History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 8

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

company was gone or going, and the Indians had jumped the fence and were making towards me. Mr. Davis was running in a northeast di- rection for the timber, looked back and said, 'Take care,' he having his gun in his hands. I at this time discovered quite a number of In- dians on horseback in the edge of the woods as though they were guarding the house to prevent any escape. Then it flashed into my mind that I would try and save myself. I think there were 60 or 80 Indians. I immediately turned toward the creek, which was fifteen or twenty steps from where I stood. The Indians by this time were within three paces of me, under full charge, with their guns in hand. I jumped down the bank of the creek, about twelve feet, which considerably stunned me. At this moment the third volley was fired, the balls passing over my head, killing Mr. Norris and George, who were ahead of me, and who had crossed the creek to the opposite shore, one in the water and the other on the bank. I then passed as swiftly as possible down the stream, on the side next the Indians, the bank hiding me from them. I passed down about two miles, when I crossed and started for Ottawa, through the prairie, overtaking Mr. Henderson, who had started ahead of me, and we went together until we got within four miles of Ottawa, when we fell into company with Mr. Howard and son and three sons of Mr. Davis and my two brothers, all of whom were in the field referred to, except one of Mr. Davis' sons, who was in the shop when the first alarm was given, and who immediately left when he heard the cry of Indians. We all went to Ottawa to- gether in the short space of one hour or less, it being twelve miles (and the county seat of La Salle County). Here we aroused the inhabitants and raised a company during the night and started the next morning for the dreadful scene of slaughter and butchery.

"On the way we met with Stillman's defeated troops, who had been defeated a night or two before, they having encamped within four miles of where the bloodthirsty Indians passed the night after they had killed my dear friends, and instead of going with us and helping bury the dead, they passed on to Ottawa, and we went to the place where the massacre took place. And what a scene presented itself! Here were some with their hearts cut out, and others cut and lacerated in too shocking a manner to mention, or behold, without shuddering. We buried them all in great haste, in one grave, without coffin, box or anything of the kind, there to remain until Gabriel's trumpet shall wake the nations under the ground, and call to life the sleeping dead.

"We then returned to Ottawa and organized a company out of a few citizens and some of Stillman's defeated troops, into which company I enlisted. The next day we were on the line of march, in pursuit of the red savages, to try, if possible, to get possession of my two eldest sisters, who were missing, and who, we were satisfied, had been carried away with the Indians when they retreated, from signs found on the trails. We proceeded up Rock River, above Syc- amore Creek, and our provisions failing, we re- turned to Ottawa and laid in provisions for a sec- ond trip. Here I had conversation with General Atkinson and proposed that some means be used with friendly Indians, in order to purchase my sisters, as I feared the Indians would, in case we overtook them, kill my sisters. He then in- formed me that he had that morning made ar- rangements with Winnebago Indians to try to purchase my sisters.

"Now we started the second time in pursuit, and proceeded up Rock River, and fell in with a company of volunteers, under General Dodge, from whom we learned that the friendly Indians had succeeded in obtaining my sisters, and that they were at White Oak Grove, or Springs. Then, in company with a company of regulars, under General Atkinson's orders, we marched to a place called Burr Oak Grove, or Kellogg's old station. Here I, with some others, was de- tached to guard one of the company. who had stabbed his comrade, to Galena, and we started at midnight. Arriving at Galena, I obtained a furlough, and went to White Oak Springs, where I found my sisters, and returned with them to Galena, stopping at the house of Mr. Sublets, visiting Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Bells, who were acquaintances of father's.

<"Here we remained a week or ten days. Then bidding those kind friends adieu on board the steamer Winnebago, we glided down Fever River to the Mississippi, and down that stream to St. Louis, Missouri, and stopped at the Honorable William Clark's mansion (governor of Missouri), where we met and enjoyed the company of his kind family. Here we remained about a week, and were made as comfortable and happy as his family and friends could make us.

"We received presents and money, an account of which has been given by my sisters in their statement, and here I wish to express my thanks to those kind friends for their hospitality, sym- pathy and love, for I feel that we have been brought under lasting obligations to them.

