CHAPTER VII

SAUK COUNTY INDIANS

THE MASCOUTENS OF SAUK COUNTY-FORCED COMING OF THE SAUKS ANDFOXES-INFLUX OF THE WINNEBAGOES-THE WiNNEBAGO WARI-THIEBLACK HAWK WAR-BATTLE OF WISCONSIN HEIGHTS BLACK HAWK'SFLIGHT THROUGH SAUK COUNTY-YELLOW THUNDER VISITS WASHING-TON--RS. FLANDERS' RECOLLECTIONS OF YELLOW THUNDER-MEETSTHE DAUGHTER OF WHITE CROW-CHARACTER SKETCH OF MADAMEWASHINGTON-THE EXODUS OF 184-0YELLOW THUNDER ENTERS HIS'FORTY''--JAMES H. HILL'S MEMORIAL ADDRESS-THE YOUNG BRAVE,YELLOW THUNDER- CHEATED OUT OF THEIR LANDS-OUTRAGE UPONOUTRAGE-BECOMES A LAND OWNER IN SAUK COUNTY-STATELY INMIEN, NOBLE OF CHARACTER-BURIAL OF YELLOW THUNDER'S SQUAW-DEATH AND BURIAL OF YELLOW THUNDER-THE MEMORIAL PILLAR-REMAINS REMOVED FROM FORMER GRAVES-REMAINS INCLOSED INMEMORIAL PILLAR-THE NAME PLATES-FINAL EXPULSION OF THEWINNEBAGOES.

The Indians directly and historically identified with Sauk Countywere the Sacs (Sauks) and Foxes and the Winnebagoes. The two tribesfirst mentioned seemed to have been distinguished for their invariableand close association, and yet for the persistency with which they main-tained'their separate existence. Members of the dual nation were forcedinto what is now Eastern Sauk County from the Green Bay Regionshortly before the middle of the eighteenth century, left, after a residencethere of some forty years, and never returned. The Winnebagoes driftedafter them and had several villages in what is now Sauk County whenthe territory commenced to be settled by the whites. But there weremany shiftings and changes among the tribes who occupied the Fox andWisconsin valleys, which determined their more or less permanent occu-pancy in the periods of fragmentary history.

THE MASCOUTENS OF SAUK COUNTY (?)

The first positive knowledge of the native tribes of this region whichsifted into history came to Champlain who heard of a family of Indiansliving many leagues beyond Lake Huron called the Fire Nation, or Mas-

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coutens. It is believed that their homes, at that time, were upon the FoxRiver; at least, they were visited by French missionaries and travelersa score of years later, and they claimed as their hunting grounds somuch other territory to the south as probably to have included what isnow Sauk County. Further south, well up Rock River, was the coun-try of the Illinois. The latter, who lived in a region "where there wasa quantity of buffaloes," were afterward driven beyond the Mississippi,but returned to the river which bears their name.

FORCED COMING OF THE SAUKS AND FOXES

Meanwhile, there commenced an emigration of the mass of the Mascou-tens, with their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miamis, toward the southernshores of Lake Michigan. They were replaced by the Foxes and Sauks,who later migrated to the west and southwest. For some time they hadestablished the seat of their considerable power around the shores ofGreen Bay and some distance up the Fox River, and had become veryautocratic in their dealings both with the whites and neighboring Indiantribes. The result was disastrous to them, one incident of their expulsionfrom the Green Bay and Lower Fox River Region being the founding of avillage by them in Sauk County.

Augustin Grignon, the famous fur trader, Indian agent and landholder of Green Bay and of the Fox and Wisconsin valleys, gives thefollowing account of that event as he heard it from his grandfather,Charles De Langlade, who actively participated in some of the occur-rences narrated; "The Outagamies or Foxes were at this time (1746)located at the Little Butte des Morts, on the western bank of Fox riverand some thirty-seven miles above Green Bay. Here they made it a point,whenever a trader's boat approached, to place a torch upon the bank asa signal for the traders to come ashore and pay the customary tribute,which they exacted from all. To refuse this tribute was sure to incurthe displeasure of the Foxes, and robbery would be the mildest punish-ment inflicted. This haughty, imperious conduct of the Foxes was asource of no little annoyance to the traders, who made their complaintsto the commandants of the western posts, and, in due time, these griev-ances reached the ears of the governor of Canada.

