USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Reminiscences of Bureau county [Illinois] in two parts > Part 7
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Shanbena said at the commencement of the Black Hawk war, seventeen of his young warriors ran off and joined the Saw and Foxes, two of whom partici- pated in the Indian Creek massacre, as well as the killing of Phillips. For this offense he never forgave them, and they were not allowed after the war to join
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his band. One of these only, a brother of his young squaw, he pardoned, and again reinstated him in favor with the band. This Indian was tall and lank, with a savage look; had one hand shot off in the battle of Wisconsin river, and was present at the Indian Creek massacre : and through him the writer obtained many facts relating to that event.
At the commencement of the Black Hawk war. Shanbena went to Dixon's ferry, to offer the services of himself and warriors of his band to Gov. Reynolds, to fight against the Sacs and Foxes. Mounted on his pony, and alone, he arrived at Dixon's ferry on the same day that Stillman's army reached there. The soldiers, believing Shanbena to be an enemy in disguise, dragged him from his pony, took away his gun and tomahawk, and otherwise mistreated him, telling him they had left home to kill Indians, and he should be their first victim. A man, running at the top of his speed, came to Dixon's house, and told him that the soldiers had taken Shaubena prisoner, and were about to put him to death. Mr. Dixon, in all haste, ran to the rescue, when he found the soldiers (who were somewhat under the influence of liquor), about to stain their hands with innocent blood. Dixon, claiming the prisoner as an old friend, took him by the arm and conducted him to his own house, when he was after- wards introduced to Gov. Reynolds, Gen. Atkinson. Col. Taylor, and others.
Shaubena, with his warriors, joined Atkinson's army.
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SHAUBENA'S ADVENTURE AT CHICAGO.
and participated in all the battles during the war. In the fall of 1836, he and his band abandoned their reservations of land at the grove, giving way to the tide of emigration, and went west of the Mississippi. But Shaubena's fidelity to the whites, caused him to be persecuted by the Sacs and Foxes. In revenge, they killed his son and nephew, and hunted him down like a wild beast. Two years after going west, in order to save his life, he left his people, and with a part of his family returned to this county. For some years he traveled from place to place, visiting a number of eastern cities, where he was much lionized, and received many valuable presents. Many of our citizens will recollect his last visit to Princeton, in 1857, while on his way eastward. At that time Shaubena came to the residence of the writer, and an old acquaintance of twenty-two years standing was renewed. He inquired after many of the old settlers of his acquaintance, and on being told that they were in their graves, tears tilled his eyes. Shaubena died in July, 1859, on the bank of the Illinois river, near Seneca, in the eighty-fourth year of his age; and contrary to his wish, he was buried in Morris cemetery. No monument marks the last resting place of this friend of the white man.
SHAUBENA'S ADVENTURE AT CHICAGO.
Shaubena, while in conversation with the writer, gave an account of a visit to Chicago, in 1812, at the time
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of massacreing the troops under Capt. Heald. He said : "It was in the afternoon of the fatal day, a few hours after the battle, when in company with twenty- two warriors, he arrived at Chicago. Along the beach of the lake, where the battle was fought, lay forty-one dead bodies-the remains of soldiers, women and children. all of which were scalped, and more or less mutulated. The body of Capt. Wells was lying in one place, and his head in another: these remains were gathered up by Black Partridge, and buried in the sand near where he fell. The prisoners were taken to the Indian encampment, and closely guarded, to prevent their escape. John Kinzie, an Indian trader, whose house stood on the north side of the river, opposite Fort Dearborn, had been for some years trading with the Indians, and among them he had many friends. By special favor, he was allowed to return to his own house, accompanied by his family, and the wife of Lieut. Helin, who was badly wounded.
"That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs was called to decide the fate of the prisoners; and it was agreed to deliver them up to the British com- mander at Detroit, in accordance with the terms of capitulation. After dark, many warriors from a distance came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and were determined to murder the prisoners, regardless of the stipulated terms of surrender. Black Partridge, * with
* Black Partridge had a village on the Illinois river, a short distance below the present site of Henry. According to the statement of Shau-
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SHAUBENA S ADVENTURE AT CHICAGO.
a few of his friends, surrounded Kinzie's house, to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of these blood- thirsty savages." Shaubena further said, "that he. with other warriors, were standing on the porch, with their guns crossing the doorway, when a body of hostile warriors, with blackened faces, rushed by them. forcing their way into the house.
