USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. I > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
The scattered population was made up of two classes-first the hardy pioneers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, who were enterprising, accustomed to privations and dangers, and bold and skilful hunters; and second, the lawless adventurers, destitute alike of principal or property, who infest frontier settlements as tigers do the jungles. To the latter class, the prospect of an Indian war held out the allurements of plunder and rapine; while among the more honest, hardy settlers, with whom money was scarce, a war which promised a large expen- diture of the coveted gold of the government, was hailed with satisfaction. Besides this, not a few of these had suffered in person and property from savage depredations, which they thirsted to avenge, while at the same time gratifying the love of adventure incident to dwellers in a new country.
Meanwhile, the outrage committed upon the Menominees by Black Hawk's band had been brought before the govern- ment in such a form that Gen. Henry Atkinson had been dis- patched to Fort Armstrong with a company of regular troops,
365
BLACK-HAWK WAR, 1832.
to enforce the surrender of the perpetrators. The intelligence that the latter had crossed the river did not reach him until seven days thereafter.
Gen. Atkinson was possessed of personal bravery and mili- tary skill, but certainly in this campaign evinced as little knowledge of the aboriginal nature as he did skill in combat- ting their methods of war. While he was not unnecessarily alarmed, he could but regard the invasion of Black Hawk, under the circumstances, as a warlike menace of no ordinary proportions. Without knowing to what extent other tribes were expected to cooperate with him, he thought it prudent to prepare for a decisive campaign. He therefore at once made a requisition upon Gov. Reynolds for a militia force to support the regulars in protecting the frontier.
The governor issued his call April 16, 1832, for "a strong detachment of militia" to rendezvous at Beardstown, April 22. The volunteers were organized into four regiments, an odd battalion, a spy battalion, and a foot battalion, who were placed in command of Brig .- Gen. Samuel Whiteside. These regiments were commanded respectively by Cols. John Dewitt, Jacob Fry, John Thomas, and Samuel M. Thompson; the spy battalion by Maj. James D. Henry; the odd battalion by Maj. Thomas James, and the foot battalion by Maj. Thomas Long. The governor's aides were Cols. James T. B. Stapp, and Joseph M. Chadwick. James Turney, paymaster-general; Vital Jarrot, adjutant-general; Cyrus Edwards, ordnance officer; William Thomas, quartermaster; and Murray McConnell, "staff officer."
Besides the above organizations, the governor ordered a levy of two hundred mounted men to guard the frontiers between Rock Island and the Illinois River, who were placed -under command of Maj. David Bailey; and a like number, to guard the frontiers nearer the Mississippi, who were commanded by Maj. Josialı Stillman. These two last bodies of troops were subsequently organized into the fifth regiment. The total force thus called out, comprising forty companies, numbered 1935 men, rank and file-the regulars about one thousand.
The army began its march, accompanied by the governor, April 27, and reached Fort Armstrong May 7, where the volun- teers were mustered into the service of the United States.
366
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Col. Zachary Taylor, afterward president, here reënforced the army with the troops from Ft. Crawford and Ft. Leavenworth to the number of three hundred. A lieutenant of one of his companies was Jefferson Davis, while Abraham Lincoln com- manded a company in the fourth regiment of volunteers.
A story is related of "old Zach", as he afterward came to be called, that upon ordering an advance movement in which he did not feel certain of the conduct of the volunteers, some of whom seemed to hesitate, he rode out in front of them and made them a little speech. He said "Soldiers, the order you have just heard must be promptly obeyed. The safety of all depends upon the obedience and courage of all. You are citi- zen soldiers, some of you may fill high offices, or even be president some day, but not if you refuse to do your duty. Forward, march!" Himself and one of his hearers-the great Lincoln-must have remembered that speech in after years, as well as he, afterward his son-in-law, who presided over the so-called Southern Confederacy.
The army was divided into two wings, one of which, under Atkinson, proceeded up Rock River by boats, while the other, under Whiteside, marched by land along the eastern bank. The stream was swollen, the ground a swamp; and the hard- ships and fatigues encountered by both bodies were severe and trying. Whiteside's force was the first to reach the Prophet's village. This they found deserted by Black Hawk, the Prophet, and all their followers. Pushing forward, despite the lack of needed rest, the volunteers reached Dixon's on May 12, tired, hungry, wet, and comparatively destitute of supplies. At this point they were met by the two battalions of independent rangers, under command of Majs. Stillman and Bailey, who had joined themselves together, for the purpose of effecting more speedy and brilliant results. These untried militiamen had great confidence in their prowess, and ability to annihilate the foe at the first onset. They had an abundance of both supplies and ammunition, and as they refused to attach them- selves to the main body, Gov. Reynolds ordered them to advance to "the head of Old Man's Creek," where there were supposed to be some hostile Indians whom they were "to coerce into submission." On the fourteenth they encamped in a
367
BLACK - HAWK WAR.
strong position containing rare advantages for attack or defence.
