History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 5

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

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We have thus seen seven great States formned out of that province purchased for $15,000,000 only 80 years ago. "And the end is not yet."

NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY.

OCCUPATION AND SETTLEMENT.

Although the Northwestern Territory lay east of the Mississippi, and never ineluded Iowa, still it was a part of the same great West, and has a history intimately connected with that of Louisiana. A brief historical sketch will therefore not be out of place.

The French were the first settlers of the great distriet between the Ohio and the Mississippi, and long claimed it as their territory. The first permanent settlement was made in what is now Indiana, on the Onabache (Wabashi) River, and is now known as Vincennes. The year in which this post was established is not known. Dif- ferent dates, from 1700 to 1742, have been assigned. Several trading posts, however, had been located on the Illinois and other rivers before 1700.

But the French were not permitted to occupy and extend their western settlements without opposition. The English who occupied the Atlantic seaboard in the beginning of the eighteenth century, soon directed their attention to the West, and disputed the elaims of the French. In a short time they had several settlements on the Ohio. Neither party seemed to desire an immediate con- fliet, but rather to extend and fortify their settlements. During this condition of affairs, George Washington, then in his twenty- second year, was appointed by Gov. Dinwiddie to visit the Western ont-posts, demand of the French commandant his designs, and observe the extent and disposition of his forces. He was informed by the French that they considered themselves the rightful owners of the country, and would not yield it to any anthority. The Virginians then fitted out an expedition under Washington as Lieut. Col., and some hostilities followed. The following year, 1755, opened with promises of peace, but these soon gave way to actual war again-this time on a larger scale. The French were

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at first successful, but in 1758 Pitt became premier of England, there was a great revival of English forces, and Britain regained what she had lost. At the close of 1762 the French were com- pletely reduced, and peace was proclaimed early in 1763. All the western posts were taken possession of by the English, but they did not peacefully retain possession of them. A gigantic conspiracy was formed by the principal Indians of the Northwest, under the famous Pontiac, and all the out-posts were simultaneously attacked. All except Detroit and Fort Pitt fell into the hands of the Indians, but they did not receive expected hielp from the French, and their great scheme failed. The Northwest was in the hands of the Eng- lish, and remained so until the celebrated expedition of Col. George Rogers Clark, on behalf of the American colonies, who were struggling for independence from Great Britain. This able leader surprised and captured Kaskaskia and Port Vincennes, in December, 1778, without bloodshed. While at Kaskaskia, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton, with a force from Detroit, re-took Vincennes. Clark being thus cut off from the United States Government, was forced to the desperate undertaking of marching against a superior force at Vincennes. This was a long, fatiguing march, but finally, by boldness, firmness and address, Clark regained Vincennes. From this time the British continually lost ground in the Northwest.

This memorable expedition of Clark was the basis of the Amer- ican claim to the territory, and was allowed by the British to be the cause of their ceding it to the United States at the close of the Revolutionary war.

Congress, in 1787, adopted an ordinance for the government of the whole Northwest, which is known in history as the " Ordinance of 1787." As this ordinance is the foundation of the constitutions of all the Western States, we give its principal points:

1. The exclusion of slavery from the Territory forever.

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a sem- inary and every section numbered 16 in each township; that is, one thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools.

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution, or · the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing con- tracts.

This compact declared that " schools and the means of education shall always be encouraged." Its prohibition of slavery made the Southern members regret that they had allowed the ordinance to pass. They even tried to have it repealed. In 1803 Congress re-

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ferred it to a committee, of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compaet, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a roek in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. This aet eventually proved the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery.

Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was elected by Congress Governor of this Territory. He fixed the seat of government at Marietta, Ohio, and organized a "general court." Finding that the Indians were disposed to be hostile, Governor St. Clair repaired to Fort Wash- ington to consult with Gen. Harmar in regard to making an ex- pedition against them, and he left Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the Territory, to execute the resolutions of Congress in regard to settlers and other matters. According to his instructions, Mr. Sargent went to Vincennes and organized Camp Knox, appointed the officers, and notified the inhabitants to present their claims to lands. In establishing these claims the settlers found great diffi- enlty, and concerning this matter, the secretary, in his report to the President, wrote as follows:

" Although the lands and lots which were awarded to the inhab- itants appeared from very good oral testimony to belong to those persons to whom they were awarded, either by original grants, purchase or inheritance, yet there was scarcely one case in twenty where the title was complete, owing to the desultory manner in which publie business had been transacted and some other unfor- tnnate causes. The original concessions by the French and British commandants were generally made upon a small scrap of paper, which it has been customary to lodge in the notary's office, who has seldom kept any book of record, but committed the most impor- tant land concerns to loose sheets, which, in process of time, have come into possession of persons that have fraudulently destroyed them; or, unacquainted with their consequence, innocently lost or trifled them away."

