History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 73

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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A garrison of soldiers, trained in the arts of war, and subject to strict military discipline and drill even in times of peace, constituted the first civilized white community of Chicago. A fort had been built and occupied, destroyed and rebuilt years before the vil- lage of Chicago boasted more than half a dozen huts and shanties outside the garrison. The influence of such a garrison has ever most depressing effect on the innate military ardor of the private citizen. Seldom does the civilian so far acquire the spirit of self-abase- ment as to put on his sword, and sash, and pompons, and epaulets under the critical and supercilious gaze of the regular, except under the urgent stress of danger to be met or duty to be performed, demanding other serv- ice than those involved in a dress parade. So it hap- pened that for many years the fighting qualities of the Chicago militiaman were unostentatiously held in abey- ance, and the waiting heroes, hidden in citizen's garb, quietly threaded the paths of life even to the end, un- heralded and unsung. But, remote from the protection of the garrison, the militia has ever been found, hilar- iously noisy, gaudy, and ostentatious in its preparatory demonstrations, but in emergency, the fearless and un- flinching defender of the fireside, home, and country.

Even as far back as 1812, the militia, with its char- acteristic reliability in time of extremity, makes its first appearance in the annals of Chicago. The massacre attending the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, August 15, 1812, numbered among its victims " twelve militiamen." Captain Nathan Heald, the commandant of Fort Dear -. born at the time of its evacuation, in a letter written from Pittsburgh, November 7, 1812, details the losses as follows:

" Our strength was about fifty-four regulars and twelve militia, out of which twenty-six regulars and all the militia were killed in the action, with two women and twelve children. Ensign George Ronau and Dr. Isaac Van Voorhis, of my company, with Cap- tain Wells, of Fort Wayne, to my great sorrow, are numbered among the dead."

It is not believed that of the twelve militia heroes who thus carly baptized the soil of Chicago with their life-blood, the name of a single one has been rescued from oblivion. Whether their homes had been in Chi- cago or its vicinity, or whether, at the call of danger, they came from a distance to the scene of peril may never be known.

There was not at that time, nor for many years after, any enrollment of the militia of Chicago, or of the men subject to military duty in the territory now em- braced in Cook County. In 1827 quite a panic occurred at Chicago on account of the hostilities with the Win- nebagoes, who were on the war-path during the summer of that year. Fort Dearborn was not at that time occu- pied as a military post, but was under the charge of Dr. Alexander Wolcott, the Indian Government Agent. The few traders and the families who then made up the settlement were defenseless in case of an attack. There was no militia organization at that time. Gurdon S. Hubbard, still a resident of the city, tells the story of the reception of the news and the efforts to meet the expected or probable attack as follows :*

" At the breaking out of the Winnebago war, early in July, 1827. Fort Dearborn was without military occupation. Dr. Alexander Wolcott, Indian Agent, had charge of the fort living in the brick building, just within the north stockade previously occupied by the commanding officers. The old officers' quarters built of logs on the west, and within the pickets, were occupied by Russel E. Hlea- cock, and one other American family, while a number of voyageurs with their families were living in the soldiers' quarters, on the east side of the inclosure. The store-house and guard-house were on either side of the southern gate : the sutler's store was east of the north gate, and north of the soldiers' barracks ; the block-house was located at the southwest and the bastion at the northwest cor- ners of the fort, and the magazine, of brick, was situated about half way between the west end of the guard and block-houses. The annual payment of the Pottawatomie Indians occurred in Septem- ber of the year 1827. A large body of them had assembled, ac- cording to custom, to receive their annuity. These left after the payment for their respective villages, except a portion of Big Foot's band. The night following the payment, there was a dance in the soldiers' barracks, during the progress of which a violent storm of wind and rain arose ; and about midnight, these quarters were struck by lightning and totally consumed, together with the store- house and a portion of the guard-house. The sleeping inmates of Mr. Kinzie's house,.on the opposite bank of the river, were aroused by the cry of " fire," from Mrs. Helm, one of their number, who, from her window, had seen the flames. On hearing the alarm I. with Robert Kinzie, late Paymaster of United States' Army, hastily arose, and only partially dressed, ran to the river. To our dismay we found the canoe, which was used for crossing the river, filled with water ; it had been partially drawn up on the beach and be- came filled by the dashing of the waves. Not being able to turn it over, and having nothing with which to bail it out, we lost no time, but swam the stream. Entering by the north gate we saw at a glance the situation. The barracks and store-house being wrapped in flames, we directed our energies to the saving of the guard-house, the east end of which was on fire. Mr. Kinzie, rolling himself in a wet blanket, got upon the roof. The men and women, about 40 in number formed a line to the river, and with buckets, tubs, and every available utensil, passed the water to him : this was kept up till daylight before the flames were subducd, Mr. Kinzie main- taining his dangerous position with great fortitude, though his hands, face and portions of his body were severely burned. His father, mother, and sister. Mrs. Helm, had meanwhile freed the canoe from water, and cro-sing in it, fell into line with those carrying water. Some of the Big Foot band of Indians were present at the fire ; but merely as spectators, and could not be prevailed upon to assist. They all left next day for their homes. The strangeness of their behavior was the subject of discussion among us. Six or eight days after this event, while at breakfast in Mr. Kinzie's house, we heard singing, faintly at first, but gradually growing louder as the singers approached. Mr. Kinzie recognized the leading voice as that of Hob Forsyth, and left the table for the piazza of the house. where we all followed. About where Wells Street now crosses the

