On the 24th of June, the Indians made an attack upon the fort at Buffalo grove, twelve miles north of Dixon’s ferry.  It was defended by a hundred and fifty men, under the command of Captain Dement, some of whom, with about forty horses, were killed.  The commander did not deem it prudent to march out and encounter the Indians, who finding that they could not take the fort, secured a quantity of provisions, some horses and cattle, and commenced a retreat.  They had not proceeded far, before they were overtaken by a detachment of volunteers under Colonel Posey, who had come to relieve the fort.  Black Hawk, who commanded the Indians in this affair, says, “We concealed ourselves until they came near enough, and then commenced yelling and firing and made a rush upon them.  About this time their chief, with a party of men, rushed up to the rescue of those we had fired upon.  In a little while they commenced retreating, and left their chief and a few braves, who seemed willing and anxious to fight.  They acted like braves, but were forced to give way when I rushed upon them with my braves.  In a short time, the chief returned with a larger party.  He seemed determined to fight and anxious for battle.  When he came near enough, I raised the yell, and firing commenced from both sides.  The chief, who is a small man, addressed his warriors in a loud voice; but they soon retreated, leaving him and a few braves on the battle field.  A great number of my warriors pursued the retreating party, and killed a number of their horses as they ran.  The chief and his braves were unwilling to leave the field.  I ordered my braves to rush upon them, and had the mortification of seeing two of my chiefs killed, before the enemy retreated.  This young chief deserves great praise for his courage, but fortunately for us, his army was not all composed of such brave men.”

The Indians had about two hundred men in this engagement.  The troops in the fort united with those under Colonel Posey, exceeded, in number Black Hawk’s party.  The loss of life was inconsiderable on either side.

On the 4th of July, the main army under General Atkinson, arrived at the foot of lake Coshconong, formed by an expansion of Rock river, in the vicinity of which the Indians had been embodied.  On the 9th of July, General Atkinson says, in a letter to General Scott, that he had not yet been enabled to find the Indians, who he supposes to be seven or eight hundred strong, his own force amounting to four hundred regulars and 2100 mounted volunteers.

Two brigades of the mounted volunteers, under General Dodge, pursued the Indians from this place towards Fort Winnebago.  They were overtaken on the 21st of July, about sun down, on the banks of the Wisconsin.  An attack was immediately made, and about forty of the Indians are supposed to have been killed.  General Dodge lost one man and had eight wounded.  The exact loss of the Indians in this engagement cannot be ascertained.  One account places the number