USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
At the second meeting with Black Hawk he brought up an old Indian by the name of Quashquama, or Jumping Fish, who was one of the five men who sold the land. He was a very old man and seemed to be in his second childhood, and to have lost all memory of the sale. He was the only one of the five living and his testimony was of no use. At the fourth and last meeting came a middle-aged squaw, who introduced herself to the general and said she was a granddaughter of a prominent chief, and then began to speak of the sale of the lands. She said "the men could not sell the cornfields, for they belonged to the women-they had made them." She said, "it is very hard work to dig up the ground," and putting her hand on her back she said, "it made their backs ache." Another reason she gave was, "that if the men had sold them they would have told them of it, which they had never done." While they were waiting for the arrival of help and parleying with the Indians, General Gaines fitted up the steamboat "Winnebago" with a cannon on the bow of the boat, and a company of soldiers and proceeded up Rock river to their village, passing within fifty yards of their wigwams. Strange to say, although a steamboat was seldom seen in those days, the Indians seemed not to take the least notice of the boat, not even looking at it, and even the women and children showed no signs of wonder or fear. As soon as the governor's troops were collected together they marched for Rock Island, camping the last night within about ten miles of the island. The Indians, being aware of their approach, crossed the Mississippi at night, taking with them all their effects, wo-
460
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
men, children, horses and dogs. The next day was fixed for the attack upon Black Hawk. It was arranged that General Gaines should take the boat, with one company of men from the garrison, and ascend Rock river, while Major Bliss, with the rest of the forces, should cross over and form on this side and march for Rock river. Just about where the Rock Island railroad freight house now stands we were met by an Indian named Black Buffalo, a man I knew very well. He had a bridle in his hand and was hunting his horse. He had swapped horses with Jonah H. Case, the year before; the horse did not like to go with the Indians and had given them the slip. Major Bliss wished me to ask him about the Indians, where they were, etc. He told me they had all crossed the Mississippi. The Ma- jor told me to tell him if he did not tell the truth he would kill him. The Indian still affirmed that what he said was true. He was sent to the fort a prisoner for that day.
Major Bliss formed our company of Rock River Rangers in an extended line of half a mile, in front of the regulars, with one cannon in the rear, for our march for Rock river. We marched near where the road is now traveled until we reached General Rodman's land, then turning to the left until reaching the top of the bluff, taking the direction of Black Hawk's watch tower. On arriving there we planted the cannon on the brow of the bluff, and then commenced throwing grape and cannister into the bushes on Vandruff's island. It was here we expected to find the Indians. General Gaines arrived with the boat and stopped about where the bridge crosses the main stream, near Sears' flouring mill, and com- menced firing on the island also. This island was very bushy and commanded the only ford that the governor and his forces could cross at. But it proved that Black Buffalo had told the truth. The governor's troops, after crossing the river, burned the Indians' wigwams and marched for Rock Island and camped on the river, from the ferry landing to the freight house. This force amounted to 1,600 mounted men. They turned their 1,600 horses loose on the prairie and the next thing was to procure fuel to cook their supper. I had a field of twenty acres of corn and potatoes and the volunteers went for the fence. We tried to stop them from taking the rails but could not; going to the governor and General Gaines they went out to the field and told the men they must not take the fence. While they were present the men stopped operations, but as soon as they turned to return the men, to the number of 400 or 500, each took a rail on his shoulder and marched be- hind them into camp. By this operation I lost all my crop for one year, for which I never received a cent, the soldiers doing me ten times as much damage as the Indians had ever done. When we asked Black Hawk why he did not do as he said he would, "sit down in his wigwam and let them do as they pleased with him," he said, "If General Gaines had come with only the regular troops at the island he should have remained in his wigwam, but to have done so with men that the officers had no control over would have been sure death to him." In this he acted wisely, as among these volunteers were many frontier men who had had friends killed by the Indians and were prepared to avenge their death on these or any other Indians.