" Captain De Velie was at this time commandant of the small garrisonat Green Bay. He was relieved by the arrival of a new officer whosename I have forgotten, and the new commandant brought with himdemands for the Sauks of the village opposite the fort, who had hith-erto demeaned themselves well, to deliver up the few Foxes living amongthem in consequence of intermarriage, or otherwise. All were readilygiven up, except a Fox boy who. had been adopted by a Sauk woman.De Velie and his successor were dining together and, becoming somewhatintoxicated by wine, some sharp words passed between them relative

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to the tardiness of the Sauks in delivering the boy: when De Velie aroseand, taking his gun and a negro servant, crossed the river to the Saukvillage which was surrounded with palisades or pickets. He found theSauks in council and was met by the Sauk chief, of whom he demandedthe immediate surrender of the remaining Indian. The chief said heand his principal men had just been in council about the matter, andthough the adopted mother of the youth was loath to part with him, yetthey hoped to prevail upon her peaceably to do so. The chief proceededto visit the old woman, who still remained obstinate, and De Velie, renew-ing his demands for immediate compliance, again would the chief renewhis efforts; and thus three times did he go to the sturdy old woman andendeavor to prevail upon her to give up the boy, and returning each timewithout success, but assuring De Velie that if he would be a little patienthe was certain the old squaw would yet comply with his demands, as sheseemed to be relenting. But, in his warm blood, the Frenchman was inno mood to.exercise patience; and he at length drew up his gun and shotthe chief dead. Some of the young Sauks were for taking instant revenge,but the older and wiser men present begged them to be cool, and refrainfrom inflicting injury on their French father, as they had provoked himto commit the act. By this time De Velie, whose anger was yet unap-peased, had got his gun reloaded by his servant, and wantonly shot downanother chief, and then a third one; when a young Sauk only twelveyears of age, named Ma-kau-ta-pe-na-se, or the Black Bird, shot theenraged Frenchman dead.

"The garrison was too weak to attempt the chastisement of the Sauks,but upon the arrival of a reinforcement joined by the French settlers,Charles De Langlade among them, the Sauks were attacked at theirvillage, where a severe battle occurred in which several were killed on'both sides and the Sauks finally driven away. In this Sauk battle, twoof my father's uncles were among the slain on the part of the French.

"The Sauks now retired to the Wisconsin river and located at SaukPrairie, where they still resided and had a fine village, with comfortablehouses, and were apparently doing something in mining lead, whenCarver visited the country in 1766; but which appears to have beenseveral years deserted when I first saw the place in 1795, as there werethen only a few remains of fireplaces and posts to be seen. The braveyoung Sauk, Black Bird, became a distinguished chief among his people,and Mr. Laurent Fily, an old trader, told me many years since, that heknew Black Bird well at the Sauk village at the mouth of Rock river;that he lived to a good old age, and, Fily added, that he was the sameperson who in his youth had so fearlessly shot De Velie."

INFLUX OF THE WINNEBAGOES

As the Sauks and Foxes were pressed toward the southwest, theW;innebagoes came down from the north in a strong current. From

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the head of Green Bay they gradually moved up the Fox River, havingoutlying villages on the shores of Winnebago Lake and in the valley ofRock River. They finally reached the Portage andSpressed down thevalley of the Wisconsin. They now became so powerful and occupiedso much territory that the Government of the United States began tomake treaties with them. The first of these was with the Wisconsin River

Winnebagoes, who occupied the soil of Sauk County as a small portionof their great domain; it occurred at St. Louis June 3, 1816, and wasa treaty of peace, not one of cession. They had served with the Britishin the war of 1812, and were considered the most treacherous and dan-

gerous tribe opposed to American sovereignty east of the Mississippi.In 1820 they had five villages on Winnebago Lake and fourteen on the

Rock River. The acknowledged southeast boundary of their territorystretched from the sources of that stream to within forty miles of itsmouth in Illinois, where they had a large village. On the west it extendedto the headwaters of the small streams flowing westwardly into the Mis-sissippi, and to the northward as far as Black River and the UpperWisconsin, or to the region occupied by the Chippewas. The Winnebagocountry, however, did not extend across the Fox River to the lands of

the north side, although they contended for the whole of WinnebagoLake. In 1824, when a rough enumeration of the tribe was taken, the

Winnebagoes were found to number about 6,000. At that time SaukCounty was well within their domain.

THE WINNEBAGO WAR

The Chippewas and Winnebagoes often clashed on the borders oftheir territories, and in 1827 the Winnebago war was precipitated bythe attack of a war party of Winnebagoes upon some Chippewas whowere on their way to Fort Snelling. The commandant of the UnitedStates troops at the fort took four of the Winnebagoes prisoners anddelivered them into the hands of the infuriated Chippewas, who imme-diately put them to death. This act was generally resented by the chiefof the Winnebagoes, Red Bird, who harbored an additional grievanceagainst the whites in the invasion of the Galena mining country, whichwas Winnebago territory. Red Bird first led a war party against theChippewas, by whom he was defeated, and then turned against the UnitedStates. The result, which culminated at the mouth of the Bad Axe, isfamiliar history, and does not directly concern the progress of this his-tory, only so far as it marks the decadence of the Winnebagoes as a nationclaiming dominion over the present area of Sauk County.

By treaties held with the Winnebagoes in 1829 and 1832 all theirterritory south and east of the Wisconsin River was acquired by thegeneral Government. West of the Wisconsin, including the present

County of Sauk, the country was still Winnebago land, but on the first

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of November, 1837, they ceded to the United States all of their landseast of the Mississippi, which, of course, included the present Countyof Sauk.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR

The Black Hawk war of 1832 put as definite a period to the strengthof the Sauks and Foxes, as the so-called Winnebago war had to theaggressiveness of the Winnebagoes. It is thought that the treacherousWinnebagoes even instigated the more serious campaigns led by thebrave and able chief of the Sauks. The first campaign, in the springof the year, resulted in the defeat of the white volunteers and the con-tinued occupancy of the defiant Indians of the country which they claimedalong Rock River.

