk had
agreed to occupy lands in Iowa, y
said Miss Kellogg, his longing to
return to his old hunting grounds
made him break his promise.
Crossing the Mississippi near the
mouth of the Rock river, he fol-
lowed that stream to it's source.
White troops following his band
lost the trail and the scattered
settlers realized with terror that
the warlike band might appear al
most anywhere.
While travelling from Fort
Winnebago, Gen. Dodge and Gen.
Henry located Black Hawks trail
and ascertalned that his followers
were camping near the present
site of Horizon, in Dodge county.
Learning that he was discovered,
Black Hawk retreated to the Four
Lakes region, passing across the
isthmus on which Madison is To-
Gated. Hurrying over the hill
where the university now stands,
he camped, July 20, 1923, on the
north shore of Lake Mendoza. His
pursuers camped near Lake Mono
ma.
Early the next morning he hur-
ried on a direct line for the Wis
consin river. He had nearly 1000
horses, much camp equipment