In a few days there was another meeting with Black Hawk and a treaty con- cluded that the Indians should stay on the other side of the river and the govern- ment would give them as much corn as they could have raised if they had not been disturbed. The government appointed two men, Mr. Rinnah Wells and myself, to
461
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
go over their fields and make an estimate of the corn they might have raised. I do not now remember the estimate, but it amounted to several thousand bushels. Thus ended this season's operations. Now commences the more serious part of our story. In the spring of 1833, notwithstanding the agreement of the Indians to keep on the west side of the river, they came over, breaking their treaty made only the summer before. They crossed at Burlington and came up, as usual, with their canoes and horses. As soon as the government ascertained this General At- kinson was sent from Jefferson Barracks with a regiment of men, reaching here before the Indians. The Indians did not make more than ten miles a day, but came along regularly, reaching here soon after the general, and keeping on the south side of the big island, in Rock river, which I had never known them to do before. When they were nearly up to where Milan now stands, I crossed the river by fording, to see if I could ascertain their movements. The first Indians I saw were four young men. They had fine looking guns, and seemed to be well armed. One of them was Black Hawk's son, Seoskuk, who was one of the finest looking Indians I ever saw. He was about thirty years of age and a splendid look- ing fellow. I asked him where they were going. He answered by saying, "Maybe they should go over to their old village, or they might stop where they were, or go up Rock river to Prophetstown." Seoskuk asked me if there were many soldiers at the fort. I told him there were a good many. I was the only white man who had any communication with them at this point. They finally went up Rock river about two miles and camped for the night. The next morning, at the old fort, we could hear them beating their drums and singing so plainly that they seemed but a short distance from us. They were probably five miles distant, and it was quite remarkable, the country being so hilly between them and us, that we should hear them so distinctly. It is hard to tell what this demonstration was for. I have thought it might have been on account of their passing this point without being molested by General Atkinson, as they knew he was at the island with an extra regiment. This same morning General Atkinson, not understanding their move- ments, was anxious to inform the frontier settlers of their danger, but the only ford on the river was so near the Indians that it was not thought safe to make a crossing. I proposed to take the dispatch to the nearest settlements. To avoid the Indians I took a canoe and went down the river until I passed the mouth of Rock river. Here I took great pains to hide my canoe, as my getting home de- pended on this, and made the rest of my journey on foot. The dispatch from General Atkinson to the settlers was to this effect, "That there was now no doubt but what we were to have a conflict with the Indians, urging them to take care of themselves and get out of the way." I had to camp out the first night and after walking forty miles the next day reached the settlement. I went to the different settlements, gave the warning of General Atkinson, and returned home. On com- ing to the river I very fortunately found my canoe where I had hid it, and then came on up to the island. We all supposed the general would stop the Indians at this point but he did not, but called on the governor for help. He was soon here with 1,800 mounted men. About 300 men had already rendezvoused at Dixon and were waiting for orders. All was depending upon General Atkinson getting ready to follow the Indians up Rock river. The stream being too shoal for steam- boats they had to resort to the next best thing, the old keel-boat, and it was a hard
462
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
matter to get supplies on them on so short notice. He succeeded in getting one that would carry eighty tons, the largest I ever saw. This boat was manned by seventy regular soldiers ; they had another of thirty-five tons and several Mack- inaw boats, also well manned. These were loaded with provisions, and after two hard days' work we got over the rapids of Rock river, and on the 8th of May started on the war expedition. General Atkinson had several hundred regulars with him, so in manning these boats he changed hands every other day, as it was very laborious work, Rock river being a very rapid stream at that time of the year. Our first camping place was about two miles above the Chicago & Rock Island rail- road bridge. Our second at the mouth of Canoe creek, our third at Sand Prairie. This part of the river was so crooked that we made but slow progress. Our fourth encampment was about two miles above Prophetstown. I remember this as though it were yesterday.
The troops were officered by General Atkinson, Colonel Zachary Taylor, after- wards president of the United States, Captain Abraham Lincoln, who filled the same high office, Captain, afterwards Major General, Harney, and other officers. Captain Lincoln belonged to the volunteer forces and the others to the regulars.
It was about the middle of May, and the moon being full the night was beau- tiful. The men were enjoying themselves as I had not seen them before, little thinking that so near them their friends were fleeing for safety and some were being overtaken and killed. About 10 o'clock the next morning we met a young man by the name of Hultz from Dixon's ferry, who told us of Major Stillman's defeat by the Indians, and that there was probably a great loss of life. Major Stillman had rendezvoused at Dixon with about 300 men that had been raised in the neighborhood of Peoria, while the governor and his men rendezvoused at Beardstown. The governor was ordered to this place and when he reached here Major Stillman had been several days in camp; his men already tired of camp life, Stillman proposed to the governor while he was waiting for General Atkinson and the boats to take his men and go and see where the Indians were.