In June of the same year (1832) a new force was raised and placedin command of General Henry Atkinson, of the regular army, who com-menced his march up Rock River. Before the campaign reopened anumber of settlers and miners in the lead region of Southwestern Wis-consin and Northwestern Illinois had been killed by the Indians. Squadsof volunteers had encountered the red men on several occasions, and atPecatonica, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, an entire band of seventeenSauks and Foxes had been exterminated. Atkinson's march up RockRiver was attended by some skirmishing; when, being informed thatBlack Hawk and his force were at Lake Koshkonong, in the southwestcorner of what is now Jefferson County, the American commander movedthither with a portion of his little army, where the entire force wasordered to concentrate. But the Sauk chief with his warriors had dis-appeared. Cols. Henry Dodge and James D. Henry, with the troopsunder them, discovered the trail of the Indians leading toward the Wis-consin River. It was evident that the retreating force was large, andthat it had but recently passed. The pursuing troops hastened theirmarch.

BATTLE OF WISCONSIN HEIGHTS

On the twenty-first of July, 1832, the American troops arrived at thehills which skirt the banks of that stream in what is now Roxbury Town-ship, Dane County. At that locality Black Hawk's entire camp, includ-ing women and children, the aged and the infirm, were frantically has-tening to escape across the Wisconsin. That this might be effected, itbecame necessary for the chief to make a firm stand in order to cover theretreat. The Indians were in the botom lands when the pursuing whitesmade their appearance on the heights in their rear. Colonel Dodge heldthe advance and sustained the first attack of the Indians. He was soonjoined by Colonel Henry, with his force, the combined party obtaining acomplete victory. The action commenced about 5 o'clock in the after-

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noon and ended at sunset. The Indians, numbering not less than 500,

sustained a loss of about 60 killed and a large number wounded. The loss

of the Americans was one killed and eight wounded. This conflict has

since been known as the battle of Wisconsin Heights.

BLACK HAWK'S FLIGHT THROUGH SAUK COUNTY

During the night of the battle Black Hawk sent the women and chil-

dren, with other helpless members of the tribe, down the Wisconsin in

canoes, while he himself with a band of chosen warriors crossed the river

and landed near the present site of the Village of Prairie du Sac. It is

believed that the war party under the noted chief then crossed the north-

east corner of what is now Prairie du Sac Township to the Wisconsin

River Trail, followed up Honey Creek Valley to its head, leaving the

valley at that point and striking toward the west. The Indians were pur-

sued in their flight and were not brought to a stand until they had reached

the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Bad Axe, on the western boundary

of what is now Vernon County, Wisconsin. About two o'clock on the

morning of the second of August, 1832, the line of march began to the

scene of the last conflict in the Black Hawk war. Dodge's volunteers,

Taylor's regulars and a military force which attacked from a steamboat

which had moved up the Mississippi, made the battle of the Bad Axe the

complete overthrow of Black Hawk and his power. The Sauk chief tem-

porarily escaped, but was captured and brought under the sovereignty

of the general Government.But the Sauks and Foxes had long since relinquished claim upon the

soil of Sauk County, and, as stated, the Winnebagoes ceased to hold any

title in it by their treaty of 1837. Surveys of the lands in Sauk County

were at once made. In the following year successful settlements were

made on the present site of Sauk City, and in 1839 the regular sales

commenced for the two land districts, the land office of the Wisconsin

District (in which Sauk County was situated) being at Mineral Point

and that of the Green Bay District being at the town by that name.

YELLow THUNDER VISITS WASHINGTON

While the Winnebagoes were negotiating with the general Govern-

ment, in 1837, their venerable and beloved chief, Yellow Thunder, went

to Washington, accompanied by two young hereditary chiefs, to see the

President. He then resided in Columbia County and was universally

honored by the Winnebagoes and the white settlers. As the last war

chief of his tribe he received many marks of attention, but history has

reached the verdict that he and his people were deceived and induced

wrongfully to make over their lands to the Government of the United

States.

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MRS. FLANDERS' RECOLLECTIONS OF YELLOW THUNDER

Among those who knew Yellow Thunder best during his residence inColumbia County was Mrs. Lydia A. Flanders, of Portage, who in her"Personal Recollections" speaks of him thus: "More than fifty yearsago, when a child of hine years, I wandered one October day, a shortdistance from my home, then a settler's cabin. Glancing along the trail,I saw an Indian approaching. Terrorized and unable to move, I stared,but did not utter a sound. He approached nearer and held out his handand in the most pleasant of voices said, 'How ? How ?' I still felt uncon-vinced of my safety, even if the face before me was not at all formidable,and the expression one of extreme good nature, and murmuring some-thing that I suppose was meant as a farewell, he passed on. That wasmy introduction to Chief Yellow Thunder, and the beginning of a friend-ship which lasted many years, in fact, to the time of his death.