" The parlor was now full of Indians, who stood with their tomahawks and scalping knives, awaiting the signal from their chief, when they would commence the work of death. Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie. .. We have done everything in our power to save you. but all is now lost : you, and your friends, together with all the prisoners at the camp. will be slain." At that moment a canoe was heard approaching the shore. when Black Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the darkness to make out the new comers, and at the same time shouted, " Who are you. friend or foe?" In the
bena, he was an Indian of more than ordinary Intellect, and was always a friend of the whites. The rea ler will recolleet an account of him, given in Mrs. Kinzie's book, saving the life of Mrs. Helm, at the Chicago massacre, by taking her away from a savage, and bearing her off, wounded and bleeding, into the lake. Also his interview with Capt Heald, on the morning of the fatal day. On entering the fort Black Partridge said to the commanding officer, Capt. Heald: "1 Have come to deliver up to you this medal, which was given to me by you; people, as a token of friendship. Our young warriors are resolved to Inbrne their hands In blood; Lean not restral them, and I willn . Wear an emblem of friendship while I am compelled to act as alt enemy " Notwithstanding Black Partridge's friendship for the white- a few weeks afterwards, his village and cornfield were destroyed, polli . and camp equipage carried off, many of his people killed, and the remainder of his hand driven off to a strange country. A brief account of the destruction of Black Partridge's village, communicated to the writer by an eye witness, Cien Whitesides, will be found) another purt of this work.
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bow of the approaching canoe. stood a tall. manly personage, with a rifle in his hand; and as the canoe came to shore, he jumped off on the beach, exclaiming. in a loud, clear voice, the musical notes of which rang forth on the still night air: "I am the Sau-ga-nash !"* "Then," said Black Partridge, "hasten to the house. for our friends are in danger. and you alone can save them." Billy Caldwell, for it was he, ran to the house. entering the parlor, which was full of hostile Indians, and by threats, and entreaties, prevailed on them to abandon their murderous designs ; and by him Kinzie's family, with the prisoners at the fort, were saved from deathı.
* Billy Caldwell, called by the Indians Sau-ga-nash, was a half-breed, and said to have been a son of Col. Caldwell, a British officer. He was one of the principal chiefs among the Pottawatamies, and was well known by the early settlers of Chicago.
CHAPTER XV.
INDIAN CREEK SETTLEMENT.
After Shaubena had warned the settlers on Bureau of their danger, he went to Indian creek and Holder- man's grove, and gave notice to them also. But unfortunately, some of the settlers disregarded his warning, and thereby paid the forfeit with their lives. This tragedy, which we are about to relate, occurred outside of the limits of Bureau county, and therefore might be regarded by the reader as foreign to our story. But it must be remembered that some of the victims were residents of this county, others had been previ- ously, and the surviving members of the murdered families resided here for many years afterwards ; so that it is properly one of the incidents connected with the early settlement of Bureau county. It is also evident that these murders were committed by Indians, who belonged on Bureau, being the same guerrilla band that had searched in vain for victims along Burcan timber, a few days before. The account of this massiert
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is taken from statements made to the writer, by the surviving members of the murdered families, a short time after it occurred, and also from the statement of an Indian who participated in the murder.
In the spring of 1830, William Daviess made a claim on Indian creek, twelve miles north of Ottawa, and had built his cabin close by the creek bank. A few rods from his cabin he had built a blacksmith shop, he being a blacksmith by trade. He had also commenced building a mill, and the dam for that purpose was already completed. Some miles up the creek, was an Indian village, and its inhabitants were angry at Daviess for building this dam, as it prevented the fish from ascending the stream. Each day the Indians were in the habit of coming down below the dam to fish, and on one occasion they threatened injury to Daviess family if it was not removed, so the fish could come up to their village. A number of days had now passed away since the Indians were down to fish, and none had been seen along the creek, or in the neighborhood. The absence of the Indians caused Daviess to fear that they intended revenge on him and family, for what they considered a trespass on their rights. In order to compromise this matter; Daviess, accompanied by one of his neighbors, named John Henderson, went up to the village for the purpose of making the Indians some presents, and thereby retain their good will. But on arriving at the village, they found it deserted, and no Indians could be discovered in the vicinity, so they
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INDIAN CREEK SETTLEMENT.
