The Battle of Wisconsin Heights
The definitive battle of the Black Hawk War, the Battle of Wisconsin Heights, was fought at this location on July 21, 1832. The leader of the militia, Colonel Henry Dodge, claimed a great victory. Indeed to look at the statistics, it is hard to argue with Dodge. Black Hawk lost over 50% of his warriors during the battle. In the days following the battle, Black Hawk’s band began to come apart with various groups going their separate ways. The main group would be massacred at the Battle of Bad Axe twelve days later. The militia in contrast suffered one death with eight wounded. Yet contemporaries were soon comparing Black Hawk’s accomplishment during the battle with the Spartan’s stand at the Battle of Thermopylae. One of the soldiers in the US Army, Jefferson Davis (yes, that Jefferson Davis), would later write “This was the most brilliant exhibition of military tactics that I ever witnessed—a feat of most consummate management and bravery, in the face of an enemy of greatly superior numbers. I never read of anything that could be compared with it. Had it been performed by white men, it would have been immortalized as one of the most splendid achievements in military history.”
The US Army and state militia had been searching for Black hawk and his band of Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo for several months. The hostilities had started through a series of misunderstandings and missteps after Black Hawk attempted to return his people to their historic homeland (near Rock Island, Illinois) which had been taken through a deceptive treaty. Black Hawk was almost certainly not looking for trouble as his group contained a large number of women and children. After hostilities had broken out, Black Hawk moved his band into southern Wisconsin and hid out near modern-day Fort Atkinson. Black Hawk’s refuge was protected and hidden by a series of swamps and wetlands. From this refuge Black Hawk launched a series of raids on settlements in southwest Wisconsin. By July, Black Hawk’s group was facing starvation. His refuge provided security but offered little opportunity for obtaining food for his large group. In addition, he was increasingly becoming isolated from nearby tribes who wished to avoid trouble with the Army. Eventually Black Hawk decided to take his band back to Iowa and hopefully put an end to the hostilities. He would never make it. After searching in vain for Black Hawk for weeks, Dodge came across Black Hawk’s trail on evening of July 18th near modern-day Aztalan. Dodge was a day or two behind Black Hawk when he began the pursuit. However, his troops moved much faster than Black Hawk’s starving band which included women, children, and the elderly. Dodge pursued Black Hawk towards modern-day Madison and then over the isthmus. The morning of July 21st found Dodge moving across the isthmus and Black Hawk’s band camped near the modern-day Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Black Hawk set a course for the Wisconsin River roughly following modern-day US Highway 12. Black Hawk’s band was in such rough shape that several of his starving people fell dead along the way. By late afternoon Black Hawk had reached the Wisconsin River about mile west of the posted coordinates. As he reached the river the first elements of the militia had finally caught up with him. It appeared that Black Hawk was trapped by the river to the west and the rapidly advancing main body of the militia coming from the east. Black Hawk’s band numbered about 700 of which only 120 were warriors. While main body of the band quickly constructed rafts, canoes, or found anything that floated, Black Hawk and his warriors held off the militia.
At the posted coordinates turn to the east. The old farm road in front of you is roughly where the pursuing militia came in from the east. Now turn to the west. The hill, Black Hawk Mound, in front and to the left of you is where Black Hawk and his warriors made their stand (depending on the time of the year, it might be hard to see). Black Hawk located himself near the top of the hill and shouted orders to his men. The ridge, Militia Ridge, directly to your right is where Dodge's militia deployed. Black Hawk tried to unsuccessfully flank the militia several times before the main body arrived. Dodge’s militia numbered about 250 men during this early phase of the battle. About a half hour after the battle started, Dodge’s forces were joined by three additional regiments under the command of General James Henry. While Henry was the senior officer on scene, Dodge was the true leader of the militia forces. Black Hawk was now outnumbered 700 to 120. For almost ninety minutes Black Hawk and his warriors faced constant fire from the hundreds of troops deployed on the ridge. Finally, Black Hawk began to withdraw his men. At this point Dodge ordered his men to fix bayonets and to charge Black Hawk’s retreating warriors. It appears that most of Black Hawk’s causalities occurred at this point. Many of Black Hawk’s warriors were shot down as they attempted to move around the marshy land in front of you on their way to the Wisconsin River. As night descended, Dodge called off the attack. In addition to the growing darkness, steady rain was falling. Dodge had Black Hawk’s band trapped and he intended to finish his attack in the morning. However, in morning Black Hawk’s band was gone. During the battle, Black Hawk, outnumbered almost 7 to 1, managed to hold off Dodge’s militia long enough to get his entire band across the Wisconsin River.
To log this cache:
1. Post a picture taken at the posted coordinates.
2. At the second waypoint (N 43° 14.682 W 089° 43.400 ) you will see a Wisconsin Historical Marker. According to the marker, how old was Black Hawk at the time of the battle. Please send me your answer, but do not include it in your log.
3. At the third waypoint (N 43° 14.749 W 089° 43.355) you will see a marker erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Please send me the name of the DAR chapter responsible for the marker and the year it was erected—again do not include this information in your log.
Random Additional Comments
- If it has recently rained, or if it is spring, you might want to wear boots as the trail can get soggy in places.
- This battlefield has been described as one of the best preserved battlefields in the eastern United States. Among other things, this means is there is almost no signage or markers to help you identify features or understand the battle. Indeed, when you arrive at the posted coordinates you might scratch you head as there is no physical marker. You will, however, be in the heart of the battlefield.
- The trail from the posted coordinates continues to the east. Eventually it will circle back and take you up the Militia Ridge. Be aware that this trail is very steep in places.
- If you look carefully, you can find prickly pear cactus growing on the sandy soil on the southern face of Militia Ridge. Enjoy looking at the cactus, but please do not leave the trail. The soil is fragile and can be easily damaged.
- The Black Hawk War brought together a number of ironical pairings. We have already noticed the presence of Lieutenant Jefferson Davis in the US Army. Also serving in the Illinois Militia was Captain Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln would later write that being elected captain meant more to him than his later election as president. This election by the men in his unit seems to have played a significant role in launching him into politics. Black Hawk would later be arrested. He was escorted by Lieutenants Jefferson Davis and Robert Anderson down the Mississippi to Rock Island. Robert Anderson would later serve as the commander of Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War.
References
Patrick J. Jung, The Battle of Wisconsin Heights 1832: Thunder on the Wisconsin. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2011.
The Battle of Wisconsin Heights: A Virtual Tour
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Matthew Seguin, Property Manager of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.