USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
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the Curlee Bros, and there continued until Sept. 15th, 1881, when it was moved to Du Quoin, and from the office has since been issued the Du Quoin Press. Mr. M. B. Lawrence became associated with the business after its removal to the latter place. In form the paper is six col. folio, independent in polities.
This in brief is the history of the journalism of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties. For facts and dates relating to its history we are under many obligations to the members of the press throughout the counties. They have aided us in every way possible, and have kindly placed at our disposal tiles of their papers trom which we have gleaned much valu- alle information. We also desire to extend our thanks to Edmund Menard, H. G. Jones, Robt. G. Deitrick, Hon. John H. Lindsay, Judge Murphy and S. L. Taylor, of Ran- dolph county : Hon. William Erd and J. W. Drury of Mon- roe county and G. M. Hinckley, W. H. Adams and Hon. E. H. Lemen of Perry county, and the county officials of those counties for favors shown and information given which has enabled us to trace the history of the press from its first establishment in Kaskaskia in 1814 down to the present time.
CHAPTER XI.
PATRIOTISMI.
HE French settlements on the frontier, at the conclusion of the treaty of Paris, February 10th, 1763, owed their alle- giance to the kingdom of France. The missionaries of the Catholic faith had zealously labored nearly a century to convert the aborigines to the Christian faith, and, armed with the olive branch of peace, they planted the French stan- dard above their rudely constructed forts. Actuated by this zeal, their first thought was to their God, and the second to their native country. By the above mentioned treaty, their allegiance was transferred to the British crown in terms as follows :
" In order to establish peace on solid and durable founda- tions, and to remove forever all subjects of dispute with regard to the limits of the British and French territories on the continent of America, it is agreed that for the future the confines between the dominions of his Britannic Majesty and those of his most excellent Christian Majesty in that part of the world, shall be fixed irrevocably by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi, from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence by a line along the middle of this river and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain to the sea ; and for this purpose, the most Christian king cedes, in full right, and guarantees to his British Majesty the river and port of the Mobile, and everything which he possesses on the left side of the river Mississippi, with the exception 26
of the town of New Orleans and of the island on which it is situated, which shall remain to France ; it being well under- stood that the navigation of the river Mississippi shall be equally free, as well to the subjects of Great Britain as to those of France, in its whole breadth and length, from its source to the sea ; and, expressly, that part which is between the said island of New Orleans and the right bank of that river, as well as the passage both in and out of its mouth. It is further stipulated that the vessels belonging to the subjeets of either nation shall not be stopped, visited or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever."
So far as those were concerned who had gathered around the missionary outposts of the frontier, this transfer of do- minion was merely upon paper ; these hardy few were a law unto themselves. They cared little whether England or France was supreme on this side of the Atlantic. France lost no hold on their affections, nor did England secure their confidence. English subjects who visited the old French towns of Kaskaskia and C'ahokia, only had the effect of more deeply instilling into their minds the aversion and dread of the " Long Knives," as the Virginians were generally de- nominated by the French settlers and Indians. Of this fact Col. Clark took advantage when sent to this frontier under the adviees of the Virginia administration. As this conquest was practically terminated at these French towns, a brief review will not prove uninteresting in this connection. A characteristic of Col. Clark was never to betray fear in the presence of the Indians. It was not his policy to bribe them to do his bidding by loading them with trinkets, and he never made advances when seeking for relations of peace. When the Indian warriors had cast aside with contempt the bloody wampum sent them by the British government, he stoically answered them that he would reply the next day, and cautioned them against shaking hands with the Long Knives, as peace was not yet established, saying it was time enough to extend hands when hearts went with them. The following day the Indians gathered to hear his answer, which he made in the following language :
" Men and warriors, pay attention to my words. You informed me yesterday that the Great Spirit had brought us together, and that you hoped that as He was good, it would be for good. I have also the same hope, and expect that each party will strictly adhere to whatever may be agreed upon, whether it shall be peace or war, and henceforth prove ourselves worthy the attention of the Great Spirit. I am a man and a warrior, not a counsellor. I carry war in my right hand and in my left peace. I am sent by the great council of the Big Knife and their friends to take pos- session of all the towns possessed by the English in this country, and to watch the motions of the red people-to bloody the paths of those who attempt to stop the course of the river ; but to elear the roads for us to those that desire to be in peace, that the women and children may walk in them without meeting anything to str ke their feet against. I am ordered to call upon the Great F'ire for warriors enough to darken the land, and that the red people may hear no sound but of birds who live on blood. I know there is a mist before your eyes ; I will dispel the clouds that you may
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
elearly see the causes of the war between the Big Knife and the English ; then you may jud_e for yourselves which party is in the right ; and if you are warriors, as you profess your- selves to be, prove it by adhering faithfully to the party which you shall believe to be entitled to your friendship, aud not show yourselves to be squaws."