* See Fergus's Historical Series, No. 10. pp. 41-46.

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river, in plain sight from where we stood, was a light birch bark canoe, manned by thirteen men, rapidly approaching, the inen keeping time with their paddles to one of the Canadian boat songs ; it proved to be Governor Cass and his secretary, Kobert Forsyth, and they landed and soon joined us. From them we first learned of the breaking out of the Winnebago war, and the massacre on the Upper Mississippi. Governor Cass was at Green Bay by appointment, to hold a treaty with the Win- nebagoes and Menomonee tribes, who, however, did not appear to meet him in council. News of hostilities reaching the Governor · there, he immediately procured a light birch bark canoe, purposely made for speed, manned it with twelve men at the paddles and a steersman, and started up the river, making a portage into the Wisconsin, then down it and the Mississippi to Jefferson Barracks, below St. Louis. Here he persuaded the commanding officer to charter a steamer, and embarking troops on it, ascended the Mis- sissippi in search of the hostile Indians, and to give aid to the troops at Fort Snelling On reaching the mouth of the Illinois River, the Governor (with his men and canoe, having been brought so far on the steamer,) here left it, and ascending that stream and the Desplaines, passed through Mud Lake into the South Branch of the Chicago River, reached Chicago. This trip from Green Bay round was performed in about thirteen days, the Governor's party . sleeping only five to seven hours, and averaging sixty to seventy miles travel each day. On the Wisconsin River they passed Win- nebago encampments without molestation. They did not stop to parley, passing rapidly by, singing their boat-songs ; the Indians were so taken by surprise that, before they recovered from their astonishment, the canoe was ont of danger. Governor Cass re- mained at Chicago but a few hours, coasting Lake Michigan back to Green Bay. As soon as he left, the inhabitants of Chicago as- sembled for consultation. Big Foot was suspected of acting in concert with the Winnebagoes, as he was koown to be friendly to them, and many of his band had intermarried with that tribe. Shawbonee was not here at the payment, his money having been drawn for bim by his friend, Billy Caldwell. The evening before Governor Cass's visit, however, he was in Chicago, and then the guest of Caldwell. At my suggestion, he and Caldwell were en- gaged to visit Big Foot's village (Geneva Lake), and get what in- formation they could of the plans of the Winnebagoes ; and also learn what action Big Foot's band intended taking. They left im- mediately, and on nearing Geneva Lake arranged that Sbawbonee should enter the village alone, Caldwell remaining hidden. Upon entering the village, Shawbonee was made a prisoner, and accused