Meanwhile, Black Hawk had been sadly disappointed by the failure of the Winnebagos and Pottawatomies to rally to his standard, and the chief was beginning to suspect treachery. Some years afterward he himself declared that he had, at this time, fully made up his mind to re-cross the Mississippi and never return to its eastern bank. While in this mood, he was informed that a company of white horsemen had encamped some six miles away. He·supposed this to be Atkinson's force, although in reality it was the 275 rangers under Stillman. Black Hawk at once dispatched an envoy of three young braves to inform Atkinson that he was ready to meet him in council at the latter's camp. Five other braves were sent at a safe distance to watch the result of the interview. The bearers of the flag of truce were descried about a mile from the ranger's camp and captured. The five spies were also sighted and pursued and two of their number slain. It is difficult to account for the perpetration of an outrage so cruel and a viola- tion of the rules of war so flagrant except upon the theory- confirmed by statements made at the time-that many of the rangers were excited and maddened by liquor. The three Indians who escaped fled to the camp where Black Hawk was preparing to depart himself, with a flag of truce, to attend the interview which he had proposed. Great was the rage of the old chief when he learned the fate of his ambassadors. He tore into tatters the flag which his hands had held, and ear- nestly appealed to his men to follow him and avenge the blood of those who had been thus wantonly slaughtered.
At this time he had with him but forty braves of his own tribe, his Pottawatomie allies being encamped some seven miles away, and those of the latter tribe who were his guests decid- ing to preserve a position of neutrality at once departed for their villages. When the white rangers saw the band approach- ing, they charged wildly forward-a disorderly, undisciplined mob. The crafty Black Hawk ordered his men to retire into ambush and stand firm. The fiery courage of the advancing party began to cool when they caught a glimpse of the grim- visaged, dusky warriors, and they came to a halt. The pause was fatal. The Hawk raised the blood-curdling warwhoop of
.
1
368
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
the Sacs and the little party of Indians rushed forward and fired. Stillman's men did not wait for a second volley.
The gallant 275 incontinently turned tail and fled. The pre- cipitation of the rout was equalled only by its completeness. Madly they dashed through their own camp, the contents of which were abandoned. Neither swamps nor swollen streams served to check the impetuosity of their retreat. A gallant stand was made by Maj. Perkins and Capt. Adams with fifteen men, but to no purpose. Singly and in squads the fugitives arrived at Dixon's, thirty miles away, from whence many of them continued their mad gallop forty or fifty miles to their homes. Through all the country which they traversed they spread the story that the dreaded Hawk, at the head of 2000 blood-thirsty braves, was descending in one fell swoop upon the unprotected, outlying hamlets to the north. Conster- nation reigned supreme. The settlers who had returned to their farms, once more sought shelter in the forts, and the name of Black Hawk became a menace and a dread in every house- hold. The actual loss of the whites in the rout, greatly exag- gerated at the time, was eleven killed and two wounded-that of the Indians the two spies before mentioned and one of the flag bearers .*
On May 19, the entire army under Atkinson proceeded up Rock River, the remnant of Stillman's rangers being left at Dixon's to guard the wounded. But the men who had fled panic-stricken before an insignificant force, put the finishing touch to their record by deserting their post as soon as Atkin- son was out of sight. Yet these men properly officered and disciplined might have made the best soldiers in the world. Learning of this fresh act of perfidy, Atkinson with the regu- lars returned to Dixon's, instructing Whiteside with his brigade to follow Black Hawk.
The Sac commander, highly elated at his easy and unex- pected victory, had, after enriching himself with the abun- dant spoils of Stillman's deserted camp, retired up the Kish-
* List of casualties: killed, Capt. John G. Adams, Sergt. John Walters, Corp. Bird W. Ellis; Privates : David Kreeps, Zadoc Mendenall, Isaac Perkins, Joseph Draper, James Milton, Tynes M. Child, Joseph B. Farris, and Gideon Munson, scout; wounded: Sergeants Reding Putnam and Jesse Dickey.