He then proceeded by vivid imagery to describe the cause of the war, and added : " The English were driven from one place to another until they got weak, and then they hired you red people to fight for them. The Great Spirit got angry at this, and caused your old Father, the French king. and other great nations, to join the Big Knife and fight with them against all their enemies. So the English have become like the deer in the woods; and you may see that it is the Great Spirit that has caused your waters to be troubled, he- eause you have fought for the people He was angry with. If your women and children should now ery, you must blame yourselves for it, and not the Big Knife. You can now judge who is in the right. I have already told you who I am ; here is a bloody belt, and a white one; take which you please. Behave like men, and don't let your being sur- rounded by the Big Knife, cause you to take up the one belt with your hands, while your hearts take up the other. If you take the bloody path, you shall leave the town in safety, and may go and join your friends, the English ; we will then try who can longest keep our clothes stained with blood. If, on the other hand, you should take the path of peace, and be received as brothers to the Big Knife, with their friends the French, should you then listen to bad birds that may be flying through the land, you will no longer deserve to be counted men, but as creatures with two tongues, that ought to be destroyed, without listening to anything you might say. As I am convinced you never heard the truth before, I do not wish you to answer before you have taken time to counsel. We will, therefore, part this even- ing, and when the Great Spirit shall bring us together again, let us speak and think like men with one heart and one tongue."
The effect of this address was magical upon the sons of the forest, and had the desired result as was intended by Col. Clark. The manner with which he coupled the French and Big Knives had much weight with the Indians, who had Jong held the missionaries in great respect and reverence. From this time forth, a spirit of patriotism was awakened in behalf of the eause of American Independence, that in- creased and glowed during the entire revolutionary struggle. To the good judgment, bravery and foresight of Col Clark, is the valley of the Mississippi largely indebted for its English- speaking pioneers, many of whom were of his immediate command, they remaining after the disbandment of the army. To this conquest, too, are the United States indebted for the extension of their frontier boundaries and vast western pos- sessions.
As considerable frontier history pertaining to the war of the Revolution was made in and about Kaskaskia, we here give a brief outline of the same as gathered from Reynolds' Pioneer Jottings. Col. Clark on arriving with his forces at the "Old Cherokee Fort," or Fort Massacre, below the
mouth of the Tennessee river, fell in with a party of hunters from Ka-kaskia, under the command of John Duff. From these parties Clark learned that Lieutenant Governor Rochblave, a Canadian Frenchman, commanded Fort Gage at Kaskaskia and the country, and that the militia were organized and well disciplined ; that spies were stationed at various points to give information if the Virginians came into the country. Before leaving Corn Island, Col. Clark had obtained two important facts of information of which be made good use. One was that France had joined the Americans in the war against England, and the other was that the French in Illinois had been led to believe by the English that the " Long Knives " ( Virginiaus) were canni- bals and worse than demons.