started homewards. On their return home, night over- took them, and in the darkness they lost their way. consequently they were obliged to lay out all night. Daviess not returning at night as was expected, his family believed that he had'been murdered by the Indians, and the next morning, before it was light, they left for the fort at Ottawa. When Daviess came home and found his family gone, he followed after and over- took them in their flight, causing the fugitives to return again to their home. On their way homeward. they were met by the family of William Hall, who were also on their way to the fort, but through the persuasion of Mr. Daviess, they returned with him to his house.
William Hall, who is referred to in a previous chapter of this story, had a short time before sold his claim, where La Moille now stands, to Aaron Gunn, and with his family moved to Indian creek. He had been at his new home but a few weeks, having made claims for himself and sons, and was engaged in building a cabin when the war broke out.
Mr. Pettigrew had a claim in the neighborhood, and with his family, had been two days in the fort at Ottawa. Believing that there was no danger of Indian depreda- tions, he returned to Daviess' honse, about noon on the day of the massacre. Two young men. Robert Norris and Henry George, were at Daviess' house at the time of the massacre. The former lived with Mr. Hender son. a neighbor, and was at the blacksmith shop at the time, in order to have some work done. The latter.
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Henry George, belonged to the Bureau settlement. owned a claim, and had built a cabin on the present site of Bureau Junction. He was at the time on a visit to Hall's family, and gossip said that he was courting one of his daughters. Mr. Phillips, a mill- wright by trade, who was engaged in building a mill for Daviess, with his wife and child, were among the victims. Both Daviess and Hall had grown up sons, and with the other visitors at the house, they considered themselves of sufficient strength to repel an attack of the Indians.
On the morning of the fatal day, Shaubena, with his pony in a foam of sweat from excessive traveling, called at Daviess' house, and told the inmates that a band of hostile Indians had been for some days on Bureau, and on the evening before they were seen crossing the prairie in the direction of Indian creek timber. On receiving this information, Hall was in favor of leaving immediately for Ottawa. but Daviess, who was a very resolute man, opposed it, saying that he did not fear the Indians, and that no red skin could drive him away from home.
INDIANS LEAVE BUREAU FOR INDIAN CREEK.
After the murder of Sample and wife, as narrated in a previous chapter, the Indians broke up their camp at the Knox spring, and left for Indian creek settlement. Girty dressed in Sample's clothes, and mounted on his horse, with the scalp of Mrs. Sample suspended from his neck. considering himself "The Big Injun." On
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THE MASSACRE.
arriving at the Indian creek settlement, they secreted themselves in the thick timber, and from here they sent out spies in various directions, to make discoveries. One of these spies visited the residence of Mr. Daviess. and by crawling on his hands and knees through the underbrush, he came close to the house, so that he learned the number of inmates, as well as their means of defense. On returning to his comrades, and re- porting his discovery, the Indians mounted their ponies. and followed down the creek timber, until they came within one mile of Daviess' cabin. Here, in the thick timber they dismounted, tying their ponies to trees. and then proceeded on foot, in order to carry out their murderous designs; being conducted by two Pottawa- mie Indians, who were raised on Indian creek. and who were well acquainted with the surroundings of the house. These Indians led the attacking party with great caution. crawling along under the creek bank. until they approached within a few rods of the house. without being discovered by their victims.
THE MASSACRE .* It was about four o'clock in the afternoon of May
* Shaubena, in conversation with the writer, stated that the depre- dations ou Indian creek and Fox river, were committed by Indlans who belonged on Bureau. In this band were a few Snes and Foxes. with two warriors belonging to Shaubena's band, one of whom was his own brother-in-law. Indian chiefs, whom the writer met in Washington, made the same statement, and It is alsoconfirmed by the two Miss Halls, who says that most of the Indians at the massacre. were Pottawatamles, two of whom they had seen before.
