On July 21, 1832, during the Black Hawk War, Sac Indian leader Black Hawk and his band left Pheasant Branch west of Madison, retreating ahead of the military forces commanded by Colonels Ewing and Dodge. The band fled north past the west end of Indian Lake and then turned west down the broad valley now bisected by Highway 12. Despite rain and exhausted horses, the military caught up to Black Hawk's warriors late that afternoon at the Heights overlooking the Wisconsin River.