The distance from Fort Massaere to Kaskaskia was one hundred and twenty miles, and composed of swamps aud wilderness. Col Clark with his command arrived within a short distance of the village of Kaskaskia, on the evening of the 4th of July, 1878. After dark he proceeded to a house on the river-the old ferry building-three fourths of a mile above the village. After taking possession of the pre- mises he made the following disposition of his troops. Two parties were to cross the river, and the remainder of his forces was to remain on the east side, so as to capture the town and take Fort Gage at the same time. Captain Helm commanded the troops to eross the river and take the village, while Clark in person commanded the other wing to capture the Fort. About midnight everything was in readiness for the movement of both expeditions; and there in the dark on the banks of the Kaskaskia, Col. Clark delivercd the following address to his troops : " Soldiers-We are near the enemy for which we have been struggling for years. We are not fighting alone for liberty and independence, but for the defence of our own frontiers from the tomahawk and scalping knife of the Indians. We are defending the lives of our women and children, although a long distance from_ them. These British garrisons furnish the Indians with powder and lead to desolate the frontier and pay gold for human scalps We must take, and destroy the garrisons. The fort before us is one of them, and it must be taken. We cannot retreat. We have no provisions, and we must con- quer. This is the 4th of July ; we must act to houor it, and let it not be said in after times, that Virginians were de- feated on that memorable day. The fort and town, I repeat, must be taken at all hazards."
After these remarks, the troops silently separated in the darkness, two squads to cross the river and the other to at- tack the fort. Those crossing the river, entered the village at the two extremes of the town, and so quiet and silent was their approach, that not one in the sleeping village knew of their presence until the signal was given, when the air was rent with terrific yells and whoops by the soldiery, leading the just awakened citizens to believe that the whole nation of " Long Knives" had bicken hose upon them with one fell swoop. Those among the American troops who could speak French, proclaimed to the terrified inhabitants, that if they remained quiet within their houses they would not be harmed, but if they came out, or made any resistance, they would be
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
exterminated. In two hours after the town was first entered, the inhabitants had surrendered all their guns and means of defense to the Virginians; the ruse thus proving a perfect success.
We will now return to the little force left on the other side of the river, under the command of Col. Clark. The attempt to take Fort Gage, one of the strongest British fortifications on the frontier, was a most perilous enterprise, and in conception was almost equal to Wayne's storming Stony Point, or Ethan Allen's capturing Ticonderoga. Clark had no arti lery or means of assaulting the Fort, and therefore resorted to stratagem The sagacious seout, Simon Kenton, commanded a detachment to enter the fort, and luckily came upon an American, a native of Pennsylvania, who was familiar with the fort. The guards of the garrison were asleep, and the liberty-loving Pennsylvanian conducted Kenton and his little squad through a small back gate, and into the very bed chamber of the sleeping governor, Roch- blave. The first notice Rochblave had that he was a prisoner was Kenton tapping him on the shoulder to awaken him.
Thus the fort and village were both captured without shedding a drop of blood. It will, therefore, be seen that the conquest and capture of Fort Gage and Kaskaskia, the capital of IHinois, was one of the most peculiar and im- portant events recorded in history.
More than a century has passed, and the ruins of Fort Gage may yet be seen by the traveler, situated on the side of the bluff overlooking the now almost extinct village of Kaskaskia. Both yet linger as departed glories of Revolu- tionary fame and history.
The people of Kaskaskia, after learning from Clark that France had joined hands with the colonists in battling against England for liberty, readily aceeded to his desires and wishes, and several influential citizens of the town vol- unteered their services to accompany Capt. Bowman to Ca- hokia to prepare the minds of the people of that town of the change of sentim. nt in the minds of the French. This expedition was successful in its efforts, the Cahokians de- claring for the American cause.
Col. Clark subsequently learned that the British governor at Vincennes had gone to Detroit, and that the fort-old Sackville-was in the hands of the citizens. He therefore arranged an embassy under the leadership of the good old priest, Gibault, to go to Vincennes and persuade the people to espouse the cause of the patriots. The enterprise was successful, and the French of Vincennes, like the people of Cahokia and Kaskaskia, declared for the Americans, when Gibault, accompanied by several gentlemen from Vin- cennes returned to Kaskaskia with the joyful intelligence. About this time the enlistment of the volunteers under ('lark was about to expire, and as his instructions were un- defined, he aeted at discretion Some of his men re-enlisted, and several of the French from Kaskaskia and Cahokia joined bis command. Early in the following year, 1779, two French companies were organized by Clark, one from Kaskaskia and the other from Cahokia. The former was commanded by Capt. Charleville and the latter by Capt.