"Leaving here, we took a steamer for Beards- town, on the Illinois River, in Cass County, near to which we had an uncle Scott living. Arriv- ing safely at Beardstown, we were conveyed

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

to our uncle's, five miles out, where we remained a few days, and, leaving my sisters here, I went up the Illinois River to Bureau County and lived in a camp until I could build me a house. This county adjoins La Salle on the west. The Indi- ans, having received a dreadful scourging, had become peaceable, and in the fall I returned to Cass county and took my sisters and returned to Bureau County again, where we tried to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. This fall I married, and my sisters lived with me through the winter and in the spring, after which they both married, and now I am at the house of the eldest, Sylvia Horn, and dictated the above lines, while my brother-in-law, W. S. Horn, commit- ted them to paper.

"J. W. HALL."

September, 1867. In presence of

"W. S. HORN, "SYLVIA HORN."

CAPTIVITY OF THE HALL SISTERS.

STATEMENT OF RACHEL AND SYLVIAA HALL.

"In the afternoon of the 20th of May, 1832. we were alarmed by Indians rushing suddenly into the room where we were staving. The room, or house, was situated on the north bank of Indian Creek, in the county of La Salle, State of Illinois, about twelve miles north of Ottawa. Here our father and family, consisting of father, mother, four sisters and three brothers, were stopping a few days. Father's name was Wil- liam Hall, about forty-five years old. Mother's name was Mary Jane Rebecca, aged forty-five. The eldest sister's name was Temperance Cart- right, who was living in McLean county, Illi- nois, at the time, and was about twenty-seven years old ; eldest brother's name was John W., who was at home, aged twenty-three : Edward H. Hall, aged twenty-one : Greenbury Hall, aged nineteen (these two last named were not at the house when the Indians made the attack ) : Sylvia Hall, aged seventeen ; Rachel Hall, aged fifteen : Elizabeth, aged eight. The horse in which we were belonged to William Davis, in whose family were nine members. Mr. Pettigrew's family, consisting of four members, were also at the house, where those families were stopping together, in order to protect each other in case of danger from the Indians. John H. Henderson, Henry George and Robert Norris also were stop- ping at the same house.

"John H. Henderson, Alexander Davis, Ed- ward and Greenbury Hall, Allen Howard, Wil- liam Davis, Jr., were in the field about one hun- dred rods south at the time when the Indians

approached the house. William Hall, William Davis, John W. Hall, Norris and George were at the time in a blacksmith shop about sixty or eighty steps from the house, rather down the creek, and near the bank and not far from the north end of- a mill dam, which was being built.

"Mr. Pettigrew was in the house, when all of a sudden the Indians came to the door of the house. Pettigrew, with a child in his arms, went to the door and tried to shut it, but failed to accomplish his object, being shot, and fell in the house. Then commenced a heartrending scene. Mrs. Pettigrew had her arms around Rachel at the time she was shot, and the flash of the burn- ing powder blew in her face. We were trying to hide or get out of the way, while there was no place to get. We were on the bed when the Indians caught us, and took us out into the yard. two Indians taking each of us by the arms and hurrying off as fast as possible, and while go- ing we saw an Indian take Pettigrew's child by the feet and strike its head against a stump. and Davis' little boy was shot by an Indian, two other Indians holding the boy by each hand.

"We passed on to the creek, about eighty steps. when they dragged Rachel into the creek and about half way across, when they turned back and went near half way to the house, where Syl- via and Rachel got together and were hurried up the creek on the north side, being the same side the house stood upon, to where the Indians had left their ponies, about one and one-half miles from the house. Here we found the Indi- ans with father's horses and some of the neigh- bors tied up with their ponies. We were then placed on a pony apiece, on a saddle, and placed near the center of the procession, each of our ponies being led, and occasionally the ponies we were riding received the lash from someone be- hind.