of being a friend of the Americans and a spy. He affected great indignation at these charges and said to Big Foot : 'I was not at the paymeot, but was told by my braves that you desired us to join the Winnebagoes and make war on the Americans. I think the Winnebagoes have been foolish ; alone they cannot succeed. So 1 have come to council with you, hear what you have to say, when I will return to my people and report all you tell me ; if they shall then say, we will join you, I will consent.' After talking nearly all night they agreed to let him go, provided he was accom- panied by one of their own number ; to this proposal Shawbonee readily consented, though it placed him in a dangerous position. His friend Caldwell was waiting for him in the outskirts of the vil- lage, and his presence must not be known, as it would endanger both of their lives. Shawbonee was equal to the emergency. After leaving, in company with one of Big Foot's braves, as the place of Caldwell's concealment was neared, he commenced complaining in a loud voice of being suspected and made a prisoner, and when quite near said : 'We must have no one with us in going to Chicago. Should we meet any one of your band or any one else, we must tell them to go away ; we must go by ourselves, and get to Chicago by noon to-morrow. Kinzie will give us something to eat, and we can go on next day.' Cald- well heard and understood the meaning of this, and started alone by another route. Strategy was still to be used, as Shawbonee desired to report ; sn on nearing Chicago, he said to his companion, ' If Kinzie sees you, he will ask why your band did not assist in putting out the fire ? Maybe he has heard news of the war and is angry with Big Foot ; let us camp here, for our horses are very tired.' This they did, and after a little, the Big Foot brave sug- gested that Shawbonee should go to the fort for food and informa- tion. This was what he wanted to do, and he lost no time in reporting the result of his expeditinn, and procuring food returned to his camp. Starting the next morning with his companion for his own village ; on reaching it he called a council of his Indians, who were addressed by Big Foot's emissary ; but they declined to take part with the Winnebagoes, advising Big Foot to remain neutral.

"On receiving Shawbonee's report, the inhabitants of Chicago were greatly excited ; fearing an attack, we assembled for consulta- tion, when 1 suggested sending to the Wabash for assistance, and tendered my services as messenger. This was at first objected

to, oo the ground that a majority of the men at the fort were in my employ, and in case of an attack, no one could manage them or enforce their aid but myself. It was, however, decided that I should go as I knew the route and all the settlers. An attack would probably not be made until Big Foot's embassador had returned with his report ; this would give at least two weeks' security, and in that time I could, if successful, make the trip and return. [ started between four and five p. M., reaching my trading house on the Iroquois River by midnight, where 1 changed my horse and went on; it was a dark, rainy night. On reaching Sugar Creek, I found the stream swollen out of its banks, and my horse refusing to cross, I was obliged to wait till daylight, when 1 discovered that a large tree had fallen across the trail, making the ford impas- sable. I swam the stream and went on, reaching my friend Mr. Spencer's house at noon, tired out. Mr. Spencer started imme- diately to give the alarm, asking for volunteers to meet at Danville the next evening, with five days' rations. By the day following at the hour appointed, one hundred men were organized into a com- pany, and appointing a Mr. Mforgan, an old frontier fighter, as their captain, we immediately started for Chicago, camping that night on the north fork of the Vermillion River. It rained con- tinually, the trail was very muddy, and we were obliged to swim most of the streams and many of the large sloughs, but we still pushed on, reaching Fort Dearborn the seventh day after my departure, to the great joy of the waiting people. We re-organ- ized, and had a force of about che hundred and fifty men, Morgan commanding. At the end of thirty days, news came of the defeat of the Winnebagoes, and of their treaty with the commanding offi- cer, who went from Jefferson Barracks, as before stated. Upon hearing this, Morgan disbanded his company, who returned to their homes, leaving Fort Dearborn in charge of the Indian Agent as before." .

The following extracts from the supplementary nar- rative of Hezekiah Cunningham was furnished by H. W. Beckwith :*

" In the night time, about the 15th or 20th of July, + 1827, I was awakened by my brother-in-law, Alexander McDonald, telling me that Mr. Hubbard had just come in from Chicago with the word that the Indians were about to massacre the people there, and that men were wanted for their protection at once. The inhabitants of the country capable of bearing arms had been enrolled under the militia laws of the State, and organized as ' The Vermillion County Battalion,' in which 1 held a commission as Captain. 1 dressed myself and started forthwith to notify all the men belonging to my company to meet at Butler's Point (six miles southwest of Danville), the place where the county business was then conducted and where the militia met to muster. The Captains of the other companies were notified the same as myself, and they warned out their respect- ive companies the same as myself, and they rode the remainder of the night at this work, up and down the Little Vermillion.