The governor consented to their going, and they drew rations for four or five days. 'According to army regulations at that time, whiskey constituted a part of the rations. On the first day out they seemed to conclude they could carry their whiskey best by drinking it all in one day and before night they had very nearly accomplished this task and a good many of them were not altogether sober. About an hour before sundown they went into camp within three or four miles of the Indians. They had not been in camp long before Black Hawk sent three of his braves with a flag of truce, saying for Black Hawk "That it was now night, and for that reason he did not come himself, but that he would come in the morning and talk with them, and did not intend to fight." Black Hawk sent five of his men out on the prairie to see how their flag was received. About twenty or thirty of our men, being under the influence of whiskey, gathered up their horses and guns and rode out to where these Indians were sitting, apparently unconcerned, not ex- pecting any harm. They allowed our men to come within a few feet of them, when our men, be it said to their shame, deliberately raised their guns, killing three of the Indians, the other two fleeing to their encampment. The Indians who brought the flag of truce took advantage of the flurry, sprang away and escaped. Now our folks prepared to meet the Indians, as they felt sure of a fight. They
463
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
mounted, formed in line and moved slowly towards the Indian encampment. As soon as the news of the attack on their men reached the Indians they flew to arms in the greatest possible speed, and came on to the fight. The Indians commenced firing at a long distance and before many shots had been fired our men commenced a stampede for Dixon, the Indians close in the rear, killing all who were unhorsed in the flight. The horse of Black Buffalo came into Dixon that night-he had left the Indians again. The men who first came into Dixon reported that a large part of the command had been killed and it was not known for some time but that it was so. A considerable number of the men from the country about the Illinois river, instead of coming into Dixon, went to their homes. The next day the gov- ernor sent out a strong force to bury the dead. They found eleven whites killed, scattered along for several miles, and not more than five or six Indians, including the three killed on the prairie. There was an Indian living here by the name of Neapope, who, before General Gaines came here, had gone to Malden, in Canada. The British part of our Indians made a practice, as well as most of the Indians of the northwest, of going to Canada to pay court to the English. Colonel Daven- port told me they would collect in large numbers on the Detroit side of the river and the authorities at Malden would fix on a particular day for each tribe to cross, and would give them a day's entertainment. They prepared a feast and met the Indians with a band of music, and escorted them into the fort where a great deal was done for their pleasure and amusement. Neapope and some others had gone to Canada before there was any demonstration, in 1831, to drive them off, and came back in the fall in perfect ignorance of the removal of the Indians. During the winters of 1831-2 Neapope continued to run back and forth from our Indians to the Winnebagoes and Pottawattamies, making Black Hawk believe that when he got up Rock river these tribes would help him, and when he reached Milwaukee the English would assist him.
When Black Hawk, on his way up Rock river, reached Sycamore creek, where our army found him, those Indians told him they could not bring themselves into trouble with the government and consequently he could not look to them for as- sistance. After meeting these Indians I have not the least doubt but Black Hawk intended to give himself and people up without making any resistance, had our men not been intoxicated and therefore violated his flag of truce. The time was now past for parleying with the Indians. From this time the prospect was war. The Indians now flew to unprotected white settlements, waylaid the roads leading from one point to another, killing a number of people in a few days. There were fifteen killed on Indian creek. They carried off captive two young ladies by the name of Hall, after killing all the other members of the family except a brother, quite a young boy, who made his escape. These young ladies were afterwards bought by the Pottawattamies, who paid for them in horses, and returned them to our government. Their clothes being quite shabby, the ladies of Galena gave them new clothing and they were brought to Rock Island on their way to Morgan county. They waylaid the roads leading from Dixon to Galena. At Buffalo Grove a party of men were passing, unconscious of danger, as the settlements were too far apart to get any news so soon of Stillman's defeat. One of this party was our Indian agent by the name of Savry, another Thomas Kinney and another by the name of Hawley ; the other members of the party I cannot name. The Indians lay behind
464
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
a large, long log, near the road. They fired, killing one man and one horse, then killing the man who had lost his horse. Mr. Savry was one of the killed. Mr. Hawley, having a very fine horse, they followed him in hot pursuit for thirty miles. After this terrible chase they run his horse in marshy ground and he fell a victim to their savage rage. Mr. Hawley was a brother of the late Captain Haw- ley, of Pleasant Valley, Scott county, Iowa. This account was given me by Thomas Kinney, a neighbor of mine, who was one of the party.