"We supposed that there was somewhere about forty warriors, no squaws being in this party. In this way we traveled until late in the night, when the party halted about two hours, and the Indi- ans danced a little, holding their ponies by the bridles. We rested during this time on some blankets, and both were permitted to sit together. Then we were remounted and traveled on in the same order until one or two o'clock the next day, when they halted again near some bushes not far from a grove of timber (on our right). Just before we stopped Rachel made signs to them that she was tired, and was allowed to get off her pony and walk awhile, and while walking we came to a stream of water some three feet deep, and she was compelled to wade through the water. Here we rested one or two hours while the ponies picked a little. and some beans were scalded by the Indians and some acorns roasted, and the

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Indians ate heartily, and we tried to, but it was very hard to get much down while expecting all the time to fare like our beloved friends, or worse. After thus resting, we were packed up as usual, and traveled on a while, when some of the Indi- ans left us for some time. When they returned we were hurried on at a rapid rate some five miles, while the Indians that were following had their spears drawn, and we expected that the party while absent had seen some whites, and that if we were overtaken they would destroy us.

"After having rode at this rapid rate for about one hour, they slacked or checked their speed and rode on as usual, until near sundown, when the whole party halted for the night, and, having built a fire, the Indians required us to burn some tobacco and corn meal in the fire, which was placed in our hands by them, which we did. not knowing why we did so, except to obey them. We, however, supposed it might be to show that they had been successful in their undertaking. The Indians then prepared supper, consisting of dried meat sliced, coffee boiled in a copper kettle, corn pounded and made in a kind of soup; they then gave us some of this preparation in wooden bowls, with wooden ladles. We partook of those provisions, but did not relish them, after which the Indians partook of their supper, prepared in the same manner. After supper the warriors held a dance, and after the dance concluded, we were conducted to a tent, or wigwam, and a squaw placed on each side of us, where we remained during the night, sleeping what we could, which was but little. The Indians kept stirring around all night. In the morning, breakfast in about the same manner as supper. Breakfast over, the Indians cleared off a piece of ground about nine- ty feet in circumference, and placed a pole about twenty-five feet high in the center, and fifteen or twenty spears set up around this pole, and on the top of the spears were placed the scalps of our murdered friends. Father's, mother's and Mr. Pettigrew's were recognized by us. There were also two or three hearts placed upon sepa- rate spears : then squaws, under the directions of the warriors, as we understood it by their jabbering, painted one side of our faces and heads red and the other black, we being seated on our blankets near the center pole, just leaving room for the Indians to pass between us and the pole. Then the warriors commenced to dance around us with their spears in their hands, and occasionally sticking them in the ground. And now we expected at every round the spears would be thrust through us and our troubles brought to an end, yet no hostile demonstration was made by them toward us.

"After they had continued their dance for about

half an hour or more, two old squaws led us away to one of their wigwams and washed the paint off our faces, as well as they could, after scrubbing very hard. Then the whole encamp- ment struck tents and started in a northward di- rection, while the whole earth seemed to be alive with Indians. This being the third day of our suffering, we were very niuch exhausted, and still we must obey the savage murderers, and while traveling now, we were separated from each other during traveling hours, under charge of two squaws to each of us, and being permitted to stay together when not on the march under the direction of our four squaws, we now trav- eled slowly over rough, barren prairie land until near sundown, when we camped again, being left to our four squaws, with whom we were always in company, day or night, they sleeping on each side of us during the night.

"The warriors now held another dance ; but not around us this time, as before. Here we had all the maple sugar we desired, while the Indians seemed to make as good preparations for our accommodation as they could.