Mr. Sargent says there were about 150 French families at Vin- cennes in 1790. The heads of all these families had been at some time vested with certain titles to a portion of the soil; and while the secretary was busy in straightening ont these claims, he re- ceived a petition signed by 80 Americans, asking for the confir- mation of grants of land ceded by the court organized by Col. John Todd under the authority of Virginia. With reference to this canse, Congress, March 3, 1791, empowered the Territorial Gover- nor, in cases where land had been actually improved and cultivated

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under a supposed grant for the same, to confirm to the person.s who made such improvements the lands supposed to have been granted; not, however, exceeding the quantity of 400 aeres to any one person.

In the summer of 1790, the General Court passed several salu- tary laws prohibiting gaming, and restrieting the sale of liquors.

Winthrop Sargent's administration was highly eulogized by the citizens at Vineennes, in a testimonial drawn up and signed by a committee of officers.

EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS.

Gov. St. Clair, after consulting with Gen. Harmar, concluded to chastise the savages about the head of the Wabash. He there- fore raised an army of 1,450 men, mostly militia, and with these Harmar marehed against the Indians. Owing to the bad disei- pline of the militia this expedition was not entirely successful. The Indians suffered, but not enough to induce them to sue for peace. The inhabitants began to be alarmed, and petitioned the Virginia Legislature for further protection.

The attention of the general Government was aroused, and Gen. Chas. Seott, under authority of the War Department, made a raid on the Indians in the vieinity of the Wabash, with 750 mounted men. He killed 32 warriors, and took 58 prisoners. The most infirm of these prisoners he dismissed with messages for the In- dians farther up the Wabash, whom he was unable to reach on account of the condition of his horses.

March 3, 1791, Congress authorized Gov. St. Clair to raise a foree of 3,000 men, with which to garrison strongly one or two posts, and to make another expedition against the hostiles. Before under- taking so large an expedition, Gov. St. Clair, June 25, 1791, ordered Gen. Wilkinson to proceed against the Indians with 500 mounted men. Wilkinson reported the results of his raid as fol- lows: "I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiatenon nation, and have made prisoners of the sons and sisters of the king. I have burned a respectable Kickapoo village, and cut down at least 400 acres of eorn, chiefly in the milk."

The Indians were greatly damaged by the expeditions of Harmar, Scott and Wilkinson, but were far from being subdued. They were continually ineited to hostilities by the British, who held the posts of Michilimackinac, Detroit and Niagara, contrary to the treaty of 1783.

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In September, 1791, St. Clair moved from Fort Washington with 2,000 men. They were attacked Nov. 4, by a body of 1,200 Indians, and completely defeated. St. Clair returned to Fort Washington with his broken army, having lost 578 killed and missing, and 254 wounded, besides several pieces of artillery and all his baggage, ammunition and stores. The savage Indians, believ- ing that the whites had made war for many years merely to ac- quire land, erammed clay and sand into the eyes and down the throats of the dying and the dead !

Gov. St. Clair, although not particularly blamed, resigned as Major-General, and was suceceded by Gen. Anthony Wayne. Under him, in 1792, the army was entirely re-organized, and, October, 1793, moved westward, 3,600 strong. All possible means had been previously exhausted to induce the Indians to unite in a treaty of peace, but they were elated by the defeat of St. Clair, and felt amply prepared to meet Gen. Wayne. The Indians insisted on the Ohio as the boundary of the United States. Maj. Gen. Scott, with about 1,600 mounted volunteers from Kentucky, joined the regular troops under Gen. Wayne, July 26, 1794, and on the 2Sth the united forces marched against the Indian towns on the Manmee. Gen. Wayne gained a decisive victory over the In- dians, and the expedition was completely successful. Fort Wayne was established and strongly garrisoned.

In Angust, 1795, the gallant Gen. Wayne concluded a general treaty of peace with all the hostile tribes of the Northwestern Territory. This treaty opened the way to the flood of immigration, and soon the germs were budding of the five mighty States of the great Northwest.

DIVISION AND GROWTIL.

From this time there was nothing to impede the steady growth of the Northwest, and under the beneficent provisions of the ordi- nanee of 1787, the best elass of immigrants settled in that fertile region. Soon self-government was asked and granted, and accord- ing to the ordinance, five States were formed, one after another. We briefly notice the Territorial existence and State organization of each.

Ohio .- Of the five States made from the Northwestern Terri- tory, Ohio was the first to be highly developed, being nearest to the original States. In it was the capital of the Territory-Chil- licothe. The progress of Ohio was surprisingly rapid, and in 1803,

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according to the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, It was ad- mitted into the Union.