369
BLACK-HAWK WAR.
waukee to the swamps of Lake Koshkonong. Here he left the women and children of the tribe, and once more returned to the vicinity of the Rock River, gathering recruits from the Pottawatomies and Winnebagos as he advanced.
He divided his force into small bands. The largest of these -numbering about 200-was under his own leadership. In addition, about 100 Pottawatomies were commanded by a disreputable half-breed named Mike Girty, while desultory troops of Winnebagos swept down upon defenceless homes, killing, scalping, and outraging wherever it seemed safe. The most noted of these forays was the massacre upon Indian Creek in LaSalle County. Here on May 21, thirty Indians- a mixed band-rushed into the house of Wm. Davis and killed all of its occupants except Sylvia and Rachael Hall, aged respectively 17 and 15 years, whom they made prisoners .*
In the meantime the Illinois volunteers became so much dissatisfied with the results so far attained that a majority of them refused to proceed. The discontent was wide-spread, affecting every company more or less. They declared that they did not enlist to follow the Indians into the bogs and swamps of Michigan (Wisconsin), that such an expedition would be useless, and besides, that their term of service had expired. Whiteside expostulated with them and begged them to go on, but without effect, and after a counsel of war and a general consultation among the men, it was decided to return to Ottawa, where on May 28, the 37 companies of Whiteside's army were mustered out by Lieut. Robert Anderson of Fort Sumter fame.
But one course remained open to Gov. Reynolds. He at once issued a third proclamation calling, this time, for 2000 men, whose enlistment was to be for the war. In addition, Gen. Winfield Scott was ordered to proceed with 1000 regulars from the East.
Pending the completion of these arrangements, at the per- sonal solicitation of Gov. Reynolds and Gen. Atkinson, a regiment of 300 volunteer rangers had been recruited for twenty
* The killed were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hall and daughter Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Pettegrew and two children, Mrs. Wm. Davis and five children. The following were killed outside: Wm. Davis, Robert Norris, and Emory George-sixteen in all. The prisoners were subsequently ransomed.
24
370
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
days from the companies just disbanded. It was officered by Col. Jacob Fry, Lieut .- Col. James D. Henry, and Maj. John Thomas. The five companies composing the regiment were commanded by Capts. Adam W. Snyder, Samuel Smith, W. C. Ralls, Benj. James, and Elijah Iles. Gen. Whiteside enlisted as a private and showed himself as willing to obey as he was able to command. Abraham Lincoln also reënlisted as a private.
In addition to this regiment of Col. Fry, five companies from Putnam County, commanded by Capt. Robert Barnes, William Hawes, William M. Stewart, and George B. Willis, aggregating 195 men, were organized into a regiment commanded by Col. John Strawn; and also eight companies from Vermilion County, under Capts. Eliakin Ashton, Alex. Bailey, J. M. Gillespie, James Gregory, Corbin R. Hutt, James Palmer, Morgan L. Payne, and John B. Thomas, were organized into a regiment commanded by Col. Isaac R. Moore, with Gurdon S. Hubbard as lieutenant-colonel; and the independent companies of Capts. Cyrus Matthews, George McFadden, John Stennet, M. L. Covill, John S. Wilbourn, and Aaron Armstrong, were accepted and all the above ordered to do guard-duty from May 28 to June 19.
The new volunteers called out by the governor rendezvoused at Fort Wilbourn, near Peru, June 15. They were organized into three brigades, composed of three regiments and a spy bat- talion each. The first of these, 915 strong, elected Alex. Posey as its commander, with the rank of brigadier-general. John A. McClernand, now general, was a member of his staff. The second regiment elected as their officers, John Ewing, colonel, John Raum, major; officers of other regiments not known. Maj. John Dement, father of Henry D. the present secretary of state, was elected from the ranks to command the spy battal- ion. Stinson H. Anderson, afterward lieutenant-governor, was adjutant, and Lieut .- Gov. Z. Casey, paymaster.
The second brigade was commanded by Gen. Milton K. Alexander, and the spy battalion by Maj. William McHenry.
The third brigade elected Gen. James D. Henry as its com- mander. The first regiment was commanded by Col. S. T. Matthews, Lieut .- Col. James Gillham, Maj. James Evans, Adjt.
371
BLACK -HAWK WAR.