The Saes and Fox warriors conducted the captive Hall girls to Black Hawk's camp, while the Pottawatamies continued their depredations In other localities.
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21st. while the men were at work in the blackmith shop, and the women busy with their household affairs. unconscious of danger, a dog barked, and on looking out at the door, about seventy Indians, with painted faces, were seen entering the door vard. Mr. Petti- grew, who was in the house, attempted to shut the door, but was shot down while in the act of doing so. Part of the Indians rushed into the house, killing the women and children with their tomahawks and scalping knives, while the others, with deafening yells, attacked the men at the blacksmith shop. The assault was so sudden, that the men were unprepared to make a successful defense ; although they had their guns with them, there was not sufficient time for their use, as the savages were among them in a moment, using their guns and tomahawks on their victims. William Hall was shot down instantly; Robert Norris had grabbed his gun, and was in the act of shooting, when he too was killed. William Daviess, who was a large, resolute man, defended himself for some time, using the breech of his gun over the heads of the savages, bending the barrel in the struggle, but was at last overpowered and killed. Blood and hair were found on Daviess's gun barrel, and the ground where his remains lay showed the marks of a desperate struggle. Near by was a pool of blood, where an Indian was thought to have been killed, and carried away by his comrades. Henry George jumped into the mill pond, but was shot while swimming across it. One of Daviess' sons, a lad of
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THE MASSACRE.
fourteen, was caught by an Indian, while crossing the mill dam, tomahawked, and his remains thrown into the water. John W., a son of William Hall, ran and jumped off the creek bank, as many shots were tired at him. By keeping close under the bank of the creek, out of their sight. he succeeded in making his escape. Three young men, Edward and Greenberry Hall, and a son of Mr. Daviess, were at work in the field; but on seeing the Indians killing their people. they unhitched their oxen from the plow, and fled with all haste for Ottawa, which place they reached in safety. When the Indians entered Daviess' house, they with fiendish yells commenced killing the inmates; some were shot down, others dispatched with knives, spear- or tomahawks. Mrs. Phillips was found with her infant clasped in her arms, both having their heads split open by a tomahawk, and were lying in their gore. An Indian snatched an infant out of its mother's arms. and knocked its brains out against the door frame. Sylvia and Rachel Hall, and Miss Daviess, jumped on a bed in order to escape the tomahawk of the Indians. Miss Daviess was immediately shot, while Rachel Hall's face was so close to the muzzle of the gun as to burn it to a blister. The Indians afterwards told, with infernal glee, how the women and children squawked like ducks, when they felt the cold steel pierce their bodies.
A short distance from Daviess' cabin lived two fami- lies, by the name of Henderson, grandfather and uncle
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of Gen. Henderson, of Princeton. Two days before the massacre, they were notified of their danger by Shaubena, and had taken their women and children to the fort at Ottawa, while the men returned to work on their claims. On hearing the firing of guns at Daviess cabin, and knowing that the Indians were murdering their friends, they hurried to their assistance, but on seeing the strength of the attacking party, they knew that assistance would be useless, and only throwing away their own lives, so they turned back and fled for Ottawa.
FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED, TWO GIRLS CAPTURED.
After the Indians had completed their work of horror, leaving fifteen dead bodies scalped and dreadfully mutilated, they returned to the place where they had left their ponies. They took with them a number of horses, which belonged to the murdered families; also clothing, provisions, and everything they could use. They shot horses, cattle, and hogs; even chickens in the barn yard did not escape their fury. Two daughters of Mr. Hall, Sylvia, aged eighteen, and Rachel, aged fourteen. were taken prisoners, and carried off into the Indian country.