Indiana .- The Territory of Indiana was organized in 1800, and William Henry Harrison was appointed governor. It passed to the second grade of Territorial government (with elected Legisla- ture) in 1807. A penal code was then adopted, which was remark- able for its severity. Even horse-stealing was punished with death. During the administration of Gov. Harrison, in 1811, occurred the brief war with Tecumseh, of which the battle of Tip- pecanoe was the principal event. After the Indian troubles sub- sided, the settlements in Indiana began to improve, and the population to be augmented by extensive immigratiom from the East. In 1813, Mr. Thomas Posey, of Tennessee, succeeded Har- rison as governor of Indiana. In 1816 Indiana was admitted as a State.

Illinois .- The Territory of Illinois was organized in 1809. Previous to this time it had been a part of Indiana Territory. The principal laws of Indiana were re-enacted for Illinois. Illinois had its Indian troubles, but as the principal one, the Black Hawk war, occurred after Illinois became a State, and as it stands alone as the last of the important Indian wars in the Mississippi Valley, we give a full account of it further on. Illinois formed a con- stitution in 1818, and the same year was admitted into the Union.

Michigan .- This Territory was organized in 1805, with William IIull as governor. Detroit was the capital, and from the first played an important part in Western history. The Indian troubles, notably Tecumseh's war, kept back Michigan's growth for some time. She flourished, however, under the able administration of Lewis Cass as governor, which lasted from 1813 to 1831. Cass was succeeded by Gen. Geo. B. Porter. He died in 1834, and the duties of governor were performed by the secretary, Stevens T. Mason. Michigan was admitted as a State in 1837.

Wisconsin .- Previous to 1818 Wisconsin was under different governments, and sometimes attached to some older Territory. In that year it was attached for judicial purposes to Michigan. It then comprised two counties. When Michigan became a State, Wisconsin was organized as a separate Territory. Gen. Henry Dodge was first governor; he was succeeded by James Duane Doty, and he by N. P. Tallmadge; then Gen. Henry Dodge was

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reappointed. The progress of the Territory under these adminis- trations was rapid, and in 1848 Wisconsin became a State.

Thus ended the " Northwestern Territory," after furnishing to this Union of States five of its noblest members.

BLACK HAWK WAR.

In the year of 1804 a treaty was concluded between the United States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. One old chief of the Saes, however, called Black Hawk, who had fought with great bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812, had always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronouncing it void. In 1831 he established himself with a chosen band of war- riors upon the disputed territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The settlers complaining, Gov. Reynolds dis- patehed Gen. Gaines with a company of regulars and 1,500 volun- teers to the scene of action. Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and forced them to conelude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into submission, which made him more than ever determined to be avenged upon his enemies. Hav- ing rallied around him the warlike braves of the Sae and Fox na- tions, he crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832. Upon hear- ing of the invasion, Gov. Reynolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the command of Brig-Gen. Samuel Whiteside.

The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as " Prophet's town," proceeded for several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forees under Gen. Atkinson. They formed at Dixon two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the enemy. They advanced under command of Maj. Stillman, to a ereek afterward called "Stillman's run," and while encamping there, saw a party of mounted Indians at the distance of a mile. Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the Indians, killing three of them; but, attacked by the main body under Black Hawk, they were ronted, and by their precipitate flight spread such a panie through the camp that the whole com- pany ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carry them. On

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their arrival it was found that there had been 11 killed. The party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each squad positive that all who were left behind were mas- sacred.

It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who was a colonel of the militia, upon his arrival in camp gave to Gen. Whiteside and the wondering multitude, the following glowing and bombastic account of the battle: "Sirs," said he, "our detach- ment was encamped among some scattering timber on the north side of Old Man's Creek, with the prairie from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was just after twilight, in the gloaming of the evening, when we discovered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column; they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prairie, and such accuracy and precision of military movements were never witnessed by man; they were equal to the best troops of Wellington in Spain. I have said that the Indians came down in solid columns, and displayed in the form of a crescent; and what was most wonderful, there were large squares of cavalry resting npon the points of the curve, which squares were supported again by other columns 15 deep, ex- tending back through the woods and over a swamp three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the main body of Black Hawk's army bivouacked upon the banks of the Kishwakee. It was a ter- rible and a glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they rode along onr flanks attempting to outflank us, with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades and burning spears. It was a sight well calculated to strike consternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our men soon began to break in small squads, for tall timber.