"At noon the next day, the battalion was at Butler's Point ; most of the men lived on the Little Vermillion Kiver, and had to ride or walk from six to twelve miles to the place of rendezvous. Volunteers were called for, and in a little while fifty men, the re- quired number, were raised. Those who agreed to go then held an election of their officers for the campaign, choosing Achilles Mor- gan, Captain; Major Bayles, First Lieutenant; and Colonel Isaac R. Moores, as Second. The names of the private men, as far as I now remember them, are as follows : George M. Beckwith, John Beasley. myself (Hezekiah Cunningham, Julian Ellis, Seaman Cox, James Dixon, Asa Elliott, Francis Foley, William Foley, a Mr. Hammers, Jacob Heater, a Mr. Davis, Evin Morgan, Isaac Goen, Jonathan Phelps, Joshua Parish, William Reed, John Myers ('Little Vermillion John's, John Saulsbury, a Mr. Kirkman, An- thony Swisher, George Swisher, Joseph P'rice, George Weir, John Vaughn. Newton Wright and Abel Williams. Many of the men were without horses, and the neighbors who had horses and did not go, loaned their animals to those who did ; still there were five men who started afoot, as there were no horses to be had for them. We disbanded, after we were mustered in, and went home to cook five days' rations, and were nrdered to be at Danville the next day. The men all had a pint of whisky, believing it essential to mix a little of it with the slough water we were to drink on our route. Abel Williams, however, was smart enough to take some ground coffee, and a tin cup along, using no stimulants whatever ; he had warm drinks on the way up to Chicago, and coming back all of us ha i the same.

" We arrived at the Vermillion River about noon on Sunday, the day after assembling at Butler's Point. The river was up, run- ning, bank full, ahout a hundred yards wide, with a strong current. Our men and saddles were taken over in a canoe. We undertook

*Fergus's Historical Series, Ny. 10.

+ The month must have been September or October. (See Narrative of G. S. Hubbard.)

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to swim our horses, and as they were driven into the water the cur- rent would strike them and they would swim in a circle and return to the shore a few rods below. Mr. Hubbard, provoked at this de- lay, threw off his coat and said, 'Give me old Charley,' meaning a large, steady-going horse, owned by James Butler and loaned to Jacob Heater. Mr. Hubbard, mounting this horse, boldly dashed into the stream, and the other horses were quickly crowded after him. The water was so swift that ' old Charley' became un- manageable, when Mr. Hubbard dismounted on the upper side and seized the horse, by the mane, near the animal's head, and swimming with his left arm, guided the horse in the direction of the opposite shore. We were afraid he would be washed under the horse or struck by his feet and be drowned ; but he got over without dam- age, except the wetting of his broadcloth pants and moccasins. These he had to dry on his person. as we pursued our journey.

" I will here say that a better man than Mr. Hubbard could not have been sent to our people. fle was well known to all the settlers. His generosity, his quiet and determined courage, and his integrity, were so well known and appreciated that he had the con- fidence and good will of everybody, and was a well-recognized leader among us pioneers.

" At this time there were no persons living on the north bank of the Vermillion River near Danville, except Robert Trickle and George Weir, up near the present woolen factory, and William Reed and Dan Beckwith ; the latter had a little log cabin on the bluff of the Vermillion near the present highway bridge, or rather on the edge of the hill east of the highway some rods. Ilere he kept store, in addition to his official duties as Constable and County Surveyor. The store contained a small assortment of such articles as were suitable for barter with the Indians who were the principal. customers. We called it " The Saddle-Bags Store," because the supplies were brought up from Terre Haute in saddle-bags, that indispensable accompaniment of every rider in those days before highways were provided for the use of vehicles.