"On a stream of water flowing through my father's farm and nearthe point made memorable by Mrs. Kinzie in that most delightful book,'Wau-Bun,' is an old-time camping ground of the Indians. On the out-side curve of this stream, on a slight elevation thickly covered with trees,is where, on their journeys to, and from Madison, where they went fortheir annuity, they camped sometimes for days and often for weeks,hunting, fishing, and some of the tribes begging, in which last-mentionedpastime, however, our chief did not in the slightest degree participate.Combined with the dignity of his bearing was an air of self-respect,which enveloped him as a mantle. He was tall and well proportioned,with a hand that was shapely and slender, and a voice deep and clear,devoid of the gutturals which are characteristic of the voices of many ofthese people.

"He was not in the least affected by his visit to Washington, whichwas made about the year 1828. Such was not the case, however, withhis wife, who was greatly set up by her traveled experience. Apparentlywith him it was a natural event, of which he talked freely; with her itwas greatness achieved; with him, a part of the expected; with her, onemore feather in her head band, and ever after she demanded the greatestdeference from her people, as well as the title 'Madam Washington.'

"Whenever any of the tribe partook too freely of firewater the oldchief ordered them tied and a guard set, but when this disgrace came tohis own dwelling, in the person of his wife, he took himself off, no oneknew whence or whither, until quiet and order were again restored to hishousehold.

"I never saw him in paint or feathers. A small braid of hair nearthe crown, into which a small black ribbon was woven, was all his headornament. Otherwise he wore his hair as did the white man, parted onthe left side and brushed to the right. His garments were very similarto the white man's in fashion though not in texture, except that his

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blanket was always a part of his apparel. He was a firm believer innoble lineage, and repudiated any and all of the so-called 'chiefs' whofound their way to back doors, or, in fact, to any doors, to beg, and in anapologetic manner told my father that his wife was a tribes-woman, mean-ing not his equal, though always. appearing kind and courteous to her.Incidentally she was the hewer of wood, and the drawer of water, as wellas the doer of all other menial tasks. His affair was to furnish the game,hers to see that it was prepared, either for cooking or, if peltries, stretchedand dried.

"Few there are living today who can tell of good deeds and courtesiesextended to them by this son of the wilderness, but many there were whocould during our long acquaintance with him. Many times he cheeredand sheltered lost and belated settlers, and when wishing to return thevalue of some favor it was sent by the hand of his wife, who I grieve tosay, often tried to bargain his generosity by the gain of something forherself. Once he engaged a settler to carry himself, wife, and belongingsto their home near Delton. The conveyance was a wagon into which theiroutfit was piled, and among these she, of Washington fame, calmly seatedherself. Not so the Chief. He sat beside the driver erect and dignified,and appeared not to see how unprincesslike was the position she hadassumed.

"Always on approaching my father's house he gave some signal,perhaps a few light taps on the porch or door, and never did he enterwithout permission and a word of welcome, something he was sure offrom all its inmates.

"His instincts were gentle and had fortune placed him among the'fittest' he would readily have been recorded as one of nature's noblemen,a title, knowing him as I did, I cheerfully accord him.

"As years came on apace, his visits to the old camping ground becamemore rare and finally ceased altogether, followed in February, 1874, bythe tidings of his death, sincerely mourned by many of the early settlersas well as by his own people. I am glad to chronicle the fact that a por-trait of Yellow Thunder, done in oil, by the distinguished artist, S. D.Coates, hangs in the gallery of the Wisconsin Historical Society, withmany others, whose namxes are prominently connected With the history ofWisconsin.

MEETS THE DAUGHTER OF WHITE CROW

This was the second visit of Yellow Thunder to the National Capital.With the daughter of White Crow, at the time a beautiful Indian girlof eighteen, he had formed one of the delegation of Winnebago chiefswhich visited Washington in the fall of 1828, to look over the seat ofGovernment and some of the chief cities of the East, inspect the navyyards and other evidences of the white man's civilization; following the

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signing of a treaty with the United States at Green Bay in the precedingAugust, as an aftermath of the Winnebago war. Yellow Thunder andthe beautiful princess received many marks of attention. The venerablechief is said to have been unaffected by them and retained his old sim-plicity of manner and friendly bearing when he returned to his ownpeople and the small unspoiled communities of his white neighbors.

CHARACTER SKETCH OF "MADAME WASHINGTON"

It is said that Yellow Thunder made the acquaintance of the princessduring the Washington trip and married her soon afterward. Mrs.Kinzie, in her book, "Wau-bun," draws the following character sketchof the wife of Wau-kaun-zee-kah (Yellow Thunder):

"Among the women with whom I early made acquaintance was thewife of Thunder. She had accompanied her husband who was one of thedeputation to visit the President and from that time forth she had beenknown as the 'Washington Woman.'

"She had a pleasant, old-acquaintance, sort of air in greeting me, asmuch as to say, 'You and I have seen something of the world.'

"No expression of admiration or surprise escaped her lips as hercompanions, with childlike laughing simplicity exclaimed and clappedtheir hands at the different wonderful objects I showed them. Herdeportment said plainly, 'Yes, yes, my children, I have seen all thesethings before.'