William Weatherford, Quartermaster Nathan Hunt, Paymaster Alex. Bell. Col. Gabriel Jones commanded the third regiment, and its lieutenant-colonel was Sidney Breese. The spy battal- ion of this brigade was commanded by Maj. Wm. L. D. Ewing. The three brigades numbered, rank and file, 3148 volunteers.
The governor's staff, as reappointed, was as follows: aides, Cols. Benj. F. Hickman and Alex. F. Grant, Judge T. W. Smith, adjutant-general, and E. C. March, quartermaster-general.
The volunteer force was still further increased by a battalion of recruits under Col. Henry Dodge. Including the regular troops the available force of the whites numbered 4000 men.
A portion of Posey's brigade was ordered between Galena and Rock River. Alexander's and Henry's brigades, having arrived at Dixon, the former was dispatched to Plum River to intercept Black Hawk; the latter, remaining with Gen. Atkin- son at Dixon.
For a time outbreaks and skirmishes followed each other at short intervals, resulting in the death of many whites and not a few red men. On June 6, Black Hawk in person led an attack upon the fort at Apple River, fourteen miles east of Galena, defended by Capt. Stone, but after a brief engagement, the besieging party withdrew, devastating the surrounding country with torch and flame.
On June 14, occurred the skirmish of Pecatonica, in which Black Hawk was engaged with a portion of Posey's brigade under Maj. Dodge, resulting in the loss of three whites and eleven Indians.
The company of Capt. A. W. Snyder, while passing through Burr-Oak Grove, June 16, was suddenly and fiercely attacked by a party of seventy of the enemy. The coolness of the commander and the determined courage of privates Gen. Whiteside and Col. James Semple prevented a stampede, and order being restored the savages were repulsed, with a loss to the whites of three killed-that of the Indians not known.
On June 17, Capt. James W. Stephenson had a severe skir- mish with a party of Indians at Prairie Grove in which he lost three men killed, and two wounded-the enemy losing one.
The battle of Kellogg's Grove occurred June 25. Maj. John Dement with his battalion had been ordered to defend this post
372
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
by Col. Z. Taylor. Learning that a large force of the enemy commanded by Black Hawk himself was in the vicinity, he or- dered out fifty men to reconnoitre. Upon sight of the foe they rushed forward without orders and as Dement soon perceived were likely to fall into the ambush prepared for them. Before he was able to make himself. heard and understood in his efforts to stop the advance, his men were caught in the trap set, when at the entrance of a bushy ravine, they were met with a warcry and a sharp fire, all the more galling because concealed. The strategy of the cunning leader of the Sacs was successful, and terror and confusion reigned in the ranks of the whites. But the gallant Dement, whose bravery was equalled only by his coolness and comprehension of the situation, ably seconded by Lieut .- Gov. Zadoc Casey, rallied his fleeing forces to repeated stands, fearlessly presenting himself in exposed positions, and finally succeeded in withdrawing his command within the stock- ades. Here the attack was renewed, the principal result being the killing of 47 horses, which had been left hitched outside by the beleaguered party. The loss of the whites was four killed and two wounded; that of the Indians, reported at six- teen killed .*
On June 27, Gen. Atkinson, supposing that the headquarters of the Sacs were still at Lake Koshkonong, left Dixon with the main army 2600 strong, the volunteers being commanded by Gen. Henry. On the 30th, he crossed the State line, one mile east of Beloit. The army reached the outlet of Lake Koshkonong, July 2, but no enemy was found, it being now supposed that Black Hawk had gone to his stronghold near
* As a tribute to the memory of those who fell in this battle and in other skir- mishes in this vicinity, the county of Stephenson erected a monument over their collected remains, on the battlefield, now called Timmis Grove, which was dedicated Sept. 30, 1886, by the Wm. R. Goddard Post G. A. R. of Lena. The monument, consists of a single shaft constructed of yellowish, flinty limestone, quarried near by, rising thirty-four feet, resting on a suitable base. Into the sides of the shaft are sunk marble slabs containing appropriate inscriptions-the names honored are as follows: Wm. B. Mahenson, Benjamin McDaniels, and a little drummer-boy Bennie Scott, killed in the skirmish of Burr-Oak Grove; Wm. Darley, killed May 19; George Eames, Stephen P. Howard, and Micheal Lovell, killed in the battle of Prairie Grove; Felix St. Vrain, and Hale, Fowler, and Hally, (christian names not known, ) killed near the monument while carrying dispatches; and Wm. Allen, James P. Band, James Black, and Abner Bradford, killed in the battle of Kellogg's Grove.