"About this time our dresses were changed. the Indians furnishing the dresses. The one fur- nished Rachel was a red and white calico dress, ruffled around the bottom. Sylvia's was blue calico. The Indians now tried to get us to throw away our shoes and put on moccasins, which we would not do. They also threw away Rachel's comb, and she went and got it again and kept it. We now traveled and camped about as usual, until the seventh day, when the Indians came to where we were and took Sylvia off to the side of a hill, about forty rods from where we were before, to where the Indians seemed to have been holding a council, and one of the Indians said that Sylvia must go with an old Indian, whom we afterward learned was the chief of the Winne- bagoes, and called himself White Crow, and was blind in one eye, and that Rachel was to remain with the Indians we had been with all the time. Sylvia said she could not go unless Rachel went also. He, the White Crow, then got up and made a speech, loud and long, and seemed very much excited and interested. After he had concluded his speech, some Indian, who called himself Whirl- ing Thunder, went and brought Rachel to where Sylvia was, and the chiefs shook hands together, and horses were brought, switches cut to whip them with, and we were both placed on horses, while one of the young Indians stepped up, and with a large knife cut a lock of hair out of Ra- chel's head over the right ear, and one out of the back of the head and said to the old chief, White Crow, that he would have her back (as we after- ward learned) in three or four days. One of the

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Indians also cut a lock of hair out of the front part of Sylvia's head. Then we started and rode at a rapid rate, until the next morning near day- light, when we halted at the encampment of the Winnebagoes, and where a bed was prepared on a low scaffold with blankets and furs, upon which we lay down until after daylight. This was the morning of the ninth day of our captivity. After breakfast the whole encampment packed up and placed us and themselves in canoes, and we traveled all day until near sundown, by water, and camped on the bank of the stream, the name of which we never knew, neither can we now tell whether we traveled up or down; neither can we tell who went with the horses on which we rode the day before.

"On the morning of the 9th we were up and had breakfast as usual with the Indians very early, after which White Crow went around to each camp or wigwam, as far as we could see, and stood at the opening with a gourd with pebbles in it, shaking it and occasionally talking as if he were lecturing, then he went off and was gone all day, while we remained in camp. He came back at night, and for the first time spoke to us in English and asked if father or mother were alive, and whether we had any brothers or sisters. We told him we thought not, for we expected they were all killed. When he heard this he shook his head and looked very sorry, and then informed us that he was going to take us home in the morning.

"Things remained as usual through the night. Next morning, being the Ioth, White Crow went through the same performance as on the morn- ing of yesterday. Then twenty-six of the Winne- bagoes went with us into the canoes and crossed over the stream, swimming their ponies by the side of the canoes. After landing on the other shore, all were mounted on the ponies, and we traveled all day through wet land, sloughs and a growth of underbrush, no water being where the underbrush grew.

"At night we came to where there two or three families encamped. (They expressed great joy at seeing us.) Here we stopped for the night and camped. At the time where we staid, White Crow and Whirling Thunder staid. Here we had pickled pork, potatoes, coffee and bread for sup- per for ourselves and the two chiefs, which we relished better than anything we had since our captivity.

"After all the Indians had lain down, except White Crow, we lay down on the bed prepared for us, and White Crow came and sat down by our bed and commenced smoking his pipe and continued there, smoking the most of the time until morning, never going to sleep, as we be- lieve.

"The next morning, IIth, breakfast about the same as supper. The Indian families with whom we staid bade us good-bye, and the same company of twenty-six Indians as the day before started with us, and we traveled over land that seemed to be higher than that traveled over the day be- fore, and more barren of timber. About 10 a. m. we came to some old tracks of a wagon, and now for the first time we began to have some hopes that these Indians were going to convey us home, as they said they would. And as we passed on we began to see more and more signs of civili- zation. About three o'clock p. m. we stopped and had some dinner, broiled venison and boiled duck eggs, and if they had not been boiled so soon the young ducks would have made their appearance, and our stomachs would have revolted at such a mess of this. But the Indians would never starve, if they could always get young ducks boiled in the shell.

"After this sumptuous feast, we traveled on until we were near the fort at the Blue Mounds. White Crow then took Rachel's white handker- chief, or one that had once been white, and made a flag of it, raised it on a pole, rode on about one-half mile, and halted. There the Indians formed a ring around us, and White Crow and two others went on toward the fort until they came within about one-half mile of the fort, where they halted and remained until an inter- preter met him and ascertained what he wanted. When the interpreter learned what was wanted, he returned to the fort, and the Indian Agent, Henry Gratiot, in company with a company of soldiers, returned to where we were enclosed. White Crow then delivered us over to the com- pany of soldiers, and we returned with the troops to the fort and found, to the great joy of our hearts, two of our uncles in the company, Ed- ward Hall and Reason Hall.

