Prelude Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1832)

on june 11, dodge escorted brady mouth of fox river confer overall commander general henry atkinson. dodge left conference clear authority atkinson deal violence in mining region. first traveled home fort, @ gratiot s grove, reached on june 13. spafford farm massacre occurred following day, , dodge set out fort hamilton heard it, stopping @ fort blue mounds supplies. on way hamilton, soldiers passed german immigrant, henry apple, exchanged greetings , kept traveling. shortly afterwards soldiers heard gunshots in distance; apple had met kickapoo ambush, meant dodge himself. dodge saved last minute decision make detour main route. later apple s horse galloped wildly past men, wounded , carrying large amount of blood in saddle. horse continued way fort hamilton, raised furor among inhabitants.

a native american band kickapoo tribe, eleven warriors in all, responsible attack on apple; same band had killed 5 men @ spafford farm on june 14. band loosely affiliated black hawk s british band.

on hearing ambush in distance, dodge hurried on toward fort hamilton (present-day wiota, wisconsin) gathered company of 29 mounted volunteers , sped off intercept attackers. led chase through tangled underbrush until, breaking prairie, force caught sight of raiding party. kickapoo crossed pecatonica river within sight of pursuing militia, , entered overgrown swamp. militia followed across swollen river , dismounted when reached swamp.