373
BLACK -HAWK WAR.
the mouth of the Kishwaukee River. Two days after, Gen. Alexander arrived with his brigade, and on the 6th, Posey reported with his and Dodge's commands.
The Winnebagos-some of whom had connected themselves with the latter's force-were undoubtedly plotting the destruc- tion of the entire army by giving erroneous information. The chief who joined Dodge magnanimously offered to guide him directly to the camp of the hostile Sacs on Bark River, a stream which flowed into Lake Koshkonong from the east. Meanwhile an old one-eyed Winnebago, who claimed to be a chief, named Decori, had volunteered to pilot Gen. Atkin- son to their secret hiding-place, which he located at a dif- ferent spot. As superior in command, Gen. Atkinson sent orders to Dodge to join him at once. Much disappointed at the loss of an apparent opportunity to meet the enemy, the latter, with true military subordination, obeyed, and to this circumstance may be attributed his fortunate escape from an ambush, in which it is not unlikely his whole command would have perished. While, however, the army was running about for several days vainly looking for Black Hawk and his followers, the savage had fled from an almost inaccessible position on the east bank of Rock River, where he had been encamped at the top of a steep bluff.
At this juncture, Gov. Reynolds, and a portion of his staff, becoming discouraged at what they deemed a fruitless pursuit, determined to "quit soldiering" and return to the more con- genial pursuits of civil life.
On July 10, the army was again divided. Alexander and Henry, with their forces, were sent to Fort Winnebago, for supplies. Col. Ewing, with the second regiment of Posey's brigade, descended the Rock River to Dixon, the rest of this division being sent, under Posey himself, to Fort Hamilton, to protect the mining region. Atkinson and his regulars having retired to Lake Koshkonong, erected temporary fortifications on the Bark River, not far from the site of the present village of Fort Atkinson.
While at Fort Winnebago, the officers ascertained from Pierre Poquette, a well-known half-breed scout and trader, the true location of Black Hawk's camp. Henry and Dodge at
374
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
once resolved to return to Atkinson by this route, and engage the chief in battle, if possible. Gen. Alexander's men refused to join in the expedition, returning by the most direct route, and the officers named proceeded without them, having an aggregate force of about seven hundred and fifty men. Poqu- ette and a dozen Winnebagos acted as guides. On July 18, arriving at the spot where they had expected to find the enemy, no Sacs were to be seen. The Indians of the village declared that they had gone to Cranberry, now Horicon, Lake, about a half-day's march up the river. Atkinson's camp was thirty-five miles distant, and adjutants Merriam and W. W. Woodbridge were dispatched thither with information to the commander. After proceeding a few miles on their way, they discovered a broad, fresh trail leading westward.
When Gen. Henry learned that Black Hawk and his followers had turned their faces toward the Mississippi, and perceived that they were actually in flight, the enthusiasm of his command was unbounded. The pursuit was begun without delay, and pushed with the utmost energy. Wading through swamps and some- times through water up to their armpits, the volunteers hurried forward, cheered by information, gathered from hungry and footsore Winnebago deserters, that the enemy was but a few miles in advance. Exhausted horses had been abandoned, and camp equipage and other incumbrances cast aside, while along the trail were seen Indian kettles, blankets and other parapher- nalia, hastily thrown away to insure greater speed. Marching across the site of Madison, the present capital of Wisconsin, about three o'clock in the afternoon of July 21, the Indian rear guard under Neapope was overtaken and skirmishing began and continued until the bluff of the Wisconsin River was reached. Neapope had with him about twenty warriors, but an hour later these were reënforced by a like number under the Hawk-who determined to make a bold stand, and cover the retreat of the main body-himself seated on a white pony directing the battle. There was some hot firing, with about equal loss on both sides, when the Sacs made a charge, which was repulsed with loss, by the troops under Cols. Fry and Jones. The Indians now fell back into the tall grass, and kept up the firing unseen, for some time until Dodge, Ewing,
375
BLACK - HAWK WAR.
and Jones drove them with the bayonet to some rising ground, where was encountered a fresh band of savages. Here another charge compelled their retreat down the bluffs where they joined the non-combatants, now engaged in crossing the river.
Thus ended the battle of Wisconsin Heights, in which the loss of the Indians, though variously stated at the time to have been from forty to sixty-eight, was really, as reported by Black Hawk, only six killed, while that of the whites was one man killed and eight wounded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.