McCartney. On the 7th of February, 1779, this band of heroes commenced its march from Kaskaskia on the "Ohl Vincennes trace" to Fort Sackville. This "trace ' was celebrated in Illinois, having been used as a route by the In - dians nearly two centuries ago. It commeneed at Detroit, thence to Ouiaton, on the Wabash, passing through Vin- cennes and terminating at Ka-kaskia. In the language of another writer, " It was the Appian Way of Illinois in an- cient times." In places it may yet be seen between the historic towns of Ka-kaskia and Vincennes. This expedi- tion of Col. Clark and his little band was one of the most dreary and fatiguing that was performed by the patriots during the Revolution.
WAR OF 1812.
In the year 1795 Captain William Whiteside gathered to his standard his few but trusty comrades, to the number of fourteen, and attacked and killed a camp of Indians of con- siderable number, who the French at Cahokia informed him had assembled at the bluff, in pursuance of a meditated at- tack upon him or his property. This decisive victory effec- tually put an end to Indian hostilities in this vicinity, including the territory of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, and peace and security reigned for a period of about sixteen years, until 1×11, when hostilities again broke out. Other localities, however, farther in the interior, were, prior to this date iu constant fear of, and in actual suffering from, Indian outrage.
The immediate cause of the manifest increase of hostile feelings were the British agents and traders, who not only furnished the Indians with arms and ammunition, but also encouraged a course of conduct the savages were ready to pursue. Treaties made with solemn pledges were broken with indifference. Promises and professions of friend-hip were only better means of accomplishing the ends of treach- ery. Murders were committed, and property was stolen and carried away. This condition of things made it necessary to put the frontier in a condition of defense. The citizens organized companies themselves, without the order of the government, and the frontier was guarded along the Missis- sippi, from the month of the Kaska-kia northward, and along that stream, and also at other points. Forts and block- houses or stations were also erected at various places, and others already erected were brought into requisition. In Randolph county were Fort Gage, of revolutionary fame, occupying a position on the bluff looking across the Kas. kaskia river upon the old town of that name; Nathaniel Hill's fort in the northern part of the county, on Doza creek, a little above its junction with the Kaskaskia; a stockade fort in section 33, town 4. range 7; the Georgetown fort, within the corporate limits of Steelesville, on the Shawnee- town road; and Iluggins' fort, erected in Is12 or '13 in sec- tion 19, town 5, range 5 In Monroe were Whiteside'sstation, a short distance southeast of Columbia ; Piggot's fort, about a mile and a half west of that village, at the foot of the Mis- sissippi bluff, where flows the creek called by the French the Grand Risseau ; and Going's fort, creeted in an early day, a short distance southwest of Bellefontaine. In these strong-
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
holds the women and children were placed for safety and protection, while the men able to bear arms went in defense of the settlement.
In 1811 Congress passed an act for the organization of ten companies of mounted rangers to protect the frontiers of the West. Four of these companies were allotted to the defense of Illinois, whose respective captains were: Samuel and William B. Whiteside, James B. Moore, and Jacob Short. The Whitesides and the Moores were among the early set- tlers, not only of Monroe county but also in the Illinois ter- ritory, and were ever to the front at the call of patriotism aud valor. They were bred to the toils of pioneer life and the perils of Indian warfare ; and, besides the sentiment of patriotism, they had the additional stimulus of a determina- tion to avenge the blood of their kindred.