"We remained here in the fort two nights and one day; obtained a change of clothing. It was now about the first of June. We started in com- pany with the same twenty-six Indians and a com- pany of soldiers, with the Indian agent, Henry Gratiot, for Gratiot's Grove, which place we reached at night, and remained over night with a family, the agent and interpreter remaining with us, while the Indians camped near by. Next morning White Crow made a speech to the com- pany in which he referred to the incidents of our rescue. He also proposed to give each of us a Sac squaw for a servant during life, which we declined, telling him that we did not desire to have them placed in such a situation. Then we, in company with the troops, went on to the fort at the White Oak Springs (the Indians bidding us a final adieu at Gratiot's Grove). Here we remained three or four days, when J. W. Hall,

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

our dear brother, whom we supposed murdered, met us and from whom we learned that the famil- ies that were at the house of Davis, and all the in- dividuals that were present. were killed, himself excepted. Those in the field at the time of our captivity made their escape to the fort at Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois, and he, J. W. Hall, after sceing all fall by the hands of the Indians, made his escape by jumping down the bank of the creek and keeping under said bank on the side nearest the Indians, until he could venture out in the prairie and get across to said fort. His state- ments will be found in this work. There we re- mained two or three weeks, and while there we were furnished with materials (by merchants and others, who seemed to take a great interest in our welfarc) to make us some clothing, which we made, in order to prepare ourselves to pass through the country honorably, decently and re- spectably. And we are very sorry we cannot recollect the names of those kind friends, that they might appear upon record as a testimony of their kindness to us in our destitute condition. May the blessings of our Father in Heaven rest upon them all !

"From this place we went, in company with brother John W. Hall and uncle Edward Hall, to Galena. Here we staid at the house of Mr. Bells. with whom we had a little acquaintance, some days. While here we received rations from the army. We also found kind friends in abundance. and received donations in clothing and other things, and needed nothing to make us comfort- able as we could be under such circumstances. For what was supplied, all those friends have our thanks, and now we take our leave of them and pass down the Fevre River to the Mississippi. then to St. Louis, Missouri. Here we stopped with Governor Clark, where we received all the attention necessary to make us comfortable and happy that could be bestowed by himself and kind family. We also received many presents in the way of clothing, and through his ( Hon. Gov. William Clark) influence a sum of money was raised and placed in his hands for our special benefit, amounting in all, we belicve. to the sum of four hundred and seventy dollars, to be laid out in land and entrusted to the care of Rev. R. Horn, of Cass County, Illinois, which was done at our request. There were also other smaller sums donated to pay our expenses up the river homeward. Those kind friends also have our thanks for their kindness and liberality. We re- mained here a few days and took our leave of those kind friends, probably never to meet again in this world. Leaving here. we took boat for Beardstown. Cass County, Illinois, on the Illi-

nois River, where we were safely landed in due time and escorted out in the country five miles east by brother J. W. Hall and uncle Edward Hall, who had been with us all the time since leaving Blue Mounds, to where we had an uncle, Robert Scott, living here. Here we remained about forty miles from where we were captured, Uncle Edward returning to Galena. About the last of September or first of October, 1832, broth- er J. W. Hall returned, and in his company we went to Bureau County, Illinois, where we re- mained with brother J. W. Hall until the next spring.

"Some time in March, 1833. sister Rachel was married to William Munson. Then sister Sylvia staid part of the time with brother Green and part with Rachel until in May. 1833, sister Syl- via was also married to William S. Horn, and removed to Cass County, Illinois. Thus we have given the circumstances of our captivity and res- cuie as near as we can recollect at this date. Sep- tember 7, 1867. in the county of Nemaha, state of Nebraska, where Sylvia Horn lives and where I and my husband have been paying them a visit. "RACHEL MUNSON. "SYLVIA HORN." In presence of : "W. S. HORN, "W. MUNSON."

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 8

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286