" Mr. Reed had been elected Sheriff the previous March, re- ceiving fifty-seven out of the eighty votes that were cast at the election, and which represented about the entire voting population of the county at that time. Both Reed and Dan wanted to go with us, and after quite a warm controversy between them, as it was impossible for them both to leave, it was agreed that Reed should go and that Beckwith should look after the affairs of both until Reed's return. Amos Williams was building his house at Danville at this time, the sale of lots having taken place the previous April. " Crossing the North Fork at Denmark, three miles north of Danville, we passed the cabin of Seymour Treat. He was build- - ing a mill at that place ; and bis house was the last one in which a family was living until we reached Hubbard's Trading-Post on the north bank of the Iroquois River, near what has since been known as the town of Buncombe ; and from this trading-house there was no other habitation, Indian wigwams excepted, on the line of our march until we reached Fort Dearborn.' ** *

" We reached Chicago about four o'clock on the evening of the fourth day, in the midst of one of the most severe rainstorms I ever experienced, accompanied by thunder and vicious lightning. The rain we did not mind, we were without tents and were used to wetting. The water we took within us hurt us more than that which fell upon us, as drinking it made many of us sick. The peo- ple of Chicago were very glad to see us. They were expecting an attack every hour since Colonel Hubbard had left them, and as we approached they did not know whether we were enemies or friends, and when they learned that we were friends they gave us a shout of welcome .* They had organized a company of thirty or fifty men, composed mostly of Canadian half-breeds, interspersed with a few Americans, all under the command of Captain Beaubien. The Americans seeing that we were a better looking crowd, wanted to leave their associates and join our company. This feeling caused quite a row, but the officers finally restored harmony and the dis- contented men went back to their old command. The town of Chi- cago was composed at this time of six or seven American families, a number of half-breeds, and a lot of idle. vagabond Indians loiter- ing about. I made the acquaintance of Robert and James Kin- zie, and their father, John Kinzie. We kept guard day and night for some eight or ten days, when a runner came in-I think from Green Bay-hringing word that General C'ass had concluded a treaty with the Winnebagos, and that we might now disband and go hume. The citizens were overjoyed at the news ; and in their gladness they turned out one barrel of gin, one barrel of brandy, one barrel of whisky, knocking the heads of the barrels in. Everylunly was invited to take a free drink; and, to tell the plain truth, every- body did drink. The ladies at Fort Dearburn treated us especially well. I say this without disparaging the good and cordial conduct of the men toward us. The ladies gave us all manner of good things to eat. They loded us with provisions and gave us all those delicate attentions that the kindness of woman's heart woukl sug-

* The distance traveled In Colonel Hubbard on this expedition was not less than two hundred and fitty miles.

gest. Some of them-three ladies whom I understood were recently from New York, distributed tracts and other reading mat- ter among our company, and interested themselves zealously in our spiritual as well as temporal welfare."

The company mentioned in the foregoing as organ- ized while Hubbard had gone for relief, was the first

acchia

militia company ever organized in Chicago of which any tradition or record is preserved. The commander of this company was Jean Baptiste Beanbien.

The first, truest and bravest volunteer militiamen of Cook County were Shawbonee and his friend "Billy Caldwell." Their names appear on no muster rolls, but their services as protectors of the whites against their savage foes have enrolled them in the hearts of their descendants forever. But for them the first families of Chicago would have had no descendants to perpetuate their lives or tell the story of their preservation. Mer- ited mention of these friends of early Chicago, ever true and brave, appears elsewhere.

In October, 1828, Fort Dearborn was again garri- soned and so remained with the exception of May and a part of June, 1832, until its final evacuation, May 10, 1837. When the Black Hawk War broke out, in the early spring of 1832, threatening the entire devastation of all the white settlements in the country west and northwest of the great lakes, the regular army was found inadequate to repel the threatened danger, and the mil- itia were again called into requisition. Under the call for troops the State of Illinois furnished one hundred and seventy-four companies of volunteers, which appear on the muster rolls of the United States, and served in some capacity during the war. In addition, many com- pames of State Militia were under arms, who performed

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meritorious services, but were not mustered into the serv- ice by any United States officer. No rolls of these companies are preserved in the archives of the Govern- ment. Fortunately, through the industrious historic re- search of Hon. John Wentworth and others, the roster of one of these companies, made up of early residents of Chicago, has been rescued from oblivion, as will appear in its proper connection. The participation of residents of Chicago in the war is detailed in the following sketch :

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 73

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340