About twenty miles east of Galena Lieutenant Aubery, of our old command, started to carry a dispatch from Fort Hamilton, a short distance. His horse soon returned with a bloody saddle and it was evident he had been shot by the Indians. It so happened that old General Dodge, with twenty men, was at the fort, and he started quickly in pursuit. Soon finding the dead man, they followed the trail of the Indians, which by the long grass is easily done. They soon came in sight of them, thirteen in all, on foot. They were making their way in great haste to the Pecatonica bottom, where the grass was from six to eight feet high. The general dismounted, detailing every fourth man to hold the horses, leaving fifteen men to pursue the Indians. They followed the trail almost to the river when suddenly the Indians sprang up and fired upon them, killing two of our men, one of these being Samuel Wells, a son of Rinnah Wells, and a member of our old company. Our men returned their fire, bringing down eleven of the Indians the first fire, the re- maining two taking refuge in the river, trying to make their escape. Our men, re- loading their guns, fired, killing them in the water, thus securing the thirteer. About eight or ten miles north of Galena where two men were at work in a corn field, one plowing, the other hoeing corn, two Indians placed themselves so that the man plowing would come near them, killing him the first fire. The other, see- ing his companion shot down, and having no means of defense, took to his heels for Galena. The Indians pursued him several miles, but, being a swift runner, he made his escape. The Indians returned to the house, taking what suited their fancy. There was a large canoe at the house and it being too heavy for them to get to the river, they found a crosscut saw in the house and cut off as much as could ferry them over the river, and made good their escape.
Some twenty miles southeast from Galena, where Elizabeth now is, there was a small settlement of miners, who had erected a rude fort for their protection. An old man by the name of Dixon, who was a frontier man, and well accustomed to Indians, started for Dixon's ferry, accompanied by a man on foot. About a mile from the place of starting they met a large force of Indians, who fired on them, wounding the man on foot. The country being rough and wooded, Dixon, by his dexterity, riding about rapidly, showing himself in many different places in a short time, gave the Indians to believe they had a large force of armed and mounted men to contend with. In this way Dixon gave the wounded man time to reach the fort and apprise the settlers of their danger. The people had scattered out about their business but the alarm being given they were immediately collected in the fort. If it had not been for Dixon's ingenious manœuvering, detaining the Indians, they must have been all massacred as they had hardly time to reach the fort before the Indians took possession of the village and surrounded the fort. The Indians could go from one house to another with comparative safety. They plundered the houses of whatever suited their fancy, and carried off all the valuables, as well as
465
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
most of the provisions in the village. Watching about the fort, if anyone showed himself inside he was fired on by them. One man, showing his head above the fort, received a bullet, breaking his neck. Dixon, instead of stopping at the fort, pressed on to Galena to get a force for their relief. They came on as rapidly as possible and when a short distance south of Elizabeth they found a large force of Indians secreted in the bushes and grass. The Indians, allowing our men to come within a few feet of them, fired, killing several, among others Mr. George Ames, a brother of Mrs. William Brooks, Sr. About this time there were about seventy regular soldiers stationed at Kellogg's Grove, there being a large hewed log house there which made a safe rendezvous for persons going from one point to another, or for those hard pressed by the Indians, which was often the case. One of our mounted companies was driven in by the Indians and was obliged to flee to this place for safety. Hitching their horses as near the house as possible, so as to be able to protect them somewhat from the Indians, they took shelter in the house. The Indians crept up among the trees and shot down fifty-seven horses. They saw one horse acting very strangely and thought they could see something in the weeds in front of him. They concluded this was an Indian and so three or four shots were fired at him. After the Indians had left, in looking over the battlefield, some of the men from this neighborhood recognized Black Buffalo as the man who was in the weeds. Trading horses had brought him to his death, as he had lost his horse at Stillman's defeat and was trying to get another. He had a long stick with which he took the bridle off the stake of the fence, and was trying to creep along and lead him away, but the horse being afraid of him, caused our men to dis- cover and kill him.
