On this date, General Atkinson and his troops entered the area known by the Native Americans as "trembling lands" in their pursuit of Black Hawk. The area was some 10 square miles and contained a large bog. Although the land appeared safe, it would undulate or tremble for yards when pressure was applied. Many of the militiamen were on horses, which plunged to their bellies in the swamp. The "trembling lands" forced Atkinson to retrace his steps back toward the Rock River, in the process losing days in his pursuit of Black Hawk. [Source: Along the Black Hawk Trail by William G. Stark]
1854 - Explorers Arrive in Ashland
On this date Asaph Whittlesey and George Kilbourn arrived in what is now Ashland. However, they were not the first explorers of European descent to venture into this area. Months before, Dr. Edwin Ellis was the first explorer to arrive in Ashland. Dr. Ellis remained and became the town's first doctor. Whittlesey became the first postmaster, justice of the peace, Indian Agent, and Legislative representative from Ashland. He also built the first three houses in the community. [Source: "B" Book I, Beer Bottles, Brawls, Boards, Brothels, Bibles, Battles & Brownstone by Tony Woiak, p. 11]
The Jackson, Mississippi Campaign began under Major General William T. Sherman. The 11th, 12th, 23rd, 29th and 33rd Wisconsin Infantry regiments, 1st Wisconsin Light Artillery, and 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry took part in this campaign.
1888 - Herbert Gasser Born
On this date Nobel Prize winner Herbert Spencer Gasser was born in Platteville, Wisconsin. Gasser attended the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated A.B. in 1910 and A.M. in 1911. He then went to the Johns Hopkins Medical School for his clinical studies, obtaining his M.D. in 1915. While at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Dr. Gasser researched blood coagulation. His major work focused on mechanisms of pain and of reflex action and inspired a large school of neurophysiologists. Gasser was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944. Dr. Gasser died on May 11th, 1963. [Source: Nobelprize.org]
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