"In a very little time the ront became general, the Indians were soon npon our flanks, and threatened the destruction of our entire detachment. Abont this time Maj. Stillman, Col. Stephenson, Maj. Perkins, Capt. Adams, Mr. Hackelton and myself, with some others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and pro- tect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell bravely fighting hand-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered not far to the left a corps of horsemen, which seemed to be in tolerable order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, lean- ing down and placing my body in a reeumbent posture upon the mane of my horse, so as to bring the heads of the horsemen be-

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tween my eye and the horizon, I discovered by the light of the moon that they were .gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew they were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrograde movement and recovered my position, where I remained some time, thinking what further I could do for my country, when a random ball came whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to me, 'Stranger; you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I followed the example of my companions in arms, and broke for tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little."

For a long time afterward Maj. Stillman and his men were sub- jeets of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their expedition was disastrous. Stillman's defeat spread consternation throughout the State and nation. The number of Indians was greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Hawk carried with it associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty.

ASSAULT ON APPLE RIVER FORT.

A regiment sent to spy out the country between Galena and Rock Island, was surprised by a party of 70 Indians, and was on the point of being thrown into disorder, when Gen. Whiteside, then serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man who should turn his back to the enemy. Order being re- stored, the battle began. At its very outset Gen. Whiteside shot the leader of the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat.

In June, 1832, Black Hawk with a band of 150 warriors, attacked the Apple River Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the miners. For 15 consecutive hours the garrison had to sustain the assanlt of the savage enemy, but knowing very well that no quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and desperation that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors, were compelled to retreat.

Another party of 11 Indians murdered two men near Fort Ham- ilton. They were afterward overtaken by a company of 20 men and every one of them was killed.

ROCK RIVER EXPEDITION.

A new regiment, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, assem- bled on the banks of the Illinois in the latter part of June. Maj. Dement, with a small party, was sent ont to reconnoiter the move-

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ments of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engagement, Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians, while he, with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the Indians under Black Hawk. They moved slowly and cautiously through the country, passed through Turtle Village, and marched up along Rock River. On their arrival news was brought of the discovery of the main trail of the Indians. Con- siderable search was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of Indians save two, who had shot two soldiers the day previous.

Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock River, at the Manitou village, they resolved at once to advance upon the enemy, but in the execution of their design they met with opposition from their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry handed to him a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all col- lected around the General's quarters, many of them with tears in their eyes, pledging themselves that if forgiven they would return to duty and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and they at once resumed duty.

THE BATTLE OF BAD-AXE.

Gen. Henry marched on the 15th of July in pursuit of the In- dians, reaching Rock River after three days' journey, where he learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July 19 the troops were ordered to commence their march. After having made 50 miles, they were overtaken by a terrible thunder storm, which lasted all night. Nothing cooled, however, in their courage and zeal, they marched again 50 miles the next day, en- camping near the place where the Indians had encamped the night before. Hurrying along as fast as they could, the infantry keep- ing up an equal pace with the mounted force, the troops, on the morning of the 21st, crossed the river connecting two of the fonr lakes, by which the Indians had been endeavoring to escape. They found, on their way, the ground strewn with kettles and articles of baggage, which in the haste of retreat the Indians were obliged to throw away. The troops, inspired with new ardor, advanced so rapidly that at noon they fell in with the rear guard of the In- dians. Those who closely pursued them were saluted by a sudden

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fire of musketry from a body of Indians who had concealed them- selves in the high grass of the prairie. A most desperate charge was made upon the Indians, who, unable to resist, retreated ob- liquely, in order to ont-flank the volunteers on the right; but the latter charged the Indians in their ambush, and expelled them from their thickets at the point of the bayonet, and dispersed them. Night set in and the battle ended, having cost the Indians 68 of their bravest men, while the loss of the Illinoisans amounted to but one killed and eight wounded.

Soon after this battle Gens. Atkinson and Henry joined their forees and pursned the Indians. Gen. Henry struck the main trail, left his horses behind, formed an advance guard of eight men, and marched forward upon their trail. When these eight men came within sight of the river, they were suddenly fired upon and five of them killed, the remaining three maintaining their ground till Gen. Henry came up. Then the Indians, charged upon with the bayonet, fell baek upon their main foree. The battle now be- eame general; the Indians fought with desperate valor, but were furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, entting many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest into the river. Those who escaped from being drowned found refuge on an island. On hearing the frequent discharge of musketry, indieating a general engagement, Gen. Atkinson abandoned the pursuit of the 20 Indians nnder Black Hawk himself, and hurried to the seene of action, where he arrived too late to take part in the battle. He immediately forded the river with his troops, the water reaching up to their necks, and landed on the island where the Indians had secreted themselves. The soldiers rushed npon the Indians, killed several of them, took others prisoners, and chased the rest into the river, where they were either drowned or shot before reaching the opposite shore. Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing 300, be- sides 50 prisoners; the whites but 17 killed and 12 wounded.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 5

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280