About this time a company of about forty men stopped at Kellogg's Grove and struck their tents for the night. It being a rainy night one of the sentinels took shelter near the body of a large tree. Very unexpectedly an Indian put his hand on his shoulder, which was as great a surprise to the Indian as to the soldier. The soldier fired his gun straight up in the air, and our folks, hearing the report, sup- posed they were attacked by the Indians ,and left their tents and went into the house for safety. My brother, R. H. Spencer and four others, were not awakened by the firing, and slept in the tent until morning. The Indians had been prowling around in search of horses and early in the morning our men got on their trail ; the grass being wet they could easily follow it on a fast trot. In about ten miles they came in sight of the Indians. There were only four of them, and they made a sig- nal to give themselves up. But old General Whiteside, who had fought against the Indians in 1812, and for whom Whiteside county was named, showed them that they must fight. The Indians ran into a deep ravine where the water had gullied a large hole, and in this they took shelter. The situation was such that the folks had to get very near in order to see the Indians. This they did by taking advan- tage of the large trees, which were a good protection. Behind one tree were three or four men when one of them, a large man, stepped out and said, "Let me give them a pop," and fired, and in return received two bullets through his body. Gen- eral Whiteside now said: "Boys, rush on them-their guns are empty." They closed upon them, killing them all. They now started on their return, four men car- rying the wounded man, taking turns. After traveling several miles they were at- tacked by a superior force of the enemy and in turn had to flee for safety. General
466
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Whiteside tried hard to make a stand with fifteen or twenty men, to check the In- dians for a few minutes, but could not succeed, and the men who were carrying the wounded man came near being left to the mercy of the Indians, as the men de- tailed to hold their horses, only thinking of themselves, were riding away, leading their horses with them. While they were mounting their horses my brother saw an Indian on a white horse thrust a long spear into the wounded man, whom they were obliged to leave on the ground. The next man who came along with his tomahawk cut off the wounded man's head. In this first attack the Indians killed two of our men besides the one at first wounded.
During the trouble with the Indians there was an old man who, in his religious belief, was a Dunkard, who started from the frontier settlement about La Salle, to go to Chicago, about 100 miles distant. His friends did all they could to dissuade him from going, as he must make the journey on horseback and alone. But he was determined to go, feeling that he would not be disturbed in the journey ; that an overruling power would protect him against the Indians. After leaving the set- tlement, when a few miles on his way, he was discovered by a band of Indians. On coming up with them he permitted them to come within a few yards of him . without showing the least fear. This sect, unlike people of his time, wore their beards long and full, and the Indians had never seen any one with a long beard be- fore. From his strange look and behavior they were awe-struck, and debated among themselves what was best to do with the old man. The old man had a very fine horse, which seemed to decide the question, and so, after following along with him for some time they killed him. On their return to camp that night they found some Pottawattamies in their camp and told them they had killed the devil that day, exhibiting the scalp as it had been taken off, with the beard attached. The Indians were now forced to take a position on the upper part of Rock river, occu- pying the country from lake Koshkonong to where Whitewater now stands. This being wooded country it was very difficult to drive them out. After fighting and skirmishing with them from the middle of May until the last of July, they finally got them started for the Mississippi. The Indians now made all possible haste for Iowa; our army pursuing them closely, overtook them near the Wisconsin river. On the bluff, about five miles from the river, the Indians made their stand and fought one of the hardest battles of the war. The Indians were found in the high grass and by taking advantage of their hiding place would load their guns, rise up and fire, then drop down again and load. They left more than forty dead on the ground and our army, as they followed them up, found their dead scattered for several days. It was believed they lost more than eighty, who were killed, or died from their wounds. This battle was fought by the Indians to give time to get their families across the Wisconsin river. Here they very hastily made bark canoes, taking the bark from large elm trees. Cutting the bark eight or ten feet long they shaved the ends, making it thin and pliable, so they could tie it together and in this way keep the water out. This is not the way of making a regular bark canoe, but a very good substitute. In these rude canoes ninety women and children, and one old man, came down the river to its mouth where they were intercepted by our people and brought to Rock Island and held as prisoners. Our army was de- tained at the Wisconsin river several days in crossing. It being a very rapid stream it was difficult to cross and as there were no boats they took an old hewed
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.