"It was not until I put to her ear some tropical shells, of which Ihad a little cabinet, and she heard it roaring in her ear, that she laidaside her apathy.of manner. She poked her fingers into the opening toget at the animal within, shook it violently, then put it to her ear again,and finally burst into a hearty laugh and laid it down, acknowledgingby her looks that this was beyond her comprehension.

"I had one shell of peculiar beauty-my favorite in the whole collec-tion-a small conch shell covered with rich, dark veins. Each of thevisitors successively took up this shell and by words and gesturesexpressed her admiration, evidently showing that she had an eye forbeauty. This was on the occasion of the parting visit of my red daughters.

"Shortly after the payment had been made and the Indians had left,I discovered that my valued shell was missing from the collection. Couldit be that one of the squaws had stolen it? It was possible-they wouldoccasionally, though rarely, do such things under the influence of strongtemptation.

"I tried to recollect which among the party looked most likely tohave been the culprit. It could not have been the 'Washington Woman'-she was partly civilized and knew better.

"A few weeks afterwards Mrs. Yellow Thunder again made herappearance and carefully unfolding a gay colored chintz shawl, which

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she carried rolled up in her hand, she produced the shell and laid it onthe table before me.

"I did not know whether to show by my countenance displeasure atthe trick she had played me, or joy at recovering my treasure; but atlength decided that it was the best policy to manifest no emotion what-ever. She prolonged her visit until my husband returned, and he thenquestioned her about the matter.

" She had taken the shell to her village to show to some of her peoplewho did not come to make the payment.

"Why had she not asked her 'mother's' leave before taking it away?"Because she saw that her 'mother' liked the shell and she was afraid

she would say 'No.'"This was not the first time that 'Madame Washington' had dis-

played the shrewdness which was a predominant trait in her character."During the visit of the Indians to the eastern cities they were taken

to various exhibitions, museums, menageries, the theater, etc. It didnot escape their observation that some silver was always paid before theentrance and they inquired the reason. It was explained to them. Thewoman brightened up as if struck with an idea.

" 'How. much do you pay for each one?'" 'How do you say that in English ?'" 'Two shillings.'" 'Two shinnin-humph' (good)."The next day, when, as usual, visitors began to flock into the rooms

where the Indians were quartered the woman and a young Indian, herconfederate, took their station by the door, which they kept closed.When anyone knocked, the door was cautiously opened and the womanextending her hand exclaimed, 'Two shinnin.' This was readily paid ineach instance and the game went on until she had accumulated a con-siderable sum.

"But this did not satisfy her. At the first attempt of a visitor toleave the room the door was held close and the hand extended and 'Twoshinnin' again met his ear. He tried to explain that having paid forhis entrance he must now go out free. With an inexorable shake of thehead, 'Two shinnin' was all the English she could understand. The agentwho heard the dialogue and sat laughing behind his newspaper, nowcame forward and interfered, and the guests were permitted to go forthwithout a further contribution.

"The good woman was moreover admonished that it was far from thecustom of white people to tax their friends and visitors in this mannerand that the practice must be laid aside in the future."

THE EXODUS OF 1840

When the Winnebagoes disposed of their lands in 1837, they stipu-lated that within eight months they would move west of the Mississippi

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River; it is said that they understood they were to leave in eight years.About 900 of them were forced from the Fort Winnebago Region soonafter the signing of the treaty, while about 300 remained in the swamps,inaccessible to the two regiments of United States troops looking forthem. Some of them, more versatile in staving off the evil day, delayedtheir departure under various pretenses. After a few years of unavailingefforts to effect a removal of the Winnebagoes en masse the Governmentdecided to adopt stringent military measures.

Living at the Portage at this time was John T. De La Ronde, aneducated Frenchman, at different periods of his life connected with theNorthwest, Hudson Bay and American Fur companies. Afterward hebecame an independent trader and a farmer and an Indian interpreterfor the Government. "In 1840," says De La Ronde, "the troops cameto Portage to remove the Winnebago Indians-a part of the EighthRegiment of Infantry under command of Colonel Worth and a part ofthe Fifth Regiment under General Brooke, with General Atkinsonas commander-in-chief. There were three interpreters employed by theGovernment-Antoine Grignon, Pierre Meneg and myself. Meneg wassent after Yellow Thunder and Black Wolf's son, inviting them to Port-age to get provisions; but instead of that as soon as they arrived theywere put into the guardhouse with ball and chain, which hurt the feelingsof the Indians very much, as they had done no harm to the Government.The general had understood that they were going to revolt, refusing toemigrate according to treaty stipulations but as soon as Governor Dodgecame here they were released. They all promised faithfully to be atPortage, ready for removal in three days, and they were all there, thesecond day.

