1832 Andrew Jackson - Bad Axe Massacre and the Black Hawk War

On August 2, 1832, at the Battle (Massacre) of Bad Axe, Wisconsin, 1,300 Illinois militia defeated Sauk and Fox Native Americans ending the Black Hawk War. An excerpt from the article:

"Word of this attack was sent to both President Andrew Jackson and Illinois territory Governor Reynolds. Reynolds called for fresh set 2,000 mounted volunteers, while the president ordered General Winfield Scott to assemble an additional 1,000 regular troops to join General Atkinson and his men. Among General Atkinson's men was none other than private Abraham Lincoln. The large number of men and cavalry marched slowly east into Wisconsin, traveling only 6 or 7 miles per day. This slow march allowed Black Hawk and his men to evade any confrontation. Despite the slow march, the American militia began to encounter fresh signs of Indian camps each day, some only 3 days old. On July 21, 1832 the militia caught up with Black Hawk's band as they attempted to cross the Wisconsin River near present-day Roxbury near Sauk City Wisconsin. The first militia men that arrived at this site were ordered to higher ground where Black Hawk's warriors approached them. When the Warriors were within 30 yards the militia opened fire. Forty of Black Hawk's warriors were killed in the battle. Black Hawk asked his men to stand firm, as the rest of the band crossed the Wisconsin River.

After the battle, the militia continued to pursue Black Hawk. On July 28th, near Spring Green, Wisconsin they caught up with Black Hawk and his British Band at the mouth of the Bad Axe River. Here a decisive battle took place between Black Hawks men and the United States Army regular and militia between August 1 and August 2nd. It was a mostly one-sided affair where the soldiers killed everyone who tried to run for cover or cross the river including women and children. Most Of the 400 to 500 Sauk and Fox Indians at Bad Axe were killed, while other escaped across the river only to be caught by Sioux warriors acting in support of the U.S. Army. The event became known as the Bad Axe Massacre. It was a decisive victory for the United States and an end to the Black Hawk war allowing much of present-day Illinois and Wisconsin to be opened for further settlement.

In his 1832, State of the Union Address, President Jackson made it very clear what his intentions were. He called on Generals Scott and Atkinson and the Illinois State militia to "entirely defeat" the Indians. Jackson declared that after "a harassing warfare", Black Hawk's band was either dispersed or destroyed. Jackson remarked that the lesson was severe but was necessary because of their "unprovoked aggressions" and he hoped that it would leave a lasting impression on them.

'The hostile incursions of the Sac and Fox Indians necessarily led to the interposition of the Government. A portion of the troops, under Generals Scott and Atkinson, and of the militia of the State of Illinois were called into the field. After a harassing warfare, prolonged by the nature of the country and by the difficulty of procuring subsistence, the Indians were entirely defeated, and the disaffected band dispersed or destroyed. The result has been creditable to the troops engaged in the service. Severe as is the lesson to the Indians, it was rendered necessary by their unprovoked aggressions, and it is to be hoped that its impression will be permanent and salutary.'"