fort near the camping ground,
which was Fort Keeshkanong. General Alexander returned on the 15th with
provisions to the fort, while Generals Dodge and Henry thought best to
go with their commands to the head of Fox river, and while on the way
stopped at a Winnebago village and had a talk with their head men, who
assured them that Black Hawk was then at Cranberry Lake, a point higher
up Rock river. After a consultation by the Generals, it was deemed best
to send an express to General Atkinson at Fort Keeshkanong, to let him
know of the information they had got, and their intention of moving on
the enemy the next morning. Dr. Merryman, of Colonel Collins' regiment,
and Major Woodbridge, Adjutant of General Dodge's corps, volunteered to
go, and with Little Thunder, a Winnebago chief, as pilot, started out to
perform this dangerous service, and after traveling a few miles, came on
fresh Indian trails, which Little Thunder pronounced to have been made
by Black Hawk's party, and fearing that they would be intercepted,
insisted on returning to camp. Night was then approaching, and having
no guide to lead them forward, they reluctantly followed Little Thunder
back to camp. Orders were then given for an early move next morning, and
at daylight the bugle sounded, and the army moved onwards. The trail was
followed for two days, leading for Four Lakes. On the second day, July
21st, scouts from General Dodge's corps came in and reported Indians,
and as a confirmation of the fact, Dr. A.K. Philleo exhibited a scalp
that he had taken from the head of one that he had shot. Dr. Philleo was
brave as the bravest, and whenever a scouting party started out to look
for Indians (unless his services were required in camp), was always in
the lead, and this being his first Indian, took his scalp, and sent it
to the writer, with written instructions how to preserve it. To this
end we handed over both to a deaf and dumb printer in the office, who
boasted somewhat of his chemical knowledge, who spent considerable time
for a number of days in following the Doctor's instructions. After the
killing of this Indian, some of the scouts discovered fresh signs of
more Indians, and after pursuing it for some miles, Dr. Philleo and his
friend Journey, equally as brave, being in the lead, espied two more
Indians, when each picked his man and fired, and both fell; one of them,
although badly wounded, fired as he fell, and wounded one of the scouts.
The Doctor's