"There were two large boats in which to take down such of theIndians as had no canoes. Antoine Grignon and Pierre Meneg wentdown with the boats. I was kept here by the order of General Atkinsonat the suggestion of General Brady, to assist the dragoons commandedby Captain (Edwin V.) Sumner and Lieutenants MeCrate and Steele. Wewent down to Rock River to look for Mas-i-ma-ni-ka-ka; from there wewent to Madison and thence to. Fox River. We picked up 250 Indians,men, women and children, and took them down to Prairie du Chien.Before we got there, at the head of Kickapoo River, we came to threeIndian wigwams. The captain directed me to order the Indians to breakup their camp and come along with him. Two old women, sisters ofBlack Wolf, and another one came up, throwing themselves on their knees,crying and beseeching Captain Sumner to kill them; that they were old,and would rather die and be buried with their fathers, mothers and chil-dren, than be taken away, and that they were ready to receive their death-blows. The captain directed me to go with them and watch them, and wefound them on their knees; kissing the ground and crying very loud,where their relatives were buried. This touched the captain's feelings

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and he exclaimed 'Good God! What harm could those poor Indians do

among the rocks?' ?It might interest the reader to know that the Captain Sumner, whose

good heart did him such credit, not only served with credit as a com-

mander of dragoons in the Black Hawk war and elsewhere, but distin-

guished himself for his bravery and ability as a cavalry officer in the

Mexican war and in many Indian campaigns in the Southwest. At one

time he was military governor of New Mexico, and during the Civil war,

after being three or four times wounded and reaching the rank of major

general, through personal bravery and military genius, became so shat-

tered in body that he went to his Syracuse home to die.

YELLOW THUNDER ENTERS His "FORTY"

The attempt of the Government to include Yellow Thunder and the

royal.daughter of White Crow in the enforced hegira of the Winnebagoes

to their homes beyond the Mississippi was a rank failure; for they eluded

their captors, walked back several hundred miles and the head of the

tribe and family entered the Forty in Sauk County which remained his

and the refuge of the few Winnebagoes who haunted their old hunting

grounds and homes for more than thirty years.

JAMES H. HILL'S MEMORIAL ADDRESS

When the memorial tablet was unveiled which marked the final rest-

ing place of Yellow Thunder's remains, as well as the grave of his honored

consort, the following connected account of his life was presented in the

address made at the time (August 27, 1909) by James H. Hill, then clerk

of the Circuit Court: "During the closing years of the eighteenth cen-

tury, a Winnebago lad roamed with his tribe, through the beautiful

country lying between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay, and extending

southward to the Rock River."A Winnebago, called by the Sioux O-ton-kah the large, strong people,

tall and lithe and active was he; skilful with bow and spear. A thought-

ful.youth, too, and observant."Occasionally white explorers and traders visited the tribe, and their

stories of the encroachments of the pale faces filled the hearts of the

Indians with fear and dread. So; when one day in 1812, an emissary

from the British invited them to help destroy a common enemy, many.

of the braves went with those of other tribes to Detroit. But the cam-

paign was a failure, and after losing many by disease and hunger, the

remnant made their way back home.

THE YOUNG BRAVE, YELLOW THUNDER

"A peaceable tribe were they, but little is recorded of them until

fifteen years later, when we find our young brave with a name, YellowVol. I--12

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Thunder, wedded to a daughter of the neighboring tribe of Algonquins;the head of a village not very far from Portage, and promoted to the rankof war chief.

"This title was not hereditary, and was never bestowed on accountof birth, but any brave who had done valorous service in war, was recog-nized as a war chief. His followers were volunteers who, while not exactlyobeying him, looked to him for directions and council.

CHEATED OUT OF THEIR LANDS

"The white people were covetous of the land occupied by the Winne-bagoes, and conspired to take it from them. Yellow Thunder and twoyoung hereditary chieftains, War Eagle and the Elder Dandy, wereenticed into going to: Washington, ostensibly to see the President, butreally to wrest from them, by treaty, their domain. When the subject ofa treaty was brought up, Yellow Thunder and the young chieftainsdeclared they had no legal authority to act; that a treaty signed by themwould not be legal, but their arguments were of no avail, and they werefinally prevailed upon to sign a treaty, giving away hundreds of thousandsof acres of land, and agreeing to a removal of the tribe to Iowa. Theywere assured that they would be allowed eight years in which to move,when, in fact, the treaty, which the chiefs were unable to read, stipulatedthat they should go within that many months.

OUTRAGE UPON OUTRAGE

"Three years later in 1840, troops arrived in Portage, forcibly toremove the Indians. Interpreters were sent to the different villages,inviting their head men to go to Portage to receive Drovisions Whenthey arrived, they were locked in a guard house, and fastened by balland chain. Yellow Thunder was one of the numbers so shamefullytreated. It is said he felt the disgrace so keenly he wept. They werereleased after a few days, upon promising faithfully that they wouldreturn within three days, bringing their bands with them. YellowThunder returned the second day.

"Then followed a scene that, for pathos, equaled that other 'removal,'so graphically described by Longfellow in Evangeline. Like the Arca-dians, they were put into boats, to be taken far from their homes, intostrange lands and among strangers away from everything dear to them,and never to return.