When the massacre was completed, four Indians took hold of the girls, one holding on to each arm, and hurried them off as fast as possible, through the woods. to where their ponies were tied. Here the Indians had
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KILLED AND CAPTURED.
collected together, and over the prisoners they held a conneil to decide about the disposition of them. Girty was in favor of killing the girls on the spot, and thereby save the trouble of taking them to Black Hawk's camp. which was about ninety miles distant. But the will of Girty was overruled by a majority of the warriors, who had in view, no doubt. the large reward that would be paid for their ransom. The girls were placed on horses, Sylvia on one which belonged to her father, and Rachel on a gray horse, that was owned by one of the Hendersons, and had been rode to the blacksmith shop by Robert Norris, a few moments before the massacre. Two Indians rode by the side of the girls, holding the reins of their horses to prevent their escape, and in this position they galloped away.
A son of Mr. Daviess, named James, a lad seven or eight years of age, was taken prisoner with the Hall girls. But after going a short distance through the woods, in the direction of their ponies, the boy gave out, not being able to travel so fast as the rest of the party, and the two Indians who had him in charge. made him stand up to be shot. Little Jimmy, as he was called, pale as death, stood like a marble statue. without moving a musele, to receive the fatal shot. While the boy was still struggling in the agonies of death, the savages took off his sealp, leaving the body where it fell, to be devoured by wolves.
Two days after the massacre, a company of rangers, many of whom belonged to Bureau settlement, went to
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Indian creek to bury the dead. All the bodies of the victims were found, and buried, except that of little Jimmy, the fate of which was not known until some time afterwards.
SHERIFF WALKER'S TWO INDIAN PRISONERS.
Next spring, after the Black Hawk war, two Potta- watamie Indians were charged with taking part in the Indian creek massacre, and were indicted for murder by the Circuit Court of La Salle county. Sylvia and Rachel Hall testified that they knew these Indians having been to their house before the war, and proposed buying them of their father. These Indians were arrested, and bound over to court; but the time of holding court having been changed, the prisoners, thinking that they would not be wanted, went west with their band. George E. Walker, an Indian trader. was at that time sheriff of La Salle county, and he. with others, was security for the appearance of these Indians. Walker went alone in search of the prisoners, and found them west of the Mississippi, far out in the Indian country. A council of chiefs was called, and it was decided that the accused Indians should accompany Walker to Ottawa, to stand their trial for murder. The Indians bade farewell to their friends, believing that they would be executed upon their arrival at Ottawa. and to all appearance were reconciled to their fate. For many days the sheriff. with his prisoners, traveled
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SHERIFF WALKER'S TWO INDIAN PRISONERS.
through an Indian country, camping out at night, and all sleeping together. Sometimes the Indians would go off on a hunt, in order to supply the camp with provisions, and could have made their escape at any time, but they had pledged their honor to give them- selves up at Ottawa, and not even the preservation of their lives, could induce them to forfeit this pledge.
As Sheriff Walker was returning with his prisoners. he was met on West Bureau by Peter Demott. an old pioneer hunter. The party was traveling on the Sacs and Fox trail, mounted on Indian ponies, and carrying guns on their shoulders,-the sheriff leading the way. and followed by the Indians in single file. Demott recognized one of these Indians as an old friend, with whom he had hunted on Green river two years before.
This Indian appeared dejected in spirits, saying that he was going to Ottawa to die, expressing himself willing to be shot like a brave, but disliked the idea of being hung by the neck, like a dog.
Court came on, and the Indians were tried, but having their faces painted in such a way that the Hall girls could not swear positively to their identity, conse- quently they were acquitted, and allowed to return to their friends.
CHAPTER XVI.
CAPTIVITY OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL.
The following account of the captivity of the two Miss Halls, was principally taken from statements made to the writer by one of the captives, (Rachel Hall), a short time after the Black Hawk war. Although this account differs in many particulars from others heretofore pub- lished, it will, nevertheless, be found correct in the main. It is given in language as though narrated by the captive, and in some instances her own words are used :
After being placed on horseback, and guarded by two Indians, who rode by our side, holding on to the reins of the bridles, as narrated in the preceding chapter, we commenced our long, tedious journey. We rode most of the time on a canter, and the Indians frequently looked back, as though they were afraid of being followed by the rangers, who were at that time roaming through the country. We continued to travel at a rapid rate, until near midnight, when we halted to rest our horses. After resting about two hours, we continued
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CAPTIVITY OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL.
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