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| In 1832, a major battle in the American Indian Wars was fought near this wayside marker and trail. |
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| Wisconsin Heights Trail map. Click map for larger version. |
The 1.3-mile Wisconsin Heights Trail sits in the riverway’s Black Hawk Unit. Four stacked loops crisscross the battlegrounds at Black Ridge. The route described here uses legs of each stacked loop to circle the site.
From Sauk City, take U.S. Hwy. 12 southeast. Turn left/southwest onto Wis. Hwy. 78. After crossing County Road Y, miles, take the next right/southeast into horseshoe drive where you can park.
A state historical marker next to the trailhead commemorates the Black Hawk War battle. Going northeast onto the trail takes you along the battleground’s northwest edge. A few feet from the parking lot is another historical marker, erected in 1923, to commemorate the site.
In 1804, a treaty required the Sauk and Fox Indians to abandon their homeland in Indiana and Illinois and relocate west of the Mississippi River. Some tribal leaders, among them Chief Black Hawk, disputed the treaty’s legitimacy. Beginning in 1830, he led warriors and his followers into Illinois to reclaim their land.
Militia mobilized
At 0.2 miles, the trail reaches the junction with a second stacked loop in the battleground’s northeast corner. Go on it by heading left/northeast.
Militia in Michigan Territory (which included Wisconsin) and Illinois were mobilized in 1832 to remove Black Hawk’s band. A number of skirmishes followed, and the militia with its Ho Chunk allies chased the band toward the Wisconsin River.
With the militia in close pursuit, Black Hawk set up line at the northern end of this ridge to give about 700 children, women and elderly from the two tribes time to escape to safety by crossing the nearby Wisconsin River.
The trail next returns to the first stacked loop, though a little farther along it then when you had departed earlier, at 0.7 miles. Turn left/southwest.
At 0.8 miles, the trail reaches the third stacked loop. Go left/southwest onto it.
Attack!
The task facing Black Hawk’s warriors was daunting. He had a mere 50-80 warriors while the militia numbered between 600-750 soldiers.
At 0.9 miles, the trail comes to the fourth stacked loop. Head right/southeast. Another junction appears within a few feet. continue straight-right/southeast.
This puts you on a spur trail that heads to heads along the top of the north ridge. You’re at just under 820 feet elevation.
On July 21, 1832, the warriors established themselves on the ridge’s high ground. As the militia moved to take the ridge, the warriors approached them. When just 30 yards from one another, the militia opened fire. Black Hawk told his warriors to "stand their ground and never yield it to the enemy." His men returned fire.
The trail stops at 1 mile. There are five Native American burial mounds here, though they are unrelated to the battle. After taking in the sights, turn back.
River escape
A half-hour later, the militia charged with bayonets. Black Hawk’s men fired back as withdrawing. Mounted militia, however, had cut off their escape route. The few remaining warriors, including Black Hawk, scattered into the woods.
Still, that was enough time for the civilians in Black Hawk’s band to make it across the Wisconsin River in rafts.
At the next two junctions, continue straight/northwest. You’re now on the leg shared by the third and fourth stacked loops.
Black Hawk lost an estimated 40 warriors in the battle while the militia saw one dead and seven wounded. Though a devastating blow to Black Hawk, his leadership and the warrior’s sacrifice have long been hailed, as the band certainly would have been massacred when the militia caught up with it. Indeed, a mere week later at the Battle of Bad Axe, the militia did just that as it caught up with Black Hawk’s band as it tried to cross the Mississippi River.
At 1.2 miles, the third and fourth stacked loops separate. Go left/northwest. This heads back to the parking lot.