BECOMES A LAND OWNER IN SAUK COUNTY

"But Yellow Thunder was determined not to leave the land he lovedso well. With his wife, and a few of his band, he at once returned to

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

Portage, walking nearly 500 miles, and arrived before the troops whohad taken them away.

"Yellow Thunder foresaw that the whites would soon occupy thiscountry, and that he might have the right to remain here, he resolved tobecome a land owner. With an interpreter, he went to the land officeat Mineral Point, and entered a 40-acre homestead 'on the west side ofthe Wisconsin River about sixteen miles above Portage.' There he livedfor over thirty years, with his faithful wife, his death occurring inFebruary, 1874.

"Yellow Thunder lived to see his land pass from barbarism to civi-lization; his own race disappear, and another take its place; 'the dugoutgive way to floating palaces; Indian trails become railways burdened withcommerce,' and proud cities where once he saw his own villages.

STATELY IN MIEN, NOBLE OF CHARACTER

"Personally, Yellow Thunder is described as having been a tall,stately man of much dignity, respected by all, a zealous Catholic, and agenerous friend. We know he was brave, because he had earned thetitle of war-chief; he was honest and conscientious, because he so longrefused to sign that infamous treaty in 1837; faithful to his promises,even to his own injury. Brave, honest, faithful, though unlettered, hewas one of Nature's noblemen."

BURIAL OF YELLOW THUNDER'S SQUAW

Edmund Calvert, who knew the Yellow Thunder family spoke con-cerning the burial of Yellow Thunder, said: "Members of the SaukCounty Historical Society and Twentieth Century Club: Concerningthe burial of Yellow Thunder and his squaw, recalls the winter of 1868,in which occurred the death of Yellow Thunder's squaw, in a wigwamat their home. Isaac Flinn, former sheriff Seneca Corbin and WilliamCalvert assisted in her burial. The grave was dug according to custom,4 feet long and 2 feet wide, the west half 4 feet deep and the easthalf, 2 feet deep. She was removed from the tent on a sled andlaid beside the grave in her blanket. She was then placed in thegrave in a sitting posture, with her blanket wrapped around her and herface to the west. Then the Indians danced around the grave chantingtheir death song according to custom.

DEATH AND BURIAL OF YELLOW THUNDER

"After the death of his squaw Yellow Thunder lived but little in hislog house, which was about three-fourths of a mile northeast of this pillarerected in memory of them. A short time before his sickness and death,

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

late in the fall of 1874, he located his tent one-half mile north of his homeclose to the Wisconsin River, where his white neighbors brought himsomething good to eat, for which he was very grateful. His death wascaused from an injury to his knee, followed by blood poison. He realizedhe had but a short time to live, and requested to be buried in a woodenbox. He asked to be first taken back to his home and allowed to remainthere three days; the first day to visit another tribe; the second, I cannotrecall for what; and the third, to go to the Happy Hunting Grounds.The same formality was used as in the burial of his squaw. The cere-mony was performed by the Indians and the career of the redman andsquaw, who often ate with their white friends, was ended.

INDIANS OF LOCAL FAME

Photograph taken near Linen Mill, Baraboo (1905)-From right to left: SmokySmoke, a Menomonie; Yellow Thunder, son of the old chief; Bill De Korra (withclub), child and wife. Camp near south bank of Baraboo river.

"I wish to extend congratulations to the societies who have so suc-cessfully located and erected this pillar to the memory of Chief YellowThunder and his squaw. '

THE MEMORIAL PILLAR

The pillar is erected where two roads cross at the northeast cornerof the C. C. Allen Farm in Fairfield. It stands under some old oak treeson the main road from Baraboo to Kilbourn, passing the Asa ShultsFarm. The pillar is five miles from Baraboo. It was first decided tobuild the pillar where Yellow Thunder was buried in 1874. After con-sidering the matter, it was thought best to remove the remains of thedeparted chief and his wife from the forty acres owned by George Har-

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

rison to the public road. The Indians were buried almost a half mile

from the main road just east of the home of Q. A. Loveland, and it was

necessary to cross private property in order to reach the place. The

present owners of the land were very kind about people going upon the

property, but fearing that there might be difficulty in future years it

was thought best to make the change.

REMAINS REMOVED FROM FORMER GRAVES

"During the year of the great fair at Chicago, 1893, William Calvert

came from the west and found the bones of the Indian chief and his wife

on the ground. They had been thrown to the surface by some curious

persons hunting for relics and were not replaced. Mr. Calvert put them

back as best he could, and there they remained until removed. There

was some question about the correct location of the graves, but both

William and Edmund Calvert were present with the members of the

society when an investigation was made and it was established beyond a

doubt that the graves were correctly located. On Tuesday, August 17,1909, Joseph Johnson, chairman of the curator committee of the his-

torical society, and H. E. Cole, the president, exhumed the remains of

the chief and his wife. Some of the smaller bones had either disappeared,or were lost, when first thrown out by the relic hunters. Most of the

bones were there, however, and they were taken out to be placed in the

pillar. There was abundant evidence that Yellow Thunder had been

buried in a box.