Most active and zealous of all the patriots of Monroe during the war of 1812 and the Indian troubles that pre- ceded it, was John Moredock, who had declared an eternal enmity against the Indian race, in peace and in war, on account of the butchery of his mother, his father and his two step-fathers. He was field officer in the campaign under Governor Edwards in the fall of 1812 to the upper end of Lake Peoria, and acted as major in that expedition. He also acted in that capacity in the campaign of 1813 under General Howard. In December, 1814, while the command of Captain James B. Moore, about fifty rangers, were guarding a herd of cattle at a grove near Sugar Creek, on a trail leading from Camp Russell to Peoria, they discovered some Indians, and singling out one gave him chase. William Ilewit, having the fleetest horse, came up with the Indian, and promptly received the surrender of his gun. Moredock, who had sworn he would kill every Indian who erossed his path, raised his gun to fire. The Indian sprang forward and wrenched the gun he had surrendered from Hewit's hands, and shot him just as the bullet from Moredock's rifle went crashing through his breast For two years prior to 1811, thongb nothing like a regular warfare existed, murders had been committed and property had been stolen. Governor Edwards proceeded to inaugurate meas- ures for a redress of these grievances. The surrender of the murderers of innocent whites and of the stolen property was to be demanded, and terms of an amicable settlement of existing difficulties were to be offered. Captain Levering, of Kaskaskia, Randolph county, was chosen for the perilous undertaking of bearing Governor Edwards' communication to the Indians. To this end he organized a military com- pany at Cahokia, and proceeded with it in a boat to Peoria, then an almost inaccessible place in the midst of a wilder - ness. Though the mission was not fruitful in accomplishing the end in view, on account of the cunniog diplomacy of the Indians, yet by his frequent informal communications with tbem, Captain Levering learned much of their internal polity and their feelings toward the Americans, whom they re- garded as their enemies, despite professions of friendship. Among those whose name should appear on the roll of honor for Randolph county, stands Colonel Stephenson, a brave officer, who was in General Howard's campaign in 1813. To her credit should also be placed the names of Absalom
Cox, George Wilson and Eli Short, and many others. Otho and Willit.n Wi'son, Major Starkey, the Whitesides and the Moores were a few of those who responded with manly grace to their country's call, from Monroe.
Pay roll of a company of militia commanded by Captain William Alexander of the county of Randolph, Illinois Ter- ritory, Ninian Edwards, Governor of said Territory.
Captain. Bilderback, William
May, Jobn
Willliam Alexander
Curry, James McNabh, James
Lieutenant. Conway, Joseph
Camnody, Alexander
Null, Henry
William Mc Bride
Crawford, John
Patton, Holmer
Ser geants.
Creath, George
Prtoine, Joseph
Amos Chatfin
David Everett Eberman. Joseph
Eden, James Pera, John Baptiste
George Wilson
Robinson, Robert
Jolin Anderson Fisher. John
Gill, James
Robinson, Amay
Corporals
Hill, John
Rolls, Edward
Adam McDonald
Jendron, Jean St. John, Leonard
William Lees
Lawrence, Calvin Snodgrass, Arch.
George Cochran
Lively, John Vasslime, Joseph
Joseph Robinson
Lay, Edward
Winn, Daniel
Privates.
Lankford, Eli
White, John E.
Bilderback, Daniel
Martin, George
Welch, William
Bailey, Israel
Murtry, James
White, James
Buatte, Joseph Miller, Joseph
Muster roll and inspection return of a detachment of the 1st Regiment of Illinois militia, under the command of Capt. Absalom Cox, at Kaskaskia, the third of September, 1812.
Cuptuin.
Corporals.
John Beatty
Absalom Cox
Shadrach Lively
Jambes Chik
Lieutenant.
Drummer.
George Bgys
Thomas Roberts
Samuel Mansker
John Willson
Ensign.
Privates. Archiball Steel
Adamı Wobrick
William Thompson Julin Mtiler
Sergeants.
Willianı Little
Solumon Allen
William McDonald
James Mc Farland
Amirew Russ
Richard Robinson
Shadrach Lively
Robert Thompson
Samuel Reiner
John McClinton
Of the above Samuel Mansker is yet living on the same farm from whence he enlisted, near Rockwood a few miles south of Chester.
We subjoin a list of the soldiers from these counties in the Black Hawk and Mexican wars.
Captain Josiah S. Briggs' Company, Third Regiment, Third Brigade, of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, called into the service of the United States, on the requisition of Gen- eral Henry Atkinson, by the Governor's proclamation dated May 15, 1832. Mustered out August 17, 1832 :
Captain .- Josiah S. Briggs
First Luntenant .- John Morrison Second Lieutenant.
J. Thompson. Left Winnebago with Col. Sharp's ord, Galena ; Horse lost. Sergeants.
Robert Mann John Alcorn
Francis S. Jones James Harmon
Corporals.
Andrew McFarlan. Horse lost.
John Me Farlan .5
Dis
Jermigan, Bryant B.
Johnes, Moses
Kilpatrick, Isaac A. Left at Fort Ham- ilton, sick.
Lee, James F,
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