Soldiers Grove in Crawford County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Soldiers Grove Origin
Photographed By Keith L, June 6, 2010
1. Soldiers Grove Origin Marker
Inscription.
Soldiers Grove Origin. . In late July, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, Sac Indian leader Black Hawk led his starving followers through this area in their escape from the General Henry Atkinson and his military forces. After Black Hawk's brilliant delaying tactics at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights, he fled with his band towards the Mississippi River. On August 1st, in their pursuit of Black Hawk, about 1,300 United States army and militia, including notable future leaders, Col. Zachary Taylor, Col. Henry Dodge and Albert Sidney Johnson, encamped in this vicinity, known then as Pine Grove Village. Weary from their trek through the rugged terrain of western Wisconsin, the soldiers rested; their exhausted and hungry horses, who were unable to find food for days in the jagged terrain, foraged in the grass here. Because this military encampment became widely known throughout the territory, Pine Grove Village was renamed Soldiers Grove.
In late July, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, Sac Indian leader Black Hawk led his starving followers through this area in their escape from the General Henry Atkinson and his military forces. After Black Hawk's brilliant delaying tactics at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights, he fled with his band towards the Mississippi River. On August 1st, in their pursuit of Black Hawk, about 1,300 United States army and militia, including notable future leaders, Col. Zachary Taylor, Col. Henry Dodge and Albert Sidney Johnson, encamped in this vicinity, known then as Pine Grove Village. Weary from their trek through the rugged terrain of western Wisconsin, the soldiers rested; their exhausted and hungry horses, who were unable to find food for days in the jagged terrain, foraged in the grass here. Because this military encampment became widely known throughout the territory, Pine Grove Village was renamed Soldiers Grove.
Erected 1998 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 405.)
43° 23.726′ N, 90° 46.471′ W. Marker is in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, in Crawford County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (County Highway C) and Mill Street (State Highway 131) on Main Street. Marker is at Soldiers Grove Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Soldiers Grove WI 54655, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin. Wikipedia entry. "Soldiers Grove was first settled in 1856 by Joseph H. Brightman, who began a sawmill at the site to process logs rafted down the Kickapoo River. The village which sprang up near the sawmill was initially named "Pine Grove" because of the abundance of Eastern White Pine in the vicinity." (Submitted on June 7, 2010.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,645 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 7, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