REMAINS INCLOSED IN MEMORIAL PILLAR

"On Thursday, August 19th, the pillar was erected by City EngineerH. E. French, Edmund Calvert, Charles Goette and H. E. Cole. Field

stones were used and they were supplied by Mr. Calvert. A hole two

feet deep was dug for the base and the whole laid up with cement. The

remains of Yellow Thunder and his squaw were placed in an earthenreceptacle and closed. This was placed in the structure and became a

portion of the pillar. It stands about 41/2 feet high and is 3 feet square.

A framework was made and the pillar laid up inside of that; afterwards

the boards were removed. Cement and lumber were kindly furnished by

Frank M. Stewart of the Stewart Lumber Company.

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

THE NAME PLATES

Two name plates appear on the monument. On the east side is:

YELLOW THUNDERChief of

THE WINNEBAGOBorn 1774-Died 1874

And His SquawDied 1868

On the north side is:

Erected byThe Sauk CountyHistorical Society

and theTwentieth Century Club

of Baraboo1909

FINAL EXPULSION OF THE WINNEBAGOES

The last days of Yellow Thunder were doubtless saddened by the finalforcible expulsion of his people from Wisconsin. Gradually, while helingered on the Forty in Delton Township, the soil of the state had beenswept of Winnebagoes and the Indians, in detachments, collected on theirwestern reservations. In 1846 a treaty had been effected by which theywere to be moved about 500 miles north of their allotted lands in Iowa.Some 1,300 did so in the summer of 1848, 400 lingering in Wisconsin andIowa. In February, 1850, quite a band of them located between the BadAxe and Black rivers and became threatening and insolent; but theyyielded to cautious councils. Other removals followed.

The last of these enforced departures occurred two days before theChristmas of 1873, about two months before the death of Yellow Thunder.Early in the morning of that day Capt. S. A. Hunt and ex-Sheriff Poolcrossed the old Wisconsin River bridge at Portage, heading a detachmentof United States troops. The little expedition was bound for the BarabooRiver, where, near the Crawford Bridge, a considerable number of Win-nebagoes had gathered for a feast and an annual meeting.

Almost every lodge for forty miles around had its delegate. TheWinnebagoes (Bagoes, they were called) had pooled their wigwams, theirfeathers, their paint, their wampum, and were having a hilarious time,when their powwow was interrupted by the appearance of the uninvited

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

boys in blue. The greatest consternation immediately prevailed, for the

Indians knew that they must follow the bulk of their tribe to the reserva-

tion in Nebraska. A parley followed and, as the Bagoes refused to be

persuaded by mildness, they were surrounded by Captain Hunt's men

and made prisoners to the number of nearly one hundred.With as little delay as possible, the captives were arranged in march-

ing order and just before noon, with their families and all their festive

paraphernalia, sullenly wound over the hill near the Catholic Church

CHIEF A-HA-CHO-KA

Taken about 1898

escorted by the United States troops. They were marched to the depot,

safely lodged in the cars, and a full supply of rations dealt out to them.

After they had been housed, Captain Hunt set about to inform himself

whether any of his captives had become real estate owners, or had done

anything else to show that they had abandoned their tribal relations

and were entitled to remain as citizens. In that connection, inquiry was

made for Yellow Thunder, Good Village, War Club, Snake Swallow,MeWinma and Pretty Man, but it was found that only two of them were

among the captives and they were allowed to depart as American citizens.

John Little John and High Snake were taken with the more commonWinnebagoes. Although not legally entitled to remain, as their characters

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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY

were quite warmly endorsed by a number of respectable citizens, theywere informed that they could return to Columbia County later, if theyso desired. The ponies and all the other belongings of the Indians werethen collected and loaded into the baggage cars, and at 6 o'clock the trainwas under way for Sparta, Monroe County, which was to be the ren-dezvous for all the Winnebagoes gathered by Captain Hunt, who wasthe official Government agent for the removal of the remnant of the tribefrom Southern Wisconsin.

Sunday and Monday were busy days and nights for ex-Sheriff Pool,his specialty being the collection of the squaws and families of the Winne-bago braves who had not accompanied their lords to the Baraboo cele-bration. A writer of that time and event puts the matter thus: "As anIndian dance is very like a white man's frolic in some of its characteristics,it was not a matter of surprise to learn that a number of braves werealone at this dance, while the squaws were doing the menial work ofhousekeeping at home and attending to the papooses. Now Big Jim wasjust one of that kind, and. several others might be named, but out ofrespect for their families we will not put their names in print. Thecircumstances,. however, made it necessary for Captain Hunt to dispatchMr. Pool and other messengers for their families, which were at Briggs-.ville (Marquette County, just above the Columbia line) and other places.By Monday evening Mr. Pool had two or three dozen of them congregatedhere, and on Tuesday evening they were forwarded to Sparta. " It wouldthus appear that the Christmas festivities of the Winnebagoes were ratherrudely disturbed in 1873. As we have seen, their beloved and venerablechief, Yellow Thunder, remained in Sauk County and died shortly afterthe last forcible removal of his people from the State of Wisconsin.

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A Standard History of Sauk County Wisconsin An Authentic Narrative of the past, with

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